Love can Change You 5
A/N: I'm back! Sorry it's been so long but I'm suffering a terrible sickness called second semester. I swear, those teachers are INSANE! Anyway here we go with chapter 5!
Chapter 5:
"Attention! Attention! Evacuate landing bay and prepare to receive incoming guymelef!"
Everyone in the hangar heard the speakers and immediately left the scene. Good thing too, because the approaching guymelef pilot was in a particularly bad mood today. He was almost disappointed that the hangar was empty of life. He would have enjoyed killing someone.
The red alseides swooped in almost recklessly, and landed with a deafening crash of metal on metal. He was out and moving almost before the protective liquid had drained from the cockpit. Technicians raced past him to check the mobile suit for damage. He completely ignored them as he left the hangar. They weren't worth his time.
The silver haired boy strode arrogantly down the halls of the Vione, heavy boots clanking and burning red eyes seeking out challenge in a way that had made men many years his senior tremble. A serving woman was washing down a wall. She casually glanced up at him and nearly screamed. Dilandau smirked. He loved how most people trembled in fear at the sight of him. Most people.
He scowled as he fingered his scar. One day he'd pay him back for that. Oh yes! He'd make Van beg for death! And that wench who hung around him, the one who could see the future! What was her name? Hitomi, that was it. He'd do ESCPECIALLY unpleasant things to her!
But for now duty called, and he sighed at Folken's inevitable interrogation of the progress of his meeting with Duke Freid. It had gone all right. Freid would stay neutral. But that Duke was too arrogant for his own good! Dilandau would have loved to face him on the field. He grinned at the thought. Alseides against Chafaris! What a fight that would be!
He blinked himself out of his mental dreams as he came to his superiors' quarters. With a sigh, he opened the door and strolled in.
Folken was sitting in the common room at his desk, writing some formula or other. The cyborg looked up from his writing. "Did you ever learn to knock Dilandau?"
Dilandau ignored that remark. "You wanted to see me, so I'm here." The young pyro growled.
Folken raised his pale eyebrows. "You seem uppity. Did the meeting go bad?"
"No! And that's precisely the problem! It's freaking boring in here! We haven't had a good fight for weeks!"
Folken nodded, and Dilandau took that for his cue to continue.
"Duke Freid has agreed to stay out of the fighting, but he won't let any Zaibach aircraft land in his country. Fortunately he's doing that to the alliance countries too. Also-"
Folken cut in. "Suffice to say, the meeting went well. And you didn't even kill anybody."
Ignoring the thinly veiled sarcasm, Dilandau started to continue, but was stopped.
"Dilandau, I have something of importance to tell you."
The boy's attention was piqued and he leaned forward to hear better. "Oh really?"
"Yes, really. I've added a new slayer to your men."
Dilandau's curiosity gave way to fury. How DARE this cyborg freak impose on his territory!
Folken cut in again. "Now, I know that slayer selection is your duty Dilandau, but Emperor Dornkirk has ordered that this should happen."
Dilandau fought to regain control. Normally he didn't bother, and the results were often broken furniture. But, no matter how much he'd love it, he couldn't just kill the Strategos of Zaibach. Dornkirk would flip!
To gain time to control his temper, he asked, "Who is he?"
"She" Folken corrected. "And she comes with my highest recommendations."
For perhaps the first time in his life, Dilandau Albatou was stunned out of his temper. For a few seconds, his mouth flapped open loosely. Then he blurted out the only sensible thing to have made its way to the top of his mind. "A GIRL???"
Folken nodded solemnly. Dilandau babbled (even rarer for him!) a few more incoherent sentences. Then he stopped to collect his thoughts.
During this lull, Folken nodded sagely. "Yes. A girl".
Dilandau glared. "What the burning hell were you THINKING!? Women are weak! They're pathetic and mewling! They can't think worth a cracked pot! Above all, they don't make soldiers! They make clothes, dinner, and anything else the men can't be bothered to do!"
"Refina's a soldier. So are Naria and Eriya."
Dilandau's glare grew even more firey. "They're different and you know it!"
Folken smiled then. "If Refina's so different, then how is it that she was taken down by some clothes making, dinner cooking, pathetic, mewling, empty-headed little girl who's had no experience in a fight?"
Dilandau was about to yell back when he stopped. ".This.girl beat Refina?"
"I believe the word among the slayers is that she quote-unquote kicked her ass."
