VII. Setting the Crystal

"Ouka died in childbirth, two months ago? Explain this to me!" Omi yelled into the phone.

Ran didn't know who it was on the other side of the conversation but his best bet would be Manx, the Weiß contact. He and the other Weiß were tense upon overhearing the one-sided tirade. It wasn't only Omi who had cared for the perky brunette since she and Sakura were the only ones outside of Kritiker that Weiß associated with. They saw Ouka as their little sister. And Ran? Ran loved her once…

Once? Once was enough. But that wasn't what you meant didn't you?

Turning away from the unwelcome thoughts came with it. Thoughts that he had tried to erase ever since he had tried to run away from Schwartz those months ago, thoughts that centered on Crawford and their twisted relationship. It was obvious that the man still had some feelings of ownership over him and still there were his own feelings for the man. He never tried to figure it out. He had panicked and now he realized that all he did was run blindly away from whatever they had. Nothing had been resolved, just postponed. It will come to head some time and when that time comes it wasn't going to be pretty. Guilt piled up and threatened to overwhelm him, he had been so happy with Weiß this past few months.

"Who's the father?" Omi said savagely at the phone. His tone was only remotely similar to his usual genki tone and Ran didn't blame him. Ran didn't even need to extend his Gift to see the younger man's rage. It was bright red and crackling around him.

I'd like to get a crack at the bastard myself. Wait a moment…two months…two months…

Ran begun to count the days since he had been with Ouka in that little apartment.

It could be…No, it must be. Ouka's not that kind of girl to…I…it's all my fault, I killed her…as surely as if I've used my katana on her…*

Ran had been thoroughly carried away by the moment then, forgetting everything including protecting his Ouka and this was the result. Sometimes he wondered if it was just him or was is that the world seemed to be bent on killing all his love ones…

First my parents, then Aya-chan, now Ouka…it must be fate…might as well 'fess up before they get wise…

"Uh, Omi, I…"

"What?" Omi said impatiently as he halted in mid-harangue to speak to Ran. Clearly this wasn't the best time but what time would be to tell your fellow assassin that you were responsible for his sister's death? The red rage was there, oppressively heavy like ozone before a lightning strike, it almost made Ran cringe.

Partly responsible, she wanted it too you know. Cold comfort when they come after me with their weapons… Well I still have to do it. They've accepted me as a teammate in good faith, which is more than I could say of myself.

"I…"

"Spit it out, Ran-kun!"

"I'm responsible."

Dumbstruck, the rest of his teammates stared at him.

"Let me get this straight. You got Ouka pregnant and left her…" Youji's drawling voice had a dangerous edge to it.

"You bastard!" Omi said launching himself at Ran.

This finally snapped Ken out of his astonished reverie…

***

"Whoa! Let him tell us his side of the story first!" Ken said as he came out of his amazement. He grabbed his smaller teammate as he attempted to strangle the life out of the redhead.

"But he, Ken-kun…"

"Kenken, don't be so biased in his favor just because you like to get into his pants…"

"Youji!" Ken was blushing enough to make a tomato envious.

"It's so obvious. By the way you were making sheep's eyes at him."

"It's not the point." Ken said struggling with his embarrassment as well as Omi's energetic movements.

"What he did to Ouka-chan was inexcusable!" Youji said for both of them since Omi was rendered mute by his rage.

Ran just bowed his head at this. He seemed to agree. Ken couldn't reconcile the thoughtful and almost asexual being he had known to the inconsiderate cad who left Ouka-chan to bear with the shame of bearing an illegitimate child. Nor could it be rape or unwilling seduction as the redhead experienced the latter and wouldn’t foist such a thing on another. Besides wasn't Ran attached to Crawford…?

It must have been a mutual affair and as such the blame is equally shared… Say that to yourself again Hidaka maybe you'll believe yourself… I do believe it. He is a good person underneath the Schwartz conditioning. Just a mite bit selfish but who isn't?

"Aren't you even interested in his reasons? We have been teammates and friends these past few months." Ken replied.

"Reasons! what could he…?" Youji started to say but was interrupted by Omi.

"I hate to admit it but Ken-kun is right. We must listen first to Ran-kun's reasons before condemning him." Omi said in a thoughtful tone.

"So Ran start a beginning…"

***

"So what happened after that?" It wasn't a question it was a demand, Youji's tone had lost all of its drawl and usual languor.

"Hn."

"That's all?" Omi asked belligerently. The rage was now a palpable cloud around him, the red so dark that it was almost black and the crackling an almost constant static at Ran's Gift, all the more painful for the fact that it was directed at him and Youji only a little bit less angry. As it was only Ken was rational and he was a whirl of confused emotions, blue-white hot surprise mingling in with other less defined emotions. The pressure was painful in the wake of Ran's black guilt.

