Warning: AU, Pseudo-Historical Romance, PG-13, Ran/Ken.
Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss.
Author's note: Total fluff and fun. OOC for Ran, but it's explained.
When He Danced With Me
Chapter 1
"They're here! They're here!"
The cry went up from the upstairs sitting room and spread downward accompanied by the sound of four sets of tiny, pounding feet.
"They're here, Ma-ma! They're here!"
"My goodness," exclaimed the Grand Duchess as she exited the hallway that led to the drawing room and met her three daughters and grand daughter in the main hall. "Girls, girls, do settle down this instant. It is unseemly for young ladies to go dashing about yelling. I'm quite certain the entire neighborhood could hear you."
Asuka and her aunts halted their excited clamoring and attempted to stand still and silent. Although Tot was still bouncing on her toes.
"Now, tell me quietly and calmly what's the matter," Grand Duchess Collette commanded.
"Cousin Ken, Cousin Ran, and Omi are here," Schon stated, her voice still tinged with excitement.
"We saw their carriage," Hel added.
"Are you certain?" Collette asked.
Before anyone could respond the front door was thrown open and a butler entered followed closely by three cloaked figures with heavy scarves and tri-cornered hats obscuring their features. One of them was covered from head to foot in snow. The Grand Duchess and the little ladies gasped in astonishment and stared at the new arrivals.
"Your Grace, may I announce his Grace, Duke Hidaka, the Earl Fujimiya, and Master Tsukiyono," the butler said loudly. He bowed low before standing at attention by the now closed door.
As he finished speaking several under butlers and footmen emerged from a side door and descended on the three new comers. The front hall seemed to erupt with noise and activity.
"See, Ma-ma? See? We told you!" Hel, Schon and Tot cried beginning to jump up and down.
The Grand Duchess gaped as the cloaks were removed to reveal her two nephews and their servant. The snow covered one proved to be Ken and he smiled brightly at her, his cheeks red from what she assumed to be exposure to the cold. They bowed and Ran stepped forward, smiling.
"Well, my boys, we weren't expecting you until tomorrow or the day after at the earliest," Collette cried, taking the Earl's cold hands and giving him two quick kisses on his cheeks. His easy smile and bright eyes quite surprised her and she had to collect herself before speaking again. "We thought the storm would slow you."
"Sorry to startle you, Aunt Collette," Ran said, his smile turning apologetic. "We set out earlier then we planned and pushed through the night."
"Oh?" she said, blinking in an attempt to cover her surprise over her nephew's easy manner and open, smiling countenance.
"Yes, your Grace," Omi said as he replaced Ran and bowed low. Ran moved to the little ladies and bowed to each and kissed their hands. "Ken smelled snow, so we left sooner and changed our horses and driver last night rather than stopping as we normally do."
Asuka and the Aunties, who'd been paying close attention to the exchange, stared at Ken with wide eyes as the butlers brushed most of the snow off of him before they removed his coat and hat which were soaked through.
"You can smell the snow?" Asuka asked.
Ken smiled wider.
"And rain," he said with a wink as he stepped forward to greet his aunt.
"Clever boy," Collette teased as she kissed his cold, red cheeks.
"That's what you get from spending most of your time outside in all sorts of weather," he shrugged.
"Well, look at you," the Grand Duchess cried holding him at arms length. "Why you've grown since the spring."
Ken beamed.
"An inch and a half," he declared proudly.
Beside him Ran rolled his eyes and smirked. Suddenly a loud sneeze cut into their levity and all eyes turned toward Omi who was wiping his nose with a handkerchief.
"I'm afraid your cold is getting worse," Ran said frowning.
"It's not a cold. It's a sniffle," Omi stated with a pout.
"Oh, dear. Let me see," Collette said stepping forward to examine the young man. "You don't have a fever, but your eyes are a bit glassy. I advise hot broth and bed. At once."
Omi sniffed loudly and frowned.
"I'd like to know why I caught cold when Ken was the one riding on top all night with the driver," he pouted.
Again Asuka and the Aunties turned wide, admiring eyes on their grinning cousin. He reached out and petted Omi on the head affectionately.
