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Part 3 Ken waved to him as he passed through the flower shop, and by some miracle Yohji was already sitting at the table, yawning his way through a cup of coffee. Continuing down the stairs, Aya found Omi waiting for him as he'd expected, the boy seated at his computer with a small scowl on his face, typing furiously. Omi looked up as Aya came down the stairs. "Ohayou, Aya-kun," he was greeted. "Where's Chihaya-kun?" "Showering. He'll be here in a moment," Aya said, dragging a chair over and sitting down in it. "What's wrong?" He was tensed, ready to defend Chihaya, though he still couldn't understand his reactions to the boy. "There's still no sign of Morikawa," Omi admitted with a defeated sigh. "It looks like using Chihaya-kun as bait really is our only option right now. I don't like it... he's an innocent, he's got NO training, and I don't want to get him involved with Kritiker if we can avoid it. But right now, it looks like we might not be able to avoid it - especially since he's already seen as much as he has." "I know," Aya nodded, raking a hand through his hair, letting the fingers massage the back of his neck briefly. "Omi... I apologize." He let his hands lace together, staring at Omi for a moment. Omi sighed and rubbed at his forehead as if he had a headache. "What's done is done, and we can't undo it now. We'll just have to deal with it. In the end, it may be for the best that you brought him back here, since it looks like he's our only hope of solving this case. But don't make a habit of it, please!" "I don't intend to," Aya growled, the anger obviously directed inward. "Something about him... I couldn't leave him, Omi. We've all had people that affect us that way. It was just... finally... my turn," he sighed. "Mm," Omi nodded agreement, sighing as he leaned back in his chair. "I guess I can understand. He's got... such big, hurt, innocent eyes, doesn't he? Even I feel like I'm whipping a puppy dog every time I say something the least little bit negative to him." Aya chuckled faintly. "At least I'm a bastard by nature," he admitted. "It's no easier, but I can pretend for a while that I don't care." His hand slid over his face, wiping away the feelings. "Let's try to contain his knowledge, all right? I had no intention of him having anything to do with Weiß beyond our rescue of him. I don't want him working with Kritiker." Footsteps on the stairs warned them that someone was on their way down. Moments later Chihaya appeared, freshly scrubbed and drowning as usual in Aya's too-large clothes. "Okay, I'm here," the boy announced, still pink-cheeked from the heat of his shower. "I'm sorry I took so long." "Grab a chair," Aya said, glancing at him then looking back to Omi solemnly. Chihaya sat down on the couch, and Omi came around to perch on the edge of one of the chairs, spreading several file folders out over the table. "All right, this is what we know of Morikawa's operation," Omi said, gesturing at the files. "Everything was pulled or halted last night, right after Morikawa got away. He hasn't been seen since, nor have those two bodyguards of his. He's gone to ground, and we really don't have much hope of finding him." He looked at Chihaya. "What makes you so sure he'll come out to get you?" Chihaya shifted nervously on the couch. "His predecessor, Ashiya, was obsessed with me," he admitted quietly. "I have... some unusual abilities. Healing, for one, which I think is what he was trying to breed into his bio-humanoids. Ashiya died several years ago, but he must have left records detailing the research he'd done on me. Morikawa found me when I came back to Japan some time ago, and grabbed me and took me to his lab. He's convinced I am the key to completing his life's work... he'll do anything to find and keep me." Aya nodded. "It would make sense. How better to have a perfect soldier than by breeding healing into them? Adding that to a mindless need to obey orders and kill..." Omi bit his lip thoughtfully. "So, he's likely to come after you regardless of whether you get involved with us, then?" he asked, Chihaya nodded, and the other boy sighed. "It's probably just as well that we'll be watching you, then. At least we can make sure you've got a tracker on you, so we can get to you before he can do anything to you." He rummaged in his pockets for a moment, before producing the tiny tracking device they'd used on Sakura during the mission involving the mysterious organ thieves. "The range on this isn't much, but if you keep the transmitter on you at all times, and we've always got someone near you with the tracker, you'll be fine." He frowned as he handed the tiny transmitter to Chihaya. "You're going to have to spend lots of time in public places, so that he can spot you. And we'll have to have one of us with you at all times." He glanced pointedly at Aya. "Obviously, that