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Edo II, Chapter 5

The Beginning of The End

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The distant mountain

Reflected in his eyes…

Dragonfly

--Kobayashi Issa

The world, it seemed, had erupted into chaos. Ran stared at Manx and Persia slowly, his gaze both stunned and angry.

"They're using Ken as an excuse to slander the emperor?" the red-head growled, sounding incredulous and indignant at the same time. Beside him, Ken's expression was fierce, but not for the same reasons.

"I'm sorry, your highness. I should have seen this coming." he murmured quietly. Ran turned his angry gaze on Ken now. Before he could say anything, however, Persia broke in.

"You are in no way responsible for the dangers that we are now in Hidaka-san, nor should you feel you have endangered us in any way. You fulfilled your duty, carried out the mission, and returned home successfully. I didn't ask anything more of you."

Ken stared resolutely at the floor, although he nodded to show his acknowledgement of the response. Ran made a mental note to have a chat with his lover the next time they had a little privacy. The self-effacing nature of the ninja needed to stop.

"I doubt you're truly arrogant enough to believe that you alone could cause so much trouble, Ken. Clearly someone has been plotting this for some time now. My lord, I have discovered that apparently Schwarz is connected to Esstet. The organization responsible for the Shogun's rise to power." All attention turned to focus on Yohji. The former spy sat erect to the left of Weiss, his gaze holding it's own trace of self-recrimination. Ran realized that Yohji was probably taking this much harder, considering it was information he might have uncovered during his tenure as Takatori's "servant". The Ronin felt this was also equally idiotic, since Yohji's job was to watch Takatori, and not Schwartz. Arrogant or not, Yohji did not have the resources to be in two places at once.

Persia sat back, and seemed to be considering something. "Yes. Slowly, Esstet has sought to undermine my power, strip me and leave me completely helpless. Now, he seeks to turn those who would support me against me." he murmured in a gravelly voice. Omi, seated to the right of his father turned his head sharply, his mouth open to speak. Persia cut him off, however.

"It appears, Weiss, that something much deeper is happening in front of our very eyes. We have been thrown into a difficult and secret war, and the burden of appearance rests upon us. We must take action, but carefully. We must make every effort to let the Shogun ruin his own reputation. We'll let the public do our work for us from there. With their support, we can get a better candidate for Shogunate at the seat of power."

Ran blinked. "You don't want to restore power to the emperor?" he asked, sounding stunned. Persia chuckled; a deep, rich sound.

"No, Fujimiya-san, I do not. Such ambitions are foolish and doomed to fail from the start. The people are content, for the most part, with a Shogunate government. I cannot force them to swing the pendulum in my favor, any more than I could hope to undo the damage my father has caused before me. What I can do, however, is try to guide the process to ensure a fair and just situation for all." Omi and Manx stared at Persia fondly at the statement, Yohji with his own form of admiration.

"Then it appears we are in need of dire strategy." Ken began. "First, my Lord, might I suggest that Weiss travel somewhere closer to the Shogunate? It will bring us out of the palace, and perhaps keep yourself from engendering further suspicion. I suggest sending the majority of other…staff you might employ to likewise locations. Keep the most skilled, the best hidden staff here to protect you. Obviously we must have messengers. But I suggest we bury ourselves in the sand so to speak. When we fnally do strike, it will be far less anticipated."

"And what, my Lord Kouichirou, would you have in mind?" the emperor spoke firmly. Ken did his best not to flinch at the title. It was one he would rather not bear, and yet the duty of it lay across his shoulders in any case. Ran tried not to reveal his anger at the name or the reaction.

"Nothing bold my Lord. Simply…information gathering…perhaps the shop of a wealthy merchant? I hear that alcohol, salt, and tobacco are highly sought commodities these days…" the ninja trailed off. Persia looked thoughtful.

"Trade brings both money and power without obligatory position. Yes, a merchant's title is quite a clever idea. Very well. Within the month, we will deterimine a trade and a ware to sell. And the location of it's sale. Weiss, prepare yourselves. I imagine you'll need to pack carefully."

And the tone in Persia's voice was all the dismissal they needed.

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"What is in that head of yours?!" Ran barked as he and Ken made their way into the sitting room they had left earlier. The sun was still casting plesant shadows along the floor, albeiet they were cast in the crimson of it's setting below the horizon. Ken turned, looking indignant.

