Crawford spun aside, narrowly missing the sweep of Aya’s katana, struggling not to become so engrossed in the beauty of the man, his grace that he slipped up and let the blade tag him.
But with the raging erection straining his trousers it was difficult.
“YAIYAIYAI!” Farfarello’s scream rang in the air, the Berserker taking Yohji’s wires around his arm and pulling hard enough that the blonde killer was nearly taken off his feet.
Fire licked out, melted the wires, freeing both men. “GO YOHJI!” Ken bellowed as Zeshin came at him, the boy moving fast, naginata high.
Schuldig had to jump as high and as fast as he could to avoid Kai’s twirling sai and he was beginning to tire from the effort.
Nagi and Aya-chan watched the chaos in the back yard from the safety of the veranda, Nagi wincing and occasionally tutting to himself at a particularly rash move by any of the others.
*Vater, can we take a break yet? I’m exhausted.* Schuldig’s whine came across the link.
*No! Do you think Rosenkruez will let you sit down and catch your breath?* was the reply from the American.
The distraction proved his downfall, the sting of the katana biting the skin across his shoulder telling him he’d be dead had the attack been meant to kill.
Aya frowned at him, wondering why he had finally scored a hit when he hadn’t managed it all morning.
Nagi had finally had enough of Ken’s rashness and, lifting Zeshin into the air put him down across the yard, well away from his idiot lover.
Kai meanwhile darted in and touched a sai to Schuldig’s throat.
Ken just shook his head, “What was that for?” he asked Nagi. “We were doing fine.”
Zeshin, feeling somewhat like a chess piece removed from the game examined a set of gaping cuts in his shirt. Ken’s bugnucks had gotten very close.
“STOP!” Brad shouted as Farfarello tackled Yohji, taking the blonde to the ground hard enough to knock the wind out of him.
The silence was punctuated only by the sounds of heavy breathing as they all fought to catch their breath again.
Nagi stepped off the veranda and crossed the yard to stare into Ken’s face. “You were concentrating too hard on Farf and Yohji’s fight and let Zeshin get behind you. Do that in a real fight and you’re history. I thought you knew better than that!”
Ken gave Nagi a sheepish grin, “I forgot he wasn’t on my team,” he admitted. He wiped sweat from his face, “And that’s not going to be an issue when we’re fighting Rosenkruez, is it?”
Brad frowned and touched the cut that was spilling blood down his shoulder. It wasn’t deep, but it did sting. “You could have had me that time,” he remarked to Aya.
Farfarello got to his feet and reached a hand out to Kudoh who took it and let the Irishman help him up. He was winded, breathing hard, and not just from having the shit knocked out of him when he’d been tackled.
He started coughing, and blinked in surprise when Berserker reached into his pocket and took away the cigarillos. “Hey...” he wheezed, “those... are...”
“Bad for you,” Farfarello said.
Schuldig grimaced. If Farf was going on one of his no smoking kicks, Yohji and he were in for a rough time. Then he saw Aya grin at Farfarello and he knew they were doomed.
Brad looked at Yohji, “Kudoh, the only thing standing between you and lung cancer is Kai. Don’t you think it’s a bit selfish of you to demand so much work from him?”
Then he levelled his gaze on Schuldig, “Both of you get winded too fast.” He held his hand out to Schuldig, “Hand them over.”
“Oh... come... on,” Yohji panted.
Ken sighed, “Give it up, Yohji. We outnumber you.”
“Fuck you... Kenken.”
Ken smirked, winked at Nagi then quipped, “I don’t think Nagi would like that, Yohji. Besides, at your age, and in your condition I doubt you have the stamina.”
“If Nagi wasn’t... standing there... guarding your ass...”
Ken smiled sweetly, “What? You’d wheeze me to death?”
Yohji glared. “Keep it up...”
Ken burst out laughing, “Oh but I do!”
There was a breathless snicker from Aya and a decided snort from Nagi.
Schuldig sighed and handed over his cigarillos. There was absolutely no point in arguing at this moment. Besides, he and Yohji could always sneak away for a quiet smoke from time to time.
Aya-chan came to join them then bearing a tray of tea and coffee. “Having seen all that,” she said, “I think I’ll try a gun.”
