Chapter 23- This is How
"Never made is as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
And this is how you remind me
of what I really am
This is how you remind me..."
"Sit down," Folken spoke his voice in pure monotone, as he shoved the young Zaibach general onto his throne.
Dilandau's eyes were wild with rage, and he growled in fury and threw himself at the Stratagos.
"I said sit DOWN."
Dilandau's head slammed against the high back of the chair this time, knocking him almost senseless.
"Now," Folken spoke crossing his arms, "will you control yourself or do I have to send you back to the sorcerers?"
Dilandau's eyes widened and he shook his head violently. When he spoke his voice was strained and hoarse. "I'm going after her Folken. And there's no way it the nine hells anyone's going to stop me. Not you, not Dornkirk, and not those goddamn sorcerers. "I'll fucking kill you, all of you..."
"Why?" Folken asked simply.
"Why??" Dilandau exclaimed, "WHY?? Because they took her! She's MINE and they took her and I'm going to burn their hold fucking COUNTRY to the ground if that's what it takes!! They'll all pay, I'll fucking kill them ALL!!! Why the Hell ELSE would I??"
"And that's all she is to you then, Dilandau? A possession? A thing that belongs only to you?" Folken chuckled but there was no humor in his voice, "I shouldn't be surprised I suppose. Those sorcerer beat practically every emotion besides anger and bloodlust from you that you can't even recognize love when it throws you to the ground and kicks dirt in your face."
Dilandau's pupils contracted, and the red of his iris's seemed to flash with an inner heat. A low chuckle escaped his lips. "well..." he spoke finally, "that does change things somewhat..."
"Does it?" Folken inquired, his icy glare boring down on the silver haired general. But fire is ice's match.
"Yes," Dilandau answered, his lips spreading into a maniacal grin as his chuckle grew into a madman's cackle that echoed off the walls of the throne room
*****
It was white darkness. That was the only way to describe it. And it was giving her a headache. Celena groaned trying to roll over, to bring the black back again, but it hurt. It hurt to move, to breath. It even hurt to think.
"Damn it," she cursed, and began the long and painful process of opening her eyes. The over head lights of the medic ward bore down on her with its overly intense artificial light. Celena blinked trying to get her eyes to stop tearing and blurring.
Slowly the pain dulled as she moved and shewas able to pull herself to a sitting position and looked around. The room appeared to be entirely vacant. Well, almost entirely, a cot not to far from her own seemed to occupied. Celena frowned, looking at the blanketed form hard and gasped.
"Gatti!" she exclaimed, climbing out of her own cot and rushing over to the unconscious Dragonslayer. She pulled the white blanket back from him. His face had lost a good amount of color. 'Oh gods please don't tell me he's...' she pressed her ear to his bare chest. Relife washed over Celena's body as the dull thud of his heart beat pounded gently in her ear.
"Oh Gatti," she murmured, running the tips of her fingers across his cheek. The Dragonslayer stirred then causing Celena's sapphire eyes to widen slightly.
"Hey that tickles," he muttered, opening his eyes. Immediately he shut them groaning at the unwelcome light. Celena laughed softly.
"Looks like your not much better off then I am," she remarked as Gatti pulled himself up. Bandages encircled across his chest and halfway down his arm. A dull tint of red could be seen where the bandages covered the place connecting his shoulder blade.
"Yeh," he agreed, moving his arm slightly to test how much damage there was to it, and winced, "he really gave it too me, I think my arm's broken."
"I don't doubt it...gods Gatti, what were you thinking!" Celena exclaimed suddenly, anger flooding her face, "You should have known better then to even remain in the same ROOM with Dilandau when he's like that. You could have gotten yourself killed!!"
"Yeh...I know..."Gatti sighed smiling, "but you could have to you know, facing off with Lord Dilandau like that. You're crazy!"
Celena giggled, but drew a sharp breath suddenly realizing how close her face was to Gatti's, now almost deathly serious.
"Celena..." he began, "I'm...I'm so sorry I put you in that position," the Dragonslayer looked away, "I should have been the one protecting you..."
