Title: Cold November Rain [part 28/?]

Book 1 of "Redirecting Destiny" and prequel to "Romantic Resolutions"

Author: Enigma

Series: Weiss Kreuz

Written: January-February, 2002

Rating: R

Pairings: (Yohji + Ken + Aya) (Omi + Nagi) (Brad + Schu)

Category: Dark! Yaoi Angst Action/Adventure Violence Blood Squick Language Romance. AU-OOC.

Archive: fanfiction.net [author: "E-sama the Llama"], Scripta Manent: http://digilander.iol.it/sakaba/Home.html

Spoilers: None, safe for new viewers as well as old.

Warnings: dark! yaoi, heavy angst, action/adventure, graphic violence, large quantities of blood, squick: medical and other, coarse language, agonized and overwrought romance, rare touches of sap, cigarettes, destiny, cruel cliffhangers, original characters. AU-OOC.

Disclaimer: "Weiss Kreuz" is the property of Koyasu Takehito and Project Weiss. This unauthorized work of fanfiction is intended for entertainment only; kindly do not sue me.

Notes: When Ken falls in battle, how can the other members of Weiss cope with the guilt and blame that they all seem to share and will he survive in spite of the odds against him?

++ date and time reference within the storyline beginning with the day of the battle ++

{{telepathic speech}}

*****

++ day: 2. time: 1245-1325 hours ++

*****

Despite forcing himself to uncomfortably stand leaning against a wall, Yohji soon found himself dozing. Angrily, he shook it off and took a quick glance at the heartwarming scene of the two boys snuggled together on the hospital bed, then moved to step outside the room intending to pace a bit and get his blood flowing again.

As he walked down the hall in the opposite direction from the intensive care unit, he heard a familiar voice call to him, "Balinese?"

Turning quickly, the wire-wielding assassin saw a man he'd never expected to encounter at Tokyo General Hospital yet was incredibly glad to do so. Slightly stunned, he exclaimed, "Korat? What are *you* doing here?" He strode towards the man, hand extended in greeting and added, "Damn, but am I glad to see *you*, man!"

A warm smile spread across the nurse's face, white teeth dazzling in contrast to the ebony of his complexion as he accepted the proffered hand and replied, "Manx called us in, Balinese." His smile faltered as he added more seriously, "It sounds as if Weiss is having a hell of a time here and could use some help."

Yohji ran a tired hand through lackluster blond locks and agreed, "That's for damned sure! I think we're being tested or something. It seems like everything that can go wrong has and, frankly, I didn't know how much longer we could hold out." He glanced past the nurse and frowned slightly and asked, "You made it sound like you're not the only one Manx brought in, but I don't see anyone else? Who's here and where are they?"

After his encounter with Aya, Korat fully expected to find Yohji in a state of near-collapse, yet he wasn't and seemed to be in fairly good spirits, all things considered. This surprised him to say the least, but he'd gladly take whatever small victories were offered and he answered, "Manx brought together the three of us from KMC who've had the most contact with Weiss. [1] Norwegian is team-leader and Javanese and I are here as well."

"Hot damn!" Yohji exclaimed with open delight. "*Norwegian* is here? And you and Javanese both? Shit, we've got the crème de la crème of Kritiker Medical here now. There won't be any more fuck-ups now, thank the gods!"

A slight expression of embarrassment crossed the nurse's face after hearing the effusive praise and he promised, "Yes, that's what we're here for, to see to it that Siberian gets only the best of care and that there are no further complications." Deciding to mention the other person the red-haired Kritiker agent had brought along before going into the specifics of his own reason for being near Room 121, Korat added, "We've got a support staff member with us, too. Her code-name's Sokoke. She's one of Persia's administrative assistants."

"What do we need a secretary for?" The lanky blond asked, then yawned and looked puzzled.

"Manx said you needed a report written and she didn't feel you were in any shape to really worry over it, Balinese," Korat explained patiently. "Sokoke is fairly green and easily distracted, but I think she'll be fine. However, I'd have to agree with Manx, you look like you're in no shape to do much of anything right now. How are you feeling?"

