-Part 4-

A Manipulated Destiny

 

One moment she was hugging Aya, happy and whole as they sank to the ground. Then Aya was gone..the loud smack to hiss face by Ken, brought those animalistic urges surging back to the top..But ..Aya left her..and went to him. Aya let Ken hit him..then there were words..so many hurtful, spiteful words..Rest? She didn't want to rest!..Everything was crumbling again, there were changes..changes that she needed to pull under control, lest she bring the whole building down..then she heard Yohji's voice..commanding and demanding..she turned her head to him, a snarl of rage, and a losing battle to keep it contained. "Don't threaten me..because It'll be you won't be leaving alive should it come to that.. I'm going home. I can't stay here right now..I'll be back in the morning." she watched as Aya was carried off..stiff rigid movements, twitches as she fought to stay still.

 

Yohji stopped in mid turn back to his bedroom, a snarl crossed those normally happy features. "Nani? Good. Leave. " he spat, and hurried to his room before any hell broke loose.

 

As soon as the other three were gone, Omi broke from his web of quietness, and walked next to Aren, tugging her dress. "You saw.. Ken.. hit Aya, didn't you.. Aren-san.." he said quietly.

 

"Does he always hit him?" She asked quietly as all the door closed, something about Omi always made her passive, quiet and calm. "Does he always treat Aya like that..I never hit him..He hit me..I never hit back.." she replied sadly shaking her head.

 

Omi shook his head. "Iie yo. He doesn't hit Aya often, but Aya always buckles immeadiately when he does and listens. It's the only way that he's learned he is out of line in Ken's eyes.. since you've left, he's strived to do everything in his power to make Ken happy. He's afraid Ken will leave like you did. " The little one said, sitting down onto the floor.  "Ken's such a happy go lucky person usually.. but when he gets mad... he gets scary.."

 

She balled her fist tightly. " There are other ways of saying he's outta line..other then hitting..that is crossing the line.."  Aren groaned and spun on her heel. " Omi-kun..what am I gonna do? I still love him..I know leaving was a mistake..but There was little I could do about dying. But I just thought if I stayed away...it would be better..I mean..I almost got you hurt in that battle to save me.." she growled slamming her hands into an open palm. " But I made them pay..Omi. I got them back for what they did..I got them back....good!" she looked dazed and far away.

 

Omi frowned." I believe so too, yet if punching Aya works, because not much else seems to, more power to the boy. Aya's always pushed Ken around so bad, as sick as it seems, it looks like Ken is getting back at him for all these times of crap that Aya's put him through..." Sighing , he tilted his head.  "But do you think coming back to steal Aya away is really the answer, Aren?" he replied, tilting his head.

 

She shook her head, punching into her palms again. " IIE! That's not what I planned to do! " Aren hissed again, kicking the small rug again. " That wasn't my plan..it wasn't my intention..all of you are wrong! "

 

That wasn't it. But she really didn't know what it is.." Omi..I was His friend before I was his lover.." she turned imploring eyes to him, kneeling down to look into his eyes. Those silver ringlets glinted almost un-natural. " Don't you see, Omi? I missed him. I knew I would..but then I heard about Yui. I got scared..and instead of coming to him..letting him know I was alright. That I felt his pain as well..I shrank back into myself..and made a decision for him.." Her eyes were narrow slits, her voice had become deep and husky with an effort not to cry. " I don't expect any of you to understand..." she shook her head and stood up. " I better get going...goodnite Omi.."

 

And with that she turned for the door a second time.

 

----

 

Sleep didn't seem ideal, and when Aya awoke only about thirty minutes after he nodded off in Ken's arms, reality washed back and in only mere seconds he was thrown back into awakeness, thoughts immeadiately taking over his head, on targets and ideas that would have to be completed the following day. Leaning the brunette who rested, tangled in the dark bedsheets, Aya walked through the pitch bedroom, down the hallway and out onto the balcony, where he promptly sat at the rickety plastic table set Yohji had picked out for when they wanted to relax. He left the door open a crack so he wouldn't get locked out, and rested his head into his arms, trying to let sleep take over again as he thoughts spun in his head worse than the thought of candy overwhelming an infant.

 

A bare foot slid off of the bed to impose his weight on the floorboards, smoothing out khaki shorts topped off by a baby blue and grey sleeveless that covered all evidence of burn scars trailing along his ribs and the backs of shoulder running to the blade.  Squeezing his form through the portal between worlds, one hazy and humid, the other air conditioned, Ken brushed messy hair away from warm caramel sweetened eyes. Calmness could be good, too.

 

Aya didn't move from his quiet spot though, and didn't hear Ken creep up either. Talking to himself softly, he was content with the world. "Maa, what am I going to do?" Well, maybe he wasn't so content. But to have Ken with him to look at the stars, yep, that would be happiness. They were so beautiful. And it was one of the first things the redhead noticed when he had stepped outside. The humidity was a bit to handle, but it felt good compared to the overly airconditioned bedroom that the two shared. Nice indeed.

