Prologue

There was a time when our world relied on the power of Remnants. These entities, if bound to a person, could bring about the flourish of a civilization and if left unbound could cause a collapse that would ravage the land. People relied on them, so much that many times people wondered if war would come about, Lords and Ladies of high social standing would call upon their Remnants and do war, leaving endless destruction in their wake. I was one of these lords, relying so greatly on the power of the Remnants I seemed to forget the greatest strength is in the people themselves. It wasn't till I met him that I understood that. At first his simplemindedness made me wish to use the hidden power in him, but that power was just a small part of what made him special. In being near him I began to understand my own strengths...and weaknesses. I didn't realize how important he was in making me who I was 'til I watched him leave. In a matter of moments all I had relied upon, all I had thought meant power and freedom for my people, my country, took away that bright hope that had filled my heart. I hate Remnants. For all the strength we believe they gave they took away our lives, ending many before they reached barely a middle age. Don't worry, he told me. People will find a way. I believed him, I still do but...Rush, what about me? How do I live? How do I find a way to forget you, to live a life without Remnants when, if I could have, I'd have offered my life in exchange for yours? Remnant? Human? Both? It doesn't matter, nothing matters. I got what I wanted. I have obtained freedom for my people, independence that my father and his father before him dreamed for, but at what price? I would forever remember that day the Remnants scattered to the winds, leaving a glittering mass and empty holes in their place. It was beautiful but so sad because each time I saw one snuff out I remembered that last smile you gave us; that last look, unafraid, unwavering, and unforgettable.

Chapter 1:

"Lord David, an envoy from Elysion is here to speak with you." Torgal's dark eyes stared at the blond at the throne. Though they country had flourished, though the people rejoiced his lord sat quietly, smiling for them though it was sad. He'd known the boy since he was a mere babe but even still he could not find words to console him. It was never his strength. All he could do was support him as he brought Athlum to greatness, even if inside he was very cold and empty.

"Hm? Oh yes, I will meet with them immediately." He stood, walking down to the balcony where he saw the whole of Athlum. Once the Valeria Heart towered overhead, a Remnant that had protected them, now it all rested on him. We'll be all right, Rush. That was what he said and as promised he would ensure they would be. Descending down to the meeting hall he heard Torgal's steps behind him. He would do all he could to protect his people, to uphold his promises but still he did wonder had he done something differently, said something differently, would he be walking down these steps alone with only the sound of footsteps behind him?

Emmy looked up. "Ah, Lord David." She bowed, enthusiastic as ever. She had grown up much the past year since that last battle. She had become more confident, having won plenty of challenges to uphold the Honeywell name. She would have made her mother proud.

He smiled at her as he passed.

She watched Torgal walk by, staring at the back of her Lord. Though she knew David since they were kids it didn't take much to see he felt burdened by a sadness. Even Blocter complained about it, worried about Lord David like a doting big brother, and Emmy the coddling sister. She only wished she could say something, but every time she tried she knew her words would not help. Well it had only been a year, perhaps with a little more time he would be able to let go. Walking down the hall she saw the garden her mother used to tend, smiling at the violet flowers blooming all around. "Hey, Rush, do you think that Lord David will be okay?" She murmured. "Of course, after all you'd never of left if you didn't believe he would be." She smiled and proceeded into town to make her rounds. She did her best to uphold order, making sure the town was as peaceful as it had been in the days of her mother, more so in fact. Without Remnants the need for war had dimmed and people began to focus on living rather then power. Yes, It would be all right, she would keep smiling.

It hadn't been an easy journey. Traveling to the mainland from Eulam had been somewhat awkward since he was trying to keep his identity hidden. Of course after the great battle many whispers of the heroes who had defeated the Conqueror, destroyed the remnants and brought about a great peace in all the kingdoms was traveling fast and he didn't want any word reaching Athlum till he was there. Entering the city he traveled the streets, brown eyes gazing up at the castle. He knew it well, had been inside the main hall many times, staring out the balcony at the town he was now in the center of. Now, to find a way to sneak back in.

