C&C is neccesary for the healthy upkeep of my muses.

    It had been a long day at work. The women coming to the shop had all be high school girls and grandmothers and he'd had nothing to do. On top of that no missions had come in since they'd taken care of those girls and the middle Takatori brother. "I am bored out of my mind!" He took a pull from his cigarette and stamped it out before turning back to washing his beloved car. "A city so full of women has no right to be this dull."

    "Very Nice."

    "Thanks. She's one of a kind, built her from scratch." Youji smiled, not bothering to straighten. The voice was a man's after all. He was probably just passing by and liked the car. Who would't?

    "You must still work on it a lot."

    Realizing the man wasn't going away he turned around with a careless grin.

    "Front isn't bad either."

    He blinked and took out his ponytail holder to catch all of his hair back up in it again. Working in the heat always made his hair fall loose. "Anou. . . you've been looking at the front."

    The redhead smiled, "Oh! I see! I wondered why you called it a her."

    Youji arched a brow.

    "I was talking about your ass, not your car. The car is nice too of course."

    He looked over the smiling man in puzzlement. He was about Youji's age, dressed in well worn jeans that were fitting but not tight and a white undershirt. His head was covered in a denim ball cap placed over shaggy red hair pulled pack in a mid height ponytail and still falling down passed his shoulders. Green eyes with gold highlights through them and a wide and welcoming smile were prominent on his pale face. He was a good looking guy. "Well thanks for that too then."

    "I'm Judehi. Freinds call me Jude."

    "Youji." He offered his hand and smiled again. "You don't look Japanese, where are you from?"

    "Germany." Jude smiled and leaned against the wall. "You don't mind if I hang around for a while do you? This city is dead today."

    Wiping off his hands Youji nodded, "Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing."

    "You live around here?"

    "Mm. Above my work place. You?"

    "Some friends and I just settled here for a while. We got an apartment in the northern part of the city."

    "Expensive digs up there."

    "Our job pays for it."

    "Where do you work."

    "We're bodyguards for an important buisness man." Jude shrugged. "But he feels safe in his home so unless he's going somewhere, we're free to do whatever. It's boring on days like this."

    "I room with friends too."

    "You look familiar somehow. . . Ah! You work in the flower shop! That's where I saw you!"

    Youji nodded, "All of us do. It's good pay and Obassan gives us the uper levels to live in for free for helping her."

    "So you do a good deed and get a place to stay for free."

    "Then it's not a good deed." Youji grinned.

    "You're a freindly guy."

    "Yeah. You too. Usually I don't make friends with other guys real easily."

    "Well that might be because of all the attention their girls would give you." Jude chuckled and placed a hand on Youji's shoulders. "Most guys would be unnerved by another man complimenting their ass."

    "Hey I work hard to keep this ass nice! Why should I mind?!"

    The German grinned and slipped his whole arm around Youji's shoulders. "I like you! We should hang out more often."

    "It'd be nice to get away from my roomates once in a while." They both said it at the same time and began to laugh.

    "It's settled then. Let's do something."

    "When?"

    "Now."

    Youji was trying to keep up but this guy was definitly keeping his mind busy. "Well what do you suggest?"

    "Hey 'I'm" the one who's new to this town."

    "There's a super mall just down the highway with an arcade. . . or the beach. . . Hell Yeah! It's a school day so the tinies won't be crowding it up."

    "It's definitly hot enough. Do you have an extra suit I could use?"

    "You mind speedos?"

    "Are you kidding? What other suit is there?"

    Youji grinned, "Good answer!"

    "Youji." Omi looked up as his friend came inside the shop. "Your shift's up, why are you back so early?"

    "I need to grab my swing trunks."

    Ken made a face, "You mean your underwear posing as swimming trunks?"

    "If you've got it. . ."

    Aya interupted, "Keep it in your pants." He looked at Jude carefully, "Who is this?"

