White Rabbit

Note: Alright. I'm not sure if this chapter will make sense to everyone...it's currently in the process of being edited by someone, but I don't have feedback yet and I did promise it for today. So please tell me if something's confusing...just be sure to let me know what! ^^;

Chapter Seventeen

Garnen cursed, slammed the brakes in his driveway and almost broke his door on the way out, using just a bit more force than needed as it crashed shut. He tried five different keys and almost threw away the whole lot before he made it inside. By the time he did, he felt like sending more than one or two things to hell.

‘Admit it. You’re so gonna miss me.’

‘They’re gonna kill him, Garnen!’

‘Please...help me?’

‘I love you!’

Garnen swore, swept to turn on the lamp and fumbled, biting his lip not crush something as the thing spun, crashing off the table, and slipping soundly from his grip as he caught only the shade. The bulb broke on his carpet. “Shit.”

‘You said you’d help me!’

He turned toward the kitchen. Anything. Anything, anything, anything. He shut his eyes tight in the doorway, gripping it tightly as Ashi’s words slammed again.

‘I hate you!’

Then, worst of all. He switched on the light.

‘I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. It doesn’t mean anything.’

His breath shook and he slammed a pot on to boil. It didn’t matter. If the little bitch wanted to go kill himself... He opened a cupboard and reached for coffee, watching as the glass container slipped, cursing as it crashed and swearing as it scattered loose coffee and glass across his counter, hand and floor. He took a breath and shut his eyes. “Ashi...”

He glanced by instinct to his phone, across in the living room, as if willing it to ring, giving him some excuse, any excuse for his worry. It kept still, and silent. He quickly looked away. Why did he care? It didn’t matter! “I should be glad you’re out of my life, dammit!” He shook as he gripped the counter and didn’t move as his voice wavered with his own words. “Should be glad you’re out there...in the middle of the night...in the hands of some insane...murderer...probably getting...”

He moved to slam his fist but froze halfway at a sound. His whole body felt frozen, tensed, praying for it to come again, and it did. A knock. He abandoned the coffee in an instant, and stood at the door the next. Maybe, by some freak, insane... He opened the door and frowned.

“Who-“

“They killed him! They killed him, I swear! Garon...or...Garny?” The officer looked immediately taken aback, staring over the panting and terrified form before him. “Dammit listen to me! Can’t you hear what I’m saying...he...they...Lan...and-“

“Wait.” Garnen felt his body stop cold at a sudden realization and his next question came out frozen. “Who died?”

Tray’s voice shook molten gold wavering under tousled black. “Ashi.”

Garnen slammed past him and Tray hit the wall, but quickly recovered, shaking his head roughly. “W-wait! You have to take me with you! You can’t just-“

“Get in the car.” Tray made no hesitation. The instant he got in, almond locked on him. “Where?”

*~*~*

Lan stared, his entire body shaking, like the last fall leaf on a dying tree as he stared in horror to the crime his own hand committed. “No...n-no...NO!” He spun on the other man, instantly trying to strike him. “You promised! You promised you wouldn’t make me-“

“SILENCE!” Lan froze. Dead still in shock and obedience as a bone crushingly tight grip circled his wrist darkly. Threatening eyes glinted, navy and cruel. “Now. If you’ll keep your pitiful mouth shut for one instant, gatito...” The tiny form trembled but made no move to speak. “...then I’ll tell you. I kept my promise.” Gold widened, and Lan nearly opened his mouth when the other hushed him. “Your rabbit friend...is still very much alive.”

“B-but...I...A-ashi...” Lan instantly dropped to his knees from the other’s hold, falling to Ashi’s side on instant as true tears swelled. “Oh, please...please, please...Ashi...” He reached a hand out, shaking uncontrollably, terrified of what he might feel as he brushed back at the tousled pink across the man’s forehead. Sure enough though, the gun left no mark, no blood, no wound, and gold widened dramatically. “But...” A light, steady course of warm breath left the fallen figure and the boy near jumped for delight and relief behind his tears.

