The sun glared down on the Palace courtyard, burning the flagstones under Elly's feet, and the buildings even at the edge of the open space wavered like mirages. She hurried across, eyes fastened to the cool, shady pavilion, and the water fountain within.

She and Kyoko had spent a lot of time sitting beside this fountain before the invasion, but people rarely took the time to see it now. They were too concerned with scraping through the ruins of their homes to appreciate such a simple beauty.

Elanore finally passed beneath the pavilion's blessed shade, and sat down at the edge of the fountain to examine the small package she clutched in her hand. Wrapped in simple paper and string, it seemed to be rather insignificant...... but it was supposed to be from Myaru. And that woman didn't do anything without a reason, as far as she could see.

It was too big to be a data crystal, and too small to be anything else she could think of...... Her fingers snapped the twine and let it fall in to her lap, pulling at the thick layers of paper until they gave way and revealed the 'gift'.

A...... pendant......?

Elly lifted it from the wrapping by its thin, golden chain, and let it dangle from her fingers like a pendulum.

A four sided cross, perfectly symmetrical, swayed from her fingers, glittering as if with its own light. The red crystal at the center seemed to absorb everything. And as she gazed at it, she couldn't help thinking...... perhaps she had seen this before........

A ray of sun caught the crystal in the center, sending a spray of red across the room, playing on the walls and the ceiling. For a moment, it seemed as if the room had come alive with a ruby fire...

It was so familiar, she thought, looking through the crystal in the center...

"What's this?" a soft voice asked, almost next to her ear. "Its... lovely..."

Elly turned, startled to see that Darius had snuck up on her. "A gift, I guess... I wasn't really expecting anything like this."

Darius wrapped his arm around her, looking at the pendent. "Then you should thank whoever gave this to you..."

"I...... I think I'll have to." She smiled faintly. "It gives me a warm feeling, looking at it. Like it's part of my past. Something...... good."

She held the pendant up to the sun one more moment before dipping her head and slipping it around her neck. It was heavy, but it was a welcome weight, something she felt was familiar to her.

Darius nodded. It looked... right on her, for some reason. Like it was something that she had lost a long time ago, and only just reaquired.

"That looks wonderful on you." Darius commented relucantly. Why was he thinking this? It wasn't as if he knew what the pendent meant or anything...

She touched his hand, looking up to his face. "Is something wrong? You..... changed suddenly."

"No... I guess that pendent just jolted something, thats all." Darius said, standing up. With a sigh, he walked to the window and looked over the city. "Its differnet... not as bright out there."

The fountain suddenly seemed loud, echoing in the room. Elly remained perched on the rim of its stone basin, fiddling with the cross idly as she watched Darius, not quite sure how to react. It wasn't unusual for his moods to suddenly change...... but it didn't make it any easier for her to figure out how to respond.

Finally, she said, "It seems to me as if the light is gone from the people."

"Aveh, from what I've seen and heard, has always been proud of its independence... but now they've been crushed. Kislev is going to do their best to snuff any desire for freedom out of these peole... such if the nature of the conquorers." Darius sighed, turning away from the window.

"I'd... like to get you something like that." he added a moment later. "You just seem to have a... glow with that pendent on."

She tilted her head to the side with a little smile. "Is that a compliment?"

When he didn't respond right away, she left her spot next to the dancing water and walked up to him, halting just a few feet away and clasping her hands behind her back. "You don't have to. I'd rather have you around than any present anyone else could give me."

"I may not be around though. I can't guarantee what the future is going to bring." Darius replied quietly. -I can't guarantee that Lahan won't happen again... all those people... what if Elly is one of them next time?- "But if something were to happen to me... I'd like you to have something to remember me by..."

He shook his head, not looking at her. "I wish... that I didn't have to think that... but it may happen one day."

She turned her eyes to the floor. **He always seems to be thinking about death...... not just anyone's, but also his own......** She didn't quite understand. Was it the memory lapses he had talked about? She could relate to those...... But there always seemed to be something else as well. And she wasn't sure she had the ability to breach that gap...... the one that always seemed to keep him so distant......

"But everyone dies, Darius...... Everyone has their time, and their place. I could die tomorrow, with nobody to blame......" Elanore raised her eyes, trying to will him to look at her. "I'll do whatever possible to prevent it...... but sometimes......"

"Sometimes living means taking that kind of risk."

Darius shook his head. -But I don't want to gamble with your life...- he almost said. But that was... he couldn't explain it. He'd known her for... less than a month, and already she was so intertwined into his life...

"Risks are part of life... we try to avoid them, but sometimes... you just have to roll the dice." he finally replied. He still didn't turn... he couldn't look at her... his heart was probably in his eyes.

"In the end... it will probably all end up the same. But... if you can protect someone, it might be worth it."

