Second Chance


Disclaimer: Nope don't own them, but darn it if I did, I'd share with everyone
Warnings: New charas, AU, cursing
Rated: PG-13 Just to be on the safe side
Archive: Here, that's about it. If any one wants to, they can put my story up on their site, as long as you e-mail and tell me, so I can visit and check it out.
*Notes* An AU that takes place after the series and Aya's sister has not awaken from her coma yet.
Feedback: Most definitely welcome, flames will be looked at, laughed at, and kept for those long cold winter nights with Aya and Omi (Gets that far away look) *Giggles*
blah blah' - indicating thought
~^~ * ~^~ - indicating a memory or dream

Yoshi ran her fingers through her wet hair as she exited the bathroom in a puff of steam. Gliding over to the bed she sat down and grabbed her backpack. Opening it she peered inside.

Aya stood at the door, his eyes silently watching the woman. She stepped out of the bathroom, running her fingers through her short silver hair. Once again his orange shirt found itself on the woman although she was wearing the new pair of black shorts, Omi got her. Why didn't I help, I could have paid for some of this.'

He watched the woman's bare feet dance across the dark colored carpet and tuck themselves onto the dark blue comforter. The tiny hands reached for the moss green backpack and hefted it up onto the bed and nimble fingers opened the zipper. Yoshi reached inside and pulled out the old photo. She ran her fingertips across the glossy surface, her sapphire orbs straying to the open window. They lowered and grew sad. Her emotions strew themselves out for anyone to see, for anyone to notice, for anyone to care.

The red headed man took a step forward and the floorboards creaked giving him away. Those have got to be fixed one of these days.' Yoshi turned, her eyes sharp, hiding whatever she had been feeling behind a glare. Her harsh expression melted into a half smile when she realized who it was.

she said in a soft voice. She slipped the photo back in her pack and closed it, sliding it to the ground. She moved to stand, turning away as she did that. When she faced him, there was no indication of sadness, only strength. How long have you been there?

Why so defensive?, Aya asked moving a step into the room.

The silver haired woman hung her head. Sorry, living on the streets does that to a person.

You have no need to be sorry, the man said. It's good to be on the defensive side. You never know what kind of different people you'll met.

Like you, Yoshi said, meting the violet gaze with her sapphire one. You're unlike anyone I've ever met.

Is that good then.

The woman tilted her head, causing some of her wet hair to fall free from behind
a ear. He threw a fey look in her direction. she teased. Then her playful gaze melted into a serious expression. I took your bed last night and I didn't mean to. I was going to move, but it's been such a long time since I was so comfortable. I closed my eyes for just a second, I didn't mean to fall asleep her voice dropped a little. You should have moved me, Yoshi said moving to the opposite side of the bed and slid her body into the chair that Aya had slept in the night before.

You take the bed and I'll take the chair. Omi told me that the couch isn't very comfortable and that a spring is broken in one of the cushions. I'm sorry for making you so uncomfortable.

The woman drew her long legs up and rested her head against a tucked arm. Her eyelids dropped passively, sealing the sapphire orbs in darkness. The tension seemed to run out of her body that he didn't realize she carried and yet she didn't fully unwind. It looked as if at any given time she would open her eyes, prepared to fight or run.

The man retreated from the room, not bothering to close the door and headed to the living room. He sank his tall frame into the couch and immediately winched, moving to avoid the broken spring that Yoji had made falling into the couch instead of sitting like any other normal person. He leaned back and closed his eyes, listening to the sounds of the apartment settling and it's occupants.

What am I doing?'

You should have sent Yoshi to the homeless shelter today, not be out shopping with her,' his subconscious answered.

What was I thinking when she smiled at me?'

You can't be doing this.'

I have no right.'

You are a murderer.'

I am a murderer.'

You are a taker of souls.'

I am a taker of souls even if they are evil.'

It doesn't matter.'

I joined Weiss for a reason but Takatori's dead. So why am I still here?'

Because this all you know.'

Is it? Is it.' Aya opened his eyes and stared at the cracks in the ceiling until they began to make designs and patterns and suddenly he felt alone. Utterly and completely alone in the cold hard desolate place called earth. Many times he felt like this and took the quiet trip to the hospital and then he would become strong again, but lately, after Takatori's death, he had become more somber and would sink further into his world of darkness.

my sister.'

Something small and soft pressed against his shoulder and Aya jumped to his feet whirling around as he did so. Yoshi took a step back at the man's reaction, her eyes wide.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, she said apologizingly.

Aya relaxed. okay. He sat back down and stared at the floor. He felt the couch move slightly as a smaller body sat into it. He closed his eyes. His ears strained to hear some sort of noise from her, but not even her breath was heard. It was as if she was holding it, trying to not break the silence that held them apart yet bound them together.

Crickets chirped from outside even though they were in the heart of Tokyo, cars passed by in a hurry despite the late night, and he heard people moving about the streets below. Everything had a sound, even silence; like a soft roar from a lion or a loud purr from a cat.

So why can't I hear Yoshi.'



The man opened his eyes at the name. A timid word and then silence. Answer her dammit! Look at her. She calling you and you can't seem to get yourself to look at her.'

I was thirteen when I died.

Aya turned his head sharply at the woman's words. What did you say? He wasn't quite sure he heard right.

I was thirteen when my family died. The woman lowered her head and stared at her hands in her lap.

