Enough

Ran Fujimiya stalked down the Tokyo sidewalk, a scowl on his face and muttered curses flowing profusely from his lips. The people surrounding him - vendors, tourists, children and the like - moved away from him as quickly as possible, for fear that he might resort to violence otherwise. Ran didn't blame them. He was in a fine temper, and he pitied the poor fool who got in his way.

As houses, businesses, cars, and trees flashed by, Ran thought back on his terrible day - anything that could've gone wrong had done so, as far as he was concerned. The moment he'd gotten up that morning, Fate had struck viciously, starting when he was innocently eating breakfast. . .

[Flashback]

//Ran sat at the kitchen table, calmly eating his perfect toast and consuming several cups of earl gray tea. The newspaper, propped open in front of him, held story after story of youths performing heinous crimes. Ran shook his head absentmindedly. What was the world coming to these days?

Just then, Aya-chan, his imouto, came flouncing down the stairs in a short blue skirt and tight-knit blouse. Ran's eyebrows shot up to his hairline as he watched her bounce around the kitchen, randomly shoving various food-like substances into her mouth. Apparently content with her haphazard breakfast, she grabbed her handbag and was headed for the door when Ran stopped her.

"Aya?" he asked calmly. She turned around, inching ever closer to her escape, a semi-innocent expression plastered on her face.

"Hai Aniki?" she answered sweetly.

"Where are you going, Aya?" The girl swallowed.

"Out, Aniki," she replied vaguely.

Ran's brow furrowed. "Not that Kudou again."

Aya drew herself up resolutely. "Yes, I am going out with Yohji. Do you have a problem with that?"

Ran frowned. "I don't like him. He's not your type - I don't want you hanging around him."

Aya's face twisted into a scowl. "You always say that. Every time I date someone."

"That's because there's always something wrong with them!" Ran expounded. "Nagi Naoe - he was three years your junior, and had freak powers, or some nonsense like that. And that Reiji Taketori, part of the crime ring - a gangster! And-"

"And what's so special about -your- boyfriend?" Aya interrupted cruelly. Ran's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Leave him out of this. I won't have him criticized that way."

"But you can criticize mine?" Aya shot back. "Every time I fall in love-"

"You are NOT in love with Yohji Kudou!" Ran bellowed, more as a command than a statement. Aya's eyes flickered fire.

"What if I am?" she whispered, tone deadly. Ran shook his head in anger and disbelief. Striding across the room, he took her shoulders in his hands and gave her a hard look.

"Listen, Aya - I'm your Aniki, listen to me. That Kudou - stay away from him, you hear me? Nothing good can come of him. He's a lazy, good- for-nothing, drinking, smoking, womanizing-"

"He does not womanize!" Aya shouted tearfully. "He loves me!"

Ran's expression contorted into a grim line. "He doesn't love you, Aya. He just thinks you'd be easy to-"

SMACK! Ran was cut off by a sharp slap administered to his face by his livid imouto. Tears pouring down her cheeks, the young woman struggled out of his grip and snatched her purse. "Don't you ever talk about Yohji that way! He's kind, and good, and he -loves me-! He's not using me! He wouldn't! You always say that, Aniki! You never believe me! You think you're so high and mighty just because you're older - well listen to me, Ran! You're not in charge of me and you can't decide who I have relationships with! You always interfere, and you treat me like a little girl! I hate you, Ran!" she shouted. "I hate you!" With that, she let out one last sob and slammed the door. Ran looked at said door for a minute, then brought his hand down hard on the table, shattering his breakfast dishes in the process.

"Dammit Aya!" he yelled, stalking from the room to grab his coat and briefcase before following his sister out the door and slamming it bitterly behind him.//

[End Flashback]

Ran growled aloud as he remembered how he'd started the day. Despite Aya's pleas for Yohji's innocence, Ran was certain the blonde was up to no good. As far as he was concerned, 16 years old was -much- too young to be dealing with a man like Yohji Kudou.

A gaggle of giggling schoolgirls passed his way, obviously failing to notice the black cloud around his head. Their manic giggles only incensed him further, reminding him of the next bad thing that had happened to him that day. It had been when he'd finally made it to work, late for the first time in his entire career. . .

