Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ The Lives We Lead ❯ Drama of the heart ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4 Weiß

 

Schuldig scratched his head and rolled over, he noticed the softness of the sheets beneath him.

He looked and found himself lying in a large circular bed that was extremely well cushioned. His eyes fell on a small white lump in a large cushioned black chair.

The white lump moved and turned over, “Good morning Schuldig-san.” Chikaru grinned.

Schuldig cleared his throat and asked, “Where is this?”

Chikaru got up to go to the bath room and said, “This is my room, you fell asleep here.” She dropped her blanket revealing a pink little pajama outfit.

Schuldig's eyes widened and he peeked under the covers, “Damn boxers.” He jumped out of the bed and followed her into the bathroom where he heard her greeting Farfarello. He stuck his head in, “Farfarello?”

Farfarello was laying in the bath tub, tapping his knife on the glass and staring at Chikaru with his one eye. Schuldig's eyes widened and he jumped into action, “Verdammen Sie es!” he grabbed Chikaru and literally picked her up and moved her behind him, “Don't get so close to him! He could kill you and think nothing of it.”

Schuldig glanced at Farfarello who was spinning his knife on the tile surface of the floor with boredom written on his face.

Schuldig turned and looked down at the innocent looking blonde. She was looking up at him with wide, silver eyes. Schuldig leaned against the door frame and displayed his trade mark smirk.

There was a moment of silence when some yelling could be heard from down stairs. Chikaru suddenly stood up straight, “It's Malvagità-sama. I need to get dressed, I can't present myself like this.”

Schuldig grinned and said to himself, “Feel free to in front of me any day.” Then he asked, “Want me to help you get Farfarello out of the bathtub?”

Chikaru was going through her closet, “There isn't enough time! I need to go or else Malvagità-sama may become angered.”

“From what?” Farfarello asked from his place in the tub.

Schuldig replied, “I think Crawford is down there. I wonder how long it will take before one of them pulls out the other's lung.”

Schuldig gave a heavy sigh and sat down in the big chair. He rested his face in his hand when he heard buttons. He parted his fingers with raised eyebrows and saw Chikaru getting dressed.

Chikaru posed in the mirror, and blew a kiss at it, “Smooch.” Then she spun off, her little blonde pony tail bobbing.

She rushed out the door then promptly came back and bowed, “Schuldig-san, you may bring Farfarello-san and join Malvagità-sama for break fast if you wish.”

Downstairs Malvagità was arguing with Bradley… it was never ending. And it wouldn't take a precognitive to see some one could end up loosing their lung soon.

“Go get me food.” Brad started.

“Get your own food.” Malvagità replied.

“You're the hostess, you should honor your guest.”

“I'm now your partial boss, you should be kissing my feet!”

“I'm the man! You should bring me my food and be grateful!”

“I'm the woman! You should be making me coffee!”

“Since when was that custom?” Bradley asked skeptically.

“The bible says that the man should make the coffee.” Malvagità answered. “I don't follow it often, but there are some really handy details in there.”

“Where! I'll make your damn coffee with love in every sugar lump if you can show me where in the Holy Bible it says the man makes the coffee.”

Chikaru walked in at that moment with the bible and put it in front of Bradley. She opened the book and flipped through the pages, she pointed to the top of the page and Malvagità voiced, “Hebrews. It's been that way for centuries now get cooking!”

Chikaru bowed, “Gomen Malvagità-sama, I'll bring your food.”

Malvagità sighed, “No, no, Mr. Crawford is being a bloody ignorant pain in the ass. He's going to go make me coffee to show his gratitude for my kindness.”

Bradley crossed his arms, “Not any time in this century.”

“Excuse me?”

“I'll make it when I'm good and ready to roll over and serve it to you in my grave.” Bradley said while leaning back in his chair with a smug look of superiority on his face.

“10 minutes? Thanks.” Malvagità pulled out a gun and cocked it. Brad paused as he stared at the gun, he then kicked at the table in front of him and went off to the kitchen.

“It's good to win.” She sighed, “Chikaru sit down, everyone else should be down soon.”

~*~

Arashi woke up and sighed, she rubbed her eyes and put on a black robe then went downstairs. Aya was already there drinking coffee.

Arashi yawned and poured herself some coffee and joined him at the table. “I'm so tired. What time did we get back last night?”

Aya shrugged, “I don't know, but we got here before them.” He gestured to the front of the shop where Youji, Ken and Omi were sleeping on or in cardboard boxes.

Omi cracked open an eye then shook his head and was fully awake, “He got out of the box and dusted off his suite then knocked on the door.”

Arashi smirked, “Looks like there were a bunch of lay offs at that expensive business up the street.”

Aya hid a grin behind his mug as he took another sip. Youji soon joined Omi and they were both knocking on the glass tenaciously. Aya pointed to the sign that said they opened at 7:00.

