Ch4.
Fallen Angel…
If anything needed to be said, anything at all, this was the time to say it. Yoji looked over his three comrades with a sloppy grin slapped on his face as he leaned into the doorframe. Omi, or Ouka as they now called him, had a serious expression on his face with his usual trademark smile that always got him an answering smile back. It was kind of hard thinking of Omi as a him… especially right now. With his light brown-blond shoulder length hair that was kept out of his face with hair clips on either side of his face… thank god he wasn't wearing a dress… instead a small blue tank top hugged his slim form with of course, Yoji's wonderful idea of a stuffed bra, and he wore jeans that were tighter than anything Omi usually wore. The tank top was a bit frightening in Yoji's opinion. It was frightening only in the fact that it looked too good, too convincing. If Yoji hadn't obviously known that this was Omi-who was indeed male and a dangerous one at that- and if the creature in front of him which was Omi looked a bit older… Yoji knew he would have been attracted. That scared the living shit out of him. He didn't think he'd ever be able to look at Omi the same way again and he had the sinking feeling as he moved to stare at his other companions, that Ken wouldn't be able to either. Ken's usual friendly dark green eyes were focused ahead of him, neatly avoiding looking at anyone. The twenty year old hadn't been comfortable with this mission since the beginning and as time passed, it seemed that it was becoming a bigger strain on him than it was even on Omi. He had kept mainly to himself these last few days, finding more excuses to be outside and away from them… or more likely Omi. Yoji sighed, shuffling his feet to replace his weight on them differently. He wondered what was bothering him so much anyway. After tonight it would be over. And then everything would go back to normal. Omi had been nearly skipping with joy thinking about when all of this would be over and he'd be able to cut his hair and wear his clothes. Apparently, Omi thought long hair was an annoying thing. His exact words.
At last, Yoji's eyes focused on the redhead. Ran seemed to be the least effected, as he looked calmly around the group in the same manner that Yoji was doing. And yes, all of them had finally gotten used to calling him Ran. Finally. There was a small smile, almost imperceptible as Ran accepted a last goodbye hug from his sister. He then frowned and pushed her out of the room, ordering her into bed. Aya-chan managed to get her brother to promise to call her once the mission was over and they were returning home before disappearing up the stairs. The sight of her waving goodbye as if they were going out to the movies brought a larger smile on Omi's face. Yoji looked away from all of them and shook his head.
"You guys ready to roll and roll?" He asked.
"Hn." Was Ran's only answer, the silent bastard, Yoji thought suddenly angry at the man that seemed so calm, missing the repeated action of Ran fixing his sword at his side.
"Why not?" Ken muttered into the air, already moving to the door without looking back. Omi looked at Ken's disappearing back and then back to Yoji's still seemingly cheerful face. They both shared a shrug.
"Let's go then. And remember to remind me… I'm Ouka… Ouka." Omi muttered before following Ken out of the door. Ran went after him while Yoji gave a small shudder. He wished that Omi had picked another name than that of his late sister's and first love. It… he wasn't superstitious or anything but still… it gave him the chills. But when the boy had been asked why he'd chosen that particular name, the eighteen year old had given them the oddest stare before giving an off hand explanation of how he had a hard time remembering names. Yoji shook his head, closing the door behind him as he walked into the night air. Ken was already on his motorcycle, looking as if he wanted to just fly away on the mechanic thing. Ran was in his car waiting for Yoji to get a move on and get into his own car so they could get on their way. His car was blocking Ran's tonight. Omi would be with him of course…The eighteen year old was waiting next to the car door looking around him.
Nothing else to be said.
It was time to go.
…
After minutes of silence in which it was both oppressive and light, Omi broke it, looking outside the window where the scenery flashed past him too fast for him to focus on anything in particular.
