Chapter 16
Everyone had Ulterior Motives
DivineAngel
------------------------------------The Next Mourning---------------------------------------------------------
He woke up to the buzzing sound of the alarm near Omi's bed and he quickly reached over and hitting the snooze button with distaste before it could wake Omi. The boy was dead asleep on his arm, tightly pressed up to his side because he slept rather sprawled. His arm which now ached slightly from lack of blood had substituted as both a makeshift shield and pillow for Omi. Knowing he had to move it, he tried as gently as possible so Omi could continue to sleep and a cringe spread across his features as he felt the blood stampede back into his veins where the circulation was cut off. The small jostle woke Omi immediately and the boy jerked as though burned throwing his eyes to the door, clock and finally him.
"We have to get up. We're supposed to run." Omi said turning to him.
"Ohhhaaaa" He groaned rubbing his eyes.
"I knew you would forget." Omi muttered quickly, getting up and pulling the drawers out under the bed before cramming his stuff back into his duffle bag. "When we get back I want to call Ken-kun." Omi spoke yawning, and rubbings his eyes.
"Are you kidding, I want to call now. Maybe we can get out of running." He sighed up to the ceiling
"There isn't enough time. We have to go in seven minutes." Omi said hopping out of his pants and pulling on some shorts before looking around for his sneakers. "Get up Ken-kun." He frowned as Omi shoved his arm slightly, scolding a "Keeen-kun." At him when he just rolled over and groaned. "Now, get up Ken-kun."
"Alright." He sat up, slid off the bed, and trudging to his drawers as Omi sat on the floor tying his shoes. It was then the doorknob jiggled once, and they both looked up with wide eyes and exchanged glances.
"Nagi." Royce spoke from the other side as he silently crept over and started gently removing the wedge. "Open the door Nagi." Royce demanded annoyed before Nagi answered back from the kitchen with a -I am not holding it you lame brain.- Royce growled then taking a moment to revel in his irritability as he snapped the shelf from the door and frantically jammed it back into the window unit without making sound. Omi's widened eyes watching him the entire time before turning back to the door as Royce suddenly swept it open grumbling a "Nagi you ass hole." under his breath.
"Are we running or what?' He threw Royce a bitter smile, watching the guy just grunt at their game.
"You only have four minutes Ken. Hurry up, you wouldn't want to get in trouble would you."
"No. I am sure you'd feel real bad if I did." He grunt slipping into his sport sneakers as he winked at the guy. Instead of a grin he only got a slack annoyed expression which stomped from the room with a loud slam of their door. Omi immediately turned to him with a bright gushing smile that was both a thank you, and pure excitement they had scored a point against the other team. He smiled back, proud he got a point, and proud he got the smile, it was his first lucky sign of the day.
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He grabbed Omi's arm as the boy sped up a little. Anxious to get back to the coffee shop which came into view when they finally rounded that last corner. It was a bitch to have to run today, he just ran yesterday! It was totally unfair he and Omi had to come here, and put up with this groups misbehaving disadvantages.
"Don't slow small boy." Omi tripped into him as Jei slowed right next to them, smiling at Omi before at him.
"We're fine." He spit to the guy whom simply turned to him with a smile eager to hear what he'd say. "We run at our place too, only every other day because we obviously behave better."
"Maybe this is true." Jei smiled, before glancing at Nagi whom finally made it up to them. Nagi seemed to have a hard time covering the distance, much like Omi used to with them. However, Nagi was so frightfully small and thin he couldn't believe Mr. Clarke made him run at all! He never would have, and when he tried slowing down to wait for him because he was lagging Nagi only seemed to become annoyed and angered with him. Disgusted with what he thought was pity so he chucked that tactic, if his nice gestures were only hated there was simply no point in being nice.
"I can do four miles easy." Omi spit to Jei whom kept looking at him. "I used to do four every morning before we started alternating days."
"You are surprising me." Jei almost laughed with the comment. "Nagi can hardly do this two." They both turned to the thin boy behind them who looked as though he were willing himself to continue in some odd way. "Disgraceful Nagi."
"But he's younger than I am." Omi frowned at Jei's comment. "And your older, you can run faster, and have more practice."
"You are only small amount older than him small boy, and very clumsy. These things put you in disadvantage allowing Nagi should be able to be rising to your standard. Instead he is a failure with his speed." Jei nodded matter o' factly, ignoring Nagi's sour expression as the boy ran behind them ease dropping.
He and Omi literally just stared with the comment until Jei shrugged and ran up ahead with Royce now that the conversation had died. Honestly, the things this team said about each other were crazy! "I can't believe he's making fun of Nagi because he's slow." Omi frowned huffing his words at him as he continued to run. "I know how it feels and it feels terrible."
"Remember the first time Mr. Brine made us run?" He grinned remembering that, and it took Omi a moment before he smiled slightly too. "And Aya refused to leave you, and he drug you back to the shop?"
Omi's smile turned to a frown. "Thanks Ken-kun, that's a good part for me to remember." Omi grumbled playfully shoving him and he laughed at himself for bringing that part up first. "I remember you yelling at Yohji-kun to get out of the shower."
He grinned, stopping and panting slightly for breath as they finally reached the entrance to the apartment along side the alley of the coffee shop. He followed Royce and Jei up, with Omi and Nagi right behind him as they all pant to catch their breath. "As soon as we get inside." He turned to Omi who looked up at him breathing heavily and a bit sweaty. "We just…take a few minutes to catch our breath and make the call ok?" Omi nodded trudging in behind him and deviating off to the bathroom as he walked to the bedroom. He didn't want to take the time to shower or anything like that, but he did want a new shirt. He could shower when he got back.
"Ken." He jumped when Royce called to him strolling right up to his bedroom and stopping with a smirk. Royce's mischievous eyes and toying smile boring holes in him where the guy stood slumped into his doorframe before standing up and trudging in a few steps. "Ken." Royce repeated, and he quickly got to his feet from where he was crouching to his bag, but Royce just continued to stand there so he stared back. It was werid, Royce wasn't doing anything, just standing and smirking at him. Aside from the fact it was beginning to piss the hell out of him he remained silent until a far off expression ran into Royce's eyes and it were as though his mind were somewhere else before he snapped back to reality with a cocky. "Watch this white rabbit."
