AN: Thank you all for the reviews! I really appreciate it! I want to say really quickly that the title "The Pygmalion Effect" is a fancy way of saying something is self-fulfilling, like a prophecy or vision, or simply the way you perform due to pressures and expectations. It comes from the Greek myth of Pygmalion and Galatea, etc. Also, I don't know if anyone reads XXXHolic (I do --) but in the first volume, Rikuo and Kazahaya appear once as kind of side characters, so I "threw" in characters from that manga, meaning it's not a big deal if you haven't read it. Hope it's not confusing and I promise it's a one time thing.

The Pygmalion Effect

Chapter 2

"Yes, I'm fine Kakei-san. Really, I can work some today." Kazahaya tied his uniform apron's strings into a neat bow behind his back and gave Kakei the most heartwarming smile he had ever seen. Kakei could only sigh in dissent, for he could not convince the boy that he could have the day off because of recent unnerving events. Kazahaya had come downstairs as if nothing had happened and assured Kakei very vehemently that his "bad" visions had been the product of "good" intentions. Although, "good" was attached to intentions very lightly because Kazahaya still needed time to decipher things. There had only been two visions...three if he counted the one induced by Rikuo's house key. He had chosen that particular object because of its latent potential. It was such a mundane thing but mundane things often absorbed someone's deepest thoughts and desires. Rikuo was probably more worried about Kazahaya touching his pillow or his shirt, something that stayed near his body for a long period of time, not a damn key that he used only once or twice a day and then left on his nightstand!

Other than the frightening experience of pain suffered in the visions, Kazahaya found himself drawn to the idea of Rikuo having sleeping with him. Maybe it was the novelty of losing his virginity. Mind you he had only had these thoughts when he woke up this morning with Rikuo still in his bed. If anyone had walked in he or she would have thought that they two really were lovers by the way they were wrapped together in the sheets.

Kazahaya took great pride in the fact that he woke up first for once, yet he didn't have the heart to rub it into Rikuo's face. They'd had enough trouble and he didn't want to ruin his sleep.

Of course, he'll probably be mad as hell because I didn't wake him, Kazahaya thought with a snicker.

"What are you giggling about?"

Kazahaya froze when he heard Rikuo's voice. "Umm, nothing. You're working today?"

"Yeah. You're the one not supposed to be working." Kazahaya shrugged and moved down the aisle to work.

"I feel fine, besides—"

"You need the money." Kazahaya snapped his head at Rikuo angrily.

"Yes. Why does everyone make fun of me because of that?"

"Because it makes you seem shallow and pathetic." Rikuo walked by Kazahaya and gave him a hard punch on the shoulder. It stung but the victim bore it without making a sound because he knew it was the truth, albeit a painful truth.

A ringing bell indicated someone had entered the store to be instantly greeted by Kakei and maneuvered to his office. The tall, dark haired boy Kakei led seemed familiar, but Kazahaya couldn't quite place him. He was particularly handsome with his blue eyes and glasses. Kazahaya stopped peeking through the shelves when Kakei shut his office door. All kinds of shady characters, Saiga included, congregated around this place.

Maybe it's another assignment! Kazahaya thought happily. Damn, thinking about money again. Think about something else...Rikuo. Hmm. Rikuo. Rikuo. Rikuo. Heh. No, that's not right…think of Kei. Kei…

Kazahaya was in deep thought for some time when a small, pleasant voice came from behind Kazahaya. He turned to see the mystery boy and Kakei.

The boy said simply, "You have a spirit of regret hanging over you." He then gave Kakei a formal bow and exited the store. Kakei sighed and looked utterly defeated.

"Kakei-san? Who was that and what the hell did that mean?"

"That was the assistant of an associate of mine, Yuko. Though I do not believe you will be meeting her anytime soon, her assistant has the ability to see spirits. He perhaps saw Kei's spirit or your strong concern for her. I wouldn't worry about it though because he was here for personal business." Kakei smiled tenderly and left Kazahaya to his work, but he went as far as Rikuo and began to discuss a mission with him. Kazahaya felt very discarded when Kakei did not include him, for he was usually the first to put his hand up and volunteer for a mission.

--

"Rikuo, has Kakei-san been giving you secret missions?"

Rikuo ate his dinner silently while Kazahaya drilled him.

"Yeah," he said matter-of-factly. He took another bite of food to suppress the smirk at the coming angry tirade building up in Kazahaya's big mouth.

"Wha—that's not fair! That's just not FAIR! Rikuo you know how much I need mon—" Kazahaya shut his mouth abruptly and covered his lips with his hand.

Gotcha, Rikuo thought. "You need what now?" he prodded.

"Er...I need more...experience in the uh..."

