Title: Appreciating Things of Beauty [Chapter Eleven
Author:Endless-Kaoru
Pairing:None yet.
Rating:Overall: PG-13. This Chapter: G or PG-13

Warnings:
Disclaimer: I don't own Wallflower characters. None. Not even a single one.
Summary: Ranmaru is inspired by Yoji's admission, and makes plans to turn Aya into a true lady.

A/N: I apologize for the delay in updating! I got distracted by two other stories that I'm working on and entirely forgot that I was posting this one on So, to make up for it, here are four chapters. Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven: A Date?!

"I heard that they caught a criminal trying to sneak into your house Saturday night, Aya-kun, Yuki-kun!" a girl cried to the pair at school the next day, "Are you guys okay? Was anyone hurt?"

Aya twitched and looked away sourly.

Another girl joined the first, "They said on the news that he's wanted for torturing and raping a girl, and killing her brother, three years ago!"

Yuki moved closer to Aya, watching her carefully, "That's what they said." The red-haired girl kept her eyes firmly on the floor, shoulders tense.

"Aya-kun, Aya-kun, are you okay? You look pale…" the first girl asked, frightened, "Did… Did you know the girl?"

"Yeah, yeah, you looked really upset when they arrested him!" the second girl asked.

Aya's voice was low and dangerous, "Shut up, I don't wanna talk about it. Get away from me."

"Aya-kun…?" one of them whimpered uncertainly.

Yuki pushed his way between them, "Aya-kun is just a little shaken up right now, that's all."

"I-I'm sorry, Aya-kun… I hope I didn't bother you."

"Yeah. Thanks, Yuki-kun."

The two girls skittered away, looking repentant. Yuki turned to attend to Aya, only to find her gone. With a sigh, he sent a quick prayer that she wouldn't do something she'd regret later, and then left for class.

Yuki hadn't seen Aya for awhile, and he wondered briefly if maybe she'd gone home. At lunch, he sat outside with his three male roommates and Noi.

"Hey, wasn't Aya following you around before, Yuki? Where is she?" Takenaga blinked at the boy, and Noi seconded him.

"Ah… some girls brought up Saturday night, and she got upset and ran off. I figured she just wanted to be alone awhile, so I let her be."

"Saturday night? Did something happen?" Noi turned to Takenaga expectantly.

"Don't you watch the news, Noi-chan? They caught some murderer trying to sneak into our house." Kyohei replied. He glanced to Yuki, annoyed that the boy wouldn't tell them anything about the guy except that he killed Aya's brother.

Yuki noticed his look, "I'm not going to tell any of you. I promised Aya that I wouldn't."

"That was your house?!" Noi cried, covering her mouth, and her eyes slowly widened, "They said that he raped a girl and killed her brother… Wh-What did he want with you guys…?" She looked to be in denial.

Kyohei narrowed his eyes thoughtfully at Yuki, "Is that… what you're not telling us about Aya?"

"What? What about Aya-chan?!" Noi cried.

Yuki closed his eyes and turned away, hesitating, "…That girl… was Aya."

There was silence in the small group, and Noi leaned heavily on Takenaga's shoulder, looking up.

"Oh, Aya-chan…" her eyes watered, and Takenaga shyly looped an arm around her.

"Hey, look." Ranmaru looked up at the school rooftop, indicating a figure standing at the railing.

The others looked up, and Yuki squinted at it, "I think its Aya. What's she doing up there?"

"I don't know… it looks like she's just standing there." Kyohei shrugged.

Noi pointed, "Look, someone else is there, too!"

Two figures, boys, approached, standing just behind her. They seemed to be speaking to her, and Aya turned her head. After a few moments of conversing, one of the boys moved toward her, reaching for her… neck? Chest? The onlookers couldn't tell. Aya sidestepped him and put up her arms, dropping into a defensive crouch. The by-standing boy yelled something, mimicking her pose.

"Oh no… she's going to try and fight them!" Noi cried out, "We have to go help her!"

The boy threw a punch that Aya dodged, and the other one caught her by the hair.

The four boys stood with Noi and ran to the rooftop.

Kyohei reached her first, ready to beat up the two boys and save Aya. He found the two knocked unconscious, lying on the ground, with Aya a few feet away, sulking quietly.

"Ah, Aya, you knocked them out!" he sounded amazed, and received a glance. She tugged at the front of her jacket, and huddled in on herself.

"Aya-chan, are you okay?!" Noi rushed to the girl's side.

"Ah… he ripped my shirt." Aya indicated the tear vaguely, "I suppose I should… head home, then."

"You can't wander around with barely a shirt on!" Noi scolded and huddled in front of her, peering over her shoulder at the boys, "Lend her one of your shirts! It's not proper for a girl to go shirtless!"

