Warning: AU, pseudo-Historical Romance, Ran/Ken.
Author's Note: Thanks to Murasaki-yanagi and Cece for reviewing the last chapter! I'm glad you guys liked it!
Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss, I'm just playing.
Tell Him That it Wasn't Love
Chapter Five
Caroline blinked at him and then smiled. Her little Ken was getting bolder.
"Yes," she said. "I think that can be arranged. I was thinking today about what I could do incase this happened, and I came up with a wonderful scheme. Now I get to try it."
Ken was none too pleased with the delight evident in her voice. It had never occurred to him that his youngest stepsister might actually be bored with life on the estate. But the ease with which she created whatever stories she'd been telling, and the joy she took in them seemed to suggest a lack of occupation.
"However, Ken, I should caution you against anymore time away from your chores. Pa-pa is sure to become suspicious if you disappear completely."
"Yes, I know. Tomorrow shall be the last day. At the end of it I shall bid them farewell, and only hope for a renewal of their attentions once I inherit," he sighed.
"After all you've told me I hardly think they would fail you. No, this is exactly what I had hoped for you."
Ken smiled softly, but it didn't reach his eyes. Caroline pulled him into a quick hug, then released him and searched his face.
"What it is, Ken?" she asked in concern.
Ken shook his head and pulled away. "N-nothing. I'll miss them. That's all."
He moved toward the door. It wasn't a complete lie. He would miss them, but he wasn't about to admit to the sinking in his heart when he thought about saying farewell to a tall, pale, red-head. Not when he couldn't explain it to himself. Ken bid Caroline good night and left for bed. With the dawn came his last day of freedom and he was determined to enjoy it.
* * *
At breakfast Caroline proposed to her father and sisters that they spend the day going through the guest rooms. She announced her intention to redecorate in a more modern style. She felt they should inventory what they had and discuss the changes that were needed. Her sisters were instantly taken with the scheme and readily agreed to it. Their father however said that he thought the rooms were in fine order and in no need of improvement. Caroline smiled when her sisters, completely enamored of the idea, plied him with entreaties until at last he gave in.
The plan had worked smoothly until lunch time, when Sir Sneller had decided he wanted Ken and Shoop in from the barn to move some things between rooms. When asked to fetch them Molly had replied that they weren't in the barn. When further inquiry had determined that Shoop was in the garden and Ken was out again collecting thatch, Sir Sneller had demanded to know exactly how large the hole in the barn roof was. An inspection of the barn after lunch failed to find the previously collected pile of thatch, as well as a hole any larger than Sir Sneller's boot. In a fit of near rage the tall man had lined up the house hold and demanded an explanation as to Ken's where abouts. When a satisfactory answer could not be found Sir Sneller advised the staff to have Ken come to see him immediately upon his return. Then he had dismissed them and spent the remainder of the day sequestered in his study.
He didn't really believe Ken was up to anything. The boy wasn't clever enough for that. He had obviously been distracted by something. Possibly a girl from the village. Ken was at that age, after all. But the boy had to be taught not to let minor things like pretty girls keep him from his duty to the estate and to his family. Worse yet, the boy had incited the staff to lie for him to their Master. There was no excusing that. Everyone and everything on this estate was under his watchful eye and Ken would learn that if Sir Sneller had to repeatedly beat it into him.
* * *
Ran sat stretched out under a tree quietly reading his book. Beside him lay the Prince, asleep and snoring lightly. Just over the small rise before him, at the pond's edge, Omi and Ken chatted easily. They had tired of fishing sometime ago and were now skipping stones across the surface of the pond. Their soft voices floated back to him in a soothing cadence.
Ran sighed contentedly. He wished this could go on forever. It felt right to him, the four of them together. They seemed to fit in someway that defied description.
The day had passed in a haze of laughter and comfortable silences. Omi had stopped asking Ken searching questions as it so obviously made the young man uncomfortable. As a consequence Ken had relaxed and remained as chatty as he'd been the first day. Ran smiled.
Suddenly the afternoon calm was shattered by a loud splash followed by a shout and another splash. Yohji started awake, instantly alert. He jumped to his feet and strode quickly to the top of the rise followed closely by his cousin. Once there he blinked down on the sight before him. Planting his hands on his hips he threw back his head and roared with laughter.
Ken and Omi scowled up at him from their positions in the water. They were soaked through.
