'Kay, so lately I've been busy with….umm stuff. Anyway, here's the next chapter, and thanks to all of you who've kept with me. I really appreciate it!

Thanks for your encouragement, and suggestions, especially on research materials. Unfortunately, most of this story goes on memory and what I can find on the internet. (Of course, living here helps….) I am still taking requests for other stories, or things readers want to see happen in this story. I've had a request to write a modern-day Weiss story, within the Weiss time-line, and since I already had plans to do one anyway, that'll probably be next. Although I don't know if it'll be as epic as this one. Whew! This thing is taking forever!

Anticipate a bit of fast-forwarding later though, as things can't really happen until Ken recovers. Much fluff will be missed, but if I get enough requests I may post the whole recovery as a side-story.

I'm trying to be clever here, but it's not working out too well. Hopefully my attempt at plot twists won't leave you all bored to tears….KK, on with the show!

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

"The crow has flown away:
swaying in the evening sun,
a leafless tree."

Natsume Soseki

Edo, Chapter 9

Yohji schooled his face into a scowl as he stormed into Takatori's private chambers. It was not hard to pull forth. Today Schwartz would be in on the meeting, and Yohji hated dealing with Schwartz. They gave him the creeps. Fortunate enough, Takatori did not like them overmuch either, although his reasoning seemed to be that he found their lack of Japanese ancestry displeasing. Of course, this was all topped by the fact that Schwartz obviously had no love of Takatori. If he wasn't directly entangled in the mess, he would have thought it ironic. As it was, he simply found it a big headache.

He came to a halt in the entryway, and a servant scurried out shyly to greet him. An attractive young woman with a bruised face who refused to meet his eyes. When she hazarded a terrified glance in his direction, Yohji felt his patience reaching its peak. Luckily, she spoke quickly, saving him any possibly embarrassing outbursts.

"Lord Takatori will see you right away. If you'll just follow me please." she murmured. Yohji nodded and slid out of his shoes, taking long strides to match her brisk pace. She walked with her shoulders hunched, as if afraid of the threat of an unseen blow, and Yohji forced himself not to look at her, lest his anger get the better of him. She ushered him into a large receiving room, in which Takatori sat at the far wall, two of his own samurai guard sitting before him facing Yohji, and Schwartz skulking in the shadows like menacing demons. He ignored them as he knelt before Takatori. Takatori dismissed the servant with an angry wave and turned his displeasure onto Yohji.

"Well?" he demanded. Yohji looked up.

"They have escaped, and currently travel with a highly-ranked Kritker agent." he replied simply. Takatori scowled angrily.

"Very well. This man is turning out to be more trouble than he is worth. Schwartz."

A shadow stepped forward into the light. He was tall, intimidatingly so, and dressed in clothing that was all-white and fitted to his form. The fabric looked heavy and elaborate to Yohji, and he could not imagine it possibly being comfortable.

"We await your pleasure my lord." The voice was as stiff as the clothes, Yohji noticed, so perhaps he had been right. He knew he would certainly be uncomfortable if he dressed as such. Takatori nodded, taking hardly any notice. He didn't even look at the man. Yohji wondered how the visitor withstood such a disgusting slight.

"Find that ninja. And eliminate him. It is your error that has caused his existence. I will not accept another failure from you." Yohji winced internally at the tone in Takatori's voice. Was it any wonder the Schwartz didn't like the man? At least Yohji was in his good graces. He thought he heard a faint grunt from one of the forms against the wall, but Takatori seemed not to notice, so he paid it no heed.

"It will be done, my lord." so saying, the stiff form retreated back into the shadows, and all four of them departed from the room like spirits before a torchlight. Once they had gone, Takatori's expression eased, and he turned back towards Yohji.

"Sorry for the unpleasantness, Kudo. Some things just have to be done that way." Yohji nodded, but remained kneeling.

"I don't know about you, but I could use a good, stiff drink. Have you eaten yet?" Takatori's mood was lightening rapidly.

"Actually, no sir, I've ridden overnight." Yohji responded, allowing a slight grin to twist one corner of his lips.

