[Nothing to do with Rain]
Chapter 3: Schwarz
In the park, Nagi and Ken sit on a bench. Apart.
Nagi sits on one end, the agitated look lingering in his face. He slumps to one side, leaning his head on his hand. As he waits for a conversation to commence, he plays around with the scrunched piece of paper he had picked up earlier on. Controlling effortlessly, he frightens others in the park as they see his eyes tracing the path of movement of the paper. They think, what is he doing? Is it some kind of magic? But they don't know the power this young teenager has. Hardly anyone does.
Ken sits on the other end. His legs are apart and he leans forward to rest his arms on his thighs. Still considering whether he should let his guard down against this Schwarz member, he looks at Nagi from time to time, making sure that he isn't going to be the victim of an ambush. He realises that he has not brought his bugnucks with him. If Nagi was to start a fight, there would definitely be no chance for him to escape alive. Nervously, Ken cracks his knuckles and sniffs a couple of times. He notices the gap between him and Nagi. Wide and empty, the gap represents too many things- age difference, enemies, difference in beliefs, being unable to understand each other...
Too many things.
A soft wind blows against their faces, but it is not noticed, because more important matters are at hand. Discouraged, the gentle breeze dies out as quickly as it had begun. Nothing is changed, still. After many minutes, still, they do not interact. Countless numbers of people have passed them by- some of them cycling, or roller-blading, or jogging, or simply strolling... But nothing happens. All remains. For a while, this peace appears to be beneficial; to the both of them and to everyone else. But concealed behind this 'peace' is something ugly, foreshadowing a heated argument? Or a fatal battle?
And suddenly, as if it were fated, the same question arises in both their minds. For each other. Ken wants to know because Omi had asked him a similar question before. For Nagi...he doesn't know. Having an excruciating and horrible childhood, and comparing himself to this 'fortunate' 19-year old, he cannot imagine why Ken would do what he does. Both glance at each other and the question is blurted out. Twice.
"Why do you kill?"
For a second, they are shocked that for once, both of them have the same thought at the same time. Quickly recovering, Nagi elaborates, his tone provocative, and to Ken, ruthless as well.
"According to Schuldig, you were a soccer player, in the J-League. You were happy, with a girlfriend, and with a buddy whom you thought you could trust. Why give it up? You seem to be really stupid to have given up all that just to kill."
"No, I don't kill because I want to. I..."
"What, that boss of yours forces you to kill?" Nagi laughs. "That is pathetic."
"That's not true. I joined Weiß to...to find out who framed me."
"Framed you?!" Again, he laughs, a pitying but mocking tone emerges. "Aw, that must be sad. I feel really sorry for you."
"You have to be so sarcastic about everything, don't you?!"
"I'm like that. Too bad."
"..."
The silence Ken gives creeps into Nagi. Into his conscience. Somewhere, something makes Nagi feel just slightly sorry for what he had said. Trying to cover up his 'mistake', Nagi changes the subject. Unsuccessfully.
"You found him yet?"
"Yeah, quite some time ago..."
"So why do you still kill?"
"I don't...I don't know. I'm not sure."
Nagi almost aims another sarcastic remark at Ken, but again, something makes him withdraw. He tries to say something in return, but nothing comes to his mind. Instead, the conversation is abruptly closed. He resumes to playing around with his piece of paper. However, it is hard for him to concentrate; thoughts keep attacking wildly at his mind. Thoughts about the question, thoughts about what goes on in Ken's head, thoughts about his life, thoughts about Schwarz...
Nagi is frustrated again. He finds his emotions getting harder and harder to control. Does he realise the puberty stage he is going through? Probably not.
His knitted eyebrows and clenched fists indirectly cause the paper to scrunch up. As he realises he is becoming too angry and releases the tension inside him, the paper opens up again and hovers in front of him.
Ken quietly watches all this, seeing that the paper is a representation of Nagi's emotions. He is amazed and a small smile forms on his face.
Neither of them bother to see the words written on the piece of paper.
