Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ The Lives We Lead ❯ Begining ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5 Weiß

 

Crawford entered the residence and looked around. Nagi, Schuldig, and Farfarello were all watching T.V. And Chikaru was standing just behind the couch waiting for one of them to ask something of her, of course.

He closed his eyes when he heard the phone ringing in his head, he was already beginning to get a head ache so he picked it up before it could even begin its high pitched wail.

“Crawford,” said Takatori from the other side, “I'll be sending someone to pick you up soon. You'll be meeting me in a new location this time so this will work easier than you getting lost.”

Crawford nodded then replied to the phone, “Okay, I'll be waiting.” The phone call ended. Crawford sat down and began to rub his temples. His mind was solely on Malvagita at the moment.

He couldn't help but prod more inside his mind, he had a bad feeling about the future and it was distracting him. It made him feel sick to his stomach but he couldn't force the vision eluding him to come forth.

Schuldig looked over the couch and grinned, “Hallo, Bradley!”

Crawford grinded his teeth and glared through the palm at his brow, “It's Crawford, Brad Crawford.”

Schuldig ignored him, “Guess what?”

Crawford sighed and leaned against the wall, “You're stupendous knowledge baffles me Schuldig. Please, enlighten me.”

“Chikaru can make drinks!” he turned his sapphire eyes to the blonde and said, “White Russian, on the rocks.”

Chikaru nodded and went off to fetch a glass. Crawford walked into the `living room' and sat in his chair. His chair, no one else sits in it, no one else touches it, no one else looks at it, and certainly doesn't think of it (he'll know)!

Brad reached into his pocket and was about to pull out something to wipe his glasses on. His fingers brushed an unfamiliar cloth and he pulled that out instead.

He stared at the red, silk cloth in his hand for a moment. He read the letters, from the Italian alphabet (or English, really, whatever) `Malvagita'. He brushed his fingers over it as the scene played over in his head.

When he had decided to leave, he made a regretfully crude remark at Mal, which she responded to rather… harshly. She grabbed a rifle propped against her couch and flipped it so the mouth was at her face. Unexpectedly though, she shoved it, so the butt of the gun smacked Brad's nose.

He fell back into his chair with a bloody nose and cursed. Mal tossed him a red, silk hankie and chuckled, “Clean yourself up.”

Brad hadn't used it though, he kept it in his pocket, even Nagi or Farfarello hadn't seen it yet. He blinked his eyes and shook his head then stuffed the cloth into his suit pocket. “Chikaru, would you get me a cold water and Aspirin?”

Chikaru completely stopped what she was doing and turned around to get a new cup, fill it with water and ice. Fetch some headache medicine and bring it to Brad.

Schuldig looked at Brad and back over at his abandoned drink, “Wait! I made an order first, why don't I get my stuff first?”

Bradley downed the small pills and replied, “Conveniently, Chikaru has been taught priorities. Mal isn't here, so my orders are revered above all. Pretty nice isn't' it?”

Schuldig shouted, “Not if you aren't the one in top priority!”

Bradley smirked and gave a soft chuckle, “Well, I am, so I guess life's still pretty nice.”

~*~

Aya pushed the videotape in and turned on the VCR. There was static for a while and sighed, “You'd think that agents of a secret agency would have a DVD player, or at least a working VCR.”

He stood up and watched the snow float down the screen, “Youji, can you help me fix this?”

Youji groaned and came to stand next to the T.V. The two simultaneously started kicking it till Ken came and started whacking it with the stick of their pink brooms.

Arashi stifled a chuckle, “I couldn't imagine how this got broken in the first place.”

The static suddenly stopped and Persia's face came up on the screen. Arashi blinked and shook her head, “I don't even want to know how you discovered beating the television could fix it.”

Persia came up on the screen, after a pause, he began, “I've got a mission, which was implied when you received this tape really. This mission is a rather serious one. Takatori has already summoned Schwarz and they are preparing as we speak.”

~*~

Bradley rubbed his temples as he stared into the cupboards, “Maruchan. You bought 673 American dollars worth of instant soup… then found a way to stuff it all in every cupboard in the house.”

Schuldig added, “There's also some under the sink.”

Bradley pulled his glare away from the walls of instant soup to send icy daggers at Schuldig. He went to the refrigerator and opened it for a water and was greeted with yet more walls… of meat now.

“… Schuldig… I suggest you find a good place to hide before I finish counting to 10.” Bradley ground out.

(That was supposed to be funny. `Schwarz is preparing as we speak'. Yeah right! Schuldig is playing hide and seek with Brad!)