"…"

"That's all you can say?" Even Ken was astonished by the sheer callousness of the way Ran had left Ouka to fend for herself after leaving her in the hospital.

How can he have done that to the poor girl? Granted that he couldn't risk making love to her again but still…

"It was all I could do. After that I had been too incapacitated with grief…Then I was busy with Schwartz matters…"

"Schwartz matters! Schwartz matters! What could be more important than the woman you professed to love!" Omi was definitely working himself to a frothing rage over this.

"Yes, what matters?" Silken venom filled Youji's voice.

"Personal." Ran glared as he said this. Plainly he wasn't going to say anything more, as he stalked out of the impromptu gathering and went upstairs to his room to close the door.

"We will find out about the details anyway from Sakura. Besides I think Ran really thought that what was best for her considering the situation and the limited time window. I don't think you'd appreciate it if Ouka came into the attention of Schwartz yet again." Ken said trying to placate the rest of the team.

Ken had an inkling of what that "personal matters" meant from his talks with the silent redhead and guessed it must have something to with Crawford. He seethed again for the time lost by his friend. The precog could be very possessive as Ken saw and that probably contributed to the redhead's reluctance to meet with Ouka. The girl had no ability to defend herself against attack by an assassin if it came to that. Not that the others needed to know from him, that would surely lose the trust Ran had given him.

***

Ran looked at the ceiling through a haze of tears. His head absently pillowed by his arms.

Weiß was right. Ran was wrong.

I shouldn't have had left Ouka to muddle through the remains of our relationship alone. Maybe I should have married her after all, if only for the baby's sake.

Now as before, Ran's conservative upbringing was warring with his logic.

No, that would be lying and potentially dangerous situation. Rationalizing the lengthening of our relationship and inevitable death that will follow.

Ran knew there wasn't much he could have done yet his current teammates' accusation hurt because it accentuated his own guilt. He should have done more. Damn it! He could have at least talked to here after… But he didn't… And here he was. He knew he might have lost what he had with Weiß but at the time he didn't see what he could have done otherwise. Looking at the wreckage of his life, Ran wondered when all would ever be right again.

***

"Ran are you all right in there?" Ken asked knocking on the door, diffidently. He guessed that he had given the redhead enough time to brood it over it. He knew the latter was drowning himself in self-recriminations for what happened.

"Is it okay for me to come in?" Ken said when there wasn't a response. He took the silence that also answered this query as a yes. Carefully, he turned the doorknob and entered the room.

Ran was lying on the bed with his arms under his head staring up at nothing. It looked like the other man had been in that position for a long period of time. Tears made tracks on those pale cheeks.

Ken sighed.

He's blaming himself again… He should stop that. He's got enough on his plate without taking anymore burdens…

"I believe you, I believe that you did what was best for Ouka-chan at that time." Ken said as he sat by Ran's feet.

"I should have done something more."

"Yes, maybe you should have but that's not the issue. What's done is done, you couldn't have anticipated any of this."

"Hn." Ran said the monosyllable with a thoughtful air.

Ken stayed for a few more minutes but that was all he got out of Ran. Unsatisfied, he got out to his own room to change clothes.

I hope he's thinking what I said over and stop hitting himself over the head for past actions…

***

"…Ouka-chan was having an easy time of it really. We don't know what went wrong except that she begun to panic and scream when the contractions became more pronounced, then she died and her daughter with her." Sakura said, sighing heavily. She really didn't want to be the one to inform the Weiß about Ouka's end nor did she relish the anguished expression on Ran's face as much as she thought she would.

He looks like he's been to hell and back with that expression. Ouka did hint that he had some troubles with Schwartz… He does seem to love her besides he isn't really evil unlike those others in Schwartz…

The last thought surprised Sakura but then it wasn't really unexpected considering that in the times she had gone to hang out with Weiß. Ran had been a silent but kind presence, always willing to take on more duties to give Sakura and Youji the extra time they needed for their relationship. He never chided her either for being a nuisance unlike Ken and Omi who did so, albeit in a half-teasing manner.

She shifted on the couch uneasily waiting for the other shoe to fall. Beside her, Youji tightened his hand around hers in reassurance. They were all sitting in the living room of Weiß current safe house where Manx usually brought the guys their missions. She was especially uneasy of Ran who was sitting across her. His intense stare didn't help matters any.

