Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ To destroy the one you love ❯ Dealing with the Devil ( Chapter 2 )

To Destroy the One You Love

Chapter 2: Dealing with the devil.

Pairing: Yohji/Aya/Yohji; Schuldig/Yohji (one sided)

Rated: Pg13-ish (Thus far for swearing. R rated for later chapters)

Warnings: Strongly implied yaoi and a swear word or two

Legal stuff: Well... I think it's obvious but I'll state it anyway. I don’t own them! Please don't sue me? I'm poor... seriously...>_>;;

Author notes: I thought about breaking this up into two chapters to match the other short chapters in this arch but… eh, I figured "oh why the hell not just leave it long and be done with it?" so guess what happened? I left it long and was done with it. *laughs* C’est la vive I guess.

/…/ = telepathic thoughts

Thanks to:

Sywren - you’re a life savor! You’ll always have hugs and bonus points from me!

Tygrrlyli - *laughs* well of course you’re pregnant but the real question is: Do I get visiting rights? ^_^

~*~*~

Life had been going smoothly and things had begun feeling akin to normal after Weiss had collected itself and recovered from the Esset fiasco. Aya-chan was awake now and doing well at her school, taking the time to drop in and visit everyone at the Koneko whenever she had the chance. The girl would often bring the boys cookies or little homemade things to brighten their day and embarrass her older brother in the process. Not that it was particularly hard to embarrass him these days but she took pride in those little blushes of flusterment. Why? Because they were enough to tell her that she was getting through to him in some way, as small and subtle as it may be. After all, a little was better than nothing... right?

As if by clockwork, an hour and a half after Aya-chan began her visit, Ran would inform her that she should be doing her studies and in the end he would send her on her way, back to the little apartment he was paying for her to live in. The others would (over) dramatically mourn her leaving then relentlessly taunt Ran about the things Aya-chan had said before he glared them into silence and the day would go by as it usually did. This was the norm and this was something Ran could live by. A way of life that he could adjust to properly without too much trouble. This was comfortable.

Perhaps a little too comfortable.

"Hey Aya!" Honey like vibrations ran through the redhead's ears as he finished clipping roses for an arrangement, visibly pausing his fluid movements. Only Yohji could do that and damn him for being able to.

"Ran." the younger of the two corrected automatically. When was that man ever going to catch on?

"Sorry." The blond smiled, as if he were really sorry. Of course, he wasn't but... "Ran, I was wondering if I could talk to you privately for-"

"I'm busy. " Ran was not even going to bother to hear the rest of the babble his fellow assassin had decided to conjure up. He simply didn't have the time or the patience for it.

"Later then?"

"I have to pick up Aya-chan later."

"Tomorrow?"

Again, as typical to Ran’s nature, the response was followed by a grunt and nothing more. Yes, he was rudely blowing off his teammate but he was doing it on purpose in hopes that Yohji would get the hint to go away. Why would he do such a thing to a co-worker and brother in crime? Because Ran hated Yohji and he couldn't fathom why the other insisted on talking to him, let alone try to befriend him in any way. Hadn't Ran made it clear that he didn't want to be friends? Hadn't he made it clear that he loathed everything the blonde did so that it was highly improbably that they could ever form any kind of functioning relationship beyond the relationship of teammates? Apparently not.

"Come on Ran." The eldest started in again, causing Ran to finally look up at his annoyance embodied.

There was always such a carefree, and perhaps lazy, air to the playboy. As if he could be at ease anywhere, much like a large and over fed house cat. Ran's eye twitched slightly at the thought. He hated uselessness.

Shaking his head, the "leader" caught sight of those jade colored orbs calmly settling on him despite the whirl of not-so-calm thoughts behind them. Yohji had always been good at hiding what was going on in his head but Ran had always been better at picking up on his subtle give-aways.

For example, Balinese was squinting at something he should not be squinting at which suggested he was putting effort into staying focussed on the matter at hand. Too much thinking and stressing caused that, but what was there for him to stress over in this situation out of the normal?

Beyond the squinting, the man's smile he persistently presented was strained and that meant he was actually thinking about keeping his smile on instead of just letting it flow like normal. Now, that was actually interesting. Why on earth would he be doing that? It wasn't like Ran cared if he smiled or not.

"No. I'm working, stop pestering me." The redhead retorted while looking back at the roses he had just cut, all together missing the hurt expression flickering across his companion's face. Not that Ran would care if he saw it. Ran never cared about anything Yohji did. There was just no reason for it.

"I'll... catch you later then." There was hesitation in those words and it caused something to click in the back of the "leader's" mind. Had he really just offended Yohji? Since when did Yohji take offence to anything Ran had to say?

