Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. Van-sama will never be mine… * sniff *
I doubt I'll ever get over the heartbreak of it all. But I DO own all
original characters. And there are quite a few of those…
A/N: Hey everybody! Waz up? Sorry it's taken so long to upload this, I've spent a lot of time with relatives and talking on the internet/phone over break, so not a lot of time for my fics. I turned thirteen on December 28, so YAY for me! Thanks for all the nice reviews, you guys rock! I have 30, so I am obviously pleased. But I'm afraid that I'll need at least 36 reviews for the next chapter to be put up… (And NO Artamis, you can't review a billion times and expect me to add up the next chapter… So-rry… But thanks so much for the billion nice reviews, I DO appreciate them, and thanks to Ashley-Chu too for reviewing!) READ AND REVIEW OR I'LL HURT YOU! ^_^; OK, anyways… Thanks and enjoy!
Chapter 6: Painful Recollections
"Princess Eries!" Allen called for the quiet princess when he caught sight of her while searching the palace.
"Sir Allen." The Princess greeted him icily, her voice positively dripping with hostility.
"Eries!" Allen said in hopelessness, knowing he was about to receive the verbal thrashing of his life.
"Please, Sir Allen, address me properly. For I am a Princess of Asturia, and demand to be treated with respect." She said coldly, forgetting her love for the blonde-haired knight of Caeli.
"Please Eries, let me explain! I…"
"Silence." She commanded.
"I am Eries Laura Aston, 2nd Princess of the Royal House of Asturia, and now, successor to Asturia's throne. I wish you well, Sir Allen." Tears started trickling down her cheeks. This was it. She couldn't deal with his playboy tendencies any longer. As much as it hurt, this was time to say goodbye.
She started to choke on her tears before sputtering out, "I hope you're very happy, in the life you've chosen." She fled down the hall, weeping, leaving Allen a broken man. He couldn't lose her too; it hadn't been more than a day since he'd lost the only other girl who he had really cared about…
~Flashback~
"Sir Allen." A healer called to him as Allen walked up the pathway towards the healing ward his sister was being cared for at.
"Can Selena finally come home?" Allen asked hopefully.
The doctor smiled at him, happy for the man who'd been very anxious about his sister. He was like a father to the girl, and it was easy to see how much he loved and missed her. He'd miss Lady Selena and her odd personality. He would have made her stay longer, to run further tests and assure himself that everything was in order, but the joyous look on her brother's face when he saw her and her own blissful expression, when he visited everyday, had deeply moved him, and he felt the best therapy for her would be to stay with him. Every day he had asked if she could come home with him, and every day he had given the same answer, "No." The knight would visit for a while, keeping his ailing sister company, then go home promising the girl that he'd take her home tomorrow. But one tomorrow had turned into another and it seemed like an eternity to the girl that she had spent with the kind healers, even though it had only been a few days, her desire to rejoin her brother, and go home, was so strong it made her loose track of time. It had been a pleasure working with such a delightful, young… Well no, she wasn't exactly a lady, but wait, now she was. He'd forgotten that he still needed to tell Sir Allen something rather important about his sister's recovery, but before he could, the blonde haired girl with the inquisitive blue eyes ran into her brother's open arms.
"Selena! Oh Selena, are they letting you go with me?" He asked cheerfully, though dreading the daily answer.
'They say it'll be few more days, brother,' or 'They're running a few final tests Allen,' were one of the many answers he assumed he'd receive.
To his surprise, that was not what she said.
"Yes, brother, yes! I'm finally going home!" The smaller girl had whispered, hugging him tightly as tears welled up in her big brother's eyes. She wiped them away with her small hand, and smiled at him.
"Don't cry brother, I'm safe now, I get to leave with you and never ever come back!" She snuggled into his chest as he held her gently, never wanting to let go of the little sister that he loved so.
"Take good care of her Sir Allen." The healer told him, eyeing the girl with fatherly affection, he grew quite close to his charges.
"And make sure she takes this medicine everyday. Once after the Mystic Moon rises, and once after it sets. Who knows what will happen if she doesn't." The healer cautioned him, handing the knight a strange blue bottle filled with tonic.
"You have my word as a knight, my friend. Thank you for watching over my little sister. You have my eternal gratitude." He bowed and lifted Selena onto the back of his horse before riding away from the country ward and back into the bustling capital, Palas.
"There's two who'll live happily ever after." A bent-over healing woman, old enough to be Selena's grandmother, croaked, her thin lips cracking into a small smile at the heartwarming scene.
"Yes indeed, Yes indeed." The healer replied.
"Happily ever after."
~These are Selena's memories below, Allen doesn't know all, this, it's just what happened after he brought her home from the healers' ward ~
"She's just a little ragamuffin Sir Allen took in they say." A snobby girl whispered to her group of followers at the Grand Asturian Ball.
"I mean, look at her. She's not nearly as good-looking as Sir Allen. And, if she really WAS his sister, than she'd have a higher title than mine, and that just couldn't be. The rumor is that she knows that cute Zaibach Captain. What's his name? Oh, yes, Lord Dilandau. He smiled at me you know." The snobby girl continued as Selena rolled her eyes, pretending not to hear what they were saying.
"Hey! You!" The girl pointed at Selena, gesturing her to come over.
"Everyone says you know Lord Dilandau. Did a certain Marian Trefolia ever slip into his conversation?" She asked expectantly.
"Oh yes. Many a time." Selena began, smirking.
"He told me all about the girl who danced around like a monkey when he dropped some ice cubes down her shirt at a ball a few years ago. He had the time of his life after that escapade, he told me." She tried to not burst out laughing when Marian turned a bright shade of red before scurrying off, with her many snobby friends trailing quickly behind.
"Having fun?" Allen asked her as he waltzed over while dancing with Lady- something-or-other, she didn't bother to know their names. It was a waste of time, he just moved on to another woman the next minute.
She sighed, she didn't want to lie to him, her brother was her best friend. She told him everything! Well everything except… But he didn't need to know that. I mean, why would she ever…?
"Should I take that sigh as a 'no?'" He asked.
"Thank you." Allen said to his dancing partner, bowing and kissing her hand before she scurried off.
"I know it's hard for you to adjust to all this. And I know that they," He gestured to the crowd of girls, "Aren't making it any easier on you."
"Allen, I'm not like you, I don't like to be around so many important people. I like to be off on my own, reading, or talking with you or a close friend. Not pretending to be interested in stupid gossip, or dancing with some strange boy, I don't have the slightest inkling of who he is. And I hate this dress. May I please go home?" She pleaded with him.
"Now Selena. It would be impolite to leave before the party ends. You can tough it out for another few hours, can't you dear?" Allen asked, putting on his charm.
"I guess so." Selena mumbled in disgust at her weakness when arguing with her brother.
"That's my little lady." Allen said, smiling and hugging her.
"You'll be a great noblewoman someday." He walked off when Princess Eries gestured that she'd like to dance with him from the other side of the room.
"But I'm not a lady." Selena muttered as she walked off.
"And I'll always just be second best." She ran outside, forgetting her brother's instructions, she needed to feel the cool grass beneath her feet and the blue sky above her. She took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air that hadn't been breathed by a bunch of stuffy nobles for the last 3 hours. She tore off her skirt, revealing her pair of spandex pants much like the kind her idol, Princess Millerna, wore. She had always admired Princess Millerna's individuality and how she didn't take orders from anyone. If only she could be like that. She shimmied up a nearby tree, and plucked a plump Piscus from a limb, greedily drinking the sour juice within.
"I can just imagine the latest gossip." She whispered in spite of herself.
"Lady Selena is said to be Lord Dilandau in disguise. She had died her hair blonde and the Zaibach sorcerers changed her eyes to blue so she could hide out in Asturia, waiting to strike. And Sir Allen has actually settled down with ONE girl! Shocking!" She laughed, almost falling out of the tree. She spent the remainder of the party up there, with her fruit and her musings on what she was luckily missing within the ballroom.
