Red Shaman

Blaze walked into the war room and sat down at the head of the table.



“Gran? You okay?” Star asked.



Blaze shook her head. “Not even close to it. Later,” she said, waving away the next question.



“Farfling, would you go bring Nagi and Omi in here after you've managed to detach them from Ghost,” Star asked.



Farf grinned and made his way back out.



“Okay. I believe we achieved our main objectives, with a few side trips into the weird thrown in for good measure,” Blaze said. “We know who was pulling the strings on these people. The children are safe. Star has arranged for certain paperwork to be released to the press in Japan tomorrow morning. This morning? Hell, I don't know what day it is anymore. The branches of these organizations will have to be taken care of quickly but now that we know who they are it shouldn't prove to be a problem. The main threats were eliminated.”



“Except for one,” Nagi said from the doorway.



“Somehow I don't think you'll have long to wait before getting another shot at it,” Blaze said.



“Good,” Omi said from behind Nagi. “The next time we'll be better prepared.”



Nagi nodded solemnly.



“I'm sure you will be. Now, to more pressing matters,” Blaze said. “Star, if you would, explain about what you and Isakk became privy to in Bricru's head.”



“It looks as though we have a few more pressing problems,” Star said.



“What is it, Star?” Ken asked.



Star took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It seems that the members of Weiss have been labeled as traitors to Kritker.”



The members of Weiss stared at each other for a moment, too stunned to speak.



“Are you sure about this?” Ken said, finding his voice first.



Star nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. I triple checked to make sure it wasn't just a false alarm. It isn't a head game. Several of the other teams have been mobilized already.”



“So what does this mean?” Yohji asked.



“It means,” Aya said. “That we've been targeted for termination.”



“Moemoe-san!” Omi said.



“What about my sister?” Aya said.



“It's okay,” Sunny said. “Star had them both moved to safety. We've made certain everyone thinks they know nothing about this side of your lives. Which wasn't hard to do because they really don't.”



Omi relaxed visibly as Nagi put a comforting arm around his shoulders. Aya tensed even more.



“They can use her against me,” Aya said, his hands clenching into fists on the table.



“No they can't. She's safe and protected until we can get all of this sorted out,” Blaze said.



“Where is she? Who's guarding her? What . . .”



“Ran! Stop it!” Blaze ordered. “She's . . . gods this is hard to explain. She's not actually on this plane of existence at the moment.”



“My grandson and his husband are looking out for her. Relax.”



Amazingly enough, Aya did relax. “I've met Hisoka. He seems to have his head on tight.”



“So glad you approve,” Blaze said.



“I'm afraid the shop has been destroyed. Most of the accounts known to belong to Weiss have been looted or frozen at this point,” Sunny said.



“It's okay,” Omi said. “I made sure our personal accounts were protected and that none of Kritker knew about them. I also rerouted some of the professional accounts to dummy addresses.”



“That's a good thing,” Blaze said.



“I'm afraid it gets worse though,” Star said.



“How can it get worse?” Yohji asked.



“The remaining cells of Esset know where Schwarz lives. They've had enough time to regroup and mobilize by this point. Also, Rosenkreuz has been informed that Schwarz has been in close contact and working with Weiss,” Star said.



“Then the penthouse is gone as well,” Nagi said.



“Yes. It is.”



“Ah, hell. There go my good knives,” Farf complained.



“So, what do we do about this situation?” Sunny asked.



“We keep them safe,” Blaze said. “We could have them all stay here until the danger has passed. But I don't like the thought of everyone being in the same spot.”



“I think you're right, Goddess. They'd have to come and go. Naturally anyone watching would perceive that where one was would be where the rest are.”



“Gran, Skye and I were kind of planning on taking a trip home after all of this was over with. It might be a good idea to take a few of them with us. No one would ever suspect they'd be in the swamps.”



“Edana!” Farf protested. “I do not need a babysitter.”



“Don't argue with me, Jeirn,” Blaze said. “I think that's an excellent idea, Star. You take Aya and Yohji. Have Skye keep an eye on Isakk and Bradley. Nagi, Omi, you two and Ghost stay here at the compound. As for Jeirn and Ken, it's probably best at either the London house or the estate in the Highlands.”



