Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ To Fall Again ❯ Painful Memories ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 2: Painful Memories

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Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Warning: Nothing too graphic . . . just a reference to sex. No actual sex . . . not even a little foreplay. You are free to hate me now. Anyway, read it before you kill me.

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"Fuck," Ran grumbled as the alarm clock went off at eight as usual. He shut off the alarm and groaned as a headache of migraine proportions throbbed behind his eyelids. He considered on skipping out on work today, but Aya had morning classes today and Ken had a meeting with 'Persia' . . . a.k.a., Omi. So, he dragged his ass out of bed and stumbled down the hallway to the bathroom.

He squinted in pain as he turned on the bathroom light. To say that he felt like shit would be a gross understatement of the truth. Ran managed to shuffle over to the medicine cabinet and get some aspirin. He swallowed the pills and splashed some cold water on his face before he was able to bring himself to look at his reflection.

Anguished amethyst eyes stared back at him, bloodshot with dark circles underneath from lack of sleep. His cheeks and lips looked more pale than usual, and his short hair was a tangled mess. He ran his fingers through the crimson tresses as he remembered the reason he went back to his old hairstyle. Yohji had loved his longer hair, so, when Yohji left, he cut it. He disentangled his fingers from a long eartail before turning from his reflection. He didn't want to look at himself anymore . . . there was nothing to look at but the empty shell of a man.

He wondered briefly how an empty person could feel so much pain as he turned on the shower. He stripped off Yohji's old blue tank top and grey track shorts before taking a piss. He knew he was pathetic by wearing the older man's clothes, but he just couldn't let the blonde go. Seeing Yohji yesterday had reminded Ran just how much he missed the blonde's presence in his life. He sighed as he stepped under the warm spray of the shower, pushing thoughts of Yohji to the back of his mind for the time being.

~*~*~*~*~

"Yohji . . ." The blonde felt, rather than heard, the pleading voice in his ear. He groaned as he thrust his tongue into the yielding, kiss-swollen mouth. The warm, moist cavern tasted like honey and green tea, and Yohji found himself deepening the kiss in an attempt to drown out every flavor with that of his own with a frantic need to consume and possess the desperate creature clinging to him.

Yohji tore his mouth from his soon-to-be lover's as he tried to force air into his oxygen-starved lungs. Need and desperation still heated his blood and made his groin throb painfully from unfulfilled desire.

"I need you," he moaned into a pale, delicate ear adorned with a long, slender gold earring.

"This is crazy. We have to stop." The words were those of protest, but violet eyes were smoldering with unrestrained passion, and slender hips pushed froward to grind concealed, but noticeable, erections together.

"I can't stop, and I don't really think either of us want to, even if we could." Yohji grabbed his lover by the hand and began to lead him upstairs.

"You're wounded, you moron." Yohji tucked a long honeyed lock of his hair behind his ear and looked down at his torso where his midriff top allowed an unobscured view of a thick, padded bandage on his right side.

"I'm fine, but I'll be a lot better once I'm buried hip-deep inside you." Yohji slammed the shorter man against the door of the man's bedroom.

"Why?" The door opened and the two men stumbled into the sparsely furnished room, their hands stripping each other of their clothes. The sounds of zippers being undone and heavy leather hitting the floor provided the frantic soundtrack to their lust.

"Help me forget just for tonight . . . forget Asuka and Maki. Don't worry, Ayan, I'll be gone by morning and you can back to being the ice prince. I won't even tell anyone how you melted." Yohji pushed the shorter man to the bed, trying to ignore the look of soul-shattering pain that briefly dulled violet eyes. He gently lowered himself to cover the pale body underneath him, sprawled out in masculine perfection. As soon as their bare skin touched, Yohji's jade eyes met surprised amethyst, and he felt an overwhelming tenderness fill his soul. Just for tonight, he wanted to cherish and protect the trembling form underneath him, but somewhere, in the back of his mind, he knew. He knew deep down in the depths of his hollow heart and soiled soul that one night could never truly be enough. He knew that, after this night, the man underneath him would soon become his most desperate addiction . . . the addiction known as Fujimiya Aya. It was frightening . . . but he would take tonight with everything left in him and make it wonderful. Because, more likely than not, tonight was all that he had.

"Yohji . . ."

~*~*~*~*~

The blonde woke with a start. That was some dream, quite a change from the usually present nightmares. He groaned as he shifted, the cool sheets sliding against the heat of his erection. He couldn't remember the last time he woke from a dead sleep so aroused.