He tensed with the small mutter, pulling his fresh shirt on quickly and then looking back at the guy. …Nothing was happening. He glanced around slightly, but the guy still wasn't doing anything! That's when he heard it, a moment after the far off expression left Royce's face and the smirk came back there was a short scream and smash from the bathroom.
Royce stepped aside as he shot forward, and sprint to the bathroom doorway as did Nagi and Mr. Clarke. All of them frowning in, eager to see what was going on as they caught the broken jar on the floor, and Omi on one side of the bathroom, and Jei on the other. A few small darts imbedded in Jei's arm and chest.
"What just happened?" Mr. Clarke demanded walking into the bathroom, and taking command with a firm voice glancing between Jai and Omi as Royce walked over to him.
"This will be entertaining." Royce grinned, nodding ahead again for him to watch and not miss a thing.
"I said! What just happened here!" Mr. Clarke demand again, this time louder.
"He stabbed me sir. With these." Jei said, slowly pulling one of the darts from his chest with a heavily. Jei let out a small moan when the dart finally detached and his jaw hit the floor when he finally saw the needle on it. Omi had hit him with those before, they didn't hurt that bad! They were the smallest practice darts Omi had! The needle was a little less than half an inch, just enough to peg into the course boards he boy used for practice. Sure they stung when they hit you, but it really wasn't anything to fuss about.
Mr. Clarke however, took the darts and looked at them before turning to Omi's wide eyed nervous expression which gapped for a second before stuttering an "I-I sir, I did it instinctively I-he wouldn't let me go. He grabbed me and wouldn't get off I-I-I asked him to but he wouldn't and I-I got scare-nervous." Omi muttered.
Mr. Clarke was quiet for a moment, listening to Omi's side of the story before nodding slightly. "You were scared?" Mr. Clarke repeated, and Omi reluctantly nodded the slightest bit. "I have a question for my team." Mr. Clarke sighed heavily. "Are assassins scared of things like this?"
"No sir their not." Royce spoke up loudly with a grin.
"Nagi?"
"No sir."
"Jei?"
"I did and said nothing, I was not trying to scare him. I did not think I scared him."
"Wait a minute." He shot and they all looked at him, including Omi whom looked like he was being backed into a corner by hunters. "Did you threaten him?" He demanded glaring at Jei. The guy would have had to do something serious or Omi wouldn't have defended himself. Jei said nothing to his comment and Royce glanced around, frowning as his question was being thought over.
"That's irrelevant." Royce said quickly, fixing his eyes on Mr. Clarke. "It's irrelevant, what is relevant is that, the small boy just stabbed a team member he was supposed to be working with." Royce nodded slowly as he spoke, watching Mr. Clarke listen to him and stare blankly for a moment before turning to Omi with the darts accusingly.
"What!?" Omi cried panicked. "I was only defending myself sir! I never would have stabbed him without intent! Please! I don't have a record like that I-I never would have if he would have left me alone! I-I am sorry!
Mr. Clarke nodded softly, his expression slipping to sympathy with Omi's honest pleas and mind set. "I know it's..."
"It's Irrelevant!" Royce shot again, glaring at Mr. Clarke just when the man look as though he were going to say it was ok. "It's irrelevant, he must be punished. You have to punish him for what he did sir, or else it's not fair."
His eyes were starting to get wide as he watched this! One minute Mr. Clarke looked like he sympathized with what happened, and the next like Omi should be strung up and crucified for ever thinking he could stab one of them. Never mind the one that could dramatize pulling a dart from his own arm so thoroughly. "That's right." Mr. Clarke nodded sternly, turning to Omi who backed away afraid and took on one of those subservient, shaky appearances he saw him have when Mr. Brine reprimanded him. "I'll call Mr. Brine right now and explain, then I'll act accordingly." Omi looked the slightest bit relieved as Mr. Clarke started for the door before stopping as Royce stepped in his way.
"Why call sir?" Royce asked bitterly.
"Move aside Royce, I received a memo when these boys came they were on a different discipline scale then yours, and I was to adjust accordingly." Mr. Clarke explained matter o' factly.
Royce frowned but he didn't move as he fixed his eyes onto Mr. Clarke. "But your capable. You have been trained, your raising a team. You're a good captain, you know what to do…Why should you insult yourself and run to ask?"
"Because! Those are the orders!" He snapped, taking a step closer to Royce and Mr. Clarke but neither of them turned to his outburst.
"You can do this yourself sir. You know the boy was out of line. You know how to punish him for stabbing someone…go ahead. Teach him what it means to harass one of your own team." Royce continued, his eyes locked on Mr. Clarke's as he smiled out every word.
His jaw was one the floor at the end of Royce's speech. Like that guy knew anything about harassing his own team when he saw him rub pizza in another's face! Mr. Clarke wasn't seriously going to buy this was he!?
They were all hanging in suspense to see what would happen as Mr. Clarke and Royce continued their face off, before Royce smiled softly. At just the same moment Mr. Clarke turned back to the bathroom doorway and looked at Omi's thin, scared form growing a head ache, and stomach problem listening to all if this. Omi froze as Mr. Clarke motioned for him to come.
"Come out here Tsukiyono." Mr. Clarke ordered, waving Omi forward.
"Your going to call Mr. Brine right?" He asked immediately, watching Omi inch forward before slowly walking towards them. "Right sir?"
"No I am not Hidaka." Mr. Clarke stated dully. Ignoring his -What!?- and Omi's dead stop and quick pale. "I am perfectly capable of dealing with this myself. It would do you boys good to be reprimanded correctly. You don't see my team stepping out of line do you?"
"They do it all the time!" He yelled, but Mr. Clarke seemed not to hear him, instead he just yanked Omi over and started harshly lecturing the pale little face as he took off towards the kitchen as fast as he could. He wanted to make sure he could at least get there fast enough to grab the phone if anyone ran after him. Instead when he ripped the cordless off the wall and glanced over his shoulder, he realized no one was there. All he could hear was Mr. Clarke's yelling combined with Omi who was starting to get thoroughly upset and was apologizing profusely to no avail.
