I wish there was a way to do this without giving away the secret – but I'm afraid a warning is necessary.

This chapter contains a LEMON. Do Not read it if you have a problem with it. Do Not read if under seventeen. And lastly, Do Not read if you don't know what a "lemon" is.


The car ride home had been silent. An angry silence. An offended silence.

Yohji was more thankful than he could possibly say that Aya's anger was not directed at him. If he had been afraid that Aya would take his sister's disapproval as an excuse to slow down or even halt the progression of their relationship, those fears had been killed when they had gotten into the car and Aya had automatically reached for his hand.

"I'm sorry." Yohji finally said, outside the door to Aya's apartment.

Aya's expression was unreadable.

"For what?"

Yohji shook his head. "I don't know – everything? I'm sorry I didn't insist we not go. I'm sorry I didn't call and warn Omi about us," he slid his hand against Aya's cheek, and wondered if he had only imagined it when the smaller man leaned into the touch. "Most of all, I'm sorry that I've ever dated anyone else."

Aya snorted.

"Can you imagine what a mess this relationship would be if we were both as inexperienced as I am?"

"If I wasn't such a…such a man-whore, no one would have a problem with us."

Aya gave a soft snort of laughter, but quickly sobered. "Don't be so sure," he answered at last. "My family was very traditional. My sister will probably never be comfortable with the idea of me with another man. But that doesn't mean I'm going to change my mind about us."

"You sure? You've never done this before. How do we know I'm not corrupting you?"

Aya smiled slightly, fingertips playing along Yohji's arms. "You're definitely corrupting me, Yohji," he said quietly. "But don't flatter yourself. I preferred men long before I ever met you."

"Seriously?"

"Why do you seem so surprised?"

Yohji gave an uncomfortable shrug, deciding to be honest. "You've always been gorgeous as hell, Aya, but untouchable. I guess I never thought sex was something you thought about."

"By the time we met, it wasn't." Aya answered. "Before Taketori destroyed my family, though, I was a completely normal boy."

Placing his hands on his companion's hips, Yohji moved forward until he was pressing the smaller man against the wall. He nibbled a moment at his deliciously pale neck before moving his lips to his ear.

"Somehow, bunny-thong," he whispered fondly, "I find it very hard to believe you were ever normal." Though the mental image of Aya in a school uniform was a tantalizing thought, to be sure.

Aya tilted his head back to allow Yohji better access to his neck, running his hands through his hair.

"I've always been…quiet," the smaller man admitted at last. "I enjoyed learning and books and music…but I could smile and laugh. I wasn't…wasn't frozen inside."

"You aren't frozen, Aya."

"Not anymore," he acknowledged. "You did that, Yohji. You freed me from the ice. But…I'm still the same person. Ran died that night in the rain when his family was destroyed. I tried to hold onto him for a while, but he really is well and truly dead. I'm Aya now. Even though I don't kill anymore, I'm still the man I became rather than the one I was going to be."

Yohji drew back, saddened by the darkness in his lover's eyes.

"I didn't mean to…gods, Aya. The last thing I wanted was to upset you."

He shook his head.

"I upset myself," he said quietly. "I always had the illusion that once my sister awoke and the killing stopped, I could be Ran again. I suppose part of the reason I didn't want to see her was because I was afraid of letting that illusion end." Aya sighed, suddenly so weary. "That illusion is gone now."

"Good."

Aya looked at him sharply.

"Good?"

Yohji leaned in, resting his forehead against Aya's.

"I'm in love with quiet, brooding, screwed-in-the-head Aya. Not Ran."

"You've never met Ran."

"Don't wanna. He sounds boring. I like issues with my lovers."

"'I'm looking for baggage that goes with mine'?"

"Yeah," Yohji grinned. "Something like that. What's that from?"

Shaking his head, Aya grabbed him and pulled him close, holding on to him in a bruising embrace. Yohji could feel his small body trembling violently in his arms. All he could do was hold him, stroke his hair, and try to find something – anything – to say.

Aya pulled away before he could.

"Stay the night with me."

"Aya, you're upset." Yohji murmured. "You don't want to do anything you'll regret tomorrow."

"I don't want to be alone tonight."

"Aya…"

"I can make my own decisions, Yohji."

He hesitated, knowing that arguing would only insult and anger the small redhead. Surely he had misunderstood.

"What about the bet?" he asked at last.

"I don't care anymore," he swore. His expression softened as he took Yohji's hands in his own. "Go to your apartment and pack an overnight bag. I'll leave the door open for you."

A kiss, and Aya disappeared into his apartment.