When it ended, she heard her brother's angry voice calling from the ground, "SELENA ENCIA SCHEZAR! GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW OR SO HELP ME… I'LL!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Selena moaned, saddened that her short visit among nature was cut short.
"Darling, look, isn't that Sir Schezar's sister?" A woman whispered to her husband.
"Yes, I think so. Disgraceful!" The husband whispered back to his nosey wife, eyeing her attire and behavior.
"An outrage!"
"Obviously, Sir Schezar ignores her. I'd never let a woman from MY household dress like that!"
"She has no right to be at such a function!"
"Can't her brother clothe her properly!"
"Tomboy! Who does she think she is?!" The insults went on until Selena blocked them out and turned around to face her brother.
"How could you?" Allen asked sadly. Selena felt instantly ashamed, she knew how important his honor was too him. Now they thought her brother was a bad provider. They might even take her away from him. He walked off into the moonlight, headed towards home.
"I can't go back." Selena realized sadly.
"I can't." She walked off in the opposite direction, headed towards Zaibach, where she knew she had a future.
*~*~*~*~*~
Selena walked for about a day, and grew bored and tired. She needed some sort of interaction. She wasn't like her counterpart, Dilandau, she needed someone to speak and interact with. Actually, Dilandau needed socialization too; he just expressed it differently. Through insults and abusing his poor Dragonslayers. She decided to use her last resort. What could it hurt? She'd seal him back inside the minute he stepped out of line. The healers hadn't been able to completely remove Dilandau, but she now had control over him, and could give him his own body if she wanted to, but she could just as easily take that body away, locking him inside her once again. She know longer heard his constant screaming. Occasionally she'd hear his mumbling of 'Shinda?' And 'Moero!' But besides that, he was usually silent these days. She wanted companionship, although his was most undesirable. Yes, she'd do it…
"Arawareru… Arawareru… Arawareru Enkou… Arawareru Enkou… Arawareru Ima! Arawareru!" A burst of flames appeared before her, and a cackling came from within…
"Boku wa Dilandau-sama!" A silver-haired boy screamed as he opened his bright red eyes, returning to the world that had thought he was long gone. He was back. Getting over the fact that he was here, he pondered, HOW he got here. The sorcerers that had created him were dead as well as Dornkirk and Folken, he turned around, hoping to see his liberator and looked into two sparkling blue eyes that looked very happy to have him there.
"Are you…?" He recognized her immediately, but was cautious to make assumptions.
"…Me?"
The girl with the bright blue eyes laughed.
"I guess you could say that, although I've always thought of it as the other way around. I'm your good side."
"Tell me this is a bad dream…" Dilandau muttered in hope.
"Let me wake up in my room on the Vione with a big bottle of Vino on the table for breakfast and my guymelef waiting for me in the hangar.
"Sorry, it's not a dream. You know the Vione was destroyed Dilandau, your guymelef is under lock and key by the Asturian palace." She said sadly, feeling sympathy for the boy who had lost everything in less than a week, his life, his friends, his possessions, and his home.
"What is your name girl?" He asked in disgust that this wasn't some horrid nightmare, but actually a cruel twist of fate.
"My name is Selena Encia Schezar." She said sweetly, giving him her best attempt at a curtsy before falling over in her effort.
"SCHEZAR?!" Dilandau shrieked in disbelief.
"I REFUSE to believe that I'm related to that blonde idiot! I'm going to kill that fool if it's the last thing I ever do!"
"Silence. He's our brother you moron, and you should treat his nicely. He had the chance to kill you, but he didn't. Even when you were his worst enemy, he spared you! If you so much as lay a finger on him, I will rip you limb from limb!" The usually gentle blonde went hostile on him.
"I like 'em feisty." Dilandau commented, smirking at her.
"Shut up, playboy." She muttered.
"Keep it up and I'll entertain you with my version of your love life, and I'm telling you, it won't be pretty." Now it was her turn to smirk.
"Anything but that." Dilandau exclaimed, paling.
"Alright then. You'll be joining me I guess." She started walking off.
"Joining you for what?!" He asked in annoyance.
"On my quest." She replied, continuing her progression forward.
"What quest?!"
"My quest to find out who I am." She replied matter-of-factly.
"Well gee, I'd just shoot myself if I missed this one." He commented sarcastically.
"Shut up, unless you wish to never see the light of day again." She knew his weakness, he'd do anything for freedom, after all, she knew his desires, he was part of her.
"I'll come along… for now." He replied after sighing in annoyance.
"Good."
"Tell me girl, why did you release me?" He asked her urgently.
"You know I'm a suicidal killing machine without a friend in the world and a lust for fire and destruction. Why resurrect me?"
"That's for me to know, and you to find out!" She grinned at him, winking.
"What the hell does that mean?!" He shrieked in aggravation.
"If you're good and don't burn down any cities on our journey, I'll tell you when it's over. Now c'mon, let's go, we don't have forever!" She started jogging off, enjoying the feel of the cool night air on her pale skin.
'I'll figure you out long before this is over girl, I swear to that as sure as my name is Dilandau Albatou.'
He then quickly ran to catch up with her, and their epic travels began…
*~*~*~*~*~
"So Van," Hitomi asked, "Where are we going?"
"As far away from here as possible." Van replied, as the horse and cart took them farther and farther away from his life-long home.
"The village of Arzas would be good, I've been meaning to visit Rhum for quite some time now. They're peaceful folk, they'd harbor us for a while."
"Van, I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is for you to leave Fanelia behind. I really don't think I'm worth it. So if you want to, you can turn around and go home right now, and I shall stay as your friend and advisor."
"How could you even SUGGEST something like that?" He asked in disbelief.
"I love only YOU Hitomi. I want only YOU. I need only YOU. I can't live without YOU." He told her sincerely.
"Yes, Fanelia was my home, but once we're married and those idiots see our decision won't sway, they'll accept you as queen and our children as heirs to the Fanelian throne."
"Marry? Queen? Children? Me?" She squeaked.
"Well of course. Don't you still WANT to marry me Hitomi?" He asked her with a hurt look from her stunned expression.
"Oh of course Van, it's just so sudden… It's like when Allen asked me to marry him…"
~Flashback~
"Hitomi? Have you ever fallen in love?" Allen had asked her unexpectedly one evening.
"Well Allen… I… I guess I've fallen in love before…" She stuttered uncertainly.
"Hitomi, what do you think of me?"
"I think you're handsome and very brave, and you always fight for the noble cause." She said truthfully, although she wished she could say something more.
"Is that all?" He asked her, staring into her eyes with his piercing blue ones.
"Well, honestly Allen, yes. And you've been a wonderful friend to me."
Allen looked crestfallen at the last remark.
"There's something different about you Hitomi, something that I just don't understand." Hitomi looked at him in confusion, waiting for him to finish.
"But whatever that something is, it's made me fall in love with you." He whispered quietly, she paled, and stood there paralyzed, unable to do anything except stutter.
"A-Allen w-what d-do y-you mean?" Why this? She'd just gone through this same thing with Van, but he'd ended up being such a jerk. Then she kissed Allen on the bridge and Van… He saw her… She'd never forget that expression of hurt, sadness, betrayal, and pain on his face. Did he really care for her as she cared for him?
"Hitomi, I want you to marry me." He said smoothly, holding out a black velvet box with a diamond ring cushioned within.
"I-I-I-I…" She didn't know what to say, if Van was so hurt by a kiss, how would he react to this?
'Do I love Allen?' She asked herself, 'Or do I care for… Someone else?'
"Please Hitomi. My heart is at ease when I'm with you. Stay with me forever." He pleaded; turning on the charm that drove the girls crazy.
"Allen, I'll have to think about it." She replied in hesitation, afraid of hurting his feelings.
"Fine then. Van and I are going on a mission, we leave at dawn. Tell me your answer when we return." He swiftly left the room without a glance back at her leaving Hitomi to wonder, 'Why me?'
~Backflash~
"I can't believe you almost married that playboy. Whenever I think what he might have done to you…" Van shivered, holding her protectively.
