Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets and Lies ❯ SL - Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: Hey!

Kathrine: We finally got around to this story again!

JC: We are sooo sorry it took so long, but we hope this chapter peaks your interests.

Kathrine: Thanks to all those nice people who reviewed the first chapter.

JC: Yeah, we just hope that all those people are still interested in this.

Kathrine: Sooo, well…We don't have anything else to say.

JC: Read the chapter and we'll see if we can come up with something.

Disclaimer: If you actually think we own this, then there is this GREAT spaceship we have for sale…

Warnings: YAOI/Shounen Ai, dark themes, poor Seiji. Nothing really bad in here though. Just wait. ~_^

Secrets and Lies

By JC and Kathrine

Chapter 2

Warmth was the first thing Seiji noticed when he felt himself returning to consciousness. He had no idea how long he had been asleep for, but he couldn't deny that he felt strangely out of place. He felt comfortable sheets covering his body, like a protective shield from whatever cold may come his way. Where am I? he wondered. He allowed his eyes to open slowly, taking in the small amount of light coming from the thin sliver between two thick drapes over the window. From what he could tell he was in a room that was sparsely furnished, only the basics in it: a bedside table, dresser, the bed itself, and a chair that was by the window. But none of this helped him with his questions.

How did I get here? He tried to sit up, but was halted by the pain in his temple. It felt like someone had hit him with a nine-iron golf club. He placed his hand against the main point of distress and was shocked to feel a bandage over the throbbing temple. Nani? He was more confused now. What had happened the night before? Everything was a blur to him for some reason. He'd gone to the park and had been trying to relax after a hard week of work on his only night off…

It ended there. He couldn't think of what had occurred afterwards. It was obvious that he'd been attacked, in a fight, or something, but he just couldn't bring it up. The more he thought the more his head hurt so he let it be as it was, easing the pain a little. That's when another thought came to mind. Did HE do this? He wondered. Is HE the reason why I'm here? The thought worried him, taking his attention. He almost jumped in start when the door to the room was opened.

His eyes flew to the door as a person entered, a figure from his past shocking him further than he'd already been. " Anubis…" he gasped, his eyes wide. Yes, it was indeed the Yami Masho Anubis, his rival and enemy from almost either years before…a tray of food in his hands.

" I see you're awake," the other replied. " I was afraid the blow to your head had hurt you worse than I had initially thought."

" Nani?" the blonde didn't understand. But then images came back to him of the night before. He had been approached by a drunken pervert who had wanted to have 'fun'. He'd tried to get away and then had slapped the disgusting dipsomaniac. He hadn't seen the bottle. But then there had been the face, the comforting arms that assured him no harm…the cross-shaped scar.

" You 'helped' me last night?" he spoke in disbelief.

" It is so hard to believe that I would help someone, let alone you?" the blue-haired man questioned. " The war has been over man years, I am no longer who I was, and we are no longer enemies.

The others word were truthful, the war was over, they weren't enemies, and the Yami Masho seemed different, not the same as he'd been those long years ago. He suddenly felt like a cad for what he'd said. The other had saved him from getting what he had no doubt would have been sexually assaulted by some drunkard and he was seeming very ungrateful.

" Gomen nasai, my rudeness was uncalled for," Seiji whispered only loud enough for the other to hear. The blonde's eyes were locked on his hands as they sat in his lap, the blanket in a puddle around his waist. The blue-haired man could see that the young man looked very 'lost' to use the best term. It was almost impossible to believe that this near stranger was actually the bearer of the Korin no Yoroi.

" I brought you something to eat and some painkillers for your head," he finally broke the pregnant silence. He stepped forward and set the tray in the other's lap, waiting for his reaction.

" Arigato," the other thanked him, but noticed something different. " Who shirt is this?" He stared down at the somewhat large dark black button-up he was wearing, a great contrast to the white one he'd originally been wearing.

"It's Rajura's," he explained. " Yours had quite a bit of blood on it and he has the smallest shirts in the apartment. It's still a little large on you."

" It's all right," he told him. " You live here with Rajura?"

Anubis suddenly realized how that sounded. " No, it's not like that!" he shook his head chuckling. " Rajura, Naaza, and I, all live here together. We chose living with each other over staying in the Youjakai with Kayura bossing us around."

" I understand," Seiji nodded, only to have his head spinning within seconds. He instantly placed his hand to his non-injured temple in hopes of relieving some of the discomfort.

