Time for another really long chapter. I've been kinda lazy, taking it easy now that summer started, and I kinda had a writer's block. SO that's with the long delay... I've also been busy trying to revise all of my story and replacing the revised chapters up. But anyway, thank you to all my reviewers, and here's another chapter!
Bittersweet Sword: Chapter 7-Thatz's Thoughts
I sat in my chair sullenly, watching Kitchel play with a stray kitten outside the castle. We were a bit outside the downtown area, where things weren't so crowded, but we still had the pleasure of human company were we to need it.
"Kitchel. I'm going into the Master's bar," I told her quietly. She looked up, picked up the kitten and walked behind me, "I don't think he'd appreciate you brining that in."
"I don't care," she mumbled. We were both in a bad mood. Hardly surprising. The whole castle was in the dumps, so to speak. No one was cheerful; Rath's death really had affected all of us. We both needed a break, so we came here. But as I had found out rather quickly, it hadn't helped. I was just reminded of all the times I had walked through these streets out on a mission with Rune and Rath. My two best friends really, after Kitchel. Kitchel... was a friend. That was all she was. I had never slept with her, though we'd slept in the same bed. The night Rath had died had been one of those. We had sought each other more for comfort than for feelings for each other. She knew it, I knew it. She really was after Tetheus. I was... after someone else. Someone whom I thought I'd never get close to. But it didn't hurt to dream, and I couldn't help but hope that someday we'd hit it. How I'd wanted to wrap my arms around her when she'd cried. But at the moment, I'd been busy with Kitchel and Rune.
I sighed, walking into Master's bar. He saw us, and immediately came over, seeing that something was wrong. He eyed the kitten disapprovingly, but kept quiet.
"What happened? You look like someone died."
I almost laughed bitterly, "Yeah, that's exactly what happened."
He looked shocked, and I wondered if it had anything to do with the expression on my face. I guessed not many people were used to seeing me in a bad mood, or bitter. But there was so much to Rath's death...
"Who...?" he offered us chairs and motioned for one of the waiters to bring wine.
"Rath."
"The fire knight?"
Kitchel nodded and took over, letting me lean my head heavily on my crossed arms on the table, "He... killed himself."
"What drove him to do that?" The master may have known most of the secrets and gossip of Dusis, but he knew nothing of Rath's pain.
"Did you know..." I began, "Did you know that he was the demon that killed all the faeries, the wild youkai that destroyed most of Dusis?"
I don't think Kitchel knew that. Master, of course, didn't. They both stared at me. I could see disbelief, fear, and from Kitchel, betrayal.
"You're kidding... but that doesn't make sense..." Kitchel muttered.
"Sure it does. According to Tetheus, he was that demon. They were sent to kill it, but... for some reason they didn't and the Lord turned him into... Rath."
"You mean he's been a demon this whole time? He could have killed us all!" Kitchel's hands shook slightly and the kitten meowed unnoticed. Master kept quiet, looking thoughtful.
"No... I don't think so. He killed himself in the end, not us. He was scared of himself. He wouldn't try to use those powers... because he was scared of them," I said. It was true... I tried to hold tears back. His story was so painful... it was no wonder... with all that on his mind, it was no wonder he'd killed himself. What I wondered was why he hadn't done it before.
"Well, the Lord would know best. He must have had a reason for bringing in a demon like him into the Dragon Tribe," Master reasoned. I nodded.
"Yeah. He was a pretty strong guy. I think he was... a sharp knife in the Dragon's hands. And I think that was part of Rath's pain... I remember him... once, talking to the Lord. He got mad at him and told him that he wasn't their toy, to stop coddling him. I'm sure he was a big part of their plans... in fact, he was the Lord's successor. So Nadil said," I added as they both gasped.
"How? He wasn't related to the Dragon Lord," Master asked.
