Well, don't I feel stupid! I was writing out a story on notepad at the end of the last chapter, and I forgot to put it somewhere else before posting. It took forever for my correction to show up. So, those of you who wrote the first reviews for chapter four, please disregard that last part. It's actually from a story that I posted in my KenxRan group. Once again, I'd like to invite any and all KenxRan writers to join. You will have a new fan in me, and I promise to review any future KenxRan fics you post here, in the group, or anywhere else. ^_^ here's the link again: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenxran/
Having said that, I want to once again thank everyone who reviewed. Now, let me ask you: how many of you are wondering if Ken or Ran got more screwed up from the attack? I'll leave that for you to decide. Keep reading, and form your own conclusions.
One last thing: In this chapter, Schuldig will be "talking" to Ran telepathically. Here is the code:
'thoughts'
((Schu's mental talk))
Happy reading! ^_^
~Koyasu
~~~~~~~~~~
"I don't think this is such a good idea", Schuldig said hesitantly, as he and Yoji pulled up to the hospital in Yoji's Jeep. "I mean, do your friends even know that we're together?"
"No." Yoji stared off into the distance. "I haven't had a chance to tell them yet."
Schuldig took a deep breath and unfastened his seatbelt. "That's because you know that they won't be as forgiving as you. Especially Ran. I don't have to tell you how good at holding grudges he is."
"Be that as it may", Yoji started, slamming the car door behind him "you're our only hope now. Do you what what hell this has been for all of us? We have no way of knowing what Ran thinks or feels. We don't even know if he's fully aware of who he is and what's happened to him!" He paused, catching his breath as the German steadied his shaking shoulders with reassuring hands. "I know this won't be an easy task for you, but it would mean everything to us - especially to Aya - if you would at least try .
"Okay. I'll give it my best shot", Schuldig promised with an affirmative nod. He had never seen his lover get so worked up about anything before. If it really meant that much to Yoji, who was he to say no?
*
"Konbonwa, Ran", Yoji said casually, taking a seat at the redhead's bedside."Have you eaten dinner yet? Raise your right pinky if the answer is yes.
Ran's eyes darted from hand to hand before finally looking up, confused, at Yoji.
'Oh, God!' Yoji thought. 'He can't tell his left from his right?'
((That appears to be the case)), Schu cut intoYoji's thoughts from where he stood in the hallway. ((I detected feelings of confusion and dizziness at the thought of direction.))
'Wonderful!' Yoji rubbed his temple in frustration. "Okay, Ran. I brought you some gyoza. I'm going to feed it to you now. If you've already been fed, just don't open your mouth."
Yoji brought a dumpling up to Ran's lips, and he opened wide, gratefully accepting the food.
"Now, Ran, we've all been very worried about you", Yoji said softly, feeding his friend another dumpling. "You've been through a lot, and this must be a difficult time for you. I 'm sure there are a lot of feelings you'd like to get out that you aren't able to because you can't talk. So I've brought a friend of mine here to see you. I know you have some history behind you. I just hope that you can learn to forgive and forget. People change, Ran, and Schuldig only wants to help."
Ran's eyes narrowed, his face reddening in anger. "YAHH!" he protested loudly, wishing he could utter a few choice words.
"I was worried you'd react this way, Ran", Yoji murmured, looking anxiously at the door. "But we want to understand you, and this is this only way we know how. Please, Ran", he pleaded." Please do this for us."
Ran's breathing steadied, and he appeared to be calming down. "Mmm", he gave in.
Schuldig entered the room, almost reeling from the anger and hatred emanating from his former enemy. Yoji stood up, offering Schu his seat. "Thank you", the telepath smiled, sitting down.
"I'll be at the gift shop if you need me", Yoji told his love, looking cautiously at the two men.
"I apprechiate that, but I don't think we'll be having any problems." Schu waved his hand dismissively. He turned to Ran. ((Long time, no see, old friend.))
'Hmph!'
((Your boyfriend is a sound sleeper)) Schuldig observed, glancing at Ken.
'He's been in physical therapy for most of the day. When he wasn't there, he was seeing a psychologist', Ran explained with a glare.
((And how have you been feeling? You must be tired yourself.))
Ran's face twisted into a sad smile. 'I have plenty of time to rest. I won't be starting physical therapy for a couple more weeks. It gets boring, but I welcome the boredom. I was getting tired of the assassin game. The darkness, the guilt, the blood on my hands...' Ran stopped there, his mind suddenly growing quiet.
((What?)) Schuldig was looking directly into Ran's eyes now. ((Are you worried that you're opening up too much? Are you ashamed to be showing me these emotions? Come on, Ran! You made a promise to Yoji.))
Ran sighed. 'Here's the truth. Weiss was going to retire after this last mission. We only accepted this one because it involved my brother-in-law's murder.'
((I know)) Schu nodded.
Ran's eyes began to water. 'But I failed. I let down my sister, and I disgraced Taro's memory.'
((And what about Ken? Is he a failure, too?))
