Alternatives

Weak Links


After his mental talk with Schuldig, Nagi stood up and crossed the office to Mamoru’s littered desk. Blue eyes glanced up in surprise before his lover smiled at him. Something in his expression must have shown for the smile quickly changed to a more serious look.

\"What’s wrong, Nagi?\"

Nagi took a deep breath. \"Mamoru, you need to listen to me. Please, just hear me out. There isn’t much time.\"

Mamoru’s frown deepened but he nodded curtly and motioned Nagi to the chair across the desk from him.

Nagi perched on the edge of the chair, his stomach almost heaving due to the amount of adrenaline floating through his blood stream. \"We have to leave here before Rosenkreuz find us.\"

Mamoru’s eyebrow’s twitched together in confusion. \"Why would they be looking for us, Nagi?\"

\"They’re looking for Kudoh, Schuldig and me, but they’ll break your mind to try to find us. I don’t want that to happen to you. We need to leave, now.\"

\"Did Schuldig tell you this?\" The distrust in Mamoru’s tone was evident.

\"He only worked it out after I mentioned your asking about Rosenkreuz training. It worried me, you asking about them as if you were going to take them on single-handed. So I spoke to Schu because he has first hand experience of them.\" He hated the hurt, betrayed look on Mamoru’s face but still couldn’t regret talking to Schu.

\"I guess you could go into hiding for a while. Go to Schuldig, maybe. I have to stay here, however. Kritiker will not run itself.\" A coldness in his tone that Nagi had come to recognise too well.

He sighed. \"You’re not listening to me. If they get to you, there’s nowhere any of us can go and remain safe. They’ll tear all the knowledge you have from your mind. It will be agony and afterwards I doubt if you’ll be sane.\"

\"It’s a risk I have to take for the sake of…..\"

Nagi jumped up and slammed his fist on the desk, leaving a dent where his power had slipped its leash with the force of his emotions. \"Can’t you see? It’s you putting your ‘family’ at risk this time. You cannot stand up to these people. How well did you do against Schuldig? And he was only playing with you at the time.\" He hated himself for reminding Mamoru of that; hated the extra pain he saw in his eyes. \"They won’t be playing. You will not be able to stand up against them.\"

\"I can’t just leave, Nagi.\"

\"Then we’ll all be as good as dead. I know you don’t care about Schu, but what about Kudoh? And, if they’re with him, Hidaka and Fujimiya.\" He stared at Mamoru, willing him to see sense.

\"You didn’t even mention yourself.\" The words were spoken softly, Mamoru’s eyes still full of pain. \"If I lost you…\"

\"Then come with me.\" Nagi was getting desperate by this time.

\"Who would look after all this, if I do that?\"

\"Who’ll look after it if you’re dead? Don’t you see? This can be rebuilt, you can’t. Do I have to drag you out of here? You’re the weak link, Mamoru, the one endangering us all.\" He waited breathlessly as his lover thought things through.

When Mamoru finally spoke, it was with a trace of bitterness. \"I worked so hard to try and keep everyone safe, yet now I’m the biggest threat to you all. You don’t have to use your power on me, Nagi. I’ll come quietly.\" He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a gun, a watch, and some keys. \"Let’s go.\"

They slipped out of a door, carefully disguised as part of the wood panelling, and headed down the back stairs. A few moments later they were in an unremarkable car and heading for the airport.

* * * * * * *

\"Damn!\" The heavyset foreigner who had burst into Takatori Mamoru’s office was clearly disgusted.

A slighter, shorter foreigner followed him in. Alphonse Dubois gazed around and smiled. \"Well, mon ami, it’s both good news and bad.\"

The first man turned to stare at him. \"You think it’s going to be fun telling Dietmeiller that we lost him?\"

Dubois shook his head. \"He has run. That means he probably knows where Kudoh is.\" He frowned slightly. \"I wonder how he knew to run. He must have had some warning.\" An intelligent pair of grey eyes turned in his direction.

