*Author's Notes: I had a friend (Ann no Aku, who is also posted on
fanfiction.net) read some of my second chapter and she commented that
Dilandau was too mean, and she was shocked that the others went against
Dallet like they did… Hope no one else feels that way because frankly, I
think if Dilandau tells you to do something, you do it. I mean, it's not
like they did anything that terrible to him, and you'll see later on that
they're worse to other people. Anyhow, Smalls (remember when Dilandau
asked where he was) pops up again. Why do I have all these weird people
named (like Maurice) and others not named? Most likely because those named
will pop up again. Anyway, please enjoy (language gets worse in this
part)!
Chapter Two: Dilandau in the Night, Part Two
"So, Albatou," the bartender said, setting a bottle of liquor in front of Dilandau, "you gonna pay your tab this time?"
Dilandau shrugged. "Might as well," he said. He pulled out a credit card and laid it next to the bottle. "Courtesy of Allen Schezar."
The man took the card and went to process it while Shesta glanced at the bottle of copper liquid. "Couldn't you just as easily get Allen to give you your own credit card?" Shesta asked.
"Why get one when Allen's are so accessible?" Dilandau said. He took back the card when as the tender handed it to him again. "We're 'family,' so it's no problem."
"Start up another tab for the Ryuugekitai?" the tender asked.
"Aa." Dilandau grinned at Shesta who displayed less enjoyment. "Saa, let's get you in a better mood."
"Me?" Shesta blinked, wondering if he looked as grim as Gatty had.
"Sou," Dilandau said, opening the bottle. "Oi, can we get two shot glasses?"
"Uh, I… I don't think I want--" Shesta said as a glass was set in front of him.
"What's wrong with you, Shesta?" Dilandau interrupted. "You usually volunteer to be the designated driver and when you don't, you barely drink."
"I don't like it as much as the rest of you do…" Shesta confessed.
"Bakana (That's stupid)," Dilandau said. He poured some of the unknown liquid into Shesta's glass. "We'll play a game."
"I don't know…" Shesta said, waving his hand.
"Shesta, if you attempt to tell me no," Dilandau said, chuckling as he poured himself some of the drink, "well, I think you can figure out the rest."
Shesta swallowed. "What kind of game?" he asked.
"Very simple," Dilandau said. "We keep doubling the number of shots that the other takes until one gives up."
"This is silly," Shesta said, wringing the chain around his neck in one hand, "we both know that you're gonna be the one--"
Dilandau's hand sweeping across his face ended his protest there. Shesta held his stinging face, but noticed it wasn't as hard as it usually would have been. A regular slap from Dilandau would have easily knocked you out of your seat, and Dilandau rarely would be smiling after the action. Shesta stared at him as if he were growing a second head (scary only because that would be like two Dilandaus).
"You were saying?" Dilandau asked politely with the obvious deadly undertone.
"Who'll go first?" Shesta didn't dare try his luck again. Just because he received a mild slap the first time was no guarantee that he'd be slapped in the same manner if he annoyed Dilandau again.
"I'll be nice," Dilandau said, laughing at the thought of him being so. "You can go first."
Shesta sighed and picked up his glass. Dilandau, knowing him well, expected the blonde to actually sip his shot. "Drink it all at once," he ordered. "We don't want to be here all night, now do we?"
*Dilandau would never forget to predict your actions,* Shesta thought before gulping down whatever it was they were drinking. He'd ask Dilandau, but he predicted the pale-haired boy would merely chuckle at his question.
"Ii yo," Dilandau said, grinning in approval.
Shesta had to admire the way Dilandau took his two shots as if they were nothing. He had always though Dilandau was an amazing drinker; Shesta could count the number of times he had seen Dilandau drunk on one hand. The leader of the Ryuugekitai could hold a lot of liquor. Regardless, Shesta knew it couldn't be all that good for him, but Dilandau showed little side effects. This was also true with several of the drugs he used. Most people would act totally off the wall, but not Dilandau. Only his regular temper flares would make him act like that.
"That's the way to do it," Dilandau said. He slid the bottle over to Shesta. "Your turn."
"H-hai," Shesta said. He repressed a sigh and poured himself another shot. The first two he took then already made him feel strange so he tried his best to counteract it. "Ne, Dilandau-san."
"Hmm?" Dilandau coughed away a laugh; Shesta was shaking his head after completing the four shots as if he were already effected. With Shesta in that state, Dilandau was generally interested in what he had to say.
"Are you through getting back Gatty and Dallet?"
Dilandau snickered and poured himself another shot. "Yes and no," he said. Shesta expected him to elaborate, but Dilandau simply took his eight shots in a relatively speedy manner.
"Yes and no?" Shesta repeated.
"I know Gatty wasn't to blame for that brief slacking off," Dilandau said, grinning off into space. "Shikashi, I like to see him on his toes, always expecting me to strike."
"But you won't."
"I guess not." Dilandau shrugged.
"And Dallet?"
Dilandau put a hand on Shesta's back, "Have you noticed Dallet has a steady pattern every time we come to the Z?"
"Uh, no…" Shesta wouldn't even attempt to recall; he was having trouble remembering how to count.
"Sixteen," Dilandau said, giving Shesta an eerie feeling. Dilandau simply snorted and waited for Shesta to start pouring before continuing. "Dallet is usually the first of us to go up to level two."
Shesta held his head. *Damn, sixteen?* he thought after taking two. "Sou…ka?"
"Uhn. Tonight's going to be different for him."
Shesta took two more. "How…how so?"
"I'm gong to make sure he never sets foot on that floor. And you're going to help me."
"H…hai…" Shesta said. His head sunk down on the bar counter. *Mou ii…* he thought.
*****
Gatty released a trail of smoke from his mouth, taking partial care not to blow directly in the girl's face across from him. The way her dark eyebrows lowered suggested she would have been offended if he had. Then again, she was already offended.
"I thought you said you'd call me," the girl said.
"I've been busy," Gatty said. He rested his cigarette on a glass tray. "What do you expect, Mimi?"
"I expect you to at least give me your cell number then," Mimi said, pushing a strand of her chocolate hair behind her ear.
"Can't do that." Gatty lightly smiled. Seeing girls pout was as fun as Dilandau had boasted. "Dilandau [1] says that we have to keep that phone free for Ryuugekitai business."
Mimi grasped his arm. "You guys are so elusive," she complained. "Don't you ever take the time to relax?"
"What do you call this?"
Mimi's eyes brightened. "All right, then let's dance."
"Uh…no…" From his seat he had a clear view of Dilandau enticing Shesta to drink shots with him. If he went on the dance floor, he could easily have Dilandau striking unexpectedly upon him.
"Aw, come on!" Mimi begged. "This is one of my favorite songs!"
"Iie." Gatty picked up his cigarette again and took a long drag from it. As he exhaled, Mimi's face scrunched up in disapproval.
"I thought you said you were trying to quit," she said.
Gatty repeated the same action before speaking. "I say a lot of things, don't I?" he said. He grinned when Mimi frowned and rose from her seat.
"Saite (You're the worst)!" Mimi said, heading for the dance floor.
*Oh, well,* Gatty thought, proceeding with more smoking. *It's not as if I need to worry about her being angry at me. She wouldn't hesitate a second to go to level two with me…*
*****
"So what do you think, Guimel?" Viole said, pointing to at medium- sized guy dancing with a girl on the dance floor. "You think I can take him?"
"If not, you're going to get your ass kicked," Guimel said.
"Like you that one time--"
"I thought I asked you not to bring that up again."
"All right, all right," Viole said, snickering. "We'll do the usual-- you distract the guy, and I'll cut in."
"If he has a crew, you want me to help you?" Guimel said.
Viole sucked his teeth. "Shit, that punk?" he said. "I'll be surprised if he'll give me a good enough fight."
"We'll see," Guimel said, standing up. Viole did that same.
Even when the Ryuugekitai was taking a break, the members still intentionally caused trouble. In fact, it was rare when trouble arose around them that wasn't on purpose. Viole and Guimel, especially did little things like this just to see like they had a valid reason for kicking someone's ass.
*Hmm… guess I'll go with the "drop" act,* Guimel thought as he walked up to their target. "Oi!"
The boy stopped dancing with the girl and faced Guimel. "What do you want?"
"Did you drop these keys?" Guimel said, holding up some keys from his pocket.
The boy blinked and began fishing in his pocket for his keys. Meanwhile, Viole slyly pulled the boy's dancing with her. At first the girl was surprised, but then she smiled as if she didn't care or recognized Viole as one of the Ryuugekitai.
"Nah, they ain't mine," the boy said, finally locating his keys.
"Oh, sorry," Guimel said, shrugging. He laughed not only from the deception, but from the boy's stupidity as well. Who couldn't distinguish their own keys from another?
"What's so funny?" the boy demanded.
"That your girl?" Guimel asked, pointing behind the guy.
"Huh?" The boy turned around and instantly spotted his girl dancing in a lewd manner with Viole. "Oi!!"
"Here we go…" Guimel said, eagerly watching the boy approach Viole.
"This is my girl!" The boy pushed Viole back from the girl and stood between her and Viole. "What do you think you're doing, bitch??"
Viole smiled and put a hand in his pocket. "Bitch?" he repeated, expecting such an insult. "Who the hell are you talking to?"
"You, motherfucka!" He pushed Viole again who remained calm.
"Hmph," Viole said, smoothing his shirt. Back when he wasn't part of the Ryuugekitai he would have already cut on the fool, but now that he was one of Dilandau's crew, he felt like he had unlimited power--that which he didn't choose to waste freely upon undeserving souls. Still he enjoyed flaunting it.
"What you think you're better than me?" the boy asked. Viole merely smirked, invoking the boy further. "Onore!"
The boy swung at Viole and he almost laughed at how easily he swayed out of the way. It was as if he knew exactly when he was going to strike; well, Viole was pretty sure after his cocky attitude that the guy would try to hit him. Viole would have, anyway, if he were in his place back when he was just a lone thug.
"Heh," Viole said. A few dancers had noticed and had stopped dancing to watch the fight.
The boy clenched his teeth and tried his luck again. He failed at hitting Viole, but succeeded in producing Viole's laughter.
"What are you trying to do?" Viole said, now beside the guy. He looked as if he was going to try to hit Viole again, but Viole skillfully slammed his fist against the boy's jaw before he had the chance. "Something like that?"
