White Rabbit

Note: Trickster Kitsune! So sorry I forgot your review! I swear I didn't mean to. T_T Ever forgive me? ^^; It's down there now...right at the top where it should have been all along. :gonk: ^^;

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ashi bit his lip, took a breath, and finally raised his hand to knock. December 17th and his fifth interview that week. How bad could it be? Secretary. He grumbled lightly to himself. What kind of self-respecting whore grew up to be a secretary? Oh well. At least he owed it to Garnen to try. Again. He grimaced and tapped his knuckles to the door.

Earlier that day, when offered something more ‘official’ to wear, he’d refused anything more dressed up than jeans and t-shirt. When the door opened, revealing a neat, darkly suited man and keen eyes scouring his figure instantly, he regretted that decision.

“Can I help you?” The man’s voice came curt, almost annoyed; Ashi instantly disliked him, but masked the emotion with his best attempt at a confident smile.

“I applied for a position early last week. I was told to come for an interview.” He made sure to keep the question out of his voice. The last thing they wanted was to look like a nervous idiot.

“I asked for men only.”

Ashi resisted the urge to put his hands on his hips. Instead, he gave a forced smile, but annoyance crept into his tone despite all his best efforts. “I noticed. Is there a problem?”

The man in the doorway looked him over again, frowned slightly, and gave a quiet ‘oh’, before nodding. “Right.” He motioned for Ashi to follow. “Come in then.” The rabbit blinked, holding his hands to his sides and gritting his teeth not to slap the man. ‘Oh.’ Nothing else. Just ‘oh’. Narrowed, furious lavender glared daggers at the back of the man’s head as he followed him in.

‘Could have apologized.’ By the time the man turned however, he held up a masking smile. When the other motioned, he sat, and waited patiently for further instruction.

“Now…you don’t have any past job experience…and yet it says here you’re taking several college classes. How are you currently paying for your living?”

“I’m living with someone else right now.”

“Your parents?”

Ashi’s wince was internal, his face expressionless, but his tone betrayed him. “No.” He briefly considered mentioning that he hadn’t lived with his parents in ten years, but decided against it. Better not. “A friend of mine.”

“A friend…fifteen years older than you?” This time, the rabbit didn’t bother hiding his displeasure as violet narrowed.

“What is it to you? What does this have to do with getting a job?” The other glanced up, making no secret show of eyeing more than his face.

“I simply want to know what I’m hiring, Mr….” He glanced to a form below him, frowned at the name and glanced up, not even bothering to pronounce it. “Surely you can comprehend that?”

‘What’. Not ‘who’, but ‘what’ he was hiring. Past that, Ashi heard little, fingers gripped tight to his seat and lips pursed. Could he comprehend that? Oh yes. He forced himself not to up and leave that very moment. Stay calm. He wanted this job. “Yeah. I comprehend.”

“No need to get agitated.” Ashi watched the man eye his ears, his clothing, then travel his gaze everywhere but his face. Agitated? It enraged him. He came here so he didn’t have to deal with that! “What services do you provide?”

The rabbit blinked, the unintelligible syllable of ‘eh?’ escaping him before he got it under control. A thousand ideas flashed through his head, countless memories of hearing that question in far different situations. “Uh…I…what?”

The man behind the desk sighed and stood. “Look. Maybe you should just leave.”

Violet narrowed dangerously. “What have I done now?”

“I’m looking for honest, hardworking employees. I can’t afford charity jobs right now and-“

“Charity?” The rabbit’s words came tense and cut, but the other paid it no mind.

“Yes. I need workers who can pull their own weight and-“

“Who the hell do you think you are!” Every bit of emotional restraint left him. “You have no idea who I am! How can you judge whether I’m an ‘honest’ worker or not, if-“

“Sit!”

Furious lavender vision shot daggers to the other man, and Ashi’s fingers clenched at the desk before him. He made no move and the man at the desk got out almost threateningly.

“Return to your seat. You’re not helping the situation.” Looking over the rabbit once more, he shook his head. “Actually, I believe it’s in your best interest, to just leave.”

