-Part 7-

In An Age Crucified By Nails of Faith

 

 

Aya walked into the kitchen quietly. A thin “Tokyo Today” Newspaper held in his fingertips, he sat down at the table, and grasping his soda can, leaned back against the wall to read quietly. 

 

“Konnichi wa, Abyssinian.”

 

Aya looked up startled. His eyes narrowed just as quickly. He didn’t need to look around for that voice which matched a very obnoxious man with fiery hair. Schulderich. “Why are you here?” Aya sneered. He didn’t like playing with Schulderich. It was like dancing with death. But Aya did that every day, anyway.

Yohji looked up startled from the other side of the kitchen when Aya suddenly snapped at him. “Anou.. I was thirsty..” He said softly, and quite nervously.

 

“The Balinese was getting boring. I wanted a new playmate.”  Schulderich always had a way of saying things so calmly. If he weren’t a compulsive liar, Aya might have believed him. Ashame he was.

 

Aya’s face grimaced at the thought of his former lover being a bedtoy for a member of Schwarz. Even Yohji deserved better than that. “Like he’d ever do anything with you. What the hell do you want?” he demanded, slamming his hand and his soda down on the table. The pop fizzed as it splashed onto the tabletop.

Yohji’s eyes widened. “Nothing Aya, honestly!” Thin fingers yanked at his dark eartails which hung in front of his startled ermerald eyes.

 

“Finally came to finish you off.”  The redhead looked quite nervous, to be honest. He pulled at his fiery locks, his emerald eyes widened, and glancing around the room as if trying to grab the first thing in sight to defend himself with. But his voice remained as cool as ever.. only pissing Fujimiya off further.

 

Aya scowled. “You don’t have a chance, asshole. I’d kill you.” His violet eyes hardened into dark slits as he reached back behind him, for anything sharp he could find. He loved the feel of his katana slicing flesh. But a regular knife would have to do. This time.

It was around eleven a.m or so when Ken decided it was time to start the day. Aya always got upset when he spent the whole day just lying around. And it wasn't even his turn in the shop! He wasn't complaining though. Besides, he needed someone to help keep him in line. He threw on whichever clothes were closest to him and headed down the stairs to the kitchen. Aya was probably still here, he didn't really go out much unless Ken was accompanying him. "Hey there..." But, Ken didn't get to finish his usual "Hey there, good lookin." Instead, it was replaced with "What the hell are you doing here?" And what the hell was Yohji doing anyway? He wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near Aya!

 

“Oh I wouldn’t kill you first. I’d let you watch that pretty brunette die first. What’s his name.. anou... Ken?” A sick smile curved in the tip of Schulderich’s mouth, those eyes still filled with a distinct fear.

 

Aya’s eyes narrowed as his hands landed over a very sharp blade. Yanking it out of the drawer he turned it in his hand, the blade point facing downwards. But not for long. “You’ll never touch Ken.. ever. Shi ne!” Aya screamed, and lunged at the redhead. A startled look slid across his face as he saw Schulderich’s hands fly over his face, as Aya lunged at him with the knife. But that didn’t stop him from trying to kill the Schwarz bastard.

Yohji’s hands flew to his face, terrified, without a clue to exactly what was happening. “Aya, Aya no, no, no STOP AYA!” he screamed.

"Aya, what the hell are you doing?!" Poor Aya, I think he was really starting to lose it. I mean, after everything that had happened... it was enough to make anyone crazy. And, maybe Ken was crazy for attempting to wrestle the knife out of Aya's hands, but he did it anyway. "Hello! A-Aya, what are you doing?!" From the looks of it, he was trying to kill Kudou. And, Ken could think of a million reasons why he ought to just sit back and let him go through with it. He wouldn't though. Couldn't, is more like it. As much as he hated to admit it, he still cared about the brunette. I mean, it wasn't like you could just all of a sudden stop caring about someone just because... because... There was no point in thinking about that now. First things first, he had to find out what the hell had been said to make the redhead so upset.

