Someone saw it coming
By Yuuzai and Muzai (Two-girls-a-cat-and-a-dog is their pen name of ff.net) and Mongoose
*******
Yuuzai and Muzai's Note:
Hey it's us again…
We didn't wanna leave Schu hanging.
So here is the third installment… It's a bit longer and Swartz has their time in the spotlight too.
We're Swartz fans ourselves. Hey, they're people too!
As usually extended thanks to Tama-chan and Lia-chan
It was Mongoose's Idea for the "Flower shop incident"
We're not telling so read and find out.
(Go check their stories out, both are great writers-~_^V)
Anyway, thanks to those who have reviewed our other stories. It's great for writers to get feedback….
We Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!
******
Mongoose's note:
Okay, you know the routine, thanks to Muzai and Yuuzai for letting me play in their world and, everyone, give them credit where it's due. You guys are awesome writers and it is WAY too much fun to come up with these fics with you! This is a changed version form the original, just like the others.
As mentioned above it was indeed my idea for the whole "flower shop incident" which I referred to earlier as the "purse scene".
I don't remember who came up with the "pink scene" but damn, it was hilarious! Go, read and laugh!
Oh, one last thing. You may have noticed I was having a little too much fun exploring Schu's personality in the last part. Sorry, I know it's suppose to have a light mood, but I just couldn't' resist ^_^ I also wrote WAY to much exploring Nagi's feeling's towards his teammates and their bonds.
Just in case you were one of my early readers I referred to Yuuzai and Muzai and "Ichi and Go" but they hated to pen name I gave them so we came up with Yuuzai, which means "Guilt"(she's our Schuldich fan) and Muzai which means "Innocence"(she's our Tot fan) in Japanese
***
Nagi rubbed his forehead and struggled to stand up. He dropped back to the floor with a sigh of defeat. He tried again but saw a scared hand outstretched in an offering of help. He took it gratefully and used it to haul himself to his feet.
"Farfello?" he asked dazedly.
"Et's me. How's ye head, Izit okay?" Farfello inquired, looking concerned.
Nagi struggled to recognize the words threw the thick accent, as his head pounded in time with one of Schuldich's favorite songs. Strangely enough, Nagi hated Spiritualized. 'Damn Schuldich and his bloody music anyway,' he thought to himself
"Yeah I think so," assuring the Irishman.
His memories caught up with him faster than he would have liked. He moaned.
"Weiss," he growled, his eyes scanning the room frantically.
Brad was lying unconscious on the floor. Nagi struggled to move, but Farfello held him still. His hand firmly gripped Nagi's shoulder.
"Careful Nagi, Ye don't know the effects of the drug in that dart ye been hit with," he said, holding up the little green dart as if to prove his point.
"Bombay "Nagi growled, recalling his last two confrontations with the other assassin. 'He hit me…' Nagi thought to himself, still painfully aware of the bruises he'd received at the hands of the seemingly young and naïve boy. 'I don't know why he shouldn't have,' Nagi chided himself. 'You underestimated him," he told himself, 'Well, that won't happen again!'
After a moment he brushed off Farfello's hand, saying "I'm fine."
Farfello nodded, excepting this and they both moved over to their fallen leader. Nagi touched his cheek and moved his hair out of his eyes, brushing his cheek delicately.
"C'mon wake up….nii-chan….We need you" he whispered quietly.
Crawford's eyes flickered and he sat up.
He glanced around the room, taking in the kneeling Swartz members.
"Where's Schuldich?" he asked, smacking Nagi's hand away irritably.
Nagi looked away and sighed.
"They took him," Nagi said, sounding worried.
"K'so!" Crawford growled, slamming his fist into the floor. This is NOT suppose to happen!
***
Schuldich awoke in a dark room. The only light filtered in threw a bared window to his left. His wrists were chained to the wall. He tested the bonds experimentally. He sighed, 'no braking out that way,' he thought. He suppressed a grunt of pain as his ribs and stomach choose that moment to remind him of their injury.
"You're awake," someone stated. The voice was familiar… but the light was so dim. He squinted to see his captor.
Schuldich raised his head a bit to get a better view. Standing before him were none other than Ken and Omi. Shit.
They would likely be pissed from having been captured and taunted by him before, especially Omi. He knew he's seen (and felt) disgust and terror in those big eyes. He was undoubtedly dreaming up all sorts of lovely torture.
Ken's attitude was inflicted in his stance. He was leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. Even in the dark Schuldich knew he wore a smug grin. "I told you they'd come, didn't I?" he sneered, or as close to a sneer as Ken Hidaka can come, anyway.
Omi was amusing himself with one of his darts, twirling it round and round on the tip of his index finger
"Didn't know we were here did you?" Omi asked, smirking.
Schuldich blinked in confusion and then it hit him.
'The voices…all of the voices in my mind are gone…'
"H-How…" he stammered.
"Oh just a simple combination of drugs designed for schizophrenics, it just so happens to block your telepathic abilities." Ken explained, smiling lazily at him.
"You, in the mental senses of the word, are blind." Omi replied.
"I might not be able to see into your minds, but I do know them well enough to know what makes you tick" Schuldich said defiantly, flashing them a broad grin for show. He still had his pride to consider, after all.
Ken and Omi glanced at each other warily.
"Shall I demonstrate?" Schuldich continued, seemingly oblivious to the shared glance of concern.
He adjusted his position on the floor and grinned.
"I know all about the Taketori and their true feelings toward you, Mamo- chan. Still hurts, doesn't it?" the German asked rhetorically.
Omi narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists, mentally willing himself not to get angry. 'He's just doing this to get your goat, Omi, don't let it get to you,' he told himself.
"Omi" Ken whispered quietly, know exactly the kind of effect that topic would have on the young assassin, they needed Schuldich alive.
"I also know of Kase's little betrayal, you did kill him didn't you, huumn, Ken-kun?" Schuldich purred.
"Ken…" Omi put a hand on his friend's shoulder, likewise understanding the effects of that topic on his friend and Ken's unpredictable temper.
Ken pulled away and stalked towards the door, wrenching it open and slamming it behind him with a bang.
'ouch,' Omi thought, wincing, 'I don't think the hinges or the doorframe appreciated that.'
