Dirandau was in the kitchen. He was taking advantage of Allen's offer. "I think I might want to be a chef," he'd said. The truth is, he just wanted the chance to play with fire.
He 'accidentally' spilled a bottle of oil onto one of the burners. Allen almost thought this was an accident, but he caught Dirandau mouthing the word 'moero' as the flames drove up the side of the stove. Allen sighed.
:: "He'll never change…" ::

Allen: "Alright, I think that's enough cooking for today."
Dirandau: "But-"
Allen: "Dirandau, you've already scorched seven pans to ashes."
Diandau: "So….?"
Allen: "They were my cooks best pans! She's going to be very upset with you."
Dirandau shook his head.
Dirandau: "What is wrong with these servants of yours, that you always have to worry about upsetting them? You think they'll try to kill you in your sleep, or something?"
Allen: "Help is hard to find. If we give them too many problems, they'll just up and leave."
Dirandau: "They can leave?"
He had been under the impression that servants were more or less just slaves.
Allen: "Yes. And, since most people don't fancy themselves working for anyone else these days, I won't be able to get anyone new. And if you tasted my cooking, you'd understand why I need a chef."
Dirandau shrugged.
Dirandau: "So? I can cook…"
Allen motioned towards a pile of thoroughly blackened chicken.
Allen: "If that's an example of your cooking, I think we're both in trouble."

He put some of the salvageable pieces on a plate.
Allen: "I just hope it tastes better than it looks…"
Dirandau: "It'd have to…"

They walked into the dining room, and set across from eachother.
Dirandau: "Do I really have to do this?"
Allen nodded.
Dirandau: "Why???"
Allen: "Because…if you want the people of Asturian society to accept you, you're going to have to learn some manners."
Dirandau: "I don't care about them accepting me..."
Allen: "You should."
Dirandau: "Why?"
Allen: "Because…if they go against you, there could be great trouble. If they don't think you are 'their kind', they'll do their best to make your life hell, and to get rid of you."
Dirandau: "You don't mean that. These people are frilly little idiots..they don't do things like that."
Allen: "When it comes to this sort of thing, these people are cut-throat prigs. Trust me. I know from experience."

There was a look in Allen's eyes…one Dirandau hadn't noticed before. Bitterness and anger being held back.
Dirandau: "You still didn't answer the question I asked you….what did you do in your past?"
Allen: "….."
Dirandau glared at him.
Dirandau: "Rrrrrrrr……so, you get to know everything about me, and I don't get to know anything about you??"
Allen: "I don't think you really want to know."
Dirandau: "That's not the point. I deserve to know. Tell me, now!"

Allen stared down at that blackened char on his plate.
Black and crumbling, inside and out…burned by a power that can not be comprehended. A life, wasted… lost in confusion…

He couldn't do this, not now…He had to be strong.
:: "I have to help him." ::
He still found anger in his past, and in his future…this wasn't good.
He didn't have time to deal with himself. There were more important things to be done. His help was needed elsewhere, and, as usual, he was not important…it didn't matter if he lived or died, so long as he helped those who needed it.

Allen: "You're right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't get angry at you for things in my past."

There was some time of silence. Neither really knew what to say now. Allen was afraid that Dirandau might insult him for this…or that he wouldn't accept him.
Or…maybe he was just…..afraid….

Allen: "Might we get started on etiquette training?"
Dirandau: "Huh?"
Allen: "That's what we were discussing before."

:: "He's trying to change the subject…" ::
Dirandau: "But, what about-"
Allen walked over to him, and picked up a fork. He began explaining the differences between all the silverware, and what each was used for.
Dirandau wasn't paying attention.
:: "He never tells me anything…..he just asks me questions…and makes decisions for me…Rrrrr…."::

Allen was in the middle of explaining the fishknife.
Dirandau took the knife out of Allen's hand, and threw it across the room.
Dirandau: "Allen! Stop this!!!!"
Allen: "Okay. You're angry. Let's discuss this"
Dirandau: "No. No more discussing me…I want to know about you, and I want to know now. I'm sick of having to talk about my problems….and how is it you get out of talking about anything that makes you uncomfortable??"
Allen shut his eyes.
Dirandau: "Oh…silent when it comes to your issues, huh?"
Allen started to walk away.
Dirandau: "Where are you going?"
Only silence.
Dirandau: "Allen? Allen, get back here!"
The slamming of a door.
Dirandau: "Rrrr….."
Allen walked quickly to his room, and let himself fall into a nearby chair.
"Patience…patience……patien-"
He sighed. That old trick wouldn't help him now.

In fact, none of those old tricks really ever did seem to work…not for him, anyway. For others, they helped to calm and soothe. For him, they were like a leash…to hold his anger in check.

He was like a frozen river. Calm and placid on the surface…so calm, you can walk all over him.
But, raging underneath…always raging….

Being near Dirandau seemed to bring all this rage out in him. Dirandau was so open with hatred and anger….he was an inferno. And Allen was so close now, he couldn't help but get burned…

In some ways, he wished he could be like Dirandau. If Dirandau could get away from the problems everyone else created for him, he could be happy. If Allen were to get away from the problems everyone else created for him…..it would do no good. He'd just invent more of his own. Or the past would be wrapped around him, blinding his eyes to the present.