"I don't know. But Nadil said that Rath was the heir to the throne. So... now that he's gone, so is the only person who could succeed the Dragon Tribe. I don't know what this does to their plans, but I'm sure it's the least of their worries. I think the Dragon Lord was genuinely sad over Rath's death," I sighed heavily again, "We all are..."
"How... did you find out about him being a demon?" Kitchel scratched the kitten's ears distractedly.
"Ha, I asked him about it. I made him tell me. I shouldn't have... I saw how hard it was for him to accept it... but I pushed him to tell me," I cursed at myself. Why did I do that? I now knew the error I had caused by making him tell me. Maybe that was the reason that he didn't like me so much anymore. He loved Rune. More like a brother, I think, since he had Kaistern, and before that, Cesia. But he never was all that fond of me. Not like he was of the others I guessed. I recalled forcing him to tell me about it. Before I'd made him tell me, he'd like me just as much as Rune, well, not quite as much, there was just something that drew you to Rune, but at least we were still really good friends. After that... he'd dwindled farther and farther away, and I wished I hadn't made him tell me.
"Demons again? I'm tired Rath," I glared at him. He smiled brightly."But they're so fun to kill!"
"What are you talking about? It's gross, and mean, and dangerous, and requires too much effort."
"That's just cause you hate doing anything that requires effort," I jumped as I heard Rune come up behind me.
"Yeah, so? How would you rather make money, the hard way or easy way?"
"The most honorable way," he answered and I almost bristled. This guy was so conceited and goody-goody kinda guy. Jeez. Of course, at the time, I didn't know he was: a. an elf, b. a prince, or c. a loyal friend. He was just a pain in the butt.
"You're just a girly guy," I sneered good-naturedly.
"What?" he bristled, obviously insulted.
"Uh-oh. He's gonna get mad..." Rath warned me. I gulped.
"Sorry, Rune, peace?"
"Hmph. Fine," the elf turned his head away and walked off.
"So... why do you like killing demons so much?" I asked. A strange look passed by his eyes. This little kid was so strange.
"Why...? Because... they made me suffer..."
"Suffer? Did they kill your family?" I asked.
"No... they killed me... they created me..."
"Okay, now you're talking nonsense. Demons made you and killed you. Right. Then why are you alive?"
"Because... Lord Lykouleon. I'm dead. I've never been alive," the little kid muttered, pulling at his hands nervously. He looked like he was about to burst into tears.
"Whoa, whoa, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry!" I knelt by him and hugged him. Rune came back, seeing Rath's face, and broke into a run.
"Rath! What happened?" he asked me.
"I don't know, I asked him about why he likes killing demons and then he said all this weird stuff and started to cry!"
Rune sighed and took Rath from my hands. They were both so young. Rune only looked a couple years older than Rath, and about as innocent and cute too. The little fire knight was just a little boy. No more than ten years old. I almost giggled. Rune looked like he was Rath's mother. Not cause he looked like Rath, but simply because he looked like a girl, and was hugging Rath so protectively.
"Why don't you go to sleep for a while, until you feel better," Rune suggested to the distressed boy.
"But.. but I can't! I have to go... into the garden," he pointed towards the deep garden and Rune sighed.
"Alright. Will you let me come this time?"
"No. You can't come..." Rath shook his head. I wondered what he meant.
"Alright... but be careful in there."
"You wouldn't care... not if you knew..." Rath mumbled. Rune frowned.
"Of course I would care if you got hurt. If I knew what?"
"Nothing..." Rath looked like he was about to cry again and ran off into the gardens.
"What was that about?" I asked curiously. Rune sat down and put his head in his hands.
"I don't know... he's been acting so strange ever since... he went off demon hunting by himself one day... a bit before you got here... and he was only lost for a day. He came back fine and all. Well... at least, I think. He was healthy. But he began acting weird. He used to be much friendlier and sweeter than now. He's gotten kinda distant, and he says all this strange stuff, and just bursts out crying randomly. And his passion for hunting demons... it's like it's become something personal. It used to be just for fun, and he did it cause he was good at it. But now... it's like he hunts viciously, with a vendetta."
