Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Zweiter Chancen ❯ ...it just might come true ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
*****2*****


One has to love the unexpected, something so impossibly abrupt you almost think you've dreamed it up. But this is real. This isn't an illusion or misunderstanding. Some greater power above has decided to make Weiss' life just a bit more complicated.

Seated around the upstairs living room, four assassins and a misidentified enemy are attempting to sort out a very complicated puzzle. The white hunters have yet to come clean on how much they know about their guest, but they have allowed him into their home, and are treating this situation as cautiously as they can.

It is Schuldrich, after all, no matter how young and innocent he appears.

"Hang on a second, kid. Let's go over this again." Youji suggests, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He is sitting in a plush armchair, with Omi and little Schu together on the couch, Ken leaning over the back of it, and Ran standing intimidatingly against the wall a few feet away.

The young German wrings his small hands together, glancing nervously at the impatient audience following his every twitch. "It's just like I told you. I woke up in an alleyway a few blocks down. I remember a few things about who I am, but not much else, and I came here thinking you might be able to help me."

"But what made you come *here* instead of the police or something?" Ken
inquires from his perch, a little more suspicious sounding than he'd like to be, but unable to shake off his mistrust.

"Because of this..." Schu responds softly, reaching into his draping coat to retrieve his wallet. He opens it up, revealing a huge chunk of cash, as well as a numerous assortment of business cards. "I went through it to see if I had any identification, but no luck. What did interest me...was a card I had from your shop."

Sure enough, he pulls out a white card with green writing, as well as the message, "Koneko no Sumu Ie. Where beauties bloom in all shapes and sizes," including the shop's address and phone number at the bottom.

"It didn't seem much different from the other cards in here, until I saw what was on the back." the boy continues, turning it over for them to see. There is a lone word written in neat, curved hand-writing. "Weiss." he reads aloud, unaware of its significance. "I thought it was weird for me to write something like that. Why put 'white' on the back of a flower shop's business card? It couldn't be just about the flowers. The word felt so familiar, like it represents you or something." his cheeks flush slightly, embarrassed by so many eyes watching him. "Maybe I'm just being silly, but 'Weiss' sounded trustworthy, like we were friends. Am I right...? Do you know who I am?"

All eyes search each other, grasping for a fitting answer. All save Ran's that is, who has his conveniently closed in concentration.

Should they tell him the truth? 'You're an evil, conniving, mass murderer, who lives for the sole purpose of making other people's lives miserable. You're really 22, apart of a group called Schwartz, and considered a major pain in the ass. Got all that?' Not likely.

"Bitte...you have to know something." urges such a small, nasal voice, looking beseechingly at every troubled face. "You're names didn't sound familiar when you gave them to me, but you sure sounded like you knew mine. Youji-san...you had a name for me when I first came in. Why call me anything if you know nothing?"

"What *is* your name?" Ran asks suddenly, flicking his eyes up with dark intentions.

Schu falters, fearful of that piercing, violet stare. "Uhh...I...."

"You never told us your name when we introduced ourselves." Ran breaks in again, strangely menacing. "Why should we give you a name if you have one already? You say you remember things about who you are, ne? Enlighten us."

"A...alright. It...it's...Emery. Emery Schuldaussen." he stutters in reply, averting his gaze. "It's about the only thing I *can* remember, ringing in my head over and over again. I don't even know how or when I learned Japanese. I just...know it, the way I know my name. I guess 'Schuldrich' could be a nickname then. That's what you called me, wasn't it? Schuldrich - Schuldaussen. Odd name, though. It sounds like schuldig, and that means 'guilty.' Why call me that?"

No reply. It would be too heartbreaking. This young boy seems so genuine, as if he truly doesn't know the man he once was, and is struggling to piece together his identity. How can they tell him the truth, when the truth will only show him that he is a monster?

Youji stands up from his chair, moving to sit on the boy's other side, opposite Omi, and peers back at him with critical eyes. "Sometimes...a name is just a name, okay? Yeah, we know you, but it's a little more complicated than you think."

"Maybe...if we knew what happened before you woke up...we could understand this better." Omi comments, offering a small smile, though it does little to quell the boy's apprehensions.

