Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ The Hope Diamond ❯ Hidaka - 17 ( Chapter 17 )

Name: Androgene

Website: http://www.angelfire.com/space/noir13

Email: androgene@lycos.com

Title: The Hope Diamond (Book Two): Hidaka - Seventeen to Nineteen, and Interlude

Summary: A forbidden love grows between an assassin and the cursed Gem. Now with their secret exposed, both Yohji and Ran must fight for their love. But Takatori is a vengeful master and he has Aya-chan's fate in his hands. And snow in June heralds the coming of disaster. YohjixRan, TakatorixRan.

Category: AU, fantasy, drama, angst, action, yaoi, shounen-ai

Rating: NC-17

Warning: Rape and non-consensual sex in this installment

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their creators. WeiB Kreuz™ is created by Takehito Koyasu and Project WeiB. I don't own them and I don't profit from using these characters.

Hidaka

Ken Hidaka was no stranger to ostracism.

For as long as he could remember, he had been shunned because of his Crossbreed heritage. When he was just a child, he didn't know why but as he grew older, he learnt that it was because he was different. If someone had bothered to tell him why he was different, it might have made things slightly better. But nobody did and Ken's bewilderment did nothing to ease the hurt and pain.

In the orphanage where he grew up, the other children avoided him and called him a freak. Ken wanted very badly to be just an ordinary child but his inability to control the inherent Hunter's wild nature and tendency for violence thwarted his every attempt.

The sisters who ran the orphanage despaired of ever taming him. Five-year-old Ken himself was resentful and frustrated at his own feral nature. He never wanted to create trouble for anyone but the Hunter half of him just refused to listen. The only good thing his feral Hunter nature ever did for him was to gain him a friend - his only friend in the orphanage.

His name was Kase Koichiro, another orphan as old as Ken but small for his age. He was constantly bullied at the orphanage until Ken stepped in. The Crossbreed was the only one who dared to stand up to the bully and he stopped Kase's torment in the only way he knew how - with his fists.

From that day on, Kase hung around Ken. At first it was for protection, but as they got to know each other, they became close friends. Odd as it may sound, Kase was the only one not afraid of Ken's violent anger. He was always there, calming Ken as best as he could, every time Ken's rage spiraled out of control.

One month after Ken turned ten, he was called to the sister's office…

"Ken, I like you to meet Mr. Persia."

Wary green eyes stared at the bearded man dressed in a cream-white business suit. Although the man was seated and looked friendly enough, Ken knew instinctively that there was more to him than meets the eye.

"Good afternoon, sir." He greeted warily.

Persia smiled at him. "Good afternoon, young Ken."

"Mr. Persia is here to adopt you, Ken." The sister beamed happily. "Isn't that wonderful?"

"Really?" Ken asked suspiciously. He didn't believe her for a moment. Nobody in his right mind would want to adopt a freak like him.

"Yes," Persia answered. "I have a weakness of bringing home strays, that's all."

"I am not a stray!" Ken bristled.

"Watch your tone, young man!" The sister admonished.

"No, he's right. He is not a stray." Persia knelt down before the young boy. "I'm sorry if I misjudge you."

Ken blinked. This was the first time anyone had apologized to him for an insult. "O-okay," he said a tad uncertainly. He didn't know what to make of this man.

"May I see your hands?" Persia asked politely.

Instinctively, Ken hid his hands behind his back.

Persia gave him a gentle smile. "I won't laugh at you, Ken."

"Go on, Ken." The sister encouraged. "It will be all right."

Hesitatingly, Ken stretched out his hands to the man. He had always hated his hands. Instead of nails, he had sheathed claws. They were the most obvious sign of his differences, an easy target for the other children's teasing. Every adult that came to the orphanage passed him over for adoption because of these hands. He chewed his bottom lip nervously, convinced that Persia would change his mind about adopting him once he realized what Ken was.

"It hasn't been easy for you, has it, child?" Persia remarked softly.

Ken blinked again, not understanding his words.

"I know what you are, Ken." Persia told him. "I can help you, teach you how to control the anger, make it work for you so you'll never feel like a freak again. Wouldn't you like that?"

"You can do that?"

"Yes."

It was really a tantalizing offer but there was something else that worried Ken. "What about Kase? Can you adopt him too?"

