Schwarz broke the circle immediately and scrambled to take up positions. The transition through time and space had been much smoother this time, partly due to Yohji letting Aya take what he needed instead of forcing power into him and partly due to the training they�d both received, so it was a less disoriented team that were prepared to take on Terror.
Farfarello ran for the door, Ken on his heels, the pair of close in fighters planning to take the battle to the Rosenkruez agents outside, both of them armed with their weapons of choice, Ken with his new matched bugnucks, Farfarello with his new toy, the forearm long Bowie knife he'd gotten in Sacramento.
Brad remained where he was, struggling with the flood of images, visions filling his mind as his power caught up with their current here and now.
Yohji started to put a hand on the man's shoulder and thought better of it. "Protect them both, Zeshin," he admonished the boy.
Zeshin nodded as he came out from under the desk.
Crawford shook his head, "Stay there," he told Zeshin.
Kai sprang to his feet and ran after Ken and Farfarello his sai already in his hands.
Aya reached into his coat pocket and drew out the revolver nestled there. It might not be a modern gun but he�d grown fond of it and it would do the job just as well. He made for a window, crouching down under the sill.
Schuldig was mentally concentrating on Nightmare, preventing him from sending his waves of panic and horror to disorient them all.
Nagi took a quick look around and spotted Terror�s telekinetic through one of the windows at the back of the house. Taking in a deep breath he trans-located.
The agents backing the Rosenkreuz kill-team rushed the house, laying down a suppressive fire to force the Schwarz team to keep their heads down and worry about being nailed by a hail of lead. It was a distraction intended to keep them from being able to focus on the talents they were aiding.
Unfortunately for them, they hadn't counted on several factors.
First and foremost was the power of a pissed off pyrokinetic backed by an equally annoyed Berserker intent on getting his horse back in the shortest possible time relative to himself.
The pair of men hit the gunmen in a whirlwind of fire and severed body parts, spilled guts and terror that had nothing to do with the team they were supporting and everything to do with the grim reality of the improved and even deadlier version of Schwarz that Oracle now had at his command.
Yohji put a hand on Schuldig and let Mastermind draw power from him.
Schuldig grinned at him. �This one�s for you, Yohji,� he said then attacked.
Outside there was an agonized shriek of pain as Nightmare's shields collapsed under Mastermind's assault.
Terror's telekinetic was just getting ready to hurl a large ornamental urn at the nearest window when he saw motion from the corner of his eye. He started to turn, the urn shuddering into the air, ready to hurl it at any threat.
The urn smashed into a thousand pieces as Nagi crushed it. �You�ll have to do better than that,� he said with a smirk.
The patio tiles under Nagi's feet heaved upward.
Nagi jumped and teleported forward letting his power go and using it to crush the other telekinetic. There was a cut off gurgle then nothing.
Aya raised his head above the sill and picked off several more of the Rosenkreuz agents that Ken and Farfarello had missed. A wavering figure caught his eye. Phantasm and he was heading straight for Kai�s back. He fired but the bullet appeared to have no affect. �Fuck!�
Brad stepped away from the desk, drawing his H&K .45 and turning to face a bedroom door. He held his hand in front of Zeshin's face, "You stay right there, don't move," he ordered.
His gun came up and cracked twice, the pair of bullets punching through the thin wood. He grinned fiercely and headed for the back door as a muted thump was heard from behind the closed bedroom door.
Phantasm sneered at the boy, the man's form shimmering as he drew nearer to Kai. "Time to die, little kitty."
Aya remembered what Farfarello had shown him and slowed down time for Phantasm, keeping him away from Kai for valuable seconds.
Kai gazed at the Terror operative knowing that his sai would have no effect. He thought quickly and then lashed out with his own power. Phantasm suddenly became completely corporeal and that was all that he needed. He jumped forward, sai spinning, and buried one in Phantasm�s neck.
The Rosenkreuz psi-operative choked, hands reaching up for the hard steel sunk into his neck, shock in his dark eyes as his knees buckled beneath him.
A roiling sheet of flame wrapped around one of the few remaining gunmen, the rest of them in full retreat, Farfarello hard on their heels.
Brad paused, the back door flying open to reveal another of Rosenkruez's psychic agents. The man stared down the barrel of Oracle's gun, his mind reaching out to try and grab the Schwarz leader's ability to move.
Pointless. Brad had already pulled the trigger.
Behind him there was an enraged snarl.
"They forgot about all the pretty kitties I have," Brad said to himself, the smirk breaking free as the last of the opposition died under the claws of Singapura.
