The darkness was a tangible thing, like a veil of soft cloth spread across the sky. No stars showed here in the big city the light pollution too great for them to show their light. Not that he cared. Nothing touched him anymore, nothing beautiful at least.
He walked on, unbuttoned black leather coat flapping round his legs as he moved through the less salubrious areas of Tokyo. He passed cheaply built apartment blocks, built to replace the old paper and wood-walled buildings that had been destroyed in the great earthquake, full of the deprived, depressed and often downright dangerous people who frequented this part of the city. Not that any of them were a danger to him.
His target was dead and he simply needed to find where he�d parked his car and go back to the Koneko.
A shadow detached itself from a doorway, a pair of glasses glinting in the dim light.
�Abyssinian.�
Perhaps one or two might be a danger after all. The man in front of him was one of them. His hand went to the hilt of the katana hidden in the folds of his coat.
�What do you want, Oracle?�
The taller man paused where he was and regarded the slender Japanese man. Alone as he was it would have been very easy for the Schwarz leader to dispose of him once and for all if that had been his intention.
Fortunately for the younger man he had other goals.
�No need for the katana. My reason for being here is one of mutual survival,� the American said as he stood his ground a few steps away from the edgy red-haired killer.
�We�re in danger, both Weiss and Schwarz.�
He stared back at the American, gaze impassive, eyes unreadable. His hand hadn�t moved from the katana�s hilt.
�And I should believe you because�?�
Crawford shrugged, �You shouldn�t. But keep your eyes open, Abyssinian and I don�t advise accepting any more solo missions or letting Kudoh go clubbing. Not if you want him alive.
�We aren�t the only killers in town anymore, and this other group,� he offered the Weiss a wry smile, �is very good. Deadly actually. They nearly killed Schuldig, and they know who Weiss are, so watch your backs.�
After what the Schwarz telepath had done to Omi and Ouka, he was rather upset that this unknown group of killers hadn�t succeeded in killing him. His gaze didn�t falter, he didn�t even frown.
�If they targeted that telepathic lunatic and know who we are, then they know we�re your enemies,� he said calmly. �And the enemy of my enemy might well be my friend.�
�I�ve given you my warning. It�s up to you to heed it, or not.� Crawford turned and started to walk away, �But if you give a damn about any of your team mates, especially the blond, you�ll listen to my advice.�
He hated himself for doing it, despised wanting to protect others, abhorred the idea that he actually cared about anyone, but he had to know.
�Why Kudoh especially?�
�Because he is a drunk, and an easy target,� Oracle turned. �And if I were you, I�d check that Porsche carefully before driving it.�
He nodded, it made sense. What didn�t make sense was why this group should want to take out both Weiss and Schwarz.
�What do you know about them?� he asked. �And why are they targeting both teams?�
�Your answer lies in who our masters are. We�re the dogs of Esset. Ask yourself who really holds your leash, Abyssinian.�
The American stepped out into the street and quickly crossed going to a plain looking sedan parked on the other side.
He followed, confused by Oracles' words. It was obvious who held their leashes, although Kritiker�s hold on his hadn�t been quite so tight since his sister had woken up. It hadn�t been noticeably tight before and he�d already walked away a few times although he had always returned. That thought made him sigh.
�Kritiker are our masters as you well know,� he said quietly.
But the sedan and Oracle were disappearing down the street. He frowned and walked on until he came upon his car. He unlocked it and popped the hood. Lifting the hood further he peered in at the engine. The line to the brake fluid had been neatly severed but whether this had been done by Oracle or this unknown group he had no way of knowing.
He slammed the hood down and headed for the nearest train station. He would call a garage to tow the car and mend the brake line, until then he was on foot and public transport.
The Weiss killer hadn't gone very far from his car before he got the nagging feeling he was being followed, though no matter how often he looked he never saw anyone.
Not until he was already aboard the train, then he noticed a man watching from the platform.
Blond and sleek, dressed all in black. The man made eye contact, and gave a sly, knowing smile to the red-haired man.
Aya stared, wondering if his imagination was playing tricks on him, but no, the man was definitely there and definitely smiling. He glared back in response until the train started moving. The man was still on the platform but who was to say if he had an associate on the train?
He spent the ride home mulling over what Crawford had told him, which was little enough, and realized that he was going to have a long talk with Omi when he got back to the shop. If there still was a shop�
If these people were good enough to almost claim Mastermind they were certainly well able to take out a flower shop.
He reached the shop to find it intact and entered after making sure he hadn�t been followed. What he didn�t see was the shadowy figure watching from an adjacent roof.
