Chapter 8: Arguments.
AN: Another chapter for your pleasure.
I've been thinking a lot about couplings and such and I'm almost certain at what it's going to be now. (Of course I'm not going to tell you :P) I will admit I have been leaning towards d/h, not because of Hitomi's personality as such, but more because of both Van and Dilandau's; Van has always struck me as the type of guy who feels the need to protect others, where as Dilandau seems to be the type that likes to know others can take care of themselves. That's just my opinion you understand, so feel free to disagree.
In answer to silver sea star's review: the explanation as to Hitomi's rite of passage etc. will not totally become clear until later on in the story, because I need other things to happen before I can make her 'purpose' in Fanelia clear. Sorry about the lack of explanation *.*
In answer to Illicit water dragon's review: I love Gundam Wing!!!!!! 'Specially Duo *drools*
And in answer to Tennyo's review: *glomps back* thank you! But as much as I like you and Van I must jump to Dilly's defence, please leave him alone *puppy dog eyes* oh, and tell me more about this bishie closet ^.^
*Looks at the long note* he he...sorry. Enjoy the chapter!
Hitomi pulled the reins of her and the dragon slayer commander's horse sharply, ignoring Dilandau's hands making a sudden surprised grab at her waist in order to steady himself. She could hear the other horse's in their party come to a hesitant halt behind them.
''What the hell-'' Hitomi raised her left hand to silence him.
''I feel something.'' She mumbled, more to herself than anyone else. Jumping down from the saddle and landing knees bent, she straightened as Van pulled the reins of his own stallion and turned to Dilandau. ''What's going on?'' he asked, chocolate red eyes reflecting an interesting mix of curiosity and concern.
Dilandau just shrugged his shoulders, black and red armour rattling slightly at the movement, not wanting to disturb the sudden silence that had settled around the party. He stayed where he was as Van jumped down from his horse and walked over to Hitomi, who's hand now rested on the hilt of her sword, eyes half lidded.
''Hitomi?''
She heard Van's hesitant call, and his hand on her left shoulder soon after, but ignored him. With her eyes closed, Hitomi was allowing her other senses to become dominant, her ears especially.
Silence.
Even in the unpopulated area of the forest they where in, it was unnaturally quiet. No birds or insects, not even a breeze winding its way through the tree's could be heard. It was as if someone had created a vacuum, and sucked all the life out of the immediate vicinity.
Opening her eyes again Hitomi inhaled deeply, she couldn't tell if something was very wrong here, or very right.
''We should be careful passing through here.'' She announced clearly, mentally noting that Van's hand was still on her shoulder. Turning her gaze to Dilandau, she spoke again. ''It is quiet here because something close demands respect.''
''And what would this something be, exactly?'' Dilandau asked, crimson orbs shining with an unnerving egotism that seemed to have crept back into his façade since Hitomi had told him off about taking off her sword while she was asleep.
''I don't know.'' Hitomi answered in all honesty. At Dilandau's snigger she balled her fists in frustration. ''But that doesn't mean it isn't there.'' She continued, using her thumb to push up the carved hilt of her sword.
At the sound Dilandau snapped his gaze back to her, red eyes glaring. ''Your good town girl, but your not that good.''
Had it not been for Van's hand on her shoulder, Hitomi would have drawn her sword and taught the commander a thing or two about her race. But Van squeezed his hand gently, shooting her an apologetic smile.
Why Dilandau was in command instead of Van remained a mystery to her, despite Van's explanation during the early hours of the morning. Van seemed just as good a fighter as Dilandau; maybe even better, thought Van did have a tendency to be careless. Where as Dilandau had a tendency to be over confident in his abilities.
Sighing Hitomi withdrew her hand from her sword's hilt, ignoring Dilandau's smug expression of victory. ''Is it wise to continue using this route?'' Van asked, removing his hand from Hitomi's shoulder and gazing around at the masses of trees surrounding them.
''I think so.'' Hitomi replied, following Van's line of sight, ''but I suggest we pick up the pace.'' At Van's nod Hitomi sent on final glare in Dilandau's direction and surprised everyone by turning away from him and walking back thought the other slayers horses. Coming to a stop she looked up at Chesta. ''May I ride with you?'' Hitomi asked, voice hard due to her anger at Dilandau but pleasant just the same. Chesta blushed slightly; looking towards his commander he made a questioning expression.
