..I...really didn't think it'd be anything more than a crush. Or maybe just a bit of hero-worship. I admired what you did, weird as it sounds...But when I met you..My expectations..well, they were shattered. You were thoughtless and reckless, and didn't think anyone should bother caring about you. You didn't get that pets out there DID care about you.."Rent breathed deeply, holding the unresponsive paw in his,"..It's...weird, saying this..but since I met you, in person..I started...to really like you. "he paused, uncertain, and then blurted,"And I know you'll probably never like me back; that's okay..I guess."

But it wasnt, "..I just...like the idea of not knowing. Of being able t'hope, that by some stupid fluke you might think I was worth the effort. But now..That you're like this..I might not get to speak to you again...I guess I'm taking the cowards way out, telling you like this, knowing that even if you wake from this you're not likely to have heard what I said...I think... I really like you. I hesitate to say love..I haven't loved in a long time. Not since mum, or even dad... but... I guess it's as close to that as I can get..

...Just...even if you don't like me back...just come back, k? Too many people would be sad if you didn't wake up." Rent muttered softly, and finally stood. He pressed a hesitant kiss against the paw he held, and let it go, turning and trudging out. Trudging out to do something that could quite possibly bring about the end of the war, or his life. or both.

Preferably both.

Iterien opened the door to Airi's room fully just as Rent walked towards it. "How touching. I never thought he'd actually make another like him." She said in a monotone, glancing Rent up and down.

Rent stiffened, and turned to face the other, eyes narrow."well, he's not exactly the most predictable of pets."

True... it's why he was stripped of the family name, a dsgrace to our house." She said, as she walked in, flames on her back rippling as she walked over to Airi. "Never has had any worry about anyone OR himself, I knew he'd end up like this someday."

Rents eyes narrowed further, "How...charming..of you. See something you can't control or predict, and cast it out. Sounds quite a bit like a certain corrupt council that was disbanded recently."

Her ears twitched, as she turned to face him, "I heard you were responsible for that bit." She said calmly. "Airi was banished because he was a thief, a blot to society." She said harshly.

quot;And what a society it is! One who's so blind they don't see the need for change until it's stolen right out from under them," Rent quipped,"And yes, I was partly responsible for disbanding that bunch of old, corrupt farts. They got too fat and lazy, thinking they could get away with anything they pleased."

She quirked a small smile, "Yes, they were getting on my nerves as well." She looked down at the sleeping Airi with a sigh. "Sorath wants him enlisted if he wakes up. That'd be so ironic, wouldn't it?" She brushed his unruly hair away from his face almost tenderly.

Rent nodded slightly, "Well, he did a lot for Valhalla, in his own roundabout way." He muttered softly.

She did chuckle at that, "True, he's just unorthodox about his ways." She leaned back, still looking at Airi. "I doubt he'd want the position though, it goes against everything he believes, everything he's fought against." She looked to Rent, "I've had a chat with Estraya, she says she'll swipe him from Sorath's grasp."

Rent snorted softly, "I'm glad to see she's got her usual insight. He probably still wouldn't be too thrilled, even with her."

She shrugged, "He'd have a lot more freedom, like you do." She said. She turned back to Airi, "If he wakes up of course."

..He will wake up. He's too stubborn not to." Rent shook his head, casting a final glance at Airi. "..I should really get going. I'm to go to neopia soon, for my next mission."

She nodded, looking his way. "They say sometimes comatose patients can still hear what is said by them." She said softly, "Maybe he knows now what you feel."

Rent snorted, slightly disbelieving.".. For all he enjoys his freedom, he's not so free with his feelings. If he did hear...I probably would have scared him off with it." He shook his head, grimacing as he turned to leave.

Iterien chuckled as she watched the spy leave. Not many knew Airi was her brother, yet he'd taken it in stride. She looked back at Airi. "He's a good kid, you know? You shouldn't break his heart."

***

Curious as he was, even the trauma of the last time he had gone exploring into unknown areas was a distant memory. He couldn't help it; Curiousity killed the cat(er kit) and satisfaction brought him back. So, Valhalla's path to the dreamworld found sou, floating close to the edges of their collective consciousness. He had, at least, learned it would be a good idea to not enter their realm; at least not directly at the moment. But looking into a few of their dreams couldn't hurt...right?

