By Triggerhappy Maniac
++A Weiss Kreuz Fanfiction++
Chapter Four: Unforeseen Circumstances (Welcome to Dysfunctionality)
Author's Notes: Oh, god. I've made Brad's dad sound like a cross between David Copperfield and Cindy Crawford. Hello everyone...
*blinkety blinkety blink*. Let's get on to the story. shall we? We cannot stand authors who simply spend far too much time on author notes. (*screams MASSIVE EGO*)
Let's go bother the Weiss Kittens again. (*evil laughter...* cough...did you
hear something...? Must be my stomach.)
Better Than It Was=========
Once I had it all planned out
My dirty fingers moved about
To make a mess of everything around me
I don't claim to know my way
I still run in circles everyday
Running around half blind
Life can be unkind
But it's better than it was
But it's better than it was
I complain very little because
It's much better than it was
=============Fastball All the Pain Money Can Buy
The red-head thought hard. Then grinned. Schuldich grabbed Souchiro by the arm. "Could we go to a spa or something? It's been long since I had any time to relax and I heard that Japan's --" Schu gave a expectant pause. He had no idea of what he was talking about. Not that deary Schu usually does, at any rate.
The little office lady chirruped, unaware that they were being followed by a multitude of assassins. Lotsa assassins. So many assassins, you could line them up and play---nevermind...
" Oh! There's one on the first level, on the other side of the mall..." She giggled, " It's only for us ladies... The men have another on this side..."
*Bingo!* The exact little place where they could hide... and not be disturbed by, um, men. Spas like that usually have bouncers hiding somewhere... Schu raised an eyebrow.* A women's spa, eh? I wonder what they have there...* And of course, devious Schu know that no respectable assassin would be seen ANYWHERE-- Oops, she felt on of the assassins' gaze fall on her, his mental sight appearing in her mind. Better get moving...
Schu smiled winsomely. " I think we should hurry, Braddy-chan doesn't really like me being out so long..." The redhead kept up the pace of conversation, linking an arm through Souchiro's, guiding her quickly to the nearest escalator. Trying the hell to get out of there, FAST.
"Why?" Souchiro looked surprised. *Eh? Scully-san looks so distracted...?*
Schu kept an eye out for the dark figures still following behind. She glanced over the side of the escalator as they descended, calculating the time needed to get to safety. Hurryhurryhurry~The redhead chaffed at the slow speed of --
Schu turned back to her, and smiled, "My husband is terribly over-protective at times... So I don't really have much time to go out--" He could feel their minds congregrating around the first level. Shit. Can't use telepathy right now...Too obvious... DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT.
He could almost hear Brad's voice in her head, it familiar sarcasm eminent.*Of course, there was always the option of stripping naked and hoping that they all nosebleed to death. Or at least summon your hordes of admirers and -- *
Schu grinned.
*Idiot. He's an idiot.*
He gave a casual glance upwards at the assassins innocently following her around. * I wonder what he's doing now...*
She grinned, " Maybe something constructively destructive..."
Souchiro looked at her, "What?"
"Oh, nothing..."
*********************
The car screeched around the corner, running a red light. Cars honked violently as the Schwarz assassins sped down the street in the opposite direction.
" BRAAAAA~AAAD!!!! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US!?" Nagi yelled when he was squished into a corner as the force of the car flung the back seat passengers to one side. Farfie just giggled, wide-eyed.
Brad didn't seem to hear his question, " We're almost there!"
" I DAMN HOPE WE ARE!!! YOU WERE RIGHT!" Nagi yelled again as the car cut a corner sharply, flinging the two in the backseat to the other side.
"What did you say?" Brad semi-yelled back.
" I WANT TO KILL SCHU MYSELF!!!"
**********************
Aya's eyes narrowed as he observed the situation below. He turned his radio knob. " Abyssianian here. Target spotted. Approaching level one." He eye tracked the red-head as he descended the escalator. For some reason, there was a nagging feeling that there was something wrong about the figure below...
" Siberian, can you confirm that this is the target?"
A hiss of static before Ken's voice came over the earphone. "Uh, yeah, sure looks like Mastermind all right."
He quietened his suspicions. He could always trust Ken's judgement. Tracking the figure, he raised the sniper rifle to his shoulder, placing a eye against the dark barrel of the sight. Then, he frowned.
" Abyssinian here. Are there any other assassins on this case as well?"
**********************
Four more levels to go. Schu was getting impatient with the bloody escalator. He looked casually to a side and stretched his mind out, emcompassing the space of the mall. How many wanted to kill him...? *One ...Two...*
A minute later...