Yohji looked up blearily as Aya came into the shop. The blond was parked on the stairs that led to their rooms, a half finished bottle of whiskey sitting on the step beside him, a cigarette dangling between his lips.
Trashed and smoking in the shop. He offered the red-head a weary smile. �So you're back.� He got unsteadily to his feet, hand wrapped around the bottle of booze. �Going to bed. Night.� He turned to head up the stairs, swayed and caught himself by grabbing the railing.
�Stay put, Yohji,� Aya said, �and try to sober up. I need you able to think.� The sounds of roaring spectators, an overexcited announcer and one of Ken�s shouted remarks about the referee�s parentage came wafting up the spiral stairs from the mission room. �Where�s Omi?�
�Went to bed hours ago.�
The blond regarded Aya, not liking what he was seeing in the red-head's expression. No one else would have noticed it, but Yohji did. There was something seriously wrong with Abyssinian's world.
�Why do I need to be sober, mission not go well?� he asked as he parked himself against the wall at the bottom of the stairs. He took a slow drag off the cigarette and sighed the smoke back out.
It finally dawned on him. He hadn't heard the Porsche. �What happened to your car?�
"The Q and A will have to wait until everyone�s together, Kudoh. Now make yourself some coffee and sober up!�
�Right, fine, whatever,� Yohji muttered as he took the downward spiral of the stairs, heading for the mission room and the coffee maker that they kept down there.
He took the stairs two at a time and hammered on Omi�s door. There was a sound suspiciously like �meep� and then the youngest Weiss called, �Who is it?�
�It�s me. Something�s come up and I need everyone downstairs. Now.�
�Okay, Aya-kun.� Omi wasted no time and was in the doorway with a robe over his pajamas before Aya was halfway down the stairs.
Ken was making the coffee when the other pair of Weiss arrived. Yohji was draped into a chair, his long legs over the arm, shoulders braced against the opposing arm. His eyes had drifted shut.
�What's going on? Yohji said something about the apocalypse and your car being missing.� Ken stated as he hit the button to start the coffee brewing.
Omi followed him into the room and stared at him wide-eyed. The look, as he knew well, was deceiving and the boy�s words bore that out. �What�s going on Aya-kun?�
�The mission went according to plan with no problems at all,� Aya said and watched Omi relax, a little. �It was what happened next that is�disturbing.�
He went on to tell them about Crawford�s words, the cut brake fluid line and the blond at the station. He looked directly at Omi.
�Does Kritiker have any ties to Esset, however small they may be? And don�t tell me you don�t know because I know you do.�
But it was Yohji that answered Aya, not the boy, �The Takatori�s did. Reiji was in bed with them, remember? How else could he have gotten Schwarz as his so called bodyguards? And then there was Masafumi. I suspect he was giving them the results of his... experiments.�
�So you think Crawford was telling you the truth?� Ken shook his head, �I don't buy it. I mean, for all we know that blond was part of Esset and they're trying to fuck with our minds for some reason.�
�That�s possible,� Aya said although he was still staring at Omi. �Is any member of your family still involved with Kritiker?�
�I think my grandfather still takes an interest,� Omi said, looking uncomfortable at the mention of his real family. �He wanted me to take over as Persia if you remember. As to whether he has ties to Esset, I don�t know but he will put Takatori interests above all others no matter what it takes.�
�It's still hard to picture why Crawford would bother to warn us though,� Ken remarked as he got out some cups for the coffee that was done brewing.
�That does have me stumped too,� Yohji agreed then yawned and reached for his bottle of whiskey.
�If what he said is true,� Aya said slowly, �and these people really did almost kill Mastermind, that means the telepath didn�t read the intention. It might also mean that Oracle can�t see them and that makes them a force to be reckoned with, whoever they are.�
Omi was thoughtful as he removed the whiskey and handed Yohji coffee instead. �He would warn us as potential allies,� he said. �If it�s a choice between Schwarz and unknown others� well, better the devil you know, perhaps.�
�Yeah, I guess so,� Ken agreed somewhat reluctantly. �Or they're trying to get us out in the open, or ..� he sighed, �who the hell knows what might motivate those bastards?�
Yohji sat up in the chair and took a sip of coffee. �While I don't trust Crawford as far as I could throw the building we're in, I think if he gave us a warning like this it's to benefit Schwarz somehow.�
�He called it mutual survival,� Aya said, �and quite frankly I�d believe he was the one who tampered with my car if it weren�t for the blond at the station.�
�Mutual survival?� The blond frowned, jade eyes narrowing in deep thought, the man's face already taking on the same aspect that was common to him during more difficult missions.
