Well I told you that I would get it out as soon as possible and I did!! Between school and marching band, I wrote it edited it and typed it up and now it's here for you're enjoyment, don't worry not all chapters will be this short. I'm currently writing the secodn chapter, yes I've already started it so fear not my dear readers, once I've finished it and edited it to my liking I will take the time to type it up when I get a chance to do so, and upload it. The second chapter in current estimation is to be 2 to 4x the length of this chapter. I hope you enjoy it!!!!!

Chapter 1

Razalude's eyes swept the bottom floor of the tavern and decided that it would do. He made his way between two of the longer tables equipped with sets of sturdy wooden benches that were partially crowded with travelers and townsfolk alike. A few merchants sat at tables that were carved from the sandstone walls of the two-story building, also sitting on more simple sandstone sculptures. Above the idle chatter and the bargaining of sand merchants he secured a room for the night. "I'm sorry but that young man just took our last room," Razalude watched the tavern owner tell the traveler who had come in minutes after him, "though you're welcome to wait out the storm in the main room." He wondered if the person was stifling wrapped from head to toe, but he brushed it off as they shrugged. He took the key to his room and headed up the carved steps. The oh-so-mysterious traveler took up a leisurely pace to occupy the last empty sandstone booth. Sliding across the seat to the lean against the wall, the traveler dropped their pack on the warm stone next to them almost as if barricading everything else in the rest of the tavern. Sand worn leather boots took up half of the seat across the table, the impression given by these actions was a request for solitude, and in response the noise of the tavern dropped ever so slightly. And most were less than bothered at such seclusion that seemed to be the mystery traveler's vibe towards all life forms. Well all other human life forms…Razalude guessed before he turned the corner and let himself into the Spartan room he would be wasting his patience in for an undetermined amount of time. Blasted Sandstorms…he thought as he dropped his small pack and his empty water skins on the floor and he fell unconscious onto the small shabby bed.

The Next Morning…

Raz descended the sandstone steps while fighting to suppress a yawn as he rubbed the sleep from his golden eyes while they darted towards the person who had unknowingly peaked his interest the day before. He was still in the same spot, the exact same position to be precise. He blinked owlishly wondering if he really hadn't moved at all, and had actually slept in such and uncomfortable position. He sighed running a hand through his sandy terra-cotta hair as he sat down in the in the only available, at the stranger's table. He quietly thanked the man that ran the tavern, for the bread and water, and broke off a piece of the loaf and chewed it almost thoughtfully. He presumed by the absolute stillness, rigidity, and closed eyes that he was asleep. Raz had decided that the other traveler was male, by the vague mannerism and non-existent vocabulary. He was amazed that someone could sleep so soundly wrapped in so many layers while sitting in such an uncomfortable position on a sandstone bench. He continued entertaining notions and assumptions about the person sleeping across from him. Oddly as he studied silently the first thing that he noted was that even his hands were gloved. Staring at tan eyelids and the bridge of a slender nose he guessed that his skin was only a couple of shades lighter than his own and that he had a feline personality of sorts, by the cat-like shape of his closed eyes. He guessed that he had a pretty face by the small bit of a nose that he could see. He wondered in that strange moment, how long he would sleep.

Stranger's Pov

Sleep had been fitful, as expected no movement had been made in the unconscious state. Light footsteps were singled out among the chatter of the tavern's other occupants; their conversations ranging from trades to cursing the sandstorm still raging outside. The assumption had been correct, it was the same man, his quiet thank you proved that to tuned ears. Either he's an ignorant idiot, or he's a conniving bastard. The train of thought was lost for a moment as neck hair stood on end at the sudden analyzing by piercing feline yellow eyes. Conniving bastard it is then. With a mental sigh oblivion closed in shrouded in welcomed darkness.

Razalude's Pov

He wondered how long the man would continue to sleep and when he would move. After a few uneventful minutes he sighed and finished eating his meager breakfast. He has no reason to question if he had woken up because of the lack of movement; he hadn't even been graced with the twitch of an eyelid, a telltale sign of waking was not to be seen, so he assumed that he had been sleeping the soundly since the previous evening and thus he had missed the brief awakening of his subject of study. He tried to recall what had him sitting here analyzing this complete stranger in such a tavern. "Kami-forsaken sandstorm!" Drifted across the tavern; Ah yes, that was the source of his irksome state of boredom, a common sand storm. Eventually dark eyelids drew back to reveal stunning amber-flecked hazel orbs. They shifted colors within a second the amber flecks becoming slightly more prominent, as the sandy brown pushed back emerald green and cells of gray. As if satisfied with the current shade, the pupils stilled and the oddly emotionless eyes analyzed Razalude in one sweep before taking in the rest of the tavern. As the skin of the stranger tightened, he presumed he had raised an eyebrow before closing again. Razalude was shocked to say the least; his eyes weren't what he had been expecting. He had been expecting chocolate brown, or a solid gold like his own, maybe even a light sky blue, not the transmutating orbs that had so surprised him. His next thoughts told him that it was somewhat fitting that those eyes had been so apathetic no matter how odd it seemed.

He had blanked as they took their slow deliberate path analyzing him for a moment before surveying the rest of the tavern floor and then disappearing once more. He's going back to sleep!? Razalude sweat dropped at his train of thought and sighed, maybe he did think to highly of himself since he obviously hadn't interested the person sitting across from him, even enough to be asked to leave. He didn't know why but it bothered him somewhat that he had been brushed off so lightly for most likely unneeded sleep. He dropped his eyes to trace patterns on the surface of the sandstone table as he thought of other things. Raz blinked rapidly as he focused once more on his surroundings. The sleeping traveler was on his feet pack slung over his shoulder. He didn't need to see the other man's eyes to know that he had been completely ignored. Even though the cloth turban shadowed his eyes completely, the view he had of the back of his tan colored traveling cloak was enough of an impression. Raz fought to hide his bewildered expression wondering why the simple action had irked him so, he couldn't comprehend it, and disappointment welled in him as understanding dawned on him when the mystery man that hadn't spoken a word left into the bright sunlight that was a large characteristic of the desert during the day. So the sandstorm has finally passed… Cursing the storm one last time, though this time for quite a different reason, Razalude forced himself to trudge back up the steps to gather his things.

After paying for him to tail the other traveler, he stopped only to refill his water skins and he started back in the direction that he had come from. He knew that if he didn't pop-up sometime in the castle in the next few days it would only cause more annoyance for him. This time as he traversed the plains of sand, his thoughts centered on a tan cloak and a pair of depthless feline orbs. Questions filled his mind, what exactly was under that turban? What did his entire face look like? He had no doubt that he was physically fit, to be traveling in the desert with so many layers. What was his personality like? How deep would his voice be? He chuckled the moment he realized that he hadn't once thought of Airi in the past two days. Once the thought had sunken in, it became full blown laughter as he came to a stop. After he had laughed it out of his system he continued walking towards his destination feeling lighter than a feather. Who knew that a simple sandstorm could cure a person's long term depression so easily? Obviously not one royal golden-eyed Razalude of the desert.

Alrighty then, hope you liked it!!! Working my hardest on the second chapter, but I do have to study for my algebra test tomorrow...unfortunately. Well Reply people!!!! Your thoughts on this are important!!!!

K. Gosetsuke