Ok, so whew! Here's a quickie update. Just a little ditty on Weiss getting started, and maybe to tie up a few loose ends.

A note on the short haiku : I chose this haiku because of the symbology involved. Buddha, known as 'The Compassionate One', is seen as all-loving and all-forgiving, and Ran and Ken get a little much-needed compassion from a very unexpected place in this chapter.

The title of this chapter is for Alliey!

Enjoy!

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"The fish, when slit open,

Reveals a Buddha is has eaten."

--Matsuo Basho

Edo, Chapter 13B

Persia was a tall, stern looking man, a steel grey beginning to pepper the thick black hair atop his head. His presence seemed to demand and hold all attention to it effortlessly; commanding the respect an emperor deserved regality in his bearing. It made Ran nervous and he tried hard not to fidget beneath the steely gaze. The warmth in the depths of those eyes did little to hamper their severity. Neither did the alarmingly bright backlighting of the shoji behind the man in the dim, otherwise unlit room. Ran tried hard not to squint and cast a sideways glance at Ken.

The ninja had his head lowered to the floor, forehead resting against his two hands which lay palm down against the tatami in a 'V' shape. He had not moved from that position since he had entered, and it was beginning to annoy the ronin. The man before them may have been the emperor, but he was no longer in power. Ken was behaving as if the man were some sort of God or holy figure. The redhead wondered how Ken had been able to hold that position for the past ten minutes. He was almost certain the human body shouldn't be folded that compactly for so long.

Sliding his glance back towards the 'emperor', Ran studied him a bit further from beneath his red fringe. It had escaped the bindings of his hair earlier to fall in his face, and Ran was now grateful for the privacy it awarded him. The emperor seemed to be studying them both rather intently, as if reaching some sort of conclusion. A silly thought struck the red-head, and Ran wondered if Ken was still on the floor like that because he had fallen asleep. The ronin held in a laugh.

The energy in the room seemed to tense suddenly, ready to break into sound, and Ran waited, breath stilled, as the emperor finally readied himself to speak. Steel softened significantly as it fell upon the prone form of the ninja, and Ran wondered at it.

"Hidaka, Ken." Ken flinched very slightly and sat slowly, still keeping his head bowed and his eyes averted. Misery had set itself into his features, making the lines of his face seem harsher than they had right to be for a man of Ken's nineteen years. Ran felt his own mouth fall into a frown as he felt the same old defensive feeling well to life within. If it was one thing Ran hated, it was authority. Life had taught him time and again that authority figures tended to abuse their powers with little care for the consequences.

"Hidaka-sama. Raise your eyes. Look at me." the emperor commanded softly. The startled look on Ken's face mirrored Ran's own inner feelings. What was this man playing at? When Ken's slowly moving gaze finally settled hesitantly on the steel one before his own, the emperor's face seemed to soften significantly. Without saying another word, the emperor bowed from the waist, dipping his head, in respectful acknowledgement. Ken's eyes widened at the gesture, making him look like a frightened rabbit. Not that Ran could blame him. It wasn't everyday the emperor called one 'sama' and then bowed so respectfully.

"This Persia thanks this Hidaka-sama for faithful and loyal service to this honorable family for many generations. This honorable one extends his sincerest regrets over the recent and tragic events that have led to the fall of the Kouichirou clan. Truly, I would never have wished such a fate on anyone."

The room hovered in a shocked stillness once the deep, booming voice had quieted. Ken's jaw was working slowly, mouth opening and closing in a way that made him look like the catch of the day at a sushi bar. The humor of the image was utterly ruined by the suspicious glistening gathering in the corner of those wide brown eyes. Ken looked as if he did not know what to do with himself. Ran could not blame him at all, and made a stern effort to pull his jaw off the tatami.

Omi suddenly materialized beside Ken, and put a comforting hand on the ninja's shoulder. They had learned, over sake the other day, that the blond youth was one of the emperor's sons. Unperturbed by the affect he was having on his audience, the emperor continued in a grave voice.