Dilandau thought about that for a minute. Refina was one of his best soldiers. What's more was that she was always trying to jump in the sack with him, and would view any new girl onboard as a threat until she neutralised it. And she'd been beaten by some girl from nowhere?"
As Dilandau puzzled this over, Folken continued. "And I believe you know her quite well."
The general's head jerked up at that. "Who is she?"
"Her name is Hitomi Kanzaki."
***
Hitomi glanced at the ceiling where a stream of incoherent curses so foul mouthed that it would have made a drill sergeant change his religion suddenly drifted down to her. The tomboy shook her head and checked herself in the mirror.
The black leather pants fit like a glove and the shoulder pads sticking out were a black while the chest and hip guards were a dark blue. The uniform was designed to show that she was part of the Dragonslayers without encumbering her with heavy armour. Folken had told her that a set of armour was being designed for her to give her more protection, but not encumber her with the weight of the others.
Then there was a knock on her door. When she answered it, Viole was standing there gawking at her.
Hitomi smiled. "So, what do you think?"
"It.You look.Gods."
"That's what I was hoping for." Hitomi smiled. Then Viole seemed to remember he had vocal chords.
"We've got to get to the main hall now. Lord Dilandau's back and he'll want to inspect us."
"Well we can't keep Lord Dilandau waiting, can we?" With these words, Hitomi took off down the hall, smiling as she noticed Viole's head swivel to eye her backside. "You want to keep your mind out of the gutter?"
His mind snapped to attention. "Oh, sorry."
***
As the two Dragonslayers strode into the hall, Hitomi saw that everyone was there. Even Refina, who'd been keeping away from the others, had made an appearance. The two women glared daggers at each other and if looks could kill neither would have survived the confrontation. Hitomi took a place at the opposite end of the line from her rival, and fell to studying the throne room.
It was dark and spooky, lit only by candles. It had an uncomfortable feeling to it, as if even the walls knew that their owner was mad.
The throne and its companion lion were the most ornate parts of the room. Made of cold stone, they looked as if only a tyrant would sit at that end of the lair. Hitomi shivered.
Then the door slammed open and the Slayers stood at attention. Their master was here.
Dilandau walked slowly into the room, those boots of his clacking loudly on the floor. He stood at one end of the line and paced to the other end. As he passed each slayer his eyes met theirs, and would seem to smile, as they could not meet his gaze for more then a few seconds. When he looked into Hitomi's eyes, he seemed to slow as she looked steadily back. When the ritual was finished he stood in front of the group as a whole.
"Well you seem to be in good shape." Was his greeting, "I see that we have a new member". He levelled his eyes at Hitomi's once more and she fought the urge to shiver. Dilandau suddenly smiled. It was far from pleasant, a smile of anticipation. A smile lusting for battle. A smile that would have made any police officer on Earth arrest if.
"Well, we all know that no one joins the slayers unless I give the thumbs up."
A cough sounded from the door and Dilandau turned to see whom it was. Folken stood there, silently reminding Dilandau of his priorities. The smirk remained and, if possible, turned even more wolfish then before.
"However, I have decided to let her join. Under one condition".
The sigh of the Dragonslayers was caught in their throats. Hitomi was confused as she looked into the burning wells of Dilandau's eyes. What was he getting at?
"That Hitomi Kanzaki face me in one on one combat!"
Risking a slap, Chesta immediately stepped forward. "Lord Dilandau?"
The Adonis just looked at his subordinate. "Yes?"
"Is that wise sir? I mean she has almost no experience with a sword and-"
*SLAP* Chesta reeled back into line when Dilandau's palm struck his face. "Are you questioning my orders?!" He screamed.
Rubbing his face, the Dragonslayer muttered an apology. Dilandau nodded and turned back to his intended victim. Just in time to see the hand headed for his face. The sound of Hitomi's hand striking His face echoed off the walls of the suddenly silent throne room, and two of the nameless slayers fainted. For the second time in one day, Dilandau Albatou had been shocked into inactivity.
Hitomi on the other hand, was furious. "How dare you hit him?! And for what? Telling you what he thinks?" She tossed her head scornfully. "Maybe if you listened to them more, you wouldn't screw so much!"
Dilandau touched the stinging handprint, asked in honest curiosity "What?"
"You know what I mean! Not once have you managed to capture Van, or Allen, or the Crusade, or even MERLE for God's sake! You're obviously not very good at your job!"
