"Recognition has to first go to a Mr. T. Etheus. Thanks Mr. Etheus for your many suggestions on what could happen to Alfeegi. Unfortunately, none of them are printable, but please, keep trying."
"Thanks also go to a Mr. Illuser for his suggestion that a giant demon eats Alfeegi and that the next story involves a fight between a Dragon Knight and this demon. I like the continuity of your thought, but remember, the following story doesn't have to connect with what goes before."
He grins at the crowd and twirls his bowtie. "It seems that five out of eight readers know more about Alfeegi's love life than I do. Each one of them gets a very blurry photo of what could be Alfeegi and Ruwalk in an intimate embrace, or a hippopotamus, I don't know, there was something on the lens."
"All of which leaves Kurayami Ryuu and Lily of Arc duking it out for the GRAND PRIZE!" Someone in the crowd cheers dully at this. "Who's won? Well, this isn't called Cliff-Hanger Special! for nothing, you know. You'll just have to wait and see." He bows a few times as the curtain rises on chapter 2.
Lykouleon jerked open the door and glowered down at the two preparing to enter their little love nest. Alfeegi hadn't noticed him yet, as he was still staring adoringly at his beloved....
The door shut as quickly as it opened. A mindless Lykouleon dove behind the desk, grabbing open the drawer as he searched frantically for something to fight Alfeegi off with. A ruler, a cannon, something sharp and pointy has to be in here! His maddened search went unrewarded. Desperate, he looked up at the door. Huh? Why is the door still closed? Why hasn't Alfeegi run in to chastise me? Has he gone for reinforcements, or is he going to lock me in? Lykouleon stood, cautiously, his hand still in the drawer. He watched as the handle shuddered, then started to turn. He stood his ground until the door began to creak open, when his nerve failed and he ducked under the desk, again.
"I'm not imagining things, Ruwalk. I'm sure I saw something!" Alfeegi's voice filled the room with foreboding.
"'Feegi," Ruwalk's voice purred. "We're alone, all alone, in Kai-Stern's Office. You don't have to be so formal, now that we've finally got some time together."
"But there's someone here. It could be a ..." His voice was cut off suddenly, then Ruwalk spoke again.
"Look around, it's empty. It's always empty," he said.
"I know, but ..." Alfeegi said, plaintively.
"'Feegi?" Ruwalk said, reproachfully. "I don't really have that much spare time. Someone booked me up this afternoon with meetings."
"I'm sorry, Bear," he answered softly. The next noise could have been a small clap, or an innocent lip lick.
"Rawr", growled Ruwalk. Alfeegi giggled. "That's better." The rustle of clothing and some half muttered words and soft moans entertain the shivering Lykouleon. So that's why he's never available to play Shogi with me at night, anymore. I wonder why they're keeping it a secret. A girlish squeal echoed around the office. If I'm found, I am so dead!
The noises stopped as Ruwalk spoke again. "'Feegi?"
"Hmmm?" he moaned.
"Who's the best looking guy in the castle, after you?" he asked.
"Why it's you, Bear", he laughed.
"I'm even prettier than Lykouleon?" he asked, teasingly.
"Of course, honey. Everyone says that," Alfeegi reassured him.
"And I'm sexier than Lykouleon too, right?" he continues.
You bastard. You know I'm here, don't you? He shuddered, movement rippling down his spine. Oooh, Ruwalk? If I get out of here, without Alfeegi finding me, we will have words. A dragonlord shouldn't have to take this, while he's crouching under his Secretary of Foreign Affair's desk, hoping not to get caught by Alfeegi. I should stand up. I am the Dragonlord after all. Sounds of passion filtered down through the desk. Only, not right now. Lykouleon cowered, as Alfeegi's moans grew louder.
"Ruwalk! Mmmmmm. Lower. Ah!" he gasped. "Are you possessed? You're so..."
"Hmmm?" was the only comment from Ruwalk.
"Ah," he moaned. "I think you're all turned on. Is that it? Do you want me?"
Ruwalk growled and Alfeegi screamed.
What the hell did he do? Lykouleon looked up. I think I need to have a little talk with Ruwalk. Either Alfeegi's really naturally horny, or I could learn a few tricks to use on my own little demon. The desk vibrated. What's happening now? Is someone hitting the desk? I have got to get out of here. I can't sit through this again. Not with these two. I ... He looked down. That can't be good. Think of the mountains of paperwork Alfeegi will saddle me with if he finds me. He waited. That worked. Now, I have to get out of here, while these two are distracted. I can't stay here.
He slowly and carefully crept out from behind the desk. Something soft brushed against his cheek and he shook his head away. He followed the soft thing with his eyes and watched as this unknown item attached itself to the back of Alfeegi's head. Ah. Oh sh... His eyes met Ruwalk's, who was latched onto Alfeegi's neck like a vampire. They closed softly. Good old Ruwalk. Keep Alfeegi distracted for me. As the Dragonlord started to shuffle around the desk, Ruwalk slammed the desk and hauled Alfeegi to his feet. What?! Lykouleon backed under the desk, yet again.
"Ruwie," Alfeegi whined. "Why'd you stop?"
"I want you 'Feeg, but I don't have any stuff with me," he answered.
"What?"
"I didn't think we'd be doing this, babe," he said, his voice muffled slightly. "You said that you were up to your eyes."
"I always say that. Rrrrrrrrrowwwlll!"