They boy stumbled back into a couple who were dancing, and Viole put a hand in his pocket. He looked behind him at Guimel who was watching the whole thing. They shared grins before the boy righted himself again. Viole looked forward once he heard the boy make a loud, aggravated sound and charge at him once again. Viole laughed as he easily caught the boy's fists. Viole narrowed his eyes as the boy tried to free himself from Viole's grip.
"Next time you call someone a 'bitch'--" Viole pulled the guy forward and brought his kneecap into the boy's abdomen. "--or a 'motherfucka'--"
The boy doubled over, coughing up spit, while people cheered. "-- learn how to fight!" Viole finished, bringing his fist forcefully up to the boy's chin. The boy fell down on his back and ceased movement.
Applause pervaded much of the commotion concerning the fight; however, a few people expressed pity for the guy on the floor. Viole tugged on one of the wavy strands of hair in front of his ears. "That wasn't even slightly satisfying…" he muttered.
Guimel walked over to him and grinned. "I guess we gave him too much credit," he said.
Viole would have responded, but he was stopped by the girl the whole fight had started over. She seemed impressed by Viole instead of worried about her former dance partner's condition. It was all well and good as Club Z workers moved him out of the way so people could dance.
"That was awesome!" the girl gushed. "You're a great fighter!"
Viole rolled his eyes and stopped playing with his hair. "Mochiron (Of course)," he said, eyes anywhere but on her. "I am part of the Ryuugekitai, after all."
The girl grinned and stepped up closer to him. "Well, in that case, wanna get a room with me on level two?"
Viole snorted as if she were just some random girl. In truth she were; he had already forgotten she were the girl he had been dancing with a little while ago, her only purpose being to make her boyfriend jealous.
"No thanks," Viole said without much thought.
"Hell, if he won't I will," Guimel quickly said. The girl smiled as if she'd consent to that, but Viole grabbed Guimel's arm and began dragging him away. "Iku zo, bakayarou," he said.
"Heh," Guimel said, once they were away from the dance floor. "What's up with that?"
"Please," Viole said, releasing his arm, "that would be too easy. Just like when I beat up her boyfriend…"
"Hmph." Guimel shrugged and grinned at Viole's back as he followed him. "You've always liked it the hard way…"
*****
Shesta had made little progress in his sixteen shots. He really wasn't a drinker and had only managed eleven out of the sixteen. Nausea consumed him, and yet Dilandau still beckoned him further. If he had been a better drinker and a fool, he'd tell Dilandau off for that.
"Come on, Shesta, you've barely drank anything," Dilandau said. He shook the nearly empty bottle. "All you need is five more."
*Dilandau's insane,* Shesta thought, all his will power being used to keep his head up and his liquor down. *I've already drank sixteen shots all together.* "I…I can't… do… any… more…"
"Sumimasen--I can't do any more," Shesta said. "I feel like I'm going to hurl…" He put a hand over his mouth and said another muffled excuse as he ran from the bar to the bathroom.
"Ah, ah," Dilandau said, pouring himself another shot. "I knew that would happen." He downed the shot and laughed. "Oh, well, we'll just have to work harder to make him a better drinker…"
Dilandau's eyes rolled on Dallet, standing near the dance floor as he spoke to two girls. *Ah, nani kore (what's this)?* he mused to himself. *Thinking of heading up to level two, Dallet?*
Dilandau smiled cruelly and changed his gaze to Miguel. His activities were more interesting; he was headed by three other males at his table, making several hand movements. Dilandau, by these clues, knew exactly what he was doing.
*Up to your old tricks, eh, Miguel?* Dilandau thought. He stood and went over to his brunette friend.
"…should be about a thousand," Miguel said, his back to his approaching leader. "That should be enough, right?"
One of the guys rubbed his chin. "Ida know…" he said. "Maybe we outta do a bit more."
"Listen, I got six five thousand ones already set and twelve one thousand ones in the process," Miguel said. "I know exactly what I'm doing- -"
"Mochiron," Dilandau came in, "you are the Ryuu most qualified for this job." He liked seeing Miguel alarmed almost as much as he did Gatty.
"Uh, we'll finish this later…" Miguel said, trying to erase any unease in his voice. "If I don't see you later, you know the number."
The three seated consented and made brief greetings to Dilandau as he left. Dilandau sat there laughing quietly to himself and wondering if they'd have as much business if he himself had handled it. Though the guys who had left were older than Dilandau, they still expressed fear of him. That didn't bother Dilandau one bit, however.
"Labariel-san," Dilandau said, getting exactly the rise out of Miguel he expected by addressing him so, "you're not planning to abuse this duty I've assigned to you, am I right? Not planning to start operating on your own?"
The old name Dilandau had used for him when he wasn't part of the Ryuugekitai and the insinuation he was planning to double-cross his leader made him nervous like he hadn't been in years. "Ma-masaka, Dilandau-san," Miguel stammered. "I-I'm just--"
Dilandau stopped him with his derisive laughter. "Joudan, joudan (a joke, a joke)," he said.
Miguel let out a breath and nodded. *Damnit,* he thought. *I hate when he does that! He could have just as easily been serious!*
"Just a little warm up for Dallet," Dilandau said, putting his hand on Miguel's shoulder.
"So, you're not finished with him yet?" Miguel asked. He wiped his brow and completely dropped his anxiety level. The mention of Dallet meant no harm for him.
"Exactly," Dilandau said. "You're going to help me keep him off level two. I was going to use Shesta, but… well, he's no use to me at the moment."
Miguel grinned, realizing that Dilandau hadn't went to Gatty, his usual choice, meaning Gatty was still in hot water as well. "And Gatty?"
"He's fine," Dilandau said. His eyes traveled on the one he spoke of.
Miguel frowned while his leader's eyes were distracted. *What's up with that?* he wondered. *How come he's letting Gatty off the hook??*
"Doushita?" Miguel jumped; Dilandau had said that before he returned his gaze on him.
"Na…nanimo nai," Miguel said, hoping his gaze into Dilandau's eyes suggested his statement were true.
"Sou." If Dilandau didn't believe him his must not have cared. "When I think of it, this plan works better with you."
"What do I have to do?" Miguel's smile gradually came back.
"You'll tell Dallet that I want to speak with him," Dilandau said. "He won't question that and if he does ask him if he wants to risk making me wait. Now, Dallet has two girls with him…"
Miguel turned back so he could see Dallet and the two girls. "…you're to scare or repulse them away without Dallet seeing you, of course."
"So once he's gone and 'speaking' with you, I chase away the girls." He faced Dilandau again.
"Sou." Dilandau retracted his hand from his shoulder. "That shouldn't be too difficult for you, desshou?"
"Iie." Miguel grinned while Dilandau began to outline his jaw with his finger. When his leader did that, it was a tale tell sign he was up to no good or perhaps plotting more.
"Yoshi," Dilandau said, resting his moving finger at the tip of his chin. "I want Dallet in the dark when the girls refuse him, so I'm going to another table, so it seems like I wasn't conspiring against him."
"Hai." Miguel already had an idea to get rid of the girls. He watched Dilandau move over to another table of people he must have known because they all greeted him when he stepped up. Miguel stood up and rubbed his hands together.
"More fun…" he commented.
*****
"Hontou?" the blonde said, smiling as if offered free money.
"Mochiron," Dallet said. "Dilandau asks me all the time if I've been with any good girls. He values my opinion greatly." Hearing the sounds of approval from the two girls, Dallet remembered how much he enjoyed being part of the Ryuugekitai. Not that he needed much help attracting the other sex, but throwing around Dilandau's name was better than flashing around bills. And, as a bonus, Dallet could pursue more women as part of the Ryuugekitai; he didn't have to be cautious about messing around with girls who were already spoken for.
"So do you ever exclusively date girls? the auburn-haired girl asked.
"Rarely," Dallet said. He grinned; he was used to this question and knew how to raise a girl's hopes. "I hope to have a girl who can keep me…entertained for a long time."
The blonde grinned and linked her arm with Dallet's. "I'm sure we can keep you entertained," she said.
"Sou desu ne." The auburn joined the blonde on Dallet's other arm.
Dallet was sure he was going to have the kind of night he intended (minus the drinking) until he saw Miguel. He didn't know why, but he felt his appearance was a bad sign. Dallet stopped in his tracks (which hadn't been many) and glared at Miguel.
"What do you want?" Dallet said, temporarily ignoring the girls on his arms.
"I just needed to tell you that Dilandau-san wants to see you," Miguel said. His eyes flashed with something; wickedness, Dallet believed.
"Na…naze?" Dallet said, stuck between apprehension and suspicious anger.
Miguel shrugged. "He didn't say." He smirked at Dallet, staring at him right in the eyes as if there was no one else in the world. "Nan da? You think I'm lying?"
The girls looked between the two, wondering why they looked as if they may fight. This held their interest, so it surprised them when Dallet released himself from their grip. It took a great deal of skill for Dallet to turn his glower back into a grin.
"I'll be right back," Dallet said, facing the girls. "Don't go anywhere."
"We'll be waiting," the blonde said. Her friend nodded in agreement.
Miguel pretending to also leave the same way he had came, but lingered by the two girls when he noticed that Dallet wasn't looking behind himself. He stepped up to the two and smiled nicely, receiving the same expression in return.
"You girls must be really proud," Miguel said, putting his hands behind his back.
"Mochiron," the darker-haired one said. "We've heard all about Dallet-sama's [2] around here."
"Ah, then you've just heard the rumors, not the truth," Miguel said. As they questioned him about what he meant, he began to move slowly around as if he were about to leave. "I thought you girls knew."
"Knew what?" The auburn one began to get annoyed.
"Well…" Miguel said, stopping so that he was facing the direction of Dilandau and Dallet, not the girls. "You know how all the Ryuugekitai have their own rooms on level two?"
"Yeah?" the girls said together.
"Well, Dallet has cameras in his room," Miguel said. "He videotapes what goes on in there, makes copies, and sells it. You know, like to porn stores.
"What?" the blonde said. She seemed a bit wary of that. "I didn't know the Ryuugekitai was in to that kind of business…"
Miguel shrugged. "We're not actually," he said. "It's something Dallet does on the down-low. Dilandau doesn't even know about it."
"Masaka…" The second girl began to look like the first.
"Demo, that shouldn't discourage you to go up to level two with Dallet," Miguel said, snickering deep in his throat so he wouldn't sound like he was making it up. "The only people that buy his videos are mostly dirty old men…and well, sometimes pimps looking for new prostitutes…"
The girls exchanged glances and Miguel smirked, believing he had done more than enough. "Well, since it's technically a secret, don't tell Dallet I told you," Miguel said as he planned to retreat. Dilandau seemed as though he were nearly through "talking" with Dallet, "He wouldn't want to pay you for all the copies he's gonna make. Ja."