He dashed into the bedroom he was given and ripped Omi's duffle bag over. The boy had insisted on keeping the number to the shop. Omi probably felt better with it in his own bag he figured, ironically that was now going to cost him seconds to find it. His hands rummaged through the clothes and computer crap as fast as he could before pulling stuff out and dumping it. Most of Omi's stuff was piled on the floor before he found the small 3x5 card at the very bottom with the number written on it.
He slammed it into the phone as soon as possible, listening to the ringing on the other line before Aya picked up. "Aya!" He yelled into the phone, since things in the hall were getting louder and he couldn't even imaging where they were running. "Get Mr. Brine now!"
"Why Ken. What's wrong?" Aya sounded concerned, asking on instinct before sitting the phone down quickly as he just screamed a -Now! Do it!-
The second he was on pause he began slamming stuff back into Omi's bag to save him from his own fidgeting while the small thirty seconds of nothing felt like a year. "What's wrong Hidaka?" Mr. Brine's voice sounded over the phone, and the man's voice never sounded so good.
"Sir. You have to come and get us now! And I mean right now! I can't explain but you need to hurry please sir." On the other side of the line, Mr. Brine's face fell confused and concerned for his boys from where he was leaning into the flower shop counter next to Aya. Ignoring the red head whom kept pushing his ear closer to the phone to hear as well.
"I understand Hidaka. I am on my way, but it will take me at least seven minutes to get there." Mr. Brine answered.
"I don't think we have seven minutes sir." He closed his eyes with his defeated whine, and Mr. Brine only nodded as Aya become concerned with the dreadful soap opera like phone call.
"I understand. Hidaka?"
"Yes sir?" He groaned again, unsure what to do. What should he do Now!? He was all alone!
"I am on my way." Mr. Brine said his voice strong, reassuring, and the seven minutes seemed less with that small phrase before the click that hung up the phone turned to Aya's -What's going on?-
"I don't have time to explain Fujimiya." Mr. Brine said ripping the car keys from the counter before freezing with the traded member whom appeared behind him with his bag.
"I would like to come with you sir. It's my best guess…we'll be switching back now." The boy smiled slightly, as though he had been briefed a phone call like this would come and it would be his signal to go. Mr. Brine had to admit, having Hidaka and Tsukiyono out of the house, and replacing them with a boy much like Fujimiya himself was a tad relaxing. There were no clumsy accidents, or confused directions. Things worked with more efficiency, and productivity had even increased. So far the only draw back he could see, aside from the fact Hidaka and Tsukiyono were missing, was that Fujimiya was lonely and had already started retreating back into himself. Destroying that much of the work the boys had done to get him to open up and smile some.
Still, Mr. Brine's face darkened with the boy ready to go. Things like this were never a good sign, so the man mumbled a small "Than get in the car." before leaving as quickly as possible. Unaware inside a bedroom that wasn't his, he hung up a cordless phone with more panic and stress than he could ever remember feeling. He froze slightly staring down to the now silent phone before quickly getting to his feet and shooting back into the hall.
"Did you make your call yet Ken?" Royce smirked, stopping him dead with his hard eyes and he felt himself choke with the question. "Good. I must admit I am impatient for you to finally leave. Regardless of how preposterous your little report will sound when you return. I'll at least have some fun now, and make up for your ill words." Royce grunt at him before turning back to the Mr. Clarke and muttering a "Faster." Under his breath.
Smiling as Mr. Clarke suddenly barked a "Let's Go TsukiyonO!" to Omi who shook with the scream and pulled his shirt off a little faster as he continued wedging his sneakers off with either foot. Omi's eyes slammed into him the minute the boy noticed he returned, and those big blue eyes began silently begging for help as Omi dropped his shirt to the floor. His breath just hitching a small -Ken-kun- he knew was a plead for him to do something, and he threw his eyes at Mr. Clarke when Omi's hands slowly moved to his pants and started undoing them when Jei yelled a -Faster! Small boy faster! God has given you fingers to use!-
"Sir!" he screamed at Mr. Clarke who seemed out of it to him. "Are you aware you going against your orders sir!?"
"Hidaka is questioning your authority." Royce's head snapped at him, speaking at him but to Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke suddenly turned to him to, squinting. "Back up son. Your next as soon as I am done with this one here." He took a step back with the power in the man's voice, it was enough to make him afraid. Never mind Omi who was fighting to hold it together where he stood, unable to shake the three pairs of smirking eyes eagerly awaiting his punishment.
"Don't waste time on him sir." Royce smiled at him. "You'll only have time for one, focus on the one further along. Things never got out of hand. Things were always in control."
He felt his mouth as his mind fought to find an option! It were as if Royce was controlling things! Not Mr. Clarke! No matter what Mr. Brine wouldn't make it in time to stop everything! And his mind was going crazy as to what to do! Alone there wasn't much, Royce and Jei could take him, never mind Mr. Clarke. Nagi was the only non-threat standing there, and even Nagi seemed to be getting satisfaction from watching their happiest teammates reduced to such a sad state. Omi was now finished stepping out of all of his pants, and harvesting every ounce of strength he had to keep his head up and hands at his sides, before placing them up to his head like he was ordered. Sniveling at the three smiling faces, and one frown sure to bring him hell as he picked up a thick leather strap.
"Sir! Don't!" He yelled at Mr. Clarke who ordered Omi to turn and face the wall as he advanced on the small body. "Your crazy to do this! Your not running anything here! And you all must think I am blind if you think I'll believe he is!" He turned to Royce and Jei and yelled at them. Squinting his anger at the faces that lost their smiles slightly and raised their eyebrows. "I'll be damned if I don't spit Every Word Of what I've Seen here the MINUTE I GET BACK! NOW LET HIM GO!" He yelled and Royce was glaring at his small speech as Jei suddenly started coming towards him with a deep frown. Glaring at him as it slowly started cocking a smile
"This is the heart of the devil Weiss." Royce suddenly grinned as Mr. Clarke took his first powerful swing at Omi and knocked the boy clear into the wall. "Hard. I want to see his first tear of pain. The first is thee most special." Royce grinned as Mr. Clarke worked efficiently, keeping Omi screaming as he was hit and making his heart threaten to burst his rib cage. "This is playing dirty, boy!" Royce barked at Omi's thin body with a smile. "Is it…not so fun to be on the other side!"
