Angels in Heaven

FafarellosAya/ Eva McGregor

Jei, Ran, Nagi, Schuldich, Ken

R; adult subject matter, mentions of child abuse, mentions of sex and non-con.

Category: Psychological, supernatural, angst, dram, hentai, Romance, Action/adventure

Summery: When Weiss is killed at the end of the original show (along with Aya-chan) and Ran turns out to be the only survivor; Jei- formally Farfarello- takes it upon himself to take care of the assassin. Then upon, learning the boy is only sixteen he discovers the true plan God has for him. Then Ken shows up to tell him Esset wasn't the only threat to Ran and his sister Aya. But which is harder, protecting Ran from the enemy or raising a teenager on his own?

AU notes: as is explained in the fic Ran is Aya-chan's younger brother; Kritiker mistook the two ages when Ran took his sisters name. So Ran has just turned sixteen; he's six months younger then Nagi who is closer to the age of seventeen. Also for sake of having a bad guy; Crawford is a pedophile 'cause I'm mad at him right now (ironically because of his role in this fic) and may or may not die depending on if I want to feature him or not. And lastly (cause you still need a surprise) Jei is not insane and he isn't missing an eye.

This fic is finished but I'm going to make everyone wait for the next chapter cause this took me a hell of a long time to write!

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telepathy

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

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Angels in Heaven

Part One: Jei

Jei was a religious man; he had always been a man of God. Until the day his mother killed God. From then on the Deity he thought of as God because a cold hearted bastered that turned his back on his children. He did hold God in high regard, in everything he did; he did it in the name of God.

Every death.

Every torture.

Every cut on his body.

Was done in the name of God.

In his mind he was doing God's work, by making the God his made cry for every sin. Because surely if his God and that God were the same then his family would still be alive, now wouldn't they?

But it wasn't true and he knew it, though he denied it everyday. For there was no separate God and the God he made weep for every sin was his own

Jei used to pray every day for God to come back and give him his family back, or give him a sign he had returned for good banishing the Evil God away. Until Schuldich made him stop for he didn't want to hear those prayers and didn't he know God didn't exist?

Little did he know everything happened for a reason and his prayers were going to be answered. Just not in the way he expected.

It all started the day Weiss died.

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They had crashed into the sea were Crawford- in his very last act of kindness- told Swartz to get out of the building before it collapsed . Five bodies had been found, four head and one alive. The one Jei thought he wanted dead the most had lived, and the one that one had strived to save had not lived.

It seemed fitting the redhead should take the place of his sister in the hospital bed. Yet he would be leaving the hospital in a few months to nothing and no one.

It was then that in his mind Jei had found what he was suppose to do. God had given his sign that he was indeed alive if not hindered by the Evil God. Fujimiya had survived; his mortal enemy had survived when odd had dictated he shouldn't have. He was supposed to live, thus he would live whether he wanted to or not.

The first thing Jei did was get Schuldich to give up Weiss' location. The second thing he did was use the money he had sitting in the bank and used not even a small amount to buy the flower shop.

At this time the others had disbanded and left Japan. Crawford took Nagi with him to the States on the pretense the boy needed an adult to take care of him; despite the teens protests he would rather stay. Schuldich had gone back to Germany to see if he could locate an Uncle that still lived; he wanted as normal of a life as possible for a while wit the last blood family he had.

Jei had nothing but his new purpose and a shop he had no idea how to run. So he learned. He lost the eye patch- a result of having an eye infection years ago and afterward it was just a look- for it got in the way. Then surgically had most of the visible scars removed the ones that hindered his mobility. He enrolled in the local trade school with the intent to learn business and botany.

He removed the possessions of the other three members; well two members since discovering an interesting fact. Fujimiya and Hidaka shared a room and a bed. Their things were mixed in the large room so much so that Jei could only discern certain things as either one or the others. That room he left alone, if Fujimiya wanted to get rid of his lovers things he would do that on his own. The other two member's things he packed up and put in the attic.

Jei kept the empty beds and brought his own things to a spare room that he assumed had once been Hidaka's at one point. It was strategically sound for the room was next to the redheads; and while the walls weren't paper thin they weren't so thick that things couldn't be heard either.

Five months later Jei got into his new car and drove to the hospital.

