"I remember you", Aya said coldly, looking at the older woman. "You were there when I woke up. Said you were friends with my brother."
Manx nodded. "That's right."
"You also told me he had died." Aya's eyes narrowed. "He asked you to lie for him. Why didn't he want to see me?"
"It isn't as black and white as that", Manx sighed. "Ran very much wanted you in his life. He loved you and missed you. I can't count the number of times he literally almost died for you."
"I don't understand."
"Come with me." Manx put an arm around the young woman. "I've told the school that there has been a family emergency. You're excused for the day."
"What's going on? Tell me!" Aya demanded, as the two women made their way to the exit.
"We're going to my home. There, I will tell you some things about your brother that should clear up your confusion."
"I don't give a damn about Ran!" Aya scowled.
"Don't say that!" Manx snapped. Taking a breath, she continued in a calmer tone. "What I am going to tell you is in the strictest confidence. You are not to repeat a word of it to anyone. Not even Ran. Do you understand?"
Aya nodded vaguely. "I guess..."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Are you thirsty, Ran?", Omi asked cheerily. "I brought you a juice."
"Mmm." Ran sighed, obediently opening his mouth to drink as Omi put the straw in.
"Is that good?" Omi took the straw out of Ran's mouth, allowing his friend to answer.
"It's sour."
"You sure that's not your mood you're tasting?", Yoji asked, standing up.
Ran glared at the ceiling for a moment, then became silent.
"Ran..."
"Is...is Ken...coming...today?"
"I can't answer for him, Ran", Yoji replied, looking down.
"Oh...well..." biting his lip, Ran struggled to keep his emotions in check. It had been three days since Ken had come to see him. Three days since Ran had pushed him away.
"Ken...he saved me. Loved me. I only...only broke...bones. If he...hadn't...come, I would...have been found the...the next day. By a student...maybe. A stranger. Would have felt...so foolish. Alive, broken...and foolish. My own...doing."
"You're finally making sense", Yoji nodded in agreement.
"Yoji-kun!"
"What?"
"Please...tell Ken..." Ran stopped, his chin quivering.
"We're not used to seeing you cry so much, Ran-kun", Omi commented, wiping the moisture from Ran's eyes.
"I only cry for...Ken. Tell him...tell him I'm...sorry."
"Why don't you go tell him yourself?", Yoji grinned, playfully touching Ran on the nose.
"You're not funny!" Ran glared.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Wow!" was all that Aya could say for several minutes.
"You okay?" Manx asked, waving a hand in front of Aya's dazed face.
"I wouldn't have believed it if you hadn't shown me the files", Aya finally said. "My brother was an-"
"Yes. He was", Manx interrupted. "And you're never to speak of this to anyone. For your own safety, and Ran's as well."
"Don't worry about me. I'm good with secrets", Aya laughed nervously. "Well, I guess I better be going home now", she decided, standing up.
Manx shook her head. "There is one more place I want to take you before you go."
*
Aya looked from Manx to the hospital once again. "I'm not very comfortable in places like this", she whispered.
"That is understandable", Manx answered. "But there is something I want to show you, and it is in there." She saw Ran's sister hesitate, then sigh, nodding her head.
"Thank you, Aya."
They walked into the building and she followed the older woman into the elevator. "What are you showing me?" she asked.
Manx didn't respond.
"Ok, look. I can accept what Ran did and I can accept that you want to show me…something. But I want to know what all this is about."
"If I told you, you never would have come."
The doors to the elevator slid open and Manx walked out, turning to look at the young woman standing in the elevator.
"Are you coming?"
Aya kept her gaze on the floor for a moment longer before looking up at the redhead.
"This has to do with Ran, doesn't it?"
Dark blue eyes met green but no words were spoken for a moment. Aya finally looked away.
"I know it does, why else would you bring me here?"
"We made a mistake when you awoke. We never told Ran."
They just stood there for a moment longer.
Manx finally sighed. "If you want to blame someone, blame me. But never blame him."
Nodding, she stepped out of the elevator, looking around for a moment.
"Answer one question…why didn't you tell Ran that I had woken up? Why didn't he come for me?"
"He didn't come for you because he didn't know", Manx answered once again. "And he didn't know because we never told him."
"Why?"
