Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Moon Ascendant ❯ Dark Moon Ascending ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimers: Weiss Kreuz belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss. I just 'borrowed' them for a little non-profit fun.

Chapter 5: Dark Moon Ascending

Koneko no Sumu Ie Florist Shop, Tokyo

After midnight

Momoe-san smiled as she stared into the mirror's depths. It seemed that her hope of uniting two of the more powerful groups of Guardians was nearing its goal. It was unfortunate that their two respective leaders had to endure such terrifying dreams but it had been necessary. Although Momoe-san did not create those nightmares, she had in fact directed them to those whom she had felt were able to assist Aya in her fulfilling destiny. A Hunter no matter how skilled still needed assistance when it came to challenging the dreaded enemy. And for Momoe-san, she had decided that the people to be involved were the very ones who named themselves after the colours of light and dark - Weiss and Schwarz.

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Koneko no Sumu Ie Florist Shop, Tokyo

Early morning

Aya woke up the next morning feeling strangely refreshed if a little confused. For a moment, she almost panicked but the bright sunshine and the distant hum of traffic reassured her of her place. Smiling softly to herself, she put it down to a frightful dream that had a knight in shining armour coming to rescue her at the end. The motorcycle ride through the night seemed to add an almost romantic turn and Aya blushed as she recalled it. It had been so vivid! Sighing, she got up and fetched her change of clothing before heading to the shower. Half an hour later, she made her way downstairs to prepare for the day. As it was Sunday, Aya didn't feel the need to rush. Besides, she was still mooning about her knight and therefore did not notice the new visitor in the kitchen.

"Hi! You're the girl who was sleeping. So you did wake up," a chirpy voice spoke out. Aya almost dropped the mug in her hand at the sudden interruption. Turning to stare at the girl, Aya missed Seki walking in.

"I see you've met Nanami," he smiled in greeting. Aya looked up and her mouth fell open. Suddenly, she began to realise that the events the night before had not so much been a dream but the truth. Feeling a little shaky, Aya sat down in the chair that Seki had instinctively pulled out for her. Opposite her, the sky blue-haired girl smiled broadly and waved cheerfully her at her. Smiling weakly, Aya murmured a greeting. Seki continued to potter around the kitchen fixing breakfast when Momoe-san walked in. Greeting everyone at the table, she sat down in the proffered seat and accepted Seki's offer of a cup of hot tea. Taking a sip of it, she looked at Aya noting her near panicked expression. It seemed that their resident Hunter-to-be was about to have a nervous breakdown.

"Aya-chan, please calm yourself. There's nothing to be worried about," Momoe-san said soothingly as she reached out to pat the girl's cold hand. "We'll explain everything to you."

"I-I don't know… I mean how…." Aya stuttered as she frantically glanced around almost expecting the bogeyman to jump out at her from a corner.

"Please Aya-chan, you'll do yourself an injury if you don't calm down. Seki, could you get her a glass of water please? Thank you, dear."

After he placed the glass of water by Aya, Seki called to Nanami and they both left the kitchen. Now alone with the old lady, Aya began to calm down and tentatively sipped from the glass. Finally looking up at Momoe-san, Aya waited for the old lady to begin her explanation. After all, the time had come when she was tired of being badly surprised. First that strange demon-monster thing, then Seki, and now this girl Nanami who seemed to know about her recent past. It was becoming increasingly unacceptable that she was being kept in the dark of these strange events and it was beginning frustrate her. Aya had no wish to repeat the runaround she received involving her brother's death and if need be, tie these three persons to their chairs and get the answers out of them. As she contemplated this appealing option, Aya's eyes began to harden and her stubborn Fujimiya nature started to assert itself.

Momoe-san smiled inwardly as she saw Aya's change in expression and her posture. It seemed that the Hunter was beginning to awaken and that was a good sign. It could make the telling of her destiny easier. Given that Aya had witnessed the demon and its abilities, it would take even less effort to explain about its nature and purpose. The only problem could lie in Aya having to accept the fact that the role she was to play in defeating the one known as the Great Demon - the harbinger of the Apocalypse. Ah well, no point in speculating when the girl looked ready to pounce and probably wring it out of her. Placing her half-empty cup back on the table, she smiled at the tense girl and proceeded to narrate the ancient legend of the Hunter.

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Weiss Mobile HQ, Kyoto

Early morning

Ken and Omi carried the last of the flowerpots into the large pink trailer that served as both their headqurters/home and shop. Ran checked the stocks while Yoji essentially did very little except flirt with the few girls that were out and about early in the morning. There was a palpable sense of excitement that ran through the small group that morning. After a year of being forced to relocate to the huge and embarrassingly pink coloured trailer, they were finally allowed to return to Tokyo. However, it was the promise of a more permanent headquarters located within the Chiba prefecture that was the draw. To Weiss, more permanent quarters meant a decent room for each of them without having to share space with one another more than what was necessary.

Last night, when Manx had given them the good news, Omi and Ken had burst into loud cheers before flinging themselves into each other's arms and attempting to dance the jig. Yoji's response was to fling himself into Manx's arms but without such good results. The quick-minded redhead had anticipated the blonde's intentions even before he did. All that happened was her nimbly sidestepping the groping man's embrace and causing him to trip over the low table and crashed into the two dancers. Ran watched the spectacle with muted amusement as the three tried to untangle themselves while Manx simply smirked.

After the meeting, Yoji had followed Manx out. The other members started to pack up the various articles and personal belongings, eager to start moving out. Ran had caught Yoji's eye as he walked out of the trailer but the blonde had merely shrugged lightly. A nagging thought in Ran's mind started but quickly abated when he heard a muffled squawk of pain from the blonde a couple of minutes later. Whatever it was that Yoji had wanted to talk to Manx about had now essentially ended. If Ran's intuition was right, he had a feeling that the blonde had something to do with this sudden recall to Tokyo. Whatever it was, Ran was glad to return so as to be close to his sister.