"Hn." Best not to actually respond with more or he might take that as an excuse to start conversation again. Ran had to get the rest of the roses clipped before he could help Omi finish closing so that he could go pick up Aya-chan from her study group. There was no time for chitchat, especially pointless chitchat with a certain annoying blond someone.

The footsteps echoing in the nearly empty shop told the redhead that his distraction was retreating and he could get back to work. Thank the gods.

Within the hour, Omi and Ran had successfully finished their closing chores, which made it possible for Ran to run off and play the responsible big brother. He didn't particularly care for the role but it WAS his responsibility and he wasn't about to start slacking on it. With their parents gone and no other family alive, Aya-chan was his charge and not just while she was in a coma either. Awake Aya-chan needed tending to as well and because of this, Ran still accepted missions.

It wouldn't be long until the girl would be old enough to completely take care of herself and it would be in that time that Ran could retire from the life of an assassin. Of course, there lay a problem in this manor of thinking. Could he ever -really- just retire from Weiss? Sure he hated the blood shed and constant death that followed him around but could he really just step back from it all and leave? Was it possible to be a killer for several years then one day just up and leave to go live a normal life? Probably no,but Ran wasn't about to tell himself otherwise. Freedom was almost his and he wasn't about to give it up just because of some negative speculation on his behalf. No way.

A tired white Porsche rolled to a stop in front of an average looking Japanese home which was supposed to contain a small study group that his sister always partook in every Wednesday night. Aya-chan had the diligence of a saint to be able to keep up with everything that she did, not that Ran was surprised by this. After all, she WAS a Fujimiya.

Shutting off with the flick of a key, the car allowed its commander to step out of it in silence. The air was thick and for some reason it left the assassin inside of Ran feeling on guard. So, with quick and precise movements due to the edginess Abyssinian felt, the man was standing in front of the door knocking upon it in no time, hoping that he wasn't late. Aya-chan gave hellish lectures on punctuality. Funny enough, in that moment he would have been grateful to be on the receiving end of one of those lectures if it meant he could just see her face and acknowledge that she was okay. For some reason he had assumed that these phantom worry spells were over but apparently not. How silly of him to believe such a thing.

"Hello?" A housewife in her younger years had answered the door with a smile.

"I'm here to pick up Aya Fujimiya." You'd think after this long he wouldn't have to state that anymore. Oh well.

"She left a half an hour ago, I had assumed she left with you." The woman looked as puzzled as Ran felt. Those weren't the words he was expecting, or wanting, to hear.

"Ah, I guess not. Thank you." Taking his leave, Ran frowned darkly and made his way back to the vehicle. Why would Aya take off and not tell him? The frown only grew darker when he slipped into his car and started it, questions spinning about like some out of control merry-go-round as he pulled away from the curb. Aya always called him and told him if she didn't need picking up. Who would she have left with anyway? None of her friends drove, or at least none of the ones HE knew of. Maybe she caught the bus home, but then again... why wouldn't she have called to tell him that?

Panic stirred in the back of Ran's mind and his foot pressed down on the pedal a little harder. Perhaps he was a little more protective over Aya-chan than most brothers were of their little sisters, but most brothers didn't have to deal with the actual threat of their sister being kidnapped by opposing assassin groups and evil organizations that they slaughtered in their free time for money. Rationally the redhead wanted to say everything was fine but a little voice inside his head insisted on whispering a fact he knew all too well. Just because you think everyone is after you doesn't mean they aren't.

Reaching Aya's apartment in record time, Ran made quick work of getting out of his car and making his way to the building looming above him. Despite the lights inside, the place was dark and slightly ominous at night... something he hadn't noticed until now. Damn it. The florist quickened his pace and took the stairs three at a time instead of bothering with the elevator. The damn thing was slow and he was in a hurry, a combination that never worked out well in the end. Of course, after the fifth floor he was beginning to think that maybe the elevator hadn't been such a bad idea after all.

Reaching the seventh floor caused a brief burst of relief in Ran as he swiftly pressed out of the area for the stairs and into the hallway where he could reach his little sister's apartment at the end.

702. Someone had better be home.

He knocked first, due to the last commotion his "sudden intrusions" had caused when he hadn't knocked. Aya valued her privacy and even though Ran didn't, he respected her wishes and gave her the space she needed. After the third round of knocking, Ran threw caution to the wind and let himself in. To hell with curtsies, safety came first. It was quiet inside but the lights were on, a good sign that she was probably there and possibly just in the bathroom or... something.

"Aya?" No response.

"Aya, it's me. Are you home?" There. A rustling sound from the bedroom let way for a wave of pure relief while the redhead hauled himself down the hallway towards the room where the noise came from. The door was cracked open and light was shinning inside so the man felt it safe to knock then enter. If she wasn't dressed or something she could bitch at him later for it, right now he just needed to see her and make sure she was alright.

