Red Shaman

Tazzy: As always, thanks for the review. I'm rather partial to Schuldig myself, in case you can't tell.



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Farf kept a close eye on the man who had been their “escort”. His name was Nikoru and he was raising his two children alone. His wife had bailed when the kids were very small, leaving him to raise them by himself. They had gathered all of this information from Ghost doing a scan of him to check for any treachery. There had been none. Only an utter disgust for his employers and an absolute hatred for what went on there.



//I'll have to be the one to pull them out if they're female,// Ghost said.



Farf, Omi and Nagi all nodded.



//Yes, you will, Farf said. No way in hell they'd trust me or the boys. That still may not be enough. I'm sure some women have used this facility as well. They may also think that you're in the same position as they are.//



//I know, Farf. But we're minimizing the problems doing it this way.//



//We'll have to pull them out a few at a time, Omi said. It will look too suspicious to take several at once.//



//Much as I hate the thought of leaving any of them here for another minute, you're probably right,// Nagi said. //I think that would be the best course of action.//



Ghost stood a little to the side as Nikoru opened the first door and watched as a girl around the age of twelve or so cringed back against the wall at the sight of him. Her eyes darted around wildly, looking for whomever had come with him. Seeing no one but Ghost she let out a sigh in partial relief and partial confusion.



Ghost stepped into the room and held out her hand to the girl. “Come with me,” she said in Japanese. Letting the link between herself and the boys flow freely so she could successfully use the language.



The girl backed further against the wall, trying in vain to claw up it. Wondering what fresh hell this was to be.



“It's okay,” Ghost said soothingly. “We're here to help you. We're here to get you out.”



The girl took one trembling step toward Ghost. Then another. Then she practically flew across the room to Ghost, latching her hands into the fabric of her shirt her eyes wide and pleading.



“Really? This isn't a joke or some new game?”



“No it isn't a joke. But we have to hurry. There are a lot of people here who need to get out.”



She nodded and paused for a fraction of a second upon seeing so many men outside of the door.



“It's okay. The three you don't know are with me. Nagi, would you take her to the rendezvous point outside please?”



He nodded and allowed the girl a moment to adjust to the situation. “If you would follow me,” he said politely. Glancing back over his shoulder to make sure she was actually following him and being very careful not to touch her in any way.



She shot Ghost a slightly worried look before following Nagi down the hallway and up the flight of stairs leading away from the main corridor of the basement.



“We'll take turns getting them out as quickly as we can,” Ghost said. “That way one of us is with one of them at all times in case there are any problems.”



Omi and Farf nodded. “How do we handle disposing of the scum?” Omi asked.



Farf smiled a little. “Leave that to me.” He turned to Nikoru. “Are you the one who leads them to whatever room their fantasy awaits them in?”



“Much as I'd like to deny that, yes.”



“Good. Makes my job easier. Make sure they get to the correct room,” Farf said, his smile widening into an almost unholy grin. “I think they need a little surprise for their troubles.”



“Can't think of anything I'd rather do more tonight.”



“Somehow, I knew you'd say that.”







Aya was scratching his back with the hilt of the katana. Damn it, the itch was driving him to distraction and he couldn't afford to be distracted just now. He slid around the corner of the wall on the upper floor near one of the offices. Hearing two voices he ducked back around the corner to wait.



//Two of the targets headed your way, Abyssinian.//



//Thank you, Balinese. I hear them.//



//Ran.//



//Yes?//



//I love you.//



He smiled a little. Only Yohji would say that smack in the middle of a mission.



//Hai. The feeling is mutual.//



It turned out to be two of the easiest kills of Aya's career. One came around the corner and walked straight into his katana and the other walked into him, skewering himself on the blade behind the other man. It was a little difficult lifting up on the sword with two people adorning it but he managed. The sharp blade slicing up through the muscle and soft tissue of both men. He quickly divested them of their heads then he and Yohji dragged the bodies into the nearest open office. Closing the door and glancing at each other before heading to the restroom where Aya could clean both himself and the katana.



Aya stripped off his tux jacket and proceeded to wash away the blood as quickly as possible. Thank goodness none of it had gotten on the white shirt. That had to be a minor miracle.



“You get the feeling this has been way too easy up to this point?” Yohji said, searching his pockets for his cigarettes.



“Don't smoke,” Aya growled. “Yes. I do have that feeling. Was it really necessary that you point it out? Fortunately, it distracts me from this damn itch/pain.”



“That's still going on?”



“Yes. And it's driving me insane. Not to mention it's starting to hurt.”



“Okay. You're going to the hospital when this is over with to find out what the hell that is. It isn't normal to itch for so long. You're not breaking out or anything are you?”



“No. I checked. It feels like it's coming from inside of me. Like I'm being stabbed with a thousand hot acupuncture needles by someone who hasn't the faintest idea of how to use them.”



