Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ The Problems with Raising Aya ❯ Part Two Chapter Five: Innocence ( Chapter 5 )

Special disclaimer: the thoughts portrayed by the character Strike on children are not viewed by the author. In fact I like children and work with them any though sometimes they are really annoying they don't deserve anything more a loving family. Strike is merely a bad guy that I think is worse then even Farfarello in one of his moods.

Part Two, Chapter Five: Innocence

'Money is the root of all evil*.' That's what Strike liked to say. 'And so is pleasure and pain.'

The man sat in his car by the playground watching the children at play; waiting for his next victim to catch his attention. Nine so far; all children, between the ages of five and ten. Five was the youngest he could catch, but he yearned for younger. To take a toddler and slowly end its life, now that was poetry. To watch the child try and understand what was happing to it as he took his time torturing the creature.

Oh what it would be like to have a sweet innocent toddler in his hands.

But noooo, parents didn't let ones so little out of their hands or sight. Adults had never been as rewarding to kill as children had. Though he had found a few in the past. Sometimes people didn't care about the creatures they spawned, viewing a child as an expense they couldn't afford. Though Strike avoided those children there had been a few with a natural spirit just waiting to be stripped away by his expert hand.

He had not found one like that in several months.

Watching the park now he didn't feel he would find one soon. These children where of a higher class, they knew not to talk to strangers and often had a loving relative watching their every move. No, a park like this was only good for one thing.

Down the street was an apartment complex that had a floor completely owned by a wealthy investor and his family. In that apartment lived the man, his lover, his two children, and the children's bodyguard. In that apartment lived Schwartz, Strike's rival.

Esset wanted to know what would happen if four assassins raised a child as a normal family. That child was now three; fragile, tiny, and oh so spirited. He was also a beautiful child, meant to one day grow up into a beautiful young man.

Oh how Strike hated Crawford for owning such a child.

Killing such a child would be the glory he had been waiting for all his life. To end a life like that before it even started was pure ecstasy.

But how to get past the damn man and his visions?

Strike smirked as he caught a glimpse of red in his rearview mirror. Carrying a small equally red headed child was Schuldich, the telepath, and lover Crawford had laid claim to. They looked like a pair, father and son; was that how Crawford viewed the two? Strike had to admit Schuldich was quite a sight, beautiful in such a fuckable way, one of those few adults that caught his attention. He would make the perfect target to distract the others until he had his prize.

Yes, he would do nicely.

***

Three year old Aya Crawford stood just inside his bedroom doorway contemplating who to go to. A tiny stuffed bear clutched tightly to his small thin chest as the boy looked between one door way and another.

To his right was 'mommy', the Irishman Nagi called mother when he was in a bad mood. Farfie took care of him a lot, but the child was unsure if this situation was the type the man could help with. Not while he was still recovering from getting a new eye.

Next to his room was his brother's room; and although Aya longed to go and curl up with Nagi, he also knew that Nagi had school in the morning and Daddy always said school was important.

This led him to the other door to his left, further down the hall. That's where Daddy and Schu slept. Uncle Schuldich didn't sleep very well any more and had nightmares a lot before he and Daddy had gotten 'married', so now Schu was his daddy also, which made his head hurt trying to figure out. Schu still didn't sleep very well and Daddy got grumpy when he didn't sleep well.

This left him still standing in the hallway trying to figure out whom to go to.

One of the doors opened and a red haired man looked out into the hallway and the little boy standing in it. Quickly Schuldich closed the bedroom door behind him and padded softly to where Aya stood, kneeling down in front of the child.

"What are you doing awake baby?" the German asked quietly brushing away the child's tears.

"Mon'un'beh." Aya cried softly. Though it wasn't a monster per say, the child couldn't shake the feel of something 'slimy' below him- last time he had a feeling like it, he had nearly been bitten by a rabid dog.

Schuldich frowned. "Under the bed? Or below you?" he asked knowing full well the range of Aya's Empathy, its strength, and the real reasons for the metal piece attached to the child's neck. When Aya said there was a monster around he usually meant it in a bad guy sense, which made his Empathy go haywire, which raised his temperature, which was monitored by the rectangular device grafted into his skin just about the jugular. This set off an alarm, which meant they would have to give Aya a dose used to dampen the gift the child would have to take for the rest of his life.

Damn Kritiker.

"'Low." Aya said, watching Schuldich with wide eyes. He knew what was coming.

The adult redhead sighed. "Come on lets check." He said tilting the child's head to the side. The temp reading was still normal which meant the feeling was from quite a distance away. "Normal, do you wanna go back to bed?"

Aya shook his head, tiny ear tails fluttering. "No' lone!"

Schuldich shook his head and kissed the child lightly, then picked him up. "Ok, kitten." He said and quietly walked into Nagi's room.

The sixteen year old woke automatically when Schuldich lowered the tiny child onto the bed with him and took Aya gently into his arms cuddling the child carefully. "Nightmare?" he asked still half asleep.

Schuldich shook his head. "Empathy, temp still normal, he's just doesn't want to be alone and Brad has a big meeting with Esset tomorrow."

Nagi nodded, "I don't have school till noon tomorrow, and I can afford to sleep in a bit."

"Good, now go to sleep." Schuldich said rearranging the blankets then silently left the room.

***

At five am the entire household was woken by a child's scream. Three adults jumped out of bed and ran into Nagi's room where the teen was holding Aya tightly against his chest as he reached for the pressure needle.

"103°," Nagi informed them moved Aya's head to the side to put the tip of the needle into the opening on the temperature reader made just for that reason. Depressing the trigger Aya's cries raised in volume for a moment then died down until the child was only sobbing.

