Writer's note: Hello! Sorry that it took me this long. I had a hectic time because of my homesite! *mutters* I have been e-mailing with the host site about it but so far I haven't got any answer from them. (No updates until I'm sure it's safe for me to update my site again.)
I have also signed up into a Japanese course! ^__^ Whee!! Don't worry, though. It won't affect me *too* much. I hope. It's only on late evening on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Also I have been computer coloring some of my fan arts (which I should have done weeks ago) and taking a little break from the writing.
Now, to those who have reviewed this fic:
fanny-chan2 ~ Thanks for the review and thanks for telling me the model of Yôji's car! ^___^
Kasra ~ Thank you for your review as well! *sniff* It really warmed my heart… Oohh… you will see how Ran will handle the things with his sister in this and next chapter.
Enjoy reading and reviews, please! *gives the puppy-look*
Pairings: Ran + Omi / OMC x OMC / others may appear in later chapters
Rating: PG-13 (for now. This fic will turn into a R-rated in later chapters!)
Category: Multi-part, shônen-ai, yaoi, definitely an AU
Fiction note: Takes after the ending of the anime. Remember, that this is a sequel to the prequel "Something Much More"-fanfic. Every soul has someone. Every soul needs someone. Ran is becoming more his old self again… and less the Abyssinian of Weiß.
Warning: This fic contains mild male x male relationship. If you're bothered with that please, leave! Those who aren't bothered and are matured enough, enjoy reading the fic! ^_^
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A Weiß Kreuz Fanfiction
LONELY SOULS
Chapter 3: Ran's Dilemma
Written by M.K. a.k.a. Fall Angel © 2003
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Ran could feel the cool wind sweep over his pale face while leaning against his Porsche, arms folded over his chest and watching at the ground. The cool wind ruffled his scarlet locks while he is in deep thoughts, thinking about what happened earlier today at Manx's office.
About her opinions, solutions and thoughts for the Weiß's future, which will affect to his future with Aya-chan.
Frowning in annoyance and craving for answers, Ran marched into Manx's office and shut the door quickly from any curious ears so nobody will hear anything about their private conversation.
"Fujimiya-san… What brings you were? I thought that you were at---"
"Cut the chat, Manx. We need to talk. Now," Ran's voice was stern and filled with determination.
Manx frowned slightly. "This… isn't the right place to talk…"
"I know that, and I will take that risk since this concerns about our future… not to mention my sister's future."
Manx was silent for few minutes; the slight frown still remained over her brows, her eyes shining with concern and worry. She knows what he was talking about. All too well.
"I see…What do you want to know?" Manx dropped her chin over her clasped hands, looking at Ran under her brows.
"Do we still work for you?"
"In a way, yes. But your future is still under questioning. I cannot give you the straight decision yet because it's still unknown to any of us." Manx paused before continuing. "Until the conclusion has been made, you will work undercover and we shall continue paying you even if there are no missions for you."
Ran scolded. "In another word, you're buying us to keep our mouths shut about us and you," the scarlet-haired man snorted inaudibly, "Don't worry about that at all. It's not like we will blabber to the world about it."
"You misunderstood me, Fujimiya-san," Manx shook her head, "We only want to help you out so you won't be out on streets with no money or home."
"I see." His palms dropped onto her desk, as he leaned toward Manx. "What about my sister?"
"What about her?"
"You knew that once she wakes up, she would be asking about her family - about us in general."
Manx sighed with her eyes closed. "Yes, I have suspected that she would."
"This also goes to another thing as well. Me."
A delicate red eyebrow arched quizzically.
"I can tell her about our parents but what can I tell her about myself? How can I tell her the truth about myself after all I've been through? Or what's more… How can I tell her about us?"
An awkward silence hung in the room's air after hearing out Ran's point. Yes, this was one of the problems that cause a bit trouble for the agents of Kritiker. Some of the family members of Kritiker's agents knows about their job and keeps it as a secret. Some didn't. This issue was each individual's own private matter whether tells the truth about their job to their families or not.
Persia - when he was still alive - usually advised them not to tell anything about their organization to anyone. Even to the family members, for their own safety.
But… Persia isn't alive anymore. Only Manx and Birman were left to take care of the Kritiker… until a new Persia has been signed into duty. It was up to them now to make the decisions with the other agents of the Kritiker.
"I see your point, Fujimiya-san," Manx finally breaks the silence between them, "I cannot speak for all of us, but… I advise you to think it through first, before deciding whether tell your sister of your real job or not. Some of our agents have told their family members about us… and some… have paid the price for it." Manx sadly sighed, her eyes half-closed.
"Manx's right, Fujimiya-san," a new feminine voice cut in. Ran turned around and saw Birman by the door, her arms folded under her chest, looking stern.
"If you really want to tell your sister about what you have been doing during these two years, it's your call, not ours. Just remember… there are always consequences for every action."
He became speechless - couldn't think any word to say either woman. Not even when he walked out of Manx's office without looking at them, different thoughts and emotions battling within him.
So here he is. All alone at the empty parking place, the street lamps ignited as the sky was turning darker. But he didn't notice this. His mind was in deep thoughts. What should he do? Should he or should he not tell Aya-chan about the Kritiker?