Omi looked back at Schuldich and suddenly stopped twirling the dart he'd been playing with.
Omi decided to let the redhead get to him.
Omi threw his dart.
And Schuldich took another nap.
***
"Anything?" Crawford questioned.
Nagi shook his head and continued staring at the computer screen hopelessly. Unusually he was searching manually, opting to type the conventional way as his nerves were too frazzled to waste the effort to on concentrating his powers. His fingers skimmed across the keyboard
He paused and rubbed his eyes wearily, he'd been working since he awoken and still found no clue as to where to find Schuldich.
He looked at the space on the desk next to him on which a multitude of pictures and junk sat piled.
There were pictures from training, missions and even vacations. Two specific photographs caught his attention. One had been taken when they'd first assembled as Esset field team 80424, and the other was taken after their fifth mission when they became Swartz…
In the first Crawford was standing off to the side with his arms crossed, looking annoyed. Farfello was half turned away, distractedly inspecting one of his knives. Schuldich had been glowering sullenly at nothing in particular and had been caught mid-expression as he'd started to turn and smile at the camera once he'd realized he was about to have his picture taken. Nagi was simply standing there, an unreadable expression on his face, as he stared straight at the camera, arms crossed over his chest solemnly.
Things had been so strange that day. It was the first time any of them had been assigned to a real team. Some had been happy…but most had not.
Crawford had seemed pleased enough with everything, in that aloof way he always did when he looked like he knew everything and it was going exactly according to plan. It had been he, after all, who'd chosen the member of their team.
Farfello had been…bored. Yes, bored had been the best way to describe it. He hadn't seemed outwardly glad or unhappy to be assigned to a team. As long as he was allowed to kill things, hurt God and play with his knives all was well with the world as far as Farfello was concerned.
Schuldich…well, Schu had not been happy. He and Crawford had always been in a power struggle and were sort of rivals back at Esset. Nagi doubted he was pleased with the prospect of working with him. All that set aside Schuldich didn't like working with others, he was a bit of a loner. He had pretty much ignored Nagi and Farfello, though he did spare the Irishmen an odd, unreadable glance. Other than that he'd been scowling at the ground or glaring at Crawford from the moment Nagi met him.
Nagi had felt, well, indigent. He wasn't pleased to have been ordered to work with a madman and Schuldich, who had a bit of a reputation back at Esset for being a cruel, ruthless, bastard, not to mention a slut. Several people he knew, if only by name, had fallen prey to the man. Nagi didn't know much about Crawford, just that he was a perfectionist, and a known pain in the ass. Nagi didn't know what his expectations had been for his ideal team, but this wasn't it.
In the next picture, however, everyone looked very different.
Schuldich was standing just behind and to Nagi's left with his arms draped around his shoulders (quite a feet considering their height difference), grinning at the camera.
Farfello was resting a protective hand atop Nagi's head, grinning as usual and licking one of his knives happily, looking quite at home with his teammates.
Nagi himself was trying to scowl furiously at both Schuldich and Farfello at the same time, as he tried to struggle from under Schuldich's arms. He was failing miserably, however, in his attempts not to laugh at their antics.
Crawford was trying to glare at his teammates reprimandingly but only succeeded in smirking at them instead.
Things had changed a lot form that first picture to the second one. They'd all sort of…bonded. It sounded corny but it was true. Schuldich had fit right in, coming to peace with Brad enough to at least cooperate with him. He and Farfello seemed to get along surprisingly well and he enjoyed annoying Nagi to no end.
Farfello had gotten into the routine of things and seemed to have developed a strange protective streak for Nagi. He obeyed Crawford for some unknown reason of his own and seemed to actually enjoy Schuldich's company.
Crawford, though he tried not to show it, cared for his teammate. He still maintained that aloof air about him and seemed pleased that things were going the way he appeared to think they should.
Nagi himself sort of thought of them as his…family, though he'd never admit that to any of them that if asked. Crawford was his father, someone to be obeyed and to fashion one's self after. Schuldich was his annoying older brother and Farfello was….damn, he didn't know what Farfello was but it worked. Nagi sighed.
Tears twinkled in his eyes, and he whipped them away, angry to be showing such weakness in from of his teammates.
A hand touched his shoulder.
"Brad…" Nagi acknowledged.
"We'll find him," Crawford said.
Nagi nodded and smiled weakly. When Crawford said something would happen, in all likelihood it would. So if he said they'd find, they'd find him.
"Flowers," Farfello whispered, fascinated.
Crawford and Nagi looked back at Farfello.
"What?" they both asked.
"Weiss smells like flowers," Farfello said, sounding distracted.
Nagi glanced back at the computer than at Crawford. Crawford nodded. "It's a shot" Crawford said.
Nagi quickly did a search for stores relating to flowers. A moment later Nagi's eyes grew round as saucers. "That's a big shot," he muttered
Crawford adjusted his glasses. "Let's go," he commanded.
"What?! There 3,919 flower shops or shops relating to flowers! How can we check them all?" Nagi asked, frustrated.
"We're getting Schuldich back," Crawford stated in his no argument tone. If there was one thing Crawford didn't like if was having something he considered 'his' to be taken away from him.
"I know, but there's gotta be a better way of doing it," Nagi moaned.
Light glinted off Crawford's glasses menacingly. Nagi shivered.
"Were going to find him. Lets go," Crawford commanded.
***
Schuldich stirred. He struggled to focus his eyes.
Four shadows loomed over him.
"Oh fu-"
"Good afternoon Swartz," Yoji greeted almost pleasantly.
"Forget my name already? Really Yo-yo, I'm surprised, you seem to be able to remember girls by their feet, especially Asuka," he added cruelly " I myself don't go for that kind of thing, but if that's what you like." He grinned shamelessly up a Yoji.
Yoji glare.
Ken relived Omi of his darts.
"This is no time for games." Aya growled.
"I think this is a perfect time for games; but of course an assassin with a stick up his ass and a blood-lust for revenge wouldn't think so. But really, if she were here, don't you think Aya-chan might like to play?"
Aya made no sound; he simply clenched his fists, glared furiously at him and then he turned and exited the room.
Omi and Yoji quickly followed him.
Ken turned, letting his fist fly and Schuldich knew no more.
***
Crawford parked the car and glanced back the address, just to make sure. He sighed and exited the car followed closely by Farfello.