He laid there for a moment, willing the erection to go away to no avail. All he could see were violet eyes, dark with passion, kiss-swollen lips, and a pale, muscular body, begging to be touched. He knew he was fantasizing about Ran and that made him ache even more. The only thing that truly disturbed him was the fact that he had referred to the redhead by a bastardized version of his sister's name . . . and who the hell was Maki? Old Sigmund Freud would have fun trying to figure out that one.

He pushed all thoughts out of his mind as he lowered his hand and grasped his arousal. He tried to concentrate on what it would be like to bury himself in the redhead's body, and started a gentle stroking motion from root to tip. He imagined violet eyes staring up at him as he pushed into the warm tightness of the Ran's body. His strokes became faster and more desperate and the smell of arousal permeated the room.

"Oh fuck," he moaned, feeling the tightness is his groin and the heat pooling in his stomach. He ran his thumb over the glistening tip of his cock to spread the pre-come over the hardened length of him. He panted as his strokes became faster and more desperate. He pulled his knees up and spread his legs, thrusting his hips into the air, trying to satisfy the lust consuming him. A few moments later, Yohji reached his orgasm, the suddenness of it taking him by surprise.

He laid there, panting, as he came back to himself, and grimaced at the mess streaking his torso and staining his sheets. Taking a quick glace at the clock, he climbed out of bed, and headed for the bathroom. He dodged his cat, an Abyssinian, but bent down momentarily to scratch it behind the ears. "Hey cat, one of these days I'll actually name you." He didn't have time to contemplate a name for his too expensive cat, he only had two hours to get ready and get to the Koneko before Ran left for lunch.

On the way to the shower, he couldn't help but think about the oddities of his dream. It was almost like a memory. He looked down at his bare torso and noticed the scar on his right side, right above where the waistline of his boxers would be (had he been wearing any). It looked almost like he had been shot. Maybe he had been and the dream really was a memory. If that was the case, wouldn't Ran have at least told him that he remembered him?

"I must be losing my mind. It was just a dream, Yohji. Get over it," the blonde spoke to himself. He looked in the mirror quickly, and started to turn away before changing his mind and looking closer instead. "Maybe I could let my hair grow out though."

********

Yohji walked through the door of the flower shop, the smell of various flowers assaulting his senses. Aya was no where to be seen and neither was Ken. Ran was alone, and busy with a customer. That meant he didn't see the blonde sneak in. Yohji smiled and walked over to one of the coolers housing flowers and saw a beautiful bouquet of cattleya orchids and red roses. The purple of the orchids contrasted beautifully with the crimson of the roses. He grabbed the bouquet about the time Ken and another young man walked through the door. The younger of the two men held the door for the lady who had just made a purchase.

"It's about time," Ran growled as he walked out from behind the counter as Ken put on an apron and replaced the redhead. The young gentleman, who looked really familiar, blinked owlishly at the redhead, his big blue eyes looking hurt.

"Ran-kun?"

"Get your ass over here." The young man complied to the harshly spoken demand only to be pulled into a fierce bear hug. "How you doing, kiddo?"

"Tired. You wouldn't believe how busy I stay anymore. I almost miss the fangirls." The young blonde smiled, his big blue eyes lighting up his face.

"Hey, I know who you are now. You're the commish, Takatori Mamarou" Yohji stated as he walked toward the counter and handed Ken the bouquet. The younger man looked at Ran, then Ken, before looking back at Yohji with shock.

"Uh . . ."

"I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Yohji. I was just here to pick up Ran to take him to lunch. Actually, I'm probably going to need your help in talking him into it." Yohji paid Ken for the flowers before handing them to Ran, who ignored him. "See, hellcat, I even brought you flowers."

"Ran-kun?" Omi looked at the redhead who was furiously shaking his head no. Omi was so confused. Yohji was here? In the Koneko? Asking Ran on a date? Ken had told him about the day before, but hearing and seeing it was two totally different things.

"See what I mean? He's always shooting me down." Yohji looked deep into the redhead's eyes and it seemed like the world stood still. It felt as if he had been here in this moment before . . . looking into resisting amethyst pools, edged with hope?, maybe. If he hadn't loved this man in the past, he was certainly capable of falling in love with him now. Furthermore, had he known Ran before, it would be difficult to believe that he could be around him and not fall in love.

