Notes: This chapter is way longer than the first chapter, hehe! I had to do
some studying on this one. I didn't know Manx's real name, so I had to go
search for it. I hate it when that happens!
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own any of the Weiss Kreuz characters. Wouldn't it be nice if I did though? I would have mucho dinero!!!
Chapter 2: The Dead Alive
"Thanks girls." Manx's voice wavered as she read the card. She gave Sakura and Aya a weak smile. "You should head home now. Want a ride? I can't believe you guys walked from the flower shop!"
"Well neither of us can drive yet, but I'll be taking my test to get my license soon." Said Sakura as they walked to Manx's car.
"That's got to be exciting. I remember when I first got my license." Manx started the car and checked her flaming red hair in the mirror. "I failed the first time around." Manx said laughing. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll pass with no problem."
"Um, Manx. Sorry to interrupt, but do you know the young man who bought those tulips for you?" Asked Aya in a very shy voice.
"Yes, I believe I do. And if it's who I think it is, perhaps its best if I didn't get flowers." Her eyes focused on the road. She was in deep thought.
"What do you mean?" Asked Sakura.
"Nothing...."
They soon arrived at Sakura's home and they said goodbye to the red haired kritiker agent. "You should come by the shop for coffee sometime, Manx." Aya smiled warmly at her. She had been like a mother to her since she awoke.
"Sure thing babe. Maybe tomorrow, if I have the time. Don't worry, I'll call you." She kissed Aya and Sakura on their cheeks and drove away.
"Welcome home Sakura...oh hello dear. You must be Aya. Welcome to our home! I just finished dinner, hope you brought your appetites home." She whipped her hands on her apron. "Sakura, will you help me set the table?"
"Sure Mom. Go ahead and find a seat with my dad and little brother, Aya." Sakura followed her mother into the kitchen.
Aya wasn't one to sit around and be waited on, so she followed Sakura. "I want to help you though! You help me every day with the shop, but I'm never able to repay the favor. Now's my chance!"
Sakura sighed and laughed. "I should have known that was coming! Fine, take the gyoza in to the table, will you?" She handed Aya the tray and watched her carry it in as if her life depended on it. Sakura just smiled and carried in the rice balls.
Dinner went great. The Tomoe's took a great liking to Aya. They even began considering her as part of their family. She already had permission to stop by whenever she wished. Their home was her home. Over the next week, Aya eat with them and even slept at their house more than she had her own. She had to admit, it was better than sleeping in that deserted and lonely apartment.
Manx never called for coffee, which troubled Aya. Manx wasn't the type to be forgetful. She wondered if she could be busy with that man who sent her flowers. That had to be it. That or a really big case came up at Kritiker. She knew she would call her as soon as she got the chance. Her chance came sooner than expected.
This was Sakura's second day staying home from school. She had been sick yesterday, but was feeling a bit better that day. Not good enough for her mother though. She was forced against her will to stay home again. Aya had told her not to worry, she would get all her school work for her and help her catch up, but still, today didn't seem the right day to stay home.
"Sakura, I'm headed to the store. I'll be back in an hour!" Called her mother from the bottom of the stairwell.
"Okay, see you soon!" She called back. Great, now she was alone and bored. What was she going to do now? Might as well take a shower. She wearily got up out of bed, grabbed her towel and headed for the bathroom.
Half an hour later she emerged nice and clean. "Okay, what now?" She asked herself as she put on jeans and a red blouse.
"How about coming with me, without a fight?" Came a voice from behind her. She whirled around to find a familiar and horrifying face.
"You...you're suppose to be dead! I saw you die!"
"Did you now? Well I can assure you, I'm anything but dead. Now, I think it's time we took our leave." Said the ever evil Schuldig of Schwarz. He kidnapped Sakura before, but he was killed with his teammates and Vice. How could he be here?
"I'm not going anywhere with you! Not again!"
"Well, it's either you or the Fujimiya girl. Would you sacrifice your friend for yourself?" He gave her his wicked smile. "What do you need me for?" She asked cautiously.
"Same old, same old. You're one of his weaknesses you know. You and that sister of his."
Sakura's heart skipped a beat. "He's alive? Ran is alive?"
Schuldig raised his eyebrows. "Is that his real name? That's very interesting...." Sakura gasped in horror and covered her mouth with her hand. Right when she had discovered he was alive, she betrayed him. How could she?
"Don't worry about it." Said Schuldig reading her mind. "He will be dead for real in a matter of no time. You really haven't lost anything."
