Chapter 21

Tell me more…

"Van what are we going to do now?" said Hitomi hopelessly, Van stared into the air at the tiny specks in the distance that were steadily getting smaller. He suddenly noticed that there were also two specks that were getting bigger, he and Hitomi hurriedly crawled into their hiding place again, before a familiar voice called out their names.

"Van...Hitomi?" Van looked through the branches and saw Folkon.

"We're here" he said and climbed out, he saw Folkon then drew his sword immediately when he saw another unfamiliar person with him, a dark haired woman and she had wings.

"Folkon, how did you find us? And who is she?"

"My name is of little consequence. Where is Dilandau?"

"He was taken by some Guymeulf's as was Kat" interrupted Hitomi

"Then we are too late, Come we must find him" she said and took off in a whirl of feathers. Van stayed firmly on the ground.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Come Van and we will discuss it as we fly for time is running short." Folkon said tonelessly and took off. Both Draconians circled above them as Van took off then swooped back down to pick up Hitomi. She was getting used to this kind of traveling.

Kat was dropped onto the floor of another huge Guymeluf bay, still stiff from sleeping on the floor of the cave she slowly lifted her head and looked around. A large set of feet was standing directly in front of her.

"What did you bring a spare for? I only wanted Dilandau"

"I thought….I thought"

"Silence….just get rid of her" Kat scrambled to her feet and looked up at the man before her. He was a good 6"7ft tall, she had opened her mouth to protest but words failed her.

"Take her away" Kat looked around frantically for Dilandau before two soldiers grabbed her and began pulling her away.

"LET ME GO!" Kat finally yelled as she found her voice and less than 10 seconds later Dilandau surged out of a crowd of soldiers and killed the two that had hold of Kat.

"How come people are always trying to get rid of me when I'm near you" Kat muttered as she stood beside Dilandau.

"Now what's all this" said the tall man "You are Dilandau Albatou leader of the Zaibach Dragonslayers I presume?"

"Ex-Zaibach Dragon Slayers" growled Dilandau and Kat detected a hint of that sounded like sorrow in his voice.

"Ah yes…I apologize, but who is she?"

"She's none of your business"

"He was going to get rid of me" said Kat quietly

"Indeed, my mistake, I thought she was merely a toy brought back by the men, which is behavior I frown upon greatly. Dilandau would you care to accompany me to my study, it is much more comfortable in there and we have much to talk about."

"We do?"

"Indeed, please follow me, I am Isao Li commander of this flying fortress, forgive me for not introducing myself sooner." He turned on his heel and began to walk to the end of the bay. Dilandau lowered his sword slightly and began to follow with Kat in tow. When they reached the study, they found 12 soldiers stationed at the door. Isao turned to Dilandau

"I was wondering if we may have a private word" he said looking at Kat "I imagine you may be hungry or thirsty, the flight was rather long"

"You mean the flight we didn't have much choice in since we were KIDNAPPED" growled Kat.

"Unfortunately my men have little finesse in such matters." Dilandau thought for a moment.

"You can either go and get some food, or wait outside the door"

"But you don't even know who this guy is or what he wants!" replied Kat

"That is what I am hoping to find out." Kat gave Dilandau a glare and went and sat on the floor at the other side of the corridor opposite the door and folded her arms as Dilandau and Isao entered the room, closed the door and sat down. The room was large and a round oak table stood in the middle with chairs place around it. Shelves full of Books lined the walls between the lamps and a large desk stood underneath a window covered in bits of paper.

"Please sit down" said Isao, Dilandau looked him up and down before sitting on one of the chairs, as Isao sat in the chair in front of the desk.

"Ok what did you bring me here for" Said Dilandau suddenly

"I brought you here because you are the expert in a field that I am extremely interested in"

"And what might that be?"

"I want to create a new team of Dragon slayers" Dilandau's eyes widened "The Zaibach Dragon slayers were some of the most feared warriors of this century, though I had believed they were all killed, until I heard rumors that you had survived and I knew that if I could convince you to lead my new team of Dragon Slayers then Van Fanel wouldn't have a chance even with that Ispanol Guymeluf."

"Escaflowne…" muttered Dilandau

"So Dilandau Albatou, what do you say? Would you like to head my team of Dragon Slayers?" Dilandau felt something inside him light up, he suddenly longed for the thrill of a battle. Isao saw something light up in Dilandau's eyes before saying

"However there is one problem"

"Whats that?"

"Her"

"What about her"

"The Dilandau Albatou I heard legends of cared for no one, and therefore he had no weaknesses"

"What do you mean weaknesses?"

"Should one of your enemies get hold of her, your attachment to her may lead you into making rash decisions."

"I don't have an attachment to her…"

"So I can get rid of her then?"

"NO" said Dilandau suddenly, then he fell quiet and looked at the floor.

"I see"

"I need to think about this" said Dilandau as he got to his feet. Isao nodded.

"First let me introduce you to your Dragon slayers should you decided to take me up on my offer." He got up and opened the door and saw Kat get to her feet, he ignored her completely and allowed the soldiers that had been standing by the door to enter then shut the door in her face. Kat stared at the door and sighed, willing with all her soul for Isao to spontaneously combust, though by the lack of screaming from the room she figured it hadn't worked.

Dilandau stared at the men before him, the new Dragon slayers. Old memories flooded back of the of his lost Dragon Slayers and what he wanted to give to get them back and here, here were a new, bigger, stronger faster team and the only thing standing in the way was Kat. Did she make him weak? Was she what had been holding him back?

"Dismissed" Dilandau said without thinking, the men bowed and in unison said "Yes Lord Dilandau" and marched out the door. Dilandau stared after them.

"I will let you think about it, and in the mean time I will arrange somewhere for you and her to stay and get you some food." Dilandau nodded and walked out the room, Kat was waiting.

"Well…why are we here?" she said

"He needed some information on Zaibach"

"So he kidnapped you"

"We can get some food and we have a place to stay for a few nights" Dilandau said so as to avoid the question, as they were escorted to the mess hall. Kat knew something was wrong, he seemed distracted some how, she also noticed how all the men seemed to jump out their…well his way as they walked down the corridors. When it was time for them to turn in Kat was shown to her room and Dilandau was about to follow when their guide spoke up.

"Sir…Lord Dilandau, your quarters are…." He trailed off.

"Oh no…not a chance, been there done that!" growled Kat. Dilandau looked at her.

"She will be joining me" he said, the guide nodded

"Yes Lord Dilandau" he escorted them both to Dilandau's quarters that were large and lavishly furnished. Kat instantly ran into the bathroom which is where she stayed for almost an hour and came out clean but dressed once again in dirty clothes and hair dripping wet.

"It's amazing how good a shower feels" her eyes narrowed, Dilandau was still sat in the same place he had been when she had jumped into the bathroom.

"Do you move at all?"

"Huh? What?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Oh it's nothing…just thinking" Dilandau was still thinking by the time Kat was fast asleep. He sighed and turned to look at her, his thoughts in turmoil, several weeks ago he would have jumped at the chance to lead new Dragon slayers and would most likely be on his first mission already, but now things were different. He had never cared for anyone before though he had feared being alone. He covered her in the duvet and silently got up and walked into the bathroom and had a wash; it was only when the water turned grey that he realized just how dirty he was. Before long he lay down on the bed next to Kat, she shuffled up to him and before he could stop himself he had put his arm around her.

'Am I weak now, does she make me weak?. Why is this a hard decision?'