*Thirty-one...Thirty-two...*
*Oh CRAP.*
As they pair slowly reached the next level, Schu pulled Souchiro off to a side, heading for the escalator. " It's kinda crowded over there isn't it? I think we better take the elevator, ne?"
*************************
" Wow Brad, I didn't know you could find valet parking when we're in such a hurry." Nagi growled sarcastically as he stumbled out the back door. Hanging on it for balance. Now aside from Schuldich, whom he swore never to hitch a ride from EVER again, there was Brad... *Urk. Feel like puking up.....* The trio(minus Nagi) literally leapt out of the car. Brad tossed the keys and a couple of notes to a shocked bellboy.
Nagi made his way behind them, " How the heck do you know that Schu's here? I DO know that your visions don't come with labelled addresses--"
"Always trust Schuldich to pick the most expensive place to shop. And this is the only one with valet parking." Brad scanned the area. The masses of people wandering and out of the mall were going to be a problem...
"Ah. I should have known." Farfie placed a sympathic hand on Nagi's back. Nagi looked a little green. The kid muttered, "never-never ever let anyone else--"
Brad began in a new direction, heading into the huge mall.
"Let's go."
*************************
Author's note: You know what? Brad's right. It's the same mall.
*************************
Schu hurried the little Japanese lady along. There were lot's of them. Them assassins. * Jeez, it's like the World Conference of Happy People in here..* Schu muttered darkly.
" We're there~!" The two stopped at a Japanese-styled Spa., its doorway draped with two large pieces of white cloths, stating in japanese characters the name of the place.
It was huge.
*Whoah.* Schu blinked as she surveyed the place. "and Women only? This place could fit half the--" A movement beind her caught her eye. Another of them. The man picked his way casually through the crowd.
"Souchiro-san? Let's go in~!" Schu literally dragged the lady behind him. The lady at the register looked up expectantly. As Souchiro requested for a place for two, the German eyed the man behind them, as he milled hesitantly outside the entrace of the spa with the sign, LADIES ONLY nice, loud and bright beside him. It looked as if a force field was keeping him out.
*Teehee, ZAAAAP. Teehee.* The look on his face was one of half-horror and outrage. Some people looked curiously at him.
"This way please," the lady stepped out from behind the counter, leading the pair on, deeper into the fortress of women.
Schu turned around, winked and blew the man a kiss.
She could hear him give a howl of frustration.
She giggled.
***************************
"I'm calling the operation off, guys." Omi spoke into the miniature microphone near his mouth. " There's something fishy about all this. Meet on the first level in two minutes." Mumbled answers came through his earphones. He wandered around the massive crowd of people, trying to blend in. Moments later he heard distinctive footsteps behind, recognisable as Ken-kun's. He turned around as Ken made his way foward, pushing past some people.
-What's the matter?Why are you calling off the operation?- He mouthed the words at Omi.
Omi replied -Aya said that there was something wrong...-
Youji appeared out of the crowd, looking puzzled. -I lost Mastermind, anyway...-
-Let's wait for Aya-kun then- Omi mouthed back at both of them, when~
***************************
The remaining members of Schwarz made their way through the crowd. Brad paused. There were some very peculiar people in the mass of people milling around... Some of the very peculiar persons were trying very hard to be inconspicuous, but heck, with Braddy looking at them, you could literally see a couple of them bolt in the opposite direction, heralding the presence of the assassin group.
"There," Brad pointed at one fleeing assassin," we're going to follow him."
" Eh? Why?" Nagi REALLY didn't want to chase after some stupid idiot, especially not when his stomach was churning like the inside of --
Brad just looked at him.
" Okay, okay! I'm moving! I'm moving!" Nagi made an effort to press through the crowd, grying to get away from the glowering Brad. Anything was better then Brad's GET-YOUR-BUTT-MOVING-NOW-OR-ELSE look. Heck, ANYTHING was better than Brad.
But~ in his hurry to get-the-hell-away, he didn't notice--
"OOF!"
"OWW!"
Two rocks--um, I mean, heads, cracked together, Their owners crying out in pain or surprise, or maybe, both. Nagi grabbed his precious head as it rang like a bell. AAAAAAAAAAARGH~ What the HECK JUST HIT-- He stumbled away, creeking an eye open at--
Omi. Who happened to be in a similar position.
Pause.
"WHAT THE SHIT?!"
"WHAT THE SHIT?!"
Pause.
Brad looked surprised as both of them yelled, as did Farfie, Ken and Youji. Both groups just stared at each other.
