Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Shadows ❯ answers, part 2 ( Chapter 10 )

Shadows

*******

chapter 7

*******

answers, part 2

*******

Yoru gazed down at the floor, shocked into silence. It wasn't until Hajime shifted closer to him that he finally looked up. The young lord painted an incongruous picture in the dank cell, providing a brilliant splash of color with his royal blue leggings and jerkin and gold silk shirt.

"Well?"

"Well what? He's dead, there's no doubt about that."

Hajime pressed his lips together for a moment. "How did he die?" Each word was spoken clearly and slowly, as if he was talking to an idiot. Yoru bit back on a curse and counted to ten.

"I am not a shinigami, I don't know how he died. All I can say is that there are no noticeable wounds or traces of poison. If pressed to provide an answer, I'd say he faded." Damn creature, succumbing to old age like this. He was filled with fury over having his plans thwarted yet again by a bound's death. What was it with him and the things? They enjoyed plaguing him with their deaths.

Hajime echoed his thoughts. "Dammit. Why couldn't it have lasted another two months? I swear it did this on purpose. The family finally has a pressing use for it, and it dies." The young man grew pensive for a moment then looked at Yoru. "How will this affect our plans?"

"I now have less blood to use, which isn't a good thing. I'll have to modify several of the spells I intended to use, but at least we've got enough to finish the wards. That's the most important thing"

"Very well. Do you have any use for this thing?" A booted toe nudged the corpse.

"No."

Turning to a servant, Hajime instructed the man to burn the body and left. Yoru remained behind in the dingy cell for a moment looking about for any sign of foul play. All he could see beside the body was the littered remains of the bound's breakfast, which a servant had dropped when they had failed to provoke a response in the creature. A close examination of the door revealed no sign of tampering. Left without any other possibilities, Yoru had to conclude it was Fate toying with him once more.

*******

Cassandra set a bowl of rice in front of her son. When he bent over it to start eating, she whacked him on the back of his head.

"OW! What was that for?"

"For taking after your father." She glared at the brat she'd spawned, too furious for words at the moment. When her temper was back under control she walked over to the stove and poured a cup of coffee. "No offspring of mine could be so stupid and petty. Told you I have, that he wasn't for you. Why did you do such a thing?" Cassandra didn't know what hurt more; that she hadn't predicted her son doing what he'd done and put a stop to it, or that Yohji was probably very upset with her at the moment.

Schuldig frowned at his breakfast. "I couldn't stand to see him so happy when he had no clue what he'd bound himself to. I wanted him to know the truth, and if that hurt Aya… I didn't really care. He doesn't deserve Yohji."

"Deserve or not, they're meant for each other. It's foolish to fight against Fate. All you did was hurt them and yourself as well." She stroked her hand through reddish strands of hair trying to soothe her child. Never having been pained with unrequited love, she couldn't sympathize with what he was suffering, so all she could do was offer support. Now, she'd hopefully smacked some sense into his thick skull. He was lucky she hadn't cracked his skull open when he'd confessed the truth to her.

"Yeah, well, as a grand scheme it failed miserably," Schuldig scoffed. "I nearly get my throat ripped out and slammed against various forms of vegetation, and Yohji's more in love than ever. He's ecstatic that they're mates. You should have seen them in bed together."

Cassandra could very well imagine. She'd seen a mated pair of bounds before: her own parents. The amount of love and devotion possible between two people amazed her. Sorrow avert, that Yotan and Aya never suffered a fate similar to her parents'.

"What did you expect? They're mates, and nothing can sever that bond other than death. Even then, it's argued that the two souls will continue on together in their next life." She finally set the coffee in front of her son. "It was a foolish endeavor."

Her son pushed his food away and gulped down the hot drink. "I know, I know. Now, anyway. Please, no more lectures. Crawford gave me an earful before I could manage to escape the Koneko last night, while Jei kept threatening to eat me. The only reason I spent the night here was because I wasn't sure when Yotan would show up for our little chat and got the impression he'd try to talk to you first."

Now that was odd. Cassandra poured herself some coffee and sat opposite Schuldig. "Do you not know for sure?"

Green eyes met hers, clearly disturbed over the matter. "No. After Yotan and Aya… made up," Schuldig's lips twisted as he said the words, "I couldn't pick up his thoughts anymore. It was weird."

Something stirred in the back of Cassandra's mind, a discussion her father had held about succubae-bounds when she'd been a child. Before she could give the matter in-depth thought, there was a knock at her kitchen door.

Considering she'd had no vision of this visit, it could only be one person. Judging from the way her son frowned in anger and frustration, she had to have guessed correctly. So it came as some surprise to her when she opened the door and found Yohji beside a cloaked Aya. "Yotan, Aya, please come in. I wasn't expecting you so early." She tilted her head, presenting the blond with her cheek, and felt a pang in her chest when Yohji merely walked into the room without kissing her.

"You know why I'm here, Cass. I want some answers. Oh, it's a good thing you're here too, Schu, now I don't have to wait for you to show." Yohji poured himself a cup of coffee before filling up the teakettle and setting it on the stove. Once done, he yanked on Aya's hand, who was standing quietly by the door, and sat down at the kitchen table together.

Everyone remained silent until Yohji hissed in annoyance. "For two people who love to talk, you're sure not saying much. Well, let's get this started. I want to know why you kept from me the fact that I'm a bound. That simple enough?"

Watching as Aya shed his black cloak, revealing a grey tunic that appeared drab next to Yohji's emerald green one, Cassandra idly noted the new bruises on the kage's neck. It seemed that Yohji had to work a bit at the relationship. Aya continued to snare her attention, he seemed to practically glow, and it was hard to look away from him. In fact, it was hard to look anywhere but at the couple. Shaking her head at her lack of focus, Cassandra resolved to get the matter over with.

"It's simple enough. Your mother knew that her lover was a succubae-bound, and that her child might be one as well. When she confided this fact to me, I confirmed her suspicions. In turn, she asked me not to tell you the truth; she wanted your father to do so. He had promised her to return one day, to check on her and you. I kept that vow, only telling Aya what you were so he didn't reveal the secret by accident."

Yohji stared at her coldly for a moment. "Aya told me that already. Don't you have anything else to add? What about you, Schuldig?" The telepath only shifted in his chair, raising an empty mug to his lips.

Rising to her feet, Cassandra bought a few moments by getting things ready for tea. When she turned around, she found Yohji staring angrily at her. "What exactly do you mean by that question?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Cass. For twenty-three years, I've never had one single clue that I might be a bound, not until I met Aya. Looking back, I know there were several signs I should've recognized, especially since I grew up with Schu. But nothing registered, nothing at all. Why?"

