Disclaimer: I do not own Weiss Kreuz. I do however own a modest sized
band of attack pygmies that will gruesomely murder anyone that doesn't
review. Believe me, you have not seen gore until you have seen one of
those little suckers at work.
Sorry, I meant to post this on Wednesday but Fanfiction.net wouldn't let me log in. This chapter is slightly short (damnit and I was doing so well) but it has to be because the next chapter has to be all together.
Spring break starts this week, and though it means I will have more time to write, it also means I'll be stuck out in the boonies without internet. I might be able to get access somewhere, but don't hold your breath, I'll be back on the 15th. Review anyway.
Review, the pygmies are watching you.
Hey, do me a favor and imagine the flashback is in italics
Chapter 4 Cat's in the Cradle
Hiro was important to Mamoru.
When Mamoru was kidnapped all those years ago, it was Hiro who convinced their father to pay the ransom and Hiro who personally delivered the money and brutally murdered Mamoru's captors.
Mamoru knew that Hiro wasn't nearly as bad as Reiji and Masafumi. He did do some illegal things, but he didn't ask Mamoru to eliminate people that didn't necessarily need to be killed.
He needed to talk to Hiro.
Mamoru made an appointment to see his brother that afternoon, but when Hiro was told that little brother wanted to speak with him about something important, he canceled his appointments for the day and met Mamoru for lunch at a restaurant he owned nearby.
"What seems to be the problem Ma-kun?"
"Do you remember a year ago when I told you I was in love?"
"Yes, the boy from the bar, what was his name. . .Ken. Are you two having problems? You can talk to me about anything."
"Well, I went to Masafumi's the other day as a favor to a friend. I saw Ken there and I'm pretty sure he's Weiss."
". . .that is a problem. You are aware that as Weiss he has a duty to kill you too? How much do you love this boy?"
"I killed Masafumi."
". . ."
"He was trying to hurt Ken, I didn't know it was him at the time. I just thought he was another one of Masafumi's monsters, but after I shot him with my dart he looked at me and said my name."
"Do you regret killing Masafumi?"
". . . no"
"And now you are worried that he will want to kill me and you won't be able to stop him because of your feelings."
". . . yes"
"You don't need to worry about me, I can take care of myself. But to put your mind at ease, I have a plan to get off their hit list. I will need your help."
"anything."
"Do you know what our father does for a living?"
"Something illegal, I don't know the specifics but I know it's bad."
"He's crazy, he actually wants to take over the world. And he is getting very close to ruling all of Japan. If I can take over his business I could fix everything, make it better. No one would have to get hurt ever again. I hate to ask you this. If you want to say no I will understand, though I can't think of anyone else who could do it. I need you to kill father."
"consider it done."
***
The mission had gone surprisingly well. None of them were sure who had killed Masafumi, but Masafumi was dead.
Ken did his job fertilizing the roses with a smile, floating on that relieved satisfying feeling he got every time they completed a mission without any casualties. Ken didn't think that he got overly nervous before missions, but the intense relief he felt when a mission often was over lasted for days.
His relief all evaporated when he saw a familiar flash of red.
"What are you doing here?" he asked Manx in a not very nice tone. The mission on Masafumi had been yesterday. Kritiker always gave them a week to recuperate.
"Not a mission, just some news."
Aya and Yoji joined the two of them in the green house.
"Good news Weiss, Takatori Reiji was found dead in his office earlier today. We are trying to gather intelligence on the location of Hirofumi. Expect a mission within the next week."
The three members if Weiss looked at Manx in shock. Well, this was an unexpected treat.
"How did he die?"
"He was assassinated. From the looks of things it was a professional, very clean. There are no signs of a struggle at all; it was probably an inside job."
"Hirofumi?"
"I wouldn't doubt it. Hirofumi has been taking a more and more active roll on the crime scene and has all of the signs of being just as power hungry as Reiji. But he wouldn't have done it himself; even with Reiji dead, there will be many of his employees that are still fanatically loyal. They will want revenge. Hirofumi probably got some other fool to do his dirty work."
Yoji and Aya stayed to talk with Manx but Ken, relieved that he didn't have to miss out on his Omi time, decided to call it a night.
He had to go shower anyway, he smelled like cow excrement.
***
Mamoru stood on the balcony outside his room, smoking.
Flashback to earlier that day
Mamoru stood before his father in his office.
"So you've finally come to kill me?"
Mamoru remained silent.
"I assume Hirofumi sent you? Power-hungry coward couldn't get up the courage to do me in himself huh? Had to send his simple-minded baby brother?"
