White Rabbit

Chapter Twelve

Garnen groaned, tried to turn, and frowned at an obstacle. Blinking, he concentrated on working his vision and getting the sleep from his eyes. Yes. Something definitely pinned him and he brought a hand to his head. “What the he-“

“Good! Finally. You awake now?”

The officer’s eyes shot open and he heard a startled squeak as he sat up rapidly, knocking his captor backwards to a half-sprawl across his legs. “Ashi! What the fu-“

“Shit! Go ahead and kill me will you!” Garnen blinked, eyes now roaming by instinct over the flustered and frustrated man spread before him. Ashi glared, cursing silently as he felt his cheeks heat and crossing his arms indignantly. “Good morning to you to Mr. Grumpy...I’m hungry.”

“Hungry...” The man stared, now fumbling to make sense of the situation. “Hungry. Right.” His frowned deepened in confusion. “Hungry? Why-”

“Go make me breakfast.”

The older man glared. “Ashi...go make yourself breakfast...what time is it?”

The other shrugged with an uncaring glare and displeased expression. “I don’t know...five?” At Garnen’s look his frustration only heated. “What? I slept half the day yesterday! Please get up...I’m lonely...” The officer stared in disbelief.

“You’re lonely...and you expect me to cure this....how?”

“Just get up.” The smaller man snapped grumpily and Garnen sighed, grumbling once more as he shook his head and shifted. Considering his weight, Ashi hardly restricted his movement despite the partial pin.

“Fine. But one thing.”

“Yeah?”

“You tell me why you landed on my doorstep yesterday.” This gave the other pause, but before he could deny anything, hands circled his waist and Garnen plopped him off to the side easily, leaving the bed instantly once out from beneath the other. This only got him another avid objection.

“Garnen! How-“

Lavender widened as the rest of his sentence muffled behind the other man’s hand. Garnen’s gaze met his tightly. “You woke me up. I’m up. You want breakfast. I’ll get it for you. Now shut up, follow me downstairs...and give me a bit of information...ok? That’s all I ask.”

The smaller blinked, only set to watch as the other turned, not even waiting for an answer. Finally, he simply glared and grumbled as he made it from the bed, eventually following after, if not slightly disheartened at the officer’s direct approach to assure his silence. By the time he got down, Garnen already stood working on breakfast. Ashi grumbled.

“What do I get this time?”

“What do you want?”

The rabbit watched him, just watched, as he moved about the kitchen, easily dealing with everything with simple accuracy and persistence, so very accustomed to everything. “What are you having?” Almond glanced back to him.

“Eggs. You want an omelet?”

Ashi raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah, and you’re not a cook.”

“It’s not hard. Did you really expect me to believe you were the tooth fairy?” The smaller man chuckled, but only gave a small shrug in response.

“Never know...”

“Come here...look, see that cupboard over there?” Ashi glanced and moved.

“This?”

“To the left. Yes...get me that and-“

“Garnen...” The voice came with a different tone and the officer turned.

“What?”

“I don’t think I can reach it...”

Garnen frowned. “Of course you-“

“Please?”

The older man looked disbelieving but came over nonetheless. “Look...” He came up behind the smaller man easily. “The idea was for you to help me...” He reached over to open the cupboard and Ashi smirked slightly, the other’s chest pressing near flat against him, albeit not intentionally, and slipping across his back in the process. “...if you didn’t want to, then you could have just told m-“

Ashi chose that exact time to shift to tip-toes, moving his arm up and making sure to press as much of their forms together as possible. Full contact. Garnen stared as the man easily caught the asked for ingredient.

“This what you wanted, officer?” He turned, Garnen now with one hand over him, across to the cupboard, and completely sandwiching him between the counter and his body. A smirk played dancingly along pink lips, dangerously glinting with mischief. “Something wrong?”

