Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Another Heaven (Weiss Kreuz Style) ❯ Scene 15 - 17 ( Chapter 5 )

Name: Androgene

Website: http://www.angelfire.com/space/noir13

Email: androgene@lycos.com

 

Title: Another Heaven (Weiß Kreuz Style)

Summary: Yohji is a police detective and Aya is a male strip dancer. When a serial killer is on a rampage, Yohji and his partner Crawford are called in to investigate. Soon they realize that the killer is not human and his next target may just be Aya. AU fusion - YxA

Category: Drama, angst, romance (the usual)

Rating: NC-17

Warning: Yaoi!

Started: 1 Nov 2002

Completed:

 

Author's Notes:

Characters appearing in this installment are: 

Hayase Manabu - Kudoh Yohji

Ooba Asako - Fujimiya Aya/Ran

Tobitaka Ken'ichirou - Brad Crawford

Akagi Kouzou - Bishop

Makuta Yuuji - Ken Hidaka

Sasamoto Mina - Asuka aka Neu

Chief Inspector Sakamoto - Manx

Crime Buff Kid - Omi Tsukiyono

 

Disclaimer: Weiß Kreuz belongs to Koyasu Takehito and Project Weiss. Another Heaven is a production of Omega Project Inc/Another Heaven Inc/Shochiku, and directed by Joji Iida. These film and anime do not belong to me and I make no profits from them.

 

Scene 15 - It's All In The Bag

 

Long after Yohji had left, Aya remained in his apartment, half-sprawled on the floor. He couldn't move; his chest hurt so badly and there seemed to be something lodged in his throat.

Defeat was a bitter taste in his mouth.

Despite his words, a part of him had wanted, no, desired Yohji's love. Quite often, he dreamt of it. His desire and hope was the only thing that could make him want to smile for the world to see. But he knew, in his head, it wasn't possible. A law enforcer and a strip dancer, a male one at that, did not make for a happy ending in real life. The dream was enough. He was content with knowing that the detective had a soft spot for him - or so he had believed.

Pale slender fingers, trembling slightly, gingerly felt his throbbing throat. He didn't have to see to know that his skin was bruised. But the slight sting was nothing compared to the pain of having his dream shattered.

Yohji had lifted his hand against him, tried to kill him. It was something he never thought the blond capable of.

Aya bit his lips, forcing the hurt and betrayal welling up within him down again. He scrubbed at his face with his hand, startled and angry when he realized his cheeks were wet with tears. He hadn't cried since his sister passed away.

He would leave, he decided bleakly. Leave and never come back, since it was clear Yohji wanted nothing to do with him anymore. Only a fool would stay and court death.

Despondently climbing to his feet, Aya took one last look at the apartment where he had spent so much time with his soon-to-be former lover. His gaze fell upon a brown paper bag lying innocently on the kitchen countertop and he froze.

Despite his distraught state, Aya felt the hair on the back of his neck rose.

 

* * *

 

The latest murder failed to get any reaction out of Yohji. He noticed his own lack of reaction, and so did Crawford. Morosely, Yohji wondered if he had become immune to these gory brutal crimes, or if the roller-coaster emotional ride had finally done him in. Whatever the reason, Yohji found himself studying the crime scene emotionlessly, detachedly.

His cell phone vibrated just as he left the hotel. “Moshi-moshi.”

“...Kudoh.”

Yohji felt a stab of pain when he heard the familiar baritone voice addressing him so formally. “Not now. I'm on the-”

“It's in the lady doctor.”

That caught Yohji's attention. “What?”

“That thing. It's in the lady doctor.”

“How do you know?”

“The paper bag she left behind. It didn't just contain coffee beans. It's full of empty pill-tabs.”

Yohji couldn't believe what he was hearing. Bishop had searched in the wrong place. The evidence was right under their noses all the while. He motioned urgently at his partner while saying, “Aya, do you know where the zip-lock bags are kept?”