will be my job," Aya said, smirking faintly at the pointed look. "I'd rather keep it down to one anyway, two in a pinch. The less he knows about us, the better. At least then we'll have some aces up our sleeves. Right now, I'm nothing more than a faceless stranger who stole you from his lab," he added, to Chihaya. "I won't register as a threat to him, no matter where he sees us. He doesn't know about my training or abilities." Omi nodded. "That sounds good. Chihaya-kun, I assume you don't object?" Chihaya shook his head. "Okay, then. Aya-kun, the three of us will take over your shifts in the store for the foreseeable future. Your job is to take Chihaya-kun to as many public places as you can, and make sure he's seen, then track him when he's taken. Just like we did with Sakura-san. Chihaya-kun, don't worry if you're grabbed... we'll be able to get to you within minutes." "Hai... I understand," Chihaya nodded. He smiled tentatively at Aya. "I apologize to putting you all to so much trouble. Hopefully this will be over soon. He was close to making a breakthrough with me - he'll be desperate to get me back." "Let's hope you're right," Aya nodded, looking back to Omi. "Public places... any suggestions?" Omi shrugged. "Parks, cafes, malls... places with lots of people. I'd suggest school, but you can't follow him there... maybe we could get him enrolled at my school?" Omi looked at the boy measuringly. "You're a little young to be believable in my grade, though, and if we're not in the same class you'd be at risk." "I'm older than I look, but I've never been through formal schooling," Chihaya told them. "I have NO idea where I would test out in your school system. Really high in some places, really low in others, most likely." "That's the way most people are, whether or not they've been through schooling," Aya shrugged. "Malls... I need to get him something to wear anyway. He wasn't exactly fully clothed in the lab," Aya admitted, scowling at the memory. Chihaya plucked self-consciously at the hem of the overlarge shirt he was wearing. "Clothes would be nice," he agreed wistfully. "But I REALLY don't like the thought of making you pay for them, Aya-san..." Omi interrupted him. "Well, that's one thing you WON'T have to worry about," he said, giving the other youth a small smile. "You're getting paid for this mission, same as the rest of us. I made sure of that. It'll be enough to buy you several new wardrobes, if you like. I've set up a safe bank account for you that you can access online or over the phone, in case you need to get money without exposing yourself." "However," Aya said, spearing Chihaya with a look. "You're starting over from scratch. You'll need that money to live on once this is over, and while in this mission, your welfare is primarily my responsibility." Chihaya gave him the stubborn look Aya was coming to know so well. "I WILL pay for my own clothing, Aya-san!" he protested. "I'm not planning to go blow all my money the moment you let me out of sight, but I won't allow you to spend your money on me. Surely you have other things it needs to be spent on, or you wouldn't be working in a job like this in the first place!" Omi choked on the sip of coffee he'd just taken, bringing a hand up to cover his mouth as his eyes danced. Aya glared at Omi for several seconds, then shrugged. "Then consider this... a bonus. Hazard pay, if you will. The rest of us are trained for this sort of thing. You are not." "It shouldn't come out of YOUR pay," Chihaya argued, clearly not willing to be dissuaded. "However much it is that I'm being paid, it's much more than I had before. I will survive... I always do," he added softly, closing his eyes as if in grief. "We'll sort it out later," Aya said in frustration. "So... mall today. Obviously, I'll have my cell phone on and active. What else, Omi? Special precautions, ideas?" "Stay close to him," Omi said, shrugging. "And make it believable... you're going to need a cover story for why he's staying with us, and why you're spending every waking minute with him." "Then it would make more sense to say he's connected to me, wouldn't it?" Aya asked, frowning in thought. "Cousin, or somesuch, perhaps." "Why would you spend every moment of your time - possibly for several weeks running - with a cousin?" Omi wanted to know. "It's a thought, definitely, but we need to make sure we have all the details in place before we leave this room. Ken-kun and Yohji-kun and I are going to need to know them as well, so that we won't trip up your story." "I don't have any other ideas," Aya shook his head. "I have no idea why I'd spend every moment of my time with anyone really." He glanced at Chihaya, brow furrowed. "What do you think? This has to be your cover story, too." Chihaya blushed faintly, and his eyes widened. "I... I don't know..." he stammered. "The only person I ever spent that much time with