"Kase? Who is Kase?"

"My very best friend," Ken announced proudly.

"I'm sorry, Ken. I can only adopt you."

"Then I'm not going."

"How about I make a deal with you?"

Ken stared at him suspiciously. "What kind of deal?"

"I have a friend who's looking to adopt a child too. If you agree to be my son, I can convince my friend to adopt Kase."

"But we won't be in the same family."

"No, you won't. But Kase will get a good family too."

"We'll still be able to see each other?"

"Yes. As often as you like. So do we have a deal?"

"Okay."

Persia was true to his words. He did managed to get Kase adopted into another family, who joyfully welcomed the other boy, and took the Crossbreed child under his wing.

From him, Ken finally learnt the truth of his heritage and why the Hunters refused to acknowledge him. Persia also taught him how to control the ruthless bloodthirsty nature of the Hunter. By the time he was fifteen, Ken had managed to calm the violent rage and kept his dual nature under control.

Throughout his early years, for some reason Ken could never fathom, he also completely failed to realize that the Persia who adopted him was the same Persia who ran Kritiker & Co. Persia never took Ken to his business or social obligations, kept him away from the limelight of his job, and made sure he grew up unaware of his guardian's social standing.

That was okay with Ken who didn't even know about Persia's social life but what the young boy found strange was the promise Persia extracted from him. He made Ken promised not to tell anyone who his guardian was, not even to Kase. It was an odd promise, but somehow Ken quickly forgotten about the strangeness of it and agreed to it.

Ken never knew if his lack of realization was due to his own oversight or to Persia's magical influence. Certainly, it wasn't until his life was in ruins did he finally make the connection.

But for now, his early teenaged years were the happiest time of his life. With his control over his Hunter nature growing, Ken gained a newfound confidence in himself and his own abilities. He was finally able to see how to use his talents in positive ways. To his further joy, he and Kase went to the same high school as well. They attended the same classes, hung out with the same group of friends and joined the same sport - soccer.

Ken loved soccer and he excelled at it. His superior physical attributes gave him an edge over everyone else and he caught the eye of the high school soccer coach. Ken rapidly became the star of his high school soccer team and attracted the attention of many professional soccer clubs on the lookout to recruit new talents. For the first time in his life, Ken's Crossbreed heritage was working in his favor and he was determined to make the best of it.

Until…

"I DON'T REMEMBER!" Ken yelled, nearly in tears from frustration and fear. "I don't remember how I ended up in that woman's place, I don't remember having sex with her or tearing her apart with my bare hands! I don't remember anything!"

"Are you sure?" the police detective pressed mercilessly. "Don't lie to me, Hidaka."

"I really don't remember anything."

And it was the truth, as Ken knew it.

He honestly couldn't remember anything from the last twenty-four hours; his last memory was of having a drink with Kase at a pub. Next thing he knew he had woken up in a bed soaked in blood, naked and covered in same awful gory stuff, beside the ravaged body of a woman. Stunned and completely paralyzed with fear, Ken never registered the police barging into the apartment and arresting him on the spot for murder. He tried hard to convince the police of his innocence but the evidence piled up against him was damning. He was covered in the woman's blood; his fingerprints were all over the place. Worse yet, they even found traces of the woman's blood when they pumped his stomach for its contents.

Ken was terrified and angry, getting to the point of hysterics - a dangerous state for him. Already, he was having a hard time controlling the red rage that threatened to rear its ugly head again. His life, put together with such great effort, was falling apart and he didn't know how to put it back together again. He wanted to lash out at the injustice of it all.

"Hidaka," the police detective spoke, "whether you remember killing the woman or not is no longer relevant. The fact remains - she's dead and clearly killed by you."

Ken groaned.

"I'm sorry, boy. But the evidence is clear."

"No."

"Ken Hidaka, I hereby place you under arrest for -"

"No." Ken began to shake. "You can't -"

"- the murder of -"

"Please don't." By this time, Ken was having trouble breathing. His heart was pounding so hard, so fast that it threatened to burst from his ribcage. He shook his head, trying to clear his vision, but nearly sent himself sprawling to the floor, so dizzy was he.

"Hidaka, are you all right?"

No, he wasn't all right, Ken tried to say, but the words were beyond him.

