Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Mend my Heart ❯ Quartet Complete ( Chapter 15 )

As Omi got closer to the room, he was pleasantly surprised to hear the happy voice drifting out. He could hear Ken relating a story, obviously from his J-league days. "Oh, you should have seen Taka-kun. I'm amazed he could even stand! All I can say is that it was a good thing his mother didn't come along that time or it would have been more than just Taka-kun's hide that got tanned. And I doubt Morimoto-san would have worried about age either. Course, it would have been hysterical to see Ken-niisan bent over her knee. He's 33!" Ken laughed and Ran smiled.

Omi cleared his throat to make his presence known. "Konbanwa, Aya-kun, Ken-kun."

"Konbanwa, Omi-san." Ran answered. Ken bobbed his head slightly. "I don't believe you two were properly introduced earlier. Ken this is Omi Tsukiyono, he was the person I bumped into shortly after I started visiting you. He wants to help you too, as he said this morning."

Bowing from his position as best he could, "Pleased to meet you, Omi-san."

"The pleasure is all mine, Ken-kun. And you don't have to be so formal." He said cheerily.

"Thank you, Omi-kun."

Ran looked back to the petite figure and asked, "Did you contact Yoji?"

Omi rolled his eyes. "Actually, he should be here any moment. He had to stop to chat with a Nurse on the way up. Hopefully, it will only be the one he chats with." He turned to Ken and added apologetically, "I hope you don't mind me bringing him. But he's been wanting to meet you."

Ken shrugged, "I guess not." He really had no idea what to think considering he had no idea who they were. At least with Ran he remembered hearing his voice in his dreams so he felt more comfortable around the redhead.

Omi glanced him over once then commented, "You're looking a lot better."

Blushing, Ken smiled. "Yeah, well, I feel a lot better. PT went a lot better than we hoped."

"Although you probably shouldn't push yourself so hard.Your strength will come back to you gradually." Ran once again chided lightly. He had already returned to the room when the orderly wheeled Ken back. There was a small smile on the brunette’s face but he looked thoroughly drained. They spoke briefly before Ran told him to sleep. Ken woke up from his nap only about an hour ago and had practically been talking ever since.

Ken glanced over but promptly ignored him. "Hopefully, I'll be able to move around without a problem in a couple of days. Then I'll be released."

"That's great!" Omi fed off the other boy’s enthusiasm.

"What's great?" The tall blonde asked as he sauntered in.

Omi looked up at the newcomer saying, "Ken-kun may be released in a couple days. Ken-kun, this is Yoji Kudou."

"Pleased to meet you."  Ken started to bow again but stopped abruptly when the man spoke to stare up at him openmouthed. 

"Of course you are." The man went right up next to Ken's bed and looked him up and down approvingly over the rim of his sunglasses. Ken suddenly got the feeling he was being assessed and the hue of his cheeks darkened considerably. A Cheshire grin lighted his observer’s features. "Oh yeah, I'll be looking forward to getting to know you better too." Ken felt the warmth of his cheeks spread over the rest of his face. "Definitely."

"Don't you ever quit, Yotan?" Omi interjected. "And remember what I said about first impressions."

"You asked me to be on good behaviour for grumpy over there.” He jerked his head in Aya’s direction who was currently giving him a rather nasty glare.  “You didn't say anything on the way here."

"You're incorrigible."

"Absolutely." Turning back the object of his previous scrutiny, he said, "So, you're the reason everyone's all up in a huff. I can see why they're all entranced by you but I wonder what other charming qualities you possess."

The flush that was beginning to fade came back in full force again.  "I have no idea what you’re talking about. All I ever wanted to do was play. Unfortunately, the fame came along for the ride. I don't really like all the attention."

"From what I can tell,” Yoji leaned down just inside the goalie’s personal space, “you seem to handle it well."

Ken neither liked the implication nor the invasion.  "I'm not one to be easily intimidated."  His tone darker than before with a frown to match.

