Youji dragged the unconscious Aya to the redhead's room and took care of the wound on his temple, after laying him down on the bed. The redhead didn't do so much as stir when the assassin was cleaning the injury. It was quite strange, as their leader didn't like anyone touching him, unless absolutely necessary.
When he was done playing nurse, Youji, knowing that nothing endangered the violet-eyed man's life, went to his own room and after discarding clothes, immediately fell into an exhausted sleep.
Next morning, when he woke up, the first thing the playboy did after the shower, was to check up on the wounded man.
Just as he entered, Aya bolted up in bed and frantically looked around. He looked strangely scared.
"Hey, Aya."
The redhead looked at him with a question in his eyes and blinked a couple of times.
"Um...you were saying something to me?" The low voice was different. It wasn't just that it lacked the usual commanding tone, but also the sentence itself. And his friend was still blinking at him owlishly.
"Yeah, what's with you?" Youji knew that it wasn't a safe question to ask Aya.
"I know it may sound a bit strange, but...who are you?"
It was Youji's turn to blink rapidly, very much surprised.
"What?"
"Do I know you? Where am I?
""Okay, okay...hold on a minute." The playboy regained some sense. "So, what's your name?"
"I think it's Ran."
"Ran, huh?"
What the hell is this? Ran? Is that his real name?
"As to answer your question: yes, I know you, but as Aya."
"Aya? Why would I go by a girl's name?" The redhead looked surprised.
Youji smiled broadly.
"I wouldn't know that."
Ran tilted his head to the side and looked at the older man closely, through it held only curiosity, genuine interest, nothing more.
"How did I meet you?"
"We...um..."Youji hesitated, dropping the grin. He didn't suppose he could tell that...that BOY, yes right now the man was a boy, his real profession. "We work together."
"Oh? Where?"
"Here, down below. We run a flower shop with two others."
"Were we friends?"
The blonde smiled lightly. He didn't know how to answer that. He didn't know if Aya considered him as his friend, but he certainly did.
"What do you think?"
"I think we did. I think you were my friend."
Wow.
"Well, that's good to hear." His smile widened into a grin. "This is your room, maybe you should later look around it and see if you remember something. The bathroom is down the hall. Downstairs we have the shop itself, kitchen and living room. Why don't you get dressed and then come down. Do you have any questions in particular not concerning your personality or personal life?" He needed some time to tell his friends about the current state of their leader.
"Where's your room?"
Youji blinked, surprised. He didn't think he would get a question like that.
"Why do you ask that?"
"I may need some help from you. Later."
"It's the one on the pother side, the left door."
"Okay." Ran nodded and looked at him again with those wide, much too expressive eyes to belong to his friend.
"Come down when you're finished. We'll fix you some breakfast before opening the shop."
The redhead nodded again and smiled so brightly, that it took the blonde's breath away. The said man went out, leaving his violet-eyed friend to himself, sitting on the bed.
Youji talked to Ken and Omi. They were both worried before about the blow Aya received in the head and now, when they were told about his apparent amnesia, the younger half of Weiss didn't know if they should feel relieved or even more worried. Through the brown-haired assassin didn't show his concern, he would sooner eat his bugnuk (1), than admit that he cared about the man he had knocked out by the chance of their first meeting.
"So, what do we do now?" Ken finally broke the silence.
Youji was glad that since he had his back turned to them, neither could see him grimace. This was a question he had been expecting, but had no idea how to answer.
Their small debate was taking place in the kitchen, so Youji could make the sandwiches for both himself and Ay...Ran.
"Maybe we should call Manx?"
"Yeah, I think we should. Take care of it, will you, Omittchi?"
The boy smiled.
"Of course, Youji-kun."
"Hi?" The low voice, though lacking it's usual strong and commanding note, could belong to no one else but their red-haired leader. It sounded strange though, almost...shy and uncertain.
Three friends turned to look at the smiling redhead standing in the doorway.
Omi blinked and smiled in response. Ken started imitating a fish, his eyes almost out of their sockets and mouth gaping open. It was very different from hearing about something, than experiencing it on oneself, especially something rare, precious and rare. Like a nice and smiling Aya. Hmmm, maybe "Hearing about something was completely different from experiencing it; especially something rare, precious and unexpected as Aya smiling."
Youji waved for his team mate to come in, unconsciously noticing that the man still moved with that deadly grace of his. There was just one small difference. Now he looked like he was about to start dancing, not performing kata (2).
