Sacrifice (Epilogue) by Sianne

----Epilogue – Sanctification – Manx ----

The woman sat in stony silence, watching the man across from her eating his dessert. The meeting had not gone well. She'd called
him a bastard at least nine times by her latest count, and had resisted the urge to spit in his face remarkably well, though it was
rising again. She tamped it back down. The man smirked at her as if he could discern her intentions and thought they were
amusing.
“More wine?” he asked her. She'd drank three glasses, but was not drunk. Their server, a redhead with a remarkably shaggy
haircut, came striding over and poured without being asked, blue eyes sparkling with mirth. The woman seethed. She hated this
even more than she hated the man across from her. She was being publically humiliated and couldn't even retaliate. She took a
swallow from the wineglass and emptied half of it in one swallow.
“Easy, you'll give yourself a headache.” the man commented.
“You give me a headache.” she growled. “Omi's still in the hospital.”
“Well, it's only been three days.” the man said, shrugging. “You did give free reign after all. And something needed to be done.”

“This is NOT what I had in mind.” the woman snapped, her teeth clicking together. She was almost too angry to see straight. Her
nostrils flared. The man calmly finished his last forkful of torte, then aimed his fork at her.
“We did everything you asked for, and more. We gave you a strong team, and molded your little Omi into everything you could
have hoped for. The suggestions that Schuldig planted in his mind will allow him to become an effective leader. Something that you
did not have the benefit of in Shuiichi.”
“Shuiichi was an effective leader!” the woman protested, her hands fisting on the table. The other waiter, the one with only one
eye, came by to clear their plates. The man smiled.
“He was blinded by his emotions and family ties. Omi will not be. He is dedicated. And, I have one final gift for you, that will ensure
that Omi will will make the transition smoothly.”
“And what is that?” Manx asked a bit sarcastically, sure that whatever gift the man had for her, she was sure to throw it in his face.
The man looked somewhere over her shoulder.

A teenaged boy was making his way through the restaurant, dressed simply in a dark blue suit and carrying a briefcase in one
hand. He sat down next to Manx, who found herself making room for him almost at once. She knew who he was, Kritiker had been
keeping files on him for five years.
“This is Naoe Nagi.” said Crawford, unnecessarily. “He will be working for you now.”
“Wh...what?” Manx said, completely dumbfounded. She glanced at Nagi, who wasn't looking at her, but over at the redheaded
waiter. One part of her was inherently suspicious, but the more greedy part could hardly believe her luck. Kritiker didn't have
Talented people working for them. Rosenkreuz had steadfastedly refused them. Nagi was the best, the cream of the crop.
“I am technically working for Omi, not for Kritiker.” said Nagi, still not looking at Manx. “Do not think to assign me somewhere where
my talents will go unappreciated. I am to protect Persia.”
“Of...of course.” Manx said faintly, watching him. Her heart was pounding in her chest.

Crawford stood, tossing his napkin in the seat beside him.
“Well then, I think that is all for now. I expect to have our check in the mail. Thank you for the...ah...opportunity, Hanae. I shall see
you about.” he said.
“I'm sure you will.” Manx said grudgingly. With Crawford, she was sure it was more than a sentiment. Nagi smiled faintly as she paid
for the dinner, stealing covert glances at him all the while.
“Why?” she asked him finally, when they'd gotten up and started for the door. The one eyed waiter saw them to the door, smirking.
Manx tipped him very generously, half out of nerves. “Why leave Schwarz?”
“It was time.” Nagi said simply. “I need to see more of the world.”
“Well, I...I suppose that's true.” said Manx, hailing a taxi and allowing herself to feel some surprise as Nagi opened the door for her.
He slid in behind her and closed the door. She gave them the destination of headquarters, and turned to look at him. He had
opened the briefcase, and had pulled out a single red rose with coral tips, turning it over and over in his hands.
“Unusual color.” said Manx, before she could stop herself.
“Yes,” said Nagi with a smile. “Isn't it.”

*************************************************
Back inside the restaurant, the two waiters and Crawford were together in the staff lounge, watching Nagi's taxi drive away.
“Well, there he goes.” said Schuldig. “Our little baby, all grown up and taking ladies home with him.”
“Hush, Schuldig.” said Crawford. “He's got a job to do. They'd never have let YOU in the building.”
“Nnn, true.” Schuldig said with a yawn. “As if I wanted the assignment. Pah, protect Omi. I've had quite enough of him.”
“Really?” Crawford countered, raising an eyebrow. “I was under the impression you couldn't keep your hands off of him.”
Farfarello giggled. “Tasty kitten.”
Schuldig snorted.
“Well, alright. He is rather cute, once you get past the thing with the shorts. He'll be a looker in three years. Then again, so will
Nagi, I bet.” he added, scratching the back of his neck.

Crawford snorted.
“You have to make everything sexual, Schuldig.” he commented, closing up his briefcase, and adjusting his monocle. “Let's get out
of here before they try to put you two back to work.”
“Hey now, I was making some good tips.” Schuldig protested, his lips pursed in an almost pout, but nevertheless he grabbed his
jacket and slung it around his shoulders, jamming some other employee's beret down on top of his head.
“You were conning people out of their money.” Farfarello pointed out.
“So? You were scaring it out of them. What's the difference? We both have gifts.”
“Stealing hurts God.”
“Then it's a good thing, right?”
Crawford simply sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He would take the two of them out of Japan for a while, and continue to
monitor Nagi's progress. Manx, of course, would not last long. An 'anonymous' email to Omi would ensure that. But Schwarz did,
after all, look out for Schwarz.

So many exciting possibilities for the future. He couldn't help but smile.

~FINIS~