What If?
Chapter 1- Wish
*Author's Note: Well, the title kind of gives it away. This is one of those "What if?" scenarios, with a bit of a twist. This is half inspired by Mr. Destiny (Those of you who've seen it will be able to identify.) and half inspired by the question I hear from a LOT of Weiss fans. "What if they never met? Would they still be drawn to each other?" Personally, I think they all share an incredible bond that would bring them together no matter what circumstance. This is just my spin on what would happen if things were different. As you'll see through this story, there are some things that will never change. But, hey, there's no use crying over spilled milk. Enjoy.
"Ne, Ken-kun…?"
"Hn ?"
"Do you ever wonder… what if? " Ken pushed himself up from his comfortable position on the soft grass, tearing his eyes away from the stars to look at his friend. Omi held a frown on his brow that denoted he was deep in thought.
"What do you mean, Omi?"
"Well, what if… What if certain things never happened? If certain things had happened? Like… What if Kase had never poisoned you, or if Asuka hadn't died? What if Aya-kun's family hadn't been lost to him, or… what if my father had paid the ransom…?" his voice trailed off into silence. After a moment, he spoke again. "Do you think we all would have met still…?"
"Omi…" Ken was speechless. No 17-year-old deserved to think about such things. Then again, no 17-year-old should know and have done all the things Omi knew and had done. The brunette opened his mouth to speak, when a bright light flashed by them. Ken couldn't help but smile. "A shooting star. Make a wish, Omi-kun." The blonde remained silent.
"Wishes don't some true, Ken-kun."
"Nonsense. Now hurry, before it's too late." Omi sighed. 'What if?'
"Mamoru, wake up!" The blonde boy groaned as he felt someone shaking his shoulder.
"Go 'way, Hiro'…" the younger boy mumbled into his pillow. It was a Saturday morning. Why was his older brother bothering him on a Saturday morning? He heard his sibling let out a sigh.
"All right, time for plan 'B'." Suddenly, Mamoru felt a pair of hands at his sides, tickling him mercilessly. A burst of laughter escaped him, and the boy jumped out of the bed and hid behind it, still laughing.
"That was cheap!" He jokingly accused. Hirofumi shrugged, wide smile on his face.
"You left me no choice, Mamoru. Come on, let's have breakfast. I don't know about you, but I'm starving." The fifteen-year old schoolboy bounded down the stairs after his brother.
"Ne, Hirofumi, where is everyone?" Mamoru asked as he entered the empty kitchen.
"Tou-san's at work, Ka-san is at Mrs. Kyushu's, and Masafumi is… somewhere." He grinned again. "He didn't leave a note. He's probably at the labs again. What does that guy DO down there???"
Mamoru chuckled and sighed. It had been eight years since he'd nearly been kidnapped by those viscous-looking men. If Hirofumi hadn't wandered by, there would have been no hope. The older boy had managed to get Mamoru away, but had himself been abducted. Reiji had wasted no time in paying their money, and it had been a tearful reunion when his son had been returned. Mamoru and Hirofumi had been best friends since that day, a bond stronger than brother holding them together.
"So, what are you going to make?" Mamoru asked, his stomach adding a growl for emphasis. His brother laughed.
"Me? We can make whatever we want! No one's here, Mamo-chan, and the maids will clean up whatever mess we make…" Blue eyes sparkled mischievously at the notion, and an uncharacteristically wicked grin rose to the blonde's lips.
"I'll start in the pantries, you start at the fridge." Laughter rang throughout the mansion as the two brothers ran about on their mission.
A door slammed shut in the distance, stealing Ran's attention from the book he'd been absorbed in. He glanced inside the house from his chair in the back yard to see a pair of legs and arms laden down with grocery bags slowly making their way down the hall.
"Aya!" he called, springing up and running to her side to lighten the load. "Why didn't you tell me you were getting so much? I could have gone with you! Did you have to carry all this by yourself???" A good-hearted, bubbling giggle answered him.
"Ran-nii, don't worry so much," she scolded. "I'm not a little girl anymore, you know." Ran frowned cutely as he took the bags from his little sister and set them down, starting to unload them.