“Oh god...oh...he’s alive...he...h-how...”

“Get up. You look pathetic.” Teary gold lifted in fear at the words, but no sound came from his lips as he struggled from the command, tried to wince away. Navy only tightened it’s hold. “I said up!” He near shouted it and Lan desperately shook.

“J-jacques, please-“

“Stand.”

The command compelled him, melted through him like lava in a frozen body and he fell powerless against it, his petite form shaking with effort against the inevitable as his legs lifted, pushing him up to stand. He kept his gaze away, couldn’t bare the other’s sight, anyone’s sight. He’d shot the only man who’d ever given a whit to his reality, and he wanted to die, even if it hadn’t hurt Ashi, it could have, and that’s what mattered. He hadn’t been strong enough to stop it. To stop himself.

“Look at me, kitten.”

He didn’t want to, wanted nothing to do with the other man, but the command’s hold circled him, like some unshakeable grip. His eyes lifted, empty, lost and stricken with grief. He met the navy above him, and the man had never looked more cruel. More pleased. Jacques’s lips curled into a smile, filled with malice and sick pleasure as he watched the tiny boy shake.

“You’re so pretty, little one...so...fragile.” Lan tried to shake his head, tried to turn away, but the man’s fingers circled beneath his chin, lifted it. “So obedient.”

He did manage a whisper then, however shaky. “N-no...s-stop...I-”

“Lovely thing about your species...likely the only thing worthwhile in the pathetic race in fact. I can see why portal trash never makes it. You’re good for one thing and one thing only.” The man’s chuckle came low and unfriendly. “Come. Lift your friend...I’m sure Carlos will want his prize whole and...healthy. I bore of this human world. The sooner we leave, the better.” He turned on the spot and Lan stared, blinking in disbelief before quickly voicing his protest.

“But, master! Shouldn’t you-“

Jacques spun back with a heavy glare and the boy froze. “I told you to take him. Take him!”

Lan felt his cheeks burn heavy, and he mumbled something about freezing winters and damned stubborn immortals before shrugging off his jacket, letting it drop to the heavily dewed grass before glaring slitted gold and letting the rest of his clothes follow. Considering the cold, he left near no instant from the moment his last wear left to that when his entire form shifted, and as he quickly got the unconscious rabbit to his back mid move, seconds later, Jacques smirked almost fondly at the sight.

A giant, truly magnificent gold tiger, full form and gold as the boy’s hair, stood full out before him. Ashi, spread elegantly across his back, looked almost like some great prize, the prey brought in from a hunt. Jacques could only laugh.

“Quite nice, my kitten. Now don’t loose him. I don’t think I can stand another frenzic game of cat and mouse...it’s already worn on my nerves.” He turned again, leaving his last command steady as he made to leave the area. “Come. I have work to do.”

Come. Like a dog; his pet. Lan gave no objection, only a minor snort, intensified by his form into some form of low roar. Rumbling, guttural, but not threatening. It wasn’t his place, or his choice, to object. He followed. Obedient, and unresistant. Why fight when you can’t win?

*-o-O-o-*

Carlos looked up to a rough knock. Tight and short. He felt an uncalled for jump in heart rate, knowing long before he opened the door exaclty who waited outside it. Upon completing the task, the sight before him confirmed his suspicions, and Jacques’s smile looked insanely cruel, surreally seductive, and somehow, undeniably beautiful. The man inside resisted the urge to swallow at the instant discomfort this brought about.

“Jacques...” His tongue flickered, almost unnoticeably, between his lips in a fleeting, nervous move. “Pleasure.” The action didn’t escape the other’s notice and one, elegant eyebrow lifted.

“I brought back the Albicean. Where’s my prize?” He pressed past the doorway, confidently uninvited into the room and the other tensed, eyes locked as the other entered. “I don’t work for free...” His gaze spun, and the next instant Carlos stood face to face with that heavy, piercing cobalt gaze. “Where’s my pay, Carlos...?” The words came low, but they felt like a caress, taunting and sweet, yet deadly. He hadn’t even touched him. The man did swallow at that. His voice felt dry, raw as he spoke.