He approached the little flower shop and pushed the door open.
He gasped.
It was pink.
The walls were bright neon pink. The floor a paler shade and by some other mishap, all the flowers were pink too.
Farfello cowered behind a stunned Brad Crawford, clutching his jacket for safety. Never had Farfello known fear, and Brad was certainly not similar with it himself…but this…was just too much.
"Hello, may I help you?"
Crawford and Farfello turned to the speaker.
Slowly they snuck back towards the door and quickly exited, leaving the salesperson baffled.
"That can be marked off the list," said Crawford shakily.
Farfello was still clinging to his jacket.
***
Nagi braked to a sudden stop on his bike. He leaned it against the brick wall and pushed down the kickstand. He glanced at the sign: It read, "Screaming at the kitty", and in the window printed, "A flower and supply shop, to protect your plants from pets."
He cautiously pushed the door open.
It had a rather cheerful and clean feel to it. A blonde-haired woman was moving back and forth watering some potted gentians.
Nagi turned to call her.
Instead, a young girl with long aqua hair caught him off guard.
(AN- Like you can't guess who runs the shop)
"How can I help you?" she asked.
"Uhh…I need some flowers for my…girlfriend".
"Oh how sweet, does she have a pet?"
"She has a…a rabbit…yeah, a rabbit"
The bright girl continued to pester him with questions and cheerful suggestions.
At the other end of the shop, two women were in deep discussion…well sort of.
"Poor boy, I don't think he even knows what he's answering," one said.
"Mmhm," the other agreed
"I'd bet Nanami could get him to buy the whole store if she wanted," the first woman added.
"I suppose," replied the other woman.
Nagi soon found himself walking out of the store with a pot of flowers and fertilizer, after a moment he marked that store off the list and started towards his next destination. He stopped and turned back, heading towards the house, he need to water his flowers.
***
Crawford marked another off his list and turned a corner. Farfello was leaning outside down out of the window with is tongue hanging out like a dog; he grinned and cackled madly, scaring the pedestrians.
Crawford sighed as his vision became hazy, he closed his eyes and let the vision envelop him.
Farfello turned just in time to see Brad's eyes close, his training kicked in and he whipped around grabbing the wheel, barely avoiding a major accident. His trainers had had Brad in mind when they'd trained him, and since it was usually he who took responsibility for the madman they had trained him for just this sort of situation.
He stared at the stirring wheel, suddenly seeing it in a whole new light. This was power. He grinned down at his newfound power, he could scare a lot people and hurt god with this power. He contemplated this and growled menacingly.
"Ye will escape dis time, but next time…." He tailed off. He knew Brad would be mad at him is he killed these people, he didn't understand why but he knew he would be, so he opted for the next best thing. Scare them.
With that said, he leaned down and hit the brake.
A chorus of horns and tires screeching to a halt followed.
The sudden halt in momentum caused Crawford to jerk forward and hit his head painfully on the stirring wheel. That and the noise jarred Crawford into consciousness. He blinked and looked down to see Farfello between his knees, reaching for the gas pedal.
"Farfello, don't you dare. Get back in your seat now!" He yelled, terrified that he'd just been in a car that Farfello was driving. And it was HIS car. Crawford liked he car. A lot.
"But," Farfello protested.
"Now!!! You know you aren't allowed to drive!"
Farfello could have pointed out that he'd been trained to do so, but the anger in his leader's eyes warned him not to.
Farfello slid reluctantly back into his seat.
"Ye'll pay next time," he crowed out the window at the crowd that had gathered around the mayhem he'd caused.
Crawford, recalling the new information attained from his vision, pushed speed dial.
"Hai?" came Nagi's hopeful voice.
"Cats," Crawford stated.
"Eh?" asked Nagi, confused by Brad's one word statement.
"Look up flower shops related to Cats," Crawford clarified, sounding irritated.
"Um, okay," Nagi said uncertainly, but did as told. He had long learned not to question Brad's orders.
A moment later a reply came.
"There are 971 shops; I'm forwarding half the list," Nagi confirmed.
"Understood, Crawford out," said Crawford.
***
Nagi scanned the list, he spotted "Screaming at the Kitty" again and marked it off He glanced down the remaining addresses. Directly under it was "Kitty in the House" He checked the address and smiled. It was close. He mounted his bike and pedaled off.
***
Schuldich awoke for the third time that day. His head throbbed painfully. He gingerly rubbed his temples.
"Here," said a familiar voice.
Schuldich's reflexes kicked in before his mind did. He blinked and looked up at Yoji Kudou.
"Huh?"
"Right about now your nerves are probably shot and the drugs probably aren't helping," Yoji said, as if that explained everything.
"Yeah whatever" Schuldich groaned.
Yoji shrugged and tossed him a bright green lighter.
"How are you holding up?" he asked tentatively.
"Well, as good as can be expected under the circumstances. I can't even hear my own thoughts," Schuldich complained. " I was getting lonely," he added with a smirk
"Right…" Yoji drawled. The room suddenly felt too small. He turned towards the door.
"I'm out of here; don't think I'm going soft. I just came to make sure you didn't die on us, it would look bad on our record," Yoji justified.
Schuldich continued to smirk, choosing to ignore Yoji's uncomfortableness and obvious self-justification "I wouldn't dream of it. Oi, Kudou?"
"Hm?"
"Thanks"
The cell door closed with a soft click.
***
Nagi looked through his binoculars a third time. Sure enough, there was Abyssinian, Bombay, Siberian and Balinese.
All of them wearing little aprons and toting around potted plants, he might add. If Schu could see it he would say it was just too cute. Schu…
What now? Was he supposed to go in and say, "Hi I'm looking for some Baby's Breath, some Water Lilies and a Red haired, German, Telepath?"
No defiantly not, he decided.
He pushed speed dial.
"Found them, number 245 on the list"
"Hai"
"Nagi out."
He would wait for back up.
***
Crawford arrived at "The Kitty in the House" exactly 15 minutes later. Nagi was leaning on the wall trying to be inconspicuous.
"Let's go" Crawford commanded.
At exactly 4:15 p.m., Swartz entered "The Kitty in the House."
At exactly 4:15 and 30 seconds all Hell broke loose.
