Author's Note-- ( time ) I figured it was about time I actually finish something I start, so here I am. I also realised that I still have yet to get to the actual RanKen part in either of my Weiss chapter fics. So, you see! I knew I would update this. I just didn't know when. ^^;; This part isn't as humourous as the last two pieces, though. It should pick up again in the next (last) part, though.
Word to the musically consumed-- This most of this chapter was written to the intoxicating sounds of AFI's "The Leaving Song Pt. II"
Warnings-- Humourous use of drugs and their effects, Shounen ai (RanKen), OOC, Angst, Langauge, Silliness... Etc.
Disclaimer-- I did own it, but sold it for the privilege to become a lifeless loser with no money. :)
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An Eternal High 3/4
By Seph Lorraine
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Ken vanished around 15:45 that afternoon, and really had only been seen once since; lingering in the foyer and staring out through the window by the door. No one had really had anytime to check up on him for their own respective reasons. Youji, of course, was not to be seen-- out doing whatever it is that Youji does during his daylight hours. Omi, unsurprisingly, had angrily locked himself within his room and, like Ken, had yet to be seen. Aya was busy with other things, heading to a rendevouz point for a conference with Manx on the current "conditions" of the Koneko.
Not to say that even Ken didn't feel like looking for himself as he sat on the rooftop, arms propped up against the ledge and staring down into the alley between their building and the one beside it. He didn't feel like going inside, despite the cold droplets of rain that was beginning to fall. He just wanted to breathe. Even if it chilled his lungs to a dull pain, he just wanted to breathe.
Why was he suddenly feeling like the sky was just trying to swallow him? Waiting until he was carefully unaware of its being to then sink down to the earth, and suck him up to freeze in the bowels of space or burn on the shield of the atmosphere. Then just as he was fearing the hungry sky, the alley he now looked down on would bite down onto his legs, jerking him downwards to the soggy contents of it's narrow cavern, and into the pits of the cold, hard Earth. [1] Either way, they wouldn't allow him to stay where he was.
The brunett gripped the ledge harder and shut his eyes. He didn't want to go inside, though. He couldn't breathe inside. Even if he caught cold, or if the sky or alley pulled him away from his spot on the roof, at least he could breathe.
He just wanted to breathe.
18:00 -- // Something Must Be Done \\
"Manx." Aya approached the patiently waiting woman standing only a few metres away from the deserted swing set in the park. The rain was falling quite fully now, small 'ping's resounding as thousands of tiny droplets began to ricochet from the metal bars of the swing set.
"Abyssinian." The redheaded woman, in turn, acknowledged. "I hope you don't mind if we move this to the gazebo. I have some rather important things to attend to this evening and I don't feel like re-drying my hair."
Aya resisted rolling his eyes and followed her along the small pathway up to a deserted white gazebo. Where they each took a seat to continue their conference.
"We have been looking in on Siberian's recent condition this afternoon--" The woman began, but found herself quickly cut off.
"As far as my knowledge goes, you haven't yet been informed--"
"We have been informed. We noticed a mentioning of it in Bombay's mission report last night, when it was sent in, and rather early this afternoon-- a bit after four-- when Bombay sent us a further invoice relating Siberian's condition. Though one thing that happened to illude us, was that in his message he also included a sort of apology, but it was so choppy and awkward we're not quite certain what it was about--"
Aya let out a low growl from the back of his neck. Omi had obviously known that Aya would be informing Kritiker on a particular relationship of his, and had seen to it to make an aforementioned apology of sorts. Tsk! Kids these days...
Manx raised an eyebrow.
"I've been meaning to talk to you about that, too."
"Obviously." She crossed her arms and leaned back against the bench.
"..."
"Well, would you care to enlighten me?"
"First, about Ken--"
"Kritiker has a group working exactly on that issue as we speak. They're hoping to uncover an antidote before things get worse--"
"Get worse?"
"Must you always interrupt?!" She snapped.
"What do you mean 'before things get worse'?!" He growled, ignoring her previous inquiry.
Manx opened her mouth to reply, but paused before any words could leave her lips. Her eyes peered at Aya thoughtfully before she began, "Surely you are aware of the already awkward mentality of Siberian while on this drug. Our scientists happened to have looked into one of your previous missions involving a maker of these kinds of drugs. We managed to scrape together some samples of the product and began research immediately. After only a bit of study, we have made some remarkable discoveries. Too much time under the influence of this 'drug' he's on, and it could have some seriously damaging effects. He might as well become the Berserker of Weiss--"
"What?!" The word had left his mouth before he had even had time to think.
"Knowing Siberian and piecing him together with the effects of this drug, it is bound to have seriously decreased his inhibitions and abilities. I've heard about the sort of things he's been up to-- gluing his hand to a -wall-?! Talking to inanimate objects as if in normality! Think of the damage he would do on missions! He's no good to us this way--"
"He's no 'good to you'?! What is that supposed to--"
"Fujimiya, I did -not- mean it like that!"
"What do you mean by 'effects', then?" Aya's arms were crossed and his gaze was like ice.
Manx sighed and leaned forward, "I mean, that the effects of this drug could be permenant if an antidote is not received soon. If he remains like this and the antidote dosen't work, he'll have to be elliminated."
There was a moment of silence between them, the sound of the rain-- now pounding-- seemed to only add to the meaning of the words as they sunk in. When the redheaded assassin spoke his tone was low, "Then they had better work fast." He turned, walking out of the small gazebo and into the pouring rain.
"Abyssinian!" The woman was standing now, watching him with inquiring eyes, "You forgot to mention about Bombay's--"
"It's nothing. It's already been taken care of anyway."
He cut his way quickly along the path, in the pouring rain. In fact, he had hardly taken notice of the presence that now pounded so loudly around him. His disheveled crimson hair was soaked and hung flat against his scalp, his bangs falling into his eyes in the way it always did when it was drenched. He continued with his quickened pace on through the park until he reached the street, where the reality of what was going on seemed to hit him and cover him, like the rain was so readily doing, already.
