Author's notes and warnings: Aiya! I'm so sorry it took forever to get this out! I have to admit I was distracted…I was writing the second chapter of The Silent Series…*hangs head* Gomen, ne? That's what happens when you take on more than you can properly chew.

I want to thank everyone who reviewed; you've been a great support. With your comments, I was able to stay on task and continue this chapter. *bows low* Arigatou gozai masu!

This chapter is on the developing relationship between the boys again. I hope you like these pointless but full of conversations chapters… I do enjoy writing them… Thank you and enjoy.

Special thanks to Hitari-chan, who kindly took the time from her Two Towers DVD to beta this chapter. Love you!!!

A Fine Line - Chapter 5: Hot Child In The City

By Moonraven

(Day 3) Inside Shiba Hospital, room 304:

"Watch it, Chibi! That hurts!" Youji swatted at the slender hand that was pressing a clean dressing to his shoulder.

"Well it should!" Omi scowled back and pushed Youji's hand away. "Stop moving, Youji-kun! You're bleeding all over the place!" The smaller blond kept one surprisingly strong hand on Youji's uninjured shoulder, holding him down, while he leaned over the body of his prone teammate to look at the blood-soaked bandage. "And if you hadn't been flirting outrageously with the nurses, they'd be in here changing this right now."

"They're not in here because you kept yelling at me! OW!" Youji protested loudly but it wasn't the pain that he was fighting so hard. It was having Omi fussing over him like he was some helpless pup and the way the boy was pressed against him didn't help the situation any, pain or no pain.

"That's because you're such a big baby!" Omi scolded half-heartedly as he used his upper body to hold his teammate down while both hands worked to strap on the bandage. "Hold still, I say!"

"GAH! Get off me, Omi!"

"Then stop moving!"

"OW! You make a rotten doctor, you know that, Chibi? I've never known you to be so ruthless!"

"That's because you make a rotten patient! And if you didn't know I can be ruthless, then you don't know me at all!"

Youji didn't know how Omi ended up straddling him, panting heavily, on the hospital bed but the realization hit him like a ton of bricks… with about 100 gallons of hormones. This was NOT good. He groaned inwardly to see the young man's ass just inches above his crotch and his ever eager flesh twitched achingly in response to the image.

"Omitchi! Get the hell off me!" Youji growled, his voice deliberately rough to hide the rising need he felt for the firm young body above him. Youji wasn't too sure how the hell his libido managed to insert itself but he'd be damned if he would succumb to it at a time like this.

Omi's face was hidden from view, his head bowed as he sat back on Youji's thighs, missing the injured man's arousal by about two inches. The smaller blond kept silent but refused to budge from his perch on Youji's legs.

"Omi?"

"Baka, baka, baka." Omi muttered and Youji thought he detected a small quivering in the teen's voice.

"Hey! That's no way to talk to an injured person!" Youji said in mock indignation. Something had changed in Omi's behavior and he wasn't sure how to act. It was one thing when Omi was mad and yelling at him, but it was entirely different when the young man was subdued and sad. Youji hated it when Omi was sad.

"You wouldn't BE injured if you weren't such an idiot!"

"Nani!?!" NOW Youji was indignant for real. "Now THAT is definitely no way to talk to someone who had just saved your life!"

"Baka." Omi said again, his voice was so soft, Youji had to strain to hear it. "After all these years, why can't you believe that I can take care of myself? Wasn't I doing my part in the team?"

"I…" Youji was at a loss for words. It wasn't that he thought Omi was helpless… the fact was he wasn't thinking at all. He saw the man pointing the gun at Omi and the next thing he knew he was between the bullet and the small blond. "Omi, that's not it at all. You're one hell of a…" He looked at the closed door and lowered his voice. "You're one hell of an assassin, you know that… I…"

"You always do this, Youji-kun." Omi still hadn't looked up but his voice was slightly louder.

