Greetings and welcome to Angst Theatre's premiere performance of "Cold November Rain".
Before we get started, let me first promise that tonight's posting run won't be anywhere near as emotionally draining as last night's was, in case you were worried. There will be plenty of lengthy comments about my response to the overwhelmingly wonderful notes and reviews about that in the end-notes of this posting run, but right now I'd like to get things started, it's going to be a busy night!
{slips on Vicious' tux, turns on the marquee, then hands you a playbill with a smile}
Our performance opens with an oversized Part 42 that opens with a look at Aya's afternoon away from Tokyo General and the steps he takes to cope with some unwanted frustration even as he works to care for those he treasures. The second portion of the opening Part is a look at what happens when he returns to the company of his lovers and friends and how they react to a rather important decision he made that holds deep symbolic meaning for them all. Part 43 is much smaller than its partner here is and is comprised of a scene wherein Nagi decides he needs to go home soon but when he and Omi go tell their friends about it, they encounter a grieving and frustrated Norwegian.
{tries to stifle a yawn but can't, it's later than normal since this posting run received a green light *very* late at roughly 2am llama-time and the fic writing beast is tired even as he hopes that you will---}
Enjoy the Angst!
~~~Enigma~~~
(who thinks marvelous Priscilla has a great idea about a side-story based on Kenken's kinky little dream image! and since it is a *dream* and not reality, it could include a 100% healthy and fully functional chocolate-eyed man who is, after all, the dreamer and we all know that a person does things in a dream he or she would never *think* of trying in a reality setting, ne? {evil hentai wink})
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Title: Cold November Rain [part 42/?]
Book 1 of "Redirecting Destiny" and prequel to "Romantic Resolutions"
Author: Enigma
Series: Weiss Kreuz
Written: January-March, 2002
Rating: R
Pairings: (Yohji + Ken + Aya) (Omi + Nagi) (Brad + Schu)
Category: Dark! Yaoi Angst Action/Adventure Violence Blood Squick Language Romance Original Characters. 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, original characters designed to highlight the true stars, rare touches of sap, cigarettes, destiny, cruel cliffhangers. AU-OOC.
Disclaimer: "Weiss Kreuz" is the property of Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss. All original characters featured herein (including but not limited to: Calico, Norwegian, Korat, Sokoke, etc.) are © Enigma, 2002, and are not to be used without permission. 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: 4. time: 1400-1700 hours. ++
*****
The afternoon would be half-gone before Aya would return to Tokyo General Hospital and he would arrive with unsatisfactory news which would be at least partially eclipsed by the tangible objects he brought as well.
Without a doubt, the meeting with Persia had gone badly and the scarlet-haired man felt angry and confused by the man's total refusal to expand the investigation into Sokoke's death yet only offered reasons to explain the decision that made precious little sense to Aya. Of course, he had no idea that the leader of Kritiker's first visitor of the day had been an orange-haired teen who was utterly delighted by the many dejected expressions he saw on the administrative assistants that surrounded Persia, tearfully exclaiming their dismay about the death of their friend.
Calico had added his own entirely false words of regret for the loss of the life of one so young and promising before he asked for a private word with his superior. Previously "persuaded" to always grant anything that the Scotsman might request, the bearded man agreed without question or hesitation. When the nineteen year old left his office five minutes later, orders were sent out to limit the examinations of the woman's badly burnt corpse or the compacted vehicle that had carried the talented secretary-cum-chef to her death.
When the leader of Weiss arrived several hours later, of course, none of the mournful people at Kritiker headquarters thought to mention that the leader of Grün had been there as well since the field-leaders of virtually every team they had had been expressing their concern about the event. Granted, Aya's opinion of Calico was one of simple hatred since the Scotsman irritated one of his lovers so badly, but if he'd known the truth about what happened in Sapporo it would have been an entirely different matter, bloody retribution might have occurred sooner.
As it was, though, the scarlet-haired man had prepared to leave Kritiker headquarters filled with negative energy and regret that he would return to his teammates and friends with only confirmation of what Manx had told them without improvements. However, as he approached the redheaded woman's office intending to inform her that he was leaving alone rather than waiting for her to return from working with Norwegian, inspiration struck.
After jotting a brief note to inform Manx of his intentions, Aya made his way through the dismal rainy afternoon to a nearby subway station and soon found himself stepping through the private back entrance to the Koneko no Sumu Ie. Not surprised to see that the shop was closed due to the inclement weather that always caused Momoe's arthritis to flair up, the violet-eyed man went about gathering changes of clothing for himself, Yohji, and Omi. Focusing on practical matters helped to give his mind a break from his other worries.