He got to know the hospital very well over the last few months. For two of them Fujimiya had been asleep while his body recovered. For the other three the redhead had gone through physical therapy and had been given time to let the fact his lover, sister, and friends were dead sink in. during that whole time Jei had kept himself from the boys sight. Fujimiya knew someone was paying his hospital bills, he knows it wasn't Kritiker for they had abandoned him the moment the others died. He knew someone had made sure the others had a real funeral, their ashes- as tradition was cremation for Japan wasn't big enough for many cemeteries- were now resting in a case down in the old mission room to be scattered or left at a later date. The doctors had told him all of this per Jei's order, just not who his benefactor was.

It was in fact Fujimiya hadn't know until that morning when Jei called to tell him what time he was going to pick him up and if he knew what was good for him he's be ready and still there when he came to pick him up. Then left three hours before he had said because he knew the redhead wasn't going to wait.

Surprisingly when Jei walked into the hospital room Fujimiya was sitting in a wheelchair by the window quietly waiting to be picked up. He was dressed in jeans and that god-awful orange sweater Jei had provided the hospital for his release. He didn't move when the Irishmen walked into the room and released the breaks on the chair.

"Let's go," Jei said curtly pulling the chair away from the window. The redhead quietly sat back in the chair the trip to the hospitals front doors. He shakily stood at them and followed Jei outside to the car stumbling a few times. Jei noted he was lacking the sure grace that had made him a formidable fighter. No wonder he hadn't run away, he wouldn't have gotten far if he tried.

Jei made no move to help the redhead when he nearly fell on his face tripping off the curb. He didn't pause to make sure the other was alright as he continued on his way to the car. He stopped long enough to unlock and open the passenger door of his car before going to the driver's side. He was ready to leave and was pulling out of the parking space before Fujimiya had the door closed, one foot still dangling out of the door. Though the whole thing the redhead remained silent, he never complained and he never turned his infamous glare on the Irishmen. It was like all the fight had died along with everyone else. That was fine; it made the young man easy to deal with.

Pulling into the garage to the shops apartments was surprising to the redhead from the look on his face; he hadn't expected to be brought here. Jei suspected he had expected to find himself in a Swartz torture room or an Esset holding facility or something just as bad. He didn't know Jei had no loyalties to Esset and Swartz was no more.

"There's food in the kitchen, your room hasn't been touched," Jei said as they entered the building. "I took the room next to yours. I have class in an hour I will be gone until six. If you do anything to hurt yourself while I'm gone you'll be sorry. I didn't pay your bills just to have to pay more."

Fujimiya looked startled at the Irishman's words, but nodded silently turning to go upstairs.

"And Fujimiya," Jei said when the redhead reached the first step. The redhead stopped and turned his head signifying he was listening. "Shop opens in a week, I expect you to be there bright and early," with that he picked up his book bag and walked out.

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For the next week Fujimiya stayed in his room only coming out when Jei dragged him out to eat. The cloths he wore were too big for his slim body and the style was obviously Hidaka's. Jei had woken the redhead from his nightmares frequently each time he wore the same jersey, also Hidaka's. It took two days to figure out why the team jersey was so familiar; it was Hidaka's team jersey from when he played for the J-league.

Nagi wasn't the only one good with a computer.

At five a.m. Monday morning Jei opened the shop for the early customers. People had actually waited at the door that early wanting to see who the new management was after the sign had been on the door: 'closed for new owner.'

At six Fujimiya came down as six was the customary time the shop opened. Jei wasn't sure which surprised the poor redhead more; the fact he was up that early serving customers or that he hadn't killed anyone yet.

The fan girls were happy to see the redhead, but didn't ask what happened to the others as a sign on the window that no one asks. Fujimiya gave Jei a confused glance then went to his work station and began a flower arrangement that had been left for him.

Jei didn't know that much about arranging flowers; wrapping a dozen roses was one thing but anything more complicated he left to the redhead. He set out the requested material so Fujimiya didn't have to and hired a retired neighbor woman to work the register. Maybe later he would hire more people he wasn't sure, he didn't have to work, he could keep the shop barely in the black and not care. He was after all one of the richest men in Japan thanks to some carefully planed investments and not spending more money then he had to.

