die Folge version eins
Part One; Dramatic Image
Chapter Four; Isotype
Newtype
Think what punishments then came upon us in this world when we neither loved it ourselves nor allowed it to other men - we loved only to be called Christians, and very few loved the virtues.
Ken's arm hurt. A lot. Now he knew why Youji swore so much whenever it happened to him. Ken hadn't been shot before, not really. Bullets had grazed him, but generally he was the one who got punched a lot: brass knuckles hurt, but not as much as this. It was hard to remember being stabbed by Ran's sword well enough to compare, but he reckoned that had hurt more than being shot. Ken needed to get to a doctor. But before that, it was a good idea to get dressed.
He began fumbling around for his clothes, not quite sure where they'd ended up the night before. " Maia... " he said, moving to the dresser and grabbing the essentials to begin with; underwear and socks. " Maia, are you alright? "
Maia was huddled against the far wall with her legs drawn up to her chest. Ken noticed for the first time that she was wearing his missing shirt. Ken continued rummaging for clothes, feeling increasingly nauseated with every move he made. How far was it to the nearest hospital? Could he take the bus in his condition? He certainly couldn't ride his motorcycle.
" Ken, I'm so sorry... " Maia was whimpering.
Ken groaned, sitting on the futon ungracefully. " Don't worry about it, that bastard's got a way of messing with people's heads. "
" No, Ken, listen... he... he's the one who told me you were here. He said, that you were one of the people who, who killed Reiji. "
Ken paused. " Reiji? "
Maia looked away. Ken pressed forward, his jeans pulled half on. " Maia, what-? You mean Takatori Reiji? " Maia nodded. " Listen Maia, I didn't have... anything... to do with that. "
Maia watched his face with tearstained eyes. " But you were there, that night. "
" Uh, yeah... but... that guy- Schuldich- he beat me up. "
" Because you were trying to kill Reiji! "
" Reiji? Reiji- what? No! Takatori tried to kill me, after he shot his brother. "
Maia looked appalled. " He'd never! "
Ken furrowed his brow. This wasn't exactly the right time to be having this conversation. " Listen, I think I'm missing something here. Can we maybe talk about this on the way to a doctor or hospital or... "
Maia avoided his gaze again. She hugged her knees tighter and said softly. " I loved him. "
" Bwuh? "
" Reiji. I was... his mistress. "
Ken blinked rapidly, unable to quickly process that. His voice rose in pitch as he repeated, " His... His mistress?! " His eyes glazed as he watched her nod solemnly. " So Schuldich talked you into believing I killed Takatori. " His face coloured in outrage. " And sleeping with me? Was that part of the plan?! " When she didn't answer, he got to his feet, finished getting dressed as quickly as he could, and grabbed his bomber jacket on the way out the door. " You can let yourself out. " He slammed the door behind him.
(@)
If it weren't for the fact that it towered a full six floors above the surrounding buildings, the glass-front skyrise that housed Ikeda Enterprise International would have been completely camouflaged by the detailed reflections that wavered across it throughout the day, and the dazzling kaleidoscope of light the city became at night.
From the twentieth floor, the streets below were teeming, shifting masses, indistinguishable almost from the shadows of the other buildings, which stood like stolid spectators to the chaos that happened in their midst.
" They're like insects, aren't they? Ants, really, scurrying back and forth, all over the place. "
Crawford didn't look up from his papers. These little visits were becoming mildly annoying. " An interesting, yet tired, cliche. "
" The old Esset was too soft on you. "
" Hn. " This too, he'd heard it all before.
" I knew you then, as well, Crawford. Perhaps better than them, certainly better than Ruth did. "
" I see, " Crawford said, letting uncharacteristic acidity show through his words.
The visitor turned from the window and smiled at him, a wide, pressed-lipped smile that held nothing but malice. " You should take care to retain that cool exterior Crawford; there isn't anything else that so suits you. Good day. "
The visitor gone, Schuldich emerged from the shadows in the corner. " That guy- " he began.
" Get out. " Crawford cut him off.
Schuldich eyed the ballpoint pen, that was bent at odd angles in Crawford's fist and dripping deep blue ink on his crisp white papers. He quirked an eyebrow at this unusual display of rage, and followed the visitor out obediently. As the door clacked shut behind him, Schuldich smiled. Seeing Crawford like that... well, it was almost erotic.
