Here's the next chappie! Aren't I good?

Rath: You're only good if ur a demon. And ur not. SO ur WORTHLESS!

Animegoil: That was mean... Not that he cares.. You care, right Rune?

Rune: What were you saying again?

Animegoil: He wasn't even paying attention... puts paper bag over head and runs into the closet Man its dark in here.

Thatz: Duh.

Kharl: Are you all having fun?

Knights: No. We're bored

Animegoil: Then let's have a party!

Everyone: YAY!

Possessed by a Memory: Chapter 5

Cesia wondered what Rath would say or do after yesterday. She'd woken up to find him gone, but the memory of being held by him was very fresh in his mind. Zoma looked at her.

"Well, I'm going to have some lunch, coming?"

"Nah, I had lunch in the queen's room while she was dressing me and Kitchel up."

"Oh, okay, then see ya at the party!" he got up and headed inside to the castle. Cesia giggled and walked around, picking flowers to make an arrangement.

"Hey... Is that all just for tonight's little thing?"

"Hi Rath... yeah, you know how much Raseleane and Cernozura love to dress me up."

"I saw Kitchel running around all dressed up too, hehe, I guess not all's lost," he chuckled.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You've seen everything when there's a thief running around in a princess' dress."

"Oh, I guess so. So, um, what do you think of tonight's party?"

"Actually, it's Tetheus' birthday, but he doesn't like to make a big deal about his age or whatever, so the queen just says it's a normal party. I think she gives him a cake in the morning or something."

"Oh yeah, you would know, having lived here all your life."

"Hm... You know...," he said, and stepped closer to her to turn her around, wrapping his arms around her in a very nonchalant way, "I guess living here hasn't been that bad. You know I hate them, and I can't wait for death to finally take me, but I guess really it's not that bad... and maybe I actually care for them."

Jeez, what a way to dampen a conversation, wish that you were dead... she thought. She sighed, "You're so strange. But you don't like me all that much, at least... not all of me..."

"I said once, and I'll say it again, if it wasn't for the light dragon amulet, you'd be intolerable. But it's the tolerable side I like..."

"That's true... but demon and demon go together don't they?" she said, putting a finger under his chin.

"Maybe..." he said kissing her lightly. She tensed visibly. 'Jeez, this was what any logical person would expect to have happened next' Rath thought amusedly. But she was always surprised by his actions, unless it involved demons.

"Why do you do that..." she said, leaning into the kiss.

"Do what?" he whispered, running a hand down her neck and upper back. She shivered at the touch, and promptly he felt her arms rubbing his back and around his waist.

"Surprise me."

"Like you just did?" he asked as he felt her hands slide to his chest, and presently leaned back to allow her small body to lay on his, and her hands to curve under his head. Her head leaned next to his, so that she breathed on his cheek, and his breath fell on her ear.

"This is the most comfortable position I've ever been in..."

He mumbled something in agreement, and then they both laid on the soft grass, her body curled up to his side, his arms around her waist, her arms around his neck and under his head.

Rune was in a dark room, there was no way out, no doors or windows. He couldn't see anything in his prison. Suddenly, a bright fire lit up in the middle of the room. He stepped closer to the fire, and looked in. Something silver caught his eye, a pretty silver necklace. Rune's hands flew up to his neck, it was bare. He looked in closer, dreading what he'd see. A girl's body... no, a young woman's body. Golden hair being burnt to a fine ash, elven ears being licked by the fire. Her body just a dark blur covered by fire, hands clasped above her breast, the fine white cloth that once covered her body burnt away. Only, the fire did not touch her face yet. A thin delicate face, small nose, large eyes, now closed against the heat. Rune trembled. Suddenly the eyes opened. Eyes so like his own, only a light, crystalline purple.

"You did not save me... Can you save me now?" her light faerie voice floated to his ears. A tear slid down his face, unable to relieve the tension and despair that so burdened his heart.