It was Schuldig who answered. "Because we wanted you to enjoy your life, Yotan. We wanted you to pursue your dreams and to honor the promise to your mother. So we… tweaked a few things in your head, made you not notice that you were different from everyone else except us." He met Yohji's scowl with an equally fierce one. "Hell, it really couldn't even be called brainwashing, since you broke through it so easily. It was just a few mental suggestions and compulsions, which you reinforced with your unwavering belief that you couldn't be anything but a nice normal human." The last words were said in a bitter tone.

Yohji seemed to think over that bit of news while Cassandra poured Aya some tea and set about making fresh coffee for the rest of them. While Aya sipped at the drink, Yohji sighed and offered the room a shaky smile.

"Okay, so you guys were trying to honor my mother's request and keep me happy. Though what made you think I would give a damn about being a bound, when two of the people I cared about the most were? I don't think I understand. Any other major secrets you're hiding from me?"

"No more than anyone else," Schuldig commented snidely as he glanced over at Aya. Cassandra promised herself she could smack the idiot for that later. At first pale green eyes glared at the kage, but as she watched they slowly softened, now containing confusion and what looked to be a hint of lust.

Resuming her seat at the table, she shot Crawford's child a warning look. "Yohji, there are a few more secrets, but nothing I can reveal to you at this time." For Aya's benefit she said a little more. "But I promise you, we have nothing but your best interests at heart. All we want for you is to be happy and safe, and many of our secrets have been for this reason. Just trust us a little longer."

The succubae-bound frowned at her for a moment, and then directed the look in the kage's direction. "Let me just say I'm getting awfully tired of everyone keeping secrets from me." Aya's face grew first pensive and then impassive, and while Cassandra and Schuldig watched he set down his mug and grasped Yohji's hair. Yanking his mate down for a kiss, he didn't let go for several heartbeats. When Yohji came up for air, it was with a dazed expression on his face. She wasn't exactly sure, but Cassandra would bet her house that there was a hint of a smug smile on Aya's face.

"Tell him how to control his power."

Schuldig laughed out loud, his good nature seemingly restored. "I don't know, Aya, maybe you don't want him able to do that, judging from the last couple of minutes. Makes him a bit easier to lead around by the balls, doesn't it?"

Yohji growled for a moment, and Cassandra put her enhanced speed to use to cross over to him and smack him on an ear. "First off," she said, ignoring Yohji's howl of pain, "you have to stop with the growls and snarls. Humans don't normally make those sounds. At least not as often as you have the past several days. And when you express your emotions that way, other bounds are compelled to answer in the same manner. It places more than just you in danger to do so."

Rubbing his sore ear, Yohji contented himself with mumbling under his breath as he glared her way. Aya was treating her to an evil look as well; his lips pulled back just enough to show a hint of teeth. The kage was a bit more cautious with his reactions than his lover was.

"Now, obviously Aya has told you that you are a succubae-bound, and I'm sure you've noticed that you're feeding from him. It's what your kind does. Your nature is the reason why you've moved from lover to lover, never remaining with one… for long." She wasn't going to bring the changeling up at the moment, not with the way Yohji was frowning. "But now you have your mate at your side and won't feel the pull of another ever again. Because Aya is a bound as well, and a very powerful one at that, you can safely feed from him all the time."

Cassandra waved a finger in front of Yohji's nose as her son chortled in the background. "Not that you should, by any means. You won't do him any permanent harm, but it's not polite to drain him so much."

"Polite," Schuldig choked out, causing Yohji and Aya to glare his way. "Polite, she says. Mom, why don't you just tell him to stop before Aya starts walking around with a permanent limp."

She didn't need to glance the child's way to hit him on the head. The skill had become automatic by the time `trouble' had been five years old. "Idiot. You are your father's child, and I wash my hands of you."

Sniffing, Cassandra continued. "As I was saying, it wouldn't be polite to drain him so. But you are young and lacking in control." She paused to see if Schuldig would make another comment, but he remained silent and gave her a pouty look. "It will come in time, and your `appetite' will lessen somewhat."

"How often do I need to feed?"

"I cannot say for sure, your hunger will be your best judge. Do not let it go unattended for long, or it will become uncontrollable. But do not cater to it at the very first pang, either."

Yohji sighed and rolled his eyes. "Great advice, Cass. Don't drain Aya dry, but don't go hungry either. You can't possibly imagine what it feels like to either feed or starve."

"I'm a soul gaki-bound, Yotan, I have some clue. My kind need people around, need emotions or we fade to nothing, though any emotions will sate us. I was taught a cruel lesson once and was isolated for a time. I can understand about the hunger. But your mate needs energy for himself, too."

"Yeah, you're right." Yohji hugged his arms around Aya, who had remained silent during the whole conversation, alternately sipping his tea and glaring at Schuldig. "So can I do anything else beside drain my lovers and attract people? Oh, and send energy back to them, I managed to do that to Aya somehow today."

Cassandra crossed over to a wooden hutch near a window. She opened the top cabinet and pulled out several old books. When she returned to the table, pausing to pick up the kettle of fresh coffee, she placed the books in front of Yohji. "I recommend that you read these. They should help you out. Now the last comment is an interesting one. I know that most succubae-bounds can't manage that and suspect that it has something to do with Aya and you being mates. Perhaps when you learn to control your power better, you can send your energy to others.

"But the main aspects of a succubae-bound are the glamour and the need to feed. You are slightly empathic as well, and of course, possess the usual bound traits of enhanced healing, senses, speed and strength. Be careful for the next week or two, you'll find yourself moving faster and being stronger than you remember, now that the restraints we placed on your power are completely gone."

Nodding his head, Yohji handed the books to Aya, who started to flip through them with interest, treating the old tomes carefully. Once again the kage snagged Cassandra's eye, much the same way Yohji did when she wasn't on guard against his power.

"You said something about glamour. You mean the way I attract people to me?"

Schuldig answered this question. "It's not just the talent, Yotan, that draws people to you. Never forget that. It snares their attention and piques their `interest', but if you were an asshole, you'd be all alone." Yohji smiled at his friend.

Continuing the explanation, Cassandra poured herself some more coffee. "He's right, your power only does so much, unless you focus it deliberately. Which you wouldn't have been able to do, handicapped as you were until recently. Now that you are aware of it… with time and practice, you can entice the truth out of anyone, make them tell you their deepest secrets and gain their trust in moments. You can also cast minor illusions, shifting your appearance slightly, seeming more like their ideal object of lust than you truly are. But that will take some time. Read the books, one of them contains mental exercises that will hone your power."

Peering over his lover's shoulder, Yohji stared down at the page Aya was reading. For a moment, Cassandra recalled a scene from her childhood, of her father holding her mother just so while the woman had read. Filled with sadness, she glanced over at her son who resembled her dead father so, and found him looking as sad as she felt. The poor child, to have the first person he loved to be forever out of his reach. He didn't know of the mate that the future held for him and couldn't be blamed for falling hard for Yohji, who so resembled the absent man.

