Part Six
Knock. Knock.
"Hai?"
"It's me, Kento. Can I come in?"
"Uhh...sure. Just a sec..." Ken allows his voice to fade, looking around his room frantically for his pants. He spots them slung over the back of a chair and scoops them up, quickly pulling them over his legs.
He had been in the process of changing for the mission and had only managed to slip on a long-sleeved grey shirt up til now.
Hidaka Ken is known for being a bit scatter-brained and that certainly doesn't lend itself to making him tidy. Even with the RV folded out to give most of them separate rooms, there is very little space, making things appear even more cluttered. Ken does his best to toss things out of the way before going to open the door for Shioshiro.
"Konbanwa, Kento. Sorry if I'm disturbing you, but...I was hoping to talk a bit if possible." the taller of the two brunettes smiles, looking perhaps the tiniest bit flustered, which rightly catches Ken off guard. Shioshiro has been anything but timid thus far.
"I'm just gathering up my gear. You can come in." Ken smiles in reply, after only the briefest pause to recollect himself. He stands back, holding the door open for Shioshiro, and shuts it behind him when the young man has entered. While Ken continues to rummage about his room, Shioshiro moves to sit on the bed. "Ano...what did you want to talk about, Hiro?"
'Hiro...' Shioshiro replays in his mind, not yet answering but following Ken's form as the assassin darts around the room, looking for the rest of his gear. 'It's good to hear that again...'
Shioshiro represses a laugh when Ken triumphantly pulls a green vest out of one of the many anonymous piles of clothing and begins to slip it on. "All of you are getting ready and we still have over an hour before we leave." he comments.
Pausing to in turn take note of Shioshiro's appearance, Ken realizes that the young man is once again dressed in his black attire from the night before. "You're ready." he points out, before diving back in to find his goggles.
Shioshiro nods to himself but does not respond. There is a long pause that steadily grows, causing Ken's suddenly increased unease to make him forget about searching. Shioshiro may be his son, but he doesn't know him. Not really.
"So...err...what's up? Something...bothering you?"
It looks as though Shioshiro is on the verge of responding for many long moments, though the youth fails in each attempt to form anything concrete. At long last, he shakes his head, smiling sheepishly. "I guess...I feel a little...guilty." he confesses. "There are many things I know that might help make this easier on you, but I'm not allowed to say anything. I'm at the end of day one, the beginning of the first mission, and it's already getting to me."
"Are you...hiding something about the mission?"
"No!" Shioshiro dismisses quickly, shaking his head in such a way that his long brown hair dances about his shoulders. "Some details later on may be left our for the greater good, as Omiji instructed me, but nothing that would endanger your lives any more than...well...is necessary. I was talking about you and Oran."
All remaining piles of clothing and accessories are now utterly abandoned. "Oh." Carefully, Ken makes his way over to the bed and sits down next to Shioshiro, staring at him sideways with a slightly bowed head. "Yeah...things aren't going too well, are they? He won't even look at me let alone speak to me. If he really is secretly in love with me, he's doing a good job of hiding it."
Shioshiro sympathizes; he knew his presence in this time period could have just as many negative affects as positive ones. There is always that risk in situations such as these, but they are risks worth taking, because if nothing is done, if all is left to its own devices, then it isn't just that the future will be bleak, but that there may not even be one to be bleak.
Of course, at this juncture, only Shioshiro fully understands just how serious the situation is.
"I have something I want to show you." he speaks softly, the change in his persona since the night before so bluntly apparent, Ken has nearly forgotten how sarcastically estranged from them the young man had first been.
Looking on with great interest, Ken watches as Shioshiro pulls what appears to be a square bit of paper from inside his jacket.
"I've been holding this back because...I really shouldn't have brought it along at all. Omiji would be furious with me. But...well...I don't think it'll hurt all that much." And with that said, he passes the paper to Ken, relinquishing his own grip so that his father can look at it as intently as need be.
What the paper is becomes immediately apparent—it is a picture, only about the size of Ken's palm—but what the image holds takes a few minutes to sink in.
