Notes: This is actually the younger sibling of 'Gardens at Eve'. Mind you, 'GaE' was far better than it's rather unusual sibling you see here. Also, you'll notice I'm talking to Kouji and Takuya at random intervals in this... (HP-me). Never actually planned on posting it, so there didn't seem to be any harm in it... now I'm just too lazy to go through and remove them har har.

Title: Crimson Knives Written: Summer of 2004 Rating: T or M

One year. One year, and they'd both be the happiest men in the entire world. One year. A seventeen-year old male with a black ponytail placed lowly on his head, was scribbling down a few things they needed to prepare for their wedding. He wore no shirt, and had on loose fitting jeans with a slight hint of navy blue boxers beneath. As he moved, a small aquamarine-colored earring on his right ear glinted in the morning's sunlight. Serene blue eyes concentrated hard on what he was doing, as everything had to be just right. Yes, this was Kouji Minamoto, soon to be Kouji Minamoto Kanbara. Or would it be Kouji Kanbara Minamoto? That minor detail could be handled later, anyway he shook the slightly confusing thought away, and he tried to recall where he left off.

"The food!" His lover called from the other room, he too getting ready. Kouji found himself sweat-dropping, wondering when the other never thought about that particular subject. Rubbing his temples, realizing he'd never get any of this done, Kouji stood up and was around 5'7" ((Kouji: HEY!; HP: What?)) and proceeded to stretch from having sat down too long.

"Yes, we already have someone taking care of that you baka." Kouji replied back with a wry grin. Sometimes… Turning around to look outside, Kouji felt something – or rather someone jump onto his back. "Oi!" He scowled and turned to see a brunette grin at him with reddish-brown eyes. Although the other was the exact same height, it was still a morning ritual to glomp the other. "Takuya…" He sighed and tried to pry his rather stubborn lover off, but to no avail. The brunette clung tighter until eventually Kouji gave up altogether.

"Come on, claim to be sick and let's spend the day together!" Takuya cried and nuzzled Kouji's ribs. "Hmm?"

"Iie. Baka, off!" Kouji growled and after ten more minutes of arguing, he finally managed to escape the deadly grasping of Takuya. The brunette pouted and grabbed a red shirt, seeing as he too didn't have one on, and was only wearing black capris, and no unfortunately for all the fangirls it was unknown what color his boxers were or if he was even wearing any. ((Takuya: o0 ;HP: What?)) The two boys had first met when they were two-years old, and didn't become friends until they were five. Had it not been for the fact Takuya was an annoying, outgoing, and basically unavoidable person (not to mention adorable) after three years Kouji finally caved in. When they were eight it was known that they were two of the best friends you could find.

They knew they were best friends when Kouji's step-mom forced him to get one ear-pierced (hell for any boy that age) and Takuya said he liked it. Made Kouji look 'cool'. The black-haired boy only raised a brow at him, but secretly smiled and of course Takuya saw that. Then, when they were thirteen for Kouji's birthday he was given an aquamarine earring from Takuya, and was slightly curious as to why. You see, up until then all they really did to get each other a present each year was a card that plainly said, "Happy Birthday!" Or once in Takuya's case "Happy New Year!" but we're not getting into that. In the end Kouji found out Takuya liked him in that way, and a few months later they got together. Why? Because damnit Kouji liked him like that too! Last year, when they were sixteen they accidentally got drunk and… yah. So, now at seventeen they were lovers, and soon to be husband and husband. ((HP: Heheh, don't see that everyday. Pro-gay marriage!))

"Kouji!" Takuya whined as the other man began to get ready.

"Takuya!" Kouji mock-whined the other and smirked at the glare he received.

"Hey, no orgasms this early." Kouichi called from the living room and they both sweat-dropped.

"Want to join us Kouichi? You really must, you haven't experienced anything until you-" Kouji began but Takuya whapped him over the head.

"Don't ask him, first we must get him drunk…" Takuya started and Kouichi walked into their room and threw a pillow at him.

"I mean no offense, but personally I'd rather stay out of your sex life. Both of you. Now will you stop it and get ready? We're going to be late!" Kouichi scowled at them.

"Alright, I'll tell you how Takuya is when-OWW!" Kouji yelped when he got kicked rather hard.

"I said we get him drunk first so he doesn't remember a thing of what you have said!" Takuya threatened. Kouichi rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air. He had on khaki's with a plain blue shirt, and his hair was still shoulder length and held a slight purplish tint to it, and had the same blue eyes as Kouji. Yes, they were truly twins, with such different personalities.

"Fine fine fine…" Kouji chuckled and finally got done getting ready. Within thirty minutes the twins were gone leaving Takuya home alone.

