A/N: Another chapter done! And it only took me several months... Sorry for being so long. I didn't have much time lately. Anyway, here's a new chapter. Hope you enjoy
Warnings: Major angst, hint of child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, violent tendency on the part of Schuschu. This is why this fic is rated R.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but Iri.
"I can't believe you haven't ordered another hotel room for Iri, Crawford," Schuldich complained in his nasal whine. "Now we have to share a single room while she gets that nice, big room to herself. I know you foresaw this so why didn't you order another room?"
"It's only for one night, Schuldich," Crawford said exasperated. They'd been through this four times already in the last hour. "It's rather expensive to rent another room and I thought it unnecessary to order another room. Apparently, if I'd known that you'd whine so much, I'd have risked it and charged it to your account."
Schuldich muttered something that sounded like "Miser"
"What was that?" Bradley asked with a glare.
"Nothing," Schuldich replied, nonchalantly.
"But Braaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddlllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,"
Schuldich whined. "You snore!"
Nagi snorted behind his hand as he got ready for bed. He didn't really care for the arrangement either but watching Schuldich flip out is worth the mild discomfort. He was glad to have met Schuldich's sister. She seemed like a nice girl. It shocked a bit to find Crawford asking her to stay, though. Usually, Crawford didn't like people getting too close to his team. Iri must have somehow rubbed Crawford the right way without any of them noticing. Oh well, whatever. It didn't matter anyway. Crawford knows what he's doing.
"Shut up, Schuldich," Crawford growled. "Before I give into my urge to use Farfarello's sedatives on you."
"Empty bluff," Schuldich sneered back. "You know very well that you need all of that stuff to keep him quiet for the rest of the trip."
Nagi pulled back the covers of one of the beds and snuggled in between the sheets. This was going to be a long night. Nagi sighed and tried to go to sleep while Bradley and Schuldich waged battle above.
~ Dream Sequence Begins ~
A Dark room.
A lot of people.
Where?
Familiar, vaguely familiar.
Where am I?
A man spoke.
Who is he?
It's so dark.
Can't see clearly.
That silhouette looks familiar somehow.
Who is that man?
Hands oh my arms, pulling me forward.
What's going on?
Feeling of trust breaking.
Feeling of ropes around my wrists and ankles.
The shattering of a fragile faith.
Stop, STOP, STOP!
You can't do this!
STOP!
Sound of ripping cloth.
Anger and humiliation and hurt so deep, it can never be healed.
PAIN!
Pain and humiliation and broken trust.
A flash of light.
A grinning face.
That face!
I know that face.
That's. . . .
~ End Dream Sequence ~
Schuldich came awake with a start, sitting up without even realizing that he was even moving. Nagi, who was so used to his lover's sudden awakenings, rubbed his eyes sleepily but did not start too badly from Schuldich's sudden movements. Schuldich had a tendency to do things like this in his sleep.
"Schu, what is it?" Nagi whispered.
Schuldich could not answer. His jaw was clenched so tight, he couldn't speak. His eyes stung with tears he would not allow to be shed.
/That was Iri's dreams./ he thought. /That was Iri's nightmare. That's why Iri didn't have to tell anyone where she was going. No one's gonna miss her./
Schuldich clutched the coarse hotel blanket until his knuckles showed white.
/That bastard,/ Schuldich thought. /That fucking bastard. My parents trusted him, trusted him enough to ship their CHILD to him and this is what he does to her./
Schuldich's eyes turned ice cold and his expression became that of a ruthless man.
/That bastard is gonna learn that he can't get away with this. That fucking bastard is gonna find that although her parents are dead, I am not. That fucking . . ./
"Schuldich?" Nagi asked concerned. Schuldich usually was not this shaken up by anything. To have him react this way, something major must have happened.
"Nothing, Nagi," Schuldich said absently. "This doesn't concern you. Go back to sleep."
"What. . ."
"I've got something I've gotta do," Schuldig's voice was cold as ice and sent chills down Nagi's back. Nagi did not remember Schuldich being this angry before. Schuldich was dangerous at the best of times. Now he was terrifying.
