Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction / Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Red Shaman ❯ Stirring ( Chapter 75 )

 

 

Crawford, Schuldig and Skye landed in one of the spare rooms at the Red Shaman compound a bit harder than Skye had intended. All three of them winced due to the sudden impact and got slowly to their feet.

 

“I must be more tired than I thought,” Skye said. “Are either of you hurt?”

 

“No more than we were previously,” Crawford said.

 

“At least that's something,” Skye sighed, rubbing her bruised posterior. “Schu, lie down so I can fix that shoulder. On second thought, it might be easier if I put you out for this,” she said, placing her hands on either side of his face.

 

“Skye, I don't need to be . . .” He dropped like a rock and Crawford caught him on reflex.

 

“Are you well enough to carry him?” Skye asked, frowning in concern.

 

“I think so,” Crawford said.

 

Crawford carried Schuldig to the bed and settled him down on it carefully. He leaned over the other man and brushed a few errant strands of hair out of Schuldig's face. Crawford's expression softened considerably.

 

“I forget sometimes,” Crawford said. “He really is so young.”

 

“You're hardly ancient yourself, Oracle,” Skye said, smiling.

 

“No. But nearing thirty and barely more than twenty one are sometimes light years apart.”

 

Skye nodded. “So it would seem at times.”

 

“Look, Skye, I know that . . .”

 

“Oracle, as I told Schuldig earlier, we'll work through all of this when things aren't quite so hectic.”

 

“He loves you, Skye. I don't need to be a Talent to see that. At least not once it was pointed out to me,” he said with no small touch of bitterness.

 

“Yes. He does. The fact remains that he and I can't be a couple. The two of you can.”

 

Crawford sat down on the edge of the bed. “I'm not so certain of that anymore.”

 

“I am,” Skye said firmly. “The connection between the two of you isn't broken, Oracle. It's just become atrophied due to neglect. He tried and finally got tired of trying. It can be salvaged. But it will take time and effort. You're the only one who can repair the damage.”

 

“Because I'm the reason for the damage.”

 

“Not wholly. He could have gone about it a different way as well. I'm certain you presumed his flirts and passes at you were just the way he interacts with everyone. Because that would be a valid conclusion. He's pretty and he knows it.”

 

Crawford nodded. Thinking of the thousand and one times that Schuldig had made passes at him, flirted, danced around half clothed through the living room trying to get his attention. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair again, cursing himself for being an idiot and not seeing what was directly in front of him.

 

“What would the reasoning behind you and Schuldig not being able to be a couple? I understand the whole he's alive and you're dead thing. But that certainly doesn't seem to be stopping Star. You and Schuldig obviously get along well. Far better than he and I ever have. It only seems logical that you'd make a better couple.”

 

“Love does not adhere to anything remotely resembling logic. And as for Star, she knows it won't last because it can't.”

 

“I don't understand. I mean, it would be different if none of us could see or touch you . . .”

 

Skye sighed and raked her hands through her hair. “Oracle, I am trying to bow out gracefully so we aren't caught in a completely untenable situation. However, if you want me to dig in and fight for him, I can most certainly do that as well and the consequences can take a flying leap.”

 

There was something in her voice that made his heart stutter in his chest for a moment. In that instant she had reminded him so strongly of a certain woman he had grown up around it was almost like being dragged back in time. He heard Madame Belle's voice clearly in his mind as though she were standing next to him again. One day, petit, you'll be sorray for tellin' certain people they could take a flyin' leap. Those gifts le bon Dieu gave you are there pour un raison. He shook off the resemblance as fantasy but the strange sensation lingered.

 

“No. I appreciate it. Really. I know if you weren't willing to bow out there would be no chance at all for he and I.” As soon as he had said the words he knew they were true. Schuldig would go with Skye if he were given a choice because she cared about him and showed it on a daily basis.

 

Skye moved to stand next to the bed. “Get out of your own head for a few minutes; I'll need your help to reset his shoulder.”

 

Crawford nodded. “What do I need to do?”

 

“Brace the lower half of his body so he doesn't move. You'll probably have to sit on his thighs,” she said, grinning a little.

 

“You're doing that on purpose,” Crawford accused.

 

“Maybe just a little,” Skye said. “Come on, the sleep is only temporary.”

