Mortal Flaw:

Author's Note: The original first chapter was written roughly 3 years, four months, and 19 days ago. I'm currently beginning this on December 27th, 2005 at 2:38 a.m. in the morning. Just call it boredom. I've been wanting to write something and I decided on writing in this, since I haven't in a long while.

Mortal Flaw is a yaoi story between Karsh and Glenn. I really don't want anything hot and heavy (laughs) at the moment; I guess I want more of a story than anything else, since PWP's only achieve one thing, and that's stimulation (if you're stimulated by it.) And honestly, PWP was SO 3 years ago anyway.

The original story was intended on a "let's follow this couple for awhile and see where it goes", but as my writing style has changed and my whole attitude is no longer the same, I've decided to adapt an actual story with it and gradually build a relationship. It's all a concept as I write this, really.

So, maybe I can do this. Let's see how far I get; it might be another 3 years before the next chapter is written, all depending on how it goes and how far I can get into it. Long live boredom!

Warning: If you don't like yaoi, then I don't see why you'd be reading this. It just doesn't compute with me. I guess you have the freedom to flame me, but isn't it just a big waste of time, anyway? Hell, put your energy into something else; it's not gonna change anyone's view point.

Chapter Two: Love Without Bonds

"What are you thinking?" Riddel asked a silent Karsh, who had stretched himself across the emerald-green grass with arms behind his purple head and eyes cast to the wispy clouds above him. "We only have a day before the celebration, and everyone's a little on edge. I cannot see why. We've ensured it shall be a grand occasion with no possible spoil..."

"You think too much, Lady Riddel." Karsh replied. "Me, I don't think at all these days. What's there to think about? We only have Porre to really fear, and those bastards have gone silent." He winked at her and bared a mouth filled with pearly whites. "The party's gonna be great. Don't worry about it. Worrying makes things stressful."

"I suppose.." Riddel tucked in her legs until her graceful face was seated between the curves of her knees; her hair fell around her milky-white cheeks like a veil of purple gossamer. Karsh took in her devastating beauty in such a way that it was as if one more moments glimpse would surely rupture his heart. He didn't dare turn away from it, though; it was like looking into the sun. It was so beautiful, but it could also be dangerous in the process.

Dangerous? he thought, laughing silently to himself. The barrier's closed. Dario is on the other side, with no way to reach his beloved. For all we know, she'll never see him again, and I love her very much.. Why waste such a beautiful thing?

"You ARE thinking, aren't you, Karsh?" Riddel teased. "Your brow has lowered itself upon your eyes. That's your expression when you are deep in thought. I've seen it many times before. You cannot lie to me now!" She cast a loving smile into his direction. "Tell me, what's going on inside that head?"

Karsh smiled weakly back. "Nothing. Really, I'm being very serious, Lady Riddel! Nothing's going on in my head. Just happiness, I guess. And at peace. Maybe that's it.. Yeah, peace. I got a good feeling about the future." That was a blatant lie; he feared he would never have the courage to tell her how he felt, and that his love would fall into obscurity by five years time. It was something that made him retch if he every really thought about it. And yet..

Then there was Glenn. He didn't know how he felt about that subject; he'd not crossed into it since that night when Glenn had woken up from an obviously terrible dream, but that feeling he had had when Glenn tossed and turned, called out, begged Karsh to hold him.. It was unsettling, even a bit.. arousing?

Now that's damn weird, he thought. Doesn't make any sense at all to me, either. Glenn's my best friend. Furthermore, I've never felt like that towards any guy, ever. Ah, it was just a reflex, I guess. Well... Maybe not a REFLEX, but something else.. It's unimportant.

"Karsh, you're keeping so much from me today!" Riddel said with a mock slap directed at his stomach. It felt like she had just caressed him, and that, too was unsettling. "You have to tell me or I won't be able to help you with it. It must be really serious. Your brow almost covered all of your eyes this time.."

"Don't worry yourself, Lady Riddel!" he replied. "It's nothing. I'm ok."

"If you say so, Karsh.." Riddel whispered. She too looked above her as a Beeba-shaped cloud passed on by.

"Don't get yourself in such a state. I promised Riddel I'd take her around Termina, remember? I can't play host to everyone..!"