Schuldich got out of bed and quickly dressed. When he was fully ready, he moved quietly over to where Farfarello slept, strapped in his straightjacket and chained to the cot. Schuldich tapped Farf's shoulder. Farf came instantly awake.
"What ye need?" he asked. Schuldich very rarely called upon him and when he did, it was usually interesting.
"Are you up to a little hunt?" Schuldich asked. His tone made even the Irishman look twice at him.
"Sure, why not?" Farf replied, his single golden eye shinning with excitement. This was bound to be good.
"Good," Schuldich said with a nasty grin. He busied himself in untying his teammate.
Soon as Nagi heard Schuldich and Farfarello leave, he got out of his own bed and went over to where Crawford was sleeping. He tapped his leader lightly on the shoulder.
"Crawford," he whispered. "Schuldich and Farfarello have run off somewhere."
"What time is it?" Crawford's voice sounded a little muddled with sleep.
"It's 4:00a.m." Nagi replied.
"They're late," Crawford said. He sighed and stretched. "They should have been gone half an hour ago. Well, no help for that. Nagi, go call Iri. We need to leave very soon."
Nagi was silently cursed Crawford for not warning anyone that Schuldich was gonna do this, even though he knew very well that this was gonna happen. Nevertheless, he did as he was told.
As he reached Iri's door, which was just across the hall, he knocked politely on the door. A muffled, sleepy voice answered something vaguely like a curse.
"Uh, Iri, Crawford says it's time to go," Nagi called.
There was a bit of shuffling in the room before the door opened a crack.
"What?" Iri said when she pocked her head through the door.
"Crawford says it's time to go," Nagi replied. "Schuldich and Farfarello ran off someplace and we have to go get them."
"Oh," Iri replied, looking slightly confused. "Alright then. Let me get dressed first."
Schuldich sat on the single most comfortable chair in the room, regarding the men cowering on the floor in front of him. His pose was casual and relaxed but one look at those icy chips that served as eyes would make the strongest man hide.
Farfarello cut along one of the men's arm, eliciting a strangled scream.
"Uncle Lorry," Schuldich said, the first words he'd said all the time he'd been there. "How have you been?"
Schuldich smiled at his Uncle but the smile never reached beyond his lips.
"Now, I've been getting some bad reviews about you. Tell me, what have you been doing with my sister?"
The man made strained noises behind his gag.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I've left the gag in. Farfarello, will you kindly get that gag out of his mouth?"
Farfarello wordlessly untied the gag and let it fall to the ground. A string of profanities issued from the man's mouth, cursing Schuldich, his sister, his family, his parents, just about everything there is about Schuldich.
"Oh, we can't have that, now can we?" Schuldich asked and nodded to Farfarello. Farfie pulled a fist full of the man's hair and pulled his head back. With a single fluid motion, he cut out the man's tongue. The man's string of profanities became a gurgled scream of pain. Blood spilled out of the man's mouth in a river.
"Did you think I wouldn't do anything really damaging to you, Uncle?" Schuldich asked mockingly. "Well, you've been grievously underestimating me then, Uncle. I've done this before and I'll do a lot more. I think you've got a few parts of you that still crave my sister, don't you? Well, not to worry. We'll cleanse you now. I think we'll start with the biggest part. Farfie, will you do the honors?"
"Ai, certainly, Herr Schuldig," Farfarello said with a smirk. With a quick slice, the man's privates were sliced off. The others, seeing this, made a desperate dash for the door. Schuldich used his superior speed to get to the door before them and firmly shut it.
"Oh, don't worry gentlemen," Schuldich said with a devilish smirk. "You'll all get a turn at the cleansing. No need to leave yet."
Crawford returned the rental car and called a cab he directed the cab driver to 13th street [1]. Coincidentally, that's where Iri lived with her uncle....
"Crawford, why are we going to Uncle Vince's house?" Iri asked apprehensively.
"We're picking your brother and Farfarello up," Crawford replied.
"Why is Viccy there?" Iri asked, sounding alarmed.
Crawford chose not to reply.
"Crawford, answer me!" Iri yelled, surging toward the front where Crawford sat. Nagi put a restraining hand on Iri's arm.