“What was it you wanted again?”

Navy narrowed, dangerous, and he instantly regretted his indecisive remark. He almost opened his mouth, but Jacques stopped him, one long, delicate finger all it took to block his speech. “Heaven, Carlos.” His words came purred. “Give me Heaven.” Heated in his ear, fire on his skin. Carlos forced himself still at the instant reaction it brought.

“I thought the amount I gave you-“

“Not more of the dose, mortal. The formula.” This came less patient and Carlos felt the grip on his senses loosen slightly. “Give me the formula.”

Carlos glared and pushed the man off. “That was never part of the deal. You have your tiger, what-“

“Foolish mortal!” For a moment he thought the man might attack him, his look most comparable to a snarl as his eyes set on him, but then it left, and the immortal smirked. “I do not go out of my way for pointless gallivants. I have eternity...and I want not one...second...wasted...” He emphasized each of his last words with the brush of fingers, almost painful but Carlos kept back his wince, sneering instead.

“One cross, and you think you’re so superior.” Navy flickered up. “I don’t care what you think you are, all portal trash are alike and I won’t be bullied by-“ Fingers dug into his flesh, painful and hard, his mouth spread but his breath caught and he couldn’t scream. Suffocating. He couldn’t breath.

“You have no idea...” Dark eyes widened, ebony and terrified as thick, black wings spread, cloaking them like a giant sheet behind the other man. “...what you’re dealing with...” Fire. It dragged him down and he still struggled for breath, oxygen. His head felt dizzy, distorted. The man before him became foggy, and he wavered slightly, trying to surface.

“Jacques...” The name came choppy and literally breathless. The immortal smiled.

“So pathetic. You’ll die you know. In less than a minute now...” His fingers trailed, so soft, against the man’s cheek, following a slow, delicate path. Carlos felt too distant to panic. Did dying always feel like this? “...unless I get what I want.” Life. His eyes lifted, but he had no breath left to speak and the gaze conveyed only his silent helplessness. “Just nod.”

Carlos gave his last, thinning effort to do so, and in a giant rush he gasped, eyes widened as everything slammed back and Jacques stood back, watching with mild satisfaction as the man stumbled forward, circling his neck in choking breaths, hunched in exhaustion. His knees finally gave, unable to hold the sudden strain and the man fell, landing on all fours before the other, still gasping for breath.

“Oh fuck. Shit, you-“

The standing man raised an eyebrow and interrupted. “Is that all you can come up with? Your first breath...I suppose I shouldn’t have expected more. Such language falls often from filth. Stand up. It’s a despicable position...especially for someone who’s supposedly my employer. Positively repulsive.”

Carlos scrambled, looking terribly disgusted with both the man in front of him and himself as he still struggled for balance. “How-“

“The formula.”

Carlos grimaced, but didn’t dare refuse the other now. He gave a scant, dissatisfied nod, dismissive. “You’ll get it.”


o-_-_o_-_-o

Ashi blinked, and instantly groaned at a stabbing pain in his head. The next step, trying to move, ended about as well and he finally settled with glaring ahead to the roof of wherever he happened to be staring at. “Great. Just...fucking...perfect.” He heard shuffling instantly at his voiced opinion and silently cursed. “Of course.”

“El conejo-“

“He said he wanted to be informed immediately. Tell Jaques, no mistakes this time.”

“Pero Carlos dice el-“

“¡Ahora!”

“Sí, sí, ahora, no problema...”

Ashi grumbled slightly as at least one presence left, and made a startled half-grunt as a firm foot came into contact with his chest. He blinked up to the most unfriendly expression he’d seen in a long time. “So, little rabbit...why you here, eh? You special?”

“What is it with Mexican’s and special people...” That earned him a swift kick in the gut and he gave a disgruntled choking noise, again trying to roll and only succeeding in a partial flop. “¡Lo siento! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it...damn.”

The man gave a dissatisfied grunt. “I can no kill you anyways. Carlos wants you live...for some reason.” He felt another nudge at his side, though this time more curious than rough. “What are you, little whore? From the portal?”

