I'M SO SORRY. I've been busy. Life's been hard. I thought that I would have time during the summer to update frequently, but it turned out that I had less. I went to Summer School of a sort, for smart people. I've recently been accepted to go to Boarding School. The work was hard, and it turned out that I was staying up late doing my Summer and Fall homework from English... Oh, how I hate English... Anyways, I've conjured up something for you guys to read, even though I know it's horribly short. I'm tryingtryingTRYING to update as soon as I can. But no promises. Thank you for the guys who have stayed with me all throughout!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Autor's POV

They're so much in love… I contemplated as I observed Ahiru throw back her head, laughing gaily, while Fakir allowed a small smirk to grace his lips. They sat underneath one of Freya's apple trees, basking in their mirth.

I gulped. They're happiness is to be short-lived, however… All over again, the same mistake Fakir is making, he still doesn't understand what he's going to put Ahiru through. It's the Mytho situation all over again…

I shrugged. If Fakir wanted to have it this way, then let him be. I couldn't interfere with his decisions. I picked at my apple, which sat across me on the wooden picnic table I was sitting on.

Lunch time is always so lonely when you have no one to sit by.

I remembered the time when Rue seduced me, and I fell for her. Oh, my stupid, stupid, young self…

I grunted and looked up, seeing a disappearing act from Ahiru and Fakir. I checked the clock and it was 12:25 PM, five minutes until class.

My apple was almost fully oxidized. I picked at it once more, not wanting to get out of class. Why was I so obsessed with proving Fakir wrong? I sighed heavily, knowing full well the answer.

I was jealous, and that was that. I knew that I would never be in his place, having a girl lying on my shoulder, coming to me when sad, teasing me, and whatever…

I felt a slight tap to my shoulder and I leisurely brought my head up. A girl with eccentric pink hair glanced down at me with a stoic face. Even though she took Ballet as her prime class, she joined Literature as a sub-class, to which I was in also. Her name was Pique.

"You're letting your apple decompose." That brought a smile to my face, and she grinned back, dimple-faced. "Come, let's go to class." She stood with one arm akimbo, and I slipped mine through hers. She smiled, as we walked off to class, while I was grinning nonstop.

Maybe there is still hope for me, I thought wistfully.

.

…

.

Rue's POV (The morning before)

"What do you want, you old man?" I demanded with slicing words at the pauper-like person grinned at me.

"Nothing really," Drosselmeyer said lightly, "just wanted to check how my characters are doing."

"Your characters? I don't think you own this story anymore." Mytho's soft, agile hands comforted me quickly, softening my tense back. "Fakir and Ahiru already had enough of you. Why are you still here?"

His eyes widened, as if he were insulted. "Ohoho, that is where you are wrong, Rue, my dearest. I created you, Ahiru, Fakir, Mytho, and all the other people in this story. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be alive right now. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't fall in love with your precious Mytho—" I clenched Mytho's hand as he spoke this, "—and if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have those unbelievable powers you have now." He smiled arrogantly and triumphantly.

My eyes were small as slits. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be alive to live through this kind of Hell. If it weren't for you, Mytho wouldn't have to love someone as horrible as me, the Raven's daughter. If it weren't for you, you're right, I wouldn't have these powers, which have screwed up my life in the most unimaginable ways. And you still dare say something?!"

He still had the nerve to smirk at me. Mytho held me back easily.

"Oh, my dearest Rue, and I thought I would just drop by to give you a piece of advice. Something about Fakir and Ahiru. But I just guess you aren't grateful enough."

I licked my lips. "I don't need any of your advice. Nor does Ahiru and Fakir. What they do is their business. You have no right to meddle in it now, especially after what you've risked."

For the first time, Mytho piped up. "Drosselmeyer. What is it that you're saying?" I glared at him, for giving in so quickly, but he refused to meet my gaze. He nodded to Drosselmeyer solemnly.

"Well. If you must know, Ahiru's had many fainting spells, am I right?" Mytho acknowledged that piece of information. "She's been having those for a reason. I'm sure Fakir has told you that Ahiru needs to stumble across five things that meant a lot in her past life. She's already stumbled on two: Rue's visiting and ballet."

My face contorted into confusion. "But how can that be? She's had many other fainting spells."

He stroked his chin, his face stoic. "Some others are simply by chance. There was one instance when she fainted because she was left out too late in the rain, am I right? Some spells are because she's getting close to one of the five important things."

I closed my eyes. "This makes no sense whatsoever…"

He sighed impatiently. "Alright. Do you admit that Ahiru has fainted on a number of occasions?" We both nodded. "Sure. Do you admit that Ahiru remembered a vital piece of her past when she woke up?"

My eyebrows rose. "I recall that Ahiru remembered who I was when she roused, even though I didn't mention that…"

"There. I presume you haven't seen her after she woke up in the school infirmary?" We shook our heads.

He provided, "Ahiru woke up in the middle of the night. She remembered what happened when she was in Lake Despair with Fakir dancing the pas de deux."

Mytho's eyes bugged out. "So she needs three more objects for her to get her memory back? And she faints after she discovers them?"

"Yes. But I believe that it doesn't have to only be objects. Ahiru summoned up memories after she saw Rue, a person, and when she danced ballet, a dance." He contemplated thoughtfully. "Let's call them, The Five Recollections."

"Very creative." I spoke sarcastically. "Especially for a writer."

He scowled. He bowed slightly to Mytho and said, "Good luck with Rue, here. She's a feisty one."

I stomped angrily as he disappeared completely from sight.

"Don't worry about him, Rue." Mytho whispered, kissing my earlobe, tickling it. I smiled unconsciously. "I don't regret falling in love with you."

I squeezed his hand. "I love you, too, Mytho."

.

…

.

"The Five Recollections?! What kind of bullshit is that?" Fakir sneered.

I tipped my pointer finger back as I leaned on my hand. "Exactly what I said. You do not know how mad I was when he emerged. Just looking at his wizened face angers me." My nostrils flared.

Mytho, Fakir, and I stood in the Infirmary. Ahiru had been sleeping 13 hours and counting, longer than the last time she collapsed. Fakir didn't look very happy.

"So you're telling me that whenever she faints, she evokes memories?" We didn't even bother trying to reply. Fakir had been asking that question since we arrived. Fakir plopped down in a chair, massaging his temples.

"Drosselmeyer said that Ahiru recalled when you and her danced in Lake Despair." Mytho supplied, to calm him, but that only stimulated his anger.

"So does that mean that she remembers me?!" His face seemed upset, almost scared.

I uttered slowly, "I don't think so. Chances are that she didn't. When she woke up last time, with me in her room, she only remembered me, solely me. She didn't remember any of the parts I played in her life; just that I was important. I believe that she only reminisced that moment, seeing another body with no face. You make it seem as if you don't want her to remember."

He slumped further in his chair, sighing, "I don't. I don't want her to relive that horrendous…thing she called life. Besides, I can tell she's already happy. She has feelings for me, and I think that's enough."

I glanced at Mytho unsurely. He reiterated that same look. I opened my mouth to speak, but just then, Ahiru stirred and roused. Her blue eyes gazed deeply at Fakir and her mouth pulled into a smile. Without words, she stood and hugged him tightly. A ghost of a smile appeared on his face.

Oh, Fakir. You're making a mistake. You're still the same person you were before on Mytho. You allegedly protected him, keeping him from his past. Loving her will only dredge up those lost nostalgia!

Please review!(: