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

Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss.

The City of Steps

Chapter 14

The day of the funeral dawned cooler than it had been, with a layer of fog that clung to the upper terraces and blotted out the sunshine. As the day wore on conditions did not improve and the air looked white to Ken as he stood waiting for the ceremony to begin. He felt as though the entire city was isolated from the rest of the world.

They were gathered on a demi-terrace, a sort of wide shelf that ran along between the government terrace which was below them and the Palace which was above. At the four points facing north, south, east, and west it had rounded balconies where crowds could gather for important ceremonies, such as the scattering of ashes at funerals.

Ken glanced around at the gathered throng, all wearing black and looking somber. Many of them he recognized as other members of the aristocracy that he'd met either at the celebration following his circuit with Ran, or during the short time afterward before the fire. They seemed to have arranged themselves according to rank and lined up behind the family, Ran, Aya, himself, and Omi who stood with them.

Giovanna sat to one side in her sedan chair, swathed in black and silver, with dark glittering crystals in her hair. Ken thought she looked like an old spider surveying her web. A cross spider since Aya refused to be swayed into disallowing Ran to attend the funeral. His sister had shown herself to be daringly obstinate and not only insisted that Ran be present, but that he also help distribute their parents' ashes as any good son would. So Giovanna held herself aloof, present but disapproving, and as far as Ken could tell everyone was ignoring her. Her friend, the Countess Menyn, either wasn't attending or hadn't yet arrived.

Ken looked back to his husband and sister-in-law. They were standing side by side, both looking a little lost and sad, but both standing straight as if they were putting on the trappings of strength. Ken thought it was pretty obvious that Ran needed Aya, and she needed him. It seemed stupid and pointless to separate them, but Giovanna would not be swayed, and Omi's words only carried so much weight apparently. He glanced again at Ran and could see that his walls weren't effectively in place, his emotions were on display for everyone to see, but that may not have been such a bad thing. Maybe it would do some good for people to see how torn up Ran was.

Ken swallowed a sigh and tried to straighten his shoulders. His eyes traveled from Ran to Symington, who stood nearby carrying the family crest, a heavy wooden plaque with the Fujimiya coat-of-arms emblazoned on it. Ken wondered who'd carried the Hidaka coat-of-arms at his father's funeral. He still regretted that he'd been bundled off to his grandparents' house before the burial, and he'd missed the funeral. He tried to say a few prayers for his father's soul and those who were killed with him, but he'd always felt like they weren't enough. He was determined to do better today and include his father in with his prayers for Argand and Maijel.

Ran and Aya finished speaking with the last of the families of the seven servants who had perished in the fire, and Ken forced himself back to attention. The remains that had been collected from the interior of the house had been further burned in an incinerator and distributed into seven finely carved, expensive boxes. One box was given to each family, who would follow the funeral procession from one balcony to the next to scatter the ashes, or just recite the prayers for the dead. The Fujimiyas had not only been a prominent aristocratic family, but had also been kind to those who worked for them, and fair whenever there were disputes or problems. They had a good reputation among the families from whom the serving ranks were drawn, and so no one so far had shown any signs of upset at having Ran handle the boxes of their dearly departed. Ken was relieved because Ran had been worried.

As the last of the deceased servants' families moved back past the crowd to the rear of those gathered Ran and Aya accepted from a servant of the Empress the enameled boxes containing their parents' remains. The caller, who was also dressed completely in black, took up position ahead of them but facing the crowd behind. It wasn't the same man who'd led them on their circuit, but he looked just as large. Absently Ken wondered how that could be when presumably all they did all day was walk the terraces calling out the news. Shouldn't they be slimmer?

Ken moved a few steps closer to Ran just as the caller thumped his staff on the ground to set the bell ringing. It had a deeper, more somber sound than the bell at their circuit. Was that really only two weeks ago? It didn't seem possible.

After a moment the bell ceased its ringing and one of several priests stepped forward, her white robes ruffled by the breeze, and she spoke in a calm crystal clear voice.

