Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Underneath It All ❯ Start of the New Mission ( Chapter 3 )

AN: So yeah, it's another chapter of UIA. I don't have much to say this chapter. More fun times with Naru and Omi; I told you all there would still be a little tension between the two. It's only natural, after all, that someone not get over something like that right away. Oh, so I've been seeing these rumors about review responses on FFnet. I won't stop responding, but I'm going to start putting them at the bottom of my fics, just in case. They'll be less likely to invoke the wrath of the `almighty' FFnet Nazis if they're not immediately noticeable.

 

Reviews

Splitpersona: Welcome to another one of my fics. I actually meant to let you know about it when I first posted, but I got distracted with my job… damn thing's always interrupting my life. Anyway, I'm glad you like this one, too. You know that comment about Angel? I hadn't really thought about it before, but you're right; it is reminiscent of that particular episode. I haven't watched it in so long, though, that I didn't make the connection until you pointed it out. I'm still working out the mechanics of how the whole thing happened with Omi and Nagi, though, so I'll have to make sure not to rip off the show's writers. Glad you brought it up.

 

Mirai aria: I'm glad I could offer something that brings you back into the Weiss fandom. The reason I started writing WK was pretty much what you stated. I've just about anything there is to read that's Omi-centric, and since I couldn't find anything new, I started writing my own. This is actually my 2nd on-going epic made specifically to satisfy both my muse and the need for more Omi goodness. I'm also pleased that you like what I've done with Tot. I was wondering how well my characterization of her would go over.

 

Donna: I didn't take offense to your comment about the French thing. I just figured that other people might have also been curious about it, so I decided to explain my line of reasoning. `Long, and straight to the point.' I like that; it's almost contradictory, but I know what you mean. I hate short chapters, and I also hate chapters where nothing happens, so I try to make sure to avoid those types of scenarios.

 

MikaSamu: I'm glad the scene with Omi and Naru worked out so well. I was wondering if it did because it just played out so perfectly in my mind. As for Saijou: it is my firm belief that the sneaky bastard was laughing in his head the whole time he was `crying' for Omi to take his place among the Takatori so the old man wouldn't have to be alone anymore, especially after how he acts in Gluhen. I'm not the only who's written him that way. I've recently started reading a fic called `Kind des Schicksals'. If you haven't seen it, yet, you might want to check it out; it's got a little more sci-fi than I like reading (and I'm a HUGE sci-fi fan, just not when it comes to anime), but the plot is original and interesting.

 

Warnings: Language, Violence

 

Disclaimer: As much as I'd like it, I don't own them.

 

 

Internal Dialogue

Telepathy

 

Chapter 3

 

Nanami stood in the doorway of the kitchen trying to figure out exactly why the blonde teen at the table was so hostile towards her only remaining family. Omi may not be related to her by blood, but he was her brother in every other sense of the word. A week after moving in, she had asked Schuldig, a man she remembered that both Nagi and Omi placed their unconditional trust in, what Naru's problem was. To put it mildly, the bluenette had not been pleased with the answer. Even after they come to an understanding, he still holds a meaningless grudge, she thought sourly. At least he's civil - at least as far as I can tell - whenever they're working on the computers together.

 

What Nanami didn't realize was that the explosives expert was doing infinitely better in his treatment of the archer. Had she been there two weeks earlier to see their interaction, she may have been slightly less concerned over the situation, though not by much. Something else Schuldig had told her was to stay out of it, explaining that Crawford insisted that things were fine so long as no one interfered. He would know, I guess, was her reluctant acceptance to the telepath's words. And it's not bothering Omi, so maybe things aren't as bad as they look.

 

“Hey,” she offered a greeting to the teen as she finished her silent observations and stepped fully into the kitchen, intent on getting something to drink. She wouldn't do anything to hinder whatever Crawford had seen and thus decided to be as neutral to the whole thing as her own bias would allow.

 

“Afternoon,” coffee colored eyes looked at the blue haired teen while acknowledging her presence. After the quick glance, the former Crasher returned his attention to his sandwich. Deciding that it might be a good idea to get to know the newest member of the household, the blonde once again turned his head towards Nanami. “How are you settling in?”

 

“Just fine,” she replied with a polite smile, leaning against the sink with a glass of juice in her hand. “I was surprised to find that the house is rather cozy, given its size.”

 

“No kidding,” Naru agreed. “When Yuushi and I first got here, we didn't realize exactly how many people would be here and thought it was a bit excessive.” He swallowed a bit of water before continuing. “With you here, now, though, it's pretty much a full house.” A slightly awkward silence settled between them. It was difficult to pinpoint the source of their mutual discomfort as Naru was having the same problem with nearly everyone in the house. Only Yuushi and Ran could manage to hold a lengthy conversation with him, though there was some strain with ex-Weiss assassin. He was brought from his somewhat dejected thoughts at the sound of glass clanking in the sink.

 

“I'm off to train,” Nanami excused herself. “See you around.”

 

“Later,” he replied with a nod. The young woman sighed quietly to herself as she left the kitchen. He's probably a nice person. I hope this sorts itself out soon.

 

Arriving at the top of the stairs, Nanami erased those thoughts from her mind and walked into the training room smiling. She was sparring with Aya today, something she was looking forward to; Ran's sister was about her size, and her skill level was higher than she had expected from someone having only been doing this for seven plus months. The bluenette had more experience, but she was a bit rusty after nearly a year spent without more than the occasional practice. So far, their mock-fights had ended with Nanami just barely coming out ahead, and that was only due to the amount of time she had spent fighting in the past. It would probably always be that way until Aya had more true battle experience, but that didn't matter in the least because both girls were improving a great deal. It was more than obvious when they sparred with someone else how much working together was enhancing their ability to fight, so they decided to train together three times a week. Not only that, but the two were becoming fast friends, something for which Ran was grateful. Though he never vocalized his concerns, he had worried that Aya might need a female friend - someone closer to her own age than Kitada; Omi's suggestion to bring Nanami to the team had been a double blessing in that.

 

“Nanami,” Aya's soft voice called out from behind the stretching bluenette. “Give me a few minutes to warm up, and I'll be ready.”

