A/N: Wahhhhh!!!! I didn't think that I would get reviews this much, thank you soooo much!! Anyway, here it is people, chapter 2 of 'The Line'!!
The Line.
Disclaimer: I don't own Vandread.
Chapter 2: Escape.
Ezra walked slowly toward a magnificent and luxurious door, together with Jura and Pai. Jura was holding a beautiful dress, Pai was holding a tray of foods while Ezra was holding her advance electronic PDA. Complete with wireless online connection; meaning she can excess the internet and her e-mail right there right now; a camera at the back for taking picture and another on above the screen for a video conference. Also, she can send and received SMS and GPRS. While at the bottom of the PDA, a black wire trailed from there to her ear, connected to an earphone with a small microphone attached to it. It's the latest model, will not be released to the public until late this year.
Ezra scoffed at the thought 'public'. The only one can afford this is the upper-class. No way would people of third class afford this. She might be the only third class citizen that could afford it and she didn't even buy this. Gascogne gave it to her to help her with her job as the princess personal assistants.
It's an unfair world we're in.
Dita, Magno, B.C and the three judges of the High court are the only first class people of Meger. Aristocrats, generals, the noble families and people who are successful in something and awarded the royal honor are the second class citizen and lastly the third class citizen. Most of the third class citizens live by working in the fields, their own small business, artisan, sculpture makers, writers, servants and some more. Most of them become soldiers too. In Meger, women are allowed to join the army. So, they have quite an army but still not enough to fight of the Earthian's army.
Ezra was about to knock the door when Pai said something. "Ezra-san, why can Dita wake up late today? Usually we would wake her up at 6 am." Ezra berated herself for forgetting that Pai just started working here 6 months ago. "That's because today is Dita's birthday. Every year, she has the permission to sleep in until 10 am. She will not have any lesson for the day and there will be a ball tonight to celebrate her birthday." Jura answered the question for Ezra. Pai just nodded. "That's explained the dress in your hand." Jura was about to say something when Ezra stopped her.
"Enough. It's time to do our job." Ezra checked her PDA for the time. The other two checked their watch. Pai's And Jura's watches are the new model and advance. It have a walkie-talkie system so they can talk to each other, it have a MP3 player and a small camera to take pictures. It also can receive file and download it to the computer. Gascogne gave it to them. She even put a walkie-talkie system on Ezra's PDA so they can contact her. Gascogne was thinking to give them the same PDA as Ezra's but Pai doesn't want it. Saying that it was too boring for her. Jura said the same but actually she was trying to save her money. Why? Well with all that function in the PDA, her phone bill will be up higher than the palace.
They immediately straighten themselves up, realized that it's almost 10 am. After a few seconds, Ezra finally opened the door and entered the room together with Pai and Jura behind her. Pai immediately went to the small, round table, while Jura hanged the dress at the handle of Dita's closet. Ezra, in the other hand, put down her PDA and walked up to the side of the bed. She pulled up the hangings and ties them at the bed's pillar.
"Wake up Dita. It's all ready 10 am." She said motherly as she tied the last drapes to the forth pillar. Seeing no reply from Dita, Ezra looked at the lump under the thick quilt. Dita was covering herself entirely.
She must be sulking about yesterday incident.
"Dita, come on today is your 16th birthday. Wake up, please?" she looked at Dita even though she's still under the cover. Ezra sighed. Usually it only took one time to wake Dita up, but now she refused to wake up. Ezra then crawled up the bed and headed towards Dita. When she reached out her hand and touch what she thought was Dita's shoulder, she gasped. "What's wrong?" Jura asked as she saw the sudden change in Ezra feature. She was about to walked towards Ezra when she stopped her.
"Check the bathroom, quick!!!" Ezra ordered her. At first Jura was hesitated to check it, but after seeing Ezra's paled and worried face, she immediately headed the bathroom door and check its inside. Empty. She then looked at Ezra and told her what she saw. Ezra then jumped of the bed and ordered Jura to check the bathroom thoroughly while Pai checked the closet. They just follow her orders. After a few seconds they confirm they found nothing.
