Schwartz Central building was built onto the back of the department store, it was strange that the crew of supernatural members would be using a department store for headquarters and living; ' Then again. ' Aya thought amongst himself, ' We're living inside a flowershop.' Double glass doors winked at the visitors under the afternoon glow, it'd taken a good hour and bitching for Schuldig to finally give in and get a cab, the building had been almost eight blocks away. After piling into the mini-cab, bodies much to close to one another; they'd arrived at the HQ without any casualities. The maroon-haired assassin stood before the structure looking up at the vine-infested front it seemed morning glories had decided to take up residence on the old structure over a period of time; a fire red-head interrupted Aya's wandering thoughts. " I know we said we'd take you in; but we want to make a deal in exchange. " anyone who'd been looking at the Weiss leader would've seen him immediately tense up; he didn't like being bartered with. Youji had himself planted at Farf's side, and the teens were exchanging curious glances at one another; Nagi seemed just as confused as the leader. " What kind of deal? " muttered the katana-master once he turned on his sandal heel to face the smirking German. Aya had decided on purple today, his tank top was a bruise color, but his jeans were a pitch-black and the sandals copied his shirt rather well. He looked like a walking bruse, and Youji had told him as much this morning; but frankly he just didn't care. The katana-master had never been a very vain person in his twenty years of living, and he wouldn't change now. " It's nothing horrible, at least not to me. In exchange for returning your man; I want a date. " Shock registered across the Weiss leader's lovely facial features, lips parting a bit to come agape; ' Well, wasn't that just sexy to set him off his balance for once.' snickered Schuldig to himself.
"..Why? " the question was simple, but it seemed a bit full of disbelief. Aya could feel the eyes of his crew on his back, poor Omi's mouth had fallen wide open and Youji was being restrained by a firm Farf; it looked like Youji was about to assault Schuldig. " For one, despite what your little playboy over there thinks.." Schuldig turned an accusing eye on the blonde's thoughts, before coming to fully face Aya with his palms buried into the pockets of his black jeans, " I want to find out more about you, personally. Is that so hard to believe? " a fire-eyebrow popped up in curiousity at the inquiry. The katana stood silent before the German, for once actually considering it. Violet set themselves on the cold silver in Schuldig's pupils; the silent exchange began between the two with Aya's comment. / You just want to kiss me again. / Aya saw the equally shock expression cross the German's face, he probably believe the katana master too shy to bring up that small incident. / I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to consider it, Aya./ Against his better judgment a smile tugged at the maroon-haired man's lips, he could feel and see the eyes of the members passing over the two of them; Youji had ceased his movements and was standing still while Farf had suddenly become interested in the blonde's locks, giving them a turn this way, then that way. / You're confusing, Mastermind. It wouldn't work to start something between us, you very well know this./ the violet eyes watched the silver orbs cock themselves to the side; seeming to think before replying, / Probably right, but what would it hurt? I'd be more worried about the younger ones than you and I. Truth is, you intrigue me. And that takes a lot, considering I've read the minds of some that were considered the most fascinating of our time./ Aya wanted to feel flattered, but he just knew Schuldig would've found that hilariously amusing, / We need Ken. I'll agree only if I make one term in this bargain./ It was obvious the German was now curious to the red-head's request, / What? Keep my crew away from yours/ The Weiss leader shook his head visibly, which caught the attention of Omi who'd been snatched to Nagi's hip, / No. I'll let them chose what they wish for now. I want you to stay out of my head. I require it. / Shrugging, Shuldig verbally aloud murmured, " Agreed. ", now pleased with the pact Aya nodded to Omi. " We're going in. "
Just like the outside of the building, it wasn't what Aya was expecting when he walked into the rival's HQ; flowers of every sort were set in vases with the lobby a pearly white where feet now padded along it with slow direction. " He doesn't live in the same area with us. Oracle requires luxury; what a snob. His bedroom his upstairs. " the German nodded towards the marble staircase running in a curve to a second floor; one would never think that the building inside was so lovely like a miniture mansion. Letting the Schwartz captain lead, Aya followed close behind him as the crew ascended the stairs with patience; however the maroon male couldn't help but focus his violet gaze on the swaying hips of the mind-breaker ahead of him. There was something so distracting in that strut that it had Aya clearing his throat once they hit the landing; a single corridor of solid white doors were ling parallel to one another, however one stood out amongst the sickening white. A sign in bold black was hanging above over of the central doors, 'Do not Disturb' it fluttered on the simple tie of wire that held it. Not a single word was spoken, but Schuldig directed his gaze onto the other leader, nodding. Taking his cue Aya signaled his fellow crew to set themselves against the wall while the German gave the door a firm pounding with the center of his fist. A chorus of voices bloomed from the bedroom, one irritated and breathless was the one above all that could be heard, " What the fuck do you want? If that's you, Nagi. I'm kicking your arse out of the house! " first time anyone had heard the American curse, much less speak so cruelly. Aya couldn't help but arch a questing eyebrow at the telekenetic; who shrugged. Apparently, out of his own boredom the boy had tried to get Crawford out of his room before this. " Brady-boy, come play with me. You've been coupe up in there for days. " openly teased the German; Aya wondered almost jealousy what he meant by 'play' with the mastermind. " Schuldig? Go away! I'm busy! " a smirk crossed the manipulator's mouth, and all saw him swallow a chuckle, " Brad. I know what you're doing. Let the athlete go. " Aya jerked himself off the wall to stare at the door then back at Schuldig angerily. So Ken really was here? An anger overwhelmed the leader almost instantly, he'd been worried, scared for his friend. The first display of emotion Aya had really shown was now being broadcast when the katana-master, quite literately, slammed the door in two with a simple heel kick of his sandals into the white oak. Wood splintered before snapping in half under the display of fury, but the sight before the leader and commerades was something sent blood rushing into any of the voyuers' cheeks.