[Flashback]

//Ran had stormed into the office where he worked as a defense attorney, still angry about the Aya-and-Yohji affair. Raking a hand ill- temperedly through his crimson hair, he entered the main part of his complex - and stopped dead. On the floor in front of him, mercilessly tickling the young secretary, was his employer, the chief defense attorney of the firm - Brad Crawford. The poor office assistant was firmly ensconced in his grasp, hands trapped above his head as Crawford's fingers skittered over his stomach.

"Crawford-san!" Omi Tsukiono gasped, giggling madly. "Kudasai, stop it! Crawford-san!" His little form writhed back and forth, trying unsuccessfully to escape from Crawford's prying fingers.

Ran saw a sly smile slink across Crawford's face, and then suddenly he clamped his mouth firmly over Tsukiono's. The boy's eyes shot open wide, and he renewed his struggles for escape, but Crawford was much larger and stronger than he, and his minute squirms did little or nothing. Crawford, meanwhile, busied himself with unfastening the clasps on Omi's pants and tearing at the boy's shirt. Finally recovering from the shocked stupor he was in, Ran shouted "Crawford!" at the top of his lungs.

The man looked up, distracted from his ministrations by the yelling of his subordinate. Tsukiono, taking advantage of the lawyer's lack of attentiveness, let out a strangled cry and pushed Crawford off of him. The older man careened to the ground as Omi, in self-righteous tears, fled down a dark corridor. Ran stood silent, glowering down at the man he worked for.

"Trying to rape the secretaries?" he asked finally, tone frigid. Crawford stood up, brushing the dust from his Armani suit.

"Well, well, Fujimiya - finally decided to show up, did you?" He paused and readjusted his glasses, then gave Ran a look and said, "I can love whom I please, thank you very much."

Ran snorted. "You sound like my younger sister."

Crawford merely raised an eyebrow. Then a slow smile flitted onto his face and he chuckled. "Ah yes, Fujimiya - that case you're working on. I've decided to give it to Manx instead.

Ran practically yelped. "What?" he demanded loudly.

Crawford sighed. "Must you always be so emotional. I'm taking you off the case because I know Manx will do a better job." His eyes flickered maliciously. "By the way - I meant to tell you this yesterday, but I'm afraid it slipped my mind. I don't have a need for your skills anymore. You're fired."

Ran blanched, then blushed furiously. Blinded utterly by the day's events, he lost his temper. He swung viciously at his employer, but Crawford merely ducked. Frustrated, angry, and humiliated, Ran opened and closed his mouth several times, but no words could put his fury into physical form. Snatching his briefcase from the floor, he hurtled down the steps and out the front entrance, leaving a grinning Crawford behind him.//

[End Flashback]

Ran snorted angrily as he waited for a walk signal. As though fighting with Aya over Kudou hadn't been bad enough, he'd also seen his boss trying to rape the underage secretary and been fired from his job. Omi was a good friend of Ran's - the boy reminded him of Aya-chan - and he was worried what Crawford might do to Omi if no one was around to stop him.

Ran shook his head, rage still coursing within him. After his row at the office, he'd stomped home, intent on seeking solace in his lover - unknowingly, another cruel twist of Fate awaited him. . .

[Flashback]

//Ran kicked open the door to the small apartment where he, his boyfriend, and Aya were currently living. Throwing his briefcase angrily to the ground, Ran strode into the living room, finally noticing the eerie silence that filled his house. He began searching for the one person who ought to be at home - finally, he found the man in the kitchen, formulating his breakfast at the blender.

Ran sighed as he leaned against the counter. "Hey Farf," he managed, concentrating on slowing his rushing blood. The Irishman looked up slowly.

"Ran," he greeted, then turned back to the mixture currently occupying the blender. After several minutes of chaotic blender-noise, Farfello stopped the whirling death machine and poured his breakfast into a traveling cup. That done, he picked up a suitcase from the floor, gave Ran a small peck on the cheek, and headed for the door.

Completely bewildered, Ran asked, "Farf - where are you going?" Farfello sighed as he set his suitcase down on the floor. Returning to stand in front of Ran, he answered simply,

"I'm leaving you."

Ran was thunderstruck, but managed to keep his temper from boiling over. Trying to sound nonchalant, he asked, "Why?"