In fact Fujimiya didn't have to work either, each of his co-workers had left each other a division of their assets in their wills. Since Fujimiya was the only surviving benefactor he got everything, including the Takatori fortune as Tsukiyono had left him everything by name. Jei knew the redhead didn't know this and had pulled a few strings to insure he had guardianship over the young man, he had discovered another piece of information the others didn't know.

For all he looked twenty, Ran Fujimiya wasn't. It was a mistake made when he took his sisters name, one he encouraged. Aya was Ran's older sister, she looked younger, but she was twenty. Ran was barely sixteen less then six months younger then Nagi. It was the same with Jei, Schuldich told him everyone assumed he was only eighteen or nineteen when in fact he was twenty-eight. Jei was sure Hidaka knew how old his lover was one didn't mistake the physical differences that intimately.

After the shop closed Jei had the urge to go out to dinner some place that had a casual but dressy dress code. Glancing at Fujimiya- he knew the boy owned his own clothing- he noted once again it was one of Hidaka's shirts and jeans. With a sigh he grabbed the teenager's arms before he could vanish upstairs. The redhead looked startled but nicely compliant.

"You have fifteen minutes to change," Jei said lowly taking the boy's chin in his hand to make sure he was paying attention. "Slacks and a nice shirt, if they are Hidaka's clothes I will cut them off you and make you go naked. Do you understand?"

Violet eyes widened a bit but Fujimiya nodded retreated form the Irishmen's grasp as soon as he was let go. Jei had only needed to change his shirt and call in the reservation for a good table at the time he wanted. This wasn't hard once he dropped his name. Exactly fifteen minutes later the redhead came stumbling down the stairs in a pair of black slacks and his orange sweater. Jei decided to let it slid that he saw the shirt the boy had been wearing peeking through the collar, the outside was the boy's he didn't care about the rest.

The teen didn't ask where they were going and Jei didn't offer to tell him. They drove to the restaurant in silence until they pulled up to the valet. Fujimiya looked like he was about to protest recognizing the expensive restaurant but shut his mouth when his door was opened by the valet. He waited on the curb with his arms crossed over his chest as Jei handed over his keys with a large tip to insure his car was treated well and took the token. The redhead still looked like he wanted to protest but a strong grip at his elbow told him exactly who was in charge.

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The Matre de recognized him from previous time he spent here establishing himself as new game. From his time out and about anyone who was anyone knew who he was if not knew him by sight.

"Ah Mr. Dante," the large man greeted warmly- which considering Jei spent a considerable about of money here was understandable. "When I heard you were coming I had the best table reserved for you!" he smiled at the redhead. "This must be Ran! Lovely child, your guardian's description doesn't do you justice."

Fujimiya looked like he wasn't sure if he should blush at the complement or demand to know what the man meant. Jei saved him from that decision by giving the man a look he perfected from Crawford. The man jumped to action summoning a waiter to take them to their table a top a small rise made so the rich could look down upon the slightly less rich. With Takatori's death that place of honor usually remained empty. However most richer establishments wanted to know who their frivolous customers were and how often they would return and after it was found that Jei had citizenship and residence in Japan and he was unofficially the second richest man in Japan he became privy to that place of honor. Especially when he casually mentioned he had guardianship over the Takatori heir and control over that fortune.

Which was true even if that heir didn't know.

"Get what you like, but remember I know how old you really are," Jei said picking up his menu. Fujimiya opened his mouth to protest then closed it with a sigh and looked at his menu. They ordered dinner with no arguments, the redhead something he gave direction to with a certainty of one that had ordered it so many times they know all the questions. Looking at the menu he noted it was about mid range on the pricelist but still too expensive for a lowly assassin.

Oh yes, the boys father had been middle class. It was logical they had gone out to dinner frequently.

"How did you like your food?" Jei asked taking a sip of his wine while he waited for dessert after they had eaten.

"It was fine." Fujimiya said softly shoving the half empty plate aside, leaning back against his chair like a sullen child.

"You hardly touched it." Jei said conversationally. "Should I complain to the cook?"

"I'm not hungry," the boy said staring down at the table.

"Too bad," Jei said sipping at his wine, and waited. He was not disappointed.

"How dose that man know me?" Fujimiya asked, "Why did he say you are my guardian?"