"I'll be glad when this is all over and I can be myself again." Omi whispered almost to himself but Yoji heard it and gave a jerky nod. "Ken's been avoiding me… as if this was all my fault. We didn't have any other choice… we didn't. I don't know why he's making such a big deal out of it anyway. I'm still me…" Yoji gave a slight grunt that was quickly followed by a sigh. Like before they had all left, there was nothing to say, nothing at all. Ken would snap out of it. And everything would go back to normal. It was on weird mission that when is was over and done with, they would all laugh at it looking back and Yoji would be able to tease Omi about being such a cute, attractive girl. His stomach clenched. He had a feeling he knew what part of the problem was with Ken. Omi as a girl reminded him of someone… someone that Ken had almost left them all for… someone… whose name Yoji wasn't even aware of.
"He's just being an ass." Yoji finally snapped, noticing that Omi had stopped talking as if waiting for a response of some sort. He saw Ran pass him and cursed again, pressing his foot down on the accelerator to catch up to the redhead. When the fuck did Ran start to drive like this? He thought a bit grumpily. "Though I got to admit, it makes me feel weird as well to see you like that. I mean its you obviously but yet… its not." Omi looked at him and gave a nervous shrug before going back to looking outside.
"If I wasn't believable i…" The whole plan would go down the drain. Endless more kidnappings would continue and countless children would be like him or worse… Omi closed his eyes. "I just wish…" He stopped, finding that his throat wouldn't let him continue. It had been hard enough not being able to go outside for a whole month because he had to 'become' the perfect girl as Aya-chan had put it, had been hard enough to get used to wearing scratchy bras and putting up with tasteless perverted jokes from Yoji… but all of that would have been somewhat bearable, Omi thought as he pushed back some hair that was tickling his cheek, if his best friend had been there to make it all seem laughable. Ken could have come up with a way to make it all seem like a joke. Omi was sure he could have but instead… Ken had just been cold, snappy and withdrawn. He couldn't seem to be happy unless he was as far away from Omi as possible. And that had hurt. More than Omi would ever admit it to hurting. It had hurt just like when Omi had regained his memories and realized… that even though his three comrades, partners… friends, wanted to come and help him deal with it, they would never do that. Never because it would mean opening up and it would mean possibly getting hurt again. But that had been understandable just like Ran's hatred for Omi's family had been understandable. Ken's sudden hatred for him, because that was how Omi saw it, was not understandable. He couldn't understand it. What had he done wrong? His fingers clenched into a fist. 'Tomorrow it will all be over… tomorrow it'll be normal… tomorrow…' He continued the little mantra in his head, hoping that the words would somehow make the large lump in throat disappear. So lost in those words was he, that Omi never heard as Yoji cleared his throat, continuing to talk now that he had found the words he wanted to say.
"I know, Omi. It's been really tough. But after today, we'll have faces if all goes well and then we'll know who are targets are and the mission will be like a regular mission. You'll be only you again and Ken will stop being an ass. And hey… once you stop being a girl… you could even ask Ran permission to date his sister. You two are so cute and…" He stopped as he realized that Omi wasn't listening at all since there was no sputtering, no blushing caused by his teasing. He sighed. He should probably just leave it like that. Leave the kid in his thoughts until we get there. But something was irking him, something that had been bothering him for days but he hadn't been able to figure out what it was exactly until tonight. With his eyes still on the road, Yoji reached out and tapped Omi's shoulder. The kid gave a little jump.
"What?"
"Sorry…" Yoji muttered. "I just… I want to know. Why is Manx so uptight about having you be prepared on being a girl when you do only have to be one for one night? I mean she made you act like you were dead for a whole month, just so you could practice for this one night! It's crazy, ne?" Great, he was tensing the kid up. He could tell by the way Omi was now sitting and looking at him sharply as if the answer to Yoji's own question would be written on his own goddamn forehead.
"I don't know why…" Omi whispered softly finally looking away. "She wouldn't tell me."
And that did little to reassure Yoji. He muffled a sigh and tried to think of something that would un-tense the whole situation.
"Meh. Oh well. At least it gave us the rare treat of having two pretty girls in the shop all of the t-…" He trailed off as he glanced for a second away from the road and towards Omi's face. The kid wasn't listening again. He seemed very far away.
Very far away.
