Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Fluesternd ❯ Part 20 ( Chapter 20 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Crimson 
THE END! Everything put in its place.
Anime/Manga: Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Psychological | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.19.2002 | Pages: 7 | Words: 8.7K | Visits: 342 | Status: Completed
THE END! Everything put in its place.
Anime/Manga: Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Psychological | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.19.2002 | Pages: 7 | Words: 8.7K | Visits: 342 | Status: Completed
*****20*****
Go back to sleep.
In one way or another Fate will end up on your side. Don't fight it, just sit back and let it drive you forward, closer to the future it long ago planned out for you. What is meant to be will always find a way, and Fate is the navigator of every life. Embrace it.
Okay, it isn't quite that easy. Despite everything, we still must continue to believe in that one, all saving truth:
Hope.
Hope can and will be snuffed out, but only if we let it. If we stop hoping, stop having faith in our destinies, then we will lose the path and find ourselves lost. Hope waits to be found, longs to be found, giving life to those who trust in it, those who look on the brighter side of life, and it will always be there when we need it.
Close your eyes.
Hope will wait for you to find it, and it is never too late to go looking. Remember, hope will only arise if summoned, whether you call out to it with a song, a scream, a thunderous bellow, or even...yes...even the soft, sweet call...of...whispering......
*****
Life has one constant: time moves forward.
Though only a few weeks have passed since the fateful night that almost ended it all, so much has happened. Mainly, the many members of 3 newly retired groups have been busy rebuilding a favorite flower shop, unable to really relax or even just sit down and talk things out. In fact, Rosuto Aiko has been gone for the good part of a week on a very important errand, and the others are busily working - as usual - on the final repairs to "Kitty in the House."
The grunt work has been reserved for the more robust members - Ken and Farfarello do most of the heavy lifting - but everyone is scattered about the shop as it becomes more and more like its old self again. The older boys and girls are hauling wood or pounding nails, the youngest are fixing up the simpler interior problems, and Nori - for some unknown reason - has discovered a curious love for power tools.
Clink. Someone has entered what remains of the shop door, sounding very wounded without its customary "ding".
Having skipped out earlier on in the day, Kudo Youji comes sauntering in amidst the frantic workers, lazily leaning on the new countertop, and watching with interest while everyone else does their part. "Looks great, guys. Keep up the good work." he grins, accepting the many indignant looks thrown his way as if they were praises of valor.
"Youji-kun, where have you been all morning?" Omi grunts, carrying a bucket and sponge, with a darling bandanna tied around his forehead to keep the hair out of his eyes. "And what's the bandage for?"
Easily distinguishable on Youji's left arm, a large white bandage is covering his tattoo, as if he has recently gotten some unknown edition to it. The tall blonde merely smiles, catching Toto's eye as the boisterous young woman bounds her way over excitedly. Without another word, he pulls back the bandage for those interested in it to see, revealing what appears to be a row of numbers beneath his familiar cross and message.
"What is that? A date?" Ken inquires, appearing from the back room with an armful of long, wooden boards. "That's a few weeks ago, ne? Why would you put that under your tattoo?"
"Hee!" Toto squeals in response. "That was our day! Ne, Yotan?
With a wink, Youji's puts the bandage back in place. "That's right, Nanami. This one's for you. After all......that's the day I learned."
Omi and Ken exchange curious looks, but this little secret is just between Youji and Toto; the day she helped him remember who he is, and set him back on track. The others offer approving glances and comments in passing, but mostly they just want him to get his butt in gear and lighten their end of the burden a bit.
"I know you've just had a needle prodding at your skin..." Nagi begins, while half-heartedly handing Farfie a screwdriver, without having to hand it to him. "...but we could use your help around here."
"My help? Don't be silly. You've got everything under control without me fumbling around."
A low grunt of disapproval resounds across the room at this. Clearly, someone isn't too amused.
Getting himself down from a ladder on the far end of the shop, Fujimiya Ran makes his way to the counter where Youji is happily doing nothing, and hoping he can keep doing nothing for the remainder of the day. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call wishful thinking.
As Ran approaches, the smile on everyone's favorite playboy is sent skittering away with the force of those blazing violet eyes speaking volumes without a word.
Then again, he generally speaks volumes vocally, too. "Youji, get to work. When this shop has four walls again, then you can take a break. No excuses."
As annoyed as Youji is by being bossed around, there are some people you just don't cross, no matter how much emotional growth they have gone through lately. Luckily for him, just as he is about to sluggishly pick up a hammer and nails himself, another figure disturbs the busy-bees, giving him an excuse for slacking-off.
"Sakura! Just the bishoujo I wanted to see."
Casting smiles and waves to the spread out crew, Tomoe Sakura works her way through the mess, fully ready to be put to work, and once again dawning one of those glittering, golden earrings, happily back where it belongs. "Konichiwa, minna! I hope you've saved something for me to do."
"Ah, Sakura-chan! I've missed you." Aya calls out brightly, rushing over to embrace her friend, and proudly wearing the other half of that familiar jewelry. "We haven't seen you for days. I was getting worried."
"Baka! I'm fine. I've just had so much make-up work at school after my...ahem...... 'sick-days'."
The girls share a laugh, but truth be told, they have never been happier than the day they finally got to leave Villa White and come home.
As Aya and Sakura catch up, Youji dejectedly start in on work after realizing girl-talk takes precedence over his hope for escape, and everyone else immerses themselves as well. Schuldrich, on the other hand, suddenly appears from the back room, carrying a few tools himself, and Sakura's attention is drawn frighteningly to him as he comes up next to her.
"Hey there, Sweetheart. Long time no capture." the German smirks teasingly. "How have you been?"
Though Aya laughs Schu's playfulness off for what it is, Sakura is a little intimidated - to say the least. "How have I been? In control of my own thoughts, thank you very much, and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Hey now, don't jump to conclusions." Schu mends quickly in defense. "I'm harmless. Most of the time." And then stalks his way off to the far wall to get back to work, leaving Sakura a bit more troubled than she'd like.
"Didn't Birman and Manx say they were coming today, too." Hiromi's matchless voice breaks into the room, also with the task of painting the back wall, and wiping a few beads of sweat from her forehead to prove it.
"Actually, they were right behind me." Sakura replies, eager to put her thoughts on something other than Schuldrich. "I think they had to pick someone up from the train station."
As rare as this occurrence is, Ran's curiosity is unbelievably perked by his young friend's words, and he steps up beside her, raising an elegant eyebrow. "Who...?"
Clink. Oh, what a sad, sad sound, but exciting enough if you consider who has walked through the door. Rosuto Aiko, followed by Manx and Birman, make their grand entrance, catching every eye and every ounce of attention.
"Aiko, you're back!" Amaya exclaims, leaping off the stool she had been precariously balancing on. "This has been one of the longest weeks of my life! What took you so long?"
Offering hugs and broad smiles to her dear companions, Aiko struggles to push through the crowd and reach a safe distance inside the shop, especially since she appears to be hiding something behind her back.
"Preparations took longer than I expected." Aiko smiles in reply to Amaya's question, tossing Ran a sharp glance as if to send him a signal he should understand, but doesn't. "Good news, though. The paperwork was finalized, and I have someone for all of you to meet. Come on out, honey."
Countless eyes look on as the sight of two, tiny hands peek from around Aiko's skirt, followed swiftly by large eyes, and the top of an auburn head. A shy, little girl, about 10 years old, is taking comfort in remaining hidden, but the full image of her adorable frame comes into view as she slips out from behind her guardian.
The others offer kind smiles and greetings, but Ran finds himself tensing, straightening his posture, and standing frozen and unsure as if his eyes are deceiving him. The girl looks eerily reminiscent of another girl. One he has a picture of, in fact. And as miraculous as it is, he knows this is indeed the same girl.
"Everyone, I want you to meet...Azumi." Aiko introduces, playing the mother figure, and fitting the part all too well. "Rosuto Azumi, to be exact. She'll be staying with us from now on. Azumi...this is everyone."
The poor thing looks positively terrified, staring into a room filled with interesting and down right frightening individuals.
Taking note of the girl's unease, Omi plucks a tulip from the lone vase they have set on the counter, and approaches Azumi very cautiously, holding it out for her to take.
"It's okay to be shy, Azumi, but we're all friends here." he comforts, smiling brilliantly as she accepts his offering. "Some of us might seem a little strange at first, but I bet you'll never meet a nicer bunch. Knowing Aiko a little all ready should be proof enough of that."
Azumi smiles, her little cheeks reddening from so much attention, and as her eyes span the room once again, she takes in the many figures with a little more confidence. In fact, when her gaze rests upon a certain dark-haired young man, with glasses falling from the bridge of his nose, those inquisitive eyes gleam to the size of saucers.
Tugging gently on Aiko's skirt, the girl whispers a tentative and anxious question. "Aiko-chan......is that him...?"
Casting a nervous glance from side to side, Brad Crawford isn't exactly sure how to take this act of being singled out. Why would this newcomer, this dear young girl, take so much notice of him?
"Hai, Azumi. Why don't I introduce you?" Aiko suggests warmly, taking hold of her charges hand, and leading her through the shop to stand before Brad, who feels very awkward, even if all this attention is coming from just one tiny person. "Brad, you and Azumi have quite a bit in common."
"We do...?"
Taking the slightest, brave step away from Aiko, and closer to this tall stranger in front of her, Azumi looks up into Brad's bronze eyes behind the glass, and asks in a very small voice. "Do you...sometimes......see what's gonna happen before it happens?"
Unable to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching, Brad grins back at her, nodding with great sincerity and tenderness.
"Really...? So do I!"
At last, those who didn't know Azumi's little secret, understand a little better how special this young girl is.
Aiko senses that so much commotion and unfamiliar faces probably isn't the best thing for Azumi to face right now - with her whole world changing, and all - and kneels down beside her, in order to address the girl more directly.
"Why don't you and Brad take a walk together, Azumi? I bet he can answer alot of questions for you." the caring red-head expresses, having planned this all along. "You don't have to be scared. He's a big brother, so he has quite a bit of experience dealing with cute, little girls. What do you say?"
While Brad is deeply blushing from Aiko's comments, Azumi bounces excitedly, and with large smiles on both their faces, they head out the door, hand in hand, painting one of the most heart-warming pictures possible. Even stone-cold Nori has a grin stretched across her face, remembering all the times she used to walk with Brad like that - truth be told, they relived one of those moments just the other day.