-owari-
Chapter 3: Schwarz
In the park, Nagi and Ken sit on a bench. Apart.
Nagi sits on one end, the agitated look lingering in his face. He slumps to one side, leaning his head on his hand. As he waits for a conversation to commence, he plays around with the scrunched piece of paper he had picked up earlier on. Controlling effortlessly, he frightens others in the park as they see his eyes tracing the path of movement of the paper. They think, what is he doing? Is it some kind of magic? But they don't know the power this young teenager has. Hardly anyone does.
Ken sits on the other end. His legs are apart and he leans forward to rest his arms on his thighs. Still considering whether he should let his guard down against this Schwarz member, he looks at Nagi from time to time, making sure that he isn't going to be the victim of an ambush. He realises that he has not brought his bugnucks with him. If Nagi was to start a fight, there would definitely be no chance for him to escape alive. Nervously, Ken cracks his knuckles and sniffs a couple of times. He notices the gap between him and Nagi. Wide and empty, the gap represents too many things- age difference, enemies, difference in beliefs, being unable to understand each other...
Too many things.
A soft wind blows against their faces, but it is not noticed, because more important matters are at hand. Discouraged, the gentle breeze dies out as quickly as it had begun. Nothing is changed, still. After many minutes, still, they do not interact. Countless numbers of people have passed them by- some of them cycling, or roller-blading, or jogging, or simply strolling... But nothing happens. All remains. For a while, this peace appears to be beneficial; to the both of them and to everyone else. But concealed behind this 'peace' is something ugly, foreshadowing a heated argument? Or a fatal battle?
And suddenly, as if it were fated, the same question arises in both their minds. For each other. Ken wants to know because Omi had asked him a similar question before. For Nagi...he doesn't know. Having an excruciating and horrible childhood, and comparing himself to this 'fortunate' 19-year old, he cannot imagine why Ken would do what he does. Both glance at each other and the question is blurted out. Twice.
"Why do you kill?"
For a second, they are shocked that for once, both of them have the same thought at the same time. Quickly recovering, Nagi elaborates, his tone provocative, and to Ken, ruthless as well.
"According to Schuldig, you were a soccer player, in the J-League. You were happy, with a girlfriend, and with a buddy whom you thought you could trust. Why give it up? You seem to be really stupid to have given up all that just to kill."
"No, I don't kill because I want to. I..."
"What, that boss of yours forces you to kill?" Nagi laughs. "That is pathetic."
"That's not true. I joined Weiß to...to find out who framed me."
"Framed you?!" Again, he laughs, a pitying but mocking tone emerges. "Aw, that must be sad. I feel really sorry for you."
"You have to be so sarcastic about everything, don't you?!"
"I'm like that. Too bad."
"..."
The silence Ken gives creeps into Nagi. Into his conscience. Somewhere, something makes Nagi feel just slightly sorry for what he had said. Trying to cover up his 'mistake', Nagi changes the subject. Unsuccessfully.
"You found him yet?"
"Yeah, quite some time ago..."
"So why do you still kill?"
"I don't...I don't know. I'm not sure."
Nagi almost aims another sarcastic remark at Ken, but again, something makes him withdraw. He tries to say something in return, but nothing comes to his mind. Instead, the conversation is abruptly closed. He resumes to playing around with his piece of paper. However, it is hard for him to concentrate; thoughts keep attacking wildly at his mind. Thoughts about the question, thoughts about what goes on in Ken's head, thoughts about his life, thoughts about Schwarz...
Nagi is frustrated again. He finds his emotions getting harder and harder to control. Does he realise the puberty stage he is going through? Probably not.
His knitted eyebrows and clenched fists indirectly cause the paper to scrunch up. As he realises he is becoming too angry and releases the tension inside him, the paper opens up again and hovers in front of him.
Ken quietly watches all this, seeing that the paper is a representation of Nagi's emotions. He is amazed and a small smile forms on his face.
Neither of them bother to see the words written on the piece of paper.
-owari-