Ah the countdown! Only one chapter left after this one - look for it Tursday, my dears. I considered combining them for length, but they feel a little rushed to me without being combined. Anyway, I'm sorry if they feel too rushed and I'm sorry if ya'll don't like them. I, personally, am happy with them. There are a few things I would change if I could, but it's too late now. If you find yourself unsatisfied, just remember that the story isn't over. There is a sequel coming. I promise.


"I'm sorry, Yohji, but it looks like I'm going to be a little late getting home." Aya apologized, holding the telephone between his shoulder and ear as he typed on his computer. "Are you starving?"

"Restaurant will still be there when you get off. Hey,"

"What?"

"How did you know to call your place?"

"You're always at my place," the redhead answered with a shrug. "You're really quite pathetic, actually."

Yohji gave a quiet laugh, voice strangley intimate. "I want to live with you."

Aya rolled his eyes, smiling slightly to himself. Ever since Aya had given him the key to his apartment Yohji had begun to gently press for a change in their living arrangements. He was over so often as it was that he might as well already be living there, but Aya was holding off giving him permission until their anniversary in a week.

A month since they became lovers.

It was strange to think about.

But the thought filled him with warmth and happiness.

"Why don't I come pick you up?" Yohji asked when Aya neglected to say anything.

"My car's here. I shouldn't be too much longer; I'm just trying to finalize the plans for Narumoto's press conference tomorrow."

"Kid's getting really popular, huh?"

"He has talent."

"You're really good at your job."

"You don't have to suck up, Yohji. I'm going to sleep with you, anyway."

"I could make a really dirty comment right now."

"Save it for when you can actually act on it."

"Sounds like a plan to me, bunny thong."

Despite himself, Aya smiled.

"Fine," he agreed, filled with fondness for his vivacious lover. "I'll see you soon."

"I love you, bunny thong."

"Hn. I…yeah."

Yohji's laughter filled the line.

"I know," the blonde sing-songed. "You love me, too. You looooooove me."

"Goodbye, Yohji."

"Bye, bunny th - !"

Aya hung up before the man could finish the familiar nickname. The redhead couldn't help but to smile quietly to himself, filled with warmth and light. Yohji made him impossibly happy. Happy enough to almost forget the phone call he had received from Manx early that morning. She had called to tell him she would have some agents trailing him for a while to protect him from Esset operatives.

Aya blinked blurring eyes at his computer and decided that he needed a break. The vending machine was just down the hall.

He was bending to take his soda out of the machine when he felt eyes on him.

He rose and turned to find Morita standing in the doorway to the break room.

"Pulling a late one?" the large man asked.

Aya narrowed his eyes into a glare, backing up against the machine.

"Apparently," he answered warily.

Morita smiled, beady eyes scanning the room. "Your little lover not here?"

"He's coming to pick me up," he lied. "He'll be here nay moment."

"You two are really hot and heavy, aren't you?" the squat man asked. "I bet you put on a good show. So do you fuck him, or is it the other way around? I bet you like it, don't you?"

"This is entirely inappropriate, and certainly none of your business."

Morita chuckled.

"That's it, isn't it? You like having him crammed inside you. You're a real wildcat, aren't you? Guys like you are always freaks."

"You can't speak this way to me."

"Oh, you won't tell anyone," the man decided, entering the room and closing the door after himself.

Aya remained still as he approached, though he greatly increased the intensity of his glare.

"Touch me and you'll loose that hand."

"Oh," the man decided, "Is that the game we're playing? I'll tell you something, Fujimiya, I've been waiting for this since the day we met. The minute I saw you I knew that you and I could have lots of…fun…together."

He reached for him.

Aya punched him, a hard right hook, and slid past quickly.

Blood seemed to be pouring from Morita's nose.

"Bitch!" the man snarled, lunging for him.

Aya grabbed his arm and twisted, bringing his other hand down and striking. He heard bone crack before Morita began to scream.

Releasing him, Aya took off running.


"You seen my hairbrush, bunny thong?"

"Hn."

The blonde man glanced at his lover, frowning. The pale man sat in a chair by the window, gazing outside at the pouring rain, a book laying forgotten in his lap.

"Aya?"

He looked up, blinking, and managed to summon a halfhearted glare.

"Why would your brush be here? You don't live here."

Yohji moved, kneeling on the floor at Aya's feet. He took the smaller man's pale, cool hands in his own, kissing them softly.

"What's wrong, bunny thong?" he asked softly.

"Nothing I can tell you."

"Aya?"

The man blinked rapidly, turning his face away.

"I promised myself I wouldn't burden you with this."

"Nothing you could ever do would be a burden to me, love."

"Hn."

"Aya, this is a partnership." Yohji scolded gently. "You have to tell me things."

"Morita was bothering me again."

Fury washed over Yohji like a bucket of ice water.

"When?" he demanded.

