Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Moon Ascendant ❯ Darkness Falling ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimers: I don't own anything related to Weiss Kreuz directly. Only the Baron and his posse. Oh, and my thoughts on this fic.

Chapter 8: Darkness Falling

Three days later…

Narita International Airport, Tokyo

The Baron's tall regal figure cut through the crowd as he cleared immigration. The custom's officer quietly took in the dark blue hair, clear hazel eyes and mature chiselled features as he ran through the routine questions. The man had taste, a dark blue suit from some high-class Italian designer with expensive leather shoes to match. He did not look like he was here on business but rather for some diplomatic reason. Only the lack of such papers indicated otherwise.

The man was certainly intriguing. He stood patiently, as though allowing the officer time to take him in. He did not let any irritation or annoyance creep into his speech as he politely thanked him before he picking up his briefcase. As the Baron passed him by, the officer turned to the next in line and promptly forgot the previous passenger. Michiko gave him a slow sultry smile and for the rest of his shift, the customs officer remembered little else.

As he patiently waited for his companions to clear customs, Rothschild reflected on Sato's message. It appeared that the Hunter was now actively purging the city of the demons and on her last encounter had introduced her to three of the members of Schwarz. For the group's resident telepath, his meeting with her had been unfortunately marred by his 'accident'. Well, there would no doubt be further opportunities along the way. As Michiko and Majel joined him, the small group made their way to the Arrival Hall for their pick-up.

Michiko tucked her arm about Rothschild and he allowed her the familiarity. Majel seemed to ignore the activity about her, focusing instead on some inner thought. The Baron respected her need for quiet. Majel was very focused in her purpose. It was not wise to disturb her when she was not ready to share. Majel may seem cool and calm but she was a fiery banshee when provoked. Besides, if he guessed correctly, Majel was interpreting the visions she had seen some three nights ago. The very same ones that Sato had informed him about.

Heading out through the automatic doors, they saw a limousine pull up and a hulking giant of a man climb out of the driver's seat. Bowing low in deference to them, he then proceeded to open the rear door for them. Once they had settled themselves within, he closed the door and returned to the driver's seat. Pulling away from the curb, he pressed the internal intercom to get his passengers' attention.

"My name is Kanta, Baron Rothschild," he intoned in a deep voice. "Mr Sato has sent me to pick you up and to take you to your place of residence before he will join you there. He is currently preparing his report and will present it to you this evening."

"Thank you, Kanta," Rothschild replied. "Please inform Sato that I will await his arrival at the mansion." Flicking off the intercom's switch, Rothschild settled into the plush leather interior of the limousine to enjoy the scenic drive.

***************************************

Late afternoon…

Koneko no Sumu Ie, Tokyo

Aya tenderly fixed the last bloom in place before leaning back to admire the arrangement. The soft pink roses and snowy baby's breath made a lovely contrast and Aya was almost sad to have to part with it. She heard the bell above the door ring and looked up at the customer who made his way into her shop.

"The bouquet is ready, Sato-san," Aya smiled at the stout Japanese businessman. "I'll just wrap it up and key in the amount for you."

"Thank you very much, Aya-san," Sato replied with a benign smile as he took out his wallet. "It looks very beautiful. You certainly have a gift for flower arrangement."

"I'm glad you like it. The roses were the last ones available. I always seem to underestimate their appeal," Aya smiled as she efficiently wrapped up the flowers. After giving it a final check, she keyed the amount into the cash register. "That'll be ¥3300 including tax, Sato-san."

"Keep the change, Aya-san" he said as he handed her a ¥5000 note. Scooping up the proffered bouquet he calmly walked out, leaving the startled girl holding the banknote. As he stepped off the curb, a dark blue saloon pulled up and he got into the back.

"Take me to the mansion, Kanta. The Baron is no doubt expecting me." Glancing down at the neatly presented flowers, he couldn't help smiling slightly. The young Hunter had exceptional taste.

***************************************

Schwarz apartment

Schuldig had drifted between consciousness and unconsciousness, the drugs in his system numbing the pain of his injuries. Crawford had seen to it that he was kept in an isolated room where the hustle and bustle of life outside could not penetrate its thick walls. Schuldig's injuries were too serious to be taken lightly and Crawford had no intention of accidentally exposing him to any possible external threats. Not that Schuldig had a chance to voice his objections, he was too out of it to care.

Periodically, either Crawford or Nagi would come in to check on him and dose him up with the necessary medication. Farfarello was currently locked up in his cell, his thoughts of the incident kept only to himself. Since neither Crawford nor Nagi wanted to be near him, Farfarello spent most of his time with his assorted knives, the one stipulation being that he did not cut himself up too much.

