Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ False Realities ❯ Satuday's Bleak Hope ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: standard disclaimer applies

Legend:

'Thoughts

"Speech"

< ---------- >

Flashback

< ---------- >

Chapter 4::Saturday's Bleak Hope

by Johin

Black, everything was black inside the room. Not because there was no light, it is impossible to say there is no light for if you were there yourself you would be able to see yourself, but the reason was because everything was of that colour, black. I reached out but I couldn't see anything. I walked on and on for what seemed like hours, but there was no end.

'Where am I?'

I continued to walk and I finally came to an end to find myself staring at a mirror. I stepped up to it and touched the surface and the golden frame, the first thing I had seen with colour. It felt so delicate against my hands and when I held it I felt it was precious to my heart.

But everything was still as black, blacker than anywhere I've been and I felt trapped inside this little void. I felt cold all over and the place sent shivers down my spine.

"Oniichan" a voice called out to me. It was so sweet, you know, that it seemed completely out of place in the setting given to me.

" 'Niisan" a second voice called though a bit lower and somewhat like a man's...no a boy's voice.

"Nanami-chan? Naru-kun? Where are you?" I asked to the black around me.

I began to run back the way I came only to be stopped by a bright and colourful ball, the second thing I had seen with colour. I was not able to see the ball clearly but when I had picked it up I was completely surprised when the ball became brighter and more solid, it didn't glow or anything the like it just became more solid looking. Then I knew I had seen it from somewhere before but I think I couldn't accept the answer that kept tugging at the back of my mind.

I hear the shattering of glass and turn my head to the only possible source but there in the mirror, I really mean inside, was the young boy and girl. I begin to call myself stupid and run back to the mirror I had left.

The boy was smiling and was filling the room with such happiness as he hummed the melody of a lullaby I had grown fond of and the girl was holding a flower, a blue morning glory to be specific.

I ran faster, trying to reach them in time before all the shards of the mirror fell and then I wouldn't be able to save them. I saw the girl open her mouth to sing or to speak I don't know for she was cut off. I wanted to reach them so badly but I didn't, the last pieces of the mirror fell as I neared both of them and together with those last pieces, the frame of the mirror turned grey ever so slowly and the ball became a dull lifeless colour. I was left there in the void with the big frame of the mirror, a ball, and what surprised me was the fact that the flower the little girl held was still there, not inside the mirror but right in front of me, in full bloom and with a very rich colour but what hurt the most was that both of them were gone. Both of them are gone again...again.

"NO! Nanami! Naru!"

"Naru!"

Nagi snapped his head up because of fear, anger and surprise and fell promptly on the floor from his earlier position on the chair. He shook his head and stared at the table for a few minutes before standing up and realization dawned on him.

"I fell asleep," Nagi said stating the obvious to no one because, apparently, there was no one to talk to. He looked to the direction of the window and strained hi ears to hear the fall of rain on the roof. "... and it's still raining." he said and began cleaning up the mess he had left in the kitchen last night. After doing so he continued up to his room for a rest.

When he reached his room he lay down on his bed unmoving, his legs sprawled all over and his arms thrown over his eyes as if to block out the light. 'It's that dream again, this time with Naru in it.' Nagi thought as he closed his eyes when light still seemed to get through his eyelids he turned and covered his head under a pillow. 'Let me correct my self, it's NOT a dream but a nightmare.' He reminded himself as he remembered the dream he just had and all the other dreams in the past, this one being the most vivid.

Everything was tranquil in Schwarz residence, no clashing of knives, no screaming, no ordering, nothing was falling or breaking. There was nothing happening at all. It had been like this for the past two days. The reason for this had been because of the other three's business trip and therefore only Nagi had been left in the house.

Nagi almost fell asleep because of the perpetual serene around him but was stopped from doing so by the sudden incessant ringing of the phone on his side table. He answered it albeit reluctantly and was given quite a surprise.