They had decided to cause a scene. Once they got the customers good and panicked, leaving the Weiss members to calm them and fend off Farfello and Crawford, Nagi was then to find and free Schuldich, after which they were to cause as much damage as possible to Weiss and their shop and then leave.
Nagi flipped over the nearest table, soil, plant matter and pottery shards spilled across the floor.
Crawford drew his gun and fired, setting off the fire alarm.
Farfello tackled Ken to the floor, knocking the cactus he'd been carrying to the floor. The other occupants of the shop, namely high school girls, screamed to their heart's…discontent.
Nagi darted forward, Yoji moved to intercept him but was slammed into the opposite wall by an invisible force. Nagi resumed his search for Schuldich.
***
Schuldich, who was crouched against the wall, heard the screaming.
It must be Swartz.
The door was ripped off its hinges. A boy stood in the doorway wearing a T- shirt and jeans.
"Nagi?" inquired the German.
"Let's go Aniki," Nagi said firmly.
The chains snapped open and Schuldich stood up, dusting his coat off.
Nagi helped him steady himself and they walked out.
And into a war zone.
Farfello bounced happily back and forth after a terrified Ken, scarring innocent girls. Ken struggled to keep them calm, and keep his shirt from being cut off again. Omi and Yoji struggled to catch Farfello and save their teammate from the madman. Aya faced off against Crawford.
Farfello slammed a booted foot into Omi's ribcage, he fell to his knees, gasping for air.
Farfello turned back to his target, namely Ken, unaware to the destruction he'd just set into motion.
The screaming had turned into gasps of horror as Omi fell to the floor. A girl ran to his side. "Omi-kun, are you alright?" she asked, concerned. She lifted his arm over her shoulder and helped him to stand. When he had gotten his wind back she released him.
She turned to face Farfello.
"You hurt my Omi and that I won't forgive"
She reached into the depths of her purse and withdrew a hairbrush. She cocked it, ready to throw, like a weapon and flung it at him. It hit him across the forehead, but that wasn't the only thing that hit him. All of the girls began throwing things. Brushes, bottles of nail polish, mirrors, books and makeup compacts and entire purses flew through the air, along with anything else that could be thrown. Nagi yelped and pushed Schuldich down. Ken dropped to the floor followed closely by Yoji. They could hardly keep from laughing. Girls quickly surrounded Farfello. Omi had many fans, it seemed.
Crawford ran to backup his surrounded teammate. He roughly pushed some angry girls aside just in time to see a tampon impact Farfello squarely in his one functioning eye. The Irishmen caught it midair and peered at it curiously, ignoring the barrage of health products.
"ah ah ah, Farfello, that's not for you," scolded Crawford, who deftly snatched the item in question from a curious Farfello and threw it over his shoulder, safely away from the madman.
Farfello, his new toy now gone, cowered in fear for the second time that day. He simply didn't know how to deal with all these strange creatures that a part of him registered as high school girls. Nagi stood up and tried to shield himself and Schuldich. A wayward purse collided with the back of his head and his shield wavered, causing several items to collide with himself and Schuldich. Crawford ducked a bottle of nail polish and lost sight of Aya. As he spun around, his abilities telling him he was in danger from behind, a text book caught him squarely across the temple. He blinked and tried to focus. His glasses were had fallen off. Crawford dropped to the floor trying to find them. He ran his hands along the floor, ignoring the blurry shapes that danced before him.
Schuldich grabbed Nagi's hand, pulling him along the floor as the crouched low, futily attempting to avoid flying items, looking for Farfello. They moved quickly, frequently getting hit by projectiles and not so frequently avoiding them.
Schuldich grinned; the drug was working out of his system, he was starting to here the voiced, but the were muffled. Nagi allowed himself to be pulled across the room; he called out for the lost Irishman. Farfello squirmed past a bunch of girls. The bruises were already apparent on his pale skin.
Schuldich ducked under a purse and pushed a mob of girls out of his way. One whipped around and sprayed him with a bottle of perfume.
"Ahhh!" Schuldich dropped to the floor rubbing his eyes at the stinging pain. Nagi caught his arm dragging him towards the door and he half screamed "It burns, Nagi, it burns!"
"Let's go," yelled Nagi. This mission had defiantly gone bad. It was time for retreat.
Farfello wrenched the door open and darted outside followed closely by Nagi pulling at a moaning Schuldich.
***
The chaos slowly died down with the Weiss members doing their best to calm down the girls.
Crawford continue to search for his missing glasses. A blurry shape came into view.
He heard a sickening crunch. A young girl looked down at him, surprised and startled.
"oh!, I'm so sorry! Were you looking for…." The young female voice trailed off as she recognition dawn.
"Wait! Your one of the ones who hurt my Omi!" she declared.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch went Crawford's glasses.
Crawford simply moaned.
***
Omi was feeling better; he surveyed the mess while Yoji and Ken filled out the police report. He has found Crawford, kneeling on the floor; and Ouka, stomping on a pair of glasses.
He had called Aya and lead Ouka away.
He had then taken Crawford away before the police could notice him.
***
Crawford's car swerved and Nagi clutched his seat. Schuldich continued to rubbed at his eyes again and shouted
"Brad !Damn it, what are you doing?! Ow, it burns!!"
Maniacal laughter followed.
Schuldich paled "Oh no…that's not who I think it is in the driver's seat…is it?"
Nagi didn't answer, but simply clung to his seat, terrified.
Suddenly his mind was filled with noise and voices. The drug had worn off. "The voices" Schuldich crowed triumphantly.
Farfello concentrated on making God pay, as Nagi's life flashed before his eyes, he blinked and wondered why he couldn't have had a normal life?
The Car swerved again and everyone screamed.
***
Ken surveyed the mess. Yoji handed him the broom. Ken sighed. 'Oh course, I get clean up duty. I suppose they'll expect me watch Crawford too,' he thought irritably "Someone saw this coming," he declared. That someone obviously didn't like him.
*****
Yuuzai and Muzai-Owari
Mongoose- damn, it's 2:15 in the morning, well, actually it's 3:15 with daylight's savings time so I really need to get to sleep. It's 11 pages typed, can you believe, longest thing I've ever helped write Hope you all liked it. Next part coming soon.