was K-Kagetsuya." Aya choked, staring at Chihaya for several minutes. "I don't think that's a good cover story," he finally said, voice slightly strangled. "What?" Omi asked, glancing back and forth between the two of them. Aya looked back at Omi, cheeks faintly red and eyes flat and cold. "Lovers." Omi raised an eyebrow at Chihaya. "If you have a boyfriend out there somewhere who's going to be looking for you, we need to know that," he said coolly. "For that matter, we need to know if ANYone will be looking for you." Chihaya shook his head, blush fading to be replaced by a sad, lost look in his expressive eyes. "No, there's no one. I don't have any family and Kagetsuya's... gone." Aya nodded, lacing his fingers together and leaning forward slightly as he thought. He said nothing to Chihaya's words, unable to find anything to say that didn't sound too sympathetic or dismissive. Omi leaned back in his chair and chewed on his lip for a few moments, before sighing. "I hate to say it, but pretending that you're lovers WOULD be the best solution," the youngest Weiß said reluctantly. "I can make him ID that will prove he's over twenty, even if he doesn't look like it, so you won't get into any trouble Aya-kun. Otherwise Morikawa is going to be suspicious that Chihaya-kun suddenly has someone following him around everywhere. He'll smell a trap, and he won't go for it. It'll also give you more excuses to take him to public places... on dates." Aya twitched faintly at that, staring at Omi in a kind of bewildered fascination. The first words to come into his head - "Who are you and what have you done to my teammate?" - were dismissed unsaid, but he couldn't quite stop the second. "Are you serious?!" Omi had the grace to look slightly abashed. "Yes, I'm serious!" he said. "Unless you can think of something better? It won't kill you to hold his hand for a while in public, Aya-kun. I'm not asking you to... to..." the youth's blush reflex finally kicked in. "To grope him in the middle of the park, or something." "I have no intentions of groping him, in the middle of the park or anywhere else," Aya said firmly, leveling a glare at Omi. Chihaya blushed and squirmed in his seat, burying his face in his hands. Omi held his ground. "I said I wasn't asking you to do that, Aya-kun," the boy pointed out. "Just hold his hand, maybe hug him once in a while. It would be beyond belief for you to suddenly develop a penchant for blatantly public displays of affection, anyway." "There's nothing else?" Aya asked, swallowing. He glanced over, catching sight of Chihaya's reaction and almost reached out, stopping himself a second before his arm could move. The boy didn't need his sympathy. It was merely an uncomfortable situation all around. "Like I said, unless you can think of something better..." Omi trailed off and raised his hands. "I can't think of anything else that makes sense." Aya leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling for several minutes. "Get the papers in order, Omi. I'd like to have the id before we go out today. Is that possible?" He raked a hand through his hair, then glanced at Chihaya again. Omi thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I can get you something temporary, anyway. I'll alter one of my fake IDs... our facial structure is similar enough that if I darken the hair colour, it should work. I'll have it for you in about half an hour." Chihaya still hadn't looked up, though Aya thought he saw the boy's violet eyes glittering from behind his fingers. "Right... What else needs to be done?" Aya asked, unsettled by the sight of those eyes. He looked away, back to the computer screen. "When you get back tonight I'll get a proper picture of him and do a permanent ID," Omi said, rising and crossing to his computer to begin working even as he spoke. "In the meantime, as long as you don't actually get arrested the ID I'll give you will work fine. Since I sincerely doubt you're going to be putting yourself in a position where a policeman would take an interest in your relationship with him," Omi glanced wryly back over his shoulder at Aya, "it shouldn't be a problem. Go tell Yohji and Ken what's been decided, and then come back for the ID and you can take him out shopping." Aya nodded, rising. As he passed Chihaya, he touched the boy's shoulder. "Get some breakfast while I handle this, all right?" Without waiting for an answer, he headed upstairs, stalking straight for the first bedroom.
