Chapter 9: Fabia again

The next morning was very busy as everyone in the castle was preparing to send Sellon off to Gundalia. I sent Aronaut to keep watch overDan as he was still asleep to my knowledge. After sending Aronaut off I was busied in the affairs of the Castle Knights with Linus my constant companion for most of the morning and a bit after lunch when we finally got Sellon sent to Gundalia. I was relieved that now I had some free time and I went to the infirmary.

Halfway there I ran into Aronaut floating down a corridor looking about it.

"Aronaut?" I called the Haos Bakugan's attention to me.

"Princess Fabia!" He called back and hurried to my side, "Forgive me, but it appears Dan has already taken leave of his sick bed. I've been wandering the castle all day to see if I could find any trace of him or Drago for that matter."

"Oh? Well, you did your best." I remarked and placed him on my shoulder before turning around and beginning my own wanderings.

I searched all the corridors and asked a few guards doing rounds, but alas no one had seen hide nor hair of the brunette. I was just about to give up and go see my sister when I happened by the balcony leading out to the garden. I spied Ren with Linehalt speaking to the familiar brunette and Pyrus Bakugan. Dan, adorned in his tunic, was leaning against the concrete railing while Ren stood away from Dan with his backside facing me.

"There he is." Aronaut stated as I took off.

"Dan!" I cried out with joy and tried my best not to tackle him in my embracement.

"Woah! Fabia?!" I heard Dan moan out before I released him from the friendly hug.

"Sorry, it's just I was worried about you disappearing from the infirmary and well it's good to see you in better spirits." I told him forgetting Ren was there until he cleared his throat and I stood back some, "Sorry, Ren, I interrupted your conversation."

"It's fine." Ren said and I couldn't tell if he was sincere or not.

I ignored it and turned my attention back to Dan who was blushing profusely and I realized that I was holding his hand. Immediately I let go and then an awkward silence began. Ren scoffed and then turned his back to us.

"I have other business I should attend to." He said tilting his head back to glance at Dan, "We'll continue our conversation later, Dan."

Dan nodded to Ren and then Gundalian waltzed off back into the castle and I felt a little guilt in realizing that the conversation must have been private.

"It seems I've interrupted an important discussion." I murmured to myself, but Dan caught it and looked at me shaking his head.

"Don't worry about. It wasn't much of a conversation anyway." He said leaning back against the railing once more, "Sorry about freaking you out yesterday. I didn't think one would happen that day otherwise I would've stayed in Gilda's cottage, but Serena insisted I attend since I was supposed to be shadowing you."

I tilted my head a bit and then sighed as I realized what my sister was plotting.

"Don't worry about it." I told him turning myself towards the garden and looking at the beautiful serene layout of the scene before me.

Drago popped into his sphereical shape and rolled into Dan's hand.

"Tired Drago?" Dan murmured to the Dragonoid as he plucked him up and placed him into his pocket.

I watched him as he moved about and he noticed staring back at me with silence. I couldn't stand it anymore, the silence and not knowing.

"Dan I-" I started to blurt out, but stopped myself midway and then tried to continue, "I-I-I'm curious, just curious as to why you…danced with me last night…I mean…I've heard you talk about a certain girl and when you told Shun to….."

I trailed off not able to figure out what exactly I wanted to say. I knew what I wanted to know, but I wanted to word it as subtly as I could without trying to draw attention too much to my intentions. He chuckled a bit and I felt my cheeks heat up as he laughed. His laugh was so contagious, but not at this moment. He kept his gaze outward on the garden and I heard a small sigh escape me.

"Runo is my ex-girlfriend on Earth." He informed me, "She's a blue haired fireball, but when I moved away to the town I live in now…..we had a mutual understanding that our relationship couldn't continue."

"Oh." I murmured guessing by the way he talked about this human that they still had feelings for each other.

He turned to face me and continued on, "Well that and her nagging was getting to me. We teased each other a lot, but eventually she would rant on me about not doing other stuff besides brawling. I was getting sick of it and quite frankly I was glad to use the move as an excuse."

"Oh." Was all I could say as he paused.

"Well, um….about last night…well….." He began to stutter as he tried to answer my questions.

Feeling bad I interrupted him, "You were just doing your duty as my protector at the party, right?"

It was now his turn to blush and I giggled to hide my own.

"A little bit." He muttered and I tilted my head to the side.

"What?" I asked getting closer to push the answer out of him again and to hear it clearly, "Did I hear you admit to something?"

"I didn't!" Dan cried out flailing his arms about as he grew incredibly flustered, "I mean I did..argh! I really like you okay! That's why I danced with you!"

We both blushed profusely and I moved back a little at the confession and he turned around trying to hide his face. Another awkward silence befell us both and I couldn't stand it anymore so I began to walk away. I was almost to the door when I felt a hand on my wrist and I let it hold me back, but I didn't turn to face him. I knew it was Dan and I was too embarrassed to face him.

"Listen, I didn't want to admit my feelings before because of your deceased fiancé." Dan said so only I could hear him, "I mean if you still have feelings for him I completely understand the rejection. I won't force you to move on if you aren't ready."

My heart was fluttering before, but now it felt like it could break out of my ribs. He was a little right about me having some feelings for Jin, but it was only to keep his memory alive. However that was why I kept Aronaut as my guardian Bakugan and in a way Jin had once told me that if anything ever happened to our relationship then all he would wish for me would be happiness. I felt something dribble down my cheek and then realized I was crying.

A few sobs escaped my throat and the hand on my wrist released.

"I'm sorry." Dan said as I heard him turn away, "I've upset you."

END

Short chapter, I'm trying to bring us up to the point. Tonight at midnight (Feb 13 at midnight that night), I will post the chapter I've been trying to get to. It will be two chapters, you can expect that from now on, for two chapters of 2 different view points, posted they will be. (sorry I'm super tired and a lil' tipsy) I'm just posting this chapter for the night. Critiques are extremely welcomed. Don't be afraid to review.