The officer blinked and moved his hand down, catching the small container from the other’s grasp, hand lingering, just the tiniest bit longer than necessary, before he shook his head, still pressed flat, chest to chest with the other, eyes locked. “No. No problem.” He quirked an eyebrow, ever so slightly, but just enough to let the other know the game hadn’t gotten past him. “No problems whatsoever. Anything specific you want on your omelet?”

Ashi blinked, caught completely off-guard by Garnen’s passive handling of it and finally grumbled slightly. “Not really...anything....whatever you usually put I guess.”

“Oh, don’t look so disappointed.” The man turned away with the food to move back to the stove and Ashi frowned, propping elbows back on the counter as he watched.

“What do you mean?”

“You really do think I’m stupid, don’t you?” The smaller man frowned but said nothing and Garnen sighed, shaking his head with a small frown. “If-“

“I don’t think you’re stupid.”

The other glanced over. “Good. Come get your breakfast....and tell me about what happened to you.”

Ashi frowned, undecided as he settled across from the other, instantly settling to pick at his food, a lousy stall for time, but his only instinct at the moment.

“Why?”

“I need to know.” Garnen answered calmly. Unlike Ashi, he began quickly on breakfast. “The department’s making no progress, we’re stuck, dead-in-the-water...to be perfectly honest...I think we need anything you can give at the moment.”

“You’re speaking for your job then.”

“Yes.”

“So you don’t really care what happened to me. You ju-“

“Ashi, look...I’m not in the mood for arguing right now...and-“

“Well maybe I’m not in the mood for talking.”

“And I was just perfectly fine with waking up! I-...” Garnen shook his head and the smaller man finally sighed, grumbling as he took a bite of his omelet. At least the food tasted good.

“Whatever...I don’t know what good it’ll do.” He started talking then, told everything leading up from the night of his doorstep incident, and even adding other information from before, considering he’d never given the department any real information whatsoever, on anything, up till that point.

About twenty minutes later, he came to a basic finish. “The car was headed southeast of the Black Rose when it crashed, so I’m suspecting Carlos is somewhere either on the border, or off into Mexico...it was dark though so I didn’t really pay much attention to street signs. It took me at least three hours to end up here, though my wear couldn’t have helped, and I expect it was at least a few miles back.”

“But you hadn’t crossed the Mexican border yet...”

“No. The instant I got the name out of him I wanted anywhere but that car, and focused completely on getting out...I think I made pretty fast work...”

Garnen nodded, but still frowned over a fact that puzzled him. “So you got out...obviously...but...you said it was a Hispanic man?” The smaller nodded. “Largely built, sturdy?” Again, a nod. “Then...no offence...but how on earth did you get out? I heard about a crash but...you’d think Carlos would have at least picked a decent driver for such a task...”

Ashi came very intent on his plate. “I guess he was a bit distracted...”

Garnen frowned. “How...” He stopped and glanced up to the rabbit. “I’m guessing you had heavy reign on this distraction?”

Ashi chuckled lightly with a mild shrug. “He may have been a decent driver, I don’t really know...but he’s not quite up to par with his pants around his ankles...” Garnen coughed/half-choked and the younger raised an eyebrow. “You play so innocent, Garnen...or are you just...distracted?”

The officer glared, regaining control of his food, if not his cheeks, and he muttered lowly. “I am perfectly fine, thank you very much. But yes, your words are quite distracting...will you get on with eating? I think I’ve had enough description of your night-life.”

Ashi shrugged and continued with his food. “I really haven’t told you anything yet...as far as my so called ‘night-life’ is concerned...” He glanced up. “...but I suppose you really don’t care much either way.” After a slight pause, where both simply sat in silence, he added randomly. “Will you take me back to my apartment, then? Seeing as how you hate me here so much?”

Garnen frowned slightly. “I don’t hate you. I’ve said that before, and-“

“But you hate my continued invasion of your house.” Ashi put in bluntly, ignoring Garnen’s comment, and the officer sighed lightly in frustration.

“If you want to return there...to get some of your things possibly, I can take you, but I strongly suspect the department won’t want you back at your usual residence anytime soon...” This got a reaction and Ashi’s head snapped up instantly.

