Cigarette Juice Box
chapter 3: Rising Ambition
WARNING! Probable angst.
"Come now," The German pouted. "We were having such a nice conversation. We should talk outside of our titles." The pout vanished to reveal a homely grin and he extended his hand. "I'm Schuldich, let's start over."
For a moment Ran considered, he wanted to get a few answers about Omi's incident with him, but he supposed that it would be treading past the already made barriers. He narrowed his eyes at the man as though saying that he still didn't trust him, but he placed a long, callused hand into the older man's and Schuldich smiled. "Could I have my drink?"
Ran made a face, but turned back to the workstation and prepared the double shot as quickly as possible. He still didn't trust the German enough to leave himself open for too long. He handed Schuldich the cup and ran his eyes along the garb that had made him pass the man off as a customer.
The German had pulled back his hair into a casual ponytail and was clad simply in a plaid green shirt, which accented his eyes, over a black tank top and slightly tight black jeans. It was so different from his normal garb that it seemed as though he was a completely different person. Though, perhaps, on the streets he'd look a bit out of place. Schuldich nodded to a table and Ran exited the register space to follow.
The booth was by a window, proving that Schuldich didn't mean to try anything. The way things went, if Schuldich had planned to make a move, he would have chosen one of the tables further back. In this, Schuldich had decided, if anyone said something to aggravate the Weiß boy, he'd have to be the one foolish enough to make a move in full view of Tokyo. Right now, all Schuldich wanted was a nice conversation that would give both sides answers.
Ran began soon after he sat down. He leaned over the table to speak so quietly that no one could hear. "Schuldich, what's all of this about?"
"Nothing, just a talk between rivals is all. Exchange answers." He lounged casually over his end of the booth, much like a lazy tomcat. The sleeve of his shirt lifted just enough to reveal the linen wrap around it where Ran guessed Omi had stabbed him. /You know, we don't have to talk out loud if you don't want to. I can hear you loud and clear./ He lifted the cup to his lips and drew in a long drink of the stuff and felt it burn down his throat. He almost shivered with pleasure.
The younger man leaned back and crossed his arms, lavender eyes staring holes into the German, though he hardly noticed. Well then, tell me why you decided to come after us again. It was an obvious question, it seemed to Ran. They came after Weiß because they wanted revenge for taking their immortality.
/Wrong answer/ Schuldich began /We came after your youngest, Omi. We gave the excuse of revenge, but it all has to do with his birthday./ He ran a long hand through copper bangs. /We're trying to make up for last time when you all took our immortality. Though, I don't blame you./ He smiled. /You're sister's too cute to go for such a dreadful thing, right? So we needed someone born on a leap year to fulfill another prophesy so that we might gain our goal without having to wake the devil. After the incident last time, Brad…/ Schuldich paused, noting the uncomfortable look the crimson-haired man gave him with such casual mentioning of his leader. /Crawford decided that risking each other's lives to be selfish was pointless when we, ourselves, could work together to gain the same goal./
"That's how it works in a team..." Ran muttered under his breath. "You have to work as a unit to accomplish anything." I found that out the hard way... he thought, trying not to make it too obvious to Schuldich. Too bad the man overheard with a chuckle.
/My turn, Fujimiya. Why did you continue with your missions even though Persia had been killed/ He waited silently for an answer and sipped on the espresso again.
Ran hesitated a moment, not quite sure why the rest of the team had continued. Well, I did it because of my sister. I wasn't going to leave her with all of you. It's a good thing that we kept on, though. Had we not, we surely would have faced something much more drastic than what's been going on here. As for the rest of Weiß, I'm not sure whether they followed because of me or because they had their own reasons. Yohji, I suppose went for Asuka, no, Neu. Omi to avenge his father's death and Ken, well, I'm not sure why he came. He didn't have to since his reason in Weiß had long been fulfilled. As a whole, I would say that they followed because they felt they needed to or they wanted to hold out until the end. How were any of us supposed to know that it would continue? We haven't received any major orders in a while, so we continue our cover until we're called again.
A true sign of loyalty... They really were Persia's dogs. the German thought to himself, making doubly sure the opposing man didn't overhear. /It's your turn, shoot./
Ran pondered a moment, trying to think of a question suitable for this chance. He tapped his finger on his elbow and projected. Yohji said he was trying to contact the one you call Nagi. He said that there was no reply and he never showed up. I've always found you quite punctual. He pulled a toothpick from the dispenser and chewed thoughtfully on it. What happened to him?
Schuldich's cover didn't waver, but again the pang in his chest came at the mention of the mysterious dark-haired boy. /To tell you the truth no one knows. He was at the park with us on the twenty-ninth, but after that he never came home. We haven't gotten orders to look for him, though. Something must've happened to him, but I suppose it wasn't your fault if you don't know either./ Apparently his next question had been given away at the mention of Ran's own.
"So he could be out looking for Omi at this very moment to finish what you started?"
The older man held up a finger. "Stick to the rules; one question per round." He watched Ran slide deeper into his seat and he gave the younger boy a slight smile. /What do you see that makes Weiß right and Schwarz wrong/ It was a simple, straight forward question, but very difficult. It would be a hard pill to swallow, but he knew that some doubt had to be planted or else no progress would be made.