Dilandau's face had faulted the moment the words left the sandy haired girl's lips. Recovering quickly he made a gesture of indifference with his right hand and moved up in the saddle of his and Hit- his horse.
Chesta nodded a yes and with in seconds Hitomi was seated behind him, arms wrapped loosely but securely around his waist. Dilandau shot Hitomi a last glare of his own as he moved the party forward again, ignoring Van's chuckle.
~~~~~
It was long past nightfall by the time they reached the small farming town of Lenelle. The trees gave way to fields and run-in dirt roads and the only previous sources of light, Gaea's two moons, gave way to the bright lights bursting through the small windows of the gathered cottages.
Large storage buildings loomed over the party as they passed, shadows dancing over their faces as if in an attempted to scare the travellers off. No gates surrounded the farming town, in fact no security existed as far as the slayers could tell, which was very odd, considering Faenila's current crisis.
It was well into the night, however, and everyone was drained from the seemingly constant riding, thought few would freely admit it.
Dilandau signalled for the rest of them to wait as he jumped from his saddle. Walking over to the nearest cottage he knocked noisily on the wooden door and waited for a reply.
Upon seeing Dilandau's hard expression and tall build, the old woman who opened the door almost jumped back. ''W-what can I help you with young sir.'' She asked distrust evident behind her frail tone.
Dilandau looked the woman over. Typical farmer's wife, he thought disgusted. She was clad in a worn, brown dress reaching down to her shoes. A white apron rested round her waist coming to a end just about her dress' hemline. ''We seek an inn.'' He replied, his tone as hard as his appalled pale features.
''No inn remains here young sir.'' The woman replied with poor pronunciation. ''But you may rest in out store house.'' She offered, seeing Dilandau's garnet eyes hardening at her answer.
Following the woman's hand gesture, Dilandau's orbs came to rest at the woman's 'store house', it was one of the large barns they had past on the way into town. Sighing Dilandau turned back to her; he was too tired to pay the lack of comfort any heed. ''Give me the key.'' He ordered, as apposed to asking the woman. She immediately turned back into the stone cottage and came back soon after, baring a slightly rusted iron key. As soon as it was in his possession he turned away and heard the door slam closed.
'It's going to be a long night.' He thought bitterly, walking over to his slayers to deliver the new on their accommodation.
AN: Another chapter for your pleasure.
I've been thinking a lot about couplings and such and I'm almost certain at what it's going to be now. (Of course I'm not going to tell you :P) I will admit I have been leaning towards d/h, not because of Hitomi's personality as such, but more because of both Van and Dilandau's; Van has always struck me as the type of guy who feels the need to protect others, where as Dilandau seems to be the type that likes to know others can take care of themselves. That's just my opinion you understand, so feel free to disagree.
In answer to silver sea star's review: the explanation as to Hitomi's rite of passage etc. will not totally become clear until later on in the story, because I need other things to happen before I can make her 'purpose' in Fanelia clear. Sorry about the lack of explanation *.*
In answer to Illicit water dragon's review: I love Gundam Wing!!!!!! 'Specially Duo *drools*
And in answer to Tennyo's review: *glomps back* thank you! But as much as I like you and Van I must jump to Dilly's defence, please leave him alone *puppy dog eyes* oh, and tell me more about this bishie closet ^.^
*Looks at the long note* he he...sorry. Enjoy the chapter!
Hitomi pulled the reins of her and the dragon slayer commander's horse sharply, ignoring Dilandau's hands making a sudden surprised grab at her waist in order to steady himself. She could hear the other horse's in their party come to a hesitant halt behind them.
''What the hell-'' Hitomi raised her left hand to silence him.
''I feel something.'' She mumbled, more to herself than anyone else. Jumping down from the saddle and landing knees bent, she straightened as Van pulled the reins of his own stallion and turned to Dilandau. ''What's going on?'' he asked, chocolate red eyes reflecting an interesting mix of curiosity and concern.
Dilandau just shrugged his shoulders, black and red armour rattling slightly at the movement, not wanting to disturb the sudden silence that had settled around the party. He stayed where he was as Van jumped down from his horse and walked over to Hitomi, who's hand now rested on the hilt of her sword, eyes half lidded.
''Hitomi?''
She heard Van's hesitant call, and his hand on her left shoulder soon after, but ignored him. With her eyes closed, Hitomi was allowing her other senses to become dominant, her ears especially.
Silence.