It is incredibly therapeutic to occasionally forget you grew up.
Moving from friend to friend, Aiko continues her happy greetings, until eventually getting roped in to help with the repairs, though she is more than happy to be added to the work crew. With so many people helping out, "Kitty in the House" should be back to its old self again in no time. Especially if they can keep Birman and Manx long enough to lend a few hands.
"Kyoko-nesan, could you help me with this wall?" Aya's melodic voice calls to Birman, who - along with Manx - is smartly dressed for a hard days work. "We're almost done with the others, so I thought I'd get a head start."
Giving a confirming nod, Birman silently goes to join the indigo-haired young woman, leaving Manx to search around for her own position in aiding the rebuilding crew. Too bad someone else already has a few ideas for what the sultry red-head can do.
"Manx, you little vixen..." a certain blonde womanizer starts in, suavely working his way over to intercept his favorite object of affection. "With everything that's happened, I think you've about run out of those rain-checks of yours. How about the two of us catch a movie later. I'm a reformed man now, ya know? No more funny business; just innocent fun. Come on, gimme a chance."
As expected, the same old look of disapproval plants itself on Manx' face. However, the same old answer is not what comes out of her tantalizing lips. "You're on." she smirks, and causes Youji to do a major double-take.
"Nani?! Manx, are you actually saying yes?" he exclaims in disbelief, which is exactly what each and every onlooker is thinking, too.
"Hai, I am." Manx laughs in response, thoroughly amused by the reaction she has gotten. "And, honey......the name's Hanae. I think we know each other well enough to forget the Manx business, ne?"
With a teasing swivel of her hips, and a coy wink over her shoulder, she slips passed Youji to join in on one of the many tasks at hand, leaving him flushed, overwhelmed, and flying high on cloud nine.
The tasks at hand are indeed many - finishing patching up one of the side walls, total overhaul on all the windows, painting basically everything, and the soon-to-come fun part of redecorating and restocking the flowers. Amazingly enough, most of the upstairs is already finished and livable, though few things were salvaged after the initial blast so long ago. Still, it has been very nice having an extra building for lodgings once again. The 12 members of the three groups, as well as Toto and Aya, got a bit cramped all in one apartment, though they managed well enough. A couple of them even talked about perhaps getting their own place, but Weiss is very happy with their lives at the flower shop, Aya has to stay with them, the lovely Fluesternd ladies adore their coffee and gift shop, and Schwarz and Toto don't really have any other place to go. Who knows where Fate will take them in the future, but for now they are quite content living and working together.
Life goes on.
In the back room, where all the extra tools and supplies have been stored, Ken is now diligently searching for an extra hammer that Ran asked him to find. Unfortunately, when he finally spots it, the damn thing is mocking him from the top of a very high shelf.
"Youji!" he grumbles angrily, straining to reach it. "Why is it tall people always have to put things away out of everyone else's' reach?"
Ken is by no means a short young man, but he isn't very tall either, and this shelf reaches far above his head. In an effort to get the hammer without having to scavenge for an extra stool, the brunette balances himself on one of the lower shelves, bringing him almost within an inch of success. Just a little further...another stretch of his arm...and...he grabs it, with just enough force - or should I say, too much - to send him tumbling backwards, and heading straight for the harsh comfort of the floor.
It never comes. Instead, strong arms catch him from behind, holding him steady, as a very breathy but strong voice speaks next to his ear. "You're a bit of a clutz, aren't you?"
Embarrassed and uncomfortable, Ken struggles to right himself, escaping from those saving arms, and spinning around to face the owner of the voice he knows all too well. There before him stands Nori Crawford - yes, Nori Crawford, since that is her true name - who is giving him an adorable, sideways smile.
Scratching the back of his head nervously, Ken hopes to think up some masculinity-saving explanation for his clumsiness, but there isn't any. So, he focuses his attention on her, and notices that she has something tucked under her arm, and clings to it as a topic to switch the subject off of his unfortunate tendencies.
"What's that ya got there?" he questions, gesturing to the book with the hammer he still has clasped in his hand.
Grinning secretively, Nori holds the book up so he can read the title. "This is for you, actually. Do you remember it?"
In a flash, Ken's turquoise eyes light up, and he snatches the book from her hand, staring at the familiar cover in complete and utter awe. "This is my book! The one I was looking for the day we......well...when you -"
"When I called you an idiot, macho underling?"
"Uhhh...yeah. That day." Ken chuckles back, remembering how much *fun* their first meeting had been all those weeks ago. "I can't believe you......wait. How did you know this was the book I was looking for? I never got around to telling you what it was?"
Now it is Nori's turn to look a bit uncomfortable. "Oh, I....sort of...snooped around, I guess. The guys know you better than you think they do. All I did was ask the three of them a few simple questions, and I was able to narrow it down. I'm just sorry it took me so long to give it you."
Ken can't help smiling to himself at this. (Looks like I had them wrong. But she's the one I was really wrong about.)
"Arigato, Nori. This is really sweet of you."
The pair exchanges mirrored looks of contentment and genuine smiles, but soon their moment is replaced by that old, awkward silence. Now what? Sweet conversation, humor, sentiment, and now......nothing.
Ken, obviously, is far from taking the initiative in a situation like this, so the next move is up to Nori, and she is definitely up to the challenge.
"This is ridiculous!" she cries in exasperation. "We've been through life and death together and we're still acting like children. Come here!"
Before Ken has time to react, Nori crosses the small space separating them, grabs him by the front of his shirt, and pulls him in for a very unexpected but welcome kiss, sending cold shivers down his spine.
The feeling is more intense than anything they have experienced so far. Perhaps it is due to the lack of intimacy they have been able to share since things quieted down and Schwarz fully disbanded as evildoers, or perhaps it is just the right time. Whatever it is, all that really matters is that this moment is......
Magic.
"Has anyone seen a -" cuts in an ill-timed voice, as someone walks into the room, unaware of what he is about to find. "......oh. Bad timing, huh?"
Achingly pulling apart, Ken and Nori turn away from each other to face who has disturbed them, and discover they have been interrupted by the very last person they would want to catch them in the act.
"Crawford!" Ken blurts out, near hysterics, and becoming unbearably tense in a very short amount of time. After all, there is nothing worse than having your love interest's older and much bigger brother walk in on you while making time with his sister - of whom he is *very* protective of. "Look, this isn't...well...it is, but I...errr...uhh......you're not gonna kill me, are you?"
Brad instantly lifts an eyebrow in response, giving an almost unreadable expression, but Nori is finding all of this incredibly funny. In fact, she's laughing her head off. Ken, on the other hand, doesn't see the humor.
"No. At least, that wasn't the *first* though that came to my mind." Brad says in reply to Ken's babbling, sounding way to serious as he pushes his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. "Of course, after finishing my walk with Azumi, this wasn't exactly the first thing I thought I would see. Hmmm..."
By the looks of the tall American's face, he seems to be considering something, which doesn't sit very well with Ken. "Wha...what are you thinking about?"
"Oh, just remembering what I imagined myself saying to the young men who would one day come courting my sister."
"Like what?" Nori pipes in, mock-defensively, and with a raised eyebrow of her own.
"You know, the usual." Brad shrugs, moving ever so much closer to Ken. "Don't stay out too late, keep your hands to yourself, I have a .45 and a shovel." On that note he pauses, leaning far forward to make very close eye-contact with Ken. "I do, by the way."
"Brad!"
"Kidding! Just kidding." Brad jumps in quickly, though the slight glint of light over his glasses ties a knot in Ken's stomach. "I guess I'll leave you two alone now. I was just looking for that extra hammer."
Catching sight of his quarry in Ken's somewhat trembling hand, Brad gestures to it, which prompts Ken to swiftly turn it over. Then, with a mischievous smile, Brad leaves the storage room behind, and the terrified brunette at last remembers to breathe again.
Nori, of course, immediately bursts out laughing, eating up every sibling moment she can. This moment, without a doubt, is no exception.
"Nori..." Ken inquires, in a very timid voice. "He *was* kidding......right?"
Laughing all the more merrily at this, the lovely, navy-haired young woman pulls Ken in again. "Get over here." And helps him forget about every last one of his apprehensions.
Back inside the main shop area, the others are still busily at work. Well, most of them are anyway. Omi has become distracted by an overwhelming urge to dispel those naughty thoughts Youji planted in Amaya's head.
Over the past few weeks he has tried to let it go, but knowing that she believes him to be something he most certainly is not, just isn't sitting well with him. I mean, who in their right mind would ever imagine little Omiitchi and playboy Yotan getting it on in the back of the mobile flower shop?
No comment.
"Sumimasen, Amaya......" he begins, peering over her shoulder as she stands back to admire her handiwork. "......there's something I've been meaning to tell you."
"What is it, Bombay-kitten?" the pixie grins, giving him her full attention.
"Well...about that conversation we had a while back.....you know, in the kitchen, about Youji and I....." Being the innocent minded boy that he is, Omi can't quite finish the thought, but by the sound of Amaya's delighted squeal, he's pretty sure she knows what he's talking about. "Anyway, I just wanted you to know that...well...it isn't true. Youji just said all those things to...actually, I really don't know why he said all those things, but he was just playing around with you. We've never...I mean...uhhh......we're friends. *Just* friends, and that's all we've ever been."
This admission causes the always-present smile on Amaya's face to drain away, and the paintbrush falls limply at her side as she struggles for the right words. "Does that mean......he was lying about everything? You don't really like me, either?"
"No! I mean, yes! I mean......I *do* like you Amaya. Of course I do." Omi frantically sputters out in attempt at fixing the mess he has only made worse. "I think Youji was just trying to help us get together, that's all. But he didn't have to make anything up about me liking you. I already did."
In less than a heartbeat, Amaya's smile is firmly back on her face, and the paintbrush falls from her fingers completely as her hands become occupied with holding something else - Omi. "That's all I needed to here!"
Watching on as the tiny brunette dips Omi back, Toto also find herself distracted from work, giggling at how adorable the couple is. She and Nagi have had some very welcome moments of coupliness themselves, but like everyone else, the past few weeks have been extremely busy for both of them.