"Ran would be more than happy to go out with you, wouldn't you Ran?" Omi could read the redhead's face loud and clear. Ran wanted to hurt him . . . and badly. So, Omi returned a look that said, 'If you don't go, I'll make your life very miserable.'

"Fine, but I'm driving." Ran started to walk off to get his keys, but Yohji stopped him.

"Matte! You forgot these," he said as he once again handed the bouquet to the redhead. "You need to put them in water." Ran's eyes narrowed and he growled before grabbing the flowers and storming off.

"Hey thanks Takatori-san. I owe you one." Yohji put his arm around the younger man, causing him to blush.

"It was my pleasure. Anytime. Well, I guess I better get going." Omi looked directly at Ken, giving him a sad little smile.

"Too bad we didn't get more time. We hardly see each other anymore," Ken said with disappointment.

"I know Ken-kun. I really miss the old days . . . as demented as that sounds." They shared a knowing smile. "Well, I have to get back to work. I'll see you around Ken-kun."

"See ya later Chibi." The two young men hugged and Omi started out the door.

"I'll walk you out," Yohji stated, holding open the door.

"Thank you, Yohji-san." Omi turned back, waved at Ken, and preceded Yohji outside.

"The way I see it," the blonde started, catching Omi's attention, "you need to tell him how you feel."

"I'm sorry?"

"Tell, Ken-ken in there how you feel. It's obvious that you're just crazy about him." Omi opened his mouth to protest, but Yohji held up a hand and stopped him. "Want in on a little secret? Ken-ken just adores you, but is too chicken to admit it."

"I think you're wrong, Yohji-san. Ken is as straight as they come," the younger man said sadly.

"That's where you're wrong. He just thought he was, but now he's not too sure. I think that he might be afraid that you'll think less of him if you knew that he was attracted to you, but if he knew you felt the same way . . . he would figure out which side of the fence he should be on."

"I'll think about it. Thank you." Silence descended on them for a moment. "So, what do you do for a living, Yohji-san?"

"Well, when I lived in Kyoto, I was an accountant. I hate math. I can't imagine why I would have ever chosen that for a profession. Office jobs make me feel claustrophobic. So, when I moved here, I decided that I couldn't handle another one, so I really haven't found me a job yet."

"Well, I'm currently looking for an assistant if you're interested . . ."

"No." The two blondes jumped at the sound of the deep voice.

"What do you mean, 'no'?" Omi growled.

"Don't, Omi. Would you think for a damn minute?" Ran couldn't believe that Omi had actually thought of bringing Yohji back into all this . . . going against the agreement. It was better if Yohji continued to forget.

"I think I can speak for myself, although I appreciate the concern." Yohji turned to Omi. "Thanks Takatori-san, I'll think about it."

"Can we get this over with so I can get on with my life?" Ran shifted his weight and sighed.

"Not much of a life anymore, is it Ran-kun? You two have a good time, and please consider my offer, Yohji-san." With that, Omi handed Yohji his business card and walked off, leaving a livid Ran and a confused Yohji.

"You ready, hellcat?" Yohji put an arm around the redhead's shoulders just to have it shrugged off as Ran walked toward the car. "I thought you drove a Jag."

"I'm keeping the Jag for someone. This is my car." Ran climbed behind the driver's seat of the Porsche and waited for Yohji to get in. "Where are we going?"

"Just drive by the deli. I'll pick up our lunch and then we can head for the park for a picnic." Yohji stretched his legs out as far as the front seat would allow and adjusted his sunglasses.

"Picnic . . . great."

********

"You know, you could at least act like you're having a good time." Yohji chuckled at the glare the redhead shot him.

"If you remember correctly, I didn't want to come." Ran sighed. This wasn't right. It was like nothing had changed, and he and Yohji were still a couple . . . if you could call it that.

"You need to loosen up, hellcat. This could be fun if you allow it to be. But right now you are so dead set to be miserable that you're making yourself miserable. I'm really not that bad of a guy . . . or least I don't think I am." Yohji shrugged.

"Aren't you married or something? I can see the tan line from your ring." Ran hated to admit it, but that had been bugging him from the moment he saw Yohji standing in front of him.