"No, I don't!" Youji protested heartily. "When was the last time I jumped in front of a loaded gun for you?"

Omi shook his head. "You always underestimate me. You think I'm a kid. You think I'm too young and have to be protected. You say so all the time."

Youji blinked at the young blond perched on top of his thighs. There was nothing he could say. Omi was right. He'd just never thought that it could make Omi feel this bad.

. . . . . ."Try me."

. . . . . . "Never underestimate me, Youji-kun. I can handle more than you think."

Shit! Omi had given him enough indications that he was a big boy… Youji just didn't listen to him.

"Omi. I'm sorry. It's just that…" What? What the hell were you going to say, Kudou? That he's too damn cute to die? That he's too young? Hell, when Ken joined Weiss, he was younger than Omi was now… When OMI started Weiss, he was only 13…

. . . . . . "Omi's not a kid. I doubt that he's been one for quite some time now."

"What's it going to take for you to treat me like a man, Youji-kun?" Omi asked quietly.

"EH?" Youji's ever-present libido took that question entirely the wrong way. Or so Youji thought. Until Omi lifted his head and looked hard into Youji's eyes and the older blond nearly squeaked out loud. Was that…was that…? NO, it couldn't be! Youji shook his head vigorously and winced at the sharp pain lancing through his shoulder.

"I asked what's it going to take for you to think of me as a man and not as a kid." Omi said again and leaned forward ever so slightly.

"Er… well…" Youji Kudou, lover extraordinaire, was yet again at a complete loss for words. All the blood had left his brain, as well as the wound on his shoulder and was traveling at the speed of light directly down to his happily rejuvenating member. And judging by the smoldering look in Omi's eyes, Youji had a pretty good idea that the young man knew exactly what he was doing to him. Something was very wrong with this picture.

Omi continued leaning forward, his sparkling blue eyes never leaving Youji's. The older assassin had a distinct feeling that somehow, HE, Don Juan of Japan, had suddenly become prey… to a very, very delectable hunter.

"Omi?" Youji was mortified that his voice was nothing more than a squeak. He was NOT afraid of Omi, damn it! He was, however, afraid that if Omi pressed in any closer, the younger man would discover just how much of a man Youji really thought of him.

"Anou… is this a bad time to come in?"

Youji strained around Omi to see who had such wonderful timing. That thought alone was scary enough, seeing that Youji Kudou never missed an opportunity for a good lay, and the scrumptious body above him certainly fit that description. But it was Omi. Omi who must not be tainted by the likes of him.

Omi sighed and pressed one last tape to the bandage on Youji's shoulder before hopping gracefully off the bed. He turned and smiled cheerily at the newcomer.

"Not at all, Shinji-kun! Maybe you can help me keep him still so the hospital won't have to waste any more bandages." Ouch. That was cruel, Omitchi.

The youth by the door smiled and walked into the room. He was similar in size and built as Omi with large luminous brown eyes and short, pale pink hair. Youji didn't know why the young man insisted in dyeing his hair that color and when asked, Shinji would shrug and say that it goes well with his code name. Youji gave up figuring out the connection between Chiriko and the pink hair a long time ago.

"Oi! Have some respect for your elder…" Omi's death glare stopped Youji in his tracks and he swallowed nervously. "… or not, that's entirely up to you… of course…" He turned his attention to Shinji and waved. "Came to rescue me, Shinji-chan?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Shinji laughed and put the flowers on the table by the bedside. He gave the fuming Omi a sideway glance and shook his head.

"No, I think you're in good hands, Youji-san. I wish I could stay and discuss the incident with you but I only came by to let you know that Manx-san expects a full report as soon as possible. Then I must run." He gave the two Weiss member an apologetic smile.

"Work, work, work. You need to lighten up, or you'll end up like Omitchi, here."

"HEY!" Omi turned his glare on maximum strength and Shinji quickly intervened.

"Maa, maa…" He gave the young blond a gentle smile and a steady gaze. "Youji-san is such a teaser, ne, Omi-kun?"

