One Art
Chapter 1
November 21, 1998
Ran stood outside the Koneko. The rain pouring on his back
was not all that unwelcome. It felt like it was cleansing
him from all the anterior bloodsheds. He just stood there
with his hands in his coat pockets deciding if he should go
in. [I can still get out of this. Not really I sold my
soul to the devil after that day]
April 24, 1996
" Hey buddy! where the hell have you been?" asked Goushi
draping an arm around Ran’s shoulders.
" Busy," was all Ran would say. Today was Aya’s birthday.
She was becoming 16 that age when a girl starts blooming to
become a woman. It was a good day and it was making Ran
nervous. He thought that the minute Aya turned 16 she
would be surrounded by men.
" You are an idiot sometimes. You know that?" said Kahori
giving Ran a glare. Goushi had been feeding on Ran’s fear
making the guy more paranoid.
" No he is not. Once girls turn 16 they become crazy.
It’s like guys know they are mature," said Goushi leaving a
lot of things to wonder. " Just because it doesn’t happen
to you goes to prove that you are an ogre."
Kahori blushed furiously hitting Goushi on the head with
her backpack. Ran snorted at this.
" Oh you think it’s funny?" asked Kahori maliciously. " I
should crack your head just like that baka’s."
" I was laughing at Goushi," said Ran. " You are not ugly
Kahori you know that."
" Of course I do!" said Kahori smiling triumphantly.
" He is just saying that because he doesn’t want you to eat
him," said Goushi jumping out of Kahori’s reach. Ran
didn’t say a thing, a tiny smile playing on his lips.
" Oniichan! Have you been waiting long?" said Aya reaching
them. " I was detained because this guy passed me a note
in class. I got into trouble because of him."
" Was it a looooove note?" crooned Goushi eyes full of
humor. Ran’s head snapped at that. The guy really needed
to loosen up.
" Stop putting ideas into my brother’s head," said Aya
seriously. " You make him think I am in some mortal
danger."
" But you are. Such an innocent flower at the mercy of all
those hungry eyes," said Goushi leaning on Ran.
" And that wouldn’t include your wandering eyes?" asked
Kahori grinning evilly. Oh Ran was going to get Goushi for
that.
Ran whipped around to see Goushi. Goushi laughed nervously
lifting in hands in surrender.
" Hey man I don’t check out your sister," said Goushi
rapidly. " The monster is lying."
" No I am not. I saw you checking out her ass the other
day," said Kahori quickly. Both Aya and Goushi blushed.
" Why. Are. You. Checking. Out. My. Sister?" asked Ran
dangerously. " I am killing you for that." Kahori laughed
as she saw Ran running after Goushi who was attempting to
escape the situation.
April 27, 1996
" Ran, there is someone to see you," said the nurse. Ran
had fallen asleep again. It wasn’t a peaceful sleep. His
dreams were full of images of his dead parents, of screams,
and of Aya. Rubbing a hand over his eyes he could feel
them swelling. [Not enough sleep]
" Ran? Are you okay?" asked the nurse again.
" Who is it?" said Ran. The nurse eyed him curiously. He
repeated the question. " Who’s looking for me?"
" Oh, a lady. She says she is with the police department,"
said the nurse. Ran crouched to kiss Aya on her cheek
before walking out of the room. He saw a well-dressed
woman with red hair. She looked very professional.
" Ran?" asked Manx looking at the boy. The poor kid looked
all beat-up. Well the explosion explained that.
" Hai," said Ran trying to stand straighter in an attempt
to make himself look better than he actually did.
" Have you eaten?" asked Manx seriously. Ran shaked his
head eyeing her with distrust. Couldn’t blame him.
They when to the cafeteria right across the hospital. Ran
didn’t want to go farther, he was afraid for Aya.
" I understand there was an accident at your house," said
Manx while she sipped coffee. Ran’s hands tightened on his
cup of tea.
" It wasn’t an accident. My parents were murdered and my
sister may be on her way to join them," said Ran
dangerously low.
" I see," said Manx putting down her cup. " Would you want
to avenge them? Prevent this from ever happening to anyone
else?"
Ran stared at her not comprehending. The change in topic
had been so abrupt.
" What do you mean?" asked Ran anger leaving his features
for a moment.
" I work for a company. We ensure that these things don’t
happen again by bringing justice to those who have gotten
away with thing before," said Manx eyeing Ran seriously.
" Like vigilantes?" asked Ran surprised.
" You could say that. We would train you and pay for your
sister’s hospital bills. You have racked up quite a bill
in these past few days," said Manx watching Ran tense up.
" I-I can pay that. Otoosan opened bank accounts for all
of us in case something happened," said Ran rapidly.
" They don’t exist Ran. Do you understand the situation
you are in?" asked Manx.
Ran was about to respond but didn’t know what to say.
" Your father was suspected of laundering money and fraud.
All of his assets have been frozen. You are not going to
be able to touch that money," said Manx in a detached tone.
" You are on your own."
Manx could see all of this sinking in with Ran because the
boy’s face became pale. He dropped the spoon he had been
holding.
" That-that means I can’t pay for Aya," said Ran almost
hyperventilating. " It can’t be. My father never did
anything wrong…Why?" He dropped his head in his hands and
pulled.
" He was forced to do it. If he didn’t do it they would
kill him, at the end he refused to do it and was killed.
You and Aya were supposed to be dead also," said Manx
signaling the waiter for the check. She went through her
purse getting a card out.