"Haha." Jei laughed at Royce's yell, but the German frowned annoyed and spit a -shut up-, at the grinning Irishman who thought it was funny Royce was settling his score for getting kneed in the crotch. Jei was watching with a smile, when he couldn't, as Mr. Clarke beat ten good screams out of Omi before Royce's smile went slack.
"Get dressed." He spit suddenly, and Mr. Clarke stopped. Backing away from Omi whom froze for a minute. Shaking and crying where he stood along the wall before jumping at Royce's second. "Get Dressed!" Royce barked at Omi who dropped to the floor and painfully started tugging his sports clothes back on. Royce's cunning and now annoyed green eyes turning to Mr. Clarke. "Nothing ever got out of hand. Everything was in control. You are on the same side." Mr. Clarke only grunt at the comment and walked by Royce whom turned back to watch Omi quickly get dressed while still crying before slowly standing up and facing the smirking head of carrot strands. Omi's face stricken to a overloaded expression as the guy took a step over to him. Smiling at the paled crying form, and rapidly beating chest before gently pinching one cheek for a few back and forth tugs and patting it gently. "It has been, my pleasure to have met you." Royce smiled into Omi's wide eyes before turning to him and grunting a something he couldn't understand in German and nodding towards their room. "Better hurry and get your bags. Your mentor is almost at the door."
"AHH!" Omi yelled slapping Royce's hand from his face before lunging at the boy with a look to kill. "I HATE YOU!" Omi screamed drawing his fist back and swinging it towards the guys face before freezing as Royce moved seemingly too fast to see before laughing.
"Oh! You have become but so much more interesting with hate falling from your pours child." Royce grunt as he reached out and grabbed Omi's aggressively stanced body seconds before the boy could begin a second attack.
"Come on Omi!" He snapped tugging the boy with him to their room and throwing their duffle bags over his shoulder. No matter what had happened, and how bad Omi wanted some type of revenge he just didn't care. He wanted out of there, and he wanted out of there then. The fact Mr. Brine was coming made running out the door sound that much better, and he didn't hesitate for a second. No one seemed to care they were leaving. No one seemed to care they were walking out! And so they did, slamming the door behind them and quickly starting down the stairs before stopping inches before running into Mr. Brine. "Sir!" He cried never so happy to see the man in his life, and the guy frowned with his extreme enthusiasm before turning to Omi who walked into him, still crying and looking more upset than he had ever been at their house.
"What happened?" Mr. Brine demanded suddenly, grabbing part of his arm.
"Well I…" He started trailing, trying to consider how he would explain. To him it seemed Mr. Clarke became a zombie and did what he was told.
"I got in troooouble for doooing nothing!" Omi suddenly yelled, sneering out the words with a bitter hate. "I didn't staaaab him on puurpoose! He wouldn't leeet me gooo sirr! Please beeelieve me! I am sorry! I!I! I never wanted to STAAAB ANYONE!" He grabbed Omi with the sudden sobbing scream and Mr. Brine laid a hand on Omi's shoulder handing him the keys.
"Tsukiyono. Takes these." Omi took the keys and looked at them as though they were a sign of comfort. "Both of you, go and get in the car. Your coming back with me." Mr. Brine nodded at their faces. A look of his own concern all over his features as they nodded and started down the stairs quickly and briskly to the car and opening it before freezing at the foreign boy inside.
The boy just climb out on sight of them, nodded and started inside with his bag. Their stunned faces watching before quickly climbing in and locking all the doors.
His head was still spinning, this just all felt like a dream! It couldn't be real! It was just to insane! It couldn't be! It couldn't!
"KEN!" He jumped when he finally registered Omi's scream. Looking at the thin hand extended to him. "Can I have my bag please!"
"Sorry." He muttered quickly handing it over and watching Omi sink to his knees pulling stuff out from inside. The boy pulled on a large sweatshirt before worming into his loose sweatpants which went right over his boxers and sports shorts before worming into a chair upset. Burring his head into his arms and just remaining silent as he sat down next to him and put his arm around Omi's back gently. He didn't really watch to see where Omi was hit, and he didn't want to touch anything sensitive.
"Alright." Mr. Brine appeared climbing into the front of the car and sitting still before looking back at them. "I am really confused right now boys. So I am making a deal with you." He looked up, but Omi didn't even move. "I am going to drive back to the shop in silence. So I can think. So that means no questions now." Mr. Brine glanced at Omi, but the boy still didn't move. "Then when I get there I want some answers, and they better be good ones." He nodded, even though Mr. Brine's tone seemed more concerned than harsh. "Is he alright Hidaka?"
"I-I think so sir. I don't think he's feeling to good right now." He answered, and Mr. Brine eyed Omi for a moment before starting the car. They were allowed to relax thee entire way home with nothing but the passing scenery and gentle sound of the van as the flower shop came into view. He could just make out Aya in the window working, before quickly flipping the sign to closed on sight of them.
Mr. Brine got out and opened the side door just looking at them before backing up as he climbed out and took his and Omi's bag. Omi slowly started getting out before the overheating boy quickly scrambled out and threw up on the sidewalk. Gagging a bit excessively where he stood with his hands on his knees while Mr. Brine pat his back before stepping over his own vomit and following them inside.
"What happened?" Aya was at the door immediately, taking Omi's bag from him and shooting questioning looks at all of them.
"Sir. Your never going to believe me, but…there's something wrong with Mr. Clarke, and the other team." He spit calmly before inhaling as he felt his anxiousness to spill everything building. "It was crazy!" He shot "I felt like I was in a mad house! Everyone was nuts! Then Mr. Clarke yelled at Omi, and made him strip in the middle of the hall! And the guy was a moron! Royce was the one who seemed to be running everything! He's the one who was in control! Not Mr. Clarke!" He yelled dropping his bag to the floor. Now that he was inside and home, he felt a dying need to get this all off his chest, and tell them all what freaks the other team was.
