Some people asked me who "Nik" was. "Nik", who Crawford mentioned at the end of the last chapter, is Niklas Neumann :)

Part Thirteen already, and Schwarz is *just* starting to take shape. Whenever I think about this I get a sinking feeling that I'll never finish the fic. Wish me luck.

Blinded

Part Thirteen

"Job and agent number please?"

"Job 17624JP. Agent 003229."

"Hold a second please."

Over the telephone, Crawford could faintly hear some typing noise, and then the secretary came on again, his voice polite yet cold. "Agent B. Crawford, you wish to have a meeting with Councilman Neumann?"

Crawford frowned. In the past he never had to go through these procedures just to see Neumann. He worked with that telepath. But now he was part of the Council, and this formality could not be skipped. "Yes."

"Your job is not directly related to the Councilman. He will not be available to see you within the next fourteen days. If you still wish to arrange - " The man paused for several moments. "I just received instructions from the Councilman. He will contact you personally at the appropriate time."

"I see. Thank you very much."

Replacing the phone on its handset, Crawford took off his newly acquired glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers. Despite travelling in a private jet, the long journey had worn him out considerably, and he hated the location of Rosenkreuz - buried deep under the Bavarian Alps. He hated rooms with no windows.

In general, he hated it all, and being there, even though they provided him with a room reserved solely for fully-fledged agents, was suffocating.

Crawford decided to go check on Nagi. The staff had already taken blood samples, but the other tests that would determine Nagi's training programme had to be left until the next morning, so they gave the child a temporary room close to Crawford's for the night. Crawford walked to the room just further down the corridor to find the door open, and Nagi sitting on the floor, sorting the contents of his travel bag.

"Are you hungry? You didn't have dinner."

Nagi looked up at him, shaking his head. Crawford shrugged. He never had much appetite after long flights, either.

"Someone came after they took my blood samples. Left just now."

"I thought they were leaving other tests until tomorrow."

"He just sat down and talked for a while." Taking out his pyjamas, Nagi zipped the bag and tucked it neatly under the bed. "He left you a note, it's on the table."

Curious, Crawford picked up a folded piece of paper from the desk. The handwriting was messy, but had a grace to it. The ink was still wet in places.

Brad,

You have found a lovely child. Please leave him to me, I'll arrange the best for him. He'll be ready in two months.

Nagi doesn't know much, and Schuldich had done a marvellous job training him to shield his mind, given he only had a few days. But I do have vague ideas on what you're planning to do. Please don't let me be right. The stakes are too high and the odds are piled against you.

I do know what I say about it will not change your mind, though. I know also there is no need to tell you to be careful with the choices you make.

No matter what you may do in the future, I shall be on your side. Remember this.

Yours always,
N.
ps. you look good with those glasses.

Crawford was breathing hard. "He just left?"

"Yes. Didn't even close the door."

The American turned on his heels and walked out, going down the corridor briskly. It was silent except for the sounds of his own steps. He turned at the end of the corridor to another line of rooms. Empty.

He bit his lips in frustration. Ever since leaving the team, Neumann seemed to have avoided meeting him face to face. He must have known Crawford was just several rooms down the corridor, he most probably even looked in without Crawford's awareness, yet he chose to leave a note instead, and Crawford wanted to know why.

Standing in the empty corridor, Crawford suddenly felt the soft tendrils of Neumann's power entering his mind.

There were no words. It was empathy, conveying Neumann's greeting, kindness, and unconditional support, all sent with a smile.

Catching the source of the power, Crawford sent a smile back at his friend. There was no reply, but he was sure Neumann received it.

When Neumann promised the best, he meant the best. Crawford read Nagi's programme and could not be satisfied better. It was going to be tough on the boy, but he would have the best trainers and if he could keep up with the programme, he would be equipped with the essential survival skills within the next two months. All the other "normal" schooling would have to be done some other time - Crawford toyed with the idea of sending Nagi to a normal school in Japan, but he had to discuss this with SS and Schuldich first, in case the German say again that Crawford never planned anything with him.

For the most part of those two months, Crawford spent his time in an intensive Japanese course and in what Schuldich would call "ass-licking", an essential part to the success of his Plan. Gaining the trust of the Elders, he had finally been informed on SS' plan in Japan.

World domination and resurrection of an old leader. It was so much like the cartoons Crawford used to watch when he was eight and was still called Brad.

Crawford's team was not the only team in Japan. SS had located teams with all candidates of the upcoming Prime Minister election, as well as other politicians and high commanders they believed to be useful in the future. Each of these people think they were special, being endorsed and looked over by SS, and would not let anyone else know about their deal with SS. Little did they know that was what was happening to every one of them.

So, in one way or another, SS would have Japan.

Crawford was to form a team assigned to one Takatori Reiji, and the team was to assist the man in his political career, but at no cost to other teams who backed the other politicians - there was no point for them to go against each other. Should this Takatori come to power, Crawford's team was to help him gain control of Japan at all cost.

Schuldich had been assigned to Crawford as a team member as the two worked well together. For a third member, Crawford requested to have Naoe Nagi. That caused some disagreement from the Council, but the request was eventually granted, under the condition that the Japanese boy's performance in his current training was approved of by them.

