Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ The Lives We Lead ❯ Living with the Enemy ( Chapter 9 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 9 Weiß

Aya blinked at the darkness, squinting, trying to force his line of sight through the blindfold. He lost his train of thought though as he started to slide across the seat with another turn of the car. Aya glared at the blindfold still and tried to concentrate on all the turns so he wouldn't be lost.

Schuldig cursed, “Damn it Crawford. Is today the day you decided to drive with your toes or something?”

Crawford stopped for a stop sign, using the time to send an icy glare at Schuldig through the mirror. Schuldig went quiet. It was obvious that Crawford was making unnecessary turns merely to throw Aya off… almost as obvious as Crawford anger, but he wasn't going to make a scene there in the car.

Aya scooted back to his place, deciding to not find out whom he had slid into. He tried to start thinking of ways to conspire against his captors, mainly just to make himself feel less vulnerable.

~*~

Kritiker agents poured from the cars arriving. Ken watched as they carried Manx onto one of their private ambulances and drove off. He sighed, “I guess we can get one of these guys to bring us back to the Koneko right?”

Youji repositioned Arashi's unconscious body and shrugged, “I guess so. Manx isn't going to be demanding an interrogation if she's on drugs in the hospital wing. We might as well bring Arashi home.”

Omi followed the other two as they started walking. “Hey guys! Think that when Arashi wakes up she'll be able to tell us anything about Schwarz that will help us?”

Ken glared, “Jeeze Omi. She's bleeding here and you're wondering if she can give us any dirt of Schwarz? That's cold.”

Youji thought about it, “Maybe… Arashi will be able to tell us where they're living. Then we can rescue Aya, right?”

Ken thought about it and nodded, “Yeah, that's true.”

Omi pursed his eyebrows, “One thing doesn't make sense though… Why would they capture Arashi only to trade her for Aya? Why not just take Aya in the first place, when we received the call? We were kind of on the loosing end at the time.”

Ken looked at Arashi and shrugged, “Maybe one of them served a certain purpose. Guess we'll find out when she wakes up, yeah?”

~*~

Crawford swung a fist, Farfarello ducked beneath it reflexively. Crawford kicked him in the side and yelled, “What the hell did you think you were doing back there!”

Farfarello grunted at the forceful contact to his ribs. He spat, “Back where?”

Crawford kneed him in the face, becoming angrier when the Irish man again moved from the attack, “When you decided to slit the girl's throat! What if you hadn't made the attack so shallow? What if you missed and killed her?”

Farfarello stepped away from another fist, and then was sent to his knees by a powerful kick to the back of his thigh, “I wasn't going to kill her. I just took some blood.”

Crawford kicked the man, only to have his foot caught, he yanked his foot free and this time landed the kick on the ribs, “What if you had though! You want to know what would have happened? All the plans would be ruined! Aya would not come with us in exchange for a dead body!”

The Irishman rolled a few times from the kick and stayed still after understanding he wasn't supposed to be dodging the attacks. Besides, it wasn't like it affected him much, considering he didn't feel pain.

“I was just evening the score bastard.” Farfarello responded.

The American kicked the man's shoulder with a sickening crunch, causing him to roll over. “You took it into your own hands to stray from my plans! I can't condone that!” He planted his foot on the square of Farfarello's back pinning him down.

Farfarello realized what was happening and started to thrash, but to no avail. Crawford pulled the tabs on the binds of Farfarello's legs.

(He wears this odd contraption. Two loops hold fast on the area just below the knee, a length of the same material holds them together. When the tabs are pulled, this length is shortened, binding his legs together making him incapable of movement.)

His knees snapped to each other's side with a crack. Crawford then put the refined straight jacket onto the white haired man.

In less than five minutes he was completely incapable of threatening movements. The leather binds sewn onto the thick material held his arms, crossed over each other, at his stomach. His shoulders were pulled down, forcing him to slouch over a little.

Houdini tricks were even out of the question, a leather collar fastened around his neck insuring he wouldn't be sliding out through some hole in the jacket. Farfarello struggled nonetheless though, being a natural reflex in his situation.

Crawford finally maneuvered the man to be strung up in chains, and then hung upside down. He glared at the stilling Irishman and said, “Never undermine my orders or plans Farfarello.” Then he turned and left the room.

Aya stood to the side of the main room, watching everyone around him quietly. Malvagita put her hands on her hips, “Where has Crawford gone off to now?”

Chikaru took her coat to go hang up and offered, “I saw him leave with the room with Farfarello. I wonder what could be taking them so long.”

Schuldig took the coat from her hands and tossed it, then pulled her down onto the chair he was in, “What do you think? Crawford's mad at Farfarello for damaging our object of leverage. He's chained the guy up and hung him in the back room by now. Farfarello is going to be noisy all night, I'll get absolutely no sleep, I know it.”

Aya raised an eyebrow, “Noisy? Isn't that some what expectable?”

Nagi clarified, “He screams and talks, apparently to God. I don't believe in such matters so I say he's just screaming and talking to himself.”

Malvagita wondered out loud, “You guys have called him crazy, but I never though he was `babbling idiot' crazy, just… angry and violent crazy. You know?”

Schuldig pulled out a cigarette and lit it; keeping Chikaru from getting away with his other hand. “He isn't, just yelling obscenities at God and such. You'll hear him tonight.”

“I find this entire ordeal stupid.” Aya stated, “Why don't you just get rid of him? Why would you want this… thing on your team? How can it make you stronger? Can he even follow orders?”

