PART XI

"Now don't go tiring yourself, Alex-chan." Ken said that night. Omi, Ken, and Alex were in the basement that night, a week after the accident. "Your cast will be removed later on, don't do anything to jeopardize everything, okay?"

Alex turned to him frowning.

"What?" She asked. "I didn't understand you."

With that Ken smiled fondly at her, stood up, and gave her a playful smack on the head.

"Hey!" Alex retorted.

"Just don't do anything stupid, all right?" He said grinning at her. "I don't want Mr. Icicle thrashing me with his katana."

"His name is Aya." Alex corrected. "And don't worry, he won't thrash you, you have my word."

"Whatever, brat!" Ken called out laughing as he exited the basement.

"That's two points!" Alex called out but the only answer she got was the sound of the basement door closing. Sighing, she made her way towards Omi, who was concentrating on the computer.

Alex approached him and saw the grimness on his face. Ever since the accident, Omi devoted himself into finding the perpetrator. She knows she should be thankful for that but she is terribly missing Omi.

"He's on mission mode again." She thought as she approached him from behind his chair. He hadn't even noticed her behind him. Then without a word, she rested her chin on top of his head, her good arm going around his neck.

Omi blinked as the faint scent of Issey Miyake wafted through him. His eyes not leaving the monitor, he raised his left arm, his left hand clutching the right arm around his neck.

"I love you." Alex whispered as she studied the monitor, kissing his hair.

"I love you too." He replied his eyes still not leaving the monitor. He kissed her arm and went back to his investigation.

"I miss you." She whispered.

With that, Omi frowned. He turned to her only to find her smiling up at him, quite sadly. He pulled her down and settled her on his lap, cradling her like a baby.

"What's the matter?" He asked softly.

"Nothing." Alex answered as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I just miss you that's all."

"You know I'm doing this for you, right?" He asked.

"Uh-huh." She replied nodding her head. "Any leads?"

"So far, I have three candidates." He replied patiently. "Three prostitution rings holding and shipping, mostly, Filipinas to work here. But I'm still trying to find out who's behind it."

"How about the warehouse?" She asked as she toyed his shirt collar.

"Well, Ken and Yohji went there, sporting the fake delivery thing and they actually discovered that the warehouse is near the ports." Omi replied brushing a streak of black hair away from her eyes. "I think that is where they do most of the drops."

"So it won't hurt if I go with you guys when you investigate the bars?" She asked hopefully. Omi shook his head.

"No, you will not go." He said softly but firmly. "I won't have you dressing and acting like a hooker. I won't have men ogling at you, Alex."

"But-- "

"Just don't, kudasai?" He cut in softly. "Plus you are still wounded."

"But what if Aya-kun agrees?" she asked. Omi laughed softly.

"I don't think Aya-kun would even consider that an option." He replied. With that Alex pouted. Omi tightened his arms around her.

"Look, Alex-chan," He began. "Going in those bars is dangerous. Anything might happen to you. Someone can abduct you since you're beautiful and I'm afraid that I won't be there to protect you. I cannot go inside since I'm still a minor…"

"But are you forgetting that I'm a Crasher agent, same as you, working under Kritiker?" She argued softly.

Omi took a deep breath. Alex stood up and turned away from him.

"Please let's not argue about this, Alex." He said softly.

"Then why can't I take part in this mission?" She asked, her back still to him. Omi sighed as he searched for the right words.

He doesn't want her to be there because he is afraid of what might happen. But then Alex is a Crasher agent and is exceptionally trained-- but somehow…

"I'll make you a deal." He said after a moment. Still she didn't turn to him. Instead she crossed her arms over her chest, heaving out an impatient sigh.

"This girl can be stubborn sometimes." Omi thought frowning. "Alex, would you look at me, kudasai?"

"No." She replied flatly.

Omi sighed tiredly as he decided to give in. He knows better than to persuade her in that kind of tone.

"We follow what Aya-kun has to say." He suggested. "If he says its okay for you to go then you go. If not then you will stay. Wakatta?"

She then turned and looked at him for a moment. Omi smiled. She pouted. Then in a pissed off voice, she spoke.

