A/N: I am so sorry for the late update, I just couldn't think of what to do until today. Writer's Block was evident for the I dunno, over a month period. Anyway, I'm terribly sorry for the late update, no hurting me stares warily at the pitch forks and the mob carrying them Don't hurt me! Here's the story!

Tragic

By: Apherion

Original story by: Sawada Hajime

Cleao's Feeling

I woke up, the memory of last night played rapidly, almost making me sick again. My grip around the bead lessened until I dropped it. It thudded on the ground, but did not move once it had landed. The crude woman's heavy scent assaulted my nose again, but it was just a memory, yet it made me nauseous all the same.

Standing shakily to my unsteady feet, the bead inside my cream colored hands, I noted the trees for the umpteenth time. I began to walk back home, even though my stomach was growling in protest, I ignored it for I didn't feel like babying it at the moment. I was going to get home, elaborate on what I was doing at the Tower of Fangs, and perhaps I would come home a changed person…

I splashed water from a stream in the forest onto my face. It was cool, refreshing. I smiled as I cupped some of it in my hands and drank the fleeting water from them. It was cold, but it was good. It calmed me down, and despite its coolness, it somewhat warmed me. I thought for a minute, frowning, remembering yesterday. I walked over to the where the bead fell and stooped to pick it up.

Why had Lai said those things to me? Why did he have to put me through a guilt trip? It should be Orphen that they should be giving them to…but I suppose that it was better that way. It would be selfish to take matters into my own hands. A funeral before a wedding…no, that wasn't a good thing.

Who was that girl though? I thought as I staggered along outside of the forest now. I better just leave it alone; I don't need to know who she is…even though the bead she gave to me is beautiful, I could make it a necklace… I fingered the round object softly. My crystal blue eyes looked over the town I was nearing. It was a nice town, nothing like Totokanta but it was close. I wasn't far from home now.

I didn't talk to anyone that I came close to. I ignored the salesmen and their wagons. I paid not even the least of the attention to my surroundings. I was only aware enough to know where I was going. Sighing, I tossed my golden hair. Someone cat-called, a few men whistled, and I wasn't listening. I was absorbed in my own thoughts.

Orphen, I thought desperately, do you really not wish to see me? Do you find me a waste of your time? I've grown up.

"I've grown up," I whispered as if fraught, almost frantic. The words of the people that were now behind me were like drones, little hums, inaudible and indistinguishable. I kept walking, hoping to find a fountain. I wanted to just sit down and watch the water. It was past mid-day by now, I'd be home by sun down if I didn't linger too long here.

I found a fountain eventually, thirty minutes at the most, wasted. I sat down and looked at my reflection. It rippled and swayed as the water sprinkled from above, distorting the image, leaving it vague and misplaced. I smiled weakly, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. A breeze called to me and I stood, welcoming the feeling, walking once again.

What was I doing? Why was I worrying about Orphen? He's old enough to watch out for himself. A cruel thought emerged from within- Cause him the pain he caused you. I blinked stunned at my 'un-ladylike' state of mind. Cause him pain, I mussed, he's not worth it.

Surprisingly, Cleao, he is. He tore your heart out, now it's his turn to feel the pain. I stopped my fast pace and stared off into space. Am I really thinking this? I looked around to make sure it wasn't someone talking to me, there wasn't a soul. Odd, I cringed; I could've sworn there were plenty of people around. Hm, I must've been walking faster than I thought.

It's just you and me, Cleao. Don't worry though; I am not as gruesome as you might think. As which you are doing now. I began to walk at a brisk trot, knowing somewhere inside me that home was close by.

Don't be difficult, you've already said that you'd join me, that you'd help me. I racked my brain, when had this happened? Surely not when I was around that woman, surely not, I was conscious the entire meeting. Ah, but you'd be surprised. I was on the edge of Totokanta.

I spun on my heel, looking wildly around. I was afraid, who was badgering me so? Don't fret, you're fear is understandable. It took Azalie a good while to learn to cope. Believe it when I say, you are extremely better than that foolish thing. Mad, my right hand gripped at my bangs. I must be going…mad. You aren't, I assure you that.

"Who are you?" I screamed, sinking to my knees, tears of ignorance pouring down my once dry face. Yes, ignorance is bliss, no? Azalie thought it was better for her to know what was going on and look what happened to her. Fool of a girl, she now the homemaker with that child that she longed to be her lover. God, how do you know that? My thoughts rang frantic; how in the hell do you know that?

I was the one she happened to know when she got the idea to become so ambitious. I told her she could catch his attention if she helped me with a little research. I got my research…

"What do you want from me?" Fear clawed at my whole being, frightened, and never heard of someone who could ensnare the mind brought about the shakes of terror. I am here to help you get back at the one who screwed you over. I am the one who will be helping you take the steps at making him crawl for mistreating you. You, my little Tragic, shall have him on his knees, bowing his head in defeat. My name's not Tragic… and I don't want Orphen to suffer…

Quit lying, you know you want him to feel the immense pain he caused you. A flicker of emotion flashed through my eyes, as if possessed by an image of Orphen crying, begging for me to forgive him.

A smile quirked my lips, "take me," I said, letting go of my feeling.

Orphen's Mentor

Surprising, he thought adjusting his red headband, only a month and a half until my friend is getting married. Whatever happened to 'staying single'? He chuckled to himself lightly. Orphen did consider it funny that Hartia, his surrogate brother, was in fact, getting married. Well, they've always said it'd be him before me, not that I haven't had my offers. He chuckled again, remembering some of the fan girls he picked up on his journeys with Majic and…

Even Majic got some things sparking through the ordeals they had been through. And who would've thought? He faced away from the mirror and looked at the groom-to-be, laughing.

