Big thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter; you have no idea how much the support means to me.

Super big thanks to the awesome Akira for stealing Gluhen from a friend and writing me a summery. Muffins for you. (Eh...mind if I bug you when/if I have questions?)

Enjoy the happy times, folks. That's all I gotta say.


Bright sunlight hit his eyes and Aya frowned to himself, turning his back on the window as he sleepily wondered why he hadn't closed the curtains before going to sleep.

He snuggled more deeply into his pillow, warm beneath the sheets and comfortable beyond belief. A scent surrounded him, a spicy, familiar cologne he knew he recognized but didn't belong to him.

He shifted to find the most comfortable position, and his body gave its protest in the form of a quiet ache. No doubt he had overdone it at the gym again.

He didn't want to ever get up, he decided. For once in his life, he wanted to indulge on a whim and just stay in bed all day. It wouldn't hurt anything for him to do it just this once, would it?

Aya's eyes snapped open and he sat up, blinking at the alarm clock.

His first thought was that he was going to be late for work.

His second thought was the realization that he was nude.

His sharp eyes scanned the room and alighted on the duffel bag by the door. That bag didn't belong to him.

Yawning, the former swordsman forced himself to get out of bed, scowling when his foot descended on a slightly soggy washcloth.

"Kudoh."


Yohji froze, heart leaping up into his throat as he thought he heard a door open down the hall. He waited, frozen, for a few moments, but when there was nothing else he passed it off as nerves and turned his attention back to the food cooking on the stove.

Yohji wasn't just scared – he was fucking terrified. Any moment he was expecting to hear an angry cry from down the hall. Already in his mind he could see the anger on Aya's face as he kicked him from the apartment.

Last night had simply been too good to be true. There had to be some horrible truth waiting – Aya had been drunk, Aya had only wanted to get back at the others, Aya hadn't really wanted to do anything; Yohji had only assumed he had.

The disastrous possibilities kept playing themselves over in his head in a painful, merciless loop. Once again Yohji had made a mistake, and he would have to pay for it – just as soon as Aya woke up.

Yohji piled the pancakes onto a plate and turned to place them on the table.

He jumped at the sight of Aya in the kitchen doorway. The red haired young man was dressed in an ugly, shapeless gray sweat suit, and his hair was a disheveled mess.

Yohji had never seen anything so breathtakingly beautiful in his entire life.

The blonde managed a weak smile.

"Morning, bunny thong," he greeted shakily. "Hungry?"

It was impossible to read the pale man's expression as he held out his hand.

"What is this?"

"A washcloth." Yohji answered warily.

"It was on the floor."

Yohji swallowed nervously – Aya's voice was so cold. He decided to act as if nothing could possibly be wrong, and play it innocent when Aya began to yell.

"Well, sex tends to be messy, bunny thong," he answered as breezily as he could, "And I didn't think you'd wanna wake up covered in-"

"Why was it on the floor?" Aya interrupted.

"Uh…" Yohji answered intelligently.

Aya passed him and tossed the washcloth into the small laundry basket he kept by the garbage can.

"Don't leave it on the floor next time," he ordered coldly. He turned back to Yohji at last, squinting at him. "Why are you so jumpy?" he asked sharply.

"Uh…"

Aya yawned, running a hand through his hair.

"Can you hand me the phone?" he asked. "I need to call work and tell them I'm running late."

"I already called them." Yohji answered quietly. "I told them you were sick and that you couldn't come in today."

"You did?"

Yohji looked away.

"I thought we should stay together today," he told him, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "In case…you know…in case there were any problems."

Silence.

Yohji froze as he felt a pair of long arms wrap themselves around him from behind, a sharp chin coming to rest on his shoulder.

"Why are you acting this way?" Aya asked, voice almost amused. "Didn't I tell you I wanted you to stay last night? Didn't I promise not to get mad at you?"

"Yeah, but…"

Aya sighed.

"I will be mad at you if you keep acting like such a moron," the former swordsman informed him, nuzzling close. "It's only cute for the first few minutes."

"I've waited so long to be with you." Yohji whispered.

"Now you don't have to wait any more."

"I just don't want anything to ruin this."

"Tell me you love me." Aya requested quietly.

"I love you."

Aya released him and Yohji found a smile on the red haired young man's face as he turned to face him. The blonde relaxed, at last reassured that the haven he had woken to would not be taken away.

Yohji reached forward to brush hair out of his lover's eyes, returning his smile.

"How are you feeling?"

"Wonderful." Aya answered.

Yohji cocked his head to the side, peering at him.

"No regrets?"

"None."