"What? What's wrong?" pai anxiously asked. Jura by now have guessed what happened and went to the lump on the bed. She pulled the covers and saw a pillow taking Dita's place in the bed. Pai mouth was opened in surprised. Jura then immediately went to the guards stationed outside Dita's room. "Have any of you seen the princess?" They all shook their heads. "Are you sure?" She asked again. "She never stepped outside her room nor opened the door." Said one of the guards. Jura then put her fingers on her temple. "Is there something wrong?" The guard nearest to the door asked.
"Yes, unfortunately there is." She then lifts her head and continues. "Dita-sama is missing." The guards was surprised and gaped at her. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go find her!!" Jura was frustrated at their slow reaction. Immediately, one guard gave the others the order for a full search while he report to Magno. When the guards have left, the leader was about to find Magno when they heard Pai's voice calling Jura.
"Jura! Ezra! Come here quick!!" Immediately Jura and the guard entered the room. Pai and Ezra was at the other side of the room, at Dita's favorite spot in the room, the window that outlook the city. Once they reached Pai and Ezra, Jura opened her mouth to ask what's wrong, when Pai turned her face which turned very pale to Jura.
"I have good news and bad news." She said. Jura didn't know whether she should fell relief or panic. "What is it?" Pai's voice was stuck in her throat and slowly said. "The good news is she's wasn't kidnap by anyone." Jura sighed and wonder what was the bad news was. "The bad news is...... She ran away..." Jura's and the guard's eyes was wide in surprised. They stay silent for a while until Jura finally found her voice. "H-how did you know?" She croaked. Ezra handed Jura a piece of paper. On it, a note written in Dita's hand writing.
Dear Ezra, Jura and Pai,
I'm sorry if you're surprised or frightened at
my sudden disappearance. I just can't take it anymore.
I wanted to take a break....to run away from all of
this, only for a while.
Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'm not
going forever. I'll be coming back. I promised.
I want to enjoy myself.....to forget about everything.
Just this once.... I promise. After this,
I'm satisfied and everything will be fine again.
Love;
Dita.
Jura immediately gave order to the guard to call Magno. In a few seconds, the guard was out of their sight. Jura then sat down on the bed, looked up the ceiling and sighed. "How did she got away? The guards said she didn't step one foot outside nor opened the door." Pai smiled uncomfortably and her face looked guilty. "Well.... she used the window." Jura snapped her head at Pai and looked at the little girl. Jura's face was fear-stricken and her eyes were wide in shock.
"You've got to be kidding? We're in the 31st floor!! Are you telling me she develop a pair wings and flew out the window!!" She raised her voice a bit too much as Pai quickly take refuge behind Ezra. "No Jura, she didn't." Ezra calmly said even though she looked a little shaken. "Then how?" Jura was getting a little stressed out because of this. She was about to answer when Magno, B.C, Meia and two guards entered the room and immediately went towards them.
"How did she got away?" Magno asked, looking a little pale. Not blaming her. Dita is the closes thing to a daughter to her. Ezra pointed at something at the piano. They all look and saw Dita's secret to her disappearing act. At one of the piano's legs, a rope tied at the piano's leg that situated near the window and the rope went all the way outside the window. Meia examined the rope and realized the way the roped was tied. She smirked a little as she's the one thought Dita how to tie a rope firm and strong, and now Dita use it to ran away.
"How did she get that rope and the equipment she needed?" Furiously Magno asked. Everyone looked at the youngest person in the room. Pai looked afraid and croaked "Go-gomenasai!!! I left the equipment and the rope yesterday and I didn't have the chance to take it back since Dita ordered us to leave her alone" She explained in one, single and trembled breathe. Pai closed her eyes, waiting a knock on her head or something as a punishment. But instead, a hand patted her head softly. She opened her eyes in surprise and looked up at the owner of the hand. "Magno-sama..." Magno smile wryly as she looked at Pai. Then she sighed and looked outside the window. She didn't notice the white sheet flowing from behind a tree, blow by the wind. A quick as it appear, it disappear as if pulled by someone. And yet, they didn't notice this. Magno then looked at Meia.