…
"Manx-san?" Omi came up to her, leaning against the railing of the park as she did now. She acknowledged him with a short nod but said nothing, giving him the freedom to speak and not to listen to some lecture that he thought she would have given him for leaving the house without permission. "You're worried about something is going to go wrong, aren't you?" He let the question hand as he took a step backwards to get a better view of her face. "Is there something about this mission that you…Kriticker isn't letting us know?" The silence stretched and then Manx turned to face him, her back now leaning against the railing.
"O-Ouka…do?" Nothing. The words stopped coming and it was awhile before she could continue. For the first time since his first days of working with Kriticker, the woman who had saved him along with his uncle stood before him. Unsure and angry at the uncertainty, her cheeks were flushed and her face was open to showing many emotions. Then she gave small sigh and soft chuckle and when her eyes locked onto his, she was once more Manx. She was once more his boss and not the woman who had argued so passionately with his uncle that Omi was too young to be part of Weiss. "Bombay, do you trust Kriticker?" Startled by the question, he nodded. "Then you have answered your own question." It was his turn to sigh. That had not answered his question and she knew it damn well. But her face when she had stammered out his sister's name that he had taken up for his own for this month… that had given him an answer.
"You're right." He said softly. "Everything will be fine. It's only one night."
"One night." The woman repeated patiently.
"I should go. The others don't know I've gone out. Aya-chan doesn't think I've got a good girl voice yet and Ran… wants me to try and find some more information out if I can." The woman nodded but since she didn't add anything, he started to walk away. There was no use for niceties, such as goodbyes and helloes when it was just the two of them… in their mission state. There was no use at all. After all what use did they hold when no attachments could be made in their lives because of the jobs they kept? None at all.
"Omi?"
"Hai?" He didn't bother to turn around.
"You'll be fine."
…
Omi shook his head, clearing his mind of memories of that day. He sometimes wish he had never gone out to find Manx. He had been certain ever since their encounter that there was something that Kriticker was withholding from them but as to what it was… he didn't know.
He would be fine like she said. Of course he'd be fine. He was always fine. He sighed and looked away from the window. Any minute now and he would hear the change in the motor sound as it would slow down before coming to a halt. Already Ran's car and Ken on his motorcycle had disappeared down a small woody road not too far away from the circus. Any minute now… and he would see the sign welcoming innocent children to a circus, not a circus of fun and thrilling acts, but one of death and loss.
One that lead to the bad men...
He shook his head again. He couldn't think that way. Not now… not ever. There was no need for such memories. None at all. Instead, Omi concentrated on his breathing, slowing it down. He concentrated on remembering the tips that Aya-chan had given him. And then he spoke… and was a she. Yoji's eyes widened slightly when Omi spoke, dispelling the silence that had wrapped around him.
"It's here." The voice was so light, so innocent sounding. It immediately made all of Yoji's protective instinct want to grab Omi and snarl at anyone who came near. It also made him want to yell at the kid and get him out of this fucking job… make him start a new job. Yoji ignored all this, burying down the brotherly affection that he had for the kid, trying to stifle them as he pushed on the break pedal and watched silently as Omi opened the door and stepped out. The kid gave him a reassuring smile that seemed to say- I know what you're feeling even though you're hiding it… and I promise, I'll be fine. Omi waved a goodbye to him. "Ja ne, onii-chan." The boy then closed the door, leaving Yoji staring at him in surprise at having been called big brother for the first time. Not too long after, his car roared in the opposite direction, knowing that now it was up to Omi and that he would be needed with Ran and Ken.
…
Ken hissed in frustration as he looked over the crowds in search of a particular face. He was crouched in a high tree branch and because of it, all of his muscles were tense. Ran was somewhere…in another tree, hidden by the dense foliage as well. He lowered the binoculars, careful to not lose his balance and adjusted his ear piece as it suddenly crackled with static.
"Siberian." Ran's flat voice broke through the static. "Visual?"
"No, not yet."
"Keep looking." As if that had been needed! Of course he'd keep looking! Bastard. Ken fumed and looked about again before spotting Omi, being escorted into the circus by this guy. Wait a minute? Escorted? Why?
"Abyssinian…" Ken started, not liking that at all. He had a feeling they'd gotten the first real important visual for one of their targets… but that was fast. A bit too fast for his liking. At the same time as Ken had seen Omi, violet eyes narrowed in on the slight figure and the taller boy that was leading Omi to a spot to sit.
