Disclaimer: I don't own them, but they can have me if they want! *grins*

' this is thoughts '

" this is spoken "

About the title: "ANGEL" is in all caps because it does have a meaning, you will find that out soon enough! *bounces* Or if I get enough reviews from people asking what "ANGEL" means I might tell you in the next chapter!!

Isa: OK, hi everyone! *waves* This is my newest fic! *bounces* This is the one I was talking about in the later chapters of 'Mea Culpa' that I was going to call 'Almost Human'. Well the title changed! Heehee!

Schu: As if that wasn't obvious!

Isa: Oh yeah... *frowns* SchuSchu volunteered to be my muse.

Schu: Only because you left me out of this fic, I needed something to do and playing with your mind is so very fun Isa-chan! Anyway, with all those crappy humor fics you wrote I figured you need all the help you can get!

Isa: WHAT! *whaps him upside the head* Anyway, my annoying muse will sometimes say things...don't listen to him. He's crazy!

Schu: I'm crazy? You're the one talking to yourself.

Isa: -____-; He's a smart ass too.

Schu: Whatever! ON WITH THE STORY!! Oh yeah, Isa-chan wants to thank Kamibukurosama for beta-reading her fic! Isa-chan thinks you're wonderful!

Isa: I was going to say that, Schu!

Schu: ^_^ I know! That's why I said it first.

Isa: *sighs* Please Read and Review!






"Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him." Henry Miller

Angel Project

Part One: Destiny



"Does anyone else just think we were totally screwed?" Bombay turned to look at his older friend and fellow assassin. "Easy job my ass! This takes more than three assassins to do...Manx is trying to kill us."

The blond could only sigh. "I very much doubt that Siberian, now hush for a moment." Flipping back on the communicator, he looked down from his hiding spot. "Bombay to Balinese, do you copy?"

"Balinese to Bombay, I hear you."

"Did you see which way the target went?" He asked, hoping they hadn't missed him. Weiss agreed they had run into a problem, one of the bodyguards watching over their latest target had been more than they could handle. None of them could understand why the man couldn't be defeated; he couldn't have been much older than Siberian yet his strength was inhuman. "We need to take him out or...someone isn't going to be very happy with us."

"Yeah, I hear ya Kitten." After a moment of silence the voice came back over the earpiece. "They are heading towards the south exit, where are the two of you?"

"East side, we will come around. You keep an eye on them and watch out for that man, whatever he is." The blond turned to look at the assassin behind him, half hidden in shadows. Bombay knew he was sulking, Siberian hated to be beaten in a fight. The man prided himself on being able to kick anyone's ass in hand to hand; being beaten wasn't an option in the man's mind. "Come on, you can sulk later." The blond whispered, getting up.

Dark chocolate glanced up from where he sat, glaring at the youngest member of the assassin group. "I'm not sulking!"

"Whatever." Bombay grinned, making his way across the roof. Sighing, the slightly older assassin stood as well; following the blond.

They made their way across the roof and down the fire escape to a roof on the south side of the building. After that, there was nothing to do but wait for Balinese to contact them signaling the targets appearance. "I hate second strikes!" Bombay turned looking at the man behind him as he flexed his hands, the blades of his Bugnuk's sliding in and out of the leather gloves. "He knows we are here and that damn guard, whatever he is...he's going to be watching for us."

"Doesn't matter." Siberian looked down at the blond. "All that matter's is the termination of the target."

He nodded his head, agreeing. "Yeah, I'll rip his guts out!"

The blond cringed. "I didn't need the visual!" Shaking his head as he looked back down at the exit.

"So why do you think that man was so strong?"

"I don't know." The youngest Weiss murmured. "Drugs maybe? We can never tell, but he has to be killed and so does the target. That is our job, we have to focus on that."

"Bombay?"

"Yes Balinese?"

"Target is leaving...but we have a problem."

Siberian growled. "I hate when he says that!" Clicking on his own ear set, he looked down at the doors. "What is the problem?"

"Freak boy with the white hair," He answered. "He's not with the target."

"Shit!" Siberian glanced at the blond, grinning. "Oh hush you! I'm allowed to cuss now and then!"

