I think you all know who this is by now--Vyctori, of course! Sorry about the delay between chapters. Prince Suzaku was quite busy. This is his chapter, by the way. Apologies from both of us to those of you who were waiting (if anyone was waiting...).

The reviewers...

Yoshimi Takahashi: Ah, my faithful reader. Thanks for being one of my best supporters! I really appreciate when you demonstrate what you find interesting/amusing/whatever...it makes it that much easier for me to write my chapters. Thanks for the compliments, and no, Agatio never can catch a break! ^_^

man: "..." Okay, no offence, but that was completely pointless. If you're going to take the time to review, at least say something that either butters me up or helps me improve the story, all right?

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Whee! We've doubled the amount of reviews from the last chapter! One seems to have mysteriously vanished, though... # Anyway, here's Prince Suzaku with Chapter Three!

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Chapter 3

The flow of time is always cruel.
Its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it.
A thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days...
-Minuet of Forest

As the chilling night gave way to a glorious morning, the forest burst forth with renewed vigor. The sunlight flooded the trees, which blocked the light from waking up those still asleep. And amidst these excited surroundings were the group of Karst, Agatio and Alex, plus their new ally, one Ryou Hattori, traveling in their quest to save Prox from the wrath of an unreleased Alchemy. During their travels, aside from vanquishing deadly monsters, the three would talk about their respective travels and other small talk, Alex remaining in character as the seemingly "cold fish."

A cool breeze greeted the foursome as they came across a wide lake. The crystalline waters seemed to revive those simply gazing into its unfathomable depths, and the soft grass and blossoming flowers seemed to add onto the landscape. The whole scene radiated a gentle calm that Ryou and his friends couldn't help but enjoy. So stopping for a break and a nap, the Water and Fire Adepts took a break from their travels, sensing they'd be in the next town by nightfall.

Karst and Agatio were feeling sleepy, so they decided to rest up a bit before heading to the next town. Agatio was rolling about in his slumber, forming a small cloud of dust. The burly fighter was tossing and turning, mumbling something about Saturos and the theft of cookies. Alex was reflecting onto the waters, a slight sliver of a smile possessing him as he thought of things and people of long ago. And Karst was asleep, softly breathing with a strand of silken crimson hair falling over her face. Her face was locked in the peaceful gaze of sleeping mortals, her mouth etched in a feather-soft smile.

Karst looks a great deal different when asleep, thought Ryou. She looks like an angel. Yeah, angel wings. That'd be perfect...

At the present moment, Ryou was sketching Karst in her sleep, adding another to a large book of drawings. With the perfected grace of a master and the watchful eye of a novice, he copied each detail with the greatest care. The stray hair over her eyes, the eyelashes, the angle at which her head was and the heavenly smile…all was captured in immortal time. Using some paints he purchased a while ago, he gave the gift of color to his drawing, using them to trace the angel wings with such delicacy that one would be hard-pressed to find them at all. Satisfied with his drawing, he placed his name in the bottom right-hand corner.

"This drawing is excellent, Ryou."

Startled, the white-haired Water Adept turned around to find Alex standing over him, viewing his work.

"Hasn't anyone told you it's impolite to look over one's shoulder?" questioned Ryou.

"Well it can't be helped. It's quite difficult to tear yourself away from pictures of utter brilliance," replied Alex.

"Thanks...I guess."

Alex then sat next to Ryou and coolly asked him, "So how long have you known Agatio and Karst?"

Taken aback by that question, he stated, "I've known her for about fourteen years. I used to play with her, Saturos, Menardi, and Agatio all the time in Prox."

Sensing that Ryou was growing a tad uncomfortable with the subject, Alex tactfully went on to another question.

"So you like to draw." It was really more of a statement than an inquiry.

Ryou gave a small shrug. "It's a hobby of mine. I just like to draw beautiful things."

Alex then raised an aqua eyebrow, about to ask why he chose to sketch the female Mars Adept. Through he decided to not utter a word, the look on his face spoke volumes.

Ryou then handed the book to him, allowing him to view the contents within.