Before realisation dawned on all faces on all sides---
Nagi squeaked, " WEISS?!"
Omi yelped, "SCHWARZ?"
Then, Schwarz, as a natural assumption, finely decided by all members in a rare moment of silent, mutual and total agreement--
--Scrammed off in every other possible direction.
****************************
Schuldich sighed as he slipped out of the dress. The pair was in a private changing room, adjacent to a huge tub readily steaming away. She stripped, pulling on a fluffy white dressing gown that hung near the door. * Oh my goodness, that felt good...* The heels were really killing her. The redhead smirked for a moment; *So if you really wanna kill someone, make 'em wear heels.* Then, she thought of Brad.
And shuddered.
* Okay, no more tipsy thoughts....* She looked over at Souchiro, who was already dressed in the bathrobe. " So, how long did you book this place for?"
No answer.
" Souchiro-san?" Schu turned around. *What's up with her?*
Souchiro frowned for a moment, before dreamily turning away, continuing out the door. Schu glanced at her, tying the waistband on.
" Wait up, where are you going? Did you forget something...?"
Souchiro slowly meandered away, as though possessed. Schu poked her head out the door as Souchiro moved further down the empty corridor.
*Eh? There was something up with that woman... Well, with office ladies, you can't really tell. Brad always said they were rabid, at any rate.... Nah.. Must be Brad.* The little office lady was acting rather peculiarly *... But heck, compared to Farf, it's normal...*
Souchiro paused for a moment, turning back slightly, speaking as if through a fog, "... I ....have to go get something....."
" Uh, oka~ay..." Schu looked suspicious, but she turned back and slid the door shut anyway. " Might as well start first...." The tub REALLY looked inviting. No wonder Brad perpetually complained about women. Wasting thousands of yen on such frivolities... Heh. What did he know? He wasn't female. And HE didn't have to dress up like a nice little girlie for his parents. Schu pouted a little as she stood over the tub, poking a testing toe into the water.
It was years since she ever relaxed, running off somewhere for recreation, without Brad, Farf and Nagi-kins. Those three were ever around him. You always had to look out; things and people were always finding ways to take your head off, or stab you in the back, or anything. Heck, he had no idea why he was relaxing now, in the middle of a rather explosive situation, but hell,-- Been a long time. Hm. Water's a bit hot for his taste... He frowned a little. Was he supposed to take off his underwear before going into the tub, or was he supposed to wear 'em in, or was he supposed to just jump in with the bath robe...?
* Man, must really ask some lady about all this lady stuff....*
********************************************************
A man, a different man, stood at the entrance to the womens spa. Souchiro meandered dreamily to him. Her eyes blank.
She stopped momentarily before him, as he whispered, his voice heavily accented.
"Lead me to Schuldich."
********************************************************
He heard the door slide open. Ah, must be Souchiro, back from some escapade... He turned around to the see the little office lady in the doorway--
--with the an Assassin right behind her.
Not a normal assassin, but one of the Assassins.
From Esset.
***************************************
Farfello squeezed through the crowd as fast as he could. Ken was right behind him, bumping akwardly into everyone, getting a few angry glares here and there. Our dear Farfie might be in a bit of a fix. Brad didn't let him bring his knives along. Farfie wailed mentally, his wittle knives... He spotted a huge departmental store to his right and squeezed over towards the entrance. Ken bounced up and down. catching glimpses over the heads of the crowd, trying to keep track of his target.
There were a lot less people inside the store, as Farfie stumbled in, most of them women, shopping for cooking utensils, pots, pans, etc--
Farfello was deranged but not stupid, being profoundly able to think his way through any situation. His mind sped through various escapes, finally deciding on the --
--The cooking section. Ah HA!
***********************
Author's notes: *Huh?*
***********************
There were several peculiar glances from some of the women as the Farf slowed down to a trot and composed himself, striding along as though merely window shopping.(wait, do men do window shopping?) Behind him, Ken stumbled through the entrance as he had done, looking akwardly out of place.
The Irishman turned back for a moment and gave him a toothy smirk-- and moved directly towards the knives section towards the back.
Ken's eyes widened. * SHIT!* He picked up the pace as he hurried after the madman. * SHIIIIT! If he gets his hand s on those--* He pushed past some women, watching a cooking demonstration. The Berserker was --right in front of him in the crowd. Almost within reach--
He lunged with all his might, his hands outreached , stretching---
The lady leading the demonstration was asking for volunteers to help her with the cooking---
Ken snagged the back of the Berserker's clothes, applying all his force to bring his target down--
-- and the pair crashed through the front of the crowd, right in front of the cooking table, with Ken landing heavily on the Irishman. The two thudded heavily on the solid marble floor.