“Hai.”

“Listen very carefully. I want you to put that paper bag into a zip-lock and take it to the city morgue. Give it to Bishop-sensei personally. Tell him I sent you there. He'll know what to do. Do you understand, Aya?”

“Hai.”

Yohji took a deep breath, his heart breaking at hearing the flat response. He wished he could say something comforting right now; he wished he know what to say. “After I'm done here, I'm going to see Bishop-sensei.”

“...I won't wait for you.”

“Aya, I-” But the line disconnected before he could say anything.

Yohji swore briefly. When this is all over, he vowed to track Aya down and do whatever it takes to patch things up.

Scene 16 - Tears Like Water, Fear and Clarity

 

Bishop looked up from his research when he heard the door to his lab open. He frowned, glancing at the clock. It was still early in the day and he wasn't expecting any of his assistants yet. However after last night's botched stakeout, there could be only two people who would seek him out so soon.

“Crawford, Kudoh, you're early.” His greeting died when he heard the distinctive tap-tap of high heels. Though he wasn't trained as a cop, Bishop had worked on enough cases to realize that danger was approaching him. “Who's there?”

Asuka emerged from the rows of lab tables and shelves, a lazy malicious smile curving her painted lips. “Ohayo, Bishop-sensei.”

Bishop stared at her, a current of alarm running down his spine. This Asuka was very different from the terrified and humiliated doctor of last night, different from the everyday funky and tough-as-nail Asuka. This Asuka confronting him was a predator. He caught sight of her red-stained hands and his blood ran cold.

 

* * *

 

Aya paid the taxi driver and got out of the vehicle, one hand clutching the zip-lock bag tightly. Face tight and expressionless, he hurried up the stone steps to the entrance of the city morgue, anxious to complete his task before Yohji arrives and do something that would only break his heart further.

He froze the moment he stepped into the building, violet eyes widening with sudden awareness and fear.

That thing was here.

 

* * *

 

“You almost caught me last night,” said the thing in Asuka. “I had thought my acting was perfect. What gave me away?”

“The headache,” Bishop replied calmly, though he was feeling anything but calm. “Your presence in a human body caused the brain to develop ulcers and that gives you terrible migraines.”

“And thus you searched my bag, looking for the kind of painkillers only a doctor can prescribe. Clever but not clever enough.”

“What are you?”

“You don't have to know.” Asuka suddenly winced, one hand reaching up to massage her forehead, leaving a smear of clotting blood across her skin. “Damn it, this body is giving out on me already. My stay in each body grows shorter and shorter. Can you tell me why, sensei?”

“Why are you here?” Bishop asked instead.

“Why?” A mad grin twisted Asuka's lovely face. “Because you mean something to Yohji. Why else would a doctor participate in a stakeout?”

“Bishop-sensei-” Ken called as he suddenly barged into the lab. He stopped short, freezing under Asuka's deadly glare and Bishop's suddenly horrified expression.

 

* * *

 

Crawford's car came to a screeching halt in the parking lot of the city morgue. Both partners were out in an instant, eager to close this case as soon as possible.

Yohji suddenly changed direction, trotting towards a red car that he vaguely remembered as Asuka's. He hastily covered his nose and mouth, reeling from the godawful stench coming from the vehicle.

Using a handkerchief, his intrepid partner carefully unlatched the boot of the car.

“Oh God!” Yohji exclaimed, seeing the bloody and decomposing body of Naoe Nagi stuffed into the boot.

“Bishop!”

 

* * *

 

He shouldn't be here, his mind railed frantically at him. He shouldn't be here, sneaking into the basement of the city morgue, alone and defenseless.

But Aya couldn't turn away.

That thing, its thoughts screamed so loud that Aya couldn't hear himself think. Its thoughts, cruel and poisonous, terrified him but drew him ever deeper into danger.

That thing was obsessed with Yohji.