"Revenge for what?"
"I don't know... Kaistern said he met up with a demon in the mountain, so maybe... maybe the demon hurt him emotionally. I think it was something it may have said. I don't know... but he's not been the same. I'm worried."
I tried to take it all in. I was immensely curious. Being a thief naturally made you curious about everything. Man, Rune had said that Rath was inquisitive, but I bet I could top that every one in a while. What could have happened to the kid that could have had such an impact on him? And what was this deal with the demons? I vowed to myself that I would find out, not knowing the permanent effects of what I was about to do.
OOO
"Hey, Ruwalk, what's the deal with Rath?"
"What about him?"
"Why does he like to kill demons?" I watched Ruwalk closely. I'd asked Cernozura the same question, and she had gotten so nervous she'd dropped the plate she was holding. Now as I watched Ruwalk, I saw him gulp and his hands moved to his chest.
"I don't know. I think he hates them."
"Why does he hate them?"
"Um... well, it's a long story."
"Was it because of something a demon said to him?"
Ruwalk looked at me, startled, "Well, yeah I guess..."
"Did the demon hurt him... emotionally?"
"Well... yeah, but not cause of what he did to him..."
"Then why?"
"Um, well, like I said, it's a long story," the yellow secretary excused himself, muttering something.
"Hm..." my gears were working, hard. So... this kid obviously found out something, or was said something, which had a big effect on him. I tried to think back to what he'd said. I wondered if he was talking about emotions when he said he was dead and never was alive. Maybe he wasn't talking about physical death. Created by a demon... alive because of Lykouleon... so... maybe he was created by a demon, and then he was about to be killed... and Lykouleon saved him? And then... we wouldn't care about him if we knew... knew what? What the demon had said? If we knew the truth... about him? Wow... this was some pretty heavy stuff for a little kid to know. I needed more evidence, I thought as I swung a pendant around my finger, heading to the hall to get food.
OOO
"Kaistern, what happened to Rath when he went demon hunting in some mountains and then some demon found him and told him something?"
Kaistern almost choked on his food, "Where did you find out about that?"
"Oh, here and there," I tried to act innocent. I doubted it worked cause the blue officer gave me an odd look. I needed to get lessons from Rath.
"There's some stuff there that you shouldn't know."
"What's the big issue? Is it about his past?" It was a wild guess, but it seemed to have struck its mark. Kaistern looked pained as he folded his hands and rested his chin on them.
"Rath's past is very painful for him... I don't think you should pry into it. He wouldn't like it at all."
That only made me more curious, "I don't care about what he did... or what he was. I just wanted to know," I ran off, not caring to hear the answer to that. I was starting to wonder if maybe I shouldn't find out about Rath, but then I reminded myself about my promise and I knew I had to try.
OOO
"Alfeegi, did Rath do something bad when he was little?"
"Yeah, a lot. He was always playing tricks on us," the secretary missed my meaning completely. I frowned.
"Now he's stopped..." I said and the secretary didn't look all that grateful to that fact.
"Was he a dragon originally?" I asked again.
Alfeegi gave me a strange look, "No. He wasn't. But that's none of your business. Go ask him yourself if you want to know about him."
"Fine, I will."
"Uh-uh, you've got studies to do right now," Alfeegi pulled me by the collar of my shirt. I gagged and tried to struggle free, but I was caught in the deadly grasp of the evil secretary.
OOO
Over the next couple years, there were several instances that clued me in, and only made sense with one answer. Some were obvious, others took a little more thinking. The dragon tribe seemed to be very over protective of Rath... and seemed to get very nervous when he went doing things by himself, or fought demons that were high up in Nadil's regiment. It didn't take long for me to figure it all out, considering that they didn't hide it very well. And once I figured it out, it all made sense. All the strange comments, all the restrictions they put on him, all of his habits, their reactions, the amulet he wore on his neck. Rath Illuser was a demon. That was what he had found out in the mountain.