:: "There's nothing more to be said here…..don't do this….you have to keep going….you can't stop now.."::
Instructors used to tell him that while he was running, for his training. He hated running. It always seemed an endless activity…..always endless….

On a table were many letters. He'd told the maid to simply leave them there from now on. He'd been busy, so he hadn't had time to read them yet…but now he needed something else to take his mind off of things.
There were at least three dozen from some of the young ladies at court. Now that he was actually getting out of the house once in awhile, they had begun writing to him again. He never much cared to open those letters.…these girls could be quite inane and overly dramatic.
Some bills. Always lots of bills. It was expensive to keep up an estate like this.
And then….an invitation of some kind, from the capital.
"Agh…not one of these again.."
The title 'invitation' was misleading. To be invited to something meant that one had to show up, unless they were on their death bed [And even then, some people were shunned for not coming].
He opened it up, and was completely shocked. It was for Dryden's coronation.
A paper fell from the folded up invitation. It was from Dryden.

"Well, well, looks like Eries finally got to me…" he wrote.

He apologized for sending the invitation. He wouldn't have, but he had to. He was trying to make a smooth transition from the way the government worked now to the way it should be run. And, having all the 'war heroes', especially our good knights of Caeli, at such a big boring event was a must.
"Besides…I just couldn't stand to know that I'm probably the only there who's bored."

He also suggested bringing Dirandau along. This would be a perfect opportunity to start undoing some of the bad public relations that Dirandau had with them.

The coronation would be in five days. He had that long to try and get Dirandau ready for the public.
Allen: "Oh…..fun, fun, fun….."
After an 'enjoyable' little discussion, Allen was able to convince Dirandau that it was for the best.

After much trial and error, it was decided that etiquette was just not something Dirandau was cut out for. [The forks remain in the wall as proof..] They gave up on it.

Allen: "Just be sure not to start any fights, and come to me if you have any trouble…and we should be fine…"
Allen was very nervous. His hands were shaking. He kept undoing and redoing his cravat. With these people, a lot rode on first impressions. If Dirandau did anything wrong….
He watched Dirandau in the carriage. For the occasion, Dirandau had chosen a militant black suit. It looked very uncomfortable, though Dirandau had no problem wearing it. He also had that tiara back on…
Allen: "Why are you wearing that thing again?"
Dirandau: "Because I can…"
Dirandau didn't want to admit it, but he wore the tiara mostly because he was afraid. He'd never been good at dealing with people, if they weren't under his control.
Every actor needs a prop. Something to help them play their part better. Dirandau had to play the part of one who was strong, who was unaffected by anything anyone else could do to him.
It always helped to remind him of who he was….why he had the right to be arrogant….why he was better than all of them…
The coronation was what Allen was most worried about. If Dirandau did anything wrong, it could be twisted into a sort of 'assassination attempt.' And, Allen wouldn't be there to keep Dirandau in line…he had to stand with the other knights of Caeli, as was customary for ceremonies like this. If anything happened, Allen couldn't intervene. This situation was beyond his control….as usual.

The ceremony took about seven hours in all. [We can only say 'about', because all the scribes had passed out due to boredom at some point…no one else was keeping track of time.]

Dirandau's seat was in Allen's line of vision. Every time Dirandau fidgeted, Allen grimaced. He had to restrain himself from yelling to Dirandau several times.
:: "Ayaaaaaa!! What the hell is wrong with these people???" ::
Dirandau looked at everyone else. They were all sitting there, staring up at the podium, looking as if they were intensely interested in what was going on. Well…not quite everyone.
There were several young debutants seated near him. They kept looking at him, and giggling. Whenever he chanced to look in their direction, they almost died blushing, and tried to hide. He cringed.
:: "Damned little concubines…" ::
Amazingly, Dirandau got through the ceremony without incident. It was afterwards that troubles began.

The reception was held in the royal gardens. Allen had intended to stay by Dirandau the entire time, but he had been called away by Eries…she needed to tell him something very important. She looked very sad and tired, more so than usual.
"Just remember," Allen said, "Don't get involved in any fights…"
Dirandau rolled his eyes at that.
:: "More telling me what to do…" ::

After Allen left, Dirandau began to wander about. There was much whispering, and talking behind hands….they were all in a flutter over Dirandau becoming a citizen.
He turned a corner….where now stood most of the young debutants. They had heard, through their gossip channels, that Dirandau was absolutely gorgeous. They had also heard, from their parents, that he was very dangerous, and that they should stay away from him. But, that only added to the appeal. They were all so bored with their 'every-day' suitors. They wanted something exciting and dangerous.