"I'm going to have to wash your mouth out with soap, Kitten."

Bombay blushed at the voice over the headset, taking in a deep breath. "Look, Balinese you take out the target while Siberian and I see if we can find the bodyguard."

"Copy!"

Metal sliding against leather was the only sound the dark haired assassin made as he walked across the roof towards the fire escape he knew was there. He knew the blond was behind him, watching to see if they were being followed, his bow was drawn an arrow in place. "Hate being the mouse, rather be the cat. What kind of fucked up game is this!" He whispered to himself, relaxing his hands to grab the metal of the ladder.

"Will you stop it?" The blond hissed. "You are making me nervous!"

He turned, dark eyes meeting the young assassin's behind him. "Sorry." He said, a sheepish grin on his face.

"While I'm complaining...I know it's a natural thing but can to stop with the gloves!"

Siberian looked down at his hands, realizing what he was taking about. "Sorry, I don't mean to do it I just..."

"I know, you just do." He responded, his eyes moving along the rooftop. "Just like I mess with darts while doing nothing, I'm just nervous. We should have been done by now."

He nodded, kneeling down beside the edge of the building, one hand on the railing. "Yeah, I don't like when missions take this long either." He whispered, and then looked back at the blond. "Has Balinese said anything?" Bombay shook his head. "Damn..."

'Roof to the north, three stories up, looks clear. Roof to the south, to far to jump across...one story up and looks clear.' Over and over in his mind Bombay repeated these, everything was clear but he felt like he was being watched. "Siberian, I would like to move now." He whispered as the older assassin looked up. "Maybe we can go down into the alley and across to the deserted building on the right?"

"What's wrong?" Standing, he began to scan the buildings as well.

The blond shook his head. "I feel like we are being watched, but I can't see anything."

It was too quiet and maybe that is why they never saw it coming. The two weren't prepared for the silent figure that attacked, by the time Siberian had seen him it was to late. "Bombay!" The blond turned, releasing the clasp on his bow but the arrow never hit the target. The next moment he went flying across the rooftop, crashing into the low wall and falling to the ground. The figure quickly changed directions as it charged for Siberian. "Damn it!" Ducking the attack, the dark haired assassin fell into a crouching position. His hand struck out slashing fabric and nothing else. "He's fast..."

"Human." Siberian's head shot up looking at the pale man who stood before him. "Slow and pathetic, all humans deserve to die!"

Growling, he pushed himself up as his hands tightened, claws sliding out from the gloves. "I'm not that easy to kill!" He yelled, charging the target. The man easily sidestepped Siberian's attack, reaching out with his own weapon, the dagger cutting into his upper arm. "How...what are you! How can you fight like this?"

"We are more that you could ever hope to achieve!" He replied, his hand shooting out to grab the assassin by the throat. "You can never defeat us, we are superior to your kind."

Ken felt the hand around his throat as the man lifted him off the ground. "What the hell..."

"Humans are so weak." He whispered, his hand tightening on the tanned skin. "You really believe that you can beat us? You really believe you can destroy us?" Ken growled, his hand grabbing into the pale wrist. "Dogs, that's what you are to us, nothing but dogs!"

"I...am no ones...dog!" He growled, claws digging into the soft flesh of the man who held him. He saw the pain in the crystal blue eyes, but the man didn't release his hold. 'No, I refuse to die this way!' Raising his arm, he went to strike again when the strangers face twisted in surprise. Blood began to stain the chest of the man holding him, a blade jutting out from the skin, stained crimson.

"Let him go." A voice whispered. Siberian cried out as the hand tightened, cutting off his air. He saw the blade slide out of the man's chest, only to reappear a moment later in another place. "I said release him." The voice whispered once again, pulling the sword from his chest for a second time.

"Ichi?" Tossing the dark haired assassin to the ground, he turned to face the man behind him. "Why save the human?"

Violet eyes narrowed. "They deserve to live, this is no place for our kind."

"Then you must die as well."

Siberian laid there gasping for breath as his vision began to clear. He could hear the fighting going on, the cries of pain but he found that he couldn't move. He had tired, but everything was blurred and whirling and that only made him feel sick. 'Why couldn't I fight him? Why didn't my...my blades didn't hurt him?' Suddenly, with a thud...everything went silent.

