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Disclaimer: I don't own Weiss Kruez

Claimer: I think you know who they are...

Locked

Chapter 7

Where am I? Ran thought as he looked around to study his surroundings. It was pure white and extremely bright it was nearly a miracle that he wasn't blind yet. Unlike the abysmal and cold of the building this place was bright and warm. He thought for a while to remember how he got there. First was, the dark,... pervert touched me,...then Lady Rai's hand then... here. He looked around again and despite the empty and quiet area he felt at peace.

"Yo, Ran. How's it been?" A voice said behind him, a very familiar one that was low and that of a grown man. He turned back quickly and saw his old teammates. Sena, smiling brightly at him and the much older man with a grin, he almost thought he would cry at the sight of them but he quickly sucked it back, he didn't want to get all emotional just yet. They were in their mission clothes but more white-ish colored as compared to a live mortal. Like the ghosts that they are, that even their own clothes looked pale.

"It's been all right..." He said in his slightly impassive tone, it was hard to hide his joy and curiosity all at the same time. He wondered where the two went... heaven or hell? How were their lives after life? Was it painful? A blessing? Better than their life on earth? Millions of questions popped out all at once that he didn't know what to say next. And this meeting place, where were they and how did they all get here?

"Oh?... I bet it's been hell." Kyo replied with an eyebrow arched up. "You were in the brink of suicide just a few days ago..." Aya shot back up at the word 'suicide', he totally forgot about that because then he was lonely but now... was he having second thoughts? "Hah! I knew it! The dead know everything...." He said in scheming tone.

"Kyo... don't sound like a stalker..." Sena remarked still smiling. And then looked at Ran with an even brighter beam. "You look so much better now! Yay that Germa!- ooops..." he said and covered his mouth at the realization on what he was about to yell out in victory. Kyo slapped his own forehead and let it run down his face with a hint of irritation in his features.

"Hah! And you said to not sound like a stalker! Way to go kid! Thanks for spilling our secret!" Kyo said upset and looked away from both of them. "Now, we'll get beaten up before we get back home... Wonderful."

Sena laughed nervously, his eyes closed as he scratched his head while facing Aya. "Oh no..." Ran's eyes narrowed as he stared t both of them. What ever this is... it didn't look like a topic to brighten his day. "Well, Aya, as you know..." Sena began to explain, the swordsman's eyes were claiming for the info and he could do nothing but allow it trample him like a dog. "We're... dead. And because of that... We can watch the people in earth... do... stuff." He said in a happy tone like he was teaching a kid with all the cheap hand gestures. He tried to from a guy with his left hand with both his index finger and middle finger as legs and the other hand was used to try to imitate a dog and he did all the sound affects. Somehow, if people were stupid enough this could be better than flash movies.

After awhile, the boy said nothing relevant to the explanation as he was using his hands to make up for the lack of toys he had ever owned in his life as a mortal being. The so-called dog out of his right hand had now become the oh so terrifying worm like creature who was now eating his left hand that served as the damsel-in-distress with a very queer squeaky voice, yelping for help quite loudly despite being within the destructive jaws of the vicious creature. Kyo stared at him weirdly and Ran just tried to glare but couldn't because it was too strange all together... oh look now somehow, the girl turned into superman and was now beating up the 5-toothed creature.

Kyo cleared his throat and Aya shifted his gaze at him. The younger man didn't bother to listen as he was in-trance in his own imagination. "Anyway... We can watch anyone we like whenever we want."

"Anyone?... Seriously?" He said not so happily and the axe wielder nodded. If this was true then he can watch him anytime. Anywhere, in the bathroom... And yes, the list goes on and on. "So you you've been stalking me?..."

"Well, not really. We're like... 'guardians'." He exaggerated and now the younger assassin was on the ground still not paying mind and was still in the play world of his inner child. "Anyway, we've been watching everything from where we are. Nice really to know things you guys can't. That's why Miss Yasumi comes by and asks us to do stuff for her. She's really nice so we don't really mind." Aya let it sink in... this meant, that they know the thing in the dark and the floor incident... oh no... He shrugged it off first and decided to vent his anger another time.

"So she knows a lot of things through this?"

"Frankly, yes. You see, technology even at its greatest peak is limited so then Yasumi had devised a plan called 'Lock'." He motioned the red head to look at the infinite white solitude of the zone. "What we are doing now is part 'Lock' itself. No information gets out, and the only way for the living to get here is by the powers of necromancy and of course Yasumi. She comes here and seeks for the souls who are willing to do her bidding in exchange the chance to see their loved ones in-person. This place is the actual area that exists in between earth, heaven and hell, the subconscious of a necromancer." He sighed. "But it has limits too... Sad to say... Telepathy can block such things. IF they are aware of being watched... But if not. Well, too bad."