Manx shrugged. "At the time, I guess we believed it was the right thing to do." She started down the hall, stopping after a few steps to look back at the young woman. "We are human. Unfortunately, we are far from perfect."
Aya looked up at Manx, breathing out.
"You can't live your life blaming someone who doesn't deserve to be blamed. That is what makes humans more than simple beasts, we can forgive and be forgiven."
"Forgive…" Aya whispered.
Manx simply nodded.
"Will you take me to my brother?"
The redhead turned, once again walking down the hall. This time, the dark haired girl followed.
*
Ran breathed out, staring up at the ceiling. It really was a boring thing to do, but in his present state it was all he really could do. His two teammates had left awhile ago, saying they had to go back to the shop. They had left Ken there alone to come visit.
Ken himself hadn't come back yet to see him, though. Yoji had promised to tell Ran's lover he was sorry. 'So I fuck up and jump off a building, then I fuck up again. Ken is mad at me, Aya wants nothing to do with me and I get stuck with a ceiling for company? I would give anything to have someone to talk to!' he thought, breathing out.
"Ran, are you awake?"
Ran frowned. 'Oh no! Anyone but her!' But obviously no one was listening to his silent plea because the woman walked over, looking down at him.
"You don't look very happy to see me?" Manx said, plainly hurt.
Ran sighed, wishing he could kick her out. But then again, some company was better than none. "Happy…just really tired."
"I see. Well I supposed you wouldn't want another visitor, would you?"
"Do I look like I'm going anywhere?" he asked, seeing the slight smile on the woman's face as she left his vision.
Ran's eyes slid closed as he sighed. 'Anyway, do I really have choice if I want a visitor or not? All of you just treat me like a helpless doll!'
'You did it to yourself!' his conscious threw back.
He growled, wishing his inner voice wasn't such a smart ass sometimes. 'Hush you!'
"Ran?"
Violet eyes flew open as he looked up into deep blue. This was a voice that he never thought he would hear again.
"A-Aya?"
She nodded, brushing back dark locks as a frown crossed her lip, looking down at her brother. "What
happened to you?" she whispered.
"Accident", Ran answered quickly, his eyes darting away from hers. The last thing he wanted to do was tell her why he had ended up like this. "Don't worry…"
"I do worry."
Ran looked up at his sister, confusion plain in his eyes.
"I suppose I was being childish, but I have come to realize a few things." There was a pause. "I'm not happy that you never came
for me! I'm very upset that…Ran I thought you were dead!" she cried, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I just saw you standing there and, I guess I freaked. All I could think was that you had lied to me and I wanted to blame someone. You were the only one I could hate!"
Ran wanted to comfort her, but there was nothing he could do.
"Aya…I'm sorry."
She couldn't help but laugh, brushing away the remaining tears. "For what? Being deceived? Not knowing I was alive, like you were? Please. I will get over that, but you…" There was a pause. "I spoke to the doctor before I came in. He said you jumped off a building."
"Maybe." Ran answered, his eyes closing.
Aya looked at Manx for a moment, seeing her nod. "I will be outside if you need me." With that, the redhead walked out.
There was silence for a moment, and then the door closed. "Why did you do it, Ran?" she whispered.
He didn't answer.
"Is it…was it because of me? Did you jump because I turned my back on you, Ran?"
His eyes opened slowly, once again looking up at his younger sister, but he said nothing.
"It was because of me, wasn't it?"
"I don't want…to talk about this", Ran finally said.
Aya just looked down, shaking her head. Ran knew she was crying again, and he hated himself for doing this to her. "Don't...please."
"Then tell me the truth!" she yelled, the tears running down her cheeks. "Tell me why you did it. Tell me why you jumped. Tell me why you did what you did. That's all I ever wanted Ran, all I ever needed from you was the truth", Aya whimpered, brushing her sleeve across her face. "I thought…I thought if we were honest with one another, everything would be ok. But everything's not ok. All this time, all these secrets…"
Ran was confused; he knew she wasn't just talking about him jumping anymore. He had never told her about Kritiker or what he did at night, wearing her name for all that time.
"Aya...What did...that woman...tell...you?"
Aya gasped, placing her hand to her mouth. "Um, nothing! She didn't tell me anything at all!"
"Aya..."
"I wasn't supposed to repeat what I'd heard", Aya murmured, looking at her feet." I don't want to put you in any danger."