"Omi?" Aya just slid his arm around Omi's quiet form which sniffled as he wiped his face with the back of his sweatshirt sleeves. "Are you alright?" Omi nodded, before pulling away from Aya as the red head tried to take his sweatshirt off. "Omi your sweating." Aya stated dumbfounded, but Omi didn't answer so he tried again.
"I want to keep it on! Aya-kun!" Omi tugged away, yelling at the red head as though he might cry and Aya just nodded.
"Tsukiyono are you hurt? Do you need to see a doctor?" Mr. Brine asked, dead serious but Omi just shook his head, leaning into Aya whom was more affectionate than usual after being lonely. "Alright than what happened Hidaka? Start at the beginning so I can try and phantom this so called madness."
"Ok." He took a big gulp of his Gatorade. "First we get there, and it seems ok. We meet everyone, and we got to work in the coffee shop for a while. Then we went upstairs and had dinner, and that's when it started getting funny. It wasn't the shop, that was ok. I worked at the counter, and Omi was washing stuff."
Mr. Brine nodded. "This was yesterday? After your mouthing off Tsukiyono?" Omi nodded slightly. "We'll talk about that later, because you always, always act on your best behavior when you are out Tsukiyono." Omi nodded as Mr. Brine pointed at him with each -always-
"When we were having dinner, which was pizza." He began spilling as much as he could remember before stopped to catch his breath for a moment. Mr. Brine was frowning while he listened, and Aya looked way confused. Omi had his eyes closed and was just gently sitting at the kitchen table next to Aya. "So…so we wedged the door. Got up and ran. And we decided to call you that night, that in the mourning we were calling and asking to leave. So after our run. We get back and I walk to the bedroom, and Omi…Omi went to the bathroom and Royce comes in and says…watch this. Then the next thing I know Omi stabbed Jei with two of his darts in the bathroom, and when Mr. Clarke wants to know what's going on Omi explains. He said…the guy wouldn't let go of him or something. Something...but Sir it was logical at the time whatever he said. And you know Omi wouldn't stab anyone! That's crazy! Why would he do that!?" He shot, extending a hand to the boy whom opened his eyes slightly and looked at all of them.
"Continue Hidaka." Mr. Brine only dismissed his questions and nodded.
"So Omi explains and Mr. Clarke's like…ok, and he, sir he looked like he was going to say it's ok. I swear that's what he looked like he was going to say, and he says he's going to go call you but all of a sudden Royce is like No! That's irrelevant blah blah blah, and gets Mr. Clarke all mad again. So the guy is yelling at Omi, and that's when I ran to call you. And when I got back Royce knew I had called, and he knew you were coming! And they were making Omi take off all his clothes right there, and the other team was horrible. They thought it was funny, so they were making comments and stuff and then Mr. Clarke was…" He shrugged slightly as he trailed. "Strapping him, and I just didn't know what to do. I was freaking out! Than all of a sudden Royce is like, that's enough, says Omi can get dressed and doesn't care we're there anymore! Royce was running things sir, not Mr. Clarke. You'd have to be stupid if you thought that man had an ounce of say around there. If you ask me he's more like zombie and nothing more.
"A zombie." Mr. Brine repeat as though trying to get his analogy down.
"Yes a zombie! That's exactly what he was like. Like someone had surgically removed part of his brain! He just did whatever directions Royce seemed to think were good." He nodded heavily, sighing now that he was done. There. He felt better. Had said all he wanted to say, and now was just waiting for a reaction. For anything. Waiting to defend his case, that these things did happen if Mr. Brine seemed skeptical. Instead Mr. brine just continued staring at him, before looking over at Omi who was sitting with Aya sweating in his clothes, but unwilling to take any off.
"Tsukiyono." Mr. Brine called over softly while nodding towards the stairs. "Go upstairs, shower, change and let Fujimiya take a look at you." Omi silently got up and left with Aya when Mr. Brine turned back to him. "I have a confession Hidaka." Mr. Brine began and he grew a thoughtful frown. Since when did Mr. Brine need to hide things from them? "After my initial meeting with Manx, in which we discussed the switch. I was informed that Mr. Clarke's reports had become increasingly vague in the last month. In fact on several occasions he would report one thing happened, when on camera another was shown, or the camera would simply blank out." He frowned. "Now as you can imagine, the security systems we have you boys in, not only to monitor you, but to keep you safe are…top of the line, and many of our own design…They simply Do. Not. Cut out." Mr. Brine sighed, walking towards where he was behind the counter and leaning into it. "Manx and I had our suspicious. I can't explain what some of them are to you, but we were aware the other team was…demonstrating a level of…power and coordination that…is far from common. Part of our objective when sending you in was, to see what they would do."
"You send us in Knowing this would happen!?" He exclaimed.
"Absolutely not Hidaka." Mr. Brine frowned at him, as though insulted and annoyed. "What do you take me for?" A kind smile came next. "I had absolutely no idea this would happen the way it did. My intent was obviously not to put you in harms way, nor to upset you…" Mr. Brine trailed, quiet for a moment. "I can't say I succeeded in either of them." He growled slightly, annoyed he had to be put through the stress of worrying no one would believe him, and feeling as though he were alone, when Mr. Brine had suspicions. "Rest assured Hidaka, your report will be…substantially helpful to say the least. As a result of what happened I'll increase security here, and get Tsukiyono a few days of counseling."
"Sir they didn't treat him well there. They constantly ragged on him, and when he started talking to me about it, I said…well I mentioned how we used to do it too….before we saw him fight and got to know him." Mr. Brine nodded slightly as he just licked his lips. "What he said was, not like they do, that we never teased him like they did and he was right. When I think about it now, sometimes it seemed harmless to me then but now…it was just mean sir. They were all just cold."
Mr. Brine nodded a heavy sigh. "Go on upstairs than Hidaka. You could use a shower too. Both you and Tsukiyono are excused of your shifts today, but I want you downstairs with us and especially Fujimiya." Mr. Brine ordered, but the man must have seen his confusion because he then quickly added. "Fujimiya is lonely Hidaka. Fix it." Mr. Brine smiled at him as he started jogging up the stairs, glancing at the open bathroom door before heading to his room. Knocking once he opened the door and sighed at the sight of Aya leaning into the closet door while Omi dressed. Both of them turned to him as he walked in and said nothing.