"Hn." Omi grudgingly nodded before changing the subject. "What have you found out?"

Shinji shook his head regretfully. "Nothing. Aya-san is checking out the leads right now but I can't trace anything with what I've got. Now I have to go and baby-sit Kouji-san, he's making all kinds of noises about finding the killers. So… I'm supposed to keep him from getting too close." He sighed and shook his head. "Why do I always get these strange assignments?"

Youji laughed from his neglected position on the bed. "That's because you make the cutest bait, Chiriko-chan! Who wouldn't be distracted by such a diversion, huh?"

His chortle came to an abrupt stop when Omi pulled the pillow out from under his head and whacked him none too gently with it. "How could you be hitting on everyone except me?"

Nani?

"Anou… I think I better go now." Shinji said uncertainly as he looked from the pained expression on Omi's face to Youji's confused one.

Omi didn't seem to hear Shinji as he said his good byes and snuck out but continued to stare into Youji's stunned green eyes steadily. "Is there something wrong with me, Youji-kun?"

"Omi…" Youji couldn't dig up anything decent to answer the younger assassin so he just shook his head. Wrong? There was nothing wrong with Omi. Omi was perfect. HE was the something that was wrong.

"Do you know how it feels to be ignored, Youji-kun?" Omi asked, his head dropping as he stared at his hands.

"I've never ignored you, Omi."

"Yes, you do. All the time." Omi's voice was quiet and sad.

"I…"

Youji never had the chance to say whatever it was he was going to say and now he wasn't even sure WHAT he was going to say… damn, but the boy could sure as hell confuse the shit out of him.

The door burst open with the whirlwind named Ken Hidaka who was closely followed by the perpetual calm that was Ran Fujimiya.

"Yotan! Omi!"" Ken rushed to the side of the bed and first looked Omi up and down to make sure the younger boy was okay before turning to Youji and assessed his condition. "We came as soon as we heard. What happened?"

Ran came and stood at the foot of the bed and gave Youji a nod. Youji nodded back then grunted as Omi helped him up and slipped the pillow back under his head. He leaned back wearily and waved at Omi. "HE'S writing the report, he might as well practice."

Omi looked like he was going to pull the pillow out again but thought better of it as he turned his attention back to his other two teammates. Youji had a sinking feeling that the younger man was waiting until they were alone to rip him a new one. Several new ones by the look in Omi's eyes.

"A little after you left, I heard noises downstairs and came down check it out. Apparently it was loud enough to wake up the normally comatose Youji-kun because I found him coming down the stairs just ahead of me. When we got to the shop, we didn't see anything at first, and then Youji-kun noticed that the door was ajar. I thought that maybe you guys forgot to close it, that's when we heard guns being cocked." Omi didn't look happy as he continued and Youji understood completely. Being caught weaponless in their line of work was pretty embarrassing.

"There were three men. They were pretty big, dressed in black suits and they looked pretty beat up for some reason. Like they'd just been in a fight. They wanted us to keep clear from the Shitahara case as well as Tryffin and his friends. They said… they said…"

"They said that they only needed one messenger." Youji finished for Omi.

"It's my fault Youji-kun got shot." Omi said quietly.

"It's MY fault I got shot." Youji said firmly and reached for Omi's arm with his good limb. He pulled Omi to face him and tilted the younger man's face up to meet his gaze. "Never blame yourself for what I decide to do, Omi. I'd rather get shot a hundred times than have you…" Youji stopped abruptly and blinked at the wavering blue eyes. What was he saying? Where the hell did THAT come from?

"Youji-kun…?"

Youji blinked rapidly and cleared his throat. He released Omi and sank back onto the bed and shifted his mental gear to the carefree persona that he'd perfected over the years. "You know me, Omitchi," His voice was a lazy drawl as he effortlessly slipped back into his role. "Anything to get out of a decent day at work, ne? What's a little bullet hole if I can get laid up in bed for a few days, right? Better me than you any day, kiddo. Now where the hell are my cigarettes?" Fuck! Was he babbling? He was babbling! What the hell happened?

