Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ zelos ❯ revelations ( Chapter 21 )

Zelos

by Myka

Arc II - chapter 08

A/N: Many thanks to all who have taken those few extra minutes to review. Your comments always make my day.

Beta: naaha. Much thanks for her for being there until past three in the morning making the last few changes.

~~~

I end up at Schwarz's old home base. I don't know where else to look.

As I walk up to the building I notice a sign: its demolition is scheduled for tomorrow. "How ironic," I think as I jump over the security fence, keeping an eye out for security cameras. I avoid the alley like the plague. I don't think I can handle having a flashback of that night right now; just thinking about it makes my scar hurt, especially after that nightmare. I head straight into the building, and into what used to be Schuldig's room. The place is untouched. Everything is as I remember it, and before I know it I'm sitting on the bed just staring off into space. I can't help it.

I take the picture from my pocket and look at it. I tell myself not to cry, but the pain I feel is constant, right in my chest over my heart. The phrase 'you don't know what you've got until it's gone' rings in my ears. I remind myself that Schuldig was stolen from me and that I won't rest until he's back in my arms.

I chuckle, the sound of my voice echoing around the empty room. Schuldig would be laughing right now if he heard my 'mushy thoughts' as he calls them.

I lose track of time, then suddenly I jump when I hear a ring. My cell-phone, I had almost forgotten that I had brought it with me. I put the picture back inside my pocket and answer.

"Yohji, where are you?" Omi speaks a little frantically from the other side.

I take a deep breath and answer. "I couldn't stay there, Omitchi, I hope you understand." He starts scolding me some more, then I hear a sharp intake of breath as he calms his nerves.

"Where are you?" he asks again.

I don't have the strength to lie. "Schwarz's old home base."

"I should've known," he mumbles. "I told you to stay in your room, Yohji."

"I didn't feel like it," I bite back, losing my patience. "Is there a point to this phone call at all, Omi?"

I hear another deep breath. "I know where Schuldig is."

I jump from the bed. "What?! Kritiker caved in?"

"No…" he pauses. "We need to talk in person, Yohji. Go to this address." He dictates an address and I memorize it; it's a hotel. I knew the place; it's a little bit secluded, excellent for a secret meeting. "Room 106, Yohji, half an hour." I hear a 'click' then run out of the room.

I arrive at the hotel twenty five minutes after Omi's phone call. I cross the lobby and go up the stairs two at a time. The floor seems empty and I walk calmly down the carpeted hall and stop in front of room 106. I raise my hand to knock when I hear voices. I freeze and listen. There is more than one person inside the room. I look at the door number once more, making sure is the one Omi had recited to me. It is.

The two voices talk again and I feel a sense of doubt and foreboding immediately. I think of the words: trap, deceit and mistrust. I am five minutes early to the 'meeting.' I start retreating when I hear a scream, followed by a "NONONONONO!" It's Omi's voice. I throw my body against the door without thinking twice about it, my senses on full alert.

"Omi?" I yell, then I stop and gape. Omi blinks at me from the bed he's sitting on, a surprised look on his face. Nagi is sitting beside him, there's fright in his eyes. Their shoulders are touching and there's a small laptop on the younger teen's lap.

"Yohji-kun, you're early," Omi speaks comfortably, rising from the bed. His eyes shift to their usual pleasantness and I notice that Nagi's anxious eyes follow him. I startled him-them-with my sudden entrance. Omi seems to notice this and lays a hand on Nagi's shoulder in a comforting manner. There's a silent exchange between them and the younger assassin calms, his body language relaxing.

I close the door behind me as I apologize for bursting into the room. "But what was that scream about?" I ask.

"Bad computer code," Omi offers; he knows I wouldn't understand him getting all technical. I give him a thumbs-up. It is a double bed room; Omi sits beside Nagi once more, this time putting more distance between them. I sit across from them. The rush from my bursting in the room lessens and I finally remember the reason I'm here.

"Where is Schuldig, Omi?" I ask without hesitation. "And how did you get Kritiker to find out for you?"

"Kritiker still refuses to help, Yohji," he answers softly.

"Then how…?" I start, when the answer is right in my face. "Nagi," I mutter.

Omi nods. "Nagi contacted me earlier this evening."

"Contacted?" I wonder. Then it dawns on me. "You exchanged contact info?!" I yell. I calculate in my head the day Nagi saw me on the street and subsequently Schuldig: around two weeks ago. They've been in contact for half a month. Omi seems taken slightly aback by my reaction and Nagi seems smaller and more fragile than before. The kid had the defenseless act down to an art, but I knew better. I've seen him during mission, the cold and calculating appearance. I've also learned not to judge a book by its cover. But I don't know Nagi well enough to build an honest opinion about him. The only thing I have is Schuldig's word that he trusted the young telekinetic.

Nagi quickly recomposes himself and speaks. "I never knew you were so… explosive in your reactions, Balinese."

"Eh…?"

"You remind me of Schuldig," he finishes with a small smile.