    "He's going swimming with me. Just met him. He complimented my . . . car." Youji grinned, "Jude, these are my roomies. Aya, Ken, and Omi."

    "Konnichiwa."

    The two red heads starred at eachother for a moment and Youji dissapeared upstairs.

    "You're not Japanese are you?" He asked Aya and motioned to his hair.

    "It's Dye. You?"

    "German."

    Omi smiled, "It's good Youji's got someone to hang out with. I have school, Ken coaches Soccor and Aya. . . does Aya stuff."

    The red head in question glarred at his teammate.

    "So Youji doesn't spend much time out of work with anyone. He sleeps so much we were worried he was getting depressed."

    "Sou ka." Jude nodded.

    Youji was standing in the doorway, "You shouldn't talk about me to strangers."

    Omi blushed.

    Ken made a face. "You brought him here."

    "And now I'm taking him away. Ja ne minna san."

    Jude smiled and waved as they walked away, "Your friends are. . . interesting."

    "To say the least." Youji rolled his eyes, "Sorry about that."

    "It's not a problem. I like them." He winked, "You've got the best ass though."

    "Again with my ass."

    "What can I say? I know what I like."

    "So I take it you play for both teams."

    "I beleive in open policy when it comes to relationships." He looked at Youji carefully, "And you?"

    He smiled, "I could be reformed."

    "Oh?"

    He smiled and pulled into the parking lot. "Here we are."

    "It looks like we weren't the only ones with this idea." He survayed the crowd. "It's thick with people."

    "We can still have fun." Youji assured him, "Come on."

    "Hot feet!"

    "Yowch!"

    They ran all the way the the water and dove strait in.

    "Ahh! Nice."

    "Wave."

    "To wh. . ." Youji choaked as a wave crashed over his head. "Oh. *cough cough* 'That' kind of wave."

    The German grinned and recieved a face full of salt water. "Why you!"

    The war was on. Waves and splashes and a lot of swimming finally found them playing in the sand like a couple of kids.

    "This was fun." Jude smiled, "Really fun. Usually it's all about keeping up the image, but today I didn't worry about it once."

    "Same here." Youji smiled. "Look! A sand dollar!"

    The red head picked it from the sand and offered it to Youji, "Pay you a dollar to come clubbing with me tommorow."

    The Japanese man snapped it in half and offered half back to Jude. "You don't need to pay me for that. We each have half, now it's a promise."

    Green eyes glittered in the setting sun and he nodded, "Promise."

    They were late getting back that day. Youji dropped Jude off at his apartment and promised to pick him up there the next night for their. . .

    "Is this going to be a date? Or just a night?" He asked his new aquantence.

    "Would you mind if it was a date?"

    "No."

    "Then let it be a date."

    He nodded and resisted the urge to kiss those grinning lips. "tommorow night then. Ja ne Jude."

    Jude watched the car speed off into the night and turned to find himself face to face with a very annoyed American man in wire frame glasses.

    "Have fun? Judehi?"

    "Yes I did. So get off my back Brad."

    "He knows where we live."

    "He's a florist. Don't worry."

    "This is very irresponsible of  you."

    "Well I deserve a little break from babysitting buisness men. And he has a really nice. . ."

    "Ass?"

    "Car." He grinned.

    "What's up with Youji?" Omi watched the playboy hunter hum and smile as he worked, actually 'worked'! And he wasn't flirting with the girls like usual!

    Aya frowned, "Ken acted like that once."

    The soccor player nodded and looked at Youji, "But the reasons can't be the same for him as they were for me."

    "He 'is' a bit of a flirt but. . ."

    "Not because of that."

    Omi blinked.

    "He saw me leave the apartment when I was with her. . . and asked me how many people I'd. . ."

    "Fucked?" Aya scoffed.

    He blushed and whispered, "Killed."

    Neither of the other two said anything.