Not surprisingly, Toto is a true romantic at heart, and if she were blessed enough to be granted one wish, she knows exactly what it would be. To never spend a single moment apart from the boy she loves.
"Look, Nagi-kun. Aren't they so sweet together?" the turquoise-haired girl sighs nostalgically, her eyes trained on the pair a few feet in front of her.
Turning away from his section of the half-painted wall, Nagi sets his gaze on the heart-warming sight along with Toto, before looking back down at her, and smiling his truly peerless smile. "Hai, Nanami. Sometimes they remind me of us."
"They do?" Toto shoots back, tilting her head up questioningly. "Then why don't you ever kiss *me* like that?"
Such a sudden and blunt accusation leaves Nagi speechless.
"I know we kiss, but it's always *me* kissing *you*, never the other way around." Toto goes on, with a curiously teasing expression. "Are you afraid, or something?"
For what seems like far too long on Nagi's end, he struggles to form the right words in reply, having little success, until finally forcing himself to admit the truth. "I guess I am a little afraid. I know I shouldn't be, but you remember what happened the time I *did* try to kiss you. It was a disaster! I'll just end up doing it wrong."
"Baka!" Toto reprimands, facing Nagi full on with tiny fists planted firmly on her hips. "You do a great job kissing back. I'm sure you can do it. You just need more faith in yourself. Come on, Nagi-kun. Kiss me."
Blushing profusely, Nagi casts a few sheepish glances around to make sure no one is looking, being a very private and somewhat shy individual. Still, there is no way he would even think about saying no, especially considering how adorable Toto looks with those pouty lips and clenched eyes waiting for him to make his move.
Ever so slowly, he leans in, determined not to bump noses the way he did the last time he tried this, and when their lips finally meet - so softly - with the tender caress only he can offer, every once of fear proves to be worth it.
"Kawaii!" pierces out a nearby voice, high-pitched and full of merriment. "I just love moments like this."
Beat-red and giggling, the pair break apart and realize that the very couple they had just been observing is now observing them. As always, Amaya has attached herself to Omi's arm, but for once, he looks completely at ease with her presence there.
"Heehee! We really are similar, Nagi-kun." Toto laughs, snuggling into his arm the way Amaya has claimed Omi's. "And you kissed very well, by the way. Very well."
The girls share a few naughty looks, while the boys share expressions of embarrassment, but there is clearly a sense of unity between the two couples, like looking into some odd mirror image. In fact, their similarities pop a very ingenious idea into Amaya's head.
"Say, Nanami..." she begins, smiling slyly. "...I just had a thought. Maybe once in a while, if we're up for it, we could......swap. Might be fun."
Naturally, at the very same time, in the very same, panicked tone of voice, Nagi and Omi both cry out. "Swap!?!"
Toto, however, gets an incredibly contemplative look on her face, as if she is seriously considering Amaya's offer. The boys find this profoundly nerve-wracking, but to their extreme relief, she eventually gets a huge grin on her face, and both girls burst out laughing, commenting on how easy it is to get their two young men to believe in something.
"You know, I used to think they were frightening enough on their own." Omi whispers in Nagi's ear, while the girls continue their cruel sense of bonding. "But now that they're friends......I think we're in over our heads."
Nagi, of course, whole-heartedly agrees.
A little ways away, Schuldrich and Hiromi are finishing up putting the last few loose boards up around the nearly completed wall, having taken in the chibis' exchanges out of the corners of their eyes.
Though you might expect the exact opposite, the two of them have been working side by side without speaking barely two words to each other the entire day. Of course, spoken words aren't always necessary, but Schu hasn't been up to his old tricks again either. Truth be told, he was forced to swear that from now on he will only break into someone else's thoughts with permission, or if it's an emergency, and he hasn't gone back on his word once.
Well, he's trying really hard not to, anyway.
"Look at those kids." Schuldrich comments with a smirk, nudging Hiromi gently in the side to get her attention. "You think they know how unprepared they are to grow up?"
In response, Hiromi offers a very skeptical furrow of her brow. "Look who's talking. You have the emotional maturity of a sock-puppet."
"Oh really? Thanks for the vote of confidence." he shoots right back. "You don't fool me for a second. I know how you really feel about me."
Hiromi's previously skeptical look is replaced by something far more animated. "The only thing I feel for you is pity. How anyone could be granted with the gift to see inside people's minds and still be so oblivious to what they actually think is beyond me."
"Then why do you find me so attractive?"
"What makes you think that?"
"I have my ways."
"Ways you shouldn't be using without my consent."
"If you have nothing to hide then why do you care?"
"............"
"That's what I thought."
There is nothing Chin Hiromi hates more than being left speechless. Conversation is her forte, after all, and no one ever gets the one-up on her. Well, until now, that is.
Though Schu is happily returning to his brush strokes, wearing a smirk that could make almost anyone want to punch him, the voluptuous blonde next to him is sitting silent and annoyed, searching for a come back she just doesn't have.
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
"Well, if I don't, then why don't you do something about it?"
"Why don't *you*?"
"........."
Ooo, got her again. Or...did he?
Rising from her spot on the floor, Hiromi steps up very close to Schu from behind, playfully enough, temptingly enough, to force him to turn and face her. Now, Schuldrich is no amateur, but he hasn't come across the likes of someone like this before, especially not someone with such tantalizing curves.
His face going blank, all words and breath catch in Schu's throat as Hiromi calls his bluff and leans in, placing the lightest, feather touch of a kiss on his lips, and leaving him begging for more.
"I just wanted to make sure I'd have the upper hand." Hiromi whispers, hovering less than a centimeter from his now moistened lips. Schuldrich is positively trembling. "And now that I do......I can take my time."
Pulling swiftly back, she leaves him hanging there, suspended, and dives back into her chore as if nothing had happened at all.
For maybe the briefest moment Schuldrich's eyes flash with anger, confusion, longing, but he refuses to play the fool for his emotions. Instead, that old familiar, side-ways smirk paints over his features, and he joins back in on the painting, humming a very jovial tune under his breath.
(I just love the difficult ones......)
Returning to that infamous back room once again, Farfarello is now the lone figure to be occupying it, searching for a few packs of nails that are apparently buried somewhere in the mess at the back.
Lucky him.
All of his old, customary wounds have healed over now, making bandages unnecessary, but outside of getting a glass eye, he won't be losing the eye-patch anytime soon. It doesn't bother him the way it would bother most people, though it does often feel like a shower of ice water every time he looks in the mirror, catching sight of all those scars looking back at him.
Once upon a time, they were things of beauty to be admired, and now he just wishes he could make them go away.
Forgetting about the nails for a moment, Farfie sits down on one of the crates at the back, staring off into space - lost in thought. Life isn't easy, but no one ever said it would be. That's why we have friends, remember? And *Jei* is no exception to this rule.
"Are you all right?"
Caught off guard, Farfarello jumps a little in his seat, flinching his head up towards the intruder's voice. He isn't all that surprised to see who it is, though.
"I would say I've been better, but that's not really true." he breathes out low and gentle, almost hypnotic at the sound. "Some days are difficult, but everything was so much harder before you came into my life......Aiko."
Pulling up a crate of her own, the graceful red-head moves in close to her troubled friend, always ready to offer an ear, especially after being gone for so long. "I always knew this would be the hardest on you, Jei. I remember what it was like for myself. Would you like to know what I think might really help put your past behind you?"
Farfie doesn't have to reply, the look in his breathtaking, tawny eye is enough of a pleading confirmation.
"You and I need to take a trip together." Aiko explains, gradually moving an arm around the young albino's shoulders, and pulling him in to rest his head against her. "Ruth's body was shipped back to her congregation, you know? We could visit everyone all at once. Your whole family. It would be good for you to see home again."
There is a tightness that clings to Farfarello's chest, and it shines through in his expression, as well as his words. "I don't know if I can do that yet......"
"I understand. But it should be soon. As much as it hurts, you are still their child. Ruth's and your other family's. To them you will always be Jei......hn. I don't know your last name." Aiko realizes in mid-thought, since she couldn't complete his title. "I've never had to use it before. Do you remember what it is?"
At first, he looks as if he is about to say it, but then his brow creases, and his shoulders hunch just a little more. He doesn't remember. It has been so long, with so much put between him and those happy, childhood days.
"It's all right, Jei. All the more reason to visit them when you're ready." Aiko soothes, holding him tighter. "Until then, you'll just have to use mine. Rosuto Jei doesn't sound half bad, ne? Heh...it's sort of ironic. Your name means 'follower of God,' so if you pair it with mine, it becomes -"
"A lost follower of God..." Farfie finishes, smiling somberly at how fitting it truly is.
Aiko, however, knows to take it a little further. "Not only that. A lost follower of God who was found again. He loves you, Jei. Looking down on you, your family loves you, too......and so do I."
Ah, the tranquil peace of heart-filled moments. But even the most cherished silence is sometimes better off broken.
Pulling gently away from her, Farfarello stands from his crate, and takes Aiko's hands to help her up, as well. The smile on his face now is beautifully reminiscent of that long forgotten photo of a little, Catholic boy laughing with his friends.
How amazing it is what a smile - a real smile - can do for a person's appearance. Though many people may find such disfigurements as Farfarello's frightening, even hideous, he is truly beautiful, and would look that way to anyone with the pleasure of seeing what a smile as rare as his can do.
"Aiko......there is something I've been wanting to do...for a while now." the Irishman begins, lowering his gaze slightly, as if timid and unsure of himself. "To thank you for everything you've done for me, for all of us. And...I know if I don't do it right now, this very moment, I never will. Even if I'll regret it later, this is something I know I have to do."
Following with the day's trend, Farfarello lifts his hands to Aiko's face, cupping her chin, and pulls her to him, enveloping her lips so passionately in such a simple movement, Aiko's breath is taken away, whisked away on the wind. She can't help succumbing to it, as shocked as she is to be on the receiving end, and if it wasn't for a certain pair of peeping eyes, there is no telling what it would have taken to break them apart.
BAM!
Aiko and Farfarello are jerked apart by the resonance of this unknown sound, like that of someone angrily slamming their first into the wall.
Turning her head instantly towards the door, Aiko catches sight of a pair of violet eyes staring into the room, staring straight through her, before whomever it is dashes away, disappearing back into the shop. Farfarello saw those haunting irises, too, and both know full well who was spying on them.