He made it a point to avoid all eye contact and concentrated on looking through his clothes that Omi had put by the bed. He wasn't sure how the others took his confusing comments but he sure as hell hoped that they didn't take it the way he didn't want them to take it. Didn't he say that the kid was fucking up his mind? Shit, even his thoughts were confusing to HIM!

"What happened to the men?" Ran asked and Youji could have jumped up and kissed him. Bless that man!

"They left." Omi said unhappily. "Youji-kun fell on me and I was afraid he was seriously hurt. When I looked up again, they were gone. Gomen nasai."

"There's nothing to be sorry about!" Ken said reassuringly to Omi. "You couldn't very well chase them down with Youji bleeding to death."

"Ken's right." Ran said unexpectedly and made it a point to ignore the brunette's surprised look as he continued, "There was nothing else you could have done. Judging by the description you've given, I would say that those were the goons Peregrine ran into last night."

"What do you mean?" Omi asked.

Youji closed his eyes and listened half-heartedly as Ran and Ken told Omi what had transpired that morning. Soon, he lost track of what was being said as his thoughts returned to a certain blue eyed, blond haired young man who had literally propositioned him.

. . . . . . "What's it going to take for you to treat me like a man, Youji-kun?"

. . . . . . "How could you be hitting on everyone except me?"

Could Omi really be saying what he thought Omi was saying? Could Omi possibly… want a thoughtless, old lecher… like him?

"Nani, Youji-kun? Are you in pain?"

Omi's worried voice brought him back to the present and he opened his eyes to blink hazily up into Omi's expressive blue ones. Gods, but he had beautiful eyes.

"Youji-kun! Are you alright?" Omi came closer and leaned over his upper body again to see the bandage on his shoulder. When he was satisfied that the bleeding had stopped sufficiently, he turned a worried frown on Youji. "Do you need some painkillers? Should I get the nurse for you?"

Youji couldn't help the smile that came to his lips. "Aren't you worried that I might flirt with them again?" He asked softly.

Omi's frown deepened and he blushed furiously before muttering something under his breath and slipped out of the room.

Ran looked at the closed door thoughtfully, then turned amused eyes on Youji. Youji looked away with a snort and fumbled for his cigarettes again.

"You can't smoke in here, Youji, you're gonna blow up the place if you're not careful." Ken took his clothes away and tucked them into the closet. Then he turned and held up Youji's cigarettes, waving them at the blond triumphantly before slipping the box into his jacket pocket.

"Hey!" Youji pointed to Ken indignantly. "Aya! Make him give it back!"

"Ken's right." Ran said quietly. "You shouldn't smoke in here."

"What!?!"

"I am?"

"Again? Why are you always on his side today?"

"I've found you a nurse Youji-kun!"

Life was fucking unfair. Youji watched in horror as somebody's great grandmother shuffled into the room after Omi. The little blond had a triumphant little smile on his face as his eyes gleamed mischievously at Youji. The nurse held up the syringe with a jerky hand and scuffled closer to the bed.

"Omi…?" Youji cringed away from the old lady and tried to roll off the bed on the other side. "I don't need pain killers! Go away, go away!"

"Don't be such a baby, Youji-kun."

"Aya, Help!"

"…"

"Kenken!!!"

"…*chortle*…"

"OMITCHI!!!!… Itai!!!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that evening…at the Koneko

"How long is he going to be out?" Ran asked as Omi settled on the sofa across from him.

"All night, I hope." Omi replied tiredly. "For someone who claimed to be a sloth, he sure moves a lot. Don't they usually just… lie there and… roll or something?"

Ran smiled at the mental picture and shook himself mentally to get back to the business at hand. "You should get some rest. You were with him all day."