Farfello gave him a look. "To be honest, I'm getting bored here. I'll never reach my full potential in a household like this." He crossed his arms in front of him. "Too nice here - too happy. I need somewhere - chaotic. Exciting. This isn't enough anymore."

Ran tried to reason with his lover, but his mind was in disarray. "But Farf - we're not always so - that is, it's just - I thought-"

"What?" Farfello asked sharply. "You thought - I loved you?"

Ran hesitated a moment, then shook his head. "No, I didn't think that."

Farfello paused, then pinned Ran where he stood against the counter. One amber eye gleaming, he asked, "Do you love me, Ran?"

Ran gazed steadily at the man before him. "No Farf," he answered, "I don't love you." Farfello nodded sagely.

"Good. I'm glad, Ran, I'm glad. Only fools fall in love. And you're no fool." Ran nodded his acquiescence. Farfello studied him a moment, then a wry smile worked its way across his features. "You need someone sweeter than I am - I need someone harder than you." He nodded curtly. "You understand this." There was no question in his tone. Ran nodded again. Farfello pressed his lips against Ran's, for a brief moment reenacting the passion of their lives together, and then he was gone - out the door, down the steps, gone.

Ran watched him go, anger burning in his heart once more. Then he snapped up his jacket and shot back outside, fury guiding his steps as he charged down, down, down the sidewalks and streets until he came to. . . //

Ran looked up suddenly. He had arrived at the city park - trees, bushes, and laughing children greeted him. Nonplussed, he nonetheless noticed a darker thicket a little ways back from the park's entrance and nodded to himself. It seemed like as good a place as any to let his anger rage for a few hours.

As he was preparing to enter the park's threshold, a black car pulled up next to him. The driver's window rolled down to reveal a man with flaming orange hair, a bandana, and a seductive smile. He winked at Ran in a way that made the redhead want to gag, and beckoned Ran closer. Ran ignored him, but the stranger wasn't fazed.

"Hey beautiful," he called in a dark voice tainted by a strong German accent. "Care to come with me a while? You look like you could use a distraction." Ran paused long enough to give the man an obscene gesture, then strode into the park, ready to wallop the first living thing he came in contact with. The strange man shrugged, then began stalking a group of high-schoolers congregating by the bus-stop, on whom, inevitably, his smiles and winks had a greater effect.

Ran, for his part, kept his attention focused on the thicket in the distance. He passed a gurgling fountain surrounded by pigeons, children playing jump rope, a few men on cellphones, two teenagers kissing on a park bench, and many others, but paid them no mind. Nothing in his surroundings registered in his overstressed brain, so focused was he on his anger.

He finally stopped as Farfello's words came back into his mind. //Only fools fall in love.// He shook his head as he watched a man playing Frisbee with his huge black dog. That man - was he one of the fools Farfello had been talking about? Was he in love? "Probably happily married with four beautiful children," Ran said aloud, bitterness rampant in his voice. He shook his head, as though trying to dislodge the words from his mind.

"You're wrong, Farfello," Ran gritted out through his teeth. "I don't love you, but I'm still a fool." He found himself moving across the well-kept lawn toward the thicket, oblivious to anything but the parting words of his koibito. //Only fools. . . you understand this. . . // In such turmoil was his mind that he didn't hear the dog-owner shouting at his pet, didn't hear the loud of approaching paw-steps, and knew nothing until, with a mighty -whumph!-, he was flat on his back in the dense grass, muddy paw prints all over his white suit and a panting black monster hovering over him.

"Shigure! Shigure, my god, come here!" came an anxious voice somewhere to his left. Then the face of the dog-owner appeared over him - an attractive face with teal eyes and brunette locks falling messily across the forehead.

"Sir, are you okay?" the man asked in a quivering voice, leaning over Ran's prostrate form and pushing the dog heavily away. "Bad Shigure!" he reprimanded the mutt, which seemed to grin back at him. The man once again turned his worried eyes to Ran. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry - I - I don't know what to say - are you. . . are you going to be all right?"