"Oh, yeah, that. Well, uh, see, it's actually a very funny story. First, I wake up in a hospital and I can't remember anything but the fact that my first name is Yohji. Then, I meet this cute little nurse named Asuka, and she won my heart I guess. Next thing I know, I'm out of the hospital with no past, but making a future with my new wife. Then, about three months ago, she told me she was pregnant. I was ecstatic. Then come to find out . . . this is the funny part . . . the baby isn't mine. Go on, laugh it up, Lord knows I did. Anyway, my divorce became final yesterday. So, to make a long story short, no, I'm not married." Yohji looked over at Ran with a crooked little grin only to see violet eyes dark with rage.

"I can't believe this." Ran stood quickly, dusting the leaves and grass off his pants and started walking quickly toward his car.

"Matte!" Yohji stumbled to his feet and ran after the infuriated redhead. Finally catching up with him, he grabbed Ran by the arm and turned him around.

"Let me go," the redhead growled deep in his throat.

"What is your problem?" Yohji noticed that Ran had started shaking and was afraid that he was going to have another panic attack.

"I don't play games, Egami, so let me go." Ran tried to jerk away only to have himself pinned against a nearby tree.

"Whose playing games? I want to get to know you. Is that so hard to believe?" Those big emerald eyes filled with pain. It was the same look Yohji had used the first time to get Ran to sleep with him. That day when Maki conjured up the memories of Asuka stronger than ever before. Yohji had used it successfully then . . . taking Ran's virginity, his heart, and his very soul. Could the redhead risk giving into that look again?

"Don't you think it is a little too soon to be thinking of another relationship? It has only been three months . . . the pain would still have to be raw as hell. I know. I've been there, done that, and it has been two years, but it still . . ." Ran shut his mouth before he revealed more than what he already had.

"It still what, hellcat? It still grips your heart in a vise and takes your breath away? I felt that way the entire time I was married when I would wake from these dreams. Dreams of a lover I couldn't see, only feel deep down in my soul. I would wake up wondering why . . . why hadn't this person come for me? Because, during the dream, I could feel their love for me. It was so overwhelming, so complete and inspiring that I wouldn't want to wake up because I knew my own wife could never love me so totally. It broke my heart to think that he or she could be out there . . . maybe wondering where I was, maybe not caring, or maybe dead. I think the last one played in my mind the most. I was told that I was caught inside a building when it collapsed. So, what if my dream lover was in that building too, only they didn't make it." Yohji felt a lump form in his throat as he thought back on all the dreams he had of the mystery lover.

"What if they just wanted you to be happy?" Ran asked softly.

"I would find it hard to believe that someone would be so self-sacrificing to do that. And, who's to say that forgetting everything would make me happy. Surely my life before wasn't so bad. What, was I a killer or something?" Yohji chuckled and Ran flinched.

"It still comes down to this . . . I'm not going to be your rebound relationship." Ran leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes. Why could Yohji just leave him alone?

"What is going to take in order for you to understand that this is not a rebound situation? Yeah, so I'm recently divorced. Yet, through the entire duration of my marriage, I always felt that there was something more out there. When I first came back to Tokyo, I was in a deep depression. I thought it was because I had lost the most important person in my life. After I calmed down, I realized the reason I was depressed was because I was alone with no one who knew me. Hell, I didn't even know myself. I hadn't been alone since I woke up in the hospital. I was lonely, not heartbroken. Needless to say, I'm probably not as crushed as I should be. Don't push me away before you even get to know me, Ran." Yohji gently caressed the redhead's flushed cheek, and Ran felt tears prickle behind his eyelids. Yohji may have forgotten who he was, but he still knew how to touch Ran in such a way as to go straight to the heart of him.

"I-I can't. I can't do this." Ran's voice trembled as he spoke.

"Why? Why do you want to hate me?" Yohji lowered his face so his breath would tickle the sensitive skin of the redhead's neck as he spoke.

"Because I don't hate you, and it hurts too much to like you." Ran swallowed hard. He needed to go home now. He needed to be away from Yohji.

"I don't intend on hurting you, kitty cat. That's the last thing on my mind," Yohji whispered softly against the redhead's lips before taking them in a soft, sweet kiss.

Ran's breath caught painfully in his lungs, making his chest feel tight and his heart pound. He shouldn't have let this happen. It can't be allowed to happen. He had to stop this. He broke the kiss abruptly, jerking his head away as far as his position would allow.

"Yohji, stop," he almost begged.