"We are gathered here today to say farewell to those lost in the fire three days ago. Argand and Maijel Fujimiya, Tassie and Coade Beaufoy, Bett Wortley, Niqu and Raby Spume, Blinn Kaus, and Ohl Minier. May their spirits fly far and free as their ashes upon the wind."

The priest resumed her place among her fellows and Ran and Aya moved to the low railing around the balcony they were gathered on. It faced due north and would've been in shadow if the sun had been out behind the Palace.

Ken held his place, as did Omi, and watched silently as his husband and Aya opened the boxes and removed a handful of ash from each. They cast them out over the railing and watched as the breeze carried them off out over the city below. Then they closed the boxes and came back between Ken and Omi, their faces drawn and pale.

The caller rang his bell again and they followed him as he moved slowly along the walk toward the eastern balcony. The priests and crowd followed them. When they arrived at the balcony Ran and Aya paused and waited for the bell to cease, then stood in silent prayer for a moment before repeating the casting of the ashes they had done before. Ken added a silent prayer for his father and watched as Argand and Maijel's dust flew away.

In the country they buried their dead, but in the city there simply wasn't the space. He supposed it made sense to release them, but he secretly hoped some small part of them would be kept. He'd become quite fond of his in-laws in the brief time he'd known them. He hated to say a permanent goodbye.

They followed the caller onward around the plateau repeating the procedure on the southern balcony, until they finally came to the western balcony. As they stood in silence facing out over the city and the sea the breeze suddenly became a wind. It blew off the persistent cloud cover and revealed a stunning view of rooftops and sparkling blue water. The sun hung low in the sky and made Ken squint against its rays.

Ran and Aya stepped to the railing but hesitated there a moment. Ken wondered if they were loath to bid their final farewells or whether they were waiting for the wind to change direction. If they cast the ashes then Argand and Maijel would most likely end up all over the people attending their funeral rather than free on the breeze. Ken had the sudden idea that Maijel in particular would've found that amusing, and he was seized with the inappropriate urge to laugh. He wished he could've gotten to know them both better.

The wind died down after a minute and the gentler breeze returned. The Fujimiya siblings stopped hesitating and opened the boxes for the final time, each taking a last handful of ash. Staring out over the city they stretched their arms forward and released the dust. They watched it drift away before stepping back into place once more.

This time however they remained where they were as the caller walked away followed by the priests. His bell remained silent. One by one the gathered mourners passed by them as they left the balcony. The families of their late staff came and released their ashes then departed and still Ran and Aya made no move to leave.

When the last person was away and the sun had begun to set Ken watched as Aya turned to her brother.

"Did you keep some?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied and opened the box he held.

"So did I," she said.

Silently they each scooped out a little of the remaining ashes and dumped them into each others' boxes, then closed and locked the lids.

"Shall we go?" Aya asked quietly.

"Yes," Ran said.

Together the four of them moved away from the splendid view. Ken and Omi kept the silence that the siblings had set. As they neared the steps that would take them back down Giovanna's sedan chair came into view. She was scowling at them from inside.

Aya stopped walking when they reached it and turned to look up at Ran.

"I'm glad you're my brother," she said. "I love you."

"I love you too, Aya," Ran said softly.

"Take good care of him," she said looking at Ken. "Until I'm old enough to see him safe myself."

"I will," Ken promised while at the sametime wondering what it was Aya was referring to. It had been decided that they would remain with Omi while the house was rebuilt, and as far as he knew that hadn't changed. "But...won't we see you tomorrow? At the office?"

"Of course you will. You'll be seeing me everyday at the office," she stated and Ken could see her try and force herself to be lighter. "I meant in general. Ran has a tendency to brood."

Ken glanced at his husband but Ran didn't say anything, only smiled a little sadly.

"And see that your cold doesn't get worse," Aya added before turning on her heel and completing the short distance to her grandmother's side.

Giovanna's carriers heaved the sedan chair up into position and began moving toward the steps. Aya glanced back once, pressed her box of ashes against her chest, and disappeared down the steps.

Beside him Ran sighed heavily.

"Should we go?" Ken asked.

Ran nodded but they'd only gone down one step when he stopped and sat down. His knuckles around the box were white and he was shaking.