Youji looked at his watch, “It's 6:45, come on Aya, let us in, I feel like I'm a dressed up monkey.”

Omi hit his fists against the glass, “Aya-san! I have classes today, let me in!”

Aya and Arashi both watched them from their places at the table. Ken woke up; he was the nosiest of them all by far. The he started banging his fists against the glass and yelling all sorts of things.

Aya sighed and got up to walk to the front. They all stepped back so he could open the door and started cheering in success. Aya pulled a cord and thick black drapes fell into place.

Youji stared at the drapes from outside, “Well that sucks. Now they can't even see us annoying them to let us in.”

~*~

Schuldig leaned back, “I feel like going out for a spin.”

Nagi rolled his eyes, “Don't tell me, I'm not writing a book about your life.”

Schuldig stood up and took Chikaru's hand, “Want to take a ride in my car? Of course, now lets go.” He pulled her up and started walking to the door when someone cleared their throat.

Malvagità asked, “What are you doing.”

Schuldig replied, “Taking her out for a spin. She'll like it.”

“How do you know?” Malvagità asked. She interrupted his response; “I own you as well as her now. You should really get in the habit of asking me if I see your actions fit. That's if you know what's good for you.”

Schuldig glared, his sapphire eyes flickering with distress, “I'm my own boss. Nobody owns me and I'll do whatever the hell I want.”

Malvagità's exposed eye narrowed dangerously. Chikaru looked up at Schuldig and slowly started moving away. Schuldig smirked and made a waving motion, “I'll be seeing all of you after I'm done doing what ever I want.”

He reached over and grabbed Chikaru's side pulling her close. When she slightly resisted and looked uncertainly towards Malvagità, he just put her under his arm and was off. (It's like how guys carry a football.)

Schuldig didn't wait for anyone to protest, he simply rushed right out and got to his car. He plopped Chikaru into the passenger seat then hopped over the door on his side to get into his car.

He backed the car out of the thin space at about 40 miles an hour then gunned it down the winding path of the hill. Chikaru looked back at the mansion and nearly landed on the dashboard when Schuldig slammed on the brakes.

They slid for 10 feet and Schuldig started cursing and yelled, “How do you make the damn gate open?” he looked around for cameras and when he didn't see them he said, “Motion sensors.” He gunned it forward another few feet.

When the gate didn't open Chikaru said, “Malvagità-sama has to approve the opening of the gates before anyone can get in or out.”

Schuldig grumbled, “I bet there's some sort of weight thing around here.” He backed up his car and drove it forward a few times when the gates finally opened up.

Schuldig yelled, “Ha! I knew I could get the damn thing to work.” He floored the petal and shot down the street in the red sports car. Chikaru stared off into the scenery for some time while Schuldig whipped around sharp curves and over small hills on the road.

~*~

Aya and Arashi were now some what bored. Omi, Ken and Youji were touching the glass in attempts to find a way to open up windows and let themselves in.

Aya looked into his coffee mug and sighed, “You'd have thought they would have checked the door by now.”

Arashi asked, “How long do you think it will be till they try something new?”

Aya thought about it then motioned towards the window, “It looks like Omi is giving them an idea.”

Omi was telling them outside, “We must use the force of our bodies to force down the door! So long as Aya-san and Arashi-san are just watching us like gold fish in a fish tank, we have to do something!”

Arashi pursed her eyebrows, “I heard something about body force. Are they going to try to run into the glass?”

Aya sat up, “This will be amusing.”

Ken and Youji looked at each other then picked up the small blonde. They lifted him over their heads then threw him at the glass.

“Oh.” Arashi winced as the young boy merely bounced off the glass and landed on the ground. “Shatter proof?”

Aya nodded, “We're assassins, with adversaries like Schwarz, of course we'd have shatter proof glass.”

Omi, Ken and Youji all came and pressed up against the glass begging to be let in. They were so absorbed in their own thoughts that they didn't notice the little old man making his way down the sidewalk.

Omi groaned, “Let us in, please, just let us in already.” He looked over at Ken and scowled, “What are you doing?”

Ken flicked his eyes over at the boy and moved his face away from the glass, “If you put your mouth on the glass and blow then you cheeks puff out and your tongue wiggles and it looks funny.”

Omi and Youji stared at him as though he had just grown antlers. The little old man came up to the door and said in a weak voice, “Now, excuse me young man.” He eased open the door and walked in and started looking at the flowers.

Omi, Ken and Youji looked at each other. Each one of them began to deeply blush as they opened the door and made their way across the room.

~*~

Schuldig suddenly slammed on the brakes and sighed, “We're here.”

Chikaru looked around them, “Where?”

He jumped out of the car and came around to her side where he opened the door and pulled her out. “The lake.”

Chikaru looked up at him, “Lake? Why are we at a lake?” she looked around then said, “I see no lake.”