"You're still my imouto, Aya-chan." He paused, looking at her as if it were the last time he'd see her. "You're all I have left."
Aya's smile faltered. He was still holding onto it… Almost two years, and he still couldn't let it pass. Almost two years since they had found their parents dead as a result of some freak explosion, and since Aya had nearly been run over by, what they thought to be, the ones who caused the 'accident'. If Ran hadn't been there to tackle her to the side, she probably would have died. After that, Ran got the title to the property and became his sister's legal guardian. She felt bad at first, a young man of 16 at the time having such responsibilities forced upon him. He seemed to have no qualms about it, though, and took on the role of surrogate father. He was so protective of her, and she understood why. It had been so hard in the beginning, and if it hadn't been for their parent's life insurance, they certainly wouldn't have made it. Slowly, ever so slowly they had managed to work together, and had finally overcome the depression that had been set so deep inside their hearts. Now, it was as if everything were normal, as it once was. Aya-chan was in school, and Ran worked at a nearby flower shop during the day for extra money to spend on her. He was always bringing home exotic arrangements that always made his sister smile. But even through all this, he just wouldn't let his parents' deaths go. Aya suspected he never truly would until he knew they had been avenged, which both knew was never going to happen.
"Nii-chan…" she whispered. Ran hesitated for a moment, then he smiled. He truly had a beautiful smile. He reached forward and tousled her hair.
"Just what is the meaning of this?" he playfully demanded, pulling out the box of strawberry ice cream hidden in the depths of one of the bags. Aya giggled.
"You weren't supposed to find that! It was a surprise. It was the last box they had, and strawberry's your favourite flavour, so I used a couple extra bucks I had lying around and got it."
Ran smiled warmly. She was so thoughtful, so sweet. He laughed light- heartedly and hugged her before walking into the kitchen to get the spoons. He had to admit: even after everything they'd endured, life was good.
"Yo~tan…" The honey-haired man couldn't help but grin at the sound of her voice. Soft arms circled around his waist, and a warm body pressed into him from behind. He sighed contentedly. God, he never thought this day would come. Ever.
"Asuka…" he whispered. Asuka. His love. His life. His wife. "I thought you were asleep. I didn't mean to disturb you." Even through his robe, he could feel her smiling.
"I'll tell you, you certainly wear a girl out." A warm chuckle followed. "What're you doing out here…? It's late."
Yohji looked out over the expanse of the sky from their honeymoon suit in Venice. Asuka had always wanted to go to Italy, so Yohji had snuck behind her back, bought them the plane tickets and made hotel reservations for a week. "Just looking at the stars… Trying to find ours. And thanking the heavens for you." He felt Asuka release him and come around beside him. Jade eyes looked down at her, an absolute vision of loveliness in the pale moonlight.
"You're such a hopeless romantic, Kudou."
"Hey, watch it, you're sharing that name now," he joked. Every time he looked at her, he was afraid to take his eyes off of her. Afraid she'd vanish like she almost had last time… Back in the day, when they were about to bust that prostitution ring. God, he'd never forget that day as long as he lived… He'd already taken a bullet for her, right in the side. She wouldn't leave him. He begged her to, to run away while she still could. She just wouldn't…
"Go! Leave me! I'll catch up with you! Asuka, please, just go on without me!"
"Are you crazy?! I'm not leaving a big, oafish idiot like you out here to bleed! You're gonna owe me BIG for this, Kudou! I'll make sure of it!" Even then, she had smiled at him. She hadn't left him. And it was because of that she…
"Yohji? Baby, are you okay?" Yohji was shaken from his thoughts.
"Hn? Yeah…" Asuka frowned and turned him to face her.
"I know that voice, you were thinking about that again, weren't you?" Yohji groaned and rolled his eyes. "And don't you roll your eyes at me." Yohji chuckled and embraced his wife. How could he not think of it? It was because of that day that they were where they are now. Asuka had been helping him along through the dark ally-ways. God, they could hear the enemy everywhere looking for them.