"Yes, I can imagine what sort of riding that entailed. Let's go get a bite to eat then." The humor in Takatori's tone was dry, and Yohji allowed a full grin to come forth.

"You are too kind sir." he replied teasingly. Takatori grumbled at him.

"Oh come-off it Kudo. Let's go. Leave an old man in peace." Yohji rose, grin still in place, and they strode from the room together, Takatori's guards trailing behind.

"Yes, I suppose that wasn't very sporting of me." Yohji trailed on. Takatori snorted.

"When are you ever sporting, Kudo?" he growled. Yohji laughed.

"I like to think that's the reason you keep me around." he replied.

"Well there aren't many other reasons." Takatori's tone had gone teasing, and Yohji smiled another smile, the secret inner-joke only revealed in the depths of his shuttered green eyes.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

Schuldig scowled at the rainy late-afternoon scenery. The chatter of passers-by out in the street silenced as they drew close enough to get a good look at him, and did not start up again until they perceived he was well out of earshot. This of course, did nothing to improve his mood. The thoughts that passed through their heads upon sight of him did not help either, although they were rather amusing. 'Demon' had been the most common, and a name that Schuldig was beginning to like more and more. Perhaps soon he'd show them all what kind of 'demon' he was. They had no idea.

And he worked for the devil himself.

Schuldig turned a lazy smirk up towards Crawford's profile against the drab tavern walls. He was brooding over a small bowl of sake, looking out over the veranda, and looking particularly evil and delicious to Schuldig's mind. As if catching wind of Schuldig's predatory thoughts, he turned and scowled at the telepath.

"Stop it. I can't think when you look at me like that." he growled.

'What's the matter? Am I bothering you? Perhaps you should try ignoring me.' Schuldig teased mentally. Crawford snorted but said nothing further, ending the game before it could start in earnest.

'And besides that, it's grossing me out, Schuldig. If you wanna think shit like that about Crawford, don't broadcast it to the rest of us' came Nagi's disgruntled-sounding mental retort.

'Just praising the man where praise is due.' Schuldig replied merrily.

'Not now you two. I want some peace for a change. I need to think.' the tone of Crawford's final thought was one that bespoke no anger, and yet brooked no disobedience either. Schuldig lapsed into a sulky silence while Nagi retreated back into himself, relieved. Farferello continued hacking at the food on his plate obliviously, in an attempt to make some sort of hideous mosaic. Schuldig caught the purple flash of octopus tentacles creeping off the plate, and Nagi looked disgusted at Farferello's blatantly rude behavior. The youth finally settled for staring flatly at the passers-by like Crawford and Schuldig.

And Crawford turned back to thinking. Only a little longer until they were free of that great bumbling idiot Takatori, and could begin their own plans in earnest. And the spy was the key.

Crawford knew Yohji was a spy; he had known the minute he had clapped eyes upon the man, and also knew he was likely the reason the ninja had survived. Of course seeing the event occurring in one of his visions had helped clear any doubts. The problem was how to use him. Schuldig had wanted to report it immediately, and watch Takatori torture the man for sport. Crawford had adamantly refused to allow it, because without Yohji in Takatori's confidences, the chance of Takatori having his rather large throat slit were slim. And aside from that, the Japanese didn't seem to have the same flair for torture that the Europeans had perfected by now.

Instead, Crawford had devised a much more elaborate scheme. Once he had revealed it to the telepath, Schuldig had been very eager to follow along. They weren't going to reveal Yohji. And they weren't going to kill him. Yet.

Instead, Yohji could be used as a means of quickly and effectively bringing about Takatori's demise and Schwartz's freedom. The problem lay in hiding the man's double mask from Esstet, and convincing them that Schwartz would perished right along with Takatori when the time came. That was going to take some doing. But Crawford had a feeling Kase might be able to aid. He only wished he knew how to use that crumbling stone in Takatori's foundation. It had to be good for something.

Ah. Ah yes. The idea was simple. Very simple. Once a traitor, always a traitor. And he was certain Schuldig would enjoy the show. Satisfied with his efforts, and the plans forming themselves more stably by the moment, Crawford turned to favor Schuldig with a slight sardonic smirk.