"Because I told him, and because I am," Jei said setting down his glass. "Tell me; at sixteen with no formal education what did you expect to do with your life? Kill until someone kills you? and what would you do if you managed that and someone wishing you ill discovered you aren't as old as you claim to be?" he leaned back with a raised eyebrow. "Kritiker won't come to your aid; they were prepared to let you rot in a state hospital. They abandoned you and if you don't believe me call your contact number and see if they answer."

The redhead frowned. "You paid for everything…." He said slowly.

"Money talks." Jei said, "Louder then words. It was no problem gaining custody of one orphan before another could, and believe me they would have, the vultures."

"Why?" Fujimiya asked.

"Because once it got out that the only heir to the Takatori fortune was only sixteen years old, they would have ripped each other apart to gain access to that money." Jei said, "With the various companies still in business and stock climbing everyday you are one of the richest children in the world. Without someone there to play benefactor you'd be down to pennies within the week."

The redhead narrowed his eyes. "And what do you get? Access over the money left to me and control over your enemy?"

One side of Jei's lips quirked up. "No, that would be something Crawford would do," he said dryly. "I have no interest in what your friends left you, or the fact that the man's shirt you are wearing under your sweater committed statutory rape every time he made love to you. Sure I will enjoy having control over your life, but you are not my prisoner or my enemy."

At some point the words hit home and the blood drained from the redheads face making his pale skin look translucent. Jei was sure it was the comment about Hidaka that confirmed they did more then share a room. Jei snorted. "Oh come now, you might have lied about your age but it didn't make it any less illegal." He said, "But I will let you have your memories."

Fujimiya looked to be near tears when the waiter took their plates away and set down dessert. He ate silently not savoring the taste of the light cream Jei had come to enjoy. It was no matter the boy could throw a tantrum all he wanted as long as it wasn't loud and it wasn't public

By the time the check arrived the redhead was hiding his tears by wiping his face with the sleeve of his sweater. Jei was going to have to remember to train that out of the boy if they were going to stay in the public eye, a simple remedy by the right school. They drove home in silence the redhead silently crying in his seat failing miserably to hide his tears. When they walked into the building Jei noted a light was on that had not been left on, Fujimiya didn't notice as he retreated to his room.

"Hullo Nagi," Jei said entering the kitchen.

The dark haired teenager looked up from where he had his head down on the table. "Jei," the boy answered softly putting a hand against his face.

"Does Crawford know you're here?" Jei asked going to the sink and wet down a clean rag then went about wiping the teen's face slowly revealing the bruising makeup had hidden.

"No," Nagi said, "Unless he got a vision, which is likely."

Jei nodded, "This his doing?" he asked knowing full well the American had a temper but had not dared lay a finger on the boy with him and Schuldich around.

"Yes," the teen said truthfully and nodded to a set of bags by the door, "I left as soon as I got a chance."

"Did he do anything more then hit you?" Jei asked moving to the medicine cabinet for some balm.

"No," Nagi said looking away, "I was afraid he would before I managed to get away."

"How did you do that?" Jei asked.

"I drugged his food," Nagi said, "And his drinks."

Jei smirked. "Did you ever think mixing sedatives and alcohol could be fatal?"

"Yes?" Nagi asked hopefully a light of hope shining in his soft blue eyes.

"But of course if you killed him he would have seen it coming." Jei mused.

The boy's shoulders slumped. "Does that mean he's going to come after me?"

"If he's wise he won't." Jei said solemnly. "If he tries he won't get you out of the country."

"He has a lot of connections." Nagi argued.

"Most of them died with Esset." Jei said, "I've spent the last five months making my own, including the fact I have soul custody of our very own redhead kitten."

Nagi blinked. "Why?"

Jei grinned. "Oh because he's six months younger then you therefore underage."

The brunette teen blinked again. "Wait, he's younger then me?" he sat up in his chair. "How is he younger them me? I thought he was like twenty."

Jei shrugged. "So did everyone else." He said wiping the boys face a little. "He encouraged the mistake for his own protection. Imagine what someone would do if they knew his true age. You were lucky you had Schuldich and me, he wouldn't have been; they would have taken advantage of him just like they took advantage of Bombay."

"Oh," Nagi said softly. "I guess he didn't have anyone."

"He had his teammates." Jei said, "They protected each other. But their gone now so all he has left is us."

Nagi nodded and yawned. "I had a really long flight last night." He said. "Then I had to find out where you were."

