Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Celebrity Is... ❯ The Answers Lie Here ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

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.

Yohji left a message on his bodyguard’s voicemail. In the mean time, he felt like meditating to calm his nerves. He poured himself a bubble bath, a guilty pleasure typically reserved for women and small children. The actor lit several candles and distributed them throughout the bathroom before turning the lights off. He stuck a toe in the bath water. “Oooh, hot, hot, hot!” he winced and added a little cold water to cool it down. Upon finding a suitable temperature, the long haired man eased himself into the tub. “Awe, that’ll do it.”

Yohji’s goal was too disconnect from the physical world and become more aware of the spiritual one. Water meditation always helped him best but, for some reason he wasn’t able to ease into dream state like he usually did. The more he tried the more mentally exhausted the man became.

“Alright, I’m fed up with this.” Yohji dragged himself out of the tub and pulled a towel off the rack. He flipped the lights on before snuffing all the candles out. After drying himself off a bit more, he threw his bath towel to the side and opened up a jar of expensive body lotion to preserve that celebrity glow in his skin.

Upon getting dressed in some casual clothes Yohji took an elevator down to the lobby. The property manager’s office was enclosed by floor to ceiling windows that everyone could see through. The long haired man waved at the person on duty and proceeded to the mail room. A single letter stood in his mailbox. He opened it near a trash can incase it was just crap. “Dear, Mr. Kudou,” the letter began. “We invite you to appear at blah, blah blah...free dinner upon arrival.” He crumbled it up and threw it in garbage. It was one of those snotty health conscious places that only served raw vegetables and frowned upon people who wore leather shoes or even pleather because it still resembled animal parts. But, he was feeling pretty hungry and still tense.
+++

Yohji lived at the edge of the tower district but, it was time to visit it’s heart. The neighborhood was an older one. Most of the buildings were all original and untouched besides a coat of fresh paint every ten years or so. As a kid the Rose Briar movie house and café was his all time favorite place. Just standing outside of it made him feeling good inside. But, it had been closed for some time now do the structure violations. When the actor pulled up to the Rose Briar’s curb, he was met by a tall chain-link fence. He stuck his fingers through it, hanging on and looking beyond the over grown vegetation that was creeping inside through broken windows that had been knocked out by children throwing stones. The structure was sea foam colored with forest green trim and gold here and there. Most of it was peeling away.

“I’m gonna have to ask you to back away from there!” called a stern voice.

Yohji turned to his right. “Wha–,”

“Keep away, I said!” a much older man insisted.

“Hey, it’s me, Yohji! Don’t you remember me?” The long haired man’s eyes lit up once he realized who was yelling at him. “Mr. Kobi, I used come here everyday and–,”

“–and rehearse you lines for Knock on Woods,” the old man finished. “Oh my, I’m so excited to see you. It does my heart good!” He and Yohji hugged one another. “Wow, you’re so tall now. Taller than me! Sorry, I had to yell at you earlier. People have been trespassing here lately. That’s why I finally had to put up the chain-link fence.”

“I loved this place. I know it hasn’t been open in a really long time but...just looking at it gives me a little piece of mind. Some of my best childhood memories happened here.”

“Of course they did, you used to stuff your face with cupcakes all day and watch movies.”

“Mmm, cupcakes. That reminds me of why I came down here. I’m hungry.”

“Would you like to join me at this Mexican place up ahead?”

“Sure.”

Yohji and Mr. Kobi were seated in a red booth. The actor lowered his menu in order to see across the table. “So, I guess there’s no chance of you opening the Rose Briar again, huh?”

“It really does deserve to be restored, I just can’t afford it right now. The violations seemed pretty inexpensive at first but, my brother got sick so he couldn’t really help me raise the funds. That’s when I knew it might be closed down for good.” The man looked down at his hands before continuing. “I thought about selling the place but, it’s hard to part with something that’s been in my family so long. What if the new owners decided to tear it down or radically change it somehow? I couldn’t bare to watch.”

“Well, maybe I could help you out with the money. Me, you and your brother Jack could absolutely make that place special again. The whole district will thank us.”

“Yohji...Jack isn’t with us anymore. In fact, the funeral is tomorrow.”

“Oh.” The younger man nodded. He became very quiet and just sort of looked away. His eyes were getting watery so he took out a pair of sunglasses and put them on his face. “So, when did it happen?”

“Last week. He’d been in pain for so long...”

“It was time to go,” the actor said in a weak voice.

“Right,” Mr. Kobi agreed. “I’m glad I caught up with you. I haven’t seen your face in six years. The gods must have sent me to visit that old building today. My whole family would be honored if our best and most famous customer would grace us with you appearance at the funeral.”

“Of course. Of course I will.”

The waitress came to their table. “What can I do for ya?” she asked in a chipper tone.

