Here I'm again with the second chapter. It has taken some time since eMu3 and I had much to do. I fear that I'll not manage to upload all chapters
until Christmas, but I'm working on it. I try to upload all of them until the end of December.
SPECIAL THANKS TO EMU3 AGAIN!!!!!
Gianduja: Thanks! I'm glad you like this story so far. :) I hope you enjoy the rest of it too.
ShukketsuYume: Thanks to you too!! I think you're right! It's harder than I thought to translate a finished story into English, because then some parts
doesn't sound that good anymore. So I changed them a little, but I want to keep the original story and therefore I refrain from changing it too much.
// ... // Ran talking to others during his journey; Schuldig talking to others via telepathy or simply thinking to oneself.
[[ … ]] Nagi talking to Schuldig via telepathy during the journey
Chapter 2/5 - The Ghost of Christmas Past
//Hey Sweetheart. Here we go. The real fun starts now. Did you like it yesterday?//
//Hello Schuldig. Yes. Yes, I liked it. It was really strange to speak with my brother after such a long time and to see him, even if it wasn't really personal,
but it was nice. Thank you Schuldig.//
//Don't thank me yet, Aya. That was only the beginning, and the easiest part. I brought more aspirin for what we're doing today.//
//Was it that bad?//
//Bad? No, that was nothing. It wasn't the first time. It gets worse when I plan to maintain such a connection longer, and both sides aren't excessively
willing to take part in it.//
Basically the system was simple. Schuldig combined with the mind of person A and transferred their thoughts into the mind of person B. He led this person to
believe in the appearance, movements and voice of person A while person A was speaking. That was what he did yesterday with Aya-chan and her brother.
He was therefore no more than a connecting piece and amplifier, for lack of a better term.
It got more difficult, though, if a third person became involved. One then had to take great pains to keep a willing connection for all concerned. Tonight
they'd planned to combine Aya-chan's, Nagi's and Ran's minds. While Nagi was talking to Ran, Schuldig searched Ran's memories for the information he
and Nagi would need.
//Ok Sweetheart, ready for round two?//
//Uh-huh!//
//Ok!// "Nagi, you're on!"
Nagi entered Aya-chan's hospital room. His expression showed that he still didn't enjoy the game, but Nagi rarely enjoyed anything. He stiffly sat down on the
chair next to Schuldig. "I hope this whole nonsense really is worth the effort, Schuldig."
"Stop that bellyaching, midget! You'd better lie down!"
"L-Lie d-down? Where?"
Grinning, Schuldig blinked at Nagi and pointed at the vacant spot next to Aya-chan.
"Why?"
"It's easier for me and especially for you if you're relaxed. Look at Aya-chan; she's relaxed. So relax!"
"She is in a coma. Have you ever seen a coma patient standing?" Nagi rolled his eyes and crossed his legs.
"You are never one for a laugh, Nagi!"
"Oh how I've laughed!"
//Jeez! Can you see where I got my theory about him secretly being a very old man and not a 15 year old?//
//Let him sit if that's what he wants. I am really grateful that he's doing his part.//
//Well, as he likes. He'll see what he gets out of it.//
"Ok. Midnight. Let's begin!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
//Hey! Hey, Abyssinian!// Nagi was standing in Aya's room and stared down at him.
//HEY! SCHWARZ PRESENT!// Nagi put his hands on his hips and shook his head in disbelief.
Shocked, Aya blinked and sat up in his bed with a jerk. He only needed a fraction of a second to react. With a quick movement he grabbed his katana, drew
it and rammed it into Nagi's body. Nagi touched the place where he had been run through by the sword. It was a strange feeling. Were he not only one of
Schuldig's projections, he probably would be dead now. //Finished?// he asked when Aya tried to plunge his katana once more into Nagi's body.
"What…the..."
//Come on, get up. I don't have the whole night!//
"You're not real! But why?" Aya let his sword slide back into the sheath and sat down on the edge of his bed. Yesterday it had been Aya-chan, today Prodigy
from Schwarz. It has to be the food, definitely. The last two times Yoji had cooked. "Damn Yoji and his culinary skills!"