There he was, the athlete, the killer, and the neko. Aya was trying to make a single world when behind him Youji fell to the carpet along the corridor in laughter; it would've been funny if it weren't so horrific. Ken had been dressed into a set of neko-ears and tail; but the clincher was the frilly white and royal blue thong he wore. Bare chest and bare ass except for the peeking thong strap; the ex-pro athlete made a too cute neko. Crawford in all his glory was held in mid-pose with a hand risen just above the neko-Ken's naked buttcheek; no doubt ready to give the boy a good spanking. For there on, Aya's image of Crawford would forever be ruined by the neko and naked Oracle. Schuldig had muscled his way past the splintered doors; hands dug into his back pockets while he stood alongside Aya who'd recovered enough to stare the violet daggers into Siberian who'd suddenly needed modesty; and had drawn a sheet over himself and the Oracle. " What..makes you think..you can come here..without telling us..WHERE THE FUCK YOU WERE? " Aya wasn't one to curse in front of company; but his friend had pissed him off something awful! " And why him too? He's the damn enemy! " Ken had shrunk into the mattress, but something wasn't right; Oracle shouldn't be holding him like that, should he? Crawford had wound his arms around the athlete as if protecting him from the scorn of the Weiss leader; they looked like..lovers. " Abyssinian. Leave him out of this. I made him come with me; I manipulated him into following me home. " there was an urgency in the elder Schwartz boss' voice that was abnormal to even the fellow Schwartz men. " No! " Ken's voice exploded beside the Oracle, the ears were jerked from atop those dark-brunette tresses and placed on the mattress; all watched when the Oracle tried to make a grab for the retreating Siberian. " No! He didn't! I followed him, yes! But it was because I..I.." Schuldig had apparently intercepted the brunette's passing thoughts, " You're in love with Brad? Damn! You're like what? Nineteen? " the german turned a cynical eye on the shell-shocked dark-haired Oracle; who seemed just as stunned to hear the Siberian's feelings announced without his wishes. " And you! You're almost old enough to be his Dad! You're twenty-seven, Brady-boy! " accused the furious German; that accent of his had suddenly slicked up with his heritage. Privately, Aya found it rather sexy to hear in the heat of the moment; but for now Ken and Crawford's relationship was at the top of the Weiss leader's list.
" Kennish..Is what Schuldig said true? " Everyone had filed into the bedroom very out of place in the plush surroundings of solid white that layered Crawford's bedroom; from what Aya could put together he hadn't been able to determine the relationship between himself and the brunette who'd stood up from the mattress away from Brad. "..Yes. It is. I just didn't want to say anything! You're still in Schwartz, and obviously, I'm still in Vice. " the nineteen-year old's head had drooped, no longer in care of his outfit which let his neko tail droop behind him. He seemed to play the part of a sad kitten in Aya's eyes. The fire-haired German pulled up a sheet from the many sprawled along the bed, and offered it to Aya who took it greatful for the Schwartz understanding; the sheet was placed over and around Ken once the maroon-haired leader had waltz over to the sad neko. " Brad. You know better than any of us, we're risking the future of Schwartz if we get involved with Weiss. " however Schuldig wanted to sound noble, but the Oracle had eyes only for Ken. " I know, Schuldig. Don't you think I do? But I want him, I..I even think I'm in love with him. " it seemed to stretch across the silence that had fallen at the elder's revelation, Aya's arms tightened around Siberian, " Crawford. He has to come home. We need him-- " the maroon male's words were cut short when Crawford leapt from the mattress towards Ken, " No! You can't! I'm seeing so much with him here! " anyone with a cool mind, could tell it was just an excuse; which made Aya only think it was better to part the two for now. " Schuldig. Ken is coming home with us, If Brad wants to see him; he can come in a day or two. If..these two have been doing what I think; they both need the rest. " stern and to the point; the leader took Ken by the shoulders to lead the boy out. Ken was more than reluctant, his shouts of arguing and jerking under the restraints of his rather older and stronger friends and Schwartz kept him in check while he was removed from the bedroom. Schuldig during the removal had to brace Crawford down on the mattress; he'd almost struck at Aya in his anger.