"Abyssinian!" Aiko calls, taking an instinctive step forward. The full realization of what is happening holds her back, however. After all, the cause of this is a kiss. But what exactly did that kiss mean? "Jei...I -"
"Go." Farfie cuts her off, expressionless, though deeply understanding. "You have to catch up to him."
"But you -"
"It's all right. Don't worry about me." he breaks in again, smiling very subtly, but enough to be genuine, and it is. "It was just something I had to do. He's the one who needs you...the way you need him. What I feel is different. I love you another way, and that's good enough for me. Go. Go after him."
I can't say if it was the lighting, the way her skin glowed white, the way her eyes shone like true amethysts, or even the way her long, red hair blazed like the flicker of a flame, but at the moment, when Aiko touched her hand to Farfarello's cheek, she looked more radiant and loving than she ever had.
And then she was gone, sprinting out the storage room door.
"Did Abyssinian come through here?!" an unbelievably frantic Aiko cries out to the others, fluttering haphazardly from person to person in the main room of the shop.
"Yeah, just a second ago. He ran through the door to the side exit." Ken gives in answer, while everyone else begins huddling in around them. "He looked pretty freaked. What happened?"
"Long story. Let's just say he saw something that wasn't what he thought it was." Aiko replies, sighing deeply in defeat. "I should have known he would run away. Damnit! Why does he always have to be so stubborn and thick-headed?"
Though the others obviously understand Aiko's statements, they are at a slight loss for responses, feeling quite taken aback by her exasperation.
All except Schu, that is, who is never at a loss for words. "That's Fujimiya, all right. Predictable as they come."
"Well, wherever he's gone, I have to find him I just hope he hasn't gotten too far." And with that Aiko throws open the door to follow him, but instead of finding an empty hallway, she comes face to face with a mirror. Or, as I'm sure you can guess, a young man who could very easily pass for her twin.
"Stubborn, am I? Thick-headed?" Ran growls, stalking back inside, and getting right in Aiko's face with a very frightening expression. "That's what you think of me? Just a predictable, little boy, throwing a tantrum?!"
As anyone would be, Aiko is down right scared, backing away with an even paler disposition than usual.
"You want to know what I hate more than anything right now?!" Ran bellows on, grabbing Aiko by the shoulders, and spinning her around to press her back into the wall. "That no one thinks I can be spontaneous!"
And boy does his next action prove all those people wrong.
Pinning Aiko there against the wall, Ran finishes off the shop's ongoing tendencies of the day, and kisses that girl in a way that - as Schu would put it - makes her glad to be a woman.
(It's about time he took my advise.) the smirking German ponders, with the same bemused expression everyone is wearing right now. (I knew he had it in him.)
The moment lasts a good handful of perfect moments, and even with over a dozen other people in the room, the two red-headed beauties are alone in the world while their lips are pressed against each others.
Pulling away at last, Ran releases Aiko from the kiss, but keeps her pinned just a bit longer, making sure he gets to see her reaction. The first thing *she* does is let out a long, quivering sigh, getting a hold of her bearings, but as soon as her eyes meet Ran's again, the flustered look on her face melts into a very pleased smile.
"As far as the spontaneity goes..." she starts off, still a bit breathless, but loving how this day is turning out. Homecomings aren't always this fun. "...I think you've got a pretty good handle on it......Ran." The name comes out with a sultry twist - the first time she has called him by name, actually, though he has already gotten used to calling her Aiko - and brave Ran is fighting off a few pesky butterflies despite his recent leap of faith. "I'm proud of you. This time, however......it's my turn."
Diving right in, Aiko dips Ran back with surprising strength, and returns the delicious gesture he had offered her, followed by a nice reminder of their watchful audience, as the others hoot and holler in approval now that their initial shock has warn down.
Eventually, things truly do settle down in the shop, and all goes gradually back to normal. Boards are being nailed, walls are being painted, and many interesting bits of conversation are fluttering about. This doesn't mean there isn't a bit more fun to be had, though.
Making his way across the street, Schuldrich has his sights on a refreshing, Italian soda from the cafe stand, as well as a much deserved break. Nearing the doors, however, he notices that Farfarello has seated himself at one of the outside tables that now lines the shop's front, and the albino appears to be very deep in thought.
What better reason to take a quick, harmless peek at what might be on the young man's mind.
"How ya doing, Farf?"
Offering a small smile, the Irishman welcomes his friend's company, glad to have someone join him at the table, and help him clear his mind. "Really well, to tell the truth. I don't think I've been this happy in a long time."
"Glad to hear it." Schu grins back. "But...I don't know......are you sure you don't mind Firefly and the Abominable Snowman getting together. I've seen the way you look at her sometimes."
In reply, Farfarello merely lowers his gaze, and the smallest shade of color flushes his whitened cheeks. "I'm sure. The way I see it, if something is meant to be, it will eventually work itself out. Who am I to meddle in Fate?"
All Schu can think of to answer back with is a laugh, that resounding, nasal melody, and that's all he needs to do. Even on his best days, there will always be a part of Farfarello that Schuldrich just doesn't get, though there is also a part of the unique Irishman that he alone understands.
None of the other outside tables are occupied right now, but the presence of two, former teammates sitting together is a magnet for more, and Nagi and Brad suddenly appear out of the woodwork. Well, Brad from around back and Nagi from inside the shop, anyway.
"Hehehe...would you look at us." Schu smirks, rising from his chair, and throwing each of his friends a curious glance. "I still can't believe it."
"Believe what?" Nagi's smooth voice asks, with a tilt of his brunette-colored head.
"This." the red-head gives in answer, as if the word alone is explanation enough. Luckily, he plans to elaborate. "Just look at us. Control, family, friends, sanity! Who'd have thought it would ever turn out like this?"
Leaning back against the building, Brad stares upward at the sky, appearing very calm and relaxed. "I did."
All three of his companions give their former leader a very skeptical raise of their eyebrows at this, but Brad's features are completely serious. Whether it sounds impossible or not, he truly believes his statement, even if the others find that very hard to believe.
"Don't you remember?" Brad continues in explanation, responding to those critical gazes. "The day all of this started I had a vision that Fluesternd would destroy us. They did, didn't they? Schwartz no longer exists."
A peaceful, contented silence drifts over them, thinking that obvious fact over, and every one of them realizes that Brad is absolutely right. From the very beginning they knew how this was going to end, even if there were quite a few surprises along the way.
"No Schwarz. No Weiss. The girls aren't even Fluesternd anymore." Schu comments thoughtfully, smiling to himself. "So what do we call ourselves now? This big, oversized group of ours still plans to defend the weak and abused, don't we? More or less, anyway, right? We should have a name."
The four of them eye each other, searching for an appropriate title, but the one who finally comes up with it is Farfarello.
"Ergraute." the albino states simply.
At the sound of this suggestion, Schu's jade eyes glitter with approval. "Way to go, Farf! That's perfect."
"Ergraute..?" Nagi repeats, sounding out the word. "What does it mean?"
Having the most authority when it comes to the German language, Schuldrich moves closer to Nagi and slips an arm around the boy's shoulders - an action that once upon a time would have made Nagi's skin crawl. "The best translation for it, Nag, is 'turned grey'. Fitting, don't you think? After all, there is no more black and white for us, just one very wide spread combination. I like it."
In all fairness, Farfarello looks quite pleased with himself, and the others have to agree that the name is just what the witch-doctor ordered. They'll have to remember to tell the others about it later.
"You know, it feels strange sometimes, being like this around each other." Brad ponders aloud. "Friends. Maybe we could've been more like this a long time ago if I hadn't...uh......" he trails off, unable to finish his self-loathing apology as he jerks forward slightly, an unseen force striking him in the temples.
The others recognize the signs, growing silent in anticipation for what Brad's gift is showing him. Truthfully, he hasn't had too many large visions since the final battle, but a large part of it has to do with state of mind. If you don't care about sports, you won't be getting any visions concerning the winner of the World Series. If you no longer plan to destroy the world, you hopefully won't be getting any visions concerning death and destruction unless you're supposed to prevent it.
Meaning, no premonitions can sometimes be a good thing.
The tremor passes, and Brad catches his breath, staring off into space, but before anyone can inquire as to what he saw, a boisterous squeal sounds from somewhere inside "Kitten's Cafe," and the doors swing open, with little Azumi bounding out of them.
"Brad-niisan!" she cries, rushing to her newfound buddy, and showing much less inhibition than before. "Did you see what I just saw? Did you see -"
"Shhh." the tall American hushes with a smile, kneeling briskly down beside her. "You wouldn't want to spoil it for everyone, would you, Azumi-chan? Why don't we keep this between us."
Mirroring Brad's somewhat sly expression, Azumi nods, and without another word, goes bustling back inside the shop, giggling despite herself.
Chuckling a little as well, Brad stands back up, and returns his friends' anxious looks with nothing more than a silent grin.
"Well, what did you see?" Schu prompts, realizing that Brad doesn't seem to be sharing.
"Didn't you hear what I told Azumi?" Brad replies tauntingly. "I'd hate to spoil it for you."
The disbelieving German lets out an indignant grunt, glaring at Brad is if he must be completely out of his mind. "You mean, you're not going to tell us?"
Laughing even more under his breath, Brad merely shakes his head, and truth be known, Nagi and Farfarello find this quite funny themselves. After so many years of having insider information, Schu just can't stand the thought of being left out of the loop.
"Sorry, Emery." Brad replies, still beaming brightly - perhaps brighter than he ever has before. "If there is one thing I've learned after all this, it's that sometimes......sometimes it's better to be surprised."
*****owari*****
YAYAYAYAYAYA!!!
*****A/N*****
OMG!!! It's done! It really is! I have been writing this for almost a year. I know I've only been posting in the summer, but I started this last August. No joke! And it's done.
Anyhoo, a couple notes. Forgot to mention that when Ran says Aiko's name at the end of 19, that was the first time he had ever called her anything but Korat. Umm, I'm so excited, I can't think of anything else, so if you have questions, feel free to email me. Otherwise, if you wanna know what Brad and Azumi saw...tough! No, in all truth and honesty, I can't tell ya, cause I don't know. Decide for yourselves.
On a final note - YAY FINAL - I'd just like to thank all the supporters, readers, and reviewers, and to all who have reviewed, this is the defining moment. If you already have, or if you haven't , this is when I need it. Final opinions. Give 'em to me, please!
