A/N: Oh thank you all very much for the reviews. I appreciated them very much. Thank you all for being patient and not killing me for up-dating sooner. As much of a shock this is, I have a life outside of the internet world gasps...I know, scary thought, but have no fear everyone, I will be ok. Thank you so very very much for the reviews once more throws cookies to reviewers thankies!

Warning: Spoilers from the First Season (accurately written down from the English dub: sorry if you didn't like the English version)

Ok, enough of that, on with the story!

Tragic

By: Apherion

Original story by: Sawada Hajime

Cleao's Suspicion

I waved goodbye to my future brother-in-law and my younger friend. It had taken me a while to compose myself, and to convince them that I was fit for traveling back to Totokanta by myself. Hartia had offered Caroline, his bull, or Elizabeth, his moa, to take me. I had declined respectfully. I didn't want to inconvenience him whatsoever. He was such a kind man, very funny. I laughed in spite of myself, and then my sullen point of view flowed into place. It never could stay away for long. I knew the waves of self-resentment and anguish over the past would sink in eventually after my happy moments.

I passed over the graveyard. Azalie's supposed gravestone still stood where it was. Where the last battle had been acted out was here. I shivered slightly, hugging my arms around my shoulders. Wow, it'd been five years since that occurred.

"It really was that long ago," I jumped, seeing a hooded figure approaching, his feet barely making any impression upon the ground he walked. A tuft of green hair slipped in front of his face and I realized.

"Lai…what are you doing here?" He didn't pull back his hood, but I recognized his voice a little after registering it-as well as the hair giving it away.

"I came here, expecting you to show any moment. I would intercept you at all costs… It was in my recent divination." I nodded, confused expression erased with ease.

"What is it that you wish to speak to me about?"

"More like to warn you about. I feel you'll be tempted by someone like me to do something great. Don't take the offer. You mustn't. If you do…grave happenings," I held up my hand for him to stop.

"I feel something severe would be best spent on me, don't you think? I'm terribly sorry for wasting your time." I began to walk away, feeling the pressure tighten against my heart. My arm was grasped tightly.

"Cleao, I know what it is you are going through. Do not risk your life for your own selfishness." He was trying my patience, this seer was.

"When I need someone to help me chose my direction in life, I'll call. However, at the moment, I wish for more than anything to be left to myself. Will you grant this? Or shall I take it by force?" He let go of my arm, knowing him, unfazed.

"I knew you would say that, but please. I implore you to think it through. Don't be a fool and throw what you have away." I whipped around, anger boiling hot.

"Funny," malice dripped from the words, "I have been calling myself a fool for the past four years! 'Throw what you have away' you say, what do I have? I have nothing! Your precious Krylancelo," I spat out the name, I didn't complete the sentence. "No," I shook my head. "It wasn't Orphen who took away what I had. It was Azalie. What has she ever done? She was too great for her own good. She knew that she could have whatever and whoever she wanted, and she wanted to be difficult. She had to be a go-getting, ruthless, thoughtless to her actions, love-sick woman who couldn't put aside her feelings for Childman."

"You may not realize it, but as are you when it comes to Krylancelo." I gasped my right hand over my mouth. My long, thin fingers curled into a fist and dropped heavily to my side; I followed it with my gaze. My eyes stung once more with brewing tears. I bit my bottom lip, and then raised my stare back up to him. I could feel my heart become exposed to an imaginary cold wind and an imaginary wound. I closed my arms around my chest and fell to my knees, scrapping them thoroughly in the process. My light goldenrod hair cascaded over my cream colored shoulders, spilling over my wet face.

"Stand up you pathetic, worthless girl." A cold voice drifted alluringly into her awaiting ears.

"N-n-no," I stuttered, sniffling to stop the flow of tears. I couldn't give into the voice, something inside me told me to be strong.

"Stand, or else I'll do it once again." I stayed; I felt a hand strike me across my soft cheek. I touched the sore spot and winced; tears were stopping for the moment.

