violet eyes
chapter 9
Aya never thought it possible that he would actually miss his coworker Teddy’s
presence. The man hadn’t done much more than tease or fluster the red head the
few days they had known each other. But the American’s absence was being keenly
felt this evening.
Teddy had taken the shift off so as to recover from the previous night. He hadn’t
felt up to returning back to work. According to Seiichi, the longhaired man’s
face was still swollen, and he was spending the evening at home with an icepack
on his jaw. That left Bacchus a bit short-staffed, especially since the man’s
older brother was also at home nursing some injuries. Much like Yohji, the man
was sporting some seriously sore ribs. All this meant that the bar was running
short two reliable employees on one of the busiest nights of the week.
The red head could hardly believe the number of people packed into the bar.
Mindful of the probability that Weiss’ target would be here at some point during
the weekend, he was constantly scanning the bar for potential suspects. Fortunately,
most of the customers were running tabs for the night, and all Aya had to due
was print off copies of their credit card slips. Other than that, there wasn’t
much more he could do for the mission at the present.
It appeared that Ken was having better luck. The brunet had arrived at the bar
shortly after Aya’s shift had started. After getting over his initial shock
of the place, and Aya’s appearance, he had started interviewing anyone willing
to talk. Word had spread of the cute student reporter covering the assault cases,
so most of the customers were eager to share gossip. Ken had also run into a
few men he had previously interviewed, and was warmly greeted. It seemed the
soccer fanatic had picked up some admirers.
Waiting at the bar for drinks, Aya let his gaze wander around until he spotted
the younger man. He was busy taking notes from a crop haired gentleman that
the swordsman recognized as a regular. Almost as if he was conscious of the
stare, Ken raised his head and looked back at Aya. He regarded the red head
with a strange expression on his face, and was blushing slightly. Aya had to
wonder what the regulars were saying about him. He had a sinking feeling that
his teammate was going to be asking some embarrassing questions about what was
going on between him and Yohji tomorrow. As if the red head had any clue himself.
He was still trying to figure out what the blonde had been so upset about earlier
tonight.
Noticing where the red head’s attention was directed, Seiichi couldn’t resist
a little teasing. He really had been working with Teddy too long. "You
know Red, I had you down for being into blondes."
Coming back to himself, Aya stared back at his amused coworker. "Pardon?"
"The brown haired guy over there, one with the gorgeous eyes. You’ve been
staring at him the past couple of minutes."
"Hn. Reminds me of someone I know," Aya replied as he fiddled with
the bracelet on his wrist.
"So I take it a jealous Yohji won’t be hobbling into the bar, hell bent
on beating some poor college student into pulp for stealing his ‘kitten’.
Aya only snorted in response.
"Well, that’s good to know. We really don’t need any more excitement around
here. Although seeing your routine with a bat seems to have calmed your customers
down a bit." The brunet began to play with some cocktail napkins. "So
you think he’s single?"
"What?" The swordsman was not sure he had heard that correctly.
"The reporter. I asked if you think he’s single. He’s pretty cute, and
I’ve always been a sucker for the athletic type. Maybe I should to try something
if he ends up in my section. What do you think?"
Placing his drinks on a tray, Aya was silent for a moment. "Sure, why not.
He looks like a soccer player to me. You could use that for an opening."
Heading back to his tables, the red head felt a bit calmer. If he was going
to be uncomfortable, might as well share the joy.
*******
Staring into his coffee mug, Yohji wondered if it would be worthwhile to brew
another pot. He suspected he had reached the limit of his caffeine tolerance,
but it would give him something to do. Other than going over the notes once
again while waiting for Aya to return. He’d been working on the case files,
reports and interviews for so long the words were beginning to blur as he read.
Determined to do something while the red head was out playing bait for some
psycho, Yohji had focused on all the information they had pertaining to Weiss’s
latest mission. Exhausting his supply of notes, he had interrupted a Net-surfing
Omi to gather up everything the police, Kritiker and Ken had dug up. The youth
had seemed rather startled by the blonde’s appearance. After putting up with
a scolding to not push himself too hard, Yohji had settled in the kitchen with
the information. Several hours later, he was sore, tired, and frustrated. There
had to be some common link between the men attacked, other than Bacchus, but
the detective was clueless as to what it could be. Maybe Ken would have better
luck working on the Americans angle.
Glancing down at his watch, the lanky man swore softly. Where the hell was Aya?
It was after three in the morning. Ken had come home almost an hour ago, bleary
eyed and tired. Surprised to find the kitchen occupied, he had given Yohji an
odd look and declared himself off to bed. The blonde had impatiently awaited
the arrival of his kitten ever since then. No wonder he couldn’t concentrate
on the reports.
