Much as I am very disappointed with the recent turnout of reviews ( I got only two reviews for chapter 3 ) I couldn't very well disappoint them in turn . I would like to thank those two very , very special people . You know who you are ^__^

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Crawford drove through the silent streets , lost in thought . He was mulling over what had happened the past few months . Disaster had come one after the other and all the trouble and loss had suddenly torn their team apart .

Schwarz has never experienced anything like it ... in all their years in operation ; never have they gone through something this devastating .

And it was all Crawford's fault .

He had no idea how this idea of his would turn out .

It was one of the rare occasions that his visions have never told him what to do or plagued him with the future consequences of his actions . It was on of the few things he had decided on that he was actually unsure .

He had brought down his team . He had disappointed all the members of his team ; driving one insane ; the second to seclusion and a third to ... well , Berserker was still the same .

He wondered what if he didn't bring Ken into the group ? He was sure that it would have been just as it has always been . The operations would go without a hitch and they would be fighting their respective Weiß . Instead he had decided to kidnap one of their mortal enemies and brainwashing him into thinking that he was indeed a Schwarz .

It was the first time in his life that Crawford ever played the " what if " game .

Crawford mentally berated himself .

It was one of the stupidest decisions he had ever made in his career . Maybe the only stupid decision he had ever made . Goddamnit !

His Ferrari glided smoothly on the pavement , barely making any noise save a soft purring of the engine .

" I love him , Crawford . I never realized that I could , but I do ." Schuldich's voice echoed in his mind .

" I don't know how what to say to that Schuldich ... maybe I expected that from the beginning but you mustn't let that interfere with our work . Ken is a special person . I know . We couldn't have carried on with him in the team if that wasn't true ; but you must understand that the moment Schwarz is jeopardized because of him , we must let him go ."

He had said that without qualms . He had said that with full convictions on that day . Little did he know that the very reason his team fell apart is because Ken was gone .

He sighed as the car cruised to a halt .

He was in fact , in front of the Estet private facility . One of the many branches of the organization . This was where they kept Schuldich . Bound and broken . Captive in a white padded room with no window to the outside world .

His insanity has reached the point where he had tried to take his own life . And he had attempted several times already .

He was customarily given plastic utensils for his food , but he had tried to gouge out his eyes with the fork . He was then deprived of any utensils . He then ate with his teeth , lapping up the food like some wild animal .

Poor Schuldich . Poor sophisticated Schuldich . Was this what he was reduced to after loving so much ?

Love was indeed a two-edged sword ; you bleed as you feel intoxication .

That was why Crawford avoided loving . But he felt pity and compassion for his team . It was a feeling he rarely ever experienced but even now , he could not contain himself from coming to him . His conscience nagged at him constantly . After all , it was his fault that Schuldich ended up like this ...

With a heavy step , Crawford approached the large white building , his hands clenched tightly at his sides .

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So how'd you like the chapter ? Ooooh ! I must admit I'm proud of the fact that I posted just a few days after Chapter three !

I have tons of homework and stuff to deal with and the projects are a killer , but I couldn't resist posting this ASAP . I know Crawfie was a bit OOC here but ... well , I wanted him to feel the least bit sympathy .

I'm thinking about continuing with his meeting with Schuldich ; but I'm torn between that or some follow up on the OC . So ... well , tell me which of the two you prefer for the next chap.

And mind you ; R E V I E W ! (~.~)v