Title:Phoenix II ~ An Everlasting Story Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought 13/7/02 "Woman was created from the ribs of man Not from his head to top him Nor from his feet to be walked upon She was made from his side to be his equal From beneath his arms to be protected From very near his heart to be loved." --Anonymous-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *~Phoenix~* A mythical bird of flame, It burnt itself on a funeral pyre And rose from the ashes, To live once again. Within the sands of time, It's legend lives; Of two lovers who sacrificed their lives, To always be together... Joined together forever, One entity One being, They will live an everlasting story... --Tapestry, 2002-- Prince Endymion the III of Arabia wandered around the huge palace. His father had bid him to choose a bride soon being the eldest son and heir to the throne. Hair as dark as ebony drifted low into his eyes despite the turban he wore. His dark eyes indistinguishable from black or blue, brooding. Unwittingly, his booted feet brought him to a halt in front of the Hall of Ancestors. Looking up, he made his way down the silent passage filled with the images of rulers long gone. He stopped in front of one portrait. The portrait of his great great grandfather. Of all the paintings that filled this Hall, this one had fascinated him since childhood. Many had commented that he resembled the old Sultan greatly. Well, except he did not have a beard. The Queen sitting next to the Sultan was beautiful, sitting regally and demurely for this painting. But the woman had such sad eyes. The look of haunted emotion in her queer garnet coloured eyes. Her hands folded in her lap, her black hair with green highlights drifting around her, falling from the single bun in her hair. The man standing behind her was regal and stiff, his white cape floating around him. A dark beard on his face where as a Prince, there was none. His eyes were a dark piercing blue that belied a strange lonely look. The painter had captured the look in their eyes with stunning accuracy. But the reason behind his fascination, was not the style of painting or the vivid emotion, but the story behind it. It was told, the Prince also by the name of Endymion, had loved another greatly. A mystical woman. A vagrant with such haunting beauty, any who saw her would be captivated for all time. A beauty with long silver hair in two buns with hair streaming from them above her head and clear silver blue eyes that bewitched all. The woman had gone by the name of, Serenity.... The story also said the woman had been unattainable, though she had loved the Prince just as greatly, their love was not to be. She left on one cold arabian night, a vagrant, heading out into the dunes where the Prince had searched after her. Some say he never found her. But a tale whispered by the guards who had accompanied the Prince told a very different ending to the tragic tale of love. The Prince had found her, standing before a funeral pyre. She had turned and looked at him with sadness glistening in her eyes. Then... she transformed into a fiery bird that plunged down, burning the pyre into ashes. The Prince had stayed until the morning light and a cry filled the air as from the ashes, the bird, rose once more high into the sky. The mythical creature had looked at them for a moment before issuing another shriek and streaking across the lightening sky. The Prince had named the bird, the phoenix. This story had captivated him the moment he had heard it as a child. When he had asked if the story was true, his father had laughed and shrugged his shoulders. Endymion still remembered what his father had said... ~FLASHBACK~ "The story may, or may not be true. But one thing is for certain. Your namesake never loved another woman after this vagrant disappeared." ~END FLASHBACK~ The story had ended with the Prince returning to the city and marrying a princess named Setsuna. His great great grandmother. Endymion sighed and walked away from the painting. Some doubted the existence of the woman called Serenity. Some believed she had indeed lived. Others thought whe was a deity who had come down to earth. There was even a painting, painted by the Sultan himself. Endymion had spent most of his childhood gazing at the painting in awe. A woman with silver hair, jewels on her hair and beautiful silver blue eyes looking back. She was dressed in white and white flowers had been painted into the background, floating around her. His granfather had once said, as a very young child, his own grandfather could be seen brooding and staring out into the dunes for countless hours, seemingly so alone and sad, and at the end...the old man had called out to Serenity before slipping away forever. Endymion ran a hand through his thick dark hair. He did