Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction / Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Red Shaman ❯ Reflections ( Chapter 30 )

I ~SWEAR~ this is not the fic that never ends.

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“My gods!” Blaze said, putting the cell phone down on the end table then flopping back onto Tatsumi's lap. Scattering paperwork everywhere. “My family is crazy.”

 

“Which one? Yutaka, Tsuzuki, Kurosaki, and I or the one in the States?”

 

“The one in the States.”

 

“What happened?”

 

She sighed and curled up across his thighs. “Evidently, Star happened. She'd had enough of what she calls male ego and idiocy and took matters into her own hands. At least as far as Oracle and Abyssinian are concerned.”

 

“Are you going to tell me what she did or do I have to guess?”

 

“Threatened to have every dark secret they ever wanted stashed away forever come out of their mouths at inopportune moments. Starting with childhood horrors and working up to major adult disasters. She also made President Bush sing “I'm A Little Teapot” complete with actions on CSPAN.”

 

“The last should hardly surprise anyone,” Tatsumi said.

 

“No one ever said that she wasn't creative. She absolutely hates that man for some reason. She's wanted pyrokinesis for ages just so she can set his underwear on fire during his state of the union address.”

 

“I can see where that would amuse her thoroughly.” He paused and looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. “What else is bothering you, love?”

 

“What makes you think something else is bothering me?” she said, putting her head in the curve between his shoulder and neck.

 

He smiled slightly. “Because you do that every time Yutaka or I ask if something is wrong.”

 

“Do what?”

 

“Turn away or hide your face. We may not be able to help you but you can at least talk to us if something is on your mind, Blaze.”

 

“I know. I'm just not used to it.”

 

“Not used to what?”

 

“Having another person to talk to about these things. Much less two other people. I don't think I know where to start with this exactly.”

 

“Start wherever you like,” Tatsumi said. “I think I can figure it out.”

 

She sighed. “It's . . . this is the first mission I've ever been worried about.”

 

“Does this have something to do with facing an equal?”

 

“Yes and no. Eliminating him won't be a problem. The problem is, he's been a close friend for the last thousand years,” she said. “Or as close of a friend as I've ever allowed myself to have.”

 

“Kuso. I'm sorry, sweetheart. Yutaka and I had no idea he was a friend. We just thought you were worried about facing one of your own.”

 

“He is one of my own. Or as close to it as anyone will get. Aside from Kwan Yin he's the closest to my age. We come from the same part of the world. Know the same stories. Made a few of those stories along the way ourselves. It just doesn't make sense that he'd want to die at my hands. My gods, he knows it's suicide to piss me off.”

 

“You haven't killed either Yutaka or myself yet and we've pissed you off on countless occasions,” Tatsumi pointed out.

 

“That's different. You don't do it on purpose. Well, sometimes you do. But not as a general rule. Then there's this other thing I don't understand about the child Wakaba brought to me.”

 

“What about him?”

 

“He's marked, just like all the rest of them are who are trapped in this slavery ring. But he says that those who bought him for the night or whatever never touched him. That they'd act like they were having sex with the pillows on the bed or something. Beating thin air.”

 

“Someone had cast an illusion that he was in the person's hands when he was across the room. I'd heard this story but hadn't put all the pieces together yet.”

 

“The strength and skill it requires to cast an illusion of that magnitude and to actually make it tangible is incredible. The only other person I've seen who had that kind of power and control aside from Star is the person I'm talking about. He made sure I found those markings, Chiro. Led me to believe he was the one responsible for these children being hurt when it isn't the case at all. He's been protecting them.”

 

“There has to be a reason for that, Blaze.”

 

“Yes. But damned if I can see what it might be right now.”

 

Tatsumi looked pensive for a moment. “Is there anyone else capable of bringing him to a true death?”

 

Blaze shook her head. “I don't think so. It would have to be either me or Kwan Yin. She wouldn't intentionally end someone's existence no matter what at this point in her afterlife unless it's absolutely required. It goes against her personal code of ethics.”

