Raven's Pendant
WEIß KREUZ - YU YU HAKUSHO CROSSOVER FANFICTION

Part 4 - Echoing Familiarity

"Schuldig-niisan, what do you think of the occult?" Kurama asked with ingenuousness that had the telepath almost laughing. Nagi was studying nearby, Crawford was out and Farfello was heavily sedated and not up for company.

It had been a little more than a week since the redheaded scamp had been allowed to visit and as far as Schuldig could see, he was a consummate actor. The effortless way he had melted into the role of an innocent was rather astonishing.

It takes no stretch of the imagination for Fujimiya to believe him. He's so cute this way… Though I wonder if that's the only reason why Crawford allowed him to visit… That he looks apparently harmless… If Fearless Leader had only known…but I'm not complaining…mind you… I like this very much. It's almost like he's my little brother this way…

"Why are you asking, chibi?" Schuldig asked, it was hard to guess if the boy was serious.

"'Coz there's a cult, I bumped into who thinks they can raise their dead ancestors back to life." Kurama pouted. There was underlying seriousness to the youngster's manner.

Ouch, that's too close with the crazy Elders' plans for comfort… and I stuck enough in that nonsense…I don't want him, too…

"Chibi…that's the craziest thing I've ever heard." Schuldig enunciated carefully so that there can be no mistake about what he said.

"You mean you think it's not possible?"

"Aa." Schuldig lied.

Well, mostly impossible, I can't discount that almost nothing is impossible… Our powers for instance…

"So you don't believe in it." Kurama said, easily.

"Aa, chibi, how about if we change the topic, shall we?"

***

"Hai, so what do you think of my new clubbing outfit?" Kurama countered happily. He breathed easier when he heard his Schuldig-niisan affirm his disbelief in that particular aspect of supernatural phenomena. He had quickly seen that the other was telling the truth though there was uneasiness in the statements that also told him that the telepath knew more than he was telling. Nagi-kun, too, was cleared. The telekinetic was obviously skeptical of the topic at hand.

Well, at least he's in the clear… From what Botan-chan brought me, Schwartz is high up in the councils of Estet…so they know what's going on but don't really believe it's going to succeed. Good…

The redheaded fox was happy for Schuldig. He didn't know Nagi-kun very well but it was clear that the telepath cared for the boy in a brotherly sense. There was a quiet sort of affection in the air. Something he could sense at the edge of perception. While not being an empath, he, like all demons, was marginally sensitive towards feelings.

"Hot, just make sure you have me or your 'niichan around to defend you…and you'll be alright…" Schuldig teased.

"Schuldig-niisan!" Kurama yelped in a patented outraged innocence.

***

"What did he do this time?" Crawford asked. Crawford had heard an indignant squeal as he entered the Schwartz safe house.

He is lovely though…and so comfortable to be around…

Crawford knew he had to evict the youngster and make plans to change safe houses but somehow he didn't have the heart to do so.

He livens the place up and he makes Schuldig more disciplined… Has to impress his lover, after all… The guy's top of his class from what Nagi tells me and can keep his mouth shut… That should worry me at least. What do we know of this guy, really? But I don't see any harm coming from him in the future but…that strange vision…

Crawford knew that he should be getting rid of the boy simply because while it made Schuldig less of a lothario and a drunkard, the younger redhead made him lose focus and relax. His defenses lowered around the kid besides the visions that seem to increase in intensity with every passing day. Another bout of disorientation floored him…

The room wavered around him. Maybe this time it would be clear, maybe this time it would tell him why…

A vague image rose up to face him. A touch of silver and gold, the fleeting impression of tallness… Sweeping long hair rising up again…or is that a tail… Then nothing as the vision shattered again.

He nearly sighed but knew that would be counter-productive.

Why do I feel so relaxed around him? Why do I see these visions around him…?

He remembered that incident…

***

"Schuldig-niisan?" Shuuichi yelled exuberantly as he popped his head into the half-opened doorway, shaking his bangs and ear-tails out of the way as he bounced to sit on the arm of Crawford's computer chair.

"He's somewhere in the apartment, Minamino-kun." Crawford bit out, irritated. He had barely enough warning to close down the report he had been working on.

How could he have gotten in without Schuldig being around? I know Nagi and Farfarello are out… Did Schuldig give him a key? That's irresponsible of him… We have to keep our guards up even in here…and that will tire us out…

"Call me Kurama. That's my nickname." Shuuichi--no--Kurama said, as he gave Crawford a sweet smile. At this close range, he could smell the elusive scent of some flower on the boy. The sweet lips curved up enticingly. The leaf green eyes glowed with trust.

