K, so I'm actually having fun with this now. So I don't own Dragon Knights, but I've come to terms with that. Sorry that it took so long, but I kinda forgot what was going to happen. See, I had it all planned out, and as I typed it up, I got a title-wave of ideas that kinda shoved it out of my head. that, and my older brother kept having me read his fics, and they gave me ideas, so I put this one on hiatus for a bit. But now it is done, and you can now read it! I know that this chapter leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Don't ask me about why the castle did what it did, or what Tetheus does what he does, because it will all be answered in future chapters… promise! Enjoy!

6

Attacked

It was dark. The only sound that broke through the darkness was that of faint ragged breathing. Ice blue and blood red eyes met each other as they hurried forward to find the cause of it. Dull copper fluttered open as claws gripped his shoulder lightly, just enough for him to feel, but not enough to break his delicate skin. Copper saw blurry azure, and blinked.

"Sæph? W-what…?"

"Shh…" hissed the demon, "Ist well be allight, White One. We ist helre naow."

"Alfeegi? Can you hear me?" Came a masculine voice dripping with concern. Weakly he turned his head to find Tetheus there, as well as Zoma, Rath, and Cesia. Every demon in the castle. He smiled faintly.

"Y-you're … here." He whispered like the wind itself.

Tetheus carefully removed the blood-soaked shirt that clung to his skin, and Sæph covered his mouth as he let out a cry of agony from his arms being lifted over his head. Inspecting the large wound closely, Tetheus let out a sigh of relief. It was deep, but had not hit anything vital. Lifting the dying Officer carefully, Tetheus parted his way through the throng of demons that took up residence in the Dragon Castle. Rushing up to his own room, he laid Alfeegi in his bed, and dug through his drawers to find help.

"Alfeegi? What happened?" As he dug, he might as well get the whole story, right? Alfeegi drew a thin, shuddering breath, and recounted the day to Tetheus, his seemingly only friend still in the castle.

vxr

Alfeegi rolled down the hallway, thin biceps covering easily break-able bones rippled from the constant tuning motion as he forced the wheels of his chair forward; wheels that soundlessly – weightlessly – carried him across stone floors and wooden stair ramps until they had taken him to Ruwalk's office. Slowing his chair with the palms of his leather-half-gloved hands, he turned and knocked. No answer came from the other side of the door; just the creak of wood from the White Officer turning the knob, and pushed the door open without rolling backwards too far. Looking in, he found the Yellow Officer standing – facing the wall – and rhythmically banging his head on the white stone. Rolling in curiously, Alfeegi tapped Ruwalk on the small of his back, and the Officer turned with a glare.

"What do you want, Alfeegi?" Ruwalk muttered.

"Um, well, I have this paper that you need to sign, but it can wait. What were you doing?"

"What did it look like I was doing… scratching my ass? I'm trying to get rid of my headache, that's what! I've had it since yesterday, I can't see strait, and it needs to go away." Alfeegi didn't get the hint from Ruwalk, and pressed the matter further.

"Yesterday? What happened yesterday?"

"What happened? What happened! Simple, you came in and gave me more paper then I know what to do with! That's what happened!"

Alfeegi had been rolling backwards from the angrily advancing Officer, and was now with the back of the wheel-chair against the wall, and was pressing himself as far into the seat as possible. He had never seen Ruwalk in such a bad mood, and didn't want to see the end of it.

"I'll just… go then. Good luck with the headache Ruwalk!" shutting the door behind him and rolling away as fast as he could; his hands heating up from the friction of leather-gloves-against-rubber. As strange as it was to see the normally placid, cocky, even humorous Secretary of State in such a bad mood, it was even rarer for him to turn violent: as he surely would have if Alfeegi had stayed a moment longer. Shaking the strange encounter from his mind, Alfeegi headed down the corridor.