Just then the door opened again and another tall, cloak wrapped figure entered and was set upon at once by the under butlers.
"Pa-pa!" Asuka cried.
"Well, well, look who's arrived early," Prince Yohji exclaimed with a wide smile. "I wondered if that was you they were unloading."
Once out of his cloak and hat he stepped forward to eagerly shake hands with his cousins and Omi.
"Where is your father?" the Grand Duchess called to her stepson over the renewed noise of greetings.
"He follows me hard upon, Ma-ma," the Prince said. "The King has canceled all remaining business and ordered the plows to be readied. Looks like you've brought the first storm of the season with you," Yohji said smirking at Ran.
The Earl nodded then looked hurriedly at his Aunt as though he'd just remembered something.
"Have you heard from my mother and Aya?" he asked anxiously.
"Indeed," she answered with a smile. "They arrived two days ago and have taken their usual rooms at the Circle. Aya has in fact been very concerned about you getting here in time for the King's Grand Ball which is set to open the season this Saturday evening."
Ran visibly relaxed, all be it with a wry smile, until Omi sneezed again.
"Someone summon Fitzy. We must get you to bed, Omi dear," Collette stated.
"But who will unpack?" he asked, looking more miserable by the second.
"Omi," Ran started but was interrupted by Schon.
"Do not fret, dear Omi," she said imperiously. "We shall help them unpack. Shalln't we?"
"Shalln't isn't a word, dear," Collette corrected as Asuka and the Aunties nodded their agreement to the plan.
"We shall," Hel declared.
"Of course, we shall," Asuka added.
"Don't worry, Omi," Tot said and smiled brightly, hugging her bunny.
"Well, this should be interesting," the Grand Duchess muttered. "There, you see? All settled," she said loudly as they were joined by the house keeper. "Ah, Fitzy. Omi here is done in. Take him up and put him to bed. I expect some hot broth will do the trick."
"At once, your Grace," Fitzy curtsied and led Omi off up the stairs, the Grand Duchess close on her heels.
Asuka and the Aunties each took Ken and Ran by the hands and led them after, as Yohji brought up the rear chuckling quietly to himself. They were no sooner out of sight then the front door opened again and the Grand Duke stepped inside.
"I'm home," he called. "Hello?"
Ran and Ken were both surprised when the little ladies led them, not to the rooms they'd had before, but to a set of rooms in the same wing that were reserved for married couples. The two bedrooms were done up in matching green silk and shared not only a fireplace, but a door as well, making travel between the rooms easier and infinitely more private. Both rooms were quite large, with double beds facing the shared fire place, writing desks along side the entrances from the hall, and tall dressers set between the windows which looked out onto the courtyard.
Asuka and Hel led Ran into his room, followed by Yohji, while Schon and Tot escorted Ken through the door further on. As they entered Yohji was just opening the door between, a wide tickled grin on his face. He winked at Ken as he settled to stand between the rooms to watch the proceedings.
After observing Ran setting his clothes neatly upon his bed, sorting and refolding them, Asuka and Hel decided he didn't need their assistance after all and moved into Ken's room where it became apparent they were desperately needed. Their brunet cousin had simply upended his trunk over his bed and dumped out the contents, shoes and all. Schon was trying to sort through the mess while Tot spun around on the carpet with her bunny.
"Oh, Cousin Ken, you are hopeless," Asuka moaned as she set about sorting his stockings from his other articles of clothing.
"Hey," he pouted, but let them sort while he looked around.
After a few minutes Hel directed him to stand by the dresser and they would bring him his things, neatly folded, and tell him which drawer to put them in. Ken saluted and complied, noting as he did Yohji's grin from the doorway and Ran sorting his own clothes on his bed in the next room.
Tot stopped spinning after falling to the floor. As she rose she looked through the connecting door at Ran, who was back at his bed stacking shirts by color, and then turned to watch as Ken carefully placed some socks in the top drawer while one of her sisters watched him. She looked back and forth between the two men for several minutes before making her way over to her older brother who was lounging in the doorway chatting amiably with Ran. When she reached him she grasped his coat tail and tugged until he squatted down and faced her.
