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Aya paced. Omi and Ken had attempted to stop him, they said he was tearing the newly bonded flesh in his side, but he fended them off effortlessly. They were all in the tiny living room of the apartment, Ken sitting, leaning forward a little, a look of open concern on his face. Omi was huddle in a corner of the couch, hands around his knees.
"You haven't heard anything from him? Nothing at all?"
"No, Aya-kun. We told you. Ken said he saw Schuldich dragging him off, but nothing more…"
"So he's not dead. There's hope."
The other two were silent. Aya sighed.
"If he was dead, Schuldich, knowing him, would send us a note, something, anything, just to brag…and why, then would they drag a dead body away, if he died on the scene. Did he get stabbed? Shot?"
"No, Aya, he was just…thrown sideways suddenly. He was reaching for you, 'cause I think he saw the knife that Crawford had. And Schuldich caught him unaware…"
Ken this time. Aya nodded. The pain in his side was growing. He knew he would have to sit sometime, soon. He took a few more steps and then collapsed in worn little chair in the corner, putting his hand to his forehead.
"Did you want anything, Aya?"
Aya shook his head, sending his already unkempt hair into further tangles. He had eaten nothing since…well…he didn't know…but it was before the fight…and he didn't know how long ago that was.
"You've been out two days, Aya. You should eat."
Ken, reading his mind again. Aya felt a small stirring of fondness for his teammate …very strange for him. What was with him anyway? He nodded, relenting, and Omi scrambled to his feet before Ken could get up.
"I'll fix you something, Aya Kun! Ken tell him more!"
The boy's face was drawn up into a little frown of concern. Ken sighed.
"There really is nothing, Aya…"
The redhead waited for the youngest assassin to get out of earshot.
"Was Omi hurt?"
He asked. Ken nodded.
"I'm sorry, Aya, but I didn't know what was happening…we were moving in on the target when they just popped out of nowhere…but I didn't see Nagi… It was to late for me to do anything; Farferello was on me in a second, but Nagi…he went to Omi."
"What did he do to him?"
"Nothing to serious…broke a rib, but it's all bandaged up now, he'll be all right. Nagi tossed him into a wall, and Omi lost consciousness. Then the little bastard deleted all Omi's files from the computer, erasing all the stuff we had on the target. He was Schwartz property, apparently. S'all right, now, I think. As long as the guys dead, boss-man doesn't care who killed him."
Aya nodded.
"I was worried…Nagi banged him up badly last time too…"
"Yeah, I know."
Omi returned just then, carrying a tray of food…Aya didn't even notice what it was, stuffing himself until he could eat no more. Omi had brought water too. So the kid was useful for something…it sounded like a thing Youji would say…Aya stopped himself from thinking.

It was still early evening…the sky had not quite turned a complete black…and there was the last sliver of a moon in the sky. Aya looked out the large living room window at it, eyes narrowed in a kind of unreasonable hate. From the evening light, he could see clouds gathering on the horizon…perhaps it would rain tonight. He could hope…
The three of them had been silent for more than an hour…Omi had brought his laptop into the room and was doing some research…trying to find out why the hell Schwartz had wanted the target in the first place, hopefully. That's what Aya had told him to do. Ken had a book and was lounging with the couch all by himself. Aya had stayed where he was. Omi had brought him a pad and pencil when he had asked, but so far, the paper was blank. He held the pencil idly between two fingers, twisting it slightly, biting his lip. It was only eight…he wasn't about to go to bed for another couple of hours…but he felt like he was wasting his time. He should be doing something. Aya played with the thought of standing up and pacing again, just to get a reaction from his two companions, but discarded it without contemplating too much when the fire in his wound raged back with a new vengeance. Crawford would pay for this…Omi looked up with a quick intake of breath.
"Found something Aya!"
Aya met the youngest member's eyes.
"Really…"
"Yeah…says here the target was a business associate of Crawford's at one time…before he joined the assassin group, I think. These are records of a money engagement of some sort…Crawford sold him something big, but it doesn't specify."
Omi turned the screen towards his leader.
"This was when he was still in America, too, I think."
Aya didn't pay much attention to the screen. Just some random numbers that didn't mean anything to him. Omi turned the screen back towards himself, and typed something in. His eyes went a little wide.
"Information…"
"What?"
"He sold Information…"
"Oh…"
Omi typed in something else.
"Damn."
"…"
"I think…maybe the target cheated our little Crawford out on something…"
Aya's eyebrows shot up.
"That's no easy task, let me tell you."
"I know."
The blonde's fingers flew over the keys.
"So how come we didn't get this before, Omi?"
"We only had the information Manx gave us…and you know she doesn't like me hacking into target files…it leaves to many footprints, she says."
Aya looked worried.
"No worries, Aya-kun, the targets dead, remember, plus, she may leave footprints, but I don't."
Aya smiled.
"Of course not, Omi."