Chuckling softly around another yawn as Yohji finally relaxed enough to let the fatigue he'd been fighting win a small victory, he replied, "You don't want to know." Then he recalled that the exotically handsome man in front of him was, after all, a highly trained nurse and he said, "Um, yeah, I guess you do. In all honesty, Korat, I feel like shit. I don't remember the last time I slept, I doubt I've eaten anything worth the money I paid for it in the cafeteria here, I've been run ragged, and the stress is about to kill me. Other than that, I'm peachy." The last sentence seemed to just slip out as the blond realized he sounded like he was whining and hated it.

The man standing in front of him, however, was nodding and making mental notes on a variety of topics, taking all of what he had been told into account before answering, "Well, Balinese, if you are indeed 'peachy', I would have to say you are a 'peach' on the verge of collapse. Once we get things under control, I intend to recommend you find a bed, get in it, and sleep as long as possible." He frowned when he saw the exhausted assassin begin to complain and added firmly, "It's *that* or face being forcibly admitted to the hospital and given the drugs necessary to *make* you get some sleep, Balinese."

Yohji was properly taken aback by the threat, one he was certain the other man had meant quite literally. Drawing in a deep breath and nodding his acquiescence, he answered, "All right, Korat, you win. No need for strong-arm tactics with me, *but* I'm holding you to the first part of that about getting things under control first."

Korat nodded firmly, "Of course, Balinese. Norwegian and Javanese are with Manx and Abyssinian right now in the ICU getting things straightened out about Siberian. I was sent here because we were told that Bombay's companion passed out earlier and ought to be examined. How are both of them doing? Are they as bad off as yourself and Abyssinian are?"

Shaking his head, the jade-eyed man answered, "Theoretically, they should be in better shape than us, they got some sleep last night. But they both looked like hell earlier, too. I wasn't there when Nagi passed out, but Bombay was. Not too long ago, though, I think I saw Nagi came out of it for the most part and is just asleep now." He gestured at the closed door to the room where the two teens were and added, "Bombay's asleep now, too. Poor kid's had it rough this last day and a half. I think Norwegian needs to have a talk with him about handling some of it better, he keeps going off the deep end."

Frowning deeply, Korat compared his lengthy experience with the cerulean-eyed teen and what he was hearing now and it just didn't quite add up.

First there had been the surprising announcement that Kritiker's beloved computer hacker and all-around tactical genius had become emotionally involved with a member of an enemy assassin team. Then there was the even more surprising news that not only his teammates but also the top two agents of the covert organization were supporting the relationship. It was clear to the nurse that these issues alone would create pressure for the boy, but to have the tragic events of the previous day added on top of everything else, it was almost a matter of course the he might experience a mild breakdown. Now that he combined that with the youth having seen his lover collapse for whatever reason only a short time prior, Korat came to an inescapable conclusion.

With a thoughtful expression and a carefully non-accusatory tone, the nurse asked, "Do you actually think it's reasonable to expect a seventeen year old, no matter *how* well-trained he is, to be able to deal with a situation like this and *not* be overwhelmed by it, Balinese? I can assure you, Omi's one of the most amazing people I've ever met, yet when it comes right down to it, he's still a high school student even though we tend to forget that and think he's a lot older than he really is."

Yohji listened to what the man had to say and found himself nodding his agreement, but then he shook his head and admitted, "This is all true, Korat, but I don't know any other way to handle things like this. I can't imagine Weiss without him or him without us, but what else is there? This *is* his 'normal' life and we've got to do the best we can, right?"

"Right," Korat agreed then sighed and added, "At least Weiss has been deactivated for awhile. Perhaps this will be a good opportunity for your team to work together to find ways to insulate him somewhat from the pressure? Give him more time to be with his, um, what is the term your group uses for his relationship? Pardon my old-school way of thinking, but to call them 'lovers' seems a bit much."

A soft smile crossed the blond's face as he answered, "That's easy. I'd say we generally refer to them as 'boyfriends', but 'lovers' would be true, too. Probably in a purer sense of the word than you can use it for a lot of people."

A quiet, wistful sigh then escaped his lips, as Yohji wished he could make the same claim for the relationship with his scarlet-haired lover as much as it already was for the brunette one as he added quietly, "They're connected at some level that's beyond me to understand or explain. Maybe that's why, when I caught them in the first place, I didn't just go ballistic and try to kill Nagi."

