Whoa, holy long-overdue update batman! Chapter 15B is here!
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"I can't find
That little knife
Since the last grafting."
--Matsuo Basho
Edo
Chapter 15B
When Ran awoke, the first thing he noticed was that he was warm. Pleasantly so. Cautiously sliding a foot out from beneath his futon covers, he realized that the source of warmth was not only the lean body snuggled into his back. Ah, the pleasures of living in the palace. Even though the emperor had no power, he still had respect. And wealth. Figurehead though the man was, he was a well-maintained figure head.
And as Ran and Ken had allied themselves with him, some of that maintenance was lavished on them. They had been allowed a large private set of rooms, which the two of them shared, including a private ofuro. Servants saw to it that the rooms were heated before they came home, and before they woke up. The ofuro was warmed daily after lunch, and maintained until 10 o'clock in the evening.
The room was also tidied, futons folded and put away every morning while Ran and Ken ate breakfast in the main room with Yohji, Omi, Manx (or as Ken knew her, 'Kitada-san'...apparently she had been the geisha that had initially warned the ninja of the betrayal.), and the emperor himself. The day's business and tasks would be discussed, and then after breakfast carried out. True to Persia's word, Ran and Ken usually wound up with similar tasks, if not the same. Although as a result, they also usually wound up with the more difficult tasks, as such tasks required two people.
But not this morning. Yesterday Persia had declared a holiday, and so here they were; Ken sleeping and Ran dozing lazily in the bright sunlight only a winter's morning could give. They were warm, sheltered, clothed, and fed. They were respected and honored. His family name had been cleared, and Ken's clan had been buried the way they had deserved to be.
All in all, Ran couldn't really complain about anything. Not even about having to work with Kudo. Annoying though the man was, he was also highly skilled. As was Omi. Ran couldn't think of two better people to be paired with. They knew what they were doing, and could be trusted to carry out their tasks without screwing up. Something the ronin greatly appreciated.
The only shadow darkening the horizon at the moment was the brunet cuddling into his back. Idly, Ran traced pale fingers along the sun-kissed forearm wrapped around his stomach.
His heart ached for Ken. Despite the closure the funeral had brought, the young man had remained often quiet and withdrawn. He ate little and slept less. Ran hoped they found this Yanagi-person soon. The idea of having to hunt down and kill the last member of his clan was taking it's toll on the young ninja. An entire lifetime spent learning the clan came first only to have that foundation shattered by two corrupt souls was enough to drive anyone to suicide. What the ronin had been unable to understand before, he understood now; after seeing the destruction and devastation of the Kouichirou village first hand, Ran could not imagine how Ken must have felt seeing the destruction immediately after it had been done. And Ken's family–
Ran had not wanted Ken to go into his house. He hadn't wanted Ken to have to deal with those bodies, but Ken had gone in anyways. He had tried to insist upon going in alone, but neither Ran nor Omi would allow it. Yohji, in his good-natured way, had also refused the request. And so the four of them had found all the bodies, and laid them together in the main room, taking extra care to be sure the bodies were all together. Trying to match body-parts and keep them all straight had been horrible, but they had gotten through it. Afterwards, they had set the house up as a pyre, and lit a torch to it. Ken had remained until the last spark was gone, and so, the rest of them had as well.
That night, the ninja had curled so close to Ran the ronin had wondered if the brunet was trying to fuse their bodies together. But he had only held Ken tightly in return. Neither of them had slept.
Afterwards, Kase's ghost seemed to follow Ken around, spurring him farther and farther into his searches for Yanagi. The former son of the Kouichirou clan had had more of an impact on Ken than any of them could have guessed, and the signs hadn't shown until several days later when things had calmed down somewhat and Ken's brain suddenly had idle time to run in circles; namely circles around Kase. The result had pushed Ken farther and farther into a stressful, obsessive search to find the final criminal and put closure on the whole thing. He'd be unable to rest until he did so. And it was painfully obvious even by simply looking at the brunet.
When Ken wasn't busy doing things for the sake of Weiss, he was busy covertly hunting Yanagi down, searching everywhere, using all resources available. The ninja crept into bed late, exhausted every night, and awoke nearly as worn out early the next morning. It was all the red-head could do sometimes just to get the brunet in bed and keep him there. Ran had a suspicion that Persia had ordered a rest day to give Ken some much needed time to relax. The holiday had been an order.