There is a man in his early 30s with shaggy brown hair, brown eyes, and tan skin holding a young boy of no more than five years old on his shoulders. Next to them is another man in his 30s with shaggy red hair, violet eyes, and skin strikingly pale. The boy resembles both men quite well, having brown hair like one and violet eyes and pale skin like the other. They are all smiling, the brunettes' smiles quite similar, though the redhead's is more subtle. One might easily question the relationship between the two men if it wasn't made obvious by the redhead's arms being wrapped so lovingly around the brunette's waist in order to pull the family close together.
A family. There is no doubt that that is exactly what the picture is of.
"Whoa...I mean...well...fuck."
Shioshiro cannot help laughing at that. "Must be weird, seeing what you'll look like in about...15 years."
A small, reciprocating laugh. "You can say that again." Ken chuckles somewhat uncertainly, his mouth quirked up in a strange little half-smile. "Look at us... Aya, he's...smiling and...and being all cozy and cute with us. Speaking of cute...kawaii Hiro-chan, ne?" Ken winks, nudging his son with his elbow.
"Yeah, yeah..." Shioshiro blushes softly, lowering his eyes a little. The pair doesn't seem to notice that they are sitting on the bed in the exact same manner. "I was pretty cute, wasn't I? Anyway...I was thinking...maybe we should show this to Oran. Might help. What do you think?"
"Errr...I think...probably not." Ken replies, eying the picture with obvious skepticism in his tone. "It'll just make him more pissy. I mean...if evidence was all he needed, there's been plenty of that. Nah, it's gonna take more than just a picture. He's dealing with his own demons right now and I think we better let him."
Ken is a little apprehensive that he may have hurt Shioshiro's feelings by disagreeing on this, but when he turns his gaze to pass quickly over the young brunette's face, he finds nothing but contentment.
Scooting perhaps the tiniest bit closer to Ken, Shioshiro leans into his father to buck him a little with his shoulder. "You always did understand Oran better than anyone."
'I miss that...'
"Yeah, stalking a guy will do that to ya." Ken jokes, leaning into Shioshiro in reply.
Shioshiro gives an answering nudge.
Ken nudges back.
Shioshiro leans a little further into Ken than before.
Ken—again—responds in kind.
Shioshiro leans into Ken as forcefully as he can, nearly toppling the assassin over, but Ken counters it, using all his force to springboard himself back up and into Shioshiro, pushing him down into the mattress at the end of the bed. After a little playful struggling, Ken firmly has Shioshiro pinned beneath his weight.
On principle, Ken enjoys roughhousing, especially with children. Shioshiro may not be a child anymore, but he is still his son.
Shioshiro lets out a hearty laugh. "Come on, Dad, you're supposed to let me win."
"Yeah, when you're five." Ken counters, teasingly lowering his face to get right in Shioshiro's. "You're 20, right? For another month, I'm still 19. You're supposed to let me win."
After a few more chuckles, the reality of Ken's statement sinks in. "Whoa. You're still 19? I forgot about that." Shioshiro accounts thoughtfully. "Weird."
Knock. Knock.
"Yo, Ken! You ready yet?!" calls Youji's voice from just outside the door.
"Errr..."
"I'm coming in!"
"Matte, Youji--!"
Too late.
Having no shame, Youji bursts in, used to Ken's messiness and his tendency to get lost in said mess whenever looking for his assassin gear. What he does not expect to find, however, is the sight of Ken and Shioshiro on Ken's bed in a position that—at first glance—appears a little less than innocent.
"Dude. That's just...wrong."
"Shut up, Youji. We were just fooling around." Ken explains, leaning back to sit normally on the bed again, and allowing Shioshiro to follow suit. Youji's eyes widen in response to Ken's words and Ken instantly realizes why. "Goofing around! I meant goofing, not fooling." he assures. Youji raises an eyebrow. "Oh, fuck off, already!"
But before Youji has the opportunity to counter that, and before Ken can become anymore defensive on the subject, Shioshiro's deep, pleasant laughter rings out loudly from the end of the bed. To him, this situation is far too funny.
