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Chapter 6
"Dinner is ready Crawford..." Heather peeked cautiously around the doorway between the kitchen and sun room. Without a word Crawford stood up and walked into the kitchen, taking the plate of steak, mashed potatoes, and vegetables that she offered in one hand and picking up a glass of milk and his utensils with the other, then immediately went to the dinging room table without even a thank you.
"You're welcome..." Heather said under her breath as she turned back to the three other girls in the kitchen. "Well, grab the food and we'll go eat in Youji's room with him. It's about time the lazy ass got up again anyway, he hasn't appeared again since he harassed us-"
"Flirted with us," Cara corrected with a grin as she picked up the tray with the plates of food.
"Sorry, flirted with us for those few hours at lunchtime," Heather picked up a stack of plates with utensils piled atop it and quietly walked past Crawford to Youji's room.
"Crawford..." Brittany dared to speak with the silently eating boxer at the desk. "Will Schuldig and Nagi be back in time to eat some of this?"
"Yes," Crawford answered crisply as he ate with quick, efficient movements.
"Alright," Brittany quickly followed Nicole and Cara into the bedroom and shut the door behind herself. "He's such a jerk!" She said quietly.
"Youji, hey, Youji..." Cara sat beside Youji and gently rocked his head back and forth for fear of hurting him if she tried to shake him. Youji said something garbled and tried to roll over but hissed in pain and opened his eyes when he moved his shoulder the wrong way.
"Are you okay?" Cara held Youji down to the bed as he groggily tried to sit up.
"Where am I?" He looked around blinking bleary eyes.
"You're at my house, Youji. Don't worry about the disorientation, it's just the painkillers I made you take earlier," Heather began to fix them all plates of food on the desk near the bed and he look at her in confusion. "We brought you some supper 'cause we figured you'd be hungry."
"Brad calmed down a little after you went to bed again," Brittany sat herself down on the foot of the bed and grinned at him. "We really started pissing him off when we were loud earlier."
"Oh," comprehension dawned in Youji's eyes as his thoughts finally found the right track again, "I'm glad he didn't keep being such a bastard and yelling. What time is it?"
"About five-thirty," Cara told Youji as she helped prop him up on some pillows.
"I've slept too long," Youji stretched. "Have Schuldig and Nagi come back yet?"
"Nope, but Crawford said they'd be here soon," Brittany winced. "Not that we really want them here..."
"I don't really care as long as Schuldig leaves me the hell alone," Heather handed Youji his plate then gave plates to the other three before reaching for her own.
::What, you mean you didn't miss me?:: A nasal voice slid into Heather's head.
"No, actually. I don't really give a fuck where the hell you are," Heather sat in the chair.
"Uh, who were you talking to?" Cara gave Heather a look that questioned the older girl's sanity.
"Oh fuck..." Heather put down her plate and sighed. "They're back."
::And a hello to all of you, too,:: Schuldig sounded quite amused as Nicole and Cara both froze.
"I guess you all heard that then?" Heather stood up and grabbed the tray of food. "I'll go put this where they can get it, then I have to go feed Farfarello again."
"I'm coming with you," Nicole stood up and grabbed Heather's plate. "And don't even think of not eating your supper."
"Okay, Nicole," Heather grinned and shook her head as she balanced the tray on her hip and opened the door. "I'll be good and eat my dinner."
"Ah, there you are," Schuldig strode up to the two girls with a large smirk plastered to his face. "Brad says you need to phone the Weiss boys and tell them our demands."
"Fine..." Heather pushed him out of the way with the tray to avoid physical contact. "Nagi, do you like steak?"
"Yes," Nagi gave Heather an odd look from the table where he was sitting quietly across from Brad.
"Nagi's not used to being asked what he likes, he just eats whatever we have," Schuldig informed Heather as she walked to the table and set down the tray.
"This is Nicole," Heather introduced Nicole who was walking a little behind her. "She's one of my friends who came over to do homework. "Nicole, this is Nagi."
"Hi, Nagi," Nicole smiled at Nagi who simply stared at her silently.
"Here," Heather dodged around the doorway into the kitchen for a moment and came back with a place setting for Nagi. "You can have as much as you want."
"Hey!" Schuldig raised an eyebrow and Heather turned to look at him. "Do I not exist?"
"Not from what we've heard of you," Nicole brushed past him into the kitchen to get another plate which she began filling with food for Farfarello.
