Ok, so here's a quick update for the main arch. I'm sorry it's a bit short, but I am quite busy here these days, and hardly seem to have time for much, let alone updating a story I should be writing on my leisure and not at work.

Whisper : The 'for Ken's own good' was actually a little inside joke. Not only was that very Omi, but it was VERY Japanese. I can't tell you how many headaches are caused just by someone out for 'my own good'. Ugh. It was my sort of personal little laugh, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I'm glad everyone else didn't think that Ran and Ken were too feminine. Whew! Glad you enjoyed it! I really try not to overdo the angst, but sometimes to keep with the story and the characters I've warped, I have to. I'm sorry the link isn't working. Feel free to e-mail me and I'll send it to you personally. Also, if you want a direct response to your reviews, since I'm often unable to post a reply to everyone's in my stories due to time restrictions, please e-mail me directly at elvengoddess00 yahoo .com . There are spaces in the address so that I can post it without going nuts cause I've posted a hyper link. Ok, sorry for the long boring note…

One final note—geta are the stilted wooden sandals the Japanese used to (and occasionally still do) wear.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

"The road here—

No traveler comes along

This autumn evening."

Matsuo Basho

Edo, Chapter 11

Yohji Kudo found himself once again racing into yet another town at the speed of light, horse panting beneath him in exhaustion from another night of running, as they clambered up to the front of the small, quaint little inn. Despite it's cozy appearance, the scowl Yohji directed upon the entrance bespoke black thoughts.

It was either feast or famine apparently, and just once, the double agent wished that things would maybe take up some sort of normal pace. Especially since extracting himself from Takatori's company without garnering suspicion was incredibly difficult when it had to be done last minute. Yohji hoped fervently that Manx had some very good damn news, or he was going to let her know exactly what he thought about all this.

Once he had seen to his horse, Yohji pounded up the front steps darkly and slid the front door aside with gusto, still panting from the frantic pace he'd taken through the night. His hair was falling loose from its bindings and hung around his face in wisps; fine satin kimono ruffled and wrinkled and looking in desperate need of a wash. Even his geta were beginning to look a little scuffed.

He removed his shoes and stepped onto the wooden floor of the front room, stalking gracefully to the front counter. The innkeeper behind it looked considerably nervous, and Yohji couldn't blame him. He'd have been afraid for his life if he'd been approached in such a way.

"Quit sulking like a wet cat Balinese. We have work to do." Manx's clipped, cool voice assaulted him before he reached the front counter, and she turned without another word, expecting him to follow. Yohji was tempted to simply stand there, digging in his heels until she gave him some sort of an apology, but decided that if there really was a serious problem to be dealt with they couldn't afford that kind of time. So instead he followed, muttering under his breath.

He was quite surprised when Manx knelt outside the door of one of the inn's rooms instead of showing herself in and sitting down to wait for him. That only meant one thing. Yohji sank to his knees as well, sitting seiza politely as Manx knocked.

"Enter." the voice was deep and commanding, and tense. And Yohji suddenly found he wasn't angry at all anymore. Manx slid aside the washi and bowed elegantly before rising without a word and beckoning Yohji inside. Yohji rose and bowed to the figure cast in shadow on the other side of the single table in the room, before crossing the tatami and kneeling on the opposite side.

"Balinese, I am sorry to have called you on such short notice. I hope your journey went without trouble?" Persia began in a soft, firm voice. Yohji shook his head.

"No, lord, it was not. I am at your command." The blond replied humbly. Persia nodded in satisfaction.

"There is no need to be so formal, Balinese. I have called you here for a very important reason, and I'd prefer to address it immediately." At Yohji's nod, the man pressed on, while Manx seated herself near the table and quietly poured drinks for the two.

"Somehow, Kase has discovered Ken's existence, and his whereabouts." At Yohji's sharply indrawn breath, the emperor paused, giving him a quizzical glance.

"But Kase wasn't supposed to know. Takatori didn't want to risk the man being an idiot or stabbing him in the back again, so he sent two local outlaws to 'take care of the problem'. No one except myself and the outlaws I gave the message to were supposed to know about it." Yohji replied sharply. Persia nodded.

"This confirms suspicions that Schwartz may be moving on their own towards a different goal. Takatori may not be an issue soon. We need now to concern ourselves with what Schwartz is planning. Manx and I have discussed it and concluded that Kase was obviously deliberately sent to seek Ken out." Yohji simply nodded at the two of them, wondering where he was fitting in to all this.

