Ken didn’t say anything to Yohji as he watched him walk out of Aya’s bedroom. He didn’t say anything to Aya either. He sure as hell told Omi though. Which is why the youngest member of Weiss was looking at Ken like he had a frog on his head.

" Stop looking at me like that!" Ken was sitting on the edge of Omi’s bed, " I know what I saw. Yohji spent the night with Aya."

Omi shook his head, " I’m sure he just went to see him this morning. Needed to ask him something."

" No, he was all disheveled and droopy looking." Ken nodded his head in agreement with himself, " He was even wearing the clothes from the day before."

Omi quirked an eyebrow, " ‘Droopy looking?’"

" Yeah, like he just woke up."

Omi looked at his friend closely, it was amazing just how much Ken believed this. He was so sure of himself that he wasn’t thinking logically. This was Aya they were talking about. As far as Omi knew Aya didn’t like Yohji all that much. So why would he let Yohji share a room with him let alone his bed, it just didn’t make sense. So Omi listened to his friend, but silently told himself that he wouldn’t believe any of it.

That was until he sat down to breakfast. Something felt...well, off.

Omi, you ready for mid terms?"

" Huh?" Omi looked up at Yohji and blinked, " Well, that is some time away..."

Yohji frowned, " Really...oh....well."

The silence was back and so much so that Omi could hear the ticking of the kitchen clock and he vaguely had the thought that if he tried hard enough he could hear the inner workings as well.

Suddenly Ken let out an exasperated sigh, " Man, there sure is some weird shit floating around in here." he glanced sidelong at Yohji, " Look we know you slept in Aya’s room last night," he raised his hands and closed his eyes, " I don’t want any details! So, yeah, we know and we don’t care so can we eat?!" he then gestured at his plate which was filled with cold fried chicken from the night before.

Yohji pursed his lips, " Umm, ‘kay. Well, nothing happened. We just talked, that’s all."

Ken scoffed, " Whatever, no details remember."

Omi looked up at Ken, who was sitting across from him, annoyed, " I for one believe him. So they talked and Yohji fell asleep. Could happen."

" Could, but didn’t," Ken laughed, " Aya talking. Please."

Aya looked up brows furrowed, " You really think I am that distant?" his tone was one of controlled anger.

The other three members of Weiss looked at one another before stating in unison, " Yes."

Aya looked over at Yohji confused, how could he say that with so much conviction? He was the only one in the house that knew otherwise. Aya ignored it though and spoke, " Yohji’s right. We just talked." Aya looked down at his plate, " I am not that cold."

Yohji inwardly winched at that statement. He knew Aya well enough to catch the hurt in his voice. He didn’t think the others answered yes to be mean, he didn’t at least. None the less Aya took it that way and Yohji felt as though he should say something, but the youngest Weiss spoke up before he could.

Omi smiled weakly, " Well I think it is wonderful that you have someone to confide in Aya. That you feel comfortable enough to get close to someone."

" God Omi," Ken ripped a chunk of chicken off the bone, " you make it sound as if Yohji was Aya’s soul mate."

Aya was now sputtering and coughing rather ungracefully into his glass of water that he had just tried to drink. Yohji looked across the table at him with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. He opened his mouth to respond, to say something that would embarrass Aya, but quickly changed his mind. He rubbed the back of his neck and force out, " Well, I’m done," instead.

Ken pointed at Yohji’s plate, " You barely ate anything!"

While Ken and Yohji debated the importance of eating breakfast Omi studied Aya’s expression and his reaction to Ken’s harmless remark. He took a deep breath and with his eyes averted, he spoke his voice small, but firm.

" You know Aya, we won’t care if Yohji is your soul mate."

Aya looked up his eyebrows raised and his lips shut so tight that one could see the muscles in his jaw contract. Ken and Yohji’s little bickering ceased. The silence was back.

Yohji leaned back in his chair, the back legs teetering dangerously. He let out a sigh before slamming his palms on the kitchen table with such force that Omi jumped.

