Rituals: In Der Bluete Der Jahre
By Laurelgand (laurelgand@home.com)
http://www.weisskreuz.net




Part three of a four part series which explores the ideas of rituals. This part features Yohji. Aya will follow. Author's notes follow the story.


What do you do, afterwards?

He had done it again. No matter how hard he tried, Yohji couldn't stay away from this place, even after a mission. Especially after a mission. He might set out with a destination in mind... a bar, or perhaps a nightclub.... and yet he always ended up standing before these quiet doors.

After I....

A ritual for every occasion, a ritual for every person. Business man. Nun. Politician. Housewife. Liar, prositute, killer, thief.... Saint or sinner; angel or devil... it made no difference.

Sin.

Everyone has a ritual.

When you gonna learn?

Later, he would go to that bar. But there was something he had to do first. Yohji wondered how his fellow assassins in Weiß spent the night after a mission. He chuckled mirthlessly. Whatever it was, surely no one could not match this. With a sigh, Yohji pushed gently on the door and slipped inside.

Killer with a conscience....

Thankfully, the church was empty. Alone but for the watchful eyes of the departed, mutely gazing at the tall bishonen from stained-glass worlds. Quick steps took the assassin towards the altar; he turned into one of the wooden pews and knelt. Clasping his hands together in an uncharacteristically nervous gesture, he looked up.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned....

Murder... a mortal sin, isn't it? Yet even that was supposed to be forgiven, because of one man's suffering. Heaven? Could there really be such a place, for men like him? But Yohji believed in sin. And Hell.

I have killed six people since my last confession....

Confession was supposed to be good for the soul right? Repent, and be absolved. But was he sorry? No. Yes. Maybe. Yohji didn't have much faith in it; never had and never would. Salvation? For others, yes.... the innocents; with their pure white, endlessly clear souls. They would ascend to Heaven.

Asuka....

A single tear dripped down Yohji's cheek and onto his clasped hands. Was she in Heaven watching him? Waiting for Yohji to join her, if he could? If he did go to heaven, she would be there. Without her, Heaven would be Hell... and this ritual a useless gesture towards appeasing the assassin's world-weary soul.

~Owari~

Author's Notes:

For Jen-chan, my very dear friend and helpful inspiration for this story. Thank you for the Weiß Kreuz tapes, and everything else as well! *HUGS*

Yohji, in a church? Even though Yohji doesn't strike one as a particularly religious person, he does have a fascination for sin, don't you think? Like Ken's ritual, I decided on Yohji going to church to confess his sins because it's unexpected.

It's a Catholic church, and the sacrament of Confession a Catholic ritual, but I tried to keep things very general so readers of all backgrounds could relate. Yohji's ideology (and methodology... but I didn't want to complicate the story with the addition of the priest ^^;;) is a bit confused too, but that's okay :).

One more to go! *keels over*

The title, In Der Bluete Der Jahre, is a German phrase meaning "In The Prime Of Life". Thought it was fitting for Yohji-kun. My German vocabulary grows apace....

I live for your comments! ^_~

Disclaimer:

Weiß Kreuz (and associated characters) belongs to Koyasu Takehito *.*, Project Weiß, Kyoko Tsuchiya, TV Tokyo, Bandai, and others I've neglected to mention. No copyright infringement or disrespect to the creators/copyright holders was intended in the writing of this 'fic.

This 'fic written and self-published by Laurelgand. All content not copyrighted to others is © April 2000 to Lara E. Gill.