 

“No problem,” the former Schreient assassin replied. Roughly ten minutes later, the girls were facing off against one another, gracefully moving within their preferred forms of martial arts. To an observing party, one might think they were expertly performing a choreographed dance, so in sync were their movements were they. As one would strike, the other would block perfectly. Eventually, experience would just barely edge out novice, but it was no matter; their goal was not to defeat the other but to simply become stronger so as to overcome those whom they would inevitably face when the true battle began.

 

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“You ready for tomorrow?” the golden eyed telepath asked the archer seated next to him on the couch. The two were lounging in front of the blank TV, having avoided the den where Kitada and Yuushi looked to be sharing a private moment. It hadn't been that anything obvious was going on, but the two clearly did not want any company other than each other. The thought that the red haired woman was finally moving past his uncle's death was something that brought a smile to the blonde's face when he first realized it.

 

“Almost,” Omi replied. “I still have to load my darts and make sure I have enough bolts for my crossbow. Otherwise, I'm ready.” Two and half weeks after Nanami had been picked up from the airport, Naru and Omi had finally made progress in hacking into the Esset database. Having all the information they needed, their first mission was planned. The last conference had brought about the decision to make their presence known. Early in the morning, five would leave the house for Canada, where they - Schuldig, Omi, Kitada, Naru and Crawford - would set out to eliminate the Esset group working there. It had been decided that, no matter the mission, the precog was a necessity to the team as his ability would be essential to their success.

 

“So all that communication stuff's been figured out?” he asked the eighteen year old. The teen had been trying to come up with something that would allow them to remain in constant contact with those staying behind. No one really knew any of the technological terms he threw out, nor where they really concerned with understanding any of the blonde's electronic wonders so long as they worked.

 

“Finished it up this morning,” Omi answered. “We won't know for sure if it will work until we actually get far enough to test it, but it should work.” His eyes hinted at the tiny bit of worry that his modifications to their earpieces would not be sufficient for the task of keeping contact with people on another continent.

 

“I'm sure it'll work,” the man smirked, amber eyes exuding confidence in his friend and alleviating the telekinetic's mild doubt in his latest contribution to the world of technology. “I don't know what the hell you were talking about the other day when you were trying to explain your idea, but I've seen what you can do with all that wire and plastic.” His description of Omi's work earned him a slight scowl.

 

“It's a little more complicated than that, Schu,” there was no heat behind the words, though, as the blue-eyed assassin was well aware that no one truly understood what he did, except perhaps Naru. “You know,” his face slipped to something between thoughtful and serious. “It would probably be a good idea if everyone was at least knowledgeable in the repair of some of the equipment we use. Other than myself, Naru's probably the only one capable, possibly Kitada - I'd have to ask.” The telepath nodded his head, realizing what a mistake it was that not all of them could fix a moderately damaged headset.

 

“Something like that would definitely prove useful if one of us was separated indefinitely from the others,” his amber eyes narrowed. “I may not always be in range to `hear' someone call out.”

 

“I know,” the blonde replied quietly, knowing exactly where Schuldig's mind had wandered. “After we get back, I think I should start giving you guys the basic rundown of the electronics. I know it won't be useful in an emergency situation, but it would help improve our odds.” The olive haired man nodded his agreement, and the two lapsed into a comfortable silence. Their thoughts wandered aimlessly for a while before one of them spoke again.

 

“This is going to be our first `mission' since…” Omi left the sentence unfinished. The telepath knew what he was talking about, and though both had come to terms with the painful loss of the others, they still felt the ache of what this mission would bring. It would mark the first time that Ken's confident, bladed fists would not be covering Omi's back; it would be the first time Farfarello's insane ideas of how a target's death would hurt God wouldn't flutter through Schuldig's mind. It would be the first time either man would complete a mission and not immediately disappear for a secret rendezvous afterwards. Somehow, this just made things seem more real, tangible, and that realty was crashing down on them almost as harshly as the waves on the beach had seven and a half months ago.

 

“I know,” the German kept his voice soft and controlled. “And we're doing this for them, for everything they'll never get a chance to do, to be.” It went without saying that they would be going after these bastards regardless, but it was personal, now. The fact that this unholy union between Kritiker and Esset had robbed everyone in the house of something more valuable to them than what they considered the world's worth to be was pushing them forward. In retrospect, every single one of them had realized that they didn't give a damn about the human race, as is true for most people; rather, it was the bonds they had formed within their ranks that had made them want to fight, if only to ensure the survival of those closest to them. There were six men that they knew of who had been lost to one man's megalomaniacal aspirations and, undoubtedly, many hundreds more. They would make sure that history would not repeat itself. Revenge was a major factor in the war they were about to start, but it wasn't the only driving force. That, in and of itself, was a good thing because that would leave them with something left once they eventually accomplished their goals.

 

“I think I'll go finish up with my darts,” the archer broke into the silence that had once again settled over them. He rose from the couch even as he spoke.

 

“Do a couple of the exercises I showed you before you go to bed,” Schuldig said as the teen walked towards the hall. “I'll be going through some meditation myself, seeing as how the telepath they've got is nearly as strong as I am.” Omi turned to regard his friend for a moment, showing that he understand how serious the request was. They would be facing off against a telepath of Schuldig's caliber, as well as two mediocre telekinetics and a few others with weaker, elemental-based powers.

 

“I will,” he replied. “See you in the morning.”

 

“Night, Omi,” the green haired man waved as the Japanese teen made his way out of the room. You might want to pack some of those `special' shuriken, he sent as an afterthought once the blonde was already well on his way up the stairs. Already have. Schuldig smiled and shook his head. He's probably one step ahead of every one of us and doesn't even know it. Deciding to get some sleep, the telepath followed the path of his friend a few minutes later. The next week or so promised to be more than trying, and this was most likely the last chance he would have for a full night's rest.

 

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“It works,” Kitada reported to the four sitting in the dingy hotel room. “Ran says nothing is out of the ordinary at the house,” giving a sidelong glance to the resident precog, she continued. “Though I'm sure we would have known beforehand were anything going to happen.” Crawford's lips twitched with a faint smirk at the dry comment aimed at him.

