"Where is he?"
Nagi didn't look up. "Why would you care?" He asked, his voice flat.
"That bastard is my responsibility, and I don't want him running loose."
Nagi turned his attention back to Farfarello, who was busy with the blender and some carrots.
"Hurting Schuldich hurts God!" the madman crowed gleefully.
Bradley stared at the pulverized orange mush churning in the blender.
"Schuldich hurts everyone."
"And Bradley hurts Schuldich," Nagi countered, in a voice so low it could barely be heard over the whirring of the blender.
Crawford turned on his heel and left, his face unreadable.
Crawford startled as the phone rang. He'd made practically no progress all day. He'd considered leaving early, but that would mean admitting the effect Schuldich's leaving had had on him.
"Crawford."
"Hello, Oracle. Be advised to retrieve your new member, Schweigen, at Tokyo International. He will be replacing Schuldich as the new Mastermind. 9:00, gate 38-C."
The scrambled voice hung up. No doubt all records of the call were being erased even as he stood. In order to reach Tokyo International on time, he'd have to leave right away. Estet planned everything perfectly.
Crawford arrived a gate 38-C just as the passengers began to disembark. A man of about 30 detached himself from the crowd and approached Crawford.
"Oracle. I am Mastermind." He extended his hand.
Crawford shook his hand, analyzing the newcomer cautiously. He had golden hair, pulled back in a low ponytail that went halfway down his shoulder blades. He had blue eyes that exuded self-confidence. He was well-built, almost as tall as Crawford. His complexion matched that of a native of Germany.
Crawford let go of his hand.
"Do you have any bags?"
"Just this." He raised his briefcase slightly.
"Then we'll be on our way." Crawford strode ahead, pushing through the crowd. How had Estet found out about Schuldich's departure? Unless he himself had told them, there was no way they should have found out.
The car ride passed in relative silence, the only conversation being Crawford explaining the ground rules of Schwarz to Schweigen. Most of the rules pertained to Farfarello.
"Hello, Nagi," Crawford said as they entered the apartment.
"Hello Crawford. Who's that?" Nagi stared coldly at the newcomer.
"This is Schweigen, Schuldich's replacement."
Nagi's expression changed to incredulousness. "What? Schu's only been gone half a day and you've already picked up a replacement? I can't believe you, Crawford! I thought that maybe you had some faith in Schuldich --"
"I have no reason whatsoever to have faith in that liar. And Estet sent him, so send your complaints to them."
Schweigen smiled, setting down his briefcase.
"Ah, Schuldich. That explains a lot." He turned to Crawford, a malicious smile on his face. "I could smell him all over you."
Crawford's eyes widened in agonizing pain as his mental shields started being torn away, melting like hot butter.
Schuldich's eyes shot open in fear. Waves of pain were flowing through his weak mental link to Bradley.
*...no...*
Then Schuldich found what Bradley was fighting. He closed his eyes tightly, clenching his teeth.
*Getoutgetoutleavemealonegetoutgetout...*
Crawford gasped as he felt something bolster his failing shields, violently rejecting Schweigen, ejecting him from his mind. For a moment it seemed familiar...
Crawford stood straight.
"Don't... you... EVER... do that... again. You even TRY to touch my mind one more time, and you die." He glared at the smirking blond. "Do you understand?"
"He's got his claws in you deep, oh great leader." Was the reply. "I think I would like to go to my room now." He picked up his suitcase.
"You won't be staying long enough to need one. Farfarello, show him the couch."
The psychotic stood. "You hurt God," he said contentedly.
"Yes," Schweigen replied lowly as he exited the room. "I do."
Nagi watched with concern as Crawford collapsed onto a chair. Taking off his glasses, he pressed his palms to his eyes.
"Oh god... he's probably stronger than Schuldich."
"He'd have to be, to do that without dropping his own defenses." Nagi replied quietly, placing some aspirin and water on the table next to his leader.
"What happened?"
Crawford took the aspirin gratefully, foregoing the water.
"I don't know. One moment, he was slashing through my mental shields almost as if they weren't there, when I felt something... else... there, throwing up my shields like lightning, throwing Schweigen out like he was the plague."
"What was it?"
"I don't know. But for a moment, it felt like Schuldig..." Crawford trailed off, his eyes becoming unfocussed as he tried to remember.
Nagi was surprised. This was the first time since the fight that he'd heard the American say his lover's name with anything approaching decency. That tone...
As if realizing the direction his thoughts were taking, Crawford stood, his expression neutral once more.
"I'm going to bed. Make sure Farfarello gets locked away safely."
Nagi watched his leader leave, his footfalls heavy with fatigue.
*He still misses him.* he realized.