Jei nodded, "I'll show you a room." He said helping the teenager to his feet. "Did you use all your savings getting here?"

Nagi shook his head. "No but I had to buy a new lap top and other components, Crawford destroyed mine."

Jei nodded opening the door to what was once Bombay's room. "Kritiker wiped the hard drive, but the computer is still here."

Nagi nodded setting his belongings down beside the bed. "Thank you," he said softly looking lost for a moment, "Thank you for not being mad."

Jei crossed the room in long strides and enveloped the teen in his arms. "That's what's family's for." He said burring his nose in the soft hair. "Crawford's an asshole; I'd never turn you out or send you back to him."

"Thank you," Nagi said again holding back tears.

Jei nodded looking to the door way. Fujimiya stood in the hall, his hand on the wall like he was passing and had stumbled, which was a likely assumption. He looked confused for a moment not really looking inside the room then shook his head lightly and continued on his way. Jei had a sudden bad feeling; he left Nagi to get settled then followed the redhead down the hall.

He found the boy in the bathroom throwing up his dinner, his face bloodless and clammy.

"He's allergic to lime." A voice said, Jei turned but found nothing. Shaking it off Jei knelt down next to the boy and touched his forehead. The redhead was cold but sweating, his skin taking on an unhealthy pallor but also developing a subtle rash. He seemed to be having difficulty breathing.

"Shit," Jei hissed lifting the redhead in his arms, he hadn't noticed how thin the boy was before this, and he didn't like how his head lulled back. This had to be a severe allergic reaction, one that required hospitalization; only the boy would be dead before he got to one.

"Nagi!" Jei yelled already heading for the garage. The brunette came running stopping short at the sight of the redhead. "Can you keep his air way open long enough to get to the hospital."

Nagi stared at him mouth gaping for a second then nodded slowly. He swallowed hard then his eyes unfocused slightly and the redhead took a gasping breath. That was good enough, Jei hurried out the door to the car with Nagi following close behind.

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"It's a good thing you brought him in so quickly," the doctor said glancing at the boy hooked up to the hospital bed. "He had a severe allergic reaction to lime. Since it isn't mentioned in his medical records I'm going to assume this is a recent event. Sometimes this happens as children get older; and things they weren't allergic to six months ago or where only mildly intolerable to becomes a severe allergy or an allergy goes away."

Jei nodded, "Is he allergic to anything else?" he asked.

"I can keep him over night and run a few tests." The doctor said calmly. "I will also have a medical bracelet ordered listing any and all allergies I find."

"Alright," Jei said, "If you don't mind I'd like to stay until he wakes up." He nodded toward Nagi nodding off in a chair. "Could the little one get a place to sleep? He's just returned from a trip to the States ad hasn't had a chance to sleep."

"Certainly Mr. Dante," the doctor said pronouncing the name correctly. "I'll have a cot brought in." with that he excused himself.

Jei watched the door for a moment thinking about the voice he heard before then shook his head. He had heard many voices in his life, what was one more? Sighing he lowered himself into a chair by the bed and waited.

Several hours later the redhead opened his eyes. He looked around confused and made a slight whimpering sound muffled by the oxygen mask. Jei reached out and brushed a few strands of hair away from the boy's forehead to show he wasn't alone. "How are you feeling?"

Ran shook his head, "What happened?" he slurred from the drugs in his system.

"You had an allergic reaction to lime." Jei said, "You're in the hospital, they're keeping you over night to test for other allergies."

The redhead nodded still looking very confused. "I wasn't feeling well and went to the bathroom; and I could have sworn I heard Ken's voice telling me to stop for a moment." He said almost hysterically. "But Ken's dead, how could he do that?"

Jei shook his head, "It's alright Shh." He said, "For whatever reason of you hadn't have stopped I would never have noticed you or have gotten you to the hospital in time. But I don't want you to worry about that. Nagi's asleep so I'm going to leave him here. I'll come back tomorrow morning; you get some sleep before then."

Ran nodded already drifting back to sleep.

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Jei returned home nearly an hour later after informing the doctor Nagi would stay so he could sleep and would come for both of them tomorrow morning. Once he entered the apartment building he searched every room for surprise guest worried Crawford might have followed Nagi anyway.

When he found none he went to the hall between Nagi's room and the bathroom. "Alright I know you're here so you might as well show yourself ghost of Hidaka Ken." He announced clearly looking between both sides of the hall. "Are you here to haunt your lover 'cause he's really not fit to be haunted."