“Edana, I will not go into hiding from a bunch of worthless losers I could kill in my sleep,” Farf said angrily.



“You will. You all will. Eight people can not fight the over a thousand who are hunting for you. Not without losing members,” Blaze said emphatically.



Ken, Yohji and Omi looked at Aya, who nodded.



“Do you have any further plans to remedy this aside from securing our immediate safety?' Aya asked.



Blaze nodded. “I do.”



Yohji looked puzzledly at Aya.



Aya shrugged. “She and I have our differences. But she has proved to be an excellent leader who cares very much about those she puts in harm's way. I trust her judgment on this.”



“Thank you, Ran. I consider that a huge compliment coming from you,” Blaze said smiling.



Aya smiled a little at her. “You should.”







Crawford, Schuldig and Skye landed in one of the spare rooms at the Red Shaman compound a bit harder than Skye had intended. All three of them winced due to the sudden impact and got slowly to their feet.



“I must be more tired than I thought,” Skye said. “Are either of you hurt?”



“No more than we were previously,” Crawford said.



“At least that's something,” Skye sighed, rubbing her bruised posterior. “Schu, lie down so I can fix that shoulder. On second thought, it might be easier if I put you out for this,” she said, placing her hands on either side of his face.



“Skye, I don't need to be . . .” He dropped like a rock and Crawford caught him on reflex.



“Are you well enough to carry him?” Skye asked, frowning in concern.



“I think so,” Crawford said.



Crawford carried Schuldig to the bed and settled him down on it carefully. He leaned over the other man and brushed a few errant strands of hair out of Schuldig's face. Crawford's expression softened considerably.



“I forget sometimes,” Crawford said. “He really is so young.”



“You're hardly ancient yourself, Oracle,” Skye said, smiling.



“No. But nearing thirty and barely more than twenty one are sometimes light years apart.”



Skye nodded. “So it would seem at times.”



“Look, Skye, I know that . . .”



“Oracle, as I told Schuldig earlier, we'll work through all of this when things aren't quite so hectic.”



“He loves you, Skye. I don't need to be a Talent to see that. At least not once it was pointed out to me,” he said with no small touch of bitterness.



“Yes. He does. The fact remains that he and I can't be a couple. The two of you can.”



Crawford sat down on the edge of the bed. “I'm not so certain of that anymore.”



“I am,” Skye said firmly. “The connection between the two of you isn't broken, Oracle. It's just become atrophied due to neglect. He tried and finally got tired of trying. It can be salvaged. But it will take time and effort. You're the only one who can repair the damage.”



“Because I'm the reason for the damage.”



“Not wholly. He could have gone about it a different way as well. I'm certain you presumed his flirts and passes at you were just the way he interacts with everyone. Because that would be a valid conclusion. He's pretty and he knows it.”



Crawford nodded. Thinking of the thousand and one times that Schuldig had made passes at him, flirted, danced around half clothed through the living room trying to get his attention. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair again, cursing himself for being an idiot and not seeing what was directly in front of him.



“What would the reasoning behind you and Schuldig not being able to be a couple? I understand the whole he's alive and you're dead thing. But that certainly doesn't seem to be stopping Star. You and Schuldig obviously get along well. Far better than he and I ever have. It only seems logical that you'd make a better couple.”



“Love does not adhere to anything remotely resembling logic. And as for Star, she knows it won't last because it can't.”



“I don't understand. I mean, it would be different if none of us could see or touch you . . .”



Skye sighed and raked her hands through her hair. “Oracle, I am trying to bow out gracefully so we aren't caught in a completely untenable situation. However, if you want me to dig in and fight for him, I can most certainly do that as well and the consequences can take a flying leap.”



There was something in her voice that made his heart stutter in his chest for a moment. In that instant she had reminded him so strongly of a certain woman he had grown up around it was almost like being dragged back in time. He heard Madame Belle's voice clearly in his mind as though she were standing next to him again. One day, petit, you'll be sorray for tellin' certain people they could take a flyin' leap. Those gifts le bon Dieu gave you are there pour un raison. He shook off the resemblance as fantasy but the strange sensation lingered.



“No. I appreciate it. Really. I know if you weren't willing to bow out there would be no chance at all for he and I.” As soon as he had said the words he knew they were true. Schuldig would go with Skye if he were given a choice because she cared about him and showed it on a daily basis.



