Possessed by a Memory, unnamed chapter 3
"What are you doing Cesia?" asked a bored Rath. She stopped and turned to him. Crewger bounded from Cesia's side to Rath, who petted him indifferently.
"I'm going to feed the Darnas. Rune usually goes with me, but I think he's taking care of Alfeegi," she said brightly.
"Oh, yeah, he's got a cold, right?"
"Yeah, and I bet it's all your fault for dumping that paint, and then the water on him," she said chidingly.
"Oh great, not the guilt trip," he said getting up. To her surprise he got up and took the buckets of feed from her and walked besides her, "I'll come with."
"Why? I thought Thatz had invited you to play with him and the other fighters?"
"Ah, well, I'm not good at games," he said. She laughed and he looked at her.
"What's so funny?"
"I don't know, I imagined you playing Scrabble or Tic Tac Toe, or even video games," she laughed again.
"Do you get to kill demons in these... 'Video games'?" he asked, suddenly interested.
"Oh good Lord of Dusis, is that ALL you think about?"
"No, I think about my friends too," the dead-serious answer stopped Cesia dead in her tracks. That was a rather uncharacteristically sweet thing for him to say. And disturbing too.
"Are you worried about someone?" she managed to ask.
"I'm not sure, but I have a bad feeling, not just for Rune, but for you too," he said quietly, almost to himself.
"What are you talking about?" she asked nervously.
"Forget it," he said, and, abruptly changing his mood, he took off, "Catch me if you can!"
She laughed, feeling relieved by the distraction. She took off, Crewger bounding happily by them. They reached the barn at the same time, as if he wanted to be near, still ahead of course, but not far ahead of her.
He was in a playful mood. He didn't know why, but all of a sudden, being with her made everything feel all right. He'd been sad and worried, but now, his serious side had dropped off like rock into a pond. He watched her feed the riding dragons and thought, sweet Lord, she's gorgeous, but he wasn't surprised by the thought.
She strained to reach a bucket high up and was surprised to feel his body besides hers, guiding her arm higher up. She could feel his breath on her cheek. She blushed. This was an intimately close position. She heard his soft whisper.
"Ever heard that honey makes everything better?"
"Um, no," she said nervously.
"Well, you're like honey," he said. What was this sudden need for comfort that he was feeling? He wanted to hug her, much as he despised her. Or did he really? He hated the Dragon Tribe because they cared about him so dang much. He cared about them though. He hated them, but didn't want harm to befall them, especially Rune and Thatz, and Cesia too. But he wanted to be cared about by those three.
Cesia turned to look at him. His crimson eyes were so soft, and his red hair with its odd white lock blew in unexplainable wind. Eyes... his eyes... she was reminded of the first time she'd seen them. Before, when she was still the old witch's foster daughter, in control of Shydeman and Shyrendora... and Nadil. Unwanted memories flooded her mind, and she suddenly felt hot tears run down her face.
Rath saw a sudden flash of pain in those beautiful golden eyes of hers. Her delicate body shook, her braided purple hair shaking from side to side with the movement of her head. He wrapped his arms around her, needing as much comfort from her as he wanted to give her. Why did he want comfort? He had a bad feeling, one that put him to sleep under the influence of a headache and a fever at night. One that made his sleep impossibly cruel.
"I'm sorry, to make you cry," he said softly, burrowing his face in her sweet smelling hair.
She held on to him, took hold of his shirt. In the calm part of her mind she was wondering at this strange change in him. But she liked it. A caring side. She'd seen some samples of it, but never like this. He was warm, and firm, supporting her frailer body like a foundation. She hugged him, sensing turmoil in him, the need for comfort.
She stayed in his arms for a long time, until her sobs quieted and finally her body breathed slowly. He finally realized she'd fallen asleep. He picked her up and walked outside. He placed her under a tree, then sat down besides her, realizing that he was tired too. He soon fell asleep in his first peaceful slumber in many weeks, his head nodding, and in his sleep, slid onto Cesia's shoulder, where her head leaned on top of his.
