Sanctuary

Chapter 10

Bradley was sitting in his office. His nose for the first time in days, not
in the computer. He drummed his fingers nervously on top of the desk
as he waited. He didn't go out to search. In fact, no one went out. It
was finally sinking in that Muraki will not let them find Nagi and Omi. Not
until his sick, little game was over. God, Bradley hated that smug
bastard. Right now, Aya was fighting for, not only his own life, but for
Nagi and Omi's as well. All any of them could do was wait.

Bradley leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling. What
would he do if Aya did not come back? No, he couldn't think like that.
Aya would come back. Aya will come back. Bradley stared at the
clock. Only fifteen minutes has passed. It felt more like fifteen years.
He began tapping his foot against the side of his desk. Feeling
restless, Bradley stood up and began to pace the length of the room.
He stopped in front of the window to look out at the bustling city
below. He turned away and continued to pace the room.

Suddenly the precog leaned against the wall as an overpowering vision
struck him. The pain stabbed him in the brain. He grunted clutching the
sides of his head and fell to the floor semiconscious.
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It was 8:25. Bradley ran out of his office. He was yelling something.
Schuldig and Kudou burst out of their room with their clothes a
rumpled mess. Ken and Farfarello were watching television when they looked
up to see Bradley run, pass the opened door.

When he reached the front door. He yanked it opened to see Aya, blooded
and battered.
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Bradley awakened from the vision to find himself on the floor. He staggered
to his feet and stared at the clock. Oh God! It was 8:25. He ran to the
office door, flung it opened and ran through the hall.

"Aya!" He yelled. When he saw Schuldig and Yohji rush out of their
bedroom with their clothes thrown on carelessly, he felt his heart sink into
the pit of his stomach. "Aya!" He rushed pass the living room and out of
the corner of his eye, he saw a startled Ken and Farfarello sitting in front of
the television. His vision was coming true. So that meant. . .Damn his
precog sense. There are times when he hated being able to see the
future.

When he reached the front door and yanked, it opened. Aya stood in the
doorway covered with blood and wounds. The red head swayed and
collapsed into Bradley's outstretched arms. "Aya." Bradley whispered
to the young man.

"I'm. . .sor-rry. . .I failed." Was all the Japanese man said before
unconsciousness claimed him.

Bradley lifted the thin frame of his lover into his arms and turned facing
the others.

"Aya!" Yohji said shocked.

"Oh my God, what happened to him," said Ken wanting to know if his
friend was all right.

"Schu, get the first aid kit," ordered Bradley.

"Right." Schuldig ran towards the bathroom.

"Move!" The American had to force his way through the gawking Yohji and
Ken. The two men seemed to be shocked to see their friend like this.
Bradley took the unconscious man to his room and laid Aya on the bed.

"Will he be all right?" asked Ken nervously.

The American didn't answer him. He just began to undress Aya. Then
Schuldig rushed into the room carrying the medical kit.

"Schu, I'm going to need your help," said Bradley. "As for the rest of
you. . .Out!"

"But we. . ." Yohji started to say, but went silent when the American fixed
him with a steely-eyed glare.

"It's best that you two come with me," said Farfarello. He grabbed the two
men by the arm and had to forcibly drag them out.

Yohji, Ken and Farfarello waited out in the hall. Ken was sitting on the floor
with his knees bend up to his chest, and his head rested against his knees.
Farfarello was squatting beside Ken and rubbing him on his back trying to
comfort him.

Yohji leaned against the other wall smoking a cigarette. He watched as the
smoke rose in spirals to disappear.

It was two long hours before Schuldig stepped out of the room. Ken
leaped to his feet and came to stand next to Yohji.

"Well Schu, how is he?" Yohji asked crushing the half-smoked cigarette
in the hallway ashtray.

"He's going to be fine. His injures weren't as bad as we first thought them
to be," said the German.

"But there was so much blood," said Ken worried. "Are you sure he's
going to be all right?"

"Yes, his wounds were superficial." Schuldig smiled. "There were a few
serious wounds. One on his shoulder, the other across his chest and back. It
didn't hit any of his vital organs, but they were deep enough that it took
many stitches to close. But as I said before, he is all right."

Both Ken and Yohji sighed in relief. Then something occurred to the
blond. "I didn't see Aya's name tag. Does that mean. . .he lost?" Yohji
asked hesitant.