Eying his watch again, the playboy came to a decision. ‘If he’s not here in
twenty minutes, I’m going out after him.’ He started to straighten out the piles
of data, collecting all the little comments he had observed and written down.
Sometime Sunday he would have to sit down with the others and go over everything
in detail. Time was slipping away from them, and Yohji was starting to have
a bad feeling about the case.
Getting up to rinse out his mug, Yohji heard the garage door open and close.
Resting against the counter, he faced the door, waiting. After a minute an exhausted
looking red head entered the kitchen. He stood there a minute, blinking in the
bright light, just looking at the blonde.
‘Does he have any idea how cute he looks right now?’ Yohji couldn’t seem to
do anything but drink in the sight of his kitten as a wave of relief washed
over him. The red head was clearly on his last dregs of energy, completely exhausted.
Anyone else would of looked worn out and awful. Aya only appeared even younger
and more delicate than ever. The blonde couldn’t understand how that was possible,
but he certainly could appreciate the effect.
Coming to his senses, the red head frowned. "What are you still doing up?"
"I’ve been going over all the information we have on the mission. It was
easier to do it down here than in bed. I’d just finished for the night when
you came in."
Wanting to ask if the playboy had been up awaiting his arrival, Aya decided
he was too tired to deal with the answer. He just couldn’t cope with Yohji’s
sudden doubts over the red head’s ability to take care of himself right now.
All he wanted to do was collapse in bed. Right now the damn couch was looking
good, that was how drained he was. He walked past the blonde on his way to the
stairs. Yohji followed as fast as he could.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to bed, same as you. It’s late, if you haven’t noticed."
"Hn."
Hearing the blonde curse under his breathe at the pain as he limped behind him,
Aya relented a bit and paused at the steps. Offering Yohji a shoulder for support,
the two assassins made their way up the stairs together. Leaning the older man
against the hallway wall at the top of the stairs, Aya pointedly said goodnight.
He was in his room and almost had the door closed when Yohji caught up with
him, forcibly keeping the door from closing. The older man had a look on his
face saying that he wasn’t going to let go quietly. Not wanting to wake their
teammates up with a fight in the hall, Aya allowed the blonde in. Besides, his
katana was in the room. Somehow, he doubted that Yohji could force any issue
with a length of steel at his throat.
Arms crossed over his chest as he stood in the center of the room, Aya regarded
Yohji with an icy stare. "What do you want? I’m tired, all I want to do
is sleep."
Sitting down on the neat bed, Yohji ran his eyes over the red head. "You
look like you’re ready to collapse at any minute."
"So why don’t you do me the favor of getting off my bed and letting me
rest."
"How did it go tonight?" The swordsman began to rub the bridge of
his nose at the question. All he wanted to do was sleep for a few hours, and
other man was too busy indulging in his curiosity to let him.
"It was very busy. /I/ was very busy. Got a little information on a few
new suspects, but not much else. Leave."
Yohji suppressed a smirk. It seemed that his kitten was in a very grouchy mode.
Not that that was at all unusual. But he normally wasn’t rubbing his eyes and
hair at the same time as biting someone’s head off. He just looked so adorable.
"Geez, Aya, can you be a little more nasty to someone trying to do you
a favor?"
Aya just shook his head at the cryptic comment. "Yohji, if you aren’t out
of this room in two minutes, I’m going for my sword." He figured he’d better
give the blonde some time to limp to the door.
"Always so prickly. I came in here to tell you not to worry about opening
the shop in the morning. I’ll handle it, so sleep in a little."
The red head just snorted at that comment. "You’re going to wake up that
early willingly? Get real. Besides, there are a couple of orders that I need
to do."
"I’ve been sleeping all day, it’s no big deal to get up a little early."
Clearly seeing that the smaller man didn’t believe him, Yohji decided to try
another tactic. "But heh, if you want to drag yourself down to the shop
after only a couple hours sleep, be my guest. You never are able to accept any
help. Too damn afraid of appearing weak, most likely. That, or too stubborn."
That earned him another glare. Aya was slowly realizing that the blonde was
not going to let the matter drop. Too tired to want to carry through with his
threat, the red head decided to just give in. He was /not/ too stubborn, or
afraid. "Fine, you help open the shop. I should be down around ten. Now
leave."
At least I got him to sleep in a little, the blonde thought. Getting up from
the bed, he hobbled over to the smaller man. Pausing in front of him, he ignored
an angry look and brushed back the long bangs. Placing a lingering, tender kiss
on the red head’s forehead, he wished him a good night and left the room.