"Fine then," Schuldig's smirk grew. ::Perhaps Brad should find out some choice information about a certain anime...::
"I hate you," Heather's glare promised death at some point as she walked past Schuldig and brought back a plate, glass, and utensils which she slammed onto the table for him. "We're going to feed Farfarello." She and Nicole left for Farfarello's room, grabbing utensils and a glass of milk on the way.
"Schuldig, I had finally gotten them to quiet enough to give me some peace," Crawford glared up at Schuldig.
"Whatever, Crawford," Schuldig sat down and began to serve himself. "Why the hell are you putting up with all of this, anyway?"
"Because in the end it will be for the best," Crawford kept his eyes on the computer screen.
"You're no fun," Schuldig began wolfing down his food and Nagi quickly took what he wanted from the plates before Schuldig finished and went for seconds.
*****
"Hey, Farfarello," Heather came into the room and sat down beside the bound man on the bed. "Brought you dinner."
"Why d' ye insist on feedin' me?" Farfarello glared at her from the corner of the bed.
"I've asked her that a hundred times myself," Nicole sat down beside Heather with the food.
"You never eat here when I ask you to..." Heather frowned at Nicole and then Farfarello. "You both need to eat to stay healthy." Farfarello snorted at this and Nicole grinned.
"I'll eat when I get home," Nicole began to cut up Farfarello's steak for him.
"But you cooked the steak..." Heather sighed and held a bite-sized piece of steak out towards Farfarello on a fork. "Never mind, I'll deal with your not eating later. Farfarello, you're going to eat this or I'll complain to Brad who is already in a pissy mood."
"Fine," Farfarello moved out of his corner and obediently opened his mouth for the bite of food. He chewed and swallowed then glared at Heather. "This may be good but I still don't understand ye and yer ways..."
"Don't worry about it, not many people do understand me," Heather smiled and held up another piece. "I tend to be unclassified in general."
"Let me see your arm," Nicole kneeled beside Farfarello and untied him enough to get at the tensor bandage and unwind it.
"And I suppose yer not afraid o' me either, then?" Farfarello turned his amber glare on Nicole as well.
"Nope," Nicole looked at the gauze. "Looks like you've wrapped it alright. Have you been applying antiseptic?"
"Yep, every wound I treat gets antiseptic before the gauze," Heather continued to feed Farfarello his dinner.
"Good, it should heal up fine then," Nicole wrapped the tensor back around Farfarello's arm and sat back, leaving the jacket partially off.
"What are ye doin'?" Farfarello gave her a confused look when she didn't retie the jacket.
"Giving your arm some room to breathe. If it stays damp there is a greater chance that it may not heal correctly," Nicole stared straight back into Farfarello's eye until Heather distracted him with another bite.
"Plus it's mean to keep you tied up in here all the time, don't you get bored?" Heather offered him the plate and utensils as he finished taking the jacket off. Farfarello shrugged as he took the plate and began to inhale his food.
"Crawford says you shouldn't let him have his jacket off," Nagi stood in the doorway looking solemn as usual.
"Tell Crawford I'm stupid and didn't learn my lesson the first time," Heather smiled gently at Nagi before watching Farfarello finish his food and handing him his milk. Nagi turned and left, presumably to tell Crawford exactly that.
"Do they always keep you isolated in rooms like this?" Nicole took Farfarello's plate, glass and utensils and stood up.
"Only if I'm in one o' my rages or there's company over," Farfarello flexed his injured arm.
"If you promise not to break anything we can leave you untied," Heather grinned at Farfarello who was still looking somewhat confused.
"Sorry, Farfarello," Schuldig walked in and leaned on the side of the closet by the door. "Crawford says you have to be restrained whenever there's hostages in the house."
"Crawford is a bitch," Heather gave Schuldig a flat look.
"And you had better be careful because you never know what he'll see," Schuldig laughed as Heather winced slightly and glided past her to help Farfarello put his straight jacket back on.
"Sorry..." Heather looked down at the plates in her hands and followed Nicole to the kitchen slowly.
"You okay?" Nicole gave her a concerned look.
"No..." Heather blinked rapidly for a moment then gave Nicole a wavering smile, "But I kind of have to be, don't I?"
"It's okay," Nicole gave Heather a hug and let the girl cling to her for a little while before pulling back.
"Yeah, you still need to eat your dinner though," Heather gave Nicole a small grin.
"You know I don't eat here," Nicole rolled her eyes and began to stack the dishes.
"I can try," Heather picked up her plate. "Besides, if you don't eat I won't either."
"Eat," Nicole gave her a flat look and Heather obediently took a bite of food.