Miguel was able to safely laugh about their worried comments when he was halfway back to his table. *Ooo, that was good story,* he thought. *I know Dilandau will be pleased with my work.*
*****
"…so be prepared when we all go up to level three," Dilandau concluded. He had spent a little time making Dallet sweat, rubbed in that he couldn't drink, and finally got around to what he actually wanted to "talk" to him about. "I know you usually spend a lot of time on the middle floor, so I don't want you in the middle of something when the time comes."
"Hai…Dilandau-san…" Dallet was a minute away from frowning. The only appropriate way to describe his conversation with Dilandau was bullshit. Absolute bullshit. He didn't know what Dilandau's game was, but he could tell he was simply wasting his time. Dallet concluded that Dilandau's purpose in their "chat' was to just make him anxious. That worked a little, but Dallet wasn't going to be overly cautious like Gatty. He smirked at the though of him as Dilandau permitted him to leave.
*Gatty…* he thought, walking back to the girls, *ano baka. Spending all his time frettin' when he could be liked me--well, not as good as me-- and take advantage of all of the girls about. *Maa ii (Whatever), he's none of my concern.*
When Dallet met up with the two girls again, taking no notice of their diminished interest, he decided he would brag to Gatty later about having two girls. "So, you two ready to go?" he asked.
"Um…you know what?" the blonde said, slowly backing away. "I think we've changed our minds."
"Hun?" Dallet looked as though he had been randomly slapped in the face.
"Yeah..." the other said. "Suddenly we're not in the mood any more…"
"Na-nani--naze??" Dallet's jaw nearly fell to the floor when the girls simply shrugged and disappeared into the crowds of people. "Na…nan da yo??"
Dallet began to shake in anger, desiring to strike someone, but didn't have anyone warranting such a blow. *Wait a minute… he thought. *Everything was cool until I went to talk to Dilandau. Masaka, did Miguel say something?*
Dallet glanced at Miguel now sharing drinks with people Dallet assumed were business associates. He narrowed his eyes and turned them upon Dilandau who was hanging around a sickly Shesta. Neither seemed to be concerned with him (secretly smirking at him) as they would be if they had planned something, so he gave up on the matter. Dallet was still pissed, but it wasn't as if he couldn't find some other willing participant. The wasted time, however, nearly made him want to forget the whole thing completely.
*****
Gatty tapped down his fifth cigarette. Immediately he took out a fresh one and lit the end of it. He had seen the whole thing that happened to Dallet, and it didn't make him one bit more at ease about Dilandau. He had a good idea (having seen Dilandau and Miguel speaking before they split up) that Dilandau told Miguel to discourage the two girls from going up to level two. Gatty was satisfied with his decision to keep a watch on Dilandau, feeling that between him and Dallet, he were the smarter.
*Sure, Dallet,* Gatty thought. He couldn't help but laugh at Dallet's stupidity. *We're off the hook, all right. Hmph, orokana (fool)…*
*****
"Ya did all right," Dilandau said, rotating his glass in his hand.
"…I'm not going to drink any more tonight…" Shesta said, wondering if Dilandau were drinking just to mock him. "I feel better, though."
Dilandau's laugh was cut off as he lifted his glass and allowed the red liquid into his mouth. Shesta watched him, again wondering what was in his "specialty" drink. During the period they worked at the Z, Dilandau had worked as bartender and invented some red drink called a "Red Guymelef. [3]" Whatever it was, whenever Shesta saw anyone but him drink it, the person always ended up coughing and spitting the drink out. Dilandau finished it as if it were orange juice and let out a contented smile.
"Ah, I wish I could convince Allen to buy a mini bar in our house…" Dilandau said. He chuckled at the thought. "He'd never trust me to drink, though."
"Aa," Shesta said, a bit surprised Dilandau wasn't plotting anything at the moment. He guessed Dilandau was finished torturing Dallet.
"Anyway, Dallet's close to getting someone to go with him to level two again. I can't have that."
Shesta made a silent laugh. *I spoke way too soon,* he thought.
"While you were getting that liquor out of your system, I got Miguel to chase off his first two choices and another plan came to mind."
"Sou ka?" Shesta said, referring to both matters. "How'd Miguel do it?"
"He told them something that disgusted him, I guess."
"Like what?"
"Saa (Who knows)?"
"Well, then what's your other plan?"
Dilandau made a fox-like grin. "Ah, sore wa?" he said. He picked up his glass and made the ice rattle against it.
Shesta put a hand on his forehead. *Not again…* he thought.
*****
Not that preventing Dallet from his favorite activity wasn't fun, but Dilandau decided he needed to unwind a little himself. The focus during the summer had been pranks, pranks, and petty crimes. He had spent little time with any girls. The most he had seen of any girl was the one in his dreams… But Dilandau hardly thought of that girl who didn't exist.
Dilandau, after stopping Dallet two additional times, traveled to the desk off to the side of the dance floor where one could get a key for a room on level two. As usual, there was a line of people and only one person working at the desk. Dilandau shrugged, a line never being a problem for him since he had privileges, and went to the very front. He raised a brow at the man that stood before him.
"Smalls?" Dilandau said.
Smalls grinned and extended his hand to him. "Albatou! Long time no see, man!"
"Sou." Dilandau shook his hand and shared his grin. "Never thought you'd get a promotion like this."
"Heh, kiss my ass," Smalls said, his grin turning triumphant. "So, you want your room, right?"
"No, I'd thought I spend the night looking at your ugly face," Dilandau said casually. He and Smalls had been like that toward one another since they first met.
Smalls gave him the finger. "You're a real asshole, Albatou." Dilandau merely shrugged and smiled at him as if they were having a pleasant conversation.
"Excuse me," a girl said, distracting Smalls from Dilandau. "My boyfriend and I would like a room, you know!"
"Yeah, yeah, don't have a fucking cornea," Smalls muttered. He glanced back at Dilandau. "Uh, Albatou, you think you can get the key yourself? I'm kinda busy."
"For once," Dilandau said, walking behind the desk.
"Ha ha! You know where you can go, Albatou!" Smalls said, still facing the line while he tried to get the impatient girl satisfied.
"This is what I was counting on…" Dilandau said quietly to himself. He examined the board where all the keys were held and grabbed the one that was to his room. The he saw Dallet's room key. Dilandau grinned and switched the number of that key with the number that went to Shesta's room. He checked behind him to make sure Smalls wasn't watching and then came from behind the desk.
"Thanks," Dilandau said as he was leaving.
"Whatever," Smalls said, raising a brow at him. *He's never thanked me before,* he thought.
"Hey!" a guy in front of him said.
"Yeah, all right!" Smalls said, letting out a breath. "Shit…"
*****
Dallet slammed his fist down on a table. "Fuck!" he exclaimed. "Dilandau's so--" He tugged at the end of his long hair. "Fucking Gatty was right…"
When Dallet had first been deprived of a trip to level two, he had only suspected Dilandau had a hand in that, but the other three failures he knew weren't coincidence. Dallet had just managed to seduce a girl when Shesta came up to him. Regardless of Shesta's ranking in the Ryuugekitai, it was still hard to overlook his general innocent look. Shesta's visit was not innocent; he vomited on both Dallet and the girl. The girl ran screaming while Shesta made a lame apology about he should drink so much. Dallet was about to kick his ass for ruining his shirt, but Dilandau came by (too perfectly) and told him the shirt could easily be cleaned. Dallet resisted his urge and simply rid himself of the shirt completely. Luckily, that last time he had been to the Z, he had left a shirt.
Dallet went at it for the third time and had Guimel and Viole in his way. They appeared to be fighting because they were drunk and confused, but that too was overly perfect. During their rumble, which moved all over the place, they happened to knock into the girl Dallet was talking to. This action did enough damage to the girl that when she fell that she could not go with Dallet. Viole and Guimel quickly got over their drunkenness and shrugged off the incident. Dallet wanted to kill them, but fighting the two together was like fighting Gatty along with Shesta (almost). Viole and Guimel did a lot of fighting in pairs and knew how to work better together than any other two of the Ryuugekitai. At that point Dallet temporarily gave up; he would wait for Dilandau to concern himself with something else.
Around one o'clock Dallet saw his chance--Dilandau had gotten a group (five in all) of girls that were practically begging him to take them up to level two with him. In a way Dallet had thought Dilandau was purposely taking five girls to say "you could have had this many by now." It irked him, but he waited until he was sure Dilandau was gone. Then, as an extra precaution, he made sure Miguel, Shesta, Viole, and Guimel weren't left with orders to impede him once again. All of them seemed preoccupied, so he took a shot at it.
Dallet cursed as he remembered how close he was--so damn close. However, when he had went to unlock his room, the key wouldn't work. He couldn't figure it out at all. Then he attempted to get someone on the staff to help him, but they were all busy. Several of them were trying to clean up the mess that Guimel and Viole had made, while others were taking care of the areas Shesta had vomited in. Dallet swore he only had thrown up on himself and the girl, but obviously not. Finally the rest of the staff were busy making security checks because Miguel had said someone else had mentioned something about a gun. In short, no one ever helped Dallet, so the girl got tired of waiting (and accused him of pretending to be part of the Ryuugekitai) and left him. Now it was getting close to the time that Dilandau said they would go up to level three. Though their leader was still occupied in his room, he wouldn't be more than a minute or so over the time he had set. Otherwise, he would have left the time up for grabs.
"God, he had everyone against me!" Dallet said, hitting the table again.
"Yeah, don't you feel like a jackass?" Gatty said. Dallet looked at him, wondering how long he'd been standing at his table.
"Shut your fucking mouth!" Dallet snapped. Gatty was the last person he wanted to see.
Gatty simply laughed and sat down across from him. "Haven't you known Dilandau-san long enough to know he'll always strike you when your eyes are closed?"
"Yeah, and when they're open too," Dallet returned, putting his hands on the table. "I see Dilandau-san hasn't gotten you yet."
"S…so?" Gatty said. He lost about half of his smugness.
Dallet took his turn to laugh. "The night's not over," he said. "Dilandau-san must be waiting to do something big to you."
The two locked into a deadly stare-down--an unsaid agreement to attack the first one that said another word. "Omae-tachi mata (You guys again)?" a voice said, interrupting them.
"Di…landau-san…" Gatty and Dallet said in unison, despite the pause in saying his name.
"The Ryuugekitai shouldn't act like bitter enemies," Dilandau said. He laid his hand on the table and leaned against it.
