Love can Change You 9
A/N: When last we left, Hitomi was being given blood by Dilandau. Folken, meanwhile, had one to visit Merle. From her, he obtained information about the attack on the Vione. Hitomi had a vision. A vision that incriminated Refina as the one who betrayed the airship. But she awoke to discover her foes sword at her throat. And so, we continue.
There are times in one's life when one wonders if the gods are against one. One of those times is when we awake from a life-threatening coma, only to find that our enemy has a sword to our throat. Hitomi Kanzaki experienced such a moment.
Hitomi refused to move. If she moved back, Refina would see this as intimidation. If she moved forward, her throat would have been cut open. Again. For the second time in two days. Experiencing that for the first time hadn't been fun, and she had no wish to repeat it.
Hitomi sighed. "How is it that when I wake up one morning I find myself in a precarious situation? Is it too much to ask for a little security?"
Refina smiled, showing sharp, white teeth. "You don't get much security in the army. You'd have figured that out, if you'd lived long enough."
"And still, I had four soldiers protecting me. What happened to them?"
Refina moved a little, and Hitomi could see Chesta and Miguel. The two had been tied back to back, and were gagged. "They objected to my presence. I had to quiet them down."
Hitomi nodded. "You may have overdid it." The other shrugged.
"Probably. But one can't be too careful with revenge. Speaking of which, I should get down to it. Any last requests?"
Hitomi nodded. She had an idea on how to get out of this mess. Hoping Refina didn't catch on, she asked, "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you hate me so much? I haven't even known you for a week."
Refina shrugged breezily. "I've never really liked other women. As far as I'm concerned, they're all simpering idiots. But, on occasion one who could amount to something comes along. And then I'm forced to prove my superiority to them. It always works. I start a confrontation, and then humiliate them publicly." Her blue eyes turned to ice. "That is until you came along!"
Hitomi nodded. "I see. You tried to take me down, but got taken down yourself."
"And then all the men started challenging me! Before you came along, I was in charge. Forget about Dilandau, he can scream and shout and throw as many tantrums as he wants. But he needs them alive. I don't. I'm perfectly capable of handling men on my own. Lord Dornkirk saw as such when he found me."
Hitomi's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. Dornkirk found you?"
Refina nodded eyes distant with memories. "Found me, taught me, trained me. Forget the Dragonslayers. That's just a cover up. I'm Emperor Dornkirk's top assassin!" She straightened with pride.
"So, what's with the whole act?"
"Spies work much more effectively if they're known and trusted."
"It seems to me that no one's ever really trusted you. You're way too arrogant for that."
Refina hit her with the hilt of her sword. "Keep it up! You're just digging your grave deeper! Maybe I shouldn't kill you just yet. Maybe I should just cut out your tongue. Then you wouldn't talk so much!"
"True, but then you wouldn't have as much fun gloating. Besides," she added, "You're still waiting for me to plead for my life".
Refina laughed. "You know, it feels like we've been enemies for a long time, you know me so well. Very well. What's next?"
"Why do you hate women?"
"My father probably. He would always beat me. He would threaten to kill me if I didn't obey him. All the time, I listened to him rant on and on about how women were weak. And how they had no place in a man's society. Only in his bed. That was when he first decided to test that idea on me."
Hitomi shivered. Refina's voice was so cold it was almost as if she wasn't human. A stone had more emotion then that voice.
"He first raped me when I was six years old. It didn't stop there. Oh no! He had his brothers rape me too. If I ever spoke out against it, he had me whipped. I remember, once I was almost beaten to death because I talked back to him. But he died proud of me. Do you know what his last words were? He said 'I didn't think you had it in you.' Then I slit his throat."
Refina smiled now and Hitomi preferred the cold face.
"I left and almost died. Emperor Dornkirk found me. He brought me up like a daughter. And here I am today. With my blade pointed at the woman I hate. Life is good!"
'She's insane! The only trouble is that she doesn't act like it.'