“Won’t want me back? Screw the department! I live there! If they-“

“If I’m told you have to stay out, I’m keeping you out of there, Ashi, and quite frankly, I hope they do.” Ashi stared but Garnen held nothing but complete seriousness in his tone. “I’m sure, even if Carlos doesn’t know your exact residence at the moment, he will in very short order. He obviously regrets his original decision on sparing your life, and-“

“But-“

“Ashi!” The smaller stopped and the ebony gaze across only held firm insistence, demanding perfect attention as he got out lowly. “If you go back to your apartment...they’ll kill you.”

Lavender wavered, and the smaller man shook, barely visible, but there, and he caught his lip to prevent any indecent trembling as he lowered his fogging eyes to the omelet determinedly, glaring at his own reaction. “I’ll be right back.”

At that, he stood abruptly from the table, never making eye contact with the other as he turned, looking for any place to just get away, leave the pressure. His footsteps dulled against the cool padded carpet as he left the kitchen, turning down the hall and finally simply leaning up against the wall. He sank, perhaps simply for lack of will to stand as Garnen’s words wracked his mind.

‘They’ll kill you.’

Up until that moment, despite everything the officer had shouted, accused and tormented him with, those words, possibly not even meant in ill will, hit harder than anything.

Over the course of time since Carlos’s cold pistol first abandoned it’s chilling press to his temple, till the morning before, where he fell helpless at in the doorstep at Garnen’s feet, he had prided himself in saying that no real danger existed, and in any case he could take care of himself plenty well enough on his own. Garnen’s statement crumbled the thought to dust.

His head dropped to his knees and he cursed the stinging feeling his eyes gave as he shook. Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid-

“You know...” Ashi’s head shot up at the voice. “I didn’t mean scare you.” Lavender narrowed but quickly glanced away for fear of the officer catching his momentary weakness. “If-“

“I’m not scared.” He snapped lowly, refusing to give anymore cause for pity, or protection. His current position turned out bad enough.

“Ashi-“

The rabbit glared and stood abruptly. “I’m not scared! Why does everyone assume, because I’m small, or because of my life, that I’m stupid, scared, and helpless! I’m not! I don’t want to be...I’m-...it’s just that sometimes...” His voice shook and it only frustrated him further. “Never mind...you wouldn’t understand.” His arms folded, eyes down, but the gaze shot up instantly a tentative brush across his cheek and he locked, startled with almond.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t understand...I probably never will. But you should know, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure Carlos never get’s his way, job or no.” Lavender kept on him, wavered beneath his gaze, lost at the sincerity of the man’s words before he gave the tiniest nod of acceptance, dropping his gaze again before whispering quietly.

“Thanks...I guess...”

“Yeah, well...you’re not to bad for a whore.” Ashi glared and Garnen raised an eyebrow with a tiny smirk even as the albiri cursed his blushing cheeks.

“Yeah...well you still suck for a police officer.” Garnen only chuckled and shook his head.

“Come on, get back here and finish your breakfast, I’ll call the chief, and when you’re done we can sort this whole thing out, alright?” The albiri nodded again, considerably happier now, though he insisted on denying it, and he left a lingering gaze on the officer briefly as he turned before truly heading back to clean up.

Garnen talked with the chief, and by the end, with no other suitable solution, he stood left, once again, with housing Ashi, at least until further arrangements came up. The man did agree however, to letting take the man to his apartment, at least to get whatever things he might need or want to save, clothes being a main priority, despite their currently working temporary solution.

About and hour later, they arrived at Risedale Apartments once again, and Marge greeted them at the entrance, at least as happy as last time to see the rabbit, and obviously relieved. “Ashi! Oh goodness gracious, you’re back. Thank God...damn you, Mr. Tekieri, if you don’t stop worrying me with your foolish gallivanting, and-“

“Worried, Marge?” He only grinned at her hearty glare and chuckled. “I’m fine.” He assured easily, allowing as the middle-aged woman wrapped him in a tight hug. “I swear I’m fine...you don’t need to worry so much, really, I-“

Her eyes looked misty even through the glare. “Yes, well. You worry me, alright? I heard about a crash and...someone saw you picked up by a similar vehicle and I haven’t seen you for ages, and...good lord...even Tray’s been pestering me constantly about your whereabouts!”