"Shit, he's going into seizure!"

"Call an ambulance!"

As he finally collapsed, Ken welcomed the darkness that swept him away.

When he woke again, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. The curtains were drawn but light peering in around the edges told him that it was day at least.

Ken slowly sat up, wondering dazedly how he had ended up in this place and not in a prison cell.

"You're finally awake, I see." Ken watched bewilderedly as Persia entered the bedroom and sat down in the chair beside his bed. "You have been asleep for nearly three days."

"What happened?"

"You died."

Ken stared.

"You died," Persia explained calmly, as though it was something that happened everyday. "When you went in seizure at the police station, they rushed you to the nearest hospital. But it was too late. You died in the A&E. Then I substituted your body with someone else's in the hospital and brought you here. I had a devil of a time calling your soul back, so please don't do that again."

"I'm dead?" Ken asked faintly.

"Legally speaking."

Ken hugged himself tightly. "Persia, did I really kill that woman?"

"…I'm afraid so, Ken."

Ken closed his eyes. His world had finally shattered. He should have known better; it was too good to be true. "Then that detective was right. I am guilty of murder."

"If it's any comfort, you didn't do it of your own free will. Traces of an unknown drug were found in your bloodstream. Not enough for a full analysis or identification, but it's safe to say it's the root of your troubles. From what I think, it removes all inhibitions and stimulates your bloodlust."

"What does it matter?" Ken said bitterly. "I killed an innocent."

"You might want to know somebody slipped you that drug."

"So what?!" Ken snarled, finally releasing the helpless rage against the injustice of it all. He clenched his fists against the sheets, claws digging into his palms so hard that he drew blood. "Someone is dead! My life is ruined! I can never go back to playing soccer again!"

He pounded his fists against the mattress, a strangled howl of distress escaping him. Damn it all, it wasn't fair! He had spent so much time and effort to be normal and build a normal life, and this is what he get in return?! It was just not fair!

Persia sighed soundlessly, sad and weary, as he gazed upon the raging, grieving boy in bed. Nothing he says now would comfort the shattered soul. Despite his fierce violent nature, Ken was a compassionate boy.

It was a long time before Ken calmed down, spent and felling incredibly empty. "Kase must be crushed," he remarked distantly.

"Don't worry about him. You have bigger problems to solve. For one, don't you want to find the culprit responsible for your ruin?"

"And how am I supposed to do that? I'm dead, remember?"

Persia turned to face him, grave and serious. "You have an option and a chance."

Ken cocked his head attentively; willing to hear whatever Persia has to say.

"Join Weiss. Become my assassin in Kritiker's quest to free Magnopolis from the hands of Takatori and Estet, and at the same time, find the person behind your downfall."

Ken caught his breath, a cold chill running down his spine. "You are asking me to become a killer?"

"For the sake of this city."

Ken stared at Persia, seeing the man in a new light. Suddenly, out of the blue, everything just clicked into place. "You're that Persia, aren't you? Kritiker's boss?"

"Yes."

"I must be blind if I never make that connection before." Then Ken narrowed his eyes shrewdly. "Or did you have anything to do with it?"

"Better late than never," Persia replied blandly, clearly not answering his question. Then he turned serious. "I must warn you, Ken. Joining Weiss is a one-way ticket. You cannot back out and your life will be mine."

"A rock and a hard place, eh?" Ken was disturbed by what Persia requested from him. Despite his Hunter nature, he never wanted to kill or hurt other people. "How could you ask this of me? Or did you already planned it from the start?"

"No. I didn't see this coming either."

"Didn't see-?" Ken glared at the older man. "Tell me the truth. Why did you personally go to the orphanage? Were you looking for me?"

"Ken, calm down."

The brunette snapped his mouth close, quelling despite himself under Persia' stern look.

"I admit, I adopted you because of something I was told in the past. You have an important role but I didn't know what that role is. I still don't. Ken, I never want you to become an assassin for me, but right now, this is the only thing I can do for you. Even someone as powerful as me can't turn back time to restore your life."

"You could have just send me out of the country, you know."

"But it will do nothing for your thirst of vengeance."

"Who says I'll be seeking revenge?" Ken asked half-heartedly. But it was hard to deny even to himself. Now that he knew he was set up, it would be a matter of time before he start searching for the man responsible.