 

“So,” Naru started, sitting backwards in one of the two wooden chairs occupying the room. “When are we getting started?” The question was directed at the American, their presumed leader, who was sitting, back straight, in the second chair.

 

“Don't look at me,” his glasses held that mysterious glint. “Omi is our tactician. He's always planned missions. I will be in charge in the field using my ability to direct everyone should anything change.” Schuldig snorted at the surprised look that crossed the former Crasher's face from his seat next to Kitada on the only bed. He still doesn't completely trust Omi, Brad. The only response he got was a subtle look implying that `no interference' was still in effect.

 

“Right,” the archer shot a quick look to Naru before beginning. “Our attack will begin at one a.m. We need to be in position thirty minutes beforehand.” The teen, who was sitting in the floor, adjusted the screen of the laptop so everyone could see the map of the area they would be infiltrating in less than twelve hours. “I want Kitada here,” he said while pointing out the location, “Crawford here, Schuldig here, and Naru here. I'll be in this position.” The others nodded their understanding before the telekinetic went into a more detailed explanation of his plan.

 

“When I give the signal,” Omi stated. “Crawford, Kitada and Schuldig will enter the building using the entrances nearest their positions; you already know your specific targets. By that time, I will have hacked into the security system, making your only opposition any guards you come across.” He turned his azure gaze to the other blonde. “Naru, you'll be setting explosives in these general areas,” he gestured to three different points on the map. “The specifics of how you do it are up to your discretion, as that is your area of expertise. Once you've finished, you will join the others in the building. I'll be entering one of the smaller buildings nearest my position. Once inside, I'll head to the offices so as to obtain any information not contained within the computer network. I will also join the rest of you once I've completed my task. After we're finished, we'll set off the explosives. Crawford?” The telekinetic looked to the precog, who shook his head.

 

“It will work,” he replied. “There is only one possible problem, but we can't do anything about it. No matter the variables I consider, it is unavoidable.” Kitada's green eyes narrowed on the American.

 

“Care to enlighten us?” she asked.

 

“No,” was the firm response. “Warning the ones involved would only make matters worse. You all have to remain focused on your objectives and saying anything will most definitely lead to distraction.” He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, a sign to all that he would say nothing further on the matter. He wasn't worried that he had already said too much; it would only make them more aware of their surroundings. He glanced to one of the others in the room; said person didn't feel his brown gaze. However, knowing that you might die is enough to make anyone hesitate at a crucial moment, and we can't afford that.

 

“Some things we don't need to know,” Schuldig commented somewhat cryptically. He understood perfectly well what Crawford's intentions were, and if the sharp, blue-eyed look the American was receiving was anything to go by, Omi understood as well. He imagined that were Ran there, the swordsman would no doubt comprehend the reasons behind his silence. The four who had survived the crumbling of the Esset tower had once had a conversation regarding this very subject before leaving Japan and had agreed that Crawford would keep anything of this sort to himself. Whereas they were equipped to deal with the uncertain knowledge of their own demise, they were certain the others wouldn't be; though they were all trained to deal with dangerous, deadly situations, the former Weiss and Schwartz members had lived through a great deal more and had long since come to terms with their own mortality in a way that it didn't effect them as much as it probably should have.

 

“If you say so,” Naru grumbled but left it alone after that. He had others things to worry about; turning to the archer, he began his request. “Omi, did the files we get include blueprints of this place? It would make my job a lot easier were I able to determine specific, structural locations for my bombs.” Omi nodded and pulled up the requested blueprints before turning his laptop over to the demolitions expert. Seeing as how the telekinetic had already memorized the floor plans and knew exactly where he needed to be, he didn't need to worry about studying them as intently as Naru was. Judging by the way that Kitada and Schuldig peered over the ex-Crasher's shoulders, though, they wanted to get a better idea of what they would be walking into. Crawford wouldn't need to see the blueprints at all, as he would rely on his precognition to guide him to where he needed to be. Still, Omi thought, it might be a good idea for everyone to have a handheld computer that we can use to store this kind of information. He filed that idea away for later, deciding that he would work something out for them when they returned to France.

 

“We leave in ten hours, everyone,” the archer reminded them. “Take care of any preparations you need to make and be ready before that time.” Murmurs of acknowledgement met his ears as he stood and made his way to the bag in which he stored his many weapons. He would spend part of his time making sure everything was in order. From the corner of his eye, he saw Crawford do the same thing with the many guns he would eventually hide all over his person. A couple of hours later found Naru moving to prepare whatever explosive devices he would be using while Schuldig repeated Crawford's earlier actions with his own weaponry before going into a meditative state to ensure that he wouldn't overload his telepathy during the mission. Kitada performed the same actions as the German and America, having always preferred using side arms.

 

Eventually, the other four joined the telepath in meditation, working on techniques to strengthen their mental shields so as to have a better defense against the telepath that would surely try to strike out against their minds. Crawford and Omi also used this time to focus on their own psychic abilities; the former was getting himself into the frame of mind to walk around in the present even as he was living in the future, while the latter was trying to set a focal point for his telekinesis - something he knew he couldn't rely on as of yet but may very well be needed should the situation arise. As if on cue, five pairs of eyes snapped into focus exactly thirty minutes before they would leave. Each person changed into clothing more suitable for the mission. Long gone was the apparel that would cause them to stand out in any way. Instead, they all dressed in black from head to toe, though each maintained a certain style that would make it easy for them to recognize one another amidst those they would be fighting. At precisely eleven thirty p.m., the door to the motel room closed and locked, no trace of their presence having been left behind.

 

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Schuldig, Omi got the attention of the telepath; they were trying to limit the use of their earpieces to avoid the slight possibility pf their communications being monitored. Let everyone know to open communications with the house and that I should be finished with the security system within five minutes. We go in, in ten minutes on my signal. The archer didn't wait for a response knowing that the German would do as instructed. Once he gave the go ahead, it would be Crawford's show; the man would let them know if anything should change with regards to their current situation. Striking one final key on his laptop signaled the end of his hacking. Now, all that was left was to wait for the preset time of attack as everyone had reported their positions twenty minutes ago.