The red-head felt a small smile twist the corners of his mouth as a light snore sounded behind him. Ken smacked his lips and squirmed a bit. Ran tried not to jolt as a cold nose buried itself between his shoulder blades.
With a sigh, the ronin went back to lightly stroking the arm around him, fingers sliding along soft, silken hair and slightly sun-roughened skin. Ken wasn't nearly so broken up about hunting Yanagi as he was broken up about the fact that he still hadn't kept the promise to his clan to extract payment from all traitors.
Although the ninja had been touched to discover that local villagers in the area had buried his men and performed funeral rights for them. The emperor had further erected a small monument in their honor on one side of the road they had died in, one which matched the one erected in the remains of the Kouichirou village, and presented the villagers with a gift for their generosity.
Ken himself had stayed out in an early-January snow storm for two hours to pay his respects to each grave. When he had finally come in, red with the cold and soaked to the skin, Omi had fussed and clucked over him like a mother hen, wrapping him in a blanket and making him drink three cups of hot tea, and eat a large bowl of oden. Ran had sat down beside him comfortably, and rubbed his shoulders to aid him in getting warm. Ken had smiled gratefully and accepted the support in silence. Yohji had come in shortly with a large decanter of warm sake, declaring loudly that nothing warmed a person's blood like fine, hot Nihonshuu, and then proceeded to lighten the evening with comical jokes and stories, some at Omi's expense, which the youth took good-naturedly. Ran could see the gratitude in Ken's face growing deeper and deeper everyday. The ninja was becoming attached to Omi and Yohj, and the red-head could already see how the other two had grown attached to Ken as well.
The ronin knew they would make it though this, but he was worried that Yanagi would never be found. If he was a skilled a ninja as Ken made him out to be, coupled with the experience brought by age, Ran had a feeling that Yanagi could slip into the shadows and never be found. Unless he wanted to be. Which was another concern. The red-head clutched Ken tighter to him at the thought of the hunter becoming the hunted. What if Yanagi was hunting Ken instead? Waiting as Kase had, to lay another trap? The ronin couldn't help but shudder. For reasons other than revenge, Ran certainly hoped it was they who found Yanagi first.
As if sensing a disturbance, the brunet behind him shifted slightly, and this time the nose that nuzzled at his neck was pleasantly warm.
"Mmm-saaii- fsshhh..." the ninja mumbled in his sleep, letting loose a heavy sigh. Ran tried not to chuckle too loudly, but feeling the vibrations, Ken sighed again, and smacked his lips, shifting slightly. "Nnn...nnn...Rnn?...Ran..?" he muttered groggily, still mostly asleep. The ronin thoroughly enjoyed how it had taken Ken four tries to get his name out.
"Yes?" the red-head replied in amusement, turning around and pulling Ken against his chest. Ken snuggled in and sighed again, saying nothing for several moments. Finally, just as Ran felt himself beginning to doze off, the brunet gave a little jerk and began mumbling again.
"Rnnn...t'thnn wann...fshh..." he muttered. The ronin chuckled again, unable to help himself, and pulled Ken closer, kissing him on the forehead.
"I can't hear you Ken. What?" he murmured in a low, soothing voice. Ken nuzzled his chest and sighed again.
"Fish...dammit...fish!" he growled, then buried his head between the futon and Ran's armpit. The red-head raised an eyebrow. He wasn't sure that was a place Ken wanted to be. He had bathed the evening before, but still..."Too dmm brrttt." Ken muttered again, trying to burrow deeper. Ran couldn't help it; he laughed out loud and heartily, pulling the blankets over their heads and cocooning them in a warm darkness. Ken sighed contentedly and settled down. The red-head smiled and closed his eyes, letting himself drift off into a pleasant sleep.
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They were rudely awakened two hours later when Yohji burst into the room. He clapped his hands loudly and slammed the screen to their sleeping quarters aside.
