Warning: AU, Fantasy, PG-13, Ran/Ken. ;)
Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss.
First Born: Sacred Flame
Chapter Eight: Epiant Amoure
Yohji left his room at an hour he considered indecent, but since he'd been helping Omi he'd been getting to bed earlier than would normally suit him. The full nights of uninterrupted sleep had him up well before breakfast, and he was beginning to worry about becoming a morning person. His father had already made several comments about how pleasant it was to see him at breakfast, and Keiji had picked on him about his lack of late night visitors.
But despite everyone's jibes and his own concerns he was actually finding that the time he spent in the company of the young seer was almost worth the exchange of his all night festivities.
Shrugging to himself the Prince continued on his route toward the stairs, but paused when a door further along the hall opened. It was the door to Ran's room.
Yohji smiled in anticipation of greeting his friend good morning but was caught by surprise when Ken stepped out into the hall, fully dressed and ready for the day. Blinking, Yohji stepped sideways to conceal himself behind a potted plant just as Ken turned back at a call from within the room. Seconds later Ran was standing in the doorway in nothing but his nightshirt and robe.
"Don't forget our magic lesson today," the fire-haired Lord said softly.
"I won't if you won't," Ken smiled.
"I won't," Ran stated, but even down the hall Yohji could see the humor in his eyes. He studied Ken for a moment before reaching a hand out toward the younger man. "Your hair's getting long again. Perhaps we should have Ursula give it a trim."
Yohji's eyes nearly fell out as Ran's long fingers played with the ends of Ken's hair just behind the former servant's right ear, and Ken leaned his head into the touch.
"As long as you don't cut it," he smirked. "Your's is growin' too."
"Yes. I'm trying to decide if I should let it grow out again or not," Ran replied, lowering his hand.
"I like it short," Ken stated.
Ran smiled.
"Then I shall get it trimmed," he said and took a step back into the room. "Have a good morning. I shall see you this afternoon."
"You too," Ken nodded, turning to leave.
"And study hard," came Ran's stern command through the still open doorway.
"Yes, sir," Ken snorted before marching off.
Ran's door closed quietly and Yohji found that his eyebrows were at his hairline and he was effectively hiding in his own hallway. Stepping out from behind the plant he became aware of a slight scratching sound emanating from just a few steps ahead of him.
Ursula was standing in a shadow created by a highboy, and busily writing something inside a folded card. When she noticed him she tucked the card away inside her apron pocket and stepped out of the shadow.
"Good morning, your Highness," she curtsied.
"Good morning, Ursula," the Prince bowed.
They eyed each other for a moment before simultaneously heading for the stairs. Yohji fighting a smile.
XXXXXXXXXX
Throughout breakfast, the morning meetings, and lunch Yohji kept a discreet eye on Ran and another on everyone else. The red-headed Lord acted as he always had and seemed completely his normal self, apart from appearing a bit more relaxed than he had of late. But, the Prince noticed, everyone else was also keeping at least one eye on Ran as well, and he'd seen at least one or two more mysterious folded cards.
By lunch he was almost giddy with glee and had a hard time containing himself when Keiji asked him what was wrong.
Yohji decided to wait around after lunch to see whether Ken would come for Ran, and took note of ten or twelve other people also skulking about the hallway.
Lord Fujimiya was involved in a debate with Keiji and Aya just outside the diningroom doors and appeared to be completely oblivious to all the attention being lavished on him. He was equally unaware of a brunet lightning bolt headed his way from the other end of the hall. That was until he pounced.
"Ooooph!" Ran wheezed when Ken's weight slammed into his back.
Yohji thought it was a minor miracle they both didn't fall over onto the floor. He held his breath and waited for Ran to explode, but much to his surprise nothing happened.
"I made it here before you made it downstairs!" Ken cried happily, still latched onto Ran.
The Lord winced and shoved the younger man off, but when he turned to face Ken there was no anger in his eyes, just critical appraisal.
"You shouldn't run or shout in the hallways," he stated eyeing Ken up and down.
The former wood boy was unbuttoned and mussed up.
"How can you get so disheveled sitting in a class room?" Ran asked as he began to put Ken back together.
Yohji glanced around and noticed the emergence of several folded cards and suddenly busy pencils.
"I wasn't in the class room," Ken said, smiling as he submitted to Ran's tidying of his person. "The teacher told me to go outside and exercise."
"And why was that?" Ran asked, pausing in his ministrations to judge what Ken would say.
"She said I was too fidgety to learn today," Ken smirked.
Ran rolled his eyes.
"I think I'll go with you tomorrow so I can judge your progress," he stated.
Ken shrugged, then winced as Ran raked his fingers through the former servant's wild brown hair in an attempt to get it back into order.
Already busy pencils sped up.
