Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ The Lives We Lead ❯ Death Is Eternal ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter 14 Weiß

 

A week later, at the dead of night in a cemetery, Schwarz as well as Malvagita stood close together. They're usually more colorful attire was now replaced exclusively with black.

Crawford had allowed Farfarello to come so long as he behaved himself, which he of course would; he wanted to attend the ceremony. However, the Irish man had requested that it be done at night, so there would be no disturbances, and no voyeurs. (As well as no ringing church bells).

Malvagita instantly agreed, she couldn't stand the thought of random people taking pictures during the funeral.

So now, they were all gathered, under the full moon, staring down at the open casket. Inside, there were only fat red roses, laid out on a satin pillow, this was the substitute since the body of the beloved was never found.

The Priest conducting the ceremony paused and called them forward to place something, to remember the girl by, inside the casket.

Malvagita approached first, grasping onto Crawford's arm fro support, she dropped her faithful pet's collar into the coffin, kissing the Red Cross on it with tears in her eyes first.

Crawford reached around his own neck, pulling out a silver locket and dropping it in. Inside, there were pictures of his mother and sister; he offered this keepsake as a way of saying how close he was to her, in a family like sense. Which was true, his gift was sincere, what he felt for the blonde was a relationship that could only be described with the love that a father looks at his daughter with.

Schuldig came up next, he took a ring off his finger, it was his mothers ring, a token from a time long sense past. Only he knew its origin, and only he knew why he had kept such a thing with him so long.

He had decided it fate that it would grace his beloved's finger, but now it seemed, it would only face the darkness of her empty grave.

Nagi walked forward and knelt to gently place a leather bound book into the coffin. It was a diary he'd kept, lame as it was. However, within that diary was a lot about the late Chikaru. By burying this, he felt he would be fully putting her to rest, closing the last chapter of her life.

Everyone looked at Farfarello, who watched with his piercing gold eye. He could tell that a few of them had a brief fear that he would cut himself and bleed into the coffin, or he'd put a human's heart, recently harvested into the coffin.

`No.' he thought to himself, `She deserves more than that.'

He reached down, and grabbed a bundle at his feet, then started towards the coffin. He gently put in the Angels Tapestry.

 

Farfarello stood up and stared into the coffin, before taking two definite steps back to fall back in line with the others.

Schuldig asked inside his head, `Did you notice them yet?'

Farfarello nodded and replied back in his head, `Yes, I heard them when they came into the cemeteries.'

`I thought you would have attacked them. I was almost sure of it, I could hardly contain myself.' Schuldig replied.

`Chikaru deserves my attention. I came here to say good bye, I'm not going to waste this time by chasing around kittens.' The younger man stated.

Up on the hill, underneath a tree, Arashi stood, watching the scene before her. She sighed, “I wish I could go down there. Say my final blessings, you know?”

Aya grunted, “No, this is close enough.”

“She was a big part of my life for a long time.” She looked up at Aya, “All three of us lived in very close quarters, and we got along much better than Malvagita and I.”

Aya shook his head, “You're not going down there. It's too dangerous. We're risking it enough by being here at all.”

Arashi sighed, Aya put a hand on her shoulder, “It's better if we just stay up here. There's no reason for us to go down there except to provoke them.”

The Japanese girl sighed and relaxed in his hold, leaning into him and allowing him to take her into a soft embrace.

Both groups watched the ceremony in utter silence. By the end, the men of Schwarz as well as Malvagita laid red roses on top of the casket. Farfarello, however, laid down a pearl white rose, which he kissed the opening of before dropping it in.

~*~

On the long drive back home, Farfarello asked Schuldig about the ring he threw in, “Of all the things to give her in memory, why such a piece of jewelry?”

Schuldig sighed, leaning his head on the window of the limousine so he didn't have to look at anyone, “That's ring came from my mother or something. It was a keep sake from where I came from, but I buried it with her because… it was the ring I was going to offer her for her hand.”

Farfarello blinked, “Hand?” he asked, though he had a pretty good idea what the other meant.

“In marriage. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her by my side.” Schuldig spelled out irritably. The frustrated tone was only there to hide the quaver in his voice that caused by his troubled emotions.

Farfarello considered it for a moment before stating quietly, “She couldn't have accepted your request.”

The German spun his head around, “Yeah? And how would you know?”

The Irish man stated, “First of all, because she's a minor. And second of all, as crude as it is to say…”

Malvagita finished the sentence, “It wasn't her hand to offer since she belonged to me. You'd have to ask for my permission and there's no way in hell I'd give her to a sadistic bastard like you.”