Aya pulled into the parking lot, stomach roiling. He glanced at his companion, the bright, bubbly boy glued to the window as he watched the people arrive and leave. Jaded violet eyes watched the back of his head, then turned back to the pavement, searching for a parking spot. The mall was already packed, despite them arriving just minutes from opening, and finding a close space was out of the question. Which means they'd have a bit of a walk. His thoughts drifted back to earlier that morning, and he glowered. Ken had been relatively easy to explain it to, his only comment a question about how Omi had possibly managed to convince Aya to do it. Yohji had been much more cutting, his comments on underage lovers a bit close to home. They'd ended up snarling at each other before Aya had stalked out, Yohji's laughter ringing in his ears as he left. Finally finding a parking spot, he pulled in, shutting off the car and staring straight ahead for a moment before he looked at Chihaya. "We're here," he said, unnecessarily, raking a hand through his hair. "Are you ready?" He touched the pocket where the tracker resided and resisted reaching out to touch the corresponding bug on Chihaya's shirt. Chihaya nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, yes! It's been so long since I've been somewhere like this... I used to spend hours in the malls, just watching the people," he burbled happily. "Earthians are so fascinating..." Aya shook his head. "Most of the time, you sound very normal," he noted, stepping out of the car and shutting the door. He waited until Chihaya had followed suit, then clicked the small button to lock the doors. "Occasionally, though," he continued, rounding the car and waiting for Chihaya to fall into step beside him, "you say something very strange." Chihaya blinked up at him, clearly confused. "What did I say?" he wanted to know. "People ARE fascinating. There's such a broad spectrum of emotions, and you can see almost all of them just by going to a public place and watching for a few hours." "The way you talk about them, sometimes, it sounds almost as though you don't consider yourself one of them," Aya shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets as he continued to walk. Chihaya blinked, and studied the pavement as though it was suddenly fascinating. "Well, I suppose in some ways... I don't," he admitted slowly. "I've always been... sort of an outcast. Disconnected from the people around me." "Everyone's an outcast to someone," he said, looking back at the mall. "What matters is finding acceptance with a few, I think." Chihaya looked wistful. "I only ever found one," he murmured softly. "And only for such a short time... just a few years, really." "Then treasure that," Aya murmured. "And let it give you hope for the future." Chihaya's smile turned faintly bitter. "I doubt I'll ever find anyone I can be as open with as I was with Kagetsuya," he replied. "But yes, I do treasure those memories." They had entered the mall by this point, and Chihaya took a deep breath, his genki, bubbly expression returning. "So... where are we going first?" Aya reached out, grasping Chihaya's hand before he even thought and turning the boy to face him. "Do not give up on the future. And do not ever assume anything." Chihaya looked at their joined hands, then up at him, his smile turning faintly wistful again. "You remind me of him, you know that? Your personalities are very similar." Aya blinked, looking suddenly uncomfortable. "I'm sorry," he finally said, when nothing else came to mind. "I... Let's get your shoes first, then clothes. After that... we'll figure out what to do next." Chihaya nodded, the brightness coming back into his smile seemingly without effort. Aya was beginning to realize how much of that cheerfulness was merely a mask, however - one the boy apparently donned as easily as Omi did, to cover the deeper hurt and darkness within. "Shoes sound good," Chihaya agreed, glancing down to the sneakers he'd been forced to borrow from Omi. "Right," Aya nodded, letting his grip on Chihaya's hand loosen a little, not sure if the boy would want to pull away or not. The thought of losing that warm touch shouldn't bother him as much as it did, and he frowned as he gestured toward the hallway. "Let's find a shoe store.' Chihaya clung to his hand, though it didn't seem to be a conscious decision. Several schoolgirls giggled at the sight of the two men hand in hand, but Chihaya ignored them, chattering away to Aya about the various sights in the mall. Aya glared at the girls, letting his hold tighten once more. He listened with half an ear to Chihaya, finally spying a shoe store and guiding the talkative boy inside. It didn't take them long to find a couple pairs of sneakers that fit the boy's feet, though Chihaya sighed when they had to look in the children's section to find the right size. The next big battle came when they moved to pay for the merchandise. Chihaya didn't yet have a bank card to access his money, so he was forced to allow Aya to pay for the shoes. "I WILL pay you back for this," the younger man insisted. "We'll see," Aya said calmly, ignoring the vehemence. "In the meantime, don't worry about it." He shrugged, ushering Chihaya out of the store with a new pair of shoes and socks on. "I'm not lacking for money, Chihaya," he