OoOoOoOo The Vision of Escaflowne: AU oOoOoOoO
Vision XIV: Redemption
oOo
"D-Dalet?" Hitomi sputtered his name. She clutched her staff tighter to her chest. Hitomi felt tiny droplets of sweat trickle down her forehead, as a sign of her nervousness. Hitomi was not going to make it out of this one alive -- that was for sure.
Maybe she should've listened to the small voice inside of her that was telling her to back. Hitomi shook her head. No way! I'm not afraid of him!
Hitomi's expressions became defiant as she looked him straight in the eye.
"I'm not afraid of you. I'm not going down without a fight," her voice echoed through the empty temple. She held her staff downwards, the double blades that very much resembled prongs shown downward. Dalet smiled, a mixture of wickedness and pleasure. This was going to be a fun little event.
oOo
Escaflowne stepped forward, slicing a guymelef arm off. Blocking an attack from the side, he closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling. A crima claw whizzed past him, scraping Escaflowne's stomach…
…and Van's shirt as well.
He let out an angry battle cry as he charged forth, willing Escaflowne to move with him as ran. His blade pointed straight, he stabbed a guymelef in front of him. Van turned around viciously, and swung his sword with all of his might, taking down anyone in the way of his blade of wraith.
Millerna sprinted past the battle field as she dodged arrows meant for with grace. Quickly, she punched a soldier that was about to attack her and aimed her bow at another, firing at will once again.
Sherazade knocked the Alseides blade off of him angrily.
"LIAR!" he shouted with fury. Dilandau chuckled from within his cockpit.
"Take a look around, Allen Shezar. Where are my men? You don't see the dragonslayers anywhere, now do you?"
Allen shook his head, and went for a slice moved but failed when Dilandau blocked it with his metallic claw.
"They're at Fortana temple," he grinned zealously, "well, that pathetic little boy of a ruler is just as brainless as the king of Fanelia!"
Van, hearing his title, turned his head angrily.
No one called him a coward and got away with it.
Escaflowne stepped forward confidently, and stabbed Dilandau's left arm. Dilandau shrieked with pain, and shot a glare at Van.
"Go see your little goddess, Van! Go see where she is now!" Dilandau taunted him, "she won't be there when you get back," he smiled. Van's eyes widened. Allen interrupted Van's thoughts.
"The dragonslayers have reached Fortana temple! Don't tell me Hitomi's still in there!"
Van said nothing. Allen looked at him.
"Please tell me you didn't leave her!?"
Escaflowne, let alone Van didn't answer but only turned around a hurried manner, marching his mighty guymelef the other way. Dilandau's silver bangs hung in his face as he closed his eyes, feeling the scarlet, warm liquid drip down his side…not so much that he was bleeding to death, for Van hit him right on. But he was bleeding, none the less.
oOo
Dalet walked forward, in no rush. This was going to be far too simple. This girl had no intention of fighting, he was sure – she was too frightened. He could see the fear in her quivering, hazel eyes as her arms began to shake with fear at each step he took.
Her golden-brown hair fell down to past her shoulders up to her shoulder blades elegantly. She blinked once, the finally snapped, for her nerves could take it no longer.
She thrust forth her glaive, making Dalet stop.
"Stop! Stop right there! I will take you down if you come closer to me, I swear!" she yelled at him, her voice echoing off the walls and fading into the ceiling. Dalet smirked, running a black leather-gloved hand through his jaw-length, neatly cut dark brown hair.
"Is that a threat?" he asked, "not very threatening. It sounded more like you were frightened," he laughed, his masculine, yet light voice reached her ears.
"I'm not scared!" she spat, reading her glaive, taking a few steps back.
"Just come a little closer, s-s..see-see what happens!" she choked out.
Dalet put foot in front of the other.
"If you come quietly, I won't hurt you," he offering, wearing that vain smile again.
"Bullshit," she muttered, but loud enough for him to hear.
Dalet closed his eyes, chuckling again.
"Well, just consider it pay back for that little stunt you pulled back in Freid. Thought you could outsmart me, could you?" he taunted menacingly, making Hitomi take more steps backward.