"Crawford always has his reasons. Everything he does he has a reason," Nagi said to Iri. "He'll tell you what you want to know when he deems you need to know."
Iri opened her mouth to protest but then thought better of it. Instead, she sulked all the way to the house. Once they got there, Crawford stepped out of the car.
"Stay in the car," Crawford said to Iri. He then proceeded into the house.
Iri made as to get out of the car, only to feel an invisible force keep her from going. She looked reproachfully at Nagi.
"He's my brother," Iri said. "And he's my Uncle. I think I deserve to see what's going on."
Nagi sighed.
"Fine, you can go but only because I agree that you should know what you're getting into."
"I didn't know bodies could bleed this much," Schuldich commented idlely.
"Ai. You just about bled them empty," Farfarello replied, looking around him. He was almost caked with blood. The room was smeared with blood everywhere. There was blood on all of the walls, on the floor, even on the ceiling. The lone spot where there was no blood was around Schuldich. Indeed, Schuldich did not have a single spot of blood on him. He sat at the desk with his elbows propped on the desk and his fingers woven together. He still looked about with a smothering anger.
"What ye want me to do with this bloke?" Farfarello asked, gesturing toward a huddled form in front of the desk.
"Oh, Uncle Vince?" Schuldich asked sweetly, as if he'd forgotten that the man was there. "Uncle Vince is going to live a long, long time, won't you Uncle Vince?"
The man didn't move, didn't even whimper.
"The usual punishment would not do for you, Uncle Vince," Schuldich informed the man. He knew that at least a part of the man's mind still understood him. "The others got to die. You won't get that privilege. No, you're gonna live and live for a long time. You will suffer so long as you live. This way, I can make sure you get what you disserve. You like young girls? Well, now you get to be one. Aren't you lucky? You like rape? You think it's exciting? Well, now you'll get raped, over and over again. Still exciting?"
The man whimpered.
"Farfie," Schuldich said in a deceptively tender tone. "Kindly call the police so that my dear Uncle Vince won't bleed to death."
"Ye're cruel when ye're mad, Schuldich." Farfarello remarked.
"So what else is new?"
Farfarello smirked and went to do as he was asked. Just then, Crawford entered.
"Time to go, Schuldich," Crawford said. He did not comment on what went on in the room.
"Yes, Bradley," Schuldich said mockingly. "Farfie, hurry up. Fearless leader wants to go."
Schuldich spun his chair around to face the door and froze. Iri stood in the doorway, frozen in place as she surveyed the room. Schudich's eyes narrowed.
/Ten seconds to tell me what she's doing here,/ Schuldich sent to Crawford.
/You were late. Originally, I'd have left her at the hotel, picked you up, and went back for her. Since you're 40 minutes off, I had to bring her along. Nagi was supposed to keep her out of here. Apparently, he's got no common sense./ Crawford sent back.
"Viccy?" Iri asked in a small voice. She reached out wordlessly toward her brother, silently imploring him to come to her. Her mind opened to him and he could feel exactly what she felt. It was nothing like what he'd thought she'd feel. He'd thought she'd resent him, that she'd think him a monster. Instead, there was gratitude and relief and a fierce satisfaction on being avenged. Schuldich's jaw hit the floor. He had NOT expected her to just accept all this bloodshed. Obviously, he'd underestimated his little sister.
/What are you waiting for?/ Crawford thought at him. /She's still waiting for you./
Wordlessly, he stumbled his way to where she stood. He threw his arms around her slight shoulders and stroked her back while she let out her tears - tears she'd kept contained for years. At length, she stopped. That was when she spotted the huddled form of her chief tormentor.
"Why is he still alive?" Iri asked in a quiet voice.
"I want to make sure he suffers," Schuldich replied just as quietly. "If he somehow did not end up in a hell of sorts, I want to make sure he gets his just deserts before he goes."
"And how do you propose to do that?"
"I set his mind in a loop that will never break. He'll face what you've faced for the rest of his life, over and over again. There's no way out for him."
"I still want him dead."
"But don't you want to make sure he suffers first?"
"Well, I suppose,"
"We really must be going," Crawford interjected. "The police will be here in five minutes.
"Alright," Schuldich replied. "Come Farf, it's time to go."