Persia gave him a condescending look. "I brought you up, Ken. Give me some credit. At least in Weiss, you have Kritiker's resources to help you."

"But what will Weiss do? I'm not killing any more innocent people."

"You don't have to worry about that because your targets will be those the law cannot touch. In a way, Weiss might be good for you. It gives you an outlet for your Hunter nature, yet still keep you in control at the same time."

"Don't make me sound like an animal," Ken growled.

"Sorry, but you know I'm right. Look at it this way. How long will it be before you violently hurt someone on the soccer field because you were on an adrenaline high?"

Ken's fists tightened against the sheets but he did not say anything. He bowed his head, shoulders hunched. "All right…I'll join Weiss."

Because what other choice did he have?

Almost three years later, Siberian stood at the top of the steps leading to the headquarters of Asia Construction Company, wearing the garb of an assassin and carrying a bleeding wound in his heart. Green eyes stared distantly, emotionlessly at Kase groveling at the bottom of the steps, begging for mercy.

Ken barely heard him.

Once Kase was the only friendly person he ever knew. But now, watching his best friend, seeing how low and conniving he had became, Ken could barely recognize him.

For three years, he lived the life of an assassin, waiting for the chance to carry out his vengeance. Kase never left his thoughts during these years. Ken often wondered why Kase wasn't there to stop him from attacking that woman, wondered why Kase didn't notice his Crossbreed friend was behaving strangely that night at the pub. He often asked himself why Kase was not in the photos Persia secretly took at his funeral and showed him as proof he was 'dead'.

But despite all the questions, he wondered how Kase was doing, hoping that his best friend had gotten over his grief and moved on with his life.

Kase did move on with his life but at the expense of his own. He never knew Kase harbored that much hatred for him, that much envy and jealousy for his talent at soccer. He never knew Kase saw him as an obstacle to his own success because Ken was that good; he never knew Kase was such a petty, ambitious, egotistical and malicious man.

There was a depressingly lot of things Ken never knew about his so-called best friend.

He should be angry. But he was not. There was a throbbing pain in his heart but other than that he was completely numb. Distantly he marveled at the lack of fury.

With slow measured steps, Ken walked down the steps to meet Kase.

He would settle this with his own hands, deal out justice and vengeance to the one who ruined his life, so Kase could never hurt another like he hurt him.

Claws unsheathed, Siberian prepared to strike…

* * *

"Oi."

Ken never looked up from his contemplation of the city skyline at night. He didn't stirred as Yohji joined him on the rooftop, the blond's elbow resting on the cement ledge next to his face cradled in his folded arms.

"You should at least bring a jacket with you," Yohji said as he lit up a cigarette. "It's cold tonight."

Ken remained unresponsive.

"That man tonight…you seem to have a history with him. A long close relationship. Maybe he's even the reason why you joined Weiss, eh?"

That caught Ken's attention. "Is that any business of yours?" he asked testily.

"Nope. But you nearly went rogue on the mission, that's what I'm concerned about. You know what happen if one of us goes rogue."

"Don't worry," Ken said sarcastically. "It won't happen again."

"I doubt it will. You did tied up loose ends tonight."

There was silence for a long while.

"He was my best friend," Ken said at last in a small voice. "My only friend for a long time. I don't understand how he could have betrayed me. Our friendship should have meant something to him." He buried his face in his arms. "It's not fair."

Yohji listened in silence, green eyes sympathetic and sad. "No, it's not. I can't help you to understand why your friend was willing to betray you. All I can say is grieve for his death if you want, but don't blame yourself for his actions. He brought it on upon himself. If you hadn't killed him tonight, someone else would have."

"I'll never trust anyone that much again," Ken vowed, his voice muffled in his arms.

"If that makes you feel better." Yohji dropped the filter of the cigarette onto the rooftop and crushed it behind his shoe. "Pick yourself up and live on, Ken. If it still hurts, you know where to find Omi or I. After all, Weiss is the only one you can trust now."

That was a year ago and Ken never forgot those words.

Weiss was indeed the only people he could trust with his life and heart, for they were all in the same boat. They were bonded together by blood and death, pain and destruction. Their lives were no longer their own and they could only exist by pretending to be someone else.

Even if they were to betray him, Ken knew it wouldn't be out of a desire to do so.