The laughter is so infectious, Youji is soon echoing it, certainly not having actually believed there had been anything unseemly going on between the pair when he walked in.
"Oh just shut up, both of you! Youji, stop encouraging him! Hiro!! I'll send you to sit in the corner, ya little twerp!"
Ken's ranting proves only to increase the pair's laughter, especially considering how adorably red his face has become.
"Urrg! I'm tellin' ya, everyone's against me." Ken sighs exasperatingly, arms firmly crossed.
Youji and Shioshiro are still doubled over laughing when Omi peers in to see what could possibly be so funny. Before he has the chance to ask them, however, the last of their crew steps into view as well.
The air is lit with instant tension and Shioshiro and Youji's laughter dies. Ran is dressed and armed, and not looking none too happy with the others being in such light moods.
Looking the others over, his gaze resting on Ken for only the briefest of moments, Ran focuses finally on Shioshiro and suddenly pulls a second katana into view. He tosses it at his son without a word, Shioshiro catching it in one reflexive hand, though the suddenness of the act causes him to flinch.
"You came unarmed, yes? You'll need that." Ran speaks simply, expressionless. Unreadable. "I trust you know how to use it.
Shioshiro stands from the bed, disappearing the sword within his long, black coat. "I learned from the best."
Ran gives a short nod. "Let's go." And turns on a dime, a flourish of his white trench coat billowing behind him.
Watching that retreating figure, Ken knows he could happily stare at it for hours on end, especially in those new clothes. He doesn't really know how much he cares for the white coat over the old one that had been such a deep, almost black shade of purple, but something about Ran's royal blue shirt reflecting off the light in his violets makes the tendons in Ken's knees forget how to be taut.
Without thinking, Ken suddenly calls out to that swiftly departing form. "Aya!"
Ran stops, fully in the living room, but still close considering the amount of actual space. He does not turn around. "What?" he prompts shortly, devoid of any patience. His tone invites nothing, offers nothing.
All three of the others—Omi, Youji, and Shioshiro—turn their prodding eyes on Ken and silently plead with him to go on, to say...something. Anything.
But what can he say? "Never mind. It's nothing. We should go."
Sluggishly, Ken heads out the door after Ran, followed by a disappointed Omi, a rather pissed Youji, and a slightly more solemn Shioshiro. This is not the best way to begin a mission, but they have no choice. They are one man up than usual, and hopefully...that will be enough. For the moment, it is all they can afford to dwell on.
-----
"No, I'm telling you, it's not a good idea." Hibana Kaori speaks into the telephone. She is in the apartment she shares with three of her classmates, rummaging through the fridge while speaking with one of those roommates on the phone. She is the only one home. "Because, baka, we played last night. We should wait a few more days before going back. We need to keep them off our tail. You know I'm right."
Slamming the fridge shut with her hips, Kaori balances a plate of cheese, a carton of milk, and some leftover noodles as she makes her way to the counter. It is just after dark and she is looking forward to a late dinner.
"Two more days at least, okay? Yeah...yeah, I know...well, hurry up then, you know I hate being here alone at night. Oh, shut up, I am not! Yeah, yeah...ja, ne." Click. In a flash the phone is back in its cradle and Kaori is ready to begin devouring her meal.
She and her friends have been rather busy these past few months, and she herself these past few years. After losing her parents, she has dedicated her life to finding their killer and discovering enough information to put him away. But being a colonel in the American military doesn't make tracking down and accusing someone of murder very easy. And so Kaori has been forced to take drastic measures, playing her 'game' with her friends to hack as deeply into the American military's database as possible in hopes of someday discovery...something. Her friends do not know the seriousness of what they have been pulled into, but as regretful as Kaori is for involving them, she knows she needs their help.
The same thought that always runs through her head echoes mournfully, 'I wish aniki was here...' But he is nowhere to be found, out on his own mission for the truth. If only she could find him and the information she craves. Then she could finally stop feeling so afraid and so very alone...
