Disclaimer: I do not own Weiss Kreuz or make any money out of these stories, so there!

-Denotes thought and telepathy-

Denotes flashback or vision

Chapter 4

Fade from Black to white

The Shikari Street neighbourhood was particularly peaceful tonight. No cars disturbed the sweet suburban air, crickets chirruped and the wind blew softly through the Japanese maples in the gardens. There was also, surprisingly enough, no sound coming from number forty five Shikari Street. The resident teenager was walled up in his room glued to his computer, the resident sardonic extraordinaire was sitting bored in a bedroom overseeing the resident fatherly figure as he lay sprawled on the floor. The resident psycho was actually screaming like a madman but because his room was soundproofed no one noticed.

Bradley Crawford, leader of Schwartz and Oracle of Esset, did not like waking up from particularly strong visions only to find himself on the floor. In fact, it really pissed him off.

As the world slowly came back into view while his eyes refocused, he suppressed a growl at what he saw. Schuldich, sprawled along his bed propped up on one elbow as he bit his nails.

"Isn't that where I'm supposed to be?" Crawford said coldly as he pushed himself up on his still shaky arms.

Schuldich jumped at the sound of Crawford's voice and moved from the bed to help the older man to his feet. He frowned as Crawford staggered a little on his feet when he stood, wrapping an arm around his waist and moving him to the bed to sit down. Schuldich, for all his devil-may-care attitude actually did care for his team mates more than professionally, and he was worrying more than usual now. Although, as he helped his leader to his bed he did his usual good job of disguising this fact.

"Well, I have to make sure you're as cranky as usual," the flame haired German drawled, slipping back into character as he lowered the still shaky American to the bed, "or things would just be getting too weird around here."

"I'm not in the mood, Schuldich," Crawford said slowly, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose between finger and thumb.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," the telepath said with a sigh, "to tell you the truth, I was a little unsure whether to move you at all. You didn't go your usual dead self this time, you were jerking around for a while. I didn't want to do you any damage, or myself for that matter. Nearly kicked me in the head when I tried to pick you up the first time."

Crawford didn't reply to that. His vision had been particularly strong, so much so that he almost felt as if he were experiencing the events he had seen. It had also been quite far into the future he had seen which always drained him of strength. Also these events were not exactly what you would wish to experience, which was why Brad was still shaking a little. His famed control was being elusive, yet anyone's control would be hard to bring into play when they had just witnessed the horrific death of one of those closest to them.

"What did you see?" Schuldich asked narrowing his eyes with concern.

"Schu," he avoided the question, taking a deep breath before turning to look at his fellow assassin, "I need you to gather Nagi and Farferello and get everything ready for a move."

"A move?" a red eyebrow arched, "Where are we going? Wait, why are we going? What did you see?"

"That's no concern of yours," Crawford warned him as he made to stand, knocking away the Germans steadying hand.

Despite his cold, selfish exterior Bradley Crawford did actually care for his team mates more than professionally, too. Heck, he knew how long he'd tried to hide it, and still did. Yet on a professional level he did not wish to make the German do something rash by letting him see the vision. Aside from that, on a personal note he also didn't want the flame haired man to have to see what he had seen; it had been very graphic and…disturbing to say the least. He just hoped Schuldich would drop it…he could always hope couldn't he..?

"Oh I think it might just be," the flame haired assassin smirked as he wrapped his hand around Brad's wrist, stopping him in his retreat, "considering it's me moving, and so I was probably part of that little movie you just watched in your head."

"Just follow my orders," Brad said emotionlessly as he replaced his glasses and shook off the German's hand once more.

Then, as he reached the door, he felt Schuldich take his last resort. The presence in his mind was more than familiar, yet it was still an invasion. Especially when the probe tried to break through the shields he had built up around his vision.

"Out," Crawford sighed inwardly.

"Not unless you tell me what the hells going on," the other said just as coldly.

"You really don't want to know," Crawford warned him, his back still turned to the German.

"I think I really do," Schuldich said standing, walking over to Brad, turning the taller man so as to look right into his eyes, "I think you should also tell me where we're going and why."

Crawford knew that Schuldich would never give up; he could see that keeping information from him at such a time as this would also be dangerous. Even though he and the German were close, Schuldich knew when to look after his own interests; especially when his own boss was keeping obviously dangerous and disturbing information from him.

