Chapter 1 - The Man in White // Hakujin \ (白人)

The afternoon breeze quietly brushed through the oak trees, rustling the leaves, softening the day's heat. The singing birds sheltered under the shadows, resting their voices for the evening hymn. Not far away, a white building with tall arched glass windows. One of them was slightly opened, leaving a gap for the wisps of breeze to squeeze into the room.

Inside, there was a man laid upon a bed. His slender built body with his skin so pallid that the deep redness of his plaited hair stood out strikingly against it, his mind oblivious to the surroundings. A lanky man sat by his side. Sadness reflected in his eyes as he caressed the red-haired man's cold clammy cheek down to the chin. Gently, his hand flew up to the bandages that protectively bind the upper half of his face. The material was velvety and soft to the touch of his fingertips unlike the stiff suspended plastic tubes that transported blood and other opaque fluids in and out of his veins.

"Aya…" Yoji spoke almost inaudibly. His fingers slide down to the air mask that separated them from Aya's bloodless lips barely an inch away. "Can you feel me?" Wrapping his arms around him, in the countless attempts to transfer his body heat into him. "Can you feel me, Aya? Please give me a sign… Aya… Please…" He closed his eyes at the deep pulse sounds of the breathing machine.

Ken stood by the doorway, clutching his fist so tightly that he almost drawn blood. The sight of Aya depending on those confounded tubes flared the hate towards the monster that did this to him. By day, his body was hot & dry or freezing cold, and at times, Aya would shiver under a ravening fever, groaning feebly under the respirator. By night, nightmares plagued Aya immensely that his screams filled the entire mansion faster than the speed of sound waves. The nurses rushed in and tried to sedate him with morphine, valerian, chamomile or any other herbs & drugs the doctors could cook up with. As much as they tried to cease his suffering, the nightmares held him as their prisoner. When the drugs took their toll, Aya would moan or murmur something nonsensical and slip back into comatose till the next nightmare surfaced to torment him. Sometimes, the nightmares were so bad that he couldn't breathe properly and passed out before the drugs could relieve him. They had been doing this routine incalculably that Ken could not stop dreading that Aya's internal clocks would shut down any second.

Omi, now a young adult, was in his room, occupying himself by hacking into systems, trying to find a strain of information to cease their suffering. Cruelly, the gods were turning their faces away for the one they seek was nowhere to be found. He had hidden his track so cunningly well that whichever way Omi took was either a dead-end or an endless maze. Frustrated, Omi slammed his fist onto the keyboard. The screen went blank.

"Where are you, bastard?" He fiercely clicked the keys to restart the computer. "You can't hide forever."

"For we are Weib, white hunters of the night," Ken whispered venomously. "We'll find you."

"And when we do," Yoji gravely swore. "It's your time to die."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Boys, these are the details for your mission," said Manx. "This one is clean and simple. Your target is Mr. Brad Yamashita, the culprit responsible in the murderers of the Korito & Quieot families, his former investors. Investigations have shown Yamashita used their money for heroin drugging instead for the medical research in his MikeBio Company. When the Korito & Quieot families found out, Yamashita had them bite the dust. My sources have recently informed me that Yamashita will be staying in the Risole hotel tomorrow night in search for new investors."

Waving four files in her hand, "You boys will infiltrate into the hotel by tonight. Omi," Passing to him a file. "You will be working as receptionist, keeping an eye for potential candidates. Ken, yours is a bellboy, solely for Yamashita's service. Yoji, a waiter doing midnight shift duty as Yamashita is fond of doing business at night. Lastly, Aya, you'll act as a rich businessman interested in being his investor. Any questions?"

Yoji raised his hand. Manx ignored him and concluded, "Then, it's time for Weib to hunt those who think that they have escaped the law of justice."

At the Risole hotel, the Weib boys were carrying out their plan as scheduled. Under a false name, Aya contacted Yamashita and arranged for a meeting at the dining hall at around twelve midnight. Yoji was already at the bar, using the extra time to flirt with the rich ladies. Ken was standing by a corridor, waiting for Omi's signal.

"Here is your key and," Omi handed a set of keys to a pot-bellied gentleman, surrounded by skimpy giggling women. "Please enjoy your stay here, sir." Clicking the keys for a fresh screen, he went on to the next customer. "Good evening, sir. How may I help you?"

"I'm here to see Mr. Brad Yamashita," said a deep rich voice. "He's expecting me."

