heyheyheyhey for those of you that dont know i added some stuff to the previous chapter!! also the review replies for that chapter are there too!

summary: Artemis Niels is a part-time topographer, gel maker, and merchant, with some medical talents just for kicks. Dressing as a male comes naturally. but she never thought she'd be dragged on a quest to save the world. 'Tales of the Abyss is not my property'

Page 5:

Ion held his hands together as Jade finished relaying what had happened. Tear and Guy were also in the room, while Anise and Luke entertained each other elsewhere.

"Peacock eyes?" Ion voiced out.

He looked back to Jade, "Are you.. Are you sure?"

Jade nodded his head.

"I saw with my own eyes."

Ion frowned.

"This could be very serious…"

Peacock eyes was commonly attributed to fighting slaves. Fighting slaves would have strong fonic seals placed somewhere on their body in order to bind their will. Other seals were added in order to bring out the full potential of the slaves. Unfortunately, the seals didn't always bind together correctly on the slaves or with the other seals, which then led to an irrevocable condition for the slave. The seals would eventually break down the bearer's own fonons, which quickly led to insanity where death followed. The cases of fonon deterioration had been most distinguished by an eye discoloration that was common among the victims.

The only problem was that fighting slaves and putting seals on living beings had been banned for years.

"Do you think he was actually running away?" Tear suggested, "From an illegal camp?"

"That is a possibility," Jade said.

"Not that we would have the time to find it," he added on when he saw that Guy was about to speak.

"We have more important matters at hand."

Guy frowned, "Right, but I thought that people with Peacock eyes lasted a month at most."

"That is true…" Ion said.

"Well, what's up with Artemis? Apparently he's known Astor for a while, he's been traveling, and he didn't seem any least bit insane- till just now," he added on when he saw Jade look at him with an amused expression.

"There is always the possibility that he knew Astor before he contracted Peacock eyes," Jade said.

"Yes," Tear nodded her head, "that is an open possibility. We also have to remember when he said my fonic artes would make him sick."

"The fonic arte probably would have effected his condition," Jade mused.

Ion nodded his head.

"At any rate, the most we can do right now is ask him when he wakes up," Jade said.

They stayed in the room in silence.

Jade pushed up his glasses, "I do wish I could get up.

The small girl stood there, looking up into the sky lazily. She was waiting for someone, someone special. He had gone and disappeared telling her to just wait for him. That silly boy, she'd get him back for it.

"Artemis!"

Something tackled the girl to the ground. She groaned and looked up where a younger boy was sitting on her waist. He had a wide smile on his face.

He jumped off her and his smile didn't face in the slightest.

"What are you so giddy about now?" she pouted as she began to stand up.

"Come quickly, Artemis!" he laughed and grabber her hands.

The two ran deeper into the forest until they started to hear something.

"Oh wow," she gasped.

"Aren't they so cute!!" he beamed.

"The cheagle over there just had its litter a few days ago!"

"Haha, they're adorable! Almost like you!" she pinched his cheek.

He was about to reply when he felt something at his feet. He looked down and found one of the baby cheagles on his foot. The two laughed and played with the cheagles.

The boy pulled on one of the cheagle's ears playfully and turned to the girl.

"Hey, I think I'll name this one Artemis, since it looks like you!" he teased.

"What! Then this one should be you, huh?"

"That doesn't look like me!"

"Well that one doesn't look like me!"

"Yes, it does!" he exclaimed, "You should listen to your nice little brother!"

"Pft, whatever," she laughed and held up a cheagle.

"I'm still naming this one Evenos."

Jade was leaning against the bed post while he sat on the bed with Artemis holding on to him. This was somewhat of an odd experience for Jade. Sure he had plenty of female companions, but he'd never had a man hold onto to him, or for so long. Sure he'd had some situations with men, but that was only when he was incredibly drunk. Peony didn't count either… He still preferred women.

He glanced down at the sleeping man.

What was the story behind Artemis Niles? Was he runaway from an illegal project or was it something else? Was he traveling for a cure perhaps?

Jade looked over at the man. Where would his seals have been placed? The seals actually could tell a lot about who placed them and how the seals were placed.

Jade just started to reach over the sleeping man when his eyes shot open. The irregular Peacock eyes stared back into his own red.

They stayed like that for few seconds until the peacock eyes went to Jade's arms, where they lied above him. Then they went down to where the previously sleeping man was holding on to Jade. Then back to Jade's eyes.