"I want you to get Nagi and Farferello," Brad started to explain, seeing Schuldich's eyes soften as he did, "because we are all in danger if we stay here."

"Why? From whom?" the other assassin asked as he flicked a stray lock of hair from his face.

"From Esset," Crawford said patiently.

"Esset?" Schuldich frowned, "But why the hell would they attack their own operatives?"

"Because," Crawford cringed as he thought about the reason, "they have found out my plans, they know that we will soon harbour the power they hoped to gain through different means."

Schuldich's eyes widened slightly, his temper flaring despite how irrational he knew it was to get angry at Crawford.

"And just how the hell did they find out about your plans!" he snarled, "You weren't careful enough Brad, why the hell didn't you see this coming!?"

"Quiet!" Crawford shouted; Schuldich snorted but quieted down, deciding to glare at his leader instead, "I have no idea how they found out, but they have, and they will kill us."

"Then you saw our deaths?" the German asked slowly.

"Yes," Crawford avoided letting him know whose death by just nodding, letting the silence that followed calm him and give him the courage to say what he said next, "and as to your other question. We are going to find Weiss."

Schuldich's eyes didn't widen in surprise this time; instead they narrowed in contempt at the sound of their rival's name. His hands fisted at his sides menacingly as his temper once again blazed.

"What the hell do you think you're saying?" Schuldich didn't shout, but his icy tone was much more threatening, "Weiss? You want to team up with goddamn Weiss!?"

"It's our only chance," Crawford told him calmly.

"Our only chance!? Yeah, our only fucking chance of a quick death!" the flame haired man spat as he gestured wildly, "you've lost your mind Bradley, you've lost your fucking mind!"

"Au contraire," Brad couldn't help but smirk at the out of control redhead before him, "I think that's you you're describing."

"Don't you start getting sarcastic with me," Schuldich warned his leader as he started to pace absently in front of him, "that's my job. Your job on the other hand is to see the future and make good decisions based upon it. I do my job well enough, why the hell can't you!?"

"Don't you dare question my ability," Crawford glared at his team mate, his voice like ice, deadly and cold.

"Yeah, well don't force me to by telling me this shit," Schuldich was the only member of Schwartz who would ever dare to stand up to Crawford when he became this dangerous. Even Farferello, mad as he was, knew when to stop.

""This shit", as you so tactfully put it, is what's going to save your ass so don't bother slating my idea before you have heard all of it," Crawford managed to calm himself once more, but he didn't know how long it would last.

Schuldich looked like he was going to complain again, but just as Crawford got ready to punch him the German settled. Crossing his arms over his chest and settling back against Crawford's desk he sighed.

"Shoot," he said with a smirk.

"Esset, after the failed re-incarnation of The One, have fallen into disarray as you well know," Crawford began, "yet there is still some power left in them. In my vision I saw deaths, yes, but their manner was…more disturbing than the fact that any of us died. There was something there that I could not see, some power, some…evil. It wiped us out in a matter of minutes."

Schuldich's eyebrow arched at this. He could tell that Crawford was worried, even though his demeanour was seemingly calm.

"And what does this have to do with Weiss?" he asked casually.

"This has everything to do with Weiss," Crawford said coolly, "because they are our only hope of beating this power that I sensed. If we join with them, then I am certain it will be enough to counter the threat. If we stay alone however, both our teams will die. It's as simple as that."

"Yet what's not so simple is the fact that they would never have us anyway," Schuldich pointed out, "in case you don't remember, they hate our guts and would love nothing more than to impale us on sharp spikes while doing rather nasty things to our genitalia."

Crawford snorted a laugh, "You've been in Kudo's mind again haven't you."

"Could I ever resist?" the German waved his hand nonchalantly, but turned serious once more as he locked eyes with Crawford, "But that doesn't matter. What does matter is that they would rather die than join with us, no matter what they were up against."

"Yet that's just what would happen," Crawford told him, "they would die. And while they do have their own personal feelings, don't you think that their concern for the well being of their team mates would over ride that hatred?"

"I'm not sure if that would even do it," Schuldich informed him with a sigh, "they all know each other too well ad they know each other's feelings towards us. Despite all that, Abyssinian would never allow them to consider otherwise."

"Abyssinian will not be a problem," Crawford said with a shake of his head, "he is no longer with Weiss."

"What!?" the redhead shouted, "Why the hell didn't you say so?"