"Okay, okay. I'll stop . . . for now. This is far from over, Ran. I don't give up very easily." Yohji backed off, leaving Ran to stand there and tremble like a frightened child. "I'll go get the stuff, you stay here and collect yourself." Ran watched as Yohji packed up what was left of the picnic and let himself admit that he did have a good time today . . . not that he would ever tell the blonde that.

"Do you need help?" The redhead's voice came out strained and weak.

"Nah, I got it. Let's get you back to work before you get in trouble." The two men walked in silence to the vehicle. Ran opened the trunk and helped Yohji pack up the remains of the delicious picnic before crawling into the driver's seat. He sighed and laid his head against the steering wheel, feeling old and tired.

"Ran?" He looked up at the sound of his name and saw Yohji looking at him with worry in his emerald eyes. "Do you feel okay to drive?"

"I'm fine." The redhead started the car and backed out of the parking place.

"So, what are we doing tomorrow? It is Saturday after all and I noticed that the flower shop is only open half a day on Saturdays." Ran looked at the blonde in disbelief.

"You can't be serious. After I just told you I wanted nothing to do with you, you still insist on going out with me? Don't you know when to quit?"

"'Fraid not. I already told you that I'm not giving up. So, you might as well get that thought into that pretty red head of yours." Yohji again reached for his pocket in agitation.

"No smoking in my car," Ran stated without thinking.

"I don't smoke. At least, I don't think I do." Yohji's eyes narrowed for a moment. "Do I smoke, Ran?"

"How the hell should I know? Most people who smoke keep their cigarettes in the inside pocket of their jackets. You show the classic symptoms of someone in desperate need of a cigarette." Ran was proud of the quick recovery he made on that fumble.

"Are you hiding something from me Ran?" Yohji didn't seem convinced. Maybe it was last night's dream, maybe it was the familiarity with the redhead's presence, or maybe it was that he wanted Ran to be part of his past so badly…whatever it was, Yohji felt that Ran wasn't telling him everything.

"You barely know me, there is a lot you don't know about me. It doesn't mean that I'm keeping anything from you, Egami. Just drop it, because we're back and I don't have time to argue with you." Ran pulled into the garage and got out of the car. Yohji hurried out behind him, catching him by the time he got to front of the vehicle to get the food out of trunk. The blonde pinned him to the trunk before he had a chance to open it.

"I want to know you, Ran. Please just give me a chance." Yohji lowered his mouth to Ran's and manipulated the full lips under his, and the redhead was starting to respond this time.

"Am I interrupting something?" Yohji mentally damned Ran's sister's bad timing.

"No, actually, you were just saving Egami-san from a very dangerous situation." Ran opened the trunk of his car and turned around and stalked off into the building.

"I take it things didn't go well?"

"Let's just say that if your brother had the ability to do so, I would spontaneously combust." Yohji watched the tight little ass as it disappeared into the back door of the flower shop.

"I'm so sorry, Yohji. I really thought Ran would be ready to move on by now. He's been alone for so long, and I just want him to be happy." Aya felt tears come to her eyes as she remembered the scene she came home to the day before.

"He is, baby, he's just afraid to. Just give him time to get used to the idea." Yohji paused in thought for a moment. "Maybe I should back off a little. You know, go with the whole 'I just want to be friends' angle. Do you think that could work?"

"It's possible. Just make sure you don't hurt him, Yohji. His last relationship wasn't that great, but he worked so hard to make it work. I wasn't around to see it for myself, but Ken did and knows that it almost destroyed Ran when it ended." There was a fire in Aya's blue-violet eyes that reminded Yohji of Ran.

"What happened, if you don't mind me asking? I mean, what was it about this mystery relationship that has Ran so dead set that I'm out to hurt him?" Yohji watched as Aya warred with her conscious. She was debating on whether she should be the one that told the blonde just what he had done in the past.

"Well, it wasn't always bad. Ken said that there were times that Ran was almost a completely different person than what he is now. The thing was, the relationship wasn't always the most stable. When times were good, they were the best, but when times were bad, it tore Ran apart. I don't know all the details, but apparently this guy had a former lover that he couldn't get over, and he used Ran and women to try to forget her. Fidelity wasn't exactly a part of this guy's routine. Ran eventually got tired of waiting around for this guy to decide that Ran is what he wanted. So, Ran left, or at least threatened to. I guess that was the reforming factor because their relationship grew serious, and from that point, Ran was so happy. Then there was an accident, and Ran lost his lover. It almost killed him. I just want him to be happy again. I haven't seen him happy since before our parents died."