"No!" Celena placed a hand on Gatti's cheek drawing his eyes back to her own, "Don't say that Gatti! I'm responsible for my own actions, and I don't need anyone looking out for me!" She blushed seeing Gatti's slightly surprised face.
"So..." she spoke softly smiling up into the slayer's pale blue eyes, "are you going to kiss me or what?"
Gatti blinked, his eyes widening momentarily. But he laughed returning Celena's warm smile and touched his lips gently to hers.
Almost instantly Celena felt a warmth spread throughout her body. She felt like she'd been locked in a cold cellar for years and now she had finally been let out into the sunlight. She sighed, moving her arms around Gatti's neck, mindful of his injured shoulder, her lips deepening the kiss.
She felt Gatti's tongue slip passed her lips timidly, exploring her mouth, and his hand ran up her back, massaging her neck and shoulders. She in turn moved her hand up into his beige hair, running her fingers through it.
The two lovers drew apart then, both taking in a needed breath of air. Gatti pressed his forehead against Celena's running a thumb over her bottom lip.
"Gods Celena," he whispered kissing the corner of her mouth, "I love you."
Celena felt her eyes well up with tears and she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Oh Gatti," she breathed, "I love you too!" She eveloped herself in his warm embrace, wish they could stay like that forever, and forget the wars. Forget the battles...forget...
"Well well, isn't this precious..."
Celena's eyes widened, darting towards the doorway, and she gasped. She felt Gatti's hands on her shoulders tense in the same reaction.
"Lord Dilandau..." he said, acknowledging his commander, while at the same time stepping front of Celena, his hand clutching her own.
Dilandau smirked, stepping into the room, his arms crossed, and a dark look in his eyes. The door shut with a rush of air behind him. "What a charming little interlude I seemed to have interrupted. Perhaps I should come back at a more convenient time? Hmm?" His garnet eyes dared Gatti to agree with him, but the Dragonslayer shook his head almost immediately.
"No sir," despite the fear Celena could easily make out in his pale blue eyes, Gatti voice never faltered.
Dilandau nodded, a pleased expression crossing his face. "I've been told you have a fractured collar bone and a mild laceration across your right shoulder..."
Gatti nodded curtly. He didn't know exactly if that was true but it felt right at least. Except for the "mild" part anyway. It didn't matter though, it was best now, if ever, to just agree with whatever Dilandau might have to say. Maybe then he'd be able to get Celena and himself out of this unscathed...or less-so that is.
"I trust you're still capable of piloting your Guymelef?" It was more a statement then a question.
"I believe so sir, I might not be able to operate in hand to hand combat very well, but I should be able to use the crimaclaws easily enough," He said despite Celena's hand tightening around his own. He could see her out the corner of his eyes, her own pleading with him. But her's wasn't an option.
"Good," Dilandau's grin made the Dragonslayer uneasy all the same. "Very well then, you are to report to the common room. The other slayers should be gathering there now and I'll be with you shortly."
"Yes sir," Gatti nodded, quickly heading for the door and pulling Celena along with him.
They were halfway out when Dilandau's hands shot out suddenly, gripping both of their wrists and pulling them apart. "Not you," Dilandau spoke softly glaring down at Celena, "we need to have a little chat."
Celena felt her heart race as she stared up into the silver haired general's dark eyes. Dark eyes to mask dark thoughts.
"But sir I-" Gatti began to object, but was immediately cut off.
"Do I need to repeat myself Gatti?" Dilandau demanded quietly, his sharp gaze tuning on the slayer.
Celena could see the torn look on Gatti's face. 'No....I won't let him do this, not now...'
"Gatti, go..." she said, pleading him silently with her eyes. It hadn't worked before but it would now, "It's all right." She only mouthed the last part, 'please?'
Gatti fists were balled but he nodded then, defeated, turning his back to her. The door slid closed behind him as he walked away, not daring to look back.
****
Celena was focusing mainly on trying to control her breathing when she noticed Dilandau's gloved hand still encircling her wrist. "You wanted to talk to me about something Dilandau?" she asked raising her head to meet his eyes.
She was rewarded as he backhanded her, sending her in recoil a few steps backward.
