DISCLAIMER AND WARNINGS: see chapter 9.
Chapter 10 - Solera returns
Solera appeared at the doorway of Crawford's study.
"Farfarello found me," she said, almost sheepishly, "we talked about the whole situation and I feel better now. I'm sorry I ran out this morning, it was nothing against you. I...I'm....I just got so confused! This is really complicated for me, and I don't want you to be mad at me."
Crawford sighed. "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at myself. I guess I brought you back here the night of the explosion because I wanted my chance with you. Schuldig got his chance six years ago, and we've been arguing over you ever since. He's resigned to the fact that you could probably never trust him fully, so he's decided not to chase you. As for what I want, I've made it clear, and now it's up to you."
Solera looked at Farf, who whispered to her. "Tell him and get it out of your system."
She took a deep breath and said, "Brad, I love you, and if you kill any of my team, I won't resent you for it, you're just doing your job. Just pretend nothing happened, that I wasn't here, and everything will be back to normal."
A single tear rolled down Crawford's cheek as he kissed her goodbye. "Sol, you know I'll never be able to forget these things, but I'll try for your sake."
Schuldig appeared at the top of the stairs, his hair tied back for the first time in five years. "Notice anything different?" he said, grinning.
"Your hair, you tied it back! It looks nicer like that. You look very..uh, to be blunt, you look drop dead sexy," Solera replied smiling back at him.
"Danke schön, but in the looks department, you come first place," Schuldig pretended to look defeated, "I am at a loss."
"Stop kidding around! I have to say goodbye."
Schuldig kissed her on the lips, "Just remember all the good times we had, and I'll see you next time we fight."
Amber gave Solera a hug. "Amber, thanks for lending me clothes for the past two weeks. I would have gone home and packed, but I was under house arrest," Solera gave Schuldig and Crawford a playful glare.
// I think you would have looked better naked. //
Solera then gave Schuldig a look of mock-horror. "You're evil," she said to him.
"That's nothing new," he replied, smirking.
"Anyway, Amber, make sure you look after Schuldig. I know you like each other, and I won't stand in your way. It'll work out better for you, being on the same team and all."
"What about you and Crawford-san?" asked Amber.
"Don't worry about us. I'll come over occasionally, and who knows, you guys may be able to help Weiss with missions you aren't involved in. Your boss doesn't have to know."
She kissed Nagi on the cheek, and he blushed furiously. "Nagi, I know I can trust you to take care of Farfarello, so do it well, and I won't be mad at you."
To Farfarello, she said, "I know there's someone out there for you, let them come to you. And thank you for staying with me today, you have no idea how much I needed you to talk to."
To everyone's surprise and horror, just as Solera headed for the door, Farfarello spun her around, and kissed her passionately.
Crawford's blood boiled.
Solera took one last look around, blew a kiss to Crawford, and left.
The flower shop was filled to capacity, and Yohji had to practically swim through the girls to finish watering the flowers. Not that he minded, though. Omi had to contend with some of the girls hitting and kicking each other just to be near him, and as Yohji walked past, he laughed at the sight.
"Damatte, Yohji-kun! It's not funny!" Omi said indignantly.
"From where I am, it is," Yohji replied, jade eyes twinkling.
Aya was at the register, glaring at anyone and everyone, and Ken was hiding out in the back room.
As it neared closing time, the amount of girls got lesser and lesser. At 5 minutes to 5, the bell on the door tinkled.
"Ohayo, minna-san!!"
Omi recognised the voice immediately. "Solera!" He hugged her tightly, and she kissed him on the forehead.
"Omittchi, it's good to be back."
Ken was next in line. Solera kissed him on the cheek. "Ken-kun, is there a soccer match on tonight? If there is, I'll watch it with you. We have some serious catching up to do!"
"Can't wait! I'm glad you're back."
"So am I."
Yohji looked expectant.
"Lips or cheek?" she asked.
"Well, first I have some news. I'm going out with Taia!"
"Congratulations! So I suppose it's safer if I kiss you on the cheek then."
Yohji nodded.
She kissed him on the cheek, "and a kiss on the other one for being such a great friend."
He blushed slightly.
Without hesitation, Aya picked Solera up, spun her around, and kissed her on the nose. "Welcome back, I missed you."
The other three just stood staring at him.
"Tell me I wasn't dreaming, Omi," said Yohji, eyes wide.
"If Ken and I saw it, then you're definitely not dreaming," Omi replied, equally as disturbed.