"So we have a three-men team. Me like."

Despite being on the other side of the globe, Crawford thought he could see the smile on Schuldich's face. "They want us to pick a team name."

"Ummmm... we'll settle on a name later. Nagi should get to have a say too. Anyway, how's he doing?"

"He seems to be enjoying it."

"That must be a first for Rosenkreuz."

"Perhaps. How about you?"

"You mean my head? It's good. No more voices." Schuldich replied. "You?"

Crawford knew Schuldich meant the question in a non-business way, but intimate or friendly talks within SS was not the best idea. It meant exposing a weakness. "They're having some problems catching a paranormal, so I'm sent to help. It'll take two weeks. Then Nagi will finish his training."

Schuldich understood the coldness and did not take it offensively. "Then you'll come back together. How nice you have the future planned out."

"I can't see that far accurately, Schuldich. It's a rough estimate."

//I know. But come back quick, I'm so bored my hair's turning green. I miss you guys.// Schuldich mumbles. Funny how the mind works. He can remember every single word he had said or heard as Crawford recalled the past, together with his feelings, the way he played with the extendable receptor of the cordless phone during that conversation, wondering how Crawford would react to his new hair colour...

"Yes, you said that." Crawford smiles. "You sounded very, very bored. I didn't think your hair literally turned green though."

Room service has arrived, and the American finally gets off the bed to have lunch. Leaning on the dining table, Schuldich counts the pieces of sushi on the plate. Twenty, plus a tempura handroll. Whilst it looks a lot, Crawford has always eaten more than Schuldich did. If it is necessary because of his precognition's strain, or because he is actually quite a tall man and generally needs more food to sustain himself, Schuldich cannot be sure. He suspects it has to do with his precognition. Nagi and himself both had the tendency to consume more after overusing their powers. One honestly cannot say that precognition is not as stressful to the body as telekinesis or telepathy.

//You never told me what you thought about the green.//

//I told you it was shocking.// Crawford opts for telepathy instead, not wanting to talk with his mouth full. //Like it's been chlorinated.//

//I mean you didn't say if it looked good or not.//

//... It wasn't bad.//

//You preferred blonde.// Schuldich smiles smugly. //That's exactly why I dyed it.//

An exasperated sigh. //I know.//

Crawford suspected it the day he saw that green hair that it was Schuldich's way of expressing his displeasure. The second time round, when the hair changed to red, it confirmed Crawford's suspicions that Schuldich was taking it out in a way that cannot be covered-up or ignored. It was a strange route of expression and protest, but at least much better than what some other people may do: scream and cry, complete disobedience, self-mutilation, just to name a few common methods.

//I know you know. Just want to point it out anyway.//

Schuldich pushed himself off the dining table to let his companion eat without distraction. What did, or what does, Crawford really think about his hair? Not really his hair, but what his actions reflected? Schuldich himself cannot really say why he did what he did - there were so many other things, apart from dyeing his hair, he could do to annoy Crawford.

Or did he really want to annoy him?

The German shakes his head gently, smiling. Perhaps he does know what he intended to achieve. He was trying to gain attention. Like a child.

//Brad, I really was quite a kid wasn't I?// Schuldich asks self-depreciatingly.

Crawford swallows before replying. "You are who you are." //And there's nothing wrong with who you are.// He adds reassuringly.

//You would never say anything like that when we were Schwarz.// Schuldich points out, amused but warmed. //But I was like a kid.//

"Only once in a while." Crawford gives a little smirk, then turns back to his food. "I can put up with that."

//"Put up"?// Schuldich puts both his palms over where his heart is supposed to be, and says melodramatically, collapsing to the floor at the same time, //You only "put up" with me? Don't you love me for who I am?//

"Oh yes, of course." Playing along, Crawford finally sets down his chopsticks, pushing the finished meal away. "Everybody loves you for who you are. Maybe except Nagi who gets ticked off by the kid in you rather often."

//He's about the only one in Schwarz actually capable of love.//

"I have no comments on that."

//Ha. You never have any constructive comments when the topic is "love" anyway.//

"I didn't bring up the topic, Schuldich. You did."

//You're such a bastard.//

Silence stretches over the two. Schuldich makes a face at Crawford, making the older man smile.

"It's too early..."

//What?//

Crawford clears his throat, then looks away, evading Schuldich's curious stare. "Do you know why I said that love is for fools?"

//Because it brings about downfalls?// The German replies as innocently as he can. //It weakens, then destroys.//

"Yes." Schuldich is walking around to see Crawford's face better, and the American closes his eyes, not allowing the redhead to see anything he is not meant to see right now. "Because it is the strongest of all emotions that absolutely no one can control."

The German stops in his tracks. He is starting to get the jist of what Crawford is saying. He starts to say something, then catches himself. Crawford definitely does not like hearing that...

"Not even me, yes Schuldich, you can say it. I've gone this far anyway." Crawford leans back into his chair with a sigh.

Crawford is admitting that he... Schuldich offers his friend a small smile, and receives one in return. Several minutes passes before Schuldich can say anything in reply.

