Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Boys in the Attic ❯ In the Spotlight ( Chapter 13 )

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Weiss Kreuz nor am I profiting from this, it is for pure reading enjoyment. The wonderful Koyasu Takehito is the creator.

In the Spotlight

Ken locked up the house and secured his keys in his pocket. Slowly, he and Omi began to walk down the pathway from the house and on to the main sidewalk. The air was cool and a gentle breeze pushed it casually toward the two boys.

"It's cold out here," Omi complained.

"Are you kidding me? It feels great. You need to start taking more vitamins or something."

"Yes, mom."

"I'm serious."

"I know you are. You're a health nut. You work at a gym for God's sake. But I still think you pay more attention to my health than your own. You're nosey," Omi teased.

"Shut up and pick up the pace. We're gonna start jogging soon."

"No. I thought we came out here to cool off not heat up again."

"When I said cool off, it was just an expression. You know, to get us out of our…whatever it was that we were trying to achieve." Both boys groaned in unison as they thought about what had occurred no more than twenty minutes earlier. Suddenly though, they looked at each other and started to laugh. "I'm sorry that I started it all."

"Well, technically I'm to blame for the beginning of it. I'm the one who decided our movie choice."

"Yes but, I was a lot more interested in you than I was the movie. So what we were watching had little to do with my mood." Omi blushed wildly. "Am I embarrassing you?"

"Hell yes." Omi put his hands to his face. "I can feel the heat rising up through my ears." Ken started to laugh lightly. "What's so funny," Omi asked rather defensively.

"The entire situation. I never thought that you and I would be intimate like that, we've never shown interest in each other romantically before. Then, all at once we start pawing at each other. No courtship, no rising action just spontaneity at it's smuttiest. Moreover, Omi Tsukiyono, it is not in your character to be so, so…"

"Desperate?"

"Well, not desperate but…"

"Desperate. There isn't any getting around it."

"But that still don't seem like the correct word."

"Let's put it this way. I was willing to jump at anything that moved, you were just the closest thing to me."

" - Yeah, that's pretty desperate."

"You didn't have to say it all fast like that. That just makes me realize what a loser I am."

"Don't worry Omi-kun, I've known about it this whole time."

"Baka!"

BOP!

"Aargh! Don't hit me in the back of the head anymore. I was just joking."

"So was I," said Omi, as he smiled quite smugly.

+++

Yohji went on a break and made his way to the employee lounge. He found Juro there reading a magazine article and drinking a soda.

"How goes it?" asked Yohji.

"Hey, Kudou. Haven't seen your bright and shiny face all day."

"Or all week for that matter."

"Has it really been that long?"

"It has."

"Hmm. Probably due to the fact that I've been real busy with Ryu lately."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, he finally decided to buy another property and turn it into a new club. I don't have a whole lot of say in the business, but I am essentially all that Ryu has for moral support, so he lets me tag a long to hold his hand in a sense. He won't admit to the reason he allows my input, whether it gets used or not, but I know his ulterior motive."

"Wow, Juro's been awarded responsibility on the job." The younger boy smiled proudly. "So what happens to this club?"

"It stays the same. Club Kyoto is one of the most popular nightlife hangouts in the city, in the nation even. It's been broadcasted as a hot spot on television and recommended in all sorts of magazines so it'd be more than just a shame to get rid of it or alter it in some dramatic way. In fact, here's a review that was printed this month." Juro handed over the magazine he'd been reading and allowed Yohji to peer at it. The article was majestically flattering of not only the club but it's radiant owners.

"Damn, this is really saturated."

"As it should be," Juro beamed. He was very proud of his brother and all the hard work that he had mostly put in to the business. Without him the club would go to pieces. "Anyway," he said looking down at his watch. I have to meet with my brother now. But I'll see you later, okay?"

"Yes, sir."

+++

Juro strode down the hallway to Ryu's office, casually drinking his cold beverage on the way there. He knocked twice at the threshold frame as he opened the door and entered.

"You know," started Ryu. "…usually when you knock at some one's door you're supposed to wait until the actually give you permission to enter. Otherwise, the fact that you did actually knock is canceled out."

"Sorry," Juro said uncaringly as he plopped down into one of the chairs before Ryu's desk then, put one foot on the table and crossed it with the other.

The older boy stared at his ignorant brother. "Would you like a coaster," he asked with contempt.