"You need to eat too," Heather pointed her fork at Nicole accusingly.
"If I hear one more fight you will both die," Crawford was glaring at them through the doorway. "The two of you will eat your dinner and be silent," as soon as he had issued his orders he turned and went back to the table.
"Yes, sir..." Nicole picked up her plate and both girls went to sit in the sun room and eat.
"And we are denied even the pleasure of badmouthing him behind his back..." Heather sighed as she took a forkful of mashed potatoes.
"Wait until class on Monday, then we can bash him as much as we like," Nicole began to cut up her steak.
*****
"Good luck," Nicole gave Heather a parting hug.
"Thanks, the way my day had gone with all of these assassins I'll need it," Heather gave Cara a hug as well before Brittany glomped both of the leaving girls.
"Thank you for visiting!" Brittany smiled.
"Not a problem, make sure you call me before you go anywhere," Cara winked at Brittany and Heather looked confused.
"What are you two plotting?" Nicole asked with narrowed eyes.
"Nothing at all," Brittany grinned.
"I'll see you Monday morning at ten then, Nicole," Heather waved as the girls climbed into the car.
"Yep, maybe if you're lucky Crawford will let you go to class alone," Nicole shut her door and waved back.
"Bye!" Heather and Brittany called as the car drove off.
::Brad says you have procrastinated with phoning Weiss for more than long enough,:: Schuldig's voice crept into Heather's mind on stealthy feet.
"Get out," Heather glared at the house as she walked back down the walk.
"Schuldig?" Brittany inquired as she turned back to the house.
"Yes," Heather sighed. ::Tell him I'm about to phone.::
"Ah, but your mind is so much fun to play in," Schuldig opened the door for them and mock-bowed.
"Then be nicer and I might reevaluate your privileges," Heather growled as she passed Schu and pulled the card Ken had given her from her pocket.
"I'll go talk with Youji," Brittany happily volunteered and ran off to the bedroom again.
"What do you want me to tell them, Crawford?" Heather picked up the phone and read over the number on the card.
"Tell them that for now we will require their cooperation in keeping away from Rossland at the risk of all of your lives," Crawford didn't even look up. "Later I shall specify further details of what is required for your safe release. Oh, and don't even think of letting Youji talk to his teammates."
"Fine," Heather took the phone into the bedroom and sat on the lazy boy before beginning to dial the number.
"Can you ask them to bring me some cigarettes?" Youji grinned at Heather.
"Like hell, Youji. I told you that you're not getting any," Heather stuck out her tongue at Youji.
"Aw..." Youji pouted. "But withdrawal will make me cranky and I'll take longer to heal..."
"For Shame Youji, be a man and take it," Schuldig smirked at Youji as he walked in nonchalantly and leaned on the back of Heather's chair.
"Um, hello. I need to speak to Manx?" Heather paused as the voice on the other end of the line asked her something. "I was given this number by Ken Hidaka in case of emergency, I have one now."
"Hello?" A pleasant Japanese-accented voice asked as Heather's line was put through to Manx's office.
"Um, Hi, Manx?" Heather prayed this was the right person.
::Not a wise thing to do around Farfarello...:: Schuldig smirked down as she glared up.
"Yes, I am Manx," The voice replied leaving the unspoken question of why exactly Heather was phoning and knew her name hanging in the air.
"Um, I'm Heather. Omi, Ken and Aya left Youji Kudou with me because of his injuries last night. I have a big problem, Youji is alright but I need to get in contact with one of the other three right away. Can you help me?" Heather asked.
"They've been trying to get in touch with you repeatedly this afternoon, what happened?" Manx asked in a gentle voice.
"Well..." Schuldig tapped Heather on the shoulder warningly and she winced. "I really shouldn't tell anyone but them, if you don't mind too much... Someone was on the 'net without the call director today, that's why no phone calls were able to get through."
"Ah, yes, give me a moment and I shall connect you to their apartment," Manx immediately took up a business tone again.
"Thank you..." Heather listened until she heard a click and ringing on the other end of the line again.
"Hello, Ken Hidaka here," A male voice reached her ear.
"Hi Ken... It's Heather-" Heather was cut off by almost panicked concern.
"Heather? We've been trying to reach you all day, who was on your phone line? Is Youji okay? Why did you use the emergency number?!" Ken nearly yelled into the receiver.
"Ken! Let her get a word in edgewise!" Omi could be heard in the background.
"Ow... Well, Youji is fine," Heather listened as Ken relayed the information with a loud sigh of relief. "But... We have a big problem, that's why I used the number on the card..."