"Thought you could made a fool of me, did you?"
"Thought you could tell them our plan, huh?"
Hitomi only glared, not showing her fear.
"Well I guess that didn't work out so well, did it? You've caused me a lot of trouble, girl," he hissed viciously, his cocky smile gone. Hitomi felt a power grow within her as her rage grew. Something about her was different.
"GET AWAY!" she shrieked, and hastily pulled out a card, yelling whatever it was.
"FIRE!"
Dalet felt the blast of inferno behind him, sending him flying against a couple prayer benches.
Hitomi had no idea she could do that. Something was different. Something was very different. She felt angry, and powerful. She began to walk forward cautiously, craning her neck to peer over the benched to see if he was still there.
He wasn't there. Hitomi eyes widened with confusion and shock. Suddenly, she felt an arm snake around her waist and cup her mouth closed. Dalet had snuck up behind her. Hitomi's muffled cries rung out.
"Think you can take on a dragonslayer elite? I think not," he seethed in her ear. Hitomi instinctively grabbed the arm that was cupping her mouth and pulled it down as best she could, and bit him with all she could. Dalet yelped and pulled his hand down, letting Hitomi jab him in his stomach.
Dalet lurched forward, gasping for air, naturally letting Hitomi go. She fell forward a little bit, and aimed the blade of her staff at him, holding up the Fire card with the other beside her cheek.
"FIRE!" she shouted again, and swept the staff across, cutting the air. A series of blazing, hot infernos made him stagger back, falling down. Hitomi took the chance, and all hell broke loose. As he got up, Hitomi punched him square in the face.
Dalet smacked her across the face while muttering, 'wench' and sent Hitomi flying to ground. But she wasn't there for long. Hitomi rolled out of the way and got back on her feet, pulling out another card.
"How dare you destroy Freid!?" she shouted.
"EARTH!" she yelped, and dug her staff into the ground, making the earth rise continuously in a straight line towards the dragonslayer elite. Dalet jumped out of the way, dodging. He got up, drawing his sword.
"Play time is over, little girl," he hissed menacingly, and wiped the sweat off of his forehead. Hitomi glared, and letting out a huge battle cry she charged forward aggressively kicking him in the stomach.
Something inside of her took over. Whatever it was, it scared her. Bad.
Dalet took both of her arms and flung her to the side. There she stayed. Dalet smiled, thinking he had won. He walked over, regaining his breath and walked around her.
Her eyes flashed open, however her hazel eyes weren't there. There were replaced by a silver, white color. Dalet backed up in surprise. Hitomi lifted herself off the ground, filled with unbearable fury that was building up inside of her.
"I am a scary person when I'm pissed," she hissed, unaware that her eye color had changed. She was still herself, however she felt different. Hitomi didn't have time to pay attention. What's going on? I feel…
Dalet drew his sword once again, and charged forward towards the now silver-eyed goddess, who pulled her glaive in front of her, blocking his attack between the two prongs that made up the blade of the glaive.
"FIRE!" she screamed.
"Oh sh—" Dalet didn't finish his statement, as he was hurled back by another blazing inferno. Hitomi had no trouble at all holding herself back. She hurled herself straight forward, and lunged, sweeping her staff across. Dalet got up just in time to block it. Instantly, he moved his leg out, and tripped her.
Hitomi yelped as fell. She held her staff up and blocked his slice, watching as icy-blue eyes gazed in a mixture of both amazement and fury. Her silver eyes stared back. Hitomi let out a screech of anger and kicked him square in the face, her agile foot whizzing past the blade that was being held up by her staff.
He held his nose, and looked towards the ceiling, pinching it. He wiped the blood from his nose and twirled his sword, unsure if he wanted to start another fight. Hitomi's aggressive behavior suddenly stopped.
Her eyes suddenly turned back into a friendly hazel.
I feel weak…she thought wearily. What just happened?
Dalet starred in confusion. Hitomi's vision became blurry. A headache set in, and she found the ground beneath her to be tilting. It felt like she was dizzy. Her vision blurred even more and become gloomy. She tried to step further, but her eyelids slowly closed.
