Here's the prolougue of one of my monster babies. Hope
you all like it! *beams* ^_^

~*A Single Thought*~
Prolouge

~OMI~

Today is the date of my death. Or perhaps rebirth. I
never could make up my mind on that point. My life was
drastically changed. From inside hell to deeper within
the abyss.

It was on this date that I took my place as the head
of the Takatori clan.

To this day I still can't understand why I did it. Was
it for my family? No. Weiß had always been my family,
Takatori had merely been a term when I was with Weiß
to represent my past. A renowed yet unproven family of
murderers.

Maybe... that's why I chose this path. As an assassin
I was supposed to be a heartless killer. It had been
easy not to feel when I had worked solo. But then my
father Persia made me work with a team, with Weiß.

It was different. For once I had someone to care and
watch over for other than myself. It made me realize
that even the lowest scum had someone who loved him.
And because of that, killing became harder. Weiß had
brought to life what my training as a child under
Persia had killed. My humanity.

I knew I could be nothing but a killer. Due to my
increasing absences I had been kicked out of school so
going to college had not been an option. It was then I
realized I couldn't stay with Weiß. I could not be the
perfect killer I was meant to be if I was with them. I
needed to bury my humanity. Humanity was weakness.

And so when my grandfather offered escape I took it.
The deceit and sin that came along with the Takatori
way of life was something I had learned at an early
age to do. It was so easy to be one of the more
maliciously powerful figures in the underworld. Ironic
that I learned all of what I knew from the mistakes of
my targets when I was with Wieß.

Its been five years since the day I turned my back on
Weiß and became the head of the Takatori clan. At
twenty three, I was now the most respected and
renowned individual in the underworld. I took great
care in selecting my underlings, only taking in those
I respected.

Schwarz now worked under me. It was only now that I
understood them. We were kindred spirits.

Now mind you, taking life wasn't something I shied
from. It was a necessity. Someone had to do it after
all. This was another reason I got so far. I killed my
rivals before they killed me. No exceptions. I was the
prime example of those Weiß had battled against.

Ironic. What would father have said if he saw me now?

I touched the letter opener that lay invitingly on the
vast mahogany table before me. I owned and housed my
ventures in the newest and one of the finest
skyscrapers in Tokyo, one floor was created only for
my personal use. My office and those of my close
subordinates were found a level lower. I had earned a
civilized name from many legal dealings and was the
founder of a series of orphanages which were named
after myself. Everything seemed to be perfect. I
didn't need anything else.

And yet I found that I could not entirely cut myself
off from my former comrades. Even after five years I
still felt the craving for their companionship. I
realized that my years with Weiß had been my happiest.
Despite the weakness and the pain it was neutralized
by the joy and friendship. Several of my best
undergrounders were stationed to keep me up-to-date on
their lives.

Youji had taken the place of my father as head of the
police of Tokyo. He was the only threat to my
stability, and yet not much of a threat at all. It was
to easy to cover up what I did, and Youji never did
have as much experience unlike I. I was young when I
was taught, children do learn faster than adults. I
found a twisted sort of pleasure in leading him around
and playing with his little head. He was my lover in
the past, and I was pleased that although he flirted
as much as before, he never had a serious relationship
after I had been with him.

Ken and Ran were now living the life of a perfectly
happy couple. Aya-chan lived with them and was
currently pursuing college due to a scholarship I had
secretly provided. Ran earned enough and more for the
three of them with the banks of his father that he had
revived. This left Ken able to teach soccer for free
for the children in their small and cozy suburban
neighborhood.

And I found myself thinking that -this- was the life I
wanted. Not this rich plush existance supported by
crime that I lived. I was miserable... I had sought to
forget my humanity when I was human. Instead of
escaping the darkness I hated, I had placed myself
deeper into it, so as to perhaps meld it into my
system. Forge an immunity.

I had taken the wrong path. Five years, it had taken
five years of this life to realize it. And I found
that I was trapped within the cage I had built around
me. There was no escape.

I raised my eyes to the desk in front of me once more,
and smiled as the gold plated letter opener shone
invitingly.

Perhaps there was still one way...
~*~*~*~*

~BRAD~

The manila envelope that my secretary had left on my
desk was the only item on my desk. I stared at it as I
took off my coat and settled myself comfortably in my
chair. Opening it, I took the documents carefully
between my thumbs and forefinger. Any papers which Mr.
Takatori sent me were usually important. I was his
closest buisness confidant and only the most important
of things were given to me to deal with.

I felt my brow furrow of their own accord. This was a
will, Mr. Takatori's will. I scanned through it with
accurate precision then nearly dropped it in surprise.
I was not a man to be normally taken by surprise, one
factor being my power. But I had never foreseen this
or even expected it. 

In bold black letters it stated clearly in his death
all the buinesses he owned would go to me. The rest of
Schwarz were mentioned as well, even Weiß but my mind
was still trying to process this new informtion so I
didn't bother to chack what they had gotten.