The smaller man objected fiercely. “Why can’t I even get one damn chance to prove I can-“

“I don’t give paychecks to animals!”

Crack. The man gave a startled half-choked sputter as a swift fist snapped something quite painfully in his nose. Before he got a second to think twice, the enraged rabbit spun away, instantly heading for the door. Gripping his now bleeding nose with one hand, the attacked man scrambled after as soon as the shock faded and reached his free hand for the smaller man’s wrist with an angry shout.

“How dare you-“

The moment he felt the rough grip spinning him, Ashi acted by instinct and cracked his knee up mercilessly between his offender’s legs. A panicked, very pained expression flickered over the man’s face just as he doubled over, and the rabbit snappishly withdrew his wrist with little effort.

“Don’t. Touch me.” He reached for the door handle, watching the other stumble backwards clumsily. “Wouldn’t want to get rabies.” Several pairs of eyes lifted from various silent cubicles as the door slamming rang out through the room, but Ashi paid them no mind. He said nothing as the gazes followed him out. When he got to the exit though, he glanced back. “Well? Are you gonna stare at me all day or get that bastard a medic?” The words took a few seconds to sink in and the rabbit quickly left without waiting for an answer.

~

Garnen glanced up as the door opened and instantly sensed the rabbit’s distress; Ashi, as after most ‘interview’ encounters lately, looked thoroughly pissed. The officer debated briefly before glancing back down to his book and commenting offhandedly. “So who did you neuter today?” With his eyes on the page, he didn’t catch the seething glare shot his way.

“Bastard.”

“Is that referring to me or the poor unsuspecting employer you just condemned to a life of shame and misfortune?”

Ashi rolled his eyes and stepped off to the left for the kitchen. “Both.”

“Ah.” Garnen sounded not the least bit interested as he turned the page, but after the rabbit turned his back on him, ebony flickered up to him. Resisting the urge to frown in worry at the other’s obvious frustration, he posed the same statement he offered after near every one of these recent encounters. “You know, Ashi…you really don’t have to-“

“What is it with people and thinking I can’t do crap anyway?!” The smaller man shouted suddenly, spinning to face him. “I’ll do whatever the hell I like! I don’t need your stupid pristine world to take care of me! I-“

“I never said that, Ashi!” Garnen shut his book. “The point is that each one of these stupid attempts at getting a job are making you feel worse, and I-“

“Stupid? So now everything I do is stupid?! You don’t think I can get a job! You think I’ll never-“

“God dammit I never said that!” The officer looked far beyond frustrated now as he stood. “But no.” He shook his head, returning the smaller man’s heavy glare. “I don’t think you can get a job…not one of any sensible nature at least, because-“

“Oh! How ‘bout I just go back to what CAN do then, huh? If the great Garnen dictates I’ll never get a reasonable job…I may as well just give up now! I mean you of all people should know I’m too god damned stupid to do anything but-“

“Quit it, Ashi!” The officer began moving to the kitchen now. “You know full well I didn’t mean it that way! I’m just saying that no decent employer is ever going to accept a….a-“

“A what? Huh, Garnen?” Ashi held a single hand on his hip with his body slanted in a way that made him look so positively feminine the officer might have laughed if not for the situation at hand. “What am I? They won’t hire a…whore? A slut?” Garnen watched the smaller man’s pink tongue dart just briefly between his lips, wetting the apparently dry area and giving an excuse for pause. “…an animal? Is that what I am, Garnen? An animal?”

“Why are you so determined to bring yourself down?”

“I’m bringing myself down?? At least I’m trying to go past what YOU expect from me! Shit…if I went with what everyone expected of me…I’d probly have a bullet in my head right now!”

“That’s not-“

“Rotting in some poor…abandoned pine box…or better yet….the gutter! How’s that for you? Is that what you want?”