Suddenly Ran seemed to notice that not only were they not alone, but there were far more people than just Keiji and Aya watching them. He glanced around and took in the inordinately full hallway and the fire-haired Lord grabbed Ken's arm and began steering him away from the crowd.
"Come on. We'll be late."
"That hurt," Ken complained gingerly touching his hair.
"Sorry."
Yohji allowed himself a grin as he watched them go.
"Let the games begin," he said to Keiji before sauntering off to join Omi in the library.
XXXXXXXXXX
The next day dawned clear and cool, but in general the weather had been steadily warming up. Flowers were beginning to peek through the soil, and the grass was green on the lawns and front terraces.
Ken strolled down the hall in good spirits. It had been only four days since Ran and Sakura's courtship had been cancelled, but in those few days the red-headed Lord had been almost doting in his attention. All fears he'd had about losing his friend and partner were laid to rest, and he'd even allowed himself to fancy that there might be something more between them. Someday.
And today was the day they would show the King just how far he'd come. In combat training anyway. He and Ran were scheduled to dual before the throne. Literally, since King Renjiro had requested that their match be moved from the practice halls to the throne room, where all his advisors, and anyone else who cared to, could watch.
Another audience.
Ken sighed.
As he came to the guest hall his happy mood dwindled a bit. Aya had been right. He'd started to notice that people were watching them. Almost everywhere they went someone was watching. It was strange that he'd never noticed it before and he figured he'd just have to get used to it. If Ran could, he could.
He snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed that not only was he not being watched at that moment, but there didn't seem to be anyone at all in the hallway. He'd never actually seen any of the public hallways in the palace empty before. It didn't seem right.
Coming around a corner and nearing Omi's room he stopped dead. Just ahead two tall men were standing over someone and speaking in harsh, raised voices. The person they were threatening was obviously smaller than they were and completely hidden from Ken's point of view.
He frowned. He'd never been keen on bullies, having seen his share as a servant in the Thirteenth House. Gritting his teeth he began to walk purposely forward once more, determined to put an end to the trouble, when one of the men stepped aside. The other grabbed their victim by the collar and slammed him up against the wall.
Ken had a clear view as Omi winced with the impact.
"Hey!" he shouted, shooting forward.
His rage translated into a blast of magic that threw Omi's two attackers off the young seer and into the wall across the hall. They stared at him incredulously as he planted himself between them and his friend.
"Ken, don't hurt them," Omi wheezed from behind him. His voice sounded weak and pained.
"I won't...much," Ken growled.
"Why you...do you know who we are! How dare you attack us!" the thinner of the two men demanded. He had a wiry frame and sunken cheeks giving him an unhealthy appearance. And Ken fancied his eyes were a little too close together reminding him of a rat he'd seen once.
"I don't care who you are," Ken spat. "Try that again and I'll kill ya."
The other man was more kempt in appearance, and apparently a little smarter. He reached forward and caught his friend by the shoulder, in a tight grip.
"We should go," he said to his companion. "Now."
The other snarled but capitulated and allowed himself to be dragged away down the hall.
Ken watched them go before turning to help Omi. The young seer was huddled up on the floor clutching his side. Ken knelt by him.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"My side," his friend gasped.
Ken gingerly unbuttoned the seer's coat and waistcoat. He was starting on his shirt when several guards ran up.
"What happened here?" one of them demanded.
"Two guys just tried to beat Omi," Ken spat angrily, wondering where the Hell they'd been earlier. All but one of them ran off in the direction Ken indicated.
"No, I'm fine. Really," Omi gasped.
"You are not fine," Ken snarled as he rested one hand against the nasty bruise forming along Omi's side. "Two ribs are cracked."
Omi released a sigh of relief as he felt his bones mend and the pain ebb away.
"Who were they, Master Tsukiyono?" the guard who'd remained with them asked.
"I don't know," Omi answered. "I think they may've been trying to rob me."
Ken frowned at him as Omi's large blue eyes pleaded for the former servant to remain silent. The guard asked him a few more questions before heading off after his fellows. When he was gone Ken hauled Omi forcibly to his feet and shoved him into his room.
"I wanna know who they were, Omi," he demanded. "Right now."
"They're my half-brothers, Masa and Hiro. Apparently Ambassador Takatori didn't take it well that I've decided to stay," the seer sighed. He began to straighten his clothing out, ignoring Ken's shocked expression. "Don't look at me like that, Ken. I didn't know they'd resort to violence."
The former wood boy pressed his lips together and glared at the floor.
"Well, what should we do?" he asked hotly.
"Nothing. I think this will be the end of it," Omi stated.
Ken stared at him.
"Nothing! Omi, that's..."
