Gen-chan: Sup peeps? I be back in da swing, dig it?

Rath, Rune, Thatz: HUH?!?!? O.o

Gen-chan: *blush* heh um..hi?

Thatz: Gen? You ok?

Rath: ^o^ She's hyped up on caffeine again!

Gen-chan: *blush darker* ..to much Mountain Dew..BUT I'M LOVING IT!!!!!!

Rune: *sigh* Just say it so we can get out of here alright, I can just feel a headache coming on.

Gen-chan: ummmm...NO! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAH--- *BANG* .ouch.

Thatz, Rune: *puts down large mallets* Very well if you wont then. RATH!

Rath: Yah?

Rune: Say it.

Rath: Say what?

Rune: *picks up mallet again* Rath..

Rath: ^-^! Ohhhh yah, say THAT! Gotcha! Heh heh. Gen-chan does not own anything about Dragon Knights. Credit must go were credit is due, and that is all towards Mineko Ohkami. Gen-chan does not feel like getting sued today. Though she does own Vitalli and the plot!

Gen-chan: Enjoy!



The Fires Within Chapter 2: Hidden secrets and mysterious strangers. By: Gen-chan

The light clatter of forks and knives against china rang throughout the Grand Hall as the soft chatter of different conversations filled the air. The large hall was grandly decorated in soft reds, calming blues, shimmering silvers and brilliant golds`. From the large domed ceiling hung large tapestries with the Dragon Lords symbol embroidered into the colorful clothes. Majestic arched windows adorned each wall casting a beautiful scenic view upon the gardens, even now being cast into shadows once more by the departing sun while luminous stars were already appearing in the darkening sky. Soft purples and dark blues could be seen dancing their ritual dance, entwining with each other in elegant unity across the evening sky. It was a peaceful night to almost all the Dragon Lords guests, their worries at ease for the time being. Though one young man in particular was visibly apprehensive throughout the entire feast, his usual calm demeanor almost non-existent. Luckily for him only a few of the people with, whom he was dining with, noticed, so far. Nervously tugging at his glossy golden tresses, the young Dragon Knight quietly picked at his food as he pretended to listen to what his friend and fellow Knight was saying.

"Hey Rune! You awake in there?" A loud obnoxious voice uncomfortably close to his ear shook him out of his dazed state enough to realize that he had tuned out what his friend was saying. Seeing his rude behavior and mentally chiding himself for it, he gave the first intelligent thing that came to mind.

"Huh?"

"Huh? That's all you got to say? What's up with you tonight man? I feel like I've been talking to a statue of sumthin`. Heh. Or maybe a fairy, but you get the idea. Geeze, what's up with everybody today, huh? I mean first Rath is acting all weird and now yo-"

"What do you mean Rath was acting weird? What kind of weird?" The former elf asked anxiously, cutting off the red-head sitting next to him.

"O--kay. Well to but it simply he was acting like a spoiled little brat when I said he couldn't go out and hunt demons. Then when I turned my back on him for a moment he was gone. Musta slipped out behind me or sumthin`. Hey what's up is there something going on that someone failed to inform me about..again?"

"There might be Thatz, and trust me if it's what I think it is you will be one of the first informed." Rune said softly. As soon as he finished speaking that thought another came into his mind. /The Dragon Lord. He must know of this/

Unconsciously fondling his hair, Rune leaned over to his right to catch the tail ending of the Dragon Lords conversation with Cesia.

".but if we were to try that, too many might lose their lives."

"I know My Lord. I know. But there is no other way, we must secure that book before any one else fin- oh! Rune, umm." The young woman gave a start once she realized that he was there. She nervously swept a stray piece of hair from her face as she looked up to the Dragon Lord guiltily. Rune wondered just what it was that they were talking about that he couldn't hear.

"That's quite alright Cesia. In fact it was Rune who brought this to my attention this morning." "Oh. I see, then yes, he should hear this as well."

"Hear what?"