Solera fainted dead away. Ken caught her, and as Aya went back to the apartment, Yohji spoke again.
"He's making progress."
Ken just grinned like an idiot. Then her remembered what he saw earlier. "Omi, Yohji, I have to tell you this and you probably won't like it. You'd better sit down, and both of you have to promise not to tell Aya. As for Solera, I'll tell her just before the game."
Yohji and Omi sat down, and Ken laid Solera on the floor.
"Anyway, on my way home from soccer today, I cut through the park. Then I saw Solera and the Beserker kissing!"
Yohji nearly fell off his chair. "Solera and Farfarello?! You have got to be joking! He's insane! Is he even capable of doing that?!"
"Ken wouldn't lie. I'm shocked myself, but Farfarello is a living, breathing human being. Just because he's a psychopath, doesn't mean he doesn't know how to like someone."
"You're right, Omittchi, but it's still kinda hard to believe. Our Solera kissing Farfarello? It's just too weird." Yohji shook his head. "I'm going upstairs."
Ken picked up Solera again, and he and Omi followed Yohji to the apartment.
"Farfarello, why did you kiss Solera?!"
Crawford was answered by silence. He continued, "I didn't want you to touch her! You've probably scared her off now!"
"No I haven't."
"What?"
"I haven't scared her off. I did the opposite, and if it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have admitted her feelings for you!" Farfarello said fiercely, throwing a knife at a nearby wall.
// He's right, you know, Brad. //
Crawford glared at Schuldig. // Don't call me Brad, and what do you mean, he's right? //
// Exactly that. I just listened in on their conversation at the park. That's how I came to the conclusion that she didn't want me as much as she wanted you. Maybe you should apologise to Farf. //
// Apologise? Wha- //
Schuldig broke the link, grinning, and walked away.
Crawford started to speak again. "Farfarello, I'm...uh..sorry."
"Apology accepted." Farf went back to his cell.
"Crawford-san, that was kinda harsh, what you said to him."
Crawford faced Nagi. "You know what he's capable of as well as I do. I was just concerned for Solera's safety."
"Your relationship with Solera should've never existed in the first place! Soon you'll have Takatori on your back because your fighting ability isn't up to scratch!"
"Get out of my sight!"
Nagi knew when enough was enough, and disappeared into his room.
Amber chose that time to tell Schuldig her feelings for him. She knocked softly on his door.
"Who is it?"
"Amber."
"Oh." Silence, then, "Come in."
Schuldig was lying on his bed reading a German magazine. Amber sat on the floor against the wall, and said, "I came in here to tell you something, but it's too hard for me to voice. You have my permission to find out what it is."
She felt him gently probing her mind, and what he found surprised him a little.
"Well, I'd never have guessed it, that's for sure. I have the same feelings for you, but it's too soon for me to start anything. Give it a couple of weeks, then we'll see."
Amber walked over to the bed, and kissed Schuldig. "When you're ready, just tell me, okay?"
Schuldig nodded and Amber went back to her own room.
Schuldig began to think about Solera and the effect she'd had on Crawford, Farf and himself. They'd all gone completely mad over her.
No, wait. Farf was already mad in the first place. Make that just himself and Crawford.
When they arrived at Rosenkreuz, they both thought Solera would forget about them, and boy, were they wrong! She actually came to find them, but why did she have to join Weiss beforehand?
When Solera got over the shock of being kissed by Aya, she was talkative, and told everyone about her stay at the Schwarz household, being careful to leave out the parts where she and the oldest three Schwarz members did anything.
"You wouldn't think so, but Schuldig is a really good cook! There was always a cooked breakfast waiting for me when I woke up."
Solera saw Omi frown, and said, "Of course, no one can beat your cooking!"
Omi smiled again.
"So, where did you sleep?" asked Yohji.
"In Crawford's bed. It's really big, so we shared, but he slept on top of the blanket."
Aya was suddenly interested in the conversation, and said, "Shi-ne, Crawford! That no-good son of a....why are you staring at me, Yohji?"
Yohji wiggled his eyebrows, "You're overreacting more than usual, Aya. I think I know why."
Aya gave Yohji a death glare and muttered, "I wouldn't tell you anything even if you were the last person alive."
"Come on! Stop acting like little kids!" said Solera, "The only arguments I had to put up with were between Schuldig and Amber, and even they're nicer to each other than you two are!"
"Gomen nasai," came the mumbled reply from the two older assassins.
Ken butted in with, "The game's starting in a few minutes, Sol!"