Watching Yohji quietly leave the room, Aya felt a slight frown tug at the corners
of his mouth. He wasn’t even going to try and figure out what was up with the
older man tonight. If he couldn’t manage it wide awake, he sure as hell wasn’t
going to do it half dead on his feet. Stripping off his clothes, he collapsed
onto the bed, and promptly fell asleep.
*******
Still limping slightly, Yohji made his into the Koneko no Sumu Ie, coffee mug
clasped tightly in hand. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been up this
early. Hell, it was more likely that he would be staggering to bed now, not
leaving it. ‘The things I do for the kitten. Really can’t doubt that it’s love.’
It was almost worth the loss of sleep just to see the expression on Ken’s face
when he realized it was Yohji, and not Aya, who was joining him in the shop.
Glancing around, the blonde noticed that Omi must have helped out again before
leaving for cram school, everything was more or less ready. Heaving a sigh of
relief, Yohji limped over to the counter. He picked up a stool along the way,
and set it down in front of the register.
"You sure you should be down here, Yohji?"
"Don’t worry Ken, I’m fine. Tired, but fine."
Ken was half tempted to test the playboy’s forehead for a temperature. He never
expected to see Yohji down here, especially before noon, while the man had a
legitimate excuse to avoid work. He bemusedly wondered if it was possible he
was dreaming the whole thing. Walking over to the taller man, he quickly reached
out and pinched the man’s cheek.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?"
"Just checking." Yohji hadn’t felt warm, although the glare he was
directing Ken’s way was decidedly heated. The brunet brushed it off though,
living with Aya the past year had taught Weiss how do deal with such things.
Speaking of which…
"Yohji, where’s Aya?"
"Upstairs sleeping. I decided to return the favor from yesterday and let
him sleep in a bit. Boy’s been working too hard lately."
The red head had been dragging the past few days. Working all day in the shop,
then all night at Bacchus while on the lookout for suspects had been taking
its tool on the swordsman. "I know he’s been busy the past few days, what
with the mission and all, but we could really use his help down here. There
are a couple of orders waiting for him."
Yohji regarded the brunet over the rim of his coffee cup. "I’m sure the
fearless leader will be dragging himself out of bed shortly." Seeing that
the younger man was about to say something, Yohji held up his hand. "You
know, we used to run this shop just fine before Aya joined the group. He’s not
the only one who knows how to arrange flowers. Just work on the easy orders,
and leave the special requests to him."
"And what will you be doing?"
"Why, manning the register, of course."
Ken eyed the blonde suspiciously. "You sure you’re up to it?"
"It’s just a sore ankle and some tender ribs. I feel much better today.
Granted, I wouldn’t want to run into Schwarz any time soon, but I should be
able to handle a bunch of customers." And keep an eye on the kitten later,
the blonde thought to himself. Besides letting the kitten get some much needed
sleep, that was the other reason he had dragged himself out of bed. There was
no way he was being left behind again while Aya put himself in danger.
Shaking his head, Ken headed to the back of the shop, intent on starting the
arrangements. Yohji handled the morning customers, flirting up a storm and playing
the sympathy card whenever anyone wanted something out of reach. Ken could not
believe what the blonde got away with. Several of the customers, all female,
even bought a flower or two and blushingly handed them to the playboy, wishing
him to get well soon.
An hour or so after the shop had opened, Ken walked over to the blonde. "Maybe
I should go wake Aya up now. We’ll need him down here soon. Omi won’t be back
until after lunch."
"Geez Ken, let the guy sleep a little more. He’s worked more hours in the
shop this week than you have." Yohji was starting to get irritated.
The athlete just stared at the older man for a minute. Yohji had all but snapped
at him. It wasn’t like the blonde to be so concerned like this about Aya. Normally,
he’d be dragging the red head down to work so Yohji could slack off. It reminded
him of what he’d heard at Bacchus the night before.
"Yohji, can I ask you something?" Continuing at the older man’s grunt
of approval, the brunet kept his gaze locked on green eyes. "Is something
going on between you and Aya?" Ken searched for any sign of reaction, and
only noticed a puzzled expression on the blonde’s face.
"What do you mean?" Yohji was very glad his years of private investigating
had graced him with a poker face. He didn’t want Aya chasing him around with
that damn sword of his for being the one to let Ken in on their relationship.
However non existent said relationship was. Aya obviously didn’t want the younger
men to know that there was something going on.
Suddenly feeling like an idiot, Ken glanced down at his feet. "Well, you’ve
been acting pretty concerned about him lately, and that’s not like you. I mean,
usually you’re avoiding the guy. And then there’s what I heard at the bar last
night."
"And what is that," the playboy asked as calmly as possible. He’d
never thought that the other Weiss would notice his outwardly sudden change
of heart towards the red head. If it was such a shock to them, he could only
imagine how Aya felt. No wonder the kitten was so confused and distrustful.
