Nyah…..I am so behind….:insert sweat drop here: Oh well…sorry for the delay…

1234

After that night Ahiru's demeanor had completely changed. She seemed to grow paler, and her eyes almost always seemed to have tears in them. Ge had approached Fakir the very next day and congratulated him for a job well done, in returning sorrow. "But," She added as she walked away, "You'll never find her happiness in time. You can't show someone happiness when you don't have it."

Days went by, and Fakir found himself in the library with Rue and Mytho, once more. "What is the answer?!" He asked himself quietly, "What is it?!" Mytho looked up from a book of legends he had found watching his friend pace, and tug at his long hair. Fakir's tan skin had lightened, turning into a yellow gray color. Bags were heavy under his eyes, and the corners of his mouth almost always had stained blood. His frame was leaner, and even some of the other classmates had noticed that when he danced, he was frailer, and unsteady. "Fakir…try not to think so hard on it…maybe it's a simple answer and we're thinking too hard."

Fakir turned to look at his friend, "What am I supposed to just go laugh in her face then?" Mytho was startled by his friend's harsh laughter, but was even more surprised by the sound of giggling behind him. He turned glancing at Rue who immediately blushed, "I'm sorry but the thought of Fakir going up to Ahiru and laughing in her face…it just sounded funny." Mytho and Fakir exchanged looks, and small smiles snaked on their mouths, and they too let out a bit of laughter.

"You're right Rue-chan…that does sound a little funny," Mytho admitted relieved that the tension between them all had been broken. They had been working so hard. But peace was broken as Fakir began to cough again. Quickly he pulled out his handkerchief, and coughed hard into it. Blood soaked the cloth so thoroughly that droplets fell from her kerchief and hit the floorboards. All three stared down at it, and then exchanged looks.

Fakir looked at the red cloth in his hand which was cleansing his hand with blood. He rang it out, blood splashing on the ground, before shoving it in his book bag. "I'll clean up this mess…I just have to…clean my handkerchief first, and wash up…" He left quickly not looking back.

His friends knew that he wasn't going to be coming back. When he left with that pained look on his face, they knew that meant he was going to go somewhere to be alone. Rue sighed pulling out her own kerchief and began to mop up the mess. In the middle of cleaning it up, she felt hot tears fill her eyes. She stood holding the soiled cloth in her hands and tossed it in the trash. Looking at th blood on her hands the tears finally broke past her defenses and she burst into loud sobs.

Mytho was up in a flash and wrapped his arms around her wiping the blood off her hands in a frenzy, as if the blood was cursed. He turned her sharply around and embraced her holding her to him. "Rue-chan…" He whispered her name, savoring the taste of it. "Rue-chan…don't be sad…don't cry." Rue hugged Mytho, continuing her sobs, and sniffed loudly. "It's not-not fair! Why couldn't this end? Why couldn't we all have a happy ending?" Rue asked placing a delicate hand to her face. Mytho's hand slipped in her dark curls, "I don't…Rue…there will be a happy ending to this. Everything will end fine…we'll save Ahiru, and Fakir won't die! He won't die!!" Rue nodded her head against Mytho, but sobbed continuously. She owed so much to Ahiru, but here Rue was, healthy, happy, and with her true love…

And Ahiru was out of reach…

Was far away, and Rue couldn't help her.

"It's just not fair…I feel so powerless!" Rue finally sighed her voice small and meek. Mytho held Rue against him, "Rue…we'll save her. We'll save them both, we just can't…We can't let Fakir know we're worried. We have to believe in him….and hope who ever this, "Story Teller," is….is on our side." Mytho kissed her forehead lovingly rocking her against him to soother her. She was so fragile, and when he didn't have his heart he had completely neglected that, hadn't known that she was the one who needed love the most.

He wanted to protect all things, and that included her. He wanted to protect her the most…but more then ever he wanted to save Ahiru…he would gladly sacrifice his heart again to save the one who had saved him. Saved him from everything.

Unknown to the two, Fakir stood just outside the door. For once, he had decided to return to clean up his mess, when He heard Rue break into her painful sobs. He clenched his fists and looked down at the ground. 'I'm sorry everyone…I'm putting you all through such turmoil…I'm so sorry,' and with that thought he turned away from the library and headed off.

'Ahiru…how do I show you happiness?' he asked himself miserably not watching where he was going. He walked into someone grasping their shoulders tightly so as not to make them collapse on the ground. "Ahiru!" He gasped in surprise, staring down at the girl he held tightly. She looked up at him with her sad sorrowful eyes. He released her shoulders, but continued holding her staring at her sad blue eyes. "Ahiru…" he whispered again looking at her.