Aya was the only one in the room with a cool head now; the german's anger had sparked when the idea of the Oracle taking a young lover had hit him. It was a wrong match; differences in age and occupational status. " Crawford. Just give it a few days. You can meet him at the shop if you want. But for now, he needs that distance; and I think you do too. " Though the Weiss leader lacked seven-years in age on the naked Oracle, someone had to be the voice of reason. " Okay. But you will let me see him. " it wasn't a question Aya knew; it was a statement. The maroon-cap nodded in agreement when Schuldig removed his hands from the elder's shoulders; the fire-german settled himself on the end of the frumpled mattress beside the sheet cover that lapped over Crawford's waist. Abyssinian stood before the two assessing the options they were going to be left with; " How did this happen? I don't mean the sex; but how'd you two meet up? You barely noticed one another when we'd join battles. " inquired the katana-master. Aya turned on his heel for a second to shut the door on the vacant hall; he drug one of the plush chairs to the edge of the bed. ' We need to know what we're up against ' the whisper passed along his thoughts, but then he remember Schuldig had made a deal not to scan his thoughts. " You're right, we didn't meet during the battles, Abyssinian-- " Aya interrupted momentarily on the tale, " Call me Aya, Crawford. We're going to be stuck together as long as Vice is disbanned; and Ken is in your affections. " the older gentlement simply nodded; it was a truce between man when it came to someone they carried about. " Like I said, we did meet that way. It was an order..I called the flowershop evening for a floral arrangement for a date I had. It was before we even knew who you were; he came to the door with my flowers, and he was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. When I tried to use my precognition, and see if I'd be successful in asking him out. He's left, and I couldn't get a read on him. It wasn't until we met in battle, that I found out who he was. To be honest, I'm the one who was stalking him. " the Oracle had lowered his face into hands, his elbows resting atop both knees while the leaders' listened to Schuldig's boss. " I tracked him to the flowershop several days ago; I'd had enough with waiting. It's been months since we'd seen you all in battle, and I was tempted to just make one up to see him. I feel controlled, and I don't like it. But I'm in love with that Siberian cat. What a fool.." Out of sympathy for a friend, Schuldig's arm wrapped itself around Crawford's shoulders, every member of their factions were out of character; no one was who they once were. Crawford was getting soft, Schuldig less rude on a level, and of all people Farfarello was lacking in his sadistic behavior; it all confused the violet-eye leader.
" Since you discovered the flowershop, you can come, Crawford. On the condition, you don't steal him or he doesn't leave without telling us where you are going with him. We still need him. Schwartz isn't disbanned, you are your own group. But we are organized. We could be pulled onto a mission without warning; the disban was given only weeks ago. It's possible we could all go back to being enemies any day now. " it was stated in a matter-of-fact manner. There could be no doubt in anyone's mind if things were to change from the truce to a full out battle. " If you'll excuse me. Schuldig and I have terms to establish before I can return to the shop. " Aya stood from the chair to reopen the bedroom door and slip back into the hallway. He could only guess that the red-head and Crawford were talking for the remaining five minutes he stood in the hall; he wanted to wander around but out of the truce, Aya contained himself. Schuldig exited the bedroom silently before coming up to the Weiss' side when was now leaning over the rail. " I realize how easy it might be for you to just push me off right now. Crack my head open and break my neck on impact, but I wonder why don't you? " the red-head took the maroon man's hand; it was an intimacy saved for couples when fingers entwined with one another. Abyssinian tried to harden his heart to it; succeeding in only numbing the affectionate hold; they walked hand in hand down the staircase. Two men, enemies, red-haired, and German with American; they were killers. But they still felt, Aya felt it even now. It was respect. Schuldig had stood up to his boss, he'd taken the risk over involving himself with Vice; even swallowed that pride to ask out his enemy. The twenty-year old couldn't help but feel something close to affection for the German; Schuldig led him along a passage way that seemed to seperate the mansion from the department store, once on the other side the fire-haired mind-breaker directed him to a small alcove bedroom which Aya was nudged into. It would've been awkward, if Aya hadn't known he'd been led here on impulse by the mind-reader; everyone was taking steps they'd never had the guts to take. Schuldig lowered his black-jean clad behind onto the messy mattress he'd only this morning had awoken on; with the fellow captain sitting himself beside the long, red-head. His eyes watching as they manipulator undid his tennis shoes with ease discarding each one the moment they were released. However, Aya's sandals stayed in place while the man before him made himself comfortable in front of company. " I'd like to keep my part of the deal, Schuldig. " somewhat in Aya's mind, he was sure he could've got out of it, but he suddenly realize he didn't want to. Sunset was approaching the its threat of darkness was pouring in about the shawl over the single window.