"I think they got the point when you threw them against the wall," the younger man stated, his voice steadily rising. "At least Hiro did. He'll keep Masa in line. I want the Ambassador to see that my staying here won't cause him any problems. That I won't be an embarrassment, and that he can basically just continue to ignore my existence as he has been doing," Omi cried, ending on a shout and giving his coat a harsh tug back into position.
Ken just stood by watching his friend, unsure what he could say or do to help him.
"Please don't tell Yohji," Omi said softly. "I can't go running to him every time I need assistance."
"Why not?" Ken asked. "I'm sure he'd wanna help you."
"Because I have to rely on myself," the younger man stated firmly. "Please, Ken."
"Alright. I won't tell 'im, but you gotta promise me that if they ever even look at you funny you'll tell me about it. You're my friend, Omi. I won't stand by while someone hurts you."
The seer met his eyes and smiled.
"Thank you. I appreciate that. I really do," he said. "I promise."
Ken nodded and together they left Omi's room and headed for breakfast. He was willing to let it go for the moment, but he would get Ran's opinion and see what the red-headed Lord thought of all this.
XXXXXXXXXX
By that afternoon it was time for their dual and Ken was thoroughly distracted. He was looking forward to sparring with Ran as much as a means of releasing some of his pent up frustration over Omi's circumstances, as he was for the pure enjoyment of it. He'd spent the morning thinking and the more he thought the madder he got. By the time he arrived in the throne room he was fuming.
Ran was already there and when he saw Ken's face he frowned thoughtfully.
"What's the matter?" he asked when Ken joined him before the raised platform the throne rested on.
Glancing around Ken noted the throng that had gathered to watch. There were many more people than just the King and his advisors. There was a crowd at least three people deep on all sides of the room, and most of the royal family occupied the raised platform.
Ken's frown darkened.
"I'll tell you later," he muttered as his eyes landed on Omi who was standing near Yohji.
Ran marked the look and nodded.
"Gentlemen, whenever you are ready," King Renjiro called, his voice silencing the quiet thrum of conversation taking place around them.
Ran motioned Ken over to the steward standing by and they removed their coats and waistcoats for him to hold, and untied their cravats. Then they carefully strapped on the chest and arm guards they customarily used when practicing with raw steel. When that was done Ken pulled on his gloves and strapped them.
They moved back into the center of the room and bowed to the King before facing each other. Ran's eyes sparked with determination as he brandished his sword and a long knife. Ken grinned at him.
"Ready?" the fire-haired Lord asked.
"Oh, yeah," his partner replied.
Without another word they launched themselves at one another, weapons at the ready. A few people gasped as they clashed. The sounds echoed through the room as their weapons connected again and again. After only a few initial attacks their moves became almost blurred as the speed of the blows increased.
"They don't hold back, do they?" the King muttered to Keiji who stood on his right.
"No," the crown Prince agreed.
It soon became apparent that they were either reading each others' moves or anticipating them correctly as they blocked attacks almost before they started. But as the dual went on the moves became more wild and the idea that they could be anticipated seemed too far fetched to be true. Even the most seasoned fighters present were having trouble counting blows and a quiet muttering began around the room.
"Keiji, use your magic and sight them," Yohji said softly without taking his eyes off the duelists.
The crown Prince pulled his magic into his eyes and directed it at Ran and Ken. His brow furrowed.
"What is it?" Omi asked.
"They're using their potentials," the Prince answered. "I'm not even sure that they're aware of it. It almost looks as if...as if they're being driven by it."
The King frowned.
Professor Stemp suddenly broke from the crowd and approached the throne, carefully avoiding the frenzied battle taking place in the center of the room.
"Your Majesty, stop this," the professor said softly but urgently. "Now."
"Enough!" King Renjiro cried loudly.
Ran and Ken sprang apart and turned startled eyes on the King. Both were sweating and breathing hard, but otherwise seemed unaffected by whatever it was that had been happening to them.
The King smiled.
"Thank you, gentlemen. You have made more progress then I thought possible, Master Hidaka. I commend you. No doubt due to your careful tutelage, Lord Fujimiya. Very well done indeed," he said. "However, I believe it would be prudent to expand Master Hidaka's experience, so I would like you to practice with a variety of weapons masters from now on. Lord Fujimiya may continue to monitor your progress."
The two partners glanced at each other then bowed formally to the King.
"Go clean up. You may have the rest of the afternoon to yourselves, and I will see you this evening."
"Thank you, your Majesty," Ran said. He motioned for Ken to join him in collecting their things as the gathered throng applauded.
"Well done," Yohji smiled at them as the steward handed them their coats.
"That was amazing," Omi agreed.
"Thanks," Ken smiled.
"How long were we at it?" Ran asked quietly.
"About half an hour," Yohji answered.
"Hn. Ready?" he asked turning to Ken.
"Yeah," Ken answered nodding.