"Lord Dilandau," she corrected herself, rubbing her burning cheek.
"I've made a discovery," Dilandau stated bluntly, taking a step toward his blue eyed counterpart.
"Oh...have you?" she answered step back a step.
"Yes," a step forward, "I've discovered something that, while true, has proved to be a problem to me in that past few weeks. As it turns out I'm not as immune to emotion as I thought I was. As it turns out I can fall in love just like any average idiot."
A step back, "It's not quite that hard to believe Lord Dilandau, after all you're only human..."
A step forward. "Yes, and a shame the person I had to fall in love with had to take off to some godforsaken country. A shame that now I have go burn that country to the ground..." Dilandau smiled, "Well, maybe not quite such a shame..."
A step back. "Dilandau...have you ever stopped to consider why she left? Maybe Serryn doesn't love you!" Celena shook her head, "Maybe? What am I thinking? How COULD she love you, Dilandau?? Look what you've done to her! You've made that girl's life a living hell and you expect her to share your feelings?? How can you possibly think that way?" Her back was against the wall now and Dilandau's hands rested on either side of her head.
"Life's tough...I had to learn that the hard way, you had to learn that the hard way, and now SHE'S gonna learn it the hard way. But you see, Celena," his words dripped venom as he spoke her name, "the unfortunate thing is that we've been planning to siege the capital of Cala for months, and now the enemy will be expecting us..." Dilandau gripped her jawbone, smiling maliciously. "Now sister..." he said pouring as much sarcasm into the word as he possibly could, "the problem isn't taking the city, I have enough reinforcements for that, the problem is getting the little princess out alive and unharmed..."
Celena jerked her chin our of the silver haired general's grip, "I know what you're thinking and you can forget it! I will not help you deceive her Dilandau! I will never help you ruin another innocent girl's life!!" She cried, fury raging in her sapphire eyes.
Dilandau chuckled, his hand shooting out to grip Celena's neck in an almost suffocating grasp. "Oh I think you will Celena..." She cringed feeling his lips graze her cheek. She didn't know he had a syringe in his other hand until he stabbed it into her shoulder. And then she didn't know anything as blackness crawled upon her like sinking into a bottomless tar pit.
****
200 reviews!! YAYAYA!! I did it I made it to 200! And the story's not even over! ::giggles insanely:: Thankyou thankyou to all you wonderful beautiful fans out there I love you ALL!!! ::blows kisses::
Well, anyway, on with the commentary! There it is peeps the next chapter! And I must say I am quite pleased with the way this one turned out. Much better then I had planned it. Don't cha love those last minute brilliant ideas that kinda just sneak up and grab you by the ankles??? Hell you bet I do!! Maybe its from having rekindled my love for my Dilly-sama by watching the first Esca vol. and FFing to all the good Dilandau parts....or maybe the OD on halloween candy...ahhh who knows maybe I'm just a genius ne?? Anywho, yes I know you're all thinking "where's Serryn??" but don't worry you'll find out soon enough what's going down wit da home girl as we near the climax of my wonderful story ::hears a chorus of gasps:: Yes people, the climax! the big part of the story where all the action takes place right before the ending!! ::hears a larger and louder chorus of gasps:: what?? did you guys think this fic was just gonna go on and on and on?? well you thought...RIGHT!! although this fic is in fact nearing its ending, a sequel is in thought process right now, as I think I referred to before in an earlier chapter. And believe me, this plot hasn't happened in any Dilandau fic I know of! well, at least not to this extent...ok I'll quit with the teasers and let you guys suffer on your own! ::evil cackle:: Oh on one last note I'm thinking about starting an Escaflowne RPG perhaps sometime in December during Christmas break ((cuz i know I'll never have time for it other wise, work school school work...blabla...)) but I would need to see of course who else might be interested. I, of course, will be playing Dilandau (my RP, first dibs ::blows razzberries::) but any other wanted positions from the anime is available, so those of you who are interested just give me a buzz at WiteIris13@aol.com so I can see if there's enough people to get this thing going! Well that's it, and I know I've said this before but MAN was this a/n long!! ^^;
~Sarah~
"Never made is as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
And this is how you remind me
of what I really am
This is how you remind me..."