Aya straightened up, still shaken by just how terrified he�d been for Kai. It was like all those emotions so carefully buried for so many years had suddenly burst out in all directions. He shook his head to clear it and turned to make sure everyone was alright.
Aya-chan finally crawled out from under the desk and immediately went to Zeshin�s side to check that he was still in one piece.
Zeshin wouldn't even look at her, and when she tried to touch him he evaded her hand and moved away.
Nagi poked his head through the back window, grinning all over his face. It had felt good to let his power go again and the Terror telekinetic had deserved all he�d got.
Ken walked back into the house, his bugnucks stained crimson, Farfarello entering behind him, the Irishman's amber eye gleaming in bloodlust pleasure, both of them spattered with gore.
"Two escaped," Ken reported.
"They'll carry word of what we did back to Rosenkreuz," Yohji remarked.
"It makes little difference. Either way Rosenkreuz will know we are now a greater force to be reckoned with than they have anticipated. They will make adjustments accordingly and our next encounter will not be so easily dealt with. But," he swept his team with his dark, unreadable eyes, "I believe we all realize that was bound to happen."
�They�ll have to put a new team together to deal with us,� Schuldig said. �Until today Terror was the best they had.�
�Apart from us,� Nagi said, �and as we�re now stronger they�ll have to send their very best.�
�That�s without the Kritiker agents that are likely to be sent after us,� Aya added. �So we�d better not get careless.�
Yohji sat down on the edge of Brad's desk, fumbling for a cigarette in his pocket. He had very few left, but he held the pack out for Schuldig, offering the telepath one as he said, "If they don't get the drop on us, Kritiker won't be much of a threat."
Ken was looking for something to wipe off his bugnucks with, but there was nothing immediately in evidence. "That's probably why the Takatori bastard wanted you two dead so badly. Fear." He stared at the blood on his gloved hands, "He should have realized it was better to have you alive and in the palm of his hand rather than opposing him."
�Yes, he should have,� Aya said coldly. He hadn�t told Ken that he�d left Takatori alive as yet. And next time they met he fully intended to do the job himself. He threw the last of his tissues to the pyrokinetic.
Schuldig, having helped himself to one of Yohji�s cigarettes and lit it, took a deep lungful of nicotine. �So now what, Vater?� he asked.
"We rest, get supplies and consolidate our position. Rosenkruez will take some time to gather up another team to come after us and Kritiker's arm isn't quite long enough to reach here." He watched the pair of men smoking, frowned but refrained from comment.
"We have a week to get things we need and turn this house into our base of operations with everything that entails from a militaristic point of view."
He plucked the cigarette from Schuldig's hand, took a brief puff and handed it to Aya. "In other words, we're going to turn the place into our own little fortress, complete with booby traps."
He regarded his team, a slight smile curling his lips, "And while I'm thinking about it, good job team. Now, let's all get cleaned up and go out for dinner. I feel like celebrating, not only our victory, but our return to our own place in time."
Aya took a drag on Schuldig�s cigarette before relenting and handing it back to the telepath with a grin.
Kai came back into the house, having retrieved his sai from Phantasm�s throat and wiped it clean on the dead agent�s clothes. He was taken aback when Aya crossed the room in a couple of quick strides and hugged him. �You had me worried,� the normally cold redhead murmured against his ear.
�I had myself worried until I realised what I had to do.� Brad nodded, "Rosenkruez has few healers of any consequence. Their short-sighted goals lead them to turn them into nothing but killers." He stepped closer to the slight teen and caressed his cheek. "I, on the other hand, understand that a coin has two sides, and both are part of a greater whole."
He leaned closer and kissed Aya. "Now let's go get hot showers and go get some decent food. I'm starving."
"Me too," Yohji said as he surveyed his nearly empty pack of smokes. "And we need more cigarettes."
Farfarello sighed, "And Cloudy?"
"He will always be exactly where you left him, Farfarello. But until we've made an end to this situation and no longer need concern ourselves with imminent battle with Rosen or Kritiker, then he has to stay where he is."
�When I go back for him I�ll take you with me if you want,� Aya said. He frowned slightly, obviously thinking about something.
�A shower sounds good to me,� Nagi said and climbed in through the window.
Aya-chan wasn�t really listening to the men. Instead she was coming to realise just what she�d ignored, even when it had been under her very nose. Now Zeshin wanted nothing to do with her and she could hardly blame him. Sadly she moved away from him.