(@)
Omi headed straight for the vending machines when he stepped off the plane. He'd fallen asleep during the flight and was now in desperate need of some caffeine. For as long as he could remember he'd been an addict of the stuff in some way. The hot can of coffee was just clunking into the tray when he heard his name being called behind him.
" Omisaaaaannnnn!! "
Omi smiled a little as he turned. " Sakurachan, I said you didn't have to meet me... "
Sakura caught up to him, breathless from her dash across the terminal. " Omisan, it's not that. I got a call on my cellphone today in class, Youjisan's been arrested! "
" Nani?! "
Sakura nodded, taking big gulping breaths of air. " Yeah, for murder and- " she leaned closer to him, lowering her voice, " and the inspector's linked the murder weapon to all the Weiß stuff. "
Omi looked suitably shocked. " Wait- what? How?! "
" I'll explain on the way, I told Youjisan I'd bring you to see him. " Sakura grabbed his sleeve and began leading him through the terminal past the makeshift partition of plywood and police tape.
Omi pointed it out. " What happened there? "
Sakura kept moving past it. " Someone was murdered there, too. I heard they had to block it off until the tiles can be replaced. "
(@)
Sometimes he dreamed that he would reach out and kiss her. And she would kiss him back. Silly teenage dreams, that's all. And why not? He was a teenager. Despite most attitudes that spoke otherwise.
He wanted to kiss her. But she was so... out of his reach. He couldn't. So he didn't. He lived from smile to smile. From meeting to parting. And through the red string of fate he sometimes envisioned between them.
(@)
He wasn't sleeping, but he must have looked like he was.
" Kudou, wake up. Your brother is here. "
Youji sat up on the bunk and turned to look at Omi through the cell bars. " Hey, kiddo. "
Omi's fingers encircled the cool metal bars. " Youjikun, doushite? "
Youji rested his forearms on his thighs and stared grimly at the floor. " Don't look at me like that. "
" Y- "
" Don't. I don't care what they think or what the evidence says. Omi- Omi, I didn't kill her. I know it. It just... " he trailed off, fists clenching and unclenching between his knees.
Omi's voice hovered just barely above a whisper. " You've been known to... " but he trailed off, unwilling to state it. Really, it was only he and Youji, and a few scattered women who knew about Youji's intermittent tendency to grow violent during sex. Even he wouldn't know if Youji hadn't confided in him one morning when Omi was witness to one of his dates running out in a panic.
" I know. I know, but never with a weapon; and never... without my remembering. " His head hung lower. " I don't even remember wearing my watch: and it looked so fake... so... staged. I couldn't believe she was dead... "
" Staged? " Omi echoed. " You think you were set up? "
" I don't know what I think. " Youji looked up at him, the fluorescent lights doing nothing to help his appearance. His skin was sickly pale, and the 'Sin' tattoo on his left bicep stood out prominently. " Omi, believe me. "
" I don't know, Youjikun, I just don't know. "
(@)
Hours later, when night had come again and Youji was left to himself in the dark, he found the sleep he so desired would not come. Youji sat on the bunk, his insides hollow. While the shadows grew and the sounds of the officers outside faded, Youji remained still. He didn't hear the soft scuff of footsteps until they stopped just outside his cell.
Youji looked up, his heart skipped a beat. " Ran. "
Ran was wearing his old black trenchcoat this time. He watched Youji through his bangs, mouth thin and unforgiving below the shadows that obscured his eyes. " They say you killed a woman. "
" I didn't. I'm telling you- something's wrong. I- " Youji's voice stopped in his throat when he noticed the unsheathed blade of the katana at Ran's side. " No... " He searched for a better glimpse of Ran's face. " No... "
Though he'd seen it many times, Youji had never been on the receiving end of a murder at Ran's hands. It scared him, and he couldn't contain his yelp of fright as Ran brought his arm forward, and the sword glinted as it traversed the black form of his coat from his left, to his right. Then in a flash it sang through the metal lock, and Ran wrenched the door open. He darted inside the cell and the door clanged shut behind him. But no one would come soon enough, no one at all. Ran was efficient, one of the best. Youji barely had time to move, before the blade sought blood, sought death.
Youji backed against the bars, watching the edge of Ran's coat catch up to him and the mattress stuffing settle. Ran was looking straight ahead at his blade, and remained still for a heartbeat before his face subtly turned towards Youji and the blade whistled through the air again. Youji followed the bars, dodging swipe after swipe just barely. He'd seen Ran kill... so many times... he didn't have a chance without a weapon.