 

“Your signal is coming through strong,” Yuushi's voice was clearly heard through the small headsets they all wore. No doubt it was his shift for monitoring the system, but they suspected that the other three would soon gather around, anxious to know the progress of those in Canada. The telekinetic couldn't keep the self-satisfied smile off his face, as fleeting as it was; after all, he had managed to make sure the others would be able to keep track of at least some of what was going on despite the fact that they weren't there.

 

The blonde assassin looked to his watch. Three minutes, he thought to himself. His current position was on the west side of the complex, which consisted of one rather large, warehouse-like building and two smaller, house-sized buildings. Kitada, Schuldig and Crawford would be entering the larger structure from the north and south entrances. Naru would set his explosives in each building before joining up with them while Omi would enter into one of the smaller buildings for his part of the mission.

 

“Go!” his command was barely a breath of a whisper but was instantly followed. Five figures stealthily made their way into the various parts of the complex, silently disposing of any guards that crossed their paths. Both Kitada and Naru, neither having ever killed in spite of the fact that it was an integral part of the organization they once served, seemed to have no problem with the transition from non-lethal personnel to assassins. When they later had the time to reflect on their actions, they would realize how much it truly affected them. These thoughts, though, would be saved for another time, being pushed to the side in favor of staying alive and completing their objectives.

 

Crawford and Schuldig were taking great pleasure in cutting through anyone foolish enough to stand in their way. While Kitada was sticking to her own path, they were essentially working together as they made their way through the maze-like hallways searching for the Esset psychics. The American had silently informed his olive haired companion that they wouldn't come across their targets for quite awhile, which gave them an excuse to have a little `fun' with the guards. A quick mind-probe from the telepath had already revealed that everyone in the complex was directly connected to either Kritiker or Esset, and he had gleefully passed that information onto the others, ensuring that not one of their enemies would make it out alive. Had the men been some random guards-for-hire, they might not have made it a point to eliminate the entirety of their numbers. Schuldig was pleasantly surprised at the mental growls of `good' he received from Kitada and Naru, not having expected the former non-killers amongst them to be so thrilled at the prospect of taking life. Then again, they lost pieces of themselves as much as any of us to these bastards… All because of one man's perverted vision of the world. Banishing his thoughts, the golden-eyed man aimed his pistol at one of the guards charging them even as a bullet from the precog's gun found its mark between the eyes of another nameless figure.

 

Omi was faring rather well in the main office of the building he had crept into. Thanks largely in part to the chaos the others were creating in the main structure, he had only had to deal with three guards. The rest had all gone to investigate the commotion he knew three of his teammates were causing. His assumption that Naru was having the same luck as he was would later prove correct. The ex-Crasher was just running into the room where the archer was finishing his information gathering. Nodding in acknowledgement to one another after having determined the other was friend, not foe, they silently went back to work. Explosives were all placed in structurally important areas even as the hum of a computer died down. The two blondes had managed to finish their tasks almost simultaneously and were soon on their way to the last of the buildings. Knowing that the demolitions expert had yet to plant any bombs in the large structure, Omi chose to watch his back.

 

“What are you doing?” Naru whispered even as he removed several small but powerful devices from his pack. He wasn't angry that the telekinetic had followed him, but he was concerned that this might delay their final objective should Omi not immediately join the others.

 

“If you hadn't noticed,” the archer began in a low voice, not once moving his eyes from their watchful duty. “Nearly all the guards are in this building thanks to the others. Not to mention that none of our targets have been found. You need to concentrate on setting the bombs, so I'm covering you.” No sooner had the words left his mouth did four guards appear in the doorway. Ever vigilant and with a quick snap of the wrist, two fell before they even knew what hit them. A third man was slowly sinking to the floor, apparently having a slightly stronger resistance to the deadly poisoned contained within the darts. Wasting no time, Omi threw two more, one sinking into the flesh of the struggling guard as the second found its mark in the fourth guard's neck. Naru didn't look back; the archer had proven his point, and he wasn't about to waste time by staring dumbly at the young man watching his back. The former Crasher knew Omi was correct and chose to comment on it later, after the mission was complete.

 

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She was silently stalking through the corridors of the main building, removing any threat or obstacle that was unfortunate enough to get in her way. The silencer covering the muzzle of her gun allowed her to remain undetected while continuing on her path; Schuldig and Crawford were purposely drawing attention to themselves in an effort to keep Kitada's presence masked. She was to be their trump card; neither Weiss nor Schwartz had ever worked with a woman in the field, so it was also unlikely that her presence was even suspected. Due to the fact that she was the only one other than Omi who had been constructing mental barriers since the beginning, it was also unlikely that the Esset telepath would be aware of the scarlet haired woman. Therefore, unless she was to directly confront one of the enemy psychics, she would stay hidden well under his mental radar.

 

So far, Kitada's progress was remarkably unhindered. Apparently, Schuldig and Crawford were doing their part extremely well. As she came upon the seventh juncture she was to take, she had only had to kill twelve guards. As a glow from a fire with no direct source reflected off her green orbs, she knew her situation was about to change. Looks like I've been discovered, her mind supplied in a dry tone. The pyrokinetic couldn't have been older than fifteen, but that wouldn't stop her from killing him; she wasn't enough of a hypocrite to miss that fact that Omi had been doing this kind of `work' starting from a much younger age and that she had been the one to train him. No, this is no child. He as much of a killer as anyone else here. She also didn't discount his comparatively weak ability seeing as how her only weapons consisted of a variety of firearms. Just to see how effective the teen's power was, she fired a test shot. As it turned out, he was more than strong enough to melt the speeding bullet with plenty of room to spare.

 

“That won't work,” he stated in an American Southern accent. “You're a mundane. What chance could you possibly have against someone with my powers?” If he was trying to unnerve her, it certainly wasn't working. In fact, his little speech had nearly made her laugh. Kitada had to bite her tongue to hold back the biting comment regarding exactly how `strong' he was, a comment consisting of the verbatim report Omi had hacked from Esset on this kid. Wouldn't he just love to know how weak he's really rated… She couldn't hold back the next thing that came to mind, though, as the two continued to assess one another.

