Hi everyone. I'm going to post one more chapter and see how the feedback goes on this. I understand now that you may not have reviewed because the chapter that I added wasn't part of 'The Beast'.

However, if I don't get any feedback on this chapter, then I seriously am going to discontinue this. I don't ever feel like writing it anymore because I think, 'Hey, it's not like anyone's even reading this! Why bother? I have better things to do!'

So please, if you really want me to continue writing this fic, please do review. It would be much appreciated.

Ran quickly raced over to Ken and managed to pry the pillow away from his white-knuckled grasp. Ran gasped as he saw how blue Ken's lips had become. What would have happened to Ken if he had taken just a minute longer in the bathroom? Why the hell couldn't he learn not to leave Ken alone in his sleep like that? Damn it! Why was he so careless with Ken like that? Was he harming Ken more than he helped him?

Either way, he was past the point of no return. If he turned back now, he would break Ken beyond repair. If he stayed with Ken, he might give Ken a slow and painful demise. Well, then at least there would some hope that he could help Ken if he stayed with him. Ran would just have to change some of his habits. If he didn't, well, it was Ken's life on the line, so not changing was not an option. Besides, Ken's life mattered more to Ran than his own comfort any day.

Ran checked Ken's pulse and was relieved to feel it pulsing strongly under his index and middle fingers. Ran also noted how Ken was gaining his color back, and his lips weren't as blue. Ran sighed in relief and started to run his fingers through Ken's hair. Ran felt Ken relax under his touch.

How was it that he was the one who gave Ken pain, yet just his touch relieved him? Was it that the absence of his touch was what distressed Ken? Was he so lost without love or physical contact? Did he really need that touch to feel connected to reality? If that was so, then there was another topic that Ran needed to address when having his talk with Ken. Although it felt nice to be needed like that, it wasn't healthy at all for Ken, so there was no putting it off. It had to be addressed soon.

Speaking of which, it was almost lunchtime. Perhaps they should go out to that café that Ken had mentioned the other day. Well, if Ken was ready, that was. Ran didn't want to push Ken too near to the edge. He was already scared that Ken was too close to the edge of the cliff as it was. Just one little breeze might be all that was needed to blow Ken over the rim.

Ran decided to make his decision after Ken woke up. He would wake up soon anyways. Hardly anything could rule over Ken's stomach. A couple of minutes later, as though to prove Ran's theory, Ken's eyes slid blearily open, still heavy with sleep. Ken struggled to sit up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He slowly blinked at Ran, trying to gather his bearings.

"You're here!" Ken exclaimed in wonder. He expression quickly shifted to one of bitterness, though. "Where were you when Kase came in? He tried to kill me, yanno! I couldn't breathe!" By then, Ken's voice had shifted from his sleepy mumble to clear shouting. Ran gasped as he saw the resentment in Ken's eyes. "Why aren't' you with me when I need you! Why did you leave me!"

Omi and Yohji raced into the room, hearing the commotion. Omi still held his homework and pencil in his hands, and Yohji still held the phone from the mission room. Yohji paled slightly as he realized that he still held the phone. He silently mouthed Manx to the rest of Weiß. He hoped that Ken could keep his mouth shut in his anger. Otherwise, their team might no stay intact. Yohji looked pleadingly into Ken's eyes, hoping that he would see the reason behind holding his anger back. If he didn't… Well, who knew what Kritiker would do to them if they thought that Weiß was becoming dysfunctional.

Ken slumped slightly, his anger flowing out of his frame. Nothing mattered more to him than his new family. Not even his anger stood a chance against that love. Ken knew that if he didn't control his anger and his words, Kritiker might very well tear his family, odd as they were, apart. Yohji, Ran, and Omi relaxed in relief as they saw Ken let go of his anger for the time being.

Yohji stiffened when he heard Manx's voice come through the receiver. He made such an odd face at the phone before deciding to answer, that Ran decided, in Yohji's case, videophones were best left away from him. He drew himself out of his thoughts to hear why Manx would be calling them.

