Author: Malebranche
Date: 02/01/04
Contact: xxxdre4merxxx@hotmail.com
Genre: Slash/Yaoi, AU, romance, angst, supernatural, series.
Comments: PG-13. If you can't handle slash, go away. BxS. Lime. Mangled personalities. This story has not been beta-ed, barely even proofread. I'm deeply sorry for any mistakes.
Disclaimer: Weiss Kreuz and all it's characters are properties of their respective authors.
Autumn to Ashes: Me vs. Myself vs. I
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November 2000, Berlin
The air was cold, vibrantly colorful leaves falling from the trees alongside the avenue, floating past speeding taxi drivers and rushing schoolchildren. Brad briskly walked to the Berlin branch of his company. He and a group of his associates from Los Angeles were running a check on all their other branches. The sliding doors opened in front of him as he approached, and he waved hello to his CEO, Nagi Naoe, who was standing next to the welcoming attendant.
"Brad! What's goin' on?" Nagi asked.
Brad smiled. "Nothing much. Has the rest of us gotten here yet?"
"Not quite. Susan just came in a few minutes ago, and Sakagashi went for some coffee with Hui. The rest haven't checked in." Nagi said, walking towards Brad.
"Oh well...we'll have to punish them for bingeing last night, if they're late." Brad smiled, showing teeth.
"Aw come on, you wouldn't do anything to them," Nagi rolled his eyes. "wouldn't even hurt a fly."
"I'll send them home with paper work." Brad growled menacingly.
Nagi's eyes widened. "Temper, temper..."
They walked to the elevators and entered it.
"Oh yea, did you hear? This branch recruited a rookie a couple weeks ago." Nagi said.
"So? Don't our branches hire help whenever needed?" said Brad, pushing buttons for the highest floor.
"Yea, but ya see, this rookie...the kind of work he does...well, it's almost better than yours." Nagi said, a tone of awe in his voice. "His records also say that he's never worked for anyone before, has barely even attended school!"
Brad whistled. "That's pretty scary, having someone who hasn't even gotten a high school degree surpass me..."
"No, I let me rephrase that; he almost completely skipped elementary school, took the most advanced classes in high school, and afterwards, went straight to the University of Berlin on a full scholarship." Nagi said. "Can you fuckin' imagine that? The guy's a genius!"
"Why did he choose to work in this place?" Brad wondered "He could have gotten a job anywhere! Microsoft, Macintosh, Linux, Square...you name it!"
Nagi looked puzzled. "I dunno. We're quite a big company, and we only grow in size and influence as the years pass. Maybe he sees the potential?" he said doubtfully.
"We'd take years to catch up with Macintosh, and decades to surpass Microsoft, if it's even possible. I highly doubt he would want to wait around here instead of immediately getting a high-paying position elsewhere." Brad said sarcastically.
"Well, what other reason could there be?" Nagi demanded.
"Maybe he's in love with me..." Brad laughed.
Nagi grumbled. "If you keep making those jokes I'm gonna go homophobic on you..."
Brad grinned. "What's this guy's name, anyways?"
"Schuldich."
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Schuldich walked through the doors to Crawford Software Inc., where he had been promoted continuously, from an assistant's assistant, to a job where he would actually be discussing company matters with the president and CEO, along with other high-profile personnel.
He waved hello to the welcoming attendant, Jenine, as he made his way to the coffee machine.
"Hey Schuldich, didja see the president? He just came in a couple minutes before you did!" Jenine said excitedly. "He's really attractive..."
Schuldich chuckled. "Damn, Jenine...you'll never change. Always on the prowl."
"I'm really serious this time! He's got these huge amber eyes and gorgeous hair that falls just so," She paused, using her hands to alter her hair. "And not only that, he's really nice too! He was joking around with the CEO..."
"Nah, Jenine...I'm happy for ya but I'm not really interested in this kind of thing." said Schuldich.
"Yea, I know, Mr. Straight. Well, have fun at the meeting! The president will be there." Jenine said with a wink.
Schuldich shook his head in resignation and waved goodbye. He headed to the elevator.
/Not that I meant, not interested in men...not interested in anyone is more like it./
He was about to push the button to his office's floor, when he remembered.
/Oh yea...the meeting. After all that Jenine said, I still forgot./
He entered the buttons for the top floor and waited patiently for the doors to open, a song replaying itself in his mind the entire way.
/*With a short story, the one you add to daily, you are the tragic loss.
No story book ending for this fairy tale of you.
Just the one composed with blood taken from your pen that you hold in your lifeless hand.
Cry for you. Shed tears. Mourn. Wish the end.
Cry for you. Shed tears. Mourn. Wish the end.
...
Just say you would do the same for me.
For as much as I love Autumn,
I'm giving myself to Ashes.*/
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November 2000, Los Angeles
"Oh my..." said Aya-chan, her eyes bugged out at the sight of numerous boxes of gifts surrounding the mailbox.
She went inside to check the time.
/Hmm...it's still not time for his meeting. It wouldn't hurt to tell him about this.../
She dialed the number to Brad's cellular phone, and waited for Brad to let his phone ring the customary two times before he picked it up.
A crisp voice cut through the silence following the second ring. "Brad here."
"Sir Crawford, there's a situation I think you should know about--" she said.