Emmy walked through the market place in the town square, eyeing the vendors and smiling.

"Lady Emma!"

Turning she blinked. Many called her by her actual name but to the others she was just Emmy. She smiled. "Yes?"

The young boy handed a note. "I was told to give this to you, my lady."

"A letter?" She opened it, staring at the words and a sudden pang in her chest made it constrict. "Who...who gave you this?" She muttered.

The boy shook his head. "I'm not sure he just said it was important."

Nodding she took off, heading for Virtus Parish near the tavern. This could all be a lie a trick but she had to be sure. If it was a lie she'd kill the bastard who thought it would be funny. Should Lord David hear this and get his hopes up only to have them smashed she would never forgive herself. Heading down the street she looked around, eyeing anyone who seemed unfamiliar.

"Greetings, oh beautiful young maiden."

She stiffened. That voice. That stupid term he'd used when they were mere acquaintances. She turned, seeing a figure in the alley and walked into it. The man was cloaked and she couldn't see his face, couldn't be sure till he looked up and smiled. Her eyes went wide as she gasped. "RUS...mphf."

"Shhh." He covered her mouth, pushing back the hood to show his face completely. "I don't want anyone to know I'm here yet." He whispered.

She nodded and swallowed as he took his hand away. "Oh thank the god emperor you're safe. You...how did you get here?"

"I walked, well, took a boat from Eulam to the mainland but more or less walked." He smiled.

She smiled brightly at him. No doubt about it, this was Rush. It was a split second more when she punched him in the arm.

"Ow, what'd you do that for?" He rubbed his arm, wincing.

"You had me worried sick. And not just me, everyone was so worried. Lord David has been a mess." She felt like she might cry. The hope, that happiness she prayed for was here again and Lord David wouldn't have to be so sad anymore.

The brunette shook his arm. "Oh Dave," His voice changed tones, sounding a little regretful, "How is he?"

"Awful." She said bluntly. "He does everything a Lord should but he's so sad. Rush, he's so upset, has been since we walked out of the ark gate. He...he blames himself for you disappearing."

Rush nodded, giving a heavy sigh. "I was worried about that." He muttered. "hey, Emmy, can you take me to him?" He looked at her, pulling the hood back over his head. "I want to see him first before the others know. I need to talk to him."

She nodded. "Of course, you know I'd help." She smiled knowingly, having always sensed something but not dare speaking a word. Of course whether things would be settled was in the air. She turned. "Leave it to me."

Rush smiled. "I knew I could trust you." Actually Emmy was the only one he could trust to keep her mouth shut. She was, well, she had hinted once that she understood Rush's feelings. Of course back then they'd been so caught up in saving the world that he hadn't thought he'd have no time left till he realized he had to destroy the remnants. Had he been given more time, maybe he could have at least told Dave that...that he...oh he'd do it now.

They walked through town, Rush close behind Emmy with his head down. They got some stares but since Emmy didn't seemed unnerved they ignored the odd figure following her. Heading into the castle she wondered where Lord David would be. Seeing Torgal she told Rush to hang back. "Torgal? Do you know where Lord David is, has he finished his meeting with the envoy?"

The Sovani turned to her. "Yes, just now. He's in the gardens." He said calmly, cat-like eyes looking at Rush and raising a dark brow. "Who is your friend?" he seemed mildly concerned not liking that this stranger hid his face.

Emmy smiled. "Oh just an old aquaintance. Thank you." She moved along, pushing rush past the Sovani. "Let's hurry." She muttered, the pair moving to the gardens.

Torgal was suspicious and hoped Emmy wasn't trying some strange way to cheer Lord David up. He should go check. Sighing he followed them.

Seeing the garden she saw the young Lord, staring at the flowers. She smiled at Rush and held up a finger for silence. "Lord David?" She called.