"This venerable one does hear-by formally recognize the honorable Hidaka-sama as heir to the Kouichirou Clan, and the great service the Kouichirou clan has given tirelessly to help this family's cause. A request of any kind shall be asked and granted, and this honorable one will do everything in his power to grant it." Ken made a choked sound, and when Ran swung his head around to look, Ken had the back of one hand pressed against his mouth. The eyes were still wide with shock, but Omi gave Ken's shoulder another squeeze, and Ken seemed to pull himself together, his expression forming itself into one of hardly containable joy and disbelief. And Ran suddenly found a new and deep respect for the man before him. Someone with authority was doing something right, and it soothed a part of the ronin that he hadn't realized was aching. Gods, what he would have given, to have heard that from the Damiyo so long ago….

Ken bowed low to the floor, kow-towing for several moments before bringing himself up quickly and wiping roughly at one or two stray tears that had made their way down his face. Looking the emperor squarely and proudly in the face, Ken took a deep breath, body suddenly regal and elegant, commanding respect and attention in it's own right. If Ran had ever had trouble envisioning Ken as a high-ranking ninja before, he had no such trouble now.

"My lord, this humble one seeks only a proper burial for his kinsmen and clan, as is due to them respectfully." the emperor nodded regally, and just like that, the deal was done.

"And so shall this request be granted. But this honorable one feels that Hidaka-sama has earned a greater boon with his loyalty and service, especially in the name of his clan. Are you certain there is nothing else you seek?" Ken smiled sadly and shook his head.

"My lord, I have all that I will ever need. This humble one thanks you for your generosity and awaits your further commands." So saying, Ken bowed low once more, and when he sat up, his head remained formally bowed. However, his shoulders seemed to no longer collapse against themselves beneath the weight; they remained proudly set back, pride and relief evident in the way the ninja held himself straight. Ran had never felt such a mix of relief and gratitude in a very long time. Not since his master had gifted him with his first Daiso. Ran smiled softly at Ken, although he was sure the ninja couldn't see it.

"Fujimiya-sama." Ran's whole body jerked at the direct and formal address of his name. For the Gods' sake, he was a ronin. No one had addressed him that formally in his life; even when he'd been a samurai's son. The red-head turned startled violet eyes on to the stern figure before him.

"Word has traveled to this honorable one's ears of the tragic fall of the Fujimiya family." Ran felt his heart stop. What the hell was this about! What did his family have to do with any of this? Ran felt his body tense nervously. He felt sick inside as he forced memories of Aya-chan to stay down. Gods, he worked so hard to repress it, what did this man think he was doing!

"Although perhaps it will do no good, this honorable one extends his deepest regrets that the power of a Daimyo has been used so carelessly. This honorable one formally recognizes the innocence of Lord Fujimiya and his family, and regrets the needless shame that has tainted that family name. In the presence of this honorable one, the name Fujimiya will be thought of only in honor and respect."

Ran forgot to breathe. His heart seemed frozen before it began beating painfully against his ribs. Just like that….just…All this time, all those years…and he….and what was he supposed to do now? The emperor couldn't change the law, but a public recognition? Of his family? By the emperor? Was he dreaming? When his vision cleared, Ran realized he'd been staring at the tatami and brought his gaze back up to the emperor's face. It was now he who was in Ken's former state of agitation. He couldn't seem to find his voice.

"This honorable one seeks to right the corruption that has so wrongly caused such suffering to two so honorable men." Ken and Ran both returned the emperor's firm gaze with their own, grave, expressions.

"You have been called upon to aid in this cause. We ask only for your loyalty and faith in this organization and its members. Once you have accepted these terms, you may not turn back on this vow. To do so will mark you as an enemy of Kritiker and all of its allies. Is this understood?" Manx, whom had been sitting quietly to the side, now spoke firmly, her gaze as hard as the emperor's, pinned on the two before her. There would be no betrayal, and no deception here.

Ken and Ran exchanged glances before Ken turned to face both Manx and the emperor. Straightening to his full height, shoulders back, legs tucked beneath him in perfect formation, Ken met their eyes and spoke firmly and confidently.