Then Omi told him about Yohji's secret and Ken feared that the same kind of shit was about to happen again, this time by Yohji's hand.

And Ken would be damned if he just stand by and do nothing about it.

Chapter Seventeen

The sky was the colorless gray of the moment that hung between night and dawn when Ran finally returned to Takatori's estate. He easily stole past the guards and glided through the gardens, silent and noiseless, as he made his way back to his bedroom. The mansion was still asleep; no one was up yet - a tiny bit of luck he was grateful for.

Now if only he could slip past his master. Ran knew Takatori wouldn't be pleased with his staying-out for the whole night. Every time he went out on his own, it was with the unspoken order to return as soon as possible. He had greatly pushed the limit last night.

But it was worth it.

Ran smiled at the memory of their lovemaking. He had never felt so contented or so blissful as he lay entwined with Yohji among the sheets in their little sanctuary, making slow sweet love to each other, savoring every precious moment. They spoke little and let their hands did all the talking, with touches and caresses, speaking for their hearts. They had spent the last two weeks talking plenty anyway.

Last night was the consummation of their relationship, an expression of their mutual love, an unspoken acknowledgement of the uncertain future and the determination to make every moment count. It was the kind of memory to be secreted away for safekeeping, far away from taint of his life, so it would be there when he needed it most.

With a leap, Ran easily jumped up to the balcony of his third-floor bedroom. He pushed open the balcony doors and paused at the threshold, amethyst eyes unerringly homed in to the man seated at the settee, back facing him. For a panicked moment, Ran's heart leapt into his throat before settling down. He hastily pulled his ice mask back on again and buried his memories of last night deep into the recesses of his mind.

"You've been gone the whole night, Ran." Takatori remarked calmly.

"Gomen nasai," Ran replied in his usual monotone. He closed the balcony doors and stepped further into his bedroom, keeping a safe distance between him and Takatori. "I spent the night at Aya-chan's side."

"That's funny. I called the hospital's night desk. The nurse on duty told me you never showed up."

"I sneaked in."

"And why would you do that, I wonder?"

"I didn't want to draw attention."

To Ran's unease, Takatori began to laugh, a dark ugly laugh. He watched his master warily as Takatori rose to his feet and turned to glare at him.

"Didn't want to draw attention?"

Ran involuntarily fell back a step as Takatori advanced menacingly towards him. Fury blazed deep in his master's eyes, only once he had seen that fury before, which made fear to coil deep in his stomach and squeezed his heart.

"Who are you trying to fool?!"

"Reiji-sama, I don't understand -" The heavy blow landing across his face was swift and completely unexpected. Ran stumbled and went sprawling to the floor. One hand covering his throbbing cheek, he stared up with fearful eyes at Takatori towering above him.

"I know what you did behind my back!" Takatori accused.

No.

"How dare you! I rescued you when you have nothing and desperate for help. In exchange, all I ask for is your devotion and this is how you repay me?! By taking another to your bed?!"

Ran saw Takatori's hand rising once more to strike him. Despite himself, he instinctively threw up his arm, blocking the blow, and knew at once he had made things worse. Takatori didn't like it when he asserted himself.

Takatori's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Grown a backbone now, have you?"

Ran did not lower his arm. "How did you find out?"

"You may strength your shields all you can, Ran, but you can't hide from me. I felt everything you did." With a quickness that belied his size, Takatori seized Ran by his hair, lifting him. "Who is he? Tell me!"

"Nobody!" Ran gasped out, eyes watering from the painful grip. "Nobody, I swear!"

"We shall see."

Amethyst eyes widened in fear as Takatori covered Ran's face with his other hand - and forced his way into his mind.

Ran screamed.

Pain ripped through his head, as Takatori's black acidic presence tore down his defenses and clawed through the soft exposed places in his mind, forcibly ripping out all his memories to be examined and discarded aside. A helpless moan of anguish slipped from his mouth as he felt Takatori's black slimy taint seizing hold of his memories of last night, scrutinizing it so closely before hurling it away in jealous fury. He couldn't fight the invasion; he was paralyzed, powerless against the vicious cruel violation that burned and tore him apart.

When he was finally released, he collapsed onto the floor in a quivering mess of pain and shock. His mind felt raw, like an open gaping wound bleeding so bad that he could barely sense Takatori's fury rising to dangerous levels.

