Mission #7: Enthüllung und Urteil

Crying always made me feel tired. I know, it's silly. It's not like I ran a couple of hundred miles or done something else that could be called sporting. But it's still exhausting. So it wasn't exactly a huge surprise that I woke up with my last memory being this: falling asleep in Aya's arms. I was rather disappointed to wake up alone. Not that I really would have expected the ice king to suddenly become a mother hen and stay with me. Wait, he did leave a note. 'Tell us'. Two simple words. Screw him! That's easy for him to stay.

I sighed. I hated to admit it, but it was actually a very reasonable request. Shit.

The sky outside had darkened while I was asleep. Only artificial lights burned outside.

Taking a shower sounded good. It'll gimme time to plan out my speech. Looking into the mirror and have two puffy eyes looking back at me was another good reason to do so. I looked like I'd been stung by bees and was now experiencing a hypersensitive reaction.

I hesitated before stepping into the hot shower. Why? I smelled like Aya. The subtle hint of some expensive cologne and roses. Aya always smelled like roses from spending way too much time with those damn flowers. Just standing here still, the sweet senses reminded me of his comforting warms. A small part of me wanted to feel it again, the precious feeling of safety. But just how big was the chance something like that would happen twice? Very very not likely. They don't call something a miracle for nothing.

The moment of intimacy between us had definitely passed. Aya was acting cold again towards me as always. In a way it reassured me more than anything. At least I knew that to him I was still the irritating Sky and not a broken man. I couldn't and wouldn't be able to read their minds for at least another day. The look on their faces would be the only thing betraying their emotions. Gee, thanks Aya. Perfect timing.

Ken and Omi were seated quietly in the two-seater, while Aya occupied the chair next to Ken. They were worried and wanted to know why I gathered them here in the mission room. Yohji was leaning against the wall with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth. His right eye was decorated with the colorful bruise I gave him. I motioned for him to sit with the rest.

Slowly they had started to look at me differently. I was no longer the new mysterious member who was assigned to them. Instead I was on my way of becoming a member of their team, their family. But how would they look at me after I tell them the truth? The tension of things unspoken hung in the air. The muscles in my guts tightened. The sign that I was way beyond the point of normal nervousness. Somewhere along the lines of 'nervous enough to jump out the window or do something else just as crazy'. It was funny how I looked like I was standing trials here. My teammates, sitting right opposite me, would be the jury I have to convince.

Well, no use to delay the execution.

My voice was surprisingly steady when I spoke. "I have gathered you all here for a simple reason. I'm about to ask of you an unusual request. But before that I need to tell you something of my life." I was addressing to all of them, while my eyes had unconsciously come to rest on Aya. I wanted to catch his reactions when I tell him this. His reaction seemed somehow more important than anyone else's. Probably because he was the only one who had some vague idea about my request.

"I was born in a little house in München in the early morning of a cold September morning. My family wasn't wealthy, but it was loving. Our parents worked hard to feed their three children. I had a twin brother named Rekka who was twenty minutes older than I am and a little sister who was three years younger. My brother and I… We had always been close and were both very protective of our little sister. We would beat anyone that dared to hurt her in any way. My brother already showed signs of strong telepathic abilities at the age of six, while I only showed a little of it when I reached the age of 8. He could read people's mind and memories, while I could only catch small glimpses of what the peoples thoughts. Our powers were handy. But they were also to be our doom.

In the summer before we turned nine, we first cursed the powers that were ours. In the afternoon of one day in July, two black limousines and dozens of other black cars arrived at our door. Two Japanese crime lords stepped out of the limousines. They had a telepath with them. Their men seized our parents, our sister and made them knee in front of us, while others held us in their iron grip. Two bullets ended the life of our parents, who tried nothing but to touch us. We wept for the loss. The telepath whispered something in the crime lords' ears and I was released. I rushed to my sisters' side and hugged her tightly in my arms. The crime lord called 'Yamoto-sama' went to us and violently separated me and my sister. I felt deep hatred towards this man and vowed silently to kill him one day.

He spoke to me the following words: " You know that you can't defeat me. The life's of your siblings I lay in your hands. You must make a choice. Either you kill your sister and both you and your brother will be spared…. Or you don't kill her and all three of you will be killed. Take this gun to end the life of your own or your sister." He gave me the gun and smiled while doing it. My hatred grew. The gun weighed heavy in my hands. Should I kill one and save one or should I not kill and we all die? I looked at the misty eyes of my beloved sister and I looked at the deep green comforting eyes of my brother. My baby sister who was just 5 year old and yet understood the danger we were in. Their eyes were saying the same thing: kill me. Both were willing to sacrifice themselves to save the other. I made a choice that day, one that I've doubted for the past years. Hot tears fell on my cheek, when I whispered "Es tut mir leid". I put the gun against my sister's forehead. Yamoto stopped me before my shaking hand pulled the trigger. He got hold of my sister and me and pulled us to the other end of the yard. He pulled us out of the concerning eyes of my brother. He gave the gun to me again and told me to shoot. I was even more trembling then before, but I finally did it. I don't remember pulling the trigger. But I do remember her small yellow dress turning the color of black.