*winces*
All eyes turned to look at the motley pair that so willingly offered themselves up to the lady. Ken blinked up at the ceiling as Farfie said hello face-first to the nice hard floor.
The lady, unfazed by their less-than-usual entrace, simply raised an eyebrow. " Well?"
Ken blinked up at the lady looking over the table at the both of them. Ooooo, that hurt...."Well, what?" He groaned.
" Which one of you is going to help me?" Ken blinked again."Cooking demonstration? Any voluteers? Ding-a-ling, ring a bell?" She narrowed her eyes, " I can't wait all day." Ken stared at the woman again. Well... she WAS very pretty, her blue eyes cool as she looked down at the pair. Ken's head hurt. Thinking was simply too much for him." Um...uh..."
" I will." Farfie pushed himself off the floor, with a smile on his face, and himeself barely bruised. Dusting himself off, he stepped over the horizontal Ken. Ken made an effort to grab his ankle and missed, glaring angrily at Berserker, * What the shit is he gonna do to that lady?!* He quickly picked himself up from the floor, in time to see--
--Of all things, the lady just passed the madman a knife. A chopping knife. Pointing at the chopping board covered with vegetables and meat. She was saying--
--" NOOOOO!" Ken yelled. The lady looked up, cut short in her instruction of the Farf. Everybody looked at Ken. Who was turing a little red at all the attention.... Farfello grinned while the lady looked irritated.
" Would you mind keeping quiet?" She bit out pointedly.
Ken shrank back. Shit. That Berserker was smart. Crazy, but smart. He resided back into the first row, fingering his bugnuk. The Irishman's golden eye glinted at him, as if saying;
_I know everything you're going to do..._ Ken shuddered as a cold chill came over him.
If guns and knives won't stop an assassin, embarrassment will.
The lady looked back to her 'assissant' as he stood behind the table alongside her. Sure, he looked a little strange, but it was normal -- there was a J-rock competition being held somewhere in the mall, and he sure looked geared up for it...
" Well?" The man's accented voice broke through her reverie. She looked back down at the chopping board. " Um, I want you to fillet that fish."
He looked at her peculiarly. Eyebrow raised.Oh, yeah, she just remembered. All men were cooking illiterate. " I mean, cut the skin off, remove all the meat from the bones--"
Farfie, with the massive shiny chopping knife, swiftly stripped the skin and scales off the poor mackeral, expertly slitting the flesh from the bones, drawing admiring murmurs from the crowd at his confident expertise.Ken just shuddered further, rocking back and forth in nervousness..* oh god oh god oh god that poor lady~*
*Wow. This guy is fast.* The lady barely finished her instruction before she stared down at the fillets. She continued--
Moments later, all the vegetables were swiftly dispatched by courtesy of the Farf. Who grinned. It was kinda fun. At least this nice lady let him use her knife.
Ken stared wide-eyed at the nutto behind the cooking counter. The madman was playing with him. Toying with him, like a cat with a mouse.
Was he going to grab the lady and hold her hostage? Ken was beginning to sweat...
Farfie grinned again. He was learning how to cook.
**************************************
--An Assassin.
Schuldich steeled himself as the man entered. He was not japanese, though his descent was unclear. His eyes drew the German's attention. Green glittering eyes, so much like her own. The redhead drawled.
"Well met, Assassin."
The man's face stretched into a grotesque mimicry of hers. "Well met, Mastermind."
This man would be powerful, on of the top assassin teams like Schwarz. Though Schwarz was the Peak, the Topmost, there were others... almost as powerful.
"I've heard about you, Mastermind. " The humid, smoky atmosphere of the room grew taut as the two opponents eyed each other. " They say you are the Manipulator, the cold, heartless and ruthless one. I will not presume to fight you on your grounds, like a telepath should."
*Ah, he's a telepath too...*
"But I feel, that I can play the game of manipulation as well as one so experienced as you."
Schu's voice cut through his mind, emphatic. *Cut out the Shakespheare crap and get to the point will ya?*
********************************
It was embarrassing.
To Brad, running away from the enemy was nothing, he'd done it a few times.
But to run away in a Gucci suit, now god that was embarrassing.
People looked on as a redhead chased the tall American through the crowd, shoving a path. Brad glanced behind, and sped around a corner.
Aya followed him like a leech--
--And stopped short. Before him was a long corridor, with painted walls.
Empty. The Oracle was nowhere to be seen.