It wasn't a far way back to the Koneko, but what was the use of hurrying when he was already soaked, he figured. He needed some time to think, anyway. He cut off in a way opposite the Koneko, slowing his strides to a steady, thoughtful pace, drifting through the street like a phantom, undisturbed by the falling rain.
The situation finally appeared to be much more serious than they had originally thought. If Ken was unable to be cured of his un-ending high, he would have to be elliminated-- and it would be at Weiss's hands, no doubt. Sure, the mission to anyone else might seem easy enough. He lived with them, ate with them, worked with them-- not quite sure about "slept with them"--, so there was hardly any real physical difficulty in it.
Though, truthfully, none of them were ready for a mission like that.
Not even Aya.
Especially not Aya.
'If he must be elliminated, it will not be at my hands.' His mind bristled at the thought of how that would look, were it -he- that was assigned the actual killing of Ken. His feet, where they had been walking had come to an abrupt stop. What was wrong with this? He was actually lamenting over the death of Hidaka Ken-- the one man whom he had insisted was a burden upon the very earth since he had met him.
A coy smirk seemed to ghost across his lips, 'It's always odd how we end up.'
Who was he really trying to fool? Sure, he remembered when he had really thought the brunett to be that annoying, but he couldn't say that he still felt that way anymore. He sighed, running a pale hand through his soaking wet hair. People change, obviously, but lately it was so hard to figure out whether it was he or Ken that had really changed. Where had Ken stopped being just 'annoying Hidaka'? Or had he ever stopped? Maybe Ken had always stayed the same and Aya, instead, had done the changing?
It was now that he noticed how heavy his wet layers of clothes were upon his body. His knees were almost bending beneath the weight of the jacket, sweater, and slacks. He began to walk again, circling the present block and finally nearing the Koneko.
Who was he to refuse having anything to do with Ken's ellimination? He was merely there to take orders, it seemed, so why did he feel so prone to out-right refusal upon such a mission-- were he to receive it? Somehow, it was obvious, this was Ken's fault. He had obviously done something to Aya, that had gone unnoticed, and because of it now the redhead had become indecisive about the younger man.
He was now quickly approaching the alley, through which was the side door into the kitchens.
He didn't know exactly what he felt for the other man anymore. What was once something similarly marked as hate upon their first meeting, had slowly changed into something even he failed to recognise. The question was, what was it? And that he didn't know.
He was now only steps away from the door, unaware of a pair of green eyes that watched him frightenedly from the roof of the building for which he was directed.
Whatever it was, though, it was a nice feeling. A sort of light feeling that tickles the skin and enthralls the senses, and buries itself in a cacoon within one's stomach. Though as this slowly stirred within Aya, his calmer, more rational self retaliated with common sense. If he were to receive a mission such as the ellimination of Siberian, and he was not to follow through with it, that meant that he had allowed himself, as well as Ken, to become a threat to the mission. That had been what he was trying to avoid, originally, and why he had so tried to distance himself from the other members of Weiss. But it hadn't worked.
And he really couldn't find it in him to care.
He took the last step to the door in one giant bound, flung open the door with little less than exaggerated drama, and entered the Koneko-- barely resisting a loud shout of, "HONEY! I'M HOME!" [2]
And though his clothes were soaked and heavy against his body, he felt lighter than the clouds.
On the roof, looking down into the alley, and seeing Aya practically dance into the Koneko, Ken breathed a sigh of relief. The brunett ran a shaky hand through his hair and smiled. He was so happy that the alley hadn't eaten Aya.
23:30 -- // Up On The Roof Top (click, click, click) Down Through The Staircase With Good St. -Nek- //
Aya opened the door to the computer room swiftly without a knock and regarded the stunned chibi with a cold gaze, "I can't find Ken."
"Hn. Maybe he left." Omi shrugged his face was perfectly calm, though his normally sparkling blue eyes held a peculiar combination of apathy and anger-- bearing and uncanny resemblence to the Prodigy, himself.
"Would you have any ideas as to where he could be?" The redhead continued to watch the youngest Weiss through cold violet eyes.
"No." The blond practically spit and returned his gaze to the computer.
Standing in the doorway, Aya sighed and closed his eyes for a moment before he began, "I didn't tell Manx."
Blue eyes widened considerably and in less than a second he had turned in his chair to face his leader, attention rapt and solely focusing on the frigid man before him. He watched the man closlely, unsure of whether this was a factitious Abyssinian that stood before him or not, "You... didn't?"
Aya shook his head, his expression grave as he opened his eyes to watch the chibi, "I was too distracted."
The hopeful glimmer in Omi's eyes vanished, "Oh."
"But..." The redhead began again, crossing his arms over his chest, the frown still etched over his face, "After thinking on... things..." He paused, a look of annoyance tinging his already grim expression. It was obvious he wasn't used to doing these kinds of things, "I have decided not to bring it up at all."
"What...?" Blue eyes had become even larger, a look of utmost surprise crossed Omi's pale features, "You mean... But..." He drifted off, unable to assemble the words to what he wished to say.
"I know this is probably the worst mistake I could make, but I have chosen to turn a blind eye to your relations." He dropped his arms loosely to his sides, his serious expression showed slight uncertainty. "I know you're not the child we see you as, and therefore the responsibility is yours." At this his eyes narrowed, "It's your decision whether to continue with these 'affairs' or not, and the risk they run against all of Weiss. I will not be involved."
In a flash the youngest Weiss had raised from his chair and gripped his leader into a large hug, "I don't know how to thank you, Aya kun! I'm in your debt--"
The redhead wriggled uncomfortably in the blond's grasp trying subtly to remove the wiry arms that had managed to clamp around him, "No. As far as the situation is considered, I know nothing of it."
Omi nodded and stepped back, removing his arms from the uncomfortable looking redhead. His smile was wide as he reseated himself in the chair, "What inspired this change?"
Aya's eyes were hollow, he suddenly appeared tired, "Kritiker's working on an antidote for Ken."
"Yea?" His smile decreased significantly in vibrance, "So Ken kun will be back to his old self, soon?"
The redhead shrugged, suddenly unwilling to continue.
"... Aya kun?" The smile had vanished, "What is that supposed to mean?" There was a pause, "You shrugged, Aya. Aya, you shrugged!! How could you -shrugg- at something like this?!"
