Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Essence of Innocence ❯ Beginning of Fire ( Chapter 9 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Title: Essence of Innocence
Chapter 9: Beginning of Fire
Author: lilnekochan
Pairings: Crawford x Schuldich, Yohji x Aya, Ken x Omi, Farfarello x Nagi
Warnings: Yaoi, OOC, nice Farfarello (shudders)

Author's Note: Finally I have some Farfarello x Nagi. I explained more about the psychic Level
system but you'll find out why there's never been any Level 10 psychics later in the story. I
know that the ending is rather adrupt but I really didn't want to write anymore since I'm kinda
tired. That and also this chapter is getting a bit long. I'm one of thos people who loves to go
to sleep at two or three in the morning then wake up at eleven in the morning so I was a bit
tired when I finished the chapter. School started and already in my first week we already have
tests, quizes and homework. It really sucks but what can I do. Either way in the next chapter
I'll explained why Schuldich is so moody in this chapter. I know that he was all carefree and
happy (if that's what you'll call it) in Ch 8 but like I said, I'll explain more in
the next chapter. Sorry about not having a lot of Weiss in this story but they're be in the
story later. Hey, they are one of the main characters after all. I've just been in the Schwarz
writing mood in these last few chapters so I wrote about them instead of Weiss but don't worry
since Weiss will be back in Chapter 11.














Beginning of Fire










The moon was high in the sky. The darkened sky was sprinkled with myriads of
tiny sparkling beads. Stuck to the dark black sky the stars were very easily seen as they
twinkled with God's might. The air was devoid of any clouds, instead decorating itself
with the stars and moon. Everything was still except for the gentle sway of the breeze.
The trees rustled as squirrels rushed up the greenery and occasionally birds flocked back
to their nests.

The night road was devoid of any cars. The streets glisten with the slight covering
of water and the streetlights dimmed low because of the absence of vehicles. Trees
overshadowed the lonely area as a single array of light pierced the once still street.
Headlights flashed as the car quickly drove pass, ignoring the stop sign. The voluble roar
of the engine was the only sound coming from the car as it drove to its destination.

Nagi stared out tiredly from inside the car. His body was overwhelmed by sleep
as painful aches echoed through his head. Green and black blurred as the shapes of the
trees and sky passed before his eyes. The silhouette of the moon was gone, unnoticed as
deep brown eyes began to droop. The silence inside the car was deafening, but Nagi did
not have the courage to speak first. It was obvious to the young teen that something was
wrong. The mission was planned to be flawless, but somehow during the mission a thief
intervened. Not only did she escape but also escaped with almost all of the data that they
had found, however that was not what was worrying the Japanese at the moment. No,
Nagi was worried about his teammates.

At the thought Nagi from the corner of his eye first glanced at the driver sitting in
front of him in the five-setter car. Crawford was not a person who liked to bring
unwanted attention of both himself as well as Schwarz. He thought it better that they
mixed in with the rest of society so that they would not get in trouble yet here he was
driving at 65 miles per hour down a residential street. Nagi knew that Crawford was
keeping a secret from them...from Schwarz. It had something to do with the mission. On
every mission Crawford had always briefed them about the target from every detail like
public appearances to the discreet private ones. Never had Crawford refused to give them
information on a mission like he was with this target.

Crawford had told them that this mission had a personal connection to him. Nagi
knew him well enough that until Crawford wanted them to know then they wouldn't,
which brought up the next problem. Riding shotgun in the front seat sat Schuldich.
Schuldich was not the kind of person who liked having people hide things from him. The
German had been unusually quiet through the long ride, not even sparring the American
sitting next to him a glance. Though Nagi was not very experienced in the matters of love
or lust he did know enough that he knew that the German deeply cared for their leader.
Because Crawford was keeping a secret from him was hurting him in the inside even
though the telepath would probably deny it. Nagi could see that Schuldich was staring out
the car window with somewhat glassy eyes and that wasn't a good thing.

The fourth occupant of the car sat right in back of the glassy eyed German.
Farfarello like the rest of his team was also too quiet, not even ranting about hurting God
even once since entering the car. True, Farfarello did not kill anyone but people had died
and that should have been enough for him. The Irishman like Schuldich and Nagi was
staring out the window. At what Nagi did not know since there was nothing outside
besides grass and trees. The bushes obscured the view of the houses on the over side.
Farfarello hand slowly rose as it pressed against the frosty window. The movement
caught Nagi's attention and the young boy couldn't do anything but stare.