Something was about to happen in Tokyo where his sister was, and he wanted to be there when it did.

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Chateau Rochiel, Switzerland

Early Summer

Staring out across the lake, the man known as the Baron Rothschild, idly stroked his smooth chin while contemplating the information he had received earlier that morning. The news neither amused him nor did it serve to distress him. In any case, it was still interesting. After the earlier debacle with the group of three known as the Elders, he had merely moved on in his plans. He had known that their plans to resurrect the Great One had come to nought as both Schwarz and Weiss had managed to sabotage the proceedings. He smiled grimly at the memory.

The Elders had over-reached their limits and they deserved to face the consequences of their actions. To raise a mighty power such as that would have been catastrophic without the necessary preparations and skilled sorcerers to strengthen the protection barriers and to channel the power streams precisely. The Great One had little use for humans; it was more than capable of summoning its own minions to handle its needs. The Elders had once failed over fifty years ago, now they have failed once more - this time permanently. The Baron was glad of that, it made his plans a lot more possible.

Even as he looked out over the pristine alpine landscape, his thoughts drifted to the news he had recently received. It seemed that history was repeating itself, for a new Hunter had appeared. Since it was in Tokyo, he had placed his Japanese contact on the trail. If nothing else, Sato was thorough. Soon, he would have the information he needed and his plans put into motion. And with both Weiss and Schwarz currently there, he would have to take a little more precaution. Never let it be said that the Baron did not watch his back. Weiss was of less concern as they lacked any psychic abilities; Schwarz, on the other hand, needed to be watched more closely.

The team's leader Brad Crawford could spot disaster coming a mile away and his team was more than capable in eliminating the threat before it even had a chance to materialise. Narrowing his eyes thoughtfully, Rothschild pondered on this problem. Schwarz is a powerful asset to have but too dangerous to be kept on a leash. As the Elders had painfully found out, Schwarz was loyal only to itself. And this was when Schwarz themselves had not realised that they had been as easily manipulated into playing their role as they had so obviously set up Weiss in the Elders' downfall. Rothschild couldn't help but to smile at that; Schwarz had fallen for it hook, line and sinker. And in no small thanks to his precious witches, the Wyrd Twins.

As if reading his thoughts, a slender hand trailed its way down his cashmere-clad arm to rest over his hand. Gently squeezing the cool fingers, Rothschild turned to smile at the slight Oriental woman who flashed a coy smile at him. One half of the Twins, Michiko was as stunning an Asian beauty as described by popular literature. Pale porcelain and seemingly as fragile, Michiko had her raven black hair elegantly done up in the traditional Japanese style with a small curl resting teasingly at the nape of her neck. The deep red kimono she favoured moulded her graceful form and Rothschild knew that she was sensuality personified. How many times had men tripped over themselves to get the attention of the ebony-haired beauty. And she played that role well, as did her twin Majel. Speaking of whom appeared behind her twin.

Where Michiko was dark; Majel was of a pale blonde, so pale as to be almost white. Like her Twin, she was gifted with beauty so ethereal that she was often compared to that of an angel. But unlike the heavenly counterpart, she was cold and cruel and her dealings with those who crossed her, vicious. She smiled at Rothschild as had Michiko, but her crystal blue gaze was icy and held all the warmth of an arctic winter.

Despite this, Rothschild valued her as he did her Twin, for together these two formed an unbeatable team of sorceresses, capable of bringing about the downfall of most of the world's civilisations. Even now, they were helping him with his plans to utilise the massive powers of the Great Demon for his own ends. Soon with the information from Sato, all that would be within his grasp. Rothschild would be unstoppable and immortal to boot. 'Ah, life is sweet,' he thought to himself. Especially when everything would soon be his.

Author's Notes: Ah, sorry for the somewhat short chapter. I promise to explain things out in greater detail along the way. A small confession would be that I want to keep changing things as I go along. Sometimes my muses just have a slight disagreement with one another. Oh, for Sanzo's almighty paper fan to smack them into some semblance of order. Things may also seem rather sloppily presented but as I said, I'm not terribly good at the 'technical' stuff. I know what I want but just have too much fun with the characters instead.

Okay, so who's the new cast member that remembers Aya's past? Nanami happens to be the real name of Tot and she's going to play a big role in future [covers ears at the horrified screams of anti-Tot fans]. Hey, give the girl a break! Having been given a bum-role in the show, the least I could do is give her a chance to be more than she can be. Besides, that fic 'Cerulean Phoenix' by Skandrae made me reflect a little deeper as to her new role and character. Yes, Tot's gonna become intelligent, clever, all the bricks stacked neatly and accounted for. [In due time, that is.]

And what about Sakura? Well, can't (or maybe won't) quite say as yet. I like underdeveloped characters simply because they can be moulded to fit the story a lot more easily than the more established characters. I love Weiss because of the whole angst, drama and let's be honest, sexy guys that populate the show. Yeah, I'm shallow… Never mind, I'll just quit yapping about this for now.

I didn't elaborate on Rothchild's appearance as much as I did that of the Twins. This is because I intend to do that in the later part of the story [likely in the next arc of the story]. I like the Wyrd Twins; they will play a greater role much later on. As soon as I whip my muses in shape, things should start moving along. The next chapter will also be a little short but with good reason. It's meant to be a history of sorts about the Hunter and where pivotal events will occur to start tying in the story more completely. Heh, shouldn't say more. Till then, any C&Cs will be bravely borne. Sore ja, mata!