After months of waiting in the shadows, he felt his time would finally come. Who knew he'd want to step up and accept the risk? One thing was for certain. He could not wait to suit up and take action.

M3: Resurgence

"Look into his angeleyes, one look and you're hypnotized, then one day you'll know that he wears a disguise. Don't look too deep into those angeleyes… Oh, no, no, no, no…" Ken looked at Omi, his mouth pursed and eyebrows burrowed in thought. Why on earth did he keep singing that song? Ken had been dying to ask, not only that, but billions of other questions since Omi woke up. He was different; there was no doubt about it.

Ken saw nothing wrong with this. He merely saw it as a step in the next chapter of their lives. Omi was still Omi, just a little behind on the times in some areas, and yet, somehow ahead in others.

"Keep thinking 'bout those angeleyes. Keep thinkin'."

"Omi?" Omi looked up at Ken from the floor.

"Yes, Ken-kun?"

"What are you singing?"

"I…don't know. It's been stuck in my head since Birman came. I can't get it out of my mind."

"It sounds like you've heard it before. Where? On the radio?"

"Maybe it's a song I liked from before I went to sleep," Omi said. He shrugged and continued to deal himself a game of solitaire. "…takin' a walk along the river, and I saw him together with a young girl…"

"What's it mean…what you're singing?"

"I have no idea," Omi said, thinking about it. "It's weird, isn't it? I don't speak a lick of English and here I am singing an English song." Omi chuckled and repositioned himself so that he sat with his legs on one side of the cards instead of with them spread out on both sides.

"It's a nice song…" Ken said. "Have you checked your old CDs?"

"Yeah, and I didn't find it. I have a very weird taste in music…" Omi chuckled again.

"Yeah," Ken said. He could agree. "So when are the guys coming back?"

"Yohji-kun's probably out for the night," Omi said.

"Aya won't be too happy about that," Ken said. "He really wanted to go over the case files with all of us."

"Yohji seemed a little put off by it, don't you think?" Omi asked.

"I don't know," Ken said. "I was paying too much attention to Aya. What about you? What do you think about all of this…going back to Weiß?"

"Me? Oh, I don't know. I suppose if it all comes down to it, I will. I'm sure Aya wants me to."

"But it's up to you, Omi."

"Aren't we influencing your decision, Ken-kun?" Omi asked.

"Well, sure you are."

"I can't make the decision all by myself…without thinking how it will affect you guys. I want to be there for you all, and if you all decide to go, then I will definitely be there."

"You mean that?" Aya asked from the kitchen doorway, startling both Omi and Ken, who were sure he was still out of the house. Omi dropped the deck he held and they spread out among the cards on the floor, ruining his game. He shrugged and gathered them up, then began to arrange them all while explaining himself.

"Of course I mean it. It'll actually be a very good wake up call for me. Who knows…perhaps when we go on our mission, I'll remember even more. Maybe everything will come back to me, then. Yohji said that all I need to do is submerge myself into Omi-type activities and I'll remember everything in no time. And…going on missions is a very big Omi activity, I'm sure." Ken looked over to Aya. His face showed no signs of approval, or disapproval for that matter, but he nodded and came over to the couch. He motioned for Ken to move. Ken pointed at the armchair, where Aya always sat. "Why on the one day I want to lay down, you decide to sit on the couch?" Ken asked.

"Move," Aya said. Ken rolled his eyes and sat up, then scooted back to the other side of the couch. He sat with his legs folded up to his chest and crossed at the ankles, his socked feet bent between the cushions. Aya sat lengthily on the couch, as he always sat. He was just…long. Ken look down at Omi, who was sitting next to Aya's legs, shuffling the cards.

"You know where Yohji-kun is, Aya-kun?" he asked.

"No." There was a hint of anger in Aya's voice. Ken looked at him.

"What do you want to do?"

"We'll wait," Aya said. "If he knows what's good for him, he'll show up within the hour."

"The hour?" Omi asked, turning to look at Aya. "Can we play cards to pass the time?"

"Haven't you been playing—?"

"I mean together," Omi said, holding the cards up towards him. Aya shook his head.

"I'm not in the mood," he said simply. Omi stared at him, blinking methodically. Aya squirmed and motioned towards Ken. Omi turned the other way and looked up at Ken. Ken had to find a way out.

"Don't pout," he said.

"I'm not pouting," Omi said. Ken raised an eyebrow. Maybe that would work.

"You're not?" he asked. "I'll play with you if you stop pouting." Omi's features relaxed so that he wasn't making any face at all.

"So now you'll play with me?" he asked. Ken gave him a questioning glance. Omi's lips were naturally pouty and so he was always pouting. How on earth had he managed to straighten out his lips like that? Aya looked at Ken as if telling him he'd better follow through on his offer. Ken sighed and uncrossed his legs.

"I'll play with you," he said.

"Yes!" Omi said and got on his knees. He pushed the coffee table towards the TV at the head of the room and sat in front of it. Ken slid down to the floor and sat where Omi had been sitting.

"What will we play?" he asked.

"I can teach you new things," Omi said. "I made some up."

"Great."