“Ashi stop-“

“But you know what? If that’s all you expect of me…then fine. I’ll just go out there and-“

“I said STOP!!” The sudden abrupt increase in volume startled the rabbit to silence, and the aftereffects seemed to hang in the air, only their increased breath filling the emptiness. Finally violet eyes wavered under the officer’s narrow glare, and Ashi got out in a shaky whisper.

“Go to hell.” Then he spun away, but before he got even out of the kitchen, Garnen came after.

“Ashi-“

“Get away from me.”

“Ashi listen-“ The officer reached out, but he withdrew instantly, as if the touch might burn him.

“I said get away!”

“Ashi look at me!” Before he got up an objection, a rough grip circled his wrist, spinning him back to face the other, and much like in the office, the smaller man reacted by instinct to such manhandling. As his hand lifted though, the elder moved faster and caught his attack before it made contact. The abrupt stop of his actions caught him off guard, and for a few moments he just stood there, trapped at both wrists and pulled chest to chest with the very man he wanted to escape. After over his shock though, violet narrowed and he tugged away in vain.

“Let go! Garnen, let me…get off!!” Suddenly the man’s grip hurt, painfully tight and his voice came clipped with rising panic as his struggles did nothing. “G-garnen…Garnen stop!”

But the officer didn’t hear him. Ashi’s now avid struggles made no impression and he noticed nothing except in a sort of passing observation. The rabbit reminded him of a fledgling bird, caged in his hands and fluttering futilely for escape; the underdeveloped wings trying in vain to break free and take flight, and delicate, breakable bones there and so perfectly fragile in his grasp…

“Garnen you’re hurting me!”

It was like a sudden jolt of reality and he dropped the man on instinct, catching him just before he stumbled backwards, and he felt, with a pang of guilt, Ashi’s form trembling slightly against him as he did so.

“L-let go of me…” It came laced with fear and a lot shakier than the rabbit intended. He knew it sounded not the least bit convincing, but he wanted out. The officer had looked almost…detached, and it scared him. He felt Garnen lifting one of his abused wrists and thought briefly of retreating then, but the man’s touch felt truly apologetic now, and the desire to do so left him quickly.

Garnen cursed silently to himself as he looked over the angry red markings spanning across the smooth, pale underside of his lover’s wrist and all around its circumference. “Dammit…Ashi, I-“

The rabbit withdrew his hand promptly at that and circled his other over it to cover the offending marks. He never met the man’s gaze. “It’s fine.”

“No, it’s-“

“I told you, I’m fine.” Ashi rose his voice slightly at that in determination but the officer looked dissatisfied. “Just…I’m gonna go out for a bit…okay?”

“Ashi-“

“I’m just gonna walk. Your neighborhood’s safe. Don’t try and stop me.” With that, he pulled away, and Garnen only frowned, watching as the smaller man turned away and made for the door. Some deep, long forgotten instinct issued a warning, telling him not to let the man go, to grab him, turn him around and kiss him, tell him he loved him and apologize a million times over for hurting him. But Ashi was right, his neighborhood was safe, he had no reason to stop the man…and Ashi obviously wanted some time alone…

None of his reasoning lessened the heavy pang of guilt that struck as his door shut however, and for reasons unknown even to him, he suddenly felt terrified, as if in letting the rabbit walk out his door, he let the smaller man leave his life forever…

~

Ashi shivered the instant he got outside. December temperatures had taken a new low this year, and he briefly considered returning inside for a jacket, but pushed the thought quickly from his mind. Everyone dealt with a little wind every now and then, and he didn’t plan on walking long.

Garnen’s street looked desolate, cold and unforgiving; it only added to his shivering. After giving one last flickering glance to the officer’s door, he forced his gaze away and shoved his hands determinedly in his pockets. A familiar presence surprised him and he frowned slightly as his fingers curled around a long forgotten cigarette pack. Taking it out, he found it nearly empty, three left. He grumbled and stuffed it back in his pockets; less than thirty seconds later they came out again.

Ignoring the guilt, he rummaged and found a lighter. By the time he made it halfway down the street, Ashi held a lit smoke blissfully between his lips and let out a tiny sigh of contentment. He shut his eyes briefly as he let the familiar smoke fill his lungs, and for one instant, he felt perfectly at peace. As violet flickered back open, another returning blast of rather cold air reminded him of his situation, but it seemed far less important now, and he felt much better. Relaxed.

