Kon'nichi wa Minna!

Here's another chapter of KW for you in honor of Tomokazu Seki's appearance at Anime Expo. It's a dream come true, really. But anyway, back to the matter at hand. The chapter's not too long, but it should tide you over for a bit, ne? On the bright side, it didn't take me a year to get it to you. smiles Enjoy the read!

Disclaimer: If I owned Weiß I'd have Seki's autograph by now, wouldn't I?

The Koneko Wars

Chapter 11: Unwelcome Visitors

By: Whisper

"Don't forget your toothbrush." Ran was standing in the door, looking stoic and fighting the urge to wring his hand in apprehension. "And socks," he amended after some frantic thought. It had been four days since they'd gone to that stupid club and now Ken was being abducted for two weeks of training. Ken's idiotic coach thought it a bright idea to steal his team away into the countryside for a rigorous, distraction free training session. This meant that Ken would be cooped up with the Koji character without Yohji and himself or, God forbid, even Schuldich to keep the insufferable man from latching onto Ken.

"I hope there're no missions while I'm gone, " Ken sighed, placing the previously forgotten toothbrush and socks in his duffel. "Last time I left to train, you guys almost got killed." A frown formed, looking unnatural on sunburnt lips. Every time Ken left for a soccer match or event, he would momentarily doubt himself, recalling each and every time his absence had caused problems on a mission. His teammates were willing to take the risk to see him happy, but Ken was slowly beginning to wonder if the risk was worth it to him. After his last away game, he returned to find Omi in a makeshift hospital bed in the mission room, an IV in his arm and his chest swathed in bandages as he healed from a cut across the length of his abdomen. Ken didn't sleep for three nights after that.

"We'll be find, Ken," Ran assured him, though he couldn't seem to make the words sound as confidant as he wanted. The truth was that missions were on the rise. Kritiker intelligence had reason to believe that Sturm, a faction known to have defected from Estet three years prior to the organization's fall at the hands of Weiß, had reformed and was setting up operations in Japan. Manx and Ran had had many a discussion about the impending crisis as well as how Ken's stardom would affect missions. Manx was constantly pushing for Ken's resignation from the League while Ran insisted that if she mentioned such an idea in front of Ken, or spoke of Sturm in his presence, she would find a katana buried in her gut. During these conversations Yohji would occasionally be present and remind Manx that she couldn't very well tell Ken about anything if she was choking to death. The comment would be accented with a few taps on his watch.

This is my last season. Ken had made the decision after the last mission, but it wasn't until he heard Ran's half-assed lie that he had truly reconciled himself with it. He loved the members of Weiß, each of them filled some void in his heart. Omi was his joyous brother with whom he could cause mischief and lay around. Yohji and Ran were...difficult. He knew he loved them in a way altogether new to him. It was confusing and he hated it. When Ran had pounced him, Ken thought it a good opportunity to explore those feelings, but he found himself wracked with guilt every time he saw Yohji along, watching him with those sad, lonely emerald eyes. He wanted to just give the tall assassin a hug and tell him to stop pretending. Everyone has week moments, everyone douses their pain as best they can. Ken never bought Yohji's "ladykiller" act, nor did he buy Ran's "rat bastard" persona. He knew they, just like he, were hiding themselves for fear of being hurt again. That was part of the reason he rarely stayed involved with anyone for long; he couldn't bear another betrayal. He was trying with Ran, trying as best as he knew how, but deep inside he was just waiting for the rejection to come.

Your thoughts are too dismal kitty cat, please lighten your mood before I choke on your angst.

Ken started, causing Ran to give him a sideways glance. "Chills," he explained, before turning back to his duffel and pretending to rearrange it. The Hell are you Schu? I thought we agreed you'd stay away from here until I got back.

And you believed me? Have you learned nothing? Despite the telepath's words, he was probably the most trustworthy friend Ken had. Though Schuldich constantly spoke of stealing Ran away, he wouldn't honestly endeavor to snatch the redhead unless Ken made it clear that their relationship was over. Having tired of listening to Ken's mental babbling, the telepath had taught the soccer player how to shield; a skill that would negate Schuldich's abilities in a fight and leave him at the mercy of Ken's claws. The other reason Schuldich wouldn't meddle was because he sensed Ran and Yohji's true feelings towards his friend and coming from a life of sharing and stealing thoughts, Schuldich knew that love was difficult to find. It was one of the few emotions he respected. Of course, that wouldn't stop him from smacking that love around until it got the stick out of its ass and learned to play nice with his best friend. Hey Ken, you have anything to eat in here? I was going to go to the grocery store but I had to stop some punk kid from robbing it. You know how community service ruins my appetite for an hour.

You're getting soft, Schu. Ken zipped his duffel up and bit down a chuckle. "Ran, would you mind making some sandwiches, Schu's stopping by for lunch before we head out." Ran snorted an affirmative and stalked out of the room. Come on in, Ran knows you're here.

And he's not going to try to kill me? Oh happy day! There was a rustling of bushes and a moment later Schuldich stood just inside Ken's open window, chuckling. "Are you sure I can't come on this little trip of yours, it'll be..." his cell phone interrupted him. "Ja? Oh, it's you. I see. Yeah, I'll let them know. Now that's cheating! Bastard, you wouldn't! Fine, you just do that, the key's under the mat. Yes I leave the key under the mat, do you have a problem with that? See you in an hour." Schuldich turned the phone off and threw it at the wall. "Stubborn, no good..."