"Aya-chan," the leader of Weiss started in on his berate as soon as he pushed open the door, "Why didn't you call me to tell me you didn't need me to pick you up?"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware we were on that level of speaking terms."

Time stopped.

The person standing before him wasn't the sweet blue haired girl he had been expecting to see. In fact, the person before him wasn't sweet, blue haired or even a girl at all. The person standing in front of him with a nasty little smile was a tall red headed German man in a perfectly pressed white suit.

"Schwartz." Shock, loathing, fear, anxiety, anticipation, worry... all the emotions flooded through his voice when he spoke the name of his hated enemy. Why was HE here?

"Schuldig, actually, and I'm here..." the other started with a grin still plastered on his lips, "to make a deal with you. Now, before you start in on your "Shi-ne" utterance, I want to remind you that you should be cautious what you say to the man who has your sister in his possession." There was a pause as if he was realistically waiting for Ran to comment.

When silence followed, Schuldig continued. "You see, these past months have been very boring without a boss to work for and you Weiss boys cutting back on actual missions, so I started plotting ways to get some quality entertainment out of you kittens."

Ran glared as strings of profanity and sanguinary images ran his mind causing Schuldig to let out a snort.

"So much pent up rage, you should really find more effective means of venting your frustrations. " The German was leaning back on Aya's bed as if he owned the place. Ran couldn't have hated him more in that moment, "Anyway, I found a solution to my problem but realized it was going to cause a small predicament for me. So, to get the ball rolling, I needed something precious of yours that I could trade for something else of equal value."

Trade? The hell? What could Schuldig possibly want to trade?

"I'm. Getting. To. That." Schwartz ground out in exasperation. "Now, I know what you're thinking," There was a momentary gap in words for something akin to a chuckle, "You're thinking that there is nothing as precious to you as your little sister. Well... you don't know this yet but you're wrong. I've spent a lot of time researching you, Ran Fujimiya, and I have finally decided on what I want."

"Why?" The redhead gritted through his teeth, taking a small stab of joy in seeing that the question off centered the other cocky assassin.

"Because, Ran, I hate you." The grin that followed the statement made Ran sick to his stomach. How could someone say that sort of thing and smile as if they were complimenting you? "I've always hated you but that's not the main reason I'm doing this. You see, there are many reasons behind this decision of mine and hating you is merely the cherry on top. The main reason I'm doing this is because you have something I want and I want you to hand it over to me on a silver platter."

This did not bode well for the white assassin but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what Schuldig could possibly want from him.

"You're not even going to humor me by asking what I want, are you?" Ran remained silent and Schuldig frowned.

/You really are a stubborn bastard, Abyssinian./

/Stay out of my fucking head, Schuldig./

"Fine." The German grumbled, taking the time to light up a cigarette in front of the other for the sheer purpose of grading on his nerves. "So should I tell you what I want your can you guess on your own?"

Silence.

"Tch. Be like that." The telepath blew smoke in his rival’s direction with a nastier frown than before. "I want one of your teammates."

"Who."

"Balinese."

Ran actually tried not to laugh or even crack a smile. Was he serious? Did he really think Yohji meant as much to him as Aya-chan did? Who in their right mind could possibly conjure up the idea that Yohji meant more to him than a pile of soiled laundry? Was he blind or just stupid?

"Balinese?" Ran double checked to make sure he hadn't heard incorrectly.

"Balinese." The German smiled with a nod, as if he knew something Ran didn't. How preposterous. "I want him with no strings attached. I don't want anyone coming to look for him when you hand him over, gift wrapped, in exchange for your sister. I don't care how you do it; just make it happen by Saturday evening when we meet back here for the exchange."

"Wait, I only have until Saturday?" Red eyebrows drew together in concentration and frustration.

"Did it sound like I said Monday? Yes, Saturday evening. Seven-o-clock sharp, Abyssinian. If you fail to deliver what I want to its fullest extent then I won’t hesitate to harm your precious little sister. Do I make myself clear?"

Ran was sending him looks that could kill when he nodded. If Schuldig so much as laid a hand on-

"Guten tag then." Came the words followed by a chuckle as its owner moved towards a window that Ran hadn't even had time to notice was open. The Schwartz assassin slipped out of it then out of site without so much as a sound, leaving the "leader" of Weiss to suddenly curse his clumsiness with is sister's safety. Trading Balinese for Aya-chan wouldn't be so hard but getting away with it unscathed would be another story entirely. Could he really betray Kritiker and Weiss so easily?

Of course he could. The only person that matter to him was his sister. Not Kritiker. Not Weiss. And certainly not Yohji.

***

TBC