Part 6

Youji had never been more grateful for anything in his life than he had been to get the phone call that Nagi was safely in Omi's possession. He was a little worried by the tone of his lover's voice, but there wasn't much he could say or do over the phone. Comforting would have to wait until they were all back in one place.

He made tracks back to the Koneko, making much better time than he had been because he wasn't searching for signs of the telekinetic any more. There was a strange car in the alley when he got there; he hesitated for a moment, and then saw Omi climb out of the driver's seat. THAT worried him quite a bit - for Omi to ditch his bike and steal a car, Nagi would have to be in very bad shape indeed. He pulled in behind the strange car, and Aya pulled up beside them a moment later, followed closely by Ken.

"Is he okay?" Youji asked the moment he was within earshot of Omi. His lover looked torn between fury and distress, and shook his head.

"He completely totalled the area he was in," the Weiss leader said as Aya and Ken joined them. "It was even worse than what he did to the Schreient mansion. They were already taking him to the hospital when I got there - I had to call Manx and ask her to divert it so I could get him out." Youji winced at that; Manx was sure to want a full explanation for that kind of favour.

"That's Bishop's car," Aya said, sounding startled. Omi glanced at him, and gave him a tiny smile.

"If Bishop is one of Crashers, then yes. The blond one said to give you their regards. Youji, help me get Nagi out of the backseat? I think he's still unconscious. They had to restart his heart at least once, and I'm worried about him."

Ken looked stricken when he heard that. "Oh, Christ... what the hell happened to him?"

"That's what I'd like to know," Omi said dangerously as Youji opened the back door of the car and crawled halfway inside, careful not to jostle the unconscious telekinetic. "There is no way in hell that I will believe he just 'took off' on his own. You have no idea..."

"Omi," Youji interrupted him, withdrawing from the car with Nagi cradled in his arms. His lover broke off, startled, and looked at him. "Take Nagi upstairs and get him settled. Don't come back down. I'll join you in a bit."

Frowning, Omi started to argue with him. "Youji, I..."

"That's an order," Youji added quietly. His voice was firm, and the look in his eyes was hard. Omi gaped at him for a moment, stunned, and Youji knew he was going to hear about this later. He and Omi had an agreement - when Omi was wearing his collar, then Youji was Dom and no questions were asked. The rest of the time, Omi was free to do as he wished, and as leader of Weiss was actually in authority over the rest of them. Youji had just invoked his status as Omi's Dom outside of that agreement, when Omi wasn't wearing his collar, and he was going to pay for it eventually. But right now it had exactly the effect he'd hoped for; Omi lowered his eyes to the ground and nodded stiffly, coming forward to take Nagi's limp form.

Youji waited until Omi and Nagi were safely inside the building before rounding on the other two. Ken was gaping at him much as Omi had just a moment ago; not surprising, neither Aya nor Ken had ever witnessed this side of his relationship with Omi. "Now the two of you are going to come inside with me, down to the mission room, and you're going to tell me EXACTLY what you said or did to Nagi to make him run off like that," he continued dangerously. "Because Omi is right, there is no way that Nagi did this on his own without provocation. If we're going to fix this, we need to know precisely what you said to him, word for word."

"Youji, what the FUCK was that all about?" Ken exploded. "Now I KNOW there's something going on here! Schuldig is conditioning Omi the same way he did to Nagi, isn't he? Omi's not the kind of person to just meekly follow somebody's orders like that!"

"YOU do not know as much about Omi as you think you do," Youji bit back. "Inside. Now. Unless you want the whole damn neighbourhood to hear about all of our secrets?"

That shut Ken up, at least for a moment. Aya had said nothing this entire time, but the expression on his face said he was torn between fury and guilt. Good... guilt meant he realized he'd done something wrong, and that was definitely a step in the right direction. Youji marched them inside and down the stairs to the mission room, refusing to say a word before they were safely inside.

"Now," he began, cutting off Ken's attempt to start another diatribe. "First of all, I think it's time we cleared up a few misconceptions. What exactly do you think Schuldig did to Nagi and Omi?"

"It's obvious!" Ken burst out, eyes narrowed. "The way Nagi slinks around, flinching away from every gesture that was even vaguely in his direction, afraid to raise his voice or draw attention to himself! Schuldig is abusing him, and he's done the same thing to Omi, hasn't he?"

