Weiß Kreuz; Wo Schlafende Engel Liegen
die Folge version eins

Part One; Dramatic Image
Chapter Eleven; Flowers

"The German word 'weiß' means white, and has a clean image, but the English word 'vice' is the opposite. Since the main characters do illegal things, even if it is 'for good', the word 'vice' fits."
- Koyasu Takehito, on the similar pronounciation of the words

He could remember taking a watercolour class once, on a whim. Ever since then watching the sunrise had reminded him of his paltry efforts at the medium. While he could appreciate art well enough, he didn't have the delicacy for it. He would get overzealous, and his colours would run. On little dab of the brush, and he been able to naught but watch as the paint bled out of it's lines and spread through the tight weave of the heavy-stock paper.

Honjou stood at the window, watching the sun peer over the tops of the skyscrapers. He'd seen many sunrises in that city, so much that they were getting monotonous. Or so he liked to think, the fact remained that he still stood there and watched. He could remember the sun rising in Switzerland when he stumbled out of the burning Rosenkreuz laboratories after Crawford. The air had been so cold there was a rainbow around the sun. A sundog, he'd heard it called. He shivered even now, remembering it.

The melancholy photograph of Manx sat by the bed he'd never used. Now that he thought about it, it was the first time he'd seen her without the boisterous curls. He wondered where she was, eyeing the reflection of the door in the glass. Would they have her in the same building? It was worth checking out. Or was it? Honjou paused, halfway across the room by this point. Crawford had made it pretty clear that he wasn't to do anything rash...

Crawford wasn't one to make idle threats; but on the other hand, it would be unwise for him to kill Honjou at this stage in the game. So confusing; Honjou felt a little thrill as he hovered in the middle of the room. Truth be told, he could sympathize with Schuldich's fascination with the precognitive. Especially now.

Now that there was something new; he'd noticed it from the first moment he'd spied Crawford swimming laps downstairs. There was something personal this time around, he'd previously seen a brief flash of it in directly after Rosenkreuz: something that made Crawford lose control of his barriers and let slip a glimpse of the human inside.

(@)

The water rushed around him, engulfing him entirely -cold! He opened his mouth and a flurry of bubbles scrambled for the surface of the pool. The water was tumultuous, it tossed him around and he collided painfully with the rubble from the fallen platform, again, and again, and then against something softer. His lungs were screaming for air, and he could feel his fingers going numb from the cold, even through his gloves. He turned and discovered it had been Omi he'd hit. Omi's eyes were closed and he was limp. Ran gripped him by his collar. They needed to get to the surface- they needed air!

But his thick leather coat was weighing him down, the tails of it were catching the crisscrossing currents and wrenching him deeper down. More bubbles of air escaped him as his mouth reflexively opened and shut while he struggled; a soundless yell of what- frustration? fear? Ran held Omi close and kicked hard, chasing his air bubbles and hoping against hope that he made it to the surface before his lungs gave out.

At what felt like the very last moment his head broke the surface and he took deep ragged breaths that stung. Ran pulled Omi above the water. It was pitch black wherever he looked, and the sound was deafening. The entire museum must have been coming down. Omi wasn't breathing- where... Ran looked around, trying to see anything , trying to stay still despite the choppy waters. He coughed at his first effort, but finally managed to yell, " Ken! "

Ken had been on the platform with them. He could vaguely remember seeing him slip off the platform when it tipped. Had he landed on the side of the pool? But no, there was only wall against where they'd fallen.

" Ken! KEN! "

Ran grit his teeth and closed his mind against any unsavory possibilities; against the fact that Ken still had a head injury and had been smacked around pretty bad by the Esset triad. " KEN! "

With one hand around Omi's middle to support him, Ran fumbled with the buckles on his coat. He was having trouble keeping afloat with it on. He was so, so tired... " Ken! " But the buckles wouldn't cooperate. His fingers were numb and the leather of his gloves kept slipping off the leather of his coat.

He couldn't die here. Not now. Who would, who would look after her? " Ken! Youji! "

His head snapped up at another resounding boom, followed by a crash, and the water began to all rush in one steady direction. Ran's stomach churned uneasily. The pool was draining into the ocean...

" I see you changed your coat again, " Ishida remarked.

The sounds of rushing water gave way to the sounds of passing cars as he was brought back to the present.

" Aah, " Ran said curtly. He'd gone back to buckles of course. They added to the illusion of security somehow, which was almost ironic. His sword was lashed to his side, and numerous people were staring.

" Fujimiyasan, " Ishida spoke again, his delicate kaishain hands folded behind his back. Ran thought bitterly that they'd probably never felt blood on them. Ishida smiled at him, " Fujimiyasan, tell me about your sister. "

" My sister? " Ran repeated, surprise showing faintly on his face.