The redhead jogged further down the corridor, senses alert for any attack. He turned again and found himself facing three doors. Without thinking, he rushed into the one on the left.
*********************************
Brad opened the door of the storage room when the screaming started. The storage room was the door in the middle...
And the Men's room on the right.
Brad shook his head as he leisurely made his way back out the corridor.
*Seriously, could anyone be that stupid...?*
*********************************
*--And the STUPID asshole could TELEPORT!*
The Assassin reappeared right behind him, though Schu dodged out of the way so quickly that he almost seemed to appear simultaneously as the other did. The man looked shocked for a moment. He disppeared again. Schu waited for the instant when he reappeared, slipping right behind him. The Assassin blinked. *eh?*
The German swung a high kick at the man's head, connecting with a sickening -CRACK- His mind frizzled for a moment, allowing the redhead an smooth opening into his mind. Seizing the reins of power, Schu set a course for the man--
--a moment later the man disppeared.
And a hand appeared, sticking out of the wall. Fingers wiggling.
Our German made a funny face. "That's absolutely disgusting."
********************************
Nagi skidded into the main Atrium, with the youngest member of Weiss right behind him. Forcing his way into the crowd, he made his way towards the stage, where he hoped that he could lose Omi. On the stage were a few weird guys prancing around in some weird getup---
---waiiiiiiit a moment. Did that just look like J-rock?...---
Nagi stopped in his tracks. A loud speaker boomed high above, causing him to wince. " WELSOME TO OUR ANNUAL J-ROCK CELEBRITY LOOKALIKE CONTEST!!! WE WELCOME ANYONE, WHO'S ANYONE TO GET UP HERE AND SING! -BLAHBLAHBLAH-"
Omi winced. His ears could take explosions, women and his teamates' quibbling, but not this--
"BLAHBLAHBLAH--"
-- the overenthusiastic crowing of an attemptedly genki girl into a mike at full volume.
Someone grabbed his arm, causing him to look up. He saw Nagi, causing him to freeze.
Nagi yelled over the din of the crowd. " I'll let you turn me in, only under one condition!!!"
"What?" Omi yelled back.
"I'm giving you an once-in-a-lifetime chance here!!!"
"WHAT's THAT?"
"You go up on that stage and sing!!!"
"WHAAAAAAAAAA-AAAAT???" The thought of facing the crowd of mad screaming fangirls cause the young assassin to feel faint.
"If I beat you in ratings, I get to go scot free!!!"
"HELL NONONONONONONONONONONONOOONONO!!!"
***********************************
Author's notes: and so Nagi escapes again, beating Omi with a clear differemce in votes (100 : 1). Which proves villains can sing and good guys can't. Does anybody actually like the songs of Weiss Kreuz? It sounds as if all the cast members (Weiss only) are singing. Badly.
Does SchuSchu have a theme song?
**********************************
Schu sank into the warm water of the tub, steam rising from the heated water.
*Ahhhhh, this is life.....* She wiggled her toes in pleasure. Souchiro still stood at the door, her expression still dazed, unaware of her surroundings. Schu had given up trying to revive her (smack smacks smacks~), intending to relish this rare moment of relaxation all by himself, without the incessant chatter of office women (woman in this case, really.). He streatched his mind out, checking for more uninvited guests. He blew bubbles under the water--
--and spurted a mouthful. *What the CRAP? Brad-Farf-Nagi-Weiss ALL HERE??? why?! why?! WHY?! on my day off!* He grumbled in abject misery as he sank under the surface of the water again. -grumbles- At least the thoughts coming from his teammates were reassuring, while Weiss' were all scrambled. Like eggs. He chuckled under the water, his hair floating, counting his time limited as he figured that the Oracle making his way to the women's only Spa. We wish him all the luck in getting in. Schu then decided to peek in on Brad's mind.
*Brad, have I told you where I am?* The telepath's voice sound lazily in the precog's mind.
*No.* Brad's mental reply was curt. He was hurrying through crowds of people, his head poking out above the crowd as he searched for his team members. Who just happened to be scattered across the face of the earth.*Give me a hand here.*
*Well here's one, "have fun finding me".*
*...damn you...*
Schu laughed.
**********************************
Schu drifted off dreamily. The warmth of the bath was getting to her, fogging up her senses. She turned her attention away from scrutinising the wriggling hand on the wall. Leave the Assassin to figure out his way out of this one.
Curling up like a contented cat, she fell asleep.
