A/N: Thanks to my sweet Neo-chan for reading this far and helping me with ideas.

Pairings: Schuldig/Youji, Schuldig/Aya, Aya/Youji

// ¡­ // = Telepathy

Chapter seventeen

Youji yawned as he walked downstairs for this shift that afternoon. Running a hand through his hair, he stopped at the base of the stairs and glanced around the shop, sleepy forest green eyes settling first on Nagi then Aya. He frowned lightly as he watched the young telekinetic get up, bow slightly to Aya, mumbling something, before leaving the shop silently.

Grabbing himself a cup of coffee and slipping his sunglasses up into his hair, Youji sauntered over to the young blonde and leant back against the counter. "What was he doing here?"

Omi shrugged. "I think he just wanted to know how Mastermind was doing. Aya-kun seems fine with talking to him, so I wasn't really listening to them."

"Saa." Youji grinned at Omi and ruffled his hair, ignoring the boy's squawk of protest as he looked over at Aya. "Hey Aya, shouldn't you be getting ready now? Aya-chan should be here soon."

Aya glanced up at Youji then frowned at the clock. "Hn." He nodded once and pushed himself away from the windowsill, heading upstairs.

* * * *

Slipping off his shoes, Nagi picked his bag up again and walked through the hall to the main room of the Schwarz apartment, stopping in the doorway when he saw Brad waiting for him on the couch. Steeling himself he walked into the room and placed his school bag down beside the coffee table before walked towards the kitchen.

"Nagi."

He stopped and turned around. "Hai, Crawford-san?"

Brad didn't turn around in his seat, keeping his back to the young boy. "You're late."

He's seen where I was. Nagi flinched inwardly and walked back to the couch, standing beside the older man. "I was talking to Weiß." He admitted softly.

"I appreciate your honest, Nagi." Brad said, looking at the boy. "How is he doing?"

Nagi blinked. "They say he's recovering well."

Brad nodded once. "I see."

Nagi frowned inwardly and felt a familiar pressure brush against his mind. // Schu? //

// Ja.. I'm listening. Becareful, brat.. he's up to something. //

// I thought so myself. // Nagi waited for a few moments before excusing himself and heading back to the kitchen. Grabbing a glass of water, Nagi sipped it quietly while he mused on Crawford's behaviour over the past couple of days. I just don't get him. He sighed and shook his head, putting his glass in the sink and walking back out to get his bag. Noting that Brad was still there, arms folded and eyes closed where he sat, Nagi picked up his bag and silently walked upstairs to his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

* * * *

It was several days later when Schuldig was released from hospital. Youji and Aya had both tried to convince him to stay with them at the Koneko but Schuldig just shook his head and muttered something about finding a hotel to stay in. But after continued harassment and reasoning that he'd be safer staying with them than he would alone, Schuldig relented and agreed to move in with the kittens, for now.

Weiß had had several missions in the meantime, none of which the remaining members of Schwarz turned up in.

The German telepath was currently sitting on his bed in Weiß's spare room, eyes closed and frowning thoughtfully as he listened mentally to the argument that was currently going on downstairs in the kitchen. The youngest kitten had resigned himself to trust the elder two kittens' judgement, but the soccer-playing kitten still didn't comprehend why they'd invited Schuldig to stay. He pondering going downstairs and showing Siberian exactly why Ran and Youji wanted him here, but he just stretched and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, deciding to let the kittens work it out for themselves.

Schuldig was just about to drift off to sleep when his mind brushed over another that was heading his way. Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair as the door opened to reveal Ken. "Don't you ever knock?" Schuldig purred with a faint grin.

Ken closed the door behind him and stalked over to the bed, folding his arms and glaring down at Schuldig. "I don't know what kind of mind trick you've played on Aya and Youji, but it won't work on me."

Schuldig blinked and even managed to look up at the brunette innocently. "There's no mind trick, Kenken."

"Don't call me that." He hissed.

"What can I say?" Schuldig shrugged. "I love them and they love me."

"I'll believe that when I see it. I'll be keeping my eye on you, Mastermind." With that Ken turned and left the room quickly.

Schuldig flopped back on the bed with a sigh. How melodramatic. Grinning he rolled onto his side and stared out the window as he let his mind wander again, wondering what the other kittens were up to.

The youngest Weiß was currently on the computer, chatting to Nagi. The two young hackers had been keeping regular contact with each other since that email it seemed. Schuldig grinned as he pondered how to use this information to his advantage but then shook his head. It wouldn't be right, he thought of Nagi as the kinder younger brother he never had, and Ran would be upset at him if he distressed the youngest kitten.

Schuldig sighed dramatically and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. He was getting bored now and a brutal case of cabin fever was starting to kick in. He needed fun and he need it now. Perhaps I can get Youji to clubbing with me. He mused, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, as he thought about the eldest Weiß in full clubbing attire. Subconsciously the telepath itched at his chest where the stitches had been, nein they wouldn't let me out.. not until I heal up right. He rolled his eyes and pulled the pillow from under his head, holding it over his face. Maybe I can just sleep until I heal..

~ tbc