    "He asked if I could hold her with the same hands that had. . . Youji refuses to settle to one girl because he refuses to hold an innocent woman with hands as tainted as ours are."

    Omi had a tear on his cheak, "Oh Youji-kun."

    "So it couldn't be a woman."

    "Then he's up to something." Aya decided. "Ken, watch him."

    The dark haired man nodded, "Our shifts end at the same time."

    Omi sided up to Aya and whispered, "Do you think he's doing something dangerous?"

    "It's Youji." Was all Aya had to say.

    It was also all Omi needed to hear.

    When the slick car pulled up outside the apartment, Jude was already waiting. His hair was pulled back as it had been the first day and his long legs and strong chest were encased in leather pants and a loose and open white silk shirt.

    "You look amasing." Youji grinned and hungrily took the site to memory.

    The German was eyeing Youji's own leather pants and tight, brown lycra sleeveless. "I could say the same to you." He looked at Youji's tight ponytail and smiled, "I wonder what your hair would look like down. Just the bangs at least."

    The Japanese man winked and pulled onto the road, "You have to get a lot farther than you are now to see that." He teased.

    "Oh?"

    He parked at the club and jumped out then waited for Jude to do the same. "A kiss might be a good start."

    That was all the invitation needed, lips met and the world turn upside down and inside out before coming to rights again. "Yum."

    "Definitly yum." He gasped and then blink, "Oh! I almost forgot." He reached into the back seat and pulled out a rose. "I know you're not a girl but everyone likes flowers ne?"

    The green eyes widened and a true and happy smile slipped over his face, "Thank you." He sniffed it and then slipped it into his button hole so it showed prominently on his chest.

    "Are we ready for our date then?"

    The German man took his date's arm and nodded, "I've been ready for ou rdate since last night."

    Youji nodded back, "Me too."

    In the shadows Ken blinked in surprise. //We were right. It's not a girl.//

    The redhead turned toward the shadows and Ken jumped out of site.

    "Jude?"

    "I thought I heard something." He smiled quickly, "I must be nervous to be so jumpy."

    "Is this your first real date with a male then?"

    "Ja, I'm used to men who want more than a dance."

    "Mou. . . you aren't a hooker are you?!"

    "No!"

    Youji jumped back then started to laugh. "I'm sorry, it just sounded like. . ."

    He shook his head, "It's just most men I've knew don't think you should woo another man before you sleep with them."

    "That's not very classy of them."

    "What can I say. I hang out with a very uncouth croud."

    "Well none of that tonight. Come on. Dance with me."

    He smiled, "My pleasure."

    The music was just a technicality to the two of them as they writhed with eachother through each song as if they never broke.

    Kisses and carresses were also never in short supply. And when they were tired of dancing they settled into a solitary booth in the back and talk until the early hours of the morning about everything and nothing all together. It was a perfect first date and neither had laughed so much in a long time.

    "Would you like to see eachother again?" Youji asked him as the night came near a close.

    "I would like that very much." He kissed the Japanese man gently and smiled.

    "Would you like to do this often?"

    "Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?"

    "If I am?"

    "Yes."

    Youji smiled and leaned in for another kiss. "Good."

    "Mmm."

    As they left the club Jude once again stiffened and looked around.

    "What is it?"

    "Judehi." A young boy, maybe Omi's age, walked over to them.

    "Nagi? I told Brad I was going out tonight."

    "Gomen Jude-kun, but you need to come home. Now."

    Youji looked from one to the other, "Is everything ok? I can drive you there if you need. . ."

    "No need." The boy amiled, "But thank you."

    Jude nodded and took Youji's hands. "I had fun tonight. You have my nimber right?"

    "And you have mine."

    "Call you."

    "Not if I call first." He smiled and kissed the redhead once more.
 

    "Jude!"

    "I'm coming!" He kissed Youji again quickly and ran off with his young friend. Youji just stood there grinning like a fool until a hand on his shoulder pulled him back to reality. "Ken?"

