It brought back memories.

Omi stared at the miniature carousel. He had been eyeing it since last week. Every time he looked at it, he remembered some memories he had when he was a child. When he was still Mamoru.

He remembered that he wanted to ride the carousel with his father. And his father promised him that they would, didn't he? But he left him there, staring at the colorful carousel as it went round and round. His father never returned, did he? No. He left poor Mamoru alone.

But he was Omi now. Mamoru did not exist anymore.

The saleslady cleared her throat and eyed Omi suspiciously.

"I'll take it," Omi said.

* * *

Ken sighed as he watched Omi receive orders over the phone. He noticed that lately, he had been doing it a lot. And not only that. He had also been distracted by constant thoughts of Omi and some disturbing dreams. He was suffering from what most high school girls call "major crush". But, hell, he didn't have time for this. He was an assassin, dammit.

It had started out as pity. For being Takatori's son. Then, pity turned to guilt for letting Omi deal with his own father. Ken found Omi fragile that guilt became a desire to protect him. Eventually, this desire developed into a crush. Now, he didn't know if he could still call it a crush.

But what about his girlfriend? Half of him was trying to explain these new and confusing feelings towards Omi while the other was worrying about what to do with Yuriko. After all, they had--

"You're destroying the merchandise." Aya snatched the sprinkler from Ken's hand.

Ken blinked. Then, he remembered that he was supposed to be watering the plants. Damn.

"You know, you could ask him out and get this thing over with," Yoji suggested casually.

Ken frowned. Yoji knew. Was he that transparent? Maybe, but he was right. He should get this thing off his system. He walked over the counter. Omi placed the receiver down and turned to Ken. "Hey," he smiled.

Ken forgot what he was supposed to greet back. "Would you like to go out?" Brilliant.

"Go out?" Omi asked, confused.

Omi was asking him for an explanation. He immediately switched tactics. "You know, Yoji, Aya, ... me ... you ... go out ... pizza ... or something," he stammered. Really smooth, Genius.

Yoji made a face. "You...you're hopeless."

* * *

It was late but Omi wanted to finish the movie.

"What're you watching?" Ken asked, joining Omi.

"South Park," Omi answered. He looked at his watch. "Aha. They say 'fuck' every 20 seconds."

Ken choked. "What?!" he shrieked.

"Hey, wait a second." Omi leaned closer to get a better look. "Are they having sex?"

Ken looked as if he was about to have a heart attack. He quickly took the remote control from Omi and stopped the player. "Do you have any idea what this movie contains?"

"Adult animation, explicit language and storylines not suitable for children," Omi responded. "I've read the label.'

"Then why the hell do you keep watching it?"

"Well, what do you want to do? Watch a Mickey Mouse movie?" Omi practically yelled. When he saw Ken's startled expression, he sighed. "I'm sorry. I don' feel like being reminded that I'm a kid."

There was a pause. Ken pressed the PLAY button. "Let's finish the movie."

* * *

"We'll ride it together, right Dad?" Mamoru said excitedly. "Promise?" He tore his gaze from the carousel and turned to look at his father. "Dad?"

He wasn't there.

"Dad?" Mamoru called out. "Dad, where are you?"

No response.

The carousel slowed down then finally came to a stop.

Mamoru started to cry. "Don't leave me here, Dad. Please, don't leave me."

The lights from the carousel went out.

Two men grabbed Mamoru. He tried to free himself, but having only the strength of a child, he could do nothing. They forced him to get in the car.

With his little fists, he pounded the car window. "Dad!" he screamed.

* * *

It was two in the morning. Aya decided to get himself a glass of water. He was surprised to see Omi up, staring at his toy carousel. He headed towards the refrigerator. "Why are you still up?" he asked, opening the refrigerator.

"Memories," Omi replied absently.

"Memories?" Aya prompted.

"Memories." Omi nodded. "Mamoru's memories." He sighed. "It's quite strange. They are all Mamoru's memories. But Omi has them too. I thought Mamoru died when Omi was born. Omi tried to keep it that way bit he couldn't. Because Mamoru is Omi and Omi is Mamoru." He wasn't sure if he was still talking to Aya. He wasn't even sure if Aya was listening to him right from the start. It didn't matter, he supposed.

Then, something blocked his view of his carousel.

It was a chocolate bar.

Omi looked up. Aya was giving him chocolate. "Huh"

"Memories are made of chocolate," Aya said.

* * *

Ken was trying to arrange the flowers but did not succeed. He just couldn't find the heart to arrange the flowers. In fact, he couldn't find the heart to do anything. He sighed. Dammit, these flowers are supposed to be delivered today.

"Hurry up with that, will you? I've got plans for tonight," Yoji complained.

Instead of snapping Yoji back like he usually did, Ken sighed again.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Yoji pulled a chair and sat on it.

"You've been through a lot of things, Yoji," Ken started. "How did you do it? I mean, you know, jump from one relationship to another."

So, lover boy's a bit confused, eh? "Ken, the world has six billion inhabitants but only one can make you happy. If you don't start to look for that person, then you'll never be happy."