“I, I’m sorry I’ve lost my appetite.”

“Yohji?” Mr. Kobi asked as the younger man pushed out from the booth.

“Please excuse me.”

+++

Yohji drove mindlessly down one road that suddenly became narrow and led out into the countryside. He pulled over to the shoulder and just sat there in the quiet of it all. This was the place to cry and be sad, at the edge of the world where only cornfields and crows were there to bother him. It was twilight by the time he started back home.

At his apartment building, the actor tried to rush through the lobby and took the stairs a total of ten flights with the garage floor included. It was less tiring than having his neighbors or the security guards staring him in the face and asking what was wrong. Upon reaching his unit, the long haired man went inside and sat on the couch, shaking a little as he thought about the funeral tomorrow. He’d left without getting all the details so, he knew he’d have to make a few phone calls tonight.

KNOCK KNOCK

The door began to open as the knocks were made which, meant that the person on the other side was obviously Ran. When the redhead entered, Yohji had a look of displeasure. “What? I knocked this time,” the bodyguard defended himself. “What’s wrong?” Ran became immediately defensive and began looking around the room for intruders.

“Nothing that you can help.”

“Well, you called me earlier. Was it about this?”

“No!” Yohji wasn’t in the mood to answer anymore questions.

“What did you have to say to me?”

“I have bigger problems right now, okay?! Can’t we just discuss this tomorrow?”

“No, I have to get up at 5:00am to help secure the charity auction that we’re going to tomorrow.”

“Shit!” the green eyed man cursed. “I forgot,” he teared up.
“Alright, that’s enough. You need to tell me what’s going on right now.”

“Someone very close to me...” Yohji hesitated for a moment while gathering the strength to say painful words. He stammered the whole way through. “S-Someone who I was close to as a kid died and, and the funeral is tomorrow. I...I don’t even kn–now the details, I was too upset. I don’t know where it’s being held. I...I–,”

“Wait,” Ran grabbed a magazine from the coffee table and took a pen from his jacket pocket. “What was the man’s name?”

“Jack Kobi.”

“Why don’t you go get some rest. Oh, and drink some water. You’ll dehydrate yourself crying so much.”

“No, I have to–,”

“You don’t have to do anything except what I tell you. Now get outta here.”

The long haired man retired to his room and slowly spread out onto the bed before closing his eyes. It was true, he hadn’t seen the Kobi brothers in quite sometime after moving around a lot with his family but, he often thought of them. They had been like grandparents to him as well as several other kids who didn’t get much attention at home.

Before Yohji knew it, the tears had finally stopped. He was just left with this sleepy sort of calm feeling which, signaled that the initial shock of his friend’s death was almost over. Just a few more cries and he’d start to be okay again. The man put a hand to his throat and then to his head. He regretted that he hadn’t listened to Ran and drank some water first. Getting up from the bed he felt dizzy and made his way through the dark room softly. The light on the other side of the bedroom door was so bright compared to the cool darkness of Yohji’s room and it stung his eyes. He was on his way to the kitchen but, stopped at the edge of the living room. Ran was now writing on a tablet. “You’re wearing jeans?” Yohji asked rhetorically. He cleared his throat afterward, noting how scratchy his voice sounded.

“You think I wear suits on my day off? I’m not that stuffy.”

“You came here on your day off?”

“Well, you called me. I would’ve called back earlier but, I didn’t get the message ‘til now and I was in the area so, ya know. I came by.”

“I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have called. Or at least shouldn’t have made it seem so urgent.”

“Yohji, your problems are my problems. And it’s a good thing I did come to visit you. I was able to switch a few things around so that you won’t have to go on stage at the auction but for a few minutes toward the end. That way you can go to your friend’s funeral, say goodbye properly. I’ve got all his burial information right here.”

Yohji scratched his head a minute before slowly walking over to the couch and sitting very close to his bodyguard. It was obvious now that Ran’s way of showing affection was through his work. He’d been communicating it all this time but, Yohji didn’t know how to recognize it. Ran really was a friend, a true friend.

Not caring about anything else, Yohji leaned in and kissed him. It lasted for two Mississippi’s before Ran pulled away breathing deeply and trying to sort out his feelings. The kiss made him angry. He was angry that he didn’t push away faster, that it meant he’d been unfaithful to Lydia and he was angry for being angry about being unfaithful to Lydia. She didn’t deserve much sympathy. His fingers were on his lips when he finally decided to look Yohji in the eye.

The older boy stood to his feet and backed up a few steps. “I won’t apologize...I’m not sorry I did it,” were Yohji’s only words before seeking the kitchen again. [Shit, what was I thinking?!] he panicked. [It’s okay, I’m Yohji Kudou. Oh, but he hated it! Or did he? Shit...of course he did..] Yohji’s confidence nearly evaporated in an instant. He grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and started drinking from it. The water was going down too quickly and he started to choke. His throat was so irritated that he was forced to cough loudly and repeatedly. Ran came to the kitchen to see what was the matter.

