If for some reason you think otherwise, let me enlighten you: I
don't own El-Hazard. ^_^

Now that I've enlightened you, perhaps you can enlighten me: Is
this fic considered a lime? I don't think so, but I'm not sure...

Comments? Critisms? Please?
*****************************************************************
    Traces of a Phantom's Love
    Part All
    An El-Hazard shortfic
    Jenny 'Android18' Chan
    android18@hotmail.com
*****************************************************************

    The room was filled with casual and content chatter as the
various rulers and representatives of the people of El Hazard
rejoiced at the unsealing of the Eye of God.
    Rune Venus sat in the royal legs crossed position, kept her
back straight, her hands in her lap, and her eyes focused
forward.
    On the outside, she was everything a well brought up
princess ought to be (unlike her sister, Fatora), but on the
inside, she was just as unruly.
    She longed to stretched out her legs, slouch and yawn just
for once, but she stifled the urge quite easily. It was easy to
ignore the stiffness in your body when you've done it for as long
as she had.
    A maid girl came up to her, bowed, kneeled, and set a tray
of delicious food down in front of her.
    "What do you desire, your highness?"
    ~To get out of here,~ Rune thought to herself. But on the
outside, she simply smiled and shook her head. "Nothing yet,
thank you," she said politely.
    The maid girl got off her knees, bowed, and took the tray
away.
    Rune sighed. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched
Mr. Fujisawa glug down another bottle of wine, while trying to
stuff a piece of meat down his throat at the same time. The
new girl, Nanami was laughing happily with Fatora's friend,
Allielle.
    On Rune's other side, the priestesses of Muldoon sat and
eat in dignified manners. Well, Afura Mann was, at least. Shayla
Shayla was drinking enough wine to rival Mr. Fujisawa, and Miz
was making googoo eyes at the teacher.
    ~Even the holy ones can act casual,~ Rune thought to
herself. ~I wish I could.~
    But Rune knew that, even if she DID decided to break
the protocol, she wouldn't be able to be casual in the slightest.
The fact that both Ifurita AND The Eye were up and ready to go
had the first princess of El Hazard very worried and uptight.
    Rune Venus almost sighed. Almost. She really needed to
get out of here. Her nerves were shot.
    ~If I can not leave here,~ Rune prayed, ~then at least
let Gallus be here.~
    The thought of her husband-to-be caused Rune to lighten
up a bit.
    It was true that hers and Gallus's courtship and
engagement was an arranged one and their wedding and marriage
would be one as well, but Rune Venus didn't mind that at all.
She kept the "doing what's best for the country" routine up
because she didn't want to have to answer unpleasant questions
from Ronz and Dr. Strellbaugh whom she knew did not approve of
Gallus at all. It's not that she WASN'T doing what was best for her
country...it was just that Gallus was very handsome and romantic
when he wanted to be.
    Rune thought back to the various times that he had
rescued her from boring dinner meetings such as this one.
    ~Gallus... please come.~
    Rune thought back to the last time Gallus had taken her
away from a boring dinner, which was a few weeks before Fatora's
disappearance, and a smile graced her face.