I killed my sister with a single bullet in the heart. She died quickly, my beloved one whom I didn't want to see suffer. Then I, covered under her blood, joined my brother. First he couldn't believe that she was dead. But I sent him the image of her covered under her own blood and he had to face the truth. He cursed me for all he's worth and screamed her name. I bowed my head in shame. Before we were separated, I looked at him. I saw the hate in his accusing eyes and turned away. He hated me for killing her, even when the other way was death to us all. His hate still remained, even after all these years…" I had talked fast, sticking mainly to the facts. Wishing secretly that this will make the pain last shorter. But I was wrong. I closed my eyes and shivered as the images of that day reappeared in my mind. So very vivid they were, so very vivid they had remained…

I felt a hand on my shoulder and opened my eyes to see Omi, offering me a sad smile. I managed to give him a grateful smile. I looked at each one of them. To my surprise it was pity and compassion they felt for me instead of the loathing and disgusted looks I expected. It was surprising to see Aya, the one who always acted the most severest, feel pity for me. I continued my story.

"We were separated by the two crime lords. One of them being Yamoto Shinjirou and the other being Takatori Reiji, whom you've encountered on several occasions." "Takatori" Aya mumbled. His eyes flashed anger at the mention of his worst enemy. The one who took everything he ever cared about away. Perhaps it's a disgrace to speak badly of the dead, but Takatori most certainly deserved it. "Yes. The entire under world is controlled by their two families. Yamoto controlled Europe and Japan, while Takatori's territory was Asia. The Takatori's were slightly powerful then the Yamoto's at that time. That was also the reason why my brother, the strongest of the two of us, was to be taken by Takatori and Yamoto took me, the less strong one. I could only suspect what happened to my brother, by the few visions I received from him. Though I doubt he intentionally did that, for he did not know I could sense things over such a distant. It seemed that Takatori did everything to make him obey him. He was tortured both mentally and physically to create the powerful psychic you see today. I was taken to an underground laboratory to train as well. Perhaps it was just cowardliness that prevented me from ending my miserable life. After years of training, my powers grew immensely. I had even discovered a new one that my brother does not have, telekinesis. I became their bloodhound, their servant, one of their best agents. A year ago Yamoto Kanryou, only son of Yamoto Shinjirou, transferred my position to Japan. About 2 months ago he had gathered some information about Persia and wanted me to investigate further on the issue. I found out the location of your boss, went there and got caught like a mouse in a trap. I was given the choice to either join you or spend the rest of my life in jail. Since the second one obviously sounded much less attractive, I chose door number one and landed here. Your boss even found a dummy for me and convinced my former employer that I died in a car accident."

"What happened to your bro?" Yohji asked.

"About ten years ago, they found out I could feel him no matter where he was. That's when they implanted a small device in my head to block his signal. I haven't sensed anything from him since then. That is, until a few days ago. Yesterday, I had seen him for the first time ever since our separation." I trailed off.

"Yesterday…you gotto be kidding me here. No way…" It would have been funny to see the baffled face of Ken as his logic popped out and the truth dawned. Gasps of wonder filled the room.

"Yes. Schuldich is Rekka. This is why I wanted to ask you this…I want you to spare Schuldig's life. I know this is hard for you, especially after your encounters with him. But he is innocent."

Silence had never seemed to last so long.

Finally, it was Yohji who spoke first. "Schuldig isn't innocent, Sky. It may not be his fault how he's become this way, but the truth remains. He's killer. On the other hand, he may be forced into doing this. I can only promise to not kill him unless it's self defense, but he should repent for all the people he has killed." His green eyes looked sympathetic when he spoke the words. It was what I thought he'd say.

"That's good enough, Yohji. I understand how hard it must be. Ken? Omi?" Omi was the one whom I expected to protest the most. Schuldig did cause the death of Ouka indirectly.

"Umm. I agree with Yohji." Ken hesitated as he looked at Omi, who had been silently looking down at his hands.

Omi tilted his head to reveal a tear-stained face. "I am happy for you, Sky-kun. He is your family. I know what it's like to have family who turns out to be your enemies. I really hope he's innocent. For you."

"Arigatou…Omi" The only words that seemed appropriate. I knew how much that must have pained the kid. Gomen, Omi.

"It's late, we've got work to do tomorrow." Typically Aya's way of ending an emotional moment. Yohji walked out of the door, after giving me an everything-is-gonno-be-allright glance and a typical yotan smile. Ken and Omi hesitantly followed his example, leaving only Aya and me. I gave them a sheepish grin to reassure them that Aya was not going to cause me any bodily harm. At least I hoped.

I expected Aya's resistance. I liked his silence any less. It usually meant he was just plotting to explode at me. But I would be ready.

"What do you say, Aya? Gonna give me a whole lecture on how Re… Schuldich is our enemy and one of the dark beasts who needs to be hunted down?" I mocked him. Tell me what I expected to hear, Aya.

He shook his head. His back faced me when he spoke. Why won't you look me in the face, Aya?

"I won't. But think about what you will do when you meet him the next time, Sky. You may not want to kill him, but what will he do?" And with that, he just left. I stood there, mouth wide open like an idiot from surprise. He didn't protest at all. Wow. That was one reaction I would have never guessed in a million years.

I looked outside and a full moon greeted my sight. I held my hand against the smooth glass of the window. The smooth surface of my ring shone faintly under the mystic light of the moon, while the twin stones absorbed the light. Aya's questions, playing over and over again. What will you do? What will he do? Damn you, Aya. You and your wonderful skill of suggesting things I could have lived just fine without.

Is this what you wanted to hear? I don't know, Aya. I really don't know.

"Being siblings, sharing the same blood will forge a bond. Sharing the same womb makes the bond even stronger. Can you ever really sever this?"

Translation title: revelation and judgement.