For a moment Ran blinked lavender eyes, but soon stiffened up. The thought 'because you're evil' lingered on his brain, but it was the loudest of many jumbled reasons. Finally he came to a decent conclusion. Because you have too many wrong reasons for the actions you're taking. You want immortality to get back at the world, but the entire world wouldn't treat you the way you were previously. In fact you could pass for anyone else on the street if you tried. I wanted to get back at the world for taking my sister from me. The world took my parents and the entire life I had, as I knew it, but people still accepted me even though I'm bitter. Omi lost his memory a short while after he was kidnapped and left for dirt. Still, after he faced the memories and the confusion that came with it, he continued to smile the same smile he always had.
Then there's Yohji. He was a police officer, a detective for many gruesome crimes and he was forced to watch his partner die. My guess is that we found our happiness amidst the hatred of the evil people and we fight to protect the innocents from facing the same fate as ourselves.
Still, Ran continued, determined to complete his explanation thoroughly, Those whose family members we murder face the same fate as we did. So in a way, we are no better. But I do know that the entire world shouldn't have to pay for one person's mistake. So Weiß protects the people who can't protect themselves from the dangerous people rather than make them pay for our pain.
Schuldich nodded, now beginning to understand Weiß's thinking. Everything was about revenge, in a way. However instead of fighting the people who hurt them, they protected them. It didn't quite fit, but Schuldich could almost understand. Such a concept would be almost unexplainable to Farfarello or Brad, but the German was quite down to earth when it came to revenge. After all, he'd been looking for it for almost a decade. In his mind, the mind that could seek the deepest darkest secrets of man, he saw that the entire world was as dirty and greedy as those who had degraded him in the past. He'd faced it all his life. The groping hands and shoving of money continued as he stood on the corner, fighting to stay alive day by day. The human race was, indeed, filthy.
"Yohji said that he read something peculiar on Omi's computer right before you showed up." He had almost lost his hatred for Schuldich and was only now blindly groping for the answers he'd been looking for. "He said that you were forceful in telling him that Omi was trying to kill him."
Schuldich stood, with a smile, and took the espresso in one hand. "Just between you and me, who's to say that he isn't keeping it well under wraps? Get as close as you can," the man started as he pulled down his sunglasses, "then take what it is you want. That's all for tonight, Aya. I don't want to exhaust you with too many answers. I'll show up tomorrow and have another chat with you, if it's permitted. Or maybe I'll just get a cappuccino." His voice faded out as he exited, a cold wind blowing in and ringing the store bell. It was now completely dark and Schuldich's form was just barely visible as he passed the window.
Ran shook his head, desperate now for answers. After a moment's hesitation he strode out the door, pulling on his scarf and jacket as he went to follow Schuldich home. Puddles lined the streets, but the rising moon gave plenty light to see by. Stars hung bright in the clear sky. How strange it would have been to Omi if he'd left the house again on this night in comparison to the last. Deep blue mirrored the fading city lights as Ran followed behind the German, just close enough to make out his bright copper hair.
The cafe was far behind them. Ran's boots still continued to strike the ground without any audible sound. The only approaching buildings seemed run down, at times crumbling. Schuldich was leading him into the slums? It was a horrible place full of crime and drug smuggling. Ran wasn't uncomfortable, merely wishing to grip his katana sturdily in his callused palm.
Residential area... Ran mused to himself with a weary glance to the mothers leaning out windows to call in their wandering children. It's not safe to be out at night. Not here. Still he continued on, evading the sounds the unavoidable puddles provided as he sloshed through their high depths. This place was a mess. Roofs slid in pieces from the building tops, surrounded by tall structures long abandoned. To think this had to have once been the bustle of Tokyo. Ran imagined the ghostly people wandering up and down the streets on the way to work where now there only remained clumps of people at the corners, moving together from streetlight to streetlight. How sad an area it had become. For just a moment he caught a glimpse of a house reduced to ashes on the ground and could only think of the explosion that must have caused it. He could feel his heart sink when he passed with the grim knowledge that the very same had happened to his family. Ran could almost hear the laughing of his sister and parents standing outside mere moments before the screams flooded in with angry heat. Two images, but only one had reality to back it up. Two... Ran bit his lip, fighting away the tears. Two parents... two bodies slaughtered on the ground... The boy shook himself.
All of that was behind him now. The man pulled his attention back to the task at hand. He needed answers, yearned for them. Weiß had become his family and though he would never admit it, he was nearly as fond of Omi as he was his own sister. Because of this, Ran decided, I have to help him in any way I can. No one hurts my family without getting their just deserves. Schuldich had turned a corner into a small alleyway in between the tall, teetering structures. Ran hesitated, but followed all the same. Again he wished for his katana, but pushed the thought away. Schuldich wouldn't dare go against his word. Not with Weiß.
He rounded the corner to find himself face to face with the German. He casually lounged against the wall straight ahead. Not only had Ran been led directly into an alley, but into a dead end. He kept his composure, but it did seem horribly uncanny that Schuldich would be so comfortable in his surroundings. The older man gave a deep-throated laugh and Ran almost jumped, forgetting the probes flitting lightly around the confines of his brain. "Well," The German began, "I suppose it's only fair that I let you know about me, seeing as how I have direct access to anything I want to know about you." He tapped a long finger on his brow and suddenly became stern. "You see, I was born on a German air base a long time ago. My father was the son of a World War Two fighter and so was very insistent that he prove that he was as prodigious. He was a fighter pilot, but was never sent out on any secretive missions. He never had the chance to prove his worth. So he decided to marry and have a child." He closed his eyes and crossed his arms, continuing. "Shortly after my fifth birthday we went for a drive. The car we'd been driving in had a gas leak and while I went to get a drink from the gas station..."
