Chapter 7 / 18
Written by Jessi Maxwell - send C&C to Megami_no_Remon@hotmail.com
Duo slumped down in an alleyway, leaning against a brick wall. // He didn't believe me...he didn't even give me a chance...of course...it WAS a pretty crazy sounding story...man, what am I going to do? I can't let that sadistic bastard get him...damn. //
Duo's mind was jerked out of its contemplation as he heard someone walking up towards him. "Umm...Mr. Duo Maxwell?" the voice asked timidly. It sounded vaguely familiar. Duo's head whipped around and he saw...Imati?! Something was different though...Duo couldn't place it. It wasn't just the fact that the hairstyle had changed; he now was wearing his hair completely braided, and the tip swung just past his knees, nor the fact that he sported angel wings, beautiful, arching feathered wings with long feathers the same shade as his hair, the tips almost, but not quite brushing the ground. There was something wrong with his eyes. The eyes held a depth of pain and anguish that Duo couldn't even begin to fathom.
Duo didn't trust the shapeshifting demon in any form, and growled. "Get the hell away from me, Imati Darkfyre!" he snarled, backing off and looking for a weapon.
The petite braided figure in front of him sighed sadly and shook his head. "Iie, gomenasai...I'm not Imati... please, Maxwell-sama, give me a chance to explain...please. Before Imati does something I can't help fix..." Duo didn't want to trust this other braided bishounen, but something...perhaps it was the way his voice was carried, soft and deeply anguished, or perhaps it was the sadness in his eyes, but something was making Duo want to give him a chance.
"Maxwell-sama?" he asked incredulously. The figure before him looked almost ready to cry. Duo frowned. "If you aren't that demon bastard, then who the fuck are you?"
The deep, pained gray eyes before him lowered to the ground. "I am Kas'Ralin..." Something stirred in Duo's mind.
"Kas'Ralin? That's one of the names Imati used...I'm not fooled by your little trick, you bastard!" Duo snarled, turning.
Kas' swallowed hard. "Maxwell-sama, please...just give me a moment to explain! I am not Imati, not at all..."
Duo paused, and then turned back around. "Fine. I'll give you one, count 'em, one chance to make your case." Kas'Ralin nodded, then began his story.