“Who are you calling a sadistic bastard you cold hearted bitch!” Schuldig turned and yelled.

The Italian yelled back, “Shut up! You have no right to be saying that to me! She was the closest person to me and she just died!”

Schuldig yelled, “Don't even try to act like the victim here! I loved her as a person, not as some pet!”

“She was closer to me than `some pet'! She was the most loyal friend I ever had and it broke my heart to see her go!” Mal snapped.

“Shut up! You killed her! That was your decision! You decided that she should die and that's impacted my life and everything about me that revolved around her!” Schuldig screamed.

“I didn't mean to kill her! I fired in self defense you arrogant ass hole!”

“Self defense? What the hell do you think we were all doing? Chikaru even! She was defending you and what did you do? You friggin shot her! You killed her!”

The two were reaching across the aisle of the limousine and clawing at each other while they continued to scream. The sound of a gun cocked and the two looked to the side to see Crawford brandishing his large American gun.

Once the American had the attention of both opponents he calmly ordered, “Let go of each other and sit back in your own seats now.”

They both looked at the gun, contemplating their moves. Malvagita glared, “You wouldn't dare shoot me.”

Crawford pointed the gun towards her, “I wont kill you, but I wont tolerate any one disturbing the order of my team.” Before Schuldig had time to make a smug grin, he pointed the gun at the assassin, “And I wont tolerate you disturbing the peace either.”

Both members paused for a moment before relaxing their hold and sitting back in his seat. Both crossed their arms and glared, not having the emotional stamina to do much more.

Crawford sighed and rested the gun on his knee, ready for any sudden movements, he then began, “I realize and understand the emotional drama each of you are going through.”

Schuldig opened his mouth to protest but Crawford raised his hand, the German fell back into silence. The American continued calmly, “I'm sympathetic to the fact that each of you are suffering from this loss. I too had an attachment to Chikaru, and am disheartened and dejected at this recent turn of events.”

Mal and Schuldig glared at each other and were about to erupt into another battle when Crawford cleared his throat, “Excuse me. Do not interrupt.” The both relaxed back into their seats and looked at the American, he began again, “Believe me, I have been effected by this too, and not from a professional view point. However, as hard as this may be on you emotionally, we have to look past this, there is a much larger picture. Have any of you noticed it?”

Schuldig growled, “Our leader's bitch is a murderer and-”

“No.” Crawford cut him off, before he could explain another voice cut him off.

“Weiß.” Farfarello stated. After a pause he began again, “We met them at the mansion, not Celica.”

Nagi asked, “So that would point to Weiß making that letter.”

Farfarello added, “I've never seen them fight like that, or set up any of their plans like that. Its completely different from anything they've ever tried.”

Crawford nodded, “Everything about that place was completely separate from how they usually handle situations. Weiß usually uses stealth, and they do that by blending into crowds, however, if it was them that sent the letter, then they invited us to a completely remote place.”

Nagi asked, “So… Celica sent the note. We thought she sent the note, then we thought Weiß did.”

“And because we over analyzed it we're back to finding out she sent it?” Schuldig asked.

“Indeed.” He continued, “I've found other evidence that points to Weiß being in the same trap we were. Celica has been `playing' us for lack of a better word. I've come to the conclusion that, Celica set Weiß against us.”

Farfarello stated, “So, at this moment, we know little else that what she wants us to know, and those facts could easily be lies created to mislead us.”

~*~

Celica paced around the messy apartment room. She walked back over to the blonde on the bed, “Wow, that crime lord actually shot her.”

She looked over her shoulder when no one responded. So she leaned over and decided the coast was clear. The lady reached out a hand and timidly tugged on one of the edges of a mechanical piece protruding from one of the wounds.

“Don't touch.”

Celica stood up and turned around to see Rasputen, he leader.

 

Celica stared back down at the girl and stated, “She feels dead.”

“That's because she is, imbecile.”

She looked up suddenly, “If she's dead, then why do we have her all wired up?” she paused, “Are you trying to bring her back?”

“No,” he stated as though it were obvious, “She has a unique power, one that I want. You spoke of an ability she used, she'd `steal' one's power and use it as her own.”

Celica nodded, “I looked up more about Malvagita and her, apparently the abilities don't work in her like they do in their owners.”

“Meaning?” Rasputen asked.