"Here" The older blonde handed Ran a plate with couple of sandwiches on it.
"Do you have some tea?"
"You drink tea?" Ken asked.
The violet eyes smiled, so did the lips of their owner.
"It's one of my favorite drinks."
"I'll help you Aya-kun." Omi set the water to boil and took out two mugs. "Someone else want tea?"
"Make a pot Omittchi, it'll be easier."
"Okay."
The redhead looked at Omi and then at Ken, tilting his head to the side.
"You're Omi, right?" The teenager nodded, smiling. "So you're Ken?"
"Yeah, I thought you were supposed to have amnesia?"
The older man made a gesture, just like when he was Aya, dismissing the question. But he answered.
"I don't know...It just popped into my mind."
"Well, that means there's still hope for you." Youji smiled.
Omi made the tea and poured it into just one cup. Glancing at his watch, the youngest member of Weiss gathered his things.
"Take care Ay...Ran. I'm going to school."
"Bye."
"Youji, we have to open the shop."
"Yeah, I know Kenken."
Their former leader stood up from the table.
"Do you want any help? I don't remember anything, but you could tell me what to do."
Ken and Youji exchanged looks. The old Aya would NEVER say something like that, much less OBEY them.
"Is something matter?" Ran asked concerned.
"No, no. Come, I think we could use some help."
The three of them wandered into the shop.
Ken and Youji were doing their usual, as the redhead watched. Well, maybe Ken was doing his usual. Youji had to take up Aya's previous duties. Very soon, not even thinking about it, Ran stood by the cash register and had his notebook in hands to check the inventory.
Halfway through with it, the violet-eyed man realized just exactly what he was doing and blinked surprised.
"Hey, that's some work you did!" Youji exclaimed, wandering over to his friend.
"But I'm afraid, that I can't do it anymore." The redhead sent him an apologetic grin. "I got lost...oh...but wait..."
Ran was concentrating on the register so much, that he didn't notice, he was muttering to himself.
"Okay...that's the price...we buy...the selling rate...value...I think I've got it. I can finish it." The redhead announced happily and quickly ended the work. Just then Youji approached him and took a peek at the book.
The page was full of columns with numbers and shortcuts that didn't tell him anything.
"Whoa! How do you know all this stuff?"
"Why? Didn't I tell you that my father was a banker?"
"No." It was Ken, who answered. "He was?"
"Oh...I think...I...."
"Hey...take it easy Ran. It won't come all at once. Don't worry." Youji felt bad seeing the violet eyed man in such discomfort and embarrassment.
During the day both men tried to show their friend around the shop and tell him what little they knew about him. It didn't help much, though. Ran still didn't remember a thing, but he was a great help at the shop even despite his amnesia.
The redhead kept mainly indoors, hidden from the squeaking schoolgirls. It wasn't until later that Ran finally gathered enough courage to go to the main room to help his surrounded colleagues. Many whispers and even more squeaks rose when he came into view. It all got a lot louder when they saw him smiling warmly.
"Aya-kun! Why do you have the bandage on your head?"
"What happened?"
"Are you hurt?"
Ran smiled to them and opened his mouth to say something, but then quickly closed them and just smiled.
Youji watched in astonishment as his violet-eyed friend was leading a conversation with several girls, listening to their happy, exited chatter, laughing with them. Ran even made a small joke once.
This alone was all too scary for him. Even without the further attractions like his amnesia. Aya had lost his memory and was acting very, VERY weird. That up there, surrounded by girls, all to eager to get the redhead's attention, when he seemed in a good mood, WASN'T Aya. It was Ran. Could this be the previous Aya? The way he had been before?
Because the man standing there was a mirror image of his friend. He looked exactly the same, but the behavior...If Youji didn't know better he would have said it was a completely different person.
His train of thought was disturbed by a cheerful voice. Youji was about to tell Omi to go and help them with the girls, but just in time he realized that the voice was too low to belong to Omi, but not to be Ran's.
"I think I remember that. Could you take care of them?" he pointed at their fanclub. "I would like to try and make an arrangement."
The playboy, still shocked, nodded. The redhead grinned widely, beautifully and made his way to the counter.
Youji shook his head.
Impossible.
"Oh, and Youji?"
"Yeah?"
"What happened to me? I mean the bandage..." Ran touched his temple where the white linen was.