Brad actually laughed at her comment, patting the girl on the shoulder in a fatherly gesture that left Yohji and Ken staring in shock, and brought a confused look to Zeshin’s face.
Berserker grinned and offered his arm to Yohji, “Lean on me old man, I’ll help you to your rocker on the porch.
Brad almost choked as Balinese leaned like a geriatric case on Farfarello’s arm and started to shuffle along, “Damned whippersnappers these days..” he muttered.
He took a cup of the coffee and said, “As soon as we get back to our time, I’ll get you a light pistol and we can start practicing. Well...” he frowned, “right after we kill Terror. That is number one on our agenda.”
“So you’re saying we escaped Terror just to put the fight off?” Schuldig demanded.
Aya nodded as he took a cup of tea. “It has to be that way or we create far too many paradoxes. We cannot be in two places at one ‘time’ so I can’t take us anywhere but where we were. Sorry Schu.”
“Can we beat them now?” Kai asked.
“Not if this morning’s fiasco is anything to go by,” Aya retorted.
Yohji let Farfarello go and coughed, shook his head, spit and frowned starting to think that the Irishman and Crawford were right. He did need to quit.
He took a cup of tea frowned and wished it was beer.
“Oh, I wouldn’t call it a fiasco,” Brad remarked. “I’d call it a success really.” He touched the blood soaking his shirt, “You’ve never gotten me before, though,” he glanced at Schuldig, “I was distracted by someone’s whining.”
“I guessed as much,” Aya said. “I could have frozen you in time but then I couldn’t touch you so I’m not certain how my power can aid me in a fight.”
“By letting us get the drop on our enemies,” Brad responded. “And if you hold even a few of them when we are fighting a group it will give the rest of us a chance to take down the agents we are battling. It changes the odds.”
Farfarello had an odd glint in eye as he turned to Aya, “You can stop them in time, right?”
Aya nodded his answer to Farfarello‘s question. Brad’s idea made sense and that in turn made him feel more useful. He smiled as he caught the look of dismay on Schuldig’s face when he realised he had to drink his coffee with no accompanying smoke.
“You can also take someone ahead in time by a fraction of a second or a minute or whatever, correct?” the Irishman asked.
Now Ken, Zeshin and Yohji were all watching Farfarello, as was Crawford, but the American’s expression was one of satisfaction, as if he’d been waiting for something all along.
“Yes,” Aya said, not quite sure as to where Farfarello was going with this. But if anyone could work out a way to use a talent for fighting he could.
The Berserker appeared to be working something out in his head. “I want you to stop someone who is motion, running preferably, or moving at combat speed. Stop them and then hold them in place.”
Ken nodded, “Okay, I’ll be the guinea pig.”
Suddenly realising what Farfarello was trying to get at, Aya grinned. “Okay, Ken, start moving.”
Ken ran at Farfarello, bugnucks clicking into full extension.
Aya froze time for Ken, effectively bringing him to a halt although he appeared to be in full flight.
Farfarello grinned, “Now I’m going to run toward him, speed up time for me slightly and then let us both go.”
Farfarello leapt forward.
“Don’t kill him,” Nagi called to Farfarello as Aya released Ken and compressed time for Berserker.
Farfarello just grinned.
The pair of men collided, Ken going down in a heap of flailing limbs, Farfarello spinning around to land on Ken’s chest with his Bowie knife at the brunet’s throat.
“Damn...” Yohji breathed.
Brad just stood there smiling like a proud father. “Excellent,” he said and turned to Aya, “Do you still think your power is of no use?”
“I just needed someone to work it out for me,” Aya said with a smile. “I should have seen it for myself but Farf beat me to it.” He grinned at the Irishman. “Well done but could you let Ken up now?”
“But I like having attractive men under me, and Kudoh keeps running away,” Farfarello said, licking his lips suggestively then grinning like a fiend before he rose off of Ken laughing.
Brad stood surrounded by his team, his family, hearing laughter seeing smiles. So much had changed since the death of the Elders.
Once Rosenkruez was gone, once Takatori Mamoru had paid for his crimes...
Soon. But not soon enough to suit him. He slipped an arm around Abyssinian, gave him a quick kiss. “We’re done everyone. Go get cleaned up and packed because we leave in the morning.”