 

It wasn't so bad, even if the weight of the air hit on all sides of his body was a little overbearing at first, and hit him like a solid object.  The brunette wondered for a moment about the posibilites of the waterdroplets in the air condensing and forming on the ground, a veritable water park of the urban decayed jungle.  Bare feet carried across the outdoor floorboards glazed in their weatherproofing from the elements, over to the pallid boy with head in arms.  Like an apprehensive creature that couldn't yet develop communication by vocals for his love, Hidaka nudged his face along the side of Ran's as if trying to make the impossible connection between minds that just weren't meeting. 

 

Smiling softly, he nuzzled Hidaka's cheek. "Hey there. Awake finally?" He asked quietly. The redhead lifted his head from his arms, propping his long legs against the table legs, and he leaned back into the chair, staring at the sky.

 

Ken wound his arms around Aya's neck, hugging him from behind as they sat on the balcony in silence. When they'd first moved in, the height above the street had frightened them both, but when they finally discovered that being together dissolved that fear, they came out more often. "So, you are going to her tomorrow?" Ken questioned, fingers running over Aya's cheek, mocha eyes locked on him in a loving gaze.

 

Aya leaned into the touch. "Why do you want me to stay?" he quiered. Confidence was such a wonderful thing, but from their fight earlier, Aya wasn't sure all of what was happening, or what would be the results to any of his actions.

 

Ken's fists balled for a moment, yet Ken sighed, and releasing his grip around Aya's neck, he turned, and crawled onto the chair with  the reclined redhead, laying against him, and nuzzled his chest, arms twining around his body for a small glimpse of compassion. "Because... I love you, Ran.. " he whispered. "I love you with all my heart..."

 

"Oh Ken.." Aya breathed, and his arms moved, hugging the brunette closer to his body as he sighed deeply, amethyst eyes still locked on the twinkling stars.

 

"I don't have memories before Kase.. and to be honest, Ran, I never thought I'd be able to love again, and then Aren appeared into our lives, and when she left.. I just..." Ken paused, looking downward as he continued to gather his thoughts.

 

"You just?" Aya prompted, and allowed an oversized hand to move and stroke the long chocolate locks that Ken adorned.

 

"I jest felt that life was for learning, Ran, and if such was the case, than love was for second chances! Don't you see? We were both given second chances, fate brought us together, Ran!" Ken blurted, hugging Aya tighter. A warm blush crossed his cheeks for proposing such a preposterous idea, but at the same time, it felt right, and Ken felt that it needed to be said.

 

"Fate?" Aya echoed. Never before had such a concept be brought to his attention, yet now that he really thought about it, this concept seemed to the the onlyreal plausible one at the moment.

 

Ken lowered his head, tears welling in the corners of his eyes. "I.. I thought you'd died when I'd walked into the kitchen earlier.. Ran, I was so worried.. I've never seen you brood over anything besides Aya-chan..." he paused, and messily wiped away the falling tears before continuing. "I just.. I wish I could be Aren, because then you'd love me too..." he whispered, the shallow whimper cutting off into a sob against Aya's chest.

 

Love is for second chances!

 

That last comment struck Aya where it hurt most, and he sat up in disbelief, shaking Ken from his cries and yanking the younger by the collar, he bent down, pressing a rough yet soothing kiss against tear tainted salty lips. Breaking it, Aya smiled at Ken, his amethyst gaze sparkling with renewed trust and love. "Don't ever say I don't love you. Of course I love you. You are my Kentiger.. I will always love you.."

 

Fresh tears stung his eyes. Not just the use of the affectionate name but his soothing words brought new hopes to the brunette, and a smile broke over his face. "Ran!" he squealed happily, diving into Aya's waiting embrace. Nuzzling and nipping, the little Kentiger growled for his tamer, just like old times.

 

The previous fight forgotten, and giggles and growls filled the air in a bubbly manner for the next few minutes. After the two calmed, Ken snuggled down against Aya tiredly.

 

"For so long I accepted she only lived in my heart, Ken..but now she's here.." Aya said quietly, glancing back at the blinking stars once more.

 

"But I am also here, Ran, and I am your family now.." Ken murmured, words muffled against the soft fabric of Aya's shirt. Lifting his head, he kissed the tip of Aya's chin, forcing the redhead to take his eyes off the sky and glance down at the awaiting mocha gaze. "We'll always be family, ne, Ran?"

 

Aya looked down, the question having caught him off guard, yet as those childish eyes stared, awaiting an answer, Aya couldn't help but feel a twinge of passion and love deep within him.

 

Fate brought us together, Ran!

 

Smiling softly at the innocent eyes that gazed at him, Aya ruffled Ken's bangs, placing a soft kiss on the waiting forehead. "Hai, we'll be family forever.. forever.. just you and I."

 

You're my Kentiger. I will always love you.