"You got hurt. Yesterday. Try not touching it."
The redhead looked quizzically at the older man and frowned lightly. He apparently didn't like it, that Youji didn't exactly told him what happened, but decided to drop it.
"Oo...okay."
The older blonde watched Aya practically all day.
It was very strange to see the man so COMPLETELY changed. He was showing them just how he was before, Youji decided. It had to be his long lost innocence from the times before Weiss and Kritiker. What else?
And he liked the new image of their leader. He really did and just couldn't help it. The past Aya was a cold, unfeeling, emotionless bastard and the present Aya, Ran actually, was smiling, warm and much more touchy and expressive a person.
"Hello, boys."
"Ohayo, Manx-san." Omi eyed the redhead still working on some ikebana, completely concentrated on the task.
Right then most of schoolgirls were absent, gone home or to attend extra classes, and it was quite safe to talk, through Youji led the red-haired woman to the back.
"So, how is Abyssinian feeling?" She had a thing or two in common with the man she asked about. Manx never wasted words, always got straight to the point.
"He's as fine as he can be. No physical damage, except for the cut on his temple. Nothing serious. The most important matter is his amnesia."
"Does he remember anything?"
"Bits and pieces. Mostly glimpses about his previous life, the one from before Weiss, like the fact that his father was a banker. Was he?"
"That's why he was killed."
"Huh?"
"No matter. Anything else?"
"No, I don't think so."
"We need Abyssinian, Youji. As fast as we can. Your priority now is to help him get his memory back. Weiss is needed in a full operational mode and we can't afford to lose one of the best agents."
By 'us' you mean Kritiker, Weiss or the people in the group?
"I understand. But it may take a while."
"I know, but try hard. And take care of him."
"I will."
He led Manx back to the shop. She stopped by the counter to talk with Aya.
"Hello, Aya."
"Hmmm?" The man looked up from his arrangement. "Hello. Were you talking to me?"
"Yes."
"Then you are mistaken."
"About?"
"I'm Ran, not Aya. I know it sounds strange, but do I know you?"
"Yes."
"I...I'm sorry. I don't remember."
"I know. Get well soon." To Ran it sounded like an order, more than anything else, especially a wish.
When Manx was leaving the shop, a pair of violet eyes followed her, a wary expression on the redhead's face.
"Who was that?" The older blonde looked strange, lost deeply in inner thoughts, all while still looking at the door, through which the strange woman left.
"Youji?"
"Oh, sorry, did you say something?"
"Who was that?"
"She's called Manx."
"A strange name. Who is she? Our superior?"
"Well, kind of. Why do you ask?"
"She said she knows me...and she had that commanding tone of voice." Aya shrugged.
Youji smiled a little. Manx's commanding voice was nothing in comparison to the red-haired man's own usual tone.
"I ..."
"Yeah?"
"I thought that Momoe-san was the owner and...I don't know...I just don't feel like trusting her."
"And I thought you had amnesia." Youji answered teasingly.
"Well" He got a breathtaking flash of teeth. "I talked with Ken."
Youji raised an eyebrow to that.
"Oh?"
Ran grinned again.
"Are you hungry? I could make us something to eat."
The blonde smiled in response.
"Sure."
He liked the new Aya, or Ran rather. He really did, Youji thought as he undressed.
During the lunch the redhead laughed freely and was a small help for Ken against Youji's teasing.
When the oldest man tried to tease Ran also, the redhead always quickly found a smart remark, that made the younger half of Weiss laugh VERY hard.
Later, as their work-time passed, Youji created an equation: Aya with amnesia = happy Aya = helpful Ran = a wonderful person.
The man that had previously been an enigma, was slowly revealing himself. Well, it was not like he could show or tell them more about himself, not with the amnesia, but the small facts about him like the tea or his father... They were the bits and pieces of a more human Aya.
Missing puzzle pieces of the mosaic that was known to the world previously as Fujimiya Aya and now as Fujimiya Ran.
He spent half of the time of working to watching the other man, getting used to the new behavior, easy smiles and all that politeness...Youji shrugged. It was like the redhead was making up for all the years he had spent constantly glaring at somebody (mostly Youji himself), unfeeling and rude bastard.
The lack of that cold attitude was creating a very strange feeling. Having their leader, to whom they grew accustomed suddenly transform into this new person, was too strange.
