EarthDragon: Okay, Element is very tired and doesn't feel like talking. She's leaving on a trip tomorrow, so she needs to pack. This chapter probably isn't going to be too long, and she'll try and put up new chapters regularly once she gets back. And Dawn N:thanks for the e-mail, and she'll respond when she gets back!!



***On Damien, three months after Harper became Jason***

Jason walked down a street in a quiet village, called Borness. It was nestled in between two mountains which typified Damien, and lay about 6 hours west of Riiocan. It was a typical Damien village, except for one thing. It was a free village, not controlled by the Nietzcheans. The first, and only, one of its kind in 200 years.

Jason walked slowly, his head whipping from side to side as he tried to digest all of the sights. He had not walked down this particular street before, and even though it was like almost ever other street in Borness, he regarded it with equal fascination as he had the first time after seeing it.

He still walked with a limp, a visual reminder of what he had been through. He, along with the other people that had been rescued from the warehouse, had been secretly smuggled to Borness over 2 ½ months ago. It had been done gradually, a few people at a time, so it would not be noticeable.

Alaya had come over with him to Borness. At first he had thought it was just the most incredible coincidence in the world(once he learned what coincidence meant), but, he had soon realized that Alaya had arranged it this way.

Alaya, oh Alaya. He still liked her as much as the first time he had seen her. He had thrown himself into learning the language and customs of Damien as much to impress her as to help himself. Their connection seemed to grow stronger with every time they looked at each other. And he liked that very much.



Alaya watched him walk by, as entranced as always when she saw him. His almost child-like wonderment fascinated her, but there was a very mature way he seemed to process the world.

"Al, you're doing it again," came a voice from behind her. Alaya jumped and spun around, blushing. She always hated it when people caught her staring at Jason.

"Oh! It's you, Mikelle. I thought it was Ven or someone, come to tease me." Ven was the village's resident gossip. As soon as she had seen Alaya's interest in Jason, everyone had known.

And for Alaya, who had never really shown an interest in anyone, despite the fact that most guys had shown an interest in her, to be interested in someone, well, that was something.

"Why don't you just ask him out or something? He doesn't know what 'ask out' means, so if you're waiting for him to ask you, you can keep waiting."

I dunno, Mikelle. What if...before...he had a family? Kids? I don't want to get in the way of that, or create problems for later."

"Look at him, Al. Do you think he really cares? It's not like he's rushing to find out who or what he was. He seems perfectly content here. And Alaya, you two are probably the only people in th known worlds who have fallen in love without exchanging any words and only a few glances."

"Love?!" Alaya started at the word, then looked at Jason ,who continued to wander down the street, then back at Mikelle. "I guess so. Love." A slow smile crept across her face.

"Go to him, Al. You know you need to."

"Okay then. I will."



Jason had almost reached te end of the street when he heard a noise. He turned around, and saw Alaya leaving an alley between two houses.

He looked her straight in the eye, and she looked back. This time there were no other people to be distracted by, and no other things that needed to be done. There was just each other.

She walked towards him, barely aware she was moving. He walked as well, only he was totally aware that he was finally coming close to her.

Each started to jog, then run towards each other, each desperately needing the other. Momentary glances were no longer enough to satisfy them. They were in love, totally and completely, and they knew it, and were ready to accept it.

They finally met, in a back street in Borness, and fell into each others arms, then started the most passionate kiss ever held in Borness, hell, on Damien. The whole planet could have fallen around them, and they wouldn't even have paused.

Mikelle, still hidden in the alley, shook her head. "Yeah, that wasn't really what I had in mind, but sure, it'll work."



Dragon of the Elements: Ookay, that's done. I wasn't going to do it, but not only was Earth threatening to leave if I didn't do it, but I couldn't not update for that long. Oh, and this chapter's to Dawn N, for her awesome and very nice reviews. I'll email you back!!! And, since EarthDragon has gone to sleep(which I should be doing), please review!!