A/N: Yes i know Dilandau is VERY OOC in this chappy but he is suposed to be, he's gonna turn all pyro/psycho later on just baer with me. alos yes i know they talk alot and very well for eight year olds, but then Rukia was raised as a noble so she had to learn early on to speak well...and Dilly...who knows about him...

Chapter 2

Talks by Candlelight

Rukia sat on her bed staring at the small candles flickering flame intently. She had been at the Viole for a couple years now and was used to the routine. Though now she just heard she had to start training to be a dragon slayer tomorrow,a nd she was really nervous. She had been laying in bed for at least an hour when she got bored and just sat in her bed instead and lit her candle.

" Rukia? Are you still awake?" Called a voice from outside her door. She looked up suddenly and walked over to the door. She slid it open and there stood..."Dilandau? Why are you here?" She asked.

" I couldn't sleep and it seems like you couldn't either." He stated simply. She raised an eyebrow.

" I see." She said a little skeptically." So what do you want anyway?"

" Well, i was bored and walking around. So seeing as were both up, wanna talk?" He asked her.

" Umm, sure." She said, motioning him into her room. She slid the door shut so they wouldn't disturb anyone." So what do you want to talk about?"

" I don't know." Dilandau replied running a hand through his hair while staring at the flame of the candle. They just sat there in silence for a couple minutes until..." Is my candle really THAT intresting that you can't say a word to me?" Rukia said angrily. Dilandau snapped out of it and turned to her.

" Sorry, just spacing." He said apoligeticly.

" Dilandau?"

" yes?"

" How did you come to be here?"

" Lord Folken saved me. I don't know what happened exactly but i was wandering through the forest for days without food or water, near death when he found me and brought me here. i've only been here for about a month longer than you." He said.

" Do you remember anything beyond that?"

" No, before that everything is a blank. I think i may have been running from somewhere that's why i was there but i don't know..." He said quietly his eyes slighty downcast. She put a hand hesitantly on his shoulder. He jerked and turned to face her.

" I'm...very sorry, it must be hard not knowing where you come from, where your family is. i couldn't imagine not have knowing my parents at all." She said her eyes apolegetic.

" But it's not so bad, if i never knew them i wouldn't get hurt when they're gone, cause they were never there."

" I guess..."She turned away from him.

" oh! i'm sorry, i didn't meant to..."

" It's okay..." She turned back to him." Aren't you worried about starting training tomorrow?"

" Me? No way." He said boastfully.

" Oh?" She asked skeptically.

" Yes."

" then why are you up so late if you aren't worried?" when he didn't answer right away a small smirk grew on her face." Ah ha! You are worried!"

" you don't have to say it so loud." He protested with a small pout.

" Well, we should get some sleep." Rukia said laying back in her bed.

" I guess you're right. See you tomorrow." He walked out of the room and rukia blew out her candle and went to sleep.

She awoke at dawn and walked down the deserted hallway of the Vione to the training room. She knocked hesitantly and then she turned the knob and walked inside. Inside was an older man, thirty at least and other children around her age. And Dilandau. She glanced at one of the children, a blonde boy with blue eyes and then at the rest of the children memorizing them.

" Oaky, get into a line in the center of the room." Said the instructer. The man's hair was brown in a cropped fashion. He had a couple scars visable on his face and his arms. His eyes were menacing blck holes ready to suck in a ny unsuspecctig people.

" everyone state thier names and ages." First in the line was the blonde boy.

" My name is Chesta, i'm 9 years old." Chesta...Ah ha! I thoguht i knew him!

The next was a boy with poofy blonde hair that looked like a sheep sat on the poor boy's head." I am Guimel and i'm 9 as well."

After Guimel was a boy that had brown hair hanging loosly to his shoulders." I am Dallet and I am 10 years old." Next to him was a boy with dirty blonde hair.

" I'm Gatty. i am 8 years old." After him was a boy with short brown hair.

" I am Miguel, and i'm 8."

Beside Miguel was a boy with semi long black hair." I am Viole, and i am 10."

The next person in line was Dilandau." I am Dilandau adn i am 8 years old."

Then it was Rukia's turn.she felt weird being the only girl there and having the othrs stare at her slightly." I am Rukia and I am 8 years old." The instructor glanced at her as well.

" A girl? What was Folken thinking? Putting a weak little girl in the ranks of the Dragonslayers. Girl, you should quit now before you get hurt. It will do us no good to have a little girl who crys when she gets a little cut and endangers the rest of the team. You should just leave here now." Rukia stared at him in disbelief and anger. She clutched her hands slightly .

" I will not quit." She said. The instructor looked shocked.

" What was that?" He asked.

" I will not quit!" she said louder." I am not a weak little girl! I can be as good as any of the boys!"

The instructor grinned slightly." Then prove it, prove you belong here." He tossed he a practice sword which she caught." You will spar with me, and if you can hold your own for five minutes i will let you stay." Rukia glanced at the other kids as she heard some whispers of doubt in her.I'll show them!

" Okay, I'll do it." She head slightly shcoked whispers as she walked forward. THe instructor had his practice sword in hand then lunged at her. She quickly ducked away from it then got behind him and held her weapon ina defensive position. He swung over head and she put her sword up barely in time. She swung to hit his left side and he dodged to the right swiftly and tried hitting her right side. She put her sword horizontal block it. He moved suddenly and grazed her right arm with his sword. White danced infront of her eyes as pain shot throughout her arm. She grimaced and ducked under another lunge. She breathed in sharply and lunged at his side while he was recovering from his lunge. he swung his sword and locked blades with her pushing her back slowly. She broke the contact and swung overhead.He took the opportunity to hit her in the stmach with the hilt of his sword. She moaned and fell to her knees then he hit her in the back making her fall to the ground. He held the cold steel against her throat.

" how long was that?" The instructor asked one of the boys.

" I'd have to say at least eight minutes sir." Replied Miguel. Rukia felt herself smirk slightly.

" Looks like you proved yourself but we will be watching you, any weakness and you are out." said the instructor removing his blade from her neck and standing.

" Yes sir." She said getting to her feet. During training she couldn't help but to hear the still disbelieving whispers of the boys and so when she got to her room that night she slammed the door shut. She cried out in frustration and sank to her knees. Then she glanced at her table and saw a small dagger. She stood and unsheathed the tiny but deadly blade. It had belonged to her mother, she had passed it down to her so she'd always have protection on hand. She held it tightly in her hand and she held her hair in the other. she quickly drew the dagger through her hair. Brown tresses hit the floor and she didn't know why but silent tears streamed down her face as she watched the brown mass fall.