"So Nagi was on our side?" Yohji asked.

"Yes." Manx answered. "He had been entering Ken's mind to let him know Omi was in danger."

"Why did he enter my mind? Why not Aya or Yohji or even Omi?" Ken defensively questioned.

"You're closest to Omi." Nagi responded.

Ken sat frozen in his chair. He pondered what Nagi knew. Finally, he asked again, "But why not enter Omi's dreams?"

Nagi grinned. "Humans often find themselves dreaming about being in danger and even dying. It wouldn't have seemed like it was different from any other dream Omi has. I had to enter his closest friend's dreams. Give him reoccurring nightmares. Only then would it have been taken seriously. It wouldn't have worked any other way."

"How did you know to pick me over Aya and Yohji?"

"I watched you. You were always smiling when you were together." Nagi said.

Ken blushed.

"Did Schwarz go into hiding again?" Aya inserted.

"Yes . . . mostly." Manx replied. "While we know Crawford is overseas, we've lost all records of Schuldig and Farfarello. Nagi, as you know, will be going back with me to Kritiker for a debriefing."

"Are you going to join Weiss?" Yohji turned to ask Nagi.

Nagi thought a moment before responding. "No, but I'm not you're enemy either. I have a lot to think about. Our paths will cross again."

"Let's get going, Nagi." Manx said.

As Yohji showed Manx and Nagi the way out of the mountain retreat, Ken asked Aya, "Where's Omi?"

"He went upstairs to his room. I think he wanted to be alone for a while."

"Oh," Ken thought. He squirmed around in his chair trying to get comfortable.

Aya stared sternly at Ken. "Would you take this up to Omi?"

Ken looked at Aya's outstretched hands. "Apples?"

"He asked for them earlier."

"Okay." Ken took the plate of peeled apples from Aya and walked upstairs towards Omi's room.

Yohji smugly stepped up to Aya. "What are you up to?"

Aya thinly smiled and said, "He's a real pain in the ass sometimes, Yohji."

Yohji chuckled. "Is that our Aya starting to melt his frosty attitude?"

Aya growled.

Ken arrived at Omi's room. Omi's door was closed. Ken took a deep breath and rapped on the door. After a moment, the door creaked open a crack. Omi peered out. Ken said, "Aya wanted me to give you this."

Omi looked at the plate of apples. "Come on in." Omi pulled the door wide open for Ken.

Ken entered Omi's room instinctively pushing the door to close. The latch bounced off the frame leaving the door slightly ajar. Not noticing, Ken walked up to Omi who had plopped down on his bed. Ken sat down on a chair beside the bed and asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Omi sighed.

"Rough day."

"Yeah."

"Are you mad at me?"

"What? Why?"

"Because I didn't tell you about my nightmares."

"No."

"Oh," Ken realized. "You're upset about Ouka."

"Yeah."

Ken stood up and began to leave. "Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll be leaving now." Ken took two steps away and remembered he was still holding the plate of apples. He turned around to see Omi sitting up on his bed staring at Ken with tears in his eyes. "Omi?"

Omi reached out and grabbed Ken's left arm. "Please don't go." Omi cried.

"It's okay, Omi. I'll stay." Ken caressed Omi's head dropping the plate on the floor. "I know you loved Ouka."

"It wasn't like that, Ken." Omi gathered his thoughts as he nestled his head on Ken's chest. "I loved Ouka but I wasn't in love with her. When she died, I felt all alone in the world."

"You always have me . . . and Aya and Yohji." Ken paused a second before continuing. "You'll find love again. Don't worry."

Omi squeezed Ken tight and said, "I am attracted to someone but I think he only thinks of me as a friend."

Ken pushed Omi away a few inches. "What?"

Tears welled in Omi's eyes. "It's okay. I can be happy as long as that person is happy." Omi tried to manage a smile.

Ken looked into Omi's big blue eyes. "Omi, I . . . I've been trying to say something to you. No, more like I've been trying to figure something out in my own mind." Ken paused.

"What is it, Ken-kun?"

"The nightmares I was having really scared me. I know they were from past missions. And I know you survived each time. But you could have died. On each one of those missions, you could have died!"

"Ken, we're assassins. That's part of the job description."

"Omi, I never stopped to think about it before. But Nagi made me realize . . . " Ken trailed off.

"What, Ken-kun?"

Ken smiled weakly, "I love you. My heart belongs to you, Omi-kun."

Omi's eyes widened as a smile formed across his face. "My heart belongs to you too, Ken-kun." Omi leaned in to kiss Ken.

As Ken advanced to accept Omi's kiss, Ken slipped on an apple slice. Ken crashed down on top of Omi hard pinning Omi on his bed under Ken. Suddenly, Omi laughed. "See, I always said you are a dumb jock."

Ken breathed back. "Stupid."

Omi grinned as Ken's lips parted his. Omi eagerly accepted Ken's tongue as Omi's door creaked open.

Yohji whispered, "Omi?"

Ken tore off Omi's shirt as Omi rapidly removed Ken's shirt and headed towards his belt buckle. Yohji backed out of Omi's room swiftly unbeknownst to Ken and Omi. Yohji shook his head as he pulled the door closed quietly.

Aya approached Yohji. "Everything okay?"

Yohji smirked. "Yeah, Ken finally listened to his heart."