Coming to the end of the block, he removed the small strip and blew out a light stream as he surveyed his options. Since his departure, the winds had only picked up further, and in the end he decided on just turning back. After all, he only wanted a quick diversion in the first place. His wrists felt better and he didn’t really want Garnen worrying anyway. The officer got so protective sometimes, especially considering the police forces hadn’t caught so much as a glimpse of Carlos or any of his followers since the original bust. Ashi normally ignored his worries and passed them off as foolish. If the dumb bastards hadn’t turned up by now, he expected they never would, but despite all, he still worried about Lan.

Realizing the turn of his thoughts, he shook his head quickly to clear them and prepared to turn around and head back. He made it halfway into the motion when something hit him. Not a physical object, but an intense sensation that trickled through his senses like a sudden invisible addition of liquid metal to his veins. He felt sluggish, tired, and wavered mid-step.

“Shut your eyes, rabbit…and I promise this won’t hurt a bit…”

Deep, lulling and steady. Violet flickered up through an already growing haze and felt sure he was staring into the eyes of Lucifer himself; the darkest, most beautiful angel in heaven.

“Oh…fuck….”

His eyes felt weighted, and regardless of all struggle to keep them open he inevitably failed and his vision faltered. Black lightning. His body went limp and the last thing he remembered was falling into Jacques’s careful embrace and lifting off into the sky.

~

Garnen paced, making the journey from kitchen to the far side of his living room and back for at least the twentieth time. Damn that rabbit; damn himself for letting him just walk out. How the hell long of a walk did he plan on taking?!

The idea that he’d really hurt him returned more than once, and each time in only increased his building guilt and worry. They’d argued before…of course they’d argued before. Hell they used to HATE each other…but surely one bout of shouting wouldn’t send the rabbit running? Not to mention he left everything.

He forced his worry down, struggled to distract himself by making dinner, but the idea of a meal without Ashi, wondering if he should even make anything for him…he retreated from the kitchen.

An hour passed before real panic took hold. He watched the streets, checked outside continuously, and as dark began to fall, he even searched by car before finally retiring and serving himself the first meal he’d eaten alone in almost two months. It consisted of a half drunken cup of cold coffee and a single slice of uncooked toast. He tossed for hours that night, and his large bed felt unfathomably empty.

After waking late, forgetting breakfast and arriving foul and moody at the department office, he reported Ashi’s disappearance. Two hours later, the city streets swarmed with cops; Garnen passed time in the shooting range. He consistently missed his target’s heads however, and no one commented as every shot hit with perfect aim between his cardboard victim’s legs.

o~-~-~-~-~-~-~o

“Leave him, kitten.”

A worried, recently tear-filled gold gaze lifted at the strict command. “But master…what if…what if he doesn’t wake up?”

The elder immortal eyed the boy curiously, and for a fleeting instant, something akin to pity crossed his features, but it left as soon as it came and he turned away. “No one can live without nourishment, kitten.”

“I-…he…” Lan looked hopelessly lost, begging for another answer.

“He will die.”

“No!! You have to make him wake up! Please! He…if…” The young blonde bit his lip, rounded gold eyes watching the unconscious rabbit beside him with a pained look of grief. “Ashi…” After three days in a ‘coma’ state, the albiri’s body had compensated, transforming into the actual form of a rabbit, small and white all over.

“This is foolishness. I’m speaking to Carlos. Stay if you like, but it’ll do no good. It’s best you forget him.” As the dark immortal quickly spun from the room, Lan only watched. Once alone, he moved to do as he had done every chance now for the past three days, filling yet another cup of water before returning to the tiny white albiri and carefully lifting him into a gentle cradle in his arms. The rabbits fur felt silky soft against his arms, and the smaller boy’s voice shook as he spoke.