Green eyes lifted and locked on hers. "So I can attract people and charm them into bed. Anything more on the offensive side?" Yohji glanced down at Aya for a moment and tightened his hold on the slender man. Cassandra guessed that he was wondering if there was some way for him to protect Aya.

"Succubae-bounds were created to infiltrate the enemy lines, not as offensive weapons like the gaki and elemental-bounds. But you have your speed and strength, which should never be underestimated."

"Just wonderful. I look forward to explaining to an enemy that I want to fuck them dry instead of fight," Yohji snarled.

A short bark of laughter broke from Schuldig's throat. "Yotan, you have the most lethal of all the bounds created in your arms there, somehow I doubt you need to worry about defending yourself. Aya can kill someone with but a thought, let him do the dirty work."

The room seemed to darken as the young men glared at each other. Feeling the tension as if it was a physical thing, Cassandra cleared her throat and clapped her hands together. It made the men look her way, which wasn't a good thing at first considering the scowls on their faces.

"There will be no talk of death in this household, thank you very much."

"No, let's talk of more joyous things, such as the king's upcoming wedding. You looking forward to attending that, _Aya_?"

And Crawford was the one who doubted the brat's parentage. At the moment, Cassandra was at a loss to see any of herself in the imbecile child. If she hadn't been present at Schuldig's birth….

Yohji picked up on the fact that Aya was upset about something and fussed over his lover, ignoring the wide grin on Schuldig's face as he tugged on an eartail. Aya's face went from melancholy to annoyed in mere moments, and Cassandra could faintly hear a hissed curse. Turning her attention to her son, she scooted down in her chair and kicked him as hard as possible on the shin. He had to bite back on his own curse.

<Why are you protecting him? Don't you think Yohji deserves to find out why Aya's really here?>

<Not at the moment. Despite what has brought Aya here, Fate has something else in mind for him, which won't come about if Yohji is upset at him. Stop being so petty, trouble, and rejoice in Yotan's happiness.>

Schuldig glanced at his friend for a moment, who was busy nibbling on Aya's neck, and then glared at her. <He's mated to a killer.>

Cassandra's temper finally snapped. Focusing all of her power, she mentally laid into her son. <Listen to me Schuldig, and listen well for I won't repeat this. You have no concept of what Aya has been through, what has shaped him.> When Schuldig dared to interrupt her, she sent him a mental smack that drained the blood from his face. <No, you'll hear what I have to say. He's not a murderer by choice, I can clearly see that. The only reason he's here to kill the king is because he sees no other option for him and the loved one being used against him. Would you willingly sacrifice your whole entire life, centuries and centuries worth, to be someone's slave, abused at whim? Just for the sake of one person?>

<I've done you one disservice by keeping you safe, child, I can see that now. You have no idea of what it feels like to be someone's slave, to have no freedom or choices. You say he isn't worthy of Yotan? I say not so. He would sacrifice anything for the man; his soul, pride and body, and do it without a thought. Could you? Somehow, I don't think so.>

He attempted to stare her down, trying to deny her words, but it was Schuldig who looked away first, his face flushed with shame. Glancing back at her guests, she found the young men watching her intently. "Would you like something else to drink?"

"No thanks, Cass. I think we're gonna get going. Thanks for the books and the talk." Aya rose to his feet and Yohji immediately followed, fussing over the kage and helping put on his cloak and pull the hood up. Cassandra heard a long-suffering sigh emerge from the fabric and had to smile. Yohji looked over at her and grinned sheepishly.

"Well, it's really bright out there today, and I don't want him to get sunburned again."

"No need to explain, Yotan. Take care, the both of you." Cassandra's smile became brighter when she was kissed on the cheek. Yohji reached over to ruffle Schuldig's hair and received a faint good-bye in return. Schuldig stared after the two men until they left.

Gathering up the mugs, Cassandra graced her son with a concerned gaze. It looked as if her words had had some impact on him, but she wasn't sure if it was good or bad.

"Would you like something else to eat? Some soup, or I have-"

"Nah, I think I'm going home, Mom." Schuldig wearily rose to his feet and came over to kiss her on the top of her head. "I have a few things to think about. See you tomorrow."

"Be safe, trouble." The nickname brought the hint of a smile to her son's face, and he waved at her as he left. Sighing down at the sink, Cassandra wished that a certain bound would get his butt in gear and show up. He was rather late to begin with, and Schuldig wouldn't be whole until his mate was at his side. Despite how painful it would be to lose her child, Cassandra was ready to leave him in another's hands. It was time for her to live her own life, and would it be nice to know that Schuldig was someone else's responsibility and would him treat well. All children grew up, after all.

*******

Ran glanced at a shelf of books, pulling out one on the history of Cretia that looked promising. Yohji was in the back, talking to the store's proprietor, from the sounds of it, he was setting up an account and asking questions about bookshelves. The blond seemed serious about the discussion from the other day: creating a library at the Koneko.

The door chimed signaling a new customer. Ran dismissed the sound, being much more interested in the books before him. Despite his earlier misgivings, the outing with Yohji had been enjoyable, other than Schuldig's presence at Cassandra's. He had no doubt that the man disliked him for some reason and was beginning to suspect that it was Yohji. The comment about the wedding had hurt, as had seeing all the people on the streets talking about the upcoming event.

He knew he couldn't keep things secret from Yohji for much longer, but Ran didn't want to lose this newfound happiness, which he was sure would happen once Yohji found out the truth. How could he kill the king and destroy this relationship? But how could he let Aya-chan suffer?

It was a hopeless situation, which only seemed all the more bleak the more thought he gave it. Shaking his head, Ran selected another book. He could lose himself in reading, delighting in having books that he'd never seen before. He'd gone through all of his father's books, which the Takatoris had claimed as their own, and the castle's meager library years before. The only books he hadn't read had been Masafumi and Reiji's private spell journals.

Hearing footsteps approach him, Ran identified them as not belonging to Yohji and therefore ignored them. It was only another customer. He pressed closer to the shelf so the person could walk past him and was stunned when a pair of arms came up on either side of him, trapping him against the shelf. The shadows in his vicinity writhed about, but he refused to call on them since he was out in public. Ran felt torn between defending himself and doing something that would put he and Yohji in danger.

"Good afternoon, Aya."

Refusing to lift his shoulder to block the hot air blowing against his ear, Ran identified the voice. It belonged to the Guard, Kikyou. He stilled at that realization, anxious about giving himself away. The man pressed closer to him, and he felt a tingle that made his skin crawl. Kikyou was once more using tainted bound magic on him, much stronger than it had been before.

"What's the matter, cat got your tongue?"

Ran felt a flare of anger at hearing Yohji's nickname on the human's lips, intentional or not. He waited to feel the attraction from the other night, but found himself only wanting to get away from Kikyou and his spelled ring. The magic no longer held any allure for him. He wanted to tell the man to go away, but hesitated to do so. This wasn't Yohji or another bound, or someone he could kill without fearing witnesses or repercussions. This was a Guard.

