In Moments

Of Sickness and Remembrance
Like Weiss on Rice

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Weiss joined him in the afternoon as promised. Nero seemed a little more excited than usual to see him.

“You have to see this!” Nero giggled. He peaked around the corner and motioned for Weiss to do the same.

Weiss, thinking any manner of sneaking was absolutely without merit just looked around the corner in full view.

“Remember the man you saved the other day?”

“Hmm mmm.” Weiss nodded.

“That’s him.”

“In an officer’s uniform?!” Weiss barked a laugh, moving from his place to go see this man.

Even as he walked up the man began trembling. “Emperor Weiss!” He kneeled almost instantly.

“Well, look what we have here.” Weiss laughed. “Moving up in the world I see.”

Weiss motioned for him to stand and so he did, but he made sure to keep his head down just in case. “Y-yes.” He nodded.

“What were you promoted for?”

He seemed embarrassed. “My survival skills.” Weiss laughed but he went on anyway. “They are going to have me talk to new recruits I suppose.”

“You?” Weiss thought he was rather mousey for that position.

“I’m not a complete coward.” He said with his head down. “Just when it comes to those stronger than me…”

“Yeah, yeah.” Weiss waved it off. “What’s your title?”

“Officer East.” He squeaked.

“I’ll remember that… in case I need a favor.” Weiss grinned.

“Of course!” Officer East agreed whole heartedly.

Weiss knew saving him would be a good idea. He felt a warm curled lock of hair touch his back. Nero had long since appeared behind him and listened in on their conversation. He was often the quiet one. He liked to sit back and observe more than he liked joining in on discussions.

Officer East looked at Nero then, sensing that Weiss was finished speaking with him. He remembered seeing Nero the other day when his comrades were being slaughtered, but he didn’t notice how lovely she was without her face covering on. He observed that that the she was standing rather close to Weiss. Maybe a compliment was in order. After all, she also saved his life. “You’re wife is very beautiful.” They both reacted rather oddly to that. He must have made a mistake! They were still rather young. “I mean… your fiancé?” No, their faces were still shocked. “Girlfriend?!”

“My sibling.” Weiss corrected cryptically.

“You’re sister then!” Officer East thought he had it that time.

“Brother!” Nero wailed at Weiss. “You are doing that on purpose! You could’ve told him I was a man!”

“But it’s so much fun to tease you.” Weiss stuck his tongue out at him. “Besides, I haven’t bugged you about it in ages.”

“Oh!” He stamped his foot angrily.

Officer East watched on with some amusement, thanking the stars that he had a mask on to cover his expression. They were just normal boys in a bad situation. It made him feel relieved in a way… that they could still act like people even down here. He looked past the two and saw a dark figure appear around the hallway. “Restrictor-sama.” He said in respect, but also a warning to all those around him. He kneeled once more.

Nero and Weiss whirled around to see Restrictor nearly upon them. He seemed like he was going to address him until they heard a noise issue forth from behind his cape. He pulled out a phone and moved a short distance away. Officer East knelt the whole time while the siblings glanced at each other every so often. All knowing if they moved from that spot they would be punished in someway.

“I understand.” Was all Restrictor said before he turned around. “You are all dismissed for the day.”

That was it? They wondered if he was just toying with them. But they weren’t about to second guess him

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It was well past midnight before he made it home. Of course, he was being dragged there by the most irritating woman on earth.

“I can’t believe you!” Vivian was practically screaming in his ear.

“Vivian, please… shut the hell up.” He stumbled into the living room.

“Don’t talk to me like that! I’m your mother!”

“Don’t say that so loud… someone might here you.” He muttered, falling onto his couch.

“I don’t care.”

“So the usual then?” He said sarcastically.

“Don’t you take that tone with me!” Her voice was still loud and aggravating to his ears. “Don’t you dare say I don’t care!”

“Do you?”

She refrained from slapping him, knowing he was strong enough to snap her neck if he liked. He just might given his condition. “Do you think this is what she would have wanted? Seeing her brother drunk and falling all over himself?”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t have wanted to see what either of us is doing down here… but that never stopped us? Did it?”

Vivian just pursed her mouth. “Just get a hold of yourself and get some sleep for goodness sake. Hojo is going to have your head tomorrow I hope you know!”

