Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction / Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Red Shaman ❯ Best Laid Plans ( Chapter 22 )

Not that kind of laid, you perverts. Oh, yeah, don't own it. Wish I did. Gods I so need a life.

 

Everyone sat yawning at the planning table. Listening to Yohji and Sunny's reports from the night before. They had found out about four more possible links to the Tokyo clubs but hadn't had time to run them down. It seemed that the groups were spiderwebbing out into other cities as well. They had to track it down to the very heart. If they hit one of the tentacles without going to the source everything else would pull back in and it might be another year until they found them.

 

“It's like a damn hydra,” Aya said. “You cut off one head and it grows two more.”

 

“Since when do you know Greek mythology?” Yohji asked.

 

Aya shrugged. “Since my mother thought it was a good idea for her children to be well read. I studied Western mythology and Aya-chan studied Eastern,” he said, giving Yohji a small smile.

 

After getting over the initial shock, Yohji returned it. Aya gave him the “we'll deal with this later” nod, which Yohji understood.

 

“Gods what a mess,” Star said, looking at the blueprints and planning maps of each club. “Gran, maybe I can trace this to the source. It would take some time, but I think I can do it.”

 

“Absolutely not!” came Skye's reaction. “We almost really lost you the last time you tried something like that.”

 

“I wasn't as well trained last time. I have a better handle on things now and can shield a thousand times better.”

 

“It could take you days to trace it back to the source. Do you have any inkling as to how many minds you'd have to touch? How many energy signatures you'd have to read to even find a sliver of a connection?”

 

“I know the risks, Skye. I also know the benefits. It would only take me a few days to trace this down. Otherwise, we may have to work on this for weeks. Frankly, I don't think some of those kids have that kind of time.”

 

“In case you've forgotten, it isn't only your afterlife you're dealing with but mine as well. We're connected. I couldn't see you anymore. It nearly killed me again watching Goddess try to pull you out. In the end she had to go in after you.”

 

Schuldig took Skye by the hand to get her attention. She looked at him and smiled softly, then leaned against his shoulder. Making both Crawford and Sunny want to throw up on the spot.

 

“I'm sure she knows the limits of her own abilities. This isn't something that any telepath would try without precautionary measures.”

 

“That's just the point. She doesn't really have anyone who can keep her properly grounded except for Goddess and we need her for other things.”

 

“Skye has a point, Star,” Sunny said, trying not to look at Schuldig and Skye snuggling because it really was starting to make him sick. “We know that neither she nor I can function as an anchor for you. My abilities are too close to yours. She's too close to the situation and you to be able to work properly as a ground.”

 

Everyone looked at Blaze. But before she could open her mouth to say she'd go in with Star as an anchor, Farf spoke up.

 

“I'll do it,” he said quietly, the lilt in his voice more pronounced than ever.

 

Everyone at the table stared at him.

 

“Are you sure?” Blaze asked. “You haven't done this for decades now.”

 

“Edana, this is something that I'm particularly good at. Remember? You were the one who originally pointed that out. You trained me. I know it's been a long time though. If you'll work with me again and get me back up to level I can protect her from anything nasty that might come her way and operate as a ground.”

 

“Star, is that okay with you?”

 

“Hey, I have no problems with Berserker going along for the ride. I've seen him work things like this in his past lives and he is really damn good at it. I trust him to bring both of us through.”

 

“Okay, someone please explain to the muggles what you're talking about,” Omi said in exasperation.

 

“Been reading my Harry Potter again?” Ghost teased.

 

It was Nagi who answered him. “Star has the ability to go into a trance state. It's called going astral or walking between the worlds. She's planning on searching through the minds of those we know are involved in this to find the deeper connections. It's dangerous for her. Because she's such a strong telepath it's easy for her to get lost in other people's minds, feelings, lives, etc. So, she needs someone to act as an anchor for her. To “ground” her so she can find her way back.”

 

“With me going in, I can act as a guardian as well,” Farf said. “Since that was my initial training and primary function in my first lifetime with Edana. I went in with her to watch her back. Which I don't think was actually necessary, but it was useful to learn.”

 

“Okay. So we'll take this as a course of action and see where it goes,” Blaze said. “Nagi, you and Omi try to run down anything on the net that might link the clubs. Skye, you and Oracle try to get a fix on any other businesses that might be involved in this. Sunny, Isakk, Ran, Yohji, I want the four of you to check out the clubs. You'll have to split up and do it individually but call for back up if you need to. Do not try any hero crap when you're alone. Understand? See if there really is anything to the rumors. Sunny, can you keep a link open between the four of you?”

 

“You know I can,” he said. It would give him a good reason to poke around in Schuldig's head at any rate, he thought. Blaze must have caught the thought because she gave him a warning look.

 

“Ghost, do what you've been doing. Jeirn, we'll start retraining you tomorrow. I think that's all for now. Everyone go back to bed. Yohji, Sunny, go to bed. You both look like walking death.”

 

“In case you've failed to remember, I am walking death,” Sunny said. Getting up from the planning table and stretching.

 

“Gee, thanks, Goddess,” Yohji said sarcastically. “Always glad to know I look my best in front of several beautiful people.”

 

Everyone wandered out of the room. Stretching and yawning most of them headed for the kitchen to find breakfast.

 

Skye looked around when she felt Blaze poke her mind.

 

What is it, Goddess?

 

Much as I love seeing you and Isakk torture the other two, I'd pick my partners in crime very carefully if I were you.

 

Why would you say something like that?

 

Blaze smiled slightly as she watched Watari walk into the room. He had gone back to Japan for all of five minutes. He had decided he was safer in the States and spent the night.

 

I ended up married to mine.