"Mr. Brine says we're excused of our shifts Omi." He gave Aya a small smile to let him know he intended on helping even though he wasn't required to, but Omi didn't say anything. "Do you want to watch a movie Omi?" The blue eyes studied him for a moment before just giving a nod as he tugged a long sleeve shirt over his t-shirt and jeans.
"Don't worry about helping me Ken." Aya said, and he was almost shocked. Since when did Aya not care about equal work distribution? "I'll take care of it. We're ahead of schedule thanks to the other team."
"The other team can kiss my ass." Omi spit sourly, but they both ignored the comment, and thought about work.
"So watch your movie, and I'll close up. You can pick up again tomorrow."
-----------------------------------------------Monday 2:00 ---------------------------------------------
"Look I have a lot of stuff to do Mr…Mr…" He trailed cleaning up the kitchen, with the annoying man sitting calmly at the table.
"My name really isn't important son, I'd appreciate it if you'd just sit down here at the table. I just want to talk to you and your group for a moment."
"What are you like a...a...shrink or something?" he made a face, shoving the milk into the fridge. "Should I just call you Mr. Smith than? Haha." He laughed but the guy didn't even smile, he just nodded as Omi walked in and sat down at the table like he was told. Eyeing the man a little suspiciously before turning to him and smiling.
"Ken-kun. Can I have another sandwich?"
"What?" He frowned, slamming the fridge door a little. "No! I just put everything away, you should have asked sooner Omi the kitchen is closed." He sighed at the annoyed little features which just slumped at his answer. "No I mean it this time. This time it's actually closed." He glared at Omi, but the pouty -make me a sandwich- expression continued to stare at him. "No! Omi. No means no, I don't care what look you give me." He squint at Omi whom then sighed slumped his weight lazily into the table. Thank god! One more second of that look, and he was going to be bringing the sandwich stuff back out. Instead Omi gave up, he must not have been very hungry, and now just sat looking at the odd man.
"Ken." He turned to Aya whom walked in and spit his name confused. "Why did you put everything away? I am hungry."
"What! No! no. The kitchen is closed. It's closed." He declared before turning to Omi. "Ahh!" he scowled when he noticed the pouty expression which had resurfaced now that there was backup.
"You can't close it." Aya frowned at his comment before spotting the weird guy at the kitchen table. Actually to label him weird was kinda mean, because the guy looked like a normal guy about mid thirties, docker pants and shirt, they just labeled him weird because he didn't belong there. "Who's he?" Aya asked, not even abashed in pointing right at the man whom could clearly hear him.
"A counselor Manx sent over." He said and Omi straightened up immediately. Eyeing the guy he thought was just a friend of Mr. Brine's with more thought and surprise. Aya on the other hand made a face at his statement and sent it right at the guy.
"Please sit down." The guy stood and motioned for Aya to sit at the table but the red head just frowned. Aya didn't look like he was moving anywhere. In fact he deliberately crossed his arms with the man's statement making Omi smile.
"Fujimiya." Aya jumped with Mr. Brine's voice behind him as the man walked in. "Get your butt to the table now." Mr. Brine squint at the red head whom whirled around surprised, before heading for the table with the directions. Mr. Brine's glare following him before the man turned to him and he started for the table too. He didn't need Mr. Brine to say anything when he got -the look-. So he just dropped into his chair and sighed, before glancing at the clock.
"I already know what your first question will be Ken." The guy smiled at him, and he frowned when he was called by his first name. "Do you mind if I call you by your first name Ken?" He sighed now, great he couldn't even be mad at the guy if he was polite enough to ask.
"No." He shook his head and the guy sat down with the small folder he held giving them a business smile and nod.
"Great. Let me introduce myself, I am Mr. Smith." They all rolled their eyes. Wasn't that their doctors name? "I am just here to run over a few topics, just catch up on some news, and follow through on some issues." The guy smiled at them, but they all looked bored, except for Omi whom was relatively happy.
"Well do you think you can catch up on your news and follow through on your issues in under an hour?" Aya asked with a dull look. "Because we have a friend coming over in an hour who's really going to need the rest of our attention." Aya finished and they all nodded.
"Oh that's right. Your other team mate. He was injured recently wasn't he?" The guy opened the folder now.
"Shot." Omi answered nodding. "But he's ok." The guy smiled into his papers with the answer.
"You must be Omi." The guy looked up and Omi smiled extending his hand. "Great to see you looking better." Omi frowned slightly and pulled his hand from the shake early. He extended his hand and shook, before Aya did the same stating his name.
"Great I guess…I just have a few questions for each of you so Aya, do you mind if I call-"
"No you can call us all by our first names." Aya spit immediately cutting the guy off anxious to hurry this along.
"Only Mr. Brine calls us by our last names." Omi added in.
"Is it more personal either way?" The guy smiled, seriously asking him and he and Aya said nothing but Omi nodded.
"To me when Mr. Brine calls me by my last name its almost…like a nick name for me now. It's what he calls me." Omi answered in all sincerity.
The guy nodded before turning to the him and Aya and muttering a "Do you both-"
"-I feel the same way." Aya quickly spit, interrupting the guy again.
"Me too." he raised his hand bored. Well that question was out of the way.
Mr. Smith was quiet for a moment, just looking at them before turning right to Aya. "How is your sister Aya?" Aya squint at the man immediately, he didn't like people talking about his sister. "Has she been improving at all lately?" -No- Aya growled his answer at the man, before muttering a bitter -She's fine- "A huh. Are you happy with our organizations service to her?" Aya's face relaxed slightly and he threw Omi a -wow- expression which boy nodded to. Looks like Aya really was happy with the service or his frown would have darkened. -Yes- Aya spit, but this time the tone was not nearly as dark and he smiled. "Great to hear it. Now since you didn't go to the other team Aya I'd really just like to ask Ken and Omi a few questions." Aya just shrugged, he didn't care. Its not like he was being left out on any fun. "So Ken, Omi, what are…your initial feelings about the other team."