"Well, I think this is our cue to leave," said Yohji, and he and Omi went up to the tech-room, and Aya went to his room.
Ken made some popcorn, and Solera made herself comfortable on the couch. "Damn! The game's been postponed! This really sucks."
Ken came over and sighed. "Oh well, I wanted to talk to you anyway-"
"Ooh, popcorn! Gomen, you were saying..?"
"I'm going to tell you what I saw you doing, and I want you to tell me why you did it. I saw you and Farfarello kissing at the park earlier today. Why?"
"Oh, you saw that? Well you know I'd never purposely do anything to endanger the team, he made the first move and I went along with it. It was the least I could do, after all, he saved my life."
Ken's eye widened. "He saved your life? How?"
"When I was unconscious, I could feel myself slipping away. Then he said that I had to stay alive for Crawford and Schuldig's sakes, otherwise they would get weak and be killed. I still share a strong bond with them after all these years. I don't know if you knew it, but I've been friends with Crawford for most of my life. That night, when you were all surprised that Crawford didn't kill you, was the first time in six years that I'd seen him, and I realised how much he loved me. Then about a week later, I was attacked by Schuldig, and that was the first time in five years that I'd seen him. I dated him when I lived in America. That's all I'm willing to tell you, so don't ask anymore. Yohji knows about Crawford and Schuldig, and I'm sure Omi does, but no one is allowed to say anything to Aya."
"That's alright, we weren't going to say any thing to Aya anyway. Although Yohji and Omi do know about you and Farf. I had to tell them."
"I understand. I know they wouldn't say anything. You probablydon't realise how difficult it is for me, having friends on both teams.
"I know how hard it is to kill someone you thought was your best friend. I used to be a J-Leaguer but I got kicked off the team when I tested positive for drug use. Turned out my 'friend' Kase Kouichiro had been putting drugs in my water. Later, he was involved in something else, and Weiss were sent after him. I ended up killing him."
Solera ruffled Ken's hair. "A pro soccer player, eh? And you're only 19."
"20 in December," Ken pointed out.
Solera poked her tongue out at him. "I'm still older!"
Ken yawned. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Ken-kun!"
*hyperventilates* *collapses*
Only 8 more chappies to go. I'm so proud!!
R+R, yada yada..
~BS~
Chapter 10 - Solera returns
Solera appeared at the doorway of Crawford's study.
"Farfarello found me," she said, almost sheepishly, "we talked about the whole situation and I feel better now. I'm sorry I ran out this morning, it was nothing against you. I...I'm....I just got so confused! This is really complicated for me, and I don't want you to be mad at me."
Crawford sighed. "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at myself. I guess I brought you back here the night of the explosion because I wanted my chance with you. Schuldig got his chance six years ago, and we've been arguing over you ever since. He's resigned to the fact that you could probably never trust him fully, so he's decided not to chase you. As for what I want, I've made it clear, and now it's up to you."
Solera looked at Farf, who whispered to her. "Tell him and get it out of your system."
She took a deep breath and said, "Brad, I love you, and if you kill any of my team, I won't resent you for it, you're just doing your job. Just pretend nothing happened, that I wasn't here, and everything will be back to normal."
A single tear rolled down Crawford's cheek as he kissed her goodbye. "Sol, you know I'll never be able to forget these things, but I'll try for your sake."
Schuldig appeared at the top of the stairs, his hair tied back for the first time in five years. "Notice anything different?" he said, grinning.
"Your hair, you tied it back! It looks nicer like that. You look very..uh, to be blunt, you look drop dead sexy," Solera replied smiling back at him.
"Danke schön, but in the looks department, you come first place," Schuldig pretended to look defeated, "I am at a loss."
"Stop kidding around! I have to say goodbye."
Schuldig kissed her on the lips, "Just remember all the good times we had, and I'll see you next time we fight."
Amber gave Solera a hug. "Amber, thanks for lending me clothes for the past two weeks. I would have gone home and packed, but I was under house arrest," Solera gave Schuldig and Crawford a playful glare.
// I think you would have looked better naked. //
Solera then gave Schuldig a look of mock-horror. "You're evil," she said to him.
"That's nothing new," he replied, smirking.
"Anyway, Amber, make sure you look after Schuldig. I know you like each other, and I won't stand in your way. It'll work out better for you, being on the same team and all."
"What about you and Crawford-san?" asked Amber.
"Don't worry about us. I'll come over occasionally, and who knows, you guys may be able to help Weiss with missions you aren't involved in. Your boss doesn't have to know."