" We have some time to talk now, before it's necessary to brief you for your next mission. " Ishida explained conversationally. " I would like to hear about your sister, from you. "

Ran looked uncomfortably off to the side. How could he put it into words?

He was 'saved' from having to come up with anything as there was a crashing overhead just as they passed under an overpass. Ran jerked his head up in time to see the blue sedan flip over the railing and stuck out his arm to keep Ishida back as it came hurdling down not two metres in front of them. There were women screaming and shouts of alarm from all around them. Ran stayed rooted to the spot while Ishida let his professionalism take over and he approached the car to check on it's occupants.

In a world where people with strange powers had become familiar and having been witness to what someone with telekinetic abilities could do, Ran was understandably suspicious. Rightly so.

(@)

" Che, missed. "

" You should be grateful you did. "

" I don't like him as a host. "

" You don't like anybody. "

" Shut up, Elsa. "

" Mou, " she sat herself at the pinnacle of the roof and pouted, while he rounded on the other man.

" If Christian saw the way things were going now-- "

The other man was idly examining his fingernails on his broad hands. " Don't dredge up the past, Stephan, it's unbecoming. "

Stephan grit his teeth and clenched his fists with glaring displeasure.

" Please, " he held up a staying hand at Stephan, " I've been suspecting you're too hotheaded for the position I've granted you. "

From higher up on the roof, Elsa commented, " You wanted Crawford. "

The man who'd well established himself as leader of the three sighed. " Two years ago, perhaps. But the old Esset didn't do their part to groom him for his part in the future of history. "

Elsa smiled, and the powerlines around them crackled. " I like a challenge. "

Stephan snorted, while he smiled faintly. " I'm aware of that, Elsa, dear. But we must focus on what we are presented with. Stephan, if you're going to kill anybody, " He turned and looked back at where an ambulance had arrived and the paramedics were tending to the victims in the car, while Ran and Ishida stood to the side and watched. " Kill that Kritiker. He's dangerous to the plan. "

" Weiß has not been reinstated yet, " Stephan pointed out.

" Oh please, " he said with disdain, " of course it has. They think they can keep secrets from us. "

" But Schuldich and Siberian... " Stephan began.

" Siberian is the weak link. They know about Schuldich, they're waiting. Trying to outwit us. I'll be sure they see the truth painted in their own blood. "

(@)

Her shoes clacked briskly down the tiled hallway towards the waiting room, followed by the slower, but equally purposeful gait of her husband. Tomoe Misako's hair fluttered behind her with the force of her motion.

" This, " she sputtered to her husband, " is exactly why I didn't like the idea of poor Nagikun and Ayachan being alone in that store. "

" Now Misako, " her husband, Uchirou, interjected, " you don't know what happened yet. Besides, those other boys that used to work there are still around. Hidakasan is with Sakura now. "

Misako's lips pursed fitfully. " I question how capable they are. We never did get an answer to why they were there when Sakura was attacked. "

Uchirou didn't have anything to say to that. He was saved as they entered the waiting room in Emergency and came across Sakura and Ken sitting at the far end of the chairs set against the wall.

" Sakura! "

" Otousan! Okaasan! " Sakura stood and rushed to them. Ken followed around her, and bowed his head in greeting to the Tomoes.

" So tell us what happened, " Uchirou invited.

" They think Nagi's going to be alright, we're just waiting for them to put him in a room and we can go visit him, " Ken hedged. He really didn't want to be the one to answer the real question.

Misako looked between the two of them incredulously. " Yes, but what happened? "

Quietly Sakura gave her the condensed version, " Ayachan was kidnaped, and Nagi was hurt trying to stop them from taking her. "

The parents looked shocked.

At this point the nurse from before approached them. " Sumimasen, but, you can come see him, if you like. He's not awake yet, but we've put him in a room. As long as your quiet, we can let you in to see him briefly. "

" Yes, thank you. We'll be along in a moment. What's the room number? " Ken inquired.

" 404, " came the answer, and Ken blinked in surprise.

Small world.

(@)

Youji stumbled into the Koneko no Sumu ie at four in the morning, utterly intoxicated. He dropped his keys on the floor and headed for the kitchen for some water, where he stopped short in the doorway as his entrance resulted in a frightened shriek.

" Oh, " Aya gasped, realizing it was him, " Oh, Youjisan, I'm so sorry. Are you alright? "

Even drunk, Youji could tell when a woman had been crying. He squeezed his eyes shut at an attempt at some fast sobering up. " I'm, I'm fine. Are you alright? You've been crying. " He exhaled as a pounding headache began to set in. Coffee was in order.

Aya's lip quivered, even as she wiped her face. " Youjisan, yesterday they- " she broke off with a shout as the phone rang and startled her. Putting both hands to her mouth, she leaned against the counter and trembled.