\"Schuldig, perhaps?\"

\"It is very possible. Come, Andrews, there is nothing we can do here.\"

\"There might be files, papers…\" Andrews looked around, his gaze suddenly coming to rest on the desk. \"Well, well, well. Looks like the mark of a frightened telekinetic to me.\"

Dubois followed the direction of Andrews’ gaze and smiled as he spotted the dent in the desk. \"Naoe,\" he murmured happily. Andrews had picked up some papers.

\"We do not have the time, Andrews.\"

\"No. You’re right.\" Reluctantly he put the papers back on the desk.

Dubois was always so thankful that he didn’t have to spell things out to his partner. It would be a very bad idea to be caught here right now. He always hated the idea of explaining to the authorities that his victims must have had some kind of seizure. He turned and led the way back through the outer office where Rex lay, sprawled face-first across her desk, bleeding from her ears and nose.

* * * * * * *

Aya was pleased with the fact that there was no more dizziness when he stood up. He entered the bathroom and pulled off the sweatpants he’d been wearing while stuck in his bed. As he adjusted the shower temperature, he thought back over the last two days.

He had to admit he didn’t know what he would have done if it hadn’t been for Yohji. The man had helped him to the bathroom, brought in food and decent coffee, bullied him into taking the antibiotics and painkillers supplied by the hospital and dressed his wound, which was now completely closed and healing fast.

He stepped into the shower and luxuriated in the feel of hot water sloughing the dirt and dead skin cells off of his body and wetting his hair, ready for shampoo. His thoughts returned to the…comfort of having Yohji around, to the conversations over little, unimportant things. It had been enjoyable.

He snorted softly as he rinsed shampoo out of his hair. Things were about to change. A flight to London, Ken and then Schuldig. Whatever was waiting for them in England, it wasn’t likely to be comfort and enjoyment. He sighed as he stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around his hips before rubbing another over his wet hair. How would Yohji cope?

He frowned at his reflection as he plugged in his shaver. Damn it all. Why the hell did he keep thinking about the man? It was over and had been for a year or more. Except that, whether he willed it or no, Yohji was back in his life.

\"But how long will you stay this time?\" he asked aloud to his reflection. How long before the next woman showed up to steal him away? He didn’t, for one moment, believe that Yohji had no interest in women anymore, that he distrusted them. He shaved as he placidly came to the conclusion that Yohji was best kept at arm’s length. He was fine as a friend, but no more than that.

He left the bathroom and opened his suitcase, thoughtfully left on the room’s second bed by Yohji before he went to collect his own belongings. Selecting a light, but warm, cream sweater and brown slacks, from the case, he dressed quickly. He was in the process of packing the last of his belongings when the door opened to admit Yohji and a large suitcase.

He almost snarled when he was asked if he was okay. It should be obvious to the idiot that he was just fine.

Yohji grimaced and hauled his own case onto the bed. He opened it and drew a long, thin object out of it. His eyes were serious as he held out the object to Aya.

\"I promised you that I would return this to you. I’m keeping that promise.\"

Aya glanced down at the sheathed katana before reaching out a hand to touch it lightly. He never knew whether he loved or hated the damned thing. No wonder he had chosen to name it Shion. He felt the same way about his old sword-master. Then Yohji’s words finally sank in.

\"You remembered your promise?\"

\"Yes. Apart from us trying to kill each other, it’s the only thing I do remember from that time.\"

Why did he feel so touched by Yohji remembering that and keeping his word? He shook his head. \"If we’d really tried to kill each other, one of us, if not both, would be dead.\" With a strange reluctance, he drew his hand back from his sword. \"You’d better keep it until we get to London. My case is too small to hold it.\"

Yohji nodded and replaced the weapon amongst the clothing in his case almost reverently. Then he shut the case and glanced round the room. \"Almost like leaving home.\"

\"It’s a hotel room, Yohji, nothing more.\" And he was so weary of them and countless other impersonal, soulless rooms. Home was like a distant dream, almost meaningless to him anymore.

\"No, it isn’t. Wherever you are is home.\"

Yohji’s quiet words made him frown. \"Don’t,\" he whispered.