"I'm aware of what I did, Tsukiyono." The leader snapped.
"AYA KUN!" The blond was practically yelling, "A shrugg is NOT a good sign!"
"I -know-, that." The violet-eyed man growled.
There was silence for a few moments before the blond spoke again, and even then it was only a reluctant whisper, "Oh no..."
Aya didn't speak and managed only to prepare to turn and exit.
"Wait, Aya... I remember Youji saying something about this evening--"
"Youji's out alone, I've called him. He was going to take Ken to a club in his condition-- thought it would be amusing." He snorted disdainfully, his face disgusted, "He couldn't find him, either." [3]
THUMP
Omi banged his head against the desk infront of him, "Oh man, this is my fault."
A crimson eyebrow raised eloquently in question.
The blond sighed, "I kind of got angry with him for telling you about--"
"Aa." Aya nodded and began to leave, as if that explained everything.
"But, Aya! Where are you going?! We have to find him!" The blond followed out of the room and into the hallway behind the redhead.
"Go back to what you were doing. I know where he is." He picked up his jacket in the kitchen and prepared to climb up to the roof. He had spent more than enough time with Ken to figure out the few patterns the brunett did have. When Ken was upset he went either to the soccerfield or the roof.
In his current state though, it was doubtful that he would even be able to find the soccerfield.
As he had expected, the brunett was on the roof, sprawled out lazily near the ledge and soaked from the rain. Though, unexpectedly, he was quite soundly asleep when Aya reached him. The redhead stood over him for a moment, watching uncertainly as the sleeping man twitched every few minutes and mumbled something about nachos.
"...Nacho cheese... not your cheese... Heh heh..." There was a soft snort from the brunett.
Aya frowned.
The sleeping man continued to mumble in his sleep and giggle to himself for a few more moments until the redhead actually knelt down beside him and gave him a sharp nudge at the shoulder. Green eyes snapped open in an instant and began to scan around quickly in less than a moment they locked on the dark sky, looming above them.
"Eep!" A muffled cry from the brunett before he latched onto Aya's arm, his face contorted in fear, "It's big, Aya! Really big!"
The leader lifted an eyebrow.
"How can you just sit there?! You have to go before it gets -both- of us!" Green eyes were panicked as the brunett sat up and began physically pushing on the redhead to leave, "Go quick! Back inside!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Aya snapped sharply, narrowing his glare at the other man.
Ken did not answer, instead looking up at the vast black sky and standing. He reached down and grabbed Aya's hand and began pulling him towards the door that led up to the roof, "Are you coming or not?"
Growling, the redhead allowed himself to be dragged through the door and onto the staircase, where Ken froze rigidly.
The brunett froze, grasping at his neck and quickly pushed past a very confused Aya to get back outside, "Can't... breathe! Ack!"
The leader was sure he was about to blow a fuse as he started up after Ken, again, "What are you doing?"
"I can't breathe in there!" The brunett panted, his index finger pointing accusingly at the innocent staircase door.
"Why not?" Aya frowned, it was obviously getting worse.
"I don't know! I just can't!" Ken shrugged, watching his feet with a frown, "I want to go inside, but it's suffocating me in there."
The redhead shook his head, "Don't be like that. You can breathe fine in there, it's just that drug you're on. It's making you -think- that you can't. Now, come in--" But Ken had already reseated himself and looked perfectly content just to sit there for the rest of the night.
Green eyes looked up at their leader and smiled, "I'm really fucked up, aren't I?"
Sighing, Aya walked over slowly to sit beside the other man, drawing up his legs. He was silent for a moment before nodding, "Hai. You're pretty... 'fucked up'."
There was a snigger from the brunett, "Did you just say I was pretty? Or fucked up?"
"Hn." There was a pause, "I saw your poem."
"...What poem?" Ken sounded confused.
"The one you wrote with the magnets."
"I wrote a poem?"
"Hn."
"What was it about?"
"...I'm not quite sure. It was complicated. I copied it down and put it in my pocket, but I'm pretty sure the rain ruined it."
"Was it good?"
"Probably. I just didn't understand it."
"Good."
The redhead raised an eyebrow and regarded the younger man with interest.
"Aya?"
"Hn?"
"What are you doing up here?"
"...Looking for you."
"Why?" Green eyes watched their companion keenly.
"Because it's late, and you should be inside--"
"But I can't go inside--"
"I know.
"... Then why are you still here?"
Aya sighed, "Why are you acting so sane suddenly?"
"...I don't know." He glanced away for a moment, "You have a calming presence."
Ignoring the comment, the redhead continued, voice still quiet, "Are you even aware of how you've been acting lately?"
"...I am. I've been acting like a fucking lunatic." This was followed by a badly surpressed giggle.
The violet-eyed man nodded, not quite sure what to think of this, "If you know what you're doing, then why do you continue to do it?"
Ken shrugged, "I said I know what I'm doing, not that I can help whether I do it or not. I just do whatever I think to do."
Aya watched him for a moment, frowning, "And your mind told you to wreck our phone?"
"Did I do that?"
The leader quietly tried to piece this together: Ken was doing whatever his mind told him to do, yet he was aware he was doing, even if he couldn't control it. Then he couldn't remember doing it once it was done? Wow, that was strangely complicated.
"Ken, do you remember anything you've done so far?"
"Wasn't there a really big spider around earlier?"
Aya groaned and resisted rolling his eyes, "No."
"Oh."
"Hn."
"I remember that..." He took a moment to think, "...Omi hates me, now?"
"No, he dosen't. I just talked to him."
"Did he -say- he didn't hate me?"
"Did he ever -say- that he hated you?"
"...He didn't have to."
"He was just upset. He acted irrationally, and I assure you he didn't mean it."
The brunett was silent, his gaze trained somewhere on Aya's face. He gave no sign of even hearing the redhead.
"Has anyone ever told you that you have a pretty nose?"
Aya's eyebrow was getting tired, but it lifted again anyway due to present amusement. "You did, earlier."
"Oh." The brunett snorted and began to laugh.
Unable to resist, the Weiss leader rolled his eyes, "Hn."