‘Great, I’m blushing now.’ "Well, a couple of the guys I talked to last
night mentioned that Aya had this really protective boyfriend, and they pretty
much described you dead on."
Yohji was thinking fast. "Didn’t Aya tell you guys?" The brunet looked
up, a frown on his face as he shook his head. "I stopped by the first night
Aya was working, and found some guy harassing him big time. So to keep our favorite
little assassin from killing the guy on the spot, I pulled him off Aya, pretending
to be a jealous boyfriend. It seemed to make his more eager customers back off,
so we just kept up the act. That’s all. You really think Aya would give me the
time of day?" Yohji let a little bitterness creep into his voice at that
last comment.
"As for the rest, what can I say," the blonde continued, shrugging
his shoulders. "I realized I’ve been a bit of an asshole lately. Aya’s
really working hard on this mission, just thought I’d try to make up for the
way I’ve been acting the past few weeks and help him out a little. Hell, I even
let you leave early the other day to go play with the brats."
Not being able to argue with the logic presented to him, Ken found himself being
persuaded into believing the blonde. It was a bit ridiculous to think that Aya
would ever fall for the playboy. He was the human icicle, after all. Look at
the way he ignored that poor girl, Sakura. And Ken had thought that Yohji stood
a chance? Feeling a bit like an idiot, the brunet decided to tease the older
man a bit. "Come on Yohji, you trying to tell me that you, the self-proclaimed
connoisseur of beauty, never have nor will try to get into Aya’s pants? Did
you even get a glimpse of the way that man was dressed last night? The guys
down at Bacchus were practically drooling over him. And you’re not even interested?"
Leaning back with his elbows on the counter, Yohji leered back at the younger
man. "If you think he looked pretty hot last night, you ain’t seen nothing.
Should have seen him Wednesday night." The blonde fanned himself briefly.
"Had to play extra-protective boyfriend that night to keep the guys off
him."
Hearing that, Ken smirked back. "I’m sure you found the task so repugnant.
You telling me during that whole time you never made a move on him? Not even
Omi would buy that one."
"I’m truly hurt, Kenken. Don’t you think I have more self-control than
that?" Yohji’s hurt expression was met by a skeptical one from Ken. Yohji
gave up the act and grinned instead. "You guys could try giving me a little
more credit. Aya may be a walking wet dream, but I am rather attached to being
alive. There would be a lot of upset pretties out there if I got myself killed
trying to make a move on the Ice Prince." The brunet rolled his eyes at
this.
"I’m disappointed in you, Yohji. Letting a little thing like a painful
death keep you from your one true lust. You must be slipping in your old age."
"Old my ass. You’re just jealous ‘cause I’m that much more experienced.
Trust me, if the red headed ice cube ever showed signs of thawing, I’d have
him on his back faster than Omi can go through a pint of ice-cream."
"Dream on, Blondie. Aya’d shave his head and start calling himself ‘Takatori’
before he’d let you in his bed. Some things are never meant to be. You’re stuck
with those hentai fantasies of yours."
"Oh, never say never, Kenken," the blonde drawled. "I can be
pretty irresistible when I set my mind to it. Poor thing would never know what
hit him if I really decided to go after him."
Ken couldn’t help himself, he just had to laugh. "You don’t think too highly
of yourself, do you? Still, everyone should have that one impossible dream.
I just think it’s about time yours got himself out of bed and lent a hand down
here. People are going to start showing up soon to pick up their orders, so
he needs to start working. I wonder what time he’ll make it down here."
"Try five minutes ago."
Yohji nearly slipped from his stool as Ken sweatdropped, too stunned to move.
Both men had been facing the door, on the lookout out for customers, and hadn’t
heard the quiet man join them. They wondered how much of the conversation Aya
had overheard, and just how upset he was. Judging from the rigid way he was
standing, and the sub-zero look he was directing their way, it was safe to say
enough to be very, very angry.
With a voice even colder than the expression on his face, Aya informed the two
men that he was going to work on the orders Ken had been so worried about. Ken
let out the breath he had been holding in since aware of the man’s presence.
"Oh man, this is not good. What do you think our chances are of living
‘til Omi comes back? Aya won’t kill us if he’s here. Maybe."
Looking over at the older man, Ken found him staring after the red head. Not
saying a word, Yohji got off the stool and started walking towards the rear
of the shop. Throwing up an arm to block him, the brunet hissed in disbelief.
"What the hell do you think you’re doing? You’re gonna get yourself killed
if you go anywhere near him. Just let him cool down a bit, like a week or two."
