-Part 4-

The Blossom Wilts In Spring

 

Aya laid in bed, watching TV quietly as Ken slept in his lap. The younger boy clung tightly to Aya's waist, tears dried on his cheeks from crying in his sleep. Aya's hand gently rubbed over Ken's back as he flipped channels on the remote with his other, sleep seeming so far away when all he wanted was to snuggle and dream of Ken. Trying to shift, he winced as Ken began to stir, and finally sat up, and rubbed his eyes. "Sorry, Kenken, I didn't mean to wake you..." he said softly.

 

"Ran-chan, were you watching me again?" Ken asked innocently, blinking at Aya with his beautiful green-gray eyes.

 

Aya blushed and nodded, admitting that he hadn't really been watching the TV, more focusing on Ken and the events that had occurred recently. He smiled, and leaning forward, caught his lover's lips which slowly developed into a soft kiss. He pulled Ken closer, deepening the kiss as he wound his arms around Ken's little form.

 

Ken quickly accepted the kiss, relaxing slowly into Aya's arms. He liked to feel his warmth, and Aya's arms were one of the few places that Ken truly felt safe all the time. Breaking the kiss, he nuzzled Aya's cheek and the soft skin on his neck as he curled up against the redhead's chest, and sighed. "I love you, Ran.." he whispered.

 

Aya blushed again and tightened his arms around the brunette's back. "I love you too." He said, and  smiled as he held the younger boy possessively.

 

"I'm proud of you, Ran.." Ken continued, nuzzling Aya's chest softly, as he ran his fingers up and down the redhead's back, amused by its constant arching as a result.

 

"Proud? About yesterday? Not something to really be proud of, I just..." Aya began, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck, embarrassed.

 

"You professed your love for me, did you not? I'm proud of you.. I sort of feel guilty that Sakura ran away, but she's gone, Aya, she's really gone.." Ken said, cutting him off, a smile breaking out across his face, which hadn't appeared since the incident in the flowershop a week ago.

 

Aya's eyes softened at the smile which he'd prayed to see for days now, and he hugged Ken. "She's gone, and you don't know how good it makes me feel to see you smile..." Aya  felt guilty as well for Sakura's leaving, but he knew deep down she'd be back. After all, she was just a high schooler. Where could she go?

 

*              *              *

 

Aya ran quickly across the pier with Ken, his heartbeat racing as they ran down alleys. Seconds later an explosion sounded, signifying that the mission had been completed. As they raced for the pier, car headlights suddenly turned on, jolting both men to a start as Schulderich and Crawford stepped from the inside. Aya growled angrily as the German man began to smirk at him.

 

"Well if it isn't Weiss..." Schulderich said smugly.

 

"Shut up, Schwarz bastard." Ken spat, stepping behind Aya gingerly as the older man held his arm out, and grabbed for his katana.

 

"Ooh, touchy aren't we? We have a little surprise for you actually..she wanted to see you, so we decided to grant her wish..." Schulderich laughed, and suddenly the car door open, and Sakura stepped out. Tears slid down the young girl's face, as she clutched a gun in her clasped hands.

 

"Sakura!" Ken cried incredulously. Aya glared angrily, and motioned for Sakura to come over to him. Ken saw a perfect opportunity, and ran off into the shadows to find Yohji and Omi for backup.

 

Schulderich turned to go catch him, but Crawford held his arms out, stopping him. It was best for just Aya to be here. He was their target, after all. "Oh, she's not going anywhere, I'm afraid.." Crawford said. "Now, Sakura.. do it."

 

Sakura raised the gun, pointing at Aya. Aya's eyes widened as she began to tremble, and pointed the gun at the redhead. She shrieked, begging them to let her stop. Crawford continued to urge her, and she fired the gun, missing Aya entirely.

 

"That was pathetic, bitch!" Schulderich spat, and closed his eyes. Sakura screamed as her arms were pulled, and Schulderich began to control her motions, to position the gun correctly. Opening his emerald eyes again, her scowled. "Fire it. NOW!"

 

Sakura fired the gun again, and began to cry, as Aya winced in pain, and grabbed his shoulder where he'd been shot. A loud cry for him arose for the shadows, and Aya looked but could see no one as he doubled over in pain.

 

Sakura tried to throw the gun down and run, but Schulderich began to control her again, and she was frozen to the spot. All the young girl could do was scream for help. Crawford suddenly grabbed Schulderich, and yanked him into the car, breaking his concentration. Before the German man could get angry, a loud scream arose from Sakura, and they both stared in shock as Sakura clutched her chest where an arrow had been shot through her back, puncturing her lung.

 

"Thank god you can see the future.." Schulderich mumbled. "Let's get the hell out of here." With a squeal of the tires, Crawford and Schulderich fled the scene as Sakura fell to her knees and on to her side, clutching at her chest, sobbing.

 

Aya was still in too much shock to move, and merely turned to the direction where the arrow was shot from, prepared to yell at Omi. But to his shock, it wasn't Omi at all. It was Ken.

 

The young man stepped from the shadow into the light from one of the buildings, breathing heavily as he tossed down Omi's crossbow. He walked over and kicked Sakura's near dead form. "Bitch. How dare you hurt Aya.. how dare you!" he spat.

 

"Ken.." Aya whispered shocked. Sakura sputtered for a minute as she was kicked, and wincing once more, her hands fell from the arrow and she became motionless. Aya bent down and yanked the arrow out, which was what Sakura had been trying to do. He dropped it beside her lifeless body. "You certainly did end it, Ken..."

 

"I told you I would... besides, she hurt you.. " Ken said hoarsely, as he began to cry, and suddenly hugged Aya tightly. "All I saw was her shoot you, I thought you were dead, I thought.." he sobbed, his voice trailing off.

 

Ken suddenly felt incredibly warm when he felt Aya's arms hug him, shrugging off his wound for the moment to comfort his lover. "Ken.. I can't die. I can never leave you.." he whispered.

 

"Oh Aya!" Ken cried, smiling, and kissed Aya happily, stroking his cheek. "Alright.. let's get this wound cleaned up before you have serious problems.."

 

Aya nodded, and gently placing a final kiss on Ken's forehead, they picked up Omi's crossbow and hurried off into the shadows.

 

*              *              *

 

Yohji and Omi hurried back towards the pier to meet up with Aya and Ken when a bleeding form paused their run. Omi's eyes widened when the saw the bloody arrow lying beside the form. "Yohji! It's Sakura! Is she alive?!" He whispered.

 

Yohji was in just as much shock, and he bent down and touched her neck. "She's dead, Omi. She probably died seconds after the arrow hit her." He lowered his head, drawing his hand back, and sliding into his pocket.

 

"Oh, what has Ken done?" Omi whimpered.

 

"What should have been done long ago, Omi-chan." Yohji said, ruffling the younger boy's golden hair. "Ken saved something that was far more special to them then this girl could ever be."

 

Omi nodded, scanning the darkness for Aya and Ken. He finally spotted them sitting in a corner, Ken bent over Aya, tending to his wound as Aya stroked his cheek warmly.

 

Yohji smiled down on Omi as he noticed the younger boy saw them as well, and pulled Omi around him, hugging him tightly. "Funny how cherry blossoms always die by spring, isn't it, Omi-chan?"

 

Omi nodded in agreement as he watched Aya and Ken stand, and holding hands tightly, ran into the shadows. "But relationships have the bonds to last forever, Yo-tan.." he whispered, and twining fingers, they ran off to catch up with the others.

 

[Ende]

 

Email C&C to Ayumi Kuichigau: Crimsonemanation@aol.com