{I was going to fiddle around with this chapter some more....but I decided that I've spent enough time. [Eheh...this might have something to do with Fred the chicken, Feye.:-)]
I've become tired of doing the usual, "I'm so sorry I haven't updated in awhile!" and "Thank you ever so much for the reviews!!!" Though I always do mean that, I think it gets quite boring....So, from now on every chapter will have a sponsor, of which one of the characters is a spokesperson.
This chapter of "Dirandau is my sister" is brought to you by Fire's Gleam Toothpaste....Fire's Gleam, for that dazzling white smile.
[Dirandau-sama is the spokesperson for this product...just look at some of those pictures of him where he's smiling.....He'd be perfect for it.]
Now for the fic...Bon Apetite}
PART SIX
They were in the study.
Allen was taking care of Natal, watching Dirandau out of the corner of his eye.
He sighed.
::"I don't think I can do this on my own…"::
Dirandau was seated at a table, shredding papers to bits. His eyes were wide, and he was shivering with fear.
::"The bastard did that on purpose…"::
They had just come from the garden, where Dirandau had pitched a fit.
Allen had been discussing the many flowers. He knew quite a lot about them...he had devoted a great deal of time to studying them. It made him feel a little better to think that he could keep the spirit of his mother and sister alive through the garden that they had loved so much.
Throughout the lecture, Dirandau had felt slightly uncomfortable and ill. He didn't give much thought to it. He simply attributed it to the god-awful sludge that Allen called conversation, and tried to ignore it.
He wondered if this was how someone felt when they were on the verge of being bored to death.
Everything was fine...well, maybe not fine...these people are never fine... Everything was normal until Allen came across a striped dark yellow flower with tear shaped petals.....Serena's favourite. Allen handed one of its blossoms to Dirandau, so that he might have a better look at it.
He stared blankly at it for a moment, and then he became completely psychotic…as if he had just been attacked.
Allen had great difficulty in calming Dirandau enough to drag him away from the garden. He tried desperately to keep Allen away, screaming and clawing at him. It was like dealing with some kind of wounded wild animal.
Allen: "Dirandau?"
Rip, rip, rip……Dirandau ignored him. How dare Allen even try to talk to him, after what had happened?? Allen must have known that would happen….that was why the man looked so upset. He wasn't concerned at all about what Dirandau was going through, just mad that the plan hadn't worked out…
::"Rrrrr....isn't there any way that Dirandau will let me help him?????"::
He couldn't possibly help Dirandau, when Dirandau wouldn't tell him anything of what was wrong. There was only so much he could do by deciphering Dirandau's problems from the sarcastic, often morbid jokes and intense insults.
It seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't be able get anywhere with Dirandau. Very well then...he'd leave the stress of all this for a little while. Maybe he would be more effective later.
Allen: "Fine…you want to ignore me...that's just fine. I'll leave you alone, then...that's what you really want."
Natal squawked as she watched Allen leave. She didn't want to be left alone with Dirandau. She was terrified of him.
Almost heedless of Allen's departure, Dirandau continued to shred papers.
"Go right ahead, damnit...I'm alone even if you are here......"
He suddenly felt something strange...it was that feeling he'd had in the garden. He shivered.
::"You pushed him away again...you pushed my brother away.....You'll pay for that......You'll pay for everything you've done....monster."::
Everything he'd done....there was nothing that he had done that wasn't connected to some other person's motives, some other person's wants. Even burning down countries, and chasing after Van when Folken had told him not to...he would never have started doing these things unless Zaibach had wanted him to.
Now these others were gone, and he was left to take care of what they had left behind....like some poor sap who's been stuck with the check at a restaurant.
He laid his head down on the table.
"Why am I the only one who has to pay???"
Gaddes had just finished climbing over the garden wall. He knew that all the servants were gone, and that there would be no one else but Allen to come to the door. He hadn't wanted to bother the boss with answering it, so he'd just snuck over the wall. It was like what he used to do when he had scheduled a 'meeting' with a girl, and her guardians didn't exactly approve.
Allen had given all his men the order that they were to stay away until further notice....but Gaddes had an excuse. He had to deliver a letter. Besides, Allen wouldn't mind his right-hand man coming to visit him.....
He walked into the study. He halted when he saw that a young man was in there, and it wasn't Allen. Then he remembered...Serena....
::"Perhaps she doesn't like the idea of long hair and dresses....that's why she's got such short hair, and dresses in boys clothing. That's why I thought she was a boy...."::
He approached slowly, until he was standing right behind Dirandau.
Gaddes: "Uh....miss? I don't think you remember me, but-"
Dirandau jumped out of his chair, and whipped around to face Gaddes.
Dirandau: "Miss????"
Gaddes stepped back in surprise. Dirandau slammed him to the floor. Gaddes reached for his sword, but Dirandau got to it before he could. He slashed Gaddes across the shoulder.
Dirandau: "So, now rag-tag criminals break in here to insult me??"
Gaddes stood up, and backed away. He had been caught completely off-guard.
Gaddes: "Uh.....Dirandau?"
Gaddes backed up some more.
Gaddes: "Can we....talk…about this?"
Dirandau charged at him, and slashed him across the leg.
Dirandau: "My sword does the talking for me…"
The two fought for quite awhile. Natal was squawking louder than ever, which alerted Allen to a problem. He groaned.
"What now???"
Dirandau now had Gaddes backed into a corner. He moved in slowly…intending to kill.
Dirandau: "Pathetic...absolutely useless..…too bad you didn't last longer. I won't even remember this fight five minutes from now, it was so short.."
He raised his arm to strike. Something held him back.
"Now, now…I don't think you really want to do this."
Dirandau: "Wha…what?"
He had been so engrossed in fighting that he hadn't noticed Allen walk up behind him.
::"How does Allen do that????"::
Allen gripped Dirandau's hand, forcing him to drop the sword. Allen then pulled his arm behind his back, and restrained him.
It was pointless to struggle, but Dirandau did it anyway.
Allen: "Obviously manners weren't considered an important part of your training…didn't anyone tell you that it makes a horrible first impression on someone if you try to kill them on your first meeting?"
Allen waited until Dirandau calmed down to let him go.
Dirandau turned away from the two, trying to hide his embarrassment at being defeated like that.
Allen: "Gaddes, what are you doing here? I told everyone to stay away until further notice."
Gaddes had been standing there with his mouth gaping open. It took him a moment to get over his surprise at the attack, and answer Allen's question.
Gaddes: "I have a letter from Eries….and I didn't think you meant your second-in-command when you said that you wanted everyone to stay away."
Allen stared at the letter in Gaddes' hand, dreading its contents.
::"She must have found out…she has written to inform me that she is taking Dirandau away."::
Dirandau turned and stared disbelieving at Gaddes on the phrase, "second-in-command"
Dirandau: "This…is one of your soldiers?"
Allen nodded. Dirandau couldn't help but laugh.
He went up to inspect Gaddes' "uniform".
Dirandau: "Pathetic…just like everything else of yours, Allen……."
Gaddes slapped Dirandau's hand away. He glowered at Gaddes.
Gaddes: "Boss, how do you deal with the little brat?"
Allen smirked.
Allen: "Lots of patience….and a lot of fire insurance."
They both laughed. Allen was glad to have someone around who could talk about the situation lightly.
Dirandau, meanwhile, was the picture of indignance.
Dirandau: "You keep strange company, Allen. Why anyone would contend with a psuedo-soldier like him is beyond me ……"
Gaddes: "You're one to talk. You lost the fight, remember?"
Dirandau: "You're one to talk, you're an idiot, remember?"
They both eyed each other for a moment.