There was a slight gust of wind from his right and a soft tutting sound before a figure appeared, slightly translucent but whole. Jei had actually been expecting an answer, but really getting one was a bit surprising all the same.

Ghost Ken shook his head. "For the record we never had sex in any form." He said crossing transparent arms over his transparent chest. "Aya didn't sleep without someone there; he was very emotionally neglected when he came to Weiss."

"He seems to sleep just fine now." Jei said, thought he had never checked to see if the boy slept; but the light had been off under the door at night.

"Well he doesn't." Ghost Ken said flatly. "Not well anyway."

"Why doesn't he wear your clothes then? If he wasn't your lover?" Jei continued.

Broad shoulders shrugged the body solidifying a bit more. "He always did, especially after thunder storms." He said, "Always my light worn shirts and jeans; I think he liked the smell." Then the ghost got a bit more serious. "Look I'm not here to justify my actions where I was here or reminisce about a child desperate for comfort. I'm not here to tell you to take care of Aya either."

"Then what are you here for?" Jei asked, "I'm fully capable of raising a child and I hold no grudges against him."

The ghost nodded. "I know that Jei, God knows that or he wouldn't have given you this task."

"Which one?" Jei asked narrowing his eyes.

"There's only one Jei." Ken said softly. "What happened then wasn't God's doing, you know that."

The Irishmen took a deep breath and released it. "Why are you here?"

"To deliver a message." Ken said. "Watch your back, there's an enemy you never expected coming for Aya. What Esset wanted with his sister didn't stop at them or here. You are all in danger and you're experienced as assassins won't prepare you for what's to come."

Jei glanced in the direction of the garage wondering if it was wise to leave the children unprotected in the hospital.

"You have time," Ken said following his thoughts. "You have time to gain his trust and believe me he will put you through a trial to gain it."

Then from one instance to the next the ghost was gone.

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It wasn't until a week later that Jei got his first taste of what Ken had meant.

Nagi had never been allowed to get away just because and he knew certain actions would be punished. But he also knew the punishment was within reason and not the same as what Crawford did to him. Being thirteen when he joined Weiss with other teenagers, Ran had probably not had to abide by rules and consequences.

That was all about change.

One night the boy had thrown a very loud tantrum over something very trivial and had broken several dishes in the kitchen. Jei had put up with the screaming not about to budge on the issue. When the dishes were broken he calmly grabbed the redhead by the arm carried him to a safer location since he was barefoot, and swatted his rear with his hand for every broken dish. Hard. Then made the teen clean up the mess.

There had been tears but the tantrum had stopped and no more dishes had been broken.

A repeat of the tantrum happened every other night and the punishment for ill behavior varied. Jei wanted certain manners at the dinner table and set the rules; rules which Nagi already knew and followed. The first offence resulted in a warning, the second of the same problem in having dinner away until the manner was corrected; the third resulted in anther sound spanking. Jei didn't think Ran had ever been spanked so many times in his life. It wasn't the fact he hadn't learned the rules; Jei was the one setting them and Ran was acting like a sullen child testing his limits.

The boy couldn't complain about the treatment however. Nagi faced the same punishments for the same discrepancies. Nagi just wasn't testing the adults patience, Ran was.

The real test was when Jei did the laundry cleaning all the clothes from the redhead's room except the jerseys. That included Ken's clothing. Ran had thrown a tantrum and demolished his bedroom. Jei had never been so angry at the teen. Ran had come out of his tantrum to realize what he had done and had hidden from the man; wisely he hadn't run away and had remained in the building.

He was learning the consequences of his actions even apologizing as he was dragged from the closet he was hiding in. he knew what was coming and had taken the spanking with tears then silently went to his room to clean up the mess.

In the early years they had Nagi Schuldich had done the something before and after Jei had joined them. It was in fact through the German that he learned what punishments and rewards worked best for any given situation. It also had been something Crawford couldn't handle that's why discipline had been left to the telepath.

However the discipline so rudely brought on the boy so quickly and frequently had some unforeseen negative side affects.

After dinner one night Ran had been set the task of washing the dishes. Then the first signs of a storm had startled the boy and he dropped a plate which shattered at his feet. When Jei walked into the kitchen he immediately knew it had been an accident, but from Ran's expression knew the child was expecting to be spanked- even if only once- for dropping the plate.