�I�ll be in my room if anyone wants me,� she said and almost ran from the room.
Zeshin watched Aya-chan leave the room. He glanced at Abyssinian then walked toward the living room.
"Young love," Brad commented dryly.
"I'll be taking a shower then too." He glanced at Aya, Yohji and Kai in turn, "It's a very big shower. Lots of room," he said archly then, laughing, walked toward his bedroom door, which just happened to be the one with a very notable bullet hole in it.
Yohji raised one golden eyebrow at Aya, then shrugged and said, "Why not?"
�Can you manage without a cigarette for that long?� Aya asked dryly. Then he headed after Brad drawing Kai along with him. Bengal wasn�t complaining.
"Distract me enough and you'll be amazed at how long I can go without a cigarette," Yohji replied, patting Aya on the ass in case the younger man might not understand what he'd consider to be an appropriate distraction.
Schuldig sighed as they disappeared into Brad�s room and Ken and Nagi went upstairs to take a shower leaving him with the still disgruntled Farfarello.
*You wanting a shower, Farf, or do you want to go to dinner covered in blood?*
Farfarello eyed Schuldig, "I think I want to take a shower if it means being naked in there with you. If not," he shrugged, "I'll go as I am."
Schuldig grinned at his lover. �I�ll happily share the shower with you, babe.�
* * * * * * *
They'd all piled into the two cars that Brad had rented for them, Brad in a clean and neatly pressed Versace suit was driving one car with Aya riding shotgun and Yohji driving the second car with Ken seated beside him up front.
Brad saw no difficulties ahead of them, so he'd told the team-- his team-- to relax and enjoy themselves and that was what he planned for them to do. Have a nice relaxed time in Bangkok, play businessmen tourists and forget their problems for a night.
While there were certain aspects of the evening he had planned that he himself would not really enjoy, he felt that a few hours of suffering on his part would do the rest of his team-- with the possible exception of Aya-- a great deal of good.
Beside him Aya was silent and watchful. He was never fully relaxed when out of doors and tonight was no exception. He stared out onto the crowded streets of Bangkok with little enthusiasm and a whole load of things on his mind. The whole Zeshin and Aya-chan business had him worried and even the intense and highly pleasurable session in the shower earlier had not wiped that worry from his mind.
*Don't worry about them, Aya,* Yohji thought to the brooding redhead in the car with Brad. *They'll work it out, or get over it.*
Brad understood what was wrong with his lover and decided a bit of a mood breaker was in order. At the first traffic light where he had to stop he leaned over and pressed his lips to Aya's.
Aya returned the kiss until the lights changed and they had to drive on. It had the desired effect however and he was now smiling slightly. *You�re probably right,* he sent back to Yohji before turning to Brad. �So, where are we going to eat?�
"In deference to the Japanese section of my team, we're going to the first place I find that looks like it caters to Japanese businessmen. Personally I'm sick of anything that comes fried or coated in grease."
Aya�s smile grew. �Yeah the food wasn�t that hot,� he agreed, �and real plumbing was a joy to return to. Get Yohji his damned cigarettes and we�ll all be happy. Well perhaps not Farfarello just yet.�
"He'll forget about the horse in a week or two," Brad told Aya. "Not great is not a description I would have used for the food. Not when totally awful is closer to the truth."
Brad actually managed a soft chuckle, "I suppose I can't fault Yohji for his addiction to cigarettes. Not when I am looking forward to gourmet coffee freshly ground and perked."
�I made him a promise, though, and if we get through all this alive, I intend to keep it,� Aya said. He chuckled. �And you�re right about the food though the pie was good.�
"Yes, yes the pies we got were good, I have to admit that. But we couldn't live on them." He smiled thinking back on some of the dubious meals they'd had, "I think Kudoh was trying though, now that I think of it, he was perfectly content to eat nothing but apple pie most of the time."
There was another soft chuckle. �He�s always had weird and wonderful eating habits. He once went for nearly a month on nothing but ice cream!�
"Wonderful?" Brad questioned. "If you mean his appetite for cock, I'll agree," the American laughed remembering the blonde's mouth wrapped around his dick. It had been quite an eye opening experience to be sucked off by Yohji.
Aya stopped chuckling and frowned instead as he indicated his sister. For her part, Aya-chan was blushing furiously her gaze riveted on the window.
Brad glanced in the rear view mirror, seeing the brilliant glow of the girl's cheeks. "Yes, well she needs to accept our lives, Aya. No sense pretending we weren't in the shower together."