"Almost there," she'd whispered to him. Her words had slowly grown difficult to understand, sounding thick and far away. "Just hold on." That was when it happened. The gunshot sounding through the air, the sudden rigidity of his partner's body, and the feeling of something warm oozing onto his skin. He heard her cry, sharp and clear through everything else, through the pain and slow-coming unconsciousness. Asuka fell. She hit the ground, and didn't move. Yohji had heard the approaching footsteps, and with reflexes he hadn't known he still had, with a strength he never knew existed, he turned upon the approaching guard. He'd grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it around breaking it in the process, and used the man's own hand, his own firearm, and shot him in the head. Suddenly, the door had burst open, and in filed countless policemen to take hold of the situation. The strength and power suddenly disappeared, and Yohji collapsed beside his fallen friend.
He'd woken up in a hospital, beside her in the clean, white, sterile room. She was sleeping, and looked like an angel. A beautiful, blue-haired angel.
"We made it, Asuka," he whispered. A young man clad in hospital greens entered the room.
"Ah! Mr. Kudou, it's nice to see you've awaken," he chirped enthusiastically. Yohji stared at him. "Well, you've been asleep for almost a day now, but that's understandable, considering the damage you've-"
"Asuka." The doctor quirked an eyebrow. Yohji rolled his eyes and pointed at the girl. "How is she? What's wrong with her?" The doctor pushed his wire-frame glasses up on his nose.
"I really shouldn't tell you. I can't jeopardize doctor-patient confidentiality…"
"Doc, if you don't tell me, you're going to be a patient." Yohji's voice was laced with danger. This was NOT a time to fuck with the great Kudou. The young man faltered, obviously intimidated by this man before him.
"Ms. Morase… sustained a bullet-wound straight through the chest. It punctured a lung and came within millimeters of her heart. She's borderline comatose, but in otherwise good condition." He paused to look at the young detective, and the frown that had creased his brow. "Is there anything I can get you…?"
"No." The doctor stalled only a moment before turning and hurrying out of the room.
They had kicked Yohji out of the hospital later that week, despite his protest ("I want to stay with her!" "You can come during visiting hours!"). Every single day, he was at that hospital from open to close, leaving reluctantly every night. He talked to her every time he was there, telling her how much he missed her, how much he couldn't stand not seeing her eyes, not hearing her voice… How much he loved her. On the first day of the third week, he'd walked into the hospital room and was greeted with an armful of Asuka. It turned out she had woken up the night before, fully recovered. The hospital wanted to keep her longer, but she refused, and walked out with Yohji holding her tightly. He proposed to her that night.
"Asuka, I almost lost you in there. I won't lose you again. Marry me." How her eyes sparkled right then! And how happy he'd felt when she'd said yes. And how happy he was now that she was his forever.
"Yohji?"
He looked at her, those beautiful eyes transfixed on the stars and the moonlight reflecting in the canals.
"Hn?"
"Was it worth it?" Yohji tilted her chin up.
"Every second."
The crowd erupted into cheer, enough noise to wake the dead and kill them again. The buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game, and Ken's hands still tightly clung to the soccer ball clenched to his body. In a rush of heat and ecstatic cries, Ken was surrounded and picked up off the ground by his teammates. He laughed loudly, whooping with sheer joy. He'd just completely won the game. Him. Ken Hidaka. Kase would have loved to see this. His best friend had suddenly been struck sick with a horrible flu and couldn't get out of bed, much less come to support him at his game. He seemed so upset about it, too… As soon as he got cleaned up, Ken would have to stop by a flower shop and pick something up for him. Ken was set down, and the team ran across the field to shake the other team's hands. Ken hurried through and ran straight for the showers. Partying could wait. He had to see Kase.
"Oh, Ken, you shouldn't have…" The brunette flashed his friend a smile as he set the sweet-smelling ensemble down beside the bed before taking a seat beside the man.
"It's the least I can do for you since you couldn't make it to my game," Ken explained. "We won, by the way." Kase grinned widely.