Mamoru refused to rise to the bait.
"And I bet you just jumped at the chance. I guess I shouldn't have expected family loyalty from you though. Seeing as you aren't family."
Mamoru's carefully schooled blank look gave way to confusion for a second before he managed to make it neutral again.
"Didn't you know? You are no son of mine. You're Kikuno's bastard. I never wanted you. I would have gotten rid of you years ago if Hirofumi hadn't spoiled it by saving you."
Mamoru was no longer listening, he had seen the slight shift in Reiji's posture as he reached for the gun under the table. Idiot, Mamoru had designed that gun.
"Well I guess this is. . ." BANG and Reiji was dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. Mamoru checked to make sure he was dead, and unloaded his gun into the body to make sure. He only had two bullets left anyway.
End of Flashback
"You know, that really isn't good for you." Mamoru smiled sardonically at Oka who had come out to spoil his self loathing pity party. He wasn't at all upset over having killed the old man, but the brooding was a tradition, he did it after every kill.
"Do you really expect me to live long enough to get lung cancer?"
"Don't talk like that Ma-kun." Oka sounded genuinely upset. Mamoru had to smile at that.
"Don't worry, I can't die, I'm invincible. We'll be together for a long time yet, I promise."
"Forever and ever Ma" Oka gave him a sad smile, the kind you give a child when you're lying to make them feel better. It scared Mamoru. Oka trusted him. If he promised her something she would take it as bible truth. But now she was obviously humoring him.
"What's wrong with you Oka, if I promise I'll be here forever then I will. I could never lie to you."
"I know, I just have a bad feeling, it's probably nothing, don't worry about it." Before Mamoru could say anything she gave him a peck on the cheek and ran back into the house leaving Mamoru staring after her. In one smooth motion, he flicked his newly lit cigarette into the now empty glass of bourbon that was sitting nearby. It really was a nasty habit.
He had a date anyway.
I don't know if –kun can be used when its really your brother or if it's just a friend thing, but I wanted Oka and Hirofumi to have a familiar way of referring to Mamoru, I don't like Mamo-chan and I don't think they should call him brother. Maybe that's the way people speak in Japan, but I don't call my brother "brother" (actually I call my brother Pants but that's a different story). Besides, since Omi tacks –kun onto everyone else's name, I figured someone should reciprocate.
Sorry, I meant to post this on Wednesday but Fanfiction.net wouldn't let me log in. This chapter is slightly short (damnit and I was doing so well) but it has to be because the next chapter has to be all together.
Spring break starts this week, and though it means I will have more time to write, it also means I'll be stuck out in the boonies without internet. I might be able to get access somewhere, but don't hold your breath, I'll be back on the 15th. Review anyway.
Review, the pygmies are watching you.
Hey, do me a favor and imagine the flashback is in italics
Chapter 4 Cat's in the Cradle
Hiro was important to Mamoru.
When Mamoru was kidnapped all those years ago, it was Hiro who convinced their father to pay the ransom and Hiro who personally delivered the money and brutally murdered Mamoru's captors.
Mamoru knew that Hiro wasn't nearly as bad as Reiji and Masafumi. He did do some illegal things, but he didn't ask Mamoru to eliminate people that didn't necessarily need to be killed.
He needed to talk to Hiro.
Mamoru made an appointment to see his brother that afternoon, but when Hiro was told that little brother wanted to speak with him about something important, he canceled his appointments for the day and met Mamoru for lunch at a restaurant he owned nearby.
"What seems to be the problem Ma-kun?"
"Do you remember a year ago when I told you I was in love?"
"Yes, the boy from the bar, what was his name. . .Ken. Are you two having problems? You can talk to me about anything."
"Well, I went to Masafumi's the other day as a favor to a friend. I saw Ken there and I'm pretty sure he's Weiss."
". . .that is a problem. You are aware that as Weiss he has a duty to kill you too? How much do you love this boy?"
"I killed Masafumi."
". . ."
"He was trying to hurt Ken, I didn't know it was him at the time. I just thought he was another one of Masafumi's monsters, but after I shot him with my dart he looked at me and said my name."
"Do you regret killing Masafumi?"
". . . no"
"And now you are worried that he will want to kill me and you won't be able to stop him because of your feelings."
". . . yes"
"You don't need to worry about me, I can take care of myself. But to put your mind at ease, I have a plan to get off their hit list. I will need your help."
"anything."
"Do you know what our father does for a living?"