**********************************
Author's notes: Gear UP! first official attempt at writin' something serious!!! TAKE NUMBER ONE!!! LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTIOOOOOOOOOON!!! * and then the monkey flips the switch--*
*********************************
Cover the face; mine eyes dazzle; she died young.
John Webster
It was very long ago.
For someone only so young, each moment was like an eternity. And with each moment a forever, twenty two years is so...tiring.
The only thing is that you can never rest.
It was snowing again outside, white evident through the dirty glass window. A woman huddled near a heater for warmth, along with three other people. The room they were in was empty, except for a small stove, cold and black in the corner. The family of four slept close to the ancient heater as it rattled through the mid-morning hours, causing the youngest child to stir for a moment.
The babe blinked sleepily as she snuggled closer to her mother's warmth.
A door below banged. Men's voices rose rough and grating through the thin concrete floor, jolting the other three to reluctant wakefulness. The mother sat up slowly as the child clung to her, her eyes now wide as unknown feeling surged through her small world.
Heavy boots thumped up the wooden staircase, as the coarse voices came closer. A sudden bang on the thin board door sent fear, reaching past the fog of sleep, into the older three. The babe watched, uncomprehending.
They burst into the cold small room, the dark-coated forbidding men. The woman let out a shriek as she shot to her feet. An argument ensued, the woman pleading for more time, more time, to pay them. One of the men let out a heinous remark; take the child.
The woman screamed as the men reached for her, her husband placing himself between his family and-- only to have his lean frame knocked away by an unyielding fist. The son launched himself at the men, receiving a painful reward to his efforts.
The child was snatched away, wrenched from her mother's grasp as she was flung to one side, sobbing and desperately reaching out for her babe.
The child screamed.
*************************************
Schuldich's head slid under the water as she struggled, her hands unknowingly pushing her off to the center of the bath.
She sank further.
***********************************
Brad rushed through the crowd, scanning rows of shopfronts over the crowd. *Where in the world is that idiot?!* Brad was getting frantic. The vision loomed in his mind-
-He looked as if he was dead, but there was a slight moan as he moved slightly, his face wrenched up as if in pain--
He hurried even more. The future was not fixed, the future was never fixed.
But he had to be there to change it.
**********************************
The lady was very nice. She packed up the little sushi in a little tupperware box as the Farf watched, almost childlike in his anticipation. They had finished the cooking demostration on how to make salmon sushi, the last remaining audience was--
Ken , who was staring at the both of them. *oh god oh god oh god*
Farfello was a very polite person, sanity albeit a little off center. He thanked the lady very nicely, spun on his heel and sped off again.
Ken gave chase.
**********************************
Brad Crawford ran past a Spa. What caught his eye were the pseudo-familiar Japanese characters. Not that he had seen them before but it ---just--seemed--so... He stopped suddenly, eyes narrowed. *Waiiit~ a moment...* He made a move toward the shopfront, but was uncerimoniously stopped by the -WOMEN ONLY- sign.
*...dammit...* He could almost bet his reputation that Schudich came in here. Except in this case, he won't have any reputation left after venturing in there. * Damn you Schuldich. If I'm labelled a pervert or a phedophile or any of the non-normal people that I'm so sure you keep company with... Damn you Schuldich!*
No answer.
*...* Brad took a deep breath as he strode forward to the counter. The lady looked up, surprised. " Good morning, Sir....are you a Miss or a Mister?"
"What?"
The receptionist repeated, " Are you a Miss or a Mister? We occasionally have customers who look like men, and vice versa..."
Brad's eyebrow twitched. " Excuse me, but I am looking for my wife. Is there a Miss Souchiro or a Miss Schully *snickers* listed on your register?"
She looked down for a moment. "Ah yes, we have a Miss Souchiro checking in with another guest in here earlier. But I'm sorry, you have to wait till she's done. Our company has a customer policy of not disturbing our guests till their treatment is over."
Lucky for him, Brad has acting skills. " Please, I have to see her now! It's very urgent!" He put on his most impatient expression, along with the slight posing of a caring----male counterpart (Brad simply cannot bring himself to say-husband-). The lady looked suspicious.
"I'm sorry sir, I simply cannot allow you to--"
"Please! You don't understand!" He leaned slightly over the counter, "She's suicidal!"
**********************************
Souchiro slowly worked herself out of a daze. She was standing in the room, in her bath robe. She shook her head, a little confused, what just happened? One moment she was following Scully-san in to the room.... She shook her head again. Nevermind...
Where was Schully-san anyway? Oh well... Souchiro made her way to the bath tub, *may as well start first...* She was busy untying the knot at her waist as she approached the bath. She looked up.