*As if you have nothing to do with that,* Gatty thought sourly. His eyes now on Dilandau, he noticed the unevenness of his shirt. "Uh, your shirt, Dilandau-san."
"Hmm?" Dilandau examined his shirt and noticed he had began buttoning his shirt on the wrong button. "Oh, I guess I was in a bit of a rush…"
Dallet managed to keep an unaffected visage but his fingers curled into his palm. *If I didn't know any better I'd say he was throwing it in my face again…* he thought. *It wouldn't be a wild assumption to think Dilandau purposely did that to his shirt just so the topic would come up.*
"You know, I had invited Shesta to come up with me," Dilandau said as he rebut toned his shirt.
Dallet raised a brow wondering why he was bringing him up, but Gatty saw that Shesta had walked behind Dallet without his knowing. Apparently Dilandau wanted to pick at Shesta, not Dallet, but of course Dallet didn't see it that way.
"The girls really wanted him to join, but he said he didn't feel well," Dilandau went on. To Dallet, Dilandau seemed to be staring out into space, but he was actually looking at Shesta. "Maybe he doesn't swing that way?"
Gatty only began to laugh when saw how upset Shesta's face became after that. Dilandau, too, seemed to only laugh after seeing Shesta's expression, but Dallet thought they were merely laughing at his rhetorical question. Behind him Shesta was hesitating to defend himself while Gatty and Dilandau were laughing. Dallet, a bit relieved of his tension, allowed himself to contribute to the ridicule of Shesta.
"Well, he does dress like a fag a lot," Dallet said. He jumped when Shesta's hand slammed down next to him on the table. "What the--"
"Maybe you're the faggot," Shesta sneered above the laughter of Dilandau and Gatty (both even more amused). He and Dallet were now firmly gazing at each other. "I saw you try to go up to level two four times and never quite make it… probably because you don't want to admit that girls just don't do it for you any more. [4]"
Dilandau wished he had a tiny recorder; Shesta usually didn't engage in verbal squabbles (he had always been the type that vented on the inside), but when he did, he was vicious. However, Dilandau didn't have the luxury of amusing himself with Shesta for long. He had to prevent Dallet and Shesta from fighting so that they wouldn't go off his schedule.
"Let's get going," Dilandau said in the middle of Dallet's profanities toward Shesta. "I think we all need to take some time to chill."
"Like we should have from the beginning…" Gatty muttered. As Dilandau glanced at him with a thin smile, Gatty hoped his face had shown that he had meant to say that (he had intended to only think it).
"Hmph, let's go get Viole and the others," Dilandau said. He started off before any of them agreed.
Shesta glared at Dallet a moment before following Dilandau; Dallet and Gatty went at the same time, Gatty wearing a smile.
"You knew Shesta was there the whole time, didn't you?" Dallet asked as casually as if asking him "did it rain last night?"
"Aa. Dilandau-san did too." Some reason after that little altercation with Shesta, Gatty was in really good mood.
"Yappari (I knew it)…" Dallet merely wore a light frown.
"Not as if you would have care if Shesta were there or not."
"Gatty," Dallet said, really getting tired of hearing his voice, "do me a favor and shut the hell up."
"Whatever," Gatty complied. He went ahead of Dallet, smile still in place.
"Maybe I'll wreck his car…" Dallet murmured to himself.
*****
Gatty wasn't sure, but he had a feeling that his reason for being on level three with the rest of the Ryuugekitai was to just be there. He didn't seriously think Dilandau wanted him to get high and then drive him home. If that were the case, Dilandau could have let him drink. It wasn't as if Gatty drank excessively (all the Ryuugekitai except Shesta and Guimel drank more than they knew they needed). Still, in the "high" room, the vapors were enough to have an effect on him, so Gatty did little smoking. However, he noticed that Dallet had been taking no heed that he had to drive Gatty's car that night, so Gatty did his best to keep him in line. They stayed in the room a little over an hour, but lingered around the Z for about an additional hour. Gatty had a clear enough head to drive (he still felt a little like he was floating) and literally shook Dallet back to his senses, threatening to kill him if his car was damaged.
Gatty himself had only driven Dilandau's car three times before, never forgetting what Dilandau had told him the first time: "damage my car and I damage your life." Gatty doubted even someone who didn't know Dilandau that well would think it was an empty threat. He drove with ten times more caution than he did when he had take his driving test; the evaluator wouldn't have made his life hell if he messed up.
For once Dilandau's silence was comforting (not that when he spoke Gatty was more at ease) and he had been quiet since he sat down in the front passenger seat. Miguel and Shesta had already been dropped off, respectively, and Gatty planned to walk home since he lived relatively close to Dilandau (and Shesta, for that matter).
Gatty glanced at Dilandau to make sure he wasn't asleep. He wasn't; his eyes were set ahead of him in a sort of daze. Gatty didn't question it, not sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
They pulled up into Dilandau's driveway a little later and still Gatty did not see Dilandau make any indication he were awake. There was no way he'd simply leave Dilandau's car keys in his lap and go on home. And, for some reason, there was no way he'd speak first. So Gatty simply sat there, silently waiting to hear Dilandau's voice.
Gatty turned as he heard Dilandau move in his seat. "Were you worried?" Dilandau said, breaking the silence.
"Nani?" Gatty almost laughed because the two of them were speaking softly as if they had consideration of how late it was.
"You really thought I was going to get you," Dilandau said, smiling and closing his eyes, "like I got Dallet."
"Was I wrong to think like that?"
"Iie, but you two were lucky I've been in a good mood."
"Sou ka." Now Gatty relaxed. It hadn't been that Dilandau was plotting something great against him--he was just feeling generous.
"Shikashi, I wanted to see you sweat for a while," Dilandau continued. "Dallet doesn't seem to heed me that well."
"He's cocky," Gatty replied.
"I think we all are."
Gatty raised a brow at Dilandau. *He must really be in a good mood,* he thought. "What's putting you in such a good mood."
"Boku no tanjoubi (my birthday)."
"Oh, yeah…" Gatty said, he looked up at the car's roof as he thought of the exact date. "It's nearly the same day school starts."
"Hmph, yes, unfortunately." Dilandau opened his eyes again and seemed to be grinning at his reflection in the windshield ahead. "I'll be turning sixteen which means I can take less precautions while driving with my real license."
"What precautions?" Gatty said, able to joke with him in this atmosphere.
"Uruse," Dilandau said casually. Gatty chuckled. "I hope Dallet doesn't dent your car; I might feel a little responsible."
Gatty pulled out the keys from the ignition and handed them to Dilandau. "No, you wouldn't," he said, "even if you are more than a 'little' responsible."
Dilandau only laughed in agreement. "I was hoping I'd see you two fight," he admitted.
"Yappari," Gatty said, nodding his head.
"Hoh? Am I getting that predictable?"
Gatty made wry smile. "I wish. I doubt even a psychic could predict your actions."
Dilandau smiled and opened the car door. As he exited, Gatty did the same and stood with him in front of the car. "What do you predict Allen will say?" Dilandau said, swaying slightly back and forth as if antsy or perhaps slightly light-headed.
"Masaka, he can't still be up?" Gatty said. He glanced at the house and saw no lights on.
"He's always lurking about…meddling in my business…" Dilandau put a hand to his head. "Doesn't matter. He'll probably be too tired to yell at me for long."
"Aa." Gatty had to smile; Dilandau wasn't completely himself yet, and it was rare when Dilandau revealed that. Gatty guessed Dilandau didn't like to show that other things and people had an effect on him.
"Might as well get it over with." Dilandau stretched and started for his door. "We might not do morning business tomorrow--or today, rather--so I'll call you later."
"Hai, Dilandau-san." His smile widened after Dilandau went into his house. "He claimed he hardly ever needed to sleep…"
*****
Dilandau was glad it was quiet and dark in the house, only desiring to shut himself in his room now. However, as he passed through the den, the lights flickered on. Dilandau didn't want to look mad, but the lights irritated his eyes.
"Do you have any concern of others in your family?"
Dilandau turned around a little too fast and had to grab a hold of one of the couches for support. "What family?" he said, pretending he was having no trouble.
Allen stepped up to him, examing him like a new species of an animal. "You're going to send yourself to an early grave if you continue like this," he said, literally talking down to him.
Dilandau was more annoyed at his brother's height right now than anything else. "Urasai!" he said, but not loud enough to give himself discomfort. "I'll do as I please."
"Did you drive home in this condition??"
"What the hell's with all these questions??" Dilandau said. He pushed himself away from the couch and went off again. "Shit, every time…"
"Matte! I'm not through with you yet!" Allen began to follow him.
"Allen, get off my fucking back!" Dilandau nearly tripped over a table and cursed. *I can't concentrate and talk to him at the same time,* he realized.
"I can't--you and Celena are my responsibility now. I can't just sit back and watch you either end up dead or spend the rest of your life in prison!"
"Prison? Who's going to prison?" Dilandau stopped walking, figuring it was better to wait until he could shut up Allen up. I've never done anything illegal."
"Drinking underage and while driving during restricted times, taking illegal drugs--"
"How the hell would you know what I do?" Dilandau finally faced him, forcing a menacing expression on his face. "Do you have proof?"
"You look drunk, you smell like marijuana--"
"Heh, that doesn't mean anything." Dilandau laughed more so because he found the whole conversation they were having was ridiculous. "When you see me doing these things you accuse me of, then we'll talk. Oyasumi (Night)."
"Dilandau!" Allen was tempted to stop him from going up the stairs, but he thought it better to leave him alone before he agitated him enough to make him fall. He sighed and cursed his younger brother.
Dilandau, near his bedroom door, laughed into the wall as he leaned against it. "That was too easy…" he mumbled, satisfied with himself.
--To be continued…
--Some footnotes:
[1]-Notice that when the Ryuugekitai are apart from the rest of the Ryuugekitai they refer to Dilandau without the "san." I didn't want anyone to think I just forget to put it there.
[2]-I decided to do that weird thing where girls in anime (for whatever reason) decide that guys deserve to have "sama" added to their name. My interpretation of it is that they think they're so gorgeous or cool that they deserve that much respect. So, several of the Ryuugekitai will have girl calling them in this manner.
[3]-Doesn't that sound like a cool drink? Or at least some kind of concoction that knocks you out after taking it… ^_^
[4]-Why did Shesta say something so rude? I just wanted him to say something unexpected just because I don't want him to seem like he's as wimpy as he looks. He can be like Dilandau when he wants to be.