"It's not that, Karsh! You said you had nothing to do on the celebration." Glenn cast cold eyes to his friend while he plunged both hands into a pile of dirty laundry. Every week, some soldiers came by to take the used sheets and clothing down to Termina port to collect a bucketful of water and a large bag of dry soap. It was a duty most of the "washers" hated, but they were paid quite handsomely for it, so not many complained. Glenn was used to doing his own laundry. It bothered him to have someone else do it for him; it made him feel dependant, and that was something he hated feeling.

"I'll come back and keep you company, Glenn." Karsh teased. "Besides, we have the others coming up as well; Leena, Nikki (before he sings, that is), and even Kid's promised to make a momentary appearance."

"Kid? Is she still searching for Serge?" Glenn immediately ceased thinking of his loneliness. They hadn't seen Kid (or Serge, for that matter) since the Time Devourer's defeat. That was awhile back; Kid left early morning to look around El Nido and even the Mainland above for a way back to the parallel world that Serge currently resided in. She wasn't going to forget.. Maybe he would, but she couldn't. It was probable that she loved him dearly.

Poor girl, he thought, sitting down on his bed while Karsh rummaged through his own pile of clothes. It must feel like hell to have someone you love ripped away from you like that.. It was fate, no doubt.. But is fate even real?

"Get up, Glenn. We have to take these outside. The 'washers' will be around by noon, and we can't sit here all day." Karsh knelt down to pick all his whites up before going to the door. He turned to look at his friend. "What's worrying you?"

"Nothing.." Glenn lied. Just past events, that's all.. All of them should be meaningless to me, but I can't help.. Maybe because of my current...?

"You didn't answer my question." Glenn spoke. "Is Kid still searching for Serge?"

"To my knowledge, yah. Then again, we haven't seen her for at least a few weeks. What's wrong?"

Glenn shook his head in reply. Nothing was really wrong; he was just curious, that's all.

"How much time do you plan to spend with Riddel, Karsh?" Glenn, too, knelt to gather his own clothes so he could place them in the small hamper outside. "I know her father is wanting her to make a speech at the gathering. I don't see how you can be with her all day."

Karsh shrugged. He was too busy fumbling in his dark's to think too much on Glenn's question.

"I don't want to have to wait by the entrance all day." Glenn muttered. He looked down at his hands like a little boy. What the hell was wrong with him? He didn't need Karsh around to have a good time; all he did was show off anyway, and what fun was in making a complete jack ass of yourself in front of people? On second thought, maybe it'd be better if he just walked around Termina for awhile before going by his father's grave. That age old tradition of placing a Bellflower on the tomb stone might be only for certain occasions, but it gave him a sort of peace inside to look at it and talk to it.

"You know what," Glenn said, "Just have fun with Riddel. I have some things I want to do tomorrow anyway. So be with her. I know you-"

"Don't finish that sentence.." Karsh warned playfully.

"Alright.."

Karsh looked up at Glenn and sighed quickly. "I didn't mean to sound mean, Glenn. I do love Riddel. I won't lie to you. I just don't think it needs to be said so much, you know? Ahh, forget it. I'm not gonna leave you alone all day. We can go do something later; I hear they have a few games in town. Maybe even a Dragon Race provided by the feeder."

Glenn nodded. "We can do that.."

"Don't look so glum. Hell, maybe even both you, Riddel, and I can go walking sometime later. I'm not gonna hog her all to myself. So cheer up! It's gonna be great."

Glenn smiled weakly. "I know."

The waves lapped at her toes, pulling the sand away and tickling the undersides of her feet in the process. She'd promised the others she would be here, and she was; however, it didn't feel like it would be in her best interest to stay for too long. Termina, while beautiful, was a melancholy sort of place with too many memories of the past.. The past she was still trying to regain.

Serge seemed so close yet so far away from her. It was odd to think that he could be standing where she was now, overlooking the many-colored hues of blue lingering within the curling waters of the ocean. The entirety of that expanse resembled a flooring of sapphires, stretching out to the great, blue wonder. While she normally wouldn't think too much on the ocean, she couldn't help it these days. It calmed her on lonely hours, brought a sense of peace to her soul. To think that he was there at the moment also comforted her. She didn't like feeling like a blubbering little fool; could she really be lovesick? Did she love Serge? No, she couldn't.. Love was for weak, little girls.

Kid, get ahold of yourself, she thought, kicking a mound of sand up as she got to her feet. You'll find him one of these days, even if it's the last damn thing you do! Go on with your life until then. There's a way to meet him..

Angelus Errare.. She stood there on Opassa Beach, scanning the perimeter for a way into his world. She clutched her pendant tightly but nothing happened. She even shook it a little. Nothing, no portal, no nothing. What a waste of time.

