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Darkness... It was strange in the darkness, with no way to tell which way was up. There were no sensations of touch or hearing either; it was total deprivation. The boy knew that he should be fighting to find a way back... To where? ::We are one...:: ::We?:: The voice was warm, but strangely inhuman. It felt like a pleasant whisper in the boy's mind. ::We are one:: This time the phrase was tinged with uncertainty. The warmth of the voice spread throughout the boy's body, a gentle presence slipping through his mind and memories as if it had always been a part of him. The blood haired leader screaming into the darkness with two figures at his back. "Ken! Kami...no...come back to me!" No, not memories. What was beyond the darkness, in the world of light. I am Hidaka Ken. Weiß. The Key. The voice he recognized as his own, the strange presence within him fading away and melding with his own psyche. He began to fight through the darkness, struggling to recall Aya's desperate plea. "Come back to me!" There, a light cleaving the darkness, leading Ken back to the boy he loved, to the family he had left behind. The strange presence made itself known as Ken reached the edge of his mind, the other giving the strange sensation of standing just behind him. The assassin knew that he should somehow be terrified and yet he was strangely comforted by the other personality. ::We are the Key...:: was their final thought before diving into consciousness. §*§*§*§*§ Crawford stood as the dust settled onto the hood of the car, the other two members of Schwarz standing uncertainly to either side. The American had moved to the opposite side of the car just before the building collapsed, and Nagi and Farfarello had been quick to follow. Nagi gaped at the destruction, shocked to see that the building had been leveled and sick with the knowledge that Schuldich had been inside... The American gestured to Nagi. "Schuldich is on the north side of the building. You will find him shaken but relatively unharmed. And tell him I said to stop his bitching." Nagi hid his relief as he followed Crawford's order, unaware of the look that was aimed at his back. The mad Irishman frowned as the young telekinetic disappeared into the rubble, arching a questioning eyebrow at the stoic American. "Do not ask, Farfarello. The future I have foreseen is nearly at hand." The madman merely shrugged and kept close to Crawford's back as the gray suited man navigated the remains of wood and metal, obviously searching for something. He stopped in the direct center of the wreckage, taking a moment to push his glasses up on his nose. "Dig." §*§*§*§*§ Schuldich pulled himself from the pile of garbage that had saved his life, hands gripping his head. His red hair was pale with dust and dried blood marked his hands and face. Thank Gott for small favors... His head throbbed in time with his heart, still sensitive from the psychic whiplash that had sent him flying out the window. He was afraid to even try his powers. He'd probably have an aneurysm. "Schuldich! Daijoubu?" Nagi dropped to his knees beside the still groggy telepath, gently propping the other boy into a kneeling position. The telepath seemed almost startled at Nagi's appearance. "What are you doing here?" Nagi smiled slightly, his face flushed with relief at finding his teammate in one piece. "Crawford told me to tell you to stop your bitching." "He would. Help me out of this fucking mess, will ya?" §*§*§*§*§ Youji held Omi as the boy sobbed into his chest. Aya was eerily silent, his face drawn with grief as his pleas for Ken to open his eyes went unanswered. The dark haired assassin lay in Aya's lap, his pale face smudged with dust. He was dangerously still, but they dared not move him. C'mon, Ken. Come back to us. The tall assassin started sharply as his mental words seemed to work. The boy in Aya's arms stirred slowly, his blue green eyes blinking in confusion. The movement broke through Aya's tragic shell and he nearly smiled. "Ken." Siberian smiled weakly as he gathered his wits about him. He was struck with a disconcerting feeling of being watched but quickly pushed the feeling aside. He had a theory about what had happened to him, but he would need more time to figure out what to do about it. With Aya's help, he reached his feet, swaying slightly. Unconsciously, he began to pull natural magic into his body, beginning the arduous process of healing himself. His body had nearly been drained when it fell into the white void; he was lucky to be alive. He stood straighter, his arm still looped comfortably around Aya's shoulders. His skin tingled with the contact and he was unwilling to let go so soon. He gazed at his team with new eyes...a thousand years worth of