After reading the last set of reviews, I have become a little worried. As it turns out, I may end up disappointing the readers of this story! That's not good… Not good at all. Please don't give up on me! And thank you guys very much for reviewing! I've been typing, typing, typing…and the ideas are flowing quickly. Please let me know right away if you spot any glaring discrepancies and I will correct them as soon as possible.

A fluttering heart. A nervous stomach. A quickened breath. All at the thought of a single person. Was it the danger that drew him? Was it the promise of something more? Or was it simply just a phase?

M6: Anticipation

Yohji stumbled listlessly down the back steps and into the basement. Everything was off and therefore the room was dark and quiet. Yohji slipped off his shoes at the bottom of the stairs and discarded his jacket and shirt on the way to his bed. He dropped on his knees on to the mattress and was about to plop down across the rest of it when he noticed that something was wrong. He wasn't alone. Yohji paused and stared down at the bed. He reached quietly into his pocket and pulled out his keys. He pointed his penlight down and rolled the end to turn it on.

Large blues eye were staring up at him from a tear streaked face.

"Yohji-kun…" Omi murmured. Worried, Yohji reached over and turned on the closest lamp. Omi was curled into a ball on his side facing Yohji. He was barefoot and wearing light blue pajamas with kittens playing with yarn on them. Omi looked startled, and tentatively touched his hand to his cheek. "Why…am I crying?" he asked.

"Good question," Yohji said, sitting back on his heels. "I am also curious as to why you're down here in my bed." Omi sat up and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve. He sniffled and said, "Are you mad?"

"Nah," Yohji said, ruffling his hair. "Just curious."

"I wanted to talk," Omi said. "But I didn't want to miss you coming in. I didn't mean to fall asleep…"

"You were sleeping?" Yohji asked. "Wait…you were crying in your sleep?"

"It's strange right?" Omi asked. Yohji sat down with one leg under him and the other over the edge of the bed. "Your bed…feels really nice…" Omi asked. "I don't think I was here for five minutes before I fell asleep."

"It's not supposed to make you sleepy…" Yohji murmured.

"Hm…?" Omi asked.

"Never mind. You just tell me what's on your mind, Omi." Omi scooted closer to Yohji.

"Well… I think I'm in love, Yohji," he said quietly. "I think…I'm in love and I don't know what to do…" Omi pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. "Aya is always so focused on work and Aya-chan that he doesn't have time for romance… And Ken… Ken is so obsessed with sports that he doesn't date or anything. So…I thought…I'd ask you, Yohji." Yohji didn't know what to say or do. Omi's words seemed so naïve. From his words to his face still plump with baby fat, from his small frame down to his kitten laden pjs, Omi was youth personified. It worried Yohji that he was thinking of taking such a grown up step: having a serious conversation about love and relationships.

Omi was still adolescent and impressionable, though he had a level of maturity about him that couldn't be matched by kids his age. Still, outside of work, it was hard to imagine Omi as anything other than the older three members' adorable little brother. Omi was someone who Yohji continuously sought to protect, though he could protect himself. Yohji didn't know that he could be the one to teach Omi about love and things of that nature. However, the fact that Omi was concerned about it and took steps to ensure a talk about it spoke of his individual humanity. It aided to ease the anxiety Yohji had felt festering inside of him ever since the night Omi had turned against them.

"Ask me anything, Omi," Yohji said. Omi scooted closer.

"Do you remember when Ouka and I… When we fell in love with each other?"

"Yeah," Yohji said.

"It was…unfortunate that she had to die like that. I…had only just learned that she was my sister and then she died. That one man from the picture… He killed her. He killed her and…a part of me felt as if I was never going to recover from her loss. The more I thought about it…the more I realized that even though I was in love with Ouka…it just didn't feel like…love between a man and a woman. It felt like…familial love. The love I have now…feels different."

"Different how?" Yohji asked. Omi's cheeks turned red and he sunk down to hide his face behind his knees.

"I don't know how to describe it…" he said. "But…it feels like love, you know?"

"So…are you thinking of acting on it?"

"I don't know…" Omi said. "I don't know."

"How does she feel about you?" Omi lifted his head slightly.

"Well…that's the thing…" he said. "I…don't think he knows."

"Kare?" Yohji asked, shocked. "What the hell kinda twilight zone is this?" Omi quirked an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

"I cannot possibly be the only guy in the house into chicks." Omi chuckled, and then perked.

"You mean Aya…likes guys?"

"As far as I'm concerned, Aya is asexual," Yohji said, ruffling his hair as if he really couldn't understand what was going on. "And that Ken guy…sometimes I wonder about him."

"Don't be silly, Yohji," Omi said. "Ken's had a girlfriend before."

"Humph," Yohji said as if that didn't matter. "Yeah, okay." Omi chuckled at him a little more.

"You're funny, Yohji-kun." Yohji smirked at him. He wouldn't admit that it was Ken and Aya's obsession with Omi that made him question their sexuality. When Omi was asleep, he was all Aya ever talked about the few times Yohji was able to get him speaking. Aya was the one who fed and nursed Omi during the day. And Ken? Ken was the one who'd chosen Omi's room, furnished it and slept with him every night to make sure that he wouldn't wake up alone.