"What the hell?" He asked to himself softy. A third voice joined them, as Yoji finished climbing his chosen perch, one that was a bit more comfortable… an abandoned hunter's cabin up in a tree.
"Yo! What's up?"
…
Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka. Ouka
…I'm Ouka right now. He smiled tentatively as he went to buy his ticket. The young man handing them out gave her a look over and then smiled as if what he saw was pleasing. Omi's stomach began to cramp.
This was not a good idea.
Smile. Must remember to smile.
"One ticket please." He asked his voice higher than normal. He already fished around the small purse that Aya-chan had lent him the night before for his wallet. He'd seen on the price board what the prices were and sighed as he saw that it was free for those under 11. He wished he could pass for that age but on this mission he was supposed to be fifteen and… he had to pay. A tanned hand came into his line of vision and he had to fight the instinct to back up and kick. Biting his lip, Omi acted as if he saw nothing and made a little happy noise at having discovered his wallet. He looked up and gave another smile and the young man smiled back. The young man was leaning forward over the side of the booth, one arm holding him there while the other dangled lazily over the side. That was what he had seen. No attack… foolish, paranoid Omi. He took a breath. He paid for his ticket and turned to go, but obviously the young man had other plans as he held on to the ticket so that Omi couldn't leave.
"Ne… hold on. Are you really alone?" The voice called back behind him.
"Yeah." Omi answered after swallowing his surprise. "My Onii-chan is afraid of clowns." The boy laughed and looked at Omi again with that analyzing stare. After a second he nodded and stepped out of the booth.
"Are you afraid?" Omi blinked as he came closer.
"Nani?" Had that boy's voice actually lowered when he had asked that? Was he actually trying to flirt with him? Oh god. This was disgusting. Omi forced a bright laugh out and shook his head. The hair being held back by the hair clips began to slip out and fell in his face.
"No… I like clowns." He tried to be flirty back by blinking a lot or batting his eyelashes… as he said it something that Aya-chan had taught him… and he had seen other girls do but when he tried, he felt his face burn and he looked away, cursing this whole situation.
"That's good." The boy muttered before looking over his shoulder. He then turned back and smiled. "Look, my dad owns this circus… so I can tell you where the best seats are and everything. Would you be interested?" Omi gave a slight nod, curious. What the hell was going on? "Neat." There was a little pause. "You really shouldn't be here alone you know."
"Why?" Omi asked. Was he being warned or teased? The ticket was finally released yet the knots of tension in Omi's chest remained.
"Well… a lot of weird things have been happening around here. And I mean… you being a girl… alone… its not…" He shrugged. "…The business is kind of slow here today… and the show is about to start. If you give me a minute to close the booth… I can show you those seats and keep you company, if you're interested that is."
"Really? I…" What the hell was he supposed to say to that? He closed his eyes, feeling another blush hit his cheeks. "Thank you." He muttered with resignation but from the young man's suddenly large smile it must have sounded… different. This was really really not fun. He sighed.
Hell. I was supposed to get myself chosen…. But is this guy part of the whole deal. He just looks like… like… a flirt. And an arrogant one at that.
Yet as Omi waited for the young man to close his booth, the hair at the back of his neck began to rise. The man kept looking at him.
He didn't like the look in those eyes.
He didn't like them one bit.
If this was one of the targets… why the hell was everything happening so fast? Did they always do this to their chosen victims? He turned away and searched the darkening skies where the far outlines, partially hidden be trees were glinting eerily with the lights that came from within.
Please. Please watch over me.
…
Time passed, the show was almost over to Omi's great relief. He was confused. The young man or Jei as he had finally introduced himself to be (Omi did remember reading his name in the research he had done when looking at information for the circus… and he was indeed that circus owner's son but… that didn't mean anything about his involvement or not) had captured Omi's hand in his after two acts had been watched. Omi's mind had frozen and he nearly died of embarrassment/humiliation. The others would never know of this. He tried very hard not to glare or pull his hand out of the soft grip and instead forced a smile as he continued to watch the show. He couldn't believe that this ridiculous creature that was now holding his hand was a twenty five year old. And it was disgusting, his stomach reeled at the thought, that when Omi had said that he was only fifteen. The man hadn't even blinked. Instead he had just given Omi another smile and had whispered something that Omi had barely caught… but from what he had heard it was something like… love doesn't choose age. This was hellish. He sighed and looked around him, trying not to be obvious. Nothing really interesting had caught his eyes. No men looking around the audience… well none except Jei. But usually that thing would just look around, sigh and then turn to look at him!