For Nagi, the entire incident worried him. For Schwarz to be taken down in such a fashion was almost beyond his comprehension. Schwarz was invincible - a pre-cog, a telepath, a telekinetic and a berserker who feels no pain - how could they be defeated? Granted he hadn't been there to witness the situation for himself but still, Schwarz should have managed to escape without incurring such serious injuries.

Another piece to the puzzle was the strange female that showed up in the nick of time to rescue them. To Nagi, it seemed like a cliched fairytale he'd once read about where the hero comes to save the day and rescue the damsel in distress. He snorted at the thought and levitated the medicine tray while tapping on Schuldig's door before entering.

"Hello, Nagi," the German's voice rasped out. "Come to soothe my aches and pains?"

"I didn't think you'd be awake Schuldig," Nagi replied as he gently placed the tray by the bedside table. "How are you feeling?"

"Like having three dozen Takatoris practising their golfswings on me," he smirked weakly.

"At least you've retained your sense of humour," Nagi replied, a trace of relief seeping into his voice. "Crawford would be glad to know you're coming along."

"And all thanks to that dark angel of mine," Schuldig murmured softly, his blue eyes misting slightly at the memory. "I wonder what she's like?"

"What happened, Schuldig?" Nagi asked, making use of the opportunity to get the story from the telepath while he was still lucid.

Crawford never did give him more than sketchy details and Farfarello was off on one of his psychotic jaunts through his own private hell to give him a coherent answer. That left the telepath and Nagi knew that Schuldig rarely minded providing him the details that Crawford would conveniently leave out. That was what Nagi liked about Schuldig, if like was a word he had to use to describe it.

Schuldig gave him a little more respect even if he did at times tease him for being a kid. When it came to business, Schuldig gave him his due and rarely found fault with him. Nagi knew that like Crawford, Schuldig valued his contribution to the group. That was why remaining with Schwarz still had its appeal. With the exclusion of Farfarello, Nagi could get along with those who mattered in the group. He belonged with them.

"Damn devils they were, Nagi-kins," Schuldig began, his voice hardening as his eyes flashed blue fire. "Crawford forgot to mention that they were pretty much bulletproof as well."

"Devils? They were the ones that hurt you?"

"Ah… Black as pitch and nasty looking to boot. Certainly made Farf's day though, crazed Irish bastard," Schuldig spat out as the unpleasant memory replayed in his mind. His eyes glittered with anger as he turned to face a wide-eyed Nagi. "It was the closest I've ever been to hell, Nagi. It's certainly not something I ever want to repeat. I'd give it to Farf instead," he continued now looking off towards the far wall.

"You mentioned someone coming to the rescue, Schuldig. Any idea who?" Nagi pressed on with the questions. Schuldig was fairly talkative despite his injuries and Nagi hoped he would provide him with more information to work with. Briefly, he wondered why Crawford had been so evasive with the details.

"It's his way of dealing with the issue, Nagi," Schuldig replied, answering the teenager's thoughts. "In a way, he blames himself for what happened that night. If he had known, we'd have left without saying goodnight to that Nagata fellow."

"But it's not his fault, Schuldig. How could he have known about it so far in advance? Crawford's good, but even he has his limitations. Especially with the dreams he's been having," Nagi's voice fell after the last sentence. "What is going on, Schuldig? This is getting really weird and dangerous. I've never known any of us to be so seriously hurt except for Farfarello, and it's beginning to worry me. Crawford seems to be the only one who has some idea about what's happening but he's being all uptight about it and not telling any of us of it. Frankly speaking, I'm getting rather fed-up with all this cloak-and-dagger nonsense!"

Schuldig winced at the mental wave of frustration pouring out from the young telekinetic before managing to block off the emotions. Nagi was rarely emotional and the last time he had had a major outburst was from the Tot incident. Thankfully, Schuldig had been prepared for it but still the overflow from it had strained his mental shields to breaking point. It had been largely the distance from it that settled and allowed him to mentally stabilise himself again. But now, given his current state of health Schuldig was just barely strong enough to bear with the jarring thought waves.

"Nagi, please calm down. You're giving me a headache," Schuldig pleaded with the still agitated teenager. "I'm sure Crawford has his reasons, it's just that he's not ready to share them yet. You know how he works, until there is something to be shared, he'll just keep it to himself."

Nagi sighed at Schuldig's words before bowing his head in apology. Peeking through his lashes, he saw the redhead give a small smirk and relax. Despite his mind games, Nagi knew that the telepath rarely intruded on his team's thoughts unless it was necessary. With Crawford, they were partners; with Nagi he was a secondary mentor and the one who helped calm his rare alarming outbursts.

After Tot's death, Nagi had been inconsolable and Schuldig had had to handle the situation. Through good-natured advice and most likely a substantial amount of mental tweaking, he had managed to bring the teenager round. While Nagi owed his loyalty and devotion to Crawford for rescuing him, Schuldig owned his soul.