"This is the forth night this week." Crawford muttered taking the child into his arms. "He's never had this bad of a reaction to strong emotions before."

"I think that's because this emotion is directed at him." Nagi said quietly knowing he would be grounded for not saying this sooner.

Crawford levered a glare on the teen. "You're grounded, now spill."

Nagi didn't bother trying to arguer the punishment, even for show, "When I was at the park yesterday, I noticed this guy sitting on a bench staring at us; he never took his eyes off of us once. It was creepy. That's why I came home early."

"Come to think of it I had the feeling of being watched two day's ago; I brushed it off since I sometimes get that feeling when in public." Schuldich said sitting on the bed next to the teen. "What did the guy look like?"

"Like a pervert," Nagi answered sarcastically, but shivered. "White hair, but not an old grandfather. He made me feel like he wanted to snatch me to be his new toy. But he looked at Aya as if he's get off just by killing him."

"Strike." Crawford muttered. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Because I'd never be allowed out of the house!" Nagi answered slapping his hands against the bed covers. He liked being Crawford and Schuldich's son, but really, they could lighten up a little, Kritiker wasn't stupid enough to kidnap him again!

"Who's Strike?" Schuldich asked bringing the conversation back to the important part.

"A sadistic son of a bitch." Farfarello answered in disgust. "He's known for killing children, the younger the better; and he hate's Brad. A lot." The last bit said suppressing a yawn. Carefully he took off the temporary eye patch and blinked slowly one yellow eye and one sea green eye.

Crawford stared at the younger man, "You're going to get the other one changed right?" he asked in morbid curiosity, "Or do you want to look like that one anime?"

Farfarello started to grin then saw the fearful look Aya was giving him. "Yes, I'm getting the other one changed." He said with a sigh. "Can I go back to bed yet?"

"You're sleeping in here." Brad informed him. He looked between Nagi and Schuldich. "You two will not leave this house, for anything; Farfarello will open the door if someone knocks. No one is to take Aya outside. Am I clear?"

"Yes," Schuldich said reluctantly.

Nagi wasn't about to mind that order. "I had school tomorrow!" he protested, "And I like this school! I have friends there for once!"

Crawford frowned at the teen, "I know how important it is for you to be normal and have friends outside this family; but is it really worth your safety?"

Nagi sighed. "No father," he said remembering the last time he put himself on danger.

"Tell you what," Brad said. "Tomorrow you may call one of your friends that you trust and he can spend the night."

"Really?" Nagi asked not waning to get his hopes up.

"Really," Brad assured the teen. "I'll call the school tomorrow, give them an excuse and you can call one of your friends in the morning and ask."

Nagi jumped out of bed and wrapped his arms around Crawford's middle. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Brad smile. "Don't make me regret this." He warned, but returned the hug with his free hand. When Nagi let go he handed suck-thumb!-Aya to the teen. "Now go back to bed."

Nagi grinned and slipped back into bed laying Aya between himself and Farfarello, already laying on the bed. The not-so-psycho psychopath wrapped an arm around the toddler and shut his eyes. Once Crawford and Schuldich were gone and the bedroom door shut Nagi snatched up his bedside phone and quickly dialed a number.

"Hey, it's me! Guess what?"

***

Nagi lay sprawled across his bed reading a text book when he heard the door bell ring. Closing the book he scrambled off of the book and hurried down the hall. Farfarello stood at the door questioning a teenager suspiciously.

"Farfie, he's ok." The teen assured the older man pushing Farfarello to the side to let the other teen inside. "Jareru, glad you could come." He said cheerfully shutting the door.

"Mom and dad were going out of town anyway." Jareru said with a shrug. "I hope your dad doesn't mind my staying a few nights."

"He will," Farfarello muttered then scrambled into the kitchen before Aya dropped a knife on his head by pulling a rag.

"Don't mind him." Nagi said rubbing the back of his neck. "He's really paranoid when it comes to me and my baby brother."

Jareru raised an eyebrow with a slight smile. "Why?" he asked watching the blond chase the blood redheaded toddler.

Nagi took the other teens hand in his and led him to his bedroom. Once the door was closed the boy leaned against it regarding the other quietly. "Before I transferred to our school I was kidnapped right from the school grounds. I was locked in a cage for I don't know how long. My family risked a lot to save me; my uncle is still recovering, and my older brother was lost."

Jareru nodded.

"And to top it off Aya was in the hospital fighting something he'll never recover from." Nagi continued.

The other teen raised an eyebrow. "He looked like a normal little kid to me."

Nagi smiled. "How old does he look?"

Jareru shrugged. "Maybe one and a half?"

"He's three," Nagi said putting his hands behind his back carefully. "He's just really small. He has this condition where he can't regulate his core temperature; so every few hours or so his temperature rises and keeps rising. He had this implant that monitors his temp, it's right on his neck like he's a little android or something."

"He's cute." Jareru said stepping closer until Nagi could feel hot breath on his lips. "But you're cuter." He continued and pressed his lips against Nagi's.

The blue eyed teen closed his eyes, reaching out a hand to lightly rest on Jareru's chest for balance and slid the other through the other teen's hair. The kiss deepened, tongues twinned together passionately. They had been secretly seeing each other since Nagi transferred to the private high school Aya would eventually go to. Security was tight; no one left the school early without an authorized person to pick the student up from the school. Nagi hadn't minded the all boy's school at all, especially when he met Jareru.

Mercifully Schuldich hadn't found out now that he was back to full power again. Though the man got tired easily and had insomnia, picking out the fact Nagi had a boyfriend when he wasn't actually allowed to date wouldn't be that difficult.

