Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Boys in the Attic ❯ Nothing Up This Sleeve ( Chapter 14 )

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.

Nothing Up This Sleeve

Ken stirred in bed the next morning. His head hurt, his breath reeked and his muscles were wound. He took a deep breath and stretched his entire body across the bed but he felt something next to him that alarmed him.

"Ow," said a voice. It was Yohji of course. Ken had accidentally hit him in the head while stretching.

"Yohji?"

"Ohayou," said the older boy as he rubbed his head and smiled. "Ready for breakfast?"

"Hai," Ken nodded. He was still befuddled and his eyes told every bit of his confusion.

"Long story short," Yohji started in response to the questions that he knew Ken wanted to ask. "…you were drunk last night and to make sure you didn't drown in your own vomit or something I slept with you…or in your bed rather to keep a close eye on your condition."

"Thanks."

"No prob." Yohji climbed out of bed and his little naked behind went trailing out of the room.

Ken rested his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. He was calm and relaxed but suddenly, his eyes darted wide and his jaw dropped. His cheeks burned as his memory plagued him about the previous night. Had he really rambled all the affection that he'd kept inside for so long? All the things that he never planned to resurface as a promise to himself and his sanity? He really had been awfully drunk to let those certain words slip past his lips…maybe too drunk!! Maybe there was more that Ken just couldn't remember right now. "Oh god, please no."

"No what?" said a voice.

Ken set his eyes to the doorway. Yohji had retrieved himself a robe and was probably on his way to start breakfast. The taller boy moved over to Ken's bed and sat at the edge. Ken absentmindedly began to back away a little and shy his eyes through his bangs. Yohji brushed the troublesome hair from Ken's face and moved closer.

"What's troubling you? You've been acting really weird lately." Ken was speechless, he shrugged and tried to think of something but his voice failed him. "Is it me?" For the first time Ken allowed his eyes to connect with Yohji's. And yes, Yohji was the problem… sort of. It was the unrequited love Ken had for Yohji that had put him in the foulest of moods all this time.

"Well, no," Ken finally replied in a low tone. But his response had been rather late and for the fact that Ken seemed to be paying more attention than ever after Yohji' asked his question, the older man figured that these were hints to be taken negatively.

Yohji looked away. He was hurting. He remembered in the months passed that Ken had been afraid that Yohji would lose interest in him but now it very well seemed that Ken had lost his interest in the older boy first. Maybe the fact that the two didn't see each other as much was putting a damper on their friendship and Ken felt that its value was slipping. Maybe Yohji's absence had allowed Ken to grow without him and now the younger boy was ready to let go. Perhaps, he even regretted that Yohji still lived with him.

"Do I…irritate you, somehow?"

"No." They sat there in silence for a moment. "I think I have to get ready for work now." Ken needed an excuse to get Yohji out of his room, this conversation was awkward.

"You don't work on Mondays.

"Oh, that's right." Yohji could sense the younger man's uneasiness. Well, just get ready for breakfast. It'll be done soon." Ken nodded. [One last test,] Yohji thought to himself. He leaned forward to kiss his friend on the mouth but as he did so Ken leaned backward. Yohji paused, receded to his previous position with a small and disappointed grin.

"Sorry."

"No need to apologize. It wasn't something you wanted." Yohji stood up and ran a hand through the length of his hair. The rejection that he'd just received was very intimidating. His affection had been denied; it wasn't sexual and hardly romantic, thus limiting the affect of it being offensive in any way. So why then did Ken refuse him? Was he that repulsed by the older boy? These were among the many questions running through Yohji's head. "Well…I'll just go fix breakfast now." He flashed a smile that passed for genuine and left for the kitchen.

+++

In the afternoon, Yohji received a phone call from Aya.

"Moshi, moshi."

"Konichiwa, Yohji-kun."

"Oh, good afternoon Aya." Yohji couldn't help but to smile brightly. "Ogenki desu ka?"

"I'm doing very well, thank you. What are you up to this afternoon."

"I'm cleaning house."

"Do you think you could escape with me for an hour or so?"

"I suppose I could let all the dust bunnies live for now."