Yoji looked at him curiously, remarking, "No, I doubt you are. Still, the camera seems to love you."  He stood back up, giving the younger man back his space and smiled, somehow managing to put the brunette back at ease.

The edge in his voice slipped away and the blush returned. "Not really. I mean, they mostly just like talking to the key players. Tsuki was the only one who really followed me around." At the mention of the reporter, the other three exchanged glances. The looks were not lost to the brunette. Curious, his gaze passed over them in turn. "What?"

Ran quickly answered, "Nothing you need to concern yourself with now."

"Yes, nothing you need to worry that pretty little head of yours over, Kenken." Yoji chimed in playfully, ruffling the chocolate strands.

The brunette tried to squirm free. "Stop it." Smiles on most faces, happy that they had adequately distracted the goalie from the previous topic.

Despite the distraction, Ken still had questions that he wanted answers too. When Yoji finally released him, turquoise portals passed over emerald, sapphire and amethyst gems. "So, can I ask you a question?" He took their silence as an approval. "Why are you all here? I mean, R - Aya gave me his reason, but what about you two?" The blondes looked at each other not exactly sure how to answer. "Were you fans?"

"Well,” Omi started, “I watch games now and then, whenever I get some time off. So I heard about you from the few matches I've seen. I don't really have a favourite team since I'm not really that into the sport, but I caught a few Verdy's games and thought you guys were great. I bumped in to Aya a few weeks ago and I remembered hearing about your accident and I wanted to help if I could." Omi shrugged not sure how much detail Ken wanted. But that seemed to satisfy the brunette for the moment.

Ken regarded the lanky blonde next to him. "And you?"

"Business."

"Business?"

"Yeah. I'm a private detective."

Intrigued now, teal eyes sparkled. "So what have you found?"

"Unfortunately, not much.”  He shrugged and noted the frown that didn’t belong on the younger man’s face.  “Most of what we have is speculation. The only thing we do know, thanks to Omittchi here, is that your accident is complete fabrication."

Shoulders slumped in defeat. Ken had hoped that if they uncovered something it might jog his memory enough he could get past whatever barrier he had built and maybe conquer these attacks. They had already ensconced themselves deeply into his life and he hated it. He didn't like the thought of being incapacitated so easily. Just thinking about them set his heart fluttering. He could sense the irrational fear building. But he refused to succumb. "But if there was no accident, why was I so banged up? The doctor said I was a mess."  Ok, in truth he could probably guess what happened but at this point he was just saying things to stave off the panic as best he could. 

Yoji frowned now. "The only way I can figure is by physical contact. Probably blunt weapons, fists and feet. I doubt it was some other type of accident. It was intentional not random. Or else there wouldn't be a need to cover it up so much."

"Intentional." He repeated the word. -flash- Shadows closing in. "Should've done as you were told." Pain. -flash- Pain. Instinctively, he grabbed at his suddenly aching head. The room spun and he could taste the bile at the back of his throat. He didn't even realize his erratic breathing this time, fighting off the effects of his twisting stomach. And just as quickly Ran was sitting on the bed next to him coaching him back to normalcy. He was beginning to appreciate those violet gems he stared into. His fascination with them gave him enough of a focus to gain control of his body once more.  But not without cost.

The energy that Ken had only moments ago completely drained from the youth. Ran laid the exhausted brunette back down to rest. Half lidded eyes stared blankly at the redhead. Oddly enough a strong hand squeezing his other shoulder drew the murky oceans toward the playboy. "Rest, Kenken. We'll get to the bottom of this. I promise you."

Ken nodded then settled his gaze on Ran again. Gently, the redhead brushed a few shaggy brown locks away from his face. Before long, sleepy eyes closed and Ken's breathing steadied out. As soon as they believed he was asleep, Yoji turned to his small companion. "It's just as you said Chibi. Poor kid's got it tough."

"And Kase won't be much help to him." The youngest of the quartet answered. "He wants to put Ken in a clinic."