She kissed Nagi on the cheek, and he blushed furiously. "Nagi, I know I can trust you to take care of Farfarello, so do it well, and I won't be mad at you."
To Farfarello, she said, "I know there's someone out there for you, let them come to you. And thank you for staying with me today, you have no idea how much I needed you to talk to."
To everyone's surprise and horror, just as Solera headed for the door, Farfarello spun her around, and kissed her passionately.
Crawford's blood boiled.
Solera took one last look around, blew a kiss to Crawford, and left.
The flower shop was filled to capacity, and Yohji had to practically swim through the girls to finish watering the flowers. Not that he minded, though. Omi had to contend with some of the girls hitting and kicking each other just to be near him, and as Yohji walked past, he laughed at the sight.
"Damatte, Yohji-kun! It's not funny!" Omi said indignantly.
"From where I am, it is," Yohji replied, jade eyes twinkling.
Aya was at the register, glaring at anyone and everyone, and Ken was hiding out in the back room.
As it neared closing time, the amount of girls got lesser and lesser. At 5 minutes to 5, the bell on the door tinkled.
"Ohayo, minna-san!!"
Omi recognised the voice immediately. "Solera!" He hugged her tightly, and she kissed him on the forehead.
"Omittchi, it's good to be back."
Ken was next in line. Solera kissed him on the cheek. "Ken-kun, is there a soccer match on tonight? If there is, I'll watch it with you. We have some serious catching up to do!"
"Can't wait! I'm glad you're back."
"So am I."
Yohji looked expectant.
"Lips or cheek?" she asked.
"Well, first I have some news. I'm going out with Taia!"
"Congratulations! So I suppose it's safer if I kiss you on the cheek then."
Yohji nodded.
She kissed him on the cheek, "and a kiss on the other one for being such a great friend."
He blushed slightly.
Without hesitation, Aya picked Solera up, spun her around, and kissed her on the nose. "Welcome back, I missed you."
The other three just stood staring at him.
"Tell me I wasn't dreaming, Omi," said Yohji, eyes wide.
"If Ken and I saw it, then you're definitely not dreaming," Omi replied, equally as disturbed.
Solera fainted dead away. Ken caught her, and as Aya went back to the apartment, Yohji spoke again.
"He's making progress."
Ken just grinned like an idiot. Then her remembered what he saw earlier. "Omi, Yohji, I have to tell you this and you probably won't like it. You'd better sit down, and both of you have to promise not to tell Aya. As for Solera, I'll tell her just before the game."
Yohji and Omi sat down, and Ken laid Solera on the floor.
"Anyway, on my way home from soccer today, I cut through the park. Then I saw Solera and the Beserker kissing!"
Yohji nearly fell off his chair. "Solera and Farfarello?! You have got to be joking! He's insane! Is he even capable of doing that?!"
"Ken wouldn't lie. I'm shocked myself, but Farfarello is a living, breathing human being. Just because he's a psychopath, doesn't mean he doesn't know how to like someone."
"You're right, Omittchi, but it's still kinda hard to believe. Our Solera kissing Farfarello? It's just too weird." Yohji shook his head. "I'm going upstairs."
Ken picked up Solera again, and he and Omi followed Yohji to the apartment.
"Farfarello, why did you kiss Solera?!"
Crawford was answered by silence. He continued, "I didn't want you to touch her! You've probably scared her off now!"
"No I haven't."
"What?"
"I haven't scared her off. I did the opposite, and if it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have admitted her feelings for you!" Farfarello said fiercely, throwing a knife at a nearby wall.
// He's right, you know, Brad. //
Crawford glared at Schuldig. // Don't call me Brad, and what do you mean, he's right? //
// Exactly that. I just listened in on their conversation at the park. That's how I came to the conclusion that she didn't want me as much as she wanted you. Maybe you should apologise to Farf. //
// Apologise? Wha- //
Schuldig broke the link, grinning, and walked away.
Crawford started to speak again. "Farfarello, I'm...uh..sorry."
"Apology accepted." Farf went back to his cell.
"Crawford-san, that was kinda harsh, what you said to him."
Crawford faced Nagi. "You know what he's capable of as well as I do. I was just concerned for Solera's safety."
"Your relationship with Solera should've never existed in the first place! Soon you'll have Takatori on your back because your fighting ability isn't up to scratch!"
"Get out of my sight!"
Nagi knew when enough was enough, and disappeared into his room.
