Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Shades of Grey ❯ Chapter 1

Part One

""Ohayo, Ken-kun!" Omi bounced cheerfully into the flower shop. Ken wondered how Omi did it. He knew for a fact that Omi had been up until three the night before, trying to crack the code on a disk recovered from the last mission. Yet he was cheerful at eight in the morning, on a Sunday no less, when he had to work.

"Ohayo, Omi," Ken returned, mumbling into his second cup of strong, black coffee. It always took him three cups of coffee to wake up completely in the morning.

"Ken-kun, we're only on morning shift today," Omi said. "You want to go rollerblading?"

Ken looked outside at the bright Indian summer day. The sky was a perfect blue, and the leaves were turning colours. It was a perfect day to go blading.

"All right, Omi," he said, resisting the urge to ruffle Omi's hair. Omi hated being treated like a kid. In some ways he was the most responsible and mature of them all, and he'd seen his share of tragedy. That kind of experience could age anyone. But sometimes, like now, he looked so young, much younger than his seventeen years. Having grown up since he was five an orphan, Ken had always wanted a family. Omi was the closest thing he'd ever have to a younger brother.

Ken watched Omi putter around the shop, lifting the shutters, checking moisture levels in the potted plants.

"Did you manage to crack that code last night?" he asked. Omi shook his head.

"Not yet. I'll get it done tonight, then I can send it to Manx." He grabbed the watering can. "Ken-kun, could you take some of the larger pots outside? There's lots of sunshine and it's almost hot today."

Ken downed his coffee and got up to help Omi.

"We haven't had any orders yet," he said. "I wish it was raining. Hopefully the girls won't get here until Aya and Yoji's shift. Honestly, Omi, I don't understand how you can be so nice to them all the time."

Omi shrugged. "I like making people happy," he said. "So do you, Ken-kun. You're never mean to them like Aya-kun is. Besides, they help to keep this shop open."

I guess," Ken said. He carried a large pot of chrysanthemums outside, lingering in the fresh morning air. The phone rang and he went back inside to answer it.

The rest of the morning was spent taking phone orders and tending to the customers that wandered into the shop. There were so many people out enjoying the warm weather that Ken and Omi were kept busy. At twelve-thirty Aya came down to begin his shift.

Omi greeted Aya, and then asked, "Where's Yoji-kun?"

"Do you really need to ask?" Aya said disapprovingly. Omi rolled his eyes.

"We'll go wake him up. We have to get our blades anyway." Omi said. "Let's go, Ken-kun. I don't want to waste the day." They hung up their aprons and went upstairs.

Aya sighed, alone in the empty shop. Trust Yoji to be absent when the horde of fan girls was imminent. One would have thought that Yoji would be early for such an event, Aya thought uncharitably. He hoped Omi could get Yoji down here before their shift was over. Aya sighed again, and then riffled through orders, deciding which to start on first.

It was going to be a miserable day.

""Oi, Yoji," Ken yelled, banging on the door. "Wake up. It's your shift, and Aya's pissed." When he got no answer, he tried again.

"Yoji!"

Hearing no sound on the other side of the door, Ken stomped to his room and picked up the phone. He dialled Yoji's number and let the phone ring. On the eleventh ring he heard a sleepy,

"Hello?"

"Yoji! You're late for work again. Aya's pissed off. You'd better get down there now." Ken heard a muffled curse.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Yoji said. "I'll be down in a minute."

Thankfully Ken hung up and hunted out his blades. He and Omi didn't have the same afternoon off very often. Really nice days were even less frequent at this time of year. It had become a tradition for Omi and Ken to go blading together in fine weather, combining exercise and an element of normalcy to their lives. They had first started their outings two years ago, a few weeks after Ken had joined Weiss. He and Omi had instantly taken to each other, and blading together over the years had only strengthened their bond.

Ken pulled on his blades and left his room. He stopped at Yoji's door.

"Oi! Yoji!" he yelled again.

Yoji opened the door. "I was just putting my shirt on, Ken, " he complained. "Once it's on I'll go."

Ken left for the kitchen quickly, a little disconcerted by Yoji's lack of shirt. He felt a little sneaky, not telling them. But it was his life, and he had a right to privacy, too.

He coasted into the kitchen. Omi was already there, grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge. He already had his blades on.

"Ready?" he asked Ken as he skated by him, passing him a bottle.

"Yeah," Ken said. "Be careful going down the stairs, Omi," he called after the blond head. Omi was almost as good as he was now. When they'd first starting blading together, Ken had had to hold onto Omi in case he fell.

They clumped down the stairs and through the shop. Yoji was huddled over a cup of coffee, and Aya was arranging an order. They called goodbye to their teammates and headed outside.

"Where do you want to go, Omi?" Ken asked.

"Let's go this way," Omi turned right outside the Koneko. "Then we'll hit the biking trail at the park. It's pretty with all the leaves changing colour." Omi took off down the street and Ken quickly caught up with him. They held a fast pace for an hour to get their heart rates up, then turned into the park and slowed down, watching people strolling in the warm air, children playing on the swings. Omi drifted towards a picnic table under a large maple tree. Ken followed and sat down across from him. Omi was quiet, playing with the leaves that had fallen to the tabletop. Ken looked out over the crowds, smiling at the kids playing on the jungle gym.

