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

Author's Note: Okay, hopefully this chapter will have a little more excitement and a bit more Ran/Ken-ness as well. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss.

First Born of the Thirteenth House

Part 3: Ran & Ken (b)

They ate lunch privately in Yohji's rooms before returning to Ken's bringing with them several lanterns. Ran harbored a concern about Ken being present when the bodies were removed. He'd seen Tris briefly, but they had no idea what they would find in the dungeon behind the brick wall. He didn't know how to broach the subject with the former wood boy. They'd been cautiously feeling each other out on things all day and had experienced more than a few tense moments. Those had left Ran wondering whether their pairing would hold up under any real test, and he wasn't sure if he'd be upset if it didn't.

As they neared Ken's room he decided he needed to at least try to dissuade the younger man.

"Ken," he said softly and pulled him aside to allow Yohji and Omi to enter the room ahead of them. "Perhaps you should wait here. We can find our way and tell you once the bodies are recovered."

Ken looked at him in confusion.

"Why?" he asked bluntly.

"Because we don't know what we'll find," Ran said. "I'm...worried about you."

Ken's eyes widened in surprise and he smirked.

"You are?" he asked, obviously pleased. "Thanks, but I'll be fine. I want them out of there and I have to be the one to do it."

Ran gave way under his determined gaze and nodded in understanding. He was still concerned, but he'd have to content himself with the attempt. He was learning that Ken was stubborn. Perhaps even more stubborn than he was himself. Nodding a final time he entered the room, and walked smack into Ken who'd stopped just inside the door.

He was staring at a woman with bright red hair who was seated quite comfortably on the bed. Ran shoved him aside and shut the door. The woman's smirk spread into a smile.

"So, this is the face you were hiding under all that hair," she said. "I can't say I blame you since the resemblance to the boy in the portrait of the former Lord's family that hangs in the gallery would've raised more than a few questions."

"The kitchen keep?" Ken asked incredulously.

"Yes," she said, rising and placing her hands on her slender hips. "Now we're both out of our disguises."

"Ken, this is Manx," Yohji said, looking the woman over with an appreciative eye. "Manx, this is Ken Hidaka, true heir to the Thirteenth House, and Omi Tsukiyono, its current seer."

"A pleasure," Manx said bowing.

She was as tall as the Prince and dressed in trim black pants, boots and coat. The black set off her almost orange hair and brilliant green eyes.

"You're a spy," Omi stated with a smirk.

"Correct," she said.

"Not just a spy," Yohji winked. "She's one of the best security officers and administrative assistants we have at the First House. She's been here for four months awaiting Ran's arrival."

Ken was watching her wearily, she smirked at him.

"Don't worry, Ken. I'm sure we'll have many opportunities to work together," Manx said flicking her eyes to Ran. "Shall we go, gentlemen?"

Ken glanced around then led the way. Following his sure lead it didn't take them long to reach the wide staircase and descend.

"Recovering the child should be relatively easy, but I'm wondering about getting through that wall," Yohji said as they headed down.

"I'll look at it again," Omi suggested. "There maybe some weaknesses we can utilize."

"What about the noise?" Ran asked.

"The kitchen is usually in full swing at this time of day," Manx commented. "It can get pretty loud in there."

"No one'll hear us," Ken said.

"Are you sure?" Yohji asked.

"Well, my father was screaming and no one came to help. And that was in the middle of the night when the kitchen's empty," he said shrugging. "And no one ever said they heard screaming afterward even though all these tunnels connect to one another and run throughout the whole House."

No one commented on that and they went the rest of the way in silence until Ken stopped them at the tunnel to the pit.

"Ran, you and Ken go and retrieve Tris," Yohji commanded. "Omi will examine the wall and hopefully Manx and I will have it down by the time you're finished."

Ran nodded and motioned for Ken to precede him into the tunnel. Moments later they were in the large cavern.

"Is this the only such chamber under this House?" Ran asked as they entered.

"Actually, I'm not sure," Ken said. "I've explored all the passages and secret places in the House that I could find, but down here I've been too...well, nervous to. I've never even climbed back down into the pit."

"I don't blame you," Ran said, looking down into the dark as they approached.

"Well, I guess I have to now," Ken frowned.

"Why? There's no need," the red-head said.

"How'll we get Tris out?" Ken asked looking at him.