Omi looked up and saw a slim-built man, dressed entirely in white saved for a dark gray shirt and a black tie almost covered by his white jacket, standing in front of him. He had rather high cheekbones, chiseled nose, cream lips and a pointed chin joined together by the skin of an albino. Platinum gray hair was nicely covering his left eye while the right walleyed eye shown no emotion but absolute composure. His dainty diamond red earrings glowed softly under the evening orange lightening. Omi stood there, bewitched at the taciturn aura of white.

"Is there anything wrong?" The man spoke again, sending an awkward tingling down Omi's spine.

"No, sir," Omi stammered, lowering his eyes as he pressed the keys. "Mr. Yamashita is in Room alpha 1209. Our bellboy will lead you to his quarters." Barely clicking his fingers, Ken appeared, in his red and yellow bellboy suit. "Do you have any luggage, sir?"

"Only a suitcase," the man replied as he causally waved his hand over his belonging. "Nothing else."

"Then, please enjoy your stay here, sir." Omi heaved a sigh as soon as Ken led the white-dressed man into the lobby. Adjusting his earplug, he whispered. "Aya, Yoji. Yamashita has a visitor coming to his room. Ken is with him."

"Copy that, Omi," answered Yoji. "What's his name?"

"Err… I didn't get his name," Omi embarrassedly skipped over the awkward silence. "It's easy to spot him. He's all in white."

"He's all in white? That's it?" Yoji repeated in disbelief. "If it was a she, I would have believed you."

"Never mind," Aya cut in. Omi cringed at the emphasis of the d. "With all the gadgets we placed in his room yesterday, we should have clear view of Yamashita and his guest."

"Unless there's worm virus that Omi boy can't handle."

"Yoji!"

"No idle talking during the mission," Aya commanded. "We may see him in the dining hall. Get back to your posts. Over and out!"

"Yeah... Why is red hair getting irritated so easily lately?" Yoji sighed, wiping the wine glasses with a towel. Just finish this stupid mission and I'll be in time with my date to watch Lord of the Rings - the Two Towers. Geez, every girl in this universe is going wild with the elf, the hobbit and especially that ranger, Aragon. Thank goodness messy locks are the 'in' thing, it's easier to seduce the ladies nowadays... His wandering eyes spotted a sexy girl wearing a low-cut dress, generously showcasing her bosom. Disrupted, Yoji walked over, his eyes twinkled flirtatiously.

The Clock chimed one o'clock and Aya waited patiently for Yamashita to show up. Sipping his mocha, Aya chewed on the latest details gathered. Yamashita was heading straight for bankruptcy after losing an enormous load of heroin to the police and the drug dealers in America were going to have his head unless he paid for the losses. The man in white whom both Omi & Ken referenced as since they unexpectedly couldn't get his name may be one of his current investors or an associate. How in the blaze could those idiots miss that out? Either way, it didn't matter because the target was Yamashita. Assassin Yamashita, back to his florist job and wait for the next mission.

"Good evening, Jack Schezte," boomed Yamashita, a skinny waxy foxy man with a ridiculous curly toupee on his egghead. Standing next to him, the man-in-white. Aya could almost see why Omi & Ken's focuses were diverted. He was a perfectly chiseled human with an alluring atmosphere, clandestinely releasing an unsettling fervor.

"I do hope I haven't keep you waiting," Yamashita continued, sitting down. Yoji, like a dutiful waiter, appeared next to him. "Blue temptation with two cubes of ice."

"Yes sir," Yoji played on, turning to the man-in-white. "And you sir?"

"Red wine," said the man-in-white, locking his shark-like eyes onto Aya. "As red as Mr. Schezte's hair."

Yamashita burst into a big awful laughter, digging his chest pocket for a cigar. Yoji nodded politely and quickly shot a warning look at Aya before he headed for the counter. The man-in-white remained indifferent.

"Really, Kazutaka," Yamashita inhaled his cigar. The brown layer turn amber and disintegrated into ashes on the floor. "Your teasing will scare Jack away."

"Not at all," Aya dryly responded. "I'll take it as a compliment."

"Good!" the foxy man applauded. "Now that we have started on the right foot, let's get down to business. First of all, I sincerely thank you for your interest in investing in MikeBio. It's rather a surprise for not many people are open to genetics due mainly to ethic or religious reasons…"

"I am a free thinker, Mr. Yamashita," Slicing the fox's tongue. "And I believe that Science is the key to the next evolution of mankind. If Science holds the answer to solve incurable or inherited diseases, I will not waste time on useless petty issues." Pausing at the s. An eerie silence hovered the two men. Yamashita cleared his throat, shifting himself on his seat. Aya caught Yoji doing the-silt-neck sign.