Schuldich pushed himself away from the wall, arms remaining firmly crossed on his chest. "They didn't survive and I was presumed to be dead." He explained as he circled around Ran to gaze at the sky above. "So I wandered the streets, begging for food or money. Many times I had to resort to stealing. By the time I was fourteen I was found by a company called Estet." Recognition sparked in Ran's violet eyes, but Schuldich didn't notice. "They promised me a job and I accepted. At first everything was okay. They put me through tests under certain stimuli, had me find my way through mazes just like a rat. Then they took it a bit further, testing the organs of my body. Mainly they focused on different chemical reactions in my brain. Estet was soon taken over by a private club. They were the final group to fund any of the experiments and so they pushed the scientists to go even further."
Jade eyes seemed passive as they returned to meet Ran's. "They inserted a test solution into my blood and as it worked its way to my brain, I could hear more, feel more. Back then I didn't understand that I wasn't really hearing or feeling. It was a completely different sense together. At first it drove me crazy to the point that I would be screaming at people, holding knives to them in an effort to escape the voices. They put me in their private psychiatric ward and stuck me in a straight jacket, calling me a 'failed experiment.'" He grinned for just a moment before going on. "Little did they know that an experiment doesn't just die even after a conclusion is made. I had no use of my hands, no use of my body whatsoever. All I had was my brain and the constant screaming of the people around me. I learned to block it, filter it. Only then did I discover what had happened. I had been forced into unlocking another sense: telepathy. I requested more tests on it, seeing as how I had almost made a 'full recovery' and after my hypothesis was proven, I was introduced to a man named Brad Crawford. That's when Schwarz began to form. First with Brad, then myself, then Farfarello and finally Nagi. Within four years we began extensive training and became what you see today."
Ran blinked and shook his head. It didn't seem quite right. There was something else that he wasn't telling. "You didn't follow orders, though, did you? You had your own plans."
"Of course we did, Aya." Schuldich chuckled in reply. "Everyone has their plans. No one wants to be a dog on a leash the rest of his life. People made us suffer more than you know. Day after day we were humiliated, called freaks and degraded until almost all hope had been lost. The human race is truly disgusting. All their dirty thoughts and blood thirsty actions. All the human race wants is to beat the rest down so that they won't have competition. They want to see others hurt and suffer so they can feel good enough about themselves to move on. But the people they walk on don't move on. Either they die, or they become like us."
Revenge... Ran thought distantly, drawn back to what Yohji had said the night of Omi's rape. They want revenge on the human race for hurting them, but many of them are innocent. It's not right... If they want revenge, don't involve innocent people. Don't bring them into it... but then... what about the immortality... Ran wondered, the next puzzle piece falling out of place.
"The immortality?" Schuldich smiled a bit, almost ready to get to the point of this meeting. "We must be around to see that the human race gets their just deserves. You're no different, Aya. You killed the entire Takatori line except your precious 'Omi.' We're just an exaggeration of Weiß, right? If so, then we want to see the whole world suffer. Every one of them wants to beat us down and suppress us because we're a threat. Every time a child is born, they will think the same thing. Every person of your race provides only filth in a world ready to be purged. We, Schwarz, are Gott's left hand." With this final statement he held out his own hand and clenched the fingers together then allowed it to fall casually at his side.
Ran shook his head once more, insistent to make his point. "Just because a person thinks something doesn't mean they'll act on it. Things are determined by emotions. Anger and hate will create negative thoughts, but not every person in the world reserves the right to act on them."
Jade eyes remained fixed, but Schuldich sent out the string-like probes, searching for something just beyond the walls. /Farfarello... Damn it, Farfarello, get over here./ There was no reply and Schuldich glanced to the corner only to find emptiness where a silhouette should have been.
"I can't allow you to take the lives of virtuous people!" Ran moved to grab at his katana and two thoughts struck him. The first that he'd left his weapon back at the cafe and the second that his arms wouldn't move. He strained against himself, not able to move anything more than his head. "What's this?" He growled, gnashing his teeth together violently. "We had a deal, Schuldich!"
The younger boy caught Schuldich's attention once more and the German eyed him curiously. Ran couldn't move. Well, he thought to himself, may as well use it to my advantage. He cast the boy a devilish smile. "We had a deal back at the cafe. It didn't include any continuations. It looks as though you ran into a few dirty circumstances." He reached out again with his probes, only searching for Farfarello's mind. /Damn it, wake up. You're slacking Farfarello/
Another voice called out in reply, calm and cool. It would have been innocent, tenor and light, had it not been for the bitterness hanging heavy in the undercurrent. It was timid, but less so than the last time Schuldich had heard it. Farfarello's a bit busy at the moment. Schuldich's heart fluttered and his smile widened, however he was beaming inside his mind. The small, lean form approached. Nagi's dark brown hair glossy beneath the moon, almost a perfect sculpture of the night's angel. The familiar pout peeked over the top of a white scarf. "It seems as though your happiness has made you daft, Weiß."