"Wie es Ihnen?" a German voice asked from the other side of the line and after a moment of silence the person on the phone said in a deeply accented Japanese, "Do you miss us, Bishounen?"

"With you going around calling me that and talking in that funny voice? Of course not, Schu." Nagi replied dully, he closed his eyes and smiled at the little play they were doing.

"Well then I'll just put the phone down now and leave you wondering about our return." Schuldich said with a bit of air, Nagi could almost see an annoying smirk plastered on the German's face, he probably was if the telepath was toying with him .

"...Telling me wouldn't affect my missing you, would it?" Nagi asked Schwarz' telepath with caution, if he was seeing images, it might mean that Schuldich was already in his head. He sat up from his position on the bed and became very attentive to the on going conversation, he tried to put up all of the walls he had to prevent Schuldich from finding out what had happened the past days, especially the event in the car.

"Oh, but it does, bishounen." Schuldich teased making Nagi irritated also causing him to make all of his preventive walls to go down one by one.

"I hate telepaths, you know that? Anyway, tell me already." Nagi said in huff, he stood up and began stomping his feet on the floor once to emphasize his point, even though it was a fruitless act for no one was around to see it but it was loud enough to be heard on the other side of the line, but as they say a fruitless act will always remain fruitless if nothing is done about it.

"No--ah Crawford!" could be suddenly heard from the phone, and the screams was loud enough to be heard even if you didn't place your ear next to the receiver of the phone.

"Schu, what's going on?" Nagi asked suddenly feeling fear for what may have happened to his German companion and friend.

"Schuldich is locked up in a room with Farfarello." Crawford answered suddenly after some sounds of crashing and pounding, when Nagi stayed silent, and he was able to catch his breath, he continued, "Nagi, we'll be coming home next week. We just called to inform you and..." Crawford then left the last part of the sentence hanging for a long time that made Nagi wonder on what was happening.

"And? And what? Crawford-san what is it? Do I need to run some errands? Did something happen?" Nagi asked in a worried voice. He glanced at the wall clock and was able to determine that it was already five in the morning, probably the reason that they had called. He hadn't actually acknowledge the time and that it was already morning, the sky being as gray as yesterday being the reason, and that he had slept the entire night on the table and was therefore shocked for a moment.

"Nagi, are you alright?" Crawford asked suddenly shaking Nagi out of his bemusement.

"Huh? What made you ask that? Of course I am." Nagi said in a rush and began thinking hard where these questions were coming from and that he shouldn't get so distracted easily.

"Schuldich said he heard a stifle cry from you this morning and to add to that we hadn't had the chance to call you in the past two days. You had no classes then, am I correct?" Crawford explained in a gentle voice as if he was talking to his own child.

"Yeah, it was cancelled because of the storm and it's all right you didn't call, I knew the three of you were busy. Don't strain yourself about the crying thing, I just had a nightmare but thanks for worrying though. " Nagi said considerately, he sat down again on his bed and blew a bit of stray hair from his face.

"Okay then, Nagi. Schuldich and Farfarello says 'hi and take care of yourself'. We'll be home by next week Saturday." Crawford informed, Schuldich and Farfello were saying hi in the background, apparently one of them was able to pick the lock on the closed room allowing them free, making the conversation pause for a bit because of the noise they caused. When the other two quieted down Crawford asked, "Do you have Saturday class then?"

"No, that's for the Saturday after that. Where will I pick you guys up?" Nagi asked after he had done with his own fit of laughter as he had really missed the other three, he was tired of the loneliness of the house.