As if on cue said telepath knocked on the door in the pattern only he used.

Both teen's jumped apart breathing hard. Nagi blinked several times and smoothed down his clothing then opened the door to the smirking telepath.

Schuldich looked between the two teens. "I won't tell your father you used his generosity to sneak in your boyfriend, if you keep Aya occupied while we clean the kitchen."

Nagi's eyes widened, "He isn't hurt is he?"

Schuldich shook his head. "Near miss, just a little cut on his cheek. He cried, Farfarello panicked, I laughed."

The teenager snorted as Farfarello carried a teary eyes toddler into his room, a small Pochacco bandage on his cheek. Nagi looked closely at the bandage and carefully peeled it back. Turning a glare on the adults he shut the door in their faces and locked the door.

"Can you say chaperone?" he asked the toddler as he gently took off the bandage and caressed the unmarred flesh. Aya blinked at him and put his thumb in his mouth, Nagi smiled. "Guess not."

"Are you sure he's three?" Jareru asked teasingly reaching out to tickle Aya under the chin.

"Yes," Nagi said and sat Aya on the floor near the shelf that housed some of the toddler's toys. "He's the only one not out to ruin my social life. It's not like we were going to do anything anyway."

"Personally I like being able to breath." Jareru said and kissed Nagi on the cheek. "You have a TV, want to watch a movie?"

"It has to be PG or G rated; dad would kill me if I watched something higher rated with Aya in the room."

Jareru nodded tugging Nagi's hand to lay on the bed with him. "We could watch one of those black and whites you love so much."

Nagi turned on the TV and flipped through the channels until he found an American channel that so happened to be running a marathon of black and white detective movies. Resting his head on his boyfriend chest he glanced at Aya who was happily playing with blocks. Smiling to himself he returned his focus to the movie.

Several hours later Crawford unlocked the door with a spare key and looked in to find both teenagers asleep and Aya sitting on the foot of the bed, remote in hand, watching Sponge Bob. Brad smiled at the pair; if only Nagi trusted him enough to tell him he wanted to date….it wasn't like he would be ashamed of the boy wanting to date another male, as long as the male wasn't over the age of eighteen.

Shaking his head he walked into the room and shook the boys awake. Nagi looked scared at being caught, but Crawford just smiled. "I brought dinner, if you boys are interested." He said and picked Aya up, tickling the child just to hear him laugh walked out of the room.

Dinner was mostly uneventful. Crawford questioned Jareru like any normal parent would and found out how long he and Nagi had been secretly seeing each other. Schuldich silently questioned Nagi and passed along to Crawford that the two merely wanted to spend time with each other and while they would be sleeping in the same bed, they had no plans for sex. Farfarello already knew all this having over heard Nagi that morning, and he still didn't trust Jareru's intentions; there was just something off about the teen.

After dinner Nagi gave Aya his bath sitting in the tub in his underwear to keep the child in the tub. Schuldich did this frequently, sometimes even when he showered; so much so Aya refused to take his bath without someone in the tub with him. He even climbed in while someone bathed themselves.

Nagi lathered Aya's baby fine locks playing with the hair that hadn't been changed since he was an adult turned child. Aya splashed the water with a rubber duck making noises as if the toy was a boat.

"Close your eyes Aya." He told the child picking up the shower spray. Aya squeezed his eyes shut and tilted his head back. Nagi sprayed the water from the child's forehead back. Once done he wet down and washed his own hair.

He let Aya play for a while longer leaning back in the water and stretching out his legs around the toddler until only his head was above the shallow water. Aya splashed around then crawled into Nagi's lap and kissed him.

"What was that for?" the teen asked with a light smirk.

"Lowve you Nayi." Aya said happily putting his hands on Nagi's face.

Nagi removed the toddler's hands and kissed him on the cheek, "Love you too Aya." He said and carefully stood holding Aya against his chest. Stepping out of the tub he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around the child. Setting him down Nagi took off his soaked boxers and wrapped his bathrobe around his body. Kneeling down he dried Aya than ran the towel over the child's hair until it was a fluffy mess. Laughing quietly he helped the toddler into his pajamas then took a soft brush to the child's hair until it was tame again.

"Nayi, why he here?" Aya suddenly asked pointed toward the door, Nagi looked; standing in the door way was Jareru holding a small pile of clothes, a light blush on his face.

"Your father asked me to bring this to you." Jareru said quietly placing the clothes on the closed toilet seat.

Nagi nodded. "Can you take him while I get dressed?"

"Sure," Jareru said and gently lifted Aya into his arms. "I'll be in your room."

Nagi gently closed the door behind his boyfriend and slipped into the silk pajama bottoms that road low on his bony hips and the tight fitting tee-shirt. 'If I didn't know better,' he thought rubbing a hand against the expanse of belly still visible at his midriff. 'I would think dad was giving me permission.'

//Shit happens.// Schuldich said slipping easily into his mind. //don't purposely try; but if it happens check your bedside drawer. I know hormones are hard to keep controlled at your age//

The teen groaned. [You know if I do give into temptation, it will be your entire fault for putting the thought in my head. And I'll be sure to tell dad that too.]

Schuldich snickered. //Poor little Nagikins might lose his virginity, afraid you'll lose your innocence? //

Nagi narrowed his eyes. [At least I would lose it before you did Schuschu.] he replied sweetly and gently pushed the telepath out of his mind and put up his shields. Satisfied he had gotten the last word in the teen picked up the brush he had used on Aya and left the bathroom.