--Next Chapter: Don't know the title but it will explain how Gatty became associated with Dilandau, the guys' first day or school, and maybe the appearance of some familiar characters? Don't know, but I doubt any other chapter will be like chapter two, so if some of you didn't like it, bear with me, and for those who did, don't hesitate to tell me so! ^_^
Chapter Two: Dilandau in the Night, Part Two
"So, Albatou," the bartender said, setting a bottle of liquor in front of Dilandau, "you gonna pay your tab this time?"
Dilandau shrugged. "Might as well," he said. He pulled out a credit card and laid it next to the bottle. "Courtesy of Allen Schezar."
The man took the card and went to process it while Shesta glanced at the bottle of copper liquid. "Couldn't you just as easily get Allen to give you your own credit card?" Shesta asked.
"Why get one when Allen's are so accessible?" Dilandau said. He took back the card when as the tender handed it to him again. "We're 'family,' so it's no problem."
"Start up another tab for the Ryuugekitai?" the tender asked.
"Aa." Dilandau grinned at Shesta who displayed less enjoyment. "Saa, let's get you in a better mood."
"Me?" Shesta blinked, wondering if he looked as grim as Gatty had.
"Sou," Dilandau said, opening the bottle. "Oi, can we get two shot glasses?"
"Uh, I… I don't think I want--" Shesta said as a glass was set in front of him.
"What's wrong with you, Shesta?" Dilandau interrupted. "You usually volunteer to be the designated driver and when you don't, you barely drink."
"I don't like it as much as the rest of you do…" Shesta confessed.
"Bakana (That's stupid)," Dilandau said. He poured some of the unknown liquid into Shesta's glass. "We'll play a game."
"I don't know…" Shesta said, waving his hand.
"Shesta, if you attempt to tell me no," Dilandau said, chuckling as he poured himself some of the drink, "well, I think you can figure out the rest."
Shesta swallowed. "What kind of game?" he asked.
"Very simple," Dilandau said. "We keep doubling the number of shots that the other takes until one gives up."
"This is silly," Shesta said, wringing the chain around his neck in one hand, "we both know that you're gonna be the one--"
Dilandau's hand sweeping across his face ended his protest there. Shesta held his stinging face, but noticed it wasn't as hard as it usually would have been. A regular slap from Dilandau would have easily knocked you out of your seat, and Dilandau rarely would be smiling after the action. Shesta stared at him as if he were growing a second head (scary only because that would be like two Dilandaus).
"You were saying?" Dilandau asked politely with the obvious deadly undertone.
"Who'll go first?" Shesta didn't dare try his luck again. Just because he received a mild slap the first time was no guarantee that he'd be slapped in the same manner if he annoyed Dilandau again.
"I'll be nice," Dilandau said, laughing at the thought of him being so. "You can go first."
Shesta sighed and picked up his glass. Dilandau, knowing him well, expected the blonde to actually sip his shot. "Drink it all at once," he ordered. "We don't want to be here all night, now do we?"
*Dilandau would never forget to predict your actions,* Shesta thought before gulping down whatever it was they were drinking. He'd ask Dilandau, but he predicted the pale-haired boy would merely chuckle at his question.
"Ii yo," Dilandau said, grinning in approval.
Shesta had to admire the way Dilandau took his two shots as if they were nothing. He had always though Dilandau was an amazing drinker; Shesta could count the number of times he had seen Dilandau drunk on one hand. The leader of the Ryuugekitai could hold a lot of liquor. Regardless, Shesta knew it couldn't be all that good for him, but Dilandau showed little side effects. This was also true with several of the drugs he used. Most people would act totally off the wall, but not Dilandau. Only his regular temper flares would make him act like that.
"That's the way to do it," Dilandau said. He slid the bottle over to Shesta. "Your turn."
"H-hai," Shesta said. He repressed a sigh and poured himself another shot. The first two he took then already made him feel strange so he tried his best to counteract it. "Ne, Dilandau-san."
"Hmm?" Dilandau coughed away a laugh; Shesta was shaking his head after completing the four shots as if he were already effected. With Shesta in that state, Dilandau was generally interested in what he had to say.
"Are you through getting back Gatty and Dallet?"
Dilandau snickered and poured himself another shot. "Yes and no," he said. Shesta expected him to elaborate, but Dilandau simply took his eight shots in a relatively speedy manner.
"Yes and no?" Shesta repeated.
"I know Gatty wasn't to blame for that brief slacking off," Dilandau said, grinning off into space. "Shikashi, I like to see him on his toes, always expecting me to strike."
"But you won't."
"I guess not." Dilandau shrugged.
"And Dallet?"
Dilandau put a hand on Shesta's back, "Have you noticed Dallet has a steady pattern every time we come to the Z?"
"Uh, no…" Shesta wouldn't even attempt to recall; he was having trouble remembering how to count.
"Sixteen," Dilandau said, giving Shesta an eerie feeling. Dilandau simply snorted and waited for Shesta to start pouring before continuing. "Dallet is usually the first of us to go up to level two."
Shesta held his head. *Damn, sixteen?* he thought after taking two. "Sou…ka?"
"Uhn. Tonight's going to be different for him."
Shesta took two more. "How…how so?"
"I'm gong to make sure he never sets foot on that floor. And you're going to help me."
"H…hai…" Shesta said. His head sunk down on the bar counter. *Mou ii…* he thought.
*****
Gatty released a trail of smoke from his mouth, taking partial care not to blow directly in the girl's face across from him. The way her dark eyebrows lowered suggested she would have been offended if he had. Then again, she was already offended.
"I thought you said you'd call me," the girl said.
"I've been busy," Gatty said. He rested his cigarette on a glass tray. "What do you expect, Mimi?"
"I expect you to at least give me your cell number then," Mimi said, pushing a strand of her chocolate hair behind her ear.
"Can't do that." Gatty lightly smiled. Seeing girls pout was as fun as Dilandau had boasted. "Dilandau [1] says that we have to keep that phone free for Ryuugekitai business."
Mimi grasped his arm. "You guys are so elusive," she complained. "Don't you ever take the time to relax?"
"What do you call this?"
Mimi's eyes brightened. "All right, then let's dance."
"Uh…no…" From his seat he had a clear view of Dilandau enticing Shesta to drink shots with him. If he went on the dance floor, he could easily have Dilandau striking unexpectedly upon him.
"Aw, come on!" Mimi begged. "This is one of my favorite songs!"
"Iie." Gatty picked up his cigarette again and took a long drag from it. As he exhaled, Mimi's face scrunched up in disapproval.
"I thought you said you were trying to quit," she said.
Gatty repeated the same action before speaking. "I say a lot of things, don't I?" he said. He grinned when Mimi frowned and rose from her seat.
"Saite (You're the worst)!" Mimi said, heading for the dance floor.
*Oh, well,* Gatty thought, proceeding with more smoking. *It's not as if I need to worry about her being angry at me. She wouldn't hesitate a second to go to level two with me…*
*****
"So what do you think, Guimel?" Viole said, pointing to at medium- sized guy dancing with a girl on the dance floor. "You think I can take him?"
"If not, you're going to get your ass kicked," Guimel said.
"Like you that one time--"
"I thought I asked you not to bring that up again."
"All right, all right," Viole said, snickering. "We'll do the usual-- you distract the guy, and I'll cut in."
"If he has a crew, you want me to help you?" Guimel said.
Viole sucked his teeth. "Shit, that punk?" he said. "I'll be surprised if he'll give me a good enough fight."
"We'll see," Guimel said, standing up. Viole did that same.
Even when the Ryuugekitai was taking a break, the members still intentionally caused trouble. In fact, it was rare when trouble arose around them that wasn't on purpose. Viole and Guimel, especially did little things like this just to see like they had a valid reason for kicking someone's ass.
*Hmm… guess I'll go with the "drop" act,* Guimel thought as he walked up to their target. "Oi!"
The boy stopped dancing with the girl and faced Guimel. "What do you want?"
"Did you drop these keys?" Guimel said, holding up some keys from his pocket.
The boy blinked and began fishing in his pocket for his keys. Meanwhile, Viole slyly pulled the boy's dancing with her. At first the girl was surprised, but then she smiled as if she didn't care or recognized Viole as one of the Ryuugekitai.
"Nah, they ain't mine," the boy said, finally locating his keys.
"Oh, sorry," Guimel said, shrugging. He laughed not only from the deception, but from the boy's stupidity as well. Who couldn't distinguish their own keys from another?
"What's so funny?" the boy demanded.
"That your girl?" Guimel asked, pointing behind the guy.
"Huh?" The boy turned around and instantly spotted his girl dancing in a lewd manner with Viole. "Oi!!"
"Here we go…" Guimel said, eagerly watching the boy approach Viole.
"This is my girl!" The boy pushed Viole back from the girl and stood between her and Viole. "What do you think you're doing, bitch??"
Viole smiled and put a hand in his pocket. "Bitch?" he repeated, expecting such an insult. "Who the hell are you talking to?"
"You, motherfucka!" He pushed Viole again who remained calm.
"Hmph," Viole said, smoothing his shirt. Back when he wasn't part of the Ryuugekitai he would have already cut on the fool, but now that he was one of Dilandau's crew, he felt like he had unlimited power--that which he didn't choose to waste freely upon undeserving souls. Still he enjoyed flaunting it.
"What you think you're better than me?" the boy asked. Viole merely smirked, invoking the boy further. "Onore!"
The boy swung at Viole and he almost laughed at how easily he swayed out of the way. It was as if he knew exactly when he was going to strike; well, Viole was pretty sure after his cocky attitude that the guy would try to hit him. Viole would have, anyway, if he were in his place back when he was just a lone thug.
"Heh," Viole said. A few dancers had noticed and had stopped dancing to watch the fight.
The boy clenched his teeth and tried his luck again. He failed at hitting Viole, but succeeded in producing Viole's laughter.
"What are you trying to do?" Viole said, now beside the guy. He looked as if he was going to try to hit Viole again, but Viole skillfully slammed his fist against the boy's jaw before he had the chance. "Something like that?"
They boy stumbled back into a couple who were dancing, and Viole put a hand in his pocket. He looked behind him at Guimel who was watching the whole thing. They shared grins before the boy righted himself again. Viole looked forward once he heard the boy make a loud, aggravated sound and charge at him once again. Viole laughed as he easily caught the boy's fists. Viole narrowed his eyes as the boy tried to free himself from Viole's grip.
