Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ New Rules, New Ruler ❯ Chapter 13

Part Thirteen

Nagi stared at the ceiling. It was white. And tiled. There was something he had to do, should have done already, but he couldn't remember what. Voices came from outside, and he struggled to hear them. Suddenly they were much closer.

"Hey, evil chibi," he knew the voice, but the tone and inflection seemed almost alien.

"Schuldig?"

"The one and only," Okay, that was better. Arrogance. Much more recognisable than concern.

"Where am I?"

"In hospital. You've been out for three days. What did you do to yourself? Farfarello keeps insisting you can fly…" Schuldig stared down at the tiny form in the huge bed. He looked paler than the white sheets and bandages that surrounded him. His skin had taken on an almost translucent quality.

"I, I lifted myself." These words seem to take too much effort, and Nagi gasped for air.

"Well I never. Don't do it again, `kay? Farfarello wanted to come see you, but they won't let him in the hospital. Brad's still bedridden. He's got some nasty burns. Nasty." Schuldig swallowed, remembering the look on Brad's face when he came around. Still in a sea of painkillers and other drugs, he'd gazed up at Schuldig with a look of abject adoration that would never cross his face when he had full control. But, for now, he didn't, and Schuldig revelled in the tenderness his lover was showing in gratitude for his life.

"We failed," Nagi said in a tiny voice. "'s all my fault."

"Nah. We got the target. Well, the police picked him up yesterday, which amounts to the same thing. I think Tanya's pulled some strings, coz he's off to Germany. The files weren't that important."

"Were."

"Weren't. Shut up. Look!" Schuldig shoved a paper into Nagi's face. He tried to reach up and take it, but his arms wouldn't move. "Oh, yeah, you're all tangled up in gauze and stuff. I'll read it for you, and you can look at the pretty pictures."

Schuldig settled himself like an infant school teacher, carefully displaying the paper so he could read and Nagi could take in the full horror of the pictures. There were several of the shell of the lab, more of the victims and survivors of the fire, and a very large one of Brad. Schuldig read the whole story aloud, and Nagi's mouth fell open.

"Brad let you print that? Let you let them?"

"Nope, he was still out when this one went to press. He's the hero of the day. Saved fifty people. The only deaths, it seems, were those caused by Farf, but the authorities don't know that. And look, you've got a page all to yourself! Selfless Nephew Also Attempts Rescue, Nearly Loses Life. No one can work out how you got out of the basement."

"I'm not going to tell them."

"Good lad." Schuldig reached over and stroked Nagi's hair tenderly. Nagi tried to raise his eyebrows, but he no longer had any to raise. His whole face stung. Schuldig's cool hand was soothing, and he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, Schuldig was gone, the paper neatly folded on the bedside table. There were sounds from outside.

"Look, we'll be very quiet," a soft voice was promising. "We're from school, we're his friends. He'll want to see us!"

"Ungh." Nagi had meant to say `let them come in, she's right, I do want to see them' but `ungh' was all that came out. At least it let them know he was awake.

Aya-chan, Sakura and, to Nagi's infinite shock, Omi, entered the small room. They came bearing gifts. Nagi found himself fighting tears. He got gifts, just coz he was ill? He almost never got gifts! Omi had a bouquet, and was blushing behind it. Of course, the flower shop. Looked like Omi had arranged it himself.

"Hey, hero," Aya-chan perched on the side of the bed. "Everyone's talking about you at school. In a good way, of course."

"Yeah, you're going to be famous when you get back." Sakura pushed a gift into his face.

"Can't move. Open it for me?" Nagi gave her a pitiful look. She giggled. "No seriously, I can't move. My hands are tied." Even Omi managed a small laugh at that. Sakura undid the string and held up her gift for Nagi to see.

"It's from both of us," she said, gesturing to Aya-chan. "We made it together." It was a soft woollen jumper. Nagi felt tears threaten again. No one ever made stuff for him.

"I wanna wear it now," he said huskily. The girls giggled again, and folded it up next to the newspaper. "Hey, shouldn't you all be in school?"

"He's trying to get rid of us!" Aya said, mock indignantly. Nagi flinched. "Hey, I was kidding!" Aya immediately tried to reconcile with him.

