Lost and Found

Lost and Found

By: rainjewel

A/N: Well?? How did you like the last chapter?? I don't think I'm going to do a lemon, simply based on the fact that I've never written one, and I think I'll save it for a yaoi story I'm going to do in the future concerning Psycho Sexy PyroBoy and Van (who doesn't get a special title, save for maybe Folken's-Brother-Who-Also-Has-Wings-But-Isn't Nearly-As-Sexy-Or-Kug-Worthy). I personally like "Van." It's easier to type. ^.^ Anyway, this chapter might be a tad different, just because I simply sat down and let my fingers do whatever they pleased. Usually I plan out chapters and then write them (and then proofreadARGH). Which is why I take so long to write a freakin' story! SORRY!!

Anyways, I would like to dedicate this chapter to Dilandra (go check out her fanfics, she's incredible!!) and to the wonderful Katana for keeping me in line!! (It's getting happier, isn't it??). Arigatou you two!!

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Hitomi

I didn't watch the battle. I couldn't.

Instead I sat in the guymelef hangar of the Crusade. I chose not to move after Ryan left to go to the Freidian commmand ship late this morning. He'd been working heavily on his Alseides, fixing a bunch of things (please don't ask me what) while we chatted away about unimportant subjects. It was as if nothing had happened the night before.

Oh, but something did. Something most certainly did.

It's funny. I feel like a new woman. Yes, I am a woman. I feel stronger then ever before. I think I could take out the whole Zaibach Empire.

But, as my favorite philospher Ryan Michael Labariel said, "Highly unlikely."

At least that's what he said as we watched the sun come up this morning. I can still feel his warm arms around me as we sat together in the hanger with nothing but a blanket wrapped around our bodies. And I can still hear Ryan's voice as he serenaded me with his favorite Beatles tunes (though, I didn't find the one about the yellow submarine particularly romantic). I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful day. A beautiful day for thousands of people to die and a monarchy to fall.

Yes, Freid has fallen.

It didn't matter that I believed in Freid's men unwaveringly.

It didn't matter how many prayers Merle whispered through her tears as she quaked in my arms.

It didn't matter that Asturia's greatest Knight Caeli Allen Schezar was on the battle field.

It didn't matter that Van had melded with Escaflowne, making himself a far better warrior then ever before.

It didn't matter that Ryan gave every scrap of knowledge he had of the Zaibach Empire to the Freidian Generals.

And it didn't matter that Dilandau Albatou, the most frightening and effective warrior Zaibach had to offer, was dead.

All that mattered was the moment Duke Freid threw away his life and abandoned a 5 year old boy, leaving him with nothing but the burden of rebuilding a country.

What an idiot.

So now, right as we speak, a child barely out of infancy, is giving Zaibach the key that could very well destroy this planet.

I stand here, amongst many battle-weary soldiers, watching the ceremony. Ryan is to my side, his arm wound tightly around my waist. He has insisted to stay to watch this ceremony to see the effect Dilandau's death has had on the Dragonslayers. He didn't' see them in the battle. I have stayed to watch him.

Allen and the others are long gone, wanting to get a headstart before Zaibach pursues "The Dragon" again. Ryan and I will meet them later, traveling in Ryan's fixed Alseides unit which is in a hidden location.

I look to the scene in front of the me. Van's older brother, Folken Lacour de Fanel, kneels in front of Freid's new pint-sized ruler. The Strategos cuts an impressive air, even when bowed on his knees. I believe he would be quite beautiful, were it not for the tragic sadness that follows him like a storm cloud.

But then again, Dilandau would have been beautiful if he wasn't so sadistically insane.

"The ruler of Freid, Chid zar Freid, now entrusts her secret treasure, the Seal Sword, unto the Zaibach Empire as a sign of our friendship!," says Chid grandly, raising the magnificent sword that is twice his size above his head.

"I assure you that Zaibach graciously accepts your friendship. However," The pale man pauses, and 14 armored boys walk up and stand behind the older Fanel, "We have one more request."

Ryan's as still as stone. Bearing it silently.

"And what would that be?" Chid asks, his confidence steady. He lowers the sword and gives it to a soldier who delivers it to one of Zaibach's officers.