Refina then took matters into her own hands. "No more talk now. I've enjoyed our chat Hitomi. It's too bad we won't get another, but it's time for you to die!"
Her eyes went from ice to fire and she smiled evilly. She pointed her blade at Hitomi's throat and slowly lowered it. Hitomi felt strength flood back into her limbs and she leaped up and grabbed Refina by the throat. She tried to, but her arms were tied to the bed.
Panicked, she struggled wildly, that sword inching closer to her soft, vulnerable neck. 'This is it', she thought. 'Too bad I never got to say good bye to Chesta, and Miguel, and Dilandau. What? Dilandau?! Why should I care so much about him?!'
Upon reflection, she decided it was the stupidest thought she could have come up with to end her life upon.
Fortunately her life didn't end. The sword was struck by a flying object, and spun across the room, nearly decapitating an unconscious Chesta. Refina snarled and crouched, eyes scanning for the source of the attack. Her eyes widened when she found it.
Dilandau was up and on his feet, another dagger in his hand. He grinned his famous grin and his eyes blazed like fire. "What? Ending the talk before I could join? How rude".
"Dilandau!"
"That'd be me." The grin disappeared, to be replaced by a scowl. "Now back away from my slayer."
Refina had recovered from her shock, and pulled out a dagger of her own. "I guess I'll have even more fun then I thought! Lord Dornkirk can always make another General. One who's saner, and taller, and not drunk half the time."
Dilandau growled in fury. The door to the infirmary slammed open, and Hitomi could see Folken rush through the door, followed by Naria, Eriya, Gatti, and Viole. Merle peeked in behind them. Refina snarled like a cornered beast.
"You can't win Refina. And you have no help coming. Give yourself up!" Folken pulled his sword from its sheathe and his troops did the same.
Refina seemed to relax. "I need no one's help to escape from fools like you." She replied easily. No one saw the smoke bomb fall from her hand, and soon all were coughing and choking.
Dilandau leaped forward through the smoke. He hit a bed, and tripped, waking up the bed's occupant. "Hey! Have some respect for the injured!"
"If I weren't so busy, you'd be a lot of things, INCLUDING injured!"
Folken felt something pass his face and he struck out. His fist made contact, and he smiled at the thump he heard. He reached down and picked her up. "I've got her!"
"I thought I did. Hang on, I'm going to turn on the fans."
After a moment of stumbling, Gatti found the fan switch. When the smoke cleared, it revealed one swearing Dilandau, various angry patients, two hog-tied Dragonslayers, Gatti holding a knife to Naria's throat, Eriya and Merle grappling on the floor, and Folken holding an unconscious Viole by the arms.
Amidst the confusion, Hitomi laughed. "This is not the rescue I expected!"
***
Hitomi stumbled into her bed. It had been a long day.
Inquisitors had asked her questions hour after hour. Eventually, she'd grown sick of it and stormed out.
Then the other slayers had swarmed her, each wanting to hear what had happened. After nearly slapping someone, Chesta had dragged her to her room and made her promise that she would get some sleep.
Hitomi looked in the mirror and smiled. She'd finally got her new armour.
It was gorgeous. Black enamelled shoulder pads bore the spikes that Dilandau's did, and a green breastplate protected her front. Her black armoured boots and gloves finished the picture, and Hitomi felt invincible in it. When she mentioned that to Dalet, he chuckled.
"You'll feel invincible right until you get your first wound!"
Hitomi laughed now as she had laughed then. The she yawned. God she was tired!
'I'd better get sleep while I can. Tomorrow, I get my guymelef!'
She took off her armour (A/N: Drag your minds out of the gutter!) and put on a nightshirt. Then she fell into bed and was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow.
Tomorrow was another big day.
A/N: You heard her. Tomorrow she drives her first guymelef. Won't that be fun? And that's not all! Something cool happens next! You want to know now? I'M NOT TELLING! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH*cough cough, fall over unconscious. Astral form gets up*
I know this chapter is kinda short, but bear with me here. And always review!