"Well, His Majesty notified me of your discovery this afternoon thinking that I might have some idea of what that old prophecy might mean, the one that you found. Well, it turns out that what you found was ac---"Cesia was abruptly cut off as the enormous doors at the end of the Great Hall were thrown open emitting the chilly evening winds. A lone figure stood outlined by the doors making no move to enter the Hall. The hall was thrown into silence as the castle guards quickly surrounded the newcomer, through none going within touching distance.

"I come on important business. To be discussed with, and only with the Dragon Lord, Ruler of Draqueen. I demand you stand aside." The stranger's voice was rich and slightly husky, loud enough to be heard all the way on the other side of the Hall.

"Let him pass."

Everyone in the Hall looked up in surprise as the Dragon Lord gracefully rose from his seat and gestured for the guards to let the man through. Rune, Thatz, and Cesia all stood up as well, prepared to follow their lord when he motioned for them to stay seated.

"This I must do alone. Please wait out here." He said as he started to walk towards a tall door behind a giant gold drape. "Oh and Thatz?"

"Yah?"

"Please don't try to follow me." With that said the Dragon Lord led the cloaked stranger through the doors leaving behind an irritated Cesia, a worried Rune, a sulking Thatz, and a roomful of confused guests.

@ @@@@@@@@@@@@

The dank, musty smell was what woke him. Slowly large pain filled crimson eyes opened to take in his new surroundings. The small room had but one torch available yet it was quite capable of lighting up the interior of the cramped quarters. Mildew and mold climbed the thick walls and clung to the low ceiling their stench nearly overwhelming. A small pile of ragged cloth was placed in a corner supposedly for a bed. That was it, there were no windows, or skeletons chained to the wall. There weren't even any doors. /Magic/ he thought, simple, and incredibly disturbing. The teenaged boy heaved a small sigh and sat back against the cell wall to think about what happened and how he was going to get out. With another sigh, deeper this time, the boy slid his long fingers through his jet black hair in frustration.

"Well, it seems that you're awake. Did you enjoy your nap?" A sly voice asked from the other side of one of the walls. Rath stiffened as a woman slid out of the shadows of one of the corners. She had not been there before this he knew. She was slim and a bit on the shorter side. Her glossy black hair spilled down her back rippling slightly when she moved. Her heart-shaped face was framed by blood red bangs tucked behind one pointed ear, and a small firedrop hung from a thin silver chain resting in the middle of her forehead, large expressionless, cobalt eyes stared down at him, sizing him up. Her garb was that of a warrior, though no self respecting warrior would ever wear that into battle, or out in public for that matter. She wore a small sleeveless tunic of the iciest blue unlaced nearly down to her belly, showing far more than enough of her generous bosom. Over her tunic she wore a small bra-like breastplate, not enough to cover any of her exposed cleavage. Both tunic and breastplate were designed to show off her stomach, as they only came to the bottom of her ribs before they stopped. Her flowing cream-colored silk pants were low and the nearer to her feet they got the more transparent they became.

Rath was in a bad mood and this mysterious woman's appearance was not helping at all. He decided to take a chance, and threw patience, and caution, out the window wanting answers now, and he'd be damned if she wasn't going to give them to him.

"Who the hell are you? Where the hell am I? What happened back at the castle? Who was that man I saw early and why did he seem familiar?" Rath snapped at her, though the last part of his questioning was mainly for him not expecting an answer from her on that.

"I can only answer two of those questions I'm afraid. You are now residing in my master's castle, though of our exact location not even I am positive."

"Hn. And you are.?" Rath questioned indignantly.

"My name is Kiri. Welcome back, little brother."

"WHAT?!"

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Gen-chan: Wellllllllllllllllllllllll? Didja like it hmm hmmm?

Rath: WHY'D YOU END IT THERE? WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN? WAS SHE REALLY MY---

Thatz: *holding the bag Rath was gagged and stuffed in* whoa, well that's enough of that.

Rune: *throwing bag out the window* yes I think my headache is going away already.

Gen-chan: You guys are so mean to him. Rune & Thatz: Yep ^o^

Gen-chan: well anywayz, review and tell me if it sucked or not k? Ja Ne!