Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ New Rules, New Ruler ❯ Chapter 4

Part Four

Nagi tapped away happily at the keyboard. He'd spent the last half hour chatting to his cyber boyfriend, of whom Brad knew nothing, and for good reason. Tash hadn't seemed to mind, watching but not reading the conversation. Nagi had explained he'd never met the boy in person, and that it was much better that way, especially considering what he did and how the other member's of Schwarz might react, but he hadn't been able to escape a pang of sadness at the idea he could never be in a real relationship. Natasha had helpfully told him that `Koneko' was happy just talking to him like this, in fact, it felt like the highlight of the young man's day. Sometimes being friends with an empathy so powerful knew how someone on the other side of the world felt was a very good thing.

But no he was working again, after Tanya's impromptu visit. He'd fought through layers of encryption and coding to a single page of text. Nagi glanced up at the young telempath. "Natasha?" he asked softly, praying he wasn't mangling the English name

"Call me Tash, everyone does," she told him yet again.

"'Kay, Tash. Um, I found something." Tash leant over his shoulder, already very aware of how nervous the younger boy's discovery had made him. She sent him reassuring happy feelings to calm him down.

"I think this is one of the things Tanya wanted to know," she said, stroking Nagi's hair with one hand will she used the mouse to scroll through the information. A word caught her eye. "Oh dear," she sighed, "it's as we feared."

"What?" Nagi's curiosity swept over Tash and she struggled not to succumb to it too.

"Um, I'm not sure I can tell you." She gave him a pointed look as he pleaded with his eyes, until he suddenly caught what the look meant. His eyes swung back to the screen.

"Sterilised!" he yelped.

"Uh huh. I think there were fears over what would happen in a psi had children, or if two psis had kids together. This confirms what Tanya had already guessed, but we're still looking for why. Might be just security to make sure no psi finds him or herself with loyalties to something other than S, might be something genetic. We don't know yet. That's why we need you to keep looking." She squeezed his shoulder gently and went to leave, preparing to take the news to her boss.

"Wait! Would I, I mean, I was only, so would I, you know, would they…"

"Yes," Tash said softly, and fled. Nagi's emotional reaction was more than she could bear. Anger, horror, self-pity, self-loathing, hatred, pity for the other psis, sadness… Tash ran.

* * *

Schuldig dragged Brad out into the sunshine. Brad let himself be lead down to a gently meandering river, and watched contentedly as Schuldig started to strip off.

"You going to swim too?" Schuldig demanded. "Why not? Come on, it's hot and the water will be cool and refreshing." Brad laughed and shook his head, reclining on the soft lawn. Schuldig shrugged and continued to take of his clothes, making a show of it for Brad. His muscles rippled as he pulled his shirt over his head and he gave Brad a nice view of his butt as he took off his trousers. Nothing Brad hadn't seen before, but it felt different seeing Schuldig naked like this, not about to have sex. Schuldig gave him a wave before jumping head first into the river.

Brad stretched out, and frowned. Their wonderful piece was about to be disturbed. A redhead more annoying than Schuldig and Aya put together, if that was possible.

"Hello, Brenned Engel," he scowled up at the Irish pyrokinetic.

"Ye've been talking to Jei agin, ha'an't ye?" The Irish man scowled back. "The name's Bran."

"Bran, Bren, Brian," Schuldig seesawed his hand back and forth, unselfconsciously naked in front of the older man.

Bran shrugged irritably and took out a cigarette, placing it between his lips and using his power to light it. It was no secret that the twenty-five year old was dying of cancer, but no one had yet been able to convince him this was because he smoked, not because he could set stuff on fire. Since meeting him, Schuldig had cut back on his own cigarette intake, and it seemed to Brad that the younger man was seriously considering giving up. He knew that if he asked, Schuldig would never touch another cigarette, but he felt it should be Schuldig's decision alone.

"I was just here te tell ye'll that Tanya wants ye oop in te min office. Looks like ye'll be off home soon!" he sauntered away.

"He didn't have to look so happy about it," Schuldig whined. He stare down at his dripping form, which was taking up rather a lot of Brad's attention too. "Think we've got time for a roll in the grass before she comes after us?"

"Yes. Besides, we need to get you dried off before you get dressed again, don't we?" Brad pulled the younger man down onto the grass. "Undress me," he murmured.

* * *

"Wonderful. We've been waiting here while you too are at it again." Tanya glowered at the two men as they strode into the room. Tash gave them a delighted smile. "So, do you want to go back to Japan?" Tanya asked bluntly.

"We've discussed this," judging by the look on Tanya's face this was something she hadn't picked up on yet, much to Brad's gratification, "and yes, we all want to go back. Schwarz have a well-developed reputation there and several customers."

"Yes. There are two psis I'd like you to take down once you get back. In return, I will supply you with a more spacious living arrangement, bills fully paid for the next six months. You will all receive medical attention form the healers I'm also sending out. Have any of you had blood tests or any other bodily fluids?"

All of Schwarz shook their heads, having some how managed to avoid this piece of medical etiquette.

"Good. Don't. Evidence suggests there may be something that can be picked up, especially in the blood and spinal fluid, that is linked to your psychic abilities. We're looking into this, of course."

Nagi was chewing on his lip. "Can I tell them?"

"What? Oh, If you must," Tanya dismissively waved her hand.

"We've all been sterilised," Nagi said mournfully. Schuldig's jaw dropped, while Crawford's tightened.

"Really? I had wondered." Crawford turned to Tanya. "Any idea why?"

"We're looking into it," she said vaguely.

"You look into a lot of things, why don't you look into-" Schuldig began threateningly, but Crawford stopped him.

"So, on the next plane back?"

"Yes. The details of the two ex-agents will be supplied on the flight, though I suggest you get as mush sleep as possible to combat jetlag." Tanya gave them a nod, and left.

"We'll miss you here, it was very pleasant having you," Tash said earnestly. Even Farferello looked touched.

"We enjoyed our stay immensely," Crawford assured her. Tash beamed.

"Yeah, and no little thanks to you," Schuldig added. "Shame you can't come to Tokyo with us."

"Oh no, I never could! Just being here is a strain sometimes, and Tokyo has the largest human population density of anywhere! I don't know how you manage, Schuldig!" she exclaimed breathlessly. Brad found it slightly amusing, but rather less slightly annoying, when he realised the girl was quite taken with the German.

Schuldig shrugged off the compliment uncomfortably. "There's only three living telepaths of any power in the world, and you're the strongest," Tash continued. "I'm the only telempath of any consequence, actually, but thoughts and emotions are different like that." Like what? the others wondered, but didn't ask. "So, yes, have a good journey. Tanya says that you're specifically to call this time, Mr Crawford. Not like last time. There's two numbers, one for SS business and one for you to call her like you promised years ago." Crawford took the paper unresistingly, wondering what Schuldig thought of all this. Surely he must know? But did he, considering his current and previous state? "So, yes, bye!" Tash suddenly, impulsively, bent forwards to give each Schwarz member a kiss on the cheek before running out of the door, blushing furiously.