Colored Stones

Colored Stones

By: Satrana

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Chapter One
Substitute Teachers

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Disclaimer: I do not own weiss or its characters. I am making no money on this work. All things Weiss are copyright Project Weiss. Seriously, if you have any illusions that I might own Weiss, you might want to think about sharing a cell with a certain Irish gentleman ... ^_^

Author’s Notes: Okay, just a few things. This fic is AU and very, very yaoi friendly! There is no lemony goodness yet, but there will be. Probably next chapter. Anyway the pairings are CrawfordxSchuldig, YohjixRan, KenxAya (yes, a het couple), NagixOmi, amd finally FarfxNeu. I know that last one sounds weird, but trust me! Anyway, I should also mention that neither Nagi nor Omi will be as innocent as usual. And I have given Schu a last name for this fic. I’ll also be using Manx’s real name, and possibly Birman’s as well. And Persian’s. Um. I think that’s it here ... I may add later. Please enjoy!

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Violet eyes slid to the side, hidden below dark lashes. Crimson bangs shifted down to cover the moon-pale face. Fujimiya Ran disguised the movement as an attempt to get a closer look at his own notebook, but those who knew him best recognized the movement. Neither the boy nor the girl beside him said anything but they both shared a small smile. Ran had been looking across the classroom at the tall, lanky blond leaning over a desk.
Aya, Ran’s little sister, and Tsukiyono Omi, who had been a close friend of both siblings since childhood, both knew that the redhead had a crush on Yohji Kudoh. Yohji was very popular with all the girls at school; after all he was handsome, charming, funny, and very sweet. And, so far as anyone knew, very straight. The young man had never expressed any sexual interest in males, despite all the half-serious flirting that went on between him and Schuldig. But that was how Omi had gotten word that the supposedly straight ladies’ man was intersted in Ran.
Schuldig was currently sitting beside Yohji, talking and flipping his long red-orange hair at anyone who was looking. Omi discreetly caught Schuldig’s eye and indicated Ran. He caught the minuscule nod from Schu and nudged Ran in the shoulder.
“You guys wanna go for ice cream after school?” Omi asked his friends.
“Sure!” Aya agreed instantly. “I’ll tell Ken next hour and we’ll meet you guys at the gate.” Ran gave a sort of displeased grunt. Aya shot him a hard look. “And you be nice to him this time! You almost scared him off after the last time we all went out together.”
“Good.” Ran replied.
“Ran!” Aya chided.
“He’s not good enough for you, Aya. I won’t change my mind about it but ... Well, I’ll try to be civil.” Ran sounded as though it made him ill to make this promise. “But if he tries anything while I’m there-“
”Oh stop it, Ran! Honestly.” Aya said. “You’d think he had tried to maul me in the middle of a crowd.”
“He nearly did.” Ran growled.
“He gave me a goodbye kiss on the cheek! In our driveway!” Aya smacked her older brother on the back of the head. “You will behave!”
“Don’t order me around, Aya.” Ran warned. “I already promised I’d try.”
“Okay, okay.” Aya said, giving her brother a one-armed hug. She glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Huh. Ms. Johnston ought to be here by now. Class should have started five minutes ago.”
Omi glanced at his watch. Ran nodded.
“I wonder what’s happened?” Omi asked.
No sooner had he spoken than a tall man with short black hair and honey brown eyes hidden behind shining glasses. Omi maintained his cool but noticed Schuldig’s jaw drop.
Aya leaned over and whispered to Omi, “Isn’t that your father’s head of security?” Omi nodded. “What is he doing here?” she asked as the tall brunet set his briefcase down behind the teacher’s desk.
Omi shrugged. Honestly, what Bradley Crawford could possibly be doing here, he had no clue. And he was very curious. Judging by the way Ran was attentively watch the man at the front of the room as he sifted through the papers in his briefcase, he was curious as well. Schuldig’s reaction had been expected, at least.
“Good afternoon.” Crawford said after straightening and turning to face the class. Everyone in the room had gone silent. While most substitutes would not have garnered that kind of attention, Brad Crawford did exude an heir of authority that even the rowdiest of teenagers tended to acknowledge. He received a few “hey” sounding words and several nods. “Your regular teacher was involved in a car accident on her way back from lunch, I’m afraid. She’s not badly hurt but she will be out for the remainder of the year. I’ll be filling in for her, my name is Mr. Crawford.” Crawford, black suit immaculate as usual, stood beside the desk as he spoke, his eyes glancing over each face in the class. “I’m sure you will be happy to know that you will have only one assignment for the time I am here. You will work in groups of five to create a presentation for the class to be given at the end of the course. The presentation may take any form you like and may be on any subject that has been covered in this class.”
