The Next Generation 1
A/N: The other night I was in a bit of a bind. I had this whole new idea just ready to launch, but you all wanted a sequel to 'Love can Change You'. So I took a gamble and moulded the two ideas together! Am I versatile or what? You don't have to answer that. Anyway, I don't own Escaflowne. I'm not saying it again. And without further ado, I proudly introduce The Next Generation!
Oh yes. This will make more sense if you read Love can Change You first, but it's not that necessary.
Thunk! The arrow struck the centre of the target, quivering slightly. Hitomi lowered her bow with a smile of satisfaction.
At thirty-six, Hitomi was taller, wiser, and (not just to her husband) even more beautiful then when she was twenty. She wore a pair of gold earrings (gifts from Van and Millerna), a silver medallion with a sapphire eye carved into it was affixed to her breastplate (a symbol of her rank in Fanelia), and a thin band of jade around her right, middle finger. That ring was her wedding ring. She had been married to Dilandau for ten years now, and it kept getting better and better. Add in her green and black leather armour and she was an imposing sight.
Hitomi turned to her daughter. "Now you try."
Yukari Kanzaki Albatou nodded. She stepped forward, her movements graceful. She was sixteen years old and already suitors were riding into camp, seeking her hand in marriage. Unfortunately for them, she had her mother's stubbornness and her father's temper.
Her flaring red eyes narrowed in concentration, and she impatiently blew a strand of sandy brown hair from her eyes. Carefully, she fit an arrow to the string of her bow and pulled it taut. As she sighted the target, the only sound was the leaves. She released.
Twang! The arrow shot forward. It hit the target on an angle and bounced off.
Yukari growled and threw the bow to the ground. "I hate this thing! This is impossible!"
Hitomi sighed. "It's not impossible. Archery just isn't something you can learn overnight. Give it time and you'll be shooting apples off people's heads!"
"Mind if I give it a try mom?"
The two women turned. Leaning against the tree, was Yukari's brother, Setto. Green eyes twinkled from beneath silver-grey hair, and his thumbs were hooked into his belt, a sure sign that he was bored.
Hitomi smiled. "Be my guest." Then she stepped back. Way back. Yukari followed suit.
Setto smiled at this. Striding forward with an arrogance he'd picked up from his father, Setto reached down and picked up the fallen bow. Fitting an arrow to the string, he pulled back and released.
An observer would have said there was something strange about that arrow. That observer would have been right. The instant the arrow struck the bull's-eye, it exploded.
When the sparks stopped flying, Yukari walked forward quickly. When she was nose to nose with her smirking (another trait he'd learned from Dilandau) brother, she started yelling.
"Are you crazy?!"
Setto shrugged breezily. "I haven't worked that out yet."
"One of these days those things are gonna get you killed!"
"Now THAT'S crazy! I know how to handle them! They're really quite harmless if you know what you're doing."
"They're harmless to you, you mean! Everyone else is another story!"
"Yeah? Well at least I don't have a pound of metal hanging from my ear!"
Yukari reached up and touched her right ear. Last year, she'd got her ear pierced fifteen times, in all kinds of styles. "At least I have a fashion sense! Unlike you who goes around Palas wearing the same thing he slept in!"
"I was drunk!" Setto protested.
"You usually are!"
"That's a lie and you know it!"
"Oh please!"
"AT LEAST I CAN HIT A TARGET MORE THAN TEN FEET AWAY!"
"YOU ARROGANT BASTARD!"
"CRAZY BITCH!"
While this was going on, Hitomi had picked up the forgotten bow and walked back to base. She wasn't worried. They fought like that all the time, and not once did they try to hurt each other. 'Maybe being twins has something to do with it.' She thought with a smile.
***
If anyplace could be said to be the home base of the Dragonslayers, then Varkas would be it.
Normally, the slayers spent most of their time on the go, picking up jobs and whatnot. But they always spent at least three months in the growing town on the outskirts of Fanelia.
The town was almost a city. It had a strong, stone wall, several inns, a guymelef factory where the giant machines could be bought, sold, traded, or repaired, and it's own loyal and well-trained, albeit small, contingent of troops.
There was also an area that the citizens of Varkas called the Slayer's Square, and that was where Hitomi was headed when she entered the city.
