WARNINGS: shonen-ai, slight YAOI, hints of Rath/Rune/Thatz just because I love the tripling! ((What? Well, it ain't a pairing! P)) there also may be hints of Kai-Stern/Tetheus Beware of angst as well, lol.

Disclaimer: If it were mine, would I really be writing this crap?

All I can do is apologize for my laziness and hope you all enjoy this chapter. -bows-

Thanks are at the bottom! Enjoy!


Chapter 8- Forever Lost?

Furiously writing, Alfeegi failed to notice the brunette until he suddenly leaned on his desk, blocking the sunlight. "Ruwalk-" he started out of pure habit, but stopped as soon as he saw him. The rust-colored eyes that gazed back at him held no warmth or familiarity... or love...

"You work hard."

Blink.

"Too hard. You're gonna work yourself to death, 'Feegi!"

"I am not. I'd like to think I'm more responsible than that, Ruwalk."

"You'd like to think? Well ..."

"...Can't come up with a witty comeback?"

He sighed, "Nope. Nothing." The brunette's face brightened once again. "Let's do something!"

"Argh! I swear I NEVER get any work done around you! Every time I see you, I end up getting distracted! The whole castle will fall into chaos at the rate things are going!" Crystalline copper eyes suddenly glared at him. "That's what you want, isn't it?"

Ruwalk grinned. "Oh, you caught me," he snickered. Alfeegi gave a small smile in response, unable to help himself. "C'mon! Take a break! You've been working 9 hours straight!"

"I went to the-"

"Bathroom breaks don't count."

"Do so, because technically I wasn't working during that time."

Ruwalk gave a frustrated moan, sprawling dramatically across his desk. "Feeeeegiiiiii! Please? Please please pretty please? I won't leave you alone until you come with me!"

Alfeegi lost his cool.

"Ruwalk!" he snapped.

The brunette reeled back from the furious dragon. "What! Jeez, all I said was that you worked hard!" he snapped back.

Copper eyes widened as he paled, realizing what had happened. "S-sorry... I..."

But Ruwalk just huffed and turned his back, turning and walking out of the library. Alfeegi watched until the library door slammed behind him, then he put a hand to his forehead, taking a deep, shaky breath. He's not Ruwalk, he's not Ruwalk, he's not. He's not Ruwalk... he chanted in his mind over and over again.

But the tears that pooled in his copper-eyes wouldn't listen, spilling softly down his cheeks.

He brushed at them irritably, not wanting to cry for such a trivial matter.

Such... a...

Trivial...


Thatz whistled some random tune as he walked down the hall, his head full of thoughts of food. He had left Rune alone to meditate, deciding to hunt down something to eat. Sleeping always made him hungry for some reason. As he rounded a corner, he almost ran into Ruwalk.

"Oops, my bad!" the green-haired knight apologized, stepping out of his path.

"Watch it!" his companion snapped rudely without stopping.

Thatz frowned after the retreating figure, the painful tugging on his heart arising again. He turned his head, recognizing the large library doors against the stone wall. He blinked and made his way over to them, opening them slowly and quietly, peering inside.

The room was empty, save for Alfeegi, who sat hunched over his desk crying softly in his arms. Emerald eyes saddened, watching the heart-broken dragon cry alone, but he shut the door just as quietly, leaving Alfeegi in peace.

Thatz sighed, running his fingers through his short locks before turning and continuing his walk down the hall, somewhat less cheerful than before.


"Thatz? What's wrong? You don't look too good..." Rune asked in concern, brushing some of the bangs out of his eyes.

Thatz had escaped outside, unable to stand the sight of the suddenly dismal stone hallways. Even the blazing torches that hung on the walls just seemed to add to the morbid effect. The spring air was refreshing and cool, and the Earth Dragon Knight set out to find Rune again, who was meditating under a tree. He had promptly gone over, kissing his cheek lightly to draw him out of his deep thoughts, then sat beside him.

He now shrugged, leaning against Rune a little, relaxing in his company again. "I found Alfeegi crying in the library."

"Again?" Rath asked, appearing out of nowhere from behind Rune's back, causing the other two Knights to jump slightly.

Thatz sighed. "Yeah... I think Ruwalk went in there. I saw him storming down the hall, looking pretty ticked."

Rath sighed, sitting on Rune's other side. "I feel bad for him..."

The blond looked at them tenderly. "I'm sure he'll be alright. Confronting Ruwalk was probably just... very hard for him."

Thatz sighed, laying his head on Rune's legs, promptly becoming a lap creature once again. Other than the kitchen, Rune's lap was one of his favorite places. He shifted so he was on his back, bringing a hand up to finger the long blond locks that hung over Rune's delicate shoulder.

