Time to Burn

Keeper: Hi everyone! It's the last Friday of the month so that means it's time for me to update.

Kou: I can't believe that you actually managed to do it.

Keeper: I'm going to pretend you weren't being mean. I realized that Easter is in March this year what's up with that! Well anyways Happy Easter! I just found out that I get to go to Germany!

Mist: Germany? That's a nice country.

Keeper: So I've heard. Anyways AU, bad language, yaoi (eventually), Fluff? And grammar mistakes, so if you don't like it there's the back button and make sure it hits you on the ass on the way out.

Mist: My Keeper does not nor will she ever own the Wiess characters, she does however own any non recognizable characters.

/"Means mental conversations."/

OoOoOoO

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Ken growled and pulled the covers over his head trying to block out the annoying beeping, but to no avail. He was cursing the annoying sound wondering what it was and then realized it was his alarm clock.

/Why in the hell did I turn that damn thing on! It's my day off./

Ken reached a hand out to shut the wretched sound up. His hand felt around the table for a minute looking for the clock. The hand stopped in mid-motion as he remembered that the clock was no longer on the table next to his bed. He had moved it yesterday to his dresser across his room so he would have to get out of bed to turn off his alarm.

He groaned as he threw the covers off and rolled out of bed to stumble across his room.

"It's too early to be up." Ken mumbled as he turned it off.

He looked at his clock after he turned it off to see what time it was and noticed that it was noon. He stood there for a minute staring confusedly at his clock.

/Why did I set my alarm for noon/

He stood there staring at his clock like he was waiting for it to hold up a sign telling him why he had set it for that time. After what seemed like hours of just staring Ken finally remembered why he had set his alarm.

/Oh yeah, I set it so I could go out and buy another soccer ball since I left my only one at the park when I ran into Schuldig and Farfarello./

Ken sighed as he rummaged around in his dresser for something to wear. When he was finished dressing he went to the kitchen to grab an apple and headed out the back.

Ken was shuffling down the sidewalk heading towards the sports store. He just finished eating the whole apple and he was now chewing on the stem.

/Damn I should still be sleeping, but no I have to go buy another soccer ball and it freaking hot outside. Damn me for leaving the stupid soccer ball, damn me for getting upset, damn these secrets, damn Schuldig, damn Farfarello. Damnit, damnit, damnit. . ./

"DAMNIT!"

Ken stopped walking when he noticed everyone was staring at him. He ducked his head down and started walking again.

/"You know, you really shouldn't yell out profanities like that."/ An amused voice said in his head.

/"What do you want, Schuldig?"/ Ken growled back at him mentally.

/"I'm hurt Tiger. I haven't seen you in a month so I decided to see how you were doing."/

/"Gee, nice to know that you care."/ Ken bit back sarcastically. /"Now leave me alone I'm busy."/

/"Doing what?"/ Schuldig asked sounding curious.

/"Not that it's any of your business, I have to go buy another soccer ball."/

/"Warum?"/(1)

/"I don't speak German, so I'm going to assume you asked 'why'."/

/"Ja."/

Ken growled. /"I'm buying a soccer ball because I left my only one at the park when I had ran into you and Farfarello. So I need another one."/

/"No you don't."/ Came the simple reply.

/"What do you mean?"/

/"When you left, I picked up your ball. I'll return it to you if you like."/

Ken thought for a moment before answering. /"Yes…That would be nice."/

/"Alright, I will return it to you later."/

/"Thank you."/

/"Don't mention it. And Ken?"/

/"What?"/

/"Will you take a walk with me?"/

/"Why?"/ He asked getting a little suspicious.

/"I want to ask you something."/

/"Why can't you just ask me now?"/

/"I would rather ask you in person. I promise no funny business. So will you take a walk with me?"/

/"How I'm I supposed to take a walk with you if I don't know where the hell you are?"/

/"Look behind you."/

Ken stopped walking and looked behind him and saw Schuldig leaning against a wall with his arms crossed and smiling. Schuldig pushed off the wall and sauntered over to Ken still smiling.

"Shall we go?"

"Where are we going?"

"Hmmm…" Schuldig thought for a moment. "We can go to the park. I know a little spot where we can talk and not be interrupted."

Ken nodded his head as he walked beside Schuldig. They walked in silence most of the way to the park until Ken's curiosity got the better of him.

"Why do you want to talk to me anyways?"

Schuldig kept walking like he had not heard him. Ken was about to ask him again when he spoke softly.

"Because I want to help you."

"Nani? Why would you want to help me? We're enemies and I don't need any help."

Schuldig looked at him and smiled not his usual sadistic smile but a sad one.

"You may not realize it, but you do need help. It doesn't matter if we are enemies or not, I still what to help you."

"Why?"

"Come on we're almost there." The telepath said walking onto the path in the park that led into a little wooded area.

Ken followed behind him grumbling under his breath about the older man being a jerk and why couldn't he just answer the question. Schuldig deviated off from the path and was walking into the small little woods that the park had. He finally stopped walking when he got to a rather old and large Oak tree. Schuldig walked over to it and sprawled out underneath it and rested his head on one of his arms. He looked over at Ken and grinned and patted the ground beside him.

"Well are you going to come sit down? I won't bite."

"No, but I might." The brunette said as he came over and sat next to the redhead.

Schuldig laughed. "You shouldn't tease me like that Tiger."

Ken glared at him. "You never answered my question. Why do you want to help me?"

"Because I know what it's like to be different. What it's like to have people fear and hate you for what you are."

Ken looked at the ground in front of him no longer able to meet the older man's eyes. He started to pull at the grass so he didn't have to look at Schuldig.

"Did you have a mission last night?" The redhead asked suddenly causing Ken to look at him.