He felt Kikyou's sigh on his skin. "Do you even remember who I am?"

"Yes."

"Ah, he speaks." Kikyou shifted back enough that Ran was able to turn around, careful to keep from coming in contact with the man. He frowned at Kikyou and clutched the books to his chest.

Blue eyes gazed down on him, and there was a smile on Kikyou's face. When the longhaired man leaned in closer, Ran flinched, hitting his head on the bookshelf.

A hand combed through his hair and rubbed the sore spot. "There's no need to be so skittish, you know. I saw you enter the bookstore and thought I'd come over and say hello. It seemed the perfect opportunity to talk to you, since it's much quieter and less crowded than some inn."

"Hn." He brushed back his bangs, knocking Kikyou's hand down in the process. There was a flash of anger in the Guard's eyes, and Ran resumed clutching his books, refusing to let his anxiety call a blade into his hands. He kept reminding himself that revealing his true nature would mean his and Yohji's deaths.

"You know, it would be nice if you actually said something. I'm usually regarded as a sought after companion, as I'm polite, well educated and considered a bit charming. I promise, I won't bite."

No, but he might. "I don't like to be trapped."

Kikyou flushed slightly and leaned back, but didn't let his arms drop. "Ah, well, maybe I don't want you to vanish again. We never got much of a chance to talk the other night."

"I need to get going." Pushing against one of Kikyou's arms, Ran stilled when his wrist was grabbed. The Guard was definitely angry now, but trying to regain his composure. Looking about for a distraction, Ran noticed a set of books that hadn't been put back properly. He caused the shadows around them to writhe, and in a matter of moments the books came crashing down.

When Kikyou turned to investigate the noise, he managed to free himself and step away, determined to make it out the door before he could be caught again. However, the noise also attracted Yohji, and Ran almost collided with his lover. Yohji's arms immediately encircled him as he came to a sudden halt, and he felt it when the older man's body tensed.

"What the hell are you doing here, Kikyou?"

"Shopping for books, Kudoh, isn't that obvious? You're the one who seems out of place here."

Ran had to bite back on a hiss as Yohji shoved him behind him. As it was, the rough treatment almost made him drop his books. He could smell the anger and hate emanating from the blond and looked up to see him glaring at Kikyou, who leaned against a shelf appearing nonchalant but giving off the same scents of aggression as Yohji.

"Yeah, well I have some news for you -- highborns aren't the only ones who know how to read. I've probably read more books than you, considering how much time you spend brownnosing other people." There was a hint of a growl in Yohji's voice, but it wasn't as evident as it had been in the past.

Kikyou glanced Ran's way for a moment then straightened out his dark blue coat. "It's called being social, Kudoh. But I can understand your confusion. After all, you're only nice to people to get them into your bed, and then you toss them aside. I heard you made your way through half the Guards before you retired. After that, it's been half the capital."

His temper flaring, Ran stepped closer to the Guard, refusing to listen to Yohji be slandered like this. Only to have the blond shove him back and hiss at him to stay there. Truly furious now, Ran glared at his lover, who was too busy flinging insults at Kikyou to pay him any mind.

"What's the matter, Kyou? Jealous? It must be hard, no longer having your family title to trade on and lure people into your bed. No one in Court cares about a penniless, disowned noble, and the Guards could care less who the hell your ancestors were. And guess what, Aya doesn't care for that shit either, so fuck off."

Ran didn't bother to stick around to hear Kikyou's rebuttal. He needed to leave before he skewered both idiots. Stalking over to the proprietor, he thrust the books at the man. "I want these." He had a few coins on him, money that Crawford insisted he carry and hoped they would pay for everything.

The middle-aged man looked at the books' spines and pulled out a notepad and pencil. He jotted down a few words and nodded his head. "Kudoh has opened up an account for you, so I'll bill these to him. Please feel free to stop by anytime. If you're interested in history books in particular, my brother-in-law has a shop on Charter's Lane, by the red bridge, which specializes in them. It would be no problem to extend your credit there as well."

Nodding his head, Ran quietly thanked the man as the books were wrapped. A sinking feeling replaced his anger. Yohji had been doing this all day, informing various shopkeepers and artisans that the Koneko's credit now extended to him, indefinitely. The man didn't seem to recall the fact that `Aya' was only to remain in the city until the wedding. He really wasn't going to let go of Ran.

When the books were handed to him, Ran gave the shopkeeper a slight bow and left. Yohji and Kikyou were still at it in the back, dredging up various failures from the past. Deciding he could make it to the Koneko by himself, where he would lock himself in his room and spend the night reading, Ran didn't get more than half a block before Yohji tracked him down and spun him around.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Walking."

Yohji snarled and yanked him close, causing Ran to hiss in anger as he was dragged to the small alcove of an abandoned shop. He glared at his lover, his frustrations causing his temper to snap.

"Let go of me."

"No. I can't believe you just walked off and left me there at the shop."

"I can get back to the Koneko by myself," he hissed, pushing against Yohji and cursing the man's greater strength. It was still too public to use his powers.

A hand shoved him against a wall, and Ran found himself pinned for the second time that day. "I can't let you out of my sight for a minute. I do, and you're either fighting someone or attracting strange men. What the hell were you doing back there? I can smell him all over you."

"Trying to get away, much like now. Back off."

"No." Yohji pressed against him, jerking his chin up for a kiss. Feeling a mouth against his, Ran closed his eyes. Other than Nagi, no one listened to him, no one gave his wishes even the slightest respect, not even his own mate. He twisted his face to the side, breath coming in pants as for the second time that day tears threatened to spill forth. He hadn't cried since Aya-chan's death, yet Yohji had almost caused him to do so twice in one day. Three times, including last night. Ran hated crying, hated feeling so weak.

A hand stroked along his cheek. "Aya, love, are you alright? Look at me, please." When he refused to do so, Yohji tilted his face forward, causing Ran to open his eyes in a glare. One tear managed to slip free.

Yohji traced a finger down his face and then held it up, staring at the clear bead as it turned black in the light and glimmered before falling to the ground.

"Aya, what's wrong?"

"I'm not your slave, Yohji." Ran's voice was weak at first, but grew stronger as the anger returned. "I can walk around by myself. I can protect myself. I'm not some doll to be shoved around by your every whim."

The older bound was flustered by his words and jerked a hand through tousled blond locks. "I know that, Aya."

"Do you?"

"Aya…." Yohji sighed and cupped his face. "I keep failing miserably. I swear I won't hurt you, and then I do just that. I'm sorry. But… back there, you _reeked_ of that bastard, and he smelled of you as well. I can't… I can't just do nothing. Something inside clamors for me to keep you safe, to keep anyone from even touching you. It's an impulse as strong as the one to breathe. You're mine, and I only want to keep you safe."