�You know, that implies they need our help. It makes you wonder why they'd need us in order to survive doesn't it?�
�Like I said,� Aya ground out, totally pissed off by Yohji�s drunken state, �if they did manage to take down Mastermind, even to wound him, they�re more than just good.�
�That�s true,� Omi said. �Do you think they can get past the vaunted Schwarz powers?�
�How else could they �nearly kill� Mastermind? We�ve been trying for years and the only one who�s come close is Kudoh.�
�Not close enough,� Yohji muttered and finished his coffee. Ken got up to pour him another cup but the blond just shook his head.
�Would you remember the guy if you saw him again?� Ken asked. �Maybe we can find him in the Kritiker database.�
Yohji leaned back in his chair, �I'd bet we won't,� he commented and took a deep drink of the black coffee, before rubbing his face in an effort to stay awake.
Ken frowned at how trashed Yohji was, �I think maybe we should just go to bed because one of us isn't at his best right now.�
�I'm sorry guys, I'm dead tired and I can't think clearly anymore,� Yohji mumbled and got to his feet.
�More like dead drunk,� Ken muttered.
Yohji scowled at the ex-soccer player. �Fuck you too Ken.�
The younger man gritted his teeth but kept his anger in check. Almost. �Keep it up Kudoh and you won't be worth shit to us.�
The blond started to laugh. �I'm not worth shit to anyone anyway, so how's that a change?�
�Seemingly none of us are,� Aya said in a voice like a bucket of ice cold water being dumped on them. �Crawford asked who held our leashes and referred to Schwarz as Esset�s dogs. Has it occurred to any of you that Kritiker has not seen fit to let us know there�s another assassin team in town?�
�But� that would mean�� Omi sat down rather hurriedly as the thought that his family connections would not keep Weiss safe struck home.
Yohji stopped and looked at his team mates. �We're fucked. What else is new? I didn't see Kritiker sending any help to us when we fought SD. If it weren't for Aya none of us would have survived that fiasco and I think we all know that.
�Hell they didn't even let us know about Schwarz did they? And you know damned well Persia was aware of them. He had to be didn't he?�
Ken was staring at the blond, his gaze hard, mouth set into a harsh line of anger. �I hate it when he's drunk and right.�
�It was Persia that got me there when you fought SD,� Aya said fairly, �but you�re right about him not bothering to tell us about Schwarz.� He looked from Omi�s upset face to Ken�s angry one and on to Yohji�s sadly accepting one and realized with a sudden sense of clarity that they were all he had, damaged though they were.
�Personally, I think it�s time to take the collar off.� He shrugged. �But then I�ve felt that way for a long time. And if they knew which car was mine and where I was, it means they know where we are right now. Kudoh might wish to be murdered in his bed, but I want to face death on my feet.�
Ken's eyes widened as he thought of something really nasty. �Say, you don't think they could be a new assassin team for Kritiker do you? I mean....� he glanced at Aya, �we all know they've got other teams that do other things, and there were Weiss teams before us too. Maybe that's why they haven't mentioned it.�
Yohji was staring at Aya. �We're all gonna die some day, Aya, but I don't plan on just lying down quietly and being murdered despite what you might think.
�If it comes to that, I'm grabbing some ankles as I head for hell.�
Omi got that serious and determined look that came over his face when something important was happening. He was the most trusting of Kritiker under normal circumstances but he stood up and headed for the computer.
�I think a bit of judicious hacking is in order,� he said. �I�ll soon know if there�s a new Weiss or any other Kritiker team.�
Ken just frowned and glanced at Aya, �Maybe we should take turns standing watch or something like that. Yohji needs to sleep it off and you just came in from a mission.� He ran a hand through his hair, �I'm not at my most alert either for that matter.�
Yohji was still there, watching his team mates. Yes, he'd been drinking, and yes he was tired, but if it came down to it, he could keep going for a day or so if it was needed. If not, he wanted to sleep so he'd be sharp.
�What do you need me for, Aya?� the question came out quiet, and totally without any indication of slurred speech.
�I�ll keep watch,� Aya said. �It was hardly a strenuous mission. You two get some sleep.�
�I�ve had some sleep, Aya-kun,� Omi said from the computer, �I can take first watch just as soon as I�ve done this.�
�Night then,� Yohji said and immediately headed for the stairs.
�Wake me up in three hours, Aya. You need to get some sleep too.� Ken started to follow Yohji then paused, �What are we doing about the Koneko? We're supposed to be open in six hours.�
�Let�s see what I find out, Ken-kun,� Omi said. �It may well be that we�ll need to move to one of the safehouses.�
�If we are going to remove the collars then fuck the shop,� Aya said succinctly. �I�ll be on the roof if you find anything Omi.�
Omi nodded, his eyes fixed on the screen as he tapped in code.