"Okay." She replied. Then without another word, she walked out the basement determined to speak to Aya.

==========

"No."

"Demo, Aya-kun…"

"That is absolutely out of the question." Aya repeated sternly. "No."

Alex refrained herself from sticking out her tongue. Instead she pouted at him and sulked herself in a corner. Ken, Omi, and Yohji all waited for her next reaction.

"Who would be the hooker then?" She asked.

"The usual." Ken replied looking at Omi. Omi groaned but if it is to secure Alex's safety, then he would be willing to do it.

"What?!" She exclaimed with disbelief. "You couldn't possibly be-- come on!" She added throwing her hands up in the air.

"What's wrong with that, kitten?" Yohji asked lazily. "I mean, Omi's been our front man even before. He is used to it by now." He added.

"It- it's not that." Alex began softly. Then she looked at the four men before her, heaving out a sigh.

"I'm thankful for showing me your concern." She began. "But you must also understand that I have to do this. This is the only way I could redeem myself. This is the only way for me to get this rotten feeling out of my systems. Please…."

She turned to Aya. Aya looked away. She is right. This is the only way she could fulfill herself, to get the guilt off her. This is the only way where she could make up to her fallen comrades.

He then turned to Omi, seeking out his approval. When he saw the understanding look on the young man's face, he heaved a tired sigh.

"On one condition though." He said turning to Alex. Alex nodded her head eagerly.

"I will be the one to pick you up." He said. "You will not go out with other men but me. Understand?"

"Yes." She said nodding her head.

==========

"Everything ready?" Omi asked the next two nights. It is mission night once again as he bounded down the basement. He stopped short upon seeing Alex before him.

She was wearing a skirt, a very short black skirt revealing most of her silken thighs. And on her body is a small, tight, fitting blouse. Her face was painted. Her lips, blood red. She was chewing a bubble gum noisily, a cigarette on one hand.

"You smoke?" He croaked.

"No." She replied as she expertly puffed the cigar Yohji gave her. Omi shook his head as he snatched the lighted stick from her hand.

"I don't remember talking about you smoking." He said sternly, clearly displeased.

"Relax, Omi." She drawled, pressing her body against his. Omi gulped as he felt himself furiously reacting against her. Alex smiled with satisfaction upon feeling something jab against her abdomen. So far, she looked convincing.

"I was just getting into character." She said quickly stepping back. Omi heaved a sigh of relief.

"Promise me you will not do anything like that there, okay?" He said hoarsely. Alex nodded mutely. With that, he quickly walked away from her and proceeded directly to his room.

"God! That was so close!" He thought, shutting his door behind him. He took several deep, calming breaths as he tried his best to suppress his sudden arousal. He closed his eyes and leaned against the door.

"Had she felt it?" He found himself asking, his face red with sudden embarrassment. Maybe she did. Maybe she didn't. Omi groaned as he rested his face against his hands. Of all the--

"Omi, since you are inside my room though I couldn't fathom why, could you bring out with you the book Aya-kun loaned me, onegai?"

Omi's eyes snapped open as he heard Alex's faint voice through the door. What the hell?! He is inside her room! He hadn't noticed it but he went inside her room not his! His cheeks immediately colored. What a stupid mistake! And the fact that his usual sound mind was easily distracted…!

"Baka, baka, baka, baka!" He hissed as he repeatedly brought his fist against his forehead.

He then decided to walk towards her night table only to find a stack of books neatly piled on top of it. He gingerly went through it and found the novel Alex asked him to get. He picked it up and was about to turn when suddenly he noticed something falling from the pages. Frowning, he looked down only to find a small, wallet-sized photograph on top of the bed.

He found himself smiling as he picked the photograph up. He stared at it, the person in the photograph smiling up at him. Her shoulder-length hair fell on gentle waves, gleaming and shining with health. And her face is bare of make-up. She has the brightest smile, her eyes twinkling, and her teeth perfect and pearly white. He noticed the dimple on the right cheek, the cute dimple that captivated him. He sighed.

"That girl." He muttered fondly. He just couldn't believe Alex used her own photographs as her bookmarks. Then looking sheepishly around, he slid the picture inside his pocket.