* * * * * * *
Aya looked down at the small bag at his feet. It wasn’t a lot to show for an adult life spent in the killing game. There was more in Bangkok but only another suitcase full. He smiled to himself. Everything that mattered to him was right here. Yohji, his sister, Kai, Brad and the rest of Schwarz, his katana, a six shooter and the yellow duster coat that he’d grown rather attached to.
He glanced up to see if Yohji was anything like ready yet and that reminded him of something he wanted to say. “Don’t force energy on me this time, Yotan. Just let me take as much as I need. We‘re not in a hurry and you‘ll need your strength at the other end.”
The blonde nodded, “Well maybe Schuldig won’t be screaming inside my head this time either,” he replied as he studied the clothing lying on the bed. Other than his new black coat and three pairs of jeans he’d brought along all he had was the green button down flannel shirt he had bought in this time a few pairs of underwear from their own.
The rest of the clothing he’d brought or bought in this time he was leaving behind.
Sighing he dropped onto the bed, “I need a smoke,” he complained.
“Didn’t this morning teach you anything?” Aya asked as he rolled his eyes. “You’re losing your edge, Yohji, getting short of breath too quickly. Many more years of smoking and your lungs will be fucked.”
He glanced at the revolver sitting in its holster on the nightstand. “Not taking that?”
“I don’t know.”
Yohji fell back on the bed and just stared at the ceiling. “Aya, it’s hard. I...” he shook his head, “I’m a drunk and I’m a nicotine addict. Trying to totally stop both at the same time... fuck... I don’t think I can.”
Aya sat down next to him and ran a hand through the honey hair. “Are you saying you’re an alcoholic?” he asked. “Or do you just drink to ease the pain?”
Yohji sighed, “You know the answer to that, Aya. You’ve seen me shit-faced enough times. You’ve seen me shaking because I wanted a drink.” He reached up and touched Aya’s face, “You make it better. And... I think it will get easier because I’m not afraid of you anymore.”
“You never had any reason to be afraid of me, Yohji. I’d never really hurt you.” He went quiet for a moment, eyes distant as he made a decision.
He leaned down and opened one of the bag’s smaller compartments. When he came back up it was with a pack of Marlborough and a lighter.
“I can’t expect you to give up all your addictions at once,” he said with a smile. “Just promise me you’ll try to give up when you’ve got the alcohol beaten.”
Yohji stared at the cigarettes, “What are you doing with those?” he asked as he accepted the pack and shook one out.
“I’m a lot better than I was when we got here, Aya. I can go a whole day without drinking more than a beer or two.” He moved to the window and lit the cigarette.
“Then you’re probably not an alcoholic. If you were that beer or two would have you stupid drunk. As to what I’m doing with those, well you should recognise the lighter. They’re yours, Yohji. I hid them away hoping the cigarillos would put you off smoking. They haven’t so…” He shrugged.
“Well I wasn’t about to accuse you of stealing my cigarettes, but yeah, I do recognize them, Aya.” He took a long drag off the cigarette. Even stale it tasted like heaven.
“As far as getting drunk goes, I’ve always had an annoyingly high tolerance for alcohol. It’s why so many of my solo missions involved clubs or bars.” He frowned, remembering one particular solo mission and realized it no longer held the power to hurt him.
He leaned on the window ledge and took another drag of the cigarette, exhaling out the window.
“KUDOH!”
Brad’s voice from below them.
Yohji frowned and looked at Aya. “So, who owns me? Is it you or him I wonder?”
“Me,” Aya said without hesitation. “He just gets you on loan and then only if you‘re willing. And if I can put up with your smoking so can he.”
He leant back on the bed, completely at his ease for perhaps the first time since his parents had been killed and his sister hospitalised.
“Any objections to that?”
Yohji studied the cigarette as if he could find the answer to Aya’s question in the cherry red glow at the end. “Nope. None,” he replied, a smile brightening his eyes.
“Good.” He might have said more but was interrupted by a knock at their door.
Yohji frowned at the door. “Yeah, I know, Brad wants me to put out the fucking cigarette!”
“If Schuldig can’t smoke, neither can you!” Farfarello said from the other side of the door.