What he found when he entered his room was not what he was expecting. Aya and Jareru were on the bed, the toddler in the teens lap. Aya whimpered softly as Jareru tilted his head to the side and depressed a dose of the suppressant into the child.

"What are you doing?" Nagi demanded in near panic; had Jareru betrayed him that easily? No, there had to be an explanation!

Jareru set down the pressure needle on the bed and looked at Nagi. "His temperature spiked." He explained. "The needle is the same one I use; I thought it would be best not to wait for you to come back."

Nagi walked over to the bed and checked the monitor. The gage read over 100° and lowering. "Dads going to kill me for letting you do that, but you had the right idea."

Jareru shrugged, "I like children too much to let one suffer."

Nagi smiled at that and brushed some hair out of Aya's face. The child looked up at him drowsily and put his thumb in his mouth. Nagi held out his hands to the toddler waiting for Aya to crawl to him then turned the child to face away from him and started to brush his hair.

Jareru sat back to watch the brothers share in the ritual with a content smile on his face. Aya played with the leg of Nagi's pajamas while Nagi repositioned the toddler's head every once in a while. The two where absolutely adorable, comfortable with their family and well loved. Yet there was some slight air of sadness about the teen every time he looked at his younger sibling.

Looking at the bedside table Jareru picked up one of the photos with the three adults, Nagi, Aya, and a blond man. "Who's this?" he asked curiously

Nagi stopped brushing, much to the toddlers protest. "That's Yohji," the teen said sadly. "My older brother; he was lost trying to save me."

Jareru raised an eyebrow, "He doesn't look very much like you."

Nagi shook his head reciting the story they had made for explaining family ties. "He's my half brother." He said. "We share the same father, different mothers. Aya is Crawford's son, he married Yohji's mom, my mother died when I was born, and my father took me in. When he died his wife let me stay and when she died having Aya, Crawford adopted Yohji and me." He thought back to make sure that was all right. "Yohji is the only real thing that ties us all together, unless you count Uncle Schu, but he's only related to Yohji and Aya."

Jareru nodded, he didn't believe it but was willing to accept it. "What about Farfarello?"

Nagi grinned and started brushing the toddler's hair again. "Mom," he said with a chuckle, "He's been taking care of Aya and me since before I can remember. He's just always been here."

The other teen smiled, 'there's the flaw in your story,' he though but said. "What's up with his eyes?"

***

Like clock work 3 am woke everyone in the household with Aya's screams. However this time they weren't cries of fever, they were cries of terror.

Brad ran out of his bedroom a revolver in his hand only stopping long enough to lock Jareru and Nagi in the teen's room. Farfarello met him in the child's room looking around for where Aya was hiding. He was still in the room that much was evident by the sound of his sobs. The window at the far end of room was open to the cool night air of late winter, the curtain flapping eerily by a breeze. Farfarello knelt down by the bed and lay down carefully to slip underneath where Aya was currently hiding. Crawford went to the window gun pointed out and checked the fire escape and alley below.

"It's clear." Brad said slamming the window shut and made sure it was locked.

The Irishmen slid out from under the bed again staying on the floor in the line of sight of the child still hiding. "He's not going to come out, whatever it was really scared him."

Brad sighed and lay flat on his stomach to look under the bed himself. Aya sat in the far corner quietly stared at both adults. He was just small enough to sit up under the high bed made especially so the other four members of the house could slide under the bed to retrieve the toddler, for he had a habit of hiding under it for one reason or another.

Aya was not coming out anytime soon.

"Watch him," Brad said and got up going to unlock Nagi's door then his own where he had locked Schuldich inside. Neither looked happy about that. "Nagi, go make a bottle, Aya's under the bed again."

Nagi spared Brad a glare and walked away to do as told, Jareru following close behind.

"What happened?" Schuldich demanded still irritated.

"Best I can tell…someone tried to take Aya. The window was jimmied open." Brad said rubbing a hand over his face. "Strike is the likely candidate; he would snatch a child from its room."

Schuldich sighed and leaned against a wall. "Now what do we do?" he asked tiredly. "He slipped right past our sensors and senses. If we can't detect him then he can slip in and out and we'd never know."

"Aya'd know." Crawford said. "Unless he can somehow mask his emotions."

"Even if he did, an Empath would still sense the void and would therefore know someone was there." Jareru said standing just inside the hallway.

Crawford and Schuldich turned to look at the teen. "How do you know that?" Crawford asked.

"I'm an Empath," Jareru answered, "Everyone is an Empath at one level or another. Few can actually do something with it. It can't be trained except at a certain level and shielding is very hard."

"So you know someone was here?" Crawford asked angered.

Jareru shook his head. "I'm shielded and I was sleep. Aya isn't, he's also a higher level then I am. His range is about two square miles; mine is only one. Though I'm not sure why that plays havoc with his temperature."

"And you just now decided to tell us?" Schuldich asked with a slight smirk.

The teen shrugged. "It never came up. I do know what everyone's gifts are; and that you are all assassins, but that's beside the point."

Brad narrowed his eyes. Jareru had the expression of one that knew a lot and didn't give a damn about anything. The teen had probably been sitting on the information for months and had shrugged it off as nothing.

"Can you shield him" Crawford asked with a sigh.

Jareru thought about it for a moment. "Not at the moment; maybe in a few days and even then I'd have to see him about once a day until he can hold the shields himself. Truthfully, Aya shouldn't have a gift so strong at this age and he should have natural shields. So either he's exceptionally strong and will die in the next few years or you explain who he really is."

Crawford feint ignorance. "I don't know what you mean."