 

“Then he probably wants an end and knows you're the only one with the power and inclination to do him that favor. I know how hard it is to kill a shinigami completely. I can't even begin to imagine what it would take to destroy one of the kings or queens of Earth.”

 

“Death brought about by a stronger member of that group or by one's own hand,” Blaze said hollowly.

 

“Then you have your reason. He wants to die. You are the only one with the power to make that happen.”

 

“I know. I've always known that was the reason. I guess I wanted some way out of it. I don't want him to die completely. I don't want to have to be the one to deliver him to that.”

 

“But it seems to be what he wants.”

 

“It doesn't make this any easier though.”

 

“You know Yutaka and I are perfectly willing to help you in any way we can with this.”

 

“I know you would. But I really don't think you can. I don't think anyone can. It falls to me because of who and what I am. I can't change that at this late stage.”

 

“And you wouldn't want to. You've never had any qualms about who and what you are. I've never once seen you shirk a responsibility though I'm sure you wanted to on several occasions.”

 

“There's also the issue of knowing I'm going to lose someone in one of the teams.”

 

“And that bothers you.”

 

“It wouldn't have a few years ago. But now . . . I care about them. I don't want to lose anyone. Not to mention being slightly concerned about my team, which has never happened. I know they can all take care of themselves. I trained them to be self sufficient even in the worst circumstances. Then there's the issue of whether or not to tell the younger ones about what they've been before,” she sighed. “It's all a big mess.”

 

“Blaze, I know you. You've planned everything as carefully as you possibly can. I've seen you going over plans until all hours making sure nothing is left to chance. You've had Oracle and Skye check on possible problems a thousand times or more. All of the members of the teams, including the human factions, are incredibly well trained.”

 

“I know that. I've just never felt anything going into a mission before. Certainly not concern for anyone else. It's just strange,” she said. “You know it's all your fault.”

 

“What is?”

 

“Me worrying about things. If it weren't for you and Honey, I wouldn't be in this predicament.”

 

“What makes you say that?” Tatsumi said, smiling a little.

 

“You two made me love you. Which set off a chain reaction for everything else,” she said, poking him in the ribs. He squirmed and tried not to laugh.

 

“We didn't make you do anything. I seriously doubt anything in the known universe could make you do something you weren't completely inclined to.”

 

He lips twitched a little. “Okay. Then you're a bad influence. Or a good influence. I'm not sure which at this particular point.”

 

“There are worse things.”

 

“Yeah, I know. I've dated them,” she said laughing.

 

“You've always been able to distance yourself and that doesn't work anymore.”

 

“It's really damn annoying.” She smiled and looked into his face. “I really didn't want to love you, you know. Not that I would ever change that now. You made me feel again and remember what I was missing in an afterlife. It was like you found all of the chinks in the armor and managed to pry open every one of them. I tried to keep as far from here as I could most of the time because every time I saw you it unlocked what I wanted a little more. Now I can't even begin to imagine my afterlife without you and Honey in it.”

 

He smiled. “I didn't want to love you either. But I did. Almost from the first moment I saw you. You just scared me out of my mind is all.”

 

They were still laughing when Watari came in a few minutes later.

 

“Dare I ask?” he said, flopping down next to them on the sofa and situating himself into the tangle of arms and legs.

 

“Just reflecting on a few things,” Blaze said. “It's surprising what one finds funny after a while.”

 

“Speaking of funny,” Watari said. “Did you happen to see the U.S. President's little song and dance number today? It's all over the news.”

 

“Good gods!” Tatsumi said, looking in wonder at Blaze.

 

“Star will be so proud.”

 

**********************************Author's Notes*************************************

 

The reference to the Kings and Queens of Earth goes back to my first Yami no Matsuei fic Shadows and Flame.

 

Thanks to the always wonderful moimoi-chan for the reviews and for putting out such great fics that make me try harder.