Beautiful Stranger

Yo, people. Wassup? Anything new? Did you like the previous chapter:P

Well, here's a new chapter. Hope you'll like it

"Ask your pretty redhead... She will tell you..." Nagi replied to the unasked question. And with that he disappeared.

The words echoed in his head. He looked down at the two buttons in his hand. He was going to find out the truth… now.

Manx looked up at him over the frame of her glasses. He walked in and gave her his usual smile. She smiled back at him and stood up straight in her chair, detaching herself from the paperwork. "Please sit, Omi. What can I do for you?" she said motioning for the chair on the other side of the desk. The calm tone of her voice reminded him the tone of his school's student-advisor, nice and pleasant but fake.

He remained standing.

"Tell me the truth, Manx." He said in equally nice tone.

The redhead's face became less welcoming, though still smiling.

"What are you talking about?" She asked to him like he was joking with her.

"You know what I'm talking about. Tell me the truth." Omi replied in the same joking tone.

Manx now had a serious face. Gazing up straight into his eyes, she spoke "We've already discussed this. There is nothing to be told-"

"Manx!" Omi cut her speech, his fist raised before him. He gave her a warning look.

She glared.

He put down the two buttons of his jacket on her desk. One of the two rolled further from his hand, and fell to rest on the folder under the woman's chin. "Tell me the truth." He whispered in a dangerous tone.

"Omi," She started, staring at the rude button and then gazing back up at the boy. "There is no 'truth'.."

The boy immediately took a button and threw it hard at the redhead's direction, missing her face by less than an inch and hitting a vase behind the woman, smashing it to many little pieces. It made her trail off from whatever lies she had wanted to continue to spill.

"These buttons are made of steel. At the right speed and force, they can be as lethal as a bullet… But you already know that, don't you?" He leaned in, glaring at her. "Tell me the truth, Manx. Next time I won't miss."

Manx's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?"

"Do you really want to test my seriousness?"

Deep down, Manx started to feel afraid. She had to admit Omi seemed very serious and very deadly like she had never seen him before.

Silence took over, intensifying the tension that filled the office oppressively.

Manx glared down at the button under her. Sighing, she leaned back and closed her eyes. She knew Omi was watching her every move, therefore, she had no choice but to unveil the hidden truth. However, not before she explained why she had tried to cover it. "I just want to say that I hid this from you because I was worried about you and whatever action you would take if I told you. I was afraid you would decide to do something on your own, and walk right into a trap. I did it because I care about you. Please try to understand, you are like a son to me… always have been. I didn't want anything bad to happen to you…"

Omi didn't move; as if everything she had said didn't matter to him.

She sighed, and brushed back her hair, letting out the truth as it was written in her memory.

"As you know, Sakura-chan and I carried Aya-chan out of the building to the car outside. We managed to escape the crash and get a few miles away. When we were up on the road at the mountain-side, we could see the building crashing before us. We were both worried about Weiss's well-being among this mess. We hoped to see at least one of you getting out of this mess, but we didn't expect to see what we saw.
We saw something on the water, coming up fast towards the cliff below. It was odd since it was too small and too fast to be a rescue boat or just a speed-boat. When I took a look at it with my binoculars, I saw only glimpses of what it was but enough to make out a whole picture.
Prodigy was holding you in his arms. You were passed out. He carried you to a small sandy area below us. I told Sakura to watch over Aya-chan, and jumped off the road. I slid down the cliff to where you were. When I got there, I saw the prodigy leaning over you with his hand on your chest. I was afraid he was choking you or harming you in some way. So I shot at him. He escaped it by only an inch. He didn't even try to protect himself. I don't think he even noticed me when I got there…"

"I don't understand," Omi suddenly cut her off, "Why did you think he was going to choke me? If he had wanted me dead, he would have simply left me in the sea and save himself. It doesn't make sense, Manx."

"Omi, we already know Schwartz to be vicious and cruel." She replied with a sharp edged tone. "I couldn't tell what was going through his mind, and decided to take no chances. Prodigy was, and still is, a part of Schwarz and this could have been another trap!"

Omi went silent, pouting at the woman. There was a point of sense in what the woman said.

"Strangely, it wasn't a trap," she said, immediately getting the boy's attention, "The boy was sincere and true. I guess his intentions were really to save you."