It had been two months since Alfeegi received his chair to get him from one end of the castle to the other. Having become paralyzed from the waist down by saving Lykouleon's life from a dozen arrows, he found that the new "disability" had actually come in rather handy. Now when he was doing his normal rounds of the castle, he could travel twice as fast… with half the exertion. He could also finally get rid of his desk chair; he had always hated the thing, especially after it had helped him in his attempted suicide. Now he didn't have to use the accursed thing. If he went out into the gardens after dinner, and fell asleep, he didn't have to worry about waking up stiff or cold or ill from lying on the ground beneath the old oak tree. Despite the thoughts of pity that the others of the castle had for him, Alfeegi thought himself rather lucky now that he had other means of transportation besides tiring himself out by walking.

Continuing his rounds, he went to Cernozura, Lykouleon, and Rune in their separate chambers and offices, only to receive the same reaction from them as he had received from Ruwalk. Cernozura had slapped him when he had suggested the green dress after she had asked his opinion: Lykouleon had threatened him with a dismissal form when Alfeegi asked him for his signature: and Rune had picked him up and threw him out into the hall – chair and all – when Alfeegi had asked what had happed to have given the Water Knight a large red welt on his forehead; he had landed face-first on the ground when Rune threw him out – literally! Alfeegi lifted his face from the floor; his legs-immobile- were twisted out behind him, and his chair was toppled a few feet away. His back ached, and a sharp pain laced through his chest. One of his ribs had cracked.

Sighing, he rested his weight on his elbows, and dragged himself to his over-turned chair. Reaching it, he righted it, shoved it against the wall, and leaded the back of his head against the silk/leather seat. He sat there for a moment, catching his breath, then – back still to the chair – despite the pain in his chest – he reached up to the handles of his chair, gripped them firmly, and hoisted himself back into the blue apparatus. Deciding that the rest of the castle was probably in a foul mood as well, he hastened back to his room, and sat on the foot of his bed, starring at his chair.

The chair hadn't been a problem until Rune had thrown him out. Alfeegi had fallen out of it once or twice when first learning how to move it alone, but he had gained enough strength over the last two months to always manage to get himself back in again. But now it was an easy means for people to get rid of him when he was on their nerves. He'd have to watch out for that from now on. Hearing the dinner bell an hour later, Alfeegi pulled the chair over to him, and eased himself off the bed, and into the chair again, straitening his cloths and feet as he did so. Minutes later, Alfeegi was flying down the halls and ramps, his pain had become a dull throb, so it no longer bothered him; he had decided to have it looked into later that night. Thinking about if the others were in the same mood as the other four, he streaked down through the doors that led to the main staircase; which was huge, marble, and seeped outwards gracefully. Halfway down the last wooden ramp that covered the edge of a staircase for his access, his hand missed slowing the wheel for a split second; but it was enough. Gravity pulled him the rest of the way down, his chair hit the floor, bounced on the rubber wheels, toppled, and sent him flying across the floor; scrapping his arms and side on the rough flagstones that made up the Great Hall.

He slid over the floor; his head slammed into the wall on the other side of the room, and he came to a stop. He laid, unmoving for a few minutes, until Kai-Stern entered the Hall through the main doors that opened into the castle. Seeing the wheelchair crumpled by the stairs and Alfeegi unconscious by the wall, he ran over to the still form, and shook the thin shoulders carefully.

"Alfeegi! Wake up, are you alright?" Kai worriedly hissed into Alfeegi's ear. Coming too, Alfeegi immediately noticed the fresh pain in his head, his arm, and his chest.

"I'm fine." He gasped as Kai-Stern pulled him into a sitting position, "A little winded, and I think that I broke another rib or two."

"What do you mean 'another rib'. And what happened?"

"I was coming down the stairs, and I slipped. You can guess the rest. Youch! Kai-Stern! That hurt!" Kai had tried to lift Alfeegi off the floor, but in doing so, his hands had found Alfeegi's broken ribs.

