Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 20:52:43 -0400 From: cindy franklin Save Address Block Sender Subject: Renting a Room Chuin blinked as he watched the blind guy and Drake walk out of the room. ::Did I insult him::, he wondered. He sighed. Of course he insulted the guy. He was about to ask him something personal, when he himself was unwilling to talk about his past. His mother always said there were two certainties everyday. The sun would rise and set, and Chuin would stick his foot in his mouth. "Why must you be so blunt all the time," she would ask. ::Mother.:: Chuins hands clenched into fists and he pushed the painful memories away. He couldn't think of her now. He couldn't think of any of them. ::To them I am dead.:: He took a deep breath and walked back to where he'd been sitting. He absentmindedly stirred his stew as he fought to keep the images of home and his mother from completely taking his mind. ::I left home five years ago, I should be over my homesickness by now,:: he scolded himself. "You alright?" Chuin jumped at the voice. He looked up to see Drake standing by the table. Chuin quickly dropped his gaze back to his stew, so the man couldn't see how troubled he was. "Look. I wish to appologize for--" "No," Chuin said, a little too harshly. "No need to appologize for him. I had no right to ask. His past is his business, not mine." Chuin could just about kick himself. He was being to blunt again. He took a deep breath, rubbing a finger lightly along his scar, while he tried to calm himself.. "I'm sorry. I've been walking all day and I'm a bit tired. Could I see a room, please?" "Sure, but there's something I need to ask you." Drake leaned forward, his lips next to Chuin's ear. "What we talked about earlier. Never mention it to anyone. There are some whose job it is to find such people and take them back beatened and battered." Chuin's head jerked back at the words. Drake saw the surprise in his eyes turn to anger and disgust. Stilll close to Chuin he said, softly, "do I have your word you won't say anything?" Chuin nodded and said in a low voice, "I swear before the gods that I will never make mention of this!" Drake nodded. ::Always knew I could count on a person from Toru,:: he thought contently. "I'll explain it all to you sometime." "No need. Just from what I've heard, I have an idea what's going on, and I know enough to know that I don't like it. Thank you for bringing such a thing to my attention." "You're welcome," Drake replied. "Now I'll show you to your room."