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Chapter 6 Omi lay quietly in bed, watching his lover sleep in the darkness. Hiroshi's face was softer in sleep, radiating a quiet peacefulness that Omi drank in like water. After three months of waking up to this on an irregular basis, he still felt a sense of wonder and astonishment. There was something amazing about falling asleep in his lover's arms, safe and content, and waking up the same way. Hiro murmured and rolled towards him, wrapping himself around Omi in a tight hug. Omi reveled in the feeling, rubbing his cheek gently against Hiro's shoulder. Hiro opened his eyes slightly, and something on Omi's face must have alarmed him, because he opened them all the way. "Omi?" he mumbled, still too sleepy to be completely coherent. "What's wrong?" Omi sighed, and wrapped his own arms around Hiroshi's torso, snuggling up close. Something HAD been bothering him for a while, and he wanted to talk it over with his lover. "Hiro..." Omi started hesitantly. Hiroshi had finally managed to convince him to leave off the '-kun' about a month and a half ago. It had amused Hiro that even after they became lovers, Omi still used the honourific to speak to him. "Are you happy like this?" Hiro frowned down at him, puzzled. "I'm not sure what you mean, Omittchi," he admitted softly. "I guess I mean... do you like having me here, like this? When I'm able to stay over, and we get to wake up together?" Hiro snorted softly, and tightened his grip. "Isn't it obvious? I wouldn't ask you to stay if I didn't enjoy it." "But... would you like me to be able to do it more often?" "Of course. I ask you every night we're together, don't I? I love having you here with me. I wish I could have you all the time." "What if you could?" Hiro glanced down, to see that Omi was staring pensively over Hiro's shoulder at the wall. "What are you thinking, bishounen?" Omi sighed, and shifted to look into his face. "I'm thinking about getting out. Leaving the organization. I... I'm tired of having to hide things from you, of only getting to stay with you maybe one night a week because of... of the things I have to do. I'm tired of living a double life. But... if I leave... well, I can't live at the Koneko any more. It would be awkward, and they might need my room in case they decide to replace me." "Is this a subtle way of asking if you can move in with me?" Hiro asked with some amusement. Omi blushed. "No... I've got enough money saved up to pay for an apartment of my own. I'm not really sure what I'd do - go to college, I guess. What I wanted to know was..." he hesitated. "I guess what I wanted to know was if you thought this was really going to last. I don't want to cut all my ties to my other life, and then have us break up in a month. Mou, this isn't coming out right." "I think I understand," Hiro said gently. "You're asking if I'm really serious about this relationship. The answer is... I can't make any promises, nobody can, but I could very easily picture spending the rest of my life with you. And I can't picture not doing it." Omi buried his face in Hiroshi's neck, and felt warm tears slipping out to splash on Hiro's shoulder. "I feel the same way," he whispered, choked. "I'll do it, then. We're in the middle of something right now, and I can't just leave them stranded. But I'll tell them that after this, I'm out." "Will they be mad at you?" Omi shook his head. "They'll be upset, but that's more because we've all become very close over the last two years or so. I'll miss them, but I guess I can go visit them sometimes. Krit... the organization won't like it, but they won't try to stop me." "It's up to you," Hiro said, his voice infused with love and reassurance. "But if you do leave, you don't need to get your own place. I'd love to have you here - or rather, maybe we could split the rent and get a bigger place, ne?" Omi smiled against his collarbone. "I'd love that," he replied, sighing happily. "I'll tell them. This job should be done by the end of the week at the latest, and then I'll be free to do what I want." Hiroshi smiled back down at him, putting his fingers under Omi's chin and lifting until he could see his expression. "Then I guess you'd better start packing, hadn't you?"