C & C at demonangel600@comcast.net
By Yuuzai and Muzai (Two-girls-a-cat-and-a-dog is their pen name of ff.net) and Mongoose
*******
Yuuzai and Muzai's Note:
Hey it's us again…
We didn't wanna leave Schu hanging.
So here is the third installment… It's a bit longer and Swartz has their time in the spotlight too.
We're Swartz fans ourselves. Hey, they're people too!
As usually extended thanks to Tama-chan and Lia-chan
It was Mongoose's Idea for the "Flower shop incident"
We're not telling so read and find out.
(Go check their stories out, both are great writers-~_^V)
Anyway, thanks to those who have reviewed our other stories. It's great for writers to get feedback….
We Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!
******
Mongoose's note:
Okay, you know the routine, thanks to Muzai and Yuuzai for letting me play in their world and, everyone, give them credit where it's due. You guys are awesome writers and it is WAY too much fun to come up with these fics with you! This is a changed version form the original, just like the others.
As mentioned above it was indeed my idea for the whole "flower shop incident" which I referred to earlier as the "purse scene".
I don't remember who came up with the "pink scene" but damn, it was hilarious! Go, read and laugh!
Oh, one last thing. You may have noticed I was having a little too much fun exploring Schu's personality in the last part. Sorry, I know it's suppose to have a light mood, but I just couldn't' resist ^_^ I also wrote WAY to much exploring Nagi's feeling's towards his teammates and their bonds.
Just in case you were one of my early readers I referred to Yuuzai and Muzai and "Ichi and Go" but they hated to pen name I gave them so we came up with Yuuzai, which means "Guilt"(she's our Schuldich fan) and Muzai which means "Innocence"(she's our Tot fan) in Japanese
***
Nagi rubbed his forehead and struggled to stand up. He dropped back to the floor with a sigh of defeat. He tried again but saw a scared hand outstretched in an offering of help. He took it gratefully and used it to haul himself to his feet.
"Farfello?" he asked dazedly.
"Et's me. How's ye head, Izit okay?" Farfello inquired, looking concerned.
Nagi struggled to recognize the words threw the thick accent, as his head pounded in time with one of Schuldich's favorite songs. Strangely enough, Nagi hated Spiritualized. 'Damn Schuldich and his bloody music anyway,' he thought to himself
"Yeah I think so," assuring the Irishman.
His memories caught up with him faster than he would have liked. He moaned.
"Weiss," he growled, his eyes scanning the room frantically.
Brad was lying unconscious on the floor. Nagi struggled to move, but Farfello held him still. His hand firmly gripped Nagi's shoulder.
"Careful Nagi, Ye don't know the effects of the drug in that dart ye been hit with," he said, holding up the little green dart as if to prove his point.
"Bombay "Nagi growled, recalling his last two confrontations with the other assassin. 'He hit me…' Nagi thought to himself, still painfully aware of the bruises he'd received at the hands of the seemingly young and naïve boy. 'I don't know why he shouldn't have,' Nagi chided himself. 'You underestimated him," he told himself, 'Well, that won't happen again!'
After a moment he brushed off Farfello's hand, saying "I'm fine."
Farfello nodded, excepting this and they both moved over to their fallen leader. Nagi touched his cheek and moved his hair out of his eyes, brushing his cheek delicately.
"C'mon wake up….nii-chan….We need you" he whispered quietly.
Crawford's eyes flickered and he sat up.
He glanced around the room, taking in the kneeling Swartz members.
"Where's Schuldich?" he asked, smacking Nagi's hand away irritably.
Nagi looked away and sighed.
"They took him," Nagi said, sounding worried.
"K'so!" Crawford growled, slamming his fist into the floor. This is NOT suppose to happen!
***
Schuldich awoke in a dark room. The only light filtered in threw a bared window to his left. His wrists were chained to the wall. He tested the bonds experimentally. He sighed, 'no braking out that way,' he thought. He suppressed a grunt of pain as his ribs and stomach choose that moment to remind him of their injury.
"You're awake," someone stated. The voice was familiar… but the light was so dim. He squinted to see his captor.
Schuldich raised his head a bit to get a better view. Standing before him were none other than Ken and Omi. Shit.
They would likely be pissed from having been captured and taunted by him before, especially Omi. He knew he's seen (and felt) disgust and terror in those big eyes. He was undoubtedly dreaming up all sorts of lovely torture.
Ken's attitude was inflicted in his stance. He was leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. Even in the dark Schuldich knew he wore a smug grin. "I told you they'd come, didn't I?" he sneered, or as close to a sneer as Ken Hidaka can come, anyway.
Omi was amusing himself with one of his darts, twirling it round and round on the tip of his index finger
"Didn't know we were here did you?" Omi asked, smirking.
Schuldich blinked in confusion and then it hit him.
'The voices…all of the voices in my mind are gone…'
"H-How…" he stammered.
"Oh just a simple combination of drugs designed for schizophrenics, it just so happens to block your telepathic abilities." Ken explained, smiling lazily at him.
"You, in the mental senses of the word, are blind." Omi replied.
"I might not be able to see into your minds, but I do know them well enough to know what makes you tick" Schuldich said defiantly, flashing them a broad grin for show. He still had his pride to consider, after all.
Ken and Omi glanced at each other warily.
"Shall I demonstrate?" Schuldich continued, seemingly oblivious to the shared glance of concern.
He adjusted his position on the floor and grinned.
"I know all about the Taketori and their true feelings toward you, Mamo- chan. Still hurts, doesn't it?" the German asked rhetorically.
Omi narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists, mentally willing himself not to get angry. 'He's just doing this to get your goat, Omi, don't let it get to you,' he told himself.
"Omi" Ken whispered quietly, know exactly the kind of effect that topic would have on the young assassin, they needed Schuldich alive.
"I also know of Kase's little betrayal, you did kill him didn't you, huumn, Ken-kun?" Schuldich purred.
"Ken…" Omi put a hand on his friend's shoulder, likewise understanding the effects of that topic on his friend and Ken's unpredictable temper.
Ken pulled away and stalked towards the door, wrenching it open and slamming it behind him with a bang.
'ouch,' Omi thought, wincing, 'I don't think the hinges or the doorframe appreciated that.'
Omi looked back at Schuldich and suddenly stopped twirling the dart he'd been playing with.