    "Youji, Omi went to a party. Aya wants us three at the shop. Just in case."

    "So 'he' will be at the party?"

    "Yeah."

    "Then what are we waiting for?"

    Youji's cell phone rang just as they walked inside. "Moshi moshi?"

    "Omi's been kidnapped."

    "Shit!"

    "It was him Youji! It was Jude I swear!"

    Youji turned away ang grabbed his coat. "Omi don't make me regret rescuing you."

    "But you saw him! The hair, the eyes, the whole face! Youji I. . ."

    "I know it was Judehi." The Japanese man smiled and managed to look serine. "I won't see him again. Don't worry."

    Ken stepped forward, "Youji-kun. . ."

    "I'm ok Ken. It was just a fling. You know me." He nodded and walked out of the shop. Only once he was in the privacy of his car did he let his cool facade fail. //Judehi is Shuldich.  The black hunter who kindnapped Omi and is protecting Takatori. One of Schwartz. My enemy.//

    He drove aimlessly just to be somewhere, anywhere, but back at the apartment. He couldn't forget their dance. The kisses. The smiles. Jude had never looked as cold as Shuldich had. He was calm yes, but happy and smiling in his calm. And still. . . //How will I fight him? How can I KILL him?!// "JUDE!!!!"

    "You know who they are. Why aren't you telling us?!"

    Shuldich watched the television calmly. "They're my prey. I'm not telling anyone."

    "Selfish."

    "You know me." He stood and slipped into the sunlite streets.

    //I couldn't stand to be cooped up in there any more. Youji is Weiss. Youji is my target. We've fought eachother now. Not to kill perhaps, but to hurt. Friends don't do that to each other. So then are we not friends. We can't be can we. Weiss and Schwartz are destined to come to blows and when they do we'll be on different sides.//

    He fingered the half of a sand dollar in his hand and closed his eyes. //I kidnapped and then taunted his friend. My teammate killed his friend's sister and my boss put the other friend's sister into a coma and killed his parents. No matter our reasons for working for the bastard.// "I am sorry Youji. I can not make our 'dates' anymore."

    A screeching of wheels snapped him to the present and he looked up just as the car went carrining to a stop. "Standing in the middle of the road is a good way to get killed."

    "I could be killing myself."

    Youji stepped from the car and looked at him coldly, "Then do it elsewhere."

    "Youji."

    "The worst part about this is that I have to act like I don't care." He said without looking away. "Ken and Omi got to cry, Aya got to get mad, but I'm the cool one. I can't do that. And my haven where I could is the reason I need to let it out in the first place."

    "I didn't know who you were." Jude swore, "It was really just a coinsidence."

    "Don't you hate those."

    "So you hate me now?"

    "It would be so much easier if I could hate you Jude. Schuldich. Whoever the hell you are. The problem is just that." He slid back into his car, "I can't hate you."

    "We will fight you know."

    "And I refuse to kill you. So here ends this white hunter."

    "What if I refuse to kill you?"

    "I don't expect that." He drove away and Shuldich was left standing alone in the middle of the road in broad daylight.

    //If neither of us will kill the other. . . can we put on a good enough show of it? What will our teammates do?//

    He followed the glow of headlights until they were gone. "What do I do?"

    "You get out of the road for starters."

    He looked up, "Nagi?"

    "Come on. You can tell me about it while you buy us lunch."

    "While 'I' buy 'us' lunch?"

    "Well I could always tell Crawford that I know who. . ."

    "You are an annoying little brat."

    "Thanks." He smiled, "I do try."

~owari?~

I could leave off here, I could continue if you want. So if you want to see this story continue, send me an Email. Once I get 10 Emails saying that I should continue it I will. ^_^V Hope you enjoyed it whatever you choose, It's the first Weiss story I've written since I actually saw the series. *blush* um. . . I tend to do things a little of a lot backwards.

Raihne