Schuldig sighed and nodded his head. Yohji had guessed as much.
According to everything, the German told him about the other
swordsman. Yohji couldn't see how Aya was able to come out of it alive.

"Can we go in to see him?" asked Ken.

"Nein, he's asleep now. You should let him rest," said the German.

"Well, I want to finish watching the movie," snorted Farfarello shoving pass
the men and going back to the living room. "I hope I haven't missed
anything good."

Ken sighed throwing his hands up in a helpless gesture and followed
the Irishman.

Schuldig wrapped his arms around Yohji pulling the blond close. The
German rubbed his crotch against Yohji's. The lanky blond moaned as
Schuldig bit and sucked Yohji on the neck.

"What say we take this into the bedroom." Schuldig said against Yohji's
neck. He backed his lover up and into their room.
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Bradley sat in a chair near the bed watching the red head sleep. He felt
a weight lift off his heart at Aya's return. He leaned forward and brushed
a stray lock of hair that was in Aya's face. Aya moaned and stirred. His
eyelids twitched and slowly opened. He stared into Bradley's silvery blue
eyes and smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry. I tried to defeat him, but I. . .I couldn't," Aya said disgusted with
himself.

"It's okay. The technique he uses is very ancient. I'm just happy to see
you come back alive." Bradley closed his hand over Aya's hand. "I was
so worried that I would never see you again."

"I told you not to worry." Aya flinched as he tried to lift his injured arm.
Hot searing pain shot up his arm and across his chest.

"Don't move." Bradley rested a gentle hand on Aya's arm. "We had to
put stitches in your shoulder, back and chest.

"Dammit, I hate being so helpless."

Bradley smiled. Removing his glasses and sitting them on the night
stand, he got to his feet taking off his jacket followed by his silk tie, and
placed them on the chair. "Well, I'm glad you're helpless. It means that
I can do all sorts of things to you and you won't be able to stop me."

Aya narrowed his eyes at the American. "You wouldn't dare."

The American stopped to stare at Aya as though he was seriously
contemplating ravishing the injured man. "Bradley!" Aya squealed in
shock.

"I'm only kidding. It wouldn't be fun if I were the only one that's enjoying
it." Then Bradley kicked off his shoes and loosened the collar of his
shirt. He walked around to the other side of the bed and laid down
next to Aya. Bradley gently pulled the younger man into his arms and kissed
Aya on the forehead.

"Go back to sleep, you need to rest."

Aya sighed and snuggled close to the American pressing his nose against
the precog's throat. Aya yawned, closed his eyes and drifted back to
sleep.
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Bradley was awakened from his sleep by a noise. He wasn't sure. Did
the phone ring? He listened, but there was nothing. He was just about
to lie back down when there was a gentle wrap against his door. Bradley
slowly detached the red head's arm from across his chest. Easing out
of the bed, he walked to the door and opened it. It was Ken, and he was
holding the telephone.

"It's Muraki." Ken handed Bradley the phone.

Bradley clutched the phone and hesitated a second. Then he put the
phone to his ear. "Yes."


{Well Brad, it seems that I am one up on you.} Muraki's silky voice flowed
through the earpiece of the phone.

Bradley gritted his teeth in anger as he forced himself not to hang up in
the psycho's face. "Get to the point Muraki." The American stepped out
into the hallway and closed the bedroom door behind him.

{Now Bradley, calm yourself. I wouldn't want you to shatter that icy image
you so loved to show the Elders and everyone else.} Muraki's laughter
echoed in the American's ear. {I mean I wouldn't want you to show your
little teammates that you are only human, after all.}

If the smug bastard was there in front of him. Bradley would show him
something he wouldn't forget. Like a foot up Muraki's ass. Bradley
exhaled and let the rage drain out of him. He has to keep a cool head. It
wouldn't due to loose control now. "I'm listening." Bradley said
emotionlessly.

{Good. I do so hate dealing with overly emotional people.} Muraki's silky
tongue in cheek voice was wearing thin on the American's nerves. If it
wasn't for the fact that the man was such a powerful sorcerer. Bradley
would have killed Muraki himself years ago. {Now, we're going to try
something new. The location of the next fight will be confidential. I will
send a car around to pickup your man.}

"Very well, who will you need?”

{Balinese. He will be fighting Thread Master Kazuki tomorrow at 7 P.M.}
There was a click and then the line went dead.

Bradley lowered the phone and stared at Ken. "He announced the next
fight?" asked Ken. Bradley nodded his head.