*****************************************************************

    Rune Venus felt someone lean against her ribs. She turned
and saw Fatora had gotten out of her seat and was now leaning
against her in a very undignified manner as the younger princess
fanned herself with her dress.
    "Fatora," Rune said in a gentle but assertive voice, "get
back in your seat. You're breaking protocol."
    "No way," Fatora replied. "I'm hot, my legs are cramped
and my butt is sore. There is NO way you're getting me back
onto that cushion."
    Rune sighed. Almost. "Very well," Rune replied. She had
to agree with her sister. It WAS hot in the room. The company
was very boring, and they had been sitting for a very long time.
    "When is it gonna be over, Rune?" Fatora complained. "I
really wanna leave!"
    "It'll still be a while, Fatora," Rune answered, "they're
still on the main course."
    Fatora gave a groan. "The pigs," she hissed. "Hurry up,
stuff your faces and leave!"
    If Rune hadn't agreed with Fatora's opinion, she would have
scolded her little sister.
    Suddenly, the door opened. All the guests looked up, Rune
and Fatora included, and saw Gallus walk in.
    The royal prince smiled handsomely and bowed.
    "I'm sorry for the intrusion," he replied. "Please go on,
eat! I wish only to see my bride-to-be."
    Rune smiled as the people went back to their food and
Gallus came to her. He knelt, took her hand and kissed it in
greeting.
    "How can I help you, Royal Prince Gallus?" Rune asked
formally.
    "Grace me with your presence in the great gardens, beautiful
Rune." Gallus said, "unless... you'd rather stay in this room of
riveting action?"
    "No way!" Fatora replied, jumping to her feet. She pulled
Rune to her feet too. "Come on Gallus, let's get out of here."
    The second princess pushed her sister in front of her and
got Gallus to follow her out the door. Then, she closed the
door.
    Fatora gave a sigh of relief. "I'm free! I'm free! I'm
out! Yes! Thanks for getting us outta there, Gallus! I'll just
leave you two alone now, bye!" Then, she left.
    Gallus and Rune were left alone.
    The prince smiled and bowed, offering Rune his arm. "Shall
we go to the gardens?"
    Rune also smiled. She accepted Gallus's arm and the two
made their way to the gardens.
    The two talked about casual things as they walked along,
admiring the work of the gardeners as they talked.
    They walked to the balcony that looked over Rhoshtaria
and much of El Hazard. If you looked hard enough, you could
even see Mount Muldoon outlined in the black of night.
    "It's beautiful," Rune said softly as looked over her
kingdom. She took a deep breathe of the gentle wind.
    "Yes. Rhoshtaria is beautiful," Gallus agreed. He touched
Rune's hand. "And you're doing a magnificent job keeping it
that way."
    "Oh, Gallus. You do as much work as I do and you know
it."
    Gallus grunted. "A pity that the Bugrum are somewhere
out there, destroying our work."
    Rune sighed and leaned against Gallus who put an arm
around her. "I don't want to talk about the Bugrum. I have
been talking about them with the other governments for most
of this day and all of last day. I am sick of the Bugrum."
    Gallus chuckled. "Then let us talk about the wedding?
Have you set a day yet?"
    "No. I've been so busy with Diiva and the Bugrum..."
    "I thought you didn't want to talk about that?"
    "I don't but..."
    "Let's not talk at all."
    Rune looked up at Gallus, admiring his golden eyes
that were so different from her greenish bluish ones. "Hmm?
What shall we do then?"
    He answered her by kissing her softly. Rune was slightly
shocked and Gallus looked amused by her expression when he
lifted his head away from hers.
    "Is something wrong Rune?" He asked.
    "Gallus... we've... I mean... you've... I mean, except
for on my hand, but... you've..."
    "Never kissed you before?"
    "Yes."
    "You do not like my boldness?"
    "No. Yes. Well, I'm not sure."
    Gallus smiled and kissed Rune again. "We will be married
soon. We haven't even kissed each other before. Now is as good
a time as any to begin."
    They kissed each other a few more times, and Rune grew to
like Gallus's kisses more and more.
    Suddenly, there was the sound of someone clearing their
throat behind them.
    They both whirled around and saw Fatora looking at them,
an amused expression on her face.
    "And what are YOU two doing?" Fatora teased.
    Rune blushed. Even though Fatora probably had a much more
active love life than her, Rune still felt uncomfortable letting
her little sister see her intimate with Gallus.
    She opened her mouth to speak, but no good excuse came
out.
    "We were simply admiring Rhoshtaria from the garden,
sweet Fatora," Gallus said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Is something wrong?"
    Fatora shrugged. "Nah. Nothin's wrong. Have you two seen
Allielle?" She asked.
    Gallus shook his head. "I'm afraid we have not, Princess."
    "Oh." Fatora's expression fell. "Well, I won't bug you two
then." Fatora turned to go, but then turned back.
    "Hey Rune! If you two want to see the view, why don't you
bring Gallus to the balcony in your room? He can see a lot
more," She teased. Fatora winked.
    Rune's blush deepened while Gallus and Fatora laughed.
    "Is that so, princess?" Gallus teased, "you deny me a
more spectacular view of El Hazard?"
    Rune swallowed, her face red and her heart pounding. "Yes,
well... that is because..." then Rune thought back to Gallus's
kisses. Her lips still burned with them. ~If we are in my room,
there will be no more interruptions...~
    "Rune?"
    Rune blinked, realizing that both Gallus and Fatora were
looking at her curiously. "Huh?"
    "You were saying?"
    "Oh, the balcony! You've never been up there! Yes, uh,
well... we'll have to correct that right now, don't we?"
    Gallus seemed surprised while Fatora's eyes cried
'alright, Sis!' proudly.
    "Rune, are you sure?" Gallus asked.
    Rune swallowed, not quite sure, but not wanting to back
down. So, she quoted Gallus from before. "You do not like my
boldness?"
    Gallus smiled. "I like you Rune, bold or not."

*****************************************************************

    A deep blush stretched across Rune's face as she recalled
that night's activities. The delegates were... unpleased when the
soon to be bride and groom were not to be found anywhere. Fatora
had giving the guards advice to look everywhere except where they
actually were.
    ~I haven't... kissed... him since Makoto's arrival,~ Rune
thought to herself, the blush deepening. ~Must change that soon.~
    Suddenly, someone put his or her hand on her shoulder. Rune
looked to her side and saw who else but Gallus, who lifted her
hand and kissed her knuckles.
    ~Well, well, well!~
    "What were you thinking about, Love?" Gallus teased.
    Rune smiled. "You."
    They talked a little bit more when suddenly, Nanami's
voice cut through the air.
    "Oh, how cute! A marriage between the Royal house and the
Phantom Tribe!"
    At the mention of the phantom tribe, both Rune and Gallus
looked over at Nanami, shock written on both their faces.
    "Thou art... jesting!" Ronz said, laughing nervously.
    "I don't. His skin be blue!" Nanami insisted.
    The three priestesses jumped to their feet and surrounded
Gallus.
    "No, you've made a mistake!" Rune wanted to say, but the
words died right on her tongue as Gallus started to chuckle.
    "I see. So THAT'S how you found my beloved Kiraiya." Gallus
said softly.
    Rune's eyes went wide with horror and shock. A cold
feeling invaded her stomach. She felt sick. "Then you-"
    Gallus looked down at Rune, no trace of real regret in
his eyes. In fact, they were mocking her as if to say, 'duh'.
"Yes. Yes I am. Sweet Rune." At this point, a grin appeared on his
face, and he really WAS mocking her with his next words. "A pity we
did not get to consummate our marriage."
    Then, with a toss of his head, Gallus's very skin turned
blue.
    ~Oh gods...~ Rune couldn't take it. She closed her eyes,
and fainted dead away.






    During the next few months, a potentially devastating
scandal rocked the inner circle of friends to the crown princess of
Rhoshtaria, but thankfully the general public of the country never
heard about it.

*****************************************************************

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