"What do you mean?" He asked with his pout still on his face.

"The moment he noticed me there, he didn't try to fight me or blow me away; he just sat there beside you and told me you needed care. He gestured at you with his hand to show me you were in bad shape, but it triggered my instincts to shoot him. I was still afraid he was going to hurt you, or me. This time he did shield himself but not well enough to stop the bullet. It only made the bullet stray off its course, and hit only his upper arm. It surprised me. I knew his telekinetic power was very strong, and yet I still managed to hit him."

"So you did a little victory dance?" He asked mockingly.

Manx glared and continued, "I was a bit shocked from seeing how weak he was, and took it as another hint for a trap hidden somewhere. However, once again, I was proved wrong. You woke up right then and spilled out all the water you took in. I was struck again with amazement when I saw the Prodigy lowering himself to you. He… he patted your back and helped you." Manx watched as creases appeared on Omi's face. He was focusing on an unclear memory of that event. She took another breath and continued, "He seemed nervous or excited at your waking up. I could see from my angle that he was on the verge of crying. It was strange… He was very supportive and reassuring. Even when you asked him where you were, he simply looked at me and told you that you were in safe hands… I don't get it! Why did he say that?"

"Maybe he really cared?" Omi replied dripping with sarcasm. He meant every word of it, however.

Manx gave him the stern look of 'I hardly believe that'.

"I remember that moment. I thought I was in heaven or something. I took him to be my angel. I think I even said that… I called him my angel right before I passed out again," he said more calmly trying to keep his anger in check.

"Yes." She said continuing the story. "It made him shiver and grow weaker in the physical aspect. I could see it very clearly. He hardly stood on his two legs after that. It was like he had wanted to meet you for a long time, but in a 'good' way," Manx took another breath and continued, "He floated you over to me, and told me to take care of you; take you as soon as possible to the hospital. But then he asked me to promise him that I would tell you about what had happened. I, of course, didn't want to. I was afraid that… I just didn't trust him. I didn't trust him despite everything he had done for you till that moment. I didn't answer him."

She took the button he had thrown at her for a closer look. "So he said it didn't matter and that he would make you two meet. He reached out with his hand and directed it to you and when I looked down, I saw that two buttons of your jacket were shaking. Then suddenly they were detached from your jacket and flew right into his hand."
"When I got up to where the car was, Sakura was already waiting there to help me. She grabbed you and took you into the car. I stayed a bit behind to see what the prodigy was doing and I was shocked to see that he had raised a giant wave and crashed it on himself. It was a suicide, and I thought he had meant before that he would have the rest of Schwartz kill you too, so you would be together in death. Therefore, I put heavy guard on you while you were comatose…"

"But it wasn't a suicide. He's still alive…" He interrupted suddenly.

"Maybe the rest of Schwartz saved him…" She answered. "And it doesn't change the fact that he's still dangerous."

Omi silently raged. The wheels in his mind were turning, processing everything that had been said. Something felt strange about the woman's story. The room suddenly became oppressively quiet. The ticks of Manx's desk clock were the only sounds that were heard in the spacious office. The air felt heavier than usual. This terrible silence meant decisions were made and futures were threaded.

"Are you happy now? Are you satisfied?" she suddenly asked him in a voice that was no more than a whisper, while looking away, "How do you feel now that you know the truth?"

He too looked away and whispered back. "I need some time." He then took the two buttons and turned to leave.

"Omi," the redheaded secretary called. He stopped in his tracks, but didn't turn back. "Please don't do anything foolish. Please let me know about any move you make on this issue. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. You are too valuable to me, son."

It hurt. What the woman said hurt the boy in his small heart. It hurt so much it made him shudder.

"You were always like a mother to me, Manx," he said with his back still turned to her, "Always took care of me; helped me, protected me from Persia's punishments or Aya's wrath. You were always there for me, just like the mother I never had." Memories of such situations blinded him momentarily; thousands of pictures of her standing between him and the named opponent, shielding him. He blinked them away and looked at her over his shoulder. She looked so helpless and miserable now, powerless. He had never seen her like this. "But I never expected you to hide things from me when you don't like them. I never expected you to be that much of a mother..."

Green eyes widened at the hurtful words.

And with that said, he walked on and left the room.