"What the hell are you talking about!? Did you have a better idea?! If so, you should have spoken up with it!" the ninja growled back. Ran shook his head.

"That isn't what I'm talking about and you know it. Ken…" at the red-head's sudden defeated and despair-filled gaze, Ken felt his anger melting.

"Ran?..." he asked softly.

"Why do you always….do this? Why do you just cut yourself apart. Why are you blaming yourself for what is never your fault? That man could have killed you, and now you are worried that you could have done better?! Schwartz likely would have killed him anyway if you hadn't succeeded." Ken frowned.

"Ran, it's my duty to---" Ran whirled on him, striding furiously into his space and gripping his shoulders.

"To Hell with duty Ken!! Duty has almost killed you, taken you away from me more times than I care to count, and yet you throw yourself beneath more than your share of it every time!! What about your duty to me!?" the red-head bellowed, giving the ninja's shoulders a slight shake. The grip on his upper arms was bruising, but Ken didn't care. Ran was obviously very upset about this. More upset than Ken had ever realized. It was always a key point in Ran's temper, even in the days when he'd been sick and half-out of his mind. Gently, the ninja laid reassuring hands on his lover's shoulders.

"I'm sorry Ran. I didn't realize you felt this way. It's just…"his eyes dipped to the side. "I'm so used to…giving myself over for the good of all. It's learned. It's expected among ninja. Why else do you think we excel so well as ninja? It isn't that we're throwing ourselves into danger suicidly. It's that we consider our community as our family. It's my job to protect my family Ran. My job to be alert and on target. I was raised to do it. I've been killing since I was 13. I was spying and performing intelligence missions long before then. It's who I am. I'm sorry if that upsets you, but I'm not sure what I can do about it; I don't know how to stop being this way….I….didn't realize it was hurting you." Ran's face crumbled, and he pulled the brunet close.

"Gods Ken…I've come so close to losing you…and the men who are responsible could have done so again, and now you want to take the responsibility of dealing with them on your shoulders, without anyone even asking. How do you think that makes me feel? They taunt us by reopening your wounds, and still you cannot be swayed from this path of righteousness. Ken…I can't lose you. I couldn't stand it if I even came close. Do you understand? You jest with me about the code of Bushido, and yet, of the two of us, I see that trait more strongly in you, Ken, and it terrifies me." Ken felt tears sting the corners of his eyes. Ran spoke to his heart.

"Ran…" he began gently, pulling back and tilting the red-head's chin up to meet his gaze. "I would never, ever do something to take me away from you. I'm a ninja, remember? It's my job to protect, but like I said, I was raised to do so. I understand I'm not invincible, but…trust me, ne? My first, and only duty is always to you. My heart and soul are yours. Everything I do is motivated by my love for you. I want us to have the chance at a peaceful life. The more dissention that stirs-up around us, the harder I'll work to beat it back. But we can't simply turn around and believe that our pasts won't come back to haunt us; mine especially. Until the turmoil is gone, I will never know rest, or peace, and as my heart, neither will you. I want to give you that Ran. I want to give you the happiness and the strength you have given to my life. I want to give you the safe-harbor you've been for me all this time. This is the only way I know how to do it." He said softly. Tears welled again in the ronin's eyes.

"Just promise me Ken…promise me that you'll think of me before you do anything stupid…" he hissed, burrowing his face in the ninja's neck and breathing the comforting scent there. Ken's gaze turned melancholy, as he stroked his hand down Ran's back soothingly.

"I promise…" he murmured. "You're always in my thoughts…" Ran shuddered as he wondered in what context, but left the argument alone. Right now, he needed to be close to Ken, to shelter them both from the coming storm ahead. And he swore to himself, with an internal vengeance, that he would see this through and out the other side. And once he had, he would feel more than justified in demanding an early retirement for the two of them.

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"My lord…do you really think sending Weiss so far from our reach is the best decision?" Manx tried, with great difficulty, to keep the trepidation from her voice. Persia chuckled softly.

"Yes, Kitada. I do." he replied. He was anxious as well to see the four men he was so endeared to straying so far from his reach, but this was an important task, and could not be trusted to anyone else. Aside from which, if it was discovered that he had such men living under the palace roof at this point, things would go the worse for them all. "We'll sort this out. It might be messy, but we'll see it right." he murmured soothingly. Beside him, Kitada sighed.