After a moment's laughter Ken spoke again, "I like this."
"Hn?"
"You started talking to me. Now, I want to talk to you." Two greens eyes were now trained very seriously upon Aya's own violets.
"About what?" Ken's gaze suddenly made him uncomfortable, and he moved his eyes to stare elsewhere.
"No idea, really. I just like talking to you."
"..."
"Except when you do that."
"...?"
"Dammit, Ran, stop that!"
There was a pause as Aya frowned. There was that name, again. "Why did you call me that?"
"Why did I call you what?"
"Ran."
"Did I?"
"Yes."
"Hm. Make of it what you will. A wise man hears not all, but what he does, he hears in all ways."
There was silence for a moment before Ken began giggling again, "Oo! I am Buddha!"
"No, you are not."
"Yes, I am."
"No-- I am not going to argue whether you're God or not."
"You believe I am not God?"
"No."
"You're right, I am not God."
"...?"
"You are!" More giggling.
"...Right."
"Do you believe in God?"
"...Not really."
"Me neither. Kase always said, 'God is a clutch for the weak who cannot face life on their own'." The brunett sighed, as if not even realising what he said.
Aya froze, his eyes trained carefully on the other man. He had never heard him speak so openly of his traitor. Omi had asked him a question on the subject once, but had only been ignored as the brunett excused himself--- probably to sulk.
"And..." He began quietly, "You don't believe in God because of him?"
The brunett scowled and snapped back, as if suddenly realising their topic of conversation, "I'll choose what I believe in and what I don't on my own!"
There was a hesitant nod from the redhead and all fell silent again.
"Aya?"
"Hn."
"I'm going to tell you something very important, now."
"..." He was silent. This would probably be another outrageous exclaimation, like earlier. He's already claimed to be God, what else is left? Did he invent breathing or something?
"Are you listening?"
"Yes, Ken. I am listening." The entire sentence came out as a long sigh.
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"You're just waiting for me to say something stupid."
"..."
"I am not about to say something stupid."
"Then say it."
"You're a good person, Aya."
"..."
"That wasn't a stupid thing to say."
"I would probably ask if you were high about now, but I am unfortunately already assured..."
"I wasn't lying, damnit! You're a good person."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really. You mope around all the time like your soul has been sucked out of your ear, sure, you're as bitchy as if you had a stick shoved up your ass, sure, you are rude to all the girls who come in to our shop, sure, you probably think I'm stupid, sure-- but I think you're even more stupid than me. And on top of all that, you're a good person."
"Ken, you need sleep."
"That has two alternate meanings. Both of them are true."
"You're kind of sounding like Youji, now."
"Would Youji call you a good person?"
"No, but you wouldn't either."
"Well what would Nek say?"
"..."
"Well?"
"...'I like soccer'."
"... Is that the best you can do?"
"..."
"I can do you: '...'"
"..."
"I can do more: ..."
"Er, that's alright."
"It's times like these, on a deserted roof-top, after it's rained, when I'm high, and you think I'm stupid, that I really think I love you."
Aya froze. Every muscle in his body locked into place, unwilling him to move. Was this a joke of some kind? He felt himself wanting to ask, but somehow he couldn't move his jaw to bring out the words.
"Mm-hm. That's strange." Ken looked unfazed as if he had just made a comment on any little thing in the universe. His tone was no different than: 'Hey, there's a fly on that piece of bread. Why are flies so fast?'
"I think you've been out of it just a bit too long." The redhead's voice was quiet, almost as if he didn't want to say it.
"Yea, I have. But I do, anyway." The brunett shrugged and glanced at the door, "Someone's listening to us."
On instinct, Aya was on his feet in less than a second, facing the door as it opened to reveal a somewhat nervous Omi. The blond bit his lip, glancing from Aya to Ken then to his feet, "I've been looking for you guys for about ten minutes. Manx told me I'd find you here. They have the antidote."
The redhead nodded and Ken quirked his head in a confused manner.
"Come, Ken. We're going to fix you." He started towards the door but then noticed that the brunett would go no further. He sighed. 'Not this, again...'
"I can't go in there!" The ex-soccer player yelped as Aya quickly grabbed hold of his arm. He motioned to Omi, who grabbed the other and they began dragging the struggling Siberian to the staircase. "But I can't breathe in here!"
"Yes you can, Ken! Now, shut up and calm down!"
There was a choking sound from the brunett, as he was pulled reluctantly down the staircase, "No... I can't...!"
"Don't listen to your mind, Ken. Listen to me." Aya's voice was calm and spoke softly, his warm breath brushing gently against his ear. 'Don't doubt me, Ken. Trust me.' [4]
He nodded, ignoring the black spots that were now eating way at his vision, he opened his mouth to inhale, but he suddenly couldn't. His head felt so light and all he was aware of was two arms had just lifted him up against a warm body, and began to carry him down the stairs. It smelled like Aya.
He hoped it was.
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To be continued...
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Author's Notes... (For background info)
1] This is all relevant to what is known as a "bad trip". If you know anything about drug termanology, it's basically when someone gets
high/stoned and start to have some negative mental displacements during the course of the drug's stimulation. Often people can become convinced that you're trying to kill them, that the sky is about to fall and crush them, that there are bugs crawling all over their body, etc. I knew a girl one time who nearly died after going on a bad trip. At one point she said that she was convinced there was a wasp inside of her ear trying to get out and it kept stinging her.
Ken's not necessarily on a bad trip, here, but certain happenings are beginning to take his mentalilty a bit off track, and the results, thus... In this you see Ken's afraid that the world wants to swallow him, or tear him apart, and he feel's like the building is trying to suffocate him. This is actually meant bi-literal. What he feels is his literal thoughts, but they're paralleled by a rather obvious symbolic meaning that I won't bore you by exaggerating any further than that.
2] Even Aya is a prima donna at heart. *_*
3] If you read the 2nd part you'll notice Youji mentions doing something with Ken "tonight", since he was all crazy and whatnot. Due to my bad habbits of abandoning my fanfics just as they get interesting, though, the funny club scene will have to be omitted. This is my bad cover for it. Psch! I know, I know, I suck. Club scenes are over-rated, anyway.