"Why does he get to work today?" Takuya muttered and sulked away to the phone. He was off today, while Kouji had to work. It just wasn't fair!

"Okay Kouji, lets see how your life is currently going. You live with Takuya by yourselves in the middle of nowhere, with no car and no computer (how can you live without it by the way?). You're getting married in a year. Have you ever thought you're… moving too fast?" Kouichi asked, and got his answer right away when Kouji glared death daggers at him. "Eheh… just asking…"

"You'll understand one day when you meet the right man." Kouji said and patted Kouichi on the head.

"Who said it was going to be a man?" Kouichi asked.

"No one, but I'm used to saying it." Kouji grinned, as in referring to Izumi. In the past few years, she's been having nothing but men trouble, and for unknown reasons always turned to Kouji. Junpei when they were younger, had always tried to show her they were meant to be but… she won't listen. She still won't listen. It was driving everyone quite literally mad. Junpei went to Tomoki for help, but the young boy was too busy with high school to really pay much attention…

"Hmm… the right man… so that means it's all good if it's Takuya?"

"No, if it was you'd be murdered in horrifying ways, but first I'll be sure to torture you so bad you'll regret every last thing in your entire being." Kouji replied in such a calm manner it was kinda freaky…

"Well, that's reassuring. Thanks for the heads up." Kouichi said with a smile.

"Anytime bro." Kouji nodded his head, and along the drive they continued having other rather weird conversations. Ah, the wonders of brotherhood. No, by the way they did not make out you Koukou hopefuls.

"I heard you're getting a new neighbor." Kouichi said suddenly. Kouji glanced at him, and then shrugged.

"Yah, some old hag obsessed with cats. The bright side though is that we won't have to worry about mice." Kouji sighed, and then glanced at Kouichi. "How'd you find out about that?"

"Oh, I met her grandson. Hope she's more polite than he was, cause I've never met a jerk in my entire life!" The twin explained, and jumped when seeing in the rearview mirror his hair wasn't combed. "Ah, lovely. Kouji, care to do the honors?"

"Yes, but first you must join me and Takuya in the heats of passion."

"Oh brother, I love you and Takuya dearly, but not enough to get close enough to your boyfriend to have you massacre me. Can I give you ten yen instead?"

"Fine, be a cheapskate." Kouji growled, though his smile gave way he was only joking, and grabbed the brush and fixed his twins hair. "Keep your yen, I don't want anything to do with you now." He huffed.

"Oh, so I suppose you'd like me to stop the car and kick you out then?" The younger of the two asked. ((HP: What? I think Kouji was born first, so NYAH!))

"No, you do that it'd be worse than if you had accepted my proposition." The other glared.

"Heh. Ahh… Toei Animation… what do you do there?" Kouichi queried and Kouji just shrugged.

"I'm a secretary… basically make sure the place doesn't fall apart from disorganization." He answered and tightened his ponytail. "Ja."

"Ja ne." And with that, Kouichi drove away.

…Five weeks later…

A shrill, loud scream echoed through the night causing Takuya to sit upright in bed. His eyes darted around, panic sweeping around him. Tossing off the bed covers, he grabbed a jacket and ran outside to the source of the sound. He came up to their neighbor's house, where the scream originated and knocked on the door.

"Mrs. Iwata!" He called knocking harder. Suddenly it flew open nearly hitting him and the old woman scrambled out and clung to him, weeping. She had wispy dull, gray hair pulled in a tight bun, and wore an old satin nightgown with many frills and laces.

"My… my cats-!" She cried. "He killed them all! Oh, that wretched boy shall pay for such a deed!" She hissed. Takuya looked down at her, not quite understanding anything.

"Someone killed your cats?" Takuya asked rather stupidly.

"Yes! Massacred them! A curse… ahah! A curse!" She cackled madly, and Takuya sighed figuring the lady had a nightmare or something. Just his luck, right when Kouji had to work late too… "Boy, did you see who it was?" She asked. Takuya frowned and looked around.

"Well, no, not really Mrs. Iwata, I heard a scream and headed on over hear cause I was worried." Takuya shrugged. Mrs. Iwata narrowed her eyes.

"I've made a plenty of noises that any generous young man would come over to see what it was that's wrong, and yet this is the first time you've shown much a concern for me!" Mrs. Iwata huffed. "Where's your partner hmm?"

"Working late." Takuya sighed then mentally added, 'You crazy old hag…'

"So that's it!" Mrs. Iwata cried joyously. Takuya blinked. "I bet he did this!"

"Who? Kouji? No no no, I'm not sure what gave you that-" He was going to continue but Mrs. Iwata cut him off.

"I bet he lied to you and said that, then came over to kill my precious kitties!" Mrs. Iwata said madly and cackled.