memories gave him a different perspective of the boys he had come to call brothers. "Let's go home." §*§*§*§*§ Farfarello took to digging through the rubble with his usual enthusiasm; as if he would reach his goal of causing God pain if he unearthed the body of the witch, Yuki. Crawford stood well out the path of the debris that was being thrown by the madman, sure that the silver haired boy was taking some perverse pleasure from digging through the mess. He knew it was only a matter of moments "Oi, Crawford. I've found somethin'." The pre-cog peered into the small pocket the madman had unearthed, nodding as he saw the pale legs under a particularly large piece of rubble. "Pull her out. Carefully," he admonished, curbing Farfarello's urge to yank the body from its resting place and cause more damage. With gentle hands, the Irishman pulled the woman from the wreckage, not even phased by her near nudity. The black robe hung about her stick like frame in tatters, leaving almost nothing to imagination. Farfarello snorted as he pulled her out, amber eye looking to his leader. "She's the girl. The skinny one." Crawford nodded but did not move. His patience was rewarded a moment later as the figure stirred, moaning in pain. "Where..." Crawford knelt beside her. "Do not move. You are lucky to be alive." His eyes narrowed as the girl opened her eyes, surprise at her rescuer evident. "Well, now...it seems as if you are in our debt. "Yuki." §*§*§*§*§ Leaning on the younger boy for support, Schuldich made it into an unstable standing position. Nagi bore the weight without comment; he was too relieved to see the red head alive to care. He was unashamed of the fact that he cared for his team, though Aste frowned on emotion of any kind. Attachment made you weak and sloppy. He had often believed this to be Weiß's weakness until he had seen them in action. He was sure then. Schwarz was not an ordinary group. They were connected beyond their powers. Schuldich sighed and stood straight, dusting off his jacket. He was looking to his left when he stopped mid-motion. Nagi caught his movement and followed his gaze. The four boys... "I'll get them." "Nagi...Dammit!" The German cursed as the boy slipped from his grasp and jogged after the retreating figures of Weiß. This was the moment Crawford meant when he warned Schuldich to watch the young Schwarz. It was a chilling certainty and one the telepath had hoped not to face. He hobbled as quickly as he could, too bruised to use his unnatural speed. Of all the times you've been wrong, Crawford...I pray this is one of them... §*§*§*§*§ They were nearly to the mouth of an alley when Nagi caught up to the group as they struggled their way from the scene. "Stop!" He reinforced his words with a mental wall that blocked Weiß's passage...and was surprised as the four beaten boys walked right through. With an angry hiss he levitated himself up and over the group, standing menacingly before them. Nagi felt himself go still with shock as he took in the pale faces of the Weiß team. They looked like they'd been to Hell and back. All four boys were covered with dust and bruises, their clothing was torn and singed. What in the hell happened
in there? What was wrong with him? Why did seeing them so torn and bloodied bother him so? "Nagi." Nagi's clear eyes came to rest on the exhausted gray of Hidaka Ken, the other boy's arms wrapped around Aya's neck. He seemed to have taken the worst beating of all, his clothing shredded and charred, his skin pink with what looked like a slight burn. But looking into those eyes, Nagi was suddenly sure that what looked back wasn't human. "You are one of us...Nagi." The truth of the words hit the telekinetic like a physical wall. He felt something tickling at the edge of his consciousness, like Schuldich was digging around in his mind and not being subtle about the invasion. Memories rose to the surface... ::Nagi fought next to the young boy, Omi, powers pushing at the dark forms that threatened to overwhelm them. He knew they were going to die. Omi cursed and shouted his spell, fire erupting at the feet of the creatures working their way through Nagi's natural barrier. "We have failed." "Hai." Nagi screamed in pain as his shield failed, and the unnatural creatures swarmed about his body, consuming his flesh...:: "NO!!!" Even Aya winced at the heart wrenching scream and watched helplessly as the telekinetic fell to his knees, tears streaming freely down his cheeks. Ken said nothing and turned away, blue gray eyes resigned. Omi caught his arm. "What about..." Ken shrugged from his grip. "Until we have our memories back...we will be nothing but White and Black. He must decide where he belongs in this life." The telekinetic looked up sharply at Ken's words, hearing the age and wisdom