***

"Could you tell us in a more detailed manner what happened? Time and all." Ran asked. For some reason, Sakura's narrative struck a suspicious chord within his consciousness. He didn't know what it was except that it insisted that there was something wrong.

Something's not right…

"Well, Manx phoned me about 8:30 p.m. to tell me that Ouka-chan was going into labor…"

"Not about that. When Ouka was in labor, the last few moments starting when it started to become difficult." Ran tried to smile to try to take the edge off his voice.

Youji glared at him protectively for snapping so at Sakura. Ran didn't blame him.

"Ouka was screaming in pain and fear then it was over, the baby was out and the doctor proclaimed it a still birth and Ouka was dead."

There was anxiety there, fright and concern… What's wrong with that… More fright than anything else and it's not directed at the birth… Hmmm… Not blood…and the memory's blocked…it could be that it was too frightening? But no, Sakura has seen violent things that could be as violent if not more than childbirth. She had witnessed at least one target being taken out. Could it be…?

"Did you see Ouka take her last breath?"

"Yes."

"Did you see the baby come out?"

"Now, Abyssinian, this is taking it too far…" Youji put a protective arm around his girlfriend shoulder. Irritation emanated out of the elder Weiß.

"No let him continue." Ken said. Trust was there, soothingly cool like water against all the blatant heat of anger and tension in the room.

"Yes, let him, I want to hear this too." Omi seconded. The little blonde looked like he knew what Ran was about. His anger was being preempted by a dispassionate curiosity.

"Did you see the baby come out?" Ran repeated the question.

"Yes."

"Can you describe how it was."

"Yes…no…but I must have seen it…I was there…"

Ran continued his questioning establishing the time frame of the memory lapse and distress patterns. The answers that came made him more and more uneasy until finally he sighed and leaned back on his couch.

I don't like the way this sounds at all… The time lapse is enough, barely enough granted that…

"And what did that prove?" Youji said giving everyone an evil glare, cradling Sakura to assure her. Red anger rousing again at this inquisition.

"Later…" Ran said warningly.

Youji glared but took the hint. He took Sakura who looked vaguely distressed home to her hotel.

***

"So what was that all about?" Youji asked though Omi looked grim enough to seem to guess what Ran had hinted at to make him regulate his voice a bit.

"Schwartz, probably Schuldich killed Ouka and replaced the baby. She has a few minutes memory lapse with high anxiety and fear patterns not related to the birth. If we ask the attending doctor and nurse we will probably get the same result." Ran said, wishing he'd awaken from this nightmare.

"That would be hard to prove…" Omi said carefully.

"Oh it would be easy enough to prove. I need to interview the attending doctor and nurse or nurses."

Though the rest of Weiß were skeptical at Ran's assertions, they decided to do as he had bid. Ran knew what his teammates were best capable of. There was an innocent at stake. They managed to get an interview with the attending doctor and nurse that night via Manx…

***

"There is no doubt, somebody tampered with their memories." Ran rubbed his temples as he and the rest of the Weiß came out of the hospital building.

Omi looked somewhat sickened but nodded, his anger was dampening to a more greenish concern tinge, the tactician knew most of all what Schwartz was capable of and how they thought.

"Then we have to get the baby back!" Ken said.

But how we are to accomplish that feat is beyond me… Besides what would Crawford want to do with a harmless babe…it's better not to dwell on that…it's not made for pleasant speculation…
 
 

***

The Weiß was inspected for weapons before being let into the rendezvous point here at the top of the building. A helicopter was parked on the heliport. Both Schuldich and Farfarello who had processed and lead them to this point had also gone to flank Crawford who leaned upon the 'copter's entrance, Nagi holding the precious red haired bundle was sitting inside. The combined light of the stars and the moon frosted the scene making it almost alien in its deadly beauty.

I hope this isn't an omen or anything… Oh come on, Abyssinian you shouldn't be so superstitious, besides leave the predictions to Oracle, he's the precog…

"What do you want in exchange for my daughter?" Ran said into the silence.

"Daughter? You don't even know the real sex of the child." Crawford said, taking a few steps closer to Ran.

"Son then." Ran growled. He dearly wanted his katana.

"I want you to come on home. You're Schwartz and always been, you belong with us not with Weiß…" The American purred in a dangerous low tone he continue to stalk. And then, suddenly, he gathered Ran into a tight embrace and kissed him hard on the lips.

Ran found his mouth invaded by Crawford's tongue assaulting his senses, tasting of sweet dreamless darkness. For a moment, it seemed as if time stood still and they froze like that the kisser and the being kissed, then Ran broke loose trembling with rage or so he tried to tell himself.