Youji pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off the headache he could feel forming. "I'm not even sure where to start with that. First of all, the only 'conditioning' Schuldig has done to Omi is convincing him that he was worth something." He shook his head when Ken started to object. "Oh no, you don't get to talk again until I'm through. Omi is a submissive, Ken. He likes it, he enjoys giving up control that way. It's a tension release; he's damn young for all the responsibility that he has to shoulder. You've never seen that side of him because he works damn hard to suppress it most of the time - and because for him it's a sometimes-thing, not an all-the-time lifestyle like Nagi lives. I'm not really all that comfortable as a Dom, that's why Omi still wears Schuldig's collar instead of mine. But when it comes right down to it, yes, I am his Dom, and when I give him an order I expect it to be obeyed without question."

He sighed and looked at both of them. "Now, for the rest of it... Nagi was broken long before Schuldig and Crawford found him. He was a pet; totally incapable of making his own decisions. He needed a Dom to tell him to eat, to sleep, hell, he practically needed permission to BREATHE."

"How do you know that?" Aya demanded, speaking at last. "How do you know he was worse before he joined them?"

"If you mean, did I see it for myself, the answer is no," Youji answered him. "I have to take Schuldig's word for it. Don't object yet! I've also seen the way he treats Nagi, and let me tell you... if there is ONE thing in the world that Schuldig truly cares about more than himself, it's Nagi. He likes me well enough, and he loves Omi, but Nagi is the only thing more important to him than anything else. He wouldn't harm that kid if his life depended on it. He's done everything he can to coax Nagi into living his own life; praised him every time he made the least little decision for himself, forced him into situations where he didn't have any guidance and had to choose on his own, encouraged him to argue and disagree with people. Nagi has visibly improved just in the time that I've known them."

"THIS is improved?" Ken asked incredulously. "He couldn't even eat without Omi ordering him to, Youji!"

The playboy grimaced. "Yeah, well, he's regressed a lot," he admitted. "I've NEVER seen him this bad. I suspect it's the stress of the attack, feeling like he failed Schuldig by not being able to prevent or stop the kidnapping, and now being totally adrift without his Master to give him orders. He's scared, and uncertain, and he's reacting to it by wanting somebody to tell him what to do so he doesn't have to think, and so that he's not responsible for any decisions that turn out to be wrong."

"Now," he continued, rounding on Aya. "Given the conclusions Ken has jumped to, knowing what a soft heart he has, and knowing how bad YOUR temper can be, I'm going to take a wild guess that you're the one who drove Nagi off." Guilt crept back into Aya's expression, and Youji nodded grimly. "Let's get one thing straight right now. Nagi was born a slave, and he's been a pet all his life. He wasn't 'conditioned' into this state... he just never learned to think for himself in the first place. He will obey, to the LETTER, anything even vaguely resembling an order from someone more dominant than he is - which is to say, just about everybody in the fucking world. And when he's as bad as he is now, he also takes everything literally. If you told him to jump off a cliff, he'd run and find the nearest one and do exactly that, no questions asked. So if he ran off, it's because something YOU said made him think you wanted him gone. What did you say to him, Aya?"

"I... asked him what right he thought he had to come to us for help," Aya replied reluctantly. "I don't remember exactly what I said... I was too angry to think straight."

"Great," Youji said, sighing and leaning against the wall, crossing his arms. "That means we have no idea what 'orders' he thinks you gave him." He glared at the swordsman. "The moment he wakes up, you'd better be up there apologizing to him and telling him that you've changed your mind and you DON'T want him to pay attention to what you said before. Otherwise he'll just do this again, more than likely." "Can't you just order him not to listen to Aya?" Ken asked, startled. Youji shook his head.

"Nagi's had enough experience with me to know that I'm pretty laid back; frankly, other than the fact that I'm definitely NOT a submissive, I don't come across as much of a Dom, either. Aya comes off as a lot more dominant than I do, especially when he's pissed off. Nagi follows Omi's orders because he loves him, and he'll follow my orders mostly because he respects me; he'll follow Aya's 'orders' because he's terrified of the consequences for disobeying."

"All those scars," Ken said, clueing in. "Those were... punishments for disobedience?" The soccer player looked sick.

"Not from Schuldig," Youji said quietly. "He hasn't been punished that way since Crawford first rescued him. But yes, those are the results of his previous Masters' handiwork. Some of the people who had him as a child make the worst of our targets look like innocent school kids." He turned to Aya again. "Whatever grudges you carry for Schwartz, however much you feel betrayed by Omi and I right now... do NOT take it out on Nagi. He's no more responsible for his actions than if he'd had a gun held to his head the entire time. He literally cannot say 'no' to an order. In some ways, he's an innocent in the truest sense of the word."