How could a kid like him be a powerful, deadly vicious demon? Oh well, it didn't seem like he was all that dangerous. I mean, if he were, they would have never let him in the castle like that. And he was a knight. I did wonder what kind of demon he was. Well, it couldn't be something all that bad, or well, they would have killed him. And of course, throughout this time I'd gotten to know Rath and Rune very well. They were my best friends, and well, of course we spent a lot of time together, being sent of missions and everything all over Dusis. Of course, now all that was left was finding the proof. All I had so far was out of intuition or simply inferences. The proof was simple. All I needed was to corner him into admitting it. It was after Bierrez's first appearance that I finally got all the evidence, and my curiosity was sparked again enough for me to finally make him tell me.
OOO
"I'm so tired of lessons... I'd rather be outside than in there with Alfeegi hounding me..." Rath sprang out of the library that served as our prison room as we were taught all we needed to know to be proper dragon knights. Rath knew most of it, so he just read some books and stuff, or was assigned higher-level stuff by Alfeegi. Rune soaked it all up, paying attention like this was a pep rally or something and Alfeegi was a god or something. I didn't really pay attention. Studying had never been my main subject unless it included treasures. Plus, we'd been doing this for years.
Rune yawned and rubbed his eyes in that adorable fashion of his, "We have to pay attention if we want to be good dragon knights. You should pay attention Thatz, or else you'll disgrace the His Highness and everyone else who's counting on you."
"Which in my case is no one," I grinned, "I got zero pressure."
"Lucky you. I have expectations to live up... and things to fulfill..." he said somberly. Rath bounded up behind him, hugging him tightly.
"Aw c'mon Rune, don't get all mopey again. Here," he gave him a wilted flower, but this just seemed to distress the water knight further.
"I'm going back inside, I'm tired," he finally said after crushing the flower in his hands.
"What's his problem again?" I asked, but I knew the reason Rune had gotten even more troubled when Rath gave him the wilted flower was because he was trying to gain back his elfin healing powers, and his meditations still hadn't proven fruitful.
"I kept him up all night, so he's tired," Rath giggled.
"All night? What were you doing last night?"
"Secret," the fire knight giggled more. I grinned devilishly and backed him up to the wall, putting my fists on both sides of his head.
"Speaking of secrets, I hear you have one of your own."
"What do you mean?" his eyes darkened, but I didn't see the unease in them.
"You tell me. I know you have a big secret, one even Rune doesn't know about," I didn't see his hands start trembling, but I noticed his breathing speeding up and could feel his heart race as I placed my hand over his heart.
"I can't tell you! I can't!" he pleaded with me, and I was about to back up, but then I reminded myself of my oath. And there was no way that it was so bad a secret that he couldn't tell me. Being a demon wasn't all that bad of a thing. And really, it's not like he could have possibly been some sort of horrible demon who could destroy the whole world or something, he was just a little kid.
"What if I already know?" Rath's eyes widened and he gasped, his body paralyzed.
"What do you know?" he whispered and gulped.
"That you used to be a demon. Am I correct?"
His pose turned defiant, but underneath I could see the distress I had caused, "Yeah, I am. You got a problem with that? I'll kill you if you tell anyone."
I backed off immediately and then shrugged and smirked, "As you wish. I won't tell anyone... who doesn't already know. But it's not that big a deal. That means that you're evenly matched against Bierrez. And I mean, you were just a yokai, it's not like you were like that really bad one years ago that destroyed half the continent."
Rath stiffened and ran off, giving me daggers for a look.
"Ah whoops, maybe I touched a bit of a sensitive spot. Oh well, I don't see why he's all worked up. Maybe I was a bit too aggressive..." I shrugged again and headed over to the fighter's guild, stretching my pockets out to make sure they'd be able to hold all the money I was sure to make gambling. If Alfeegi didn't find me first.
OOO
The there'd been the first time I met Rune and Rath...