Omi frowned immediately, mumbling a bitter "That they can rot in hell." under his breath but Mr. Smith immediately turned to the comment shocked..
He quickly cleared his throat. "My first thoughts are that…" He began before trailing for a breath. "Are that…I don't ever want to see them again." He spit firmly. "And not just that." He frowned pointing down to the table. "I don't want to ever be near them again."
"I don't want them to know anything else about me." Omi quickly added. "And I don't think they should be allowed to see footage of us anymore."
"Definitely no more footage." He shook his head, pointing to the table again with this bulleted request. "The other team is disturbing."
"And sick!" Omi shot in.
"And rude." He frowned
"And mean." Omi made a face. "They're just mean people."
"I think you should stop teaching them everything as soon as you can. It looks to me like their going to use it against you." He said giving the guy a warning look.
"And that means they'll use it again us, since we'll become their rivals. So…all training of them should just be stopped." Omi concluded nodding
"They shouldn't be allowed to stay a team anymore!" He quickly added and Omi nodded again.
Aya who had been watching both of them with his head turning from side to side shrugged and muttered a "Geez we better just kill them now." He smiled, and so did Omi but Mr. Smith turned to Aya startled and the red head frowned. "It was a joke."
"Do you have any events or proof to back up your adjectives boys?" Mr. Smith asked now, quickly scribbling into a pad.
"Yes I do." He frowned leaning into the table more, and ignoring Mr. Brine whom came over and sat down. "I watched one of them, rub food in the others face for no reason."
"They swear at each other." Omi nodded his comment out before shrugging. "That's not good for team moral, right sir?" Mr. Brine smiled slightly with a gentle nod.
"They were defiantly rude to us." He continued. "They barged into our rooms, and into the bathroom while we were using it. They…gave us all kinds of dirty looks and, and well they were basically just rude to me. Omi's the one they harassed." He threw a side thumb at Omi as Mr. Smith continued writing before looking up at Omi expectantly.
"Aaa…" Omi trailed for a moment as he got his thoughts together. "They…called me names, and said weird things to me, they shoved me around, constantly insulted me." Omi started talking faster now that he was annoyed. "Never listened to what I said, constantly gave me orders, made me work all the time. Got me in trouble when I did nothing at all! And knew things…the one guy…he knew things about me, I don't know how he could have known."
Mr. Smith wrote for about thirty seconds after Omi's talking before muttering a "What types of things did he know, and what types of things did he say?"
"Well he knew when my birthday was for one." Omi answered. "And he knew things that had happened in my past. Incidences from my old school, and things people said that…there was no way someone could have known." Omi stopped as Mr. Smith wrote while he spoke before waiting for more.
"And what types of things did they say?"
Omi looked away this time. "Just basic insulting things." the boy muttered.
"They called him a girl at the dinner table. A…a testy girl. That was it." He shot in and Omi frowned while Aya made a -What the hell?- frown that then morphed into a -How retarded!- grin.
"The other things they said to me were sexual in nature and, they made fun of Ken and I, said we were lovers." Omi added bitterly.
"That's right!" He suddenly shot leaning towards Mr. Smith. "I forgot about that one. They did! The first two seconds we're there the ones saying we're gay. What's up with that. All because I was courteous enough to ask him what bed he wanted since there were two."
"Alright, did you see anything else there that struck you as odd?" Mr. Smith said, his pencil tapping into the paper slightly as though he were eager to write.
"You mean besides everything." Omi grunted, looking down and fiddling with his fingers while he explained his Zombie Theory for the next five minutes, including every possible example he could think of. and editing Omi behavior when he was yelled at to be courteous. Mr. Smith didn't need to hear that, and he could tell Omi was thankful when the boy gave him a kind smile as he spoke. Never once correcting any of his sentences, and he got the kun on his name with emphasis when Omi spoke. "ken-Kun's the one who called Mr. Brine." Omi pointed out as Mr. Smith wrote before stopping an looking over his notes to consider everything before flipping into his folder slightly.
"Alright that covers the rest of the other team." Aya glanced at the clock and sighed. "Do you all feel comfortable with your other team member coming here when he's still injured."
"Defiantly" he nodded, and so did Aya, as Omi spit in a -We're going to take really good care of Yohji-kun.-
"So none of you are worried?"
"No way." Omi shook no, and he and Aya grunted -No's- at the man who nodded.
"What about you Ken." Mr. Smith turned directly to him, and he suddenly felt a little nervous. "I understand you share a particularly close bond with this…Yohji Kudou." He frowned slightly when Yohji's name was spoken so formally and with such a foreign tone. "How do you feel?" He was quiet for a moment, he just wanted to think on it for a second. How exactly did he feel about what happened to Yohji? He remembered how weak and sick Yohji appeared in the hospital. Even when they were struggling to keep warm during the winter, he had never seen Yohji look that frail. The guy had always kept it together better than him. It was scary. That's what it was, that's what he felt. He was scared, scared about what happened to Yohji. That the doctors had said he could die so easily, could have if not found sooner. When they told him exactly how much blood Yohji lost in routine, he understood exactly what it meant because of his training. He was scared. Scared of loosing Yohji. Scared of loosing his friend.
"Ken-kun." He snapped back to reality with Omi's small mutter. Everyone was looking at him because his small moment to get his thoughts together, had turned to a minute of silence. Aya had even gently laid a hand on his shoulder and he hadn't noticed.
"I am a-" he started talking quickly, trying to make up for lost time. "I am glad he's coming home. I am glad he's getting better. Yohji will…do better here, with us….I'll do better here with Yohji home." He nodded and Aya gave his shoulder a little squeeze of approval as Omi smiled.
Mr. Smith seemed satisfied with what he said too, and he frowned slightly. Since when did he become a good speaker!? "Alright than I just want to play a real small game with you." Mr. Smith said numbering the lines to his notepad. "I just want to go around to each of you, and I'll give you a teammates name and I would like you to speak the first word which comes to mind. Ok?"
"Ok." Omi said sitting up a little with a smile seeming eager to move to a topic which might actually be fun.
"If it's your own name don't answer, if it isn't, just go ahead moving clockwise. Aya." Aya frowned when his name was called first and he couldn't play.
