For some reason, this is one of my favorite chapters. Look for long author's notes at the end of the chapter as I try to explain a few things.

Chapter 12

Darkness

He should have expected the man's directions to be every bit as complete as Crawford had seemed to believe they were when issuing his orders. Although his Sight could sometimes turn fuzzy, or even be made incorrect by some tiny, seemingly insignificant factor, Crawford was never foolish enough to leave out any detail he thought was important.

And if he said something was absolutely True, then it usually was.

Except when he was lying.

Nagi scowled and pushed away the traitorous thought. Schwarz and Bradley Crawford were due every last scrap of loyalty his small body could offer.

Nevertheless, when Crawford's plans began to go "right," when he got that haughty, satisfied, hungry look in his eye, Nagi had no illusions, despite his loyalty. If necessary, "father" Brad wouldn't blink at sacrificing every last member of his team. The man wanted his own freedom, and if Nagi and the others were loyal and obedient, they could have their's, too – so long as they lives fit into his plans, that was.

So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.

The words to the old poem echoed with startling clarity in his mind whenever he thought about his leader's behavior. At first, he had thought it had been a little "gift" left by Schuldig, but the telepath was never so subtle. No, it was Nagi's own mind reminding him to beware trusting too much.

Anyway, he doubted Crawford knew that Nagi was aware of just how flexible the worth of the members of Schwarz really was to their leader. He doubted Farfarello and Schuldig even had a clue.

The thought of his other teammates caused Nagi's eyes to seek out Schuldig. The telepath, a sour expression twisting his wide mouth, was leaning against the wall of the small dojo's outer gate, trying without much success to persuade his shaking hands to light a modern cigarette with a very modern lighter.

Esset, with the help of their Seers, had put a lot of effort into this mission, hoping to ensure that the operatives they sent would make as little impact on the past as possible – and that meant fitting in as much as possible. It brought Nagi endless amusement to find that the rebellious Schuldig had somehow managed to smuggle not only his precious cigs and lighter, but also his beloved sunglasses and scarves, into the past.

"What the hell are you smiling about, kid?" the fiery haired German demanded in a low, dangerous growl. They playful mood which had consumed him on their journey to the past – indeed, which usually consumed him – was completely gone, and had been ever since he had left the room Crawford was now using as his office.

Though it was clear, and even understandable, that the telepath had both required and received disciplinary action for his recent behavior, Nagi had yet to figure out just what had been done to the older Talent. The man's mood had turned foul, but he wasn't limping, didn't seem to be bleeding, and didn't even look bruised.

"I don't think you're supposed to be wearing your sunglasses in public, Schuldig," he answered seriously, smoothing away the miniscule half-smile that had slipped past his defenses.

He made an irritated noise. "They were invented by now, weren't they?"

"I don't know," somehow, Nagi had never had reason to study the history of optical wear in school. "But I do know they didn't have…what designer is that?"

"You don't care, so why ask?" he demanded.

Nagi looked away, shrugging. He would never admit it, but it stung to have the other man cross with him.

Schuldig looked funny to him in the long jacket, high collar, and vest that was typical of Western fashion at this time, with his sunglasses covering his eyes and his wild, vibrant hair spilling freely around his shoulders. According to his studies, this was a period of time where Western influence on Japan was high – there were more foreigners in the streets than ever before, and even Japanese fashion had taken on some Western elements. According to one schoolbook he had read, Emperor Meiji had actually been very fond of Western style clothing. It was the perfect time period, as far as for sending in a bunch of foreigners who didn't need to attract too much attention.

But Schuldig was too loud, too modern, too different. He didn't fit here, and wouldn't fit, no matter how Esset tried.

It had been one of the Esset Seers, and not Crawford, who had directed them to the home of a government official notorious for having visiting foreigners stay in his house. The man, after a 'visit' with Schuldig, was now positive that not only had they been invited to his home, but that their presence was an honor.

Not bad, considering that they hadn't even been in the past for an entire day yet.

"It's too damn bright out here!" Schuldig groused at last.

Nagi looked up at the slightly-overcast sky, and decided not to say anything.

"Do you think we should go inside the grounds?" he asked instead. Nobody was supposed to be home right now, according to Crawford.

"But they will return by the time the sun begins to set," Crawford had informed them, tone sure. "Leave then, lest you encounter the Weiss."

"And if we do?" Schuldig had demanded sullenly.

"Encountering them here in the past is…not advisable – especially for you, Schuldig," he'd answered icily. "Weiss is not to know that Schwarz is here at all – leave them to Hollister's people."

The dojo Crawford had sent them to was well-maintained, but bore the look of a place that had once seen far more success. It looked slightly shabby, but well-loved.