As he was selecting a few things for the youngest member of the team, it occurred to him to check to see if there was anything for Nagi to wear as well. Thanks to assisting Ken with laundry duty from time to time, Aya recalled that there were a few articles of clothing in the back of Omi's closet that had either shrunk over time or that the Weiss archer had outgrown that might suit his purposes. Without so much as a smile of self-congratulation for having thought of it, the violet-eyed man pulled out some gray slacks and an ivory button-downed shirt and packed those for use by the Schwarz telekinetic.
Once he had several duffel bags filled with various items that might give them all more comfort than the ones selected randomly by the courier Manx had sent several days prior, the swordsman turned his attention to other matters.
Since the flowershop had lost much of its schoolgirl patronage with the four bishounen gone, there was a surplus of various lovely flowers available and the urge to create a few arrangements overcame the man for whom flower-arranging had a therapeutic effect. Letting his mind wander as his hands selected various blossoms and sprigs of greenery, Aya neglected to think about his relationships with his two lovers yet didn't fail to think about the men themselves.
Quickly assembling several replications of the two arrangements that Yohji and Ken were best known for as well as a few of his own, Aya carefully added pricing information in his own distinctive and precise kanji. He signed his name as arranger more boldly than usual knowing the fangirls would select the new bouquets based on that alone. He half-smiled to himself and wondered why he was bothering, yet somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that they still needed to keep up appearances to protect their secret identities.
It occurred to him to place a note on the window explaining that Ken had been injured in a motorcycle accident since that was the cover-story they had agreed upon, yet didn't since that would only lead to offers of visits from hysterical groupies that simply weren't needed. Instead, he left a private note mentioning to the elderly woman who worked with them that they would be in touch when things had improved.
After taking care of what he considered his duty as far as the business was concerned, Aya turned his attention to showing his devotion to two people he loved in very different ways. The expression of his feelings was to be given form partially in response to Omi and Yohji's earlier discussion of what giving flowers truly ought to mean and he hoped his offerings would be acceptable.
Returning to the work table which was still scattered with ribbons and blooms of various types, long nimble fingers went to work creating yet another arrangement but this time it wasn't one of a preplanned nature. Blooms of deep somber hues were chosen and tucked carefully into a small, multicolored basket that featured the tints of an autumn sunset, as Aya prepared an offering for a girl who wouldn't even see them.
Once he finished the carefully controlled, serious bouquet, an actual smile graced the Weiss swordsman's lips as he selected a fairly large and decidedly decadent vase which was of Venetian origin. The hand-blown vessel sparkled and shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow as well as a few that Yohji laughingly labeled as being "not found in nature" when Ken had invested in the expensive vase at an antique sale a few months prior. Several of the wealthier patrons of the shop had considered using it for arrangements that were intended to demonstrate their affluence more than their taste, however Aya and Yohji had always talked them out of it. They preferred that it stay where it was in the rounded corner window display where their lover could continue to enjoy seeing it.
Now, however, the vase's true destiny was to take shape and the scarlet-haired florist gladly gathered together a wide variety of sumptuously colored, wonderfully fragranced blossoms and sprigs of greenery to fill it. Disregarding cost or any other concerns that might distract him, Aya worked on the most important arrangement he'd made in a very long time.
After a pleasant half-hour's effort, the violet-eyed man decided he was well pleased with his last two creations and he boxed them up carefully before sweeping up the mess he'd made and making sure he left the shop neat and tidy for whenever Momoe decided to reopen.
With a nod of satisfaction, Aya hung his light green apron back on its hook and went to load Yohji's car with clothing and the two flower arrangements, noting with satisfaction that the vehicle had indeed been thoroughly cleansed as Manx had promised. He left the flowershop behind without regret since paying attention to the people he cared about most overshadowed anything that had to do with making a profit.
En route to Tokyo General, the violet-eyed man made a brief visit to a comatose young woman in another hospital altogether. [1] He had sat beside the silent girl and told her of recent events, apologizing for neglecting her, but expressing confidence that she would understand. After placing the autumnal bouquet where it could be enjoyed by the medical staff if not by the patient herself, he allowed himself to think of nothing at all as he drove through the chilly drizzle so that he could be reunited with his lovers and friends.
As he pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, it never occurred to Aya to see if the borrowed red Ferrari that Omi had pointed out to him once before was still there or not, why would he care if Schuldich had attempted to reclaim it? Nagi certainly didn't seem to care but if the telekinetic had been concerned about it, the scarlet-haired man would've taken the time to check for him.