Farfarello's hand was pressed against the windshield as the other rested on his lap.
His forehead settled lightly against the window as bits of light flickered off him. A
golden eye glowed as the light showed the visual scars self-inflicted upon his face. More
scars were on the muscular arms and chest as a blue shirt hanged off his frame. Nagi's
first thought upon looking at the picture was that Farfarello was very kawaii. With the
gold eyes glittering in the moonlight and face and hand pressed again the window like
that, Farfarello looked like a little child at Christmas. With that thought Nagi dismissed
the idea. First, Farfarello did not have the same air of innocence like a child does and
second, he probably was not a great believer of Christmas. But even with that Nagi still
thought that he was kawaii.

Nagi clearly remembered the first time that he met Farfarello. The Irish had already
created the scars on his face and body however they were still fresh. The eye patch was
still there as Crawford brought him slowly to meet the other two members. Nagi, only
nine at the time was very scared while Schuldich just smirked. Nagi thought that the scars
were very ugly, and as the gold eye landed on him in inspection, he also thought that the
man was insane and very dangerous. Nagi's opinion of the crazed Irish had changed
drastically since that meeting six years ago. He still thought that the man was dangerous
and crazy but knew that sometimes Farfarello showed signs of normalcy and affection
towards the other members of Schwarz. The Nagi's opinion of the scars...well, he had
come to appreciate them. With their line of business scars were important to remember
the past as well as the mistakes that they made and in the future will have to avoid.
Farfarello appearance and personality from the white frosty hair to the slightly wild gold
eye only made Schwarz stronger since each individual had their own powers and
uniqueness.

And that brought Nagi back to his problems...his family. Through the years Nagi
had started to look up to Crawford as a fatherly figure. Crawford was the one who took
him in making sure that he ate healthy as well as did his homework. He taught him
mathematics under the dimmed lights at night, etiquette for business, and about
controlling his powers. Nagi had come to see Schuldich as a brother, always fooling
around and calling him bishounen but did care about Nagi in his own way.
Farfarello...well as always he was an enigma. Nagi was not sure how he saw the Irish. A
friend certainly...maybe a brother but still not right...a father...no! No, Nagi was
confused about his emotions towards the Irishman.

Nagi shook his head to rid himself of his confused thoughts. From the corner of his
eye he saw Farfarello glance at him for the sudden movement. Nagi wanted to pierce the
uncomfortable silence. When everything was so quiet it made Nagi think and thinking
made he more confused about his situation with Farfarello and this mission. No, it's
better to just ask Crawford who seems to know what was happening then to ponder at it
and come to no conclusion.

Clearing his throat softly Nagi turned to Crawford. "...Crawford?"

A few tense seconds passed before Crawford replied, "Yes, Nagi?"

"Today...when we were talking to Weiss...you said something about psychic
Levels?" Nagi asked hesitantly. He saw both Schuldich and Farfarello straighten at the
question.

"You have a question about it?" Crawford asked as he steered the car into a right
turn.

"Can you explain it in more detail? I still do not understand it completely from the
descriptions before?"

"Do you want to know about the Levels themselves or about the process involved
in moving from one Level to another?"

"Both." Nagi said after little thought.

"Before I had said that the Levels were a measurement of the complexity of a
certain psychic power. Level 1 is the most basic level meaning that a person has an active
psychic power however their control over it is weak. Level 2 would be the same except
that the control had been strengthen to a large degree."

"You said that I was at Level 1." Nagi stated.

"Nagi, you have a very strong control over your powers. Do not think that you
don't, but telekinesis is also a hard ability to control. Every time you use telekinesis it
weakens you. A Level 2 for telekinesis would be when the psychic can use that power
without weakening himself. Of coarse it depends on how much you are using the power
and how large is the range. Tonight you used you powers quiet a bit so it weakened you
but the first and second time you used your power it didn't weaken you. That means that
you are almost at Level 2." Answered Crawford.

"What about the other Levels?"

"Level 3 is when the power evolves into another form. Level 4 will then be either
be a more controlled aspect of that ability or another evolution. It really depends on the
ability that each psychic has."

Nagi pondered the last information that was laid before him, "Why didn't Esstet
teach psychics based on these Levels? I don't remember them mentioning anything about
this before..."

"The psychic levels were usually used by people who did not have psychic abilities
towards those who did. It gave them a standard on how strong each psychic was. Esstet
did not use this since they already had strong seers who could sense these things."