"Sorry… maybe I should take you to the infirmary." Kai-Stern offered, immediately heading over to the chair after leaning Alfeegi against the wall.

"That's alright Kai-Stern, I'm going to head into dinner, and get checked out after. I'm really hungry, and dinner smells really great. Could you just hand me my chair? Kai? Kai-Stern, what's the matter?" Kai-Stern had frozen with the chair in hand, back towards Alfeegi, shaking.

Kai-Stern turned around, glaring at Alfeegi. He chucked the chair at the White Officer, who winced as he dodged in time to have the chair hit the wall where his head was only seconds before. The chair clattered over the back of the blue-clothed man, who fell forward, and gave the Blue Officer a questioning look.

"So you don't want my advice! Fine! Do it on your own!" Kai-Stern shouted, storming out of the Hall and into dinner.

Alfeegi stared after him, bewildered beyond a shadow of a doubt. If he thought that setting Ruwalk off was bad, he wondered what the hell could have made the always-humorous Kai-Stern snap like that. He only saw him like that when he had a particularly difficult travel session, and when he fought yokai, but other than that, he had never seen Kai-Stern blow his top like that. He hoped that he would never see that again. Looking over at his chair, he played the day over in his head, and judged just how much he really wanted to go down to diner. Thinking that the day couldn't get any worse, he carefully, painfully, picked himself up, and hulled himself into his chair. Diner wasn't what he had planed though.

On entering the giant room, the hall fell silent, and icy glares flew in his direction. Careful of where he sat, he found an empty place beside the Earth Knight, and began to fill his plate like the others around him. He was thankful that the pitcher of mango juice was at his end of the table, and was able to get a full glass of it as it came by. The conversations started up again, and Alfeegi sighed with relief. The moon was rising outside, and the stained-glass-windows that were the east wall turned the moonlight many shades of sliver, ruby, sapphire, and emerald. Though it had to compete with the many candles that lit the room so as the residents could see what they were eating.

"Pass the salt please, Thatz." Alfeegi muttered, pointing to the salt that was just out of reach from his chair.

"Get it yerself!" Thatz growled, glaring at the taken aback Officer.

"I-I'm sorry Thatz, I didn't know you were in a bad mood. Um… it seems that everyone is in a bad mood. And just out of curiosity, where are Tetheus, Rath, Cesia and them?"

"How the hell should I know?" Thatz yelled at him, standing and shoving Alfeegi away. The dining area fell silent once again. Many people rose from their chairs, and gathered around the two that were now warring glares with the other.

Thatz pushed Alfeegi back again, Alfeegi just barely being able to keep his chair balanced from the tremendous strength of the Knight of Earth. Trying to roll as far away from the human as possible, Alfeegi found a wall of castle dwellers blocking his path, and closing the space tightly around him. All at once they started to yell at him, complaining about how he treated them, with his constant yelling and rules, and then threats thickened the air above his head and around him that it made it harder to breath than it already was. Lykouleon gripped his arms from behind, and threw him into the wall, Kitchel pinning him there with her heeled boot at his throat. Rune came up with an evil grin, and a glittering knife in his hand.

"No more bothering us with your stupid rules and regulations. Or any more paperwork. Or with just you being there at all!" with that, the knife found a home between Alfeegi's ribs.

Steeping back to admire their work, the castle let him fall to the cold uncaring floor with a thud. Pain and shock took their toll, and as the diners filed out of the hall and to their rooms, and darkness gripped the room like ice, Alfeegi's world went black.

vxr

Tetheus found what he had been searching for, and rushed back to the bed that the Officer was lying on. The White Dragon was fading fast, and telling the tale of how he had gotten into this situation in the first place had taken a lot of energy from him. Tetheus sat on the edge beside him, much like Ruwalk had done at the campsite two months ago, and carefully lifted the teal head off the pillow. He paused as Alfeegi grimaced in pain, then fully lifted him into his strong arms. A small vile was pressed to Alfeegi's chin; the content of which was spilled into his waiting mouth through parted lips. Tossing the empty container aside, Tetheus supported the now limp form in his arms with care, and drew him closer. Removing his jacket, he wrapped it tightly around the half-conscious man as the wounds healed, and the pain dissipated.