David raised his head, having been staring at the flowers, recalling many conversations he had here, many moments he treasured. "Yes? Emmy?" He looked at her. She seemed rather cheery today though he knew that she tended to try and be very happy around him. He only wished he could return such a bright smile to her. He noticed the figure behind her.

Looking at him, Emmy tried to think of the best way to say this. "There is someone that I think you need to see." She finally said, glancing back at Rush, whose identity was still concealed from her Lord.

David glanced at the man. "Someone I should meet."

Reaching up, Rush grabbed the ends of the hood, lifting it up and back, smiling at the blond.

Eyes widening he felt the world stop, his heart pounding. There was so much in that moment that shouldn't be but...but...

"Hey Dave." Rush said smiling. He stared back at the other man, so much in that gaze, so similar to the last seconds they'd seen each other.

"Rush?" He murmured in disbelief, struggling to think, trying to get a hold of himself but his knees felt weak, chest tight and head spinning. Rush? RUSH?

"RUSH!" Blocter barreled into the boy, destroying the whole moment in an instant.

Emmy wanted to curse, having been sliding out of the scene till that bumbling Yama mucked it all up.

Blocter blubbered, holding onto the boy. "Rush, I thought you were dead, but it's really you, right...right?"

Pagus came up behind them. "A maid said she thought she saw you and as we came to confirm it, and it seems she was right." He smiled, his old heart feeling happy that the rumor had been true. He didn't think any of them could take it if it were a lie.

"Hey, Blocter. Hey Pagus." He patted the Yama's arm as he looked down at the small Qsiti. "Long time no see."

Emmy saw Lord David shrink back, that moment where he might have forgotten himself gone. He had reined it in and now stood smiling. "It's good to have you back Rush." He said.

"Uh..yeah." Rush looked at him, a hint of disappointment in his tone. "I'm sorry I worried everyone.

"Master Rush?" Torgal had seen the commotion and was worried but to see the boy again, he actually smiled a little. "I'm am glad to see you are well."

"Hey Torgal." Rush laughed, trying to say hi to them all though he glanced at Dave. So much for his surprising reunion.

"Rush, how did you make it back? I thought you disappeared with the rest of the Remnants." Blocter asked finally pulling away.

"Yes, for you to be here is indeed surprising and almost impossible." Pagus drawled.

"It's a long story." Rush said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Well you can tell us at dinner. I'll have a feast prepared to celebrate your return." David smiled, nodding to them all. His smile was much brighter now, the change in his mood obvious all even if another part of him was still subdued. "I'll have it arranged. Torgal?"

"As you wish." Torgal bowed and set off to spread the word.

"You don't have to go through a bunch of trouble for me." He laughed, looking at David.

"Nonsense. To have such an important friend return to us, there's no better cause for celebration." He patted his back, pulling away a bit too quickly. "Why don't you get rested and cleaned up and we'll see you in the dining hall in a few hours?"

"Uh...yeah." Rush smirked watching as Dave walked by. Damn.

Emmy sighed, elbowing Blocter in the side once David had gone. "You idiot."

"Ow, Emmy why'd you do that?" The Yama yelped.

"Because you're an idiot. Rush wanted to see Lord David before everyone else, alone." She added.

"Huh...oh...." Blocter looked at Rush. "Sorry, Rush. I was just so happy to see you alive."

"It's fine." Rush held up a hand. "I'll...I'll get to talk to him later." Yeah, he had later.

The news spread fast through Athlum and many came to the castle trying to catch a glimpse of Rush wondering if it were true. He hid in his room pacing as he dressed for dinner. Emmy had brought him a change of clothes, but even looking better now didn't help the nervous feelings he had. Dave was happy to see him yeah but it was so hard to really see how happy with everyone around. Well, he'd just have to make time for them to be alone tonight. Heading down to dinner he was greeted by everyone again the talk of what had happened after they'd parted the goings on of the world.

"That reminds me, Rush, how did you manage to make it back?" Pagus asked, his frog-like eyes blinking. "I was sure you had disappeared with the remnants."

"As did I, as did we all." Torgal said looking curious, for a Sovani.