Ashi frowned slightly. “Where is Tray anyway? I haven’t seen him for awhile...”

The woman gave a passing shrug. “No idea, he disappeared a few days ago, Lan too. I haven’t seen the either of them for at least a day...probably more...and they’re usually around all the time...” She frowned. “Oh and by the way, neither of them has paid any rent yet and-“

“I’ll pay what’s due...but I don’t think I can rent for this month. I need to be gone a bit and...if they don’t come back to claim the apartment...I don’t think you should have to hold it.” The woman frowned, giving him a scrutinizing look, and not leaving Garnen’s returned presence out of her notice.

“Don’t think so, eh? What about your stuff?”

“I’ll take my clothes and maybe a few other scattered things, but besides that...most of the apartment is covered in junk anyway...it’s not like I have much of value...”

She nodded briefly, again glancing to the officer behind him before questioning again. “Where are you gonna keep it all? Are you moving far away? I-“

“No. Not far.”

She frowned before finally breaching the question she really wanted. “Are you moving in with that man, Ashi?”

The smaller man’s flush gave away everything before he even got out an answer, sufficing to simply nod briefly. “Yes, well...it’s really, strictly a business thing though...” At her look he added. “..and not my area of business, his. He’s a police officer, Marge.”

Her eyes widened at the statement and flickered in indecision between the tiny albiri and looming man behind him. “A...police officer. Oh goodness, Shi...I never thought...how much trouble have you gotten yourself into now? What is he, a bodyguard?”

Garnen grumbled at being spoken of as if not there and interjected. “I’m not his bodyguard, and we’re not in any type of romantic or sexual relationship. We have no said connection except for strict business priorities and this job demands he not be seen around his original home right now. It’s for his own safety, and I assure you, you have nothing to worry about for the time being.”

She stared, caught quite off-guard by his abrupt explanation before finally nodding, her eyes catching on lavender before handing over the keys. “Good luck then, Ashi....and do be careful, alright?”He nodded, accepting the keys and moving up to his apartment.

The packing stage went quick. With not much there, and even less he cared about, they left not long after, near the entire load being a wide range of clothes, and shoes. Despite this, Garnen stood gawking at the end by the wear his closet supplied.

“Where the hell did you get all this?? It’s like...are these things see-through? Dammit, Ashi! Transparent pants?”

“Their not completely transparent...they leave room for the imagination.” He shrugged as he reached up for the last item, a small covered box which Garnen had no clue of the contents, but frowned over anyway.

“Imagination, right...and you’re gonna wear these things?”

Ashi glanced up. “Already have. Will again if you like...but I was planning on keeping them for later...after all this is cleared up...besides, those things are expensive. Do you know how much it costs to get a decent pair of-“

“I don’t, and I don’t want to know. Let’s go.”

Ashi chuckled but nodded, agreeing easily to the offer as they made their way back to the car. “I also need to stop by the university. Mr. Bracks is gonna kill me...but Tray might be there...if we get there on time, and I need to talk to him...”

Garnen simply gave a brief nod, by now just giving into the directions and letting the other get what he needed. What did one day really matter on the grand scheme of things, right? By the time they made it to the school, Garnen drove around back to make them closer, but Ashi still rushed, and despite it all, he cursed as the final bell rang just before he reached the door.

All the students piled out, and the albiri simply grumbled at the door, waiting for all to pass out, searching faces the whole while, but never finding Tray’s. Unfazed, he moved in after everyone exited, and the fair-haired professor glanced up in startled surprise at his appearance.

“Ashi...” He blinked and frowned slightly, setting down a pencil he’d been using to make notes, apparently on some paper or test by students. “Ashi...it’s past class...why-“

“Have you seen Tray lately?”