"Next time you call someone a 'bitch'--" Viole pulled the guy forward and brought his kneecap into the boy's abdomen. "--or a 'motherfucka'--"
The boy doubled over, coughing up spit, while people cheered. "-- learn how to fight!" Viole finished, bringing his fist forcefully up to the boy's chin. The boy fell down on his back and ceased movement.
Applause pervaded much of the commotion concerning the fight; however, a few people expressed pity for the guy on the floor. Viole tugged on one of the wavy strands of hair in front of his ears. "That wasn't even slightly satisfying…" he muttered.
Guimel walked over to him and grinned. "I guess we gave him too much credit," he said.
Viole would have responded, but he was stopped by the girl the whole fight had started over. She seemed impressed by Viole instead of worried about her former dance partner's condition. It was all well and good as Club Z workers moved him out of the way so people could dance.
"That was awesome!" the girl gushed. "You're a great fighter!"
Viole rolled his eyes and stopped playing with his hair. "Mochiron (Of course)," he said, eyes anywhere but on her. "I am part of the Ryuugekitai, after all."
The girl grinned and stepped up closer to him. "Well, in that case, wanna get a room with me on level two?"
Viole snorted as if she were just some random girl. In truth she were; he had already forgotten she were the girl he had been dancing with a little while ago, her only purpose being to make her boyfriend jealous.
"No thanks," Viole said without much thought.
"Hell, if he won't I will," Guimel quickly said. The girl smiled as if she'd consent to that, but Viole grabbed Guimel's arm and began dragging him away. "Iku zo, bakayarou," he said.
"Heh," Guimel said, once they were away from the dance floor. "What's up with that?"
"Please," Viole said, releasing his arm, "that would be too easy. Just like when I beat up her boyfriend…"
"Hmph." Guimel shrugged and grinned at Viole's back as he followed him. "You've always liked it the hard way…"
*****
Shesta had made little progress in his sixteen shots. He really wasn't a drinker and had only managed eleven out of the sixteen. Nausea consumed him, and yet Dilandau still beckoned him further. If he had been a better drinker and a fool, he'd tell Dilandau off for that.
"Come on, Shesta, you've barely drank anything," Dilandau said. He shook the nearly empty bottle. "All you need is five more."
*Dilandau's insane,* Shesta thought, all his will power being used to keep his head up and his liquor down. *I've already drank sixteen shots all together.* "I…I can't… do… any… more…"
"Sumimasen--I can't do any more," Shesta said. "I feel like I'm going to hurl…" He put a hand over his mouth and said another muffled excuse as he ran from the bar to the bathroom.
"Ah, ah," Dilandau said, pouring himself another shot. "I knew that would happen." He downed the shot and laughed. "Oh, well, we'll just have to work harder to make him a better drinker…"
Dilandau's eyes rolled on Dallet, standing near the dance floor as he spoke to two girls. *Ah, nani kore (what's this)?* he mused to himself. *Thinking of heading up to level two, Dallet?*
Dilandau smiled cruelly and changed his gaze to Miguel. His activities were more interesting; he was headed by three other males at his table, making several hand movements. Dilandau, by these clues, knew exactly what he was doing.
*Up to your old tricks, eh, Miguel?* Dilandau thought. He stood and went over to his brunette friend.
"…should be about a thousand," Miguel said, his back to his approaching leader. "That should be enough, right?"
One of the guys rubbed his chin. "Ida know…" he said. "Maybe we outta do a bit more."
"Listen, I got six five thousand ones already set and twelve one thousand ones in the process," Miguel said. "I know exactly what I'm doing- -"
"Mochiron," Dilandau came in, "you are the Ryuu most qualified for this job." He liked seeing Miguel alarmed almost as much as he did Gatty.
"Uh, we'll finish this later…" Miguel said, trying to erase any unease in his voice. "If I don't see you later, you know the number."
The three seated consented and made brief greetings to Dilandau as he left. Dilandau sat there laughing quietly to himself and wondering if they'd have as much business if he himself had handled it. Though the guys who had left were older than Dilandau, they still expressed fear of him. That didn't bother Dilandau one bit, however.
"Labariel-san," Dilandau said, getting exactly the rise out of Miguel he expected by addressing him so, "you're not planning to abuse this duty I've assigned to you, am I right? Not planning to start operating on your own?"
The old name Dilandau had used for him when he wasn't part of the Ryuugekitai and the insinuation he was planning to double-cross his leader made him nervous like he hadn't been in years. "Ma-masaka, Dilandau-san," Miguel stammered. "I-I'm just--"
Dilandau stopped him with his derisive laughter. "Joudan, joudan (a joke, a joke)," he said.
Miguel let out a breath and nodded. *Damnit,* he thought. *I hate when he does that! He could have just as easily been serious!*
"Just a little warm up for Dallet," Dilandau said, putting his hand on Miguel's shoulder.
"So, you're not finished with him yet?" Miguel asked. He wiped his brow and completely dropped his anxiety level. The mention of Dallet meant no harm for him.
"Exactly," Dilandau said. "You're going to help me keep him off level two. I was going to use Shesta, but… well, he's no use to me at the moment."
Miguel grinned, realizing that Dilandau hadn't went to Gatty, his usual choice, meaning Gatty was still in hot water as well. "And Gatty?"
"He's fine," Dilandau said. His eyes traveled on the one he spoke of.
Miguel frowned while his leader's eyes were distracted. *What's up with that?* he wondered. *How come he's letting Gatty off the hook??*
"Doushita?" Miguel jumped; Dilandau had said that before he returned his gaze on him.
"Na…nanimo nai," Miguel said, hoping his gaze into Dilandau's eyes suggested his statement were true.
"Sou." If Dilandau didn't believe him his must not have cared. "When I think of it, this plan works better with you."
"What do I have to do?" Miguel's smile gradually came back.
"You'll tell Dallet that I want to speak with him," Dilandau said. "He won't question that and if he does ask him if he wants to risk making me wait. Now, Dallet has two girls with him…"
Miguel turned back so he could see Dallet and the two girls. "…you're to scare or repulse them away without Dallet seeing you, of course."
"So once he's gone and 'speaking' with you, I chase away the girls." He faced Dilandau again.
"Sou." Dilandau retracted his hand from his shoulder. "That shouldn't be too difficult for you, desshou?"
"Iie." Miguel grinned while Dilandau began to outline his jaw with his finger. When his leader did that, it was a tale tell sign he was up to no good or perhaps plotting more.
"Yoshi," Dilandau said, resting his moving finger at the tip of his chin. "I want Dallet in the dark when the girls refuse him, so I'm going to another table, so it seems like I wasn't conspiring against him."
"Hai." Miguel already had an idea to get rid of the girls. He watched Dilandau move over to another table of people he must have known because they all greeted him when he stepped up. Miguel stood up and rubbed his hands together.
"More fun…" he commented.
*****
"Hontou?" the blonde said, smiling as if offered free money.
"Mochiron," Dallet said. "Dilandau asks me all the time if I've been with any good girls. He values my opinion greatly." Hearing the sounds of approval from the two girls, Dallet remembered how much he enjoyed being part of the Ryuugekitai. Not that he needed much help attracting the other sex, but throwing around Dilandau's name was better than flashing around bills. And, as a bonus, Dallet could pursue more women as part of the Ryuugekitai; he didn't have to be cautious about messing around with girls who were already spoken for.
"So do you ever exclusively date girls? the auburn-haired girl asked.
"Rarely," Dallet said. He grinned; he was used to this question and knew how to raise a girl's hopes. "I hope to have a girl who can keep me…entertained for a long time."
The blonde grinned and linked her arm with Dallet's. "I'm sure we can keep you entertained," she said.
"Sou desu ne." The auburn joined the blonde on Dallet's other arm.
Dallet was sure he was going to have the kind of night he intended (minus the drinking) until he saw Miguel. He didn't know why, but he felt his appearance was a bad sign. Dallet stopped in his tracks (which hadn't been many) and glared at Miguel.
"What do you want?" Dallet said, temporarily ignoring the girls on his arms.
"I just needed to tell you that Dilandau-san wants to see you," Miguel said. His eyes flashed with something; wickedness, Dallet believed.
"Na…naze?" Dallet said, stuck between apprehension and suspicious anger.
Miguel shrugged. "He didn't say." He smirked at Dallet, staring at him right in the eyes as if there was no one else in the world. "Nan da? You think I'm lying?"
The girls looked between the two, wondering why they looked as if they may fight. This held their interest, so it surprised them when Dallet released himself from their grip. It took a great deal of skill for Dallet to turn his glower back into a grin.
"I'll be right back," Dallet said, facing the girls. "Don't go anywhere."
"We'll be waiting," the blonde said. Her friend nodded in agreement.
Miguel pretending to also leave the same way he had came, but lingered by the two girls when he noticed that Dallet wasn't looking behind himself. He stepped up to the two and smiled nicely, receiving the same expression in return.
"You girls must be really proud," Miguel said, putting his hands behind his back.
"Mochiron," the darker-haired one said. "We've heard all about Dallet-sama's [2] around here."
"Ah, then you've just heard the rumors, not the truth," Miguel said. As they questioned him about what he meant, he began to move slowly around as if he were about to leave. "I thought you girls knew."
"Knew what?" The auburn one began to get annoyed.
"Well…" Miguel said, stopping so that he was facing the direction of Dilandau and Dallet, not the girls. "You know how all the Ryuugekitai have their own rooms on level two?"
"Yeah?" the girls said together.
"Well, Dallet has cameras in his room," Miguel said. "He videotapes what goes on in there, makes copies, and sells it. You know, like to porn stores.
"What?" the blonde said. She seemed a bit wary of that. "I didn't know the Ryuugekitai was in to that kind of business…"
Miguel shrugged. "We're not actually," he said. "It's something Dallet does on the down-low. Dilandau doesn't even know about it."
"Masaka…" The second girl began to look like the first.
"Demo, that shouldn't discourage you to go up to level two with Dallet," Miguel said, snickering deep in his throat so he wouldn't sound like he was making it up. "The only people that buy his videos are mostly dirty old men…and well, sometimes pimps looking for new prostitutes…"
The girls exchanged glances and Miguel smirked, believing he had done more than enough. "Well, since it's technically a secret, don't tell Dallet I told you," Miguel said as he planned to retreat. Dilandau seemed as though he were nearly through "talking" with Dallet, "He wouldn't want to pay you for all the copies he's gonna make. Ja."