"He's not hurt, is he?" Iri asked concerned as she surveyed his blood-soaked state.
"Don't insult him, kid," Schuldich replied. "Those guys barely gave him a workout."
As for Farfarello, he completely ignored the new addition to the team. Instead, he walked silently to where the cab still waited. Upon reaching the cab, he calmly walked up to the cab driver and slit his throat. He then pulled the body out of the car and climbed in the back seat to where Nagi already sat. All this was done with none of the members of Shwarz so much as batting an eyelash. Iri shuddered at what went into building such immunity. But then, she shouldn't be surprised, seeing what her brother went through and all.
Calmly, they all piled in, Crawford in the driver's seat.
Sitting in the car while Crawford was driving was the single most frightening experience in Iri's life. He seemingly ignored traffic laws altogether, making blind turns without looking, cutting people off casually, almost hitting someone 3 times and almost getting hit so many time,s Iri stopped counting. She knew that he was obeying traffic laws already foreseen. That did not stop her from clutching her seat until her knuckles were white. What's worse is that Schuldich could not stop snickering in the back seat. He didn't say anything to Iri, of course but he just sat there, snickering not quite so softly. Iri wanted to rip his head off . . . .
Finally, they reached the airport. Iri had the strong urge to kiss the ground the stood on but refused to give in to it. The members of Shwarz had to bodily hold Farfie down as they relieved him of his knives. Needless to say, he did not seem overjoyed to find himself unarmed. Finally, they got on the plane. This was the first time Iri got to go on a plane and her excitement was almost scary.
"Iri, stop that or I'll stuff you into one of Farfie's straight jackets," Schuldich said after watching her bounce about in her seat for the last 5 minutes.
"I can't stop it, Viccy," Iri squeaked in return. "You know how I get when I'm excited!"
Schuldich made a sign that looked like he was asking for divine aid to give him patience.
"Can we trank her? Just until we get back to Japan?" he asked Crawford.
"No," Crawford replied. Iri glared at her brother.
"Get ready, Iri," Crawford said. "Your new life is about to start."
A/N: Okay, I know, crappy ending. What do you want me to do, postpone updating even more? I didn't think so . . .
Warnings: Major angst, hint of child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, violent tendency on the part of Schuschu. This is why this fic is rated R.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but Iri.
"I can't believe you haven't ordered another hotel room for Iri, Crawford," Schuldich complained in his nasal whine. "Now we have to share a single room while she gets that nice, big room to herself. I know you foresaw this so why didn't you order another room?"
"It's only for one night, Schuldich," Crawford said exasperated. They'd been through this four times already in the last hour. "It's rather expensive to rent another room and I thought it unnecessary to order another room. Apparently, if I'd known that you'd whine so much, I'd have risked it and charged it to your account."
Schuldich muttered something that sounded like "Miser"
"What was that?" Bradley asked with a glare.
"Nothing," Schuldich replied, nonchalantly.
"But Braaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddlllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,"
Schuldich whined. "You snore!"
Nagi snorted behind his hand as he got ready for bed. He didn't really care for the arrangement either but watching Schuldich flip out is worth the mild discomfort. He was glad to have met Schuldich's sister. She seemed like a nice girl. It shocked a bit to find Crawford asking her to stay, though. Usually, Crawford didn't like people getting too close to his team. Iri must have somehow rubbed Crawford the right way without any of them noticing. Oh well, whatever. It didn't matter anyway. Crawford knows what he's doing.
"Shut up, Schuldich," Crawford growled. "Before I give into my urge to use Farfarello's sedatives on you."
"Empty bluff," Schuldich sneered back. "You know very well that you need all of that stuff to keep him quiet for the rest of the trip."
Nagi pulled back the covers of one of the beds and snuggled in between the sheets. This was going to be a long night. Nagi sighed and tried to go to sleep while Bradley and Schuldich waged battle above.
~ Dream Sequence Begins ~
A Dark room.
A lot of people.
Where?
Familiar, vaguely familiar.
Where am I?
A man spoke.
Who is he?
It's so dark.
Can't see clearly.
That silhouette looks familiar somehow.
Who is that man?
Hands oh my arms, pulling me forward.