"We don't know as of yet but we'll tell you three days before. We'll try to check up on you every night " Crawford said to the other boy on the line. Nagi smiled at Crawford's ability to soften up when they weren't in missions and still be the strict person that he is, but he still wouldn't try to become a hassle for missions Crawford still being the scary person he is, he was, afterall, slapped by him in one of those stupid missions. 'As if we'll be getting some anytime soon, che.' and his smile quickly changed into a frown because of his straying into touchy subjects

"Okay then, Crawford-san. Bye" With that said Nagi put down the phone on its cradle. He lay down on the bed, heaved a big sigh and closed his eyes. He looked to his right and saw the flower Omi had given him two days ago. He had kept it on a vase and tried to keep it alive, soon it would wilt away so he'd have to press the flower in a book while it still had a semblance of freshness. He looked out the window and saw what he had not noticed before and said to himself, "The rain stopped...so there is hope after all." And it was true the rain had stopped and the birds were flying out of their hiding places and soon they would see the sun again.

"Aaaaaah! I'm bored!" Omi cried in exasperation. He lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling of his room. "I can't do anything 'cause I'm 'injured', says Ken and he had to reiterate it over and over again today and yesterday and the day before before that. Grrr...I'm not invalid yet, you know, I can still do SOME chores. Ah! I give up." He said to himself as covered his face with a pillow and remained quiet for a long time after that. He removed the pillow blocking his view when his thoughts wandered off to Schwarz' youngest member's room.

"So alike and so different...how can that be, hmm? You're such a puzzle." Omi said to no one as he sat up and stared at the sky outside of his window, it becoming gray blue.

"Who's a 'puzzle'?" Omi didn't hear the footsteps of anybody coming towards his room, he also didn't hear the creak of the door opening and was surprised even though a little but was none the less surprised.

"Ah! Ken-kun, you surprised me. Second time isn't it, the second time for you to walk in on me talking to myself. So? You were listening for how long?" Omi asked the intruder as he massaged a soar spot on his shoulder not at all sounding very tired.

Ken grinned and said, "Not long, well?" He sat down beside Omi on the bed, and the bed shrieked it's complain on the added weight not acquainted to the amount of weight, and checked Omi's condition, worried that there might be some reopened wounds. Omi's rescuer, Nagi, had been a good medic and was able to do most of the stitches.

"I'm fine, Ken, and what do you mean 'well?'" Omi said a bit irritated at the others persistent want to check-up on him.

"Well, who's a puzzle? C'mon don't tell me you're that slow." Ken asked eagerly, almost like kid going to a carnival, and finished the task he had been doping while the younger boy protested.

Omi sighed in defeat and said his thoughts a loud for the other to hear. "You're acting like a girl, always into gossip."

Ken pouted at Omi's degrading words before answering back. "At least I'm just a girl who likes gossip, you're acting like a girl who's love sick, now THAT'S worse. Now, spit it out. Who is it? Any person I know?"

"Yeah you know the person, well, he's-"

"He?" Ken cut off a bit surprised. "I didn't know you like guys."

"Wah! No I don't. 'He' is a puzzle to me, that's all." Omi answered, shocked at Ken's conclusion and became red. When a few minutes passed Omi hit Ken with the pillow in his hand when he realized what Ken thought he was thinking as he replayed their conversation in his mind and his face became redder than a tomato. "Stupid, Ken! I am not in love! I just said that Nagi was a confusing person...very confusing."

Ken's lips lifted upward a bit and said, "There, there, I believe you. I just wanted to see the old Omi back even for a while." He put his hand on Omi's back and made rhythmic circles to soothe the other boy's anger.

"...Am I that out of it, Ken?" Omi asked as he got up heading to the window of the room while Ken remained seated with his hands on his lap and his eyes following Omi's movement.

"Not really, but you're acting all guilty and stuff. Anyway, it's been two days already since your after-school escapade. What I said before should still be followed but you are to go down, and I mean right now, to eat breakfast." Ken ordered and went outside the room.

' 'It's an order from Mother Hen, you better do it' Yohji would say.' Omi thought when the elder boy was like this and followed the chocolate haired boy outside with a smile on his face ' Thank you, Ken, I needed it.'