Aya nodded grudgingly. "I already promised Ken that I would try not to blame him," he said. "If what you're saying is true, and I'm starting to believe you, then you're right. None of this is his fault." He sighed, and the customary cold harshness dropped away from his expression, leaving behind weariness and more guilt. "I'll apologize to him as soon as he wakes up, if you think it will help and not hurt more."

Youji nodded, a bit surprised by the sudden transformation. Ken moved to take the redhead's hand, squeezing it lightly, and Aya gave him a small smile in return. So this is what Aya's like without the masks, Youji realized. Maybe I can understand what Ken sees in him after all.

"I'm going upstairs to check on them," he said. "I'll call your cell as soon as he wakes up, so leave it on."

Aya and Ken both nodded, and Youji turned to walk up the spiral staircase. He glanced back once, just as he reached the top, and saw Ken reach out and pull an unresisting Aya into a tight embrace. Sighing, he closed the door behind him and went to seek out his own boyfriend and their sometimes-lover, hoping to offer and receive the same comfort and reassurance that everything would turn out all right in the end.

Ken sighed, leaning his head against Aya's shoulder. In the end, there was nothing that could ever compare to being held in the arms of his lover. "God, we really fucked up, didn't we?" he said ruefully after they'd stood in silence for a long moment.

"Apparently," Aya agreed reluctantly. "I was angry... I suppose I DID intend to drive him away... but I didn't intend for it to happen this way."

"Omi said his heart had stopped at least once," Ken pointed out unhappily. "If the reports are to believed, the explosion he caused was MASSIVE... I wonder what set him off? He really did a number, on himself and everything around him, apparently."

"For all we know he was attacked again," Aya said, but he didn't sound convinced of his own words. After a moment he sighed. "No, he probably wasn't. They would have blocked his powers again. This is all my doing."

"I'm as much to blame as you are, Aya," Ken chided him. "I jumped to conclusions about him... and then instead of telling you, I went off to the back to try to cool down. I know your temper, and your obsession with hating anyone involved in hurting your sister - I never should have left you alone with him. Especially after what I'd realized about how fragile he was."

Aya held him a little tighter, leaning down to bury his face in Ken's hair. "This has been a lot to take in, for both of us. I'm still not sure how I feel about all of this... but I know I no longer truly believe Nagi is to blame for any of it."

"Well, then you're about in the same place I am," Ken observed wryly. "This whole mess makes me edgy. I really don't like the way Youji ordered Omi like that... and Omi just lowered his head and obeyed him. I mean, Omi's our leader... how can we trust in his authority if Youji can control him that much? Christ, how much influence can Schuldig exert on him, if he's the one whose collar it is that Omi wears?" Ken shook his head. "And this submissive behaviour really just doesn't seem like Omi, no matter what they say."

Aya stroked his shoulders with one hand. "There's nothing we can do for now. And if you keep ranting," he added sardonically, "you're going to get us both worked up again. The last thing we need to do right now is work ourselves into a frenzy and barge into Omi's room demanding more explanations. It can wait until morning, at least for now."

"Yeah, you're right." Ken sighed and blew his bangs out of his eyes. "I just can't stop thinking about it. It's driving me nuts. I love Omi like a little brother, I can't stand to think of him getting hurt like that."

Aya shifted against him, and lowered his head further, until his lips were brushing Ken's ear. "I guess I'll just have to find a way to distract you," he murmured, making Ken shiver.

"Mmm... God, Ran..." Ken groaned. The redhead knew his weak points far too well. "I love you," he breathed out as Aya went for his neck. "No matter what else happens, at least we'll always have each other."

"Always," the swordsman echoed against Ken's skin. "I love you too, Ken. Come on... let's go find our own bed."

Lukas was starting to feel lightheaded and dizzy. They'd both sank down to sit on the floor of the cells some time ago, but they were still holding hands through the bars. He'd put everything he had into the shields; he'd never held such an incredibly dense shield for so long before. Whatever else had happened to him during the years he was missing, his powers had gotten a lot stronger - which was frightening in and of itself.

He was gasping for air, sweat streaming down his face as he clutched at his old friend's hand. *Brad... I can't... hold this much longer...* he warned his friend. He felt dismay and resignation from the other man.

