The making of an assassin
Part 3
By Hawking A.K.A. Fruey

Three days, three days he reminded himself as he walked into the kitchen to get a soda. He tried his best to ignore the fact that Ken was _right_ behind him. He reached over to open the refrigerator, but before he could the brunette whipped in front of him and opened it for him. "I'll get that for you!" He said reaching in to pull out a Mountain Dew and hand it to the blonde.

Omi reluctantly took the beverage from Ken. His teammates had been acting so very strange ever since they left the hospital. Youji hadn't slept in a single day after that. Omi took note that the lanky assassin had also stopped smoking around him. Every time he'd step into the room, or even outside when Youji had a lit cigarette he'd put it out. Youji would tell him that it was just because he was trying to quit, and this time he was going to actually do it. Youji had also stopped teasing him. Over three days and not so much as even a small hint of a joke.

Aya had taken to speaking even less then he already did, and every time Omi looked at the redhead's violet eyes he could tell that something was seriously wrong. He tried to get Aya to tell him what exactly was wrong, but Aya always found some way to avoid the question.

Then there was Ken. Ken had been following him around just about everywhere. At first he was glad to see the brunette so much, after all they were best friends, but after a while the constant follower had started to get on his nerves.

He had never had a problem with getting his own drink, or anything else like that before. It was almost as though Ken thought he was some sort of little kid who couldn't do anything by himself.

"Ken-kun.. I'm fine, I can get my own drinks and if I want something to eat and can get it by myself." He wished that Ken would go off to coach one of his soccer games or something. He did like being around his teammates and all that, but every time he looked at them he knew they were keeping something from him. It was something important that they didn't want him to know. They were a team, what was it that the others thought they should keep from him?

He still had that strange dream. The ocean... Every time he went to sleep he would get woken up by Ken, or Aya, or Youji because every time he slept he had that dream. They called it a nightmare, and would always ask what it was he saw, or heard, or did in the dream/nightmare. Even the few fuzzy things he could clearly remember from the dream he didn't dare talk about. He still wasn't sure what exactly it all meant. The ocean, the strange people, the hospital, secrets his teammates were keeping from him.. it was all the same, it was connected.

He suddenly felt bad for being mean to Ken. Really, he hadn't yelled at the brunette, nor was there any harshness to his previous words. It was just the look Ken was giving him.. it was like Ken was sad, very sad.

"Ken-kun what happened?" Omi asked setting the drink down and moving closer to his friend. Ken looked at Omi as though the world had just ended and spoke ever so softly. "Omi.. you have to tell us what's wrong.. if you don't.."

Omi blinked for a moment then took a step back from Ken. The words were starting to sound like that of a death threat that had been left unsaid. "Then what?"

He watched as Ken stood very still for a moment searching for the right words to explain the situation. "If we can't figure out what's wrong then.. Omi, look, something is very wrong.. If this gets any worse then it will disrupt the team. If we can't sort it out on our own then they said they have people who can help. Specialists, they spend their whole carrier helping people sort out their problems.. and.. if it does come to that..." Ken's eyes started to fill with unshed tears as he continued "If things get worse, or don't change then they think I'd be best if you went away for a while and got some help from someone who knows more about this kind of stuff then we do."

"Send me away?! From Weiss?!" Omi shrieked as he stared right at Ken. The very idea of being gone from Weiss was a scary thought. No more Aya, or Youji, or Ken! "Know more about what Ken-kun?! You said they have specialists? What is it they specialize in? What is it?"

He waited a long moment to hear an answer from the ex-soccer player. "You're fine physically. At least that's what the doctors said.. they think that all these nightmares are from work related stress, they said it happens to quite a few people. I don't know though.. I didn't totally understand what all that crap they were spouting meant!" Ken practically wailed. "We can fix the problem, then you won't have to go anywhere. You can stay with us."