“I find your thoughts stupid.” Mal laughed, “He kills people, call him insane or whatever you want, but incase you haven't noticed, you kill people too.”

Schuldig shrugged, “Farfarello gets the job done when we put him to his task.”

“Except, when he attacks the wrong person, outside of orders, it screws all my plans. Little demon.” Crawford entered the room and promptly plucked the cigarette from the German's hand.

“Hey!” the said German complained.

With a glare the taller man took a long drag then growled, “I said no smoking in the house.” He followed the comment with another long drag.

Schuldig grumbled, “Jeeze Crawford, you're supposed to enjoy them. I bet you could smoke one down to the butt in one drag if you were stressed enough.”

Aya yelled out at Crawford's earlier words, “That thing almost killed Arashi against your orders? Are you shitting me? He could have killed her and you didn't even have the control over him to stop him? What if he had tried to kill one of you?”

“There is logic in his actions, somewhere. And some form of logic.” Crawford flicked the cigarette into the fireplace and breathed out a long stream of thin ribbons of smoke with his eyes closed.

Chikaru suddenly gaped, “Mr. Crawford! You look like a dragon breathing smoke!”

Crawford opened his narrow eyes and glared at her. In less than the blink of an eye she was standing next to the chair where Schuldig had just placed her. “Be a doll and fetch the ol' man a drink, would you?”

Chikaru stumbled a little, shocked at being on her feet before she could register the movement. She nodded and saluted before heading off to the kitchen. Schuldig returned his gaze back to the rest of the group, “Chill Crawford. It's over and everything went okay. No harm no foul right?”

Crawford glared at him for a while before closing his eyes again. Aya growled, “You still haven't answered my question. They weren't rhetorical, you know. I expect answers.”

“The Berserker gave me some insight towards his twisted form of judgment. It could have been reasonable to me perhaps, when I was younger.” Crawford said with a smirk.

Aya shouted, “Well? Do you intend to `enlighten' me? Or am I just supposed to try to get into a mad man's mind to find out why he almost killed my g-… team mate?”

Crawford sat down across the knee high table from Mal and put his chin in his hand. After a moment he replied, “He only attacked' your team mate for something along the lines of `let the punishment fit the crime'.”

“Fit the… he was that bent on me attacking you? Heh, great thanks you showed him, going off to beat the shit out of him.”

Malvagita rolled her eyes, “He was mad because you ended up hurting Chikaru.”

Schuldig cocked his head, “What are you talking about?

Chikaru arrived, allowing Mal to squeeze out of the situation. She came in with a tray full of drinks, “Minna~ I have the drinks!”

Schuldig reached out to grab her again, and only succeeded in yanking her apron. Nagi put out a hand and suspended the tray from falling. Malvagita glared at Schuldig and yelled, “Damn it! Keep your hands to yourself!”

Crawford suddenly flipped, “Shut your mouth woman!”

Malvagita yelled at him, “Me? How dare you tell me to shut my mouth!”

“Go find some other use for it then, you broad.” Crawford snapped. At this point every other boy in the room went suilent and their eyes widened.

Malvagita glared, “Fine! I'll use it to yell over the sound of my gun.” She pulled out her gun and aimed.

Crawford stared down the barrel then stuck out his tongue, “Nyahh.”

Malvagita fired… a blank. She glared at his smug and mocking grin then threw the gun at his face. Crawford held his nose and made a sound of protest after the impact. Malvagita huffed, “You didn't see that one coming did you Mr. Pre cog?”

Chikaru proceeded in trying to pass out the drinks from her place squashed against Schuldig. Malvagita took her glass that was practically empty because of how much Chikaru was squirming from the German's activities.

Crawford took a drink and started sipping at it after he stopped the bleeding in his nose. Malvagita plopped down and sipped her wine more, “Sorry bout that BraCraw. It sure did calm you down though. Right?”

~*~

Arashi was completely still and serene. She suddenly gasped and sat straight up with her eyes wide open, “Aya no!” She blinked for a moment when Ken, Omi and Youji all stared at her with shocked faces.

Omi's smile appeared, “Arashi! You're awake! We've been waiting for you to wake up since we got back.”

Arashi rested her forehead in her hand and groaned, “Don't mention that. I'm not particularly thrilled to hear guys were watching me while I slept… you guys none the less.”

Ken asked, “Do you need something? Your pillow fluffed? The window opened? A cookie perhaps?”

Arashi stared at him, “There aren't any pillows on this bed first of all. Secondly, its raining, no, pouring outside. Thirdly,
THIS IS NO TIME TO BE EATING! Where is Aya?”

Omi leaned over her with a bowl, “It's chicken soup!”

Arashi glared at the bowl while pushing it away, “No! Aya! I don't want chicken soup I want Aya!”

Youji said, “Do you want me to feed you chicken soup?”

Arashi scowled at him, “No! Do you guys not hear the words coming from my mouth- mph!”

Youji stuck a chopstick pinch full of noodles and chicken into her unsuspecting mouth, “There you go. It will help make you nice and better. How does it taste?”

Arashi quickly swallowed it and sat up, wiped her mouth and yelled, “Get out of my face! I'm trying to talk!”

They all remained there in her face for a moment before backing up to sit at the foot of the bed. Arashi huffed for a moment longer before finally asking, “Aya isn't here?”

Ken scoffed, “Of course not. You saw him drive off with Schwarz didn't you?”