“She takes in the ability, not the skill. She could steal telepathy from you, or from Schuldig, and there wouldn't be a difference in her power when she used it.” Celica stated.

“Then she's been trained to use powers that she doesn't even posses, and she really does only steal the ability, interesting, if she wasn't dead, she could be a useful thing to posses.” The man stated. “As soon as I have her ability, my own power will grow immensely, I will be able to take the abilities of whom ever I wish and add them to my own.”

Celica looked down at the girl, wrapped in bandages, with band-aids all over her. “So you're basically using this to take a non-palpable power, make it into something mechanics can recognize, then you'll convert it again into a mind setting within you?” she flopped down in a chair, “Sounds complicated.”

“It is, but I'd rather put in the effort to have her power, than go without it.” Rasputen sighed. He was working with data spread out over his desk, “Celica, what information have you collected on Malvagita?”

Celica lit a cigarette and began, “Well, it took forever to find it out, because it's kept very hush-hush. Even Schwarz doesn't know, but Malvagita has a power of her own.”

“I assumed as much, I'm just curious as to how it may benefit me.”

“Her ability is in her right eye.” Celica said, flipping a picture across the room onto the counter top.

Rasputen examined it, “Her right eye is hidden under her hair.”

“It always is. Even when she wears sun glasses, she puts the hair over the right lens.” Celica stated, “That eye, it holds the power of a great psychic. With that eye, she can steal a persons soul and everything they are, making the victim a shell of their formal self.”

“I think I heard of that, I thought it was only a legend. She was created without the action of copulation.”

“Yes. A powerful psychic was executed, but his soul escaped and found protection in a woman's body. He then formed a child within her, that he would live in, but the child's soul absorbed his. Isn't that right?”

“Correct. Its disgusting really, some people honestly have everything just given to them from birth.” Rasputen stated, after a moment he chuckled at how hypocritical he was being. He then continued, “The psychic's soul entered through the mother's right eye, so it makes sense in some poetic way, that the child's right eye has the ability to take a persons soul and absorb it.”

Celica questioned, “What will her power do for you though?”

“Each soul she absorbs becomes a part of her, repairing everything that grows old in her, reviving he when she is injured.”

“So, you'd heal quicker?” Celica asked.

“More than that. I could die, and I'd come back. I would be unstoppable, the more souls I'd take, the more invincible I would become.” Rasputen said with a grin spread across his face.

~*~

Ken watered the flowers set in front of him with a gloomy expression. Arashi asked, “What's wrong?”

The brown haired boy sighed heavily, “It's totally frustrating. I really want to go out there and get those damn Schwarz, but we can't because we've got this lame secret identity thing.”

Arashi shrugged, “Well, it gives you enough time to devise a plan if nothing else.”

Youji chuckled, “I guess so, if you're incredibly optimistic. But if your normal, this day job really sucks.”

Omi put down a flower, “Imagine, what if our secret identities were lawyers.”

Aya raised an eyebrow, “Why? So if we don't kill them on the first try, we can insure their death is long and horrible and full of painful meaningless arguments?”

Youji opted, “What if we were all actors by day?”

Ken laughed, “So you could kill them with your horrible acting and the angry critics following you?”

Arashi stated, “What if during the day, we just… didn't exist, so we didn't have to deal with people. That'd be way easier.”

“Yeah, then we'd have absolutely nothing to distract us while waiting for the night.” Ken groaned.

Omi asked, “Then what would you have us be?”

Ken rubbed his hands together, “Picture this, crime lords by day, assassins by night.”

Aya nodded, “I can see it now, it says `I'm kind of suicidal, but mostly schizophrenic.' I don't think that would work well Ken.”

Arashi asked, “Then what's your idea of how things should be?”

Aya paused then answered, “Assassins day and night. That's how Schwarz does it, because frankly, when you're an assassin, almost any other occupation is purely embarrassing.”

“Indeed, so why not ditch this place and join me.” Came a cool voice from the doorway.

The Weiß assassin's spun around to see Celica standing in the doorway. Aya demanded, “What are you doing here?”

Celica strolled in and sat down on top of a counter top, “I need you guys, Schwarz is growing strong, and their planning on making another step to the top. If we wait too long, they'll be out of our reach and no one will be able to defeat them.”

“We?” Arashi glared skeptically, “We never accepted your alliance.”

Aya asked, “You want Schwarz dead? You are against them?”

“Yes.” Celica replied, “For what they did to me, and my family, they ruined me and everything I had and destroyed any chance of me ever being happy.”