Ken ruffled the younger killer's hair, �I think we should get some of our stuff together and be ready to leave.� He frowned, �We need to get your car back, Aya. Maybe I'll go see if I can fix it once it's daylight.�
�No,� he said. �I�ll get a garage to tow it and fix it. I don�t want you going anywhere near that car. If they tampered with the brakes they may well be waiting to pick off whoever comes for it.� He sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he thought.
�But you�re right about packing up some of our stuff. Let Kudoh sleep for now.�
�I'll go pack some of my stuff and some food, no idea where we're going so that might be something we won't have time to just run out and get.� Ken glanced at Omi, �You want me to pack some stuff for you, Omi-kun?�
Omi nodded, still engrossed in the files. �Yes please, Ken-kun.�
He followed Ken out of the room and went up the stairs to his room. Opening a drawer he took out his gun and loaded it. Picking up the box of bullets he continued up the stairs to the trap door that led to the roof. Opening it slowly he peered over the edge of it. When no bullet came for him he climbed onto the roof and made for the shadowed area against the wall of the heating duct.
From here he had a good view of the surrounding area and would at least see someone coming for them. Hopefully�
* * * * * * *
The blond glanced at his cell phone, pushed the talk button. �Talk to me,� he said as he leaned in a deep shadow and watched the florist shop down the street.
It was quiet, all the killers were safe in their den. He smiled, the look cold. Or so they thought.
�The redhead�s on the roof. I could have picked him off for all of a split second. I�ll give him some credit. He�s pretty good.� The voice was female.
�Yeah he is. He spotted me at the train station, but I did step out where he could see me.�
The blond glanced at the rooftop where he knew his team mate was located. �I think the man is right. A present would make it fast and dirty, but too many other people might receive the same gift. We wouldn't want that.�
�No. I think quickly and quietly. Probably one at a time, too.� She sighed. �Almost seems a shame.�
�The blond will be easy. Nail him as he leaves a club, that is if things aren't ruined now.
�I would have taken red tonight as planned, if the Oracle hadn't arrived and warned him about our game for this evening. He might have done more than that, but I didn't hear their conversation. Obviously I couldn't get close enough with the great and powerful Oz present.�
�I don�t give a fuck about killing Schwarz but, for all their skill, this bunch seems strangely innocent.�
�Schwarz very much needs to die.�
He took a chance and stepped out of the shadows, trusting that he would know instantly if he were in any danger. His special skills had never failed him. Not once, not even when he nearly killed the Schwarz telepath, Mastermind.
�Well, I don�t think they�re going to move very far tonight. And they�re very much on their guard. The redhead bought a gun and a whole box of bullets onto their roof. If I move he�s going to see me.�
�I guess I need to provide a distraction then,� the man said as he walked across the street heading boldly for the alleyway and the pink delivery van they used at the shop.
�It�s appreciated,� the woman said and cut the connection. All she had to do now was wait for the redhead�s attention be fixed elsewhere.
Cold grey eyes regarded the back door of the shop. His head tilted as if listening to something only he could hear, then he spun, kicking the door with all the power in his right leg.
Wood splintered with a loud crunch of sound as the door frame splintered.
On the roof, Aya jumped to his feet and raced for the trapdoor, knowing he would be too late to help Omi if that�s where the intruder headed first.
In the mission room Omi jumped to his feet, an ever present dart at the ready.
Jas moved into the shop and headed right for the stairs, trusting his instincts, and the soft whispering of the voice in his head. He considered for a second, and then quietly drew his katana, deciding that kicking in the door had been enough noise.
He paused, smiled and remained where he was, to the left of the steps where no one would see him as they entered the room.
An instant later he heard footsteps coming down the stairs, quick yet quiet. A professional, just like him.
A change in the air pattern told him the person was almost to the bottom step. The smell of strong liquor, the spicy scent of cologne and the acrid bite of cigarettes told him who it was.
Kudoh. The oldest of the killers.
Omi crept up the mission room stairs, silent as a cat.
Honed by years of missions, Yohji paused, his heart racing. Someone was in the room. He couldn't hear them, or see them. Hell he couldn't even smell anything, but somehow he knew and he stopped where he was, reaching for his wire.
But he wasn't quite fast enough.
Something silver flashed in the dim light and he dodged, feeling something graze along his shoulder. But he got the wire out and it flickered through the air, a coil wrapping around the leather clad figure in front of him.
Too fast, much too fast, the wire spun at him and he twisted and whipped the blade into it's path, turning the filament of death into several neat pieces.
Yohji felt the wetness sliding down his chest, but he couldn't take the time to worry about how bad he was hurt. He had to get the swordsman.