"Disgustingly sentimental," Schuldig snarled, wincing as Nagi's thoughts accidentally intruded on his own. He realized that, for one of the few times in his life, the telepath was actually actively working at shielding himself from the rest of the world.

Feeling chastised, Nagi followed the flame haired man into the yard, his eyes taking in the strips of land made slightly bare by habitual outdoor practice.

"Hey," Schuldig stopped, shoving his hands into his pockets as he surveyed the yard. "What do they teach here, anyway?"

"The sign on the gate said sword arts."

"Stupid," Schuldig snorted. "Why bother when there are guns around?"

"Or telepaths that can make you believe you're a chicken?" Nagi asked sullenly.

Schuldig looked at him for a long moment, eyes hidden by his dark lenses, and a ghost of his usual wickedness crossing his lips. "I've never turned anyone into a chicken," he stated at last. "Thanks for the suggestion."

"I wasn't - !"

"Brad's already a dick," the telepath mused, looking away. His grin widened. "I wonder if I could make him think he was a cock?"

"Schuldig…"

He shoved his sunglasses up onto the top of his head and smirked brazenly at Nagi. His eyes were wild and defiant and destructive.

"Let's get to work, shall we?" he suggested. "I find myself suddenly anxious to be getting 'home'."

Nagi had to abandon all need to argue with him, because the telepath was already striding through the yard toward the dojo, tossing the remains of his cigarette along the way. Nagi knew that if he didn't hurry to use his powers to open locked doors, Schuldig would find a much less subtle way of breaking in.

Even when they drew near and found no locks barring their way, Nagi felt certain that they were a hairsbreadth away from disaster id the telepath's more destructive tendencies managed to get out of hand.

And it was just Nagi and Schuldig, which meant that he was all on his own if the wicked German did decide to get wild. Crawford was the only person who Nagi had ever seen frighten the telepath into anything like submission. Could Nagi use his powers to keep the man in line? Was he strong enough?

Or, without Crawford there to cow the man, would Schuldig simply brush aside his powers and lash out at him for even attempting…for even thinking about…

Nagi's gaze shot nervously to Schuldig's back, but the flame haired man gave no indication that he had 'overheard' his younger teammate's thoughts.

And surely, Nagi reasoned, if he had, he would never give up on the opportunity to make him pay for it.

"Well, now," Schuldig said cheerfully, throwing open the doors, "Let's see what kind of trouble we can get ourselves into!"

He sauntered into the dojo as if it belonged to him, and Nagi had to fight the urge to repeatedly slam his head into a wall. The younger assassin followed behind sullenly, watching as Schuldig moved to the wall to read the plaques holding the names of the school's master, its acting instructor, and its students.

Nagi hoped greatly that the plaques would keep the man distracted for at least a little while. Going so quickly from a bad mood to a playful one usually meant that Schuldig was about to do something stupid.

After a few moments, it became clear that Schuldig had absolutely no intention of doing any of the work they had been sent to do. If the worst he was going to have to endure was taking on all the responsibilities solo, Nagi knew he would be getting off easy.

Trying to push away these thoughts, Nagi set to work. His first task, he supposed, was to get an approximate layout of the entire house, so that the operatives could work out where to place their men. He began to pace the room, counting off his steps in his head in order to get a kind of measurement.

"Hey, kid…" Schuldig's voice caused him to lose count. Sighing heavily, he shot the man an irritated look.

"Don't call me that."

"Come here a second."

"I'm working."

"Do I care? Just come here – tell me if I'm reading this wrong. The 'master' is a woman?"

Nagi sighed again, but knew that if he didn't do what Schuldig wanted, the telepath would simply keep pushing until he got his way.

"Master, Kamiya Kaoru," he read off dutifully. "Sure – it's probably a woman. So what?"

"That's awfully progressive, isn't it?"

"There have been women who fight before modern times, Schuldig. Even further back than we are now. It really isn't a big deal."

"Really? I don't think I believe you."

"Schuldig, we really need to be working."

The telepath turned away from the plaques at last. "Stupid," he grumbled. "As if they weren't scary enough on their own – now they need swords?"

"I forgot you were afraid of women."

"I'm not 'afraid'!" he protested, tossing his head proudly.

"No?"

"No. They fucking terrify me, and don't you forget it!" Schuldig gave a chuckle of wild amusement. He had once told Nagi that, while training under Esset, he had found himself under the 'tutelage' of many different people – and that, on average, the women had always been more creatively cruel.

"You have problems."

"I do? Thank you so very much, sweet Nagi; I had no idea!" the telepath wandered over to a stack of wooden practice swords and picked one up, swinging it experimentally.

"You know," Nagi glared, "It would be nice if we had something to report back to Crawford with!"

