Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Escaflowne or any of its characters (How tired I am of saying this!), but I do USE them. It's all fair in war and love ^_^
Author's Note: Woop! I'm wasting precious time to add onto my fanfic! And you know what that means… REVIEW!!!!! Seriously, people; you know how badly it sucks to write your heart out and find you have no reviews. Take a minute to give me your opinions!
Chapter 2: Sprawled Memories
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Phobic rhythm
beat that
moon to the
dark
end
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Unless Dilandau was dreaming, he wouldn't have realized Lina's precise request. After all, that was the polite thing to do, she mouthed. He gently finicky his arms from her shoulders, whose warmth was so comforting and reassuring that he needed to find some hidden strength to pull away. Dilandau silently averted his gaze to the wall. "I…I'm sorry. I just thought you could use a little help." Lina looked up. He rarely put her through the guilt trip. It was one of those unusual tactics he'd picked up after her leaving. "I'm tired,." Lina simply said. Just once, she'd like to scramble some sense into Dilandau. "Follow me," he muttered.
Walls of rich blue and steel, which had once been splattered with a hefty weight of blood, enveloped many secret passageways; ones Dilandau knew like the back of his hand. Lina trailed distantly behind him. She felt vexed that Dilandau may have directed her somewhere...else. Like a torture chamber or something.
Gasps of wailing and flinching shadows materialized in her mind. She shook her head quickly, draining herself from the thoughts, and she slowed in pace to distant herself even further from Dilandau.
I'm insane.
It's clear I've hurt him, yes, isn't it? He still loves me. I know it. But I don't want to give into his pathetic mourning; honestly I don't think I can sink that low again. If I do I'll only upset myself with regret of leaving him at all.
"Here we are," he said murkily, pointing to a drab, one-bedded room. It was dim and barren; almost a replica of Dilandau's eyes. Lina searched for some sign of emotion in his expression. Pain sprung to her eyes when she saw nothing.
I'm so cruel.
Her hand reached for his. Consolation could be the solution to both of our problems, she thought as she drew herself close to his body. Lina buried her face in his warm chest. She knew unerringly how to soothe him.
Yes, yes, this is what I want. Lina, it's you, it's you again. You always felt my pain and went to find me, to comfort me. Two years later you're still gathering my feelings in your hands.
They rocked quietly, warmth skewing throughout his skin. Lina stroked his back with her fingertips. "Please forgive me. I didn't mean to offend you back there. It's just..."
SNAP OUT OF IT.
Dilandau pushed Lina from his chest, slicing her sentence short. "No. NO! You fool! Don't come near me again. I don't care HOW you escaped to the Mystic Moon so long ago. And I DON'T care for you now. I want you to shut the hell up, go to sleep, and work," he spat. Dilandau sped quickly around in the opposite direction, slamming the door shut. "It's called Earth, you little bastard." She garbled, spitting at the fiery commander's instructions. Lina ran a hand through her hair and slid under the bed's paper-thin sheets.
That night she slept restlessly. Lina couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. During the past hour she went from spastic, to calm, to livid, to...whatever that was. And from Earth to...Gaea? Her head ached so badly as she attempted comprehension of the situation. Drawing the sheets over her face, she curled into a dainty little ball and thought. Just thought.
My entire young life I lived in Fanelia. When I turned 15 Dilandau had joined the Zaibach forces, which distanced us, but I supported him anyway while I was practicing on my transition powers privately and working night shifts at a local café in Fanelia. He came rushing up to me one dusky evening, the Black Dragon Clan by his side, telling me he MUST burn this place. "What?" I said, gaping in disbelief. "Van Fanel..." he scowled. "That bitch for a prince ruined my face! Chiku!" Dilandau hissed, rubbing a scalding, red streak on his left cheek. I slapped him. It was a well-deserved slap, too." No! That's not a legit excuse! You really think Van is worth our memories in Fanelia together?" Dilandau's face softened. "Lina..." I took his hands, my eyes filling with tears. "Remember the spot on the roof of the cafe where we'd kiss when the sun came through the trees? Or the fringe of the mango stand I claimed was dragon skin, and where you got into a pub fight trying to prove it? And the tiny abandoned cottage, you know, the one with ivy and vines and pretty flowers hiding it -- where we first kissed? Do you remember our song, Sora, the one the peasants played for us in the streets? Didn't you ever think of that? Of me? Don't do this, please, please, for...Raelyn and Solstice. Our future children, you remember. And because I love you, Dilandau." Then he did something unexpected.
He cried.
His watery, garnet eyes overflowed with tears, and flooded his cheeks. I felt my heart break in half.
"Oh, Lina...I'm so selfish. Forgive me, please…I'm sorry!" In a flurry of sultry mists and a wilt of his coats, he vanished.
The words still collect and recollect in my mind, over and over.
"I'm sorry!"
How hard I tried to forget.
He left me to myself.
Dilandau went against my will for stupid, stupid revenge.
And yet, I loved him.
But later that very night, after continuous hours of sobbing, I had the vision, that fantasy of peace and freedom.
The Mystic Moon.
I'd grown tiresome and weary over the years with the incessant warring of Gaea.
Maybe my transitional power could deliver me to the Mystic Moon... the stories I heard. They were wondrous. At night, the skies besprinkled in clumps of stars, you could lie on your back and hear the ocean whistling, the soft winds blowing in your ear. You could sleep an entire night without drunken strangers, swinging fists, clenching tweaks of swords, or the glint of distant flames - because no one fought. And as much as I took combat seriously, sinking into hours and hours of mass, ruinous war on this brutal planet disgusted me.
Especially now that Dilandau was involved.
Dilandau.
The source of my problems.
Awful, lonely hours had gone by without a word from him. I was worried sick about him, questioning myself constantly. Is he dead? Is he alive? And if he truly was to burn Fanelia, wouldn't he want me by his side in case something happened?
Just get away, I'd tell myself, Leave him behind. You'd rather be in peace than have to sulk in your lover's broken regrets.
Broken.
Lina sat upright. A stern hand clasped over her mouth, and she screamed. There were no lights, much less candles, since she'd entered the room, but she knew who stood before her. "Folken," she whispered, nearly bawling. Folken nestled contentedly beside her, releasing his hand. "What could you possibly need at this hour?" Lina croaked, cradling her blanket suspiciously. "I want to inform you of the questioning session tomorrow, regarding your knowledge of the Black Dragon Clan and Fanelia. Please meet with Dilandau and I in the meeting room." Lina shook her head. "Wait, wait. What will happen after I answer these questions?" A puzzled expression blew over her face. Folken sighed, trying to place the words correctly without alarming her. "The Black Dragon Clan may find use for you. We'll see," he winked. Lina shivered and pressed her hand against her forehead. Too complicated. "I'm not interested. I'd rather defend Fanelia," she spat. Then her eyes fell dead. "Dilandau's a traitor to me and our home. Why should I become a traitor myself?"
A wave of silence crashed down between the two. Folken, concentrating, opened his mouth to utter but a few words. "You qualify."
Before she could reply, Folken grinned and brushed Lina's shoulder lightly. "Rest up, Akaguchi. Don't want to be late," he purred. Lina gazed into his eyes, which held a beguiling ruby sunset in their irises, and quickly snuggled up close to his side. He felt her shiver. "I don't want Dilandau to be asking such questions." Rubbing her neck, she sighed deeply. Little did Lina know that she had revealed a necklace with a dainty charm linked upon it. Folken eyed it, the sound of clinking perking his ears. "Is that a locket?" he whispered. "Yes, isn't it so very lovely? I don't remember where or who I got it from; all I know is that I received it a long time ago. Look," she pointed, "on the inside, there's a mirror that displays the sky. Sometimes it plays music...but I noticed when the song plays, I'm usually in love," Lina smiled. Folken pushed himself closer to her body.
What a fragile girl she is.
"May I open it?" He spoke with but a snowflake of breath, and reached over as Lina nodded. His nimble fingers plucked the silver clasp, divulging an unbelievably gorgeous night sky. Then he heard a song.
Win dein a lotica
En vi tu ri
Si lo ta
Fin dein a loluca
En dragu a sei lain...
"Dilandau," she muttered. Folken tranquilly embraced Lina and rested her head on his shoulder. "Your love for Dilandau must be a beautiful thing. I'm sorry Fanelia has conflicted you two, but hey, I lived there once. It was nice…" He said, pressing his hands against her back, stroking. She was filled intensely with concern. "…But, how did you join forces with Zaibach?" Her heart thudded uncontrollably as Folken's touch washed all over her. "It's a very long story…very long," he whispered, clutching her hand. "But I guess we all end up in the same place. The people involved with Zaibach were meant to be."
Meant to be.
She supposed he was correct. After all, she can't deny her love for Dilandau.
"I must forgive him. In Fanelia," she whispered. Her haunting words sent a thrill in Folken's eyes.
"Of course."