Restrictor’s look told her he could care less and she turned sharply for the exit. He flinched with the loud slamming of the door behind her. He stood up then, the room spinning somewhat. He steadied himself on the back of the couch, then the wall. He leaned against the solid surface and removed his clothes piece by piece and tossed them to the floor before stepping into the bathroom. Maybe a shower would clear his head.

He tugged the tap and water came pouring out of the showerhead. He stepped under the hot spray of water when he saw the drain hadn’t been pulled. He reached down and in doing so smacked his head against the metal faucet. With a curse he brought his hands up to his temple. And then he felt it… his feet sliding forward. With his sudden movements and the room spinning he began his quick decent onto his back. His head cracked against the side of the tub. He lay there quietly with his head tilted against the floor at an angle. The water continued to rise steadily.

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Hojo was busy snoring and catching up on some much needed sleep. He almost didn’t hear the telephone go off next to his head. His hand reached blindly for it and dragged the phone to his ear.

“Professor?”

“What?” He demanded.

“Sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if I should send the new recruits home for the night? There is a line up outside the throne room.”

Hojo bolted upright. “What are you talking about?”

“They’ve been standing here all day.”

“ALL DAY?!”

“Y-yes professor.” A squeaky voice answered.

“Where is the officer in charge?”

“He was dismissed for the day.”

“What?!”

“And all of the Tsviets as well.” He volunteered before he could ask.

“On who’s authority?!”

“Restrictor-sama’s.”

He was going to murder that man! “Where is he?!”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since this afternoon. He might be in his quarters.”

Hojo hung up the phone suddenly and practically jumped out of bed. He was going to go down to his room and give him a piece of his mind! He put a night robe on over his pajamas and put some slippers on before he headed out the door.

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Azul watched with some amusement as Rosso slept face down on the bed fully clothed. When they had returned this afternoon she had passed out into a heap. She had been thankful for the break to say the least… even if she would never admit to it. The table lamp was on, but she never minded. He blocked most of the light out anyway.

He sighed. Even sitting up like this his feet were still hanging off the bed. Such was his curse for being a giant. He pushed the needle through the fabric once more… who said he couldn’t do delicate things as well?

“Mm!” Ross moaned beside him and swiped out with her taloned fingers.

Azul watched her curiously until she flipped over her back. Her face twitched every so often and until he saw the water running down the side of her forehead. Only then did he realize that water was dripping from the ceiling. When he picked her up she made a sound of displeasure before she stabbed him in the arm with her hand. He was so used to it that it didn’t even hurt much anymore. He moved her onto the couch into the next room before he made his way out the door. He stopped short when he saw Hojo trudging forward in his night clothes and looking rather angry.

“What is it?!” Hojo asked as if he meant to bump into him.

“Nothing.” Azul said simply.

“What are you doing out of your room after hours?” Hojo demanded, angrier that they had the day off than anything. “If you ingrates aren’t even going to use them then we’ll just take them away!”

“There is water coming in from the ceiling.” Azul glowered down at him.

“Yours?” Hojo looked at the number on the door and awareness seemed to move over his features all at once. “We’ll have it looked at. Go back in there right now.”

Azul hated listening to him. He was a weakly thing after all. But he really had no other choice. No doubt he would call Restrictor if he did anything to the contrary. He watched Hojo’s retreating back as he ran to the stairwell.

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He better not have committed suicide! That’s all he had to say! Hojo pulled out his pistol and let the door have it and forced his way in. He would normally call someone but this was an emergency… and it was best not to get others involved especially considering what it could mean. If the Tsviets knew that the only one who could properly control them… best not think about that.

Water was running out under the bathroom door and he had to force his way through that passage as well. Why Restrictor would lock the door when he lived by himself way beyond him. When he found the man… he was naked and submerged in the water. How unpleasant!

Not wasting any time he dragged Restrictor out of the tub with some effort and just knew he would have a back ache tomorrow. He left the water running for now. Things like that could wait. He slapped him a few times, wondering if that would rouse him. When it didn’t he sighed, well…

He pitched Restrictor’s nose shut and covered his mouth with his own. He began compressions and breathing in intervals until he thought all was lost. Only then did his body cough up the water and take in the much needed oxygen.

