Merry Christmas! It's a kind of a present for all of you, who liked the fic and gave me feedback. Thanks. Have a happy new year!!!!!!

Tierry

Okay...Now goes the standard:

TITLE: untitled, but the working title is Amnesia

DISCLAIMER: I don't own them, I wish I would e.t.c. e.t.c.

RATING: PG so far, I think.

SPOILERS: Yes, I think so.

WARNING: shounen ai, probably late YAOI. Who knows, maybe even rated NC-17. And I'm the author. ^_^

PAIRING: My favorite: Youji/Aya

COMMENTS: Always appreciated.

ARCHIVE: You really want this on your site?

The redhead's face held no expression. Only his, still wide with surprise, expressive, amethyst eyes showed how puzzled he was and how many questions buzzed in his head.

"Um..." Youji for the second time this day found himself at loss of words.

"You're bleeding." It seemed, that even with amnesia the man had the talent to state the obvious in such way, that it sounded like revealing  a secret.

Ran came closer to the blonde assassin, leaving his katana on the way. Then he looked at Youji and the two others. The redhead seemed to be fighting with himself, shaking his head.

"I don't know what you are doing. I'm not sure if I want to know. In the meantime, take of this coat. I don't think we want any blood on the carpet."

The oldest assassin agreed, thanking any higher powers listening, for Ran's common sense and every bit of practical nature, that he shared with his other self, that had always annoyed Youji. 

"Do we have a first-aid kit?" 

"In the bathroom, behind the mirror."

The redhead nodded and left fetch it.

The three assassins, one bleeding, were left standing in the living room.  None of them knew what to say, they hadn't foresee Ran walking in on them coming back from a mission. It wouldn't all be that bad, if Youji wasn't hurt, but there was nothing they could do about it now and in any case they should be happy that it wasn't serious. The remaining three Wiess members were still damn lucky to have the ever practical nature of Aya still within Ran

Speak of the devil...Youji thought as the violet-eyed man appeared in the doorway.

"Youji, I think you need to take this coat off." It wasn't a question, but it wasn't a command in Aya's style either.

"Sure." The blonde answered, although the answer was not needed, not with the way Ran nodded like he hadn't expecting anything else. "Omi, Ken, why don't you two go up and have some decent rest? Ay...Ran will help me take care of the wound."

"If you say so, Youji-kun." The younger blonde didn't sound so certain about it, but he dragged Ken along with him.

Youji hissed in pain, as he tried to remove his coat and the make shift bandage from his arm.

"Here, let me help you with that."

Cautious, warm hands carefully took the sleeve and later the rest of the coat. Then he took off the bandage and, immediately, the wound started to bleed again.

"Hold this." Ran placed a triangle tissue over the wound.

"I didn't know..."

"What? Do you know where the painkillers are?"

"The bottle over there." Youji pointed out.

"Take two of these." Youji shook his head, but did as he was told. Ran was very strange. There were moments when the man thought, that Ran didn't really have amnesia. He was acting so much like their leader. Even though he claimed not to remember anything.

Oh well, it could always be subconscious.

"Hold something. It will  hurt a bit."

Youji didn't ask the other man what he meant, but just gritted his teeth as Ran removed the bullet from his shoulder.

"I don't think it will need stitches. You shouldn't overwork it though."

"Yes, nurse Ran."

The redhead blushed faintly.

"Oh, and Ran?"

"Yes?"

"How did you know what to do? I mean with the wound." Well, Aya would know, but why should Ran?

The said redhead titled his head to the side and frowned. Then his face lit up.

"I attended courses. I had to, while being in a school sport representation to be able to help a friend with a contusion. They taught us everything though. "

"Oh."

They turned the lights off and walked upstairs.

"Good night , Youji."

"Aa, thanks and Oyasumi(1)."

Ran walked into his room slowly, lost in thoughts about the evening's events. Undressing automatically, he occupied his mind with thoughts of his roommates.