Schuldig chuckled and put a hand on her shoulder to steer her down a thin path. When the path opened up, out of the oak trees, and brushes came a great lake. Mountains could be seen on the far side of it and all up and down the bay was vibrantly healthy green grass.

Chikaru's face brightened, “Where did you find this place?”

Schuldig chuckled, “I found it right here.”

Chikaru blushed then rephrased, “How did you find it then?”

Schuldig sat down on the grass, “I guess you could say a little birdie told me… or thought it, which ever you choose.”

Chikaru looked out on the lake then suddenly spun around, “Did you want to come here?” Schuldig looked puzzled for a moment, she continued, “Because if you don't to be here then we don't have to. We can go if you don't like it… or I'm messing up the scenery, then I can go sit by the car. I don't mind.”

Schuldig cut her off and leaned back, he sighed, “I like it out here, and I thought you would enjoy it, so just sit down and relax.”

Chikaru watched him for a moment then sat down on the grass with her legs tucked neatly beneath her. She looked over at his face and watched it since his eyes were closed.

His features were smooth and yet firm. His face had a soft edge to it, but at the same time something fierce lay beneath it. But Chikaru had always been one to recognize the deadly as misunderstood.

(Really, I can't hate the bad guy. Phantom of the Opera, loved him, Jeepers Creepers, so cool, Schwarz… well that goes with out saying, I have sympathy for them all.)

Schuldig's features suddenly came to life; he smirked and said through closed eyes, “It's good to know that some body appreciates my appearance.”

Chikaru's eyes widened and she blushed, instantly looking back out at the mountains.

Schuldig's features bunched together for a moment and he sat up and reached into his pocket.

He produced a piece of paper with Japanese writing up and down it.

Chikaru looked at it and said, “That's from the Koala Man!”

Schuldig laughed, “I've never heard any one but me call him that.”

Chikaru watched him laugh as a brisk wind suddenly came by and whisked his hair into the air. The bright glow of it reminded her of the fire like burn of sunset.

In the brisk wind, the paper was also plucked right from his hands. Chikaru watched it fly off. “What was that anyways?”

Schuldig pursed his eyebrows, “I have a feeling that was our next assignment… the one I was supposed to give to Crawford this morning.” He looked down and gave a light laugh, “Well, that's not so dandy.”

He looked over to Chikaru to discover she wasn't there. He looked up to see that she was running down the old wooden deck. She yelled back, “I'm going to get it!”

Schuldig stood up and darted forward, “Wait! Don't!” But she already dove right into the water after it.

Schuldig stomped the ground, “Verdammen Sie es!” he looked up and saw her swimming around in circles trying to find it, “Shit, now I have to jump in too.” He started walking down the deck muttering, “Because if I don't she'll think I'm a jerk and…” his voice trailed off into German as he started taking off his shoes while walking, and took off his jacket.

He dove in after her and started sputtering as soon as he surfaced; “I forgot how cold the damn water was!” he swam around in a few circles when he saw Chikaru, or rather her hands above the water.

She was trying desperately to get to shore and not get the paper any more wet. As an effect, she kept sinking a little under water every so often. Schuldig sighed and took some easy strokes to reach where she was then swam next to her, tipping her up with one hand ever so often so she wouldn't drown herself.

Schuldig got to the deck and reached up to hoist himself up. He glanced over the side and saw Chikaru heading for shore instead of coming up on deck. Probably because she wouldn't have been able to pull herself up.

Schuldig knelt down on the side and softly gripped the nape of her neck and pulled her out, then reached down with his other hand to pull her body out.

Chikaru felt her feet come to the deck and looked up at Schuldig. She lifted the paper with a smile on her face and through chattering teeth said, “I've retrieved it for you.”

Schuldig took the paper and looked at her, “Thanks, but its wet, you should have just left it.”

For a moment only her chattering teeth could be heard, then she began again, “I should have gotten to it sooner. Then the ink wouldn't be illegible. I should have-”.

Schuldig rolled his eyes and planted a hand on her shoulder, “Its fine, you should have just let it go, I'd live, really.”

Chikaru looked up at him, Schuldig smiled down at her then he glanced down and realized just how cold the water was, combined with just how white her clothes were. He forced himself to look back at the bay and said, “Lets go back to where we were, I'll pick up my stuff.”

Schuldig picked both his shoes and his jacket and sunglasses and sighed, “Its good to see that the wind didn't carry anything else off.”

He sat down in their same spot on the grass, and when Chikaru sat down he almost had a heart attack from pure excitement. He closed his eyes and sighed trying to clear his mind.

Opening his eyes he passed his green jacket to her, “Here, you need it more than me.” He thought to himself, `Or do I need her to wear it more than vice versa, damn the white clothing.'

Chikaru took it and asked, “Are you sure you don't mind?”

Schuldig nodded and waved her on; he was trying to think of a way to cover his own white pants.

Chikaru buttoned up some of the front and looked at her hands that were completely covered by the sleeves much longer than her arms. She waved her arms a little and grinned, “Floppy.”