"Here are the quarters where you will reside. The other knights' quarters are here as well..." Alfeegi opened the door for the ex-thief, ushering him inside.
"Wow, you guys live in style!"
"It is a castle. And this is royalty. You're lucky to be here," the white secretary huffed.
"Chill, I get it. So... when do I get to meet everyone?"
"If by everyone you mean the rest of the officers, I don't know. You'll be seeing a lot of Ruwalk and me around, and the queen you've met already. The other two officers make themselves scarce around here..." Alfeegi didn't look too pleased when he said that, "Kaistern's traveling, and Tetheus keeps to himself. If by everyone you mean the other two knights, I believe Rune is with Rath. They're down in the gardens... I think."
"Sweet, well, I think I'm going to have some bonding time with Earth, and um, I'll meet the other two knights later."
"Hm, well, tomorrow your training begins, as well as your lessons in proper knighthood."
"What?"
"Good bye," he turned and walked down the hall, his quick footsteps making a steady rhythm until they disappeared.
"Aw man... oh well, I guess everything comes with a price, including luxury," I sighed and made myself comfortable in my new quarters.
OOO
I headed down to the gardens, eager to meet my new companions. Turning a corner, I almost ran into a pair of figures and backed up.
"Um, hello," I said, trying to get past them.
"Hey! Are you the new knight?" the shorter one of the two bounded up to me, taking a sharp hold of my arm.
"Uh, yeah, I'm Thatz, and I'm trying to find the other two knights," I said, trying to pry off the little kid from my arm.
"Well, you found them," the taller blonde answered, giggling.
"Are you one?" I pointed at him and he nodded.
"I'm Rune," he said, bowing slightly, and he opened his mouth t speak again but the little red haired kind interrupted him.
"And I'm Rath!"
"Wait," my mouth fell open, "You're Rath? You're the other knight? But you're just a little kid!"
"Yeah," he laughed, hugging me tighter. Rune laughed as well.
"Yeah, that's Rath. He's a little hyper at the moment, but you'll get used to him."
"Hey, what do you mean by that Rune?" Rath asked indignantly. Rune shrugged, smiling.
"Well then, um, hello," I said, and Rath turned to look at me again.
"Welcome to the dragon castle, I'm glad to have someone else to play with, Rune's boring," the little kid grinned at Rune's indignant yelp. But then his tone turned serious, "Although the dragon castle isn't all that great a place."
"Rath!" Rune pulled a cord out of nowhere, and a huge sign saying 'Rudeness: 500' fell on Rath, "Excuse him, he's been acting weird lately."
"I have a reason," Rath said darkly.
"And that would be?" I prompted, curious.
"Can't tell," he said cheerfully. I backed off, hadn't this kid been all moody and dark a second ago, and now he was al cheery again?
"You're odd," I pointed at him.
"I know. I'm way different than you. Or Rune, or anyone else in the dragon castle."
"Anyway, is there a food hall around here?"
"Yeah, let me show you the way," Rath took my hand and led me forcefully down the halls. I had no idea how much I'd grow to love him.
shouldn't years"Thatz? It's getting dark, let's go," Kitchel nudged me and I found that I had been half dozing as I thought. I struggled up, and saw that it was nowhere near dark. She just wanted to get home, most likely to retreat to Tetheus or something.
She looked at me sympathetically and wrapped an arm around me and I just raised my eyebrow at her and she smiled very slightly, very sadly, "Oh Thatz, you were crying..."