\"Why not?\"

\"Because…because there’s nothing there.\"

\"Liar.\"

He tried to glare at the fool only to find such an understanding look in those beautiful green eyes. He was the first to look away. Seconds later, Yohji’s arms were round him and he was being kissed. He whimpered slightly and wrapped fingers in blond hair, deepening the kiss. Then common sense reasserted itself and he pulled away.

\"We have a plane to catch, Kudoh.\"

* * * * * * *

Schuldig handed Ken a plastic cup of airport coffee and smirked as the kitten made a face at the taste of it. They were seated in the arrivals area of Terminal 4 waiting for Kudoh and Fujimiya to go through all the immigration procedures, baggage claim and customs checks that always seemed to take longer than the actual flight. And Schuldig was still wondering if his being here was such a good idea.

\"You know, I could wait by the car.\" It was the third or fourth time he’d said it and Ken’s answer was the same.

\"He’s got to get used to you, might as well start here.\"

\"What if he attacks me or something.\"

\"Neither Aya nor I are going to let that happen. Relax Schu.\"

He smiled slightly at Ken’s use of his shortened name but still fidgeted in anticipation of Kudoh’s reaction to him. \"Perhaps if you had warned him it would have been better.\"

\"And perhaps he wouldn’t have known what the hell we were talking about. Aya said he’s only got bits. You might not even be one of those bits.\"

\"I hope you’re right otherwise I’m going to have to erase a rather nasty scene from a lot of peoples’ minds and I’d rather not do that with Rosenkreuz looking for me.\"

\"Even if he does recognise you and takes a swing at you, to these people it’ll just be a storm in a teacup, forgotten in hours.\"

Schuldig frowned slightly at Ken’s blasé attitude. \"Did Weiss actually depend on people forgetting strange incidents?\"

Ken chuckled. \"We didn’t tend to attack our targets in front of witnesses. We didn’t have the dramatic flair that you guys tended to go for.\"

\"I’m not sure if I should be flattered or insulted.\"

Ken shrugged. \"A bit of both, probably. Ah, here they come.\"

Schuldig glanced across to the opening from the customs hall where a large influx of people heralded the end of the formalities for the flight from JFK. He was looking for Fujimiya’s trademark crimson hair before he remembered that the man had muted its colour somewhat. In the end it was Kudoh’s bleached head that he spotted first.

Ken rushed forward and hugged Kudoh who returned the embrace a little uncertainly. Schuldig stayed in the background but Kudoh’s green eyes unerringly spotted him.

\"You? What the fuck?\" Kudoh lunged forward only to be held back by Ken’s tightened grip.

\"Not here, Yohji. We’ll explain on the way.\"

Schuldig watched as Kudoh turned to Fujimiya. \"You knew?\" There was a curt nod and then violet eyes were turned on him. Their expression was forbidding. There was no friendship in the cold depths, just an overwhelming warning.

\"Why the fuck didn’t you warn me? I remember him. He was one of our enemies.\"

Schuldig could only be glad that he was speaking in Japanese. Fujimiya’s glare and snarled out, \"not now, Kudoh,\" suggested that he felt the same way.

Ken gradually started easing Kudoh towards the exit, chattering inconsequentially all the way. Fujimiya picked up the man’s dropped suitcase and followed them. Schuldig fell in behind, feeling a bit like a naughty schoolboy.

* * * * * * *

The drive back to Lewisham was tense and silent. Ken concentrated on getting them through the heavy London traffic, glad of the distraction. Schuldig in the passenger seat was morose and staring out of the window. In the back, Aya and Yohji were wound like tight springs, ready to jump on the slightest thing. Ken felt the tension between them as well as that directed towards Schuldig. He thought Yohji had been right, Aya should have warned him. It was, almost inevitably, Yohji that broke the silence.

\"Okay, I probably over-reacted at the airport but, you have to realise, I only know you as an enemy.\"

Schuldig turned in his seat to look back at Yohji. \"Understandable. Do you remember much about me?\"

\"Only that you got some girl killed.\"

\"Everyone remembers that, it seems.\" Schuldig’s tone was bitter. \"Ah well, as we sow, so shall we reap. You didn’t remember Nagi.\"

\"More has come back since then. Anyway, he works for Omi, now, right?\" Ken flinched. He’d forgotten that some of Yohji’s memories were going to be painful for all of them, not just the man himself.

