"Ready?" Omi asked, he hid between the steel girders of the roof.
"Yes" Ken took position behind containers.
"Ready" Yohji stood in the shadows next to the windows on the upper part of the hall.
"The boat is coming" Omi informed and watched how the enemy got ready. They opened the side door and left two of eight left the warehouse to receive the 'ware'.
What they didn't know was that the members of Schwarz were on the boat too. Yohji left the shadows and took out one of the guards. His wire slung around the young man's neck and Yohji pulled him up. His neck broke with a sickening crack and his body slumped to the ground. Yohji left the upper floor and hid the body behind a box. Omi fired an arrow and hit the carotid artery of an older guard; Ken ran and pulled him behind a container "Sector clear"
"Bombay take out the two before the boat docks" Yohji hissed, Omi was busy killing a guard who had the impudence to sneak up behind Ken.
The young man obeyed and hit them with his arrows; the bodies fell into the angry and unpropitious sea.
Crawford stood on deck and grinned "The game has begun"
Schuldig joined him "Can you see the outcome?" Crawford smirked "You know the answer, it depends on our performance" Schuldig gave his lover a gentle smile before he vanished below deck.
"Siberian, keep your eyes open. Something is wrong" Yohji watched his surroundings.
"Balinese we have a problem" Omi watched the boat.
"Spit it out" Yohji rolled his eyes.
"They're docking" Omi's eyes widened "Schwarze" he hissed.
"Damn it" Yohji hit against the wall "I'll kill them" memories flooded his mind.
"Hey Balinese" Schuldig yelled as they entered the warehouse.
"Oh, now the surprise is gone" Nagi grinned.
"What do you want?" they could hear him but he hid perfectly in the shadows.
"You know, this and that" Schuldig mocked.
"Stop playing and do your job" Crawford hissed.
"Okay, okay" he put up his hands in surrender.
"It's time to get rid of you, it's unnerving to kick your asses again and again" Crawford pulled out his sword.
"Ditto" Yohji released his wire and missed Schuldig by millimeters. Schuldig jumped out of the way "Not good enough"
Ken attacked Farfarello and Omi shot arrows at Nagi.
"Seems like someone is missing?" Schuldig grinned "Four against three. I like that"
Yohji had enough and attacked without warning "Shut up"
"Is he dead? Did he die as you threw him out of the window? Broke his sweet little neck as he hit the asphalt?" he fueled the burning anger in Yohji.
"He's not dead" he yelled "He's safe"
Schuldig frowned he thought he would have died by now. If not from the impact of the fall than, at least killed by other assassins.
Crawford decided to use the chance and attacked Balinese "Time to end our vendetta"
Yohji ducked just in time "Bastard" he hissed. Schuldig crawled up the ladder and stood on the balcony. He eyed his surrounding and was ready to interfere should his help be needed. Crawford wanted revenge for the last fight and he wouldn't stand in his way. He knew his lover good enough to see his need for release. Weiss stood in their way more than one time and it was unnerving to lose a good reputation. They soiled their reputation so often that they had difficulties to get new contracts. Their luck was that even though they lost more than once against Weiss they were the still on the top together with Weiss.
Omi got hit on the head by a flying metal object. He shook his head to clear his head.
Ken struggled against Farfarello "Let go of me you maniac" Ken saw no other option as to stomp on Farfarellos foot. He hoped no one saw his less-than-ideal solution.
Crawford ripped Yohji's shirt open with his sword and draws some blood. Yohji grimaced as he pressed his hand over the wound.
"Giving up already" Crawford licked his lip "I knew your nothing without your fearless leader" he jumped forward and wielded his sword. Yohji closed his eyes; ready to die but the pain never came.
"Crawford" a deep voice yelled and he stopped his attack centimeters in front of Yohji's heart. Yohji opened his eyes; he knew the voice "Abyssinian" he gasped.
Aya held Schuldig in a stranglehold, his lips turned slowly blue "Let him go" the older man hissed dangerously.
"Not this time" Aya said coldly "I'll take him with me" he smirked.
"What?" Crawford held up his hands in defeat "We can talk about it"
Aya gave him a sardonic grin while he stepped backwards until he reached the window "NOOO" Yohji screamed. Everyone stared at them, the fight forgotten.
"I think you should try it too" Aya whispered into Schuldig's ear "it's fun, say goodbye to Crawford. Our war will end today, I have enough of you. This is for Ouka, Bombay, me and all the others you hurt" he gave Yohji indefinable look before jumped with Schuldig out of the window.
