Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Day Care Mission ❯ Serious Things ( Chapter 7 )

Day Care Mission

by Myka

chapter 7 "Serious things" (aka baby trouble)

A/N: I'm sooo sorry! But I got caught by my finals then the Christmas rush! And this chapter isn't even long enough to cover for that! I had this ready earlier, but the betaing took longer than expected. Gomen ne!
Since there are only two chapters left of DCM all my other fics are on hiatus until I finish this.

Italics = thoughts {words} = mental speech

~~~

Schuldig sighed heavily as he walked inside the establishment. He was hungry and tired; twice as hungry. Good thing Japan had as many McDonald's as pretty much every other country. He sat on the first empty spot he found with his order of fries, a burger and a drink. He picked up a fry and started munching on it, shutting off everything else around him and let his thoughts roam free.

A tired sigh left his lips as he looked at his food. As far as he was concerned the day had been a total disaster; starting from the incident with Yohji when they were changing, following with him jumping in front of a speeding vehicle and ending with Nagi's comment. How dare the chibi say something like that anyway?!

Like? Like?! There was no liking of any kind!

Right?

He rested his head in one hand as he massaged his eyelids; then he sensed someone sitting down across from him. He stopped and open his eyes slowly toward the front. Schuldig rolled his eyes immediately as he tried to glare at a smiling Yohji with a tray of his own right in front of him.

"Of all the fast food joints, you have to end up in mine." the redhead spat out sarcastically.

Yohji just smiled. "First; this isn't your 'fast food joint', its public. Second; I followed you."

"Whatever…" the redhead replied, slumping back in his seat and picking up a fry.

Yohji took the motion as an acceptance of his presence; he felt glad that Schuldig hadn't thrown him out. "Besides," he spoke very softly "you never answered my question."

"What question?" Schuldig replied after taking a bite of his burger.

"Why did you save me?" Yohji asked. He wanted to know. Why? Schuldig was supposed to keep an eye on Ryon and by that time the boy had been safe with Omi and Nagi. Even Kyra had been pushed out of harm's way. He couldn't understand why Schuldig would risk his life to save his'… unless…

"…Because I could." The redhead replied with no emotion at all.

Yohji just stared at him. "If you say so."

The redhead frowned at the reply. "Tell me Yohji… If you'd been in my place, what would you have done?" he asked in a very analytical tone, which received a grunt from the other side.

"Probably the same thing." Yohji answered, which was frankly the truth.

"And you wouldn't have even thought about it, right?"

"Perhaps."

"Then leave it at that." Schuldig finished as he returned to his meal.

But that wasn't it, Yohji thought to himself. He knew he would have saved Schuldig without as much as a second thought if their roles had been reversed. But for him it wasn't just because he could. And that gave way to another question; how would Yohji react if Schuldig died right in front of his eyes? It wouldn't be the same cold feeling he got whenever he killed, when his soul seemed to leave him and his mind went numb. It would be different… Maybe it would even hurt.

"You there Balinese, or did you go on a trip?"

Yohji blinked at the redhead, shrugging off the remark and returned to his meal. He noticed that his fries were already all gone so without hesitation he extended his hand and snatched one from Schuldig's tray.

"Hey! Eat your own fries!" The redhead snapped at him as Yohji put the fry in his mouth.

"But you're not even touching them!" The blond replied in the same manner.

"That doesn't give you the right to take them!"

"I only took one! ONE! Friends share!"

Schuldig had had enough. He slammed his hands down on the table, scaring the family sitting beside them. "Stop with the 'friend' thing! This is not a friendship!"

"Then what is it?!" Yohji suddenly stammered, losing all control. "Because it certainly isn't what it was before!" Then in an exasperated manner he turned his head to the side; avoiding Schuldig's eyes. "Enemies don't save each other."

Schuldig slumped back against the chair, suddenly tired. "You're giving this more meaning that it has. What is it that you need to be so certain of? It's there, at the top of your thoughts but I can't read it."

Yohji remained quiet, unmoving. "…you don't trust me."

"Of course I don't."

"No matter what you never change."

Schuldig scowled at the comment but made an effort and didn't reply to it. He finished the last of his fries even if he since long had lost his appetite. How could he not after the fries fight fiasco? After he finished he slowly organized everything on his tray and rose with it. He looked down at Yohji who was in turn looking at him. He felt the mean words at the tip of his tongue 'You're a moron for following me'. He hesitated, took a deep breath and said instead. "See you tomorrow Yohji, unless you decide to follow me home too."

Yohji blinked as Schuldig walked forward and out of the establishment; his eyes following the redhead's every move. This was not exactly what he had planned when he had decided to follow Schuldig on a whim. This was a complete and total disaster, why couldn't they just get along for five minutes when it came to their enemy status? Why was it that the only time they got along was when Kritiker and Esset weren't mentioned? And that morning! What the hell had happened that morning that had left Yohji's heart screaming?

He sighed.

Will it ever end?

~~~

The next day Schuldig acted like the McDonald's encounter had never happened. It was raining and the kids were unusually calm because of it. It seemed like everyone was quiet. It was at noon when things got a twist.

The phone rang a little after noon. But Yohji and Schuldig didn't mind it since Minako always answered it. About five minutes later she walked up to the boys, an alarmed look over her features.

"My son's school called, it seems there's been an incident and they need me to be there right away. I need one of you to keep a close eye on the infants while I'm away. Schuldig will you do it?" The redhead blinked at her, but nodded swiftly in agreement.