The jade-eyed man shrugged, "He *was* the enemy, after all, and when I stumbled across them naked as birds and wrapped in each other's arms, my first thought was to pull my wire and kill the little punk who I assumed had messed with his head to seduce him. But then I saw the way Omi looked at him, those big blue eyes filled with an emotion it had taken me twenty-two years to find in my own, I just couldn't do it. That much love can't be faked."

Korat remained silent, yet he was incredibly grateful that in his exhaustion Balinese was providing the information the he and many others who had grown fond of the youngest member of Weiss would need to truly get past the boy's chosen love's background. Schwarz had been a thorn in Kritiker's side for so long, the idea that Omi was involved with one of its members had been terribly shocking. Hearing Yohji's insights, however, was allowing him to see the truth behind it and he listened as the other man's voice strengthened and he explained the way he felt about Nagi presently.

"Now, of course, everything's different. Nagi's almost like a fifth member of the team at times." Yohji glanced at the door again and remarked as if he'd forgotten he had an audience, "Like yesterday. If he hadn't been there to find Omiitchi when he did, I hate to think about what would've happened to him. He'd be in the morgue, I guess. I know that if it had been *me* on that bridge when he fell, the kid would've died and there would've been damned little I could've done to stop it."

An expression of self-hatred had entered jade eyes briefly yet it was banished by one of fierce affection and loyalty as he added, "But it wasn't me, it was someone better than me. Someone who could make a difference. Someone that I feel is as much a part of who we are as anyone else." He snorted softly and shook his head before strongly declaring, "Damn it all, I'd gladly take a fucking bullet for the kid if he needed me to! Hell, I say we give him a kitty-cat code-name, slap a flowershop apron on him and call him 'Weiss' just like the rest of us, Korat! I wouldn't let him out of our sight if it was my choice, you know?"

"You're quite fond of him, aren't you, Yohji?" Korat asked gently, well aware that at some point in the one-sided discussion of the Schwarz telekinetic, the other man had indeed been analyzing his own feelings for the boy as much as making him aware of the situation.

Hearing his given name instead of his code-name, something he almost never heard from the man who was looking at him with so much understanding in deep mocha eyes, brought Yohji out of himself. He blinked for a moment, then nodded and very quietly admitted, "Yeah, Jacques, I really am. [2] Nagi's as much a part of my life now as Omi is. I hate to see either one of them suffering like this."

The nurse smiled warmly at the man who had been a friend as well as a patient for several years and he promised, "Then by all means we shall see to it that he is restored to good health. As to making him a member of Weiss, well," he allowed a very rare smirk to flash across his lips as he continued, "that is *not* within the range of responsibilities of a nurse, by any means! For now, though, why don't we check on them both? I can't very well offer much of my professional assistance from out here, now can I?"

Chuckling softly around a yawn, Yohji agreed, "Sure thing. Just give me a second to get some water," he gestured towards a water fountain nearby and explained, "All that ranting left me with a dry throat."

"Certainly," the ebony-skinned man nodded and waited patiently for him to return before entering the room where a young man he now very definitely wanted to meet was located. After all, if Nagi had charmed the precious and trusting Bombay into his bed, that was one thing, if he had succeeded in gaining as strong an ally as Balinese obviously was, that was quite another and Korat very much wished to meet the boy.

*****

To be continued.

Author's Notes:

[1] "KMC" means Kritiker Medical Center and is an abbreviation that the characters may or may not use as suits their personalities and the mood of the moment. Furthermore, this totally Llama-created facility is envisioned as a stand-alone hospital with research labs as well as the physical therapy and rehabilitation services Ken would need.

[2] All right, I'll admit it even though it should be obvious, this character *isn't* named after a series creator. Korat will have a recurring role in the "Redirecting Destiny" continuity and for reasons that will become clear when Calico is more involved later, I decided this elegant, well-spoken, handsome, black, and unquestionably *male* nurse is of French heritage and he's been named after Jacques Cousteau.

[extra] By the way, please *do* feel free to like (or even fall in love with) Korat, though, he's one of the good guys, as are Norwegian the kindly doctor, Javanese the woman who has some connection from the past with Manx, and Sokoke the slightly ditzy secretary. I worked hard to create interesting new characters here solely for the purpose of highlighting the *true* stars of the story, so let me know what you think of them, okay?

Full Author's Notes to Run at Conclusion.

Please be advised: Parts 27 - 29 will be posted together.