//So you've been a fool?//

"I'm not sure."

//It's too early to say?// The German smirks a little. //You've got yourself some blossoming romance?//

Crawford words himself in his head before replying. Saying something half way and then getting stuck is not his style. "I mean it's too early to tell you now."

//You mean it's not something of the present, but in the past?//

"Like I said, it's too early to tell you."

//Oooh the suspense.//

Nagi was a strange child. A very strange one. By his fifth week in Rosenkreuz, he attitude towards Crawford had changed. The hostility was completely gone, yet he still kept his distance from the man. Crawford spent some time trying to figure out why. Nagi definitely was not afraid of him anymore. Perhaps it was just plain hate because Crawford had dragged him into the mess called Rosenkreuz.

Crawford had learned not to see Nagi during his lessons with Neumann - he knew Neumann had his reasons for not meeting him face to face, reasons he could not reveal, and Crawford did not want to push the issue. But every now and then he made a point to check on Nagi's progress, and occasionally took Nagi out for dinner. Despite being very nutritious, Rosenkreuz was not a particularly famous for serving tasty cuisine. Crawford foresaw Nagi's rejection to Western food anyway - it was more a physical problem that the child's stomach needed time to adjust to foreign food, rather than a bad eating attitude. But in any case, the American wanted to remind Nagi whose side he was on, and his visits and meals did the trick well.

Berlin. Nagi had been transferred to this city for its telekinetic-specific training facilities since the second week, which was fortunate for the boy because Crawford would have faced great difficultly trying to find Japanese food in the Bavarian Alps. In Berlin, he had managed to find a place, Savignyplatz, where Japanese natives hung out and gathered, and was filled with Japanese restaurants. They dined there three or four times a week. Nagi did not comment much on the dining-out, maintaining his cold distance from Crawford, but the man knew he was happy, if not grateful, about it. After all, Nagi was only a child and he could not hide much.

"Why can I eat out when everyone else eat at the canteen?" Nagi still regarded Crawford with certain wariness, but that did not put him off from eating two full-size ramen's. He had telekinesis classes on the odd days of the week, and could always eat a cattle afterwards.

"I pulled a few strings." Crawford nibbled on a piece of pickled turnip.

Nagi's voice was still gentle and quiet, but now there was a certain force to it. "And I never see other trainees make phone calls like I do." He set down his chopsticks. "What strings did you pull to get me so many privileges?"

"Why do you want to know?" Crawford gave Nagi a small, cryptic smile, designed to annoy the youngster. It made him felt like he was Schuldich.

Nagi narrowed his eyes, frowned, and turned his attention back to his dinner.

Having had his share of fun, Crawford told Nagi what he wanted to know. "Because I have friends in high places, and you've already been assigned to a team. So technically, you're an agent, not a trainee."

"Assigned to your team."

"Correct. Objections?"

Nagi looked up at his "legal guardian", and Crawford held that gaze with his own. Nagi's eyes were challenging, and slightly rebellious, very typical of a youngster of his age, and Crawford was not sure what his own eyes were conveying. He was just looking at Nagi because he loved the colour of Nagi's eyes: a heartbreaking shade of cerulean. More amazing than any jewel Crawford had ever seen.

"... None. None at all." Nagi was the first to look away, raising a hand to catch the waitress' attention. "One coke." He glanced at Crawford's empty cup. "And one more sake."

Crawford knew, then, he had Nagi on his side.

//I think,// Schuldich suddenly interrupts for no apparent reason. //Nagi is a sweetheart.//

Crawford takes the chance to have a break from talking and take a shower.

//Hey are you listening?//

"I am. Go on." The American says as he picks up clean clothing from his bag.

//Showering so soon after eating is bad for you.// Schuldich grumbles, knowing, without the need of precognition, what Crawford's reply will be.

"Like I care." Crawford answers and closes the bathroom door. //So what about Nagi?//

//He realised you really care about him, but he can't stop playing cool.//

//Children are like that. Play cool and pretend to be grown-ups.//

Schuldich sighs a little dramatically. Trust Crawford to not know these things. Nagi was not the average child, not someone who pretended who he was not. At thirteen, he had a hardness that some people twice his age did not have. He had to play cool because he did not know how else to face Crawford, the caring, yet cold, evil, unpredictable bastard.

//Sometimes it's scary how much alike you and Nagi are. Full of contradictions.//

//What?//

//Nags wasn't trying to be more than he was. He was just trying to please you.//

//... Would you like to elaborate on that?//

//You're such a dumbass.// Schuldich walks to the bathroom to lean on the wooden door. //You want your team strong and shit like that. It's Nags' way of trying to satisfy you. The kid didn't know how else to do it.//

Crawford pauses for a moment, taking in the words. Is that what it was? //How do you know? Telepathy?//

//Observation, dumbass. But like you said long ago, you never knew your team very much when it came to delicate details like that.//

//Schuldich...//

//Hmm?//

//Stop calling me "moron", "bastard" and "dumbass".//

//Whatever you say, Bradley-daddy.//

[to be continued]