"I can't... but I can die with you!" he said, before throwing himself onto the fire, trying to grasp the small feminine face, to kiss it, and hold it until the fire killed them both in suffocating heat. But instead, all he was able to grasp was the necklace, the silver necklace. And now he was alone, laying on the cold stone floor, holding the necklace, the fire gone, her body gone.

Rune woke, shivering and sweating at the same time. He realized the blanket had fallen to the floor. But this wasn't his room... Oh yes, Alfeegi'd let him sleep in his room. He still trembled with the memory of the dream, and is hands fingered the necklace. Would he ever be able to forget the girl? The burning? He was afraid that for a while at least, the memory of that battle would haunt him. He groaned, now aware of the headache that pounded in his head. He got up and made his way out of the room to his own. It was past noon. He changed clothing and then headed to the dining hall, the headache now worse. He was still shivering, and his walk was slow and groggy. He walked in, not surprised to find Thatz still eating. A couple seats away was Tetheus, also eating.

"Good... Afternoon," he said to Thatz and Tetheus. He just nodded, and Thatz managed to mumble out something in between bites.

"Wow... you're up late... Rune, watcha gonna do today?" he asked after a while. Rune paused, fork with mashed potatoes in the air. He sneezed.

"Sleep," he said finally.

"Really? You're tired?" he asked incredulous. Rune nodded, "Well, I guess so, you're not looking too well, I think you caught Alfeegi's cold."

"I'm gonna sleep outside, just a nap."

"Okay, just stay away from the tree next to the lake, me and Kitchel are doing something important," he said, and Rune thought he saw a slight blush.

"Um, sure," Thatz got up, and Rune finished eating. He sneezed. He really did need to sleep. He got up and headed outside, the afternoon air and bright sunshine refreshing him already. He walked around looking for a nice place to sit down and have a nap. Turning a corner he stumbled upon Rath and Cesia, and immediately swerved around and back. He'd kinda thought Rath didn't like Cesia... she being a yokai and all. But here they were, sleeping together, looking for all the world like the world could die and they wouldn't care as long as they were together. He peeked at them. Cesia was lying next to Rath, her hands around his neck, her face close to his. He had his arms wrapped around her, on his face the slightest hint of a smile. I guess that's what spending all that time with each other did to them.

He wished he could share a moment like that with someone sometime... like with Tintlet... Now that he thought about it, what had they done when they were alone up in Mount MFartha? He dismissed it and walked on, leaving them two in their happy slumber. He was getting really tired, his headache hadn't lessened, and now his stomach was full. He plopped down on the grass and lay there, looking up at the wildflowers that grew amidst the tall, soft grass. Now this was comfortable. He turned on his side until his breath quieted and his head stopped pounding so hard, nature always did help him get better faster. His thoughts strayed to the dead flowerbed he'd laid the young girl in... Before that monster had destroyed her body... His head pounded harder, invigorated by his anger. But it hurt enough so that he concentrating on easing it. He fell asleep with the breeze blowing grass in his face, and the wildflowers shading his face from the warmth of the sun.

"So, I got the flowers, you like?"

"They're beautiful," Kitchel replied, taking a whiff of the bouquet. Man, Thatz was really serious about this girl. They were now under the tree next to the lake. Thatz looked at his reflection in the dark lake water.

"And then some sweet words, and I confess my love."

"Right... So Thatz, who is this girl?"

"You'll find out in a sec, I told her to be here right about now... get in the tree," he said, looking pretty relaxed, in fact there was something very devious about him.

"Sure," she said, taking her shoes off, and he helped her up, handicapped as she was by the dress.

"You know you look very cute in that dress up in a tree?" he said grinning.

"You're supposed to say that stuff to your girlfriend," she said blushing... She really didn't want to hear him confess his love to another girl. Was it because... she wished it was her instead? It was... She sighed, looking at the sun through the leaves to hide the shininess of her eyes. Minutes passed, and she looked down.

"You sure she's coming?"