Without warning, Dirandau reached up, and slapped Gaddes as hard as he could.
Gaddes picked up his sword.
Gaddes: "That's it, you little freak….I'm gonna pound you into next week…"
He ran at Dirandau. Allen held out his arm as a barrier.
Allen: "Don't take another step."
Gaddes: "But, Boss, you can't-"
Allen: "Don't argue."
Dirandau smirked.
Dirandau: "Yeah...don't argue with him, reprobate."
Gaddes didn't know what that word meant, but it was obviously an insult. He tried to charge again.
Allen: *whispered* "Don't provoke him further! That's an order."
Gaddes sighed, and nodded.
Gaddes: "Yes, boss."
Allen: "Now...about that letter.."
Allen opened it with trembling hands.
To his relief, Eries didn't know anything about Dirandau's escapade through Asturia...She even complimented him on the good job he'd done keeping Dirandau a secret. She had written to let him know that her trip had gone well, and she would be returning earlier than she thought. She seemed excited about something.
She said that she had good news for Allen.
Good news was something that he needed very badly.
::"Perhaps she has decided about Dirandau....yes, she must have....there could be no other news that she would think I'd want to hear.."::
The last line read, "The present troubles of you and I shall soon be over."
Allen had been very happy up until that point.
She didn't understand the situation the same way that Allen did. What she thought to be a good thing was most likely not what he believed it to be. She was so cold and factual. She only saw the surface of things.
::"And now I'm right back to the worries I had before..."::
Even when she tried to comfort someone, she ended up making them feel an infinite amount of times worse. He wasn't surprised....it was in her nature to do so. She obviously hadn't the ability to understand emotion.
He sighed. He tried to calm down, and remind himself that these things would not last forever.
"Patience....patience....patience...."
That was one of the things he'd been taught as a knight...repeating this word several times in a row helped to destroy stress.
He felt something being thrown at him. He looked up from his melancholy ponderings to see Dirandau staring at him.
Dirandau: "Wake up!"
Allen must have been standing there for quite some time.
Dirandau: "What the hell is wrong with you?"
He did a mocking impression of Allen saying, "Patience" over and over.
Dirandau: "I hate that word...."
He chucked some more paper at Allen.
Dirandau: "I hate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Dirandau's hands were clenched so tight that they had become white. His eye twitched.
Gaddes and Allen looked at eachother.
Gaddes: "Geez....this guy goes from sane to not the way some people change socks...."
Dirandau glared at Gaddes, and said the only thing that came to mind.
Dirandau: "Die..."
Gaddes: "Eh...no thanks. I'd rather not do that just yet."
Dirandau: "Rrrrrr..................!"
Allen groaned. ::"I'm going to have to stock up on tranquilizers. Not necessarily for him, either...."::
Allen: "You can't keep doing this. I understand you are going through a lot, but you can't just lash out at everyone without warning, and for no reason whatsoever."
Dirandau: "There is a reas-"
Allen: "Alright...there probably is a reason....but you haven't let anyone know what that is yet, and it probably doesn't warrant such rudeness. You have to calm down."
Dirandau nearly fell down laughing.
Dirandau: "I am calm..........I'm imprisoned in your house....a little girl is trying to kill me, and I can't stop her......there is absolutely nothing for me to do here.......I'm going to die............but I'm calm...calm as a stagnant pond......"
"Calm as a stagnant pond"....that sounded like something Strategos would say...
Allen slammed his fist into the wall.
Allen: "Damnit.... no one will help you if you don't give them the chance! I'm trying to and all you can do is rant and rave, and talk like a madman.....don't you ever wonder why people think you are crazy?"
Dirandau: "Not at all. I know I am. I'm glad. I'd rather be crazy than be like them."
His hands were still clenched, he still had that ludicrous look on his face. Amazing that he could hold a conversation when he felt the way he did.
They turned away from each other.
Gaddes looked at the two. He was shocked at how similar the two looked...They both hung their heads in an unbearable kind of despair and exasperation.
The air was thick with pain and suffering. Gaddes felt that if they stayed there any longer, they would all be consumed by it.
Gaddes: "Hey, boss...you shown this guy around town yet?"
Allen turned and stared at Gaddes, as if his head had suddenly sprouted flowers.
Allen: "What?"
Gaddes: "Well...he talks about how pitiful our culture is....he hasn't seen it up close, though....Probably hasn't ever seen a market place, either."
Allen shook his head no.
Allen: "Eries said that he wasn't allowed to go anywhere outside of this estate. Besides...we can't risk him going into one of his fits."
Dirandau: "Hey!!!! Don't talk about me as if I'm not standing right next to you.....I hate it when people do that!"
Gaddes: " You don't need to tell us every time you hate something...we know you hate everything."
Dirandau: "RRRRrrRRR!!"
They looked as if they were about to pounce on eachother again.
Allen: "Stop this, both of you! I suppose you're right, Gaddes. It would be good for us to get away for awhile....he and I both need a break from this."
He set the letter on the table.
Allen: "Dirandau, I take you on your word that you won't do anything....but the moment you start acting up, we go straight home. Understand?"
Dirandau rolled his eyes. Allen was talking to him like a four-year-old.
Dirandau: "Fine."
The trio headed off for the marketplace.
It was a fine day in the market place. The sun was high up in the sky, the waves gently hit the shores, the temperature was just cool enough.
Dirandau ambled from place to place. Gaddes was right about one thing. He'd never been in a marketplace before. Besides going into battle, Dirandau hadn't gone anywhere outside the Vione, or various training centers. He'd never seen a place like this, where a person could just pick up something they liked, and buy it.
Gaddes' eye was caught by a jewelry stand.
Gaddes: "Boss, I think I'll leave you two for a bit. I..uh...have something I need to do..."
Allen nodded, and Gaddes left. He was looking for something to give a pretty girl he'd met a week back at the Sontresse Inn. He knew he shouldn't let girls go to his head like that....but he couldn't help himself.
Allen promised that he would by anything Dirandau wanted. They walked aimlessly from shop to shop, discussing nothing in particular. They stopped in front of an antiques booth. A tall man, looking slightly grungy and aloof, was busy talking with the owner.
Dirandau began looking everything over absentmindedly.
Dirandau: "The way your people use money is..odd...."
Allen blinked.
Allen: "People didn't use money in Zai.....i-in your former country?"
Dirandau: "Of course not. It isn't necessary to use monetary units. A person can't own something simply because they gave someone else gold for it.....ownership comes from hard work."
He spoke with great haughtiness, and his words were harsh...his pride and love for his country were things which he could not veil.
Allen: "I've never heard of a country that doesn't have a form of currency. How did people acquire things?"
Dirandau had difficulty speaking of Zaibach in the past tense. He couldn't make himself realize that it was really gone.
Dirandau: "Everyone has set requirements...things they need to do by the end of each day or week. If they've done what they ought to, then they get what they require. Bottom line: You do your job, you get what you need."
Allen laughed.
Allen: "I'd love to see how Dryden would fare in a place like that..."
Dirandau: "Who?"
Allen: "Oh...Dryden Fassa...he's a merchant, the only thing he understands is money. Maybe you'll meet him one day."
The man who was talking with the merchant whipped around at the mention of that name. It was, in fact, Dryden. He looked quite worried.
::"Have I been found?"::
Upon seeing Allen's face, he relaxed.
Dryden: "And maybe today is that day....is that you, Allen?"
Allen: "Dryden? What are you doing? I thought you were out in Freid for the next six months."
Dryden smiled.
Dryden: "I see Eries has been talking....."
Allen: "Quite a bit, yes. Why did you lie to her?"