The boys debated who was going to give up his shirt, and finally Ranmaru began to take off his, surrendering it to the girl.

Noi took it from him and ordered the boys to turn around before helping Aya out of her torn shirt and into Ranmaru's.

"There! It's a little big, but school's almost over. Ranmaru-kun can go wear his gym shirt."

Aya smiled half-heartedly and thanked the redhead boy, then giggled and sniffed the collar, "I like your cologne, Ranmaru-kun." He smirked and left to get his gym shirt.

"Aya-kun?!" a small crowd of girls rushed onto the roof and past Ranmaru, surrounding those still standing around.

"Aya-kun, we saw you fighting! Are you okay?" a girl tugged on her arm, "You're not hurt are you?"

Aya shook off the questions, "No, no, I'm fine. I think… I think I'll go home. Yuki, could I copy your notes later?"

"Uh… yeah." Yuki nodded, and Aya bowed her head against his shoulder, breathing a thanks before she left.

It started raining before school ended. Yuki regretted forgetting his umbrella, and quickly realized that he wasn't the only one.

"What do we do? Brave it?" Kyohei glanced out the school doors, "I don't think it'll stop soon."

"Hey, look! We've been rescued!" Yuki cheered, pointing out Aya. She waved to them from the passenger side of a large red truck.

"…Are we all going to fit in there?" Takenaga wondered aloud as they approached; There were already three people inside.

When they approached, she jumped out and opened the back door, saying, "Ah, sorry! Last minute thing… you might have to double up!"

It was cramped, but Kyohei and Ranmaru sat in the back with Aya in the space between them and Sunako – who looked ready to pass out – in Kyohei's lap, and in the front, Takenaga sat with Yuki on his lap and Yoji between him and the driver – Yuki recognized him from the stables.

"Sorry about this, everyone, but it would suck if you all got stuck in the storm." Aya apologized, then moved on to introductions, "Ah, the one driving is Toshihiko-juui. He's our veterinarian. And you all got off to a rough start with Yoji-kun. This is Yoji Katsunuma, a friend of mine that lives at the stables." She systematically introduced her roommates.

"What are you doing in town here?" Yuki asked.

The driver, Toshihiko, answered, "We needed supplies, and Yoji-kun wanted to visit Aya-chan." Yoji blushed hotly and looked away. The man went on, "Anyway, could someone point me in the right direction?"

Yuki readily offered up directions.

When they reached home, it was still raining, and Kyohei carried the unconscious Sunako into the house, followed by Ranmaru and Takenaga. Yuki dawdled a bit, waiting while Aya and Yoji lugged sacks of feed from under a tarp in the back of the truck and into the backseat.

"Hey… Yukinojo-kun, was it? What happened at school today, with Aya-chan? Why was she wearing your friend's shirt?" he looked suspicious, "You boys aren't doing anything to her, are you?"

Yuki forced down his blush, "No, no, nothing like that. She got in a fight at school, and her shirt got ripped, that's all."

Toshihiko seemed to be measuring him up, then suddenly smiled broadly, "I think she likes you, you know. Whenever she talks to us, it's always 'Yuki this, Yuki that.'"

Yuki turned red, and was saved by Aya, "Toshihiko-juui, you're not telling Yuki anything weird, are you?"

Yoji glared at the blonde boy with a new rage, and Yuki wondered if he'd overheard.

"No, of course not!" the man denied with a chuckle.

Aya looked suspicious, but finally said, "Hey, why don't you two come inside for tea? Do you think that'd be okay, Yuki?"

"I still have running to do. Yoji-kun, why don't you go in? I'll pick you up when I'm done. Go on, you'll just get in my way." The man shooed Yoji from the car, and drove away before he could protest.

Aya laughed awkwardly, "Come on, Yuki, Yoji-kun. Let's get out of this rain before we catch a cold."

Sunako already had tea and riceballs out when they got inside, presumably for the others as Takenaga was already eating and Kyohei was just leaving with a riceball in hand. Or maybe someone had scrounged up the desire to have tea and riceballs; Sunako was nowhere in sight, and Aya figured someone had to know how to make them.

"You two sit down while I go get towels. Yoji-kun, be nice." Aya disappeared from the room, wondering aloud if Sunako was okay. Yoji seemed to have barely heard her, contemplating something as he slowly chewed on his riceball. Yuki watched him from the corner of his eye.

It was funny, the blonde thought. This boy, who was only a year younger than himself, who viciously protected Aya with all he could muster, whose face was permanently set in a frown, somehow seemed much younger than him, and somehow seemed frightened.