Aya could almost see in his mind the torment it wanted to do to Yohji. And though Yohji had broken his heart, he was still a good man, a man with a pure heart. Aya would be damned before he let it hurt Yohji.

Why is everyone leaving in a hurry? he thought distractedly.

Hugging the wall, he slowly crept down the hallway towards where he could sense its odious presence. It was close, very close to where he was.

He had to stop that thing. Somehow. Before it gets Yohji.

A drop of cold liquid wetness on his cheek distracted him. His fingers reached to instinctively wipe away the wetness. Surprised and curious, Aya automatically looked up.

 

* * *

 

They sounded the evacuation alarm, ordering the security to get the innocents out and seal off the building. Even while Yohji was barking orders to the guards, Crawford was on his cellphone, transmitting their discovery to Manx. They took the stairs, raced through the basement corridor, their footsteps echoing crazily off the blank sterile-white walls.

Yohji and Crawford burst into the lab, stopping abruptly at the destruction before them. The workbenches and shelves were completely smashed, delicate glass instruments and bottles littered everywhere.

“Bishop!” Crawford spied the still form at the far side of the lab, half-buried under the splintered remnants of a writing desk. Heedless of the glass underfoot, he hurried over to the motionless form. He knew when he saw the wide-eyed blank stare and the frozen expression of fear and surprise. “No.” He knew even as he searched for a pulse. “No…”

“He's dead,” Yohji stated softly, shocked. He never thought the genteel doctor would meet his end like this. Never.

Crawford's glasses flashed dangerously as he looked up at his partner. “It murdered him.” His hard gaze searched the room, quickly spotting the other still form in the room.

Mind reeling somewhat, Yohji followed his gaze. His blood ran cold when he saw who else had died in the conflict - Asuka, like Bishop, her once-lively eyes blank and dulled and the permanent confusion etched in her face unfamiliar.

“Where is it?” Crawford growled as he rose to his feet.

“It needs to find another host,” Yohji's thoughts raced. “I don't know how long it can survive outside a human body, but we need to find it fast. Before it-” The faint groan reached his ears.

They didn't hesitate. As one, they whipped out their service revolvers and aimed in the direction from where they had heard the groan.

Yohji's eyes widened with shock and narrowed again as he watched Ken rose unsteadily to his feet.

Eyes a little glazed and confused, Ken stared uncomprehendingly at them. “Nani?”

“Freeze, you murdering bastard.” Crawford snarled.

Ken blinked, the sense of danger slowly but surely trickling into his foggy brain. “Nani? Crawford-san, I don't understand. Why are you pointing your gun at me?”

“Stop your faking,” Yohji snapped. “You have no reason to kill Bishop! It's me you're after!”

Ken's look of confusion only deepened. “Bishop-sensei dead? You think I killed him?”

“Who else is there in this lab?” Yohji shot back.

Angry and spooked, the partners closed in on Ken.

“Put your hands where I can see them,” Yohji ordered. Reaching the apparently confused Ken, he roughly grabbed hold of the other man and slammed him down across another desk, skillfully cuffing his wrists and pressed the muzzle of his service revolver against Ken's skull.

“Kudoh!” Ken's voice rose hysterically. “Are you crazy?!”

“Stop your acting, you bastard! You can't fool me!” Yohji snarled back. “Come out into the open! Or I swear I'll blow a hole into your brain and force you out anyway!”

“Acting? I'm not acting! I don't know what you're talking about! Stop it, Yohji! Stop it! Let me go!”

“I'll count to three,” Yohji threatened and primed his service revolver.

The door burst open again. Manx and the rest of the team stumbled to a halt, stunned at what they saw. “Kudoh! What the hell are you doing?!”

“Help me, Chief!” Ken shouted hysterically. “He's gone nuts! The both of them!”

Manx took a step forward but froze when Crawford swung his aim to them. “Don't interrupt us. We know what we're doing.”