"I knew you would. No one gets anything by you, Ken. I just wish I could have been there." 'You don't know how much I wish I'd been there, Ken,' he thought with a spiteful tone. Today was supposed to be the day he ended that little bastard's career, and life at that. If he hadn't gotten sick, he finally would have put an end to his 'best friend'. He just couldn't stand it anymore. Ken had everything. He had fame, success, fans, and people to fawn over him, to attend to his every whim. Kase hated it. He hated him. He hated the fact that… he couldn't have it. Couldn't have what Ken had, couldn't have Ken. There was a thin line between love and hate, and he had crossed it. He just couldn't stand how perfect the boy was, and how oblivious he was to that fact.
"So how're you feeling today, Kase?" The older man was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Ken's sweet voice riddled with concern for him. Damn him.
"Better," he lied. "You're a big help, Ken. I can't thank you enough." He turned as a violent cough racked his body. He felt Ken's arms circling around him, holding him to comfort him. Goddamn it, why did he have to care so much?! Those arms didn't leave, even after the fierce hacking had subsided.
"Kase…" Ken whispered. "God, I hate seeing you like this." He pulled his arms away from his friend and sat back. "Is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all?"
"No. I'll be fine. Go on out and celebrate, Ken." 'Get drunk and play in traffic, maybe…' He felt a cool hand brush his bangs away from his forehead.
"I'll be back to check on you later, buddy." Kase didn't turn at the feeling of the warm body moving away, or the bed lifting from the relief of his weight, or even at the sound of the door quietly clicking shut. Silence filled the room after Ken's absence. Kase cried.
Well, that's it for the first chapter! I think I made Kase a little too bi- polar in this. Then again, that's kind of how he struck me in the show. Sweet and kind-natured one minute, desperately trying to kill Ken the next. I dunno. Tell me what you think! Questions, comments, and flames are happily accepted. Note, however, that flames will be used to roast marshmallows over, and leftovers will be stored to fuel further projects. ^- ^ Keep an eye out for chapter 2, coming soon!
Miko-chan
Chapter 1- Wish
*Author's Note: Well, the title kind of gives it away. This is one of those "What if?" scenarios, with a bit of a twist. This is half inspired by Mr. Destiny (Those of you who've seen it will be able to identify.) and half inspired by the question I hear from a LOT of Weiss fans. "What if they never met? Would they still be drawn to each other?" Personally, I think they all share an incredible bond that would bring them together no matter what circumstance. This is just my spin on what would happen if things were different. As you'll see through this story, there are some things that will never change. But, hey, there's no use crying over spilled milk. Enjoy.
"Ne, Ken-kun…?"
"Hn ?"
"Do you ever wonder… what if? " Ken pushed himself up from his comfortable position on the soft grass, tearing his eyes away from the stars to look at his friend. Omi held a frown on his brow that denoted he was deep in thought.
"What do you mean, Omi?"
"Well, what if… What if certain things never happened? If certain things had happened? Like… What if Kase had never poisoned you, or if Asuka hadn't died? What if Aya-kun's family hadn't been lost to him, or… what if my father had paid the ransom…?" his voice trailed off into silence. After a moment, he spoke again. "Do you think we all would have met still…?"
"Omi…" Ken was speechless. No 17-year-old deserved to think about such things. Then again, no 17-year-old should know and have done all the things Omi knew and had done. The brunette opened his mouth to speak, when a bright light flashed by them. Ken couldn't help but smile. "A shooting star. Make a wish, Omi-kun." The blonde remained silent.
"Wishes don't some true, Ken-kun."
"Nonsense. Now hurry, before it's too late." Omi sighed. 'What if?'
"Mamoru, wake up!" The blonde boy groaned as he felt someone shaking his shoulder.
"Go 'way, Hiro'…" the younger boy mumbled into his pillow. It was a Saturday morning. Why was his older brother bothering him on a Saturday morning? He heard his sibling let out a sigh.
"All right, time for plan 'B'." Suddenly, Mamoru felt a pair of hands at his sides, tickling him mercilessly. A burst of laughter escaped him, and the boy jumped out of the bed and hid behind it, still laughing.