“So let Schu smoke,” Aya said easily. “If I have to passive smoke why shouldn’t you?”
There was some incomprehensible muttering from the other side of the door, “He’s your lover. Up to you if he dies. Just don’t bitch at me when you’ve both got lung cancer,” Farfarello replied.
Yohji crushed the stub of the cigarette out on the sole of his boot and flicked the butt out the window. “So how many of those did you smoke?”
“Just the one,” Aya said with a grin. “I didn’t realise you knew I smoke the occasional cigarette.”
Yohji smiled, “I’ve caught you at it. Besides, you took one from me and smoked it once, remember?”
Aya leant his head back and chuckled. “Of course,” he said, “I should have remembered that one. And it did have the desired effect. You pounced on me. Gave me the idea that you might just like me after all.”
“Well like is a rather mild word for how I feel about you, Aya.”
“Yeah but you didn’t actually tell me that till we got to Hokkaido did you? At the time you were still pretending that you were only interested in anything that wore a skirt.”
The blonde flopped down onto the bed, “Well maybe you should have put one on if you wanted my attention,” Yohji teased. “I’d have taken the hint.”
“It crossed my mind a couple of times,” Aya admitted, “but I didn’t want to run the risk of traumatising Ken.”
He turned on his side, leaning on one elbow and let his free arm come to rest across Yohji’s chest.
“We’ve got time,” Yohji commented as he stroked Aya’s forearm.
“All the time in the world,” Aya agreed, “And even if we didn’t I could make it.”
Yohji smiled and pulled Aya on top of him, “Yeah, you could at that.”
* * * * * * *
Aya-chan eyed the corsets and hoop she’d had to wear with acute dislike. They would definitely be staying here. She had changed her clothes already, opting for a simple black mini-skirt and blue off the shoulder sweater. She stuffed her jeans and all her other modern clothes into a carry-all and zipped it up. She was as ready as she would ever be.
Part of her was looking forward to returning to her own time and culture, another part was dreading it, knowing that it would part her from Cole Randall forever. Where she was going he would be long dead and gone.
Tears began to flow but she wiped them away impatiently. Why should she cry over him? He hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye and after she’d trusted him enough to let him touch her breasts.
And what had Ran been thinking to give Zeshin permission to court her? She stared unseeingly as she remembered the way the cat-boy had looked after her both here and before, how he had fought to save her from the gunslinger, taken a bullet in the shoulder for her. Cole had not come to her rescue, Zeshin and her brother had.
She remembered her reaction to his words at breakfast and gasped. He must think she hated him. She needed to apologize.
Gathering her courage in both hands she left her room and tapped gently on Zeshin’s door.
The door was opened. Zeshin said nothing, and after the first glance to see who it was, he didn’t look at her either. He also didn’t leave the doorway so she could enter.
“I came to apologise,” she said, “I wasn‘t running away from you at breakfast. I was running away from the situation. I was embarrassed.”
Zeshin just nodded fallen back into the aloof silence that he’d kept the short time he’d been with Weiss.
She bowed her head. Her apology obviously hadn’t been enough for them to be friends again and the thought saddened her. She simply didn’t know what she could do.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered again and turned to go.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Fujimiya-san,” he murmured, head still bowed. “I was the one who... sought something beyond reach. You have nothing to be sorry for, I’m the fool.”
“No, you’re not a fool. I was the one who was stupid. I…I guess I was looking too hard for excitement instead of seeing what was already there.”
Zeshin gave her a wary look, his hair falling into his face. He pushed it away. “You don’t have to pretend to like me just because Aya-san sent you here to say you’re sorry. It’s okay. I understand.”
She stared at him, his words making no sense to her at all. Then she felt her temper rise. “Ran didn’t send me. I came to apologise because I thought I might have upset you. Strangely enough I am capable of thinking for myself without my brother doing it for me!”
She turned on her heel, prelude to storming back to her own room.
Zeshin sank down on the bed. It was no use. No matter what he said or did it was always the wrong thing.
Amber eyes watched Aya-chan leave, tears welling up. He closed his eyes willing them away, wanting the confusion in his heart to be gone too.
He’d never loved Abyssinian. Worshipped him as his God, yes, but loved him... no. He’d been helpless to deny the man anything.