"Pardon my rudeness, Mr. Yamashita," Aya mentally kicked himself. "I have been getting headaches frequently and the asprins are not working effectively."

"Don't take too much, Mr. Schezte," Kazutaka subtlety spoke, fingering the wine glass tip. "Those pharmaceutical drugs are quite damaging to the brain if overused." Taking a sip. "Ah! The taste of red wine! Light and strong," Lifting his handkerchief to wipe off his lip print. "Forgive my bluntness but you look more of a Japanese than Frenchman."

"My mother is a Japanese. I happened to take her genes instead of my French father."

"At least, you inherited something from your father."

"And what would that be?"

"Your eyes, Mr. Schezte." Kazutaka slightly smiled. "Your violet eyes. Rich purple eyes. That is the trait a Japanese will never have but of course, it's the genes in you that brought us here tonight, isn't it?"

Outside the packing lot and inside a van, Omi & Ken were hacking into the hotel's security systems. Keeping their intercoms online, both boys were keeping track of the events of the business meeting. Much to Yoji's irritation, they were persistently requiring updates of the infamous man-in-white.

"What's the matter with you two? Getting all excited over a man. It's not like you don't have what he has! Geez… Whitey is drinking red wine. How long do I have to be a tape recorder?"

"Shut up & do it, Yoji," Omi hissed. "You don't know what's it is like to be in his presence. How should I put it in words? It's… It's like… It's his voice… It makes you feel…"

"That you are standing on consecrated ground and yet knowing it's cooked up by some occult group?"

"Don't get too deep, Ken," Yoji muttered softly, mixing alcohol for a customer. "My deduction is Kazutaka is a gay."

"How would you know?"

"Hello! The way you & Omi discreetly described him already tells me he's a gay. Furthermore," Taking a nippy peek at the three men. "He's slick. Wearing gloves, wiping the glass with his handkerchief… Any info about him?"

"Negative," Ken scrolled down the screen. "Reported to Manx about him but she's clueless as us. How's Aya holding up?"

"Pretty well," His answer was deliberately slow. "As long as he treats whitey as an invisible person. Whoa… hold on. They are coming to a consensus…"

"Thank you, Jack. Delighted in doing business with you. My assistant and I can assure you that you will not regret this investment." Yamashita cupping Aya's hand with both hands, grinning slyly.

"I'm sure I'll will," Aya mechanically withdrawing, dying to wash his hands with plenty of soap.

Kazutaka removed his right hand glove and involuntarily took Aya's hand. His frosty touch made Aya flinched a little. Leisurely, his fingers slid over, taking pleasure in caressing Aya's hand all the way to the fingertip. Gently releasing, Kazutaka said nothing except for a slight curl upon his lips.

"Jolly good, now if you excuse us," Yamashita hastily retreated for the exit. When safely back in his room, he sat down, lit a cigar and wiped the sweat off his brows. Exhaling spinal lavender clouds, he turned to Kazutaka who just entered.

"Well? Yamashita questioned anxiously. "What do you think of him?" Squinting his eyes at the ever so collected white man. "Anything suspicious about him?"

"No, he will make a fine investor."

"A ha! I knew it!" Yamashita clapped his hands in joy. "I'm back on the track, Kazutaka. With your help, I'll get my profits and you can take all you need for your bloody research…"

Kazutaka paid no heed to the foxy man's celebration. Rubbing his thumbs against the fingertips, he smiled in anticipation of Yamashita's fate.

To be continued

GeneWeiß's Mind:-

This fic was originally titled as "Purple Eyes" till Fanfiction.net closed it down due to "inappropriate rating". Some of you might have already recognized Yamashita's guest as Muraki Kazutaka from the anime, Yami no Matsuei [Darker Descendents or Descendents of Darkness] Yes, this fic is a crossover or partially since Muraki is the only YNM character in this entire fic. Initially, GeneWeiß tried to include other YNM characters in the fic but it didn't work out at all. Too many characters was one of the problems. The worst was the fic was almost converted to be a YNM fic, which was not what GeneWeiß intended... For those who haven't seen YNM, don't worry about the future chapters as they will be purely Weiß. Still, it is a highly recommended anime to watch. If you adore villains, Muraki will soon be one of your top favorites.