After a short silence, a hand raised in the back of the class. Crawford nodded to the girl, who then asked, “Are you really a teacher?”
“I am a licenced teacher.” Crawford said, matter-of-factly.
Another hand went up. It was Schuldig, who had a rather evil smirk of his pixie-like face. Crawford made no acknowledgment of it as he nodded at Schu.
“What subject do you usually teach?” Schuldig asked, sounding far too pleased with himself.
“Economics.” Crawford answered without missing a step. “However, if you have a question on the material, feel free to ask.” Crawford looked around the room. “Are there any other questions?” No one raised their hands. Crawford nodded once. “Very well. Each day when you come to class it will be your responsibility to bring whatever materials your group has asked you to bring for your presentation. You will have the full class period to work, and try to make your presentation between thirty and forty-five minutes long. Please choose your groups and begin work.”
Schu grabbed Yohji’s arm and dragged him over to where Omi, Ran and Aya were sitting. “Five. Okay, good. Omi, why is he here?”
Yohji looked at Schu, confused. Stsnding up and nodding to the redhead, Omi took pity on Yohji. “Mr. Crawford is my father’s head of security.”
Yohji looked from Omi to Crawford and back. “Are you serious? What the Hell?”
“It was probabaly my father’s idea.” Omi said, shrugging. “He can be a bit over-protective.” Yohji nodded in understanding.
/Schu, find out why he’s here, please./ Omi asked mentally.
Schuldig nodded and reached out with his mind for the cool presence he knew was Crawford.
/Herr Crawford./ he spke against the man’s mind. Crawford had incredible shields.
/Schuldig./ Crawford’s mental voice felt cool and sweet, like spring water, in Schu’s mind.
/What the Hell is going on? If you’re here, then there is no way that teacher had a car accident. Is she even still alive?/ Schu asked.
/Of course she is still alive, Schuldig./ Even Crawford’s mental voice sounded annoyed at that. /She did have a car accident, it was just set up for her. She has a broken leg and a badly sprained wrist, that’s all. As for what I am doing here, Mr. Tsukiyono asked me to find a position at your school so that I could keep an eye on things./ Crawford set the paper he had been scribbling on at the teacher’s desk and bent down to retrieve his laptop from the briefcase he had brought with him.
/I take it that means you’re to watch out for more than the usual punks who harass us school kids./ Schu said. He was serious but there was just a hint of amusement at the “school kids” comment.
/Indeed./ Crawford agreed.
/Well are you going to tell me what?/ Schu asked, getting a bit impatient.
/No./ Crawford informed him. He remained silent after that until it became clear that Schuldig would get up and vocally ask his questions if need be. Crawford sighed. /Mr. Tsukiyono will tell you all about it tonight./
/Fine./ Schuldig agreed grudgingly. /What about Ran and Aya?/
/Don’t worry about them./ Crawford assured.
/If you say so, mein furchtloser Führer./ Schu chuckled a little. He knew Crawford liked it when he called him that.
/See me in my new office after class, Schu./ was all Crawford said in reply. With that he severed the mental like and focused on his computer screen.
/Crawford says we’ll find out whatever we need to know tonight. Your dad’s gonna tell us. He says no to worry about Ran and Aya./ Schu said to Omi.
/Thank you Schu./ Omi replied, before speaking out loud. “Well, how much time do we have left in class?”
“Too much.” Schu said automatically. Omi smiled indulgently at him.
“About ten minutes, now.” Ran said softly. He was very careful not to look at Yohji.
“Well, does anyone have any ideas for a topic?” Aya asked.
“You mean we really have to do this assignment?” Yohji asked, looking a little surprised.
“Most definitely.” Schu assured his friend. “Herr Crawford will play the teacher role fully.”
“Figures.” Yohji sighed. “Well, how about the western European bohemian movement?”
“That sounds like fun.” Aya said, smiling and nudging her brother. “Wasn’t that your favorite unit, Ran?”
Ran continued to not look at Yohji. “I enjoyed that unit.” he said.
“That’s fine.” Omi agreed easily. He had little concern for the topic of their project, so long as they had chosen one.
“Cool, let’s do some in-depth research on absinthe.” Schu said enthusiastically.
Yohji snorted. “Where are you gonna get absinthe, Shu? This is the U.S.”
“I have ways, Yohji-baby, In have ways.” Schu replied.
“Just don’t do too much research.” Omi said. “We will actually need you here at school.”
Schu stuck his tongue out at Omi, then smiled. “What, don’t you trust me?”
“I sincerely hope not.” came Crawford’s deep voice from behind Schuldig.
“Crawford-san,” Omi spoke to the man in Japanese, knowing that only their little group would understand him. “I trust Schu with my life, but not so much with his own. Keep an eye on him, please.”
“Of course.” Crawford agreed, appreciating the boy’s subtle sense of humor. Then he spoke in English again. “Your father is on the phone for you, you may take it the office.”
“Thanks.” Omi said, getting up. As the young blond left for the small office tucked away behind the teacher’s desk, Crawford returned his attention to the remaining four students.
