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Thicker Than Blood	By : SylverIce2 Category: Weiß Kreuz > General Views: 1419 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Weiß Kreuz, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Brianna spent the night arguing with herself - retracing all of
her thoughts and feelings since she’d met the four men, since
she’d become friends with them. She sketched frantically,
trying to capture her fears on paper. By morning, she was exhausted,
drained, and slightly dehydrated. But she had an answer.

Yohji slid a coffee mug across the table to a bleary-eyed Omi.
“You’re not going to school today, Omitchi?”
“I
don’t think I can stay awake, Yohji-kun.” He wrapped his
fingers around the cup, and sipped at the warm drink. Ken dozed on
the table, his knuckles still wrapped up from hitting the wall. Aya
paced through the flower shop, needlessly moving pots and fixing
arrangements. Yohji turned a chair around and sat at the table,
chugging his own coffee.

It was silent until the door’s bells chimed. Four heads
snapped around to stare at the petite female framed in the doorway.
Brianna regarded them all with calm eyes, looking at each in turn.
Time seemed to still for a long moment, and then she stepped all of
the way into the flower shop.

“I can’t promise anything. I can’t say if I’ll
be able to be what you want, or if I’ll cave under the pressure
of it all. But…I can’t bring myself to think that I was
wrong about you all. I can’t bring myself to believe that a
beautiful alone is better than being with you all, no matter what you
might do to me.” Her voice was quiet; almost a whisper, but
they all heard her perfectly. Omi pushed his chair back and ran over
to hug her. Over his shoulder, she met the eyes of the others. They
each nodded their head in agreement to what she hadn’t said.
She nodded back, running a hand across Omi’s shoulders.

She moved him back a little to look into his eyes. “And why
aren’t you at school, mister?”

He smiled at her guilelessly. “I needed to know you were all
right.” She shook her head and hugged him again. The younger
man was moved aside by Aya, who leaned down and hugged her. Ken was
next, an exuberant bear-hug that ended with her asking after his
hand. Yohji was last, and he took a moment to whisper in her ear, “No
one will ask more of you than you’re willing to give, and none
of us will push you.” She smiled for the first time that day.

“I know.” She shrugged her shoulders a little. “Now
what? I took a sick day today, but I do have to go back to work.”

“It’s dangerous though.” Omi shook his head. “We
can’t let you just walk back in there, knowing what you do.”

“I don’t see how you can protect me while I’m at
work.” Brianna smiled and sat down in Ken’s chair that he
offered her. He perched on the table, frowning slightly.

“Why don’t we set up a schedule so that one of us is
always with you? Aya knows a little bit about art thanks to Aya-chan,
he could pose as an intern. Omi can spend Sundays with you, and Yohji
and I could switch off the rest of the time. That way the store is
covered too.”

“That’s a good idea, Ken. We’ll do that.”
Aya nodded firmly. “All you’ll need to do, Brianna, is
make up a reason to take an intern into the office. Maybe tell
everyone that you decided to work with a class at a college, so if I
can’t go in one of the others can, and it won’t look too
suspicious.”

“I can do that. I’ve mentioned to Mereii that I’ve
wanted help with the inking and coloring, so that would be a good way
to get that help.” Brianna stood. “I should get home,
call the office to explain what’s going on.”

“Who’s going with her now?” Omi raised sleepy
eyes to the others. “I can’t, I need to sleep so that I
can get to school tomorrow.”

“No one’s going with me now.” Brianna shook her
head, even as Ken spoke.

“I’ll go with her.” Ken shrugged. “I’m
not much good for setting up surveillance or anything, and Aya should
be here when Aya-chan calls later tonight.” He hopped off the
table and pulled a baseball cap out of his back pocket.

“You’re going to have to pretend that you don’t
know us, so you shouldn’t give names. Come up with some kind of
fictional class, and we’ll make sure that there’s a phone
number and paperwork so that they can check up on it.” Omi
propped his chin in his hand, obviously making a mental list of
projects that would keep him up long into the night.

“Ok. But, please, let me have this one last night without
one of you shadowing me constantly?” Brianna paused, unsure if
she should say anything else, but the expectant looks on their faces
forced her to. “I need a little more time to wrap my mind
around all of this. It’s - it’s a little too much.”

Ken nodded slowly. “We can understand that, but…it
could still be dangerous.”

“How? Sarisho doesn’t even know that I’m here.
He thinks I’m home sick. I’ve been coming into the office
looking tired for a week! Mereii certainly isn’t going to think
anything strange is going on from one day of rest!” She shook
her head firmly. “No. Not tonight.”

Aya sighed. “Fine. One night. After this, one of us is with
you constantly.”

“Fine.” She turned and left, knowing that if she
didn’t escape then, she might end up with an escort anyway.