Dryden: "To avoid the evil eye, my friend...Ever since I left Millerna and the throne, she's had it in for me. Eries was hoping that married life would make her settle down and forget all those 'frivolous dreams.' And then there are the troubles with governing the new republic. No one wants the job...and, since I technically already took that job, she knows that it would be easier to try and get me to come back than get someone new.
Every time she hears that I'm in Asturia, I am barraged with people trying to convince me to come back, and take my rightful place."
He sighed and shook his head, obviously weary.
Dryden: "Asturia is a haven for merchants. I couldn't just stay away forever. So, now...I have to pretend that I am not here."
He extended his hand to Allen as a gesture of salutation.
Dryden: "My name is Sylian."
It gave Allen some slight comfort to know that someone else was being hounded by Eries just as much as himself.
Many had trouble understanding Eries' actions. She seemed to have a vendetta against the rest of humanity.
However, all of her actions were rooted in a deep love for her people, and a desire to take care of them.
These were difficult times, especially for leaders. There was danger of revolution breaking out. The people were absolutely infuriated with their leaders, for their failure to prevent such a terrible war. There was even talk of removing all leaders....anarchy might be better than the mess which leaders create.
Asturia was considered the government which best followed the will of the people. The oppressed of other countries looked upon it with great hope as the one place that they could go, and live in peace.
Asturia held the last bit of faith the people had in government.
And Eries was responsible to see that this faith was well placed. If she were unsuccessful, then revolution would be inevitable.
Dryden: "That's why I was concerned when I heard someone mention my name...I thought perhaps I'd been discovered. You won't tell Eries, will you?"
Allen: "No, no...I've got enough troubles of my own."
He motioned towards Dirandau.
Dryden: "Who is this?"
Allen: "My....ward. Why don't you introduce yourself?"
Allen knew he could trust Dryden not to let anyone know. If he were so busy keeping himself out of trouble, he wouldn't go out of his way to hurt Allen...even if he were still jealous of Millerna's affections for him.
Dirandau: "How positively...kind of you to include me in your drivel - I mean conversation."
Allen rolled his eyes. Wasn't there anything he could do that this kid would appreciate?
Dirandau: "What did you say your name was?"
Dryden: "Sylian."
He blinked.
Dirandau: "You live in a whole in the ground? Allen, if this is one of your country's best merchants, you're not scoring any points-"
Dryden: "What are you talking about? Where do you get that idea?"
Dirandau: "Your name...it means 'Member of the forest.' And, judging from your appearance, the only place you would live is underground....like a mole, or a rat. Path-"
Allen *Through clenched teeth* "Say pathetic again, and you'll regret it."
Dirandau and Allen glared at each other for a moment.
Dryden felt he had to break up this love fest.
Dryden: "What happened to Ser-"
Allen waved his hands, signaling that Dryden should shut up.
Dryden: "I mean, what happened to serving yourself at these markets? Everywhere you look these days, you see those government paid servants carrying packages for everyone...wild, huh? Just another sign of the times, I guess."
That was one of the stranger attempts by the government to curry favor with the people....a rather blatant example of how the government was the servant of the people.
Dirandau: "Wild? What kind of rush can someone get by something so unimportant as that?"
He stared at Dryden as if the guy were absolutely nuts. He finally gave up trying to be part of the conversation, muttering something that didn't sound at all flattering to Dryden, and went back to perusing the merchandise.
Dryden: "Um...quite a serious one, is he?"
Allen: "Quite. And very touchy, especially about Serena. Thank you for censoring yourself....the last time someone mentioned her, he tried to kill them. I didn't know what I'd do if he went into another tirade...and right in the middle of the marketplace, too."
Dryden: "So, what did happen to Serena?"
Allen: "Oh...it seems she never really did come back...You see-"
A crash and sounds of yelling cut Allen's words short.
Dirandau: "I didn't do anything, damn it!"
Merchant: "You did...I saw you!"
Dirandau: "You lying little…! You didn't see anything…because I didn't do anything!!!"
Merchant: "You did. You broke them, you're going to pay for them."
A pile of broken wood and shattered glass lay at Dirandau's feet.
Dirandau: "I didn't!!! It's your fault....you set those damned ugly clocks up on that shelf...it fell on its own...you're the idiot who miscalculated the weight......Not my fault."
The merchant grabbed Dirandau by the arm. He responded by slugging the merchant in the face.
Allen rushed over. He gripped Dirandau by the shoulders.
Allen: "What did I tell you?"
Dirandau: "That doesn't have anything to do with this. This wasn't my fault."
Allen: "I don't care if it wasn't your fault. You said you wouldn't do anything...even if it's not your fault, you can't hit someone in the face like that."
Dirandau: "What was I supposed to do? Not defend myself? He just....accosted me like that... "
Allen: "You could have called me over."
Dirandau: "Oh, yes....eheh.....wait for you to save me, like one of your pretty wenches......your helpless little sister..."
Allen: "You weren't in any danger, so it wasn't really defense. Until you learn how to deal with people in an acceptable fashion, you should call me over if you're having difficulties with them. Alright?"
Dirandau: "Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....."
::"He wants me to answer to him....like he's my superior, or something......I'll never answer to him..."::
Allen: "Growl at me all you want. This is what you will do from now on."
He paid the merchant, who was not at all pleased. He bid Dryden goodbye, and led Dirandau away from the shop.
Allen sighed.
Allen: "I doubt if I'll ever be allowed back there."
Dirandau: "It's not like you'll ever need anything from there, anyway....They were all just useless things, common to your frivolous society. You-"
Allen: "Can we PLEASE have a moment without your remarks about how nothing is as good as it was in your country? You've already told me many times....many, many times.....and frankly, it's becoming an annoyance."
Dirandau shrugged.
Allen: "Good. You just be quiet then...I'd prefer to enjoy my time here right now."
Allen couldn't have enjoyed this time at all, even with Dirandau not talking. He had too many things to worry about.
They walked along in silence for the next few minutes. Both pretended to be immensely interested in the merchandise they passed...It helped them to ignore each other. They seemed equally well relieved when Gaddes came back (He had found a lovely necklace...at least, lovely for something his salary could buy.) Anything was better than being alone with each other.
The next few hours were quite uneventful. Dirandau had found some new clothes for himself. They were a far cry from the things he was wearing at the moment...cold and militant, the sorts of things he'd always worn.
It wasn't that he liked those sorts of clothes, that wasn't why he chose them. It was simply that he'd never worn anything else. Strategos had always chosen everything for him. In fact, the only thing he'd ever chosen for himself was that tiara.
Often, Allen or Gaddes would meet up with someone that they knew, and engage in conversation. It made Dirandau feel even more lonely.
The worst time was when Allen met up with a few of his fellow knights.
They shared great comradery, discussing old times, battles they had lost and won, or new techniques they'd learned with the sword.
To Dirandau, it was just a painful reminder that he would never have a conversation like that...all his soldiers were gone forever.
::"I'd give anything if I could only see someone I know...someone I've fought with...someone important to me.."
Irony has a habit of listening in on our thoughts, and manifesting them through her own special methods in the world around us. She must have been listening to Dirandau's thoughts at that moment, for not ten feet away was someone who often brought a smile to his face, who could make him laugh as if there were no other troubles in the world....someone in a plain red shirt, with shabbily cut black hair..........Van Fanel.
Dirandau couldn't believe it. His voice became quiet.
"Still alive????"
He had begun to think that Van was dead....no one spoke of him, ever. Besides, after what he'd done to the Dragonslayers, it just seemed a natural procession of events that he die a horrible death in payment.
His eyes brightened, and a smile spread slowly across his face.
"Van............."