"He's right though, you two really ought to be getting back. I've got a free this afternoon, so I'll stay for a bit longer." Omi's tone left no question for argument, and the two girls reluctantly left.

Omi drew up a chair and sat down heavily, taking the paper in one hand and shaking it open. "Nagi, will you be truthful with me?"

"I know what you're going to ask," the younger boy said tiredly. "Yes, we were on a mission. No, we didn't start the fire. A pyrokinetic managed that, while Schuldig was trying to block him from using his powers. It was a retrieval exercise. Files and one man."

"You weren't there to kill anyone?" Omi asked suspiciously.

"Everyone apart from the target was `expendable'. According to Schuldig all the deaths attributed to the fire were actually caused by Farf." Nagi sighed, tired beyond belief. His face was whiter than the pillow, his eyes surrounded by deep purple and burning with a feverish intensity. His skin was cracked and peeling in several places, and where the bandages didn't cover it the harsh red patches shone like blood on snow.

"I see." Omi stared at the younger boy. He knew he wasn't going to relate any of this to Weiss. Why wasn't he going to? Because he'd promised Nagi? It didn't make sense. Part of Omi warned him against revealing anything about Nagi, even the fact he and Omi were now attending school together to the others. It might arouse suspicion later on, it might cause complications. Complicate what, though? Omi's mind wandered...

"So, am I screwed?"

Omi jumped. Surely Nagi couldn't share Schuldig's telepathy? Then it dawned on him what Nagi meant. Flushing scarlet, he reassured the younger boy that Weiss would remain as unaware of this as Omi could ensure. Fortunately, none of them read the papers very often.

"I can't promise Birman or Manx won't take advantage of this," Omi warned. "With two Schwarz members out, they may determine it to be a perfect time for a strike on you."

"Really? I guess we gave them too much credit." Nagi smirked, worryingly reminiscent of Schuldig. "Just because Brad and I are lying down doesn't make us any less dangerous." To demonstrate his point Nagi used his powers to summon a drink to him. He immediately regretted it. Even such a simple actions left him drained. Omi decided to ignore the sudden strained look on the younger boy's face, letting him think Omi really was convinced he didn't want to face Schwarz even now.

"Nagi?"

"Ye-s," Nagi's voice was breathy and unsteady.

"Do you remember our talk at the beginning of last week?" Nagi nodded. This was what he had feared. This was what he had to have done by the end of the week. "I don't think you tried very hard," Omi's voice was ominous.

"I... didn't want to," Nagi admitted. "Why can't I have any friends?" his voice took on a hint of a whine. "Why can't I just have one little part of my life being normal? It's not fair!"

"You're right, it's not," Omi conceded. "But putting innocent lives at risk..."

"Is no more than you're doing!" Nagi snapped. "They're your friends! You... you're just jealous!"

Omi stared at him, amazed at this outburst. "What?"

"Sorry," Nagi blushed. "I didn't mean that. I do understand your point, but the whole Aya-chan thing is over. If she was to be kidnapped again, it would be to harm Ran, and whether I'm friends with her or not isn't going to affect Brad's decision if he so decides."

"No, but it would make it very easy to lure her into a trap. And Sakura too, remember."

"Sakura trusts me about as far as she could throw me," Nagi said bitterly. "No, sorry, about as far as she could throw you."

"True," Omi grinned. "Look, let's drop it for now. Just remember, if anything happens to either of them, your life will be forfeit. Whether it's Schwarz or not."

Nagi didn't protest. Besides, what could happen to the girls with two trained assassins with them? "So, haven't you got classes?"

"Is this a hint to make me leave?" Omi was surprised, and hurt, and surprised that he was hurt.

"Unless you want to listen to me snore at you," Nagi gave a small smile. "I'm clinging on here."

"Sorry! I guess I'll see you when you get back to school?"

"I guess so."

The goodbyes were awkward, more than they should have been, Nagi realised later. It seemed Omi wasn't keen to leave, and Nagi hadn't been that keen to see him go. But professionalism forbade Nagi to fall asleep in front of the older boy, professionalism and a small measure of pride. Maybe some other time, Omi would get to watch Nagi sleep...