Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ A Midsummer Nightmare ❯ Misconceptions and Realizations ( Chapter 8 )

This and the next chapter were originally supposed to just be one. But then I realized that that would have made it quite long. So I split it into two.

Chapter 8 - Misconceptions and Realizations

It was Sunday, the next day. The only day that Omi had off from school. Normally, he used the day to sleep in, or for opening the shop himself, which he liked to do since … well, he had to admit. The others did their best working at the shop, but there were some things they just couldn't do very well.

Yes, he would've liked to sleep in, or perhaps worry about store matters and the like. (1)

Though today… he had other things in mind…

Omi was already waiting outside that room that morning. He grinned to himself as he heard the doorknob softly click. As soon as the door opened, he tackled the person behind it.

"Wh-what the- OOF!!"

"Got you, Ken-kun!!"

"O-Omi?!!"

Normally, though a little far from scrawny, a relatively smaller boy like Omi might not have been able to tackle someone of Ken's size. But Ken had just woken up and was probably hungry, whereas Omi was already wide-awake and had already eaten.

Still, it took quite a long while, and Omi finally was able to wrestle Ken onto the bed, making the older boy sit across him. Ken had put up a huge fight, but he was finally sitting still, glaring angrily at the blonde. Omi only grinned, taking out his medic kit.

"I told you, Ken-kun! I can't stand looking at you!!"

Ken only glared at him even more. Omi chuckled. The sound of his soft laughter made Ken's glare fade away and he sighed in resignation. He finally submitted himself, figuring it couldn't hurt. Omi had treated his wounds before, some much worse than a black-eye. It was what friends did for each other, taking care of each other in that way.

Of course, recently, a certain complication had begun to surface.

Omi's fingers were adeptly feeling around his eye, finally pulling back to take something from his pack. Ken took the time to look up.

His breath caught in his throat. It was just then that he noticed how close Omi was to him.

Omi brought his hand back up, touching Ken's face. Ken immediately flinched from the touch.

The younger boy drew his hand back, "Did that hurt?"

Ken bit his lip and shook his head, "Nah…"

Omi nodded, returning his hand to the skin around Ken's eye. Ken's throat became even drier, feeling the light touch. And still, Omi's face was so close. He needed to be to be able to work the way he was doing now… And yet…

Ken's eyes wandered around the face before him. Omi was watching him with his expressive blue eyes. The type that you could practically drown in. In fact, it seemed that was what Ken felt like he was doing at that moment. And his skin… Many would have thought that Omi would be a pale boy, but Ken could see that they were mistaken. The sun had done wonders for his color.

His vision fell downward. Omi was biting his lip in slight concentration. Ken stared a long, long while at his lips.

Ah shit… Ken instinctively shut his eyes. If this keeps up, I wouldn't be able to control myself! If he doesn't stop I might do something I'll regret for the rest of my life!!

"Ken-kun!" Omi's voice broke through his thoughts. "You'll have to relax your eyes… I can't work well enough with you keeping them tight like that!"

Ken opened his eyes again, his eyes immediately re-scanning the beautiful face before him.

Omi rolled his eyes, sighing. Ken's first thought was that it was absolutely adorable.

"Ken-kun… I told you. You just have to say if it hurts and I'll be gentler. Relax… I'm almost done."

Ken sighed with relief. Omi giggled a little, mistaking the sigh for relief that his eye would soon be left alone. The older boy didn't want to correct him.

And still, Omi was moving slow, too slow for Ken's taste. He didn't know how much more he could take of this torture. The torture of Omi being right in front of him, close enough for Ken to just reach out and…

Omi's hand had paused on Ken's face, "K-ken…kun?"

Ken didn't know how or when his hand went up to cup Omi's cheek. It didn't really matter. When he realized it was there, it felt so right. He savored the feel of Omi's skin, slowly stroking his face, bringing him closer.

Blue eyes widened. Pale lips parted in shock. Omi watched, frozen as Ken's face hovered closer.