~*~

Persia continued to announce, “Takatori has decided on a last stand. He plans to take down Weiß once and for all.”

Omi gasped in an appalled voice, “We might not be able to defeat Schwarz, but we can certainly defend ourselves from death.”

After a pause for a drink of water, Persia explained, “They haven't succeeded in killing you, and you haven't succeeded in killing them. However… this time there are different plans…”

~*~

The four Schwarz boys all knelt in a cold room before Takatori. Chikaru was off getting him a drink, or something of the sort, Bradley had asked her to leave the room; he must have seen some… subjects he didn't want her there for.

Takatori glared at each of them, “I've been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I'm sure you all felt it in the air the moment you came in.”

Schuldig was staring directly at Takatori, he knew it was disrespectful, and he frankly couldn't care less. He stated in a smug voice, “Let me guess, you want us to fix it?”

Takatori chuckled dryly, “It can't be fixed, that I know. But, I have a theory about you dirty freaks.” He emphasized, and said the last two words very slowly.

Nagi's toes curled at the word. Farfarello dug his nails into his thighs as his eye narrowed. Schuldig silently snarled and Brad ground his teeth. It was obvious that all of them had been called `freak' too many times.

“You freaks and your weird, screwed up minds, you're the ones who have done this. You're presence is like a virus I know it!” he turned his glare to Crawford, “From the first moment you saw me you knew this would happen! You filthy, dirty creatures, you nasty freaks, all you are good for is killing. But I know what you're doing, you're trying to kill me.”

Brad interrupted, “There have never been any facts shown, or proven cases of our abilities causing disease in others.”

“Silence!” Takatori yelled, “Heh, you say `disease' as though I'm the nasty one. You scum, you'll all suffer I swear it!”

Schuldig glanced around to see everyone else's reaction, when he brought his gaze back he saw the shine of metal. He fought the urge to dodge the golf club, knowing it would only be worse on him.

Schuldig just closed his eyes tight and waited. The golf club collided with his head and he was sent to the floor. The next attack was on his shoulder blade, cracking against his bone as he thought he could hear it snapping.

Everyone watched silently as Takatori yelled a stream of curses and insults and continued to beat Schuldig's limp body with the golf club.

Bradley looked worried though with what was to come. He was distraught with what Takatori would soon be telling them, after Schuldig was in too much pain to uncurl from the fetal position which would be roughly 20~30 minutes if his precognition was correct.

~*~

“Takatori has ordered Schwarz to fight to the finish. They don't plan on walking away from this battle, their only goal is to make sure they don't die alone.” Persia explained.

Arashi looked at the others, “Is this supposed to sound the way it does?”

“I am not yet aware of why he seemingly has no regard for what happens after the battle. Last time I checked, Schwarz was the highest valued team to Takatori, so there must be a drastic reason for him intentionally sending his men to their deaths.”

Omi was working up a nervous sweat, “He's been giving the back ground, but not our mission… I hope it's not what I think it's going to be.”

“Weiß… your mission is to fight Schwarz. If you don't fight, Schwarz will instead attack government officials and all the people working at Kritiker. I can't tell you that you must survive this battle… go in there and fight as hard as you can. Hit them with everything you can. Whatever happens to you, remember, you cannot allow Schwarz to walk away from this.”

The television turned off and everyone looked at Aya who was holding the remote. He stood up and glanced at the calendar, “It's tomorrow. I suggest the rest of you make the best of your last day on earth.” Then he walked out of the room.

~*~

Takatori paused and began to breath heavily as he glared down at Schuldig. He went back to his seat as Schuldig tried to hold back vomit with dislocated, broken and flattened fingers.

Bradley waited till Takatori was still again then began, “This mission is of an unconventional format considering the others we've been on. We've faced off with Weiß before, but we haven't been able to kill them yet. Refusal to retreat could easily result in the harm of my team.”

Takatori chuckled, “It isn't your team, you belong to me. And I have decided to terminate you. I'm perfectly aware, and perfectly fine with you going into battle to destroy Weiß and never coming back, so long as they're dead.”

Brad tried to hold back his anger, “You don't care about the teams well fare? We can hardly perfor-.”

“It doesn't matter.” Takatori interrupted, “I'm dieing and don't need you any more. I'm actually hoping that when you kill Weiß, they will eliminate you in the process. At least then I could spend the rest of my life in peace.” He sneered suddenly, “Without you filthy things.”

Takatori began to chuckle as he drank his wine and watched the expressions on the faces of Schwarz.