 

“It would be unprofessional to have included a water gun as a part of my arsenal,” she had managed to say that with a straight face. “Besides,” her tone held a note of nonchalance. “It's more of a challenge this way, don't you think?” The glare the American teen sent her way at the condescending remark could have burned her alive, literally. However, just as she'd hoped, his anger was throwing him off. Rather than burn a hole straight through her head as he had intended, he hit her hair. As realization as to what had just occurred struck, Kitada narrowed her eyes. She was utterly and truly pissed. If there was one thing she prided herself on outside of her work, it was her appearance, and this kid had just ruined what had taken her years to perfect. She kept her anger well hidden, though, as it wouldn't do her any good to fall for the same tactic she had pulled only moments before. It was just hair, anyway; it would grow back, and now was not the time to have a decidedly `female moment' though she rather suspected Schuldig would have been just as, if not more so, outraged were the same thing to happen to him.

 

“What say we put an end to this staring contest,” the American drawled. And so the dance began. The pyro sent small, horizontal columns of flame and fireballs in her direction while Kitada fire round after round in his general direction. The green-eyed woman wasn't trying to hit him just yet; she wanted to get a feel for how he moved to determine any weakness or openings. After about ten minutes of cat and mouse, she finally discovered his Achilles heel. Taking better care to actually aim the next shot, she pulled the trigger just as he summoned his element. Kitada watched as the teen's eyes widened in absolute horror, the thought of defeat never having once entered his thoughts. The flames caressing his skin soon died out as he fell to the floor, dead as the bullet struck his heart.

 

“Definitely a challenge,” she muttered as she took in the state of her singed clothes and the several minor burns that spotted her uncovered skin. The redhead took a moment to check the clip occupying her gun as well as to make sure she had plenty of extras before moving on; it wouldn't do to get through the most difficult fight she'd ever faced only to be taken out later because she wasn't prepared. As she made her way through the hallways, she noticed the number of guards she ran across increased. I must be coming close to where Schuldig and Crawford are. Not five minutes later, she was proven correct in her assumption. Turing around a corner, she could only watch as the two easily finished off twenty men between them, impressed with the way they worked together. Fortunately, the woman was able to stand in awe of their skill and remain aware of her surroundings at the same time, proven as she shot the man sneaking up behind her without once looking back.

 

“Feel free to join in at any time,” the German's voice carried over the sound of another wave of guards running through the hallway. Crawford merely nodded to acknowledge her presence, more concerned with concentrating on keeping his mind in the future even while his actions were in the present.

 

“You sure about that?” she asked even as she fired three consecutive shots, all hitting their marks. “You two looked like you were having so much fun that I didn't want to interrupt.” Gods, I've been around Schuldig for too long, she thought as she heard the words that had just left her mouth. There's nothing wrong with that, the telepath quipped in her mind. But clamp down on your shields, or you might give us away before we're ready for their telepath, he added with as much seriousness as he could muster without being harsh. Taking his suggestion as more of an order, Kitada immediately did as he said. Shortly thereafter, the three left the hallway now devoid of any human life.

 

“We should be coming across the last three weaker psychics in the next hallway,” the precog informed his teammates. At his warning, they chose to stop and check their weapons one more time before continuing. According to the files, and confirmed by a scan from Schuldig, they would be going up against two psychics who had fairly weak control over sound waves, and someone who could manipulate minds. The third was going to be the one to worry about in the long run. Though the woman who had the ability was classified as a telepath, her ability was much more specialized, and she wasn't able to do a great deal of what Schuldig could do; this was why she was classified as weak. The problem was that she could essentially make people hallucinate, and it could be very effective in turning allies against one another.

 

“Make sure to completely block off your mind,” the German unnecessarily warned them both as they had gone over this very thing at least five times prior to the mission. “Even to me,” he added. “If there's even one crack in your mental defense, she'll be able to slip in.” No more words passed between the trio as they went to confront the Esset agents who no doubt knew they were approaching. There was neither hesitation nor words spoken as the six faced off. Schuldig chose to confront the female telepath knowing he was the best candidate, having the strongest mental capabilities of his companions. Crawford and Kitada were soon facing their opponents as well. Wasting no time, the two sides began a series of attacks and defense.

 

The precog was finding his battle rather difficult. The man he was fighting was clearly physically inferior, but the high pitched sound directed at Crawford's ears was throwing his perfect concentration. As a result, every so often, the Esset psychic would manage to graze him with a fist. The American's aim was off, as well. Only one shot of five had even been remotely close to hitting, missing the target by a few centimeters. Further down the hallway, Kitada was fairing no better. The Japanese woman was barely fighting through the pain of the noise bombarding her eardrums, managing only to fire off a few wide shots, nearly hitting an oblivious Schuldig in the process. This gave both her and Crawford pause; they were going to have to devise a new strategy if they wanted to get out of this without killing either themselves or one another.

 

“Come towards me,” the scarlet haired woman suddenly yelled out to Crawford. Noticing the woman was walking backwards towards him with her opponent slowly following, he realized her plan. Mimicking her movements, he lured the man he was fighting much in the same way until he was back-to-back with his teammate. Believing that their prey had trapped themselves, the two sound manipulating psychics increased the intensity of their attacks.

 

“Now!” Crawford had shouted at the top of his lungs hoping that Kitada would hear him over the painful noise threatening to overcome them. She did, and as the two dove to the side, the sound-waves that had previously been directed at them were hitting their enemies. Almost immediately, they felt the pressure in their heads disappear, and not missing a beat, the two aimed their guns, killing the Esset men while they were distracted by the pain of their own attacks. Now all that was left was for Schuldig to win the war between minds he was currently engaged in. They didn't dare interrupt for fear of the Esset woman's death resulting in damaging their friend's mind while he was still inside.

 

For his part, the German was faring rather well. In fact, the only reason it was taking so excruciatingly long to kill the bitch trying to get inside his head was the fact that he had to attack without leaving any cracks in his shields. This was proving to be very tedious, but he was making progress. Her mind was beginning to cave, and there were only a few more specific places he had to hit before it was over. After what seemed like hours to the green haired man, he came out of his trance-like state, his opponent falling bonelessly to the floor as her brain stopped sending signals to any of the vital organs in her body.