"Are you in pain?"

Keeping his eyes closed, Siberian sat up and breathed out then reached up to rub his neck. He could tell there were bruises and the skin was sensitive to his touch. "A little, that hurt..."

"Are you ok?"

His eyes shot open as the melodious deep voice finally registered in his head. 'Oh gods...I'm in love!' The most beautiful man he had ever seen in his life was knelt down beside him. Rich crimson hair crowned pale almost feminine features, his black clothes only seeming to make him look more exotic. Looking up, vibrant violet eyes met his rich brown and he found himself lost in them. Siberian admitted to himself that he had never seen anyone so unique yet so gorgeous in his entire life. His voice seeming to have escaped him, all he could do was nod in response to the man's question.

The stranger tipped his head to the side, a slight smile pulling at one corner of his mouth. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad." He whispered, pushing himself up out of his crouching position.

Siberian saw the sword that hung at his side, the graceful way he moved as the man turned to walk away. Suddenly he realized he didn't have any clue to who this man was. "Wait!" The redhead paused, looking back at him. "Who are you?"

"I was sent from Kritiker." He answered, continuing across the rooftop.

Ken could only nod. 'From Kritiker? So he's an assassin like us?' Looking back up he saw the redhead grab hold of the fire escape and start his way down. "Wait! I wanted your...name." But the man was gone before he could finish the sentence. Sighing, he crawled over to Bombay to make sure he was ok, the corpse of the man they had been chasing a few feet away from them. He saw the two dark red splotches that colored his pale shirt deep red; his throat was slit as well. "Shit." Siberian looked toward the wall that the stranger had disappeared over. "Maybe we will meet again." He whispered, then heard banging coming from the fire escape behind him.

"Siberian! Bombay!" Balinese climbed up the ladder, making his way to the top and saw the two. Bombay was still unconscious but Siberian was looking towards him. "Are you both ok?"

The dark haired assassin nodded. "Just wonderful for having a near death experience! Where were you Balinese?"

Chocolate brown hair, a shade or two lighter than Siberian's own hair, was pushed back from his face as Balinese kneeled down pulling the blond into his arms. "Fighting about five bodyguards, never found the freak..." His words were cut off as he saw the body on the roof. "Ouch, nice job!"

Siberian huffed. "Thanks, but I didn't do it. Some redhead guy from Kritiker showed up and killed the bastard."

"Redhead?" Green eyes narrowed as he watched the assassin's facial features. "So he was good looking?"

"What!"

"You're blushing, and you have that annoying half-smile on you're face?" Deep brown eyes widened. "Come on, we know your gay! Tell Yohji? Are we a bit smitten with this assassin that saved your ass?"

The blush darkened as Siberian crossed his arms. "Shut up Balinese!" Pushing himself up from the roof, he started towards the ladder. "Come on, let's get home cuz I really need a shower." Balinese grinned, lifting the youngest Weiss into his arms. "Not in that way! Gods, do you ever think of anything but sex!"

"Omi."

"That doesn't count, you two sleep together!" Balinese shook his head, watching as the fiery-tempered assassin stomped off towards their vehicles.

The blond let out a breath. "He would be thinking about love on the job." He whispered, feeling soft lips on his forehead.

"I'm glad you're ok, I was worried for a moment."

Bombay couldn't help but smile up at his lover. "You know me, I can handle myself just fine."

"Yeah Kitten, I know." He whispered, his arms tightening around the blond. "But that doesn't stop me from worrying about you."

Blue eyes opened, smiling up at the man who held him. "That's why I love you."

Green eyes shone with happiness as he kissed the younger man in his arms gently. "How about we get you home so I can look at your head?" Bombay nodded, cuddling against him.


*


Ken hopped down he stairs into the mission room, seeing the redhead leaning against the wall. 'Red...' For the past three days all he had been thinking of was the man he had met on the roof. He had been beautiful, Yohji had been right when he had teased him of having a crush. Unfortunately he didn't know whom the man was and never had gotten his name. 'Maybe Manx would know? Would she tell me if I asked?' Plopping down into his chair, he let out a sigh. "Damn."