added finally. "I'll be fine, even with buying you all of this." "I just... don't want to live off people's charity," the boy muttered, tugging his hair back out of his eyes. "I don't want to be a burden to anyone." "It's not charity," Aya said, frowning at Chihaya. "We'll discuss what it is when we get back home." Chihaya nodded, and they continued on with their quest. Thankfully the youth wasn't very picky about his clothes, though he certainly had a decent sense of style. Dressed properly, he looked a few years older and very attractive. He got appreciative glances from most of the younger girls they passed, and even a few of the older ones. Aya relaxed slightly once Chihaya was in proper clothing. He didn't reach out to link hands with the boy again, though he did allow himself the occasional touch to Chihaya's shoulder in order to get his attention. "You'll need things to do... Even with everything else, I can't be your only source of entertainment." Chihaya nodded. "I love to read... I'd better get a library card or something, though... my taste in books would DEFINITELY strain your budget," the youth chuckled. "Maybe a sketchbook and some coloured pencils? That would give me a good excuse to sit in the park for hours, if I'm sketching things, and I'm a passable artist." "All right," Aya nodded, raising an eyebrow at the comment about books. "Sketchpads would be... probably in the same store with office supplies," he shrugged. "I think anyway. After that, we can have lunch, if you're feeling hungry." "Mmm, yes, food would be good," Chihaya agreed. "I'm starting to get hungry... and a little overwhelmed. I'm not used to being with so many people anymore." "Unfortunately, it's something you'll have to get used to," Aya said, not admitting that he, too, felt very uncomfortable in the large crowd. "It will get easier as time passes," he said, to reassure them both. "Is there anything in particular you'd like to eat?" "Something that won't be difficult to pack up and take with us," Chihaya sighed. "I still can't eat much at one sitting, unfortunately. And I have a very high metabolism... I should be eating more than I am right now." "Tell me that and I'll make sure you do," Aya said, a faint growl behind the words. He nodded, spotting a place as they passed the food court on the way to the office supplies. "Nikuman?" Chihaya's face lit up. "Oh, I love nikuman! It's one of my favourite Japanese foods," he agreed enthusiastically. "And it will be easy to buy a couple and just carry them with us. If I can just nibble a bit at a time, all the time, I should get enough food." "Good," Aya nodded, a faint smile crossing his face at Chihaya's enthusiasm. "We'll get a few, then. Let's pick out your sketch pad first, though. After that, we can find some chairs in the mall and you can sit for a while." There was a decent selection of sketchpads in the office store, and Chihaya flipped through a few of them before settling on one. It took him much less time to select a large set of coloured pencil-crayons, a smaller set of pencils of varying hardness, several different kinds of erasers and a pencil-case to hold it all. "You're sure you don't mind?" the youth asked as they approached the counter to pay for it. "I don't really NEED this many colours... I could make do with one of the smaller sets..." Aya angled a look at him, then smiled suddenly. It was a youthful look, one that banished all the jaded hardness in his eyes. It didn't stay for long, barely enough time for Chihaya to really register it before he plucked everything from Chihaya's hand and set the basket full of goodies firmly on the counter. Chihaya's smile turned oddly shy as the clerk rang their purchases through, and his hand sought out Aya's again hesitantly, fingers brushing together in a tacit request for permission. In response, Aya wrapped his long fingers around Chihaya's hand, squeezing once. He wondered, briefly, if this smile was any more genuine than the others had been, but he dismissed the thought after a moment, deciding that if it wasn't, he didn't want to know. They made their way to the food court again, and Chihaya happily munched his way through a nikuman and some kappamaki. He was quiet while he ate, chewing politely and just watching the crowds around them with wide eyes. Aya ate as well, buying extra nikuman for both of them and keeping himself from eating until he was full, not wanting his reactions dulled, just in case. From there, he took Chihaya's hand again, lacing their fingers together as he searched out seats in the mall hallway. He eventually found a small resting point near a fountain, with a long, curved couch watching it. Hesitant eyes turned to Chihaya. "What do you think? Like to sit for a while?" "Mm, sounds good," Chihaya agreed, plopping down and trailing his fingers in the water. The koi in the pond swam up to him, presumably hoping for