Frowning, Ken made his way over to the embankment and began searching for hand holds among the tall grass. "I told you not to stand so near the edge," he said crossly over his shoulder to Omi.
"You didn't have to jump in after me," the little blond replied.
"I thought you couldn't swim."
"Its only waist deep."
"Doesn't matter if you're panicked," Ken growled.
"I wasn't panicked!" Omi cried indignantly.
Yohji, who had paused in his enjoyment to listen, laughed harder and louder. Ran simply shook his head and stepped forward, lowering a hand to Ken. The young man paused in his struggle to stare at the pale, long fingered hand before him. His eyes followed the arm up to the intent pale face, and the laughing purple eyes that met his.
In wonder he grasped that hand. A jolt of awareness seemed to pass between them and Ken shivered. Or maybe it was just the cold water.
Ran hauled him out of the pond while Yohji assisted Omi. Once he was back on solid ground Ran let go his hand and strode away toward the horses. Yohji was still chuckling. He stood back and observed the two as they began to shiver. He shook his head.
"Come on," he smiled. "We'll start a fire and dry you two out."
They walked the short distance to the horses where Ran was untying one of his saddle bags. Yohji began to do the same. Ken glanced around in sudden alarm. The sky was getting darker. The sun was going down. He'd stayed too long. He had to get back.
"Umm...th-thank you, f-for everyth-thing," he said through chattering teeth. "B-but I have t-to go."
The others stared at him.
"Ken, you're not going anywhere," the Prince informed him sternly. "Now get out of those wet things."
Ran approached him and handed him a blanket while Yohji began gathering wood together for a fire. Omi began stripping quickly, shivering violently with the cold.
"B-but...," Ken began helplessly.
"Look, if its a problem I'll go to Sir Sneller in the morning and explain," Yohji said. He'd fetched tinder and was lighting the dry wood. "If you attempt to return to the manor in that condition you'll have pneumonia by the time you reach it."
Ken's eyes widened in alarm at the idea of the Prince telling Sir Sneller about his three days guiding them around the estate. He was sure to be missed by supper, but he had a chance as long as the three men weren't spotted in his company. He sighed in defeat and nodded. Slowly he began to undress.
Yohji had built up the fire and Omi was huddled beside it wrapped in his own blanket. While the Prince arranged Omi's clothes over the branch of a tree Ran waited for Ken to hand his over. The young man absently handed over his coat and shirt before dropping his breeches and kicking them off. When he bent over to retrieve them Ran's eyes widened in shock and horror. Ken's back was criss-crossed with scars, some still healing. It was obvious that someone had been beating him brutally for a very long time. The stoic red-head felt a fury begin to burn within him.
Ken stood quickly to hand over his breeches. Too quickly for Ran to school his expression and hide his horror and outrage. Their eyes locked. Ken read everything in Ran's eyes and his own widened first in surprise and fear, then pleading.
Without a word Ran stretched out his hand and reached for the rest of Ken's clothes. The young man handed them over silently. Ran held his gaze a moment longer before turning away. Ken yanked the blanket up off the ground and wrapped himself in it. He huddled up shivering and tried to disappear into the blanket. Yohji noticed something was wrong immediately and turned to Ran for an explanation. His cousin's face was tight with barely contained rage, but the red-head silently warned him off with a shake of his head.
"Well, Omi, it looks like we'll get to enjoy today's catch," the Prince said with forced cheer.
"Shall I clean them?" the young servant asked.
"No, no. You two get warm and dry. Ran and I can handle the fish. Seems as though we've been here before," the Prince smiled. "Unfortunately we had no fresh fish to enjoy. Right, Cousin?"
"Aa."
Ran's short reply alerted Omi that something wasn't right. He glanced around at Ken and noticed his friend's discomfiture. He looked to Yohji for direction.
"Omi, I have to say that as a fisherman you are indeed skilled, but there was really no need to go after them head first," the Prince admonished.
"It wasn't my fault!" Omi cried in mock indignation. "The banking gave way beneath me."
"I told you not to stand so close," Ken said quietly, staring into the fire.
"I didn't think I was," Omi replied hotly. "Besides, I had to attempt to beat your five skips!"
"No chance," Ken said quietly. But he turned and smiled a small smile at Omi who beamed back at him.
Within a short time everything seemed to settle back into its proper place and the happy chatter returned. There was only an underlying tension which everyone ignored. The Prince and Ran cleaned the fish, and soon they were roasting on sticks over the fire. The smell had all their mouths watering.