"Stand up," his voice drowned everything out. I held out my right arm. His grip enclosed the frail piece of body. It was unlike any grip I had ever encountered. It was brutal and death-like. I tried to protest against it, only for him to tighten his grip. He yanked me to my feet…I only wished they'd have reached the grass that I had left.

"I will let you go if you continue to fight against it." That's when I opened my eyes and looked down. I was only being held from plummeting to my death by my wrist in his hand. I looked around, and noticed a girl. The purple hair couldn't be mistaken for anyone else. She was also clinging for dear life, just not by the same hands. Childman held her out by her right wrist, speaking in sorcerer.

"Trust in me, I won't let you fall," but as my captor said it, his gaze drifted from me to her. I felt my heart jump into my throat and my stomach drop several notches. His seemed to disappear as if he wasn't even there. I felt suspended for a mere second, then my feet's weight brought me down; now I was gripping onto the ledge. I felt my bangs begin to be lifted by a woman's hand. She smiled down on me.

"Illusions are fun to make, I'm sorry you got the wrong impression." Her grin became a devilish smirk as when she took my hands from the edge to pull me up, she let go.

I wiped off my tears, and stood, facing away from Lai. I had just remembered the age old nightmare. The one I had often. The one that awoken me during the year that we were traveling together. The one nightmare that I have had increasingly over the past four years, I barely slept at all for fear of seeing the truth afresh.

"You know that you can close your eyes to reality, Miss Cleao, but not to your memories… He wouldn't want you to give in just yet." Lai's words struck me like a curse. I turned to face him once more.

"Memories of him are damned, uh!" I just noticed the pain in my knees and winced.

"Allow me; you have yet begun your way back." I nodded, without anything to say to him. He placed cool, pale hands over my two gashes on my knees. "Heal," he breathed and a bluish grey light emitted from his hands. I felt the scratches fill and being to grow new skin. The pain ebbed as well. I stood steadily, Lai followed suit.

"I will make my way on my own; I need no one's protection." My voice was cold and I began to walk away from Lai, away from the graveyard, away from the tower…away from him.

"That little…I swear," I walked carefully, knowing my way even though it had been forever ago since I had last had to travel down this road. I suddenly longed for Leki to be with me, to protect me. I huffed and continued to stride along the path with courage. I didn't need anyone's help. No matter how many times I was going to beg for his love to bless me, I knew it wasn't. I wasn't for him. He would never see me more than a brat that insisted upon being with him. I was just a troublesome brat that did nothing besides complaining and causing him trouble. I was just this piece of baggage that didn't have feelings. I smiled weakly. I wish I didn't.

Orphen's Ignorance

He fled from the room moments after the boy went back to Hartia. He had staged it to look as if he had escaped through the window. He had run down several corridors before finally deciding that he was far enough from the archives that he could rest. He took in deep, greedy breathes. A noise of a cloak thrashing in the wind caught his ears teasingly. He started, looking to his right, then to his left.

He blinked and sighed, convincing himself that he was being toyed with. A clanging of metal on metal could be heard from overhead and he realized exactly where he was. It was the class bell that rang for a time, signaling that-if they weren't already there-several people were late for their classes. He sighed again and walked away from the place. He stopped and turned rapidly. This time he was sure he heard something. A cloak whipped around a corner. He let his curiosity get the best of him and he pursued the mystery. He chased after the person, sneaking abilities inevitable. The figure ahead stopped short and Orphen halted as well.

"Krylancelo," it was Hartia's voice. "Why didn't you wish to see Majic and Cleao?" Orphen glared at the back of his best friend's attire. Appearing to be staring it down as though it offended him, Orphen didn't answer.

"Don't be alarmed, Krylancelo, but I think you only visited because you had to. You were much happier there…" Hartia left the thought trailing, not bothering to finish that sentence.

"I was, and I still am. I'm going to have a nice chat with you, and be on my way."