Yohji stepped through the doorway and toed off his shoes, casting what he hoped was a casual glance around the familiar, meticulously clean living room of Aya's apartment.

No sign of the redhead. A glance into the kitchen showed it to be empty as well.

That only left…

Yohji shook his head, furious with himself. Why the fuck was he nervous? He had sure as hell done this often enough in the past.

And now, now, when it really mattered, he was scared to death.

"Don't screw this up, Kudoh," he told himself fiercely, refusing to listen to the stubborn little voice in his head that told him what a selfish bastard he could be and demanded to know if he really thought he could keep his cool for long enough to ensure Aya's first time was a pleasantly memorable experience for the other man.

Taking a deep breath, Yohji headed for the bedroom.

He found Aya sitting on the edge of the bed, hands folding neatly in his lap. By his expression, it was obvious to the blonde that he was lost in thought, though Yohji was lost as to what was going through the smaller man's mind.

Aya didn't look his way even as Yohji dropped his hastily-packed overnight bag and closed the door.

Yohji noticed thatthe pale manhad removed his shoes and socks, as well as the tie he had worn to dinner. He had taken his hair from the elastic band that had held it back all night and it fell gently against his shoulders, begging to be touched.

Aya looked at him at last when Yohji came to stand before him, and the blonde made certain he held the smaller man's eyes as he spoke.

"Are you completely sure this is what you want?" he asked. His voice sounded terribly uneasy, but his hands were steady where they had come to rest cupping Aya's face.

Aya seemed to hear his fear, because his expression softened into something more human – more approachable.

"It wouldn't be fair of me to promise something I knew I wasn't ready for – and I always want to be fair to you, Yohji, as well as honest."

"It would hurt so much to lose you just because I was too stupid to know when to say no. We don't have to have sex just because I'm staying the night.

Aya took a shuddering breath and offered him a weak smile.

"Do you think you're the only one who's been wanting this?" he asked quietly.

"What do you mean?"

Aya pulled him to sit beside him on the bed, expression so soft and ironic and trusting, all at once.

"I want this, too, Yohji. Just because I wanted us to wait until our relationship was more…strong…doesn't mean that sex is some kind of sacrifice for me. Waiting has been just as difficult for me as it has for you – I've wanted you a long time." Aya dropped his eyes, smile playing along his lovely lips. "I wanted you before I ever dreamed that you could love me."

"You bastard."

Aya matched what Yohji was sure was a rather stupid grin with a much quieter, much shier smile of his own.

"How could I not, with the way you dress?" he teased.

"I thought sex frightened you."

"I'm terrified."

Yohji leaned forward to capture his lips, and Aya accepted the kiss with a freedom he had never before possessed. Yohji could tell by the heat and intensity of the kiss alone that Aya had made his decision – that this was finally going to happen.

His hand slipped into Aya's lap, fingertips gently brushing against the other man's crotch, and he smiled slightly against Aya's lips as he felt him shiver delightedly in response.

Aya slid his hands up Yohji's chest, taking hold of the lapels of his shirt and laying backwards across his bed, pulling Yohji with him. The blonde had a moment to be surprised, before he was distracted by the fact they were suddenly pressed so very tightly together.

Aya's hands slipped under Yohji's shirt, splaying across the bare skin of his back and pressing, forcing their two bodies even closer together, and Yohji happily obliged, rocking teasingly against him as he ravished his mouth with new fervor.

Hands tight fists in his hair, Aya suddenly pulled Yohji away.

"Go slow," he cautioned with a halfhearted glare, his eyes already beginning to darken and glaze with lust. Yohji found himself staring at his beautiful, kiss swollen lips, and couldn't help but to grin.

He slid his hand up under Aya's shirt and let it rest there warmly. With his other hand he tilted Aya's head to the side and slipped his lips to the soft skin of his neck, finding the area of the other man's jaw right under his ear most sweet.

Aya's arms tightened around him as he gave himself over to the leisurely exploration.

There was something indescribably exciting about finding Aya so pliant and sweetly willing at last. The last of Yohji's niggling worries slipped away.

Almost moving of their own accord, his hands were pulling Aya's shirt from the waistband of his slacks, fingers fumbling with strange awkwardness with the buttons of his shirt. Aya's skin was unbelievably soft under his fingertips, extraordinarily sweet under his lips, as he moved ever lower, Aya's hands moving to run themselves leisurely through his hair.

Yohji rested his head against Aya's hip for a moment, tracing his fingers delicately against the other man's sides.

"What are you doing?"

Aya's voice was not nearly as stable as usual, and his hands were trembling very slightly.