What bothered him, though he didn't let it show so much to his new friends (2), was their real professions, who exactly they were. Or who was he for that matter. Did he work with them? And what exactly were they doing? What kind of work included the danger of being shot? And not more then once? From the reactions of all three men he knew that it wasn't the first time.

So who were they? And what was his place among them? And, maybe most importantly, did he really wanted to know?

Ran liked those men. Each and every one of them. And it was barely after two days they gained his trust and friendship. They told him, that they were coworkers, but not much else. Still he felt like he had known them for a long time and that they were trustworthy. It could be because he had known them before, but forgot.

But none of his doubts changed that he felt like trusting them with his life. Especially Youji. He didn't know what he would do, if he found out that they were some sort of criminals.

Still...Maybe they weren't criminals? Maybe they didn't go against the law and innocent people? Who knew, maybe they were agents of sorts? Working for a secret organization...Was he also a member? Or that strange woman with hair as red as his own?

Something tickled his memory, but as soon as he concentrated on it, the faint trace disappeared.

Ran just shook his head, resigned. He needed his memory back. He needed it, so he could fully trust his friends, know and understand them.  So he could know more about Youji. 

___________________________________________________________________________________

Youji, for the first time in a few days, woke up around his usual time. Opening his eyes, the blonde assassin saw Ran sitting in a chair by his bed, staring at him with those amethyst eyes.

What's HE doing here?!

"Ran? What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you"

"Yes?"

Please, God, oh please, make it so he doesn't ask about yesterday night…

"First let me check your wound. I don't want any infection in it." Ran pointed to the first-aid kit by his feet.

Always prepared, ne Ayan? Even when you're having amnesia some things will never change.

When he nodded, hiding his small smile, the redhead sat on the bed and carefully unwrapped the bandage. After cleaning the wound, the younger man bent slightly to look at it more closely.

Youji watched the top of crimson hair and, feeling the warm breath on his arm, wandered if Ran wanted to kill him by giving him a heart attack. Few people would tell he was scared, especially that it was the infamous Kudou Youji they were talking about-he wouldn't be scared of a question from a boy. Even if that boy was one of the best assassins he had ever known.

"Don't worry." The redhead seemed to sense his distress. "I haven't changed my mind. I don't care what you were doing. You're my friends." Saying this last sentence Ran raised his head and moss-green eyes met twin violet orbs.

The blonde man looked at his companion. The pale, incredibly handsome face was serious, eyes also, they had an expression telling Youji firmly, that Ran had meant what he said and was ready to risk consequences.

He nodded slowly, still looking into those wide, beautiful eyes.

"I…thanks, Ran. Thank you for trusting us."

"I trust you." The sentence could be taken differently, depending what one wanted to hear. Did Ran meant him or all three members of Weiss?

That moment he realized just how close they were sitting, how cute Ran looked with this serious face.

"YOUJI!!! GET UP, DAMN YOU!! I NEED HELP WITH THOSE BANSHES!!!!!!!!"

They both jumped hearing Ken's shouting and loud pounding on the door. The atmosphere was ruined and anything that could have happened just few seconds ago wouldn't now.

"I'll go down and help him. Ken sure sounds like he needs it quite desperately." Ran got up and walked out of the door. Just like that. Youji noted to himself to kill Ken one day.

But he also got up, with a big sigh and a shake of his head, nonetheless.

___________________________________________________________________________________

When he entered the flower shop, girls were surrounding both younger men, not allowing them to take care of real customers.

"Hello, ladies." Youji called, hoping to draw some of the fanclub to himself to give Ran and Ken some space to work.

It got the intended result. He didn't exchange even two words with either of the two men until the clock showed the time the girls should get back to school.

"Okay…Can we close for now? It's not like many people are coming here at this time of the day, anyway." Ken offered.

" I agree. I really can't feel my legs and an enormous headache is coming close. Why do they have to scream so loud?" Ran complained, massaging his temples, while leaning against the counter.

The two men looked at each other over the crimson head and then at the window to see if the sun was still up. Then they laughed.

"Um…Youji? Ken? Why are you laughing? Did I say something funny?"

