Disclaimer: I don't own Weiss Kreuz, nuff said ^-^!

Chapter 10

To turn traitor

They sat around a single flickering flame, three lone figures, their long hair dancing in the slight breeze coming from the doorway. The room in which they sat was not too big but not too small either with a tall domed ceiling boasting a skylight through which the stars shone. The doors were tall and inlaid with stained glass depicting scenes from a story that was followed by the murals on the whitewashed walls. The murals were barely discernable in the faint light, yet each of the three occupants of the room knew them by heart anyway. They were pictures that showed the resurrection of The One and his subsequent glorious rule over all mankind.

The three figures sitting around the single brazier the room contained were not old and not young, their faces seeming quite ageless in their serenity. Each figures hair was down to their waists and straight as an arrow. One of the males had black hair, the other light brown and the female blonde. Their robes were all in black and rimmed in red. They sat, calm and unaffected by the darkness, eyes closed and bodies motionless. Not a sound could be heard in that room apart from the occasional rustling of the breeze through the trees outside.

The room itself could be found in a house formerly owned by the Sanroujin of Esset, the three leader's former mountain top residence. There had been a little redecorating since the three powerful psi's had reigned from their high perch in the mountains, but apart from that the residence remained just as it had always been; apart from the fact that there were now some new occupants.

"Ryo," the silence was shattered suddenly as one of the three, he with the light brown hair, spoke, "I am finished."

The man with the black hair opened his eyes, showing their blood red nature to the light. He turned to face his companion silently, regarding him carefully as the flame danced over his features.

"As am I," Ryo nodded slowly, his long black hair bobbing slightly with the movement, "Akata?"

"Yes, I am done," the girl nodded, keeping her eyes shut as she spoke.

"Osei," Ryo asked and the brown haired man nodded, "turn the page."

"Hai," the brunette answered reverently, reaching forward to place his hand on a large book that sat in front of him.

The book itself contained Holy Scriptures which prophesied the coming of the Great God. There were holy rites and chants described and noted in the book, and the three figures were chanting them slowly as they sat soundlessly with their eyes closed. There was no sound, yet they chanted incessantly, just above the hearing level of humans.

Osei turned the page and then settled back into his meditative position to continue his chants. The other two followed his example. The chanting continued and the brazier flickered in the breeze. All was quiet once more on the mountain. The shadows lengthened.

Then suddenly there was a disturbance in the air. Ryo opened his eyes suddenly and growled in annoyance. Osei and Akata followed his actions and in turn they all stood, ready for battle. Each one had heard it, the sound of footsteps nearing the compound. They were here to help The One, but also to protect him. They would not allow just any passer by to gain access to their sanctuary. Each of them would rather give their life than see their lord harmed. Yet…as Ryo walked towards the great wooden doors that led to the mountain outside, he felt the vibration of a great power in the air. He stopped just short of the doors, Osei and Akata behind him, and listened. There was silence, yet he could hear all he needed to.

"Great power," he said softly, more to himself than his companions, "there is a great power coming this…"

He was not allowed to finish his sentence. Suddenly a door, hidden in the shadows at the back of the hallway opened softly. All three kneeled instinctively and reverently, not even taking the time to turn around and face the newcomer. There was the sound of small feet crossing over the floorboards towards the three kneeling figures, stopping just outside the light of the brazier.

"Let him come," the figure said, "he is mine now."

Ryo nodded but never looked up or stood. He just knelt there waiting for the command to rise along with the other two. The sound of footsteps had grown louder, nearing the sanctuary at an unnatural speed. No one moved as they stopped outside the doorway, waiting to be called upon.

"You will take care of him Ryo," the figure said, stepping into the light as it did so.

Her soft white dress was free of blood now, her hair back into its original braids. Her small face was serene and kindly, her hands clasping over her waist as she waited for acknowledgement from her servant. She was as she had always been, as her brother would always remember her, yet there was ne slight yet significant difference. Her eyes were pitch black, no whites visible over the darkness. It seemed to swirl as she stood there in the light, dancing and absorbing the brightness itself.

"Yes my lord," Ryo said back without question, the young girl smiling as she heard these words.

"Enter," she said then, softly as the wid.

The doors opened as if by her command, yet in a way it was. The newcomer stepped into the hallway; his head bowed as he close the doorway. He was almost invisible in his black coat and boots, only his pale face and his hair visible in the dim light. Ryo did not break his kneel, yet lifted his eyes to regard the newcomer. He was tall, well built, his eyes severe as was his face. He noted absently that his hair was the same shade of crimson as his own eyes.

"My lord," the newcomer said softly, the wind rushing through the trees harshly as he spoke, dying down as he stopped.

"Ran," the little girl smiled disturbingly, "you're home."

AN: Just a short to try and explain a little more of the plot. Hope it worked! As always R&R, feedback welcome.