"With your permission I will pull him out," Ran stated. "But you'll have to be quiet. I can't be distracted. I don't want to drop him."

Ken struggled between being angry over the inferred insult and worried over the idea of Tris falling again.

"I'll be quiet," he growled. "Just get on with it."

"Very well."

Ran slapped his right hand onto Ken's back and drew out his magic. First he created a light ball and sent it down into the pit as he had the day before. Once again Ken leaned forward to see.

"Stay still," Ran commanded coldly. "I have to maintain contact with you or I lose your potential."

"Sorry," Ken muttered, standing straight again.

Once more the sphere of light illuminated the floor of the pit and the corpses resting there. Ran inhaled a deep, even breath and let it out slowly. As he exhaled he reached down into the stone structure. For once he was grateful he'd bothered to study the uses of magic despite his personal deficiency. He'd never been able to lift anything larger than a pencil, but at least he'd learned how. The trick now was handling two spells at once. Something he'd never prepared himself for.

Keeping his breathing as even as possible he reached for the tiny body with the spell. He felt the power touch it and gently wrap the little form. When he felt Tris was held securely he began to draw the power back to him, bringing the corpse with it. Slowly it rose. Under his hand he could feel Ken's back muscles tighten but he ignored it. He focused solely on the ascending body.

He raised it completely out of the pit and set it on the floor before letting it free of the magic's grasp. Then taking a sudden, shaky breath he stumbled back from Ken, and sunk to the floor.

Ran trailed a hand through his hair. He felt trembly and his head was buzzing. Ken crouched down beside him.

"Are you okay?" he asked in concern.

"I think so," Ran answered. "I'm not used to this."

"Will I ever be able to do that?"

"Yes. Eventually," he replied, meeting Ken's eyes briefly.

They sat for a few moments silently contemplating the corpse.

"He...looks so small," Ken said softly. "We were always the same size."

"Why is he covered in your nightshirt?" Ran asked, trying not to focus on the thought of a little Ken climbing out of that pit alone in the dark.

The former wood boy ducked his head in shame and answered quietly, "I took his clothes."

Ran reached out and squeezed his shoulder in silent comfort.

"You did what you had to do," he said. "There was no other way."

Ken didn't respond.

"Come on," Ran said. "We should rejoin the others. Will you carry him or shall I?"

"No, I'll do it," Ken said.

"Be gentle," Ran advised needlessly. "He's probably very fragile."

Ken nodded and tenderly lifted the brittle body into his arms. They rose and headed back toward the stairs.

-------

As Ran and Ken headed to the pit Yohji, Omi, and Manx proceeded to the brick wall. They stopped before it and the Prince quirked an eyebrow.

"Interesting," he commented. "They didn't even try to disguise it by using stone."

"I wondered why they'd built it in the first place," Omi said stepping up to study the wall as he had before. "Since it was commonly believed that the family had been taken to the cliffs and disposed of. All the evidence they found pointed to such a conclusion, so the chances of someone even looking down here were minute. Not to mention no one even knew about this."

"Except Lord Hidaka," Yohji said thoughtfully.

"You think he was meant to find this?" Manx asked.

"Why hide a crime that was already hidden?" Yohji asked quietly to himself. He studied the bricks with his inner eye. "Ah, what do we have here? Manx."

At his command the tall security officer also studied the wall.

"A spell," she muttered. "Very subtle. Hidden inside the wall itself."

"Yes," Yohji agreed. "A trigger. Once the wall comes down this tiny bit of magic returns to its owner thus informing them that the wall has fallen, and that their treachery may soon be discovered."

"You couldn't place such a spell on the stones of the House," Manx explained to Omi. "The natural stone used to make the Great Houses is resistant to the magic their built upon."

"So, they used bricks," the seer nodded.

"A blank canvas," Yohji said. "Omi?"

"Yes, I think the whole thing can be brought down quite easily," the youth said. He indicated three spots, "Pressure applied to these spots should cause it to collapse. The spell maybe well made, but this wall isn't."

"Good. Manx," the Prince said, "despite what Ken said I think we'd better shield it for sound and debris."

"Shall I attempt to follow the spell when it departs?" she asked.

"If you're able."

The security officer nodded and focused on the wall. Several seconds later she nodded again.

"Ready," she said.