He traced his fingers lightly against that old scar.....it was becoming lighter now..it didn't hurt as much as it used to.
"We've had some good times...you and I."
This was perfect. That man....that idiot...he didn't know that Dirandau was even alive. Perfect. He wouldn't be defending himself, he wouldn't have time to. And with that bitch from the mystic moon gone, (Allen had been talking about how he was beginning to miss her.) it would be all too easy to make a sneak attack.
He began laughing.
"The fun's not over yet, Van!"
Van looked up from what he was doing, chills running down his spine.
"It couldn't be.....could it?"
That voice...he had hoped he'd never hear it again.....that laugh, those morbid, insane jokes... those were in all his nightmares, haunting him. Was he having a nightmare now?
He looked around. He thought he caught a faint glimpse of his old enemy, smiling as usual.
He didn't have a chance to make double-sure that it was Dirandau. Mereru had jumped in front of him.
Mereru: "Lord Van? Lord Van...are you alright? Huh? Huh?"
Van: "I'm fine, Mereru...just fine.."
He tried to look around her, but she kept getting in his line of vision. She grabbed his face with both hands. {Or would they be paws?}
Mereru: "You don't look okay....are you sick, Lord Van??"
There was an epidemic of an unknown illness ambling its way across Gaea. Though no one they knew, besides Millerna, had caught it, Mereru was forever afraid that her precious Van would come down with it. She gave him great difficulty anytime he tried to go anywhere, and she ALWAYS had to come with him....she was much more clingy than before.
This excursion was exceptionally difficult. The marketplace was just full of strange people...there was no telling what weird diseases they had.
Van: "No, I'm not sick, now just-"
Mereru: "Maybe we should go home. I knew this was a bad idea!"
She grabbed him by the arm, and started dragging him away.
Van: "Wait, Mereru!"
She wouldn't budge on her decision, so the two headed for home.
Our little hero was still laughing. Allen couldn't get him to stop. He tried asking Dirandau what had happened, but all he could get out of him was the word "Van" and more gleeful laughing.
The surrounding people were beginning to stare. Allen had to get Dirandau out of there. He was thankful that at least Dirandau wouldn't be struggling. He was too...happy.
{And on that happy note, I conclude this chapter. I'm not entirely sure if I'm done editing this chapter....but it's been too long! ::Blinks:: I couldn't believe how far back my fic was in the list....
I promise not to bastardize anyone if I can help it. I try my best to represent the characters as I see them, and lucky for some, I find good qualities in all characters (even the ones I don't care for.)
I'm always worried that I've slightly demonized Eries....I tried giving her redemption in this chapter, and I hope I was successful. [However, what I've got planned for next chapter may just undo all that... and I hope it's not cliche to have Eries causing problems for everyone, because I can't stand cliche.]
I don't know yet if this story will have a happy ending. Most of my stories have terribly sad endings...but I might make an exception. The point is...you'll have to wait and see:-)
And huggles and snuggles to m'lady Christine Daae...Many thanks for reviewing. ::Feels all special and squishy.
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{I am now the proud owner of a deleted scene! Yippee! I thought that this had some good writing in it, so I decided to leave it up here. [I didn't edit it much, so it might not look as good as some of my other stuff.] I couldn't put it in the real fic because Dirandau knows quite well what danger he's in, and how he has to pretend he's a member of Asturia. I already showed that with his experience in the Seraphim household. Plus, I'm not exactly sure if it's really realistic having Dirandau play marbles....but it is kind of cute to think about. :-)
This starts right at the part where they get into the market place.}
It was a fine day in the market place. The sun was high up in the sky, the waves gently hit the shores, the temperature was just cool enough.
Dirandau ambled from place to place. Gaddes was right. He'd never been in a marketplace before. Besides going into battle, Dirandau hadn't gone anywhere outside the Vione, or various training centers. He'd never seen a place like this, where people could pick up something they liked, and buy it.
He stopped at a stand that sold games. He smiled when he saw some bins of flat, clear marbles. He held a green one up to the sun.
Allen: "Found something?"
Dirandau nodded.
Dirandau: "We used to play with these....my dragonslayers and I did..."
Gaddes laughed, imagining them all as little kids, shooting marbles in a circle. Dirandau didn't even bother to feel insulted by Gaddes' laughter.
Allen blinked.
Allen: "They played games?"
He was a little nervous that Dirandau had mentioned the dragonslayers. Many people knew who they were. Traitors were being denounced every day, and plenty of people were jealous enough of Allen Schezar to jump at the chance to denounce him. He knew that nothing much could happen to him, since Eries knew what was going on...but then he'd be breaking that agreement they made.
Dirandau: "When they were younger, yes...in the early years of training. They were meant to teach us strategy...and they made people want to win. You can't win a fight unless you really want to, and you can't desire to win unless you know what it feels like."
Allen: "What sorts of games did you play?"
Dirandau: "I can't remember most of them...sometimes I got to play chess with Strategos...I was the only one who was allowed to do that. And...there was a game I invented with these kinds of marbles...I can't remember the name."
He picked up a handful, and sat on the ground. He set several red marbles in the outline of the symbol of some country which was long since gone.
The merchant began to look a bit worried about what was happening with his merchandise, so Allen payed him.
Dirandau: "Then everyone gets the marbles that are left...And you try to 'kill' the marbles there..you do that by overturning them....I can't really explain it all to you, because it has to do with invading countries, and destroying them...and you've never done that."
He shot one of the remaining marbles into the design in the middle. He got seventeen in a row.
Allen tugged at his cravat, as he sometimes did when he was nervous. The merchant was listening in on the conversation, and could cause trouble.
Allen: *Whispered* "I can explain-"
Merchant: "Would you mind moving along? I don't wanna be involved in anything."
Allen nodded. He helped Dirandau put the marbles in a bag, and they started walking again.
Allen: "You can't talk like that here. Everyone is rather tense about anything having to do with the enemy."
Dirandau: "We aren't the enemy, you are. It's ludicrous...I'll never understand why countries like these didn't want to be part of Zaibach. It'd do them a lot of good. If your people would only realize-"
Allen gripped Dirandau by the shoulders.
Allen: "I just told you not to talk about things like that! Don't you realize this is dangerous? People remember you...they hate you, and many of them would be very glad to see you die. They...they often talk about how they want you to endure what you've put other people through."
How ironic that statement was....the boy has been through more hell than anyone could understand. Allen had trouble saying those words, because he knew that he also used to think that way.
Dirandau: "I can't pretend...not about that....You want me to be a traitor to my country....traitors are the ones who deserve to be tormented...traitors are the people I went after."
Allen: "You promised you wouldn't act up.."
Dirandau: "I wasn't thinking when I made that promise."
Allen: "You aren't thinking now."
Dirandau folded his arms across his chest.
Dirandau: "We used to execute people for the things you say.."
Allen: "And we execute people now for the things you say."
Dirandau: "Shut up."
He smacked Allen.
Allen: "Thanks."
Allen smacked him back.
Gaddes: "Alright, enough of this love-fest. You always talk about winning, don't you? And how people make foolish, silly mistakes. Well...you're not following your own rules. You'll lose if you keep this up...you're the only member of Zaibach left. If you continue the way you are, you'll be executed, and then your country will truly be no more. And it will all be your fault."
Dirandau didn't want to admit it, but he knew it was true.
Dirandau: "Well, well....your pathetic soldier knows something about strategy after all..."
Allen: "Then, you will stop this foolishness?"
Dirandau nodded.