His patience was withering to an end with each passing minute. This whole mission was a waste of time.
While Omi grumbled internally, Yoji's complaints were quite loud to Ken's and Ran's dismay. Yoji leaned his back on the trunk of the tree and sighed for what could only be the thousandth time. They had bugged the chibi in hopes that they would hear something interesting as well as get visuals while they were at it. But… The eldest of Weiss looked at his watch with disgust. One hour and fourteen minutes had passed and all they had heard was a lousy flirt making passes at their poor Omi who had been forced to act happy about the whole situation. It was so boring! Nothing had happened. Nothing at all. The only thing keeping Yoji in the fucking tree at the moment was that the show would be almost over and then there might be a possibility of something happening. He let his hand fall back to his side, the sleeve of his mission outfit covering his watch once more.
"This has got to be the most fucked up and most boring mission." He cursed.
"Watch your language." Ken snapped, patience wearing thin at having to hear Yoji grumble every two seconds. If they had been in the same tree, Ken would have stabbed the shoulder length hair and he could truthfully say that if at the moment, Yoji were to fall off the tree… He would have been happy. The brunette focused his green eyes back onto where Omi was sitting with that guy. They had been lucky in a way that the circus was out in the open and not hidden in a huge tent. This way they could see everything that was happening. He frowned as he observed the guy leaning towards Omi. He listened carefully but no sound came from Omi's direction except the excited oohs and aahs of the crowd.
"Ne… is that pervert still holding our Omi's hand?" Yoji asked in the headphones. Ken sighed wishing he could shut the head piece off.
"Ran, can I kill him?" Ken finally asked.
"What?" Yoji asked, sounding affronted. "I'm just making a bit of conversation while we act like fucking birds in trees! " Ken sighed again.
"Just shut up Yoji. Please… Shut up!"
"Kudou…" Ran's voice finally crackled in.
"I knew it… you always take their side." Ken rolled his eyes.
"Well… before I shut up forever. I just want to say one thing—I can't believe our Omi, our little bishonen would be so attractive. Not even a minute passed and the guys were already all over him. Ran, your sister taught him well." Ken thought he could hear Ran curse and mutter something about how they should have a law allowing decent law abiding citizens to kill morons. Yoji made a tsking sound and searched for his pack of cigarettes. Ken's lip curled up and then it thinned out in concentration as he saw that the show was finally over and the crowds were piling out and leaving. He kept his eyes focused on Omi.
"He's gone." Ken muttered in disbelief. If he had been near Yoji he would have felt the older man tense.
"What?"
"He's out of my line of vision. I can't see him. Gone." There was a pause. "Abyssinian? Visual?" There was static that meant that Ran was probably moving through the trees. Yoji leaped to a higher branch, pulling himself up and scanning the crowds.
"I have them." Ran suddenly muttered. "Following them…" There was a long pause. "They're on the move. We have our targets…GET YOUR ASSES OVER HERE!" Ran's sudden deafening roar did nothing to drown out the next sound that filtered through the static, a sound which froze Ken and Yoji's hearts… making the next few minutes a living hell as they made there way down the trees as fast as they could.
…
Omi tried to think of something to say as he followed Jei away from the crowds. Perhaps he could find something interesting to the mission now. Maybe… doubtfully. He wanted to go home now. "That was great." Omi chirped as happily as he could. Jei didn't seem to notice the lack of enthusiasm in his voice as he turned back and gave Omi a smile.
"You're really cute Ouka." He muttered instead and again Omi thought he would die. 'Urgh…this guy is lame.' He stifled a sigh and ducked his head trying to hide his disgust and a blush of anger crept over his cheeks. He felt a hand cup his face and bring it up. "Really cute…pity." 'Pity?' The last word made Omi stare at the man in disbelief.