Manx looked at the three men, none worse for wear and Omi had checked out fine when the doctor had come to look at him. "So I heard that one of my boys had to help you on your last mission?"

Ken's head shot up, seeing Yohji grin at him. Shooting the eldest Weiss a look, he turned to glaze at the redhead. "That man on the roof? Who is he and why was he on our mission?"

"He wasn't on your mission, Ken. Seems one of his targets got involved with one of your targets and that is what caused you two to bump into one another." She saw the dark haired Siberian lean back in his chair, a frown on his face. "Roku was the white haired bodyguard that attacked the three of you."

"Roku?" Yohji looked across the room to the blond. "Six?"

"Yes, his name means six." She saw the looks the three assassins were giving her. "Anyway, Roku was the target that he had been looking for, though he did say you were handling him a lot better than some people he had seen."

"The guy kicked my ass Manx!" He snapped. "How could I have been doing that great?"

"Because the last two assassins that had a run in with Roku ended up dead." She replied seeing the dark-haired assassin pale slightly.

"Dead?" He repeated, dark brown eyes meeting her jade green.

"Yes." She replied. "He told me to tell you he was impressed."

"Manx?" Yohji pulled his unlit cigarette out of his mouth, raising his hand. "Who exactly is this mystery man?"

"I'm very glad you asked because he is the reason I am here today." Manx looked from one assassin to the other before continuing. "We would like to ask you a favor."

"We?" Omi whispered. "Kritiker?"

Manx nodded. "That man is your new assignment." The three Weiss looked at her, confused. "Actually, its more along the line of temporary partner. I would like the three of you to work with him, that is if you don't mind."

Omi stood from his chair, walking over to sit beside his lover on the couch. "Work with him? What assignment would we be working on?"

"You must agree to the mission first." She whispered; Yohji and Omi frowned.

"I'll do it." The three looked over at Ken, he just grinned. "Weren't we just saying last night that our missions are getting to dangerous for three? With this guy it will be four, that's better odds on our side and I'll agree to anything that will save my ass!"

Yohji arched a brow, then looked down at his lover. "Told you, totally smitten."

"Shut up Yohji!"

Manx could only shake her head; talking to the three of them could sometimes be compared to a classroom of five year olds. "You just don't know when to let up, do you Yohji." The man could only smile. "Getting back to the reason I am here." She said, once again getting their attention. "Would you three be interesting in working with him?" The lovers looked at one another for a moment, then both nodded. "Thank you, now as to your first question. The man you met on the roof last night, his name is Fujimiya Ran. His...mother is one of Kritiker's scientists and he is Kritiker's top solo assassin."

"Then why does he need our help?"

Looking over at the playboy, Manx frowned. "He doesn't, but I am making him join a team. Ran is a bit antisocial, I am hoping if he joins a team he will learn to be more..." She paused, trying to find a word.

"Human?" The blond asked, a smile crossing his face when Manx nodded. "But he is nice?"

"Yes, he was just...Ran was very sheltered from normal everyday life. He has been training to be an assassin from the day he was born. Unfortunately training doesn't give one much of an outlook on day to day living." Pausing, she turned and pulled out a file. "He is a good man, he just isn't going to understand a lot about your way of living. I'm afraid we trained him to be a killer and not a person; emotions weren't something we really wanted him to express so he's closed up. Maybe the three of you can bring him out of the shell that Kritiker created?"

"Sounds like a closet case to me." Yohji whispered.

"Be nice!" Omi snapped as he took the file, looking down at the photo. "Wow, he is very pretty...almost like a girl."

"I think I'm jealous, my little Kitten thinks there is someone more beautiful than me?"

Omi rolled his eyes, continuing to look at the information. "Some of his stats are missing Manx." She nodded. "Why?"

"Because there is some information we don't know." She answered honestly.

Yohji gave her an odd look, and then glanced back down at the file. "You don't know who his father is?" The woman shook her head. "No age?"

"No."

Ken looked from the file to Manx. "But you just said his mother works for Kritiker?"

"She takes care of him, she's not..."

Omi understood, looking back down at the photo. "He's like me, isn't he? He doesn't have a family?"