Ignoring the younger man as he shoved past him, Yohji took another step towards
the work table. A sharp jab to his sore ribs brought his attention back to the
athlete. "Listen to me Yohji, you go anywhere near him right now and you’ll
just make him even angrier. Wait a while before apologizing. At least until
there aren’t any sharp objects nearby."
Knowing that the younger man was talking sense, Yohji nonetheless felt himself
being pulled towards his kitten. He wanted to go and explain that he’d only
been joking with the younger man, but deep down he knew that any attempt to
talk to the man would most likely end in a heated battle. With a sinking feeling
that any headway he’d been making with the red head had been destroyed by a
few thoughtless remarks, Yohji dejectedly returned to the register.
*******
The atmosphere of the flowershop was most definitely tense by the time Omi returned
from school. Ken looked up from the carnations he’d been showing to a young
woman when the youth burst into the shop, cheerfully shouting "Konnichi
wa!" A sense of relief spread throughout the brunet, making him smile weakly.
He hadn’t known how much longer he could have taken the angry silence that had
filled the shop, dampened only slightly when a customer would enter.
Glancing around, Omi noticed how tense and sullen his teammates looked. Yohji
was uncharacteristically quiet at the register, not even flirting with the cute
female customer he was ringing up. Aya was at work on a flower arrangement,
pointedly ignoring everyone around him. Directing a questioning look towards
Ken, he received a negative shake of the head in response. The brunet clearly
thought that it was not appropriate to answer back at the moment. Curiosity
raised, Omi tied on an apron and joined Ken in assisting the customers.
Things did not change much with the older members of Weiss the rest of the shift.
When not busy wrapping and ringing up purchases, Yohji would stare back at the
occupied red head. Aya, as if aware of the looks, refused to gaze away from
the flowers he was working on. The way his two friends were acting made Ken
wonder if Yohji hadn’t been lying to him earlier. However, seeing what had happened
when he’d asked about them before, he wasn’t in any hurry to question either
of them about their feelings anytime soon. If there were any left at this point.
Taking into account Aya’s exhausting work schedule and Yohji’s recent injuries,
Omi decided to close the shop as soon as the last pre-ordered arrangement had
been picked up. The second the Koneko was closed and cleaned up, Aya took off
for his room. Expecting Yohji to storm off after the swordsman, Ken was a bit
surprised when the blonde made for the garage.
Putting away the broom, Omi stood in front of the brunet, hands on his hips.
"Want to tell me what is going on here, Ken-kun?"
"I’ll try, but I’m not too sure what’s happening myself."
*******
In a hurry to pay his sister a visit before heading off to work, Aya grabbed
the first things he could find that were suitable for Bacchus. Pulling on the
dark, really low-slung blue jeans and a tight, short sleeved white shirt, the
red head sat on his bed as he put on his steel toed boots. Snarling as he did
up the laces, Aya felt the anger he’d been feeling all day threaten to overwhelm
him. Damn Yohji, for making the red head believe that there was the slightest
chance that the playboy might really care for him. All those tender caresses
and kisses, the concern over his safety and health had just been an act to get
into Aya’s pants. And damn himself for daring to believe the blonde, for falling
willingly for the lies. "’I really care for you Aya, I have for a while
now. I want to help you, Kitten. Trust me, I would never hurt you.’ Baah. And
like some love struck idiot, you fell for it, Fujimiya. How could you be so
stupid? It’s bad enough you actually thought someone could care for a monster
like yourself, but to think that person would be /Yohji/? Lust must have scrambled
my brains."
Grabbing his coat, the red head threw himself off of his bed. He yanked open
his bedroom door, only to stop upon opening it. Yohji was standing outside the
door, a serious expression on his face. Snarling once more, Aya slammed the
door shut.
"Aya, open the door. We need to talk."
"Go to hell Kudoh."
"Most likely, but not right now. Come on Aya, let me in. I’m not going
away until we straighten things out."
"There’s nothing to straighten out, certain things have been made crystal
clear. Now go away."
"No."
Gritting his teeth, Aya knew that the blonde would stay out there all night
if he had to. And Kudoh called /him/ stubborn. Going over his options, the red
head made his way to the window. He should be able to manage getting down to
the sidewalk in one piece, and then get his car. Yohji’s voice drifted through
the door as Aya opened the window. "If you’re thinking of going out the
window, I have to warn you that you won’t like what you find in the garage.
It seems that your car has developed four flat tires, and that the other vehicles
are missing key parts to their engines. No sense in calling to get someone out
to fix things, auto assistance’s always real busy on Saturdays. And any cab
you find is going to cost you a fortune, and most likely won’t be available
to bring you back home when you get off work. So be a good boy and open the
door." Pausing for a moment, the voice added, "Unless you want to
admit you’re running scared."