"Rise and shine ladies! You've missed breakfast and Persia is inquiring after your lovely faces. " he called flippantly. A loud groan came from the lump beneath the blankets on the futon, followed by quiet, low murmuring. Several seconds later, Ran sat up, hair sticking out at odd angles, but in no way hampering the super-strength death glare being shot in the playboy's direction.
Slowly, the red-head climbed from the futon, naked, and shrugged himself into a yuukata hanging on a peg near the bed. He belted it loosely and motioned for Yohji to follow him into the front room. Once they were out of ear-shot, Ran slid the bedroom door shut and turned the death glare up another five notches.
"I'll have you know, that Ken was actually sleeping for once. This had better be good, or you won't be sleeping for the next three nights." the ronin growled.
"Ahh, Fujimiya, friendly as always, I see. Rest assured, your grace, that I would not have disturbed your sleep unless it was important." the lanky man replied easily, sitting back and pulling out his pipe. Ran narrowed his eyes.
"You will not smoke in these apartments." he said flatly. Yohji shrugged and put the pipe back.
"As you say." he replied, resting one elbow on his still yuukata-clad knee. "Actually, I feel your pain, you know. The kid just roused me from bed with a lovely little flower still sleeping as it were, right beside me. But this is important." Ran's eyebrow twitched dangerously, and he closed his eyes in annoyance.
"Well, get on with it then." he bit out angrily. Yohji sighed heavily, and with the exhalation of breath, his face immediately drew itself down into a somber expression.
"Takatori's body guards are leaving the compound tomorrow. Apparently, they've pissed him off to the point of being banished from his property. According to Persia, he wasn't happy to learn of Kase's death, nor of the fact that Ken is the one who killed him. He wants Ken dead, and now has several men out looking for him." the lanky brunet said, voice deadly serious. Ran's expression turned to ice.
"He's got another thing coming if he thinks any of his men are going to get anywhere near Ken. " the ronin spat. Yohji smiled grimly.
"Ah, but you're missing the point here, my friend. Ken isn't going to have to worry about any of that, because before it gets out of hand, we're going to get rid of the root of the problem." the playboy replied, steepling his fingers, elbows on his thighs as he leaned closer towards Ran. The ronin leaned back.
"We're being sent to kill Takatori?" he breathed in surprise, eyes narrowing. Yohji nodded, and the smile that curled Ran's lips was truly frightening.
"It's about time." the ronin said in a deep, husky voice. The smile never left his face. Damn, he looked scary.
"Right. Naturally, you've been assigned the job of taking out the main target. The rest of us need to go in and destroy the compound so that it looks like there was an 'accident'." the lanky man replied. Ran nodded.
"When do we leave?" he asked flatly. Yohji chuckled darkly.
"Hold, my friend. Don't put the carriage before the horse, you know? Bright and early tomorrow morning; dawn, we meet, prepare, and then head-out towards his compound after breakfast. It's going to be a long and difficult journey, so we'll have to be careful. We're going dressed as samurai. " he said easily. Ran nodded again.
"Good, it'll give Ken more time to sleep. Is that why Persia wants to see us?" he asked evenly. Yohji shook his head.
"He wanted only to make sure you were around, which you are. I'll tell him you're ready at his command." Ran nodded.
"Fine. See you tomorrow morning."
"Mmm, definitely. Try not to tire ninja-boy out today, alright? We need him at full-capacity." the playboy finished flippantly. Ran balked, but before he could give Yohji the thrashing he so deserved, the lanky brunet was gone, laughter trailing down the hall behind him.
"Mmm...Ran? Whoze'at?" Ken appeared in the doorway, muttering. Ran couldn't help but smile at the sight of him; his eyes were squinched shut against the late-morning light, hair sticking out at all angles, and there were wrinkle-marks in his skin from where his face had been pressed against the futon. With a movement that marked his half-asleep state, the brunet stumbled over towards Ran, and sank down behind him, wrapping his arms around the ronin's waist. Ran's smile widened as he felt soft hair and smooth skin press gently against his back through the thin yuukata, and Ken yawned hugely. "Can' sl'p...'f y' aren' th'r." the ninja mumbled by way of explanation, and Ran wrapped his arms over Ken's, touched.
"Sorry. Just some minor explanations of our schedule tomorrow, courtesy of Yohji. " the red-head replied.
"Mmm? What're those?" the ninja replied, slowly coming more awake.