"Then what Level are you? And what about Schuldich ...and ...well Farfarello?"
Nagi asked as they made another right turn in the deserted street. Schuldich stared
straight ahead not giving a clue that he was hearing the conversation but Nagi knew that
he probably was. Schuldich could be discreet when he choose to be and it seems that this
time was one that he wanted to be. Farfarello was also listening and seemed to perk up at
his name.

"Farfarello is also at Level 1. His ability is...unusual. That does not mean that it is
a bad thing. Farfarello is a Level 1 simply because he has no control over his ability to
not feel pain. It is turned on constantly. If he was at Level 2 then he would be able to
either intensify or decrease the pain in his body meaning he could manipulate the nerve
tissues in his body. At higher Levels he should he able to project that ability to someone
else so that he could control their nerve sensitive tissues."

Nagi's eyes were shocked after hearing Crawford describe Farfarello's ability. He
turned to Farfarello only to see that he man had turned back to staring out the window in
lost interest. Either it was before or after Crawford had described his power Nagi did not
know. He had always thought that Farfarello's gift was rather...more of a blocking of
emotions rather then a psychic ability. It seems that he was wrong. Schuldich had also
believed the same thing as Nagi since his eyes had also widened at the news. I never
knew that Farfarello could have been so strong, Nagi thought to himself.

//I would have to agree with you on that one, bishounen.// Came Schuldich voice
through Nagi's thoughts.

//Did you have any idea about these Levels, Schuldich?// Nagi asked.

//Nein...// Schuldich said but Nagi could feel the slight annoyance that he did not
pick up this information from their leader. Crawford was good at blocking Schuldich's
telepathy but Schuldich never tried to give up on trying to read him.

Crawford was obvious to the exchange and stopped at the flashlight. "Schuldich is
at a more higher level."

At this Schuldich turned and looked at Crawford. "What Level am I?" He asked.

"Schuldich..." Crawford looked at Schuldich. "You know that telepathy is a
powerful gift much like telekinesis, however the Levels are arranged much differently.
This is because telepaths starts at different Levels. Usually the first is empathy then the
next evolution would be telepathy but you started at the second ability. Because you
started at the second evolution then you already had the first since if you could read
minds then you already know their emotions. All was left was control which you now
have."

"That's all and well but you still haven't answered my question. What Level am
I?" Schuldich asked as he rolled his eyes.

"Level 6." Crawford answered and looked back at the road.

"Level 6, huh? That's pretty high but putting it bluntly how the hell did I get
there?"

"Control."

"What's not what I mean." Schuldich with another roll of his eyes. "By my
calculations I should be at Level 3 or 4. Not that I'm complaining about being a Level 6."

"Your powers are more advanced then most people, Schuldich." Crawford sighed
as he rubbed the bridge of his noise. Nagi had come to know that particular gesture as the
'I'm going to have a headache' sign. "Telepathy has the power only to mentally talk with
other people. With a Level 3 you wouldn't have been able to throw a mental psychic
blast, rewrite memories, or even search through a person's mind for a particular memory
or information. Those are the more advanced forms of telepathy that you have."

"There are still four more Levels." Schuldich stated. "Does telepathy evolve again
or is it about control?"

"Instead of evolving at Level 7, telepaths usually strengthen the control and range
of each ability. Level 8 is when they gain another ability. The skill is called dowsing.
You probably heard of this before but the procedure is incorrect. First dowsing does not
involved rods or sticks, and second it is not the ability to find water. Dowsing is when a
psychic uses an object to find an individual."

"Why is dowsing a Level 8 ability? Personally I think that the power blast is more
advanced then the dowsing." Schuldich said as he stared out the window.

"The psychic blast is usually focused on one person, Schuldich. By dowsing the
psychic wouldn't need the person but instead uses the object that they are holding to
create a psychic link between that person and the personal object. Using that they can
search through the person's mind or even blast him with psychic power. That is where the
voodoo idea came from." Crawford answered.

Schuldich seemed to ponder this, "How is that even a telepathic power?"

Another sigh, "The psychic uses their empathy power to feel where the person is
by the object then forges a psychic link. The reason this is above the psychic blast is
because the psychic can use a map and using their empathy ability, search through the
countries, states, and cities for that person. When a person touches a thing either it be
living or nonliving he leaves part of his essence behind. By using empathy the psychic
can use that as a tool to find the person. The object doesn't have to be personal but that
does make it easier for the telepath."

"...then what about Level 9 and 10?"