"Sometimes, my lord, I wish that I had your optimism." She replied. Shuuichi simply chuckled, and though he held her close, he could not help his mind from straying to the long, hard months ahead. Weiss would be leaving. And the palace would no doubt be in chaos beneath the scandal. It was already said that the Shogunate was sending his Daimyo guards to keep personal watch over the palace. Let them come. He had more ways than the most obvious of doing his work. And he was intent that nothing should stop him. He smiled darkly, before turning to blow out the lantern, holding Kitada next to him in the dark.

Yes, heaven forbid anyone should cross the Emperor. It was not something he should escape from unscathed, if at all. If at all indeed…

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Schuldig watched with a smirk as the masses of Damiyo lords began swarming into the city gates. They were here, of course, at the call of their Shogunate. In answer to the slight of the Emperor upon a man of the Shogunate's house. The German had no doubt that he'd soon be watching them march out in an army formation to wreak havoc on the part of the country still supportive to the Emperor. It was too delicious, really. He was aware of Bradley's presence before the man had even mounted the stairs to the roof.

"Gutentag, heir Crawford." he chorused in greeting. He could feel his leader's frown.

"Must you stand up here, and draw attention to yourself?" the man sounded ridiculously annoyed by such a trivial thing, Schuldig thought. He frowned, showing his own annoyance as he turned to face the man.

"Once again, I reiterate, that you never let me have any fun. I'm not doing any harm standing up here, taking in the view." he protested. Crawford raised an eyebrow, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Yet you are a forginer, a beacon in the night to any who are of Japanese nationality, and here you stand, within sight of the entire array of Damiyo fife's coming to their lord's aid. In these harsh times of suspicion, might I add." Schuldig sighed, mentally cursing Crawford for always making such bloody good sense.

"You really are no fun." the German grumbled, reluctantly turning to head inside. Crawford favored him with a wicked, arrogant grin, raising one of his eyebrow suggestively.

"Come now, surely I'm not that boring, am I? I can think of a time or two that I occupied you well." he replied silkily. Schuldig, wondering at this sudden, fortunate turn of his leader's mood, raised an eyebrow of his own.

"Are you making suggestions Bradley? You'd best beware lest I take you up on them." he crooned just as silkily. Bradley simply smiled.

"I don't suggest anything I'm not entirely serious about. And I don't see why I shouldn't feel so generous. Everything is going better than expected." Schuldig grinned.

"Very well. My chamber, or yours?" he replied. Crawford's grin was positively wicked now. It sent chills down the German's spine.

"Mine this time. I've a feeling it'll make the time spent more…enjoyable."

Hmmmm….and Schuldig was always about time spent enjoyably. He followed his leader inside without regret or comment. Outside, the Daimyo continued to arrive with their small armies, their faces grim and serious with thought of the coming assault. Now was the time to fight cleverly and fiercely, in proud service to their lord. And maybe, just maybe a reward might follow diligent work. War was always a good time to propel one's social standing ever upward.

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Kurotada Kinouta watched with jubilance at the power of Esstet. One simple offence, and now all these men; these powerful lords, were amassing, like a dark and angry storm cloud on the horizon.

Surely, surely they would triumph over their enemies. Surely they would make an example of the traitorous Schwartz! How dare they behave so insultingly!? Kinouta might have only been a messenger, but he believed fully and completely in the glory of Esstet.

Satisfied with what he was seeing, the youth scrambled off to make his report to the Elders. He felt they would be pleased with the progress being made. Surely this was as good a time as any to finally put an end to that insufferable, dishonorable Emperor. And then the true work of Esstet could begin.

After all…this was the time of the great revival. The revival of The One. He would walk this earth as the living, and nothing would stand in his way. The greatness and Glory of Him would fill every corner of Japan, leaving no man, woman, or child untouched.

Yes…it was a most joyous time to be alive. Most joyous indeed….

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SPLAT! It is now quarter to four in the morning. And this is officially the hardest saga ever to write. Seriously. I should have stopped at Edo. Why didn't I stop?? WHY!?!

…Ok, sorry, better now. It's late, I'm kind of giddy, and I need to go to bed. Apologies now for misspellings, bad grammar, or lack of sense with plot. Bed. Now. Sleep.

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