“Yeah, yeah, quit staring.” He now lay on his stomach, face down, with little enough energy to speak, let alone roll over again. He felt like something comparable to a sandbag and grumbled silently. He didn’t however, feel the man’s gaze leave him and finally sighed. “What on earth...is so fascinating, may I ask? Cause it’s-“

“You a whore. Should be used to it, sí?”

It didn’t take long to figure that one out, and again Ashi’s brain began working with panicked speed. Either that, or be raped...again. He heard the man come up behind him, and spoke just before the hand got to him. “I’m not sure Carlos would be so happy with that...” It worked well enough to at least pause him. “Not that I’m an expert...but considering all this work he’s gone through...I’m not sure he wants just anyone messing through his property...” That gave rise to even further pause.

“You his bitch, conejo?” Fingers graced his cheek and Ashi grimaced silently to the floor.

“Yeah. We’ll go with that.” The hand gripped in his hair and he forced back a wince as the man twisted his face up, painfully tight in his grip. Ashi had the distinct urge to spit, but remembered what happened last time he made that choice and decided against it, merely giving a solid look of disgust and defiance to the expression that greeted him. The other man sneered.

“If I-“

“Drop him, Juan.” He instantly felt the grip leave him at the command and the man scrambled.

“Senior! Lo siento, el-“

“Get away from him...and leave the room.”

“Sí, of course.” Another scramble, and the man was gone. Ashi cursed, alone again, with whoever came in, and for some reason, he felt better off with his previous companion.

The new man’s footsteps clattered against the stone floor till he could near sense the heavy gaze on him, piercing and unwelcome. “You’ve no idea how nice it is to see you again, conejo. It’s been so long since our last meeting...I was beginning to miss that lovely kiss of yours.”

Ashi snorted roughly into the floor, still unable to move. “Bullshit. The pleasure was all yours, I assure you.”

“Friendly as ever...but as much as I miss your humor...” The smaller man winced as a hand caught his arm tightly, yanking him up to sit and brining them face to face, for the first time, with Carlos’s dark, hated features. “...I’m afraid that just won’t due.”

“What won’t do?” Ashi gave a grimace to back up his words, making it all too evident he wanted out.

The man smirked, mocking. “You’ll need a bit more than words to humor me, my rabbit. I’ve waited far too long for that.”

“For what? Exactly? Don’t tell me you spent nearly a month just to get me as your fuck-toy...” The man snorted.

“No. Though it would almost be worth it...just to break you.” He shook his head with a sneer. “No. I have other uses for you. I hope you don’t mind...but you’re really not all that important.” A touch, carelessly placed, and Ashi withdrew by instinct, shaking his head roughly against the invasion.

“Stop. Why am I still alive?”

“Why? Because I want you that way of course. Such a terrible waste to kill you...when all you need is a bit of exercised force.” He paused. “Even the most untrained bitch can win a dog show with enough discipline...” Ashi grimaced at the comparison.

“Lovely...choice of words...that still doesn’t explain how Lan shot me..and then-“

“Ah. The tiger. I left him with Jacques. Apparently he did a good job...so easily manipulated.” At Ashi’s look he frowned slightly. “You’re not still concerned over him are you?” The smaller man kept silent. “Come now...he nearly killed you...thought he killed you in fact...and yet you still protect him?”

“He’s just a kid.”

The man above snorted. “You give pity too freely.”

“He’s my friend.”

“You need new friends, conejo...” The words came quieter now, almost pitying, but losing their interest as he pressed closer, and Ashi instantly remembered his original worry.

“I kinda figured that when he first pointed the gun...but yeah...and-“

“No more talking.” He felt the man press close and scrambled.

“One more question!”

“Yes?”

“If Lan did shoot me...how the hell am I still alive?”

“You weren’t shot with a bullet.”