�I have accepted his life,� Aya-chan said. �I�ve even seen it once.� She glanced at her brother who was glaring at her. �Don�t look at me like that, Ran.� She turned her attention back to Brad.
�I�m sorry I blushed. I�m just not used to hearing you talk like that, that�s all.�
Brad considered the girl's words, "No, I suppose you aren't." He smiled at her in the mirror, "So, you've seen-- what exactly?"
This time it was Aya who blushed as his sister described, in lurid and very graphic detail, his session with Yohji in the alleyway in Sacramento.
�Aya!�
�What?�
�I didn�t know you knew words like that.�
She giggled softly. �There�s quite a lot about me that you don�t know, brother.�
Brad couldn't help but smirk as the girl told the story of exactly what she'd seen Aya doing to Yohji. What actually got the most attention from him was the fact she'd watched her own brother fucking another man.
*Schuldig, does she have an attraction to her brother that's more than sisterly? She watched Aya fucking Yohji and... well that could explain a few things.*
*No, she watched because she had a crush on Yohji at the time. I even suggested to him that he take her on but he was a bit put off by the idea of fucking both brother and sister.*
Schuldig�s mental voice went quiet for a moment then it was tentative. *To be honest, Vater, I don�t think we did Zeshin any favours. He�s now convinced that he�s a worthless animal and even his master doesn�t want him.*
*It makes perfect sense that fucking them both would not be something Yohji would be capable of managing.* He considered what Schuldig had said about Zeshin. For once he had no ready answer about what should be done to handle a crisis that could very well damage the fledgling stability of his team.
*Any suggestions on what can be done to make him see himself as a human being again? Sadly, I'm at a loss for once.*
*What with the fucking mind job Takatori did on him and then our tampering with his brainwashing I daren�t attempt anymore. The only thing I can suggest is that it�s stressed to everyone that he�s treated as an equal. Whether he�ll ever see Aya as anything but his master I doubt, but if he feels like he�s valued� who knows?*
*Pass the word then. While he's not totally vital to our success, having him is better than not having him considering he'd walk in front of bullets for any of the Weiss and not even hesitate or think about his own mortality.
*Loyalty like that isn't something you throw away.*
Crawford considered something, then decided to broach the subject with Schuldig, *He's technically Farfarello's son, in a manner of speaking. Do you think you can get Berserker to focus on that fact? That might pull Farfarello out of his obsession with that damned horse and give the boy someone who won't treat him like an animal. We all had enough of that sort of treatment ourselves with Esset, so we understand it better than any of our dear former Weiss can.*
*I�ll pass the word and talk to Farf about it. He�s quite taken with the fact that the boy is partly him so he should take an interest. As to the horse, he�s not going to forget it till the stupid animal�s here!*
*He's got Farfarello's colouring, that rather obvious, wouldn't you say? He also has that same manner of sitting quietly in a corner and staring at people like Farfarello does, have you noticed him doing it?*
Brad saw a brightly lit tourist area and slowed, "Watch for somewhere you think would be good to eat, Aya. I have to keep my mind on my driving." Not entirely true, really, he could look slightly ahead and make sure they didn't have a collision, but he wanted to continue his discussion with Schuldig.
*Yes, he�s a watcher rather than a talker,* Schuldig agreed, *and just as lethal as Farf when riled. Not a psychopath as such but� Let�s just say I wouldn�t want to cross him.*
*Really?* Crawford questioned, genuinely amazed that Schuldig had studied the boy enough to make such observations. *You surprise me, Schuldig. I hadn't realized you'd been paying that much attention to him. And yes, you are correct, he has the potential to be even more dangerous than your beloved Berserker.*
He found a pair of parking spaces and pulled into the first of them. "I think we should just walk and have a look around. There has to be somewhere to eat in all this wash of neon light."
�I�ll quite happily eat Thai,� Aya said as he undid his seatbelt and climbed out. �Might be easier than finding Japanese in this mess.�
Brad got out of the car, gaze on the riot of neon signs along the street. He smiled, glad to be back in their own time.
�So long as no one else objects to Thai food then I�m in agreement.� He glanced at Aya-chan as the girl got out of the car to join them on the side walk. �Do you want Japanese or Thai?�
She shrugged. �I�m easy, whatever everyone else wants to eat.� Yohji had pulled in with the other car and she turned away, not able to meet Zeshin�s eyes.
For his part it was as if Aya-chan was transparent, the boy just standing there, head down as the rest of the team piled out of the cars.