" You should lie down before you hurt yourself," the blue-haired man next to him warned. " That bastard hit you rather hard and I ended up pulling small pieces of glass from the cut. It wasn't deep enough to need further medical attention, but it will still hurt if you push yourself too far."

" I'll be fine," he replied. " I can't stay here long. I have to work." He moved the tray of food from his lap, setting it on the sheets, and moved towards the edge of the bed. He tried to stand up, but the rush of blood only caused the pain in his head to increase. He gave a small gasp before he started to tilt on his feet. Anubis steadied him before he could completely lose balance and forced him to sit back down on the bed.

" I insist you pace yourself," the swordsman persisted. " I would hate for Rajura to think I let you harm yourself." Seiji didn't understand. Why was the former Yami Masho being so kind and polite to him? Why would someone he hadn't even seen or thought about for almost eight years show such concern for him?

" Times have indeed changed," the blonde murmured a small smile coming to his lips.

"Nani?" Anubis raised a curious brow.

" I need to go to work," he stated. " I don't even know what time it is. I could very well be running late."

" It's only seven," he told him.

" I have work at ten, I really should go," the blonde pushed. " I can't possibly stay here."

"At least eat before you go," Anubis asked. " Rajura's temperamental about his cooking."

Seiji looked ready to refuse once again, but suddenly gave a small sigh and a look of compliance. " Tell him I said thank you," the blonde requested. " He didn't have to do this for me. Neither of you did."

" It was nothing, no trouble at all," he assured him. He backed way towards the door. " I'll be back to check on you." Seiji nodded and he left, shutting the door behind him. He gave a small sigh, walking down the hall and into the living room. His attention was caught by the white-haired man sitting on the couch with a book in his hands.

" Did you get him to speak to you?" the former Gen Masho questioned.

" You would swear he was some impostor unless you knew otherwise," Anubis replied, still reeling in disbelief. " He's so…so different than the person we fought against all that time ago. He might as well be a completely different person only with the same memories."

" A single day can changed person, a drastic event occurring that could affect your very soul or merely an act that changes your perception of something in your life," the older man stated. " Think of how many days are in eight years."

" Did you get anything from his identification card? A phone number to a friend or relative?" the blue-haired man inquired. " The other Troopers must be wondering about him."

" I found nothing," he shook his head. " He merely has his ID with his address on it, money, and a few photos that seem to be years old. He doesn't even have the number of some faceless woman in there."

" Maybe he's not into women," Anubis pointed out with a smirk.

" You're trying too hard," the other man remarked.

" I'm curious by nature," his smirk deepened. " Things I want to know I work hard to find out about."

" Well seeing as I took the liberty of preparing the meal this morning, even though it was your turn, you can clean the mess up," Rajura smirked at him.

" Damn you," his smirk immediately dropped from his face. Of all things, kitchen duty was one of the chores Anubis hated most. He was a very neat person and when it came to kitchen he never believed things were up to his standards, no matter how many hours he'd spent cleaning it. He'd finally given the room up as a loss, settling for as tidy as he could get it. That still didn't mean he wasn't sore about losing to a simple room of an apartment.

He nodded in compliance, knowing he couldn't get out of it. He would just clean it a little more thoroughly today and maybe it would look better. He began returning the clean dishes to the cupboard, the dishes Naaza never put away when it was his turn. What was so hard about drying dishes after you cleaned them and putting them back in designated place in the kitchen? Too much for some it seemed.

Rajura returned to reading his novel, enjoying the themes of love, betrayal, a revenge that was, The Count of Monte Cristo. Not as mentally taxing or involved as he usually preferred, but something about he found to his liking. It was the third time he'd read it this year. He heard the soft of footfalls and turned towards its origin. Korin stood a few feet away from him, the tray Anubis had taken into his room in his hands and hair taken down, long sun-drenched tresses hiding the bandage on the side of his brow.

" Glad to see you can stand on your own," Rajura commented.

" Domo arigato, for the meal," the blonde thanked him. " And for the shirt."

" You're welcome," he smiled. " Will you be staying any longer?"

" I have work in a few hours," he shook his head. " I really need to get going."

" All right," drying his hands on a towel, Anubis entered from the kitchen. " Let me take that." He removed the tray from Seiji's hands, keeping his composure even at the feel of their hands sliding against each other. He set the tray on the small coffee table in front of the couch and walked over to a tall coat rack by the door. He picked up the leather jacket and turned around, extending it to the blonde.

" It's quite chilly this morning," he explained.

" I…I can't take this," the blonde declined.