Omi decided to let the redhead get to him.
Omi threw his dart.
And Schuldich took another nap.
***
"Anything?" Crawford questioned.
Nagi shook his head and continued staring at the computer screen hopelessly. Unusually he was searching manually, opting to type the conventional way as his nerves were too frazzled to waste the effort to on concentrating his powers. His fingers skimmed across the keyboard
He paused and rubbed his eyes wearily, he'd been working since he awoken and still found no clue as to where to find Schuldich.
He looked at the space on the desk next to him on which a multitude of pictures and junk sat piled.
There were pictures from training, missions and even vacations. Two specific photographs caught his attention. One had been taken when they'd first assembled as Esset field team 80424, and the other was taken after their fifth mission when they became Swartz…
In the first Crawford was standing off to the side with his arms crossed, looking annoyed. Farfello was half turned away, distractedly inspecting one of his knives. Schuldich had been glowering sullenly at nothing in particular and had been caught mid-expression as he'd started to turn and smile at the camera once he'd realized he was about to have his picture taken. Nagi was simply standing there, an unreadable expression on his face, as he stared straight at the camera, arms crossed over his chest solemnly.
Things had been so strange that day. It was the first time any of them had been assigned to a real team. Some had been happy…but most had not.
Crawford had seemed pleased enough with everything, in that aloof way he always did when he looked like he knew everything and it was going exactly according to plan. It had been he, after all, who'd chosen the member of their team.
Farfello had been…bored. Yes, bored had been the best way to describe it. He hadn't seemed outwardly glad or unhappy to be assigned to a team. As long as he was allowed to kill things, hurt God and play with his knives all was well with the world as far as Farfello was concerned.
Schuldich…well, Schu had not been happy. He and Crawford had always been in a power struggle and were sort of rivals back at Esset. Nagi doubted he was pleased with the prospect of working with him. All that set aside Schuldich didn't like working with others, he was a bit of a loner. He had pretty much ignored Nagi and Farfello, though he did spare the Irishmen an odd, unreadable glance. Other than that he'd been scowling at the ground or glaring at Crawford from the moment Nagi met him.
Nagi had felt, well, indigent. He wasn't pleased to have been ordered to work with a madman and Schuldich, who had a bit of a reputation back at Esset for being a cruel, ruthless, bastard, not to mention a slut. Several people he knew, if only by name, had fallen prey to the man. Nagi didn't know much about Crawford, just that he was a perfectionist, and a known pain in the ass. Nagi didn't know what his expectations had been for his ideal team, but this wasn't it.
In the next picture, however, everyone looked very different.
Schuldich was standing just behind and to Nagi's left with his arms draped around his shoulders (quite a feet considering their height difference), grinning at the camera.
Farfello was resting a protective hand atop Nagi's head, grinning as usual and licking one of his knives happily, looking quite at home with his teammates.
Nagi himself was trying to scowl furiously at both Schuldich and Farfello at the same time, as he tried to struggle from under Schuldich's arms. He was failing miserably, however, in his attempts not to laugh at their antics.
Crawford was trying to glare at his teammates reprimandingly but only succeeded in smirking at them instead.
Things had changed a lot form that first picture to the second one. They'd all sort of…bonded. It sounded corny but it was true. Schuldich had fit right in, coming to peace with Brad enough to at least cooperate with him. He and Farfello seemed to get along surprisingly well and he enjoyed annoying Nagi to no end.
Farfello had gotten into the routine of things and seemed to have developed a strange protective streak for Nagi. He obeyed Crawford for some unknown reason of his own and seemed to actually enjoy Schuldich's company.
Crawford, though he tried not to show it, cared for his teammate. He still maintained that aloof air about him and seemed pleased that things were going the way he appeared to think they should.
Nagi himself sort of thought of them as his…family, though he'd never admit that to any of them that if asked. Crawford was his father, someone to be obeyed and to fashion one's self after. Schuldich was his annoying older brother and Farfello was….damn, he didn't know what Farfello was but it worked. Nagi sighed.
Tears twinkled in his eyes, and he whipped them away, angry to be showing such weakness in from of his teammates.
A hand touched his shoulder.
"Brad…" Nagi acknowledged.
"We'll find him," Crawford said.
Nagi nodded and smiled weakly. When Crawford said something would happen, in all likelihood it would. So if he said they'd find, they'd find him.
"Flowers," Farfello whispered, fascinated.
Crawford and Nagi looked back at Farfello.
"What?" they both asked.
"Weiss smells like flowers," Farfello said, sounding distracted.
Nagi glanced back at the computer than at Crawford. Crawford nodded. "It's a shot" Crawford said.
Nagi quickly did a search for stores relating to flowers. A moment later Nagi's eyes grew round as saucers. "That's a big shot," he muttered
Crawford adjusted his glasses. "Let's go," he commanded.
"What?! There 3,919 flower shops or shops relating to flowers! How can we check them all?" Nagi asked, frustrated.
"We're getting Schuldich back," Crawford stated in his no argument tone. If there was one thing Crawford didn't like if was having something he considered 'his' to be taken away from him.
"I know, but there's gotta be a better way of doing it," Nagi moaned.
Light glinted off Crawford's glasses menacingly. Nagi shivered.
"Were going to find him. Lets go," Crawford commanded.
***
Schuldich stirred. He struggled to focus his eyes.
Four shadows loomed over him.
"Oh fu-"
"Good afternoon Swartz," Yoji greeted almost pleasantly.
"Forget my name already? Really Yo-yo, I'm surprised, you seem to be able to remember girls by their feet, especially Asuka," he added cruelly " I myself don't go for that kind of thing, but if that's what you like." He grinned shamelessly up a Yoji.
Yoji glare.
Ken relived Omi of his darts.
"This is no time for games." Aya growled.
"I think this is a perfect time for games; but of course an assassin with a stick up his ass and a blood-lust for revenge wouldn't think so. But really, if she were here, don't you think Aya-chan might like to play?"
Aya made no sound; he simply clenched his fists, glared furiously at him and then he turned and exited the room.
Omi and Yoji quickly followed him.
Ken turned, letting his fist fly and Schuldich knew no more.
***
Crawford parked the car and glanced back the address, just to make sure. He sighed and exited the car followed closely by Farfello.