"It wasn't important," Crawford shrugged, "and anyway, I only recently discovered this for myself. I'm not even sure how permanent the arrangement is. He left them before and returned with ease into their group, and I am not saying that the same thing may not happen again."

Schuldich growled in exasperation.

"Some bloody Oracle you are!" he huffed, ignoring Crawford as he bristled at the insult, "Are you certain of anything?"

"This plan is non negotiable Schuldich," Crawford said as he once again reached for the door handle, "I will not sacrifice my team out of pride and enmity. You're all worth more than that to me."

The redhead froze, his eyes wide with disbelief, his mouth half open to shout some cocky comeback. He clamped it shut quickly and just stood and watched his leader in closely concealed shock. Crawford mentally cursed, hating himself for his lack of control over his emotions. This only made Schuldich smile, a small genuine smile the type of which very rarely graced his lips. He once again walked over to Crawford, yet this time without anger or frustration. He stopped a mere few inches from the taller man, looking up into his eyes with a sincere gaze.

"Then we'll follow you," he nodded slowly, taking hold of the other man's shoulder and letting his smile fade back into the familiar smirk, "you've never steered us wrong before, right?"

Crawford just nodded curtly, returning Schuldich's gesture before letting the German slip past him to the door.

"I'll go gather the flock," Schuldich's tone was once again sarcastic and care free, "that's if we can ever persuade Nagi to leave his beloved computer behind, and Farf will insist on bringing all his knives and that damn blender…"

The flame haired man was half way out the door before Crawford heard a familiar voice in his head over the German's constant rambling.

-We would do the same for you.-

When he turned to say something back however, Schuldich was already gone. The mental link was cut off, and Crawford took that as a sign that his team mate…his friend, wanted to be alone for a while.

"Thank you Schu…" Crawford said to no one in particular, "…I know you would."

Yet even as he began to hurriedly gather together the essential things that he would need before setting off to Weiss's new base, Crawford couldn't get his vision to stop haunting him.

"Goddamn it Brad get down!"

The tall American only just managed to leap out of the way as blade after blade flew past his head. He cursed himself for not seeing it coming, and cursed even more when his power once again failed him. His precognitive abilities seemed to have left him completely, leaving him completely in the dark as to the enemies' next move; and that wasn't good. Especially when your enemy knows you, and especially when your enemy is six fully trained Esset agents with a back up crew.

-What the hell's wrong with you Crawford?- Schuldich's voice sounded in his mind, even as he watched the redhead dodge a bolt of electricity that sparked from one of the agents weapons.

-It's my power Schu, it's gone, it's not working, - he thought back tried not to sound as panicked as he felt.

-What the fuck do you mean not working!- the German's voice roared back, -Nice timing Crawford, real nice.-

Nagi and Farferello were already falling back to the living room, with Crawford and Schuldich still in the kitchen. A couch flying out of the lounge told Crawford that Nagi was still alive, even though he had seen the boy bleeding quite badly before. He leaned out from behind the counter he was using for cover and let off an entire round into an Esset agent who had been foolish enough to break his cover to try and get to a better position. The man fell to the ground dead, but there was already another one to replace him. Crawford snarled in rage.

"Well," Schuldich tried to smirk confidently as he dropped down beside Crawford behind the counter, "this is fun."

"This is no time for joking," Crawford said seriously, "I need you to take out the agents after Nagi and Farferello. You have to give them safe passage out of here so that they can get to safety."

"And us?" the German asked seriously.

"…I'll think of something," Crawford smirked back as he felt the room shake from Nagi's power.

The redhead hid his shock at the heroic gesture Crawford was insinuating they make, but he did not question it. Without hesitation he let his mind flow out to the agents laying siege to the lounge who had been distracted by Crawford's firing. As soon as the men's defences were down Schuldich was inside their minds, making quick work of the men's psyches. They both fell to the floor in agony, clutching their heads futilely before their eyes glazed over and rolled up into their heads. He quickly pulled back into his own mind and turned back to Crawford who was shooting around the counter once more.

"Well, at least…" the redhead began, but his smirk suddenly failed as his eyes widened in shock and terror.

"Schuldich?" Crawford frowned with worry as his friend didn't reply, "are you hit? What's the matter!?"

But Crawford received no reply from his fellow assassin, the flame haired man's eyes widening more and more as he tried to push himself further and further back against the counter as if to escape something. The American stopped shooting and focused on his team mate, taking hold of his arm to stop him from pushing himself completely from behind the counter and into the line of fire. But as he did this Schuldich's eyes became impossibly wide and his mouth fell open.