" Oh, my God…I think the world is coming to an end." Ken said in between bursts of laughter. Ran looked at him, not understanding why they were so happy.

"Hearing complains from you of all people…When you practically used to threaten us to work and not skip our shifts…"

Ran blinked and tilted his head. Yohji had noticed that he did this every time he was thinking about something.

"I was like that? Really?"

"Well…yes, Ran, you were very dutiful." It was easier to say, than that he was a cold bastard not really thinking about other's opinions in the matters concerning Weiss or their cover work.

"Oh." The redhead didn't say anything else and seemed to be contemplating what he had just heard. He didn't look very happy with the information he just gained about his previous life.

"Hey, don't worry about it, Ran. We still liked you just as you were." Youji said to lighten up the redhead's mood and patted him on the arm.

Ken looked at the blonde man surprised.

Okay…It was a lie, but a small one,  and I can't tell the kid that he  was a cold bastard, that nobody liked and that we really didn't get along very well. I don't like the thought of Ran being sad. He has too pretty a  smile for that…

Youji in response raised an eyebrow. The brunette just shrugged and walked away, knowing he wouldn't be much help with his honest face and voice.

"Thank you, Youji." Ran smiled a little.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Late at night Youji woke up. He felt the sweat on himself, but couldn't remember the dream, that caused it and was the reason of his waking. Maybe it was for the best. Rarely the playboy had such nightmares, that they woke him.

Deciding to have a glass of water, the blonde assassin got up from his bed and headed to the kitchen, not noticing the slightly open door to Ran's room.

Opening the door to the kitchen revealed before him a magical sight. A pale, tall figure that seemed ethereal, sitting draped over in moonlight. The face turned to him and Youji held his breath unconsciously. Ran looked like an angel, maybe a fallen one. He looked beautiful.

"Whoa…"

"Did I scare you?" The low voice was soft, but tired.

He has red eyes. Youji noticed. Like he was crying.

"Yeah. Why are you still up?"  Youji asked soflty.

"Can't you sleep? Why? Something happened?" It didn't go unnoted, even in slightly fogged consciousness of Youji's, that Ran ignored the question. 

"Bad dreams."

"Oh." The redhead nodded in understanding.

"You too?" Youji repeated Ran's earlier question.

"Yes. I have a feeling it's connected to my past, to what I have forgotten."

"You sure?" The question was asked much quieter than Youji wanted it at first. He could believe what Ran said without a second thought. He knew better than to argue. They both killed, and though Aya didn't admit it, they both had nightmares about it. But right now Ran didn't know about it, didn't know how to deal with his nightmares full of blood and violence.

Ran just nodded, dropping his head. That way he missed Youji's expression. Of course, he knew that his suspect as to what haunted Ran's dreams was probably true. Their work dominated not only their lives, but also their dreams. The ghosts of their victims often came back to them, not allowing them to rest peacefully.

Those innocent victims of their work, those who they were in theory protecting, that they had to kill in order to protect themselves, their friends…It was an irony that drove all of them slowly insane.

"You should try getting some sleep. We've got to getup early tomorrow." Youji said instead of voicing his thoughts.

"I…I don't think I can. Don't mind me though. Go and rest. You need it more than me."

Youji started protesting, but Ran looked at him and it did the trick. Violet eyes held a cold, very Aya-ish expression, killing any objections before they fully developed.

"But before that, we need to bandage your arm again."

Youji didn't say a word through out all time that Ran was taking care of his wound. Then he was sent back to bed with a firm, but warm order to go to sleep and rest well.

He didn't have a chance of closing his eyes, though. He barely even reached his room, when he heard something like muffled scream and a sound like crashing glass.

Youji barely recalled running into his room. Grabbing the watch, the blonde ran downstairs, hearing both Ken and Omi bolting form their respective rooms, but not stopping to even look at them.

There was only one thought in his mind. It dominated his whole consciousness.

Ran…

1. Good night in Japanese.

 2. For Ran they ARE new friends. It was Aya who knew them.