" Lookee there Aya," Yohji leered across the table, locking eyes with the redhead, " they don’t care, so we don’t have to hide it anymore."

Aya’s head snapped up and his violet eyes narrowed and those jaw muscles hardened once again. Yohji tilted his head and smiled, " Aya, you’re not ashamed of me are you?"

" Dudes," Ken stood and with a stretch, " I really don’t care to hear about it."

Yohji scowled, " Hear about what? Nothing happened!"

Ken shrugged then made his way to the sink to clean his plate, once he rounded the table and was behind Aya’s chair, the leader of Weiss spoke, " Even though we are together I have no desire to sleep with Yohji."

Ken turned on the hot water then snorted, " Whatever, that’s the natural order of things. First relationships are all about feelings and emotions and all that ‘I just want to be with you’ crap," Ken squeezed out the dishwashing liquid and started to wash his plate, " then at some time you move on to the intimate stuff. At a certain point you will be expected to get close and have sex. Hell, by that time you should want to," Ken dried off the plate then proceeded toward the door, " Listen, as long as it doesn’t fuck up the team dynamics and I can’t hear you through the walls I don’t care what you do," he waved his hand dismissively as he stepped out of the kitchen, " See you guys at shift change."

Omi stared down at his plate before he stood and cleaned it quietly. He left the kitchen quickly not daring to look back at the two older members of Weiss. Omi didn’t quite know why, but the "weird shit" was back.

The day and afternoon shifts came and went without a hitch and surprisingly there was no awkwardness about it. The four men worked professionally and talked to one another at shift change just like it was any other day. An occurrence that pleased Aya and calmed Yohji. However, when the day ended and the store closed another oddity took place.

The oddity wasn’t the fact that Yohji was moving his stuff into Aya’s room. Omi and Ken expected as much given this morning’s announcement. The oddity was that Aya looked pissed about it.

" Um Aya?" Omi was just young enough to be curious and just young enough to actually care, " why do you look...well, mad?"

Aya looked down at the questioning young man and snorted, " I am not mad."

" Nope my dear boy he is not mad," Yohji stopped in front of Aya’s open door and looked over at the two, " he is annoyed. He thought I was bluffing. You see Omi, Aya thought he knew me well. He thought I had some ulterior motive...some trick up my sleeve for wanting to be in this relationship," Yohji smiled his voice was full of smug joy, " He now knows that he is not that in tune to me and that he was wrong about what I want," Yohji then shifted his gaze to Aya and locked eyes with narrowed amethyst. His tone changed and was much more serious now, " Who I want."

Aya’s eyes narrowed farther then turning on his heel he was quickly gone. Omi looked up at Yohji saddened. Yohji shrugged then proceeded to walk into Aya’s room.

Omi knew where to find Aya. When Aya was upset he went to the roof. That is where Omi was now, standing on the tar covered rooftop a few feet behind Aya. Aya knew he was there, but opted not to say anything. Omi coughed to signal his presence. Aya rolled his eyes, surly the boy didn’t think that little of Aya’s perceptive abilities.

Aya looked over his shoulder, " I don’t want to talk about it."

Omi sighed, " Then just listen."

Aya snorted.

Omi was at Aya’s side within three strides, " You can’t live with someone for years and not care about them," Omi spoke the words softly, but in a tone so firm that Aya turned his head to face him. Anyone who would speak so clearly and direct deserved to be looked in the eye, face to face.

Omi continued, " I for one view you as my friend and want to help..." Omi looked down once he saw the questionable raise of Aya’s brow. Omi bit his lip then suddenly looked up, his gaze so fierce that Aya turned around fully in respect of the younger Weiss’ determination.