Abyssinian no longer wanted him, and, fool that he was, he’d tried to pretend he was something he could never be: a man, like Aya himself... or Cole Randall.
The boy wrapped his arms around himself and lay there on the bed, huddled up into a small ball of misery.
* * * * * * *
Farfarello patted the grey horse and led it out into the yard, the pink and orange of dawn still fading from the sky. The beast nibbling at his hair playfully. The Irishman had packed his few things-- mostly knives and a few changes of clothes into the saddle bags.
Brad glanced out the window and frowned. *Schuldig you’re going to have to explain to him that the horse cannot come with us.*
*Why me?* A mental sigh. *Okay.*
Schuldig stepped out of the back door and stood leaning on the veranda rail. “Crawford says the horse stays,” he told the Irishman. “And if you think about where and when we’re going he’s got a point. What are you going to do with a horse in Bangkok while facing Terror?”
Farfarello’s mind showed the telepath just how uncooperative he was prepared to be. Without making any reply he climbed onto the horse and waited for the time to leave.
Brad rested his firm behind against his desk, his luggage piled on top of the gleaming oak. *Tell him no, and have him get his ass in here. It’s almost time to leave.*
*Why don’t you tell him? You can see how much notice he’s taking of me!*
Aya strolled into the study with his bag and stopped short, his eyes narrowed. “Why have you piled your stuff on top of the desk?”
“Because I’m taking it,” Crawford replied as he headed for the door intending to deal with Farfarello.
Yohji entered the room and paused, “Brad, he can’t bring a desk,” Yohji stated.
Dark eyes regarded him coolly, “Yes he can. Don’t bother to argue, you will not win.”
“Maybe I won’t win, but Aya will.”
Aya however had spotted the scene in the garden. “No fucking way! What the fuck do you think I am? UPS?”
Yohji looked outside and just shook his head. “Jezuz Chrrist,” Yohji muttered, “Farfie wants his horsie and Braddie wants to bring his toy box.” He slipped an arm around Aya, “All I need is you, baby and my world’s complete.”
Aya smiled and put an arm round his waist as he surveyed the scene outside. Hopefully Crawford could talk some sense into Farfarello. It wasn’t so much that he couldn’t take the horse but the fact that they had to go back to the same time and place that they’d left from. Which meant, of course, inside a house with enemies about to arrive. It was no place for Farf’s equine friend.
Not that he was going to let anyone know that the horse and desk were no bother. A slight smile crossed his features as he waited for Brad to win his discussion with Berserker.
Farfarello just stared Crawford as the man entered the yard, “Come on Farfarello. We can’t bring your friend right now, but as far as the horse is concerned, Aya will be back for him in a matter of minutes.”
The Irishman didn’t move.
“Farfarello, as soon as we have a safe place for...” he paused, unable to hide the smirk, “Cloudy I’ll make sure Aya comes back to get him.”
Yohji chuckled softly, “He actually named the horse?”
Aya shrugged. “Lots of people name animals,” he said, “though what makes Brad so certain I’m coming back for the damned thing is anyone’s guess. No, strike that. He’s probably seen it in a fucking vision.” He eyed the desk.
“You know, I think I prefer the horse.”
“It’s a nice horse, and you’re probably right. He probably knows you’ll come back for it, though, how can his visions work around time. That’s what I want to know. Or maybe he’s just lying to get Farfarello to come with us.” Yohji said. “As far as the desk goes I think Brad has his own special reason for wanting to take it, unfortunately.”
“If he’s told Farf I’m coming back for the horse then I’m coming back for the horse. I won’t have promises made for me that I’m not prepared to keep. He knows that much about me by now.”
“I don’t think it’s working anyway,” Yohji remarked because Farfarello hadn’t moved a muscle to dismount.
*Schuldig, find out what his problem is,* Crawford ordered the telepath, his exasperation at Farfarello all too evident in his mental tone.
*Okay Farf, you heard the man. What’s wrong with Aya coming back for… Cloudy?*
*You know Brad doesn’t mean it, Schuldig. He won’t have Aya come back for my horse, and I don’t want to leave him. He wants to help us fight Terror anyway, don’t you?*
As if answering Farfarello’s unspoken question the horse snorted and stomped one hoof.
