So months dragged on. Fighting and strategical training gave way to 'Melef combat as a year passed. Including Dilandau, there were now thirteen in the regiment of DragonSlayers. RaiFen was incredibly comfortable among all those boys, and as time wore on even Tash seemed less threatening. Migel and Gatti would sneak into her room often now, and though there were finally classes for reading and writing, she learned the most in her room at night.
They had invented a system of characters so that they could pass notes that would only perplex an outsider who found them. Of course the messages were rather mundane, but the instructors who did catch them were too impressed to say anything about it. It made Rai proud to be so welcomed by Gatti and Migel, even if Gatti did most of the talking. That was alright. Someone had to do most of the talking, and since she was a lot like Migel when it came to speaking, there was only one person for it to fall to.
Gatti told them stories about his home in Freid. The beautiful river valley, all the lakes on its borders, and tales of he and his sister chasing butterflies. He had always spoken fondly of his memories, until one strange night when he came alone.
RaiFen was snuggling into her bed, getting ready to sleep now that it had been lights out for a while, when her vent slid open and clattered as it fell to the floor. In one smooth motion, she sprang from the bed and put her foot on the grating to silence it. Looking up with a mix of curiosity and anger, it melted to concern when she saw Gatti's expression. "What's wrong?" She asked worriedly as she helped him out of the vent.
Gatti burst into tears as soon as he sat next to her on the bed. "I just wanted to talk with you, tonight," he trailed off. He had been looking glum today, but she wrote it off to the berating he'd gotten. Now that she thought of it, she realized he looked glum before that.
"What is it about today?" She asked sweetly, scooting a bit closer to him.
"A few years ago this day, my parents sold me to this army!" Gatti admitted, trying to wipe his tears away. "They already had a son and daughter, so they didn't need me, and after a while I was more of a burden than I was worth to them."
Opening her ams to him, he crumpled and rested his head on her shoulder. She smoothed his hair, since Dilandau had done it to help her feel better before, and held him tightly. "Oh Gat-Cat," she sighed, totally unsure of where else to begin. "I'm sure they still loved you..." Rai was glad he couldn't see her grimace. She wasn't sure how to comfort someone who missed their family, since she hadn't one before this.
He nodded a little and slowed his breathing, trying to stop the tears. "I suppose so... I just miss the fresh air, the water, the butterflies, and my sister." He listed slowly and sadly.
"You won't be on this ship forever," she soothed. "One day, you can take me to meet your family. I'd like to help you do that," she calmed him, speaking soft and slow. She meant it, to. She was sure that one day their unit would be the best of the best, and thus get ground leave every so often.
"You mean it?" Gatti's voice was low and quiet.
"'Course I do," she soothed, almost hurt that he had to ask.
"Promise we'll go someday? Together?"
"Better believe it," she smiled softly, resting her cheek on the top of his head. They sat in a quiet tableau on her bed, facing the wall and holding each other for a long time before Gatti was ready to leave.
"Thanks for lending me your ear," he finally broke the silence before they moved.
"I'll aways be here for you, whenever you need me." Rai supplied awkwardly. She was more than a little surprised that he had come to her, but as she helped him up ino the vent he answered her thoughts.
"You remind me of her, sometimes," he said softly, holding the grate while she screwed it back in, loosely. "Goodnight." Gatti was gone scuttling through the vents back to his room.
"Goodnight!" Rai called after him, her soft tone echoing through the vents a few feet. She plopped down on her bed, letting her arms go limp and smacking her legs. Throwing herself back into her spot, she sighed and draped an arm over her eyes. It was strange to comfort when she was used to needing it from others. But she hoped that she really had made him feel better.
Neither of them mentioned their little bonding experience to anyone else, as there was a standing agreement that all discussions after lights out were confidential. For a few days though, everyone noticed how closely he followed her. Even Migel was intruiged enough to comment.
"Have a crush, Gat?" He asked conspiratorially with a gentle elbow in the younger boy's side. He had waited until they were basically alone, straggling behind on the walk to the showers.
"No... shut up, Migs!" Gatti grumbled back with a light blush creeping to his cheeks. The next day, he returned to their normal safe distance from her.
The camaraderie was solidly there between the three of them, and of course their loyalty to Dilandau was unfailing. RaiFen had gotten everything she could've wanted from this deal: a brother, and other boys to call her family. Plus, she was learning how to defend herself and her country with the latest technology, constantly being upgraded and redesigned. Things were going smoothly with her, and for all appearances, things would only be getting better.
RaiFen felt almost invincible sometime after Dilandau's 11th birthday. Matter of fact, it was the last day of Red, and at the dinner table he declared that she was ten as of today. There was a singsong of "Death, destruction and despair, people dying everywhere! Happy birthday! Happy Birthday! May the cities in your wake, burn like candles on your cake! Happy birthday! Happy Birthday!" Guess which part Dilandau sang the loudest? Well, smiles and extra wine, song and laughter filled their table that night as it had a few weeks before when it had been Dilandau's turn.