"It's been half an hour..." he said. But he didn't seem worried at all.

"I guess she's not coming..." she said, jumping down with difficulty, her dress flaring out as she landed, and she hastily put her shoes back on.

"Hehe, she's here," he said, turning to her, and before she had a chance to say anything, he knelt down in front of her and held his bouquet out.

"With these flowers, I confess my love..." he stood up, and she took the flowers, too bewildered to say anything. He stepped closer and kissed her neck. "And I promise to always be with you, and protect you... And love you like the night loves the stars and the moon. To never look into another's eyes like I have looked upon yours... and never kiss another like I have you, and I promise to kiss you like the sun kisses the flowers on a bright day... My love will never falter, and will brighten you on sad days, and I just hope... you can love me in return... The way I will love you from now on..." he whispered, meanwhile caressing her hair, and kissing her face lightly. She dropped the flowers.

"You tricked me!" she said in astonishment, not without a hint of fierceness. Her hands moved with the same fierceness behind his head to kiss him harshly.

"Well, what can I say, I'm pretty good aren't I?" He smiled, his hands moving of their own accord, lowering her to the ground. She sat in his lap, hugging him, wile he kissed her hair and stroked her back.

"You're very good, and I'm going to hate you forever for being so mean..." she said, kissing him again, until she broke off for air. She laid her head on his shoulder, sitting happily, until she realized that he was asleep, "Leave it to you to fall asleep at a moment like this," she said adoringly.

"Hey, Rune, wake up..." said an anxious voice. Rune waved his hand and dismissed it. His head was so heavy... He could barely lift it, and he was so hot, God he was hot. But the voice insisted, joined by another one. He was too tired to even open his eyes, and the effort of raising his voice the least bit to make himself heard was too much.

"C'mon Rune, are you okay?" the voice grew more anxious. He was shaken roughly and groaned.

"Well, he's alive at least..." said the second voice. He stirred, but found he was too tired to sit up. A hand suddenly took him and helped him to a sitting position. Rune held onto the arm, it being the only thing he could find for support. He finally opened his eyes, and braced himself against the shattering dizziness. Rath was holding him up, keeping him from falling over. Thatz was now coming to help him stand up, and they slowly raised him up.

"No... wait, I just wanna sleep..." he groaned.

"Yeah well, I think you should sleep inside, you have a really bad fever," said Thatz worriedly, and Cesia suddenly ran up to them, holding a glass.

"Rune, are you all right? We've been looking all over, and when we found you, you were burning up and wouldn't wake up..." she said worriedly, and handed him the glass, but his hands were shaking, and he couldn't hold it steady enough to drink. So Rath took it, and held it up to his lips, and Rune finally drank, the cool liquid washing down his parched mouth and waking him up more effectively than their ranting was. Ruwalk and Alfeegi came up looking anxious. Jeez, all he needed was some sleep... True, he felt like throwing up, and Lord was he hot, but all he needed was some sleep... Their mumbling was becoming a roaring in his ears, all blending together in a noise that was bringing back the headache he'd thought he'd lost.

Alfeegi looked up at the worried figures in front of him. Rath, Thatz, Cesia and Kitchel were standing in his office. Rath and Thatz were looking especially worried.

"Have you seen Rune? We're looking for him, but we can't find him..." said Rath.

"No, I haven't," said Alfeegi surprised. Wouldn't Rune be in his room, getting ready for Tetheus' make-believe-it's-not-his-birthday party? Thatz looked deep in thought.

"Wait, I think I know where he is! I think he's outside, he said he was tired and was going to take a nap outside!" Thatz snapped his fingers. Rath blinked and dashed outside. Thatz and Cesia followed, but Kitchel remained behind, and with a wave at Alfeegi, ran into the halls. Alfeegi stood up and walked out of his office and down the hall until he was looking outside. They were already up the hill. A shuffle of footsteps caught his attention, and he swerved around to find a dejected looking Ruwalk making his way to the dining hall.