“Jacques is wrong you know…” He whispered quietly. “…cause I know you’re not like that…you don’t give up like that.” He tilted the glass as carefully and slowly as possible to the tiny mouth beneath a whiskered pink nose. “You’re gonna wake up…cause you never give up, Shi.” Most of the liquid slipped off and dripped down, only a small portion actually making it in, if any at all, but Lan continued determinedly. “You always take care of me and…” He bit his lip. “…and it’s my fault…it’s my fault you’re here. I…you’ve gotta wake up!”

Before he knew it, despite all efforts not to, tears built and slid down pale cheeks, streaking his childlike features with shimmering wetness. “You’ve…g-gotta wake up…you’ve gotta, Ashi…” Through his tears, he barely noticed the first flicker of movement, but it sparked a giant hope and he quickly wiped away his tears in disbelief. The second time those white whiskers twitched, he would have screeched for joy and jumped had he not been holding the weakened rabbit at the time.

Finally, that small, pink nose wriggled ever so slightly and round, almost unnatural looking violet eyes blinked to eye him. Lan squeaked. “Ashi!” The rabbit gave something that could have been interpreted as a sneeze before giving a more pertinent protest to being held. Lan took the hint and set him down. The next instant, the small, rabbit body shifted, growing and morphing in a rather quick movement till a very tired, very naked Ashi mumbled in a sort of coarse whisper from his position on all fours.

“If I’m dead…then heaven sure sucks……unless of course this is hell…?” He glanced up to the other, a few loose strands of slightly limp looking pink locks falling in front of his eyes as he did so. Lan flushed brightly at the sight.

“I…err…n-no…Ashi, it’s…”

The rabbit gave a slight grimace, frowning and lifting a hand to cover his eyes as a wave of dizziness hit him. “Where am I? And why do I feel like I haven’t eaten in days…?”

Lan winced at the comment’s accuracy. “You…haven’t.”

“What?”

“You…if-“

“Oh FUCK!” The sudden loud profanity caught the tiger off guard but Ashi only groaned, ignoring the other’s surprise. “I was…” Memories of his argument with Garnen, the walk…and Jacques returned. He cursed, quieter this time. “Where am I…and how long have I been here?”

“T-three days…you’ve been unconscious. I…I tried to wake you up but…but Carlos wants to kill you, Ashi! He…he’s going insane…and-“

“He was already insane.” The rabbit shook his head. “And I’m pretty sure he’s wanted to kill me for a while now…”

Lan looked wide-eyed. “W-why?”

Ashi smirked slightly, shifting to sit back on his heels and glancing to the tiger beside him. “I think he really liked those pants I stole…”

The younger frowned. “But-“ They both glanced up as the door opened and Lan paled slightly, Ashi tensed and shifted to cover himself. The movement set two pairs of eyes on them, and Carlos, apparently talking to the immortal before, stopped his speech to smirk.

“Now, now…I thought you said he was dead?”

The immortal blinked in minor confusion, glanced to the tiger, and Lan only flushed, lowering his eyes. Jacques sneered. “I said a coma. He’s obviously out of it now, however. Do what you like. My debt to you is paid. Come, kitten. We’re through here.”

Lan’s eyes widened. “But…I-…Ashi-“

“Now.” The orders made his body work for him, and Lan felt like screaming, kicking, shouting, crying; anything to stop his movement forward; anything to stop his obedience, but nothing worked. Soon, he stood outside the door, watching as the immortal shut him off from any hope of ever helping Ashi, and leaving him with no one.

“He’s not dead yet, kitten.” Lan glanced up at Jacques’s cool tone, but it held no malice, or even scorn. “…but if even you have lost faith in your invincible rabbit…he may as well be.” The younger stared in disbelief and the immortal raised an eyebrow ever so slightly as if to say ‘well?’.

~o~

Ashi shivered, but held his gaze steady as Carlos made an obvious show of scanning over his displayed body. To avoid any more shame than necessary, he kept his knees up to his chest, but other than that did nothing to hide from the man’s scouring gaze. Finally, Carlos’s voice broke the silence.