4] Okkei, if you go back and read what Ken says right before he claims to be Buddha, you'll get this. :P It's stupid, I know. I should be shot.
Word to the musically consumed-- This most of this chapter was written to the intoxicating sounds of AFI's "The Leaving Song Pt. II"
Warnings-- Humourous use of drugs and their effects, Shounen ai (RanKen), OOC, Angst, Langauge, Silliness... Etc.
Disclaimer-- I did own it, but sold it for the privilege to become a lifeless loser with no money. :)
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An Eternal High 3/4
By Seph Lorraine
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Ken vanished around 15:45 that afternoon, and really had only been seen once since; lingering in the foyer and staring out through the window by the door. No one had really had anytime to check up on him for their own respective reasons. Youji, of course, was not to be seen-- out doing whatever it is that Youji does during his daylight hours. Omi, unsurprisingly, had angrily locked himself within his room and, like Ken, had yet to be seen. Aya was busy with other things, heading to a rendevouz point for a conference with Manx on the current "conditions" of the Koneko.
Not to say that even Ken didn't feel like looking for himself as he sat on the rooftop, arms propped up against the ledge and staring down into the alley between their building and the one beside it. He didn't feel like going inside, despite the cold droplets of rain that was beginning to fall. He just wanted to breathe. Even if it chilled his lungs to a dull pain, he just wanted to breathe.
Why was he suddenly feeling like the sky was just trying to swallow him? Waiting until he was carefully unaware of its being to then sink down to the earth, and suck him up to freeze in the bowels of space or burn on the shield of the atmosphere. Then just as he was fearing the hungry sky, the alley he now looked down on would bite down onto his legs, jerking him downwards to the soggy contents of it's narrow cavern, and into the pits of the cold, hard Earth. [1] Either way, they wouldn't allow him to stay where he was.
The brunett gripped the ledge harder and shut his eyes. He didn't want to go inside, though. He couldn't breathe inside. Even if he caught cold, or if the sky or alley pulled him away from his spot on the roof, at least he could breathe.
He just wanted to breathe.
18:00 -- // Something Must Be Done \\
"Manx." Aya approached the patiently waiting woman standing only a few metres away from the deserted swing set in the park. The rain was falling quite fully now, small 'ping's resounding as thousands of tiny droplets began to ricochet from the metal bars of the swing set.
"Abyssinian." The redheaded woman, in turn, acknowledged. "I hope you don't mind if we move this to the gazebo. I have some rather important things to attend to this evening and I don't feel like re-drying my hair."
Aya resisted rolling his eyes and followed her along the small pathway up to a deserted white gazebo. Where they each took a seat to continue their conference.
"We have been looking in on Siberian's recent condition this afternoon--" The woman began, but found herself quickly cut off.
"As far as my knowledge goes, you haven't yet been informed--"
"We have been informed. We noticed a mentioning of it in Bombay's mission report last night, when it was sent in, and rather early this afternoon-- a bit after four-- when Bombay sent us a further invoice relating Siberian's condition. Though one thing that happened to illude us, was that in his message he also included a sort of apology, but it was so choppy and awkward we're not quite certain what it was about--"
Aya let out a low growl from the back of his neck. Omi had obviously known that Aya would be informing Kritiker on a particular relationship of his, and had seen to it to make an aforementioned apology of sorts. Tsk! Kids these days...
Manx raised an eyebrow.
"I've been meaning to talk to you about that, too."
"Obviously." She crossed her arms and leaned back against the bench.
"..."
"Well, would you care to enlighten me?"
"First, about Ken--"
"Kritiker has a group working exactly on that issue as we speak. They're hoping to uncover an antidote before things get worse--"
"Get worse?"
"Must you always interrupt?!" She snapped.
"What do you mean 'before things get worse'?!" He growled, ignoring her previous inquiry.
Manx opened her mouth to reply, but paused before any words could leave her lips. Her eyes peered at Aya thoughtfully before she began, "Surely you are aware of the already awkward mentality of Siberian while on this drug. Our scientists happened to have looked into one of your previous missions involving a maker of these kinds of drugs. We managed to scrape together some samples of the product and began research immediately. After only a bit of study, we have made some remarkable discoveries. Too much time under the influence of this 'drug' he's on, and it could have some seriously damaging effects. He might as well become the Berserker of Weiss--"
"What?!" The word had left his mouth before he had even had time to think.
"Knowing Siberian and piecing him together with the effects of this drug, it is bound to have seriously decreased his inhibitions and abilities. I've heard about the sort of things he's been up to-- gluing his hand to a -wall-?! Talking to inanimate objects as if in normality! Think of the damage he would do on missions! He's no good to us this way--"
"He's no 'good to you'?! What is that supposed to--"
"Fujimiya, I did -not- mean it like that!"
"What do you mean by 'effects', then?" Aya's arms were crossed and his gaze was like ice.
Manx sighed and leaned forward, "I mean, that the effects of this drug could be permenant if an antidote is not received soon. If he remains like this and the antidote dosen't work, he'll have to be elliminated."
There was a moment of silence between them, the sound of the rain-- now pounding-- seemed to only add to the meaning of the words as they sunk in. When the redheaded assassin spoke his tone was low, "Then they had better work fast." He turned, walking out of the small gazebo and into the pouring rain.
"Abyssinian!" The woman was standing now, watching him with inquiring eyes, "You forgot to mention about Bombay's--"
"It's nothing. It's already been taken care of anyway."
He cut his way quickly along the path, in the pouring rain. In fact, he had hardly taken notice of the presence that now pounded so loudly around him. His disheveled crimson hair was soaked and hung flat against his scalp, his bangs falling into his eyes in the way it always did when it was drenched. He continued with his quickened pace on through the park until he reached the street, where the reality of what was going on seemed to hit him and cover him, like the rain was so readily doing, already.
It wasn't a far way back to the Koneko, but what was the use of hurrying when he was already soaked, he figured. He needed some time to think, anyway. He cut off in a way opposite the Koneko, slowing his strides to a steady, thoughtful pace, drifting through the street like a phantom, undisturbed by the falling rain.
