Chapter 9 / 18
Written by Jessi Maxwell - send C&C to Megami_no_Remon@hotmail.com
Duo stared at Kas'Ralin, unable to decide if the petite, delicate creature in front of him was lying or being truthful...but Duo decided to believe when he saw the depths of pain in those sad gray eyes. Kas'Ralin wasn't lying to him. "This...I...I don't know what to say. I'm sorry you went through that..." Duo said, unsure what to say. Kas' had been so fearful and upset when he told his story, especially about his sensory deprivation. Duo felt pity for the beautiful creature, who was hugging himself tightly as tears traced down his cheeks.
Duo paused. "Kas'Ralin...it means something, doesn't it? In your language or something." Kas' nodded, his soft, beautiful voice choked with tears.
"Yes...Kasa is the Ancient tongue for Ghost, and Ralin is a compound word that means Moonchylde. I don't even know if I ever had a real name...but Ghost was all that fit for me, since I'm nothing more than a ghost of a being, living a slave's life, a ghost of pain and emptiness...and Moonchylde...because I'm a dreamer, and I always dreamed that some day I might be rescued from this hell I exist in...though I've lost hope for that..." Kas' was crying, weeping noiselessly in a pain so deep that Duo couldn't even imagine how the bishounen had retained his sanity, let alone survived.
"I'm...I'm sure some day you'll find someone to love you! I'm sure you have someone you must have wanted!" Duo said cheerily, trying to lighten Kas's mood. Kas's eyes slowly lifted to meet Duo's, and he shook his head.
"No. I have no one...no one I even considered...I don't even have a dream any more...I remember little, day to day is a blur, only a constant dull throb of anguish...I..." Kas' blushed, looking at the ground. "I don't even know what desire feels like..."
Duo's eyes flew wide. "You've gotta be kidding..." The look in his eyes told Duo that, No, Kas'Ralin was not kidding. "Well...shit..." Duo couldn't even begin to fathom a life devoid of everyone, even something as petty as a crush, or a passing thought at some good looking person walking past. Kas' shivered and backed up a step.
"I'm...I'm sorry, Maxwell-sama. I didn't mean...I didn't mean to be so..." Duo stopped him by shaking his head, then hesitantly wrapping his arms around the poor boy.
Duo gasped, reeling as he made contact with Kas'Ralin. The waves of sheer sensation and emotion that plunged into him were overwhelming, and he realized he was feeling a heightened version of what Kas'Ralin was feeling, and it HURT. Duo fought to breathe and control himself, and hugged the bishounen tightly to him. As he managed to regain control, he felt Kas's emotions slowly sliding towards a less hurt state, and the pain was receding slowly as Kas' calmed and began absorbing Duo's calmness. Duo just hugged him tightly, idly stroking the honey-brown braid. He was shocked to find that Kas' was almost as frail as he looked...Duo was amazed that the boy hadn't blown away at the first hint of a breeze. He was nothing but skin and bones and feathered wings.
After an indeterminable amount of minutes, Duo finally released Kas'. He smiled as he looked into Kas's eyes, which had a deeply grateful look in them. "C'mon...we need to find a way to stop Imati before he gets too much of a head start on us."