For an instant Dilandau's eyes burned brighter then the fires of hell, and Hitomi wondered if she'd gone too far. Nevertheless, she had challenged him and wouldn't back down now.
Then Dilandau did the least likely thing that anyone in the room would have thought him capable of. He threw back his head and laughed. He laughed and laughed until tears rolled down his cheeks. And just when it seemed he'd finished, he laughed some more.
Concerned, Miguel stepped forward. "Uh sir? Are you all right?"
Folken was worried. Dilandau was giggling hysterically. Giggling!
Eventually he managed a "Never better Miguel!" Then with much effort, he composed himself and turned back to a much stunned Hitomi. He smiled then, his famous smile. "I think I'm going to enjoy this!" Then he was all business again. "The fight will take place in one hour in the training room. Be there." Then he turned on his heel and marched out of the room. Silence prevailed. Then one by two, the slayers left. Except for Folken, Hitomi, and the others.
"He sure took that well." Was Folken's verdict.
Daletwas was much more vocal. "I thought you were dead!"
Ryoun scoffed. "He wouldn't have hurt you. He had to fight you!"
"Well either way, I'm spreading the word. This'll be one hell of a match and I want to see if Naria will go with me!" Gatti then raced off.
"Me too!" Guimel chimed in. "Eriya'll love this!" He followed Gatti. The rest took off except for Folken and Chesta.
"Well I have work to do. I'll see you there though."
Chesta blinked. "You're going to see it?"
Folken blinked. "I'd give my other arm to see it!" That said, he walked off.
Hitomi was about to follow suit, when her friend spoke up. "Uh Hitomi? Thanks you know. I mean, for sticking up for me back there."
Hitomi smiled. "Any time Chess."
Chesta blinked. "Chess?" He shook his head. "Well, I'm gonna pay you back for that." He stopped Hitomi's protestations. "I really am. It took guts to stand up to Dilandau like that."
Hitomi slowly nodded. As she turned to leave though, something made her ask "Do you think I stand a chance against him?"
Chesta smiled. "With the way you fight, I'd say he stands a chance against YOU."
A/N: Is it just me, or is Hitomi out of character? Or maybe her new found violence is a by-product of Van's rejection. Keep reading and find out next time.on Escaflowne!
A/N: I'm back! Sorry it's been so long but I'm suffering a terrible sickness called second semester. I swear, those teachers are INSANE! Anyway here we go with chapter 5!
Chapter 5:
"Attention! Attention! Evacuate landing bay and prepare to receive incoming guymelef!"
Everyone in the hangar heard the speakers and immediately left the scene. Good thing too, because the approaching guymelef pilot was in a particularly bad mood today. He was almost disappointed that the hangar was empty of life. He would have enjoyed killing someone.
The red alseides swooped in almost recklessly, and landed with a deafening crash of metal on metal. He was out and moving almost before the protective liquid had drained from the cockpit. Technicians raced past him to check the mobile suit for damage. He completely ignored them as he left the hangar. They weren't worth his time.
The silver haired boy strode arrogantly down the halls of the Vione, heavy boots clanking and burning red eyes seeking out challenge in a way that had made men many years his senior tremble. A serving woman was washing down a wall. She casually glanced up at him and nearly screamed. Dilandau smirked. He loved how most people trembled in fear at the sight of him. Most people.
He scowled as he fingered his scar. One day he'd pay him back for that. Oh yes! He'd make Van beg for death! And that wench who hung around him, the one who could see the future! What was her name? Hitomi, that was it. He'd do ESCPECIALLY unpleasant things to her!
But for now duty called, and he sighed at Folken's inevitable interrogation of the progress of his meeting with Duke Freid. It had gone all right. Freid would stay neutral. But that Duke was too arrogant for his own good! Dilandau would have loved to face him on the field. He grinned at the thought. Alseides against Chafaris! What a fight that would be!
He blinked himself out of his mental dreams as he came to his superiors' quarters. With a sigh, he opened the door and strolled in.
Folken was sitting in the common room at his desk, writing some formula or other. The cyborg looked up from his writing. "Did you ever learn to knock Dilandau?"
Dilandau ignored that remark. "You wanted to see me, so I'm here." The young pyro growled.
Folken raised his pale eyebrows. "You seem uppity. Did the meeting go bad?"
"No! And that's precisely the problem! It's freaking boring in here! We haven't had a good fight for weeks!"
Folken nodded, and Dilandau took that for his cue to continue.