Airi was floating in blackness. He could sometimes hear voices that seemed far away, and he faintly realized he was unconscious. But it was like a heavy, drugged sleep. He could not wake up, he wasn't dreaming either... just... floating. What had happened?

Sou noticed the blackness around one not-consciousness, and blinked. THAT certainly was familiar...He didn't know why. Oh well; this kit was going to find out. Without further adeu, he floated toward it, and with it, toward Airi.

Airi turned lazily on the spot. He noticed that his flames were not on... oh yeah... he'd been griping about that before he'd fallen asleep. Maybe that was why he couldn't wake up... was he dying? It wasn't unpleasant... Then he felt someone else nearby. "Who's there?" He asked, surprising himself with speech.

Sou peeked around the blackness at the angel,"Just me."

Airi looked around until he saw him, blinking in mild surprise. "Who're you?" he asked.

I'm Souvane." Sou commented, bending the 'not-dream' with some effort into a more comfortable shape, and sitting on one of the cushions that appeared,"And you are?"

Airi sat on the cushions as well, "Hey, that's nice..." He commented, patting them. "I'm Airisaz." He said. "Aren't I... unconscious?"

Well, sorta. Your dreamscape's a little harder to change, though..looks like you're kinda caught in between." Sou frowned.

Airi looked confused, "What's that supposed to mean? I tried waking up, but I can't." He said, "I tried dreaming but I can't either."

So you're kinda stuck..what's the word...Coma? yeah, that thing." Sou wriggled on his cushion, trying to get comfortable.

Airi sighed, "I see... well that's not good, I wonder if anyone's worried about that..." He said idly, sinking into the cushion idly, not looking too worried about the thought.

Sou reached out and pulled on Airi's cheek. "Of course they are. I may not be in the conscious world right now, but I can hear 'em. Damned noisy, too." oh my. Quite a vulgar mouth on that kit.

Airi pushed Souvane away, idly. "Oh really? Well there seems to be not much I can do. I never asked them to get so worked up anyways."

You never ask someone who gives a damn about you to do it, silly." Sou shrugged.

Airi just stuck his tongue out at him. "It would be kinda boring if I'm stuck here forever though... I wonder if there's a way back..."

There is," Sou stretched, looking at Airi lazily."Now that I think of it, I've been this way before too, before I knew how to fully astral project myself."

Airi looked at him, "What's that? And how do I get back to my body?"

Astral projection is where you send your consciousness out of your body, and into the conscious world. It's a wonky mystic thinger. Getting back to your body might be tricky, though, since you don't seem ah..Equipped, for this sort of thing."

Sou pulled himself into a standing position, tail swishing as he examined the thief.

Airi felt lazy, relaxed. Probably part of being so out of it. Then he blinked, "Oh... well, it might be easier if I could relight my flames..." He said, sitting up. "I think dad once told me how Fire Angels need their flames to keep alive, that if they are extinguished it becomes harder and harder to wake up, until the soul's connexion is lost and we die." He leaned back, "Well if that's the case, I can't relight it from here... not many know of that either, besides those of my family, and I was banished by them ages ago. Probably don't give a damn."

Iterien was still beside her brother, and she was now moving him around, making his back face upwards, pulling the covers off him. She wondered if Ouris was gonna kill her for this, but worked quickly, before he came over asking.

...Well, that'd be bad." Sou frowned, and squinted wearily at the nonexistant flames. He ambled up and prodded Airi's back curiously.

Airi fwapped Sou's hand away. "'Ey!" He said, then blinked, "Uh, is someone moving my body?" He said, sitting up again, "Or am I just imagining things?"

..I could project over and check, if y'want." Sou offered.

Airi nodded, "Isn't there any way *I* could try and... get closer to my own body?" He asked.

Well, yeah," Sou nodded, and grasped the pets paw in his."C'mon..it'll be easier with me dragging you. I've got a better connection on the two worlds, anyhow.."