"What?" He asked not trying to mask surprise and maybe some fear from his voice at all.
"Yeah… a pity." The hand on his face tightened and Omi saw in slow motion as Jei's face came closer to his. 'I don't think so buster. I've had enough!' He pushed the man away with as much strength as he could muster, barely noticing the burning sensation that was now his cheeks from where Jei's hand had moved away so fast. The twenty five year old fell on the ground with a dull thud. Some dry dirt flew up and Omi blinked his eyes to keep them clear of it. He looked around him. There was laughter from the ground and Omi went back to focusing on Jei. "You're perfect you know… Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you. Right type, built… everything. You even speak English." The man laughed again .and Omi fought off a chill.
"Perfect. For. What?" Omi growled. Well, he had asked for it. Had asked for the mission to become more interesting and now it certainly had. They had one of their fucking targets. But where were the others. Who would have thought that this… buffoon was… was…And what the hell? What had happened to waiting two weeks before actually kidnapping so as to not arouse even more suspicion? Two weeks hadn't passed!
"You're spirited. Don't see that much anymore…" The man came closer and Omi moved backwards into a fighting stance. The look in those brown eyes darkened suddenly. "But I think its time we stopped playing games, little girl." He continued advancing and then ran in an attack. Omi waited for the right moment, not moving at all before he could capture the flying fist that was coming his way with his own two hands and dump the man over his hip. He nearly fell with the man at the sheer weight but managed to stay upright. He took a few steps away and got back into a fighting stance, forgetting that one of the main rules in close up fighting was never stop your attacks. Never.
Where were the others? They knew he wasn't the best at this kind of fighting…
Where the hell were they? His wrist hurt and his hip. He frowned if he let that show than the man would attack him at his weak points. 'I should've continued the attack.' Omi thought suddenly as he watched the man get up with a growl. 'I should've punched or kicked but I shouldn't have let him fall. What the hell is wrong with me? I haven't fought like this since the others joined Weiss. That's no excuse!' His mind screamed at him from all directions. 'I should've known better. Should've…'
/Everyone's gotta fall sometime/
What?
The man attacked again and Omi only had the time to block the punch but it landed too close to his wrist and it sent trills of pain flying up his arm. Ignoring this, he kicked and punched back, trying to keep his breathing steady. As his fist met air, he pulled it back, already ready to punch again. His foot connected. There was a little hiss of pain and the man took a few steps back. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand quickly and then put his guard back up. The smile was still on his lips.
/He knows something you don't know/
Bastard.
Omi swore as he felt a stabbing pain blooming in his shoulder. The whole reality of his world which had been at the moment solely focused on Jei and himself was shattered. It seemed like slow motion as he turned, wide eyed, and grabbed the syringe that had been thrown at him with a deadly accuracy that matched his when he had his darts on him. The glass broke as he pulled it out, whatever liquid remaining in it dripped over his fingers to the ground was mixing with the blood that was forcing its way out of his broken skin. His shoulder felt it was on fire… and it was spreading. He searched the area and saw the second person man, minutes too later. There was another pain, in his stomach this time. He didn't bother to look down as he gasped in pain. Omi just yanked the syringe out, dropping it dully on the floor not even feeling the glass pieces that were now lodging themselves in the flesh of his hand. The world began to circle around him as his knees gave way and hit the ground.
/Trouble…you're in big trouble kitten!/
He was in trouble. That he was sure of. But what… what was this stuff? He pushed himself off the ground, hearing the first of his assailants, Jei, mutter something about the job being well done. But the job was not done. He wasn't finished.
The job was not done!
He felt clammy and sweat was trickling down his face, into his eyes and prickling them.
That could be forgotten.
He felt cold… hot…cold…hot…
That could be forgotten.
He hurt… hurt so much…
That… could be forgotten.
Omi shook his head and tried to find his footing.