A/N: When last we left, Hitomi was being given blood by Dilandau. Folken, meanwhile, had one to visit Merle. From her, he obtained information about the attack on the Vione. Hitomi had a vision. A vision that incriminated Refina as the one who betrayed the airship. But she awoke to discover her foes sword at her throat. And so, we continue.
There are times in one's life when one wonders if the gods are against one. One of those times is when we awake from a life-threatening coma, only to find that our enemy has a sword to our throat. Hitomi Kanzaki experienced such a moment.
Hitomi refused to move. If she moved back, Refina would see this as intimidation. If she moved forward, her throat would have been cut open. Again. For the second time in two days. Experiencing that for the first time hadn't been fun, and she had no wish to repeat it.
Hitomi sighed. "How is it that when I wake up one morning I find myself in a precarious situation? Is it too much to ask for a little security?"
Refina smiled, showing sharp, white teeth. "You don't get much security in the army. You'd have figured that out, if you'd lived long enough."
"And still, I had four soldiers protecting me. What happened to them?"
Refina moved a little, and Hitomi could see Chesta and Miguel. The two had been tied back to back, and were gagged. "They objected to my presence. I had to quiet them down."
Hitomi nodded. "You may have overdid it." The other shrugged.
"Probably. But one can't be too careful with revenge. Speaking of which, I should get down to it. Any last requests?"
Hitomi nodded. She had an idea on how to get out of this mess. Hoping Refina didn't catch on, she asked, "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you hate me so much? I haven't even known you for a week."
Refina shrugged breezily. "I've never really liked other women. As far as I'm concerned, they're all simpering idiots. But, on occasion one who could amount to something comes along. And then I'm forced to prove my superiority to them. It always works. I start a confrontation, and then humiliate them publicly." Her blue eyes turned to ice. "That is until you came along!"
Hitomi nodded. "I see. You tried to take me down, but got taken down yourself."
"And then all the men started challenging me! Before you came along, I was in charge. Forget about Dilandau, he can scream and shout and throw as many tantrums as he wants. But he needs them alive. I don't. I'm perfectly capable of handling men on my own. Lord Dornkirk saw as such when he found me."
Hitomi's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. Dornkirk found you?"
Refina nodded eyes distant with memories. "Found me, taught me, trained me. Forget the Dragonslayers. That's just a cover up. I'm Emperor Dornkirk's top assassin!" She straightened with pride.
"So, what's with the whole act?"
"Spies work much more effectively if they're known and trusted."
"It seems to me that no one's ever really trusted you. You're way too arrogant for that."
Refina hit her with the hilt of her sword. "Keep it up! You're just digging your grave deeper! Maybe I shouldn't kill you just yet. Maybe I should just cut out your tongue. Then you wouldn't talk so much!"
"True, but then you wouldn't have as much fun gloating. Besides," she added, "You're still waiting for me to plead for my life".
Refina laughed. "You know, it feels like we've been enemies for a long time, you know me so well. Very well. What's next?"
"Why do you hate women?"
"My father probably. He would always beat me. He would threaten to kill me if I didn't obey him. All the time, I listened to him rant on and on about how women were weak. And how they had no place in a man's society. Only in his bed. That was when he first decided to test that idea on me."
Hitomi shivered. Refina's voice was so cold it was almost as if she wasn't human. A stone had more emotion then that voice.
"He first raped me when I was six years old. It didn't stop there. Oh no! He had his brothers rape me too. If I ever spoke out against it, he had me whipped. I remember, once I was almost beaten to death because I talked back to him. But he died proud of me. Do you know what his last words were? He said 'I didn't think you had it in you.' Then I slit his throat."
Refina smiled now and Hitomi preferred the cold face.
"I left and almost died. Emperor Dornkirk found me. He brought me up like a daughter. And here I am today. With my blade pointed at the woman I hate. Life is good!"
'She's insane! The only trouble is that she doesn't act like it.'