Jareru snorted. "Right," he said sarcastically. "And I'm Merlyn."

Crawford and Schuldich exchanged looks. "No," Brad finally said and walked back into Aya's room.

Nagi walked into the hall carrying a heated bottle, he stopped looking between his boyfriend and Schuldich. "What happened?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"Did you know your boyfriend is an Empath?" Schuldich asked.

Nagi nodded.

"And do you know he knows about us?" the telepath continued.

"I didn't tell him anything!" the teen said quickly.

"I didn't say you did." Schuldich said, "I asked if you know he knows about us."

Nagi looked at the ground. "Yes," he said meekly.

Schuldich sighed. "Nagi why didn't you tell us?"

"Well, what am I suppose to say? 'Hi dad school was boring today. Oh by the way I have a boyfriend, who happens to be an Empath as strong as Aya, and did I mention he knows everything about us just by looking at me?' Are you nuts? He'd be dead in two seconds flat!"

"Did you ever think he could be the enemy?" Schuldich asked logically.

Nagi looked at Jareru. "Dad said I could only invite someone I trust. If I didn't trust him I wouldn't have invited him, let alone date him. I trust him Schu, Jareru isn't the enemy he's my boyfriend that I don't have to hide things to or lie to. He's the best boyfriend I could ask for."

Schuldich through up his hands in defeat. "Jugendliche!"* he exclaimed in exasperation and walked back to his room shutting the door behind him.

Nagi giggled. "One down."

"I don't think your father likes me." Jareru said running a hand through his hair.

"He doesn't like anyone, don't worry about it." Nagi said kissing his boyfriend lightly and dragged the other teen into the bedroom.

Crawford and Farfarello were waiting for them stationed at places where they could guard the toddler still hiding under the bed.

"Here hold this." Nagi said handing the bottle to Jareru then slipped under the bed.

Aya was curled up in the farthest corner of the bed his little body tucked close making him impossible to grab unless the person was thin enough to fit. Farfarello could do it, but Crawford and Schuldich had a tight fit though they were thin. Nagi was smaller then all three of them, he had no problem crawling under the bed and fish out one small child.

"Aya-chan." Nagi said softly knowing he couldn't be seen as well in the dimness. "Aya-chan, its safe now, you can come out."

"No…" the toddler whined curling up tighter. "Bah man."

"I know baby, bad man gone now." The teen assured the child, "Daddy and Farfie are here to protect you."

"No…" Aya moaned again sobbing loudly.

Nagi looked confused and reached out to touch the child gently. Aya cried out and started crying in earnest.

Nagi retracted his hand and called out. "Jareru open the window and look out!"

Jareru did as told and dropped his shields. Immediately he felt a wealth of emotion as his senses probed out searching for that one negative feeling aimed at the apartment. As soon as he pin pointed it the squeal of tires could be heard and the source moved away.

"That's not good." He muttered shutting the window again.

"What?" Crawford, Farfarello, and Nagi demanded.

Jareru blinked. "Well, he shouldn't have been able to sense me looking for him, which tells me that their's more then one and one of them has a gift."

"Dammit!" Brad swore and pointed at the teenager. "You will not leave this house until all of this is dealt with. You are now a target to him and he won't hesitate to use you to get what he wants."

Jareru nodded. "Will not be leaving, got it." He agreed as Nagi finally coaxed Aya out from under the bed. The toddler immediately jumping into the teen Empath's arms and got comfortable; there was a flash of hurt in Nagi's eyes until Aya reached out and snatched the bottle sucking on it hungrily. Jareru smirked at the child. "You just want me 'cause I have the food."

Aya stared at him with big violet eyes sucking away happily. Jareru rolled his eyes again and checked the temp reader; then shifted the child in his arms.

"Why don't you two go back to bed?" Crawford said, "Farfarello can stay with Aya."

Nagi nodded silently followed his boyfriend in to his bedroom after Jareru handed Aya to Farfarello. He wasn't jealous, but couldn't help but feel hurt that Aya had gone to a stranger instead of his own brother.

The Empath sensed the insecurity from his boyfriend and the reasons behind that insecurity. Once the door was closed he took the smaller teen in his arms. "Hey, everything's ok Nagi." He said gently. "He was only reacting to the situation, not to you."

"Then why did he go to you?" Nagi whispered holding Jareru tightly as he let his uncertainty show.

Jareru let him go and sat the telekinetic on the bed. "When you tried to comfort him he was still feeling that guy; he wasn't feeling you, he had no idea you where there. He only knew someone touched him. He was calmer when you got him out, but still needed that extra security." He blushed a little. "To tell the truth earlier with his temp rising; that was kinda my fault. When I was holding him I put him under my shields and the sudden 'silence' made him panic, cause he couldn't feel you. He needed that silence just now. Plus I had the food; all that hiding made him hungry."

Nagi couldn't help it; he started laughing- loudly.

The Empathic teen smiled slightly and kissed Nagi's forehead. "But really, I'll never replaced you to your little brother. I might not know the full story, but I do know Aya loves you very much and couldn't be with better people to protect and love him."

Nagi smiled sleepily and leaned his head on Jareru's shoulder. "I love you." He confessed softly.

Jareru held the teen close. "I know," he said then whispered in Nagi's ear. "I love you too."

***

Schuldich paced.

One…two…three

Turn

Four…five…six

Turn

Repeat.

To the front door, through the living room, to the kitchen, and back again.

He felt like a caged animal catching glimpses of Nagi and Jareru trying not to stare at him as the helped Aya play with his breakfast. Farfarello sat on the kitchen counter knees tucked under his chin openly watching the telepath as if daring him to bolt just so he had something to do.