"Just give him time, princess. But it sounds like to me that Ran is better off without this guy." Yohji finished fishing his stuff out of Ran's car and shut the trunk to see a very shocked brunette woman standing next to a young man about the same age as the commissioner. Yohji blinked a couple of times before waving and offering a small smile.

"Uh . . . Aya, are Ken and Ran inside?" The lady asked.

"They should be. Ken should be in the shop, and Ran is probably hiding in the greenhouse or the storeroom. I'll be there in a minute to watch the shop." The woman nodded at Aya before looking back at Yohji with shock.

"I can probably guess why Ran is hiding," the young man stated and walked up to the blonde. "Listen, Fujimiya is . . . unbalanced . . . at best. You better watch yourself around him. If you hurt him, you will pray for hell because it will be heaven compared to what Hidaka and I will do to you." With that, the young man and the brunette lady walked into the flower shop.

"That kid certainly has some nerve," Yohji murmured.

"Nagi is a little . . . intense. Just ignore him. He really can be a nice guy once you get to know him." Aya looked at the door to the shop, then back at Yohji. "Well, I guess I better get in there. Have a nice afternoon, Yohji-kun and I hope to see you soon." Aya disappeared into the house.

"Yeah, I'll see you soon, but next time I'm going to bring some guard dog repellant."

********

Ken was sitting at an arranging table in the middle of the shop, staring off into space. The memories of life before the 'incident' and after the 'incident' played in his mind. One scene played more than most. It was the night that Ran had found out that Yohji was married. That little fact probably enforced it in Ran's mind that Yohji wasn't going to remember him anytime soon and had decided to move on rather than try to remember . . . at least that was the way Ran saw it. Ken still had nightmares about that night and the morning after. They had not seen Ran for most of the day, considering, after he calmed down, he stormed out of the shop and seemingly disappeared into the sea of bodies in the middle of Tokyo rush hour. It just went downhill from there.

~*~*~*~*~

"Omi, has Ran come back yet?" Ken asked as he returned to the kitchen after coming from upstairs.

"I haven't seen him. Why do you ask?" Omi looked up from the phone book to meet Ken's worried gaze.

"I think I heard a thump in the training room, but I can't get in . . . it's locked." Omi stood and went to fetch his darts while Ken retrieved his bugnucks. They snuck through the hall and up to the door to the dojo. Ken kicked open the door and Omi rolled inside, ready to throw his darts at any possible intruder. Instead, he found Ran in the middle of the padded floor, in a pool of blood.

"Oh gods . . . Ran." At the sound of Omi's worried cry, Ken rushed into the room to see Omi over an unconscious Ran.

"Ken-kun . . . you have to call Manx. Ran has lost a lot of blood." Ken walked over to Omi to see where exactly Ran had been hurt.

"What happed?" Ken asked cautiously.

"He's slit his wrists, Ken-kun. Ran tried to kill himself." Tears began to well up in Omi's eyes. "You have to hurry Ken-kun. We can't lose him. I need him to be here Ken-kun . . . he's family."

"I'm on it. Just try your best to stop the bleeding." Ken rushed from the room.

Fifteen minutes later, they found themselves sitting in the emergency room waiting area of Magicbus hospital with Manx. Ran was rushed to surgery to close the self-inflicted wounds and have a blood transfusion. At least that was what the EMT said would probably happen as soon as they got to the hospital.

"You guys need to go down to the University and find Aya-chan and bring her here," Manx spoke suddenly, interrupting the worried silence that fell on the group.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, he has spent all this time letting her think that he is dead, not to mention she doesn't have a clue who we are, and I would hate for Ran to wake up and us not be there for him," Ken stated.

"I will be here for Ran, so he won't be alone. And I'm sure that if you tell Aya that you know her brother, she will be more than willing to listen to you. You need to hurry and go. She should be getting out of her night class soon. It ends at 9:30, you have fifteen minutes." Manx handed over a copy of Aya-chan's schedule and her campus address.

"We'll hurry." Omi grabbed Ken by the arm and rushed from the building.

They made it to the college in record time, and saw Aya standing outside of one of the classroom buildings, talking to some friends. She looked so happy. Ran would be so content to know that Aya was enjoying her new life. But both Ken and Omi knew that Ran needed her right now . . . more than she needed to socialize with her new friends.