"Want to quit your job and become my personal love toy?"

Smile slipping from his face, Aya hit him.

"Idiot," he grumbled, turning away.

Yohji laughed.


Finished with his breakfast, Aya rose to put his dishes in the sink and tried to ignore the feel of his companion's eyes following him.

This was an entirely new world – one which Aya had no idea how to respond to. Breakfast had passed pleasantly enough, but every time Yohji looked at him, Aya couldn't help but to think about what had happened last night. He couldn't bring himself to fully believe it had happened. There was plenty of evidence, but it still seemed unreal to him.

He had slept with Yohji Kudoh.

Yohji had been…with him.

And he had enjoyed it.

Arms closed behind him from behind and pulled him close against a strong, familiar chest. He closed his eyes as Yohji nuzzled his neck, reluctantly relaxing in the other man's embrace.

"You okay, bunny thong?" Yohji murmured.

"I said I was, didn't I?"

"Yea, but," Yohji pulled Aya's hair back to bare the side of his neck and softly kissed him right under the ear. "You've been so quiet."

"I'm always quiet."

"Not this quiet. Not unless you're angry or upset about something."

"I'm not angry or upset."

"But?"

Aya fell silent, thinking of how right it felt to be in Yohji's arms. It had always felt right.

"I need a shower," he said at last.

"You didn't answer my question."

Aya snorted softly, smiling to himself. Yohji knew him far too well.

"How do you know I'm just not a morning person?"

"I lived with you for years, man."

"Years in which I was always quiet," he pointed out.

Yohji sighed and released him.

"Are we really going to fight?"

Reluctantly, Aya turned to face him. Yohji was beautiful in the soft morning light that came through the windows, his golden hair tied back in a low, messy tail. Barefoot, he wore nothing but jeans, and as Aya trailed his eyes down his lover's naked chest, he found himself wondering if the man wore anything under said jeans or if the thick materiel were all that stood between him and his lover's golden skin.

Dangerous, his instincts screamed.

"Hey," Yohji grinned. "Eyes up here, buddy."

Aya glared, then sighed.

"This is just going to take a little while for me to get used to," he admitted at last. "It's…weird."

"Weird?"

"I can't explain it."

Yohji shifted closer, trapping Aya against the counter as he let his hands come to rest on the redhead's slim hips. "Aya?" he grinned. "Love?"

"What?" Aya grumped.

Yohji leaned forward and captured his lips in a gentle kiss. Aya moaned and tried to follow when Yohji pulled away.

"Do you like it when we do that?" the blonde asked, resting his forehead against Aya's.

It took the former swordsman three times before he could speak.

"Yes."

Yohji grinned, burying one hand in Aya's hair as he kissed him again, this time more deeply than before. Aya caught his face in his hands to keep him from moving away before he was satisfied.

When at last they were forced to pull apart for air, Aya was far more comfortable and far less worried than he had been before. Had Yohji's hips not been pinning him to the cabinets, Aya wasn't certain he would still be standing.

"And you like that?" Yohji asked, voice gone husky, nipping at his lips again.

"Gods, yes."

"Then what's the problem?" the blonde teased.

"We won't have a problem if you'll kiss me like that again."

"I think I can manage that."


Not even half the seats were filled yet, but already the auditorium felt noisy, hot, and crowded. Frankly, Aya didn't know how the rest of the crowd outside was ever going to fit inside.

"Is it good?"

"For this being your first concert?" Aya looked at Narumoto and managed to smile at the visibly-nervous young man. "It's amazing."

"What if I mess up?"

Letting his hand fall from the curtain, Aya turned fully toward the boy.

"You know the music, and you know the dances," he stated. "Why would you mess up?"

Narumoto scowled at him, nervousness momentarily replaced by annoyance.

"You could at least try to be helpful, you know."

"I'm not being helpful? You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me. I've already filled my helpfulness quota, as far as you're concerned."

Narumoto blinked.

"Was that a joke?"

"…no."


Aya shook his head as he entered his apartment and found Yohji asleep on the couch.

"Kudoh, you broke into my place again?" he sighed, letting the door slam closed behind him.

Yohji jerked awake, offering a halfhearted glare as he yawned and scratched his head.

"If you'd a' let me come to the concert with you, I woulda' been with you and wouldn't have had to break in," he pointed out with the logic of a sleepy blonde.

Aya rolled his eyes.

"I was nervous enough, thank you. I didn't need you there molesting me all night."

"Well, can I molest you now?" Yohji asked, suddenly seeming far more awake.

"I should tell you no," he frowned.

"But?"

"Nothing. I should tell you no."