"Sit down," Folken spoke his voice in pure monotone, as he shoved the young Zaibach general onto his throne.
Dilandau's eyes were wild with rage, and he growled in fury and threw himself at the Stratagos.
"I said sit DOWN."
Dilandau's head slammed against the high back of the chair this time, knocking him almost senseless.
"Now," Folken spoke crossing his arms, "will you control yourself or do I have to send you back to the sorcerers?"
Dilandau's eyes widened and he shook his head violently. When he spoke his voice was strained and hoarse. "I'm going after her Folken. And there's no way it the nine hells anyone's going to stop me. Not you, not Dornkirk, and not those goddamn sorcerers. "I'll fucking kill you, all of you..."
"Why?" Folken asked simply.
"Why??" Dilandau exclaimed, "WHY?? Because they took her! She's MINE and they took her and I'm going to burn their hold fucking COUNTRY to the ground if that's what it takes!! They'll all pay, I'll fucking kill them ALL!!! Why the Hell ELSE would I??"
"And that's all she is to you then, Dilandau? A possession? A thing that belongs only to you?" Folken chuckled but there was no humor in his voice, "I shouldn't be surprised I suppose. Those sorcerer beat practically every emotion besides anger and bloodlust from you that you can't even recognize love when it throws you to the ground and kicks dirt in your face."
Dilandau's pupils contracted, and the red of his iris's seemed to flash with an inner heat. A low chuckle escaped his lips. "well..." he spoke finally, "that does change things somewhat..."
"Does it?" Folken inquired, his icy glare boring down on the silver haired general. But fire is ice's match.
"Yes," Dilandau answered, his lips spreading into a maniacal grin as his chuckle grew into a madman's cackle that echoed off the walls of the throne room
*****
It was white darkness. That was the only way to describe it. And it was giving her a headache. Celena groaned trying to roll over, to bring the black back again, but it hurt. It hurt to move, to breath. It even hurt to think.
"Damn it," she cursed, and began the long and painful process of opening her eyes. The over head lights of the medic ward bore down on her with its overly intense artificial light. Celena blinked trying to get her eyes to stop tearing and blurring.
Slowly the pain dulled as she moved and shewas able to pull herself to a sitting position and looked around. The room appeared to be entirely vacant. Well, almost entirely, a cot not to far from her own seemed to occupied. Celena frowned, looking at the blanketed form hard and gasped.
"Gatti!" she exclaimed, climbing out of her own cot and rushing over to the unconscious Dragonslayer. She pulled the white blanket back from him. His face had lost a good amount of color. 'Oh gods please don't tell me he's...' she pressed her ear to his bare chest. Relife washed over Celena's body as the dull thud of his heart beat pounded gently in her ear.
"Oh Gatti," she murmured, running the tips of her fingers across his cheek. The Dragonslayer stirred then causing Celena's sapphire eyes to widen slightly.
"Hey that tickles," he muttered, opening his eyes. Immediately he shut them groaning at the unwelcome light. Celena laughed softly.
"Looks like your not much better off then I am," she remarked as Gatti pulled himself up. Bandages encircled across his chest and halfway down his arm. A dull tint of red could be seen where the bandages covered the place connecting his shoulder blade.
"Yeh," he agreed, moving his arm slightly to test how much damage there was to it, and winced, "he really gave it too me, I think my arm's broken."
"I don't doubt it...gods Gatti, what were you thinking!" Celena exclaimed suddenly, anger flooding her face, "You should have known better then to even remain in the same ROOM with Dilandau when he's like that. You could have gotten yourself killed!!"
"Yeh...I know..."Gatti sighed smiling, "but you could have to you know, facing off with Lord Dilandau like that. You're crazy!"
Celena giggled, but drew a sharp breath suddenly realizing how close her face was to Gatti's, now almost deathly serious.
"Celena..." he began, "I'm...I'm so sorry I put you in that position," the Dragonslayer looked away, "I should have been the one protecting you..."