The other man frowned slightly, brow furrowed in thought. “No.” He pressed up at his glasses and stood, leaving the tests to themselves for the time-being. “In fact I haven’t seen him in class since your last visit...why?”

The albiri didn’t look pleased. “I haven’t seen him, or Lan...for awhile now...I can’t get in touch with either of them.”

The teacher nodded briefly, but puzzled as the other didn’t leave his doorway. “Is there something else you require, Mr. Tekieri?”

Ashi caught his lip in worry but crossed his arms in debate before nodding briefly. “Yeah. How much have I missed?”

The older man sighed, frown not leaving him as he settled back to his chair. “Quite a lot. I’m afraid if you don’t come about with some drastic make-up and a few brilliant miracles, you’ll fail this class...present record or no.”

“Give me the make-up work.”

“What?” The man looked up in confusion at the request. “You can’t possibly-“

“Let me take out one of your course books, and give me a list of the make-up. I’ll have it done and give it to you by the next time I see you.”

“Ashi...even if you did get the work...you wouldn’t understand it, and-“

“Yes I will. I’ll figure it out.”

“Ashi-”

“Just give it to me, alright?” The blonde frowned slightly at the sudden harshness, but finally nodded in defeat, bringing up over his computer the missing works and pursing his lips in displeasure over the long list before finally just jotting it all down. As the other came over to him, he eventually just stood, handing over a book, the paper slipped in, and a form on top.

“Sign the bottom. Here’s a pen...this just tells me, and the school, that the book’s licenced to you, alright? I...” He frowned, watching Ashi sign easily over the formed slip. “...I really don’t see the point in this. If you’d just-“

Lavender lifted and locked on the worried hazel of the professor. “I’ll handle it, alright? Trust me. If-“ A presence at the door interrupted him.

“Ashi! I thought you were just looking for Tray?” The albiri glanced up to Garnen’s form, near blocking the doorway and he grinned at the professor’s utterly startled expression.

“Yeah, I decided to get some make-up work to...your house get’s kinda boring after awhile...” The teacher’s gaze kept locked on the giant man filling his door, frozen in indecision and glancing curiously to Ashi before finally questioning.

“And who is this blockading my door?”

“That would be Garnen...”

“New boyfriend?”

Ashi chuckled. “More of a manfriend, and no...he’s just...” The rabbit frowned slightly. A friend? Was Garnen his friend? Less? More? He couldn’t say, and Garnen finished for him.

“His bodyguard.”

The teacher raised an eyebrow. “Are those necessary these days?”

“Ashi tends to get in trouble...if you hadn’t noticed. Come on, rabbit, we need to get moving.”

“What’s the rush?”

“I need to stop by the department again and...” He glanced up to the school clock quickly. “It’s already past three. No time for your whoring today.” The teacher frowned at the last comment but Ashi only pouted, placing arms loosely over the startled man’s shoulders.

“But I miss him, Garnen...”

The teachers cheeks burned in objection as he tried to escape and Garnen frowned. “No time. Let the harassed professor go. We do need to leave.” Ashi simply shrugged as he backed off, book in hand and expression set with a chuckle as they left.

“Fine, fine. You’re no fun.”

They made it to the department office in time despite all. Garnen talked with the chief, and by five that evening, they made it home, or, to Garnen’s home at least, rapidly becoming a home to the smaller man as well.

As they returned, coming inside and Garnen turning on lights, now needed in the rapidly darkening atmosphere, Ashi posed his last comment on things needed doing. Putting up a larger coat the officer had lent him, he spoke. “Garnen...you know I’ve got my clothes now and stuff...my school make-up...but what am I supposed to do about my job?”

Garnen snorted. “I’m not driving you around to pick-up for whore potential, pro-“

“Not that. I mean my official job...at the bar?” The officer glanced over and Ashi met his gaze. “Toni’s gonna want to know what happened to me...and pretty soon my ass isn’t gonna be enough to get him back in a good mood...especially if I keep coming as rarely as I have been.”