Yohji stepped up beside her and pulled forth his considerable power. Reaching carefully through her shield he applied pressure to the places Omi had indicated and pushed. Without a sound the bricks shuddered. Long silent cracks appeared and suddenly the bulk of the structure fell down into the darkness beyond. In its wake it left a swirling cloud of dust. Manx pressed her shield forward, forcing the dust to settle. Breathing deeply she shut her shield down and grinned.

Omi swallowed reflexively. Unhappy thoughts of how else she could use her shield in her position as a spy slipped into his mind. Shaking his head he stepped forward with his lantern.

Carefully they continued down the rest of the steps. They descended straight down into a large chamber filled, as Ken had described, with unspeakable devices. Omi stopped when the light from his lantern shown onto a body slumped in a chair.

Yohji and Manx moved forward. Instantly two spheres of light bloomed in the air. The corpse was held in place by chains, but they had sagged as it had deteriorated. His wrists and ankles were heavily manacled with large rusted spikes piercing them.

"He's been bound magically, your Highness," Manx said tightly. "Someone planned long and hard for this."

"And they knew exactly what they were doing," he agreed.

Yohji and Manx set to work undoing the spells holding the corpse in place. Since the victim was long dead it wasn't as difficult as it would've been otherwise. While they worked Omi moved past them to look around. He stopped a few feet away and raised his lantern.

Ahead of him, resting on a table of some kind, was what looked like a pile of material. Despite the chill which traveled down his spine he stepped forward. Nestled in what had once been finely embroidered yellow satin was the corpse of a woman. The position of her body indicated she'd been violated. Gasping loudly he turned his back.

Yohji and Manx looked up at the sound. They'd broken the man's body free and the Prince left Manx to lift it to the floor.

"What is it, Omi?" he asked, coming to join the youth.

"I think," the young seer muttered, "its Ken's mother."

Yohji peered over Omi's head and stiffened. He placed an arm around Omi's shoulders and turned to lead him back to the other body just as Ken and Ran entered. Ken was holding the corpse of the child which he set down gently on the rubble on the stairs so he could descend. Yohji pushed Omi forward.

"Ran, take Ken and bring the child out," he commanded sternly.

"Why?" Ken asked before Ran could obey. Then he stopped dead on the stairs and stared. From his position, and with his added height from fourteen years of growth, he could clearly see across the expanse of the room to where Yohji's light ball still illuminated the second body.

Ken dashed forward, his power rising with his rage. Ran was only a step behind him. Yohji threw a shield up around himself and Omi, and Manx around herself and the corpses, just as the first few torture devices hit the wall and shattered. By the time Ken stopped before his mother's corpse the center of the chamber had been cleared of everything but the table she rested on.

Ran forced his way through the waves of raw magic and threw his arms around Ken's shoulders. The smaller man cried out an inarticulate objection as Ran drained away his power, effectively blanketing it. He continued to hold Ken against him even as the magic died. The former servant was breathing heavily and emitting occasional growls of angry grief.

"Ken," Ran murmured in his ear over his rasping breaths. "Ken, come away."

The red-headed Lord stepped backward and pulled Ken with him. The younger man fought him, but Ran persisted.

"Come away," he said again. "The others will cover her. They'll bring her. Come on. You carry Tris."

He continued to cajole Ken as he pulled him back. With every step he felt the other man weaken until he could finally turn him and move him toward the stairs.

"Pick up Tris," Ran commanded gently and Ken obeyed.

The tall red-head wrapped his arm back around the former servant's shoulders and braced him with his other hand. Ran guided Ken back up the steps and out of sight, continuing his softly murmured commands.

Yohji didn't relax his grip on Omi or release his shield until they were gone. Omi looked around. His large blue eyes wide with shock. Everything in the room had been destroyed save the table the corpse rested on. Most of the torture devices had been reduced to scrap, but some were little more than splinters and dust.

"Oh, my," the youth breathed.

"Yes," Yohji agreed. "Are you alright?"

Omi nodded.

"Manx?"

"Fine, your Highness," she answered from her position near the steps before moving forward to view the other body. "One can hardly blame him."

"I think Ran was afraid of this," Yohji said. "Their first big test."

"The first of many," Omi said, pulling himself together.

Yohji and Manx glanced at him sharply, but didn't push for details.

"Well, that was indeed very interesting," the Prince muttered.

"What do you mean?" Omi asked.