"Daijoubu. It won't...leave this room...Right?"
Aya nodded.
"Tell me...what you...know", Ran pleaded.
"I know everything", she whispered. "I know how you paid my bills, how you lived. I know about Kritiker and Manx, what you do with those three other men." A slight smile crossed her lip, but it was full of pain. "I think I even know why you jumped, but that is only a suspicion. I know, but I only know bits and pieces. I want to forgive you, Ran, but in order for me to do that, you have to do something for me."
Ran knew he would regret this, but he couldn't stop himself from asking.
"What?"
"Tell me everything", Aya answered. "From the moment I was put into a coma till now. I need to know everything. Why you did what you did, why you jumped…all of it."
Ran sighed, knowing that was what she wanted.
"It would take…long time."
Tapping her brother's cast, Aya smiled. "You're not going anywhere any time soon!"
Ran couldn't help but let a ghost of a smile slip at that remark. "True." He sighed, closing his eyes, and wishing he'd lost his voice in addition to everything else. He didn't want to recall the faces of all the people he'd killed, or relive the pain he'd endured these last few years.
"It's okay, Ran. Take your time", Aya said gently, dabbing at her brothers wet eyes with a tissue.
"Memories are...these are too...painful, and...speaking is...difficult", Ran explained.
Aya looked at him, nodding in understanding. "I'm not surprised, seeing that your head is wrapped up in that body cast, too."
"Doctor can not...believe damage to brain...not worse."
Aya leaned in to kiss her brother's forehead. "I'm just happy you're alive."
Ran smiled, then sighed. "Aya. That night....when we lost our...parents...When I lost you, my...my world...caved in around me and...I...vowed to avenge...you."
Aya turned away, biting her lip. How could she have been so angry at the brother that loved her? A man that lived (and almost died) for her for so long. A man that now lay broken and immobile because she had turned him away.
"Aya..."
"I'm okay, Ran", Aya sniffed, coming back into her brother's view. "Did you...did you avenge us, like you wanted to?"
"Yes...I did", Ran answered, a faint smile crossing his lips for only a brief flicker of a moment. "And then...when I saw...you...I was so...happy. Thought I had family...again..."
"Oh, Ran! I'm so sorry!" Aya cried, bending over to kiss her brother's forehead. Now it was she who wanted to comfort him. She wanted to hold him, and reassure him that he wasn't alone. But for now, this was all that she could do for Ran.
"But you are...here now...with me. Arigato", Ran smiled up at his sister."
Aya wiped Ran's eyes, then her own. "Yes. Yes, I-"
"What the hell are you trying to do to him?! Bitch!"
Ran's face lit up. "Ken is...here!"
"Who's Ken?" Aya asked. "That crazy man yelling out in the hallway?"
"Hai", Ran laughed. He's my...teammate and my...lover."
"Your lover?" Aya's eyes became wide. "You mean you're gay, too?"
"Are...you really surprised?"
"Um, I guess not."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Ken, it wasn't my decision to keep Weiss active", Manx said calmly. "I was furious that they would want you to continue."
"You were?"
"I was. In fact, if you go into Ran's room, you will see that I took the initiative to make things right."
Opening the door, Ken looked back suspiciously at Manx.
"It's really okay, Ken", the woman smiled. "Just be sure to give Aya a ride home, okay?" And with that, Manx turned and walked out.
"Give Aya...?" Ken was hit with a rush of surprise and happiness at what he saw when he looked into the room. Brother and sister, reunited.
"You must be Ken", Aya greeted him warmly. "I am Aya, Ran's sister. Hajimemashite."
"Hajimemashite", Ken returned the greeting, still in shock.
"Ken..."
"Yes, Ran. I'm here." Ken walked up to his lover, noting Aya wiping at his eyes. "Have you been crying again? You've been so weepy lately. It's not like you."
"I have my...sister...back. And you...have returned", Ran explained. "I am happy this...time. I cried before...because I was...I was foolish to jump. But I'd lost...my family and I learned...I might not...walk again...I blamed you when you...did nothing...nothing wrong. I am sorry...Ken...So sorry. Glad you both...are here now." Ran closed his eyes contentedly.
"Nani? You may not walk? Ever again?" Aya didn't want to believe what she had just heard. "Is this true?"