"Why are Cousin Ran and Cousin Ken sharing a doorway?" she whispered loudly in Yohji's ear.
The Prince smirked and glanced over his shoulder at Ran. The red-headed Lord had obviously heard but was pretending to ignore them while listening closely.
"Well, Cousin Ran's feet get cold at night and he needs Cousin Ken to warm them up," Yohji said with a perfectly straight face.
Across the room Ken snorted.
Tot looked back at the Duke then stood and thought for a moment, then looked around Yohji at Ran.
"Why doesn't he just wear socks?" she asked.
Yohji chuckled.
"He does, but his feet still get cold," he said.
"Put your shirts in carefully, Cousin Ken," Asuka directed.
"Like this?" the Duke asked and the little girl stood on tiptoes to peek inside the drawer.
"It will have to do, I suppose," she tutted and Yohji tried not to laugh.
"Only the breeches left," Hel called from the bed.
"The shoes shall be placed back in the trunk," Schon decided aloud and directed her words toward her cousin. "They shall be lined up neatly and the trunk shall be placed below the window."
"Yes, My Lady," Ken bowed.
When that was done they inspected his drawers again and had him adjust one or two items which weren't laid in neatly enough to suit them, and then they dusted off their hands and congratulated Ken on a job well done. He sighed expressively and Yohji winked at him. In the other room Ran had finished sorting everything by color and was now placing all his dark stockings in the top drawer of his dresser.
"Thank you very much," Ken said with a bow. "I'm very grateful to you."
"You are very welcome," Schon replied as she and the others curtsied. "And now we have something for you."
"For me?" Ken asked wide eyed.
"Tokens of remembrance," Asuka said.
Ken crouched down as they approached him. In the doorway Yohji smirked and Tot turned to watch the proceedings. In the next room Ran carried his white stockings and nightshirts to his dresser.
"This is for you," Asuka said a little breathlessly and held out a tiny cloth tied with ribbon.
Ken carefully took it in hand and untied the ribbon to peer inside. Ran glanced at him as he crossed back to his bed for his dark shirts.
The cloth opened to reveal a tiny white tooth.
"Is this your's?" Ken asked in awe, his large brown eyes going even wider.
Asuka nodded shyly.
"Thank you," he said, smiling. "I'll treasure it."
He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Asuka squealed in delight and hid behind Schon.
"And these are from us," Hel said quickly presenting another similarly tied piece of cloth.
As Ken carefully untied the ribbon Tot left Yohji's side and scurried over to join her sisters. Inside the cloth were three locks of hair. One honey colored, one almost black, and one an almost bluish grey.
"They're lovely. Thank you," Ken smiled.
"Will you treasure them?" Hel asked.
"I promise," Ken said and laughed as Hel presented her cheek for a kiss. He complied and then kissed Schon and Tot who lined up behind their sister, Tot also holding bunny out for a kiss. "Thank you very much. But where'll I keep them?"
"In the top pocket of your trunk," Schon stated. "They'll be safe there."
Ken nodded and did as instructed.
"Now you may gaze on them with affection and think of the day when we'll get married," Hel said with authority.
Ken paused in the lowering of the trunk lid and glanced hurriedly at her.
"Married?" he asked.
Yohji's eyes widened and he quickly swallowed his smile. Behind him Ran leaned out from the bed to observe what was happening, a startled frown marring his features.
"Of course," Schon said. "They are tokens of our undying affection."
"And love," Hel stated.
"And a promise that someday we'll wed," Asuka added.
"We know we're young now...," Schon went on.
"But we won't be forever," Hel said.
"We're very fond of you and we're convinced you can make us happy," Asuka nodded.
The Duke blinked at them in surprise and let the lid of his trunk close with a definite thump. He rose and came back to crouch before to them again, smiling softly.
"I will always treasure your gifts, but...I'm afraid I can't marry you," he said solemnly.
"Why not?" the little ladies cried in surprised disappointment.
"Because I'm going to marry Ran," Ken said matter of factly.
Eyes everywhere went wide and looked to the Earl who was in mid-stride between his bed and his dresser with an armload of waistcoats. He halted and looked wide-eyed at Ken. Yohji started chuckling again.
