Fallen Angels

Chapter Forty-seven - Rebuilding Bridges

*****

Omi watched Aya walk to the front of the shop as he put the finishing touches on the arrangement and put a small sold sticker and the order with it's address on the basket before putting it in the cooler. Then he followed the older man to the front to begin turning the plants so that they wouldn't end up leaning in an attempt to get enough sun.

Finally he cleared his throat as he came up beside the other man. He probably shouldn't get in the middle but he couldn't help it. "He looked for you for two weeks. Every hospital, every morgue. Every redheaded John Doe that turned up, he went to check to see if it was you because he couldn't believe you would just leave. We finally made him stop because it was killing him. He was starting to have nightmares every night that they pulled back the sheet and it was you."

"Been boring huh." Aya observed. "I'm sure something will happen."

Omi shook his head as he walked back towards the bulletin board to pick up another order to work on. "Yes, it usually does with us. Doesn't it?" He had tried now it was just up to the other two to work out.

"So you and ...Nagi...are together. Huh. Never would have thought that." Aya let it drop though as he worked around the shop as well.

"Yes, it just sort of happened. We've moved him here because he showed up half dead on our doorstep. Crawford found out and tried to beat him to death." Omi answered just sitting at the table looking over the order in front of him.

"He looked fine to me for someone almost dead. Seems to happen a lot, people showing up bleeding and hurt."

"Yes, and half the time it's one of us," Omi chuckled dryly thinking of all the times they had patched each other up. "We know someone that is a touch healer. He healed Nagi for us."

"There's no such thing as healers, it's just superstition. Omi, I thought you grew up."

"I laid there beside Nagi and watched the bruises and cuts on his face disappear. I know you didn't see much of him but did you see any bruises? It only happened last night," Omi replied firmly setting the order down and looking at the other man.

"He was hidden behind you, I didn't get a good look. But I won't believe in unicorn magic until I see it." Aya turned his gaze on the younger member of Weiss. "Until then, it's a child's tale."

Omi nodded. He wouldn't have believed it either if he hadn't seen Enzeru heal Yohji and then Nagi. They had seen so much since they'd been with Weiss but there were still things that boggled the imagination. "You'll get the chance to see it for yourself I'm sure, sooner or later. I'm going to start the clean up. Do you want to do the till for me?" he asked walking to the door to the back room and taking the broom down off a hook as he spoke.

"Sure, knowing your math skills." Aya jabbed at him as he went to the register and started to cash out and balance it.

Omi looked at the other man keeping his smile planted firmly on his face as he began to sweep up the floor. "Yes we know that numbers and math just aren't my thing. Not unless they're on a computer screen with code all around them. It's a good thing I can recognize zero and one. We might have never finished some of those missions we had."

"Kami forbid you ever run into a three, chibi."

"Isn't that one of those things that looks like an m set on its side?" Omi replied as he put the broom back into the back room. His hand slipped into the pocket of his apron. Just one, just one well-aimed dart at the redhead's ass would make him feel so much better. "I'm going up to start some dinner. Was there anything special you wanted?" he asked as he started for the door to the upstairs.

"Do we have any meat?" Aya asked, wanting to trip up the kid but decided to let him not have a broken leg on the stairs. This time. "That would help."

"There's some beef in the freezer. I can make a stir-fry or a beef stew if you want? Every one would like that," he answered leaning on the doorframe watching the other man.

Aya finished and sealed up the bank bag before turning to look at him. "As long as you can coral them all. I think you'd need a cattle prod to get Yohji out of that room."

"I'll check on him," Omi answered ignoring the remark. Aya had made it clear that he wasn't going to listen to him, then he would simply keep his nose out of it from now on. "He may be sleeping we were out late last night and then Nagi. He opened the store and worked it alone until I came down earlier. I can always store some away for him to heat up in the microwave."

"Ken should be back soon as well." Aya went around to complete the close of the shop.

"Hopefully," the blonde replied gritting his teeth at yet another lie sliding glibly off his tongue. Maybe he ought to just put an arrow through his own head and be done with it. "He called last night to say he would be late coming home. So far he hasn't, but his kids will normally come looking for him if he's late for Soccer practice and they didn't come by so I know he made it there. Maybe he's found a girl."

"Ken find a girl? That'd be interesting. At this rate, we're all going to be gay."

Omi laughed as he started up the stairs for the kitchen. "Like is drawn to like?" he called over his shoulder.

"I blame it all on your hentai mangas." Aya finished and followed him up, keeping alert in case the kid tried to shoot him just for fun.