Naoe Nagi was out on the streets as soon as he was sure it would rain no more. 'I have to buy something for Obaasan before I go to her, but what?' He continued walking until he reached a flower shop. He entered the said shop causing the bells to jingle softly. There was no one inside, so he waited looking at the different flowers they sold, mums, lilies, roses, tulips and lots more.'I've never bought flowers before...I didn't even care about their kinds I just knew they were there.' He thought as he looked at the variations presented to him.

"Irrashai!"

Nagi snapped his head back into reality at the familiarity of the voice. He was about to go out of the shop when another person came in and called for him.

"Nagi-kun! What are you doing here?" Omi asked as he came in the shop albeit difficultly.

"I...needed some flowers for a friend. She's sick and I thought she might like these," Nagi said reluctantly and fingered the petals of a lily and inspected it closely. "I didn't know you worked here, and I thought your shop was farther than this." he continued in a quiet voice as he looked at the other flowers in the shop.

"Oh" Omi said sounding a bit disappointed then he continued, "Excuse me for a minute then Nagi-kun." He turned back to the person who had welcomed Nagi in and said, "Ken-kun I think I can handle this job just go out and play with the kids already." as he tried to usher Ken out of the store, all that was left was to push the elder man out of the store.

"But, Omi, no work for you besides it is lunch break already." Ken protested as he tried to lead the wheat-blond boy upstairs to their apartment floor.

"But you haven't played with the kids for a long time!"

Nagi's eye twitched as he heard both men quarrel over a small thing as if he wasn't there. It put a thorn in his heart that no one was home with him. He wanted them to stop so he did the only thing he knew so as they would stop, he volunteered his help and so stop they did. "I'll help you. I'm sure that Siberian misses his chance to play...whatever, and that Abyssinian and Balinese had something important to do." He said in his quiet voice that made everyone silent and want to listen to him but in reality whenever he used that voice he was afraid, he didn't know why, and when but he realized that he was and it was most probably fear of rejection.

Omi smiled at the pale boy and said, "Okay then I'll come with you to your friend to keep you company." He continued to explain the absence of the other members of Weiss. "Both Aya-kun and Yohji-kun are on deliveries. So thank you, Nagi-kun."

"We appreciate the help... Nagi, Nagi isn't it? I'm Hidaka Ken don't call me that anymore, I'm not on a mission." Ken said with his usual grin and offered his hand to the boy known as the enemy previously. 'I trust this boy if Omi trusts him, besides he did help Omi.'

"...You're welcome."

"Okay then, Omittchi, I'm off. Take care of yourself, you too Nagi." Ken said as he picked up the soccer ball on the shelf near the door, walked out and proceeded to head for the soccer field.

"Bye, Ken-kun!" Omi called before finally turning back to his friend. "So, Naoe-kun, what flowers do you want for your friend?" he asked all in good nature.

Nagi sighed at Omi's cheery façade and the fact that something in what Omi said was wrong. "I thought you were calling my by first name now. These lilies are nice don't you think?"

"I am, Nagi-kun, it's just that you seemed quiet." Omi said as he got a bunch of lilies, he sat behind the table and Nagi sat across of him, and began making an arrangement. "Yeah these are nice flowers."

"Oh." and there was no other word uttered until the blonde finished in making the arrangement.

"I thought you still hated me Nagi-kun? Here all done."

"I don't exactly hate you and I don't exactly like you either. I don't know myself." Nagi said and his eye twitched for a second time at his tactless comment and at the way Omi, looked down with a frown and shadowed eyes. "I'm sorry...Why did Si- I mean Hidaka-san just say okay? I know he knows who I am and if I were him I wouldn't have left you alone with me."

"He knows what you did for me the other night."

"Oh"

Both teens sat, Omi looking at his folded hands on the table and Nagi at the arrangement settled on the table. Silence prevailed over them, deafening silence that no one would want to be in, and both of them were under it for what seemed the longest time until he broke it, until Nagi began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Omi asked surprised by the other's quiet laugh.