"That was cheap!" He jokingly accused. Hirofumi shrugged, wide smile on his face.
"You left me no choice, Mamoru. Come on, let's have breakfast. I don't know about you, but I'm starving." The fifteen-year old schoolboy bounded down the stairs after his brother.
"Ne, Hirofumi, where is everyone?" Mamoru asked as he entered the empty kitchen.
"Tou-san's at work, Ka-san is at Mrs. Kyushu's, and Masafumi is… somewhere." He grinned again. "He didn't leave a note. He's probably at the labs again. What does that guy DO down there???"
Mamoru chuckled and sighed. It had been eight years since he'd nearly been kidnapped by those viscous-looking men. If Hirofumi hadn't wandered by, there would have been no hope. The older boy had managed to get Mamoru away, but had himself been abducted. Reiji had wasted no time in paying their money, and it had been a tearful reunion when his son had been returned. Mamoru and Hirofumi had been best friends since that day, a bond stronger than brother holding them together.
"So, what are you going to make?" Mamoru asked, his stomach adding a growl for emphasis. His brother laughed.
"Me? We can make whatever we want! No one's here, Mamo-chan, and the maids will clean up whatever mess we make…" Blue eyes sparkled mischievously at the notion, and an uncharacteristically wicked grin rose to the blonde's lips.
"I'll start in the pantries, you start at the fridge." Laughter rang throughout the mansion as the two brothers ran about on their mission.
A door slammed shut in the distance, stealing Ran's attention from the book he'd been absorbed in. He glanced inside the house from his chair in the back yard to see a pair of legs and arms laden down with grocery bags slowly making their way down the hall.
"Aya!" he called, springing up and running to her side to lighten the load. "Why didn't you tell me you were getting so much? I could have gone with you! Did you have to carry all this by yourself???" A good-hearted, bubbling giggle answered him.
"Ran-nii, don't worry so much," she scolded. "I'm not a little girl anymore, you know." Ran frowned cutely as he took the bags from his little sister and set them down, starting to unload them.
"You're still my imouto, Aya-chan." He paused, looking at her as if it were the last time he'd see her. "You're all I have left."
Aya's smile faltered. He was still holding onto it… Almost two years, and he still couldn't let it pass. Almost two years since they had found their parents dead as a result of some freak explosion, and since Aya had nearly been run over by, what they thought to be, the ones who caused the 'accident'. If Ran hadn't been there to tackle her to the side, she probably would have died. After that, Ran got the title to the property and became his sister's legal guardian. She felt bad at first, a young man of 16 at the time having such responsibilities forced upon him. He seemed to have no qualms about it, though, and took on the role of surrogate father. He was so protective of her, and she understood why. It had been so hard in the beginning, and if it hadn't been for their parent's life insurance, they certainly wouldn't have made it. Slowly, ever so slowly they had managed to work together, and had finally overcome the depression that had been set so deep inside their hearts. Now, it was as if everything were normal, as it once was. Aya-chan was in school, and Ran worked at a nearby flower shop during the day for extra money to spend on her. He was always bringing home exotic arrangements that always made his sister smile. But even through all this, he just wouldn't let his parents' deaths go. Aya suspected he never truly would until he knew they had been avenged, which both knew was never going to happen.
"Nii-chan…" she whispered. Ran hesitated for a moment, then he smiled. He truly had a beautiful smile. He reached forward and tousled her hair.
"Just what is the meaning of this?" he playfully demanded, pulling out the box of strawberry ice cream hidden in the depths of one of the bags. Aya giggled.
"You weren't supposed to find that! It was a surprise. It was the last box they had, and strawberry's your favourite flavour, so I used a couple extra bucks I had lying around and got it."
Ran smiled warmly. She was so thoughtful, so sweet. He laughed light- heartedly and hugged her before walking into the kitchen to get the spoons. He had to admit: even after everything they'd endured, life was good.