"It was infatuation, I guess. He reminded me so much of Amano, and I was so far away from home, I needed something familiar to cling too. Unfortunately for me, Allen was that one familiar element." She said softly, crying into his shoulder.
"Shhhhhh… It's OK love, everything will be OK. He's off trying to win the heart of Princess Eries, so don't worry about him. I won't let him hurt you again." Van cradled her in his arms, trying to make the painful memories go away.
"I was so STUPID!" She cried in pain.
"I can't believe how I acted. Just like a child, following Allen around like a lovesick puppy. I was so blind."
"Hitomi, calm yourself. Everyone does this sort of thing at least once in his or her life. You got over it, that's what's important."
"I'm so lucky to have someone like you." She whispered into his chest.
"Me too…" He whispered, "Me too…" She laid in his arms as they prepared to enjoy their peaceful ride to wherever fate led them.
*~*~*~*~*~
"OW!" Shuti screeched in annoyance, as her head scraped against the cobblestone streets that for some reason Lord Van and Lady Hitomi had decided to take.
She quickly covered her mouth with her paws, afraid that she had been overheard from above. Hiding under a wagon for hours at a time is NOT fun.
If it wasn't for Lord Daren and Lady Mira, she wouldn't be doing this, but she had promised him. After all the things they'd been through together and all those times he had protected her, she owed him something. She was just unlucky enough to be doing this for payment.
'Can't Lord Van drive?! For crying out loud!' Shuti moaned within her head.
'He drives like a drunk… Uh oh… Maybe he IS drunk… I have to protect Lady Hitomi!' With a great amount of effort, she leaped on top of the cart, hidden in the straw to protect her Lord's mother who had always treated her like a daughter as she had grown up alongside Prince Daren.
She couldn't help but go, "Awwwwwwwwwwww…" When she saw the sweet position the king and future queen of Fanelia were in. They looked they were without a care in the world, only knowing and thinking of the love they shared. Completely oblivious to the troubles of this world.
~Flashback~
"Ria, do you have to go?" Tavu asked her in frustration.
"Yes Tavu, I'm the only one left, certainly you're not suggesting that my old mother who can barely walk or the royal family should go?! I'm the only able one left, and they need someone to help out those stupid Asturian Princesses!" Ria replied, annoyed by her husband's attitude.
"But what am I supposed to do with these?!" He asked her, holding up his infant triplet daughters in bewilderment.
"Care for them you idiot!" She scolded.
"Honestly, you need to take classes in being a dad!"
"You're right about that…" He muttered, as young Kavani started to wail, making Hitora and Cera cry too.
"Ria! You can't leave me alone with these three! I don't know anything about caring for children!"
"Take them over to Ruvan and Nureia. I'm sure Cadira would be delighted to play with her little cousins. I think SHE likes them more than YOU do!" She hissed venomously.
"Oh c'mon Ria. You know I love them, I just am new to this whole "father" thing. After all, my mom abandoned me as a small child and I don't even know who my father is." He sadly restated his depressing history.
"I'm sorry Tavu. Why don't you tell me, y'know, get if off your chest? You've never told me a thing about your family before and every time a mention the word you make this weird 'grrrrrrr' sound."
"I DO NOT make a 'grrrrrrrrrrrrrr' sound." He replied, trying to hold onto his shreds of dignity.
"Family." Ria said, testing her husband.
"Grrrrrrrrrr…" Tavu growled deep in his throat in annoyance and realizing what he'd done, tried to cover it up with a purr and start grooming his hand, but a look at his wife's face told him, 'I told you so!'
~This is Tavu's story, most of which, he doesn't know. All he knows is that he grew up on the Vione and he had two mothers with no clue who his father was. ~
"He's my son I tell you!"
"Know, he's obviously mine, he looks just like me!"
"He's too good looking to be YOUR son Naria…"
"Well he has a much finer complexion then you and his fur is a nicer color!" Naria stuck her tongue out at her sister.
"But notice, my DEAR sister, that his fur is blue, not silver!" Eriya observed triumphantly.
"Well it's certainly not GOLD!" Naria hissed.
"Well he's the son of one of us, the question is… Who is brave enough to admit it's not them?" Eriya stated, trying to find a solution to the problem.
"Not me!" They stated in unison.
The problem came when they had found a baby catboy at the foot of their twin beds that morning. He had blue stripes, blue hair, and dazzling purple eyes. He was a darling little creature who they both immediately took to, and decided it had to be the son of one of them. They also noticed the child's resemblance to Lord Folken… Now they were busy arguing which one of them was the boy's mother, which they had been for the last two hours, leaving the baby to sit there idly, needing a new diaper and something to eat. The infant decided to take matters into his own hands. He wailed as loud as a dragon causing them both to jump.
"There there dear… It's OK." Naria soothed the troubled boy, rocking him in her arms.
"Shall I get him something to eat?" Eriya asked her sister, wanting to do SOMETHING.
"Yeah, and get a new diaper while you're at it. Whoooooeeeeee, this kid sure needs one!" Naria pinched her nose, and the baby, who seemed offended, shrieked.
"HURRY!" Naria pleaded.
"I'm going! I'm going!" Eriya dashed off into the kitchen and brought back some milk and a piece of cloth that could act as a substitute diaper for the time being.
"Thanks." Naria replied, quickly changing the child and shoving the bottle the milk was in, into his mouth, which immediately ceased his wailing.
"Awwwww… He's so cute…" Eriya observed, holding the baby for a moment.
"Since we don't know who the heck his mom is, I guess we'll just have to raise him together…" Naria mused.
"But what do we tell Lord Folken?" Eriya asked sadly.
"We can't hide the child from him forever, and when he sees him, he'll quickly figure it out as we did."
"It took us two hours and we STILL haven't decided who the mother is." Naria replied, still thinking.
"Oh yeah." Eriya scratched the back of her head in embarrassment.
"The Vione isn't that big, and we only have a few rooms at our disposal. He's a child, he needs to be outside, run around, make friends, go to school."
"What should we do?" Naria moaned.
"I know… We'll tell Lord Folken it's our nephew, who has come to stay with us because huntsmen killed his parents like ours were. Lord Folken feels very sympathetic for all beastmen and creatures of that sort, I'm sure he'd let us keep him if we tell him that." Eriya replied.
"For once in your life sister, you've thought of something before me." Naria joyfully hugged her sister, springing up and down in excitement at the prospect of having a catboy of their own to raise.
"But what shall we name him?" Eriya stopped her celebrating to ponder.
"Tavu." Naria replied immediately.
"Why?" Eriya asked in confusion.
"Don't you remember the stories mother and father read us before they were murdered? In most of them, there was the brave Knight Tavu, who peacefully saved all of Alkazar from total annihilation! And mother once told me that in ancient Alkazarian, Tavu means, 'Ray of Sun."
"That's perfect then. He'll be a ray of sunshine in our usually dismal lives. Welcome to the Vione, Tavu. Welcome home…"
*~*~*~*~*~
"Lord Folken, I'd like you to meet our nephew, Tavu, his parents were killed by hunters in Asturia, we're all that's left or our family now. May we please let him board with us my Lord?" Eriya asked calmly, never breaking eye contact with the man she loved with all her heart, although he would probably never reciprocate those same feelings.
"It would mean so much to us." Naria added.
They had been able to keep Tavu a secret for quite some time, but now he was talking while learning to walk, and they wished for none of the Dragonslayers to hear childish jabbering coming through the walls of the Luck Soldiers Dorm.
Tavu looked up at the giant man before him, never having seen anything but catpeople his whole life, being in sole contact with his "mothers" who loved him more than any mother ever has or could. The boy slowly smiled, quickly stumbling over to the strange man and wrapping his arms around his shins, hugging him.
"Dadee?" He asked in confusion, purple eyes meeting purple eyes.
Naria and Eriya instantly paled, as Eriya tried to pry the toddler from Folken-sama's legs.
"Forgive him Lord Folken, he's just as small boy and does not know better."