"Nah, I'll pass," Juro said as he took a long slurp from his straw, draining most of the soda from its container. Ryu didn't bat an eyelash. It was the perfect sort of look that got his younger brother thinking. Juro wrinkled his nose and rolled his eyes. "Oh. Ha, ha, Ryu. Very funny," scoffed the Juro as he took his feet down from the desk.

"Ah, so you aren't incapable of acting civilized."

"Depends on my mood," teased Juro.

"Clearly."

"So what's up tonight? Are we gonna meet with that property owner again, or check some stuff out, or ooh, ooh, ooh, if we finish up everything early can we swing by the mall just before it closes so you can buy me this outfit that caught my eye in the display window yesterday?"

"We can go to the mall now if you like."

"What? Really? Now? Why?"

"We can go to the mall, yes really, right now, and the reason why is because I'm just not in the frame of mind to deal with the property affair any further this week."

"So why'd you ask me to come in here earlier. Sounds like you don't have any work for me."

"I didn't call you in here for work."

"Well, then, what am I here for?"

"Can't I just spend some time with you without it being work related anymore? You're the only person I like to confide in and I just…want you around."

Juro smiled warmly and began to round the desk. "Awe, you love me."

"Of course I love you," Ryu ground out. "What the hell are you doing? Don't come over here."

"Somebody needs a hug."

"Hey - No I don't. Get away from me," the older boy pleaded with amusement as his younger brother tried desperately to wrap his arms around the other man. "I'll get you yet, Jurobei," Ryu threatened. He met his hands with the younger boy's stomach and started tickling him. Juro tried to keep his embrace around his brother but his arms faltered as well as his knees. Soon Ryu had sunk to the floor as well and hovered over his giggling brother.

"I give up, Ryu please, stop tickling me," Juro begged as he laughed uncontrollably. "Stop, I have to go pee."

"Then you shouldn't have drunk all that soda."

"Bastard, get away." Juro playfully kicked his brother away but the older boy just grabbed his legs and pulled him closer."

Knock, knock.

"Who is it?" asked Ryu with a sound tone of voice, though a smile could be heard on his lips.

"It's me, Ran."

Ryu got to his feet and left Juro to recover on the floor. He sat back behind his desk before speaking again. "Enter," he commanded.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you but…" Aya hesitated as he looked down at Juro who was sprawled out on the floor. The younger wrinkled his nose and made a small hissing sound that only Fujimiya heard. "…but uh, but…"

"But?" Ryu responded, winding his wrist in a motion for the redhead to get on with his message.

"Wakai has asked for your presence at the bar on the first floor. I think he might want to have dinner someplace. He's asked me to make sure you bring a jacket with you and I'm almost positive he'll want to go to - "

"Avalon?" Aya nodded in response and Ryu sighed. "Are you coming too?"

"No, I - "

"Good," Ryu interjected before the redhead could finish explaining that he had other work to do. "I'll go ahead and see what whatever the hell it is Wakai wants and you can take Juro here to the mall like I had planned to before this change in agenda was reported."

Juro and Aya looked at each other then, Juro turned quickly to his brother while scrambling up from the floor. "No, I don't want to go that bad."

"Nonsense. I'll just give you some cash and you can go crazy, alright?" Ryu stood up and collected his house keys as well as his jacket. "Take good care of little Juro. Make sure he doesn't run off, or break something, or expose himself in public…" Aya raised an eyebrow then looked over at Juro with that last statement. Juro blushed immensely. "Now I know all this may sound trivial but he can really be a hand full sometimes so never underestimate him."

Ryu started heading for the door and he was followed by his two guests. They all stepped out of the office and the eldest boy locked it up. They road the elevator down in complete silence. Ryu was the only one completely at ease with the growing tension between his younger brother and his advisor. He pretended to be oblivious to it but actually he was trying very hard to hold in his laughter.

The three walked out of the elevator and Odaka almost instantly noticed where his business partner was waiting for his arrival. "Well, I'll see you two later then, Ryu said to Aya and Juro as he picked through his wallet for his debit card and handed it to Juro. The younger brother accepted it with a glare in his eye and Ryu held onto it just a bit longer. "The usual limit," he said with stern eyes and released it to Juro's grasp. He headed over to the bar to meet Wakai and waved his two friends off.