"Yeah, why?"

"After we talked the first time for some reason I've been picking up on your thoughts even more. And last night I could hear your thoughts like you were talking to me."

"Oh. So does that mean you heard…everything?"

"Ja. They were interesting to say the least."

/"Ask him why he denies his true self."/ A feminine voice told Schuldig.

"Why do you deny your true self?"

"What do you mean?" Ken asked narrowing his eyes.

/"Ask him why he no longer changes."/

"Why don't you change into the tiger anymore?"

"That's really none of your business." Ken growled. "I need to go."

/"Don't let him leave!"/ The voice yelled at the telepath.

/"How am I supposed to stop him with out him ripping my arm off?"/

/"Pet him."/

/"Was?"/(2)

/"Just do it."/ The voice held no room for arguments.

Schuldig grabbed Ken's arm just as he was getting up and pulled Ken towards himself. Ken not expecting that ended up losing his balance and fell on top of Schuldig, who wrapped his arms around Ken to prevent him from escaping.

"What are you doing?"

Ken was just pushing himself up when he felt Schuldig start to pet him. Ken's eyes closed unconsciously and he let himself fall on top of man petting him. It didn't take long before he started to purr, much like he had last time. His purr was rumbling though the man underneath him.

/"Looks like he won't tell me anything."/

/"I forgot how stubborn he is. His stubbornness could rival a mule's."/

/"How could you forget something like that?"/

/"I was hoping he would open up, it would help him with all his pain. I should have known that he wouldn't open up and tell you so soon."/ The voice said sighing.

/"So what do I do?"/

/"You'll have to gain his trust and respect."/

/"How would I do that?"/

/"Tell him about your past."/

/"Can't I tell him something else?"/

/"No."/

/"Warum?"/

/"Because he won't tell you anything if he doesn't think you'll understand. He will think that you will just pity him and that is one thing he can't stand. So if he knows that you went through something similar he'll know that you understand how he feels and tell you. And besides it will be good for both of you to talk about it."/

/"Are you a shrink?"/

The voice in his head laughed. It was one of the nicest laughs that he had ever heard; it reminded him of a spring breeze, gentle and soothing.

While Schuldig was having a conversation in his head, he had been absently petting Ken. They stayed that way for what felt like an eternity but yet felt like only a second before Schuldig spoke.

"Ken."

"Mmmm." He managed to get out through his purring.

"I won't force you to talk about anything but maybe it would help if you did."

"I'm not ready to talk about it." He said as he stopped purring.

"Well when you are, I'll be here for you. I understand how you feel."

"How could you possibly understand how I feel? The person that I thought loved me betrayed me and killed my antai." Ken spat out as he propped himself up to look at Schuldig.

"I did not lose someone important to me, so I don't how you feel." Schuldig said as he still continued to pet Ken. "But I do know how it feels to be betrayed."

"What do you mean?"

"I was also betrayed."

Ken's head tilled slightly to the side. "You were?"

"Ja. By the two people who were supposed to love and protect me."

"Who betrayed you?"

Schuldig looked up at the sky and continued petting the younger man. Ken waited patiently not wanting him to feel pressured, he began to purr lightly to show the other man that he knew what it was like to be betrayed and that he was there to offer comfort if he needed it. Schuldig looked at Ken and smiled. He had understood the meaning behind Ken's purring that time. He sighed and stopped petting Ken.

"My parents."

OoOoOoO

1. Just as Ken said, he asked why.

2. It means what, remember?

Keeper: I hoped this chapter was good enough for everyone. (fidgets in chair nervously) I know it wasn't much but Schuldig-sama was there! That's gotta account for something right? Right?

Mist: I'm sure they liked it. Now thank the reviewers.

HeeroDuo4eva: Thank you. I can't tell you who they are but you'll find out who they are in 9. Well their names anyways. To tell you the truth they weren't supposed to show up so soon they just kinda did. I wasn't planning on putting them in 9 but they showed up anyways and decided to do their own thing. Well hopefully I'll be able to learn it, since I will be going over there.

M4r1-ch4n: Do forgive! I was typing this as I was talking to my friends back home and I told Stephy-chan I needed two names so she spewed out that one and Mahon for me. It wasn't intentional I swear! If it makes you feel better I'll make sure he looks good (well I kinda was anyways) because just between you and me, you're gonna see him again. Thank you I was hoping for something different and I hope I succeeded.

Sachiko: I'm glad you liked this story and I hope I didn't scare you away. I try to put in a lot of description so people know how Ken-sama feels and everything else. I was afraid the plot wasn't going very well considering I only know a quarter of it.

Anendee: Thank you! It will be explained better later sometime, well it should be, not sure how I'm going to write it in. (hits head on desk) I was thinking about some Schu/Farf/Ken action anyways but wasn't sure, but you talked me into it. So I'll fit it in somewhere. Heh, no one can't resist Schuldig-sama! (drools at the thought of him.)

Artemis347: Thank you! I hope you continue to read and review.

Purdy-Puppy: DUDE! Wish I could have talked to you on Yahoo but like I said I was knocked out by four. Can't wait till I can come home and see you guys!

HeatherR: Yes, yes it would say that but to be honest I really didn't think of that. (scratches back of head looking sheepish) I was going crazy trying to figure out what I wanted to write for 10. I think I almost gave myself an ulcer stressing about it. Then I read your review and said to myself 'Self that's what you can write for 10! Note to self, remember to thank, glomp and tell Heather she's the greatest for pointing that out to your unobservant ass.' I told Mist to watch out for you cause you might try to steal him. You're not going to are you? (looking nervous about Heather trying to steal Mist)

Keeper: Whew! Those were some long replies.

Mist: Please review to make my Keeper happy and tell what she's doing wrong.