“Have you chosen a topic yet?” Crawford asked.
“The western European bohemian movement.” Schu replied.
“Good choice.” Crawford said. A slight frown crossed his face for a moment, then it was gone. He returned to his desk, then, and left the class to their own devices. Most of the class took the opportunity to simply hang out, talking amongst each other for the last few minutes of class. Omi emerged from the small office only a moment before the bell rang. He hurried over to his friends.
“Ran, Aya,” he said. “My father asked me to invite you and your father to dinner tonight. He said he wants to talk business, so your father should call him when you give him the message.”
“I’ll tell him.” Ran said, dutifully. Aya rolled her eyes.
“Thanks. I’ll see you guys tonight then?” Omi asked.
“Probably.” Ran replied.
“See you tonight, Omi.” Aya said.
“You guys’ parents are friends too?” Yohji asked Ran, moving to walk beside him as they left the classroom.
“Uh, business associates, really.” Ran said, a bit uncertain. After all, his very straight crush was talking to him directly. He mentally smacked himself for that thought. Honestly, he was not some love-struck girl!
“Wow.” Yohji said. “My mom’s only business associates are the two other waitresses she works with.”
“Oh.” Ran said. Really, how was he supposed to respond to that?
“Well, uh, I gotta swing by my locker on the way to Biology, you wanna come?” Yohji asked.
Ran looked up into the older boy’s emerald eyes for a moment, then straight ahead. “Sure.”
Omi hurried out of the classroom and to his final course of the day, a small smile on his face. Nagi and Jei would be in that class and he hadn’t seen either of them all day.
Schuldig waited until there were only two or three students still stuffing things back into their bags before he made for the door, despite having no real intention of leaving.
“Mr. Zimmermann,” Crawford said without looking up from his computer. “I’d like to see you my office.”
“Uh, sure Mr. Crawford.” Schu said, doing his best impersonation of a senior who had no idea why his teacher wanted to talk to him after class.
Schuldig approached the large teacher’s desk as the few students who had still be packing up left the room. Crawford looked at the door quickly before standing and leading Schu into the office.
It was a small space, more of a closet with a file cabinet and a desk. This desk was not quite as big as the one in the classroom, but it was a decent size. A desktop computer was set up on it hopped up on top of the desk as Crawford closed the door. The redhead leaned back on his hands and grinned.
“So does this mean I’ll be getting an ‘A’?” Schu asked. “After all, I am fucking the teacher.”
“Schuldig, don’t do anything like that again.” Crawford said seriously. He leaned against the door for a moment.
“Like what?” Schu asked.
/Dirty talk in my head during class./ Crawford said. Mentally.
/You love it when I talk dirty in your head./ Schu grinned wider, spreading his legs as he leaned back on his elbows.
/Yes. So don’t do it when I’m in class. I need to remain at this position, so we have to be discreet./ Crawford told him. He moved over to the desk, standing between Schuldig’s spread legs and leaning down to kiss him.
/Discreet is not my strong suit, Bradley./ Schu said, only half teasing.
/I know./ Crawford said. He smiled slightly into the kiss, bringing his hand up to tangle it in the long red-orange hair.
Schuldig leaned back further, pulling Crawford down on top of him. Schu reached down between them and unbuttoned Crawford’s jacket. He had untucked the older man’s shirt and begun to unbutton it when Crawford finally pulled away.
/Bradley!/ Schu whined mentally. /What’s wrong? I’m nineteen, it’s not like it’s illegal!/
/No, but you are a student And I am technically a highschool teacher. I told you, I need to remain in this position./
/You’re gonna make this up to me!/ Schu said, annoyed. He hopped off the desk. /Tonight./
/Fine./ Crawford agreed, smiling a bit as he re-tucked his shirt and buttoned it back up. He was rather relieved at not having to re-tie his tie, as Schu had started on the shirt at the bottom. /If you’d like, we should have time before the dinner./
/Good./ Schu replied, stalking toward the door, annoyed. Crawford stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. He spoke to him in German then.
“We can go ... elsewhere, after class. If anyone asks, you can tell them I’m tutoring you in economics.” Crawford smiled. He cupped Schu’s cheek against his palm amd kissed him again, this time softly and passionately. When he moved away he said, “Aishiteru.”
Schu would have liked to hear it in German, but he knew why Crawford had spoke it in Japanese. Almost no one would no what it meant, should anyone have overheard.
“Aishiteru,” Schuldig sighed. “I guess I’ll go hang out in the library until school is technically over. Cna I at least catch a ride home?”
“I think I can manage that.” Crawford replied.
Schu gave a small smile and left the little office. If only it had been sound-proofed ... He deche would have to scan the minds of the faculty to find out if there was a properly sound-proofed room in the school somewhere.
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