“You okay?!”

“Yeah,” the older boy was still coughing a little. He had his hand over his chest and was slightly bent over. His eyes watered from the stress. “Geez,” Yohji breathed. “Guess that’s what I get for attacking you a moment ago.”

“Is that what they call kissing these days?”

Yohji bit one side of his lower lip before deciding to kiss Ran again. He saw the younger man close his eyes and the long haired man did the same. But, upon doing so he heard feet shuffle and opened his eyes again. The redhead had turned away and completely in the other direction.

“Okay, I’m getting mixed signals here,” the actor insisted. “Did I do something wrong? Do I smell?” Yohji rolled his eyes. “C’mon, throw me a bone. Is there someone else?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll back off,” the taller man’s tone was disappointed. “Let’s change the subject, uhm...”

“You wanted to talk to me earlier, you left a message,” Ran said while turning to face his client again.

“Sure, I’ve got some clues as to whose been fucking with my apartment.”

“Who?”
“Lydia.”

“She wouldn’t do that,” the bodyguard snickered.

“She’s pissed at me, remember?”

“But, the initial stuff you complained about happened before the Club Orange thing.”

“Well, suppose I really was just drunk the night I thought I heard those noises. And that hang up call could have just been a wrong number too but, the open window and the door have no logical explanation, no features that I can just write off and they happened after my run in with Lydia.” Ran still just rolled his eyes and began to cop a silent attitude. “Don’t believe me? Why don’t you listen to some of the recordings that have been made in this room. She had a real mouth on her this morning.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” The bodyguard suddenly became very alert.

“She came here today and started threatening to blackmail me.”

“What?!”

“She admitted to hiring someone to follow me. They took photos of me that are a little distasteful.”

The redhead started breathing extremely hard and knew he should head for the security room on the bottom floor. “It can’t be true,” he muttered on his way out.

“Hey don’t worry about it, I’m not. If she ever tries to go public with those pictures, we can take that tape recording to the police for harassment. She’ll do jail time for something like this,” Yohji spoke loudly from the kitchen.

+++

Down in the security room, Ran made the apartment guards leave so that he could listen to the tapes in private. The sound recorder began playing.

“...I can give you the negatives and everything if you agree to accompany me at my dad’s club. And the next time you have an interview, explain that the scandal at Club Orange was all just a big misunderstanding and now you love going there.”

Ran’s whole heart sank into the soles of his feet when he heard Lydia’s voice. It was definitely her. And now it was undeniable that she had no respect for the red haired man nor how important his job was to him. He put his hand over his chest to stop it from aching but it was of no use.

+++
The bodyguard finally rejoined his client who was in the living room eating jellybeans he’d dug out of the candy jar. “Did you hear all the crap she said to me?” the older boy asked. Ran nodded. “Told ya. She’s crazy.”

“Who was in the room with you guys when it happened?”

“Nobody.”

“No one was here with you?” the redhead asked with an upset look. “Why are you playing games? If you’re protecting someone–,”

“I’m not.” The actor furrowed his brow and was becoming a bit upset himself.

“Well, I heard a third voice, it said something less intelligible but, I know it wasn’t you nor Lydia. So, what the hell is going on here?”

“No...something is wrong with that recording. Maybe you accidentally recorded over something else so, it sounds like there are three of us.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Well, there was no one in here!”

“Was you’re television up loud?”

“I don’t remember. I suppose it could’ve been a little loud but...”

“Well, part of you’re conversation with her is completely drowned out.” The redhead rubbed his hands over his face in frustration. “Ow,” he suddenly winced. “Shit,” he started messing with his right eye.

“Come here.”

“No I–,”

“Come here!” Yohji demanded. “You’ve got an eyelash scratching at the rest of your eye.” The actor took Ran’s face in both hands. “Blink. Keep blinking,” he instructed. “Okay, now try to keep your eye open.” Gently, the long haired man removed the hair with his thumb after it became close to the edge of the younger man’s eye. “Feel better?”

“Yeah, thanks. I always freak out when that happens.” The bodyguard rubbed a watery lavender eye.

“Well, you do so much for me. I figured it was time to start giving back.”

“It’s just a part of my job,” the red haired man shrugged.
“Not all the time,” Yohji’s voice lowered and he started playing with the collar of Ran’s shirt. When he saw no resistance, he wrapped his arms around the redhead’s shoulders and kissed him innocently. He felt the shorter man’s hands come to his waist lovingly. It was Ran who deepened the kiss by introducing his tongue which was a total shock to Yohji and his green eyes sprung open.