Miguel was able to safely laugh about their worried comments when he was halfway back to his table. *Ooo, that was good story,* he thought. *I know Dilandau will be pleased with my work.*
*****
"…so be prepared when we all go up to level three," Dilandau concluded. He had spent a little time making Dallet sweat, rubbed in that he couldn't drink, and finally got around to what he actually wanted to "talk" to him about. "I know you usually spend a lot of time on the middle floor, so I don't want you in the middle of something when the time comes."
"Hai…Dilandau-san…" Dallet was a minute away from frowning. The only appropriate way to describe his conversation with Dilandau was bullshit. Absolute bullshit. He didn't know what Dilandau's game was, but he could tell he was simply wasting his time. Dallet concluded that Dilandau's purpose in their "chat' was to just make him anxious. That worked a little, but Dallet wasn't going to be overly cautious like Gatty. He smirked at the though of him as Dilandau permitted him to leave.
*Gatty…* he thought, walking back to the girls, *ano baka. Spending all his time frettin' when he could be liked me--well, not as good as me-- and take advantage of all of the girls about. *Maa ii (Whatever), he's none of my concern.*
When Dallet met up with the two girls again, taking no notice of their diminished interest, he decided he would brag to Gatty later about having two girls. "So, you two ready to go?" he asked.
"Um…you know what?" the blonde said, slowly backing away. "I think we've changed our minds."
"Hun?" Dallet looked as though he had been randomly slapped in the face.
"Yeah..." the other said. "Suddenly we're not in the mood any more…"
"Na-nani--naze??" Dallet's jaw nearly fell to the floor when the girls simply shrugged and disappeared into the crowds of people. "Na…nan da yo??"
Dallet began to shake in anger, desiring to strike someone, but didn't have anyone warranting such a blow. *Wait a minute… he thought. *Everything was cool until I went to talk to Dilandau. Masaka, did Miguel say something?*
Dallet glanced at Miguel now sharing drinks with people Dallet assumed were business associates. He narrowed his eyes and turned them upon Dilandau who was hanging around a sickly Shesta. Neither seemed to be concerned with him (secretly smirking at him) as they would be if they had planned something, so he gave up on the matter. Dallet was still pissed, but it wasn't as if he couldn't find some other willing participant. The wasted time, however, nearly made him want to forget the whole thing completely.
*****
Gatty tapped down his fifth cigarette. Immediately he took out a fresh one and lit the end of it. He had seen the whole thing that happened to Dallet, and it didn't make him one bit more at ease about Dilandau. He had a good idea (having seen Dilandau and Miguel speaking before they split up) that Dilandau told Miguel to discourage the two girls from going up to level two. Gatty was satisfied with his decision to keep a watch on Dilandau, feeling that between him and Dallet, he were the smarter.
*Sure, Dallet,* Gatty thought. He couldn't help but laugh at Dallet's stupidity. *We're off the hook, all right. Hmph, orokana (fool)…*
*****
"Ya did all right," Dilandau said, rotating his glass in his hand.
"…I'm not going to drink any more tonight…" Shesta said, wondering if Dilandau were drinking just to mock him. "I feel better, though."
Dilandau's laugh was cut off as he lifted his glass and allowed the red liquid into his mouth. Shesta watched him, again wondering what was in his "specialty" drink. During the period they worked at the Z, Dilandau had worked as bartender and invented some red drink called a "Red Guymelef. [3]" Whatever it was, whenever Shesta saw anyone but him drink it, the person always ended up coughing and spitting the drink out. Dilandau finished it as if it were orange juice and let out a contented smile.
"Ah, I wish I could convince Allen to buy a mini bar in our house…" Dilandau said. He chuckled at the thought. "He'd never trust me to drink, though."
"Aa," Shesta said, a bit surprised Dilandau wasn't plotting anything at the moment. He guessed Dilandau was finished torturing Dallet.
"Anyway, Dallet's close to getting someone to go with him to level two again. I can't have that."
Shesta made a silent laugh. *I spoke way too soon,* he thought.
"While you were getting that liquor out of your system, I got Miguel to chase off his first two choices and another plan came to mind."
"Sou ka?" Shesta said, referring to both matters. "How'd Miguel do it?"
"He told them something that disgusted him, I guess."
"Like what?"
"Saa (Who knows)?"
"Well, then what's your other plan?"
Dilandau made a fox-like grin. "Ah, sore wa?" he said. He picked up his glass and made the ice rattle against it.
Shesta put a hand on his forehead. *Not again…* he thought.
*****
Not that preventing Dallet from his favorite activity wasn't fun, but Dilandau decided he needed to unwind a little himself. The focus during the summer had been pranks, pranks, and petty crimes. He had spent little time with any girls. The most he had seen of any girl was the one in his dreams… But Dilandau hardly thought of that girl who didn't exist.
Dilandau, after stopping Dallet two additional times, traveled to the desk off to the side of the dance floor where one could get a key for a room on level two. As usual, there was a line of people and only one person working at the desk. Dilandau shrugged, a line never being a problem for him since he had privileges, and went to the very front. He raised a brow at the man that stood before him.
"Smalls?" Dilandau said.
Smalls grinned and extended his hand to him. "Albatou! Long time no see, man!"
"Sou." Dilandau shook his hand and shared his grin. "Never thought you'd get a promotion like this."
"Heh, kiss my ass," Smalls said, his grin turning triumphant. "So, you want your room, right?"
"No, I'd thought I spend the night looking at your ugly face," Dilandau said casually. He and Smalls had been like that toward one another since they first met.
Smalls gave him the finger. "You're a real asshole, Albatou." Dilandau merely shrugged and smiled at him as if they were having a pleasant conversation.
"Excuse me," a girl said, distracting Smalls from Dilandau. "My boyfriend and I would like a room, you know!"
"Yeah, yeah, don't have a fucking cornea," Smalls muttered. He glanced back at Dilandau. "Uh, Albatou, you think you can get the key yourself? I'm kinda busy."
"For once," Dilandau said, walking behind the desk.
"Ha ha! You know where you can go, Albatou!" Smalls said, still facing the line while he tried to get the impatient girl satisfied.
"This is what I was counting on…" Dilandau said quietly to himself. He examined the board where all the keys were held and grabbed the one that was to his room. The he saw Dallet's room key. Dilandau grinned and switched the number of that key with the number that went to Shesta's room. He checked behind him to make sure Smalls wasn't watching and then came from behind the desk.
"Thanks," Dilandau said as he was leaving.
"Whatever," Smalls said, raising a brow at him. *He's never thanked me before,* he thought.
"Hey!" a guy in front of him said.
"Yeah, all right!" Smalls said, letting out a breath. "Shit…"
*****
Dallet slammed his fist down on a table. "Fuck!" he exclaimed. "Dilandau's so--" He tugged at the end of his long hair. "Fucking Gatty was right…"
When Dallet had first been deprived of a trip to level two, he had only suspected Dilandau had a hand in that, but the other three failures he knew weren't coincidence. Dallet had just managed to seduce a girl when Shesta came up to him. Regardless of Shesta's ranking in the Ryuugekitai, it was still hard to overlook his general innocent look. Shesta's visit was not innocent; he vomited on both Dallet and the girl. The girl ran screaming while Shesta made a lame apology about he should drink so much. Dallet was about to kick his ass for ruining his shirt, but Dilandau came by (too perfectly) and told him the shirt could easily be cleaned. Dallet resisted his urge and simply rid himself of the shirt completely. Luckily, that last time he had been to the Z, he had left a shirt.
Dallet went at it for the third time and had Guimel and Viole in his way. They appeared to be fighting because they were drunk and confused, but that too was overly perfect. During their rumble, which moved all over the place, they happened to knock into the girl Dallet was talking to. This action did enough damage to the girl that when she fell that she could not go with Dallet. Viole and Guimel quickly got over their drunkenness and shrugged off the incident. Dallet wanted to kill them, but fighting the two together was like fighting Gatty along with Shesta (almost). Viole and Guimel did a lot of fighting in pairs and knew how to work better together than any other two of the Ryuugekitai. At that point Dallet temporarily gave up; he would wait for Dilandau to concern himself with something else.
Around one o'clock Dallet saw his chance--Dilandau had gotten a group (five in all) of girls that were practically begging him to take them up to level two with him. In a way Dallet had thought Dilandau was purposely taking five girls to say "you could have had this many by now." It irked him, but he waited until he was sure Dilandau was gone. Then, as an extra precaution, he made sure Miguel, Shesta, Viole, and Guimel weren't left with orders to impede him once again. All of them seemed preoccupied, so he took a shot at it.
Dallet cursed as he remembered how close he was--so damn close. However, when he had went to unlock his room, the key wouldn't work. He couldn't figure it out at all. Then he attempted to get someone on the staff to help him, but they were all busy. Several of them were trying to clean up the mess that Guimel and Viole had made, while others were taking care of the areas Shesta had vomited in. Dallet swore he only had thrown up on himself and the girl, but obviously not. Finally the rest of the staff were busy making security checks because Miguel had said someone else had mentioned something about a gun. In short, no one ever helped Dallet, so the girl got tired of waiting (and accused him of pretending to be part of the Ryuugekitai) and left him. Now it was getting close to the time that Dilandau said they would go up to level three. Though their leader was still occupied in his room, he wouldn't be more than a minute or so over the time he had set. Otherwise, he would have left the time up for grabs.
"God, he had everyone against me!" Dallet said, hitting the table again.
"Yeah, don't you feel like a jackass?" Gatty said. Dallet looked at him, wondering how long he'd been standing at his table.
"Shut your fucking mouth!" Dallet snapped. Gatty was the last person he wanted to see.
Gatty simply laughed and sat down across from him. "Haven't you known Dilandau-san long enough to know he'll always strike you when your eyes are closed?"
"Yeah, and when they're open too," Dallet returned, putting his hands on the table. "I see Dilandau-san hasn't gotten you yet."
"S…so?" Gatty said. He lost about half of his smugness.
Dallet took his turn to laugh. "The night's not over," he said. "Dilandau-san must be waiting to do something big to you."
The two locked into a deadly stare-down--an unsaid agreement to attack the first one that said another word. "Omae-tachi mata (You guys again)?" a voice said, interrupting them.
"Di…landau-san…" Gatty and Dallet said in unison, despite the pause in saying his name.
"The Ryuugekitai shouldn't act like bitter enemies," Dilandau said. He laid his hand on the table and leaned against it.
*As if you have nothing to do with that,* Gatty thought sourly. His eyes now on Dilandau, he noticed the unevenness of his shirt. "Uh, your shirt, Dilandau-san."