Yohji was prepared when the door opened and the enraged assassin threw a punch
at him. Ducking low, he caught Aya around his waist and shoved back into the
room. Kicking the door closed behind him, he continued forward until both men
slammed down on the bed. Air knocked out of him, Aya glared up at the blonde
draped over him. Not giving the red head a chance to recover from the attack,
Yohji grabbed his hands and yanked them above his head. He also made sure his
lower body was pinning down the smaller man’s legs. Given the slightest chance
to do so, he knew his kitten would inflict some serious damage.
"Maybe now you’ll listen to me. That conversation you overheard wasn’t
what you thought it was."
"Oh really? So you and Ken weren’t discussing me as if I was one of your
flings? What about that part about you getting me on my back in bed? Happy now?
Get the fuck off me before I gut you."
Yohji had known that this wasn’t going to be easy. He had never met anyone as
pigheaded as Aya, other than himself. He wasn’t about to let the red head win
this contest. "Aya, just shut up and listen to me." When the smaller
man opened his mouth to argue, Yohji bent his face down until their lips were
touching. Remembering the blonde’s method of silencing him in the past, Aya
quickly closed his mouth, and turned his head aside. Grabbing both of the man’s
slender wrists in one hand, Yohji used the other to turn Aya’s face back towards
his. The red head’s glare could peel the paint off the wall, but the playboy
wasn’t deterred.
"I’m thinking you missed the first part of Ken and mine’s conversation.
So let me fill you in on what happened. It seems the boy heard some interesting
stories about us at the bar last night, and had asked me if there was something
going on between us. After you pretty much indicated last night that you didn’t
want Ken or Omi to know anything, I thought you’d prefer for me to lie to him.
So I did. After that, Ken started to tease me about you. Knowing there was no
way I could convince him that I’ve never wanted you, I went along with it. The
boy’s not stupid. Okay, we took things a bit too far, but we were just having
a bit of fun. That’s it."
The way Yohji was gazing down at him, as if he expected everything to be all
better now, made Aya’s anger flare up again. Suddenly he began to twist and
squirm on the bed, determined to knock the blonde off of him. "That’s it?
You are so full of shit, Kudoh. Did you enjoy having fun at my expense? Why
don’t you just run the fuck downstairs and tell them about how you got the human
ice cube to respond to you. I didn’t want them to know so I won’t have to put
up with their pity after you moved on to the next fling, but why should that
matter to you? You just keep moving on, always looking for someone new. Wasn’t
that what this is all about? Your other conquests were too easy for you, so
you decided to try a new challenge? You should have taken your shot the other
night, that’s the closest you’ll ever get to fucking me, you bastard. Get off
of me. Get of me now, or I’ll kill you, you fucking bastard!" The younger
man was all but shouting now.
He continued to fight against the taller man, grinning evilly whenever a blow
landed and the man grunted in pain. Distantly, he heard a familiar sound, but
it wasn’t until he felt something cold and sharp against his wrists that he
realized what it was. He suddenly froze. Yohji had his wire out, and had it
pressing against the red head’s wrists.
Ignoring the pain from his abused ribs, the playboy looked down on the smaller
man. Violet eyes were glittering sharply, full of animosity and hurt. Yohji
could handle the ill-will, but he inwardly winced at the pain in his kitten’s
eyes. "Behave, or I’ll tie you up. You’re just not listening to me Aya.
I /could/ have had you the other night, but it was me who put a stop to things.
Trust me, if all I was after was a piece of ass, I sure as hell wouldn’t have
done that. But I don’t want that from you." His kitten snorted in disbelief.
In response, Yohji pressed his groin against the swordsman. Close contact with
his kitten, regardless of the circumstance, had him semi-erect. "Oh, I
want you alright, I’ve been doing nothing but dream of having you under me,
hot and willing and screaming out my name ever since I met you. And there was
a time when that might have been enough. But not now, and not for some time.
I want all of you, Aya. I want to be there with you in the morning, and all
through the day, and at night. I want to yell at you to get you to actually
eat and sleep properly. I want to protect you." He desperately wanted to
tell the younger man that he loved him, but he knew Aya would never accept that
answer. The man ran from commitment, sold on the belief that he was tainted
and unworthy. It would take time to convince Aya that he really loved him. "I
want you to trust me, and to want me back."
Not being able to hold back any longer, Aya let out a bitter laugh. "Oh,
you’re not asking much, are you? What’s next, world peace and the end to hunger?
You have a much better chance of achieving those goals than you have of the
first two."
