Notes: Hiya! Everything should be getting a little more heated... *grins* hehe *bows* Enjoy!

Pairings: RanxYouji

Rating: R

Warnings: language, yaoi, lime, fluff, angst

Disclaimer: Not mine. Why not? Too crazy. Like me! ^____^

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For What It's Worth

Chapter 3: What Do You Want?

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"What the hell happened to you?" Ken inquired, brows raising as Youji entered the kitchen. The brunette replied with a hapless grin and a shrug.

"Oh you know those damned stairs. They're hell on drunken depth perception." Ran glanced up at Youji for a moment, listening to the response and wondering why the truth was kept hidden. But it was not his concern truly. If Kudou didn't care to tell the others what had transpired the previous night, that was fine with him. He didn't give a damn what the others thought.

'Is that why you haven't told anyone of your feelings?' A thought questioned, wandering aimlessly through his mind. Ran's fists clenched and relaxed, urging himself to relax. 'I don't understand why I can't just tell Youji and be done with it. What's the worst he'll say?' But the scene was already playing out in his mind, one of incredible hurt and sorrow. A sneer upon Youji's face and his back turning away. 'I am below him...'

"Why so quiet Ran?" Omi questioned good-naturedly. The red head silenced his genial smile with a glare.

"It's none of your fucking business." 'No. I can't let anyone find out. They wouldn't understand.' Ran stood and left, exiting through the back door to lean against the porch rail.

The day was cool, a mild breeze striking up a faint chord in distant wind chimes. He stared out into the horizon, mind blissfully empty of intrusive thoughts.

"You haven't been acting yourself lately. I think I know why." Youji's voice was filled with amusement but Ran stiffened with anxiety. Had he found out somehow? Had he guessed?

"What the hell do you know?" he snapped, not bothering to turn around and face Youji.

"More than you'd think. I know that you're madly in love with me, aren't you?" the brunette approached, a large grin upon his face. He leaned in close to Ran's face, taunting him.

"I wouldn't waste fucking time on you if I was paid."

"Oh you can't mean that, Ran darling." Youji insisted, poking Ran's shoulder. "Tell me the truth now. None of this coy hiding."

His face was barely inches from Ran's and looming tantalizingly closer. The red head's mind swam with thoughts to kiss those lips, pull Youji against him and kiss him all over. But he remained still, frozen in place by the brunette's proximity.

"What? You're not going to tell me?" A smile now curved his lips, such a beautiful pale color. So full and soft...

An electric heat raged from Ran's lips to his hands where their flesh made contact as he pulled Youji against him. The kiss was hot, tingling, passionate. The brunette responded, running his hands up Ran's back, feeling the contours of his muscles and bones.

"No." Youji broke the kiss, pulling away. He backed away from Ran's tight embrace, shaking his head. "Not you." He walked back into the house, silence ensuing only to be broken by the opening and closing of the front door as Youji left the house.

"Youji..." Ran stared at the place where he had held the brunette close in his arms. Still feeling the lingering heat and passion that had coursed through their bodies. "Come back..." A single, silvery tear dropped to the ground, a world of sorrow and incredible anguish.