"Dammit, Serge, where the hell are ya? Come on! You gotta find a way back. You can't just stay there when I need you. Don't forget me.. Don't.."

"Talking to yourself is a sign of madness, you know." came a friendly, teasing voice from behind her. Kid turned to see Leena standing a few feet behind her own place. She smiled in recognition.

"Oh yeah? Maybe I am mad.. How ya been?"

"I'm ok. You?" asked Leena. "I haven't seen you in such a long time. How's the search going?"

Kid rolled her eyes. Did everyone know? People kept asking her over and over again; it wasn't anyone's business, but it did ensure her desire to continue the search. She shook her head, tucking the pendant back into her pocket and walking towards the fair-haired youth.

"I missed you." admitted Leena. "We all have. We don't get to see you these days. I haven't seen anyone since then, actually. This world's Poshul has been gone for a long time, and without Serge around ripping through dimensions, it's been real boring."

"Tell me about it." Kid laughed to herself at the mention of boredom. It really had been. There was nothing to do what with Porre's silence and Lynx's demise. Nothing at all; just walking around, searching for clues that never lead to anything. She'd be better off finding a way into the future and discovering a way to cross over, but without her Big Sis to help her, there was no chance in doing that.

"Are you going to the celebration tomorrow?" Leena asked, sitting down in Kid's place and digging her fingers into the damp sand. "I said I would. I guess everyone from this world will be there. It's a bit painful to think about, especially now that we don't have the one person we really wanted there, but it might be fun."

"It might be. Who knows. We'll see Riddel and the Acacia Dragoons, at least. Haven't spoken to them in.. damn.."

Leena laughed. "Exactly. You should be ashamed of yourself." She laughed again as Kid wrinkled her nose. "It's understandable. If I had the way, I'd be searching too.. Oh, no, don't worry, I'm not trying to move in on your expedition, but I'd like to see him again, at least."

Kid shrugged. It didn't matter anymore who was looking for him. Just as long as he was found and brought here. It did not feel right to have him there in another world. Kid felt like she was being selfish, but it didn't matter to her.. She had to see him again.. She just had to..

"Yeah.. Awkward moment." Leena murmured. She grabbed a handful of sand and rubbed her fingers through its rough texture. It felt like wet dirt; the billion grains had turned to a sickly-brown mush packed with molecules of salt water. She threw the ball of sand into the upcoming tide and watched it hit the water in a radiant splash. "Big time awkward.."

"No, no." Kid responded. "I was just thinking stupid thoughts. Do you wanna go wander around or catch something to eat? Hell, catch up?" She gave a weak laugh to back up this sudden idea.

"Sure. We got nothing else to do, do we? Might as well make a day of it."

The two walked side by side out of the coral way of Opassa beach and into the blurry stretch of grass and sun-bathed land.

Glenn walked along the winding pathway to the small hut he and his brother shared at one time, long ago. This path was drenched in far away memories; his brother was someone he had looked up to, wanted to be.. Now..

Glenn was his own person. He owned ideas of his own, spoke in his own manner.. He didn't need his shadow of a brother to guide him any further into life. It was true he missed him, but the ghost of the past had been chased too many times before.

Karsh loved Riddel.. The ghost no longer seemed to have sway over the purple-headed man. For some reason, Glenn felt envious about the blossoming relationship between Riddel and Karsh. It was merely built upon friendship, as Riddel still held onto the hope that the portal would be opened and her man would jump out and retrieve her. Karsh was blind sighted by his love; he knew not of Riddel's own feelings, only his. Glenn grew angry every time he saw the two together. What was he jealous over? Was it Karsh? Or was it Riddel? Could he honestly have feelings toward his best friend..?

"Yeah right.." he told himself. "That is impossible. But I have never felt anything towards anyone else. Is it.. is it possible that I care about Karsh in a different way? I would have to find out what kind of way first. It would be silly to call it love; I know not of how I feel about him. I will have to look at this possibility with an open mind and not fall upon the ways of thinking of this day and age.. It could be true.. I could love him.. It just would not feel right.."

He stood before the tiny, closed doorway to the hut with both feet pressed firmly together. He spread his legs apart slightly before placing his hand upon the shiny, metal door knob. A sudden knot had gathered where his Adam's Apple lay. Some days he came here to think. There were usually kids around, playing, laughing, making merriment in the front yard where the old scarecrow-like dummy stood. A pang of feeling shot up from the pit of his stomach and cast an icy sensation all over his front. Tears were apparent; they wouldn't be allowed to come through, though.