Rush paused thinking, his eyes going to David before he scratched his face. "um...well it's kinda complicated..." he said.

"What difference does it make?" Emmy said. "He's back and we're all together again, that's all that matters, right?" She winked at him.

"Indeed." David said with a smile, looking at Rush. "All that matters is that you are among your friends again, Rush."

He smiled, nodding and eating his meal. It wasn't like he didn't want to say but he had some things to talk about with Dave before the others knew.

After dinner Torgal retreated to make sure the guards were switched out, Emmy dragged Blocter away, swaying she needed help with things so the bumbling idiot wouldn't get in the way of things. Pagus went to bed, or more to his study to go over the various spouts of information he collected. This left David and Rush alone.

He swung his arms back and forth a bit fidgeting. "So...what's new?" He smiled.

David looked at him and smirked. "Nothing really, same as always." He glanced down the hallway. "Shall we take a walk, I'd like to hear more about your journey here?"

"Yeah, that works." He followed, falling into step beside him. As they walked he took a deep breath. "Actually, Dave, there was something I wanted to talk with you about. "

"Oh? What?" The blond glanced at him his demeanor calm as always. If Rush hadn't known him so well he would have missed how the other's gait slowed, his jaw stiffening a little. David was holding back as usual but then again he was a ruler of an independent nation, he couldn't let his guard slip so easily.

"It's about...well a lot of things." He looked over, seeing the garden coming up and they pair walked into it a place they normally spoke. "Wow, this place really doesn't change." He smiled.

"No, I kept it the same." David said quietly, his green eyes glancing to the other man. "Rush, how did you get back?" He finally asked, voice steady.

"Irina." He said. "And my mom, and," he laughed. "The conqueror. All of them helped me get back." He looked at him. "We gathered the energy we could and using the power of the Marshalls and the Wardens of the Remnants I was able to come back but,"

"But?" David titled his head.

"I'm no longer a remnant nor do I have any powers." He shrugged. "I'm just a normal guy now."

David let out a faint sigh having been afraid there would be a limit to their reunion or something much worse. "Well I think that's acceptable." He grinned, walking past him near the flowerbed. "I happen to like just the "regular guy" you are."

"Yeah?" Rush smiled and walked up beside him. "That's good cause there's something else." He'd spent a good portion of his trip here thinking about what he wanted to say. However, first things first.

"Rush?" The blond stared at him curiously and maybe for a moment there was a hint of something else behind his eyes.

"I'm sorry I made you cry." He said finally. "When I left I, all I could think was I had to protect everyone, had to protect Irina, my family and you, all of Athlum really."
David seemed at a loss, staring before turning away. "Well, of course. It's fine, Rush."

"Is it?" He said stepping toward him. He could cross the line, see what happened but even he was a bit wary. There was a lot unspoken here, a lot he could be imagining but, "You called my name, after I left."

"How did...?" He looked at him and the blush was there, the slight rattled look of the usually calm lord.

"Just cause I wasn't there didn't mean I was wiped from existence." He smiled and took his hand. "I hesitated before, quite a few times cause I didn't want you to know. If I wasn't a remnant, if I were normal, would you still need me? It was weird worrying about it, ya know?"

"Rush." David stared at their joined hands like he wasn't sure what to do.

"Up until we fought the Conqueror I still believed I'd get to go back with all of you but at the end all I knew was that I had to do it. There wasn't much time to,"

"Time to what?" David asked a bit hastily, stepping near him.

Words usually escaped him at the crucial points and he was left tongue tied, looking up at David. "Time to..." Well this could go either good or bad and he was hoping for the first as he stepped closer, tugging David near him. Wrapping his arms around him he hugged him, really hugged him. Caught up in war, in so many things he'd put this off but all along he felt closer to David than anyone. At first it was friendship but something changed along the way, and he found that the dear friend he made was so much more to him.

