Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Neutral Territory ❯ An Anxious, Rainy Saturday ( Chapter 25 )

Title: Neutral Territory [part 25/?]

Author: Enigma

Written: begun October, 2001

Rating: R

Pairings: (Omi + Nagi) (Yohji + Ken) (Brad + Schu)

Category: Shonen ai/Yaoi Angst Friendship Romance Action Violence. AU-OOC. Giftfic.

Archive: fanfiction.net & mediaminer.org [author: "E-sama the Llama"] plus Wuffie.net [author: "Enigma"]

Warnings: shonen ai/yaoi, angst, masculine friendship in many forms, various levels of romance, action, coarse language, whiffs of citrus but nothing detailed, possibly graphic violence, bloodshed, tiny bits of humor, fluff, and sap; more warnings will be added as necessary. AU-OOC. Giftfic for Rubious.

Spoilers: Aya's sister's condition and a few other small things, nothing major.

Disclaimer: "Weiss Kreuz" is the property of Koyasu Takehito and Project Weiss. All original characters featured herein (including but not limited to: Glocksten, Charon, etc.) are © Enigma, 2003, and are not to be used without permission. This unauthorized work of fanfiction is intended for entertainment only; kindly do not sue me.

Notes: Omi's first trip to the public library results in an unexpected meeting when Nagi saves his life without being aware of the Weiss archer's identity. Can two lonely teens overcome the limits of their dark purpose in life to find friendship and possibly love in the midst of "neutral territory"?

//thoughts//

{{mental speech}}

*****

Saturday morning. Various locations in the Koneko.

*****

The upbeat rhythms of the latest hit songs by some forgettable J-pop groups filled the air in Omi's bedroom for almost an hour before the usually early riser even heard them.

"Ugh. Shut up, clock!" Omi mumbled sleepily as he groped blindly to stop the offending noise. He hit the snooze button on his clock-radio and drifted right back to sleep just as he had done several times previously.

Roughly ten minutes later, the noise was back buzzing at his exhausted brain like mosquitoes harassing beach goers in the summer and with another flailing motion, he turned it off again. Luckily, he also knocked a small stack of mini-disks off his nightstand and the resultant clatter woke him fully.

"Oh, crap! My MDs!" Omi exclaimed, lunging for the falling plastic items and scooping most of them up before they landed harmlessly on the carpeted floor.

After carefully returning his collection of anime theme songs to their place on the little table by his bed, the blond scrubbed a hand across sleepy eyes and then peered at the clock and reiterated, "Oh, *double* crap! I'm late!!" He scrambled out of bed in a rush, wondering as he donned the first pair of jeans he found and a long sleeved shirt why his teammates hadn't knocked on his door to remind him to get up after he'd missed breakfast. In a flurry of motion, Omi brushed teeth, hair, and took care of other urgent morning requirements cursing himself the entire time for his tardiness.

Practically flying down the stairs, past the kitchen and then hurrying into the Koneko proper, Omi greeted his friend and coworker for the first shift of the day, saying, "Good morning, Ken-kun! Sorry I'm late, I overslept."

Turning and offering the apologetic boy an understanding smile, Ken replied, "That's okay, Omi. I saw the note Aya left about how you were up pretty late working out a firing solution for us and I wanted to let you sleep in if you needed to. Besides," he sighed and pointed a finger at the raindrop spattered front windows as he explained, "it's chilly and drizzly out this morning. Miserable weather like that usually means almost zero customers until midday anyway."

Absently noting that the rain wasn't unexpected after the heavily overhung skies of the night before, Omi nodded and replied guiltily, "That's true, but I still should've been here earlier. I always like to mist the smaller potted plants before we open for business, it makes them look perkier and the customers like them better that way."

Chuckling softly, Ken responded, "As high as the humidity is in here already because of the rain, Omi, I really don't think that they need to be misted. Instead of worrying over that, why don't you go roll up the gate so anyone who does want to go out in this mess can come in and get warm?"

"All right," the younger of the two teens agreed and did as instructed. After seeing to it that the front doors were unobstructed, he asked, "Have you seen Aya-kun this morning, Ken-kun? I assume Yohji-kun is still asleep, but I'm worried about Aya-kun, he was just *so* tired last night."