"You see," Ken said attracting the girls' attention once more, "Ran and I love each other and someday I'm gonna marry him. Besides, how could I choose between the four of you?"
Ken stood and grinned down at them before going to rummage through his travel bags, which was still resting on the bed . Asuka, Hel and Schon clutched at each others' hands in solidarity. They sighed dramatically as Tot went to stand near Yohji again and peer around him at Ran.
"Our hearts are broken," Asuka declared.
"Yes, but I dare say we'll get over it," Schon nodded sagely.
"We do have each other, after all," Hel said pretending to wipe away a tear.
Ran slowly began walking toward his dresser again, his face carefully unreadable.
Tot stood in the door next to her brother looking back and forth between the Duke and the Earl. After several moments she tugged on Yohji's coat again.
"How will they have babies?" she whispered loudly.
The Prince burst into laughter and Ran fumbled his waistcoats.
Yohji practically skipped from the dining room after dinner, his mood light. Seeing Ran and Ken again had filled him with an inexplicable joy, and he found himself humming as he tripped happily into the drawing room and accepted a glass of sherry from the butler. His father and step-mother had preceded him and were sitting, smiling, on one of the settees near the fireplace. They too seemed to be in an extraordinarily good mood.
Only the girls seemed a bit down. They were huddled together conspiratorially at the card table having a quiet discussion of their own.
"Ah, and so our guests are off to bed," his father commented as Yohji took a seat opposite his parents.
"Yes. One can hardly blame them after spending last night in a coach," Collette nodded.
"Or atop it, in Ken's case," Yohji smirked.
"I must say I am glad they pushed through. Even though Omi is paying for it," the Grand Duke said. "The turn in the weather would've delayed them by at least two days if not more. They would've missed the first ball."
The Prince nodded in agreement.
"The first storm is always the worst," the Grand Duchess commented. "I just hope Omi doesn't get any worse."
"He'll recover quickly, my dear, you'll see," her husband said, patting her hand. "Someone with his spunk won't be long in bed. Tomorrow he'll be up throwing snowballs at Ken."
"There aught to be enough snow for it. It's really coming down now," Yohji added. "I wonder if it'll stop by morning."
"We shall see, my boy," his father laughed. "Although, you and I must away to Court whether it's stopped or not. We must inform the King of your cousins' arrival. He's been quite anxious to know how the Duke is coming along, as you well know."
Yohji nodded again and sipped his wine.
"Well, I dare say he'll be pleased with the progress," the Grand Duchess commented. "Ken seems quite a bit calmer than he was last spring, and not as likely to react to things with so much energy as he used to. Although, I must admit I do miss his blushes."
The Grand Duke joined his wife's giggling.
"Indeed, indeed," he chortled. "How fondly I remember our discussion of his future romance, but who could have foreseen?"
"Ah, they do seem happy, don't they?" Collette smiled. "And the Duke's confidence has grown as much as his body, perhaps even more."
"Yes, the King should be well pleased," Grand Duke Sakajo nodded.
"I wonder if Ran is still as nervous about the King's reaction to their relationship as he was in the fall," the Prince mused. "He certainly doesn't seem it."
"I'd say out of the two of them it's the Earl who's experienced the greater change," the Grand Duchess said.
"Indeed, my dear," her husband agreed.
"Why, if he'd arrived alone I'd never have known him," Collette laughed.
"If he'd arrived alone there'd have been no change in him," Yohji commented with a smirk.
"So you've said before and now I must agree," his step-mother nodded.
"But what surprises me most is that he's changed since October," the Prince stated. "In fact, I'm not sure I've ever seen him this open or comfortable."
"He's happy," the Grand Duke smiled.
"Well, it seems this visit may prove as interesting, if not more so, than the one last spring," Collette exclaimed. She raised her glass, "Here's to new surprises, and dare I hope, a little intrigue?"
"Here, here," her husband laughed also toasting.
Yohji smiled and raised his glass as well, then glanced across the room at his daughter.
"And what are you four doing over there so secretly?" he called.
"Come and be sociable before you must off to bed," Collette commanded.
