~~~~IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!! READ THIS BEFORE YOU READ THE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~~
now that i have your attention, i just realized that i have forgotten a very crucial detail. It has come to my realization that i didn't tell you that the sorcerers have attempted to resurrect Folken, but failed in a weird way. They weren't able to fully revive him, so instead of being a full human, he is kinda like a ghost/holographic image. He can talk and listen and move around, but is, well, like a ghost. Since he is unable to rule Zaibach (obviously), he is now kind of like Dilandau's advisor, as Dilandau will most definately need help in his new position.
Miguel watched as Dilandau studied the stars from his side of the fire, and couldn't help but feel an ache in his heart. *Hitomi truly does love Lord Dilandau. I can almost feel their love radiating from them. Hitomi may never know about my feelings for her, but maybe it's best that way.* He picked at the fire with a stick, then layed back and closed his eyes.
Dilandau finally looked down from his gaze at the sky. "Hitomi, you'll be okay. I don't know what to do, but I'll be d*mned if you leave my side again. I wish Van would hurry up and get here." He laughed softly. "I never in my life thought I would ever say something like that. Strange,
how under the right circumstances, enemies can become allies." He leaned his chin on top of her head. "Even if it's only temporary." He stared into the fire, feeling her heart beating against his chest at the same time of his. He felt her heart suddenly speed up, and she gasped in a breath as her eyes opened and she looked up at him. A small, weak smile crossed her lips at the concerned look on his face.
"Hey. What you so upset about?" Dilandau bit his lip, managing to somehow hold back
the many tears starting in his eyes, then pulled her to him, burying his face into her hair.
Van had already caught enough food for them, and he was on his way back when he stopped and stared up at the Moon in the sky. *What am I going to do...Hitomi is in such a bad state,
I don't know if she's going to pull out of this. Dilandau will kill me if she doesn't make it out of this alive. Literally. And we don't even know if that man that's responsible for Hitomi's condition is really gone. Until we're sure he's dead, Hitomi will still be in danger. One more experience like that will kill her. I'd better get back.* The pensive look left his face and he headed back.
When he entered the clearing, he hung back a moment, as Dilandau was still holding Hitomi, who was almost begging him to loosen his grip some. He held back a laugh, then walked into the clearing, setting the kill down by the fire.
"I see you're awake, Hitomi." He said quietly. Dilandau looked up at him as Hiotmi tried to sit up, but Dilandau wouldn't let her.
"I am not a porcalian doll! I won't break!!!!! Would you let me up?!" She shoved him away and sat up on her own, then swayed and collapsed against Dilandau. Van got to his knees
beside her and positioned her so she was facing him.
"Hitomi, you have to stay still, or you could seriously hurt yourself." He said sternly. She rolled her eyes, but otherwise obeyed. Van had to try extremely hard to hold in the laugh at the expression on her face; she was not pleased. He glanced over at Miguel and saw that he was fast asleep. This caused the grin on his face to widen. *Well, Miguel looks mightly comfortable.*
Merle woke up then, and crawled over to Van, curling into his leg to get warm, enjoying the heat that was being given off by the fire. Hitomi sighed and leaned back, causing Merle to prick her ears and look up at her. Hitomi stared down at her for a minute, then looked up at Dilandau.
"How long have I been unconcious?"
"Not long. Around half an hour." Van said before Dilandau could utter a sound. Dilandau glared at him, but didn't say anything. This bothered Hitomi, as he didn't usually back down from insulting someone. She wanted desparetely to stand and walk around, but didn't have the strength to sit up, let alone fight away from Dilandau. Besides, she didn't want to leave Dilandau's embrace just yet, so she sighed and curled into Dilandau's chest, listening to his heart beating rythmatically.
Back at the wreakage of the Leva-ship, Deje stumbled out of the rubble, dusting himself
off and nursing the wound on his shoulder. He looked up at the direction the "rebels" had taken off
in.
"You may think that you've won, Hitomi. But I'm far from finished with you. Just wait. You haven't seen me for the last time." He turned back to his Leva-ship, or what was left of it, and after looking through what was left of the ship, managed to find a luckily unbreakable glass vile three-quarters full of a transparent liquid with a light blue tint to it. "D*mn. I only got 3/4's of her lifeforce. Now what?" He thought for a moment. "And I still need her blood, and alot of it, to complete the formula with." An evil sneer croosed his face, and his eyes took on a deadly gleam. "You still owe me something, Hitomi. You as well, Van." He said as he headed towards the woods.
Hitomi had fallen asleep in Dilandau's embrace, Merle and Miguel were still asleep and Van was laying on his back, staring up at the sky. Dilandau had been quiet for a while, but something was bothering him. He looked around the clearing, then sighed.