Ken nodded. "That's what the doctor says. But I think he's wrong. Ran has enough of a fighting spirit that I know he'll walk again one day."
Ran opened his eyes again, looking up at the dark haired man. "You always believed...in me. I am...I am..."
"I know, Ran", Ken smiled down at him. "I forgive you."
Ran sighed. For the first time in a very long time, he was truly happy. He couldn't help but think that maybe things would work out after all. But he still had a long way to go before he was better.
~~~~~~~~~~
Three weeks later:
Ken walked into the hospital, nodding to the nurses as he passed. He was hoping Aya was already there. She had promised to be. Today was the day Ran finally came home, and Ken knew the redhead was happy about that. Ran had never liked hospitals and he was beginning to complain about the view. 'Well I guess a ceiling does get boring after awhile', Ken thought, pushing open the door to the room. "Ohayo!"
"Ken!" The young girl bounced over to Ken, a smile already in place. "Ran is so happy to be going home, he's actually being hospitable!" she joked, as Ken hugged her, then walked over to see his lover.
Ran smiled up at him, as he leaned over to kiss the pale cheek.
"Doctor said you can leave in a few hours. We have to finish up all the paper work."
"Finally", Ran whispered.
Aya couldn't help but smile. She really liked Ken. He was gentle and caring and truly loved her brother. She could also tell that Ran really loved him as well.
"I'll be back!"
"Where are you going?"
Aya just smiled. "Hungry! Want me to bring you something back up?"
"Sure!"
With that, the dark haired girl ran out of the room.
Ken turned back, looking at his poor lover.
"Glad you're here", Ran whispered.
"Yeah, I have missed you too, koi."
They had taken the cast off Ran's head, but had kept a brace on his neck. Ran could move his head a bit, but the doctor had
warned him to be careful.
"Yoji and Omi are waiting at home", Ken informed Ran.
"Okay."
"Oh yeah! That reminds me! Manx called. Said she would be back in a few days to talk to us. She didn't tell me what it was about."
The redhead just frowned.
"Don't get all worried about it. She's trying to help us out", Ken reassured him.
Ran just continued to frown. "Don't care."
"She brought your sister back to you, love." Ken answered, tapping the tip of Ran's nose. "Be nice...unless she really pisses us off."
Ran just sighed, giving in to his lover.
~~~~~~~~~~
Three days later:
Yoji sighed as he was once again swamped with customers.
"Come on, Ken..." he growled under his breath.
Right now, he was alone in the shop. Omi was at school, and though Aya did try to help, she had school as well. Ran obviously was out of action and Ken had to go check up on him every hour or so. It wasn't working.
"Sorry!" Ken ran back into the flower shop, helping the first customer that he reached.
The eldest Weiss just shrugged. "It's fine. I was just wondering what was taking so long."
"Ran needed...help."
Yoji decided he didn't really need any more information than that. Once the rush had past, he walked over to Ken.
"You know, this isn't working out very well."
"I know."
Green met dark brown. Yoji could tell it upset Ken that they had to continue working. "Didn't Manx say something about getting us help?"
Ken nodded. "Like some in-home nurse or something. She would stay with Ran while we worked."
"Missions too?"
Ken shrugged. "I don't know if the woman works for Kritiker. Manx just mentioned it, and I know that Ran was dead set against it."
Yoji shook his head. "He doesn't really have a choice right now."
"You're very right about that."
The two men turned, looking at Manx.
"You can not take care of Ran and work at the same time. But I think I have your solution."
Ken sighed, then nodded. "Fine. I'll listen."
Manx just smiled as a woman walked up behind her. "I want to you meet the woman who will be taking care of Ran."
Yoji and Ken exchanged a look, both shaking their heads.
"Poor woman doesn't know what she's in for", Yoji chuckled.
Ken shot him a look. "He's pretty helpless right now, Yoji."
"He can still use his mouth."
"Yes. That he can", Ken grinned.
"I didn't mean it like that!"
Manx cleared her throat. "Excuse me?"
Both men turned, as the woman standing next to Manx spoke up.
"I am Yazaki Reina. Glad to be of service", the woman smiled, bowing.
Ken looked her over. She was shorter, with a solid build and graying hair.
"She looks like somebody's mother, and she's acting pleasant enough", Ken tried to reassure himself. "So why am I so uneasy around her?"