"I wish I knew, but the only thing remotely near me was this piece of paper, and I can't even read it."

Promptly, he reaches into his other coat pocket, producing that worn slip of paper with his ill-fated spell. He doesn't recognize it now, but he doesn't recognize Weiss or his own face for that matter, either. The only thing he does remember is his name, as if haunted by it so powerfully, he could never forget it.

Omi takes the paper, analyzing it from all angles, but looks quite perplexed when turning out to face his companions again. "It's no language I know. Looks pretty ancient. I might be able to track something down on the computer, but it could take a few days."

"Days?!" Ken exclaims, obviously disturbed by that thought. "What're we supposed to do till then? We don't even know what's going on!"

"Guess the little guy's just going to have to stay with us."

Four very uncertain faces focus instantly on Youji, who seems all too casual concerning his brave statement. While young Emery is blushing in gratitude, the others are far from being on board with the idea of letting one of their most dangerous enemies spend the night.

"You should be more careful playing good Samaritan, Youji." Ran warns, still unmoving from his spot that separates him from the group. "How do we know we can trust him?"

"Lay off, Aya, he's just a kid." the bold playboy argues back. "You think Schwartz planned this? There's no way they'd let Schuldrich get turned into some grade school rugrat on purpose. I bet he can't even read our minds. Am I right?" he adds, turning back to Emery suddenly.

The poor boy doesn't know how to respond to the narrative his older companion has just given, gawking obliviously. "Read...you minds...?

"See. Doesn't even know what I'm talking about." Youji smiles smugly, but the others aren't so easily convinced.

"Let's say, just for the sake of argument, he's telling the truth." Ken begins, standing more upright behind the couch. "What if Schwartz comes looking for him? I don't wanna wake up to that Irish psychopath standing over my bed!"

"Well, if he doesn't have his powers anymore, maybe they won't be able to find him." Omi puts in, tilting his head thoughtfully in reply.

Naturally, in the middle of this, the red-head they are discussing is more than a little put off by the conversation. Growing more and agitated as descriptions and creative nouns fly from the men around him, Emery soon begins to clutch at the sides of his head as if struck by a sudden, intensive migraine.

"Stop!" he cries, causing his companions to immediately quiet, staring at him in concern. "What are you talking about? Schwartz? Psychopaths? Powers!? Just who the hell am I!?!"

As it has happened so often this evening, the members of Weiss remain silent. The young German is clearly distressed by his loss of memory, and isn't reassured in the slightest being surrounded by people who seem to know him but refuse to give him any information.

They pass their eyes over each others' blank features, seeing no need for words in coming to a joint decision. Their eyes tell each other enough as to how this should be handled.

"We think it would be better for everyone if we *didn't* tell you who you are." Omi speaks softly, on behalf of the group, while touching a kind hand to Emery's shoulder. "At least not everything. Youji said it best before; it's just too complicated. You can trust us, though, I promise. We want what's best for you."

"How is keeping me from my identity what's best for me?" Emery scowls. Though, despite his anger, he doesn't shrug off that offered comfort in Omi's hand.

"Believe us, chibi, it is." Youji replies in soothing tones. Hell, even skeptical Ken is wearing an expression of understanding.

Emery softens in response to such caring surroundings, succumbing to the choice that has been made for him, and deciding that going along with them makes more sense than making unnecessary enemies.

The only one left who isn't content with the developing arrangement is Ran, not that such a fact is surprising. The troubled red-head isn't even remotely a happy camper, at last pushing away from the wall, and stalking towards the couch with even more venom in his voice than before.

"Until we sort this out, we will allow you to stay in the guest room at the end of the hall. However, if you prove to know more about your true identity than you're letting on..."

"Aya-kun! Don't frighten him." Omi reprimands, jumping in before Ran can finish his threat. "If you're so worried, why don't we just take turns keeping an eye on him? One of us can take him each day until we find out what happened, and that way someone will always be watching."

At first, Ran appears to be developing a biting comeback, but changes his mind in mid-thought, finding Omi's suggestion admirable. It would give him a bit more piece of mind knowing that one of them would be responsible for him each day.

"It's too late to worry about all this." Youji says off-handedly, stretching out his long legs. "But it is a good idea. So...who's gonna take him tomorrow?"