"Level 9 for all psychics is when the psychic is in total control of their powers..."

"And Level 10?" Schuldich asked as he looked at Crawford carefully as his
response drifted away.

"...there has never been a Level 10 psychic." Crawford said in that kind of voice
that Nagi learned meant that the conversation was final.

Schuldich choose to ignore this, "What do you meant that there hasn't never been a
Level 10 psychic? Why the hell would they base the standard on 10 Levels then?"
Schuldich questioned as he began to get annoyed be Crawford's behavior.

Before Crawford could response, he pulled the car into the driveway of their
sanctuary. Turning off the engine he stepped out of the car. Schuldich followed each
gesture that Crawford did intent with getting an answer from the cold leader. Nagi also
got out of the car with Farfarello following his moves and turned to Crawford as he
spoke. "Nagi, take Farfarello and put him in his cell. Also tend to his wounds and take
away his knives."

Nagi nodded and grabbed Farfarello's arm and dragged him inside the house.
Dimly he could hear Schuldich speaking softly to Crawford from outside the house but
couldn't make out the words. Walking up the stairs he gently walked Farfarello into his
cell. The cell was an empty room, with no windows or furniture inside. Unlike the other
cell in the house. The room did not contain an air condition or heating system since
Crawford had taken the liberty of taking out the system when Farfarello had tried to
escape his room through the vents. On the top of the ceiling had a small hook and in the
corner in a pile on the ground was Farfarello's safety jacket and chains.

"Farfarello..." Farfarello looked up at his name. "I need you to stay here while I go
back to my room." At this the Irishman nodded and Nagi left the kneeling man on the
floor. Quickly grabbing the first aid box on top of his drawer, Nagi raced back to find the
Berserker still in the same position on the floor.

Nagi slowly approached the man and softly moved his hand toward the bleeding
arm. Farfarello didn't like being touched and when he was in a bad mood then he may
become violent. Nagi touched the arm, with no signs of discomfort from Farfarello, Nagi
began to dab at the wound. Trying to clean the blood Nagi started to make idle
conversation, "...so Farfarello...what do you make of the psychic Levels?"

Farfarello shrugged as Nagi pulled out a needle from the first aid box. Nagi
inserted the needle near the wound and started to carefully weave his way trying to close
the open wound. Minutes pass in silence as Nagi worked. Feeling the overbearing silence
beginning to weigh again Nagi spoke hoping to draw his teammate into a conversation.
"They've been gone for a while. I wonder if Schuldich and Crawford are okay..."

"Schuldich is mad at Crawford." Farfarello said startling Nagi out of his thoughts.
He didn't really think that the Irish would have answered.

"Why do you say that?"

"Schuldich doesn't like it when Crawford keeps secrets from him. He's mad."
Farfarello stated. Before Nagi could reply he added, "Angry emotions hurt God."

Nagi felt a small smile tug at the corner or his lips, "Of course."

Nagi put the last touches to the stitches. As he was putting away the equipment he
saw a small bruise on the Irish's neck. Frowning he turned his attention to the bruise and
inspected it. "When did you get this?" Nagi asked as he fingered the bruise. Farfarello
didn't flinch in pain but Nagi didn't really expect him to.

"From the little fire cat." Farfarello said as he stared at the ceiling above him. His
golden eyes landed on the hook as Nagi stared at his face.

"Fire cat?" Nagi asked confused. His fingers stilled as he looked at Farfarello.

"The devil's pet." Farfarello explained as if Nagi should have known what he was
referring to.

"Farfarello?" Nagi asked once more thinking that Farfarello might have gone back
to one of his hallucination. Nagi waited for Farfarello to say reply but he didn't say
anything. Sighing, Nagi clawed through the box trying to find the bruise ointment that he
got a few weeks ago. His fingers touched something cold and he grabbed the box and
took it out. Opening the lid he scrapped some of the gel onto his hand and dabbed at the
yellowish blue bruise on the Berserker's neck.

Minutes passed silence when Farfarello spoke, "Raven black and fiery red."

"Huh?"

"The fire cat."

"Fire cat..." Nagi repeated. "What do you...oh the thief! Is that who you meant?"

Farfarello nodded. "But how did you get it from her?"

Farfarello shrugged as if to say that he didn't know or didn't care. Nagi thought it
was the latter and finished applying the ointment. She must be fast, Nagi thought as he
screwed on the lid. I didn't see her block Farfarello's attack or even counter attack
herself.