"This whole thing sucks," he suddenly announced. He hated seeing the normally goofy Ruwalk angry and snappish, and he hated the way the castle had fallen into sadness over the loss of their most cheerful dragon.

Rune looked at him sympathetically, running his fingers through his short green hair soothingly. "It'll be alright."

Rath nodded beside him. "Yeah, besides, Ruwalk's memory could come back!"

Even though he said it convincingly, nobody believed it, not even Rath himself.


Alfeegi sighed as he walked down the hall, fingers twitching nervously, drumming against his thighs and fingering the material on his pants. It had been a few hours since his... confrontation with Ruwalk, and he still felt horrible. After trying unsuccessfully to work for a couple of hours, he finally got up and set out to find the dragon and apologize.

"Alfeegi?"

The aquamarine-haired man turned, a little startled, only to find Kai-Stern who was just coming out of his room. The albino shut the door behind him, walking over to Alfeegi.

"Where're ya going?" he asked casually.

"I'm looking for Ruwalk. Have you seen him?"

Kai-Stern frowned a little. "Yeah.. but he's in a really bad mood."

Alfeegi felt his stomach sink. "Oh... well, I guess that doesn't matter. Where did you last see him?"

He waved vaguely down the hall. "He was wandering around. I have no idea where he is. Oh hey, have you seen Rath?"

"Not since this morning."

The Blue Officer sighed, running his fingers through his snow white hair a little. "I haven't seen him since then either. Maybe he's with Rune?"

"Rune's probably outside," he suggested.

"Guess I'll look there. Thanks!" He lifted his hand in a wave before turning as he turned and walked off quickly.

Alfeegi sighed a little and wandered down the hall in the opposite direction, wondering where Ruwalk could be and trying to steel his nerves to talking to him.

He hated being so nervous... especially since it was over Ruwalk.


"No, Rath took off, sorry," Rune told Kai-Stern, who sighed and hung his head.

"Where could he be?" he asked in frustration.

The blond shrugged. "I honestly don't know."

"I think he said he was hungry... maybe?" Thatz offered.

The albino nodded and waved, turning to leave. "Thanks guys."


Alfeegi poked his head into the dining room, not really expecting Ruwalk to be there, but was surprised to find him sitting at the table, munching on something or the other. He withdrew his aquamarine head, leaning back against the door and taking a deep, calming breath. He waited another moment before turning and pushing the door open farther, stepping in.

Ruwalk's response was immediate; snapping his head up and glaring at the other, effectively making Alfeegi's resolve dissipate again. He would not back down however.

Another deep breath. "I'm sorry," he apologized, stepping closer. "It was extremely rude of me to snap at you like that."

"Maybe you shouldn't work so much. It's obviously affecting your mental health," the other scoffed.

Alfeegi blinked at the hostility. "I said I was sorry," he repeated quietly.

The brunette stood up, his glare unwavering. "So what? You thought you could come in and apologize to me and POOF everything would be better?" he asked spitefully.

"No..." he said slowly. "I just..."

Ruwalk started walking around the large table, still speaking hatefully. "Did you think I would suddenly fall in love with you all over again? That's what you want, isn't it?"

Alfeegi lowered his gaze. Yes... that was what he wanted... more than anything. Long fingers lightly grabbed a strand of aquamarine hair that hung over his shoulder, making him snapping his head back up, right into Ruwalk's leering face.

"Your eyes speak volumes," he whispered, narrowing his eyes. "I know you want me, but you're going to have to get over yourself, because I'm not taking you back and I'm not getting my memory back." The brunette blinked, then sneered, grasping the captive strand harder. "Why would I try to get it back, if I don't want it?"

Waving copper eyes widened. "You can't," he gasped, unable to believe what he was hearing. "You have to get your memory back! Don't you-"

Ruwalk reeled his arm back and backhanded Alfeegi across the face, stunning him so much he fell to the floor. "Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do?" he asked spitefully, glaring down at the shaking dragon on the floor.

Without another word, he turned around and left the room in a flick of red-tipped hair, leaving Alfeegi to touch his cheek in disbelief.

Ruwalk had...

The White Officer shut his eyes, his chest constricting painfully. He drew his knees up and wrapped his arms around them, hiding his face, which was still stinging from the blow.

"Ruwalk..." he whispered in disbelief, clutching his legs tighter. Why did his chest hurt so much more than his cheek...?

From the other side, through the kitchen door, crimson eyes blinked, and lowered before the owner of said eyes turned and disappeared from sight.


Kage: Sorry! I know this is short, but I felt like being really evil by just leaving it here, lol. It's summer... so HOPEFULLY I'll be able to update more... but you all know me... I'm such a freakin' procrastinator... heheh?

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I love you all!