I am SO sorry that I haven't updated. I have no excuse for that. But I hope you'll forgive me and put it aside so you can enjoy my latest chapter!

Oh, I'd like to thank aquajogger soooooooooooooooooo much for informing me that ch 4 & ch 6 had the same title for awhile. I wouldn't have known before!

What year is it? I forgot if it was 2003 or 2004… (Looks at monitor with installed calendar) It's 2004.

Hey, does anyone think that partially insane is a personality trait? 'Cuz my teacher told me it wasn't.

Rath: Hey, where has that disclaimer guy gotten to?

Bierrez: Yeah, I hate to admit it, but I actually miss the little bird.

Rath & Me: REALLY?

Bierrez: No.

Me: Well, when I told him that I lived near the capital of America, he got upset that I was calling him by the name of a city that isn't even considered inside of a state (for some peculiar reason) … actually, forget it, I just got sick of writing him in, so the gods had to take him back.

All: …?

Me: also, my friend goes by DC, and if I told her that whenever I call her that I think of a pathetic bird with no real cause at all, she'd beat me up, and if that wasn't good enough, she'd get someone else to. Actually, she probably wouldn't and I'm just rambling so if you could please ignore most of everything I just said and go on to the story, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

By the way, I don't own Dragon Knights. But I do own a bracelet that I bought with money my dad gave me that was given to him by his boss that was given to them by their boss which was given to them by the government which was given to them by… uh… factories that made the money that came from trees that came from seeds that came from trees and so on and so forth.

Which came first? The chicken or the egg? The hamburger or the hot dog?

That'll give you something to think about!

The Promise

That's it. I can't take it anymore! I'm leaving! Were the thoughts that crossed Rath's uneasy mind. Sitting up strait, he looked at his surroundings. It was what he had woken up to only, was it really just this morning? The day seemed to have gone slowly, yet quickly.

He looked over and spotted a cubed object with symbols glowing on its screen. It read: 9:45 p.m.

It's late, Rath thought. Wait a minute, how did I know that?

A thought then overtook his entire being. What if they were right? What if everything that he heard here was the flat out truth? Shivering at the consideration, he told himself that that wasn't accurate. He was right, and they were wrong.

But—

No, I'm right and their wrong.

Maybe I'm the one that's—

It's not true; they only want you to think that!

Then why—

No, no,

"NO!!!" This he yelled, drawing unwanted attention to his state of being.

"What's wrong, sir!" A young doctor (probably an intern) came rushing in at the uprising from the distraught Dragon Knight.

Rath looked them over. He was fairly tall, with brown hair and a distressed look on his face. His features were curiously recognizable. It then clicked. This was one of the Dragon Fighters from the palace.

Rath looked back down at the obnoxiously white bed sheets. "Go away." He said in a distant voice.

"But sir—" The boy started.

"I said to LEAVE!" Rath forced his eyes up to glare at the well-meaning and completely confused Fighter. Hot tears shot down his face, emotion toying with his features.

The poor boy backed up, terrified that the reputation of Rath might come into play on his own self. He retreated to the half opened door and nearly crushed another doctor that attempted to make his way onto the darkened room.

He yelled out a curse, as the unfortunate Fighter jumped almost 2 feet into the air in fright.

Turning to the door, he bowed in respect and managed to spout out a few words that sounded somewhat like an apology.

The doctor managed to make out the main point of the jumbled message, and dismissed the boy without further discussion.

Sighing tiredly, the blond turned to glare maliciously at the object of despise.

"Why is it, that whenever someone has a private chat with you, they always come out looking as if their closed companion had just died in front of their wide open eyes?"

"That's a different way to put it, Bierrez."

The yokai's eyes narrowed. "Why the hell are you still on about that? My god, I can't believe Carl, Caroline, and Lukas still have faith in your recovery! You're getting worse, not better!" His anger came out in waves, frustration that had built up before was now coming down full-faced on Rath.

Rath turned away, appearing to be unshaken by everything that was just stated by his adversary. "Why did you choose to be here?"

Bierrez, taken aback by the sudden inquiry. "W-what?"

Rath looked up, into the confused and flickering eyes of the blond. "Why are you here? Why is it that you stay here? It seems as if… you don't like it here."

Bierrez faced away, as if the question was an arrow that had shot through his skin.

"Is it her?" Bierrez's eyes shot up, and darted to the Fire Knight's red ones.

He hesitated. "Yes. It is."

There it was. The truth, flat out. Although, there wasn't much surprise to that fact, but hearing him confess made it, somehow, different.

"You really love her." Bierrez nodded. A smile played on the corners of his mouth.

"You know, I'm beginning to think that what Cesia— Caroline -- said was true. About you being a good guy, and all."

"And you would think otherwise?" Bierrez's question had a bit of humor hinted behind its words.

Rath smiled, "Do you really want me to answer that?"

Bierrez shook his head, chuckling a bit. "Never mind."

After a silence of approximately 48 seconds, Rath broke into another question, this time not as laughable, for its matter was of great seriousness. "If I were to tell you something, would you not repeat it before anyone else?"

Bierrez looked quizzically at his former antagonist. "Depends."

Rath sighed, and decided to entrust in him anyway. "I want to get out of here. And don't even suggest me try to convince them I'm better, because like you said before, that won't work."

Bierrez snorted almost silently. "And what do you propose?"

Rath hesitated. "I want you to help me escape. That way, I'm happy and I won't disturb the blossoming love of you and Ce-Caroline."

Bierrez looked as if he was considering it. "I dunno. If I'm caught, I'll get kicked out and Carol'll dump me."

"Then I'll tell them that I made a break for it and you were just trying to stop me."

"How about I do that anyways."

Rath eyed the Yokai with distrust.

"I'm kidding. Fine I'll help you. Meet me at 11:45 tonight at Rachel and Tyler's room."

Rath thought for a moment, and then realized it was Thatz and Kitchel's room he was talking about.

"So it's a promise then?" Rath asked.

"It's a promise."

Whew! I got it done faster than I had anticipated! I wrote it in only, (thinks) maybe an hour or so, but thinking of it took days. Well, I'm not going to ramble anymore than I already have so,

PLEASE REVIEW! (this goes without saying!)