Omi shook his head. "I need to identify those men. I'm sure I can find something in the surveillance tape downstairs. I let it go long enough."

Ran watched the determination on the younger man's face and let the subject go. There was no point arguing with Omi when he had his mind set on something and that something at the moment was revenge.

"It's not your fault."

Omi didn't look at Ran but closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the sofa. "Yeah, so I've been told."

"You should listen to him."

"Why? He never listens to me."

Ran raised his eyebrows at the comments but remained quiet.

"He would never treat me like an equal." Omi said softly. "I could never measure up…"

Ran frowned and thought back to the past two years he had been with Weiss. He couldn't recall a time when Youji had thought of Omi as anything but downright ingenious. He had even praised Omi's skills on many occasions.

"Youji trusted you with his life. He trusted you with all our lives." Ran offered uncertainly.

Omi smiled and tilted his head to look at Ran. "That's not what I mean, Aya-kun."

Ran stared at Omi hard for a few moments then he nodded.

"I believe he thinks you measure up very well."

"I'm not talking about Weiss, Aya-kun." Omi sighed as he stared up at the ceiling.

"Neither am I."

Omi sat up and blinked at Ran, his luminous blue eyes shone brightly. "What… do you mean?"

Ran's lips quirked slightly at the corner as he studied Omi.

"Give him some time." Ran said as he got up and looked down at the younger man. Then he added with a small smile. "But in the meantime, give him a lot of things to think about. Make him realize you're his equal." To make sure that Omi knew what he meant, the redhead ran his eyes appreciatively over the lithe body on the sofa. "Give him hell, Omi."

Omi reddened on the sofa but smiled shyly up at his tall teammate. "Hai, Aya-kun."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sometime later…

Ken tripped over the empty flowerpots and stumbled forward with a loud curse. The small, green, plastic pots went flying everywhere and the brunette cussed even louder as he caught his foot in one and went sprawling on the floor.

"God damn it!" He pulled the offending pot off his foot and threw it across the room. If the others weren't up, they would be now and after what happened this morning, he was pretty sure they would be coming in with weapons drawn. Great!

Ken picked himself up gingerly and went to turn on the lights. Better to have them see him rather than guessing that he might be the goons coming back for seconds. Ken grimaced when he saw the mess he'd made and winced visibly at the thought of a thoroughly pissed off Ran. Great!

Ken paused to listen for the sounds of footsteps but heard none. He cocked his head to the side and listened harder. Wasn't anyone home? Well, maybe Youji was in bed, drugged out of his mind but Aya was such a light sleeper even with him on the third floor, Ken was sure he would have heard the ruckus.

Nothing.

Sudden fear gripped Ken's heart as he thought of the men coming back to gun down everyone. He rushed out of the shop and up the stairs, heart thumping furiously. No… not that… anything but that…

"Aya!" He called as he raced up to the living area and burst through the kitchen door. No one.

"Omi!" He went from room to room calling his teammates but no one answered. He finally came to Youji's room and he tried the door. With Youji laid up in bed, they wouldn't have locked it. Then Ken paused and blushed as he remembered the last time he had opened Youji's door without knocking.

Ken knocked.

When there was no answer, he gently opened the door and went in. The light in Youji's living room was on and Ken saw no signs of a struggle. He went cautiously towards the darkened bedroom and pressed himself up against the wall, listening for sounds in the other room. When he was satisfied, he slowly poked his head in the doorway and looked around.

He could see nothing out of the ordinary, not damage, no blood, nothing except Youji snoring softly on the bed, completely oblivious of the anxious intruder in his room.

Ken's frowned deepened as he moved back into the communal area. If they hadn't touched Youji --- actually they hadn't touched anything --- were they ever there? Was his over active imagination acting up again? Where were Omi and Ran?

Ken froze as a very disturbing thought crossed his mind. Not… NO! Ran wouldn't! Ken's heart pounded thunderously once again but this time, an entirely different emotion had set it off. An emotion that Ken wasn't sure he understood, all he knew was that the tightness in his chest at the thought of Ran and Omi together was almost overpowering.

