Please Give Me Another Chance

By: Atsureki

Disclaimers: They're all mine and I'm making tons of money… NOT!

Paring: Aya/Ken

Warnings: OCC, Angst, Yaoi.

Notes: Stuff written in Italic are thoughts or the strange little voice Ken hears in his head namely Fate. That is if is feeling up to actually showing the darn italics/grumbles/

I have no real excuse for the extremely long periods of time between updates, life's just busy and school too and then the writer's block and I'm lazy and stuff…

Chapter 15. Back And Forth

Ken watched Aya glare at a group of girls and smiled. 20 minutes earlier the redhead had cornered Ken in the backroom and kissed the hell out of him. If the girls only knew.

"And just who are you daydreaming about Kenken?" an amused voice suddenly whispered in his ear.

"Yoji!" Ken cried out as his heart made a very valiant attempt at crawling out through his mouth.

"That's 'cause I'm irresistible," the blonde gloated and Ken smacked his arm with a growl.

"I didn't mean I was… Oh shut up!" Yoji cackled manically and sauntered over to the herd of squealing girls. "Crazy old pervert," the brunet grumbled testily and glanced at the time. He was ready to have a break from the shop and eat something and, if he was lucky, make out with Aya. It was almost 12 and Omi was still in school and Yoji would spend at least 15 minutes or so outside smoking.

He had barely finished that thought when Aya's deep voice declared that they were closing for lunch and that the girls could come back later. Ken bolted for the kitchen to set the table. In his eagerness he practically threw the bowls on the table and silently thanked Yoji for starting the rice cooker earlier. As it was now it was done and just waiting along with the meat and sauce Aya had prepared the night before. The brunet heard the oven ping just as Yoji and Aya joined him.

"Hungry?" the blonde asked with one eyebrow raised at Ken who burned his fingers as he grabbed the hot plate from the microwave.

"Uh yeah," the brunet muttered and got a knowing look from Aya who gracefully sank down on his chair. He seemed to know exactly why Ken was in such a hurry and when the brunet sat down next to him he placed a warm hand on his knee. Ken widened his eyes and blushed as his lover proceeded to stroke up his thigh in a way that could only be described as mischievously. With a shaky hand Ken grabbed his chopsticks and tried, rather unsuccessfully, to transport food all the way to his mouth. It seemed to amuse Aya to no end

"Did you develop Parkinson's or something?" Yoji asked and watched with interest how his teammate dropped his chopsticks and a piece of meat left a trail of sauce down the front of his shirt and into his lap.

"No, I just, um…" Ken snapped his mouth shut because what was he supposed to answer? Aya offered no help; he didn't remove his travelling hand either and his actions perplexed the brunet. Keeping their relationship hidden had always been Aya's idea and now all the sudden he was playing with fire, carelessly flirting and touching right in front of Yoji.

"Don't worry about it Kenken," the blonde said sweetly, "I'll buy you bib later." Brown eyes glared at him.

"Fuck you!"

"Is that a suggestion or an invitation?" Yoji countered, his voice silky and flirty.

"Kudou," Aya warned firmly and finally withdrew his hand.

"You are no fun," the blonde muttered and rose. "I'm going out for a smoke." Ken quickly shovelled the remaining food into his mouth and swallowed without really chewing. There, Yoji was gone, Aya was done and Ken was done and now he just had to get to the kissing part, perhaps even a little groping. Aya rose and started clearing the table, his face calm and unbothered.

"Aya," Ken whined and the redhead looked at him questioningly.

"Aa?" he answered blandly and Ken really wanted to smack him… or pounce on him, whichever got him to the making out the fastest. With the grace he had lacked earlier the brunet shot up from his chair and in a second he had Aya pinned against the sink, still with bowls in his hands. Amethyst eyes looked a little surprised at first but then they turned smouldering.

"You're teasing me," Ken growled accusingly as his body trembled slightly.

"I am," the redhead admitted unashamed and deposited the bowls. With a swift move he switched their positions and buried his slim fingers in Ken's hair. "What are you going to do about it?" He didn't wait for an answer, just tilted his face down and covered the brunet's mouth with his own.

/&/

Yoji was staring at him, green eyes curiously following him around the shop. It was not only making Ken uncomfortable but also more than a little self-conscious. He was starting to wonder if he had something stuck in his teeth but quickly dismissed that thought. Nothing could have remained there after Aya practically sucked his tonsils right out from his mouth. His fly wasn't open, he had changed his stained shirt and he was pretty damn sure he hadn't grown a second, or should that be third, head since lunch.

He settled for glaring at the lanky blond and didn't stop until Omi showed up two hours later. The two blonds took over the store and Ken headed for the kitchen in search of water and food. When he started rummaging through the fridge his mind was focused on something to snack on. Just as he reached for a box of Chinese take out from two days ago a pair of arms suddenly snaked around his waist. Ken let out a yelp and almost whacked his head on one of the shelves.