"Omi?"

He blinked upon hearing her impatient voice outside. He quickly turned away and walked towards the door with the photograph safely inside his pocket.

==========

"How much longer?" Omi asked Ken as they stationed themselves in the car, a safe distance from the second bar they are checking out. Ken rolled his eyes.

"Omi, will you calm down?" He asked tightly. "You've been asking me for the hundredth--"

"But what is taking them so long!?" Wailed Omi. Ken sighed and placed his hand on top of the young man's shoulder. Omi looked at his hand, then to his face. Ken smiled gently.

"I know you are worried." He began. "But you should trust Aya-kun. He wouldn't let anything to happen to her." With that Omi sighed.

"I suppose you're right." He finally said turning away. Then silence fell on them as they patiently waited. After a moment Ken spoke.

"So, you really care for her?" He asked casually. Omi turned to him.

"I love her." He replied shaking his head. Ken looked at him in the eye.

"Really?" He said. "Finally someone was able to win you into submission. Just remembering how you ran away from those girls… so it took only a dark-haired Alex to trip you." He added chuckling.

Omi frowned slightly and shook his head.

"No, I wouldn't exactly call it being tripped." He said slowly. "If I ran because I was chased then in Alex's case I stopped." He added. Then a misty smile appeared across his face as he projected a far away expression.

"She- she loves me." He began. He shook his head slowly as if in disbelief. "You know the feeling of, like, you have so much love to give but you can't even give it all to someone even if you want to? Like you aren't given a choice but to keep all that love bottled up inside you because you fear what your love would do to that special person?"

Ken found himself thinking, absorbing the young boy's old wisdom. Somehow, it made him realize that all along, Omi is right. He knows the feeling all right… but with their kind of life… they don't love. They must not love…

Ken looked up for a moment only to see the bright moon gazing down on them. Well everything's falling into place… realizations hitting him full force. Aya does love but it's for his sister. A love mixed with obsession. Even the playboy Yohji, the one who's always surrounded by women, doesn't love He keeps a certain distance, builds a strong emotional barrier that no woman, except a woman like Asuka, could even tear down. He… he had loved but it ended up in pain, for both of them.

Then his gaze settled on Omi and an unsuspected wave of envy crashed at him. Unlike them, Omi had found someone. He has found someone innocent, untainted, pure, someone like him, like them… he now wished that, for once, God would grant him just a day in that boy's shoes.

"I remember the time when I was a kid." Omi continued. "I was kidnapped, right?" He added looking at him.

"Un." Ken nodded his head, listening. Then to his surprise, Omi smiled. He just knows how Omi finds it difficult to smile when that subject is brought up.

"Since that day, I've always thought that I'm undesirable, unwanted. I would often ask myself why… I mean, I tend to be cheerful, friendly… I tried hard to be nice but its like nobody wanted me, just like my father." He said. Then he heaved a happy sigh.

"But Alex changed all that." He supplied. "Would you believe that she already got me to tell her of my past?"

Ken's eyebrows went up a notch. Boy, Omi's really in love! His past is like a sacred treasure to him, shared only by Weib and now…

"After telling her everything, as in everything, she just smiled and held me close." He said his voice in a whisper. "Just held me close."

"She knows about Ouka?" Ken asked carefully.

Omi nodded wordlessly. "After sharing my deepest secret with her, I felt that somehow she is now a part of my life, like you guys." He continued. Then he laughed, his features getting shy, his face blushing red.

"I must sound stupid, corny and silly." He said. Ken shook his head.

"No, Omi-kun." He replied as he ruffled his head fondly. "I'm happy for you. You certainly deserve that happiness." Then he laughed.

"And you are really supposed to tell me everything." He said. "I'm your best friend after all. No secrets, right?"

Omi nodded his head, a sweet smile on his face.

"This talk never happened, right?" he asked after a moment.

Ken nodded his head solemnly, understanding what the remark had meant. They always end their serious talk with that statement.

"What talk?" Ken asked innocently. Omi smiled as he looked away, patiently waiting for Alex.