Manx could only nod. "The only life he has ever known is Kritiker, so yes I suppose in a way he is much like you."

"Hold up." Yohji pulled the file out of Omi's hands, glancing over it for a moment. "So this guy doesn't have a blood type either?"

"That is inconclusive."

Omi turned, looking back down at the file. "Impossible! How could you not identify his blood?" He glanced up at Manx, seeing she was hesitating. "Manx, who is this man? Why won't you tell us the whole truth?"

"Sometimes the truth is stranger than the lies." She whispered.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Ran is...special." Shaking her head, green met blue and Omi could see the conflict in her eyes. "Just, please don't ask anymore questions about him other than what I have given you."

Yohji didn't like this, he could smell a rat...that or a really big mouse. "You want us to trust this man and yet you can't give us all of his information?"

"You accepted the mission, he will be here tomorrow. I'll come back later this week to fill you in on the jobs you will be doing." Grabbing her briefcase, she turned to walk out of the room but paused. "Just please, don't ask anymore questions. I don't want you to get too involved with his life, it wouldn't benefit you and..." Her mouth closed, leaving it at that. "Goodnight Weiss." They watched as she left the room, the door closing behind her.

Yohji popped his cigarette back into his mouth. "Suddenly I get the feeling this was a very bad idea."


*


"I don't like this." Ran turned, looking at the woman beside him. "Why do they want you to live with this group again?"

Shaking his head, he looked back out the window. "I don't know, but I am interested in the one they call Siberian. He stood up to Roku, I have never seen a human hold off one of us before."

"He is special then?" Turning, she grabbed Ran's hand. "Is there something about him? Something that..."

"Don't worry about it Ayame, you shouldn't get involved with these missions. The less you know the better off you are in the long run." He couldn't help but see the hurt that flashed across her violet-gray eyes. "I want to protect you, I have always protected you but now I need to see them destroyed."

Nodding, she tightened her hold on the man's hand. "I'll come and see you once in a while, just be careful and don't give to much of yourself away. Not all humans are going to accept what you are."

"I know."

There was silence for a moment as the looked out the windows. "Ran, do you only do this because of Kritiker? Is that why you hunt them down and kill them?"

"We aren't human, people can never accept us and I can't accept what they have become." He answered. "If I don't destroy them they will destroy humans. Sooner or later they will come after Kritiker and then you will become a target, I won't allow that to happen."

"Ran?" He turned, once again looking into her eyes. "No matter what anyone says, you are human and you are my son. I'm sorry for everything, I'm sorry that I couldn't stop them from treating you like some tool to be used." A slight smile crossed his lips as he nodded at the woman beside him. "You were born of me, and somehow you were given a soul. It can't be for nothing, you were chosen because you are special...I can feel it!"

Breathing out, Ran looked away from her and out over the city. "If I'm not human, what am I?" He whispered. "If I am just a tool why do I live?" There was a pause. "When they are all gone, what will happen to me?"

Ayame eyes widened, then squeezing them closed she leaned her head against her sons shoulder. "Learn from them Ran, become more human than you are. Then, maybe one day you can disappear and live a normal life like everyone else."

The doors opened as both turned. "Hanae."

She nodded, walking up to the assassin and the woman beside him. "We should go, they close up shop in an hour and I would like to get you there." She saw the woman frown, her arms tighten on the mans arm. "I'm sorry Ayame, he needs to do this."

"You're not sorry." She whispered. "If you cared at all you would have asked me first before throwing him out there among them!" Frowning, pale violet eyes narrowed. "Some sister you are!"

The redhead frowned, looking from the doctor to the assassin. "It is time to go Ran."

"Don't worry about me." He whispered, brushing back the hair from Ayame's face. "You know where I am if you need me...mother."

Smiling, she reached up and kissed his cheek. "Be a good boy Ran." He nodded, following Manx out of the room. "Please...be safe."

They had been standing there, side by side, for the last fifteen minutes. Not for any particular reason, just watching as the three assassins worked in the flower shop. Ran found it an interesting cover for one of the top Kritiker teams, flowers sold by killers. "What do I do if this doesn't work?" He asked, the woman turning her head slightly to look at him. "I don't want them being killed because of this mission, they shouldn't even be involved."