Knock. Knock.
Kaori nearly jumps out of her seat. That couldn't be any of her roommates; it is still too early.
Cautiously she gets up from the counter and heads to the door, thankful for the keyhole. Upon peering out, she sighs, thinking herself very silly for having been afraid of a delivery boy.
"Konbanwa." she smiles, opening the door for him. "A little late for a package, ne?"
The young man returns her smile. "Konbanwa. I hope I'm not disturbing you then, but I was told this needed to reach you right away." He holds up a thin manila envelope and hands it to her along with a clipboard for her to sign.
She does so, offers her thanks, and heads back in with the package in tow. There is no return address. This worries her greatly, though she can't imagine how something so small and simple could be dangerous, so she slowly and very carefully begins to open it.
Inside is a letter that reads:
'Dear Miss Hibana, I hope this letter finds you well. Whatever fears and apprehensions you have about the future can now be forgotten and your games brought to end. Your brother will be waiting for you at the following address tomorrow afternoon, carrying with him a package I will send tonight containing all the information you need regarding your parents. Repayment is not possible or necessary. I have done my duty. Good luck to you.'
The letter ends unsigned, but at the bottom is a nearby address, and despite the cryptic nature of this information, Kaori finds her eyes watering with joy at the sheer possibility of all her misery being soon put behind her.
"Whoever you are..." she speaks to the air, clutching the letter to her chest. "...thank you..."
-----
Here's to fulfilling promises.
"Colonel Powell, sir?"
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"We've finally tracked down those hackers, sir. Seems it is a group of young women. School age. We have their names and their address. Would you like us to begin preparing a campaign, sir?"
Colonel Powell turns from the screen in front of him showing the surveillance cameras his men have placed in prominent areas all over Japan within many secretive organizations. He smiles at his underling. "Yes. Also, start digging up what you can about this Kritiker that keeps popping up. Might prove interesting."
"Yes, sir."
Powell turns back to his screen as the lieutenant leaves. "Very interesting..."
-----
On the other side of Powell's precious base, five stealthy figures have slipped in past the gate, finding entrance laughably easy. But it is getting from the main area of the base to where their targets lie that will prove difficult. Powell, Nicol, and Powell's special-forces unit, the Rats, are all stationed inside the very depths of the base so as to be least accessible.
"Beginning decoding to open entrance G. Stand by..." Omi's voice speaks over the intercom. He has taken the initial point and remains positioned in a crevice on the roof typing away on his laptop to hack seamlessly into the base's systems.
Just below him, Youji and Ran wait closest to the door, prepared to strike the moment it opens, and a few yards to the right of them hides Ken and Shioshiro, waiting for their signal to enter as well, and keeping watch should anyone wander too close to the other pair.
Shioshiro is without an earpiece, so Ken has to relay any important messages. "Omi says it'll be a sec." he whispers to the young man crouched beside him, who is watching the surrounding area with far more precision than he would ever give himself credit for. "You nervous?" he asks then, rather curious on the subject where Shioshiro is concerned. He himself is even a bit nervous, though he can't really pin down why. He barely even considers his nerves on missions anymore.
"Would you think it strange of me if I said I was excited?" Shioshiro asks in response to Ken's question.
Ken offers a lopsided smile. "Not at all. Gotta be kinda fun working alongside your folks, huh? I mean, I am pretty awesome in a fight. Bet you are, too. If ya got anything good from me and Aya, that is."
"Haha. I love how easy you're taking all this. It could be...strange between us, but you don't allow that. It's a comfort. Thank you." Smiling broadly, Shioshiro playfully punches Ken in the arm before going back to his vigilant watch.
Nudging the young brunette gently to regain his attention, Ken catches Shioshiro eye quickly and smiles, trying his best not to allow the strange blush creeping up the back of his neck. He has always loved children, and always hoped to have some of his own whether he ended up with a woman as a life-partner or not, but to actually have one who interacts with him so perfectly...it is oddly welcome.
"Na, minna...get ready."