Darius sighed, and walked over to the fountain, sitting on the lip and looking down at his feet.

"You have to protect yourself too. Do you really want to walk through life pushing everyone away because you're afraid they might get hurt?" Was he even listening to her? She thought so, but...... "We're not bound by destiny. We can prevet bad things from happening to others." She knelt in front of him, leaning forward to look in his eyes. "Please don't do this to yourself...... I can't stand seeing you like this. You don't deserve this."

"But can we prevent them from happening to ourselves? I just don't want anyone to suffer on my account..." Darius shook his head sadly. He knew that he was being rediculious... Elanore obviously knew that as well, but... as long as he couldn't remember what was so important, why he needed to protect her...

"I don't want you to be hurt because of me..." he blurted out.

Elanore couldn't keep the smile from her face; she wasn't quite sure why it was there or what it was exactly, but it seemed like the natural thing to do. "You won't hurt me." She reached up and touched his face. "I know you won't hurt me."

Darius stood, walking over to stand in front of her. "Never... I wouldn't want to hurt you. If I did... I'd never forgive myself..."

"Darius..." Elanore said quietly.

"Its just... I know there's something that I've forgotten.. and I think that you are part of it... but..." Darius shook his head, frustrated. "I want to remember... I know that there is something there that I need to remember.."

She rose from her knees, still trying to get him to make eye contact. "If it's important, it will come to you. Things like that always manage to find a way out." She thought back to the last few weeks, shaking her head. "Maybe you just need something else to jog your memory."

"Something besides continuious combat? Yeah.. I think that might help." Darius replied with a smile, leaning closer to her. For the first time, he looked into her shining blue eyes... so bright...

He gently reached out and took her hand. They were so close that if he shifted any more he would almost touch her...

"Maybe......" She blinked, staring into his eyes. What was she going to say......? "Maybe we can fix that......"

"After we get out of here... we'll be free... they won't be able to catch us..." Darius replied softly. "Then... we'll have time to look for what we're missing?"

That same, undefinable smile came out of nowhere, from somewhere inside her, and turned her lips up. "We'll make the time. And no one will be able to interfere."

"ELLY!" Darius hear someone shouting down the hallway.

Elly shook her head. "Kyoko..." she whispered, annoyed.

Darius raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Didn't you just say that we weren't going to let anyone interfere?" he asked, a hint of laughter in his voice.

"What do you mmmph..." Elly trailed off.

Kyoko rounded the corner a moment later, already talking. "Elly, the rest of the crew wanted to discuss the..." she trailed off, staring.

"I'll... er, well... I think I'll... well..." she whispered, backing slowly out of the room.

Darius smiled, breaking off the kiss. "Well... there goes one problem." he replied smiling. -I'm insane.- he added silently.

Heat crept into Elanore's cheeks, and she knew they must be red enough to match Kyoko's ribbon. But she smiled, biting her lip at his remark to keep from laughing. "Poor Kyoko...... she really doesn't mean to be so nosy........"

"I'd hope not... but maybe next time she'll check before walking in on someone." Darius replied, wrapping his arms around her. He put a finger on her lips, and slowly started walking towards the slightly open door, a wicked smile on his face.

"Elanore, I've bene utterly besotted with you from the moment I met you." he added, glancing at the door as they drew up next to it. "Lets just run off, and leave the rest of them behind..." he added with a wink, gesturing towards the door with his head.

"Oh Darius, you are right... I've felt the same way..." it was all she could do to keep from laughing out loud when she hear a quiet hiss from outside the door. "Lets just leave them here... go away, by ourselves..."

Darius nodded. "There is so much that we can do... but before we can start on any of that... we have to shut the damn door!"

Darius gave the door a good hard shove, listening as it was followed a moment later by a muffled thud and a slightly pained shuffling sound that faded off down the corridor.

"I'll have to go see what she wants at some point...." Elanore finally said, glancing at the door. Darius tightened his arms around her, nuzzling her hair.

"I understand..." he replied. "Just... make sure she remembers to not only knock, but shut the door behind her next time?"

She couldn't stop the laugh this time. "Oh, I will. I'll have Shaina drill her."

The smile faded, and she rested her forehead on his shoulder, hands clasping his arms. She really should see what Kyoko had to say...... and to apologize for the little joke...... But she didn't want to go anywhere. She didn't want to leave the strange, fathomless comfort she felt from Darius.

"Elly... do you have to leave so soon though?" Darius asked quietly, trying to force the words out without his voice cracking. "'cause, if you don't... I'd like it if you could... stay for a bit."

Elanore leaned closer, moving her arms to clasp her hands behind his back. "I can stay as long as you want."

She sighed, leaning into his as Darius tightened his arms around her. "I'd like it... if only for a little while. Lets enjoy the present for now... we can't tell what the future will bring, but we are in control of the here and now..."