Crawford's vision suddenly doubled, seeing the hint of silver hair and golden eyes with a darker expression directed at him. He blinked, the image lingered a moment before fading away making him doubt that it ever existed. Except that being a precog, he knew better than to discount such a thing.

"Aa, Kurama-kun…" Crawford returned the smile with one of his neutral expressions as he saw the youngster stare at him.

Then suddenly before the American could say anything more…

"I won the bet Kurama-chan, I knew you could interrupt his high-and-mightiness without getting your head bitten off…" Schuldig snickered from the doorway.

"Schuldig--Kurama--!" Crawford shouted indignantly, making shooing motions with his arms. However, he found himself smiling to himself after he had evicted both mischief-makers from the room.

***

But I don't want him gone for all the trouble it's causing me…the lost edge and all…

The idea startled Crawford, causing his thoughts to crash together like a messy car pile up accident.

"He speaks! Miracle of miracles… Why, Crawford I never thought you deigned talk to us outside of necessity?" Schuldig asked slyly bring Crawford back to the present.

Trust him to make it the headline news of the day…

"Schuldig--!"

"What, oh Fearless Leader?" Then to Kurama…

"See he's so smitten by your beauty that he's speechless…"

Crawford had an awful feeling that he was blushing. He had never done so before but what else was the heat in his cheeks all about?

Wha--the--?

"Schuldig--Kura--"

"Hai?" The redhead turned to give Crawford an innocent look from where he sat on the couch.

"You gave him your nickname? It's only been what--a week? I'm hurt, Kurama-chan." Schuldig teased, though his light tone held a hidden tone of concern. The way the telepath was looking on him was not promising; it hinted that Schuldig was going to stubborn about this later.

Oh goody, he thinks I'm horning in on his territory… This is going to cause some minor explosions…

"I'm going to go back to my paperwork." Crawford excused himself.

I hope that'll be enough to keep Schuldig from gunning for me…

"He's your friend, isn't he? I trust your taste."

The words followed the American just as he was about to close his office door.

You trust Schuldig's judgment? You're a trusting child. Yes, a lovely child… That's it… Nothing more than that…

However, Crawford couldn't shake the nagging feeling that it was important.

***

"Bai-bai!" Kurama said cheerily as Schuldig closed the door.

Schuldig sighed as he walked to the study. He really didn't relish confronting Crawford but he really didn't like the way the American was staring at Kurama-chan. Not only that, the precog had blushed like a schoolboy at his teasing.

This is not good… Damned ass, I never thought he had pedophilic tendencies…

Schuldig was almost tempted to tell Kurama to knock off visiting him for a while but that just wouldn't do.

And not because I will miss him either, Crawford would find a way to get at him some other time and then the shit will truly hit the fan… Damned American would find out about Fujimiya and boom! Bye-bye Schuldig… Worse yet Crawford might just try something on the kid when no one else is around… Not that Kurama's as harmless as he seems but against a pro…? He talks a good game but I don't think he's as experience in the sexual flirtation as he claims…

***

"Crawford, I need to talk to you…" Schuldig said as he came in without leave into the study.

"About what?" Crawford managed a level voice and was proud of it. Inside he was shaking somewhat.

I'm an assassin and a damned sadistic one at that… I have tortured and killed people for less than this insolence… Damned it!

Crawford knew that he should at least punch Schuldig one for his presumption.

"About Kurama-chan." Schuldig challenged the precog.

"What about the youngster?" Crawford met Schuldig's eyes.

Here comes the jealous boyfriend routine…

"I think he's too young for you. Kurama-chan is a nice kid and he doesn't even truly know what we do for a living." Schuldig said firmly.

How dare he question me! Besides I have as much if not more right to…What am I saying?

Through the confused thoughts, there was a part of him though that was glad. Schuldig was confronting him not like a jealous lover would but as an irate brother, protective but not possessive or rather a different kind of possessiveness.

"Will you kindly remove yourself from the room I have work to do!"

"Let's stop this bullshit, ne? You weren't working when I came in. I checked your thoughts. You might shield against me but I know enough to sense that you weren't. What were you doing? Daydreaming about a pair of green eyes…?"

Golden eyes, maybe, green no…

"No…" Crawford replied, shakily.

Where does that come from…?

"A bit uncertain in there…aren't you?"

"No." Crawford said firmer this time.