"You're cute when you're being dumb." Rikuo thought the flippant statement would shut Kazahaya up and keep him from rambling on with his horrible lie. Of course he was going to say he needed more money, and he was rather silly when he was lying, but when Rikuo looked up to see what would naturally be an angry reaction to his words, he saw that Kazahaya looked very somber. He stared at Rikuo with unnatural firmness and attention that he would have sworn the boy was possessed with another personality.

"Kazahaya?" The person in question looked away and suddenly lost his resolve.

"When you say things like that, Rikuo, or when you do things that...you know..." Kazahaya played with his chopsticks. "Do you mean them or are you just playing with me?"

Saiga's questions came flooding back into Rikuo's mind:

Do you mess around with him because you're a sadist or because you really like him? Do you do it because you want it to lead to something? Do you want to screw him or make love to him?

"Can I ask you something, Kazahaya?" Rikuo decided not to answer the question put to him, rather, he decided to ask his own questions to figure out how he really felt. Kazahaya didn't seem to notice that his question was ignored, and he nodded yes.

"What do you want me to do?"

Soft eyes were suddenly on Rikuo. "What do you want my actions to mean, Kazahaya? Those visions...I can't say for sure what they mean. I don't know if that's the future or my own sick fantasies to--"

"Rikuo don't say that."

"Is it a sick fantasy? Tell me Kazahaya."

"I...I feel alone, Rikuo. I don't know how I want you to treat me." Kazahaya stood and left the table without a backwards glance. Rikuo heard bed springs cry out against Kazahaya's body and he knew, just knew that he was in there crying. Feeling stupid and compelled to comfort Kazahaya, for it was his own damn fault that he upset him, Rikuo went into the bedroom and found Kazahaya simply sitting on his bed with a vacant expression. Before Rikuo even had a chance to say anything, he was cut off with a vague question.

"Would you?" Rikuo cocked his eyebrow in confusion. "Would I what, Kaza?" Kazahaya smiled at his shortened name. Rikuo only used it when he was trying to be too nice.

"Would you sleep with me?"

"What! No!"

"You didn't seem to mind in the visions," Kazahaya joked with a cute smirk.

"They were just visions Kazahaya!"

"Maybe." Kazahaya slowly shut his eyes tight to block out all the things assaulting his senses, but he could not block out his own mind. "To me it was so real. I can deal with the pain but I feel empty without the feeling." Rikuo stumbled over to his friend and sat beside him. He wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him close. Such an innocent gesture to Rikuo, but to Kazahaya, the touch was like fire in his distressed state.

"Have you seen any more visions?"

"No, but the memories are still strong." Kazahaya smiled and fell back to the bed with Rikuo's arm still attached to his waist. Rikuo rolled his eyes and took his arm away.

"Are you going to bed now?" Rikuo asked.

"I guess, unless…come on Rikuo let's have sex!" Kazahaya burst out laughing and rolled into his bed and under the sheets to protect himself from Rikuo's playful attacks. The white sheet came over Kazahaya's face and obscured everything in a snowy, light permeated haze. His own laughter and Rikuo's sudden grunt of displeasure at not being able to get Kazahaya ended when the sheets were spread like a lily blooming in spring to reveal Rikuo on top of Kazahaya, their bodies touching and their faces so close that the nonexistent kiss was palpable…if only one would move to make it real.

But neither did. Kazahaya blushed at his position and his own childishness and Rikuo found himself too aroused to be safe. He got off the bed with a forced smirk to make it seem as if he wasn't bothered by the innocent play.

That was too close, he thought as he lay in bed that night. If Kazahaya had pushed his pretty little mouth up, I might have lost it. Damn, cold shower didn't help. What was he thinking when he said that? Let's have SEX! Okay, I can do that…except I can't.

I just can't.

--

"Rikuo, I don't know exactly what it is that Kazahaya saw, but I have a good idea. I trust my intuition, but whatever it is, no matter how good or bad Kazahaya thinks it is, don't encourage him. I fear for Kazahaya, not only because of what may be happening between you two, but because of my failure to see his future. I believe…I know that these events are somehow connected.

"I'm having a close associate's assistant come over this morning to give a quick look at Kazahaya. This boy can see visions. Maybe he can see something I can't."

--

Ring! Ring!

Kakei picked up the phone.

"Green Drugstore, Kakei speaking."

"Kakei, dear, this is Yuko."

"Yuko! I didn't expect to hear from you. You don't usually call unless something disastrous happens." Kakei laughed.

"Always a joker, Kakei. Listen, Watanuki said he didn't see anything useful...have you been able to see the boy's future yet?"

"Unfortunately, no." Kakei sighed. "This has never happened before, Yuko."

The mysterious Yuko smiled. "It will all work out, after all, it's hitsuzen, dear Kakei."


Hitsuzen-there are no coincidences, it's all fate basically.

tbc.