Alrighty, I guess it's till next time now, which will probably be this FF8 fic I've had stuck in my head for like 2 years. So...thanks again, hope you liked, and I love ya all!
~Crimson~
Go back to sleep.
In one way or another Fate will end up on your side. Don't fight it, just sit back and let it drive you forward, closer to the future it long ago planned out for you. What is meant to be will always find a way, and Fate is the navigator of every life. Embrace it.
Okay, it isn't quite that easy. Despite everything, we still must continue to believe in that one, all saving truth:
Hope.
Hope can and will be snuffed out, but only if we let it. If we stop hoping, stop having faith in our destinies, then we will lose the path and find ourselves lost. Hope waits to be found, longs to be found, giving life to those who trust in it, those who look on the brighter side of life, and it will always be there when we need it.
Close your eyes.
Hope will wait for you to find it, and it is never too late to go looking. Remember, hope will only arise if summoned, whether you call out to it with a song, a scream, a thunderous bellow, or even...yes...even the soft, sweet call...of...whispering......
*****
Life has one constant: time moves forward.
Though only a few weeks have passed since the fateful night that almost ended it all, so much has happened. Mainly, the many members of 3 newly retired groups have been busy rebuilding a favorite flower shop, unable to really relax or even just sit down and talk things out. In fact, Rosuto Aiko has been gone for the good part of a week on a very important errand, and the others are busily working - as usual - on the final repairs to "Kitty in the House."
The grunt work has been reserved for the more robust members - Ken and Farfarello do most of the heavy lifting - but everyone is scattered about the shop as it becomes more and more like its old self again. The older boys and girls are hauling wood or pounding nails, the youngest are fixing up the simpler interior problems, and Nori - for some unknown reason - has discovered a curious love for power tools.
Clink. Someone has entered what remains of the shop door, sounding very wounded without its customary "ding".
Having skipped out earlier on in the day, Kudo Youji comes sauntering in amidst the frantic workers, lazily leaning on the new countertop, and watching with interest while everyone else does their part. "Looks great, guys. Keep up the good work." he grins, accepting the many indignant looks thrown his way as if they were praises of valor.
"Youji-kun, where have you been all morning?" Omi grunts, carrying a bucket and sponge, with a darling bandanna tied around his forehead to keep the hair out of his eyes. "And what's the bandage for?"
Easily distinguishable on Youji's left arm, a large white bandage is covering his tattoo, as if he has recently gotten some unknown edition to it. The tall blonde merely smiles, catching Toto's eye as the boisterous young woman bounds her way over excitedly. Without another word, he pulls back the bandage for those interested in it to see, revealing what appears to be a row of numbers beneath his familiar cross and message.
"What is that? A date?" Ken inquires, appearing from the back room with an armful of long, wooden boards. "That's a few weeks ago, ne? Why would you put that under your tattoo?"
"Hee!" Toto squeals in response. "That was our day! Ne, Yotan?
With a wink, Youji's puts the bandage back in place. "That's right, Nanami. This one's for you. After all......that's the day I learned."
Omi and Ken exchange curious looks, but this little secret is just between Youji and Toto; the day she helped him remember who he is, and set him back on track. The others offer approving glances and comments in passing, but mostly they just want him to get his butt in gear and lighten their end of the burden a bit.
"I know you've just had a needle prodding at your skin..." Nagi begins, while half-heartedly handing Farfie a screwdriver, without having to hand it to him. "...but we could use your help around here."
"My help? Don't be silly. You've got everything under control without me fumbling around."
A low grunt of disapproval resounds across the room at this. Clearly, someone isn't too amused.
Getting himself down from a ladder on the far end of the shop, Fujimiya Ran makes his way to the counter where Youji is happily doing nothing, and hoping he can keep doing nothing for the remainder of the day. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call wishful thinking.
As Ran approaches, the smile on everyone's favorite playboy is sent skittering away with the force of those blazing violet eyes speaking volumes without a word.
Then again, he generally speaks volumes vocally, too. "Youji, get to work. When this shop has four walls again, then you can take a break. No excuses."
As annoyed as Youji is by being bossed around, there are some people you just don't cross, no matter how much emotional growth they have gone through lately. Luckily for him, just as he is about to sluggishly pick up a hammer and nails himself, another figure disturbs the busy-bees, giving him an excuse for slacking-off.
"Sakura! Just the bishoujo I wanted to see."
Casting smiles and waves to the spread out crew, Tomoe Sakura works her way through the mess, fully ready to be put to work, and once again dawning one of those glittering, golden earrings, happily back where it belongs. "Konichiwa, minna! I hope you've saved something for me to do."
"Ah, Sakura-chan! I've missed you." Aya calls out brightly, rushing over to embrace her friend, and proudly wearing the other half of that familiar jewelry. "We haven't seen you for days. I was getting worried."
"Baka! I'm fine. I've just had so much make-up work at school after my...ahem...... 'sick-days'."
The girls share a laugh, but truth be told, they have never been happier than the day they finally got to leave Villa White and come home.
As Aya and Sakura catch up, Youji dejectedly start in on work after realizing girl-talk takes precedence over his hope for escape, and everyone else immerses themselves as well. Schuldrich, on the other hand, suddenly appears from the back room, carrying a few tools himself, and Sakura's attention is drawn frighteningly to him as he comes up next to her.
"Hey there, Sweetheart. Long time no capture." the German smirks teasingly. "How have you been?"
Though Aya laughs Schu's playfulness off for what it is, Sakura is a little intimidated - to say the least. "How have I been? In control of my own thoughts, thank you very much, and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Hey now, don't jump to conclusions." Schu mends quickly in defense. "I'm harmless. Most of the time." And then stalks his way off to the far wall to get back to work, leaving Sakura a bit more troubled than she'd like.
"Didn't Birman and Manx say they were coming today, too." Hiromi's matchless voice breaks into the room, also with the task of painting the back wall, and wiping a few beads of sweat from her forehead to prove it.
"Actually, they were right behind me." Sakura replies, eager to put her thoughts on something other than Schuldrich. "I think they had to pick someone up from the train station."
As rare as this occurrence is, Ran's curiosity is unbelievably perked by his young friend's words, and he steps up beside her, raising an elegant eyebrow. "Who...?"
Clink. Oh, what a sad, sad sound, but exciting enough if you consider who has walked through the door. Rosuto Aiko, followed by Manx and Birman, make their grand entrance, catching every eye and every ounce of attention.
"Aiko, you're back!" Amaya exclaims, leaping off the stool she had been precariously balancing on. "This has been one of the longest weeks of my life! What took you so long?"
Offering hugs and broad smiles to her dear companions, Aiko struggles to push through the crowd and reach a safe distance inside the shop, especially since she appears to be hiding something behind her back.
"Preparations took longer than I expected." Aiko smiles in reply to Amaya's question, tossing Ran a sharp glance as if to send him a signal he should understand, but doesn't. "Good news, though. The paperwork was finalized, and I have someone for all of you to meet. Come on out, honey."
Countless eyes look on as the sight of two, tiny hands peek from around Aiko's skirt, followed swiftly by large eyes, and the top of an auburn head. A shy, little girl, about 10 years old, is taking comfort in remaining hidden, but the full image of her adorable frame comes into view as she slips out from behind her guardian.
The others offer kind smiles and greetings, but Ran finds himself tensing, straightening his posture, and standing frozen and unsure as if his eyes are deceiving him. The girl looks eerily reminiscent of another girl. One he has a picture of, in fact. And as miraculous as it is, he knows this is indeed the same girl.
"Everyone, I want you to meet...Azumi." Aiko introduces, playing the mother figure, and fitting the part all too well. "Rosuto Azumi, to be exact. She'll be staying with us from now on. Azumi...this is everyone."
The poor thing looks positively terrified, staring into a room filled with interesting and down right frightening individuals.
Taking note of the girl's unease, Omi plucks a tulip from the lone vase they have set on the counter, and approaches Azumi very cautiously, holding it out for her to take.
"It's okay to be shy, Azumi, but we're all friends here." he comforts, smiling brilliantly as she accepts his offering. "Some of us might seem a little strange at first, but I bet you'll never meet a nicer bunch. Knowing Aiko a little all ready should be proof enough of that."
Azumi smiles, her little cheeks reddening from so much attention, and as her eyes span the room once again, she takes in the many figures with a little more confidence. In fact, when her gaze rests upon a certain dark-haired young man, with glasses falling from the bridge of his nose, those inquisitive eyes gleam to the size of saucers.
Tugging gently on Aiko's skirt, the girl whispers a tentative and anxious question. "Aiko-chan......is that him...?"
Casting a nervous glance from side to side, Brad Crawford isn't exactly sure how to take this act of being singled out. Why would this newcomer, this dear young girl, take so much notice of him?
"Hai, Azumi. Why don't I introduce you?" Aiko suggests warmly, taking hold of her charges hand, and leading her through the shop to stand before Brad, who feels very awkward, even if all this attention is coming from just one tiny person. "Brad, you and Azumi have quite a bit in common."
"We do...?"
Taking the slightest, brave step away from Aiko, and closer to this tall stranger in front of her, Azumi looks up into Brad's bronze eyes behind the glass, and asks in a very small voice. "Do you...sometimes......see what's gonna happen before it happens?"
Unable to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching, Brad grins back at her, nodding with great sincerity and tenderness.
"Really...? So do I!"
At last, those who didn't know Azumi's little secret, understand a little better how special this young girl is.
Aiko senses that so much commotion and unfamiliar faces probably isn't the best thing for Azumi to face right now - with her whole world changing, and all - and kneels down beside her, in order to address the girl more directly.
"Why don't you and Brad take a walk together, Azumi? I bet he can answer alot of questions for you." the caring red-head expresses, having planned this all along. "You don't have to be scared. He's a big brother, so he has quite a bit of experience dealing with cute, little girls. What do you say?"
While Brad is deeply blushing from Aiko's comments, Azumi bounces excitedly, and with large smiles on both their faces, they head out the door, hand in hand, painting one of the most heart-warming pictures possible. Even stone-cold Nori has a grin stretched across her face, remembering all the times she used to walk with Brad like that - truth be told, they relived one of those moments just the other day.
It is incredibly therapeutic to occasionally forget you grew up.