Folken smiled at the girls and their guest and picked the boy up from the ground. Tavu sat in his arms for a minute until he decided to explore. Folken's metal arm was exposed and the boy ran his hand across it, breaking into a fit of giggles, then patting it, while the catgirls looked horrified.
"He's charming girls. Of course he may stay, I'll see to it that a room is made into a nursery for him." Folken handed Tavu to Naria, and turned around to walk away, his cape swishing behind him.
"Buh-Buy Dadee…" The baby whispered, before falling asleep in her arms.
"Do you think he knows?" Eriya asked nervously, twisting her tail in her hands.
"Folken-sama believes he's a relative, nothing more." Naria dismissed her little sister's concern.
"Not him, Tavu!" Eriya hissed, staring at the baby in wonder.
"Oh, him, I don't rightfully know, I don't think he's THAT bright… But I wonder…" She looked at the child in her arms thoughtfully, wondering what he would someday become and if he would ever know who his true parents were.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey, Naria! Look, I'm flying!" Tavu shrieked in glee as he soared above the ground in Naria's Tearing. They had a day off from the stress and work of the Vione as they had docked in Asturia. Lord Folken, who was like a father to the boy, and Eriya had gone out to get food since they had invited him on a picnic. Naria was showing Tavu how to operate her guymelef, since Dilandau had shown interest in taking him on as a Dragonslayer when he turned fifteen. They were both so proud of their little boy, knowing what an honor it was to even be CONSIDERED for such a position. Although he was only seven years of age, thus being far from his fifteenth rotation, they had high hopes for the bright future ahead of him.
"This is SO cool!" He did several flips, diving around the trees and buildings.
"Careful!" Naria called up to him.
"Relax, Eriya and Folken will be back soon and I'll come down, but until then…" He stopped talking through his communicator and zoomed around.
"That boy will be the death of us yet." Naria muttered, shaking her head in disgust. She smiled seeing, Lord Folken and her sister coming up the path. Since Tavu didn't know which one of them was his mother, he addressed them by their first names, and didn't address Folken-sama properly, since he was more of a fatherly figure to him.
"HEY!" Naria called to them as they hurried up.
"What took you so long?! This kid's driving me crazy!"
"Sorry, we had to go to a ton of different stalls to find all the stuff Tavu wanted." Eriya moaned in annoyance.
"I mean, where'd he come up with most of this stuff? Fried Frog Arms, I mean, who the heck eats those?!"
"I guess somebody or you wouldn't have been able to find them." Naria replied.
"We DIDN'T find them, Master Folken went to the Vione's Lad Storage Room since they use that sort of thing in testing.
"Eww… Gross… Remind me not to eat those…" Naria commented, turning a shade of green.
"All right." Eriya grinned in satisfaction, seeing her sister's look of disgust.
"Hey Tavu! C'mon down!" She called up to the boy.
"OK Eriya." He promptly landed, and leaped out of the tearing to join his 'family'.
As they chatted, feasted, and enjoyed this short time of relaxation being with the ones they cared for, they didn't know it was the last time they'd be together again…
*~*~*~*~*~
"Naria… Eriya… Why do you have to have an operation?" 8-year-old Tavu whined.
"We want to be the best we can be, for Lord Folken's sake. It'll be great when we have intensified luck, and besides, shouldn't you be helping in the training room right now?" Eriya changed the subject, shoving the boy out the door.
On his eighth rotation, since he was over half on his way to becoming 15, he began his training for the Dragonslayers. He didn't do any fighting at this point, he was required to volunteer in the training room where he set up equipment, brought towels and water to the Slayers training, and observed their fighting style and techniques so he could someday be as good as them. He got along quite well with Refina, Chesta, and Migel in particular. But now, Migel was gone, dead. Killed by that treacherous Doppelganger, Zongi, who had always been lurking around the corners, waiting for his next victim. Although Folken insisted Zongi wouldn't hurt him, Tavu wasn't so sure, and made sure to avoid the creature as much as possible. You could always tell when it was around, it made a hissing, rasping sort of sound and he'd quickly flee, not wanting to be caught alone with such a foul beast. Lord Dilandau said it was a blood-sucking demon of Hell, and had been immensely glad to have slaughtered it after it murdered his slayer.
As soon as the boy had left the room, Naria asked, "Are you afraid?"
"No, Lord Folken would never risk hurting us. We'll be fine, I know we will, I trust him." Eriya turned away from her sibling, walking out the door, Naria sighed, following. Worrying about what lay ahead, she had a bad feeling about it…
*~*~*~*~*~
"Mom, are you OK?" Tavu asked, on the brink of tears, as he saw his present mother lying on the metal table, struggling with each breath as though it was her last. Sweat running down her brow, her fur matted, hair tangled, as she fought a silent scream of pain.
She would be strong, for his sake.
"I'm fine Tavu. I'm just fine." She tried to sit up to comfort her 'son', but it hurt too much, and she fell back, defeated.
"Are you gonna die?" He barely whispered, his face etched with fear and anxiety.
"I won't lie to you, Tavu. I'm going to die. I don't know when, but my death has been written." She silently stated, no feeling in the words she must have rehearsed a dozen times.
"Isn't there anything I can do?!" He asked in horror at her oncoming doom.
"No, my son, there's nothing to be done now." Tavu began to weep just then.
"Don't cry, I love you, I'm sure Naria's fine, she'll be back soon and she can take care of you."
"No, you don't understand… That was the first time you've ever called me your son…" He said rather joyfully, hugging her tightly.
'I love you, Tavu, and I always will.' She drifted asleep again as Folken entered the room.
"How is she?" Folken asked Tavu.
"Not well I'm afraid. She says she's going to die." He was numb at this point, still not believing what a cruel card fate had dealt him.
"Tavu… I'm sorry." Folken whispered, walking from the room again, as quickly as he'd come.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Naria… Eriya…" Folken whispered, as he Catgirls crouched at his side, knowing that the fortress was crashing down.
"Lord Folken, please get away from here." Eriya whispered in her dying moments as the Vione shook.
"There's no reason to worry about my sister and I. You don't know how happy we are to have met you." Naria continued, she had been found, only to be lost again.
"And we are happy to die with you watching over us. Goodbye, Lord Folken…" Eriya stopped breathing.
"Please…" Naria whispered, grabbing her Lord's robe.
"Please… Take care of my son…" She then fell down dead as well, beside her sister. Forever in eternal slumber.
"No…" Folken whispered, in shock that those he had saved as children, now died at his feet, still trying to protect him.
His normally pale face became whiter as he strode over to Naria and Eriya's quarters. He kicked down the door since he didn't know the combination for the keypad.
"TAVU!" He called into the room, worried about how terrified the boy must be. He was surprised to see that the window was open, and there was no sign of the boy anywhere.
"TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUU!" Zaibach's Strategos yelled, to no avail, the child had vanished. After searching again, he quickly got into what was left of Eriya's Tearing, and jettisoned away from the dying floating fortress.
As he glided away, he looked back, a tear gleaming in his eyes, after he had vowed to never cry again.
He thought he saw them, Naria and Eriya, floating from the Vione's wreck.
"We'll always be right here, Lord Folken…" They whispered, as they disappeared again.
"Why? Will someone please tell me why, my wishes never come true?" Folken whispered, as he soared into the clear-blue sky, knowing things would never be the same again.
*~*~*~*~*~
Tavu had grown up into a handsome catboy; he never knew how he survived the Vione crash, when everyone else died, besides Folken, or who his parents were. All he knew was that they would forever life on, in his heart.
And as Aryria, was transported down, he whispered, "I'll be waiting. Aishiteru Itooshi…"
*~*~*~*~*~
"They're on their way." Lady Hiraki muttered.
"Yeah, I guess so," Kirus replied.
"Good luck, my friends, and God speed." Lady Hiraki whispered.