"Yo~tan…" The honey-haired man couldn't help but grin at the sound of her voice. Soft arms circled around his waist, and a warm body pressed into him from behind. He sighed contentedly. God, he never thought this day would come. Ever.
"Asuka…" he whispered. Asuka. His love. His life. His wife. "I thought you were asleep. I didn't mean to disturb you." Even through his robe, he could feel her smiling.
"I'll tell you, you certainly wear a girl out." A warm chuckle followed. "What're you doing out here…? It's late."
Yohji looked out over the expanse of the sky from their honeymoon suit in Venice. Asuka had always wanted to go to Italy, so Yohji had snuck behind her back, bought them the plane tickets and made hotel reservations for a week. "Just looking at the stars… Trying to find ours. And thanking the heavens for you." He felt Asuka release him and come around beside him. Jade eyes looked down at her, an absolute vision of loveliness in the pale moonlight.
"You're such a hopeless romantic, Kudou."
"Hey, watch it, you're sharing that name now," he joked. Every time he looked at her, he was afraid to take his eyes off of her. Afraid she'd vanish like she almost had last time… Back in the day, when they were about to bust that prostitution ring. God, he'd never forget that day as long as he lived… He'd already taken a bullet for her, right in the side. She wouldn't leave him. He begged her to, to run away while she still could. She just wouldn't…
"Go! Leave me! I'll catch up with you! Asuka, please, just go on without me!"
"Are you crazy?! I'm not leaving a big, oafish idiot like you out here to bleed! You're gonna owe me BIG for this, Kudou! I'll make sure of it!" Even then, she had smiled at him. She hadn't left him. And it was because of that she…
"Yohji? Baby, are you okay?" Yohji was shaken from his thoughts.
"Hn? Yeah…" Asuka frowned and turned him to face her.
"I know that voice, you were thinking about that again, weren't you?" Yohji groaned and rolled his eyes. "And don't you roll your eyes at me." Yohji chuckled and embraced his wife. How could he not think of it? It was because of that day that they were where they are now. Asuka had been helping him along through the dark ally-ways. God, they could hear the enemy everywhere looking for them.
"Almost there," she'd whispered to him. Her words had slowly grown difficult to understand, sounding thick and far away. "Just hold on." That was when it happened. The gunshot sounding through the air, the sudden rigidity of his partner's body, and the feeling of something warm oozing onto his skin. He heard her cry, sharp and clear through everything else, through the pain and slow-coming unconsciousness. Asuka fell. She hit the ground, and didn't move. Yohji had heard the approaching footsteps, and with reflexes he hadn't known he still had, with a strength he never knew existed, he turned upon the approaching guard. He'd grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it around breaking it in the process, and used the man's own hand, his own firearm, and shot him in the head. Suddenly, the door had burst open, and in filed countless policemen to take hold of the situation. The strength and power suddenly disappeared, and Yohji collapsed beside his fallen friend.
He'd woken up in a hospital, beside her in the clean, white, sterile room. She was sleeping, and looked like an angel. A beautiful, blue-haired angel.
"We made it, Asuka," he whispered. A young man clad in hospital greens entered the room.
"Ah! Mr. Kudou, it's nice to see you've awaken," he chirped enthusiastically. Yohji stared at him. "Well, you've been asleep for almost a day now, but that's understandable, considering the damage you've-"
"Asuka." The doctor quirked an eyebrow. Yohji rolled his eyes and pointed at the girl. "How is she? What's wrong with her?" The doctor pushed his wire-frame glasses up on his nose.
"I really shouldn't tell you. I can't jeopardize doctor-patient confidentiality…"
"Doc, if you don't tell me, you're going to be a patient." Yohji's voice was laced with danger. This was NOT a time to fuck with the great Kudou. The young man faltered, obviously intimidated by this man before him.
"Ms. Morase… sustained a bullet-wound straight through the chest. It punctured a lung and came within millimeters of her heart. She's borderline comatose, but in otherwise good condition." He paused to look at the young detective, and the frown that had creased his brow. "Is there anything I can get you…?"
"No." The doctor stalled only a moment before turning and hurrying out of the room.