Omi swiftly picked up the phone by his bed, awoken by its persistent ringing. He grunted, then answered. "This is where the cat lives..." His voice was groggy, slurring the words together sloppily. He blinked a few times to clear the sleep from his cerulean eyes. "No, Aya-chan, I haven't seen him, why?" Omi's eyes widened and he jumped from the bed, searching his still untidy room for a pair of pants and a shirt. "Are you sure?" Nothing made much sense right now. Everything still flowed like a dream, but even still Omi pulled on his jeans over his boxers and rushed out into the hallway, chest still bare. "Alright, I'm just about to get Ken up. We'll go out and look for him in Yohji's car, okay? Alright. I'll have my cell phone if you need me. Jaa." He pushed the button soundly on the phone then tossed it aside, storming into Ken's room.
"Ken, get up." He announced, voice wavering in worry.
The older boy sat up suddenly, soon relaxing. He rubbed his eyes and let out a yawn. "Why Omi? It's still night. Just go back to sleep, okay?" He began leaning back, only to be stopped by a sudden burst of "No!" from Omi's mouth. Ken's brows furrowed. Usually Omi wasn't so impolite, but still the older boy nodded and slid from beneath the covers, his blue flannel pyjamas wrinkled and mussed. "Alright, I'm up. What is it?"
Omi glanced at his watch: 3:33 AM. "Aya's gone missing."
It seemed that immediately Ken was awake, throwing on his old uniform. His jeans were still worn from a year ago, and they fit him snugly. He threw off his shirt only to replace it with a v-neck black one. Over it he pulled the brown leather jacket and pushed up the sleeves. "Omi," He began as he dug through his drawer for the bugnucks, "You should put on something dark. If Schwarz is out again, at least we'll be somewhat ready for them." He slid on the gloves then the device onto his right hand. Omi nodded and rushed off down the hallway.
Everything was in a blur, Omi threw off the sand-blasted jeans and went directly for his shorts, only to realize the time of year and his new found hatred for the cold. Instead he pulled on a pair of relaxed polyester pants, then pulled on his black sweater and both jackets. The white one went on first, as always. He loaded it to maximum capacity with poisoned darts and knives, then he pulled the black one over it. His red and white sneakers had been almost completely worn out from day to day use. Omi almost cursed, sifting through his closet, unable to find any others with decent traction. Finally he came across his old gym shoes and pulled them on over his socks. Quickly he grabbed his bandanna and goggles and sped out to Yohji's car where Ken sat waiting anxiously.
Omi jumped in not bothering to open the door, the action made possible by the vehicle's lack of roof. "Where do we start?" He asked and Ken screeched out of the parking lot. The younger boy jumped and pulled on his seat belt, realising now how frantic his companion was. "We didn't have time to look anything up or do any research."
"I know, Omi. All we have is that Aya's missing and Schwarz is on the streets. Both problems spell trouble." He swerved around the corner, heading for the cafe. "We'll pick up his katana from Aya-chan and go from there."
The younger boy could only nod, dumbfounded by Ken's ferocity. He jolted forward when the car suddenly jerked to a stop. Ken left the keys in the ignition and jumped out, running full speed to the door. He pulled it open and disappeared through it. Omi took this time to pull on his skullcap and goggles. It was clear, Omi noticed. Much unlike the way it had been last he saw Aya. Only a day ago it had been storming, now the stars shone as bright as possible through the light pollution of Tokyo residential. That was as good as it could get for a tracking mission, even without any information. Yohji was still sleeping, Omi bet with himself. That was also good. Then he wouldn't worry when he woke up. Omi would be there, no harm done... unless there was harm done to Aya.
Ken jumped into the car, throwing the katana to Omi who caught it and slid it onto his lap. He revved the engine and sped down the road, paying no regard to stop signs or traffic lights. "He took his coat." The younger boy glanced up, cerulean eyes a bit confused. "Aya took his coat so he left willingly. The question is where."
The blonde slouched in the seat, gripping the sheathed Katana to his chest. What would Schwarz want with Aya? They've already started the ritual with me, they don't need anyone else do they? He bit his lip and glanced over the side of the car, catching a glimpse of red hair. He jumped. "Ken! Turn here!"
"What, why? Do you see him?"
"I saw Schuldich!" He replied, pointing to the left. With no more than a glance, Ken hung a sharp corner, heading to an alleyway deep in the slums. Once in the back street Omi uneasily opened the door and set out on the pavement. He ran his hand along the wall, cerulean eyes glancing to and from the corners where shadows shifted against Ken and himself. The boy relaxed with no sight of anyone. Maybe it had been his nerves acting against him. Then he caught a glimpse of a small slip of paper lying white against the ground.
Apparently Ken had seen it at just the same time and headed anxiously towards it. He picked it up and Omi could see his muscles clench against it, wrinkling the fibres. He slowly approached, reading the messy symbols splayed across the page. "The games begin. The prize: your Queen Bee."
Omi's shoulders slumped and he clenched the katana in his hand. He felt helpless, unable to do anything at this moment. Schuldich had turned this into a game and Omi was reluctant to play. More than anything, he wanted Aya back, but there were no clues, nothing to go by. He shook his head, resolve glowing deep in those cerulean depths. "No. I'm not going to play."
"What other choice do we have?" Ken spat. "This is sick."
Omi thought a second. "No," he began, brows furrowing deeply, "this is war." He reached for the paper and flipped it over in his hands. His suspicions proved correct, neater symbols inscribed on the page. No one could write this perfectly except the one native of Schwarz: Nagi Naoe. Omi glanced at the pattern. "It's a riddle." He read it through carefully twice and shook his head. "I can't figure it out."