“Like I said, we're going to have you checked out when this is all over with. I've become quite fond of your skin and I'd prefer not see you scratch it off,” Yohji said smiling.



“I'm rather partial to it myself,” Aya said. “Back to the ease of this mission. It may be just because we've never had this kind of back up before.”



“We've never really had any kind of back up before,” Yohji pointed out to him.



“Point taken. We need to get back downstairs before we're missed.”



“You're probably right. Ne, was it really necessary to put the poor bastard's head in his own out box?”



“I found it appropriate.”



“Koi! You do have a sense of humor! A twisted and evil one but a sense of humor.”









Skye leaned her head against Schuldig's chest once they were back inside the building.



“What's wrong, lieb?” Schu asked, somewhat startled by the suddenly exhausted feel of her.



“Nothing really. Oracle is just trying extremely hard to consciously access his gift. I needed to do a quick block and reroute which is somewhat painful for me on short notice.”



“Here, sit down,” he said, pulling out a chair from the nearest vacant table. “I'll go get you a drink. One that doesn't have drugs in it.”



She laughed and waved him off.



Schuldig had barely gotten halfway across the room before he was seized by the front of his shirt and slammed into the wall behind him. Sunny held him immobile with his forearm across his throat.



“What did you do to her?” he hissed.



“What the fuck makes you think I did anything to her?” Schuldig ground out.



“She's exhausted and upset about something. Now, what did you do?”



“Bastard. I'd rather die than hurt her for anything. She had to fix something on short notice and it wiped her for a few minutes. What the hell is your problem, Sunny? Like I can't guess,” Schuldig said, pushing the bigger man away from him. “You really are a fucking piece of work.”



Sunny put one hand around his throat and shoved him back against the wall again. “What is that supposed to mean?”



Schuldig snorted. The pressure on his throat was uncomfortable but not enough to cause any real problems. He knew if Sunny really wanted to kill him it would be no trouble for him to do so.



“Loser. You don't have the balls to tell her you want a hell of a lot more from her than a friendship or working relationship. But you're jealous of anyone who even looks at her or tries to be a friend. Either tell her or back the fuck off because I can run down a hell of a list of men who'd kill to be with her, starting with me.”



Sunny backed up for fraction of a second in mild shock allowing Schuldig to push free of him and start off again. Sunny grabbed him by the arm.



“What the hell are you talking about? You only like men.”



Schuldig smirked a little. “I could learn to like women if it's her,” he said, pulling free of Sunny's grasp and walking over to the bar to order Skye a drink. Leaving Sunny staring after him.



Sunny suddenly heard Star laughing in his head.



//Good thing I glamoured that one for you. You owe me, Sunny. Much as that was an entertaining little bit of testosterone laden posturing. My sister is not a trophy for you two losers.//



//I wasn't . . .//



//I don't care what you think you were or weren't trying to do. Schuldig is right. Either put up or shut up, Sunny.//



//What the hell?//



//Get off your ass and tell Skye you love her or quit bitching and threatening everyone who gets anywhere near her. Damn, grow a set of balls, boy.//



Star swiftly cut the connection and stood smiling at the bemused expression on Ken's face.



“Star, what did you just do?” Ken asked, looking at her suspiciously.



“Having a little conversation with the stupid is all,” she said, smiling slightly.



//Gran, are we almost ready? The babies have started moving the precious cargo from downstairs. Might be time to start nudging the innocent bystanders out.//



//Wait until Balinese and Abyssinian get back downstairs then start urging people who aren't involved in this set up to go outside at very least. Do it gently, Star,// Blaze said warningly.



//Aw. Gran, I'm hurt. You know I can do subtle.//



//When you absolutely want to or when forced. Sunny? Isaak?



//Yes, Mistress?//



//What did you need, Goddess?//



//Neither one of you want me involved in the little power struggle you have going, I can assure you. But if I need to get in the middle of it to make the two of you focus on this mission, I will. I can guarantee you will not like what happens as a result. Now focus on what you are supposed to be doing here rather than deliberately getting on each other's nerves.//



//I understand, Goddess,// Sunny said.



//Gotcha, Mistress.//



//Good. I trust I won't need to remind you again of where you are and what we're supposed to be doing.//



//No.//



//Nein.//



//When Abyssinian and Balinese get back down here, start herding people out. We don't want anyone not involved in this caught in the crossfire.//





//Hey, Star,// Farf called softly.



//Yeah, babe? Whatcha need?//



//I need the room I'm in sound proof. Don't want the scum to alert the other scum to what's going on in here.//



//My pleasure.//



//Nah. That comes later.//



//Ah, I love the way your mind works. Dip me in honey and throw me to the hot boys.//



//Haven't we done that already?//



//Probably. But I'll try anything twice if it was fun the first time.//



//Hey, Star?//



//Yeah?//



//Is it really considered necrophilia if the dead make the first move?//



**************Author's Notes***********

Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far and is still reading. I'm sorry. I know it's really long.