Her strides that she took to get to him were off direction. As much as she was trying to get to Dalet, she ended up going to the far right. Weary, she dropped her staff carelessly beside her, ignoring the clatter it made as it hit the ground. She wasn't sure where she was going. Tired, hurt, and confused, Hitomi took a turn for the worst and collapsed to the hard temple grounds.
Confused, Dalet took a step towards her. Her breathing was steady, but she had definitely passed out. He stood, looking down at her face.
"I win," he grinned.
oOo
Van sprinted up the stairs to the Godashim entrance. Sword drawn, he dove through the doors of the Godashim palace, and moved swiftly down the corridors.
"HITOMI!" he shouted desperately, "HITOMI!!"
Opening the entrance to Fortana temple, he drove down the steps, passed the candles, and jumped down the last three steps, bursting through the French doors only to find nothing.
Nothing. At all. He ran inside, looking around. No one was in sight. He noticed that two prayer benches had crushed, but he didn't see anyone.
"Hitomi!?" he called. His lone voice echoed through the temple.
"HITOMIII!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"HITOMIIIIIIIII!!!"
He fell to his knees on the ground.
"Damn it! Damn you all, Zaibach!" he cried, banging his fist into the ground.
Allen, Millerna, Merle and the Crusade crew stopped at the sight of Van's crumbled form, continuously pounding into the ground. Merle looked around.
"Hitomi?" she called. Her small little voice echoed through the temple filled with silence.
"She's…she's…gone…" Van said, his head hung between his arms.
Merle's eyes filled with tears.
"VAN-SAMA!" she cried, and ran over.
"Where's Hitomi?" she cried, "where's Hitomi?"
Merle shook her best friend's shoulders.
Van got up, looking towards the ceiling. Millerna clutched her fists, trying to hide her tears. Allen's stern expressions made the aura feel angered.
"Is Hitomi gonna be okay?" Merle asked, almost in a whimper. Van didn't look at her. He walked forward, and closed his eyes. His back was facing the rest of everyone.
"I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to you," he whispered.
oOo
"Huh?"
Hitomi looked around in the room she had awoken in. It was daytime, and two twin windows to the far side of the room let the sun leak in. The walls of the room were painted a lavender color, and a play tea set sat off to the corner.
Stuffed animals and toys littered the room. Hitomi got out of the bed, and looked at herself in her vanity mirror.
She was five years old. Her pendant lay on her chest. The windows of her room were let open, and the summer breeze was let in, playing with the curtains.
"Hitomi? Hitomi-chan!" her grandmother called from the kitchen of their one-story house.
What happened? Is this a dream? Maybe my whole life after I turned five was a dream!
She opened the door and walked into the kitchen, smelling the fresh scent of her grandmother's freshly baked cookies. Her grandmother looked at her, a huge smile on her face.
"Ah! The sleeping princess awakens at last!"
Hitomi giggled, and clutched her throat suddenly.
Oh my god, my voice! I really am five!
"You were asleep a long time, love," her grandmother said as she pulled out a fresh batch of cookies, setting them on the counter.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"Why, it's 2:00, love."
Hitomi starred outside. This really was her grandma's house. Her backyard had a playground set with two swings. She envisioned how when her grandmother wasn't too old, she would swing on the swing set with her. There was a pear tree in the corner of their yard.
Their house was located way out in the country, and their yard was fenced off by a cute, white picket fence. Hitomi walked over, reaching for a cookie when she was rewarded with a smack.
"Ow," Hitomi drew back her hand instantly.
"Ah, ah, ah!" her grandma shook a finger at her, "not until you have lunch, missy!"
Hitomi smiled. She yawned.
"Grandma, I'm still tired," she whined. Her guardian turned towards her.
"Why don't you lie down on the couch? I'll fix you something in the meantime, okay?"
Hitomi nodded, and walked over to the couch in the small living room. Climbing on the cushiony surface, her eyelids drooped as she fell fast asleep, once again.
oOo
Hitomi's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes. The bedding beneath her was warm and soft. A candle serving as an overhead light hung from above on the ceiling of the room. The walls were stone, and Hitomi looked over to her side. There, a small night stand stood beside the bed. Another table – a desk it looked like – was at the other end of the small room.