"Traitor," Takatori snarled. "You dare to have an affair with my enemy?"

"Please…" Ran managed to get up to a sitting position. "Don't hurt him."

"Spare his life?" Takatori sneered. "You should have thought of that before you spread your legs for him, slut. Do you care that little for your precious sister?"

A new frisson of fear snaked through Ran.

"I hold her life and her cure in my hand. With a snap of a finger, I can terminate her life just like that."

"No," he whispered. "Leave her out of this."

Takatori smiled cruelly. "Your transgression must be punished, Ran. And what better way than to inflict it on your beloved sister?"

To Ran's horror, he lifted his hand as though to snap his fingers.

"NO!" The redhead lunged forward and grabbed the other's man hand, stopping the movement. "Don't hurt her! Onegai, Reiji-sama! Don't hurt her! I'll do anything you ask, just please, don't hurt her."

"Anything?"

"Y-yes. Anything."

Takatori leaned down and whispered into his ear, "Kill him."

Ran froze.

"With your own hands, with your own sword, kill him." Takatori straightened up; looking down at Ran slumped on the floor, too stunned to even think. "Tonight. Kill your lover and your sister will remain unharmed."

Oh God, how did this happened? To kill Yohji because he dare to love a Gem…to kill the only person who made his life so much bearable. He can't do it. He loved Yohji very much. The blond man was so precious to him. But his sister, his beloved sister whom he vowed to protect no matter what - he can't allow her to get hurt. There was no one beside him to protect his imouto.

If you fight him, he will order me to kill you and I will kill you.

Ran's face contorted in agony. He told Yohji that so long ago. He knew it to be true, but the fact and reality were often different. It never said anything of the pain of the deed.

"Well?"

"…Hai," he forced the word out. Inside, Ran wept, feeling as though there was a knife twisting in his heart. I'm sorry, Yohji, so sorry. I don't have a choice. For Aya-chan…I have to protect her.

* * *

Unaware of his lover's plight, Yohji was in an exceptionally good mood when he returned home. The self-loathing that threatened to drown him was gone, replaced by a renewed sense of hope and determination, all thanks to Ran. His lover's steadfast belief and love in him was nothing short of humbling.

And it was enough.

As long as Ran continued to believe in him, he would be able to carry out his promise. No matter the price.

Yohji's musing ceased when he stepped into the kitchen for a morning snack, and saw both Omi and Ken seated at the dining table, both looking grim.

No, wait.

Omi looked uncomfortable and guilty but Ken looked like a thundercloud. And from the looks of it, both of them had been up all night.

Not good.

"Yohji, we need to talk." Ken said without preamble. He discreetly took a sniff and frowned even harder. "Right now."

"Can't it wait till after breakfast?"

The brunette scowled at him.

"All right," Yohji sighed. Somewhat wary, he sat down in the chair opposite them and lit a cigarette. "So talk."

"Yohji-kun."

"Hai, chibi?"

"Omi squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. "Gomen nasai. But I had to tell Ken."

Damn.

"It just doesn't feel right to keep it to myself," Omi confessed.

"What the hell are you thinking?!" Ken burst out angrily. "How could you sleep with the enemy?!"

Omi gaped. "Um, Ken-kun, I thought I said he only helped the enemy on a mission?" he ventured hesitantly.

"It runs deeper than that, Omi." Ken replied grimly. "For two weeks now, I have been smelling a foreign scent on him. One I remembered coming across but I forgotten where. It was too faint for me to put an ID on it but it always nagged at my memory. But when you told me about the mission, I finally remembered where I had smelled it before."

Yohji kept silent, wary and tense.

"It was up in the mountains when we first fought against the Blood Diamond. That was his scent." Ken slammed his palms against the table top, leaning forward to glare at Yohji. "He has been seeing the Blood Diamond behind our backs for two weeks, maybe even longer. And if my nose is correct, even had sex with him!"

Omi turned to look at Yohji, appalled. "Yohji-kun, is that true?"

"Hai."

Ken growled, while behind him, Omi looked as though he wished none of this was happening.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Ken growled out the words. "I thought you have more sense than this! The Blood Diamond belongs to Reiji Takatori, Kritiker's enemy. And we are Weiss!"