"Crawford, if you hurt him…" There was an undertone of menace that Crawford had never heard from the telepath.

"What is it with you! I've never seen you act this way before."

It's like he's being controlled or something…

***

"Well, you've never threatened anyone I cared for before." Schuldig said, toning down somewhat. He was startled at his own vehemence and tried to back out of the situation gracefully.

I've only known him for one fucking year…and I'm risking my life for him? What's with me? But then it seems longer…

"Aa. I won't harm him. So get out!" Crawford said, rather loudly.

"Hai." Schuldig drawled, distracted with his thoughts that the unexpected punch Crawford threw nearly hit him.

"What the fuck!"

"That was for the insubordination. Now get out! "

"Hai, hai! You sure are touchy today." Schuldig replied. He got out of the door fast before Crawford could try anything else.

Something's got cool imperturbable Crawford annoyed…wonder what that is…?

***

Kurama sauntered along the campus ground, wondering how he could wangle a proper conversation with Crawford. The man had been a veritable aloof bastard even with his teammates.

And I thought it would've been easy… With Nagi-kun, it only took a few shy smiles and a bit of thieving skill…

Nagi didn't "drop" that notebook by accident, no matter what Schuldig and the rest of Schwartz believed.

What's the use of being the best thief in the Makai, after all, if one cannot use the skill to purloin a seeming friendship? But Crawford…

Crawford. The man was cold and ambitious but he touched something in Kurama. Something unidentifiable.

He reminds me of me when I was still Yoko… Ambition enough to rule the world, so focused on his goal that everyone is almost drowned out… There is something that keeps him from cutting me out of Schwartz… I bet it's the innocent act. For all his ruthlessness, he's still human and all… Hmmm, this needs more planning…

For all of Kurama's talk of doing his duty to the Makai, he had no plans of ever being "outed" as a youkai in front of his Schuldig-niisan or his Ran-niichan.

As might be the case if I have to execute Crawford... Farfarello-san has the excuse of insanity, Crawford has none..unless I'm prepared to lie...

Kurama was not quite yet prepared to do just that. Koenma was also a friend and his loyalty to the Reikai Heir preceded his loyalty to Schuldig.

Besides the idiocy of crossing the Heir to the Reikai...

Kurama's thoughts were interrupted by a slender figure on his dorm's doorstep. Short red hair waved in the breeze proclaiming the identity of this unexpected visitor.

"Hi, 'niichan, what brings you here?" Kurama asked as he came up to the door.

And more caution, or Ran-niichan would find out where Schwartz is holing out…he's almost stalking me with his concern…

It had been a minor miracle that Kurama had managed so far to keep the information secret.

It might have been a tactical error on my part to contact him this soon… Though he does make a good aniki and I do seem to love him… He can be such a pain sometimes…

"Aniki, Schuldig wants us to go to the park again this Saturday." Kurama said. He noted rather amusedly that his Ran-niichan flinched at the thought.

***

Where is it?

The question hung in the darkness…

The waving of silver hair in front of him, he scent of green, and the stalks of bamboo speeded by in a hurried rush…the half-furled leathery wings on his side… Then snap a loosening around the neck. Something important, something falling, and turning back to get whatever it was. Pain through the thigh burned sudden and clear. Blood flooding hands, a deep voice singing out despair. Then slow leeching of everything into the cold darkness…

Where is it? The precious thing…I had forgotten… Where is it?

The questions burned and followed Crawford as he sat abruptly on his bed. He sighed.

Damned that dream again I thought I was done with it…

Crawford had had that nightmare before during his childhood days and thought he had outgrown it. He never remembered the details only that he lost something precious and that he wanted it back. He had tried for years to make sense of the dream vision but had no luck. He finally gave up trying...

It seems that Kurama-kun is bringing them back… Maybe I can finally solve the mystery…after all these years? Find that "precious thing" that I've lost…

Doubt though gnawed at him from inside.

Or finally lose whatever's left of my sanity…

~TBC~

Author's Notes:

This is pretty much Yu Yu Hakusho, ne? Sorry to the SchuldigxAya people but the chapter tackles the title-story…in great detail. Aren't you happy for Crawford? For those who are barely familiar with YYH, here's a shrine for the minor character I'm using…Tall, dark, handsome AND mysterious Kuronue-sama! *gives a fan girl squeal* :

http://khavenvale.topcities.com/kuronue.html

NEXT: Ran insists on shadowing Schuldig and Kurama to a club, he also meets Hiei…