"Morning Hitomi!" Called out one guard. "Teaching them youngsters of yours again?"
"When they're not fighting, yes" Hitomi said with a smile. The guard laughed and let her though.
Walking through town was always a pleasant experience for Hitomi. People passing by smiled her way, or called out greetings. On the one side, this was where Van had named her Royal seer of Fanelia, despite her protestations. On another side, the people were just plain friendly. An old legend told of how a murdering bandit came to this town and was welcomed so warmly that he turned over a new leaf and became a priest. To this day, the cathedral was called 'Carner's Church', Carner being the name of the bandit.
Finally, Hitomi reached her destination. A large building, solidly built from wood and stone, sat next to the town barracks. The Slayer's symbol, a dragon's head wreathed in flames, hung above the door. Hitomi walked in without hesitation.
Inside was the common room. Laughter greeted Hitomi's ears as she entered. Three Dragonslayers were laughing about some joke. Apparently it was very funny, because Deeva was on the ground, rolling around. Dalet had sprayed his beer across the room, and even humourless Rika was cracking up. Miguel leaned back in his chair, looking proud of his success.
Hitomi approached and nudged Deeva with her boot. "Are you alright?"
Still grinning, he looked up. "I'm alright boss. But it was funn-" He burst into laughter again.
"I told them the joke Hitomi." Miguel clarified.
"The 'The jester can stay but the doppelganger in the dragon skin has to go' joke?" Deeva, who had been on the verge of recovery, burst into laughter again.
Shaking her head, Hitomi said, "I really don't understand your sense of humour, Miguel." Then turned to Dalet. "Make sure you clean up that beer you spit all over." Dalet raised his glass in acknowledgement. "Now, get going. Folken's got a new training exercise he wants us to try out.
Groans of protest were muted at her glare. Quietly, they filed out of the room. Though Hitomi could see that Deeva was still grinning.
With that done, Hitomi strolled up the stairs to the commanders' office. Dilanau would be there, and she was anxious to see him.
Quietly, she opened the door and smiled. Her husband was fast asleep, lying on the desk.
Tiptoeing toward him, Hitomi stood beside the sleeping Dilandau. He snorted and rolled so his head faced up.
Right then and there, Hitomi decided that it was time to wake him up, no matter how cute he was when he slept! She leaned down and gave him a melting kiss.
Waking up in the middle of this kiss, Dilandau's hand automatically went to his wife's cleavage. She purred as he stroked it firmly. She purred harder as he pulled her closer. She was soon lying lengthways along his strong, toned body. Dilandau finally opened his eyes and smiled.
"Good morning" Hitomi said cheerfully.
"You haven't woken me up like that in a while." Dilandau's grin turned wolfish. He knew it REALLY turned his wife on. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Hitomi closed her eyes and managed to hold back her rising lust. "Maybe later. We've got work to do now."
Dilandau threw his arms over his head dramatically. "Rejected! For WORK! Oh woe is me!" Hitomi giggled.
"Stop it silly! We've really got to do this!" She silenced his protests with a finger to his lips. "Then, I promise, we'll have sex."
The smile returned. "Really?" Dilandau drawled. "Then I guess we should hurry."
Hitomi could only nod. That voice turned her on even more then the smile, and he knew it!
***
The commanders' office was a large room. In the centre the big square desk stood. It had enough room for two chairs, hence the name CommanderS' office. Made of black aspen, it stood out against the rest of the room, which was ironwood.
Shelves along one sides of the room held maps, scrolls, models of guymelefs, and books. The biggest of them all was Hitomi's account book. Dilandau had tried to do the accounts, but he kept getting frustrated and burned the accounts. Instead, Dilandau handled the troop training and placement, and weapons development.
It was nail biting work. Hitomi always hated this part, so Folken tried to help out. But he wasn't here, and this crap was keeping her from her husband. God she hated this!
But someone had to do it. And so, they pushed on. After one long, eternal, mind numbingly dull hour had dragged itself past, the end was finally in sight. But then Hitomi noticed that her figures didn't add up. She would have to redo them.
That was when Hitomi snapped her pencil and slammed the book shut with a thunderous CRACK. Dilandau stopped doodling pictures in his workbook and stared at her in surprise.