"Sent out every available guards in full search party. She must have headed to the city." Magno then walked out of the room together with B.C and Meia. "Yes, Magno-sama." Meia replied as she parted with B.C and Magno, to start the operation. "Do you want me to alert the citizen?" Magno shook her head lightly. "Iye. There's no need to rise panic. The people will lose faith in the government if they know their only heir tries to run away. Dita is our only hope left." B.C doesn't really understand the last sentence coming from her superior.
As they entered Magno's office, B.C couldn't hold back her curiosity anymore. "Why?" She asked as Magno sat down on her chair. "Why what?" Magno asked back. "Why is Dita is our only hope?" Magno smiled and answered.
"She's the only one left in the royal family. The future ruler of Meger, the ray of light by the people. She has the talent to lead, but doesn't want to. At least not without anyone beside her. But she will, like it or not. People are starting to lose faith in the government as we started to lose in war and Dita is their only hope of future." She said as she rubbed her sore foot.
"But, more importantly she has the talent to fight. She maybe didn't realize that everything she suggested was working in the battle field, as if she used to fight." B.C nodded in agreement. "Yes, I guessed you are right. Ever since she started to give suggestion in the last few meeting, the enemy has been weakened more than we expected." They just smile at each other.
"She doesn't know that she have a reputation build up, not as a princess that is." B.C sat down across from Magno. "Just hope that they found her before tonight's ball. If they don't, we just hope that she keep her promise." She then closed her eyes for a quick nap.
~%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%~
Dita sneezed as she walked thru the woods that are surrounding the palace. She stopped for a while under a sakura tree. She sighed and relaxed. "Wow, almost busted." She blurred out to herself. "The winds just have to blow at that time. Exposing my cloak, sticking out from behind the tree." She then looked at her cloak. "You're lucky I snatched you in time." She mumbled at her own cloak.
After she rested a few minutes, Dita continues on walking. After a few minutes she was out of the woods. Seeing the city so close for the first time in years, she ran towards the city entrance. But, what if mango-san already sent a search party? Dita stopped in her pace. She wrapped herself properly and covered her head in the cloak's hood. After making sure her face was covered, she continues on walking. Without any problem, she was in. It took everything for Dita to stop herself from screaming silly.
She walked around the city's square and thru the market place. She was observing the cute stuff that was selling there. "Do you want anything, young lady?" Dita almost jumped when she heard the unknown voice. She lifted her head from the ornament on display, and met the owner of the stall.
"No, thank you. Just browsing around." She said gently. "Well, if you want something, better fast. This place is going to close down along with the city's square." He started packing. "Why?" Dita asked as she took off her cloak and stuffed it in her bag. "You must be new here." Dita nodded. There's no way I'm telling anyone who I am. "Today is the princess' 16th birthday." He started to close his stall.
"So?" Dita wondered what's her birthday has anything to do with this. "Every year, people will gather in the city's square in the afternoon to have a feast. To wished the princess a happy birthday and prosper life." He explained as he packed his personal stuff. "And here, there will be a festival, with toys and games to win. It's one of the biggest events of the year." Dita somehow was touched how her people celebrate her birthday even though she doesn't know about it at all.
"But, I heard that the princess hasn't showed herself in public for a few years. Why would you celebrate her birthday even though she doesn't know about it at all?" This question made the shopkeeper stop in his tracks. It took a while for the answer to come but it did. "Maybe because it's the only way we could enjoy ourselves and for once forget about the kingdom war." He looked sad, making Dita regret asking him the question.
"But again, maybe she is our hope. Surely she is trying hard to learn how to rule a country and she must be tired by now. So, I consider this as showing her our support, to say that she's not alone." He smiled softly and finished up packing. Dita just nodded and smiled sweetly at him. "Souka. You all must love her very much." He nodded and said "She's trying very hard for us so why not at least support her." Dita was happy to hear that.