Omi paused with his hand on the door to the stairs, steeling himself. This wasn't going to go over well, and he wanted to be as prepared as possible. No matter what, he told himself, he wouldn't let them talk him out of this. He trouped down the stairs, making enough noise so they'd know he was coming but not so much that he'd interrupt whatever they were doing. As the mission room came into sight, he saw that they were huddled together over a blueprint of the building they were infiltrating that night. Ken looked up as he hit the bottom step, and waved him over. "There's an eighty percent chance that the targets will be in one of these two rooms," Aya was saying as he joined the group, pointing out the locations on the paper. "There may be a few scattered around this area," he waved at one side, "but hopefully we'll catch most of them in the first attack. Omi, I want you stationed up here," he pointed to a place on a catwalk above the main factory, "where you can watch all the doors to the offices and pick them off as they come out. We need to take all ten out as quickly as possible, so that none of them have a chance to get away once the alarm has been raised." "What about the rumours that Schwartz has been sighted in the area?" Youji asked, eyeing the diagram. "It's been a while since we ran into them..." "All we know is that a tall redhead with a German accent has been seen speaking with some of the targets," Aya replied. "It might be Schuldich, but it might not be. Be prepared, and if you do spot Schwartz get the hell out of there. They're still furious that we ruined their chance at immortality, and we don't have the resources to deal with them right now." "That's the understatement of the century," Ken muttered. "Which, that they're furious at us, or that we can't deal with them?" Youji wanted to know. "Both!" Ken replied with a grimace. "Does everyone understand the plan?" Aya asked, glaring them both into silence. They all nodded, and he looked satisfied. "Good. Then let's get going." "Wait..." Omi interrupted him, trying to swallow his nervousness. They paused and turned to look at him. He stared back at them levelly. "I have to tell you guys something. This... this is my last mission." "Last..." Ken trailed off, eyes wide. "Omi... you're leaving?" Omi nodded, and the others looked shocked. "Are you sure about this?" "I'm sure. I've been thinking about it for a while, and I've made my choice. I've already given seven years of my life to Kritiker - I want to try living like a normal person for a change." Youji gave him a knowing look. "This is because of that sweetheart of yours, isn't it? Omi, don't you realize..." "Don't you dare, Youji!" Ken broke in, startling them with his fierceness. "Don't you dare pull the same crap on him that you did with me and Yuriko. If Omi wants to leave, that's his choice, and I won't let you guilt trip him out of it!" Youji looked surprised. "Are you still mad at me for that? It's not like I twisted your arm, Kenken, I just pointed out..." "You just nothing. I'm not still mad at you for it, but a part of me will always regret that I didn't go with her. I won't let Omi have the same regret because of you." Youji had the grace to look abashed, and Omi gave Ken a grateful if somewhat puzzled smile. Whatever conversation Ken was referring to, it wasn't one he'd mentioned to Omi. "I won't lose touch with you guys," Omi promised solemnly. "You're the closest thing to a real family I've ever had, and I don't want to lose that. And if you ever need any help with hacking and the like, let me know." Aya nodded, and surprised him by saying, "I hope it works out for you, Omi. You deserve a chance at more happiness than you've been given in your life." "Thank you, Aya-kun. Minna-kun. I'll miss you all."
Omi crouched on the narrow grating of the catwalk, crossbow drawn and ready as he watched the doorways with an eagle eye. The others were almost in position, and two of the targets were unaccounted for. They were somewhere in the complex, and the offices here were the next most likely place for them to be after the lab and the shipping office, where the others were. Any moment now, the alarm would be sounded and two birds would come flying out of the bush... "Siberian to Bombay, we're in position," Ken's voice came over the headset. "Bombay to Siberian, acknowledged," Omi returned quietly. "I'm ready whenever you are." "Let's do this thing, then!" Youji said, voice tight with anticipation. Seconds later an alarm sounded throughout the complex, and two doors slammed open beneath Omi. He aimed for the one farthest away first, and pulled the trigger. The bolt caught him high on the shoulder, staggering him but not dropping him. Swearing, Omi drew another bolt from his leg sheath and cocked the crossbow. The second shot hit his heart squarely, and the running man fell to the floor, twitching. Omi spun to track the second target, and swore again as the man disappeared around a corner. "One of the targets got past me, and he's heading away from the rest of you," he said into his comm. "I'm going after him." "Be careful, Bombay," Ken replied over the sound of fighting in the background. Omi dropped his crossbow to the catwalk and vaulted over the rail, bending his knees and rolling to absorb the shock of impact. He was up and running an instant later, three darts already in hand as he tore after the remaining target. He just caught sight of the man ducking into a door at the end of the corridor, and he put on an extra burst of speed. That door led to a series of rooms that had a side exit, and if he didn't move fast the man would get away. He burst through the first door, which was only half-closed in the man's wake. The next door was just swinging shut, and Omi instinctively ducked as he caught a flash as of light off of metal. The bullet zinged past him, barely missing his left shoulder. He rolled again, plowing through the door and coming up with his darts already in the air. The man recoiled back from the darts, bringing his gun up to shield his face. Omi grabbed for another set, and these were better aimed. One took the target in the throat, and two