Perhaps he sensed that I was completely devoted to him
as the man who saved Schwarz's life. He could have
just let us die, it was expected after all we had done
to him and Weiß in the past, and yet he saved us and
gave us his trust. Gave us jobs that challenged us. He
was strong, could take over Japan if he wished. But he
did not lust over petty things. I promised myself that
I would make him the most renowned underworld figure
not only in Japan but abroad as well. 

He was the first man to truly acknowledge my
capabilities and treated me as an equal. It was by my
choice that I be beneath him. I did owe him my life.
Brad Crawford always paid his debts.

I cared for the boy, that was certain. But I had never
let this slip in my actions. As a low level empath,
did he sense that I held deep affection for him? After
all, he sensed my relationship with Shulderich,
jokingly mentioning over dinner one night. I knew his
weaknesses, his strengths, knew him better than
anyone, except my fellow Schwarz. He was darkness and
light in one beautifully wrapped package of youth. How
could I not love him? Was this why he did it?

Then I realized Mr. Takatori was still young and would
be able to provide a heir. Why give it to someone he
may outlive? Why-

//Blood dripping off a large mahogany desk. Cerulean
eyes dimming slowly. A smile gracing soft pink lips in
a face that still retained the beauty of his youth.//

"Brad!"

I forced my eyes to focus, a blur of red the only
vivid color in my blurry vision.

~You okay? I come in and find you staring into space.~

Shulderich's thought speech pierced through my mind,
forcing coherency. I grabbed his arm, panic seizing
me, "Mr. Takatori..."

Sensing my turmoil he acted on years of experience,
scanning my mind for the most prominent of surface
thoughts. His long-lashed emerald eyes narrowed and he
leapt to his feet, making use of his superhuman speed.

Dusting off my white Armani suit I followed at a brisk
pace. Then as worry overtook my usual mask of
dispassion, I ran the few remaining feet to the
telephone.

~*~*~*

~SHULDERICH~

"Fucking shit of an elevator! Move faster!"

I punched the steel walls in frustration. Fucking
Takatori brat! How dare he try to kill himself! He was
just going to leave us?! Ignore the plans we had made
for the future?! That fucking brat...

When me and the team had been sentenced to death I
prepared myself for hell. It was the highest crime in
the underworld, killing the people who you still had a
contract under. And the fact that Esset was one of the
more powerful forerunners sealed our fate. After being
captured by psychics under several of the higher ups
we were sentenced to death. Then as they readied the
gas chambers Omi had showed up, all in his pretty boy
glory.

He fucking paid half of his fortune to buy us! Then
once we were out the doors he had the gall to say we
were free to go! I owed him my life, and I always paid
my debts. Seems like the others felt the same because
they stayed too.

Then he tried to make us co-leaders of his dealings,
saying we had experience with this stuff. But we all
declined. I wasn't a business guy working papers and
shit. I liked having less responsibility as possible.
I was surprised that Brad declined though, settling
for vice-president. Then again I never understood
Brad.

So I became his negotiator and spokes person, a
position I loved. Gave me numerous minds to play with.
Farfello became his assassin. Nagi became his personal
bodyguard. And we worked for making Omi rise in the
underworld. A challenge. Schwarz was happy when their
abilities were challenged.

And he showered us with presents. He had a church
built for Farfello and constantly supplied it with
those he wanted dead, dressed as clergy. Farfello was
utterly devoted to him because of that. Omi was his
Satan. Nagi... he was in love with him. Hell, who
wasn't?

His trust in us was uncanny. We were his former
enemies who tried to kill him more than once and we
lived under the same roof! He treated us like family
and equals. He gave me respect, something I had always
craved like a drug but rarely got. It was only natural
I care... a bit.

Fucking Takatori brat!

The elevator finally came to a stop after what seemed
like hours. I slipped through the gap of the slowly
opening doors and ran swiftly down the hallway.

He made me care! So he should take responsibility for
it! If he died on me I'd... I don't wanna think about
it!

I burst through his office doors and wasted no time in
slapping the letter opener from his wrists, grabbing
him by the shoulders and throwing him roughly on the
floor.

He blinked up at me in surprise with his large blue
eyes that had long since lost their innocence. Then
curling up into a fetus position, tears started to
trail down him cheeks. I suddenly found myself
kneeling beside him and slowly pulling him into my
arms. He had still retained his fragile build even
into adulthood so he fit right into my arms.

I read his thoughts. I couldn't help myself. I wanted
to know why. In his mind, Omi thought that his life
had been meaningless, filled with deceit. I couldn't
voice out the painful thought that came to mind.

"You think... saving us was meaningless? You thought
you were alone?"

He blinked up at me in childish wonder.

"You think we wouldn't care after all you did for
us?!", I held him so close it must have hurt him, but
he lay so still in my arms, "You didn't even think
about us... like we're nothing. You didn't really care
did you? We were like fucking pets and-"

His hand suddenly reached up and cupped my cheeks,
pulling me down for a chaste kiss, a mere brush. His
emotions surged through my telepathy. I couldn't help
my surprise, sifting through his thoughts once more.