Ken looked at Omi.

"I'll leave some men here. Don't be too late," the short blond said then continued down the steps.

Ken sat down next to Ran.

"Why did this have to happen?" the red-head murmured. "Why?"

"It didn't have to," Ken said softly. "That's why there's an investigation."

"I know that," Ran snapped. "I just...I wish..."

"You wish they were alive," Ken finished for him when Ran stopped speaking.

The red-head nodded and Ken sighed.

"So do I," he said. "I'm really sorry, Ran. I hope it had nothing to do with me."

Ken felt it when Ran's intense gaze settled on him.

"What do you mean? How could it?"

"What if Eden was right? What if the assassins who killed my father were actually after me? What if they came here to finish the job?" Ken asked trying not to show all of his frustration and sorrow. He needed to be strong for Ran.

"Then where are they now?"

"Hunh?"

"If they were after you then where are they now?" Ran asked. "Where have they been for the last three days? Why did they burn down my house?"

The last was asked a bit harshly and Ran turned away and faced the sunset. Ken sat and waited for his husband to collect himself and finish his thought, although he could guess what Ran was going to say.

"They had plenty of opportunities to get to you," Ran said without turning. "No, something else is going on here. I'm not sure whether Omi knows what it is or is only guessing, but I know he's keeping something from us."

"He said as much," Ken muttered.

"More than that," Ran said, looking out over the steps below them. "At luncheon the day after our circuit he mentioned 'new players'. Who else but your brother has suffered a sudden ascension?"

"Aya."

"Yes, now. But before that? Have there been other heads of prominent families killed?"

"Not that I've heard...but I wasn't really paying attention," Ken admitted, suddenly feeling sheepish. After his father's death he had allowed his grief to consume him and drifted with the flow of events like a leaf in a stream, but that was obviously not what Ran intended to do.

"I haven't heard of any either, but I can't help feeling that at the heart of this matter is the Empress," the red-head stated, "and her power base."

"You mean she's responsible?" Ken asked, shocked.

"No," Ran said shaking his head. "Although, I do have to admit that at first I suspected that she might be behind the death of your father, but I don't believe that now. No, now I'm more inclined to think that she is the actual target."

"You mean, that someone is killing off the heads of families that support her?" Ken asked.

"And are tremendously wealthy and powerful on their own," Ran nodded.

"But if that's the case then they've failed already," Ken said and Ran looked at him. "Eden would never go against the Empress's wishes, and he was ready to take over whenever my father decided to let go. He's twenty-seven."

"Ten years older than you," Ran muttered.

Ken nodded.

"And Aya may not be of age, but she certainly knows her own mind. And she seems pretty capable to me," he added.

"Yes. You're right. And mother and father surrounded themselves with competent, trustworthy people that Aya can safely rely on until she feels confident in her own abilities," Ran said, much of the force gone from his voice as he looked down at the box held on his lap. He squeezed it. "Then why?"

They sat in silence for a moment watching the last rays of sunlight disappear over the horizon. The breeze turned chilly and Ken tried to resist coughing. His cold was much better, but he wasn't supposed to stay outside for long periods of time.

"I want to get them, Ken," Ran said softly. "I want to find them and make them pay."

Ken nodded. He could feel Ran's intensity thrumming beside him and he was suddenly reminded of the night of the fire. Wasn't there a moment of complete stillness? A calm before the storm? He blinked as his body shuddered in memory and his eyes slid sideways to study his husband. Had that been a release of power? Had Ran...made it rain?

Author's Note: Ah, so the funeral is over, but the questions are just beginning. ;)

Thanks to Aki-chan for your review! Yep, I moved it a bit closer to the series. But Ran still isn't as dark. Mainly due to his still having Aya actually with him, and Ken, of course. Ah-ha-ha-ha! Actually, I have no plans to kill Giovanna off. Sorry. :)

Thanks to Noir Raven Dravenwood for your review! Yep, the mystery deepens. Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. And as you can see, Ken is improving. His cold isn't nearly as bad. And the naughty stuff is coming. ;) Thanks so much! :)