"You'll still have to go through to Totokanta."

"No matter," Orphen stated mulishly.

"I still wonder why it is that you wish not to seek Cleao. She's…matured; you forget how long ago it was you left." Hartia was pushing for an explanation.

"Not here, Hartia…I'll tell you, just not here." Hartia nodded and pushed open the door that was in front of him. The room was circular. High, stained glass windows decorated the floor with multi-colored patterns from the sunlight. Other than a couple of oil lanterns, nothing else lighted the room. Orphen noticed that there was nothing that anyone could hide behind. He was content with the strange room that Hartia had put them in. Orphen watched Hartia close the door with a spell.

"Sit, Hartia," Orphen told his friend.

"I would also advise the same for you." They nodded at each other, sitting in unison. Orphen leaned against a pillar by the door, Hartia against the opposite. Hartia's red hair had grown out a bit and a fleck of gold caught his eye. Had I been gone that long? He questioned himself, worriedly. Something of his thoughts must've played his face. Hartia however, didn't notice.

"Why did you flee the room?" His friend pressed bossily. Orphen didn't look at Hartia for several reasons.

"I didn't want a confrontation." Hartia snorted at this response.

"What, Krylancelo, afraid of being cornered?" Hartia's laugh met his ears next.

"No, it's not that… I didn't want to watch her cry." Hartia's laugh died down at those words.

"What?" This time he was truly confused, Orphen could tell. It was kind of cold in the room they were in. "Watch who cry? What are you talking about?" Orphen stayed silent for the longest of times, watching the weird light dance uniquely on the tile. He was letting his words sink in for Hartia to understand without Orphen speaking the necessary words. Hartia continued not to comprehend.

"Listen, Krylancelo, I know you might lose your patience with me, but I have not a clue as to what you are implying. Who is it that you wish not see cry?" Orphen looked Hartia in the eye.

"You don't mean…" Hartia's voice was weak. He jumped to his feet rapidly. "She's left…just now, we can catch her. She needs to know. She needs…" Orphen stood up calmly.

"Just leave her to herself. She can take care of her," Hartia butted in.

"Lai just went to her to inform her of one of his sights… He went himself and wouldn't tell me. He's only done that when his sights are heavy." Orphen shook his head.

"Don't retrieve her. She'll be fi," Orphen didn't get to finish a word this time.

"No she won't! Krylancelo, you don't know for sure. You can't know for sure."

"Lai's great at baiting, she'll listen to him. All's well that ends well." Orphen began to head for the door.

"No friend, stay and talk with me for a time. I need a better understanding of why you insist upon staying where you are."

"I would've thought that obvious, Hartia! As is the reason why you insist upon wearing that ring," Orphen said.

"I'm getting married to Mariabella in two months time."

"That brat's…I mean Cleao's older sister?" Orphen sounded skeptical.

"Yes, and it is ever apparent that you don't seem to hold anything of the sort upon your figure. Has Azalie not accepted you for that purpose yet?" Hartia said it so coolly, it was actually believable.

"No, no she hasn't, but I will wait."

"Wait for what? Hell to freeze over? Ignorance is you, Krylancelo. She has given away her true love for the memory of Childman. She holds her child, Childman himself, closer to her heart than she would have if the child she had wasn't him. Her love for you doesn't exceed family love; you aren't someone she would have in such a way that you're wanting." Orphen glared at him.

"Don't get sore with me. I am not the one you are mad at. Krylancelo, I wish that you could see that you hold no actual place in that home."

"And like I would hold a place in a home here? Yeah right," Orphen scoffed.

"You would, and no tears of sorrow would fall from her eyes ever again. You would watch her cry tears of joy." Orphen stare relented.