{I gave up here, and started writing anew. After this part, they would have spent a few uneventful hours at the market, and gone home to await....-Dramatic music goes here- the next chapter. Happy trails, hope to update again soon...[Next chapter probably won't be as long as this, though....takes too long to edit and finish.]}
I've become tired of doing the usual, "I'm so sorry I haven't updated in awhile!" and "Thank you ever so much for the reviews!!!" Though I always do mean that, I think it gets quite boring....So, from now on every chapter will have a sponsor, of which one of the characters is a spokesperson.
This chapter of "Dirandau is my sister" is brought to you by Fire's Gleam Toothpaste....Fire's Gleam, for that dazzling white smile.
[Dirandau-sama is the spokesperson for this product...just look at some of those pictures of him where he's smiling.....He'd be perfect for it.]
Now for the fic...Bon Apetite}
PART SIX
They were in the study.
Allen was taking care of Natal, watching Dirandau out of the corner of his eye.
He sighed.
::"I don't think I can do this on my own…"::
Dirandau was seated at a table, shredding papers to bits. His eyes were wide, and he was shivering with fear.
::"The bastard did that on purpose…"::
They had just come from the garden, where Dirandau had pitched a fit.
Allen had been discussing the many flowers. He knew quite a lot about them...he had devoted a great deal of time to studying them. It made him feel a little better to think that he could keep the spirit of his mother and sister alive through the garden that they had loved so much.
Throughout the lecture, Dirandau had felt slightly uncomfortable and ill. He didn't give much thought to it. He simply attributed it to the god-awful sludge that Allen called conversation, and tried to ignore it.
He wondered if this was how someone felt when they were on the verge of being bored to death.
Everything was fine...well, maybe not fine...these people are never fine... Everything was normal until Allen came across a striped dark yellow flower with tear shaped petals.....Serena's favourite. Allen handed one of its blossoms to Dirandau, so that he might have a better look at it.
He stared blankly at it for a moment, and then he became completely psychotic…as if he had just been attacked.
Allen had great difficulty in calming Dirandau enough to drag him away from the garden. He tried desperately to keep Allen away, screaming and clawing at him. It was like dealing with some kind of wounded wild animal.
Allen: "Dirandau?"
Rip, rip, rip……Dirandau ignored him. How dare Allen even try to talk to him, after what had happened?? Allen must have known that would happen….that was why the man looked so upset. He wasn't concerned at all about what Dirandau was going through, just mad that the plan hadn't worked out…
::"Rrrrr....isn't there any way that Dirandau will let me help him?????"::
He couldn't possibly help Dirandau, when Dirandau wouldn't tell him anything of what was wrong. There was only so much he could do by deciphering Dirandau's problems from the sarcastic, often morbid jokes and intense insults.
It seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't be able get anywhere with Dirandau. Very well then...he'd leave the stress of all this for a little while. Maybe he would be more effective later.
Allen: "Fine…you want to ignore me...that's just fine. I'll leave you alone, then...that's what you really want."
Natal squawked as she watched Allen leave. She didn't want to be left alone with Dirandau. She was terrified of him.
Almost heedless of Allen's departure, Dirandau continued to shred papers.
"Go right ahead, damnit...I'm alone even if you are here......"
He suddenly felt something strange...it was that feeling he'd had in the garden. He shivered.
::"You pushed him away again...you pushed my brother away.....You'll pay for that......You'll pay for everything you've done....monster."::
Everything he'd done....there was nothing that he had done that wasn't connected to some other person's motives, some other person's wants. Even burning down countries, and chasing after Van when Folken had told him not to...he would never have started doing these things unless Zaibach had wanted him to.
Now these others were gone, and he was left to take care of what they had left behind....like some poor sap who's been stuck with the check at a restaurant.
He laid his head down on the table.
"Why am I the only one who has to pay???"
Gaddes had just finished climbing over the garden wall. He knew that all the servants were gone, and that there would be no one else but Allen to come to the door. He hadn't wanted to bother the boss with answering it, so he'd just snuck over the wall. It was like what he used to do when he had scheduled a 'meeting' with a girl, and her guardians didn't exactly approve.
Allen had given all his men the order that they were to stay away until further notice....but Gaddes had an excuse. He had to deliver a letter. Besides, Allen wouldn't mind his right-hand man coming to visit him.....
He walked into the study. He halted when he saw that a young man was in there, and it wasn't Allen. Then he remembered...Serena....
::"Perhaps she doesn't like the idea of long hair and dresses....that's why she's got such short hair, and dresses in boys clothing. That's why I thought she was a boy...."::
He approached slowly, until he was standing right behind Dirandau.
Gaddes: "Uh....miss? I don't think you remember me, but-"
Dirandau jumped out of his chair, and whipped around to face Gaddes.
Dirandau: "Miss????"
Gaddes stepped back in surprise. Dirandau slammed him to the floor. Gaddes reached for his sword, but Dirandau got to it before he could. He slashed Gaddes across the shoulder.
Dirandau: "So, now rag-tag criminals break in here to insult me??"
Gaddes stood up, and backed away. He had been caught completely off-guard.
Gaddes: "Uh.....Dirandau?"
Gaddes backed up some more.
Gaddes: "Can we....talk…about this?"
Dirandau charged at him, and slashed him across the leg.
Dirandau: "My sword does the talking for me…"
The two fought for quite awhile. Natal was squawking louder than ever, which alerted Allen to a problem. He groaned.
"What now???"
Dirandau now had Gaddes backed into a corner. He moved in slowly…intending to kill.
Dirandau: "Pathetic...absolutely useless..…too bad you didn't last longer. I won't even remember this fight five minutes from now, it was so short.."
He raised his arm to strike. Something held him back.
"Now, now…I don't think you really want to do this."
Dirandau: "Wha…what?"
He had been so engrossed in fighting that he hadn't noticed Allen walk up behind him.
::"How does Allen do that????"::
Allen gripped Dirandau's hand, forcing him to drop the sword. Allen then pulled his arm behind his back, and restrained him.
It was pointless to struggle, but Dirandau did it anyway.
Allen: "Obviously manners weren't considered an important part of your training…didn't anyone tell you that it makes a horrible first impression on someone if you try to kill them on your first meeting?"
Allen waited until Dirandau calmed down to let him go.
Dirandau turned away from the two, trying to hide his embarrassment at being defeated like that.
Allen: "Gaddes, what are you doing here? I told everyone to stay away until further notice."
Gaddes had been standing there with his mouth gaping open. It took him a moment to get over his surprise at the attack, and answer Allen's question.
Gaddes: "I have a letter from Eries….and I didn't think you meant your second-in-command when you said that you wanted everyone to stay away."
Allen stared at the letter in Gaddes' hand, dreading its contents.
::"She must have found out…she has written to inform me that she is taking Dirandau away."::
Dirandau turned and stared disbelieving at Gaddes on the phrase, "second-in-command"
Dirandau: "This…is one of your soldiers?"
Allen nodded. Dirandau couldn't help but laugh.
He went up to inspect Gaddes' "uniform".
Dirandau: "Pathetic…just like everything else of yours, Allen……."
Gaddes slapped Dirandau's hand away. He glowered at Gaddes.
Gaddes: "Boss, how do you deal with the little brat?"
Allen smirked.
Allen: "Lots of patience….and a lot of fire insurance."
They both laughed. Allen was glad to have someone around who could talk about the situation lightly.
Dirandau, meanwhile, was the picture of indignance.
Dirandau: "You keep strange company, Allen. Why anyone would contend with a psuedo-soldier like him is beyond me ……"
Gaddes: "You're one to talk. You lost the fight, remember?"
Dirandau: "You're one to talk, you're an idiot, remember?"
They both eyed each other for a moment.
Without warning, Dirandau reached up, and slapped Gaddes as hard as he could.