"I HATE HOMEWORK!" Hitomi screamed. Getting that off her chest made her feel better. Unfortunately, it solved no part of the problem, which was that there was a difference of thirty gold in her calculations.
"Where the hell is Folken?" She snarled. "This is supposed to be HIS job!"
"He told me he was going to help out the slayers in his training program."
That cheered up Hitomi a bit. She pictured dark ominous Folken in track shorts and burst into giggles.
When the fit subsided, Hitomi sighed and leaned on her husband's shoulder. "We don't get enough time to ourselves, you know that?"
Dilandau didn't say anything. He especially didn't mention how, only seconds before, Hitomi had been screaming at sums. It was too peaceful for that. He just sat there with his arms wrapped around the woman he loved. Hitomi was right. With all this mercenary work, it was a wonder how he managed to find any time at all with his wife.
Minutes passed by before vague shouts from downstairs brought them back to reality.
"There is no way in hell that you're going to keep me from my explosives!"
"Unless you stop planting those things in my bedroom, not only will I keep you from them, I will shove them up your ass!"
"I'd like to see you try!"
"I will!"
Hitomi groaned. Dilandau just smiled. "Kids these days." He said. "They never learn how to get along."
"Oh they get along well enough when it suits them." Hitomi corrected. "But they just like to argue."
"Can you blame them? Their so different most of the time".
Hitomi just sighed. Looking up into Dilandau's face, she smiled. "Were we like that once?"
"Not at all. We fought everyone but each other." Dilandau whispered as he placed a kiss just below her ear. Hitomi purred and stretched like a cat.
"Folken can probably finish this himself, hmm?" Dilandau whispered in a low, drawling tone that set Hitomi whimpering. She took hold of his collar and kissed him fiercely. When they pulled back, Dilandau was gasping for breath.
"Does that answer your question?" Hitomi murmured.
*** A/N: I probably should mention that this fic will possibly get more graphic, but not by much. ***
As Dilandau had said, the twins were very different.
Yukari was a battle mage. She would gleefully wade into a fight, sword flailing wildly. She had use of basic force magic, which she would use to throw an enemy, or create a short-term defence field. She was extremely skilled with the sword, but had only basic training with other weapons i.e. the bow. She also had a girly side, which was only too apparent to men. She had an innate sense of fashion, and could always be found near a good sale. But that didn't stop her from having fun! Yukari had been known to rush headlong into tavern brawls right.wearing a new dress she'd bought an hour before!
Setto, on the other hand, was very different. He preferred slinking through the shadows to running into battle. He was skilled with a wide variety of weapons, well suited to stealth. The short bow, the ninjato, throwing stars, and garrottes were a few of his favourites. Also, he seemed to have inherited a version of his father's pyromania. He was fascinated with explosives and loved nothing better than seeing something blow up. He spent large amounts of time refining and perfecting his bomb designs. Unfortunately, he occasionally had no dignity whatsoever. He has indeed walked around through Palas wearing nothing but a t-shirt and some boxer shorts.
But despite all these differences, they worked well together. Especially when they knew something was up.
And so, when the stranger walked into the Slayers' square, the twins immediately stopped their arguing.
Yukari sized up the stranger surreptitiously, and came to the conclusion that she did not like him.
Setto eyed him nervously. This man gave him a bad feeling.
The stranger wore long robes, hiding his body from shoulders to feet. A widely pointed lapel jutted out from each side of his neck and long white hair hung to his mid-back in a series of intricate braids held in gold bands. His eyes were a shifting black, and they seemed to search across the entire room. Finally settling on the two youngsters, he approached with a limp.
"Excuse me" he spoke in a flat, emotionless voice that sounded like it had died years ago "But is this where I might find Hitomi Kanzaki and Dilandau Albatou?"
The twins looked at each other first. The Yukari stepped forward. "You've come to the right place. Might I ask why you've come here?"
"I have an offer to present them. You would do well to take me to them." The cold dead voice held no trace of menace but Yukari scowled.
"Is that so? And why exactly would I do well to take you to them?"
"Because my master's business is with them, not you". Stranger said. "He is an unforgiving man, my master. And he has an excellent memory for acts against him."