"Don't make me laugh, Hartia. I…I just could never…"

"Love anyone as much as Azalie. Yeah right, the love over her is a deep infatuation that she doesn't return in your manner. Krylancelo, just hear me out: Azalie loves you as her surrogate brother. No more, no less." Orphen wasn't listening though. He was thoroughly ignoring Hartia. All for the one reason: Hartia exposed the truth. The truth wasn't to be spoken for it made it real. The truth should've stayed secret; it was easier to get his heart to believe when he knew he could banish the thought without worry. He gritted his teeth trying to get the words out of his head. It really wasn't working though.

"Damn, Hartia. You really know how to bring someone back to the Living Hell." Hartia laughed bitterly.

"Glad to be of service," Hartia was being facetious. "I wish I didn't have to tell you like that, but it had to be done. You…you didn't seem to realize… Uh…Krylancelo…" Orphen looked wildly around when the door protested against someone entering. Then, the door burst open, revealing Majic.

"I knew you had to be somewhere, Master." Orphen's mouth was hanging open.

"Yes," Hartia looked at Orphen and Majic laughed.

"See what four years of sorcery school has done for me?" Majic asked him, still laughing.

"Yeah, I do. I knew that you were getting along fine, but wow Majic. You've progressed." Orphen was serious when he said this. Majic nodded appreciatively, pointing at Hartia.

"My master has taught me how to enter by force-though he cautions against it." Hartia smiled serenely and laughed softly.

"Yes, and Majic, you'll understand why doing that isn't the best course of action. You always have two options when it comes to getting inside, possibly three or more. However, the trick is to be able to get yourself out once you've obtained your goal." Orphen laughed as well.

"What a great piece of information, I trust you've done tests like that. This boy is a hand's on learner." Majic laughed in his turn. Orphen had almost forgotten about how his former student had done so much, yet so little. He shook his head remembering what has happened over a course of time. A long time ago…

"Don't worry, Master," Hartia slurred, "I'm teaching my students well." Orphen nodded.

"I should be going now. Long road, you know?" Majic squirmed a second. "What Majic?" The boy looked a tad flustered and looked at his feet. "Well, if it isn't anything important…"

"No, that's not it! I just…Cleao didn't mean what she said about you in her sleep…" Orphen wasn't shocked by the news. Cleao had sleep-talked in her sleep plenty of times…it was a wonder if she ever shut up. He missed listening to her though.

"No, no…that bagel's mine…Majic, give it back…I will fry you!" Her eyebrows became knitted and her face scrunched up in fury, very cute for sleeping angry look. Orphen watched as she made some arm motions indicating magic was being used. She spoke the words and laughed a cruel laugh.

"Ha, ha, come here precious bagel, armph!" She made a noise saying she all but ate the bagel whole. Another look of discomfort crossed her face, Orphen was afraid she'd wake, but she didn't.

"Hmm, Leki come here. Come here, Leki." Her voice was sweet and childish, like she was a child in her dream. "Uh…Sorcerer-san…" Orphen looked at her, "Azalie too?" A blush filtered into her cream colored cheeks. I bit at my lip, but he asked anyway.

"Who else, who else is there, Cleao?" She looked a bit confused but spoke softly, knowingly.

"You are here, Krylancelo…why would you ask that? We are playing 'House' today?" Yes, it was a child that she was dreaming herself as, even though she had never seen me when I was young. She must be three in the dream, I six, and Azalie ten…would Azalie play 'House' at that age? Well, maybe not the Azalie I know. Orphen whispered out to her again, hoping not to wake her.

"Yes, I think we are," he said with a grin. She smiled…a true smile…a beautiful smile serene in the moonlight. If I could, a faint hand touched her soft gold hair. He snatched it back…I don't know if I could quit loving Azalie enough to.

"Orphen…" Majic snapped him from his inward daze.

"Yes, must be going now. I'm sorry for the short visit…I'll try and come two months from now. Hopefully you won't mind the extra guests."