Aya suddenly dropped the knife startled when the scream of Yohji entered into his head and he saw a terrified Yohji in front of him. He looked at the knife below him and back at Ken. "Ken.." he said softly. He looked around. Shulderich. Where did he go? Aya hit the wall. "Damn you!" he yelled into the air. "Where did you go?" he looked back at Ken, his eyes fearful and looked around the kitchen again.
"What are you talking about? Where did who go?" Ken didn't know quite what to make of the situation. He looked over at Yoji. "Just what the hell's going on around here, anyway?" Most likely it was Kudou's fault. It was always Kudou's fault. "What did you say to him, huh?" He turned to the redhead. "Aya, are you, uhhh, alright...?"
Yohji looked up terrified. "He started yelling.. and ..."
Aya glared. "Schulderich.. he was right there..." he picked up the knife and looked at it for a minute. "Maybe i'll start off with the brunette"... "Yadda yo!" he cried, gently holding his ears. Knowing he probably looked insane, he quickly exited the kitchen and ran up to his room, dropping the knife on the bed beside him as he laid down. He remembered how Ouka was perusaded to do things by Schulderich, and how she believed his lies. Aya'd almost killed Yohji. His comrade. His former lover. He looked at the blade which, only minutes later, if Ken hadn't interviened, would have been covered in the rich blood of the Balinese. And that idea terrified him.
Ken looked over at Yohji for a moment before starting up the stairs after the redhead. Schulerich..? What was he talking about? Ken was pretty sure that Yohji had been the only other person in the room. "Aya, you in here...?" The redhead was sitting on the bed. "Hey, are you sure you're alright? I don't know what all that was about back there, but..." Maybe it would be best if he heard what Aya had to say before going on about things any further. " Uh, would you mind explaining to me what you meant? About, uh,

Schulderich, I mean."
Aya looked up. His eyes registered nothing but fear as he fumbled with the knife, cutting tiny slices into his thin fingers. "I.. I walked into the kitchen.. and Schulderich was sitting in the kitchen smoking.. and.. he said he wanted to kill you.. because Yohji couldn't.. and.. and.." his chin crumpled slightly. "I wasn't gonna let him!"
"Woah, woah, woah, wait a minute .You mean...Maybe I better take that, heh..." Ken reached over and took the knife out of Aya's hands and laid it down on a table beside the bed. "You mean that Schulderich was there, and you even had a conversation with him...?" Something wasn't quite right here. "Umm, Aya, I'm pretty sure that the only people in the room were you and Kudou. Unless he left before I got there. That is what happened, right?" Surely that must be the case. I mean, Aya wasn't that crazy, was he?
Aya scowled when the knife was taken away and he wiped his bloody fingers on his pants as he sighed, and looked up. "Yohji-kun? Yohji was never in the room...it was just me and Schulderich... just... me.. and.... Why did you stop me? Why couldn't you let me kill him! He got so scared, and tried to hide himself with his hands, I could have killed him, Ken!" he yelled, trembling. Apparently Aya wasn't even sure what he saw. Schulderich was there... wasn't he?
"Aya... what are you talking about? You're telling me that you didn't even know it was Kudou? It was Kudou the whole time, he's the one you were trying to kill, not Schulderich! Christ Aya..." Ken wasn't trying to be mean about it, but honestly, Aya couldn't just go around pulling knives on people every time he got a little paranoid about something. “I'm really worried about you,  Fujimiya. Maybe..." Maybe, what? Ken didn't even know what to say to him. "Maybe we should have a little talk about this." By that he meant maybe Omi and Yohji ought to talk about this with them as well. "Or, I mean, is there anything that I can do, or..."
Aya looked down at his hands. He pressed the wounds, watching tiny red droplets well on his fingertips. "I didn't see Yohji-kun.. gomen nasai..." he whispered. "I don't want to talk.. it'll only make me look like I lost it.. and then Omi might call Kritiker.." he said softly.
Aya looked up as Yohji stormed angrily down the hallway. "The asshole tried to have me killed... how dare he?" he fumed, marching into his room and slamming the door.

