This chapter is one which has been planned for since the very beginning. While it didn't turn out exactly as I had in mind (and what does, really?) I'm happy with it, overall.

Regadless of the correct spelling of Ken's name, I have decided to leave it the way I have it. I just can't type it the other way. It looks wrong. Please forgive me the misuse of one letter.

Okay, guys…don't hate me for this, okay?


"Do you need anything, Yohji?" Aya asked, approaching where the blonde was grilling out with Omi.

The youngest former member of Weiss had planned this new get-together to try to make up for the disaster of the last one. Grilling out at the park, he'd decided, would be the perfect, casual way to get everyone comfortable and talking. When Yohji had volunteered to do the cooking, Omi had insisted on helping him.

It was a good day for their picnic. The weather had begun warming up a few weeks ago and today was almost hot.

Yohji couldn't help but to grin at his lover, finding him too adorable for words. Aya was dressed in a pair of faded, ripped jeans and one of Yohji's t-shirts. The shirt was much too large for him, hitting him almost mid-thigh. He had tied his hair back in a low, tight tail.

Yohji wanted nothing more than to hug him – to hold him close to his side and announce to the world that he was his lover. Yohji wasn't sure what, exactly, it was about the outfit, but every time he glanced at the smaller man, he couldn't help but to grin.

"We're fine, bunny thong," he drawled, "What; you don't want to play with the others?"

Aya glanced across the park, where Aya-chan, Ken, and Miyoko were playing volleyball.

"No," he said simply, sitting down at the picnic table.

"You let him call you 'bunny thong'?" Omi asked.

Aya's head shot up as Yohji began to laugh, and he glared.

"I don't like it," Aya said at last, "But I won't kill him for it."

"And I'm ever so grateful." Yohji chuckled.

Omi frowned, but wisely chose not to say anything.

Yohji idly wondered what the well-meaning chibi would think if he learned that he was partially responsible for Yohji and Aya now sleeping together.

Aya rolled his eyes, but offered Yohji a small smile that only made Omi frown all the harder.

This did not escape Aya's notice.

"Omi. Sit down."

"But…"

"Yohji can handle the burgers alone – at least, he can if he stops staring at me for long enough to keep the food from burning. Think you can handle that, Kudoh?"

"I guess I can try," the blonde sighed.

Didn't mean he wasn't going to eavesdrop.

Omi couldn't hide a small sigh as he put down the tongs and moved to sit with Aya.

It was clear that the younger boy was a little frightened of being left alone under the scrutiny of his former leader, but really it was all he deserved for thinking to interfere with their relationship.

Yohji smirked to himself, prepared for some fun.


Aya fixed his steady, intense, unreadable stare on Omi until the young man felt like a child who had been caught doing something wrong.

"Omi," Aya began at last, then sighed and closed his eyes. Over the years, Omi had learned that he only did that when he was trying not to glare at someone. "Omi, here's your only chance. Tell me exactly why you oppose my being with Yohji."

"You lived with him for as long as I did." Omi reminded him. "He goes through lovers like candy!"

Aya opened his eyes, and he wasn't glaring. Omi had never seen his eyes so hurt and vulnerable. He quickly reached across the table to grasp his friend's hand and lowered his voice, hoping Yohji wasn't listening in.

"Weiss is my family, Aya. I just don't want to see you hurt!"

"Yohji is Weiss, too. Doesn't he deserve a chance at happiness as much as the rest of us?"

"But, you - !"

"He's suffered, too, Omi. He just shows it differently. You should be happy that we're together. We're happy. He loves me so much, Omi, he really does. You have no idea how long he waited or how much I put him through or how scared he was…"

"I wasn't scared." Yohji interrupted, proving that he was, indeed, listening.

"Can't you believe that this is real?" Aya asked quietly.

"Do you love him, too?" Omi asked.

At the grill, Yohji grew very still, listening.

Aya paled.

"I don't know." He answered at last. "If I were going to love anyone, he would be the one. But I don't know if I'm capable of something like that…I'm sorry, Yohji."

"You love me," the blonde drawled, not looking at either of them. "I don't have to hear it."

For a moment, Omi wondered if Yohji was lying.

But Yohji was the one who hurt his lovers, not Aya. Aya was the one who needed to be protected.

"Yohji is very, very important to me, Omi. I care for him, and I trust him."

"But what if he cheats on you?"

"I would be devastated," he admitted, "And he would wake up one day to find that his genitals have been non-too-gently removed. But I told you, I trust him. He won't cheat on me, and not just because I scare him. I just know he won't. You know I don't give out that much trust so easily."


Aya did love him – Yohji was sure of it.

No one else was allowed to touch the man – to kiss him and hold him.