//Please, Balinese's culinary skills can't be that bad. After all, all of you are still alive. However, I am not an upset stomach. Your sister has sent me.//
"My sister?"
//Yes, your sister. She warned you last night, didn't she?//
"Warned me? I dreamt of her, about her speaking of some ghosts who are going to haunt me."
//See! Now that that's resolved… get up. Come on.//
"Just a moment. Not so fast! Do you want to say that you're the FIRST ghost?"
//Looks that way! And now…COME ON!//
"If you're a ghost, in whom I theoretically don't believe …" Aya grinned crookedly and joy lit up in his eyes. "…then you're dead! Right? Ghosts are dead! And
if you're dead then we have one problem less with Schwarz!"
//Nice! Downright nice. I am not dead, Abyssinian. Just dismiss the thought and stop grinning so stupidly.//
"You're not dead? Then what are you doing here in this form? So, if you aren't dead then you ARE an upset stomach!" Aya got up and went to the bathroom.
//Where do you think you're going?//
"I am looking for Alka-Seltzer. Then I'm going to lie down again and tomorrow I'll kill Yoji. Do you have a problem with that?"
[[Hey Schuldig. The guy is damned stubborn. And I can't even thump him when I'm like this!]]
[[We know that he's stubborn. I'll sort this out, Nagi. Just a moment!]]
[[But hurry! I don't feel like doing this here the whole night. I'm about to get a headache!]]
[[If you'd have laid down, you wouldn't have gotten that particular problem already. Therefore stop whining and be ready!]]
Schuldig had a hard time putting the Weiß-leader out of action. He shouldn't have woken up at all, but only thought that he was awake while he was
instead sound asleep.
As though on auto-pilot, Aya came back from the bathroom, flopped on his bed and pulled the blanket over his head. Moments later he had drifted off
into a deep sleep again.
//Hey, Abyssinian! We aren't finished yet!//
//Could you please leave me alone? Get lost!//
//No. No chance. So get up and get it over with.//
Aya struggled out of bed again and wondered how he could get rid of the pest Schwarz. Only when he turned around and wanted to take his katana
once more did he see that he was actually asleep in bed.
//What's going on here?//
Nagi leaped at Aya's momentary inattention and took him by the collar of his pajamas.
//That's enough!//
The surroundings changed suddenly and instead of Aya's bedroom they stood now in the living room of his childhood home. The whole house smelled of
Christmas cookies and was decorated kitschy. Aya remembered that he had always messed up the house with his sister. His parents didn't mind it, because
they could see how thrilled both of them were.
//Where are we?// Aya gasped in surprise.
//Don't you recognize your old home anymore?//
//Sure, but that's simply not possible!// Everything seemed so real, as if he were actually there. Doubtfully, he went through the room and looked around.
A Christmas tree, which was only half-decorated, stood in the corner.
//That's from long ago. That's a part of my past.//
//Yes. That's the general idea. I am the Ghost of Christmas Past!// Oh no! At these words everything in Nagi tightened to a knot. He had completely forgotten
that Aya-chan had also some words to say about the whole thing.
[[Dammit Schuldig! Could you see to it that your "Sweetheart" doesn't interfere?]]
[[If it's necessary, she will. That's the deal.]]
[[But this just wasn't necessary!]]
//The Ghost of Christmas Past? Wait!// This seemed all too familiar to Aya. Somehow he knew all this. But of course! //Charles Dickens!//
//What?//
//Charles Dickens! A Christmas carol! This story is exactly like it. Three ghosts, Christmas … my mother used to read this story to us. And I read it to my sister
when she had fallen into the coma. She loved this story.//
At that moment he heard loud tramping and children's voices. The younger version of him and his sister stormed into the living room.
"RAAAAN! Don't be so mean! You promised me last year that this time I could put the star on the top!"
"That was last year. I didn't know then that this Christmas you'd still be too small for it, Aya."