She sat up. The room had no windows. But Hitomi felt she was floating…on an airship of some sort. Hitomi touched her chest, trying to feel for her pendant, but didn't find it. Suddenly, she became frantic, grasped her throat and the back of her neck, searching for her pendant.
Hitomi jumped off the bed and searched underneath the bed for her pendant, on the nightstand, the desk, everywhere.
The pendant was no where to be found. Speaking of which, her bag and her staff were no where to be found, either. Hitomi looked over at the door and walked towards it, turning the knob. She leaned into the door hoping for it to open. The door was locked. She began to shake it, but to no avail.
"Hey!" she shouted, shaking the door knob.
"Hello!?" she shouted again.
"HEY!"
Hitomi began to bang on the door with her small little fists.
"HEEEEEEEY!"
Suddenly, the knob turned. Hitomi scampered backwards, holding her breath.
Dilandau walked casually in, an annoyed expression plastered on his face as he closed the door behind him.
"You are so loud."
Hitomi starred, wide-eyed. Oh dear.
Do the math, Hitomi, she told herself, A room you're unfamiliar with the loss of your possessions one scary albino = Not. Cool.
"So your friends managed to escape, but you didn't. So sad," he smiled arrogantly. Hitomi eyebrows furrowed.
"What the hell are you doing here? Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute," she stopped, holding her hands out in front of her.
"What do you mean by your friends managed to escape, but you didn't?"
Dilandau smirked, and planted himself in a chair.
"Just like I said it."
Hitomi gawked at him, a smile crept on her lips, and she laughed a little.
"Oh, oh, okay…this is dream. Either that or it's a really bad joke," she laughed, her laughter turning to a nervous 'heh heh heh' when Dilandau got up and walked over to her, closing the distance between them.
SMACK!
Hitomi fell to the floor, and got up, holding her cheek.
"Ow…" she mumbled, and looked up at him.
"What the hell was that for?"
"To remind you that this isn't a dream, dearest. It's real," he snarled, "and to return the favor of striking you as you struck me not too long ago."
Hitomi got to her feet, rubbing her cheek.
"Sit," he commanded. Hitomi glared at him, but pulled up a chair, and sat clumsily on the chair, her arms folded and her legs crossed. Dilandau stood up, leaning on the table.
"Well, now that you're up and about, let me explain why you're here."
Hitomi cocked an eyebrow.
"I don't do laundry, I don't cook, I don't sew, and I won't do any of your bidding."
Silence.
"That's the 411. Any questions?" she asked. There was another awkward silence.
"…and you need a tan. Desperately," she added quickly. Dilandau smiled, and leaned further back, crossing his arms.
"Well, well, aren't we just a tad grouchy?"
" A tad is putting it lightly Mr. albino," she quarreled back, "are you gonna tell me or what?"
"Well…" he said slowly, an grin crawling on his face, "I might start out by telling you that not only have you succeeded in endangered one of my dragonslayers—'
"Oh, you mean that vain, pretty boy? His name's Dalet right? Goodie, do I get some sort of merit for that one? Huh?" she said sarcastically, but all the while menacingly.
"I'm not finished," he hissed, his glare deadly, "you're beginning to annoy me."
"Wonderful!" she shouted, "can I continue?"
SMACK!
Hitomi grabbed the table for support, her cheek swelling to a rose color.
"Shut-up, you stupid girl."
"I'm smarter then you'll ever be!" she hissed.
Dilandau finally lost his temper and took her by her collar. His face was right in hers.
"You listen here, little girl. You either shut-up and let me give you to lowdown or I'll make your world full of pain. Do we understand each other?"
Hitomi looked to her side.
"Yes," she muttered stubbornly. Dilandau jerked his hands away and knocked her back down to where she was sitting.
"Good."
"Not only were you able to endanger one of my men, you also proceeded in a series of attacks before and after this incident took place, am I correct?"