"Ah but they're such good hentai mangas," Omi smirked as he pulled the beef out of the freezer and removed the wrapper. He set it on the counter while he found a large pot in the cupboards to start the stew. "And you never complained when you were reading them before."

Aya irked and got out the rest of the ingredients. "Who said I read that dirt anyway?"

"Oh, were you just looking at the pictures when you borrowed them from me?" Omi asked as he opened a can of broth and poured it into the pot along with a can of water. He added the beef, bay leaf and pepper, then turned the burner on a medium heat.

"I wasn't borrowing, I needed to change the litter box and we were out of litter. Why do you think you never got them back?" Aya grinned a little.

"Bastard," Omi giggled tossing a piece of potato at the redhead so it hit him lightly in the chest. "You know how much I had to spend to replace those things?" Then he stopped and looked at the other man his eyes going serious. "I'm glad you're back Aya, I'd forgotten how much fun you could be."

"It's good to be back, even if things are now strange and not how I want them to be." His eyes shifted in the direction of Yohji's apartment before turning to help Omi finish. "I guess I start over."

Omi nodded and turned back to the potatoes he was cutting for the stew. He didn't know what to say to the older man, finally he sighed silently. "We've faced strange before and weathered it. And sometimes starting over isn't a bad thing. And who knows what could happen?"

"I'd rather not start over if I don't have to...I'm in no hurry to replace Yohji, unlike him." Aya grabbed out a couple of plates and glasses to set them at the dinette.

Omi carefully scrapped the potatoes off the cutting board into the pot along with the carrots that Aya had pulled out. He peeled the onion, which was all that was left and cut it in fourths adding it as well.

"Aya..." he shook his head he'd tried already, the other man simply wasn't hearing. Omi knew it was partly anger and partly hurt. Maybe as time passed the other two would finally be able to talk. "I'm going to go and take a shower and check on Nagi while the stew cooks. It probably needs about 30 minutes to be really cooked."

"I'll check the news and mind the kitchen then." Aya let him go without anymore barbs, having a seat to look at the small television.

"Thanks Aya, I'll be back in twenty minutes," Omi answered nodding at him gratefully. Then he stepped over and placed a hand on the other man's shoulder. "Welcome home."

Aya reached his own hand up to cover Omi's. "Thanks Omi, I'm home now."

**********

Omi stepped into his apartment and gaped at Yohji and Nagi. They were sitting on the floor on either side of the coffee table playing a two-man version of solitaire mahjong and laughing. He couldn't even be upset seeing the bowls and pot of tea.

He walked over and leaned down to kiss Nagi. "Having fun itoshii?"

The younger boy nodded his dark eyes brightening more seeing his lover. "Yohji-sa... Yohji has been keeping me company." Then he blushed realizing he was stating the obvious.

"I'm glad," Omi grinned at his lover. "I didn't like you being stuck up here all alone. Are you two going to be hungry for dinner? I'm making beef stew."

Yohji chuckled. "I am definitely going to be hungry. The miso only made me realize just how hungry I was."

Omi watched Nagi nod. "Good it should be ready in about thirty minutes. I'm going to take a shower while we wait."

"I'll take these things and wash them then," Yohji stood up and picked up the tray.

"Yohji-kun, Aya's in the kitchen," Omi murmured looking up at the older blonde.

The ex-detective closed his eyes and sighed. "I can't hide forever Omi. I might as well get this over with. But if you hear screaming, come stop us before one of us kills the other, okay?"

Omi shook his head watching his friend leave. "Yohji-kun..." he murmured sadly.

**********

Yohji stopped just outside of Omi's apartment. He could see Aya through the kitchen doorway. The redhead was standing at the stove stirring the stew that Omi was making. A newspaper was hanging over the edge of the dinette table and he could hear the news playing on the small television in there. For a moment it dragged him back to days before the other man had left.

He saw himself slipping in on silent bare feet to wrap his arm around his lover who always felt him coming. Perching on the counter to bug him until the younger man finally put the paper down and held out a hand. Yohji jumping down to sit at his feet while strong hands massaged his shoulders.

Suddenly he shook his head pushing the memories back with a soft sob of anger and hurt. He wasn't ready to deal with the other man especially with his air of righteous indignation as if he'd only been gone a few hours and come back to find Yohji sleeping with half the neighborhood. He didn't deserve the slurs or the cutting remarks.