 

“How long?” he asked his patiently waiting teammates, curious as to the amount of time he had been dealing with the now dead psychic.

 

“We finished about fifteen minutes ago,” Kitada replied. “And it took us a good twenty to kill them,” she waved a careless hand in the general direction of their fallen foes. Suffice it to say that she was surprised when her hand froze in place instead of dropping back to her side as it should have. I can't even move my head or open my mouth, she thought, panicked when she couldn't turn her head to question the others. It didn't really matter as they had been looking in her direction anyway.

 

“Shit,” Schuldig cursed. “Where are you, you bastard?” he demanded of the telekinetic he knew had to be nearby. Said psychic stepped out of the shadows, making his presence known. From what the telepath could see, Crawford wasn't in the man's line of sight and set out to keep his presence hidden. His gold eyes locked with the hazel eyes of Kitada's captor as he attempted to break through the man's shoddy barriers; his attempts were abruptly cut off as the telekinetic spoke.

 

“I wouldn't do that,” he tried to threaten. “I'll have crushed her neck before you could even begin to kill me with your tele…” His speech halted as Crawford fired from his position, the man not realizing what was happening until the bullet embedded itself in the temple of his head. In a flash of his rarely used speed, Schuldig was at Kitada's side, steadying the woman who had lost her balance at the sudden loss of the unnatural force holding her in place.

 

“We have to get to Omi and Naru,” Crawford stated. “Now.” The other two didn't argue, recognizing the urgency in his tone; it was clear that whatever he had seen earlier was coming to pass. As they made their way through the corridors of the building, Schuldig scanned for any signs of guards they might have missed missed. The only minds he detected were all in proximity of one another, and he didn't like the panic he was picking up from the demolition's specialist. Not pausing in his steps, he sifted through Naru's mind to find out what the situation was, sending the teen a message telling him what he should do in order to keep them both alive. To say he was surprised at the scene that greeted them when they arrived was putting it mildly. I should have stayed in his mind and monitored the situation. Not bothering to think about it, he had his gun aimed at the telekinetic who appeared to be struggling with Omi for control of several projectiles and fired. At the same moment, both Kitada and Crawford shot the telepath.

 

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“One more,” Naru muttered just loud enough for the archer to hear nearly an hour after having started. Omi was glad to hear it. In the last twenty minutes alone, at least fifteen guards had come in, and he was getting anxious. There was also the fact that the adjacent room contained twice as many corpses from when Naru had been planting his devices in there. According to Schuldig's most recent message, he, Crawford and Kitada - who had eventually caught up with them - were going to be running into some of the weaker psychics relatively soon. That meant it wouldn't be long after that, that the stronger ones would show their faces, and it was obvious to all of them that they would need to be together for that particular battle. The telekinetic readied a fistful of shuriken at the sound of approaching footsteps. He had decided to save his remaining darts for later as he was more proficient in their use in the heat of battle, and he was less likely to slice his skin open in a blind grab for weapons. Two men slightly older than Crawford stepped through the door; the first thing he noticed was that they were not dressed in the same manner as the guards, whose bodies littered the floor.

 

“Shit!” he cursed. “Hurry up Naru; we've got company, and they aren't typical guards.” Even as he warned his blonde teammate of the impending battle, his hand acted of its own accord, sending the five poisoned shuriken at both men. He was shocked when they were harmlessly dropped to the floor mid-flight. What the hell! Why are they sending two of the stronger after us when they have to know that Schuldig and Crawford are more of a threat? Omi had expected to possibly run into one or two of the Esset agents reported to have flimsy control over fire or sound; he had not, however, expected to run into those who he knew had better control over the same talent as he. The former Weiss assassin may have had all of Nagi's telekinetic strength buried somewhere inside of him, but he was far from able to access that amount of power as of yet. On another continent, four people held their breaths at the sudden outburst from the archer, knowing better than to say anything so as not to distract their friends form an extremely perilous situation.

 

“You look surprised,” the taller of the two men mocked, his accent thick, sounding Russian. The Japanese youth ignored the words and instead palmed a few darts, letting them fly even though he knew their fate would be the same as that of the shuriken. His actions served their purpose, though.

 

“Finished,” Naru stated loud enough so that only Omi could hear, silently thanking him for staying and watching his back. He was also glad for the distraction at what he could only assume to be some of the psychics they were here to kill, giving him the last few, precious seconds he needed to complete his task. Not wanting to give his awareness away, he kept his back turned and slowly slipped his hands into either pocket, withdrawing several handheld explosives he had designed for slinging at an opponent in just this kind of situation. His only concern was accidentally setting off the devices he had just finished planting throughout the room. Omi was apparently aware of this particular problem and began move slowly towards the threshold of the back exit to the room, leading the two men away from it and Naru. His continuous attacks had begun to annoy them and they had completely neglected to pay attention to the blonde demolitions expert.

 

“It's obvious that you can't hit us,” the second man taunted. “My friend here can swat your little toys away all day if he wanted to.” The man, British, if his accent was anything to go by, paused and stared into the cerulean eyes for moment before his own eyes widened in slight surprise. “Interesting,” he murmured. “You're keeping me out.” Fuck! Naru thought as he slowly turned around and crept forward, carefully securing his mental shields as he listened to the man's words. The fucking telepath is here. There's no way either of us is strong enough to fight him for very long. Judging by the look on the archer's face, he was thinking the same thing.

 

Naru, Schuldig's voice quietly entered his mind. Understanding that now was not the time to respond, he simply listened. Brad, Kitada and I are on our way; it should take us about ten or so minutes. We've taken care of all the rest, so it's just the two with you and Omi left. DON'T MOVE. Let them keep their focus on Omi for now. His shields are strong enough to hold off the telepath until we get there, and he has his telekinesis, which they don't know about, as an advantage.Only act if absolutely necessary. The brown eyed teen gave a mental nod and continued to watch as the other blonde held his ground. He was unable to move further than he had already gone as the Russian telekinetic had slammed the door before he could make it to the next room.