He approached the little flower shop and pushed the door open.
He gasped.
It was pink.
The walls were bright neon pink. The floor a paler shade and by some other mishap, all the flowers were pink too.
Farfello cowered behind a stunned Brad Crawford, clutching his jacket for safety. Never had Farfello known fear, and Brad was certainly not similar with it himself…but this…was just too much.
"Hello, may I help you?"
Crawford and Farfello turned to the speaker.
Slowly they snuck back towards the door and quickly exited, leaving the salesperson baffled.
"That can be marked off the list," said Crawford shakily.
Farfello was still clinging to his jacket.
***
Nagi braked to a sudden stop on his bike. He leaned it against the brick wall and pushed down the kickstand. He glanced at the sign: It read, "Screaming at the kitty", and in the window printed, "A flower and supply shop, to protect your plants from pets."
He cautiously pushed the door open.
It had a rather cheerful and clean feel to it. A blonde-haired woman was moving back and forth watering some potted gentians.
Nagi turned to call her.
Instead, a young girl with long aqua hair caught him off guard.
(AN- Like you can't guess who runs the shop)
"How can I help you?" she asked.
"Uhh…I need some flowers for my…girlfriend".
"Oh how sweet, does she have a pet?"
"She has a…a rabbit…yeah, a rabbit"
The bright girl continued to pester him with questions and cheerful suggestions.
At the other end of the shop, two women were in deep discussion…well sort of.
"Poor boy, I don't think he even knows what he's answering," one said.
"Mmhm," the other agreed
"I'd bet Nanami could get him to buy the whole store if she wanted," the first woman added.
"I suppose," replied the other woman.
Nagi soon found himself walking out of the store with a pot of flowers and fertilizer, after a moment he marked that store off the list and started towards his next destination. He stopped and turned back, heading towards the house, he need to water his flowers.
***
Crawford marked another off his list and turned a corner. Farfello was leaning outside down out of the window with is tongue hanging out like a dog; he grinned and cackled madly, scaring the pedestrians.
Crawford sighed as his vision became hazy, he closed his eyes and let the vision envelop him.
Farfello turned just in time to see Brad's eyes close, his training kicked in and he whipped around grabbing the wheel, barely avoiding a major accident. His trainers had had Brad in mind when they'd trained him, and since it was usually he who took responsibility for the madman they had trained him for just this sort of situation.
He stared at the stirring wheel, suddenly seeing it in a whole new light. This was power. He grinned down at his newfound power, he could scare a lot people and hurt god with this power. He contemplated this and growled menacingly.
"Ye will escape dis time, but next time…." He tailed off. He knew Brad would be mad at him is he killed these people, he didn't understand why but he knew he would be, so he opted for the next best thing. Scare them.
With that said, he leaned down and hit the brake.
A chorus of horns and tires screeching to a halt followed.
The sudden halt in momentum caused Crawford to jerk forward and hit his head painfully on the stirring wheel. That and the noise jarred Crawford into consciousness. He blinked and looked down to see Farfello between his knees, reaching for the gas pedal.
"Farfello, don't you dare. Get back in your seat now!" He yelled, terrified that he'd just been in a car that Farfello was driving. And it was HIS car. Crawford liked he car. A lot.
"But," Farfello protested.
"Now!!! You know you aren't allowed to drive!"
Farfello could have pointed out that he'd been trained to do so, but the anger in his leader's eyes warned him not to.
Farfello slid reluctantly back into his seat.
"Ye'll pay next time," he crowed out the window at the crowd that had gathered around the mayhem he'd caused.
Crawford, recalling the new information attained from his vision, pushed speed dial.
"Hai?" came Nagi's hopeful voice.
"Cats," Crawford stated.
"Eh?" asked Nagi, confused by Brad's one word statement.
"Look up flower shops related to Cats," Crawford clarified, sounding irritated.
"Um, okay," Nagi said uncertainly, but did as told. He had long learned not to question Brad's orders.
A moment later a reply came.
"There are 971 shops; I'm forwarding half the list," Nagi confirmed.
"Understood, Crawford out," said Crawford.
***
Nagi scanned the list, he spotted "Screaming at the Kitty" again and marked it off He glanced down the remaining addresses. Directly under it was "Kitty in the House" He checked the address and smiled. It was close. He mounted his bike and pedaled off.
***
Schuldich awoke for the third time that day. His head throbbed painfully. He gingerly rubbed his temples.
"Here," said a familiar voice.
Schuldich's reflexes kicked in before his mind did. He blinked and looked up at Yoji Kudou.
"Huh?"
"Right about now your nerves are probably shot and the drugs probably aren't helping," Yoji said, as if that explained everything.
"Yeah whatever" Schuldich groaned.
Yoji shrugged and tossed him a bright green lighter.
"How are you holding up?" he asked tentatively.
"Well, as good as can be expected under the circumstances. I can't even hear my own thoughts," Schuldich complained. " I was getting lonely," he added with a smirk
"Right…" Yoji drawled. The room suddenly felt too small. He turned towards the door.
"I'm out of here; don't think I'm going soft. I just came to make sure you didn't die on us, it would look bad on our record," Yoji justified.
Schuldich continued to smirk, choosing to ignore Yoji's uncomfortableness and obvious self-justification "I wouldn't dream of it. Oi, Kudou?"
"Hm?"
"Thanks"
The cell door closed with a soft click.
***
Nagi looked through his binoculars a third time. Sure enough, there was Abyssinian, Bombay, Siberian and Balinese.
All of them wearing little aprons and toting around potted plants, he might add. If Schu could see it he would say it was just too cute. Schu…
What now? Was he supposed to go in and say, "Hi I'm looking for some Baby's Breath, some Water Lilies and a Red haired, German, Telepath?"
No defiantly not, he decided.
He pushed speed dial.
"Found them, number 245 on the list"
"Hai"
"Nagi out."
He would wait for back up.
***
Crawford arrived at "The Kitty in the House" exactly 15 minutes later. Nagi was leaning on the wall trying to be inconspicuous.
"Let's go" Crawford commanded.
At exactly 4:15 p.m., Swartz entered "The Kitty in the House."
At exactly 4:15 and 30 seconds all Hell broke loose.