So when he finally found them together, in the mission briefing room, he saw red. They were pressed up against the wall by the lamp and Ken could see Omi looking nervously into Ran eyes and the taller man had his head bent close to the teen. Ran had one hand under Omi's chin; lifting the young face to him while his other hand cupped Omi's cheek.

Ken heard Omi gasp then whimpered, "It hurts."

"And you called Youji a baby."

Ken didn't know what the hell they were talking about and he didn't care to find out. All he remembered was Ran checking Omi out last night and admitting that Omi looked good. He remembered Ran, the sex feign that practically groped everyone… except him…Xeno didn't count, damn it! Images of Ran and Youji, and Ran and Tryffin flashed in his mind and Ken only had one clear conscious thought; Ran was going down!

He flew at the couple by the wall and as he got close, they turned and stared at him in surprise. Ran blinked at the intensity on Ken's face but before he could say or do anything, the brunette had launched himself at the taller man and punched him hard in the jaw. Ran staggered back with the force of the blow and slumped against the wall, rubbing at his face. He looked up confusedly at Ken but the brunette wasn't happy with just one blow. No, he needed to beat the shit out of Ran.

He threw himself at the tall redhead again but this time, Omi held him back and dragged him away from the stunned Ran.

"Ken-kun! Stop! What are you doing?" He heard Omi's strangled voice behind him as the younger man tried his best to contain his friend. "Stop!"

"What the fuck, Aya? Can't you stay in your pants? What the hell is the matter with you?" He struggled harder and finally broke free of Omi. He rushed Ran again before Omi could recover, and threw another punch at the redhead. But this time Ran was ready for him and dodged his fist easily. The redhead gripped his attacking arm by the wrist and twisted it behind Ken's back, then pressed the brunette into the wall. He used his body to pin Ken there as he positioned himself so that Ken couldn't counter his attack. Ken struggled futilely as Ran's arm pressed against the back of his neck, forcing his head to turn so that his cheek was pressed roughly against the wall.

"You know," Ran said into Ken's ear, his voice was soft but deadly. "Youji was right about your mind, get it the hell out of the gutter, Ken."

"Nani, Ken-kun?" Omi came to stand next to the wall so that Ken could see his face. "What did you think we were doing?" His eyes were wide with astonishment and his cheeks tinted pink, hinting that he knew very well what Ken had thought they were doing.

"Damn it, Omi! Not you too!" Ken cried out in frustration, only he wasn't sure what he was frustrated about. What his teammates did with their personal lives were none of his business, yet… yet… the horrible despair he felt at that thought, that image of Ran and… the others… doing things, had made him want to lash out at the redhead. He had wanted to hurt Ran like HE was being hurt.

Gods, what was he feeling? What was going on?

Ken struggled harder but Ran's hold on him didn't give. The taller man pressed his entire length hard against Ken's back and the heat in Ran's taut body permeated through the brunette's back, into his core, making him arched back into warmth. Ken heard Ran gasped at the pressure and the hold on the back of his head loosened as Ran removed his arm. But Ken didn't push Ran away. Instead he leaned his head back, resting it against the redhead's shoulder.

"Ken…" Ran's voice was husky as he breathed the brunette's name and if Ken concentrated enough, he could just hear the desire and longing in Ran's voice. If only…

"Ken-kun?"

Omi's uncertain voice shook Ken out of the brief insanity he was in and he roughly pushed Ran off him. What the…? He turned and stared wide eyed at the two men in front of him. Ran's eyes were hooded and his expression guarded so Ken couldn't tell what the man was thinking but Omi's upset expression made him feel like a heel and he didn't even DO anything! This was all Ran's fault!

Ken looked from Ran to Omi, then to Ran again. Could he have been mistaken about these two?

"I…" Ken swallowed hard and tried again. "I… what… what were you guys doing?"