Every so often Ken would peek at Ran. The quiet man was often staring into the fire or out into the descending night. A few times Ran had been looking at him. Their eyes would lock before Ken would quickly look away. For some reason he couldn't explain he hadn't wanted them to know that Sir Sneller had beaten him, did beat him, quite regularly. His "discussions" with his stepfather certainly weren't a secret. Some of the beatings he'd received had taken on almost legendary proportions among the family. The severity of his punishments overshadowing the incidents that had caused them. But he hadn't wanted his new friends to know. Especially Ran. Ken didn't understand why, but it was terribly important to him that Ran see him as an equal. It was already irksome that he was excepted as a servant, but this...this was a wall between them.
By the time dinner was over their clothes were dry. Ken dressed quickly, keeping his back to the night. When he went to hand back Ran's blanket the silent man shook his head.
"Keep it," he said. "The ride back will be cold."
Ken nodded and wrapped the blanket around himself once more. It was thick and warm.
They made their way to the horses, but when he went to get up behind Omi Ran spoke again. "Why don't you ride with me, Ken?"
"Y-yes, all right."
Omi and Yohji pretended to ignore the exchange and mounted. Ken nervously approached Ran and held his hand up for an assist. Ran took it and pulled him into the saddle, settling Ken before him instead of behind. Ran reached around either side of Ken to hold the reins.
"Are you comfortable?" Ran's deep voice asked in his ear.
"Y-yes, thank you."
Ken felt his blush extend to his toes. If he'd thought he was flustered before it was nothing to what he was feeling at that moment. And yet, after a few minutes of silence accompanied by the slow steady motion of the horse, Ken felt himself relax into a sense of comfort he'd never experienced. For the first time in his life he felt absolutely safe. Without realizing it he leaned back into the comforting presence behind him and sighed deeply.
Ran breathed in slow long breaths. Ken's weight against his chest felt nice. It felt comfortable. When he heard Ken sigh he smiled. He allowed his horse to slow to a walk, letting Omi and Yohji move further ahead. Out of earshot. The sounds of their soft voices dropped to a murmur.
"Ken."
The sound of his name being spoken in his ear jolted Ken out of a light doze. Ran felt the young man's relaxed form grow tense and he sought to sooth him.
"Shhhh, its all right," he spoke softly. "I won't tell the Prince or Omi if you do not wish me to, but I want to know."
Ken sagged back against him and sighed again, but it was a defeated sound, and his muscles were still tensed. Ran regretted what he was about to do. How much had been taken from this young man? How much harm had he suffered? Ran didn't want to take anything else from him, but he had to know. From the moment his eyes had landed on the scarred flesh on Ken's back he'd known his fascination with the youth was more than that of a bored mind seeking a puzzle. Much more.
Ran's feelings frightened him. He was afraid to acknowledge them, but they wouldn't be ignored. Not when faced with the evidence of the horrible abuse Ken had suffered. Was suffering. At that moment Ran had been filled with a fury that knew no boundary or limitation. He'd been consumed by a rage he'd never imagined himself capable of. He would know who had done this, and then he would see what he could do to stop it.
"What do you want to know? He beats me," Ken's tone held a certain amount of resentment and anger. But it also held shame.
"Who is it, Ken? Your guardian?"
Ken nodded.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Eight years. Most of the time it isn't too bad, but every once in a while..." Ken didn't finish. He didn't need to.
"Have you ever sought help?"
"From who? Who would help me?"
"You could try telling Sir Sneller."
Ken released a harsh, bitter laugh. It was then that Ran realized his mistake. Ken's guardian was his master. An image of Ken standing and obediently taking a beating from that giant of a man seized him, and he felt bile rise into his throat. Without realizing what he was doing he took his reins into one hand and wrapped an arm around Ken. Pressing the youth tightly to his chest.
Ken blinked in astonishment. One minute he'd been fighting to control his temper and the next he was being held by Lord Ran. The feeling of comfort and safety surged up around him. He'd never felt anything as wonderful.
"Can you not leave? Surely you could find other employment?"
"No, I can't leave."
"Are you indentured?"
"No."
"What can I do to help you?" Ran asked, trying to keep the hint of desperation from his voice.
"Nothing. There's nothing anyone can do," Ken said softly. "But...thank you."
Ran's horse stopped walking and the two looked up. Omi and Yohji were stopped in the road ahead of them speaking softly to each other. Off to the side, down the hill, the manor lights winked up at them. They had arrived.
A tremor went through Ken's body. Ran felt it and his arm tightened around the young man. Ken allowed it for a moment, then pulled away and jumped free leaving the discarded blanket behind him. Ran felt the loss of his warmth and shivered.
Ken faced the Prince and Omi. He bowed low to them and they returned it from their positions in their saddles. He was glad it was dark. He didn't want anyone to see his face.
"Well, Ken, I suppose this is good bye. For now at least," Yohji's smile was apparent in his voice. "Thank you very much indeed. We have greatly enjoyed ourselves. Watch for us in a year's time for Sir Sneller has issued us an invitation."
"Yes. I-I will. Thank you." He turned to Lord Ran. He could feel those purple eyes fixed on him. "Good bye."
Without another word he turned and fled. Dashing through the bushes and down the hill as fast as he could go.
"Ken!" Omi cried, but the youth was gone. "He forgot his fishing pole."
Yohji turned to observe his cousin. His tall dark form seemed ominous on the shadowy road. The Prince could feel the returned tension in the air.
"Do you want to tell me what happened back at the pond, Cousin?" Yohji asked, his voice low.
Ran was silent for a moment. His entire being focused on the manor below them. Yohji felt it when Ran's attention shifted to him.
"No. I promised him I wouldn't," Ran's voice had a dangerous edge Yohji had never heard before.
"Then I shall not press you."
"What about Ken's fishing pole?" Omi chirped out of the darkness. "Should we leave it here for him to find?"
Yohji pondered Ran for a moment. His cousin was once again focused on the manor. A feeling of dread stole over him when he glanced down at it.
"No," he said quietly. "I think we'd better return it to him."
******
Author's Note After: This is as close to a cliff-hanger as I could come. I had to! Well, to try anyway. Ah, let's see...actually child abuse was quite common in the 18th Century, and people didn't seem to think too much of it. The opinion of Ran and the others is me straying a bit from actual history. Of course, in actual history Ran and Richard would've either been jailed, beaten and hung or burned depending on where they lived. Yeah, I didn't want to go there. Thanks for reading! Please R & R!
Author's Note: Thanks to Murasaki-yanagi and Cece for reviewing the last chapter! I'm glad you guys liked it!
Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss, I'm just playing.
Tell Him That it Wasn't Love
Chapter Five
Caroline blinked at him and then smiled. Her little Ken was getting bolder.
"Yes," she said. "I think that can be arranged. I was thinking today about what I could do incase this happened, and I came up with a wonderful scheme. Now I get to try it."
Ken was none too pleased with the delight evident in her voice. It had never occurred to him that his youngest stepsister might actually be bored with life on the estate. But the ease with which she created whatever stories she'd been telling, and the joy she took in them seemed to suggest a lack of occupation.
"However, Ken, I should caution you against anymore time away from your chores. Pa-pa is sure to become suspicious if you disappear completely."
"Yes, I know. Tomorrow shall be the last day. At the end of it I shall bid them farewell, and only hope for a renewal of their attentions once I inherit," he sighed.
"After all you've told me I hardly think they would fail you. No, this is exactly what I had hoped for you."
Ken smiled softly, but it didn't reach his eyes. Caroline pulled him into a quick hug, then released him and searched his face.
"What it is, Ken?" she asked in concern.
Ken shook his head and pulled away. "N-nothing. I'll miss them. That's all."
He moved toward the door. It wasn't a complete lie. He would miss them, but he wasn't about to admit to the sinking in his heart when he thought about saying farewell to a tall, pale, red-head. Not when he couldn't explain it to himself. Ken bid Caroline good night and left for bed. With the dawn came his last day of freedom and he was determined to enjoy it.
* * *
At breakfast Caroline proposed to her father and sisters that they spend the day going through the guest rooms. She announced her intention to redecorate in a more modern style. She felt they should inventory what they had and discuss the changes that were needed. Her sisters were instantly taken with the scheme and readily agreed to it. Their father however said that he thought the rooms were in fine order and in no need of improvement. Caroline smiled when her sisters, completely enamored of the idea, plied him with entreaties until at last he gave in.