"Excellent. So, I'll pick you up in say fifteen minutes?"

"Fifteen minu…no!"

"Too early?" asked Aya shyly.

"Maybe you didn't hear me correctly. I've been cleaning house. That means I look like a bum right now and it's gonna take a while to make myself look presentable again. So give me twenty five and we'll call it a deal."

"That's fair. Is it okay if I take you to a new place?"

"Hai. That sounds fine."

"Oh, and the dress is sort of casual but sort of formal. A little different from the usual restaurants I've taken you to. This place is more laid back, you'll love it."

"I'm sure I will."

"Alright then, I'll pick you up in twenty five minutes. Ja na."

Yohji hung up the phone and raced to get ready. He stripped off his clothes and hopped into the shower. The water was warm and refreshing but he had to keep his bathing time short in order to stay on schedule. After rinsing the last of the lather from his chest and stomach he stepped out of the tub and grabbed a nearby towel. It was fresh from the laundry and had a beautiful scent to it. Patting himself dry, he looked at his reflection in the mirror and flexed his abdomen. [Good lookin',] Yohji smiled to himself.

Humming to himself Yohji walked into his bedroom to put on the outfit he'd selected for himself. But upon doing so he looked over at the clock and noticed that he only had about four or five minutes before Aya was scheduled to show up. He slid his underpants up his legs and followed them with charcoal colored slacks. Hastily he reached for a crisp white dress shirt. He carefully tucked in the hem, making sure not to wrinkle the material. [Shoes, shoes, shoes…] Yohji spun around and headed for his closet. He entered the small room and turned on the light. [Perfect.] He found a pair of black leather shoes and put them on.

Yohji stood in front of the full-length mirror on his wall. Something was still missing. [Belt.] He grabbled a black leather belt and a shining silver buckle to attach. Very pleased with himself, he smiled and collected a few belongings.

Aya pulled up into Yohji's driveway and exited the car. As soon as he walked up to the front door it opened and his date was standing on the other side. Aya was relieved. He thought Ken might answer the door and then there'd be trouble.

"Shall we?" asked the redhead as he held out an arm in the direction of his car.

The two sped off in the sleek Porsche with Ken watching from a window. He paced around as he heard the redhead's car excel down the pavement. "Who cares!" he yelled aloud. He had been doing very good forgetting about his romantic feelings for Yohji despite one drunken night of declaring love to the older man. He wasn't gonna let another fuckin' date with Fujimiya-san get to him. "I'm going out," he said to himself. He grabbed his keys and took off on his bike. He didn't even know where he was going but he wanted to get out of the house. Riding for miles on just half a tank of gas, his fuel supply was nearly on empty again. [Shit,] he thought to himself. He'd wound up rural part of town with out a petrol station in sight.

Keeping his eyes peeled, Ken finally spotted a more populated edge of town and with any luck there'd be a gas station nearby. Unfortunately, his bike couldn't take it any more and started to cut out half a block from the gas station. [C'mon, c'mon, you can make it,] he thought to himself and just as he pulled in to the fill station. [Close call.]

He took off his helmet and circled his head, trying to loosen some of the tension in his neck. After putting a hefty amount of gas in his bike, Ken took off again and entered the city slums. Life was slow here. It was speckled with garbage and polluted with the sounds of yelling or laughing and all sorts of music.

But this place wasn't always so crummy, in fact, just ten years before now it was still a pretty tasteful place to live. Ken's father owned a shop nearby before it was moved to the classier side of town and till this day Ken liked to ride past it, just for memory's sake. The shop was at the bottom of a five-story building and had had several owners over its eighty three-year life span. But just six months ago its current owner bulldozed the entire thing down, only rubble was left and an invisible outline of where Ken's father's shop had been.

Ken parked his bike out front of the ruined structure. He walked onto the pavement and eyed all that was left. The steps to his family's shop still stood mostly, along with some of the bottom formation of the entire building. [At some point this will all be gone as well,] he mused. It saddened him. This was a place he loved at one time. It was fun to be his dad's little helper on days when he hung around the store. Now it was all gone, destroyed by a wrecking ball and leveled out of sight, all but what little structure was left. But of course it never faded in Ken's mind that this little bit of memorabilia would disappear too, some day. And when that tiny bit of rubble was removed it might erase something in him.