more in his chest. The poison coating the tips worked fast, and he was dead almost instantly, slumping to the ground across the room from him. Omi sighed and clambered to his feet, panting a little. Sprinting wasn't his strong suit, and he disliked having to chase after targets. Pacing over to the body, he bent to check the pulse to confirm the kill. The last fluttering of the man's heart twitched beneath his fingertips, barely felt through the thin cotton of his gloves. He nodded, satisfied, and reached up to activate his transmitter again. "Bombay to Abyssinian, target kill confirmed. I'm on the other side of the warehouse from you now - it'll be easier for me to go out this way and regroup with you later. Someone pick up my crossbow on the way out, please?" "Acknowledged, Bombay," Aya replied. "We're finished here - get out and meet with Siberian at the secondary pickup point." "Ryoukai," Omi said, and let the transmitter fall silent again. He had a few minutes - it would take Ken longer to get to the pickup point from his side of the building. He took the time to gather up his darts - he didn't often get to recover them, but there was no point in wasting these. He turned to go - and stopped short in shock. Standing in another doorway that he hadn't noticed at first, Hiroshi was staring at him in undisguised horror and revulsion. Omi opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, unable to find his voice, and finally burst out, "Hiroshi! What... what are you DOING here..." He trailed off as another figure appeared behind Hiro in the doorway, looking oddly like a larger, brighter version of the musician with his long, flaming red hair. "Schuldich," Omi growled, reaching instinctively for a fresh dart. The poison on the ones he was holding was already expended, and wouldn't affect the telepath enough to hurt him. "Ah ah, Weiss," Schuldich scolded him almost paternally. "You wouldn't want to risk hitting your little boytoy here, would you?" Omi checked his throw, realizing that Schuldich could easily duck his shot such that Hiroshi would be hit instead. "Why are you here?" he snapped instead, every nerve strung wire-taut. Hiroshi hadn't moved or said anything since he'd appeared, and Omi knew that he was under Schuldich's control. Schuldich practically purred at him. "I never did get to see what you'd do with Ouka once she found out your secret," he replied smoothly, green eyes shining with anticipation. "I was so disappointed, and Sakura wasn't much substitute. So I thought I'd try again. Hiro here has been very satisfying so far - he's quite disgusted by you, Omittchi. I didn't even need to play with his head!" Omi's heart sank as he saw the truth of Schuldich's words in his lover's eyes. The cocky German wasn't above lying to get the reactions he wanted, but in this case he clearly didn't need to. "Anyway, I guess I should leave you two lovebirds to your fun," the telepath continued gleefully. "Do try not to fall apart TOO badly, Omittchi - I've got a bet on with Nagi, and the poor kid can't afford to lose much more to me this month." With that he vanished, blurring out the door with the impossible speed only he could achieve. Hiro gasped as he was released from the telepath's control, and stood shaking in the doorway. He alternated between staring at Omi and the body behind him, looking pale and more than a little green. Omi found himself at a complete loss for words. Finally Hiroshi spoke. "THIS is what you couldn't tell me about?" he asked, voice trembling badly. Omi nodded, mute. "And you do this of your own free will?" "Hai," Omi whispered, finding his voice. It didn't help, because he still didn't know what he could possibly say to fix this. "Hiro, I..." "Don't!" Hiro cut him off with a violent gesture, looking like he wanted to be sick. "I don't want to hear it. I can't believe... this isn't who I thought you were, Omi. I don't know you at all. You're not the person I fell in love with - he would never kill someone like that." Omi felt the tears sliding down over his cheeks now, but he couldn't deny it. "I am who I've always been," he replied, anguished. "I never lied to you. I never wanted to hurt you! I only did what I had to do..." "You're a killer," Hiro replied scathingly. Omi bowed his head miserably. "You're an assassin! I thought you were some kind of government agent, or an undercover cop or something. Not this!" Omi couldn't find a reply to that. There was a heavy silence between them for a moment. "You'd better get out of here," Omi finally said listlessly. "The police will be here soon, and you'll be a suspect if they catch you here." He paused, choking back his sobs, and continued, "I won't... I won't try to see you anymore. If you ever want to speak to me, you know where to find me. And Hiroshi..." he raised pleading tear-filled eyes to his lover - now ex-lover. "Please, please don't tell anyone about this! You already knew too much before, and now..." "Is that a threat?" Hiro asked him quietly, dangerously. Omi shook his head. "No! A warning. If they find out how much you know - you could blow all four of our covers. They can't allow something like that to happen - they've got too much invested in us. I'm not saying they'd kill you, but they would make sure you couldn't expose us, or them. There are too many lives on the line for them to take risks." "Fine," Hiro replied coldly. "You have my word. Just so long as I never see you again." "Agreed," Omi choked out, and turned away. "There's a door to the outside in the room behind you. I have to go." He paused at the doorway, glancing back over his shoulder. Hiro was already making his way towards the exit, still shaking a little as he walked. "I love you," Omi whispered, half hoping and half dreading that Hiro would hear him. He went through the door at a run, knowing that he had only minutes to get to the alternate exit and get out before the police arrived. The world blurred around him in a haze of tears, and he wondered if he'd ever feel happy again. | |
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|Chapter 1| |Chapter 2| |Chapter 3| |Chapter 4| |Chapter 5| |Chapter 6| |Chapter 7| |