Jade stared at Artemis, who made no move to react in surprise. Rather the man pulled his arms away lazily and sat up. He sat there on the bed with Jade until Jade spoke up.

"Awake now?"

Jade watched as Artemis turned to look at him slowly.

"Not yet," was his numb reply.

Artemis looked down and pulled himself off the bed. He walked over to his satchel that was lying on a desk in the room and rummaged through it. He pulled out a blue gel and quickly ate it. He held on to the desk as he started to cough. He probably had choked on the gel. He grabbed another unfamiliar gel, and was about to eat it when Jade grabbed his wrist.

"Do you know what you're doing?"

Artemis just stared at him, "Let go."

"You were just choking and you were going to try and swallow another gel?"

"I need it or I'll -" Artemis suddenly blacked out.

Jade held the limp man again. He cursed. Things were definitely not going well. At that point he had to make the choice to satisfy his curiosities of the green haired man or give up on it and leave the man at the inn. He sighed. He didn't like to give up.

He was slightly startled when he saw that Artemis' face had paled more. He grabbed the gel that Artemis had earlier and opened the unconscious man's mouth. He noticed something else when he was that close to Artemis' face.

Artemis had stopped breathing.

"Artemis."

No reply.

He sighed. The man made no move to consuming the gel and no one was in the inn either. Jade groaned. He put the gel into his mouth and bent down.

"Hey Jade we're back- holy shit!" Luke exclaimed and ran back into Guy.

Everyone gaped at Jade.

"Wow," Anise said, "Assaulting another man in his sleep, huh Jade?"

Jade made sure to wait till he was sure the gel had been absorbed by Artemis' body before looking up. A deadly cool expression lied on his face.

"What a misunderstanding, and now, don't you all have just the most unpleasant timing."

Jade sighed and adjusted his glasses.

"I'd appreciate you not stare at me with such intensity, Anise."

"No way," she said, "I left you alone last time and then you started to do weird stuff, Colonel!!"

Jade sighed, "We've already discussed this misunderstanding, haven't we?"

He could feel the blood pulsing in his head. What trouble Artemis had brought upon Jade, what trouble indeed.

Guy splashed the water on his face again. He was still trying to get the scene from earlier out of his head. Sure Jade had explained that it was only a misunderstanding, but…

Guy shook his head.

Jade and Artemis were both men and Guy was sure that neither man went down that road.

But still… Artemis.

Guy splashed his face once more and quickly toweled himself dry.

He put the towel away and walked out of the washroom. He stopped himself short when he spotted Artemis upright in bed. He was covering his mouth trying hide a yawn.

"Artemis," Guy said, startling the green-haired man.

"Oh, hi Guy," he said. He rubbed his eyes.

"How long have I been out?"

"2 days."

Artemis groaned.

"Did you guys go to the castle already then?"

Guy shook his head no and sat down a bed on a bed beside his.

"We were planning to go all together…"

They both sat in an awkward silence. Neither man took the initiative to speak. Artemis was looking at his hands. Guy was looking at Artemis.

"Ah, Artemis…," Guy started.

Artemis looked up from his hands to make eye contact with Guy. Guy was relieved to see that Artemis' eyes were green again rather than the peacock pattern…

"How serious is your condition..?"

Artemis didn't reply at first. Instead, he looked down and then sighed deeply. He leaned back and covered his face with one of his hands.

"So everyone knows then?"

Artemis didn't have to hear Guy's reply to know that the answer was 'yes'.

"Lorelei…" he mumbled under his breath.

"This wasn't supposed to happen."

He took another deep breath and removed his hands so that Guy could see his eyes. He had a hurt look on his face. A completely forced smile on his face.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," he repeated louder.

"Music Box: Lullaby, 4th chord," he said.

Before Guy could say anything else to the green-haired man, Guy's body collapsed beneath himself. He stared at Artemis wide-eyed.

"I can't stay here," Artemis said to him softly, "It's getting dangerous."

Guy's hearing was getting fainter. His sight was blurring. His feeling was disappearing. He barely watched as Artemis put a folded handkerchief by his head.

"It's best to separate before we know each other."

Guy's consciousness left him just as he heard the door close.

"Artemis you're awake?"

Artemis froze. Her hand still on the door handle.

Evenos.

No. She stopped herself. Evenos was gone.

"Ion," she said, "Yes, I just woke up."