And screamed.
********************************
A scream resounded down the corridor to the reception counter. Brad's eyes widened as he surmised, " Schu?!" He dodged past the pestering receptionist and raced down the corridor. A door ahead opened, and a bath-robed Souchiro stumbled out, her hands clasped over her mouth. " Souchiro-san!"
She turned to look at him, her eyes wide. "Crawford-san!" She turned back to look at the room and pointed a slow trembling finger. " Schully-san... Schully-san...She's ...She's dead!"
"What?!" Brad ducked into the steaming room, tryig to see through all the mist. He ran foward, banging his shin into a raised platform. He clambered up to stand at the edge of the bath.
And there in the steaming water lay Sculdich. His lithe form still as if dead.
The body floated face-up, the wrenched-up expression fixed on his face. *Oh god, not you Schuldich...* He stared in shock. He waded into the bath, his pants legs clinging to him. He slid his hands under the mass of scarlet strands and attempted to lift the body out of the water. The dripping bathrobe clung to the German's form as he was carried out of the bath to the side.
Brad was trying to lie the telepath's head down gently when he gave a little cough. Not Brad, Schu. Brad dropped the redhead's head where it THUMPed on the floor. The German sat bolt upright with a yelp of pain. *OW!*
Brad narrowed his eyes. " Schuldich, for a professional, you sleep like a ton of bricks."
*Yeah, yeah. Whatever.* Schu rubbed the back of his head. *Be a little more gentle, will ya?*
" Well, is that anything for someone who nearly drowned in the bath, sleeping, of all things?" Brad shot back. " My pants are wet."
"So? I'm the one who nearly drowned in the bath, per se." Schuldich blinked the water out of his eyes. Water or tears?
" We better get moving. You nearly gave Souchiro a heart-attack. Erase this incident from her, get that?" Brad strode out of the room, his pants slapping against his legs. Souchiro peered cautiously into the room and caught sight of the redhead sitting up. Alive and well.
"SCHULLY-san!!!!" She squealed. Schu winced. "I thought you drowned!"
" Sorry, I have this tendency to fall asleep..." Schu pushed herself off the floor, making her way to the changing area, slightly furious and embarrassed. Souchiro followed.
"Crawford-san was so worried!" she continued.
Schu looked at her flatly. " That's impossible. The idiot doesn't care for anyone but himself."
"How can you say that?" The officelady gushed as the redhead pulled on her dress and stilletos, looking nothing short of stunning with her dripping red hair. " He--"
Schu turned around and looked her in the eyes. " --just doesn't care if any of us dies. It's a fact." *Forget this, forget everything, forget Brad Crawford.* Souchiro fell back into a daze.
The German swept up her bags as she swiftly exited the room. * And don't we all love him for that?*
**************************************
Schu caught up with Brad as they walked away from the spa. The German looked at him pointedly. * You look ridiculous.* Brad continued to stride along, unperturbed. " I am very sure I don't."
"Your pant's wet." The redhead tried very hard to catch up in her heels. Brad ignored him.
*Brad?* The telepath's voice poked cautiously into his head.
" What?" Brad's voice was clipped short.
* You're are going to bump into--* Brad suddenly bumped into--
-- a panting, scratched-from-head-to-toe, bruised Aya. Ametheyst eyes darkened. " You, Oracle, are so dead..."
*********************************************
An out-of-breath Omi clutched at a stitched side as he slowed down. He had been chasing Nagi through the crowds for the las twenty minutes. And -dammit- Nagi was nowhere to be seen. He raised a hand to his radio tranmitter, and tapped. " Hello, is anyone there?"
Youji's fuzzy voice greeted him. " Yeah, I'm here."
"Did you see anybody yet?"
"Uh...naw. Wait. I see Aya talking to someone. OMYGOD IT'S ORACLE~!!!"
Omi shouted into the microphone, "I'm coming over!"
And people around him wondered why he was talking to himself.
*********************************************
Schuldich eyed the angry Aya. Who was trying to glare daggers up at Crawford. Although that didn't look really threatening, Schu knew best. * Brad, I think we better get going~*
Brad shot back. * How?! If I make a move, this idiot here will draw out his katana or any availble weapon, yell "Dieeeee~!" and attempt to hack me to pieces. Not to mention it'll attract the attention of EVERYBODY AROUND HERE!*
*Correction: He looks as if he's going to grab your head and gnaw it to bits, katana or not.* Schu stepped foward, pulling Brad back.
She looked Aya in the eye ---
--and stomped on his foot. "Leave my Braddykins alone!"