I spare a glance at Omi; he is staring at Nagi with bewildered eyes. The word 'cute' comes to mind, but I know what these 'children' are capable of, so 'cute' is not the word I should be using. But looking at them, I couldn't help myself.

"Have you been seeing each other?" I blurt out before I realize it and both teens' cheeks gain a tone of pink. Then they both go, "Eh?" at the same time and turn towards me: Omi's blue eyes surprised yet confident, Nagi's slightly darker eyes a little self-conscious.

"We have been talking to each other," Omi clarifies. "Not 'seeing', as you put it."

"But you're friends now?" I just seem unable to keep my mouth shut.

The teens look at each other again; they seem to be doing that a lot. "Are we?" Omi asks Nagi.

Nagi returns the look with his dark blue orbs and I disappear from the room. I see it in their eyes, the look you get when you stare into someone's eyes and everything vanishes except you and that person. "I think we are…I would like that," he responds with another smile.

Omi returns it with one of his own. "Ok," he answers simply.

I don't say anything, partially because I'm not sure what is really going on between them, and partially because it isn't my place to butt in. Schwarz was already broken because of Schuldig's departure and now Nagi seems to be heading down the same road. I'm not really sure what it means, or if there could be a 'in-between' where everyone could be happy. I fear the consequences of this friendship and what it might do to both of them. Yet I still think there could be something special there. Love can grow out of hatred. Heh! I'm living proof. I can't recall ever hating Schuldig, not anymore at least. I probably did though. Yeah…a year ago I hated him. Then things happened and now I can't see a future where he's not in it. Every word, every touch, every look just makes my world better and makes me glad to be alive.

"I hate to interrupt you lovebirds, but I need whatever information Nagi has if I want to rescue my own lovebird," I say lightheartedly.

This startles them and Nagi types something on his laptop. "Sorry, Balinese," he says, his voice suddenly controlled as if this was a mission briefing. He types again on the small computer, "Schuldig is at a building near the docks; if I remember correctly we had an encounter there one night."

"I remember," I voice calmly, keeping my tension to a minimum. Now is the time to listen.

Nagi nods once. "I don't know what they're up to or what they're doing to him. But…" He stops, his eyes wander for a second and when he returns his gaze to me he looks like the child he truly is. "But I'm afraid of what they're doing to him. Brad… Brad said something about testing him. I don't know what he meant." He almost breaks down after that. So Nagi is really worried about Schuldig's well being.

Omi slides closer to him and puts an arm over his shoulders. "It's ok, Nagi. It'll be all right," he says in a soothing voice.

I want to believe Omi's words too, but Nagi's keep resonating in my head.

"I'm really sorry all this happened, it's all my fault," Nagi sobs suddenly.

"It isn't your fault…" I start to say, but Nagi interrupts me.

"I was the one that told Esset where Schuldig was."

I hear the words and just stop. A cold chill runs down my spine and I can see Omi is as shocked as I am by the revelation. I try to suppress my anger towards the young telekinetic, but it is impossible.

"You told?" I ask in a bitter voice, as my heart starts to race. "You told and that's why they came and took him?"

Omi slowly starts removing his arm from Nagi's shoulders; there is a slight second when I can see Nagi's eyes brimming with a silent panic. He throws himself at Omi, wrapping his arms around Omi's waist and resting his head on Omi's shoulder. "They made me…they said that…I'm so sorry, Omi."

Omi seems to hesitate, then gradually wraps his arms behind Nagi's back and speaks softly into his ear, trying to calm the telekinetic's quiet sobbing. Omi raises his head towards me, his blue eyes speaking. "Please don't be mad at Nagi."

I watch them hold each other and wonder how frequently they have been in contact with each other to get this close in such a short period of time. But once again it isn't my place to talk. I had fallen in love with Schuldig in less than two months after all. Not that I believed Omi and Nagi shared those sort of feelings for each other.

When Nagi's sobbing stops I stand up. "What building is Schuldig in, Nagi?" He stares at me for what seems like forever, then he swallows hard and tells me.

"You're not going there without backup, Yohji," Omi warns, still holding Nagi close to him. "I'm calling Ken and Aya." For some reason I feel nothing when my teammates' names are mentioned. Probably the result of their animosity towards me and Schuldig.

"You do that, Omitchi, and afterwards you can catch up to me," I say calmly, going for the door.

"Yohji!" Omi yells after me and starts to stand when Nagi grabs his arm, turning his blue eyes to me.

"There is a hidden duct on the third floor," Nagi says. "You'll end up in a hall, there's a camera monitoring that hall. The building is mostly empty, except for a few guards. Farfarello and Brad are also there."

I look at my watch. "It's five past nine, Omi. I'm going inside the building at ten."

"That's less than an hour, Yohji!" Omi yells.

"I trust you, Omi. You get Ken and Aya and I'll wait for you there."

I go to the door. An hour. Knowing my teammates, it is more than enough time for them to come and aid me-if they chose to do so. I need to know for myself how my family really feels about Schuldig and our relationship. This is my own test.

When I replace the warmth of the room with the chill of the night, Nagi is still holding strongly to Omi's arm.