Ran lay there on the ground, grass- and mud-stains littering his designer clothing, a complete stranger at his side - his sister hated him for interfering with her life, his boss had fired him, and his lover had walked out the door, leaving dangerous words in his mind. Ran blinked as he sat up, watching the young man in front of him biting his lower lip and disregarding the grass stains he was getting from kneeling beside his dog's victim. In the man's eyes, Ran saw truth, trust, pain. . .

And then Ran did something very odd. He did not yell, scream, or shout; he did not attack the dog-owner or use him as a pressure valve for the fury coursing within him. He did not even glare at the man and walk away. Instead, he started to laugh - a heaving laugh that shook the foundations of his being and brought tears to his eyes. And then his laughter broke and he began to sob - and as he sobbed he slipped his arms around the stranger's waist and clung to him desperately, resting his head against the man's shoulder and letting the tears come freely.

The stranger, to his credit, shocked though he was at finding the attractive young man his dog had just assailed to be sobbing in his arms, did not push Ran away - nor did he stiffen or begin to complain and question. Instead, gingerly, he wrapped his own arms around the distraught redhead and pulled him more firmly into a comforting embrace, letting his shirt take the brunt of Fate's cruel trickery. Shigure simply sat and watched the two men - one broken and one almost whole - holding each other on the grassy field. He said nothing, made no move, but his eyes betrayed his utter sympathy at the situation before him.

Finally, there were no more tears, and Ran sat up from the brunette's arms, feeling a little embarrassed about the whole situation. He found no judgement in the man's expression, however, and a kind of warmth filled him as this stranger brushed the last tears from his violet eyes and stirred soft fingers through his hair.

"I'm. . . I'm sorry," Ran managed.

The man smiled gently. "Don't be," he encouraged. "We all need a shoulder to cry on sometimes." He shook his head in bemusement. "Old Shigure here - don't know what he thought he was doing, pushing you over like that."

Ran glanced at said canine, and gave the exultant black mass a small smile. "I don't mind," he answered truthfully. Then he looked back to the stranger. "My name's Ran," he offered.

The man beamed at him. "Ken," he answered, a happy glint in his eye. It faded, however, as his face once again took on a worried expression. "Are you sure you're okay, though? That was a pretty big fall."

Ran looked up, wondering if Ken understood the metaphors behind his words. Then, seriously considering the brunette's question, he shook his head. "I could use another hug," he whispered. Ken's brow furrowed as he took Ran back into his arms and held him against his chest. He wondered if he ought to ask what was wrong, but before he could make up his mind, Ran began to speak on his own.

"I can't believe my whole life could be shattered - one day, that's all it took-" he broke off again as he was choked by tears. Ken's arms tightened around him; then the brunette spoke, voice riddled with raw sincerity.

"Listen, Ran - sometimes you just need to get away from it all. Shigure and I are going back to Kyoto today - why don't you come with us for a while? I could give you a place to stay - maybe you could help out in the flower shop where I work. I-" Ken broke off, then added, more softly, "I wouldn't mind the company."

Ran met the dark eyes of this new, strange man he'd never met before, yet who he felt closer to at that moment than anyone else. Aya, Omi, Crawford, Farfello - they all broke away from him as he searched Ken's countenance for some sort of lie, anything to lead him to question the offer. . . he found nothing. His heart soared as he nodded, clutching to Ken's shirt like a child to an angel, to a last saving grace. . .

Ken's smile broke over him like the ocean - any doubt he had vanished. Soft lips met his - a momentary contact, worth more than all the caresses Farfello had ever administered. Hand in hand, they walked to the parking lot - Ran watched Ken's peaceful countenance and felt his heart leap into his throat. A final stop - the apartment - to collect his things, leave a note for Aya, then off again, flying, soaring - Ran and Ken, free. Together.

When Aya returned home much later, she found a hastily scribbled note on the kitchen table. In what was certainly Ran's handwriting, it read:

Aya,

Love is for fools and I am a fool. An angel has come to spirit me
away. I will return when I am stronger. Please be well. All my
love,

Aniki

A few quiet tears slipped to the paper's blue surface as Aya read it once, twice - then she ran from the house, into the lanky arms of her blonde boyfriend, who held her as she cried. And far away, rushing down the highway, Ran wished his sister good luck as he sped off with his angel, his light heart content to let Fate do what it would. All things happen for a reason - in Ken's arms, he had found his reason. It was enough.

-Owari-