The situation finally appeared to be much more serious than they had originally thought. If Ken was unable to be cured of his un-ending high, he would have to be elliminated-- and it would be at Weiss's hands, no doubt. Sure, the mission to anyone else might seem easy enough. He lived with them, ate with them, worked with them-- not quite sure about "slept with them"--, so there was hardly any real physical difficulty in it.
Though, truthfully, none of them were ready for a mission like that.
Not even Aya.
Especially not Aya.
'If he must be elliminated, it will not be at my hands.' His mind bristled at the thought of how that would look, were it -he- that was assigned the actual killing of Ken. His feet, where they had been walking had come to an abrupt stop. What was wrong with this? He was actually lamenting over the death of Hidaka Ken-- the one man whom he had insisted was a burden upon the very earth since he had met him.
A coy smirk seemed to ghost across his lips, 'It's always odd how we end up.'
Who was he really trying to fool? Sure, he remembered when he had really thought the brunett to be that annoying, but he couldn't say that he still felt that way anymore. He sighed, running a pale hand through his soaking wet hair. People change, obviously, but lately it was so hard to figure out whether it was he or Ken that had really changed. Where had Ken stopped being just 'annoying Hidaka'? Or had he ever stopped? Maybe Ken had always stayed the same and Aya, instead, had done the changing?
It was now that he noticed how heavy his wet layers of clothes were upon his body. His knees were almost bending beneath the weight of the jacket, sweater, and slacks. He began to walk again, circling the present block and finally nearing the Koneko.
Who was he to refuse having anything to do with Ken's ellimination? He was merely there to take orders, it seemed, so why did he feel so prone to out-right refusal upon such a mission-- were he to receive it? Somehow, it was obvious, this was Ken's fault. He had obviously done something to Aya, that had gone unnoticed, and because of it now the redhead had become indecisive about the younger man.
He was now quickly approaching the alley, through which was the side door into the kitchens.
He didn't know exactly what he felt for the other man anymore. What was once something similarly marked as hate upon their first meeting, had slowly changed into something even he failed to recognise. The question was, what was it? And that he didn't know.
He was now only steps away from the door, unaware of a pair of green eyes that watched him frightenedly from the roof of the building for which he was directed.
Whatever it was, though, it was a nice feeling. A sort of light feeling that tickles the skin and enthralls the senses, and buries itself in a cacoon within one's stomach. Though as this slowly stirred within Aya, his calmer, more rational self retaliated with common sense. If he were to receive a mission such as the ellimination of Siberian, and he was not to follow through with it, that meant that he had allowed himself, as well as Ken, to become a threat to the mission. That had been what he was trying to avoid, originally, and why he had so tried to distance himself from the other members of Weiss. But it hadn't worked.
And he really couldn't find it in him to care.
He took the last step to the door in one giant bound, flung open the door with little less than exaggerated drama, and entered the Koneko-- barely resisting a loud shout of, "HONEY! I'M HOME!" [2]
And though his clothes were soaked and heavy against his body, he felt lighter than the clouds.
On the roof, looking down into the alley, and seeing Aya practically dance into the Koneko, Ken breathed a sigh of relief. The brunett ran a shaky hand through his hair and smiled. He was so happy that the alley hadn't eaten Aya.
23:30 -- // Up On The Roof Top (click, click, click) Down Through The Staircase With Good St. -Nek- //
Aya opened the door to the computer room swiftly without a knock and regarded the stunned chibi with a cold gaze, "I can't find Ken."
"Hn. Maybe he left." Omi shrugged his face was perfectly calm, though his normally sparkling blue eyes held a peculiar combination of apathy and anger-- bearing and uncanny resemblence to the Prodigy, himself.
"Would you have any ideas as to where he could be?" The redhead continued to watch the youngest Weiss through cold violet eyes.
"No." The blond practically spit and returned his gaze to the computer.
Standing in the doorway, Aya sighed and closed his eyes for a moment before he began, "I didn't tell Manx."
Blue eyes widened considerably and in less than a second he had turned in his chair to face his leader, attention rapt and solely focusing on the frigid man before him. He watched the man closlely, unsure of whether this was a factitious Abyssinian that stood before him or not, "You... didn't?"
Aya shook his head, his expression grave as he opened his eyes to watch the chibi, "I was too distracted."
The hopeful glimmer in Omi's eyes vanished, "Oh."
"But..." The redhead began again, crossing his arms over his chest, the frown still etched over his face, "After thinking on... things..." He paused, a look of annoyance tinging his already grim expression. It was obvious he wasn't used to doing these kinds of things, "I have decided not to bring it up at all."
"What...?" Blue eyes had become even larger, a look of utmost surprise crossed Omi's pale features, "You mean... But..." He drifted off, unable to assemble the words to what he wished to say.
"I know this is probably the worst mistake I could make, but I have chosen to turn a blind eye to your relations." He dropped his arms loosely to his sides, his serious expression showed slight uncertainty. "I know you're not the child we see you as, and therefore the responsibility is yours." At this his eyes narrowed, "It's your decision whether to continue with these 'affairs' or not, and the risk they run against all of Weiss. I will not be involved."
In a flash the youngest Weiss had raised from his chair and gripped his leader into a large hug, "I don't know how to thank you, Aya kun! I'm in your debt--"
The redhead wriggled uncomfortably in the blond's grasp trying subtly to remove the wiry arms that had managed to clamp around him, "No. As far as the situation is considered, I know nothing of it."
Omi nodded and stepped back, removing his arms from the uncomfortable looking redhead. His smile was wide as he reseated himself in the chair, "What inspired this change?"
Aya's eyes were hollow, he suddenly appeared tired, "Kritiker's working on an antidote for Ken."
"Yea?" His smile decreased significantly in vibrance, "So Ken kun will be back to his old self, soon?"
The redhead shrugged, suddenly unwilling to continue.
"... Aya kun?" The smile had vanished, "What is that supposed to mean?" There was a pause, "You shrugged, Aya. Aya, you shrugged!! How could you -shrugg- at something like this?!"
"I'm aware of what I did, Tsukiyono." The leader snapped.
"AYA KUN!" The blond was practically yelling, "A shrugg is NOT a good sign!"
