When You've Been Hurt, Too
Chapter 4 – A Conflict of Views
By Threshie
AN: Threshie no ownie Escaflonie—err, Escaflowne. Time to meet some more Dragon Slayers. ;; No flames, please. Eheheh…
Some time later, a soft knock came at the door. Sitting up from where he'd been dozing in the chair along with Gatti, Dallet wondered who in the world it could be. Remembering that being near the cross on Gatti repelled the others, he stood and went to see who it was instead of forcing them to come inside--no sense being rude when they'd been so polite to him. (He was, of course, excluding Dilandau's tendency to slap him whenever he said something that contained his own opinion.)
A boy with side-parted brown hair stood impatiently outside. Judging from the navy jeans and black muscle shirt he wore, he was another of Dilandau's vampires, as they all seemed to have an affinity for blue. He frowned when Dallet opened the door, asking immediately, "How's Gatti?"
"I guess he's okay," the vagrant answered, blinking. "Considering the situation, I'm surprised he's so calm over everything."
The other brunette frowned, "Don't belittle him--he's not so weak he panics over everything!" Dallet couldn't help but notice his deep cerulean eyes. Are all of the vampires except Dilandau-sama blue-eyed? He wondered. "I'm here to bring you to the main hall for dinner," the vampire continued, ignoring his curious expression pointedly. "If you want to starve, by all means, keep insulting my friends!"
Dallet sighed. "Listen, I don't want to argue, but I can't leave--I'm supposed to stay here with Gatti."
"Not every waking moment," the brunette sweatdropped, "Besides, he's asleep--he'll never know you left!"
"Well, I gave him my word I'd stay right there while he slept," Dallet crossed his arms, frowning. "And I don't want to go anywhere with you, anyway."
The vampire shot him a sharp glare. "Listen, I'm not the happiest about having to associate with you, either--hell and earth know I hate talking to humans! But I've been given direct orders from Dilandau-sama, so, whether either of us likes it or not, you're going to dinner if I have to drag you there kicking and screaming!"
Dallet sighed, glancing over at Gatti. The blonde lay quietly, only the occasional wince proving that he was asleep and not dead. If it's an order, I'd better do it. As annoying as this guy is, I don't think he has the guts to lie to me about what Dilandau-sama wants.
"Fine."
"Come on, then," the brunette vampire still sounded slightly irritated as he started off down the hallway. Frowning, Dallet carefully closed Gatti's door behind him and followed.
After winding through various long halls and twists and turns, the two finally arrived at a large library room. Dallet was surprised at the number of people inside--sitting on chairs, browsing the books or simply standing guard at the door. There must have been at least fifteen or twenty of them.
"Took you long enough, Migel!" Dallet blinked at the familiar voice. Turning, he saw Viole sitting at a small round table across the room. The lovely vampire smiled sweetly and waved at them.
The temperamental brunette, whose name was apparently Migel, waved back with a sweatdrop and made his way over to his friend. Upon his arrival there, too, Dallet realized that a rather fancy meal had been laid out on the table.
"You look well enough, Dallet," Viole offered another of his serene smiles. Pulling out a chair, he asked, "Hungry?" Reminded of his conversation with Gatti not long ago, Dallet sweatdropped and shrugged. The truth was, it had been days since he'd had a proper meal. The food looked delicious, too, certainly fancier than anything he'd been able to afford before. But he refused to lose his composure just because he was hungry, especially not in front of everybody in the room.
"Don't kid yourself," Migel told him bluntly, "You must be starved."
Sighing, Dallet seated himself at the table, answering, "You probably found the best word for it."
Smiling, Viole encouraged, "Go ahead and dig in--we had it brought just for you!"
Deciding there was no point in protesting when they insisted--and besides, it smelled delicious, too--Dallet shrugged and helped himself to the dishes laid out there. The food was awfully good, but he knew from experience that everything tasted good if one was hungry enough. After awhile, he noticed that many of the vampires had stopped their various activities and come over to watch him dine.
They all seemed fairly transfixed, too--most of them were staring, and Viole even leaned forward every time he put his fork in his mouth. Sweatdropping, he asked, "Why are you guys looking at me like that?"