"This Hidaka, Ken accepts the terms laid before him, and pledges unwavering faith and loyalty to Kritiker, and all of its allies. This humble one will serve Lord Persia as long as the honorable Persia has need of him." Ken sealed his vow with a low bow, touching his forehead to the back of his hands before straightening once more, head bowed. Manx nodded formally, accepting the vow.

"Very well. Kritiker accepts this vow and extends a humble gratitude towards Hidaka-sama for the pledge of his services." All eyes turned expectantly towards Ran. The room tensed, as if waiting for Ran's reaction to the demands and the vow of his comrade. Head bowed, Ran silently slid his katana, sheath and all, out from his hakama and placed it horizontally on the floor in front of him with two hands. Bowing once, formally, Ran straightened, and turned a grave gaze onto Manx and Persia.

"This Fujimiya, Ran accepts the terms and conditions laid out before him, and pledges his loyalty and his sword to the honorable Persia, and Kritiker. It is with pride and honor this Fujimiya Ran gives this vow." Persia's face softened slightly, touched by the gesture of a ronin pledging his blade with the respect and dignity of a samurai lord to the enemy of the shogunate.

"Very well." Manx nodded, formally accepting Ran's pledge. "Kritiker accepts this vow and extends humble gratitude towards Fujimiya-sama for the pledge of his services.

The tension in the room suddenly dissipated, and Ran watched, startled, as the occupants who had seemed so formal only moments ago now relaxed, smiling to various degrees. Ken still looked emotionally shook-up and Ran didn't think he was doing much better.

"Good. On to better things." Persia stated with a rumbling chuckle, reaching for a bottle of expensive-looking sake on the table. "Manx, if you would be so kind…?" he asked, handing the young woman the bottle. Manx smiled at him and rose, crossing to the table, where she knelt and began pouring drinks.

"Let us toast to this new partnership, and to the success of Weiss." The emperor boomed. When four sets of confused eyes fell upon him, he chuckled. "The four of you seemed to have done so well together I have decided to keep you together in a sub-organization I have named Weiss." he decreed. Omi beamed, Ken grinned, Yohji smirked, and Ran frowned.

"You didn't say I was going to be working with Kudo." he grumbled. Persia reached before him and picked Ran's katana up respectfully in two hands, handing it over to the ronin with a small bow.

"Please restore your sword to its rightful place. And I remind you a vow is a vow, although I can understand your agitation." He chuckled. Ran scowled.

"You don't know the half of it." he muttered under his breath. It was not low enough for Yohji to miss, however, and the lanky man put a fist over his heart, swaying backwards dangerously.

"You wound me! All of you! What have I ever done to engender such ill will?" he moaned, melodramatically. Omi chuckled and reached into his sleeve, pulling out his fan and giving Yohji a friendly tap on the head with it.

"Yohji, save it. And I suggest you get some better acting skills." The youth chuckled. Yohji looked indignant.

"Hah! I happen to be one of the best around, thank you very much! I could fool a priest if I wanted to!" although he was tempted to argue, Omi held back. It was not a lie, after all, Yohji had spent nearly three years in Takatori's confidence without anyone being the wiser. So instead, the youth rolled his eyes.

"Then perhaps when you're trying to convince us, you'll dig those legendary skills up next time?" he remarked sarcastically.

"Har har." Yohji dead-panned thanking Manx and accepting a shot of sake graciously. When everyone had received their glass, Perisa raised his shot, gesturing towards all of them.

"To success and long life. Kampai!" he said jovially.

"Kampai!" echoed around the room and everyone threw back their shots at once. When he had finished, Ran's gaze sought Ken's. Warm brown eyes met his own gaze steadily and Ran felt comfort spread in his gut. If he had to work with anyone, although he would never admit it, Ran felt Yohji and Omi were a fine pair indeed. And he couldn't have asked for more than Ken by his side.

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Ok, so that's that. Next chapter, Weiss goes to bury Ken's clan. (No, they haven't been buried yet, and YES, I know that's kinda gross, but somebody had to do it, and it'll be important for bonding. Should be a fun chapter to write. :squelch: Bet it'll be even more fun to read. :squelches again:

Ja na!

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