"Hey Van."
"What?" He muttered.
"Is it true that if you're born with the wings, then you have to let them out on your birthday every year to keep them from being damaged?" Van sat up, staring at Dilandau as if he were crazy.
"Of course not. Where'd you hear that?" Dilandau looked away.
"Just a rumour that I heard once."
"Well, it sure as h*ll isn't true. You have a lot to learn about being a Draconian, Dilandau."
"I know." Van stared at him, shocked. *I know? That's it? That's not like Dilandau.* After a moment, Van mentally shrugged and turned away. *Why do I care?*
~Back at the Vione~
The slayers were in the training room, working overtime and extra hard.
"What's wrong with Lord Dilandau? He's never made us work this hard, even if a war was coming up." Viole gasped as he fended off a blow from Dalet.
"I know. He completely changed ever since he returned from the encounter with Van Fanel, and why didn't he bring Miguel and Rafe back with him?"
"DALET!! MIGUEL!! Stop talking and actually TRY to get in at least ONE good battle!!!" A harsh voice snapped.
"Yes sir!" They said in unison, both of them immediantly working harder. A form sitting
on Dilandau's throne grinned, his face shrouded in shadow.
"Yes, Lord Deje." He hissed quietly so no one would hear him. "You were right. Everything is going according to plan." The form looked around the room. "They don't suspect a thing. Soon, our second part of this flawless plan will go into action. Hitomi Fanel will be by your side, that annoying brother of hers will be out of the way, and all of Zaibach will be yours." He was quiet for a moment. "But what about the real Albatou? What should I do if he returns?" Silence again. "Yes sir."
Deje threw the intercom he was speaking ino a second ago onto the ground, then whistled loudly. After a moment, an enormous silver dragon glided by, and dipped down towards him. He jumped onto the beasts back.
*Find her, Miaki. Find Hitomi Fanel.* He ordered silently. The dragon instantly turned to the west and took off, Deje sitting on her back with his arms folded, a smug grin on his face. *We shall meet very soon, Hitomi.*
Dilandau looked up at the sound of huge wings striking through the air and watched a massive dragon glide by. After it was gone, he looked back down into the fire.
Deje watched the small group from the tree he had jumped into. *Hmmm...Dilandau, miguel, and some catgirl. I can take on the slayer and cat no problem, and Hitomi is too weak form my last encounter to put up a fight. It's the other two that have me thinking. Dilandau and Van aren't pushovers. How should I approach this...yes, that's a good idea.* He looked up, then watched the dragon fly by again. *Miaka, distract them. Try to lead them away from Hitomi.* Obeying instantly, the dragon swooped down in the clearing, roaring loudly, waking Miguel and Merle, then circling Dilandau, as if teasing him. Deje watched the hunger in Dilandau's eyes grow; he knew of Dilandau's love for hunting dragons, and Miaka was a prize indeed.
Miaka snapped her jaws at Dilandau, challenging him to come after her. But Dilandau didn't abandon Hitomi. Deje narrowed his eyes. *This isn't going to work, Miaka. Improvise.* The dragon reared back, then let out a jet of flames, setting the entire clearing on fire. Dilandau stood, Hitomi in his arms, eyeing the fire, watching as it grew closer.
"Any ideas Van?"
"Nothing. Merle, you hurting my arm." Merle instantly let go of Van's arm, but stayed beside him, her fur bristled. Miguel looked up at the dragon circling them, and pulled out his sword.
"Lord Dilandau? May I?"
"No. Something's not right." Dilandau said, watching the huge reptile as well. "That's not a wild dragon." He looked around the clearing. "Someone sent that beast here." Van managed to see an opening where the fire was dying down, and pointed it out to Dilandau. They escaped the flames, but not the dragon.
Dilandau turned to Van. "How close is Fanelia?"
"A few miles, why?"
"Go get the Escaflowne. I have a feeling this has something to do with that man."
"I'm not leaving this dragon here to do what it wants to you guys."
"Lord Van?" Merle said quietly. "Hitomi will be okay. She has Miguel and Dilandau to watch her. We should hurry and get the Escaflowne then come get them. Come on, Hitomi will be fine." She begged, gripping his arm again. "Lord Van, I want to go home. Please?" Van looked at Merle's pleading eyes, then caved.
"Oh, alright then...." He turned to Dilandau. "You let anything happen to her, and I'll kill you."
Van then turned and left with Merle at his heels. Dilandau looked up at the dragon, then down at
Miguel, who had let his sword lean against the ground, but was still gripping it tightly, watching the dragon.
"What do we do, sir?"