Yukari smiled unpleasantly. "I'm sure that he, does my friend. But I have done nothing against him." She said with her mother's precision.
Now the man smiled a twisted humourless smile. "That remains to be seen."
Yukari flushed red. She started to pull her sword out when Setto grabbed her arm. "Calm down!" He whispered. "Let me handle this." Yukari frowned but relaxed her grip and stood back, arms folded across her chest.
Setto stepped forward, a disarming smile on his face. "I'm so sorry for the rudeness. My sister gets like that sometimes." He didn't bother looking at Yukari's face. "But seriously, if you would wait here then I could see if our parents are available."
Stranger's eyes suddenly narrowed, and stared straight at Setto. They looked like they were searching for something. Something only they knew. The man looked through his soul as if he were reading a book. Setto shivered. 'I'll be glad when he's gone.' He thought. 'This weirdo gives me the creeps!' He kept up the smile, though, and tried to look innocent.
Stranger seemed to find what he was looking for. He nodded and sat down in a chair behind him. "Go speak to your parents." He whispered. "I will wait."
Setto nodded his thanks and headed for the stairs. Brushing past Yukari's shoulder, he murmured "Keep an eye on him" and then he was up the stairs.
Yukari stared the stranger full in the face. His light-drinkingly black eyes stared back. He reached a gloved hand into a pocket and pulled out a pipe, which he proceeded to light. He sent smoke curling about the room as his twisted face smiled. Yukari didn't blink. She just stared back at him.
It was going to be a long wait.
***
Hitomi and Dilandau hadn't really had time to get started before the shouting stopped. Hitomi looked, concerned, at Dilandau, all traces of lovemaking gone from her eyes. The same with her husband. No force on Earth, Gaea, or anywhere else could stop their kids from arguing when they set their minds to it! Except for a client, and an important client at that!
Each rolled from off the desk, to land catlike, without a sound. 'Get dressed. Hurry.' Dilandau mouthed. Hitomi didn't speak. She just nodded and set a record for the fastest time getting dressed.
Dilandau was taking much more slowly. At one point he put both feet in the same pant leg. Then he put his armour on backwards. Finally, when he was all set, he tripped over his diadem and almost crashed to the floor before his wife caught him.
"When did you become such a clutz?" She growled quietly. Dilandau could only shrug helplessly while Hitomi checked herself in the mirror.
Hair: Check. Earrings: Check. Pendant: Check. "Now" Hitomi said, "Let's go meet our mysterious figure".
Dilandau walked over and opened the door, revealing a surprised looking Setto, just about to knock. "Well?" he growled, "Who is it?"
Setto just shrugged. "No idea! He just strolled in like he owned the place and demanded to see you. Maybe it's a job offer?"
Hitomi shook her head, eyes blank. "No" she said in a far-off voice. "It's much more important then that."
"What do you see babe?" Dilandau asked. It always made him nervous, how Hitomi kept getting these visions.
Hitomi shook her head. "I don't know. But something is going to happen." Suddenly she stiffened. Then she spoke, in an empty, haunting voice.
"Peace once, long ago, attained Will very soon be threatened again. A new ambition dark will rise And flashing death shall fill the skies. But hope remains still, burning bright. Fate can change for those with Sight. And when does rise the Dragon's sword All will relive the days he roared.
Hitomi's eyes went back to normal and she almost fell. But Dilandau and Setto caught her.
"What happened mom?" Setto was afraid. He'd never seen anything like that in his life!
Dilandau was more vocal. "Oh my God! What happened? Are you alright?"
Hitomi wearily put up a hand. "I'm fine. But Gaea isn't." She closed her eyes and shuddered. "That was a prophecy. Like my old visions, but with words. Something bad is going to happen." She looked into space again. "War is coming again."
Setto had heard about his mother's visions before, but he'd never known what to think. Now he realised that they were true. He couldn't explain how he knew. He just did. He felt fear tinged tingle inside his mind. And he knew without a doubt that war was coming.
A/N: The first instalment is here. A whole new plot, whole new characters, and whole new bad guys! Now to clarify a few things:
1: Deeva and Rika are new Dragonslayers. There are about twenty now. 2: I believe a ninjato is a type of sword used by ninjas.
Tune in next time.on Escaflowne! And please review!