The woman flinched at his tone and he didn't mean to sound so harsh.

A car we we're walking across the street and I had lagged behind to tie my shoe. My mothermy father and my brother went ahead of me. Yoshi stopped as her voice started to tremble.

I didn't mean to fall behind. My mother turned and told me to hurry up. My brother waved to me from my father's shoulders. I smiled, laughed and tried to hurry with my shoe, almost stumbling as I did. Yoshi's voice grew soft for a moment, lost in memories.

It was then I heard the screech of tires and the smell of burning rubber. The woman's shoulders began to shake.

I looked up and saw a blue car run a red light and barrel through the intersection with a police vehicle in pursuit. My family my family was in the path of the oncoming car. The sapphire orbs gathered liquid drops. he didn't even try to miss them. Yoshi closed her eyes, the silver tears falling from her dark lashes and down her cheeks. Her hands were clenched so tightly they turned white, her lips trembled and yet she didn't cry fully. She was as silent as the air around them.

Something rough brushed against her pale cheek and the woman opened her eyes to see the red haired man's hand brushing away her tears. She unconsciously leaned into the warmth emitting from Aya's hand. She shivered when he brushed his thumb against her lips and she pulled away suddenly, her eyes wide. A blush forming she stood to her feet.

I'm sorry I bothered you, she said. I don't know why I even told you this. I I'm sorry, good night. Yoshi bowed slightly and retreated back to the room in an almost sprint. The door closing quietly behind her was all that Aya heard.

You idiot! You fool!,' his subconscious yelled at him. What are you doing?'

don't know. Why didn't I hear her? Why did I do that?'

You are a Weiss. You have no right.'

Why? Why can't I?'

You kill people. You are a murderer.'

Aya. That's why I'm still a Weiss.' The man ran a hand over his face, staring again at the cracks in the ceiling between his fingers. They began to make shapes, designs, patterns of his past, present and future. Aya closed his eyes but they remained the same, even when his hand slipped and his mind wandered into darkness.

+~+~+~+

It was the soft sound of someone crying that woke him. He was immediately awake, listening. Somewhere outside a owl hooted and the flutter of wings could be heard. Aya held his breath waiting for something. He heard it again, coming from his room.

He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the sounds and fall back asleep but when he heard something fall over, he was instantly on his feet moving to the closed door, pausing before he entered.

Yoshi lay on the bed, her legs twisted in her sheet, the comforter tossed on the floor. Her features twisted in a mask of fright as she tried to fight the nightmare that had taken hold of her. No, don't, stop, she cried, struggling with the sheets, a sheen of sweat breaking out over her body.

Aya stood there for a moment, helpless as Yoshi continued talking in her sleep. , she screamed, arms flailing to fight off her imaginary attacker. Immediately, the red headed man was at her side, sitting down on the edge of the woman's rumpled bed and reaching for her wild arms.

Wake up Yoshi, he commanded shaking the woman slightly. Wake up!

Sapphire blue eyes snapped open. At first she struggled in Aya's grasp but as her eyes focused on the figure bending over her, she flew up and threw her arms around his waist and burrowed her head into the shoulder of the surprised man. Her sobs muffled against his shirt.

Hesitantly, Aya brought his arms up to encircle the trembling woman, clumsily stroking her soft silver hair. His eyes caught the object that had fallen; his small bedside clock that blinked a steady 3:27 am in the darkened room. Yoshi's sobs had quieted but the tears still flowed.

Feeling uncomfortable at being so close to the woman, despite him being the one to comfort, he pulled away, only to have Yoshi's arms tighten around him in a longing manner.

Please, don't leave me, she whispered, pulling her head up. I don't want to be alone.

Aya watched the sapphire eyes, red from crying, silently begging him to not leave her alone in the dark to not leave her aloneto not leave her.

Just until I fall asleep, she compensated, sensing the apprehension and uncertainty. Aya didn't know the words to answer. A simple yes or no? What? He moved to stand and stared silently at the woman. Her eyes closed, she bowed her head, tucking her untangled legs to her chest.

The bed dipped next to her and Yoshi opened an eye to see Aya sit next to her, leaning against the wall. A smile filled with sadness crossed the silver haired woman's face and she moved to sit next to the red headed man. She didn' touch him, but was close enough to feel the heat of their bodies mixing. It was only a matter of minutes before the woman's eyes reluctantly closed and she slowly began to lean against Aya, resting her head on his shoulder.

The man turned to watch the woman, not fully surprised that she'd fall asleep but that she would use him as a pillow. He wanted to move but he didn't, instead he pulled a protective arm around the woman's small shoulders and yawned softly. His eyelids grew heavy and he leaned his head back. Closing his eyes, he fought sleep until she became overpowering and he painfully gave in and for the first time, in a long time, he slept nightmare free.


*Giggles*
Rae: *Giggles*
*Giggles*
Rae: *Giggles*
*Giggles*
Rae: *Giggles*
Durandel: *Sighs* Woman
*Giggles* (See's teenager who looks like Omi) OMI!!!!!!! (Glomps unsuspecting teen)
Unsuspecting Teen: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rae: *Giggles* (See's guy who looks like Aya) AYA!!!!!!!!!!! (Glomps unsuspecting guy)
Unsuspecting Guy: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Durandel: You get the picture here people (See's girl who looks like Manx) o_O;