"Look?" Ken looked more confused. "But what about--"

"To hell with your girlfriend," Yoji interrupted. "She's history. The fact that she's not here is an omen telling you to move on."

"I don't get it. What's your point?"

Idiot. Yoji blew his breath in frustration. "My point is that if you like Omi, then don't be afraid to take the chance. You never know. He might be the one."

"But what if he isn't?" Ken asked quietly.

"Then, start all over again. The chance to be happy is everywhere."

Ken pondered on what Yoji had said. Then, he began to smile. Now that everything was settled, he could do his work. Before he knew it, he finished doing the bouquet. "You know, for a while, I thought I was beginning to act like you. I was so scared."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Yoji said icily, snatching the bouquet from Ken. He headed towards the door.

"Hey, Yoji," Ken called.

Yoji paused and turned to look at Ken.

"Thank you."

Yoji smiled.

* * *

"Go out?" Omi asked. "Where?"

Ken hadn't thought about that. His eyes roamed around the room, looking for a clue. They fell on Omi's carousel. "Umm...the amusement park?"

"Amusement park?" Omi echoed.

Ken felt like kicking himself. Omi didn't like being treated like a kid. And where was he taking him? The amusement park.

You've really outdone yourself today.

Ken blew it.

"OK. Sounds like fun," Omi said.

"Cool," Ken returned automatically. It took him some time to realize what Omi had just said. He backed away, in both relief and disbelief, not paying attention to the soccer ball behind him--

And tripped.

* * *

Dateless. On a Saturday night.

Yoji could not believe it. Him of all people. How humiliating. 

While the rest of the population were having fun on a Saturday's night, he was forced to stay home. And to think that he did something nice. Ken finally asked Omi out, all thanks to him. And what did he get in return? He got stuck here, watching -- Yoji peered closer at the video case -- "South Park". This wasn't how he planed to spend his Saturday night.

"The price of helping others," Yoji grumbled. Then, he felt someone sit beside him--Aya.

Aya handed Yoji a bowl of popcorn.

Yoji smiled as he took the bowl from him. Maybe this wasn't a bad plan at all.

* * *

"Hey, slow down," Ken said worriedly. "You're chowing as if there's no tomorrow."

Omi just grinned and finished the rest of his ice cream.

It was his third cone. Omi had been eating non-stop since they arrived. At this rate, Ken would go broke in about an hour.

"Let's go ride the rollercoaster," Omi said.

"I don't think that's a good idea. You'll feel sick afterwards," Ken warned but Omi did not listen.

"Come on!" Omi grabbed his wrist.

* * *

Omi raised his head from the toilet bowl. It felt like dying--throwing up everything he had eaten. He remembered going up and down, the loops, his stomach...

Omi threw up again.

Ken rubbed Omi's back. "Are you OK?" he asked gently when Omi was finally done. He helped him get up.

Omi nodded. He headed towards the sink to clean up. Then, a terrible thought struck him. "Did I puke on you?"

"Just a little on my shoe. You don't have to worry about it." Ken produced a handkerchief and handed it to Omi. "Are you up to another ride? It has to be a slow one, though."

"Carousel," Omi said suddenly.

"Carousel?" Ken echoed, a little surprised. "OK." He shrugged.

"We'll rise it together, right? Promise?"

Ken blinked. That was silly. Of course they would. He was about to tease Omi but changed his mind.

Omi was near to tears.

If it meant that much, then...

"Promise."

* * *

Omi was silent on the way home.

Ken frowned. Maybe he did something wrong. Well, it was stupid of him for not having a ride. He thought that a little walk would be kind of cute. But he never thought that the amusement park would be that fun. No wonder Omi almost ate everything in sight when they arrived there. Come to think of it, it was his fault that Omi threw up.

"I'm sorry," Omi apologized. He stopped walking.

Ken blinked and turned to look at Omi in confusion. He was the one who should apologize. He ruined everything.

"I haven't been a good date. It's just that..." Omi sighed. "It's just that the carousel reminds me of a lot of...things."

"But you love it, right? I could tell from the way you looked earlier." Ken smiled, remembering Omi's happy expression. "You love the carousel not because it just goes up or it just goes down but because it does both gently unlike the rollercoaster. It goes round and round as if making sure you remember everything. You love the carousel because it does all these."

The carousel reminded Omi of a lot of things, true. His father broke his promise and left him there.

But Ken did not leave him alone. And he kept his promise. The carousel reminded him of a lot of things, good and bad. And he loved it because of this. Omi smiled. Now, he had something good to remember.

"Thank you, Ken." Omi stood on tiptoes and gave Ken a kiss on the cheek. Embarrassed by what he did, Omi ran off, leaving Ken behind.

And hand flew to Ken's cheek. Did he just score?

Yes, I believe I just did. Ken grinned foolishly. Dazed, he followed Omi--

--and bumped into a light post.

end

NOTES:
I'm sorry. The horses are the things that go up and down. And I have a thing for chocolates. And yes, "South Park". As for Ken...well, I don't like him. I don't know why I paired him with my Omi.