Schuldig lounged back across the pillow of his single, the leader watching while his naked feet crossed over one another; something was awfully cute about the man's feet. Long, and so many lines where blue veins popped up. His sister had called them 'old man feet', Aya called them unique. " If you're sure. I'd rather you didn't think of it as a deal, pet. " Aya heaved a sigh at the endearment, he doubted the german would stop; so he decided to let it go. " You want it to be a date? " when Schuldig nodded his approval, Aya lifted a shoulder, " Okay. " He suddenly got impression of that cat from Alice In Wonderland, the cheisure cat when the smile was mimic across the red-head's broad mouth at his agreement. " You've just given me the okay to ask you out in the future, haven't you? " the german seemed much too amused by Aya's consent; which made him feel like withdrawing it. " I just a date. Not dates all the time. You're the first man I've ever considered for a date; before I'd consider cutting a man in half for even asking me to a homosexual-oriented dinner of any sort. " The german winced before Aya's eyes, " I'm glad I asked now then. Why the change? From reading your friend's thoughts; you were some cold, demeaning guy. Like myself before things changed around here. " The shaggy mane of Aya's hair tossled a bit when he turned on the mattress to fully face the other assassin, " What do you mean you changed? " he wanted the Schwartz to inlighten him, his curiousity up at the similar words that would ring inside his own thoughts. " When Brad dumped off Takatori, we were freed from out oath to him. We weren't required to be killers anymore; myself, I went back to my old ways. I liked being manipulative; but I liked being normal and human. Now, you. Answer the question. " a foot was nudged against Aya's thigh playfully. " When my sister woke up, I discovered a lot of my bad habits. I'm still a cold bastard, but I'm trying to be Ran again. " at the quirk of the mind-breaker's eyebrow, the Weiss leader explained, " My name is Ran Fujimiya. As you well know, Aya is my sister's name. Before she was hit by Takatori's car, I'd been just in my last year of high school and one of the few popular students. Hard to believe I was the most loved male on school grounds. " He pushed back a stray strand of maroon behind an ear, his body perking up out of vanity when Schuldig commented, " I don't think it's hard to believe. From where I'm siting, you're still pretty damn sexy. " A laugh bubbled over from the faction member at the German's compliment, giving a small shrug. " Why don't we go out the day after tomorrow? Maybe a nice resturant with German food, eh? " In good humor between the two the fellow assassin joined in with Aya's laughter while he pushed himself up on the mattress to sit himself comfortably in front of the pretty Abyssinian cat.
He felt Schuldig closing in, but he wasn't going to stop him; this red-head was the first man he'd ever found attractive most likely the last. When comparing another man to the beauty of the German; they paled in comparison. A hand cupped Aya's chiseled jaw, turning it to look up into the silver depths of the mind-breaker. They were swallowing him with every second he stared in their depths, Schuldig's smooth-skin lips brushed across the Weiss' own teasing them to part for the german. Aya didn't like teasing, if he wanted something; he'd take it. Hoping to put the fire-hair off his footing, Aya buried his tongue past those satin lips of the mind-breaker; twirling the pink tongue around his opponents as if starving off the taste. Schuldig's fingers ventured up till they dug into the strands of maroon viciously while Aya's mouth was tugged away; only when he did this did the fire-haired male thrust his tongue into the assassin's hot mouth. Tremors were running their course along Aya's spine, his nipples tightening beneath the shirt painfully when Schuldig's scorching tongue moved in and out at a thrusting motion. A movement Aya's hips wanted to mimic so badly; the maroon killer was the first to release himself from the panting heat of the kiss. The Japanese male trembling visibly under the German's passionate stare, on shakey legs Aya stood away from the mattress; Schuldig's gaze could burn a hole through the wall if it only meant Aya was behind it. "..I'll pick you up at eight." the katana-master felt if he didn't leave now; he wouldn't at all. Without an verbal response, the Abyssinian cat nodded in agreement before escaping from the German's abode.