"Yu…ki…-kun…" the boy said slowly, quietly, as if he wasn't even sure he wanted to speak. He didn't raise his head, didn't even move a muscle, until somehow he knew that he had the blonde's attention. Slowly, with a shaking hand, Yoji set down the half-eaten rice ball, then set himself down in a chair. He rose his head, but only a little, to stare distantly at the plate in the middle of the table. He was finally speaking, in a soft, uncertain voice, "Is… Aya-san… okay? Is she… is she sad?"

He sounded so much like a young boy that Yuki wasn't sure if this was really Yoji he was talking to, "Yoji-kun?"

"She's not… she's not hurt… is she…?"

"No, why would Aya be hurt?" Yuki set down his own riceball and fully faced the boy, "Yoji-kun, did something happen? Are you okay?"

The boy physically recoiled at his words, straightening in the chair. His hands clenched the sides of the seat, and he tucked his chin against his throat. He looked like he was waiting to be hit. "It's my fault, right? Aya-san is mad at me, and that's why she's acting weird. I don't mean to hurt her, I just do!" he blurted out, voice shaking.

Takenaga was watching from the other end of the table, silent, and Yuki glanced helplessly to him.

"Why is it your fault?" the dark-haired boy asked.

Yoji's cheeks flamed red, he braced himself more firmly, and he finally said, "It's my fault, 'cause I lo… 'cause I love Aya-san."

Again, the boys exchanged glances, and Takenaga stood to move into the chair on Yoji's opposite side. The boy flinched and jerked his head up to stare at him before dropping his face again, bringing his arms up to block a blow that no one had thought to throw. The expression of pure terror that Takenaga had witnessed in that brief moment had him rooted to the spot.

"What…" Yuki managed to start, then his voice faded off.

"We think in the same, messed up way."

"I'm afraid of losing people, so I don't get close enough in the first place."

"If someone were to injure you, I would feel the need to go beat up that person."

It clicked. His self-protecting thoughts had cornered him.

Slowly and carefully, so as not to startle the boy, Yuki lightly pushed the boy's arms down from their defensive position, "Yoji-kun, I think… I think I get it. You can't allow yourself to be close to her, can you?"

The odd-eyed boy nodded, mumbling, "She'll hurt me… she'll just hurt me…"

"But if you aren't close to her… she'll be upset, won't she? And it will be your fault…"

"Aya-san hates me, doesn't she?"

"No, Aya doesn't hate you, Yoji-kun. I think you're one of her best friends… because you both understand each other so well."

Yoji's face was lowered again, hidden behind dark bands. He sniffed.

"Aya… is just a little shaken up today. She had a rough day at school, and she's shaken up about the arrest. I think that she must have been glad to see you."

Yoji didn't move, didn't make a sound.

"Are you okay, Yoji-kun?"

His shoulders twitched; something abut the phrase had some odd fear effect on him. The blonde hugged him, then, like he'd done for Aya when she was upset. The boy jumped, and his hands twitched at Yuki's sides, uncertain.

"Its okay, Yoji-kun. It's not your fault."

Yoji's fingers curled into fists, gripping his shirt, and he whined almost silently against the older boy.

Aya returned, and Yoji jerked away, face reddening. Yuki was almost surprised to find that the boy hadn't shed a tear.

The girl looked about the room, contemplating the situation, "…What's going on?"

Takenaga diverted her attention, "How is Sunako-chan?"

"She's up. I made her go take a shower, because she was soaked through. I hope she doesn't catch a cold." Methodically, she began to hand out the towels she carried with her, and Takenaga and Yuki dried themselves off. Yoji draped it over his shoulders, but seemed lost in his own world again. She blinked at him, but shook it off, reaching for a rice ball.

Yoji's chair scraped harshly, and clattered to the floor as the boy stood suddenly, abruptly. He met her gaze, face set with determination.

"Aya-san, I like you a lot."

She paused midway to a rice ball, blinked, and gave it up, tilting her head at him instead.

"I know… that you like Yuki-kun…"

Aya straightened, blinked rapidly, "I… what?"

Takenaga stared at Yuki, who turned pink and covered his face with the towel, under the ruse of drying his hair.

"But I hope… that you can still be my best friend…" he swallowed nervously, then turned to Yuki, who peered out from under the towel. The boy raised his voice, and there was contempt in it, but it was empty, "And you… you girl-brat! You'd better take care of Aya-san, or I'll kick your ass. Got that?"

"But… I… I'm not…" Aya was stuttering helplessly, even as Yoji turned and stalked from the building.

As soon as he was gone, there was applause from the doorway. The three remaining in the room looked up at Ranmaru and Kyohei, eyes filled with tears.

Aya winced, "Quit being such girls. I'm not in love with Yuki, he's just the first male friend I've had who doesn't think I'm his mother." She paused, glancing at the blonde, "…You don't think I'm your mother, right?"