"I am NOT small!" Aya-chan stamped her feet and stormed from the living room. "MUM! MUUUUUMMM! Ran's being mean to me!"
"Girls!" The about eight year old version of Ran shook his head, pulled a chair to the Christmas tree and stepped up.
//You were a mean brother, who would have thought!//
//I wasn't mean. I was eight and wanted to put that stupid thing on the tree myself.// Aya rounded the sofa and went to the Christmas tree. //I would have
gone to any length then.//
//And why?// Nagi watched the little Ran as he climbed on the chair.
//I don't know anymore.//
//But I can tell you why! Because your father always told you that whoever put the star on the top would have a wish come true!//
//Hn!// Thoughtfully, Aya stared at the decorated tree, his fingers stroking at a branch absent-mindedly. It felt so real.
//What was it that you wanted so much that you would break your promise to your sister?//
//It's no longer important!//
Aya grimaced as he watched the little Ran. He knew what would happen now, he still remembered it well. While Aya-chan still poured out her troubles to her
mother in the kitchen, little Ran tried with all his might to perch the star on the top. Balancing on the tips of his toes he stretched as far as possible until the
kitschy thing was fixed. Relieved and with a broad smile he examined his work, when the chair suddenly started to tip over. While his mother and Aya-chan
were still on their way to the living room Ran fell. He hit the ground hard and banged his head on the edge of the table.
//Ow! That must have hurt!//
//It did!// Unconsciously, Aya rubbed the back of his head.
//Something broken?//
//Uh-huh! And a concussion.//
//Was it worth it?//
//At the time, yes.//
//His name was Shinji, right?//
//Yes. He was the son of a business partner of my father Aya-chan's best friend. We found out the day before that he would move away, to England. Aya-chan
had cried all day and all night long. I knew that she would want a stupid pony if she put the star on the tree. She was simply still too small to think of it.
That was why I did it. I didn't want her to lose her best friend.//
The surroundings changed again. Now they stood in Ran's room. His parents had brought him to the Magic Bus hospital where he'd been fixed up. His concussion
was not that bad, so they were allowed to take him home the very next day. Little Ran sat in his bed. His right arm was encased in plaster and his head
was adorned with white bandages. A loud bang at the door announced that Aya-chan was on her way. She awkwardly held a tray in one hand while she
opened the door. With long strides she went to Ran's bed and put everything on his lap.
//Christmas cookies and milk! Nice! But wouldn't it have been better if she'd poured the milk in the glass instead of spilling it on the tray?//
//Jeez! She's a child and not a waitress!//
"Hey Ranny! Are you OK? Are you aching? I brought you cookies and milk! Look!" Aya-chan hopped on the bed next to her brother, took a cookie and chewed on it.
"Thanks! My head is aching but otherwise I'm fine. And don't call me Ranny!"
"That's what happens when you don't keep your promise. If I'd have put the star on the tree nothing would have happened to me, for sure!"
"You would've only wanted a pony again." The little Ran rolled his eyes and took a sip of his milk.
"What's so wrong about a pony?"
"Where would it live? In the house? And the garden isn't that big for a pony at all."
"You'll see! Next year I'll put the star on and then I'll have my pony!"
//And? Did she get her pony?//
//No.// Aya leaned on the wall and crossed his arms. He watched his sister as she glared at his younger self, her lips formed to a sweet little pout.
//Why not?//
//Sometimes wishes change! In the following year she wanted an elephant!//
//I see! And this fits better in the garden?// Nagi raised one eyebrow and tried to hide a smile.
//Idiot! It was a pink bicycle and a sponsorship for a baby elephant in the Tama-Zoo.//
"Has it been worthwhile for you at least?"
"I don't know yet!" Ran took the last sip of his milk and put the glass on the night stand.
"Hey, you know what? Shinji's daddy called. They aren't moving away now. Isn't that great?" Aya-chan grinned at her brother broadly and her eyes
were sparkling.
"Yeah!" Ran's eyes widened ever so slightly as he listened to his sister. So, it had been worthwhile.