Yohji gave a gleeful cry of joy and headed directly for a tobacconist�s shop a few doors down from where they�d parked. �Be right back,� he said as he strode off.
Ken just shook his head and muttered, �Typical.�
Farfarello was looking around, one eye squinting to try and puzzle out some of the glowing signs, his lack of depth perception playing havoc with his ability to read the brightly lit marquees.
�We thought it might be easier to settle for Thai food,� Aya said. �Anyone got any problems with that?�
�I haven�t,� Nagi said as he slipped a hand into Ken�s. At least here, in his own time, he could be himself and show his relationship openly.
Schuldig slipped away from the rest of them and followed Yohji.
Farfarello shook his head, gave up trying to read any of the signs and followed Schuldig. He didn�t really care where they ate, so long as he never had to stare at golden eye looking back at him from a plate of grease.
Ken gave Nagi a quick kiss and headed for the sidewalk where Brad, Aya, Kai and Aya-chan were already waiting.
Schuldig strolled into the tobacconist�s and smirked at Yohji. �Have they got anything worth smoking?� he asked.
Yohji grinned, �They�ve got cigarettes from everywhere,� he said motioning to the displays enthusiastically.
Schuldig grinned back. �Yeah. Now that�s what I�m talking about! Uh oh! Hi Farf. Just getting some smokes.�
Farfarello nodded, �I suspected that since this is a tobacco shop and both you and Yohji came in here.� He glanced around and sighed before making his way toward a display of candy that stood off in one corner.
Schuldig appeared to relax and turned his attention back to the purchase of several cartons of decent smokes. The shop was like paradise for smokers after the cigarillos he�d put up with for so long.
Yohji had picked out two cartons and an assortment of packs for himself. He saw the rest of Schwarz waiting outside and headed for the counter. �I think they�re trying to decide where to eat,� he remarked.
�When I left they�d pretty much decided that Thai would be easier to find,� Schuldig said, taking his own selection across to be totalled. Then he remembered that Brad had all the money. *Not a word, Yohji. Farf, get your candy over here.* Waiting for the other two to join him with their respective purchases, he slid into the shopkeeper�s mind and convinced him he�d received payment for everything.
Yohji frowned. *Schuldig, I have money.*
*Then pay the man if it makes you feel better.* Schuldig�s mental voice was sulky. *You kitties are far too moral!*
*I could say something about you being far too immoral, Schuldig. This guy has family and needs his job. If he comes up short on his drawer he�ll probably lose the job. While that probably isn�t of any concern to you, I�d personally hate to think I�ve put a family out on the street over some cigarettes.*
*Then pay for the damned things and let�s get out of here! I�ll get Brad to give you the money for mine later.*
Yohji handed the money over to the clerk and scooped up their purchase, �Grab a pack for tonight, I�m going to take the rest to the car.�
Schuldig grabbed a pack of Marlboro lights and followed Yohji and Farfarello out of the shop. �I owe Yohji thirty bucks,� he told Brad. �He wanted me to be good.�
Crawford frowned, �Tell me you weren�t planning on not paying the store clerk.�
Schuldig shrugged, smiled guiltily, shuffled his feet and changed the subject. �So where are we eating?�
Brad reached out and took a gentle grip on Schuldig�s chin, �I don�t need an answer, I already know it,� he told the German, his gaze hard. �I�m going to go over this one time and I want everyone to listen carefully.�
He swept his gaze over the others then returned his uncompromising stare on Schuldig, �We do not use our powers for fun and games anymore. We are back in the realm of Rosenkreuz, our dangerous and deadly serious enemies. And they have ways of tracking the use of talents.� His fingers dug into Schuldig�s chin, �Understood?�
�Yes, Vater,� Schuldig said on a sigh. �It won�t happen again.�
Brad let Schuldig go, �Does everyone understand this isn�t a fucking game we�re playing?�
Yohji was looking at Schuldig and nodding agreement.
�Wasn�t that the rule before we left last time?� Ken asked.
Strangely enough it was Aya that took pity on his team mate. �I think Schuldig�s remembered,� he said mildly.
Schuldig hung his head then, the long hair covering his face from view. �I�m sorry,� he muttered.
�Don�t do it again, Schu,� Brad said, his tone softer, using the pet name for the telepath which he very rarely did.