“But-“

“No more questions.” Ashi cursed silently. “Now...you give me what I want.” Hands trailed his bared skin and he winced at his still almost perfect immobility. Across his chest, stomach. He felt the press of cold rock against his back, assumably a wall. Fingers lifted his chin and he reluctantly lifted his gaze, giving a heavy glare to the man who held him. “Our last kiss was a bit rough...think you can do better?”

“Fuck you.”

“That worked last time. Not now, conejo. You’re a whore, and I’m a well paying customer, now act like it.” Ashi cringed despite all.

“What’s the pay again?”

“Your life...and the life of your pretty little friend.” Violet widened just briefly, but he got no time for another come-back as the man tugged him forward roughly, capturing his lips with heavy persistence, and he cursed. The ruby substance caused their lips to cling, and left him with the same sort of dirty, cheap feel he often felt after some of his less honorable customers.

“I really do hate you...” He got out in a hissed whisper, swearing under his breath as the man gripped at his hair, painfully forcing his head back. “Garnen...” The upward tilt of his position gave free-reign for the man above, and Carlos chuckled as he winced at the rough fingers on him.

“You lieutenant is a bit distracted I’m afraid...not to mention he thinks you’re dead.” Ashi’s eyes widened abruptly but it only ended in a tight wince as the other pressed him back again, hitting his head with a painful thud against the stone. He swore his vision starred for a few seconds.

“He’ll figure it out. He-“

“He’s a police officer, little rabbit. He doesn’t care about you...” Lavender flickered as a hand traced over his worried features once again, fake sympathy edging every word. “You’re a whore.” Ashi’s eyes shut firmly at the bite. “A cheap...” The rabbit shivered as the hand trailed down his neck. “...moaning little whore...”

The lower lip of ruby caught between his teeth as he turned his head, anything to escape the cold words. “...and by the end of this night, conejo...” Ashi’s lips parted in a startled gasp at the heat so close. “...it’ll be my name you’re screaming in these cold halls...and that man will be the farthest thing from your mind...”

Ashi shuddered, breath undeniably quickened and lashes already half lidded under the press of the other man’s gaze. “Go to hell you fucked up son-of-a-bitch...” Lips met his roughly, almost painfully and he cursed as the tight clash of lips and teeth devoured him.

Carlos pressed again between his ruby barrier, and he gave with no strength in him to do otherwise. A tight grip pinned his hands over his head, and the larger man straddled him, pinning him back hard to the wall with no remorse to his situation.

Ashi’s expression pinned up in worry. How the hell did he get himself into these situations? He grumbled as the man forced his way into his mouth, and began thinking. There had to be some way out of this... If he wanted out, he needed information, and a distraction. Usually, the current situation would prove enough of a distraction, but the information might be a bit harder to obtain.

Question one, did Carlos have a gun? The man above him became insistent and he moaned, giving a half-startled gasp for effect when the man’s hand began trailing his stomach. The other only looked quite pleased, and Ashi couldn’t have been happier. Distraction working so far. He glanced down, using his position to scour the man’s clothes and near smirked. Score. Gun.

“Carlos...oh god!” He bucked his hips needily into the pin with another small, encouraging whimper, hands still trapped above his head, and Carlos smirked.

“You really are a whore...were you so deprived conejo? Or do you just miss this...” Right hip. Now all he had to do was make sure he knew where it landed. Preferably close to him. He smirked heavily, but covered it to prevent suspicion.

“Fuck yes...oh shit, I missed this...Carlos...” He gave a slight whimper as the hands traveled more roughly, needier, but noted, for future reference, that Carlos actually had surprisingly smooth fingers, likely from not doing much of the dirty work. That didn’t, by any stretch, lessen his muscular strength however, and Ashi didn’t fake the wince he gave on hard contact with the ground when Carlos pressed him quick back to the floor. “Couldn’t you be...just a little nicer?”

Carlos laughed, but it only served to dampen his mood. “On the contrary, mi conejo, I think I’ve been very gentle.” For the record, Ashi gave a brief look of startled worry before the man flipped him, from his back to flat face forward. He smirked to the ground. My, my, Carlos, a little on the impatient side? Impatient was good.