“Wait,” the redhead pushed away. “We shouldn’t do this.”

“Well, I don’t give up easily. Perhaps if we were an item, you wouldn’t act sour all the time.”

“I really ought to get going.”

“Stay the night,” Yohji begged.

“I’m not prepared. All my stuff is at home and I really won’t have time to run over there in the morning before I have to be at the auction house. I should leave now.”

“Then take me with you.” The long haired man started unzipping his bodyguards’s pants.

“Stop that.”

“That wasn’t very convincing,” Yohji kept fiddling with the front of Ran’s pants until his hands were swatted away. “Ran Fujimiya, are you getting hard?” the taller man teased.

“I...” The redhead’s mind was wrestling with his body. [Yes, I’m getting hard. Please give me a reason to not like you.] “Well, you shouldn’t be touching me like that!”

“Just take me home with you. I don’t want to be alone.”

“Isn’t there anyone else you can stay with?” Ran didn’t trust himself with Yohji tonight. The older boy awakened feelings of adventure and boldness in everyone who’d ever seen him. The emotions he stirred up are what made him a star in the first place but, Ran had to fight those feelings off harder than anyone. The redhead wasn’t just watching him on television or seeing pictures of him in magazines. Yohji was a very real, everyday temptation.

“What are you afraid of?”

“Nothing.”

“We’re both adults. If something happens...we’ll deal with it.”

“Something will happen.”
“What’s so bad about that?”

“Yohji,” Ran just thought up any old lame excuse to buy time. “I think uh, you’re upset that you’re friend has passed away and, and you’re deflecting that pain with sex.”
“God! Can’t you just be real with me for a damn minute?!”

“Stop yelling.”

“I can’t. You of all people know damn well that I’ve got way more substance than that. It’s why you like me isn’t it? It’s why you go out of your way to do things for me.”

“Look, this conversation is getting way too heated.”

“Dammit, I know that you want me. I can feel it. You’re there for me when it comes to everything else. Why are you bailing on me now? And don’t tell me there’s someone else. Obviously, that person doesn’t make you happy or you wouldn’t cater to me the way you do.”

Ran was quiet for a moment. “It’s easier this way,” the red haired man said in a small voice.

“Why?”

“You’re not the only one whose tired of getting burned. And today...today I really got fed to the flames.” A single tear slid down Ran’s face when he thought of the tapes he’d listened to earlier with Lydia’s voice on them. “I’m all used up anyway. I don’t have anything left to give you.”

“That’s not true.”

“Leave me alone,” the younger man snapped. His eyes were dark with anger and he was in position to hurl displaced emotions at Yohji.

“Make me!” the actor responded defiantly. He wasn’t about to give up yet.

“Don’t you understand? I don’t want you!”

“Yes, you do.”

“Fine. This ought to send you heading for the hills. The other person in my life is Lydia!” Yohji jerked his head backyard. “Yeah, that’s right. Ask me anything, I’ll prove it. Still want me now?!”

“Get out.” Yohji was calm at first but, then his face changed and he began crying. His chin quivered while his cheeks turned red. “Just get out.”

Ran stood there motionless as the hurt in Yohji’s eyes became more real. He never wanted to see the actor this way. “Look, I...”

“I can’t talk to you right now. So, get out. I swear if you don’t leave right now I’ll start throwing things at you.”

With a heavy heart, the bodyguard went into the apartment hallway as Yohji’s front door shut behind him.

+++

Yohji attended the funeral alone. He his arms were entwined with members of the Kobi family as brother Jack was lowered into the ground. “Goodbye,” he mouthed. Everyone commented that he seemed the most depressed. If only they knew the anguish he was carrying on his shoulders. Now he had the task of going home, putting on a suit and showing up at the Charity auction with a smile on his face.

At his apartment, Yohji immediately brought himself to the sofa. He didn’t feel well. But, this was no time to doddle so, he picked himself up again and changed suits. Looking at himself in the bathroom mirror, he tried different expression that would make him seem happy. “Yeah, that one,” he said inwardly. No one needed to know that he’d been crying all morning.

+++

The auction had been going on for several hours when Yohji arrived. “I’ll escort you to your seat,” insisted one of the help. The actor’s neck nearly broke off when he did a double take, noting that Lydia was in attendance. She was in the fourth row with her mother and father. “Here you are sir.”

Yohji’s seat was in the front row next to his agent. “Mr. Shinuki, I have to discuss something with you later,” the actor whispered. He needed to get the situation with Ran off his chest and maybe talking about it would clear a few things up.

“Me too, Fujimiya resigned today.”

“What?” Yohji’s heart dropped.

“How do you feel about a female bodyguard? I met one the other day who was really tough and...” Whatever else Mr. Shinuki had to say went in one ear and right out the other.

[Resigned...]