He wanted to say he could take care of himself, but doubted Yohji would believe him. Even knowing what he was, Yohji only saw the scars and the way he pulled back from people, not even wanting to touch them. Ran knew that he was too cautious, too used to accepting pain, but there were some things he couldn't just take, and would not, unless it endangered Yohji. But he didn't know what to say to make his lover accept that. He wanted to say he wasn't a slave, but knew only too well that he was.

A hand caressed his cheek, causing him to tilt his face into the touch. This time when Yohji pressed close, he didn't resist. The kiss was tender and brief, yet somehow took his breath away nonetheless. When he looked up, Yohji offered him a bittersweet smile.

"Guess I have a few things to work on. Just try to be patient with me, Aya. I'm a bit new to this. There are so many new instincts, new sensations, and you're at the center of them all."

Ducking his head, Ran rested against Yohji, winding an arm about the blond's waist and hugging him close. After a minute he straightened up and slipped back out onto the street, his hand seeking out Yohji's and doing the tugging for once. The other man held on to it tightly, as if afraid to let go.

*******

Yohji glanced over at Aya, who was curled up on the bed munching on cookies while he flipped through one of the books he'd purchased that day. Wanting nothing more than to join his lover and start going through the books Cass had given him, Yohji sighed and finished putting away the few items he'd bought for himself.

There were several things that needed to be taken care of including informing Mickey that the Koneko's spending accounts had been extended to Aya. That was bound to be an interesting conversation, since he'd never done that for any other lover before. Mickey was either going to go through the roof or finally realize that he was dead serious about keeping Aya around permanently, or as permanently as possible, considering their natures.

Yohji realized after his discussion with Schuldig and Cass that quite a few things that he'd taken for granted were no longer possible. Such as, what were he and Aya going to do when people noticed that they were no longer aging normally? From what he understood, most bounds continued to age until some time in their twenties then proceeded to do so at a much slower pace. Such as a couple years each century until they started to fade, and then the rate sped up. With neither of them able to cast major glamours such as Cass', they would have to leave or fake their deaths at some point.

The thought of leaving the Koneko tore at Yohji's heart. He'd long ago entrusted Jo with his will, which bequeathed the inn to Mickey upon his death if he failed to produce any children. But he'd counted on remaining here until that time, just as countless of previous generations of Kudohs had. This place was all he had to remind him of his mother, other than the image that looked back at him from the mirror.

"Yohji, is something wrong?"

Shaking away his thoughts, Yohji gazed over at Aya smiling at the sight of the redhead curled up in a nest of pillows with crumbs on his lips. Walking over to the bed, he leaned in and brushed the crumbs away and followed the gesture with a kiss. Aya tasted of almonds and sugar.

"Nothing's wrong, just thinking of something."

It looked as if Aya was going to ask a question, but he simply averted his eyes and resumed reading. Snagging a cookie for himself, provoking a low growl from its owner, Yohji resisted the urge to sigh and tug on a dangling eartail. Aya had purposely avoided any serious discussions after the one near the bookstore. He knew the smaller man didn't want to bring up anything that would eventually lead back to the questions that Yohji had tried to get answers for last night and had even changed the topic several times on the way back to the Koneko. It hurt that Aya didn't trust him with the truth, but Yohji was about to do something about that.

"Well, I have a few things that need to be taken care of before dinner. I'll stop back up here and get you when it's time to eat."

Aya just nodded his head and continued reading. A pale hand lifted to stifle a yawn and then fell down to turn a page. It seemed as if he was lost in his own little world. It was yet another facet to the man that captivated Yohji and made him wonder all the more about Aya's past.

Leaving the room, Yohji strode down the hall to the steps, but went up instead of down. When he came to the third floor landing, he was surprised to see Naoe walking towards him.

"You're back. Where's Aya?"

"In my room, reading a book and getting a little rest. He's got something for you." Aya had insisted on buying some sweets for the boy when they'd visited the confectionary vendor. A hint of a smile flashed across the boy's face, and he stepped toward the stairwell. Yohji reached out a hand to prevent him from leaving. "Wait a moment, I want to ask you a question."

Brown eyes regarded him warily then flicked about the hallway. They were alone, and his sharpened senses told Yohji that none of the rooms near them were occupied.

"What?"

"Aya's master, just how bad is he? He's the one who's responsible for the scars, isn't he?" And why Naoe was so protective of Aya.

Naoe regarded him intently for several minutes. Just when Yohji gave up hope of an answer, the teen nodded his head.

"Yes, he's responsible. Him and the rest of his family. It makes them _happy_ to hurt Aya." Naoe spat out the words, and his face was transformed by a look of intense hatred. If Yohji thought that Naoe disliked him, it was nothing compared to the way the little demon felt about his masters.

"Why does he put up with it then? I mean, he's…" a kage. But it wasn't wise to say that word out loud, not unless one was absolutely certain no one else could overhear it.

"Because… they found a threat that binds him."

Yohji wanted to know what that threat was, but was pretty sure he could figure it out on his own. Cass had told him and Schu about the fates of all the other kage, and they contained one common thread. They had all sacrificed themselves for someone they loved. A part of him raged at the thought that there was someone else that Aya cared so deeply for, before his common sense thankfully took over. It clearly wasn't another lover, or Aya wouldn't have been a virgin, nor would he be his mate. Gods, he hoped he got this irrational jealousy under control soon, or there would be more incidents like earlier. At least Aya wasn't here to witness this one.

"Who is it?" Ah, it seemed he'd surprised the kid. Guess he wasn't supposed to know that much about kage. "He said his family is all dead."

Naoe hn'ed and bowed his head. "They are."

"Then who-"

"Yohji, it's his secret to tell. I'm not going to say another word, other than the fact that the threat is a legitimate one. Now I have to go make sure he's alright. I can't believe you dragged him out on such a sunny day, the light usually gives him headaches." It was Yohji's turn to be surprised, and he started to curse himself for insisting on shopping for so long. Naoe treated him to a disgusted look. "Remember that. I'll also assume you drained him again today, considering how he looked at breakfast. Can't you keep your hands to yourself for five minutes?"

"Listen, you little demon, he's always perfectly willing, so don't blame- ow!" Rubbing his left kneecap that had been hit by an invisible force, Yohji limped closer to Naoe, determined to spank the brat's ass redder than Aya's hair. Naoe used his talent again, knocking him down before running for the stairs. Now rubbing _his_ sore ass, Yohji debated for a moment over going back down to his room and beating some sense and manners into Naoe, but figured with his luck Aya would take the brat's side. Life could be terribly unfair. Besides, he wanted to take advantage of the fact that both young men were currently occupied. If he couldn't get any answers from them, there were two other men he could pry the truth out of.

Regaining his feet, Yohji walked over to a door and knocked on it, praying to the Koneko's deity that Brad or Jei were present.