The first part of the book was a treasure chest of beautiful landscapes, ranging from the crystalline arctic, to the harsh mountains, the calm sea, the impressive plains and even a raging inferno. Clearly, these were the lands Ryou has visited. The book then revealed the faces of many different people, including two young men, one much taller and more serious than his younger counterpart, with scarlet, golden and black hair wearing the same pendent Ryou possesses. There was also a sword-wielding, tall brunette with the coldest blue eyes of all, and a young redhead holding a polished rose in her hands. He also viewed delicate pictures drawn of Saturos, Menardi, Karst and Agatio as little ones. They were playing games and sparring with that golden innocence that young ones possess before life rears its ugly head.

The one Alex couldn't take his eyes off of was the self-portrait of Ryou in an angel's garb. His soft brown eyes were cast with a joyful somberness, while his mouth held the dreamy smile of a sad clown. The left side of his face was bathed in light and held an angel's wing, while his right bore a demon's appendage, which drove away the radiance and left him cloaked in shadow. The picture looked beautiful, yet horrifying, drawn with such a magnificent sadness that the frosty Alex choked back a tear.

"I see you enjoy that one. For some reason, I just get a chill whenever I see it."

"Whenever you see what?" asked a still sleepy Karst.

"Ahh!" screamed Ryou, caught unawares, noticing that Alex has teleported away to give them some privacy. "Um…nothing."

Deciding to stray off the subject for now, Karst then talked to Ryou about something she thought about when asleep.

"During our duel last night, you said you had your power on par with mine, am I right?"

Ryou hesitated a bit before answering, "Yes, I did."

"And you know I wasn't at my best, right?"

Curious as to where she was going with this, the white-haired Adept said, "I had a hunch. If you were, at the level I was at, I wouldn't have stood a chance."

"Well then," stated Karst, "I want to fight you again. But this time, let's not use our Psynergies to fight. It'll be my scythe versus your Tensuiga. I know you're stronger than what I saw yesterday. After all, when I defeat my opponents, I want them at their best," she ended, a teasing smirk on her face.

Knowing this was one of those situations where you're given a choice, but you really don't have one, Ryou accepted. Intent on countering her remarks, he stated, "Fine then. It would be a pleasure to duel you again, my dear. Perhaps this time, you'll actually give me a decent struggle."

The Mars Adept narrowed her scarlet eyes. "And what is that supposed to mean, Ryou?"

"Well," he started, drawing his Tensuiga, "I just thought that a 'master Mars Adept' would be stronger than what you showed me yesterday. I could have evaded all of those swipes blindfolded." Then, he delivered the verbal coup de grace with "Overall, not too bad...for a girl."

Those who know Karst realize they shouldn't say certain things about or around her person. Her naturally fiery personality, the deadly flames she controls and the bloodline she carries combine to give her a somewhat volatile temper, with a few things setting her off in a fearsome blaze of carnage, number one being those who say that she (and women in general) can't be as great as warriors as men.

And Ryou knew that.

With a silkily sweet smile and vicious fire burning in her eyes, the female Proxian delivered a terrible slash to Ryou, which he deftly blocked using his blade. With an enraged yell, she dove at him, using her greater strength and technique to strike him. But whereas Karst was stronger, Ryou was faster, evading her blows with relative ease, parrying those he couldn't avoid.

Somehow, though, he couldn't help but notice the beauty of her rose-colored eyes, something he never noticed before and shouldn't have now that Karst was busy trying to spit him. For all of her outward fury, Karst was simply out for revenge. For now, she had Ryou just where she wanted him...

On the edge of the lake.

Ryou back up more and more, trying to get away from this madwoman. Her eyes glittering with fury and hands ablaze with fire, Karst looked ready to kill. And though he knew she'd never kill him, Ryou thought, that didn't mean she couldn't maim him a bit. He was about ready to apologize for his jests when the back of his boots felt water. He then realized what was about to happen, but it was too late.

With a slow, steady movement, Karst walked up to him and then pushed him into the water. He went down for a moment or two, then came back up, his white hair plastered to him in odd places. His face was covered with an annoyed expression, which became more so watching Karst shaking her head and laughing her head off.

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Vyctori: *giggles* Whoops, Ryou ended up swimming with the fishies!

Menardi: Yay, sis! Now, don't forget to review--and don't review pointlessly, because it doesn't exactly amuse me.

Vyctori: Impress us, readers, with your verbal talents! ^_^