Hey, guys! Thanks for the reviews. They made me happy. tear I was surprised to get them in such a short period of time, too...Anyway! Here we go with chapter 3. I still have no idea of how I'm going to end this, so I don't know how long this will be going on. Also thanks for the constructive criticism, I didn't realize how much I needed it. Again, I'll try to keep Landis as in character as possible.

Is it wingard or winger? I don't know. I think wingard sounds cooler though. But, um, don't eat me if I'm saying it wrong.

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Chapter 3: A misunderstanding

Oh, cruel world! All this time of watching and waiting and envisioning Apple in a black wedding dress was all shattered -- she was...she was...

No...he couldn't even say it. He couldn't even think of his lovely Apple having a fling with her student. How could he allow himself to be so deceived? It wasn't possible. It wasn't possible to deceive the Grim Reaper! Landis had pried information of Apple from Kidd, so the wingard knew of her previous marriage as well as the divorce due to the man's affairs with other women. Oh, how he would love to swipe that man's head off clean from his neck with one swing of his scythe...

Ah, but this was getting off the point. Landis stared in bewilderment at the teacher, color draining from his face. Finally, Apple, still looking so distressed, broke the silence.

"Yes! It sounds like...l-like you're breaking up with me. You want me to run off with Landis!"

Her lip trembled and tears pricked at the edge of her glassy eyes. Poor Landis was so confused. And suddenly, a rising hatred was forming for this young Silverberg. How dare he try to take Apple! Landis' mouth twitched as he tried searching for the right words to say -- if any. He also had to remind himself he was in Caesar's body still and had to act accordingly.

"Uhh...well..."

His head perked up at the idea that entered his mind. It was worth a try.

"...Landis would treat you much better than I do...heehee...." he said, hiding his that sinister grin.

Landis was shocked again as Apple burst into tears, her hands cupping over her face beneath her glasses. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed.

"You're just trying to get out of paying support for the baby!"

Baby! Not only was Caesar involved with Apple romantically, he had gotten the woman pregnant! Now more than ever the wingard wished he could feel Caesar's neck being crushed between his palms. Enraged, his eyebrows furrowed and his teeth gritted. He calmed himself, feeling as if the smoke was searing out of his ears.

"..uh..um...you know, Landis is great with kids...y-yuh huh..."

Apple immediately ceased her sobbing and lifted her head, turning it away from Landis to hide her new, sudden expression of shock as well as bit of grimacing.

Landis would support my baby? Kind of flattering...I mean, ew, no! She shuddered and shook her head, staying silent for a few moments, clearly trying to think of what to say next.

"But...what would people say? I've never heard of a wingard and a human together before."

Hope flickered for Landis and his heart sped up. He still had a chance.

"It's not so strange. You see Karayans and Zexens together all the time, do you not? They are only from different clans, as a human and a wingard are."

Insightful, wasn't he?

"...yuh huh huh...."

Hmm...that cackle kind of ruins the moment.

Apple sniffled in the dead silence -- and then once again burst into tears, sounding to be on the verge of hysteria. Landis sighed weakly and leaned back in the chair. This was making him weary.

"M-miss Apple..."

"So, all those nights meant nothing to you?! I thought you loved me!"

This sounded strangely familiar. Landis lifted an eyebrow. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. Suddenly his mouth stiffened.

"This sounds like one of Nadir's plays..."

Apple lifted her face up from her hands sharply at him. Gone were the tears, replaced by a bright smile. Landis felt his insides melting. Apple laughed and brushed her fingers against her eyelashes to flick the fake tears away.

"Teehee! That's because it is."

Relief seeped out of Landis' every fiber as he sunk down lower into his seat. Still, why would Apple cause so much trouble? He jumped at the touch of a soft hand patting his knee. Apple was smiling at him in amusement. He stared back at her with a stoic face, speechless.

"You know, you didn't have to go though so much trouble...Sir Landis."

Drat. Apple did know after all. Landis frowned and stared down at his lap in shame -- and a bit of embarrassment. "So then you are not carrying Caesar's baby...yuh huh..." To tell the truth, Landis was a little disappointed. Beheading was a sport the wingard missed, but he need not feel any ill will toward Apple's student now.

Apple frowned and waved her hand, dismissing the absurd idea. "Of course not! I would hardly be interested in my students." Her smile returned back to Landis. "You didn't have to borrow Caesar's body just to talk to me, you know."

"You seem frightened of my wingard body...yuh huh..."

Well...Apple would be lying if she said she wasn't a little intimidated by it. It was kind of spooky. She smiled nervously. "Whatever gave you that idea? I think it's handsome and charming." She felt a little twinge of guilt for lying. But it was not in Apple's nature to hurt some one's feelings; nor would it be wise to hurt the feelings of some one like Landis.

A malicious grin spread from ear to ear on his face as Landis beamed with pride. His cold cold fingers curled around Apple's hand, holding it up to his face. "Heeheehee...In that case..." He pecked her knuckle. "Might I be able to escort you around the dungeons some time? ...Yuh huh huh..."

Apple froze. Every muscle in her body tensed and her free hand clutched her skirt violently. As Landis kissed her hand, the color drained from her face and sent chills all throughout her. She replied nervously, almost sounding out of breath.

"Th-that..that sounds...l-lovely..."

Landis' grin widened and it made Apple feel uneasy. He rose from his seat, dropping her hand and bowing slightly with his hand over his chest. "Heehee...you've made the grim reaper very happy..."

Who the hell is the grim reaper? she wondered

"But I must return this body to your ward...Farewell, miss Apple..."

As quickly as Apple blinked her eyes, he had disappeared. She fell back against her chair, exasperated, with her hand on her forehead. What kind of trouble was she getting herself into?