Chapter 11 ~ Black Angel ~

(Yohji's POV)

I might as well be friends with that Cros girl. She's staying in my room after all. Damn. Omi and Ken brought her in 3 days ago and she had been unconscious since then. Her body was covered with bandages. Both her arms, legs, neck and forehead. And one single band-aid on her cheek.

I was supposed to watch her today. I sat on a chair next to the bed, drinking my coffee, reading a magazine, waiting for her to wake up. And guess what? It's my lucky day. She did wake up. Yipee.

'You're up?' I asked.

'Where?' She placed her hand on her forehead. I guess she must've a headache.

'My room. How do you feel?'

'Like hell… How long have I been here?'

'3 days. Care to tell me what happened?'

She started telling me what happened to her. I listened carefully as she told me the whole story. Make me almost feel sympathetic for the girl.

'So Crawford like really messed you up and you ran off. Just because you didn't kill Omi. This isn't a trick, is it?' I asked.

'Of course it's not. You think I would want to mess myself up? I've got better things to do.'

'Why didn't you?'

'What?'

'Why didn't you kill Omi?'

'I couldn't… The look on his face. He seemed so upset when he saw me with them.'

'Of course he was. I mean, he trusted you to not to keep a secret that big from him. Anyone would feel the same if they were in Omi's place. Would you?'

'I guess… Smart words for a playboy, Kudou.'

'The name's Yohji.'

'Yohji… Thanks.'

'For what?'

'Taking care of me.'

'You should thank Omi and Ken. They brought you here. Rest up and I'll go get you something to change into.'

I got up and left the room. Perhaps I should go tell the others she's up.

* * * * * * * * *

(Cros' POV)

I wonder why they bother to help me out. I mean I did try to kill them and all. I did lie to Omi and still he helps me. I miss the guys. Has Crawford cooled down yet? How is Schuldich doing? How's Nagi and Farfarello doing? I want to know. I look at the bedside table. A phone. I guess, it won't hurt. Just for a while.

I picked up the phone. I dialed. Waiting for someone to pick it up is excruciatingly nerve wrecking. After the fifth ring, someone actually picked it up. 'Hello?' I recognized the voice. Nagi.

'Nagi. It's me…' I said.

'Cros? Where are you?'

'I'm staying at a friend's. Is Schuldich there?'

'No. He went out to look for you.'

'Oh. How is he?'

'He got hurt a bit, fighting with Crawford and all.'

'How's Crawford?'

'Still stressed out. It's best that you don't come home for a while.'

'Oh, okay… I just called to know how you guys are doing… I'll call back sometime, okay?'

'Okay… Do you want me to tell Schuldich anything?'

'Tell him to not worry about me… I'm in good hands. And tell Crawford and Farfarello I miss them, okay?'

'Okay. Take care.'

'You too. Bye…' I hung up. I stared at the phone for a while and started crying. I never knew how painful it was, leaving my friends. The tone in Nagi's voice… He sounded so sad. Schuldich went out to look for me. He's keeping his promise.

I heard a knock on the door. 'Wh-Who is it?'

'It's Omi. Can I come in?'

'Su-Sure…'

The door opened. Omi came in with some food. He closed the door and put the tray of food on the table. He looked at me and smiled, 'How are you doing, Cros-san?'

'Oh… I'm fine… You found out my real name then, huh?'

'Yohji-kun told me.'

'Omi.'

'Yes?'

'Why do you bother?'

'What do you mean?'

'Why do you bother taking care of me? I tried to kill you.'

'You were hurt, we take care of you. You did TRY to kill me, but you didn't, do you?'

'I guess you could say that…'

'Sore ja, I'm gonna go to work now. You just eat your food and rest okay?'

'Yeah, sure.'

Omi got up and left the room. I grabbed the bowl of food. Oh, cereal. Yum. But, then again, I don't seem hungry. I put the bowl back on the tray and looked around the room. I got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. I found where the towels are and grabbed one. I looked at the mirror. I was a total wreck. I took off the bandages slowly and stepped into the shower.

* * * * * *

(Yohji's POV)

I got back to my room with some clothes for Cros. I'm guessing her size would be bigger than Omi's clothes, but smaller than Ken's. I decided to grab some of Ken's clothes. I looked around the room. She wasn't there. I heard the shower running. I knocked on the door, 'Cros? Are you in there?'

'Yeah, be out in a sec,' she replied.

I heard the shower stopped. It was quiet for a while. A long while. What the hell's she doing in there? The door unlocked and Cros stepped out, wrapped in a towel and her hair cut short. From her waist length hair, cut short until above her shoulders.

I dropped the clothes and looked at her, 'C-Cros! What happened?! Your hair! It's-it's-'

'You like it? I've wanted to cut it short for a while now.'

'It's… different.'

She looked at me with a certain look, 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'It's different. That's all.'

'You hate it.'

'No! I'm just saying it's different.' I picked up the clothes. 'Here. Brought you some clothes.'

She took the clothes from my hand. She looked at me. 'Do you mind?'

'What?'

'I'm not planning to get naked in front of you, you know.'

'Oh, sorry!' I got out the room.

* * * * * * * * *

(Cros' POV)

That Yohji… Truly a playboy. I put on the clothes he gave me. A pair of baggy jeans and a t-shirt. A bit big for me but I guess it'll do for now. I grabbed my clothes in the bathroom and took out my wallet from my jeans pocket. I opened it. Still a few money left. Good, maybe I could buy some decent clothes later. I looked at the picture of the five of us at the beach.

I really did miss them. I want to see them again. I looked at another picture, of mom, dad and me. Can't believe I still kept it all these years. A jerk or whatever, dad was still my dad. It can't be helped. I looked at the picture and tried to remember dad's name. Yes, I forgot his name. Parker was my mom's family name. I didn't want to keep my dad's surname. Dad's name was Jun… his family name was…

Oh my God… now I know why Kudou sounded so freaking familiar… It was… Dad's name! Kudou Jun! Then, Yohji must be, my brother?! No. It couldn't be. Maybe it's a coincidence. Then again, the two do look the same. The eyes and hair. I had dad's eyes. I look a lot like mom than dad.

I heard a knock on the door. 'Can I come in?' It was Yohji.

'Yeah,' I called back.

The door opened and Yohji walked in. 'What are you looking at?'

'Some old pictures.'

'Oh, can I see them?'

'Sure. Here.'

I handed the wallet to Yohji and showed him the picture of Schwarz and me. The picture of mom and dad fell out and landed on the floor face down. He bent down and picked it up. He looked at the picture. A shocking expression appeared on his face.

'Yohji? What's wrong?' I asked.

'Where… Where did you get this picture?' He showed me the picture. He was shaking.

'That's… my mom and dad.'