Wh-wha?! W-what's he doing?! I-is he… is he going to kiss me?!

He watched a little more and his heart suddenly beat faster as he realized it sure looked to be that way.

Omi then closed his eyes. Unconsciously, he leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Their breaths mingled together and their lips brushed.

"K-ken……k…"

Ken's eyes suddenly snapped open. He grabbed Omi's shoulders and roughly pushed him away. Omi yelped, steadying himself before he could fall of the bed. He looked up at Ken, staring widely.

"O-omi! G-gome… I-I …" Ken suddenly stood up. "I-I think I should be fine now! I'm sure you've done enough!"

Omi yelped again as Ken yanked him by the arms, roughly pulling him to his feet.

"A-ah! Ken-kun!! Itai!!"

"G-gomen!" Ken whirled around him, taking his shoulders. Firmly but gently, he started half-pushing, half-leading Omi out his room. "I'll be seeing you later, Omi!"

Omi temporarily forgot what had just happened. "Ken-kun! Wait! Your eye! I still need to……"

"Umm… I think you should get ready for school! Aren't you already late?"

"It's Sunday, Ken-kun!!"

"Ah! It is?! Um.. Ah… Open the shop then!"

"It's Aya-kun's turn today!"

Ken ignored him, gently shoving Omi out the door.

"A-ah!!" Omi yelped a third time, flailing his arms to keep his balance.

"Ja, Omi!" Ken called before closing the door. There was a soft click, signaling that the door had been locked.

-----*-----

Ken breathed in and out slowly. …Baka… Ken no baka!! What were you thinking?!!

Oh… So we're back to this? Isn't it obvious? You weren't thinking… Like the last time… and the time before that.. and…

Ken decided that his brain should keep quiet. But still, he couldn't believe what he had almost done!

"I almost kissed Omi…" he whispered to himself.

And not just that, they actually touched lips! There was no way even innocent Omi could mistake that gesture for something else!

Oh gods… Ken slumped to the floor. What have I done? He must really hate me right now… I wonder what he's thinking…

-----*-----

Omi stared blankly at the locked door in front of him.

"……… Ken-kun…" Omi whispered to himself. His mind raced through what had just happened. What Ken had just tried to do.

"Ken-kun……… almost kissed me……"

Why'd he try to kiss me?

Maybe Ken found out that Omi liked him. The bishounen shook his head. That can't be! Ken wouldn't joke like that! They were friends!

Maybe he was imagining Omi to be Aya again… But then, Ken hadn't even mentioned Aya for a week now! Omi was already beginning to think that Ken didn't like Aya anymore.

Then… there was the third reason. Maybe Ken liked him back…

It would explain the flowers, candies, and other presents he had received from Ken. And all the favors. And all the other small stupid things that he and Yohji had been doing for Omi.

Omi shook his head. It was wishful thinking. And why did Ken pull away then? Ken was the one who backed off, who practically threw him out of the room! If Ken liked him back, would he have done that?

Of course he would! You're talking about Hidaka Ken, the master dunce of love. He wouldn't know love if it ran him over!! He doesn't know you like him that way too, so he's scared of ruining your friendship!

Omi blinked at the reasoning his mind was doing. It was clear, now. He realized that his back-voice was right. That's how Ken was. He was surprised he didn't see it sooner.

He loves me…

The thought put him on an all time high. It was almost euphoric. Suddenly he couldn't feel the ground anymore. His feet felt light and he was dizzy. He swayed a little, trying to regain his balance.

Not that he cared much.

Ken-kun loves me…

"Omi?"

Omi blinked and looked to the side. Yohji had just come out of his room.

"Omi!" Yohji smiled. The smile faded as he watched the other blonde. "Omi? What's wrong?"

Suddenly, Omi giggled. He practically skipped to Yohji's side, hugging his arm ecstatically.

"Why, Yohji-kun!" he exclaimed. "What could possibly be wrong?!"

