OMG! I actually updated! It's only been like what, six months? I bet you all thought that I was never going to finish this, right? Well, actually I'm still not done with the story; I'm just done with the chapter.
Okay this chapter is a little different from the previous chapters. Instead of doing the POV of one character, I decided to have the POV of eight characters. Sound confusing? Well, you should be able to tell whose mind your reading, otherwise I failed as a writer...::sob sob::...anyway, I hope you accept my apologies for a late update and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
By the way, all same disclaimers apply, setting still hasn't changed, and there are still some really bad time lapses...happy reading!
Wo ist mein Bruder?
Chapter 9
Too much time has passed in this little room. A different nurse from the one I had met earlier took some of my blood and was about to grant my leave, but then she hesitated and said that I should wait here. She didn't leave any reason why, but I could have guessed. I knew as soon as the transfusion were to take place, she would want me to see if it had worked on the patient.
I couldn't stay. This was not for the fear of the patient not waking up, but for the fear that he did wake up. Now don't get me wrong, I want him to live the life he always dreamed of living, but if he sees me here his chances of having a normal life will be cut down.
I'm also sure by now that the others will have some influence on the patient too. I know they are here. Aya had come to my office asking me for grant in Siberian's prison. Asuka's husband can be no one else but Balinese. Even if Balinese doesn't remember, I'm sure Abyssinian will.
There is only so much that can be done. I decided to go ahead and make my way to the door before the nurse returned. As I walked towards the door, I couldn't help but glance one more time into the room occupied by Aya Fujimiya. The nurse was working diligently to make sure the blood transfusion would be done properly. Luckily she didn't notice me wave good- bye.
Then I thought I was able to go back home to Japan and continue my role as Persia once again, but an all too familiar face stopped me.
"I'm surprised to see you here," was the only response I received.
"I had some work that was left unfinished," my reply was short and concise. I couldn't let our encounter here stretch out for too long.
"I thought you didn't trust Crawford and Schuldig." Nagi made his point short and concise too, but he added his own resentment.
"I hate it when something is left unfinished. Besides, once you left, I couldn't have assigned anything anyway." His eyes opened wide, shocked that I would let myself show weakness in front of him. He had to have known I wanted to come here. After all the information had been gathered, and after Crawford and Schuldig had confronted me, I decided that it would be best to let Nagi go. I didn't need much convincing to bring myself here after that.
"He is coming behind me," I knew exactly what Nagi's words meant. I simply nodded my head to him.
"Come on! We have to bring these up to his room!" a new voice said carrying in a bus load of flowers.
"Hai." Nagi replied using his telekinesis to help carry flowers in a discreet way. I noticed his eyes glance back to where I was standing, but I knew that all he would see was empty space.
Not too long ago, I was sitting at home bitching about how we didn't have a job. Then I came here with Bradley to take on the Persian office. If the big fat paycheck that came with this job wasn't enough, I was able to gain a good conscience. While you may think that's only a load of bull...okay it is a load of bull. Think I care?
We have been helping out here at Kritiker for about two weeks now. I know that Takatori would never trust us with a 'mission' or anything, but we did get a lot of his paperwork done and also gave him the break he needed. He said he was coming back tomorrow to resume his duties, but he would still need Bradley and I here so Nagi could stay longer. Of course we all know that 'tomorrow' really means one week from tomorrow.
Bradley also seems content by helping out here too. When we were simply the assassin group called Schwarz, I could never understand his intentions and what his goals in life were. Of course they changed a whole lot since those days, but now I'm finally able to see where Bradley came from and why he changed.
As for me? I actually quite satisfied with myself right now. Perhaps this idea that 'I'm making amends for all the misdeeds I have caused,' but this still feels right. Hey, even when both Takatori and Nagi came back I would still help out here. Whether it's for Nagi or it's because we can't find a dumb ass job anywhere we go or because of my guilty conscience, Bradley and I have decided to stay here with Kritiker.