"NO! I lost him once! I won't lose him again!" She yelled and tried to punch him. He simply caught her arm and swept her up and carried her out her window.
Aya open the door to the Tomoe's house without knocking, as she had grown accustomed to. "Sakura, I got your homework for tonight!." She called.
"Is that you Aya?" Mrs. Tomoe came into the hall followed by two police officers. Mrs. Tomoe's face was streaked with tears and she held a tissue that had been twisted badly.
"What's happened? Where is Sakura?"
"She's missing again! I left her for an hour to go shopping and when I came home, she was simply gone! Vanished without a trace!" Mrs. Tomoe burst into tears again.
Aya stood there shocked. She remembered Sakura telling her about being kidnapped three times before. Once because a crazy surgeon wanted one of her kidneys and the second time he wanted her heart, but Vice saved her before they got it. The third time was when Schwarz kidnapped her to use her and Aya to fool their leaders. Again Vice had saved her, but lost their lives only minutes later. This was her fourth time being kidnapped! How could that happen to someone...or did she run away. No, Sakura was too happy with her life as it was for the moment. The only thing she hated was that Vice was dead. That wasn't a reason to run away though. "I don't know what to say. Is there anything I can do?" She asked.
"We'll need your name." Said one of the officers.
"Am I a suspect?" She asked mortified.
"No! I know you would never harm my daughter. Besides, you were at school. We have proof of that." Aya sighed. "We just need to keep track of you. You're her friend, you could be next." Said the second officer. That was a scary thought.
"My name is Aya Fujimiya. I work and live at the flower shop down the street with my grandmother. She's there now." She lied. Momo wasn't her grandmother and didn't live with her, but she could certainly play the part.
"Thank you. My partner will stay here and trace any phone calls you receive, while I go down to the station and begin the search." The first police man bowed and started for the door. "Oh and its best you stay with Mrs. Tomoe, miss. It will be safer." With that he left.
"I'm sorry, but I have to return home to my grandmother, she needs me." Said Aya.
"I'm afraid I can't let you go." Said the officer that was left behind. "There's no one to look after you on you're way home." Just as he said that, a woman with bright red hair appeared at the door. "Oh! Commissioner Kitada!" The officer snapped to attention as Manx walked in.
"I'm here to escort Miss Fujimiya home." She held her hand out to Aya who took it. "Shall we go Aya?"
Ever since Persia died, Manx took his place as police commissioner. Her real name was Kitada Hanae. Manx was her codename for Kritiker, which she still worked for despite Persia's and Vice's deaths.
As they waked to the shop, Manx said to Aya, "I'm sorry that I never called. Something came up. Something unexpected."
"I thought so. Don't worry, I knew you'd come around when you were ready." Aya said.
"Look, Aya, when we get to the shop you're going to meet some people who work for Kritiker. One you already know. I'm just warning you, so be prepared." Manx eyed the shop from across the street.
"Okay. Do they have anything to do with Sakura's disappearance?"
"They don't know about Sakura's kidnapping yet. You should let me tell them that." She said.
"Why are they at the flower shop?"
"You'll see." Manx grabbed Aya's arm and quickly crossed the street and entered the shop.
Inside, four young men sat around a table. Aya gasped as she recognized them as the young men in the picture on the counter. She began to back up towards the door. "They're...they're suppose...to be...be dead!"
Ran stood and crossed to his younger sister. His red hair darker than she last remembered and his eyes were darker too. But he was the same boy. She saw him in the man who stood before her, no longer a child. His gold earring shinning from his left ear. Aya touched her own earring that she wore everyday in her right ear in honor of her brother. "Aya...." He murmured, just looking at her.
"Ra...Ran!" She cried and threw her arms around him. "I missed you so much!" She wailed.
Ran closed his arms around his younger sister and smiled a pure and happy smile. Yoji whistled from where he sat at the table. "The only time I ever saw him smile like that was when he told Sakura his real name was Ran. What do you think Ken? Is our Aya, softening?"
Ken laughed and said, "Looks like it to me."
"Brother and sister united at long last...." Omi sighed happily.
"Would you guys shut up?" Growled Ran as he reluctantly returned to his seat, Aya in his wake.
"How are you guys alive?" She asked.
"Simple, we didn't die." Explained Yoji.
"Hey, you're the man who bought those tulips at the beginning of the week!" Aya exclaimed as she pointed at Ken.
Ken smiled. "I was suppose to check up on you and Sakura and also make Manx aware that we were alive."