"He needs friends around, not nurses." Ran added tersely. "I wish I could take him home with me, but I can't devote 100 percent of my time to him. And I refuse to leave him alone. Not when an attack can happen at any given moment."

Omi glanced over at the scarlet-framed face. "Do you live alone, Aya?"

Ran gave a curt nod.  "Yes, which is why I can't take care of him."

Raising his hand up halfway, Omi offered, "May I suggest a compromise, if you're willing?" Ran nodded. "You know where the Koneko is, right? Not too far from here, so it would be easy to get Ken here and back for therapy. We have a couple of extra rooms and he could stay there until he's well enough to find a place of his own."

"I appreciate the offer, Omi but I wouldn't want to place that kind of burden on you when you have a whole shop to take care of."

"It wouldn't be a burden, especially if I'm offering to do so. But what I really meant to say was that we have two spare apartments, and you're more than welcome to stay there too. That way you can always be close by, but when you have to go, either Momoe or myself will always be around to help. Even Yotan can help out since he sometimes stays in one of the apartments now and then too. What do you think?"

Ran contemplated the proposal thoughtfully. It sounded like a great idea but he didn't want to speak for Ken. "I appreciate the offer. I might be willing, but I think we should let Ken ultimately decide."

"Let's do it." A soft voice joined the conversation. "I don't want to go to a clinic."

"We thought you were asleep." Ran frowned.

"I was, mostly.” He gave a small sheepish grin.  “But I only needed a catnap really. I'll be fine. Besides, it's not like you guys were trying to be quiet."  The redhead still didn’t look happy, but the other two didn’t seem to mind.

Omi jumped up. "Great. I'll go make the preparations. It'll be nice to have people nearby again."

"Chibi, you get so easily excited."  Yoji smirked at his petite counterpart.

Sticking his tongue out, Omi scolded, "Don't mock me. As much as I love Momoe, it get's pretty lonely being there by myself most of the time."

The taller blonde was hardly fazed by Omi’s annoyed tone.  "Good thing you have that computer to keep you company."

"Shut up."

"Come on, bishounen.”  He walked over and threw an arm around the boy’s shoulders.  “I think we've stayed long enough and I've got a date to get ready for."

Omi rolled his eyes, he guessed that the date the man spoke of was only set before they walked into this room.  Exasperated, he said, "Alright. I'll stop by again tomorrow. Feel better Ken-kun. Bai, Aya." And the blonde pair headed back out leaving the two alone once more.

Ran looked at Ken whose face never lost its fatigued expression. "I think you should go back to sleep," he said.

He was tired.  He knew it.  And therefore to argue would be futile.  Sighing he accepted the fact he needed a little more sleep than he cared to admit.  Rolling onto his side, Ken stared groggily into violet depths.  "Will you be here when I wake up tomorrow?"

"Of course."

"Then,” a deep yawn escaped him, “Oyasumi, Ran."

"Oyasumi." Ran pulled the thin blanket up over Ken’s shoulders tucking him in and waited until he knew for certain the brunette was asleep before going home himself. The day had ended well, and for the first time in a long while he was looking forward to tomorrow.

***

Across the city, two men sat in a dark room. One sat in a nice leather chair behind a desk, seemingly lost in thought and slowly swirling the brandy in his glass. The other figure was leaning on the desk with his back to his companion, arms crossed and eyes closed with a smirk on his face.

They had been like that for a while now, when finally the leaning man decided to disrupt the silence. "So? Are all the pieces falling into place?"

"Yes."

"You did warn him."

"I did."

"It's a good thing you had the…foresight to prepare for such a contingency."

"I could not do otherwise."

"So what do we do now?"

"We wait."

  - v – v – v – v -       Well, that’s the end of another chap.  And now I’ve gone and dropped a little hint too.  But how it all plays into the plot, you’ll just have to wait to find out! Mwahahahaha!  Now just remember reviews are fuel for the muses!  You want more chaps, just let the muse know!  Thanks again for reading!