My prayers have been answered! They found him! Well, at least according to Aya-chan's letter. I can't help but think how ironic it is that the money he intended to give to the church in turn helped him out in his life emergency. God has funny ways of doing things, but at least he does these things right.
It's been awhile since I actually encountered Aya-chan and Ken at the church. I started to worry that they had never found Ran and they had gone back to Japan because they gave up too quickly.
However, Aya-chan was very vague when writing her letter. She said she found him in the hospital right down the street the day after their visit with me. However, she didn't specify what condition he was in. All she said was, "Thank God he's alive." Now I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound too hopeful. He's alive, but he could be in a coma for all I know.
Then later on in the letter, Aya-chan kept talking about the savior that's giving her brother a second chance on life. Then she thanked me for donating the money so the hospital had the proper funds in order to function. Then that was about it.
She left me wondering on how he was doing, and I'm almost tempted to go back to the hospital to perform the sacrament of Unction of the sick. Yet, I was afraid I may scare Aya-chan into thinking that he would never regain consciousness, or I was afraid of the embarrassment if he was actually moving on his feet. I just can't help but wonder.
Aya-chan's letter got me thinking of sending some letters of my own. I was still never able to thank Brad properly. And I haven't heard from Schuldig or Nagi in an even longer time. All that is happening with Weiss leaves me to thinking about what happened to Schwarz. I mean we weren't actually a team anymore when I left, but I still wonder if the same camaraderie or lack there of, is still there between us. I guess I'll just have to pray for the best.
Finally I was able to catch a plane to New York. I have to admit, I was hesitant at first. The thought of Ran always brings me back memories of the Crashers team, which I want to be able to forget about. Of course, nobody can ever really forget their past, and my bond with Ran is much stronger than that!
I already got word from Queen saying that they have in fact found Ran, but his condition wasn't a pretty one. With nothings ever pretty when you're an assassin.
Now even when I'm there I know I won't be able to stay long. I came here to return his favor. That is all. Or at least that's the excuse I want to give myself. I know other people will probably already be there and I really don't want to have to talk with them. I never really got a chance to meet any of the other Weiss members except Takatori, but of course you all know how that turned out.
After this I have no idea what I'm going to do. I would love to say that I would stay with Ran and we could live our lives together, but I don't want his life screwed up even more because of me. One visit. That's it. I'll visit him this once. The best thing I could do for him is stay away after that. At least I think that's the best. Maybe I should just wait and see how things play out.
I never imagined New York to be so big! I thought I was never going to find the hospital where Asuka was said to be working in. The directions I got online weren't very reliable and it didn't help that I didn't even know the name of the street that the hotel I was staying in was on. I still was finally able to get my way to the hospital with the help of some nice strangers.
When I did finally arrive at the hospital, I had to wait for the receptionist to call Asuka and tell her that her husband was here. She continued to put me down for not calling first to let her know that I was coming. Of course I tried to cover that up by saying that I wanted it to be a surprise. That was originally what I intended.
I then finally let myself take a seat while I waited for Asuka. The receptionist said she had been tending to some patient, and couldn't leave until another nurse arrived. This didn't really make sense since I saw at least two nurses come and go in the allotted time. Still I waited anxious to see my wife.
Not what happened next was a little surprising. Remember that guy from the plane? Remember the one who said it was okay to tell people on airplanes their deepest secrets since you're never going to see them again? Well, I saw him again. He came in through the hospital doors carrying in a big bunch of flowers followed by someone else who wasn't carrying anything. I couldn't help but think how rude it was for that kid to make Hidaka carry all those flowers. Hidaka was his name, right? Oh God I hope so.
"Hello Hidaka," I called. I guess this startled him because he dropped the box of flowers he was carrying. The flowers still managed to hit the floor without a petal fallen or a spot of soil on the hospital floor. How strange...
"Hey, Alt! Long time no see!" Hidaka sounded a little nervous in his reply, but I think he was still trying to get over how he dropped a bunch of flowers without anything spilling or getting smashed. Well, at least I was still trying to get over it.
