Dead silence filled the room. Youji stepped backwards away from Manx, who had been looking at him. "I swear to god that I have never seen that girl before in my life." Manx shook her head. "I know you haven't Youji, I know who the babies father is. That may be a problem later on, but for now we have one very large problem. The girl has physic abilities. And Swartz knows about her and they want her to join them. Her sister has just become a member of Swartz." Manx stopped at the looks that were appearing on the guys' faces. Aya looked the way he always did, Omi looked very confused, Youji looked very relieved and Ken looked thoughtful. Ken broke the silence that had fallen over the group since he last spoke. "So who's the father? Schuldrich or Crawford?"
Manx stepped back. "That is for Cat to tell you, not me. As for tonight, I'd suggest that you go off and do what ever you are planning on doing, but at least two of you will not leave this complex at all. The babies' father does not know about the baby yet, but chances are high that he will learn of it tonight. If anything happens you do know where you can contact me? Ken, come over to the other side of the shop for a moment." Manx departed for the other side of the store, while Ken trailed behind her. Youji immeaditly made it know that he was going out before departing to get ready. Over next to the window, Manx turned to regard Ken. "So Ken, how did you know about Cats, a-hem, condition?" One of her eyebrows delicately arched toward her hairline. Ken blushed. "I put her in my room and went to get her a glass of water. I walked back in on her as she was pulling on my T-shirt. I didn't mean to but I couldn't help but noticing. I'd say that she is about 4 or 5 months along." Manx nodded. "It's more about 5 or 6 months along. That's when she was here last. I was researching a mission for you guys and I stumbled across her and her sister. But you don't know this. Now, its almost 9 and I'm sure that you have stuff that you would like to do. I have to get going. Birman needs to know about this too." Manx smiled at Ken and turned to leave. She stopped suddenly serious. "Take good care of her for me ok? She is very important to m.. Weiss." Manx waved at Aya and Omi who suddenly were busying them selves with the counter and almost ran out the door, narrowly avoiding collision with a tall man in dark clothing who melted into the shadows. Aya did a double take and ran after her out the door. Looking up and down the street he could only see Manx walking away.
He closed the door quietly and shook his head thoughtfully. He looked up to see Omi and Ken both staring at him. "What?" he asked. "You act like you have never seen anyone run and look out a door before." Omi just shook his head and departed heading for his apartment. Ken grinned. "Who or what did you see?" Aya just shook his head and went back to the counter resuming what he had been doing before. Ken locked the door and headed for the stairs. At the door, he paused. "It was one of them. Wasn't it?" Aya nodded, not needing to ask whom Ken meant by 'them'. "I thought so. Well I'm off to watch over Bengal" Ken walked up the stairs, humming thoughtfully.
Aya looked out through windows from where he was, certain that the figure would be back. After several minuets of watching he was rewarded by another glimpse. "Well" he said softly. "That certainly clears up who the father is. Schuldich wouldn't be sulking about here unless he was attacking. Which he most certainly is not." The figure paused, looking in at Aya, looking out. A nod was shared, as Aya lifted up a katana from under the counter to show Schuldich what would happen if he tried anything. The Lanky red head smiled and nodded once more before melting into the shadows. Aya waited and watched, then after a few moment, he watched as Schuldich stumbled out of the shadows, holing his head, then ran down the road.
~~~~
Ken softly opened the door to his rooms wondering how he was going to get his pajamas out of his bedroom, and a pillow or two without waking Cat. He crept to the door of the bedroom to see Cat tossing restlessly one hand waving in the air; the other curled around her head. She whimpered quietly, and Ken became aware of someone behind him. He turned to see Omi looking up at him. "Ken-kun, what's wrong with her? Is she sick?" asked Omi anxiously. Ken shook his head and the two boys turned back to regard the sleeping girl.
~~~~
Cat heard the boy come into the room with something that smelt extremely good, but she was too tired to do anything about it. He left and she quickly dozed off. She fell into a troubled state of dreamlessness. She heard a voice calling her name, as if in a dream.
Cat. Cat I know you can hear me. Cat? Answer me Cat. Cat felt that the voice needed her to respond, so she did.
G'way. She said, knowing the voice would hear her. A raspy chuckle surrounded her.
Cat. We have to talk. It's me, Schuldich. His name sent shock and anger running through her.
Talk all you like I need to sleep. So I am going to ignore you now. Get lost. Cat rolled over and began to slowly wake up.
No, I won't go away. Do you even know what you've done? You're talented and pregnant, with my child I might add, and you joined WEISS. Shculdich's voice was tinged with anger.
Didn't I tell you to get lost? I have nothing to say to you. So why don't you let me sleep. Go away. She sensed someone in the room and moved closer to waking up.
I will not go until you realize the full consequences of what you have done. I am the father of that child Cat, and I want a part in his life. And that means that I get to say where you may or may not stay. Cats subconscious got even more pissed.