I lifted my hand to touch my cheek and was surprised to find it soft and damp. So I had been crying. Crying for someone that didn't like me because I had pushed the dagger of truth further into his soul. The way he'd gotten so close to Cesia and Rune, it made me wonder if he simply got closer to people who didn't know his secret because he didn't feel like a murderer when he talked to them, because they didn't think he was one. They just had known him as Rath, and so he didn't feel self-conscious in their midst. Just another point as to how childish he was. So self-conscious, afraid of what people were thinking of him all the time. But he had a reason. A very strong, devastating reason, and I wondered how hard it must have been for him to realize when someone knew about him, that he had lost a friend. Because as it seemed, he didn't seem to think that anyone who knew of his past could possibly be his friend whole-heartedly without harboring some sort of fear. In a way it was true, though Rune and I had tried our best to dissipate that fact. But we could never help but dread the day that might come if his demon side was ever liberated again and the terrible demon was set loose to wreak havoc again. It was hard to keep your mind from thinking that in the middle of the night, at that time when the shadows took over you heart and tried to force you to feel fear, to think of death.
And must have known that feeling so well, to think that others could possibly think of that enough to obstruct their friendship with him. How many times had he lain in bed, thinking, contemplating about his life, about his death, about what he represented, the death of many, the life of the death harbinger. Did he ever think about what other people thought of his demon side as they lay awake at night? Was he haunted nightly by memories that were burnt into his eyes every time he closed his eyes, every time he blinked? Was the fear and guilt of what he had done enough to immobilize him. He'd looked like a fallen angel at my feet, the day he died. A fallen angel, pale as death, for he was dead, he was death, but he was the representative of life, of second chances, and of guilt, forgiveness, sin and creation. The angel of darkness, trying his hardest to vanquish his darkness with a light from his heart, but his heart would not unthaw, would not let go of the darkness, the cold, the fear and hatred, the betrayal. He held on, much as he tried to dispel it, much as his outward nature of goodness and light tried to break free, to release the darkness, but it never happened. He gave in to the pain, after he hid from it, he ran from it, but it caught up with him nonetheless, and choked him, swallowed him, destroyed him until he gave in... and died.
I tried to hide the shaking of my hands from Kitchel by shoving them in my pocket and swiftly striding out of the bar. I heard her footsteps behind mine, and dreaded what the next words out of her mouth would be.
"Why didn't anyone ever tell me he was a youkai?"
"Why do you think?"
"I don't know. Didn't I deserve to know that I was living amongst a blood thirsty youkai?"
I whirled upon her, feeling anger coursing through me, "Don't you get it? That's NOT what he was! I mean, he was that, but they're different! Rath and that youkai are completely different people; they're just in the same body! Rath didn't even know he was a youkai until someone told him! Rath wasn't evil, and he wasn't bloodthirsty!"
"What are you talking about? Wasn't he always after killing demons? How do you know he wouldn't have come after us someday if he turned crazy or something?"
"He was after demons! He was a really caring guy inside! He would have never hurt us if he didn't have a reason! And he killed himself, not us! Get it through your head, he wasn't evil or bloodthirsty and it wasn't his fault that he was a demon in the first place!" I panted, relieved I'd gotten that out. I'd never realty fought with Kitchel like this before, I mean if we fought it was over something stupid, money, her being annoying, but never over someone, or something serious like this.
"Well, I still think I should have known about it..." she muttered, giving me a wary look. This was the first time we'd had an argument like this, and I guess she wasn't feeling charitable towards me.
"He didn't want you to know about it... he didn't want anyone to know about it, since he didn't even understand himself, and he was scared," I looked down and began walking again. I looked up momentarily into Kitchel's apologizing green eyes as I felt her fingers intertwine with mine and squeeze reassuringly. I turned my head away to hide the watering of my eyes as I remembered an instance like this...
I put my head in my hands, trying to feign sleep as I heard Rath and Rune arguing above me. I really didn't feel like straying into their conversation and then not being able to wander out, even though I was very good at that. As their volume became unbearable I sighed and stood up, walking out of Rune's room without a word. Interestingly enough, they paid more attention to me when I did announce my departures and arrivals than when I didn't. Immediately, they stopped and stared at me."What?" Rath asked, blinking his huge red eyes.
"What?" I didn't look at him as I opened the door.
"Why are you leaving?"
"Cause I don't feel like listening to you two yell at each other all day," I shrugged and closed the door behind him.