“What I see is one of my detectives holding another at gunpoint,” Manx retorted evenly. “Put down your weapons and maybe I won't haul both your butts to jail.”

“I know what I'm doing,” Yohji shot back as calmly as he could through the terror and anger driving him. “This is no longer Ken I'm pointing my gun at. I'll prove it to you. One…”

“Stop him!” Ken shrieked. “Onegai, stop him!”

“Two…”

“Don't do it, Kudoh!” Manx shouted.

“Thr-” The word died on his lips. Through the observation window, he saw Aya stumbling into view. The pale redhead uncharacteristically, clumsily stumbled against the glass, one hand catching hold of the sill, sliding down before he managed to straighten again with great effort.

Aya raised his head and their gazes met.

In that single instant, the world as Yohji knew it was, irrevocably shattered by the tears spilling down Aya's cheeks, no, not tears - it was too much, too fast.

Oh God, no.

Yohji's heart clenched in sudden pain and cold.

Not him.

All traces of cynicism and reserve gone, those beautiful violet eyes were wide with terror and pain, mutely beseeching him for help.

Oh God…

And Yohji realized at once the terrible mistake he had made.

“Yohji…” He saw Aya mouthing his name silently through the glass. Then he was gone, slipping away like a ghost.

Stunned numb with horror, Yohji didn't register Manx and his colleagues tearing him away from Ken, yanking his gun away from nerveless fingers. He didn't resist when they pinned him down in order to cuff him. His stare met Crawford's who was given the same treatment, and his partner blinked on seeing the absolute fear in Yohji's eyes.

“Aya…” Yohji managed to get the name out through a constricted throat.

Crawford caught on what Yohji was trying to tell him and his face grew grim. “Hold it!” he called out suddenly, as calm and rational as he could.

Manx and the rest of their colleagues stopped on hearing that familiar tone of voice again.

“Hidaka, I'm sorry for the rough treatment,” Crawford continued calmly. “The both of us made a mistake and we apologize for scaring you. Chief Inspector Manx, please let us up. We can explain this.”

Manx hesitated, staring at him suspiciously. But she had been working with the rational, analytical man for a long time and she trusted him to have a reason. Nodding to her subordinates, they slowly, warily released both Crawford and Yohji, stepping back to give them some space.

Quick as lightning, Crawford lunged and seized hold of Manx. Snatching her service revolver out of her grip, he swiftly caught her in a stranglehold and pressed the barrel of her gun against her temple.

“Don't move,” he told the rest calmly.

“Crawford, you bastard!” Manx snarled in helpless fury.

Crawford ignored her. “Stay put, the rest of you. Follow us and I will put a bullet through Chief Inspector Manx's head.” He frowned at the still somewhat-shocked Yohji. “Kudoh! We're leaving!”

Jolted to his senses, Yohji scooped up his own gun and hurried after Crawford.

With Manx as hostage, they hurriedly made their way out of the building. Yohji swiftly scanned the parking lot but there was no sign of Aya.

“Crawford, you won't get away with this!” Manx hissed at her officers-gone-rogue.

“I don't think I can,” Crawford admitted candidly.

Without warning, he spun her round and landed a solid punch right into her stomach. Manx choked and doubled over, collapsing to the ground in an unconscious heap. Dropping her service revolver by her side, Crawford raced for his car. “Kudoh, move it!”

“But Aya should be somewhere nearby! He can't have gone that far!”

“Baka! You won't be of any use to Fujimiya if you get caught! Move!”

Together, the partners scrambled into Crawford's car and pelted out of the parking lot with tires screeching.

Scene 17 - Finding Heaven...

 

They had to change cars three times before Crawford was satisfied they had shook off their colleagues. With enough time on their hand, they began to search for Aya, and to Yohji's distress, he realized just how depressingly little he knew about Aya's background.