"Hey Ranny, may I draw something on your cast?"
"Yeah! Draw whatever you want!"
"A pony?"
"Even a pony!" Ran laughed when his sister started to jump for joy besides him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Aya and Nagi were in his parents' house again. The Christmas tree was completely decorated, the star was on the top, and the whole house smelled
deliciously of food and Christmas. Aya was about to go into the kitchen, when his younger self came furiously running down the stairs. He threw open
the door to his father's study and put his hands on the table. Aya remembered that day. At that time he was eleven and it had been him again who
had put the star on the top the day before. It was the day of giving Christmas presents.
"Why doesn't it work?" Ran shouted at his father, his eyes full of tears.
"Ran, what's the matter? Why are you so excited?" His father got up from his armchair and laid his hands on Ran's shoulders.
"Dad, it didn't work!" Ran hung his head in frustration and balled his little hands into fists.
"What, Ran?"
"Shinji! He's moving away! Definitely! Why isn't it working this time?" Tears ran thickly down his face as he looked up at his father.
"Oh Ran. Come here!" His father sat down on the chair next to them and pulled Ran to him.
"My dear boy, sometimes you cannot change things. Unfortunately, Shinji's father doesn't have any choice. He must go away this time. It's for the best, believe me!"
His father lovingly stroked Ran's hair.
"The best? THE BEST!? What's so good about it? Aya-chan won't stop crying. She doesn't want to leave her room anymore and she doesn't want
to celebrate Christmas anymore either. She hasn't eaten since yesterday. Shinji is her best friend! Why isn't it working this time?"
"Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything. I am sorry! I tried."
"Tried?"
"Three years ago I could prevent it but this time we don't have any choice. When you're grown-up you must make decisions for your family. Unfortunately, we
cannot change it."
"Why?"
"That… I will tell you one day when you are older."
"I don't want to get older if it means that I can't change anything!" Furiously, Ran evaded his father's arms and stormed out of the house. He didn't
hear his father's calls as he ran into the snow-covered streets.
//You were always hot-headed.//
//Hn!//
//Why did you run away?//
//I don't know, I was furious; with my father, with Shinji's father, with the adults. Shinji was not only Aya's best friend but also her first love. You know... holding
hands, eating ice cream together… something like that.//
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heavy snowflakes fell from the sky and covered the town in a white veil. Aya and Nagi stood at the edge of a park and watched little Ran. He'd already
been gone for a couple of hours and now it was getting dark. He wasn't wearing a jacket and shivered all over.
//What became of Shinji?//
//As we said, they moved away. To America this time. //
//And why?//
//I learned about it only years later. It was Takatori. Even at that time he had shown how little he thought of people, but all the more of power and
wealth. Shinji's father didn't like the way Takatori "credited" his company's money. He figured some of Takatori's sinister machinations out. The first
time it wasn't that much, therefore Takatori only wanted him out of the country. My father could take the heat off the situation and so they could remain
in Japan. But this time Takatori was determined to not let Shinji and his family off that easily. So they had no other choice but to leave the country,
as fast as possible.//
//If your father knew what kind of a man Takatori was, then why did he stay in his company?//
//It wasn't quit that simple to escape from it. You don't simply give Takatori your notice! You of all should know this best!//
Little Ran got up from the bench he was sitting on and went to the snow-covered bushes that were spaced along the walkway. He bent down and
lifted up what looked like a small black ball of wool. It was a little puppy, which was on the point of freezing to death.
"Hang in there! I'll take you home, to Aya-chan. It's warm there, and there is something to eat for you too."
With shaky and trembling legs, Ran started on his way back home. His lips had already gone blue and his hair froze to icicles in the cold and snow.
//A puppy dog?// Nagi stared after the little boy. He was holding the puppy close to his chest, trying to warm it with what little heat Ran had left in his body.
//Mm hm.//
//Did you make it back by yourself or were you found?//
//I was found on my way home.// Aya sat down on the bench his younger self had been sitting on only moments before and held out his hand to catch
some snowflakes.