"Yeah, I'm still here." Yohji said. "Sorry about that. I was a bit distracted by someone outside the window. They definitely don't have as great legs as you do though." Yohji added, laying on the Kudou charm. He went silent for a bit, listening to Manx talk. "What? We have a mission? But we just had one two nights ago!"

Ken looked up as he registered the word 'mission', eyes acquiring an odd glint. As he observed the change in Ken, Ran strengthened his resolve to have that talk with Ken as soon as possible. Come to think of it, they had yet to eat lunch. Ran tried to catch Ken's eye, but Ken was drinking in Yohji's conversation like a man in the desert who hadn't seen cool water in days. Finally, losing his patience and unable to see Ken looking like that, Ran suddenly grabbed Ken by the wrist and dragged him out of the room.

Ken tried to twist out of Ran's grip, but Ran kept firm hold on him. There was no way in hell that he was going to put off having the talk with Ken any longer. They would just get the mission debriefing later. The talk had to come first, for who knew what could happen during their next mission. It might be a risk to let Ken go loose on a mission. For all they knew, Ken could go renegade and go after the rest of Weiß, losing sight of the line between target and comrade in his wildness. While Ran knew that Ken would more likely than not hold a grudge in the beginning, he was sure that Ken would be grateful for the restraint later.

Once in the safety of Ran's room, Ran relaxed his grip on Ken's arm. Ken immediately swung a punch aimed at Ran's face. Luckily, Ran had been anticipating that. He knew that although Ken's anger might have been held back when Manx called, he knew that Ken was like gas. Even if it seemed pretty calm when alone, if you put a match near it, everything could blow up. Ken's anger was pretty much the same. It would simmer until it boiled over.

Ran caught Ken's fist in his own hand and used the momentum to turn them around and trap Ken up against the wall. Sometimes, Ken required force in order to see reason. He wouldn't be able to stay still otherwise.

"Ken," Ran said calmly, "I cannot let you participate in this mission. Not until we figure out how to help you keep your head during missions. I don't want you endangering the rest of Weiß. I'm not saying that I want to get rid of you for being a possible threat; I just want to keep you from becoming one. I want to help you, Ken." Ran added, after seeing Ken's rejected and slightly fearful expression.

Ken wondered how Ran knew that that was what Ken wanted to talk abut. Actually, perhaps he didn't. After all, Ran was the one who had initiated the talk. But that meant that Ran had noticed his behavior during missions. Shit! Ken hoped that Omi had not included his behavior in the mission reports. That would definitely be bad.

But then, if Kritiker knew, then why would he still be in Weiß? Unless… Was he just an upcoming mission? Ken knew that Ran was a great actor. Ken had seen Ran at work during some missions before. At times, Ken found himself almost believing the act, only the fact that he knew the whole mission plan, as well as the fact that Ran could never make his eyes fully convey true strong emotions, keeping him from falling into the trap meant to catch the target.

Ken's body stiffened as he decided to never trust anyone from Weiß, no matter how sincere they seemed. He had had first-hand experience when it came to deception from trusted ones. It was exactly what Kase did to Ken. He led Ken to trust him, and then did a complete turn-around and almost killed Ken in the end with the scandal. For all Ken knew, that might be exactly what Weiß would do to him, with one minor alteration—Ken would not be left alive.

Ran watched Ken curiously, wondering about Ken's sudden shift in demeanor. What was he thinking about that could bring across such a change? Ran sighed as he thought back to Ken's mood swings. They were always unexpected and extreme.

Coming out of his thoughts, Ran blinked as he saw Ken's look of decisiveness. What was Ken thinking about? What was he making a decision on? What had he decided?

Suddenly, Ran realized that Ken's eyes were blocked and that he seemed to be masking his emotions. Did he decide that he didn't want Ran? Was Ran being too harsh on Ken? It was only because of his concern for Ken's well being. Without intending to, Ran accidentally let his hurt shine in his eyes.