“Chikaru.” Farfarello stated, assuming someone would understand and finish his sentence since he wasn't one to talk and didn't feel like talking.

Takatori lifted his gaze. Schuldig was leaning on an arm, “Yeah, what about her? She shouldn't have any thing to do with this. Since she's no longer a part of Schwarz since Malvagita bought her back.”

Takatori sneered, “Chikaru, your newest little broad, will be fighting to the bloody, gruesome death by your side because Mal~, the damn spoiled bitch, is off on her own accord and has no idea of what is happening here.”

Crawford growled out, “Bastard, shut up you old man.” This earned shocked gasps from around the room, “You're dieing as it is, so don't tempt me to shorten your last moments.” With that he stood up and grabbed his coat, briskly walking out the door.

Schuldig watched him and snickered, “Some one is sure protective of the little blond bishoujo.” Then he pushed himself up and limped out the door… or staggered is more like it.

Farfarello rolled his eye behind a closed lid and thought to himself, `How blind is he when one can finally read Crawford like a book?' (Hint: Bradley wasn't angered with how Chikaru was addressed… if you still don't get it, you deserve to be whacked with the golf club… *sighs* I'll spell it out B-r-a-d l-i-k-e-s M-a-l.)

Chikaru finally walked through the door, “I'm back.”

Farfarello turned her around and directed her in the direction of Bradley. Schuldig chuckled, “Well it seems you've missed the entire meeting. Pity too, I had one hell of a time.”

~*~

Arashi followed Aya up to his room. He was putting together some books from his drawers. Arashi asked, “What are you doing?”

Aya curtly replied, “Getting together some stuff for my sister.”

Arashi asked, “Can I come with you? To the hospital?”

Aya looked up suspiciously, “What for?”

Arashi shrugged, “I don't know, I guess I'd kind of like to see your sister.”

Aya put a stack of the books on his bed and went back to the drawer, “Don't expect a very courteous hostess, she's not so great socially lately.”

Arashi stared at him for a moment, not sure whether he was trying to make a joke, or if he was just bashing his sister to help release some frustration. Aya was staring at the leather bound books for his sister; it was hard to see his expression because of his bangs though.

With a heavy sigh he picked up the books and walked out the door. As he passed Arashi he muttered, “You can come.”

Arashi gave a slight nod, her black hair falling down around her shoulders. She followed Aya out to his Porsche and they made their way to the Magic Bus hospital.

Once there, Aya watched his sleeping sister for a long time. He put the books in a chest at the bottom of the bed. Arashi asked in a quiet voice, “What is in those books?”

Aya stood up and replied, still fingering through one of the more beat up books, “An accumulation of pictures from our child hood. When she wakes up I'm hoping she wont have amnesia, but if she does, this will at least help her through it.”

Arashi was about to make a suggestion when she realized he'd probably already thought over the same thing 100 times already. He started, in a very quiet voice, “I had been hoping these books would just be something for her to read at night. And I'd be able to tell her everything she'd been missing.” He paused for a moment, “But I'm not going to be there when she wakes up.”

Arashi shook her head, “Don't say that, we can defeat Schwarz, and this time there wont be any retreating, so it will be a fight to the finish. And who knows, that just be what helps us to win.”

Aya turned around, there was a sharp glint in his eyes, “You don't know them, and so you wouldn't know this. But they're not human, they have those abilities, we are just human.”

Arashi tried, “Well, maybe our formation is the problem. For example, Omi hasn't been able to defeat the Prodigy yet. Maybe if we set you or Youji on him, then he'd be out of the way. We'd just slim down the numbers so we can gang up on what's left of Schwarz.”

Aya growled, “I'd have no better luck at defeating the Prodigy as I would the Oracle. They are beyond us, we can't find their weakness.”

Arashi argued, “Impossible. The Oracle (sometimes Prophet) can see the future, so, whoop-dee-doo, he knows he's dead before you kill him. That's hardly a defense.”

Aya explained, “He sees every move, and every trick I plan. He knows about it before I've thought of it. I can't surprise him or catch him off guard. I'd have to have pretty super human speed. But even the Mastermind has that freak speed, and he can't even best Oracle.”

Arashi chuckled, “Mastermind has tried to defeat his own team leader?” she paused, “Sorry, back to the point. Okay, then we'd have to outnumber him. So we'd kill the Berserker, Prodigy and Mastermind first.”

Aya leaned against the wall by the bed and unconsciously lit a cigarette, “Do tell, how do we manage this?”

Arashi thought about it then said, “Well the Berserker has a seemingly ineffective way of killing, and he doesn't have any powers.”