\"He’s not the only one,\" Schuldig said.

In his mirror, Ken saw Aya nod slightly in answer to Yohji’s questioning look before leaning forward.

\"I’ve been told to ask you about Rosenkreuz training methods.\"

Schuldig visibly winced. \"You really don’t want to know, Abyssinian, but I’ll tell you what I can when we reach the house Ken bought.\"

Ken frowned slightly. Up to now, Schuldig had called the place home. He guessed he couldn’t really blame him for the change of heart.

Aya appeared to have accepted Schuldig’s answer as he settled back in his seat. Now seemed as good a time as ever to tell them Omi’s other bright idea. Ken took a deep breath. \"Persia wants Schu to help Yohji retrieve more memories.\"

\"No way in hell,\" Yohji snapped.

Aya was even more succinct. \"Has he lost his own mind? There have been enough people tampering with Kudoh’s head already.\"

Ken grimaced. \"Hey! Don’t shoot me, I’m just the messenger!\"

\"I’ve already told him what I think.\" Aya was scathing. Ken could well imagine what he might have said and none of it would have been what their boss wanted to hear.

\"Wait a minute. You knew this had been suggested?\" Oh, Yohji was not pleased. Ken wondered if the two were going to have one of their almost legendary fights in the back of the car.

Aya shrugged. \"Takatori did mention it.\"

Abruptly Yohji chuckled. \"No wonder you threw your phone across the room.\"

Ken relaxed again and could only be thankful when they reached the house. \"This is it.\"

* * * * * * *

Ken had helped get their luggage upstairs to, thankfully, separate rooms and had made them tea. At a look from Aya, he had taken Yohji ‘to see the garden’ and left him alone with Schuldig.

Aya sipped his tea and gazed at the German over the rim of his cup. Schuldig met his gaze, outwardly calm, though his light green eyes were wary. Aya was the first to speak. \"I think either Essett or Rosenkreuz, whoever that bitch was working for, wiped Kudoh’s mind for a reason.. I know there have been incidences of minor talents having their minds wiped before being incorporated into the organisation. Why would they want Kudoh?\"

Schuldig sat forward. \"Before I answer you, tell me something. Why do you think you spent so long at Koua Academy without having Tsuji Mayumi take any interest in you?\"

\"Presumably because I have no special talent.\" The thought gave him some comfort.

Schuldig nodded before asking another question. \"And how long was Balinese there before she noticed him?\"

\"It happened almost immediately.\"

\"Days? Weeks?\"

\"Hours.\"

Schuldig leaned back thoughtfully. \"Hours you say. This gets more serious by the moment.\"

Aya felt his frustration begin to build. \"Come on, Schuldig, stop stalling.\" He received an angry frown for that.

\"Before I can give you a considered opinion, I need all the facts. The fact that it only took a matter of hours for her to pick up on Kudoh suggests that he’s not a minor talent but a major one. Like you, I believe that his memory was wiped ready for whatever purpose Rosenkreuz had in mind for him, probably training initially. But, the fact that he was spotted so quickly, means that Rosenkreuz would take more of an interest in him than they would in a minor talent.\"

\"Up to yesterday, I thought that Kudoh was a minor talent and that they’d ignore his loss. Then you and the little Takatori triggered something in my mind with your interest in Rosenkreuz training methods. I now believe they are searching for Nagi, Kudoh and myself. If I’m right, and I think I am, they are intending to put together another Schwarz. Only this time, we will have our minds broken so there is no more thought of escape.\"

\"If you’re right, won’t they go after Nagi?\" Aya wasn’t overly concerned about the telekinetic, but wherever he was Omi was also. It surprised him, after all that the brand new Takatori had said to them, that he was still concerned for his ex teammate.