Almost there, just a few more steps, Omi edged closer to the silent and deadly struggle in the back hallway. Finally he could see the darker shadow that was the intruder. Something small and shining flew through the air to embed itself in the intruder�s arm.
Yohji made his move at the same time Omi's dart hit the target, his wire wrapping around the same arm the dart had stuck.
An instant later Ken joined the fray, the muscular jock hitting the unknown man and almost taking him off his feet.
There was a brief scuffle, with Yohji worrying that Ken would get tangled in his wire. He had to let go or risk injuring the younger Weiss.
Then Ken was stumbling back, and the swordsman was heading for the door at a run, bodily slamming Omi out of his way.
Aya reached them just in time to see the blond disappear out the door. His eyes narrowed in impotent fury as he saw Omi picking himself up off the floor and Yohji touching his bleeding chest.
Ken rubbed his head, feeling a knot on the side. �Shit, who in hell was that?"
�I'd guess that was one of our would-be murderers,� Yohji replied as he glanced at Omi.
�You okay, chibi?�
�Sure, Yohji-kun, just a bit bruised, let me take a look at that wound.�
�Make it quick, Omi,� Aya said. �We�re out of here tonight.�
�It's nothing. Meet me in the bathroom with the gauze, I've got to wash the blood off before we leave,� Yohji said looking down at the crimson covering the front of him all the way to the waistband of the jeans he'd pulled on.
Ken got to his feet, �That guy is scary good to get away from all of us.�
Yohji frowned, �What do you want to bet we just saw the man that nearly killed Mastermind?�
�Oh, so now we believe Oracle?� Aya asked.
�I think we have to,� Omi said quietly. �Let me get Yohji patched up while you two finish packing our stuff. I�ll tell you what I found when we get to one of the safehouses.�
�If any of them are safe anymore,� Aya said. It was all they could do, however, and he went back upstairs to start shoving things into a carryall.�
�I never said I didn't believe what he said, I wondered at his motivation,� Yohji replied as he followed Omi up the stairs. �What kind of dart was that you used, Omi? It didn't seem to have much effect on him.�
Ken followed his team mates, then paused. �I think I'm going to stay down here, just in case. We're vulnerable with that door broken off the hinges like this.�
�Good idea Ken,� Yohji said over his shoulder.
�Unfortunately it was only a sedative dart, Yohji-kun,� Omi said as he dived into the bathroom for the first aid kit. �He should be falling asleep right about now. Hopefully in a gutter somewhere!� The last words had been said quite venomously.
�It's okay, chibi,� Yohji said, ruffling the boy's hair with the hand that wasn't covered in blood. "And if he's sleeping in a gutter, maybe going to find him is a good idea. I'm not too keen on running either, not after the hell we went through last time."
�Well perhaps someone will do us a favor and run him over,� Omi said, �though knowing our luck it�s unlikely. Sit down, Yohji-kun and let me bind that wound before you lose any more blood.�
"Yeah, luck wise, the best thing that ever happened to us is Aya, and well, even that's a mixed blessing," he replied very softly so the man in question wouldn't hear him.
�Aya-kun is just quiet, Yohji-kun,� Omi said round a mouthful of safety pin. He cleansed the wound applied a gauze pad and started wrapping a bandage round Yohji�s chest to hold it all in place. �It doesn�t mean he doesn�t care about us, because he does. He shows it in what he does not what he says.�
"I know," the blond sighed, looking tired. "I think he proved he cares when he rescued us from the garbage dump, but I just wish..." he shook his head. "Hell, I don't really know what I wish."
That was a total lie. He did know exactly what he was wishing for and that was Aya in his bed, in his arms at night.
And there wasn't a chance in Hell that would ever happen. He'd just love the man from arm's length, worry when he was on a solo mission and drink to try and keep the loneliness at bay because that was the only card life had dealt him.
Omi just looked him in the eye. �Yes, you do, Yohji-kun, you just haven�t told him yet. I�m sure you will, one day.�
The older man just stared, jade eyes full of shock. Then he frowned, "No, Omi. I won't ever tell him. Some things just aren't meant to be said between people, especially not between people like us, and that's one of them."
Omi looked down as he fastened the bandage with the safety pin. When he looked back up his eyes were sad. �But if you don�t say it, Yohji-kun, nobody ever will and that would be a shame.�
Yohji's voice was a harsh and raw-edged whisper, "Omi, it's just not something he wants to hear. Not from me, not from anyone."
The blond pulled away from the boy, "Let's get packed and get out of here."