"I'll warn Cleao as well…but seeing as she's the Bridesmaid of Honor…she'll have a reason to be crying." Orphen didn't acknowledge what Hartia just said. Her crying because of him being there…well, it really didn't comfort him too gracefully, but he banned the thought. She's strong; he told himself determinedly, she'll get over it by then. However, something in the back of his head told him unenthusiastically, 'It's been four years. Do you really think she'll be done by the time her sister's wedding rolls around?'

Cleao's Subjugation

I had been walking a nice long time. I walked underneath a low hanging tree branch and saw the place where we had camped one night on our journey back away from the tower. A glittering overview of the universe spilled out across a deep black sky. The moon's light shown softly upon an edge, where she had seen Orphen sleeping.

I looked at him sleeping on his side. I watched his sleeping form move up and down slowly indicating breathing. I shrugged off my pink jacket and placed it around his shoulders. My heart and soul called for him right there. He looked so peaceful…too beautiful…too cute to be taking on the Tower of Fangs and saving Azalie. One of his eyes opened slowly, registering what was around him before his eyes darted to me.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you/" I was bent down, on my toes, when he started to sit up, propping himself on his right arm's elbow.

"No, it's all right." I wish he hadn't mentioned Majic and the ordeal with the chicken, but that was inevitable with the racket they were making. I brushed it off though.

"You've been tossing and turning and dreaming for a week now. What's going on?" I was truly interested in learning what was going on with him.

"Look, there's nothing going on." I knew what it was though. He didn't have to say it. It was always on his mind nowadays.

"You're thinking about Azalie," I said softly standing up. Orphen supported himself further on his right arm. My eyes looked out upon the glittering unknown. "You know, I'm going to tell you what my father used to tell me. If you worry about the rain before the storm comes, you can steal your own thunder." I started and blushed when I felt Orphen drape my jacket over my shoulders. His hands lingered for a millisecond.

"Thanks a lot, Cleao, that's deep." He was walking away and all I could do at the moment was look at my jacket and flush to its color. I seemed to regain my backbone after he was further away.

"Fine, but just because you don't understand advanced philosophical concepts doesn't mean you have to act so rude! Orphen, do you hear me?" The night air seemed to set in and I was all of a sudden feeling lonelier now that Orphen had walked away.

"Orphen," I whispered, continuing along the path, I had lingered much too long. The forest I went through, I had been before. Five years ago, jeez, it's been forever ago. I shook my head. And I've matured since then.

I made myself endure some pain moreover for my own comfort to sleep. I hated to wake up crying and not having anyone beside me to help me through my tears. My tears spilled longer than they should have. It's been four years, four long years, four damn years! Why can't I get over you! My head and heart would curse him. All that's he's gotten me through and everything he tore down. My body took the beatings of harsh weather thanks to him. My heart broke thanks to him…with help on my part for being the fool to fall in love with him.

It was like he didn't even care, like he didn't even notice. I screamed silently as a fresh wave of tears convulsed through my body, racking it wish suppressed sobs. Every time, Orphen, every time you come up in my mind or in conversation…I can't help but think about how we could've been. How we would've been…how I am now that I've lost you altogether. On the day the Sword of Baltanders became complete and you used the sword…I thought I had lost you for a moment, but I was wrong. I didn't see that you would be captured again, blinded by your love for Azalie. I was wrong to think the sword could take you away from me, but now I see perfectly that you were going to be swept away anyhow.

Azalie took you from me. Not sorcery, not the adventures, Azalie stole you away from me. Though, truthfully, I didn't have any claim on your heart, did I? I just stood there and let you go without full recollection of what I was doing, just standing there. I could've been telling you how I felt, but I never did.

A rustling of the brush and trees made me jump.

I tried to speak, but my voice caught dangerously as though on daggers.

A laugh whistled through the woods, sing-song and carefree, it seemed as through the person was drunk. She had seen her mother and her sister, for that matter, act without a care when they drank. The voice was getting louder, further off-key. I covered my ears at the wailing. It was a screech and I was down on my knees before it halted. I fell limp to the forest bedding; the song seemed to reverberate inside me, making me heave. I wiped my mouth off and tried to stand. My legs gave way and I crashed to the forest floor, the earth spinning as though it was going too fast. I closed my eyes tightly. The dizzier I got, the sicker I became.

