Warning: AU, Fantasy, PG-13, Ran/Ken.

Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss.

City of Steps

Chapter 11

They were part way up the main staircase when the blaze of stunned amazement faded from Ran's eyes and he came fully back to himself. In that moment he was filled with the deepest horrified dread he could ever have imagined feeling. It weighed him down and froze him to the spot so completely that Ken was forced to stop as well and turned back to face him.

"What's the matter?" Ken demanded, both his voice and his eyes still angry.

Ran stared at him in disbelief and it was a full minute before he could answer.

"What have you done?!" he cried in a harsh whisper, praying that none of the staff had heard Ken's exchange with his grandmother. "I...I have to try and apologize."

Ken abruptly released his hand and stared at him.

"What?!" he demanded loudly, forcing Ran to shush him. "You want to apologize? After what she said about you?"

"Ken, she's my father's mother," Ran began, trying to control his voice and his emotions and stop the feeling that his whole life was suddenly spinning out of control. "You don't have to like her but...she deserves our respect."

"Respect?! She..."

"She still controls forty percent of the company and she's very important," Ran continued quickly. "She's extremely well connected at Court and will be invaluable to Aya while she is still alive. It's true she can be quite mean in her opinions, but that's never bothered me."

"Liar," Ken stated softly, bringing Ran up short and taking the force from his arguments. He blinked up at his husband. "It does bother you, and it bothers me. I swore an oath that I'd take care of you, and I intend to keep it. You listened to me, now I'm gonna shelter you."

Ran found himself once more held speechless on the staircase, staring up into the wonderful brown pools of Ken's eyes. Had anyone ever defended him before? Had anyone ever gotten angry on his behalf? Memories of his parents muttering in Giovanna's ear, half whispered pleas that she at least be polite, all useless and in vain, came back to him followed by Ken's words and the look on his face. In that moment Ran felt his heart skip a beat and his cheeks suddenly burned.

Ken was still standing above him, watching him. The anger was gone from his countenance and replaced with a firm determination that set his jaw and made his eyes a shade darker.

Ran had to fight the impulse to reach out and run his fingers along that jaw. Instead he smiled and was pleased to see Ken's eyes widen in surprise.

"Thank you," Ran said softly, meaning it with every fiber of his being.

"You're welcome," Ken replied.

Anything else they might have said was interrupted by the sudden sound of the front door being opened, and the arrival of Ran's parents and sister.

Ran felt his mouth go dry as he heard Symington direct them into the evening parlor and he heard them head there post haste. Even as his mind struggled to cope with the scene that was surely to greet them he found that he was amused by the way that Ken's mouth dropped open and the color drained from his face, only to be replaced a moment later with a blaze of bright red. He'd apparently remembered his bad behavior at Omi's and coupled it with his recent insults to Giovanna.

"Oh, Gods," he breathed. "They're gonna kick me out. They'll force us to divorce and send me out on the street."

Hearing that was all it took for Ran to find his center. He was calm and his strength returned to him.

"No, they won't," he stated firmly, allowing himself to grasp Ken by his upper arms. "They would never do that. Never."

"But..."

"Go to our room. I'll have some supper sent up," Ran said, gently squeezing Ken's arms. The muscles there felt delicious, but he pushed that thought aside. "I'll speak to my parents. Everything will be fine."

"But..."

"Trust me," Ran said, staring earnestly into his husband's worried and extremely cute face. "Trust me."

Ken hesitated another minute and then nodded. He cast a glance in the direction of the evening parlor, where things were ominously quiet, then met Ran's eyes again before stepping back and turning to continue up the stairs.

Ran gave him another small encouraging smile, then went back down the stairs as quietly as he could. He made his way over to the doors of the evening parlor and stopped just outside them to listen. He could hear his father's voice and some sort of crackling sound. What was that?

"Mother, please. Just try to have a sip. It will help calm you down so you can tell us what happened," Argand Fujimiya's voice said. He sounded anxious.

"Twaddle," Giovanna snapped, followed by the crackling sound again. "I haven't laughed this hard in fifty years. I've no doubt it's done me a world of good."

