Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ the rescue ❯ four ( Chapter 4 )

Main Pairings: Nagi/Omi, Schuldig/Yohji

Timeline: Set a year or so after Gluhen

Disclaimer: I don't own them

Chapter Four

Schuldig entered the room of Takatori Saijou at precisely ten o'clock; damn the old man for being strict about time. The German frowned upon having to wait outside just because he was ten minutes early, but his annoyance subsided the moment he laid his eyes on Kritiker's leader, who strained to remain straight in his chair and forced a weary smile of greeting to welcome him.

The secretary closed the door behind him, leaving the two of them alone in the room. Thick books lined the shelves to his right, which covered the wall from top to bottom; an expensive painting or two adorned the cream walls to his left. He stopped a few steps away from the wide mahogany desk, upon which Saijou rested his clasped hands.

"Good morning. Please have a seat." Saijou graciously offered the chair before the desk to Schuldig's right, which the telepath accepted.

"First of all I'm sorry for having your colleague get involved in this." Saijou sighed. "I admit that it is the fault of the organization for not having known Weiss' true identities beforehand. It is just that it had been so cleverly plotted..."

"Don't be sorry that Naoe got involved." Schuldig raised a hand to silence him. "He chose to serve this organization and he is ready to accept the consequences that will come with his actions." He received a weak smile from the man before he continued. "If you would start from the beginning though, perhaps I may understand why Weiss betrayed Kritiker."

Saijou apologized for having failed to explain then launched into the story of him approving recruits for Weiss until the part which had happened last night. Schuldig never missed a word. "We recognized them as the class G students of Koua Academy that Mamoru and the others had encountered on their last assignment as Weiss. No wonder they were extraordinary." He watched the different expressions that played across the German's features, then added. "I am planning on a rescue mission and I am hoping you would help us to save my grandson and your colleague."

Schuldig knew the consequences of agreeing to come. It meant agreeing to help Kritiker along the way; if Schuldig failed to save Mamoru not only will Kritiker have his head on a silver platter, Nagi will be presenting it to them himself. He knew their love would cost him his life one day. Now he berated himself and Nagi for the situation he has managed to get himself into. "Did you know I was warned not to get involved in this?" Schuldig asked wearily, rubbing his temples with his fingers. Just thinking about the mess he will be getting himself into gave him a headache.

"If you know anyone else who might help I'll be more than happy to leave you out of it."

"Don't be serious. I'm sure you have other contacts."

"They do not believe it is serious enough to intervene. They only take part if they consider it as dangerous as Epitaph." Saijou allowed himself to visibly slump in his chair. "They do not share the same beliefs as Kritiker does, but if it concerns them, they will intervene. Apparently, they believe it is wise not to get involved."

"As Crawford is."

Saijou's weary glance rested upon him. "Would you care to tell me why?"

"He thinks it's dangerous." Schuldig frowned. "He had a vision about last night and he believes it is possible that Weiss might possess talents."

The old man tried to assess what had been said. It did fit as a reason why Nagi failed to use his kinesis to get them out of trouble; then again perhaps he didn't want Mamoru harmed. Mamoru probably decided against the idea to escape since he was threatened that his grandfather might get killed, hence the two decided to stay with their captors. Couldn't Nagi just shake a building and bury their captors alive?

Schuldig shook his head, having read his mind. "He could have done more than that and saved you all the trouble."

"If that's the case then shouldn't that give you all the more reason to help given the concern for your colleague?"

"We don't know what we're dealing with. Perhaps the reason why they decided to take their revenge on us now is because they have finished re-establishing what we have once destroyed. If you have read the reports about the assignment in Koua Academy, it is not difficult to consider the possibility that those people may have developed what they have started about three years ago." Schuldig raised a hand to signal he was not yet finished. "I know this is where you are going to tell me that Crawford will be all the more useful, but you have to understand that people like us have limits too. He cannot summon a vision; he does not choose what he sees. I for one, can only hear thoughts within a certain radius. The mere fact that we're dealing with potential talents, we should consider the posssibility that they may be more powerful, given the fact that they're not natural. Or it could be the other way around. Like I said, no one really knows." He leaned forward, eyeing Saijou ferverently. "We need all the help we can get though. I cannot go alone."

"I cannot send the Crashers." Saijou answered silently. "But if it is my last chance..."

"Tell your contacts to reconsider. They are not just looking at a kidnap case here. What we are dealing with may well be the resurrection of Epitaph."

The old man chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. "If Rosenkrus had been on our side, it would have made things a lot easier."

"Wishful thinking will get us nowhere. Contact me as soon as you hear from their captors or if you have established a group to come with me." As he stood to leave, Schuldig gave the man a weak smile. "I never thought we'd be working alongside each other again. I thought Epitaph would have been the first and last time."

"I appreciate your help, Schuldig."Saijou stood and shook his hand. For the first time, he saw the bigger picture. If he could not persuade their contacts, it will be the downfall of Kritiker, and possibly, the others will follow. The grievousness of it all weighed on him terribly, that it was a relief he had someone like Schuldig who was willing to help. Never in a million years would he have thought that the dark would be his beacon in the end.

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