Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Lush ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Aya took a deep breath and then frowned that he had been holding it at all. Yohji shouldn't be affecting him this way dammit! Aya swore inwardly as he ran a hand through his hair. Aya had long ago given up on the subject of Yohji's sexuality. The fact that he seemed to be attracted to both guys AND girls. When he had once asked Yohji how it was possible (all the while seeming nonchalant), Yohji simply grinned that borderline irritating grin of his and said…

Aya scowled as his usually perfect memory deserted him. Something that was becoming quite common these days whenever he thought about Yohji, leaning over the counter, verdant eyes twinkling, blond hair in a loose ponytail with just a few wisps making shadows against his high cheekbones, delicate silver hoops dangling from both earlobes. He had been wearing an emerald green shirt that complimented his eyes and hair and made him look, well in Aya's opinion, a lot handsomer then when he was all dressed up ready to paint the town red.

Aya shook his head unable to believe that he had just been standing there pondering over Yohji.

`What the hell did Omi put in that coffee this morning,' he muttered. His brow furrowed in concentration. What was it that Yohji had said?

Oh yes, that you cant choose who you fall in love with. Life doesn't work that way. When you fall, you fall regardless of trivialities. It just depended who you fell for more.

It made sense, in some twisted Yohji Kudou sort of way. Privately though Aya agreed, although you would have to run his katana through him and have his heart torn out before he would ever admit in public. Well at least the words rang true….for him.

Aya hugged himself as a cold wind swept through the brick alley. For that one brief moment, that suspended second when Yohji said he was thinking about him…. his heart leapt. A part of him, however small, wanted Yohji to care for him that way.

Aya growled and slammed the plastic lid on the metal Dumpster. He HAD to stop thinking like that, he had his life more or less back in normal order, and he wouldn't screw it up now by giving in to emotion.

`I must be losing my mind,' he summarized, although it sounded absurd to his own ears. He set his mouth in a grim line and stalked back into the shop.

`Fucking Ken,' Yohji hissed between his teeth as he tied his customary black apron around his waist. Ken had sped in here; pressed a long list of deliveries into Yohji's right hand and the delivery van keys into the other. Looking at the list, Yohji knew he would be out of the shop at least until closing time. Once again Ken stood in the way of him and Aya. The trivial fact that there was no him and Aya, didn't bother Yohji who always proclaimed life was to short to bother with petty details or to stuff a mushroom.

Yohji leaned back against the bench, a smile on his face as he tried to remember the exact instance when he knew he wanted Aya by his side constantly. A million images flashed through his mind, but he could still pinpoint that exact moment in time.

//Flashback//

It had been snowing outside. Nice snow, not too heavy that it soaked your ankles through your shoes, but not to light so that it was barely noticeable. Yohji had been on the usually slow mid-morning shift, made even slower by the snow. Aya had decided that this was a good time to pick up some supplies leaving Yohji to practice his flower arranging. After a few halfhearted attempts, Yohji came to the conclusion that he was infinitely better suited to the intricate art of flower watering rather than arranging.

A jingle of bells alerted Yohji to Aya's return via the rear entrance. Yohji turned around from his position in front of the counter to give a greeting, but the words died at his lips. There was Aya, meticulously putting the bags on the table before seeing to his own needs. He stomped his boots on mat trying to shake the snow off. He was wearing an indigo, close fitting turtleneck paired with a white coat. He only wore this particular coat in the winter, his neat mind not being able to stand seeing specks of white all over his usually black coat that never went away no matter how much he brushed at it. He was standing so his right side was facing Yohji, the mild early afternoon sunlight sharply outlining his profile.

Yohji held his breath. Aya had never looked more beautiful. His ruby red hair was slightly damp from the falling snow and Yohji could see the melting remains of snowflakes caught in Aya's dark lashes making his violet eyes shimmer. His cheeks were tinged pink from the cold and his expression was one of quiet satisfaction. He turned to see Yohji watching him and gave him an uncharacteristic smile. It wasn't very big; more like a flicker, but to Yohji is was as if the sun had come out.

It was that moment, that exact moment that he fell head over heels in love with Aya Fujimaya.

Or more correctly, Ran Fujimaya.

Abyssinian.

So many names, but still the same person that stole Yohji's heart.

Yohji sighed.

`Since when did I start thinking like a Danielle Steele novel,' he thought tying his hair back into a loose ponytail and entering the shop.