The older boy grabbed it and then he, too shook his head. "Neither can I." Ken thought a moment, brows furrowed deep above brown eyes. "We should go talk to Aya-chan about it. She'll probably know more about it than Yohji."
Omi climbed into the car, muttering. "That is unless Aya's told Yohji all about his past..."
The drive was much less jerky, but took much longer. Omi hadn't really realized how fast they'd been traveling to reach such a distance in only a few minutes. It had to have taken Aya about two hours to get that far at a walk. After a quick call to Aya-chan they had set off, telling her that they'd be over in only a bit. It took about fifteen minutes to get back to the cafe, but as they climbed out they were met by confused brown eyes. Ken placed a hand on her shoulder and headed inside, moving past the shop upstairs to the kitchen. Omi followed, gentle hand placed on Aya-chan's back for moral support.
Once they were in the kitchen Omi slid into one of the wooden chairs scattered around the table. Neither one of the Fujimiyas took much care of the kitchen. Usually they would meet for breakfast and be on their way and so, often times the kitchen would appear to be in total disarray. Ken turned his chair backwards and handed the slip of paper to Aya-chan whose brows creased in confusion. She lifted herself onto the counter where she sat cross-legged, looking at the two men at the table. "I don't understand. What's all this about?"
Ken sighed. "Well, you remember when you woke up?" the man began. Aya-chan nodded. "I'm sure Manx told you about everything that had happened: Schwarz and ourselves, to all appearances, dead. Well, Schwarz is hardly dead in the least. They're very living and very angry. They found another way to become immortal."
"That's not the point," Omi interrupted, casting Ken an upset glance. The boy definitely didn't want to worry Aya-chan about such details as himself. "The point is that they kidnapped Aya and want to play a sick game for us to get him back. More than likely it's going to be for a price."
The older man nodded in agreement. He ran a shaking hand through his hair. "My guess is that it's a price none of us want to pay. Especially if it has to do with their quest for revenge."
Aya-chan looked back to the paper. "So this is a riddle, then? They're putting you on a scavenger hunt to find Ran?" There were two distinct nods and she sighed, flipping her braids behind her. "Well then," Aya-chan began, "It looks as though they're using things about his past as clues. The first line "Mother's resting bed" would most likely have to do with the cemetery or the people who made our mother's casket. I can't help you when it comes to the company, but my best guess would be the cemetery."
"What about the second line?" Omi questioned. "That was what I got confused on. The numbers don't seem to have anything to do with a cemetery. That is unless they want us to dial the number when we get there."
Ken nodded. "It could be. It had the same number of digits, didn't it? Well, couldn't we call it now?"
The girl across from him shook her head. "No, see? This is our old phone number. Maybe they set something up with the government?"
Omi propped his head up on his hands and chewed on his lip a bit. Ken rubbed his eyes. "Maybe they're setting places for meetings." He crossed his arms with a yawn.
The younger boy perked up. "Aya-chan, do you have a map?"
Moments later they sat around the table, crinkled map spread out before them. Omi held a highlighter in one hand, marking the points, and a compass in the other. "Well, if this is the cemetery and this is where your house used to be... what's the next clue?" Omi asked Ken, who had taken charge of the piece of paper. Aya-chan had decided to rustle around the kitchen and make some tea to calm all of them down.
Ken followed his finger to the third line. "The point where the sun meets the horizon."
The girl pulled out a set of tea cups. "Well we once went to the Ocean and saw an abandoned lighthouse. From the shore it sat right on the horizon and when it set, the light reflected off of the lighthouse." She placed the cups on the table, looking at the map. "But with that it could be a bunch of things. It could either be the shore or the light. Either that or it could be the dock between."
Omi pulled the highlighter open with his teeth and hovered around the shoreline. "Where was the lighthouse?" The girl thought a moment and pointed to a small island, barely a speck on the map. "Let's say that that's the point, since it's where the sun reflected from." The girl nodded and moved away to tend the boiling water. "What about the fourth clue?"
"A summer retreat, A winter defeat." Ken replied, scratching his head. "That doesn't make any sense. Why would someone go to a place where they would be in danger?"
Aya-chan placed a hand on her hip in thought. "Well, in the summer everything's hot. In the winter the snows and wind come. Maybe it's someplace where the snow would be dangerous in the winter, but not be in the summer."
Ken shook his head. "Like where? Usually the snow doesn't pile up that high anywhere here."
"Hey, Ken. Do you remember that time that we rented the cabin on Mount Fuji? There was snow, but not too much since it was in the summer. We could still ski and snow board, but not be in much danger." Omi explained.
The girl nodded, resuming her routine. She poured some tealeaves into the water. "There was one time when Ran and I were really little that we went on a trip to Mount Fuji. We only stayed at the base, though. It was winter and we couldn't go up because of the avalanches."
Ken perked up. "That's right! But Aya tried to go up anyway, but rolled all the way down." He smiled, laughter flickering dangerously in his eyes. Ran's sister laughed and smiled. "He told me the story a while ago." Ken explained. "I can't believe I had forgotten."
"So let's say the next point is Mount Fuji." Omi said, marking another spot on the map. "Then what?"