"Let's forget the vendetta for now" Crawford ran out of the warehouse and stared at the sea.
Yohji nodded and followed him "I can't see anything"
"There" Omi pointed at a shadow. Yohji and Crawford dived into the sea and began their search. Yohji took a deep breath and dived he was sure he had seen Aya's coat; he got up to take more air into his lungs before he dived again.
Yohji saw a shadow and reached for it, relieved as he grabbed a familiar hand he pulled him up and swam to the shore. Crawford was busy with Schuldig and wasn't interested in Weiss anymore.
"Come on…wake up" Yohji patted Aya's cheek. Omi tilted Aya's head back and Ken kneeled down next to Aya "Let's start CPR"
Yohji breathed air into his lover's lungs while Ken started cardiac massage "Come on, take a breath" Yohji panted, he was tired and out of breath. He got so frustrated that he hit Aya on the chest "Start breathing" he cupped Aya's cold and pale cheeks "Please"
Aya coughed violently, Ken rolled him on his side so he could cough up the water "Thank god"
Crawford looked at them and gave Yohji a small nod as their gazes met. The fight was over.
"I called doc. She's waiting for us" Omi put his mobile phone away.
Yohji collected all his strength together and lifted Aya up, he carried him to the car. He threw his car keys at Ken, he was too shaken to drive.
Aya's head rested on Yohji's lap. He studied his lover and caressed his head. Aya had dark circles under his eyes, from lack of sleep and his features seemed tense even though he was unconscious.
He spied a fading bruise under his cheekbone and bit on his bottom lip "Sorry" he stroke with his index finger over the bruise.
~ I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. I should have known something was wrong as you tried so desperately to convince me. Did they set us up? Or did you need space from me? Did I hem you? You said you don't know them. You said you don't know the guy who keeps on sending you text messages. It's so hard to believe in you when the evidences are against you. But on the other hand you're not a liar, you are many things but you were never a liar. If you had enough from me you would have said so. You wouldn't cling to a person you dislike.
You're surrounded by so many secrets I can't even count anymore. There are so many questions you don't want to answer. I don't know what to believe.
But I know that I love you, faithful or not I'll forgive you the secrets, I'll even forgive unfaithfulness as long you just stay ~
They reached the hospital pretty fast and Yohji carried him in.
"Wait here" the nurse ordered and they obeyed, they knew the drill.
Yohji nursed a cup of coffee while Omi and Ken organized dry clothes for Yohji. He was cold and his lips slightly blue but his mind was too numb to notice.
"Here" Omi gave him a sweater and sweat pants; it was the best he could find at this hour.
Yohji took the clothes and went to the restroom; he looked into the mirror and studied himself. He was a bastard; he was doomed to a life without happiness because of his mistakes. He tended to ruin everything good he ever had.
"Are you alright?" Omi knocked on the door.
"Yes, give me a minute" Yohji collected his thoughts and changed his clothes. He shivered and hoped he wouldn't develop pneumonia, it was the last thing he need at the moment.
"Come" Omi had waited in front of the door and led him back to the uncomfortable plastic chair.
"Do you want coffee?" Yohji shook his head.
"Do you need a blanket?" Ken saw him shiver, but again he shook his head.
"Doc!" was the first sign of life they witnessed from Yohji in over an hour.
"He's alright" she smiled at him "Slight case of hypothermia and lack of sleep that's all"
Yohji's body relaxed only then he noticed the second doctor "We moved him to the psychiatric unit. He has to stay for at least two weeks" the doctor stared at Yohji.
"Psychiatric unit?" Ken look at doc for help.
"You said he jumped out of the window of his own freewill" she stated, the boys nodded.
"It's his second suicide attempt within a few months" Souta glared at them "He stays until I say he's ready to go home"
"Second suic…" Omi tailed off, he was overcharged by his emotions.
"He slit his wrists and he jumped out of the window, this time because he wanted to. I can't count how often he risked his life even though he didn't need to" the old man pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Are you Souta?" the puzzle pieces clicked into place.
"Yes. I'm his psychiatrist" he confirmed.
"You helped Aya to free us" Omi remembered why he looked so familiar.
"That's true" he nodded "I call you when he's ready to receive visitors"
Yohji nodded, he stared at the ground
~ Suicide, suicide! Aya, what the hell….
That's why you wear longs sleeved shirts. You hide the scars. Are you ashamed? Do you believe I leave once you tell the truth?
I'll help you. I'll not leave you alone. We go through it together; I make you see how special you are. You don't deserve the pain.