Okay, Yohji was starting to get tired of the attitude. Here he was spilling
his heart out to the younger man, only to be mocked in return. Time to play
dirty. "Oh, I know I need to work on the trust issue, but I think I got
the you wanting me part down pat." The blonde began to rotate and grind
his hips into the smaller man. Bending his face down again, he wasn’t surprised
when the red head turned his head away. In fact, he had counted on that. He
traced the curve of Aya’s ear with his tongue, moving ever so slowly as he kept
grinding his hips. His teeth closed gently on the lobe, and softly tugged. As
the red head tried to jerk his head back, he blew onto the moistened ear. The
red head shivered. Moving on to the soft skin just below and behind the ear,
he commenced a series of licks and kisses, pausing every now and then to blow
on the sensitized skin. He worked on two of the red head’s weak spots, lavishing
attention on the man’s neck as he ran long fingers through silky hair. Aya was
starting to pant, and unconsciously his hips were moving in time with the blonde.
Aya was starting to panic. The feel of Yohji’s mouth on his neck, and of the
blonde’s hard on grinding into his groin was making the anger go away. In its
place passion was swiftly rushing in, threatening to overwhelm him. All he could
think about was the warm body pressing down on him, and the pleasure Yohji could
make him feel. Was in fact making him feel. His body was responding back, and
he couldn’t stop himself. It was taking all of his energy to keep from turning
his head and kissing the blonde back. Pulling together whatever remained of
his self control, Aya managed to whisper, "Yohji, stop."
Yohji only tilted his head towards him and proceeded to kiss Aya with a thoroughness
and possessiveness that left the red head gasping. The older man continued the
assault for another minute or two, until his kitten was rendered senseless with
desire. Forcing himself to pull away from the smaller man, Yohji drank in the
flushed face and mewls of protest. He continued to stare down at the man until
Aya began to come back to himself. Once he deemed the younger man was once more
in control of himself, Yohji locked gazes with Aya, and started talking in a
serious tone. "I could have had you right here and now, Aya, and you’d
have been more than willing. But you asked me to stop, so I did. I keep telling
you, I’ll never do a single thing to hurt you. Even if it’s something you want
me to do. Let me tell you something from experience, it’s not often you find
someone who cares enough about you to do that. Some people never do."
"You think all I want you for is sex? I can get that anywhere. You have
any idea how many gorgeous guys I’ve turned down during this mission? How many
phone numbers I can get in a day of working in the shop? I only sleep alone
because I feel like it. Let me tell you something else. None of them would have
required a fraction of the effort I’ve spent on you, trying to get you to open
up and trust me. Beautiful and intelligent as you are, most people would have
just thrown up their hands and quit by now, if all they wanted was a quick fuck.
Hell, I would have too, if that was all I was interested in. But it’s not, so
you better get used to this simple fact. I’m not going away. You can run or
fight, but you’re not getting rid of me."
Dazedly trying to take all of it in, the swordsman felt a spark of anger appear
at the man’s presumption. "And what if I want you to go away and leave
me alone? Don’t I have a say in this?"
Letting the lust he was feeling drift into his green eyes as he once again slowly
ground his hips into the other man, Yohji softly smiled at the red head’s gasp.
"This is how I know you don’t want me to leave you alone, Kitten. How many
times has anyone else made you feel like this? Once or twice? Anyone else at
all? I’m thinking I’m the first, and that’s what has you so scared and confused."
Oh, that definitely got a response from the smaller man. "I’m not scared
of you." Aya knew better than to deny his confusion.
"Then prove it. Stop running away. Face me, Aya, show me what you’re made
of." Yohji smiled down at the man. He knew Aya couldn’t resist a challenge.
As if proving his point, the swordsman was defiantly glaring back. Taking a
closer look at what the red head was wearing, Yohji asked him what time did
he have to report for work.
Twisting his head so he could read his clock, Aya let out a slight sigh. There
wasn’t enough time to visit his sister now. Another thing he could hold against
the blonde. "In little over an hour."
"Well, guess we better get going then. Give me a few minutes to change,
and we’ll head out. No time for dinner, I’ll just stop by something on the way
there." Yohji slowly crawled off the red head, careful of an attack and
just plain unhappy about moving away from the man. Aya stayed on the bed. The
red head would need a few minutes to recover from everything, he didn’t have
Yohji’s experience in the matter. That should give the blonde time to get ready
as Aya was in no shape to take off running.
Trying to calm his body down so he could get off the bed and head to work, Aya
couldn’t get what Yohji had said to him out of his head. It really did come
down to a matter of trust. He could no longer deny that he desperately wanted
the other man, he just didn’t know how far he could trust the blonde. Watching
his back on a mission was one thing, but emotions were another. He was so tired
of losing the people he cared for, he didn’t know what he’d do if it happened
again. But the more he sealed himself off from everyone else, the colder and
more inhuman he became. What was the point in doing what he did, selling his
soul to Kritiker for the money to heal his sister, if there was nothing remotely
human and Ran left for her to recognize when she woke up? Deep down, he knew
that his sister would trust the older man, she had always been looking at the
good in other people. Would if really be so bad to trust the man just the slightest
bit? Yohji had definitely proven a point tonight.