Ruwalk walked off from the touching sight he'd just seen. When did Rath take to Cesia so? But nevertheless, it was a touching sight, Rath leaning on Cesia's shoulder, both asleep in a peaceful slumber. He sighed. He felt so lonely. He felt tired and sick, not physically, but emotionally. He wished he had someone to lean onto like that. He was all alone. No one to talk to, no one to share a single emotion with. He was actually attracted to the long, aquamarine- haired secretary who now slept in bed with a cold. But despite how outward people saw him as, no matter that he was always talking, cracking jokes, when it came to deeper emotions, he was shy. And it was tearing him apart.
He punched the wall, then put his forehead on his arm, and rested against the wall. Being alone wasn't nice. He rather wished to know what Alfeegi thought of him, but he already knew the answer. Ruwalk went against Alfeegi in all matters, helping the Lord sneak out, giving Kai-stern money... Alfeegi probably hated him, or at least thought him annoying and worthless. Now that he thought about it... Where was Kai-stern? He should have come back by now shouldn't he? Ruwalk became strangely alarmed. Had something happened to Kai-stern? He calmed himself down; he was letting his nerves make him paranoid. But he still decided to ask the Lord about it if he didn't come by tomorrow. He heard footsteps, and turned around to find one of the maids. He waved and walked off humming a spiffy spring tune.
"Okay! Anybody else, c'mon how about it, we have the whole day! You? Okay, how much you putting down? ... Ha! I can top that! All right, all bets are set, let's begin the game of Life!" An ecstatic Thatz jumped up and down as he rolled first, "Whoo-hoo! 8!Yeah!"
Kitchel took the die next, fire burning in her eyes, she rolled, "Yes! A nine! Beat cha!" Thatz and her glared at each other.
"Oh yeah? We'll see who wins!"
"Is it just me, or has this become a contest between them two instead of a game between all of us?" whispered one of the players to the man next to him. The man nodded speechless at the harsh name-calling that was going on between the two not-so-ex-thieves.
"Bi -" his next word was quickly cut off with a mallet that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere in Kitchel's hands.
"There, now whose turn is it?" she said sweetly. The game continued, and a couple turns later a knock was heard on the door. Suddenly, the game was no longer the Game of Life, but Pin the Face on Hard-A (keeping it PG) Tetheus. Someone ran to the door to look through the window.
"Hello? I heard that you were playing games here, so I was wondering if I could join you," said a voice.
"Oh, it's Lykouleon, the coast is clear," said Thatz, finally waking up. The game was once again what it was at first. The door was opened for the Lord. Thatz ran up to him, his eyes shining, "You wanna join us? That's great!" He showed him to a place next to him and winked, "You're gonna learn from the master."
"Yeah, that's why he's next to me," said Kitchel.
"I would have said mistress," he snapped. She stuck out her tongue.
"That doesn't even make sense!"
"Let's just play," he grumbled.
"Ha, you know I beat you," she said.
"Now, Lord, this is the Game of Life," said Thatz, choosing to ignore her last comment.
"This isn't gambling, is it?" asked a wide-eyed Lord. Everyone in the room immediately shook their heads quickly.
"No of course not!" said Thatz.
"Yeah, this is just a game," supplied Kitchel. Every one nodded quickly.
"Oh, ok," said Lykouleon, pleased with the answer, but still slightly dubious.
"He's way too innocent," Thatz whispered to Kitchel. She nodded.
"So how do you play?" he asked. Thatz and Kitchel began explaining the rules, and soon were in the way of a fun game, somehow managing to hide the fact that they were really gambling.
"So where's the queen?" asked Kitchel.
"She and Cernozura are dressing up Cesia again," he answered, sweatdropping.
"Maybe you should let them dress you up sometime Kitchel," said Thatz.
"Eek, no way, I don't do well with dressing up," she said loudly.
"But I'm sure you'd look really nice," he said nonchalantly.
"Really?" a small blush crept on her face.
"Yup," he winked. Lykouleon watched, innocently interested, head on his hands. Suddenly, another knock was heard.
"Lord Lykouleon, are you in here?"
"Oh shoot! It's Tetheus!" There was momentary panic. But as there was no other option, the game of Life disappeared and the poster that served as their game of Pin the Face on Tetheus was back up, and everyone crowded around to hide it. Lykouleon sweatdropped. If they're not gambling, then why do they have hid the game? That picture looks a lot like Tetheus...