An exasperated sigh. "Before you go on...it's Brad!"
"Uh...yes. Brad, your ex-boyfriend has left many...many," she stressed the word "gifts for you. In fact they're swamping the yard. I was wondering..."
"Ugh. Just dump them. I'll call him later. I thought I told him..." he growled.
"Yes, si-- Brad." she corrected herself.
"Now you're learning."
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November 2000, Berlin
The meeting room was expansive, the floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides on the room allowing it's occupants a beautiful view of Berlin. The sun shone gently through the windows on one side of the room, warming the slightly chilly air coming through from the air vent.
Brad set down his folder and began setting up his folders on the table. The dark marble surface was frigid to the touch, and it made him wish he was home in bed.
"Hey, I saw a coffee machine out there...I'm going to get myself a cup, you want one?" Nagi asked.
"Sure, it'll take away this chill. Why did they have to go and get marble furniture? It's so uncomfortable..." Brad grimaced.
"They'd do anything to impress you, Brad!" Nagi winked and walked out the door.
Brad sighed and focused his mind on the job. His phone rang, interrupting his train of thought. He waited for a few seconds before picking up.
"Brad here."
Running his hand through his hair, he did not notice the young man who stepped through the door and observed him through emerald eyes.
"It's Brad!"
The emerald-eyed man squashed a chuckle.
"Ugh. Just dump them. I'll call him later. I thought I told him..."
/A hint of frustration?/
The young man looked at the other's features.
/Amber eyes, gorgeous hair just so. Yep, this must be the president./
Once the other man finished his phone call, he looked up and saw the emerald-eyed man standing at the doorway.
"Oh, hello. Please have a seat." said Brad.
"Thank you. You are President Crawford, are you not?" inquired the other man.
"Why, yes," Brad smiled. "Who might you be?"
"Schuldich."
"Oh." Brad's eyes widened. "So you're the prodigy that was hired a couple weeks ago, hmm?"
Schuldich blushed.
/BLUSH?! What's wrong with me?!/ Schuldich thought frantically.
"Uh...yes, sir." Schuldich said.
Brad groaned. "Call me Brad. My maid as the exact same problem."
Schuldich grinned. "I overheard." A pause. "I'm sorry I eavesdropped."
"Ah, it's no problem." he said "Just that...my ex-boyfriend keeps harassing me..."
"E-ex-boyfriend?" Schuldich gulped.
/I didn't think I had a problem with this stuff...after all the jokes Jenine made...but I feel awkward./
Schuldich could feel his face burning.
"Sorry if I you're uncomfortable with that. But I'm not about to change it for anyone." Brad said with a slightly offended tone.
/I guess he's been through dealing with a lot of homophobes./ Schuldich thought.
"No, it's not that. I was just taken by surprise."
Brad gave Schuldich a slightly relieved grin. "That's great. Now, where's Nagi with the damn coffee?"
"Nagi?" Schuldich asked.
"Right here, your majesty! And I've brought the rest of the team, including the Berlin staff." Nagi bellowed as he walked through the door.
And so the meeting began.
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/Being the last one to leave has it's perks,/ thought Brad, as he stared out the enormous window into the sunset. /Berlin looks small from here./
"Brad?" A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes?" Brad turned around. "Oh, it's you, Schuldich. Why are you still here?"
"I could ask you the same thing. I was asked to look for you by Nagi," Schuldich replied "they were going to go out for some drinks, and wondered if you would like to go too."
"..Nah" Brad said thoughtfully. "I'm not in the mood for a party tonight. Go ahead and have fun."
"Actually, I didn't feel like going either. I'm not really one for crowds. Gives me a headache" Schuldich said.
"Well, then would you like to join me for some food?" Brad offered.
Schuldich smiled, a corner of his lips quirking up. "Sure. I know this Italian place down the street. It's really good."
Brad turned and looked at Schuldich, who was gazing at the view. The light from the dying sun played across his features, painting them shades of red and gold.
/He's attractive./ Brad thought. /Too bad, Brad. Not in your league./
Schuldich, feeling Brad's gaze, turned and grinned. "What's so interesting?"
/Oh, nothing. Just thinking about how your eyes look like they hold fire from the sunset, how your hair looks like burnished copper, how smooth your skin would feel if I slid my finger over it.../
"Nothing. Let's go." Brad said briskly, and turned towards the door, his strides quickly carrying him away from Schuldich's presence.
/Bad Brad! No hitting on subordinates! Especially those who are straight!/
Schuldich looked at Brad's back, his smile fading away.
/*Did you ever look, did you ever see that one person
and the subtle way that they do these things and it hurts so much?
So much like choking down the embers of a great blaze.
It's that moment when your eyes seem to spread aspersions
and to scream confessions at the insipid sky parting clouds.
And you let this one person come down, come down.
I cherish you...I cherish you.*/
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Author commentary: It Speaks!
1. The occasional lyrics are From Autumn to Ashes - Short Stories with Tragic Endings. I am aware that the title and the band have the same name, but that's just a coincidence. Really.
2. Chapter 02 will be available around February 14th, if not earlier.
3. When emailing me, please do not type the subject as "Hi" or "Hello". I'm going to delete it on the spot, since a virus is going around.
4. ::Glances surreptitiously at the "review" button::