TITLE: Transcendence

AUTHOR: Simply Kim

PAIRING: Edward Krotznik (Chloé) x Fujimiya Ran (Aya)

FANDOM: Weiss Kreuz Kryptonbrand Side B

GENRE: AU/Shounen-Ai/Yaoi

PART: Two

WORDS: 1,849

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.

TWO: ILL-BRED

Ran had always been an observant person. He saw things that almost no one could. For example, he knew exactly when his dad had had enough of him and his tantrums when he was ten. He also knew exactly when Brad Crawford had had enough of his angst when they hooked up for a short while in America before his fateful stabbing incident. He also knew when it was time to stop hogging the bath.

However, this time, Ran didn't need his observing skills to know what was going on.

He closed his eyes and counted to three, trying to keep his temper in check. This is ridiculous. He thought sullenly, glaring back at Ken as the latter drowned the potted plants in the greenhouse. "What are you doing?" He asked, pointing at the poor potted lump of green misery under the onslaught of water.

Ken didn't even give him a decent response and just turned around and trained the hose on another unsuspecting victim.

Patience, give it to me, dammit. He groaned inwardly, rolling his eyes at such childish display. Well of course he knew he had done something to perpetuate this bout of ill-feeling from his oldest comrade, but it wasn't as if he killed someone he loved, right? It wasn't as if he had hurt anyone…

A gentle tugging snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked down and smiled. "Michel." He greeted the younger boy softly. The latter's angelic countenance became even more so when he grinned up at him, eyes mere slits hiding under golden lashes.

"Aya." The boy started. "Ken wanted me to tell you that you should buy the groceries you forgot last night or we'd be eating instant noodles again like this morning."

Eh? He cast a sidelong glance at the seething figure by the potted plants. He sighed. "I will, don't worry." He smiled stiffly.

"You're wondering why he's like that, aren't you?" Michel practically nailed it. "Well, give him some time – or treat him out to a nice Japanese dinner along with Yuki and I think everything would be forgiven."

Ran raised a questioning eyebrow. "Yuki?"

Michel's grin turned up a notch wider. "He didn't like the fish pot either. He said it lacked salt." The boy laughed before patting him twice and sauntering off towards the inner part of the greenhouse.

It took a few moments of silence before he spoke. "Look Ken, sorry about last night, with Nana's fish pot and all…"

And Ken just gave him this patented evil look before hosing another poor plant.

They worked in silence for a while, gushing water the only sound one could hear… and possibly the inaudible shrieking of another dying plant. And then the hairs at the back of his neck stood up.

Ran now knew how it felt like being a recipient of a murderous glare. Sweat beaded his brow as he noticed for the umpteenth time that he was giving him a more resentful copy of his own Glare of Death.

Ken's look took on a more… accusing edge. It was as if he slashed his precious soccer ball… or won the favour of a girl he's been crushing on. Ran gritted his teeth.

He felt like Chloé.

Silently, he wondered where the other man was. Probably romancing another girl whilst shirking his duties. A frown marred his forehead. For some strange reason, he felt betrayed. After all, the blonde said a lot of curious but firm words last night.

Sighing, he placed another arrangement inside the refrigerator.

If this was the way Ken was treating him now after what happened with Mihirogi, he wondered how he would be treating Chloé. He would definitely kill him.

Ken hated Nana's fish pot with a passion.

Chloé you jerk. He thought, irritated. I absolutely won't forgive you for dragging me into one of your stupid escapades!

OxxxOxxxO

It took a promise of a gourmet Sunday dinner for Yuki to favour him once more, and ran was pretty sure he finally convinced Ken as well that he didn't mean to walk out on them and join their now common enemy for dinner last night. And for good measure, he also told them some of his Chloé woes.

He did a good job, if he could say so himself. However, Ran's stomach turned upside down when he opened the front door that evening.

Yuki was in a bad mood.

The usual serious features were now twisted into a scowl, arms crossed defensively across his chest, and he could practically see the dark cloud pouring rain over the young boy's head.

He had a bad feeling about this.

"Yuki. Something wrong?" He couldn't help ask.

The sound of his voice prompted a spur of action. Yuki immediately stood up, hope shining in his eyes as he bounded over to him in what Ran thought was some sort of excitement over seeing him.

Now he was certain there was something terribly wrong.

And he was pretty sure it didn't have anything to do with the flower shop's account books.

"Aya!" Came the bespectacled boy's excited tones. "You're back!"

It was not as if the boy wasn't glad to see him during normal days. In fact, it seemed he had been growing more attached to him as each day passed, and he couldn't say he didn't like the way he was being needed. After all, he was very much contented when someone was in constant need of him – he felt more alive that way.

