Gotterdamerung
(Twilight of the Gods)
Part 3
[Ran]
Jealousy does not sit well with me. Outside, I maintain a mask of calmness for Manx to see but inside I seethe.
Youji never got up early, ever, not until he had a good reason. A very good reason.
And I know that he had a thing for Ken right before Ken and I…well, he had a thing for Ken.
What are you so uptight about? At least Youji is concerned enough to visit him.
Shut up. Damn inner voice!
"Hey there, pretty lady." That would be no other than Youji, he always flirted with Manx. I turn to look at the others who had come in, especially Ken. He seems to be alright if a little pale.
"Oi, Ran! I told you we'd be here in minutes."
"Hn." I'm not in the mood to talk to Youji right now.
"Oh, be quiet Balinese." Manx tells Youji. She turns to Ken. "How are you, Siberian?"
"Fit as a fiddle." I hear Ken's cheerful reply. I want to object to that. Ken always said he was alright. Even when he was sick. Fuck. I have a feeling he'd tell us he was alright even if he was suffering from a dreaded disease.
"That's good. Now, let's all sit down and watch your next mission, ne?"
That's my signal. I pop in the tape Manx handed me and as usual Persia's image appears on the screen.
"White Hunters, we have gained precious information on the crime ring that is spreading the virus in the metropolis. The virus is called Project: Trojan Horse, a virus that can only be contracted through the blood stream. The crime ring is operating through a legitimate medical organization that manufactures medicine - Zeiger Laboratories."
"As of the moment, we do not know the motives of the organization. Only that they are zealously spreading the virus among the population. First it was among the children but now it is getting worse. Reports have been coming in that there are a few adults already infected with Trojan. If this virus is not stopped, Tokyo will have an epidemic on its hands."
"White Hunters, your mission is this: Infiltrate Zeiger Laboratories and steal the virus. Kill off the scientists on the project and erase any trace of it on their databanks. "
The screen changes into a picture of a bewhiskered man.
"Oh. White Hunters -- if you can, trace the whereabouts of Dr. Kanzaki. Kanzaki is the head scientist/doctor in charge of Project: Trojan. It was rumored that he was murdered when he refused to proceed any further with the project but this is just a rumor. He might still be alive and if he is, he might be the person who can find the cure for the virus. White Hunters, hunt down the dark beasts of tomorrow."
"That's the mission, White Hunters. Do you have any questions?"
"Damn, infiltrate a medical facility? That's got to be one hard task."
"Stop whining, Kudou." I snap. But he is right, it's going to be very hard to infiltrate a medical facility.
"Hey, I'll get on the net right away and see what I can learn about Zeiger as well as this Dr. Kanzaki, I hope the man isn't dead yet." Omi can always be counted on to ferret information on the net.
"No need, Omi. I know where Kanzaki is." Ken's voice sounded preoccupied.
"Nani? Are you sure, Ken-kun?"
I cut through Omi's astonishment. "How, Ken?"
"He's been my doctor now for two months or so."
Ken has a doctor? Ken, who has an aversion for hospitals and never goes for check-ups, has a *doctor*? I can feel my brows come together in astonishment and worry. When I look up I see the same look mirrored on both Omi and Youji's faces. I was about to ask how it was possible when Youji beat me to it…
"You have a doctor? I thought you hated any medical attention, Kenken?"
Ken flushes under the question and I can see that he wants to evade the topic. "Well, I decided that I needed a doctor after all. Is anything wrong with that? And don't call me Kenken, Kudou!"
My eyebrows come together in surprise for the second time this day. Ken is being unusually defensive.
"Ken-kun, Youji-kun just asked because he was worried about you. As am I. It *is* strange that you are going to a doctor regularly since you never did that before." Omi soothes Ken.
Ken will apologize now. I know it. It's simply in his nature to do so.
"Gomen nasai, Youji."
Right on the money, Ran. You really know Ken, don't you?
Shut up. I smother my inner voice and listen to Ken.
"Its just that I'm really worried about those people. Damn, first it was children now adults. How can they?"
Aa. Typical Ken, worried about the victims. But somewhere inside me something is telling me that those victims aren't the only things that's bothering Ken. What's bothering you, Ken? I want to ask him but even now I know I won't.
Of course you won't. You're a coward, Fujimiya. A bloody coward.
I have to agree with my inner voice on that count.
"Alright, White Hunters, what is your plan?" Manx is impatient. After all, she didn't come here to see us bicker.
"I think it would be prudent that I go to Dr. Kanzaki first and extract some information before we go into Zeiger."