When the man’s clothes began coming off behind him though, he turned, propping on his elbows but keeping stomach down as he watched. Carlos raised an eyebrow. “Interested now, rabbit?”

Ashi let a coy smirk play at his lips, letting Carlos, for the further success of his already rather risky plot, think whatever he wanted of the gaze. In all reality though, one more clothesless male body didn’t gain much interest, but the landing spot of Carlos’s gun...that meant either life or death, and his attention focused, however discretely, on that path.

He didn’t get long for that train of thought though, as the man above turned out very proficient at dropping his pants, and didn’t take long in doing so. In no time, Ashi again felt the crushing weight of the man behind him, and hands at his pants. Carlos, for a few brief seconds, seemed to frustrate over the obstructively tight material, and after a few muttered curses, the rabbit gave a startled squeak as it simply ripped away.

“Hey! Those were-“

“Lovely as they were, I prefer them off.” The man didn’t even bother with his top, and Ashi settled to grumble silently in his state, legs spread to each side of him, bent at the knees, and chest pressed firmly to the cold ground in front of him. Fully dressed excluding shorts, this proved a terribly vulnerable position by any standard.

Two fingers pressed abruptly, and even more surprising than the fact that the man actually planned on preparing him, was that they felt slick, and he almost, for a fleeting instant, regretted his plan, but that passed quickly. Just because the man wasn’t raping him quite as painfully as he might, didn’t mean he wasn’t raping him, and he tossed his head back with a low moan of incentive. He still needed to get out of here.

“Honestly, conejo, did you really expect to escape from this?” Ashi gave a panted gasp as another finger entered him and shook his head heatedly, eyes tight shut. “What’s it like being a bitch of the law? Do officers do good in bed these days?”

“Hell yeah...oh shit!” Ashi bucked back with a screech as a specific touch shot a stem of pleasure and he shook slightly to regain balance. “Though of course...there are always things the law can’t do...” He felt Carlos’s chuckle against him and turned to see the man’s smirk as his fingers left him.

“I think I could get used to having you around, little rabbit.” The man re-stationed behind him and Ashi gave a throaty moan as he pressed in.

“Yeah? What happens when you get bored with me?”

“I have a feeling that won’t happen for awhile.”

“Yeah? Well I have a different plan.” Before the man could reply to this strange comment, he slipped his hand back in one, hastily planned move to catch his goal and the next instant, Carlos froze, gunpoint at his head. “You got boring real quick. Now if you please...back up, and get off. You’re a real pain in the ass.”


Note: Next update should be Saturday/Sunday...somewhere around there. Please review! (Oh, and that request doesn't get old..o_o)

Review Replies

Paige: Kay, going to have to pray Lan shot someone else, and Ashi fainted because of it... or something. Please don't tell me Ashi is dead. I will... cry. And cry. ;____;

So I put up a smut scene and you don't comment...but I almost kill Ashi and you do? Gah! I guess I'll have to kill Ashi more often...kidding! ^^; But thank you for commenting anyway. Nah...Ashi ain't dead...yet. No, I'm kidding, really. Glad to see you stop by!

MakaiKitty: You ended on a cliffhanger? No!!!!!!! I can't wait to see what happens next. I don't particularly hate Lan now, I feel kinda sorry for him. As for a sad ending? Please, don't do it *begs* I know how fun it can be to get all depressing, and sometimes a sad ending is better, but I still hope it doesn't end that way.

As for your appology. Don't bother. I was kinda hopping that nut would respond to what I wrote. I have a response up on my fic if you wanna read it. Let me know how I did? Oh, and if anyone wants her email it's: no_time_for_eternity@yahoo.com Do with it what you will. I know some people enjoy that sort of stuff *LOL*

^_^ I love it when I can end on a cliffhanger...I get such enthusiastic reviews! I'm glad people don't hate Lan anymore...he really is just a confused little person. I thought everyone would only hate him all the more after this chapter, but he only get's more forgiven! ^^;
I'll try for a happy ending, promise. I usually end happily...but this...o_o