A/N: The other night I was in a bit of a bind. I had this whole new idea just ready to launch, but you all wanted a sequel to 'Love can Change You'. So I took a gamble and moulded the two ideas together! Am I versatile or what? You don't have to answer that. Anyway, I don't own Escaflowne. I'm not saying it again. And without further ado, I proudly introduce The Next Generation!
Oh yes. This will make more sense if you read Love can Change You first, but it's not that necessary.
Thunk! The arrow struck the centre of the target, quivering slightly. Hitomi lowered her bow with a smile of satisfaction.
At thirty-six, Hitomi was taller, wiser, and (not just to her husband) even more beautiful then when she was twenty. She wore a pair of gold earrings (gifts from Van and Millerna), a silver medallion with a sapphire eye carved into it was affixed to her breastplate (a symbol of her rank in Fanelia), and a thin band of jade around her right, middle finger. That ring was her wedding ring. She had been married to Dilandau for ten years now, and it kept getting better and better. Add in her green and black leather armour and she was an imposing sight.
Hitomi turned to her daughter. "Now you try."
Yukari Kanzaki Albatou nodded. She stepped forward, her movements graceful. She was sixteen years old and already suitors were riding into camp, seeking her hand in marriage. Unfortunately for them, she had her mother's stubbornness and her father's temper.
Her flaring red eyes narrowed in concentration, and she impatiently blew a strand of sandy brown hair from her eyes. Carefully, she fit an arrow to the string of her bow and pulled it taut. As she sighted the target, the only sound was the leaves. She released.
Twang! The arrow shot forward. It hit the target on an angle and bounced off.
Yukari growled and threw the bow to the ground. "I hate this thing! This is impossible!"
Hitomi sighed. "It's not impossible. Archery just isn't something you can learn overnight. Give it time and you'll be shooting apples off people's heads!"
"Mind if I give it a try mom?"
The two women turned. Leaning against the tree, was Yukari's brother, Setto. Green eyes twinkled from beneath silver-grey hair, and his thumbs were hooked into his belt, a sure sign that he was bored.
Hitomi smiled. "Be my guest." Then she stepped back. Way back. Yukari followed suit.
Setto smiled at this. Striding forward with an arrogance he'd picked up from his father, Setto reached down and picked up the fallen bow. Fitting an arrow to the string, he pulled back and released.
An observer would have said there was something strange about that arrow. That observer would have been right. The instant the arrow struck the bull's-eye, it exploded.
When the sparks stopped flying, Yukari walked forward quickly. When she was nose to nose with her smirking (another trait he'd learned from Dilandau) brother, she started yelling.
"Are you crazy?!"
Setto shrugged breezily. "I haven't worked that out yet."
"One of these days those things are gonna get you killed!"
"Now THAT'S crazy! I know how to handle them! They're really quite harmless if you know what you're doing."
"They're harmless to you, you mean! Everyone else is another story!"
"Yeah? Well at least I don't have a pound of metal hanging from my ear!"
Yukari reached up and touched her right ear. Last year, she'd got her ear pierced fifteen times, in all kinds of styles. "At least I have a fashion sense! Unlike you who goes around Palas wearing the same thing he slept in!"
"I was drunk!" Setto protested.
"You usually are!"
"That's a lie and you know it!"
"Oh please!"
"AT LEAST I CAN HIT A TARGET MORE THAN TEN FEET AWAY!"
"YOU ARROGANT BASTARD!"
"CRAZY BITCH!"
While this was going on, Hitomi had picked up the forgotten bow and walked back to base. She wasn't worried. They fought like that all the time, and not once did they try to hurt each other. 'Maybe being twins has something to do with it.' She thought with a smile.
***
If anyplace could be said to be the home base of the Dragonslayers, then Varkas would be it.
Normally, the slayers spent most of their time on the go, picking up jobs and whatnot. But they always spent at least three months in the growing town on the outskirts of Fanelia.
The town was almost a city. It had a strong, stone wall, several inns, a guymelef factory where the giant machines could be bought, sold, traded, or repaired, and it's own loyal and well-trained, albeit small, contingent of troops.
There was also an area that the citizens of Varkas called the Slayer's Square, and that was where Hitomi was headed when she entered the city.