" This is my phone number. I am giving you two days to
make up your mind after that I will remove my offer. Think
about it, you can help other people and avenge your
parents. Do it for them, do it for Aya." And with that the
red head left the table leaving Ran alone with his
thoughts.
[For Aya…]
November 21, 1998
" For Aya…" whispered Ran quietly to himself.
" Who are you?" asked Ken from behind the stranger that
stood at their door.
" Oi, who is this new member we are getting?" asked Yohji
for about the sixth time. Omi rolled his eyes. He was
just getting tired of hearing it.
" I wish it were a woman. How about you joining us instead
Manx?" said the lanky blonde while he started taking out a
cigarette.
" Not in the house Yohji!" said Omi when he saw Yohji about
to contaminate the air for him once again.
" You are getting a guy Balinese. He is very capable and
does his job perfectly<" said Manx looking at her watch
once again.
" Why are we getting him again?" asked Yohji putting an
unlighted cigarette on his lips.
" The other group he was on didn’t reach his expectations,"
was all Manx contributed to the case. Which meant either
the guy was important or the other groups might be put in
danger.
" Another kitty," mused Yohji looking at the ceiling. " He
certainly is late."
" He is never late," said Manx starting to get angry with
the guy for being late. It was then that they heard it.
The sound of someone crashing into trashcans in the back
alley. They all looked up at the same time and ran towards
the alley. Running toward the back door they saw Ken
fighting with somebody.
" Ken!" screamed Omi causing the other guy to become
distracted. Ken punched Ran in the jaw causing his head to
snap back and hit against the brick wall. They all heard
the crack.
" Siberian! Stop that!" snapped Manx. " That is your new
team member."
Ken stopped chest heaving in short gasps. Unclenching his
hands from their curled up position he noticed that the guy
wasn’t moving. Ken hit Ran’s leg with his foot and saw how
he didn’t respond.
" Shit! You already killed him," said Yohji amused. " What
the hell did he do to you?"
" Guy’s a prick," was all Ken said bending to get a look at
the face. Omi was crouching beside him in no time.
" He’s okay," said Ken picking up the redhead using himself
as a crutch. Ran’s head lulled to a side.
" Well this is interesting," said Manx going inside the
house again.
" Rain is not for people like me. I prefer sunny days,"
said Yohji racking a hand through his hair.
" What? Does it make your hair frizz?" asked Ken obviously
still angry at the guy he was carrying. " I am putting the
idiot on your bed."
" What?" asked Yohji. " No, no, you are not putting that
wet person on my BED."
" Yeah I am," said Ken dragging Ran into Yohji’s room. " I
don’t want him in my bed and what if he wakes up and tries
to kill Omi?"
" Seeing that this didn’t work out the way I planned, I
leaving you in charge of Abyssian," said Manx addressing
Yohji. " I will come back tomorrow morning."
" Umm Manx?" asked Omi when he saw the redhead starting to
leave. Manx turned to him raising an eyebrow.
" Is he dangerous?" asked Omi seriously.
" My advice is not to provoke him. He is really good with
sharp objects," said Manx and left.
" Who isn’t?" snorted Yohji.
Yohji watched the young man that was lying on his bed. The
face seemed familiar but he couldn’t place it. Made he
knew him on his PI days but it was sad the amount of people
he remembered. The guy’s hair was so red, almost like Manx
but more wine colored.
" Aya…" sighed Ran. Yohji frowned when Ran started
murmuring the name like it was some sort of mantra.
" Is that your name?" whispered Yohji. "Is it someone you
lost?"
" Aya…"
Ken was sitting in the kitchen fuming. The prick had acted
all self-righteous and Ken just couldn’t take that. He
could see Omi looking at him, concerned.
" Are you okay Ken-kun?" asked Omi setting a cup of tea in
front of him.
" Yeah, I am fine. I was angry before I saw him, he was the
perfect outlet," said Ken smiling faintly.
Omi looked at him and touched his jaw where he had a
developing bruise.
" It’s okay," said Ken. " Didn’t think he knew how to
fight. It’s funny I thought he was some psycho or
something. Just stood there muttering at himself."
" He has problems," said Omi smiling at Ken. " We all do."
" No shit," snorted Ken and started drinking his tea.
Ran could feel the pain behind his skull. He could also
feel the warm under his body, of course he was still wet
but at least it felt soft. The thought almost brought
tears to his eyes remembering since when he had allowed
himself to enjoy simple things. [Not since she left]
He couldn’t bring himself to smile or laugh when he hadn’t
even laughed that much with her. He could smell the faint
odor of cigarettes. Cigarettes? He didn’t know anyone
that smoked.
He opened his eyes and almost bolted out of bed.
" Hey, seems you got knocked out…" said Yohji stopping when
he started to notice the color of his eyes. " It’s you…"
Ran’s eyes widened when he recognized the guy. " Yohji?"
" Oh gods Ran. I thought you were dead. I looked you up
and found out your house had been blown to bits," said
Yohji before he caught himself. Ran was their new team
member, a killer. Manx had even warned them not to bother
him. What had Ran been doing with himself all this time?
" I don’t go by that name anymore," said Ran getting up. "
If you must call me anything, call me Aya."
" Aya? Isn’t that your sister’s…" said Yohji until he saw
the look of anger Ran gave him.
" I am here to do a job nothing more," said Ran picking up
his coat and starting to walk out of the room.
" Ran? I mean Aya why are you here? Why are you a killer?"
asked Yohji seeing the portrait of the sweet boy he had met
two years ago shatter.
" Life happened," said Aya walking out of the room.
TBC