"…yes," Hitomi rolled her eyes.
She watched his movements. Pacing back and forth ever so patiently. She knew him to be insane. Insane, and crazy on the battle field. Her hazel eyes watched him in annoyance. He's gonna be the first to go down… her mind hissed. His demonic-like eyes fell on her figure.
"So, you're here because you are indeed, the Chikara Tenshino."
"Yeah, and?"
"Entrusted with the power of ancient Atlantis, you have a power like no other."
Hitomi sighed again.
"Yeah, and?"
"My, let's add two and two together, shall we? Now Zaibach has the power to rule Gaea. Nice, isn't it?" he smiled evilly. Hitomi cocked an eyebrow.
"That goes against my 411. I won't do any of your bidding," she said bluntly. Dilandau's eyes lit up like giant fireballs, and eyed Hitomi. For the first time, Hitomi got quiet. He had a sword, she didn't. He was stronger, she wasn't. That right there was the mathematical equation for death. His eyes, however, were what scared her. That's what he was trying to do. Scare her. Scare her so that she could do anything Zaibach wanted.
Yeah, we'll see about that! Hitomi growled mentally.
"I'm afraid you don't have much of an option dear," he whispered, his tone hinting amusement. Hitomi blinked. She closed her eyes and sighed, opening them again. He still was starring at her intently, like she had something on her face.
"Where's my staff? And my pendant, for that matter?" she asked abruptly.
"Some place where you won't be able to use either of them."
"Can I at least have my bag back?"
"No."
Hitomi bit her lip.
"Why do you need more power anyway? You already have like 20 billion soldiers. I'd think that would be enough to take over Gaea."
"Not so easily, see. You have the power to change fate. Did you know?"
Hitomi starred at him.
"No, you know something, I didn't know that," her heart sped up at the thought of that. Was she able to control it ever since she reached the seal underneath Fortana temple?
"Dalet tells me of an immense power you are able to create."
"Tell the little prick to mind his own business."
SMACK!
Hitomi was sent flying to the ground.
"You know, that's the third time you've smacked me. You're a little prick too, huh?"
Hitomi began to get up when Dilandau marched over and kicked her promptly in the stomach. She let out a yelp and fell to the carpeted ground again, in too much pain to come up with a comeback. Dilandau chuckled as he left.
"Pathetic, whinny little bitch," he said, and closed the door behind him, locking it naturally. Hitomi rolled over on her side, then onto her back, sighing. She got back up, and seated her self in the chair, hunched over. Staying here wasn't going to be pleasant.
oOo
Zaibach's chief strategist stood in front of a tall hologram, one showing the mighty Emperor Dornkirk.
"The dragon still lingers, Folken."
"I understand, my liege."
"I can sense the girl's power. Our ideal future is at hand."
"Right, your grace."
Folken turned around, heading out the door.
From elsewhere, Dornkirk looked through a telescope.
"The girl from the Mystic Moon. A planet…I left so long ago…" he trailed off.
oOo
"I don't like her Folken," Dilandau spat, sitting at a private meeting room with the man known as, 'Stratego'. Folken inwardly groaned.
"I don't want to hear ranting from you, Dilandau," Folken growled in an undertone. Dilandau's fiery eyes turned into a glare. He got up, and walked around.
"She's annoying, obnoxious, she's knows no respect towards a high general, and she almost trashed one of my men not to mention several of our guymelefs! She's a wench Folken!"
Folken sighed, turning towards him.
"I'm sorry Dilandau. Maybe you can take this concern to Lord Dornkirk," he said, his statement laced with sarcasm.
"Lord Dornkirk ordered the retrieval of the girl," Folken reminded him, "and that's that. You don't have a say in what he asks us to do. Remember that," he ended sharply.
"She undoubtedly had the power to control the fate of Gaea. The little girl just doesn't know it yet," Folken poured a glass of wine. As if reading Folken's mind, Dilandau insane smile crept back on to his lips.
"She's the key to the destiny prognostication engine."
Dilandau cocked an eyebrow.
"How so?"