Juro climbed into Aya's car. "Ewe…" he ground out as he shut the door. The redhead pretended not to hear whatever complaint his passenger was moaning about. "Uhrr." Aya sort of looked over to Juro as he put his key in the ignition but soon began to ignore him again as he tried to back out of his parking space. The redhead gazed into his rearview mirror and started to go in reverse when… "Uck…"

Aya's car came to a halt. "What the hell is your problem? Do I need to take you to a Vet. `cause you sound like you're coughing up a fucking hairball, and someone of your species shouldn't be doing that; assuming that you are human of course."

"I can't help it if your car stinks. It's making me gag."

"This car is clean. There's no way that it fucking stinks - "

" - since when did you pick up smoking again?"

"What? I dunno, a month or so ago." Fujimiya redirected his attention to getting out of the parking lot. "We're going to South Pointe, right?"

"Hai…but that's what's making your car smell."

"I hardly ever even smoke when I'm driving you dim wit so your theory's a little off."

"No, I'd say it's right on the money. The little bit of your cigarette smoke that still remains in this car along with whatever traces of it that might be in your clothes and I know that it's in your hair, combined while in this vehicle have made everything in here reek."

"I highly doubt that."

"And how the hell would you know? Because you smoke, even if it isn't regularly, you're use to the smell. You're unaware of it. But to the rest of us…you reek."

"And since when did you stop smoking? Because all of a sudden you have become way too annoying with your new found sense of smell."

"You're just mad `cause you stink," said Juro as he rolled down the window and began to gasp for air exaggeratingly.

"Put your fucking head back in the window…please," Aya added to the phrase. All he needed was for Juro to go screaming verbal abuse back to his older brother and he'd be cleaning out his desk by tomorrow morning.

"You don't really have to take me to the mall you know.

"Oh sure, Juro, and where the hell else am I supposed to take you, Peter Piper's Pizzaland to watch you play on the little plastic jungle gyms? I'm your brother's stand in tonight and while the very thought of babysitting an adult seems a little high strung, I've been appointed to do so."

"I meant you can just take me home."

"Your car's back at the club."

"I can leave it over night. I've done it before."

" - no you haven't."

"So. There's a first time for everything."

"Not on my watch."

Soon, South Pointe in all its glory was upon them and the mall could be seen in short distance. Aya circled the parking lot, quickly finding that it was packed solid. Finally, he just decided to have his car valet parked for the measly three dollar fee. The two boys approached the mall entrance and shuffled through the upcoming traffic of people. Juro began to stagger behind as Aya went a bit too fast for him but the older boy stopped upon reaching the inside of the mall and waited as Juro caught up to him. The younger boy had gone through quite a struggle just getting through the front doors and was now panting. Juro could see the ATM station up ahead and smiled. He'd be able to buy what he wanted and take out a little cash from his brother's account on the side. If Ryu asked any questioned he'd just reply that his outfit had been really expensive.

"So…" Juro started, quite out of breath. "…can we still go to Pizzaland."

"No."

+++

Back at home, Omi and Ken had just finished their walk and were re-entering the house.

"I'll get us some water," offered Ken.

"Domo. How long were we gone, an hour?"

"Just about."

"So now what?

"You wanna get back to our movie?"

"Ken!"

"I'm just joking."

"Very funny. How `bout we trade in that water for some beers Ken-kun," Omi suggested with a smile.

"I'm afraid that's not possible Omitchi. No more beer left."

"Well you know what that means."

"What?"

"We're draggin' our asses to my house. I've got plenty."

"You're underage. How do you get all this shit."

"I have my resources," Omi replied with an arrogant smile.

"You mean Juro?"

"Juro."

"That's what I thought." Omi started to blush under Ken's watchful eyes and began to collect himself. "I wonder what he's up to tonight." Omi shrugged his shoulders.

"We can call him when we get to my house," the younger boy suggested. Ken nodded his head in agreement. "Okay, let's get goin'." The two hopped into Omi's car and headed to the younger boy's house. When they got inside, it was it was dark and cold. Omi flipped on the lights almost instinctively and rushed to turn on the heat.

"Hey don't turn the heat up too high. It actually feels kind of good in here, just brisk."

"What are you, a snowman?" Omi asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Ken started to laugh. "How about I get those beers you promised and you call Juro."

"Deal."