The young ladies dragged themselves from the table and came to sit with their parents. Asuka slumped in her seat next to her father.
"I must say, you four were very dull this evening," the Grand Duke stated. "What ails you?"
"Our hearts are broken," Hel sighed and the others nodded.
"Oh? What's this now?" Sakajo demanded looking at his wife for explanation.
"Cousin Ken says he won't marry us," Schon answered.
"Surely you weren't so forward as to ask him?" her mother demanded.
The three eldest exchanged glances before nodding sheepishly.
The Grand Duke puffed out his chest and coughed in an attempt to cover a laugh and Yohji smirked.
"Well, I never," Collette sighed. "I dare say you deserve what you got in that case. Propper young ladies are never so forward as to ask a man for his hand. Still, we can't have you moping away the evening. What do you think will heal your pain, my dears?"
"Cake," Tot declared.
"And pie," Asuka added.
Yohji leaned over and kissed the top of her head.
"There now," the Grand Duke cried. "Desserts all around!"
Instantly the four little ladies were sitting up straight and smiling brightly again. The adults laughed and the butler left after the ordered confections.
Dinner had been the usual happy affair he'd come to expect at his Aunt and Uncle's house, although the girls had been somewhat quiet. The hours had passed with good food and conversation, and by the time it was over Ken found he was more than ready to head off to bed. Ran looked equally tired and they had bid everyone goodnight and parted company immediately after.
Sighing contentedly the Duke changed out of his clothes, remembered to pick them up off the floor and set them in a chair, and changed into his nightshirt. Blowing out the candle in his room he crossed to the door he shared with Ran and entered without knocking. The Earl was just changing and greeted him with a smile.
"Ready for bed, Love?" he asked.
"More than ready," Ken nodded, crossing the room and climbing between the warm sheets and quilts. "I'm glad they changed our rooms. Saves us having to sneak up and down the hallway."
"I believe that may have been Yohji's doing," Ran smirked.
"I'll have to thank 'im," Ken said, lying back and stretching. "Well, I admit it. Beds do beat coaches for sleeping. The driver's seat anyway."
Ran paused in the unbuttoning of his breeches and glanced over his shoulder at his lover.
"You slept up there?" he asked.
"Yeah," Ken said. "Not too comfortable though."
"Lucky you didn't fall off," the Earl commented, resuming his unbuttoning.
"Tied myself on with a length of rope," Ken yawned.
Ran smiled to himself and finished removing his clothes. He could feel Ken watching him as he pulled on his nightshirt and moved around the foot of the bed to crawl in on the far side. In the fireplace the fresh blaze popped and lit the room with its cheery glow.
"Did you stop and check on Omi?" Ken asked, watching Ran settle into bed beside him.
"Sleeping soundly," the Earl replied. "He still doesn't have a fever and his breathing is clear. I think he just caught a chill. Insisted that I have the warmer of the two travel blankets. Neither one of us are as used to the weather as you are despite our many travels in it."
The Duke smiled as the red-headed Lord snuggled up to him under the covers.
"I'm glad you didn't catch a chill," Ken said huskily, leaning in for a kiss.
"Mmm, me too," Ran muttered against his lips.
They kissed slowly and deeply, enjoying the feel of each other before pulling apart and snuggling down into the covers. Both too tired to do anything more than sleep.
"Ken?"
"Hmmm?"
"Did you mean what you said earlier?"
"Hunh?" the Duke cracked one large brown eye open and looked at his lover.
"When you said you'd marry me," Ran said.
"Of course I did," Ken said, opening his other eye. "I love you and someday we'll get married."
Ran studied his face for a moment looking as if he would say something, then shook his head lightly and smiled.
"Thank you," the Earl said softly.
"You're welcome," the Duke replied with a confused smile. "Good night."
"Good night," Ran sighed, kissing his forehead. "Sleep well."
Author's Note: Well, here we go. Back into the 18th century. I hope everyone enjoyed the first chapter. I came this close to changing the Aunties' names back to their proper ones, but I thought it might confuse things. If I ever do an edit of the first tale that'll be one of the first things I change.
Remember, there is no magic here! Please R & R! Thanks for reading!