Manx nodded. "That's right."
"You also told me he had died." Aya's eyes narrowed. "He asked you to lie for him. Why didn't he want to see me?"
"It isn't as black and white as that", Manx sighed. "Ran very much wanted you in his life. He loved you and missed you. I can't count the number of times he literally almost died for you."
"I don't understand."
"Come with me." Manx put an arm around the young woman. "I've told the school that there has been a family emergency. You're excused for the day."
"What's going on? Tell me!" Aya demanded, as the two women made their way to the exit.
"We're going to my home. There, I will tell you some things about your brother that should clear up your confusion."
"I don't give a damn about Ran!" Aya scowled.
"Don't say that!" Manx snapped. Taking a breath, she continued in a calmer tone. "What I am going to tell you is in the strictest confidence. You are not to repeat a word of it to anyone. Not even Ran. Do you understand?"
Aya nodded vaguely. "I guess..."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Are you thirsty, Ran?", Omi asked cheerily. "I brought you a juice."
"Mmm." Ran sighed, obediently opening his mouth to drink as Omi put the straw in.
"Is that good?" Omi took the straw out of Ran's mouth, allowing his friend to answer.
"It's sour."
"You sure that's not your mood you're tasting?", Yoji asked, standing up.
Ran glared at the ceiling for a moment, then became silent.
"Ran..."
"Is...is Ken...coming...today?"
"I can't answer for him, Ran", Yoji replied, looking down.
"Oh...well..." biting his lip, Ran struggled to keep his emotions in check. It had been three days since Ken had come to see him. Three days since Ran had pushed him away.
"Ken...he saved me. Loved me. I only...only broke...bones. If he...hadn't...come, I would...have been found the...the next day. By a student...maybe. A stranger. Would have felt...so foolish. Alive, broken...and foolish. My own...doing."
"You're finally making sense", Yoji nodded in agreement.
"Yoji-kun!"
"What?"
"Please...tell Ken..." Ran stopped, his chin quivering.
"We're not used to seeing you cry so much, Ran-kun", Omi commented, wiping the moisture from Ran's eyes.
"I only cry for...Ken. Tell him...tell him I'm...sorry."
"Why don't you go tell him yourself?", Yoji grinned, playfully touching Ran on the nose.
"You're not funny!" Ran glared.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Wow!" was all that Aya could say for several minutes.
"You okay?" Manx asked, waving a hand in front of Aya's dazed face.
"I wouldn't have believed it if you hadn't shown me the files", Aya finally said. "My brother was an-"
"Yes. He was", Manx interrupted. "And you're never to speak of this to anyone. For your own safety, and Ran's as well."
"Don't worry about me. I'm good with secrets", Aya laughed nervously. "Well, I guess I better be going home now", she decided, standing up.
Manx shook her head. "There is one more place I want to take you before you go."
*
Aya looked from Manx to the hospital once again. "I'm not very comfortable in places like this", she whispered.
"That is understandable", Manx answered. "But there is something I want to show you, and it is in there." She saw Ran's sister hesitate, then sigh, nodding her head.
"Thank you, Aya."
They walked into the building and she followed the older woman into the elevator. "What are you showing me?" she asked.
Manx didn't respond.
"Ok, look. I can accept what Ran did and I can accept that you want to show me…something. But I want to know what all this is about."
"If I told you, you never would have come."
The doors to the elevator slid open and Manx walked out, turning to look at the young woman standing in the elevator.
"Are you coming?"
Aya kept her gaze on the floor for a moment longer before looking up at the redhead.
"This has to do with Ran, doesn't it?"
Dark blue eyes met green but no words were spoken for a moment. Aya finally looked away.
"I know it does, why else would you bring me here?"
"We made a mistake when you awoke. We never told Ran."
They just stood there for a moment longer.
Manx finally sighed. "If you want to blame someone, blame me. But never blame him."
Nodding, she stepped out of the elevator, looking around for a moment.
"Answer one question…why didn't you tell Ran that I had woken up? Why didn't he come for me?"
"He didn't come for you because he didn't know", Manx answered once again. "And he didn't know because we never told him."
"Why?"
Manx shrugged. "At the time, I guess we believed it was the right thing to do." She started down the hall, stopping after a few steps to look back at the young woman. "We are human. Unfortunately, we are far from perfect."