Aya corrected, “He carries knives and needles for the abuse of himself and innocent people around them. In battle he uses them for amusement, for killing he uses knives. With the way he uses them they hardly seem ineffective. And his power is self-induced. He doesn't recognize pain, so we can blow him to bloody hell but he'll keep coming back.”

Arashi shrugged, “Well blowing never kept any guy down… oh god, did I just say that out loud?”

Aya's eye brows had completely disappeared into his hairline, “Yes, either that or I'm having some odd hallucinations.”

Arashi blushed, “I meant to say, all we have to do is do a fast, fatal wound that will slow him down till he is dead. Like get him in the stomach. Ken fights him right? Then it shouldn't be too much trouble with those bug nucks of his.”

Aya blew out some smoke, “The unfortunate thing is the only way to kill that damn Irish… thing, is through suicide. It seems the Berserker doesn't feel a need for protection because he doesn't feel pain. If he would move to defend himself then a second attack to catch him off balance, and a final attack to kill would be easy.”

Arashi raised an eyebrow, “You can't kill him because… he doesn't defend himself?”

Aya explained, “I've watched it when Ken, Youji, Omi or even I try to fight him. Whenever one of us goes in for the kill, he always follows it with a fatal attack that could kill on impact. Naturally one would retreat, and thus, he is unharmed.”

Arashi huffed, “Okay, then next person. Mastermind, the one with orange hair.”

Aya shrugged, “Go figure, it used to be gold, how it suddenly became orange is beyond me. Back to your point.”

Arashi nodded, “Well, he reads minds, couldn't it be possible that he could take in too much and it could back fire? I think I've seen Malvagita force telepaths to read minds they couldn't handle. I believe she described the effect as, `They're mind breaking'.”

Aya tapped the end of his cigarette, “Perhaps it could happen. But Schu- the Mastermind is pretty well trained in that arena. He was trained at Rosen Kreuz after all. Besides, I've found it more effective to repel his probes. It works most of the time.”

Arashi thought it through then chuckled, “So you repel his thoughts. He can't confuse you, he cant' read your mind. What's the problem?”

Aya chuckled and replied, “His speed, he's been slacking off the times you've seen him. But it's truly incredible, he moves so fast there sometimes appears to be multiple of him.”

Arashi gave a mock gasp, “One is enough for me thank you.”

Aya nodded, “If I had a drink I'd toast to that. Oh, and lets not forget, when you think you have him, he'll just start playing by his own rules. He can control the minds of those who don't know to repel it. He can force people to do terrible things. In just seconds we could easily find ourselves in a pit of 50 citizens under his control.”

Arashi knocked her head a few times against the doorframe. “There's one left, the little one, Prodigy was it?”

Aya chuckled, “Now he's the really frustrating one. He's actually not just telekinetic.”

Arashi raised an eye brow, “What? He's also gay?”

Aya shook his head, “He's hardly gay as a matter of fact. He's a telekinetic and psycho telekinetic.”

Arashi shrugged, “So if you fight him in an empty room, bam, you've got him.”

Aya chuckled, “How unlikely it is that we could some how get him to fight us in a blank room. And even then, he's still psycho telekinetic.” He slowly smirked, “But our advantage on him is that sometimes his power seems to go completely dead. Poor bastard and those damn teenage hormones.”

Arashi put a hand over her mouth and chuckled.

~*~

Chikaru now stood in the kitchen completely alone in her little sailor fuku. (The uniform the Japanese girls wear.) She looked understandably confused, the moment she came in every body disappeared into their rooms.

She stepped forward quietly to see if they might have noticed something wrong. Down the hall she heard a voice curse, “Ita! Ow, verdammen.”

There was only one person she could think of that would curse in yell in three languages. She made her way to the room where she heard the noise. Chikaru leaned forward and pressed the door open.

Schuldig was sitting in front of the mirror with his top off. Chikaru stepped back and knocked timidly on the door. She'd been sleeping on the couch so as not to disturb him as of late and wasn't sure if he'd want her in his room.

Schuldig grabbed the blanket off his bed and pulled it over him before turning around. He saw it was Chikaru and motioned for her to come in.

Chikaru came in and sat on his bed while he pushed himself up. “Are you okay?” she asked him as he winced, sitting down in his chair.

Schuldig nodded and said, “I just picked up a few more battle wounds from my time with Takatori. I guess that's why Crawford had you leave, either that or because he didn't want you hearing about…”

Chikaru waited then asked, “About? What?” Schuldig looked at her for a moment before turning his gaze, his eyes looked tired, but sadder than she'd ever seen them. He still wore that smirk though; the smirk that he could wear at any time, even with tears running down his face.

After it became apparent that he wouldn't answer Chikaru turned to a different question, “Were you fighting with Takatori-san?”

Schuldig loosened his hold on the blanket a little, “Hardly. I pretty much stayed still while he hacked away. That's pretty much the way it goes when he gets pissed off.”

Chikaru's face looked worried, “He hits all of you? With that golf club I saw?”

Schuldig let out a deep breath and replied in a very quiet voice, “No… just me. I must just be special.”

Chikaru watched him and got off the bed, asking, “Why you?”

Schuldig shrugged and instantly regretted the motion, “A while ago, Farfarello and I were sent out to kill Omi who was dating his cousin, Ouka. Should have been easy but Farfarfie missed and instead of killing Omi, he killed his girlfriend/ cousin.”

Chikaru worked it out in his head. “Omi is actually Shuichi Takatori's (Persia) son. Shuichi is Reiji Takatori's brother. If Farfarello killed Omi's cousin, not sister, then, he killed Takatori-sama's daughter!”

Schuldig nodded, “Precisely. Needless to say, he was less than amused. That was our first introduction to the golf club. He's lost interest in beating Farfarello since he doesn't feel pain, but I guess I'm the smug bastard he just loves to hate.”

Chikaru was unnoticed as she was slowly reaching out for him. She put a finger on the edge of the blanket then slowly pulled. Her eyes widened as the cloth fell away, exposing the firm muscles beneath creamy, taught skin that was graffitied with bruises.

Schuldig pulled away from her, “Don't touch me.”

Chikaru paused for a long while, her hand still outstretched. She withdrew it and his eyes closed, he leaned his head to the chair waiting for the sound of a closing door. Instead came a voice, “I… I… I can't do that.”

A soft touch reached his hand; he opened his eyes to see cautious fingers on him. Chikaru waited for his gaze to rise to her then continued, “You are hurt, please, let me clean you up and dress your wounds. There is a battle tomorrow so it would be a good idea.”

And with that she began, ignoring his eyes on her as rubbed cream on each one and cleaned some of his scrapes and cuts.

After at least 45 minutes she stood up and made to move out the door. Schuldig asked, “Why do you feel the need to help me?” Chikaru paused and turned around as he continued, “I've thought about it, and I can't understand actually why you would come near me really. My essence is the bane of existence for everything you represent.”

Chikaru turned, “Perhaps, you may be a tyrant, and an annoyance to Crawford-san and Malvagita-sama. `A Bastard of a sadistic extrovert who can find some sick amusement in anything.' But I don't think you need to feel any more pain.”

Schuldig paused before spinning his rotating chair to look at her. His sapphire eyes were steadily fixed on her and flecks of gold shimmered in them. “What?” he said.

Chikaru closed the door again and leaned against it. “You Schu-san. I don't think you deserve to be hurt, I just don't see you as guilty.”

Schuldig clenched his jaw, “What are you saying.”

“ `Schuldig', it means guilty, and that's how you let people see you. How much of you do they ever really see?” Chikaru replied.

Schuldig watched her, he didn't say anything so she continued.

“I bet you sometimes wonder, if who you see in the mirror is actually you… or if it is just the accumulation of the minds you've broken or stolen.”

Schuldig watched her for a while then closed his eyes and bowed his head with an empty smirk, “You've got it pretty much dead on.”

He gave a small gasp when he felt a small hand on his cheek. He looked up and Chikaru was standing before him. She leaned down and whispered, “I hope that some day you will know what are your thoughts and what aren't. Until then…” she wrapped her arms around her neck. She thought to herself, `Until then… until then I will wait.'

Schuldig put his arms around her to catch her. She fell asleep in his arms like that after a while. He carried her to his bed to sleep in while he just sat in the chair and watched.

As he sat and watched her, he replied to her hope, “I know what my feelings are, and I know whom they are for. And I will wait for the day when you are ready to hear my words.”

~*~

Aya stared down at his sister for some time until Arashi interrupted him, “Have you fallen asleep?”

Aya turned around, “What?”

Arashi gave a mock face of surprise, “Oh, I thought you were asleep. You've been standing completely still for quite a while you know.”

Aya turned to look for a clock, “Really?”

Arashi chuckled, “Yeah, it's the A.M. now.”

Aya's eyes widened and he gave tremendous sweat drop. “Well, we might want to head back to Koneko no Sumi Ie.”

Arashi shrugged and they walked back through the blank doors of the hospital room, down the sterile white halls and out the front door.

~*~

The next day was fairly uneventful… but I'll talk about it because the kittens can be amusing.

Youji walked to one of the shelves on a cart with the newly manicured flower, then he walked into the cart. He soon found himself sitting in a mess of broken pottery, flowers and dirt. He held up his flower and wailed, “This may be my last time doing something stupid with a hang over!”

Aya growled, “Damn straight!” he pulled the taller blonde onto his feet and put a broom in his hands, “Now clean it up like a good, smart, non-drinking boy.”

Youji gave an exaggerated wail again, “This could be my last time being lectured by the kitten with a stick up his ass!”

Aya was picking up a few parts of broken pottery but decided instead to drop it and leave, “Shut it Kudou before you get that broom up your ass.”

Youji's lower lip trembled and his eyes were big and watery and engulfed about half his face. … But he was quiet. Aya sighed, “Finally quiet, thank you.”

Youji sighed, “My ass says your welcome.”

Aya rolled his eyes when he heard a mocking sniffle. Youji cried out, “That could have been my last sarcastic remark!”

Aya rubbed two knuckles against his temples, “Oh for the love of…” he turned and looked out the glass doors and windows where waves of women were approaching.

There was a glass of water on the counter. Ken reached over and tapped it before jumping back and pointing at the ripples, “My God! They're coming!”

Youji pulled himself up off the ground. He looked out the windows to see a swarm of schoolgirls coming forth. Aya's eyes widened at the sheer number of them, “Dear Kami! The doors! Are they locked?”

Youji gasped, “You're right!” he ran forward and unlocked the door.

Ken blinked a few times, “Hey, wouldn't it really suck if those weren't just rabid fans and they were actually girls under Mastermind's mind control?”

Aya growled, “Well, because of hot pants here, the plan worked.” He turned and yelled, “ Every body! In your places!”

Omi pulled out his bow and stood near a car in case he needed to take shelter. Ken had his bug nucks ready. Youji stood in front of them all swinging around his wire, no intention of using it. (He was actually checking himself out, saying, “I knew these were hot pants.”) Aya stood on top of the counter, with his Katana poised and ready to kill.

The girls swarmed in, a good number of them giggling and pouncing on Omi who was suffering from a nosebleed. A fair amount clustered around Ken and laughed when he started to blush.

Very few ventured towards Aya, especially when he yelled “Shi-ne.” So instead they gravitated towards Youji.

Youji seemed to be talking to each of them, which was hard to do since they were much more occupied with his body. Various voices could be heard though, “I got his pants! I have Youji Kudou's pants!” “Finally, I have his shirt, oh it's so little!” “Where's his underwear! I must know, boxers, briefs or sweet thong!” “You're kidding right?” “I have his underwear!” “I want to have it.” “Get your own, I'm getting it!”

Youji scrambled to the side for a moment to stick his head out from the bottom of the throng of girls. “Ohhhhhh! His ass is so cute!” he chuckled at the girls remarks and then put a hand out to his assassin friends, “It's too dangerous, you must escape. I don't know what will happen to me, they may tie me up, or torture me.”

Aya rolled his eyes, “Kudou, get off the ground.”

Youji put his hands out in front of him on the ground as the girls pulled him back into their throng, “Go on with out me comrades. Its too late for me.”

Arashi came down the stairs, “This looks like a bad porn scene.”

Aya sighed, “I tried counting them, but I gave up after 30 something.”

The girls continued for a moment before growing completely still, they stood up straight and parted to the sides of the room.

In the door way was a blond girl in a tight telegram outfit that could hardly be an actual uniform… well for any government business anyways.

Youji was staring at the girls around him when he noticed they all had stoic expressions and their minds were under control. He looked up to the girl and scrambled away to find clothes.

Aya had his hand on his sword as he glared at the young bishoujo. She walked forward; only the sound of her steel heals on the ground her heard. Ken pulled out his bug nucks and prepared himself.

The young girl turned to look at him, “Hidaka-san, that's no way to say hello.”

Aya ground out, “State your business.”

Chikaru smiled cheerfully, “I'm here about the mission!”

Ken yelled, “What mission!”

Chikaru rested her hand on her hip, “The face off against Schwarz silly.” She turned her head to Aya, “You don't know where to show up, or what time.”

Aya ground out, “Well then, what time and where?”

Chikaru giggled and shrugged, “I don't know.”

Ken chuckled, “You don't know? Then how will you tell us?”

Chikaru flipped out a piece of paper that was instantly skewered by an arrow. She glanced over at Omi, “Tsukiyono-san, so jumpy.”

Youji pulled the arrow and note out of the wall and read it. “Is that all you came for?”

Chikaru put a finger up to her chin and let her eyes roam, “Hmmm nope.”

They all watched her for a while before Aya finally lost his patience, “Well?”

Chikaru looked at him then her eyes widened, “Oh! Where are my manners!” she bowed, “Ohayo minna-san.” (Hello everybody.)

Aya yelled, “What else did you come here for!”

Chikaru jumped back a little and gave a little giggle, “I'm here to pick up an order. I'd like the morning glories ordered yesterday.”

Omi gaped, “You ordered those!”

Chikaru giggled and shook her head, “No, do I seem like the type to order? Crawford-san requested them! In a pretty vase too, or so he said.” She walked up to the cash register and waited.

The boys looked at each other as Aya stared over the counter at her. He finally motioned to Omi who brought out Morning Glories and handed them to Chikaru. Aya plucked the vase from Omi's hands and held them away from Chikaru.

He studied her with suspicious eyes, “Morning Glories, the flower of a short lived love. I find this a rather interesting choice for an assassin to order.”

Chikaru smiled, “You obviously know your flowers.” She put the payment on the counter top. “I find it interesting that an assassin knows this. Do you know what all the flowers represent?” she slightly grinned, “Or do you only know this represents a short lived love? Perhaps there is a reason?”

Aya's eyes narrowed and he thrust the flowers into her hands and snatched up the money. He counted it and nodded, “You're change is 20 ¥.”

Chikaru waved a hand, “You may keep it.” She turned around and walked innocently back out of the flower shop. When she was at the door she looked over her shoulder, “Aya…” then she turned around to look directly at all of them.

Arashi asked with a raised eyebrow, “You're not leaving yet?”

Chikaru continued to gaze at Aya, “You find it odd that an assassin would order a this flower.”

Aya nodded, “Crawford of all people. An assassin sending a message of love. Or a dead love, considering the circumstances.”

Chikaru blinked slowly, watching him with serene features, “Do you think that our kind of people, assassins, cannot find love?” she watched him for a moment, then a thin smile grew, “You might like to say that's what you believe…”

Aya snapped, “What are you talking about?”

Chikaru opened her mouth to respond when an arm reached out and grabbed her around the waist, and then she was gone. Arashi blinked as she saw the white haired assassin zipping by on a motorcycle. Grabbing Chikaru and pulling her to the back seat where she remained as they disappeared down the street.

There was silence for a moment, everyone had their eyes on Aya, some how knowing, she knew exactly what the young assassin of Schwarz was talking about. Aya was still glaring out the door way at the spot where Chikaru had stood.

He thought to himself, `What was she talking about? Crawford is in love with someone, big deal. But… was she saying I was too? Or… am I going to find love?'

Ken broke the silence, “Ha! I get it!” everyone turned to him, he smiled happily, “The Berserker just came by and picked her up! It was all planned out and everything, so it wasn't just chance.”

Youji took that moment to notice that all the girls had left the Koneko. He whimpered to himself, “That could have been my last time being swarmed by fan girls and I didn't even know it.”

Arashi took the piece of paper from him and read it. “Location, time, pretty normal.” She flipped it over; there was a small note:

 

Kittens

We'll be expecting to see you soon. If you are late, then we will leave; you'll pay the penalty with the death of Manx and Birman. If you involve any one other than yourselves (Balinese, Bombay, Abyssinian, Siberian, and Luna), we will target a person not involved in your line of business (Asuka/Nue, Mrs. Tsukiyono, Aya-chan etc.)

Don't forget to be good little kittens. Sayonara

 

Arashi's eyes narrowed, she spat, “Kuso. These bastards. Guys, hear this, if we're late, then they're going to start targeting Kritiker. And if we tell-.”

Youji interrupted, “If we tell anybody… yeah I read that.”

Aya turned his eyes to them, “If we tell…”

Youji looked up at him, “If we tell someone who isn't a member of Weiß, they will kill someone… Asuka-chan, my girlfriend. Or Tsukiyono-san, Omi's adopted mother. Or…” he looked up at Aya, “Aya-chan.”

Aya slammed his fist against the counter, “Kuso!” he grumbled, “Well, I guess that means we can't contact Kritiker and ask them to send back up.”

Omi sighed, “They wouldn't send it even if we did ask. They only want to lose as many people as they have to. So they're sending just us in, to kill Schwarz. White and Black, we'll cancel each other out I guess.”