"Well, don't sound too enthused," Omi said. He sighed. "Ken, if you really don't want to play, you don't have to."

"Oh, don't be that way, Omi. I said I would and we will."

"Well, then, we'll play what you want to play."

"Why not match?" Omi's eyes lit up. Ken knew he'd like that.

"Okay!" Omi nearly exclaimed. He pushed the table back even more to increase the playing space, and handed half the deck to Ken.

"You start on that end, seven across and eight down." Ken smiled. Omi always played seven across and eight down, saying it was the most even way.

"Right," Ken said, and they began to deal.

"Keep thinkin' 'bout his angeleyes. Keep thinkin'…" Omi began to move slightly, like he was listening to music.

"Omi?" Aya asked, but not loud enough for Omi to hear.

"Sometimes, when I'm lonely I sit and think about him. And it hurts to remember all the good times…when I thought I could never live without him…"

"Omi…" Aya said again.

"…and I wonder does it have to be the same, every time, when I see him, will it bring back all the pain, mm-mm-mm, how can I forget that naaame?"

"Omi, yamenasai!" Aya scolded. Omi looked at Aya, confused.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing," Aya said, rubbing the side of his face slowly. "Just…don't sing that song."

"Why…not?" Omi asked. Aya looked at Omi, his eyes sharp. Omi looked down and continued to deal. Ken stopped and looked up at Aya.

"Say it," he said. Aya peered down at him, clearly displeased.

"Say what?"

"Something about the song agitated you, it's obvious. You could at least explain yourself instead of hurting Omi's feelings like that."

"I don't need to excuse myself," Aya said. "Just play your game." Ken's face frowned up.

"Angeleyes, one look…and…doo doo dee dooo. Then one day you'll look into those angeleyes. Doo doo doo dee dooooo," Ken said, trying to remember the words Omi sang. "Oh, look at me, I'm singing a song. Oh, big deal." Then his face went serious. "It's annoying, isn't it? It proves you don't have to be a jerk because it only makes the moment worse. Just say it."

"I had a nightmare about that damned song, all right!" Aya exclaimed, lifting to his feet. "Now what?" he asked. "You better now? You less tense?" Aya made a noise and left the room, slamming his room door behind him moments later.

"Yes, I am!" Ken called after him and turned to Omi. "So he had a dream about it. What do you think that means…if it's in your head now?"

"That…maybe…it came on the radio and we heard it, but can't remember?" Omi asked. "Put down the last few cards. Then we can start." Ken dealt the last cards in his deck and Omi began their game of match.

"It's more than that, isn't it?" Ken asked. Ten, ten. Omi got a match. He turned over two more cards. Four, king. It was Ken's turn. Seven, jack. Omi shook his head, and then shrugged.

"I hope not." Eight, five.

"It's too big to be just a coincidence," Ken said. King…jack. "Darn it. Where did that king go?"

"Here," Omi said, turning over both kings. "Even if it is, it's not like there's anything we can do. Aya doesn't want to talk about it, and so…I say we drop it." Five, five. Ken made a face. Three, two.

Ace, two.

Two, two. Omi got the match. Queen, three.

Three…king. Damnit!

Three, three. King, king. Seven, ace.

Six, jack.

Jack, jack. Seven, seven.

"This is fun," Omi said. Ken felt a little annoyed. He didn't know why he played that game with Omi, anyway. Omi never forgot where the cards were, and so he always, always found its match. Eight, eight.

"So what are you thinking?" Ken asked. Omi looked intently at the cards. Nine, nine. "How are you doing that?" Ken asked.

"Doing what?" Ken groaned.

"You always get lucky." Omi smiled.

"I think I just play this game too much." Ken frowned and sighed. Ten, ace.

Ace, ace.

"Yes!" Ken said. "I got a match!" Omi chuckled at him.

"You're so weird." He tensed, making a sudden moment. Ken looked at him. Omi's eyes were distant.

"Hey, you ok?" Ken asked. Omi looked at Ken slowly and nodded.

"It's your turn," he said. He didn't sound like himself. Ken's eyebrows lowered.

"You… Omi, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Omi asked. "It's…your turn, isn't it? You got the last match and you get to go again." Ken shifted.

"I know."

"So…go," Omi said, and chuckled a little.

"I have to go to the bathroom first," Ken said. He got up and left the room, going to Aya's bedroom door. He knocked.

"Who is it?"

"It's Ken," Ken said quietly.

"Come in." Ken opened the door and stepped inside, pausing when he saw that Aya was on the phone, looking about ready to throw up.

"Fine," he said to whoever was on the other end. Ken closed the door slowly behind him. "We will." Aya hung up the phone and looked at Ken. "We need to go, now. Get Omi and get dressed."

"But…what about Yohji…?" Ken asked. Aya looked at him sternly.

"Get Omi and get dressed," he said again. Ken nodded and went into the living room. Omi was still sitting on the floor.

"We have to go. I think it's our mission." Omi stood up, his eyes large with excitement.

"Already?" he asked. "But what about Yohji-kun?"

"I think Aya will explain later," Ken said. Omi nodded.