Schuldig smiled, lifting one of his legs to block the view, “Oh, I wish.”

Chikaru cocked her head, “What?”

Schuldig shook his head, “Nothing, just talking about- I mean, to myself.” He stood up and unbuttoned his shirt, which he held out and wrung the water out of.

Chikaru was sitting behind him staring; her train of thought was something along the lines of, `Muscles, muscles, muscles, big, firm, powerful, toned muscles.'

The side of Schuldig's mouth tipped upward in a smirk and he decided not to say anything to scare Chikaru off or make her withdraw again.

Schuldig twirled the shirt up and flicked it a few times, making it give a `crack' sound, then he sat down and `randomly' tossed the shirt in his lap.

Chikaru let out a soft sigh when suddenly the Darth Vader theme music started playing. Chikaru jumped and reached for the spot where something was vibrating against her thigh.

She stood up and pulled out a cell phone, “That's some interesting music Schuldig-san. Who is calling?”

Schuldig chuckled, “It's Takatori, go ahead and pick it up.”

Chikaru picked up the phone and in a purely energetic way began, “Good afternoon, you have reached the cell phone of Schuldig-san. Would you like me to take a message or would you rather contact him directly?”

Takatori paused on the other side then mumbled to himself, “Schuldig must have gotten a new `assistant'.”

Chikaru giggled, “No.”

Takatori said, “Then a new `lap top'.” Chikaru's eyes widened at the double meaning of that when Schuldig reached over and took the phone, “Hallo… Takatori, what causes a villainous thing such as you to call on a beautiful day such as this?”

Takatori growled on the other side, “I have some important news. So you can forget about that other assignment you received.”

Schuldig held up the white paper with the large `ink blot' and chuckled, “Oh, that's convenient.”

Takatori continued, “Bradley has the information on his lap top, the digital one at his home. I'll see you in due time.” Then he hung up.

Schuldig flipped the phone shut and picked up his shirt, “I guess we should go.” He reached down and picked up his shirt. Chikaru started removing the jacket and he pulled the neck of it back into place, “Go ahead and keep it on.”

They both put back on their shoes and got to the car. Next to their car, however, waited a black Mercedes Benz. Schuldig slid across the hood of the car and leaned forward and tapped on the glass.

The glass rolled down and he leaned away when he saw Bradley sitting they're glaring at him. Crawford mentioned, “Takatori just gave me a call. So you get to take Farfarello back to the flat.”

The back door opened and Farfarello was forced out by Nagi's telekinetic push. The Irish man stomped on Schuldig's foot then he slid over the door into the back seat on his back. (Farfarello couldn't use his arms because they were all tied up.”

Schuldig grimaced and held his foot, “I fail to see the logic.”

Bradley massaged his temples, “Malvagità wasn't too thrilled to see us all leave. So she gave me something to remember her by.”

Nagi said from the drivers seat, “She shot him three times in the leg.”

Schuldig bent down and looked at Nagi, “Hey Chibi. Do your feet even reach the petals?” (There is quiet a size difference between Nagi and Bradley.)

Nagi glared, “I'm currently using my powers to drive the car and stem Crawford's bleeding. I don't have time to keep a hold on Farfarello, especially considering he could have picked up something at Malvagità's.”

Schuldig leaned against his car, “And who's to say that I don't want to just have a nice relaxing car ride home with Chikaru?”

Bradley glared up at him, “Me.”

Schuldig sighed and patted his shoulder, “Okay, then I'll see you guys later.” Bradley was glaring at the hand on his shoulder when Schuldig leaned down and said, “Now that you two have a moment together you can finally get into his pants.” He winked and grinned.

Appalled, Nagi jolted the car forward and Schuldig jumped back just in time to avoid his foot being flattened.

Schuldig gave a deep hearted laughed before finally turning around and hopping into the car. On the rather lengthy ride home Schuldig noticed the Farfarello was staring at Chikaru.

Schuldig questioned himself, `What is that crazy Irish man thinking about?'

Mean while Farfarello was thinking to himself, `what was that crazy German man doing? She's soaking and wearing his jacket… maybe I should go hunting for a certain orange haired someone tonight.'

Schuldig started trying to read Farfarello's mind but sighed when the result came up same as always. Blank whiteness, he's never able to understand Farfarello's mind, it isn't the sharp pang of bouncing off a mental barrier, but he still couldn't read the Irish man's mind. His conclusion so far is that Farfarello's mind doesn't make sense so it's obvious that one can't read it.

Schuldig stared at the sky for a while then shook his head and reminded himself to keep his eyes on the road.

~*~

Persia was rubbing his temples as he watched Manx and Birman talk about shoes. He mumbled to himself, “It's days like this that I wish I could just be a bad guy and declare war whenever the hell I felt like it instead of waiting for it.”