Finding a parking spot that suited him, Aya left Yohji's roadster with the clothing in the trunk and carried a large flower-delivery box in both hands as he made his way passed the security station at the front entrance. He nodded in acknowledgement of a silent greeting from the pair of Tokyo police officers he'd encountered four days prior during the dramatic entrance that he and his lovers had made when Aya had carried Ken's broken and badly bleeding body wrapped in his own burgundy trench coat. In one of those disconcerting moments of history repeating itself, it occurred to him that previously he had entered dripping with his lover's lifeblood and now he was dripping rainwater, an improvement but not as much as arriving dry and warmed by the sun would've been.
The older of the two men raised an eyebrow in silent inquiry as to the condition of the man whose care they had attempted to facilitate. In answer, Aya turned the box so that the transparent display panel faced him, brightly colored flowers speaking in the eternal language of hope. A smile crinkled the skin at the corners of the older man's eyes and it was all the confirmation the younger of the two needed to know that their wordless conversation was over.
As he continued towards the intensive care unit, Aya wondered if Ken had been relocated to a regular patient suite yet or not, and made a quick call to the hospital's patient-coordinator only to discover that he had indeed been moved. Armed with a room number, 646, he redirected his feet and soon arrived upon a reassuring scene.
Inside a fairly spacious room, the leader of Weiss found the younger of his two lovers laying in a treatment bed propped up on a small mound of pillows with his elder lover nearby since Yohji had claimed a small stool placed there for doctor's visits. On the other side of the bed, two visitors' chairs were set close together and were occupied by a pair of blue-eyed teens who both looked up in greeting as Aya walked in.
"How'd everything go, Aya-kun?" Omi asked nervously, knowing full well that the look on the man's face told him the answer wasn't a happy one.
Before he could answer, though, the jade-eyed blond glanced at the watch that concealed his deadly wire and noted it was after four in the afternoon before he commented quietly, "You were gone quite awhile, Aya. Ken was getting worried." There was no condemnation in Yohji's words, only a totally unsubtle hint to not get too deeply involved in discussing things of a less than hopeful nature since they needed to stay focused on helping their brunette lover heal. As much as discovering whether or not the honey-blond secretary's death was truly the regrettable decision of a tortured soul who wished to end her own life meant to all of them, helping to aid the man whose pain-filled brown eyes gazed at Aya from the bed meant more.
Nodding in acknowledgement of and agreement to his blond lover's implied directive, Aya answered both at once, "There's not much news from Kritiker, Omi, and I'm sorry I was gone so long, Ken, but I decided to go to the Koneko to take care of a few things." With the secretive smile that brought some of the warmth back to chocolate eyes, he held out the large floral delivery box, transparent side deliberately hidden from view, and added, "I brought something for you. Would you like to see it?"
Ken was more pleased that his violet-eyed partner had returned than he was interested in the pink box with the highly stylized kitten peeking out of a flower bud on the side. Nevertheless, he answered with all of his usual sincerity since he really wasn't one to conceal much of anything in the first place, "Sure, Aya. Flowers are always nice, but I really *am* glad that you're back."
"I'm glad to be here, too, Ken," the scarlet-haired man responded truthfully, not bothering to disguise the fact that this was the simple truth. After setting the large box down carefully onto Ken's bed, Aya opened it up hoping the time spent while he visited the other hospital hadn't caused any of the blossoms to droop. Then the violet-eyed man withdrew the arrangement he'd enjoyed making and held it where everyone could see it before moving to hold it slightly above the cast on Ken's left arm where the injured teen could see it more easily.
The unexpected display of love and devotion included a prodigious array of colors and textures that directly violated most precepts of good business for florists since it boasted of luxurious amounts of many of their most expensive blooms and Ken knew it.
Having recovered a little of his earlier energy yet mindful of the ebony-skinned nurse's frequent reminders to take it easy, Ken carefully propped himself up more as he found himself inundated with soft petals and sweet scents that happily reminded him of home. Despite the oxygen tubing that continued to stream enriched air to his nostrils, the brunette's quiet exclamation of delight as he enjoyed the fragrances he had previously taken for granted was as straight forward as he himself typically was.