not want a bride. He could not understand why, but it was clear something held him back. He needed to get out of the palace. He needed to be in open air. Dressed in normal clothes, he made his way into the great market place that was always bustling with activity. The sounds of bargains being advertised and the sounds of women gossiping. Guards patrolled around to keep the peace and stop thieves and cut throats. All had wicked looking scimitars on their waists. Many times, vendors had shoved fish, meat and vegetables under his nose. Jewellers cajoling him to buy jewellery for his lady love. He merely declined politely, chuckling to himself. He had been looking in another direction when someone bumped into him. Instinctively, he caught hold of the slight figure and steadied both of them. The small figure in white looked up at him. Clear silver blue eyes clashed with his dark ones. Electricity arced up his body as a strange sense of deja vu. He knew this woman. Unfortunately, a white veil covered her head as well as the lower part of her face. He watched as her eyes widened slightly before pushing at him in a small gesture to release her. Reluctantly, his arms fell away from her and he stared at her, trying to guess who she was. Her head bowed and he made out a soft muffled thank you. Damn veil. He nodded at her and slowly, almost reluctantly, she moved forward. He turned to watch her go. She looked almost as if she floated instead of walked. Graceful. She stopped, and turned back for a final look at him before she disappeared like a ghost into the crowd. A strange sense of loneliness gripped at him. He stood there for sometime before he managed the will to move away from the spot and continue walking. He knew he would have to find her again...He had to know who the lady in white was. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She stopped after a few moments of walking. She had not understood what had driven her to return to this place. This city. It had been four centuries since she had last been here. This cycle of her life was nearly over and soon, would begin anew. Only last night she had been out in the sand dunes, the cold biting at her as she walked, inexplicably drawn to this city. She had looked upon the gleaming palace from atop the dunes. She had fallen in love there. And her love had died there. But now, she knew why...Why she had returned to this city. Endymion was here. He had been reborned with no memories of the past. He had drawn her to the city like a moth drawn to the flame. After all these centuries...they had finally met again. Bumping into him had been an accident. The recognition she had seen in his eyes. It was clear she seemed familiar, but he could not place her. She had felt his eyes staring after her and she had looked back. But she had not been prepared for the stunning weight of his gaze. She had fled then. She did not want him to suffer as he did almost four and a half centuries ago when she had been forced to leave. But it seemed...Fate was not going to let her off so easily. She remembered the last time she had saw him. He had been near death from old age and her heart had ached at the sight of him. So sick, so frail. She had watched him from afar as he had married Setsuna. Watched as his children grew...his grandchildren. She would smile at the joy she saw in his eyes at his heirs. She would weep for him when he stood out at the balcony overlooking the sand dunes, looking so alone. So sad and pained. She had wanted to go to him. But could not... She had hoped he would find happiness with Setsuna. Setsuna had been beautiful and had loved him deeply. The sadness in Setsuna's eyes clear as she watched her husband, standing on the balcony, staring out into the night sky, pining for a lost love. She had felt sorry for Setsuna. For taking away the one thing Setsuna had wanted most in her whole life. Her husband's heart. She had seen the heartbreaking tears on Setsuna's face when Endymion had died, calling her own name instead of Setsuna's. She remembered all as if it was only yesterday... ~FLASHBACK~ She was a ghost-like figure in the palace, watching her beloved Endymion. He looked so regal and handsome, even with his beard. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but she could not. He was currently playing with his recently born son. He smiled as the child gurgled happily at him, chubby fingers grasping hold of his thumb and popping it into his mouth to suck. The baby suckled vigorously before taking the thumb out of his mouth to peer at it in confusion when no milk came. He screwed his eyes up and fat tears rolled down his cheeks, his mouth letting out a mournful howl. Endymion laughed at his son's antics, whispering in a cooing voice. "I'm sorry, little one. This is not something I can provide you with." he chuckled and turned towards the door, as if sensing someone there. Serenity had watched a small smile form on Setsuna's mouth as she watched Endymion with their son. Endymion got up and walked towards Setsuna, holding the child out to her. "He's hungry." "Yes, I know." was her soft reply. Endymion nodded and pressed a light kiss on his son's head before exiting the room and closing the door, hardly sparing a glance at Setsuna. Serenity had watched as Setsuna cradled the baby, staring at the closed door. She knew Setsuna had hoped Endymion would return. He had never stayed to watch his son feed. Never... This broke Setsuna's heart. He took such delight in his little son and rarely glanced at Setsuna. She knew it was not because he hated Setsuna, but because he was not interested in any other woman. Serenity knew Setsuna sometimes envied her son and was bitter towards her. The woman who was in her husband's heart and had left no place for any other woman. ~~~~ Serenity stood behind Endymion as he rested his hands on the balcony railing, staring up at the glittering stars. A sadness seemed to steal over him, a tear running down his face. He spoke words that made her weep. "I miss you, Serenity..." ~~~~ Serenity felt sad when she watched Endymion age with time. His strong tall frame was no longer so strong. She felt helpless as she watched his health wither away over the years. Then came the day when he had taken to his bed. The doctors saying he would not last the night. She had felt tears roll down her cheeks. She had saw Setsuna weep sadly. Watched as her son and daughter tried to console her. The son and daughter loved both parents dearly but knew their father could never love their mother the way they hoped. His last words had only strengthened that belief. She saw him lying unmoving in the bed. His beloved face weathered and wrinkles on his dark skin. But to her, he had looked just as handsome as when she had first met him. She knew Endymion welcomed death. To him, it meant he would suffer his loneliness no more and be able to see her... Setsuna had stayed by his bedside. Pleading him to stay. It was midnight and Setsuna was asleep by his bedside. She had made herself visible, only to him. *Endymion...* She watched as his eyes struggled to open. Knew he felt her hand brushing his face tenderly. *My love.* His eyes finally opened and stared at the face above him. A face that had been etched into his soul. His beloved Serenity... "Serenity.." he whispered. Setsuna had opened her eyes then and looked up to see Endymion awake. "Endymion," Setsuna watched her husband reach out the touch something above him. His hand falling back weakly. "Don't strain yourself, my love. Please! What is it you want??" cried Setsuna frantically. "Serenity.." Setsuna blinked back tears. Even now, he still thought of her. "Illiana!! Jorran!" The two siblings burst into the chamber. "What's wrong mother?!" Serenity saw the tears in Endymion's eyes. She smiled at him. She knew his children and grandchild were here. She tried to direct his attention to them. To his wife. *Your children and grandchild are here, my love.* she whispered into his mind. "I...do not care. I care about you. You came..you came back." "Who is father talking to??" asked Illiana as she gripped her handkerchief tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Why is grandpapa talking to himself??" asked the small boy curiously. Jorran picked his son up and shushing him. "Granpapa is very ill, Rashid." "I missed you, Serenity." That answered the question Illiana had asked. Setsuna sobbed. "He's delusional now. He thinks she's here. Oh, please- Heaven above, do not take him yet." Endymion paid no attention to his family, his eyes fixed on the beautiful face before him. Setsuna said he was being delusional. He didn't mind. He didn't mind being crazy if he could see, her. "You're here...you came back here, my silver one." *I've always been here, Endy..* smiled Serenity sadly, tears in her eyes. "Why do you cry? Don't..." he choked, taking in a deep coughing breath. Everything was so dark-and cold. "You have always been...my light." he wheezed. *As you have been mine. I'm always here.* "I love you....Sere.." breathed Endymion as he closed his eyes to sleep the eternal sleep. *I love you too.* She leaned down and kissed him on the lips, moving away quickly as his family bent over him crying. Setsuna was holding onto him tightly, sobbing. A pain filled her heart. Endymion was gone and now, she was alone again. She left the city shortly after that... ~END FLASHBACK~ And now...here she was. Back in this city. History was repeating itself, and she doubted if she could watch Endymion die once again. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Those eyes... They bewitched him. He tried to place them but could think of no woman possessing eyes like his mysterious white maiden. In a foul mood, he trudged back to the palace and changed into his white robes and turban complete with a dark blue jewel holding a white feather pinned to his turban. It was almost dinner time and moodily, he trudged towards the Hall of Relics. He made his way towards a painting. The very painting his great great grandfather had painted of his one true love. Looking up, he froze. He did not know why he had come here, but now upon looking at the painting once again, he knew. The woman staring at him with smiling eyes of clear silver blue. Serenity. His maiden in white. But that was impossible, argued his logic. No one could live for four centuries. And yet, his maiden in white had possessed the very same eyes as this beautiful woman in the painting. How was this possible??? "'Dymion! Dinner." called his brother, Darik who was younger than him by two years. "Yes, thank you, Darik." He walked automatically towards the royal dining area, his mind awhirl trying to process his find. Perhaps it was just another woman with similar eyes. They could not possibly have the same eyes. That's right...he was merely mistaken. Both were different women and only had similar looking eyes. Tomorrow.. Tomorrow he would prove to himself, his maiden in white was not the woman his ancestor had fallen in love with, four and a half centuries ago. There was no way, the myth of the Phoenix whispered by the guards were true. The phoenix was merely a myth. Nothing more. But somewhere in his soul... He knew he had not been mistaken. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion set out to the market once more and began his search for the maiden in white. He questioned every inn keeper, all who answered a negative to having given a room to a lady dressed in white. It was nearly in the afternoon and still he had no luck in finding the woman's whereabouts. He was beginning to despair that he had in fact, dreamed the woman up. Moodily, he kicked a stone that rolled to the slippered feet of a woman dressed in white. A veil covering the lower half of her features. She bent to pick up the stone and peered at it curiously. Endymion felt his heart leap at the sight of her. "What is so fascinating about a stone?" he asked. "Nothing. I was merely curious as to what this particular stone has done to offend you that it warranted a kick." He blushed. "I knew you would search for me." came her soft voice, in an oddly comtemplative tone. Her eyes did not leave the stone she held in her hand. "How did you know?" "Because you are Endymion." she stated simply, looking up from the stone, her eyes startling him. Her eyes were indeed a clear silver blue, exactly like the painting of the woman. He did not know what colour her hair was, but he had a nagging suspicion it would be silver. "Serenity." whispered his lips before he could stop himself. Her blue eyes leapt to meet his in question. "How did you know?" "Your eyes. My great great grandfather had a portrait of a beautiful woman he himself painted. The woman has your eyes and her name is Serenity." answered Endymion. Slim fingers lifted to her face to undo the veil, releasing her cap of long silver hair. Endymion watched as her hair tumbled down and around her head in silky shining waves. Her features depicted exactly as the portrait. "It's you..-but how can that be???" "Because I am the Serenity your ancestor knew, nearly five centuries ago." "Impossible. No one can live that long- unless...-" She merely looked at him in expectation. "The myth is true. The Phoenix." Serenity nodded. "Yes, and my next cycle will begin in a week." "Cycle?" "My lifespan as a phoenix." They stood, facing each other in silence as time passed. "Why are you here?" "This I cannot say." "Why-?" "You are missed in the palace, Endymion." "What?" Serenity nodded towards the guards searching the market place for their prince. Endymion cursed. "You will come with me. There are plenty of things I wish to ask." stated Endymion, his hand extended towards her. Shaking her head, Serenity moved further into the shadows. "I will make my own way there. I shall meet you in your chambers." she whispered before disappearing completely into the shadows. He had wanted protest but she was already gone. Muttering expletives, Endymion trudged back blackly to the gleaming palace not far away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He threw open the doors to his private chambers and stopped when he saw Serenity there, standing in the middle of the room dressed in white. He stopped. A silver brow lifted. "What is wrong, Endymion?" "I did not expect you." "I see. You mean you did not expect me to keep my promise to meet with you, correct?" poked Serenity. Endymion flushed. "I apologize for my assumption." "It