"A damn good job you did with that." Growled Manx. "Scarred the wits out of me!"
"Awww. Admit it Manx, ya missed us, didn't you." Manx crossed to Yoji and planted a fat kiss on his cheek.
"Happy?" She asked deviously.
"Very. Can I have another please? Maybe the lips this time?"
Manx just walked over to Aya and put her hands on her shoulders. "You guys haven't changed a bit have you? Why didn't you come back sooner?" "We had to be sure Schwarz was still alive. We were attacked about a week ago by Farfarello. He seemed to hint that someone close to us would be in danger. We sent Ken to check up on the girls, just in case." Said Omi.
"Manx...." Aya said.
"I know. Men of Vice...." Manx's voice went serious. "I give you your mission. Schwarz have been the cause of all sorts of Mayhem. It is believed by Kritiker that they were the ones who kidnapped Tomoe Sakura today around 11:00 am. Recover Sakura and kill the members of Schwarz. Deny these evil beasts their tomorrows." Manx gave a weak smile. "I'm not as good as Persia, but I'll have to do. Sorry this mission didn't come with a movie or any facts besides Sakura. You know all you need to know already. Who's in?"
"Sakura is missing!" Exclaimed Omi. "Again!"
"Man, this is the fourth time!" Yelled an angry Ken.
Ran sat there staring at the table. He remembered his promise he made to Sakura. To tell him everything. He never had the chance to for fill it. Anger against Schwarz blazed through him. He stood instantly and headed upstairs for his gear.
"Where are you going?" Yoji yelled.
"I'm in. I'm going to get ready.
Yoji sighed. "I'm in too."
"It doesn't matter how many times she goes missing. Vice will always be there to help Sakura." Said Ken. "I'm in."
"Me too. We were going to kill Schwarz anyways." Omi said with a smile.
"Then it's settled. Good luck to all of you. Aya, I think its best you stay along with me for now on, okay?" Said Manx.
"But Sakura and Ran...."
"Stay with Manx, Sakura. I'll feel better knowing you're safe." Came Ran's voice from the top of the stairs.
"Okay." Aya felt weak not being able to do anything for her best friend, but what could she do, but stay safe and hope she comes home soon.
As soon as they were ready, Vice headed out of the flower shop. Ran stopping to kiss Aya on the cheek. He was determined to rescue the girl he loved and kill his sworn enemies.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own any of the Weiss Kreuz characters. Wouldn't it be nice if I did though? I would have mucho dinero!!!
Chapter 2: The Dead Alive
"Thanks girls." Manx's voice wavered as she read the card. She gave Sakura and Aya a weak smile. "You should head home now. Want a ride? I can't believe you guys walked from the flower shop!"
"Well neither of us can drive yet, but I'll be taking my test to get my license soon." Said Sakura as they walked to Manx's car.
"That's got to be exciting. I remember when I first got my license." Manx started the car and checked her flaming red hair in the mirror. "I failed the first time around." Manx said laughing. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll pass with no problem."
"Um, Manx. Sorry to interrupt, but do you know the young man who bought those tulips for you?" Asked Aya in a very shy voice.
"Yes, I believe I do. And if it's who I think it is, perhaps its best if I didn't get flowers." Her eyes focused on the road. She was in deep thought.
"What do you mean?" Asked Sakura.
"Nothing...."
They soon arrived at Sakura's home and they said goodbye to the red haired kritiker agent. "You should come by the shop for coffee sometime, Manx." Aya smiled warmly at her. She had been like a mother to her since she awoke.
"Sure thing babe. Maybe tomorrow, if I have the time. Don't worry, I'll call you." She kissed Aya and Sakura on their cheeks and drove away.
"Welcome home Sakura...oh hello dear. You must be Aya. Welcome to our home! I just finished dinner, hope you brought your appetites home." She whipped her hands on her apron. "Sakura, will you help me set the table?"
"Sure Mom. Go ahead and find a seat with my dad and little brother, Aya." Sakura followed her mother into the kitchen.
Aya wasn't one to sit around and be waited on, so she followed Sakura. "I want to help you though! You help me every day with the shop, but I'm never able to repay the favor. Now's my chance!"
Sakura sighed and laughed. "I should have known that was coming! Fine, take the gyoza in to the table, will you?" She handed Aya the tray and watched her carry it in as if her life depended on it. Sakura just smiled and carried in the rice balls.