"Um, excuse me, Fujimiya Aya?" Omi and Ken decided that it would be better for Omi to approach the young woman . . . he looked the less threatening of the two.

"Yes, I am she. Do I know you?" One of Aya's friends leaned over and said something to her. She nodded and the small group of college students walked off, leaving Aya to talk to Omi.

"I'm afraid not, but we seem to have someone in common . . . your brother." Omi watched as Aya's lavender-blue eyes widened in shock.

"Ran? You knew Ran? Please, tell me . . . did you know my brother before he . . . this isn't some sick joke or something?" Tears spilled down pale, smooth cheeks as the delicate chin trembled.

"I know Ran now. He's alive, but something happened tonight and he may not make it. He needs you. Please tell me that you'll come with me to Magicbus hospital. He's letting go, and I think that if he knew you were there, he'll fight. Please . . . please say you'll come. He's been like a brother to me while you were sleeping." Omi could feel the tears returning as he remembered the sight of Ran's pale, unconscious body laying in a pool of blood in the middle of the dojo floor.

"Omi, we have to hurry. I don't want be gone in case something happens to Ran. He needs to know that we're still there for him." Ken knew that Omi seemed to be having trouble convincing Aya that he did in fact know her brother.

"What happened to him? Why is he in the hospital? Tell me! What could happen to him?" She grabbed Omi by the shoulders and shook him.

"He tried to kill himself. He lost a lot of blood . . . it didn't look very good when we found him. We might have been too late." Omi's voice caught on a barely repressed sob. "So much blood. I'm so sorry. I didn't know. He's so sad."

"Let's go. I have to see him." Aya let go of Omi and followed Ken to the car. "I just have one question: Why did he let me believe that he was dead for so long?"

"To protect you, and to let you remember him as he used to be . . . not what he has become. He just thinks that he doesn't deserve your love anymore," Ken explained as he opened the car door for Aya. He and Omi climbed into the car and rushed back to the hospital as fast as they could. There was still no news on the redhead's condition, so they all sat in silence, waiting to hear about the fate of a beloved family member and friend.

~*~*~*~*~

"Is Abyssinian in the greenhouse?" Ken was broke from his trance by the sound of Nagi's bored voice.

"Um, yeah, I'll go get him and meet you guys downstairs." Ken left the shop and went to the greenhouse to see Ran standing at the small sink in the corner, splashing water on his face with trembling hands. He walked over to the redhead and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Ran jumped.

"Shit, Ken, you scared the hell out of me." Ran's words were harsh, but the usual bite and sting was not found in his voice.

"Birman and Nagi are here. We have a mission," the brunette stated softly.

"Okay, let's go." Ran followed Ken out of the greenhouse and down to the basement. He knew that Weiß was no longer a group of assassins, but a group of spies. They were information gathers now, and helped to lead to legal arrests of the dark beasts they hunted. It was a rare occurrence for he, Ken or Nagi to actually kill anyone anymore. Hell, Schuldig and Crawford even got in on the fun every now and then. Ran still wasn't entirely comfortable with the little alliance between Weiß and Oracle and Mastermind, but they have proven to be helpful at times.

Yet, he wondered what this Yohji would think about the fact that Ran was a former assassin. The blonde had changed. It was like his soul had been cleansed of the blood he had spilled and was now innocent and unaware of the nastier things in life. Another reason for Ran to stay away from the former playboy . . . Yohji had begged to forget, and he had gotten that wish. Now he had and the redhead was determined that things were going to stay that way.

*********

"Takatori-san, there is a gentleman here to see you," a voice came through the intercom, startling Omi, who was busy going over the last mission report he received from Ken and Ran.

"Thank you, Erika, send him in." Omi adjusted his suit and stood up from his desk to greet his visitor. The door opened and the visitor stepped inside, determination written on their face. Omi was momentarily shocked to see who he was seeing in his office.

"I hate to bother you, Takatori-san, but you said that you had a job opening?"

"Of course, Yohji-san, come on in and have a seat and we'll talk about what the job entails." Yohji walked deeper into the office and Omi shut the door behind him.

---

Okay, that's it for this chapter. Sorry it took me so long. I hope that it doesn't suck to badly. Let me know.

I also have a question: Should there be a Omi/Ken, Aya/Nagi or Aya/Ken, Omi/Nagi...it's not extremely important, but I'd like to know what you guys think. Let me know.

Laters,

sirencirce