"Well, we know he cheated the boss, too, from Manx. This guy has had a bit of a bad reputation. I would think he would expect to be dead by now."
Aya grunted. It was true. He remembered how Manx had smiled when she told them. Of course, she hadn't told them everything. She never did.
"So now we know why Crawford would kill him, at least…but why would Schuldich want Youji?"
Aya sighed. He didn't really want to talk about the other redhead and his sick sense of humor to Omi, of all people.
"The bastard takes pleasure in hurting things, Omi. I don't know why Youji though. Perhaps because he was simply available. They've always hated each other."
Omi nodded. He looked a little sad.
So I'm not the only one missing him…
Aya looked at Ken. The Brunette hadn't said a word the entire time, but obviously had been listening.
"Aya…Perhaps…"
The Assassin felt his violet gaze lock onto his teammates. Ken flinched.
"I can't shake off the feeling, I have to tell you. I think Schuldich is using him."
Aya was silent. It made sense. But for what would Youji be of use? Schuldich was an assassin too… what could Youji achieve that Schuldich could not? Get into Weiss was one...
"I'm going to bed."
The two others jumped at his tone.
"Aya, you need…"
"No. Goodnight."
He flew up the stairs, ignoring the protests from his wound. He felt their eyes on his back until he disappeared into his room.
It was dark…the window was still shuttered. He yanked the blinds up, letting the faint moonlight trickle onto the floor. The rain clouds were much closer…there must be a considerable wind tonight. Aya looked at the bed, the disorder of sheets and blankets. A sudden anger swept over him like a tide. What right did that red-haired bastard have to steal away their teammate? He would pay for Youji in blood. Before he could stop himself, Aya felt his fist fly forward. It connected with the wall with a sickening crack. The pain from twisting his waist hurt more than his fist, though. Aya examined the new crack in his wall with genuine interest…then his hand. He had broken the skin, but not enough to bleed. He hadn't broken anything. The anger came flooding back again…but this time it was more self-hate, for letting Youji hurt…letting Omi hurt…He slammed the wall again, and this time left a bloody stain. He bit his lip. It didn't even really hurt that much. He jumped as the door slammed open. Ken was standing in the doorway.
"Aya!"
"Get…Out"
"Aya you've hurt yourself! You cried out!"
"I did?"
"Yes!"
"Get…OUT"
"Aya…please…Omi's worried about you…don't…"
Aya took a step towards the doorway. Ken bit back a comment and shut the door quietly. The redhead sighed. Nothing was right about this. He touched his bleeding knuckles gently, and realized he was shaking. He put his lips to the wound, for lack of anything to wrap them with, cleaning the blood away…

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The building Youji arrived at was different than he had expected. He had thought of a trim little business building, white plastered and spotless…instead, he got an abandoned church of some sort, brick with missing windows and walls coated in graffiti. He sat in the Viper contemplating. He had taken the knife out of his coat sleeve and now he toyed with it in the darkness, careful not to touch Aya's blood. He was leaned back in the driver's seat, relaxed by appearance, but in reality, drawn like a bow. Schuldich was watching his mind with idle curiosity, not really caring that his 'kitten' was pausing, as long as he was on-track. Youji leaned forward slowly, picking up the slip of paper from the dashboard. The place had been easy to find…the problem seemed to be with getting in. The main entrance Schuldich had drawn as blocked, and Youji wasn't about to argue. If the redhead wanted it done this way, that was the way he would do it. There was a back entrance, though, which was open for Crawford's use, which led to a stairway with a guard at the top…a difficult situation, him being on the downhill, and therefore on the disadvantage. He could use the gun here, but it would probably be to dark to see much until he got close. He had already resolved to kill with the knife, then shoot the guy afterwards…he wasn't breaking any rules. But by now that resolve had faded, and he was just going to wing it…whatever happened, happened. Who cared now if he died? It wasn't like the other Wiess members even knew he was alive. Youji gritted his teeth, holding the steel knife up to light from a streetlamp, inspecting the dark streaks of blood on the glinting silver. He didn't get the chance to see Aya bleed much…their leader was as good with the sword as he was with words…the bastard read too much. Youji glared at the barbs, every one stained, at the hilt where a trickle had wormed its way down onto the wood. That one was probably permanent. He could see where it had soaked into the wood. Unconsciously, his eyes wandered back to the streaks on the flat of the small blade. His fingers flew out, touching them. The blood was rough compared to the silky cold of the blade.
Schuldich?
Do your work, kitten.
Youji twitched. He wanted solitude right now, more than anything. Try to sort all this out. But he wasn't going to get it until he was finished this. Why should he expect pity from Schuldich? The tall assassin shoved the knife back up his coat-sleeve, drawing in a quick breath to steady himself. Then he shoved the Viper's door open and stepped into the street, eyes flicking up to the shadowed building.
I am the assassin. Death is my job. I am hunter, reveal to me my prey.
And Youji's eyes turned cold.