"Come in."

He pushed it open and found Brad sitting at the room's desk, closing a journal before turning around. The room was a bit dark, and the man had been writing or reading without the benefit of any candles. Yohji narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he closed the door.

"You're a bound, aren't you?" It wasn't the best way to start a conversation, but he needed to know.

"Do you always start off conversations with insults?" Brad stared back of him with a slight smile teasing at his lips. Yohji refused to answer the question and instead sat down on one of the beds. "Most people would be offended to hear that word, but not the two of us. Yes, I'm a bound, just like you are."

The man seemed too smug, setting Yohji's nerves on edge. "Why do you think I'm a bound?"

"Yohji, let's get this out of the way right now. We are both bounds, as are Aya, Naoe and your friends Schuldig and Cassandra. Farfie is one as well, though you probably didn't suspect that."

What was this, some sort of convention? If word ever got out that the Koneko was hosting so many bounds, it would be burned to the ground in an instant. Then again, if mere rumor of what Aya was got out, that would happen just as quickly.

"How do you know about Cass and Schu?" It wasn't wise to confirm Brad's remark, but somehow Yohji didn't think he'd convince the man of anything otherwise.

Brad flashed him a smile, which was most definitely on the smug side. "I have a long acquaintance with Cassandra, and Schuldig's my son."

"You're the Prick?" The words slipped out before he realized what he was saying, and Brad flushed for a moment, the smile slipping from his face. "Shit, that didn't come out right."

"No, I'm perfectly aware of their feelings for me." Brad sighed as he pushed his glasses up his nose. "However, I doubt that's why you're here to talk to me. I only revealed the truth to you so as to put you at ease, and to clear a few things up. We're all bounds and dependent on each other for our safety, so you have no reason to distrust me."

So this was Schuldig's father. Funny, he didn't look like an oni. Oh, how Yohji wished he'd been there to witness the family reunion. From the insults she'd heaped on her former lover, Cass didn't feel anything for the man but contempt.

"Well, what has brought you to my door? I'm busy, so get on with it."

Tucking back his hair, Yohji grew serious once more. "What type of bound are you?"

"A soul gaki-bound. Precog, to be exact. Almost as rare as your mate, so you can imagine the danger I'd be in if that fact gets out."

Yes, everyone would be killed except Brad. They'd be the lucky ones. "I thought Cass was the only one of her kind."

Brad's face stilled and became an impassive mask. "Usually, there are never more than a couple of precogs alive at any given time. It is my belief that… at this moment, Cass and I are indeed the only two of our kind. But you're not here to talk about me, but about Aya."

It figured that Brad would know the reason for this visit, considering his power. Yohji straightened his back, determined to finally get a few answers. "Yes, I'm here about Aya. I want to know the truth, Brad, and he's not in the mood to talk. Neither is Naoe. I want to know why Aya's been so abused, what hold his masters have over him, and why he's here. Make that why all of you are here."

"Ah, concise and to the point. I'll do my best to answer you." Brad straightened out his white tunic and crossed his arms over his chest. "First off, Aya's been abused because his masters are idiots. They get a rush from hurting a creature that could kill them in a heartbeat. Aya allows the abuse because they're holding a loved one of his hostage."

"I know this already, Naoe just told me. Who is it?"

Blue eyes glared at Yohji from behind glass frames. He shivered at the look. "Do not interrupt me again. You want some answers, be prepared to hear what I have to say, and how I have to say it." Yohji snapped his mouth shut and glared back.

"Now then, let me continue. As I said, they're holding a loved one hostage, a family member to be exact." Yohji groaned, not quite able to remain silent at those words. Aya had told him his family was dead. Brad glared at him for a second, but then continued. "They're holding her soul. I only got this information through a second party, but apparently when Aya's parents died, his master took him and his sister in under the guise of being their guardian. They found out too late that the man knew of Aya's true nature, something they themselves were unaware of.

"His sister was used to obtain Aya's obedience. He didn't have enough control over his power at the time to fight their way free, and his master and his son are wizards. They cast spells over the girl, binding her to a suite in their castle. If ever she left her rooms, she'd die. No wards can hold Aya captive, but his sister was a different story. Years passed this way, with the two of them thus trapped.'

A hint of sorrow crept over the older man's face, and he sighed deeply. "The girl decided one day to free her brother. If she was gone, he'd no longer be abused. So she leapt from her window, several stories up in the air. She preferred a quick death to the agony of the spells placed on her. But their captors had thought of her escaping through suicide and had placed bindings on her soul. Her mortal body perished, but her essence is trapped on this realm in a glass sphere. The wizards bound a soul gaki in the sphere with her and use the creature to torment the poor girl. If Aya doesn't obey them, they torture her. If he tries to strike back or escape, they will release the gaki and it will devour her soul. He'll be free, but his sister will never exist again."

Yohji shivered in horror. To have one's soul devoured by a gaki… it was said that one lived on inside the creature, subjected to an eternity of agony. Which also meant that the victim could never be reborn. "That's, that is…"

"Inhumanly cruel. And humans dare to call us monsters. I'm sure if you know anything about kage, you know of their devotion to those they love. Aya will gladly accept any fetters and torture, merely to save his sister pain. As much as I loathe the bastards, his masters came up with an ingenious way to bind him."

It was worse than he had thought. How did you rescue a soul? It was no wonder that Aya hadn't say a word about his sister, aside from that one time. Nor was it strange that he was filled with such sadness and hopelessness.

Brad continued on, his voice soft. "Farfie and I have masters of our own, and are… out on `loan'. We're to ensure Aya's safety while he's in the capital. I've never personally witnessed him being abused, but Naoe has spoken a little about it, and I've seen his scars."

"But, why are you here?" Yohji couldn't help but ask that question. He no longer doubted Aya's feelings for him, but why had a kage been escorted to the capital? Wouldn't his masters want to keep him close by? Were they that certain that they'd broken him past any hope of escape?

The precog didn't seem to mind the interruption. "We're here… for the wedding. We've brought a gift for the king."

Something clicked inside Yohji's head, and before he even realised it he was standing in front of Brad with strands of his bracelet around the man's neck. "Don't you dare tell me you're handing Aya over to the king!" He'd wondered what gift the men had brought ever since they'd arrived and had seen no sign of any treasure. But then he hadn't known they'd brought the rarest creature of all with them.

"His masters are giving him to the king, aren't they?" It would be one way to curry favor with a king, to hand him a weapon of immense power, especially if they were the only ones who could control him. Shuuichi would either lock Aya away and use him when needed, or kill him outright. Yohji honestly didn't know which way his ruler would decide and either choice was unacceptable. "How can you do that to another bound?"

"We weren't given a choice." Brad's eyes closed in pain as the strands tightened around his neck. "However…" he managed to gasp out.

Yohji loosened the strands. "However what?"

