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

Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss.

City of Steps

Chapter 21

Ran sat in a lounge chair on the patio above the ocean and watched as the sun slowly began to sink toward the horizon. Its light made everything look orange and he squinted into it feeling lazy and relaxed. Physical love always left him feeling like a cat in a sunbeam, loose and easy and in no rush to move. Physical love with Ken left him breathless and bubbly as well, although he'd never admit to it. Ken made him giddy, and he felt the desire to giggle like a child. That afternoon had been no exception.

Ken had made him laugh, really laugh, in a way he was slowly getting used to. And when he'd finished laughing he'd pounced his husband just to show Ken that he would since he'd been given permission.

That second time around had left him completely spent and sated to a level he'd never reached before. Even a long, deep nap hadn't rejuvenated him enough to get him back down to the beach. Dinner had helped, but he found the noise of chatter and silverware annoyed him, so he'd retreated to the patio on the sea side of the palace where he knew it would be quiet, and where he could watch the sunset.

Ken had seen him there, made sure he was settled, and then gone off to play. Love making did not make Ken lethargic. He'd nap immediately after, but then he'd be bouncing around like a happy puppy. Ran found it endearing but was just as happy to send him off.

He sighed, contented.

"Here you are," Aya said as she flopped into the vacant seat beside him. "Enjoying the sunset?"

"Mmm," Ran answered with a sleepy nod.

"So, it's true. He actually loved you mute," his sister said giving him a glance.

"What?! Aya!" Ran cried, shocked out of his light doze.

Aya laughed gaily.

"Relax, Ran, I'm teasing," she said.

"You're repeating something Yohji said," Ran surmised. "I'm thinking of banning him from your presence. He's a bad influence."

"Ah, now that sounds like you. I'm glad there was no permanent damage."

Ran glared at her and she laughed again. He found he didn't have the will to continue the pretense of anger, and after a minute he shook his head, smiling.

"It feels too good to feel this way," he admitted.

"If only Mother and Father were here," Aya added.

"Yes. Those words follow my every thought, but...the pain of their loss is lessening," he said with a nod.

"For me as well," Aya agreed. "How about your anger?"

Ran let out a humorless laugh.

"Not at all," he muttered. "Not so far."

"Mine either."

They looked toward the sunset and Aya reached out and took his hand. For a few minutes there was silence between them. Then Aya looked at him again.

"I was glad that you had Ken," she said, "when our parents died. But now I'm even more pleased. You really do seem happy, Ran."

"I am happy," he admitted.

"Good. Then it doesn't bother you that on my prompting Omi gave Ken a little push?" she asked. "Well, more like a shove, actually."

"Are you mad? I could kiss you," Ran said with a laugh. "And here I thought it would be years before we...that is...uh...," Ran stammered, suddenly mindful that he was speaking to his innocent sister.

"Made love?" Aya giggled, apparently not embarrassed at all.

"Yes, if we ever did," Ran nodded. "My only regret is that it has interrupted our time together."

"Don't be silly. This is your honeymoon," Aya stated. "That's why I asked Omi to give a little push."

"It is a bit crowded for a honeymoon."

"Well, Mother and Father would have taken a suite for just the two of you, but Omi said that wouldn't be safe, so...," Aya stammered to a halt when Ran turned sharply to stare at her. He felt a small frown pull down the corners of his mouth.

"What do you know?" he asked slowly, still holding her with his eyes.

"I don't know anything for certain," Aya said after hesitating for a moment. "And before you ask, no, Omi hasn't told me anything. At least nothing definite, only some suspicions he has."

"Which are," Ran persisted.

"That for some reason that I can't even guess at, you are in danger," Aya stated.

"Me?" Ran asked surprised.

"Omi thinks that the attacks on our parents and Ken's father are related somehow. That they are part of a plot," Aya said, lowering her voice. "Did you know that there have been two others?"

"No," Ran said.

"And he thinks members of his own family maybe involved."

"Who?" Ran demanded.

"His mother's cousin," Aya said and swallowed. "Yuushi."

"Yuushi?" Ran asked.

"He's back from wherever he went," Aya said. "He was at your circuit."

"And out in front of the house a week ago," Ran added thinking hard. "And the day we left, I saw him out in front of Omi's."

"He followed you here," Aya said. "Tried to get in past the guards the first night you were here. Omi had said 'no visitors' so they wouldn't let him in."

The memory of Omi frowning as a guard spoke to him in the light of the bonfire that first night came to him. They'd made eye contact briefly, before Omi had turned away. And earlier that same night at dinner Omi had monopolized Ken, convinced him that Ran would welcome his attentions. That had kept them both occupied for the last three days.

"I can see where your thoughts are going," Aya said. "I asked Omi to speak to Ken, to prompt him into action."

"Why?" Ran asked, still suspicious.