Dinner went great. The Tomoe's took a great liking to Aya. They even began considering her as part of their family. She already had permission to stop by whenever she wished. Their home was her home. Over the next week, Aya eat with them and even slept at their house more than she had her own. She had to admit, it was better than sleeping in that deserted and lonely apartment.
Manx never called for coffee, which troubled Aya. Manx wasn't the type to be forgetful. She wondered if she could be busy with that man who sent her flowers. That had to be it. That or a really big case came up at Kritiker. She knew she would call her as soon as she got the chance. Her chance came sooner than expected.
This was Sakura's second day staying home from school. She had been sick yesterday, but was feeling a bit better that day. Not good enough for her mother though. She was forced against her will to stay home again. Aya had told her not to worry, she would get all her school work for her and help her catch up, but still, today didn't seem the right day to stay home.
"Sakura, I'm headed to the store. I'll be back in an hour!" Called her mother from the bottom of the stairwell.
"Okay, see you soon!" She called back. Great, now she was alone and bored. What was she going to do now? Might as well take a shower. She wearily got up out of bed, grabbed her towel and headed for the bathroom.
Half an hour later she emerged nice and clean. "Okay, what now?" She asked herself as she put on jeans and a red blouse.
"How about coming with me, without a fight?" Came a voice from behind her. She whirled around to find a familiar and horrifying face.
"You...you're suppose to be dead! I saw you die!"
"Did you now? Well I can assure you, I'm anything but dead. Now, I think it's time we took our leave." Said the ever evil Schuldig of Schwarz. He kidnapped Sakura before, but he was killed with his teammates and Vice. How could he be here?
"I'm not going anywhere with you! Not again!"
"Well, it's either you or the Fujimiya girl. Would you sacrifice your friend for yourself?" He gave her his wicked smile. "What do you need me for?" She asked cautiously.
"Same old, same old. You're one of his weaknesses you know. You and that sister of his."
Sakura's heart skipped a beat. "He's alive? Ran is alive?"
Schuldig raised his eyebrows. "Is that his real name? That's very interesting...." Sakura gasped in horror and covered her mouth with her hand. Right when she had discovered he was alive, she betrayed him. How could she?
"Don't worry about it." Said Schuldig reading her mind. "He will be dead for real in a matter of no time. You really haven't lost anything."
"NO! I lost him once! I won't lose him again!" She yelled and tried to punch him. He simply caught her arm and swept her up and carried her out her window.
Aya open the door to the Tomoe's house without knocking, as she had grown accustomed to. "Sakura, I got your homework for tonight!." She called.
"Is that you Aya?" Mrs. Tomoe came into the hall followed by two police officers. Mrs. Tomoe's face was streaked with tears and she held a tissue that had been twisted badly.
"What's happened? Where is Sakura?"
"She's missing again! I left her for an hour to go shopping and when I came home, she was simply gone! Vanished without a trace!" Mrs. Tomoe burst into tears again.
Aya stood there shocked. She remembered Sakura telling her about being kidnapped three times before. Once because a crazy surgeon wanted one of her kidneys and the second time he wanted her heart, but Vice saved her before they got it. The third time was when Schwarz kidnapped her to use her and Aya to fool their leaders. Again Vice had saved her, but lost their lives only minutes later. This was her fourth time being kidnapped! How could that happen to someone...or did she run away. No, Sakura was too happy with her life as it was for the moment. The only thing she hated was that Vice was dead. That wasn't a reason to run away though. "I don't know what to say. Is there anything I can do?" She asked.
"We'll need your name." Said one of the officers.
"Am I a suspect?" She asked mortified.
"No! I know you would never harm my daughter. Besides, you were at school. We have proof of that." Aya sighed. "We just need to keep track of you. You're her friend, you could be next." Said the second officer. That was a scary thought.
"My name is Aya Fujimiya. I work and live at the flower shop down the street with my grandmother. She's there now." She lied. Momo wasn't her grandmother and didn't live with her, but she could certainly play the part.
"Thank you. My partner will stay here and trace any phone calls you receive, while I go down to the station and begin the search." The first police man bowed and started for the door. "Oh and its best you stay with Mrs. Tomoe, miss. It will be safer." With that he left.
"I'm sorry, but I have to return home to my grandmother, she needs me." Said Aya.
"I'm afraid I can't let you go." Said the officer that was left behind. "There's no one to look after you on you're way home." Just as he said that, a woman with bright red hair appeared at the door. "Oh! Commissioner Kitada!" The officer snapped to attention as Manx walked in.
"I'm here to escort Miss Fujimiya home." She held her hand out to Aya who took it. "Shall we go Aya?"