“So that’s how you sooth your boss, huh? Free fuck every now and then?” Ashi frowned at the blunt words, but they came about close to true and he nodded.

“That’s about it...but it’s been more then every now and then recently and...well...”

“Do you really want that job?”

Ashi frowned slightly and looked up. “It’s not the greatest...but without it-“

“If you didn’t have to worry about the money, would you still want the job?”

“Uh...”

“You’re quitting.”

“Tonight?!”

“Why not?”

“But-...Garnen, he’s-“

“Let’s go.”

Garnen didn’t know why, but somehow, before even ever even meeting the man, he disliked Toni. Immensely. As they arrived at the bar, Ashi lead in, and Garnen knew the place looked anything but dead. Even in such early hours, the bar already held at least a few customers, and looked reasonably well handled even in that stage.

Toni picked up on the rabbit’s entrance instantly, and Ashi glanced to the voice. “Ashi! You return! If you keep missing so often, I might have to assume you like our little games, eh, rabbit?” The albiri gave a half-smile at what he supposed was the other’s attempt at humor, or possibly even a flirt, but before he said anything, the bar owner continued. “Come, now. To much crowd here. We can...discuss...the attendance problem in my office.”

Up until that point, the rounded man never even paid a wit of attention to Garnen, likely assuming him just another passing customer, and not linking him to Ashi’s presence at all. The only time he truly realized him, occurred as he looked up at Ashi’s entrance to his office, and found himself staring at the largest man he’d seen in quite some time, towering over the rabbit and shutting the door behind him. He stuttered his protest.

“A-ashi! Who...ahem...who is this...charming...young man you bring with you, eh? I...don’t believe I’ve seen him before...” His fingers began obvious fidgeting, and all the while through this questioning he gave a hidden seething look, like a silent threat for bringing the ominous figure that now stood guard over him.

“He’s...my-“

“Fiancee.” Lavender shot up in disbelief at Garnen’s interruption, the question of this reply apparent in both gaze and manner, but the officer paid him no mind. “Ashi tells me you’ve been mistreating him.” Toni’s eyes widened like saucers, and for an instant, Ashi almost didn’t mind Garnen’s comment at the reaction it got from his manager.

“I-...n-never! Well of c-course-“

“Are you calling him a liar?”

“N-no! Of course n-not, sir! But I assure you, I’d never...ever...er...” He glanced to Ashi in wide-eyed accusation, fear, and rage. “You...never told me....you had...a...relationship...little rabbit?” The words came forced, low and strained through grit teeth.

“I-“

“Should that matter? Do you always mistreat your employee’s? He’s been having money troubles too...and I hear you haven’t been giving him full pay as of lately.” Almond kept pinned, deadly and threatening on the more rotund man, now looking to near suffocate from red face and sweat as he fingered at his collar nervously.

“I...he...”

“You will pay him, won’t you?” Ashi instantly thought of a turtle, cowering back in it’s shell and watching as a hungry wolf hung at the exit, simply waiting for it to pop it’s head out, and licking it’s lips the whole while.

“Of course! I pay, I pay! Here...actually, you know what...I think you need your pay this week still, right? I have...err...here...” Toni began fumbling, now looking as anxious as ever to just get them out and gone as he scrambled for his wallet. “Here...” He pulled out several wads with shaking hands, practically shoving them at the rabbit. “You can go? Yes? Good?”

Ashi smirked, padding through the money and counting, purposefully slow, to himself. Toni’s eyes flashed over each move as he flicked through, watching each bill move, thumbed over with extra care by the teasing rabbit.

“Enough?” Garnen questioned, keeping eyes intent on the man behind the desk, and Ashi chuckled at Toni’s continued distress.

“Yeah. It’ll do. Oh! But, baby?” Garnen’s vision snapped down at the name, but he quickly diffused a glare to answer as steadily as possible, remembering their alleged ‘relationship’ in the eyes of the manager.

“Yeah?”