As if on cue his cell phone rang, he flipped open the top, “Moshi moshi.” His eyes widened slightly when he found out who it was. He rushed out of the room to the hallway, “Reiji, why are you calling?”

Takatori chuckled on the other side, “What, a guy can't call his own brother for a little chat?”

Persia leaned against the wall, “Not when there is this much friction in the work place.”

Takatori spoke in an amused voice, “Call in Weiß, they've got a mission, cordially sent by Schwarz.” He gave a low chuckle then hung up.

~*~

Arashi walked into the flower shop quietly. Aya was leaning against the counter, tapping his fingers and flicking his eyes across the blank surface. Arashi cleared her throat and Aya instantly stopped tapping his fingers.

He looked over his shoulder, “What do you want?”

Arashi gave a sigh, even though she knew the answer, she asked, “Who was that girl? In the photo's when we dropped the album?”

Aya glared back down at the counter, “No one.”

Arashi went and stood on the other side of the counter, quietly watching him. Aya flicked his cold eyes up at her. Arashi slowly blinked then stated, “I saw a girl who looked a lot like her, only with brown hair, in here a while back. You smiled to her and talked to her.”

Aya turned around and headed for the storage room, “Is that odd? I am human you know.”

Arashi followed him, “You never act like that around any body else.”

Aya quickened his pace, “Have you thought that I might have known her for longer?”

Arashi answered, “You don't even treat your team mates that way. So I doubt it.”

Aya glared over his shoulder then disappeared behind the door.

Arashi followed him, “I think it is more than coincidence that you are so warm towards her and…” Arashi trailed off, Aya was sitting in a chair in the middle of the dark storage room.

His head was hung low and from the pale glow of the single light bulb she could see a book on his lap. His fingers slowly ghosted over the letters `Aya'. Arashi walked into the room and put a hand on his shoulder.

Aya opened the book and ghosted his fingers over one of the pictures of the young girl.

“She's my sister…” Aya started, “she's the reason I became an assassin.”

Arashi tried, “Medical help?”

Aya slowly shook his head, “I took the job because they wouldn't ask questions, my team didn't have to know about me and I didn't have to know about them.”

Arashi raised an eye brow, “Call me crazy, but assassin seems kind of drastic if that was all you needed.”

Aya gripped the side of the book clenched his other hand, “I became an assassin so I could get revenge on Takatori.”

Arashi looked at him, “Takatori? I thought you only knew him from your line of work.”

Aya shook his head, “He and his men were getting a job done, messily, and my sister got into the middle of it… because of them my sister is in a comatose state. I am going to kill Takatori for what he has done.”

Arashi meekly whispered, “Does everyone on Weiß have a relation like this to Takatori? Or… are you the only one to have previously known of him?”

Aya flipped the page and answered, “Omi `Tsukiyono'. He had what one would like to call a very bad run in with Takatori…”

Arashi asked, “What happened with him?”

Aya sighed, “He is Takatori's son.”

Arashi's eyes suddenly widened, “What?”

Aya put down the book and spun the chair around on the wheels, “He was born as Mamouru Takatori. When he was six years old he was kidnapped, Takatori was asked to pay a ransom. I don't know how much it was, but I know that it was hardly a dent in his empire.”

Arashi pursed her brows together, “They didn't return him?”

Aya looked up at her, “He never paid. He refused to pay his son's ransom.”

Arashi leaned against the doorframe, “That's… harsh. So now he wants to kill his father for that?”

Aya shook his head, “No. Omi wants Takatori dead for his bad deeds. I find it interesting that he is so dedicated to good, he's not even biased due to the fact that it's his father.”

~*~

Schuldig grabbed various items from the refrigerator and threw them behind him after shaking them, “Empty, spoiled, empty, stinky, nasty, old, rotten, moldy. Do we not have any decent food?”

Chikaru checked some of the cupboards, “Nothing so far. I find it almost odd that you guys have so many dishes and so little food...”

There was a `thunk' sound. Chikaru turned around to see Farfarello picking up his knife. On the end of it was a cockroach; “It's almost frightening when you find dead cockroaches in your home. They are supposed to be the only thing that could survive a nuclear war, the fact that one dies in your house makes you question how safe it is.”

Schuldig rubbed his chin and grinned, “Cockroaches, capable of surviving nuclear wars, but they've got shit poor luck when it comes to Berserker.” He walked around the table and patted his back, “We don't question how safe our house is with you here Farfie, we know it's a dead man's coffin.”

Farfarello flicked the bug on the end of his knife in some random direction… which happened to be Schuldig.

Schuldig uttered a comment and brushed the insect off. “I'm going to the store to buy food, I'll be back soon I guess.”

Chikaru looked at Farfarello then looked at Schuldig and yelled out, “Wait for me!” Farfarello felt his heart drop as she ran after the German.

He stood up and blinked his one gold eye. Even though he had spent so much of his life scarring people and laughing, he found someone that he did not want to fear him… she was that person, and she feared him.