Youji gave her a concerned look and crossed to the phone. Who would be calling at four a.m? " Moshimoshi? "

" Youji! " Ken's voice blared over the line, " Where the hell have you been?! "

" Uh- "

" We've been trying to get ahold of you all night! "

" Ken, stop shouting, I've got a hangover. "

" Oh for- " Ken fumed, " Dammit Youji! While you were out getting drunk, Aya got kidnaped and Nagi put in the hospital. "

" Kidnaped? " Youji's befogged mind took a moment to register. " Kidnaped by who? Momoe's cat? Ayachan's right here next to me. "

" What?! "

Aya looked at him with wide eyes. Youji reached out for her and she stole across the kitchen into his embrace. He could feel how badly she was shaking and silently cursed himself. " Listen, Ken, where are you? The hospital? "

" Yeah. " Ken was so shocked he'd quieted down.

" We'll be along shortly. I gotta change and get some coffee into my system. " Youji settled the phone on his shoulder and pushed his hair back. " Listen Ken, I'm sorry. Omi went back to Hokkaido and there was a bar near the airport... Nah, that's no excuse. I'm sorry, I guess. "

Silence, then, " Yeah, you didn't know. I'm sorry too. Ja. "

Well, Youji looked at the phone with raised eyebrows before hanging it up, that was a nice surprise. He wrapped both arms around Aya and put his chin on her head, making comforting noises. " Ayachan, it okay. Forgive this old drunk, alright? "

" Oniichan didn't save me... " she sniffled into his shirt.

That was a surprise too, and not so pleasant. Youji pulled away and bent down to her level. " I, " he faltered, " I'm sure he has a good reason, Ayachan. Ran can't be everywhere at once, much as he tries to be. Listen, can you make me some coffee while I go get changed? Then we'll go meet with Ken and the others at the hospital. "

She nodded.

God, he hated being responsible.

(@)

" I used to come here often with Honjousan, " Ishida said from across the table. " He liked the coffee, I liked that it was open twenty-four hours to accommodate our unreliable schedules. " He watched Ran steadfastly pour over the menu. " Order anything you like, it's my treat. " He signaled the waitress and ordered, " I'd like green tea with milk, and a toast set please. "

Ran looked up and set down the menu on the edge of the table. " Black tea, please. "

" Not hungry? " Ishida remarked.

" No. " Ran eyed the waitress as she left and questioned, " what is this mission you spoke of? "

" You're too serious, Fujimiyasan. I'll let you know in due time. For now you should relax. Your sister is awake now; you should be able to better distinguish between your private life and your work life. There's a difference between a job and a life, not many people realize that. In work like ours, it's essential. "

He sighed a little, " Before, when she was in a coma and you had that weight on your shoulders, it was understandable: and your single-minded determination was what made you an ideal choice for Crashers and Weiß.

" Demo saa, people have to change, Fujimiyasan. It's essential to existing. Humanity is, if anything, an adaptable species. But the modern society has almost robbed us of that freedom. We kill the bad ones before we give them a chance to change for the better. And, we expect the good ones to remain that way forever. It's not a good way to be, but we've become so entrenched in that ideal we don't know how to be any different anymore. I can wish for a better world, and work for one... "

He paused when the waitress returned with their orders, " Ah, arigatou Yasukosan. How is little Takuto? "

" He's very good. He starts school in the spring. "

" My, how time passes. Will you be home, Christmas Day? I'll stop by with presents. "

" We'll be home in the morning, then we're going to my mother's for dinner. Would you like to join us? Takuto so rarely gets to see you. "

Ishida chuckled. " We'll see. I may have to put in some extra hours. " He smiled after her as she left, then confided in Ran, " She's a nice girl, I met her here five years ago. "

" Takuto is... " Ran guessed.

Ishida nodded. " My son. " He began spreading jam on a piece of toast. " I should marry her, but I'm afraid to. Though of the commitment or the possible consequences from my work, I couldn't say for sure. " His eyes glistened faintly as he bit into his breakfast. " It's... hard loving people when you do such dangerous work. It sounds cliched, but it's true. "

Ran found new appreciation for Ishida as he sipped his tea.

Recalling the question that now seemed so long ago, Ran stated, " I didn't need the enemy to tell me my sister is an angel. I knew it already. " His finger traced the top of his teacup back and forth in a crescent. " I loved her more than life itself, and when Takatori took her away from me, I lost myself. " His voice dropped to a hushed whisper, " Now I'm not sure I can find myself again. "

~(@)~

~--------tsuzuku~

Translation notes;
Kaisain - an office worker, or a businessman
Che - damn
Mou - 'geez'
Otousan - father
Okaasan - mother
Sumimasen - excuse me
Moshimoshi - hello, used when answering the telephone
Oniichan - 'elder brother'
Demo saa - 'ah but...'
Arigatou - thank you

[Written by Inseiko, 2002]