"I know that."

"Even if you aren't Weiss, befriending the Blood Diamond is still dangerous." Omi pointed out, upset. "Takatori is known to be very possessive of his Gem."

"I know that too."

"Then why the hell did you make such a dumb mistake?!" Ken yelled.

"I love him."

Both Ken and Omi stared at the blond, unable to believe what they were hearing.

Yohji stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "His name is Ran Fujimiya and I love him. That's why I did what I did. It's why I couldn't distance myself from him, not when I have seen his true self."

He took off his shades. Green eyes, calm yet hard, met their gazes.

"I know how much I am endangering the both of us and Weiss. And believe me when I say, he's endangering the one thing he wants to protect the most as well. But neither of us could stand not seeing each other."

Yohji rose to his feet, passion and anger finally showing. "I realize if either Takatori or Kritiker finds out, both of us will suffer for it. Weiss will be endangered and his sister as well. But we are willing to risk it. I love him and he loves me. So yes, I know this can't have a good ending, this is a dumb mistake and I have taken complete leave of my senses, but damn it all, I. Love. Him!"

Ken stared at him for a long moment and then said very calmly, "are you sure it's not a spell?"

Without thinking, Yohji lashed out and punched Ken in the face. "Don't you think I would know it if he tried to bewitch me?"

"You tell me," the Crossbreed snapped, green eyes flashing angrily. He wiped the blood from his cut lip. "The way you've been behaving is totally out of your character."

"And what do you know of my character?" Yohji sneered.

He stepped around the table. Ken followed suit. Both of them circled each other in the small kitchen, ignoring Omi frantically trying to stop them.

"You know nothing about me!" Yohji spat at Ken.

"You'll fuck anything on two legs and looks pretty," Ken retorted, too caught up in his rage to really know what he was saying. "And Takatori's Gem is the most beautiful thing in this world. It wouldn't be that difficult for him to seduce you just by spreading his legs."

With a roar of fury, Yohji went for his throat.

Both men went crashing across the kitchen, grappling and wrestling. The dining table broke into twos under their combined weight as they tussled, sending them sprawling to the floor and still they fought on, landing punches with deadly intent.

"ENOUGH!"

A sudden blast of power separated the two combatants, tossing Yohji aside and hurling Ken against the wall. Both of them turned to scowl at the intruder but froze where they were.

Omi glared back at them, a single ofuda glowing brightly in his hand.

Neither of them has ever seen Omi this pissed off.

"You won't solve anything by fighting each other," the youngest of them snapped.

Ken wiped the line of blood from his cut lip, trying his best to control his temper. "I'm just trying to make him see reason."

"By insulting Ran?" Yohji growled.

"I don't care if he loves you or not. He is Takatori's Gem. He will betray you. It's just a matter of time."

"Oh shut up, Ken." Omi ordered testily. "Right now the most important thing is how to extract Yohji from this situation and still not let Kritiker know about it."

"You believe me?" Yohji asked.

"You want to endanger Weiss for him?" Ken asked at the same time.

"Yes, Yohji-kun, I believe you and we are already in danger, Ken-kun. Might as well go along with it. Besides," keen blue eyes studied Yohji thoughtfully, "if the Gem is in love with Yohji-kun, then there must something else tying him to Takatori. Am I right?"

Yohji picked himself up painfully from the floor, wincing as a twinge went through his body. "You are much too clever for your own good, do you know that?"

"Why do you think I'm leader of Weiss? So spill."

"I promise I'll free him," Yohji admitted, "And his sister."

"Oh good lord," Ken muttered.

Omi shot the brunette a glare. To Yohji, he said, "You will have to kill Takatori to accomplish that."

"We're Weiss, and Kritiker is constantly looking for a way to oust Takatori from Magnopolis. There will be a chance. I just have to be patient."

"And in the meantime pray Takatori doesn't find out about your affair with his Gem," Ken added caustically. "You should have called it off when you had the chance."

"I tried."

Ken paused, hearing the strangely calm resignation in Yohji's voice.

"On Takatori's island," Yohji continued in a distant voice, "when I found out about his identity. It also took me less than a day to realize it was too late. I could no longer turn away from him."