"Morning Hitomi!" Called out one guard. "Teaching them youngsters of yours again?"
"When they're not fighting, yes" Hitomi said with a smile. The guard laughed and let her though.
Walking through town was always a pleasant experience for Hitomi. People passing by smiled her way, or called out greetings. On the one side, this was where Van had named her Royal seer of Fanelia, despite her protestations. On another side, the people were just plain friendly. An old legend told of how a murdering bandit came to this town and was welcomed so warmly that he turned over a new leaf and became a priest. To this day, the cathedral was called 'Carner's Church', Carner being the name of the bandit.
Finally, Hitomi reached her destination. A large building, solidly built from wood and stone, sat next to the town barracks. The Slayer's symbol, a dragon's head wreathed in flames, hung above the door. Hitomi walked in without hesitation.
Inside was the common room. Laughter greeted Hitomi's ears as she entered. Three Dragonslayers were laughing about some joke. Apparently it was very funny, because Deeva was on the ground, rolling around. Dalet had sprayed his beer across the room, and even humourless Rika was cracking up. Miguel leaned back in his chair, looking proud of his success.
Hitomi approached and nudged Deeva with her boot. "Are you alright?"
Still grinning, he looked up. "I'm alright boss. But it was funn-" He burst into laughter again.
"I told them the joke Hitomi." Miguel clarified.
"The 'The jester can stay but the doppelganger in the dragon skin has to go' joke?" Deeva, who had been on the verge of recovery, burst into laughter again.
Shaking her head, Hitomi said, "I really don't understand your sense of humour, Miguel." Then turned to Dalet. "Make sure you clean up that beer you spit all over." Dalet raised his glass in acknowledgement. "Now, get going. Folken's got a new training exercise he wants us to try out.
Groans of protest were muted at her glare. Quietly, they filed out of the room. Though Hitomi could see that Deeva was still grinning.
With that done, Hitomi strolled up the stairs to the commanders' office. Dilanau would be there, and she was anxious to see him.
Quietly, she opened the door and smiled. Her husband was fast asleep, lying on the desk.
Tiptoeing toward him, Hitomi stood beside the sleeping Dilandau. He snorted and rolled so his head faced up.
Right then and there, Hitomi decided that it was time to wake him up, no matter how cute he was when he slept! She leaned down and gave him a melting kiss.
Waking up in the middle of this kiss, Dilandau's hand automatically went to his wife's cleavage. She purred as he stroked it firmly. She purred harder as he pulled her closer. She was soon lying lengthways along his strong, toned body. Dilandau finally opened his eyes and smiled.
"Good morning" Hitomi said cheerfully.
"You haven't woken me up like that in a while." Dilandau's grin turned wolfish. He knew it REALLY turned his wife on. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Hitomi closed her eyes and managed to hold back her rising lust. "Maybe later. We've got work to do now."
Dilandau threw his arms over his head dramatically. "Rejected! For WORK! Oh woe is me!" Hitomi giggled.
"Stop it silly! We've really got to do this!" She silenced his protests with a finger to his lips. "Then, I promise, we'll have sex."
The smile returned. "Really?" Dilandau drawled. "Then I guess we should hurry."
Hitomi could only nod. That voice turned her on even more then the smile, and he knew it!
***
The commanders' office was a large room. In the centre the big square desk stood. It had enough room for two chairs, hence the name CommanderS' office. Made of black aspen, it stood out against the rest of the room, which was ironwood.
Shelves along one sides of the room held maps, scrolls, models of guymelefs, and books. The biggest of them all was Hitomi's account book. Dilandau had tried to do the accounts, but he kept getting frustrated and burned the accounts. Instead, Dilandau handled the troop training and placement, and weapons development.
It was nail biting work. Hitomi always hated this part, so Folken tried to help out. But he wasn't here, and this crap was keeping her from her husband. God she hated this!
But someone had to do it. And so, they pushed on. After one long, eternal, mind numbingly dull hour had dragged itself past, the end was finally in sight. But then Hitomi noticed that her figures didn't add up. She would have to redo them.
That was when Hitomi snapped her pencil and slammed the book shut with a thunderous CRACK. Dilandau stopped doodling pictures in his workbook and stared at her in surprise.