"W-why are you… h-helping me?" he breathed into Tetheus' neck.

"I'm Secretary of Security. It's my duty." He muttered, shifting him so that he could get more onto the bed, and glanced at the worried crowd of yokai peering through his door.

"Th-that can't be why. Y-you are doing m-more than needed. Why?" Tetheus mentally bit his lip. How could he let him know? He hadn't even realized it until two and a half months ago.

"I… I lo-" he stopped. Copper orbs opened into slivers and gazed up at him. Tetheus knew that he wouldn't be able to put it into words if he tried for the rest of the night. So, he turned it into actions. Leaning down, he let his lips graze briefly over Alfeegi's thin ones.

Alfeegi laid stunned in Tetheus' arms. Did he just…? Yes, he had. But Alfeegi wasn't… he had told Nadil that… but it wasn't all that bad, it was actually was rather… was he… but he thought that… it was too much for his weak state to take in. Easing into the protective arms surrounding him; the wound on his chest finishing the last of it's healing, he passed out.

vxr

Alfeegi woke warm and comfortable. Sunlight streamed through the window next to the bed, and the sheets – though somewhat wet and metallic smelling – were soft and white. There was something warm beside him, and it breathed softly. Turing slightly, he looked over his shoulder, found a tan arm wrapped securely around his torso, and a sleeping Tetheus holding him to his chest. Panic took over, then disappeared just as fast as he remembered the events of the night before. Lightly, Alfeegi brushed his fingertips over his lips, and thought over the questions that peppered his brain only hours before. In a trance, they played themselves out in his mind until he had an answer for each. Hours passed, then Alfeegi was pulled out of his meditating by Tetheus stirring behind him. Alfeegi looked around his shoulder again, and smiled at him.

"Thank you for saving me last night." He whispered. Tetheus smiled.

"I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I had just stayed ill in my room and not have made sure that you were alright."

"Ill?"

"Yes, the demonic energy was so great around the castle last night that it sent myself and all the other yokai to our knees. It was rather unpleasant, but I knew that I had to check it out or I couldn't call myself Black Officer." Silence rang through after this statement. But it was comfortable. Alfeegi pressed himself into the calming warmth of the Black Dragon, and felt pleased with the idea that someone in the castle loved him.

"Umm… Alfeegi? I was… was wondering, if… if you ha-"

"Actually, I have Tetheus. And my answer is yes. I find it surprising that I don't mind the idea of having a man as a close… um… friend… in that sense. But I would really… really like it if you would be with me. as more than just acquaintances. I would like t-" whatever else that Alfeegi had wanted to say was cut off as Tetheus leaned over him, and kissed him chastely on the lips. When he pulled away, he couldn't help but chuckle as Alfeegi sighed, and smiled up at him.

"I'm sorry for last night." He whispered in his love's ear while gesturing to the blood-soaked clothes and sheets. "I thought that you would like to get some sleep before we worried about wether you are clean or not.

"Thank you. that was rather sweat of you." Alfeegi couldn't help but roll his eyes at how formal Tetheus was.

"Um… I - " this time, it was Tetheus that forced silent by a kiss. This one was slightly deeper, and much longer than the one before. Once it broke, Alfeegi snuggled into Tetheus' strong chest, and sighed. Although they couldn't become complete lovers – as Alfeegi would be unresponsive to love making – they would be together, and that was enough for the both of them.

vxr

Later that night – after apologies and explanations were given – Alfeegi and Tetheus took up residence in Alfeegi's room; as Tetheus' still smelled of blood. Held by Tetheus, and joining him in sleep, Alfeegi couldn't help but feel complete for the first time in a very, very long time.