Follow

by scribblemoose

Yohji followed Aya down the path, muttering obscenities at his back. Stuffed his hands in his coat pockets for fear he might hit him, and knowing that would end badly. But.

Cold, uncaring bastard.

He knew the man was human. He'd seen it in his eyes when... sometimes. If once, just once he'd open up a bit, get the iron stick out of his ass and share something other than grunts and orders and disapproval.

Just once.

"Stop following me," Aya said, without looking back.

"I'm not following you. It's a public park. I just happen to be going in the same direction as you are."

"Then don't. Go somewhere else."

"Why the fuck should I? You don't have any more reason to go… there than I do."

Aya spun around, coat tails swishing around his legs, his eyes bright with fury. "You have no idea what you're talking about, Kudoh. You don't even know where I'm going. So shut the fuck up, and go home."

Yohji's eyes narrowed; he shoved his sunglasses up on the top of his head to show Aya that he could hold his own in the glaring stakes when he wanted to. "Make me."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Who's being ridiculous? If you can spend hours stomping around the streets of Tokyo, why the fuck can't I?"

Thunder rumbled; a cool, sakura-laden breeze rustled through Aya's hair.

"I can't tell you," he said, his voice choked with anger.

"No," Yohji replied bitterly. "I don't suppose you can. Well, you know what, high-and-mighty Fujiyama-san? I don’t give a fuck any more. If you don't trust me now after all we've... done, you're never going to. So next time you're looking for a little post-mission relief, why don't you give Hidaka a go instead? I'm told he gives great head."

A flicker of pain passed through Aya's eyes, and Yohji felt grimly satisifed to see it. A flash of brilliance and thunder rolled, clouds looming. A few spots of rain fell, cool against Yohji's anger-flushed skin.

"Omi told me," he said, ready to bang the nail home. "You've been visiting some girl at the hospital."

Aya had the decency to look shocked.

"You could have just told me." Yohji's voice was choked, trembling more than he liked. "You didn't have to lie. If you just wanted sex or friendship or whatever the fuck we had…"

"You have no idea what you're talking about," growled Aya.

"No?"

Aya gave a bitter little laugh. "You're an idiot, Kudoh." He turned away, storming off to… wherever she was. Jealousy rose like bile in Yohji's throat.

He might be an idiot, but he was Aya's idiot. He wasn't going to give up without a fight.

"Aya! Don't.. Aya!" He ran to catch him up, lungs protesting at the sudden turn of speed. "Aya, wait!" He grabbed an arm. "Just tell me!"

Aya turned on him, angrily shaking loose of Yohji's hold. "You want to know who she is? Really?"

Yohji swallowed hard. "Yes. Then you can get the fuck out of here. But you owe me that much. You… owe me."

Aya blinked the rain out of his eyes and took a breath.

"She's my sister."

Yohji stared at him. "Your…"

"Sister. Omi knew. I'm surprised he didn't tell you."

"I… he…"

"You didn't give him the chance."

"No, I. Oh fuck. Aya, I'm sorry, I… why didn't you say anything? All these months, and now… you could have told me."

"It was safer. Safer no-one knowing. You keep a secret long enough and…" Aya shrugged.

"Aya, did it ever occur to you that I can help? Fuck, to think, all this time I thought she was your wife or girlfriend or..."

Aya just looked at him through the sheets of falling rain, as the truth slowly dawned.

"You knew," he said. "About Aya. You knew!"

"I wondered about your name. Not many people mutter their own name in their sleep, certainly not as much as you. And there had to be a reason, you wanted Takatori dead so much…"

"You followed me."

"Months ago. I wanted to understand, and I knew sure as fuck you wouldn't tell me. When I saw her, I just thought... it didn't occur to me you'd only borrowed her first name. So I naturally assumed... I didn't realise she was your sister, is all."

"I should kill you. Right here and now. If I had my sword…"

"That seems a bit extreme," said Yohji, mildly. "I just jumped to the wrong conclusion, is all."

"You followed me."

The rain was falling hard now, bouncing off the slick path and raising the smell of grass and damp earth and growing things. Aya's hair was plastered to his head; his eyes glittering through soaked crimson strands.

"I want to help," Yohji said, taking a step closer. "If you'll let me."

Aya hesitated, still angry, but Yohji didn't care. He surged forwards and clasped Aya by the shoulders, kissed him quick and hard until he could be certain he wasn't going to die as a result. Only when Aya's arms snaked awkwardly around him did he relax, slow and soft and tasting rain and Aya's mouth and skin and hair.

"How do you do this?" Aya murmured, his own lips pressing into Yohji's throat. "How the fuck do you get away with this every fucking time?"

"Because you love me?" said Yohji, and hugged Aya to him hard, ignoring the snort his declaration met with.

"Because…."

"Can I come with you?" Yohji whispered.

Aya didn't answer. He gave Yohji a hug that stole his breath and walked away.

But for once he didn't seem to mind that Yohji followed.

~owari~