They went to his workplace, the park where he used to visit with his now-dead sister, and the library. That was about as much as Yohji knew about the places Aya used to frequent, besides his own apartment. And going back to his apartment was out of the question. By now, it would be swarming with cops. If Crawford hadn't asked him, Yohji wouldn't have realized he had never gone to Aya's place. It had always been his apartment, where they ate together, chatted with each other, slept and had sex together - the place where they hung out together the most. It made him realized he had never really taken Aya out on a proper date, proudly introduced him to the world as his boyfriend.

It jolted him awake, tore the blindfold off his eyes so he saw clearly just how shoddily he had treated Aya. How much Aya had to put up with him; how much feeling Aya harbored for him, displayed in each silent gesture. It was only now, driven by heart-clenching fear and guilt, Yohji saw just how much Aya had given him without asking for anything in return.

And - so blind, I was so blind - how much the redhead actually meant to him.

It was almost nightfall when they finally located Aya's tiny apartment.

Yohji didn't know what to expect, but the state of Aya's apartment took him by surprise.

It was anally tidy. No clutter, the barest furnishing, everything put away or arranged with an almost painful neatness. Except for the exceptional variety of his wardrobe, Aya lived very spartanly on everything else. The singular thing that caught their attention was the tanto on a lacquered wooden stand displayed prominently on the shelf.

Yohji could not remove his eyes from the tanto.

Crawford went over to him, noticing what he was staring at.

“I gave that to him,” Yohji explained softly, “when I closed that murder case which involved his boss. Meant it as a joke `cos I kept bailing him out of danger the entire time. Told him that he ought to have one of these for self-protection.”

Slowly, reverently, he took down the traditional Japanese knife. “Once, I asked him why he stayed a strip dancer. Why he didn't just find another job. I mean, life expectancy in that business is short and he was already twenty-four. You know what he said? He told me it was the only life he knows. With a background like his, no one else would hire him.”

Yohji withdrew the short blade, studying it. “This is really a cheap piece of work. I didn't know he treasures it so much. So much I don't know about him,” he said half to himself. “So much I choose not to know. I wish...I wish I could have treat him better.”

Crawford placed a supporting hand on his partner's shoulder. “We'll find him,” he said firmly, “and we'll save him.”

“Soon, I pray. The thought of him dead...” Yohji shuddered.

“Don't even think it. It's not going to happen.”

“I hope you're right.” Yohji turned. Somehow the pain and guilt in his green eyes gave Crawford the chills.

The distinctive trill of Yohji's cellphone sounded in the silence that ensued. Hope surged when he recognized the number. “Aya?”

“...”

“Aya, is that you?” Yohji asked urgently, desperately. “Answer me, koi!”

“Yohji...”

Yohji closed his eyes as a cold wave of relief washed over him. “Thank God. Aya, daijoubu?”

“I'm not...I'm not feeling too good.”

“I know, Aya, I know. But it'll be better. I'm going to save you. Please, tell me where are you?” Yohji listened carefully as Aya hesitatingly told him his location. “Stay put, Aya. I'm coming to get you.”

“Was that Fujimiya?” Crawford asked the instant he disconnected the line.

“Hai.”

“Did he say where he is?”

Yohji slowly shook his head, still not looking up from his cellphone. “I'm still trying to figure out what he told me.”

Crawford went close to his side. “What did he say?”

The punch straight to his gut took Crawford completely by surprise. He staggered, wheezing sharply, unable to prevent the next blow to the back of his neck. With a strangled grunt, he collapsed to the floor.

“...Teme...”

“Gomen ne,” Yohji apologized. He dragged Crawford over to the radiator. From his partner's belt, he fished out the handcuffs and cuffed Crawford to the machine. “I have to do this on my own. This thing is after me and it won't stop at anything or anyone to get me. I'll only get you in trouble, or worse. You'll be safer here.”

Crawford fought against the blackness overwhelming his vision. “...Ahou...you're no...match for it either.”