"Duke Freid has agreed to stay out of the fighting, but he won't let any Zaibach aircraft land in his country. Fortunately he's doing that to the alliance countries too. Also-"
Folken cut in. "Suffice to say, the meeting went well. And you didn't even kill anybody."
Ignoring the thinly veiled sarcasm, Dilandau started to continue, but was stopped.
"Dilandau, I have something of importance to tell you."
The boy's attention was piqued and he leaned forward to hear better. "Oh really?"
"Yes, really. I've added a new slayer to your men."
Dilandau's curiosity gave way to fury. How DARE this cyborg freak impose on his territory!
Folken cut in again. "Now, I know that slayer selection is your duty Dilandau, but Emperor Dornkirk has ordered that this should happen."
Dilandau fought to regain control. Normally he didn't bother, and the results were often broken furniture. But, no matter how much he'd love it, he couldn't just kill the Strategos of Zaibach. Dornkirk would flip!
To gain time to control his temper, he asked, "Who is he?"
"She" Folken corrected. "And she comes with my highest recommendations."
For perhaps the first time in his life, Dilandau Albatou was stunned out of his temper. For a few seconds, his mouth flapped open loosely. Then he blurted out the only sensible thing to have made its way to the top of his mind. "A GIRL???"
Folken nodded solemnly. Dilandau babbled (even rarer for him!) a few more incoherent sentences. Then he stopped to collect his thoughts.
During this lull, Folken nodded sagely. "Yes. A girl".
Dilandau glared. "What the burning hell were you THINKING!? Women are weak! They're pathetic and mewling! They can't think worth a cracked pot! Above all, they don't make soldiers! They make clothes, dinner, and anything else the men can't be bothered to do!"
"Refina's a soldier. So are Naria and Eriya."
Dilandau's glare grew even more firey. "They're different and you know it!"
Folken smiled then. "If Refina's so different, then how is it that she was taken down by some clothes making, dinner cooking, pathetic, mewling, empty-headed little girl who's had no experience in a fight?"
Dilandau was about to yell back when he stopped. ".This.girl beat Refina?"
"I believe the word among the slayers is that she quote-unquote kicked her ass."
Dilandau thought about that for a minute. Refina was one of his best soldiers. What's more was that she was always trying to jump in the sack with him, and would view any new girl onboard as a threat until she neutralised it. And she'd been beaten by some girl from nowhere?"
As Dilandau puzzled this over, Folken continued. "And I believe you know her quite well."
The general's head jerked up at that. "Who is she?"
"Her name is Hitomi Kanzaki."
***
Hitomi glanced at the ceiling where a stream of incoherent curses so foul mouthed that it would have made a drill sergeant change his religion suddenly drifted down to her. The tomboy shook her head and checked herself in the mirror.
The black leather pants fit like a glove and the shoulder pads sticking out were a black while the chest and hip guards were a dark blue. The uniform was designed to show that she was part of the Dragonslayers without encumbering her with heavy armour. Folken had told her that a set of armour was being designed for her to give her more protection, but not encumber her with the weight of the others.
Then there was a knock on her door. When she answered it, Viole was standing there gawking at her.
Hitomi smiled. "So, what do you think?"
"It.You look.Gods."
"That's what I was hoping for." Hitomi smiled. Then Viole seemed to remember he had vocal chords.
"We've got to get to the main hall now. Lord Dilandau's back and he'll want to inspect us."
"Well we can't keep Lord Dilandau waiting, can we?" With these words, Hitomi took off down the hall, smiling as she noticed Viole's head swivel to eye her backside. "You want to keep your mind out of the gutter?"
His mind snapped to attention. "Oh, sorry."
***
As the two Dragonslayers strode into the hall, Hitomi saw that everyone was there. Even Refina, who'd been keeping away from the others, had made an appearance. The two women glared daggers at each other and if looks could kill neither would have survived the confrontation. Hitomi took a place at the opposite end of the line from her rival, and fell to studying the throne room.
It was dark and spooky, lit only by candles. It had an uncomfortable feeling to it, as if even the walls knew that their owner was mad.
The throne and its companion lion were the most ornate parts of the room. Made of cold stone, they looked as if only a tyrant would sit at that end of the lair. Hitomi shivered.
Then the door slammed open and the Slayers stood at attention. Their master was here.