“Nice to see you alive and well again, conejo. Jacques had me worried.”

Ashi gave an icy smile, sarcasm dripping in his words. “Pleasure’s all mine. Nice to see you found some pants again. You look better that way.” He watched Carlos fight the urge to sneer. “Of course…I really must appreciate your consideration. I’m sure you’ll be able to brag for days how you finally valiantly defeated me…only you…all alone…against someone a quarter of your size…and you didn’t even have to stun me this time! You waited till after I woke up to kill me…making sure I was wide awake…I even got a few sips of water to regain strength after being unconscious for three days without food!”

Ashi watched the man’s fingers twitch ever so slightly towards his gun and laughed. “Oh yeah. That’s just perfect. Are you gonna shoot me? Go ahead, shoot me. Very brave. Be sure not to get too close though…wouldn’t want there to be any chance of me getting in a surprise attack and wrestling it from you from your unsuspecting fingers.”

Carlos smirked, but Ashi refused to falter as the other took out his gun. From across the room, he watched as the elder man hefted it slightly, gripped it, and took aim at some imaginary target. “That’s what I love about you, conejo.” He turned his focus to Ashi and lifted the gun to point directly at him. “You always have something to say.”

The gun fired, loud and piercing through the room. Ashi tensed involuntarily, biting hard on his lip not to scream and shutting his eyes tight by instinct, but after a few brief seconds, as he opened his eyes again, he could hear Carlos laughing again. Shame burned in his gut, a sharp, stinging sensation bringing him back to reality and he lifted a hand to the sensation, wincing as his fingers came in contact with the graze wound.

“You missed…”

It came out as a hoarse whisper, sarcastic and forced through his wince as Ashi brought his bloodied hand down. The next instant, Carlos stood beside him gripping at the nape of his neck and hissing in his ear as cold, hard metal stabbed painfully at his temple.

“Next time…I won’t.”

Ashi swallowed his sob before it surfaced and forced his eyes open to meet the other’s gaze challengingly. “No? Prove it. Go ahead. I don’t care, goddammit!”

The other laughed softly, and it turned out far worse than any sneer or hateful comment. His thumb grazed lightly over the gunshot across Ashi’s previously smooth cheek and the touch made his skin crawl, stinging the open cut and making the rabbit squirm in spite of himself.

“Oh, I think you care…you don’t want to die yet…” He shook his head. “…but you will. I’m not gonna kill you.” He traced his now bloodied fingers down slightly, marring the rabbit’s pale skin with red down along his chin line before gripping and forcing Ashi’s face toward him. “…but when I’m through with you, you’ll be begging me to.”

Ashi got a very distinct urge to spit in his face, much like on that first night, but this time he resisted and settled for a disgusted grimace instead. “As much as the feel of you touching me makes me want to puke…I’ve handled rape before. I think I take whatever you have in store.”

Instead of scowling though, Carlos laughed. “Oh, I’m not gonna touch you, conejo…but I’ve gathered up some friends of yours who’re dying to do business with you.” Ashi felt his first clench of panic just before Carlos stood roughly, yanking his weakened and sore body up like a rag doll by the nape of his neck; he resisted the urge to cry out at the sharp pain it caused and got by with a stifled whimper.

“Do you want to be dressed for the job? Or go as you are?” Ashi struggled now, forgot any dignity and thrashed in Carlos’s bone-crushingly tight grip. Every attack he threw landed on inconsequential areas though, and the elder made sure not to give him any opportunities. “Surely you want something to wear?”

His cheeks burned, his bones hurt and his body objected to every painful turn of events as Carlos lead him, still completely bare, to the door. Before he got there though, the man surprised him, stopping before the exit and reaching to a convenient storage-shelf indent in the wall. He brought down a familiar set of wear, and Ashi felt his heart give an unwanted leap. The clothes from his walk…they kept them…

Without a moment’s notice, Carlos dropped him, and the rabbit tumbled with a painful fall at the sudden lack of support. The clothes came next, tossed at him just as the elder gave his command.