Aya looked up at Manx, breathing out.
"You can't live your life blaming someone who doesn't deserve to be blamed. That is what makes humans more than simple beasts, we can forgive and be forgiven."
"Forgive…" Aya whispered.
Manx simply nodded.
"Will you take me to my brother?"
The redhead turned, once again walking down the hall. This time, the dark haired girl followed.
*
Ran breathed out, staring up at the ceiling. It really was a boring thing to do, but in his present state it was all he really could do. His two teammates had left awhile ago, saying they had to go back to the shop. They had left Ken there alone to come visit.
Ken himself hadn't come back yet to see him, though. Yoji had promised to tell Ran's lover he was sorry. 'So I fuck up and jump off a building, then I fuck up again. Ken is mad at me, Aya wants nothing to do with me and I get stuck with a ceiling for company? I would give anything to have someone to talk to!' he thought, breathing out.
"Ran, are you awake?"
Ran frowned. 'Oh no! Anyone but her!' But obviously no one was listening to his silent plea because the woman walked over, looking down at him.
"You don't look very happy to see me?" Manx said, plainly hurt.
Ran sighed, wishing he could kick her out. But then again, some company was better than none. "Happy…just really tired."
"I see. Well I supposed you wouldn't want another visitor, would you?"
"Do I look like I'm going anywhere?" he asked, seeing the slight smile on the woman's face as she left his vision.
Ran's eyes slid closed as he sighed. 'Anyway, do I really have choice if I want a visitor or not? All of you just treat me like a helpless doll!'
'You did it to yourself!' his conscious threw back.
He growled, wishing his inner voice wasn't such a smart ass sometimes. 'Hush you!'
"Ran?"
Violet eyes flew open as he looked up into deep blue. This was a voice that he never thought he would hear again.
"A-Aya?"
She nodded, brushing back dark locks as a frown crossed her lip, looking down at her brother. "What
happened to you?" she whispered.
"Accident", Ran answered quickly, his eyes darting away from hers. The last thing he wanted to do was tell her why he had ended up like this. "Don't worry…"
"I do worry."
Ran looked up at his sister, confusion plain in his eyes.
"I suppose I was being childish, but I have come to realize a few things." There was a pause. "I'm not happy that you never came
for me! I'm very upset that…Ran I thought you were dead!" she cried, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I just saw you standing there and, I guess I freaked. All I could think was that you had lied to me and I wanted to blame someone. You were the only one I could hate!"
Ran wanted to comfort her, but there was nothing he could do.
"Aya…I'm sorry."
She couldn't help but laugh, brushing away the remaining tears. "For what? Being deceived? Not knowing I was alive, like you were? Please. I will get over that, but you…" There was a pause. "I spoke to the doctor before I came in. He said you jumped off a building."
"Maybe." Ran answered, his eyes closing.
Aya looked at Manx for a moment, seeing her nod. "I will be outside if you need me." With that, the redhead walked out.
There was silence for a moment, and then the door closed. "Why did you do it, Ran?" she whispered.
He didn't answer.
"Is it…was it because of me? Did you jump because I turned my back on you, Ran?"
His eyes opened slowly, once again looking up at his younger sister, but he said nothing.
"It was because of me, wasn't it?"
"I don't want…to talk about this", Ran finally said.
Aya just looked down, shaking her head. Ran knew she was crying again, and he hated himself for doing this to her. "Don't...please."
"Then tell me the truth!" she yelled, the tears running down her cheeks. "Tell me why you did it. Tell me why you jumped. Tell me why you did what you did. That's all I ever wanted Ran, all I ever needed from you was the truth", Aya whimpered, brushing her sleeve across her face. "I thought…I thought if we were honest with one another, everything would be ok. But everything's not ok. All this time, all these secrets…"
Ran was confused; he knew she wasn't just talking about him jumping anymore. He had never told her about Kritiker or what he did at night, wearing her name for all that time.
"Aya...What did...that woman...tell...you?"
Aya gasped, placing her hand to her mouth. "Um, nothing! She didn't tell me anything at all!"
"Aya..."
"I wasn't supposed to repeat what I'd heard", Aya murmured, looking at her feet." I don't want to put you in any danger."
