Chapter IV: Of Violet Eyes and Valkyries

"We're calling it a night, Ken!" Omi said, locking the drawers. He smiled at me and added, "We're going out tonight. Yoji just fucked Manx and we're gonna celebrate!"

I smiled, shaking my head.

Yoji chuckled. "Shut up, you little dick! Now, go prepare my car…" As Omi sped to Yoji's wife, Yoji turned to me, and just…stared at me, with a silly look on his face. Kind of dazed and a bit horny.

I was feeling a bit queasy. Just me, Yoji and the flowers. I broke the awkward moment. "I presume we're going Chinese?" Dimsum was always the blonde's fave.

"No…" He grinned. So, Ken still remembers… Well, so do I. "It's Italian for tonight." The blonde continued grinning, putting a hand on his waist and leaning on the side. Thoughts rushed to my mind, as I stared at my friend studying me…so closely. Yoji never did this before. But, freak! He looks sexy…too sexy, I added, as I felt the blood pooling into my loins.

What's he trying to imply? I thought. Shit, is Yoji flirting with me? No…I mean, best friends are supposed to know each other's fave foods, right? I'm just getting carried away…

"Hey, c'mon, you two!" Omi's small face popped by the door, totally shattering the moment.

Yoji's strong hands held me by the shoulders and pushed me out of Kitty in the House. The contact was kind of…weird. When he touched me, I felt a kind of familiarity… Like A – No, I must have imagined it.

We hopped in Yoji's convertible - Yoji driving, me in the passenger's seat and Omi, fooling around in the back. We laughed and sang vulgar songs and flashed our dicks at other people and laughed and laughed as if we were already heavy with drink.

It was a happy moment…the Weiss boys going out to celebrate something so perverted…it was so typical, so US! It was something so…FAMILY.

Yet, I couldn't help but spoil the moment as the empty seat next to Omi continued to gape at me, making me remember that we were incomplete…making me remember that everything's gonna change…making me remember that Aya's not here, now or EVER…making me suffer so damn much.

I looked out the window, hoping to mask that tear which so carelessly trickled down. I stole a glance at Yoji who was laughing at some joke Omi's saying. I guess they didn't notice. I ruffled my hair and pretended to smile. Gawd, if ever they'd seen me…they must think I'm gay!

…..

The food was great. The wine was great. Everything was great but me. I must have been a real bore. But what can I do? I was just not in the mood.

"This risotto is delish!" Omi exclaimed, gobbling more. He leaned towards us, and whispered, "Mama Mia's is much better than that cockteaser Elisetta's…" At this, he laughed uncontrollably, spewing bits of chewed-up food…at some secret joke he and himself shared.

Shit, Omi's getting worse, I thought. Ever since he learned to return Crawford's love, er, lust, whatever…he's been acting real strange. We were just surprised when, one day, a package dropped on our front porch, which contained Omi's bloody undies. The boy made countless excuses but of course, we knew better. He's kind of torn apart now…half-Weiss, half-Schwarz, as he had shared himself with the enemy. Maybe we should send him to a psychiatric ward or something…

"Hey, are you okay?"

I looked up and saw Yoji's concerned eyes…eyes so blue and watery they seem to be filled with tears. But that would be like saying that the world is a square. I've never seen this man shed a tear before. Have no idea what would make him either… For me, he was completely masked.

"Yeah, I guess so," I replied stupidly. Mechanically, I stood up, excused myself and proceeded to the bathroom. I want to barf…Right now, the world seems to be one big lump of poop.

…..

Water always soothes my nerves. Feeling the wetness on my skin gives me such an ecstatic feeling. I could submerge myself in the tub for hours just enjoying the moment, and the feel of nature cleansing my body, purifying my soul…

But there is no tub. And I have to satisfy myself with the sink.

I splashed cold water on my weary face, and relished the refreshment. Everything is going wrong. Without Aya by my side, Life just seems more difficult, so hard to cope with.

Omi's going psycho and Yoji's gonna rape me, sooner or later… Who am I going to resort to?

Shit, Aya. I need you… I pounded my fist on the sink, shaking the mirror a bit. I lowered my head as I shut my eyes and bit my lip.

Maybe I should d - ! I almost jumped as I felt the warm hand resting on my shoulder. Aya?

I turned around…

…..

"Yoji!" I exclaimed, a bit panting. "Man, you scared me…"

He frowned. "Do I really look that bad?"

"Not really…"

"What!"

I laughed. "Was just joking!" Then I said in a serious tone. "Man, don't ever do that again."

"And why?" He asked teasingly.

"It scared the shit out of me."

"But it's just me!" He retorted. "There's not even one single soul here!"

My eyes wandered around. Oddly, we were the only people in the room. And to think that outside, people were swarming in numbers!

"Just you and me, huh?" I remarked, a bit sarcastic. I gave out a nervous laugh. The blonde laughed, too, muttering, "Yeah… you and me…"

"I've waited so long for this, Ken," the blonde suddenly whispered. "Don't make me suffer any longer."

"Yoji…" I didn't finish, knowing that somehow, he had caught me.

Yoji was deeply drinking in my eyes. Those "violet" eyes burning me. I have never felt this strong emotion bubbling in my stomach right now. Pleasure in pain…

I gasped when he put his hand on my cheek and touched my lower lip with his thumb. He continued to gaze at me, devouring my whole self.

"Allow me…" he muttered.

In a quick flash, Yoji's hot lips were pressing down on mine, forcing them open. At first, I held back…my surprise ordering me so. It was not Yoji. It's so unlike one of my best friends to make a joke like that. But as I felt him grasp my back, I knew this was no joke and my lips welcomed his tongue, soft and probing mine. I wanted to melt when I sensed the hand on my thigh. More so when it started to move, caress me lovingly.

The feeling of this – this something is overwhelming me. I cannot find the control I need so badly. My knees are so weak! I placed an arm around his neck; the other on the sink, for support, as he prolonged our liplocking.

I could feel Yoji's saliva on me, drying up on my face…leaving marks of lust, marks of desires hidden for so long…

As if my prayers had been answered, our lips parted. We were both panting, sweating…excited, overwhelmed, guilty…

Yoji was breathing heavily. Was it my imagination or wouldn't he dare look in my eyes?

We were still positioned together, arms intertwined, legs locked. Feeling awkward, we broke free from each other. Although it took me a Herculean effort to do so…

Then, the blonde took out a cigarette and lit one, not even considering that the place was a non-smoking zone. I studied him, from the corner of my eye, taking in that deathstick with shaking hands.

He was killing himself…oh so slowly. I could almost feel the deterioration in him. I pity his wasted life.

"Why are you tormenting yourself?" I asked. No way would I look at him…

"You're afraid?"

"Of what?" I said, defensively.

"For me…" He replied, puffed out the smoke at me, and smiled when he saw my confused face. "You're afraid that I will die?"

I didn't answer.

"And that you will lose me, just like Aya," he continued.

I still didn't reply. I didn't have to. He already knew the answer.

He laughed…that blasted stick still hanging in his mouth.

And then, he coughed.

"There!" I said sarcastically, about to take that cigar from his hands and scold him for being so addicted to Death. But he turned to me and said, "Don't forget…Die Walküre…"

Quickly, he left me there alone, my jaw hanging open. Die Walküre! How could have Yoji known about that? About Ran's secret – our secret?

My blood froze as realization hit me…

Violet eyes? Yoji didn't have violet eyes!

I shut my eyes and held my breath.

Aya did.