I swallowed the grouping spit that was forming in my mouth, trying not to choke. I did anyway though. Coughing and spluttering I heaved once more. I couldn't keep doing that…it was already hard enough to as it was, seeing that I didn't even have anything else in my system.

"Now, child, is that really necessary? Don't you like my song?" I wiped at my mouth once more with my handkerchief and shook my head gently. My head was throbbing too terribly do a thorough 'no'. Obviously I shouldn't have answered that question, but I was overcome by my rashness.

"You don't like it? Well, you weren't the first, stand… If you wish to live," the strange voice added the last part, more from knowing rather than for it to be considered a threat.

"As much as I would love the release, I am afraid I'm not suited for it," I didn't get a chance to complete my sentence.

"Nonsense," the elaborate voice wound into her head as if a constricting vine. "Everyone has it in them." The voice was female, but an unknown, yet the familiar airiness unnerved me. From within the shadows of the trees, a figure bathed in darkness stepped from her hiding spot. Moonlight washed over her pale form as she took cautious steps towards me.

The woman was dressed elaborately, more so than myself, but then of course, I was sure that anyone would've looked mightier than I the way I was dressed. Silver bangles with thin gold strips coiling themselves around them hung from pale wrists. A ring shimmered it's pearl as if to boast wealth. Nails painted a moon silver seemed to drip with mercury.

An embroidered skirt glittered ominous beauty as the moonlight was caught in it. The whiteness from the skirt made the woman in it look off-color, and the bright red embroidery wasn't helping the woman's complexion. The close-lined beads made it seem as if blood was poured all down the skirt in odd places, as if the outlandish woman had slaughtered someone in the skirt and couldn't get out the stain. My gaze rose to her bosom, checking over the beautiful shirt. The neck dipped low, her breasts appearing to almost burst from the shirt. The woman's silk bluish-silver cloth wrapped tightly around her middle, showing a little mid-drift in the process, was gorgeous no matter how it left little to the imagination. If I had worn something like that, I thought softly, maybe Orphen wouldn't have left so quickly.

Red bangs obscured all facial features excluding the mouth. Her lips were a shining pink. A tongue darted out to moisten them. I blinked and continued my examination, biting my lower lip unconsciously. Her ears were small and dainty, like a lady's should be. Her red hair tucked carefully behind them, spilling out over her shoulders. A grin, a devilish, toothy grin played across her mouth and I scooted back a ways.

"So Cleao…" I gasped clear enough for her to hear. I didn't scream out my name did I? I shook my head, no…no, she's just trying to frighten. "Ha, I figured you would flip that I knew. However, lose not, want not." She laughed derisively. I shuddered, her voice set chills running up and down my back.

"How is it that you do know my name?" I mustered up somewhere amidst my progressively heightening fear. Another cold laugh fell upon her ears. It was quailed easily.

"I now you're name because of my abilities. I assume that you have no idea what they are though." And you're not in any hurry to tell me, I thought crudely. I looked at her again and her bangs shifted so she could see orange freckles dotting her cheeks. That looks familiar, I remember someone with exact same freckles upon his skin. Then it hit me, my thoughts finally merging accordingly.

"How…who are you?" My voice wasn't steady to hold my own.

"Ire…a sorceress…more of a scryer," she laughed joylessly. The coldness seeped from her body, turning mine freezing cold. I doubled-over, gasping and holding my waist.

"Sc-scryer…" I repeated, trying to breathe. The woman nodded, appearing to be patient.

"You do know what they are right?" A picture of Lai swam into view in my fogged mind.