"What could be so bad if Youji is fine?" Ken attention was suddenly focused on Heather.
"Um... We've kind of been taken hostage... By Schwartz..." Heather jerked her head away from the phone as there was a loud thump and some very violent yelling and cursing. A moment later the painfully loud noises were partially cut off and another voice was on the line.
"What do you mean you have been taken hostage by Schwartz?" Aya's cold voice addressed her curtly.
"Um, I mean that last night four men with unique talents broke into my house and threatened to kill us all. We're all fine but Crawford made me call you to tell you his demands..." Heather had curled into the corner of the chair and Youji was giving her and the phone concerned looks.
"Hello, Abyssinian," Schuldig leaned down by Heather to call cheerily into the phone.
"What are his demands?" Aya hissed the words out from what sounded like between clenched teeth.
"Heather?" Another click and Aya was joined by Omi's voice.
"Yeah, um, Crawford says that he will specify further details later, but for now if you want to keep all of us unharmed you need to stay far away from Rossland," Heather could almost feel Aya's glare seeping through the phone.
"Are you all alright?" Omi asked in a calm voice.
"Yes, they haven't hurt any of us. If you want you can ask Nicole, she was allowed to visit so we could work on our term project. I'm also being permitted to go to class on Monday so we can talk then," Heather tried to pretend Aya was not boiling silently on the other end and concentrated on Omi.
"That is good," Omi seemed to be thinking as he talked. "When you say 'all' who are you talking about?"
"My friend Brittany came over to help me last night before Schwartz showed up, so she's a hostage too," Heather sighed.
"Alright, so for now all we have to do is stay away from Rossland and all three of you will be cared for properly?" Omi seemed to be keeping a cool head unlike the other two.
"Yep, that's about it," Heather looked up at Schuldig as he tapped her shoulder again.
"Brad says that that is enough time," Heather turned away from Schuldig and tried to curl around the phone as he reached for it. "I'll talk to you again on Monday unless he tells me to phone again. Bye!"
"Good bye," Omi said and the line went dead.
"Aw, I wanted to talk with the chibi," Schuldig complained as he took the phone back out.
"I don't think he wanted to talk with you," Heather looked over at Youji and Brittany on the bed. "For now they're agreeing with Crawford's demands, I'll talk to them more in class on Monday."
"I guess that's the best we can do for now, isn't it?" Brittany asked.
"For now..." Youji lay back down and started up at the roof in thought. "Can I please have a cigarette?"
*****
The rest of the evening went smoothly with the girls and Youji going to bed as soon as Crawford decided that it was too late to do anything else useful, at precisely eleven o'clock, and the assassins following soon after. This time it was Brittany's turn to stay in with Youji and Heather was out in the living room with Crawford. After making sure that Youji and Brittany were settled, content and weren't going to talk all night and annoy Schuldig and Crawford (::I'm so touched that you would consider my comfort, *Liebchen:: / "Shut-up and go to sleep, Schuldig.") She was tucking herself into her sleeping bag when she caught Crawford staring at her oddly.
"What...?" She tilted her head to the side slightly followed his gaze down to the teddy-bear beside her. "Um... You have seen one of these before, right?"
"Are you really eighteen?" Crawford shook his head in disbelief.
"Yes," Heather looked away and turned over to face the wall, "I've had him since I was two and it's an old, old comfort habit."
"I thought I lived in a house full of psychos before..." Crawford muttered to himself as he pulled his sleeping bag up.
"Schuldig has worse habits..." Heather shot back before closing her eyes.
::Would you like to know the extent of my habits?:: Schuldig's amused voice entered her mind as she tried to go to sleep.
"Go to bed, Schuldig!" Heather yelled and tucked the pillow over her head.
::Aw, but it's so lonely with no one under me panting and moaning my name as they climax..." Schuldig was laughing as he whined at her.
"And you're going to stay lonely if I have anything to say about it, go away!" Heather tried to close his mind out but had no idea how she was supposed to even try going about creating mental shielding.
::I still haven't received my thanks for saving your lives...:: Schuldig laughed harder as Heather growled at the invasive voice in her head.
"Schuldig, go to sleep or I'll lock you up with Farfarello," Brad called and Heather felt a mental caress as Schuldig left her mind in peace at last.
"Stupid telepath, leave me the hell alone already..." She hissed under her breath, while at the same time wondering why on earth she suddenly felt so very alone in her own head.
Dictionary:
Liebchen - My lovely (Das Liebchen - Sweetheart)