"I didn't know you had a son Minako." Yohji asked, to which Minako nodded in response then apologized before leaving the center and like on cue one of the babies started crying right then. Yohji just looked at Schuldig who returned the gaze and remained motionless. "Well aren't you going?" The blond assassin finally snapped as the baby's cries sounded more desperate.

"Why me?" Schuldig snapped back.

"Because you told Minako you were going to take care of the babies."

"It's not like I meant it." Schuldig added, to which Yohji rolled his eyes and headed back towards where Kyra and the others where. "Just do it Schu."

Schuldig frowned by gave up and went towards the nursery. Yohji was surprised that after only a few minutes Schuldig had managed to calm the crying child down and for a while the blond assassin wished the nursery wasn't in another room so he could keep an eye on the redhead just in case. Not that Yohji believed that Schuldig was capable of hurting a defenseless baby; maybe a month ago he would have but not now. Still…

Another baby started screaming and ignoring his better judgment Yohji walked towards the nursery. As he approached the door he heard a loud 'ewwww' coming from the other side that stopped him dead. Yohji's smile broadened, he was trying hard not to laugh. Then the door swung open and Schuldig walked out with a slightly distressed look in his eyes.

"That is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen!" he exclaimed the second he saw Yohji. The Weiss assassin couldn't take it anymore and he burst out laughing. "It's not funny!" the redhead pleaded. "Please Yotan, I beg you; exchange places with me?"

"No way!" The blond answered easily.

Schuldig just glared in response, stomped his foot slightly and turned around again. "Fine!" he yelled, shutting the door behind him at the same time as another cry could be heard.

Yohji started on his way back to the main room where all the kids were still asleep from their naptime. He had barely sat down when a hand grasped his shoulder from behind. Yohji stood and turned instantly, shaken by the sudden invasion of his personal space. Schuldig took a step back at the unexpected reaction. "Can you help me for at least a while?" he asked calmly.

Yohji blinked at him, glanced around to make sure the kids were still sound asleep then nodded softly. They went into the nursery where three screaming babies laid. Schuldig took the closest one to him and held him gently in his arms. "How come we never hear these brats screaming whenever Minako takes care of them? What am I doing wrong?"

"It's probably experience." Yohji answered as he took another baby; one which immediately hushed in his arms. "I think they just want to be held."

"I can't handle this Yohji, I have my limits."

Yohji rolled his eyes. "It's just for a while Schu, don't get so desperate. Here…" he added, grabbing a pacifier and handing it down to the redhead. Schuldig took it and gave it to the infant, which immediately ceased his crying.

"You're a pain in the butt kid, just so you know." Schuldig said with a frown, but the baby just giggled at him.

"Ahhh… Isn't that cute? He likes you." said Yohji.

"Sure." Schuldig replied sarcastically. "Very cute, maybe we should get married and have one of our own."

"Sure," Yohji added in a humorous tone. "We could have our own house in the country with two or three kids running around the living room and you cooking dinner for me."

"Why not? But that means you're the one who works."

"Yeah… Too bad we'll probably get ourselves killed before I get a chance to knock you up." Yohji finished with a grin as he placed the child he was holding back in his crib. Yohji waited for a bit making sure the baby was fast asleep. Then he turned his head towards Schuldig who had remained silent after his last remark in their little role-play. The baby Schuldig had been holding was already asleep; and the redhead held the child close to his chest as he rocked him gently.

Yohji just stared. The image reassured him somehow. It confirmed everything he had come to believe about the redhead in the past months since this mission had started. And Yohji knew he would never forget that image.

"What are you looking forward to the most when this mission ends?" The blond asked out of the blue.

Schuldig gave him a weird look for a moment but answered. "Sleeping in the morning," he answered with a grin as he put the baby gently back in its crib.

Yohji chuckled; he knew he should end the conversation there, but for the life of him he couldn't keep his mouth shut. "And the least?"

Schuldig seemed not to move for a while, then he slowly turned towards Yohji who couldn't hide the seriousness on his face. "Yohji I…"

Another cry filled the small nursery, immediately catching Schuldig's attention and he went over to pick the other baby up. The child calmed after only a few seconds of being held. "I think its Minako's presence that calms them." The telepath voiced softly.

Yohji blinked a few times; everything in his consciousness screamed 'SHUT UP' but he had to ask. He wanted to know. And he didn't even understand why. "You were about to say something? What was it? What will you miss the most?"

"Will you miss me?"

Schuldig paused, putting the child back in the crib. "…Nothing. I will miss nothing."

~~~

Minako looked slightly alarmed when she finally returned a little after two in the afternoon. But when Yohji asked her about it, she just smile, reassured him everything was fine and that her son had broken his leg while playing basketball in gym class but was otherwise fine.

"You can leave early if you want Minako, Schuldig and I can take of everything" Yohji commented.

She nodded softly. "It's all right, I left him in a relative's house and he'll be fine there. He's eight and loves video games, I'm trying to make him go out more but now I think he has a valid excuse to stay in."

Yohji replied with a smile and left it at that; he didn't want to pry too much on Minako's personal life; he hadn't known her for that long after all. All their previous conversations before this had involved the Day Care Center in some way or another. Yohji always spent most of the day with Schuldig.

As they closed for the day Schuldig went his usual way and Yohji found himself staring at the redhead as he walked away.

The Weiss assassin stood there motionless as a few droplets of rain fell from above. Then he shrugged, dismissing his troubled feelings as a moment of pure insanity and this time he didn't follow Schuldig.

~~~