'I acted out of rage at the wrong time. Ken simply tried to save me. It wasn't his fault. It was all my doing.' Violet eyes slid closed, and Ran's face tensed at the recollection. 'And now Ken...now Ken..."
(('Now Ken' what? Don't shut off from me now, Ran! Tell me what it is!)) Schuldig urged, as he lightly squeezed Ran's hand in encouragement.
'Ken isn't the man that I knew. He remembers me. He remembers our love. But there are other parts of his mind that are lost. He thinks and acts just like a small child. A child with an overactive libido, but...' A faint smile crossed Ran's lips at that thought, and what sounded like a laugh escaped his mouth.
((Glad to see you've still got a sense of humor.))
'I'm trying to.' Ran thought back, with a light sigh, his eyes slowly reopening. 'But the truth is, I...well, I feel...'
((You can do this, Ran. Remember the promise you made to Yoji.)) Schu urged. ((And don't forget that your sister has been wanting to reach you, too.)) He figured it couldn't hurt to mention Aya. If that's what it took to get Ran to open up, then so be it.
'I feel guilty for what is in my heart. Even though it is my own doing, even though Ken's mental state is my fault...' Ran's mind shut down again. He was obviously in emotional distress.
((I'm sorry, Ran)) Schu sent the message to Ran's mind, standing up in apology and turning to leave. ((This is obviously too much for you. I'll come back when you're ready.))
But just as he started to step away, Schuldig felt a Ran's fingers lightly brush his arm.
'No. Please. Stay. It's been a long time since I had a conversation.'
((Alright, I'll stay)) Schuldig agreed, smiling. ((I'll stay on the condition that you listen to me. You have to stop blaming yourself for everything. What happened to Aya's husband was a tragedy, and she is a very lucky woman to have a brother like you. One who would sacrifice so much for her to make things right. You did that out of love. What Ken did is no different. His actions were motivated by love. He knew that that last mission would be a difficult one for you. He came to support you.))
'He came for the mission', Ran argued.
((No.)) Schuldig shook his head. ((Yoji and Omi came for the mission. Ken came for you.))
For the first time, Ran allowed his gaze to meet Schuldig's. 'You're not making this easy, you know?'
((What?))
'Ken has been wonderful to me. He's given me strength when I felt I was going to break. He managed to melt a heart that had frozen over in self-defense. Yet I-'
Before Ran could finish the thought, Ken woke up. He just stared at Schuldig for a moment before voicing his recognition of the man.
"I know you!" he pointed excitedly. "You used to play that assassin game with us! Did you want to play again? Because Ran and me can't play right now. We're sick, and the doctor would be mad."
"Hello, Ken. Good to see you again", Schuldig nodded in greeting before turning back to Ran. ((You were saying?))
'I...' Ran paused. 'I think I'm...falling out of love with Ken.'
Having said that, I want to once again thank everyone who reviewed. Now, let me ask you: how many of you are wondering if Ken or Ran got more screwed up from the attack? I'll leave that for you to decide. Keep reading, and form your own conclusions.
One last thing: In this chapter, Schuldig will be "talking" to Ran telepathically. Here is the code:
'thoughts'
((Schu's mental talk))
Happy reading! ^_^
~Koyasu
~~~~~~~~~~
"I don't think this is such a good idea", Schuldig said hesitantly, as he and Yoji pulled up to the hospital in Yoji's Jeep. "I mean, do your friends even know that we're together?"
"No." Yoji stared off into the distance. "I haven't had a chance to tell them yet."
Schuldig took a deep breath and unfastened his seatbelt. "That's because you know that they won't be as forgiving as you. Especially Ran. I don't have to tell you how good at holding grudges he is."
"Be that as it may", Yoji started, slamming the car door behind him "you're our only hope now. Do you what what hell this has been for all of us? We have no way of knowing what Ran thinks or feels. We don't even know if he's fully aware of who he is and what's happened to him!" He paused, catching his breath as the German steadied his shaking shoulders with reassuring hands. "I know this won't be an easy task for you, but it would mean everything to us - especially to Aya - if you would at least try .
"Okay. I'll give it my best shot", Schuldig promised with an affirmative nod. He had never seen his lover get so worked up about anything before. If it really meant that much to Yoji, who was he to say no?
*
"Konbonwa, Ran", Yoji said casually, taking a seat at the redhead's bedside."Have you eaten dinner yet? Raise your right pinky if the answer is yes.
Ran's eyes darted from hand to hand before finally looking up, confused, at Yoji.
'Oh, God!' Yoji thought. 'He can't tell his left from his right?'
((That appears to be the case)), Schu cut intoYoji's thoughts from where he stood in the hallway. ((I detected feelings of confusion and dizziness at the thought of direction.))
'Wonderful!' Yoji rubbed his temple in frustration. "Okay, Ran. I brought you some gyoza. I'm going to feed it to you now. If you've already been fed, just don't open your mouth."
Yoji brought a dumpling up to Ran's lips, and he opened wide, gratefully accepting the food.