"NOW he asks." Ran muttered as he narrowed his eyes and rubbed pointedly at his jaw.

Ken blushed and looked down at his feet. Was that potting soil stuck to the tip of his boot?

"You remember the new surveillance camera, the one Manx wanted us to test? The one that's like contact lenses?" Omi asked quietly.

"Aa." Ken blushed a deeper shade of red.

"Well, it's quite painful when it shorted out and Aya-kun was just helping me get it out. That's why we were by the lamp… it's easier to see with the light…"

Ken swallowed again but didn't look up. He hated that tone in Omi's voice. It was comforting yet accusing at the same time. How the hell did he DO that?

A tiny clear disc sticking to the tip of a finger thrust itself in his field of vision as Omi produced the evidence. Ken swallowed yet again. He'd really screwed up this time.

"I… I'm sorry, guys. I thought… well, you know…"

Silence. It seemed that his friends really hated him now. Ken couldn't help feeling ashamed at his behavior, at his thoughts… especially now, when he couldn't understand the relief he felt knowing that they were not… well… not DOING it.

Why should it matter? And why did it feel so good to have Ran pressed up against him…?

He cleared his throat and shuffled his feet uneasily. "Look, I'm sorry, I'll just crawl into a hole and never come out, okay?" Ken pushed himself off the wall and moved between his two teammates, hoping for a quick escape. He could beat himself up later in the privacy of his own room. This was so damn humiliating.

Omi grabbed his arm and held him back. "What you assumed was unkind, Ken-kun. What made you think I might not have wanted it?"

"NANI?" Both Ken and Ran said at the same time and they looked from Omi's serene face to each other's, then back to Omi again.

"See?" Omi said with a resigned sigh. "It's not only Youji-kun."

Ken looked at his leader in confusion. "I'm lost." He told Ran blankly.

Ran nodded mutely.

Omi sighed and rolled his eyes. "Ken-kun, when you came in, if it had been Aya-kun and Youji-kun doing what you thought we were doing, would you have reacted the same way?"

"Er…" How was he supposed to tell Omi that he HAD come across the other two doing just that? And some!

"That's what I thought." Omi sighed again. "What would you say if I were to tell you that I'm gay and that I'd already experienced sex?"

"NANI!?!" This time, the exclamation nearly shook the lamp off the wall.

Before Omi could enlighten his gaping friends, a pair of red stilettos clicked their way down the stairs of the meeting room. Manx.

"Boys! Don't you answer your door?" She paused at the bottom of the steps and placed a well-manicured hand on her slim hips. "I rang the doorbell forever."

"What is it?" Ran got right to the point.

"Hello to you too, Abyssinian." She gave him a cold look and walked over to the audio/video equipment. "We have a problem."

"Again?" Thee men groaned at once as Omi's revelation was forgotten momentarily.

She gave them a chilling glare before turning on the video. "Oh, how is Youji?"

"He's sleeping like a baby." Ken answered.

"How do YOU know?" Omi asked.

"I went and checked on him earlier."

"Oh."

"Jealous?" Ran whispered to Omi as he passed the boy on the way to the armchair. Ken frowned and stared at the furiously blushing Omi. He couldn't have heard THAT correctly, could he?

"Please, gentlemen. This is very serious."

"Okay, what is it?" Ken joined Omi as the blond sat on the sofa and he turned his attention to the screen as Manx brought the first picture up.

It was a picture of 4 men and 3 women, age ranging from about mid thirties to late forties. They were all dressed in business suits, their faces stern and their posture stiff.

"What a bunch of sour looking people. Who are they?" Ken grimaced.

"They are with Kritiker. We believe they are a part of the Syria faction. They disappeared yesterday. Gone. Absolutely no trace of them anywhere. Several more people are making suspicious moves, we intend to keep a sharp eye on them."

"You think the people that killed Shitahara took them out?" Omi asked as he studied the faces carefully.