With a delighted yet soft smile, Ken exclaimed quietly, "Thank you, Aya, they're beautiful!" His expression warmed even more as he recognized his favorite vase, the colorful hand-blown glass piece he hadn't expected to be lucky enough to hold onto as long as they had since he was certain some wealthy dowager would've selected it by now. The thought occurred to him that Aya shouldn't have wasted the expensive antique on him, but he assumed incorrectly that the scarlet-haired man intended to clean it up and place it back in stock later. Actually, a few weeks later the colorful container would reappear in the kitchen window of the Koneko where it would store various cooking utensils and allow Ken to enjoy seeing it several times a day even as it reminded him that he was well and truly loved.
Not precisely beaming with self-satisfaction, yet openly pleased to have brought forth one of the smiles that he and Yohji had craved during their absence, the violet-eyed man answered, "I'm glad you like them, Ken. It's not exactly an arrangement I'd ever want to try to replicate--or pay regular retail for considering the number of Peruvian Irises I unintentionally added to it--but as long as you enjoy it, I'm satisfied." [2]
Chocolate eyes were wide and blinked in astonishment as Ken wondered what had prompted his lover to waste flowers like those on himself but before he could ask such an obviously unnecessary question, he noticed something else far more worthy of note. As Aya turned the much loved Italian vase slowly in front of him for his perusal, he noticed a less disorganized spot within the arrangement and made a motion with his free hand for him to stop.
With a tender expression on his handsome yet tired features, Ken reached out to slowly trace his fingers over a cluster of flowers, lovingly caressing the softness he would miss working with on a daily basis during his extended recovery period. Almost as if they were children instead of simple plants, he called them by name in turn as his fingertips brushed over the petals, "Prussian Blue Gentians surrounded by Golden Mist Freesia, Fantasie Pink Cattleyas, tiny Champagne Roses, and Royal Blue Peruvian Irises. [3] Are you trying to tell us all something here, Aya?" The slight roughness that found its way into his voice reflected the raw emotion and gratitude that were filling his heart.
The man responsible for the floral display merely remained silent a moment as Omi finally gave into curiosity and he moved to see for himself, uttering a classic, "Awwwe! How sweet!" When he saw what Aya had done he had recognized the significance of the gesture immediately and it filled him with delight.
Equally curious yet unhappily clueless, Nagi rose and peered past Omi's shoulder even as Yohji moved closer so he could see more clearly and he, too, added words of praise and encouragement, "Well done, Aya. An excellent selection for him, too."
The beams of delight that radiated without hesitation or excuse from Ken's being showered everyone in the room as he gazed from Yohji to Aya to Omi and then at Nagi who still peered at the flower arrangement in confusion. With a small chuckle, he asked, "Nagi? Do you like them?"
Shrugging slightly and accepting his boyfriend's silent invitation to move closer, the Schwarz telekinetic soon stood beside the bed and regarded the brunette apologetically and offered, "That's certainly a bright bouquet that smells really nice, Ken-kun, I like it a lot." He fidgeted a bit then after noticing that they were all giving him expectant smiles and added, "But if this is some of that 'secret meaning of flowers' stuff, I'm sorry, I don't know any other than white lilies stand for death and red roses stand for love."
"That's understandable, Nagi," Yohji smiled and took over the explanations so that Aya wouldn't be forced to explain himself and Ken wouldn't be tempted to speak too much, his lung capacity was still too limited for extended conversation, "but what we're talking about is far more private than that, anyway. You see, we each have a favorite type of flowers and somewhere along the way, we all kinda started getting identified by them, too."
Noticing that he was the center of attention and being surprised he didn't find it as uncomfortable as he usually did, the sable-haired boy nodded, then asked insightfully, "Let me guess, some of the flowers Aya-kun chose are those favorites, right?"
"Right," the jade-eyed man encouraged, then continued, pointing each out as he went, "Kenken's favorites are the blue gentians there. See? Omiitchi's are the freesia right here and here. Aya likes roses and he doesn't really care about the color usually, but these little off-white ones are really nice, don't you agree?"
Nagi nodded agreement and asked, "Since those are all in a cluster together, does that mean yours are the pink orchidy-looking ones or the thin blue ones, Yohji-kun?"
"You've got a good eye, bishounen," the lanky blond complimented than added thoughtfully, "I never really thought of myself as a 'pink' kinda guy, but I'm with Aya on the color thing, so I guess it doesn't matter. You're right, mine are the pink ones, they're cattleyas. What we're talking about are the royal blue ones. They're Peruvian Irises and I believe Aya is asking if you mind if we temporarily assign you a flower, too?"
Blinking in understandable surprise, Nagi cocked his head a little and said, "Those are fine, Yohji-kun. I don't know anything about flowers, really. But what does the arrangement mean then if the blue ones are me?"