food, and he giggled as they tickled his fingers. "I need to digest for a while, and this is a good place to rest and watch people from." "Yes," Aya nodded, sitting more gracefully. He leaned back against the back of the couch, watching Chihaya thoughtfully. "What do you normally draw, when you have the opportunity?" "Oh, everything," Chihaya replied. "People, if I can get them to sit still long enough. Animals. Landscapes. I love to draw the really beautiful places on Earth... the Grand Canyon, the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel tower, Mount Fuji... all the wonders of mankind and nature." Aya just stared at him. How on earth could such a cheerful soul hold such bitterness? "You might like Tokyo Tower, then," he finally muttered. "And if Omi agrees, he usually stays still long enough... provided you're willing to sketch him at a computer." "I did Tokyo Tower the first time I was in Japan," Chihaya agreed. "But I don't have that sketch book anymore, so I'll do it again. Besides, it's different now... it's always different, no matter how long you spend at any one place. The angle of the sun, the people coming and going... and I'll definitely ask your friends if they mind me sketching them." He paused, then added shyly, "You don't mind if I sketch you, do you?" Aya started to tell him not to, before he started thinking about it. It was yet another reason for the two of them to spend a great deal of time together, and if he was sketched in a public place... Besides, if they were lovers, it would only make sense for him to have sketches of Aya in his book. Finally, he said softly, "No, I don't." Chihaya gave him one of those thousand-watt smiles he seemed to reserve for Aya alone. "Thank you!" he chirped, clutching his new sketchbook to his chest. "It's okay," Aya waved his hand dismissively, the smile catching at him nonetheless. He smiled faintly back, eyes softer than normal. Chihaya started to speak, then blinked and glanced over to one side of where they were sitting. "Do you hear that?" he asked, eyes wide. "Someone's crying... it sounds like a little child!" He stared at one of the hall branches, shifting to try to see through the throngs of people. Aya frowned, listening. There came a gap in the crowd, and the two men sitting on the bench caught a glimpse of a little girl, perhaps three or four years old, standing pressed up against a plate glass window, sobbing her heart out. In a flash Chihaya was up and moving towards her, face concerned. Aya hurried after him, muttering a soft curse. Clearly keeping track of the boy would be more difficult than Aya had originally anticipated. He reached the girl seconds after Chihaya, watching him kneel down to talk to her face to face. "Daijoubu desu ka?" Chihaya asked the girl. She sniffled and glanced up at him with wide, trusting eyes, and babbled something back in a language Aya didn't recognize. Not Japanese, English or German, that was all he could tell. Chihaya nodded and said something back to her in what sounded like the same language, his voice sweet and soothing. She answered him, and he looked up at Aya. "She's lost her mother," he said softly, keeping his voice tone even so as not to upset her again. "And she doesn't speak any Japanese - they're tourists, I think. Her poor mother must be frantic!" "We can take her to information," Aya said, shrugging faintly. "That would be where the mother would go normally, so she's likely to find her mother there." He felt uncomfortable, nervous. He did not make a habit of helping everyone in need... huge violet eyes notwithstanding. At least the girl's eyes were a soft brown. Chihaya nodded and picked her up, settling her on his hip. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him like a burr, chattering away at him like one of the sparrows on the windowsill yesterday. "Where is the information?" he asked Aya while she paused for breath. "Follow me," Aya said, shaking his head and gathering up the abandoned sketchpad. He slipped it under one arm, leading the way to the information desk. Once there Chihaya had a brief discussion with the woman manning the desk, trying to convince her to let HIM use the loudspeaker to announce the child's whereabouts to her mother. After patiently explaining at least five times that neither the little girl nor, likely, her mother spoke any Japanese, he was finally granted access to the microphone. He said something over it in that same liquid language, and not five minutes later a harried-looking woman came hurrying up, followed by an entire tour group. The little girl waved her arms at the woman and Chihaya set her down, allowing her to run to her mother. More babbling between Chihaya, the mother and the tour guide, and Aya saw Chihaya shake his head several times, once actually catching the woman's arm as she reached for her purse. Finally the crowd left, and Chihaya sighed