Aya winced. He used to be in that room when that door slammed. And then came the screams... he shuddered violently.
"Huh?" Ken turned his attention to the door. "What is he talking about?" He turned to Aya. Who was Kudou referring to just then if it wasn't Aya? "Fujimiya, did you hear what he just said?"
Aya looked down, amethyst eyes closed under deep lashes as he laid back on the bed, the sound of the door slam swimming through his head, Yohji's scream, and Ken's strong arms holding him back-- "I told you Ken.. I told you.. Schulderich."
Ken thought about this for a moment. "So... Schulderich was there after all...? Or..." This was all pretty complicated stuff. "Schuldig's the one who tried to kill Kudou? But I thought... I mean, I saw you!"
Aya shook his head. "No.. I tried to kill Schulderich...” he said softly, still laid back on the bed. "I swear I didn't see Yohji.." he looked out the window and sighed. "I swear..."

[Thursday. 10:50pm. Weiss Apartment.]

So many weird things had begun to go down since Aya had returned from the hospital, and that was one of the first things Ken noticed. The brunette had begun to pay attention to his teammates alot more on offtime since the incident in the kitchen on Wednesday. That night, Aya had gone to bed extremely early complaining of a headache and Yohji had disappeared. Literally. Ken thought it was a little suspicious, especially how he’d been ranting about a “him” as he had stormed to his room. The brunette looked over to Aya who slept peacefully in the bed. His bruises had finally completely faded away and Aya was beautiful again.

Aya stirred and turning over, slid his arms around Ken, nuzzling his waist, his amethyst eyes fluttering open but drifting closed just as quickly. As a door in the hallway was abruptly slammed, the redhead opened his eyes again, and moaning softly, bit Ken’s hip and sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Is Yohji home yet?” he whispered sleepily.

“Yohji?” Ken questioned, upset. “You wake up and you are worrying about that dumbass? Yeah, he’s home, that was probably his door slamming because he’s drunk!” Ken said angrily, folding his arms.

Aya blinked, an unsettled and confused look crossed his face and he whined playfully, and hugged Ken. “I’m sorry, I just seriously think something is going on around here, Ken.. something bad..” He looked down and a serious face slid over his smile, as he looked back into the eyes of his beloved.

“You too?” Ken said, his attention grabbed at the mention of someone beside himself worrying about the others in danger. “I’m worried about Omi.. to be honest. Yohji didn’t seem the least bit concerned about hurting him...” And Ken was terrified about that. I mean, not that he would admit it, because he wanted to act tough about things, like Aya always did. But he really did love the kid. Aya did too, and Ken knew he did. If it meant throwing Yohji out for suspicions, it would have to be done, but at the same time...

“I don’t think we should be jumping to conclusions though, I mean, Yohji has been staying by himself lately..”

“You mean talking to himself...”

“But that’s just it, Ken!” Aya interrupted, slamming his hand onto the bed.

Ken jumped, startled, and looked at Aya with curious greens. “That’s ...just...what?”

Aya nodded, satisfied that he’d come up with an answer. “That’s it. Maybe Yohji isn’t talking to himself, maybe he’s talking to someone else, maybe he is cooperating with Este and maybe he’s..”

A pillow interrupted Aya’s rant as it connected with the back of his neck, throwing the redhead to the ground. Hysterical laughter erupted from above when Aya sat back up, and rubbing the back of his neck, glared at Ken. Ken shook his head, trying to calm his laughter, and waved his hand as he threw the pillow back down. “I’m sorry! I’m .. sorry!” he gasped. “You said don’t jump to conclusions and now you think YOHJI has connections internationally with Este?” The younger boy bubbled with laughter, falling over onto the bed, jostling Aya. “Preposterous!”

Aya watched Ken, and slowly a smile crossed his face, and he laughed quietly. “Yeah, I guess you are right..”