"Crawford?" Ken asked, knowing that the precog was the only one that could get that big a rise out of his friend.

"Cancel your trip, kitty cat, we've got trouble. Crawford's coming over with the others and we're going to have a little meeting." Schuldich looked to his friend's wide eyes and sighed. "They don't tell you anything, do they?" Ken shook his head, still looking puzzled. Brace yourself, kiddo. In a rush all that Schuldich knew regarding Sturm flooded into Ken's head in a flurry of imagery that threatened to overload his senses.

"I'll call coach," Ken sighed, walking to his dresser and looking for his cell. Looks like my resignation's coming a little sooner than I thought.

#####

The doorbell rang and Ran grabbed the skillet from the stove so the grilled cheese sandwiches he was preparing wouldn't burn. Hot pan in hand, he went to answer the door, his grip on the pan handle tightening. "Who invited you here?" he hissed at Oracle, his eyes darting to Prodigy and Berserker, who flanked their leader.

"If you so much as move to hit me with that pan Abyssinian, I'll shoot you." Crawford replied, shoving past Ran and moving to stand at the bottom of the stairs.

"Brad be nice to Ran, he's had a tough week," Schuldich reprimanded as he and Ken made their way down.

"You!" Ran accused, pointing the pan.

"Lunch, excellent." Schuldich waltzed past the irate redhead, plucking the perfectly melted sandwich out of the pan and smiling. "Looks delicious, Ran, I can see why Ken keeps you around."

"If you hit Mastermind with that pan, the repercussions will not be pleasant," Crawford warned.

"Guests?" Yohji asked Ken, yawning and pointing to the members of Schwarz.

"Nagi!" Something blonde and blurry streaked past the two Weiß members on the stairs, grabbed Prodigy, and pulled him toward the basement. Meanwhile, Ran was repressing the urge to hit something with the skillet in his hands, Schuldich was munching on a sandwich, Berserker was staring at the cross over their mantelpiece with contempt, and Oracle was giving Ran a look of smug superiority.

"Would anyone like something to drink?" Ken offered weakly.

"Coffee please," Crawford replied with more courtesy than Ken would've thought him to possess.

"Water," Farfello said calmly, his eyes still on the cross.

"I'll have whatever you're having, Ken." Schuldich cast a quick glance at Yohji and Ran, each man starting as his eyes passed over them.

"Schuldich, I believe your commentary is not appreciated, please endeavor to control your...urges." Schuldich pouted at Crawford's words and flopped into a nearby chair, sticking his tongue out at his leader.

"Right...I'll go get those drinks then." Ken darted out of the room, a blush staining his cheeks. In his haste he failed to note how Yohji and Ran's eyes followed him, focusing on the subtle swish of his uniform shorts.

"Prodigy and Bombay should be preparing the presentation." Crawford began to walk toward the basement stairs, Berserker following closely behind him.

"Schuldich I don't suppose you could explain what's going on?" Yohji asked, leaning against the stair railing.

"I could." Schuldich's smile wasn't encouraging.

"And will you?" Yohji sighed, already tired and ready to go back to bed.

"Sturm's set up shop and is ready to attack. Crawford believes a united from is the only way to save our asses and, given where your eyes are lingering, there are some asses in this world you're rather adamant to save, ja?" The German chuckled at his own joke and the growl it elicited from Ran.

Schuldich, not again. Ken entered the room carrying a tray of beverages with moderate success. Give me a hand, would you?

It really is too easy, Ken. They set themselves up for it every time. The telepath grabbed a few beverages from the tray and settled the others so that their weight was more evenly distributed.

How do your teammates put up with you? Ken looked to Ran and Yohji, who pointed to the basement door. Ran stood and took the remaining beverages from the tray, frowning at Schuldich one for good measure before heading downstairs. If Oracle was standing in his spot, he was going to destroy him.

######

Crawford's presentation had taken the better part of two hours. It was a well planned affair with diagrams and Power Point presentations. "As you can see, our only hope is to unite our efforts. We can use the Koneko as our base of operations..."

"You will have to work your turn in the shop," Ran interrupted, scowling. The threat from Sturm was larger than Kritiker had anticipated though Weiß had already been given full sanction to take whatever actions necessary to stop the organization.

"I refuse to work in that shop, Crawford." Farfello's snarl frightened all in the room, save Ran who was hell bent on making Schwarz suffer for infiltrating his home.

"You will work in the shop," Ran ordered, staring the madman in the eye. "You will work in the shop and you will work hard or you and your team can leave and face Sturm on your own."

"Abyssinian...." Farfello hissed, clenching his fists.

"Oracle?" Ran raised a thin eyebrow to the Schwarz leader, waiting for his comments on the matter.

Crawford looked from Ran to Berserker and sighed. "We work in the shop."

"Sugoi! We can have days off now!" Omi exclaimed, earning a glare from Farfello and a disgusted snort from the remaining members of Schwarz.

"Wonderful, working with pansies," the white haired Irishman muttered, just loud enough to be heard.