Youji asked, “So you want to become part of our team?”

Celica replied, “No, I'm afraid… this isn't a long term plan for me. Right now, my goal is to end Schwarz and rid the world of them, then I'll go back to my home land, and put back the pieces of my life.”

Aya nodded, “So long as we're on the same page, we're only combining forces to beat Schwarz.”

Arashi didn't like the girl but she was thinking past that, and decided it was more important that Schwarz be stopped once and for all. She asked, “When will we be initiating this attack?”

Celica grinned, “Right now.”

~*~

Crawford was at home, typing up a report on his laptop explaining the events of their recent encounter with Weiß when his computer signaled that he'd received an e-mail message.

He opened up his accounts and found that the message was sent to his private account, the one he hadn't checked in years, EvilsManifestation@evilsociety.net

The message was from BreathOfDarkness@earthlink.uk, so Crawford opened the message and realized that the message was from Malvagita, who had returned to her home in southern Japan earlier that day to get her mind clear of all the drama going on.

Hola Chica

 

How is my wittle Brady Bunny doing? I would have written you a letter, its so much more professional! But I was somewhat curious what you're e-mail address would be!

Creative address by the way, I was expecting something along the lines of AmericanIdiot@RedNeks.der. As you can imagine, things are boring as hell over here, so I'll drop by some time and order you guys around.

Love you every day and twice-on Sundays.

Buh-bye~

Goddess of Hell Fire

 

Crawford chuckled and clicked `reply' then started his message.

 

Hola Muchacho

 

Careful my little butter chicken, so much vicoden will spoil your appetite. I must admit, I was surprised to see you're address, I certainly didn't think it would be you.

I was expecting you're email address to be something more along the lines of MenAreSuperior@worshipMen.com. I'll look forward to seeing you, whenever you do arrive that is.

However, I'm afraid the rest of the team wont be able to entertain guests very well. Schuldig wont come out of his room even to eat, and Farfarello has been gone all day, I'm not quite sure where he is.

The doorbell just rang, it must be you, dropping by.

 

Love you every day and twice-on Sundays.

Cordially

Brad J. Crawford

 

Crawford clicked send and stood up, calling out, “Nagi, go get the door.”

Nagi yelled back, “The door?”

“Yes, someone's coming.” Brad yelled.

“We're already here.” Came a venomous voice from behind the American.

The American stood and spun around to see Celica and Aya both standing on the balcony outside the window. He pushed up his glasses and determined they had only been there for mere moments, there was no other way he wouldn't have noticed them.

“What is the meaning of this?” Crawford demanded.

Aya held out his katana, “We have come, for you and the rest of Schwarz. You're days of evil are over.”

Celica smiled, “We're going to kill you.”

Brad glared and looked at the red head, “I thought there were rules of conduct between our teams. You are invading in my territory.” His glasses shined in the light for a moment before he continued, “My team doesn't attack you when you're vulnerable and unprepared, and vice versa.”

Aya paused, remembering this sort of unwritten truce made. Crawford had declared it with the obvious intention of protecting Malvagita and Chikaru, Aya had agreed to insure more safety for Arashi.

Celica interrupted the thought, “Don't listen to him Abyssinian.” She continued with a dictating tone, “This man is evil, don't listen to a word he says. Think of all the innocent lives he's taken.”

Crawford stared at her like she was a blatant idiot, “What the hell are you talking about? I kill assassins among others in my line of duty, not babies in their cribs or anything.”

The woman shook her head, he expression suddenly changing to sadness, there almost appeared to be tears in her eyes, “Don't listen to him! Remember, he killed my family, and ruined everything in my life!”

Aya didn't respond so she added, “And he destroyed your life as well.”

The man's eyes widened with anger, he didn't stop to consider how this woman knew something he'd only found out just recently. He glared at the American and growled, “I will kill you where you stand.”

 

Aya shot forward with his sword in front of him; Crawford stepped to the side and pulled out his gun. Celica kicked it out of his hand, making his shot fire towards the ceiling before the whole thing went out the window.

Down stairs Nagi paused and turned to go up the stairs where he'd heard the gun shot. Omi suddenly jumped down in front of him and bared his weaponry. Nagi gasped, shocked at the sudden intrusion, “Omi!”

Omi glared and snapped, “You didn't expect to see me right? You thought that I'd die when the building collapsed! Well I'm not that weak!”

Nagi paused, “Omi, what are you talking about?”