Yohji didn't answer him, instead nuzzling even closer. Aya took a shuddering breath, hands convulsing in Yohji's hair.

With an easy movement, Yohji undid the button of Aya's slacks, and easily slid down the zipper. Hooking his fingers in the smaller man's boxers, he slid both them and the pants off and away and gave himself a long moment to stare at the sight now revealed to him.

"Gods, Aya…" he breathed at last.

The redhead only blinked at him, eyes gone dark and vague and too beautiful for words. His body was as beautiful as the rest of him, all pale, clean lines – somehow strong and vulnerable, hard and soft, all at once. He was utterly defenseless, utterly ready.

Utterly Yohji's.

The blonde slid his hands up the other man's thighs, and Aya closed his eyes and leaned his head back, somehow so submissive yet so demanding all at once.

Aya let out a small cry of surprise, eyes shooting open once more as Yohji let his fingers trace lightly against the length of him.

Holding his eyes, Yohji lowered his head to cover him with his mouth.

"Yohji - !"

He couldn't help but to smirk against him, proud of the strangled need in his lover's voice. Aya clawed at him a moment, and reluctantly Yohji pulled away, breathing lightly against the wettened skin before rolling his eyes upwards to look at the swordsman.

"What's wrong?" he asked teasingly.

Aya's glare was weak.

"Don't do that."

"Why not?"

Aya shook his head, and Yohji wondered if it was his imagination or if the other man was actually blushing.

"You don't like it?" he pressed warmly.

"I didn't say…"

Grinning, Yohji lowered his head once more, the sound of Aya's labored breathing and quiet whimpers music to his ears.

"Yohji - !"

He pinned the other man's slim hips to the bed, holding him still and helpless as Aya clutched at him, cries growing louder and less hesitant, rising to a beautiful crescendo Yohji knew no other being in the world had ever earned from him.

"It's okay," Yohji assured him as he pulled away at last, stretching out against the softly panting man on the bed. "You're aloud to go more than once – it gives us more time to enjoy ourselves."

Aya swatted weakly at him, the small smile on his lovely face belying the attempted glare, and Yohji gave a quiet chuckle.

"Are you embarrassed?" he teased, nuzzling his neck. "That was supposed to happen, you know."

Aya snorted quietly, tracing his fingers leisurely up and down Yohji's back.

"And now comes the…the other part?"

"Only if you still want it to." Yohji answered. Stopping now would be painful…unbearably painful…but his relationship with Aya was far more important.

"You keep talking this way, and I'm going to think that you're the one who's frightened."

Yohji lifted his head, gazing down at his lover and finding he had to fight back the desire that suddenly swept itself through his veins.

"Are you still frightened, Aya?"

The redhead smiled languidly at him, trust and affection and desire all shining within his dark, half-lidded eyes.

"Not so much anymore," he answered quietly.

"Good." Yohji breathed, moving to kiss him.

Aya pushed him gently away.

"Not yet."

"What's wrong?"

"I want to see you first."

Grinning, Yohji slid from the bed. Aya repositioned himself to be more secure on the bed before giving him an expectant look.

Yohji found himself staring, and didn't try to hide it even as Aya noticed. The red haired man appeared so frail in the large bed, so pale against the dark sheets. His body was smooth alabaster, every limb perfect to Yohji's adoring eyes.

"What?" Aya asked at last.

Yohji shook his head, grinning.

"I just can't believe that this is finally happening."

"It won't if you don't hurry," he snapped, sitting up.

Yohji couldn't help but to give a small laugh, reaching up to loosen his collar.

Aya drew his knees to his chest, eyes dark and intense as he watched Yohji undress, obsessively following his every move.

"There's not going to be a quiz on this later, you know." Yohji teased, crawling across the bed toward Aya once he had finished.

"This is important to me." Aya murmured back, reaching for him. "I don't want to miss anything."

"Well, if you do miss something, I'll be more than happy to show you again." Yohji promised, lips a whisper above his lover's delicate skin. "However many times you need me to – all you have to do is ask."

His lips found Aya's and the pale man stretched his legs out. Yohji felt a thrill of excitement as he directed him to wrap those long limbs around him. He pressed close enough to feel that Aya had recovered and was once more hard and ready.

Close enough that Aya could feel him, too.

His skin against Aya's was a pleasure he hadn't dared allowed himself to anticipate. Were there not more pressing needs to be met, he was certain he would have been content to stay there, Aya beneath him, skin so soft and warm against his own.

He had been still for too long. Aya wriggled beneath him, shifting enough to make him moan.