Ran patted Yuki's head, ruffling it as the younger boy hugged him tighter.

It made him even more nervous.

"Tadaima." He responded. "That's how we say it in Japan." Gently, he extricated himself from his grip and gave him a small encouraging smile. "You seem... anxious." That was an understatement... he looked really pissed off just a while ago. "Something the matter?"

"After your shift, they started fighting again, Chloé and Ken, and they were so infuriating!"

Bingo.

"Why, what happened?"

Both sat down and Yuki turned to him earnestly, unrest painted vividly on his face. "Well," He started. "The three of us were negotiating with our supplier early this afternoon. We had extra money, and decided we should get probably something new for the shop. Only... they didn't agree on what to buy..."

Ran sighed.

This was going to take a very long while.

OxxxOxxxO

"Aya!"

Wednesday teatime was in progress when the shrill cry reverberated inside the manor.

Ran cringed; dropping the teaspoon he was stirring his own cup of tea with in surprise. It was definitely Michel. What is it now? He thought, exasperated. He knew it was not something life altering since Free was there with him, but...

He sighed.

Reluctantly, he left his cup and started trudging to the direction of the deafening noise. The moment he got there, his eyes immediately scanned the entire room until his gaze rested on the blonde boy looking as if he was about to cry. And Free was right there, patting the small shoulders in an effort to calm him down.

As usual, Ran had a bad feeling about this... just like he had been having a lot of bad feelings about things lately.

Moving closer, he knelt down beside Michel, prompting Free to move a bit away to provide him more room. "What is it?"

"Aya! Chloé said he didn't want to drink tea here in the salon!" Michel moaned, tears in his eyes. "But we always drink tea in here! And he didn't have to be so mean about it!"

Ran gritted his teeth. I knew it. "What did he say?"

"He said he was going to have tea somewhere tasteful – like his room! And, and he just waved me off as if I'm pestering him or something!" Michel intoned. "He was so mean!"

He was so tired of all these complaints. He sighed, and was about to tell the boy that he should try being patient with Chloé, when Free's presence erupted into negative energy around them. The tallest member of KB loomed over him; eyes dark as if he knew what Ran was about to say and was completely opposed to it.

Sweat beaded his brow.

The message was clear... 'I will forgive you for deserting us the other night; now do something about Chloé or else...!'

A bit intimidated by the display of unreleased ire, he decided to just appease, and patted Michel gently. "I'll see what I can do." He finished lamely.

Why me?

OxxxOxxxO

"Aya-kun."

He greeted Mihirogi Nana as she stomped to where he was resting. "Nice to see you too, Mihirogi-san."

A vein popped on her forehead and she tapped her feet self-righteously as she crossed her arms across her chest in angry defiance. "Don't you take that tone with me. You and Chloé deliberately left the other night! And I made my infamous fish pot too!"

His eyebrow ticked as her litanies poured out.

"Chloé was being so nonchalant about it, tell him to apologise, or else I would never, ever make dinner again for you people!"

That would be a good idea. He thought tiredly. No one likes your cooking anyway. Sighing, he leant back against the sofa, letting the pillow he was clutching comfort him.

"Mihirogi-san." He grumbled. "You want me to do something about him, then, get in line."

OxxxOxxxO

Ran thought that surely, he was going to lose it. If this thing about Chloé did not relent, he was going to axe everybody and burn their bodies to the ground.

Silently, he waited, eyes fixed on the door. Any time now, Chloé was going to come through it from the shop. The blonde had the afternoon shift with Yuki, and for sure, even though they wouldn't come out bickering like when with Ken, the atmosphere would undoubtedly be grim.

And the door banged open just as the clock stroke seven. Yuki stalked out, gripping the cash box as if there was no tomorrow. Then, came out the devil himself, looking as if he didn't have a care in the world.

Ran took it as a signal to start doing what he had to do. He stood up and caught up with him. "Chloé, we have to talk." He declared, hands reaching out to grab the blonde's wrist. As his fingers closed around it, he was a bit surprised at how slender it was.

Disoriented, he instantly let go. It was as if he was holding onto the frail wrist of his sister. How could someone as powerful as Chloé have such...

"Something the matter, Aya?"

Those blue eyes were unrelenting in the way they were boring deep into his own. It was as if he could see things hidden inside that he didn't want anyone to see. Regaining his composure, he glared. "We need to talk."

"Again?" Chloé raised an amused brow.

"Yes. For real this time."

The blonde seemed to think it over before nodding his head aristocratically and motioning towards the dining area. He smiled cryptically and sauntered away.

Ran followed.

TSUZUKU

A/N: Feedbacks are greatly appreciated!