Name: Androgene

Website: www.angelfire.com/space/noir13

Email: androgene@lycos.com

Title: The Wolf and the Abyssinian - Ending

Summary: a Rurouni Kenshin and WeiB Kreuz crossover, with both worlds fused into an alternate one.

Date of completion: 26 December 2001

Category: Drama, OOC galore, shounen-ai, yaoi

Pairings: SaitoxAya, hints of YohjixAya

Rating: NC-17

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their individual creators. Rurouni Kenshin™ is created by Nobuhiro Watsuki and WeiB Kreuz™ is created by Takehito Koyasu and Project WeiB. I don't own them and I don't profit from using these characters.

Author's comments: I can't help it. The idea of a SaitoxRan pairing just popped in my head while I was writing my other fanfic and it won't leave!

Warning: This is a yaoi story, meaning it had homosexual themes in it. If you are uncomfortable with that, don't read it. It's as simple as that.

~ The Wolf & The Abyssinian ~

a WeiB Kreuz-Ruroni Kenshin crossover

Ending

It was three days after their decision to leave WeiB.

They closed down KaY and prepared to leave town once more. As Kritiker's clandestine watchers, they cannot afford to remain visible to the public. With their pool of savings and a very generous fund set aside by Omi, they decided to 'retire'.

Aya wasn't so worried about their resources, financial or technical-wise. He was more concerned about making sure everyone get along with one another. Already Yohji was not seeing eye-to-eye with Saito, the wolf somehow rubbing the wrong way with the lanky blond. For some strange reason, Ken had no trouble adjusting to Saito's presence, for which Aya was very thankful.

The redhead stood in the middle of his bedroom, amidst the stack of cartons, troubled and worried. Hajime was his lover and Yohji was his best friend. He really wanted them to get along but it didn't seem possible. Yohji seemed to hold Saito in distrust and Saito - well he appeared to couldn't care less. But Aya knew better. Saito was dedicated to his job; he would not want the pack to fall apart even before it began.

He turned to leave his room, his packing done at last. It was a good thing his possessions remained few. Ken was still trying to figure out what he could bear to leave behind.

Aya went downstairs, searching for either Yohji or Saito. He had learnt very quickly from the onset that it was a bad idea to leave them alone together. He slowed when he heard their voices in the kitchen, pressing close next to the door to listen.

"You don't like me," Saito was saying.

"And if I don't?"

"It matter little to me, Kudoh. But it matters to Ran."

"And that concerns you."

"Of course."

Pause.

"You worry about my relationship with Ran," Saito stated bluntly.

"I've heard a lot about you. You are the Mibu's Wolf. You allow nothing to get in your way. You kill without remorse, without hesitation. You break the rules as long as it helps you in your goal. You use people as long as you see fit, all in the name of pursuing justice. Aku soku zan, that is all you will live for. You are a hunter without conscience, a lone wolf who is better off alone than with people. What Aya saw in you is beyond me."

"Ran is as much of a hunter as I am. He understands the risk of loving me."

"Aya may be a hunter but he still got a kind heart. I doubt you have a heart. Tell me, Saito, what will you do if Aya just happens to stand between you and justice, and you're forced to choose?"

Silence.

Then very slowly, Saito said, "I will make sure that never happens. But if it does, I will find a third alternative."

"You will die for him?"

"If it ever comes to that." Aya's heart tightened painfully when he heard Saito's candid admission. "But I would prefer not to. Ran does not take well to being left all alone. And I won't let him be alone again."

Silence again, longer this time.

"You really do love him," Yohji said quietly.

No reply. Aya wondered what sort of expression Saito gave Yohji.

Yohji sighed. "For Aya's sake, I will make you this promise. I will do everything in my power to ensure neither you nor him will have to make such a choice."

"I accept your promise."

Aya hurriedly drew back, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. Soundlessly, he dashed back upstairs before anyone could emerge from the kitchen, darting back into his bedroom. He moved to the window, staring out at the snowy landscape as he turned the conversation over in his mind. He was deeply touched by Yohji's friendship and Saito's willingness to be honest with his best friend. In his own heart, Aya promised silently never to put Saito between a rock and a hard place.

The solid presence behind him broke his reverie.

Saito curled his arms around Aya's waist, pulling him close to his chest. "How much did you hear?"

"You knew I was there?"

"Only at the end, when I heard you leaving." Saito kissed him gently behind his ear. "You surprised me, Ran, with your stealth."

Aya had to smile at the admiration in his voice. "I heard most of it."

"Ah."

The redhead turned his head, one hand tugging Saito's head down for a lingering kiss.

"I mean what I said," Saito said when they parted.

"I know."

Aya nestled in the Wolf's arms, safe and secure, as they gazed out of the window together, watching the snow fall.

Epilogue

Many decades passed since the leaving of WeiB III.

Under the guidance of the last Takatori, Kritiker reclaimed its former strength and grew even stronger, a force to be reckon with. There were dark times, difficult times as various enemies sought to bring the organization down but Mamoru-sama was ever vigilant to such attempts and he dealt with those accordingly. There were good times too, moments of triumph and victory for Kritiker, ushering in days when the innocents sleep easy once more.

As Kritiker kept its vigil, there came whispers and rumors of a pack that ran within the shadow organization. No one knew if there was truth to the stories. Those who did see them were agents suspected of corruption and they died with the secret taken to their graves.

The stories became myth and they were given a name that will persist through the decades.

They were called the Mibu's Ghosts, watchers and defenders of Kritiker.

Owari