is alright. How could I ever be angry at one of Endymion's blood?" she sighed softly. "You sound as if you loved him very much." "I did. I do." "Then why is it you did not want to be with him??" "I am the Phoenix and I was close to the end of my lifecycle." "But it started anew did it not??" he pointed out. "True. But what would people say when I did not age?? And I would have been expected to give birth. A phoenix and a mortal...there would have been no heir of me." "There are harems, you know." Serenity's eyes slitted on him. Endymion snorted. "On second thought, if my ancestor was in love with you as was told, I doubt he would have visited his harem, yes?" "Smart recovery." "He loved you until the very end you know.." "I know." "My grandfather said his own father had been furious. He said Endymion called your name when he died." "I know, I was there!! It made me feel ashamed that I had stolen what should have been hers. Setsuna nearly cried herself to death. I knew she had loved him deeply and had wished he had been able to love her back. I wish he had been able, too..." ~FLASHBACK~ She watched as Jorran closed the chamber door to Setsuna's chambers. His face was lined with worry, anger and mourning. He mourned his father and worried for his mother's health. "How is she?" asked Illiana. "She's finally sleeping. Father's death really hit her hard." "Especially his last words." Silence. "Jorran?" "God, sometimes-sometimes I really hated him. Mother loved him so much and yet, all he could think of was HER!! Serenity! Mother was always so sad because of it!" exclaimed Jorran, his hand swiping at a vase. "Father even called her called her name when he died. He died loving her! It should have been mother's name he called! Not hers!!" "Jorran, please..." "I know Illiana. I know. Love cannot be forced. Which was why father allowed me to marry for love." he sighed, touching his head to the wall. "But he could have loved her a little. Even a little. She was the mother of his children!" "And I'm sure father appreciated that. He loved us to bits, did he not?" "Yes, he did. He just didn't love mother the same way." "You cannot blame him, Jorran. You can't. Father was just one of those people who love only once. Remember that painting we found in his study when we were children?" "Yes. The woman he loved was beautiful. But if he loved her, why did she leave?? Father and mother suffered because of her. Our family suffered because of her." Illiana glared at her brother. "That isn't fair, Jorran!! You know not the reason the woman left! Father loved her and he said she had loved him. That is all that matters!" Jorran let out a weary breath. "You're right. I'm sorry." Serenity stared sadly at the siblings. *And I'm sorry, Jorran...* ~END FLASHBACK~ Endymion felt his heart squeeze at her sad expression. The feeling hit him head on. He loved this woman. Ever since he was a child, he had been inexplicably drawn to the story of Endymion and Serenity. He had spent most of his childhood starring at the portrait. He had felt in awe and had thought it a little romantic. But when he had met her on the streets, his eyes meeting hers...he had fallen in love. Love at first sight. But how could this be? Love like this happened only in fairytales. And only fairytales had happy endings. Endymion felt angry that he was being jealous of an almost five century old ancestor. This was ridiculous. "Serenity..." he whisperes stepping closer to her. Her silver head looked up curiously at him. Suddenly his mouth was on hers. She did not struggle, did not protest. Merely lifted her arms up to twine them around his neck. Moments later, Endymion lifted his head and blinked. "Serenity." Memories were flashing in his brain. He blinked again and stared down at the woman in confusion. "I'M MY OWN ANCESTOR???" Serenity sighed. "No. Just in soul." Endymion stared down at her. "You knew." "I did when I bumped into you. I did not know why I had returned here. But all became clear when I met you. Fate is repeating our history, and I cannot help but still love you." whispered Serenity sadly. "We are to be seperated once more and I do not think I can live with causing you any more suffering." His hand tilted her chin, lifting her face to look at him. "I am not the same Endymion from five centuries past. My experiences are different from the ones I gained then. My soul may be the same but my personality is not." "You are saying I do not know you now well enough to love you." "No, I loved you five centuries ago and I love you now the first time I met you on the streets. Your eyes captivated me even if the veil covered your beauty." "You're right, I don't know you well enough now. You never were such a flatterer." frowned Serenity critically. "Do you not like flowery words?" asked Endymion teasingly. "If