TITLE: Transcendence

FANDOM: Weiss Kreuz

AUTHOR: Simply Kim

GENRE: AU/Yaoi/Angst/Drama/Humour

PART: Intermission 01

WORDS: 695 words

DISCLAIMERS: The series solely belongs to Koyasu Takehito and Ohmine Shoko. Although I aspire to have endless dump trucks of cash, I unfortunately do not get dibs on the fortune generated by this series.

NOTE #1: Blah or Blah is for emphasis. /Blah/is for conversations over the phone or flashbacks (if any). /Blah/ is for the conscience or whatever inner voice there is talking. Blah is for thoughts or random Japanese words.

NOTE#2: This series fic, though mostly Kryptonbrand Side B, shows much of the former parts of the Weiss Kreuz series, especially Crashers, Knight & Ran and Glühen. This one's pretty ambitious, but I'm sure I'll be able to try making a decent piece out of a very twisted plot. Please be aware that since Weiss Kreuz is an underground-based plotline, this fic would carry much of the violence and evil that is true to the series' setting. That's about it. Enjoy!

INTERMISSION 01: THE ROOT OF ANXIETY

Of all days it had to be today.

Heavy drops of rain pattered, burdened his shoulders, and he continuously blinked his eyes to accommodate as much light as he could as he trudged on the asphalt road. He figured the heavens were one with him in his emotions.

He wasn't exactly feeling sunny today either.

But that didn't mean it had to rain. Just a cloudy day would have sufficed.

Finally, after a long walk from the entrance, he stopped and looked up, eyes blinking repeatedly as he tried to read the name embossed in gold on pristine white marble. Just seeing the familiar kanji was enough to put him into another bout of pain.

With renewed purpose, he climbed up three steps and stood before the entrance. He shook off the excess water on his coat, grabbed hold of the key inside its pocket and took a deep breath before finally fitting it into the keyhole, turning carefully until he heard the telltale click.

And the door was open.

Inwardly, Ran debated on whether or not he should have gone today. He had just arrived yesterday, and now he was here, seeking out the one who should have become the fist person to greet him upon his return. He felt like things were literally turned askew – as if his world just burned and some deity turned it over for kicks.

Even with the inviting warmth inside, he was still apprehensive of his next action. Should he come in or should he just lock the door again and return some other day?

He shook his head, chuckling lightly. In his head, he could hear the taunting laughter of the one who had almost always been at odds with him on important decisions. Yes, he would call him a coward for doing this – and an idiot for even thinking this way.

He couldn't have that, could he?

Slowly, he progressed, pushing the door with one hand and stepping inside.

And there he was, standing still, hard and cold and yet beckoning…

"Yuushi." Ran murmured quietly, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'm back, aren't you happy? You owe me big time…"

He walked slowly forward; taking notice of bunches of flowers lining the east wall. "Looks like someone beat me to it again, huh?" he sighed, shaking his head as he gave them a rueful look. They are relatively cheaper for your tastes, but you have always loved them, right? And Naru-kun has always known about it."

Ran could almost hear him scoffing. He could almost hear him saying that at least Naru gave him gardenias instead of coming in empty handed. He could almost see the irritation in his eyes. He shook his head and entertained such amusing thoughts. "Well at least I'm dressing up better these days." He allowed, steps finally halting, eyes fixated on the exquisite patterns on elegant white marble. "I see Riichi made it a point to dress you up even at this state…"

The silence that followed was deafening and the pounding rain outside only made him more aggravated. He stared, as if eye to eye, with the representation of the one he had never forgotten his entire life.

Until he couldn't bear anymore.

With a loud thud, he was on his knees, hands clutching at the smooth slab of marble, long fingers running across the engraved characters as he closed his eyes to keep himself from wailing, skin kissing the cold stone, making him shiver uncontrollably. Memories flashed in his mind; all those times he had escaped his own house to have a talk with him during his Weiss days… and all those times when they got together during his free time before going to that Epitaph mission… all those times he felt that even in his state, he was still capable of interacting normally with someone… and that time when he got lectured over the phone upon his arrival in America…

But those days would never be relived.

Ran gritted his teeth and punched the marble slab with his bare fist, skinning his knuckles painfully.

"I told you to use the cundledargeon more efficiently, Yuushi, you bastard."

TSUZUKU

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