“I'll think of something.” Yohji tossed Crawford's service revolver, cellphone and keys to his handcuffs far across the apartment. “Goodbye, Crawford.”

“Fuck you.” The curse came out slurred as Crawford, unable to fight anymore, sank into unconsciousness.

 

* * *

 

Yohji knew exactly where Aya was. Every fiber in his body screamed at him to just rush directly to his lover's location and never let Aya out of his sight ever again. It took a huge force of will to rein in his raging chaotic emotions and think clearly.

He was sure the police were still looking for him. He couldn't let them find him or lead them directly to Aya's hiding place.

Yohji switched cars twice and took a roundabout route, keeping his behavior normal and unhurried. The multi-level parking complex was, thankfully, relatively deserted at this time of the night. He drove right up to the top level and without bothering to park, got out to search the place. There were few cars on this level and no people at all. He couldn't see Aya anywhere.

“Aya!” he called out. “Where are you?! Aya!”

“Yohji...”

He heard the soft call, so soft he thought he had imagined it. Yohji stared at the garbage bin and the pile of discarded cartons boxes disposed so indiscriminately. “Aya?” He raced over to the garbage bin and discarded cartons. Shoving the cartons aside, he stopped short and stared.

Aya sat slumped against the wall, looking completely exhausted and ashen under the dried tear tracks and sweat. Despairing violet eyes gazed up at him from behind disheveled red hair, filled with pain and mute fear.

Yohji knelt down beside his lover, his own face pale and tight. So relieved that he had found the redhead, yet horrified. “Aya...” he didn't know what to say.

“It hurts, Yohji.” Aya murmured, the words slurring a little. “It hurts...my head.”

“I know, I know.” He carefully, tenderly slung Aya's unresisting arm around his neck and gathered his own around his lover's waist. “Come with me. I'll find a way to save you. I promise.”

Hauling Aya to his feet, Yohji began to help him back to the car. He thought frantically on where they could hide from the police, at least, to stay low for a couple days while he concentrate on helping his lover. He knew Manx well enough to know she would personally lead the manhunt and he knew there weren't many places Manx didn't know he frequent. It must be somewhere Manx would never think of first, or least for a couple of days before she thought of it.

`...We even bought a house on the outskirts near a power station.'

Asuka's reminiscence suddenly came to mind.

A house on the outskirts: one belonging to a dead doctor who stopped inhabiting it a long time ago anyway. Yohji only knew of one suburb that vaguely matched Asuka's description. But there was someone else he could ask to pinpoint the location.

“Aya,” he gently shook his lover to catch his attention. “I know of a place where we can hide. But I need your help.”

“What?”

“That thing in your head: does it still have Asuka's memories?”

“I...don't know.”

“Can you try to find out?”

“I don't want to.”

“Please.”

“It hurts.”

“Please, Aya. It's the only place we can hide and be safe for a while.”

“...I don't know if I can.”

“Just try, koi. Onegai.”

“...All right.”

 

* * *

 

Time was running out.

Yohji was never more aware of time as every minute, every second slipped through his fingers like sand grains. Yet he couldn't hurry, not the car he was driving or his lover wrestling an inner battle he could not even begin to imagine with that `thing'.

He did not know how Aya managed it but his lover's directions were extremely precise. For that, he was thankful. But he felt really guilty too. By the time they arrived at Asuka's house, Aya was reduced to a limp shaking wreck, eyes squeezed close and pain etching deep lines in his face.

A shudder shook Aya's slender form and he let out a whimper, curling into himself almost protectively.

“Shh...I got you.” Gently, carefully, Yohji gathered Aya into his arms and carried him to the house. Not a word of protest left Aya's lips and that told Yohji more than anything else just how badly his lover was hurting. Heedlessly, Yohji broke the front door's lock and wedged it close behind him with a chair. He hurried through the darkened house, searching for a place where Aya could rest.