Shaking his head sadly, the brunette replied, "Yohji was still crashed in bed when I got up, Omi, I kinda needed to wear myself out last night and I think he's tired from dancing too much. But Aya's another story entirely." With a frustrated sigh, he leaned against the workbench, crossed his arms over his chest, and then said, "That redheaded idiot really needs to learn to relax. I peeked in on him in his room earlier and he was actually asleep as far as I could tell, but it didn't look like he was getting much rest out of it."

"Really? Why do you say that, Ken-kun?" Omi asked worriedly.

Frowning and truly wishing he could read minds like a certain German telepath could so that the mystery that surrounded Fujimiya Aya could be unraveled at least a little, Ken explained, "He was mumbling in his sleep and hardly laying still at all. Honestly, it looked like he was having a fight with his covers or something." Running a hand through shaggy brown bangs, he added out of sheer frustration, "Shit, I almost think we ought to get him a puppy to keep him company or something."

What Ken very carefully did not add was that part of his frustration came from the fact that he and Yohji were already discussing ways in which to hopefully reach out to Aya and offer him some of the human kindness he needed to accept before it was too late. The two lovers had agreed not to burden their young friend with knowledge of their plans since Omi had enough to deal with regarding his first crush. Whereas they were worried about the swordsman, they also valued the love and affection the archer was experiencing for the first time with a boy they knew only as Xavier and they didn't want to tarnish it with a solution that Omi would ultimately have very little to do with.

Briefly lost in thought, Omi stood quietly contemplating his friend's remark and with a nod of his head, he agreed in part, saying, "Well, I'd say he is definitely lonely, Ken-kun, but I doubt a puppy is the answer."

"Oh? And what *is* the answer Tsukiyono-sensei?" Ken teased gently, glad that he wasn't forced to continue trying to misdirect the youth.

Missing the gentle tease entirely due to being lost in thought, Omi replied earnestly, "I think you and Yohji-kun ought to take him out with you some night whether he wants to go or not."

Ken nodded slightly and accepted this suggestion at face value when he answered, "Yeah, wearing him out with some dancing might be a good idea, Omi." With a miserable sigh, he added, "If doing that can get Yohji's mind off that asshole Charon enough to sleep well, maybe it could help Aya get some rest, too."

"That's not what I meant," Omi shook his head and stared at the floor as he stated quietly, "I think he needs to meet someone, Ken-kun. I think he needs to start putting his life back together even if his sister is still in a coma."

"Well, damn," Ken cursed softly and shook his head in astonishment. He and Yohji both had badly underestimated their youngest teammate's insightful nature, yet he wished to maintain the secrecy surrounding their intentions and remarked untruthfully, "I never thought of it that way, Omi, but you know Abyssinian. He doesn't want any 'entanglements' distracting him from his private war on Takatori."

Crestfallen, Omi's head drooped and he said with a quiet sigh, "I know, Ken-kun. But he's just so lonely, it's got to hurt."

Sighing deeply and regretting the fact that the man who worked so hard to project an image of icy indifference was so hard to reach, Ken decided it was time to cheer up his young friend and he did so by moving to pull Omi into a warm bear hug. Holding the younger assassin close in the brotherly embrace they'd shared from time to time, he urged quietly, "Don't worry over Aya too much Omi. I'll talk to Yohji about it later. Maybe he's got some good ideas, okay?"

Peering up through his pale bangs and smiling at the taller teen, Omi agreed, "Okay, Ken-kun. Maybe once all this stuff with Glocksten and Charon is over we might find a way to help Aya-kun. I'd really like that a lot."

"Same here," Ken replied with complete honesty and after one last warm squeeze, he released the shorter boy so they could get to work since flowers rarely arranged or watered themselves.

Before long, the two teammates who had saved each other's lives countless times were chatting amiably while assembling new arrangements for the refrigerated display case as well as getting caught up on other topics.

"So, how was the date with Xavier?" Ken asked gazing at Omi from the corner of his eyes curiously. When he spotted a tiny flush of color on boyish cheeks, he added playfully, "Did you actually *watch* any of the movie or were you two too busy making out in the back of the theater to see any of it?"