No one else in the entire world had seen him stretched out pale and perfect, completely trusting, in bed. No one else had seen his eyes when they went dark with lust, or heard the small, delicious noises he made while gripped in the throes of passion.

No one else knew the sweetness of waking to find the man asleep beside him.

Still…

It might be nice to hear the words.

Yohji blinked, realized he was about to burn the food, and quickly pulled it off the grill.

"Grub's ready," he called to everyone. Aya looked at him sharply, and he wondered if his voice had given away anything unfortunate.

The others came from their game laughing and flushed with exertion as they sat down at the table.

Was it Yohji's imagination, or did the happiness somewhat fade from Aya-chan's face as he sat down next to her brother?

All laughter fell away within a few moments as a nearly palpable awkwardness fell across the entire table.

Yohji noticed Aya eating very, very slowly. The man couldn't eat when he was upset – a fact Yohji had learned all the back in Weiss.

"So, ah…how about this crazy weather?" Ken asked finally, forcing a laugh. When no one tried to answer, he laughed again. "Yeah; it's really crazy. It has to be close to eighty today, huh? And it's barely springtime!"

"Global warming!" Miyoko piped in.

"All the plants think it's spring," Ken nodded. "They're all doomed if we get a late frost."

"It's just wrong." Aya-chan said softly.

"You mean that humanity could do this to their very home?" Miyoko asked.

"No," Aya-chan dabbed her mouth daintily with her napkin, staring down at her plate. "I mean Ran and Kudoh-san."

"All right."

Too words, nearly too quiet to be heard, but they gained the attention of everyone at the table. Aya rose, eyes gone cold. For a moment it seemed that he was about to say something, but he changed his mind.

"Guess that's my cue," Yohji sighed, rising and following.

He had to break into a jog to catch up with the smaller man, and when he did, Aya ignored him completely. Yohji couldn't think of anything he, personally, had done wrong…

But then again…

"Aya?" he asked tentatively once they were in the car.

"Take me home, Yohji."

"Right," he sighed, starting the engine.

Aya was silent the entire drive.

He was silent in the elevator.

Yohji hesitated outside the door to the smaller man's apartment.

"D'ya want me to…?"

A sharp nod.

Aya's hand shook as he tried to unlock the door, so Yohji gently took the keys from him.

Once the door was open, he followed him inside.

Almost immediately, Aya was in his arms.

Yohji closed his arms slowly around the small, trembling form, gently pulling him close.

"Aya?"

And then, Aya…broke.


The tears came before he could stop them, a hot, horrid torrent of pain and anger and betrayal. It wasn't because of Aya-chan's disapproval, or Omi's questioning.

It was everything that had ever hurt him that he hadn't allowed himself to mourn.

All he knew was that he was home, and he was safe and Yohji was there with love and understanding that he knew he didn't deserve but was more than willing to accept.

He was shaking so bad he could hardly stand, so Yohji lifted him up into his arms and carried him to the bedroom.

Yohji stretched out next to him on the bed and held him close, one hand in his hair, the other moving comfortingly along his back. Aya wished the other man would hold him more tightly – hold him tightly enough to hurt. The man was so gentle it was maddening – how was he supposed to distract himself from this nightmare is Yohji was going to be so damned nice?

"It's all right, baby," Yohji was whispering in his ear. "It's all right."

"It hurts."

"It's all right – it's supposed to hurt, love." Yohji kissed his temple, too terribly wonderful for words.

"No…"

"You're allowed to feel this, Aya. You need it."

"No."

"It's all right, bunny thong. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Not ever."

Aya only sobbed harder.

Body quaking, face soaked with tears, Aya Fujimiya let himself feel for the first time in years.

He cried and let Yohji hold him and comfort him and slowly the ache that had always filled his heart began to ease.

When the tears finally stopped and he found himself drifting off to sleep, Aya knew that something broken within him had begun to heal.


Yohji watched his lover fall asleep in his arms, and he felt terror.

It had never occurred to him that Aya could cry like that – that the man was capable of such a strong display of emotion. He had known of the man's pain, but never taken the time to consider the full weight of that pain.

An now Yohji was terrified.

Closing his eyes, he sent up a silent prayer to whoever might be listening – a plea that he never, ever do anything to add to his lover's pain.

A plea that one day Aya find true happiness – and that Yohji be there to help bring about that happiness.


To Be Continued

Very short chapter, but it least it was released quickly, right? And the next one will be, too. Promise.

We're getting very, very close to the end here, and the ideas for the following stories are falling into place like magic. Things might get painful – bear with us.

Response to Unsigned Reviews:

Kirai - Awwwwwww; you're so sweet to me!

talietim - I'm actually finished - I just need to post the rest of the chapters. Bridges will end at chapter 21. Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoy it!

CaT70 - LOL; thanks! Yes, Yohji's vocabulary is a very bad influence...

JB - kaykay