"What's so funny, Krylancelo? I didn't even say anything." Orphen smiled, ceasing his mirth, yet it glittered in his eyes.

"Plenty is, starting with that shirt, but I won't harp on about it." Hartia was a good sport. He tugged at it with a fond smile and noted the fact that there were flowers on it.

"Yeah, talk to 'Bella, she's the one who thought it looked 'absolutely adorable' on me. Though I do have to say, this green and blue tone does my eyes look gorgeous." Orphen let out a bark of laughter and put Hartia in a playful headlock.

"Don't start that fruity stuff on me, or I won't show up to the wedding, I still have a good while to change my mind." Hartia shoved Orphen from him and grinned.

"Don't worry, she's not 'transmuting' me or something like that. I still do guy things here, and let me tell you. I'm glad that I have sorcery under my belt to scare her. She hates it when I just appear. Mrs. Everlasting and," Hartia gave Orphen a wary look, "Cleao think it's hilarious. Are you sure you want to meet them with me?" Yet again, Orphen let out a bark of laughter.

"I don't see why not, I mean, even if she is going to be going with you all…" Orphen just let it go. He didn't feel like finishing the sentence anyway.

"Yeah, she hasn't cried for two weeks, so that's an upside. Let's just hope seeing you won't set her off again," Hartia laughed, but it was forced. He coughed into his fist and said, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's," Hartia nodded to Orphen and opened the door, both men leaving the house to go to the Everlastings' mansion. The road wasn't too far to the mansion, considering that Hartia's home was closer to Mariabella and Cleao's than it was to the Tower of Fangs. They moved at a quick pace, taking hurried steps to Hartia's fiancée's home.

"Orphen," Mariabella's shocked voice rang through the living room, Orphen just smiled.

"Hello, Mariabella, hope you don't mind me"-Orphen started hurriedly.

"Oh, no, no it's quite all right. Actually, I'm just astonished that you decided to come with Hartia." She shut the door behind him and escorted both fiancé and friend into the parlor, where Cleao and Mrs. Everlasting were settling with some tea and crumpets.

"Guests, Mother," Mariabella joked as she, Orphen, and Hartia entered the room. Hartia gave a playful pout.

"Am I just a 'guest' now, 'Bella?" Hartia mocked a hurt voice. Mariabella giggled girlishly and blushed innocently. Cleao, however, just smiled. She looked beautiful in her red gown, standing out like a beckon. Orphen mentally shook his head. She'll never forgive me, why am I even bothering. He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. Sure, she'd never forgive him; he couldn't even do that for himself. He just wanted to make it up to her.

He decided he'd take a seat beside Mrs. Everlasting so as to not attract Cleao's attention even further. He knew she had seen him and was making a point not to speak to him. She wasn't even sparing him a glance. He deserved it though, hell, he deserved whatever she decided to do, be it ignoring him for the rest of his life-he'd still have Azalie in the end. Yet that was getting questionable as well. Did he really what to be with her? Stephanie's words came back to him. Cleao, Majic, and Leki left him and Stephanie to look after Hartia for a few minutes.

"Orphen," Stephanie whispered. "You can't go half-way with this thing. It's all or nothing. Do you really what to sacrifice yourself for this…" she couldn't supply a word offending enough to cover the heinous crimes Azalie committed.

"I love her, Stephanie. She was everything for me at one time."

"Maybe that time is up. Orphen, she-doesn't love you. Not the way you want her to. She could never. You were too young at a time, and she needed someone not so childish. She's too far gone." Orphen just stared, unsettled and quiet.

"Cleao and Majic wouldn't want you to throw yourself at her feet. Cleao especially and you know that-don't you?" Orphen grunted and turned his head away from his once partner.

"You do, Orphen why won't you just let things be as they should?" He banged his fist onto the tabletop, grinding his teeth in fury.

"Things are to be as they should with Azalie. Cleao's fine, and so is Majic." Stephanie just stared motionless, a look of pity on her face. The door opened and Cleao was standing in the door way with Majic and Leki.

"I'm going for a walk," Cleao an announced, snapping him from his little mental spasm. "Orphen…like to join?" She asked in trepidation. He complied and stood, following her out of the sitting room.

"Oh, well, Cleao, darling, lunch is going to be served soon," Mrs. Everlasting said softly.

"We'll be back by then," Cleao smiled at her mother and strode out the front door, holding it open for Orphen to exit as well. She was smirking at him, taking him boldly by the hand. It threw him, she had been blotchy faced and red-eyed just two weeks ago about him, four years even before that. Had she really seen the era of her ways in just two weeks after crying four years over him? He didn't know for sure what to think.

"Cleao," she smiled at him, walking him toward the gardens.

"Yes, Orphen," she sounded happy.

"How come you're…so peppy, I mean, just two weeks and you're okay? What's gotten into you?"

A/N: Cliffy, I know, I know. I hate them too. FYI, the voice Cleao's hearing is Ire, but I'll explain everything in the next chapter. I couldn't write Cleao's second part because you all would kill me if I did (a lot of angst, a bit of romance HUGE CLIFF HANGER) Please don't kill me, I love you all my fans, readers, reviewers, (and possible, yet not yet appeared) flamers for being patient with me.School has interferred a lot with this update, but I'm trying not to make excuses for myself.

Apherion

P.S. Read and Review, I take flames too!