Gaddes picked up his sword.
Gaddes: "That's it, you little freak….I'm gonna pound you into next week…"
He ran at Dirandau. Allen held out his arm as a barrier.
Allen: "Don't take another step."
Gaddes: "But, Boss, you can't-"
Allen: "Don't argue."
Dirandau smirked.
Dirandau: "Yeah...don't argue with him, reprobate."
Gaddes didn't know what that word meant, but it was obviously an insult. He tried to charge again.
Allen: *whispered* "Don't provoke him further! That's an order."
Gaddes sighed, and nodded.
Gaddes: "Yes, boss."
Allen: "Now...about that letter.."
Allen opened it with trembling hands.
To his relief, Eries didn't know anything about Dirandau's escapade through Asturia...She even complimented him on the good job he'd done keeping Dirandau a secret. She had written to let him know that her trip had gone well, and she would be returning earlier than she thought. She seemed excited about something.
She said that she had good news for Allen.
Good news was something that he needed very badly.
::"Perhaps she has decided about Dirandau....yes, she must have....there could be no other news that she would think I'd want to hear.."::
The last line read, "The present troubles of you and I shall soon be over."
Allen had been very happy up until that point.
She didn't understand the situation the same way that Allen did. What she thought to be a good thing was most likely not what he believed it to be. She was so cold and factual. She only saw the surface of things.
::"And now I'm right back to the worries I had before..."::
Even when she tried to comfort someone, she ended up making them feel an infinite amount of times worse. He wasn't surprised....it was in her nature to do so. She obviously hadn't the ability to understand emotion.
He sighed. He tried to calm down, and remind himself that these things would not last forever.
"Patience....patience....patience...."
That was one of the things he'd been taught as a knight...repeating this word several times in a row helped to destroy stress.
He felt something being thrown at him. He looked up from his melancholy ponderings to see Dirandau staring at him.
Dirandau: "Wake up!"
Allen must have been standing there for quite some time.
Dirandau: "What the hell is wrong with you?"
He did a mocking impression of Allen saying, "Patience" over and over.
Dirandau: "I hate that word...."
He chucked some more paper at Allen.
Dirandau: "I hate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Dirandau's hands were clenched so tight that they had become white. His eye twitched.
Gaddes and Allen looked at eachother.
Gaddes: "Geez....this guy goes from sane to not the way some people change socks...."
Dirandau glared at Gaddes, and said the only thing that came to mind.
Dirandau: "Die..."
Gaddes: "Eh...no thanks. I'd rather not do that just yet."
Dirandau: "Rrrrrr..................!"
Allen groaned. ::"I'm going to have to stock up on tranquilizers. Not necessarily for him, either...."::
Allen: "You can't keep doing this. I understand you are going through a lot, but you can't just lash out at everyone without warning, and for no reason whatsoever."
Dirandau: "There is a reas-"
Allen: "Alright...there probably is a reason....but you haven't let anyone know what that is yet, and it probably doesn't warrant such rudeness. You have to calm down."
Dirandau nearly fell down laughing.
Dirandau: "I am calm..........I'm imprisoned in your house....a little girl is trying to kill me, and I can't stop her......there is absolutely nothing for me to do here.......I'm going to die............but I'm calm...calm as a stagnant pond......"
"Calm as a stagnant pond"....that sounded like something Strategos would say...
Allen slammed his fist into the wall.
Allen: "Damnit.... no one will help you if you don't give them the chance! I'm trying to and all you can do is rant and rave, and talk like a madman.....don't you ever wonder why people think you are crazy?"
Dirandau: "Not at all. I know I am. I'm glad. I'd rather be crazy than be like them."
His hands were still clenched, he still had that ludicrous look on his face. Amazing that he could hold a conversation when he felt the way he did.
They turned away from each other.
Gaddes looked at the two. He was shocked at how similar the two looked...They both hung their heads in an unbearable kind of despair and exasperation.
The air was thick with pain and suffering. Gaddes felt that if they stayed there any longer, they would all be consumed by it.
Gaddes: "Hey, boss...you shown this guy around town yet?"
Allen turned and stared at Gaddes, as if his head had suddenly sprouted flowers.
Allen: "What?"
Gaddes: "Well...he talks about how pitiful our culture is....he hasn't seen it up close, though....Probably hasn't ever seen a market place, either."
Allen shook his head no.
Allen: "Eries said that he wasn't allowed to go anywhere outside of this estate. Besides...we can't risk him going into one of his fits."
Dirandau: "Hey!!!! Don't talk about me as if I'm not standing right next to you.....I hate it when people do that!"
Gaddes: " You don't need to tell us every time you hate something...we know you hate everything."
Dirandau: "RRRRrrRRR!!"
They looked as if they were about to pounce on eachother again.
Allen: "Stop this, both of you! I suppose you're right, Gaddes. It would be good for us to get away for awhile....he and I both need a break from this."
He set the letter on the table.
Allen: "Dirandau, I take you on your word that you won't do anything....but the moment you start acting up, we go straight home. Understand?"
Dirandau rolled his eyes. Allen was talking to him like a four-year-old.
Dirandau: "Fine."
The trio headed off for the marketplace.
It was a fine day in the market place. The sun was high up in the sky, the waves gently hit the shores, the temperature was just cool enough.
Dirandau ambled from place to place. Gaddes was right about one thing. He'd never been in a marketplace before. Besides going into battle, Dirandau hadn't gone anywhere outside the Vione, or various training centers. He'd never seen a place like this, where a person could just pick up something they liked, and buy it.
Gaddes' eye was caught by a jewelry stand.
Gaddes: "Boss, I think I'll leave you two for a bit. I..uh...have something I need to do..."
Allen nodded, and Gaddes left. He was looking for something to give a pretty girl he'd met a week back at the Sontresse Inn. He knew he shouldn't let girls go to his head like that....but he couldn't help himself.
Allen promised that he would by anything Dirandau wanted. They walked aimlessly from shop to shop, discussing nothing in particular. They stopped in front of an antiques booth. A tall man, looking slightly grungy and aloof, was busy talking with the owner.
Dirandau began looking everything over absentmindedly.
Dirandau: "The way your people use money is..odd...."
Allen blinked.
Allen: "People didn't use money in Zai.....i-in your former country?"
Dirandau: "Of course not. It isn't necessary to use monetary units. A person can't own something simply because they gave someone else gold for it.....ownership comes from hard work."
He spoke with great haughtiness, and his words were harsh...his pride and love for his country were things which he could not veil.
Allen: "I've never heard of a country that doesn't have a form of currency. How did people acquire things?"
Dirandau had difficulty speaking of Zaibach in the past tense. He couldn't make himself realize that it was really gone.
Dirandau: "Everyone has set requirements...things they need to do by the end of each day or week. If they've done what they ought to, then they get what they require. Bottom line: You do your job, you get what you need."
Allen laughed.
Allen: "I'd love to see how Dryden would fare in a place like that..."
Dirandau: "Who?"
Allen: "Oh...Dryden Fassa...he's a merchant, the only thing he understands is money. Maybe you'll meet him one day."
The man who was talking with the merchant whipped around at the mention of that name. It was, in fact, Dryden. He looked quite worried.
::"Have I been found?"::
Upon seeing Allen's face, he relaxed.
Dryden: "And maybe today is that day....is that you, Allen?"
Allen: "Dryden? What are you doing? I thought you were out in Freid for the next six months."
Dryden smiled.
Dryden: "I see Eries has been talking....."
Allen: "Quite a bit, yes. Why did you lie to her?"