deeply. "Thank goodness!" he said, sounding wearied. "What a mess!" Aya raised an eyebrow. "Are you all right?" he asked, watching the last stragglers of the crowd turn a corner, and gesturing to Chihaya to start walking. He reached into one of their bags, handing over a nikuman to the boy, hoping he'd begin to eat. Chihaya took it gratefully, nibbling on it and speaking between bites. "Yes, I'm okay. It's just... exhausting. And trying to convince that woman that she did NOT have to pay me for returning her child safely to her!" He shook his head. "Don't people ever just help others for reasons OTHER than money any more? Seeing that girl's smile when her mother picked her up was more than enough payment for me." "People do," Aya said slowly, clearly considering the words carefully before speaking. "But they're few and far between. Most of us assume that a reward is in order, because it makes life simpler all around. A physical reward," he clarified, seeing Chihaya about to protest again. "Money, food, clothing, that sort of thing. Besides, it's a way for us to show our appreciation to those who have helped us." Chihaya subsided, obviously thinking about it as he continued to nibble on the meatbun. "I suppose," he finally agreed. "It just seems... so odd to me. If everyone... or even MOST people... just did what was right, then there wouldn't be any need for such rewards, and everyone would be much happier. I realize that not everyone is good at heart, but surely MOST people still are!" "Maybe," Aya said doubtfully, glancing at his watch and blinking. "If you're tired, we should head back... Did we remember everything? Shirts, pants, socks, shoes, underclothing?" "Um... maybe a toothbrush and a hairbrush, that sort of thing?" Chihaya asked. "And... there is one other thing I'd like to do today, if you don't mind..." he trailed off shyly. "Toothbrush, hairbrush... pajamas," Aya nodded, trying to think. "All the toiletries, really. There's a store here that handles all of that stuff. What else did you want to try?" "No, I... it's a place... I'd like to visit," Chihaya explained. "It's about... half an hour from here by car, I think. I can go another day if you don't want to..." "We can go today," Aya shrugged. "Let's get your pajamas, then the toiletries, then head there." Chihaya nodded, and they set off once more. Somehow Aya wasn't surprised when Chihaya picked out flannel pajamas that were blue with dolphins on them. The toiletries were a quick five-minute trip, and then they were done and back in the car. Chihaya directed him towards the outside of town. As they sped along the highway, first the tall skyscrapers, then the lower office buildings, then even the cramped apartments fell away, leaving them in the less-crowded outskirts of Tokyo. It was actually closer to forty-five minutes before Chihaya indicated Aya should pull over and park. The boy had been unusually quiet the entire trip, becoming more and more silent as they approached their destination. Once the car had stopped, Chihaya climbed out and headed for a set of ornate wrought-iron gates in a stone wall. As they approached, Aya spotted a small sign that proclaimed this to be St. Michael's cemetery. Feeling his stomach drop, Aya followed Chihaya, staying a pace behind the smaller man as he slipped inside and made his way towards the graves. Part of him was surprised. He wasn't really close enough to be accompanying Chihaya on this sort of errand, but they really didn't have a choice... either of them. Chihaya finally stopped in front of a grave marked only be a small slab of granite, and knelt down before it. He glanced back over his shoulder at Aya. "I'll only be a moment," he said, voice rough. "I just... wanted to take a chance to visit while I was in the country." He bowed his head and folded his hands before him, lips moving silently as though he were praying. From where he stood Aya could just make out the engraving on the stone - "Kagetsuya. Though Fallen from Grace, he will always be Loved." There was a single date on the stone, three years previous. Aya stepped back another pace, giving Chihaya the illusion of privacy as his mind whirled. The strange wording made him wonder, but given Chihaya's various comments about being "back in Japan", Aya assumed that they must have something to do with where the two had come from. He folded his hands together and waited. After about five minutes, Chihaya leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on the headstone. He stood, and when he turned to Aya his cheeks were damp, though his eyes were clear. "Okay, I'm done," he said, his tone of voice still subdued. "Thank you for waiting for me." Aya reached out, holding a hand to him. "It's all right, Chihaya." Chihaya latched onto his hand with a death grip, but said nothing as they made their way back to the car. He didn't look back at the grave, settling into