Disclaimer: All characters mentioned belong in the animé series Weiss Kreuz. The plot is taken from the book Scarlet Moon by Debbie Viguié. Please don't sue me…?
WARNING: The end… is next chapter. You have been warned. And in the off chance that anyone would still insist on reviewing the last chapter (which will be the next chapter), PLEASE LEAVE AN e-mail add SO I COULD MAIL YOU MY REPLY TO YOUR REVIEW. If you've signed-in, 'tis ok. If you're an anonymous reviewer, PLEASE leave an e-mail add. Arigatou!
For Skyyler-sama, wuv you for being the best beta reader ever! (huggles)
Scarlet Moon
By Ninetails
I have been waiting for you all night
Under the glow of the satellite
Two-trick Pony by Sandwich
Chapter11
The trees were anxious; they looked down upon the young men in the woods and watched as the shorter one chained up the pale man with great and mighty chains. One of the trees volunteered his trunk as an anchor for the chains, but he did not believe they would hold.
The trees had seen the pale man before, and they knew what he was capable of. They knew that in his other form he had hurt the shorter man twice. They fretted for him and the light shining in his chocolate eyes, but there was nothing they could do. His course was set and he would not be swayed. The trees sighed mournfully.
There is only the wolf now, there is no more me. Killing, fighting, hide who you are, but not forever. That person could help him, but that person wouldn't; and for that someone was going to pay.
"Are the chains tight enough?" Ken asked, testing them one last time.
"They feel secure now, but I do not know if they will hold once I am transformed."
"It's a chance we're just going to have to take," Ken admitted, even though he didn't like it.
"It would be safer if you left," Ran urged almost frantically, an anxious gleam in his purple eyes. "I don't want you to be hurt."
Ken shook his head emphatically. "We will never know for sure unless I stay and keep watch."
Ran leaned forward and kissed him, straining against the tight bonds on his chest. His lips lingered more than was necessary on Ken's as he gently caressed his love's petal lips with his tongue. "You are as wise as you are brave."
"You forgot beautiful," he teased as he slowly pulled away from those wicked lips.
"Well, that one was a given," Ran said, smirking. He looked up at the sky and his smile slowly faded. "The sun is going down."
"So it is," Ken murmured, looking at the darkening sky. He bent forward and kissed him avidly, lips working furiously against his, reveling in the slick heat of his lover. He prayed that it wasn't for the last time.
He then moved a little distance away, out of his reach, and sat down with his back to another tree. The first snow of the year had thawed and the ground was dry once more. He carefully wrapped his scarlet cloak around him, grateful for the protection it offered and only slightly saddened by the memory that it was his brother's armor that lined his cloak and kept him safe. Once seated, he pulled out his dagger and clutched it tightly in his hand.
Next to him on the ground was an extra change of his clothes. For modesty's sake, and for both their own sanity as well, Ran had foregone his usual practice of undressing before transformation.
"Don't forget, the wolf can sense fear," Ran said by way of a final caution.
As the light of the lingering sun left the sky, Ken felt a shock go through him. He shivered and turned his eyes to Ran.
He lay, body contorting and convulsing upon the ground. Ken bit his tongue to keep from screaming. He heard the sound of rending fabric, and soon gray tufts of fur began to peer through his clothes.
"Ran?" he whispered despite himself.
Ken heard the cracking of bones as his body reformed itself. Snarling and whimpering sounds that could not be made by a human came from the writhing form and Ken closed his eyes, unable to bear it any longer.
When the sounds had subsided, he opened his eyes to find that Ran was completely gone and in his place stood a large wolf. He shivered and involuntarily pressed his back harder against the tree, his body seeking an escape route.
When the animal threw back its head and howled at the moon already rising in the sky, it was the most frightening sound he had ever heard. He gasped as a shiver raced up his spine.
The wolf turned suddenly toward him, its large violet eyes on him. Ran's eyes. I don't know why I never realized it before.
The wolf lunged at him, and with a scream he raised his knife up in front of him to protect himself. The chains held, though, and brought him up short. He strained at them, snarling and snapping not four feet from the brunette. His massive paws dug into the ground, tearing it up.
Ken wanted to scream but forced himself to try and remain calm. "All is well, Ran. Be still. It's only me, Ken, and you know I mean you no harm."