You cut your wrists open, you slit trough your beautiful wrists. It must have hurt, the cuts in your flesh, the amount of blood purring out of the burning wounds… ~
Yohji felt sick and rushed to the restroom. He emptied his stomach until nothing was left.
Omi kneeled next to him, stroking soothing circles over his back "Hush" the young man tried to comfort him.
Yohji couldn't get rid of the image in his head "He…he, geez" he threw up again.
"I know" Omi didn't know what to say "I talked to doc, she said he did it at the time we had the huge fight about his status at Weiss"
"I never questioned doc for keeping him for days" Yohji panted, his stomach burned and his mouth tasted like bile.
"It's not your fault. He hid it well, none of us suspected something" Omi felt as guilty as Yohji but he was able to think clearly.
"I'm not sure I can visit him without a break down" Yohji got up.
"He needs you more than anything" Omi smiled "He needs your help"
The older man nodded before he washed his face and tried to get rid of the bitter taste if bile.
Omi offered him a chewing-gum "Strawberry?" Yohji smirked half heartedly.
Omi shook his head "Don't ask" Yohji nodded, from one of his ardent admirer, he mused.
"The nurse said we have permission to see him" Ken waited for them, he looked itchy.
Omi rested a hand on Yohji's back and shoved him gently towards the elevator.
"Hey love. How are you?" Yohji approached him slowly. Aya stared into space. Yohji settled down on the edge of the bed. Aya looked pale and tired. His hands were bound to the handrail "Do you want me to free you?" still no answer.
"I'm sorry. I should have listened, I know it's too late for it but I hope we can talk now" the blond took Aya's hand, examining his wrist. There was a fine line beginning at his wrist and it ended ca. six centimeters up. Yohji sighed; his lover knew how to cut correctly. He was lucky he got help in time or the wounds had been fatal.
"I'm not disappointed because of this" he stroked over the scar "I want you to stay no matter what. Faithful or not it doesn't matter to me. You leaving hurt more than the thought of betrayal. I think I believe you, it's a little late but better now than never" Aya remained silent, he listened from far away but he couldn't show any reaction and he didn't want to. Life hurt too much; in his head it was silent. No one hurt him there; no one pushed him around until he broke. It wasn't peaceful but better than living.
"I asked Doc if I'm allowed bringing Faith with me next time I visit but she said you're not ready" Yohji felt the urge to say something.
He caressed Aya's head. His lover sat on the bed, staring at the T.V. but he was sure he didn't see anything. It was like Aya wasn't there with him, his body yes but not his soul.
"I have to go, the ten minutes are over" he got up and gave Aya a kiss on the cheek.
"How is he?" Omi asked as Yohji left the room, it was his turn to visit and he wanted to know as much as possible before he entered the room.
Yohji's eyes spoke volumes "Yohji" Omi reached for him but the older man stepped aside.
"Don't" he said and left, Yohji forced his tears down. He wouldn't break in the middle of the psychiatric unit.
Omi watched him leave before he entered the room.
"You have to talk one day" Souta entered.
Aya blinked "I know" he whispered.
"Look at me" the older man ordered, Aya tilted his head and gave him a faraway look.
"Why did you do it?"
"He had killed Yohji" Aya replied.
"You could have killed Schuldig without going down with him" Souta knew the answer.
"It hurt and I wanted it to stop, I wanted it to end where it began but you know that already" Aya moved his arm to rub his eyes but he forgot that they had tied him down "Is it necessary?"
"I wouldn't restrain you otherwise" Souta gave him a little smile.
"I don't like it" Aya could free himself but he wouldn't tell him that.
"I know but I'm not sure what you might do"
"I'm not sure" Aya wanted to go back to the little world in his head but Souta stopped him.
"Talk to me about the reason" he pulled the injection out of Aya's arm. Aya couldn't believe that Souta drugged him; he was supposed to be his friend.
"Don't forget I'm your psychiatrist I do what's best for you" Souta rubbed over the puncture.
"He thinks I cheated on him, he was angry and hit me. End of story" Aya was angry.
Souta regretted his act but it was too late "Did you?"
"What? Cheat on him? Of course not" the redhead felt betrayed.
"Aya" he tried to ease the situation but they reached the point of no return.
"Leave" Aya looked away, ready to run if Souta decided to approach him.
Souta studied the young man and decided to obey. Aya needed time and he would grant it as long as his condition improved.
It wasn't easy to think of the future, Yohji and the boys visited every day, trying to start a conversation. After visiting hour doc and Souta appeared to get on his nerves.
It was time to leave, Aya decided. He freed his hands and packed his clothes.
