Disclaimer: Dammit, I don't own them.

A/N: Sorry about the confusion, Yuki is Yukari. I forgot to mention that in the last chapter. I got a surprise in this chapter….ok, so it might not be a surprised but I know that a lot you are looking forward to it (or not but I'm the author so nothing can be done about it). Some of you might want to have a house phone or cell phone or anything that you could use to call 911 in case you get a heart attack or something. *grinning evilly*

Seasons of Loneliness
By Blue Shakira


Chapter Four: The Handsome Stranger

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+Some unknown place….+

The room was dark, vast in space, but empty like an abandoned house….the only exception was a large throne chair that stood in the middle of the bareness. It was made out of gold, with a strange design of a griffin on both armrests being the only decoration visible. On the chair sat a man with long red hair tied in a ponytail. He would be considered handsome if it weren't for the cold look on his face.

He waved his hand nonchalantly and a window with an image in it appeared in front of him. He studied the young woman that emerged in the image. She was of average height with a swan like neck and strong legs. She had short, sandy blond hair that framed her lovely face, but what made her more attractive were her beautiful emerald eyes. He quickly took notice of the hidden curves underneath her light blue dress.

A smile spread on his lips. 'Not bad,' he thought.

He became aware of a young child in her arms. His hair was soft, like his mother, only his was silver. His skin complexion was pale making it hard to believe that they were mother and son. But his eyes made up for that. He had the same color eyes as hers….large emerald eyes filled with life. However, there was no doubt that he would look like his father when her grows older.

"So this is thechild I've been looking for," the man mused. He glanced at the woman. "The general has good taste." He studied her one last time, then he waved his hand and the image disappeared.

He stood up from his throne.

"Let's have some fun," he murmured.

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+Earth+

Hitomi held her son closer as he began to sleep of exhaustion. They had spent at least two hours at the park and he was already tired from all the excitement.

"Time to go home," she whispered. She was tired herself but she had promised Yuki that she would help her bake cookies. No matter how many times she showed Yuki how to bake, the younger girl always ended up burning something.

She chuckled. "Let's hope she doesn't burn anything today."

She was about to place Julian in his stroller when a deep masculine voice called out her name.

"Hitomi Kanzaki," it called.

Hitomi twirled, with her child still in her arms. She was surprised to see a man with long red hair tied in a ponytail floating in midair. He wore something similar to a black robe. He was handsome in a strange way but his expression was cold and his purple eyes didn't help much either.

"Hitomi Kanzaki," he repeated quietly once again.

She took a few steps back. "Who are you," she asked, trying to show no fear. There was something evil about this man.

"I am Lord Vladimir, my lady," he answered with a bow. He looked intently at her. "And you, my dear, are much more lovelier in person."

Hitomi felt herself blush. "Wh-what do you want," she asked, still not trusting this stranger.

Vladimir cocked his head to one side. "What makes you think I want something," he asked her. When she didn't answer, he paused to think for a moment. After a few seconds of thought, his feet touched the ground.

"Why do you fear me, my lady," he finally said. He took a step towards her.

"I-I don't know," she stammered.

"I will not harm you," he whispered getting close to her.

Hitomi flinched as his hand reached out to stroke her face. She took a few steps back.

"You fear me," he asked, amusingly.

"Please, go away," she said.

Vladimir shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't, my lady."

Hitomi felt her heart beating faster.

"You were right," he began. "You have something that could be useful to me…."

"I don't have anything useful for you," she said hotly.

"Ah….but you do." He came closer to her. "

"I don't understand," she whispered.

"Oh, it's nothing much….I just want you to hand over the son of Dilandau," he said, stroking his chin. (Author: SURPRISE! Bhuahahahaha! *stops and looks around* Oh, er….sorry about that…)

Hitomi's eyes widen with fear. 'How did he know who Julian's father was?' "No," she whimpered, holding her son closer to her chest.

"Don't waste your life, my lady," he said smoothly. "Just hand me the child….and no harm will come to you."

"Never," she cried.

"I don't want to hurt you," Vladimir said, softly. "But I will if you do not cooperate."

Hitomi shook her head. "You will not have my son!"

Vladimir narrowed his eyes. "Do not defy me," he hissed. "I asked you kindly…."

Hitomi didn't let him finish. She had turned and started to run away from him.

"Foolish girl," Vladimir shook his head. He teleported in front of her before she could get further away. Hitomi gasped when she saw him in front of her. She held her son tighter.

"Like I said, I asked you kindly….," he said, his tone filled with anger. He pulled out his sword from his back and had the end of the blade pointing at Hitomi's neck.

"Hand the child over," he demanded.

Hitomi shook her hear furiously.

"Fine, have it your way," he hissed. He raised his sword above her head. "You are lovely….to bad I have to dispose of you."

Hitomi was about to close her eyes but she heard her son begin to cry. He clutched on her shirt. He seemed scared.

'I will not let him take you,' she promised her son.

"This is your last chance," Vladimir warned her.

Hitomi held her son closer and shut her eyes.

'Someone…..help…..'

She felt the pendant around her neck begin to glow. It moved from underneath her shirt and became noticeable. 'My pendant….'she thought.

Vladimir looked up only to find Hitomi and her son being lifted into the light. He noticed that the strange pendant around her neck was glowing.

"What is this," he growled.

As he prepared to strike, a strange light began to push him away from Hitomi and her son. He flew a couple feet back. Seconds later he found himself trying to get up but something was holding him back.

'Interesting,' he thought. 'She's using the pendant against me….'

He looked up at Hitomi and her son. He just smiled and waited. Once they were high enough they began to fade away with the light.

When everything was finished, Vladimir stood up from his position.

"Very good, my lady," he said, calmly. "You have gone to the one place I need you and your son to be…."

He looked up at the sky.

"Gaea," he exclaimed softly.

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A/N: For all of you who have read my other fic Angels of Destiny, you will notice that I'm using one of the villains from that story. I couldn't think of a new villain, so I was being lazy and just used Vladimir in this story also. I changed his personality though….he's not insane like in AOD. By the way…..THERE, I SAID IT! DILANDAU IS THE FATHER!!!!! FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T FIGURE IT OUT, YOU NOW HAVE THAT INFORMATION! *clears throat* Anyway, Read and Review please.