" You can return it to me later." Korin could tell by his tone that he wasn't taking no for an answer. He gently took the coat from the others hands, staring at his for a moment. He then slid it on over his shoulders, finding that it was more than quite large compared to his smaller frame.

" Thank you," he said for the countless time that morning. " You know…I work at the Shuriken, a bar on Geni Street three blocks away. If you want…you can pick up the coat there tonight around nine. I can get you a drink to say show my gratitude more formally. Rajura and Naaza may come if they like."

" I think Naaza and I'll just stay here," the white-haired man disagreed.

" Shuriken?" the blue-haired man repeated. " I might come by…to get my coat."

" All right," the blonde gave him a small smile. He then bowed to both of them before opening the door and letting himself out of the apartment. Anubis watched him go silently. Then without another word, he picked up the tray off the table and took it into the kitchen. Rajura sat his book down instantly.

" You have got it bad," he spoke. " I never knew someone could hold a flame for another this long, especially after the when they parted."

" He was merely someone in trouble that I helped," Anubis reasoned as he cleaned the dishes that the blonde had eaten from. " You know very well I would have helped him had he been some injured dog."

" But he wasn't," Rajura stated. " And I know you wouldn't have acted so 'friendly' and 'close' to just a poor animal you decided to take in.

" You don't know what you're talking about," the younger man snorted.

" And you're acting like you've been taken in by some beautiful woman," the white-aired man retorted.

" He's more beautiful than any woman I've ever seen," he defended absently, realizing his mistake too late.

" So," Rajura raised a sly brow. " You admit you think he's beautiful."

" And?" the other tried to cover up his slip. " No one can deny he's quite pleasing to the eye, not even you."

" But I'm not the one who said it," Rajura snickered.

" Why don't you wake up Naaza and play with him or something?" Yami sighed trying to get the topic off himself and his love life.

" He's been gone for almost two hours," his friend seemed a little frustrated by this. " I swear he's more in love with those damn motorized carriages that with me."

" He's known you for over four hundred centuries," the blue-haired man countered. " He just found interest in something else. You spend so much time with your books he was beginning to get bored. He wanted something different, exciting."

" Like you want something different?" the Gen Masho switched the subject again. " I know you feel like the third wheel in our relationship."

" I simply want to help him," he insisted, not wanting to get into the entire matter. " Something's definitely going on and my curiosity refuses to let me leave it be until I find out."

" So you're going to the bar?"

" Of course I am," he replied, a smirk coming to his lips. " To get my coat back."

*****

He stared at the building in curiosity. The Shuriken definitely looked in need of a new coat of paint but besides that nothing else. It seemed rather peaceful from the outside, even though shouts and such could be heard from inside. He stepped towards the door just as two people walked out, drunkenly hanging off each other so as to not fall onto the ground. He growled in their direction before walking to the door and opening it.

Instantly, he could smell the alcohol and smoke that filled the room. Groups of people were about the room at different tables, smokers scattered around and many different types of booze. The establishment itself looked to be quite well kept, but the same couldn't be said for the customers. Some looked worn and tired from life, while others were just plain drunk and starting to get rowdy.

He stepped through the doorway and gazed about, taking in everything. His eyes landed on the bar on the other side of the room, where trouble seemed to have already started for the night.

" I wanz anoda bod'l a Beca'di," a man wearing what looked to be a middle class business suit demanded. Anubis could tell wasn't one of the normal jobless drunkards that you would picture in a bar on the rougher side of town. But either way he was still drunk off his ass and making a scene for the poor bartender. He then realized that said barkeeper was exactly who he was looking for.

*****

" I waz anoda bod'l a Beca'di," the man ordered in a very drunk and demanding tone. Seiji knew him to be one of the regulars that showed up from the office buildings a few blocks over on the more 'well off' side of town. He never understood why the loud mouth man drove all the way to this particular bar to get his drinks, but he put up with him because he was sometimes too drunk to realize the good tips he left.

The blonde smacked his hand with the thin wooden stick he carried with him during the later working hours of his shift. He had to or else the bar would have already been overrun by belligerent alcoholics. The stick might not be much but it did pack a lingering sting that most wanted to avoid. " No Tsuketo," he shook his head. " Sara's orders, you've had enough. Go home and sleep it off."

" Sara a bitch an'way," he growled. " Gimme my drin'."

" As I said, no, go home and enjoy the hangover," the blonde frowned. " Keep it up and I'll get Jase in here."