Yohji preferred to keep his distance. He was the one who shopped for and bought all of his food for his special diet and all of his medication. He also arranged for and drove Omi back and forth from the hospital when it was needed. Yohji had suggested that they hire a nurse for Omi because he needed a lot of monitoring and attention, but Ken and Aya vehemently refused and treated him like a stranger for at least a week after. If it wasn't for the fact that Yohji cared deeply about Omi as well, he would have found Ken and Aya's possessive behavior borderline creepy. However, Yohji could understand. Omi needed each of their support, no matter how they decided to show it.

"It would be…beneficial for me if Aya was that way… Then I could talk to him…"

"Well…you don't get out much, chibi," Yohji said. "Who do you think you're in love with, if not one of us?"

"Someone…bad…" Yohji chuckled despite himself. Omi sounded like such a kid.

"Bad how?" he said.

"Bad like…enemy bad." Now that wasn't so funny. Yohji nodded and rubbed his chin.

"Aya told me about what happened earlier. About you and Nagi. He told me he hit you."

"I provoked him…"

"You're doing that a lot lately, chibi." Omi sighed heavily.

"I don't know why. I love Aya, I do… He's a really good friend, but…for some reason…when I'm around him, all I can think about is…the fact that he betrayed me." Omi looked to regret the words he spoke as he said them. "He didn't betray me…Yohji…"

"That's right. He tried to save you."

"I…just don't know…how the surf could have come in so quickly."

"You…remember…?" Omi nodded.

"Yeah… I…had this strange dream about it. I…was under water and I thought my chest was going to explode. When I got to the surface I took in a lot of air and water and I was so dizzy. I was so tired… I couldn't move anymore. I was floating and I was so cold, Yohji. But then…Aya was there. He put his arms around me…he was panicking… He pulled me out of the water and then we were safe and waiting. He did CPR and I coughed the water up and then we were waiting. He said you two were all right. I was so happy. I…started to feel better and looked at Aya… Behind him…there was this big wall of water… It…was beyond all reason…" Omi shut his eyes. "Aya's arms tightened around me, but…we were pulled apart. I can still hear him yelling for me… it echoes in my head." Omi shook his head and sniffed. "He didn't betray me…" Yohji took Omi's hand and squeezed it.

"You need to talk to Aya about this," Yohji said.

"I can't… I was so mean to him."

"Omi, you guys will never get past this unless you both talk about it. Tell him what you told me and let him tell you what happened from his point of view. Express your anger and frustrations and all the good feelings, too. We can talk about love some other time, this is more important."

"You…want me to do it now…?" Omi asked. He looked scared. "I can't, Yohji-kun."

"You can talk to Aya," Yohji said. "Are you sure you're not mad that he hit you? He's been moping about it ever since."

"I hurt him, Yohji-kun."

"Let him help you heal," Yohji said.

"Will you come with me?" Yohji sighed.

"I'll walk you up, but you two should talk alone." Omi nodded.

"Okay…" Yohji got up and helped Omi from the bed. He walked behind him up into the kitchen. Ken was sleeping at the table with his head on his arms, music audible from his earphones. Omi hurried over to him and shook him.

"Ken-kun? Ken-kun, wake up." Ken perked and raised his head. He pulled his earphones down as he regarded Yohji and Omi sleepily.

"Hey guys…" he said.

"Why are you here, Ken-kun?" Omi asked.

"I thought I heard you leaving…and I was worried so I was waiting up for you."

"No, I was here, Ken. You should get some sleep, it's late. You're going to be so sore if you sleep like that." Ken smiled gently at him.

"Thanks Omi… I'll go to sleep in a little bit." Omi nodded.

"Good," he said. He looked to Yohji and his demeanor changed as he remembered what his own task was.

"What are you two up to?" Ken asked.

"Yohji-kun wants me and Aya to talk about what happen the day we were separated…" Omi said. "I'm nervous." Ken stood up quickly.

"Well, you know, Omi, I'm here for you, too," he said. "We can talk about anything." Omi smiled faintly.

"I know, Ken. Thanks." Ken nodded.

"Aya's still up. He was worried about you, too."

"Why?"

"Well…you don't go out much and here you were…leaving in the middle of the night." Omi scratched his cheeks.

"You guys worry too much. I was downstairs waiting for Yohji-kun to come home." Ken still looked concerned. He glanced back at Yohji and then looked at Omi.

"Oh…" he said. "Did you guys talk?"

"A little. We'll talk more in the morning," Yohji said. "Right now, I need for Omi to man up and go talk to Aya."

"Omi…are you ready to talk?" Ken asked. "Because if you're not, we'll understand. We'll be patient with you."

"No, I'm ready…" Omi said. "I will. I'll talk to Aya." Without any hesitation, Omi marched from the kitchen. Ken slumped onto the table.

"Why did he choose to talk to you? Me and Aya were home." Yohji looked over to Ken and frowned.

"If I told you that it's because I get around, would it make you feel better?"