I found an entirely different person. His memories
only reached till before his kidnapping at the age of
seven years. I realized his surpressed humanity had
resurfaced and his mind had reacted defensively. He
had gone back to before his life had been shattered,
before he had been kidnapped and trained to kill.

I never even realized this was happening... Schwarz,
even with all our powers had even suspected. He had
always been smiling, the Omi we knew when he was with
Weiß. And now that he had allowed it to break through
he was starving for the open affection he secretly
craved.

He tugged at my long lock insistently, begging for
another kiss. As I leaned in the rest of Schwarz burst
into the room, eyes wide in surprise as they took in
the scene.

And without hesitation, I let them know.

~*~*~*~*

~FARFELLO~

I killed three priests today. But it was not enough to
punish God. It was nowhere near enough to make Him
repent for what He did to Takatori. My devil.

We had hurt God together, creating our own hell in
this earth. I watched him as he supplied this city
with sin with the ever-present smile of an angel. I
always knew the devil would be beautiful.

Last year Takatori had built me a church and till this
day filled it with his enemies, dressed ironically as
those of God's clergy. He would occasionally come to
watch me kill, a fond smile on his face as the blood
splattered on us both. In was in those moments that I
knew I would willingly follow him to the pits of hell
and back. He was my Satan. When I called him that he
would laugh, his blue eyes alight, and stroke my hair.
He never denied what he was.

Why be a fool for God when the devil treated you
better?

No one noticed me enter his room. Nagi lay asleep by
his side, arms wrapped protectively around my masters
slim waist. Before Takatori would never had allowed
such signs of weakness. But he had changed. God had
hurt him. My beautiful devil who looked like an angel.

Shulderich had shown us how his mind had collapsed and
his forgotten childhood had taken over. He was now a
child in a twenty three year old body, hungry for love
and attention. Outwards he still looked the same, an
adult that could pass for a eighteen year old child,
until you looked into his eyes. You could see the
cunning and darkness and those heaven colored orbs. I
had always loved his eyes.

Now his eyes shone innocently.

God did not hurt enough for what He had done. I would
kill, and kill, and kill until He brought back my
Satan. Kill. Draw blood from his innocents. Bathe in
their blood. Bathe my Takatori in their blood. Make
him remember...

I draw closer to the bed and brush several honey gold
strands from his soft satin soft cheeks. Satisfied God
had not done anything else to hurt him, I made my way
towards the window.

God did not hurt enough.
~*~*~*~*

~NAGI~

So many things had changed in the span of two weeks.

Brad had taken over the company and one of Omi's most
trusted hirelings, a telepath called Karin, had taken
over the position as vice-president, which Shulderich
had refused. The rest of us retained our positions.

Now that Omi's childhood self had resurfaced from
where it had been suppressed I learned many things
about his past. He had been abused sexually by his
uncle and half-brothers and didn't even know what they
did was wrong. It had been taught to him that it was
something all children did to show their affection.

After being frequently the receiver of his unknowing
seductions, Shulderich and I taught him that he didn't
have to have sex with us. Omi took this in and
digested it, then asked us cunningly, 'What if I
wanted to?'

Needless to say we both didn't have an answer for
that. Thankfully Omi had laughed it off and had merely
settled for small kisses, and occasionally not so
small ones.

Out of all of us, Omi's change had affected me the
most. He had been my stability, the man who I felt
safe and complete with. He was the man I had loved. I
was his lover and made no secret of my love for him. I
was in debt to Omi, for my life and semblance of
normality. Also for the human emotions he made me
feel. I had never loved before, it was both a good and
bad feeling. I asked for nothing in return.

And he never did promise anything, as was expected.

Now I was the one who he relied on for comfort. I
found that when he was like this I could love him
freely without inhibitations. He no longer
occasionally pushed me away, always a willing reciever
of my affections. He was so sweet, so innocent I could
taste it when I kissed him. But I missed the old Omi's
strength, his surefootedness. How I would cherish the
smiles he so rarely gave.

I watch him now. He looked as if nothing had gone
wrong. Yet anyone who knew him well enough could tell.
He carried himself in a lose manner, not the stiffness
he had before. He smiles were carefree, not the
calculating smirks. And his eyes... one look into his
eyes and you would know.

I love him now, and the man he was before. They were
both still the Omi I loved. Each had his own
weaknesses and strengths. I found myself hoping that
when he regained his old self that he would remember
what occured, and perhaps keep some of the traits of
the innocent Omi I loved.

I would wait. But for now he needed me as I had needed
him. He is calling me now, innocence radiating from
his eyes. He wants to go out for a walk. I go to him,
allowing a smile to grace my lips as he takes my hand.
We go outside together, his laughter ringing out like
silver bells as he catches sight of Crawford and
Shulderich returning home. Shulderich has in his arms
the new puppy he had wanted.

I will wait. I only hope my love will be enough to
make him return to me.