Brad raised a hand to his mistreated throat but didn't touch the threads wrapped around it. "However, Farfie and I don't wish to betray our own kind. I chose this inn on purpose, all because of you." He gasped as Yohji clenched his hands for a moment, but then loosened his weapon once more.

"Why?"

"Because you're his mate. I can't see the future very clearly due to Aya's nature, but I knew that if I brought him here… there would be something here for him. Which is you, his mate. The hold the- his masters have on him is not as absolute as it seems. There's a chance of breaking him free of them, but only if Aya decides to cooperate. To gain that cooperation, I need for him to care for someone else just as much as he does his sister, to give him a reason for risking her soul on the chance of both of them being free. You're that reason."

The words made sense. Although, if Brad mentioned anything about him having been a Guard, Yohji would probably have removed his head. But one question begged to be asked. "Why are you doing this? Trying to free him?" He wasn't going to help Aya break free of one master only to give him to another.

"Because, once he's free, he can help liberate Farfie and I, along with several other bounds."

Yohji took a deep breath and withdrew his weapon from Brad's neck. "What are the chances of him breaking free, and what can I do to help?"

This time the precog did rub his neck. "Just be there for him and do your best to convince him that there is another life waiting for him other than the one he's suffered these past few years. Teach him to hope again. Do that, and… I can't be a hundred percent certain, but I'm staking both my life and my partner's on this. I wouldn't do that unless the odds were in our favor."

Rubbing his bracelet, Yohji thought about the recent revelations. "I want him, Brad. I want him by my side and happy for the rest of our lives, however many centuries that may be. I'll do anything to make that happen, including killing you and anyone else I think might get in the way of that dream. Am I clear on this?"

"Perfectly."

"Very well. Who is his master?"

There was silence for a moment, and then Brad shook his head. "No, I'm not telling you that." When Yohji growled threateningly, he was treated to a cold look. "You won't scare the answer out of me, Yohji. I have a very clear vision of what would happen if I told you that information. You'd go rushing off and get yourself killed, and Aya would be the one to suffer. Or worse, you'd be captured, and he'd then have two loved ones who could be used against him. Three, for Naoe would most likely be equally rash. No, I'll keep that secret for now. You've already learned more than enough, much more than Aya would like for you to know. Breathe any word of this conversation to him, and he'll have both our heads."

As if Yohji needed that bit of advice. He grunted and jerked a hand through his hair, trying to assimilate everything he'd learned. Aya had been in some bastard's hands since he was a child and had been tortured for fun. No wonder he didn't seem to like people and was cautious around him. Hell, Yohji was amazed the redhead had let him get close at all.

"What do you know about bounds being mates?"

The question didn't seem to surprise Brad, but then again, Yohji imagined very little did, and he'd managed that already with the assault.

"That you're tied together until your deaths, and in your future lives as well. That, as the bond grows stronger, you'll be able to sense each other's emotions and always know where the other is and how they are." Brad's eyes grew distant. "You're meant for each other, and Fate has a way of ensuring that mates find their partners. It's the only reason Aya ever let you get close to him in the first place, you know. Given a little time, it will be an even stronger bond than that which he has with his sister. She's blood, but you're a part of him now, and he you. Which means if you do something stupid, Aya will feel your pain on top of his own, and the one or two things that he's resisted his masters over… he won't anymore. Not with you at stake. Remember that before you do anything impulsive."

"The wedding's not far away, will there be enough time?"

The distant look intensified. "Less than two months now… and the wedding will only be the culmination of a series of events. Damn, I wish I could see more clearly." Brad closed his eyes and shook his head. When he looked Yohji's way, the blue eyes regarded him in a serious manner. "You have his heart due to the mere fact that you're mates. That's a very important thing. But you have less than two months to teach him to hope. To consider a future where he is free and happy. The heart is the first thing to die in caged animals, and his is almost gone. Make him live again, and the others and I will worry about everything else."

"I won't let him be treated like some damn object to be passed around however someone else pleases. I won't let him be hurt ever again and will do whatever I must to keep him safe. You have my cooperation, Brad, but if you play either of us false, it will be the last mistake you ever make." Yohji let a growl creep into his voice and stroked a finger along his bracelet. Marks from the weapon were still livid around Brad's throat.

The dark-haired man nodded his head. "My future is at stake as well, Yohji, never forget that."

"Good." Not bothering to say anything else, Yohji left the room. He decided that now would be a very good time to inventory the wine, allowing him some time to collect his thoughts and calm down. The mere thought of Aya's past treatment made him want to tear someone apart limb from limb, and he remembered Cass's words to him. He couldn't afford to snap or growl at anyone who crossed his path, not when his actions could endanger Aya. He'd check out the wine cellar and have that chat with Mickey and tend to a few other matters. Then a nice dinner, and back to his room to read those books Cass had given him. Yohji needed to learn about his power and figure out a way to protect his love.

*******

Ran rested on the bed, his head on Yohji's arm as they read from the same book. It was hard keeping his eyes open, what with a belly full of wine and food, and a day spent mainly out in the sun.

"Is this making any sense to you?"

Shivering from the breath caressing his ear, Ran shook his head. "Your talent is different from mine. It's more internal, unlike mine."

A kiss was pressed to the top of his head. "Well thanks a lot, cat. That made a lot of sense."

Sighing, Ran called the shadows to him, forming a katana in his hand and letting his body be covered with armor. "All I have to do is think, and it happens. Sometimes they respond to my instincts, and I'm hard pressed to stop the shadows from forming." But years as the Takatoris' toy had taught him that control. He vanished the shadows. "Your talent… the feeding seems to happen without any thought on your part, but if you want to strengthen your glamour, you'll have to learn to focus it. You have to train that part of yourself." Everything had come naturally to Ran, in small increments until he was about fifteen. He'd needed not so much training as just energy and endurance.

"Great, I have to do mental pushups every damn day now." It was Yohji's turn to sigh, causing Ran to shiver again. Then lips brushed against the side of his neck, making him moan lowly. "Aya… gods, you distract me so. All I can think of is how much I want you."

Those words didn't help his concentration any. Crawling across the bed, Ran stood shakily on his feet and gazed down on a pouting Yohji. "You need to read that. I'll go get a few things for tomorrow, and check on Naoe."

He waited for an argument from his lover, but after chewing on his bottom lip for a moment, Yohji nodded his head. "Okay. Give me about a half hour to finish this, but for the gods' sakes, don't go out into the damn garden. I don't want to think about what could happen this time. And don't go crawling in or out of any windows, either. Speaking of which, what were you doing last night?"

"Getting some fresh air." Ran quickly turned around and headed for the door, not willing to continue the conversation. Yohji had been very good about not pestering him with questions all evening, and he didn't want things to be ruined by his refusal to supply answers. Not when things were going so well.