“I heard you and Crawford talking so don't act like I'm completely blind to what's going on! Crawford ordered you to kill me!” Omi yelled.

Nagi shook his head, “I don't know what your talking about.” He said in a calm voice.

Omi yelled, “No!” shaking his head violently, trying to block out Nagi's voice. He lifted his darts and yelled, “You're dead Nagi!”

Nagi lifted his hand when the darts were thrown; each dropped to the ground. Omi glared then ran forward with his fists up. Nagi raised his hands and his hair blew up slightly, as if there were wind.

Omi kicked his feet and waved around his arms as he lifted into the air then pressed against the wall. Nagi walked forward calmly, he asked, “What are you referring to? Our leader has given no orders to kill anyone on Weiß.”

Omi wasn't listening; he was struggling and trying to pull himself off of the wall he was stuck to. Nagi watched his friend and opened his mouth to try again when something blunt and hard hit him in the back of the head.

He fell to his knees and looked over his shoulder to see Arashi, rubbing the side of her fist. She put out her palm and closed her eyes, Nagi watched and slowly his vision darkened until it was black.

In shock he lifted his hand to his face to feel it his eyes were shut. He felt something land next to him; he presumed it was Omi, falling off the wall. Nagi then realized he hadn't heard Omi fall.

Nagi started to push himself up when he felt a fist connect with his cheek; he tumbled over a few times before rolling onto his back and holding the side of his face. He opened his eyes wide, trying to catch any bit of light he could.

A blunt hit landed on his side, probably from Omi's foot. Nagi gasped and held his side in pain and shock. “Omi, what are you doing?” he asked in a voice louder than he meant it to be, since he couldn't hear himself.

No answer came, but attacks continued to rain down on the young boy. Nagi curled in a ball and tried to use his telekinetic abilities to protect himself, but he found himself unable to activate it.

~*~

Schuldig was sitting on his bed, with one knee drawn up under his chin. He stared out the window, a look of stoic apathy on his face. The door behind him opened, he didn't notice, or didn't appear to.

A quiet hiss from the wire being released from its spool was also ignored by the German. Youji and Ken stood in the room staring at the man before them. They looked at each other wondering if the man even noticed their presence.

Ken stepped forward, holding his weapon up threateningly, “Mastermind! We've come to kill you. You're days of evil are over!”

Schuldig remained completely still, staring out the window quietly. His breath didn't change, not even a sigh.

Ken and Youji looked at each other and nodded, they started forward then slipped and landed on their Asses. “What the hell?” Youji yelled as he looked around himself.

There were scattered plates all around them; none of them were eaten. In fact before Youji and Ken slipped and fell on them, they were untouched. Ken looked at the German and whispered to Youji, “How long do you think he's been like this?”

“Like what?” Youji asked.

“In his room, I'm assuming these plates are his and that he's been… starving himself.” Ken responded.

The blonde stood and brandished his weapon, “It doesn't matter, he's going to be dead soon, and by our hands.”

Ken nodded and started to charge with his bug nucks raised, his attack was interrupted though by a rattling explosion above. He stopped and looked up. Youji jumped forward and pulled him back, “Watch out!”

The ceiling creaked then suddenly fell in, Celica lying in the middle of the mess of rubble. Crawford jumped down, went to Schuldig's dresser and pulled out a gun. Aya jumped through the hole as well and helped Celica up.

Crawford cocked the gun and aimed it, “Okay, this charade has gone on long enough. Everyone stand up and drop your weapons.” He motioned his gun at Aya and Celica, “And I want you two to explain what the hell is going on here!”

Youji and Ken raised their hands slightly and stared the American. Aya still had a firm grip on his sword, “We've come to avenge all the innocent lives you've killed.”

Brad looked thoroughly un-amused, “And what lives would these be? I've killed assassins, and I've killed people trying to kill whom ever I was guarding at the time.”

Aya accused, “You killed this woman's entire family! Wouldn't they be innocent people?”

Crawford looked at Celica, “I assure you, the first time I saw this woman was when we were at the masquerade ball. You were there too.” He pushed up his glasses with his free hand, “Besides, have you any idea how utterly absurd your assumption sounds?”

The boys paused to contemplate this for a moment. Celica interrupted their thoughts, “Don't believe him, this man is a liar! Don't hesitate to kill him.”

Aya fixed his gaze on the American again, flexing his grip on the sword before starting towards the man. Crawford pulled the trigger and was only awarded with a `click'.