Ken gasped as he saw the hurt in Ran's eyes. He was well aware of the fact that Ran could never fake such strong emotions. But then, that meant that Ken truly had hurt Ran! Ken had hurt the one whose only objective, looking back, was mainly to help him. Shit! Ran had never seemed to have any ulterior motives, either. Thinking back, Ken realized that if he hadn't been so blind during his relationship with Kase, it would have been clear what Kase really wanted from him. With his perverted suggestions, not so innocent touches, lustful stares, it was apparent what Kase really wanted. Never had Kase given Ken anything thoughtful during their relationship, never had he done a considerate act towards Ken without expecting something in return, never had he… loved Ken.

Ken emerged from his thoughts to find that Ran's eyes were back to the ice chips that Ken had been used to before they had become close. However, Ken could see upon closer scrutiny that Ran's practiced mask was cracked.

Ken realized that that unlike what he had previously believed so foolishly, he was not the only one who was liable to be hurt in their relationship. Ran was not some super-human, as Ken was coming to realize. He was just like everyone else. Just because he didn't show his emotions openly often didn't mean that he didn't have them. Ran, too, had his own share of insecurities. Shit! Ken was one of the few that Ran opened up to, and he went off and hurt him! Damn it!

Ran watched as the flurry of emotions passed through Ken's eyes. He blinked as he noted the guilt and regret that flitted across the surfaces of Ken's warm, chocolate eyes. Suddenly, with Ran's only warning being Ken's suddenly determined expression, Ran found himself glomped by Ken. Ran took a step back in surprise and met the wall, yet Ken didn't let go. Instead, his grip seemed to tighten around Ran's slim frame. Ran looked down and found himself pulled into Ken's apologetic eyes.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you!" Ken started, eyes bordering frantic, "I'm so sorry! I guess I'm still a bit scared of being in a relationship. I'm so sorry! I should know that I can trust you! I am so, so sorry!"

Suddenly, without warning, Ken sunk to the ground as self-loathing infiltrated him every pore for daring to doubt Ran. Ran had never done anything to make Ken's trust waver that could not be explained.

Ran quietly knelt in front of Ken and pulled him into a warm embrace. He gently pet Ken's hair and planted a warm, tender kiss on his brow. He blinked in surprise as Ken suddenly started to spurt out his past doubts about Ran, as well as the rest of Weiß, along with what had caused said doubts. Ran sat with Ken, quietly listening while comforting him and waiting for him to calm down.

After a little while, Ken's stream of words died out and he grew quiet, silently clinging to Ran. They sat together for a few minutes before Ran pulled them both up. He knew that sitting on the floor for so long did not bring about much comfort to one's body. Ran led Ken to sit on the edge of his bed and settled down next to him. His hands found Ken's and he waited for Ken's head to come and for his molten chocolate eyes to meet his own amethyst crystals.

A few minutes passed before Ken lifted his head and looked up at Ran, wondering why he wasn't saying anything. Ken found himself drowning in the emotion-filled amethyst depths. It appeared as though Ran had knocked down any and all barriers around his heart and emotions. Ken realized that he would easily be able to tell if Ran lied to him. Feeling as though if he waited to long, Ran would close up again, Ken quickly asked the question that had been playing at the back of his mind since he woke up.

"Where were you when I was having my nightmare?" Ken asked, carefully scrutinizing Ran's eyes. Ran blinked a few times and cocked his head slightly before he reluctantly answered Ken's question.

"I had to use the toilet." Ran mumbled sheepishly, a blush spreading across his cheeks. He watched as Ken winced, an expression of guilt clearly dominating his features. He looked up at Ran with big apologetic eyes.

"I'm so sorry!" Ken exclaimed, horror spreading across his face. "Oh," he moaned, "why do I always do this?" Ran chuckled and pulled Ken into a warm cuddle session. However, they were soon interrupted.

Both of the heads snapped up as they registered the sound of clicking heels approaching. Their eyes fell on the doorway where Manx leaned, a smirk gracing his lips.

Yup. There it is, minna! I hope you liked it... I wrote it a couple of months ago, and looking back, I know I could have done a lot better, but I don't really feel like redoing it, so yeah. Please review this chapter, or I will discontinue this fic. You have no excuses this time around if you don't review it, so please do. Thank you, to those of you who do review.

Signed,

PrincessFlame92