Ok, another chapter up! Whew, this thing is turning into an epic story! Damn! FYI, I have started writing the Saiyuki parody and the modern-day Ran/Ken (Weiss), so I may decide to post those soon too. Can't decide though. Admittedly, I'm afraid of starting another epic. I am going home in August you know…Can't be a slave to writing forever…

On with the story. No burial this time, sorry, but a quickie (and I do mean quickie) Schwartz update. Can't forget about my favorite, oh so sexy bad guys…;)

(:Squeeee: oh my God I LOVE this poem…)

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III

"Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter, Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair."

Alfred Noyes (The Highwayman)

Edo, Chapter 14

Crawford watched Schuldig pace the floor with tight, controlled steps, looking much like an angry, caged tiger. He had undone the laces on this shirt, exposing a healthy bit of a pale, perfect chest, and was wearing only his tight, black-fitting breeches. His leather riding gloves were still on his hands, and he ran one of them through his wildly disheveled hair. Whirling suddenly, the German pinned his irate glare on Crawford's reposing form, emeralds darkened to a pine-green.

"How the hell can you just sit there like that? That bloody, stupid idiot didn't even wait long enough to give them decent information about Takatori! I want him dead now! You should have let me follow him you bloody bastard!" he cursed, rather fluidly, in English. He wanted to be sure that Crawford understood the full weight of his anger. Crawford 'tsked', shaking his head slowly and fixing the redhead with a serpent's smile.

"That's how it was supposed to happen. Patience Schuldig. Trust me, Kase has more than set things in motion. Takatori will be dead within the next two months." the dark-haired Brit replied evenly, every inch the unruffled gentleman. There wasn't a wrinkle to be seen on his usual, immaculate, puritan-style suit. Schuldig scoffed, but his anger seemed to have abated slightly.

"And how, pray-tell, do you know that?" he snorted, flopping down gracelessly on the settee next to Crawford.

"Let's just say a little bird told me. Or rather, it was what he didn't tell me." the dark-haired man replied. Schuldig raised an eyebrow, anger gone in the face of intrigue.

"Oh? And what did this little bird not say? Do tell." he grinned leaning into Crawford's personal space with a seductive motion that was so practiced it had become unconscious. Coupled with the grin on the German's face, the picture he presented was not entirely unappealing to Crawford. It was no wonder the women had fallen to the German man's dynamic charm.

"Tsk. So impatient, Mastermind. Tell me, who has suddenly 'disappeared' from Takatori's sights?" the precognitive prompted. Schuldig frowned thoughtfully, enjoying the light, intellectual game.

"Hmm….aside from Kase?" the German gave it more thought. "Well, I haven't seen that dog Kudo's face around here for some days now. Why?"

"Exactly. And who does Kudo work for?" Schuldig grinned, understanding dawning.

"So is that how the game is played? Very well. You win this round, heir leader. I bow to your superior plotting skills. Although I would've very much liked to have done that arrogant ass in myself." the German finished, scowling. Despite Schuldig's dislike of Kudo, Kase had by far been worse, and if it was anything the German hated, it was an arrogant man that he was forced to suck-up to. Kudo, at least, had been interesting to watch. His subsequent betrayal of Takatori when the Daimyo was obviously so arrogantly attached to and trusting of the spy was a huge bonus in Kudo's favor. But Kase, Schuldig had wanted to kill himself. In as humiliating a manner he could manage. The ex-ninja's stupidity demanded it.

"Hn. Trust me. There was a very appropriate ending to his story." Crawford informed slyly, earning a wink of approval from his comrade.

"Well, then I suppose that'll have to satisfy until later. I can hardly wait for the fun to start. In the mean time, I'm going to find an outlet for my…frustration…" the red head trailed off suggestively. Schuldig had made a game of seducing as many innocent Japanese women as his stamina would allow, forming a habit of having them come seeking him for weeks afterwards. The looks the males in the compound sent him told him that he'd frustrated many a soldier's bed since he'd been in residence, and the German could not help but feel that their over-inflated egos could use a taking-down. He did so enjoy sport. Crawford raised a cool eyebrow in his direction.

"Think you'll find anyone left to ply your trade on tonight Mastermind? I was sure you'd exhausted your reserves." the dark-haired man bantered. Schuldig threw him a saucy smile.

"I guess it'll be more of a challenge then, won't it? Perhaps I'll start moving in on the males…" he trailed off suggestively.

"Oh? What makes you think they'd accept your attentions?" Crawford replied easily, raising the other eyebrow. Schuldig tapped one elegant, be-gloved and be-ringed finger against his temple playfully, the ruby on his forefinger glinting blood in the lantern-light.

"You forget, my friend, I have an advantage, so to speak."

"I wonder, how well you would do, if you did not have that advantage…" Crawford had risen now, and came to stand before Schuldig, his own pose seductively challenging in its own, upright manner. Schuldig grinned like a predatory cat, leaning once more into Crawford's personal space for the second time that evening. The attention was not entirely unwelcome.

"Oh? Are you suggesting that I would be less potent without my advantage?" he murmured, running his tongue along his lower lip. Crawford grinned coldly.

"Perhaps." he said simply, crossing his arms over his chest. Schuldig leaned back momentarily.

"Very well then. Challenge issued and accepted." the German grinned, and before Crawford could even respond, Schuldig leapt forward to begin the attack.

Later, the precognitive would remind himself never to underestimate Schuldig again.

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Waahhh! Another short installment, just to remind everyone that Schwartz is still around and pulling strings like the brilliant puppet masters they are. Honestly, did Esstet really think they could put together four people with gifts and no morals like that and not lose control of them? Dumb dumb dumb. Anyway, next chapter, as promised, angst and sap as Weiss takes off to bury Ken's hideously-neglected clan. Not fun, since it's been a month. (Oh ewww…..) But nobody else took the initiative. :shrug:

Ah! And by the by, this is not to say that Schuldig and Crawford have some kind of romance going. I tried to make it so that the reader could understand they're more interested in the intellectual challenge and sport they can get from each other. Of course, bed sport and seduction being a part of that. Not entirely unheard of I don't think…

Ta for now!

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