"The fact that, you can be so bubbly one second and too quiet the next! You're so tense!" Nagi said in between giggles and gasps. He clutched his stomach trying to hold back all of the laughter taking him in.

"Well sorry! Mister Serious, YOU were tense to, you know!" Omi said in huff as he tried with all his might to stand up.

"I thought you thought we had come to an agreement of peace at least something like it, it's just that I wasn't exactly welcoming the idea of more Weiss members." Nagi said trying to defend himself as Omi hit the right spot on his mind that he was tense.

"Well sorry!" Omi said finally on two feet, he let go of the table's support and promptly fell on his behind or at least he thought he would. When he was seated again with the help of some inexplicable force he was faced with a stern faced Nagi.

"Don't do that again 'cause I'm not fixing you up!"

"What kind of a peace agreement is this then?" Omi asked as he grinned at the other boy and tried to joke his way around his little mistake.

"...But what I said was true you know. The not exactly liking you part I mean." Nagi said in a hushed tone then smiled. "But if we can get along like this then I think you might change my opinion."

Omi smiled at the other boy's unexpected kindness. "Nagi-kun, would you like something before we leave?"

Nagi answered in the negative then asked, "How come Hidaka-san knows?"

"Well you see, they were looking for me and I kinda stumbled in my room loudly. I was mumbling to myself when he came in, or so he said... I can't remember anything after I went through the doors." Omi said quietly as if trying to remember. "Well come on now, let's go!"

Nagi raised an eyebrow and said more than asked, "How can you? You just fell." And by the way he had said it, it was as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"You know how to ride a bike don't you?" Omi inquired, as he was able to stand up again with the help of the table.

Nagi nodded and Omi grinned. "We'll use that besides I don't always fall. I was just...embarrassed then."

"I don't think embarrassed is the word."

"Then what is hmm?" Omi asked as he pointed towards a particular spot in the shop where keys could be found. "Could you close the shop for me?"

"Hn. Just for the record, I think, the word should be prideful and unyielding. Yeah I'll help."

"Che, meanie." Omi said with lack of better words to say as they continued in closing Koneko for the day. "Do you mean you took the conversation in the car seriously?" Omi asked out of curiosity with no tone of contempt all along.

"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't be acting civil to you."

"Thank you, Nagi-kun. That meant a lot to me" Omi smiled as he said those words in a voice so quiet that it was as if it wasn't said at all.

"Ikimasho ka?" Nagi asked out of the blue startling Omi from his train of thought.

"Aa."

The house was fairly big and had a western motif with lots of windows a balcony and intricate door carved from oak. The garden of the house was blooming with many flowers, most of which were millflores(1).

"Aren't you going to knock?" Omi asked since they had been standing in front of a door for over a minute.

Nagi glared at Omi for a bit before knocking. 'What am I doing? I don't even know the lady that much, then why visit her?'

They waited a bit more before the door creaked open slowly and revealed a girl none other than Shiori. "N-Naoe-sempai! Omi-sempai! What are you doing here? What happened to you Omi-sempai? Come in hurry."

"It's nothing to worry about, Shi-chan." Omi said trying to make the younger girl calm down.

"Don't worry about it?! But look at you!" Shiori protested as she led them to the living area.

"Believe him because if you don't you'll just get in trouble, he's just too hard headed." Nagi said in a cold voice from behind the straight line they had unconsciously made, with Shiori leading them and Nagi helping Omi move from behind. "Besides you might disturb the person I came to visit."

"Who are you going to visit anyway Nagi-kun? And how come both of you know each other?" Omi asked as he looked at Nagi then Shiori then back again.

The trio reached the living area shortly and both of the boys sat down when Shiori had offered them the seats and she excused herself before heading to a door that lead to another hall.