The other boy accepted the tea from Aya-chan eagerly and sipped at it. "It says 'Centre the pendulum and climb into the dragon's den.' So I guess we found all the clues."
Aya-chan handed Omi his cup and shook her head. "No, it looks like there's another part to it. 'Centre the pendulum' it says, but what pendulum do they mean? I know that they want us to find the centre point of all the clues, but the pendulum doesn't make much sense."
Omi sipped at his tea and shrugged. "I think we're meant to understand that when we get there." He explained and traced the points with the device. He followed the line with wondering eyes, but the centre point rested somewhere very familiar. He swallowed. "Ken... that's..."
"The sunken museum..." The two said in unison. Omi continued. "But as far as we know it's completely gone. Everything's under the surface. How could they be keeping him there?"
The older boy leaned over the map. "Maybe it's a mistake." He eyed Omi nervously as he shook his head. "We can't make it down there. We almost died once before. Besides, if Schwarz can get in, they must know their way around down there. We wouldn't stand a chance."
Aya-chan's brown eyes burned angrily now. "Don't tell me you're going to give up. My brother's down there and so help me if you don't care enough about him to do it, I'm going myself. If he could risk his life to keep me safe, then I can sure as well do it for him."
Ken stood, staring down at her accusingly. "Don't you dare tell me that I don't care about Aya. You don't have any idea what we had to go through on those missions. Don't you dare tell me that I don't care enough." He allowed his shoulders to slump and he tore away from Aya-chan's strong glare. It was so much like Aya's own that Ken could hardly stand to look at it. "I have had to keep him from dying on plenty occasions. I've risked my life for him far too often to be told that I don't care enough."
"Good," The girl replied, "Then I won't be going alone."
This made Omi jump from his seat. "What are you talking about? You can't go. It's far too dangerous for you."
Aya-chan crossed her arms. "And why not? What about all of you? Don't you think it's a bit too dangerous for you as well? He is my brother after all, I should have the right to help save him."
Ken leaned forward to look at Aya-chan once more. "Yeah, but he would kill us if you ever went with us. You don't understand what kind of hell he had to go through to get you back." He pulled away at her glare once more and sighed. "Either way, no one can go after anyone tonight. It's been a long, hard day... and besides Yohji, everyone deserves some sleep." Though he said the words smoothly, Omi could tell that deep in those brown eyes, Ken wanted more than anything to go back and help Aya. However, better judgment told him that even if he did, he'd be caught off guard and too exhausted to fight properly. So he gave in to the temptation of sleep just as the sun began to rise over the horizon.
Cerulean eyes kept their gaze on the lock of the door as his tired, still red, fingers fumbled with the knob. Finally it twisted and Omi started in, a fatigued Ken resting gently on his shoulder. As Ken headed back to bed, Omi locked the door behind him, but turned quickly at the sound of rustling. The boy reached into his white hoodie and pulled out four darts. He held them securely between the knuckles of his fingers. A figure was turning the corner into the foyer, Omi tensed, but then there was a tired yawn and Yohji approached. He ran a hand through long, blonde locks and rubbed his green eyes. "Omittchi, what were you and Ken doing out this early in the morning?"
The boy shook his head and wrapped slim arms around Yohji's waist. He leaned in to the scent of his shirt and felt sleepy fingers run through his hair. Still, it felt good to be home, away from the dangers of the night and safe within the arms of his protector. Omi looked into the hallway just in time to catch a glimpse of Ken, shoulders slumped and eyes shining with a longing for... something. Omi had almost been able to identify it, but then he was gone and so was the expression deep within Ken's brown eyes. The boy clung a bit tighter and let go. "Nothing, Yo-tan. I'll explain later."
Omi watched him nod and give a tired, child-like grin. "Alright. What do you think about going back to sleep. 5:30 is way too early to be awake." He winked and the younger boy chuckled, following Yohji into his room where they crawled under the covers and lay silently. Yohji rested his arm on Omi's waist, hand clenched at the younger boy's chest and Omi wrapped his fingers around the callused flesh. As he drifted to sleep, a thought drifted into his head. I wonder if Ken will be okay... Then he was gone, absorbed into the secure darkness of sleep.
Ken slid under his covers with a shiver. How much can a person's life change in just one night? He wondered as he clenched the sheets to his chest. The heat was on, just like on any other night, but for some reason the chill of the winter broke through the walls to shake his heart. Plenty. Ken reminded himself, thinking back on when Aya had revealed to him his shady past. One night... One instant can change your life indefinitely. He could feel the emptiness of the bed behind him and wished to whoever may be listening that Aya was there to tell him that they would get through this.
Ken had always thought that if you hit the captain of a team, the rest of the team would fall. He almost gave in to that thought as he lay there shivering in the night, but he just couldn't leave things like this. He couldn't bring himself to fall when their leader was out, alone with the most horrendous enemies in the world with whom Weiß had unfortunately become quite acquainted with. He closed his eyes to mimic sleep, but only caught images of Aya chained to a wall, beaten and bleeding or Aya pale on the floor, dead. He gave another violent shiver.