"Yes I am," the door opened.
"Ruwalk says that one of the ministers of Hermosa wants to talk to you about his dispute with Mel's lead banker over some business," he said. Lykouleon nodded and go up. Tetheus turned to the fighters, "And you have to do your daily training."
Everyone groaned and the fighters filed out.
"Darn it why'd they have to leave, right Kitchel?" said Thatz frustrated. Kitchel didn't respond. Thatz noticed Tetheus looking at the now unhidden poster behind him. Tetheus rubbed his head and turned, leaving Thatz and Kitchel alone. Suddenly, Thatz froze, and his hands flew to his neck.
"Choked on something?" she asked, when she finally noticed. Thatz shook his head slowly, and bent on one knee in pain. His hands moved from his throat to his chest, and he began to cough.
"You okay Thatz?" she asked, beginning to get worried. She bent down to him before he groaned and collapsed in front of her, "Thatz!" She panicked, and then dashed outside to look for help, "Tetheus! Come here, something happened to Thatz!"
"All right," he nodded seriously at her hysterics. She turned around without waiting for him and ran back inside.
"I don't know what happened to him, he was okay just before, and then he looked like he was choking and then, and then he just fainted!" she rambled desperately. She suddenly threw herself on Tetheus and began to cry. Dumbfounded and no-doubtedly unsure what to do, he hesitantly put an arm around her and awkwardly patted her.
"I'm okay," Kitchel looked up and then down at Thatz, who was now sitting up, an apologetic expression on his face, "It was just a joke."
Kitchel then noticed that she was pretty much hugging Tetheus and blushed furiously, a blush that did not go unnoticed by the thief, "I-I'm sorry, I though he was hurt, forgive me!" she bowed once and then ran out of the fighter's guild into the endless maze of the castle grounds.
"Oh darn it, I didn't mean to upset her..." said Thatz, a regretful expression on his face.
"That was a harsh trick, she was worried about you. You don't do that to people who care about you," Tetheus answered severely.
"She doesn't care about me, she cares about you!" said Thatz hotly, then covered his mouth quickly.
"Take a closer look every once in a while at her and you'd realize that you're wrong... I'm more of a paternal figure to her. You should apologize," with those words he turned and walked out, leaving a confused and dispirited Thatz on the ground.
"Don't you tell me what to do!" he muttered angrily.
Kitchel ran off, embarrassed and angry. Embarrassed at the intimacy she'd shown with Tetheus in that moment. Angry because she'd been worried about Thatz, and he'd tricked her! He was such a kid! She'd been really worried. She was surprised, but when he'd collapsed, she felt a fear she'd never felt before, she'd been afraid he was seriously hurt... and she'd lose him. She was afraid that she would have lost him... She shook her pink haired head furiously, how could he have played such a mean trick on her. A hand suddenly stroked her face and she almost screamed in surprise. She looked up to find a solemn Thatz perched on the branch above her. She grew angrier and stalked off.
"What do you want, to play another trick?" she asked hotly. She heard the soft thud of his feet as he jumped off, but didn't expect his hands on her arms, forcing her to turn.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to see if you cared..." the answer was so unexpected, and his attitude so sincere, she completely melted.
"Well, that was a mean way to find out that I do... And for that, you're going to have to buy me lunch in town!"
"Oh man! And I guess I have no choice since it was my fault..." he said, but he was secretly looking forward to it.
"Yup, how about we go tonight?" she winked.
"Why not tomorrow?"
"I think the queen is having a little party..."
"That means food!" said Thatz, already drooling in anticipation.
"Oh jeez..."
In the next chapter: Something's still wrong with Rune, and maybe Rath? Thatz and Kitchel have fun on their date, and the castle is getting ready for a small party! Woohoo! Guess what that means! Actually I'm not sure what's in the next chapter, I don't; feel like opening word and scrolling down 40 pgs and looking through beady little letters... So, you'll have to find on ur own. But I finally got the plot down, or most of it. Hehehe. I missed the bus. Third time this week. I decided that it'd be fun to stay here most of the day. Second time this week. I decided to stay home altogether. First, and since it's Friday, last, time this week. Okay okay, so I'm playing hookie. Sue me! Don't.