Disclaimer: Dammit, I don't own them.

A/N: M'kay….my story is Alternative-ish. Hitomi is 21 in my story. That includes Dilandau, Van and the Dragonslayers. I really don't care about everyone else….I'll just give them an age when the time comes.


Seasons of Loneliness
By Blue Shakira



Chapter Two: Rivalry

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+Gaea+

He ran his fingers down the scar on the right side of his face. He growled inwardly.

The rain hadn't stopped.

He wore his full armor this morning. As usual, it was the color red but this time it was covered by a black cape he chose to wear.

'Dammit. Why is it still raining?' he wondered..

He leaned against the wall, waiting for HIM to arrive. He looked at the rain falling down again.

"Go away," he mumbled to the rain. Even though he stood outside, he was shielded from the pouring water. However, he could still feel a cold breeze passing through the pathway. That was the second thing he hated next to rain because it reminded him that he always felt cold.

'What's taking HIM so long?' He thought angrily. 'I need to get away from this stupid weather!'

"Commander, the king is here," a blond man spoke up.

He looked up, startled. He had forgotten all about Chesta.

"Oh," he simply replied. His gaze fell to the young man walking towards them. He traced his scar. 'Damn, even after all these years I still can't forget that YOU made this mark on my face. Damn you!'

The other man stopped a few feet in front of him. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of him tracing his scar. "You're still holding a grudge," he asked, which sounded more like a statement.

"I don't know, I think it makes me look more attractive. All the girls continue to fall at my feet," he replied.

The other man narrowed his eyes. "Well…..SHE wouldn't have fallen in love with someone like you," he said, with sarcasm in his voice.

"We didn't come here to discuss about that," he retorted. "Tell me what is so important that you would like to speak to me about, Van Fanel, King of Fanelia."

Van hesitated. "It was Folken's idea," he began. "If I had another alternative I wouldn't be here…."

Van was now irritating him more than the rain. "Don't you think I feel the same way about this situation," he snapped. "Just tell me what the hell you want to say so we can get over with this."

The dark haired man frowned. "I'm in need of your assistance….and that of your Dragonslayers," he said.

"What kind of assistance?"

"I need bodyguards."

"You're joking, right?"

"I am not joking, Dilandau. Someone tried to kill me last week during a ceremony that was held outside the palace."

"What? And here I thought you could take care of yourself," Dilandau smirked.

"Well, I'd like to thank you for that. Constantly fighting with you helped improve my skills greatly," Van said, nonchalantly.

Dilandau didn't know how to take that last remark. "Indeed it did," he replied. "However, I believe you just wasted my time. I lead a group of warriors, not escorts. My Dragonslayers are not meant to be Fanelian bodyguards. This conversation is over. Chesta, fetch my horse."

"Yes, sir," Chesta saluted. He ran to get his commander's horse after being dismissed.

"You still don't know why I'm asking for YOUR help and no one else's," Van began.

Dilandau had his backed turned to the Fanelian king. "I'm not interested," he growled.

"Hmph….You're still and arrogant ass, aren't you," Van said.

"And….you're not," Dilandau snapped.

"I never said I wasn't," Van said lightly. He paused. "You know, I finally figured out why you hate me so much…."

Dilandau gritted his teeth. He was fighting all his strength to control his anger.

Van frowned, "It all began three years ago….For a long time, I thought it was because of that scar on your face. You seemed to really hate me for that. But then I began to notice the way you looked at Hitomi. I ignored it at first….but each time you saw her, there was something burning in your eyes. And, I could almost read your thoughts….."

The silver haired man turned to face him. "How would you know what is in my mind," Dilandau said, angrily.

Van shrugged. "Maybe because we shared the same feelings for one woman," he responded.

"What does that have to do with me hating you," Dilandau barked.

"That's easy. You were jealous that she paid more attention to me," Van said, sardonically. "You were angry that she belonged to me and not you!"

Dilandau grabbed Van by the front of his shirt and lifted him above his head. "If that was true then why did she leave Gaea? She left you, Van! Why is it? Tell me?!" he demanded and threw him to the ground.

The young king stared at the ground, while Dilandau tried to control his temper. A few seconds passed by and neither had said a word. Van stood up from the ground and glared the silver-haired general. He was about to say something but he was interrupted.

"Lord Dilandau," Chesta shouted, arriving with the general's white horse.

Dilandau turned to leave.

"This is not over yet, Dilandau," Van uttered.

"Of course not," Dilandau found himself saying as he walked away.

Van frowned, "Hitomi will return and then I'll prove to you that I'm the man whom she really loves."

"Most likely," Dilandau said inaudibly. 'Because she will never forgive me….'

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A/N: Sorry for making this chapter short. And yes, a lot of you already guessed who the mystery guy is. After reading this chapter there no doubt about it….Oh, Please R & R.