"Moody." He grinned immediately and threw it at Aya "…Sometimes." he shrugged, and the red head grunt.
"Leader." Omi answered, watching Mr. Smith record their responses.
"Yohji."
"Horny." Aya stated.
"Haha!" He started laughing immediately and Mr. Brine groaned slapping himself in the face as he looked down into his hands. "Is he allowed to answer like that?" He laughed pointing to Aya whom managed to sit there with a straight face.
"I said the first word you thought of. Everything counts." Mr. Smith nodded, and he grinned. Taking a breath for his answer.
"Black and red woman's underwear." He hid his face slightly while he answered because it was so absurd.
"Dirty pants." Omi frowned his answer out and Mr. Brine stared laughing silently. Though he was trying to hid it.
"Omi."
"Friendly." Aya answered quickly.
"Happy." he nodded, backing up friendly.
"Oh." Mr. Smith looked up with the answers before turning to Omi. "That's great, those are great immediate responses. I am glad to hear you feeling better. Are you still on your medication or…"
Mr. Smith trailed and Omi was dead silent for a moment. As though locked in place the boy was completely still before resuming his finger fiddling with a shrug. "No I…stopped." Omi muttered.
"How long ago?" Mr. Smith questioned, and Omi shrugged slightly again, keeping his eyes on his fingers.
"About eight months ago, maybe a little more." Mr. Smith nodded a small -a huh- before quickly writing down their answers so they could continue. He on the other hand, was totally baffled and told Omi so with his expression when the boy finally peeked up and him and Aya. His effort however, was in vain because Omi ignored the silent question no matter how hard it was to put -What is he talking about Omi? You never told me anything about that, aren't we better friends?- into a single expression.
"Alright. Ken." Mr. Smith continued.
"Pain in the ass, Loud, Hot headed." Aya spit immediately.
"Ok! I could have said more than moody." He turned to the red head with a frown but Aya only shrugged.
"Those were the first words Ken." Aya smiled at him as he answered, and Mr. Smith took them without a comment.
"Friend, and bed." Omi muttered, still playing with his fingers and Mr. Smith wrote the words down before looking up at the blue eyes which came up when they knew they were being looked at. "Bed comes from…Ken's want-fear to sleep alone."
"I don't like sleeping by myself." He nodded backing Omi up, and Mr. Smith crossed something out he had written on his pad ignoring Aya's humored snort as he closed his folder.
"Alright. I know you wanted me out of here, so thank you very much for your time boys." They all smirked at the guy as he stood up. Looking slightly confused as he suddenly got a bunch of sly smiles.
"Don't think we're stupid." Aya grunt suddenly. "It's not like we don't know what your doing here." Mr. Smith was silent.
"First you come in…" He shrugged, waving his hand at the table. "Pretend you're here for us. When really you just want to know about our experiences with the other team."
"You should have just asked." Omi nodded. "We would have told you."
"You could have done it without dredging shit up." He grunt, side glancing to Omi to see what the boy would do when he made reference to the past, but Omi only increased his sly smile and the guy sighed slightly. Turning from all their smart assed expressions to Mr. Brine whom was grinning ear to ear proud they had all seen through the act, and even felt courageous enough to confront the guy on it.
"Yes well…" Mr. Smith trailed, sighing harder when he just received an additional cocked eyebrow from Mr. Brine his own co-worker. "Good day than. I'll…let myself out." Mr. Smith nodded, tucking his folder under his arm and walking out. All of them watched him head to the door in silence while still smiling. Mr. Smith stopped there for a moment and glanced back at them from in front of the door and Omi raised his hand and waved ever so slightly. Causing the man to quickly leave with a heavy sigh and shake of his head.
"HAHAH!" He burst out laughing and so did Aya. "Did you see his face!? I mean. Did you see his face!? Whew that was good." He grinned slouching back into his chair and folding his hands behind his head. "Wait till we tell Yohji we messed with yet another Mr. Smith." Aya smiled with his comment and Omi stood up and started to the fridge. "No!" He snapped "No Omi!"
"Ken-kuuuun!" Omi stopped and turned to him whining.
"NO! I just cleaned everything and the kitchen is closed!" He spit. "When you have kitchen duty you don't snake constantly then!"
"Hidaka let him go." Mr. Brine nodded and Omi immediately broke a triumphant smile and bounced over to the fridge. "It won't hurt him to pack a few more pounds on."
"Are you kidding!" He threw a hand at Omi who was opening the fridge. "He's only jacking up his metabolism with all his munching! He's going to get thinner." Omi stopped, dish half out of the fridge with his comment.
"Don't listen to him Omi." Aya waved at the boy whom then brought the plate to the counter with the red heads smile. "Ken's just jealous he can't munch constantly."
"Yeah." He grunt. "I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want." He sat up and poked his finger into the table with his w words. "It's you who has to watch the calories Aya. If you ask me your getting a little soggy around the mid section."
"Psh." Aya snort at him. "At least I haven't been eating bags of those nasty pork rings Ken. Way to build up the love handles and clog your arteries."
"Haha." they both turned to Omi whom was standing at the counter eating away while watched them like they were his own personal TV. Omi's head moved from side to side as they spoke with a wide entertained smile.
"Boys." Mr. Brine sighed heavily. "Get upstairs and make sure everything is ready for Kudou will you." They all nodded, and he stood with Aya as Omi stuffed his mouth with anti-pasta, wiped his hands on his jeans, and raced after them.
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Oh my gosh! I just saw the first volume of weiss in English the other day, and I must say, aside from the fact that Aya does NOT Sound like AyA aT ALL! I must admit, Omi, whom was why I never saw any English Weiss, was not as bad as I thought he would be. Really I was just scared they'd like totally kill him trying to dub him over but….I must admit…it could have been worse.
ANYWAY! I don't think I am gonna bother seeing the rest, though I'd like to see how they mangled Schwarz trying to dub them…I may be too lazy. Hehe. Please remember to review!! It lets us authors know we're appreciated. : ) Next chapter up soon! Entitled: While I Was On Holiday….and you get to see more of poor Yohji-san dealing with his loss. sniffle
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