"I HATE HOMEWORK!" Hitomi screamed. Getting that off her chest made her feel better. Unfortunately, it solved no part of the problem, which was that there was a difference of thirty gold in her calculations.
"Where the hell is Folken?" She snarled. "This is supposed to be HIS job!"
"He told me he was going to help out the slayers in his training program."
That cheered up Hitomi a bit. She pictured dark ominous Folken in track shorts and burst into giggles.
When the fit subsided, Hitomi sighed and leaned on her husband's shoulder. "We don't get enough time to ourselves, you know that?"
Dilandau didn't say anything. He especially didn't mention how, only seconds before, Hitomi had been screaming at sums. It was too peaceful for that. He just sat there with his arms wrapped around the woman he loved. Hitomi was right. With all this mercenary work, it was a wonder how he managed to find any time at all with his wife.
Minutes passed by before vague shouts from downstairs brought them back to reality.
"There is no way in hell that you're going to keep me from my explosives!"
"Unless you stop planting those things in my bedroom, not only will I keep you from them, I will shove them up your ass!"
"I'd like to see you try!"
"I will!"
Hitomi groaned. Dilandau just smiled. "Kids these days." He said. "They never learn how to get along."
"Oh they get along well enough when it suits them." Hitomi corrected. "But they just like to argue."
"Can you blame them? Their so different most of the time".
Hitomi just sighed. Looking up into Dilandau's face, she smiled. "Were we like that once?"
"Not at all. We fought everyone but each other." Dilandau whispered as he placed a kiss just below her ear. Hitomi purred and stretched like a cat.
"Folken can probably finish this himself, hmm?" Dilandau whispered in a low, drawling tone that set Hitomi whimpering. She took hold of his collar and kissed him fiercely. When they pulled back, Dilandau was gasping for breath.
"Does that answer your question?" Hitomi murmured.
*** A/N: I probably should mention that this fic will possibly get more graphic, but not by much. ***
As Dilandau had said, the twins were very different.
Yukari was a battle mage. She would gleefully wade into a fight, sword flailing wildly. She had use of basic force magic, which she would use to throw an enemy, or create a short-term defence field. She was extremely skilled with the sword, but had only basic training with other weapons i.e. the bow. She also had a girly side, which was only too apparent to men. She had an innate sense of fashion, and could always be found near a good sale. But that didn't stop her from having fun! Yukari had been known to rush headlong into tavern brawls right.wearing a new dress she'd bought an hour before!
Setto, on the other hand, was very different. He preferred slinking through the shadows to running into battle. He was skilled with a wide variety of weapons, well suited to stealth. The short bow, the ninjato, throwing stars, and garrottes were a few of his favourites. Also, he seemed to have inherited a version of his father's pyromania. He was fascinated with explosives and loved nothing better than seeing something blow up. He spent large amounts of time refining and perfecting his bomb designs. Unfortunately, he occasionally had no dignity whatsoever. He has indeed walked around through Palas wearing nothing but a t-shirt and some boxer shorts.
But despite all these differences, they worked well together. Especially when they knew something was up.
And so, when the stranger walked into the Slayers' square, the twins immediately stopped their arguing.
Yukari sized up the stranger surreptitiously, and came to the conclusion that she did not like him.
Setto eyed him nervously. This man gave him a bad feeling.
The stranger wore long robes, hiding his body from shoulders to feet. A widely pointed lapel jutted out from each side of his neck and long white hair hung to his mid-back in a series of intricate braids held in gold bands. His eyes were a shifting black, and they seemed to search across the entire room. Finally settling on the two youngsters, he approached with a limp.
"Excuse me" he spoke in a flat, emotionless voice that sounded like it had died years ago "But is this where I might find Hitomi Kanzaki and Dilandau Albatou?"
The twins looked at each other first. The Yukari stepped forward. "You've come to the right place. Might I ask why you've come here?"
"I have an offer to present them. You would do well to take me to them." The cold dead voice held no trace of menace but Yukari scowled.
"Is that so? And why exactly would I do well to take you to them?"
"Because my master's business is with them, not you". Stranger said. "He is an unforgiving man, my master. And he has an excellent memory for acts against him."