"Why would that concern Omi?" Ken asked quickly. "And I get around." Yohji pulled out a chair and sat down. He looked at Ken, at how serious he'd become, and he laughed at him.

"Sure you do."

"I do."

"Well Omi's under the impression that I'm the only one." Ken rubbed his chin. "And Ken? I know a guy that gets around, and you ain't one of 'em." Ken pouted at Yohji without really looking at him.

"I get out," he said. His shoulders fell. "So…what's with Omi tonight? Did he ask you to take him out or something?"

"No. He says he thinks he's in love." Ken's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. He leaned forward in earnest.

"It's okay, you can tell me. Is that what Aya and Omi are really going to talk about?" he asked. Yohji leaned away from him.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ken stared at him, then eased up.

"Oh…" he said. "Never mind."

"Don't you never mind me, tell me. What were you getting at?"

"Well, you said Omi wanted to talk about getting around, or whatever…and then you're sort of forcing him and Aya to talk. What else is there to assume?"

"Ken, you're a loose bolt," Yohji said. "Like I'd send him to Aya for relationship advice." Ken's expression changed into a peculiar one. He looked both confused and guilty. Yohji and he stared at each other, and realization settled on Yohji just as disappointment washed over Ken. "You can't be serious," Yohji said. "You mean…you thought I was…trying to set them up?"

"No!" Ken said quickly, holding his hands out. "I meant the first thing, the first thing!"

"My ass," Yohji said, lowering Ken's nearest hand. He leaned in and whispered, "You mean to tell me that Aya has the hots for—"

"I didn't say anything like that, you're overreacting!"

"Why the heck are you yelling and waving at me, then?" Yohji asked, chuckling deeply as he let Ken go and sat back. "You're so caught. You can't keep a secret to save your life."

"You've totally got it all wrong." Yohji shook his head.

"Oh, give me some credit," he said. "That's what you get for dropping hints, Ken. But hey, if the chibi finds out that Aya likes him then maybe he won't think of going for that Nagi kid." Ken's eyes did the bug thing again.

"Who?" he whispered sharply.

"Oh, now you're keeping it down?" Yohji asked, looking at him over the rim of his glasses. He chuckled again. "This is so soap operish, you know? We could have some real fun with this and get rid of Schwarz in the process."

"Aya doesn't want to be with Omi, though." Yohji folded his arms.

"Well, why the hell not?" he asked.

"It's complicated. Listen, Aya doesn't know that I know that he likes Omi. So…you have to really act like you don't know too. We have to leave Aya alone, but Omi? He can't be serious. In love? With Nagi? The enemy?"

"Yep," Yohji said, starting to crave a cigarette. He patted his chest unconsciously before he realized that he had taken his shirt off. He sat back, rubbed his hands and made quick plans on how he'd grab a smoke before bed.

"Do you think…he'd do something?" Ken asked. "He was chatting with him on the internet. Aya said Nagi was trying to get Omi to tell him where we live. He wants to take Omi away from us."

"I know, we talked," Yohji said.

"But we can't watch Omi all the time. What if Nagi gets in contact with him and tries to attack him?"

"Well, if Nagi is really so desperate to find Omi, and he and Omi are really friends, then probably he's acting alone."

"Come on, that's not right. Nagi and the others have a leash on Omi and this how they pull the strings. Omi…needs to be watched. This Nagi will tell him that he wants to meet him and Omi will go to see him and he'll be walking right into their trap."

"Ken, think about it. Why would Nagi go through the trouble of contacting Omi and badmouthing the others if he didn't really want to see him? Oh, but wait. Let's not forget that it was Omi who IM'd him first." Ken slumped down again and let his chin hit the table.

"But…we have to think about why they let him go after all that time…" he mumbled. "Why let Omi go…? I mean…I'm sure that us finding him and taking him in was all part of their plan. Everything that happened to Omi while he was there was methodical. Schuldig using him as his puppet… Nagi befriending him to make him think he had a friend in all of this…" Ken shook his head. "I…think I can understand a little about how Aya feels, but I still wish he wouldn't blame himself. I don't think it was his fault that we lost Omi. Do you?"

"Hell no." Ken nodded. Yohji rested on his arms on the table. "So…we'll find out how to deal with this Omi and Nagi situation after we set Aya and Omi up." Ken gave him a blank look.

"I'm not doing something like that."

"You will because I'm asking nicely." Ken looked shocked.

"Like hell, you are."

"Come on, Ken!" Yohji said, getting irritated with Ken's lack of cooperation. "If Omi knows that Aya wants him, he'll want to be with him. Then, he'll be so infatuated with Aya that he won't even think about this Nagi kid."

"But Aya isn't ready, Yohji. He's still in too much pain over everything."

"And who better to ease that pain than Omi himself?!" Yohji tried to get Ken to understand. "You know, they say opposites attract. They're, like, perfect for each other, Ken. Now, how are we going to do this?" Ken made a frustrated noise and got up.

"I don't know you," he said as he walked away. "I don't get you…I don't understand you at all…" Yohji followed and looked after him as he went into his room. Ken would come around eventually. Yohji wondered how Aya and Omi were faring on their own.

Please review,

kaj