"Gomen," a deep voice whispered and he could feel Aya's ear tails tickle his neck. Ken grinned to himself and carefully backed up. Aya turned him around and kicked the fridge's door closed before he pressed the shorter man against it. Moments later they were engaged in a serious kissing session that soon involved hands fumbling around to find skin to touch.

Ken's mind was a jumble of desire, love and longing for a time when he wouldn't have to fear losing Aya to that damn mission. The redhead had practically gotten his shirt of when Omi's cheerful voice reached them. It was instinct that made Ken shove Aya away and tug his clothes back in order; he was done just in time to smile nervously at the two blonds when they entered the kitchen.

"You better not have taken my sweet and sour pork," Yoji warned as he stepped between them and opened the fridge. "I swear, trying to save leftovers in this place is impossible. And I'm willing to bet that you're the one eating them," he continued and pointed accusingly to Ken, who wasn't paying attention. His brown eyes were staring at Aya's back as the redhead stiffly walked away.

"Fuck," the brunet hissed. The look Aya had given him had been hurt and then changed quickly into coldness, definitely not a good thing.

/&/

Ken couldn't believe he had fucked up AGAIN. He gritted his teeth and stubbornly continued to look for the elusive redhead. It had been over four hours since Aya had marched out from the kitchen and Ken was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. In retrospective he, of course, understood how his actions must have seemed, but in all fairness it wasn't like he had been the one insisting on hiding their relationship before.

With that in mind he was just completely bewildered by how offended Aya had seemed. It didn't exactly help that Ken himself wanted Yoji and Omi to know about his relationship with Aya. Ken cursed and flopped down on the couch. He was pooped and worried and confused and he wanted Aya to stop being… well… disappeared. Pouting he leaned back and glared at the ceiling.

"Stupid Aya," he muttered to himself. Moments later his eyes closed and he dozed on and off for a while. One of the times when he snapped back to being awake he felt something warm beside him and he automatically leaned into it. An arm wrapped itself around his shoulders and Ken sighed and snuggled closer.

"Let's go to bed instead." The words were whispered into his ear and Ken let out a string of garble that pretty much meant that he was comfortable right there and he had no intention of going anywhere. "Come on," the voice coaxed and Ken reluctantly opened his eyes.

"I'm sleeping here," he grumbled and buried his face against Aya's throat. Aya's throat? His eyes snapped open again. "Aya?"

"Aa." Ken quickly took stock of the situation and what it could mean. Aya had sought him out, had willingly submitted himself to being Ken's pillow while he napped and he wanted to go to bed with him or at least escort him to bed and that meant that Ken was not about to bring up the incident in the kitchen because then all hell could break lose and Aya would be pissed and then he'd die all over again and Ken just didn't need the aggravation and heartbreak. Apparently his brain had gotten turbocharged while he slept and Ken shook his head slightly to stop the rambling.

"Bed," he finally commented and rose. Aya let out a quiet chuckle and stood up.

"Bed," he agreed and lead the way towards the stairs. Ken followed and when he had changed into his pyjamas he simply strolled into the redhead's bedroom and sprawled out on his bed.

"I'm sleeping here, just so you know," Ken declared, his words muffled because he had pressed his face into Aya's pillow.

"Why?" the redhead asked and the mattress dipped as he sat down.

"I like sleeping next to you, you smell good." The brunet groaned inside at how incredibly cheesy he sounded; he could practically hear Aya rolling his eyes.

"Hn," was the only spoken reply he got and a moment later arms embraced him and pulled him back against Aya's chest. As Ken drifted off to sleep he wondered if Fate was giving him a break this time or if the kitchen thing would have ramifications later on. He would have to talk to Aya about it in the morning.

/&/

Ken had never considered himself a person who had luck or timing on his side. Although, he had to admit that he had thought that might improve now that he had Fate on his side, he was dead wrong. When he woke up, warm and comfy, in Aya's bed the redhead had already left to cover his shift in the shop. Ken took his time since he didn't have to be down until Omi returned from school.

He was still bent over his coffee when Aya entered the kitchen 30 minutes before the brunet's shift started. Aya's face looked like it normally did, but his eyes lacked their usual coldness and as he sidled up to the shorter assassin he actually smiled, or smirked, or leered, or whatever it was that Aya did when the corners of his mouth quirked upwards. He calmly pulled Ken's face up and proceeded to take his breath away with a deep involved kiss. Ken grappled at the hideous orange sweater and couldn't stop a moan from escaping when the redhead's tongue lapped at his lips just before they broke apart.

"More coffee?" Ken blinked stupidly, mouth gaping open and nodded. The taller man poured them both coffee and sat down next to his lover, who still stared at him like an idiot. "Drink your coffee Ken," the redhead said with amusement and Ken obeyed.

"Aya, about yesterday. I… When Yoji came in I just… I didn't want him to…"

"Aya! Where the hell did you put the blue roses for Arakawa-san's arrangement?" Yoji's loud voice interrupted Ken.

"Baka," Aya muttered as he rose and went to help the blond. Ken waited for him to return, nervously playing with his cup. It wasn't until after he had managed to spill coffee all over the table that Aya came back.

