By: Minuiko
A/N: Er… I was thinking of deleting this story (don't kill me)… because it's old (whenever I improve a little bit in my writing style, I always think old stories suck… the idea was nice though)… and because, even though I have 141 reviews for just 8 chapters, I have no motivation to update (maybe because I haven't read any POTS in months, and I'm getting rusty on all the fine details of the quartet…?) but I'll try to update (like now) and see what happens. I always get inspiration when I just… update… even if I haven't read the books and/or fanfiction for a while. (How does that work? No idea.)
It's really only been 6 months, to tell you the truth. XD And I'm sorry about Tobe, it had to be done.
!#$&
Chapter Nine: I'll Follow You!#$&
Neal's First Person POVShe was gone. Mithros, she's gone, she's gonegonegone… "Kel! Kel, where are you?"
She wasn't here. She wasn't in her room, she wasn't in the mess hall (if she was, he would've noticed her), she wasn't on the training grounds… I cursed as I felt desperation rising. This was no time to start getting desperate! I didn't know where she was, big deal, it wasn't like she was dead or kidnapped or anything (Was she? I wondered)… she was Kel…
I cursed again for my imagination. Kel wasn't like this. She was cool, composed, down-to-earth… she didn't think much of romance. She was my exact opposite… and she was my best friend. I had a right to worry about her. Like I was doing.
I punched the wall, and a slip of paper that I hadn't noticed before caught my eye as I turned slightly. Eyes widening as I read it, I nearly growled. These— these heroics… it was just like her. I didn't believe what she wrote. Kel just didn't do these things for no reason.
"To anyone who reads this: I've gone back to Haven for personal reasons. Don't worry about me, and don't follow me. I'll be fine."
--Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan
She signed it with her full title, probably in case some servant or another came in and found the slip of paper. I gripped it with clenched fists. Haven… my eyes widened as I realized what she must've gone there for. Tobe.
"Damn it, Kel, we're your friends. When will you trust us?"
We were all friends, Merric and Seaver and Faleron and Cleon and even Dom… but Kel and I... We were friends who had once kissed, even if it wasn't romantic. Friends who had shared everything together, from meals to battles. Friends who had joked together, laughed together, cried together. So what should I do? I then growled and made up my mind. "I followed you all the way to Scandra awhile back, Kel. I'm not about to abandon you now."
!#$&
Domitan of Masbolle was worried. Neal and Kel weren't in the mess hall for breakfast. They weren't to be found anywhere. Not in their rooms, not in the training halls, not anywhere. And on top of that, Hoshi and Magewhisper were missing…
They were gone.
"Damn it, Meathead, we may not have gotten along well these days, but what the hell were you thinking?"
He had a sudden inspiration. He walked all the way into Lord Raoul's rooms. And knocked. "Lord Raoul, I need to talk to you for a minute."
"Sergeant Domitan?"
"Kel and Neal aren't anywhere to be found, sir, and-and their horses are missing. What do you make of this, sir?"
"I would say you're worrying too much, because it's very likely that they've gone for a ride… considering that they are somewhat a legitimate couple…"
"Lord Raoul!"
He looked at Dom. The younger man was obviously serious. "Alright. You want to search for them... don't you? I don't know when they might've gone, but someone let it slip that Neal went after Kel did, so most likely, she's on a mission. A private one. And Nealan of Queenscove is tracking her down. She headed in that direction," he pointed out his one window, "yes, to Haven. I doubt you'll catch up to her in time for Mithros knows what, but if you want to search, I suppose I can spare one of my Sergeants for the moment."
Dom was silent for a moment before nodding quietly and saying, "Thank you, my lord."
Dom walked out, a strange feeling in his gut. Neal… gone after Kel… private mission… It was probably because he knew Kel, knew her as well as Neal did, best friend or no… and knew that she didn't give a damn about her own life if she could save someone, even a commoner. Especially commoners. She was smart, resourceful… but in other senses, absolutely reckless…
What is she thinking?
"Oh, Sergeant Domitan! I was just standing here in the stifling heat just waiting for you!" gushed a familiar, flirtatious, and annoyingly giggly voice. "If you would be so kind, could you possibly escort me to my room? I'd be simply delighted if you would."