"I thought you said we'd never see each other again," I said trying to trigger his memory about the airplane. Though I couldn't help but get this uneasy feeling whenever I looked at the guy that was with Hidaka. He wasn't on the plane, so where did he come from and how did he know Hidaka?
"I guess my theory is wrong then. So are you here to see your wife?" Wow. He did remember. Kudos to Hidaka for having a good memory. "Her name is Asuka, right?" A really good memory.
"Hai, I've been waiting a while, but these people here keep telling me she's working on a patient." Then I noticed him trying to pick the flowers back up, "Hey do you need any help with that?"
"Don't worry I got it." Finally, the kid decides to help. Not until AFTER Hidaka dropped the flowers—without ruining them, which I still find rather odd—did he decide to help.
"Arigato, Nagi-kun," Hidaka replied. I then noticed 'Nagi' pick up the flowers with ease. He must be one strong kid. Then Hidaka turned to talk to me again, "if you want, you can come with us. Maybe you'll spot Asuka on the way."
"Thanks, I think I will go up with you. Who is it that you're visiting anyway?"
Hidaka looked like he was trying to think of his name, but he eventually replied. "Remember the girl I was with on the plane?" I thought awhile, but I did remember there was somebody else with him so I nodded yes. "Well, we're here to see her brother."
"Wow, that's really sweet of you. Are all those flowers just for him?"
Hidaka started to look really nervous and the only other word I heard from him was "Yeah."
A lot of eventful things have happened today and I am sure there will be more to come later on.
First, I was finally able to meet up with Ken and Aya-chan in New York. I never thought I was actually going to see them, but thanks to Schuldig and Brad, I can do more than just send a card or a bouquet of flowers. Yes, that's right, flowers. Yet, we still are giving tons upon tons upon tons of flowers to Aya-chan's brother. Aya-chan originally requested that we only get roses, but then she changed her mind saying that variety is better.
Well, I really didn't care either way; I just knew I was the one who would have to bring them all up to her brother because of my telekinesis. I guess whatever works will do.
I was still startled when upon delivering these flowers; I saw not only one Weiss member, but all four. The first was Ken. The second one I saw on our first trip from the car to the hospital room. Ken was busy getting more flowers from the van, while I went ahead and walked in. Persia was there blocking my path before I could get through the second set of doors. I really wouldn't have believed that he actually came, but according to Brad and Schuldig, for any previous team member, Persia would do anything. I guess they were right.
Now even though I saw Persia, I knew it would have been a disaster if Ken saw Persia. I couldn't help but feel that even Ken holds some sort of unsaid resentment towards Persia, and with the number of years fighting him, I would know that he would act on this resentment. Now he wouldn't do anything violent here, but there would have been some scarring.
The next Weiss member I saw, Ken saw too. I guess he was a little startled, because he almost ruined a whole box of flowers. Luckily I was able to soften the landing of the box without it looking too obvious. Still, Kudou Yohji, as I remembered his name, thought something of the flowers that dropped. You could tell by the expression on his face. I simply eyed him back suspiciously and thanks to Ken, was able to get out of the situation in a hurry.
When I was talking with Ken earlier, he had in fact mentioned about seeing Yohji on the flight over to New York. According to Ken, Yohji had lost his memory ever since our fight at Koua Academy. I was always left to wonder what had happened to each of these Weiss members since then, and Persia was always cautious never to mention them around me. Well actually, I don't think he has ever confided about the events at Koua Academy to anybody. Not even to Rex, his closest secretary. I hope he soon realizes that he's only killing himself.
Now I have to tell you about the last member of Weiss I saw. When we finally approached the hospital room, Yohji was able to find his wife Asuka, who was in fact busy with her patient Fujimiya-san. She said she just finished a blood transfusion, which she hoped would help Fujimiya-san out of his slumber. I really didn't think a blood transfusion would do anything at this late stage, but it really couldn't hurt.