"What? No way, why would he do that! Besides, I know he's working late because he just called from his job…" Takuya sighed. 'Crazy. And old. And wrinkly. And a hag.'

"Because I was thinking of putting you two into my will (I thought you were such nice young men, kicking my horrible grandson off my property for me.), and knew by getting rid of my cats I'd die!" Mrs. Iwata started to weep her loss. Hey, it was better than those cackles…

"Really? I thought that you'd give all your shit to the cats but okay… and how would Kouji know that anyways!" He demanded, tiring of her blaming his koi. It was annoying, and seriously began to tick him off.

"Excuse me child, I must go in now. Though if you can prove your koi's innocence perhaps the curse shall be lifted. Good night deary…" And with this, Ms. Iwata went inside leaving Takuya standing there.

"…crazy old hag…" Takuya murmured and walked back to the house.

…In the morning

"Ughh… light… eevil… wake me up the stupid thing…" Takuya murmured. His hand groped out on the bed, searching for Kouji's sleeping form. Then he shot up from the bed, ignoring the dizzying sensation it brought. "Light? Sun? Huh?" He frantically looked around, and when he spotted the clock yelped. It read 9:53. As in, A.M. As in he just became three hours late for work. Groaning, he plopped back down again and figured he should call in sick. Getting up, Takuya sluggishly made his way to the kitchen, half expecting Kouji to be there staring at him in a mocking manner as if to say, "I can get you to stay home while you can't." But no one was there. Opening the door to their house, on the front was a note pinned from Kouichi, it read:

Next time you two take the day off, let me know first okay? Thanks.

-Kouichi

Takuya chuckled, and threw the note away, and made a mental one to call Kouichi later and apologize. Now where was Kouji?

"Kou-chan? Where are yooouu? Kou-chan! Kou-chan?" Slight panic slowly rose inside of Takuya. What if Mrs. Iwata called the police and got Kouji arrested? She could easily have said it was animal abuse and voila, there's his pony tailed koi glaring at random guilty people in a jail cell. Or innocent as that occasionally did happen. Getting slightly more suited for walking outside during the day (aka put on a white button-up shirt and shorts) the brunette ran outside over to the crazy hags house and knocked.

"Mrs. Iwata! Mrs. Iwata? MRS. IWATA!" He yelled, and for all he cared she could suffer from a fatal heart attack because of him if anything bad happened to his koi.

"Blast it, what do you want?" She growled as the door yet again flew open and she stepped out.

"Where's Kouji?" Takuya demanded, his eyes ablaze in a fiery glare. The senior rolled her eyes at him and beckoned inside. Tentively, he went in, and was amazed it didn't have old-peoples smell. Though it did reek of cats…

"Go in your basement, he should be in there." Mrs. Iwata stated calmly and sipped some coffee. Obviously she was drinking some before the brunette began banging on her door.

"And why, may I ask, would he be there of all places?" He sighed.

"The sunlight burns. The blood thee yearns. The age known naught. The misery to ye brought. That my dear, is the curse one suffers from messing with my cats." Mrs. Iwata explained. Takuya rolled his eyes at her, and she glared. "You may not believe me, but I know your partner was the one who messed with my cats. Until he suffers for his consequences, or I'm wrong and you manage to show me who did it (I still say Kouji did it) it shall be upon him." She explained. Silence. Then… the brunette burst into a fit of laughter, and the woman couldn't'' quite understand as to why.

"You seriously expect me to believe that? No, seriously where's Kouji?"

"My boy… I shall only say this once. Because I know you didn't do it, you love that boy (it's beyond me why, personally I think you deserve a lovely young woman but hey, that's me), and are determined to prove me wrong I am telling you this. That curse turns someone into something like a vampire, but not quite. Like a real one, they cannot go into the sunlight, artificial light is okay though. They live forever, but unlike a real one once the curse is lifted they age again or if they finally repaid for their sin. A stake through the heart does not mean anything to a real vampire, but to the one under the curse it means death. Alas, finally the blood. Every night, at least a mouthful of blood otherwise the one under the curse dies, pulsing blood is required to keep the body alive. Three days can be gone without, but after… though after each night the more blood is needed. Also, if you tell anyone or he does, and they believe you they'll receive a fatal curse." Mrs. Iwata said, so seriously and darkly Takuya almost believed her. Almost.

"Suuuure… and how do I even know your cats are actually dead?" He sighed. Mrs. Iwata got up, and showed him to the back door. When she opened it, he nearly gagged. Dead cats. Everywhere. Some had the fur and skin ripped clear off the bodies. Others were missing jaws and ears had been removed. All in all the scene was so disgusting, it caused Takuya to stumble backwards a little.

"…Go home. I've called a few people over to look around to see if they can find anything. If they find something on your partner, you shall see me in court soon. Good day."