Raven's Pendant

WEIß KREUZ - YU YU HAKUSHO FANFICTION

Part 7 - Never Trust a Fox *smirk*

"Crawford, what have you got to say for yourself? You cradle-snatcher!" Schuldig ranted. He was over himself with rage.

"Uh, hi, Schuldig-niisan?" Kurama asked, as Crawford remained speechless.

He should be more careful; he looks about ready to burst a blood vessel...

"Kurama-chan, I'm not talking to you. I want Mr. Pedophile here to give me an explanation."

Which the poor man seems to be unable to do right now... I don't really want you and Crawford to end up killing one another...

"Explain what, Schuldig-niisan?" Kurama said as Crawford sputtered.

"Crawford, have you no words to explain yourself?"

"Come on Schuldig-niisan, all the fuss over a little kiss. Honestly..." Kurama tried once more to defuse the situation.

Honestly...you're reacting like Ran-niichan... You two would really make a nice couple...

"A little kiss? A little kiss! And what would've happened if I didn't come in may I ask you?"

"Nothing. Crawford-san's too decent for that. You're the ecchi one, Schuldig-niisan." Kurama said brightly.

"Wouldn't be too sure about that." Schuldig said darkly.

Suspicious, ne? I guess you would be considering Schwartz reputation... I don't blame you...but nothing would've happened...really...

For all Kurama's protestations, he knew that it was quite possible that something might have happened if Schuldig hadn't come to it so he didn't bother to deny that fact to himself.

But with my full cooperation...He's not Kuro, not yet at any rate but he is hot, and I'm a grown youko with hormones...

***

"No. Nothing would've happened that Kurama wouldn't allow to happen." Crawford managed to say with dignity, finally catching his breath.

I can't force Kurama... I just know I can't...though that kiss was enjoyable... I never felt so--so right in my entire life... What am I doing letting him question me like this, I am the leader of Schwartz! I do what please!

"Oh, really now." Schuldig drawled sarcastically.

"I can defend myself, too, 'niisan if it came to that."

"Against someone experienced, I doubt that..."

"What does he mean, by that?" Crawford asked.

Does he mean what I think he means...?

"It means that I'm no mean martial artist myself. We spar together, y'know. I've beaten Schuldig-niisan half the time." Kurama piped in.

"Kurama-chan! That's only because I go easy on you."

"Oh that's what you say. Remember the four times I dropped you the last time we sparred."

"You shouldn't have told him that!"

"Why, Schuldig-niisan? He should know if he's going to go about courting me."

"You've already have a boyfrie...oops!"

He has a--what!

"You have a boyfriend?" Crawford asked calmly enough, though he was already planning ways to kill and torture the bastard.

I'm going to shoot him in the head and leave his body to rot... No that would be to quick, first, I'm going to string him up and--

Crawford stopped his thoughts at that. His mental voice was gleefully cackling.

This isn't good...

"Hai. And I love my little storm-cloud." Kurama admitted softly.

Crawford never doubted the sincerity in that earnest voice. His heart sank.

"You call him that. How cute, Kurama-chan!" Schuldig crowed.

Kurama just laughed and somehow the atmosphere lightened up and the conversation turned to lighter matters. However, Crawford wasn't prepared to let go of the matter just yet.

How do I win his heart...away from that man? I guess the first step is to know my rival...

Crawford smiled his predatory smile that went unnoticed in the banter.

***

Later that afternoon...

I should've called him and cancelled Nagi's tutoring session when the mission came down...

Crawford wouldn't have gotten his claws into the kid...

Schuldig thought thoroughly annoyed at himself for the lapse. Contrary to what Crawford thought, his suspicions hadn't been lulled at all. In fact, they had increased.

Doesn't the idiot know that that deadpan voice of his is a dead giveaway?

Schuldig watched as Crawford paid the informant for what he could tell of Hiei Jaganashi. Kurama-chan's boyfriend. It seemed that he had plenty in way of rumors.

Should've know that the runt was connected to the Underground... The way he made me itchy... And he has power, too...if the fact that I can't Read him is any indication... I wonder if he could stand against Crawford. I'd hate for Kurama-chan to get his heart broken... The kid's so in love with that guy... Though I really don't approve of anyone in our sort of business...but it is the kid's choice... Besides wait'll Fujimiya hear of this…he's going to explode! The kid seems to pick up the most unsuitable boyfriends…

Schuldig debated what he would do as he slunk back to the Schwartz safe house. He never did find a satisfactory answer.

The lesser of the two evils? Besides, do I tell this to Ran…?