Ran pinched the bridge of his nose, frowning. This dilemma is starting to give him a headache…
It was already late (yet early in the night) when Ran finally arrived to 'Koneko'. He could see the trash bags in the corner, which were from Omi's party.
He forgot about that.
Omi's graduation party.
And he wasn't here to celebrate with him.
Some friend he is.
"It's all right, Aya-kun… I understand. Go see your sister." He had said to him before leaving to the hospital. That's Omi to them. Always thinking about his friends first and never thinking about himself.
He is probably asleep now.
Ran went to his room and then he was standing in front of Omi's room, two packets in his hand - one was smaller than the other. He looked at the packets and then he opened Omi's door quietly so he wouldn't disturb Omi's sleep.
A startled gasp almost escaped from his lips when he saw Omi sleeping on his back, his face facing the window and the left hand rested next to his head. His boyish-look made him look innocent, vulnerable. His blanket was kicked away so Ran could see that he was wearing his short-sleeved, blue, pale yellow and white pajama shirt (with a matching pajama shorts under the blanket).
Snapping out of the trance and scowling at himself for acting like a daydreaming schoolgirl, Ran placed the packets on Omi's night table. Before he could realize it, Ran was kneeling beside him and brushed gently away some of the honey-blonde bangs from Omi face, which were tickling youth's nose (and almost making him sneeze in sleep).
Omi mumbled something incoherently in his sleep, turning on his right side and toward Ran. His pale hand was withdrawn quickly from the honey-blonde boy's face.
When Omi finally settled down, rubbing his face against his pillow, Ran stood up from the floor and backed away to the door. Before he leaves from Omi's room, he writes a quick note for the youth and placed it over the presents.
When that was done, Ran opened the door looking over his shoulder to steal a glance at Omi before leaving and closing the door.
'I hope he likes the presents,' were Ran's thoughts before he went to sleep.
Morning finally came and Omi's alarm watch woke him up. Instead of touching his alarm watch, Omi touched something like… paper, which rustled under his fingers. Puzzled, Omi fluttered his eyes open, peeking under the half-closed eyes at his table.
Yep. It's a piece of paper he was touching right now. Now, how did that appear there?
"Hmm? I wonder what's in this?" Omi lifted himself up from the bed, opening the folded paper. He gasped as he recognizes the handwriting. Ran.
Omi,
I apologize for not being at your party.
I hope you like the presents.
~ Aya
"Aya-kun… Presents?" Omi blinked twice then looking at his table again, now fully awaken. Yes, there are two presents on his table. Wrapped up into gift papers.
"Hmm… I wonder what's in them?" Omi picked up the bigger one and unwrapped it carefully. In it, he found a photo album. The front cover had a Bombay kitten playing with Freesia's petals. Omi chuckled. Cute. Who would have thought that Ran would come up with an idea such as this? This really was unreal…
Recovering from his mild shock, Omi opened the album and begins to look at the photos in it. There were various different photos from them - of him and the others. There was a picture of Ken watering shocked Yôji from behind, and Omi taking a nap on a couch. Miraculously, there was a picture of Ran sitting on a windowsill, writing something into his journal. (Who managed to take this picture?)
After watching through the album, Omi placed it on the table and picked up the smaller present, unwrapping it also. A box, a small box. Wonder, what's in it? His curiosity taking a hold of him, Omi opened it and found an old medallion.
'A medallion?' Omi unlocked the medallion and gasped. There is a picture in it, but not just any picture… a picture of a woman who looks the same one he once saw at Hirofumi's place.
His mother. It was a picture of his mother.
"Okaasan…" he whispered almost sorrowfully. "But how did Aya-kun---" Just then he noticed a tiny folded paper in the box and he unfolded it, finding another note from Ran.
Manx gave this to me so I could give it to you.
She found this medallion from Persia's desk.
I hope you like it.
~ Aya
'"Like it"? I love it! My mother… I finally have a picture of my mother!' Tiny tears fell down from his eyes and Omi wiped them away quickly. 'Gee… Look at me… I'm already 18 and I'm still crying like a little child. I-I have to go find Aya-kun and thank him.'
With mind made up, Omi leaped off his bed and began to undress himself off his pajamas and dress into his pants and shirt. The medallion safely locked around his neck as he rushed downstairs to find the scarlet-haired man, who was currently at the kitchen listening to Ken's ranting.
"---I can't believe that you weren't here at Omi's party. You spent your entire day at the hospital! You could have at least call us and tell that---"
"Aya-kun!" Omi panted, trying to calm his beating heart. Both Ken and Ran turned to look at him, one was visibly stunned and the other was mildly stunned. "Aya-kun…"
"O-Omi?" Ken blinked rapidly. "What---?"
"Aya-kun, I… want to thank you for the presents."
Ran couldn't say a word. Even though his face didn't look like one but he is still a bit shocked of Omi's sudden appearance into the kitchen.
"Presents? What--?" Ken tried to say but Omi interrupted him again.
"Especially for this," Omi showed him the medallion, smiling, "I really appreciate it… You don't have any idea how much this means to me."
Ran sighed inaudibly and nodded forward Omi, "You're welcome."
Now Ken could see the beautifully craved medallion and leaned closer to see it better. "Hey, it looks pretty old. Did you look inside?"
"Yeah. There's a picture of my mother," Omi unlocked it and showed to Ken.
"Wow. She's pretty looking, Omi. You kinda look like her."
Omi blushed. "Don't kid me, Ken-kun."
"No really!"
"I can't believe you, Ken-kun! I thought Yôji-kun's the one to tease me with these sorts of things, not you! You have been with Yôji-kun too much, you are starting to be like him!" Omi teased his brunette friend, who growled playfully at him.
"Oi! Take that back!" Ken captured Omi's head under a headlock, ruffling his honey-blonde hair into a mess.
"Iya!! No, I will not!" Omi giggled, trying to escape from Ken's headlock.
This little, friendly bickering continued for few minutes when Ken finally lets go of Omi, giving the honey-blonde youth chance to sit down next to Ran who was drinking up the last of his coffee. Omi kept smiling at him, not caring if Ran didn't look at him.
"So, Aya-kun. How did the things go yesterday with your sister?" the honey-blonde boy said carefully, a bit afraid that he would - somehow - anger the scarlet-haired man.
First, Ran thought not to say a word to either Ken or Omi, but then without realizing it, he began to talk about what happened yesterday at the hospital and with Manx and Birman. The three of them were silent after the story for a while and it was Omi who spoke first.
"That is a problem."
"Yeah," agreed Ken, "but she has the right to know… at least about your parents, Aya."
"But then, as you pointed out, Aya-kun," Omi rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully, "she will start asking about what you have been doing all this time, Aya-kun." Omi closed his eyes, thinking about a way to help Ran. Ken leaned backward against his chair, also thinking the same thing as Omi.
"Thanks for your help but this is my problem. I will think about it myself." Ran quietly said and left. He has some thinking to do and he wants to make the decision alone.
Ken and Omi watched him go, both sympathizing him. 'Poor Aya-kun,' the younger boy thought, 'it is a hard decision… I wonder, how will his sister take it if Aya-kun decides to tell the whole truth?'
Weeks passed by and at the hospital Aya was starting to show recovery. Ran hasn't seen her since the last visit because he hasn't come up with a way to tell her about their parents. Nor has he made a decision whether tell her about his job or not.
The day at the "Koneko no Sumu Ie" went smoothly. Or as smoothly as it could for Ran, whose mind was deep in thoughts all the time. He was quiet - like always - and occasionally, he snaps at his fan girls whenever they were too close to his likeness. (Like that wasn't any new for the three other florists in the shop.)
But they did notice that he was even more irritable than before. Omi had a haunch it was because of his sister. Most of the time, poor Ken was Ran's usual target whenever the scarlet-haired man was annoyed of something and when Ken was being clumsy at the shop.
"Man, I have never seen Aya like this before." Yôji said after stop flirting with a woman in his age.
"It's because of his sister," Omi explained to the lanky blonde, again. "He's worried how will she react when she finds out the truth about their parents… and about Aya-kun."
"Feh. If I were him, I would tell her all of it and be over with it," Yôji massaged his neck for a second, "well, almost everything…"
"But you are not me, Kudô." Ran's cool and controlled voice spooked them up behind the duo. Well, only Omi because he felt a bit ashamed of speaking about Ran behind his back. Yôji looked relaxed, as if he wasn't affect by Ran's warning voice.
"Good thing too."
"Mou!! Yôji-kun!! That's mean!"
Ran glared at the taller man and then turned to Omi. "I will have to leave earlier today. I… need to see my sister…"
"Understood, Aya-kun!" Omi smiled. "And don't you worry, I will take care of things around here."
"Hm. You and Ken are the only ones I can trust. But Yôji… I don't." Ran gave a final glare at the blonde who was about to smoke again if it wasn't for Omi's quick reaction to take it away from his lips before lighting it.
"Oi! I wasn't about to light it," Yôji pouted to which Omi quickly and sarcastically said ("Sure you weren't, Yôji-kun") before bumping the cigarette into the dumpster. "And what did you say, Aya?"
"Try to remember, Yôji. I'm off." Ran waved carelessly at them as he went to the garage to get his car and went to the hospital. Back at the 'Koneko', Omi was mentally wishing Ran good luck. Hoping that things will be all right for brother and sister.
Who knows what the destiny has in her mind for them both? For all of them?
To be continued…
Next: Chapter 4: Siblings' Decision
1. -chan = a suffix meaning cute or little, a common endearment; used to address children, (close) younger friends and relatives, mainly females
2. -san = a polite suffix meaning Mr., Miss or Mrs.
3. -kun = a suffix used for people of equal/younger age and equal (social) standing
4. okaasan = mother
5. oi = hey
6. iya = no, that's not it; a stronger word than "iie"
7. arigatô gozaimasu = thank you very much
8. mou = a mild curse, or an expression of frustration or anger; drat, rats, geez, gawd
9. Koneko no Sumu Ie = Kitty in the House
Second draft: September 6, 2003