"It is a rare healer that can cause so much destruction with so little effort," he replied and they all looked around at the demolished torture equipment. "Ken has demonstrated a very interesting duality in the use of his potential that will need more exploring. I think," the Prince sighed, "we'd better summon some assistance. Some of our own people I think, Manx."

"Your Highness," she bowed and turned to leave.

"Manx," Yohji called, causing her to turn back. "Did you follow the spell?"

"It went nowhere," she answered. "Straight down into the depths of the well under the House."

Yohji scowled then nodded her on her way.

"Do you think Ken will be okay?" Omi asked once she was gone.

The Prince smiled softly.

"I hope so, Chibi," he said affectionately then he moved to the body of Ken's mother, and removing his coat he covered her.

-----

Ken sat in the chapel and stared at the sheet covered bodies laid on the floor before the alter. He'd been sitting there, unmoving, for hours. Ran had led him there and they'd laid Tris out, then he'd sat. He'd remained seated as the others arrived with his parents, and hadn't moved when they'd left. Ran alone had remained, quietly standing watch at the back of the room. Ken knew he was there. He could feel him somehow, but he ignored the red-headed Lord. Ran hadn't attempted to comfort him. Ken wondered if he even knew how. It didn't matter. Ken knew there was nothing anyone could do to comfort him. He was numb to the core of his being. When he'd seen his mother he'd relived that night, those moments on the steps, his father begging and the cries he'd heard. Now, at last, he understood.

Behind him the door to the chapel opened and he heard someone enter. Several quiet words were exchanged with Ran, and Ken recognized the voice of his uncle. He ignored him too, and continued to stare at the remains of his family, until he felt a presence next to him.

Ken moved his eyes sideways to confirm it was his uncle. The man looked haggard and gray. He'd removed the hat he customarily wore and was clutching it reflexively. Ken looked away again.

"Oh, my boy," his uncle muttered. "I am sorry. So sorry. How are you?"

Ken shrugged.

"Your poor dear mother," Lord Hidaka continued. "She did not deserve such a fate. She was the sweetest, sunniest creature I've ever met."

Ken felt himself start to shake. His comfortable numb began to dissolve.

"When you didn't mention her this morning I thought...well, I hoped somehow she'd escaped as well."

"I didn't know she was there," Ken said softly, his voice breaking.

His eyes began to burn as tears escaped them, and he felt himself pulled into a warm embrace.

"There, there now, Little Ken," he heard his uncle say. "You let it go now. You've held it for such a long time. You've been brave long enough. Let it go."

Ran watched silently from the back of the chapel as Ken dissolved into loud sobs. His uncle holding and rocking him soothingly. He couldn't escape the guilty pang in his conscience as he watched them. That it should've been him comforting the former wood boy. That he should've done something more than lead him to the chapel, but he hadn't known what to do. He hadn't known how to break through the wall Ken had built around himself. But his uncle had. Even after fourteen years his uncle had known exactly what to say to break the barrier.

Ran sighed. He hadn't known what to do for Aya either, after their parents had died. It had been the Queen who'd comforted her. He'd tried to be strong but she hadn't needed his strength. Was he bound to fail again with Ken? Could he afford to?

His uncle held him and rocked him for a long time. Well past the time his tears had stopped. It felt good to be held and comforted, but at last he'd had enough. Ken pushed away and his uncle released him. He wiped his nose on his sleeve and sniffed loudly.

"Thanks," he said looking at the floor.

"You're welcome," his uncle said, his voice raspy.

Ken looked at him and found he'd been crying as well.

"Thank you for allowing me to share our mutual grief," Lord Hidaka said meeting his eyes unabashedly. "Its meant more to me than you can ever know, Ken."

He blinked at his uncle who stood and turned to leave.

"It is late," he said, "and I am afraid I may have already missed dinner. I must go and make my excuses. I hope you have a restful night and I'll look forward to seeing you come morning. Good night, Ken."

His uncle bowed low to him and left. Ken stared after him.

"Are you ready to go?" Ran asked from his position by the door. "We could have some dinner sent to my room...if you're hungry."

Ken looked at him and nodded. Sniffling again he rose wearily to his feet. He followed silently behind Ran all the way to his room where he slumped into one of the armchairs. After a moment he moved it to the large windows and sat watching the snow landing on the balcony. Beyond, the night had settled into inky darkness, and he watched Ran's reflection order dinner from a footman, and move around the room.