The plan had worked smoothly until lunch time, when Sir Sneller had decided he wanted Ken and Shoop in from the barn to move some things between rooms. When asked to fetch them Molly had replied that they weren't in the barn. When further inquiry had determined that Shoop was in the garden and Ken was out again collecting thatch, Sir Sneller had demanded to know exactly how large the hole in the barn roof was. An inspection of the barn after lunch failed to find the previously collected pile of thatch, as well as a hole any larger than Sir Sneller's boot. In a fit of near rage the tall man had lined up the house hold and demanded an explanation as to Ken's where abouts. When a satisfactory answer could not be found Sir Sneller advised the staff to have Ken come to see him immediately upon his return. Then he had dismissed them and spent the remainder of the day sequestered in his study.
He didn't really believe Ken was up to anything. The boy wasn't clever enough for that. He had obviously been distracted by something. Possibly a girl from the village. Ken was at that age, after all. But the boy had to be taught not to let minor things like pretty girls keep him from his duty to the estate and to his family. Worse yet, the boy had incited the staff to lie for him to their Master. There was no excusing that. Everyone and everything on this estate was under his watchful eye and Ken would learn that if Sir Sneller had to repeatedly beat it into him.
* * *
Ran sat stretched out under a tree quietly reading his book. Beside him lay the Prince, asleep and snoring lightly. Just over the small rise before him, at the pond's edge, Omi and Ken chatted easily. They had tired of fishing sometime ago and were now skipping stones across the surface of the pond. Their soft voices floated back to him in a soothing cadence.
Ran sighed contentedly. He wished this could go on forever. It felt right to him, the four of them together. They seemed to fit in someway that defied description.
The day had passed in a haze of laughter and comfortable silences. Omi had stopped asking Ken searching questions as it so obviously made the young man uncomfortable. As a consequence Ken had relaxed and remained as chatty as he'd been the first day. Ran smiled.
Suddenly the afternoon calm was shattered by a loud splash followed by a shout and another splash. Yohji started awake, instantly alert. He jumped to his feet and strode quickly to the top of the rise followed closely by his cousin. Once there he blinked down on the sight before him. Planting his hands on his hips he threw back his head and roared with laughter.
Ken and Omi scowled up at him from their positions in the water. They were soaked through.
Frowning, Ken made his way over to the embankment and began searching for hand holds among the tall grass. "I told you not to stand so near the edge," he said crossly over his shoulder to Omi.
"You didn't have to jump in after me," the little blond replied.
"I thought you couldn't swim."
"Its only waist deep."
"Doesn't matter if you're panicked," Ken growled.
"I wasn't panicked!" Omi cried indignantly.
Yohji, who had paused in his enjoyment to listen, laughed harder and louder. Ran simply shook his head and stepped forward, lowering a hand to Ken. The young man paused in his struggle to stare at the pale, long fingered hand before him. His eyes followed the arm up to the intent pale face, and the laughing purple eyes that met his.
In wonder he grasped that hand. A jolt of awareness seemed to pass between them and Ken shivered. Or maybe it was just the cold water.
Ran hauled him out of the pond while Yohji assisted Omi. Once he was back on solid ground Ran let go his hand and strode away toward the horses. Yohji was still chuckling. He stood back and observed the two as they began to shiver. He shook his head.
"Come on," he smiled. "We'll start a fire and dry you two out."
They walked the short distance to the horses where Ran was untying one of his saddle bags. Yohji began to do the same. Ken glanced around in sudden alarm. The sky was getting darker. The sun was going down. He'd stayed too long. He had to get back.
"Umm...th-thank you, f-for everyth-thing," he said through chattering teeth. "B-but I have t-to go."
The others stared at him.
"Ken, you're not going anywhere," the Prince informed him sternly. "Now get out of those wet things."
Ran approached him and handed him a blanket while Yohji began gathering wood together for a fire. Omi began stripping quickly, shivering violently with the cold.
"B-but...," Ken began helplessly.
"Look, if its a problem I'll go to Sir Sneller in the morning and explain," Yohji said. He'd fetched tinder and was lighting the dry wood. "If you attempt to return to the manor in that condition you'll have pneumonia by the time you reach it."
Ken's eyes widened in alarm at the idea of the Prince telling Sir Sneller about his three days guiding them around the estate. He was sure to be missed by supper, but he had a chance as long as the three men weren't spotted in his company. He sighed in defeat and nodded. Slowly he began to undress.