And she was on top of the world as they made their way to the showers. Everything went normally enough, until the water cut out at the end of her turn. As she usually did, she spun on her heel quickly, and came face to face with Tash. She screamed for a second before he clamped his hand over her mouth.
"None of that now, girlie," he smiled, and all the cruelty she had seen in his face that first day returned. He was the oldest, probably thirteen the day she joined. Now she fully understood the look that had crossed his face, that first day they met. She tried to punch him, but he caught her fist in his hand and started clenching her hand in his own. Her nails dug into her flesh, and tears welled in her eyes. "Yeah, that's better," he cooed in his gravelly, disturbing voice as he backed her to the wall of the shower.
This didn't make sense. Why wasn't Migel still here? What was he planning to do here? To the commander's sister no less! That did it. Dilandau-sama! Her brain screamed, and she bit down into his palm, the flesh peeling away beneath her canines and a large chunk ripping off as he pulled away with a scream. "Dilandau-sama! Migel-san!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, trying to lunge past him to get to her equipment. If she could just get to her sword-
He grabbed her around the waist and threw her into the tiled floor. Her vision swam for a minute, though she could clearly see him straddling her and fighting with his clothes one-handed. Mustering every ounce of strength she had, she slammed the ball of her palm into his nose. That slowed him down, at least, and he was torn for a minute as to what to do with his good hand. The moment of indecision passed, and he grabbed a fistful of hair on the top of her head and slammed her skull against the floor. Her eyes wouldn't open now, and the terror of the situation was sinking in. Tears started flowing from her sealed eyes into her ears, and she could hear the familiar sound of clothes being removed. Why had he been let alone to guard her? Why wasn't Migel here? Why wasn't someone here to protect her now that she finally needed it? "Tasukete! Migel! Dilandau, someone help me!" She screamed one lest time in desperation.
Rai could feel his skin against hers... He was enjoying this far too much, drawing it out to make it worse when he finally did do something. But he hesitated. Choking back her tears, she could hear it too. Clicking boots! Her heart raced with joyous relief, there were clicking boots in the hallway! She punched him in the crotch, good luck for her, as she was aiming for his stomach through her closed eyes. The threat of being found this way, and the mind-numbing pain shooting through his groin, made him roll off of her. "Tasukete!" she shouted again, gingerly opening her eyes. It was too bright in here now, but at least she could see!
Still naked, with blood starting to crust at the edges of her lips and scabbing the nail-marks in her palm, she knelt in the doorway joining the showers with the locker room. Crossing her arms over her chest, she cried afresh at the relief of seeing Migel rush in. Rai ran to him (more like "wobbled with purpose"), and clutched his shirt tightly, sobbing into it and smearing it with Tash's blood. "He tried to. . ." she sobbed brokenly, only to find herself gently hushed, and cradled by him.
"Shh, it's alright now. I'm sure I can guess what he tried to do." He glowered at the boy writhing in pain, holding himself with his hand bleeding all over his pants, and having trouble inhaling. He grinned slightly. "You did a good job at stopping him," he consoled, taking her back into the locker room and wrapping her in a towel. He held her close again, as she was still crying a little, and trembling worse because of the cold water still clinging to her skin. With the gentility of a parent tending their infant, he daubed some of the blood off of her chin. He smiled softly at her, and she blushed, finally aware of the fact that he had seen her in her worst moment; and naked to boot!
Turning his attention to the boy laying with resignation on the floor, he steered Rai around himself and sat her on a bench. "Get yourself dressed," he instructed her softly before striding over. "Tashin!" Migel barked, and the other boy saluted with his mutilated hand. "Get up, you pathetic excuse for a soldier!" Migel shouted, this time sounding honestly angry. Tashin cackled maniacally in response, and only righted himself onto his hand and knees. Migel found this to be an impudent response to a direct order, and so kicked Tash square in the face, sending the boy back onto the tiled floor, this time unconscious and bleeding from a new cut right next to his eye.
RaiFen dressed quickly and in silence, never taking her eyes off the two boys. This was phenomenal! No one had ever actually helped her out of a situation like this before, and she was still in shock all the way around. Her palm itched where her nails had broken the skin, and she could still taste the coppery salt of the other boy's blood on her teeth. She worked her tongue as she had seen cats do, and wondered briefly if she'd get to wash her face before bed.
Migel came back to her once she was dressed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "C'mon, we'll go tell Dilandau exactly what happened, and Tash will be gone by morning." He consoled her as he led her out of the locker room and through the halls to Dilandau's room. She hadn't been there very often yet, and the notion scared her a little. But he needed to know, and Migel knocked on the door before Rai could really react to anything.
"Enter!" Dilandau's cool, crisp order wafted out into the hallway, and Migel pulled the heavy door out of their way. Rai entered first, gingerly placing each foot and trying to keep her breathing steady. "So, what is it?" He started with his usual slight irritation, but as he spun to examine his "guests", he froze immediately. "Who in the hell would ever dare do this to my sister!" He screamed indignantly, and strode to her the few steps it took, wrapping his arms around her and nuzzling his cheek against her hair.