" Ran... " Youji gulped air, his chest heaving with the effort it took to stay alive. " Ran, don't... "
Quietly, and perhaps the word was made all the more harsh by their familiarity, Ran responded, " Shine. "
The attack resumed, in the darkness all they had to see each other were perceptions, mere shadowy representations of each other. Like a predator and prey, Ran followed Youji around the small enclosure, waiting for his chance to pounce and make the kill. Youji was scared, moreso than he cared to admit, but scared. His heart was racing and a cold sweat clung to his skin. He knew adrenalin and luck were the only things keeping him alive. For a long moment all that was heard was the sword clanging against the bars, clacking against the wall, and the whistle of it's path through the air. It was almost comical, they were in such a small space, and Youji somehow managed to keep evading the spectre of death persuing him: until...
Abruptly, but not unpredictably, Ran changed tactics, stopping short in the middle of the room and throwing himself to the side. He caught Youji well before he could alter his path to evade. Youji hissed through his teeth as the cold metal of the blade sent pain coursing through him. He staggered, watching the stain of blackness deepen the darkness at his feet in blotches.
" Ran... " he said again, voice breaking on the pain both physical and emotional. The shadow of an assassin before him gave no response, and with a dry, sick chuckle, Youji gave up. The wall met his back, and he let his head loll back. Alright, fine, let Ran kill him, the irony was too much to bear anyway. He barely choked when the final blow hit, but as he slumped forward and the darkness became complete he said, " Watch closely, someday this might be you... "
(@)
It had been a long, long time before he'd heard the familiar clank of steps on the winding metal stairs to the basement. It gave him a fit of nostalgia, even as the prospect of what was to come sickened him. Omi stood up from the couch to watch the visitors to his store descend.
His store.
Sometimes he couldn't quite believe it.
Ishida was standing by the television, watching silently as the sort-of reunion took place. He didn't speak, nor move; he merely watched.
Youji collapsed onto the couch next to where Omi was still standing. His hair was still in disarray, but he had removed his stained clothes in favor for a fresh pair of jeans and a remarkably simple long shirt. " Taku, " he complained. " I really thought you were going to kill me. "
Omi smiled weakly. " It was necessary to make it believable, " he said apologetically.
" Hehhh? " Youji grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him down to sit next to him. " So all that crap about not knowing whether to believe me? "
Omi gave the peace sign sheepishly. " All an act! "
Youji shoved him away in mock disgust. For the first time, he noticed Ishida in the back of the room and pointedly asked, " and Miaka Tagawa? "
Ishida offered quiet assurance, " Alive, not that you will ever meet again. "
" Kenkun wa? " Omi looked around, and back at the stairs.
Ishida looked uncomfortable. " We are unable to return Siberian to the project. The risk factor is too great. "
" Schuldich, " Ran guessed.
" That is correct. " Ishida moved from the television into the centre of the room. " The reason why we went to such lengths to 'kill' you, Kudousan- I hope you can forgive us... "
Youji snorted.
" ...is to allow the Weiß project to be reinstated as it was initially begun. Personally, I would much rather have let you all get on with your lives, " Ishida's eyes lingered on Ran's while he paused, " but the fact remains that you are the best equipped to deal with the, ah, current situation. "
" Esset, " Youji guessed.
" You think they're after Ayachan again, " Omi added. He didn't look at Ran as he said it, he was afraid to.
" Sou, " Ishida affirmed. " Please do this service for Kritiker, Weiß. I'd like to promise that it's the last we will ask of you, but... well, " he gave a wan smile, " the future is not ours to see. Are you in? "
" I'm in. " Omi said.
" Might as well be, " Youji muttered.
Ishida looked once more at Ran, his expression faintly regretful.
Ran answered, " I'm in. "
~(@)~
~--------tsuzuku~
Translation Notes;
Nani - what
Doushite - why?
Shine - die (imperitive)
Taku - 'geez'
Kenkun wa? - lit. Ken is...?
Author's Note;
The preceding text to this chapter is a quote from King Ælfred.
It was taken from a translation from Old English on page 46 of From
Old English to Standard English (second edition) by Dennis Freeborn.
[Written by Inseiko, 2002]