Arashi fell back onto the nonexistent mountain of pillows, “I heard them drive off. But I expected you to go after them.”

Youji made a ridiculous face, “And leave our D.I.D behind?”

Arashi lifted an eyebrow, “D.I.D?”

Ken clarified, “Damsel in Distress… by the way, what happened while you were there?”

Arashi cocked her head, “There? The Schwarz's place?” Instantly all three boys were leaning over the bed towards her, waiting for the good gruesome details. Arashi sighed and thought about it, “Well… they made me sleep on the couch… and Nagi kept giving me pocky.”

(Pocky is a little sweet snack in Japan. Long thin {like cm thin} strong cookie stick with the top dipped in chocolate.)

Youji tilted his head a little, “I thought they'd be more evil…”

Arashi shrugged, “Yeah well. They said they didn't have to be rude since I was pretty much a guest of sorts. I guess I was pretty much their stepping stone to Aya.”

Omi pondered it for a moment, “Arashi? We were wondering what Schwarz's purpose might have been to kidnap you to obtain Aya instead of just capturing him in the first place… Did anything happen while you were there? Any thing big?”

Arashi thought for a moment till it all flooded back to her, “Yes… Schuldig and Farfarello… the ones you know as the Berserker and Mastermind… they did something to me.”

Youji's eyes widened, he nearly jumped onto the bed, “What did they do?”

Ken asked, “Is it something Aya's going to have to skewer them for?”

Arashi shook her head, “No… they did something. Schuldig found an ability within me, so he forced it to mature.” The boys stared at her blankly, she clarified, “I have powers now… just like Schwarz.”

The young blonde put a hand on her shoulder, “No, you've got powers. But you aren't like Schwarz.” He smiled, “You're still just like us… only new and improved.”

Arashi smiled and put her hand on his, “Thanks Omi.” She closed her eyes and turned her head to yawn, “So, lets go find Aya and kick those foreigners' asses!”

Youji chuckled and stood up, “No, we're going to contact Birman and Persia for information. You are going to rest.”

“Like hell I'm going to rest! Help me up and bring me tea, I'll be more awake than any of you.” She argued.

“Not that hard to do, it's 2:00 A.M. Go to sleep, we've got plans for tomorrow.” Ken said patting her head.

Arashi raised an eyebrow, “Plans?” they got up and started walking towards the door, “No you don't! Get back here and tell me what you mean!”

Ken closed the door behind them, waiting a moment for Omi to stick his head back in, “Get lots of sleep. We're going to have a lot to do in the morning.”

~*~

Crawford glared at his competitor, the rivalry was over whelming. His breath was heavy and beads of sweat now dripped from his face.

Schuldig's hand was raised; he looked back and forth between the two `champions'. Chikaru stared at the stopwatch he had and said, “Go.”

Schuldig slammed his hand down on the table yelling, “Round 3, Go!”

Crawford reached for his shot of sake and drank it as Mal took hers. He finished his, slammed it down, and reached for the next as did Mal. After a few seconds Chikaru pulled on Schuldig's sleeve, he slapped his hand on the table and yelled, “Yamate!”

Mal and Crawford both sat back and breathed heavy for a moment. Schuldig leaned forward, forcing Chikaru forward a little too. “Malvagita-sama has 15 shots. Whew, that's a lot for25 seconds.”

Schuldig laughed, “Brad has 13 and some of his 14th. That makes Malvagita the winner!”

Malvagita threw back her head and laughed, “It feels good to win all the time. Not that you would know. Well, you know what this means don't you.”

Aya had been watching the entire charade; he raised an eyebrow, “What does this mean? You never discussed what the winner gets.”

Crawford stood up, “Hah! You didn't name your price, your efforts were in vain!”

“I guess you're right about the first part.” Malvagita said, “But I'll just name my price now.”

Schuldig chuckled and put his chin on Chikaru's shoulder, “And what would your price be?”

“Well… because all my stuff is already here…” she began.

“You plan on staying here with us. Of course. Never!” Bradley cut her off, “We don't have room to house you, considering you used to a home 4 times the size our property.”

Malvagita shrugged, “I'll just have to make do. But it will be easier knowing that it's your room I'm sleeping in.”

Brad's jaw dropped before he shook his head, “Absolutely not! I will not share a room with you!”

She jumped off of the couch and started running up stairs, “I didn't intend to Brad. I'd look down on it as a matter of fact. I'll be sleeping in your room, go pull yourself out a couch you oaf.”

Crawford jumped up and over the table to start after her and get to his room before her. Schuldig laughed at the shocked expression on Brad's face. When Schuldig was done laughing, Chikaru yawned, “It's late.”

Schuldig looked at the clock on the wall and said, “It is, I guess it's time to go to bed. I'm going out to play with Weiß tomorrow.”

Aya stood up, “Leave them alone! That's why I came with you! You have me so bug off!”

Schuldig chuckled and waved for him to follow, “Come on, I'll show you your room. I'm not going to kill them. Weiß wants a hunt, I'll be there fox for the day.”

Aya glared at the German as he followed him. He imagined just killing the man with an imaginary sword and getting this all over with.

Chikaru followed for a while before she straying off. Aya watched her and rolled his eyes when the rather possessive and physical German didn't notice.

~*~

Youji leaned over the table, “So, how's that for a plan?”

Ken rubbed his nose, “I don't know if it's a likely plan.”