RaiFen relaxed immediately into his arms, holding him tightly to keep her knees from buckling. Tears sprung from her eyes again as she tried to recount the events of the last twenty minutes. Each time she explained her injuries, Dilandau would squeeze her a little tighter. She could hear his heart racing with the fury of one whose wrath had been awoken. When she finished her story (which was when Migel came in, as far as Dilandau was concerned, for he told her to stop there), he kissed her forehead gently. "I'll avenge you, my little bird."
Dilandau was stroking her hair, and whispering wonderfully violent things about what he would do to Tash as soon as he felt inclined to leave her side. "Arigatou, Dilandau-kun," she sighed with relief, almost incapable of holding her own weight. " I... Feel funny," she whispered, before passing out in his arms for the first time. He held her up, and soon shifted her so she was laying across both his arms with her head on his shoulder.
Though she had gained muscle over the last two years, she was still a wisp of a girl, even compared to Dilandau. A soft smile tugged at his lips while he was rearranging her in his arms, and Migel stood and watched with a strange interest. Dilandau carried her over and laid her down on his own bed, arranging her limbs into natural placements, and gently brushed away some stray hair that had stuck to her forehead. Migel was a little shocked now, for he had no idea the commander could be so... tender. His features were softened by warmth, instead of sharpened by his flaming rage. That changed quickly.
"Tell me what you did with the bastard!" He demanded as he spun on his heel to face Migel. All the fiery rage the boy was used to had returned to his commander, and he squared his shoulders against the force of his energy. And, possibly, the force of a backhand.
"I took necessary precautions to ensure he wouldn't bother her again." He answered officiously. Dilandau frowned, smacking the 'Slayer for good measure.
"I said, tell me what you did with him!" He shouted mere inches from Migel's face. The boy barely cringed, and bowed with apologies before continuing.
"I ordered him stand, and when he refused, I kicked him. In the face," he added hastily. He wasn't sure now how well Dilandau would take to that, but it seemed to be the right thing to do at the time. He grimaced as he could feel the bruise rising on his cheek.
Dilandau smirked as he crossed his arms. "Good. It's a good start, at any rate. We must finish it equally well." He huffed and stalked out of his room, locking the door behind him to ensure the safety of his little prize.
Suddenly, RaiFen was aware again. There had been no sound, or movement that she was aware of, to wake her... she just... was aware of herself, now. Gingerly, she opened her eyes just enough to see... Dilandau's wardrobe. Yawning, she rubbed her eyes with the backs of her hands, looking for all the world like any other little girl who was roused before she was ready. She tried to sit up, and felt before she saw, a soft, pale hand pressing her gently down.
"You need your rest, my dear little weapon." Dilandau's voice was calm, and it helped her to feel at ease. Forcing her eyes to focus, she found him sitting, quiet and still, next to her head. He seemed to be polishing something, but she couldn't figure out what, as it was someone else's job to keep the boots so shiny.
"What happened?" Her voice was small and afraid, coming from a part of her that she had hoped to leave in the gutters.
He set down his trinket where she couldn't see it, and turned to face her so he could stroke her hair as he answered. "You fainted in my arms, little one... and I left you here, where I was certain you could be safe... so I could go properly deal with Tashin." The start of his sentence had been warm and comforting, but as his thoughts turned, so too did his voice and features betray a darkness. "He will never bother you, or any other girl, ever again." He smirked, and his eyes trailed off, remembering the satisfaction of gelding the boy himself.
She yawned again and rolled towards him, taking his hand within her own. "I can never thank you enough," she started, and again he hushed her gently. He didn't want her thinking of the ordeal ever again, for he ensured her that there would be nothing like it in the future.
"I know the look to avoid in my Slayers, now. He had the ferocity, but nowhere near the necessary loyalty. I will always protect you, and so will everyone else I command... Or they too will fall victim to my vengeance." He was still stroking her hair, but he was staring blankly at one of the walls in the room.
Rai looked up a him from the corner of her eye. "How long have I been here?" She asked with a slight yawn, hoping to pull him out of his reverie.
He shrugged, glancing at the clock. "Not long enough," was all he would answer as he turned away, slipping the polishing cloth and whatever had needed polishing into a drawer. "You need more sleep, and I think it's safe to say that you shouldn't be left unattended in your present state." Facing her again, he waved for her to move over, and he pulled the covers out from underneath her as she moved.
She was a little surprised, but she sure as hell didn't feel like going anywhere. Her head was still throbbing, and she wasn't sure she could get back to her room through the hallways, anyway. Shimmying through the vents, maybe, but she was in no condition to climb up to them, either. So, she smiled a little smile as he covered them both up, and it grew a bit when he kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight Rai, just rest..." he whispered softly, freeing some of her hair from her eyelashes. "Don't worry about the alarm in the morning... you're in no condition to train that heavily."
"Okay..." she muttered sleepily, her eyes already closing. I really do feel safe here, she mused to herself as she drifted to sleep. She could vaguely feel arms around her, warm and solid, for just a moment before she was gone.