"She's the one who can control it," he said with a straight face. Dilandau's eyes rolled to the side.
"I don't understand Stratego."
"That girl is the one who will control fate, bringing us ultimate victory. The destiny prognostication is for her and her alone to control. She just hasn't been acquainted with it yet," he finished. Dilandau, still not understanding, turned around, and walked out the door.
oOo
"I'm bored," Hitomi sighed, resting in the chair. Hair falling in front of her face, she tucked a few strands behind her ear. What happened to me when I was fighting Dalet? I felt so strange…
Hitomi felt chills go up her arms, giving her goose bumps.
It was the seal I bet. I was entrusted with a new power alright. Hell, I even scared Dalet…the look on his face was priceless, Hitomi mused, smiling to herself.
"Thought that was pretty damn funny, did you?"
Hitomi stopped smiling and stood up, sighing.
"What do you want now?" Hitomi's irritable voice came.
Ignoring the question, Dalet strode over to the girl. Hitomi didn't flinch. She wasn't going to be afraid.
"Thought what was pretty funny?"
"In the end, you lost however," his vain grin returning. Hitomi walked away from him to the other side of the room.
"I just thought I'd come in and say hello," he grinned sarcastically. Hitomi's eyes looked straight at him. Dalet's grin had 'I'm gonna hurt your really bad' written all over it. Hitomi took a step back again, but ran into the desk. Dalet approached her, cornering her.
"Well little girl? Who's going to save you now? You're on my turf, you little wench!" Dalet struck his leather gloved hand across Hitomi's face, and watched as she fell hopelessly to the ground.
"Oh what's wrong, can't get up, can you?" Dalet asked sarcastically. Hitomi turned around, her world in pain. Her stomach already ached from Dilandau kicking her square in the stomach, and her cheek stung from the three times that he had smacked her. Hitomi wearily got to her feet.
"Can't you get in trouble for this?" she muttered weakly, hand placed on the stone wall for support.
"For showing you who your superior is? I think not," Dalet took her by her collar, and smacked her. Hitomi fell again, falling on her face letting out yelp.
oOo
"Dude, what the hell does she have in here?"
Miguel took a towel out of Hitomi's bag, examining it. The dragonslayers were gathered around Hitomi's belongings in a separate, more dim room. Guimel took out the red box that read 'Pocky' on it. Guimel's soft, gray eyes looked in curiosity.
"Po-cky?" Guimel read.
"She's got some interesting things," Viole commented as he starred at the bag full of Hitomi's possessions.
"You mean like this?" Chesta asked, his childish voice bringing attention. He held up Hitomi's CD player and her headphones. Miguel looked at it cautiously.
"What is that?"
"Don't know."
Chesta turned the object around, looking at the back, and then he put it down on the table where the rest of her stuff was. Curiously, they all studied the buttons that lined the edge of the mechanism. Warily, Miguel's finger reached forward and lightly pushed one of the buttons inward. The top popped open, scaring them. The four of them jumped back.
"What did you just do?" Guimel hissed. Miguel shrugged. Chesta looked inside the CD player, eyeing the round, colorful disk inside of it. The other slayers walked over to were Chesta was facing, looking at the inside.
"I wonder if it's a contact device..." Viole cocked his head. Chesta spun the disk twice. Carefully, he closed the lid and pressed the button with the rectangle on it.
They all waited and watched as nothing happened.
"Press it again," Miguel gushed.
Chesta pressed the rectangle button. Nothing happened.
"Maybe it's broken," Viole suggested. They watched as Chesta hit the button with a triangle on it. Immediately, the small display window at the edge in between the buttons began to flash two dashes. They all heard the disk spinning inside of it. Chesta drew back instantly.
"What happened?" Guimel asked.
"I think…I think the disk is moving," Chesta small little voice answered.
The headphones blasted music suddenly. The reactions to the dragonslayers varied: Chesta fell out of his chair, Miguel hiccupped, and Viole tripped over a scampering Guimel.
Chesta grabbed the edge of the table, pulling himself back up. He peered over at the contraption with his soft, baby-blue eyes.
"I get it now…it's a music box."
