Transaction

Disclaimer: Blah.

Author’s Notes: I’m stuck watching the little brother while everyone else went to Vegas tonight. I need to get him to school tomorrow and feed the dogs and whatnot in the morning. So it’s another sleepless night for me. And I’m so tired. Forgive me for any slip ups that may come during this vacation. I don’t know how much sleep, if any, I’ll be getting. Running a house and balancing a social life is more work than you’d think.

Doggy’s, though! They make me happy.

Anyways, enjoy!
~~~
Transaction

Chapter Thirty-Five
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"No. Fucking. Way," Keiko said, exhaling a plume of smoke as she searched around her room for a pair of jeans. "I don't care what happened between you and your little boyfriend, but I'm not getting involved."

She yanked a pair from under her bed and pulled them on angrily, smoking without using her hands. A talent indeed.

"Besides, what do I get out of this, anyway? Nothing but trouble."

"Please, Kei?" Kenji was seated cross legged on her bed, hair unkempt and hands in his lap. "I need your help. I can't do this with anyone else, and I... I can't."

He couldn't. Not after what Haido said, and then did. He couldn't let anyone know. He couldn't let Haido know what it meant, couldn't let Taki, or Seguchi know. He didn't want to know, but he couldn't think of any way to hide it but this.

"I'll take you to the next Hyde concert. Or Gackt. Or Miyavi. Whoever." Kenji bit his lip. "I'll get good tickets, and a backstage pass for you and everything. I just need your help."

She stopped, removing the cigarette from her lips as she looked him over critically. Bastard. He knew just how to get her attention for something she shouldn't do. Crushing it out in an ashtray, she zipped up the jeans and buttoned them, running a hand through her hair.

"Kenji, don't pull this shit. You didn't even tell me what happened and why you suddenly want this?" Keiko asked with a sigh. "Because, seriously, this will not end well."

There were shit loads of problems with this plan.

"Stop bribing me and tell me why you want to do this."

"I don't care how it's going to end, Kei. I just... I can't let him do this to me." Kenji frowned, looking up at Keiko. "When we were locked in that room... I..." Shit, how was he going to do this?

Biting his lip, he looked away from her. "I did something stupid, Kei." He couldn't bring himself to describe the details that 'something stupid' left out. "I told him..." A sigh. "I told him I loved him, and he told me not to, and... after that, it..."

Fuck! Kenji stared hard at the floor, as if urging it to speak for him. "We... you know, right? And when it was over, he never said anything. After that, I can't let him think its okay, but I don't want him to know how much it hurts."

Only with Keiko could he ever say something like this. She might laugh a little, but she'd help. She had to.

"I can't let anyone know. That's why I need this so much."

Keiko sighed, keeping her mouth shut for now. She dug around her room finding her cigarettes and lighting another one up. She hated this. She didn't know whether to hate Haido for doing this to Kenji, or to hate Kenji for being so stupid!

"Listen," she sighed. "I'm not sure what you're trying to prove here. Are you trying to pretend you're not gay, or that you don't love Haido?"

Wait, what was she saying?!

"No, either way no. I can't," Keiko said, taking a drag. "Kenji..."

She looked at him. This was her best friend. The one who would be there for him if she needed it. Damnit...

"Fine. Whatever. Just don't be surprised when reports come in about your 'girlfriend' cheating on you. I need a little every now and then too," she said gruffly, pulling on a jacket.

"Come on, darling. Before we're late to work," she teased in an overly sweet tone.

One of these days... Kenji was going to be the death of her.
~~~
Author’s Notes: Kel and I are happy to report that we’re so happy that we’re that much closer to the end of this. We love this story, don’t get us wrong. But looking over it and looking over it and looking over it just starts to wear on you after a while. Besides, if she gets a blizzard tomorrow, more of a chance we can try and work on the sequel together.

I’ve got to tell you, the sequel is full of drama that’s just oh-so tasty. You wouldn’t be reading this is you didn’t like a little bit of drama. I wish I could go into more detail, but I can’t. Probably as we get closer to the end of Transaction I can let a few things slip. I hope you guys are enjoying this!

Send us, and the poor tired editor/writer, some love!

~Subby