Green eyes turned to Ken, serene and filled with a hopeless kind of acceptance. It was the look of a man who knew he had willingly fallen into a trap with no way out and neither did he want to fight against it. It was that look in Yohji's eyes, more than anything else, that diffused Ken's anger.

"Of all the things you have to be, it's to be a star-crossed lover," Ken groused with significantly less heat than before.

Yohji smiled faintly.

Silence descended, all three contemplating the consequences of Yohji's actions. The shrill ringing of Yohji's cell phone broke the silence, startling everyone.

Yohji pulled his cell phone from his pocket. "Hello?"

"…"

He frowned. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"…Yohji?"

"Ran?"

Both Omi and Ken tensed, looking intently at the blond playboy.

"Ran, are you okay?" Yohji asked softly, worriedly. He could hear the strain in his lover's voice as Ran fought to keep back his emotions.

"He found out."

There was no need to ask who Ran was talking about. "Did he hurt you?"

"I'm all right," Ran was quick to answer. Too quick, in fact. "Yohji…" A quick shuddering breath and then Ran said in the calmest voice he could manage, "He ordered me to kill you."

Yohji closed his eyes, unsurprised at all. "He did, huh?"

"Meet me tonight, at eleven. The abandoned fairground at Mayland."

"I'll be there."

"Y-Yohji?"

"I'm here, Ran."

"I…I…" Another strangled sound and the line went dead.

Yohji slowly put down his cell phone, looking at his friends staring at him expectedly. "Takatori found out," he told them quietly.

Ken cursed.

"He ordered Ran to kill me. Tonight."

"Are you going?" Ken demanded.

"Yes."

"But you can't go!" Omi objected.

The slightest of a smile curved Yohji's lips. "I knew this might happen."

"So you're just going to go there and give up your life?" Ken asked accusingly.

Yohji shook his head. "No, I have an idea but I'll need your help. I want you to rescue his sister. Ran doesn't want to fight me. If we can get his sister away from Takatori, it'll be easy for me to persuade him to drop the fight."

"And then what?" Ken asked skeptically. "The both of you go after Takatori, kill him to set the Gem free?"

"Yes. In a nutshell."

"I don't like it."

"You don't have to, Ken. But this is the only way to keep Weiss safe, isn't it? And Kritiker don't have to know either, right, Omi?"

"No," the younger blond agreed readily.

Ken growled. He utterly hated the entire idea. "This whole thing is just going to blow up in our faces, Omi."

"Not if we do this right. If we manage to get rid of Takatori, Kritiker will have one less adversary to worry about." Omi cracked his knuckles in anticipation. "This is Weiss' current mission. Yohji, join me in the mission room after you help Ken to clean up the kitchen. I'll be down there planning the mission."

Omi left the kitchen for the mission room, leaving the both older assassins in the kitchen.

With a groan, Yohji started to pick up the broken pieces of the table. He hated housekeeping with a passion but the kitchen was Omi's domain and incurring the young assassin's wrath was never a good idea.

"Go down to the mission room."

Yohji looked up at Ken.

"You go help Omi. I'll clean up here." Suiting action to words, Ken knelt down to the task. He still refused to meet Yohji's gaze. "I bet you didn't sleep a wink last night. Go help Omi and then get some rest. You'll need it for tonight."

"Thanks."

Ken glared at him, though it carried less heat this time. "I'm still angry at you, Yohji. So don't thank me."

"If you say so."

Yohji rose to his feet. Pausing next to his friend, he laid a hand on Ken's shoulder and murmured the words to a healing spell. Ken couldn't help but sigh in relief as warmth suddenly spread throughout his body and all his various aches and pains from their brief fight disappeared in its wake.

"Just to be clear, I still don't appreciate your insults about Ran." Yohji said casually as he turned the healing spell onto himself.

Ken remained motionless kneeling by the broken table as Yohji walked past him to leave the kitchen, saying, "I can understand how our relationship seem like from your point of view but you should never judge a book by its cover."

Yohji paused at the doorway and tossed back the parting shot. "You, of all people, should know how dangerous that is. Ne, Ken?"

Alone in the kitchen, Ken slammed his fist against the floor. "Kuso!"

An enemy is an enemy, no matter how much you try to deny it. Nothing good can come from defying Fates. Damn it, Yohji! Why can't you see that?