Sarah Bridget: YOU CAN'T KILL ASHI!! -cough-

*raises eyebrow* Oh really? *chuckle* I'm glad to see you think so...it's nice to see a positive comment in here from you. >_< ^_^;

tainted_love: I like the story. Hee hee, I wasn't really planning to review, but then I saw your lovely flamer, and I just had to review. I think that your writing is very creative and holds a lot of potential. I would work a little bit on grammar and such, but that's just me! :oP I really do enjoy your characters and I'm always happy to see an update!
Well thanks for reviewing! I've got a helper/editer now...though this chapter hasn't been fixed yet. ^^; I hope it's not too distracting...I am working on trying to get better myself.
Trickster Kitsune: Ooooooh, myyyyyy, goooood... Ashi had better have ducked... If not... o_o... That cliffhanger was evil...

And damn it! Now I need to smack Ashi and Garnen for their after-sex angst! We all know Ashi loves Garnen. ^_^

But Lan... I'm so confused about how I should feel about him! My brain hurts... ;_;... I want to feel sorry for him, but I still have the thought that the whole "they made me do it" thing is an act! --bangs head on desk--

But just reading the last paragraph of this chapter... Oh my god! --falls over-- He had better not be hurt too badly...

Please update soon!

It's kinda funny that your life is getting busy while mine is winding down. ^_^ Two final exams, one essay, and then winter break until January 17th!

As for that Sarah Bridget chick... If she had the guts to leave an email address, you can only imagine what a verbal ass-kicking I'd give her. ^_^ She's probably just some bored 12 year old that gets a high off trying to break the spirits of authors. But you're doing great in fending her off! And at least you know you have some allies. ^_~

^_^ I'm glad you still like! Ah...but the after-sex angst is essential! Yeah, yeah...but confessions are so sappy! Oh well...^^;

Lan! Yay! He confuses people! Almost as much as he's confused himself...o_o Take the "they made me do it" to a literal and major extreme...and you've got it. u_u

*chuckle* Good for you (that your life's calming down that is). Mine probably will too...I mean Christmas means a nice long break...if I can just relax and get out of this writer's block! :gonk: T_T

Sarah left me an email! But...apparently she's not so bad as she seems? o_O And she reviewed on this chapter...with positive encouragement! Even if it was only one sentence...^^;

Falcon Bertille: Great new chapter! I loved the fact that Ashi didn't know the difference between a waffle and a pancake. It really shows how far outside of normal society his life has been. And when Ashi walked down the staircase, dressed like a whore, and told Garnen that was what he was...that just broke my heart. So sad. I'm glad that Garnen didn't let him go off to face Carlos feeling so bleak. As for Lan, I'm not sure how I feel about him yet. I suppose it will depend on why he betrayed Ashi, and if he does anything to help him afterwards. With my own stories, I tend to favor bittersweet endings, but I know I'll be happy with any ending you feel is right, happy or sad.

As for dear old Sarah, no need to apologize. I wish she wouldn't bother you and Makaikitty, but I think she's hilarious. You should read the email she sent me. I haven't laughed so hard in weeks.

Love,
Falcon

Thanks! The waffle/pancake arguement was basically my escuse to get them talking...even if it was something silly. I'm glad it didn't look too ridiculous. ^^; The whole stair scene was one of those lovely times when my fingers just kept typing...and I barely knew what I'd written till I got to finish and re-read. It feels like I haven't had one of those in ages...T_T
Wow. Lan really has confused everyone. ^^; I've put him through a lot...but he'll have more to deal with...and I think he'll end up playing some important role...not sure exactly how it'll all play out yet. All I need is time! Time, I swear! *thunks head to desk* *busy busy*
I've noticed the bittersweet...and you do it so wonderfully. Just the right mixture of happy and sad... I wish there were some way to just practice endings...without having to write so much beforehand. :gonk: (I suppose I could try and write short stories...but that never seems to work either...). Ack. I'm rambling.

*chuckle* I think she's decided to quit her flame throwing and start actual feedback. Apparently flaming get's boring? o_O Who knew! ^^;