Dryden: "To avoid the evil eye, my friend...Ever since I left Millerna and the throne, she's had it in for me. Eries was hoping that married life would make her settle down and forget all those 'frivolous dreams.' And then there are the troubles with governing the new republic. No one wants the job...and, since I technically already took that job, she knows that it would be easier to try and get me to come back than get someone new.
Every time she hears that I'm in Asturia, I am barraged with people trying to convince me to come back, and take my rightful place."
He sighed and shook his head, obviously weary.
Dryden: "Asturia is a haven for merchants. I couldn't just stay away forever. So, now...I have to pretend that I am not here."
He extended his hand to Allen as a gesture of salutation.
Dryden: "My name is Sylian."
It gave Allen some slight comfort to know that someone else was being hounded by Eries just as much as himself.
Many had trouble understanding Eries' actions. She seemed to have a vendetta against the rest of humanity.
However, all of her actions were rooted in a deep love for her people, and a desire to take care of them.
These were difficult times, especially for leaders. There was danger of revolution breaking out. The people were absolutely infuriated with their leaders, for their failure to prevent such a terrible war. There was even talk of removing all leaders....anarchy might be better than the mess which leaders create.
Asturia was considered the government which best followed the will of the people. The oppressed of other countries looked upon it with great hope as the one place that they could go, and live in peace.
Asturia held the last bit of faith the people had in government.
And Eries was responsible to see that this faith was well placed. If she were unsuccessful, then revolution would be inevitable.
Dryden: "That's why I was concerned when I heard someone mention my name...I thought perhaps I'd been discovered. You won't tell Eries, will you?"
Allen: "No, no...I've got enough troubles of my own."
He motioned towards Dirandau.
Dryden: "Who is this?"
Allen: "My....ward. Why don't you introduce yourself?"
Allen knew he could trust Dryden not to let anyone know. If he were so busy keeping himself out of trouble, he wouldn't go out of his way to hurt Allen...even if he were still jealous of Millerna's affections for him.
Dirandau: "How positively...kind of you to include me in your drivel - I mean conversation."
Allen rolled his eyes. Wasn't there anything he could do that this kid would appreciate?
Dirandau: "What did you say your name was?"
Dryden: "Sylian."
He blinked.
Dirandau: "You live in a whole in the ground? Allen, if this is one of your country's best merchants, you're not scoring any points-"
Dryden: "What are you talking about? Where do you get that idea?"
Dirandau: "Your name...it means 'Member of the forest.' And, judging from your appearance, the only place you would live is underground....like a mole, or a rat. Path-"
Allen *Through clenched teeth* "Say pathetic again, and you'll regret it."
Dirandau and Allen glared at each other for a moment.
Dryden felt he had to break up this love fest.
Dryden: "What happened to Ser-"
Allen waved his hands, signaling that Dryden should shut up.
Dryden: "I mean, what happened to serving yourself at these markets? Everywhere you look these days, you see those government paid servants carrying packages for everyone...wild, huh? Just another sign of the times, I guess."
That was one of the stranger attempts by the government to curry favor with the people....a rather blatant example of how the government was the servant of the people.
Dirandau: "Wild? What kind of rush can someone get by something so unimportant as that?"
He stared at Dryden as if the guy were absolutely nuts. He finally gave up trying to be part of the conversation, muttering something that didn't sound at all flattering to Dryden, and went back to perusing the merchandise.
Dryden: "Um...quite a serious one, is he?"
Allen: "Quite. And very touchy, especially about Serena. Thank you for censoring yourself....the last time someone mentioned her, he tried to kill them. I didn't know what I'd do if he went into another tirade...and right in the middle of the marketplace, too."
Dryden: "So, what did happen to Serena?"
Allen: "Oh...it seems she never really did come back...You see-"
A crash and sounds of yelling cut Allen's words short.
Dirandau: "I didn't do anything, damn it!"
Merchant: "You did...I saw you!"
Dirandau: "You lying little…! You didn't see anything…because I didn't do anything!!!"
Merchant: "You did. You broke them, you're going to pay for them."
A pile of broken wood and shattered glass lay at Dirandau's feet.
Dirandau: "I didn't!!! It's your fault....you set those damned ugly clocks up on that shelf...it fell on its own...you're the idiot who miscalculated the weight......Not my fault."
The merchant grabbed Dirandau by the arm. He responded by slugging the merchant in the face.
Allen rushed over. He gripped Dirandau by the shoulders.
Allen: "What did I tell you?"
Dirandau: "That doesn't have anything to do with this. This wasn't my fault."
Allen: "I don't care if it wasn't your fault. You said you wouldn't do anything...even if it's not your fault, you can't hit someone in the face like that."
Dirandau: "What was I supposed to do? Not defend myself? He just....accosted me like that... "
Allen: "You could have called me over."
Dirandau: "Oh, yes....eheh.....wait for you to save me, like one of your pretty wenches......your helpless little sister..."
Allen: "You weren't in any danger, so it wasn't really defense. Until you learn how to deal with people in an acceptable fashion, you should call me over if you're having difficulties with them. Alright?"
Dirandau: "Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....."
::"He wants me to answer to him....like he's my superior, or something......I'll never answer to him..."::
Allen: "Growl at me all you want. This is what you will do from now on."
He paid the merchant, who was not at all pleased. He bid Dryden goodbye, and led Dirandau away from the shop.
Allen sighed.
Allen: "I doubt if I'll ever be allowed back there."
Dirandau: "It's not like you'll ever need anything from there, anyway....They were all just useless things, common to your frivolous society. You-"
Allen: "Can we PLEASE have a moment without your remarks about how nothing is as good as it was in your country? You've already told me many times....many, many times.....and frankly, it's becoming an annoyance."
Dirandau shrugged.
Allen: "Good. You just be quiet then...I'd prefer to enjoy my time here right now."
Allen couldn't have enjoyed this time at all, even with Dirandau not talking. He had too many things to worry about.
They walked along in silence for the next few minutes. Both pretended to be immensely interested in the merchandise they passed...It helped them to ignore each other. They seemed equally well relieved when Gaddes came back (He had found a lovely necklace...at least, lovely for something his salary could buy.) Anything was better than being alone with each other.
The next few hours were quite uneventful. Dirandau had found some new clothes for himself. They were a far cry from the things he was wearing at the moment...cold and militant, the sorts of things he'd always worn.
It wasn't that he liked those sorts of clothes, that wasn't why he chose them. It was simply that he'd never worn anything else. Strategos had always chosen everything for him. In fact, the only thing he'd ever chosen for himself was that tiara.
Often, Allen or Gaddes would meet up with someone that they knew, and engage in conversation. It made Dirandau feel even more lonely.
The worst time was when Allen met up with a few of his fellow knights.
They shared great comradery, discussing old times, battles they had lost and won, or new techniques they'd learned with the sword.
To Dirandau, it was just a painful reminder that he would never have a conversation like that...all his soldiers were gone forever.
::"I'd give anything if I could only see someone I know...someone I've fought with...someone important to me.."
Irony has a habit of listening in on our thoughts, and manifesting them through her own special methods in the world around us. She must have been listening to Dirandau's thoughts at that moment, for not ten feet away was someone who often brought a smile to his face, who could make him laugh as if there were no other troubles in the world....someone in a plain red shirt, with shabbily cut black hair..........Van Fanel.
Dirandau couldn't believe it. His voice became quiet.
"Still alive????"
He had begun to think that Van was dead....no one spoke of him, ever. Besides, after what he'd done to the Dragonslayers, it just seemed a natural procession of events that he die a horrible death in payment.
His eyes brightened, and a smile spread slowly across his face.
"Van............."
He traced his fingers lightly against that old scar.....it was becoming lighter now..it didn't hurt as much as it used to.