Yohji had built up the fire and Omi was huddled beside it wrapped in his own blanket. While the Prince arranged Omi's clothes over the branch of a tree Ran waited for Ken to hand his over. The young man absently handed over his coat and shirt before dropping his breeches and kicking them off. When he bent over to retrieve them Ran's eyes widened in shock and horror. Ken's back was criss-crossed with scars, some still healing. It was obvious that someone had been beating him brutally for a very long time. The stoic red-head felt a fury begin to burn within him.
Ken stood quickly to hand over his breeches. Too quickly for Ran to school his expression and hide his horror and outrage. Their eyes locked. Ken read everything in Ran's eyes and his own widened first in surprise and fear, then pleading.
Without a word Ran stretched out his hand and reached for the rest of Ken's clothes. The young man handed them over silently. Ran held his gaze a moment longer before turning away. Ken yanked the blanket up off the ground and wrapped himself in it. He huddled up shivering and tried to disappear into the blanket. Yohji noticed something was wrong immediately and turned to Ran for an explanation. His cousin's face was tight with barely contained rage, but the red-head silently warned him off with a shake of his head.
"Well, Omi, it looks like we'll get to enjoy today's catch," the Prince said with forced cheer.
"Shall I clean them?" the young servant asked.
"No, no. You two get warm and dry. Ran and I can handle the fish. Seems as though we've been here before," the Prince smiled. "Unfortunately we had no fresh fish to enjoy. Right, Cousin?"
"Aa."
Ran's short reply alerted Omi that something wasn't right. He glanced around at Ken and noticed his friend's discomfiture. He looked to Yohji for direction.
"Omi, I have to say that as a fisherman you are indeed skilled, but there was really no need to go after them head first," the Prince admonished.
"It wasn't my fault!" Omi cried in mock indignation. "The banking gave way beneath me."
"I told you not to stand so close," Ken said quietly, staring into the fire.
"I didn't think I was," Omi replied hotly. "Besides, I had to attempt to beat your five skips!"
"No chance," Ken said quietly. But he turned and smiled a small smile at Omi who beamed back at him.
Within a short time everything seemed to settle back into its proper place and the happy chatter returned. There was only an underlying tension which everyone ignored. The Prince and Ran cleaned the fish, and soon they were roasting on sticks over the fire. The smell had all their mouths watering.
Every so often Ken would peek at Ran. The quiet man was often staring into the fire or out into the descending night. A few times Ran had been looking at him. Their eyes would lock before Ken would quickly look away. For some reason he couldn't explain he hadn't wanted them to know that Sir Sneller had beaten him, did beat him, quite regularly. His "discussions" with his stepfather certainly weren't a secret. Some of the beatings he'd received had taken on almost legendary proportions among the family. The severity of his punishments overshadowing the incidents that had caused them. But he hadn't wanted his new friends to know. Especially Ran. Ken didn't understand why, but it was terribly important to him that Ran see him as an equal. It was already irksome that he was excepted as a servant, but this...this was a wall between them.
By the time dinner was over their clothes were dry. Ken dressed quickly, keeping his back to the night. When he went to hand back Ran's blanket the silent man shook his head.
"Keep it," he said. "The ride back will be cold."
Ken nodded and wrapped the blanket around himself once more. It was thick and warm.
They made their way to the horses, but when he went to get up behind Omi Ran spoke again. "Why don't you ride with me, Ken?"
"Y-yes, all right."
Omi and Yohji pretended to ignore the exchange and mounted. Ken nervously approached Ran and held his hand up for an assist. Ran took it and pulled him into the saddle, settling Ken before him instead of behind. Ran reached around either side of Ken to hold the reins.
"Are you comfortable?" Ran's deep voice asked in his ear.
"Y-yes, thank you."
Ken felt his blush extend to his toes. If he'd thought he was flustered before it was nothing to what he was feeling at that moment. And yet, after a few minutes of silence accompanied by the slow steady motion of the horse, Ken felt himself relax into a sense of comfort he'd never experienced. For the first time in his life he felt absolutely safe. Without realizing it he leaned back into the comforting presence behind him and sighed deeply.
Ran breathed in slow long breaths. Ken's weight against his chest felt nice. It felt comfortable. When he heard Ken sigh he smiled. He allowed his horse to slow to a walk, letting Omi and Yohji move further ahead. Out of earshot. The sounds of their soft voices dropped to a murmur.
"Ken."