“Get dressed.” He kept his gun pointed toward the man on the floor, but Ashi really needed no incentive and gladly scrambled for his clothes. The instant he got his pants on though, Carlos yanked him up, ignoring as the rabbit struggled to don his shirt. Then, he was dragging him out the door, down the hall, around the corner. After a while, Ashi lost track. Then they began going down, and his worry began rising again. Before they got even close to the bottom, he heard the sounds. Crashing, screaming, curses, broken glass.

“It took awhile to get ahold of these people…” Ashi felt his head spinning. “Your business partners are a really elusive bunch…” His stomach felt sick. “…don’t come out much.” He smelt beer, smoke, weed, and several other mingled odors he couldn’t place. “But all these men have something in common…” They arrived at a door, old and wooden, the only thing separating him…and hell. “…they wanna know where you’ve been lately.” Carlos opened the door, and Ashi felt his gut curl as several faces turned their way. “Boys?” He shouted it to the crowd, over the ruckus, and the rabbit’s stomach dropped in all out panic as near everyone looked their way. “You have a visitor.”

Carlos shoved him forward, the door slammed, and for three eternal seconds, Ashi stood alone and trapped in perfect silence as every gaze in the room locked on him. For once in his life, Ashi felt terrified.

Note: Only one more chapter to go.... I can't believe I'm almost finished!

Review Replies

Trickster Kitsune: Well, at least there wasn't any after-sex angst! Well, regarding the sex at least. O_o... Ashi and Garnen make a cute couple, even if their "jobs" are total opposites. ^_^

And Ashi just had to go and molest that poor sausage! Though I'm sure Garnen enjoyed it, even if he didn't want to admit it. --evil grin--

But now we're getting into some myserty stuff... Ooooh... Though I think it's easy to figure out who is using the black magic... unless you totally throw us for a loop. ^_^

My aunt uses the word "whatever" constantly... >_>... It drives me nuts too. ^^

I will eagerly be awaiting the next update! ^__^

And I need to apologize like Falcon Bertille. ^_^; I assumed you were female as welll until I read a chapter in a story by Rin-Chan where she refered to you as Mr. Moonstar. --bows-- I always tend to assume most M/M writers are female too. Forgive me? ^^

xD Yes. No after-sex angst...we got to have a happy day...mostly. ^^; Oh yes...Garnen most definitly enjoys sausage...er...the sasauge. xD Mystery! Not tooo much mystery....but a little is always fun. :ninja: Nah. I'm pretty much out of loops at the moment....well....maybe one more....but I'm not sure it really counts as a loop. *considers*

xD But 'whatever' is Ashi's word! It's like...the definition of his lack for care of the rest of the world's opinions! Most of the time... ^^; xD But yes...in all actuality I hate it when people in life use it...only ok for Ashi. No one else. xP ^^

No problem...you can apologize about thinking I was a woman...and I'll apologize about forgetting your review! I'm so sorry! I was looking through my reviews trying to find the farthest one back for this chapter...and I guess I just missed yours! Forgive me, forgive me...^^; (Oi, and both yours and hers were a natural assumtion...I usually assume it too. o_O ^^;)

elisabeth chase: Garnen's not kicking Ashi out of his bed... and Ashi's cleaning the kitchen... omg they're settling in. they're getting comfortable!! good lord, they're getting positively domestic! *giggle*

i love the way Ashi immediately seeks to eradicate the butterflies... i can SO relate. no more garnen/ashi? how...unfortunate. maybe we should start a campaign. i'll write the picket signs, and falcon and rin-rin can bring chocolate and cookies.... we'll have a good old fashioned sit-in. *grin*

^_^ Wow, comfortable? Can't have that...:gonk: xD ^^; Yup. Can't have those butterflies...in fact...can't have any of those happy feelings...xP ^^; I feel like I should appologize...but then again...every story's gotta have the angst, right? Chocolate and cookies? o_o I'll join. Oh wait...it's a campaign against me. :gonk: *chuckle*