They had kicked Yohji out of the hospital later that week, despite his protest ("I want to stay with her!" "You can come during visiting hours!"). Every single day, he was at that hospital from open to close, leaving reluctantly every night. He talked to her every time he was there, telling her how much he missed her, how much he couldn't stand not seeing her eyes, not hearing her voice… How much he loved her. On the first day of the third week, he'd walked into the hospital room and was greeted with an armful of Asuka. It turned out she had woken up the night before, fully recovered. The hospital wanted to keep her longer, but she refused, and walked out with Yohji holding her tightly. He proposed to her that night.
"Asuka, I almost lost you in there. I won't lose you again. Marry me." How her eyes sparkled right then! And how happy he'd felt when she'd said yes. And how happy he was now that she was his forever.
"Yohji?"
He looked at her, those beautiful eyes transfixed on the stars and the moonlight reflecting in the canals.
"Hn?"
"Was it worth it?" Yohji tilted her chin up.
"Every second."
The crowd erupted into cheer, enough noise to wake the dead and kill them again. The buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game, and Ken's hands still tightly clung to the soccer ball clenched to his body. In a rush of heat and ecstatic cries, Ken was surrounded and picked up off the ground by his teammates. He laughed loudly, whooping with sheer joy. He'd just completely won the game. Him. Ken Hidaka. Kase would have loved to see this. His best friend had suddenly been struck sick with a horrible flu and couldn't get out of bed, much less come to support him at his game. He seemed so upset about it, too… As soon as he got cleaned up, Ken would have to stop by a flower shop and pick something up for him. Ken was set down, and the team ran across the field to shake the other team's hands. Ken hurried through and ran straight for the showers. Partying could wait. He had to see Kase.
"Oh, Ken, you shouldn't have…" The brunette flashed his friend a smile as he set the sweet-smelling ensemble down beside the bed before taking a seat beside the man.
"It's the least I can do for you since you couldn't make it to my game," Ken explained. "We won, by the way." Kase grinned widely.
"I knew you would. No one gets anything by you, Ken. I just wish I could have been there." 'You don't know how much I wish I'd been there, Ken,' he thought with a spiteful tone. Today was supposed to be the day he ended that little bastard's career, and life at that. If he hadn't gotten sick, he finally would have put an end to his 'best friend'. He just couldn't stand it anymore. Ken had everything. He had fame, success, fans, and people to fawn over him, to attend to his every whim. Kase hated it. He hated him. He hated the fact that… he couldn't have it. Couldn't have what Ken had, couldn't have Ken. There was a thin line between love and hate, and he had crossed it. He just couldn't stand how perfect the boy was, and how oblivious he was to that fact.
"So how're you feeling today, Kase?" The older man was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Ken's sweet voice riddled with concern for him. Damn him.
"Better," he lied. "You're a big help, Ken. I can't thank you enough." He turned as a violent cough racked his body. He felt Ken's arms circling around him, holding him to comfort him. Goddamn it, why did he have to care so much?! Those arms didn't leave, even after the fierce hacking had subsided.
"Kase…" Ken whispered. "God, I hate seeing you like this." He pulled his arms away from his friend and sat back. "Is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all?"
"No. I'll be fine. Go on out and celebrate, Ken." 'Get drunk and play in traffic, maybe…' He felt a cool hand brush his bangs away from his forehead.
"I'll be back to check on you later, buddy." Kase didn't turn at the feeling of the warm body moving away, or the bed lifting from the relief of his weight, or even at the sound of the door quietly clicking shut. Silence filled the room after Ken's absence. Kase cried.
Well, that's it for the first chapter! I think I made Kase a little too bi- polar in this. Then again, that's kind of how he struck me in the show. Sweet and kind-natured one minute, desperately trying to kill Ken the next. I dunno. Tell me what you think! Questions, comments, and flames are happily accepted. Note, however, that flames will be used to roast marshmallows over, and leftovers will be stored to fuel further projects. ^- ^ Keep an eye out for chapter 2, coming soon!
Miko-chan