"We met in the park. You and Shiori were talking about it before. I was the boy with her grandma." Nagi said quietly when he felt Omi's eyes staring at him waiting for an answer for his question and when Omi received the said answer he nodded in understanding though Nagi didn't really see any of this he had felt it.

Both of the boys sat in the living area making little to no conversation, sometimes Omi would drum his fingers on the side table as he watched his companion stare at the door Shiori had disappeared to, it was obvious that Nagi was thinking hard from his facial expressions so it would be rude to butt in on his thoughts so Omi stayed quiet. It had been a while before they heard the soft padding of footsteps coming towards their direction, they stood up without delay when they did, and watched as Shiori's grandmother sat down.

"Bonjour" The lady of old age said in a healthy and commanding voice, making a gesture for them to sit and Omi took the offer.

"Français pas (2) " Shiori cut in before the lady added anything more.

"Comprendre"

"You made a promise to me that needs to be fulfilled. I think this is time for such fulfilment." Nagi cut in as he moved forward and knelt down, bowed his head and offered the flowers.

"Such beautiful lilies they are." The old lady said as she took the bouquet from Nagi. "I did make a promise, didn't I?" she chuckled and smiled at Nagi. "My name is Lituanie Ombre. I see that you, Nagi-kun, have made a couple of friends and what good friends you have chosen."

"I-I didn't know you were French." Nagi said out of the blue as he went back to his seat, he looked at her straight in the eye trying not to back out on this task he had set himself to do.

"Do not change the subject, but yes I am French." Lituanie chastised. "You have made an old lady happy, Nagi. You believed in me who was a complete stranger. I didn't think I would still be of some help to the world, you know." Her gaze moved from Nagi to Omi, a gaze full of hope, then she continued, "Omi, will you help him? Promise me you will."

Omi was startled by the sudden request and the intensity of the gaze Lituanie was giving him but he could not say no, he could never say no to someone in need when he could help them without having to kill, he tried his voice many times but found that he couldn't speak so he nodded his head in acceptance of the task and as he did so he heard a heavy sigh coming from his right, the only possibly source was that it was Nagi.

"Do not be shy, my children." Lituanie said as she observed the two boys and heard that particular sigh from Nagi. "My, my, how time flies. I am tired again. I will now retire. Au revoir." She told them and started heading back to her quarters holding the bouquet of lilies given by Nagi.

Shiori stood up and the other two followed suit as she confronted them. "I'm sorry, Naoe-sempai, Tsukiyono-sempai, but I need to see to my grandmother's needs. I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you out of our household." Shiori apologized as she bowed down low.

"It's alright, Shi-chan, we'll let ourselves out." Omi said and saw to it that Shiori was fine as she caught up to her grandmother. "What was that about? What promise?" he asked Nagi when Shiori was gone.

"Don't worry about it. It's done anyway."

Both of them went out of the living area and headed back to the gate as soon as they had done picking themselves up. Omi looked at Nagi through out the whole walk towards the gate and thought hard. 'He didn't say it... Does he really accept me as a friend? I did make him laugh, didn't I? What's wrong then? Why? Is something wrong then? We agreed. It was a long conversation, or rather a long fight, in the car on the drive to my home. I thought the fight would have been worth it but it wasn't. Why is that? Nagi?'

"Look, I'm sorry. It's just that, I can't" Nagi said out of the blue, making Omi snap back into reality, it was apparent that Omi had been thinking very deeply for him not to notice that they were at the front of the house again, by the gate and in the garden full of beautiful flowers.

"Can't what, Nagi-kun?" Omi said in a quizzical tone trying to cover up his mistake of making his feelings of despair known. Nagi had continued the walk up to the motorbike and Omi was far from him, him having stopped walking once they were out of the door.