Nagi slowly placed the ointment back into its spot inside the first aid box and
wiped his hand on a pierce of tissue. After finishing he looked up only to find flaming
gold eyes looking at him.

Nagi startled, eyes widening as gold eyes studied him. Nagi moved back quickly
only to find the Irish's hand on his waist, pinning him to the floor. What the...? Nagi was
about to throw a psychic blast until he looked up into the golden eyes above him.

The Irish's eye was an array of deep golden puddles. Nagi had never looked into
Farfarello's eyes at such a close distance that he was feeling a little awed. Nagi noticed
the rings around the outer side of the pupils were a darker gold then the ones in the
inside. Then Nagi blinked again when he noticed the long eye lashes that went with the
eyes. Nagi felt the warmth of the hand on his waist was he lifted a pale hand and jumped
as a load slam pierced his golden dream.

"Schuldich's room..." Nagi whispered blinking rapidly then shook his head. When
images of golden clouds disappeared he found Farfarello sitting Indian style on the
ground, his face looking back up at the ceiling.

Nagi stood looking at the man on the floor. What happened? Nagi wondered as the
Irish stared at the ceiling. His eyes were very pretty though...

Nagi then remembered Crawford's orders and shook out of his state of shock. Nagi
tentatively stepped near Farfarello and said in a soft voice, "Farfarello, can you stand up
for a while. I need to put on your jacket."

Farfarello looked back at the Japanese boy then stood up. Using his power Nagi
lifted the jacket off the floor he floated the jacket into his hands. Unbuttoning the belts
and buttons he opened the straightjacket and flung it over the Irishman's shoulders. It was
a little awkward since Nagi was a bit shorter then his older teammate but he ignored the
height difference and began to button the jacket. Nagi finished with the last belt and
looked up and saw Farfarello studying him again.

"N-Nani!?"

Farfarello cocked his head and stared at the boy, "You have chocolate eyes."

"Huh!?"

"They're like that triangle one."

"Triangle what?"

"That triangle chocolate."

"The Hershey Kiss?"

"Is that the name?"

"...when did you get chocolate?"

"Schuldich."

"Oh."

"They're pretty." Nagi blinked as he replayed the conversation in his head. Now
this was something that he wouldn't have thought that Farfarello would say to him. He
didn't even know that Schuldich had given any chocolate to the Irishman. Then...

"You think my eyes are pretty!?"

"They hurt God."

"...how do they hurt God?"

"Chocolate hurts God."

"...okay." Nagi decided not to continue with the conversation. Personally he didn't
know how chocolate hurts God but he didn't want Farfarello to go into his ranting stage.
Then he looked at the hook above him. "I have to lock you up, Farfarello." He looked at
Farfarello. "...I don't really want to hang you upside down but...if you're good then I
won't. Will you behave?"

Farfarello looked at him.

"Farfarello?"

Farfarello shrugged and Nagi decided to take that as a yes. Mentally lifting the
chain up to the ceiling he pulled it tight until there are almost no slack for the Irish to
move around much. Taking the discarded knives on the floor he picked them up and
walked to the door. Pausing at the doorway he glanced back. "Oyasuminasai, Farfarello."

Nagi didn't hear a response but wasn't expecting one. He stepped out into the hall
and locked the bolts on the door. Turning around he looked at the dresser next to the wall.
A beautiful antic dresser stood there with a flower vase settled on top of it. Stems of an
iris grew out of the glass vase as a few blossoms fell onto the dresser. A picture of the
kanji character 'rebirth' was hung on the wall right above the flower vase. After placing
the knives back in their proper place Nagi walked to his room but as he passed Schuldich
room he paused. He debated whether he should interrupt the German but decided that it
would be better if he talked to the German in the morning when he was in a better mood.
Stepping into his room, Nagi walked pass his twin size bed and passed his dresser and
computer to his desk where the business files were spread across. Switching on a light in
his faint room he sat heavily in his chair and opened the first file that he found.

"Creation of the Demon Ray Project X62POI6. On March 13 the weapon was..."
Nagi read on as the lights glowed. Outside his bedroom window the wind was still. The
only noise that interrupted the Japanese boy was that of the electricity in his room. Nagi
licked his index finger then turned the page that he was reading. His chocolate brown
eyes browsed down the page then stopped. Eyes scrunching together he reread the data
presented in front of him. This doesn't make sense, Nagi thought as he flipped to another
page and scanned the information.

"What the hell is going on?" Nagi voiced the thought that was running through his
mind.