Just like the lunch. He made tempura! Just went and cooked. And it was delicious. When they all came, they had to sit down and wait to be served the meal, not allowed to help in anything. During that time Youji unconsciously noticed that the redhead had something akin to a waiter's grace, his manners as well.
I wonder were he learned that?
Some time later, Youji, having a great mood all day, offered to help clean up. He couldn't suppress the smirk at he recalled the look on both Ken's and Omi's faces.
Ran decided that he liked those three men he supposedly lived with. Each in a different way was a great friend and help for him in finding his way around in this place, when he remembered almost nothing.
Omi was a kid, constantly smiling; one with a cheerful air around him. He seemed the kind of person that eased every argument and pressure between others.
Ken was very friendly as well. He talked a lot, but right now it was good, as Ran could just listen and learn about himself and people around him. Often smiling, talking with girls and playing soccer with neighbor kids in his free time.
Through there was something odd in their behavior.
Sure, they acted nice and casual around him, but when they thought that he couldn't see, they would exchange puzzled glances and eye him like a complete stranger. And from what Youji told him at the beginning, he had known them for over a year now.
And Youji...Youji was the strangest part of this puzzle, but the first one, that Ran saw when he woke up in this house. Though he seemed to be doing nothing but flirt and tease in the shop, the blonde had an air of competentness around him, one that made Ran more relaxed and it seemed easier for him to believe in what he was told by the man. It wasn't like he didn't believe the younger two. They just had this odd look when telling him about them and himself.
But despite the carefree mask Youji wore, it was plain as a day, at least for Ran, that the blonde was concerned about him.
The redhead woke up very early in the morning the next day. He supposed it was one of his habits, but he couldn't remember.
Deciding, he had to have good reason to get up at so ungodly hour, Ran stood up and went to his wardrobe to pick out some clothes.
The day before he hadn't paid too much attention to the contents of it. Some of it was looking vaguely familiar, like that old, orange turtleneck of his. What disturbed him was that almost half of his shelves containing dark, mainly black or navy blue things.
The oddest two things he came across, while searching through the hangers, were a pair of heavy black boots and a long, leather coat with a lot of zippers, buckles and chains. It was heavy, very heavy and inside was a strange knot as to hold something inside. Strange.
Dismissing it, Ran looked around the room, as he hadn't much the day before. It looked very plain and simple, not much furniture stood in it, except for the bed, desk and some bookshelves, plus his wardrobe. Nothing fancy, anyway.
Both the desk and the shelves were stuffed with books. Only in the single drawer were laying a pen, some sheets and a framed photo. Ran thought he could remember the moment it was taken. Only him and Aya-chan were in it, both smiling. It was about three years old. The redhead wandered why he didn't have anything more recent. He touched his head, where the bandages were still protectively wrapped over the wound. Something must have happened, that instead of going to university, he moved in with those men and started working in the flower-shop.
Then something beside his desk caught his attention.
He picked it up. It was a katana.
Simple ornaments and hilt, it looked very cold and serious. Deadly most of all. Unsheathed, the blade proved well kept, shining and very sharp.
Funny. He may not remember the last three years, but he was certain, that he had never practiced kendo.
Shaking his head, the redhead dismissed the case for later and one more thing to ask Youji about. Instead, he came back to his cupboard to find something in which to dress.
Again that exaggerating part of his clothes were dark. So he decided to wear something familiar and took out the orange sweater together with a pair of black pants.
Then, after a shower he came down.
Omi was nowhere in sight and the two other men, who were just preparing breakfast, didn't notice him. A wide grin appeared on Ran's face. Aya-chan used to play jokes like those on him all the time.
Silently, noiselessly in all the fuss that Youji and Ken were making, Ran creeped up behind, lightly touched their arms and crouched.
Both men whirled around to see no one. Just then Ran stood up quickly, causing Ken to back up with a yelp and Youji to blink in surprise.
At this the violet eyed man broke out in laughter. Loud and joyous.
"What's so funny?" Ken mumbled. Youji still stared at the redhead, in whom Ken's comment provoked a new wave of laugher.
Oh, God, if this is how he used to be why had he become the cold bastard that we got to know?
Ran giggled some more and looked at them with mischievous twinkles in amethyst eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"We were going to make some breakfast, but as you are here you can do it." Youji showed the pan he was holding into Ran's hand.
The redhead scowled. But, on the contrary to Aya's scary ones, this scowl was cute, very, very cute. At least Youji thought so.