Moving from friend to friend, Aiko continues her happy greetings, until eventually getting roped in to help with the repairs, though she is more than happy to be added to the work crew. With so many people helping out, "Kitty in the House" should be back to its old self again in no time. Especially if they can keep Birman and Manx long enough to lend a few hands.
"Kyoko-nesan, could you help me with this wall?" Aya's melodic voice calls to Birman, who - along with Manx - is smartly dressed for a hard days work. "We're almost done with the others, so I thought I'd get a head start."
Giving a confirming nod, Birman silently goes to join the indigo-haired young woman, leaving Manx to search around for her own position in aiding the rebuilding crew. Too bad someone else already has a few ideas for what the sultry red-head can do.
"Manx, you little vixen..." a certain blonde womanizer starts in, suavely working his way over to intercept his favorite object of affection. "With everything that's happened, I think you've about run out of those rain-checks of yours. How about the two of us catch a movie later. I'm a reformed man now, ya know? No more funny business; just innocent fun. Come on, gimme a chance."
As expected, the same old look of disapproval plants itself on Manx' face. However, the same old answer is not what comes out of her tantalizing lips. "You're on." she smirks, and causes Youji to do a major double-take.
"Nani?! Manx, are you actually saying yes?" he exclaims in disbelief, which is exactly what each and every onlooker is thinking, too.
"Hai, I am." Manx laughs in response, thoroughly amused by the reaction she has gotten. "And, honey......the name's Hanae. I think we know each other well enough to forget the Manx business, ne?"
With a teasing swivel of her hips, and a coy wink over her shoulder, she slips passed Youji to join in on one of the many tasks at hand, leaving him flushed, overwhelmed, and flying high on cloud nine.
The tasks at hand are indeed many - finishing patching up one of the side walls, total overhaul on all the windows, painting basically everything, and the soon-to-come fun part of redecorating and restocking the flowers. Amazingly enough, most of the upstairs is already finished and livable, though few things were salvaged after the initial blast so long ago. Still, it has been very nice having an extra building for lodgings once again. The 12 members of the three groups, as well as Toto and Aya, got a bit cramped all in one apartment, though they managed well enough. A couple of them even talked about perhaps getting their own place, but Weiss is very happy with their lives at the flower shop, Aya has to stay with them, the lovely Fluesternd ladies adore their coffee and gift shop, and Schwarz and Toto don't really have any other place to go. Who knows where Fate will take them in the future, but for now they are quite content living and working together.
Life goes on.
In the back room, where all the extra tools and supplies have been stored, Ken is now diligently searching for an extra hammer that Ran asked him to find. Unfortunately, when he finally spots it, the damn thing is mocking him from the top of a very high shelf.
"Youji!" he grumbles angrily, straining to reach it. "Why is it tall people always have to put things away out of everyone else's' reach?"
Ken is by no means a short young man, but he isn't very tall either, and this shelf reaches far above his head. In an effort to get the hammer without having to scavenge for an extra stool, the brunette balances himself on one of the lower shelves, bringing him almost within an inch of success. Just a little further...another stretch of his arm...and...he grabs it, with just enough force - or should I say, too much - to send him tumbling backwards, and heading straight for the harsh comfort of the floor.
It never comes. Instead, strong arms catch him from behind, holding him steady, as a very breathy but strong voice speaks next to his ear. "You're a bit of a clutz, aren't you?"
Embarrassed and uncomfortable, Ken struggles to right himself, escaping from those saving arms, and spinning around to face the owner of the voice he knows all too well. There before him stands Nori Crawford - yes, Nori Crawford, since that is her true name - who is giving him an adorable, sideways smile.
Scratching the back of his head nervously, Ken hopes to think up some masculinity-saving explanation for his clumsiness, but there isn't any. So, he focuses his attention on her, and notices that she has something tucked under her arm, and clings to it as a topic to switch the subject off of his unfortunate tendencies.
"What's that ya got there?" he questions, gesturing to the book with the hammer he still has clasped in his hand.
Grinning secretively, Nori holds the book up so he can read the title. "This is for you, actually. Do you remember it?"
In a flash, Ken's turquoise eyes light up, and he snatches the book from her hand, staring at the familiar cover in complete and utter awe. "This is my book! The one I was looking for the day we......well...when you -"
"When I called you an idiot, macho underling?"
"Uhhh...yeah. That day." Ken chuckles back, remembering how much *fun* their first meeting had been all those weeks ago. "I can't believe you......wait. How did you know this was the book I was looking for? I never got around to telling you what it was?"
Now it is Nori's turn to look a bit uncomfortable. "Oh, I....sort of...snooped around, I guess. The guys know you better than you think they do. All I did was ask the three of them a few simple questions, and I was able to narrow it down. I'm just sorry it took me so long to give it you."
Ken can't help smiling to himself at this. (Looks like I had them wrong. But she's the one I was really wrong about.)
"Arigato, Nori. This is really sweet of you."
The pair exchanges mirrored looks of contentment and genuine smiles, but soon their moment is replaced by that old, awkward silence. Now what? Sweet conversation, humor, sentiment, and now......nothing.
Ken, obviously, is far from taking the initiative in a situation like this, so the next move is up to Nori, and she is definitely up to the challenge.
"This is ridiculous!" she cries in exasperation. "We've been through life and death together and we're still acting like children. Come here!"
Before Ken has time to react, Nori crosses the small space separating them, grabs him by the front of his shirt, and pulls him in for a very unexpected but welcome kiss, sending cold shivers down his spine.
The feeling is more intense than anything they have experienced so far. Perhaps it is due to the lack of intimacy they have been able to share since things quieted down and Schwarz fully disbanded as evildoers, or perhaps it is just the right time. Whatever it is, all that really matters is that this moment is......
Magic.
"Has anyone seen a -" cuts in an ill-timed voice, as someone walks into the room, unaware of what he is about to find. "......oh. Bad timing, huh?"
Achingly pulling apart, Ken and Nori turn away from each other to face who has disturbed them, and discover they have been interrupted by the very last person they would want to catch them in the act.
"Crawford!" Ken blurts out, near hysterics, and becoming unbearably tense in a very short amount of time. After all, there is nothing worse than having your love interest's older and much bigger brother walk in on you while making time with his sister - of whom he is *very* protective of. "Look, this isn't...well...it is, but I...errr...uhh......you're not gonna kill me, are you?"
Brad instantly lifts an eyebrow in response, giving an almost unreadable expression, but Nori is finding all of this incredibly funny. In fact, she's laughing her head off. Ken, on the other hand, doesn't see the humor.
"No. At least, that wasn't the *first* though that came to my mind." Brad says in reply to Ken's babbling, sounding way to serious as he pushes his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. "Of course, after finishing my walk with Azumi, this wasn't exactly the first thing I thought I would see. Hmmm..."
By the looks of the tall American's face, he seems to be considering something, which doesn't sit very well with Ken. "Wha...what are you thinking about?"
"Oh, just remembering what I imagined myself saying to the young men who would one day come courting my sister."
"Like what?" Nori pipes in, mock-defensively, and with a raised eyebrow of her own.
"You know, the usual." Brad shrugs, moving ever so much closer to Ken. "Don't stay out too late, keep your hands to yourself, I have a .45 and a shovel." On that note he pauses, leaning far forward to make very close eye-contact with Ken. "I do, by the way."
"Brad!"
"Kidding! Just kidding." Brad jumps in quickly, though the slight glint of light over his glasses ties a knot in Ken's stomach. "I guess I'll leave you two alone now. I was just looking for that extra hammer."
Catching sight of his quarry in Ken's somewhat trembling hand, Brad gestures to it, which prompts Ken to swiftly turn it over. Then, with a mischievous smile, Brad leaves the storage room behind, and the terrified brunette at last remembers to breathe again.
Nori, of course, immediately bursts out laughing, eating up every sibling moment she can. This moment, without a doubt, is no exception.
"Nori..." Ken inquires, in a very timid voice. "He *was* kidding......right?"
Laughing all the more merrily at this, the lovely, navy-haired young woman pulls Ken in again. "Get over here." And helps him forget about every last one of his apprehensions.
Back inside the main shop area, the others are still busily at work. Well, most of them are anyway. Omi has become distracted by an overwhelming urge to dispel those naughty thoughts Youji planted in Amaya's head.
Over the past few weeks he has tried to let it go, but knowing that she believes him to be something he most certainly is not, just isn't sitting well with him. I mean, who in their right mind would ever imagine little Omiitchi and playboy Yotan getting it on in the back of the mobile flower shop?
No comment.
"Sumimasen, Amaya......" he begins, peering over her shoulder as she stands back to admire her handiwork. "......there's something I've been meaning to tell you."
"What is it, Bombay-kitten?" the pixie grins, giving him her full attention.
"Well...about that conversation we had a while back.....you know, in the kitchen, about Youji and I....." Being the innocent minded boy that he is, Omi can't quite finish the thought, but by the sound of Amaya's delighted squeal, he's pretty sure she knows what he's talking about. "Anyway, I just wanted you to know that...well...it isn't true. Youji just said all those things to...actually, I really don't know why he said all those things, but he was just playing around with you. We've never...I mean...uhhh......we're friends. *Just* friends, and that's all we've ever been."
This admission causes the always-present smile on Amaya's face to drain away, and the paintbrush falls limply at her side as she struggles for the right words. "Does that mean......he was lying about everything? You don't really like me, either?"
"No! I mean, yes! I mean......I *do* like you Amaya. Of course I do." Omi frantically sputters out in attempt at fixing the mess he has only made worse. "I think Youji was just trying to help us get together, that's all. But he didn't have to make anything up about me liking you. I already did."
In less than a heartbeat, Amaya's smile is firmly back on her face, and the paintbrush falls from her fingers completely as her hands become occupied with holding something else - Omi. "That's all I needed to here!"
Watching on as the tiny brunette dips Omi back, Toto also find herself distracted from work, giggling at how adorable the couple is. She and Nagi have had some very welcome moments of coupliness themselves, but like everyone else, the past few weeks have been extremely busy for both of them.
Not surprisingly, Toto is a true romantic at heart, and if she were blessed enough to be granted one wish, she knows exactly what it would be. To never spend a single moment apart from the boy she loves.
"Look, Nagi-kun. Aren't they so sweet together?" the turquoise-haired girl sighs nostalgically, her eyes trained on the pair a few feet in front of her.