Yohji's smile warmed again and green eyes flitted happily between his two lovers as he explained, "You see how he's surrounded a small bunch of gentians with the flowers that represent all of us? This is kind of like 'Koneko-code' to indicate we're all here for Ken and each other at the same time." He shrugged elegantly and enjoyed the minor look of embarrassment on Aya's face at having it put so bluntly when the flowers seemed to have said it so eloquently on their own. Then Yohji added with a smile of remembrance, "It's kinda corny, bishounen, I know, but we've been doing stuff this way pretty much ever since Manx got us started as florists for cover identities."
"I see," Nagi nodded sagely as if this should have been obvious from the start even though it wasn't. Then he thought about the fact that Aya had taken the time to stop and go to the trouble of selecting a flower to represent himself, and he found it brought a warmth to his heart as he asked, "Aya-kun? Why did you pick this particular one to represent me? Wouldn't a plain, inexpensive flower like a tulip have done the job just as well?"
Trying not to make anyone even more uncomfortable yet not willing to miss a chance to bolster Nagi's self-esteem, the scarlet-haired man replied, "I chose Peruvian Irises to represent you because they are not only beautiful, they're rare and greatly treasured as well." The fifteen year old blinked in astonishment at him and this pleased Aya immensely and he then inclined his head toward Omi and added, "But if you don't agree with what I mean by that, feel free to ask your boyfriend about it someday. In the meantime, is it still acceptable that I designated them for you at the moment?"
Shy smile on open display for all the world to see, the diminutive psychic nodded and answered hopefully, "Certainly, Aya-kun. At least, it is if Omi-koi likes them, too?"
"Oh, I *love* them, Nagi!" The cerulean-eyed teen smiled brightly at his beloved partner and added, "I think that Aya-kun chose the perfect ones to represent you, too. They're really pretty and, like he said, they aren't common at all. A *very* special flower for a *very* special person!" Nagi blushed slightly as Omi leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
Ken and Yohji chuckled softly while Aya continued to smile in his secretive yet satisfied way before returning to showing off the arrangement he'd created in honor of the one they'd almost lost. Conversation was sparse for awhile, it was unneeded as the five close friends allowed a spectacular collection of flowers to express their feelings.
Through the simple act of agreeing upon a particular bloom to represent their midnight blue-eyed friend, the men of Weiss had made a subtle yet meaningful gesture towards truly integrating the Schwarz psychic into their lives more fully. Peruvian Irises had previously been ordered only infrequently but as long as they represented Nagi in their minds, somehow at least a few of them would find their way from South America to the Koneko no Sumu Ie on a weekly basis.
Granted, Aya was in charge of placing the orders for flowers and supplies for the shop and if a day ever came that another flower was found to be preferable for the task he'd gladly change the order. Then again, he wouldn't be very surprised a week or so later when Yohji asked about adding a lavender apron in the same small size that Omi wore just in case a certain someone felt like learning how to arrange those same flowers one day.
Eventually the lavish bouquet would find its way onto a windowsill in the otherwise boring white hospital room where it would patiently await a return of the sunshine that would dance through its many colored surfaces and brighten the room. For now, though, it simply sat and granted its own cheerfulness as the chilly drizzle continued to roll unabated down the window pane.
*****
To be continued.
Author's Notes:
[1] Technically, this may be considered a spoiler by some people, but in all honesty, if I didn't send Aya over to check on her at least once in this fic it would mean he's even more emotionally inept than I intended to imply. Please note that at least I didn't say directly who she is preferring to stick to the "unnamed injured female" of the original series opening, but I believe that almost everyone knows who this is anyway.
[2] The breed of imported irises mentioned here are a rich blue with flagrantly hirsute petals like deep velvet. They were extremely expensive the last time I saw them for sale and to imagine usually cost-conscious Aya shoving them in among inexpensive daisies, carnations, assorted foliage, as well as pricey name-brand roses with abandon makes for an interesting image, ne?
[3] For all those of you who aren't familiar with the "image flowers" concept, the assassins of Weiss were given specific flower types to be listed as their "favorites" from the very beginning and they are used symbolically in the anime series at several points. I won't try to explain why they were chosen, but since some of my readers here are not primarily WK fans, I thought it might be nice to share a little "series tradition" with them since it's assumed knowledge in many other WK fics without explanation.
Full Author's Notes to Run at Conclusion.
Please be advised: Parts 42 & 43 will be posted together.