"Knight…" She whispered back tears suddenly pouring down her face. She pressed her head to his chest, and he held her carefully. She had stopped calling him by his name, but every time she would address him she would suddenly start to cry. He held her in a strong hug. He was at a loss; he had no idea how to help her. He looked around seeing the halls were mostly empty. He sighed, and then looked down at the sobbing girl with a soft smile, "Do you want to dance?" She looked at him, tears slowing and she nodded.

Leading her to an empty practice room he removed his jacked so that he could dance more freely. He stared at her lovingly as she began to put her hair up, hiccupping from her tears every now and then. "I'm sorry…I just keep crying…and I-" Fakir strode over placing his finger tips on her lips. "it's not your fault…it's the only thing you have right now…Ahiru can you remember anything besides sorrow?" He asked taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor. She looked at him eyes shining dimly. She shook her head no, "I only see everything I've ever failed at, all my mistakes…the pain I've caused people…everything I've done wrong-"

Before she could break off into terrible sobs again he slipped his arms around her waist and spun her in the air. "You've done so much right though Ahiru…you just have no idea." She looked down at him her tears slowing but her sorrow remaining. Sometimes he wanted to rip that half filled ruby off her neck just to see the sadness leave her eyes. "Ahiru, I promise I'll protect you." He said setting her down watching as she leapt away from him, spinning on her toes.

"Does it bother you I can't fully remember you? Fully remember why you're important to me at all?" Ahiru asked as she spun carefully eyes focused on him. "No," he lied forcing a faint smile, "You're back…you're here…you have no idea how wonderful that is." She danced over to him, taking his hands and he pulled her to him his leg extending as he dipped her in his arms. "Why?" Ahiru asked softly, "Why am I so important to you…maybe if you tell me why I'm important to you I'll remember why you matter to me…"

He looked down at her dipping her low to the floor. "Because…I…Because I-" A loud clatter interrupted him and his saw Ge standing her green eyes flashing coldly, "oops," she said addressing the book on the floor. "Ahiru…sister darling it's time to practice for the play," She said in a falsely sweet tone, and grabbed Ahiru's wrist. Fakir's eyes narrowed angrily as the woman added, "Shouldn't you be practicing too? In three more days is when the play is my dearest knight." Fakir was about to say something, something he'd been wanting to say to Ahiru for a long time when he began choking once more, rich blood spilling everywhere.

He fell to his knees, staring as Ahiru was dragged off, tears racing down her face once again. "No…why can't I…Why can't that woman….DAMXIT WHY!?" Fakir coughed feeling tears slide down his cheeks and drip from his chin. He swallowed hard, spitting out the blood that still choked him. "Ahiru…Oh Ahiru….." He whispered mournfully.

It was some time before Fakir felt he had the strength to get up. When he finally did he went back to his dorm and began to practice the dance he would be doing with Ahiru. The only good dance in the play where he would be able to show Ahiru through dancing how he felt about her. As he spun he remembered her when she was Princess Tutu. He could hear her voice calling him when he was a tree. He could just remember before he passed out her crying against him.

He stumbled and cursed loudly, sitting on the floor panting. He tugged at his black hair, his past returning him. His mind lingered the most on a dance he did with Ahiru when they were under the water….He remembered her mournfully looking up at him, "I can't take it off…" She had been referring to her necklace, and he watched as she was unable to do so. He felt the most amount of pain there, but not for himself for her. He hated that sad meek voice, and that weak look about her as she sat slumped on the ground.

He hadn't planned it, but soon he had been tugging on her wrist and dancing with her.

The dance had been completely new, different, and he could remember the closeness of her body as they danced. And when he was through dancing he wasn't sure if it was his words or his dance that got her to smile again…that smile he craved for now.

Suddenly something dawned on him.

"Wait…a dance brought back her memories of sorrow…as well as my tears. Maybe I need to dance that dance again!"

Fakir smiled wide, and leapt up, growing dizzy for a moment. Yes! Yes! That had to be the answer, that is the answer! He could save Ahiru by expressing he feelings through dance as he'd done before. That was when he heard the soft voice.

"Well done Fakir…you're starting to understand…make haste, and carry out your plans the night of your play, that is the only time it can be done."

He spun around his room seeing no one. "Is…Are you the story teller?!" He cried spinning rapidly around, eyes narrowed. "If it's you answer me! Why have you been helping us? How have you known that all this was going to happen? Are…are you able to spin this story out-did you create a story like Dro-"

"No…I can not control stories…but something did happen. Someone did make plans. I will be there at the play…I will help you then…I must go now. I can't stay a moment longer," The voice faded into a whisper as it spoke, and after the last word Fakir knew it was gone. Briefly he wondered if he should tell Mytho and Rue, but he shook his head no. No, this was his time. This was something he felt he needed to keep to himself. "Alright…I'll be ready. In three days time I'll be ready."