Just standing there and taking in all of these thoughts made Ken realize how parallel it was to he and Yohji's friendship. Yohji was a person whom he had loved being around and more and more, he was gone. All that seemed left was a dilapidated platform of their relationship. He walked around, kicking loose stones and just living in his memories for a while. With one last good look he scoured the empty lot with his eyes and made back for his motorbike. Suddenly, his eye caught a glimpse of something near the stairs, a flare of color. Ken focused in and realized that wild flowers were beginning to sprout from the debris. They were beautiful shades of pink and purple; each a blossom of beauty.

Ken bent down and picked one of the flowers. He carefully gazed at its delicate petals and looked up again at the ruins of the old building. From the ruins came the promise of hope for this empty plot. These flowers symbolized the fact that even though what once was, had been destroyed and neglected, good things could develop again.

Spinning the stem of the flowers around in his hand Ken contemplated what he needed to say in order to make he and Yohji's relationship whole again. No more running, or pretending not to care about the feelings that he had for the older boy. And definitely no more being drunk when he finally gets enough nerve to come out and say what he needs to. The next time around he'd be clear and in his right mind.

+++

"This way please," said the host. Aya and Yohji followed him and were seated promptly. "Here are your menus. A server will be with you soon to take your orders."

"Arigatou," responded the redhead. He and his date opened their menu books. Yohji pretty much already knew that he wanted the same thing he'd eaten last time but just in case, he searched around to see if there was anything he might have overlooked that would be tasty.

Just outside of the restaurant, Odaka-san was having his vehicle valet parked. He and his younger brother entered the restaurant and were happily greeted by the host.

"Odaka-san," bowed the host. "It is a pleasure to have you and your brother served here today.

"You're welcome," said Juro in a rush. The host could tell that the boy was obviously very hungry and becoming aggravated that he hadn't been seated yet.

"Yes sir. This way please." The host led the two guests to a remote and seemingly lovelier part of the restaurant. He removed the plastic sign that read `reserved' and placed down the two menus he'd been carrying. "A server will be with you shortly." Speedily, the host tracked down a waiter for the Odaka party, wanting to make sure that Juro was as comfortable as could be. Extra measures were always take to please the likes of people like the Odaka's.

A waitress arrived and smiled with pearly white teeth all shown. "Hello sirs, it's nice to see you back again. May I take your orders?"

"The usual for me," said Juro.

"The usual for me as well but no wine this time. I'll have and ice tea."

"Will that be all?"

"Hai," nodded Odaka.

The girl bowed and went on her way. The two brothers meanwhile, were left to entertain each other.

"I'm, so, hun-gry," whined Juro and with each syllable he banged his head against the table.

"Stop that," Ryu said, pointing at him. Juro sighed to himself and placed his hands in his lap. Anxious and practically starving, he began figeting in his chair. Upon all of his moving around he glanced over toward his right and kept his eyes fixed. The older brother noticed how adamantly Juro stared and questioned it. "What are you looking at?"

"Yohji and Aya are here too."

"What?" Ryu turned to see Aya and Yohji being served their lunch and laughing between themselves. "Since when have they been acquainted?"

"I think they first really started to get to know each other at my birthday party, but Ran had seen him at the club once or twice before than and had told me he was interested inYohji."

"Are they serious."

"No," Juro giggled with amusement. "They haven't been together long enough and besides Ran isn't exactly Mr. Commitment. He's like you when it comes to relationships, with the exception that I don't believe he's had nearly as many lovers as you have." Ryu frowned. "Well, it's true." Juro stared into the other boy's eyes. "You're a slut," he said laughing. Ryu looked down at the table and smiled, but soon he redirected his attention to Aya and Yohji's table. "Why do you keep looking over there? Is it Ran?"

"Somewhat."

"Well, tell me already. I'm getting impacient and the fact that my food still hasn't come isn't helping any."

"I want Yohji," Ryu said plainly. "Ran is so fired."

"Eloquently put…anyhow. Please don't go after him. After you use him like you do everyone else it might harm the friendship I have with him and furthermore, my other friend really cares for Yohji and I'm hoping that they'll both wise up to bond they share."

"How cute. But sounds like a personal problem to me."

"Ryu," the younger boy whined with a frown.

" - Our food's here, good." Juro kept a disappointed gaze on his brother. The waitress rested their meals on the table but suddenly the food looked less appetizing. Juro was just sure that Ryu would screw everything up in his own personal life concerning Yohji and Ken. He didn't care much what happened to Aya but he did sort of think it was ridiculous that Ryu was willing to fire the redhead in order to better his chances with Yohji. "You are eating."

"I'm mad at you."

"Don't be such a baby Juro. You're getting upset over nothing. Just listen to yourself. You're mad because you're matchmaker senses are tingling and I'm a threat to water it is you've mapped out in that head of yours. Am I right?" Juro said nothing. "That's what I thought. Now, I want Yohji…and if your other little friend really wants him to than he'll be me to the punch. If he can't handle the competition…well, that's on him. But who knows, maybe I'll lose interest."

Reluctantly, Juro picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Across the room…

"You're quiet," said the red haired man.

"Oh…I'm sorry, I've just got a lot on my mind." He was reviewing the previous night in his head. He hadn't thought much about Ken's actions that night nor had he even taken them too much in to consideration this morning but now, something seemed different to him somehow. He couldn't quite explain it but something about the entire situation kept him in thought. Never had the younger boy seemed so passionate with his words or so desperate for his undivided attention, even if Ken was drunk.

"I think I know something that will put your mind at ease."

[I hope he doesn't want sex. I'm not in the mood.]

"I've got some vacation time coming to me. How about you accompany on a trip to Cheung Chow?"

"Cheung Chow?"

"Mhm."

"Wow, exotic!"

"You sound pleased. I'm glad," Aya responded with a smile. "So, do you think you'd want to join me? We'd be there for about a week."

"Well, it sounds great and all, I just have to put my personal life in check first. Otherwise, I'd be glad to tag along with you."

"I'm much obliged." Aya raised Yohji's left hand from the table then, leaned in to kiss it. Lightly, he let his tongue come out and taste Yohji's skin. Aya looked up to see that Yohji had closed his eyes with a simple grin on his face. "Just let me know what your plans are and I'll set the date to take you away, alright?"

"Hai. I'll definitely let you know," said Yohji, reopening his emerald eyes. This news from Aya had perked him right up but…he still felt worrisome about Ken. Some moments he was loving and affection and at others he was distant and almost seemed resentful of Yohji's mere presence.

Back across the room…

"I'm done," said Ryu.

"You've taken a bite. Rest a while, our food just got here and I'm really hungry."

"Get a doggy bag. You can eat in the car."

"What's the rush?"

"I just don't want to be here. I feel annoyed having Ran and Yohji in eye view."

"I know you're the jealous type but, come on, be real."

"Check please," Ryu requested of the passing server. The two brothers left the establishment, left-overs in hand and waited for the valet to bring their car around.

Ryu called Aya's cell phone while he drove back to work. The voice mail picked up.

"We need to talk." Four simple words. That's all the redhead needed to know and he would get the picture that Odaka meant business.

+++

Aya felt his phone vibrate but continued to eat his meal. The two finished up and Aya drove Yohji back home.

"Come in for a while," requested Yohji.

With a smile, Aya entered the home and shut the door behind him. "Are we alone?"

"Yes, I believe we are." Yohji closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around Aya's waist. Their noses rubbed together gently, Eskimo kisses. Yohji adjusted his hands to tug at the opening of his lover's suit jacket. He started to remove it from the redhead and Aya showed absolutely no resistance. Consequently, his cell phone dropped to the floor. It'd been in his pocket and he'd nearly forgotten that someone had actually called earlier. "Oops, sorry," apologized Yohji as the silver phone hit the carpet.