The other slowly regained their composure and moved in closely to examine it.
"It is," Miguel said in amazement, "wow…"
The door suddenly opened. Gatti walked in, holding a pitcher and a glass of water. As her turned round and closed the door by backing into it gently. He looked at his comrades accusingly.
"What are you all doing?" he asked, walking over and putting the pitcher and glass on the table. Gatti looked at the CD player that was playing, and the amazed faces of the slayers.
"Gatti, did you see this?" Chesta asked innocently. Gatti rolled his eyes.
"Don't go through her stuff," he scolded.
"You would have done the same thing, Mr. second-in-command," Viole joked.
Gatti chuckled.
"Yeah, I probably would have. What all did you find?"
"This," Chesta pointed.
"Oh…" Gatti examined it. He looked over off in the corner of the room. There, sat her staff. He looked at suddenly.
"That's…!" he started, making the slayers look up at him.
"What?" Guimel asked?"
That's…that's her staff! That means…That means the girl I lead out in Austuria really was her…
Guimel grabbed the box of Pocky and opened it up, ripping open a packet inside. Gatti turned, giving the sheep-haired slayer 'the look'.
"Leave her things alone," Gatti cautioned, "who knows, that could be poison," he finished, pouring water into the glass from the pitcher.
"Where's Dalet, by the way?" Miguel asked.
"Who cares," he grumbled.
"Who wants to take the water down to goddess?"
"Oh, oh me!" Guimel jumped up, but Chesta pushed him out of the way.
"ME!"
Gatti looked at the two slayers fighting. He looked down at the water, thinking about the first time that he had seen her. This time, he had definitely wanted to meet her.
"Nevermind, I'll take it down," Gatti interrupted. The now four slayers looked at him as he walked out the door, muttering curses under their breath as he closed the door behind him.
"Come back and tell us if she's hot or not!" Miguel called from behind the door. Gatti sighed.
oOo
"Scared?"
Hitomi's cheek stung, swelling even more from the redness. Her arm was bruised from falling on it so much. Hitomi took deep breaths, picking herself up off the ground, turning to face the vain slayer.
"You vain…sorry…little…ass…" she muttered.
Dalet reached forward, clutching the collar of her shirt again and throwing her down on the ground.
"Now maybe you'll think twice about getting in my way, little girl."
The door to Hitomi's room swung open. Hitomi turned to her side, looking at who had entered. Gatti stood, eyes wide open, holding the glass and the pitcher.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" Gatti yelled furiously.
Dalet looked, scowling ferociously.
"Settling the score with the little wench here, do you mind?" he growled back.
Gatti continued to stare with wide eyes, his jaw open a little. He walked forward slamming the glass and the pitcher on the table and marched forward to the both of them. He studied Hitomi's shaking figure on the ground. He looked at Dalet.
"Yeah, actually I do mind! You aren't suppose to be in here causing any harm to our prisoners, you ass!" he yelled, "do you have any idea what Lord Dilandau would do if he caught you beating her up? He'd kill you! That's what! He'd skin you alive! He doesn't care if you've redeemed yourself from getting captured by Freidish soldiers, damn it!"
Dalet starred, mentally thinking of 101 ways to deep fry Gatti.
"LEAVE HER THE HELL ALONE YOU SELF-CONCEIDED ASSHOLE!" he roared in his face. Dalet quickly shot a glance at the fallen girl.
"Consider yourself lucky," he muttered to Hitomi, who looked like she would jump up at any moment and beat the living daylights out of him. Dalet walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. There was another silence.
"Gods, what a jackass," he grumbled. Hitomi turned her body around on the ground to face Gatti Lavariel, looking down at her. Silvery-blonde bangs curled symmetrically on his forehead, the rest of his bangs curling right to right and left of the left. Unlike Van's, his hair was neatly fixed, and his bangs fell lightly over his soft, blue-green eyes.
At a closer glance, she noticed that he had one, small gold hoop earring that hung from his left ear. Another turquoise metallic-colored earring pierced his upper left cartilage.