"Yes," I spoke breathlessly. My nose began to burn from the strain of trying to take in air from that way. I opened my mouth, finding it just as hard to take in air. At least I was getting oxygen to my brain. The fog cleared away, as did the picture of Lai. Yet, other pictures resurfaced. Orphen and…Azalie, Childman-as I had seen him when he was a baby, Majic, Hartia, Mariabella…Mariabella's ring, I reminded myself the wedding was in two months. The woman, Ire, seemed to inspect me with interest. I didn't meet her gaze, my eyes unfocused to the present, looking upon the past. The future held nothing but more nervous breakdowns, more heartbreak by Orphen's hands, more restless nights, and-more than ever-more attempts of creating hope.

"You hate her, don't you?" The cool voice of Ire paraded into my mind, shaking me from my reverie. My voice was a weak, 'Huh?'

"You want something to happen to her, don't you?" When she said this, the registry in my head beeped up Azalie. I nodded in haste.

"Why is that, Cleao?" Ire seemed interested in this topic of conversation. My mind flew into the past, back at the Island of Ruins.

"Azalie, Azalie, God! How can any discussion of selfishness take place without a single mention of Azalie's name? Wasn't it her selfishness that got her into this mess in the first place?" Tears brimmed in my eyes and I felt hatred towards Orphen and toward Azalie. "It was her lust for power that turned her into a monster!" I stamped my foot somewhere in the middle of the sentence. I noticed Orphen's right hand-the on that had pushed my left out of his way-twitch. "I'm sorry, let me correct that. She was a monster in the first place!" Orphen's hand rose above his head at this.

"Is that why?" Ire pressed confidently. I nodded, even though there were other times, but that was the first time-the only time-I had ever been truly angry at Orphen. I despised him for what he's made me endure for the past four years. Hatred pounded my form once more. I couldn't believe that I had ever needed him…ever wanted him. It was ever clear that he didn't want me to be with him, but I couldn't help but want him. I held my head in my hands, the throbbing increasing. Ire sighed in defeat as she looked at me once again.

"Yes…" I choked out softly, trying, with all my might to get the pain in my head to stop. I looked up when I felt it recede. "And no…there's more to it."

"Show me," the woman urged, eager etched into her cheeks.

"I can't," I said, shaking my head. "I cannot remember everything. We'll be here all night if you make me try and remember." Ire looked let down, the eagerness drifting away difficultly. Then her vigor replenished as she thought of something new.

"What if I helped?" I didn't understand, but I was going to tell her no at any rate. I didn't want to remember. That brought another question that had been floating on the surface intangible. Why did this woman want to know about that?

"No, I need no help. I'm dealing with my life how I see fit and…" I trailed pausing for a minute. "Crying seems the only thing sensible to me at the moment." No matter how many years have past, I thought cruelly.

"All right then," a cold shiver ran up and down my spine. "I understand perfectly, but listen." A drowning noise, a quailing music floated and seeped into every particle in my body. I felt as if in ecstasy, my muscles and blood and mind all singing for joy for a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Then it dispersed, evaporating and bringing back all of the pain. I choked and sobbed, tears burning my cheeks like fire.

"Make…it…stop," I pleaded, crying my heart out, face practically touching the earthy floor.

"That is what love is like. You have just experienced it again. Well…if you ever do need me to help you, I'll be around." The woman left this large redjewel behind her. I stared at it transfixed. I closed my fingers over it, holding it close to my heart.

Tears ran freely down my sopping cheeks as I remembered Orphen and how he always seemed to take care of me. I swallowed hard, blinking out some of the tears that were refusing to fall. Pride be damned, I thought savagely, crying myself to sleep.

A/N: Woo...I wasn't pleased with some of that in there, but I'm letting all of you points at my readers and reviewers decide if I was right or not. I'm glad that I've gotten this chapter over with. Chapter Three may have a bit of a delay, but please bare with me. I have one other story I'm nearly or over a month in not updating so, I'll get that done soon too. I'm going to try and keep up this legnth, but if I come up short for some reason, I beg for forgiveness.

Read and Review, I take flames too!