�I�m going to put this stuff in the car,� Yohji stated as he headed off. He paused, �Umm.. anyone know where Zeshin is?�
�He�s waiting outside the restaurant for us,� Brad replied. �Hurry and put that stuff away. I think our kitten is hungry.�
They waited while Yohji locked the tobacco in the car and then walked up the street to where Zeshin was waiting. The restaurant was Thai but looked both comfortable and clean so they all trooped in.
The hostess greeted the group of men, and one lady with a broad smile. She looked them over and chose to address them in English, not sure what language they might speak of the half dozen she was able to converse in, but from experience most people spoke a little English even if they weren�t native speakers.
�Welcome. Do you have reservations?
�No, I�m afraid we don�t. We just arrived this evening,� Crawford replied.
�That�s not a problem, sir. Would you like a table together or do you prefer other seating arrangements?�
�Together, if you please. As private as you can manage,� Brad replied. The place was busy, but he could see a room toward the back that was empty.
�We have a private room available, sir, if you would prefer that. Please follow me.� She picked up menus and led the way to the empty room that Brad had noticed.
There was a large, circular table, big enough to take all of them and still leave space for the waiting staff to get round. The hostess smiled. �Can I get you any drinks?� she asked.
�I�ll take a beer,� Yohji told her as he dropped into a seat.
Ken pulled a chair out for Nagi, �Ice tea.�
Zeshin found a chair well away from Aya-chan and sat down. �Milk please,� he said, his expression sullen.
Farfarello sat down beside the leopard boy, �Sounds good to me too,� he told the hostess as he picked up a menu.
�Ice tea for me right now, but I�d like coffee after my meal,� Brad told the woman.
�What�s your house wine?� Aya asked.
�A shiraz or chardonnay, sir, both Australian.�
�I�ll have a glass of the shiraz, please. Aya?�
Aya-chan looked up from her seat between Kai and Nagi. �Green tea, please, jasmine.�
Kai opted for a beer, Schuldig a vanilla coke and Nagi green tea.
�Someone will be here with your drinks in just a few moments,� the hostess said with a smile and left them to it, happy to know that ten people would mean a large order.
Brad glanced around the table and sat back in his seat, prepared to relax and enjoy one evening of pretending to be what they weren�t: normal people.
But the quiet illusion, however brief it might be, pleased him and he felt a warm flush of pride in his �family� as they settled down to the serious business of selecting a meal that would be prepared on modern appliances with more savoury ingredients than they�d tasted in weeks.
Kai glanced up from his perusal of the menu. �Which one�s the hot one again?� he asked. �Red or green?�
�Green curry is the hot one, red the mild,� Aya told him without looking up from his own menu.
Farfarello grinned, �I like the green curry best.�
Yohji smiled, �Salad with that peanut dressing. I haven�t had that in... well over a hundred years.�
Brad chuckled, �Yes, it has been a while hasn�t it?�
�Satay,� Nagi groaned in anticipation, �I love satay.�
A young waiter came in at that moment with their drinks and took their respective orders. When he left he was smiling. He was going to need help.
Brad picked up his tea and took a sip, nodded and placed it back on the table. �Let�s have a discussion while we�re waiting for our meal to arrive.�
Aya helped himself to one of Yohji�s cigarettes and sat back in his seat, sipping his wine. There was a slight smile on his face as he asked what Brad wanted to discuss.
�What to do after dinner, of course,� Brad answered as he leaned over and kissed Aya tasting wine on his lover�s lips.
�You were planning on making a night of it, Vater?� Schuldig asked in some surprise.
�Why not?� Crawford replied.
Yohji smiled, �I vote for a club. I haven�t gotten to dance in a long time.�
�What he means,� Ken muttered, �is he hasn�t gotten to get drunk and deafen himself at the same time.�
Aya frowned across at Ken before telling him, very sweetly, that they didn�t play soccer at midnight here or anywhere else.
�I�I�d rather just go home to bed,� Aya-chan said in a very subdued tone as she pleated the edge of the tablecloth between nervous fingers.
�Bed�s good too,� Brad agreed with a slight smile at the thought of doing nothing but fucking his lovers. � But wouldn�t you rather spend the night doing something other than crying?�
Aya-chan raised haunted eyes to stare at him. �Why�why would I do that?� she asked. �I just thought Zeshin might feel more comfortable if I wasn�t here.� She glanced across the table at the boy before swallowing hard and looking away.