+++

Juro stood in the dressing room, looking himself over but he longed for a second opinion. Unfortunately for him, the only person around to evaluate his current look was that redhead. Off and on, the two were friendly with each other; right now they were definitely off. Juro had started off neutral with the idea of Aya dating Yohji as opposed to Ken and vise versa but now he was taking Ken's side, noting the fact that Ken deserved Yohji's affections more than Aya ever could. He knew that the redhead had done very little if nothing to attain Yohji when Ken had been loyal and loving. For this the alliance between Juro and Aya had weakened. It wasn't a justified reason but that's life.

[Man…] Juro whined to himself and with a sigh, he gave in. "Ran-kun."

"What is it?" the older boy asked from outside of the dressing cubicle.

Juro opened the small door. "Does this look okay?" he asked, displaying the outfit he'd tried on.

"You're asking me?"

"Hai," replied Juro with irritation.

"Really? Because you don't seem to like me much these days but all of a sudden now, you want to be civil?"

"Forget it!" Juro nearly slammed the dressing room door behind him. Aya smirked to himself.

"You look fine."

"I don't care anymore. I don't want your opinion!"

"Good, because I was lying," Aya said defensively. Juro swung open the cubicle door half dressed to stare the older boy deep in the eye. The two glared at each other intensely before Juro finally closed the door again and went back to his business.

He was silent in the cubicle for a long while. Aya became impacient. It was bad enough that he had to wait all this time for Juro to dress himself over and over again but now the little brat was giving him the silent treat, one of Aya's most despised games. The redhead never talked much but he loved to listen and without anyone to entertain him his weariness of the atmosphere grew thick. He sighed to himself with regret, noting that he was about to actually start up a conversation with Juro, a sort of desperation tactic that made him look weak for his need of human contact.

"You almost done?" The nonchalant introductory question.

Silence.

"I asked you a question, I don't wanna be here all day and the mall closes in nearly an hour. All I wanna do is get back to Club Kyoto."

Juro suddenly walked out of the dressing room and walked up to the front counter for purchase of a few items. Just as quietly as he'd been all day the younger man led the way back to Aya's car. He waited by the passenger's side door for it to be opened. After getting in and putting on his seatbelt all Juro did was look straight ahead and remind silent. Fujimiya sat in his driver's seat staring at the small boy. "We might go faster if you actually started the car."

"So it speaks," Aya said smugly. "You know, you are annoying me on so many levels tonight and…"

Ring, Ring

"Yes, yes! Hello?!" Juro answered the telephone anxiously.

"Calm down there, Juro. Where's the fire?" Ken teased.

"Apparently, up my ass," Juro commented as he eyed Fujimiya's red hair.

"What?!"

"Nothing. A certain someone's just being a pain in the ass right now."

"Okay…uh, what are you up to? Are you working?"

"Nah, I was just out shopping."

"Well, why don't you come over my house for a while, and hang out."

"Sure, I think I can stop by for a little bit. Just give me some time to pay for some stuff I want and I should be at your door in about thirty minutes."

"Cool. Ja na."

Juro hung up his cell phone and turned to Aya. "We're going to my friend's house."

"Where is that?" the redhead sighed.

"Not far, it's off of Dragonfly, near my house actually. We're going to Omi's place. To get there just…"

"I'm familiar with the territory," Aya said thinking about the several times he'd been in that neighborhood to visit with Yohji. Upon reaching that area though, the redhead needed Juro's help with the actual address. The younger boy explained and soon enough the Porsche was parked at the given destination. "This is the house?" asked Aya.

"Yes, now come on inside with me. We'll only be here a short while."

Ding, Dong

Ken answered the front door and smiled with pleasure to see Juro at the front door but his grin soon faded as he realized that Juro had brought a guest with him. "Hey," he greeted weakly.

Juro hadn't any idea that Ken would be here. Ordinarily the detail of his presence going unsaid by Omi would have been no problem but this time was different.

Ken held the door open for his friend and his mortal enemy to step through. Juro came in and tried his best not to seem uncomfortable as he walked toward the couch with his chauffer in towe. "You're house is nice and warm, Omi-kun. Too bad we'll only be here a little while," said Juro as he took a seat. Casually he eyed Ken and noticed that his friend looked disheartened. He also gathered that Ken seemed to avert his gaze religiously away from Aya as much as possible and when he did steal a glimpse at the red haired man, he seemed to sink a little in his own skin. [Oh shit,] Juro thought to himself.