What's going on?
Feeling of trust breaking.
Feeling of ropes around my wrists and ankles.
The shattering of a fragile faith.
Stop, STOP, STOP!
You can't do this!
STOP!
Sound of ripping cloth.
Anger and humiliation and hurt so deep, it can never be healed.
PAIN!
Pain and humiliation and broken trust.
A flash of light.
A grinning face.
That face!
I know that face.
That's. . . .
~ End Dream Sequence ~
Schuldich came awake with a start, sitting up without even realizing that he was even moving. Nagi, who was so used to his lover's sudden awakenings, rubbed his eyes sleepily but did not start too badly from Schuldich's sudden movements. Schuldich had a tendency to do things like this in his sleep.
"Schu, what is it?" Nagi whispered.
Schuldich could not answer. His jaw was clenched so tight, he couldn't speak. His eyes stung with tears he would not allow to be shed.
/That was Iri's dreams./ he thought. /That was Iri's nightmare. That's why Iri didn't have to tell anyone where she was going. No one's gonna miss her./
Schuldich clutched the coarse hotel blanket until his knuckles showed white.
/That bastard,/ Schuldich thought. /That fucking bastard. My parents trusted him, trusted him enough to ship their CHILD to him and this is what he does to her./
Schuldich's eyes turned ice cold and his expression became that of a ruthless man.
/That bastard is gonna learn that he can't get away with this. That fucking bastard is gonna find that although her parents are dead, I am not. That fucking . . ./
"Schuldich?" Nagi asked concerned. Schuldich usually was not this shaken up by anything. To have him react this way, something major must have happened.
"Nothing, Nagi," Schuldich said absently. "This doesn't concern you. Go back to sleep."
"What. . ."
"I've got something I've gotta do," Schuldig's voice was cold as ice and sent chills down Nagi's back. Nagi did not remember Schuldich being this angry before. Schuldich was dangerous at the best of times. Now he was terrifying.
Schuldich got out of bed and quickly dressed. When he was fully ready, he moved quietly over to where Farfarello slept, strapped in his straightjacket and chained to the cot. Schuldich tapped Farf's shoulder. Farf came instantly awake.
"What ye need?" he asked. Schuldich very rarely called upon him and when he did, it was usually interesting.
"Are you up to a little hunt?" Schuldich asked. His tone made even the Irishman look twice at him.
"Sure, why not?" Farf replied, his single golden eye shinning with excitement. This was bound to be good.
"Good," Schuldich said with a nasty grin. He busied himself in untying his teammate.
Soon as Nagi heard Schuldich and Farfarello leave, he got out of his own bed and went over to where Crawford was sleeping. He tapped his leader lightly on the shoulder.
"Crawford," he whispered. "Schuldich and Farfarello have run off somewhere."
"What time is it?" Crawford's voice sounded a little muddled with sleep.
"It's 4:00a.m." Nagi replied.
"They're late," Crawford said. He sighed and stretched. "They should have been gone half an hour ago. Well, no help for that. Nagi, go call Iri. We need to leave very soon."
Nagi was silently cursed Crawford for not warning anyone that Schuldich was gonna do this, even though he knew very well that this was gonna happen. Nevertheless, he did as he was told.
As he reached Iri's door, which was just across the hall, he knocked politely on the door. A muffled, sleepy voice answered something vaguely like a curse.
"Uh, Iri, Crawford says it's time to go," Nagi called.
There was a bit of shuffling in the room before the door opened a crack.
"What?" Iri said when she pocked her head through the door.
"Crawford says it's time to go," Nagi replied. "Schuldich and Farfarello ran off someplace and we have to go get them."
"Oh," Iri replied, looking slightly confused. "Alright then. Let me get dressed first."
Schuldich sat on the single most comfortable chair in the room, regarding the men cowering on the floor in front of him. His pose was casual and relaxed but one look at those icy chips that served as eyes would make the strongest man hide.
Farfarello cut along one of the men's arm, eliciting a strangled scream.
"Uncle Lorry," Schuldich said, the first words he'd said all the time he'd been there. "How have you been?"
Schuldich smiled at his Uncle but the smile never reached beyond his lips.