Brad picked up his napkin and spread it neatly in his lap, �Perhaps because you�ve made such a habit of it, night after night.� He looked up to regard the girl, �You do have choices. You could ask your brother to loan you Kudoh once in a while, or you could take Zeshin off his hands and play with him.�
There were gasps from several places round the table as well as her throat. �That�s a dreadful thing to say! They have choices too!�
Aya meanwhile had stood up and quietly asked Yohji to change places with him so he no longer had to sit next to the pre-cog. *And no, I�m not lending you out, not even to Crawford until he apologises.*
Yohji got up and switched places with Aya, but his jade eyes weren�t in the least bit friendly. �What, I�m a goddamned party favour now?� he muttered in annoyance, glaring at Crawford.
Ken sank into his seat with a whispered, �Oh fuck... oh fuck,� as he recognized the abruptness of Aya�s motions for what they were: pure rage.
Across the table, unnoticed, Zeshin was sitting perfectly still, eyes gone to slits. Somewhere inside his head something broke, cracked. From motionless silence the boy burst upward out of his chair and came across the table, lips pulled back in a snarl of fury, fingers stiff, nails glittering under the dim restaurant lights.
�You BASTARD!� the boy snarled.
�Zeshin! NO!� Aya-chan screamed. �Please!�
Nobody was convinced that she could control Singapura and the one person that could sat silent, watching.
*Aya! Stop him for fuck�s sake!* Schuldig�s frantic mental voice didn�t move the redhead.
Brad went over backward, the leopard boy snarling and struggling, Brad�s hands locked around Zeshin�s wrists in grips strong as steel vices. He barely managed to close his thighs in time to protect himself from a knee that probably would have shattered his pelvic bone.
Yohji reached down to grab the boy, and got ferally sharp teeth sunk into his hand for the effort.
�ZESHIN! STOP IT! RIGHT NOW!� The words had been yelled by Aya-chan, not her brother who was more concerned with using a napkin to bind Yohji�s hand. *Stay out of it, Kudoh.*
�Little bitch,� Yohji snapped, almost kicking the boy, and then thinking better of it. It wasn�t the kid�s fault he�d reacted the way he had. Confronted with someone trying to pull him away from a target he might have wired them. He�d done it to Ken once on a mission, but had stopped himself when he�d realized it was a team mate and not another attacker.
Zeshin subsided, his thrashing stopping at the tone of the girl�s voice. He was breathing hard, gaze still wild, but he was no longer trying to murder Crawford.
Brad let the boy�s wrists go, �Get off of me,� he said, voice calm and totally unruffled.
Farfarello looked at Schuldig, *Bastard Braddie did that on purpose.*
*Then he can deal with the fallout!* Schuldig resumed drinking his beer. *Dumb! He got the boy mad, Aya mad and I�ve no idea what he hoped to achieve.*
Zeshin got off of Brad. He was glaring at the man when he said, �You treat her with respect from now on or I�m going to gut you, and damn the consequences.�
Aya-chan�s eyes widened before she flushed scarlet and stared down at the table.
Her brother didn�t even look up, still seemingly engrossed in the binding of Yohji�s hand, as he said, �And if he doesn�t I will.�
Brad got off of the floor, �Drastic measures,� he said and did nothing further to explain himself, but he was smirking as he righted his chair, his glasses catching the light as he took a seat.
*Tell me something, Schuldig. Has Brad been acting-- well he�s been odd since the Elders died-- but it seems even worse the last week or so doesn�t it?* Farfarello questioned.
*Just a minute, Farf. I�m trying to prevent anyone from getting alarmed at our family squabbles. That�s got it. And yes, you�re right. I think it�s called hope.*
Yohji watched Aya, realizing the red-head was so mad he needed to focus on something minor to keep from murdering something-- or someone-- and his hand was the current thing Aya had chosen to keep his mind on, so there would be no retrieving his appendage anytime soon.
Zeshin walked back around the table, paused beside Aya-chan, �I�m sorry if I... I didn�t ever mean to hurt you, Aya. I just wanted you to know that I love you. That�s all.�
Aya-chan looked up then and smiled mistily at him. �I� I thought you hated me because I was too stupid to see what was right under my nose. Please, come and sit next to me.�
Brad smiled and picked up his tea. �United at last.�
Aya finally looked up and stared coldly at Crawford. �If that�s your idea of united,� he said, �then you�ve got a screw loose. Whatever problems people have they should be allowed to work through them and not be manipulated like that.�
Crawford looked at Aya for a moment, then he nodded, �Normally I would agree with you completely, however we don�t have the luxury of time for it. I saw your sister being killed, and Zeshin wrapped in grief so deep he committed suicide by Rosenkruez agent. That is no longer a potential future.