Hojo didn’t wait for the color to come back to his skin before he screamed. “What were you thinking?!” He demanded. “Don’t get me wrong! I could care less if you died! But the next time you want to go and kill yourself… why don’t you tell me first and I’ll replace you!”

Restrictor just stared daggers at him. The alcohol hadn’t worn off just yet, but with this man screaming at him it was easy to become sobered. “Did I die?”

“Yes you idiot!” Hojo screamed, causing pain to shoot through his head.

“It was an accident.”

Hojo, not wanting to hear any excuses got up. “I’m going back to bed… go the doctor and you clean this place up! I’ll have a talk with you tomorrow morning!” He stamped out of the room angrily. He really didn’t care if he fell again at this point! If he was stupid enough to die a second time then he deserved it.

Restrictor just stared after him, no one had yelled at him like that since he moved away from his father. Of course that only made him think of Mary. He got up on shaky legs and turned off the water. He heaved a great sigh. This wasn’t like him. He really needed to take what his sister had to heart and just get on with life… she never knew what that entailed… but it didn’t matter much.

The best thing he could do now was find something to distract himself with… something to make him feel like himself again.

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Weiss lifted himself out of his bed in a daze. Despite his mind being awake his body was really tired this morning for some reason or another. Maybe because he took a nap in the afternoon and didn't eat breakfast or dinner? That had to be it. His vision kept darting around like he had one too many drinks on an empty stomach. Ugh! He rubbed his tired eyes again. He needed to get up and make breakfast. He was probably just hungry. He looked at the clock. Crap! It’s four in the morning! Oh well…

Weiss kicked his legs off the edge of the bed and walked past his brother’s room. He gave it a light knock. “Nero… I’m up early.” He heard a sleepy moan issue forth from the door. Weiss turned the knob and poked his head inside. “You want anything special? I’m making breakfast.”

“Chocolate…”

“You want chocolate for breakfast?” Weiss tittered.

“Mmmm hmmm… hot chocolate… and marshmallows.”

That wasn’t exactly food. “Would you like pancakes, eggs, bacon?” He ticked off the list of anything that had some substance to it.

“I want a sandwich.”

Weiss smiled, he was silly when he was tired. “What kind?”

“Mayonnaise and banana.”

Weiss laughed, okay… he was just going to make him breakfast… he was completely out of it. “Okay… I’ll make you hot chocolate and a mayonnaise and banana sandwich… want me to put some relish on it?”

“Yes please.”

Weiss closed the door and laughed his way into the kitchen.

He stopped short and was slightly annoyed when he found that the dishes hadn’t been washed. Nero didn’t do them last night apparently and that meant he had to do them. Oh well, it’s not like he didn’t have time to wash them now anyway.

It was really cold in here today. He looked at the thermostat on the wall… hm… it was what it was normally on…

He rinsed the soapy water off of his hands and grabbed the towel to dry them. The room started to move ever so slightly… He really needed to eat something. He grabbed a banana and made short work of it, hoping his blood sugar would just spike already and get him out of this little funk.

It did little to wake him, and in fact, now he felt somewhat nauseous. What in the world was the matter with him? His legs started shaking and he suddenly felt like he was about to freeze to death. “Nero…” His teeth chattered. He had never been sick in his life, and now he was feeling awful… maybe he had a cold?

His eyes went wide, he was going to throw up! He leaned over the sink in enough time to empty the contents of his stomach. Now he felt like he was on fire. What little he wore felt like too much. He whimpered when he suddenly felt pain start shooting through his abdomen. “Nero!” He called a little more loudly this time. He stumbled towards his brother’s room, his body betraying him every step of way.

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He heard his door open and Nero felt his heart flutter a little when he saw his brother in the doorway. The light behind him blinded him for a moment as he watched Weiss step forward. He leaned up, letting his comforter slide off of his shoulders and pool into his lap. “Weiss?”

“Nero…” Weiss stumbled over to him and stopped at the side of his bed. He was towering over him. “Nero…”

“Yes Weiss?”

“Nero…” He fell forward onto his brother, mashing him between himself and his mattress.

“Weiss!” Nero huffed, his previous expectations a little dashed by how rough he was being. “You’re crushing me!”