Yohji looked genuinely surprised. Part of his brain was happy with the contact Omi had just made, but the other part was still confused.

Omi laughed, letting go of Yohji. "Isn't it such a lovely morning?!" He twirled around Yohji, throwing out his arms. "In fact… Isn't life just beautiful?!!" he sighed.

"Um.. Omittchi? Are you okay?"

The boy only laughed again. "Of course, Yohji-kun!! Everything's just perfect!!" He sighed again, happily. He began to skip back to his room.

"Omi!!" Yohji yelled with true concern. "You're telling me now what's got you like this! If that Hidaka did anything mean to you, I'll wring his neck dry!!"

Omi laughed. He actually paused and laughed. He whirled around again, crossing his arms behind his back. "Yoooooji-kun… Ken-kun didn't do anything mean. He did something far from it in fact…"

Yohji's eyes widened. "And what was that?"

Omi shook his finger. "That I'm not telling you! I'll see you later!!" And with that, he entered his room and closed the door.

Yohji watched, anxious. He heard another door open.

"I-is he gone?" It was Ken.

"You mean Omi?" Yohji asked. "What the hell did you do to him?!"

Ken flinched. "Oh gods! I knew it! He's mad at me, isn't he?! Damnit! I feel like such a heel!!"

Yohji was surprised. "What happened?"

"I-I… I was trying to tell him! My eye is fine!" Ken ignored Yohji's snort and continued. "But he had to try to treat it! A-and h-he was in my room! And he was really close!! Gods, I can't believe I've never seen before how beautiful he is!! A-and…"

"………and?"

Ken looked up at Yohji fearfully.

"I tried to kiss him."

Yohji almost fell over, "You WHAT?!!"

"A-and now… He must be so mad!! He'll probably never speak to me again! Hell, he'll probably never want to see my face again!! What's wrong with me, Yohji?!!"

Yohji decided not to tell Ken that Omi was not mad. Far from it in fact. Omi was dancing on cloud nine.

Ken was still clutching his head as he returned to his room, leaving Yohji was his jumbled thoughts.

Ken had made a move.

And he didn't just make any move. He almost did a lip to lip with Omi.

And though Ken was so distraught and frantic, Omi was taking it way better than any of them expected.

In other words, Ken may just have beaten him.

"K'so…" Yohji put a hand to his forehead.

The race for Omi was over and he lost. Omi had chosen Ken.

Yohji could almost feel the heartbreak. He was sad and disappointed. He was angry at Ken and even angrier at Omi. He was also angry at himself for not trying harder.

……………

Somehow he had expected it to be a lot worse than this…

-----*-----

Ken was already gone when Omi went back downstairs for his shift; he had gone to meet his kids for soccer. Yohji apparently had to do something that involved drowning his sorrows in wine and women. Omi had rolled his eyes, though he wondered what could have upset Yohji.

Aya seemed to be upset as well, grumbling every now and then about 'that damned Yohji' who had begged for the shift exchange. Omi paid no attention, though; he was still floating around the shop.

It was a relatively slow day. Soon, Omi had excused himself. He still needed to work on some of his homework, as well as the book report he had been ignoring.

When Omi was in his room again, he plopped onto his bed with a sigh.

He recounted the morning for the nth time that day. God knows he'll never get tired of it. A goofy smile lit his face as he remembered every detail. He went over his conclusions that morning, up until the last part of it. His final conclusion.

Ken-kun loves me…

Omi said it to himself aloud, enjoying the sound of the phrase. The feel of it on his tongue.

"Ken-kun loves me…"

And then, a single thought was enough to make him crash back down to earth… hard……

~ Feh… I wouldn't count on that, Bombay…~

-----*-----

(1) These two paragraphs are true, based on the "Forever White" story of Weiss, written by Ken'ichi Kanemaki (who also wrote the stories for the Dramatic Image Albums I & II) and released in Animage.

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