"I -know-, that." The violet-eyed man growled.
There was silence for a few moments before the blond spoke again, and even then it was only a reluctant whisper, "Oh no..."
Aya didn't speak and managed only to prepare to turn and exit.
"Wait, Aya... I remember Youji saying something about this evening--"
"Youji's out alone, I've called him. He was going to take Ken to a club in his condition-- thought it would be amusing." He snorted disdainfully, his face disgusted, "He couldn't find him, either." [3]
THUMP
Omi banged his head against the desk infront of him, "Oh man, this is my fault."
A crimson eyebrow raised eloquently in question.
The blond sighed, "I kind of got angry with him for telling you about--"
"Aa." Aya nodded and began to leave, as if that explained everything.
"But, Aya! Where are you going?! We have to find him!" The blond followed out of the room and into the hallway behind the redhead.
"Go back to what you were doing. I know where he is." He picked up his jacket in the kitchen and prepared to climb up to the roof. He had spent more than enough time with Ken to figure out the few patterns the brunett did have. When Ken was upset he went either to the soccerfield or the roof.
In his current state though, it was doubtful that he would even be able to find the soccerfield.
As he had expected, the brunett was on the roof, sprawled out lazily near the ledge and soaked from the rain. Though, unexpectedly, he was quite soundly asleep when Aya reached him. The redhead stood over him for a moment, watching uncertainly as the sleeping man twitched every few minutes and mumbled something about nachos.
"...Nacho cheese... not your cheese... Heh heh..." There was a soft snort from the brunett.
Aya frowned.
The sleeping man continued to mumble in his sleep and giggle to himself for a few more moments until the redhead actually knelt down beside him and gave him a sharp nudge at the shoulder. Green eyes snapped open in an instant and began to scan around quickly in less than a moment they locked on the dark sky, looming above them.
"Eep!" A muffled cry from the brunett before he latched onto Aya's arm, his face contorted in fear, "It's big, Aya! Really big!"
The leader lifted an eyebrow.
"How can you just sit there?! You have to go before it gets -both- of us!" Green eyes were panicked as the brunett sat up and began physically pushing on the redhead to leave, "Go quick! Back inside!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Aya snapped sharply, narrowing his glare at the other man.
Ken did not answer, instead looking up at the vast black sky and standing. He reached down and grabbed Aya's hand and began pulling him towards the door that led up to the roof, "Are you coming or not?"
Growling, the redhead allowed himself to be dragged through the door and onto the staircase, where Ken froze rigidly.
The brunett froze, grasping at his neck and quickly pushed past a very confused Aya to get back outside, "Can't... breathe! Ack!"
The leader was sure he was about to blow a fuse as he started up after Ken, again, "What are you doing?"
"I can't breathe in there!" The brunett panted, his index finger pointing accusingly at the innocent staircase door.
"Why not?" Aya frowned, it was obviously getting worse.
"I don't know! I just can't!" Ken shrugged, watching his feet with a frown, "I want to go inside, but it's suffocating me in there."
The redhead shook his head, "Don't be like that. You can breathe fine in there, it's just that drug you're on. It's making you -think- that you can't. Now, come in--" But Ken had already reseated himself and looked perfectly content just to sit there for the rest of the night.
Green eyes looked up at their leader and smiled, "I'm really fucked up, aren't I?"
Sighing, Aya walked over slowly to sit beside the other man, drawing up his legs. He was silent for a moment before nodding, "Hai. You're pretty... 'fucked up'."
There was a snigger from the brunett, "Did you just say I was pretty? Or fucked up?"
"Hn." There was a pause, "I saw your poem."
"...What poem?" Ken sounded confused.
"The one you wrote with the magnets."
"I wrote a poem?"
"Hn."
"What was it about?"
"...I'm not quite sure. It was complicated. I copied it down and put it in my pocket, but I'm pretty sure the rain ruined it."
"Was it good?"
"Probably. I just didn't understand it."
"Good."
The redhead raised an eyebrow and regarded the younger man with interest.
"Aya?"
"Hn?"
"What are you doing up here?"
"...Looking for you."
"Why?" Green eyes watched their companion keenly.
"Because it's late, and you should be inside--"
"But I can't go inside--"
"I know.
"... Then why are you still here?"
Aya sighed, "Why are you acting so sane suddenly?"
"...I don't know." He glanced away for a moment, "You have a calming presence."
Ignoring the comment, the redhead continued, voice still quiet, "Are you even aware of how you've been acting lately?"
"...I am. I've been acting like a fucking lunatic." This was followed by a badly surpressed giggle.
The violet-eyed man nodded, not quite sure what to think of this, "If you know what you're doing, then why do you continue to do it?"
Ken shrugged, "I said I know what I'm doing, not that I can help whether I do it or not. I just do whatever I think to do."
Aya watched him for a moment, frowning, "And your mind told you to wreck our phone?"
"Did I do that?"
The leader quietly tried to piece this together: Ken was doing whatever his mind told him to do, yet he was aware he was doing, even if he couldn't control it. Then he couldn't remember doing it once it was done? Wow, that was strangely complicated.
"Ken, do you remember anything you've done so far?"
"Wasn't there a really big spider around earlier?"
Aya groaned and resisted rolling his eyes, "No."
"Oh."
"Hn."
"I remember that..." He took a moment to think, "...Omi hates me, now?"
"No, he dosen't. I just talked to him."
"Did he -say- he didn't hate me?"
"Did he ever -say- that he hated you?"
"...He didn't have to."
"He was just upset. He acted irrationally, and I assure you he didn't mean it."
The brunett was silent, his gaze trained somewhere on Aya's face. He gave no sign of even hearing the redhead.
"Has anyone ever told you that you have a pretty nose?"
Aya's eyebrow was getting tired, but it lifted again anyway due to present amusement. "You did, earlier."
"Oh." The brunett snorted and began to laugh.
Unable to resist, the Weiss leader rolled his eyes, "Hn."
After a moment's laughter Ken spoke again, "I like this."
"Hn?"
"You started talking to me. Now, I want to talk to you." Two greens eyes were now trained very seriously upon Aya's own violets.
