Blinded

Part Eighteen

Takatori Reiji was a dangerous man.

And there was the unmissable accessory in his office: the fishtank.

Those were the first two (unrelated) thoughts Crawford had about the Japanese politician, who leaned back into his chair and studied Schwarz, a Cuban cigar in his hand. His posture suggested the superiority of a man who had always been the predator. Under his scrutinising gaze, Crawford knew Takatori was not going to be an easy client.

As for the goldfish, that was just one of the few things Crawford would admit he did not understand. Just what was so fashionable about having fish swimming in one's office?

//Schuldich, report.//

Schuldich glanced at Farfarello, who actually made a rather good conversation that impressed their new client. It was not much of a conversation, truth to be told, it was Takatori asking Farfarello what he could do and Farfarello telling his honest answer: "I kill". The telepath bit back a smile and answered Crawford.

//The good news is that he likes Farfie. Otherwise I don't like what I'm seeing... He has this idea about controlling us. Thinks Nagi's too young, hates my green hair... And he doesn't like you very much.//

How interesting, Crawford thought. //Elaborate?//

//You remind him of his eldest son, somehow. Thinks you're just here to kiss his ass. "All talk and no work", in his own words.//

Crawford quickly recalled the information they were given. Takatori Reiji had two sons and a teenage daughter, who had a different mother. One of the sons was Masafumi, a twenty-eight years-old who wasted most of his time and his father's money on biological research that SS had shown interest in. The other son, thirty years-old Hirofumi, had supported his father's political career throughout by keeping a healthy balance with their political party.

//He has underestimated Takatori Hirofumi's importance. Social science is a fine art.//

//Oh, you mean you like being compared with his son?// Schuldich asked Crawford, amused.

//No. I'll have to rectify that.//

//I really like the way you phrase things.//

//Thank you. I'm going to borrow your ability for a moment.//

//Borrow...? What do you mean?//

"Schuldich, Farfarello, Nagi, wait outside."

Takatori's eyes narrowed at the sudden interruption. The Schwarz members followed Crawford's orders, not asking why because they knew Crawford would tell them the reason later if they should know, and Schuldich could always pull whatever he wanted from Takatori's mind. Crawford stepped forward, pulling off his glasses at the same time to wipe them with his tie. He did not look at Takatori when he spoke.

"Mister Takatori," He began, "I'd like to remind you that Schwarz is not employed by you - we're here to watch you. We will do whatever we see fit. That might include helping you to win the next election, but it also might not. Stay useful to the SS and we'll give you what you want."

Takatori's eyes narrowed even further, and his jaw tightened. He had not expected this at all. Crawford finally puts his glasses back on. He spoke with a smirk.

"Schwarz is my team, not yours. I consider myself to be a fairly friendly and reasonable person, but if you should do anything to my team that I don't like - and that includes insulting them because of their age or hair colour - then remember we're the paranormals, not you, and you can be easily replaced."

From Takatori's expression, Crawford knew he had succesfully made the man think that he was not only a precognitive, but also a mindreader.

"Dozo yoroshiku, Mister Takatori."

Nagi often looks back on his days in Schwarz, and each time he does so, he understands more about why each step was taken and each decision made. He begins to understand why, when Schwarz was hunted by the SS, Crawford sent him away instead of letting him fight with him and Schuldich. He knows why he was allocated the technical tasks. He sees why Crawford chose to let Takatori die, knowing that might plunge Schwarz into trouble, rather than helping that politician.

And then there are things he never figured out. Like why Crawford never told him things he thought he should know. Like why Crawford sent the three of them out of Takatori's office that day.

Now, having heard it from Crawford, Nagi finally understands what his former leader was doing. He was protecting his team. He told them to get out because he did not want to over-intimidate Takatori, nor did he want his team to know that he cared enough to stand against their client instead of taking the easier, more rational option of bending knee. Carefully Crawford controlled their perception of him, not letting any one of them to become attached or dependent on another.

Crawford was doing everything he could to make sure Nagi did not like him.

And Schuldich knew all this but did not tell him a word about it.

Bowing his head a little, Nagi smiles at the thought. Of course, of course. It had to work that way, Schuldich doing, or not doing, everything Crawford told him to.

It seems to be what his former leader's life was all about: manipulation. Taking and twisting everything at his disposal until the situation was to his favour. Schuldich always knew, at least to a certain extent, what was going on and he always played along. Nagi knew too, he knew he was being kept in the dark. Crawford sometimes told him things, but never the things that really mattered. Nagi was a secret card he carefully, secretly held on to until the time was right.

Nagi hated him. And at the bottom of his heart he knew he was somewhat scared of Crawford, which was probably exactly what Crawford wanted him to feel. It was this mixture of hatred and fearful respect that had him confused, because he knew he cared about his leader. No matter how Crawford treated him during his life as Schwarz, Nagi could never forget those genuinely concerned eyes checking him over after he lied about having a car accident, nor the fact that the man had gone out of his way to find his cat from a building under the danger of collapse, just to make him happy.