'Schuldig…how do you feel about making some suggestions to a few receptive minds…?'' he began. Schuldig's initial response rolled sensually across his mind like a low purr.

'Do you even have to ask Bradley? I can taste the sweet honey already.' he crooned. A corner of Crawford's mouth quirked up into a distinctively devilish angle, and Schuldig grinned like a madman.
Yes…life was good, when you worked for the devil…Very good indeed….

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOooo

Against Ran's chest, Ken sneezed suddenly, and rather viciously in his sleep. Ran looked down at him with a frown, and reached one hand up to delicately lay it against the man's forehead. No fever, but that didn't mean that one wouldn't start up again. After all, the last fever that had held Ken in its crushing grasp had only ended a mere two or so days ago. And Ken still coughed frequently.

The weather certainly wasn't helping. Ran looked up at the rain with a scowl and pulled his haori more securely over Ken's slumbering form. They had ridden all night and Ran found himself hoping for their destination with the arrival of the dawn. But Omi did not slow his pace or change the direction of his gaze, and Ran could only see more trees on the path in front of them, and nothing else. He was getting tired of riding. He had long since lost feeling in his rear.

Ken had woken only briefly, from the vestiges of another nightmare. The chill, wet weather and the cantering horse beneath him had proven to be too much, however, and he had drifted back off to sleep not long after, leaning back unconsciously into Ran's warmth, and burrowing more deeply into his haori. Ran though he might have seen Ken bury his nose into the fabric and breathe deeply, but he told himself he hadn't seen a thing, and that Ken was very tired and still rather wounded.

However, the image of the slight smile that had fluttered onto the brunette's face afterwards still hadn't left his thoughts. And of course, it was connected rather strongly to the memories of the many times the previous evening that he had felt Ken's firm body pressed against his own. Which in turn perpetuated a never-ending cycle in Ran's head, that he blamed solely on having nothing else to think about. Depsite having plenty to think about.

Like how he had become tangled in this now-fatal mess to begin with. Which of course, began and ended with Ken. But somehow, he couldn't make himself regret any of it, which did nothing to arrest those thoughts. Damn it. With a heavy sigh, Ran swallowed his pride and asked the question of the hour.

"How much longer Omi?" he had to yell to make the other man hear him. Omi slowed his horse slightly so he was beside Ran's. He looked Ken over with a frown.

"How's he doing?" he asked concernedly. Ran was fully prepared to turn Ken's sneeze into a near-fatal heart attack if it meant they could get themselves to the nearest shelter or inn.

"Hn. I don't know. He really needs to get out of this rain." he replied. "He is still sick you know. And this is Autumn, not Summer." Ran made sure to keep the agitation to a minimum in his tone. Omi's frown deepened.

"Perhaps we will have to change course then. We won't reach the safer inn until sunset." he replied. Ran balked mentally. Sunset? Was this guy crazy? It was bad enough Ran was already going nuts himself, but keeping an injured invalid out riding in the rain all day? What was Omi thinking? As if reading his expression, the youth chuckled.

"Relax. There's another inn nearby. It should be relatively safe. I think we've ridden far enough for now." Omi's voice sounded considering.

"How far?" Ran asked simply.

"Another twenty minutes at most. Until then, Ken will have to hold out." Ran nodded solemnly as they accelerated ahead, grateful that his torment was coming to a close. However, the truth of his own words rang in his ears, and he put his hand to Ken's forehead again. Still no fever, but a little cool. Perhaps it was indeed a very good thing they would be arriving somewhere soon. Ken needed to be tended to. He needed proper food and good water at the very least. From there, perhaps he could get a bit more out of Omi as to where they were going and what they would do once they got there. He had made a vow not to pressure the youth for information, but he felt it reasonable to ask questions that concerned Ken and himself directly. Ran was not the kind of man to play around when things got serious.

oooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOOooOOOoooOOOoooOOOooo

So that's that. Moving right along….Perhaps I'll get around to your request sooner than I thought Krysana:)

Hope that was ok, and I hope Schwartz came out all right. Despite their being human, the Japanese would probably wonder about them being 'demons', both due to their foreign appearances, and also their… well….tendency to be um….villains…

Next chapter, say hello to Kase and some plotting….

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO