Disclaimer: Weiss isn't mine. Shocker, I know.

Heart's Truth

Chapter 3

The smooth, sultry sounds of jazz filled the air, along with the heavy scent of cigarette smoke and booze. The small club was dimly lit, including the stage where a quartet was currently playing. Yohji sat forward, his elbows on the table, chin in hands, with a lazy, contented smile on his face as his half-lidded eyes regarded the man next to him.

"Why do I suddenly feel like the canary about to be swallowed by the cat?" Yohji's smile widened. "That doesn't help."

Yohji chuckled and sat back as Schuldig took a drink of his whiskey. The jazz club had been Yohji's idea and Schuldig was pleasantly surprised. He'd had enough dealings with Yohji in the past to know he frequented dance clubs and if that's where they'd ended up tonight, so be it. He enjoyed dancing and had a feeling dancing with Yohji would be more than he could handle. But he was glad to find them in a quiet, dark jazz club where they could talk or just sit back and enjoy the music.

"I promise you'll be safe from my lecherous ways until I get you alone. Then all bets are off."

"Seems fair."

They sat there in silence again, listening to the music and giving each other playful glances, enticing the other to make the first move. Yohji wondered at how comfortable he was with Sai, like he'd known him for years. It's so strange. I don't feel the need to impress him or play any games. I just want to be with him.

The music ended and the band left the stage, taking a seat at the bar. Yohji took a drink of his beer and turned to face the dark haired man that was eyeing him with a knowing smile on his face.

"Don't you look smug."

"I know what you're going to say, that's all." Yohji quirked a questioning eyebrow and Schuldig's smile widened. "You want to know about me, am I correct?" Yohji sat back with a chuckle, his long legs stretching out under the small table with his feet peeking out the other end. "So ask."

"Alright. Let's see….how about we start with something simple. Where were you the past year? You said you left Japan for a year and just returned."

Schuldig's smile faltered and he quickly took a drink. "That's not what I call simple, but ok."

He took a deep breath before offering his story. He'd made sure to research and concoct a believable and traceable personal history. He wasn't an amateur and he knew that the former assassin and current private investigator wasn't either and would most likely check into whatever story he gave him.

"I was taking care of my mother. She was ill and I'm the only family she had left." He stared down at the glass clasped within his hands, memories of his real past haunting him. He had taken care of his sick mother, but it was many years ago and he had been her only family. His father died when he was only fourteen and his younger sister had died before she reached the age of six. He could never forget watching his mother wither away, slowly, painfully, until finally she just lost the will to live.

Yohji noticed that Sai was speaking in the past tense about his mother and he frowned. He reached out and pulled one of Sai's hands free from his glass and held it tenderly, his thumb rubbing the back of his hand.

"I'm sorry, Sai. I didn't mean to bring up something so painful."

"No, it's ok." He offered the guilty looking blonde a half-hearted smile. "What better place than here to discuss one's tragedies? Besides…" Schuldig flipped his hand around and squeezed Yohji's hand within his own. "Strangely enough I don't mind telling you."

Yohji smiled at Sai's words. He felt the same way. I would tell him anything he asked of me. But why? Is it his eyes? Is he somehow hypnotizing me without my knowledge? Or could it be something much scarier? Is it possible I could be….?

"So let's make this a fair exchange. Tell me something, Yohji. Just what is it you do for a living?"

"Private investigator." He chuckled at the raised eyebrows. "Go ahead, say it."

"Say what?"

"Whatever's got those eyebrows raised."

"Well, it's just that….I don't know….I picture someone……seedier looking. And far less attractive."

Schuldig let go of Yohji's hand and took a drink, sparkling green eyes studying his companion over the rim of the glass.

"You've seen too many movies." Yohji lit a cigarette and sat back, exhaling smoke into the already smoke-heavy air. "Ok, your turn. What keeps you in Egyptian cotton sheets?"

Schuldig looked out at the small club, trying to hide his blush. It wasn't that he was surprised Yohji noticed a small detail like that, but rather it reminded him of their night together and he felt a warmth instantly spread through his whole body. I still can't believe how he made me feel. I've never felt anything like that with anyone. He cleared his throat and turned back to face Yohji who was just sitting back, that sly smile in place, and green eyes glittering even in the hazy, dimly lit club.

"The spoken word. I'm a translator."

"You're kidding. It pays that well?"

"Absolutely. Think about it for a moment. You're trusting someone to translate your thoughts and feelings for you. And many translator jobs are for high-ranking officials and dignitaries and the like. If you can find a job, it pays real well."

"So who are you working for now?"

"I'm employed by a company who contracts out translators to visiting clients or companies who want to communicate with visitors. Hell, we've even had tourists hire us just so they could get around better."

"What languages do you speak?"

Once again Schuldig didn't have to lie. German was his native language, and while working for Esset he learned English from Crawford, Japanese from Nagi and Latin and Italian from Farfarello. He never did figure out how or why the white-haired assassin knew Latin or Italian, but he was confident it had religious significance. He was passable in a few other languages, but he wouldn't say expert. The key to being an expert, in his mind, was accent and enunciation. Therefore, he could only say he was proficient in five languages.

"Japanese, German, English, Latin and Italian are my specialties."

"Wow."

Schuldig and Yohji sat in silence for awhile and the band took the stage again soon so they stayed and listened, making small talk and flirting. By the end of the final set they were sitting shoulder to shoulder with Schuldig resting his head on Yohji's shoulder as their clasped hands rested on Schuldig's thigh.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Schuldig couldn't help the smile on his face. He and Yohji were comfortably ensconced within Yohji's apartment, the pouring rain beating a steady rhythm against the window. They'd had plans to go out today but the rain had started the night before so they decided to just spend the day indoors.

It was a lazy day with movies, delivery pizza and the two curled up together on the sofa under a blanket. Currently Schuldig was sitting on the sofa with Yohji's head nestled in his lap while the rest of him was stretched out languorously down the length of the sofa. Schuldig ran his hands through the blonde locks and when he heard a telltale noise from his lover he chuckled.

"You're my spoiled little katzchen, aren't you?"

Schuldig felt Yohji's body stiffen slightly and he rolled over to look up at Schuldig, his expression showing a hardness and suspicion Schuldig hadn't seen since they faced off with their respective teams.

"Yohji? What's wrong?"

"Why did you call me that?"

"Huh?" Confused green eyes blinked down at Yohji. "I….you just remind me of a cat." Schuldig shrugged and tried to play it off, while inwardly he cursed himself. Stupid! Why did I say that! I called him that all the time! "You're lying in my lap, I'm petting your hair and you were just purring. I-I'm sorry, I won't do it again."

Yohji's eyes softened and he reached up, brushing warm fingertips across Schuldig's lips. "No, I'm sorry. You can….you can call me that if you like."

"Are you sure?"

Yohji smiled and rolled back to face the TV, snuggling back into Schuldig.

"Absolutely. But only if you promise to keep petting me."

Schuldig smiled and continued to stroke Yohji's hair, thankful the situation hadn't gone any further. But the incident plagued his mind for the rest of the night. He questioned his decision to get involved with Yohji over and over and every time he found himself finding an excuse to be with the man. As they lay in bed, Yohji's limbs wrapped around him possessively, Schuldig stared at the wall, unable to sleep. I'm so selfish. It's one thing to put myself in danger, it's another to involve Yohji. He sighed and closed his eyes, trying to draw on the comforting presence of Yohji. But I can't help myself. I……love him.

To be continued….