Ken perks up at Omi's command and nods to Shioshiro to signal for him to be on his toes, too. They wait and watch, and just as a few seconds become agonizingly too long, the door so many feet in front of them pops open. Ken and Shioshiro see two formless shadows pass in front of the door and disappear, knowing that they have been given their cue to follow suit.
Ken gestures for Shioshiro to stay close and they dash across the short distance to the side of the building, listening for any signs of struggling inside. All is quiet for many strained moments before a few soldiers' voices call out from inside.
"Watch out!"
"Who's there?!"
"Show yourselves!"
SHING. The sound of air being sliced by folded metal. That is all the warning Ken and Shioshiro need before sprinting inside to aid in the fight.
The corridor they dash into is dimly lit but thankfully wide. Looking to the right, the two brunettes see that one guard is already down, out of commission. Looking to the left, there is the sudden spray of sparks from Ran's sword striking the barrel of a gun from a soldier who had foolishly thought to use it is a shield instead of firing. Another soldier is preoccupied with Youji, discovering himself becoming rather tied up, and one final soldier suddenly appears from the turn in the hall up ahead and is leveling his gun at Ran.
No time. Ken springs forward, reaching the man intent on killing his Aya before the gun can even cock. A single strike buries Ken's claws in the unsuspecting man's tender side and that gun falls from his hand, useless. Ken twists his claws roughly before pulling them free and the soldier crumbles to the ground.
Easy.
When Ken turns back around to assess the situation of the others, he is met by a familiar sight: Youji unwrapping his bloodied wire from around the now dead soldier at his feet and Ran standing tall over the body of yet another unfortunate man, blood gleaming on the end of his sword. What is not so familiar is the other brunette standing somewhat stunned near the doorway, looking at his supposed elders with an expression uncharacteristically blank.
Ken swallows. He hates whatever that look is, because it admonishes him somehow, even without meaning to. His son has now seen him as a killer. Knowing about something and seeing it are very different things.
"Hiro..." he starts.
"Having fun yet?" Ran breaks in, ignoring Ken, staring straight at the still stationary young man by the door. "You say you know how to use that sword, but do you really? Have you used in truth, for necessity, for life? Standing by and watching will only get you killed. Don't assume we'll protect you."
That briefly blank expression on Shioshiro's face vanishes, becoming a bitter scowl. "Don't patronize me; I don't need or expect your protection. Yes, I have used a sword. I have been in battle at your side. This is different...but...but I won't hesitate again. I know why I'm here and what I have to do."
"Hn."
Silence. Then...
"Daijoubu, ka, minna?" pipes in Omi, the young blonde having come down from his hiding spot and through the door to join the rest of them. He receives no reply and begins to eye his companions warily. "Ano...Shio-kun...Aya-kun...why are you glaring at each other like that?"
Repose broken.
"Let's go." Ran commands, turning swiftly to continue down the hallway, deeper into the base. He passes Ken without even a wayward glance.
'So much for progress...' Ken thinks somberly, waiting for the others to catch up before following. 'After tonight...I'll...I'll talk to him. I have to...'
Youji, Omi, and Shioshiro meet up with Ken and the four of them trail after Ran, who as always is leading the pack. As they turn the corner and walk along the hallway towards the door at the far end, Ken casts Shioshiro a fleeting glance. Shioshiro notices this and smiles warmly in reply. To Ken's pleased surprise, there is nothing lacking in the expression.
"Okay, minna, listen up." Omi instructs quietly, stepping ahead of the others as they reach the door. "If my schematics are right, this room houses the majority of the Rats. The rest of them and Colonel Nicol should be just beyond and will probably come running when they hear the commotion. It's Powell who's even deeper inside. Someone will probably have to go after him alone while the rest of us distract the majority."
"I'll do it." Ken offers quickly, subconsciously wanting to engage in the fight far from Shioshiro if only to save his son from having to see him kill anymore than is necessary.
Apparently his son isn't thinking along quite the same lines. "No. Let me do it." Shioshiro jumps in, gripping his katana tightly as it hangs at his side.
Ken looks at him skeptically. "Why?"