"I think he's in a bad mood," I heard Rune say. In truth, I was. I was just feeling a bit lazy, and yeah, maybe I was in a bit of bad mood, but hey, who said I had to cheerful all the time?
It was cold, and I hugged the gray cloak around my shoulders as I familiarized myself with the dark hallways of the palace, lit only with torches on this cold November afternoon, the sky visible every once in a while from some open door leading into a dark room illuminated from a window by the cloudy day. It'd only been a couple months since I'd moved into the dragon castle, and though we'd gone on one or two short missions, the time was spent in the castle. A castle in which I spent my time with a psycho demon killer, a goody-two-shoes stuck up blonde, and myself. Not that I had anything against them actually, I was just feeling a bit resentful. Life had been quite easy before I'd come here. Well, not really, thieving wasn't an easy job, and neither was living on the streets. But it'd been simpler. Find food, then sleep wherever you could. And have fun, take it easy. Life here was... more complicated. Sure, being a thief also made you a great adapter, but it'd still been hard to get used to this place. I mean, the lessons, the people. The new way of life and thinking. I'd tried to show the other two knights a little of what my easy life had been like, but Rune had firmly stood up to me, and Rath hadn't had a clue what I was talking about. He was all about demons. And sometimes, or well, all the time, Rune would glare at me simply because of the way I was and had grown up like. And Rath didn't understand me either. Alfeegi yelled at me, and so did Rune. Actually, Rune and Alfeegi pretty much were the same. I felt like no one understood me. All this time. I needed to get out of here, even for a little while, I felt trapped, suffocated by the darkness, the walls, when before I had been free to do as I wished. Maybe I simply was homesick for a place that wasn't even technically a home.
I tripped, suddenly realizing my feet were numb, as were my lips and hands. I shut my eyes, knowing it was completely useless to flail around and try to break my fall since my arms were pretty much wrapped around myself and they'd take too long to get in front of me. I wondered for a split second why I wasn't feeling a sudden burst of pain and a cold hard surface on my face, then realized I felt instead that there was something supporting me. I opened my eyes to meet a pair of red ones, blue ones not far behind.
"Um, hi. Didn't know I was being followed," I muttered.
"Hey, I just kept you from a rather painful fall and this is how you thank me?" Rath pouted and Rune stepped up, placing his hand on my cheek and then my forehead.
"Are you sick?" he asked, concern softening his voice.
I pulled away slightly, feeling a slight blush creeping up on my face at all the attention, "No, I'm good. I'm just..."
"What?" Rath prompted, leading me into the nearest room and forcing me down, though I was only too happy to comply, after brushing off a thick layer of dust and taking a place on my side. Rune sneezed, sitting down next to me also.
"Can't we go down? I'm allergic to dust... There's no dust where I come from..."
"Probably because if your family keeps their place like you keep your room, dust doesn't stand a chance with you," I said, feeling my mood lighten just being in their caring presence.
"Maybe..." Rune sneezed then smiled a bit.
"So... Thatz, what's wrong?" Rath pressed.
I shrugged, "Maybe I'm just feeling a bit homesick," I was surprised to feel both Rath and Rune shift closer to me as if trying to comfort me. Rune sneezed a couple more times in a row and sniffled a bit. He looked up at me, taking a hold of my arm and wrapping his arms around it.
"Home?" Rath asked slowly.
"Well I guess. I mean, just what my life was like before..." I felt like a little kid, complaining or something.
"Yeah... I don't know what homesickness is like, since this's been my home all- well, since I can remember," Rath said. He sighed, "But I know what it feels like to miss a time before now."
I nodded.
"Me... I miss my home too. I know what you're going through, since I'm still going through it," Rune said drowsily. He laid his head in my lap, making himself comfortable as he sneezed more. Rath and I stared at him for a second, and he turned his head as if feeling our stares.
