Only One for Him Ashton lay uncomfortably on the inn�s bed. It wasn�t that he disliked sleeping on his stomach. No, he was used to that already. After all, he couldn�t lie on his back the way he used to. The way he used to when he didn�t have serpents connected to his back. Sure every now and then he would have unbearable pain due to their existence AND wish to be free of the serpents, but this night was different. He didn�t realize the pain as much as he did until she came. When she came all of his troubles and all of his pain and all of his �unluckiness� fled. She could always make him feel better whether it was emotionally or physically. She was all that mattered to him now. Her smile. Every time he saw her, she was smiling. But was it at him? Or could it have been at Claude? Or even Dias? He pondered. Could she- no, Claude already has her. <Shut up already!> Gyoro demanded. <I�m tired of your stupid human feelings shit. Hell, I can�t remember the last time I actually had a good sleep without any of your petty human affection in my mind. All you think about day in and day out is HER!!! Tria, can�t you put me out of my suffering?!> That was true. His serpents did have a problem with him. There was always a problem with what came into his mind. Barrels. The day he finally got over his barrel fever they were happy. But he didn�t lose that affection. Instead it was replaced with a person, not an object. This caused even more misery to the serpents. At least with his barrel fetish they could get a bit of sleep. Ashton only saw a barrel every three days at the least. With his new love he saw her every day! The serpents could hardly get even a wink! So why did they choose me? He wondered. Why do they hate everything I do but choose me as their victim? He could never understand that. No matter how hard he tried to have the serpents tell him �why� he never got more than a single word. No. <Ashton, if you must know, we won�t tell you. I can only tell you this. GO TO BED, Tria damn it! AND don�t dream about anything!> Ururun said. Ashton thought about Gyoro�s last statement. �petty�? Was an emotion that haunts you every night �petty�? And if so how could he still continue to have it? It still came to life every night. This feeling always clouded his mind. His heart skipped a beat every time he thought of her. He could remember the time he even cried because he felt so deeply about her. Could crying be a sign of something �petty�? Or perhaps a sign of weakness? The more Ashton that thought about the subject the more questions entered his mind. This haunting feeling, as Ashton called it, continued even during the day. He couldn�t escape it. Every time he saw her there was always a warm feeling of happiness. But was it really happiness? Could merely looking at someone make you happy? No. Of course it couldn�t. You had to have more than just an image of happiness. At least TRUE happiness. You could always feign your happiness but could you always find it? <Ashton, a few words of advice to you. Stop your damned thoughts before I show you how merely thinking can lead to disaster!> Gyoro growled. Ashton let his thoughts drift away. But only for a few minutes. He thought about every moment that she spoke. When she spoke it was as if he had become entranced with a spell. A spell only Tria could create. A spell only Tria could end. But what was it in the spell that entranced him? Was it her voice? No. It couldn�t only be her voice. Something else had to be lurking out there. Could it have been the words that escaped her lips? No. Still something else lurked out there. But what? The serpents thought about reacting and demanding Ashton to shut up, but they left him alone. What good would it do to continue to pester him if he doesn�t even listen? They thought. Ashton's thoughts prodded at him every second. Who could she love? Could he be me? What do I say to her? What will the others say about me? Is there actually anything that can help? Could anything actually tell me the answer? The last thought struck hard. Could anything actually tell me� Ashton was trapped in this void. The void that everyone falls into at some point in his or her life. The void that holds you captive until you finally find the answer. The answer that everyone searches for. But is it as clear for him as it is for everyone else? He couldn�t destroy this feeling. No matter how hard he thought he could never think of the �answer�. Everything came together all at once. Her hair. The way it sways in the air as if to lure him into a trap. But wasn�t he already in her trap? Her eyes. The way they could convince him of her innocence. But he already knew she was as innocent as a newborn rabbit. Nothing about her could show a sign of deceit. Her lips. The way they acted like a prison. Only letting out the criminals when their time came. Only in this case the criminals were words that only she spoke when she wished to. Her relationship with him. Her relationship with him! Could this have been the answer? Ashton thought about it. You needed more than an image. You needed more than the words. You needed more than a trap. You needed more than innocence. You needed an affinity! But did she do anything? Did she say anything to indicate a liking? Of course! She always found some excuse to talk to me! No matter how small or big, she always found a way to be near me. She is always trying to learn more about me. He glanced over at her. She was lying on the bed right next to him. He had always found happiness in her. And even when she made mistakes she was still very calm yet funny. �Ashton� Ashton, could we ever be more than just friends?� She said in her sleep. More than just friends? Could she mean�? Now Ashton had found his answer. The only thing left to do is to tell her how he felt. Even though Ashton knew she couldn�t hear him, he still whispered in her ear. �Sure. That�s fine with me, Rena.� ~Fin~