Schuldig and Aya had gotten considerably closer since the double date. They bumped into each other on neutral ground at least once after that and went for some tea.

And it was almost a date…

***

Schuldig roamed around the mall looking for something to do. Kurama-chan was in school and most of Schwartz had errands to run. Normally, he would have been out with Farfarello torturing some poor soul, taunting Brad or teasing Nagi but his teammates were out for the moment.

He could cruise for guys but that just isn't his style. Schuldig prided himself for not needing to pay for company. He was always the popular one with the guys and the girls. He was passing a bookstore-and-café when he saw a familiar Weiß redhead sitting down in one of the couches reading.

What a little bookworm...

The man looked very preoccupied with the book he was reading and didn't even notice Schuldig as the telepath sat nearby to admire the glimmering purple eyes and the lovely profile. Fujimiya was rather entrancing when he was like this. His expression softened and lost the coldness that he used to mask himself from the world.

He's so--so cute this way... Makes me wonder how he'd look asleep...he'd probably look adorably innocent...

Unbidden, an image of Abyssinian came to Schuldig's mind. Cartoon-red hair tousled and snuggled closely to him. It seemed so right at that moment that he found himself wondering how that would feel like.

Argh! What's next, pink fluffy bunnies? I'm getting soft in my old age...

"Hn." Aya said as he looked up. His eyes met Schuldig's that frozen instant.

What are you doing? Thinking of your enemy in that fashion? He's Weiß...and Schwartz is planning something nasty for his sister...

"Er--hi?" Schuldig stumbled over the greeting.

"What are you doing here?" It was a demand.

"Um, nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yeah... I got to go now."

What are you doing? You sound like a teenager with his first crush...

"Hn." Yeah, right. The implication was loud enough for the telepath to read even without using his ability.

"Well, since you mentioned it, I was watching you. I passed by the store and saw you sitting there oh-so-cutely that I decided to look you up."

"Schuldig!"

"Ran!" Schuldig said in the same tone and was rewarded by silence.

"So can I stay awhile?" Schuldig asked.

"Hn." Aya replied, not looking up from the book where his eyes had come back to but it was a thoughtful, non-hostile sound.

Schuldig grabbed a cup of coffee and they spent the afternoon in companionable silence.


***

Schuldig would hate to have to inform the volatile Weiß redhead that Crawford had trifled with the kid.

It would certainly bode ill to future friendly relations…and maybe even more...

***

Meanwhile, Aya was in blissful ignorance of what his foxy little brother was up to. He was currently arranging pots in the Koneko. Since the store was rather deserted at the time of afternoon, his mind was free to roam where it willed. It chose to dwell on the impromptu double date. He felt rather strange about his brother's boyfriend. Jaganashi Hiei didn't make much sense as a boyfriend for his brother. Kurama-chan was nice and outgoing. Brilliant. The runt left much to be desired when it came to attitude. He glared at everyone without exception. He looked ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

Sort of like you, only worse… You're a murderer but on the side of the Right, what about him?

But there was very little Aya could do about it. Kurama-chan was utterly devoted to the runt. He might look up the man and see what his kid brother was getting into but after that…

After that, I could only guard against the eventuality as I am doing now…

It annoyed Aya but Kurama-chan was old enough that the kid could do what he pleased, no matter what his older brother said about it.

Kuso, and forbidden fruit always was sweeter, so…

Aya concluded that he could do nothing about that and cursed. Then his thoughts strayed to Schuldig. He didn't really know what to think of the German telepath.

Schuldig had been a gentleman for most of the evening. He had refrained to taunt the Weiß leader as much as he could. He even volunteered to chaperone the two lovebirds while Aya had to go to the comfort room for a moment. He kept his hands to himself: something essential to someone on a first date to Aya's mind.

Not as much as a slut as he seems to be...

Aya conceded that point and it earned some respect from him. He had also gotten used to Schuldig's brand of good-humored teasing. He even missed the latter when...

Can't think of that... We're still on opposite sides of the war here! He is hot though... Hold that thought...you're not thinking of Schuldig in sexual terms... The orange hair looked silky, tempting a touch... The blue eyes were so soft and inviting, Aya wanted to lose himself in the depthless sea...

Aya had found himself gazing into the Schwartz' telepath's eyes all too often during the pretend date as much as he couldn't afford to take his eyes off his brother and Hiei.

But he is the enemy...

Aya's mind wailed at him.

But then he does like Kurama-chan... He loves my half-brother like his own...

He grudgingly acknowledged that Schuldig's affection for his younger brother matched his own. He couldn't fault his vigilance over Kurama-chan. They had that in common at least...