" Can I get a Sake bottle for 5?" a brunette waitress called to him. The blonde nodded to her, turning around and grabbing the bottle from one of the many shelves behind him. He walked down the bar isle and handed it to her. Suddenly his wrist was caught by a rough yet not callused hand, the grip cutting off the blood circulation to his appendage.

" Geh me mah Beca'di," the man growled. Seiji didn't understand why the other man was acting so belligerent that night. Yes, he was always rather rowdy after having a few drinks too may, but never like this.

" Let go or I'll have one of the guys remove you," Seiji warned, not showing the pain he felt from the increasing pressure on his arm. But his words meant nothing when the man was knocked from his feet by a rock hard fist aimed straight at his face. Midnight blue eyes glared hard at the unconscious form as it fell limply against the wall across the room. Seiji could only stare in shock. " Anubis…"

Some of the people in the bar were cheering and one of the waitresses hurried off in the direction of the office room. He knew that this was going to cause a problem. " He wasn't going to listen," he blue-haired man said bluntly.

" I…" the blonde didn't know what to say. That's when a booming voice broke the strange tension by bursting from the other side of the room.

" What happened?!" a tan-skinned man with a raven ponytail pulled at the nape of his neck made his appearance. He was rather tall, his body filled out with somewhat bulging muscles and a set glare in his eyes, eyes that immediately landed on Seiji.

" Okay Blondie, I want answers," the man stated. " Haimu says that someone just TKO-ed Tsuketo."

" Yes, but…" he started.

" It was this guy, Jase!" a petite redhead spoke up, coming from behind and grabbing Anubis' arm. " He just came up and socked Keto a good one! He flew clean across the room! Bastard deserved it too! I heard him call me a bitch!"

" Sara…" Seiji tried to speak to her.

" So you're the one, eh?" the man sized him up. " You don't look like much."

The bearer of Korin saw the twitch in Yami's eye and knew he'd taken offense to that. " The eyes only tell what they see not what hides beneath," Anubis replied.

" Well, why don't we just find out?" the man raised his brow in question.

" Oh Jaseto," the red-haired woman chuckled, smacking him with the hand that wasn't keeping Anubis' bicep in a death grip. " You know you can't fight. It'll affect your probation if someone catches ya."

Anubis watched the eccentric conversation only partly. His eyes were on Seiji, the boy having a rather embarrassed look in his eyes that didn't show in his features. If he weren't so good at reading people he probably wouldn't have noticed it. Sara gave him a curious look before glancing at the blonde. Then a bright understanding expression came to her face.

" Oh I get it!" she exclaimed. " You must be Blondie's new beau! You're a lot cuter than the last one." This statement caused Seiji's eyes to widen in shock and a slight pink tint to grace his cheeks. He was taken back by the assumption as well. How could anyone think he was Korin's lover? So Korin is…

" No Sara," the blonde disagreed in a very firm tone. " He's only a friend. I invited him to come so I could return something to him."

With this the redhead looked rather disappointed, removing her arm from Anubis' and sighing despondently. " Oh well, back to the drawing board," she shrugged.

" Sara…" the blonde was becoming more heated by the second. " Please!"

" Oh all right," she waved her hand flippantly. " I was only having a bit of fun. It's not everyday someone comes to visit you, let alone some guy who looks drop dead gorgeous." Yami couldn't help the slight color reaching his cheeks at the rather candid and open-speaking woman. She didn't seem to care either about what she said, only saying what she thought and that being that.

" Sara!" Seiji gave her another look.

" What do you mean 'drop dead gorgeous'," Jaseto gave her a raised brow.

" Oh please baby, I love you, but that doesn't mean I won't tell someone when their hot," she said. " Besides, no one looks as good as you." She smirked at him, wrapping her arms around his waist before going onto her tiptoes and giving him a kiss on the lips. Anubis just stared in complete disbelief. What was wrong with these people? Were they on opium?

" Sara, could you…?" Seiji interrupted their moment.

" Oh I'll run the isle for ya," she assured him. " Jase'll get two of the boys to get rid of Keto. He's just gonna wake up with an even worse headache than usual." He nodded thanks to her before motioning for Anubis to follow him. He led him behind the bar, going into the back of the building where supplies and such were kept. They came to a door near another turn in the hall and the blonde opened it, waving a hand to the other to enter. Anubis did so and he went after, cutting the light on as well before shutting the door behind him.

" It's over there," he motioned to the coat closet on the other side of the room. He walked over and moved aside a few jackets, stopping at the desired coat. He took the leather coat off its hanger and turned around, extending it in his hands. " Arigato once again for allowing me to borrow it."