Omi spoke, " Obviously something happened between you and Yohji that Ken and I missed somehow. Something that let you open up and be comfortable. If you two are together then you should be thrilled that Yohji wants to be nearer to you, but you’re not. Now that baffles me..." Omi cocked his head, " unless Yohji is right. In that case you have some explaining to do." Aya’s brows furrowed in response to a slow rising anger, Omi shook his head, " Not to me. To Yohji. Here it is, I don’t think Yohji has the capacity to bluff. Don’t get me wrong, we all know he can joke and prank with the best of them I just don’t think he would joke about something this serious. Even the women he picks up know from the start all of what they are going to get. He never strings them along."

Omi stuffed his hands in his pockets and smiled gently, " I just think that if you know for a fact, Aya, that you don’t feel something more than friendship you should...well, I don’t know....get him to stop moving his things...because I believe he is truly infatuated with you."

Omi lowered his head and said no more as he quietly made his way to door and left Aya alone with his thoughts.

" Don’t even think about it Kudoh," Aya motioned to the pack of offending cancer sticks.

" Whatever man," Yohji tilted his head to the side, " You picked me and all that comes with me. Now, where should I put ‘em?"

Aya sighed then walked over to Yohji once there he snatched the pack out of his hands and threw them onto the right side table, " This is your side."

Yohji nodded, " Don’t worry I only brought in enough stuff for a week. I figured that with us working together, killing together, and now sleeping together, that a week is more than enough time to see if we could really stand each other."

Now it was Aya’s turn to nod. Then a slow frown took over his features, a week his ass. Yohji moved in enough stuff to fill a small apartment. Aya’s frowned deepened, if their relationship did work how the hell were they going to move in the rest of Yohji’s things?!

Aya looked up and watched as Yohji began to disrobe for bed. Aya sighed so the true beginning of their relationship would start with an overcrowded room and red silk boxers. So cliche. Aya groaned then made his way to his bathroom to get ready for bed himself. Upon returning he saw that Yohji had listened and was now under the sheets on the right side of the bed. Aya turned off the lights and settled between the covers.

Yohji spoke, " It’s chilly in here Aya."

Aya grunted, " Then put some clothes on."

" I’m wearing clothes."

" You are wearing boxers. Small ones at that."

Yohji chuckled, " You like them."

Aya sighed then there was silence. Then finally in a low voice Aya said, " Ken’s wrong. I will never feel obligated to sleep with you."

Yohji smiled in the darkness, but only because he knew Aya couldn’t see him, " He didn’t say that. He said eventually you will want to sleep with me. You know lust and desire for me."

" If I remember correctly you were the one who called my name during sex." Aya smirked, " Twice."

" Thrice."

Aya sat up, " What! When?"

Yohji smiled, " Why does it matter? Point is I was thinking of you when I was in the throes of ecstasy," his voice was exaggerated, borderline sarcastic.

Aya’s curiosity was quickly replaced by anger, " Why the hell are you doing this! By the gods this is ridiculous! You and I both know that you don’t actually like me–"

" Shut Up!" Yohji was sitting up now, angry, " Dammit Aya! What do I have to do for you..." Yohji trailed off once he noticed Aya’s features. Even though it was only illuminated by the moonlight coming in through the sheer cream window curtains Aya’s emotion was still easy to read.

Yohji’s realization was evident on his face so Aya looked away, but Yohji took Aya’s chin and turned him back to face him, " I don’t have to do anything. Do I." It wasn’t a question, " You already know how I feel....so why this big fight?" Yohji dropped his hand.

Aya looked at Yohji for a long while, his features that of contemplation. Aya sighed then closed his eyes and spoke softly, " I was offended when you said I wasn’t your type then confused when you suddenly wanted to pursue me." Aya looked up and glared, " Excuse me if I have a few reservations about believing you."

Yohji smiled, " Yeah, I’ll admit that was strange. After the third time of calling your name I figured I should address the situation." He shrugged. " I probably went about it the wrong way though."

Aya cocked an eyebrow, " You think." The two men looked at each other in silence. The air was chilled, but Aya liked it that way. Yohji shelved it away as things to get used to if he wanted to stay with him.

Yohji’s hand came up and caressed Aya’s cheek and he watched as amethyst eyes scanned to the right to look at his palm. The heat of the hand warmed Aya’s cheek and even though the act was casual in a sense the intent of Yohji’s next action was clear. So Aya wasn’t surprised when Yohji tilted his head and slowly touched lips with his slightly quivering ones. Yohji never would have thought Aya would be so responsive, but he was very pleased that he was. It was merely a peck, so soft that Aya wasn’t really sure if they had actually touched.

Yohji’s voice was a heady whisper, " You are beautiful...so beautiful." Then his lips were upon Aya’s once more. This time the kiss was true, a clear contrast to the clumsy, rough one they had experienced in the kitchen. This one was gentle and pure and Aya didn’t mind when Yohji’s tongue slid along his bottom lip, he was willing and he allowed him access. Yohji moaned when he slipped his tongue into the warmth of Aya’s mouth. He explored slowly, wanting to memorize the plains and angles of this new space. It was as if his hands were roaming and not just a kiss with the fire it sparked throughout the redhead’s body. Aya was amazed that a simple kiss, intimate yes, could make his body react the way it was. He was able to fight down a moan, but he allowed himself the joy of meeting Yohji’s skilled tongue with his own. Even though the two were not touching elsewhere their close proximity still allowed for Aya to feel the slight shutter that ran through Yohji’s body. The kiss had risen in intensity now that both parties were participating and they shared each other with an almost reverent sensuality. They moved gracefully and smoothly and the more their tongues entwined the hotter the two bodies became. So much so that Aya could no longer hold back his passion and a low growl flowed from his lips and into the warmth of Yohji’s mouth, filling the blond with a wave of lightheaded pleasure. It took concentration on the blond’s part to continue the kiss and not weaken in response to that incredibly sexy, primal reaction. Aya sighed contently and caused an almost inaudible whimper to escape Yohji’s lips when he broke the kiss.

The two men were panting slightly and they looked at each other with a new understanding. Yohji spoke first, a soft breathy tone, " We are going to make it Aya."

Aya shook his head, " I really don’t know that....but I think it would be a shame not to try."

Yohji smiled, " You know, if that is the case then one day you will have to admit Ken was right."

" No, I won’t have to admit anything," Aya raised a brow with a smirk, " All I have to do is act."

Yohji chuckled.

SIX MONTHS LATER

" Why are we doing this again?" Yohji was leaning against a light pole looking up at a tall building, old, but still in great condition.

Aya looked back, " Because I am tired of trying to cram all of your junk into my small ass room."

Yohji looked down and stared at Aya, brows raised, " Why are we doing this again?"

Aya sighed, " Never mind," he turned his back to Yohji and was about to walk toward the building when he was wrapped up, body pulled in close, his back to Yohji’s chest, " What the hell?! We are in public!"

Yohji placed his chin on Aya’s shoulder, " Like I give a shit. Now answer the question. Why are we looking for an apartment?"

Aya wiggled out of Yohji’s grasp and turned to face him, " Fine I’ll say it."

Yohji put his hands on his hips and tilted his head back smugly.

" Because I think we are going to make it," Aya smiled when Yohji did, then tacked on, " and because you are much to loud. Ken said he didn’t want to hear anything through the walls remember."

Yohji snorted, " Apparently he has never been fucked by you."

Aya shook his head, " Whatever."

" Whatever?" Yohji frowned, " What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

Aya turned and walked toward the building, " What? Don’t you trust me?"

" Well, yeah...but that answer was....what the hell does that mean Aya?"

Aya turned, " Take it as you want," but his eyes held the truth so Yohji didn’t worry, in fact he was quite pleased that his lover was so comfortable in their relationship that he would make such a daring joke.

Yohji smiled, but didn’t follow Aya into the building. He really didn’t care which apartment they ultimately picked as long as he was with Aya then he was in pure bliss.