He moved over to the long hall table that held their upstairs phone and set the tray on it. Out of the drawer he took the note pad they kept there and wrote two notes. One he slipped under Omi's door. The other he carried with him to his own apartment. He locked the door and quietly went to the bed. Yohji set the note on the bedside table and then picked up the keys for the apartment and the roadster. With a last look he slipped out of the apartment and started quickly down the stairs to the attached garage/ greenhouse.

**********

Legolas guided the chocolate haired young man into the bathroom. "Your shirt needs to come off so that I can see about the bruises," he said, turning his back to the other as he opened the first aid kit.

"N-nani?" Ken squeak, watching the blond remove the bandages and other items from it.

"Shirt off." Legolas said. Some of the wounds just need to be treated, no bandages. He leveled a glare fitting of Aya at the brown-eyed man.

Ten minutes later, Legolas put the remaining bandages back. He had also just checked the leg that had the limp. "Take it easy with that pulled muscle." He helped Ken up wrapping the young man's arm around his neck. "I'll fix some lineament for the muscle," he said, guiding the other out of the bathroom. "Where to?"

"The kitchen. I'll need to see about fixing something for the others." Ken said, surprised that the bruises didn't seem to hurt as much.

"You shouldn't be standing up with that leg either," he said, helping Ken into the kitchen, not seeing Aya in the room. "You already put a lot of stress on that injury walking your bike back." He blinked as the young man tensed beside him then look over to see Aya staring at them. "Ah, is the shop closed already, Aya?"

Ken could only stare at the red head. 'He's back.' Ken thought. 'Aya really is back.'

Legolas left Ken in, what he hoped were Aya's capable hands. He had also warned Aya that because of the comment earlier, any roses he got, Aya would have to fix up to be sent out. The plant he found was going have to wait until tomorrow. He made his way across the street and to his apartment. Taking a little time to fix up something for Ken's pulled muscle. It didn't take long to shower and slip into bed.

Aya watched Legolas leave, shrugging off the rose warning. Whatever, the blonde could probably use the attention anyway and they could use the extra business for the shop. Aya helped Ken to a chair, eyeing his injuries. "What did you do this time? Crash another bike?"

Ken muttered something under his breath. At the pointed glare from Aya, something that he hadn't seen in the three months that Aya had been gone, he said. "Hai, I crashed another bike." He stretched out his injured leg, wincing a little before turning his full attention to Aya. "So, um..." he wasn't quite sure what to say. "You just got back?" He then slap himself mental. 'Of course he just got back or he wouldn't be here.' Most likely, his brains got rattle in the accident as well.

**********

Nagi saw the note on the floor by the door and floated it to himself. His eyes scanned the writing and his eyes widened. "Omi-koi!" He bolted to the bathroom shoving the door open just as his boyfriend was starting to unbutton his shirt.

"Nagi?" Omi took the outstretched note and read it his eyes filling with sadness as he read. He dropped it on the floor and raced outside to the walkway.

"Yohji!" he yelled just as the roadster tore around the corner and out into the street. He heard the screech of tires and horns blaring but no sound of rending metal. He sighed then hung his head as pain for the older man he loved washed over him.

**********

The darkness surrounded him, sticking to him like a sheet to damp skin. He turned and in the distance, saw a faint light. He stood, noticing briefly that he was bare foot and naked and was curious about it for a moment before he began to walk towards the warmth radiating from a strange light that broke the shadows. He walked for what seemed an eternity before he was close enough to see two figures in the beam of light.

There was no beginning and no end to the light; it was just there somehow. As he approached, he recognized the figures. One with blonde hair, the other silver. He realized he was looking at himself and his lover in a passionate embrace. He stopped and watched in fascination as they moved their bodies together in the dance they both knew so well.

As the dance reached its climax, the figures arched against one another with silent cries, signaling the crescendo of the dance. Enzeru ran his hand through his hair and stepped forward, wanting to touch Yohji, it felt like he hadn't in so long, but at that moment, a white streak flashed across the darkness and a red line, like a neon sign flashed across Yohji's exposed throat. He watched in horror as Gabriel stood above the lover's, laughing his silent laugh.

He began to run forward, trying to reach Yohji to heal him, crying out his name but not hearing his own voice. His lover's bloody hand cupped and slid limply down his dream self's face, leaving a streak of sickening red across the flesh made pale in the brightness of the light.

The dream Enzeru looked up at Gabriel and smiled, licking his lips as he lowered his head to drink the river of blood flowing from the gaping wound. Enzeru screamed and finally reaching them, grabbed Yohji away from his dream self and held him close, chanting words to heal the wound, but nothing happened. He felt the hot streaks come down his cheeks as he cuddled his dying lover in his arms and continued to try, knowing it was too late as he felt his lover's spirit torn from his body by Gabriel.