Distracted by these thoughts as he pulled on his coat, Aya made his way to the
door. Once again, Yohji was waiting outside, slightly out of breath from the
mad dash to get ready. Silently, both men made their way downstairs.
Omi was amazed to see the two men walking together. Ken and him had set about
preparing dinner, intent on ignoring the raised voices and loud noises from
upstairs. As long as no one screamed for help, they were determined to let the
older men fight it out. It looked like the strategy had worked.
"Where are you guys going? Omi’s just about finished preparing dinner."
"Sorry Ken, but Aya needs to get to work early, and, uh, there’s something
wrong with his car. So I’m giving him a ride. We’ll eat something on the way."
Not looking his teammate in the eye, he reached into his pockets to pull out
several spark plugs. "Here, you might need these for the delivery truck
and your bike." Ken wisely said nothing.
"But what about the agenda for tonight? We never got a chance to go over
things. Ken did manage to find a connection to that American, Teddy, and three
of the victims."
Looking up in interest at that bit of news, Yohji just shook his head at the
smaller blonde. "We really need to sit down and go over things tomorrow.
At least the shop will be closed and Aya will have the night off as well. I’ll
hit several of the bars tonight, check in with some people I know and see what
they have to say about the brothers. Ken, have you made it to the Velvet Room
yet?"
It was Ken’s turn to avoid his friend’s eyes. "No, not yet. I guess I can
go there tonight, there still is a bit of a connection to the place." The
second victim had been a regular there, and it was the last victim that had
briefly visited the place before his abduction.
Remembering what Joji had said about how the club was on a Saturday night, Yohji
bit back a grin. "That would be a good idea. It would look suspicious now
if I started to ask a lot of questions there. I need to arrange another visit
there with Aso, most likely on Tuesday night. Maybe I can talk to Teddy tonight
and get it set up."
Noticing how Omi was looking at him, Aya wearily shook his head. "I’ll
keep my ears open for anything about Teddy or Mickey. See if there is any interesting
gossip my coworkers can fill me in on. Don’t expect much though, I’ll be pretty
busy." Still, Omi’s eyes brightened at this sign of capitulation. Aya handed
a folder to the boy. "Here’s some credit card slips and matching descriptions
of some more suspicious customers. It’s still worth a shot to double-check and
see if any of them have police records."
"I will. You better get going." Omi waved to his departing friends.
"You still don’t think its Mickey, huh Aya?" Yohji asked curiously.
"Hn."
The blonde couldn’t help but chuckle. "Ah Kitten, you’re so eloquent. It’s
no wonder I’m crazy about you."
That earned him a decidedly dirty look. The glare got bumped up to Shi-ne level
as Aya spied the punctured tires on his Porche.
"I know, I know, I’m going to pay for that. I’ll get you new tires on Monday,"
the blonde replied back. ‘All in all, the best money I’ve spent in a long time.’
Aya’s earlier fury at him seemed to have disappeared.
Leaving the Koneko, the two men immediately got into an argument over which
fast food place to hit. Having decided on KFC, they started to squabble over
how much food Yohji ordered for Aya. It was a rather eventful ride.
Parking his car in front of the bar, Yohji was suspecting Aya to practically
leap from the vehicle in an attempt to escape. Puzzled when the younger man
stayed sitting in his seat, Yohji turned to ask him a question. He was not expecting
a pair of slim hands to grasp his head by the hair and pull it forward for a
kiss. His kitten was kissing him with a passion, lips hungry and tongue delving
deep. So overtaken by this turn of events, it was Yohji’s turn to sit stunned
for moments before being able to respond back. Damn, but the kitten was learning
quickly how to kiss. The blonde couldn’t seem to catch his breath. He didn’t
know how long the embrace lasted, until the half expected knock caused the two
men to break apart. No big surprise, Teddy was once again leaning on the hood
of the car, a big grin spread across his face. "Are you guys enjoying this
as much as I am?"
Opening the car door, Aya shot the playboy a searching look before joining the
American on the sidewalk. "See you later." Not even the teasing innuendos
the kilt wearing man was making could wipe away the slight smile on the red
head’s lips. That look of dazed confusion on Yohji’s face, that oh so clearly
said ‘What the hell just happened’, had made that little advance on Aya’s part
worth it. It was about time he turned the tables on the blonde. ‘Next move’s
yours, Yohji.’
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