Has anyone ever told you that you are a conceited jerk Sculdich? Just because you created this child doesn't mean that you are fit to be a father. You are a murderer and I don't want you having any part in my babies' life. Beside how the hell do you know that its a boy, I say it's a girl, so your wrong you stupid ass. This is my life. Get out of my head. Cat settled back into sleep, although she still tossed and turned and now lifted a hand into the air, trying to push Schuldich away from her.
I'm a murderer? And what the hell are the men you are staying with? What are they, boy scouts? Schuldich returned angrily her statement about him not being fit to be a father still echoing in his mind.
Didn't I tell you to stay out of my head? Get out get out get out! Cat screamed at him mentally.
No, I'll never leave. I'll never leave you alone. Schuldich replied, anger behind his words.
Get the fuck out of my head! Cat cried, and awoke with the words echoing from her lips in English. She was now sitting bolt upright in Ken's' bed. She looked around the room to meet the startled gazes of Ken and Omi, who were both staring at her. She could hear footsteps pounding up the stairs and another set entering the living room.
"Cat?" Asked Omi quietly. "Are you alright?" She nodded, feeling strangely cut off from her emotions. Youji appeared in the doorway, giving her another frank appraisal.
"What happened?" He asked smiling at Cat like a wolf smiles at a baby deer.
"It was.. it was nothing just a dream, a nightmare really." She said, deciding at the last moment not to tell them what had happened - or at least what she thought had happened.
"bullshit" Youji replied harshly, in English. "if it was nothing, then who were you telling to get the fuck out of your head? The truth this time. I can speak English, we all can, it's just that I'm best at it." Cat looked at Ken and Omi who had been following Youji's statement with looks of extreme concentration on their faces; they both nodded at her. Aya appeared behind them katana in hand.
"Where's Schuldich?" He snarled at Cat. "I know he was outside, so where is he now? What did he say to you?" Aya pushed his way past Ken, Omi and Youji, and stalked over to the bed, he held the katana out and Cat found her self with a sharp point at her throat, looking up a long length of metal to Aya's face. She began to feel nausous and knew she was turning white.
"Aya, there is no need to be so harsh." Ken reprimanded. "She's scared as it is, I mean look at her, she looks like she is about to faint." Cat took a deep breath trying to focus on her breathing as her midwife-breathing instructor had often told her.
"She's faking it." Aya spat. Breaking Cats concentration. Cat shook her head and pushed her self back away from the sword tip. Aya simply took another step, and Cat found the tip at her throat again.
"Now – I believe you wear about to tell us where your lover went?"
"He's not my lover" Cat spat feeling her face heat up. "And know where he went. I don't care either. He's gone and that's all that matters. As for what he 'said' that's between him and me. No one else. Now will you get the hell away from me with your bad ass adittude and big sword" (authors note: she's talking about the katana folks…no more, no less ^ - ^.) She pushed the katana away form her throat tiredness and anger making her uncareful, she slit her finger open, almost right down to the bone. Cat stared at her hand as blood spurted from her finger; it was far too much for her to take. All the events of the past few weeks seemed to explode upon her, and she saw red. She shoved Omi away form her where he was trying to stop the bleeding.
Cat climbed out of the bed, headed straight for Aya's throat. He tried to shove her away but she came in past his arms and began to silently throttle him, even though blood made her hands slippery. Omi tried to pry her off, but she shook him off of her without a single glance. Ken and Youji stared in shock; it looked like a scene out of a bad American action movie. Aya was beginning to lose conciseness and he fought harder to get Cat off of him. Looking at her face he noticed that her eyes had glazed over. HE could see no way out of the situation, except to do one thing, Aya freed one hand and slapped Cat, hard. She gasped and her eyes lost the glazed look, she released Aya and staggered backward, her eyes dropping to the finger. At the sight, her eyes rolled back into her head and she dropped to the floor.
Youji crossed his arms and glared at Aya. "Good job. Now she hates you, oh wait, this could definitely be a good thing." Ken picked up Cat and took her to the bathroom where he quickly administered first aid to her finger. He carried her back to the bed and lay her down carefully.
'You won't get any answers form her now Aya. Now can you please all leave so I can go to bed?" Ken asked. Youji slid him a leer.
"And just where I might ask, are you planning to sleep, Ken?" He asked with a wink, "I bet you I can guess, you devil you." Ken sighed and gave Youji the finger. Then finally after a moment the other sall left, one by one, Aya last of all, his face a pale white. He paused at the doorway.
"I really didn't mean to," he said after a moment, "it was just an accident, I didn't expect her to grab the sword…." Ken nodded.
"I know Aya. I'll explain to her, now go ok?" Aya left and Ken sighed. He grabbed his pajamas out of his closet and used them to wipe the blood off of his bed. He looked at the mess and sighed. "Guess I'm doing a laundry tommorrow." Ken went out into the living room, grabbing a spare pillow on the way. He sat on the couch and began to read a book, beginning his silent vigil.
End part 3