“Nero… Nero…” He repeated mindlessly and only then when Nero looked into his face he realized that he was in pain.

Nero pushed him off of him and cradled his brother in his arms. “Brother?”

Weiss’ eyes widened for a moment before he coughed blood into his face. “Nero!” This time he screamed.

Nero scrambled out of bed, trying very hard not to hyperventilate. The only thing he could remember was Weiss complaining about feeling crappy the night before and needing some sleep. He honestly didn’t know what the hell was wrong with him. He just knew he needed to find out fast. The emergency phone in the hallway! “I’ll be right back. I just need to go make a call.” Nero tried to keep his voice calm.

“Nero…” Weiss’ hand reached out and grasped his brother’s wrist. “Don’t leave.”

“Weiss, I have to…” When Nero turned to leave his brother’s grip on him tightened. “Weiss please let me go. I have to make a call. You’ll feel better. I’ll be back I promise.”

“Don’t go.”

Nero tried to forcefully remove his hand, but his hold was unbreakable. He knew from experience once Weiss got his hands on him – trying to meld into oblivion wasn’t going to help at all. Weiss’ light would keep him in this physical realm as long as he touched him. “Let me go!” He allowed panic to enter his voice. There was no time for this! “Let go!”

“Nero…” But Weiss couldn’t be reasoned with, he wasn’t in his right mind… either that or he couldn’t hear him at all. He began shivering then. “Don’t leave me alone…”

“I’ll come back!” He promised, but Weiss didn’t hear. Nero pulled backwards, thinking maybe he could drag Weiss along with him, but his legs just slid underneath him until his bottom half was under the bed. Nero tried everything then, pinching his skin, tugging, hit his hand and arm as hard as he could and even resorted to biting him. He couldn’t do this!

“Weiss!” He was sure he was dying. He had to get him off of him somehow. He felt something to the left of his leg. His gun belt! He reached down and pulled it out of its holster. He grabbed the barrel of the handgun he usually only used with one of his mechanical arms.

Nero lifted himself up on his feet, only praying that this would work. “Weiss? Please let go.” He tried one more time. Weiss only stared at him with wild unseeing eyes. This felt so wrong and Nero hated himself for it. He turned his brother on his side. “Weiss, forgive me.” Be brought the butt of his gun down onto the back of his head and he let go of him.

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He felt absolutely wretched. His poor Weiss… he couldn’t believe what he had done… Still... Waiting was the worst though. Vivian finally came through the door to retrieve him. “What’s wrong with him?” He asked as he moved with her to the room Weiss was being held in.

“Restrictor died.” Vivian answered him.

Nero started shaking. “What? How did that happen?” This was awful! That stupid man! He thought he would never die… and now this. How was it done though? Did someone go in and kill him while he slept? Did they poison him… or worse yet? Did someone overpower him and kill him? He only knew of one person in Deepground who could do such a thing…

“He drowned in his own bath.” Vivian sighed in disappointment. “He was drunk. He must have slipped and fell. He had a bump on the back of his head.”

If the situation hadn’t been so grave at the moment he might have belted out a cackle of amusement at the horrible man’s expense. He was sure he and Weiss would have a laugh about it later… if there was a later.

“It’s alright. He was resuscitated.”

He didn’t give a damn about Restrictor and his face showed it. “Is Weiss going to be alright?”

“We don’t know yet.” She had no way of reassuring him as she walked out the door and left them there. There was nothing else to be done anyway… either Hojo’s medicine worked or it didn’t. She doubted the man had anything curative in his arsenal… he was hell bent on destroying the world after all.

Nero watched her leave. She was a cold one, Vivian. But he preferred her chilliness to some of the other scientists or doctors. She cared in her own way. “Weiss,” Nero brushed the hair off of his brother’s clammy brow. "Don’t die…" He kissed his forehead gently. I need you. “I love you.”

“Mmm…” Weiss made a noise and his eyes opened.

“Weiss!” Nero nearly jumped for joy, but he took his hand instead.

“Nii-san?” And then Nero stopped short. “Is that you?”

Nero stopped short and looked at him. His eyes were a little murky… well of course. He sighed, he was sedated and delirious more than likely. Anyone else would probably still be asleep.