Amber chose that time to tell Schuldig her feelings for him. She knocked softly on his door.
"Who is it?"
"Amber."
"Oh." Silence, then, "Come in."
Schuldig was lying on his bed reading a German magazine. Amber sat on the floor against the wall, and said, "I came in here to tell you something, but it's too hard for me to voice. You have my permission to find out what it is."
She felt him gently probing her mind, and what he found surprised him a little.
"Well, I'd never have guessed it, that's for sure. I have the same feelings for you, but it's too soon for me to start anything. Give it a couple of weeks, then we'll see."
Amber walked over to the bed, and kissed Schuldig. "When you're ready, just tell me, okay?"
Schuldig nodded and Amber went back to her own room.
Schuldig began to think about Solera and the effect she'd had on Crawford, Farf and himself. They'd all gone completely mad over her.
No, wait. Farf was already mad in the first place. Make that just himself and Crawford.
When they arrived at Rosenkreuz, they both thought Solera would forget about them, and boy, were they wrong! She actually came to find them, but why did she have to join Weiss beforehand?
When Solera got over the shock of being kissed by Aya, she was talkative, and told everyone about her stay at the Schwarz household, being careful to leave out the parts where she and the oldest three Schwarz members did anything.
"You wouldn't think so, but Schuldig is a really good cook! There was always a cooked breakfast waiting for me when I woke up."
Solera saw Omi frown, and said, "Of course, no one can beat your cooking!"
Omi smiled again.
"So, where did you sleep?" asked Yohji.
"In Crawford's bed. It's really big, so we shared, but he slept on top of the blanket."
Aya was suddenly interested in the conversation, and said, "Shi-ne, Crawford! That no-good son of a....why are you staring at me, Yohji?"
Yohji wiggled his eyebrows, "You're overreacting more than usual, Aya. I think I know why."
Aya gave Yohji a death glare and muttered, "I wouldn't tell you anything even if you were the last person alive."
"Come on! Stop acting like little kids!" said Solera, "The only arguments I had to put up with were between Schuldig and Amber, and even they're nicer to each other than you two are!"
"Gomen nasai," came the mumbled reply from the two older assassins.
Ken butted in with, "The game's starting in a few minutes, Sol!"
"Well, I think this is our cue to leave," said Yohji, and he and Omi went up to the tech-room, and Aya went to his room.
Ken made some popcorn, and Solera made herself comfortable on the couch. "Damn! The game's been postponed! This really sucks."
Ken came over and sighed. "Oh well, I wanted to talk to you anyway-"
"Ooh, popcorn! Gomen, you were saying..?"
"I'm going to tell you what I saw you doing, and I want you to tell me why you did it. I saw you and Farfarello kissing at the park earlier today. Why?"
"Oh, you saw that? Well you know I'd never purposely do anything to endanger the team, he made the first move and I went along with it. It was the least I could do, after all, he saved my life."
Ken's eye widened. "He saved your life? How?"
"When I was unconscious, I could feel myself slipping away. Then he said that I had to stay alive for Crawford and Schuldig's sakes, otherwise they would get weak and be killed. I still share a strong bond with them after all these years. I don't know if you knew it, but I've been friends with Crawford for most of my life. That night, when you were all surprised that Crawford didn't kill you, was the first time in six years that I'd seen him, and I realised how much he loved me. Then about a week later, I was attacked by Schuldig, and that was the first time in five years that I'd seen him. I dated him when I lived in America. That's all I'm willing to tell you, so don't ask anymore. Yohji knows about Crawford and Schuldig, and I'm sure Omi does, but no one is allowed to say anything to Aya."
"That's alright, we weren't going to say any thing to Aya anyway. Although Yohji and Omi do know about you and Farf. I had to tell them."
"I understand. I know they wouldn't say anything. You probablydon't realise how difficult it is for me, having friends on both teams.
"I know how hard it is to kill someone you thought was your best friend. I used to be a J-Leaguer but I got kicked off the team when I tested positive for drug use. Turned out my 'friend' Kase Kouichiro had been putting drugs in my water. Later, he was involved in something else, and Weiss were sent after him. I ended up killing him."
Solera ruffled Ken's hair. "A pro soccer player, eh? And you're only 19."
"20 in December," Ken pointed out.
Solera poked her tongue out at him. "I'm still older!"
Ken yawned. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Ken-kun!"
*hyperventilates* *collapses*
Only 8 more chappies to go. I'm so proud!!
R+R, yada yada..
~BS~