Omi closed the first aid kit and stood up. He sighed but knew there was no point in saying anymore about Aya. Instead he said with some dignity. �I know I never grew very tall, Yohji-kun, but I am no longer a child so please don�t treat me like one. If you don�t wish to discuss your feelings I understand.�
�I didn�t mean it like that, Omitchi,� the older man said, pausing to regard the boy-- young man, he had to remind himself. �And tall isn�t everything,� he added giving the boy a quick hug.
�And we better get moving. His royal impatience is waiting on us.�
Omi immediately brightened again at both the hug and Yohji�s words. It was sad that the blond couldn�t tell Aya-kun how he felt about him but at the same time understandable.
He packed the first aid kit into his rucksack and was pretty much good to go.
Aya appeared in the doorway, carryall in hand. �Are you nearly ready?� he asked.
�I�ve got to grab a few things,� Yohji said as he made a quick retreat into his bedroom to toss some clean clothes, his only picture of Asuka, and a carton of smokes into his bag.
He stood there a moment, considering taking a few other things, then he grabbed a bottle of lube out of his bedside table and a couple of yaoi manga out from under his bed shoving them into the duffle with the rest of the stuff.
There was no way to know where they were going, and he might just need something to keep him... entertained. It was damn sure that might be the only gratification he�d get since dates were going to be out of the picture. And, short of actually fucking Aya, it was going to be rosy palm and her five sisters for the time being.
He pulled on a shirt and headed out.
* * * * * * *
The blond man leaned against the building, the world dimmed in his vision. He felt tired, knew he was drugged. He pushed off of the wall and wove a few steps along the sidewalk, had to stop and brace himself upright against the building.
Stupid, stupid. Careless too. Could have been killed that time. Damn...
Even his thoughts were drifting and he sank to the sidewalk, trying to stay conscious and knowing that he was about to fail.
*No, Jason, you have to stay awake! Wake up!* the voice only he could hear whispered. Iona sounded so far away.
�C... can�t... stay... awake..� he mumbled as his knees wobbled under him, almost pitching him to the hard ground.
Keiji would have his ass in a sling over this.
If the Weiss didn�t find him first.
He kicked, trying to regain his feet, but his body wasn�t obeying his will and his legs only twitched slightly in response. The blond�s head lolled, and he vainly tried to get to his feet a second time. Instead of rising he slid down the wall and landed on his side, body gone leaden.
�Shh..it...� he slurred the word, the world going even darker as the drug pulled him farther from awareness, deeper into the danger of helplessness.
Meanwhile the woman had clambered off her rooftop perch and was heading in the direction of the alley behind the shop. A muffled and slurred exclamation from the alley made her quicken her pace.
Jason was lying against a wall with a muscular brunet crouched down at his side, fists gripping her team mate�s black duster.
�Not so fucking clever after all, are you?� Siberian snarled as he started to haul the unknown killer to his feet.
The woman raised a rifle automatically but didn�t fire in case she hit Jason. �Let him go,� she said coldly, �or you die right here and now.�
Ken froze, his gaze instantly locating the source of the voice. A woman farther down the alleyway and she had a rifle. He could see it clearly despite the darkness.
Shit, he thought to himself. He wasn�t alone.
But neither was Ken and he could hear the sounds that told him the rest of his team mates were coming.
He had two choices. Stay where he was, or dodge out of the way and hope the woman couldn�t bring her rifle to bear before he got to cover.
He opted for the second option, moving like the world class athlete he was, rolling aside and shouting, �GUYS WE�VE GOT COMPANY!�
�Shit,� Kate muttered, �fucking asshole.� She took cover and waited, hoping she could pick at least one of the Weiss off.
Aya dropped the carryall, drew his katana and ran to Ken�s side.
The brunet grabbed the red-head and hauled him bodily out of the woman�s line of fire. �Keep down, she�s got a rifle.�
Yohji darted out, a coil of wire spinning down the alleyway as he got a look at the situation. He stepped back into the doorway and motioned with his hand to indicate a single target, giving Abyssinian a nod to tell him that Ken was correct.
The man in black leather that had given them so much trouble was still barely conscious, and he tried to fumble his pistol from beneath his coat with no success.
Two Weiss in his sights and him unable to do shit about it.
A shadow at the end of the alleyway drew his attention, but his gaze was too unfocused to make out who it might be.
Aya nodded his acknowledgement of Yohji�s signal and resheathed the katana. His hand moved to the pistol in its shoulder holster and he drew it quietly, training it on the black clad assassin lying against the wall. Now he had bargaining power.
The black leather clad man could just make out the business end of a nasty looking pistol pointed at him.
*No! No!* a voice in his head begged, the sound frantic. Right at the corner of his vision he could see the shadowy form of a young girl, her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, a frilly white and pink dress covering her small body.