Instead Jei walked over to the boy lifted him off the floor and sat him on the table before cleaning up the mess himself. Then proceeded to explain to the child that accidents were one thing, deliberate misbehavior another.

It was that night Jei got the break through Ken had promised.

By the time Nagi and Ran's designated bedtime had come the beginning of a storm had turned into a heavy thunderstorm not expected to let up for the next two days. Nagi had automatically made himself comfortable in Jei's newly purchase king-sized bed. Ran had been more hesitant, first retreating to his own room then appearing an hour later when the storm really became loud. The redhead had come running after a particularly loud thunder clap shook the building.

Jei had prepared for this knowing from experience there would be no sleeping tonight with the storm like it was. Hot chocolate was kept warm by a thermos and would be long gone before it got cold. Candles and lanterns were laid out around the room, in a path to the bathroom and in the bathroom. He had a few games he kept for such an occasion, ones that could be played in candle light and knew a few stories that could be told in the dark.

Tired of seeing Ken's jersey's used as sleep wear every night and never be washed Jei bought both boys two matching sets of pajamas, one for winter and one for summer. Nagi's was in a deep blue that matched his eyes and Ran's in a deep purple that was almost black. Tonight Nagi wore the shorts and long sleeve shirt and Ran wore the pants and short sleeved shirt; both had on socks against the cold of the floor.

They watched TV while sipping hot chocolate until the power went out, then played Uno and exchanged scary stories. Ran didn't sleep that night because of the stories, who knew a person used to killing was afraid of disembodied hands?

After that Jei found out just how starved for affection the child really was. The deliberate misbehavior stopped, the boy still got spanked, but no more than Nagi did. Nagi complained the redhead was slipping into bed with him at night. He wasn't really complaining but he didn't like being woken at one in the morning either. When Jei asked Ran about it the boy had shrugged, and Nagi's nightly visits had stopped.

The problem hadn't.

Jei had been woken one night- he was sure it was Ken's ghost though there hadn't been a sign of him since their talk. When he had gotten up to check the house he had found Ran sitting in the hall in front of Jei's door.

"What are you doing out here?" Jei asked quietly kneeling in front of the boy it was the middle of winter by now and the hall way was almost the same temperature as outside.

Ran shrugged finding his feet very interesting.

Jei sighed, he couldn't leave the boy out here all night; but he didn't think sending the child back to bed would help either. "Come on," he said helping the boy stand. "You'll freeze to death if you stay out here." He pushed the boy down the hall to Nagi's room.

Nagi moved over in his bed without protest and the next say Jei had the older teens bed moved into Ran's so they would share one room. Once there was someone in the room with him the redhead had no more sleepless nights.

88

After that incident came one of the bigger hurdles with raising two teenagers of approximate age.

Jei had allowed both boys time to adjust to the new living situations while the winter semester of school went on around them. But now that spring semester was nearing he had to deal with enrolling them in high school.

It had been Nagi not Ran that had the fit over that announcement. Jei had told both boys one night after dinner a week before the new school semester started. Ran had looked surprised then seemed to be happy with the idea. Nagi on the other hand reacted negatively even thought for him he had missed only one semester of school, not three years like Ran. The brunette had been washing the dishes when the announcement came. Calmly he took the dish in his hand held it above his head and let it go to shatter on the floor. Then just as calmly stepped over the shards and walked out of the kitchen.

"Well that went better then expected." Jei said conversationally. "Of course I expected you to do that."

"I like school." Ran said, "Less drama."

Jei smirked amused, he'd let Nagi get away with breaking the dish this time and next time Ran threw a tantrum he would skip one of the allotted spankings; or something.

Ran looked at the broken dish. "There's only one more of that set." He observed.

Jei looked at the dish rack noting the redhead was right. "Go ahead, break it."

Ran looked puzzled for a moment then picked up the plate to hold it against his chest. "If you don't mind I think I'll save it." He said understanding what was being offered him. A lot of dishes were broken; but he only got one freebee.

"Whatever, it's your dish," Jei said leaning back in his chair and drank his tea.

8888

Two days later Schuldich showed up.