He looked at the shut door and sighed, “She would opt to be in a car with Schuldig rather than stay in the same house as I for any amount of time… why does the only person I want to see smile, choose to run instead…” he turned towards his room and thought, `I know why, but wish I didn't… at least that way I could ignore it.'

Chikaru followed Schuldig as he kept his brisk stride. Chikaru finally reached him, Schuldig looked down at her, “You want to go for a ride?” he grinned as he ruffled her hair.

Chikaru gave him a paper then smoothed out her hair. Schuldig took it slowly and looked back at her. Chikaru explained, “It's a grocery list.”

Schuldig asked quizzically, “You aren't coming?”

Chikaru shook her head, “Nope, I'm waiting her, when Mr. Crawford comes, I will tell him why you aren't there.”

Schuldig hopped into his car, “Okay, be careful about Farfarello, `kay?”

~*~

Omi sat in his room, staring at the screen of his computer. He slowly reached for the keyboards and typed in, `Hey Tot' then quickly erased it. He leaned back and stared at the AIM window.

He typed in, `I like your umbrella trick' he stared at the screen, “What the? That's stupid.” He backspaced and paused when he reached, `I like you'.

Omi reached for the enter key when Ken pounded on the door, “Omi! I'm driving you to your study group, get ready.”

Omi shoved his books into his bag then looked up at the screen. He sighed as he looked at Tot's SN. He whispered to himself, “I'm going to tell you that… the next time I see you.” He gave a small smile before signing off and running out the door.

~*~

Chikaru opened the door to the apartment and walked in. Upon noticing that Farfarello was not there she started searching for him. She cracked open the door to his room and peeked inside.

Farfarello was sitting near his bed. His knife was balanced in his lap, straight up where his index finger was pressing on the top. Blood streamed down in thin ribbons.

Chikaru stepped inside quietly. She slowly walked across the room to sit in front of him. Farfarello watched her for a moment; he dropped the knife and stood up to stand near the head of the bed.

“You didn't go to the market?” Farfarello asked.

Chikaru picked up the knife and chirped, “Nope.” Farfarello watched as Chikaru examined the knife. Farfarello's thoughts began to drift when Chikaru just sat on the ground examining the blade.

His attention snapped back like a new rubber band when she lifted her gaze to him and brought up the knife. He jumped forward as the knife headed downward. He snatched the knife from her hand and stared down at her, “What are you doing!”

Chikaru looked at the palm of her bleeding hand and held it up for him to see, “This.”

Farfarello stabbed the knife into the mattress to insure it wouldn't be moving around for the moment then knelt down to take her hand, “Why?” He demanded as he examined it.

Chikaru answered, “Because you hurt yourself. So I thought you just wanted to see blood… I thought it would make you happy… gomen.”

Farfarello opened up her palm and looked at the cut, “Don't hurt yourself again, especially not for someone like me.”

Chikaru looked up at him, “Why?” she questioned in a quiet voice.

Farfarello faced her, taking his eye off the hand, he looked at her for a moment when he moved his thumb over the cut and quickly pressed down. Chikaru gave a surprised yelp then covered her mouth with her other hand.

Farfarello answered, “That's why.” He held her wrist and pulled her up, “You feel pain, I don't.” He started leading her back down the main hall way and into one of the bathrooms.

Chikaru asked, “Why don't you feel pain Farfarello-san?”

Farfarello turned on the water and put the stopper in the sink. As he put her hand under the water he replied, “Because God hurts those who he loves. That… is why I stopped feeling pain.”

~*~

Schuldig glared down at the `meat' section. He watched a slab of meat for a while then pursed his eyebrows into a deeper scowl. He stuck out a finger and slowly pushed it. He quickly drew his hand back and mumbled, “That is not meat.”

He glared down at it for a while longer then turned around started back down one of the isles. He found some instant noodles and started pushing them off the shelves in waves into his cart.

He started grumbling, “No wonder these people are so weird, they don't have anything to eat. Meat, yeah right. That's about as much meat like as…” he picked up the instant soup container, “This stuff… WHERE ARE ALL THE COWS!” he suddenly yelled.

Everyone in the store stopped and turned around to stare at him. A little girl pointed at the meat in the back of the store, “You have to make your mommy cook it before it looks like a booger.” (She was really little; she was trying to say burger.)

Schuldig glared back at the wall of meat then grinned.

~*~

Chikaru watched Fafarello's expressions. He stared at her cut then wiped away the blood then held it under the water, all with a determined expression.

She asked in a small voice, “Why do you say that God does not love you?”

Farfarello looked up from the hand and replied, “Because he's allowed bad things to happen in this world and I'm punishing him for it.”

Chikaru watched him as he wiped a rag across the palm. (Pretty much all he has been doing is holding it under water and scrubbing. He's not so good in the medical department, but would you expect him to be?)