"That the body of Commander Dilandau Albatou be returned to his commanding officer, myself," Folken rumbles. He offers no explanation, but Chid doesn't seem to need one. The young monarch simply nods, and a Freidian soldier steps up, and black and crimson bundle in his hands.

"I am afraid the best we can do is return the uniform and dogtags of the deceased for his body was toomutilated to be recovered," Chid explains smoothly. Nice cover.

I squeeze Ryan's hand. No response.

"Just as well," the Strategos says. He raises his left arm slightly, and a short blonde soldier with angelic features steps out of the line of Dragonslayers. With wet, shiny blue eyes, he steps up to the Freidian man and takes the armor for him. For a second he looks like he's going to collapse from his grief, but then delivers a flawless bow and marches back to his comrades. As soon as the blonde is back in rank, a tall boy with ash colored locks turns on his heel and marches back into the midst of the Zaibach's army. One by one, the Dragonslayers follow.

A new leader.

I turn to Ryan, who is resembling a statue. Gently I wrap my arms around him and kiss his cheek.

"I've seen enough," I say simply. Ryan blinks, then squeezes me gently.

"So have I," he whispers, looking away from where the Dragonslayers stood and towards me. "Time to go back?"

He doesn't wait for an answer, but takes my hand and we slip away from the ceremony. We travel to the outskirts of the battlefield, and I start to wonder what in the hell we're doing. I have no desire to see anymore death. My vision of Duke Freid's demise was enough to last me two lifetimes. I shudder at the remembrance.

"What are we doing at the battlefield?" I ask, my patience waning.

"Allen left the Alseides here. Now all we have to do is find it," Ryan explains.

"In its Stealth Cloak?" I ask.

"Yep," Ryan replies.

"How in the world is that possible?"

"Dilandau taught us how to recognize our guymelefs in Stealthmode. It's not a lot of fun when you take a shot at your enemy and go through your comrade. And if I simply can't find it, there's always you," Ryan says with a grin.

I smile in response. Fortunately, my powers aren't needed and Ryan finds his guymelef in a matter of seconds. He disappears under the Stealth Cloak and tells me to wait for a minute. In a few moments, the guymelef buzzes and the Alseides is revealed. It looks in perfect condition, save for the fact that it's missing an arm. The guymelef bows down and control chamber opens. Ryan steps out.

"Everything's working. Pyle did a fine job," he affirms. Briefly I remember Pyle working on the guymelef during the battle. Mostly I recall his curses when something wasn't going right.

"Where do I go?" I ask, looking up at the menacing mecha.

"Well, I can either hold you in a highly comfortable Crima Claw, or you can join me in the cockpit, though I'm warning you, it'll be a bit cramped," Ryan says with a mysterious smile.

"I think I'll choose the latter," I say. Ryan smiles, and helps me into the control chamber. He sits down, then pulls me into his lap. I sit down sideways, putting my arms around Ryan's neck.

"No other spot to put you," he whispers in my ear. "Now, this is going to feel a bit funny, but you'll get used to it."

I am about to ask him what he's talking about, but then the control chamber closes and suddenly a warm, purple liquid rises quickly in the cockpit, coming up to our necks. I try to stifle a gasp, but don't succeed. I feel Ryan's right arm encircle me.

"Don't worry, it's just gel. You don't even get wet," he says with a smile in his voice. "Now, the Stealth Cloak doesn't work in the air, so we're going to have to walk for a few minutes before I can take off."

"Are you sure I'm not in your way?" I ask, still a little uneasy with the gel.

"Not unless we were in battle, which we're not," Ryan says. The Alseides then takes a few steps, and I squish my legs up to my chest. It's weird being pressed up close to someone while they walk. Ryan holds me up with his right arm (I suppose he doesn't need it since his guymelef has no right arm) so that my feet don't get in the way of his leg controls. It's very interesting.

"When we switch to flying mode we'll be much better off. That's when you get to sit," Ryan explains. "Which is what we're going to be going to now. Hold on, this probably won't be very smooth. This is where most of the kinks were."

That was not something I wanted to hear Ryan.

I almost tell him so, but then the Alseides rumbles and Ryan jerks back into a sitting position, me sitting on his lap like a child. Then the guymelef begins climbing in altitude and I latch onto Ryan as I feel my body abruptly leave the ground.