Ran was in the kitchen getting a cup of juice when the German barged in through the kitchen entrance to the house. The teen had shrieked and dropped his glass at the sound and sight of the man storming into the kitchen. The child immediately backed up till he ran into a wall and then slid down it sitting on his hands. Not a good way to defend ones self unless what they were protecting was their rear.

Jei had been working in the shop at the time and only reacted when something brushed against his mental barriers. Thoughts of Ken's warning flared through his mind as he excused himself from a customer and hurried into the living section of the building. There he found Schuldich kneeling in front of a very frightened redhead teenager assuring him, he wasn't going to hurt him or spank him for dropping the cup. Jei had taken over from there telling Ran to go get Nagi and tend the shop for a while. The redhead hadn't fled so fast in his life.

"Good to know he's trainable." Schuldich said offhandedly as he watched the child flee.

"What are you doing here Schuldich?" Jei asked crossing his arms over his chest.

The redhead telepath shrugged. "Maybe I got board with normal, maybe my uncle died, maybe I missed you; who knows?"

Jei narrowed his eyes, he knew the man well enough to know each statement was true. He also knew him being here would do more damage then good. "Why don't you go bug Crawford?" he asked acidly. "Leave the children to me."

Schuldich raised an eyebrow. "You said that plural," he said with interest. "Nagi and who?"

Jei flinched; damn he hadn't meant to let the slip. "Who do you think?" he asked, "Do you really think I could control him if here were an adult?"

"You'd find a way." Schuldich said with a smirk. "You did after all convince the world you were insane, even the psychics of Rosen Kreuz."

Jei rolled his eyes. "They only see what they want to see." He said shortly, "Just like everyone else."

"I greatly resent that." Schuldich said, "How old?"

"Sixteen," Jei said, "Just a few months younger then Nagi."

"Two teenagers in the same house." The German said sympathetically. "I don't envy you in the least."

"Shut-up," Jei said turned on his heel and went back to the shop. "And get out."

"What?" Schuldich squawked indigently.

"I said get out!" Jei repeated already walking toward the entrance to the shop. "I've worked too hard to get that boy to trust me to have you come and fuck everything up again."

"Eh, yeah that's right you're so fucking infallible and I'm so evil I'll hurt a child deliberately." Schuldich said his accent thickening with anger. "You forget I was in charge of Nagi who spent eight years of his life on the streets. Dose he looked messed up to you?"

"Nagi wasn't your enemy!" Jei argued stopping so he could turn on the man again. "And you weren't the only one in charge of him."

"Fuck you Jei!" the telepath hissed. "If you even knew half of it before you came…"

"Then what?" Jei asked stepping toward the younger man. "I wouldn't want them and hand them oh so willingly over to you?"

"I kept Nagi safe!" Schuldich yelled. "For three years I kept him safe! Do you know why Crawford took him off the streets?"

"Because he was gifted." Jei answered automatically a bit of his anger deflating. It had always been assumed Crawford had taken Nagi off the streets because Nagi had done something to catch the mans attention; and that something had been the telekinesis.

Schuldich's answering laugh was bitter. "Tell me. Do you find Nagi and Ran attractive, not pretty, but sexually attractive?"

Jei frowned, "Of course not, they're children."

Schuldich nodded. "Crawford didn't know Nagi was gifted." He said softly. "He took Nagi off the streets because he wanted a toy no one would miss."

Jei blinked. "What?"

"They didn't bring you in to punish Crawford for bringing in a gifted without permission." Schuldich said. "They brought you in to keep Crawford under control."

"Why didn't you ever tell me this?" Jei asked pushing the telepath back into the kitchen.

Schuldich shrugged. "You didn't need to know then. It wasn't important to our team, all you needed to know was Nagi was not to be harmed."

Jei stood in silence for a long moment the glanced at the clock. "I have class in an hour."

"You? In school?" Schuldich asked unbelieving. "When did that happen? I never knew you to be one that likes school."

"In order to get them to be responsible I have to set an example." Jei said with an ironic half smile. "I don't know anything about flowers or business in my head because that's taking an easy route. If they are going to be normal people when they grow up then they are going to have to learn nothing comes easy."

"They will never be normal Jei." Schuldich said softly. "No matter how much we wish them to be."

Jei stared at the only man he could call friend for a long moment then turned to go back into the shop leaving the German alone in the kitchen.

End Part One