"…you…okay down there?" he asked, awkwardly. Hitomi gapped at the sight of him. He was the one that had lead Van, Merle and her to safety out of Austuria that one night. She sighed, supposing that Gatti was no good either.
She grabbed the edge of the nightstand by the bed and pulled herself up, sitting on the bed, sighing.
"What do you want, now?" Hitomi asked, annoyed, massaging her cheeks.
Gatti looked in back of her.
"Just bringing some water," he answered innocently. He starred at her swollen cheeks.
"You…need some…ice for that, or something?" he asked timidly.
"I'm fine, thank you," she snapped, glowering at him.
"Didn't have to be rude about it," Gatti grumbled.
"What did you just say?" Hitomi asked him, getting off the bed. Gatti turned around starring her down.
"I said you didn't have to be so rude about it," he hissed.
"Rude?! Rude?! You don't want me to be rude about it!?" Hitomi shouted. Gatti winced at her shouting.
"Here you are, you stupid Zaibach assholes, and you take down a small country like Fanelia for no damn reason, and then you move on to infiltrate Austuria so you can piss all over them, and then you take over both Freid and Godashim! And then he comes in here and beats me up!! And you want me to be all calm and not be rude about it!? HELL NO!" Hitomi shrieked.
Gatti starred in horror. He picked up the glass timidly.
"…Water?" he asked timidly. Hitomi's expression softened.
"No thank you," she sighed.
Gatti slowly put the glass down, turning to her.
;
"You…uh…sure you don't need ice for that?"
"Yes," she hissed.
"Just for the record, we don't really have control over what we do."
"Oh," Hitomi laughed sarcastically, "that's even worse! You're told to do stuff and you do it without second thought!"
"I fight for my country," he added coolly.
"Destroying and invading other countries doesn't sound like patriotism to me!" Hitomi yelled. Gatti furrowed his eyebrows.
"Why did you help me that one night?" she asked quietly, after a silence.
"…." Gatti shook his head, "nothing, it was nothing. You know, I thought I really wanted to come down here and meet you, but now I'm not so sure I should have done that," he mumbled.
Hitomi softened. Maybe he really did give their operations second thought...but he was afraid to stand up for what he believed in. Maybe she'd been a little rough on him.
"Hey…"
Gatti turned around as he was about to leave.
"Thanks for…getting us out of Austuria," a little smile on her face. Gatti nodded.
"It wasn't a problem," he said softly. As he opened the door, Hitomi stopped him.
"Actually, I…I think I could use a little ice…" Hitomi trailed off. Gatti nodded, smiling.
"Alright. What's your name, by the way?"
Hitomi starred.
"Uh…Hitomi. It's Hitomi," she grinned. Gatti nodded.
"Hi-to-mi. Gatti," he nodded.
"Nice to meet you, Gatti."
oOo
FMBz notes:
Yep, there he is. There's the character of the day. Wow! Thanks everyone! I got seven reviews! My smilies in my last author notes didn't show up for some reason…o.O;; But anyway, I decided I'd update early! Aren't you proud of me? But the bad news is, I've left you with another cliff hanger. Hehehe!
Wow, I was awfully evil to Hitomi in this chapter. I'm sorry Hitomi!
Hitomi grumbles off in a corner while giving FMB the glare of death
Alright, I need 10 reviews to go on! So tell everyone you know to read it, okay? .
Reviews
Jossi-31: You're always the first to review! . Well, I recommend that you go to yahoo.com or google.com and search for Sailor Saturn images if you'd like. My friend tells me that her staff is actually a Chinese weapon…starting with an 'N' but I forget the name of it. Thanks for reviewing!
ShanniC: Really? You really thought it was that good? Thanks for the wonderful complements! I'm still debating whether it should be an Allen x Millerna. Not quite sure yet, though. Thanks for reviewing!
Jem Star: lol Thanks for reviewing!
Macky: Thanks for reviewing again!
Cherry Dragon: I did update! Ya just missed the 12th one, that's all!
Maricar: YAAAAY! A NEW READER! throws confetti Thanks for reviewing! Yeah, Dalet's a little rat, isn't he? lol That's why I love him.