"You don't have to prove anything to us, kid." Youji offers, leaning back against the side wall.
Shioshiro narrows his violet eyes at that. "It has nothing to do with proving anything. I...I just get...a few rather frightening images in my head thinking of you doing it, Kento." he admits, expecting the shocked and rather hurt expression he has now put on Ken's face. "It's not what you think. I don't resent any of you for living the lives you've led. It's just...you killed Powell in my timeline, and...and I know the situation is very different now, but...that was the beginning of...when...just please let me do it. I won't fail you."
Cryptic, as always. A dozen questions rise in Ken's mind but he is forced to push them down, knowing that any questions voiced aloud would be responded to with reasons why explanation may be more hurtful than helpful.
Ken hates that. Youji hates it even more. But Omi understands, and Ran...hides his emotions well enough for it not to matter.
"Suit yourself." Ran responds to Shioshiro's request, readying his own sword as he steps forward to reach for the door. "You're the leader of this mission." he reminds the young brunette. Then, just before preparing to enter, he adds, "Try not to get yourself killed."
Shioshiro allows a small smile at that. 'Heh. Just like Kento used to say, Oran. You're a teddy bear in the end, every time...'
The door opens...and in front of them appears a large number of men spaced out within the expansive room just beyond, none at first noticing that they have been intruded upon.
That soon changes.
Like a spring let loose to shoot into the unknown, five figures descend on their unsuspecting victims. A number of them don't even have time to realize what is happening before they are cut down. This reduces the number of actual opponents, which is good. Anything to even the odds.
While the members of Weiss are focused only on eliminating their targets as efficiently as possible, Shioshiro must also think about getting through to the exit on the other side of the room without being followed. He must reach Powell before the colonel can be informed of infiltration, or the main target will be lost.
Watching out of the corner of his eyes, Ken sees that Shioshiro is raising his sword for the first time. Morbid as it may seem, Ken cannot help wanting to watch this, and he does, as closely as he can while still keeping his own neck out of harms way.
Ken is instantly awed but not shocked. Shioshiro displays a grace with the sword that is all too similar...to Ran. Sweeping up and twisting to the side, he takes car of one man while simultaneously gathering momentum for a lower strike dealt to a man coming up from behind.
Switching his attention briefly to Ran, Ken experiences extreme déjà vu when the redhead performs an almost identical move. No surprise there; Shioshiro did say he had been taught by the best, and there is no doubt in Ken's mind that Ran is indeed the best at what he does.
Naturally, the others have also noticed the similarity in Shioshiro's fighting style to Ran's. The redhead himself especially has taken notice, but what he sees is not only his style, but how Shioshiro seems to have all that grace and fluidity in conjunction with so much of Ken's fire and strength.
Yet another burden of proof Ran cannot dismiss.
Finally, Shioshiro has reached the far end and manages to slip out the back door unnoticed. This is a commendable effort for though they have rid the area of many Rats, many are still present and more seem to be spilling in from a door to the right.
Suddenly, a large man, bald with a face fiercely severe, bursts into the room from that right side door. Last minute mission information and descriptions from Shioshiro tell the boys that this is Colonel Nicol, one of their main targets, and he does not look pleased.
"Aya, look out!" Ken calls, blocking the strike of one of the Rats who had been about to take Ran out of the fight—for good. Ran had been distracted by the sight of Nicol and hadn't seen the soldier coming.
His more stubborn half, telling him to take offence that Ken thinks he needs protecting, overrides the part of Ran that wants to offer thanks. So instead, he offers a curt nod and dashes on ahead, straight for Nicol. Ken accepts the expression as being as much as he should expect at this point and doesn't press for more. There will be more than enough time for that.
Hopefully.
"Ken-kun!" cries Omi suddenly, causing Ken to turn just in time to block a strike that had been aimed at him, one that could have ended just as badly as the one that almost hit home on Ran. Seems he had gotten himself distracted, as well.
