Manu manum lavat 2
before
2.
Early the next morning, Omi entered the room to check on Yohji and Schuldig. Yohji looked up as he heard the door opening. Finding himself relieved from his position of watching over the redhead, he left his own room, and fell with a thankful sigh onto Ken's unoccupied bed for a much needed nap.
It was now Omi's turn to keep watch over Schuldig. He pulled the chair Yohji had been sitting in back over, near the bedside. As he sat down he took the opportunity to really observe the sleeping redhead. It was frightening how much younger Schuldig appeared while he slept, and Omi concluded that he couldn't be much older than they themselves were. When Weiss had encountered Schwartz early on, the other team had seemed so much older and more experienced than they themselves had. Omi could clearly remember Schuldig manipulating Ouka and himself. The way he had conducted himself in their fights had spoken of experience and a confidence beyond anything that Weiss would ever possess. But now, as Schuldig lay there on Yohji's bed, face pale and eyes closed, Omi realised that Schuldig couldn't possibly be much older than Aya or Yohji; and there was something deeper that in reflection: Schwarz was human. Omi reached out and touched one of Schuldig's thin arms, Yeah, definitely human.
The object of his musings suddenly stirred, his eyes slowly sliding open as he observed his surroundings with a slight disorientation. "What...?"
"You're in the Koneko," Omi told him, "do you remember? We found you in that SZ jail."
"Yes..." Schuldig replied after a moment.
"Are you hungry?" Omi asked, taking note of how the telepath still seemed a little dazed.
"Yes, I think I am." Schuldig replied after a moment's hesitation.
"Good, that means that you are getting better. I'll get you some food, okay?" Omi replied rising from his chair.
"Hn," Schuldig closed his eyes again. He might be fever free, but he still felt like a half-drowned cat. Omi quickly returned with some sort of soup. To his shame the kitten still had to assist in feeding him. He also noticed, that Omi was now carrying his bow.
"Afraid, Bombay?" Schuldig asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.
"Only cautious. That's always best with Schwarz." The younger man replied honestly.
"I don't really think I'm up to causing you any trouble," Schuldig drawled. Drawling was still difficult - as was breathing… but he was safe. Finally he had time to use his mind… to make his plans. He allowed his eyes to drift closed as the reality of his position began to set in. He had survived the fabric, but he had no idea what had happened to the others. Were they still alive? His heart clinched in fear when he thought about them. Where were Nagi and Farfarello? They might be killers, but they were still children as well. Nagi needed guidance and protection. Being separated from Schwarz would be traumatic for him. The same was true for Farfarello. Even if he survived, there was no way of knowing how long it would take for him to become reasonably stable again. And what in hell could have happened to Brad? Though the leader of Schwartz might be cold and egotistic, he was still the closest thing to a friend Schuldig had. Schuldig realised at that moment that he might very well be the only person left who stood any chance of rescuing his team… and for that he would need Weiss. However, manipulating the kittens would not be an easy task. He had to be careful. This is the only chance Schwarz will ever have he thought as he slowly drifted back into a restless slumber.
Schuldig spent the rest of the day resting. Later that afternoon was Aya's shift and although common sense told the Weiss assassin that there would be no need for a weapon, he still kept his katana within reach, just in case, as he kept his eyes on the sleeping telepath. He was startled when Schuldig's eyes suddenly flew open and the telepath muttered something unintelligible.
"What's the matter with you?" Aya asked, shaking him roughly as the telepath's long fingers grabbed reflexivly onto his shirtsleeve.
Schuldig moaned and began to trash violently, speaking in foreign tongues - more than one as far as Aya could tell. Aya knew it must have something to do with his telepathy and tried wrenching his arm free from Schuldig's grasp, but the other redhead clung to him in panic.
"Hey, wake up," Aya awkwardly ordered as he tried to prise the vice like fingers off his arm. "Pull yourself together."
For several moments Schuldig's condition remained volatile. Then his body suddenly spasmed and the next time he opened his eyes, they finally seemed to focus on Aya.
"Is it over?" the swordsman asked.
"Yeah," Schuldig glanced down and quickly let go of the other man's arm, " sorry."
"Your telepathy?" Aya surmised.
"Normally there are some pills, which help me stay in control, but I haven't taken them take for at least two months," Schuldig quietly mumbled. "Oh, verdammt, my head." Schuldig grimaced, both from the pain and the fear of divulging too much information. He hadn't intended to tell Weiss anything more than needed, he certainly wasn't about to start allowing them to delve into his life story.
"I get you an aspirin." Aya said when the redhead didn't continue. He retrieved the medicine and a glass of water and helped Schuldig to drink it.
"Thanks," the telepath replied leaning back.
"We'll have to talk soon." Aya stated pointedly.
Schuldig nodded and closed his eyes. At least the pain was ebbing.
After dinner Weiss gathered in Yohji's room.
"Alright, we've held up our end of the bargain and saved you ass. Now it's time for you to share some information with us." Aya ordered. "What do you know about my sister?"
"I know, where she is, why SZ wants her and even how to wake her up." Schuldig replied without hesitation.
"No one can wake a coma patient," Aya told him blandly.
"We have other possibilities than medications." Schuldig replied calmly, "after all, you are in no position to argue with me about how the human mind operates."
"Let's start with her whereabouts." Omi quickly interjected, staving off the oncoming argument.
"Not so fast. Manu manum lavat." Schuldig replied gesturing with his hands.
"What?" four voices chorused in obvious confusion.
"It's Latin, and it means one hand washes the other. When you help me, I will help you." Schuldig answered.
"We've helped you more than enough," Ken snapped, "what else do you want?"
"My team - I want my team back." Schuldig replied determination in his voice.
"Exactly why should we help you save our enemies?" Aya asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because you need me. SZ is too powerful for Kritiker... or do you see that in a different way?"
"No," Aya acknowledged, "but why should we trust you?"
"Because I hate SZ more than you do." Schuldig answered with cold eyes.
"That's something I was wondering about" Yohji interjected, "Why has SZ suddenly turned against Schwarz?"
"They found out, that we planned to betray them. To break free of their possession." It was obvious, that Schuldig didn't like to talk about it. He turned to look at Aya as he continued "you don't have time for second thoughts. Your sister is headed towards a most unpleasant fate. I can help her - and you to fight SZ."
"And giving, that we agree to this... deal, how will it work?" the leader of Weiss asked warily.
"You help me to find my team-mates and free them. For each of them I give you something in return. My knowledge about SZ, the whereabouts of your sister… and …the way to…. wake her," Schuldig concluded weakly as another fit of coughing threatened to overtake him.
During their discussion they had forgotten how ill he the other man still was. The telepath had seemed almost as cool and arrogant as ever. He's still too weak to keep up his façade for very long; Yohji mused, as he helped the other man to lie back down. Schuldig turnend questioning eyes to the blond.
"Sleep now. We'll discuss your proposal and give you an answer when you wake up." Yohji said patiently.
But it seemed that there was not much to talk about. "Even when it means a deal with the devil himself, I have to try to find my sister," Aya told them. "You guys don't have to help me. Actually, I would understand if you prefer not to be pulled into it."
"Bullshit, Aya, we are a team," Yohji told him, "We won't leave you alone."
"Yeah, we're your friends," Ken added.
"We're going to help you to free your sister," Omi finished, "but we'll have to be careful with Schuldig."
"More than just careful," Aya said firmly, turning an untrusting eye to the figure lying on the bed.
TBC