David stiffened a bit, surprised by the embrace but slowly he reached up, wrapping his arms around Rush and leaning against him. Closing his eyes he felt the other's heartbeat on his chest. What did this mean? Was it just a continuation of their heartfelt reunion that had been interrupted earlier? Was it more?

"I'm not really good at these sorts of things." He murmured. "I know that at first it wasn't like this but I...you are very important to me, the most important thing to me."

The sounds of the night that had been so ever present before were quiet now replaced by the beat of his heart and Rush's voice. What did he say? Hadn't Rush once told him that Irina was his most important thing? "Rush, but..."

"All I could think after I left was finding a way back here, back to you." He responded, squeezing him tighter. "I know you don't really let your guard down and I could be way off base but," He tilted his head pressing it into the blonde's hair. It made him shiver, an intimate action he had dreamed about, thought about many times. "It means something to you, doesn't it? Me being back?"

His throat was dry; he couldn't find words. Struggling a moment he found his voice. "Of course it means something to me Rush." He finally choked out. "I...watching you go away was my greatest regret from that time." He gripped him tighter. "I...I kept wondering what if I had done more. What if I'd known, could I have stopped it."

He smiled at that. "Well, I'm here now?" he pulled away, looking at him. "I'm not going anywhere this time."
He smiled. "I should hope not." He muttered; voice a bit strained. His head was spinning. This was probably the closest they had ever been but for some reason he felt scared still. He wanted to press back against him; to seek that intimacy he told himself to stay away from during the war. He believed he'd have plenty of time later to bring it up, to slowly find the right moment. He now had that time but not a clue what to do.

As if seeing the confusion Rush let him go. "Hey, don't worry, we have time." He laughed. "After all I just got back today, so you're probably still shocked.

He flushed a bit and laughed. "Yes, yes that still has me a bit...frazzled." he looked away but he so wished Rush had let go. "It's late." He said finally. "We should get to bed." He looked at him, shyness in his gaze.

Rush blinked his body a bit warm till he understood the words. "Oh...oh you mean our own rooms..." He laughed nervously.

"What?" David looked at him then his eyes widened a bit as he caught on. "Oh...yes. Yes our own separate rooms." He corrected and fidgeted. Oh my, he was making a bit of a fool of himself. "Yes, see still frazzled."

"Yeah." Rush smiled. "Well then...I guess." He didn't want to say good night but maybe it was best. He said what he needed to, tonight anyways. "Goodnight, Dave." He smiled.

David couldn't help but smile back, despite his mind spinning with a billion questions, ideas and hopes. "Goodnight, Rush." He nodded and stepped back, turning with all the strength he had and heading off to his room.

Rush ran his fingers through his hair, giving a heavy sigh and sitting down on the nearby bench. "Wow, that was harder than I thought it's be." He muttered. He'd taken the first step. Now Irina couldn't get mad at him. She's grilled him about being chicken, but he had every right to. "Gah." He leaned back staring up at the stars. He should have kissed him. No, no that was bit too fast. He wanted to let Dave think about it. However, as he sat and tried to cool down he recalled that faint scent of his hair, how warm he felt near him. "Oh man." He muttered.

Passing several servants on the way back to his room he smiled and nodded. However, once in his room he sagged back against the door, reaching up to cover his heart. It was still pounding; he was still shaking. He hadn't been prepared for that. Rush was always like that, so straightforward. If only he could have said what he wanted to back but it was all so much to take in. He had almost decided to let him go, to try and live on and then he showed up. Sighing he slid to the floor, just trying to breathe. Rush said he came back for him? It was a flattering thought, and he knew the other wasn't lying but it was...he could take it many ways. The embrace was still so fresh in his mind, the warmth the slight tension of Rush's shoulders as he spoke. He smiled. "Capable Lord, huh?" He muttered. "I'm not even sure I can handle one boy." Of course rush was different, very different. The young man had completely thrown his whole world out of alignment the moment he showed up. He thought it a nice change really. Dressing for bed he couldn't stop from replaying the whole day. It kept him up all night and before he realized the sun had risen and it was day.