his seat with his back to the window and his eyes closed. Aya started to ask, then decided to keep his silence, starting the car and returning to the Koneko. He directed Chihaya to head up to their room, blushing a little as he said the words, and followed behind, carting their purchases. Chihaya roused himself back to his usual genki attitude as they entered the shop. He chirped a cheerful greeting to Ken and Yohji in the store, and to Omi as they passed him in the living room. There was no sign of grief or sorrow in his bright violet eyes as they entered Aya's room and he collapsed onto the bed. Aya set the clothing and sundries in a corner, closing the door and moving to Chihaya's side. "Are you all right?" he asked softly, reaching out to lay a hand delicately on the boy's shoulder. The boy closed his eyes and rested his cheek against Aya's hand, his bright smile going soft and turning into something wistful. "Yes, I'm okay," he murmured. "I'm sorry, I didn't really expect it to affect me so badly. I guess... seeing his grave really brings it home. Even now, sometimes I still feel like if I just turn around fast enough, I'll see him behind me where he always used to be." Aya turned his hand, cupping Chihaya's cheek gently. "You must have loved him very much," he murmured, beginning to see the depth of Chihaya's love for this Kagetsuya. He was reminded, briefly, of his sister, and shook the thought away. "That's not something to apologize for." Chihaya sniffled once, though no tears fell. "I did," he replied, voice choked. "And he loved me. He was the only one who ever gave a damn about me. Losing him nearly killed me... I thought I wouldn't be able to go on." He sighed, and opened his eyes, the violet shining with suppressed tears. "Demo... I DID survive. And I learned to live without him. I suppose, in the end, that's really what life is all about. Carrying on." "Survival... yes," Aya nodded, pulling his hand back and raking it through his hair. "That's exactly what life is all about, I think. We're handed this... handful of experiences and we have to find the best way to navigate them. It's never an easy road." Chihaya nodded. "Hai. And, really, I've had a wonderful life compared to some." He cleared his throat, and seemed to regain some composure. "So... what do we do now?" "Well, now we put things away... Hells," Aya said suddenly, looking around the room. Chihaya jumped. "Eh? Nani?" "We forgot the issue of the bed," he sighed. "I meant to stop by a furniture store and pick up another futon. They could've delivered the frame... if I'd remembered," he said, shaking his head and stalking to the bags. "Oh." Chihaya looked around skeptically. "Aya-san... do you really think you could FIT another futon in here?" he asked doubtfully. Aya sighed, shaking his head. "I have no idea, honestly," he admitted. "But I'm sure we'd both find it preferable to squeezing onto that," he said, waving at the mattress Chihaya was sitting on, "or the floor." Chihaya shrugged, and looked away. "I didn't mind last night," he said quietly. "I AM sorry for this morning, but sleeping with someone next to me was nice." "I don't want you to get any ideas," Aya said softly, turning his back as he began to put away the clothing in the space they'd cleared for Chihaya's clothing. "This is for a mission, Chihaya. It's false and temporary. That's all it can be." Looking as if he'd been slapped, Chihaya flushed badly. "I... I d-didn't... I..." he stammered, flinching as though Aya had dealt him a physical blow. "I'm s-sorry... I didn't mean..." Aya turned to stare at him. "Don't mistake this for love, Chihaya. It's better if you remember that." Chihaya stared at him, and after a long moment the stunned look turned to one of something dangerously close to anger. "How dare you?" he hissed, fists clenched in the sheets. "I've known real love, the kind that is built over years of partnership and friendship, trust and devotion. I am not some silly little schoolgirl who thinks she's in love with everyone she's attracted to. Lust, affection, even caring, can form within a few days of knowing someone. LOVE is built on a foundation much stronger than that!" His violet eyes were snapping with fury as he concluded, "Don't you dare lecture me on what 'love' is and isn't!" "Then you're one up on me, little boy," Aya said coldly, ice to Chihaya's angry fire. "Yes. I guess I am," Chihaya replied, voice trembling with fury. He started to say something else, shook his head, tried again, and finally gave up. Marching to the door, he paused in the doorway and glanced over his shoulder. "I'll find somewhere ELSE to sleep, since it bothers you so badly. Believe me, you are in NO danger of me suddenly deciding that I'm in love with you." Eyes flashing, he stormed out of the room, deliberately NOT slamming the door behind him.
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