Omi found himself staring wide eyed at Ken. Sending him away to go see physiatrists? Why couldn't he just go see one once a week like other people if he did have to go to one? "Ken-kun.. why do I have to go away if I'm gonna see one of them? Is it some kind of nuthouse?!" Once again he waited for Ken's reply, but this time he received none. "Your going to send me to a nuthouse!?"

It was then that the built up tears did escape from Ken's eyes only to run down his cheeks. "I'm sorry Omittchi.. we just want to help, and if it gets worse then.." While they had been at the hospital, Manx had mentioned what happens to some of the other assassin type people in Kritiker who snap. They were the ones who usually ended up killing themselves, that or going out and killing others.. killing innocents.

He couldn't let that happen to Omi, even if it did mean he had to let the little blonde go for a while. After all Omi was going to come back, he was going to make sure of that.. of course all this was depending on whether or not they could settle this without any other help.

"We can sort this all out." Ken assured the frightened blonde by walking right over to him and giving him a hug. He didn't want to let Omi go anywhere, they were a team, they were the start of Weiss, they were best friends.

Omi was still trying to totally grasp what had just happened. Never before had he thought his own team would send him off to some kind of nuthouse. Without another word he wrapped his arms around Ken and returned the hug. He wasn't going to be leaving at all. Things would work out just fine.

Youji, who had been listening to the two younger men talk, cursed under his breath. Ken had gone and told Omi, now if that didn't give the kid nightmares nothing would! Of course he knew that Ken hadn't told the rest of the little story... 'one month..' Youji thought as he turned to head downstairs and away from the kitchen where Ken and Omi were.

He couldn't stand it. One month, Kritiker gave them one month, and that was after Aya had a 'talk' with them. He was still convinced that there was no way Aya, or Ken would actually let Omi go anywhere without a fight. Hell, he wasn't going to let anything happen to the kid either, despite the crappy hand they had all been dealt in life they were friends, a family. They all had lost their life, their right to live a life of a normal person, all they had was each other and the knowledge that what they did helped people.

Wasn't that what Omi was always saying? Killing the bad people was worth it because it helped people, innocent people who needed their help.

It didn't matter how much he, Ken, or Aya wanted to keep Omi around, the fact was if things didn't get better in a month then Omi was gone, if things got worse in that month then Omi was gone. Sure they could try and hide it if things didn't work out, but then again what would they be doing for Omi by denying him special help if that's what he really needed?

If he did go then he wouldn't be there long, just until they helped him out and solved the problem.. and if they couldn't, if no one could, then Omi being out on a mission where people lives were at stake probably wasn't the best of ideas. After all, one screw up could cost him his life, and none of Weiss wanted to ever have one of their own die on a mission. They all had enough ghosts in their past, the last thing they needed was to add another to the list.

He pulled out a cigarette and headed towards the door, sure he told Omi he was going to quit. He only said that to try and cheer the chibi up, maybe.. it wasn't working. With all the times Omi wandered around to see him, Youji found that his smoking habit had changed quite drastically. He had in fact stopped smoking around the chibi, but he also found that he had gone through more cigarettes in a single night, when Omi wasn't around, then he would have in a week. And right then he needed one, badly.

On his way out the door he noticed Aya looking out a window with such intent you'd think the love of his life was standing right on the other side of it. He knew more then anyone else did what it was like to be in Aya's position, to be in charge of a group, to be the one responsible for them. If anything happened to Omi he knew that despite Aya's cold exterior, it would eat him up.

"Omittchi.. you get better." He whispered as he finally reached the outside and lit his cigarette. He knew it'd be a while before Omi would wander over near that area. With the way he and Ken were talking Youji had a good feeling that they'd be in there for a good long while.


...To be continued...
***** I apologize if these chapters are getting weirder, and weirder as we go along. This fic, like many, follows the whims of my odd little muses. ^_^; But anyway! Thanks for reading. Remember, reviews make a happy Fruey, and a bunch of hyper egotistical Muses!

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