He then spent a pleasant half an hour manning the counter and flirting with anything in a skirt.

`Hey,' Yohji mused to himself, `just because I am on a diet, doesn't mean I can't look at the menu.'

`Yohji-kun! A hand please!' Omi yelled from behind a tall fern that had been sitting in the corner.

`Don't get your knickers in a twist, I'm coming,' Yohji replied as he reached Omi in three long strides and grabbed the pot from him with surprising ease. He placed it behind the counter since from its height he, correctly, assumed it needed to be trimmed. He dusted his hands off and placed them on his hips.

`Anything else Omi? If not I've got to go, I have a shedload of deliveries to make and an errand to run.' Yohji started untying his apron not waiting for an answer. Omi nodded his head.

`What errand Yohji-kun?' Omi asked readjusting his cap that barely held his gold-blond hair in check.

`Just a birthday present,' Yohji retied his hair one more time, gave himself a once over glance and grabbed the delivery van keys. Omi's cornflower blue eyes widened.

`You mean a present for Aya-kun?' Omi said intrigued, `what are you getting him? I got him something for his katana.'

`It's a surprise pretty boy,' Yohji ruffled Omi's hair in passing, `ja.'

After making his deliveries in record time, Yohji parked the van outside a brightly colored shop situated outside the town center. As he slipped coins into the parking meter he looked up at the sign with a grin on his face. In bright, blocky letters was written one word.

`LUSH'

Yohji had been introduced to Lush months ago by his last serious relationship before he fell for Aya. A girl, who he had no problems admitting, was to good for him as well as the lifestyle he currently led. She had been funny, sexy and extremely beautiful. However she also had been extremely perceptive, something inside telling her that there was no future in a relationship with him. The breakup had been friendly but bittersweet, and even now Yohji kept in contact with her through emails and occasional calls. She knew about Aya of course, was the first one to suggest to Yohji that he and Aya made a nice couple. He had laughed when she had said that, but the irony was she was the one laughing now.

As a sort of going away present, she had given him a basket filled with Lush products. Yohji never considered himself the type of guy who used natural, handmade, luxury bath products. He thought it extravagant and that a bar of soap could only be disguised so much not to look like a bar of soap. But once he started using the products, he was hooked and was a regular customer at the store now. He particularly liked their Dream Cream that made his hands, callused and scarred from years of using a garroting wire, presentable again. The fact that it made him smell nice was a plus. He often wondered if he should have told them how effective it was. However something told him that the tagline `Dream Cream: keeps your hands soft even when you've been killing people' wouldn't be that popularly received.

As he entered the shop, as usual the first thing that assaulted his senses was the smell. Lush always had its own distinct perfume that didn't stop at the door but spilled into the streets. The heady mixture of herbs and more traditional scents wasn't to everyone's liking, but you couldn't help but be intrigued by it.

`Yohji! Its nice to see you again,' a cheery, female voice greeted him. Yohji threw her a grin that the others would have recognized as being reserved for when he wanted someone to do a favor for him.

`Its nice to see you to Maya,' Yohji propped his elbows on the counter, `alone?' he asked flirtatiously. Maya nodded her head, blushing slightly. She was actually the exact type of girl that Yohji loved to date, sweet, nice and not bad looking. But ever since he started setting his sights on Aya, he had all but lost interest, and his flirting was now more out of habit than anything else.

`Yeah, last shift of the day is usually slow,' she perked up, `so Yohji-kun, what can I do for you today?'

`I am making a gift basket for a ….close friend. I would really like your help in picking some things to put in it.'

`Well that should be easy. What do you have in mind?' Maya asked as she picked up one of the wicker baskets by the counter.

As they strolled around the store picking out various items, Maya kept asking questions like: what was this person's favorite scent? Did this person have problems waking up early? Etc, etc…

To Yohji it was a miracle he even carried a conversation, his mind was so pre-occupied with fantasizing about how he and Aya could have fun with the massage bars. Thankfully, leading Yohji to conclude that there WAS a God that looked after lechers and fools in love, he managed to get what he wanted without looking too much like an idiot. Aya's gift basket was sitting on the counter alongside some other things for him that struck his fancy.

`Come again Yohji-kun,' Maya cheerily said. Yohji impulsively kissed her on the cheek, feeling happy all of a sudden.

`Thanks for your help Maya,' he picked up his purchases and went out the door whistling, not noticing Maya put a hand up to her cheek where his lips had touched her.

Phase two: In motion.