Smiling sheepishly, Viole explained, "We don't associate with humans much. It's interesting to see how you eat--we only ever drink, after all."
"You mean you've seriously never seen a person eat before?" Dallet asked incredulously. The purple-haired boy grinned fangedly and nodded. "Ever?"
"Not most of us," Migel smirked from where he was leaning on his hands on the table nearby. "Of course, watching you open your mouth is funny, anyway--you've got no fangs."
Dallet sweatdropped. It never occurred to me that how I eat is as weird to them as drinking blood seems to me, he mused, setting his silverware (which was most certainly not made of silver) aside. A couple of the vampires, much to his chagrin, gave little sighs of disappointment that he was done with dinner, and rapidly the crowd dispersed. Most of them, Dallet noted, left the library. Honestly...did they all come here and hang around just to watch me eat? The thought was so strange it was almost amusing, but he felt a bit embarrassed nonetheless. Weirdos...
"Uh...so," he spoke up, turning to Viole, who still sat by watching his every move like he was something remotely interesting. Which I'm not--he's just crazy. "A-hem...can I go back to be with Gatti now?"
"Oh," Viole's baby blue eyes seemed to flicker a bit, and he glanced down at the table sadly. "...How is he, Dallet? He isn't in too much pain, is he?"
"How could he not be?" Migel wondered, before Dallet had a chance to answer.
The purple-haired boy sighed, "It's terrible...I wish I could take the wound instead. I wouldn't mind a death like that, if Gatti would live..."
"That's very unselfish of you, but I don't think he'd want you to," Dallet said. "He seems pretty resigned to his fate, and says he doesn't want people to be sad over it."
"I can't help myself," Viole murmured, leaning his face on one hand, "I feel like it's my fault. I should have been there..."
"I was there," Migel frowned, "It didn't change much." He closed his eyes, sighing, "I was pretty worthless then--I couldn't even help Dilandau-sama bring him back."
"Gatti's explanation was a bit fuzzy," Dallet frowned, "Just what exactly happened to him, anyway?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Migel raised an eyebrow. "They caught him and crossed him."
Dallet sweatdropped, "Who?"
"Gatti!"
"I think he's asking who did it," Viole suggested gently to the annoyed brunette.
"Yes, I am," Dallet confirmed. Migel sure had a quick temper...was he this irritated with everyone, or just him? "All Gatti said was that they were 'ones who hate you'. Do you call these people anything else?"
"Of course they have names," Migel rolled his cerulean eyes and sighed. "Gatti was probably talking about vampire hunters in general, but the particular group who caught him are enemies of Dilandau-sama. They call themselves the 'Abaharaki'--they claim to hunt vampires to 'extinguish evil', but they're a nastier bunch than we are."
"They've hated us ever since Dilandau-sama slighted their leader," Viole said, staring down at the table distantly.
"Who leads them?" Dallet asked curiously.
"His name is Allen Schezar," Migel spat the name like a curse, frowning. "He blames Dilandau-sama and all vampires for what happened to his wife, Marene. I know Dilandau-sama was involved, but I doubt the woman would've lived even if he hadn't been there."
"Migel..." Viole sighed, "Dilandau-sama embraced her. I think Allen's resentful of that the most."
"Dilandau-sama's embraced a lot of people," Migel shot back indignantly, "What made her so damned special? It's not like a bastard like Allen could've loved her, anyway... And Dilandau-sama warned him and everything!"
"I know, I know," the other boy sighed, twisting one of his purple curls around his finger, "And I realize that Dilandau-sama had perfectly good cause to do it, too. If Allen hadn't stolen Celena, none of this would've happened."
"Damn right!"
"You lost me," Dallet told the two, sweatdropping. "I just want to know what happened to Gatti. The crossing incident. Viole, how come you weren't there?"
"I was ordered to stay behind," Viole answered, surprised that he'd asked. A sad look came into his pale eyes, as he said more quietly, "I should have protested more... I knew something terrible was going to happen that night."
"Viole's psychic," Migel explained plainly, "He has dreams about all sorts of strange things, and they all come true."