Damn. I'm in no mood for her. I need to go after Kel.
Lady Rita batted her eyelashes and held a pale, white finger delicately to her full, sensual pink lips. "Sergeant Domitan?"
Kel's eyes were those of a dreamer's. They were long-lashed and framed gorgeous green-hazel eyes, eyes that had just a touch of gold in them. She may have been just like any other male knight in other aspects, but her eyes were unexplainably… feminine. And absolutely breathtaking. Rita had nothing on Kel, not in eyes, and not in personality. What was I thinking?
I can't go back to her now. I'll always be a friend who betrayed her. But I can still be a friend to her. I don't want to lose her friendship.
Rita pouted, something that would have made a hundred knights rush to her side and ask her what was the matter. She tugged at Dom's sleeve and demanded, still in a ladylike manner, "Are you listening to me?"
He brushed her off and told her quietly, "Don't touch me."
The annoying lady just would stop. "Seeearrgeant…"
Tugging. And more tugging. This time, tears were dripping down Rita's pale face. He knew that they were fake, had seen this act several times on other men. Thank god he hadn't done anything more serious than kissing with her. She had nothing but that to brag about. This time he knocked her away and hissed, "I said, don't touch me."
She stared at him, mouth slightly agape in what was not a ladylike way. He then stood to his full height and told her impassively, "I'm sorry, I have a mission. I must go."
!#$&
Kel woke up groggily. She must've fallen asleep on her saddle. Hoshi was still walking, occasionally shaking her head, but still walking. She looked at the road ahead. They still had a long way to go, and she could tell that Hoshi needed a rest. She stopped as she heard a sound. The sound of a stream.
Dismounting, she told her horse to do whatever she wanted, but to stay within the range of her sight. Hoshi whickered softly, as though she understood, but Kel still wished that she had Tobe or Daine with her so that she would be sure.
She then held out her glaive. She hoped that she wasn't getting rusty with it. She'd practiced, sure, but she hadn't fought with any true Yamani since they'd arrived at Corus. Suddenly, Neal's and Don's faces flashed before her and she knelt, feeling like she was going to cry, and smiling at the same time.
I made the right choice. I need to get Tobe back, I can't avoid it… but Neal… he probably doesn't know yet… and Dom…
"Oh gods, I'm falling for both of them, aren't I?"
This was getting to be a pain. She wasn't sure she liked being in love. She knew that it was a headache and a constant bother— Cleon had taught her that— but knew that it had its fiery side, its warm, giddy side and its dangerous side also. And she was excited and put down at the same time. Dom or Neal? Stupid question really. Dom had proven himself untrustworthy… and Neal was always there for her when she needed him… so why was she still unable to make up her mind?
She was glad she had gotten away. Now, she could just look ahead and not think of Neal or Dom until she rescued Tobe. It was a constantly nagging question, but at least she didn't have to think about it when they weren't in front of her, seeing her every few hours. She was thankful.
I'm coming, Tobe.
!#$&
TBC!#$&
A/N: Sorry, Lord Raoul was OOC... but... TAKE THAT, RITA, YOU BITCH! Haha, just kidding... but she got pwned anyway! xD Most of you must hate her, huh.
Minuiko: I'm done! Finally. I know, it was a short chapter (Only four pages long)… For Caught in the Rain (Yu Yu Hakusho yaoi?), it's around five pages per chapter, and for my new story, Crimson Tourniquet (Yu Yu Hakusho Civil War story), I'm writing seven pages per chapter … xD;;… sorry I can't do the same for this story.
Oh yeah, and part of the reason I wasn't updating was because I'm updating four other stories: Change of Body, Caught in the Rain, Crimson Tourniquet, and Inuyasha One-Half. Two of them are in my TheBigPen account. And I take weeks to write just one chapter (Actually, I only take an hour or two to type the chapters, but I take weeks to update, because of time issues, and also because I'm planning it out…) for each story, and I usually get more motivation for Change of Body and Crimson Tourniquet than other stories. So… anyways, sorry again for the long wait.
Um, I still don't know where I'm going with this, but I'll try to think of something, and no, I've decided NOT to delete it.
Review!