Ran's smile was positively sadistic. Luckily Ken wasn't in a position to see it.
"Tomorrow we decide how we're going to make Takatori suffer." the ronin whispered softly. Ken blinked against his back, and then jolted upright.
"Whoa! We're going after Takatori?" the brunet yelped, surprised. Ran nodded.
"Yes. And I'm wondering if he might not have information on where Yanagi is hidden." The arms around his waist tightened reflexively.
"I hope so." the ninja muttered darkly. Ran patted Ken's arm reassuringly.
"We'll find him Ken. Have no doubt. In the mean time, I have an idea of how we could spend our holiday…" the red-head murmured, turning to pull Ken into his lap. He planted his mouth over Ken's in a searing kiss before breaking away and nipping a line along the underside of the ninja's jaw. Ken sighed in pleasure, and Ran smiled a different sort of smile. 'Tire ninja-boy out indeed'…
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"Schuldig—" Crawford began, walking into the room of their new 'house' that the German had claimed as his own. In truth, life in the estate that had been so 'generously' arranged for them by Estet was much improved over life in Takatori's holdings. The telepath in question was laying draped over the arm of a rather new and comfortable-looking settee, reading what looked to be a rather racy Greek play. When he heard his name, he looked up slowly, and favored Crawford with a silky smile.
"Herr Crawford." he replied easily, marking his page and fluidly snapping the book shut. He sat up with a slinky motion that made it look as if he'd levitated rather than moved through the use of his own muscles. The precog straightened his tie and cleared his throat in attempt to set more of a business-like mood. Schuldig was having none of it, however, and let his open shirt slide carelessly down one shoulder, leaving the pale skin bare and open to Crawford's discerning eye. Ignoring it, Crawford paused just shy of the German's reach. Schuldig pouted prettily.
"Going to disturb me without making it worth my while…?" he crooned. The tall man shook his head.
"No. I've got a different sort of entertainment for you now. Take Farferello with you; I want you to introduce yourselves to Weiss." he replied evenly. Schuldig regarded him carefully.
"I thought they were needed later?" he purred easily.
"They are. I didn't say to kill them. But I feel it's past-time we had our own introductions, outside of Takatori. I'm feeling they'd appreciate making the acquaintance of a certain traitor to the Kouichirou clan once they've eliminated Takatori." Now the German did grin.
"You want me to play match-maker again? Crawford you darling!" he murmured, sitting back against the settee once more. Crawford shook his head.
"Ah. Be careful. Estet will send Yanagi to eliminate Weiss; he'll be able to do it unless we interfere. Weiss is far too righteous-minded to pick up on the more dirty tricks. And they'll be occupied with the death of Takatori. You and Farferello will be going under the cover of aiding Yanagi. However, make sure that Yanagi doesn't leave Takatori's compound alive; it'll make things more difficult for us later. Use Weiss to eliminate him. Do what you have to, just don't let Farferello kill Weiss in Yanagi's stead." Schuldig's expression went delighted.
"I get to play with new toys? Crawford, you shouldn't have." he replied. "How much can I play before I break them?"
"Just knock them around. Make it look like you tried without actually doing anything. We want this failure to be pinned on Yanagi, not us. Baring that in mind, do what you like. But make sure Yanagi is dead." the stoic man said flatly. Schuldig nodded, and gave Crawford a mock-salute.
"Yes sir, Herr leader!"
"Good, you leave tomorrow morning. Don't delay."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"….I'll leave Farferello to you."
"That's highly unfair. Why am I always the one that has to keep tabs on him?"
"This is your mission. Just do it."
Schuldig snorted, and picked himself off the settee. This whole thing had better be worth it; he had better things to do than keep tabs on Farf for any prolonged period of time. The German wondered just what Crawford had up his sleeve. His one consoling thought was that he would be there to watch Takatori get what he deserved.
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Whoa! Ok, hopefully the last boring chapter. Next up; the siege on Takatori's castle! WAI! I hope you're all ready. (Cause I know I am…) From here on out it pretty-much deviates from the series. I don't have the time or the patience to include all the missions and what-not. Ok, Ja na!
And a great big THANK YOU to all my reviewers. You guys rock my world: )