"Migel..." Viole sweatdropped, "You know, I try not to make it common knowledge to everyone I meet! Nobody trusts me once they find out..."
"You dreamed about this crossing thing before it happened, then?" Dallet asked, trying not to get annoyed with the other brunette. I think being so frank it's annoying is just him being his usual self...
"Um-hm," Viole answered, lowering his gaze to the table self-consciously. "I...saw a cross, and...the Abaharaki. Gadeth--th-that's Allen's right-hand man--was there, too. I saw everybody here upset."
"Why didn't you say something, then? It sounds like it had merit."
The purple-haired boy sighed, shoulders slumping a little. "I know, I should have. But...I didn't want Dilandau-sama to know about my precognition." He looked at Dallet, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I was so selfish...I knew that Dilandau-sama wouldn't get hurt, and so--even though someone else would be crossed--I didn't say anything. And now, poor Gatti..." He sighed again, "I feel so awful. Why do I have this ability if not to protect my friends?"
"Jeez, don't be so hard on yourself!" Migel looked surprised that his friend felt so keenly on the subject. "It's not like anybody blames you for what happened."
"No..." Viole shook his head, "Nobody but myself."
"Things like this are the reason I'm a vagrant," Dallet sighed, leaning his face on one hand. "If I have no one to care about, I have no one to hurt...or feel bad about not helping."
Viole gave him a tearful look. Migel, meanwhile, frowned and placed an arm around the purple-haired boy's shoulders comfortingly.
"Hey, lighten up! It's not his fault, human. You shouldn't put those kinds of thoughts into his head."
"I don't go around calling you 'vampire'," Dallet frowned, "I have a name, you know."
"Yeah, I know," the other brunette glared back, hugging Viole protectively. "I don't think you're equal enough for me to have to use it--especially not after what you said to Viole!"
"Migel, it's okay..." Viole sweatdropped, smiling as he swiped at his eyes a bit sheepishly. "I don't think he was trying to convert me to being a vagrant, just sharing his own experience."
Migel frowned, "Well, I don't much care for how he treats us, anyway! You should really have a bit more respect for everybody here, human, since Dilandau-sama was merciful enough to let you live."
"I don't believe a word of that," Dallet offered a ghost of a smile, fingering his bandaged wrist. "Dilandau-sama spared my life because he needed me--aren't I right? None of you can get close to Gatti, and I'm taking care of him just because I feel like cooperating. Personally I think you should give me a bit more respect."
"Who do you think you are?" Migel growled, standing, "Dilandau-sama should've picked somebody less full of himself for the job! I feel sorry for poor Gatti, having to spend his time with you."
"Then you're wasting your time," Dallet stood, too, "Because he seems perfectly fine with my company."
"Guys..." Viole smiled nervously, standing as well and holding his hands up in a placating manner. "Look, even if you don't like each other, at least try to be civil, alright?"
Crossing his arms, Migel sighed, glancing down at the floor. "Sorry, Viole--I know I'm probably most of the problem." Wordlessly, he turned and left the room.
--End Chapter 4
Hurt
Akugi! Volume 4--Akugi #8
Migel: "I feel sorry for poor Gatti, having to spend his time with you."
Dallet: (Sigh) "Me, too. If I depress myself this much, what do you think my existence does to other people?"
--Akugi #9
Migel, Dallet, Viole and Gatti: (Singing all warbly-like) "A-ku-gi number niiii-iiiiii-iine….
--Akugi #10
Dallet: "You mean you've seriously never seen a person eat before?"
Viole: (Seriously) "Only dirt. Never food."
AN: Anybody recognize the 'Abaharaki'? That's the name of the resistance group Allen leads in the Escaflowne movie, A Girl in Gaea—since this's AU, I thought it'd make a handy name for Allen's group here, too.
Wondering why Migel's so defensive in this chapter? I don't know why, but for some reason it doesn't seem to me that he and Dallet would get along. Thus he seems worse than he is, the fic being from Dallet's point of view. Rest assured, however, that Migel isn't a jerk in this fic—observe the title. And review while you're at it, if you're so inclined. Thanks!