Aya sat on his bed his back propped up against the headboard. He was reading a book of poetry and short stories by various writers, mostly unknowns. He was quite content and pleased with the fact that most of the poems were rather well written. He was happy that his $14.95 hadn’t gone to waste. He was also quite aware that Yohji was hovering outside his door.

This was an odd occurrence that started about a week ago, right after Aya had told Yohji he didn’t mind if they were together. Since then Yohji would stand outside Aya’s door every night for about five to ten minutes until he cursed himself then stomped off to his own room. Aya never brung up the fact that he knew what Yohji did every night. Aya knew that his answer of ‘so be it’ had been a surprise and that was why Yohji had such a hard time knocking on his door. Even though he had done it many times before in the past. However, Aya had a reason for his decision.

Aya really did find Yohji’s excuse of just wanting to be with him ridiculous. He and Yohji had started a fairly comfortable friendship in which they where together just about every night. Aya was certain that Yohji’s curiosity was of a sexual nature even if Yohji admitted it or not. So Aya planned to carry out this relationship until Yohji realized that just being with him wasn’t enough, he had already had that. Aya had no desire to sleep with Yohji, but he did want the man to admit he was wrong and that all this had nothing to do with emotions. That the only thing he was feeling was an odd and confusing lust for his fellow man.

Aya sat on his bed, his violet eyes whould ever so often glance at the clock, counting the minutes Yohji stood at his door. Aya smirked, it had already been three minutes. He had half a mind to get up and swing open the door, stand there and take in the look on Yohji’s face that would undoubtedly be priceless. His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock. Aya raised his brows before answering.

" It is open," Aya closed his book marking the page with a thin black ribbon. He mentally told himself not to let on that he knew Yohji was there all along.

Yohji closed the door behind him and walked over to Aya’s wicker chair. He sat and let out a sigh, " What were you reading?"

Aya held up the book, " Winter Glass and other short stories and poems."

Yohji nodded, " Sounds enlightening."

Aya shrugged, " It is calming and just a good read in general. You can borrow it."

Yohji raised a brow, " Umm....no."

" You should have an open mind Yohji."

Yohji smiled, " I’m working on that," he gave Aya a knowing look.

Aya nodded with a smirk, " Whatever. I am going to get ready for bed."

" No," Aya’s brows furrowed at Yohji’s tone, " I mean, I came to ask if you wanted to go to a bar or something..."

Aya frowned, " I’m not going to one of your filthy clubs."

Yohji looked at Aya with annoyance, " I didn’t say a club I said a bar."

Aya shrugged, " I’m not going to one of your filthy bars."

" You should have an open mind Aya," Yohji smiled.

Aya sighed, " Fine, if that will make you happy."

Yohji just stared at Aya for a second after that statement before speaking, " Well, yeah...okay. I will be back to get you in five." Yohji walked toward the door and opened it stopping just short of the hallway. He looked back over his shoulder and spoke, " If you really want to make me happy wear your maroon dress shirt." Then the door was shut.

Aya looked at the door head cocked slightly. His expression was one mixed of surprise and confusion, he had only worn that shirt once before, when he went undercover as a business executive for a mission. That was a year ago.

Aya had worn the maroon shirt and was now siting in Yohji’s Seven with his arms crossed.

" Was it really so important that you drive?" Yohji’s question was laced with amusement.

Aya looked over and glared. It was a half-hearted one so Yohji chuckled a bit.

Yohji had parked at a rather sophisticated looking building and was now stretching as he made his way out of the car. Aya was next slamming the door and looking a tad bit grumpy.

" You know if you have fun you will have to eat that face you’re making." Yohji laughed as he walked toward the entrance.

Aya sneered, " Screw you Yohji." That statement only made Yohji laugh more.

Once inside Aya found that his muscles relaxed considerably, he hadn’t realized he was tense. He was aware, however, that he thought Yohji would bring him to some hole in the wall. The fact that this place was clean, large, and seemed to only cater to young adults and slightly older patrons was refreshing and pleasant. Aya was thankful that Yohji had some culture and didn’t just wallow in dark, grungy clubs full of drunken dancers and eager sluts.

The two men retrieved there drinks from the bar that was centered in the room and then made their way to the tables near the back. Yohji and Aya sat in silence for a while watching the other customers. They sat across from each other, but neither man looked at the other. It was Yohji that finally broke the silence.

" Why did you decide to come along Aya?"

Aya looked up from his Rum and Coke and frowned slightly, " Why did you ask me if you thought I would say no?"

Yohji shrugged, " Thought we should do something together, considering our situation and all."

Aya raised a brow, " So this is a date?"

Yohji flinched a little at that comment, " This is an outing."

Aya chuckled, " Call it what you like."

" You wore the shirt," Yohji reached over and tugged at Aya’s dark garment, " Thanks, but why?"

Aya’s lips tugged at the corners almost sinisterly, " Wanted to make you happy...considering our situation and all."

Yohji grunted, " Are you mocking me?"

" Never."

" You’re lying. You are having fun with this." Yohji leaned forward and locked eyes with Aya sternly, " Why can’t you believe that I actually am attracted to you? That you are beautiful?"

Aya shook his head, " That is the second time you have called me beautiful. Why?"

Yohji smiled, " Because you are."

Aya’s eyes narrowed, " Not good enough."

A deep sigh escaped Yohji, " Why does there have to be a reason? Are you trying to say that when you look into the mirror you don’t see a beautiful person? That would be the only reason you would question my view of you."

" What I see makes no difference."

" Tell me anyway."

There was a pause. A silence that was so long Yohji feared Aya wouldn’t answer him. He heard Aya groan then watched as the man took a long sip of his alcohol.

" I see an oddity."

Yohji frowned, " That is a shame. What could you possibly find wrong with your appearance?"

Aya sighed, " I hate my hair. It looks like blood."

" True. However, it is also the color of the Phoenix." Yohji looked into his glass, it was empty, " A majestic creature, wonderful and inspiring." his words were spoken softly, his eyes kind and gentle as he looked at Aya, "A being that knows just how important rebirth can be. Rebirth, you see, can also be good. It can help you reexamine your life and your place in it." Yohji smiled slightly, " I wish my appearance could evoke such a powerful image."

Aya sat in silence, he really didn’t know how to respond to that. Yohji seemed sincere and that unnerved Aya a bit. Yohji shouldn’t be able call him beautiful so easily let alone be able to justify it. Aya didn’t understand how Yohji could use a word so openly for someone else when it suited him much better.

" What do you see?" Aya spoke the words with his head down, " When you look in the mirror?"

Yohji raised his brows, " One sexy som-ba-bitch."

Aya smiled, " That’s strange because when I look at you I see a cocky motherfucker."

" Hey, hey now," Yohji shook his finger at Aya playfully, " language!" he chuckled, " Seriously though, I try to avoid mirrors."

" Why?" Aya asked and was genuinely curious.

Yohji’s features hardened, " Because I don’t see me...I see the me I became. And that is a person I do not like."

" Who you have become is who you chose to be."

" I know, that is the problem," Yohji closed his eyes, " I thought I could rise above all this. I was wrong, instead I am consumed by it. I hate to admit it, but I can’t tell which is the real me. The outgoing, carefree man....or the murderer."

" Both."

Yohji looked up at Aya confused.

" You are both," Aya sat back, " you are carefree and cruel. Outgoing and evil. Lovely and Ugly."

Yohji stiffened, " Well thanks Aya." his tone was flat and lined with anger.

Aya shook his head, " You are taking that the wrong way. You can never erase the fact that you killed people. Just like you cannot erase the fact that you have enjoyed your fair share of women."

Yohji snorted, " What is your point?"

" Your life now is what shaped you. You spoke of the Phoenix. You have went through a rebirth of your own. You may not like the result, but this is you now." Aya sighed, " And I find nothing flawed with you."

Yohji smiled, " I never pictured you the sensitive type."

Aya glared, " Don’t start now."

Yohji’s laugh was met with Aya’s amused smirk.

Yohji didn’t mean to fall asleep. He and Aya had gotten back from the bar rather late, but they still stayed up and talked in Aya’s room. Yohji had sat on the edge of Aya’s bed. He thought he had gotten up and went to his room. He thought he was in his bed, but his bed didn’t smell like sandalwood. Yohji was afraid to open his eyes. If he didn’t open them then he really wasn’t here. If he didn’t open them then he could go back to sleep and worry about this later. If he didn’t open–

" I know you are awake. Get up." Aya was propped up on one elbow the black covers draped around his waist.

Yohji opened one eye and peeked up at Aya cautiously. What he expected to see was an angry glare. What he got instead was a calm and shirtless Aya.

" If you took the time to get dressed for bed you could have woke me up and told me to go to my room." Yohji sat up looking down at his friend.

Aya scowled, " I’m not your mother."

Yohji snorted, " That is not what I meant. What if Ken or Omi find out I slept in here. How are you going to answer those questions?"

" I will tell them the truth," Aya smirked, " that you are my lover."

Yohji blanched, " Wha-what!? That is not ‘the truth’! We have not slept together!"

Aya’s face held no emotion, " We just did."

" Aya! Be serious," Yohji threw back the cover, " God, this is awkward."

" Why?" now Aya was glaring, " you want to be with me, correct?"

Yohji was standing looking down at Aya, " Yes, that’s what I said."

" So what is so awkward about waking up next to your significant other?"

Yohji cocked his head, " What!?"

Aya stood, he was clearly angry now, " I see, waking up next to some whore you picked up at the bar is fine, but if it’s me–"

" Don’t you even!" Yohji waved his hand and walked up to Aya inches from his face, " Don’t try and make me feel guilty. It is awkward because I have never woken up next to a man before. You know that!"

Yohji had quite an effective glare also whenever he chose to use it. So now Aya was being graced with the emerald stare and he had one of his own that was getting thrown back at the blond. They stood there for a while, a silent stare down of massive proportions. Aya finally stepped back and tilted his head back.

" The only way not to feel awkward is to do it more often."

Yohji’s mouth dropped open rather ungracefully at Aya’s words, " You serious."

" Am I the joking type?"

Yohji knew Aya was testing him, trying to see just how serious he was about this relationship. So Yohji called Aya’s bluff.

" Very well Aya," Yohji took on a smug expression and posture, " I will move my stuff in tonight."

AN: I wrote and posted this at two in the morning so I hope that the mistakes are few and far between. If not, I apologize. Also, I just made up the name of the book Aya was reading so don’t y’all go looking for it. And if by some far out chance there actually is a short story or poem with the title of Winter Glass, again I state that I made up the name and that this is just a coincidence.

-AeryonSun