Hiya! It's been longer than I thought it would be… Hopefully, everyone passed a good holiday! Happy New Year!

The air was becoming cooler and crisper. Soon, snow would blanket the earth and darkness would be most prominent. Soon, in the cover of night, they would pay. Blood for blood.

M11: Confrontation

Aya had just begun to crawl into bed when he heard it. It was so faint, he thought it was his imagination. He went to his window, opened it and looked out. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but he heard Ken and Omi's voices above him. He stood and listened to them talking, both trying to figure out what the strange noise had been. Aya heard the window shut, so he closed his own. He walked backwards to his bed and stood watching through the window for any signs of activity. Soon he heard the stair door open. Had one of them come down to inspect the outside? Aya moved quickly to his door and heard Ken knock.

"Aya…it's me." Aya opened the door with haste.

"Who's out there?" he asked. Ken shook his head and came inside the room.

"You heard it, too?" he asked. "I wanted to talk to you about it. Something hit Omi's window and we checked it out but we didn't see anything. Omi's going to bed now…"

"Is it them?" Aya asked, in the tone of voice that made Ken nervous. He knew he was referring to Schwarz.

"I don't know. We didn't see anything."

"They wouldn't need to make their presence known to toss something at Omi's window." Ken nodded.

"You're right."

"I'm going to keep watch," Aya said. "Omi's window is right above mine." Ken nodded.

"Good," he said. "What should I do?"

"Sleep lightly," Aya said. "I have the feeling things won't be exactly peaceful tonight." Ken looked towards the door.

"Should I tell Yohji?"

"Yohji's out," Aya said, and Ken smacked his fist into his palm.

"Damn. He's always out when we need him." Aya put a hand on Ken's shoulder.

"Go to your room," he told him. "I'll come get you if I know something is up, but other than that, try to get some sleep." Ken nodded.

"Right," he said, and he left Aya's room to go to his own. Aya turned back to the window. He was convinced that something was going to happen. He could feel it in his spine. He dressed in his assassin's attire and grabbed his sword. He took another peek out of the window and searched through the darkness for anything suspicious. An hour passed and nothing happened. Aya swallowed hard, refusing to let down his guard. Suddenly, he heard a car on the street and it stopped on their block. Aya waited and heard no doors opening or closing.

It was unusual because it was illegal. Cars were only allowed to idle and park in the driveways. Perhaps someone was being dropped off? Aya turned his attention back to the scene outside his window. He gasped when he heard the sound of Omi's window opening and then, a voice that was not Omi's.

"Climb down, Omi… And be quiet." Aya took off from the room. As soon as he opened his door, Ken opened his. He had on his claws.

"I heard commotion upstairs," Ken explained. How had Aya missed it! Aya took off for the front door and Ken followed him. They ran down the front stairs and to the back where they encountered Omi and the three members of Schwarz.

Crawford was grabbing Nagi away from Omi. He shook him by the shoulder and smacked him hard enough that he fell back and hit the side of the house with a thunk. Aya stared at the scene, his voice caught in his throat. Crawford kneeled next to Nagi, gripped him by his bangs and made him look at him.

"This is the end of the line for you, Nagi. This is the absolute last straw. You…"

Angel… a voice inside of Aya's head coaxed. Angel… Aya looked at Omi. He was shaking his head. There was a flash of orange near Omi, and then Schuldig had his arms around him. Aya went to save him, but then he felt his feet slip from the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ken hit the ground with him. There was an immense pressure holding them down. Aya was barely able to lift his head and see what was happening with Omi.

"You're a naughty thing, aren't you?" Schuldig was saying, squeezing Omi tightly. "Running off in the middle of the night. With the enemy, nonetheless. You've done me proud. Maybe you'd like to reunite with us…how does that sound?"

…one look and you're hypnotized. Lyrics echoed in Aya's mind. He'll take your heart and you must pay the price…

"Leave me alone…" Omi murmured, putting his hand to his head.

"You brought this on yourself," Crawford was telling Nagi. He hit him again.

"Stop it!" Omi exclaimed, then shook his head again.

…one day you'll find out he wears a disguise. Don't look too deep into those angeleyes…

"Leave me alone!" Omi yelled and started squirming in Schuldig's arms.