Aya looked surprised, a place devised by man in between all worlds, how is that possible? This is how Yasumi gets all her information and in exchange to see the ones they love the most so this meeting in a sense this was Kyo's and Sena's wish, to see him? So that would mean he could see them again if the young president bought the time?

"So, wait, what about souls like that 'Safron', I'm sure you know about it right?" He asked intriguingly. "Can they see everything?"

Kyo shook his head sadly. "They are lost souls. They can see others like them but they can never come here until they have been judge or at least allow themselves to be. They are too attached to earth that's why they can't leave.- And Sena, can you stop with the hand stuff and the damn sound affects?!" He ended his speech with a complaint and finally Sena looked up to pay attention, his eyes glowing with innocence. And he stood up with a smile.

"Problem?" He asked the older a man who gave him a dry glare.

"Nevermind..." he sighed in reply then looked back at his leader with a scheming grin on his features. "So, do you want to look at someone in particular?"

llllll

Time Check, 6:18 am

Crawford waited inside the limo, as it drove round and round. His legs crossed and had the usual dignified air surround him. The car stopped and his female co-worker slipped in with ease and let the man outside close the door for her. Then again the car started its way toward its destination. Yasumi took the dark shades she had on thus revealing her nearly inhuman colored orbs, her hair flipped at the movement then she stared out the window upon leaving the gates of a mansion she watched the people making their way in the clean streets of Tokyo. They looked like they were all in a hurry and she also glanced at the shops and other interesting things she could lay eyes on. The American turned to look at her and he gave a polite smile, though silent it wasn't at all awkward. They both knew this type of silence should be treasured especially if their German comrade had tagged along.

"I doubt I have to say what happened because you probably already know." She said in her serious tone but with a hint of sassiness. "It was like hell, thanks for not warning me about it."

He smirked. "I thought you'd be able to handle it yourself so I decided to stay. And not tell you" As usual a formal response from Mr. United States but I guess it would be something she's already use to it. "Do you like him?"

"I wouldn't have shot my dark side if I do like him..." She sighed out and leaned back on her seat and shifting her glance to look at the American. "I don't want to get married... Curse step mothers, have you noticed how cliché they are in one's life?" She said without a second thought which made Crawford laugh slightly and then he relaxed on his seat more to enjoy their ride. It would be silent for a while so he predicted.

llllll

He's so beautiful...How did the gods make such a creature...

The German said longingly in his head. He was on the floor on the side of the bed, kneeling by his little kitten who was sleeping soundly. He was deeply captivated by the younger man, who was breathing slowly and silently. His face was glowing with splendor and the German couldn't help but lick his lips at the tension of the rather dirty and others rather romantic of thoughts that entered his brain.

They were in a dimly lighted room, warm it covered in violet velvet walls. Unlike most rooms in the hide-out this wasn't as mystifying. It was warm and cozy here and had a small scent of jasmine. If he knew right, this is where Yasu would take a nap or if is she couldn't drive back home. He recognized it at the scent, if he knew his friend right Jasmine was one of her favorite of scents. He was happy to have a friend with such rich taste in things. If he were to sell the room it would be above 1.4 million yen, he's hanging out with the right people at least. Crawford himself without the assistance of his business associate was very wealthy. Yep... He had the right bunch of friends, rich, successful, not to mention at times fun to joke around and make fun of... Sometimes.

He then broke away from that topic to focus on Aya. He had been asleep for nearly an hour; he was curious on what was already happening and in a sense was very envious of his deceased teammates. He wanted to be the one Ran would talk to all the time, the one the younger redhead would stare at lovingly, kiss goodnight, and say those 3 words to him with heartfelt affection and everything else any other lover would share with his partner.

But nooo... He had to wait and gain his trust...

Sometimes, he thought he was too dependent on Natsumi's advice.

But she's always right...

Damn her wise sense of making decisions...

He sighed. How he ached so much for him, to feel him all over in places he was never allowed to explore. He knew in a sense that Ran wanted that too. He just had a hard time expressing it but he knew he would to take that barrier of his and be able to hold him tight without fear of making the kitten traumatized or fall into a rather confused state. He wanted his lover to love him back when he was there. And that's why his mission of bringing Ran back to life was almost half complete but not enough.

He thought of things he knew about Ran. What he likes to do and what he dislikes were a bit challenging, they were very opposite in character but that's what he loved about the sword master. Like ice cream of a new tremendous flavor, icy and cold and hard to swallow but oh so delicious, and once you've had that taste of Eden slide through your tongue you'll never be able to withhold the desire of tasting it again, knowing that you'll never grow tired of the sweetness because it would have changed in flavor but still give you the lust for it more and more and soon you'll be to addicted to it and think of nothing else. It will become your lifeblood, your own soul.