Ran's mind suddenly halted as every thought and expectation he had vanished. His grandmother was...laughing? She thought it was...funny? Impossible.

"Your new son-in-law has a belly full of fire, and no mistake. You mark my words, Argand, he'll put every single one of you through your paces. He'll turn society on it's head and leave the capital in ruins behind him," she cried in what eerily sounded like glee, which was once again followed by the crackling sound.

"What do you suppose Ken said to her?" Ran heard Aya ask softly.

"One can't even imagine," Maijel answered in her driest tone of voice.

"Mother, please," Ran heard his father repeat.

The sound of a gold, jewel encrusted stick hitting the floor silenced the room.

"The fates have decreed that he should have a protector. One can not see what this could mean, except that one day soon he should have need of one. May the gods watch over us all," Giovanna stated, all the humor gone from her voice. "And now I shall leave you. I have seen what I came to see. If you have need of me I shall be at the Countess of Menyn's. Aya, I have left your gift in the hall."

"Thank you, Grandmother," came his sister's dutiful reply.

"What's going on?" Ken's voice suddenly whispered in his right ear.

Ran nearly jumped out of his skin. He'd been listening so intently at the door he'd failed to hear his husband come up behind him.

"Sorry," Ken whispered sheepishly when Ran turned to stare at him.

The movements in the room began to get closer to the door. Acting on impulse, Ran seized Ken by the arm and hauled him as quickly as he could into the next room down the hall, which proved to be an extension of the butler's pantry. Luckily no one was in it and they stood there listening to the sounds of a painfully slow departure.

"What happened?" Ken asked again very softly. "Is she leaving?"

"Yes," Ran answered trying to collect his thoughts. After a minute he gave up and looked at Ken. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't let you face your folks alone. Especially after I just promised to protect you," Ken replied, his hands fidgeting a little with the cuffs of his coat. "Everything that happened today is my fault. I should take responsibility for it and face the consequences."

Ran felt his heart warm once more.

"Alright, but we'll wait until Madame Giovanna has left," he said with a soft smile.

It was some minutes before the commotion in the hall reached the front door and Ran peeked out from the pantry in time to see his grandmother exit the house, with the assistance of two under butlers and one of her attendants. In another few minutes his parents and Aya had returned inside and were standing in the hall looking rather befuddled.

Ran glanced back at Ken.

"Ready?" he asked, and when Ken nodded they left the pantry together.


Yohji threw his head back and laughed.

"He didn't! To her face?!"

When Ran nodded an affirmative the heir to Kudo Manufacturing laughed even harder.

"Yohji, please. He'll hear you," Ran begged casting a glance across the court yard at where his husband sat with Asuka, Aya and Omi.

They were at the Kudo house for lunch and cards, and since the weather had remained fine for the week since his grandmother's visit they were outside. The Kudo courtyard was no match for Omi's, but it was a pleasant space, with comfortable chairs and several small tables set up under a pergola which would shortly be covered by flowering vines. After lunch Ken had gotten himself entangled in a card game and now seemed to be focusing on his hand with an intensity Ran had rarely seen in him.

"Ha! Asuka's got him on the run in spades, he can't spare the brain power to overhear us," Yohji said with a chuckle.

"Still," Ran began, allowing his eyes to linger a moment longer on Ken's thoughtful pout, "he was terribly embarrassed once he stopped to think about it. He was certain my father would throw him out."

"Never happen," Yohji said with certainty.

"So I assured him. Both my parents felt as I did, that he'd simply had a very bad day and allowances must be made for all the changes he's had to suffer through," Ran said, dragging his eyes back to his friend.

"How did your grandmother react?" Yohji asked eagerly.

"Well...she laughed."

The lanky brunet's mouth fell open.

"Laughed? She laughed?"

Ran nodded.

"Ken couldn't believe it either when I told him," he said with a small chuckle. "Strangest sound I've ever heard."

"That's incredible, Ran. I didn't think the old bitch was capable of laughing," Yohji said with an expression of sheer disbelief on his face.

"Aya said she was practically purple when they walked in on her. They thought she was having some sort of seizure," Ran grinned.