//No broken arm? No concussion?// Nagi joined Aya and leant back with outstretched legs. He was starting to like this little journey and was curious to
see what would happen next.
//No.//
//That's great.//
//A pneumonia.// Aya watched, fascinated, as the snowflakes melted in his hand. He could feel the little droplets there and the gentle breeze, which
blew occasionally through his hair.
//Magic Bus?//
//Yeah, Magic Bus, room 303. I had do stay for a week, then I could go home.//
//And the dog?//
//At home, Aya-chan's room. He lived with us for seven years. Then he died with my parents in the explosion.// Aya stood up and looked down at himself.
Despite the fact that he was barefoot and only dressed in his pajamas he wasn't cold.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
//Can you please tell me what we're doing this for?//
//To refresh your memory a little.// Nagi uttered in a monotone and tramped through the deep snow.
//Refresh! Huh! And for what? Some things are quite good to be forgotten and some others can't be changed. So who cares? That's all past!//
//But you'll remember that most of the time things were good. A few highs here, a few lows there… everyone has some of them. But mostly you had a
great time, didn't you?//
//Hn!// Aya rolled his eyes and followed Nagi, who held a door open for him to enter.
They were now in a small cabin, and a fire crackled in the fireplace.
//Christmas again!//
//What did you think?//
In one corner stood a small decorated tree and Aya-chan was about to put the star on the top. She was already thirteen and had matured into a little lady.
Loud trampling raged through the house as a couple of teenagers rushed down the stairs.
"Dammit, Aya! Stop them!" Toyo, Aya-chan's best friend, stormed after the boys, followed closely by Nori and Haruko.
"What's the matter?" Aya-chan whirled around.
"They have all our underwear!" It was Nori who shouted from the top of her lungs. In her rush she tripped over her own feet, but caught herself just in
time to not fall down the stairs.
"WHAT? RAN! Kira! Stop this instant!" Aya-chan laid the star she was about to put on the top carefully on the table and stormed after the boys too.
//How naughty!//
//Hn!//
Kira ran past a stunned Aya-chan, followed closely by Ran, Kaito and Shin. They had grabbed the girls' underwear and planned now their own Christmas
tree in front of the cabin.
Aya could still remember this holiday. His parents agreed that he and his sister could spend Christmas with a couple of friends in a cabin, whereas they
themselves had to accompany Takatori on a 3-day journey.
//A little bit irresponsible, don't you think?// Nagi leaned next to the window, his arms folded across his chest.
//Not necessarily. I was fifteen, Kira already sixteen. Our parents had agreed. What would we have really get up to?//
//Pinching the underwear of the girls?//
//That was Kira's idea!// Now it was Aya's turn to fold his arms across his chest. He glared at Nagi, but inwardly he was amused. He had really forgotten
about their little trip to the cabin.
//And you only ran after him to get them back for the girls!// Nagi couldn't help but tease. He walked out of the cabin and motioned for Aya to follow him.
//Well… not exactly!// Aya smiled while he watched the scene before him.
In front of the cabin, Kira and Ran helped the others, who sat on their shoulders to hang the stolen goods on a tree that was growing next to the cabin.
With a yell the boys fell into the snow, while the girls sounded the attack and dragged both Kira and Ran together to the ground.
//We stayed three days. We really made life difficult for the girls at the time.//
//More than the underwear?//
//More than the underwear. But we also got our comeuppance!// Aya laughed softly when he thought of that. Nagi had been right. That was a memory
worth recalling.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hey Kira! What's up? Can't you sleep either?" Kira was sitting outside on a big tree stump and playing with his lighter when Ran joined him.
"Nah! Too much spiked punch I think!"
"You haven't drunk that much!" Ran laughed and flopped down next to Kira.
"Maybe! Hey… what about Nori?"
"Jeez, don't remind me!" Ran grimaced. He tucked up his legs and leaned his arms on them.
"That bad?"
"She kisses like a fish!"
"And how exactly does a fish kiss?" Amused Kira raised one eyebrow and watched Ran flinch in disgust.