"I just can't think of myself with friends yet. I can't bring myself to trust you," Nagi explained in a quiet voice but enough to be heard by the other. Omi was shocked to say the least when he heard these words from Nagi, he wanted to stop him from talking and wanted to shut out the words from his mind but he wasn't able to, he couldn't and he didn't know why. "I didn't want you to say yes while we were inside... you might have noticed you couldn't talk, that was my fault, but you still did say yes." Nagi continued never once looking at his companion only staring at the road in front. He hopped up on the bike, got the keys out and started it up signalling that Omi should come to.

"I see" Omi said when Nagi finally finished and when he himself got enough control not to break down. "Don't worry, it's alright. What I asked of you was too much wasn't it? Oh well." He lugged his way to the bike and hopped on and settled for the ride ahead of them. "Could you...could you bring me to Koneko first before you go home? I'll just take care of the bike." He asked as if the conversation a while a go didn't exist, and as if the one being addressed would be the death of Omi himself.

"I'm sorry"

Yohji, Aya and Ken came inside the shop all together, Ken and Yohji bickering with loud voices enough to make one deaf. Aya and Yohji had found the soccer player on his way home all covered in mud carrying a soccer ball. They told him to get in the trailer and explain why he left the shop alone with an injured Omi thus creating the aforementioned fight.

"He said he would be alright! Besides he was with someone!" Ken said in his defense, he threw the ball to its rightful spot on the shelf and proceeded to the back door of the shop, which led to the kitchen.

"And who would that be?" Aya suddenly asked making both parties remember that there was another with them. He prepared some coffee enough for himself and another that might want some for the night and as he did so he pondered on the fact that the shop was closed and that it was also a fact that it was far too early for it to be in that state.

"Ah, you see. He was...umm" Ken said as he tried to think up of some way out of this mess he had gotten himself, Omi and Nagi into. He opened the fridge to buy him sometime and made his mind run a mile a minute as the other two kept to themselves as he rummaged around for something to eat.

Yohji waited for a few more minutes to see if Ken was even going to answer, he watched Ken poke his head inside the fridge to look for edibles and make a few incoherent sounds before he threw up his hands in exasperation and cried out, "See he doesn't even know the guy Omi was with!" He walked around for some time and sat down at the nearest seat available. Aya who also expected an answer sighed and looked at Ken with disappointment.

When the three of them heard the rev of a motorcycle and jumped at it. Ken went straight ahead to the garage leaving the other two behind puzzled. Yohji stood from the dinner table and Aya set down the seemingly half-full coffee mug and looked at the brunette head out of the kitchen as fast as he could.

"He's up to something I'm telling you." Yohji told Aya as he headed for the garage. Aya just grunted his agreement to the older man and followed him. They hastened their pace when they heard a few clangs of metal and yelp of a boy, and were able to catch up with Ken, Omi and one other.

"Just go! Before they come here." Ken ordered to the unknown person who was with Omi the whole time.

Aya and Yohji entered the garage without any warning until it was too late for anyone to move. "No one is going anywhere until I find out what's going on in here." Aya spoke in the cold commanding voice he always used in missions. He stepped up beside Ken to see exactly who that unknown person was. It was obvious in his face that the boy's presence wasn't appreciated nor welcomed.

"Schwarz eh?" Yohji asked since he was right behind Aya the whole time. "I thought Kenken here already talked with one of you people." He continued and earned a confused look from the kid who they had known to be as Prodigy, he scanned the place for any traps made by the boy. Though it seemed stupid to be scared of this one kid, he couldn't overlook that he was powerful.

"Don't you dare hurt him!" Omi screamed causing all attention to turn to him. "I went out with him on my own will and I came home safe because he did nothing to me. There's nothing to take revenge upon. Nothing at all!" He continued in a threatening voice, he glared at everyone and it was enough to rival one that of Aya's. He struggled for a few more minutes before moving up in front of Nagi seemingly like a shield to the other members of Weiss. "No mission was given out, you don't have a right to do anything to him. Not one single thing." Everyone was shocked by his actions and the one that was hit with the most impact was Nagi. The next thing that happened no one really expected causing all of them, the members of Weiss including Nagi, to go into panic. Omi fainted.