"The dust makes me sleepy as well as making me sneeze," he explained. I smiled softly, feeling quite at home now, Rune in my lap and Rath on my other side leaning against me.
"Well, someday you won't feel as homesick," Rath said, intertwining his fingers in mine and squeezing them reassuringly as I looked into his apologetic red eyes. Sleep came easily in that position, being warmed by the other two bodies on mine, and the feeling of belonging and comfort.
OOOI stretched out on my bed, feeling restless, and then stood up again. I reached out to take a fruit from the basket on my bedside table, then noticed that the basket was missing.
"Oh yeah, for the kitten," I shrugged, remembering that Kitchel had brought the turtle-shell colored feline into the castle. I bit into the apple, and then took another for... just in case. I opened the door and walked out, cruising the castle in hopes of meeting someone. I felt much better after yesterday's flow of memories had passed. Rath, too innocent for his own good, I thought as I passed the fighter's guild, but I was in no mood for gambling right now. I remembered all the times Rath had tried to play with us, and either given up and snuck out of the place, or lost by a mile. As a result, he usually chose not to play. Funny to think that someone who involved himself in a sport as dangerous as demon hunting couldn't take a bit of ol' gambling.
I reached a certain door and knocked on it, "Hi, it's Thatz. I was just wondering if you wanted an apple, and maybe some company," then, hearing no response, I opened the door slowly and peeked in, and my breath caught in my throat.
The gorgeous figure on the bed rested delicately, eyes closed, body draped lightly in a small blanket. She looked absolutely beautiful to me, and I couldn't help but to step closer and lean over, until her face was mere inches away from me, where I could take it, and hold it, press her closer... her lips were slightly parted, as if awaiting, and I leaned closer still, and just brushed my lips against hers. Her body tensed, but didn't awake, and I thought I saw the slightest hint of a smile tug at her rosy lips, and her hand crept to her lips, brushing the softly before falling limp again. I smiled, touching my own lips as well and savoring the feel of hers against mine. Sleep was the only moment in which I felt brave enough to do anything to her... but unfortunately, that was the only moment she couldn't see. I placed the apple in her hand and left, shutting the door quietly.
OOO
The gray sky seemed to herald the approach of another storm, and I flicked my apple core onto my plate, waiting for Cernozura to finally serve the meal. So far I was the only one here. Tetheus had already eaten, so he said, cause I truly doubted if he even ate, Kaistern ate in his room, Rune did too, he said he wasn't feeling well, Alfeegi and Ruwalk were probably feeding each other in a secluded room where they could have some privacy and Lykouleon was in his room as well, since Raseleane didn't want him to over stress his ankle. In any case, it seemed like it was just me... and I hope that she would come as well.
As if to answer my thoughts, I heard her light footsteps, they had to be hers, no one else walked like that, and I turned, smiling widely. She blushed and smiled a bit sheepishly, looking down, and sat next to me. I saw that in her hands was the red apple I'd left, and she in turn saw the apple core on my plate.
"Did you...?" she motioned towards her apple. I nodded and her blush turned deeper.
"Yeah, sorry if I disturbed you sleep," I said, looking up as one of the maids brought the tray of food.
"Um, no, it's okay. It was nice," she shook her head slightly, wavy hair just brushing her shoulders.
"So you gonna eat or not?" I asked. She nodded and I served some food for her. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"Speak up will you?" I joked. She laughed, and I felt rewarded. We ate in silence the rest of the time, and as I finally put my fork and knife onto my plate and heaved a sigh of contentment, she giggled.
"You eat a lot," she commented.
"Is that bad?"
"No," she laughed again and I smiled.
"Wanna take a walk?" I offered my hand to her and she took it, giving a nod.
Heeehee, got any idea who the girl is? It's probably a bit obvious. Anyway, the next chapter is hers, and it kinda completes this chapter, except from her POV. After that, I have no idea who it is. I haven't planned ahead all that. Possibly Tetheus. If you have any suggestions, or ideas, or pairings, the review button receives all those.