"Then you should probably get back to work, shouldn't you?" Schuldig pointed the wooden sword at Nagi, squinting down the line of it as if sighting down the barrel of a gun.

"You could help."

"Why bother?" Schuldig swung the sword again, like a baseball bat this time. "You really think that they need any of this shit? I'm disappointed in you!"

"If they don't need it, then why would they send us?"

"My point!" he cheered. "Tch, Nagikins, really – how long until you realize that Braddy-boy and I are at war?"

"At…" the boy blinked at him. That had been the last thing he'd expected to hear. "War?"

"Of course! Grand, isn't it?"

"Schuldig…"

"Look," he began attempting to balance the wooden blade in the palm of his hand, and kept his eyes locked on it even as he spoke. "You remember how bad he got before he had to admit that we'd lost the opportunity to use that Taketori bastard to get our freedom? This is gonna be hella worse."

"Worse," he repeated, crossing his arms.

"You can't see it yet 'cause you're such a good boy. Me, though, well…I'm a pain in the ass."

"Yeah…"

Schuldig shot him a brief smile before turning his attention back to his balancing act. "And as resident pain in the ass, it's my job to make sure that Brad has someone to keep that massive ego of his in check," he continued, stating it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Farf's not gonna notice or care, and you're not gonna say boo to him when it comes right down to it. Somebody's gotta be responsible around here."

"You don't want to be responsible. You just want to be annoying."

"Same difference."

Nagi watched the flame haired man, but Schuldig gave no indication that he was anything but serious. For just a moment, the youngest Schwarz wondered if it was possible that anything other than boredom or selfishness motivated the man.

He dismissed the thought almost as quickly as it came, getting back to work. When he finished with the dojo, he moved on to the main house and Schuldig, filled with wicked energy and apparently fully recovered from whatever punishment he'd taken earlier, followed.

Nagi tried to ignore him, but it was difficult. Schuldig, like a toddler in a shop of priceless antiques, seemed driven to get into everything.

"You can't light that!" he protested at last, as Schuldig fished out his cigarettes again. "They're going to smell it – they'll know someone's been here!"

Schuldig rolled his eyes.

"Tch. I can't snoop around, I can't steal shit, I can't smoke – you're really no fun at all!"

tbc

Next time: the crossover hits full swing.

The poem Nagi was thinking about was Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper" - which is, according to some, basically a poem about how easy innocence is to exploit. Of course, everyone is welcome to their own interpretation, but it's always made me think of little Nagikins.

So, for anyone who hasn't caught on yet, the crossover of choice is Nobhiro Watsuki's beautiful Rurouni Kenshin. Anyone who's known me for a while should know that this is one of my favorite titles, that I think Watsuki is a genius, and that I personally believe it's impossible for Kenshin not to be related to Aya.

A few notes:

- I'm basing the set up off of volume 28 of the RuroKen manga, as well as the (lovely but stunningly-depressing) OAV, Reflection. Watsuki's epilogue is placed in the 15th year of Meiji (1882?). At this time period, for anyone who doesn't know, Kenshin and Kaoru have married and have a son, Sanosuke has gone off to live out his own life, and Yahiko has gained the reputation as one of the top swordsman in the country. (Sorry if I'm spoiling anyone – but all this is information you won't ever get if all you do is watch the anime, and actually has very little to do with the actual series.) Kenshin, while still practicing sword arts, can no longer use Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, or else his body will give out. I decided to place the Weiss boys just a year or two before the epilogue (but still after the whole Enishi mess)

The epilogue has Kaoru still using the family name of Kamiya, even though she's married. I understand that it's acceptable, and quite frequent in the fanon, for Kenshin to have actually taken her family name, but I chose not to do this (so he will introduce himself as Himura.)

I'm choosing to focus more on the very happy manga ending than the extremely sad OAV ending (if you haven't seen it – it's not for the faint of heart.) For anyone who read my old Eternal One fic (don't look for it. I've taken it down.) this is a very different Kenshin than you've seen from me. He's content with his life and has done a lot of healing at this point.

Watsuki's description of Kenji, Kenshin's son, is intriguing. In his notes, he states that as a child, Kenji is a little "stupid" and slow, but later on will master his father's swords style "just from hearing about it" and he "becomes a bit twisted, as is common with geniuses." This isn't important for the fic; I just think it's neat.

So anyway, please direct any and all questions my way – remembering that it may take me a while to reply to reviews – and if you're unfamiliar with the RuroKen world, or maybe just need a brush-up, let me know and I'll do my best to help.

Response to Unsigned Reviews:

CaT70 - You make me happy (grins)

glinwulf - Hm. For the time being, there are no plans to see anyone else's ancestors - but the fun thing with a set up like Kontrolleur is that I can always go back for sidestories later.