Disclaimer: I may not own Escaflowne, but I do own the arrangement of these little words in general.
Chapter 14: Just Because
Van tried to reach for his sword, in hopes that he would be able to escape from the giant hand that engulfed him. It was just out of his reach, but he realized that if he escaped, he would have to leave Hitomi. He wasn't going to do that. It wasn't noble. All that he could do was hope for an opening when they reached Dilandau's lair.
He and Hitomi weren't kept waiting for long. The moment the melefs reached the hanger they were released and Dilandau was standing in front of them. He wasn't going to let them get away so easily this time.
"So good to see you again Van," the albino greeted with false cheer. "We've made special arrangements for you this time."
As he spoke an evil glint entered his crazed eyes, making Van shudder with a hint of fear. He stayed as silent as the girl next to him, refusing to let his nerves or his anger show.
"Take him away," Dilandau told the nearest soldier, who happened to be Shesta. "I want four guards posted for him at all times. Make sure that Folken doesn't persuade you to make him so comfortable this time."
"Of course, Lord Dilandau." With a hurried bow, Shesta went about his task, taking a few other unanimous soldiers with him to prevent the prisoner's escape.
Dilandau watched until his soldier's and Van turned the nearest corner before giving his full attention back to Hitomi. For a moment, it was all that he could do to keep eye contact.
"You've been quite troublesome," he was finally able to say. He hoped that his tone didn't waver. It served the girl right if he sounded severe. "You and that King both. What do you have to say for yourself?" he asked, taking her arm and guiding her away from the hanger.
Hitomi gave him a look of hate, as though she was bitter at the prospect of being back at her previous prison. "I've got nothing to say to you," she snapped, not caring if he hit her. Her previous bruises had faded for the most part, and the pain was only temporary. She wasn't going to put up with him anymore.
She thought she heard Dilandau chuckle.
"If that's how you want to start your imprisonment, then that's up to you, but your attitude is in for a little improvement."
"Like I'll be nice just because you want me to be."
Dilandau almost snapped, and for a moment his grip tightened around Hitomi's arm, causing her to cringe. "You might want to behave, if you don't want me to kill your little friend, Hitomi."
She couldn't think of a retort to shoot back. If Van was killed because of her, then she was going to face the wrath of Merle. He and Allen had done her a favor by taking her away from Dilandau before. She wasn't going to let him be killed just because she didn't like the way that Dilandau operated.
"You would come up with something like that," she muttered gently, hoping that he really wouldn't be able to discern what she'd said.
Dilandau had heard her, but for the most part he decided to ignore her statement. He instead continued to haul her down different halls muttering non-committal things about the number of ways that Van could be killed. This continued until they reached the hall that Hitomi had previously stayed in.
"You can call Jajuka and that woman if you need anything. I'll be doubling your guard, for the record. Anything that you request through them will be approved or disapproved by me."
"I feel so special," she said, as they approached her door and saw four unfamiliar soldiers standing in a line across the entryway. "Can I request one little thing now?" She really didn't need anything. She just wanted to see what kind of reaction she could get out of him.
"What?" he snapped, sounding aggravated. It was almost like he wanted the meeting to end, though when he thought about it, he realized that he didn't want it to. He just didn't like the fact that Hitomi didn't like him.
She hesitated, unsure if she really wanted to risk making him angry.
"Well? Get on with it. I've got work that needs to be done!"
"I don't suppose that you know what a tampon is?" she finally asked, sounding completely serious.
He sighed. "I don't need your little games right now, girl. Tell me what you want so that I can go about my business!" His temper was rising and she knew it.
"So go about whatever little evil things you need to do. I'll just call Laura and ask her. She'll actually know what I mean."
The door to her room was open and the soldiers were standing aside. Dilandau pointed to the room, not in the mood to say anything for fear that he exploded. God knew that he was about to. This girl was being so difficult! He didn't need to say anything. Hitomi resisted the urge to stick out her tongue at Dilandau and his guards and marched into her prison, kicking the door closed behind her.
As he stormed away, Dilandau could barely resist pulling out his hair. Had it been one of his men speaking to him like that, he would have pounded the daylights out of them, but somehow he'd managed to walk away.
Once he stood in his study the papers and other objects were flying around the room. While he did manage to refrain from tearing anything up, he did cause a wine jug to break against the wall and stain some of the papers that had landed on the ground beneath it.
Why had that woman decided to be so difficult? He pulled at his hair and let out a roar. There was nothing that he could do about her attitude short of beat her for it, and he didn't want to do that, which surprised him. He doubted that hitting her would even change her attitude in the least. She wasn't exactly being timid this time around.
Oh what in the Zaibach nation had he gotten himself into?
A/N: Howdy there! I was finally able to get this chapter up after having a ton of problems with the site, and I'm sorry it's so short, but hey! It's a chapter. Please take the time to share your thoughts on this segment with me! ;p