Ashi grinned, locking on almond with a full smirk. “Kiss for your fiancee, love?” The officer’s eyes briefly widened, realizing only that instant the inability to back out. So, with a very meaning full glare, just for the record, he gave a slightly rougher tug than needed forward, receiving a pleasantly satisfying squeak of surprise before bringing their lips together.

Lavender narrowed, even into the kiss, and Garnen smirked, giving a ‘you asked for it’ look quite plainly before flicking his tongue in teasing across the newly defiant pink lips. The other’s eyes flitted, just briefly, over to the wide eyed bar-tender before chuckling and giving entrance. Garnen though, quickly decided against waiting too long in a place like this, and, after not completely passing up the opportunity, he slid his hand to the smaller’s waist and broke to speak in his ear.

“Let’s go someplace else for this, ok?”

Ashi’s blinked, frozen unintentionally for a few seconds before quickly nodding. “Right. Sure.” For two fleeting seconds they just hung there, held in each other’s arms, before Garnen hastily released him, turning away on instinct of the situation and making their exit. Toni simply stared after, in either awe or remaining fear, but neither stood by long enough to find out. By the time they made it, dark shrouded the area, and cold nipped at them on the way to the car, even as Ashi chuckled.

“That was brilliant, Garnen...but baby? Come on...couldn’t you come up with something a bit better than that? Fiancees?”

The officer shrugged, slipping off his coat and circling the other’s shoulder’s before moving over to the other side of the vehicle. “I don’t know...I thought it worked to make sure he knew not to touch you again. Of course you took it further. Couldn’t you come up with a more creative way for another kiss, though?”

Ashi glanced fleetingly to the coat and frowned slightly in incomprehension, but followed into the car nonetheless. “I thought it worked pretty well if I do say so myself...though you had to end it pretty quickly...”

Garnen strapped his seatbelt. “We needed to get out of there anyway...before I started arresting everybody...that place is just a great big bundle of trouble.”

“Yeah...well that’s my life you’re talking about.”

“I think that’s a bundle of trouble to...”

Note: Here we are, edging just a bit closer...another kiss, though not quite so much fun on my part...I just love added aspects (like icecream). People can look forward to my patience running out...partially...next chapter. ^^' (Though, I still have some restraint left darnit...oh yes...)

Anyway, hope you liked it. Thank you so, so much for those that newly returned to review! I got some lovely, unexpected reviews this past round, and they made me so happy I swear I went straight off to write... Reviews are appreciated no matter how often or not often you stop by, everyone counts! ^_^

Oh, and as a side note, do people read the replies? Or am I just making my chapters look longer...I'll gladly keep talking back, I like to let you know I appreciate them, but I'd like to know whether people actually care much for the replies or not...x_x ^^' Tell me whatcha think!

Review Replies

Jukebox:Yay another two chaps since the last visit! So, the date and kiss were fun. I am a little confused, though, and think I missed the part where Garnen asked him what happened to have him showing up at the front door at such an early hour and then promptly passing out. *shrugs* Anyways, still enjoying. Also, if you plan anymore Spanish and you're not sure (something I totally understand), you might try www. freetranslations. com (of course remove the spaces after the periods - not sure if it would post the link). It's what I've used on some of my fics.

Ah yes, you return! ^_^ Yeah, I waited a bit for that part, obviously here in this chapter. I guess Garnen gave him a little time to recover? *shrug* That...or I just had the date stuck in my head and needed it on paper...x_x

I actually do use that site, but of course...it's not exactly accurate. They are free translations, and I do know enough of the language to know it often doesn't get things quite right, so I use it for pointers, and ask for a few corrections when needed. It works! ^_^

FlamesEmbrace: I'm glad I could help. :D Short, crappy review this time, but I loved this chapter (aww, kisses) and can't wait for the next one. The grammar and such seem to be improving, too, with each chapter, which is always nice to see. Great job as always!

Any review's a good review! ^_^ And yes, I'm very thankful. Glad you liked it! You seem to be in the majority with that opinion (the grammar that is), and I'm glad people think it's getting better, I never was all to great with it. o_o Ah well...practice makes perfect!