"Now, I've been getting some bad reviews about you. Tell me, what have you been doing with my sister?"
The man made strained noises behind his gag.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I've left the gag in. Farfarello, will you kindly get that gag out of his mouth?"
Farfarello wordlessly untied the gag and let it fall to the ground. A string of profanities issued from the man's mouth, cursing Schuldich, his sister, his family, his parents, just about everything there is about Schuldich.
"Oh, we can't have that, now can we?" Schuldich asked and nodded to Farfarello. Farfie pulled a fist full of the man's hair and pulled his head back. With a single fluid motion, he cut out the man's tongue. The man's string of profanities became a gurgled scream of pain. Blood spilled out of the man's mouth in a river.
"Did you think I wouldn't do anything really damaging to you, Uncle?" Schuldich asked mockingly. "Well, you've been grievously underestimating me then, Uncle. I've done this before and I'll do a lot more. I think you've got a few parts of you that still crave my sister, don't you? Well, not to worry. We'll cleanse you now. I think we'll start with the biggest part. Farfie, will you do the honors?"
"Ai, certainly, Herr Schuldig," Farfarello said with a smirk. With a quick slice, the man's privates were sliced off. The others, seeing this, made a desperate dash for the door. Schuldich used his superior speed to get to the door before them and firmly shut it.
"Oh, don't worry gentlemen," Schuldich said with a devilish smirk. "You'll all get a turn at the cleansing. No need to leave yet."
Crawford returned the rental car and called a cab he directed the cab driver to 13th street [1]. Coincidentally, that's where Iri lived with her uncle....
"Crawford, why are we going to Uncle Vince's house?" Iri asked apprehensively.
"We're picking your brother and Farfarello up," Crawford replied.
"Why is Viccy there?" Iri asked, sounding alarmed.
Crawford chose not to reply.
"Crawford, answer me!" Iri yelled, surging toward the front where Crawford sat. Nagi put a restraining hand on Iri's arm.
"Crawford always has his reasons. Everything he does he has a reason," Nagi said to Iri. "He'll tell you what you want to know when he deems you need to know."
Iri opened her mouth to protest but then thought better of it. Instead, she sulked all the way to the house. Once they got there, Crawford stepped out of the car.
"Stay in the car," Crawford said to Iri. He then proceeded into the house.
Iri made as to get out of the car, only to feel an invisible force keep her from going. She looked reproachfully at Nagi.
"He's my brother," Iri said. "And he's my Uncle. I think I deserve to see what's going on."
Nagi sighed.
"Fine, you can go but only because I agree that you should know what you're getting into."
"I didn't know bodies could bleed this much," Schuldich commented idlely.
"Ai. You just about bled them empty," Farfarello replied, looking around him. He was almost caked with blood. The room was smeared with blood everywhere. There was blood on all of the walls, on the floor, even on the ceiling. The lone spot where there was no blood was around Schuldich. Indeed, Schuldich did not have a single spot of blood on him. He sat at the desk with his elbows propped on the desk and his fingers woven together. He still looked about with a smothering anger.
"What ye want me to do with this bloke?" Farfarello asked, gesturing toward a huddled form in front of the desk.
"Oh, Uncle Vince?" Schuldich asked sweetly, as if he'd forgotten that the man was there. "Uncle Vince is going to live a long, long time, won't you Uncle Vince?"
The man didn't move, didn't even whimper.
"The usual punishment would not do for you, Uncle Vince," Schuldich informed the man. He knew that at least a part of the man's mind still understood him. "The others got to die. You won't get that privilege. No, you're gonna live and live for a long time. You will suffer so long as you live. This way, I can make sure you get what you disserve. You like young girls? Well, now you get to be one. Aren't you lucky? You like rape? You think it's exciting? Well, now you'll get raped, over and over again. Still exciting?"
The man whimpered.
"Farfie," Schuldich said in a deceptively tender tone. "Kindly call the police so that my dear Uncle Vince won't bleed to death."
"Ye're cruel when ye're mad, Schuldich." Farfarello remarked.
"So what else is new?"
Farfarello smirked and went to do as he was asked. Just then, Crawford entered.