"No!" Celena placed a hand on Gatti's cheek drawing his eyes back to her own, "Don't say that Gatti! I'm responsible for my own actions, and I don't need anyone looking out for me!" She blushed seeing Gatti's slightly surprised face.
"So..." she spoke softly smiling up into the slayer's pale blue eyes, "are you going to kiss me or what?"
Gatti blinked, his eyes widening momentarily. But he laughed returning Celena's warm smile and touched his lips gently to hers.
Almost instantly Celena felt a warmth spread throughout her body. She felt like she'd been locked in a cold cellar for years and now she had finally been let out into the sunlight. She sighed, moving her arms around Gatti's neck, mindful of his injured shoulder, her lips deepening the kiss.
She felt Gatti's tongue slip passed her lips timidly, exploring her mouth, and his hand ran up her back, massaging her neck and shoulders. She in turn moved her hand up into his beige hair, running her fingers through it.
The two lovers drew apart then, both taking in a needed breath of air. Gatti pressed his forehead against Celena's running a thumb over her bottom lip.
"Gods Celena," he whispered kissing the corner of her mouth, "I love you."
Celena felt her eyes well up with tears and she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Oh Gatti," she breathed, "I love you too!" She eveloped herself in his warm embrace, wish they could stay like that forever, and forget the wars. Forget the battles...forget...
"Well well, isn't this precious..."
Celena's eyes widened, darting towards the doorway, and she gasped. She felt Gatti's hands on her shoulders tense in the same reaction.
"Lord Dilandau..." he said, acknowledging his commander, while at the same time stepping front of Celena, his hand clutching her own.
Dilandau smirked, stepping into the room, his arms crossed, and a dark look in his eyes. The door shut with a rush of air behind him. "What a charming little interlude I seemed to have interrupted. Perhaps I should come back at a more convenient time? Hmm?" His garnet eyes dared Gatti to agree with him, but the Dragonslayer shook his head almost immediately.
"No sir," despite the fear Celena could easily make out in his pale blue eyes, Gatti voice never faltered.
Dilandau nodded, a pleased expression crossing his face. "I've been told you have a fractured collar bone and a mild laceration across your right shoulder..."
Gatti nodded curtly. He didn't know exactly if that was true but it felt right at least. Except for the "mild" part anyway. It didn't matter though, it was best now, if ever, to just agree with whatever Dilandau might have to say. Maybe then he'd be able to get Celena and himself out of this unscathed...or less-so that is.
"I trust you're still capable of piloting your Guymelef?" It was more a statement then a question.
"I believe so sir, I might not be able to operate in hand to hand combat very well, but I should be able to use the crimaclaws easily enough," He said despite Celena's hand tightening around his own. He could see her out the corner of his eyes, her own pleading with him. But her's wasn't an option.
"Good," Dilandau's grin made the Dragonslayer uneasy all the same. "Very well then, you are to report to the common room. The other slayers should be gathering there now and I'll be with you shortly."
"Yes sir," Gatti nodded, quickly heading for the door and pulling Celena along with him.
They were halfway out when Dilandau's hands shot out suddenly, gripping both of their wrists and pulling them apart. "Not you," Dilandau spoke softly glaring down at Celena, "we need to have a little chat."
Celena felt her heart race as she stared up into the silver haired general's dark eyes. Dark eyes to mask dark thoughts.
"But sir I-" Gatti began to object, but was immediately cut off.
"Do I need to repeat myself Gatti?" Dilandau demanded quietly, his sharp gaze tuning on the slayer.
Celena could see the torn look on Gatti's face. 'No....I won't let him do this, not now...'
"Gatti, go..." she said, pleading him silently with her eyes. It hadn't worked before but it would now, "It's all right." She only mouthed the last part, 'please?'
Gatti fists were balled but he nodded then, defeated, turning his back to her. The door slid closed behind him as he walked away, not daring to look back.
****
Celena was focusing mainly on trying to control her breathing when she noticed Dilandau's gloved hand still encircling her wrist. "You wanted to talk to me about something Dilandau?" she asked raising her head to meet his eyes.
She was rewarded as he backhanded her, sending her in recoil a few steps backward.