"What do you think, Miguel? You've got some dragon slaying to do."
now that i have your attention, i just realized that i have forgotten a very crucial detail. It has come to my realization that i didn't tell you that the sorcerers have attempted to resurrect Folken, but failed in a weird way. They weren't able to fully revive him, so instead of being a full human, he is kinda like a ghost/holographic image. He can talk and listen and move around, but is, well, like a ghost. Since he is unable to rule Zaibach (obviously), he is now kind of like Dilandau's advisor, as Dilandau will most definately need help in his new position.
Miguel watched as Dilandau studied the stars from his side of the fire, and couldn't help but feel an ache in his heart. *Hitomi truly does love Lord Dilandau. I can almost feel their love radiating from them. Hitomi may never know about my feelings for her, but maybe it's best that way.* He picked at the fire with a stick, then layed back and closed his eyes.
Dilandau finally looked down from his gaze at the sky. "Hitomi, you'll be okay. I don't know what to do, but I'll be d*mned if you leave my side again. I wish Van would hurry up and get here." He laughed softly. "I never in my life thought I would ever say something like that. Strange,
how under the right circumstances, enemies can become allies." He leaned his chin on top of her head. "Even if it's only temporary." He stared into the fire, feeling her heart beating against his chest at the same time of his. He felt her heart suddenly speed up, and she gasped in a breath as her eyes opened and she looked up at him. A small, weak smile crossed her lips at the concerned look on his face.
"Hey. What you so upset about?" Dilandau bit his lip, managing to somehow hold back
the many tears starting in his eyes, then pulled her to him, burying his face into her hair.
Van had already caught enough food for them, and he was on his way back when he stopped and stared up at the Moon in the sky. *What am I going to do...Hitomi is in such a bad state,
I don't know if she's going to pull out of this. Dilandau will kill me if she doesn't make it out of this alive. Literally. And we don't even know if that man that's responsible for Hitomi's condition is really gone. Until we're sure he's dead, Hitomi will still be in danger. One more experience like that will kill her. I'd better get back.* The pensive look left his face and he headed back.
When he entered the clearing, he hung back a moment, as Dilandau was still holding Hitomi, who was almost begging him to loosen his grip some. He held back a laugh, then walked into the clearing, setting the kill down by the fire.
"I see you're awake, Hitomi." He said quietly. Dilandau looked up at him as Hiotmi tried to sit up, but Dilandau wouldn't let her.
"I am not a porcalian doll! I won't break!!!!! Would you let me up?!" She shoved him away and sat up on her own, then swayed and collapsed against Dilandau. Van got to his knees
beside her and positioned her so she was facing him.
"Hitomi, you have to stay still, or you could seriously hurt yourself." He said sternly. She rolled her eyes, but otherwise obeyed. Van had to try extremely hard to hold in the laugh at the expression on her face; she was not pleased. He glanced over at Miguel and saw that he was fast asleep. This caused the grin on his face to widen. *Well, Miguel looks mightly comfortable.*
Merle woke up then, and crawled over to Van, curling into his leg to get warm, enjoying the heat that was being given off by the fire. Hitomi sighed and leaned back, causing Merle to prick her ears and look up at her. Hitomi stared down at her for a minute, then looked up at Dilandau.
"How long have I been unconcious?"
"Not long. Around half an hour." Van said before Dilandau could utter a sound. Dilandau glared at him, but didn't say anything. This bothered Hitomi, as he didn't usually back down from insulting someone. She wanted desparetely to stand and walk around, but didn't have the strength to sit up, let alone fight away from Dilandau. Besides, she didn't want to leave Dilandau's embrace just yet, so she sighed and curled into Dilandau's chest, listening to his heart beating rythmatically.
Back at the wreakage of the Leva-ship, Deje stumbled out of the rubble, dusting himself
off and nursing the wound on his shoulder. He looked up at the direction the "rebels" had taken off
in.
"You may think that you've won, Hitomi. But I'm far from finished with you. Just wait. You haven't seen me for the last time." He turned back to his Leva-ship, or what was left of it, and after looking through what was left of the ship, managed to find a luckily unbreakable glass vile three-quarters full of a transparent liquid with a light blue tint to it. "D*mn. I only got 3/4's of her lifeforce. Now what?" He thought for a moment. "And I still need her blood, and alot of it, to complete the formula with." An evil sneer croosed his face, and his eyes took on a deadly gleam. "You still owe me something, Hitomi. You as well, Van." He said as he headed towards the woods.
Hitomi had fallen asleep in Dilandau's embrace, Merle and Miguel were still asleep and Van was laying on his back, staring up at the sky. Dilandau had been quiet for a while, but something was bothering him. He looked around the clearing, then sighed.