Refina then took matters into her own hands. "No more talk now. I've enjoyed our chat Hitomi. It's too bad we won't get another, but it's time for you to die!"
Her eyes went from ice to fire and she smiled evilly. She pointed her blade at Hitomi's throat and slowly lowered it. Hitomi felt strength flood back into her limbs and she leaped up and grabbed Refina by the throat. She tried to, but her arms were tied to the bed.
Panicked, she struggled wildly, that sword inching closer to her soft, vulnerable neck. 'This is it', she thought. 'Too bad I never got to say good bye to Chesta, and Miguel, and Dilandau. What? Dilandau?! Why should I care so much about him?!'
Upon reflection, she decided it was the stupidest thought she could have come up with to end her life upon.
Fortunately her life didn't end. The sword was struck by a flying object, and spun across the room, nearly decapitating an unconscious Chesta. Refina snarled and crouched, eyes scanning for the source of the attack. Her eyes widened when she found it.
Dilandau was up and on his feet, another dagger in his hand. He grinned his famous grin and his eyes blazed like fire. "What? Ending the talk before I could join? How rude".
"Dilandau!"
"That'd be me." The grin disappeared, to be replaced by a scowl. "Now back away from my slayer."
Refina had recovered from her shock, and pulled out a dagger of her own. "I guess I'll have even more fun then I thought! Lord Dornkirk can always make another General. One who's saner, and taller, and not drunk half the time."
Dilandau growled in fury. The door to the infirmary slammed open, and Hitomi could see Folken rush through the door, followed by Naria, Eriya, Gatti, and Viole. Merle peeked in behind them. Refina snarled like a cornered beast.
"You can't win Refina. And you have no help coming. Give yourself up!" Folken pulled his sword from its sheathe and his troops did the same.
Refina seemed to relax. "I need no one's help to escape from fools like you." She replied easily. No one saw the smoke bomb fall from her hand, and soon all were coughing and choking.
Dilandau leaped forward through the smoke. He hit a bed, and tripped, waking up the bed's occupant. "Hey! Have some respect for the injured!"
"If I weren't so busy, you'd be a lot of things, INCLUDING injured!"
Folken felt something pass his face and he struck out. His fist made contact, and he smiled at the thump he heard. He reached down and picked her up. "I've got her!"
"I thought I did. Hang on, I'm going to turn on the fans."
After a moment of stumbling, Gatti found the fan switch. When the smoke cleared, it revealed one swearing Dilandau, various angry patients, two hog-tied Dragonslayers, Gatti holding a knife to Naria's throat, Eriya and Merle grappling on the floor, and Folken holding an unconscious Viole by the arms.
Amidst the confusion, Hitomi laughed. "This is not the rescue I expected!"
***
Hitomi stumbled into her bed. It had been a long day.
Inquisitors had asked her questions hour after hour. Eventually, she'd grown sick of it and stormed out.
Then the other slayers had swarmed her, each wanting to hear what had happened. After nearly slapping someone, Chesta had dragged her to her room and made her promise that she would get some sleep.
Hitomi looked in the mirror and smiled. She'd finally got her new armour.
It was gorgeous. Black enamelled shoulder pads bore the spikes that Dilandau's did, and a green breastplate protected her front. Her black armoured boots and gloves finished the picture, and Hitomi felt invincible in it. When she mentioned that to Dalet, he chuckled.
"You'll feel invincible right until you get your first wound!"
Hitomi laughed now as she had laughed then. The she yawned. God she was tired!
'I'd better get sleep while I can. Tomorrow, I get my guymelef!'
She took off her armour (A/N: Drag your minds out of the gutter!) and put on a nightshirt. Then she fell into bed and was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow.
Tomorrow was another big day.
A/N: You heard her. Tomorrow she drives her first guymelef. Won't that be fun? And that's not all! Something cool happens next! You want to know now? I'M NOT TELLING! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH*cough cough, fall over unconscious. Astral form gets up*
I know this chapter is kinda short, but bear with me here. And always review!