Skye moved to stand next to the bed. “Get out of your own head for a few minutes; I'll need your help to reset his shoulder.”



Crawford nodded. “What do I need to do?”



“Brace the lower half of his body so he doesn't move. You'll probably have to sit on his thighs,” she said, grinning a little.



“You're doing that on purpose,” Crawford accused.



“Maybe just a little,” Skye said. “Come on, the sleep is only temporary.”



Crawford did as he was told and sat down on Schuldig's thighs. Trying hard not to think about the fact that he was in a position he would have been perfectly thrilled to be in had Schuldig been both willing and conscious.



Skye took Schuldig's hand in hers and ran her other hand along his arm, searching for the fracture. After finding it, she sang softly while her fingertips ghosted over the area of the break. When that was done, she moved her hands over his chest, finding and healing the cracked ribs.



“I'm afraid he'll just have to deal with the soreness,” Skye said, putting a hand to her forehead. “Putting his shoulder back into place is probably going to be my limit for the moment.”



“Skye, I can reset his shoulder,” Crawford said. “I've done it before.”



“Thank you for the offer, Oracle. But I promised him I'd do it,” she said. “Can you turn him over? It might be easier for me to do this when he's on his stomach.”



Crawford bit his tongue to stifle the groan at the images flooding his mind at the thought of turning Schuldig over while straddling the other man's thighs.



Skye's lips twitched but she managed to keep from laughing. Once Schuldig was on his stomach, she put one hand just below Schuldig's scapula and the other directly on the front of his shoulder. Gently increasing the pressure until she felt the bones shift back into place. She sighed heavily and moved off of the bed.



Crawford shifted positions and scooted up so that his back rested against the headboard.



“Will you stay until he wakes up, Oracle?” Skye asked. “Goddess needs me downstairs just now.”



“Of course.”



Skye had made her way to the door when Crawford's voice stopped her. “Skye.”



“Yes?”



“I can see why he loves you so much.”



She smiled. “I can see why he loves you too,” she said, walking out the door.





Skye met a slightly frantic looking Tatsumi coming up the stairs as she was coming down them.



“What . . .”



“Have you seen Yutaka?” he asked, glancing around as though he expected Watari to pop out from behind her.



“Not in the last few minutes. Why?”



“I fell asleep. Gods, this is so important and I fell asleep,” he said, seemingly to himself.



Skye sighed. “Seiichiro, stop. He just needs a little time and space right now.”



“How do you know what's going on? You were across the room.”



“Star was close enough to hear it and as such, it was relayed to me. If all else fails, one of us will direct him to Omi.”



“Why?”



Skye shrugged. “Because, Omi knows exactly how he feels.”



“How does Omi know that?”



“Nagi and Ghost have had abilities since birth. Although his own talents are coming back to him, they are still vastly stronger than he is and always will be due to time and training.”



“I hadn't thought about . . . Thank you, Skye,” he said.



“He's in the garden. But I suggest letting him work a few things out in his own mind right now. Otherwise, it might seem that you're pressuring him.”



“You are an excellent advisor,” Tatsumi said, turning and starting back down the stairs.



“So I'm told,” Skye said, following him down. “I take it everyone else is in the war room.”



Tatsumi nodded. Skye smiled and waved to him before walking into the meeting room.



“Holy crap, sis!” Star said. “You look like one of Granny `Po's zombies.”



“Thank you so much for the compliment,” Skye said.



“Put your butt in that chair,” Star growled. “I'll give you this extra adrenaline still going through me.”



“I won't argue with you at this point,” Skye said sliding into the chair that Star had pulled out for her.



“Oracle?” Blaze asked.



“He's fine. Completely refilled. Just tired,” Skye said.



“We all are,” Sunny commented.



“Okay. The living factions go get showers and sleep. You all need it,” Blaze said.



Everyone slowly trickled out of the room. Everyone except for Farfarello, who stood with arms folded across his chest. When Nagi and Omi finally made it out the door, he shut it firmly behind them.



“Jeirn,” Blaze said warningly.



“I have as much interest in this as you do, Edana,” he said, jerking his head toward the woman who was still standing near the wall.



“Were you always this damn stubborn?” Blaze said.



“Yes, and you know it.”