"About what?" Ken's gaze suddenly made him uncomfortable, and he moved his eyes to stare elsewhere.
"No idea, really. I just like talking to you."
"..."
"Except when you do that."
"...?"
"Dammit, Ran, stop that!"
There was a pause as Aya frowned. There was that name, again. "Why did you call me that?"
"Why did I call you what?"
"Ran."
"Did I?"
"Yes."
"Hm. Make of it what you will. A wise man hears not all, but what he does, he hears in all ways."
There was silence for a moment before Ken began giggling again, "Oo! I am Buddha!"
"No, you are not."
"Yes, I am."
"No-- I am not going to argue whether you're God or not."
"You believe I am not God?"
"No."
"You're right, I am not God."
"...?"
"You are!" More giggling.
"...Right."
"Do you believe in God?"
"...Not really."
"Me neither. Kase always said, 'God is a clutch for the weak who cannot face life on their own'." The brunett sighed, as if not even realising what he said.
Aya froze, his eyes trained carefully on the other man. He had never heard him speak so openly of his traitor. Omi had asked him a question on the subject once, but had only been ignored as the brunett excused himself--- probably to sulk.
"And..." He began quietly, "You don't believe in God because of him?"
The brunett scowled and snapped back, as if suddenly realising their topic of conversation, "I'll choose what I believe in and what I don't on my own!"
There was a hesitant nod from the redhead and all fell silent again.
"Aya?"
"Hn."
"I'm going to tell you something very important, now."
"..." He was silent. This would probably be another outrageous exclaimation, like earlier. He's already claimed to be God, what else is left? Did he invent breathing or something?
"Are you listening?"
"Yes, Ken. I am listening." The entire sentence came out as a long sigh.
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"You're just waiting for me to say something stupid."
"..."
"I am not about to say something stupid."
"Then say it."
"You're a good person, Aya."
"..."
"That wasn't a stupid thing to say."
"I would probably ask if you were high about now, but I am unfortunately already assured..."
"I wasn't lying, damnit! You're a good person."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really. You mope around all the time like your soul has been sucked out of your ear, sure, you're as bitchy as if you had a stick shoved up your ass, sure, you are rude to all the girls who come in to our shop, sure, you probably think I'm stupid, sure-- but I think you're even more stupid than me. And on top of all that, you're a good person."
"Ken, you need sleep."
"That has two alternate meanings. Both of them are true."
"You're kind of sounding like Youji, now."
"Would Youji call you a good person?"
"No, but you wouldn't either."
"Well what would Nek say?"
"..."
"Well?"
"...'I like soccer'."
"... Is that the best you can do?"
"..."
"I can do you: '...'"
"..."
"I can do more: ..."
"Er, that's alright."
"It's times like these, on a deserted roof-top, after it's rained, when I'm high, and you think I'm stupid, that I really think I love you."
Aya froze. Every muscle in his body locked into place, unwilling him to move. Was this a joke of some kind? He felt himself wanting to ask, but somehow he couldn't move his jaw to bring out the words.
"Mm-hm. That's strange." Ken looked unfazed as if he had just made a comment on any little thing in the universe. His tone was no different than: 'Hey, there's a fly on that piece of bread. Why are flies so fast?'
"I think you've been out of it just a bit too long." The redhead's voice was quiet, almost as if he didn't want to say it.
"Yea, I have. But I do, anyway." The brunett shrugged and glanced at the door, "Someone's listening to us."
On instinct, Aya was on his feet in less than a second, facing the door as it opened to reveal a somewhat nervous Omi. The blond bit his lip, glancing from Aya to Ken then to his feet, "I've been looking for you guys for about ten minutes. Manx told me I'd find you here. They have the antidote."
The redhead nodded and Ken quirked his head in a confused manner.
"Come, Ken. We're going to fix you." He started towards the door but then noticed that the brunett would go no further. He sighed. 'Not this, again...'
"I can't go in there!" The ex-soccer player yelped as Aya quickly grabbed hold of his arm. He motioned to Omi, who grabbed the other and they began dragging the struggling Siberian to the staircase. "But I can't breathe in here!"
"Yes you can, Ken! Now, shut up and calm down!"
There was a choking sound from the brunett, as he was pulled reluctantly down the staircase, "No... I can't...!"
"Don't listen to your mind, Ken. Listen to me." Aya's voice was calm and spoke softly, his warm breath brushing gently against his ear. 'Don't doubt me, Ken. Trust me.' [4]
He nodded, ignoring the black spots that were now eating way at his vision, he opened his mouth to inhale, but he suddenly couldn't. His head felt so light and all he was aware of was two arms had just lifted him up against a warm body, and began to carry him down the stairs. It smelled like Aya.
He hoped it was.
________________________
To be continued...
________________________
Author's Notes... (For background info)
1] This is all relevant to what is known as a "bad trip". If you know anything about drug termanology, it's basically when someone gets
high/stoned and start to have some negative mental displacements during the course of the drug's stimulation. Often people can become convinced that you're trying to kill them, that the sky is about to fall and crush them, that there are bugs crawling all over their body, etc. I knew a girl one time who nearly died after going on a bad trip. At one point she said that she was convinced there was a wasp inside of her ear trying to get out and it kept stinging her.
Ken's not necessarily on a bad trip, here, but certain happenings are beginning to take his mentalilty a bit off track, and the results, thus... In this you see Ken's afraid that the world wants to swallow him, or tear him apart, and he feel's like the building is trying to suffocate him. This is actually meant bi-literal. What he feels is his literal thoughts, but they're paralleled by a rather obvious symbolic meaning that I won't bore you by exaggerating any further than that.
2] Even Aya is a prima donna at heart. *_*
3] If you read the 2nd part you'll notice Youji mentions doing something with Ken "tonight", since he was all crazy and whatnot. Due to my bad habbits of abandoning my fanfics just as they get interesting, though, the funny club scene will have to be omitted. This is my bad cover for it. Psch! I know, I know, I suck. Club scenes are over-rated, anyway.
4] Okkei, if you go back and read what Ken says right before he claims to be Buddha, you'll get this. :P It's stupid, I know. I should be shot.