But heaven he loves it... He loves the feeling of life poured into him, he knew if it stopped he'll be left famished for him.

That thought hit him really hard once. Yes, now he was really sure he fell in love with him. The same power of the past had overflowed within him. He was sure of it and even, maybe, it was stronger.

Stronger than any bad memories.

llllll

A huge screen was playing the scene of the German, who was now sweetly staring at the younger red head and was caressing his cheek as he slept soundly. The screen thus covered by the whiteness of the area. Aya was blushing quite visibly at the sight played before him. Though his soul was not exactly in his body, somehow he can feel the warmth of the telepath's hand on his face. He touched his cheek unconsciously, trying respond to Schu's gentle touch.

Schu...

"Kyo... I think someone is forgetting we're here..." Sena's voice said mischievously behind him and Kyo nodded in agreement, with corresponding 'yes, yes'. Aya froze in place; he completely forgot he wasn't alone... He cheeks were redder now in embarrassment. He wanted someone to take him back now then be teased by these two. "He's so in love... look at him stare at the German..." Aya was even more flushed at the remark and the same time denying it. He wasn't in love... he just found it...nice.

Yeah...

Right.

"But kid you have to admit though," Kyo interrupted and then added shortly in a very happy voice, "He's so hot!!"

A tumbleweed passes by with the sound of cold wind along with it. Indeed, the wind is very cold, oh so cold.

"But he is!!!!" The older man whined.

"Kyo..." Sena spoke up to break the uneasiness of their surroundings. "because I'm you're friend. And I'll live you for the rest of my after life... I will pretend that you didn't say that..." The young assassin said with pauses and Kyo nodded.

"Ya you're right... We didn't have that conversation..." The awe wielder answered. "Never happened." Aya cleared his throat and what was left of the red hue. He looked again at the wide screen before him. He saw the telepath wipe away the bangs that had covered his own sleeping face when he moved slightly and then flash showily another charming smile at the sleeping figure before him and waited quietly for him to awaken.

The swordsman focused his gaze on the mind reader's facade. He was smiling brightly and waiting patiently for him to awaken. Then he wondered where they were. What happened to the other room? Had he really lost consciousness?

"Now you see that we can look at anything we like?" Kyo retorted and Ran turned back and gave a nod. They withdrew the image and once again only plain ivory surroundings have swallowed them. "What else would you like to see? I bet we only have a few minutes..."

He thought for a while. It was fine just staring at the German all day. He didn't mind that but then the 2 may grow tired of it or they sensed he was still curious in what they can show him. "Wait... You know Yasumi right?"

"Yep." Kyo answered. "Desert, right?"

Ran nodded. "What ties does she have around? You do recall she was a target and so was her brother right?"

"Well..." Sena looked up. "For one thing... She is tied to a lot of rich business men because of her father before he passed away. Wealthy by blood, they were a known clan of ninjas... They studied some form of magical art... I think. But she doesn't seem to be the dark beast like how Persia put it."

"A master of talismanic arts." Kyo continued. "You don't see that often anymore... If we know RosenKruez is more into 'people with born talents' but the twins were an exception but they kept running away. Custom made facilities, no care for budget... but that Yasumi is hardcore when it comes to financial income she doesn't stand for anything less than she deserves. Seeing her at work is like being whipped, we've watched... Those poor old men..." He added sadly and Sena nodded along vigorously. Aya smiled a little. The two have gotten a lot closer and happier. It must really be nice where they were sent to live another life. "But, Aya, why the sudden question?" Kyo asked.

The swordsman thought for a while and stared at the white walls, noticing that it was fading. He felt this meeting will come to an end very soon. "I feel as if... we've met before... Somewhere. And when I look at her eyes..." He looked down. Reminiscing on her angry gaze after the meeting they had earlier. "She looks at me... like she wants to make me feel guilty. It just makes me wonder how much she knows about Kritiker and the likes."

"Ahh..." Kyo replied. Not a moment to soon everything was turning black. "Time to leave, Aya." He smiled and the red head nodded impassively. "Take care, all right?"

"We'll see each other again." Sena gave out a once again cheerful smile. "Bye!" He waved.

Before he could reply and bid farewell he was pulled into a deep abyss.

llllll

A dream. One can never have too many of those. Yet noone can really understand what they all truly mean. How minds are are able to create them, images that dance on the surface of naïve slumber and not allow the obscurity of the night to swallow them whole. Noone wants to be left in the dark, alone and uncared for. And that's maybe why we always have dreams to keep us company and make us feel safe in the dark.

That maybe the work of a dream...

But just as everyone will keep dreaming...

Everyone will always fall into darkness.

And just as everything is consumed by shadows...

So does the reveries of the flightless angels...