Laughter began to fill the tiny bedroom as the two men continued to laugh about the idea. Voices waved into the hallway, causing laughter from the Bombay who was sitting in his computer, listening quietly. “Imagine him running!” A voice laughed. Omi snickered to himself quietly. It would be an amusing night.

 

 

[Friday. 2:53am. Weiss Apartment]

Yohji whimpered as he laid in bed. Schulderich sat beside him, gently stroking his hair. Yohji liked the feel of being touched, but he liked Aya’s overall. Aya always had made him feel warm inside, and made him feel loved.

Schulderich did none of this.

“Little bitch,” He said, hitting him. “Thinking of the redhead again? Don’t you ever give up? He hates you. And it seems you failed.. again, Yo-tan..” Schulderich said, his voice rough. His fiery hair pushed into his eyes as he glared at the good-for-nothing assassin. How he had been hired for Weiss Schulderich didn’t know.

Yohji whimpered, raising his hands delicately over his face. He awaited a blow he knew would come. “Gomen, gomen..” he whispered, his voice hoarse. He felt his bangs push into his emerald eyes and he closed them slowly, but was too terrified to sleep. It’d be so easy to die. “Aya.. Aya doesn’t hate me..”

Schulderich laughed. “He doesn’t hate you? That’s why he tried to kill you in the kitchen, is it not?” The redhead smirked. How fun it was to make people see things. He could have turned all of Weiss against each other that way. It would have been so easy. But that wouldn’t have been as much fun.

Yohji scowled. “He.. he..” The green-eyed man looked down. He wasn’t truly sure what had happened in the kitchen. He closed his eyes, seeing Fujimiya lunge at him again with the knife, and Ken’s scream for him to stop, the knife inches from his throat. Aya had looked so confused when he wandered out of the kitchen, as if nothing had happened.

 

Aya awoke with a start, beads of sweat clung to his forehead and his arms. He looked over, seeing Ken asleep with a small smile plastered across his face. Aya smiled softly. Slipping out of bed, he adjusted his thin boxers, and gently rubbed his chest. He was thirsty. He padded down the hall, quietly reaching the kitchen in darkness. Somewhere in the apartment he heard whimpers. He listened closely as he sipped his water. Was it Omi? No. The whimpers weren’t childish. They sounded like.. Yohji. The redhead set his glass down, and hurried down the hall. He stood outside the door, when suddenly a loud cry was heard from within. Aya’s eyes widened and he threw open the door.

“Yohji-kun...” he cried softly, and his eyes widened. Schulderich. Well this was certianly a suprise. Seems Yohji was the bedbuddy after all. Pherhaps Aya should have listened...

The fiery redhead looked up from where he had Yohji pinned to the floor. Blood splattered the floor, splashing Yohji’s high cheekbones and his thin lips. Aya looked away shamefully. It was awful. “Aya-kun.. tasukete..” he whispered. Aya blinked. He’d never heard Yohji ask him for anything.

Schulderich stood up, and kicked Yohji, knocking him away. Yohji cried out in pain, clutching his chest as Schulderich fixed his glasses. “Well,well, Aya.. Come to join the fun?”

Aya glared angrily, his hands flying up, in an accusation. “You.. you bastard! You’ve done this! You’ve done all this, haven’t you! You were the one who hurt our  family, who hurt my Yohji,  YOU DID THIS!” Aya screamed at him.

The redhead was furious. “I knew it was you, you! In the kitchen.. you made everyone think ...” he silenced, glaring daggers at the older man of Schwarz.

Schulderich smirked. “Wow, aren’t we smart, little Aya? Finally figure it out. But a little too late. There’s nothing you can do.” He pushed a hand through his hair, and smiled smugly.

Aya looked down, and realized he was standing right next to Yohji’s dresser. With a quick yank he opened the top drawer, and to Schulderich’s surprise, pulled out a small gun. “Shi ne!” Aya screamed, and fired the gun. And shot Schulderich. Twice. The gun was Yohji’s. Aya remembered how he discovered it so long ago, and questioned Yohji on why he didn’t keep the safety on. Yohji told him that if there was an emergency, you didn’t have time to take the safety off. And what do you know. The Balinese was right.