More than anything he held the wish to prove himself wrong. Ken understood fully that the more time he wasted the more chance of getting killed Aya had, but to face all of Schwarz under the handicap of fatigue would be murder in itself. He sighed, pressing his face into the pillow. For a fleeting moment, Ken became jealous. How good must Yohji feel to know that Omi could be tucked safely under his wing? If only Ken could do that with Aya. If he could then the world would be a much better place. However, Aya wasn't one to take well to being held captive, even by someone who had become his closest friend. Still the thought burned in him and Ken wished to feel as though everything would be all right, that everything would return to the way it had been before Omi's birthday, before Yohji was able to claim his prize. At least then, Ken considered as his eyes drifted closed, I wouldn't feel so alone in all of this. The lids slid shut and the images returned.
A fighting effort was required to push them away. Every last strangled breath, every fading pulse of the heart drawing immeasurable anger in Ken. He used it to erase the thoughts and settle in warmth, which he had always imagined the circle of Aya's arms would be. He could almost feel the heartbeat against his back, the light breaths on his cheek, but when Ken leaned back into it he rolled over, brown eyes staring at the ceiling. The illusion broken, Ken pulled his arm over his eyes and slowly fought away the tears, but still the weariness overcame him and he drifted into an unsettling sleep.
Pain seared through his face, blood pulsing against his smooth cheek in time with his enraged heartbeat and flowing through the raised welt created by the leather against his jowl. Violet orbs glared deeply past Brad's shoulder, almost wishing that he had the strength to look him directly in the eye. He was crouched over, head looking up to meet the man's coat sleeve, arms held tightly around his waist where he had received a sound whipping. Punishment, it seemed for something so meaningless as a few days away. Or at least, that's what it would seem like to the rest of Schwarz.
Nagi himself knew the truth and locked it away in the small immune shell where he hid secrets from his probing master. He pulled up a knee to stand, but stopped. "I was stopped, sir. I was knocked out from behind. There was no way I could have avoided it." Nagi was flat out lying. Schuldich could hear it on his voice, but never bothered to point it out. Brad, however, seemed convinced. "I was taking in the boy so that he wouldn't freeze and someone knocked me out. All I saw was the bright red hair. When I found Schuldich in the alleyway, I assumed that you were after him for what he did."
The American nodded, watching Nagi stand. "Alright," He said, seemingly to Nagi, "It doesn't account for your lack of contact, Prodigy." He raised the whip and those Violet eyes merely watched it, making no move to stop the blow. Perhaps he thought he deserved it, but as it struck his face once more and was raised again, Schuldich rushed between the two. The leather was brought down hard on the German's shoulder, tearing flesh from his muscle so that blood rushed freely from it.
Schuldich stood completely still, unflinching as the whip came down on him again and again. Each welt rose and burst, blood soaking through the remains of his plaid over shirt. He ground his teeth and raised his mental walls so as not to cry out from beneath them. He could feel every bit of pain from not only his wounds, but Nagi's as well. He could feel the stinging pain across his back and sides where the whip had left its bite. The German knew pain and certainly knew how to deal with it. Jade eyes gleamed from beneath the sunglasses at Brad, who's contorted grimace showed no signs of letting up. If anyone dared to take the punishment of another member, then they would have to accept the full punishment from where it began. Schuldich counted, only four left. One against his thigh, he grit his teeth and squinted his eyes. The blood poured hot from the wound. Another deep in his side, snapping just at the line of his ribs. Then one crossed his face, piercing the skin across his nose. The sunglasses flew to the ground, clattering onto the invisible floor just at the final crack sounded. This one sent Schuldich to the floor, just catching himself before he struck his head. One eye squinted shut to keep out the blood, Schuldich stood, albeit unsteadily.
White jacket rising and falling heavily over the thick chest of the American, Brad began to wind the whip. Apparently he'd reached his own limit, whether or not he believed that Nagi or Schuldich, either, deserved more. He wiped the blood and sweat from his brow, turned on his heel and stalked away. Once out of sight, Schuldich slumped to the ground, hand cupped over his eye frantically. The gash was deep, but had skipped over the jade orb resting, unharmed, within the socket. Still the laceration began at his hairline and could be followed all the way to the curve of his jaw. The other across his nose was merely a scratch in comparison, leaving a shallow line from one side of his nose, opposite the wounded eye, to the beginning of his cheekbone. He ignored it, focusing more on the others. He could feel the warmth of Nagi's hands run over the gash in his side and those on his shoulders. The boy had apparently summoned a wet cloth from the bathroom, for the cool water stung against his cuts. "Lieb," Schuldich began, waving away the young boy's hand although touched by his loyalty, "You need to be worrying about yourself, not me."
Nagi nodded, crumpled on the floor as Schuldich himself was. He ran a shaking hand over the slice along his cheek, then the shallow nip on his pouting lips. "Thank you," Nagi said quietly. He seemed more ashamed with his weakness than he was of his lie. "You didn't have to help me." This drew a laugh from the older man who took the towel from Nagi's shaking hands and applied it to the cuts himself, sopping up the blood with it. The young boy's violet eyes shot up to meet the deep jade, unlike he'd ever done before. To catch a full look from him was a near unattainable feat. "I mean it, Schuldich." Another thing amazingly unlike Nagi: to call Schuldich by his name was usually reserved for something important or intimate between the two. Shocked, the German stopped.
"I know I didn't have to," He replied, lips no longer holding that permanent grin. "I just didn't want--" He trailed off and continued patting away the blood with sculpted fingers. "I didn't want you to have to be put through that after you were already knocked out." Schuldich knew the lie when he'd seen it, but if Nagi had the guts to hide things now, then Schuldich could only be proud of him. "After all, it wasn't your fault."