"But don't you want to see what happens to naughty little boys who disobey their leaders? I know two kittens who aren't happy about your scheme, Angel." Schuldig lifted Omi's head by the chin and made him face Aya and Ken. "It looks like your lover boy is hurting them…"

"Crawford!" Nagi exclaimed, trying to fend Crawford off. Aya didn't have the slightest clue what the hell was going on. It was hard to breathe and he was dizzy. Ken wasn't moving and Crawford was still beating Nagi. Crawford hit Nagi again and Nagi slumped to the ground.

"Release them."

"No!" Crawford swiftly kicked Nagi in the head and blood spattered from his mouth. "You insubordinate rat! I said let them go."

"Please, Nagi!" Omi cried out. Nagi looked over to Ken and Aya and scowled at them. Then, the pressure dissipated and Aya slumped down in exhaustion. Crawfordstraightened out his collar and turned to Aya and Ken.

"We don't want any trouble," he said, glancing at Nagi. "We're just going to take the kid, and that's it."

"The hell that's it," Aya muttered, trying to balance himself on his arms. "Is…this part of your game, too? Taking Omi?"

"I have no interest in Bombay," Crawford said. "Though I can't say the same for…" Crawford trailed off after noting that Nagi had gotten up and was trying to free Omi from Schuldig's grasp.

"Let him go, Schuldig!"

"Nigete, Nagi!" Omi said.

"I'm not leaving without you!" Nagi growled.

"If I wasn't so caught up at the moment, I'd throw up for sure," Schuldig said, catching glimpses of Crawford as he held Nagi back and kept a strong hand on Omi. "You wanna get the kid, already?" Crawford took a step forward, then stopped and looked up. The faint whir of Yohji's wire was barely audible as it clasped around Crawford's neck. Crawford gripped it before it was completely taut, but Yohji still had him. Omi elbowed Schuldig in the ribs when he noticed his grip soften and quickly retrieved a dart once his arms were free. He drove his arm back as hard as he could until he felt the needle pierce Schuldig's skin.

"Ah! You little shit!" Nagi grabbed Omi's arm and pulled him towards the back of the house.

"Omi!" Aya pulled himself up with all his might and limped to follow them. Suddenly, there was a loud clanking noise. The garage door was opening. Aya passed Schuldig who was gripping his leg in pain. He noticed Aya, scowled and pounced on him. Aya flew away from the force of it and hit the side of the house. Schuldig limped towards him, holding onto his leg tightly.

"I should finish you off right now…" Schuldig said. "But…" He grunted in pain and squeezed his leg. "It wouldn't be any fun that way…would it?"

"Screw your so called fun!" Ken exclaimed as he attacked Schuldig with his claws. Aya swore he saw Ken connect, but then Schuldig was gone. Aya looked up in time to see Yohji hit the grass next to them. Crawford ran towards Schuldig, flung him over his shoulder and headed down the block.

"Fuck!" Yohji said. In the distance, they heard the sound of a motorbike and all of their heads perked.

"That's Omi…" Ken said. He took off for the back of the house, but then, Nagi swerved into the street with Omi behind him on the bike.

"Matte!" Ken exclaimed, chasing after them. "Matte, Omi!" Nagi gunned the engine and sped off down the street.

"Double fuck!" Yohji punched his fist into the ground. Aya collapsed down into the grass, completely numb and helpless. Ken ran back to them and stood in front of them just as powerless.

"What…what the hell just happened?" he asked. "What the hell…?" he shook his head in disbelief. "Shit… I should have followed them… Shit!"

"No," Yohji said. "No…they're…on the bike. If we rushed at them, Nagi's driving would be too erratic."

"So what the hell are we going to do?" Ken said. He stumbled towards the house and sank to his knees. "Aya… Aya, what are we going to do?" Aya gripped at his jacket lapels as the harsh realization that he'd completely let Omi down settled over him. He growled as he got to his feet. He ran to the tree and began to attack it, trying to release his frustrations. There was so much pent up rage flowing through him he could barely see. Yohji and Ken were talking, but Aya heard nothing. He stormed to get his sword and then he returned. He began hacking away at the tree without thought or reserve. He was so frustrated that nothing could bring him down from his rage. And in the back of his mind he heard it, that damned song Schuldig forced him to listen to. That damned song! Aya pictured Schuldig as the tree and pieces of bark started flying. He would get that son of a bitch. Damn to hell he would.

Please review,

kaj