Chikaru asked, “Is Farfarello your birth name or sur name?”

Farfarello replied, “Neither. I'm the only one of Schwarz who's name has been changed.”

Chikaru blinked, “You mean… Schuldig-san? His parents named him guilty?”

Farfarello nodded, “Personally I think either his parents were high, or they were screaming that so much at him he thought it was his name.”

Chikaru brought the subject back, “What was your name before it was changed to Farfarello?”

“Jei, my name was Jei.” Farfarello murmured.

Chikaru mouthed it a few times before repeating, “Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay.”

Farfarello battled a smile, “Close enough. But I'm not Jei any more, don't call me by that title.”

Chikaru went back to the previous topic, “What do you say God has done to this world? Why do you personally want to punish him for hurting the world when you support evil causes yourself?”

Farfarello spoke slowly, “Everything was a lie. I was raised Catholic. Irish Catholic. I believed all the stories, and everything in the book. That he would protect his `lambs' and would never forsake us. It was all a lie. My family was killed, and everything that mattered to me was taken away. `Where was God when on the day he forsake my family and myself?' I know where, he was doing whatever he felt like doing, he wasn't watching over me.”

“What happened?” Chikaru asked quietly, with an engrossed look on her face.

Farfarello thought about it shook his head; “I came home from bible school one day with my sister and took a nap while my younger sister played. When I woke up I was on a park bench so I ran back home… when I got home…” he paused for a moment, “They were all dead. My mother, my father, and my sister, wrapped up in a blue quilt Sister Ruth had given her, the Angel's tapestry.”

He paused as though he was still having an inner argument about the facts. “I looked down and I was covered in blood as well, but I wasn't hurt… it was my families blood.”

Chikaru was watching with horrified eyes, “Dead? Like, dead dead?”

Farfarello nodded, “God let my family die. He let my sister, the most important thing to me, just die. I believed everything I was told, it was all a lie.” He closed his eye and breathed for a moment, “My sister did not deserve to die. She shouldn't have, God was supposed to save her, but he had forsaken us all that day.”

Chikaru looked at Farfarello's reopened eye, and followed his gaze into the blood in the sink. Through his eyes she could see, he was reliving every second of it, every detail, every drop of blood.

~*~ Flash Back ~*~

The young boy with soft white hair and desperate gold eyes stumbled back against the door and screamed, “No! Momma, Papa, Leyna, wake up.” He rushed forward to his sister, “Leyna! Leyna! Wake up!” tears rolled unchecked down his face as he cried.

He draped his arms around her and sobbed, pleading for her to wake up, she didn't move. Her porcelain white face was stained by a few specs of blood, and dried tears. Her once smooth and soft dark hair was now matted, and stale with blood.

Jei started screaming out, “Somebody! Help me! My sisters hurt! Someone help me. Oh God, please. My sister, my family, somebody please help.”

No one came though. He cried out in aggravation and left his sisters side to get to a phone where he called the police.

In hardly any time at all police men and neighbors showed up. A man came to the door and demanded, “Did you call? Where are your parents?”

Jei smeared some tears away and pointed into his house, “My sisters inside, she needs help!”

Some police officers rushed in, one of them asked him, “Are either of your parents home?”

Jei nodded, “Yes, they're dead.”

~*~

Chikaru blinked a few times then asked, “Did they find who broke into your house? Or more specifically did you?”

Farfarello shook his head; he leaned against the counter and replied, “The officers said I'd apparently ran through the house because my finger prints were everywhere. So they kicked me out.”

Chikaru asked, “What happened to you after that? You didn't come to Schwarz and become a member right after that did you?”

He answered, “I had little family, and my uncle didn't want to take me in, so I was put in the orphanage. The case went unsolved. But everyone told me that I was killed my family.”

Farfarello continued after pausing to think about the series of events, “No one believed me when I told them I didn't do it. I didn't want to argue though, so I let them think what they wanted, but my presence still caused friction because of my title as a murderer. The nuns and counselors decided to just get rid of me to solve their problem.”

Chikaru looked appalled, “That's horrible, to just throw a kid out on the streets, that's not right at all.”

“Not quite.” He corrected, “I wasn't thrown out on the streets. They put me in an insane asylum. Out of site out of mind I guess.”

“I heard that in asylums, horrible things happen. People die because they aren't medicated or treated properly, and all that.”

Farfarello nodded, “Yes… you know, none of the scars a carry aren't my own doing. Every scar that has remained, was caused by someone else.”

He touched his eye patch, “It was a fight, when I was 16. My cellmate got out of his straight jacket because he wasn't properly restrained. Elya Tobrone, age 32.”

Chikaru looked sympathetic, “He took your eye?”

“No,” he chuckled, “He gave me a few scars, so I attacked and killed him. Odd, he was thinking he could overpower and kill me because I was young and had on my straight jacket. Heheh, it took 10 nurses to finally find a drug that would take affect, I killed 4 of them during their attempts to restrain me.”