*********************************************
Omi and Youji ran over to where they last say the raging Aya. He was gone.. And then they stepped on something soft.
"Umph." ------They looked down to see an Aya curled up in pain.
"Oh my crap, what happened to you?!"
Aya mumbled something and curled up further.
" What did he say?' Youji leaned down further. Aya mumbled again.
"He said something about Brad Crawford's girlfriend killing him with her stiletto heels."
Both Omi and Youji winced.
********************************************
Author notes: Weeelll, Lost a bit of humour around the middle...*smacks self, smacks smacks smacks* Soooo sorry, didn't post for so long. At least I finished the shopping part... Can't wait to get started on what Schwarz's gonna do in America though... there's a little extra for all of you-- the next part a little too serious for my taste, but it really gets the next chapter going.
A little hint: Schwarz is now the world's most hunted assassin group, enemies include the Japanese goverment, Esset and all other authorities. And the American CIA knows that they are going to America...
Guess who's Brad's Dad?
*eh-hehhehhehheh.*
*******************************************
David Crawford sat silently in his office at his empty desk.
Bullet-proof windows
Hidden cameras
Black microphones.
His face remained emotionless as he listened to the empty whirr of the air
conditioner. He looked down as he opened a drawer, and took out a photo frame.
The sun glinted as light glanced off the faces of his family members beaming
gently out at him, his new son, James, fifteen years old, a new daughter, Cher,
sixteen, both adopted. And his wife, Janice Crawford.
His eyes changed as he turned the frame around removing the latch to the back
cover of the stand. He lifted it gently, revealing a faded, yellowed photograph
of a nine-year-old boy, staring solemnly at the photographer, being caught unawares.
Dark ebony hair, deep red-brown eyes, the palest white skin he'd ever seen.
Missing for over a decade.
Brad had come to them from a Californian orphange, a freak that other children
avoided, because he was strange. When he met his son, the boy looked right through
his soul, piercing him with those scarlet-brown eyes, questioning. An angelic
child nobody wanted.
They'd sworn to love him, protect him, care for him.
His greatest failure.
He had lost him.
Over a decade ago. David was the top agent of the CIA, the most trusted, the
most dangerous. Now he was the Head of it, controlling the lives of the law.
He was promoted at a prestigious ceremony at the White House, a fantastic dream
come through for a man who dreamed.
Shaking the President's hand in front of Nation-wide TV.
He'd hoped that Janice was watching.
He'd hope that Brad was watching.
He was so proud.
He rushed home in expectation after the event, to be hugged by congratulatory
family, a small celebration. Instead, he found a police car outside his house,
a police woman comforting a sobbing Janice. David looked in uncomprehendingly.
She couldn't stop them, she said, the men who took Brad away.
Took Brad away.
Took his angelic child away.
Maybe it was a kidnapping; so he told himself as he searched desperately, for
the kidnappers. He hated, despised them so, so much. It took years before he
gave up. He waited days for a ransom note when there was none. He told himself
like he told many others, others who waited in hope for the missing loved one
to returned, He's dead.
So ironic, the protector of the law could not even defend his own child. He had wept brokenly over the grave of his lost one. He's dead.
He traced a tender finger over those familiar features, careful not to damage
the only reminder he had of the lost little boy. He smiled for once at the picture,
which had been viewed with only sadness for many years. The silent, thoughtful,
kind child.
He received an email from the other side of the void. It brought waves of emotion
crashing down on him again.
He was alive.
He was suspicious, could this be an imposter, pretending to be his child? Janice
was too believing, insisting that he send a reply at once. She even wrote it
out for him. He dallied a few weeks before sending it. He needed time to get
things ready. There were many people out to get him, he was too important to
the government. Or was it that he couldn't bear to bring out the ghosts again...?
He could not believe that Brad was alive. There was no one, no one other than
his family that knew of the existance of Brad.
There would be agents flanking the family while they wait to greet this 'Brad
Crawford'. If he was a fake, they would leave. And the imposter would be dealt
with.
He carefully covered up the photo again, sliding the the frame back into a drawer.
He wouldn't know what to do if the email was true. It wouldn't do to get his
hopes up.
If it was, he would see Brad again.
Conflicting thoughts clashed in his heart as he prepared for the arrival.
The pain of looking at an imposter who looked like Brad, or--
The return of his son.
He desperately wished for the latter.
*****************************************************************END Chapter IV
Triggerhappy Maniac: WOOOOOHOOOO! NOW TO GET THE PARTY STARTED!!!!!
Next Chapter: Smith & Wesson, and Me
