Chapter 2

Mae watched as Ken (Lennie) slept. That's all he has done since he had arrived with her. 'The poor boy must be exhausted' she thought, wringing her hands together as she stood in front of the couch/bed watching him sleep, his chest falling and rising slowly.

That was when a doorbell rang and the slamming of a door from downstairs snapped her from her musings.

"Mae honey! I'm home!" came the voice of a man.

Alfred...

Mae began to panic. She hadn't thought about what Alfred would say. He was very weary of strangers such as Ken. Hurrying over to the staircase, Mae watched as Alfred walked up the creaky stairway, looking up at her with a half smile.

"Hello Mae. How are you today?" asked Alfred when he reached the top. He kissed her on the cheek.

Alfred had dark wrinkly skin, balding gray hair and was very lean. he brushed past her, still smiling, and stopped. He stared at the couch.

After several moments of silence he finally spoke, dropping the black briefcase he had been holding. He turned to Mae.

"Who's he?" he demanded quietly. Mae fussed with her hands, worry etched all over her face.

"Oh! Alfred dear!" she began, walking in between Alfred and the couch, as though she was protecting Ken from him. "You know how we've always wanted a child."

Alfred nodded curtly, his body movements showing anger. "Yeah...

A baby Mae, not some rebel from off the street! Gangster! Filth!" he spat. He pointed a finger at the sleeping Ken. "I've seen them Mae. Little devils is what they are. Them teenagers think they know it all. Speak in that slang talk of theirs...No...NO! I will not have one of them living in my house!"

Mae, knowing that it was a lost cause to try and win, sat down next to Ken and pulled his head into her lap. She gave him the best puppy dog eyes she could muster.

"But Alfred dear...He's an orphan...I found him knocked out in the alley...starved..." she paused, seeing how Alfred would react. "Much like I found you..."

Alfred froze. That was true. Mae had found him in the exact same manner. He had been bullied by his ex-friends just after college, and one drunken night had caused him to be beaten up in an alley way. Mae had found him in the same manner as she found Ken. They soon fell in love...

He looked down upon Ken, taking in his looks. He grunted after several minutes of inner debate. "Fine" he snarled. "Just keep him away from me."

Mae stood, (after gently laying Ken back down on the pillows), and wrapped her arms around Alfred, kissing him passionately on the cheeks. That was when Ken slowly opened his eyes...

"You say you spotted him in Kyoto?" asked Mr. Ichijouji desperately.

Davis currently sat in a chair in Mr. Ichijouji's office. He stared down at his fumbling hands in his lap.

"Yes sir. South side of Kyoto" Davis repeated. Mr. Ichijouji nodded.

"Thank you son. We really appreciate you helping us with our search."

"I'm only doing it for you and Ken sir" Davis said nervously. Mr. Ichijouji put a hand on Davis' shoulder before walking off, clearly stating that Davis was free to go home.

Standing, Davis slowly walked out of the office building, his mind in turmoil.

He wasn't doing for them. He was doing it for himself. He was doing it because his heart ached to see his precious Ken again. His long hair...his sweet eyes...Too bad he never got to see them much since Ken had always insisted on wearing those hideous sunglasses while he was the emperor. But he could always look at them when he saw Ken on TV, or in a magazine. Sighing, Davis went out to continue his search.

Waking was an odd thing for Ken. Everything smelled of cinnamon. The last thing he remembered was crying...on someone's shoulder. That someone was warm and gentle.

Ken looked up and his eyes widened.

"Oh! Lennie! You're awake!" cried Mae.

Ken had to wrack his brain to remember why she was calling him Lennie. He then remembered the conversation with her earlier.

Lennie was who he was now...No more was he Ken Ichijouji...

Ken looked up and tried to smile, but stopped when he caught sight on Alfred. Ken scooted backwards on the couch/bed.

"Lennie dear...This is my husband Alfred. Alfred, this is Lennie" Mae introduced. Ken stood shakily to his feet, and reached his hand over to shake Alfred's hand.

Alfred shook it after several silent moments of stillness. Alfred then gave a hint of a smile.

"You seem to be a reasonable boy. Nothing like those gangsters I've seen around the city. You seem to have a head on your shoulders" he said.

"Thank you sir" replied Ken, bowing. He looked at Alfred in the eyes.

"I appreciate you letting me stay here with you. It is very kind. I will be eternally grateful to you both." he gave another bow. Alfred smiled. he seemed to be liking this boy more and more. He was polite!

" I will do anything I can to repay you back. I can work, sow, cook, clean. Anything really. And anything I don't know how to do, I can learn." continued Ken. Alfred smiled and patted him on the back.

"Well done Mae. You found a bright one among those gangster idiots known as teenagers" he ruffled Ken's hair. Mae gave Ken a great big hug. "Welcome to our home Lennie."