Brianna called Mereii and explained that she’d arranged for
a student from a local community art program to come in and help her.
After going through the ‘details’ with her secretary, she
spent the rest of the day working on various projects. After dinner,
she decided to go to bed early, and read until she fell asleep.

It was nearly two-thirty in the morning when a noise woke her.
She’d just decided that it had been the apartment door, when a
closer noise prompted her to flip the light on. In the bedroom
doorway stood Omi. His wide blue eyes held nervousness and fear. She
motioned him closer, and he stepped into the room.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up. I
didn’t realize how late it was until I was here.”

Brianna shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. Did you
need something?” He took a step backwards, and she reached out
to him. “Sit down, Omi-chan.”

He sat, but on the edge of the bed, so that he could move away.
“I’m sorry I’m bothering you on the night that you
asked to be free of us.”

“Omi-chan, it’s fine. But you’re making me
worried. What’s the matter?” She moved closer to him, and
put a hand on his shoulder.

“I just - I need to know if you mean it?”

“Mean what?”

“Are you really ok with us? Are you really going to stay?”
His eyes held a world of pain.

Brianna was silent for a long moment. “My past scares me. It
makes me question every decision that I make, every person that I
befriend, any man who comes near me. I spent a long time living in
fear. I think I’m finally able to give that up. I think that
I’ll be able to stay. If you are who I think, who I feel you
are in my heart, then yes, I mean it, I’m really going to
stay.” She held her arms out, and Omi clung to her as if she
were the last rock in a raging river.

“I was worried that you wouldn’t be able to
understand, that you wouldn’t be able to forgive us for lying.”
He started crying. “We’re the only family that we’ll
ever have, and it was such a risk to invite you in - hope isn’t
something that’s left to us. Hope and forgiveness.”

“There’s always hope. No matter how dark the world
seems, there’s people who can understand, who can forgive.
That’s what family is, after all.”

“I’ve never really had a family. Is this what it’s
like?”

“No, Omitchi. This is much much better. Because we’re
strangers who’ve found each other, and that’s a more
precious gift than family by blood. It’s special.”
Brianna smiled and hugged him one more time before pulling away.
“Now, then, don’t you have school tomorrow?”

Omi looked guilty. “I was up anyway, working on the
mission.”

“Grab some sweats. You can sleep here, and I’ll get
you up in the morning with enough time to change before school.”
She pointed him towards a drawer, and he slipped into the bathroom to
change. A few minutes later, she had him curled up in the king-size
bed with her. As he fell asleep, he murmured thank you, and she knew
that it was for more than a night’s sleep.

We all bear our sins. Some of us are better at it than others
though. She smoothed his hair, and laughed softly to herself.
Maybe he can teach me how to let things go. He has a lighter
spirit, and he’s had to face so much more than I did.

Buzzing. Brianna reached out of the covers and groped for the
alarm. Her head popped up as someone else turned the annoying noise
off. Blearily, she blinked up at Aya, who held a school bag and some
clothes in one hand. A small smile was gracing his delicate features.
“Good morning.”

“Morning.” She looked
over her shoulder to see Omi curled up behind her, cuddling his
pillow. She sat up and poked him in the side. “Omi – hun,
it’s time to get up. If you don’t hurry and change,
you’ll be late for school.”

He mumbled something
that could be taken as a greeting as he got out of bed and took his
things from Aya. The older man’s smile grew ever so slightly as
the teen stumbled towards the bathroom. He sat on the edge of
Brianna’s bed as the girl pushed her hair out of her face
glared at the clock. “How’d you know he was here?”
Her voice sounded a little more awake.

“He left a note.”
He scooted back to lean up against the headboard. “Don’t
you need to get up?”

“I have time. I set the alarm
early for Omi.” As the silence grew longer, Brianna’s
eyes closed and she slid sideways into Aya’s shoulder. He
caught her, shifting her until it was comfortable. She only sighed in
her sleep as he waited for Omi to come out of the bathroom.

“Aya? I’m heading out now.” Omi’s voice
woke Aya from the light doze that he’d fallen into. Brianna
stirred slightly, as Aya nodded to the younger Weiss member.

“See
you.” The red-haired assassin reached out and shut the alarm
off as it began to buzz again, and shook Brianna’s shoulder to
wake her.

She sat up, realizing that she’d fallen
asleep on him. “Oh, god, I’m sorry. I just…”

“You
were tired. It’s fine.” He shrugged. She nodded, and then
stared at the clock.

“Shoot. I’ve got to hurry.”
She threw the covers back and raced for the bathroom. Aya merely
nodded, leaned his head back, and went to sleep.

“Use
Ran as my name.”

“What?” Brianna glanced
back at Aya, who trailed behind her as they walked towards her
building.