"We've had some good times...you and I."
This was perfect. That man....that idiot...he didn't know that Dirandau was even alive. Perfect. He wouldn't be defending himself, he wouldn't have time to. And with that bitch from the mystic moon gone, (Allen had been talking about how he was beginning to miss her.) it would be all too easy to make a sneak attack.
He began laughing.
"The fun's not over yet, Van!"
Van looked up from what he was doing, chills running down his spine.
"It couldn't be.....could it?"
That voice...he had hoped he'd never hear it again.....that laugh, those morbid, insane jokes... those were in all his nightmares, haunting him. Was he having a nightmare now?
He looked around. He thought he caught a faint glimpse of his old enemy, smiling as usual.
He didn't have a chance to make double-sure that it was Dirandau. Mereru had jumped in front of him.
Mereru: "Lord Van? Lord Van...are you alright? Huh? Huh?"
Van: "I'm fine, Mereru...just fine.."
He tried to look around her, but she kept getting in his line of vision. She grabbed his face with both hands. {Or would they be paws?}
Mereru: "You don't look okay....are you sick, Lord Van??"
There was an epidemic of an unknown illness ambling its way across Gaea. Though no one they knew, besides Millerna, had caught it, Mereru was forever afraid that her precious Van would come down with it. She gave him great difficulty anytime he tried to go anywhere, and she ALWAYS had to come with him....she was much more clingy than before.
This excursion was exceptionally difficult. The marketplace was just full of strange people...there was no telling what weird diseases they had.
Van: "No, I'm not sick, now just-"
Mereru: "Maybe we should go home. I knew this was a bad idea!"
She grabbed him by the arm, and started dragging him away.
Van: "Wait, Mereru!"
She wouldn't budge on her decision, so the two headed for home.
Our little hero was still laughing. Allen couldn't get him to stop. He tried asking Dirandau what had happened, but all he could get out of him was the word "Van" and more gleeful laughing.
The surrounding people were beginning to stare. Allen had to get Dirandau out of there. He was thankful that at least Dirandau wouldn't be struggling. He was too...happy.
{And on that happy note, I conclude this chapter. I'm not entirely sure if I'm done editing this chapter....but it's been too long! ::Blinks:: I couldn't believe how far back my fic was in the list....
I promise not to bastardize anyone if I can help it. I try my best to represent the characters as I see them, and lucky for some, I find good qualities in all characters (even the ones I don't care for.)
I'm always worried that I've slightly demonized Eries....I tried giving her redemption in this chapter, and I hope I was successful. [However, what I've got planned for next chapter may just undo all that... and I hope it's not cliche to have Eries causing problems for everyone, because I can't stand cliche.]
I don't know yet if this story will have a happy ending. Most of my stories have terribly sad endings...but I might make an exception. The point is...you'll have to wait and see:-)
And huggles and snuggles to m'lady Christine Daae...Many thanks for reviewing. ::Feels all special and squishy.
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{I am now the proud owner of a deleted scene! Yippee! I thought that this had some good writing in it, so I decided to leave it up here. [I didn't edit it much, so it might not look as good as some of my other stuff.] I couldn't put it in the real fic because Dirandau knows quite well what danger he's in, and how he has to pretend he's a member of Asturia. I already showed that with his experience in the Seraphim household. Plus, I'm not exactly sure if it's really realistic having Dirandau play marbles....but it is kind of cute to think about. :-)
This starts right at the part where they get into the market place.}
It was a fine day in the market place. The sun was high up in the sky, the waves gently hit the shores, the temperature was just cool enough.
Dirandau ambled from place to place. Gaddes was right. He'd never been in a marketplace before. Besides going into battle, Dirandau hadn't gone anywhere outside the Vione, or various training centers. He'd never seen a place like this, where people could pick up something they liked, and buy it.
He stopped at a stand that sold games. He smiled when he saw some bins of flat, clear marbles. He held a green one up to the sun.
Allen: "Found something?"
Dirandau nodded.
Dirandau: "We used to play with these....my dragonslayers and I did..."
Gaddes laughed, imagining them all as little kids, shooting marbles in a circle. Dirandau didn't even bother to feel insulted by Gaddes' laughter.
Allen blinked.
Allen: "They played games?"
He was a little nervous that Dirandau had mentioned the dragonslayers. Many people knew who they were. Traitors were being denounced every day, and plenty of people were jealous enough of Allen Schezar to jump at the chance to denounce him. He knew that nothing much could happen to him, since Eries knew what was going on...but then he'd be breaking that agreement they made.
Dirandau: "When they were younger, yes...in the early years of training. They were meant to teach us strategy...and they made people want to win. You can't win a fight unless you really want to, and you can't desire to win unless you know what it feels like."
Allen: "What sorts of games did you play?"
Dirandau: "I can't remember most of them...sometimes I got to play chess with Strategos...I was the only one who was allowed to do that. And...there was a game I invented with these kinds of marbles...I can't remember the name."
He picked up a handful, and sat on the ground. He set several red marbles in the outline of the symbol of some country which was long since gone.
The merchant began to look a bit worried about what was happening with his merchandise, so Allen payed him.
Dirandau: "Then everyone gets the marbles that are left...And you try to 'kill' the marbles there..you do that by overturning them....I can't really explain it all to you, because it has to do with invading countries, and destroying them...and you've never done that."
He shot one of the remaining marbles into the design in the middle. He got seventeen in a row.
Allen tugged at his cravat, as he sometimes did when he was nervous. The merchant was listening in on the conversation, and could cause trouble.
Allen: *Whispered* "I can explain-"
Merchant: "Would you mind moving along? I don't wanna be involved in anything."
Allen nodded. He helped Dirandau put the marbles in a bag, and they started walking again.
Allen: "You can't talk like that here. Everyone is rather tense about anything having to do with the enemy."
Dirandau: "We aren't the enemy, you are. It's ludicrous...I'll never understand why countries like these didn't want to be part of Zaibach. It'd do them a lot of good. If your people would only realize-"
Allen gripped Dirandau by the shoulders.
Allen: "I just told you not to talk about things like that! Don't you realize this is dangerous? People remember you...they hate you, and many of them would be very glad to see you die. They...they often talk about how they want you to endure what you've put other people through."
How ironic that statement was....the boy has been through more hell than anyone could understand. Allen had trouble saying those words, because he knew that he also used to think that way.
Dirandau: "I can't pretend...not about that....You want me to be a traitor to my country....traitors are the ones who deserve to be tormented...traitors are the people I went after."
Allen: "You promised you wouldn't act up.."
Dirandau: "I wasn't thinking when I made that promise."
Allen: "You aren't thinking now."
Dirandau folded his arms across his chest.
Dirandau: "We used to execute people for the things you say.."
Allen: "And we execute people now for the things you say."
Dirandau: "Shut up."
He smacked Allen.
Allen: "Thanks."
Allen smacked him back.
Gaddes: "Alright, enough of this love-fest. You always talk about winning, don't you? And how people make foolish, silly mistakes. Well...you're not following your own rules. You'll lose if you keep this up...you're the only member of Zaibach left. If you continue the way you are, you'll be executed, and then your country will truly be no more. And it will all be your fault."
Dirandau didn't want to admit it, but he knew it was true.
Dirandau: "Well, well....your pathetic soldier knows something about strategy after all..."
Allen: "Then, you will stop this foolishness?"
Dirandau nodded.
{I gave up here, and started writing anew. After this part, they would have spent a few uneventful hours at the market, and gone home to await....-Dramatic music goes here- the next chapter. Happy trails, hope to update again soon...[Next chapter probably won't be as long as this, though....takes too long to edit and finish.]}
