Chapter One- Brought to the Front
A/N: I'm at it again, starting another fanfic. Decided to try a yaoi fic this time. I want to try to keep the characters with their original attitudes, but when you change their objectives it gets a little o.o.c., ya know? So bear with me, please.
The sun shone brightly into the small, square room below the Koneko. Ken's eyes opened and he immediately shoved his face back into the soft pillow to block out the sun. His room was the only one with a small window that allowed the sun to fall into it. He really hated it, the sun shining into his room in the morning. It always woke him up early when all he wanted to do was sleep in after a long mission.
He heard the click of his door opening, and the soft footsteps moving closer to his bed. Ken didn't move as a gently hand touched his back. When he didn't stir, the hand began to shake him from his slumber. He let out a groan into his pillow and scooted away from the hand.
"Ken-kun, wake up! Ken-kun, c'mon, it's our shift to open the Shoppe," Omi whines as he shook Ken again. "C'mon, Ken!" A forceful shove turned Ken over on his back. He flung his arm over his eyes to block out the blinding light.
"I'm awake," Ken groaned, wishing he wasn't. Omi could be up all night and still make sure everyone was up and ready to work on time. Where in the hell did all that energy come from? The boy was a ball full of it. Like a coffee injection straight into his veins every hour was what kept the boy going.
"Let's go, Ken. The Shoppe opens in ten minutes!" Omi said as he walked out of Ken's room. Omi was like a mother hen, always watching out for everyone, and ironically, he was the baby.
Reluctantly, Ken rolled off the bed. He stretched his tan body and ran a hand through his scruffy chocolate locks. Mornings suck ass, he thought as he made his way to the bathroom. He let the steaming hot water caress his skin. The warmth enclosing him made him wish he were still asleep even more. A sudden change in the water temperature made him start and fall out of the tub. Cold water shot out of the shower head. "God damn it," Ken mumbled as he grabbed his towel from the sink while reaching to shut off the water. He wrapped the soft teal fabric around his waist and stormed out of the bathroom door.
When he opened his door he heard a click behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to see Aya walking out of his room. Aya had been up all night with Omi working on finding information for their mission. Yet the red head seemed undisturbed by the lack of sleep, but just as cold and secretive as he always was.
"Morning," Ken said, letting as mall yawn escape his lips.
Aya's emotionless gaze fell on the brunette. He stared directly into Ken's Caribbean blue-green eyes. His eyes were gold, hard, beautiful jewels. Revealing nothing of how he felt, ever. He nodded once in acknowledgement as he turned and walkedup the stairs to the Flower Shoppe.
Ken continued into his room, closing the door behind him. He often wondered why Aya was so cold, the entire group did. After finding out about Aya's little sister, the real Aya, and her coma, Omi, Yoji, and himself felt that they understood Aya a little better. They didn't though, not really, and Ken knew that. There was a side to Aya, a side that was hidden behind those dry stares, behind the angry words, and malice for Takatori. There was a side of smiles and laughter, emotion filled eyes, and a person still alive inside. He's never seen it, but he knew it was there. He couldn't picture, but somehow he knew Aya wasn't just some angst, frozen block of ice and hatred.
Pulling on a pair of faded denim blue jeans and a blue and white soccer jersey, along with a pair of sneakers, Ken made his was up the stairs to the shoppe. Brushing through his wet, thick hair with his hands he grabbed his apron and put it on ash e entered the room.
"Nice to see you could join us," Yoji said, as he leaned against the counter. He stretched his long, lank limbs and yawned.
"Shut up," Ken growled at he lanky blonde.
We all had a late night," Omi sighed as he placed a flower pot on the counter. "Let's not spend all day arguing, okay?"
"Yes, you two better not spend all day bitching," Aya said as he unlocked the front door of the Koneko and flipped the sign from 'Closed' to 'Open'. "The last thing we need for you two to do is make a scene and draw unneeded attention."
"Yeah, you're right," Yoji said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "With the lack of sleep I can't afford anger. It could seriously have a bad affect on my looks. I can't have that happen, especially since I have a lunch date."
Ken rolled his yes. "Yeah, I know, Aya." He made his way over to the other side of the shoppe to get the hose. When he heard the door open he glanced over his shoulder to see who it was. It was Miss Sakura and Miss Ouka. He sighed softly as everyone greeted the two familiar girls. He felt sorry for Sakura, everyone knew that she liked Aya, and everyone knew that Aya wanted nothing to do with the young girl. He knew that she couldn't melt that ice in his eyes, but he hoped one day that someone could melt the ice in his heart.
"Hey, Ken, I think that plant has enough water," Omi said.