“Introduce me as Ran Fujimiya.”

“Is
that your real last name?” She pushed through the revolving
door into the lobby.

“It’s my real name.”
He said it quietly, not looking at her, and she decided that the
story behind that would be too long for the elevator ride. She nodded
silently, and left the assassin to his thoughts.

Brianna
stepped into her office and smiled at Mereii. “This is Ran
Fujumiya. He will be working with me for a few weeks.” Her
voice was steady, without hesitation, and Aya’s mouth quirked
in a slight smile. He bowed to the secretary.

“Pleased
to meet you, Ran. Good luck.” The woman’s smile was warm,
even as she sorted messages. “Sarisho-san has requested a
meeting with you this morning. He will be by around eleven. I have to
leave for a bit, but I’ve turned the phones over to the
switchboard.”

“Thank you. I’ll get Ran
settled in then, and finish up a few things before Sarisho-san
arrives.” The artist opened the inner door, Aya following, as
Mereii gathered her purse and left. “I’ll have you work
in the little office.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “If
you leave the door open a tiny crack, you should be able to hear
perfectly.”

The tall assassin nodded, and placed a hand
on the girl’s shoulder. Her whole body was tense, though she
showed no outward sign of it. “You’re doing
well.”

“Lying is a skill you never forget.”
She moved away from him, picked up a folder, and set him to
work.

Sarisho arrived precisely at eleven, and didn’t
even ask if she was alone. “Brianna-san, it’s time for
you to begin your real work.” Before she could question him, he
shook his head. “You didn’t honesty believe that we would
bring you to Japan for your graphic design skills? Artists are a dime
a dozen, but your ability, now, that’s a rare treasure.”

“I’m
afraid that I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She met his eyes unfalteringly, and he laughed.

“Oh, we
figured it out, and I’m sure you know what we’re talking
about. After all, being able to draw the truth isn’t something
you miss, now is it?”

She sucked in a quiet breath,
trying not to show her surprise. How did he find out? Brenna and
Jade are the only people I’ve ever told…. Cold
crept into her stomach, and concern for her cousins began to
overwhelm her.

“Let’s remember that you still have
things to lose. Friends, family…if you cooperate, we won’t
be forced into any drastic measures. And maybe someday you’ll
be allowed to return to your country.” Sarisho leaned over the
desk, making her sit back. “You’ll fall into line, or
we’ll find leverage. It’s your choice.” With those
words, he turned and walked out of the office.

Brianna closed
her eyes, and tried to keep from shaking by hugging herself. He
knows. “Nonononono…” Her whisper was near
silent, and desperate.

When Aya put a hand on her shoulder,
she jumped out of her chair, nearly falling as she crashed into the
desk. Her head whipped around, hair flying into wide eyes. His
expression was grim as he touched her shoulder again to calm her
down. “What was that about?”

Her trembling
increased. Aya stepped closer, sliding an arm around her waist. She
shakily pushed her hair out of her face. “Somehow…Sarisho-san…knows
things. Things that are a secret between my cousins and I. Things he
never should have found out.” Aya’s clear amethyst eyes
never wavered from her face, and tears began to fall down her cheeks.
“He knows that I can draw things that are true – that I
can draw hidden secrets and strange coincidences.”

Aya’s
gaze sharpened. “Like the drawings you did of the four of
us?”

Tremulously, she nodded. “I have very little
control over this power – only enough to keep it out of my
graphic design work. When I’m drawing for pleasure, it’s
too strong to deny.”

He nodded, staring into space,
obviously piecing together a plan.

“Why…why don’t
you find this weird?” Brianna wiped at her tears, angry with
herself for giving in to them.

He shrugged, guiding her into
her office chair again. “We’ve met people with
powers.”

“Met?”

“Fought.”
He shrugged again, as though it meant very little. “Swartz had
mystical powers.”

“Swartz? The bad guys were named
Swartz? And you guys are Weiss?” Brianna began to laugh, the
faintest edge of hysteria tingeing the sound.

Aya nodded,
allowing a slight chuckle. “It is a little silly. But their
powers weren’t.”

The artist nodded, trying to stop
giggling. “Oh god.” She buried her face in her hands. “I
have to warn Jade and Brenna.”

“Sarisho will have
tapped their phones.” Aya stroked the girl’s hair,
absentmindedly comforting her. “Give us time.” He felt
her nod, and he knelt to look into her face. “Get through
today.”

She nodded again, straightening up and squaring
her shoulders. “Only a few hours….” The words were
a whisper, just a breath, but Aya heard the determination.

“Yes.”
He stood, settling himself in one of her chairs with a sketchpad and
some pens. “I’ll stay here.” She smiled at him,
grateful that he knew, without her having to say it, that she didn’t
want to be alone in the office.
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Thicker Than Blood