For a house that had remained empty for a long time, Asuka's former home was surprisingly clean. It still contained a few pieces of furniture all covered by white sheets, and even had electricity and water. A twinge of guilt pinched Yohji's heart. Clearly, Asuka had harbored dreams of being able to return to it again. But because of him, not one of those dreams would be fulfilled.

Yohji finally came upon the master bedroom. Spying the bed, he immediately headed over to it and carefully laid Aya down. He sat down next to his lover, cupping the pale strained face in one hand and the other smoothing away the sweat-dampened locks of hair.

“Aya?” he called softly, anxiously. “Can you hear me? Aya?”

Dulled violet eyes fluttered open and gazed up at him in exhaustion and pain.

“Hold on, do you hear me?” Yohji urged. “Fight it. Don't give in to that thing.”

“...I've shut it away, hold it back.” Aya whispered weakly. “It's angry...struggling to break free.” He reached up with a shaking hand for his lover. “...It's getting stronger.”

Yohji seized Aya's outstretched hand, pressing it against his cheek. “I'll save you. I'll make that thing leave you. You'll be all right; everything will be all right. You'll see, Aya.”

“It's too late.”

“No! It's not too late! Don't give up on me!”

“You have to destroy that thing. Burn me while I'm alive, while I can still restrain it.”

“No!”

“It's the only way.”

“No!” Yohji gripped his lover's face with both hands, staring desperately into those beautiful violet eyes glistening with tears. “You don't have to sacrifice yourself like that. Do you hear me? I won't let you die!”

He pulled Aya into a crushing embrace, tears streaming down his own face. “I don't want to lose you.”

Aya's eyes widened.

“I'm such a blind fool. I couldn't see how much you mean to me until now. Can you forgive me for being such an idiot? You've given me so much. Brought warmth into my life and so much care. You are my rock, I see that now. My steady support when I need it most. I've always known you love me but I chose to ignore it. Forgive me, Aya, for treating you so badly. I'm such an idiot.” Yohji scattered frantic kisses over Aya's face, starting with the pale smooth forehead and down to the cheeks. “Believe me, onegai. I love you; I need you. Don't leave me alone.”

“Yohji...”

“Please,” Yohji begged against the corner of Aya's lips before kissing him. “Please, don't leave me.”

Aya's eyes were dazed and moist as he stared at his lover. He placed a careful, trembling hand against Yohji's cheek. “You love me?” he whispered hopefully.

“Yes.”

“You really mean it?”

Yohji's heart broke. His lover's wavering voice was filled with so much yearning and uncertainty, and it was all his doing. “I love you, I love you. Oh Aya, please, please believe me, aishiteru.”

“I love you too.” Aya smiled, a tender joyous smile that took Yohji's breath away. He had never seen Aya smile like so before.

“You're so beautiful,” Yohji said in a choked whisper. Green eyes roamed over his redhead lover's features, greedily committing every detail to memory. Reverent fingers caressed Aya's face and hair. “I've never really realized...how beautiful and strong you are.”

Aya refused to cry. He had never heard such honest praises before. Cupping his hand behind Yohji's nape, he tugged his lover close. “Kiss me,” he ordered hoarsely.

He met Yohji's lips with his own in a hard frantic kiss, pouring all his love into that single contact. Yohji swept him up in a desperate embrace and he didn't mind, pressing into the contact just as hard.

Their lovemaking was frantic, desperate, nearly violent. Aya bit and clawed broad shoulders, mouth scattering kisses anywhere on his lover's skin that he could find. He submitted to Yohji's domination, arching needfully into the rough possessive caresses. Pale legs lifted and curled tightly around his lover's waist, he pulled his lover close. Yohji, for his part, lost all restraints, plunging so deep into Aya's willing body with every thrust, marking him as his. The tension in their bodies as they writhed and rolled among the dusty sheets, the terror and desperation driving them on, somehow made this moment more intense and real than all their previous lovemaking sessions. And when they came, heartache and tears rend their cries of completion.