"Right." He agreed, serious. The others looked confused, but didn't ask.

"I don't think Yoji-kun thinks of you as a mother…" Ranmaru replied instead.

Aya twitched and tuned pink, "Yes, well, I get that now."

"You couldn't tell?!" the male redhead looked shocked.

Aya looked guilty, "What do you mean?"

All four boys stared at her, incredulous.

"He's so possessive!"

"And jealous!"

"And that present he gave you!"

"And—"

"I get it. Shut up." She covered her face, "But you can't blame me. The last time I had a guy in love with me I just ignored him. And I'm the only one Yoji-kun ever opens up to; I figured it was his personality."

"You just ignored him?" Yuki sounded aghast, "You ignored a kid when you knewhe was in love with you? How cruel!"

She looked guilty, "I was 13 and still shunning humankind. I ignored everyone. He's probably forgotten about it anyway."

"You don't have a lot of social skills, do you?" Kyohei asked.

"Look who's talking." She shot back flatly, "Anyway, what does it matter?"

"I know!" Ranmaru suddenly pounded his fist into his palm, startling everyone around him.

There was silence, and finally, Yuki dared to break it, "…What do you know?"

"Machiko-chan dumped you again, didn't she, Yuki?"

Yuki's eyes teared up and he pouted, "Yeah, so? You don't have to sound so excited about it."

Aya looked upset, "What happened, Yuki? Did you and Machiko-chan get in a fight?"

"They'll get back together by the end of the week. Breaking up must turn them on or something." Kyohei shrugged, "They break up every other week."

"Does not!" Yuki denied.

"Good! I know the perfect way to get both Sunako-chan and Aya to learn some social skills so they can become true ladies!" Ranmaru continued as if no one had spoken. Everyone turned their attention on him again.

"And how is that?" Aya frowned, dubious.

"A date!" Ranmaru clapped a hand on her back.

There was, again, a moment of silence.

Finally Aya managed, "I don't think Sunako-chan and I get along so well as to go on a date…"

"No, no, not with each other." He scolded, "Sunako-chan would be escorted by Kyohei, and you, Aya, would be escorted by Yuki."

"But… If Machiko-chan finds out…" Yuki mumbled timidly.

"It's not a real date, Yuki." Ranmaru offered comfortingly, "And besides, what Machiko-chan doesn't know, won't hurt her, right?"

"Why do I gotta go on a date with Sunako-chan?!" Kyohei protested loudly, "Why don't you go?!"

Ranmaru offered no response, going off to find a phone, "Don't worry, I'll make all the plans."

"I'm not going with him."

Everyone in the room froze and turned to stare at Sunako, where she stood in the doorway like a ghost.

"Oh, come on, Sunako-chan! It'll be fun! You can go see that new horror movie that came out!" Ranmaru reasoned.

Aya inspected her nails, "You don't wanna see that one, it sucks. There's hardly any blood or anything. The only reason it's not PG-13 is because there's a few naked people, drugs, and people on drugs having sex. It's like a bad porno."

"…You saw it?" Sunako asked cautiously.

"I did. Yoji-kun took me." She glanced up at Ranmaru, "As far as I'm concerned, there aren't any movies in theater that I want to see."

Sunako nodded in agreement.

Ranmaru faltered, "Well… there's… um…" he stopped to think, then looked to the others. None of them offered an alternative.

"It won't work." Kyohei finally announced, "Even if you do manage to get her to go, I'm not gonna go."

The matchmaker/playboy looked put out, "Then… Aya, Yuki?"

The two looked embarrassed, not looking at each other.

"I… don't have anything to wear. People are supposed to dress up on dates, right?" Aya tried weakly.

"You've never been on a date? Not even once?" Yuki swung around, looking surprised.

She pointed at herself, "Dating virgin." She paused, thinking, then pouted and tucked her hands under her chin, nudging her cheek against Yuki's shoulder and staring at Ranmaru, almost crying, "I'm a dating virgin and you're gonna force Yuki-kun to take my first time?"

Yuki's face turned red, "Don't make it sound like that! It's not even a real date!"

Kyohei and Takenaga were doubled over in laughter, and Ranmaru looked like he might give in, "D-Don't think that face will change my mind! You need to become a lady!"

Aya continued to stare at him, whimpering like a puppy.

"What are you, a dog?! Quit looking at me like that!" the redhead turned his back on her.

Kyohei came up behind her, still laughing as he draped an arm around her shoulders, "What, can't take it? Man, Aya, that's great!"

She smiled sweetly, "There's a damn good reason I—hey, where'd that brat sneak off to?" she stopped and looked around, startled at Ranmaru's absence.

Takenaga cleared his throat, "In the next room, setting up your date, I believe."

"Ah, that brat!"