*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: How was that? I may reedit it, please point out any mistakes. Would you guys like short, frequent chapters, or long infrequent chapters? This was long to make up for all the time between this and my last posting. I hope you liked it! This was mainly background, and I enjoyed writing it. Review! And ask any questions, but NO flames! Arigatou! Ja ne! ^_~
~Trunks Gal~
A/N: Hey everybody! Waz up? Sorry it's taken so long to upload this, I've spent a lot of time with relatives and talking on the internet/phone over break, so not a lot of time for my fics. I turned thirteen on December 28, so YAY for me! Thanks for all the nice reviews, you guys rock! I have 30, so I am obviously pleased. But I'm afraid that I'll need at least 36 reviews for the next chapter to be put up… (And NO Artamis, you can't review a billion times and expect me to add up the next chapter… So-rry… But thanks so much for the billion nice reviews, I DO appreciate them, and thanks to Ashley-Chu too for reviewing!) READ AND REVIEW OR I'LL HURT YOU! ^_^; OK, anyways… Thanks and enjoy!
Chapter 6: Painful Recollections
"Princess Eries!" Allen called for the quiet princess when he caught sight of her while searching the palace.
"Sir Allen." The Princess greeted him icily, her voice positively dripping with hostility.
"Eries!" Allen said in hopelessness, knowing he was about to receive the verbal thrashing of his life.
"Please, Sir Allen, address me properly. For I am a Princess of Asturia, and demand to be treated with respect." She said coldly, forgetting her love for the blonde-haired knight of Caeli.
"Please Eries, let me explain! I…"
"Silence." She commanded.
"I am Eries Laura Aston, 2nd Princess of the Royal House of Asturia, and now, successor to Asturia's throne. I wish you well, Sir Allen." Tears started trickling down her cheeks. This was it. She couldn't deal with his playboy tendencies any longer. As much as it hurt, this was time to say goodbye.
She started to choke on her tears before sputtering out, "I hope you're very happy, in the life you've chosen." She fled down the hall, weeping, leaving Allen a broken man. He couldn't lose her too; it hadn't been more than a day since he'd lost the only other girl who he had really cared about…
~Flashback~
"Sir Allen." A healer called to him as Allen walked up the pathway towards the healing ward his sister was being cared for at.
"Can Selena finally come home?" Allen asked hopefully.
The doctor smiled at him, happy for the man who'd been very anxious about his sister. He was like a father to the girl, and it was easy to see how much he loved and missed her. He'd miss Lady Selena and her odd personality. He would have made her stay longer, to run further tests and assure himself that everything was in order, but the joyous look on her brother's face when he saw her and her own blissful expression, when he visited everyday, had deeply moved him, and he felt the best therapy for her would be to stay with him. Every day he had asked if she could come home with him, and every day he had given the same answer, "No." The knight would visit for a while, keeping his ailing sister company, then go home promising the girl that he'd take her home tomorrow. But one tomorrow had turned into another and it seemed like an eternity to the girl that she had spent with the kind healers, even though it had only been a few days, her desire to rejoin her brother, and go home, was so strong it made her loose track of time. It had been a pleasure working with such a delightful, young… Well no, she wasn't exactly a lady, but wait, now she was. He'd forgotten that he still needed to tell Sir Allen something rather important about his sister's recovery, but before he could, the blonde haired girl with the inquisitive blue eyes ran into her brother's open arms.
"Selena! Oh Selena, are they letting you go with me?" He asked cheerfully, though dreading the daily answer.
'They say it'll be few more days, brother,' or 'They're running a few final tests Allen,' were one of the many answers he assumed he'd receive.
To his surprise, that was not what she said.
"Yes, brother, yes! I'm finally going home!" The smaller girl had whispered, hugging him tightly as tears welled up in her big brother's eyes. She wiped them away with her small hand, and smiled at him.
"Don't cry brother, I'm safe now, I get to leave with you and never ever come back!" She snuggled into his chest as he held her gently, never wanting to let go of the little sister that he loved so.
"Take good care of her Sir Allen." The healer told him, eyeing the girl with fatherly affection, he grew quite close to his charges.
"And make sure she takes this medicine everyday. Once after the Mystic Moon rises, and once after it sets. Who knows what will happen if she doesn't." The healer cautioned him, handing the knight a strange blue bottle filled with tonic.
"You have my word as a knight, my friend. Thank you for watching over my little sister. You have my eternal gratitude." He bowed and lifted Selena onto the back of his horse before riding away from the country ward and back into the bustling capital, Palas.
"There's two who'll live happily ever after." A bent-over healing woman, old enough to be Selena's grandmother, croaked, her thin lips cracking into a small smile at the heartwarming scene.
"Yes indeed, Yes indeed." The healer replied.
"Happily ever after."
~These are Selena's memories below, Allen doesn't know all, this, it's just what happened after he brought her home from the healers' ward ~
"She's just a little ragamuffin Sir Allen took in they say." A snobby girl whispered to her group of followers at the Grand Asturian Ball.
"I mean, look at her. She's not nearly as good-looking as Sir Allen. And, if she really WAS his sister, than she'd have a higher title than mine, and that just couldn't be. The rumor is that she knows that cute Zaibach Captain. What's his name? Oh, yes, Lord Dilandau. He smiled at me you know." The snobby girl continued as Selena rolled her eyes, pretending not to hear what they were saying.
"Hey! You!" The girl pointed at Selena, gesturing her to come over.
"Everyone says you know Lord Dilandau. Did a certain Marian Trefolia ever slip into his conversation?" She asked expectantly.
"Oh yes. Many a time." Selena began, smirking.
"He told me all about the girl who danced around like a monkey when he dropped some ice cubes down her shirt at a ball a few years ago. He had the time of his life after that escapade, he told me." She tried to not burst out laughing when Marian turned a bright shade of red before scurrying off, with her many snobby friends trailing quickly behind.
"Having fun?" Allen asked her as he waltzed over while dancing with Lady- something-or-other, she didn't bother to know their names. It was a waste of time, he just moved on to another woman the next minute.
She sighed, she didn't want to lie to him, her brother was her best friend. She told him everything! Well everything except… But he didn't need to know that. I mean, why would she ever…?
"Should I take that sigh as a 'no?'" He asked.
"Thank you." Allen said to his dancing partner, bowing and kissing her hand before she scurried off.
"I know it's hard for you to adjust to all this. And I know that they," He gestured to the crowd of girls, "Aren't making it any easier on you."
"Allen, I'm not like you, I don't like to be around so many important people. I like to be off on my own, reading, or talking with you or a close friend. Not pretending to be interested in stupid gossip, or dancing with some strange boy, I don't have the slightest inkling of who he is. And I hate this dress. May I please go home?" She pleaded with him.
"Now Selena. It would be impolite to leave before the party ends. You can tough it out for another few hours, can't you dear?" Allen asked, putting on his charm.
"I guess so." Selena mumbled in disgust at her weakness when arguing with her brother.
"That's my little lady." Allen said, smiling and hugging her.
"You'll be a great noblewoman someday." He walked off when Princess Eries gestured that she'd like to dance with him from the other side of the room.
"But I'm not a lady." Selena muttered as she walked off.
"And I'll always just be second best." She ran outside, forgetting her brother's instructions, she needed to feel the cool grass beneath her feet and the blue sky above her. She took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air that hadn't been breathed by a bunch of stuffy nobles for the last 3 hours. She tore off her skirt, revealing her pair of spandex pants much like the kind her idol, Princess Millerna, wore. She had always admired Princess Millerna's individuality and how she didn't take orders from anyone. If only she could be like that. She shimmied up a nearby tree, and plucked a plump Piscus from a limb, greedily drinking the sour juice within.
"I can just imagine the latest gossip." She whispered in spite of herself.
"Lady Selena is said to be Lord Dilandau in disguise. She had died her hair blonde and the Zaibach sorcerers changed her eyes to blue so she could hide out in Asturia, waiting to strike. And Sir Allen has actually settled down with ONE girl! Shocking!" She laughed, almost falling out of the tree. She spent the remainder of the party up there, with her fruit and her musings on what she was luckily missing within the ballroom.
When it ended, she heard her brother's angry voice calling from the ground, "SELENA ENCIA SCHEZAR! GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW OR SO HELP ME… I'LL!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Selena moaned, saddened that her short visit among nature was cut short.