"Ken-kun!!" Omi spluttered in shock. His cheeks flared hotly as he retorted, "We did *not* 'make out' during the movie! Honestly, just because you and Yohji-kun can't keep your hands off each other doesn't mean we *all* lack self-control!" Even as he denied any misdoing at the anime showing, he was also hiding his flaming cheeks behind some handy fern fronds that were supposed to be going into the large arrangement he was constructing for the vestibule of one of the local hotels.

Snickering since he correctly assumed he was on the right track, Ken teased, "If you *didn't* get in a little one-on-one time with the kid, how come you're a brighter pink than this carnation, Omi?" He waggled said flower at his friend then eased off a little and added more gently, "Either way, though, as long as you and he had a nice time, I'm really glad for you both. Aya's not the only one around here who needs to have someone special in his life."

Letting the greenery sink down so cerulean eyes could peer at chocolate ones to see if the teasing was over, Omi acknowledged, "Actually, I hadn't realized that I was lonely, too, until I met Xavier on Monday, Ken-kun. Being with him has made a big difference for me. It's really nice." A sadness entered the boy's expression and he added with a frown, "But I'm a little worried about him, too."

"Worried?" Ken echoed, setting a completed bouquet into the display case. "How come?"

"I never heard from him online last night," Omi explained. Continuing to frown, he added, "I hope he got home okay."

"What?!" Ken demanded in surprise, "Didn't you drive him home, Omi? What kind of a date is it if you don't do that for him?"

"I know," Omi's head dropped again and he sounded miserable as he said, "but, he didn't want me to. He never lets me take him home and I don't even know where he lives."

"Oh, I see," Ken said more gently. Memories of the reactions he and his own first boyfriend had garnered came to mind, then he inquired, "This is about those stuck-up roommates or family or whatever of his, right?"

"I guess so," Omi pouted.

"Hey now," Ken said encouragingly, "give yourself a break, Omi. Not everybody's ready to accept two boys being together the way that we do around here. And if you guys are getting to be 'more than friends' already, he's probably scared of what they'll say, you know?"

Omi knew the problem was far deeper and more complex as well as dangerous than simple homophobia, but he nodded glumly all the same and hedged, "Well, maybe that's what it is, Ken-kun. I just wish that I knew he got home safely, that's all."

The former goaltender gave his friend a smile and suggested, "Well, Omi, since we're dead quiet in here due to the rain, why not take a break and go check your email? Maybe he sent you a note after you got offline last night."

Bright blue eyes finally rose and hopefulness filled the youth's lilting alto as he asked, "Are you sure you wouldn't mind, Ken-kun? I hate to leave you here all alone, but it would be really good to know if he's okay or not."

"Sure I'm sure," Ken said and gestured broadly at the empty room before saying, "There's nothing going on here you need to hang around for right at the moment, Omi. Go check your email and put your mind at ease, okay?"

Already pulling off his yellow apron and getting ready to take his friend's advice, Omi beamed and thanked him with a nod while saying, "I'll be right back, Ken-kun!"

The Weiss tactician dashed out of the shop area, past the kitchen where Yohji sat nursing a cup of coffee, and then zoomed down the spiral staircase in a rush.

"I wonder where the fire is?" Yohji chuckled softly. Then he gracefully rose to his feet intending to get details from his lover who was now conveniently alone and therefore susceptible to a little sexy teasing, and commented to himself thoughtfully, "The 'Comet Bombay' appears to be on the rise early today. I wonder why." After pouring more coffee into his mug and grabbing another one that he filled for Ken, he made his way to the shop.

"Oi, Kenken," Yohji greeted the man who was so much more than a teammate or coworker to him. Motioning at him with the steaming mug, he asked, "Want some java, babe?"

Deep brown eyes blinking in surprise since he'd expected his dance partner to sleep until noon, Ken reached towards the cup and replied, "I'd love some, Yohji."

"Ah, ah, ah!" The lanky blond pulled the mug out of reach and stated, "You gotta pay the delivery charge for that, Kenken."