Crawford sat in his favorite arm chair reading the paper. He didn't look at the young man as he passed back and fourth even when he passed close enough and Brad's hand shot out and pulled his lover into his lap setting his paper aside.

"Restless?" he asked the redhead wrapping his arms around Schuldich their foreheads touching.

"I want to go outside." Schuldich complained curling close to his lover. "I miss fresh air."

"Well if you wouldn't smile…" Nagi said absently wiping up the crumbs from the muffin Aya was eating and lifted the child out of the high chair. Schuldich blew a raspberry at him childishly. Nagi rolled his eyes. "Real mature Schuschu, your not younger then Aya."

Aya blew a raspberry at the teen, giggled and ran out of the kitchen down the hall, Farfarello followed close behind.

Nagi shook his head. "You're a bad influence on him." He said and stuck out his tongue.

Schuldich chased the teen out of the kitchen, down the hall, into his bedroom, tackled him to the bed and tickled him senseless. Nagi shrieked and laughed trying to cover his ticklish spots only to be attacked in a new spot. Once the boy was completely breathless Schuldich settled behind him and held the teen close, eyes closed, intent on taking a nap.

"Schu?" Nagi asked once he had caught his breath.

"Hm?" Schuldich asked tightening his hold on the teen.

"Is Aya tickling my foot?" Nagi asked not having the straight to look himself.

Schuldich looked at the foot of the bed, Aya smiled cutely at him. "Yes," he answered and stuck out his foot to poke the child with his big toe. The toddler giggled and scurried out of the room pulling the door closed behind him.

//Farfie, go chase Aya around for a while so he takes his nap today, // Schuldich sent drowsily even as Nagi squirmed.

"Schu, let go." The teen complained. "Jareru'll think I'm ignoring him!"

"He's an Empath," Schuldich pointed out. "Now go to sleep, you need a nap."

"Do not." Nagi protested weakly already drifting off with a little help for Schuldich. "Schu…"

"Hum?" the telepath asked tightening his hold on the teen.

"Dose dad not like Jareru?" Nagi asked turning to lay his head on Schu's chest.

Schuldich sighed. "He's still deciding of he can trust him or not." He said quietly. "It's a bit to convenient that a powerful Empath comes when we need one to help Aya. Or that he knows about us is completely un-phased, while we know nothing about him."

"By that logic wasn't it a bit odd how you conveniently found Aya on the street and not someone else?" Nagi countered.

"And you saw how long it took for him to stop acting like a jackass with him." Schuldich said. "Now go to sleep before I put you sleep."

"Meanie." Nagi yawned curling tighter against his 'uncle/father' and drifted off to sleep.

Schuldich waited until he was sure Nagi wouldn't wake and slipped out of the bed, then quietly went out the bedroom window to the fire escape. Taking a deep breath he let the fresh air fill his lungs and exhaled slowly. Never had he thought a week cooped up inside would be so…so…Closter phobic. He missed fresh air and envied that Crawford went out into it every day.

It had been a week since Strike had tried to take Aya right from his room and nothing had happened in all that time. It was nerve racking being held captive by the thought the man was still out there. Yet here he was forced to sneak out onto the fire escape just to get some 'outside' time. Sometimes living under the rules of an anal retentive male really sucked, especially when said male hardly made exception to those rules nor allowed anyone else to make the house rules.

In fact, if Brad found him out here Schuldich would be in a lot of trouble. Hence letting the man believe Schuldich was making Nagi sleep for a few more hours and tries to catch some sleep himself. It wasn't fully a lie; he just wanted some fresh air first.

A flash of something caught in his peripheral vision making him just as a stray leaf brushed past his face. Shaking off a shiver Schuldich looked around then shook him head turning to go back inside. Movement caught his attention again, when he looked this time he saw a man standing at the mouth of the ally. Strike stared at the German giving him the universal sign of 'I want you and I will have you' then turned and walked away, vanishing from sight.

Schuldich quickly slipped back inside, shut and locked the window. When he turned he jumped once more; Nagi was still sleeping on the bed, Crawford was leaning against the wall. He didn't look happy, but his expression softened when he saw the frightened look on his lovers face.

"Schu?" he whispered as not to wake the teen.

Schuldich shook his head slightly and dove into Crawford's arms burring his face in the mans chest. "I'm sorry," he said softly, "I didn't know, there wasn't anything before, I didn't know."

Crawford held the man close knowing exactly what had scared Schuldich. Strike was biding his time until they let their guard down, then he would slowly pick then off one by one until there was no one left to protect Aya.

Someone was shielding against Strike making him impossible to locate or to envision his next move. Not even Jareru could feel the man sometimes nor could Aya after it was suggested to give the toddler a dose of the serum right before he went to sleep and Jareru put a light shield over him as a double guard. The fits the child had at night had gone away, but the fear of Strike's next move was still there.

Underneath all of that was the cabin fever that was starting to affect all of them. They were mostly short of temper though hid it well using diversions like sleep and play to make it all bearable.

"Tell me everything you saw." Crawford said quietly leading Schuldich out of Nagi's room and into theirs.

"I just wanted some fresh air; I figured the fire escape would be safe enough." Schuldich said sagging down on the bed. "It wasn't until I turned to go back inside that I noticed he was watching me. He pointed at me with that 'I want you in a bad way.' Look and walked away. It was a warning I know it."