Ken had gone ballistic after thinking that it was Aya-chan who donated the blood. Asuka assured him that a nice gentleman came in and donated some of his blood. Ken of course was oblivious as to who it really was, but we really don't have to bring that up again, do we? However, Aya-chan was insightful enough to know that the man who came in earlier was the man she had met back in Japan.
When I finally did finish putting down all the flowers and trying to find space to put all the flowers, I was able to look down at the patient. This was actually my first day in the hospital room. Earlier in the week I would come into the hospital with Ken and Aya-chan, but then I ended up waiting in the lounge area while drinking a soda. Today, I had actually gone in.
According to Aya-chan, his face had gotten some color back into it after the transfusion. I really couldn't tell since I didn't see his face before the transfusion. Asuka was finally let off her shift when another nurse came in, but Yohji insisted that she should stay in case the patient would wake up. Asuka was too unaware of Yohji's connection with Fujimiya-san, but she still stayed because of 'Alt's' gut feeling.
I thought this the time to make my departure, but Aya-chan insisted I stay too, just in case he woke up. I didn't think it was the brightest idea considering the connection between Fujimiya-san and I, so I ended up back in the lounge sipping another soda. This time Aya-chan decided to sit with me.
These few weeks have gone by really fast, giving me plenty of surprises. When I first reached here in New York, I thought our search for Aya would be endless, that we would never find him. For some reason, Aya-chan would never give up; as soon as we finished searching in one part of town, she would already be looking in the next part. Sometimes I wish I could be as determined to find Aya as much as Aya-chan is. Still I had my doubts that we would never be able to find him in such a big city.
To our luck we were able to first come across a church, which in turn led us to the hospital in which Aya was staying. Surprisingly, at the church Father Jei—I really don't understand how he became a priest—gave us, or actually mostly me, the hope that we needed with the search. I honestly was going to give up after looking in the church, but because of Father Jei, we knew he had to be around this area.
Another thing that surprised me these fast few weeks is the fact that I keep bumping into Yohji. Of course he doesn't remember our connection, hell he doesn't even remember his name, but we still keep managing to see each other. The first time was on the plane. I felt extremely uncomfortable I knew I was the only one doing the talking for the first part of the conversation. Once we got into it, Yohji actually started opening up more and I was able to learn just how smoothly his new life came together. I'm just happy that he's finally happy.
I'm just scared that his memory might come back to him. He told me on the plane ride that he stopped trying to find out who he was, but if we kept meeting each other like we did, his memory would come back even if he didn't want it too. I guess I did really stupid thing to help trigger his memory too. When we met at the hospital, I told him he could come up with me to help search for his wife Asuka. In doing so, I'm allowing him the chance to confront Aya again. Obviously Aya is unable to say anything, but just his face could trigger something.
And it did. Luckily, Yohji wasn't able to remember anything specific. You could see that there was a bit more concern for the red-haired man than if it was for any other person. He was anxious to leave the hospital with his wife when I first walked through the door. Even so as soon as he saw the patient, he made Asuka stay.
Another thing that could have triggered Yohji was Nagi. Nagi was smart enough not to use his telekinesis bluntly, but when I dropped the box of flowers with smashing any of the flowers, I know he noticed something. I wish Nagi wouldn't have done that because even though Nagi was concerned about the state of flowers, I was more concerned about the state of Yohji's mind. Well I guess there really isn't much I could do at that point, so I just decided to sit with Yohji in Aya's room, hoping that Aya would and would not come to life at the same time.
It's been a long time since I have ever spoken with my brother. It seems like an even longer time since I have actually seen him. I was finally able to find his body in a hospital in New York, but his mind was still somewhere else. All I could do was hope for my brother to find his way back home again.