Stopping at his room, which Crawford was paying good money for him not to use, Ran found it empty. When he took a moment to search about, he found a folded note on his pillow. Nagi had scrawled a few words about going out with Jei. A frown forming on his lips, Ran gathered the silk robe Yohji had given him and a change of clothes for the next day. Forming the garments into a bundle, he left the room and knocked on a nearby door.

Crawford called out for him to enter, and he did so. "Where did Jei take Nagi?"

The precog moved away from the window, where he'd been standing. He came to a stop in front of Ran. "He took the boy to see the city at night. Don't worry, I made it abundantly clear that if anything happened to Nagi, that Jei better start preparing his bonfire and pray that you leave enough of his body to be burned."

"Hn." He didn't like it that his concern was so obvious. About to leave, he stopped when Crawford called out his name.

"What?"

"How did the mission go last night? I haven't had a chance to talk to you alone today."

Ran gazed levelly at Crawford. "He's dead." As if he'd ever failed in a mission before, much to his eternal regret.

Crawford didn't seem to notice the strained manner in which he'd been answered. "And how are things between you and Yohji? I'm sorry about last night, Schuldig was to keep him unconscious longer."

So, it had been the telepath's fault. It wasn't even worth being angry with the man, not now. Though Ran wished he had known that this morning, he could have thrown that in Schuldig's face.

"Other than him knowing what I am, and about Nagi as well, they're fine."

"He also knows now that he's a bound."

Ran glared at Crawford. "I told you, don't even consider including him in any of your schemes."

"But he is, simply due to the fact that he's a bound, and your mate as well. Whatever happens to you will affect him."

He didn't want to hear that, didn't want to know he was dooming another loved one. Ran didn't know how much more his heart could take, how much more guilt it would take to break him for all time. It had been gnawing at him all day, since people were talking about nothing but the wedding. The only hope he had was that he was killed during the assassination, and pray that Yohji and Aya-chan didn't pay for his failure.

"Nothing is to happen to him."

Crawford flinched, most likely at the sibilant tone in his voice. "It's too late, Ran. He became involved the moment you took him for a lover."

"Which you encouraged me to do!" He was torn between his hatred for the other bound and that for himself, for being so weak as to crave a bit of pleasure. Once again it was all his fault, and Yohji would be the one to pay.

Shadows raced over to cover him, their presence soothing Ran. He wanted to hide away and regain his composure, to convince himself that things would be all right. But they weren't, they never had nor would they be, not for him. He would kill the king, his bride and Omi, and Yohji and Nagi would hate him forever for that. He would survive, and Yohji would most likely be used against him. That was his fate, and Crawford and Cassandra had played their parts in consigning him to it.

Then there was a moment of sudden clarity. Sending the shadows flying towards Crawford, he had them wrap around the precog and bound him still.

"You and Cassandra, the both of you talk about an alternative future. One where I'm happy and free. Cassandra has said as much to me, and you to Nagi. Is it true?"

"Yes. We've both seen a glimpse of that future, where King Shuuichi lives and Prince Reiji dies. Your presence is there as well, cloaked in shadows. Yohji's too, which signifies that he's tied to you. It's not the strongest possible future, but neither is it the weakest." Despite his predicament, Crawford remained composed. "You cloud our talent, but we've seen enough to make that future come to pass. If you'll but trust us and take a chance."

"My sister…"

"I know about her, Ran. Reiji told the Elders about how he bound you to him, was all but boasting. He's clearly thought of how to prevent _you_ from freeing her, but not others. I have a plan that will work, if you cooperate. Her soul could finally pass on, and you'd be free to enjoy a life with Yohji, but you'll have to trust me."

Ran didn't know if that was possible. He trusted Yohji and Nagi, and no one else. He wasn't sure if it was possible for him to trust Crawford and Cassandra, not after what had happened. But did he have a choice? Yohji and Aya-chan tore at him; he needed so desperately to keep the both of them safe, but didn't see how. Was it possible that his death could solve things after all?

"Listen to me, Ran. I'm speaking the truth. You can be free, and once that occurs, Jei and I have a shot as well. I won't lie about something that I've been dreaming of for a hundred years." Crawford strained against the bonds that held him still, a pleading look on his face. The expression shocked Ran; it seemed out of place on the confident, cold man.

He released the shadows, calling them back to him. Ran pressed his hands to his temples, torn between conflicting loyalties and desires. His bundle fell to the ground.

"You don't have to decide now. There's time, Ran. Not much, but enough…enough to earn your trust and show you the truth behind my words. Just… keep an open mind. Please. It's your choice whether to live as Ran, the Takatoris' slave… or as Aya."

Bending down, Ran picked up his bundle and turned to leave. Crawford's voice echoed inside his head the whole way back to Yohji's room. How could he tell if the man was lying to him? The worst of it was, his whole being cried out for the words to be true, for him to take that chance. But all he could think of was the pain he felt from Aya-chan when she paid for his mistakes or temper, and Aidan's journal. There was no hope for kage, there never had been. His kind were born, suffered and foolishly loved, and paid for it with their lives. Who was he to hope to be any different?

*******

Crawford watched Ran leave and groaned as he sank to the floor. Dealing with Yohji earlier was bad enough, and he had worn a scarf all night to hide his bruised throat, which was slowly healing. To have to face down a distraught kage on top of that… He needed a drink. Make that several dozen. He had the impression he'd be spending another morning nursing a hangover and didn't see any other recourse.

But as he made his way down to the common room, Crawford felt a smile form on his lips. Enraged succubae-bounds and unbalanced kage aside, he could feel the future he strived for click that much further into place. Yohji had been swayed to the cause, all thanks to a misunderstanding in his favor. And now Ran had been given an ultimatum, of sorts. He finally knew what exactly was on the line.

Now all that was left was for Yohji to convince Ran to take a chance, more or less. Several other things had to take place as well, and many more secrets be revealed. Botan and Omi had to become aware of their roles, and a certain Guard would be faced with a choice of betrayal or honor. Then Ran's sister would have to be saved, and one hell of a battle fought. And that was just for the immediate future. He and Jei still had to track down as many bounds in the capital as possible and warn them of the upcoming war.

It galled Crawford that so much was out of his hands, but he'd keep manipulating things the best he could. As it was, he'd encouraged Jei to take Nagi out this night in hopes of catching Ran alone. He'd had a feeling that the kage would stop by; at the very least to inquire about what had gone wrong last night. Despite having his life flash before his eyes, it had been worth it.

Full of confidence, he came to a halt at the bottom of the steps, shook his head and returned to his room. Crawford knew that Jei had a bottle of whiskey stashed somewhere; he'd indulge in that and then get back to work. As pleasant as it would be to get inebriated, he wasn't going to get overconfident and let things slip through his hands. Pride had been many a man's downfall, and he had more than enough of that trait to risk becoming cocky. No, the hangover could wait until he was finally free.

*******

26