"Because...it was clear you two were interested in each other, anyone with half an eye could see that, but for some reason nothing was happening between you," Aya explained. "Or it appeared that way to me. Look, I knew you'd preformed admirably on your wedding night and I just thought things would progress from there...but they didn't."

Ran turned from his sister and stared back out at the sunset.

"It was pleasurable but there was no love in it, no joy," Ran agreed. "Not like it is now."

"Which makes sense when you consider that the two of you barely knew each other," Aya commented.

"Most couples are engaged for years. They've had a chance to form an attachment," Ran agreed. "I resolved not to push Ken into physical contact unless he initiated it."

"Which he wasn't doing," Aya stated sounding a tad frustrated. "What was it? Lack of experience making him shy?"

"I shouldn't tell you, but yes," Ran answered. "Probably. Please don't tell him I told you."

"I won't," she said, it sounded like a promise. "Anyway, it was clear to me that you both wanted something to happen, so I made it happen."

"And I couldn't be happier," Ran said. "But...it's the timing of the thing. It's a little too...convenient."

"Maybe, but what does that matter as long as you're safe and happy?" Aya said.

"But am I really? How can we know if we've no idea what endangers me?" Ran asked. "Or even whether I'm really in danger at all, which quite frankly I doubt."

"What do you propose to do?" Aya asked sounding suddenly nervous.

"I'm going to talk to Yuushi," Ran said. "I wouldn't put it past him to be involved in something, although I can't imagine what it could possibly be. But if he had anything to do with the fire or the assassination then I want to know about it."

"Ran..."

"Do you know where he's staying?" he asked, pinning her with his eyes once more.

"With his uncle, but..."

Ran pushed himself up out of his chair, his lethargy forgotten. Aya sprung up beside him.

"I think this is a bad idea," she said and began following close on his heels as he crossed the patios that went around the palace. "I don't know why but Omi doesn't want you to see him."

"Then he'll have to stop me," Ran stated. "Maybe it's time he explained a few things to me and Ken."

He continued around the palace until he reached the patio that led to the beach, Aya still dogged his heels. Down on the sand their group of friends had retired from the surf and were kicking Ken's ball back and forth between them.

Ken spotted them first and waved, but his hand dropped when he studied Ran's face and he quit the game to jog over to the steps. He met them at the bottom where Ran quickly explained what he was about to do and why. Aya dashed past them over to Omi who looked puzzled then frowned. Ran met his gaze evenly.

"You propose to visit my cousin?" Omi asked when they reached him. He wasn't exactly blocking their path, but he wasn't moving out of their way either.

"If he had something to do with the death of my parents or Ken's father than I want to know about it," Ran said, trying to keep his voice level and calm.

"You think he would willingly volunteer that information?" Omi asked, sounding almost amused.

"We'll find out won't we?" Ran stated. "Unless you're going to try and stop us."

"I'm going to ask you politely not to go," Omi replied calmly. "So far there is no evidence to connect him with anything. I have a hunch. That is all. But if you go now to speak to him you might cause him to rethink some things, to cover some things that maybe useful to us."

"You're still investigating?" Ken asked. "It's been nearly six months since my father's death, three since the fire! If you haven't found anything by now what makes you think you'll find it at all?"

Omi spared him a tired glance before meeting Ran's eyes again.

"If you won't let us speak to Yuushi then maybe you'd be kind enough to tell us what you think and why," Ran said, determined to get some information.

"Certainly," Omi nodded. "What would you like to know?"

Ran narrowed his eyes. By now all other activity on the beach had ceased and their friends were gathered around them listening intently. Ran ignored them.

"Everything."

"I can't tell you everything. But what I know for certain is that a group of seven individuals entered the city from the Eastern Gate the day before the fire. They carried standard travel passes and appeared to have valid identity papers from a town in the north. All false. They stayed in a hotel room, which they booked for only one night. They kept to themselves and were gone the following morning when the maid went in to clean. These were the men seen on the streets the night your parents were killed. They were last seen descending the stairs on the northern side of the city toward the business terrace. They never left the city, by boat or train, and as far as we know they are still there."

Omi turned to look at Ken.

"Seven individuals matching their descriptions were checked into the inn 'The Whistling Lion' in the village on the outskirts of your father's estate the night before the assassination," he said. "The story is the same. They kept to themselves. They were gone the following morning, the day of the assassination. No one saw them leave and they weren't on the train. Although, it is easier to move about the countryside unnoticed than it is in the city."

"You mean, it was the same guys?" Ken asked wide eyed.

"That is how it appears," Omi nodded.

"Aya said two other prominent families have been attacked," Ran said, and startled glances were exchanged around them.

"That is correct," Omi answered.

"Who were they?"