Ken looked down to see water spilling over the top of the flower pot. His mind was so preoccupied that he knew it would be a long day of being even clumsier than he usually was. After cleaning up the mess he made, he sat on the stood near the counter where Omi and the girls were talking. Ken had graduated from high school two years before so a lot of the things Omi talked about from school he understood.
The three high school kids were talking about the Prom coming up in two weeks. Ken remembered his prom. He and his best friend Kase had gone with the two hottest cheerleaders, being the soccer stud that he was. He remembered that it was fun and he'd had a good time. I wonder if Omi will go with Ouka, Ken thought.
"Well, I already have my dress picked out, but Sakura hasn't even started to look for one," Ouka said.
"Oh, really?" Omi asked, looking at Sakura. "Why's that Sakura-chan? Don't you have a date?"
Sakura blushed and glanced at Aya from the corner of her eye, "No."
"She's been asked, by a lot of nice boys, actually. But she doesn't want to go with any of the guys who've asked her. That's why we need your help,Omi. Could you talk to MR. Cranky-pants into taking Sakura-chan?" Ouka asked.
"Huh? You mean Aya-kun?" Omi asked.
"Really, you don't have to Omi-kun," Sakura said softly.
"Please try, Omi. It would mean the world to her," Ouka pleaded for her friend.
"I'll see what I can do," Omi nodded. "No promises though."
"Thank you, Omi-kun," Sakura said, glancing over to watch Aya wipe off a window. "You're a good friend."
"Oh, Omi, I was wondering if you'd like to take me to Prom?" Ouka asked.
Omi backed up a few steps, a nervous gesture around Ouka. "I really wasn't planning on going."
"But Omi, it's supposed to be the best night of our lives! You have to go! I turned down a lot of boys to ask you, Omi!" Ouka shouted.
Omi sighed in defeat, "Okay, Ouka. I'll go with you to the Prom."
Ouka smiled her pleased, spoiled brat smile and giggled like a school girl. "Thanks Omi! Well, we must be off," she linked her arm with Sakura's and began to lead her towards the door. "See you next Friday at seven, and don't forget to talk to him for Sakura-chan!"
Omi sighed in relief when the door closed behind the girls. "Don't really wwant to go with her, do you, Omi?" Ken asked.
"I don't mind much, but I'll feel horrible if Aya won't go with Sakura-chan," Omi said.
"Hn. Yeah that would be a bummer for her. Especially since Ouka is probably going to spend all day parading her around town to find a dress and all that other stuff," Ken said.
"I can hear you," Aya said in a monotone.
"Yeah, he has sonar hearing," Yoji teased.
"Shut up, Yoji," Aya said.
All four men looked over when they heard the door open again. A tall, pretty, red-haired woman stood before them. She smiled a minx's smile and held up a manila envelope for them all to see. Mission brief," she said.
Omi, Yoji, and Manx headed down the stairs. Aya flipped the sign and locked the door. Ken waited near the counter. Aya turned and paused when he aw Ken just standing there. "So are you gonna go with Sakura?"
"No," Aya said, simply.
"Why?" Ken asked.
"Because," Aya said as he headed toward the doorway.
Ken grabbed Aya's arm. Aya stared down t him with an icy glare. "Aya, she really likes you. It's just Prom. Maybe if you went with her, then she'd eventually give up on you."
"If I were to go, then she would be under the impression that I would have some feelings for her. I have none, and its best that I say 'no'." Aya said looking down at Ken.
"Why are you a jerk, Aya?" Ken asked, squeezing harder on Aya's arm.
Aya grabbed Ken by the wrist and pressed his thumb into the flesh, loosening Ken's grip. He moved his face closer to Ken's and said, "Because I don't want anyone else hurt." Ken released the last of his grip and Aya walked down the steps. He followed a moment later.
The other three were already waiting for Aya and Ken when they arrived at the bottom of the stairs. Aya moved to the side of the staircase and Ken sat on the couch with Omi.
"Now that we are all here," Manx said giving Aya and Ken looks. "\Let's begin."
The screen on the TV fizzed as the familiar silhouette appeared before them. "Men of Weiss, a man named Traxx Scorpion has been digging up cemeteries all over the world. He is a powerful leader of a cult of so called necromancers." A photograph of a group of men wrapped in black cloaks appeared; it zoomed in on one man. The man was young; his hair was a dark shade of red, his skin alabaster white. He was beautiful, the curve of his lip, the strength of his jaw, the passion in his green and gold eyes. "Find him and destroy his cult. Hunters of the night, deny these evil beasts of their tomorrows." The screen fuzzed and blinked off.
Manx moved from her position against the wall and turned on the lights as she said, "So, you're all in?"
Everyone nodded their agreement as Manx handed out some folders with information pertaining to the necromancer and his cult. "Does Kritiker know anything about their next target?" Omi asked, looking through the papers.
"That's your job," Max aid as she climbed the stairs.