Cygnus sighed. "If you feel you really need to. I can understand
getting away from this place." He lit up with a mischevious grin.
     Kirin nodded.  "I can't stand crowded places.  I guess that's what I get-"
She cut her sentence off sharply.  The moment she told anyone where she was
going was the moment she courted disaster.
     <Well as long as you are falling in love with him you might as well
tell.  You just almost did on accident anyway.  You just aren't the same
uncaring person you used to be.  Turning to mush.  Is this what happens
when you take trips to town?  I'll have to prevent that from now on.> the
dragon told her sternly.
     >I'm not falling in love with anyone, so you can stop throwing fits
about it.  And think Merle: He's almost ten years older than I am.<
     <Want to make a bet?  You're cuddling next to Cygnus like a
professional cuddler, and you only cuddle with me.  Or so you said.
Traitor.>
     She must have had an odd expression on her face, because Cygnus looked
concerned again.
     "Anything wrong?" he asked
     "Merle has written her own death sentence.  She tends to forget that I
have no sense of humor."
     "What did she do this time?", he asked with a grin.  "Really?"
     "You have to promise not to be offended." she told him, all traces of
her smile gone.
     "I promise." He said just as solemnly.
     Kirin frowned.. She'd been hoping he wouldn't promise.  Instead of
telling him that she was too embarrased to relate the story, she grabbed
his arm and dragged him out of the party. "I'm not telling you what that
conspiring dragon is saying in front of all of those people." she expained
as the walked through the door, dragging a confused looking Cygnus behind
her.
     She continued dragging the confused looking Cygnus behind her until
the quite far away from earshot of any partygoers.
     "Merle is convinced that I'm falling in love with you.  Maybe I am. .
.I wouldn't know. I can't really remember what it is too truly in love with
someone besides your dragon, and that doesn't count.  I don't think I am,
but try telling that tiny imitation of a queen that.  She doesn't listen
too anyone. . .well maybe Melith.  But that's only bacause Melith is bigger
than she is-"
      Her sentence was abruptly cut off when Cygnus started laughing.
Kirin started laughing too, after a minute.
     "You're only laughing becauase you don't have to live with her!" she
exclaimed with a comical grimace.

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