"Listen," Ken said quietly as he mopped up the mess with some paper. "I just don't want you to get the wrong idea." Aya watched him, his eyes attentive and calm.

"Wrong idea? In what way?" he asked as the brunet rinsed his hands and moved in closer. Ken wanted to stay focused on explaining himself but Aya's scent, the warmth his body radiated and those mysterious eyes were just too damn enticing. He held in his answer in order to snuggle up close to the redhead and kiss him thoroughly.

"You know, making him think we're something we aren't by jumping to conclusions about what he could've seen yesterday," Ken explained absentmindedly as he buried his face in Aya's neck. Unfortunately for Ken he hadn't quite learned to read all of the redhead's body language nor was he all that great with thinking before he spoke.

"You mean like him thinking things are very serious when it's just a fling."

"Exactly!" Ken exclaimed, happy that Aya understood what he meant. "I don't want him to think this is what it isn't…" Ken could've shot himself as his brain suddenly realized how the things it was making his mouth say sounded. "No, wait a minute!" Aya's body was rigid as a steel pole and his eyes harder than diamonds.

"Wait for what?" he asked in a cold snarl and shoved at the shorter man.

"That's not what I meant!" Ken objected vehemently and grabbed Aya's arm to stop him from leaving. "You make me nervous," he continued in an almost whiny tone, "and then I say things that aren't what I want to say and you shouldn't listen to what I say but to what I mean." Aya had one thin red eyebrow raised and Ken could tell that he had had enough.

"I don't think you know what the hell you mean," the redhead spat and gave him a push hard enough to send him barreling into the table. Ken hung his head and rubbed his hip. If Fate wanted him to get things right Fate should cut him some fucking slack!

"You have no idea how hard I have worked for this," the brunet growled and pinned the taller man against the sink, holding him there while Aya struggled. "No, you will listen to me Aya whether you want to or not!"

"Ken, let go of me or I'll…" Ken interrupted him by covering his mouth with an unsteady hand.

"I'll let you go when I've said my peace. If you don't trust me, if you don't want this, us, or if you don't want anyone else to know or whatever, you're going to have to tell me because I can't read your mind and I'm fucking sick of second guessing what you want. Whatever it is that you want me to do or be or say you have to tell me!" The brunet swallowed and took a step back. "I'm done now, you can go." Aya was staring at him, eyes steely, face grave, but he made no move to leave.

"Did it ever occur to you that all you had to do was ask me?" the redhead asked quietly and Ken licked his lips and stared at his feet, as if they somehow could answer. "You act like I'm supposed to know what's going to happen Ken, and I don't, not anymore than you do." Ken couldn't help but wince at that. It dawned on him that Aya's earlier reactions might not have been how he felt but rather how he reacted in regards to how he thought Ken felt. Ken had thought he had the upper hand since he had gone through the two weeks so many times before, but maybe, just maybe, it left him at a disadvantage instead. Some of the things he did or said or didn't do or say were a direct result of what had happened before; affected by events that this Aya hadn't been involved in. He raised his head and met the redhead's eyes.

"I…"

"Cut yourself some slack," Aya murmured and a shift in his posture practically summoned Ken. He hesitantly moved forward and stepped into the redhead's arms. At that moment Ken wanted to tell Aya that he loved him, that he didn't want to watch him die again, that he was sorry for messing up so many times… But Ken kept quiet, because Aya might take his declaration of love the wrong way and the redhead had no idea that Ken had been responsible for his death so many times. The brunet buried his face against Aya's neck and slipped both arms underneath the taller man's shirt.

"Ken!" The sudden outburst from behind made them jump and Ken swirled around so fast he almost fell over. Yoji was staring at them, his green eyes widened more than what should have been possible and looked decisively affronted. "How could you?" the blond continued in the same loud voice. Ken swallowed and glanced at Aya who had narrowed his eyes and jutted out his jaw as if he was ready to beat Yoji to a pulp.

"Kudou," the redhead growled warningly and took a step forward. But Yoji was completely focused on Ken and the affronted look had started to change into hurt.

"How could you?" he repeated and Ken couldn't believe his eyes when the blond's bottom lip began to tremble pitifully. "You chose Aya over me?" The words had hardly left him mouth before Yoji burst into a loud obnoxious cackle. Ken did the only thing he could do; he marched up to the blond who continued to laugh and smacked him over the head.

"Of course I picked Aya over you! He's younger, has more stamina and besides," Ken paused and smirked naughtily at Yoji, "his is bigger than yours." With a wink he grabbed Aya's hand and pulled the snickering redhead towards the stairs.

"What the hell do you mean 'his is bigger than mine'?" Yoji wailed from the kitchen. That seemed to be more than the redhead could take and Ken was treated to the spectacular sight of Aya turning his face upwards as he let out a melodious peal of laughter.

TBC

Yeah so there it is and stuff… I should have posted this chapter two weeks ago but the awful evil bookstore forced me to read Harry Potter. /sighs/ Ja/Atsureki