"Lord Dilandau," she corrected herself, rubbing her burning cheek.
"I've made a discovery," Dilandau stated bluntly, taking a step toward his blue eyed counterpart.
"Oh...have you?" she answered step back a step.
"Yes," a step forward, "I've discovered something that, while true, has proved to be a problem to me in that past few weeks. As it turns out I'm not as immune to emotion as I thought I was. As it turns out I can fall in love just like any average idiot."
A step back, "It's not quite that hard to believe Lord Dilandau, after all you're only human..."
A step forward. "Yes, and a shame the person I had to fall in love with had to take off to some godforsaken country. A shame that now I have go burn that country to the ground..." Dilandau smiled, "Well, maybe not quite such a shame..."
A step back. "Dilandau...have you ever stopped to consider why she left? Maybe Serryn doesn't love you!" Celena shook her head, "Maybe? What am I thinking? How COULD she love you, Dilandau?? Look what you've done to her! You've made that girl's life a living hell and you expect her to share your feelings?? How can you possibly think that way?" Her back was against the wall now and Dilandau's hands rested on either side of her head.
"Life's tough...I had to learn that the hard way, you had to learn that the hard way, and now SHE'S gonna learn it the hard way. But you see, Celena," his words dripped venom as he spoke her name, "the unfortunate thing is that we've been planning to siege the capital of Cala for months, and now the enemy will be expecting us..." Dilandau gripped her jawbone, smiling maliciously. "Now sister..." he said pouring as much sarcasm into the word as he possibly could, "the problem isn't taking the city, I have enough reinforcements for that, the problem is getting the little princess out alive and unharmed..."
Celena jerked her chin our of the silver haired general's grip, "I know what you're thinking and you can forget it! I will not help you deceive her Dilandau! I will never help you ruin another innocent girl's life!!" She cried, fury raging in her sapphire eyes.
Dilandau chuckled, his hand shooting out to grip Celena's neck in an almost suffocating grasp. "Oh I think you will Celena..." She cringed feeling his lips graze her cheek. She didn't know he had a syringe in his other hand until he stabbed it into her shoulder. And then she didn't know anything as blackness crawled upon her like sinking into a bottomless tar pit.
****
200 reviews!! YAYAYA!! I did it I made it to 200! And the story's not even over! ::giggles insanely:: Thankyou thankyou to all you wonderful beautiful fans out there I love you ALL!!! ::blows kisses::
Well, anyway, on with the commentary! There it is peeps the next chapter! And I must say I am quite pleased with the way this one turned out. Much better then I had planned it. Don't cha love those last minute brilliant ideas that kinda just sneak up and grab you by the ankles??? Hell you bet I do!! Maybe its from having rekindled my love for my Dilly-sama by watching the first Esca vol. and FFing to all the good Dilandau parts....or maybe the OD on halloween candy...ahhh who knows maybe I'm just a genius ne?? Anywho, yes I know you're all thinking "where's Serryn??" but don't worry you'll find out soon enough what's going down wit da home girl as we near the climax of my wonderful story ::hears a chorus of gasps:: Yes people, the climax! the big part of the story where all the action takes place right before the ending!! ::hears a larger and louder chorus of gasps:: what?? did you guys think this fic was just gonna go on and on and on?? well you thought...RIGHT!! although this fic is in fact nearing its ending, a sequel is in thought process right now, as I think I referred to before in an earlier chapter. And believe me, this plot hasn't happened in any Dilandau fic I know of! well, at least not to this extent...ok I'll quit with the teasers and let you guys suffer on your own! ::evil cackle:: Oh on one last note I'm thinking about starting an Escaflowne RPG perhaps sometime in December during Christmas break ((cuz i know I'll never have time for it other wise, work school school work...blabla...)) but I would need to see of course who else might be interested. I, of course, will be playing Dilandau (my RP, first dibs ::blows razzberries::) but any other wanted positions from the anime is available, so those of you who are interested just give me a buzz at WiteIris13@aol.com so I can see if there's enough people to get this thing going! Well that's it, and I know I've said this before but MAN was this a/n long!! ^^;
~Sarah~