Ran looked at the pan in his hand and then at the two other assassins. When he raised an elegant eyebrow questioningly, the violet-eyed man seemed exactly like his old self.
Ken almost asked him if he remembered them, but stopped, as the redhead smiled.
"But you have to help me. I won't cook alone just because I used to work as a waiter."
"You did?"
"Didn't I tell you?" Ran seemed surprised.
"No?"
"Oh. It looks like I didn't tell you much, did I?"
"No." The blonde answered this time. "No, you didn't." Though I wish you did. I would know what to tell you now... I would know the story of your bleeding soul, why you shut yourself so deep inside yourself...I would lo... Ran just nodded and a silence prolonged for a minute.
"Okay, so what do you want to eat?"
They were just finishing making omelets for the three of them, when Ran broke the silence.
"Youji?"
"Yeah?"
"Did I practice kendo?"
"Wha...?" The blonde assassin turned to his friend, looking pale.
"I found a katana in my room, but I'm almost certain that I didn't practice kendo at school, so maybe later when I met you all."
Yes, you did. You killed people with that thing. It's more deadly in your hand that a pistol in most people's hands.
"Um...yeah. You've already mastered the blade by the time I met you. So, I assume you looked through your room?"
"Yes."
"Did you... remember anything?" This question was asked with a slight hesitation.
"No, not really. Just found some old stuff and a small amount of new things."
Neither spoke again through out the whole meal and later silently cleaned up and went to the shop to open it.
Ran was a great help for them, drawing most of thee girls to himself, talking with them and, by that, giving the other men both the time and space to do serious work.
Even Youji wasn't dodging his duties. He worked honestly and snapped at Ken, when he didn't do anything.
"Jeez...you would think the world is ending when you're changing places with Aya, with the way he is now."
Ken still seemed more amused than angry and that was good. Youji, for whatever reason didn't want the redhead to see them arguing. He got even more amused when Youji pointed something out to him.
"Ran."
"What?"
"Ran. That's his name and I don't think we should call him Aya."
"Guess you're right."
Late in the afternoon, when all the squeaking, fainting schoolgirls with a major obsession on at least one of them were gone, they had a guest.
It wasn't as if Youji didn't expect Manx to show up so soon. He just didn't think that they would be given a mission, not without their leader.
"Only three people are needed to complete it. The information you have should be sufficient and Balinese can make the kill."
So now he was walking through an empty corridor, listening carefully to the directions Omi's soft voice spoke quietly in his ear, at the same time feeling unsure without Aya's presence, without the knowledge, that the man was there somewhere ready to help him at any given moment.
The mission was relatively easy, though there was a hard part in it: going in and out of the flower shop without Ran noticing.
At the crossing he met Ken and together they entered the conference room.
Several men looked at them, most having barely seconds to react. Killing always came easy, when they were pointing their guns at them. Unfortunately none of the guards close to the two assassins was quick enough.
After two minutes they had a small impasse.
It looked like some of the guards were real professionals. Pushing their VIPs up against the wall and taking aim at the two, who had less professional bodyguards as their shields. Youji had one on his wire and Ken was just picking one from the dead.
Omi, apparently sensing their trouble, appeared at the doorway for a moment to throw a couple of good aimed darts at the armed guards.
Catching them by surprise for the second time, the three assassins moved again. They killed quickly, but not so cleanly.
Youji got shot in the arm. On their way back, hasty retreat would fit better, the man was swearing loudly.
When they got back home, they quietly crept inside.
As they were going through the living room, the light turned on. The three members of Weiss froze in their tracks. By the stairs stood Ran, dressed only in black boxers, with his hair ruffled and the sheathed katana in his hand.
For a minute all four stood silently and looked at each other. None wanted to explain it all to Ran. Finally the younger two settled their looks on Youji, who watched blinking Ran.
The redhead's face held no expression. Only his, still wide with surprise, expressive, amethyst eyes showed how puzzled he was and how many questions buzzed in his head.
Ha, ha, ha ,ha!!!!!!!! I left you with a clifhanger! Ha, ha, ha! Eghm...
[Tierry runs off before anyone has a chance to hit her with an egg or a tomato...]
1. Oh, you know...Ken's weapon? The glove with sharp, metal claws on it?
2. Kata- for those of you who don't know what it is-is performing martial arts alone, like training moves, practicing them. It can be either with a weapon, like a katana in Aya's case or bare handed style.