Teri finished positioning Airi's comatose body on the bed, looking up at the door then back at her brother. "Well, here goes nothing..." She muttered. "You gotta put your own work into this, Airi..."

Airi was dragged to his feet, and he nodded, following Souvane.

It was a bit harder to drag a soul not his back into a body. Sou found much MUCH more resistance, but was far too stubborn to give up easily.

Teri placed her hands on Airi's back stripe, and flames erupted from them, expanding along Airi's back, a bright orange and crimson.

Airi was quite shocked to see her there, but the flames, and Sou's pushing, finally let him fall back into his body. He gasped as he did, and his body gasped with him. The orange flames turned purple as he did, and spread across his back and tail.

Sou yelped, tumbling from dream into reality, landing with a CRASH at the end of Airi's bed."Owowowow..."

Iterien backeed off, stopping her own flames when they turned purple, a light smile on her face. Then she jumped and swiveled around towards Souvane. "Who're you? How did you get in here?" She asked sharply.

M'names' souvane, and I was trying to help Airisaz back into his body. Looks like you helped him a lot more than me, though." The dream mage muttered,rubbing his aching tail.

Airi groaned, eyes opening slowly, as he looked around. "TERI? What the... what are you doing here?" He asked, trying to sit up, but failing miserably.

She blinked at him, not totally convinced as she turned to Airi, a wry smile on her face. "Making sure you don't go and die, is what I'm doing here." She said in a mildly scolding voice, "You never did tell Ouris how important your flames are before you passed out didn't you?" She said.

Uh.. I didn't think I'd fall into a COMA!" He protested, "Not my fault of the old man had no knowledge of Fire Angels."

Oho, do you even want to TRY arguing that point to me, young Airisaz?!" Ouris was suddenly there, and Souvane, wisely was not. "While I'm glad to see you up and about, I would prefer if you did so WITHOUT the ruckus."

Airi groaned again, this time not from pain... not physical anyways. "Why hello there Ouris." He said dryly.

Teri grinned slightly, "Sorry bout the ruckus, I didn't expect a kit to come crashing down with Airi." She said, .looking around for Souvane, and not finding him. She blinked in surprise... Weird.

A kit? One who just happened to randomly appear, and just as randomly dissapear? my goodness, lass, are you sure you're alright?" Ouris asked, raising his aged brows. Oh yes, he knew about the kit; he had heard everything, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up.

Teri glared at the old man, "Yes, pretty random indeed." She shot back. "Well, i'm done here, Airi's awake, and I'm sure he's in the best of hands, I'm off." She said as she turned away and stalked towards the door, flaming wings sparking.

Airi gaped like a goldfish, watching the two, but deciding to keep quiet, and out of it.

Ouris snickered as she left,"So easy to get a rise out of." He shook his head mournfully.

Airi blinked, "She just came here to save me?" He finally said. "Didn't say much more to me either, not even a good-bye?" He whined.

Ouris slapped Airi's snout,"Now, now, Don't force too much out of her."

Airi yelped, rubbing his snout with a reproachful look at Ouris, "I haven't seen her in what, thirty years?" He whined. "I totally thought she *didn't* wanna see me again."

Ouris snorted,"Well, appearances can be easily decieving. Especially to the shallow and naive."

Airi glared at Ouris, "I am not shallow OR naive!" He shot back, much like Teri had before. "And for your information Souvane *did* help me and appeared in the room for a few..."

Oh, I know about that. I was just yanking her chain. And you can come out now, brat," Ouris called, and sou scrambled out from under the bed, looking mildly guilty.

Oh... there he is." He said idly. He grinned at Sou, "That was quite interesting, kid!"

Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it," Sou pouted, wondering how Ouris had known he was still there.

Airi struggled to a sitting position, as he flipped around, nonflammable flames lapping harmlessly at the bedding. "Yeah, I didn't know others could peek into people's dreams and stuff."

Sou flushed,"Geez, it's not actually as dirty as you make it sound, putting it like that.."

Airi laughed aloud at that, "Sorry, didn't mean to make it sound DIRTY!" He said with a grin. "But gee, I do feel a lot better now. I think I could actually leave now!"

Nice try," Ouris smirked.