*Don't push yourself too far,* Brad commanded him. *But damn it... I've narrowed it down to two possible futures - one gets us free, and one gets us recaptured and killed. I need to find the key difference!

Gritting his teeth, Lukas renewed his resolve. *I can manage another couple minutes,* he said, *But not much more than that. Not and still be conscious or coherent any time within the next week or two.*

*I'm looking as fast as I can... everything is still moving sluggishly... there it is!* Brad's mental Voice suddenly sharpened as he focused on the vision. *Nagi... the difference is Nagi's participation!*

*Somebody else I'm supposed to know?* Lukas asked. He felt shock and chagrin from the other man.

*Yes, rather,* Brad answered. *He's one of our teammates - I wasn't sure if he'd survived or not until now. He's out there somewhere, and I think he went to Weiss for help, just as we'd hoped he would.* Lukas could sense that Brad was hiding something from him, something about the connection between him and this 'Nagi', but he didn't have the power to spare to go hunting for what it was. *If we can use your connection to him to reach past this damnable shield and contact him, that will give him an idea of where we are. That will make the difference between our escape and recapture.*

*I can't contact somebody I don't know!* Lukas pointed out desperately, feeling the last of his powers sliding away from him. It was going to be now or never... *I have no idea what his mind feels like, so I won't be able to find him!*

*Your connection to him is strong enough that you should be able to follow it back to him regardless,* Brad said. Lukas was shocked; the only way he could have formed a connection as deep as the one Brad was talking about was if he'd spent a LOT of time alone in this person's presence, willingly opened his mind to create the merge... or both. He couldn't even begin to imagine trusting anybody that much, except possible Brad himself.

He looked deep inside his mind, searching down into the subconscious level where such a link would be formed. He found it, a wire-thin thread stretching from his mind into the distance. He touched it hesitantly, tried to follow it back, and found that he couldn't harmonize with the resonance of it.

*I found it... but I can't USE it,* he said helplessly. *The way I think right now is too different from the way I thought when I created it... maybe if I knew the person it links to, I'd be able to follow it anyway, but I don't.*

*I do,* Brad said after a moment of agonized deliberation that Lukas could sense. *Do you trust me enough to let me that deep into your mind? It will mean creating a similar connection between the two of us - we won't be able to close it once it's opened, you know that.*

Now it was Lukas' turn to debate with himself. If Brad had asked him that question four years ago - or however the hell long ago it was that Lukas had been fourteen - he wouldn't have hesitated. But now... a connection that close meant that, once this blocking field was gone, Brad would have access to his mind no matter how hard he shielded his thoughts. The precognitive was a strong enough telepath to find the memories Lukas would rather die than have him know about... the memories of what Emmanuel had done to him, of what he had become under the influence of the older telepath.

But if it was their only way out of this mess... Lukas didn't particularly want to be somebody's captive pet telepath, either. They might never get another chance at this; their captors would almost certainly realize what he'd done to get around their block, and then there would be no hope for it.

*All right,* he said at last. *I trust you. Just... please, Brad, don't hate me for what I've become.*

Before the precognitive could ask what he'd meant by that, he threw open his mind to the other man, drawing him inside, merging their thoughts until it was difficult to tell where any given thought had originated. For the moment Lukas was still able to keep his dirty secret hidden; they had precious little time, and Brad was focused on accomplishing their objective. He led the other man to the link, burning a new path in his mind as he went, filling the gap with Brad's essence. They were tied now in a way that was unbreakable, beyond conscious control, and they would never be able to escape each other again.

*There,* he said, mental Voice wavering as he began to lose control. He let go of some of the outermost shields, sacrificing clarity for time. *Hurry!*

Brad touched the link, and through his connection to Lukas he was able to utelize it. He too resonated against the link's 'frequency', but he knew the person on the other end of it well enough to match thoughts regardless. *NAGI!* the precognitive sent with all the strength of mind he could muster. They didn't know where they were, or how far away Nagi might be - Lukas' range was wide, but not infinite. *NAGI! CAN YOU HEAR ME?*

Omi was sitting back against the wall on his bed, Nagi cradled against his chest, when the telekinetic's eyes suddenly flew open and he bolted upright. "Schuldig!" the boy cried. "CRAWFORD!"

|Part 1| |Part 2| |Part 3| |Part 4| |Part 5| |Part 6| |Part 7| |Part 8| |Part 9| |Part 10| |Part 11| |Part 12| |Part 13| |Part 14|

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