"…No…" was all he managed to breathe out before his hand automatically flew to his head and landed calmly over his right temple.

Then all of a sudden the German let out a bloodcurdling cry of pain, clutching at his head as the two dead agents had done moments earlier. Crawford tried to restrain him, pushing him back against the counter while firing around it to keep the enemy at bay.

"Schu!" he cried desperately over the sound of battle and death, "Speak to me dammit!"

Yet he could get no sense from the flame haired man. Schuldich merely mewled in pain and tore at his hair, digging at his scalp with his nails as if he was trying to claw his way into his brain. Or claw something else out.

-No…- was all the American could think before he saw the tell tale blood leaking from Schuldich's nose as his team mate thrashed wildly under his grasp.

"Dammit Schu, fight it! Fight them!" he cried in vain as Schuldich bucked against the counter, his back arching and his mouth opening in a silent scream.

"OUT!" the redhead screamed in pain, finally finding his voice, "GET IT OUT! Get it out of my head!"

"I can't…I…," Crawford had never felt so helpless as he pulled his friend back against his chest and held onto him tightly, "…don't know what to do…"

"Ohgodithurtsithurts," Schuldich's words slurred together as he shuddered in Brad's grasp occasionally tensing madly but no longer thrashing, "helpmeBradhelpmepleasehelpme."

"Stop it!" the American shouted to whoever was doing this, firing off another clip as an Esset tried to sneak around while he was distracted, "Get out of his mind!"

Just as these words left his mouth he felt Schuldich's body tense to breaking point. He looked down to see blood running from the redhead's ears, from his nose, even from his eyes falling down his cheeks like crimson tears. But that wasn't the only injury. As he looked on in horror, he could do nothing but watch and listen to his friends screams as there was a sudden explosion of blood from his abdomen. It was as if his innards had ruptured with enough force to break through the skin. Blood spurted from Schuldich's mouth and his scream turned to a hideous gurgling sound. Crawford fought the urge to vomit as he stared down at the gory mess under the German's green coat. Amazingly enough however, he was still alive. His eyes were glazed as his head fell back against Crawford's shoulder, staring vacantly at the ceiling as his breath came in sporadic gasps.

"…Brad…helpme…please…" he breathed, his breathing becoming more and more infrequent.

Crawford just looked down at him. He felt numb, even though the rage and hate flooding through his system was willing him to stand up and just shoot everyone in the room and keep on shooting even after everyone was dead; however he just sat there, Schuldich sprawled across him, blood soaking his body from the multiple fatal injuries all over his lean form and felt tears run down his cheeks.

He was crying. He hadn't cried in eighteen years.

He cried as he felt Schuldich's last few dying gasps pall against his neck, he cried as he watched the redhead's eyes roll up into his head and his eyelids close for the last time. He suppressed a cry as he felt the German's voice in his mind before his consciousness finally left him.

-…Run…- was all he said.

And then there was the crunching of boot heels on broken glass. The sound of material rippling in the wind that flowed through a broken window. Crawford could hardly bring himself to look away from his friend's now calm face to gaze upon his enemy. But he did. The tall dark figure before him merely gazed back down with a seeming emotionless ness. Their face was obscured, and just as a stray beam of light illuminated their features…

"It can't be..!"

…everything went black.

"It can't be who!" Crawford punched his dresser in frustration.

He couldn't believe that his vision had cut out just before their new enemy's identity could be revealed. He reached into the dresser to retrieve his wallet and absently noticed he was shaking again. Crawford was very glad that Schuldich hadn't bugged him enough to get him to show the redhead the vision. The American was disturbed beyond belief by the thought of his friend dying in such a horrific manner; he didn't know how Schuldich himself would take it.

"But that's not going to happen," he said firmly as he stuffed his wallet into his jacket pocket, "and I'm sure Weiss wouldn't want that to happen to any of their own people."

With a firm resolution, Bradley Crawford, leader of Schwartz, set off to find his old enemies, soon to be his new allies.

AN: I know I wrote this one in the third person while the others were written in the first, but I couldn't decide who's point of view to have it from exclusively. I found it much easier to write like a narrator, and if it bugs ya then sorry about that but that's just the way it is ^-^ ! Feedback is welcome as always, please R&R!