He gave a choked whimper, tried to reach out to her. �S... okay...� he slurred out.
Ken frowned, �He�s hallucinating,� he remarked as he tried to get a better idea where the woman had gone.
�If either one of you move, I�ll blow your heads off,� a frost cold voice said from behind the Weiss.
Yohji stepped back a bit farther in the doorway, his hand at his watch, eyes on Aya waiting for a signal. This wasn�t the first time they�d had to play this game and he edged aside slightly to give Omi a bit of room to maneuver.
He�d draw the new target�s fire and let Omi deal with him the same way he�d handled the blond lying in the alley, except this time Yohji suspected the dart Omi would throw wouldn�t be a tranquilizer, it would be one of the deadly lethal kind.
�Your helpless friend here will die first,� Aya called back, voice equally arctic.
Omi had shifted slightly beside Yohji and had one of his poison tipped darts in his hand and a good enough view of the shadowy figure of the newcomer. �And you�d soon follow,� he murmured.
�He might die, but I can assure you that the four of you won�t see the light of day if he does,� the voice behind them said. �And if either of the two in the door of the shop makes a move, I will kill you, Abyssinian, and my friend will blow Siberian�s head off.�
Yohji glanced down at the chibi and mouthed, Go out the front door, but be careful, as he repositioned himself in the doorway and drew his own pistol.
Omi shifted back into the doorway and then into the back of the shop, sprinting for the front entrance but realizing as he got there that the sound of the shutter being raised would alert their enemies. Stalemate. Ah well, It�s been a nice life.
He made his way back to Yohji, shaking his head to let Balinese know that the front was a no go.
�What do you want with us?� Aya demanded, gun still trained on the now motionless man.
�Right now what we want is our friend back,� the unknown man said. �So let�s work a trade. We won�t kill any of you, and you let us have him. In exchange for that, none of you die. Other wise...� there was a pause to let the Weiss fill in the blank.
Aya snorted mirthlessly. �For how long?�
�Until we meet again,� the barely seen man in the shadows replied. �Of course, if I think my friend is going to die, then we�re going to get messy. You won�t like it if we decide to be messy.�
Yohji frowned at Aya and whispered, �Don�t like the sound of that.�
�Me either,� Ken murmured. �What do we do?�
Yohji glanced at Omi, �Bow, roof? Doable?�
�Wrong angle,� Omi said with a frown, �the alleyway�s too narrow. We may have to give in to their demands - this time.�
Aya, it seemed had come to the same conclusion for he slowly lowered the gun although it remained in his hand.
�I don�t like this,� Ken remarked as he pressed himself tighter to the van, trying to stay as low as he could.
�Shit,� the oldest Weiss muttered. He put his back to the open door and peered out into the alleyway. �Son of a bitch, he�s moved behind Seven.�
�Balinese, if you move again, Abyssinian will pay for your efforts.�
Anger flashed in the man�s jade eyes, �Fucker...�
The woman moved closer to her fallen comrade, rifle still trained on Ken�s chest. �Back off, Abyssinian,� she ordered, �or Siberian�s a dead man.
Snarling, Aya backed away.
Ken was frowning but he stayed right where he was, watching the woman. Even in the dark he could see she was beautiful and that turned his frown to a scowl.
He gave Aya a worried glance. If they had to kill these three somehow they had to make sure Yohji wasn�t going to have to face off with the woman. The blond couldn�t take much more on that front. Not after Neu.
Yohji watched the woman move in closer to his team mates, gripping the pistol in his hand tightly ready to open fire if anyone made a false move. Sweat beaded his upper lip and he fought the rising dread that filled him at the prospect of doing murder on a woman, even one holding a gun trained on his friend.
�Let�s all take it easy and we�ll all walk out of this alive,� the man hiding behind Seven urged as he rose to his feet a pair of pistols trained on the Weiss in the doorway.
The woman bent to feel for the pulse in the intruder�s neck, when she found it was steady she straightened up and called. �He�s alive.�
Aya stood still as a statue, only the narrowing of his eyes giving any indication of his mood.
Omi kept his dart palmed in case he could get a clear throw at the man with the pistols. If he could, he was dead.
�Good. And I promise you, Bombay and Balinese, if I see a dart or wire coming for me or my associate, both Siberian and Abyssinian will pay with their lives.�
Yohji�s face had fallen into the hard lines it wore on missions. He was waiting, ready with his .45, gaze on Aya, watching for a signal from the red-head that would tell him what to do. He just couldn�t believe that Aya intended to let the three other killers walk away. It wasn�t how the red-haired man operated.