Brad sat down on the bed next to his lover and husband. "He wants Aya; because he is the perfect kill. He doesn't care about the rest of us except as an obstacle in his way. As much as Aya was tainted as an adult, he is innocent as a child; Strike could never resist such a find in human life or else he would have gone on to another target." He sighed. "Strike wants you for another reason. He hates me for reasons I don't remember. He would do anything to see me suffer, and I would suffer greatly if I lost you."

Schuldich leaned against Brad shutting his eyes; he never thought about it that way.

A light tapping sounded at the door and opened at Crawford's summons. Jareru cautiously walked into the room pale as a sheet holding a slip of paper. "Uh…I found this in my backpack."

Crawford took the paper and read it over:

'Try all you want little boy,

I will have him, and all your searching

And shielding cant save him.

His innocence is mine.'

Brad crumpled the paper with a deep sigh. "This is ridicules." He said in annoyance. "Go wake up Nagi and move Aya's car seat to your car, we are going out!"

"Out?" Schuldich repeated. "Out where?"

"I don't care," Crawford said walking out of the room to Aya's. "To the park maybe, the zoo, the parking lot, the other side of the world? Outside!"

The telepath lightly placed a hand on his lover's mouth. "Shh, look." He said softly nodded toward Aya's bed. The toddler was lying on his stomach, thumb in mouth, fast asleep. Farfarello lay on the bed as well, on his stomach watching Aya sleep paying close attention on the child's breathing. A quick 'look' in Nagi's room told the telepath the teen was still asleep, and Jareru was fast in following. "The kids are asleep my love, don't you think we should do much the same?"

Brad sighed and swept Schuldich into his arms carrying his lover to their bedroom and laid them both on the bed. "I thought you wanted to go outside." He whispered in Schuldich's ear.

"Let them rest." Schuldich whispered back snuggling close.

Brad let him, and sighed to himself holding his husband close. He had the sinking feeling this was simply the calm before the storm.

***

Sometime in the afternoon Schuldich was woken to the feeling of the wards rippling. He sat up searching for where it was coming from; he could sense Jareru getting up and heading toward Aya's room just before the child started to cry. The wards rippled again then there was the sound of a window shattering waking everyone else in the house. Crawford was up in seconds taking out his gun from where ever he his it only sparing Schuldich a look telling him to stay put.

Then everything went silent. Literally.

Schuldich blinked several time before he realized why exactly he wasn't hearing anything. "Verdammit!*" the German cursed running out of the bedroom and down the hall.

Everyone else was occupied in the living room fending off their attackers, except Jareru who was busy with Aya and Nagi who was defending both of them. Or at least he would have as long as someone or something hadn't of blocked their gifts.

The three of them were in Aya's room with Strike, Nagi had jumped on the man's back serving as a distraction as Jareru tried to open the window while holding his backpack and a distraught child.

"Move," Schuldich said dodging past the man and teenager to the window pushing Jareru out of the way long enough to unlock and open the window. Grabbing the teen's arm he helped Jareru out into the fire escape. "Do you have everything Aya needs?"

The teen nodded, "In my bag."

"Don't come back," the German ordered and slammed the window shut.

"What do you mean don't come back?" Jareru shouted at the closed window.

"We'll find you!" Schuldich's muffled voice said though the glass. "Get out of here."

Jareru nodded to his reflection and all but flew down the fire escape to the alley below, Aya clutched tightly to his chest. He made it to the park before he felt his senses return to full awareness; Aya, who had not felt the affect of the dampening another psychic had caused, merely watched the teen in silent confusion as Jareru stopped long enough to catch his breath.

"Dayi?" Aya questioned looking back in the direction of home. He understood why he was with Jareru; the bed man had come and they needed to get away because the bed man wanted both of them. What he wanted to know was why wasn't daddy with them to make sure they were safe.

"Its ok baby, daddy and Nagi will find us when it's safe." Jareru assured the child and took out a hat from his backpack using it to hide the toddler's very noticeable hair. "The bad man will be looking for us so I need you to be a good boy so we can stay away from him."

Aya nodded his agreement; anything to stay away from the bad man.

"Alright, let's go then." He said shouldering his backpack and picked up the child settling a shield over both of them. Schuldich might have promised him they would find the two later, but Jareru wasn't about to be found until he wanted to be.

Even if that meant a really long time on the street.

***

"Jari?" the toddler asked looking in the window of a bakery longingly.

"We can't afford it Aya." Jareru said without even looking at the displayed confection tugging on the child's hand to get him moving again.

After a few days on the streets they couldn't afford anything, Jareru just didn't have that much money to begin with and trying to get more was too dangerous.

"I hungy," Jareru answered softly hurrying his pace at the looks people were giving the dirty teenager and equally dirty toddler. He was tired and just as hungry as Aya was, it was starting to affect his shields letting people notice the two were they would have normally ignored them. Soon enough the Shields would fail all together and then it would be all over.

It could be over sooner anyway. He was pretty sure a policeman was following them, he was defiantly sure the very people he didn't want finding them where following as well.

Jareru kept walking dragging the toddler behind him.

They needed to find a safe place to hide for a while before they both dropped from lack of energy. Turning down an alleyway he cut through a small enclosure to get to another part of the city.

And ran right into a solid mass of muscle.

Backing up several steps he looked up at the sneering white haired man and felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. Staggering back another step he barely dodged the hand that reached out to grab his arm. Acting on instinct Jareru reached into his pocket and pulled out a narrow bottle spraying its contents in Strike's face. The man hissed in pain as mace was sprayed into his eyes whipping at his face as he was momentarily blind. But that wasn't enough to give them time to get very far away. Shifting to keep his balance Jareru kicked the man in the face, and then turned to the child.