As the last of the battle winds down, Ken rushes over to Omi to aid the younger man, sharing a smile when the last of their opponents goes down. Youji, upon finishing off the last of those near the entrance, joins them. Together, they look to the right and see that Ran is in heated combat with Colonel Nicol, the American having somehow retrieved a sword of his own and proving surprisingly adept at using it.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
Ran forces Nicol back against the far wall, his skill and speed far superior, but Nicol pushes Ran back repeatedly, having the upper hand in strength. This equalized duel sets the others on edge. They need to finish the mission and get out before any reinforcements can be called. They don't have time for any drawn out fights. But as the others are preparing to intervene, Ran suddenly succeeds in ridding Nicol of his weapon. It appears that the fight will come to a very quick end, when just as Ran raises his sword for the final strike, Ken sees that the clever colonel is reaching for a gun tucked behind his back.
Ran doesn't notice. Ran doesn't see it.
No time. Ken springs into action—again—instinctively. Judging his speed against his angle, Ken decides to go for Ran instead of Nicol, and tackles his leader to the ground as the gun appears and fires, the bullet lodging itself somewhere unseen in the far wall. Before Ken can register Ran's expression of shock, he is back on his feet, driving his claws down into the colonel's exposed throat, killing him almost instantly.
There is a large span of tense quiet, all of them standing deathly still within the room littered so grotesquely with blood and tissue and stiffening bodies. Eventually, Ken pulls himself away from Nicol to offer a hand down to his teammate, smiling without any sense of obligation in the gesture. It exudes simple caring that asks no more than Ran can give.
Considering it is obvious to everyone how much Ken wants everything Ran might offer, it is rather impressive how he can exude anything even remotely resembling such an emotion.
"Daijoubu?" Ken asks as Ran takes his hand and is firmly helped to his feet.
"Aa." comes the typical response.
"Glad to hear it." Ken grins, maintaining a hold on Ran for a little longer than necessary. When he finally lets go, his smile turns impish. "Ne, Aya...that's three times tonight I've saved your ass. You that out of it tonight or just looking to give me some 'saving the damsel in distress' moments?"
Youji and Omi exchange pleased glances. Now that is the KenKen they know and love.
Taking into account recent events, such a comment could very well get Ken killed, but he has risked it anyway and waits patiently for whatever response Ran might offer him.
"Che." the redhead scoffs, rolling his eyes and shaking his head in mild annoyance. "Baka." he adds, before turning away from Ken to head after Shioshiro through that back door.
Ken is grinning from ear to ear when takes off to follow at Ran's heels. 'I'll take baka over Hidaka any day.' he muses.
The boys speak little else to each other as they head into the corridor behind that final door to collect Shioshiro, but there seems to be a significantly less amount of tension surrending them than before, which Ken can only hope means Ran's stubborn resolve is slowly giving way.
As they near the innermost room—Colonel Powell's room with its many monitors—the members of Weiss pass a small scattering of unfortunate soldiers who must have met with Shioshiro's blade. They also begin to hear a rather familiar voice from behind yet another door, oddly sounding even more like Ran's than it ever has thus far.
"Thank you for cooperating, Colonel. You've done a good thing tonight." it speaks, hauntingly emotionless.
"Then...you'll leave me be...?" asks a frightened, middle-aged sounding voice in reply.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Colonel. I have my orders and you are not a trustworthy man."
"B-But...I gave you what you wanted!"
Weiss' ears perk at this and Ran reaches out to push the door open. Powell is on the floor with a clear view of the door if not for the figure advancing on him. With his back to them, Shioshiro does not realize he has an audience.
"Please...there's no reason to kill me. I can...I can pay you. Anything!"
Shioshiro's head tilts to the side. There is a stack of papers clutched in his left hand, his sword held tightly in his right. "I didn't come for money. I came to set things right. This file is one part. Eliminating you, Nicol, and your men...is another."
"No...please..."
The sword is raised—merciless. "Shine..." And the air is cut, finely and cleanly, ending any unsaid pleas in a single strike.
All in all, it does Ran's swordplay justice, with all of Ken's ambition. Funny how that doesn't make it any less jarring to watch.