*Aya, could you talk to him, please?*
*If you link us, yes.* The link snapped into place and Aya could feel Farfarello’s disbelief of Brad’s words and his fervent desire not to leave the horse behind.
*Farfarello? What if I promise to come back for him?*
*Will you?* Farfarello asked still watching Brad distrustfully.
Brad turned and went into the house, “Farfarello, unless you want to spend the first two weeks in our time period drugged and drooling you’ll get off that horse and come inside.”
*I promise I’ll came back for him just as soon as we can get a stable and a field for him,* Aya sent. *And to that promise I’ll add another. To the horse it will seem as if we haven’t even gone.*
He kept his mind open for Farfarello’s decision while he folded his arms and stared at Brad. “Threats aren’t always the best way, you know. And the desk stays. Or are you going to drug me too?”
Crawford just smirked, “I want the desk as a place for Aya-chan to hide under. “Terror is going to open fire on the house, and the desk is lined with sheet steel.” He shrugged, “Unless you want her to be shot.”
Farfarello hopped down off the horse, giving the grey animal a pat on the shoulder as he walked toward the house, but whether it was Brad’s threat or Aya’s final promise that had motivated him was anyone’s guess.
Aya sighed in defeat. It was a good reason and Crawford knew it. “Okay,” he said without further argument. “Is everyone else ready?”
Ken, who’d come in while the others were discussing the desk said, “No we aren’t. Has anyone seen Zeshin?”
Aya frowned as he realised that he hadn’t seen Zeshin since training the previous day. “Isn’t he in his room?”
“If he is,” Kai said, “he’s not answering the door.”
“Okay, I’ll go up and try. Can the rest of you get sorted out. Dump your stuff on the desk and form a circle round it.”
“I looked, he’s not there.” Ken frowned, “His clothes are gone too.”
Crawford motioned to Schuldig, “Find him if you please and have him get his ass down here immediately.”
“You heard Ken, Vater. He’s not upstairs. Anyone got any idea where he might have gone?”
Aya stilled as if he were on a mission. “To find Cole Randall perhaps?” he suggested.
Behind him his sister gasped and put a hand to her mouth.
Crawford took a seat at his desk and considered Aya’s words. “Considering the events of the past two days,” he fixed his gaze on Aya-chan, “I would say that is a very good bet.”
Aya pushed his way to the door. “You know, of course, that he doesn’t stand a chance alone,” he said as he went.
“Zeshin is part of Schwarz. Never underestimate the changes that’s made in him.
“Or that you’ve wrought, for that matter, Abyssinian.”
Aya turned at the door, staring coldly at Crawford. “He’s facing a man who can disappear like a puff of smoke. I’d balk at that.”
“What makes you think Zeshin plans to fight fair? Even the Phantom Gun might have a problem with being attacked unexpectedly,” Brad countered.
Yohji sighed and pulled on his gloves, “I’m going with you.”
“So am I,” Ken added.
“Count me in,” said Schuldig.
Nagi and Kai exchanged a look. “Doesn’t matter what the local preachers think after today,” Nagi said slyly. Kai merely grinned.
“Go take care of it and get back here quickly. Farfarello and I will stay here with Aya-chan and keep her company,” Brad said.
Nobody needed further bidding and they were out of the door and on the street in short order. Once outside they spread out to search for Zeshin and Randall if that’s where the boy had gone.
Zeshin was watching the tall dark-haired man as he walked along the boardwalk in front of the saloon.
Cole had been drinking, but not enough to be truly drunk. Relaxed, yes, but not drunk.
When he noticed the pale haired boy he paused, not from fear, but more from puzzlement. He didn’t think the boy meant him any harm, and he was hardly afraid of the kid, but if he’d learned anything in his life it was not to take anyone or anything at face value.
And if the boy ran with that crowd of Crawford’s chances were he’d be just as dangerous as the red-haired man with the strange violet eyes.
As if conjured by Cole’s thoughts, Aya’s voice rang out the single word. “Singapura!”
He was standing further up the street and was dressed strangely. The yellow duster coat was still there but underneath it he was wearing a strange sleeveless cotton top and tight pants in soft black leather. “Time to go,” he said.