 

Crawford did as he was told and sat down on Schuldig's thighs. Trying hard not to think about the fact that he was in a position he would have been perfectly thrilled to be in had Schuldig been both willing and conscious.

 

Skye took Schuldig's hand in hers and ran her other hand along his arm, searching for the fracture. After finding it, she sang softly while her fingertips ghosted over the area of the break. When that was done, she moved her hands over his chest, finding and healing the cracked ribs.

 

“I'm afraid he'll just have to deal with the soreness,” Skye said, putting a hand to her forehead. “Putting his shoulder back into place is probably going to be my limit for the moment.”

 

“Skye, I can reset his shoulder,” Crawford said. “I've done it before.”

 

“Thank you for the offer, Oracle. But I promised him I'd do it,” she said. “Can you turn him over? It might be easier for me to do this when he's on his stomach.”

 

Crawford bit his tongue to stifle the groan at the images flooding his mind at the thought of turning Schuldig over while straddling the other man's thighs.

 

Skye's lips twitched but she managed to keep from laughing. Once Schuldig was on his stomach, she put one hand just below Schuldig's scapula and the other directly on the front of his shoulder. Gently increasing the pressure until she felt the bones shift back into place. She sighed heavily and moved off of the bed.

 

Crawford shifted positions and scooted up so that his back rested against the headboard.

 

“Will you stay until he wakes up, Oracle?” Skye asked. “Goddess needs me downstairs just now.”

 

“Of course.”

 

Skye had made her way to the door when Crawford's voice stopped her. “Skye.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I can see why he loves you so much.”

 

She smiled. “I can see why he loves you too,” she said, walking out the door.

 

 

Skye met a slightly frantic looking Tatsumi coming up the stairs as she was coming down them.

 

“What . . .”

 

“Have you seen Yutaka?” he asked, glancing around as though he expected Watari to pop out from behind her.

 

“Not in the last few minutes. Why?”

 

“I fell asleep. Gods, this is so important and I fell asleep,” he said, seemingly to himself.

 

Skye sighed. “Seiichiro, stop. He just needs a little time and space right now.”

 

“How do you know what's going on? You were across the room.”

 

“Star was close enough to hear it and as such, it was relayed to me. If all else fails, one of us will direct him to Omi.”

 

“Why?”

 

Skye shrugged. “Because, Omi knows exactly how he feels.”

 

“How does Omi know that?”

 

“Nagi and Ghost have had abilities since birth. Although his own talents are coming back to him, they are still vastly stronger than he is and always will be due to time and training.”

 

“I hadn't thought about . . . Thank you, Skye,” he said.

 

“He's in the garden. But I suggest letting him work a few things out in his own mind right now. Otherwise, it might seem that you're pressuring him.”

 

“You are an excellent advisor,” Tatsumi said, turning and starting back down the stairs.

 

“So I'm told,” Skye said, following him down. “I take it everyone else is in the war room.”

 

Tatsumi nodded. Skye smiled and waved to him before walking into the meeting room.

 

“Holy crap, sis!” Star said. “You look like one of Granny `Po's zombies.”

 

“Thank you so much for the compliment,” Skye said.

 

“Put your butt in that chair,” Star growled. “I'll give you this extra adrenaline still going through me.”

 

“I won't argue with you at this point,” Skye said sliding into the chair that Star had pulled out for her.

 

“Oracle?” Blaze asked.

 

“He's fine. Completely refilled. Just tired,” Skye said.

 

“We all are,” Sunny commented.

 

“Okay. The living factions go get showers and sleep. You all need it,” Blaze said.

 

Everyone slowly trickled out of the room. Everyone except for Farfarello, who stood with arms folded across his chest. When Nagi and Omi finally made it out the door, he shut it firmly behind them.

 

“Jeirn,” Blaze said warningly.

 

“I have as much interest in this as you do, Edana,” he said, jerking his head toward the woman who was still standing near the wall.

 

“Were you always this damn stubborn?” Blaze said.

 

“Yes, and you know it.”

 

*******************Mad Ramblings aka Author's Notes***************************

 

Thanks to everyone still reading and reviewing.

KD, thank you for the compliment.

Her Royal Blyness, sorry not much in the way of the chibis or Watari just yet.

Missy, well, maybe just a glimpse of were-Aya.

Jennamarie, of course I'll keep going. This is the fic that never ends, after all.

To the always fabulous Assassins Anonymous team, just because.