Winterineden: Whoo-hoo....the third time I checked today (ok I am obsessed) chapter 21 was up! I love your characters. They are so believable and easy to relate to. I have never seen such chemistry between two written characters before. And the "being a rabbit" and "immortals" are just thrown in as an "oh, by the way...." type of thing so that they do not detract from the main plot. Yes, it has graphic slash. I have noticed, though, that you use even the sex scenes to further the story, not just for the sake of sex. I am truly enjoying this story and your storytelling abilities. There have been no fillers, slow moments, or paragraphs you feel you can skip without missing anything. Certain phrases will stay with me forever...."put down the gun and step away from the whore". That was priceless. When you finish this it is already guaranteed to leave my "stories I am following" folder to take its place in my "favorite stories" folder.

Whee! Cool, another reader! Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I do tend to give even the smut a part in the story...I think I do it all by habit though...^^; (I rarely do anything just for the sake of sex.........at least writing wise). Yay for the no slow moments! I'm glad you think so...I try to make sure everything that I leave in the story has some point to it...but I never really can feel sure till the reader confirms it. I'm glad you like it. ^_^ *chuckle* Favorite stories? I'm honored! Thank you! But...I really do hope you still think that after you finish. ^^;

MakaiKitty: Sorry it took me so very long to review. Hope you can forgive me? Your writing is really improving by leaps and bounds with each chapter. The interactions between Ashi and Garnen are so sweet in the last few chapters. I'm really pulling for a "and they lived happily ever after" future for those two. Can't wait to see how the rest of the fic will conclude though. I'm sure it'll be great, whatever it is.

-Kitty ^_^

No hard feelings...cause you reviewed! xD As long as you do review...I'm happy. ^_^ And thank so much for doing so...it's really a boost knowing you think I'm improving. I'm trying...and of course I've got help now. Aww....happy, sweet interactions...*happy sigh* Can't have that! xD

Happily ever after....^_^

souh: this is a great story! great characters with depth, realistic but still a fantasy fic. now ive got to get back to reading the rest of it.

*swoon*

New reviewer! Thank you for commenting! I'm glad you like it and hope you enjoy it as much all the way through. ^_^

Alisha Steele Just finished reading all 21 parts. Very, very enjoyable! I'm so impressed with the slash writing I've found on this site; and yours is up there at the top of my list. Great job.

Alisha

Whoo! I'm just getting new readers up the wazoo...and ones who review too! Yay me! xD And yay you for taking the time to reply...thank you! I'm glad you like it. Yay! My slash gets a good ranking. xD *chuckle* I'm glad the smut's enjoyable.

Rin-chan: Ah, I'm so late at reviewing, gomenasai, Mr. Moonstar! ^^; Ano, I hope you've been doing well!

Eee, That chapter 21 is so cute - the morning after they made love. Eee *happy dances* Ashi all curled up in Garnen's protective embrace, and then ready to leave it after the cop woke up. He must have been worried, afraid that he'd be pushed away like last time. I love the way Garnen prevented Ashi from squiggling away, kissing him. Oiee, that was lovely. I adore the way you write with such sweet, tender emotion, Mr. Moonstar!

Ne ne! Thank you again for the lovely fanart of Dominick! I must email you sometime soon again - I haven't checked my account for a few days. I'm trying to get a picture done for you by tomorrow to scan in last class -computers/yearbook making. Thanks again! You made me very happy! ^_^

I await your next update with much anticipation, and hope all is well!

- Rin Rin *Hugs, gives you chocolate turtles, and sunshine drops*

No problem...you reviewed just in time! xD (No seriously...like...minutes before I posted the update...xD ^-^) I'm glad everyone appreciates the fluff...cause that's about all you're getting. :gonk: Good stories just demand angst and drama...so the happy can't last too long...I mean come now...I had them happy for what...three chaps? Two? I think that's plenty right? xD Anyway. Glad you liked it! And you're very, very welcome. ^_^ Yes, yes, email, email...more pictures? *pricks up ears* *curious* ^-^ All's well! Wheee! Chocolate! *pounce* Thanks you bunches! xD