 

“Don't let him move,” the telepath instructed. Before Omi knew what was happening, his body was frozen in place. He immediately recognized the telekinetic hold on his body, but could do nothing to counter it when he felt a pressure building inside his head. The Brit was trying to get into his mind, and it was taking every ounce of his concentration to stave off the mental assault. Naru watched as beads of sweat rolled down Omi's forehead. His blue eyes were glazing over as his focus was directed inward. The demolitions expert heard the telepath growl in frustration, and he momentarily turned his attention to the psychic.

 

“How the hell are you blocking me?” he nearly screamed. The archer didn't reply, busy reinforcing the shields that had weakened during the first invasion of his mind. The former Crasher winced in sympathy as the Japanese telekinetic bit his lip to stifle a scream at the renewed, and clearly more forceful, telepathic attack. I can't wait any longer, he thought. That telepath may not be as strong as Schuldig, but he's close, according to the records. Decision made, the as of yet unnoticed blonde lifted both hands. He might risk setting off the explosives, but the small powder kegs in his hands weren't likely to do so as Omi had lured the two men far enough away for them to only affect the corner they were currently standing in. Tossing the tiny explosive devices in both hands, one at each Esset agent, he prepared to dash over to Omi's side.

 

“What…” the Russian started before erupting into a string of curses from his own language as he tried to stand. The British man looked shocked, as well as in pain. The explosives weren't enough to do any real damage; in fact they were only meant to serve as a distraction, and it worked. While the two were collecting themselves, the brown-eyed teen rushed to his teammate's side and helped him to stand from where he had collapsed on the floor.

 

“You okay?” he asked, bracing the archer with his own body.

 

“Yeah,” he gasped, flashing a shaky smile. “I'll be fine. Schu's training really helped.” Naru didn't entirely believe him as he was leaning heavily on him, having trouble standing. He'd had no idea how much an all-out mental assault could weaken one's body, and he was suddenly very concerned for both their sakes. The explosives expert didn't have time for any further contemplation as the sound of their enemies moving grabbed his and Omi's attention.

 

“Almost forgot about you,” the Esset telekinetic remarked casually before narrowing his eyes in anger and annoyance. “We don't appreciate the little stunt you just pulled. If you had just stayed quiet and in the background, you may have eventually escaped with your life, but we won't forget, now.” During the man's small speech, Omi had regained his composure and no longer required the support of his teammate. Both teens mentally prepared themselves, not knowing what the next attack would be or who it would come from; it didn't take them long to find out. The archer watched as Naru struggled to maintain a grip on his mental barriers, not having determined a suitable course of action and well aware that the Russian was just waiting for him to make a move. Unfortunately, the former Crasher was unable to hold out for long, as was evident by the sadistic grin that colored his assailant's face. The explosives specialist collapsed to the floor in an undignified heap once the mental hold had been released.

 

“He's of no use anymore,” the telepath's cold voice stated. “Kill him then restrain the other one.”

 

“We're not killing him, too?” the Russian asked even as he used his power to lift several of Omi's projectiles from the floor, intending to use the archer's own weapons against his friend. Blue eyes narrowed, and the Japanese telekinetic made a hasty decision even as the Brit answered the question.

 

“This,” he gestured to Omi, “is the lost Takatori heir. We can't kill him if things are to go according to plan.” The blue-eyed teen let out a rather feral growl at the mention of the despised name. Naru could only stare dumbfounded at what was happening. Not only was he about to die, but he had inadvertently revealed the other's former identity to the very people from whom they were trying to keep it. Even as he mentally kicked himself, darts and shuriken alike flew at him. Closing russet eyes, he waited for the several impacts he knew were coming.

 

When nothing happened, he chanced a look and was surprised to find the archer standing in front of him, shaking with concentration as he used his own telekinesis to still the objects. Said projectiles were hanging in mid-flight, wavering back and forth as each man tried to overpower the other. Ever so slowly, the Russian gained the upper hand, Omi's untrained talent no match for the honed skills. The telepath seemed to be shocked into doing nothing. Good, Naru thought to himself in relief. At least he didn't pick that from my mind… Hopefully it will by us enough time fo… His thoughts were halted at the deafeningly loud crack, followed immediately by a second and third, that echoed through the otherwise silent room. Two thuds and several metallic clatters sounded as two lifeless bodies, as well as the darts and shuriken, fell to the floor.

 

“Schu…” Omi muttered as he dropped to his knees, exhausted from the several mental battles. Now able to see the area the Esset agents' forms had previously blocked, both blondes could clearly see the German. On either side of him stood Kitada and Crawford, all three holding smoking guns at their sides. They didn't remain in the doorway for long, moving to check on their teammates' conditions.

 

“We need to leave,” the precog's voice rang out. The two youngest nodded and gathered their remaining strength, using one another as support until Kitada and Schuldig moved to help. As the five silently made their way out of the building, Naru couldn't help but glance at the telekinetic. Brown eyes seemed to say `thank you' as they met with the azure gaze. For his part, Omi simply shook his head as if to imply it hadn't been that big of a deal. At that moment, the demolitions expert understood, no trace of doubt remaining in his mind, that he had been wrong. Yes, they had talked and were civil to one another, but Naru had never really accepted that Omi was not like the other Takatori. Strike that. He may share their blood, but he's not one of them. He didn't see the smiles that passed over two faces. Unbeknownst to him, the German had picked up that stray thought, whereas Crawford already had already known the outcome of this particular battle and having seen Schuldig's face, understood what had come to pass in the former Crasher's mind.

 

“We're far enough, now,” the brown-eyed teen spoke up, straightening in Kitada's grasp and pulling a small box from his pocket. The others stopped and watched with interest as he flipped it open and pressed the only button. At precisely three forty-four a.m., the mission was complete, the entire complex trembling with explosions and raging flames.

 

“We'll be home in a two days,” the redhead spoke into her headset; several sighs of relief were heard through their earpieces. The four had been holding their breath, waiting for confirmation that all their friends had indeed survived, especially after hearing what the British telepath had said to Omi and Naru.