The creature continued to claw and snap, and despite his best efforts Ken began to remember what it was like when those same teeth had ripped chunks from his flesh and those same paws had slashed his legs.
"I am not afraid of you," he whispered, willing it to be true. "You are Ran, my love. You just need to be still and remember yourself."
The wolf stopped snarling for a moment and cocked its head, as though considering his words. He held his breath, praying that he had reached him. After a moment, though, he lunged at him again.
Then, just as suddenly, he gave up, turned, and ran the other way. The chain brought him up short again, with a yelp that pained Ken. He threw himself in that direction for only a moment before repeating the action in other directions.
Ken watched, fascinated. He didn't venture near him again, and for that he was very grateful. At long last the wolf lay down and closed its eyes.
"That's right, my beauty, just go to sleep. Rest and I'll wait here to keep watch."
He was tired. So tired of seeing the lost look on his love's face. Desperation tinged his features as day by day, answers to so many of his questions refused to be answered. Every day he would take him out for long walks, out to the village. No one was familiar to him. He then took him out riding and reached the far corners of his cousin's estates. Nothing was familiar to him.
Depression threatened to overwhelm his heart, but he would not give up the fight. He had to make his love's memories come back. He had to let his love's life come back.
No one else could help him. He didn't entrust any other one to, for they weren't as compassionate as he was to his love. Even his cousin was too occupied these days to offer much support. He gritted his teeth and steeled his heart. He had to let his love live his life again.
He was cut off his musings by a knock on the door and he wrenched his azure eyes away from his love's restlessly sleeping face. He walked over and cautiously opened the door to reveal a hooded figure.
Eyebrows wrinkling in confusion and trepidation, he allowed the figure to pass him and enter the room. Drawing his dagger from its sheath, he faced the stranger and demanded, "Who are you and why have you come here?"
The figure bowed low but didn't deign to reveal his features. He stayed near the door and slouched against the wall. "Milord, I am here to help."
Suspicion and no little amount of worry crossed his features as he eyed the stooped figure. Broad-shouldered and too tall for a lady, he judged the newcomer to be a man. Who was he? How did he know about him? And why have the palace guards allowed him to enter without proper warning or announcement?
"Who I am doesn't matter, young lord. What matters is the man who lies on the bed, sleeping fitfully. I know how to help him. Rather, I know someone who could help him."
Hope dawned on his features, hurriedly suppressed. He sheathed his dagger, but kept a hand on its hilt. "Speak, stranger."
"There is a woman who lives alone in the woods. She has been accused of vile things, not one of them true. She has researched on various sicknesses and their cures. I am certain that she may be able to heal your friend's ailment."
He considered the stranger's words. A woman? Alone in the woods? He gasped, vaguely recalling a rumor of a woman exiled from the village because of the accusation of her being a witch.
Tense silence descended upon the two as he pondered the man's rather disturbing suggestion. Was he willing to ask help from such a person?
His musing was once again disrupted by the occupant of the bed who started to thrash in his sleep. He went to him hurriedly and tried to soothe the man's desperate shaking. Another nightmare, perhaps?
He reached the man's side and soothingly stroked his long blonde hair, reveling in the warmth he emitted. He was so beautiful, yet the sadness in his emerald eyes pained him to tears.
His love started mumbling, incoherent words slipping out his mouth in rapid succession. He tried in vain to make sense of his ramblings, but the only thing he understood was "Manx."
Manx? Could it be someone who was related to him? Could it be a mother? A sister? A wife? Pain shot through his heart once more and tears threatened at his blue eyes, but the man's restlessness subsided, and he was sleeping once again.
He sagged to his knees beside the bed, weariness overcoming him. What was he to do? He then remembered the stranger and jerked back to the direction of the door.
No dark hooded figure was there.
Odd. He hadn't even heard the door open. Vaguely disturbed by the afternoon's happenings, he stood back up and decided upon a course of action. There was nothing to lose. He would take his love to visit this strange woman, and with luck, she may be able to restore his memory.
Ken woke with a start, light shining in his eyes. He sat up slowly, unable to remember where he was. When he saw the chains looped around one of the massive trees, he remembered.
"Ran!" he cried.