"The O'Mallys, they own a fleet of fishing trawlers further up the coast, one of our leading fishing families," Omi said. "And the Nixs, they own land, lots of it, in the northeast. Most of the lumber used in wooden construction comes from their yards. In both cases every member of the families was lost. The inheritance is now in question for both."

The beach had gone still. Only the sound of the waves hitting the sand, not even the occasional bird cry broke the silence as everyone present contemplated what that meant. All of those families' hard work, everything they'd done for generations, the connections they'd made, all the workers and staff relying on them, everything was for naught. It was almost inconceivable.

"When? When were they...?" Ran asked softly.

"The Nixs last week, the O'Mallys two days ago. I didn't want to ruin the week by mentioning it, and...you've been so busy lately with the construction. I wanted to wait until I knew all the details before I told you anything," Omi continued. "I was going to tell you."

Ran studied his future brother-in-law. He appeared to be in earnest.

"Why don't you want me to speak to Yuushi?" Ran asked quietly.

"Because of his interest in possessing you I'm afraid he will try something. What, I have no idea. But he wants you and he always has. It is a rare thing for him to be denied what he desires. I do not trust him and he has of late been seen with certain questionable individuals. People like Dorian Von Heffel," Omi replied.

Ran's eyes widened and he exchanged glances with Yohji and Brad. They looked equally stunned and confused.

"Who is he?" Ken demanded.

"He is the head of a so called religious order," Omi explained, "more like a club. They own a building on the business terrace where they ostensibly meet and conduct services. From what I've heard they are actually wild parties and the watch has been summoned on more than one occasion. I admit that the idea of his being a member just for the activities isn't too far a stretch given his other interests, but he's never attended any meetings before. At least not openly. He was seen, quite clearly, entering the 'church' and on Von Heffel's arm no less."

"It doesn't make any sense," Ran said with a frown. "He never had anything to do with them before and he couldn't possibly believe all that guff they preach about magic."

"Magic?" Ken asked, he suddenly looked weary. "You said all the magic's gone."

"It is gone," Ran stated fiercely.

"Ken, this group, and a few others, believe that the magic was never lost," Omi explained patiently. "They believe it was tucked away somewhere, hidden, and that if they have a key they can unlock the hiding place and everything stored there will become theirs'. The promise of power is very alluring. Especially to those who don't have it, or have been prevented from obtaining it. In a world without magic someone who could wield it would indeed be a prize worth having."

Ran felt everyone's gaze shift to him and he swallowed reflexively.

"But that's...ridiculous," he breathed.

Beside him, Ken leaned a little closer. On his other side Aya took his hand, she'd gone quite pale.

"Ridiculous or not people believe what they want to believe, what they need to believe," Omi continued calmly but pointedly. "And even when you present them with irrefutable proof that what they believe is wrong, many people will simply dig in their heels and believe it all the harder. And some might be moved to act. As of now we do not have any evidence to connect the seven men with Yuushi or Von Heffel, or any of the other fringe groups, but we are not done looking."

Omi looked around at the group before his eyes settled back on Ran. His face was as sober and serious as the redhead had ever seen him.

"And so I am asking you, nicely, please do not go see him. Not now," Omi said. "I am sure he will continue to seek you out, and you will have the opportunity to speak to him. But I would like it to be under extremely controlled conditions, and I would like the chance to prepare my own set of questions for my mother's dear cousin Yuushi."

Ran felt a shiver go down his spine, but he shook it off as he shook his head.

"Omi, this is absurd," he said. "Are you suggesting that I should remain cloistered away just in case someone thinks they can use me somehow?! I'm not a maiden in distress! I don't need to be protected and shielded."

His future brother in law smiled sweetly up at him. It was almost frightening.

"None-the-less, you shall be protected. It is the least I can do for my future bride," he said as he continued to smile. "Now, may I suggest that we return to the patio? The light is fading and the stairs can be treacherous."

Ran blinked and realized he was right, they were well into twilight. Everyone else was looking around as well, as though they'd been held in thrall and hadn't noticed the passage of time. Servants were standing at the foot of the stairs with lanterns, waiting to guide them all back to the palace.

"Well, come along, Princess. Time to put you back in your tower," Yohji drawled with a smirk.

"Shut up, Kudo," Ran snapped, but he allowed himself to fall in with the slowly moving group.

Aya still held his hand and Ken walked close beside him. The three of them pensively quiet as the others' forced cheer ebbed and flowed around them. Ran wondered whether the easy relaxed atmosphere would ever truly return, and he partly regretted the conversation with Aya that had sparked the change, but on the whole he was convinced that it was better to know than to continue in ignorance. He'd wanted information and now he had some. But he was still waiting for answers.

Author's Note: Phew! Finally got that out. It's been ready since April (but I did add a few things and change a few things). Okay, so now...there's a bunch new chapters! :)

Thanks to everyone who added me and my stories to their Favorite Lists! I'm honored.

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