Ken wastes no time in telling Manx what he thinks we should do first. And to my surprise, Youji responds just behind him.
"I'll go with Ken. He's still a little weak."
I can hear Ken's protests but I don't really focus on it. I am seeing red.
"No need, Kudou. Ken can take care of himself." I tell Youji. Damn if I'm going to let Youji get closer to Ken.
Is that the way it goes then? You promised yourself you wouldn't let him get close to you again so you won't pursue him. But you won't let others pursue him either?
Shut up, shut up! Anyone but Youji. He's a playboy. He'll just break Ken's heart.
Ken's heart or yours if they ever got together?
I don't want to dwell on that. I close my ears instead. I raise challenging eyes to meet Youji's, expecting them to surrender, just as he did long ago. For an instant it seems like he will, as green eyes start to lower. But then in a flash, they raise again, angry defiance in his eyes.
"Well, Chief Shinigami, I am going with Ken just to make sure. And if you don't like that, you can just shove it up your fucking ass."
[Youji]
"I think it would be prudent that I go to Dr. Kanzaki first and extract some information before we go into Zeiger."
"I'll go with Ken. He's still a little weak."
So sue me. I can't help it, he still looks a little pale. OK, Kenken, time to protest.
I smile as Ken does protest. Nothing like living with a person for a good long while to know how they'd react.
"No need, Kudou. Ken can take care of himself."
Of course *Ran* would react. I raise my eyes to meet his and see the challenge in the purple eyes. Out of habit, my eyes start to lower in surrender, like they did in the past. After all, I knew Ken loved Ran and vice-versa so I always gave way to Ran…
Shit! Why do I do this? I gave way to Ran before and look what turned out with Ken…Ken left Weiss hurt and broken. Not that I know the details, everything that transpired would remain between Ken and Ran.
He doesn't deserve Ken, not one bit, not if he can't even let himself show Ken how he cares for him.
Oh, I know you care, Ran, even if you always hide it. I have eyes too and I can see how you look at him when he's not looking. And how you're trying to suppress your emotions.
I also know how much you want to strangle me right now. Well, fuck you. You don't have the right to bar me anymore, not after what you did two years ago. I have as much right to be worried about Ken as you do. I'm not going to back down, not now.
"Well, Chief Shinigami, I am going with Ken just to make sure. And if you don't like that, you can just shove it up your fucking ass."
Let's see you swallow that, Chief Shinigami.
[Omi]
I can't believe it…Ran-kun and Youji-kun are having a glare-off over who was going to go with Ken-kun to the doctor? I've never ever heard of anything so petty…I roll my eyes. And they call me a child!
I look at one then another, gauging what to do. I don't think either of them will back down. What about Ken-kun? I turn in his direction and see a confused expression on his pale face.
This really isn't the time for them to do this, this…whatever it is they're doing…we have a mission on our hands.
An idea comes into my head and I try to ease into it tentatively.
"Anou…why don't we all go with Ken-kun, then?" Purple and green glares fasten on me at my words and I shift my weight, uncomfortable beneath their heavy regard. "I mean, if Ken-kun's doctor is the Dr. Kanzaki we are looking for, it would be a good idea for everyone to go wouldn't it? That way the information is passed on to everyone."
"A very good suggestion, Bombay!" Manx-san seconds my thought, materializing from out of the shadows she had faded into when Youji-kun and Ran-kun had started glaring at each other. Now she speaks…I never took Manx-san for a coward. I have half a mind to glare at her myself for leaving me to deal with this but I stop it. I might be the youngest but that doesn't mean I'm the most childish even if I, more than anyone else, have the right to it.
"I think all of the White Hunters should go with Siberian. Persia would say the same."
I nod vigorously, anxious to convince the others.
Ken-kun scratches his head. He looks confused. "If you think so, Manx. But I can't understand why I can't go alone."
Wai! I want to kick Ken-kun for that comment. Can't he feel the tension between Ran-kun and Youji-kun? Sometimes Ken-kun can be so naïve.
"Because, Siberian," Manx pinned Ken-kun with a sharp pointed look. "It would be more efficient to have everyone there. That way everyone can hear what the doctor is saying firsthand."
If there is a God out there, He should take pity on me and not let Ken-kun speak. I cross my fingers.
"Aa."
There is a God! I exchange a relieved look with Manx.
"Well, why don't we go then?" I exclaim brightly, too brightly, but I don't care, all I want to do is to get out of here. I pull Ken-kun to his feet and up the stairs, glancing down to see if the others followed. Ran-kun and Youji-kun were following behind us still glaring at each other.
Hoo boy! This is going to be a long day.