"Now, Ran, we've all been very worried about you", Yoji said softly, feeding his friend another dumpling. "You've been through a lot, and this must be a difficult time for you. I 'm sure there are a lot of feelings you'd like to get out that you aren't able to because you can't talk. So I've brought a friend of mine here to see you. I know you have some history behind you. I just hope that you can learn to forgive and forget. People change, Ran, and Schuldig only wants to help."
Ran's eyes narrowed, his face reddening in anger. "YAHH!" he protested loudly, wishing he could utter a few choice words.
"I was worried you'd react this way, Ran", Yoji murmured, looking anxiously at the door. "But we want to understand you, and this is this only way we know how. Please, Ran", he pleaded." Please do this for us."
Ran's breathing steadied, and he appeared to be calming down. "Mmm", he gave in.
Schuldig entered the room, almost reeling from the anger and hatred emanating from his former enemy. Yoji stood up, offering Schu his seat. "Thank you", the telepath smiled, sitting down.
"I'll be at the gift shop if you need me", Yoji told his love, looking cautiously at the two men.
"I apprechiate that, but I don't think we'll be having any problems." Schu waved his hand dismissively. He turned to Ran. ((Long time, no see, old friend.))
'Hmph!'
((Your boyfriend is a sound sleeper)) Schuldig observed, glancing at Ken.
'He's been in physical therapy for most of the day. When he wasn't there, he was seeing a psychologist', Ran explained with a glare.
((And how have you been feeling? You must be tired yourself.))
Ran's face twisted into a sad smile. 'I have plenty of time to rest. I won't be starting physical therapy for a couple more weeks. It gets boring, but I welcome the boredom. I was getting tired of the assassin game. The darkness, the guilt, the blood on my hands...' Ran stopped there, his mind suddenly growing quiet.
((What?)) Schuldig was looking directly into Ran's eyes now. ((Are you worried that you're opening up too much? Are you ashamed to be showing me these emotions? Come on, Ran! You made a promise to Yoji.))
Ran sighed. 'Here's the truth. Weiss was going to retire after this last mission. We only accepted this one because it involved my brother-in-law's murder.'
((I know)) Schu nodded.
Ran's eyes began to water. 'But I failed. I let down my sister, and I disgraced Taro's memory.'
((And what about Ken? Is he a failure, too?))
'I acted out of rage at the wrong time. Ken simply tried to save me. It wasn't his fault. It was all my doing.' Violet eyes slid closed, and Ran's face tensed at the recollection. 'And now Ken...now Ken..."
(('Now Ken' what? Don't shut off from me now, Ran! Tell me what it is!)) Schuldig urged, as he lightly squeezed Ran's hand in encouragement.
'Ken isn't the man that I knew. He remembers me. He remembers our love. But there are other parts of his mind that are lost. He thinks and acts just like a small child. A child with an overactive libido, but...' A faint smile crossed Ran's lips at that thought, and what sounded like a laugh escaped his mouth.
((Glad to see you've still got a sense of humor.))
'I'm trying to.' Ran thought back, with a light sigh, his eyes slowly reopening. 'But the truth is, I...well, I feel...'
((You can do this, Ran. Remember the promise you made to Yoji.)) Schu urged. ((And don't forget that your sister has been wanting to reach you, too.)) He figured it couldn't hurt to mention Aya. If that's what it took to get Ran to open up, then so be it.
'I feel guilty for what is in my heart. Even though it is my own doing, even though Ken's mental state is my fault...' Ran's mind shut down again. He was obviously in emotional distress.
((I'm sorry, Ran)) Schu sent the message to Ran's mind, standing up in apology and turning to leave. ((This is obviously too much for you. I'll come back when you're ready.))
But just as he started to step away, Schuldig felt a Ran's fingers lightly brush his arm.
'No. Please. Stay. It's been a long time since I had a conversation.'
((Alright, I'll stay)) Schuldig agreed, smiling. ((I'll stay on the condition that you listen to me. You have to stop blaming yourself for everything. What happened to Aya's husband was a tragedy, and she is a very lucky woman to have a brother like you. One who would sacrifice so much for her to make things right. You did that out of love. What Ken did is no different. His actions were motivated by love. He knew that that last mission would be a difficult one for you. He came to support you.))
'He came for the mission', Ran argued.
((No.)) Schuldig shook his head. ((Yoji and Omi came for the mission. Ken came for you.))
For the first time, Ran allowed his gaze to meet Schuldig's. 'You're not making this easy, you know?'
((What?))
'Ken has been wonderful to me. He's given me strength when I felt I was going to break. He managed to melt a heart that had frozen over in self-defense. Yet I-'
Before Ran could finish the thought, Ken woke up. He just stared at Schuldig for a moment before voicing his recognition of the man.
"I know you!" he pointed excitedly. "You used to play that assassin game with us! Did you want to play again? Because Ran and me can't play right now. We're sick, and the doctor would be mad."
"Hello, Ken. Good to see you again", Schuldig nodded in greeting before turning back to Ran. ((You were saying?))
'I...' Ran paused. 'I think I'm...falling out of love with Ken.'