The red-head's movements were graceful and unhurried as he collected a quilt from the bed and came to place it around Ken. Then Ran walked over to another armchair and carried it over to sit beside him and watch out the window. Ken switched back to watching the snow.

"Dinner won't be long," Ran said as he sat down. "We should eat before the fire like we did last night. I don't want you catching cold."

"I won't catch cold," Ken muttered.

Ran looked at him but didn't say anything more. Ken glanced at their reflections in the window. It looked as if they were sitting outside in the snow and he smiled slightly.

"What?" Ran asked.

"See our reflections?" Ken asked pointing with his chin. Ran nodded. "I was just remembering something Tris and I used to do."

"Tell me?" Ran requested after a pause.

Ken glanced at him briefly before looking at the window again.

"We used to want to go out and play in the snow at night, but we weren't allowed to. One night we were standing on some chairs watching the snow fall and we noticed our reflections. In the window it looked like we were outside. So we took turns. One of us would watch in the window and the other would roll around on the floor of the room and pretend to be out in the snow," Ken suddenly found himself laughing at the memory. "We must've looked like idiots."

Ran watched, mesmerized, as Ken's face was transformed by his smile. As if the sun had suddenly emerged from behind a cloud. His laugh was light and hung in the air like bubbles. After a minute it died and the former servant sighed.

"I really do miss him," he said and his eyes looked moist again. He sniffed.

"My sister and I used to wish for snow in the summer time," Ran said, surprising both Ken and himself. "We liked how white it made everything. Even the air. When the air is white like that colors seem brighter."

"What'd you do? Store snowballs in the ice house?" Ken asked, watching the red-head studying the snow.

Ran felt his eyes widen and glanced at Ken.

"No, we never thought of that," he said.

"We did. It didn't work. They got crushed by a chunk of ice."

"Too bad. No, Aya had a large, white cloak. It was spun wool. We used to lay that out on the floor," Ran said and he felt himself smile a bit. "It wasn't big enough for us to roll on, so we used Aya's dolls and pretended they were us."

"Aya is your sister?" Ken asked. Ran nodded. "Any brothers?"

"No, just Aya," Ran answered. "Although, I think she considers the Princes and Princesses like siblings."

Ken cocked his head curiously.

"Our parents were killed defending the King during an attack by a wizard when he was visiting our town. In honor of their sacrifice we became wards of the King and Queen, so we were raised with their children."

"How old were you?" Ken asked.

"I was almost twelve and Aya was nine."

They fell silent once more and returned to gazing out the window until Ken suddenly snerked. The odd noise caused Ran to glance in his direction with a raised eyebrow.

"So, bein' like brothers must've been interesting for your relationship with Yohji," the former servant commented smirking.

Ran sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"There was no relationship with Prince Yohji," he stated flatly. Ken eyed him. "It was an idea he had two years ago when we needed some information which was...hard to come by. It worked so well he decided to keep it up. And I believe he got quite a bit of amusement out of embarrassing me."

Ran could feel himself scowling and fought the urge to grind his teeth. When he glanced at Ken he found that brilliant smile back in place, but aimed directly at him. He stared, bemused.

"That explains your cold shoulder to him this morning and that game you were playin' the other night at dinner," he chuckled.

"Game?" Ran asked, blinking. But before Ken could answer there was a knock at the door.

Two footmen brought in and set up their dinner. Sighing, Ken got up and moved his chair while Ran pulled shut the curtains. Over dinner they continued to talk quietly, beginning the long process of getting to know each other. By the time they retired for the night each of them felt a little better. Ken more at peace, and Ran less worried.

-----

Author's Note: Okay, now you know Ran and Yohji weren't lovers. Is everyone relieved now? And, yes Ken's uncle comforted him. Its too early for Ran to do that. But you know what I find really interesting is that despite the fact that I mentioned Ken's mother several times no one ever asked me about her and her fate. Did you all know already? Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone for your reviews. Oh, how I love them! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please feel free to review again. Please? :D

Akimoto Kin: Oh, you noticed the chapter title, did you? Yep, this part is about them...mostly. Well, the bodies are recovered and his identity won't be a secret for too much longer. How did you like the interaction at the end? Yeah, the big adventure should be good...when I finally write it. :P Thanks for reading! :)