Turning away from his section of the half-painted wall, Nagi sets his gaze on the heart-warming sight along with Toto, before looking back down at her, and smiling his truly peerless smile. "Hai, Nanami. Sometimes they remind me of us."
"They do?" Toto shoots back, tilting her head up questioningly. "Then why don't you ever kiss *me* like that?"
Such a sudden and blunt accusation leaves Nagi speechless.
"I know we kiss, but it's always *me* kissing *you*, never the other way around." Toto goes on, with a curiously teasing expression. "Are you afraid, or something?"
For what seems like far too long on Nagi's end, he struggles to form the right words in reply, having little success, until finally forcing himself to admit the truth. "I guess I am a little afraid. I know I shouldn't be, but you remember what happened the time I *did* try to kiss you. It was a disaster! I'll just end up doing it wrong."
"Baka!" Toto reprimands, facing Nagi full on with tiny fists planted firmly on her hips. "You do a great job kissing back. I'm sure you can do it. You just need more faith in yourself. Come on, Nagi-kun. Kiss me."
Blushing profusely, Nagi casts a few sheepish glances around to make sure no one is looking, being a very private and somewhat shy individual. Still, there is no way he would even think about saying no, especially considering how adorable Toto looks with those pouty lips and clenched eyes waiting for him to make his move.
Ever so slowly, he leans in, determined not to bump noses the way he did the last time he tried this, and when their lips finally meet - so softly - with the tender caress only he can offer, every once of fear proves to be worth it.
"Kawaii!" pierces out a nearby voice, high-pitched and full of merriment. "I just love moments like this."
Beat-red and giggling, the pair break apart and realize that the very couple they had just been observing is now observing them. As always, Amaya has attached herself to Omi's arm, but for once, he looks completely at ease with her presence there.
"Heehee! We really are similar, Nagi-kun." Toto laughs, snuggling into his arm the way Amaya has claimed Omi's. "And you kissed very well, by the way. Very well."
The girls share a few naughty looks, while the boys share expressions of embarrassment, but there is clearly a sense of unity between the two couples, like looking into some odd mirror image. In fact, their similarities pop a very ingenious idea into Amaya's head.
"Say, Nanami..." she begins, smiling slyly. "...I just had a thought. Maybe once in a while, if we're up for it, we could......swap. Might be fun."
Naturally, at the very same time, in the very same, panicked tone of voice, Nagi and Omi both cry out. "Swap!?!"
Toto, however, gets an incredibly contemplative look on her face, as if she is seriously considering Amaya's offer. The boys find this profoundly nerve-wracking, but to their extreme relief, she eventually gets a huge grin on her face, and both girls burst out laughing, commenting on how easy it is to get their two young men to believe in something.
"You know, I used to think they were frightening enough on their own." Omi whispers in Nagi's ear, while the girls continue their cruel sense of bonding. "But now that they're friends......I think we're in over our heads."
Nagi, of course, whole-heartedly agrees.
A little ways away, Schuldrich and Hiromi are finishing up putting the last few loose boards up around the nearly completed wall, having taken in the chibis' exchanges out of the corners of their eyes.
Though you might expect the exact opposite, the two of them have been working side by side without speaking barely two words to each other the entire day. Of course, spoken words aren't always necessary, but Schu hasn't been up to his old tricks again either. Truth be told, he was forced to swear that from now on he will only break into someone else's thoughts with permission, or if it's an emergency, and he hasn't gone back on his word once.
Well, he's trying really hard not to, anyway.
"Look at those kids." Schuldrich comments with a smirk, nudging Hiromi gently in the side to get her attention. "You think they know how unprepared they are to grow up?"
In response, Hiromi offers a very skeptical furrow of her brow. "Look who's talking. You have the emotional maturity of a sock-puppet."
"Oh really? Thanks for the vote of confidence." he shoots right back. "You don't fool me for a second. I know how you really feel about me."
Hiromi's previously skeptical look is replaced by something far more animated. "The only thing I feel for you is pity. How anyone could be granted with the gift to see inside people's minds and still be so oblivious to what they actually think is beyond me."
"Then why do you find me so attractive?"
"What makes you think that?"
"I have my ways."
"Ways you shouldn't be using without my consent."
"If you have nothing to hide then why do you care?"
"............"
"That's what I thought."
There is nothing Chin Hiromi hates more than being left speechless. Conversation is her forte, after all, and no one ever gets the one-up on her. Well, until now, that is.
Though Schu is happily returning to his brush strokes, wearing a smirk that could make almost anyone want to punch him, the voluptuous blonde next to him is sitting silent and annoyed, searching for a come back she just doesn't have.
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
"Well, if I don't, then why don't you do something about it?"
"Why don't *you*?"
"........."
Ooo, got her again. Or...did he?
Rising from her spot on the floor, Hiromi steps up very close to Schu from behind, playfully enough, temptingly enough, to force him to turn and face her. Now, Schuldrich is no amateur, but he hasn't come across the likes of someone like this before, especially not someone with such tantalizing curves.
His face going blank, all words and breath catch in Schu's throat as Hiromi calls his bluff and leans in, placing the lightest, feather touch of a kiss on his lips, and leaving him begging for more.
"I just wanted to make sure I'd have the upper hand." Hiromi whispers, hovering less than a centimeter from his now moistened lips. Schuldrich is positively trembling. "And now that I do......I can take my time."
Pulling swiftly back, she leaves him hanging there, suspended, and dives back into her chore as if nothing had happened at all.
For maybe the briefest moment Schuldrich's eyes flash with anger, confusion, longing, but he refuses to play the fool for his emotions. Instead, that old familiar, side-ways smirk paints over his features, and he joins back in on the painting, humming a very jovial tune under his breath.
(I just love the difficult ones......)
Returning to that infamous back room once again, Farfarello is now the lone figure to be occupying it, searching for a few packs of nails that are apparently buried somewhere in the mess at the back.
Lucky him.
All of his old, customary wounds have healed over now, making bandages unnecessary, but outside of getting a glass eye, he won't be losing the eye-patch anytime soon. It doesn't bother him the way it would bother most people, though it does often feel like a shower of ice water every time he looks in the mirror, catching sight of all those scars looking back at him.
Once upon a time, they were things of beauty to be admired, and now he just wishes he could make them go away.
Forgetting about the nails for a moment, Farfie sits down on one of the crates at the back, staring off into space - lost in thought. Life isn't easy, but no one ever said it would be. That's why we have friends, remember? And *Jei* is no exception to this rule.
"Are you all right?"
Caught off guard, Farfarello jumps a little in his seat, flinching his head up towards the intruder's voice. He isn't all that surprised to see who it is, though.
"I would say I've been better, but that's not really true." he breathes out low and gentle, almost hypnotic at the sound. "Some days are difficult, but everything was so much harder before you came into my life......Aiko."
Pulling up a crate of her own, the graceful red-head moves in close to her troubled friend, always ready to offer an ear, especially after being gone for so long. "I always knew this would be the hardest on you, Jei. I remember what it was like for myself. Would you like to know what I think might really help put your past behind you?"
Farfie doesn't have to reply, the look in his breathtaking, tawny eye is enough of a pleading confirmation.
"You and I need to take a trip together." Aiko explains, gradually moving an arm around the young albino's shoulders, and pulling him in to rest his head against her. "Ruth's body was shipped back to her congregation, you know? We could visit everyone all at once. Your whole family. It would be good for you to see home again."
There is a tightness that clings to Farfarello's chest, and it shines through in his expression, as well as his words. "I don't know if I can do that yet......"
"I understand. But it should be soon. As much as it hurts, you are still their child. Ruth's and your other family's. To them you will always be Jei......hn. I don't know your last name." Aiko realizes in mid-thought, since she couldn't complete his title. "I've never had to use it before. Do you remember what it is?"
At first, he looks as if he is about to say it, but then his brow creases, and his shoulders hunch just a little more. He doesn't remember. It has been so long, with so much put between him and those happy, childhood days.
"It's all right, Jei. All the more reason to visit them when you're ready." Aiko soothes, holding him tighter. "Until then, you'll just have to use mine. Rosuto Jei doesn't sound half bad, ne? Heh...it's sort of ironic. Your name means 'follower of God,' so if you pair it with mine, it becomes -"
"A lost follower of God..." Farfie finishes, smiling somberly at how fitting it truly is.
Aiko, however, knows to take it a little further. "Not only that. A lost follower of God who was found again. He loves you, Jei. Looking down on you, your family loves you, too......and so do I."
Ah, the tranquil peace of heart-filled moments. But even the most cherished silence is sometimes better off broken.
Pulling gently away from her, Farfarello stands from his crate, and takes Aiko's hands to help her up, as well. The smile on his face now is beautifully reminiscent of that long forgotten photo of a little, Catholic boy laughing with his friends.
How amazing it is what a smile - a real smile - can do for a person's appearance. Though many people may find such disfigurements as Farfarello's frightening, even hideous, he is truly beautiful, and would look that way to anyone with the pleasure of seeing what a smile as rare as his can do.
"Aiko......there is something I've been wanting to do...for a while now." the Irishman begins, lowering his gaze slightly, as if timid and unsure of himself. "To thank you for everything you've done for me, for all of us. And...I know if I don't do it right now, this very moment, I never will. Even if I'll regret it later, this is something I know I have to do."
Following with the day's trend, Farfarello lifts his hands to Aiko's face, cupping her chin, and pulls her to him, enveloping her lips so passionately in such a simple movement, Aiko's breath is taken away, whisked away on the wind. She can't help succumbing to it, as shocked as she is to be on the receiving end, and if it wasn't for a certain pair of peeping eyes, there is no telling what it would have taken to break them apart.
BAM!
Aiko and Farfarello are jerked apart by the resonance of this unknown sound, like that of someone angrily slamming their first into the wall.
Turning her head instantly towards the door, Aiko catches sight of a pair of violet eyes staring into the room, staring straight through her, before whomever it is dashes away, disappearing back into the shop. Farfarello saw those haunting irises, too, and both know full well who was spying on them.
"Abyssinian!" Aiko calls, taking an instinctive step forward. The full realization of what is happening holds her back, however. After all, the cause of this is a kiss. But what exactly did that kiss mean? "Jei...I -"
"Go." Farfie cuts her off, expressionless, though deeply understanding. "You have to catch up to him."