Face it that's not all you want with the man... Besides, if he had the patience to sit still while you're reading…sounds like he could stand you enough to…

Aya wanted to draw his katana against the voice in his head but he had no doubt about it being right.

If any of my dreams are an indication...

Aya was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he failed to note that a strange man had entered the confines of the store.

"May I help you with--"

Suddenly, the world tipped and Aya found himself falling into the dusk of unconsciousness.

What is--

***

"Aya, I need more chrysanthemums for the centerpiece arrangement…" Omi yelled out from out back.

"Aya." The blond repeated after not getting an answer. He came out of the shop.

There was no one to be seen. Aya and the stranger vanished without a trace from the flower shop as if they had never been.

Strange, Aya wouldn't go off without telling me… Even if his shift had ended a while back…

"Sorry I'm late, Chibi." Youji said as he came in the door.

"Did you see Aya leave?" Omi asked the older blond.

"No, why?"

"Nothing."

He must have seen Youji and decided to take off…

Omi put the Aya's disappearance out of his mind and went back to the mundane concerns of caring for the flower shop.

***

In Kurama's bedroom that night...[1]

"Fluff-tail." Hiei said lazily as both he and Kurama lay on the bed.

"Hi-chan?" Kurama asked.

"I've gotten guards posted around your aniki. Though be warned that they're mostly just B-class."

The kekkai between Worlds didn't allow for more than that.

"Hai. They should be able to alert you when the time comes. You will help me protect my Ran-niichan and Aya-neesan won't you?" Kurama asked.

He seems to be in a strange mood...today...

Hiei ordinarily didn't discuss these sorts of things at this particular time, preferring businesslike surroundings such as the living room and in broad daylight.

"Hn."

"Arigatou."

"Hn. Why are you wasting your time with those Schwartz ningens anyway?"

Now what brought that on...?

"My double assignment revolves on them, I can't just leave."

"We could just switch places. You guard your family and I'll guard those ningens."

"I can't do that Hiei."

He doesn't like Schuldig-niisan and Crawford-san might let something slip...definitely a bad idea...

"Hn. You care about that ningen more than me!" Hiei frowned darkly at Kurama.

"I don't, storm cloud. It's just that it's my responsibility." Kurama replied, wondering if he really meant it.

Do I really look over Schwartz now because of Koenma's charge or do I protect them because Crawford is Kuronue-that-was and Kuronue-that-might-yet-be? I can't say… I can't even ask Hiei's help in this decision…nor can I ask mother, Yuusuke or anyone, it would get back to Hiei and Yomi…and the shit will truly hit the fan… Does he know? Is that why he's so cranky or does he just sense my uncertainty?

Kurama's thoughts whirled about like leaves and he was so lost in them that he missed Hiei's pointed stare and move to get up.

"You care more about them than you care about me!" Hiei said, quietly but dangerously. He took his clothes from the bedside table and started to dress.

"Hiei, it's not--that." The last was said to empty air. Kurama was found to his chagrin that Hiei had taken leave of him for the night.

Miserably, Kurama curled up on himself wrapping his arms around himself. For the first time in his human life, the Fox felt alone.

I wish I knew my real feelings to this… Sorry, Hiei…

***

"Schuldig-niisan, Nagi-kun, Crawford-san, I'm here again." Kurama said as Nagi let him in.

"Kurama-chan, how nice of you to drop by." Schuldig said cheerfully enough though his thoughts were frantically circling. Crawford had decided contrarily to norm to sit with them at the living room to wait for Kurama.

Not that he's going to try anything with both Nagi and me here but...he still makes me want to shoot him...

Schuldig never thought that he had brotherly instincts as strong as this.

Stop that, you're acting like a father guarding his virgin daughter...you're acting like Fujimiya… Well, it's the first time I've ever had a flirty little brother either...

Sometimes Schuldig wished that Kurama were as quiet and well behaved as Nagi. Though it wasn't often...

I wouldn't have been attached to him this much if it weren't the case...

"Crawford-san, you joined us today!" Kurama said cheerfully.

"Aa."

Bring...bring...

The phone rang.

Crawford stood up to answer it, taking the extension to the other room.

***

Crawford had glanced on the incoming call's ID and identified it immediately as one of the Estet lines. He decided to take the extension line off to the other room.

No need to get the youngster entangled with our affairs...that could be lethal...What do they want with us now?

The precog thought irritably. He was set on spending some quality time with Kurama trying to steal the young redhead. Everything in the Estet plan was going smoothly, they have the sacrifice or close enough, Schrient wasn't much of an obstruction anyway, and everything was on schedule. It was so unlikely for Estet to contact Schwartz at this juncture.