"Hey Ruwalk, what's wrong?" he said apprehensively. Ruwalk looked up and immediately his face was plastered with a fake smile and he straightened. But at the reproving look Alfeegi gave him, he settled back and sighed.

"Nothing, I was just worried... about Kaistern..." he said.

"Yeah, I guess he's a bit overdue, but why are you so worried?"

"No reason... What were you looking at out there?" he said changing the subject, and Alfeegi let him, not sure how to respond to the previous subject.

"Rune was missing, and Thatz thinks he's out there sleeping or something, so they went out to find him..."

"They? Rune's missing?" he said alarmed.

"Rune Rath and Cesia... Kitchel was with them but she headed off somewhere else... yeah, they couldn't find him in the castle, why were you so worried?"

"I'm just paranoid..."

"O-kay..." Alfeegi trailed off as he saw Cesia running to the castle and entered, brushing past them without a second glance.

"Where you going? Did you find him?" Alfeegi called after her, then took off, and heard Ruwalk mutter something and chase after him. He almost ran into Cesia on her way back, carrying a glass in her hands, and stopped her.

"Did you find him?" asked Ruwalk urgently.

"Yeah. But I have to go and take this to him, he's not waking up..." she said distractedly and took off.

"Maybe he just caught your cold, Alfeegi, you were out like a light..." "I wasn't... but maybe he did, and if so, he needs to be in bed, the only reason it wasn't so bad for me was because I stayed in bed the whole day and Rune took such good care of me," said Alfeegi, taking Ruwalk by the hand and dragging him outside forcefully enough that Ruwalk almost fell.

"W-Woa!" he said.

"Hurry up!" Alfeegi laughed. He saw a trio of figures, with one hovering close by, make their way down the hill. He let go Ruwalk and they both ran to them, meeting them a second after.

"What's wrong with Rune?" Ruwalk asked, taking Rune from the two flustered knights, and holding him between Alfeegi and himself.

"I don't know, but he has a fever. He says he just wants to sleep," said Thatz, following Alfeegi and Ruwalk, who carried the pale, flushed Rune. He was mumbling something as he hung limply between the two Dragon Officers. They walked him as quickly as possible to his room, where they laid him down on his bed.

"Déjà vu, this is just like last time..." said Ruwalk, Alfeegi nodded.

"Yeah, I guess..." said Rath, he seemed the most worried, giving unguarded looks to the silver necklace hanging from Rune's neck. Rune was pale, he seemed to have gotten worse. His breathing was slow, and his face flushed with the fever, shimmering with sweat. His body stirred feverishly, lashing out every once in a while.

"Where was he?" asked Ruwalk.

"Just outside in that little field..." said Thatz, "He was out like a light."

"You seem to say that a lot. 'Out like a light'. Favorite saying?"

"He's just not creative enough to find another way to say it," Kitchel piped in from somewhere.

"Dang, where'd she run off to?" Thatz asked, surprised to hear her voice and not see her around.

Alfeegi and Ruwalk left to find Cernozura, while Rath and Thatz stayed in the room, Cesia staying too, to comfort Rath, who was now glaring at the necklace.

"I don't think he should be wearing that..." he said fiercely.

"Well, last time you told him that, he went berserk," said Thatz, "Besides, it is just a necklace... Maybe it's special to elves, maybe demons can't touch it."

"You touch it then, let's see if it does the same to humans," Rath looked at his hand, the red mark was still slightly visible.

"Um, no thanks, like I said, maybe only elves can touch it."

"Maybe it's just a cold," suggested Cesia. As if to answer, Rune suddenly sneezed, "See?"

"Oh, I guess so," said Rath blinking. Rune sneezed again.

"He was sneezing a lot during lunch today too, and since he was taking care of Alfeegi, it's only natural that he caught his cold. He'll be okay tomorrow morning."