"Dario.. I wish you were here to take Riddel away from Karsh.." he suddenly said aloud. "She needs you now more than ever. I need you, too."

I'm being selfish, he thought, and I haven't even accepted these feelings.. I'll have to think on it some more..

He walked into the little room and sat down on his old bed, plopping his feet upon each other and leaning back with hands on stomach. His whole body felt warm and relaxed; it was a feeling he didn't get too much these days, and it was a damn shame, too. When Lynx was thought to have been a friend, not yet a foe, Glenn had come here and think all day long, wondering if the General was being manipulated and how he could help. He felt so helpless back then.. And even now, he knew that feeling hadn't fully gone away.

He was knocked out of his pondering by the sound of familiar footsteps creaking across the floor board. It was Karsh.

"There you are. Lunch is almost ready. Why are you in here, hiding away?" teased the violet-haired man.

"I'm not hiding."Glenn defended. "Just thinking a little. I'll be up there in a little while. Save me a place?"

"Sure thing, bro. Or you could just walk with me up there? We could talk a little.."

Glenn agreed and rose to his feet with a loud thunk. He looked at his friend, feeling a flush suddenly burn in his cheeks. Could it be love..?

"You ready?" asked Karsh.

"Yeah."

"Alright. Don't lag behind. I might leave ya." Karsh winked.

"Mm, the food looks so good!"

Riddel wrapped her long, graceful fingers around the outer rim of the bowl, pulling it towards her as gingerly as she could manage. It was made entirely of rare El Nido crystal, blue-tinged with little red flecks at the very bottom, and was used specifically for honey-coated puddings. The pudding jiggled as she dug her curved, amber-studded spoon into its contents and dug out a large portion. Karsh watched her with love in his eyes.

"Will there be pudding at the celebration tomorrow?" asked Marcy, who had taken her place beside Zoah. "I love pudding; it's so sweet and.. It's like, really good. And good for you, I hear."

"ONLY CERTAIN TYPES OF PUDDING." Zoah butted in. "SOMETIMES IT'S FILLED WITH FAT. IF YOU PLAN TO DIET, IT'D BE BEST TO LEAVE IT OUT."

"Diets are so last month.."

Glenn accepted his portion of pudding before noticing General Vipers disapproving eye. Pudding was always reserved for last, but everyone in the hall acted like a bunch of children when it came to it.

"Why are you hesitating, Glenn?" asked Riddel softly. "Don't you like pudding? Or are you on a diet yourself?"

"No, no, of course not. I was just wondering if we should wait until we receive our main course before helping ourselves to it."

Karsh threw back his head in a roar of laughter. "Don't be so rule-bound, Glenn. Go ahead, eat some. Might as well before we all eat it."

"Like a bunch of pigs." Marcy chirped in.

"PIGS? HARDLY..."

Riddel placed a hand over her mouth to stop a sudden "cough" and dipped her amber-studded spoon into her portion, curling the hollow area into the delicate surface and cutting herself out a piece. She lavished on the texture for a few moments before swallowing and repeating the process.

Karsh watched her with interest, while Glenn felt the knot grow heavier in his stomach.

"When will our main course get here?" asked Marcy. "Like, I'm starving.."

"HAVE PATIENCE. THE CHEF WAS KIND ENOUGH TO PREPARE US SOMETHING A BIT LATER. WE SHOULD WAIT FOR IT.."

"You're such a stiff sometimes, Zoah." Marcy replied with venom.

"Now, now, you two." Viper warned. "Settle down and sit there quietly. All of you are acting like a couple of kids.."

Marcy raised her hand in annoyance. "Umm.."

"Well.. I guess you are the exception.. Since you ARE a child." Karsh teased.

Marcy stuck out her tongue before eating a bit of her pudding.

A few minutes later, several waiters came into the small room carrying silver, lidded trays. They were set in front of the group; lobster, stuffed crab; most of the food was sea-based, all steaming and bright red from the boil, and there were several fried trays filled with delicious bread-type items. Karsh felt his mouth begin to water as he reached for a piece of stuffed crab. Nothing beat El Nido's food.

"I hope we are treated to the same type of meal tomorrow." Riddel spoke out after swallowing a bit of her own food. "I shall be in heaven if so."

Glenn caught Karsh's eye and tried his best to return the smile he was given.

to be continued