Time for thinking was quickly running out. In a few moments it would all be over. The noises around him were already fading, and while he was never in the position before, he assumed everything marked the beginning of the end. Even the voices in his head were subsiding. If nothing, the latter tipped him off even more that everything was finally coming to an end.

His heart was not pounding and he was not shaking from fear. In a way, everything felt normal. When the first bullet pierced through his shoulder he felt anger, when the second ripped through his leg, causing him to fall to the ground, he felt a wave of fear run through his body. He knew he would not be getting up again. But when the third bullet hit his chest, everything changed.

His body slumped to the floor and for a second he was thankful the second bullet caused him to fall on his knees, he would have fell further if he were standing. He heard a scream from Nagi but ignored it. He was too awe struck with the notion that he was defeated. He, Schuldig, had been shot down.

The first few moments were clouded with pain. Nothing else existed but the throbbing of his wounds and the feel of his own blood soaking his clothes. He closed his eyes trying to get away, trying to will his body to die so he would not have to feel anything anymore. Then suddenly, it was gone. A relaxation took hold of his body, leaving him with an acute awareness that he was dying, but also, with the knowledge that everything was going to be all right.

He felt himself smiling. He finally understood. He finally understood what Brad had told him before they entered this battle with Estet.

"This will free us." He said as he walked over to the red head. "This will be the last battle."

Schuldig smirked and dropped his cigarette. "And we'll finally be free." He could not help but allow the small smirk to become a genuine smile.

Brad nodded and pulled the red head closer to him. "Yes. We'll be free." His tone was soft, loving, filling Schuldig with a sense of comfort.

"Where will be go?" Schuldig suddenly asked full of hope. "To Berlin? Will they go?" His head was bombarded by the possibilities they now had. He could not help but ask Brad a million questions at once.

With a slight laugh, Brad pulled Schuldig in for a kiss. "First. We become free. Question nothing until we become free." He answered and said no more.

Brad's voice echoed in his head, "first we become free." This was their freedom. This was their fate. They were never meant to live through the fight. Brad had seen that in a vision. That is what he meant. Their freedom was in death. He knew, in time, Nagi, Farfarello, and even Brad would fall; he was just the first casualty in this fight.

Funny how everything became so much clearer when one was dying. Suddenly he felt a hand pick up his head. He opened his eyes to see those of Brad. His leader. His lover. He wanted to say something but found it hard to just open his mouth. He'd have to leave in silence. Shame.

Their relationship had changed so much over the years. They had gone from a casual indifference towards each other, to lust, to love. As he thought it over regret began to seep into his mind. The love came so late, just a few months before the fight that would soon claim his life. That would soon claim all their lives.

He wanted to know what it would be like actually being Brad's lover. Living in a world that did not involve Estet and murder. He wanted to know what it would be like entering a home that belong to Brad and him, taking vacations when Brad got time off work, visiting Nagi in college and watching him grow up into a man, trying to keep Farfarello sane, he wanted to know what it would be like living.

Brad's voice leaked into his head once more, "Question nothing until we become free." There was no use in questioning. What good would questioning bring? What if's were always the hardest questions to answer. What id they had escaped and lived and normal life...he felt himself smile once more. A normal life.

What kind of normal life could they have had? They were still schwarz. They would still be plagued with the memories of those who they had killed. Farfarello would never be sane enough to stay with them. Nagi would never truly learn to be a part of society. If they lived, they would never be free. This was the only way and Brad had foreseen that.

He looked into Brad's eyes once more. He was finally free. Soon they would all be free. He felt Brad's lips on his forehead before everything faded away.

fin-

I have no idea where this came from or where it fits in the story line. It just somewhat came to me. I am going to say this came after the end of the season. After they killed the Elders, Estet hunted them down.