“So how did you loose your… eye.”

“They weren't to happy with me, so they beat me, of course, no one would know so why would they care. They accidentally damaged my eye when I was knocked into one of the medical tables and got one of the syringes in my eye… I spent a long time in that asylum though, Crawford found me and brought me to Japan one week after my 17th birthday.”

Chikaru opened her mouth to ask more when Nagi threw open the front door and yelled, “Hey, is any body else back?”

Chikaru stood up to walk out, but on her way out she leaned over to Farfarello and whispered, “Farfarello, I don't know how other people see you, or how much you care, but… I see you as Broken China.”

When Chikaru reached the hall Farfarello asked, “Why?”

Chikaru leaned her head against the door frame and watched him, “Because, you remind me of China porcelain. Fair, and beautiful. Every one else may only see the scratches and chips on your surface, but to me, you still have the faultlessness of China.”

Farfarello stayed in the bathroom for a while after that, just thinking about her words… and about her. After a long while he slowly lifted his gaze and mouthed to himself, “She doesn't fear me… she wont scream and run, she will stay…”

~*~

Aya was lounging in one of the chairs smoking, “It is boring days like this that make me want to kill a man for the hell of it.”

Youji shrugged and puffed a ring of smoke, “It's boring days like this when you catch yourself wondering what it would be like to have mental powers like Schwarz.”

Aya looked over at him, “If you had any of their powers. Which one would you have, and what would you do with it Youji? Really, I'm curious.”

Youji rubbed his chin for a moment then said, “I guess reading minds would be pretty cool. Then you would know who's checking you out so you can go hit on them… but telekinesis would also be convenient, the T.V. would turn itself on and such.”

Omi blew a bubble and popped it, “Turning on a T.V. with your mind isn't telekinesis. It's psycho telekinesis.”

Youji shrugged, “Yeah, well maybe being a pre cog… but that would take out the surprise in everything… I guess if I could have a power, I'd want to be able to make Amish people break dance.”

Aya raised an eyebrow, “Tell me which Schwarz member has that power again? I must have not been doing my `home work'.”

Youji laughed, “None of them. But I would still love that power. When I'm not amusing myself with it, I could distract enemies with it.”

Arashi laughed, “Except for the fact that there's not an Amish person here.”

Youji accused jokingly, “How do you know? There could be hundreds of Amish folk arriving here every day.”

Omi put up two fingers, “One: I've never seen an Amish person here… ever. Two: How would they get here? They don't use technology.”

Youji shrugged, “Well, then that could be my hidden talent. I may have the ability to make Amish people break dance and not even know it.” He gave a mock sorrow expression, “Woe is me to have never known my gift… what if the Oracle was Amish… or Mastermind… or the Berserker”

Ken laughed and said straight out, “I'd want the gift of making people fart confetti. That would be classic.” He threw back his head and laughed. “Like when Persia is just sitting there watching us, and we don't think he's farting but he is! Then Confetti will suddenly pop out into the air”

Omi giggled, “Not to mention that Schwarz would hardly be able to fight with that sort of distraction.”

Youji laughed at the thought of any member of Schwarz giving their narrow eyed glare when confetti suddenly poofed out all around them… come to think of it, that would be amusing if it happened to anyone.”

Omi leaned over to Aya, “What power would you want?”

Aya seemed to think about it for a moment before blinking and replying, “I would want the power of… the incredible hulk.”

Everyone sweat dropped and stared at him for a moment. Aya blinked a few more times then said, “It was a joke.”

Ken began to chuckle, “Wow, it's been so long we didn't recognize the sarcasm… then again, it's hard to when you only speak in monotone.”

Omi put a finger next to his mouth and thought about what his power could be, “Well, I don't know about my power, but Ken, you remind me of a certain man.”

“What man?” Ken asked.

“A man of power.” Omi replied.

“What power?”

“The power of `who do'.”

“Hoo doo?”

“You do.”

“Do what?” Ken asked.

“Remind me of a man.”

“What man?”

“A Man of power.”

“What power?”

“The power of `who do'.”

“Hoo doo?”

“You do.”

“Do What!”

“Remind me of a man.”

`What man!”

“A man of power.”

“What power!” Ken was now screaming.

“We're all freaks! Now shut the hell up!” Everyone looked around and Ken blushed.

“That's the Black Flash I mean- er… Chibi-chan. I'll go walk her out.” Ken got up to direct Chibi away from the fat kids and the ice cream.

“Well, I guess that answers how an assassin spends their day off.”

Everyone spun their heads around to see Manx coming forth from the shadows. She continued, “It's seems rather boring. None the less,” she waved a videotape in the air and sing songed, “I have a mission for you.”

Aya got up and took the tape grumbling, “Oh goodie. I can't wait.” He walked out of the room then paused and turned back to say, “That was sarcasm as well.”

 

 

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