"In light of the looming chaos, Balinese, you will sever all ties and connections to the Takatori household. I do not want any Kritiker agents anywhere near the possible danger Schwartz may be brewing. I am sending you to Chiba immediately, and I expect you to make sure that Kase does not accomplish whatever task he has set out to undertake. You are to remain with Omi and the ronin and ninja until you hear further instructions. You will depart for Chiba from this inn, and you will not tell anyone your whereabouts. You know the back roads. Take them. A fresh horse and ample saddle bags have been packed for the journey. I expect correspondence on the situation regularly. You are dismissed."

And just like that, the years Yohji had spent cultivating a careful and trusting relationship with Takatori were scattered to ash. He managed to nod, and get himself up off the floor, still in a daze. All that work….all the lying and gritting of his teeth….for…what? Takatori's own hated bodyguards were possibly going to accomplish what Yohji had waited years to do. It seemed horribly unfair. But those were orders.

Bowing mechanically, Yohji turned to leave.

"Balinese—" he paused in the doorway at the smooth sound of his name. "Your help has been invaluable. I offer you my deepest appreciation for the sacrifices you have made on Kritker's behalf. Know that the work you have done will not go to waste. Kritker is currently forming strategies of infiltration and the assassination of Lord Reiji Takatori. Our ability to make those strategies is thanks to you."

It was the warmest, most heart-felt compliment that Yohji had ever received from his lord, and he nodded, unable to speak. He left the room with his heart feeling lighter than it had in months, possibly even years. Kritiker was using the precious information he'd garnered so carefully to form a plan of attack. They were moving swiftly now, and it was his sacrifices that had made it possible. Yohji's smile had returned as he let himself into the baths.

Finally, he was going to get to do something a little more enjoyable. He would never have to smile and laugh and lie to Takatori again. Never have to endure the barbs and beaten servants. Gods, suddenly Yohji thought he could kiss Persia.

More than that, he was rather looking forward to seeing the ninja again, as well as to meeting the grumpy ronin. He hadn't liked leaving in the first place, and now that he had been assigned to the pair, he felt more relaxed than he had in a long time. And Yohji had a feeling they were going to need him to liven things up a bit…

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

Manx and Persia watched as Yohji left the room, his posture tense and unreadable. Once his footsteps could no longer be heard, Persia turned and studied Manx with a careful yet amused eye.

"You seem to be happier." he said slowly. Manx turned to him, a soft smile flitting across her face.

"I did not like sending him into the lion's den anymore than you did Persia. Nor did I like it when he lived there in a more permanent sense. I will freely admit that I am relived to see he will no longer be at such high risk." she responded simply.

"He knew the risks when he agreed to the job Manx. And he agreed willingly." was Persia's only reply. Manx shook her head.

"I know that. The knowledge did not make it any less dangerous." she replied, turning to face him completely.

"Well, it is one less danger to worry about. At the moment, my anxiety rests on a certain head of the Kouichirou clan." Persia remarked seriously, leaning back from the table. Manx nodded.

"Your concern is not without merit." she replied, a sharp edge to her voice. The Gods knew what was going to happen to Hidaka Ken. Manx hoped the man would survive. His addition to Kritiker would be to a great advantage. The Kouichirou clan had been highly skilled; often sought out by emperors past to undertake all tasks of great importance or secrecy. To have been named heir to clan leadership in place of Kouichirou Koudai's own son meant that Ken probably possessed remarkable skill and an upstanding moral outlook. Kouichirou had never settled for less than the best.

Beyond the skill that Kritiker could gladly use, Manx new that Persia felt a responsibility to somehow uphold the Kouichirou clan; such as was left of it. The emperor had never signed a contract or swore loyalty directly to Kouichirou, but the camaraderie had been unspoken between them. They both stood for the same ideals, and Manx new that the loss of the former clan leader had hit Persia harder than he let on. Turning to lighten some of the tense and brooding atmosphere, Manx handed him the warm sake she'd poured.

"Drink this. I think you're going to need it." she said simply. Persia nodded, bringing it to his lips with a chuckle that sounded cold and foreboding.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

Ok, sorry this chapter is so short, but in the next chapter Ken and Kase meet, and I didn't want to combine that chapter with this one; especially because it may be long. This was just a quick update to keep us up with Yohji and Kritiker. Ok, Ja na!