(In case you've forgotten, Schwarz means black and Weiß means white. And incase you don't know how to speak, Schwarz is pronounced Sh-vatz. Weiß is pronounced Vice. {Long I, like the word `eye'.)

~*~

Brad rapped on Schuldig's door, “Schuldig! Wake up.”

Schuldig groaned and blinked open his eyes. He noticed that Chikaru wasn't in the bed any more and was a little sad, but brushed it off as her just making break fast. He got up and put on some pants before coming into the kitchen.

Brad was walking around, arranging a bunch of stuff while muttering to himself everything that needed to be done. He looked at his watch, “Soon, soon. But it's never soon enough.”

Brad grabbed Schuldig and pushed him to the table, “Eat, there's an assortment of food so eat a good meal.” He slowed down, and looked around him, then back at Nagi, “Are you done eating?” he saw what Nagi would say and beat him to it, “Good, then go clean up. Schuldig, you done? Haven't started! Eat! Why haven't you gotten your food now? I've been telling you for the last few moments to eat! Quit standing there and move Schuldig!”

Schuldig looked at him the started cracking up, “Crawford, did you just switch from Coffee to CrAcK?”

Crawford crossed his arms; “I'm trying to get us all ready for the mission. Why are you so tired?”

Schuldig rubbed his eyes, “I was up late, thinking and such.”

Crawford growled then snapped, “Do you not realize that we need to be at our best to kill Weiß.”

Schuldig stood up, “What time is it? Should I be going to get Chikaru now? She'll be leaving the shop soon right?”

Crawford glared, “No, she'll be here soon. You slept in.”

Schuldig asked, “Who did you send to pick her up?”

Crawford crossed his arms, “Not only did Farfarello spend the entire night hanging upside down from the ceiling to do vertical sit ups in preparation for today. He got up, and ate breakfast before me, so I let him go get Chikaru.”

Schuldig pouted, “But daddy (nickname) you said I could ride the motorcycle.”

Crawford sipped his coffee, “Its so cute when you mistake me for someone who cares.” He put down his drink and looked at his watch, “They'll be here in exactly 5 seconds. Nagi, open the door.”

Nagi unlocked the door with his mind, deciding that was good enough. The door swung open shortly afterwards. Chikaru came in with a beaming smile, “I have your order Mr. Crawford.”

Crawford took the flowers, “Excellent.” He tucked a note into the flowers and turned to see Farfarello walk through the door. “Did you enjoy your ride Chikaru?”

Chikaru nodded energetically, “Yes sir. Farfarello-san drove really fast. And… well, it makes me think it would be fun to be the comic strip villain.”

Crawford first corrected, “No need for formalities here. And why would it be fun to be a comic strip villain?”

Chikaru smiled and gazed off as though the topic was angelic and innocent, unconsciously leaning onto Farfarello she replied, “To have one of those capes, it would fly out behind you as you speed off on a motorcycle.”

Crawford handed her the vase again and instructed, “Would you put this on the desk in my room? Right behind my lap top.”

Chikaru bowed, “Yes Mr. Craw- um, Crawford.” She stood up and rushed off to his room. Crawford put his hand inside his pocket again and sighed, stilling for a moment.

Chikaru returned, “We should get ready! We'll put on all sorts of weapons, we'll be so powered up, we'll make Arnold Schwarznegger quake in his combat boots.”

Nagi and Farfarello looked at Schuldig and said, “German?”

Schuldig shook his head, “I've never heard of him.” All the boys looked at Brad.

Crawford sighed, “He's the Austrian actor, famous in the U.S. for Terminator.” The boys watched him still. Crawford sighed and picked up a pair of sunglasses off the table, replacing his own. He cleared his throat and frowned, “Hasta la vista, baby.”

Schuldig jumped forward and pointed, “Him!”

Nagi shrugged, “That one, the sweaty one.”

Farfarello smirked, “Now, now, Nagi. Don't get turned on, we don't have time to rent the series for you.”

Nagi's brows pursed then his eyes widened and he jumped, “Ew!” he got up and ran off to the bathroom.

Schuldig yelled in after him, “When you're done in there, make sure you clean yourself up.”

Nagi screamed a stream of curses from behind the door.

Chikaru made her way over to the closet and opened the door. A huge trunk fell out and Chikaru opened it up.

Schuldig blinked a few times, “How didn't we notice that in there?”

Crawford sighed, “We're rather inobservant at times. I doubt you would have noticed if it was vertical, under your bed.”

Chikaru started putting on all sorts of weaponry, and soon the others went off to their rooms to do the same.