Nagi cared about him even more than he cared about Schuldich or even Farfarello, no matter how close him and the Irishman had become in the end. It makes him feel guilty admitting this, but that is the truth.

Looking back now, Nagi can smile about everything that had happened. Crawford protected his team. That was enough. For Nagi, that was enough.

With less than a week's practice, Crawford had created his mental realm.

He stood inside, studying the surroundings. Schuldich said how the realm looked reflected its creator's mind. So what did the dark background and strips of light say about Crawford? It was as if he was inside a spacecraft from some sci-fi movie, travelling at great speed, going somewhere, on a mission.

It also felt like he was laying on a push cart in a hospital, watching the fluorescent lamps passing over his head as he was rushed to the emergency room, helpless, his life draining away. But where did that come from? He had never been admitted to hospital like that before...

Crawford knew he physically was in his own apartment, sitting on the edge of the couch with Schuldich closeby. He could still feel his physical self, and could do simple movements whilst his mind was in the mental realm.

//You've got it?// Schuldich words rang like a tannoy annoucement in Crawford's realm. He sounded proud, but strained.

//Now how can I get you in here?//

Schuldich was completely surprised. For telepaths, the mental realm was a place of retreat when their powers get out of hand. It was a private and safe place that can, if one wanted to, be very dangerous at the same time. //Why the hell do you want me in there?//

//Just tell me how. I'll explain.//

//Fine. Invite me.//

//Invite?//

//Any telepaths can enter other people's mental realm by invitation. Strong ones can barge in or drag people into their own ones. I don't want to hack your mind, so you must give me a way in. Now think of me. Imagine a door, if you'd like.//

A moment later, Schuldich walked in through the door Crawford created. He looked around once and smiled, without making any comments.

//A word of warning. When you invite a telepath in, you're practically opening a gate for them to read your mind. Just so that you know.//

Crawford had guessed as much. But he had been planning for this for years now, and he was prepared to gamble everything he had. He trusted Schuldich, as a friend and colleague, not to pry into his mind. There really was nothing worth looking at anyway... except that simple, stupid crush that he had. But he was dealing with matters of consequence, he just had to believe that Schuldich would not read his mind in his vulnerable state.

Suddenly a thought came to Crawford's mind.

//What if I make a trapdoor right under your feet now?//

Schuldich actually laughed. //I die, duh. So try not to... Accidents can happen. I once almost killed myself in my own realm imagining a waterfall.//

Crawford just shook his head. So who was the one gambling everything he had?

//I'm going to tell you some things, and I'll only say them once, in here. Do not ask questions, and do not repeat what I tell you here to anyone.//

//... Okay.//

//That includes Farfarello and Nagi.//

//I know.// Schuldich sounded annoyed at the concept. He took a step back and sat down on the floor.

Crawford juggled the words in his mind, trying to see if there was a best order in which to tell Schuldich about his plans. But there was none, so he just jumped into the deep end and outlined everything, starting from their ultimate goal: escape from SS.

Schuldich sat quietly until Crawford finished. then he spoke, his voice low as a murmur. //You're going to use Nagi.//

//I told you not to ask - // Crawford caught himself. It was not a question, but a statement. //I told you in the beginning I'm going to use the telekinetic. The same way I'm using you.//

//There is a difference: I know what the hell is going on.// Schuldich sighed, moping his green hair away from his eyes with a hand. Then he stood and walked to Crawford. //I know Nagi better than you do, Crawford. But I don't know if this is the best for him.//

Crawford turned his face away, pretending to be looking at something in the distance. He could not stand Schuldich being so close and looking into his eyes like that. It unnerved him. There was still that something burning inside the telepath's eyes that Crawford could not understand but feared.

//Just trust my decision.//

//I do. You know that.// Schuldich nodded, and he began to fade away. //I'll watch them.//

//Remember what I've said, Schuldich.//

//Yup. Always.// Then he was gone.

Did Schuldich understand that last request? Crawford hoped he did. From now on, everything that he would do in the future would be because of all that he had said here. He could not foresee another safe opportunity to explain his actions, not if he wanted to keep his plans secret from Nagi, Takatori and SS.

He needed Schuldich to keep that simple faith he had in him, like he always did. And he needed Schuldich to help him make it all work, especially if he ever lost sight of their goal.

Did Schuldich understand that last request, or rather, that last plea? Of course he did. Schuldich proved it to him time after time.

Crawford's mental realm is like the eye of a storm, the centre of chaos - the safest, calmest place to be in, where psychic powers never conflict or interfere with each other. One's sense does dull though, when one's inside a mental realm. Its creator and visitors cannot respond to their physical surroundings as quickly as they normally can. Which was why, after Schwarz betrayed SS and murdered the Elders, none of Schwarz entered Crawford's realm again. Not even when Schuldich's headaches got so bad he pleaded and pleaded with Crawford to let him be in there just for a little while. With a bounty on their heads, they had to be sharp and on their toes all the time.