"Your room's closer 'Feeg."
Alfeegi sighed. "Do you want me to get anything else? Rope...?"
Ruwalk laughed. "Your choice, babe."
Muffled moans and soft, silky noises trickled back down to Lykouleon until he heard Ruwalk mutter a stern "Alfeegi!" Shortly afterward, he heard the door open and close again and he rolled safely out. Still lying on the floor, he stretched gently. If I was stuck there any longer, I'd be too cramped to do anything but scamper like a deformed monkey. "Thank you, Ruwalk," he said.
Ruwalk's face appeared over the desk. "Why Lykouleon!" he laughed. "What on dusis are you doing under that desk? You just missed Alfeegi. Is something wrong? Can you get up?"
Lykouleon rose and hugged his friend. "Thank you. That could have gone all kinds of ugly. Err." As he stepped back his eyes turned to Ruwalk's messy hair, his open shirt, the teethmarks on his chest?
"Well," he said, still smiling. "I couldn't let Raseleane be found in a state of undress by Alfeegi. Is she going to come out now, or shall we continue the pretence?"
"Raseleane?" he said.
"Yes. She is here with you, isn't she?" His eyes lowered, his smile faded. "Why else would you hide out in Kai-Stern's office, but for some quiet and exciting time with the woman you're married to?" Ruwalk's voice grew cold as he continued to speak.
"Ah, err. Yes," Lykouleon stuttered.
"Lykouleon. Just who were you meeting with?"
"Um, no-one. You see."
"Please," Ruwalk snorted. "I have a nose, I know what was going on in here." The Dragonlord looked up startled, as he continued. "I saved you from Alfeegi, but that's only because I didn't think that you were doing the dirty on Raseleane. You're the Dragonlord, for crying out loud. How could you? She's such a sweet girl and she's been through too much for you to go and do this."
"Now wait a second!" Lykouleon raised his hands and pushed Ruwalk back from him. "There was some stuff going on in here, but I wasn't involved."
"You mean to tell me that two people were having sex in here, while the Dragonlord stood by, innocently doing his paperwork?"
"Yes, but replace "did his paperwork" with cowered and I happened to be under the desk," he said, coughing occasionally.
"Under the desk?" Ruwalk asked.
"Yes," Lykouleon answered.
"How'd that happen?" he asked.
"I didn't want to be disturbed as I was walking to, uh, do some paperwork. I just ducked in here when I heard someone coming."
"So you hid in here?" Ruwalk started to laugh as his old friend nodded. "Hadn't you heard what Kai-Stern's Office is used for?"
"Does everyone use it?"
"You're quite possibly the only one that hasn't!" he told Lykouleon, who sighed.
"I wanted to save some time, but I've ended up hearing things that an involved man is not supposed to hear and getting delayed," he said.
"What exactly are you up to?" Ruwalk probed.
"Just a small nap. I'm overtired," he lied.
"We're pretty far from your rooms, Lykouleon," Ruwalk said lightly.
"I'll explain everything when I get back. Just trust your old friend. I need to get out of here quickly," he pleaded.
"Okay," Ruwalk said. "But I want to hear everything."
"As do I, my friend," Lykouleon said as he elbowed his friend in the ribs. "You just get back to business with your secret lover, you lucky dog. Alfeegi, eh? I'd never have guessed, if I hadn't heard your moans."
Ruwalk blushed, ducked his head and walked to the door. Lykouleon laughed as he opened it wide and continued to giggle as Ruwalk pushed him outside.
"Dragonlord?"
Lykouleon span on his heel. Alfeegi stood before him, some objects obviously hidden under the coat in his hands. His face was still flushed from a frantic run and the happy glow was fading, as he considered the man in front of him. "What are you doing here, my lord?"
"Err."
Alfeegi looked at the door beside him, his face hardening. He looked down at the coat, then glared at his lord. "You wait right here." He flung open the door. "Ruwalk! What was the Dragonlord doing here? Hold this! I'll be right back." He walked in and threw the coat at his lover, then sternly marched back to the settling dust, where the Dragonlord used to be. "Dragonlord?! Aw fuck, he got away again? That's what he thinks."
Alfeegi's eyes narrowed and he glared at the Dragonlord's disappearing back.
"Boys? Hunt him down!"
"Aaaaaaaaaand cut!"
The cheesy host jumps onto the stage again. "How was that? I wonder what Alfeegi has in store for our luckless lord. Will he escape to victory, or is he stuck mining paper for all eternity?"
He walks over to a table with a large placard with GRAND PRIZE written on it. His smile falters a little as he opens the envelope.
"Our GRAND PRIZE goes to Kurayami Ryuu and Lily of Arc, both of whose suggestions were used in the story. Unfortunately, the GRAND PRIZE of one tattoo of yours truly, generously offered by our sponsors, Pete's House of PAIN!, is something that we can't really split in two. Hmm. I know, I'll offer each of you, one evening with yours truly! I'll joke, entertain and bring the gift of joy to you and a select group of friends, from six 'till late, one night only."
A low voice interjects. "'Till late" is not to last beyond eleven o'clock. Meal to be included. All events are at the expense of the prize winner, including travel of the Cheesy Host."
The host gurns at the camera again. "Just give me a preferred date and I'll see what I can do."
His stomach rumbles as the camera fades out.
"Oh yes, don't forget! Tune into the next episode of Cliff-Hanger Special! What happens? You decide!"