Omi shrugged, “I think that the plan over all is good. Stalking Schwarz, but we have to be split up. And our searches would probably be more lucrative for ourselves if we tracked through the places that they wandered.”

“So…” Youji began, “We'd be following them around till they lead us home pretty much?”

Omi nodded, “Youji, you'd take Schuldig. I'll be taking Nagi since I know where he hangs out during the day. Ken, I'd tell you to take on Farfarello, but I'm not sure if he even comes out of his house, so take who ever you can find.”

Ken laughed, “Omi, you're being such a leader.”

Youji pushed his shoulder, “Well yeah, look at Persia. It's gotta run in the family.”

Omi flicked a smile out of kindness, but was over all un-amused by the talk about his family. “Yes well, plans sound good? Everyone is good with them?”

Ken stood up and threw a hand up, “Go team! Yeah!”

Youji stared at him before pushing up his (useless) sun glasses, “Sometimes I wonder if you're all there Ken.”

~*~

Chikaru walked around the corner and stopped when she saw Crawford tenaciously knocking on his door. “Mal? Open up. Mal? This is my room!”

“I'm well aware of that Brady-bonne.”

“Don't call me that, Mal-vay-gee-tay.” Brad yelled. (Malvagita is pronounced Mal-vah-yee-tah.”

Mal yelled through the door, “I'm going to take a bath now. Sit out there if you want you bum!”

Crawford stepped back for a moment, “Bum?” he looked himself up and down, in his Armani suit and tie before repeating, “Bum?” Chikaru quietly went around him to find some other entrance into Mal's room.

~*~

Farfarello blinked a few times, annoyed at the tingle of blood flowing to his brain. He closed his eye and grunted, trying to find a more comfortable way to hang in his binds.

He opened his eyes and everything was beginning to get dark again. He told himself it was just his pupils contracting in reflex to the flowing blood. He closed his eyes to distract himself from it.

A distant, child's voice cried, “Jeiiiiiiiii.”

Farfarello forced himself to open his eyes in order to reassure himself there was no one there. The room was completely dark and chilling. The tall pillars cast ugly, stretching black shadows across the floor. The moonlight from the small, barred windows seemed to shimmer before dimming greatly.

He breathed quietly to insure himself that there was no one there, “Jeeeeiiiiiiii.” Came the voice again.

He clenched his teeth and snarled. The voice came in an almost choked sob. As the cry progressed, the clarity of it increased, till the voice was right there in the room with him. From one of the long pillar shadows raised a dark mass.

The lump whined, “Jei? Why?” A whitish, gray hand reached out. It was a small hand, but the skin on it peeled and flaked and some of the nails were missing. Black streaks covered the hand, but their pattern confirmed that it was blood.

Farfarello sneered, trying to fill himself with courage by using a front of disgust and superiority. (You know you've all done it. Telling the shadows they're stupid, glaring at and bad talking the open closet door.)

The hand grasped onto the ground, holding on with its nails, one of which bent and cracked from the force. “Help me Jei!” the voice sobbed. The hand pulled an equally disgusting dead arm into the pale moonlight. It reached out again and pulled itself further exposing thick clumps of matted black hair hanging in front of a face.

Some of the face was exposed through the gritty dark hair. The face was pale, dark, dried blood marking paths from the lips and nose. Farfarello glared at it, his sister's face, crying to him with his sister's voice. “Why did you hurt momma and daddy?” as the mouth opened, only black hollow space was inside, not even the slight shimmer of the moistness on a tongue, it was as though she was empty.

Farfarello glared deeper into the hollow black eyes that were his sisters… and yet terrifyingly different. “I didn't hurt her.”

The hand pulled itself forward more, closer to him. This time the moonlight unveiled part of a torso. From half way down the rib cage, the flesh appeared ripped, and the tips of her innards protruded, ragged and chaffed. “Why did you kill them Jei?”

Farfarello started to shake his head, “I didn't do it! I didn't kill them! It was God! God let it happen.”

The small, but gruesome body pulled itself across the floor towards him, creating a chafing sound, and leaving a few spots of blood. “Jeiii… why did you kill me?”

Farfarello screamed, “It was God! I didn't do it! I'm not a killer, I'm not!”

~*~

Youji crossed his legs, stared at the ceiling, uncrossed his legs and stared across the room. He groaned and slid down on the chair before he started kicking his foot against the coffee table with a frustrated little pout.

Omi laughed, “Bored Youji?”

The `adult' threw his head back and kicked his feet a few times, “When are we going to do something?”

Ken shrugged, “How long do you think Schwarz sleeps in on Saturdays? We'll leave our `post' as soon as we at least have something to follow.”

“I bet…” Youji began, “That Schuldig hangs out in night clubs a lot… you don't think that maybe I could…” He met Omi and Ken's un-amused stares. “…Just sit here and shut up for the rest of the night.” He grabbed a cowboy hat and planted it on his face.

~*~

Malvagita stared at the huge tub. “My God, this bath tub is enormous. Doesn't surprise me but I'll say it anyways, his room confirms all suspicions of Crawford being a megalomaniac.”

She pulled off her pants and groaned, “I hate those damn pants. It's not like I'm here to impress anyone. So why don't I just stay home naked?” she stood up and looked in the mirror, “Who knows?” she winked at herself then rolled her eyes.