The wolf was gone.
He jumped to his feet and grabbed the end of the chain in his hand. One link had been gnawed clean through. "He's free," he whispered, horrified. Above him the trees moaned.
He turned and ran as fast as he could to his grandmother's house. The path seemed to stretch out forever, and behind him trees whispered, urging him to hurry. Somewhere close by a wolf howled, and he screamed.
Maybe this is it; maybe we will finish what we started so long ago. Maybe the wolf will kill me, but it won't be easy. He clutched the dagger even tighter in his fist.
When he reached the cabin he burst inside, panting. "Grandmother, something horrible has happened!"
"It certainly has," an unfamiliar voice snarled.
He turned and saw Kase, hovering over their grandmother's bed. He could barely recognize him, though. He was hunched over like an animal about to pounce, his face was twisted in a hideous snarl, and his eyes were enormous. In his hand he clutched a wolf's paw, and there were scratches on Manx's beautiful face, around the eyes, which must have come from the claws.
"You shouldn't have come."
"Kase, what are you doing?" Ken asked, overwhelmed.
"The old witch knows what I want but she won't give it to me! She hides secrets, magic, and she won't teach me."
"Kase, I've told you, there is nothing magic about what Grandmother does. It all revolves around study of the plants and animals."
"Quiet!" he bellowed. "That's just what you'd like me to think. Maybe you're hiding secrets from me too. They were, you know. They wouldn't tell me, even when I killed them."
"Ouka and Masafumi?" Ken asked.
"Yes. They died with the lies still in their teeth."
"I told you," Manx wheezed. "There are no secrets, no magic."
"Liar!" he shrieked. "There must be."
"Why do you want magic so badly?" Ken asked, slowly trying to approach him.
"To take it back to Jerusalem and use it to defeat our enemies and avenge us." His cousin was drenched in sweat, shaking with rage.
Manx shook her head weakly. "I could have taught you many things, Kase, but not this."
Kase raised the paw as though to swipe at her again.
Desperate, Ken called out, "Kase!"
"What?"
"Your eyes are so big. Have you taken any of Grandmother's medicines?"
"No," he snarled. "My eyes help me see in the dark the hidden things people don't want to know. Like your potential mate. My eyes help me see right through him, and I know his secrets."
Remain calm; he can probably sense fear, Ken told himself.
He glanced at his cousin's face again, trying to judge what he would do next. His lips were open and pulled slightly back from his teeth. They look so sharp, like an animal's teeth. The only way they could look like that was if someone had filed them.
He remembered the files they used in the shop and felt a fresh wave of horror burst through him. He thinks he's an animal!
"Put down the wolf's paw," Ken said gently.
"Why? This is the paw of the wolf that we dragged from the forest nine years ago, the one that almost killed you."
"That wasn't the wolf that attacked me," Ken said before he could stop himself.
Just then a great gray ghost slipped into the cabin through the door that Ken had left open. "He is," he whispered, his mouth dry with fear.
Kase turned to look at the creature, and Ken took advantage of his momentary distraction to throw himself forward. He knocked the paw from his hand and brought his dagger up. Kase gripped his wrists and began to wrestle with him. Normally, they would have been a match in strength, but he was no match to the wolf's strength. Suddenly, Kase swept his foot behind his ankles and tripped him, sending him crashing to the floor. He landed with a gasp as all the air rushed out of his body, his knife sailing off into the air.
Kase leaped and managed to grasp it. With an animalistic roar, he dropped down and brought the dagger to bear on his chest. He tried to plunge the dagger in, but it went only the barest amount then stopped with a metallic clang.
Youji's armor! Ken thought wildly as he grabbed the hilt of his dagger and kicked upward into Kase's chest with all his might. Grandmother was right that this cloak would save my life.
The kick was enough to send him flying, and he lost control of the dagger. Ken picked it up with a roar and was about to fling himself at him when a gray streak brushed past him.
He stood and watched in shock as the two fought each other: his Ran who had been cursed to take the form of a wolf, and his cousin who had taken on the mind of a wolf. With a roar they came together, locked in combat.
Within moments it was all over and the wolf stood above Kase, fangs dripping with blood. Ken's knees gave way beneath him and he collapsed onto the floor, unresponsive to the painful jar to his knees. The wolf turned to look at him and then stalked over toward him. He stared into his brown eyes for a long minute and then lay down on his feet, his head resting on his boots.