Dilandau walked slowly into the room, those boots of his clacking loudly on the floor. He stood at one end of the line and paced to the other end. As he passed each slayer his eyes met theirs, and would seem to smile, as they could not meet his gaze for more then a few seconds. When he looked into Hitomi's eyes, he seemed to slow as she looked steadily back. When the ritual was finished he stood in front of the group as a whole.
"Well you seem to be in good shape." Was his greeting, "I see that we have a new member". He levelled his eyes at Hitomi's once more and she fought the urge to shiver. Dilandau suddenly smiled. It was far from pleasant, a smile of anticipation. A smile lusting for battle. A smile that would have made any police officer on Earth arrest if.
"Well, we all know that no one joins the slayers unless I give the thumbs up."
A cough sounded from the door and Dilandau turned to see whom it was. Folken stood there, silently reminding Dilandau of his priorities. The smirk remained and, if possible, turned even more wolfish then before.
"However, I have decided to let her join. Under one condition".
The sigh of the Dragonslayers was caught in their throats. Hitomi was confused as she looked into the burning wells of Dilandau's eyes. What was he getting at?
"That Hitomi Kanzaki face me in one on one combat!"
Risking a slap, Chesta immediately stepped forward. "Lord Dilandau?"
The Adonis just looked at his subordinate. "Yes?"
"Is that wise sir? I mean she has almost no experience with a sword and-"
*SLAP* Chesta reeled back into line when Dilandau's palm struck his face. "Are you questioning my orders?!" He screamed.
Rubbing his face, the Dragonslayer muttered an apology. Dilandau nodded and turned back to his intended victim. Just in time to see the hand headed for his face. The sound of Hitomi's hand striking His face echoed off the walls of the suddenly silent throne room, and two of the nameless slayers fainted. For the second time in one day, Dilandau Albatou had been shocked into inactivity.
Hitomi on the other hand, was furious. "How dare you hit him?! And for what? Telling you what he thinks?" She tossed her head scornfully. "Maybe if you listened to them more, you wouldn't screw so much!"
Dilandau touched the stinging handprint, asked in honest curiosity "What?"
"You know what I mean! Not once have you managed to capture Van, or Allen, or the Crusade, or even MERLE for God's sake! You're obviously not very good at your job!"
For an instant Dilandau's eyes burned brighter then the fires of hell, and Hitomi wondered if she'd gone too far. Nevertheless, she had challenged him and wouldn't back down now.
Then Dilandau did the least likely thing that anyone in the room would have thought him capable of. He threw back his head and laughed. He laughed and laughed until tears rolled down his cheeks. And just when it seemed he'd finished, he laughed some more.
Concerned, Miguel stepped forward. "Uh sir? Are you all right?"
Folken was worried. Dilandau was giggling hysterically. Giggling!
Eventually he managed a "Never better Miguel!" Then with much effort, he composed himself and turned back to a much stunned Hitomi. He smiled then, his famous smile. "I think I'm going to enjoy this!" Then he was all business again. "The fight will take place in one hour in the training room. Be there." Then he turned on his heel and marched out of the room. Silence prevailed. Then one by two, the slayers left. Except for Folken, Hitomi, and the others.
"He sure took that well." Was Folken's verdict.
Daletwas was much more vocal. "I thought you were dead!"
Ryoun scoffed. "He wouldn't have hurt you. He had to fight you!"
"Well either way, I'm spreading the word. This'll be one hell of a match and I want to see if Naria will go with me!" Gatti then raced off.
"Me too!" Guimel chimed in. "Eriya'll love this!" He followed Gatti. The rest took off except for Folken and Chesta.
"Well I have work to do. I'll see you there though."
Chesta blinked. "You're going to see it?"
Folken blinked. "I'd give my other arm to see it!" That said, he walked off.
Hitomi was about to follow suit, when her friend spoke up. "Uh Hitomi? Thanks you know. I mean, for sticking up for me back there."
Hitomi smiled. "Any time Chess."
Chesta blinked. "Chess?" He shook his head. "Well, I'm gonna pay you back for that." He stopped Hitomi's protestations. "I really am. It took guts to stand up to Dilandau like that."
Hitomi slowly nodded. As she turned to leave though, something made her ask "Do you think I stand a chance against him?"
Chesta smiled. "With the way you fight, I'd say he stands a chance against YOU."
A/N: Is it just me, or is Hitomi out of character? Or maybe her new found violence is a by-product of Van's rejection. Keep reading and find out next time.on Escaflowne!