Yohji rose and came to him, and Aya wondered how the man would manage to look so sexy when he had just woken up.

"I'm tired," he glared.

"Tomorrow is the weekend."

"Yohji!"

The blonde picked him up, slinging him over his shoulder in a fireman's carry despite the sudden round of furious kicking and death threats, and carried him off to the bedroom.


He was so very warm and comfortable. Half asleep, he never wanted to move again. If he could just stay as he was for the rest of his life, he would be content.

The body beside him shifted slightly, bare calve sliding across his equally-bare thigh, and Yohji Kudoh smiled to himself.

No, he decided, he was willing to stir.

If stirring would lead to wake-up sex.

Maybe in a few moments, he thought to himself, eyes drifting closed.

His lover fit so perfectly against his side, he reflected, enjoying the weight of the young man currently using him as a pillow. In fact, Aya was too perfect to be true, and Yohji loved him far too much for this to be real. He had never felt anything this strongly before – not love nor hate nor joy nor pain.

The phone on the nightstand began to ring, and Aya groaned, burying his face against Yohji's shoulder.

"'S all right, love." Yohji assured him groggily, kissing the top of his head as he fumbled for the phone. "I got it."

Finding the phone at last, he managed to answer before the fourth ring.

"'Lo?"

"Aya?" a voice he knew he should recognize asked.

"No." Why couldn't he recognize that voice? "'S Yohji."

Silence a long moment. When the speaker spoke again, his voice was annoyed.

"Can I speak to Aya, please?"

"Try calling at a decent hour, ass hat," he slammed the receiver back down and turned to spoon his lover. Aya was too sleepy to bother scolding him for being rude on the phone.

Yohji was nearly asleep again when the phone began to ring once more.

"Answer it." Aya ordered.

Making an annoyed sound, Yohji sat up and grabbed the phone.

"What?"

"Yohji, did you just call Omi an ass hat?"

He blinked. "No."

"You didn't? You didn't call him an ass hat and hang up on him a few moments ago?"

"Who is this?"

"Yohji!"

"No it's not."

"Put Aya on the phone!"

"Aya's sleeping – like any normal person would be."

"Yohji, it's nearly ten o'clock in the fucking morning."

He blinked.

"Ken?"

"Give me the phone." Aya mumbled.

"You sure?"

Aya nodded, sitting up and holding out his hand expectantly.

"Ken?" Yohji asked into the phone.

"Yeah?"

"Upset him and I'll gut you."

Considerably cheered, Yohji handed the phone to his lover.

"Hello?" Aya asked, tone borderline-cold. He wouldn't be ready for full-blown glacier until he'd been awake for at least a few more hours.

Yohji settled back against the pillows, content to listen to his lover argue with his former teammate.


"Hi, Aya." Ken sounded a little nervous – which didn't lessen the redhead's annoyance with him. "Not like you to sleep in this late, is it?"

"I had a late night."

"Yohji come over to…erm…wake you?"

"He spent the night, Ken."

"Right."

A long, awkward silence. Aya's nerves were stretched and broken.

"If the only reason you called was to check up on my sleeping arrangements, Hideka…"

"No! No, um…"

"Hideka."

"Omi wants to have another get-together," he blurted.

"No."

"But - !"

"It's not a good idea," he snapped. "Not when you all seem inclined to dictate the course of my life."

"I'll put Omi on the line."

"No! Hideka, don't you dare - !"

"Hello? Aya?"

"Hello, Omi," he sighed.


Yohji began to grin as he realized that Ken was putting Omi on the phone. Both Yohji and Aya were currently more than annoyed with the boy, but that didn't make him any less difficult to argue with.

Closing his eyes, Yohji listened to his lover argue with the chibi of Weiss, snickering when the man finally broke down and agreed to whatever it was their former teammate was suggesting.

"I tried." Aya sighed as he hung up the phone. Yohji grabbed him and pulled him down atop him.

"Poor baby."

"He's got this…thing planned for tomorrow evening."

"Boy doesn't like to plan things too far ahead, does he?"

"Takes away our chance to cancel on him," the redhead sighed.

Yohji rolled them so that he was on top, and grinned down at his lover.

"Let me take your mind off it, love."


To Be Continued

Response to Unsigned Reviews:

talietim - happy to oblige!

Moon without a Sun - well, it's a good word to be stuck on.

CaT70 - thanks!

JB - glad you liked it! Well, if you ever have the time. I know different points of view would be helpful (people intrepret eps in different ways) but not if you have to go to any trouble, since I now have the answers I needed.

When bridges are burned, a fire is created. After the inferno, there is only the water that rested beneath. See ya next time.