"All right, scoot out of the way dear," said Cernozura, coming in between Thatz and Cesia. She sat next to Rune, taking his temperature and feeling his face. Rune sneezed in his sleep. She scooped him in her arms and took a pill from her pocket, dropping it in a glass of water she'd brought along, and opened his mouth. She placed the glass to his lips where he subconsciously swallowed the water. He opened his eyes.

"Where... oh-"

"It's all right Rune," Cernozura said, settling him back in his bed, "You just have a cold, sleep here and you'll be fine," she said firmly, getting up and turning to Rath and Thatz, "He's fine, just take care of him. You can still go to the party, he'll be fine sleeping here."

"I just wanna sleep, I'm fine," said Rune closing his eyes and everyone laughed as he sneezed mid-yawn. Then he dropped off.

"See? There we go, all-right now, let him sleep, everyone out, you can come later after the party."

"Ow!" Thatz said, "Some one stepped on my foot as they were going out!" he claimed.

"That would be me," said Kitchel coming up.

"Where've you been?" he demanded. She danced up and took his arm, dragging him up to the dining hall.

"Thinking. I'm glad Rune's okay at least," she said, jumping on him.

"Thinking? Hey you weren't even there when we went to find Rune..." he said.

"No, but I was watching, and I had to go get something," she said brightly.

"Riight..."

"So you're doubting my good will towards Rune?"

"No, I'm doubting your good will to helping out."

"Okay, that one may have hit the bull's eye, but really I knew he was okay. Look at this..." she said, drawing out from her bosom a small necklace, with a bright white stone hanging loosely from it, "Cesia gave it to me, it's like a fortune telling stone. You can ask it some simple questions, and it will tell you either yes or no."

"How?" he said, greatly interested.

"Easy, you ask a question with a yes or no answer, and then if it's yes, then it will turn clear. If no, it turns black. It can't be used to locate people, but I asked if Rune had a cold, and it said yes."

"Really, can you ask if there's a lot of good food to eat tonight?"

A sigh, "Fine," the stone cleared until it looked almost invisible. Thatz whooped with joy and sped off to the ballroom, where the royal couple was already in place along with the other Dragon Officers.

Finally, in the next chapter is the party. It's not that much of a big deal, but some interesting things happen in the next chapter. Man I'm bored.. gonna go read DNAngel fanfics now... trying to read all 330 or so... still have 230 to go... oh well... I'm not in a good mood... all cause of one lousy guy. I hate him... gr.. ugh. If I go into details... well, long story.. I'm mad at him.

Rath: Poor poor u.

Rune: I'm glad... she deserves pain and punishment.

Animegoil: Jeez, I feel like Rune's my conscience. Telling me I did bad for helping Duy cheat on his test... I only gave him one answer, I swear! The poor guy only had about 7 out of 20 questions answered...

Thatz: UR BAD! ... Cool! Wanna go steal stuff?

Aniemgoil: ... I'm not a law breaker... sweatdrops

Thatz: Whatever runs off to nearest convenience store

Gil: Does anyone have a stuffed animal?

Aniemgoil: What for?

Gil: I'm lonely. I wanna hug something soft and little.

Aniemgoil: checks hereslef: poke I'm soft measures herself I'm little. Conclusion: YOU CAN HUG ME! runs to Gil and hugs him

Thatz: returns will a suspiciously large backpack

Rune: As the official conscience, I decided that Thatz should go help Alfeegi file papers as punishment for stealing... again.

Thatz: I didn't steal!

Rath: OOOhh! When did we get a brand new Gamecube and X-Box?

Thatz: sweatdrops Okay.. so I did take a couple things...

Aniemgoil: If I get more reviews in the next couple days, then u'll get to pass torture tiem with Alfeegi

Rune: Hey, that's not fair! He needs punishment!

Thatz: PLZ REVIEW! I don't' wanna work!

Rath: You never do...

Animegoil: I think Rath and Hiei look alike, ne?

Thatz: We're getting off the subject. REVIEW TO SAVE ME!