Mal walked over to the bathtub that was filling with water and bubbles, filling the rest of the room with hot steam. She sighed and slipped into the satin warmth up to her neck. She chuckled to herself and responded to her previous statement, “I know why. I'm here for that Mr. Bum.” She stared into a handful of bubbles.

“Heheh, I'm losing my mind.” She smirked as she stared into the bubbles, “But I think it's kind of fun.” She lifted the bubbles and blew them into the air.

She gazed at some of the warm glow of candles. She breathed in the deep scent of the bubbles and pulled them closer, recognizing the scent from somewhere. (I'm sure you can assume where she recognizes the scent from… BRAD!)

There was a scuffing noise and a low mumble and Mal nearly pulled an Aphrodite! She glared into the mass of steam trying to make out the body before her, “Crawford? Is that you? Damn it, I'm taking a bath!”

“Um, it's not… Mr. Crawford.” Came a meek voice.

Malvagita relaxed, “Chikaru, I didn't know it was you. What do you want?”

Chikaru was pulling on the hem of her skirt in nervousness, “I was wondering about Farfarello. Do you think he's okay in there? I mean, I don't remember seeing him eat dinner, his blood sugar could drop. And I don't think he took his medication, and…”

The Italian woman put down her glass of wine as she watched the fumbling blonde amusedly, “What is this about Chikaru?”

“I… I just wanted to make sure everything was okay…” Chikaru tried.

Malvagita chuckled, “Go see how he's doing Chikaru. Spend some time with him. I'll be good for the rest of the night, so don't worry about coming back for me.”

Chikaru hurriedly bowed and turned for the door when Mal began again, “Oh, be a dear and bring me the wine from that bucket. I don't like moving much after I get comfortable.”

Chikaru nodded with a smile and brought her the bottle of wine then turned for the door again.

~*~

Aya paced back and forth within in his `assigned room'. He wondered aloud, “Is there any reason why this door has three locks on the outside or is Crawford honestly scared to sleep while his team is home.”

The room was fairly blank so he decided to start looking through it for possible tools to aid him. He found a bed and stared bottoms of the posts where the hard floor was unscathed or etched by the posts, “Looks like someone isn't getting any.”

He swept his hand over the sheet, quickly withdrawing it when he felt the dry brush of dust. “The room doesn't look like it hasn't been used… apparently this person doesn't fancy sleeping in the bed.”

Continuing his way around the room he found little charms and such that he stuffed in his pockets… pretty much to be an ass, and also to bring something back for Arashi.”

~*~

Arashi's eye twitched before she sneezed. She sat up and groaned, “If those bastards got me sick then I'm going to personally go remove their faces.”

Youji chuckled, “It takes a week for the symptoms of illness to show up.”

Ken then pointed at her and winked, “You know what they say~ whenever you sneeze, it's cause someone special is thinking about you~”

She blinked a few times and stared before asking, “What happened to letting me sleep in peace? It's beginning to sound like a pretty good idea.”

“We got bored waiting for day break.” Ken shrugged.

“Then go to sleep, its just that simple.” Arashi chastised.

Youji and Ken looked at each other. Youji laughed, “Sleep? But it's night; it's when the city is alive with passion and life! It's the time when everything is best, I love it at night!”

Arashi asked, “Then you shouldn't be bored.”

“She has a point.” Ken shrugged, “I'm not sure what, but its there.”

~*~

Omi scrolled down the computer screen. He'd typed in `Schwarz' and a couple variations of it to check out on the net. “They've got to be here somewhere.” He mumbled to himself.

Nagi stared at his laptop, far away. He watched the sites that Omi was visiting with mild interest, “What does he think he's going to find? Farfarello's life journal? Crawford's dating service posts?”

The brown haired boys tapped his chin in thought for a moment before allowing the keys to start typing.

The blond assassin was about to fall asleep on the key board when a new window popped up. The window read `The following person requests to chat with you.' Omi looked at the name and sounded it out, “World Prodigy.”

Omi tapped his fingers a few times on the table before clicking `okay'.

World Prodigy: Your efforts are in vain.

World Prodigy: You must realize that by now.

Omi raised an eye brow and typed in his response:

Neko Shonen: Who is this?

World Prodigy: I'm the perfection of this generation.

Neko Shonen: -___-;; how modest, lol

World Prodigy: Are you busy tomorrow?

Neko Shonen: Do you know me?

Neko Shonen: usually an introduction is in order

Neko Shonen: before you ask someone out, ^___~

World Prodigy: … I know you.

World Prodigy: nuff said.

Neko Shonen: Mind telling me who you are then?

World Prodigy: You know me.

World Prodigy: Go to the arcade in the Fushiki mall tomorrow, I'll be there.

Neko Shonen: I don't know who you are though

World Prodigy: you do, you just don't recognize my sn.

Neko Shonen: I'm busy tomorrow. Looking for something.

World Prodigy: I know. Show up and you're job will be done.

Neko Shonen: How will I know it's you?

World Prodigy: Trust me.

World Prodigy: The moment you see me, you'll know it was me

Neko Shonen: I'll have to decline. It doesn't sound safe at all

World Prodigy: lol. I find it humorous that you would fear vulnerability

World Prodigy: Given the public setting and… well, we both know

Neko Shonen: … Fushiki mall, tomorrow. Where in the arcade? And when?

World Prodigy: Arrive when it opens, I'll be waiting.

World Prodigy: Later kitten. ^____~

Neko Shonen: #0__0#

World Prodigy has just signed off :

“Oh Kami-sama. Oh Kami-sama. He- this person! They know!” Omi started gasping frantically.