…

Time stood still. Manx stayed frozen in her seat, leaned back in her chair, almost spineless, staring into space where the person she loved the most stood few minutes ago. Her hand was frozen in mid-air, standing in its course to out reach to the person before he would close the door behind him. It was too late now. She hated herself so badly now, for not telling Omi the truth any sooner. Then maybe they wouldn't have had this conversation and this wouldn't have happened. Moreover, she wasn't sure what the boy was going to do and she wasn't sure if he was going to tell her about it either. She was practically eating herself now.

He hated her now.

She hated herself now.

…

!----!Flashback!----!

"Here," the prodigy said and floated the faint boy to her hands. The second the blond boy reached her, she grabbed him tightly and held him close to her chest. "Please take care of him. Take him as fast as you can to the hospital."

"That's funny, coming from you." She said and glared at him.

Prodigy simply shook his head and continued, "I will elevate you up to the road to save you time. Please hurry and take him to the best care you can get." He pleaded again. The hatred in her eyes almost hurt him. After everything he had done for her precious Weiss member, she could at least say 'thanks'. However it only almost hurt him. What really hurt him was when he tried to approach the boy. He just wanted to look closely at his angel again. Yet, the woman retreated and kept the distance between, holding the boy closer to her. "Let me see him once more. Tell him everything that's happened. Tell him how I saved him. I want to meet him…"

"You stay away from him, you hear me? Stay away from him!"

"I'm not going to harm him! Please!" he begged her. She must understand him, after seeing how cared for him, how he treated him.

"No!" She said dangerously and managed to point a gun at him from under the blond boy's limp body.

He narrowed his eyes and held his hand up. "If you're not going to help me meet then I'll make us meet. It would be inevitable." He tugged with his powers at the boy's jacket buttons until they popped out and flew to his grasp. He could feel instincts click in and a finger closing in on a trigger. He immediately lifted the two up as fast as he could and called after her to take good of the boy.

!----!End-of-Flashback!----!

!----Omi's POV----!

I finish wrapping and sealing the fifth box. It is time. It's hard to believe that my room, which has been about three quarters of my life, could be packed into five boxes. A small look around tells me the shelves, closets, everything in the room were stripped to their very bones. Now all I have to do is transport the boxes to my apartment few blocks away. There is no point in taking them on the motorcycle, I can carry two at a time and walk the short distance. It can be a good exercise.

So I put one of the boxes on top of the other and carry them down. On my way out I meet Youji in the living room. I was hoping to get out without anyone in my way, just say good-bye and get out for good. But I guess it won't go that easy. Nothing is easy in life.

"Hey, chibi. What are you doing there, kid?"

Gee… can't you emphasize more that I am a kid to you!

"I'm moving out." I state seriously.

"Huh?" twin dumb replies come at me. Youji gets up from his lounging on the couch and Ken pokes his head out from the kitchen.

"Moving out? Why? What's wrong with staying here?" Ken asks me, still with only his head poked out from the kitchen.

"I can't stay here anymore. I'm tired of this place."

"Why?" Youji asks, this time. He even gets up fully and approaches me, seeing how serious I am.

"This place is full of lies. Lies I can't live with. So I'm leaving."

"What lies?" Youji is now a bit more earnest. You can see it by the dark that suddenly tints his eyes, and by his voice that lowers a little.

"Don't…!" I try to keep my temper in control. This pretending thing is pissing me off. "Please don't try my patience, Youji-kun. I know why you were at my hospital room, I know what happened back then and how I got to shore before the rescue unit came by. Manx told me everything. You all lied to me. She told you to keep guard on me while I was in coma, she must have told you why. You are all Liars!" I shout. Just saying all those things makes me angry.

Aya then walks into the room, coming from the upper floor. He must have heard me and now he glares at me. I snap at him too. "And you! You are the worst of them all! Not only have you lied to me, but to your precious sister too! You commanded the people watching over her to tell her you are dead while you LIVE only few miles away!"

Aya glares daggers at me and his hands quickly clench to tight fists. I continue to speak as if I don't care. The truth is he scares me like that, but this time I won't let it hold me back from my decision.

"I'm not going to stay here any longer. I'm also leaving the job in the shop…"

"And what will you do instead?" Youji asks me with a stern look you don't get to see everyday. "What about missions?"

I gaze deeply into his eyes and replied confidently, "I'm a 'normal' teenager, I don't have to work here as a cover. And about missions… you know how to reach me."