~~~

I arrive at the docks twenty minutes after leaving the hotel. I find the building easily and inspect it quickly. I find the duct Nagi had told me about and do a check around the building, taking notice that there are no guards visible around the building. I check my watch: ten minutes till ten. I sit on the roof of the building, planning a course of action.

If Omi, Aya and Ken don't show up then I am going in alone. And a solo mission in a place like this is pretty much suicidal; I know it and my teammates know it. I hate having to make this ultimatum to them, but what other choice do I have? I need their help. I can't even delude myself into believing that I can rescue Schuldig alone.

Which runs into another problem: Nagi. I'm doing this based on the information he gave me. Nagi is still Schwarz. I still have to assume that this is a trap. Nagi's emotions seemed genuine earlier: the doubt in his eyes, his fear of being rejected, whatever affection he has for Omi. But this is the only choice I have, my only lead to where Schuldig is. My only chance to get him back. I need to believe he's here and alive. Because if he isn't…

If Schuldig is dead I don't know if I'll have the strength to go on. If they capture me, put a gun to my head and show me he's dead-if that happens I don't think I will care much if they pull the trigger.

But I believe he's alive; something tells me he is alive.

"Yohji-kun?"

I raise my head and blink softly at Omi. "Omitchi…" He is alone. I feel a knot in my throat at that. I uncurl my knees from my body and stand. "Thanks for coming, Omi," I say. "Where's Na…" Omi quickly puts a finger to his lips in a sign for me to shut my mouth.

"Don't start planning without us," Ken says as he appears from the ladder that leads up to the roof. Aya is behind him.

It is pure relief seeing my teammates there, all of them. I can't even hide the delight from my face. "You came…all of you…" Omi puts a hand on my arm.

"Shame on you, Yohji," Ken says as he gets closer. "I bet you thought we weren't coming."

"They way I've been treated recently…yes, I thought you weren't coming. But I'm glad you did. Thank you."

"We're sorry about yesterday, Yohji," Ken adds. "It's just they told us to tell you and we just didn't know how. I guess we really blew it."

"You weren't the subtlest bunch, I tell you that," I reply with a smile. Ken just nods and smiles back.

"Didn't you say you were going inside the building at ten?" Aya interrupts. I exchange a glance with Aya and nod once, instantly placing my game face on. "Yes." I answer.