" Believe me, I have a few," the blue-haired man told him. " But who were…?" He couldn't help but ask.

" Sara and Jaseto own the bar," he explained. " Their married, but Sara likes to embarrass new customers by flirting with them and such. I'm sorry if you were put off by it."

" We've only been here for three years," he chuckled. " I'm still getting used to the ways of this era's people, especially women."

" Yes, women are one of the world's greatest mysteries," the blonde agreed. Silence fell over them, neither one knowing quite what to say. Seiji couldn't help but feel slightly awkward, or slight terrified. He wasn't one for personal confrontations with people. He worked, sold drinks, and then helped others at the veterinary office, but never on a personal one-on-one level. Things had changed since he'd left home.

" Well, if you still want that drink…" he started, trying to bring up something to quell the emptiness.

" No, it's all right," he shook his head. " It would be best if I returned home. Although, this establishment seems rather interesting, especially that woman."

This remark allowed the blonde to smile. " Sara's a great woman," he commented. " Hyperactive, somewhat estranged, but still great."

" Then maybe I'll return," the blue-haired man replied. " It could be worth my while. Trapped with only Naaza and Rajura to converse with does at times become boring. It's good to have someone else around that understand you."

Korin couldn't hide his confusion at the double meaning of those words. He is he doing this? He wondered. Why is he trying to become friends with me? Could it be more? I can't do this. It's been too long.

" Let me show you the way out," he offered immediately. He couldn't think about this now. He had to worry about his job.

" All right," Anubis agreed. The blonde moved around him and opened the door. Anubis went after him and looked about.

" This way," Seiji pointed to the corner of the hall. " This hall leads to the side door. It's closer."

" Very well," Anubis allowed the younger boy to lead him through the hall going to the darkest part of the building he'd seen yet. Luckily, he could see well thanks to his nocturnal vision. He saw the door and watched as Seiji opened it, letting the chilled air of spring into the dim corridor. He smiled at the blonde as he walked past him, standing outside the door.

" Well, until later?" Seiji asked.

" No," Anubis shook his head. The younger boy raised a questioning brow, but the other could see the slight hurt in his one visible eye. " I believe it will sooner than later." He gave a polite bow before walking off down the street, heading in the direction of his apartment complex. Seiji watched him go, trying to ignore the strange emotion he felt.

It's too soon, he told himself as he shut the door, heading back down the hall. He turned to corner near the office, the turn right before he reached the bar room and was caught by the sound of a phone ringing. He turned around and knew it was the phone in the office, but no one was in there to answer it. Sighing, he quickly entered the room, picking up the phone from where it sat on the table.

" Moshi, moshi, Shuriken?" he called into the receiver politely.

{ " Well, hello Sunshine," the voice on the other side greeted him. }

The blonde's eyes went wide, his skin paled, and his heart stilled. " W-Why are you calling here?" he demanded in a somewhat shaky tone.

{ " I just wanted to talk to you Sunshine," the voice explained. " You weren't at home last night. Where were you?" }

He's watching my apartment? A chill went down his spine. " I told you three months ago to stay away from me," he spoke. " If Jase finds out you called here…"

{ " But you won't tell him, will you Sunshine?" the voice asked. " I know you, you won't tell anyone. Why don't you just finish this and come back. I've missed you so much. I miss the way you used to cry out when I-" }

" Stop it now," Seiji couldn't take this anymore. " Leave me alone, don't call my job, don't go near my home. Just stay away from me, leave me alone." He slammed the phone down on the base and gave a shaky sigh. His hands were quivering and he couldn't quite control his breathing. He's not going to leave me be, he thought. Gods, I thought he'd finally given up, but he won't. What am I going to do?

" Blondie?" he turned around to see Sara standing in the doorway to the office, a look of concern on her normally cheerful face. " Why don't you-"

" Everything's fine," he cut her off. " Gomen for taking so long. I'll go back to work." He bowed partly, then going around her and down the hall. He needed to get his mind off of this and work always seemed to help him do just that.

A/N: See? Things getting deeper.

JC: Ya like it though? We totally redid the way we had originally written it. Gods, our writing was pathetic last year.

Kathrine: We're trying to make more updates as you can see. CftH has been set up. We've already written the Epilogue. Just not the final chapter.

JC: It's not coming out right.

Kathrine: We might have more time to write though. We've been practically suspended from school because we refused to take off a hair-band that was holding our hair up.

JC: See? We might more time on our hands. Just review and tell us what you think.

Kathrine: Yeah, but just wait until things really get going. ^_^