"Don't worry about it. I'm glad it fell or else I probably wouldn't have remembered to check my voice mail messages within a reasonable time frame." He turned on the small phone and scrolled down to voice mail. "Hmm."

"What is it?"

"My job. We need to talk?" Aya asked rhetorically. "Ah, shit. This sounds important. I guess I should start heading back to Club Kyoto now. Something big could be going down and I think it might involve this new club set up that's being bought."

"Oh yeah, Juro told me something about that."

Aya started putting his jacket back on and better composing himself. "Well, I hate to chat and run but, duty calls." He gave Yohji a quick kiss then, headed for the door. "I'll call you later tonight, but if not I'll make sure to ring you, first thing in the morning."

"Sounds good."

"Alright then, Ja na.

"Ja na, loverboy," Yohji teased.

The redhead got into his car and tried to think of why Odaka sounded so urgent. [I hope it's nothing too troublesome.] He parked his car and hurried his way up to Odaka's office. Striding down the hallway, the office door was in view and slowly coming out of it was Juro. Aya expected to get a nasty little smirk or some sort of insult but neigher was awarded to him. [Strange. I should watch out for him for the rest of the night. He might have a prank lined up for me.] Little did Fujimiya know, Juro was pitying him at the moment. Whatever his older brother had to say to the red haired man would be disappointing if not hurtful.

Aya knocked twice at his employer's door.

"Enter."

"Sir, it's me Fujimiya." Aya was being rather formal just in case bad news was ahead. Ryu did not seem cheerful and respectful manners in large doses usually put him in a good mood.

"I've been expecting you. Although I did imagine that you might get back to me sooner."

"I'm sorry sir, I was out to lunch and…"

"I know where you were. I was at Yakosoku too this afternoon." Aya raised his brow just slightly. He wondered why he hadn't seen the older man at the restaurant. Usually he was a pretty observant person. "Look, I won't keep you. And trust me, this is nothing personal, but I want you to stop seeing Yohji."

"Yohji Kudou?" Ryu nodded and Aya smiled. He actually felt sort of relieved. His attitude changed and his behavior went form being that of a submissive assistant to an old friend's. "Is that all?" He exhaled deeply. "The way you were scowling at me, I thought my job was on the line or something."

"Oh believe me, I considered it." Aya's eyes widened a bit. "But you know I wouldn't actually do that. Not to you."

Aya who had been standing stiffly this entire time sat down comfortably in one of the office chairs. "Yohji's fun."

"I know. That's why I'm asking…or telling you to give him up rather. You weren't serious with him, right?"

"Oh, hell no."

"It's just that I've never known you to actually take your play things out to places like Yakosoku before. I was upset earlier because I thought you might actually have something real with this one and that I'd have trouble tearing him from you. All the rest were lucky to even be seen in public with you. Why the change?"

"Oh, I dunno," Aya shrugged. "Just experimenting I guess. Just to see what a real relationship is like. You can have him…although…" Aya hesitated a moment and Ryu focused his attention on the redhead. "…I think you might be just as happy with me instead." It was a gutsy move to make with Odaka of all people. Surprisingly, Ryu nodded and smiled a little.

"I'll admit you're very attractive, very sexy. But you also remind me too much of my brother." Aya's smile quickly swapped to a frown. "What?" asked the older man with amusement. "You both have attitude problems." Aya opened his mouth to protest but was quieted. "I see how you act around other people." Aya smiled again. Odaka was right, he could be really moody at times and that's to put things lightly.

"Alright then. I'll try to wrap things up with Yohji within the next two weeks."

"Music to my ears."

+++

Back home, Yohji was looking through a rental guide. Nothing had changed, nothing had been decided yet. But a fear grew in his stomach that soon his live-in relationship with Ken would become a problem. He wanted to prepare himself for the moment when Ken asked him to leave - that is if Ken actually did so. It was very unlikely though and Yohji knew it, he was just being paranoid.

Casually, Yohji circled a few places for rent with a yellow hi-lighter. It hurt to do so and after a while he threw the damn book into the kitchen garbage and went to bed. An early start on sleep might at least help him forget about the pain he was facing.