At other times though, Crawford's mental realm was where they plotted their escape. Wwhere Schuldich found his sanctuary. Where some things did not happen when they should... where some things happened when they should not.

Schuldich tries to shake the thought out of his head.

None of it escapes Crawford's eyes. "I thought I told you you can say whatever you want, Schuldich."

The mindreader shakes his head and grins at Crawford. //Not right now. Later.//

Crawford is slouching, almost completely laying down in the bed. To his left on a chair, Nagi sits cross-legged in the stuffed chair, just the way Schuldich likes to sit, having picked up many of the redhead's habits over time. To Crawford's right, Schuldich is laying on his side on the bed.

//I have loads of things to say. But I think I'll wait until you're done.// Schuldich looks away to study the ceiling. //That's if you don't mind staying after my funeral for a while, you know, to hear me out.//

Crawford furrows his eyebrows slightly. He turns to study Schuldich. //What do you mean?//

//You said you're going to look for Neumann after my funeral.//

For a long moment, Schuldich stares up at the ceiling, Crawford stares at the telepath, and Nagi stares at Crawford, until the man figures out what Schuldich means. He sighs and slides down further, so that he is laying down in the bed completely.

"Don't be such an idiot. I said I don't need your help to look for Niklas, I didn't say you aren't coming along." Sometimes, Crawford really wonders how Schuldich can be, honestly, very smart, yet occasionally be so dumb and assuming he can drive people up walls.

Schuldich turns now, looking at him with wide eyes, which he then roll, laughing at himself. He rakes a hand through red bangs, and chuckles a bit more at his own stupidity.

He is in Crawford's plans. Crawford says they are going together to do something, and Schuldich will not be needed for help, he will be there just for company. What more can he ask for?

"Crawford?"

"Yes?" Crawford has forgotten about Nagi's presence for a while. Nagi's gaze is politely averted, studying his own fingers rather than the man in the bed. It feels rude to stare.

Crawford begins to sit up. Somehow, it feels inappropriate to be laying in bed like this with Nagi sitting nearby, as if he is disrespecting the young man. It is not supposed to work this way, he had always been the superior and nothing in Nagi's behaviour now is suggesting otherwise, but it just does not feel right. Perhaps it is because of Nagi's immense psychic powers. Power-wise, Nagi had always been the strongest of Schwarz. Crawford knew he could kill any of them as easily as snapping a twig, and that was what enabled them to kill the Elders. Over the last few years, his powers have grown even more, and although Crawford is not afraid of Nagi - how can he ever be - he feels he is almost in awe of the young man.

Nagi sees Crawford sitting up to speak to him, and gestures for him to stop. There is no need for that. "I just want to tell you, if it's SS' Neumann you were talking about just now, then you won't - "

He stops mid-sentence, suddenly distracted.

Schuldich feels it too. //Farfie.//

"Farfarello's calling for me." The young man stands and straightens his clothes. "I should go see him..."

"We can call it a day. It's late anyway."

Nagi goes to the door. "So shall we... "

Crawford nods. "We'll meet for lunch tomorrow."

That extracts a small smile from the young man. He says goodnight and leaves.

//A real prodigy, that kid. He got quite a bit of telepathy now, on top of everything else.// Schuldich comments off-handedly. He turns so that he faces the man beside him. //So, back to the point, I can say whatever I want, right?//

At first, when he thought Crawford was going to leave, he thought he would save everything until later so that he could make the man stay just that bit longer. But now that seems unnecessary.

//I've got this question at the back of my mind for quite a while now, although it's more relevant to what you told me earlier than the stuff just now. So can I ask you?//

The gleam in Schuldich's eyes is making Crawford uncomfortable. Suddenly the temperature in the room seems to have dropped - or that is just his excuse to want to hide under his sheets. He knows he is not going to like this question. "You can, as long as it's within reason."

//Well I think it's perfectly reasonable. I just think I better ask you when Nagi's not watching.// Schuldich says rather casually, not unaware that Crawford is tensing up. //Now, about this crush you had...//

All of a sudden, Schuldich has flipped himself over so that he is hovering above the other man, trapping him between his arms and knees. Crawford has not seen this coming, he cannot move at all when Schuldich lowers his face, smiling that disarming smile of his. Blue, blue eyes full of curiosity hold Crawford's. Crawford's breath quickens. He cannot look away.

//Brad, did you ever fantasise about me?//

[to be continued]

Author's note: I have a feeling people will want to kill me for stopping here...

For your information, "Dozo yoroshiku" is a phrase used when people meet each other for the first time. It has the meaning of "pleased to meet you", and it literally translates to "please be good to me". The underlying meaning of the phrase is "I hope you will forgive me in advance for anything I may do in the future which may distress or offend you".

Yup, Crawford's one sarcastic bastard.