"I thought you wanted me to go slow," he teased, deliberately crashing his pelvis against the redhead's – causing him to let out a small, surprised gasp.

Without answering, Aya wrapped his arms tightly around him and pulled him closer.

Yohji buried his face against the sweetness of his lover's neck, letting his hands roam freely against the pale flesh beneath him.

Light touches, teasing caresses. He nipped at Aya's collar bone, and rocked gently against him, listening to the sounds the other man was making growing steadily louder and more desperate.

He pulled back at last to survey his work, feeling a thrill of excitement. Aya's eyes had gone dark with desire once more, his chest heaving as quiet whimpers escaped his kiss-swollen lips.

Suddenly desperate, Yohji cast around for a moment and found a bottle of lubricant on the nightstand – of course Aya would plan ahead. He had probably bought the stuff at the very beginning of their relationship – just in case.

Yohji coated his fingers quickly and leaned in close once more, covering Aya's lips with his own in a heated kiss as he carefully entered him with one finger. Aya made a small, surprised sound against his mouth.

"You okay?" Yohji asked against his lips.

Aya nodded, pulling him back into the kiss.

It was a fight to force himself to take the time to prepare Aya as thoroughly as he knew he should; the pale man seemed to have made it his personal duty to make it as difficult for Yohji as possible, but at last it was done and he was positioning himself and wondering how the hell he was going to control himself for much longer.

He held Aya's eyes as he entered him – slowly, carefully, sweat beading on his forehead from the effort control took.

He saw the small flash of pain, watched the pain be overtaken by pleasure.

"Okay?" he asked again, voice choked from the strain caused by the sweet tightness closed around him.

"Gods, yes." Aya breathed.

Yohji gave him a moment more to adjust before beginning to move, slowly at fist, then faster as he found himself encouraged by the sweet, soft sounds his lover was making, and the way he pulled him close, clinging to him.

Yohji's hand found Aya's length and he planned his strokes in time with his thrusts, nearly losing all control when the small swordsman arched against him.

He did begin to lose control when Aya began to come, holding the pale man's gaze for as long as he could before they both found release.

Yohji slumped against him, spent, Aya's cries still echoing in his ears. Abruptly he gave a small laugh and Aya punched him weakly.

"If I was bad, tell me," he ordered in fond scolding. "But don't laugh at me."

Yohji gave another chuckle, nuzzling closer.

"I love you so much, Aya," he whispered against his skin.

"Mm."

The blonde gave himself a few more moments to rest before rising.

"I'll be right back."

"Mn."

He left the room, returning soon with a damp washcloth, and couldn't help but to smirk as he realized the smaller man had already fallen asleep. Aya didn't stir even as Yohji gently cleaned him up, tossing the washcloth to the floor before climbing into bed beside him.

He pulled the sheets up around their shoulders before gathering the slumbering redhead close and closing his eyes.

He would never be able to explain, he reflected as he drifted off to sleep with a smile on his lips, how, despite all the sex infamous man-whore Yohji Kudoh had had in his life, he had never truly enjoyed it until this moment.

He let himself slip off to sleep, hoping for dreams of a scantily-dressed Aya throwing a stick named Bob into a roaring fire.

Even asleep, Yohji Kudoh continued to grin, snuggling closer to his lover.


To Be Continued.

If you liked it, please let me know. If you didn't, don't bother. In fact, if you didn't like it, go and yell at Dark Avalon. She's the one who told me it was okay for posting. As my closest friend, she should be held responsible anyway, don't you think?

If I get booted off the site for this, you're all going to come visit me on whatever other page I find to post this on, right?

Still looking for a really good summery of the last episode of Gluhen. The entire fate of this series rests on that one episode. I am trying to find the tapes, but there's no telling how long that'll take here in hicksville, and even with access to the movies, I'll need something written for reference, anyway.

Response to Unsigned Reviews:

CaT70 - still sad?

Kirai - thanks; glad you liked. But don't be too hard on them. They think they're doing the right thing.

glinwulf - a valid thought to be sure, but Aya doesn't actually hate the name - he protests on principle. People can have nicknames for others that are a little silly and embarrassing for the one they're intended for; it's just one the of many ways Yohji flirts. Anyway, thanks for reading. As for the Gluhen, I can't comment about it right now. Everything hinges on that last episode. I never said I was pulling for a happy ending, anyway.

JB - indeed; it can be difficult. If Omi and Aya-chan knew the crap that Aya's put Yohji through, they wouldn't be nearly so hard on the poor guy...

All right, see you all next chapter...I hope. Thanks for reading.