Slowly, Shioshiro turns around, and he does not look in the least bit surprised to find the others behind him. "Mission one successful." he speaks simply, before breaking into a relieved smile. "Shall we go home then, minna?"
-----
Hibana Akira holds the file in his hands in disbelief. Earlier that morning he had received a package with this file and a note telling him to meet his sister at the location he is now in, but even after the hours that have passed he still cannot believe he is holding all the proof he had ever hoped to find. With it he can clear his parent's name. With it he can finally move on with his life, and neither he nor his sister ever again have to live in fear.
"Aniki!"
Akira spins, just in time to see the blur of his sister fly towards him and latch on for dear life, tightly wrapping thin but strong arms around his waist. He returns the hug vigorously, at a loss for words. Feeling happier than he has in longer than could ever be remembered, the file still clutched in his hand seems suddenly less important.
-----
"This one was easy."
"Easy? You gotta be kidding me!"
"Gomen, Yotan, I'm afraid I am very much speaking the truth." Shioshiro affirms, plopping himself down on the couch in the RV. After such a busy night, during and after the mission, he got deplorably little sleep. "Our next mission is much more complicated."
Sitting down next to Shioshiro, Omi asks in a rather small voice, "Schwartz?"
This comment causes Youji to nearly fall over, having been leaning back against the wall beside the couch. Ken mirrors him on the other side, and Ran remains poised in the middle of the room. None of them have been up for very long, but time cannot be wasted.
Sighing deeply, Shioshiro tosses Omi a sideways smile. "Good for you, Omiji. Schwartz, yes, but more than that. We'll be dealing with the source as well. Rozenkreuz."
"Eh?" Ken prompts. "Who the hell are they?"
Another sigh. "Later, Kento. We're far ahead of the game right now. We have time to take a few days off."
"In that case, I'm heading into town." Youji announces, pushing himself away from his perch. He turns his emeralds to the couch. "You boys wanna join me?"
It is painfully obvious that he has deliberately left Ran and Ken out of the invitation. Omi and Shioshiro both notice this, and—after sharing conspiratorial smirks—decide it is a wonderful idea.
"With pleasure."
"Lead the way, Youji-kun."
Mouth agape, Ken watches in complete horror as the three of them literally abandon him to his fate without so much as a goodbye, and in the space of a very nervous heartbeat, he is alone with Ran in the RV.
Ken timidly looks up and finds that Ran's eyes are locked on him. He swallows. There is nothing readable about that expression--not that there ever is--and he has the feeling he doesn't want to know what it means.
Mustering up all the courage he can find, Ken decides he had better take the opportunity he has been given and opens his mouth to speak. "So..."
A/N:
Another long break, at least in my opinion (and probably to your, too) but this was the longest chapter thus far, so hopefully it made up for it.
M-chan: Yes, Youji is just being a good guy friend. He doesn't believe the future is set in stone one bit, but anything that can get Ran and Ken together is worth investing in. :-)
siberian orchid: The 'she' and scent thing all have to do with the short story "Ranjatai" from the Weiss OVA artbook.
Seph Lorraine: You blew off studying for math for me? That's like...the sweetest thing ever! Ran all mean and pissy, yes, but I hope you're ready for some kickass Ken. :-)
HeatherR: Oh, all of your comments are so on the mark. For this, we do have to believe that the timeline can be changed (but Dr. Who might allow me to believe that allowing Shioshiro back in time is what helps the timeline be what is meant to be). However, we must always think about the consequences of all this. Shioshiro might be destroying his own existence, if not many other possibilities. His job is maintain and change, but can he? We'll find out.
Oh, you all just make me so happy and proud. This is one of those fics that sat in teh back of my mind for over a year until I finally said, this needs to happen, and you actually like it! Thank you so much for sticking with this and offering you support.
Also, I redid my fanart of Shioshiro. It is lighter, but looks awesome (which I never say about my own work). Go to MediaMiner and look in Weiss or search for Crimson. Thanks again, minna! Love you!
Crim