Manx shook her head. "They KILLED Shitahara. These people vanished."

"You think it's Peregrine?" Ken asked.

Manx didn't reply but she looked thoughtful and judging from the frown, the thought wasn't a good one.

"I don't know. I don't think so. I mean he's good but he works alone. To remove 7 people, make them vanish without a trace, at the same time… I don't think even HE is capable of something like that."

"They left on their own." Ran said quietly. "Maybe they knew you were on to them and had to disappear."

"I'd thought about that. You may be right."

At that moment, Manx's cell phone rang and she answered it briskly. "WHAT?" She shouted into the phone. "Are you sure?". . . . . "No! Stay with him and keep him away!"

Manx slammed her phone shut and stomped her feet angrily. Ken raised his brows and whistled silently; he'd never seen Manx this pissed before. She doesn't usually lose her cool like this.

She turned to face the three men sitting around the room. "That was Chiriko. Kouji's just got a call from Tryffin. Apparently Peregrine is taking him out of the country. It had something to do with boats; Tryffin is terrified and wanted Kouji to bring him back." Manx chewed on her lips thoughtfully. "What do you know, Ceilen? Where are you going?" She muttered under her breath.

"We have to go after him then?" Omi asked.

"He knows something, I know he does. He's been watching their movements even before any of us began to." Manx studied the three young men in front of her silently for a long moment. When she finally spoke, she sounded tired. "It's up to you. I can't officially ask you to but you know where I stand and I think you can feel what the truth is." Then she turned and gazed steadily at Ken and Ran. "You met him. You didn't deter him. You do believe in him, don't you?"

Ken glanced at Ran but the redhead just sat there and returned Manx's gaze silently.

"It's hard to say what we believe… we don't have enough information to act against him so we let him go. Besides, he kinda reminds me of this…" he cocked his head in Ran's direction. "…arrogant iceberg here, so maybe he's not that bad."

Ran narrowed his eyes at Ken but didn't say anything.

"He wasn't always like this." Manx said softly. "If you'd known him eight years ago, you would never, ever doubt him."

"I knew him, didn't I?" Omi asked quietly. "I thought I saw him somewhere before but I couldn't place him."

"Yes, Omi, you knew him." Manx smiled gently at the small blond. "He was with Persia when… when you were rescued from the kidnappers. He's quite fond of you."

Omi nodded, his face took on that intense determination once again as he turned to look at Ken and then Ran. "Will you go after the boat? Youji and I will take care of Shitahara's murderers and the faction here."

"C'mon, Omi! You're asking us to take a boat trip and baby-sit two guys while you and Youji run into the lion's den? I don't think so." Ken wasn't happy at all.

"We won't be alone, Ken-kun. We still have the support of Kritiker…well a part of it anyways." Omi reasoned.

"I still don't like it. I'd feel like we're running out on you guys…c'mon, watching two guys in hiding?"

"If my theory is correct, YOU are the ones going into the lion's den. Ceilen is not running to hide, he's chasing the 7 that are missing. I think he knows where they are." Manx told them with certainty. "I know how the man works, he's hunting them."

"Then we will hunt him." Ran said quietly for the first time in a long time.

Great! Ken thought moodily. Between the determined look on Omi's face and the resolution he saw on Ran's, Ken knew the decision had been made.

So… The hunt is on.

TBC

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I know I kept referring to Ran as the leader where Omi is actually the new Persia. So in effect, HE leads the whole Kritiker. I don't want you to think that I'm grossly ignoring the facts but all that will be explained later. As you can see in the last scene, Omi is assigning roles for this little excursion…something he doesn't normally do, he likes to remain in the background and lets Ran do the leading. Like I said, more will come out later in the story…

Thank you! I really hope the next chapter will not take as long. Please join me in the FY section for what C/T are up to, ne? If you want me to let you know when that's updated, let me know!

Arigatou!!! *waves happily*

*runs off to write the FY version*