The roar of two performance engines broke the relative silence of the night, adding to the tension humming through Ken�s body.
�Shit, if that�s more of them...� he whispered to Aya.
�You ready to die yet?� Aya muttered back. �Personally, I don�t give a fuck but I�m not prepared to get the rest of you killed.� He raised his voice so the unknown man and woman could hear him. �Take your friend and go.�
The brunet on the ground looked up at Aya but he didn�t move a muscle. Neither did Yohji, but the blond looked very unhappy.
The man nearest Seven stepped forward, his pistols still trained on the doorway. Like the blond he was clad in black from throat to toes. Unlike the blond he was very apparently Japanese like the Weiss themselves.
His hair was also a mix of bright red and jet black, and there were earings glinting in the dim light from his left ear. Three of them.
�Back off, Abyssinian,� he ordered Aya sharply, his position allowing him to see both the Weiss in the alley and those in the doorway. �Nice and slow, walk toward my rifle carrying friend.
�Siberian, if you so much as breathe hard, I�ll kill you.�
Aya backed away, heading towards the woman, the useless gun heavy in his hand.
Omi sighed slightly, knowing they had no choice if reinforcements had arrived. He wasn�t quite ready to give up and go to hell just yet.
The woman gestured at the gun in Aya�s hand with the rifle. �Drop it!� He complied.
�Smart move, Abyssinian,� the Japanese man said as he met Yohji�s gaze. �If you don�t drop your gun Balinese, I�m going to kill both Abyssinian and Bombay. And if I don�t see a dart hit the ground right now, Bombay, I�m going to kill your friends.�
Yohji let his hand relax on the grip of his .45, then he lowered it to the ground, moving very slowly. There was a faint trace of a smile on his face, but his eyes were hard as steel and his team mates could see the deadly promise in Yohji�s gaze. The man was going to die the next time they met up with him.
�Ah, now don�t be that way, Balinese,� the man all but purred. �Get into the doorway with your friends, Abyssinian. Keep your back to me and the first one of you to move,� he returned Yohji�s slight smile, but the look in his eyes was full of contempt, �well I�m sure you don�t need to hear any more promises from me do you?�
Omi shut his eyes in defeat and dropped the dart in his hand, careful to make sure it didn�t hit Yohji on the way down.
Meanwhile Aya backed towards the doorway, his face showing absolutely no emotion to the other team but, to those who knew him well, his eyes showed his fury.
From the blue imported sports car at the end of the alleyway a young man with hair as blue as his car got out and stood with a gun leveled over the top of the vehicle. He was young. Probably Omi�s age, with a delicate rather feminine face on which a hint of eyeliner could be seen.
�If any of them move,� the black clad man said to his team mate, �you know what to do.�
He walked past the door with pantherish grace, bent down and scooped up his fallen team mate, hefted the man over his shoulder and spun around, heading for the waiting cars.
Yohji was watching the man. Now that he could see his face more clearly there was something almost familiar about him, but the blond Weiss couldn�t place it.
Meanwhile a man with shoulder length violet-colored hair and cold honey brown eyes had joined the woman, a small gun trained unerringly on Ken. The woman used his cover to follow her team mates towards the cars. He walked backwards behind her, still covering Ken with the gun.
Yohji was really frowning now, and Ken looked positively stunned. Not only did these people know who they were, but there were at least five of them.
Five to their four.
And that got the one time detective thinking about Crawford�s warning in a whole new light. If there were five, there might be more. How many more was anyone�s guess.
The man reached the cars and put his downed team mate into the nearest one, then he drew his guns again and returned to the side of Seven.
�I�ll cover them, you two move out,� he said to the woman and the violet haired man.
The woman nodded and headed towards the cars, the man following, cold eyes and gun still on Ken until he�d passed the man who was obviously their leader.
Omi gasped quietly and put a hand to his mouth. �That�s ridiculous,� he breathed.
Aya glanced at him. �What�s ridiculous?� he asked quietly as their assailants disappeared into the cars and drove off at speed.
�They looked like j-rockers,� Omi said. �Only I can�t think which band they remind me of.�
Yohji nodded. �He�s right. I think I�ve seen them before... somewhere, but damned if I can recall where.�
The man with the red and black streaked hair waited until the man and woman were in the first car where he�d placed the blond. He backed slowly away, and then sprayed the wall of the shop with a series of bullets, the shots placed high, more as a distraction than with intention to kill.
By the time the last chips of brickwork had hit the street, the man was in the nearest car.
An instant later they were all gone amid the squeal of tires, the roar of engines and the acrid stink of rubber.
Ken was holding his right thigh, swearing softly as blood streamed between his fingers. �Fucking bastard...