Chapter 2

Kuroki Kaze was troubled. More than that… He was horrified.

It wasn't because of the kiss… No. Because Kuroki Kaze could easily deny the kiss. He just blamed the mist for mixing with his head and making him hallucinate. And no matter what Shiroi Kumo said, to Kaze, that gray substance would still be mist.

So the kiss was easily denied. Then what was it that was so horrifying?

It was simply that, that no matter how much he wanted, no matter how much he tried, Kuroki Kaze could not deny that Kumo's lips had been quite soft… nor could he deny the feeling of having his arm wrapped around that slender waist. But the most terrifying had to be that he could not deny that Shiroi Kumo had tasted… nice. Like cool morning air before the sun has had time to make the still lingering night's humidity disappear.

Sadly for Kaze, there was nothing on the phantom train to distract him, so the black wind just sat there and pondered over his problem.

While Kaze sat troubled by his thoughts, Makenshi was seeking the one gaudium lord that might be able to help him.

It was easy to figure out who to go to, really. For something to have burnt to ashes like this, it had to have been something living, a plant, in Wonderland. Therefore, the first person to ask would of course be…

"Herba."

The plant-woman turned at the mentioning of her name.

"Makenshi baby..? What happened to you?" she asked, taking in the dirty-gray stains on Makenshi's normally pure white clothing. The white swordsman didn't answer, only held out the bottle containing the ashes, which Herba accepted cautiously.

"What is this," he asked. The question made Herba crook an eyebrow.

"…A bottle with ash?" she answered.

"From what..?"

With a sigh Herba opened the bottle and carefully sniffed in the sweet yet refreshing scent. She immediately recognized it and smiled wickedly.

"Why it's the Lovers Herb," she chirped. "Also known as the Passion Drug. It grew only in one place in Wonderland, but then it all burned up. And now anyone who visits the plane is affected by the smoke and ashes still lingering in the air."

Suddenly Herba frowned at Makenshi. "Did you meet someone there?" she asked. She didn't get an answer. "The effect doesn't show unless you meet someone while affected by the smoke…"

"The smoke did not penetrate my mask," the white swordsman answered while snatching the bottle back. With nothing more to say, White Cloud turned and left, leaving Herba alone to ponder what the questioning had actually been about.

So, Kaze had kissed him only because of the drug… no hidden feelings involved…

That was good…

Shiroi Kumo was relieved.

…

…

…

…relieved…

…Because the rivality between him and Kaze hadn't changed. They were still… enemies.

Shaking his head at his own thoughts and doubts, Shiroi Kumo decided that he must still be under the influence of the Passion Drug. Now what he needed was some rest and time to clear his head.

Whether it was because of the traces of the drug still in his system, or the work the count had had him to do, Shiroi Kumo slept the entire rest of the day, as well as the night. And the next morning he woke up with a splitting headache as well as an oddly… sad feeling that just made his life seem miserable.

It was true that his eyes often seemed to have a hidden sadness in them, easily noticed upon closer inspection. But this was different. He wasn't about to admit it, but for the first time since his home was destroyed, the white cloud felt truly depressed. But for what reason, that he could not understand.

That day, Makenshi sat outside on the count's vessel, as far out on the tip as possible without falling, while allowing the wind to play with his hair and cape, and to calm him down.

Elsewhere, the black wind was walking through a thick forest. He didn't know where he was heading, nor did he care.

He remembered that last night he had dreamt about kissing Kumo again. (Those cursed dreams…) And he knew that he had to find a way to bury these new weird thoughts. Because somehow, for some unknown reason, they made him feel so… Empty.

Back in her garden Herba suddenly realized something.

"Wonder if I should have told Makenshi about the after affect of the Lovers Herb…?" the plant-woman asked herself as well as her plants before shrugging it off.

After all… why would Makenshi be interested in a minor detail like that? It's not like he had been affected by the drug or anything... He had said so himself.

End.

I know… it was short, and even worse than the first chapter… (sigh)

Anyway, I'm going to leave it like this for a while, but if I get the inspiration, I'll write and put out more chapters. Thanks to those who read and reviewed, you are very kind!