Chapter 3
While Nagi had decided to do something productive like hacking into Koyasu's files to find out what was really up, Schuldig was consuming all the beer in the refrigerator and singing bad songs in what Nagi presumed was English.
[author's interjection 2: actually, I love Spiritualized, but the Engrish is worth poking fun at]
"Schuldig shut the hell up!!" he yelled.
The German proceeded to throw an empty can down the hallway. "I'm rehearsing, Nagi!"
Nagi put a hand on his forehead. His head was starting to hurt, too. He wished Crawford would get back from whatever he was doing.
"Hey, why don't you sing Mayfly?"
"Just shut up! I'm trying to find a loophole, okay? We're gonna be stuck in these after the series if I don't and I don't think you want to spend the rest of your life a carrot-top in suspenders do you?"
"That hurt chibi, it really did."
"Whatever."
The redhead stumbled out of the kitchen. He flopped down on Nagi's futon and stared up at his teammate. "We're out of beer."
"Don't care," Nagi chimed softly, a hint of danger in his tone.
Schuldig made a face. "Man, you've gotten even colder."
"I got another message. I'm supposed to be guarding the new Persia in the last episode. Which means I won't be there to get you two out."
"The new Persia?"
"Omi. Sorry, Takatori Mamorou."
Schuldig was too drunk to really make sense of how ridiculous this was getting, but he did know he wanted to get on with the normal plotline. This idea of *helping* Weiß was really creepy. He sighed and fluffed Nagi's pillow up before laying back.
The doors to the apartment slammed shut, and Schuldig sat straight up. "Brad?! Is that you?"
It was still a bit jarring to see the butler-style Brad appear in the doorway, but was more shocking was the strangely familiar handsome young man with him.
"Who....?"
"Hidaka Ken."
Schuldig's eyes widened. "A *red* cross....?"
Ken scowled. "Don't even start. Now, why am I here again Crawford?"
"We have to be careful. This is strictly secret, and we have to carry out the plot as is. We've only got an hour left to plan this."
Nagi hit the return key with resolve and turned to look at the Weiß member. "I've found out what happened. Koyasu wouldn't pay royalties to the old artist. There was a lawsuit, and BAM look what happened to us."
"Cheap bastard," Schuldig grumbled.
Ken glanced over at the man who was sprawled across the bed. "What the hell are you wearing?"
The German sat straight up, pointing a threatening finger at him. "SHUT UP!!! JUST SHUT THE HELL UP!!!"
"Calm down Schuldig. We're trying to form an alliance here," Crawford said, holding up his hand.
Ken looked over at the American, more than a little surprised. "An alliance?"
"Well if you read the plot synopsis we're on the same side in this one anyway, so we might as well work together in this as well," Nagi said, turning his chair around to face the baffled Weiß member.
The dark-haired young man nodded, his green eyes showing understanding now. "All right. Everyone is pretty miserable about this, so if we can change things back I'm in!"
Crawford smiled. "Well, according to what you said, except for Aya and Omi, we've all got some time to kill?"
"That's right."
The tall man moved his hand up to push on his glasses, once again irritated when he found they were no longer there. He clenched his fist angrily, swinging his hand back to his side and muttering a few curses. "Well, what we have to do is find Koyasu and make him pay the royalties..." He looked up at the three pairs of eyes watching him, and realized the seeming impossibility in what he'd just said.
"Crawford," Nagi began, "This isn't even really Japan. I mean, yeah the cars drive on the left side of the road but the driver's side is still on the left."
Crawford was becoming angered. "DAMN IT!!" he shouted, punching Nagi's desk.
Ken suddenly had an idea, proving once again that he wasn't the original Ken. "Maybe if we make some sort of deal with Koyasu, he'd agree to pay the royalties and we could have our old bodies back!"
Nagi studied the other teen for a couple of minutes and then nodded. "It might be worth a try, but I think we need something other than that."
"Maybe we should all just go on strike," Schuldig muttered.
"And be wiped from existence entirely?" Nagi pointed out. "Look, we have to try and dig something up to get Koyasu with."
"Like the fact that he's gay?" Schuldig said.
Crawford shook his head. "No, everyone knows that already."
"All right, well, I need to get back to the others for the opening..." Ken said.
"What the hell!" Schuldig growled. "We're not even in the damned opening!! The stupid kid who dies after four episodes is but we're not!?"
"We're only in three episodes," Nagi interjected.
Schuldig pouted.
Ken shook his head. "Don't worry, I'll tell Yohji. Even if the other two won't help, he's pretty pissed. Especially since they're gonna give him yet another lover to kill."
Crawford rolled his eyes. "That's just cheap."
Ken nodded in agreement. "I know it. And look at these," he added, holding up his hand and releasing his now foot-and-a-half-long claws. "They went from being too short to too long. This doesn't make sense. I mean, where do they come from?" He looked as his watch. "Shit! Guys, I'm really sorry but I have to go!"
His former enemies bowed (well, Nagi and Crawford did; Schuldig kept pouting) and acknowledged their understanding. Ken promised to give the news of their new alliance to the others and raced hastily out the apartment and down the street.
Crawford sighed, looking at his pouting German teammate. "Stop that," he said.
"Stop what?"
"Pouting. I already told you, you're still cute."
Nagi rolled his eyes and left the room, afraid of getting caught in some mushy exchange between his two older teammates.
Schuldig looked up at the American, a pathetic look in his blue eyes. "You mean it?"
"Yes, I mean it," he groaned, irritated by the overly whiney tone in which the younger man said it. "It's not like you're a totally different person. So stop acting stupid and let's just take care of this."
The familiar grin curled across the German's face, his confidence returning to normal. "Fair enough," he said, his tone brimming with determination.
Crawford smiled weakly. ~Yes,~ he thought to himself, well aware that his teammate could hear it, ~You are definitely still cute.~