"Crawford-san?"

"This is Crawford."

Strange, I never heard this voice before...and Crawford-san?

Crawford raised an eyebrow in surprise. He never had anyone address him from HQ in anything but German or English.

And it always was just Crawford or Oracle...

The idiots in the head office were quite firm about that. They had a superiority complex the size of a high-rise.

"I need to speak to Minamino Shuuchi please. You may also listen in as I have something to say to all of Schwartz." There was an implied order in the statement.

"Hai." Crawford replied in the same language. He said it with admirable calm considering that he was feeling quite frantic. His mind dismissed the language difference as it anxiously circled on how to get out of this recent complication.

How could they have find out about Kurama? Damned...

There was a great possibility that Schwartz was going to be ordered to kill the youngster now that Estet has found out about him.

He can fight; maybe we can recruit him for Estet?

Crawford was faced with a dilemma that he never thought would occur. Open defiance to Estet's orders was not his plans though he planned to defy Estet eventually.

The night of the ritual was supposed to be the night we get free from them finally... I'm so close, why? What happened? Why I didn't I foresee this? But then I didn't foresee Kurama and his effect on me either...though I should've after all those unsettling visions of him...

Crawford wondered how he might possibly pull it off.

They'll be watching us like hawks after this...

***

"Then he says..." Schuldig said merrily.

"It's for you. But they want to talk to all of us." Crawford said in a tight voice.

"Hai." Kurama replied, wondering who would know to call the Schwartz phone number for him. He nodded when Crawford was about to push the speakerphone on.

"Hello, this is Minamino Shuuichi speaking." Kurama said acerbically. He noted absently that the precog was moving somewhat in a trance.

Crawford went over to the TV across the room and clicked it on.

This better be not who I think it is... Though it might as bad if it's somebody else...

"Kurama-sama!" The over-enthusiasm was heard over the subdued sound of the television set.

Oh no, it is!

"Melaud?" Kurama found no benefit in playing ignorant now that the fox was as many would say out of the bag. He swore about idiotic, blood-drunk gaki under his breath. He noted that the TV was showing a newscaster doing the morning news.

What the hell? Oh well, no point in asking. Crawford looks like he's having a vision...or something... Besides, I have other troubles to worry about...

"Hai. Estet gave us no trouble. Team Melusine's managed without a hitch. You can go ahead and execute whomever of Schwartz now that you're minded to. Are you going to tell Schuldig-san the truth? Could you tell me what the result of that is? I've a bet going with Eliot-san."

Ooh, what nerve!

Though Kurama was annoyed at this breach of protocol and security, Melaud's voice sounded so boyish over the phone that he had to chuckle at it. He sneaked a look at Schuldig-niisan's and Crawford's faces and the look of almost comic amazement there made him chortle all the more. His irritation overwhelmed by amusement for the moment.

"Does that mean I'm forgiven for this little trick?"

"Just don't do it again, ne?"

What else can I say? You've done the unexpected. I could have you strung up for it but...that would come later I think...

"Hai. But you really should tell Schuldig-san the truth. Practically everyone's got this maggoty idea in his or her brains, you know. Sooner or later, they're either going to attempt to do the rite or kill him, depending on what they think of the status quo. If you really wanted to keep that a secret, you shouldn't have hung around him in public."

A reasonable assumption I suppose, though erroneous...and rather alarming... Hmmm, wait a sec! I've been so busy with my own internal troubles that I failed to look... I wonder if Hiei's heard of this particular development? It would explain...

Kurama cut off his wandering thoughts and stuck to the matter at hand.

He's revealed way too much information already...

"Youngsters should know better than to question their Elders." Kurama said, allowing finality into his voice. He didn't betray it but he was a bit alarmed at this piece of news.

I should've known that such a hot rumor would've circulated far and fast...considering... I have been too lost in my own memories to think about the larger consequences... Mistakes that I should remedy at once and never make again... So this is why Hiei's been odd lately...

"Aa, I know I've been pushing. Just wanted to tell you that Team Melusine will support whatever you decide."

Click.

Here come the questions...

But there were none... Instead, he saw that Schwartz's eyes were all glued to the TV screen. The picture was that of a mansion wreathed in flames, black flames not red.

"Ah, it seems that my partner has already rescued Aya-neechan." Kurama said, calmly.

Hiei, oh, little storm cloud, you've surpassed my expectations. Even after we quarreled last night, you still came through with your promises…

"Your partner?" Crawford asked in an edged voice beating Schuldig to the punch by mere seconds.