The shopkeeper bid farewell, to get ready for the feast and the festival. Dita just waved happily at him. She then turned around and saw someone selling thin, white cloth. She looked at her hands. Her hands were rough and bruised from climbing down the wall. Seeing this she bought a pair of long, thin, white cloth and wrapped around her palm and wrist. She felt better now. Dita looked inside her purse and counted how much money she has left. Seeing that it's enough for her, she continues on walking and didn't quite see where she's going and bumps into someone.............
To be continued...
Ethereal-tenshi: Okay...... Cut!!! That's all for today people!! Dita, Pai, Jura and Ezra, the next shooting is tomorrow afternoon okay?
Dita & Pai: Hait!! See you tomorrow! *went inside their dressing room*
Ethereal-tenshi: Ezra, nice work. Say hello to Kahlua for me.
Ezra:*smiling* Okay, I will. Bye. ^-^
Jura: Hey, ethereal! What do you mean 'her bill will be up higher than the palace'?
Ethereal-tenshi: It means exactly what I meant.
Jura: I don't use the phone that much.
Ethereal-tenshi: Yes, you do. I lend you my phone for a week so I can call you and I just received the bill yesterday and it was more than
500 bucks!!!! And that was only you. Mine only 100 buck.
Jura: *Sweat dropped* Hehe, really?
Ethereal-tenshi: *shoved the cell phone bill at Jura's face.* You think? This is coming out of your pay cheque.
Jura: Oh no!!!!
Ethereal-tenshi: Oh yes. Now get some rest, tomorrow is going to be a long day.
/TRITT, TRITT/
Ethereal-tenshi: Hello?
Hibiki: Hey!! When will I be in next!!? You said to wait for your call and I did. Am I in or not?
Ethereal-tenshi: Don't worry, okay? Bye.
Hibiki: Huh? Matte- *hanged up*
Kyle (my personal assistant): Hibiki again?
Ethereal-tenshi: Yeah. Let's go home.
Kyle: Miss tenshi? You forgot to leave an author note.
ethereal-tenshi: Huh? Oh, right. Thanks Kyle.
Kyle: You're welcome.
Ethereal-tenshi: *look at the readers* Okay people!!! I stopped here for now. If you have any question, just ask, okay? Here is a special thanks to those who reviewed.
girlygirl: Thanks. I'm glad that you liked my story. Well here it is chap. 2!!
akuweaselgirl: wow, girl. Slow down. Here's the shapter you wanted. Hibiki will not show himself yet.
Terra Nova: Thanks for reviewing!
Unnamed-uchuujin: Thanks. I never thought it would be a great fic.
Tsuki Hoshi Hikari: Oh, please don't cry. Here it is, the 2nd chapter. Now stopped crying, okay?
Zauriel: Thanks for the compliment. And yes, Dita and all Megerrans don't have a father. But, it already wrote in my synopsis that this
was an AU fic, okay? Don't say I didn't warn you.
Ethereal-tenshi: Special thanks to all who reviewed!! *gives out chocolates* I really didn't expect to get this much reviews. The maximum I thought would be 2 or 3 reviews but this is better!! Thank you!!!
And here's a glimpsed of what will happened in the next chapter.
"Ah, gomen-umphh!"
"Give me all your money for the damage."
"Let me go!!!"
"Why you good for nothing-"
"Hey, watch it."
"Leave her alone."
"Ittai..."
"Here you are!!"
"Wanna come with us?"
"I'm sorry I need to go."
"We'll be here."
A/N: That's all I'm going to write here. If I wrote too much, it'll be no fun. Please R&R!!!!
MATTE!!!!!! Here one more special preview of the next chapter!!
Sat quietly walked towards them. They didn't say anything thru out of the journey. She took a shower as soon as they arrived. She smiled sadly and remembered how much fun her life was that night..........
Kyle: I think that's enough preview miss tenshi.
Ethereal-tenshi: Yeah, I think you're right. Well, that's all. Ja! *Exit the sets with Kyle* Until next time! Don't forget to review!!
*waved hand.*
E.N