The two turned and headed across the room toward the door. They received enthusiastic congratulations and hearty slaps on their backs as they passed through the crowd which was now milling about the vacated floor chatting.
"Gentlemen," King Renjiro said, indicating Professor Stemp, Keiji, Yohji and Omi, "the drawing room."
His Majesty rose and swept through a door behind the throne. The others followed silently.
"Exactly what was happening out there?" the King demanded once they'd entered the small drawing room.
"Their magic was driving them. That's why their attacks were so fast with neither one making any advancement," the Professor explained. "Anymore than that I can't tell you. But if you hadn't stopped them then presumably they would've kept going until they collapsed from exhaustion."
"Driving them to what end?" the King asked darkly.
"I've no idea," Professor Stemp answered. "I've never seen anything like this before. We've known that their pairing was unusually strong, but I can't fathom what would cause this or what it might mean. It could have something to do with Master Hidaka's new ability to project his emotions to Lady Fujimiya. Obviously the sharing of Lord Fujimiya's magic has opened some connection between them. I'd suggest studying the phenomenon but I fear the consequences."
The King nodded.
"Do you think they should be separated?" he asked.
"No," Professor Stemp shook his head. "I doubt they'd stand for that, and I don't believe its dangerous to that degree. Unless you've noticed this happening at times other than when they're sparring."
The King looked to his sons and Omi who were shaking their heads.
"Very well," he said after a moment of thought. "We shall keep our eyes open. You, Professor, shall continue your work with them. Perhaps this 'phenomenon' as you call it will manifest in another, safer arena where it may be studied. It could prove useful in the future."
"Yes, Sire," Professor Stemp said, bowing.
Omi and Yohji exchanged silent but contemplative looks.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Was it just me or was something up with the King?" Ken asked as he sunk into the soaking tub.
Ran, who was huddled down in the water to his friend's right, grunted in agreement.
"Keiji was scowling and Yohji was covering something," Ran muttered. "His smile was false. It didn't reach his eyes."
Ken pouted at the far wall.
"We lost track of time again," he said.
"Hn."
When Ran didn't say anything else Ken shrugged and made himself comfortable against the side of the tub.
"What had you so angry before the match?" Ran asked suddenly.
Ken glanced at him and scowled.
"Omi's two half-brothers were beating him up in the hallway this morning," he growled.
Ran's eyes widened.
"Omi's half-brothers?" he repeated in shock, his brow darkening. "Where were the guards?"
"There weren't any. No servants either," Ken said. "If I hadn't come along they might've killed him. Cracked two ribs before I stopped 'em."
Ran met Ken's scowl with one of his own.
"The hall shouldn't have been empty. Something must've been arranged. Yohji won't like this," he said.
"I don't like it," Ken stated. "Omi made me promise that I wouldn't tell Yohji. He says he doesn't want to cause trouble for Ambassador Takatori," Ken spat the name as though it were distasteful.
"Ambassador Takatori? What does he have to do with this?" Ran asked sitting up straighter.
"He's Omi's step-father. You know him?"
"No, not really," the Lord answered. "I've met him on several occasions. I can't say he made a favorable impression on me."
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"So, I was thinkin'," Ken said, carefully not looking at Ran. "That maybe Omi could have my room."
The former servant peeked sideways to judge Ran's reaction. The red-head's violet eyes had gone wide again but besides that his face was carefully blank.
"Ya know, since I sleep with you anyway," Ken continued, returning his gaze to the wall. "My room is basically a really nice closet."
"What about when your nightmares eventually go away?" Ran asked softly. "You'll want your room back then, won't you?"
Ken shrugged.
"How'll I know when they've stopped? I don't have 'em when I'm with you."
"People will gossip," Ran said, his voice still quiet. "When they find out."
"How will people find out?" Ken asked, finally turning to meet the red-head's gaze.
"The servants," Ran answered. "When Omi moves they'll know something's up. There's only so many rooms in the royal apartment. There was gossip after your trial when you were moved into my room. It ended when your room was prepared and you moved."
Ken frowned thoughtfully.
"Well, I don't care if people talk," he stated. "Let them. I'm worried about Omi."
Ran studied his face for a moment then sighed and nodded, dropping his eyes.
"Alright. I'll speak with Yohji this evening," he said sinking back into the tub until the steaming water came up to his chin.
Ken watched him for a few minutes before clearing his throat.
"Would you mind the gossip?" he asked.
"No," Ran answered. "I've lived with it before."
"After my trial?"
"And before that. When Yohji and I were pretending to be an item," Ran continued. "That created more than a little stir."
"Oh."
They both fell quiet again, each feeling vaguely disappointed and their silence lasted well into the evening. When Yohji failed to show up before their regular bed time Ran promised Ken he'd speak with the Prince in the morning.
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Author's Note: Tee-hee-hee-hee!
