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

A/N: SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY! I'm a bad bad person! I got caught up in a new story and I totally ignored this one.

Heart's Truth

Chapter 8

Schuldig sat on the sofa, hands buried in his hair as he stared down at the empty glass. He normally didn't indulge in excessive amounts of alcohol because he had to keep his mind sharp. But today as his thoughts kept turning to Yohji and what he was going to do about the blonde, his mood had deteriorated until he found himself depressed and drinking alone in his apartment. Yohji wasn't supposed to come over tonight. Since "Sai's work schedule" had been so busy, the detective had taken on some extra work.

"If I'm working, I can't miss you as much."

Schuldig remembered the warm smile and even warmer lips as Yohji held him close that night. He wrapped his own arms around himself now and sighed.

Yohji….I've got to stop being so selfish. This is my problem and it's unfair to ask him to leave his life behind. Besides, even if by some miracle of god he comes with me, he'll still be in danger. I've got to let him go.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Schuldig was asleep when the sound of the phone broke the eerie silence of his darkened apartment. He blindly reached for the phone and made sure his mind was clear enough before answering.

"Hello?"

Sai?

"Yohji."

Did I wake you?

"It's ok. I'm always glad to hear your voice."

I was wondering if you had a few moments to spare. I'm close to your apartment and could be there in ten minutes.

"Uh, yeah, sure. I…I thought you had appointments all day."

The last one ended early and I have a little time in-between.

"Sounds good. I'll see you soon."

Schuldig disconnected and groaned as he stood up to retrieve some aspirin and make some coffee. I've gotta wake up fast.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hey! Anybody home?"

"In here!"

Yohji followed the smooth voice and the rich smell of coffee to the sofa to find the ebony-haired man of his dreams stretched out and sipping from a steaming cup of dark brew. He leaned over and received a coffee-tainted kiss before sitting down and placing the long lean legs over his lap.

"Hey there sexy."

"Hey yourself."

"Tired?" Schuldig shrugged and took another sip of his coffee. "It's not like you to drink coffee so late in the day."

"It's only five. So how did your meeting go?"

"It was very enlightening."

"Really? Do tell."

Yohji chuckled and ran his hands up and down Sai's legs, squeezing the flesh every now and then earning him a grateful smile.

"I stopped in to see Omi today and….."

Schuldig lost track of what Yohji was saying at the mention of Omi's name. His thoughts turned dark as he thought of how and when he was going to leave Yohji behind. He drank in the smiling face and long slender fingers as they gestured during some comment or another the shiny, silky blonde hair and green sparkling eyes. Those damn green eyes. I never stood a chance against them. Schuldig felt a sharp pain in his chest and took another sip of coffee, hoping the hot liquid would drown the sensation.

"So anyway, after talking to him I realized that I wanted to do it. I think your idea sounds like fun."

"My…..idea?"

Schuldig put his empty mug down on the nearby table distractedly and continued to lose himself in his own thoughts. I can't lie to him anymore. I've already put him in enough danger. I'll have to let go. But how am I going to do that?

"Yeah. You said you wanted to go away for six months. If you still want to go, I'll be more than happy to join you."

Yohji's smile and excitement at telling Sai about his decision quickly faded as he watched the man next to him become a picture of conflicting emotions. He could see the brow furrow slightly, but his lips seemed to want to curve upwards in a smile. And his eyes…..even though he was looking right at him, Yohji would swear the dark green eyes didn't see him at all.

"Sai? Hey….I thought you'd be thrilled. What's wrong?"

Schuldig barely felt the loving fingers running through his hair as his shocked mind tried to process what he'd just heard. He's willing to leave everything behind to go with me. I….I can't let him do it. Not without telling him. It's only fair. He should know the truth and then make his decision.

Schuldig reached out and caressed Yohji's cheek with a slightly trembling hand as he smiled lovingly at the blonde.

"I am thrilled. I can't even begin to explain to you how happy I am that you want to go away with me. I love you so much, Yohji. It's just that…."