The sound of his name being spoken in his ear jolted Ken out of a light doze. Ran felt the young man's relaxed form grow tense and he sought to sooth him.
"Shhhh, its all right," he spoke softly. "I won't tell the Prince or Omi if you do not wish me to, but I want to know."
Ken sagged back against him and sighed again, but it was a defeated sound, and his muscles were still tensed. Ran regretted what he was about to do. How much had been taken from this young man? How much harm had he suffered? Ran didn't want to take anything else from him, but he had to know. From the moment his eyes had landed on the scarred flesh on Ken's back he'd known his fascination with the youth was more than that of a bored mind seeking a puzzle. Much more.
Ran's feelings frightened him. He was afraid to acknowledge them, but they wouldn't be ignored. Not when faced with the evidence of the horrible abuse Ken had suffered. Was suffering. At that moment Ran had been filled with a fury that knew no boundary or limitation. He'd been consumed by a rage he'd never imagined himself capable of. He would know who had done this, and then he would see what he could do to stop it.
"What do you want to know? He beats me," Ken's tone held a certain amount of resentment and anger. But it also held shame.
"Who is it, Ken? Your guardian?"
Ken nodded.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Eight years. Most of the time it isn't too bad, but every once in a while..." Ken didn't finish. He didn't need to.
"Have you ever sought help?"
"From who? Who would help me?"
"You could try telling Sir Sneller."
Ken released a harsh, bitter laugh. It was then that Ran realized his mistake. Ken's guardian was his master. An image of Ken standing and obediently taking a beating from that giant of a man seized him, and he felt bile rise into his throat. Without realizing what he was doing he took his reins into one hand and wrapped an arm around Ken. Pressing the youth tightly to his chest.
Ken blinked in astonishment. One minute he'd been fighting to control his temper and the next he was being held by Lord Ran. The feeling of comfort and safety surged up around him. He'd never felt anything as wonderful.
"Can you not leave? Surely you could find other employment?"
"No, I can't leave."
"Are you indentured?"
"No."
"What can I do to help you?" Ran asked, trying to keep the hint of desperation from his voice.
"Nothing. There's nothing anyone can do," Ken said softly. "But...thank you."
Ran's horse stopped walking and the two looked up. Omi and Yohji were stopped in the road ahead of them speaking softly to each other. Off to the side, down the hill, the manor lights winked up at them. They had arrived.
A tremor went through Ken's body. Ran felt it and his arm tightened around the young man. Ken allowed it for a moment, then pulled away and jumped free leaving the discarded blanket behind him. Ran felt the loss of his warmth and shivered.
Ken faced the Prince and Omi. He bowed low to them and they returned it from their positions in their saddles. He was glad it was dark. He didn't want anyone to see his face.
"Well, Ken, I suppose this is good bye. For now at least," Yohji's smile was apparent in his voice. "Thank you very much indeed. We have greatly enjoyed ourselves. Watch for us in a year's time for Sir Sneller has issued us an invitation."
"Yes. I-I will. Thank you." He turned to Lord Ran. He could feel those purple eyes fixed on him. "Good bye."
Without another word he turned and fled. Dashing through the bushes and down the hill as fast as he could go.
"Ken!" Omi cried, but the youth was gone. "He forgot his fishing pole."
Yohji turned to observe his cousin. His tall dark form seemed ominous on the shadowy road. The Prince could feel the returned tension in the air.
"Do you want to tell me what happened back at the pond, Cousin?" Yohji asked, his voice low.
Ran was silent for a moment. His entire being focused on the manor below them. Yohji felt it when Ran's attention shifted to him.
"No. I promised him I wouldn't," Ran's voice had a dangerous edge Yohji had never heard before.
"Then I shall not press you."
"What about Ken's fishing pole?" Omi chirped out of the darkness. "Should we leave it here for him to find?"
Yohji pondered Ran for a moment. His cousin was once again focused on the manor. A feeling of dread stole over him when he glanced down at it.
"No," he said quietly. "I think we'd better return it to him."
******
Author's Note After: This is as close to a cliff-hanger as I could come. I had to! Well, to try anyway. Ah, let's see...actually child abuse was quite common in the 18th Century, and people didn't seem to think too much of it. The opinion of Ran and the others is me straying a bit from actual history. Of course, in actual history Ran and Richard would've either been jailed, beaten and hung or burned depending on where they lived. Yeah, I didn't want to go there. Thanks for reading! Please R & R!