They had decided to cause a scene. Once they got the customers good and panicked, leaving the Weiss members to calm them and fend off Farfello and Crawford, Nagi was then to find and free Schuldich, after which they were to cause as much damage as possible to Weiss and their shop and then leave.
Nagi flipped over the nearest table, soil, plant matter and pottery shards spilled across the floor.
Crawford drew his gun and fired, setting off the fire alarm.
Farfello tackled Ken to the floor, knocking the cactus he'd been carrying to the floor. The other occupants of the shop, namely high school girls, screamed to their heart's…discontent.
Nagi darted forward, Yoji moved to intercept him but was slammed into the opposite wall by an invisible force. Nagi resumed his search for Schuldich.
***
Schuldich, who was crouched against the wall, heard the screaming.
It must be Swartz.
The door was ripped off its hinges. A boy stood in the doorway wearing a T- shirt and jeans.
"Nagi?" inquired the German.
"Let's go Aniki," Nagi said firmly.
The chains snapped open and Schuldich stood up, dusting his coat off.
Nagi helped him steady himself and they walked out.
And into a war zone.
Farfello bounced happily back and forth after a terrified Ken, scarring innocent girls. Ken struggled to keep them calm, and keep his shirt from being cut off again. Omi and Yoji struggled to catch Farfello and save their teammate from the madman. Aya faced off against Crawford.
Farfello slammed a booted foot into Omi's ribcage, he fell to his knees, gasping for air.
Farfello turned back to his target, namely Ken, unaware to the destruction he'd just set into motion.
The screaming had turned into gasps of horror as Omi fell to the floor. A girl ran to his side. "Omi-kun, are you alright?" she asked, concerned. She lifted his arm over her shoulder and helped him to stand. When he had gotten his wind back she released him.
She turned to face Farfello.
"You hurt my Omi and that I won't forgive"
She reached into the depths of her purse and withdrew a hairbrush. She cocked it, ready to throw, like a weapon and flung it at him. It hit him across the forehead, but that wasn't the only thing that hit him. All of the girls began throwing things. Brushes, bottles of nail polish, mirrors, books and makeup compacts and entire purses flew through the air, along with anything else that could be thrown. Nagi yelped and pushed Schuldich down. Ken dropped to the floor followed closely by Yoji. They could hardly keep from laughing. Girls quickly surrounded Farfello. Omi had many fans, it seemed.
Crawford ran to backup his surrounded teammate. He roughly pushed some angry girls aside just in time to see a tampon impact Farfello squarely in his one functioning eye. The Irishmen caught it midair and peered at it curiously, ignoring the barrage of health products.
"ah ah ah, Farfello, that's not for you," scolded Crawford, who deftly snatched the item in question from a curious Farfello and threw it over his shoulder, safely away from the madman.
Farfello, his new toy now gone, cowered in fear for the second time that day. He simply didn't know how to deal with all these strange creatures that a part of him registered as high school girls. Nagi stood up and tried to shield himself and Schuldich. A wayward purse collided with the back of his head and his shield wavered, causing several items to collide with himself and Schuldich. Crawford ducked a bottle of nail polish and lost sight of Aya. As he spun around, his abilities telling him he was in danger from behind, a text book caught him squarely across the temple. He blinked and tried to focus. His glasses were had fallen off. Crawford dropped to the floor trying to find them. He ran his hands along the floor, ignoring the blurry shapes that danced before him.
Schuldich grabbed Nagi's hand, pulling him along the floor as the crouched low, futily attempting to avoid flying items, looking for Farfello. They moved quickly, frequently getting hit by projectiles and not so frequently avoiding them.
Schuldich grinned; the drug was working out of his system, he was starting to here the voiced, but the were muffled. Nagi allowed himself to be pulled across the room; he called out for the lost Irishman. Farfello squirmed past a bunch of girls. The bruises were already apparent on his pale skin.
Schuldich ducked under a purse and pushed a mob of girls out of his way. One whipped around and sprayed him with a bottle of perfume.
"Ahhh!" Schuldich dropped to the floor rubbing his eyes at the stinging pain. Nagi caught his arm dragging him towards the door and he half screamed "It burns, Nagi, it burns!"
"Let's go," yelled Nagi. This mission had defiantly gone bad. It was time for retreat.
Farfello wrenched the door open and darted outside followed closely by Nagi pulling at a moaning Schuldich.
***
The chaos slowly died down with the Weiss members doing their best to calm down the girls.
Crawford continue to search for his missing glasses. A blurry shape came into view.
He heard a sickening crunch. A young girl looked down at him, surprised and startled.
"oh!, I'm so sorry! Were you looking for…." The young female voice trailed off as she recognition dawn.
"Wait! Your one of the ones who hurt my Omi!" she declared.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch went Crawford's glasses.
Crawford simply moaned.
***
Omi was feeling better; he surveyed the mess while Yoji and Ken filled out the police report. He has found Crawford, kneeling on the floor; and Ouka, stomping on a pair of glasses.
He had called Aya and lead Ouka away.
He had then taken Crawford away before the police could notice him.
***
Crawford's car swerved and Nagi clutched his seat. Schuldich continued to rubbed at his eyes again and shouted
"Brad !Damn it, what are you doing?! Ow, it burns!!"
Maniacal laughter followed.
Schuldich paled "Oh no…that's not who I think it is in the driver's seat…is it?"
Nagi didn't answer, but simply clung to his seat, terrified.
Suddenly his mind was filled with noise and voices. The drug had worn off. "The voices" Schuldich crowed triumphantly.
Farfello concentrated on making God pay, as Nagi's life flashed before his eyes, he blinked and wondered why he couldn't have had a normal life?
The Car swerved again and everyone screamed.
***
Ken surveyed the mess. Yoji handed him the broom. Ken sighed. 'Oh course, I get clean up duty. I suppose they'll expect me watch Crawford too,' he thought irritably "Someone saw this coming," he declared. That someone obviously didn't like him.
*****
Yuuzai and Muzai-Owari
Mongoose- damn, it's 2:15 in the morning, well, actually it's 3:15 with daylight's savings time so I really need to get to sleep. It's 11 pages typed, can you believe, longest thing I've ever helped write Hope you all liked it. Next part coming soon.
C & C at demonangel600@comcast.net