TBC
Author's Notes:
HeatherR, I hope you're happy. (snickers)
I'm SO sorry minna, but I wasn't able to write the marvelous, bloody, and extremely gory fight scene I originally imagined because… I'm still in a slump. My cousin was discharged from the hospital, but my grandfather was admitted so… Yeah.
What's with the 3rd person, you ask? Well, I just felt like it. And you all know who I was talking about, ne? Gah.
The end is near! Err, I mean, next! Whee!
Replies to Reviews (Chapter 11): There was a party last night (not mine!) so cakes for everyone!
Moon without a Sun Err, I think you pretty much have answers to your questions, ne? Or is it that you have more questions now than you have answers! Oh no! (bonks her head on a nearby wall) Gomen! Um, I hope this chappie is toned-down enough. I really should take pity on Manx and Ken, not to mention Ran. Hehe. Thanks for the review! (huggles)
HeatherR (snickers) I'm glad I only felt bad for one night; it didn't evolve into the flu or something. Nyahaha, thank goodness for antibodies! (did that sound weird?) Hmmm… Poor Manx; no where's safe anymore, ne? Ehehehe… Kenken treating Ran as his pet puppy… Wai! (drools) Demo, well, he's a werewolf, and they really can't control their animalistic urges so… (waaah, nothing hentai-y, mind!) 'tis is what happened instead. Oh, and I'm so sorry for taking too long again. has been down for a while so I wasn't able to update sooner. Oh well. Thanks for the review! (huggles you extra hard)
Horisont Ehehehe, yeah, Poor Grandma and Grandson. Thank you for not murdering me horrendously yet. I am forever in your debt. (snickers) I hope you liked this chappie as much as I hated it. Wait, err, um, gah, whatever! Aww, thanks SO much for the placation, but I still think they're too OOC, even for the story itself. I really didn't do the Weiss guys justice. Oh well. Thanks SO much for the review! (huggles)
Olivia Yuy-Maxwell Nyehehe, here's the full version of chapter 11! Hope you like! Thanks SO much for the beautiful fanarts and I'm gonna miss you SOOO much! Thanks for the review! (huggles)
Dark-One Shadowphyre Mou! (pouts) I huggle everyone all the time! Hehe… I'm still keeping my mouth shut (or I'm trying vainly not to type out spoilers) about what you said 'cause I'm pretty sure that the plot is clear and the intentions of everyone you mentioned (he's actually just one person, ne?) is revealed. Hehe, I hope you take heed of your (evil, despicable) plot bunny and write another AU Fantasy Weiss fic. Whew, that was long. (sigh) Plot bunnies are evil. Good thing I already mastered the art of ignoring them, even though they bite my toes when I'm not looking. Ouch. Oh, and SO sorry for sounding too pathetic concerning my age. I was teasing my best friend for turning 19 last month and it kinda got to me too. Gah. Thanks for the review! (huggles you again)
Sachiko V T.A. Barron's Merlin series? Hmm… haven't read that one. Ehehehe, I really, really wanted to update this fic on full moons but I figured everyone will be at my throat for taking too darned long. Oh well. Ran and Ken are LOVE! LOVE I say! Of course, I'd take Kenken for myself but I'm not really suicidal… yet. Hmmm… I hope Kase isn't a mystery to you anymore! (smirks) He really IS a bad guy. Or a demented one. About Youji… Gah, I'm really tempted to let him have a brain hemorrhage and die but something tells me not everyone's gonna be happy about it. Hmph. (sigh) More work for me, I guess. 'Nyways, don't stay up too late or tire yourself too much (even though I do it myself) and thanks for the review! (huggles)
Seph Lorraine … … … … Seph Lorraine reviewed me. Seph Lorraine liked my ficcie. (dies suddenly because she conveniently forgot that running smack dab into convenient walls while dancing around frantically and screaming "I LOVE YOUR FICS!" is not at all conducive to her health)
(here I go again) Please check out Olivia's wonderful RanKen fanarts at Deviant Art. The link's in my profile so go check it out. Thanks! (bows and bonks head on computer monitor)