"Hey Van."
"What?" He muttered.
"Is it true that if you're born with the wings, then you have to let them out on your birthday every year to keep them from being damaged?" Van sat up, staring at Dilandau as if he were crazy.
"Of course not. Where'd you hear that?" Dilandau looked away.
"Just a rumour that I heard once."
"Well, it sure as h*ll isn't true. You have a lot to learn about being a Draconian, Dilandau."
"I know." Van stared at him, shocked. *I know? That's it? That's not like Dilandau.* After a moment, Van mentally shrugged and turned away. *Why do I care?*
~Back at the Vione~
The slayers were in the training room, working overtime and extra hard.
"What's wrong with Lord Dilandau? He's never made us work this hard, even if a war was coming up." Viole gasped as he fended off a blow from Dalet.
"I know. He completely changed ever since he returned from the encounter with Van Fanel, and why didn't he bring Miguel and Rafe back with him?"
"DALET!! MIGUEL!! Stop talking and actually TRY to get in at least ONE good battle!!!" A harsh voice snapped.
"Yes sir!" They said in unison, both of them immediantly working harder. A form sitting
on Dilandau's throne grinned, his face shrouded in shadow.
"Yes, Lord Deje." He hissed quietly so no one would hear him. "You were right. Everything is going according to plan." The form looked around the room. "They don't suspect a thing. Soon, our second part of this flawless plan will go into action. Hitomi Fanel will be by your side, that annoying brother of hers will be out of the way, and all of Zaibach will be yours." He was quiet for a moment. "But what about the real Albatou? What should I do if he returns?" Silence again. "Yes sir."
Deje threw the intercom he was speaking ino a second ago onto the ground, then whistled loudly. After a moment, an enormous silver dragon glided by, and dipped down towards him. He jumped onto the beasts back.
*Find her, Miaki. Find Hitomi Fanel.* He ordered silently. The dragon instantly turned to the west and took off, Deje sitting on her back with his arms folded, a smug grin on his face. *We shall meet very soon, Hitomi.*
Dilandau looked up at the sound of huge wings striking through the air and watched a massive dragon glide by. After it was gone, he looked back down into the fire.
Deje watched the small group from the tree he had jumped into. *Hmmm...Dilandau, miguel, and some catgirl. I can take on the slayer and cat no problem, and Hitomi is too weak form my last encounter to put up a fight. It's the other two that have me thinking. Dilandau and Van aren't pushovers. How should I approach this...yes, that's a good idea.* He looked up, then watched the dragon fly by again. *Miaka, distract them. Try to lead them away from Hitomi.* Obeying instantly, the dragon swooped down in the clearing, roaring loudly, waking Miguel and Merle, then circling Dilandau, as if teasing him. Deje watched the hunger in Dilandau's eyes grow; he knew of Dilandau's love for hunting dragons, and Miaka was a prize indeed.
Miaka snapped her jaws at Dilandau, challenging him to come after her. But Dilandau didn't abandon Hitomi. Deje narrowed his eyes. *This isn't going to work, Miaka. Improvise.* The dragon reared back, then let out a jet of flames, setting the entire clearing on fire. Dilandau stood, Hitomi in his arms, eyeing the fire, watching as it grew closer.
"Any ideas Van?"
"Nothing. Merle, you hurting my arm." Merle instantly let go of Van's arm, but stayed beside him, her fur bristled. Miguel looked up at the dragon circling them, and pulled out his sword.
"Lord Dilandau? May I?"
"No. Something's not right." Dilandau said, watching the huge reptile as well. "That's not a wild dragon." He looked around the clearing. "Someone sent that beast here." Van managed to see an opening where the fire was dying down, and pointed it out to Dilandau. They escaped the flames, but not the dragon.
Dilandau turned to Van. "How close is Fanelia?"
"A few miles, why?"
"Go get the Escaflowne. I have a feeling this has something to do with that man."
"I'm not leaving this dragon here to do what it wants to you guys."
"Lord Van?" Merle said quietly. "Hitomi will be okay. She has Miguel and Dilandau to watch her. We should hurry and get the Escaflowne then come get them. Come on, Hitomi will be fine." She begged, gripping his arm again. "Lord Van, I want to go home. Please?" Van looked at Merle's pleading eyes, then caved.
"Oh, alright then...." He turned to Dilandau. "You let anything happen to her, and I'll kill you."
Van then turned and left with Merle at his heels. Dilandau looked up at the dragon, then down at
Miguel, who had let his sword lean against the ground, but was still gripping it tightly, watching the dragon.
"What do we do, sir?"
"What do you think, Miguel? You've got some dragon slaying to do."