Even in the unpopulated area of the forest they where in, it was unnaturally quiet. No birds or insects, not even a breeze winding its way through the tree's could be heard. It was as if someone had created a vacuum, and sucked all the life out of the immediate vicinity.
Opening her eyes again Hitomi inhaled deeply, she couldn't tell if something was very wrong here, or very right.
''We should be careful passing through here.'' She announced clearly, mentally noting that Van's hand was still on her shoulder. Turning her gaze to Dilandau, she spoke again. ''It is quiet here because something close demands respect.''
''And what would this something be, exactly?'' Dilandau asked, crimson orbs shining with an unnerving egotism that seemed to have crept back into his façade since Hitomi had told him off about taking off her sword while she was asleep.
''I don't know.'' Hitomi answered in all honesty. At Dilandau's snigger she balled her fists in frustration. ''But that doesn't mean it isn't there.'' She continued, using her thumb to push up the carved hilt of her sword.
At the sound Dilandau snapped his gaze back to her, red eyes glaring. ''Your good town girl, but your not that good.''
Had it not been for Van's hand on her shoulder, Hitomi would have drawn her sword and taught the commander a thing or two about her race. But Van squeezed his hand gently, shooting her an apologetic smile.
Why Dilandau was in command instead of Van remained a mystery to her, despite Van's explanation during the early hours of the morning. Van seemed just as good a fighter as Dilandau; maybe even better, thought Van did have a tendency to be careless. Where as Dilandau had a tendency to be over confident in his abilities.
Sighing Hitomi withdrew her hand from her sword's hilt, ignoring Dilandau's smug expression of victory. ''Is it wise to continue using this route?'' Van asked, removing his hand from Hitomi's shoulder and gazing around at the masses of trees surrounding them.
''I think so.'' Hitomi replied, following Van's line of sight, ''but I suggest we pick up the pace.'' At Van's nod Hitomi sent on final glare in Dilandau's direction and surprised everyone by turning away from him and walking back thought the other slayers horses. Coming to a stop she looked up at Chesta. ''May I ride with you?'' Hitomi asked, voice hard due to her anger at Dilandau but pleasant just the same. Chesta blushed slightly; looking towards his commander he made a questioning expression.
Dilandau's face had faulted the moment the words left the sandy haired girl's lips. Recovering quickly he made a gesture of indifference with his right hand and moved up in the saddle of his and Hit- his horse.
Chesta nodded a yes and with in seconds Hitomi was seated behind him, arms wrapped loosely but securely around his waist. Dilandau shot Hitomi a last glare of his own as he moved the party forward again, ignoring Van's chuckle.
~~~~~
It was long past nightfall by the time they reached the small farming town of Lenelle. The trees gave way to fields and run-in dirt roads and the only previous sources of light, Gaea's two moons, gave way to the bright lights bursting through the small windows of the gathered cottages.
Large storage buildings loomed over the party as they passed, shadows dancing over their faces as if in an attempted to scare the travellers off. No gates surrounded the farming town, in fact no security existed as far as the slayers could tell, which was very odd, considering Faenila's current crisis.
It was well into the night, however, and everyone was drained from the seemingly constant riding, thought few would freely admit it.
Dilandau signalled for the rest of them to wait as he jumped from his saddle. Walking over to the nearest cottage he knocked noisily on the wooden door and waited for a reply.
Upon seeing Dilandau's hard expression and tall build, the old woman who opened the door almost jumped back. ''W-what can I help you with young sir.'' She asked distrust evident behind her frail tone.
Dilandau looked the woman over. Typical farmer's wife, he thought disgusted. She was clad in a worn, brown dress reaching down to her shoes. A white apron rested round her waist coming to a end just about her dress' hemline. ''We seek an inn.'' He replied, his tone as hard as his appalled pale features.
''No inn remains here young sir.'' The woman replied with poor pronunciation. ''But you may rest in out store house.'' She offered, seeing Dilandau's garnet eyes hardening at her answer.
Following the woman's hand gesture, Dilandau's orbs came to rest at the woman's 'store house', it was one of the large barns they had past on the way into town. Sighing Dilandau turned back to her; he was too tired to pay the lack of comfort any heed. ''Give me the key.'' He ordered, as apposed to asking the woman. She immediately turned back into the stone cottage and came back soon after, baring a slightly rusted iron key. As soon as it was in his possession he turned away and heard the door slam closed.
'It's going to be a long night.' He thought bitterly, walking over to his slayers to deliver the new on their accommodation.