"Time to go, Schuldich," Crawford said. He did not comment on what went on in the room.
"Yes, Bradley," Schuldich said mockingly. "Farfie, hurry up. Fearless leader wants to go."
Schuldich spun his chair around to face the door and froze. Iri stood in the doorway, frozen in place as she surveyed the room. Schudich's eyes narrowed.
/Ten seconds to tell me what she's doing here,/ Schuldich sent to Crawford.
/You were late. Originally, I'd have left her at the hotel, picked you up, and went back for her. Since you're 40 minutes off, I had to bring her along. Nagi was supposed to keep her out of here. Apparently, he's got no common sense./ Crawford sent back.
"Viccy?" Iri asked in a small voice. She reached out wordlessly toward her brother, silently imploring him to come to her. Her mind opened to him and he could feel exactly what she felt. It was nothing like what he'd thought she'd feel. He'd thought she'd resent him, that she'd think him a monster. Instead, there was gratitude and relief and a fierce satisfaction on being avenged. Schuldich's jaw hit the floor. He had NOT expected her to just accept all this bloodshed. Obviously, he'd underestimated his little sister.
/What are you waiting for?/ Crawford thought at him. /She's still waiting for you./
Wordlessly, he stumbled his way to where she stood. He threw his arms around her slight shoulders and stroked her back while she let out her tears - tears she'd kept contained for years. At length, she stopped. That was when she spotted the huddled form of her chief tormentor.
"Why is he still alive?" Iri asked in a quiet voice.
"I want to make sure he suffers," Schuldich replied just as quietly. "If he somehow did not end up in a hell of sorts, I want to make sure he gets his just deserts before he goes."
"And how do you propose to do that?"
"I set his mind in a loop that will never break. He'll face what you've faced for the rest of his life, over and over again. There's no way out for him."
"I still want him dead."
"But don't you want to make sure he suffers first?"
"Well, I suppose,"
"We really must be going," Crawford interjected. "The police will be here in five minutes.
"Alright," Schuldich replied. "Come Farf, it's time to go."
"He's not hurt, is he?" Iri asked concerned as she surveyed his blood-soaked state.
"Don't insult him, kid," Schuldich replied. "Those guys barely gave him a workout."
As for Farfarello, he completely ignored the new addition to the team. Instead, he walked silently to where the cab still waited. Upon reaching the cab, he calmly walked up to the cab driver and slit his throat. He then pulled the body out of the car and climbed in the back seat to where Nagi already sat. All this was done with none of the members of Shwarz so much as batting an eyelash. Iri shuddered at what went into building such immunity. But then, she shouldn't be surprised, seeing what her brother went through and all.
Calmly, they all piled in, Crawford in the driver's seat.
Sitting in the car while Crawford was driving was the single most frightening experience in Iri's life. He seemingly ignored traffic laws altogether, making blind turns without looking, cutting people off casually, almost hitting someone 3 times and almost getting hit so many time,s Iri stopped counting. She knew that he was obeying traffic laws already foreseen. That did not stop her from clutching her seat until her knuckles were white. What's worse is that Schuldich could not stop snickering in the back seat. He didn't say anything to Iri, of course but he just sat there, snickering not quite so softly. Iri wanted to rip his head off . . . .
Finally, they reached the airport. Iri had the strong urge to kiss the ground the stood on but refused to give in to it. The members of Shwarz had to bodily hold Farfie down as they relieved him of his knives. Needless to say, he did not seem overjoyed to find himself unarmed. Finally, they got on the plane. This was the first time Iri got to go on a plane and her excitement was almost scary.
"Iri, stop that or I'll stuff you into one of Farfie's straight jackets," Schuldich said after watching her bounce about in her seat for the last 5 minutes.
"I can't stop it, Viccy," Iri squeaked in return. "You know how I get when I'm excited!"
Schuldich made a sign that looked like he was asking for divine aid to give him patience.
"Can we trank her? Just until we get back to Japan?" he asked Crawford.
"No," Crawford replied. Iri glared at her brother.
"Get ready, Iri," Crawford said. "Your new life is about to start."
A/N: Okay, I know, crappy ending. What do you want me to do, postpone updating even more? I didn't think so . . .