***************************************

Weiss HQ, Chiba Prefecture

Ran barely focused on the folder's documents before him. Manx was briefing them on their latest mission but the redheaded leader was very distracted. Since that strange incident some weeks back, his dreams had taken more form. This time, Aya was less of a target but she was still trying to fight off the monsters. After what he had seen, there was no doubt that something serious was going down and that Aya was somehow involved. He recalled the day after the incident his need to return to his sister when Yoji walked in with Manx.

She had promptly declared that Kritiker had reassigned them back to Tokyo to take care of some 'disturbances'. She didn't elaborate but Ran could read it between the lines. No doubt that what they had witnessed was now beginning to make its presence felt. The guys had quickly packed up and moved out of their barely lived-in condo into an apartment building halfway across the city where Aya lived. Manx had intended for the charade to continue. Aya had no need to know of her brother surviving the incident. A small part of Ran appreciated it but a greater part of him chafed at the thought of not seeing her.

"Abyssinian!"

Blinking at the abrupt command, he looked up into Manx's annoyed eyes. He then realised that she was now standing right in front of him. He had really been out of it to not notice her approach. Omi and Ken were looking on curiously at Ran's preoccupation. Yoji was grinning in the corner, his jade eyes twinkling at the humour he apparently found in the situation.

"Looks like someone was not paying attention in class, eh sensei?" he teased. His grin widened further as both Manx and Ran turned to glare daggers at him.

"Have you heard a single word I've said, Abyssinian?" Manx asked sharply. She was getting rather frustrated with the team members for the past couple of weeks. She could smell the conspiracy they carried around with them but they refused to tell her anything. Neither Omi nor Ken wanted to divulge any information and these two were usually the first to crack under pressure.

She never bothered with either Yoji or Ran as they would simply joke it off in the case of Yoji, or glare back in stony silence like Ran. Damn, but it was frustrating. Short of bugging the place, she had no other way to find out what was going on. The primary reason that they had been reassigned to Tokyo was because of Ran. He was starting to lose his focus. Yoji had once told her in no uncertain terms that their team was facing a crisis and that if she did not do something about it, there would be no Weiss to boss around. And so she had agreed but with conditions attached.

Conditions which Manx felt were being actively challenged by the stoic leader.

"What's going on, Abyssinian?" Manx pressed, her voice low - almost dangerous in its intensity.

Omi and Ken unconsciously held their breath at the sudden rise in tension and Yoji straightened frowning, his humour evaporating quickly. Ran looked calmly into Manx's eyes, his lips thinning in response to the question. Manx narrowed her eyes further and Ran had to make a decision. As much as he knew he could match Manx stare for stare, it would not be in his best interest. Nor in Weiss'. All he had to do now was to give Manx a reason she would accept and leave him alone.

Manx could see the flicker of his thoughts reflecting within the amethyst depths. She hated having to pressure her favourite group but after Yoji's demands and reasons to move back to Tokyo, she had kept a closer eye on her charges. It would not pay to have any one of them endangering themselves or the others in the line of duty because of some unresolved personal issues.

And of the four of them, Ran seemed to be the one she had least expected to be troubled. But then again, Ran's reasons for remaining with Kritiker were the weakest given his sister's full recovery. And for the millionth time, Manx wondered as to how long she could hold on to him before he slipped away forever.

Author's Notes: Hmm, shorter than I had originally planned but given the length of the previous chapter, my fingers and wrists needed the break. Anyway, this chapter is another interlude of sorts similar to Chapter 5. I've introduced the Baron and his posse a little more as well as inserted in my take on Schu's and Nagi's 'relationship'. I've always thought of Schu being a little bit of an elder brother to Nagi as opposed to Crawford's more parental role. As to Schu being pissed off with Farfie, well, the guy did seem to enjoy himself while our dear mind reader got his ass kicked. *lol*

Hmm, so who is Sato-san and what's his purpose in the greater scheme of things? I'll tell you a secret - I don't know… ::scratches back of head and laughs sheepishly::. Well, I do have an idea of what his role is but I've yet to work out the mechanics of it all into the overall plot. I think most of you who actually bother to read my thoughts on writing the various chapters are aware that I've planned this story in a multi-arc sequence. I hope that Part II would be as good as or even better than the first. So you guys have to encourage me!

Now the grovelling for reviews. Oi! Except for a few of you [see Thank You to: above], I have no idea what you guys are thinking of about this fic. Even a simple, "Gosh, Schu got his a** kicked! Cool!" or "I like where this is going." would be nice. At least I know that people actually tell me they have some thoughts on the story.

And until the next chapter, tell me how much you want me to continue. I want the attention - honestly! Ja mata ne!