And with that he began to spin once more.

3 DAYS LATER-THE NIGHT OF THE PLAY.

Rue looked nervously over at Mytho, who couldn't meet her eyes. It was the night of the play and Fakir still hadn't found the second half of Ahiru's memories, which seemed to take a heavy toll on Ahiru. She had grown pale, and thin. She looked sickly, and now as the third act went along and she leaped high in the air, she wasn't sure how the frail girl was managing. 'Oh Ahiru…if only I could save you…If I could do something. You're my friend…the only friend I had truly had,' Rue thought mournfully.

Mytho watched Rue's expression and felt his heart sting at the grief in her eyes. He looked to his left where Fakir sat leaning against a wall. Fakir would be going on soon, just as soon as the act ended. Mytho had struggled to watch his friend perform, it was so obvious that Fakir was hurting. And every time he exited the stage he would release a mouthful of blood in trash can that Mytho had brought along. 'I won't let him die, I won't!' Mytho though feeling anguish fill him to the brim.

Sometimes Mytho wished he didn't have his heart back.

There was loud clapping from the audience, the act had ended.

Ge came off, shoving Rue out of her way, Mytho's eyes flashing with anger momentarily before going back to their calm state. She looked over at Fakir, and smiled, "You're on Fakir." Fakir said nothing, but gave a brief nod, stumbling up. Rue and Mytho helped steady him, and they were startled by a soft smile, and a whispered, "Thank you."

The princess and Prince stood helplessly as the knight made his way to his own Princess.

For a brief moment Fakir and Ahiru stared at each other, and finally Ahiru rose on her toes. The dance they were doing was Ahiru's character saying good-bye to her Knight, for she would be disappearing soon. The Knight was also saying good-bye because after his battle with an evil woman, he was dying. Fakir snorted the slightest bit seeing the similarities between this ballet and what was actually happening.

Fakir took her hand, and Ahiru jumped. This wasn't part of the dance. Fakir tugged her to him, and the two began dancing a different dance, but to the audience it looked as if it had been rehearsed time and time again. Ge's mouth opened in silent disbelief, "What is he doing?" Mytho and Rue ignored her watching in wonder as the two danced.

"Wait…this is the dance Fakir shared with Ahiru to help her get out of the water," Rue commented Mytho looking over at her questionably. Rue turned to him, "Remember Fakir told us that he and Ahiru saw me dancing in the lake of despair, he told me Ahiru had been sinking too, and he brought her out after dancing with her!"

Mytho suddenly smiled, "Maybe he's figured out a way to bring her back to normal!" Ge pushed past the two, "If that's possible then it's time for me to go on…if her happiness comes back, I have to make sure to be the one to see the knight fall!" She smiled darkly Rue trying to grab her, but was startled when Ge grabbed her wrist, "Oh dear Kraehe don't mistake me for any ordinary woman!" Ge's eyes flashed, and Rue fell backwards, Mytho catching her.

"Rue! RUE!" Mytho cried.

Ge smiled, "Don't stop me again…as soon as this act is over she'll wake up I promise…she is only sleeping!" Ge laughed again and made her appearance on stage dancing behind Ahiru and Fakir. Mytho felt tears prickled in his eyes as he looked at Rue's sleeping face. He was relieved to see she looked peaceful, but he wasn't sure if his Rue would wake up…what if she didn't? What if this woman was lying?! "Oh Rue-chan…" Mytho whispered pulling her to him, his hand tangled in her dark curls.

On stage Fakir and Ahiru were oblivious to the turmoil behind stage. They only had each other. Fakir didn't even see Ge, he didn't see anything but Ahiru. He was aware of only her, and suddenly he knew what to do. He set Ahiru down gently, and stopped dancing completely. Ahiru looked up at him confused, and was surprised when he slipped one arm around her waist, and cupped her chin.

"Ahiru, I love you."

There were gasps from the audience, and Ahiru's mouth opened in surprise. Fakir then leaned down kissing her sweetly, and that was when a new chain of events began.

Ahiru's necklace flashed fully red, and the familiar smile flashed on her face. Ahiru had come back. Rue suddenly sat up, Mytho clutching her to him happily. The audience began to drift off in a strange sleep, as well as the other dancers, leaving on Rue, Mytho, Fakir, Ahiru, and Ge awake. Ge stopped dancing watching calmly at the last chin of event. The last chain of event the very last chin took place as soon as a puddle of blood was coughed up from a certain Knight.

Fakir died.

END OF ACT THREE

I think I have remained hidden too long. I should have revealed myself sooner. This must end in four acts, and the last act is steadily approaching. But what will be the end? The Knight has died, what happiness can come from this story now.

-signed

The Story Teller