Ken, Aya, Yohji and Nagi filed out of Omi's room after they had done the necessary check ups. They were all tired and they sunk down to the floor as soon as they were out, even Aya was seated on the floor. Omi was sleeping peacefully now, with the normal pace of breath and heartbeat, he had stressed out too much and some of his wounds had reopened because of too much movement them being the cause of his fainting.

"God, why? What happened?" Yohji asked no one and made a mantra of foolish secret events happening day after day after day.

"Yohji, just stop it. Okay?" Aya said irritated, he closed his eyes when fatigue had caught up with him. Yohji just changed his topic to weird fearless leaders and everything that comes with it. "Ah! I give up on you." Aya said when he couldn't make Yohji shut up.

Both Ken and Nagi were seated by the wall facing the other two, both also being tired from both panic and frustration by the latter event. Ken was merely laughing quietly at the 'presentation' in front of him until he noticed the silence of the boy beside him. Sure it wasn't unusual but it was a fact that he was staying to silent for Ken's taste. "Look, Nagi, I'm sorry for the trouble. I'm sure both Aya and Yohji are to. It's just their pride, you know." Ken apologized sheepishly to the boy, he was about to stand up to break up the two men fighting in front of him and Nagi, having enough of the scene, when Nagi himself prevented him from doing so by holding Ken's hand tightly in his.

"It's my fault, Hidaka-san." Nagi said with clouded eyes, he held Ken's hand tighter as if it was for release. "I think I should leave now. Could you tell him that I'm sorry?" he continued and stood up and left the room like a ghost, leaving that 'him' for Ken to find out.

Ken stood up completely as he watched the boy leave the hall. He knew that the other two men in the room were watching them though they were silent about it, so as they wouldn't interfere with the both of them. Ken wondered on what the both of them would do when they had kept another secret from the group, a secret that might break the hard-earned bond they'd created amongst themselves.

Yohji left immediately when Nagi was gone from his sight, probably to vent out his anger by making his pillow a punching bag again, and when Aya and Ken were alone in the hall he stood up and spoke to him. "Hn. Ken, I see that you trust the young Schwarz. Don't get carried away, he'll be both yours and Omi's downfall." With that he turned his back to Ken and headed for his room. He hadn't expected Ken would understand the meaning of those words, and when Ken answered him he was surprised but he continued on heading to his room as the other had been talking.

"Yes, he may be our downfall, but it'll be okay." Ken said surprising Aya completely that he had almost tripped but Ken continued on his little speech unfaltering. "As long as I can believe that there's someone to catch us we'll be alright." And that little speech of his had answered the hidden question of Ran Fujimiya, the question of: Will you be all right? He kept on even if Ran was already at the front of his bedroom door his hand turning the knob and opening it, even though that it looked like Ran wasn't even listening to a word he was saying. "Will you be waiting for us, Aya?" Ken asked back, he knew Ran wouldn't say anything because he didn't expect anything... yet. He smiled when he heard the soft click of the door when it shut and stared at the door Ran Fujimiya had gone through. "I'll be waiting for your answer then, Ran."

--------------To Be Continued---------------

A/N

1) I can't remember what it's called in English but to help you a bit it's a flower usually used by CLAMP. I see it all the time when I watch something made by them. It's a group of blue flowers forming a circle, kind of like the forget-me-nots but not quite it's bigger in groups and prettier.

2) I don't really know French since it isn't even a second language in my country (The Philippines) but I think those who do understand French still understand what I wrote up there sorry if it's a disgrace. I really need her to be French so please bear with me. (I also don't know how to name people who live in France) Oh, and if you're wondering about what she said or just can't really understand the conversation between them because I was mixed up, this is it:

Lituanie: Good Afternoon

Shiori: They're not French

Lituanie: I understand

C&C and R&R are welcomed. :)