Small silence. Emery looks mighty frustrated being treated like some dangerous object, passed around to whoever will take him.

"I guess I could." Ken shrugs, leaning back over the couch again. "He wouldn't get in the way; I'm with the kids instead of the shop. Whadda ya say, Schu...uh...Emery? Wanna help me with soccer practice? It's the best game in the world." he adds with a sly grin, leaning closer to Emery over the back of the couch.

"Soccer? I don't think I know how to play that."

"Even better!" Ken shouts, springing back up again. "I love teaching new players. Reminds me why I fell in love with it in the first place."

Emery laughs lightly at Ken's enthusiasm, and figures he's quite a bit better off in the situation he has found himself in than if he would've been out on the streets. "Why not? Anything's better than sitting around with nothing to do. It...it's really nice of you to take me in like this, especially since I get the feeling we're not really friends, like I first thought we were." he lowers his head, causing a shimmer of falling fire. "I don't understand you. Here you are, talking about things I've never heard of, like I'm your worst enemy, but you still give me a place to stay when I need your help. I must be an awful person if we're not on the same side..."

Instantly, a large hand is placed on his shoulder, bearing much more weight than Omi's had earlier, but still with that same caring touch.

Bright blue eyes dart to the side, meeting emerald, and Emery is well aware that the others around him are offering just as much support as the man beside him on the couch.

"Don't worry about the past. Who knows, maybe this is a chance for you to start over." Youji comforts, showing off a dazzling smile. "Fact is, we don't know what's going on, and until we do, there's no point in you beating yourself up over things you don't even remember. Let us handle the details, and you just focus on being a kid." He stops there, having reminded himself of something. "That's right! How old are you now, anyway?"

"Ummm...16, I think."

"I thought so." Youji replies, sounding somewhat disappointed. "Too bad it isn't 18. Hard to have much fun with an underaged kid."

The slight playfullness in Youji's last phrase stiffens Emery beneath the older man's lingering hand on his shoulder. "Errr...what do you mean by that...?"

"Oh, nothing. Just an observation."

"Youji, stop trying to pull the innocent act. It's not working for ya." Ken snickers, swatting Youji's hand off Emery's shoulder. "Why don't we try and relax a little here? After all, dinner's getting cold, and Aya and I put alot of effort into it for once. How about it? Who's up for food?"

Without a second though, Omi and Emery light up in agreement, and Youji quickly follows suit after grimacing at his injured hand indignantly. Before they can make their way into the kitchen, however, Ran moves to block the doorway, arms firmly folded over his chest.

"Don't get too comfortable staying here. I won't trust you as easily as they will." he sneers, looking down on Emery cruelly, and casting disgusted glances at his teammates. "Just hope you don't give me any reasons to trust you any less."

With those harsh words, Ran turns on his heels, entering the kitchen alone, and leaving the others behind to deal with his brutal position.

It's understandable that Ran isn't going to believe in the impossible willingly, but his friends are still somewhat taken aback by his words. Poor Emery is at a complete loss, afraid to enter the kitchen, even though his stomach is agonizingly empty.

"Don't let him bother you, Em." Ken says with a kind smile.

"He can get pretty protective, but he means well." Omi adds, moving ahead to open the door and take the burden of being first away from the others. "You'll be safe here till everything works itself out."

"And I'm sure we'll find ways to keep you entertained." puts in Youji with a wink, sidestepping past the others into the kitchen.

Emery blanches, looking worriedly to Ken and Omi to help still the blush creeping up his neck, but the boys merely laugh in response.

"Stick with us, Emery. I think you might be safer that way." offers Ken, slapping the reddening red-head on the back. "Let's just take this one day at a time."


*****A/N*****


Still in its beginning stages, but progressing. I have so many plans for Schu. I named him Emery again, like I did in my fic "Fluesternd" because I can't imagine him with any other name. Schuldaussen was pure imagination. Sounds German, though. That's good.

He'll get a day with each Weiss guy alone, and so much more, but you have to read to see what comes next. Thankies for the reviews so far. So...REVIEW more! And I'll write whenever I get the chance. I have a lead in the Fall Musical though, which comes up in about two weeks, so we're practicing like crazy, but I'll do what I can. Ja!