"Ken-kun?" Omi said softly. Ken looked back at him. Omi looked serious. He sat up and swung his legs over the bench, facing Omi. Omi didn't look up, but he knew that Ken was watching him.

"What's up, Omi?" Ken asked. Omi was usually bright smiles and sunshine, at least around the other two Weiss members. Around Ken, he could let his guard down, and be sad or scared or lonely. Ken hated seeing Omi like this, but was aware that Omi needed someone to talk to once in a while. Ken was glad that he was that someone.

"Can I ask you something, Ken-kun?" Omi asked. "I don't want to make you think about something you want to forget."

Ken couldn't imagine what Omi wanted to ask him. It couldn't be that bad.

"Sure, Omi," he said encouragingly, "Just ask."

Omi peeked up at him.

"Why did you like Yuriko?" he asked softly.

Ken felt like he'd been hit in the stomach. He felt anger rising and pushed it back. Omi had asked permission to bring this up, and he'd given it. But it still hurt like hell.

Omi looked at him nervously.

"I'm sorry, I know you don't want to talk about it," he said, standing abruptly. Ken grabbed his arm, forcing himself to calm down, think clearly. Omi wouldn't ask something like that just to hurt him. Therefore he really needed to know.

Ken tugged Omi back into his seat, patting his arm.

"It's okay, Omi," he said, surprised that his voice was calm. "I liked her because she was sweet and funny and pretty and full of fun. She liked bikes and riding, traveling. All things that I love too. And she liked me." He felt Omi watching him, giving him time to get himself under control again. The tight fist squeezing his heart relaxed a little.

"She wasn't like any other girl I'd ever met. She was special," he said sadly.

Omi smiled. "So are you, Ken-kun," he said, reaching across the table to squeeze Ken's hand. He looked thoughtful.

"Why did you want to know, Omi? Have you met someone you really like?" Ken hoped so. Of all of them Omi deserved a little love.

"Umm, kind of," Omi said distractedly. "But Ken-kun," he burst out, " what I really want to know is why her? You've never been interested in girls before," he said seriously, confused.

Ken thought about that. It was true. He'd known for a long time that he was attracted to men, not women. So why Yuriko? It was a good question.

"Like I said, she wasn't like any girl I'd ever met. More like a best guy friend. Maybe that's why I fell so hard for her." It was a new idea. He'd never even wondered why before.

"Does that help?" he asked Omi.

"Sort of," Omi replied unhappily.

"Omi-kun, what's wrong?" Ken asked gently. "You can tell me, " he said, then added hastily, "but only if you want to."

Omi nodded. "I want to, that's why I asked you to go blading. I thought I'd be able to figure out what I wanted to say, but now I don't know."

Ken reviewed their conversation, looking for clues. He remembered something.

"Is there someone you're interested in, Omi?" he asked. Omi nodded, twisting his fingers together.

"Is she in your class?" he asked next. Omi shook his head.

This wasn't helping much, Ken thought. He decided to try a direct question.

"Okay, so you like someone. What's scaring you so badly?"

Omi looked up at him with bewildered eyes.

"I've never been attracted to a guy before," he whispered.

Shit.

Ken, you are an idiot, he told himself. Here you are a living example that not every kid is straight and you assume Omi's into some female. Baka.

Omi looked up at Ken anxiously.

So this is what he wanted to talk to me about, Ken thought. Well, who better, really?

"You're usually attracted to girls," Ken stated. Omi nodded.

"And Ouka…" he trailed off. That memory was still too fresh. "But I've never… wanted anyone… this badly." His cheeks were stained with a bright flush. He was clearly not comfortable with the situation.

Ken decided to try and make Omi feel better.

"Well, Omi," he said slowly, "You're still an adolescent. So am I. Sometimes we get weird urges. Look at me with Yuriko. I haven't been attracted to any girl before or since. Maybe it's the same with you."

Omi sighed.

"Maybe," he said, but he didn't sound convinced.

"Omi." Ken made Omi look at him. "Even if you are interested in guys, there's nothing wrong with that. We all need love wherever we can get it," he said sadly. His had gone to Australia. He shook his head. He couldn't have gone with her anyway. He was Weiss. He couldn't be mad at Yoji anymore for reminding him.

Omi saw the pain in Ken's eyes. He leaned over the table and brushed a kiss across Ken's cheek.

"Arigato, Ken-kun," he said softly.

Ken looked startled. He brushed a hand against his cheek, bemused.

"What was that for?" he asked Omi.

"You always know how to make me feel better, Ken-kun," Omi said seriously. "Now it's my turn."

He pulled Ken to his feet.

"Come on. If you're lucky I might even show you his picture."

Ken grinned. "Any guy lucky enough to catch your eye just has to be gorgeous," he said, laughing at Omi's blush. He hugged the boy tight.

"Let's go home."