"Daijoubu. It won't...leave this room...Right?"
Aya nodded.
"Tell me...what you...know", Ran pleaded.
"I know everything", she whispered. "I know how you paid my bills, how you lived. I know about Kritiker and Manx, what you do with those three other men." A slight smile crossed her lip, but it was full of pain. "I think I even know why you jumped, but that is only a suspicion. I know, but I only know bits and pieces. I want to forgive you, Ran, but in order for me to do that, you have to do something for me."
Ran knew he would regret this, but he couldn't stop himself from asking.
"What?"
"Tell me everything", Aya answered. "From the moment I was put into a coma till now. I need to know everything. Why you did what you did, why you jumped…all of it."
Ran sighed, knowing that was what she wanted.
"It would take…long time."
Tapping her brother's cast, Aya smiled. "You're not going anywhere any time soon!"
Ran couldn't help but let a ghost of a smile slip at that remark. "True." He sighed, closing his eyes, and wishing he'd lost his voice in addition to everything else. He didn't want to recall the faces of all the people he'd killed, or relive the pain he'd endured these last few years.
"It's okay, Ran. Take your time", Aya said gently, dabbing at her brothers wet eyes with a tissue.
"Memories are...these are too...painful, and...speaking is...difficult", Ran explained.
Aya looked at him, nodding in understanding. "I'm not surprised, seeing that your head is wrapped up in that body cast, too."
"Doctor can not...believe damage to brain...not worse."
Aya leaned in to kiss her brother's forehead. "I'm just happy you're alive."
Ran smiled, then sighed. "Aya. That night....when we lost our...parents...When I lost you, my...my world...caved in around me and...I...vowed to avenge...you."
Aya turned away, biting her lip. How could she have been so angry at the brother that loved her? A man that lived (and almost died) for her for so long. A man that now lay broken and immobile because she had turned him away.
"Aya..."
"I'm okay, Ran", Aya sniffed, coming back into her brother's view. "Did you...did you avenge us, like you wanted to?"
"Yes...I did", Ran answered, a faint smile crossing his lips for only a brief flicker of a moment. "And then...when I saw...you...I was so...happy. Thought I had family...again..."
"Oh, Ran! I'm so sorry!" Aya cried, bending over to kiss her brother's forehead. Now it was she who wanted to comfort him. She wanted to hold him, and reassure him that he wasn't alone. But for now, this was all that she could do for Ran.
"But you are...here now...with me. Arigato", Ran smiled up at his sister."
Aya wiped Ran's eyes, then her own. "Yes. Yes, I-"
"What the hell are you trying to do to him?! Bitch!"
Ran's face lit up. "Ken is...here!"
"Who's Ken?" Aya asked. "That crazy man yelling out in the hallway?"
"Hai", Ran laughed. He's my...teammate and my...lover."
"Your lover?" Aya's eyes became wide. "You mean you're gay, too?"
"Are...you really surprised?"
"Um, I guess not."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Ken, it wasn't my decision to keep Weiss active", Manx said calmly. "I was furious that they would want you to continue."
"You were?"
"I was. In fact, if you go into Ran's room, you will see that I took the initiative to make things right."
Opening the door, Ken looked back suspiciously at Manx.
"It's really okay, Ken", the woman smiled. "Just be sure to give Aya a ride home, okay?" And with that, Manx turned and walked out.
"Give Aya...?" Ken was hit with a rush of surprise and happiness at what he saw when he looked into the room. Brother and sister, reunited.
"You must be Ken", Aya greeted him warmly. "I am Aya, Ran's sister. Hajimemashite."
"Hajimemashite", Ken returned the greeting, still in shock.
"Ken..."
"Yes, Ran. I'm here." Ken walked up to his lover, noting Aya wiping at his eyes. "Have you been crying again? You've been so weepy lately. It's not like you."
"I have my...sister...back. And you...have returned", Ran explained. "I am happy this...time. I cried before...because I was...I was foolish to jump. But I'd lost...my family and I learned...I might not...walk again...I blamed you when you...did nothing...nothing wrong. I am sorry...Ken...So sorry. Glad you both...are here now." Ran closed his eyes contentedly.
"Nani? You may not walk? Ever again?" Aya didn't want to believe what she had just heard. "Is this true?"