\"They would consider Kudoh the easy prey, the weak link. It wouldn’t take them long to realise that his old organisation would probably know where to find him.\"

Aya jumped to his feet. \"But that means….\"

\"Take it easy, Fujimiya. I’ve already warned Nagi. He’s not stupid and will have got Bombay or Persia or whoever the hell he is now out of there. He might just withstand them, his lover wouldn’t. They’d chew him up and spit him out.\"

Aya sat back down. \"What would they do to you if they caught you?\"

\"Break us. They are not interested in either personality or emotions, just willing slaves to do their bidding. They trained me, yet I still don’t really know exactly what their hidden agenda is. Whatever it might be, we would be used to further their plans. We would have no say in the matter. We never did. That’s why we fought the Elders. We wanted to be free to chose our own destinies. Fat lot of good that did us.\"

Aya frowned. \"You say they are not interested in emotions, yet it was Kudoh’s emotions that were used against him.\"

Schuldig looked Aya straight in the eye, his gaze challenging. \"You were always the coldly practical member of Weiss, doing whatever needed to be done, accepting the fact that you were a killer, yet I don’t believe even you could do what was done to Kudoh. You asked me about their training methods. We were taken, as children, to their facility in Germany. For years we were tortured and abused until the very use of our once natural talents became painful. I refuse to discuss the details, even now the memories are too raw to be touched, but when Brad found Nagi, he was determined that nobody would put the boy through that.\"

And of all of Schwarz, Nagi had been the one to dislike unnecessary killing, Aya mused. The one who had cared about a mentally retarded girl enough to try to save her from his own team as well as Weiss. The one who had saved his life when Yohji hadn’t been there. Another question occurred to him.

\"Why do they wipe the minds of minor talents? Why not give them the same training as you and Crawford received?\"

\"It’s thought that memory is the key to emotion. As I said, they have no use for that in their agents. In Kudoh’s case, they wouldn’t want him remembering you or Hidaka in case he was sent against you. And the training that Brad and I received would literally break the mind of a lesser talent, one like yourself, for instance.\"

Aya looked up from the contemplation of his teacup, deeply shocked. \"I don’t have any talent.\"

\"The way you held your own for so long against both Brad and Farfarello suggests otherwise. Brad thought you might be very slightly precognitive. I tend to agree. Obviously, it is so latent that it wasn’t even spotted by the agents at Koua.\"

Aya wasn’t sure whether to be glad or sorry. Glad, maybe, that Rosenkreuz would overlook him, perhaps even underestimate him; sorry because his ‘talent’ was too nebulous to be of any real use. Schuldig had obviously been following his thoughts.

\"It’s of use. It’s kept you alive a few times. Its just not enough to interest Rosenkreuz.\"

\"Stay out of my head!\" The reaction was both reflexive and instinctive, absolute horror at the thought of the man across the table being privy to his weaknesses.

Schuldig just gave him that annoying smirk. \"So, what do you want me to do about Kudoh?\"

\"If he’ll allow it, and it doesn’t alert Rosenkreuz to where you are, you should give him as much back as you can.\" He almost winced at the pain that thought gave him. He did, in fact close his eyes as he realised that Yohji would rediscover all his guilt.

\"I can do that if he agrees,\" Schuldig was saying. \"Of course, I can’t touch the tampering, but that’s not such a bad thing.\"

Aya’s eyes snapped open again. \"Oh? Why would that be?\"

\"As I said, it was his emotions that were used against him. They believed the overriding emotion to be guilt over his lost partner and that Schrient bitch. That’s what they used. I thought it might have been, but I did a very quick scan of his mind to be sure. What I’m saying, Abyssinian, is that Neu and his partner are probably gone for good.\" He smirked. \"Which, of course, gives you the perfect excuse to let your own emotions have free rein.\"

Oh, this was just too much! He glared at the annoying prick across the table and stood up. \"Stay out of both my emotions and Kudoh’s!\" Of course, the asshole just smirked back at him. He clenched his fists, knowing Schuldig’s enhanced speed made it almost impossible to kill the man. \"Go and see if he’ll let you help him.\" The smirk remained, but Schuldig did stand up and head towards the garden. \"Bastard!\"

\"Right back at you, Fujimiya.\"