Yukari smiled unpleasantly. "I'm sure that he, does my friend. But I have done nothing against him." She said with her mother's precision.
Now the man smiled a twisted humourless smile. "That remains to be seen."
Yukari flushed red. She started to pull her sword out when Setto grabbed her arm. "Calm down!" He whispered. "Let me handle this." Yukari frowned but relaxed her grip and stood back, arms folded across her chest.
Setto stepped forward, a disarming smile on his face. "I'm so sorry for the rudeness. My sister gets like that sometimes." He didn't bother looking at Yukari's face. "But seriously, if you would wait here then I could see if our parents are available."
Stranger's eyes suddenly narrowed, and stared straight at Setto. They looked like they were searching for something. Something only they knew. The man looked through his soul as if he were reading a book. Setto shivered. 'I'll be glad when he's gone.' He thought. 'This weirdo gives me the creeps!' He kept up the smile, though, and tried to look innocent.
Stranger seemed to find what he was looking for. He nodded and sat down in a chair behind him. "Go speak to your parents." He whispered. "I will wait."
Setto nodded his thanks and headed for the stairs. Brushing past Yukari's shoulder, he murmured "Keep an eye on him" and then he was up the stairs.
Yukari stared the stranger full in the face. His light-drinkingly black eyes stared back. He reached a gloved hand into a pocket and pulled out a pipe, which he proceeded to light. He sent smoke curling about the room as his twisted face smiled. Yukari didn't blink. She just stared back at him.
It was going to be a long wait.
***
Hitomi and Dilandau hadn't really had time to get started before the shouting stopped. Hitomi looked, concerned, at Dilandau, all traces of lovemaking gone from her eyes. The same with her husband. No force on Earth, Gaea, or anywhere else could stop their kids from arguing when they set their minds to it! Except for a client, and an important client at that!
Each rolled from off the desk, to land catlike, without a sound. 'Get dressed. Hurry.' Dilandau mouthed. Hitomi didn't speak. She just nodded and set a record for the fastest time getting dressed.
Dilandau was taking much more slowly. At one point he put both feet in the same pant leg. Then he put his armour on backwards. Finally, when he was all set, he tripped over his diadem and almost crashed to the floor before his wife caught him.
"When did you become such a clutz?" She growled quietly. Dilandau could only shrug helplessly while Hitomi checked herself in the mirror.
Hair: Check. Earrings: Check. Pendant: Check. "Now" Hitomi said, "Let's go meet our mysterious figure".
Dilandau walked over and opened the door, revealing a surprised looking Setto, just about to knock. "Well?" he growled, "Who is it?"
Setto just shrugged. "No idea! He just strolled in like he owned the place and demanded to see you. Maybe it's a job offer?"
Hitomi shook her head, eyes blank. "No" she said in a far-off voice. "It's much more important then that."
"What do you see babe?" Dilandau asked. It always made him nervous, how Hitomi kept getting these visions.
Hitomi shook her head. "I don't know. But something is going to happen." Suddenly she stiffened. Then she spoke, in an empty, haunting voice.
"Peace once, long ago, attained Will very soon be threatened again. A new ambition dark will rise And flashing death shall fill the skies. But hope remains still, burning bright. Fate can change for those with Sight. And when does rise the Dragon's sword All will relive the days he roared.
Hitomi's eyes went back to normal and she almost fell. But Dilandau and Setto caught her.
"What happened mom?" Setto was afraid. He'd never seen anything like that in his life!
Dilandau was more vocal. "Oh my God! What happened? Are you alright?"
Hitomi wearily put up a hand. "I'm fine. But Gaea isn't." She closed her eyes and shuddered. "That was a prophecy. Like my old visions, but with words. Something bad is going to happen." She looked into space again. "War is coming again."
Setto had heard about his mother's visions before, but he'd never known what to think. Now he realised that they were true. He couldn't explain how he knew. He just did. He felt fear tinged tingle inside his mind. And he knew without a doubt that war was coming.
A/N: The first instalment is here. A whole new plot, whole new characters, and whole new bad guys! Now to clarify a few things:
1: Deeva and Rika are new Dragonslayers. There are about twenty now. 2: I believe a ninjato is a type of sword used by ninjas.
Tune in next time.on Escaflowne! And please review!