Ken popped over his shoulder, “Know what?”

“They know who I am! They just called me kitten!” he put his hands to his face, “What have I done? I've endangered the whole team! How could they have found out?”

“I… don't think they have.” Ken reasoned.

“Nani?”

“Well, have you considered that your screen name is `Cat Boy'?”

Omi watched the screen in disbelief as he realized that, “Oh… Nothing wrong then.” Ken left the room and the blond put his chin in his hand and wondered out loud, “Who could that have been though?”

“Oh Omitchi.” Nagi laughed darkly, “Your wanderings have played right into the palms of my hands.” He began to give a deep chuckle as he watched the screen.

Schuldig opened the door and glared in at Nagi. Nagi stared back at him before finally asking, “What?”

“If your `evil' laughter, plans, or phrases…”

“Yes?” Nagi asked.

“That's what I thought.” Schuldig nodded before turning to walk out of the room. Nagi cocked his head and stared after him.

~*~

Farfarello growled and bucked at the leather and metal `cocoon' he was in as he tried to pull himself away from the body creeping towards him.

The `thing' was beneath him now, and the stench of rotting flesh drifted up to him, making his stomach turn upside down. (Or right side up… hmmm…) A cold gray hand reached up and touched his cheek, the slightly fingers and rough nails slid from his jaw to upper cheek, “You killed us Jei. You killed us all, you're a murderer.”

“No.” he growled as he tried to pull his face away from the icy fingers, “I'm not a murderer.” The heat of the dead flesh almost made her seem alive, but her movements were anything but that.

“And you let me die Jei. You said you'd protect me and you let me die.”

“No.” he began again, “I didn't, I didn't let you die. I didn't kill you. I wanted you to live. God betrayed me, he let you die, I didn't. It wasn't my fault. IT WASN'T ME!”

She drew her hand across his face more, repeating, “You killed us Jei. You let me die. You're a murderer.”

Farfarello snarled and shook his head, arguing with it, “No, I'm not a murderer. It wasn't me, I didn't kill anyone.” He closed his eyes and slightly shook his head, mouthing over and over again, “No, no, no, no, no etc.”

He felt warm fingers brush down his face, but he realized it wasn't the sickly luke warmth of the previous body, and this skin was much smoother, and gentle. He opened his eye abruptly to see two, upside down, wide, crystal blue eyes.

Farfarello blinked before looking at the hand on his cheek. Chikaru quickly withdrew it and smiled nervously, “You sounded like you were having a nightmare.”

“I wasn't sleeping.” Farfarello said, shifting slightly, making the leather straps creak again. He stared at Chikaru and asked, “Why are you here? Come to see if it was true?”

Chikaru shook her head and stood up, “I am here TO SET YOU FREE!”

Farfarello waited till she was done before calmly stating, “You might want to keep your voice down. It wouldn't be a good thing if Crawford found you in here.”

“Oh.” Chikaru put her forefinger over her lips and smiled, “I'll be quiet.”

Farfarello stared at her for a moment, then Chikaru came forward and stared with a look of fascination, inches away from him. Farfarello looked down his chest to see what she was so engrossed with but couldn't because of the restrictive leather around his neck. He shifted uncomfortably and demanded, “What are you doing?”

Chikaru bent over again so she was eye to eye with him, “I'm trying to set you free, but I don't know how this works. Tell me what I have to do, I'll get you out of here in no time.”

“Wha- eh-ahh.” Farfarello tried to look up and see what straps she'd decided to start yanking on but couldn't, so he stared at her bare legs, “You might not want to do that.”

Chikaru asked, “Why's that?”

“Because you're tightening them.”

“Oh no! Gomen, I didn't mean to. I-.”

Farfarello rolled his eyes, “I was only trying to get a reaction.” He paused then answered her question, “You don't have the strength to lower me, so you'd be dropping me about 3 feet. Crawford would find me free, though he gave no one the orders. Etc.”

Chikaru huffed, “Then what do we do?”

“… Hang around.” Farfarello remained stoic for five seconds before closing his eye and allowing the corners of his mouth to tip upwards smile.

Chikaru stood up, “I'll get food, I put some by the door. Stay right there.” Then she spun around and left. Farfarello briefly wondered where she thought he was going any time soon… or where he could hide in the blank room.

~*~

“Oh Crawford.” Malvagita purred loudly, “What a big bed you have.”

“All the better to lure you my dear. NOW GET OFF!” Crawford yelled through the door. At this point he was no longer standing and beating on the door, just sitting on the ground and spewing curses.

Malvagita flopped back on the bed and asked with a tone of mock sorrow, “Why are you so hostile?”

Crawford growled, “Because that's 300 thread-count, Egyptian silk. I don't want it ruined!”

“Are you saying I'm dirty?” she laughed through the door.

Brad crossed his arms and leaned against the door, “Well you are European. Italian nonetheless.”

A gunshot fired and Brad's eyes flew open as the wood beside him cracked when the bullet emerged. “Jesus tap-dancing Christ Mal!”

Malvagita crossed her arms and climbed into the bed.

Brad turned around to examine the hole before emitting a deep chuckle, “I can see you through the hole.”

She got dead still for a moment then shrugged and got into the bed, “Then you watch, in the hall way, through the hole, as I sleep in your bed.”