Cole turned at the sound of the deep voice of Aya-chan’s brother. What had she called him? Ran, that was it.
Deciding it wasn’t any of his business he started down the street when he came to the conclusion that the red-haired man hadn’t come for him over the girl.
Zeshin shook his head, “I’m not going back, Abyssinian.”
Aya shook his head. “If you’re determined to leave us, I can’t stop you. But you can’t stay here. It’s not your time.”
He watched as Randall walked away, letting the man go despite what his sister had told him. She was safe from him now.
“I’m not going, Abyssinian.”
“You’re going if I have to drag you screaming. I’m in no mood to piss about so get moving.”
The boy stayed where he was for the span of a few seconds, then his shoulders drooped, his head lowered and he meekly headed back toward the house, unable to defy Aya’s direct order.
The tampering that Schuldig had done with Zeshin’s mind assured that he would never be able to disobey anything Aya demanded of him.
*Schuldig, let everyone know I’ve found him and he’s coming back, please.*
*No problem, Aya.*
He waited for Zeshin to come abreast of him. “What’s going on, Zen?”
“Nothing, Fujimiya-san,” he replied, head bowed, heading for the house without another word.
As long as he was with them it would always be the same no matter what Abyssinian said. He would always belong to the older man, forced to obey, unable to resist like any pet. Like any animal with a master.
Aya sighed. There was something on Singapura’s mind but it would have to wait until after they’d gone back and dealt with Terror.
He followed the younger man back to the house.
Zeshin entered Brad’s study and sat down on the floor in a corner, out of everyone’s way as the rest of them trailed in.
Brad was seated at his desk, which was piled high with their belongings. He looked up as his team came back into the room, “Well if we’re all done wasting time--“ he actually smirked, “which all things considered hardly matters-- I’d like to get this over with. Unlike the rest of you, I happen to have plans for the remainder of the day after we’ve dealt with Terror.”
Yohji snorted, “I’ve got plans too,” the blonde replied.
“Shopping or sleeping, Kudoh?” Ken asked.
Yohji grinned, “Both.”
Farfarello was standing beside the window, looking at Cloudy, his expression decidedly gloomy.
Schuldig crossed the room and put a comforting arm round his lover’s shoulders. *Aya made you a promise. He won’t break it.*
“Okay everyone, make a circle round the desk,” Aya said, shooting a really evil look at Brad as he spoke the last word. “Yohji, next to me and please remember what I said. I’ll take what I need. We don’t need you unconscious at the other end.”
Crawford guided Aya-chan under his desk, snapped his fingers at Zeshin and directed the boy under there with her. “Keep her safe, if you please,” he ordered. “Hold hands, Zeshin, grab my ankle so the two of you aren’t left behind.”
Zeshin didn’t look at her as he crawled under the desk, his gaze on the floor as he nodded his acceptance of the American’s order, one hand gripping Aya-chan’s hand, the other wrapping around Brad’s leg.
Ken clasped Nagi’s hand, gave his lover a quick kiss, and then took Yohji’s free hand in his.
Farfarello joined the circle and took Nagi’s hand and reached for Schuldig.
Schuldig reached for Kai’s hand and found he was on his knees, one hand reaching up to clasp his, the other reaching down to complete the circle by holding Aya-chan’s free hand. It effectively kept her under the desk but also meant he could spring to his feet as soon as they arrived.
Aya took Brad’s hand in his and took a deep breath. “Okay everyone, let’s go home,” he said. Then he took them forward.
Existence rippled, fragmented and flew apart in a million directions. Reformed to be hit by a wave of panic, pure animal terror that reached down into their psyches and tried to turn their minds inside out.
“SURRENDER!” a voice roared from outside, the sound hitting them with the force of a sledgehammer, another spike of nightmarish terror striking at them. “SURRENDER OR DIE!”
Brad swayed on his feet, hand going to the desk to steady him as time stretched outward in a brittle ribbon.
“Do it,” he told his team as he struggled to regain his own psychic equilibrium. “Show them why no one threatens Schwarz.’
# Footnote: The quote from Book 1 and title of this fiction comes from "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas.
You will also have noticed that the title of every chapter in this instalment of the series is also the title of a song.