He growled, “Damn it Schuldig! The point of having a gun is that it's loaded!” he threw it at the German, and it hit him on the side of the head, he swayed slightly from the impact but otherwise didn't move.

The American looked back and foresaw the thin wire falling around him; he stepped towards Aya and to the side of his blade. Aya turned, about to drive his sword into the cocky dark haired man, but the cut was delayed when he found his katana was caught in the wire Youji expelled.

Crawford kicked the red head's hands, knocking the sword out of them. Aya retaliated by throwing a punch, which the American dodged.

A heel slammed into the side of his leg, he turned to see Celica, with a sick grin on her face. He spun and slammed his foot into her stomach, sending her towards the bed, where she hit her back on the bedpost.

Youji then took it upon himself to join in. Crawford growled and yelled to Schuldig, “Schuldig! Get your damn ass up and help me!”

The German continued to stare out the window, not even blinking. Crawford slipped into the Telepaths' mind and sent the order to Nagi, `Where are you? I need your help!'

He felt as though his words bounced off a cold wall. Brad fought back another attack and thought it out, coming to the conclusion that Nagi was either unconscious, or had the mental links to Schuldig shut down some how.

Crawford, in a desperate attempt to fight off the assassins, sent a message to Farfarello immediately. Celica pulled a gun out and aimed it at his head. Crawford punched her in the side, when she fell, he stepped on her hand and kicked the gun away.

The scrabble for control continued until the bed squeaked slightly. They glanced back, the forgotten Schuldig now stood with the loaded gun Celica had just lost.

He stood before the window, the daylight shining over him. He reached up his other hand and guided it over the barrel, then spun it. The metal clinked as it spun around quickly.

Schuldig turned, his eyes looked bored and un-amused, tired and dead. His face was pale and death like, he spoke with a dry voice, “How many of you… can I kill…” he slowly blinked and tilted his head slightly, “And still have a bullet left for myself?” he smiled slightly as he raised the gun to his head, showing what he meant.

When there was no response he held out the gun and dragged his fingers over the barrel again, making it spin, the end of his mouth curved upwards as he said so quietly it was almost inaudible, “And then there were none.”

He fired the gun at Aya, Crawford growled and pushed the assassin out of the way, “Schuldig! What the hell are you- ah!” His brows furrowed together as he gripped the inside of his right arm.

Crawford glared at the German who spun the barrel again, he ordered, “Schuldig! Stop this now! What the hell do you think you're doing?”

The door crashed open again, this time Omi ran in, with his bow up and ready. Without hesitation he shot at Schuldig who casually moved his head, allowing the arrow to zip by his neck without harm.

Ken used the moment of confusion to dig his bladed glove deep into the gut of the American. Crawford gasped and shook slightly; he fell to his knees, the bloody weapon sliding out.

Youji turned away from Crawford and shot his wire at the Mastermind. Schuldig lifted his hand and the wire tightened around his hand and neck, leaving him with more than enough space to breath.

The German raised his gun and shot down the long wire at the blonde assassin, hitting him in the shoulder. Youji gasped and fell back against the wall, holding the injured area.

He cocked his gun again and stated stoically as the wire fell around him, “I must go now.” He lifted the gun, “Chikaru is waiting for me…” he closed his eyes and raised the gun to his head, “In hell.”

A reverberating explosion sounded through out the room. Schuldig blinked slowly, his expression didn't change but he lowered the gun and touched his stomach with his free hand.

Dark blood wept from the large bullet wound. His face became paler as the blood continued to escape. Celica grinned, still holding her gun out, “Sorry to beat you to it,” her smirk widened, “I wanted the honors."

Schuldig wasn't listening; he slowly drifted to his knees, still holding his bleeding stomach. He sat back and leaned against the wall.

Crawford by now had already collapsed in a near by chair, leaning over in it, making it seem like he was just resting and thinking about something. His broken glasses lay by his feet on the ground.

Down stairs Nagi's breaths were coming weak and ragged. He trembled, not understanding the reason behind his abuse from Omi. He pulled on the bottom of the couch he fell by, a desprate attempt to pull himself up, he cried out with a final breath, “Omi-chan, boku no… koiboto.” (I think it means, “My love/ loved one.”)

Schuldig scanned through his team's minds, recognizing their slow process of shutting down. A haze formed over his own mind and he closed his eyes and whispered only loud enough for himself to hear, “Good bye.” He swallowed down blood gathering in his mouth before finishing, “I have peace at last.”