Bradley cursed, then there was a hollow `thunk' and his cursing was greatly muffled. Mal turned over in the bed and glared at the door to see what had happened. A narrow finger now plugged the hole.

Mal yelled, “What the hell are you doing?”

Bradley yelled through the door, “I'm annoying you! It may seem small, but in time, it will annoy you, I know it.”

Mal yelled back, “You're stupid. I'll bite it off before I'm annoyed of it.”

Brad twisted his finger to make the `come' motion, “You're bluffing, just try it.”

Nagi yawned and pushed himself away from his computer. He put his arms over his head, and pulled them back, he felt is back strain then release, so he let go. He licked his lips and decided to go get a drink of water.

He was walking down the hallway rubbing his eyes when he turned the corner and stopped dead in his tracks as he heard Crawford giggling (in the deep, but dorky manly way) down the hall.

He put down his eyes to see Crawford on his hands and knees with his index finger stuck through a hole in his door as he continued to giggle. Nagi pursed his eye brows together and opened his mouth when he heard Malvagita's voice complaining, “Brad~ Brad, come on.”

Nagi's eyes widened. He closed his eyes and swung on his heels to walk back down the hallway. A few minutes later, an unnoticed glass of water floated down the hallway and into the room where a newly traumatized Nagi crouched in the corner.

~*~

Morning time

~*~

Omi rushed around the kitchen, practically throwing breakfast on the table. Arashi sat there with her arms crossed, tapping her foot on the ground slightly. Ken was there too, but he was eating, happy that he got to eat Aya's share.

(Omi didn't make a share for Aya. He just divided Ken's serving onto two plates and gave them both to Ken. Voila, Ken is happy.)

Youji walked in and sighed, “I hate mornings.”

Omi sighed, “Do you want anything to eat Youji?”

“No, just coffee. I don't eat, or do morning stuff, until I have at least 6 cups of coffee flowing through my veins.” He slid into a seat, his sunglasses pushed up to block the light, and a cigarette between his lips.

Youji suddenly stood up, “What the?” he looked over his shoulder, down his back. Unsatisfied with his view, he grabbed his shoulder with the opposite hand and stared. “Wha- ehhhhh, ehhhh,” he began to whine as he turned in circles.

Arashi continued to poke at her food for a while, ignoring Youji. Omi joined in though, chasing Youji's turning shoulder around in circles, “Here Youji, let me help!”

“Something is on my ass! Oh Kami-sama. What if it's a tumor, what if its testicular cancer? I don't think I could live.”

Arashi finally stood up, she put out her hand and Youji's shoulder ran into it. She pulled him back, “Damn it Kudo, stand still.”

Youji looked at her and only got out a dazed, “Whu?” before her hand delved into the back of his pants.

It returned a moment later with a little green army man, she stared at it, before shaking her head, “Soldier, you've braved lands no man has traveled before. Be strong, help is on the way.” Then she tossed it into the disposal.

Ken pointed, “Hey! I was looking for that!”

Youji crossed his arms, “How did it get into my pants! Ken?”

Omi stared on incredulously, “How did you not feel it when you first put on the pants?”

Arashi watched them blankly, before shaking her head and going back to her breakfast. Did I mention that Arashi hated mornings too? She poured herself more of Youji's cereal of choice.

Youji, Omi and Ken soon joined her at the table, sitting down and quietly eating. Youji elbowed Ken and raised an eyebrow.

Ken pursed his eyebrows together. Youji smirked. Ken's eyes widened. Youji cocked his head with raised eyebrows. Ken grinned and nodded.

They then began their charade. (You can't miss this. It's hilarious. Click this link http://www.ebaumsworld.com/milkandcereal.html to see a reenactment of they incredible Youji and Ken, breakfast song act.)

Arashi watched their little song with a spoon raised half way to her mouth. She put her spoon down and stood up, “I'm not eating with you guys any more.”

Ken started to laugh like an idiot.

~*~

Aya woke up to a boot in his gut. He opened his eyes and stared at the white pant leg. Schuldig winked down at him, “Rise and shine.”

Aya growled and threw a pillow at him, “Get out of here! Leave me alone.”

Schuldig rolled his eyes, “Sheesh. I came in here so you could come get some break fast.”

Aya glared up at him, “Break fast?”

Schuldig nodded slowly, “Yes Aya. B-r-e-a-k f-a-s-t. It's that meal at the beginning of the day.”

Aya glared and stood up, “I know what break fast is.”

Schuldig started out the door, “Then lets go.” They walked down the hall way till they eventually came to the hall way with Crawford's room. Schuldig came to a hault and cocked his head then started laughing histerically, “Crawford, you look like one of those dorks on a ship trying to keep themselves from sinking by plugging the hole with their finger.”

Crawford opened his eyes drowsily. “Shut up and go take down Farfarello. I'm busy.”

“The question is,” Aya began, “Doing what?” he raised an eyebrow.

Crawford fought down a blush, angered at his less than threatening position, “Leave!”

As soon as Aya and a hysterical Schuldig made their way off, Nagi came around the corner. Crawford turned, “Nagi! Oh, I-.”

Nagi interrupted, “I don't care what you were doing to Mal, you don't need to explain it to me. If I didn't learn it in sex ed 2 years ago, I don't need to learn it before I eat breakfast.” He turned the corner and vanished.

Crawford cried out for him to come back, “Wait!” he didn't come back. Crawford returned to staring at his finger, which was still stuck in the hole. “Oh shit.” He started pulling frantically when he saw what was about to happen.