Ever since Persia died, Manx took his place as police commissioner. Her real name was Kitada Hanae. Manx was her codename for Kritiker, which she still worked for despite Persia's and Vice's deaths.
As they waked to the shop, Manx said to Aya, "I'm sorry that I never called. Something came up. Something unexpected."
"I thought so. Don't worry, I knew you'd come around when you were ready." Aya said.
"Look, Aya, when we get to the shop you're going to meet some people who work for Kritiker. One you already know. I'm just warning you, so be prepared." Manx eyed the shop from across the street.
"Okay. Do they have anything to do with Sakura's disappearance?"
"They don't know about Sakura's kidnapping yet. You should let me tell them that." She said.
"Why are they at the flower shop?"
"You'll see." Manx grabbed Aya's arm and quickly crossed the street and entered the shop.
Inside, four young men sat around a table. Aya gasped as she recognized them as the young men in the picture on the counter. She began to back up towards the door. "They're...they're suppose...to be...be dead!"
Ran stood and crossed to his younger sister. His red hair darker than she last remembered and his eyes were darker too. But he was the same boy. She saw him in the man who stood before her, no longer a child. His gold earring shinning from his left ear. Aya touched her own earring that she wore everyday in her right ear in honor of her brother. "Aya...." He murmured, just looking at her.
"Ra...Ran!" She cried and threw her arms around him. "I missed you so much!" She wailed.
Ran closed his arms around his younger sister and smiled a pure and happy smile. Yoji whistled from where he sat at the table. "The only time I ever saw him smile like that was when he told Sakura his real name was Ran. What do you think Ken? Is our Aya, softening?"
Ken laughed and said, "Looks like it to me."
"Brother and sister united at long last...." Omi sighed happily.
"Would you guys shut up?" Growled Ran as he reluctantly returned to his seat, Aya in his wake.
"How are you guys alive?" She asked.
"Simple, we didn't die." Explained Yoji.
"Hey, you're the man who bought those tulips at the beginning of the week!" Aya exclaimed as she pointed at Ken.
Ken smiled. "I was suppose to check up on you and Sakura and also make Manx aware that we were alive."
"A damn good job you did with that." Growled Manx. "Scarred the wits out of me!"
"Awww. Admit it Manx, ya missed us, didn't you." Manx crossed to Yoji and planted a fat kiss on his cheek.
"Happy?" She asked deviously.
"Very. Can I have another please? Maybe the lips this time?"
Manx just walked over to Aya and put her hands on her shoulders. "You guys haven't changed a bit have you? Why didn't you come back sooner?" "We had to be sure Schwarz was still alive. We were attacked about a week ago by Farfarello. He seemed to hint that someone close to us would be in danger. We sent Ken to check up on the girls, just in case." Said Omi.
"Manx...." Aya said.
"I know. Men of Vice...." Manx's voice went serious. "I give you your mission. Schwarz have been the cause of all sorts of Mayhem. It is believed by Kritiker that they were the ones who kidnapped Tomoe Sakura today around 11:00 am. Recover Sakura and kill the members of Schwarz. Deny these evil beasts their tomorrows." Manx gave a weak smile. "I'm not as good as Persia, but I'll have to do. Sorry this mission didn't come with a movie or any facts besides Sakura. You know all you need to know already. Who's in?"
"Sakura is missing!" Exclaimed Omi. "Again!"
"Man, this is the fourth time!" Yelled an angry Ken.
Ran sat there staring at the table. He remembered his promise he made to Sakura. To tell him everything. He never had the chance to for fill it. Anger against Schwarz blazed through him. He stood instantly and headed upstairs for his gear.
"Where are you going?" Yoji yelled.
"I'm in. I'm going to get ready.
Yoji sighed. "I'm in too."
"It doesn't matter how many times she goes missing. Vice will always be there to help Sakura." Said Ken. "I'm in."
"Me too. We were going to kill Schwarz anyways." Omi said with a smile.
"Then it's settled. Good luck to all of you. Aya, I think its best you stay along with me for now on, okay?" Said Manx.
"But Sakura and Ran...."
"Stay with Manx, Sakura. I'll feel better knowing you're safe." Came Ran's voice from the top of the stairs.
"Okay." Aya felt weak not being able to do anything for her best friend, but what could she do, but stay safe and hope she comes home soon.
As soon as they were ready, Vice headed out of the flower shop. Ran stopping to kiss Aya on the cheek. He was determined to rescue the girl he loved and kill his sworn enemies.