Time check, 6:55 am

He awoke once again in that same expensive vehicle he was in earlier in the morning. His eyes were disturbed by the sudden burst of sunshine. He was dizzy and felt like he was hit with a frying pan with a rough estimation of 30 whacks and 40 swings. And to see the same driver who was smiling mischievously. It was brighter now though and more people compared to the earlier hours of sunrise.

"Sleep well, love?" The German spoke with a much more devilish grin but still keeping his eyes on the road.

"I feel like some asshole squished my head with a bloody anvil." Ran answered. Though with not much emotion, you can obviously tell he was pissed. "I think my eyes are going to pop-out..."

"Ya... thought so. Heard worst. Had worst. I had a mission their once with Leo, Lupus and Crawf... Had to reason out with some dead gangsters who didn't wanna listen to Yasu. So we agreed. After all that we went back here with migraines from hell. Felt like I had some kind monstrous fist inside my mouth, I vowed never to enter there again... Makes wonder how Yasu can take it everyday..."

The swordsman looked at the telepath, slightly confused with his head tilted slightly. "She goes there everyday?"

"Yep. Everyday. Updated. New missions. New leads. New deaths. And new money." He said and gave a wider grin. He stopped the car as they were halted by the 'red light'. "And can I mention how adorable you look when you're confused?"

"Can you not?..." came an exasperated reply, then laid his back down on his chair. And he then received a sensuous chuckle.

"But you are..."He paused "And you're HOT when you're mad." Came a purr of pure lust leaving the swordsman to swallow his last bit of anger and concentrate in keeping quiet and still and as unnoticeable as he could as the vehicle was moving. He then heard another chuckle from the telepath whose eyes were back on the road. "And you're sexy silent..."

"Oh shut up..."

"Ahh... Kinky..."

"...Are you rating my behavior according to how your hormones react to it?..."

The German smiled. "Oh come on baby, you know you always turn me on..."

"Keep quiet, Schu..."

"Tell me why I should..." Came a playful tone. Aya knew this was not a good sign usually this would come with some kind of evil mind game.

"Because you're noisy..."

They took a turn as they drove on. "We have a lovely hour and a half  before we get to the park before we meet the 'used-to-be-young-but-look-old-now-but-are-not' people so I have all my lovely time to play with you..."

"Ahh... I can barely contain the overwhelming joy that is now uncontrollably building within my very inner being." The swordsman replied with pure sarcasm and Schuldig couldn't help but laugh.

"How about a game? If you win, I'll shut my mouth until you tell me to open it."

The bet was like some door to greatness to Aya. Silence from Schuldig was like trying to tell Farf that God still loves him and that he loves him despite his sins and he going to live in heaven. But then somehow it was too good to be easy to get... Which can only lead to one thing... "What kind of game?" The telepath smiled evilly in his own head. This is exactly what he was waiting to play for a long time after his vow not to read the red head's brain...

another one of those Evil Intimidating Mind Manipulation Scams which had now been called operation EIMMS.

"Well, kitty, it's very simple... you just have to do what I tell you to do."

"Schu... Nothing you ask for is simple..."

"I know." He said scheming some kind of evil plan, with an evil laugh that seemed to echo all over the car. And Ran just stared at the odd German.

"Umm... Maybe I'll just let you keep talking." He said after the long 5 minutes of evil cackling. The older man finally halted.

"No, no kitty... it will be simple. Promise." He said with an enchanting smile. The swordsman stared at him more then a fine eyebrow rose skeptically. "Give me your hand."

"My hand?"

"Yep."

"Ahh..." Unwillingly, but listened he did what was instructed of him. He stretched his right hand out which Schu took in his own. As a few seconds passed, they went into a tunnel. It was dim and there were no cars around. But the car kept moving at a normal pace.

"Ran..." The telepath said in a low voice. And the younger red head turned to look at him, immediately seeing his gaze. He couldn't help the rush of blood cover his face. He knew the German was indeed very attractive but then what made him even more captivating was the way his eyes gave a glow he had barely bumped into when he was 'kidnapped'. Schuldig's warm hand around Aya's gave him a feel of security, the same hand that led him through the dark. "don't ever let go of me..." He intertwined his fingers with the younger red head as they laced together. He then brought the pale delicate hand to his lips and kissed it lightly making the sword wielder turn even redder. "Is that simple?"

"Yeah..." The younger man responded. Relaxing in his seat his hand still held by the German, both their hands on the foreigner's lap. He peered at their hands and smiled warmly. "it is."

TBC...

-faints- I had a slump... Which sucked... but I hope this is ok. Despite the typos I must have let EVERYWHERE. AAAAHHHH!!!! I need a beta... but I'll get one. One day.

Anyway, thanks for all those who READ and REVIEW. And just keep doing so. So I can write faster. And anyone here who has suggestions and stuff? Might inspire me. –grin- THANKS!!!

Forgive typos.

R&R!