"Aa, black flames are Hiei's signature technique. My little storm cloud packs a wallop even for a fire demon."

"Fire demon? What's the meaning of this?" Schuldig drawled in a rather confused tone. He really didn't know what to think.

"It means part of this is a setup." Kurama said. Enjoyment won over annoyance.

Foxes like cats like to be cryptic, at times... We are great game players after all...

"Setup?" Nagi's eyes narrowed at the word. Telekinetic energy rose from him in almost tangible waves.

"Aa. Setup." Kurama said unruffled but he began to reach with his ki energy at the seeds he had scattered across the Schwartz living room.

Just in case…

"You've set up us up? You? Kurama-chan..." Schuldig said, staring unbelievingly at Kurama. It almost tore into Kurama's heart to hear the disbelieving hurt in his Schuldig-niisan's voice.

"So, you just needed to be close to Schwartz...now what? Are you going to kill us now?" Crawford challenged. He sounded even more hurt than Schuldig.

Well, you know that had to happened eventually...

That hurt as well, but not as much coming from Schuldig.

But then, I've known Crawford-san in less time than I had known Schuldig-niisan...in spite of him being Kuronue... The hurt could well be from buried memories of our time together, so long ago… This is the final gambit, no use in holding much back… Except maybe that…

Kurama didn't want to upset Hiei and the status quo.

Not when it's the only thing, I'm sure of. I really don't want to hurt Hiei… I care for him too much for that…

***

Schuldig was still stunned from the revelations though his mind was now functioning.

I wonder if Kurama-chan's got something going on the side with him... I would've sworn that wasn't something the kid would do but how well do I really know him?

"Almost just a setup, I certainly didn't setup our friendship Schuldig-niisan." Kurama sounded hurt at Schuldig's insinuation.

"So…" Schuldig speculated. He was very relieved at that. Kurama was very sincere at that point.

I'm not just a game for him…

"Though it certainly was convenient." Kurama added.

Okay, my little brother's a manipulator to match my best efforts…

Schuldig felt perversely proud of this.

"So my 'little brother' is not all fake then?"

"As true as I could be to you, given that you're a human, Schuldig-niisan. There are some things…I couldn't tell you, after all." Kurama grinned charmingly.

He's truly fond of me then…but what about that human crack…

Schuldig wondered.

"What about me?" Nagi asked. He looked so vulnerable. His big blue eyes were glimmering with emotion that Schuldig found it hard not to sympathize with him.

Kurama-chan has woven himself into our lives so tightly…when did that happen?

The thought was startling.

Maybe it's because he's our only friend outside of Schwartz? Our only line towards normality? Or maybe something more? Kindred spirit…to me…at least…

"You never dropped the notebook. It was easy enough for me to get it out of your bag to return it to you later. Easily for the greatest thief the Demon World's ever known but the rest of it? I'm not sure yet. I did do it for the mission." Kurama smiled winningly.

"Greatest thief…in the Demon World?" Crawford was having a hard time absorbing this and Schuldig couldn't blame him. The German knew his own eyes were getting a little wild.

"Aa. I'm on parole for some crimes that's why I'm serving as a Spirit World Detective. I'm supposed to help in the elimination of Estet for violating some laws with the Ancestor Raising Ritual. I chose Schwartz when I found Schuldig-niisan was involved because I had no intention of having one of my few ningen friends killed."

"You're crazy." Crawford said, finally into the stunned silence.

"Am I?" Kurama said, mischievously. He plucked a green blade out of thin air and used it to literally slice the side of the newspaper. He flipped his hand and it was gone.

Schuldig's jaw almost dropped to the floor. Crawford and Nagi looked as surprised as he was.

***

Crawford was reeling from this revelation.

He...he was only plotting against us...at least against me and Nagi… He seems to be quite attached to Schuldig…

"So what now?" Crawford asked, feeling rather lost.

"Well, I made a deal not to kill any of you who weren't truly involved in the ritual. I've cleared Schuldig and Nagi. Farfarello's insane so that clears him." Kurama said, looking into Crawford's eyes with anxiety.

"So…are you going to kill me now?" The room was still with anticipation.

I couldn't fight you anyway…

"No, simply because I don't think you knew what you were do…" Kurama cut off whatever he was saying with a hiss. It was evident what made him pause. Black shadows had suddenly appeared around them.

What the fuck is this now?

~TBC~

Author's Notes:

[1] Let's not speculate on what they were doing shall we...this is a PG13 fic...^__^; besides, I think Aya's going to burst a blood vessel!

Aya: My little brother doing what?
Kurama: Hey, I'm not that little...
Aya: *catches the reference* @.@