The younger boy turned away, feeling the torn portion of his pants pulled up near the junction of his leg and hip. It was nothing more than a gesture and Schuldich nursed it as best he could. Neither spoke, the usual white noise filling the air. It sounded a bit like water or even air rushing past, either way it created a soothing, yet uncomfortable atmosphere between the two. Nagi was shaking now, whether from cold or pain, the other couldn't tell. The older man stopped and leaned over, tilting the younger boy's face to him. Still, the violet orbs turned away just so that they wouldn't reach his gaze. "Lieb," the German said but there was no reply, "Lieb, look at me." His voice was urging, but nowhere near commanding.
"I am looking at you." Came the sullen reply.
Schuldich blinked and gave a small smile, unlike the playful smirks he gave. "No, Lieb. Look at me, not through me." Slowly, uncertainly, the violet orbs focused on the cat-like eyes in front of him. Schuldich studied them for a moment, gazing deeply into them to find something just out of his reach. It was like there was something blocking recognition, like a veil. He didn't extend the probes, just looked. The violet wasn't really violet now. It shifted a bit here and there. Some areas were more blue, others redder, constantly moving like a universe trapped in the confines of his eyes. It was also about as cold. There was no emotion reflecting back at him and Schuldich could only feel the hole open in his heart. Through everything they had gone through together Nagi could still only see them as master and apprentice. The older man sighed and pulled his hand away.
Nagi looked to him curiously as he stood to walk away. "What's wrong?" He asked, tenor ringing lightly through the room. The boy had almost sworn that he saw something more in the silver green depths, almost a wish for something, a longing for something that he would never get. For a brief moment, Nagi had felt sorry for him.
"Nothing, Liebling." Schuldich replied, shedding himself of the blood-soaked flannel. "I'm just going to go wash up before I end up looking too much like Farfarello." As he passed the couch he tapped a finger on the brow of the Irishman who, until then, had been unconscious in the confines of his straight jacket. He now opened his right eye and rolled the golden orb around wildly. Landing on Schuldich he let out a growl and flopped over to return to sleep. The German moved out into the corridor, hand on bloodied brow. He cast a glance at the man strung up against the wall at the end of it. "Sorry about all of this." He cooed, a bit forced. "We're just after the kitten, you know."
Aya opened his mouth to reply, but the bathroom door slammed shut before he could speak.
Schuldich closed his eyes and slid to the ground with his back against the wall. He didn't care about the pain anymore, or even the lacerations on his body that might soon create heavy scars. All he wanted to do was sit and imagine what he could have seen. There had been nothing in the cold depths of that shifting universe, but it could have been warm, it could have opened up to him, even if it was just a bit. Schuldich knew that if he wanted to see the truth, find the emotions, he wouldn't have been able to even if he had probed. Love didn't come from the brain, not from the constantly working grey matter lodged between your ears. It came from somewhere deeper that Schuldich couldn't read into.
It was times like these that he wished he could break down his walls and cry. However, pride still remained in his twisted soul and Schuldich wasn't about ready to reveal his mind to the rest of the company. So he just sat, head propped up against the tiled wall and let the tears roll down his face to sting at the cuts, but didn't dare sob no matter how large the lump in his throat became.
Nagi pulled himself gently form the floor. Today had been a hard day. Try to slip back into Schwarz for your own good and something will indefinitely go wrong. The boy considered himself quite lucky to find Schuldich in no mood to pry into his thoughts. It had been a silent agreement between the two. Schuldich had taken him under his wing and taken care of him as best he could even with the horrible memories lingering in the back of Nagi's mind. The nights so much like the one not so long ago shared between the rest of Schwarz and the one he referred to as 'angel.' Omi may as well have been. He was so innocent although two years older than himself. Of course, Nagi had been horribly skewed. Every thought was shadowed in a haze or blocked by a wall that no one had bothered to break down. Either that or they had been too afraid to unleash those horrible thoughts again. Almost killed, heart pounding against his chest. Nagi could still feel the pain shooting up his spine and tearing at him as he screamed, blood trickling out of his mouth.
These things had almost been buried, smothered, murdered, but each time Nagi pulled them back subconsciously. His dreams forced him to remember and Nagi couldn't fight it. Immortality wasn't worth putting another through the same thing. His time was running out, the angel's was. The next step had to be taken soon if the ceremony would be completed. Nagi wouldn't allow the angel's innocence be taken, wouldn't permit his beauty to be subverted as his own had been so long ago. The boy ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He may have just gotten back, but something had to be done about this situation. Nagi fully understood the danger of holding thoughts like this, but who could he tell to help his situation?
Violet eyes shifted to the man lying restrained on the couch. Farfarello wouldn't be waking up any time soon. It was a simple solution he'd used to put him in this state. Nagi couldn't have anyone interfere when it came to concealing his objective. He pulled on his jacket and wrote a small note to Schuldich before walking out the door into the cold mid day air. The breeze picked up the note and it floated gently to the ground, sliding under the door into the hallway. "Out for research." It read, nothing more than that.
The air was salty against his face and the water splashed cold on his ankles as he waded through the shallow water. This hall was open up top above him. Nagi shifted his gaze up with a smile. He closed his eyes and allowed the water droplets to rise around him and dance across his face, stinging the cuts placed there. It was a beautiful day.
A day meant for betrayal.