"Last week. I became violent with him when he wouldn't leave me alone."

"Good."

"Yohji…no one's seen him since."

"Good."

"I'm serious, Yohji," he whispered.

"I am, too."

Aya fell silent, and Yohji let him, running his thumb gently back and forth across the back of his lover's hand. The rain outside was beating heavily against the window pane, as if trying to break its way in.

Yohji begun to hum softly under his breath, voice rough from his years as a smoker, yet unbelievably comforting.

Aya leaned forward to lay his head against his lover's shoulder.

"That's nice," he murmured quietly, closing his eyes as Yohji's hands began to pull softly though his hair. "I like it. What is it?"

"An American song I heard once. The lyrics made me think of you."

"Mm?"

"'There's some things that'll never change – like you and me and the sound of rain.'"

Aya relaxed against him.

"You're so mushy sometimes."

"Mushy?" Yohji grinned, sliding Aya's shirt up so that he could run his fingers up and down his bare back. "That's a word I never dreamed would find its way into your vocabulary."

"I like it."

"Mush?"

"I always thought it would annoy me, but all it really does is make me happy. Makes me feel…warm."

"Good."

Aya drew back, smile fragile.

"Can we go to the bedroom?" the redhead asked quietly. "I don't want to do anything today but be with you."

Yohji would have grinned, but he sensed the seriousness of the situation.

Instead he only smiled.

"Anything you want, Aya."


"Tell me you love me."

Yohji opened his eyes to find the bright violet gaze of his lover focused intently on him. The blonde smiled softly, reaching up to tug on a strand of crimson hair.

"I love you." he answered.

Aya nodded and took a deep breath.

"I love you, too."

Yohji stared at him, but Aya's gaze was steady.

"What was that?" he whispered.

Aya closed his eyes, burying his face against his lover's neck.

"I'm in love with you, Yohji."

"Oh, Aya…" Yohji wrapped his arms tightly around his small lover, aching to hold him as close as possible. "It's about damn time."

Aya drew back, bright eyes glaring down at him. Yohji laughed as the smaller man punched him in the ribs.

"I bare my heart to you and all you can say is 'it's about damn time'?" he demanded coldly.

Yohji pulled Aya until the smaller man was more fully atop him. Aya squirmed until Yohji let him sit up, and positioned himself more securely atop his lover's hips. In the exchange, the sheets had gotten trapped between them, but Yohji found himself very much enjoying the arrangement, nevertheless.

Testing the waters, Yohji took a firm hold on his lover's hips and lifted his own.

Aya punched him again.

"Don't try to distract me."

"I wasn't - !" Aya was still glaring at him. Yohji realized he might have offended him. With a sigh and a smile, Yohji coaxed Aya to lie against his chest. "Bunny thong, I'm sorry. Let's try this again, okay?"

"I love you," the smaller man glared.

"Thanks."

Aya drew back.

"You're punishing me, aren't you?"

"Aya!"

"Yohji!"

"Maybe a little," Yohji grinned, splaying his fingers against his lover's slim hips. "Aya, I'm teasing."

"I tell you that I love you, and you tease me."

"Are you pouting?"

"I don't pout."

"Aya, you mean everything to me. You're my entire life. Nothing matters more to me – nothing."

"Why couldn't you have just said that in the first place?"

"I'm sorry. You caught me off guard, love. I'm thrilled and honored and…Aya, you make me feel like life is a beautiful place. Like I've never suffered and will never suffer again because nothing and no one else exists."

"Don't overdo it, now."

"I'm being completely honest."

Aya laughed, leaning back down to bury his face against Yohji's chest.

"How can you do this to me?" he demanded, continuing to smile.

Yohji closed his arms tightly around his lover, holding him close.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"I want to live with you, Yohji," he whispered. "I want you to live with me."

"Aya…" he breathed.

"I was going to wait until our anniversary tomorrow to ask you, but…"

"How can you be so perfect?"

The alarm went off, signaling that it was time to get up for work. Aya smiled down at Yohji – a real, full smile.

"Want to take a shower?"


A peace had settled over Aya – a calm and happiness that nothing could touch, not even the threat of assassination. Everything would be all right. It had to be, because life was finally going well. He was loved. More importantly, he was in love.

"Fujimiya-san, Nakemura wants to see you in his office."

Aya smiled at his secretary, and even gave a laugh as she blushed.

"Thank you; tell him I'll be right there."

He dropped his things off in his office before heading to answer his boss's summons.

Nakemura was behind his desk, an intimidating figure.

Aya smiled.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Close the door and sit down."

Aya did as told, fighting the urge to squirm under the man's gaze.

"Satoshi Morita is dead." Nakemura informed him without preamble.


To Be Concluded next chapter

Response to Unsigned Reviews:

Kirai - I'm so glad!

CaT70 - Twice a week isn't fast enough? LOL.

That's it for this chapter. See you Thursday.