"Okay," he said. Ken went into his room and reached on top of his dresser to get his clothes. He pulled them down and looked at him, his bugnuks on top. He paused, full of hesitation. It had been so long since he'd had to face this. Within the exhilaration was fear. He didn't know what to expect. But he dressed, slipping on his gloves last. He stared at his bugnuks, turning his hand over to inspect the sharp edges of the blades. He made a fist and the blades ejected. Ken's heart sped up and he held his hand to his chest.

His bedroom door opened and he relaxed his hand as he turned to see who it was. It was Aya. He gave Ken one look and moved away from the door. Ken followed him, shutting out the light and closing the door behind him. Omi was standing near the front door waiting, clad in his assassin attire. His eyebrows were lowered slightly at the middle of his forehead and his lips were moving nervously. Aya approached him and Omi looked up at him. Aya opened Omi's jacket and looked inside, nodding at what Ken figured were Omi's darts. He moved away from the front door and went out through the kitchen. Ken im.woed mi and went out through the ktichen.en n his assassin attire. His eyebrows were lowered slightly at his forhead and Omi followed him.

They took Aya's car, as it was the only means of transportation left for all of them. Omi took the backseat, and Ken and Aya sat up front. Aya didn't say a word the entire way there, and Ken didn't ask. Omi sat looking anxious, continuously glancing out the windows and looking at Aya.

"It's here," Omi said, breaking the sharp silence. Aya looked at him through his mirror.

"What?"

"It's here…pull over and park right beneath the first bridge." Omi sounded as he had earlier, unlike himself. Aya's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he followed Omi's instructions. Ken looked around, becoming impatient. He didn't like to be left in the dark. He wanted to know what was going on and what his responsibility was. Aya parked just as Omi told him to, then slid from out of the vehicle. Ken followed and Omi stayed in the car.

"Give me my orders," Ken said to Aya. Aya paused at the head of the car and looked at Ken.

"Keep quiet," he told him. Ken sighed and looked away. This was not how he imagined it would be, coming back for the first time. The lack of communication was killing him. "Get Omi." Ken moved towards the car and opened the back door, gasping when he saw that Omi wasn't inside. He looked up and around to see if he'd joined Aya, but he didn't see him around. Ken closed the door and went back over to Aya.

"He's not there." Aya turned and looked at him, and then he looked at the car. After peering at it for a while, his face turned stony again and he faced the bridge. Beneath the bridge were two figures, and they were walking towards Aya and Ken. Ken poised to use his weapon, pausing when Aya put a hand up to stop him.

"Don't," he said. Ken lowered his arm and relaxed his hand. The two figures stepped out from within the shadows and paused. Aya and Ken made shocked movements.

"Omi?" Aya gasped.

"Omi?" Schuldig asked, placing one hand on Omi's shoulder. Omi stood there next to him, eyes vacant and shoulders drooped, weapon in hand. "I already told you. Omi is dead." Aya's hand gripped the hilt of his sword very tightly, and from the noise it made, Ken could tell that he was shaking. Ken was confused. He looked to Aya again, but Aya seemed to be in his own little world. Ken didn't know what to do.

"Omi, snap out of it," Aya demanded. Schuldig chuckled.

"Tell him, Angel," he said, leaning to Omi's ear. He smirked up at Aya. "Tell him what his failure has caused."

"You would have…let me die, Abyssinian," Omi said, looking up at Aya. He raised his bow and pointed it at Aya.

"Omi…" Aya gasped. He was visibly shaking now.

"You let me fall," Omi said. "You let me slip. You let me enter the water. You let me go. You let me sink."

"Omi, you know that's not true," Aya said. He sounded almost pleading. "The water…the force of the water was too strong…"

"Too strong?" Schuldig asked. "It wasn't too strong for me to pull him to safety, was it, Angel?" Omi shook his head.

"You left me," he said to Aya.

"I thought…I thought… Omi…no…"

"You left me to die." Schuldig chuckled.

"Are you going to stand there all day, aiming that thing or are you going to shot it?" he asked. "It's time for you to repay your so-called partners, Angel. It's time to show them how it feels to be done in by who they trust."

"You pig!" Ken exclaimed, and extracted his blades, moving forward to Schuldig.

"Shoot it!" Schuldig exclaimed. Ken heard he familiar ping and clack of Omi's bow and his eyes widened as he felt a needle pierce his arm. He sank to his knees, his body settling into a heavy fatigue.

"Omi!" Aya exclaimed. Schuldig began to laugh very lengthily.

"Very good, Angel," he said to Omi. "Now get the other one. The one who let you drown." Omi moved the bow over ever so slightly.

"Abyssinian?" Omi began.

"Omi…" Aya breathed.

"Omi no longer exists…" Omi said. Ken's eyelids dropped heavily.

"Omi…please." Schuldig scowled at Ken.

"Hit him again, Angel. And this time, make it lethal." Omi stepped closer to Ken, his bow clacking as he pulled back on the trigger.

"Si…berian…"

"Omi…" Ken said, looking up at him. "Omi, please don't do this." Click, swoosh. Ken gasped for air, feeling the veins in his body run cold. His body gave out and he collapsed onto the gravel.

Please review,

kaj