you don't mind saying them to a five century old woman." laughed Serenity, twining her arms around his neck. "You're VERY old." "Endymion!" "I still love you no matter how old you are. Just as you loved me when I was old and wrinkly." he laughed swinging her around the room. Stopping and putting her on her feet, Endymion watched as a her expression turned contemplative. "Endymion..." "Serenity?" "I only have one week before I must start the cycle anew. I do not want to cause you anymore suffering. We cannot see each other." "NO!" he exclaimed. "No matter how long we have left, I will not give it up, Serenity! I won't!! Do not ask me to do it." "Endy-" "No." "This will only hurt us both and prolong our suffering." "NO!!! I won't let you go, Serenity. Not ever again.." he cried out clasping her to him. "Endy..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The days flew by fast and Endymion had stuck to his word on not leaving her side. Today, they were sitting on a rooftop, watching the sunset. "Endy..." "Hmmm?" "I have to leave tomorrow." Fingers tightened around her shoulder convulsively. His eyes turned to meet hers. "Is there no way we can ever be together?" Resting her head on his shoulder, Serenity sighed. "No...not unless you plan to give up mortality for all time. No one would ever choose that. To live alone and watch as people around you suffer and die." "But you did..." "Yes. I did...and it was a stupid choice." "What happened?" "I burnt myself on a sacred pyre." Silence... "Endy?" "Yes?" "Love the woman you marry..." He said nothing and instead asked, "You go to the dunes?" "Yes...the dunes." "I love you.." "I love you, too. Forever." The next morning, Endymion knew Serenity had already left for the sand dunes to wait for nightfall. That was why, he needed to put all his affairs in order. "I am denouncing my right to the throne and giving the responsibility to Darik." His family stared at him in confusion. "'Dymion...why?" asked the Sultan. "Yes, why??" asked the Queen. His brother and sister stared intently at him, waiting for his reply. "Because of a woman." "'Dymion, you know you can marry for love! You needn't denounce your right to anything!" exclaimed Darik. "That's right!" agreed his sister, Raysha. "'Dymion-" began the Sultan. Endymion shook his head sadly. "No, where I would go, would not able me to rule a kingdom. Which is why I must go and leave forever..." "Forever? Endymion, surely-" "No mother. Please, all of you..." The Sultan sighed. "I see...there is no stopping you, is there?" "None." "Then go..." Serenity stared up at the sky, it was almost time for the rising of the moon. That would be when she would start the cycle anew. *I wish I could have said goodbye, Endy...I wish I could have seen you one last time.* A horse's hoofbeats were heard along with it's snorts and grunts. Turning, Serenity knew it was Endymion. He had come... "Endy, you came." "How could I not?" "Thank you. Now I can say goodbye." A smile quirked Endymion's lips. "Never." "What?" "I will go with you." "Endy, you can't. It would mean a life with no end. No rest. Eternal life and loneliness. Mortals you befriend, all die when comes their time." "But I would be with you. And eternity with you. I do not need friends to be happy. And I do not fear life with no end if it was with you, my love." "Your kingdom, Endy. I cannot allow you to do this." "I do not care, my brother, Darik will rule now. And I suspect, though he is not so fond of ruling as I, he will be a better ruler than I. I have lost you once before and I do not care for it again." "Endymion..." "I love you, Serenity." "Endy!" cried Serenity as she threw herself into his embrace, her mouth finding his own. Tears streamed down her face. "I love you." she whispered, taking his hand and leading it to the pyre. The lovers watched as the silver moon rose into the night sky. Serenity held tightly to Endymion as if afraid he would suddenly disappear. Afraid she would be alone once again... "It is time." "Where there is life, there is hope. We have found each other again and we need not hope we reunite ever again." "Yes, now...we face everything together." agreed Serenity softly as their lips met in a sweet kiss. The pyre was immediately engulfed in flames, a bird screeching it's pain, high into the night sky. Morning was upon the land as the ashes stirred, from it, rose two birds of flames. Both staring at each other before merging into one entity. The phoenix gave a shriek and disappeared high into the clouds, the echoes of the lovers heard throughout the sky... *Together forever.* The Phoenix ~ A tale of love and hope. Asians believe the phoenix is made up of two halves. A male and a female. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ The End. 14/7/02 (3.38am Asian time) What do you think?