"Aya run!" the teen ordered kicking the man between the legs and staggered as another wave of dizziness hit him and he felt his shields collapse making him suddenly very nauseous from the sudden onslaught of emotion filling his senses. Fighting the urge to be sick Jareru kicked Strike again for good measure and stumbled away as quickly as his stomach would allow.

The next time he ran into someone they had arms wrapped around him before he could get away. He panicked for a moment until he realized the person had what felt like shields around him and the person was comfortably familiar. Blinking until his eyes cleared he found himself face to face with Nagi, the teen had a slightly unfocused look on his face but other wise looked happy to see his boyfriend.

Closing his eyes Jareru slumped in the safety of his boyfriend's arms in a dead faint.

***

Nagi closed off the last box of books and labeled the cardboard before pushing it to the side wall with the rest of his things. The room felt empty without objects scattered about taking away the lived in feeling and added to the knowledge this was no longer his home.

Aya had already been shipped off to the new safe house with Farfarello and Schuldich leaving Crawford and Nagi to take care of the remaining move. Tomorrow Esset movers would come, pack everything and move it to the new safe house.

Fidgeting with his zip-up sweat jacket he checked his watch and sighed. Jareru promised he would be here so he would know where the new safe house was, he promised they would go out tonight, yet it was almost sun down and he still wasn't here.

"Nagi? What do you want for dinner?" Crawford asked walking into the empty bedroom drying his hands with a kitchen towel.

Nagi felt tears prickle at his eyes. "He's not coming." The boy said in answer a single tear escaping from his eyes. "He hasn't called, he hates me!"

"Nagi," Crawford said calmly flicking the towel onto his shoulder going to the boy and wrapped strong arms around him allowing Nagi to cry on his shoulder. "He doesn't hate you. Maybe something happened?"

"But he would have called!" Nagi cried.

"Not if he couldn't." Crawford pointed out.

They stood like that for a moment before either noticed the light tapping on the window in an oddly familiar rhythm. Crawford looked up at the window to find Jareru sitting on the fire escape tapping on the glass with a finger, he looked troubled. Nudging the teen in his arms lightly he turned until Jareru was in Nagi's line of sight then let him go as the boy ran to the window quickly opening it.

"Jareru! I was so afraid you wouldn't come!" Nagi said diving into the other brunette's arms still crying softly.

"Nah, I wouldn't do that to you love," Jareru assured the boy a bit sadly. "But I need to talk to you."

Nagi lifted his head noticing Crawford slipping out of the room and closing the door. "What do you mean?" he asked dreading what was to come.

Jareru nodded toward the bed and sat down next to the teen facing him with his own tears. "My parents found out, about us." He started slowly, "Then they found out what happened last week. They were going to be ok with everything Nagi, but not after what happened with Strike. They have forbidden me to see you again and we're moving to Osaka so my parents can pick someone more worthy for me."

"What?" Nagi said in disbelief. "But you said you love me!"

"I do love you." Jareru said brokenheartedly, "But I'm only fifteen, I have to do what they say. Hell I snuck out just to see you, that isn't going to help my case any!" he signed kissing Nagi on the forehead. "I'll find away to me with you Nagi, even if it takes years and you've forgotten me. No matter where you go I will find you, I swear it."

Nagi nodded silent tears running down his face. "I love you." He whispered.

"I Love you, now and always." Jareru whispered back leaning in for one last kiss. "I will always know where you are, or if you're in danger. I will return to you."

"Please don't go." Nagi begged when the other teen stood and walked to the window.

Jareru looked back at him with a half smile. "I'm never really gone; I'm in your heart." He said softly, and then he was gone.

* "Money is the root of all evil" refures to it being a root not a route, though the true quote is Route not Root. i.e. the quote refures to money being everything to evil and its sorce of growth.

*"<Teenagers!>" [Translation is hardly possible, we use the same word. Word by word it would be 'Jugendliche!', but it doesn't sound the same way in this context. You can use it, but it louses a bit of the expression. ] - A/N *shurgs* just go with it.

*Verdammt! = Damn [it]!

***

***

haha the damn….i mean…dear thing is done! Sorry it took so long but my beta's kinda ditched me- well im not sure what happened to Syberian X (Sy if you didn't get any of my emails please find some way of telling me!)

Anyway, I'm sure everyone wants to know who the hell is Jareru and how do you pronounce his name? and maybe some of you are going 'is he coming back?' I'll answer the first question…first…jareru is my way of getting someone that can train Aya without sending him to RosenKruez. Plus, Nagi so needs someone!!!!! Don't you think? I think so. As for pronouncing….heh…. I know Jareru means 'to be playful' in Japanese (and if it dosent someone needs to call Living Language or Random House and tell them their Japanese dictionarys are wrong.) In my head Jareru is pronounced Jar-eh-roo, I'm sure that's wrong *shrugs* but I cant help that. His nickname is Jari (Jar-ee) so I guess its ok for a fanfic….

Errmm got off track, yes Jareru is coming back next chappy wheher you like it or not.

And if I say anything more my puter is going to kill me. Sorry no reviews will be responded to in this chappy ill try and get them next chappy. Plus the second half of this fic is not beta'd and me puter isnt telling my grammer and spelling errors, hopefully I'll beable ot post! Hope you all enjoyed!

Next chappy-

After Jareru's parents are killed he is sent back to Tokyo to live with his Uncle. However he soon finds out how dangerous that is. Running away he finds Schwartz and enlists their help hoping to remain with them. However another package arriving at their door might cut those plans before the can even get started.

Part Two, Chapter Six: Unforgivable Mercy