Schulderich clutched his chest, shocked. He fell to his knees and leaning over onto his hands, he coughed up blood as Yohji crawled quickly over to Aya, clutching his leg like a scared child. “You.. how could you..?” He whispered, still in shock by Aya’s quick movements.

Aya raised the gun. “Repent. Then die.” A third shot rang out through the small apartment, awakening both Ken and Omi. Yohji shuddered at the last shot, as Aya dropped the gun to the ground, as if it were a disease.

Schulderich fell, slumped over. Blood dripped past his fingers, as he looked out the window, in pain. “Brad..” He whispered. His emerald eyes closed. Yohji cried out suddenly. Schulderich had died.

 

[At the Schwarz Apartment]

“Brad..”

Crawford looked up from his newspaper. “Schulderich?” His eyes watered softly. He couldn’t feel Schulderich’s presence anymore. Something happened.

Farfarello dropped the lamp cord he’d be playing with, startled. “Schulderich is dead.” The irish man had felt it too, apparently. All of them had.

Nagi looked up startled from his computer, and stood up, knocking over a glass of water to the floor. The glass shattered on impact as he hurried over to his fellow teammates.

Crawford’s nightmare became a reality, as he felt his eyes water. “Who.. who killed him??” He demanded.

Farfarello lowered his head. “Weiss.”

Crawford’s eyes darkened as he yanked at his hair in anguish. “Schulderich, Schulderich!..” he cried softly. His broad shoulders trembled as he covered his face with his hands, salty tears slipping between his fingers.

Nagi reached out carefully, and hugged the older man, nuzzling his back softly. “Gomen nasai, Crawford..”

Crawford cried softly. “He was all I had, Nagi-kun.. The only person I truly lived for anymore..”

Nagi nodded. He knew how he felt. He knew the feeling to live for one, and feel dead once that one was gone. He too knew the feeling. They all did. Much too well.

 

[Back At the Weiss Apartment]

 

Ken and Omi ran into Yohji’s bedroom. “What’s going on, we heard gunfire and... Oh god.. Aya..” Ken whispered.

He looked around at the blood, a dead Schulderich and Yohji who clung to Aya, sobbing.

“Aya-kun, Yohji-kun.. daijoubu desu ka?” Omi cried, bending down to gently pull the frantic Yohji into his arms. Yohji cried, hugging Tsukiyono. “Shh, Yohji-kun, shh, it’s over, noone will hurt you anymore.. no one..”

Ken looked up. “Yohji had told the truth.. all this time.. it had been Schulderich?” He shook his head. “I’d thought the playboy was a liar..”

Aya nodded. “Hai.. Schulderich.. I don’t blame Yohji for what he’s done.. the crime was committed, but he paid for it with twice the pain I endured.. I only care that it’s over.. it’s all finally over..”  He pushed his crimson bangs out of his eyes and sighed deeply. He wound a small arm around Ken and pulled him close. “Do you see it, Ken? I finally hold a love, a perfect love in these hands..” he whispered, and  kissed his beloved brunette softly.

Ken nodded, his eyes brimming with tears as he hugged Aya tightly. “Hai, I see your love, Ran. I see your love.”

Yohji wiped his startled emerald eyes and looked up at Aya. “Ran..”

Aya looked up. He was startled to be called by his real name by the Balinese. He hadn’t heard it whispered from those lips in so long. He felt Ken’s arms tighten around him, and he smiled softly at Yohji. “Hai?”

Yohji lowered his head as Omi hugged him tightly, and murmered softly to the Abyssinian. “There’s no cruelty without a beast, Ran..”

Aya nodded, his eyes softer, filled with more compassion for the Balinese. “I’ve been saying that for years, Yohji. Finally someone saw the beast besides me.”

 

[Ende]

 

[Email Cand C to Kairi at NatakuYui@aol.com]