"But you -"
"It's all right. Don't worry about me." he breaks in again, smiling very subtly, but enough to be genuine, and it is. "It was just something I had to do. He's the one who needs you...the way you need him. What I feel is different. I love you another way, and that's good enough for me. Go. Go after him."
I can't say if it was the lighting, the way her skin glowed white, the way her eyes shone like true amethysts, or even the way her long, red hair blazed like the flicker of a flame, but at the moment, when Aiko touched her hand to Farfarello's cheek, she looked more radiant and loving than she ever had.
And then she was gone, sprinting out the storage room door.
"Did Abyssinian come through here?!" an unbelievably frantic Aiko cries out to the others, fluttering haphazardly from person to person in the main room of the shop.
"Yeah, just a second ago. He ran through the door to the side exit." Ken gives in answer, while everyone else begins huddling in around them. "He looked pretty freaked. What happened?"
"Long story. Let's just say he saw something that wasn't what he thought it was." Aiko replies, sighing deeply in defeat. "I should have known he would run away. Damnit! Why does he always have to be so stubborn and thick-headed?"
Though the others obviously understand Aiko's statements, they are at a slight loss for responses, feeling quite taken aback by her exasperation.
All except Schu, that is, who is never at a loss for words. "That's Fujimiya, all right. Predictable as they come."
"Well, wherever he's gone, I have to find him I just hope he hasn't gotten too far." And with that Aiko throws open the door to follow him, but instead of finding an empty hallway, she comes face to face with a mirror. Or, as I'm sure you can guess, a young man who could very easily pass for her twin.
"Stubborn, am I? Thick-headed?" Ran growls, stalking back inside, and getting right in Aiko's face with a very frightening expression. "That's what you think of me? Just a predictable, little boy, throwing a tantrum?!"
As anyone would be, Aiko is down right scared, backing away with an even paler disposition than usual.
"You want to know what I hate more than anything right now?!" Ran bellows on, grabbing Aiko by the shoulders, and spinning her around to press her back into the wall. "That no one thinks I can be spontaneous!"
And boy does his next action prove all those people wrong.
Pinning Aiko there against the wall, Ran finishes off the shop's ongoing tendencies of the day, and kisses that girl in a way that - as Schu would put it - makes her glad to be a woman.
(It's about time he took my advise.) the smirking German ponders, with the same bemused expression everyone is wearing right now. (I knew he had it in him.)
The moment lasts a good handful of perfect moments, and even with over a dozen other people in the room, the two red-headed beauties are alone in the world while their lips are pressed against each others.
Pulling away at last, Ran releases Aiko from the kiss, but keeps her pinned just a bit longer, making sure he gets to see her reaction. The first thing *she* does is let out a long, quivering sigh, getting a hold of her bearings, but as soon as her eyes meet Ran's again, the flustered look on her face melts into a very pleased smile.
"As far as the spontaneity goes..." she starts off, still a bit breathless, but loving how this day is turning out. Homecomings aren't always this fun. "...I think you've got a pretty good handle on it......Ran." The name comes out with a sultry twist - the first time she has called him by name, actually, though he has already gotten used to calling her Aiko - and brave Ran is fighting off a few pesky butterflies despite his recent leap of faith. "I'm proud of you. This time, however......it's my turn."
Diving right in, Aiko dips Ran back with surprising strength, and returns the delicious gesture he had offered her, followed by a nice reminder of their watchful audience, as the others hoot and holler in approval now that their initial shock has warn down.
Eventually, things truly do settle down in the shop, and all goes gradually back to normal. Boards are being nailed, walls are being painted, and many interesting bits of conversation are fluttering about. This doesn't mean there isn't a bit more fun to be had, though.
Making his way across the street, Schuldrich has his sights on a refreshing, Italian soda from the cafe stand, as well as a much deserved break. Nearing the doors, however, he notices that Farfarello has seated himself at one of the outside tables that now lines the shop's front, and the albino appears to be very deep in thought.
What better reason to take a quick, harmless peek at what might be on the young man's mind.
"How ya doing, Farf?"
Offering a small smile, the Irishman welcomes his friend's company, glad to have someone join him at the table, and help him clear his mind. "Really well, to tell the truth. I don't think I've been this happy in a long time."
"Glad to hear it." Schu grins back. "But...I don't know......are you sure you don't mind Firefly and the Abominable Snowman getting together. I've seen the way you look at her sometimes."
In reply, Farfarello merely lowers his gaze, and the smallest shade of color flushes his whitened cheeks. "I'm sure. The way I see it, if something is meant to be, it will eventually work itself out. Who am I to meddle in Fate?"
All Schu can think of to answer back with is a laugh, that resounding, nasal melody, and that's all he needs to do. Even on his best days, there will always be a part of Farfarello that Schuldrich just doesn't get, though there is also a part of the unique Irishman that he alone understands.
None of the other outside tables are occupied right now, but the presence of two, former teammates sitting together is a magnet for more, and Nagi and Brad suddenly appear out of the woodwork. Well, Brad from around back and Nagi from inside the shop, anyway.
"Hehehe...would you look at us." Schu smirks, rising from his chair, and throwing each of his friends a curious glance. "I still can't believe it."
"Believe what?" Nagi's smooth voice asks, with a tilt of his brunette-colored head.
"This." the red-head gives in answer, as if the word alone is explanation enough. Luckily, he plans to elaborate. "Just look at us. Control, family, friends, sanity! Who'd have thought it would ever turn out like this?"
Leaning back against the building, Brad stares upward at the sky, appearing very calm and relaxed. "I did."
All three of his companions give their former leader a very skeptical raise of their eyebrows at this, but Brad's features are completely serious. Whether it sounds impossible or not, he truly believes his statement, even if the others find that very hard to believe.
"Don't you remember?" Brad continues in explanation, responding to those critical gazes. "The day all of this started I had a vision that Fluesternd would destroy us. They did, didn't they? Schwartz no longer exists."
A peaceful, contented silence drifts over them, thinking that obvious fact over, and every one of them realizes that Brad is absolutely right. From the very beginning they knew how this was going to end, even if there were quite a few surprises along the way.
"No Schwarz. No Weiss. The girls aren't even Fluesternd anymore." Schu comments thoughtfully, smiling to himself. "So what do we call ourselves now? This big, oversized group of ours still plans to defend the weak and abused, don't we? More or less, anyway, right? We should have a name."
The four of them eye each other, searching for an appropriate title, but the one who finally comes up with it is Farfarello.
"Ergraute." the albino states simply.
At the sound of this suggestion, Schu's jade eyes glitter with approval. "Way to go, Farf! That's perfect."
"Ergraute..?" Nagi repeats, sounding out the word. "What does it mean?"
Having the most authority when it comes to the German language, Schuldrich moves closer to Nagi and slips an arm around the boy's shoulders - an action that once upon a time would have made Nagi's skin crawl. "The best translation for it, Nag, is 'turned grey'. Fitting, don't you think? After all, there is no more black and white for us, just one very wide spread combination. I like it."
In all fairness, Farfarello looks quite pleased with himself, and the others have to agree that the name is just what the witch-doctor ordered. They'll have to remember to tell the others about it later.
"You know, it feels strange sometimes, being like this around each other." Brad ponders aloud. "Friends. Maybe we could've been more like this a long time ago if I hadn't...uh......" he trails off, unable to finish his self-loathing apology as he jerks forward slightly, an unseen force striking him in the temples.
The others recognize the signs, growing silent in anticipation for what Brad's gift is showing him. Truthfully, he hasn't had too many large visions since the final battle, but a large part of it has to do with state of mind. If you don't care about sports, you won't be getting any visions concerning the winner of the World Series. If you no longer plan to destroy the world, you hopefully won't be getting any visions concerning death and destruction unless you're supposed to prevent it.
Meaning, no premonitions can sometimes be a good thing.
The tremor passes, and Brad catches his breath, staring off into space, but before anyone can inquire as to what he saw, a boisterous squeal sounds from somewhere inside "Kitten's Cafe," and the doors swing open, with little Azumi bounding out of them.
"Brad-niisan!" she cries, rushing to her newfound buddy, and showing much less inhibition than before. "Did you see what I just saw? Did you see -"
"Shhh." the tall American hushes with a smile, kneeling briskly down beside her. "You wouldn't want to spoil it for everyone, would you, Azumi-chan? Why don't we keep this between us."
Mirroring Brad's somewhat sly expression, Azumi nods, and without another word, goes bustling back inside the shop, giggling despite herself.
Chuckling a little as well, Brad stands back up, and returns his friends' anxious looks with nothing more than a silent grin.
"Well, what did you see?" Schu prompts, realizing that Brad doesn't seem to be sharing.
"Didn't you hear what I told Azumi?" Brad replies tauntingly. "I'd hate to spoil it for you."
The disbelieving German lets out an indignant grunt, glaring at Brad is if he must be completely out of his mind. "You mean, you're not going to tell us?"
Laughing even more under his breath, Brad merely shakes his head, and truth be known, Nagi and Farfarello find this quite funny themselves. After so many years of having insider information, Schu just can't stand the thought of being left out of the loop.
"Sorry, Emery." Brad replies, still beaming brightly - perhaps brighter than he ever has before. "If there is one thing I've learned after all this, it's that sometimes......sometimes it's better to be surprised."
*****owari*****
YAYAYAYAYAYA!!!
*****A/N*****
OMG!!! It's done! It really is! I have been writing this for almost a year. I know I've only been posting in the summer, but I started this last August. No joke! And it's done.
Anyhoo, a couple notes. Forgot to mention that when Ran says Aiko's name at the end of 19, that was the first time he had ever called her anything but Korat. Umm, I'm so excited, I can't think of anything else, so if you have questions, feel free to email me. Otherwise, if you wanna know what Brad and Azumi saw...tough! No, in all truth and honesty, I can't tell ya, cause I don't know. Decide for yourselves.
On a final note - YAY FINAL - I'd just like to thank all the supporters, readers, and reviewers, and to all who have reviewed, this is the defining moment. If you already have, or if you haven't , this is when I need it. Final opinions. Give 'em to me, please!
Alrighty, I guess it's till next time now, which will probably be this FF8 fic I've had stuck in my head for like 2 years. So...thanks again, hope you liked, and I love ya all!
~Crimson~