"Something illegal, I don't know the specifics but I know it's bad."
"He's crazy, he actually wants to take over the world. And he is getting very close to ruling all of Japan. If I can take over his business I could fix everything, make it better. No one would have to get hurt ever again. I hate to ask you this. If you want to say no I will understand, though I can't think of anyone else who could do it. I need you to kill father."
"consider it done."
***
The mission had gone surprisingly well. None of them were sure who had killed Masafumi, but Masafumi was dead.
Ken did his job fertilizing the roses with a smile, floating on that relieved satisfying feeling he got every time they completed a mission without any casualties. Ken didn't think that he got overly nervous before missions, but the intense relief he felt when a mission often was over lasted for days.
His relief all evaporated when he saw a familiar flash of red.
"What are you doing here?" he asked Manx in a not very nice tone. The mission on Masafumi had been yesterday. Kritiker always gave them a week to recuperate.
"Not a mission, just some news."
Aya and Yoji joined the two of them in the green house.
"Good news Weiss, Takatori Reiji was found dead in his office earlier today. We are trying to gather intelligence on the location of Hirofumi. Expect a mission within the next week."
The three members if Weiss looked at Manx in shock. Well, this was an unexpected treat.
"How did he die?"
"He was assassinated. From the looks of things it was a professional, very clean. There are no signs of a struggle at all; it was probably an inside job."
"Hirofumi?"
"I wouldn't doubt it. Hirofumi has been taking a more and more active roll on the crime scene and has all of the signs of being just as power hungry as Reiji. But he wouldn't have done it himself; even with Reiji dead, there will be many of his employees that are still fanatically loyal. They will want revenge. Hirofumi probably got some other fool to do his dirty work."
Yoji and Aya stayed to talk with Manx but Ken, relieved that he didn't have to miss out on his Omi time, decided to call it a night.
He had to go shower anyway, he smelled like cow excrement.
***
Mamoru stood on the balcony outside his room, smoking.
Flashback to earlier that day
Mamoru stood before his father in his office.
"So you've finally come to kill me?"
Mamoru remained silent.
"I assume Hirofumi sent you? Power-hungry coward couldn't get up the courage to do me in himself huh? Had to send his simple-minded baby brother?"
Mamoru refused to rise to the bait.
"And I bet you just jumped at the chance. I guess I shouldn't have expected family loyalty from you though. Seeing as you aren't family."
Mamoru's carefully schooled blank look gave way to confusion for a second before he managed to make it neutral again.
"Didn't you know? You are no son of mine. You're Kikuno's bastard. I never wanted you. I would have gotten rid of you years ago if Hirofumi hadn't spoiled it by saving you."
Mamoru was no longer listening, he had seen the slight shift in Reiji's posture as he reached for the gun under the table. Idiot, Mamoru had designed that gun.
"Well I guess this is. . ." BANG and Reiji was dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. Mamoru checked to make sure he was dead, and unloaded his gun into the body to make sure. He only had two bullets left anyway.
End of Flashback
"You know, that really isn't good for you." Mamoru smiled sardonically at Oka who had come out to spoil his self loathing pity party. He wasn't at all upset over having killed the old man, but the brooding was a tradition, he did it after every kill.
"Do you really expect me to live long enough to get lung cancer?"
"Don't talk like that Ma-kun." Oka sounded genuinely upset. Mamoru had to smile at that.
"Don't worry, I can't die, I'm invincible. We'll be together for a long time yet, I promise."
"Forever and ever Ma" Oka gave him a sad smile, the kind you give a child when you're lying to make them feel better. It scared Mamoru. Oka trusted him. If he promised her something she would take it as bible truth. But now she was obviously humoring him.
"What's wrong with you Oka, if I promise I'll be here forever then I will. I could never lie to you."
"I know, I just have a bad feeling, it's probably nothing, don't worry about it." Before Mamoru could say anything she gave him a peck on the cheek and ran back into the house leaving Mamoru staring after her. In one smooth motion, he flicked his newly lit cigarette into the now empty glass of bourbon that was sitting nearby. It really was a nasty habit.
He had a date anyway.
I don't know if –kun can be used when its really your brother or if it's just a friend thing, but I wanted Oka and Hirofumi to have a familiar way of referring to Mamoru, I don't like Mamo-chan and I don't think they should call him brother. Maybe that's the way people speak in Japan, but I don't call my brother "brother" (actually I call my brother Pants but that's a different story). Besides, since Omi tacks –kun onto everyone else's name, I figured someone should reciprocate.