Schuldig got up from the sofa with a groan and ran his fingers through his hair, pacing the floor. I believe in you, Yohji. I believe in us. Please understand.

"I…I have something I need to tell you."

Every instinct Yohji had screamed at him at once. And they were all saying the same thing: something very horrible is about to happen.

"Sai, what's going on?"

"I'm not…..I'm not who I appear to be." Schuldig felt like he was going to be sick. I have to tell him. He has a right to know. Yohji, please love me. Believe in us. "I….oh god….please…."

Yohji was now sitting on the edge of the sofa trying to keep himself calm while he watched Sai nervously pace the floor, hands clutching his stomach.

"Just tell me, Sai."

Schuldig stopped pacing and looked at the fearful green eyes staring up at him. He swallowed hard and took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Ok. This is who I really am. But I want you to remember one thing. I did this to protect myself. The man you've fallen in love with….is still me. I love you, and no matter what you see…..It's still me."

Yohji was clutching the edge of the sofa so tightly his knuckles were white. He watched in stunned horror as the image of Sai, the man with ebony hair and deep green eyes melted away, as if only a mirage. In his place stood a very different man. Gone was the honey-colored skin, replaced with pale, alabaster skin. The short ebony hair gave way to long strawberry blonde. The only thing that remained was those deep green eyes.

"Y….y….you?" Yohji stood up and took a few unsteady steps to stand behind the sofa, not sure he was awake and praying to god he was asleep and just in some twisted nightmare. But the man before him looked terrified and his own chest hurt from the pounding of his heart. "N-no. It….it can't be."

"Yohji…" Schuldig stepped towards the shocked man but Yohji stumbled away, eyes wide in horror. "It's still me. The only thing that changed is the way I look."

"Stay away from me, you lying bastard!" His shock gone, Yohji's body was now consumed with a fierce anger as it began to shake and his green eyes glinted dangerously. "What else have you done!" Yohji brought a hand up to his pounding head and grimaced. As he desperately tried to focus his thoughts something suddenly occurred to him and he turned wide, horrified eyes on the man across the room. "You messed with my mind so I would fall in love with you!"

"No! Yohji, I would never---"

"Bullshit!" Yohji reached for his wrist and a few flashes of silver later Schuldig found himself surrounded by razor sharp wire that would slice him to ribbons if he moved an inch either way.

"Yohji, please….I've been hiding from Esset ever since I quit by disguising myself and moving around from place to place. Japan was just another stop to keep Crawford off my back. I didn't count on meeting you and falling in lo---"

"Shut up!"

Yohji couldn't stop shaking and his voice was strangled with emotion. Gone was the quiet, sexy timbre that had whispered in his ear, replaced by a thin desperate voice with a slight German accent. He looked across the room and he could only see a man that had once been his enemy. No, not A very dangerous and manipulative competitor who loved to play games with people's minds.

"I can't believe…..you…." Yohji shook his head a few times as if trying to banish thoughts from his mind. "….I can't believe I let you….I thought you were…." He growled and his free hand pulled at his hair. "You sick fucking bastard!"

"Yohji, please!"

"I said shut up!"

With a slight move of his wrist, Yohji commanded his wires to constrict around Schuldig, slicing him all over his body. He pulled just enough to slice through his clothing and cause a trickle of blood, nothing more, and the German only winced, his eyes remaining fixed on Yohji.

Yohji and Schuldig remained motionless and nothing could be heard but their breathing. Why can't I kill him! He….he made me believe…..but it was all just a game…..just some sick game to get his rocks off. Oh god….I should kill him…..I should…..

Before Schuldig knew what was happening, the invisible wire vanished back to its owner, but he still didn't move. Suddenly he noticed tears slowly making their way down Yohji's cheeks. He reached out, taking a tentative step towards him, but Yohji started towards him and Schuldig froze.

Yohji walked right up to Schuldig and punched him as hard as he could in the midsection. Green eyes went wide and he fell to his knees in a silent scream.

"If I ever see your face again, I will kill you."

To be continued…..