"Try it out! Then you'll know!"
"Thanks, I'll do without!"
//Gained some first experiences?//
//You could put it that way.//
For a while Kira and Ran sat silently side by side and looked at the stars. It was a clear and cold night. Ran watched Kira and when he turned to him
it was clear for both of them that they were about to do something that neither of them knew what it would lead to. For quite a while they looked each
other in the eye and neither of them spoke. But then their lips met slowly. At first the kiss was shy and restrained, but with the time they dared more.
Their tongues met before their lips did, dancing in the cold winter night and they clung to each other in heated passion.
//With Kira!// Nagi gasped in surprise.
//Yeah. He was my best friend but I always thought he was very attractive. At the time I didn't know what it was.// Thoughtfully and with squinting eyes
he watched Kira and himself. Was it only his imagination, or did Kira's hair color just slightly change?
//Were you together then?//
//No. It was only for that evening and we remained best friends, but since then I realized that I wasn't interested in girls.// Aya still watched them, but
something was wrong. Had Kira really looked that way?
//This Kira seems somehow familiar to me!// Nagi cocked his head to one side.
//… // What the…
//Who does he remind me of? Hm…//
//… // Aya stared in disbelief at the person his younger self was kissing. This was definitely not Kira anymore.
//Just who?//
//Hida…//
//Ah yes, the wildcat as Schuldig loves to call him.// Nagi interrupted and watched Aya's stunned expression. For the first time since the beginning of this
little journey Nagi smiled: it was a wicked smile.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Aya started again and breathed heavily. His hair stuck to his forehead and the rest of his body was also lightly covered with sweat. Confused, he looked
at his alarm clock. It was two o'clock in the morning. "What a crazy dream!" Aya let his gaze wander through the room and looked into every corner, but
the Schwarz was nowhere to be seen. So Prodigy was also only a dream, like his sister. Aya flopped back onto his bed again and stared at the ceiling.
His room was only weakly illuminated by the moonlight and showed very little of his furniture. Slowly the images of Aya's dream came back.
He wondered why he had dreamt of his childhood after such a long time. He could remember so much. There wasn't only the things with Shinji or Kira. He also
had dreamt of his grandparents. He and his sister had often lain in the deep snow, wrapped up warmly and armed with a sleeping-bag and stared into the sky.
They had been waiting for the reindeer sleigh of Santa Claus and when they had fallen asleep with exhaustion their grandparents had carried them back into
the house in front of the fireplace, where they had continued to sleep up to the next morning. And then of course Santa Claus had already been there; missed him again.
Aya felt torn by the dream as well as the memories. He tiredly rubbed his eyes and drifted back into a sleep that was dreamless this time.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
//How did you like it, Sweetheart?//
//It was beautiful and funny and very interesting! I didn't know at all what had been going on between Ran and Kira at that time.//
//Are you disappointed now?//
//No! Not at all! I already knew that Ran was into the same sex, but I didn't know about Kira. But I'm sure that Kira looked different.//
//Oh that, I've helped with Ran's memories and manipulated them a little. For that I reverted to a dream he had pretty recently.//
//He dreamt of HIM?//
//O-oh yeah! And how!//
//Really? What…//
//We don't want to go into details, do we?//
"Hey Schuldig, I'm talking to you!"
"Oh, what did you say, Nagi?"
"I asked whether we're finished now and can we go!"
"Just a moment."
//Ok Sweetheart, that's it for today. I'll come again tomorrow. We've much to do!//
//Ok! Would you please thank Nagi for me?//
//I will! See you tomorrow.//
"Hey Nagi, Aya-chan says thank you!"
"I hope so! I've got a damn headache, I've had a mental chit-chat with Abyssinian, one of Weiß, and I've seen things that will make it more difficult for me
in the future to want to kill him!"
"..."
"Hn, tell her she's welcome and now let's go!"
End chapter 2/5
I hope you liked the second chapter and would be glad, if you leave a review! Thanks for reading!
Greets
Caffreys