Scowling at his lover, Ken asked with understandable annoyance, "*What* 'delivery charge', Yohji? Just give me the coffee, you nutcase."

Smirking, Yohji responded sarcastically, "Oh, you sweet-talker, you! For *that* you now have to pay twice as much."

Glaring for all he was worth, Ken demanded, "What freaking price do you *want*, Kudou?! That damned coffee smells too good to resist, so stop your games and give it to me!"

Sauntering over and standing so close that their thighs barely brushed one another's, Yohji leaned near and whispered in Ken's ear, "ya owe me two kisses now, darlin'. one for the coffee and one for the smart remark."

Growling, Ken considered refusing but a stealthy shift of a foot put one of Yohji's lean legs between Ken's muscular ones and the unsubtle reminder of what else the pair had done the night before to wear themselves out erased any resistance he had left. Tilting his head up and gazing through partially lidded eyes at his tall partner, Ken acquiesced and placed not two but three kisses onto the former playboy's lips before capturing the coffee mug and taking a sip.

Surprised yet pleased, Yohji remained where he was a moment more and whispered, "what was the extra kiss for, ken-love?"

Giving him a heated glance that made Yohji's pulse speed up, Ken answered, "consider it a deposit, koi." After sipping his coffee in an ineffably sexy manner, he explained, "tonight, as soon as we get done taking out the trash kritiker assigned us to get rid of, i want a double order of what i got last night."

With a sexy little growl, Yohji promised, "you betcha, babe! all that and more as soon as that scumbag charon is just a bad memory, all right?"

"sounds good to me, koi," Ken replied and then, after a last kiss, they stepped apart so that Ken could fill him in on Omi's concerns about Xavier without risking a lecture from said blond about no sex in the flower shop.

Shortly after the two lovers finished teasing each other as well as getting caught up on the latest wrinkle in their youngest teammate's love life, Omi returned to the shop, genki smile once more in place as he stated, "I got an email from Xavier. He got home just fine, but couldn't get online until really super late."

"I'm glad he let you know he was okay, Omi," Ken said truly relieved to see the sadness gone from big blue eyes that reminded him of a perfect, cloudless sky.

"Well, Omiitchi, now that we all know your little friend is fine, can I trust you to keep track of Kenken for me while I go grab a shower?" Yohji stretched luxuriously with leonine grace and then cast a hungry gaze at Ken that reiterated the promise made for an intimate post-mission celebration.

Not bothered at all by the innuendo for a change, Omi nodded brightly and assured, "Absolutely, Yohji-kun! Ken-kun and I will be fine, but could you please make sure to not wake Aya-kun? He apparently was finally getting some sleep this morning."

"Really? He's sleeping?" Yohji looked surprised yet pleased then added with a soft snort, "It's about damned time! I was starting to consider spiking a drink for him with something to knock him out if I had to."

Both Ken and Omi looked as if they were about to complain about that approach and Yohji quickly raised a hand in surrender as he hurried to amend, "Just kidding, guys!" Noting they both forgave him, he then stated, "Don't worry, bishounen, I'll be quiet as a church mouse. Let's let sleeping Abyssinians lie, right?"

"Right," the two youngest members of Weiss chorused and then smiled at each other since acts of synchrony weren't unheard of from them.

Before long, Yohji was blissfully wasting all the hot water in the Koneko while Omi and Ken sold very few flowers for a Saturday morning. Aya would finally emerge from his bedroom looking only moderately rested and then almost immediately vanish into the streets of Tokyo in preparation for the coming mission.

The drizzly, chilly day would drag past even as a sense of anticipation grew among those eagerly awaiting the extermination of two of the worst vermin to have infested their city in a very long time.

*****

To be continued.

Author's Notes:

[Posting Run Dedication] This evening's extra long posting run is hereby gratefully dedicated to the ever so wonderful Starshadow! She's been a good friend for quite awhile now and her encouraging comments and reviews are always more than welcome wherever I encounter them. It's been a lot of fun exchanging posts with her on my own LJ as well as hers and it's an honor and a privilege to get to acknowledge how much she means to me publicly with this dedication.