behind them. Because of his extraordinary powers, Nagi was already awakening to the magic, but it was incomplete...his memories were warring with lifetimes past and his life in the present. He was torn between the two. Nagi watched the four boys limp away from the alley and stood slowly, heart torn with indecision. He turned quickly, his foot lifted, fully intent on making him follow them and the strange memories they had called to the surface. He was still standing there minutes later when sudden fire erupted across his shoulders. He turned in shock, staggering with the pain. Schuldich stood there, the gun in his hand shaking slightly. His mouth was set in a grim line and Nagi could see the beginnings of tears in his eyes. "Crawford knew...he knew you would betray us." Nagi fell hard to his knees, head falling to his chest. "Schuldich...you don't...don't understand..." "Urusai!" The German fired the gun again, the shot ringing off the pavement to Nagi's left. "We saved you from Rosenkreuz, made you one of us..." Nagi didn't have the strength to cry for the pain he heard in Schuldich's voice. The telepath tried his damnedest to act like a heartless bastard, but somewhere along the line...he had begun to give a shit about his teammates. His heart had quailed when Crawford had told him to keep an eye on Nagi. At first he hadn't thought that Nagi had the guts to leave Schwarz, to turn his back on the only people who had ever cared about him. Apparently, Nagi had a pair of cajones that Schuldich hadn't been aware of. Nagi knew the rules. No one ever left Aste alive. His powers and knowledge made him far too dangerous. Now it was up to Schuldich to carry it out. His finger trembled on the trigger. The boy didn't even look up at his former teammate as the steel barrel was leveled at his head. Just do it! Schuldich screamed in rage and threw the gun at the wall. He pulled at his hair, fighting to keep himself from curling into a simpering ball. "Damn you, Nagi! Damn you all!!" In a flicker of green he was gone, his last curse echoing hollowly in Nagi's heart. The boy trembled as he was overcome with pain. He took a deep breath, his back protesting. His clothing was sticky with blood and spots danced before his vision. "Schuldich...'niisan..." The whisper was lost in the night and Nagi gave into unconsciousness. §*§*§*§*§ Ken gasped in pain, his back arching as if he'd been shot. Aya turned him frantically, looking for new wound, Youji and Omi scanning the rooftops for possible snipers. Ken levered himself out of Aya's grasp, kneeling on the ground, crying in pain. "Nagi..." Aya moved to touch Ken's shoulder when the other boy's head snapped up and his body stiffened. His arms whipped out to the sides, hands grasping for Aya's own. "Your hands! Quickly!" Omi was the first to reach his friend, his hand caught in Ken's terrified grip. He gasped in pain as his hand was nearly crushed and fire lanced through his arm. His body seemed to swell with power, making his vision blur. He could see Aya taking Ken's other hand and the red head biting his lip to prevent his own cry. Omi stared in wonder as Aya's eyes began to glow, pale violet joining the blue gray of Ken. Do my eyes look like that? The four assassins appeared with
a slam of air, their shaken and surprised forms standing around
Nagi's bleeding body. Omi gasped and tried to break the circle,
but Ken's hand held firm. Aya was too stunned to move, his limbs suddenly heavy. He watched Omi and Youji pulled themselves from the garbage in the alley, the lanky blonde sweeping refuse from his leather duster. Omi had enough energy to rush to Ken's side. He turned his teammate over, wincing at the new gash on Ken's forehead. "Let me." Omi looked up at the voice in shock as he realized that it was Nagi standing over him. The boy Schwarz looked refreshed, his bloody clothes the only evidence he had been injured in the first place. Aya was walking up behind him, staggering slightly. "Don't touch him." Nagi didn't acknowledge Aya's words. He touched Ken's cheek with delicate fingers, tracing along the wound in his head. "Take what is mine, I return it freely." Omi stared in wonder as the skin knit back together, leaving nothing but a shiny trail of blood. Some of Nagi's energy faded and the boy slumped slightly. He gave Omi a weak smile. "He gave too much of himself in the spell. He nearly killed us all." Ken stirred slightly, his blue gray eyes blinking in confusion. Omi clutched the dark haired assassin to his chest, sobbing in relief. Nagi stepped back as the other two knelt beside their fallen teammate, touching the boy hesitantly as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. After a long moment, Youji spoke, a strange smile on his lips. "Together again. Just like I promised." |