 

“That's good to hear,” Ran's voice echoed in their ears. As the five silently disappeared into the cool, Canadian night, they missed seeing a lone figure slip through the shadows. The low level precog, and sole survivor, wasn't stupid enough to confront five deadly assassins, especially after the dying thoughts and images from a certain telepath flooded into her mind. She considered herself rather fortunate that she was even present at all, considering she had only been sent to relay sensitive data to those in charge of the now burning compound. The information she now had was infinitely more valuable, and she knew it. Fleeing in the direction opposite to those who had just destroyed the complex, only one thing occupied her mind. Takatori Saijou will be very pleased at what I've learned, even at the cost of one of his footholds in North America. No sooner than she had that thought did a loud stream a German curses ring out into the night. She knew the telepath had discovered her, but at this point it didn't matter as she was too far away for them to find her before she could effectively escape. She did, however, better shield herself to ensure that they would not be able to find her should they decide to pursue her.

 

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“What the hell do you mean they know about Omi?!” Ran was furious; he wasn't the only one as everyone in the room was in an incredibly foul mood. The moment the strike team had returned Crawford had called everyone to the conference room. The fact that Schuldig had detected the presence of a survivor was not so much a big deal. What was pissing him of was the fact that this survivor had somehow discovered the one thing they didn't want revealed above all else.

 

“Exactly what it sounds like,” even Crawford's normally cool voice held a certain edge. “Schuldig detected an errant thought as we were leaving the site; he didn't particularly like what he heard and managed to find out what this person knew before they strengthened their shields.”

 

“They didn't know everything,” the telepath added, though his tone was still sour. “The fact that Omi is telekinetic is still safe.”

 

“Why didn't you kill this person before they could escape?” Yuushi questioned.

 

“We were too far away,” the German replied. “I was lucky to pick up anything at all… Just a random thought that was loud enough to be on the edge of my senses. That was the only reason I could even find out what they knew; I was able to latch on to it and trace it back to the mind it came from. I'm curious as to why I didn't pick anything up when I scanned the grounds before Naru set off the explosives.” No one had an answer to that. They had no way of knowing that the woman was unconscious - the dying telepath had nearly overloaded her synapses with his last act - until the noise of the explosions roused her, making her mentally invisible to Schuldig. They also couldn't have realized that she had somehow managed to make it safely to the edge of the complex before it went up in a blaze of glory, sparing her from almost certain death.

 

“We'll have to be more cautious from now on,” Kitada spoke up. “Takatori no doubt knows that his `grandson' is alive and with his enemies.” She paused to run a hand through her red locks in frustration, annoyed when she ran out of hair long before she expected to. “We're targets, more so now than we were before.”

 

“This really doesn't change anything, does it?” Aya, who had kept silent up to this point, asked. “What I mean to say is that we're still going to be going after Esset and Kritiker. They still don't know where we are… assuming the person who got away didn't manage to hide their mind from Schuldig.” Everyone turned to the telepath who gestured that he was sure that the survivor hadn't been able to hide anything from him. “Right, then,” the teen continued. “So we should continue carrying out our plans as if nothing's changed. Unless of course Crawford has seen something…” All eyes were on the American as they awaited his answer.

 

“I've been checking through every possibility,” he began. “And there are a few things that will change depending on who goes after Weiss.”

 

“We're not going to ask how things change,” Omi spoke up. “We know it's to our advantage to not know so that we don't second guess ourselves… Question every decision as if it might be the one that gets us all killed. If everyone agrees, though, I think it would be best if you chose which of us will be going on the next mission.” A cursory glance around the table told Crawford that everyone agreed with the archer's suggestion.

 

“Based on what I've seen,” the precog paused to check his visions one last time. “The most suitable team for this mission includes myself, Ran, Yuushi, Omi, Nanami and Schuldig.”

 

“That's one more than we originally agreed on,” Kitada commented. “Leaving only three of us here won't compromise our defense, will it?”

 

“No,” Crawford replied. “They don't have any clue as to where we are hiding. We've left absolutely no traces of our existence anywhere, and the identities we are currently living under will continue to mislead our enemies.”

 

“Do we know for certain that they won't be able to find just by looking tracing our financial transactions?” Yuushi questioned. “Or that we are nine, and we just happen to be living together won't make our location more to the obvious?”

 

“Our accounts are extremely secure,” Omi answered. “I have everything set up so that neither Esset nor Kritiker will ever notice any of their money is missing, and I've also made it so that the money can't be traced even as far as this continent should someone know where to look.” That satisfied the first part of the former Crasher's question. It was Schuldig who addressed his other concern.

 

“The person who escaped may have realized that we are after them and that Omi is one of us,” he stated, “but he or she only believes there to be four of us. Basically, they're under the false impression that only the surviving members of Weiss and Schwartz are involved.” He gave a characteristically cocky smile to the group as a whole. “We have the advantage here, even if they outnumber us five hundred to one because we know what we're doing better than any one of them could ever hope to.”

 

“Be that as it may,” Ran interjected. “We should remain cautious… Not become overconfident.” His words didn't wipe the look from the telepath's face; that was just how he was. Schuldig was well aware of the consequences should they get ahead of themselves, and he wouldn't do anything to compromise their safety. Not that Ran had meant the comment to be directed specifically at the golden-eyed man; he, much like Schuldig, was simply asserting his own nature - an overprotective assassin watching out for the people he considered family.

 

“I don't think we've ever been anything but cautious,” Naru quipped, “but, yeah. So when is the attack on Weiss going to happen?”

 

“We'll leave in exactly two weeks,” Crawford informed them. “It would be in our best interests to keep a low profile for the time being, but we can't wait too long, or it will be obvious that we're planning something.” It was set then; Weiss would go down in a matter of weeks, and if he had played everything correctly, they would be adding another member to their own ranks shortly thereafter. Of course, the dark haired American wouldn't say anything regarding that little fact until they saw the mission through.

 

 

TBC

End of chapter note: I gave Manx a haircut : ) Well, if you consider setting it on fire a haircut. Keep an eye out for the female precog in later chapters. She'll be back, and I plan on having lots of fun with that character (have no worries… she does not live in the ranks of Mary Sue).