"You bastard!" He screamed in the dream, looking up into the light blue of Gabriel's eyes. Gabriel laughed and held Yohji's spirit close to his chest.

"You have nothing left for you here...Look around you...they are all dead... and it's all your fault, Enzeru...You killed them all. Hahahaha!" Gabriel swept his hand grandly about them, revealing to Enzeru the dead bodies of his past lover's, the men and women he had fed from while both mortal and tenshi. Under a soft green light lay Omi and Nagi in a tight embrace, their glassy eyes staring at him accusingly.

He moaned and gripped his head, fisting his hair in his hands as he smeared Yohji's blood across his temples. "NOOOOOOO!!!!" He screamed.

Enzeru sat up quickly, looking around him frantically as his eyes adjusted to the darkening room. He heard the screech of tires outside and the breeze from the opened window caught something on the bedside table and lifted it, letting it flutter down onto the back of Enzu's hand. He looked down, seeing the stark white of the paper in the fading light and a flash of white went through his brain, a long streak with a red line in the center, then was gone. He lifted his other hand to his eyes and rubbed them, trying to make sense of what was going through his mind.

He lifted the paper to his face and closed his eyes as he noticed it smelled faintly of Yohji. He leaned over to turn on the light and leaned back on his elbows, reading the note. He frowned as the last words ran through his mind over and over...reminding him of something, but not sure what. He sat up and carefully stood, stretching his wings out behind him as his muscles protested the change of position. He lifted his heels off the floor in a tight stretch, then took care of his body's needs to release the waist from his meal and left quickly.

He padded in bare feet to knock on Omi's door, it swung open and he called out mentally to the boy. Receiving no answer, he walked down the stairs, the tips of his wings dragging on the steps behind him. He scratched his stomach and realized he had left his top button undone. Making quick work of it, he stopped in front of the open door leading to the outside.

"Omi-chan, Nagi-chan. Where has Yohji gone?" He held up the note to show them.

Omi looked up to see Enzeru standing behind them. It was the first time he'd seen the angel all day. "If he even goes anywhere at all." He looked at the note that Yohji had left for their dark lover. Except for some small personal bits the two were identical.

"If he goes anywhere, he might go to see the man who was his lover before Aya. They went through Kritiker training together and are still friends. I hope he goes there. But right now he could do anything," Omi murmured. The way Yohji had been driving he was worried if the older man continued to drive.

Enzeru frowned. "Where is this place? His friend's place?" He set the back of his hands on his hips, inhaling the cool night air deeply. He felt rested, but at the same time, still weak. Suddenly frustrated, he growled. "Why the hell didn't he wake me?!"

Omi shook his head and reached out to lay a hand on the other man's arm. "Maybe he didn't want to wake you if you were tired. But sometimes when a person is upset they don't think straight, no matter how much it may seem like they are," he paused trying to remember Deiji Nandataki's address. Finally the name of the place came to mind. "His friend lives over on one of the big estates across town. Its called Eden Estates. But if he's just driving he may have headed for the coast road. He and Ken both like to drive there when they're upset."

Enzeru nodded. "Where is the coast road? I can see in your mind what Eden Estates looks like and will be able to find it easily if I need to go there." He took Omi's chin between his thumb and finger. /Thank you little lover, it is appreciated./ He leaned down and kissed Omi softly on the lips, then turned to Nagi with a smile. "Don't worry Nagi-chan, I don't take what isn't mine." He winked and stepped away from Omi, waiting with slight impatience as the boy's mind cleared a bit.

Omi blinked as his mind came back from it's daze. The angel's kisses no matter how innocent seemed to fill his mind and body with passion. "Th... the coast road...."

"Go east from here you'll see it. The road runs between the ocean and the hills along the coastline," Nagi told him staring at his normally quick minded lover. He had a few questions for Omi in private.

"Thank you, Nagi." Enzeru smiled and stretched his wings out behind him. "Don't worry about him," he said, nodding towards Omi. "They all seem to get a bit dazed. Perhaps someday you will experience it yourself." He winked at the youth and with a thrust of his knees and wings, took of into the air, still barefooted and chested.

It did not take him long to reach the road, but it did stretch on for miles. He continued to fly, his dark eyes taking in everything below him as his mind reached out to his lover.

/Yohji?/

*****

End Chapter Forty-seven