Shikigami-kun: No Schwartz, sorry. I'm actually afraid to write them. I'm sort of saving that challenge for the sequel to my other stories which I'll write after this is done. I've heard Gackt mentioned before by other people, but I've never heard that theme song so I'm not sure if I've ever heard him. Thanks for reading! :)

Fieryicicles: Ran and Ken are paired as in Ran's magic is tempering Ken's. Right now they're just friends...or starting to be. But I'm relieved you like the plot too! Thanks for reading! :)

Seph Lorraine: Actually, I do update on Sunday, but usually later. I needed to do it before I forgot in the lethargy following shoveling. ;P I feel bad about Ken's anger too, but it won't just go "poof" away. He'll be angry for a long, long time and his uncle is only one of the people on the receiving end. Sorry. :( Ken is definitely following Ran's lead, but its instinctual. He really has no idea why. Yeah, I can't wait to find out what happened to Weston's body either! ;P Thanks for reading! :)

Miso Soup: Thanks for emailing! Sorry it wouldn't let you review. I have no idea why, but it does that to me sometimes. Ran and Ken are definitely my favorites, but I do like them being together with the other two too. Thanks for reading! :)

Precognition74: Heh-heh-heh. Sorry, but I DID correct some of his English in the last chapter. As much as I wanted corrected that is. I think when he gets angry his proper pronunciation takes a dive, and he did live as a servant! :P Thanks for reading! :)

Chubby-King-Chocobo: Wow. O.O That's some new pen-name! The King or Ken's uncle? They are two different people. Thanks for reading! :)

RuByMoOn17: Thanks! Hey, now! grabs one of Ran's arms I said you had to learn to SHARE!!! starts yanking Thanks for reading! :)

Snow girl that melts only in honey: pats head Someday I'll post it. I promise. But right now there really isn't any romance, just friendship. Look to the sequel for that. (Yes, there will be one.) Thanks for reading! :)

Rapunzel4: Yep! They were paired. Correct. Thanks, I think clarification is important too, but I felt bad because all the action was really in the first four or five chapters. People got used to it, I think. Well, I hope I'm setting you up for bigger and better things to come. There are things coming. The rest remains to be seen. Thanks for reading! :)

Krysana: wink You know it. Yeah, I've gotta do more with their gift, Ran and Aya's. But if I posted more often I'd have to write faster...and as I'm not writing at all right now that'd put a lot of pressure on me. I'm not sure I can write and post at the same time. How does everybody do that? O.O Thanks for reading! :)

Cat in the web: Thanks! Hmmm...well, it'll go. I'm not sure about murder, but there are things waiting for him. That's true! His uncle did convince his father to keep Weston. You keep track of all the details very well. Bravo. Keep keeping track. wink Thanks for reading! :)

Makami: Your name is Heather too? Cool. Then allow me to tell you that heather is a low flowering shrub that grows all over the High Lands in Scotland. My mother visited there before she was married and fell in love with them, hence my name. It comes in white, purple, and pink. I can also be hyper, although those days are dwindling. Well, I hope you can see a little more clearly where I'm going with his uncle after this chapter. You're welcome! Thanks for reading them! :D

Jo9tails: Okay, I guess you can read in that class then. O.O Whoaw! Well, thanks for trying to explain them. Assumptions correct! Assume away! Yeah, his story is really sad, and after today's chapter even worse. Sorry. Hee-hee-hee, yeah, bath scenes. I love 'em! Votes still out on YxO. I'm thinking. Thanks! Umm...right now there are...seven more chapters and its not done yet. I'm supposed to be writing it, but I'm flaking out and working on something else at the moment. :D Sorry! THANK YOU (but just staring doesn't work either). ;P Thanks for reading! :)

O.bi.Sess: Thanks! I hope they do get interesting. Thanks for reading! :)

Elizanicolequinzi: Hi! Oh, thank you! Well, I do think all of you are the sweetest people in the world! I'll have to see about the publishing thing...maybe someday. Of course, I would never stop posting! Thanks for reading! :)

Mondtanz: Hey, there! Yes, his uncle's nice. I couldn't help myself. But I haven't forgotten that his uncle is the one who hired Weston. Yeah, adventures are definitely better. Don't worry his uncle will manage. Kase? Kase who? 99 And I'm trying to add more of the Yohji poking Ran stuff, but there's so much that needs to be there. Aaagh! I'd better go write some more! Thanks for reading! :)