Ken nodded. "That's what the doctor says. But I think he's wrong. Ran has enough of a fighting spirit that I know he'll walk again one day."
Ran opened his eyes again, looking up at the dark haired man. "You always believed...in me. I am...I am..."
"I know, Ran", Ken smiled down at him. "I forgive you."
Ran sighed. For the first time in a very long time, he was truly happy. He couldn't help but think that maybe things would work out after all. But he still had a long way to go before he was better.
~~~~~~~~~~
Three weeks later:
Ken walked into the hospital, nodding to the nurses as he passed. He was hoping Aya was already there. She had promised to be. Today was the day Ran finally came home, and Ken knew the redhead was happy about that. Ran had never liked hospitals and he was beginning to complain about the view. 'Well I guess a ceiling does get boring after awhile', Ken thought, pushing open the door to the room. "Ohayo!"
"Ken!" The young girl bounced over to Ken, a smile already in place. "Ran is so happy to be going home, he's actually being hospitable!" she joked, as Ken hugged her, then walked over to see his lover.
Ran smiled up at him, as he leaned over to kiss the pale cheek.
"Doctor said you can leave in a few hours. We have to finish up all the paper work."
"Finally", Ran whispered.
Aya couldn't help but smile. She really liked Ken. He was gentle and caring and truly loved her brother. She could also tell that Ran really loved him as well.
"I'll be back!"
"Where are you going?"
Aya just smiled. "Hungry! Want me to bring you something back up?"
"Sure!"
With that, the dark haired girl ran out of the room.
Ken turned back, looking at his poor lover.
"Glad you're here", Ran whispered.
"Yeah, I have missed you too, koi."
They had taken the cast off Ran's head, but had kept a brace on his neck. Ran could move his head a bit, but the doctor had
warned him to be careful.
"Yoji and Omi are waiting at home", Ken informed Ran.
"Okay."
"Oh yeah! That reminds me! Manx called. Said she would be back in a few days to talk to us. She didn't tell me what it was about."
The redhead just frowned.
"Don't get all worried about it. She's trying to help us out", Ken reassured him.
Ran just continued to frown. "Don't care."
"She brought your sister back to you, love." Ken answered, tapping the tip of Ran's nose. "Be nice...unless she really pisses us off."
Ran just sighed, giving in to his lover.
~~~~~~~~~~
Three days later:
Yoji sighed as he was once again swamped with customers.
"Come on, Ken..." he growled under his breath.
Right now, he was alone in the shop. Omi was at school, and though Aya did try to help, she had school as well. Ran obviously was out of action and Ken had to go check up on him every hour or so. It wasn't working.
"Sorry!" Ken ran back into the flower shop, helping the first customer that he reached.
The eldest Weiss just shrugged. "It's fine. I was just wondering what was taking so long."
"Ran needed...help."
Yoji decided he didn't really need any more information than that. Once the rush had past, he walked over to Ken.
"You know, this isn't working out very well."
"I know."
Green met dark brown. Yoji could tell it upset Ken that they had to continue working. "Didn't Manx say something about getting us help?"
Ken nodded. "Like some in-home nurse or something. She would stay with Ran while we worked."
"Missions too?"
Ken shrugged. "I don't know if the woman works for Kritiker. Manx just mentioned it, and I know that Ran was dead set against it."
Yoji shook his head. "He doesn't really have a choice right now."
"You're very right about that."
The two men turned, looking at Manx.
"You can not take care of Ran and work at the same time. But I think I have your solution."
Ken sighed, then nodded. "Fine. I'll listen."
Manx just smiled as a woman walked up behind her. "I want to you meet the woman who will be taking care of Ran."
Yoji and Ken exchanged a look, both shaking their heads.
"Poor woman doesn't know what she's in for", Yoji chuckled.
Ken shot him a look. "He's pretty helpless right now, Yoji."
"He can still use his mouth."
"Yes. That he can", Ken grinned.
"I didn't mean it like that!"
Manx cleared her throat. "Excuse me?"
Both men turned, as the woman standing next to Manx spoke up.
"I am Yazaki Reina. Glad to be of service", the woman smiled, bowing.
Ken looked her over. She was shorter, with a solid build and graying hair.
"She looks like somebody's mother, and she's acting pleasant enough", Ken tried to reassure himself. "So why am I so uneasy around her?"