�While that future was only a potential one, now it cannot happen at all. And I much prefer this to what could have been, don�t you?�
Aya merely glared, let go of Yohji�s wounded hand and picked up his wine. His hand was shaking very slightly.
Under the table Yohji pressed his thigh to Aya�s, offering silent comfort to his lover. He focused hard on their link, *He still owes you for being such an asshole. Aya-chan too. I don�t give a damn what his reason was, I�m sick of his heavy-handed shit.*
*He knows that if it came to a choice between what just happened and what he says he saw that I�ll go with what happened. But I have no way of knowing if he�s lying.*
*I do, actually.* Yohji replied silently, *At least I think I do. Maybe not. Hell I don�t know.*
Aya frowned slightly but covered it by taking a sip of his wine. *You mean you can tell with your empathy?*
*Maybe.*
Nagi sighed and rearranged the table so it appeared that nothing untoward had happened. He had just finished straightening things out when two waiters pushing two huge trolley loads of food appeared in the doorway.
�Do you know of any good clubs in Bangkok, Yohji?� Kai asked, more to break the silence that had descended as they began eating than any real desire to know.
�Can�t say that I do, kid,� Yohji replied as he picked up his beer and drained the glass.
�Well, that effectively knocks that idea on the head,� Kai said with the ghost of a smile.
Brad swallowed what was in his mouth and said, �There�s a good club on the corner one block down from here. I saw an advertisement for it while we were at the hotel.�
Yohji caught the eye of a waiter that was standing near the door and waved his empty glass, �You want another one, Aya?�
�Please. That�s a nice shiraz.� He smiled suddenly. �What do you think, Yotan? Want to go clubbing?�
�Does a fish swim in the ocean?� Yohji countered as the waiter arrived and Yohji instructed him to refill their glasses by showing them the empty ones.
Ken held his glass out, �Get me a beer. If I have to go to a club I�ll need a drink now.�
Nagi turned a huge, visible eye on his lover. �Don�t you like clubbing, Ken?�
Ken shook his head, �No. Too many of our missions were in clubs. Too damned many...� he muttered.
�Oh, I see�� The teen went quiet. He would love to go clubbing, to dance with Ken but if his lover didn�t like clubs�
�Lighten up Ken, have fun with your boyfriend,� Yohji told the brunet.
�Why do you think I asked for the beer?� Ken countered, and put his hand very high up on Nagi�s thigh, fingertips brushing across a very sensitive area. There was an innocent smile on his face as he picked up his fork with the other hand.
Nagi squirmed in his seat and whapped Ken telekinetically.
�What about you, Yotan?� Aya almost purred. �You up to some fun with your boyfriend in a club?�
�Oh hell yeah, babe, ready and willing,� Yohji agreed readily as he leaned closer to Aya to capture the man�s mouth in a fast kiss.
Brad eyed the pair of men, a faint frown pulling at his mouth. Abyssinian was up to something, but he wasn�t able to see a damned thing.
�Good,� was all Aya said before he turned his attention back to his meal.
Meanwhile his sister was happy to be sitting next to Zeshin but not entirely sure if he felt the same way.
�Um� do you like clubbing?� she tried.
�I�ve only been to a club once, with... someone else.� He didn�t think it would be a good idea to mention that he�d gone with Mamoru.
Farfarello leaned closer to Schuldig, his head bumping the German�s, *I hope Brad has a shovel, because I think he�s going to be in deep shit before tonight is over.*
Schuldig nodded his agreement, a slight smirk playing round his mouth. *I don�t know about you, but I�m just going to relax and watch the fireworks.*
*Yep, I reckon that�s a mighty good idea, pardner,* Farf replied using the Old West lingo he�d picked up while they�d been in the past.
�I�ve never been to a club at all,� Aya-chan was saying. �What�s it like?�
�Loud,� Ken and Zeshin answered simultaneously.
�Fun as hell,� Yohji said, �don�t let those two spoil your fun.�
�Yeah,� Kai added. �If you like dance music you�ll love it.�
Aya grimaced slightly as he remembered the collection of sing-song pop she�d been inclined to listen too before being hospitalised. �She�ll like it,� he said with a sigh.
�Sure she will,� Yohji agreed. �She�s got a beautiful guy as her date...�
Zeshin choked on the food he�d been eating as Yohji said that.
�And she�s a beautiful girl. I�m sure Zeshin will have to fight to keep her to himself.�
Aya-chan blushed and shook her head.