The doorknob turned and Mal opened the door. She stared down at him, “I'm not used to guys greeting me on their hands and knees in the morning.”

Crawford scowled, “Shut your trap. Its not what you think.”

“Oh? And what is it?”

“My finger is stuck…” Crawford's head sunk as he realized how vulnerable he'd made himself sound.

“You've been stuck there with your finger in that hole all night?” Mal asked. Crawford nodded, “Oh this is rich.”

“Could you just let me out already?” he demanded.

Mal continued to laugh but went to get some lotion. She returned and undid the cap. Crawford turned his gaze to his finger, still lodged in the door, when a white, creamy substance suddenly clouded his vision.

He realized the lotion had been splattered all over his face.

“Oops. I missed.”

He glared at Mal, though she couldn't see his eyes. He took off his glasses with his other hand and set them down carefully. He then smeared some of the lotion off his face and onto his finger, finally dislodging it.

Mal continued to laugh… until Brad smeared the greasy finger onto her pants, leaving a slick white mark. Mal growled and started down the hallway away from them.

Nagi was eating his hot pockets when Mal and Brad came in. He looked at Mal who had the white, drying mark on her pants as well as a bottle of lotion, then looked at Brad who had some sort of goop on his finger.

He slammed his hands down and walked into the next room, “Decency! Decency!” his plate and orange juice floated after him.

He sat down on the couch where Aya was watching as Farfarello flipped the channels. He stopped it on a news report about the pope. He watched it quietly as they reported the pope's `entering eternal life'.

Aya warily glanced at Farfarello, expecting some sort of insane reaction. Farfarello put down the remote for a second, tapped his forehead, chest, right shoulder then left. He picked up the remote again and changed the channel.

Aya pursed his eyebrows and looked around to see if anyone else had seen it. No one had, so he shook his head and brushed it off. Farfarello started flipping channels again when it landed on Terri Shivoh (spelling?).

In just a few short seconds Farfarello threw his knife for the T.V. yelling, “She's dead you damn hippies! Get over it!”

Schuldig caught the knife in time and clicked his tongue, “If you break another T.V. Crawford's going to be mad at you.” He bent over and flipped the channel on the T.V. to spike television. (Spike T.V. the first network for men! It's great… really.)

Crawford came in a moment later, “Schuldig, Nagi, Farfarello, get ready.”

Chikaru cocked her head, “For what?”

“Weiß plans to track us down and follow us. We are going to go out, easy targets mainly. But we'll lead them in circles till they finally drop off.” He explained.

Schuldig tossed his keys in the air and caught them, “I'll be taking care of Kudo. I have an inkling of the places he'll be checking to find me at.”

Nagi stood up and motioned for his cup and plate to go to the sink, “I'm going to the arcade. That's where Tsukiyono is going to be.” He walked out the door.

Crawford tightened his tie, and began, “Mal and I will be out as well. Return after the person following you has dropped off. And by all means, don't let them trace your path back to the house.” He pushed up his glasses and glared through them, “Got it?”

Schuldig saluted, “Aye, aye, Cap'n crunchy pants.” Then he turned and headed for the door.

Malvagita looked up at Brad, “Captain crunchy pants? Is there a story behind that one too?”

Crawford turned and headed for the door, muttering, “I hate comedians.”

Aya rolled his eyes and mumbled aloud, “If your afraid that Weiß is going to follow you back here?”

Brad glared, “Weiß would get more resourceful without you to distract them. I fore saw it. They'd find our residence today, and that is not in my plans.”

~*~

Arashi got up, threw a jacket on over her loose shirt and started for the door, “Okay guys. You know the plan, go out, find Schwarz and follow them.”

Ken poked at a few extra scraps on his plate, “Why aren't one of us the leader when Aya is gone? I hate it when the guys aren't the ones in complete control of every situation.”

Arashi stopped in the door way and glared over her shoulder, “What was that?”

Ken sweat dropped and waved her on with a fork, “Nothing! Nothing at all! Just saying it's always great to have a woman around to take control of a situation… cause… you know… us guys would be totally lost… yeah.”

Arashi blinked then rolled her eyes and walked out. Ken nodded to himself, “Oh yeah, she has no idea.”

Youji and Omi looked at each other with the `he is hopeless' look before going back to what they were doing.

Okay, so I don't have some sort of ending story fore this chapter. But, I do have the song that Youji and Schuldig play on their alarm clocks to get up in the morning.

http://www2.b3ta.com/sleepy-kittens/

There it is, trust me, its funny. (Ever wonder why Kittens are always so tired? They're drunk!)

9 coronas

A girl looks good to me

Looked good to me

She looked like Pamela Lee

After 9 coronas!

I began to kiss her

Undid her zipper,

She looked like Claudia Schiffer

After 9 coronas!

When I met her at the bar

She said she was on bay watch

When she got into my car

She looked a lot like sasquatch

Bow wow, wow, wow, wahhhhh

9 coronas

She kinda looked like Mr. Spock

“Live long and prosper”

But she was Courtney Cox

After 9 coronas!

We were hot with passion,

We were mashing

Cause she looked like Jennifer Aniston

After 9 coronas

Late into the night

I rode her like a Harley

In the soft candle light

She looked like

She looked like Pee wee herman

“That's my name don't wear it out”

But she was Uma Thermon

After 9 coronas!

In our 23 position

I think I got a whiplash

She was really bitchen

Except for her mustache!