“Nii-san?” Weiss asked again.

“It’s me.” Nero decided to play along. He knew it was probably wrong to do so… but his curiosity overrode his sense of morality.

“Hey.” Weiss smiled sleepily. “It’s been a while.”

“It has.”

“A lot of stuff has happened.” He waited for Nero to nod and when he did he went on. “Dad died.” He closed his eyes. “They decided to replace him with someone else. When Hojo took over management he hired somebody…”

Their father? Weiss never talked about him. “Who did they replace him with?”

“I don’t know his name.” Weiss blinked blurrily. “He just took dad’s title: Restrictor. Dad lost against him. The job is a little different now.”

“I see.” He didn’t know that.

“Things were changing anyway. You probably remember that… because they locked you up.”

“Yes.”

Weiss paused for a moment, as if collecting his thoughts. “Mom died too.”

Nero’s eyes fell to the blanket covering Weiss. “Oh…” But he couldn’t leave it at that if he wanted to hear more. “What happened?”

“She died, when our brother was born.” Weiss didn’t divulge anything else about it though. “Don’t be mad at him, it wasn’t his fault. He’s a good boy.”

Nero smiled at that.

Weiss seemed to see his smile and answered with one of his own. “I knew you would understand.” Nero nodded and he went on. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Nero said automatically.

“I miss everyone. I miss how things used to be.”

“How can you remember so much? You were so young.” Nero wondered. He couldn’t have been more than two.

“I remember… because of what they did to me. But I didn’t want to forget either.”

“How do you remember?”

“I kept old video feeds from before and hid them somewhere safe… so I can always see your faces.”

Why didn’t he share that with him? Despite himself he asked, “Did you tell our little brother about this?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because… I don’t want to see him sad.”

“Why would he be sad?”

“Because he never got to see our father or mother. He didn’t know what it was like to be loved by them.”

But he never missed it, because Weiss was there. “I bet you make him happy.”

“I hope so. I want him to feel loved.”

“He does, I’m sure of it.”

“You can tell?” Weiss tittered. “Good, I’m glad.”

Oh dear, he was going to ask something he probably shouldn’t. “How do you feel about him?”

“Nero?”

“Yes.”

Weiss smiled, but even in his delirious state, he couldn’t admit how he felt. But he could at least say this: “He means the world to me.” And then he repeated, “He’s a good boy.” Nero nodded and brushed the hair out of his brother’s face again. His smile just brightened. “Can I tell you something Nii-san?”

“Anything.”

“Even when I was little, I always admired and respected you. I wanted to be like you when I grew up.”

Nero thought that was an awfully sweet thing to say. He was sure their brother would have appreciated it. “I’m sure you’ll get there someday.”

“I hope so.” Weiss closed his eyes. “I’m… tired.”

“Then rest. I’ll be here until you fall asleep and Nero will be here when you wake up.”

“Oh,” Weiss’s smile faded from his mouth as his breathing evened. “It’ll be good to have both of my brothers together.”

Now Nero felt sad, he wished he didn’t do this now. He hoped that Weiss thought this was a dream, or better yet, didn’t remember anything at all. “I will be.”

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Author’s Notes:

Again I keep delaying the inevitable, but I promise the next chapter will be that chapter that just makes me wonder what kind of person I am for writing it… blah!

I’m really amazed this story has gone on as long as it has! I started writing thinking it was only going to be a (maybe) twenty page one-shot and it turns out to be like… four or five chapters that are at least ten pages long. Maybe I should just fuse everything together and make a series.

Just kidding…

I just hope this last chapter wasn’t too idiotic (especially while talking about their family). I’m so bad at serious parts in stories. I know I’m a bit corny and I’m a goof ball so things aren’t always serious… okay… they are never serious! I don’t think I could write a somber story even if I tried hehe. Everything comes out so perverted, cutesy… and stupid. I believe it stems from me wanting to go completely against types. People are rarely who we think they are… and I think I push that hard sometimes.

Thanks again to Aquila – master of evil - for helping me with my fiction. She keeps me from going too crazy… or is it she makes me write crazier things? Hehe. Just messing. But seriously she has been really great with helping me and stuff. Thanky!

P.S. The Chapter Title Sucks...