"They are assassins, they accept that one day they may not make it back." She answered, her eyes once again falling on the flower shop and the three inside. "Anyway they have one another."

That caught the solo assassin's attention. "What do you mean?"

"This team is more like a family than a group. They care for one another and love one another, would die to protect one another." Pushing away from the car, she turned to meet his eyes. "I want you to observe them while you are with them, learn the human traits. Maybe you could exercise those emotions you supposedly have."

Intense violet eyes narrowed. "You still look at me like I am a doll." He whispered, folding his arms across his chest.

"No, I don't know what you are." She answered honestly. "Your not like them, yet your not like us? You are an enigma...a literal 'Pandora's Box' if you don't mind the comparison. Kritiker is afraid to know what you are because they think you will be our destruction."

Breathing out, Ran looked back at the flower shop. "Humans bring about their own destruction." He whispered; Manx could only frown. "I should get going."

"Be careful Ran, I will say that. If not for Kritiker's sake then for Ayame's."

He nodded, making his way across the street to the shop. "For my...mother." Pulling the door open, he walked into the shop. A little girl was running around while the woman was talking to a man with shoulder length hair, there was no one else in the shop.

"Kotori, you're going to get hurt if you don't stop running around like that!"

She giggled, shaking her head. "No I won't mommy! I promise I won't get..." At that, she ran into something hard, falling to the ground. "Ow..." Sniffling, she looked up at what she ran into and saw a red haired man standing beside her.

"Are you ok?" He asked, kneeling down beside her.

"Kotori!"

Yohji turned, seeing the redhead. 'Looks like our new guy's here.'

The man helped the child stand back up as the mother walked over, taking her hand. "I am so very sorry, she just gets restless sometimes."

He just nodded. "It wasn't a problem." The woman couldn't help but smile, watching as he looked back down at her daughter. "Are you sure you are ok?"

Kotori nodded. "I was bad, I should have been looking." Sniffling, she looked back up at the man. "I am really sorry!"

Ken and Omi walked out of the back room, Yohji going over to stand beside them. "So he is here?"

"Yeah, poor kid ran into him." Omi smiled up at his lover, shaking his head.

Ran reached over, grabbing a rose and handed to the girl. "I think I should have been watching." Handing her the rose, Ran smiled. "Everything's ok now?"

"Yes!" Giggling she looked up at her mother. "He is my friend, he gave me a flower." Violet eyes widened at those words, the pain clear in his gaze. The three Weiss couldn't help but notice.

"It's very lovely...but you don't have to."

"No, it's fine...I don't have any friends so I'm honored to have made one Kotori."

"See mommy, he's my friend!"

She nodded, looking back up at the man. "Very well, thank you very much. I don't know how to repay you for your kindness."

Ran shook his head, brushing off the comment. "You both have a nice day."

Nodding, she lifted her daughter into her arms. "Thank you, and thank you Yohji. I'll be back to pick up those flowers on Friday."

"You have a nice day." She nodded, walking out of the shop.

The redhead looked over at the three, his hands going into his pockets. "I'll pay for the flower."

"No need!" The blond said, smiling. "You work here now." Ran nodded in response. "Well I am Omi and that is Yohji, and this is..."

"Siberian..." He whispered, meeting the dark chocolate eyes. Ken could only nod in response; he loved the way the violet eyes seemed to entrap him. It was almost as if in them no one else mattered but him and the man before him. "Manx told me much about you, Ken."

"Me? Oh...I mean, yeah well she..." Blushing, he ran his hand though his hair. "What I mean is..." He breathed out, laughing. "Hi! Welcome to your new home."

Rich violet fell closed as the man nodded. "Thank you."




Isa: *bounces* Yeah so that is the first chapter? So what is Ran? And why was this person named after a number? ACK! What is going on!!!

Schu: You're the fan fic writer...

Isa: -___- You're my muse! *kicks his chair*

Schu: Very true...everyone's going to die!!!!!

Isa: No they are not!

Schu: ^_^

Isa: I hate you...

Schu: Please review the story!!

Isa: *sighs* I was going to say that!!!

Ooooo see pretty button?? Press Pretty Button!!! *bounces*