"Wimp," Ryan chides affectionately, kissing my ear.

"So? What's your point?" I ask when I finally regain my composure.

"Who said I had a point?" Ryan replies.

I say nothing in response and snuggle closer to Ryan. I simply want to be near him. I suppose I just need some reassurance after last night. I've never been so intimate with another person before.

Ryan senses this.

"I love you," he says, "And I don't regret a thing."

"Me neither," I reply gratefully. I tilt my head and kiss him full on the lips. He complies (of course) but he breaks it off a bit sooner then I'd like, laughing like a happy child.

"I still have to operate this thing, you know," Ryan explains. I peek out of the face guard and see the Crusade about a kilometer away. Now I can ask.

"Are you okay?" I whisper. I've waited long enough for the shock to have worn offI think. I hope, anyway.

"I'm fine," Ryan replies, his cheery voice sounding almost genuine. I say nothing else, keeping my word. Ryan can have his silence.

"Landing time," Ryan says after a few seconds. Automatically I bring my knees up to my chin, feeling the gel slide over my body. It makes me shiver. Suddenly there's a hard jarring and I feel Ryan's body straighten as he lands. Then everything is quiet.

"Still a few kinks?" I ask sarcastically.

" I'd like to see you fix an Alseides," Ryan retorts. Then a slight buzzing can be heard and the purple gel disappears, much to my relief.

"I'm not wet!" I observe unbelievedly, standing up.

"Not yet. Just you wait," Ryan says in an oily (albeit sexy) sounding voice.

"Ryan!" I exclaim, catching onto his meaning. I feel my cheeks turn pink.

"Oh Hitomi," Ryan complains, "You and your morals."

"I have morals?" I ask. Two can play this game. I just hope I can hold my ground.

"Up until last night," is his reply. Then Ryan hits a button and the control chamber pops open, almost causing me to fall out of the guymelef. Of course, Ryan knew it would happen and catches me around the waist, laughing extremely loudly.

"I hate you," I state, fixing a stern frown upon him. But I can't keep my eyes from smiling.

"Damn, knew it wouldn't last," he says. Ryan then jumps down from the Alseides and hits the ground most gracefully. He turns on his heel and smiles up at me.

"I can see up your skirt," he says with a knavish grin.

"Oh yes, and white cotton panties are such a turn on," I say with a roll of my eyes.

"Only when they're yours," Ryan replies.

"Pervert." I say with a smile.

"Damn straight," Ryan says. He lifts his hands up tinto the air. "Now get down here. I want a kiss."

"Are you going to catch me?" I ask coyishly.

"Can't get a kiss if I don't," Ryan points out.

"Good poi—"

"HITOMI!" Allen's voice rings out. It startles me and with a shriek I trip fall off the guymelef. Luckily Ryan was already prepared for such happenings and catches me. Again.

"Graceful," he comments, though his eyes are still wide with alarm.

"Iso,"I say in a very breathy voice. I feel the fear in my veins starting to ebb. Ryan turns around sharply, facing a wide-eyed Allen. He doesn't seem to notice that I'm still in his arms. Probably a good thing since I'm shaking horribly.

"And just what in the hell where you thinking?" Ryan asks, his eyes blazing.

Allen blinks. "I'm sorry, I didn't think—"

"Exactly!" Ryan interrupts, "You didn't think!"

"Well," Allen begins, then shakes his head, "Never mind. My apologies. Hitomi, we need your help. Van won't come out of Escaflowne!"

"WHAT?"

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Dilandau: That certainly was a pitiful attempt at a cliffhanger.

rainjewel: It wasn't a cliffhangerI just got finger cramps and ran out of ideas.

Dilandau: Uh-huh. *rolls eyes*

Allen: Hey! Why do I get the short end of the stick? I'm a Knight Caeli! I don't run around screaming!

Dilandau: Oh shut up, you're still alive.

rainjewel: So you don't scream? Well, then what was that whole thing last night when you were running around belting out Madonna's "Like A Virgin" at the top of your lungs?

Allen: I was singing, not screaming!

Dilandau: Could have fooled me.

rainjewel: *shakes head and walks away mumbling*

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