I know he has some problem about saying that he is never really home. Because of his job, he can't just stay in one place, but move all over. Doesn't he understand that I'm part of his home? Part of his family? I was able to figure a few things out after I came out of my coma, and I know my brother tried really hard so I could stay alive. As soon as I am able to open my eyes again, he leaves me to continue his job someplace else, thinking that he doesn't deserve my love because of what he is. This job only tells what he is and not who he is. He is still my brother and I know he needs me as much as I need him. I hope one day that he will understand that.
I almost believed that he would never be able to understand anything if he hadn't woken up. That day was a big emotional rollercoaster for me as it had many ups and downs.
That day started off with me just sitting in Ran's room, seeing that he wasn't doing any better. I had wanted to donate more blood in hopes of magically reviving or something of that nature, but the nurse said that I had given too much blood already. I was too scared to think of what I would do if Ran would never wake up again, but right as the nurse left the room, a new man came in. Well actually, he wasn't new to me. I recognized him as Takatori Mamoru, in whom I saw after speaking with Ken-kun. I remember Ken telling me that Takatori was Ran's former boss and that was why he had all this information on him. I was sure that there was more of a connection than that, or else why would I see Takatori-san crying? That's what I kept trying to ask Ken, but I could never get much of an answer from him.
So Takatori-san ended up donating some of his blood, and so finally the nurses did a blood transfusion, in which they thought, was a pointless thing to do, but what I thought could actually make a difference. I know the nurse Ito held a little more compassion when dealing with patients than the other nurses. This was probably why the transfusion actually did happen without the doctor even showing his face.
After the transfusion, I saw Ken-kun come in with somebody else I recognized. I remembered Nagi once again from that night when I went to see Takatori-san. Nagi had actually met up with the two of us earlier in the week, but this was the first time he actually showed up in Ran's room. I knew he was anxious to get out of the room so I went down with him to wait in the lounge. I knew I would never get any answers from Ken, so I thought maybe; just maybe Nagi would be willing to give me some information.
"Uh, Nagi-kun?" I asked softly.
"Yes?" He replied, trying to sound soft, but sounding more surprised.
"May I ask you something?"
"Depends on what it is," I knew he wouldn't be too willing to talk with me but I had to try. He was opening up to me more the longer he stayed here in New York. When I first met him, we only shared a few words, but the more we sat together, the more comfortable with each we became.
"You know about Ran, don't you?" I knew this was kind of a silly question, but Nagi seemed startled when I asked it. "I mean, why else would you come out here if you didn't know Ran, right?"
He seemed to calm down after I rephrased the question, but I knew he was going to prevaricate. "Yes, we both shared the same job."
I really wanted to know more than that, "Yes, I know you were assassins. You weren't originally on the same team, though. Am I right?"
Nagi just stared wide-eyed with my question, not believing what I had just said. "You're right," was all he said. I thought it was pointless to ask him anything else but then he surprised me by asking, "Why don't you just ask Ran about this?"
"What? You know and I know that he may very well continue staying the way he his and I may never know the answer. I have to ask you, because I need to hear someone else's side to the story before I hear his."
"Are you sure, Aya-chan? Don't you think you're better off not knowing? Don't you think that your brother hid all this from you for a reason?" I never thought I would be thrown so many questions. But Nagi was right. There had to be a reason why Ran was hiding his life from me. I just needed to be able to ask him directly. My hopes of that happening suddenly got dimmer.
I was about to try to ask Nagi about something else, but before I could Ken- kun came rushing into the lounge yelling at the top of his lungs "He's awake! Come quickly! He's awake!"
TBC
Okay, that was kind of a bad ending for the chapter, but it leads you up to the final chapter which I will hopefully write by the end of this week! I would also once again thank all my reviewers, because, well, even though it did take me six months to update a chapter, the reviews help keep me motivated and help get me back on track! So thanks again!
Okay so now there is only one more chapter with one more person's POV left to tell, and believe me, I'm just really anxious to get this chapter out within this week! I'm leaving on a week from this past Sunday, and I won't be back for three weeks, which would postpone the finishing date if I wasn't able to get this last chapter out to you. So I'll try hard to finish it this week, but don't kill me if I don't!
