Disclaimer: Weiss Kruez isn't mine. If it were... well *cough* Anyway...
Minds Games
Chapter 2
By: Penybright
Long lashes twitched and fluttered open, foggy orchid eyes greeting the world with confusion. It hurt; everything resonated with a dull ache. Slowly, a face came into view; lines and angles solidifying. Everything was terribly muddled. He remembered names, but not faces, and vague recollections of events. Were they real? Or just a dream? The man before him was real, he knew that much. Aqua eyes gazed at him with worry and hope, chocolate bangs falling to obscure the view of clear azure. He knew this man. He was so familiar...
Slim, bandage wrapped fingers reached out, brushing over familiar features. So familiar... Why couldn't he remember? If he could only remember...
Ken froze, not wanting to spook the skittish redhead. Unsure, shaking digits felt over his face, like the hands of a blind man trying to discern a person's features. The hand jerked away as if burnt, violet eyes widening.
"K- Ken...?"
Ken rewarded the confused man with a reassuring smile.
"How are you feeling, Ran?" Ken asked softly, noticing the distressed state the man was in. Crimson brows knit together in confusion, eyes flitting about the room.
"Wh... Where am I?"
"You're in the hospital, Ran."
"Why?"
"You had a--- an... accident..."
"Accident..." Ran echoed, staring into space. Ken shifted uncomfortably. He hated not being able to tell him the truth.
"Do I know you?"
The question caught Ken off guard.
"Uhm... we, ah, work together. In a flower shop. And, we... live together in the apartments above with Omi and Yohji."
"Flower shop?"
Ken nodded.
"The Koneko no Sumu Ie; your home."
"I don't... I can't..." Ran's words broke off in a sob, tears welling up in frightened amethyst eyes.
"Hey," Ken soothed. "Maybe you'll remember some of it when you see it," Ken smiled.
"See it?"
"The doctor said you'd be able to go home this week. We miss you, Ran."
"Home..."
A trembling, bandage wrapped hand reached up to throbbing temples.
"I'm going to go call Yohji and Omi. They'll want to see you. You should get some rest while I'm gone."
"Okay..."
Ken nodded reassuringly as he stood up, exciting the room. Once outside, his smile faltered and he felt like crying. Ran was so childlike and unsure, his emotions unguarded. Shakily, Ken made his way to the pay phone. The others would be worried if he didn't call soon.
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He whimpered, head tossing to the side as fingers clenched in the sheets. Cool emerald eyes invaded his dream, inducing terror.
"No..."
A flash of light reflecting off wire-rimmed glasses.
"Please, no more..."
Silent, ever silent. Face impassive and eyes hard.
"Please, stop!"
Ran's body thrashed as the nightmare took hold of him, drawing him to the edge of insanity. Shudders wracked his body as tortured sobs escaped him. Tears leaked out of fine lashes, wetting the pillow. He screamed as he was abruptly pulled out of the nightmare. A pair of strong arms pulled him into their embrace and he sobbed helplessly. A hand rubbed his back soothingly, trying to calm him.
"It's all right, Ran," Yohji comforted. "You're home now. You're safe."
The redhead only cried harder. Yohji sighed. He had watch duty tonight. It was just his luck that Ran would have another nightmare this evening. They had been happening less frequently, but they still had the violet eyed man shaking and breaking down into sobs. Tonight's must have been exceptionally bad.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Yohji offered, already knowing the answer.
"N-no..." Ran replied shakily, sniffling. "I'm sorry," he whispered, more tears leaking out.
"There's nothing to be sorry for, Ran. You've been through a lot. We're here for you. We want to help."
"I'm sorry!" the redhead wailed, clutching at Yohji's shirt.
"Ran, please," Yohji sighed. "Calm down, okay?"
"I... I..." watery orchid eyes stared up at him, fear and confusion in their depths. "I don't know what to do..."
Yohji forced a smile as he tucked the covers back around the pale man.
"You just get some rest. All we want is for you to get better. I'll be right here, k? I'm not going to leave you alone. We'll protect you... I promise."
Ran nodded meekly, eyes flitting about the room.
"It's so dark..." he shivered.
"Would you like for me to turn on a lamp?"
"Please," Ran murmured shakily, eyes sad and fearful.
Yohji turned on the small table lamp, keeping watch as exhaustion finally took its toll on the man in the bed. Heavy lids fluttered shut, drawing Ran back into the darkness he dreaded to face. Where the nightmares lurked to ensnare him...
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Yohji tiredly shuffled into the kitchen the next morning, expression grim. He needed coffee and a few hours of much needed sleep.
"How's he doing?" Omi asked quietly, placing the last few pieces of Ran's breakfast on a tray.
Yohji snorted.
"I don't know if he's getting better, or regressing," Yohji muttered in frustration. "He had another nightmare last night. This one was particularly bad."
Ken sighed. He knew how violently Ran reacted to those dreams. He had been the first one to pull watch Ran's first night home. It had scared the shit out of him to see the composed redhead like that.
"Did he get any sleep?"
"Yeah, he calmed down after a bit."
"At least he's not a sobbing, shaking mess all night now," Ken soughed.
"I'll see how he's doing when I take breakfast up," Omi smiled. "Maybe I can cheer him up... just a little, today."
Ken nodded and Yohji became engrossed with getting himself coffee.
Omi knocked softly before slowly opening the door to Ran's room. A sad smile graced his lips as he viewed the man on the bed. He actually looked at peace for once. It was rare to see the man in any state of placidity after the incident. Whatever Schwarz had done to him, was completely wreaking havoc on his mind. Omi sighed, gently shaking Ran awake. He hadn't been eating well...
"Omi...?"
"Morning, Ran-kun. I brought you breakfast."
"Thank you."
Omi plastered on his best smile as helped Ran sit up in bed. He had yet to regain full mobility.
Ran suddenly gasped and clutched fearfully at Omi's arm.
"Ran?"
Omi followed the wide violet gaze to the television. Funny, he hadn't remembered that being on when he came in... Blue eyes registered shock as he was greeted with the face of none other than Brad Crawford. It appeared Schwarz hadn't fallen into obscurity yet. But just what where they up to?
"He... he..." Ran broke off into whimpers.
"I know Ran," Omi soothed. "We'll make him pay."
~ Ehehehehehe... -_-; I know, poor Ran. Chapter 3 won't be too happy either. But if all goes well, it *will* have a happy ending!