Even Omi looked stunned. No one said a word and only Aya was clueless as to the reason why everyone was being so quiet. Finally, Ken spoke. "Omi and I were just about to have ourselves some drinks, how about you guys?" he said with a blank face.

[Drinks?] Omi thought to himself. The small change in vocabulary haunted him. He and Ken had agreed to have a couple of beers but the word `drinks' possibly implied that Ken was ready to hit the hard stuff and it was obvious what had triggered the mood.

Ken got up from his seat and headed to the kitchen. He poured two shots of rum for himself and threw them back. "Phew," he breathed. "Hot. So, who wants what?" Omi and Juro each thought silently about how to react if Ken became angry and jealous, coupled with misjudgment from his alcohol intake.

"Uhm, I guess I'll have what you're having," said Juro, trying to make his voice confident and lighthearted.

Ken made up the drinks for his younger friend and then turned his attention to the redhead. "And how about you?" he asked with a low voice.

"Just water if it isn't too much trouble," he responded, very weary of Ken's tone.

"On the rocks?" Ken joked smugly.

"On the rocks." Aya was beginning to become a bit annoyed with Ken. He'd met the younger boy on several occasions but they'd never become close friends or even spent enough time with each other to develop any real opinions about one another but ever since Juro's birthday party it seemed Ken acted much like a fool to him, overbearing and resentful.

The get-together went on quite easily as time went by. Omi and Juro did their part to keep the evening carefree and Aya just sat there comfortably, oblivious to how many times he would have died if only one look from Ken could kill a man. But quite accidentally, Fujimiya-san did turn his head and notice the foul looks that were being sent his way and stared just as hard back. It was a duel fit for the gods to bet on.

Juro looked up from his conversation with Omi and knew that it'd be best to get going now. "Okay, well, thanks for having us Omi but me and Aya really gotta get going now."

"Oh, sure. We'll see you later. Oh, and call me first thing tomorrow."

"I will. Bye Omi, bye Ken."

"Sayonara," Ken breathed.

An hour later, Ken was smashed. More specifically eight, no, nine…no…ten? Yes, ten drinks later Ken was feeling the affects of the alcohol. At the same time he'd stopped pouring himself drinks and was now just drinking straight from the bottle.

"That'll be enough, Ken," said Omi as he kept his hand out to take away the bottle. The older boy reluctantly handed it over and started mumbling to himself. "What was that?"

"I gotta go home."

"Are you sure you want to? Why don't you just spend the night here?"

"No, I have to get home…'cause I needs to talk to…do something."

"Stay the night."

"No! Just call me a fucking cab. I need to gets home," Ken slurred.

"Fine, I'm calling you the fucking cab." Omi did as promised and Ken was returned to his house within twenty minutes. He was tired when he got home so he laid himself on the floor just to rest a moment but he eventually fell asleep. Soon afterward in his slumber, Ken could hear someone approaching the house outside but he did not move.

Yohji turned the front door knob to find it was unlocked. He also found Ken passed out on the carpet. "Ken," he said sweetly. He bent down and started rubbing the younger boy's back to gently wake him.

"Hmm?" Ken rolled onto his back. His eyes opened and respectively widened. "Yohji," he said and tried to muster a smile. He clumsily put his hands at the older boy's face and Yohji held them there caringly. His jade eyes were curious and his smile was amused. "Yohji, I love you. Kiss me." Ken shut his eyes and began moving his face forward but Yohji caught his elbows and held him firm.

"Ken!" the older boy laughed.

"Put your tongue in my mouth."

"I don't think so skunky. How much have you had to drink tonight?"

"Yohji, I love you!"

"Yes, yes, you've told me, and I love you too."

Ken groaned. [Why doesn't he listen correctly? He can't just be dumb…can he?] Ken groaned again.

"Stick a fork in you. You're done," Yohji said as he lifted Ken and helped him to his bedroom.

Ken kept saying it, "I love you, Yohji," until he fell asleep. If it was worth the breath, only time will tell.

*Sorry, sorry, sorry that this took so long to produce. My internet was down for like a week or so. I really think I need to switch providers again. The next chapter is in the making and should be up in just a few days rather than any later.

Fondly,

Lord Gackt