"Aya must've been impressed," Yohji smirked. "She's always wanted to take a chunk out of the old girl, but never found the courage."

"Yes. I think Ken finally won her over with that," Ran agreed. "They've been easier with one another since."

"And what was this I heard about seven crates of fresh apples?" Yohji asked as he refilled their wine glasses.

Ran breathed in the sweet smell of the air and smiled again at the memory Yohji's question brought to his mind.

"Ken's idea," he explained. "In the country they do things to help the poor and infirm. He was appalled by what he saw when we went to the warehouses. So, when we went back, two days ago, we brought with us seven crates of apples. Not fresh, of course, but still good. Newly arrived from the country and chosen by Ken himself at the East Gate Market the day before. We brought them down to the slums and handed them out to the children."

"Good gods, Ran," Yohji balked.

"It was fun actually," Ran assured him. "And we were quite safe. We took several of the staff with us to carry the crates and they were armed. You know, I don't think those kids had ever seen apples before. Ken had to eat one or two to show them they weren't poisonous."

"And does he intend to do this every time you go to the warehouses?" Yohji asked, suddenly quite serious.

"I'm not sure."

"Consider carefully. Once you begin a thing some will look on it as a promise, and may come to rely on you keeping it," Yohji cautioned. "And word may spread. You may end up with more children than apples, and then what will happen?"

Ran felt himself pout into his wine glass. Yohji was only echoing thoughts he'd had himself, but thoughts he'd pushed aside when Ken had smiled at him. That bright, sunny smile full of unbridled delight. Of course, he should never have allowed himself to be blinded by it so completely. There were always things to consider.

"How often do you go to the warehouses?" Yohji asked after tasting his wine.

"We are scheduled to go twice a week from now until the harbor freezes. Father wants Ken to memorize what comes in and where it goes. There is a lot for him to learn," Ran answered.

"That's a lot of apples," Yohji commented with a smirk at Ran's annoyed frown. "Listen, maybe there's another way. There is already a system in place for food distribution to the poor. If Ken wants them to get fresh fruit then maybe he can speak to someone who's involved, find out how much is needed, and set up some kind of fund to meet the need. There's no cause to risk riots."

Ran nodded, considering.

"That's a good idea," he said.

"Omi may be able to help," Yohji added. "He's made some improvements in that area in the last year or so. Instituted some oversight."

"Really? I hadn't heard," Ran said, turning once again to study his future brother-in-law. The small blond was busy laughing at Ken who'd somehow managed to collect half the deck and was having trouble holding onto all of the cards as he searched for the one he wanted. "I think I should go and assist my husband."

"Oh, yes. The boy needs saving. Go, go," Yohji cried with a laugh.

Ran rose and moved toward Ken. As he did so he thought he heard Yohji mutter something like, "After all, he has saved you", but he decided to ignore it. Whatever Yohji's opinion was it didn't matter in the least, even if in his most private moments he had to admit to himself that it was true. He'd never imagined himself smiling or laughing in so free a manner as he had been today. He'd never dreamed that he could feel so...happy.

When he reached Ken two shining brown eyes met his violet and he felt himself smile.

"Need a hand?" he asked.

Ken hesitated. He looked from Ran to his cards and then back again. With a tentative smile he held up his enormous hand.

"Yes, please."


Author's Note: Hey! Sorry, I meant to post yesterday, but I had some family obligations this weekend.

Author's Note: 12-01-08: Yep, I changed the ending of this chapter. Gillie had a suggestion and I loved it! ;)

Several people wanted to know what I was reading. Well, in Canada I read a bunch of Agatha Christie mysteries, as well as "Genshiken". Then when I got back I read some books on English servants, their ranks and job titles. Not necessarily reference for this story, but for my 18th century stories. Then I got sick and reread "Fruits Basket" (wonderful!). So, that's what I was reading. Not too exciting. :)

Thanks to ichigo789456 for your review! Thanks, it's good to be back. I was starting to feel very guilty. :)

Thanks to "reader" for your review! Thanks. I have at least eight more chapters finished, so there will be updates for a little while at least. :)