MakaiKitty: Such a cute chapter! Your characters are really growing on me ... I can't wait to see where they all end up. Your writting is also getting better with each chapter (although I would suggest you use a spell checker in the future). Keep it up, I can't wait to see what your next update brings ^_^

Thanks! I'm trying to make quick progress with at least updating (if not rushing the relationship too much...), and I'm glad you like it! I always hope to improve. Ack. I do use spell checker! I swear! *thunks head to keyboard* It's built right into my writing system...and yet...I still manage to spell things wrong? *sigh* If you have the time, tell me my mistakes, I can take the critisizm...I know I'm a terrible speller. -_- ^^'

Trickster Kitsune: Yay! Garnen finally cracked! At least a little bit... It's about damn time too. --ties Garnen and Ashi together-- It was really cute tohugh. ^_^ And I totally did not expect Garnen to initiate it! And, like Ashi said, we all know he'd do it again.

When Ashi was taking his time in line with the ice cream, I know exactly how the people feel. -_-... Especially when it's raining out and you have to eat fast to get back to work! (That was me when I interned at the local zoo last year. ^^;)

Poor Ashi... He's probably never dealt with a person like Garnen before. Or even just the associated feelings. But I'm sure everything will work out sooner or later... Or one will jump the other... Whichever happens first. ^_~ I'm kinda curious to know who would bottom in this relationship... Hm...

Anyway... Please update soon! (Yes, I like writing long reviews. ^_^;)

No, I'm not Japanese. ^_^; My whole interest in Asian stuff began waaaaay back when I started watching anime (about 7 years ago), and now it's turned into what I want to do. ^^ In high school I took Japanese (the one whole year it was offered) and my teacher was American. I promised him I'd take over when I got out of college. ^_^ I intend to keep that promise! Even if it kills me!

And now I must go to bed so I can go to my only class tomorrow (Japanese!).

Yes! *pokes at the cracks* They'll make it...I swear! :gonk: *chuckle* I'm glad you liked it. Didn't think Garnen could make moves? *raises eyebrow* *quiet evil laughter* Oh yes, he'll most certainly have to...again, and again, and...wait. ^^'

Poor you...o_o *chuckle* Yeah. Ashi has about negative a thousand points on the relationship experience thing...but I'll make it work gosh darnit! Yeah, or that...(jumping each other :gonk:) You can actually see Ashi topping?? *stares* Goodness gracious...he does have the personality I suppose...but he definitely lacks the physical mass. Garnen at least doubles his size. o_o Yeah, I'm pretty sure little Ashi will have to bottom. ^^'

Cool! Yeah, I never got offered Japanese, but it sounds interesting... I'm sure your teacher would be proud! ^_^ Kills you?? Please don't! Gah, don't work to hard. ^^' But I do hope you do well. (c:

memorietrail: Please dont stop there! I want more ,need more.Please it is a great story.Hope there is more soon.

Thank you so much for coming back to review again! It's so nice to see more people coming in to comment. I'm glad you're still reading and enjoying! I hope this chapter was up to taste. ^_^

Paige: I'm really sorry I haven't been reviewing. Been busier lately. Anywayyyyy, ahhh I LOVE THIS STORY. :DDDD Sooo cute! I love Ashi. He makes me smile. Garnen sometimes needs a good whack to the head. Finally he admits he wants Ashi. Haha. :] I love it. EEE, they kissed! They kissed! It was glorious. I love it, i love it, i love it. >__>;; Mooooooreeeeee. Hehe, I'll shut up now, but yeah. I love the characters, I love the setting, and I loveee you for making such a rad-ass story.

Wow! It's so nice to see you come in and review though! I'm glad you're here! ^_^ So glad you like it! It's really inspiring to know my writing's still enjoyed. Yes! Admittances are the first step...kisses and admittances...now all they need's a little more prodding... Anyway! Here's your update, hope you like it and keep reading and reviewing! ^_^