I turn to face everybody. They all look at me with a glint of anger through the layers of seriousness in their faces. I don't know why they're angry with me. I'm the one that should be angry. I readjust my hold on the boxes, to show them that I'm leaving now, determined in my mind.

"Omi, you don't know what you are doing. Is there anything we can do to stop you?" Youji asks me. I've never expected that I would say this about whom I considered my friends, but I'm seriously feeling patronized by this group of people. They still think I can't make my own decisions. I glare at the blond mop so he would know the answer even before I say a word. (Growing with Aya around really has its profits).

"Can we at least help you?" Ken asks in the simplest tone, being the friendliest person among this group of 'elders'. He gets shot with some nasty looks from the remaining teammates. "What?"

I can't help slipping a tiny smile to my lips. I nod and tell him to take the other boxes.

!-!-!-!-!-!

Although I'm really glad he's helping and accepting my decision, I'm still angry with him. So I decide not to talk to him. It is an annoying silence between us, since we always have been such great friends and this thing going on between us is unfitting. It bugs us. The silence bugs us. But we don't say a word about it. It was half way from home when he started talking.

"Listen, Omi… I want you to know that I really didn't lie to you." He started. His tone showed sincerity and remorse. "I really didn't know the truth. All Manx told me was that we should keep guard on you because Schwartz might come to take you, or kill you; I don't know which is worse… Even when I asked her, she just mumbled something about Schwartz and some prodigy and some other thing I don't remember; and right after that she swore me, like the rest, never to tell you."

"And you couldn't break that swear for a good friend?" I ask him, half angry, half sympathizing with him.

He makes an uncomfortable look and says, "You know how the swearing goes in Kritiker – 'Do this and that or die!'" he mimics our well-known female bosses.

"I expect you to trust me on that, with your life, just like I trust you with my life on missions."

Ken was silent. He lowered his head in a manner that means 'yeah... I guess you're right…'

"I'm very sorry, Omi." This time he has spoken in a tone I've never heard coming from him. It is a tone of harsh regret and deep sorrow. I just can't bear it to see him so serious, all of a sudden, so mature.

"I forgive you."

Ken looks at me with a surprised look, resembling a Christmas tree that has just been lit slowly into its full light. "Then, we can still be friends? You're the best friend I ever had and I really don't want to lose that... I mean - you…"

I smile fully at him, all anger washed away from me. "Friends!" I state and we continue to walk, happy in our small regained trustful friendship.

Omi sat down on the stairs of the building he now lived in. He finished unpacking and organizing everything in his new home. Gazing down every direction in the street before him while randomly sipping at his tea, he was looking for something; or maybe, looking forward to something, hoping it would show up somehow. More precisely, he was looking for someone. It was that boy.

Yes, the whispering behind his back and the lies weren't the only reason why he left. There was another reason. And that reason was a boy of the opponent team. He wanted to meet him again. He wanted to talk to him. Nagi Naoe… the name repeated itself in his mind and the image of two misty azure eyes surfaced in the sea of his thoughts.

It was getting late. The thoughts of the boy and some other thought started to claim Omi's head with sleep. He could feel the weariness heaving on his body and eye-lids. He rested his head on the wall, staring at his cup of tea, which had still consisted a fair amount of the ember liquid. His eyes, heavy with the drowsy feeling, blinked once… twice… and again… he even started seeing the image of the boy he wanted to meet on the surface of the liquid, like a reflection…

He immediately sprang to life as he saw the boy was really standing before him.

A sudden wind tugged at his cloths, played with his hair and veiled his eyes. It was like a curtain in the theatre, mysterious and intriguing before it moves away to reveal a wonderful play. Those misty azure eyes were trained at him, causing his heart to speed up its pace. And without a thought, the words came out in a begging whisper.

"Tell me everything… Spare me nothing…"

And a second gust of wind blew them away into the story of the past.

TBC

Mwahahahaha…

So? So! How was it? Tell me! Did you like it? Ne?

" Stay tuned for the next episode of "Beautiful Stranger" "

Minna, please thank our lovely HeavenGoddess again for beta-ing and for pushing me to write faster (I can still hear those haunting cries of "Sensei!..." shudder) , otherwise this chapter wasn't here today.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! See ya next chapter!