"Darling, look, isn't that Sir Schezar's sister?" A woman whispered to her husband.
"Yes, I think so. Disgraceful!" The husband whispered back to his nosey wife, eyeing her attire and behavior.
"An outrage!"
"Obviously, Sir Schezar ignores her. I'd never let a woman from MY household dress like that!"
"She has no right to be at such a function!"
"Can't her brother clothe her properly!"
"Tomboy! Who does she think she is?!" The insults went on until Selena blocked them out and turned around to face her brother.
"How could you?" Allen asked sadly. Selena felt instantly ashamed, she knew how important his honor was too him. Now they thought her brother was a bad provider. They might even take her away from him. He walked off into the moonlight, headed towards home.
"I can't go back." Selena realized sadly.
"I can't." She walked off in the opposite direction, headed towards Zaibach, where she knew she had a future.
*~*~*~*~*~
Selena walked for about a day, and grew bored and tired. She needed some sort of interaction. She wasn't like her counterpart, Dilandau, she needed someone to speak and interact with. Actually, Dilandau needed socialization too; he just expressed it differently. Through insults and abusing his poor Dragonslayers. She decided to use her last resort. What could it hurt? She'd seal him back inside the minute he stepped out of line. The healers hadn't been able to completely remove Dilandau, but she now had control over him, and could give him his own body if she wanted to, but she could just as easily take that body away, locking him inside her once again. She know longer heard his constant screaming. Occasionally she'd hear his mumbling of 'Shinda?' And 'Moero!' But besides that, he was usually silent these days. She wanted companionship, although his was most undesirable. Yes, she'd do it…
"Arawareru… Arawareru… Arawareru Enkou… Arawareru Enkou… Arawareru Ima! Arawareru!" A burst of flames appeared before her, and a cackling came from within…
"Boku wa Dilandau-sama!" A silver-haired boy screamed as he opened his bright red eyes, returning to the world that had thought he was long gone. He was back. Getting over the fact that he was here, he pondered, HOW he got here. The sorcerers that had created him were dead as well as Dornkirk and Folken, he turned around, hoping to see his liberator and looked into two sparkling blue eyes that looked very happy to have him there.
"Are you…?" He recognized her immediately, but was cautious to make assumptions.
"…Me?"
The girl with the bright blue eyes laughed.
"I guess you could say that, although I've always thought of it as the other way around. I'm your good side."
"Tell me this is a bad dream…" Dilandau muttered in hope.
"Let me wake up in my room on the Vione with a big bottle of Vino on the table for breakfast and my guymelef waiting for me in the hangar.
"Sorry, it's not a dream. You know the Vione was destroyed Dilandau, your guymelef is under lock and key by the Asturian palace." She said sadly, feeling sympathy for the boy who had lost everything in less than a week, his life, his friends, his possessions, and his home.
"What is your name girl?" He asked in disgust that this wasn't some horrid nightmare, but actually a cruel twist of fate.
"My name is Selena Encia Schezar." She said sweetly, giving him her best attempt at a curtsy before falling over in her effort.
"SCHEZAR?!" Dilandau shrieked in disbelief.
"I REFUSE to believe that I'm related to that blonde idiot! I'm going to kill that fool if it's the last thing I ever do!"
"Silence. He's our brother you moron, and you should treat his nicely. He had the chance to kill you, but he didn't. Even when you were his worst enemy, he spared you! If you so much as lay a finger on him, I will rip you limb from limb!" The usually gentle blonde went hostile on him.
"I like 'em feisty." Dilandau commented, smirking at her.
"Shut up, playboy." She muttered.
"Keep it up and I'll entertain you with my version of your love life, and I'm telling you, it won't be pretty." Now it was her turn to smirk.
"Anything but that." Dilandau exclaimed, paling.
"Alright then. You'll be joining me I guess." She started walking off.
"Joining you for what?!" He asked in annoyance.
"On my quest." She replied, continuing her progression forward.
"What quest?!"
"My quest to find out who I am." She replied matter-of-factly.
"Well gee, I'd just shoot myself if I missed this one." He commented sarcastically.
"Shut up, unless you wish to never see the light of day again." She knew his weakness, he'd do anything for freedom, after all, she knew his desires, he was part of her.
"I'll come along… for now." He replied after sighing in annoyance.
"Good."
"Tell me girl, why did you release me?" He asked her urgently.
"You know I'm a suicidal killing machine without a friend in the world and a lust for fire and destruction. Why resurrect me?"
"That's for me to know, and you to find out!" She grinned at him, winking.
"What the hell does that mean?!" He shrieked in aggravation.
"If you're good and don't burn down any cities on our journey, I'll tell you when it's over. Now c'mon, let's go, we don't have forever!" She started jogging off, enjoying the feel of the cool night air on her pale skin.
'I'll figure you out long before this is over girl, I swear to that as sure as my name is Dilandau Albatou.'
He then quickly ran to catch up with her, and their epic travels began…
*~*~*~*~*~
"So Van," Hitomi asked, "Where are we going?"
"As far away from here as possible." Van replied, as the horse and cart took them farther and farther away from his life-long home.
"The village of Arzas would be good, I've been meaning to visit Rhum for quite some time now. They're peaceful folk, they'd harbor us for a while."
"Van, I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is for you to leave Fanelia behind. I really don't think I'm worth it. So if you want to, you can turn around and go home right now, and I shall stay as your friend and advisor."
"How could you even SUGGEST something like that?" He asked in disbelief.
"I love only YOU Hitomi. I want only YOU. I need only YOU. I can't live without YOU." He told her sincerely.
"Yes, Fanelia was my home, but once we're married and those idiots see our decision won't sway, they'll accept you as queen and our children as heirs to the Fanelian throne."
"Marry? Queen? Children? Me?" She squeaked.
"Well of course. Don't you still WANT to marry me Hitomi?" He asked her with a hurt look from her stunned expression.
"Oh of course Van, it's just so sudden… It's like when Allen asked me to marry him…"
~Flashback~
"Hitomi? Have you ever fallen in love?" Allen had asked her unexpectedly one evening.
"Well Allen… I… I guess I've fallen in love before…" She stuttered uncertainly.
"Hitomi, what do you think of me?"
"I think you're handsome and very brave, and you always fight for the noble cause." She said truthfully, although she wished she could say something more.
"Is that all?" He asked her, staring into her eyes with his piercing blue ones.
"Well, honestly Allen, yes. And you've been a wonderful friend to me."
Allen looked crestfallen at the last remark.
"There's something different about you Hitomi, something that I just don't understand." Hitomi looked at him in confusion, waiting for him to finish.
"But whatever that something is, it's made me fall in love with you." He whispered quietly, she paled, and stood there paralyzed, unable to do anything except stutter.
"A-Allen w-what d-do y-you mean?" Why this? She'd just gone through this same thing with Van, but he'd ended up being such a jerk. Then she kissed Allen on the bridge and Van… He saw her… She'd never forget that expression of hurt, sadness, betrayal, and pain on his face. Did he really care for her as she cared for him?
"Hitomi, I want you to marry me." He said smoothly, holding out a black velvet box with a diamond ring cushioned within.
"I-I-I-I…" She didn't know what to say, if Van was so hurt by a kiss, how would he react to this?
'Do I love Allen?' She asked herself, 'Or do I care for… Someone else?'
"Please Hitomi. My heart is at ease when I'm with you. Stay with me forever." He pleaded; turning on the charm that drove the girls crazy.
"Allen, I'll have to think about it." She replied in hesitation, afraid of hurting his feelings.
"Fine then. Van and I are going on a mission, we leave at dawn. Tell me your answer when we return." He swiftly left the room without a glance back at her leaving Hitomi to wonder, 'Why me?'
~Backflash~
"I can't believe you almost married that playboy. Whenever I think what he might have done to you…" Van shivered, holding her protectively.
"It was infatuation, I guess. He reminded me so much of Amano, and I was so far away from home, I needed something familiar to cling too. Unfortunately for me, Allen was that one familiar element." She said softly, crying into his shoulder.