"What about Guy? I thought he went to his room just now?"

Artemis almost hesitated to answer.

Almost.

"He must have fallen asleep just when I woke up," she lied.

"Ah…" Ion said, not entirely convinced.

"Artemis, shouldn't you be resting still though?"

Artemis felt her nerves twitching, "No, I'm fine, I just need to get some air."

"Do you need company?"

"No, I'll be fine," she said as calmly as possible.

Ion opened his mouth to speak but Artemis quickly intervened.

"If you'd excuse me Ion, I need some air."

She brushed past him quickly. If she didn't leave now, who knew when she would.

Ion watched as Artemis rushed out of the inn. He turned and opened the door to the room Guy and Artemis were sharing.

Sure enough, Guy was lying in bed. He had a blanket over him and his boots at the foot of his bed.

Ion frowned. At first he had thought that Artemis had lied because Guy was a light sleeper, but here was Guy, asleep.

He turned to leave the room, when he noticed something. The collar to Guy's shirt.

He ran over to Guy's side. Guy had never slept fully dressed when they had an actual place to sleep.

To Ion's relief, Guy looked like he was asleep and not poisoned of any sort. But beside his head was a folded handkerchief. Ion recognized it as the one Guy had given to Artemis to use. But why would it-

Ion's realization hit him head on. He ran out of the room and past everyone despite their cries till he reached the outside of the inn. He looked around. There was no one. There was no one leaning on the wall of the inn, no one sitting on the ground or any crates. There was no one.

Artemis was gone.

"Ion! Ion, what's wrong??"

"A-Anise!"

Anise's voice startled him.

"Was it a thief perhaps?" Tear suggested.

Ion's troubled look did not go unnoticed to Jade.

"I think it's something more pressing than a thief," Jade surmised.

"It's Artemis isn't it?"

Ion made no notion to answer.

Jade turned to Tear.

"Where's Luke and Guy?"

"Oh," Tear looked behind her, "Luke went to get Guy."

"Yeah, and it took me forever to wake him up!!" Luke exclaimed as he appeared with a dazed Guy.

"He can't even sleep right, he slept with everything on except his boots!"

Ion quickly walked up to Guy.

"Guy," he spoke urgently, "What happened with Artemis?"

Guy shook his head and frowned, "Some kind of fonic arte, he left saying something was dangerous."

"Maybe he is a part of some illegal organization," Tear said.

"Or he's on the run from one," Anise added.

"Whatever," Luke said, "he's gone."

"Luke!"

"What?? He's running away because he's in danger! How do we know he's not putting us into any danger right now??"

Guy shook his head, "That isn't right Luke."

"He left to keep us from danger," he finished.

"Oh, then wouldn't that mean that he's in danger?" Jade said.

"It's a pity though, we have more urgent matters at hand."

Jade had to smirk when he saw the almost horrified expression cross Ion's face.

"But perhaps we can seek him out after we meet his majesty?"

"I was about to call you a very, very cruel man Colonel!" Anise exclaimed

"Oh, so you won't now?"

"…No."

Artemis ran until her legs gave out from under her. She hit the ground and her arms shot out to catch her fall. She was about to stand up when a searing pain ran through her nerves, pooling at the seal on her waist, back, several other smaller areas, and now her hand. It wasn't a full seal, but Artemis was sure that it was a curse seal. The complete seal was meant for Guy but she had intervened and now she was paying for it in full.

Her own fonic signature was fluctuating, unsure of how to arrange itself. The seals, which had a regular fonon frequency, were especially painful against the sudden fonon rearrangement. It was fonon deterioration only because some of the user's own fonons were taken into the seals or completely deteriorated.

She could feel the sweat beading down her skin. She wanted to scream from the searing pain but she was already biting down as hard as she could to drown out as much of the pain as she could.

The feeling of her fonons being moved around while each of the seals would attempt to keep the fonons it was attached to, leaving an increased tearing effect within her.
The last seal was the most painful though. The first one she'd received. A seal on her forehead. It was always the last seal to come into effect, but it was the most painful. It always marked just before she'd black out.

It started off as a prickling feeling on her forehead that was almost a numbing feeling compared to the rest of her. But the pain continued to grow till it felt like a hammer crashing down on her over and over again.

if there's anything confusing, please message me and i'll explain it to the best of my ability without spoiling "Documentary"

R&R

(wish me luck in my exams!!)