"Watch it! The girl's up again. Iru!" There was a slight panic in the man's tone as Omi lunged wildly, not even knowing who or why he was attacking anymore. It just hurt too much. Then it became clear as the man with the syringes came into his line of vision. If that man went down… if he went down… then, then… Pain. Not like the one that had made fall before but fresh and blasting in his mind as his feet suddenly stilled and his head was flung backwards on its own accord. So painful was it that he didn't even feel as a third syringe entered him and a fourth one. All he could feel, see, hear or taste was this pain as it clawed in him… into his head. There were flashes of light, memories, light, memories… dark, light, dark…
…dark
dark
/Afraid of the dark, kitten?/
Yes.
Yes I'm afraid of the dark. The darkness in his mind took over, taking shapes, sounds, and colors as it swirled in him. His father… So many emotions to feel with just that one sight… that one memory…
Otto-san…
Omi reached out blindly with his hand.
Otto-san… why? Why didn't you love me? Why?
A strangled sob sounded out of him.
He was no more… those cold eyes, that beard, that aura… he was no more…
The darkness always has a price. It's tendrils reached for another memory.
I'm forgetting.
I'm forgetting again.
I can't…
I can't forget again!
"Stop it!" The scream tore out of his throat as his hands went to his head, twining with his hair. "Stop it!"
Aya… Ran. Violet eyes, distant. Cold yet warm… No more.
"Abyssinian! Abys…No! Nonononono!"
Help me. Help ne!
Yoji. Lady killer. Flirt. Tease…Older brother
"Onii-chan…not you, not you too. STOP THIS. PLEASE! …somebody help me…"
Ken-kun. Gentle smile. Goofy. Warmth… gone?
Gone.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The blue eyes were wide and blank now. The scream died along with the tears that had silently began making their way down the boy's cheeks. The head was too heavy, it fell forward and so did he body. There was a little pain. A little pain.
And then that too was gone.
"Damn." Jei commented as he wiped some sweat that had beaded up on his forehead. "You think that little bitch was a spy?" He shuddered as he remembered already the close calls with the police that they had had in the past months. Maybe they should have taken the girl after they had moved on but she had been perfect. Yet… she knew how to fight and that gleam in her eyes… and Abyssinian. She had called for that. Must be a codename. Must be. He watched as a third figure came from behind a caravan. "Shizu… finally you come after all the work is done." The man said nothing to that as he pulled the girl over his shoulder and started walking over to a van, hidden somewhere not too far. Iru frowned and shook his head.
"At least Shizu doesn't open his big wide yap all the time and gives everything away! Why the fuck did you carry on like that?" He asked, sternly. "I just wasted four syringes on her. She'll be a dummy for the rest of her life. I'd be surprised if she remembers how to talk correctly. Shit."
"She excited me. All that… spirit." He smiled and smacked his lips, barely concealing a shiver. "Lets get the show on the road now. Dad won't be conscious for another hour, which gives us enough time to bring her to H.O.P.E. Then we'll need to leave this town. Fast." Iru sighed and shook his head, walking in the direction that Shizu had gone.
Tonight's job had been done.
Tonight's job was over.
And so it seemed… their cover.
As they managed to run and climb into the van, a sword gleaming in the moonlight, swung in the air, missing by a few centimeters in taking a life.
…
Ken cursed as he continued making his way down as fast as he could and climbing onto his motorcycle. He turned the motor on with a flick of his wrist, kicking the pedal away. The screams… he shivered… Omi's screams were plaguing him, making him move faster that had ever done in sheer, desperate panic.
"I've lost him."
The words made his heart skip a beat.
Ran's words… they were desperate sounding.
Ran? Desperate? Worried?
"They're in a van heading down the road in your general direction, Siberian."
Ken registered the information as he drove to the side of the road, his eyes peeled for any movement… sign… anything!
'I'm not gonna lose you Omi. I will not lose you…'
/The game's already over/
'I will not lose you.'
/Silly. You've already lost. Checkmate and one kitty down/
The van there it was. Blue. Muddy. Charging right at him. His brown eyes widened. He tried to move before the van could crush him into oblivion…
"Siberian!" Yoji yelled uselessly in the headpiece as he saw the van make it's way towards the younger man with thundering speed. "Si-"
/Two kitties down…/