"Hmm?" Dilandau examined his shirt and noticed he had began buttoning his shirt on the wrong button. "Oh, I guess I was in a bit of a rush…"
Dallet managed to keep an unaffected visage but his fingers curled into his palm. *If I didn't know any better I'd say he was throwing it in my face again…* he thought. *It wouldn't be a wild assumption to think Dilandau purposely did that to his shirt just so the topic would come up.*
"You know, I had invited Shesta to come up with me," Dilandau said as he rebut toned his shirt.
Dallet raised a brow wondering why he was bringing him up, but Gatty saw that Shesta had walked behind Dallet without his knowing. Apparently Dilandau wanted to pick at Shesta, not Dallet, but of course Dallet didn't see it that way.
"The girls really wanted him to join, but he said he didn't feel well," Dilandau went on. To Dallet, Dilandau seemed to be staring out into space, but he was actually looking at Shesta. "Maybe he doesn't swing that way?"
Gatty only began to laugh when saw how upset Shesta's face became after that. Dilandau, too, seemed to only laugh after seeing Shesta's expression, but Dallet thought they were merely laughing at his rhetorical question. Behind him Shesta was hesitating to defend himself while Gatty and Dilandau were laughing. Dallet, a bit relieved of his tension, allowed himself to contribute to the ridicule of Shesta.
"Well, he does dress like a fag a lot," Dallet said. He jumped when Shesta's hand slammed down next to him on the table. "What the--"
"Maybe you're the faggot," Shesta sneered above the laughter of Dilandau and Gatty (both even more amused). He and Dallet were now firmly gazing at each other. "I saw you try to go up to level two four times and never quite make it… probably because you don't want to admit that girls just don't do it for you any more. [4]"
Dilandau wished he had a tiny recorder; Shesta usually didn't engage in verbal squabbles (he had always been the type that vented on the inside), but when he did, he was vicious. However, Dilandau didn't have the luxury of amusing himself with Shesta for long. He had to prevent Dallet and Shesta from fighting so that they wouldn't go off his schedule.
"Let's get going," Dilandau said in the middle of Dallet's profanities toward Shesta. "I think we all need to take some time to chill."
"Like we should have from the beginning…" Gatty muttered. As Dilandau glanced at him with a thin smile, Gatty hoped his face had shown that he had meant to say that (he had intended to only think it).
"Hmph, let's go get Viole and the others," Dilandau said. He started off before any of them agreed.
Shesta glared at Dallet a moment before following Dilandau; Dallet and Gatty went at the same time, Gatty wearing a smile.
"You knew Shesta was there the whole time, didn't you?" Dallet asked as casually as if asking him "did it rain last night?"
"Aa. Dilandau-san did too." Some reason after that little altercation with Shesta, Gatty was in really good mood.
"Yappari (I knew it)…" Dallet merely wore a light frown.
"Not as if you would have care if Shesta were there or not."
"Gatty," Dallet said, really getting tired of hearing his voice, "do me a favor and shut the hell up."
"Whatever," Gatty complied. He went ahead of Dallet, smile still in place.
"Maybe I'll wreck his car…" Dallet murmured to himself.
*****
Gatty wasn't sure, but he had a feeling that his reason for being on level three with the rest of the Ryuugekitai was to just be there. He didn't seriously think Dilandau wanted him to get high and then drive him home. If that were the case, Dilandau could have let him drink. It wasn't as if Gatty drank excessively (all the Ryuugekitai except Shesta and Guimel drank more than they knew they needed). Still, in the "high" room, the vapors were enough to have an effect on him, so Gatty did little smoking. However, he noticed that Dallet had been taking no heed that he had to drive Gatty's car that night, so Gatty did his best to keep him in line. They stayed in the room a little over an hour, but lingered around the Z for about an additional hour. Gatty had a clear enough head to drive (he still felt a little like he was floating) and literally shook Dallet back to his senses, threatening to kill him if his car was damaged.
Gatty himself had only driven Dilandau's car three times before, never forgetting what Dilandau had told him the first time: "damage my car and I damage your life." Gatty doubted even someone who didn't know Dilandau that well would think it was an empty threat. He drove with ten times more caution than he did when he had take his driving test; the evaluator wouldn't have made his life hell if he messed up.
For once Dilandau's silence was comforting (not that when he spoke Gatty was more at ease) and he had been quiet since he sat down in the front passenger seat. Miguel and Shesta had already been dropped off, respectively, and Gatty planned to walk home since he lived relatively close to Dilandau (and Shesta, for that matter).
Gatty glanced at Dilandau to make sure he wasn't asleep. He wasn't; his eyes were set ahead of him in a sort of daze. Gatty didn't question it, not sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
They pulled up into Dilandau's driveway a little later and still Gatty did not see Dilandau make any indication he were awake. There was no way he'd simply leave Dilandau's car keys in his lap and go on home. And, for some reason, there was no way he'd speak first. So Gatty simply sat there, silently waiting to hear Dilandau's voice.
Gatty turned as he heard Dilandau move in his seat. "Were you worried?" Dilandau said, breaking the silence.
"Nani?" Gatty almost laughed because the two of them were speaking softly as if they had consideration of how late it was.
"You really thought I was going to get you," Dilandau said, smiling and closing his eyes, "like I got Dallet."
"Was I wrong to think like that?"
"Iie, but you two were lucky I've been in a good mood."
"Sou ka." Now Gatty relaxed. It hadn't been that Dilandau was plotting something great against him--he was just feeling generous.
"Shikashi, I wanted to see you sweat for a while," Dilandau continued. "Dallet doesn't seem to heed me that well."
"He's cocky," Gatty replied.
"I think we all are."
Gatty raised a brow at Dilandau. *He must really be in a good mood,* he thought. "What's putting you in such a good mood."
"Boku no tanjoubi (my birthday)."
"Oh, yeah…" Gatty said, he looked up at the car's roof as he thought of the exact date. "It's nearly the same day school starts."
"Hmph, yes, unfortunately." Dilandau opened his eyes again and seemed to be grinning at his reflection in the windshield ahead. "I'll be turning sixteen which means I can take less precautions while driving with my real license."
"What precautions?" Gatty said, able to joke with him in this atmosphere.
"Uruse," Dilandau said casually. Gatty chuckled. "I hope Dallet doesn't dent your car; I might feel a little responsible."
Gatty pulled out the keys from the ignition and handed them to Dilandau. "No, you wouldn't," he said, "even if you are more than a 'little' responsible."
Dilandau only laughed in agreement. "I was hoping I'd see you two fight," he admitted.
"Yappari," Gatty said, nodding his head.
"Hoh? Am I getting that predictable?"
Gatty made wry smile. "I wish. I doubt even a psychic could predict your actions."
Dilandau smiled and opened the car door. As he exited, Gatty did the same and stood with him in front of the car. "What do you predict Allen will say?" Dilandau said, swaying slightly back and forth as if antsy or perhaps slightly light-headed.
"Masaka, he can't still be up?" Gatty said. He glanced at the house and saw no lights on.
"He's always lurking about…meddling in my business…" Dilandau put a hand to his head. "Doesn't matter. He'll probably be too tired to yell at me for long."
"Aa." Gatty had to smile; Dilandau wasn't completely himself yet, and it was rare when Dilandau revealed that. Gatty guessed Dilandau didn't like to show that other things and people had an effect on him.
"Might as well get it over with." Dilandau stretched and started for his door. "We might not do morning business tomorrow--or today, rather--so I'll call you later."
"Hai, Dilandau-san." His smile widened after Dilandau went into his house. "He claimed he hardly ever needed to sleep…"
*****
Dilandau was glad it was quiet and dark in the house, only desiring to shut himself in his room now. However, as he passed through the den, the lights flickered on. Dilandau didn't want to look mad, but the lights irritated his eyes.
"Do you have any concern of others in your family?"
Dilandau turned around a little too fast and had to grab a hold of one of the couches for support. "What family?" he said, pretending he was having no trouble.
Allen stepped up to him, examing him like a new species of an animal. "You're going to send yourself to an early grave if you continue like this," he said, literally talking down to him.
Dilandau was more annoyed at his brother's height right now than anything else. "Urasai!" he said, but not loud enough to give himself discomfort. "I'll do as I please."
"Did you drive home in this condition??"
"What the hell's with all these questions??" Dilandau said. He pushed himself away from the couch and went off again. "Shit, every time…"
"Matte! I'm not through with you yet!" Allen began to follow him.
"Allen, get off my fucking back!" Dilandau nearly tripped over a table and cursed. *I can't concentrate and talk to him at the same time,* he realized.
"I can't--you and Celena are my responsibility now. I can't just sit back and watch you either end up dead or spend the rest of your life in prison!"
"Prison? Who's going to prison?" Dilandau stopped walking, figuring it was better to wait until he could shut up Allen up. I've never done anything illegal."
"Drinking underage and while driving during restricted times, taking illegal drugs--"
"How the hell would you know what I do?" Dilandau finally faced him, forcing a menacing expression on his face. "Do you have proof?"
"You look drunk, you smell like marijuana--"
"Heh, that doesn't mean anything." Dilandau laughed more so because he found the whole conversation they were having was ridiculous. "When you see me doing these things you accuse me of, then we'll talk. Oyasumi (Night)."
"Dilandau!" Allen was tempted to stop him from going up the stairs, but he thought it better to leave him alone before he agitated him enough to make him fall. He sighed and cursed his younger brother.
Dilandau, near his bedroom door, laughed into the wall as he leaned against it. "That was too easy…" he mumbled, satisfied with himself.
--To be continued…
--Some footnotes:
[1]-Notice that when the Ryuugekitai are apart from the rest of the Ryuugekitai they refer to Dilandau without the "san." I didn't want anyone to think I just forget to put it there.
[2]-I decided to do that weird thing where girls in anime (for whatever reason) decide that guys deserve to have "sama" added to their name. My interpretation of it is that they think they're so gorgeous or cool that they deserve that much respect. So, several of the Ryuugekitai will have girl calling them in this manner.
[3]-Doesn't that sound like a cool drink? Or at least some kind of concoction that knocks you out after taking it… ^_^
[4]-Why did Shesta say something so rude? I just wanted him to say something unexpected just because I don't want him to seem like he's as wimpy as he looks. He can be like Dilandau when he wants to be.
--Next Chapter: Don't know the title but it will explain how Gatty became associated with Dilandau, the guys' first day or school, and maybe the appearance of some familiar characters? Don't know, but I doubt any other chapter will be like chapter two, so if some of you didn't like it, bear with me, and for those who did, don't hesitate to tell me so! ^_^