"Shhhhhh… It's OK love, everything will be OK. He's off trying to win the heart of Princess Eries, so don't worry about him. I won't let him hurt you again." Van cradled her in his arms, trying to make the painful memories go away.
"I was so STUPID!" She cried in pain.
"I can't believe how I acted. Just like a child, following Allen around like a lovesick puppy. I was so blind."
"Hitomi, calm yourself. Everyone does this sort of thing at least once in his or her life. You got over it, that's what's important."
"I'm so lucky to have someone like you." She whispered into his chest.
"Me too…" He whispered, "Me too…" She laid in his arms as they prepared to enjoy their peaceful ride to wherever fate led them.
*~*~*~*~*~
"OW!" Shuti screeched in annoyance, as her head scraped against the cobblestone streets that for some reason Lord Van and Lady Hitomi had decided to take.
She quickly covered her mouth with her paws, afraid that she had been overheard from above. Hiding under a wagon for hours at a time is NOT fun.
If it wasn't for Lord Daren and Lady Mira, she wouldn't be doing this, but she had promised him. After all the things they'd been through together and all those times he had protected her, she owed him something. She was just unlucky enough to be doing this for payment.
'Can't Lord Van drive?! For crying out loud!' Shuti moaned within her head.
'He drives like a drunk… Uh oh… Maybe he IS drunk… I have to protect Lady Hitomi!' With a great amount of effort, she leaped on top of the cart, hidden in the straw to protect her Lord's mother who had always treated her like a daughter as she had grown up alongside Prince Daren.
She couldn't help but go, "Awwwwwwwwwwww…" When she saw the sweet position the king and future queen of Fanelia were in. They looked they were without a care in the world, only knowing and thinking of the love they shared. Completely oblivious to the troubles of this world.
~Flashback~
"Ria, do you have to go?" Tavu asked her in frustration.
"Yes Tavu, I'm the only one left, certainly you're not suggesting that my old mother who can barely walk or the royal family should go?! I'm the only able one left, and they need someone to help out those stupid Asturian Princesses!" Ria replied, annoyed by her husband's attitude.
"But what am I supposed to do with these?!" He asked her, holding up his infant triplet daughters in bewilderment.
"Care for them you idiot!" She scolded.
"Honestly, you need to take classes in being a dad!"
"You're right about that…" He muttered, as young Kavani started to wail, making Hitora and Cera cry too.
"Ria! You can't leave me alone with these three! I don't know anything about caring for children!"
"Take them over to Ruvan and Nureia. I'm sure Cadira would be delighted to play with her little cousins. I think SHE likes them more than YOU do!" She hissed venomously.
"Oh c'mon Ria. You know I love them, I just am new to this whole "father" thing. After all, my mom abandoned me as a small child and I don't even know who my father is." He sadly restated his depressing history.
"I'm sorry Tavu. Why don't you tell me, y'know, get if off your chest? You've never told me a thing about your family before and every time a mention the word you make this weird 'grrrrrrr' sound."
"I DO NOT make a 'grrrrrrrrrrrrrr' sound." He replied, trying to hold onto his shreds of dignity.
"Family." Ria said, testing her husband.
"Grrrrrrrrrr…" Tavu growled deep in his throat in annoyance and realizing what he'd done, tried to cover it up with a purr and start grooming his hand, but a look at his wife's face told him, 'I told you so!'
~This is Tavu's story, most of which, he doesn't know. All he knows is that he grew up on the Vione and he had two mothers with no clue who his father was. ~
"He's my son I tell you!"
"Know, he's obviously mine, he looks just like me!"
"He's too good looking to be YOUR son Naria…"
"Well he has a much finer complexion then you and his fur is a nicer color!" Naria stuck her tongue out at her sister.
"But notice, my DEAR sister, that his fur is blue, not silver!" Eriya observed triumphantly.
"Well it's certainly not GOLD!" Naria hissed.
"Well he's the son of one of us, the question is… Who is brave enough to admit it's not them?" Eriya stated, trying to find a solution to the problem.
"Not me!" They stated in unison.
The problem came when they had found a baby catboy at the foot of their twin beds that morning. He had blue stripes, blue hair, and dazzling purple eyes. He was a darling little creature who they both immediately took to, and decided it had to be the son of one of them. They also noticed the child's resemblance to Lord Folken… Now they were busy arguing which one of them was the boy's mother, which they had been for the last two hours, leaving the baby to sit there idly, needing a new diaper and something to eat. The infant decided to take matters into his own hands. He wailed as loud as a dragon causing them both to jump.
"There there dear… It's OK." Naria soothed the troubled boy, rocking him in her arms.
"Shall I get him something to eat?" Eriya asked her sister, wanting to do SOMETHING.
"Yeah, and get a new diaper while you're at it. Whoooooeeeeee, this kid sure needs one!" Naria pinched her nose, and the baby, who seemed offended, shrieked.
"HURRY!" Naria pleaded.
"I'm going! I'm going!" Eriya dashed off into the kitchen and brought back some milk and a piece of cloth that could act as a substitute diaper for the time being.
"Thanks." Naria replied, quickly changing the child and shoving the bottle the milk was in, into his mouth, which immediately ceased his wailing.
"Awwwww… He's so cute…" Eriya observed, holding the baby for a moment.
"Since we don't know who the heck his mom is, I guess we'll just have to raise him together…" Naria mused.
"But what do we tell Lord Folken?" Eriya asked sadly.
"We can't hide the child from him forever, and when he sees him, he'll quickly figure it out as we did."
"It took us two hours and we STILL haven't decided who the mother is." Naria replied, still thinking.
"Oh yeah." Eriya scratched the back of her head in embarrassment.
"The Vione isn't that big, and we only have a few rooms at our disposal. He's a child, he needs to be outside, run around, make friends, go to school."
"What should we do?" Naria moaned.
"I know… We'll tell Lord Folken it's our nephew, who has come to stay with us because huntsmen killed his parents like ours were. Lord Folken feels very sympathetic for all beastmen and creatures of that sort, I'm sure he'd let us keep him if we tell him that." Eriya replied.
"For once in your life sister, you've thought of something before me." Naria joyfully hugged her sister, springing up and down in excitement at the prospect of having a catboy of their own to raise.
"But what shall we name him?" Eriya stopped her celebrating to ponder.
"Tavu." Naria replied immediately.
"Why?" Eriya asked in confusion.
"Don't you remember the stories mother and father read us before they were murdered? In most of them, there was the brave Knight Tavu, who peacefully saved all of Alkazar from total annihilation! And mother once told me that in ancient Alkazarian, Tavu means, 'Ray of Sun."
"That's perfect then. He'll be a ray of sunshine in our usually dismal lives. Welcome to the Vione, Tavu. Welcome home…"
*~*~*~*~*~
"Lord Folken, I'd like you to meet our nephew, Tavu, his parents were killed by hunters in Asturia, we're all that's left or our family now. May we please let him board with us my Lord?" Eriya asked calmly, never breaking eye contact with the man she loved with all her heart, although he would probably never reciprocate those same feelings.
"It would mean so much to us." Naria added.
They had been able to keep Tavu a secret for quite some time, but now he was talking while learning to walk, and they wished for none of the Dragonslayers to hear childish jabbering coming through the walls of the Luck Soldiers Dorm.
Tavu looked up at the giant man before him, never having seen anything but catpeople his whole life, being in sole contact with his "mothers" who loved him more than any mother ever has or could. The boy slowly smiled, quickly stumbling over to the strange man and wrapping his arms around his shins, hugging him.
"Dadee?" He asked in confusion, purple eyes meeting purple eyes.
Naria and Eriya instantly paled, as Eriya tried to pry the toddler from Folken-sama's legs.
"Forgive him Lord Folken, he's just as small boy and does not know better."
Folken smiled at the girls and their guest and picked the boy up from the ground. Tavu sat in his arms for a minute until he decided to explore. Folken's metal arm was exposed and the boy ran his hand across it, breaking into a fit of giggles, then patting it, while the catgirls looked horrified.
"He's charming girls. Of course he may stay, I'll see to it that a room is made into a nursery for him." Folken handed Tavu to Naria, and turned around to walk away, his cape swishing behind him.
"Buh-Buy Dadee…" The baby whispered, before falling asleep in her arms.
"Do you think he knows?" Eriya asked nervously, twisting her tail in her hands.
"Folken-sama believes he's a relative, nothing more." Naria dismissed her little sister's concern.
"Not him, Tavu!" Eriya hissed, staring at the baby in wonder.
"Oh, him, I don't rightfully know, I don't think he's THAT bright… But I wonder…" She looked at the child in her arms thoughtfully, wondering what he would someday become and if he would ever know who his true parents were.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey, Naria! Look, I'm flying!" Tavu shrieked in glee as he soared above the ground in Naria's Tearing. They had a day off from the stress and work of the Vione as they had docked in Asturia. Lord Folken, who was like a father to the boy, and Eriya had gone out to get food since they had invited him on a picnic. Naria was showing Tavu how to operate her guymelef, since Dilandau had shown interest in taking him on as a Dragonslayer when he turned fifteen. They were both so proud of their little boy, knowing what an honor it was to even be CONSIDERED for such a position. Although he was only seven years of age, thus being far from his fifteenth rotation, they had high hopes for the bright future ahead of him.
"This is SO cool!" He did several flips, diving around the trees and buildings.
"Careful!" Naria called up to him.
"Relax, Eriya and Folken will be back soon and I'll come down, but until then…" He stopped talking through his communicator and zoomed around.
"That boy will be the death of us yet." Naria muttered, shaking her head in disgust. She smiled seeing, Lord Folken and her sister coming up the path. Since Tavu didn't know which one of them was his mother, he addressed them by their first names, and didn't address Folken-sama properly, since he was more of a fatherly figure to him.
"HEY!" Naria called to them as they hurried up.
"What took you so long?! This kid's driving me crazy!"
"Sorry, we had to go to a ton of different stalls to find all the stuff Tavu wanted." Eriya moaned in annoyance.
"I mean, where'd he come up with most of this stuff? Fried Frog Arms, I mean, who the heck eats those?!"
"I guess somebody or you wouldn't have been able to find them." Naria replied.
"We DIDN'T find them, Master Folken went to the Vione's Lad Storage Room since they use that sort of thing in testing.
"Eww… Gross… Remind me not to eat those…" Naria commented, turning a shade of green.
"All right." Eriya grinned in satisfaction, seeing her sister's look of disgust.
"Hey Tavu! C'mon down!" She called up to the boy.
"OK Eriya." He promptly landed, and leaped out of the tearing to join his 'family'.
As they chatted, feasted, and enjoyed this short time of relaxation being with the ones they cared for, they didn't know it was the last time they'd be together again…
*~*~*~*~*~
"Naria… Eriya… Why do you have to have an operation?" 8-year-old Tavu whined.
"We want to be the best we can be, for Lord Folken's sake. It'll be great when we have intensified luck, and besides, shouldn't you be helping in the training room right now?" Eriya changed the subject, shoving the boy out the door.
On his eighth rotation, since he was over half on his way to becoming 15, he began his training for the Dragonslayers. He didn't do any fighting at this point, he was required to volunteer in the training room where he set up equipment, brought towels and water to the Slayers training, and observed their fighting style and techniques so he could someday be as good as them. He got along quite well with Refina, Chesta, and Migel in particular. But now, Migel was gone, dead. Killed by that treacherous Doppelganger, Zongi, who had always been lurking around the corners, waiting for his next victim. Although Folken insisted Zongi wouldn't hurt him, Tavu wasn't so sure, and made sure to avoid the creature as much as possible. You could always tell when it was around, it made a hissing, rasping sort of sound and he'd quickly flee, not wanting to be caught alone with such a foul beast. Lord Dilandau said it was a blood-sucking demon of Hell, and had been immensely glad to have slaughtered it after it murdered his slayer.
As soon as the boy had left the room, Naria asked, "Are you afraid?"
"No, Lord Folken would never risk hurting us. We'll be fine, I know we will, I trust him." Eriya turned away from her sibling, walking out the door, Naria sighed, following. Worrying about what lay ahead, she had a bad feeling about it…
*~*~*~*~*~
"Mom, are you OK?" Tavu asked, on the brink of tears, as he saw his present mother lying on the metal table, struggling with each breath as though it was her last. Sweat running down her brow, her fur matted, hair tangled, as she fought a silent scream of pain.
She would be strong, for his sake.
"I'm fine Tavu. I'm just fine." She tried to sit up to comfort her 'son', but it hurt too much, and she fell back, defeated.
"Are you gonna die?" He barely whispered, his face etched with fear and anxiety.
"I won't lie to you, Tavu. I'm going to die. I don't know when, but my death has been written." She silently stated, no feeling in the words she must have rehearsed a dozen times.
"Isn't there anything I can do?!" He asked in horror at her oncoming doom.
"No, my son, there's nothing to be done now." Tavu began to weep just then.
"Don't cry, I love you, I'm sure Naria's fine, she'll be back soon and she can take care of you."
"No, you don't understand… That was the first time you've ever called me your son…" He said rather joyfully, hugging her tightly.
'I love you, Tavu, and I always will.' She drifted asleep again as Folken entered the room.
"How is she?" Folken asked Tavu.
"Not well I'm afraid. She says she's going to die." He was numb at this point, still not believing what a cruel card fate had dealt him.
"Tavu… I'm sorry." Folken whispered, walking from the room again, as quickly as he'd come.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Naria… Eriya…" Folken whispered, as he Catgirls crouched at his side, knowing that the fortress was crashing down.
"Lord Folken, please get away from here." Eriya whispered in her dying moments as the Vione shook.
"There's no reason to worry about my sister and I. You don't know how happy we are to have met you." Naria continued, she had been found, only to be lost again.
"And we are happy to die with you watching over us. Goodbye, Lord Folken…" Eriya stopped breathing.
"Please…" Naria whispered, grabbing her Lord's robe.
"Please… Take care of my son…" She then fell down dead as well, beside her sister. Forever in eternal slumber.
"No…" Folken whispered, in shock that those he had saved as children, now died at his feet, still trying to protect him.
His normally pale face became whiter as he strode over to Naria and Eriya's quarters. He kicked down the door since he didn't know the combination for the keypad.
"TAVU!" He called into the room, worried about how terrified the boy must be. He was surprised to see that the window was open, and there was no sign of the boy anywhere.
"TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUU!" Zaibach's Strategos yelled, to no avail, the child had vanished. After searching again, he quickly got into what was left of Eriya's Tearing, and jettisoned away from the dying floating fortress.
As he glided away, he looked back, a tear gleaming in his eyes, after he had vowed to never cry again.
He thought he saw them, Naria and Eriya, floating from the Vione's wreck.
"We'll always be right here, Lord Folken…" They whispered, as they disappeared again.
"Why? Will someone please tell me why, my wishes never come true?" Folken whispered, as he soared into the clear-blue sky, knowing things would never be the same again.
*~*~*~*~*~
Tavu had grown up into a handsome catboy; he never knew how he survived the Vione crash, when everyone else died, besides Folken, or who his parents were. All he knew was that they would forever life on, in his heart.
And as Aryria, was transported down, he whispered, "I'll be waiting. Aishiteru Itooshi…"
*~*~*~*~*~
"They're on their way." Lady Hiraki muttered.
"Yeah, I guess so," Kirus replied.
"Good luck, my friends, and God speed." Lady Hiraki whispered.
*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: How was that? I may reedit it, please point out any mistakes. Would you guys like short, frequent chapters, or long infrequent chapters? This was long to make up for all the time between this and my last posting. I hope you liked it! This was mainly background, and I enjoyed writing it. Review! And ask any questions, but NO flames! Arigatou! Ja ne! ^_~
~Trunks Gal~