Kisama, I should have figure he would have tried that… I was too surprised to act… Keep telling yourself that Abyssinian maybe you'll believe it… What else can it be? Well, for a moment there, you seem to have enjoyed yourself. Shut up! I don't feel that way about Crawford of all people… They're certainly not taking it well…

Both Balinese and Bombay were looking the part of two stranded fishes. Their wide-open mouths could have caught a dozen flies each. Ken on the other hand was clenching his fists in rage. Maybe Ran should talk to his friend about that. Coming in between all of Schwartz and him was not a good idea. It could get the latter killed.

I don't want you to die you stubborn idiot… Not for me, not for some soiled whore-assassin who has very little to live for anymore…

"That's what you say! Give my son back to me, why did you let Schuldich kill Ouka? She wasn't in your way."

"Schuldich didn't kill the brat's mother, only take him. You'll know it if you'd think with half a brain. Besides technically, under the law, he's my son."

"What do you want with him anyway?" Ran gritted his teeth. If he knew what Crawford wanted maybe, maybe, if he could find out what it was he might be able to give it in exchange for the baby.

"We will be his family, his only family and he will be trained as an assassin to replace his biological father. Starting out in life by killing his mother…What an assassin he will make." Crawford said in a bland voice that carried a hidden edge.

"Crawford…"

"You will come back with us." It was an ultimatum. Oracle was now walking back to the 'copter, confident that Ran would follow.

Ran only nodded in acquiescence. The Weiß wouldn't be able to fight Schwartz without their weapons. Besides being unable to find them if they gone to ground as they must with someone relatively weak as the baby in their midst.

This is the only way. I can't involve Weiß in this. They have been such good friends to me in their own way. They gave me somewhere to belong… I have enough guilt on my soul without getting them killed for my sake… With me in Schwartz, I can give my son all the attention and may find an opportunity to get him away some other time without risking my friends… Yes that's what I must do… I'm sorry everyone, Youji and Omi will certainly misunderstand this. I'm especially sorry, Ken, but I can't be what you want me to be…

The helicopter's blades started to whirl in preparation for takeoff.

***

"No, he's not going back with you. Not now, not ever." Ken shouted breaking the surprised silence of Weiß.

"I have to go." Ran said resignedly. His eyes looked much older than his twenty-something years.

And even if Ken had no knowledge of what Ran had suffered under the precog he would have objected, if only for this. Those purple eyes looked so beaten that they grappled at his heartstrings.

Crawford will not have Ran back to play and twist to his perversions… Not while I'm here to say something about it…

"Ken, we can't fight them, they made sure of that. Besides, he is one of them." The condemnation in Youji's voice was strong enough to be heard over the rising wind.

"No he isn't. He's turned from them. Abyssinian is ours." Ken swooped in on Ran before he could go another step, holding him tightly around his waist. He wasn't going to let go.

He deserves better than to be Crawford's toy. He deserves someone who really cares. Who cares if we can't sleep together? I don't care as long as we can be together in Weiß… Besides I think we can find a way…

"Balinese is right, we shouldn't have trusted him in the first place." Omi's voice dripped icicles.

Plainly both deduced from Ran's hesitance to get out of Crawford's embrace that Ran had belonged to Crawford in everything, love and loyalty. That Ran had done to Ouka was in line with some Schwartz purpose. Hell! They probably thought that the empath had been sent to Weiß to spy on them and this charade was for their benefit. Not really surprising since Ran wasn't sure of his feelings for the cruel American.

"Ken, let go."

"Ran's not going back to that monster. I'm not letting that pervert's claws back into Ran. Crawford's been manipulating him for this long using one thing or the other… Now, he's trying to turn us against Ran. No way." Ken ignored Ran's protest for addressing the immediate problem within their team. He glared at Youji and Omi who averted their gazes.

"In any case, we have no choice in the matter." Youji temporized as he saw Crawford pull up short of the 'copter, Schuldich and Farfarello had already boarded but then the Schwartz were armed with guns.

Before Omi or Youji could say another thing to persuade Ken off his foolhardy path, the issue was decided as Ran managed to detach himself away from Ken and rushed to the waiting helicopter. He was bounding into the hold of the vehicle.

"Ran, get back here!" Ken was not about to let the redhead, he cared for, no loved, just waltz out of his life. He followed in a dead run.

Goodbye and have a good life while I go off into the sunset with my abusive boyfriend, hell! Ran I thought you thought better of me than that…

Crawford waited until Ran was totally inside the 'copter before boarding it. He turned and drew his gun from his shoulder holster. As the 'copter rose into the night sky, he took aim at Ken and shot at him.

~TBC~

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