He found himself beleaguered by them in an instant.
"Oh….you are as cute as they say!"
"Yes, yes…even with that scar…"
Dirandau: "Rrrrrr…….."
There was much giggling. Some tried to imitate Dirandau's growl.
"Oh, that was so cute…can you do that again?"
They began chattering noisily, all at once. It sounded like a waterfall full of chickens, all of them falling over the side at the same time. It was unbearable, and there seemed to be no way out of the crowd.
He tried pushing them away.
Dirandau: "Would you…just…get away from…me….!"
It didn't work.
Dirandau: "I mean it! Get away from me now!!!!"
There was some blinking, and a moment of silence. Then it began again.
"Oh, wow…he can be as loud as they say…and short-tempered…"
Two of them turned to each other, almost intending him not to hear.
"Just imagine being in the middle of the woods, and being attacked by someone…how wonderful it would be to have him there to defend you…"

"Hey, Dirandau….do you have a girlfriend yet?"
Dirandau: "What??"

One of them reached up, and felt his hair.
"Oh…so soft……"
"Are you going to let your hair grow, likeAllen's?"
"Oh, he'd make such an adorable knight!!"

Dirandau: "Alright, that's enough!"
He smacked that girl dead in the face. She fell over, crying. Her friends gathered around her, cooing sympathetic words.
The others were enraged.
"Well, I never!!"
"How positively rude…."
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, striking a poor, defenseless woman.."
"Poor Allen….I hear he's tried so hard, too…"
He stared at them, absolutely dumbfounded. They couldn't understand why he'd do something like that? What kind of idiots were these?
:: "The worst kind.."::
Dirandau: "Damnit, she deserved it!"
"Nuh-uh! She was just trying to be friendly…"
"Oh, girls…don't be like that…you already knew what kind of person he was…"
"You're right. Alright, we forgive you, Dilly."
Dirandau: "Dilly???????"
There was more giggling.
"Ooh..DillyPickle…why, that'd just fit you perfectly…"
"La, yes! Because the name is adorable, just like you!"

:: "Aya! Could these wenches be anymore annoying?" ::
He didn't dare ask the question aloud, for he feared that it might be true.

"Hey, Dilly…why don't you come sit over here by me?"
"No, no!! He's going to sit by me…"
Dirandau: "RrrrRRRR! I AM NOBODY'S STRUMPET!!"
And there was yet more silence as everyone blinked at each other.
Some whispered, "What's a strumpet?"
They were about to ask him, when they heard an official calling for a soldier. Because all soldiers were just 'adorable' to these girls, they couldn't help but look in the direction of the call.

They weren't paying attention, which was to Dirandau's advantage.
He dropped to the ground, and began crawling away.
When they looked up, their precious 'Dilly' was gone.

After a moment or two, he got through the crowd. When he stood up, someone noticed him.
"There he is!!!"
They began to run after him. He was amazed that they could be so fast in those corsets…

He saw an alcove, and ducked into it. It was dark, so those following him couldn't see that he'd gone inside. He sighed with relief as soon as he heard them pass.

Dirandau wasn't the only one who had seen the alcove as a good place to hide. Someone else had needed a break from his cat-girl.

Van was standing on the other side of the alcove, trying to peer through the foliage to the other side. He was on the look-out for Mereru.
Van: "I should really send that girl on a vacation…"

Dirandau blinked. He couldn't believe his luck! Van…………his hated enemy…just standing there, unsuspecting…
Dirandau laughed quietly.
:: "Perfect!!" ::

He picked up a nearby rock, and began to slowly approach his victim. Before there was a chance to fight back, Van was lying, barely conscious, on the ground.

Dirandau sat down next to Van, smiling.
Dirandau: "Oh, how sad….a rock just fell out of the sky like that….and hit you.."
Van moaned. Dirandau snickered.
Dirandau: "I'll bet you miss Folken right about now, don't you? He was always saving you…."
He smacked Van just for the hell of it.

Dirandau: "Hm….I tell you what….I'll draw your blood with that which has drawn the blood of those better than you…"
One doesn't spend so much time with the lady Irony, without learning a few of her tricks. And, she would have smiled at this one…using the same sword which had started all this pain to end it.

It's a hefty price one must pay, for ruining such perfection. Van's life was but a tiny fraction, when compared to Dilly's. Every time he saw Van, all he could think about was how much it had hurt when Van cut him, and the hellatious torment of seeing his Dragonslayers slaughtered.
Dirandau picked up Van's sword.
He inspected it for a moment, smiling.
Dirandau: "I'll bet it's still sharp…"
He slowly ran his hand along the edge of the sword. Indeed, it was just as sharp…

Dirandau: "Aya..!"
Without realizing it, he'd made a slice in his palm. He stared at the blood dripping for a moment. It stung, badly.
:: "Rrr….Another one....Allen will probably want to fix that later…"::
He looked down at where the gash had been, the one Allen had taken care of. It was feeling much better…soon, it wouldn't hurt at all. Allen had done that. Allen was responsible.
Allen knew well how to heal Dirandau's injuries…injuries of any kind.

:: "He's done a lot for you, you know…" ::
Dirandau blinked. For once, it wasn't someone else's voice in his head…it was his own.

If he did this now, it might undo everything Allen has tried to do for him. Allen had been kind to him, he couldn't deny that.
He wasn't exactly sure what would be counted as something that would offend these society people, but he was certain that killing Van would be one of them. And, they'd all know that it was Dirandau who had done it….who else would have wanted to?

He looked back down at Van, who was starting to come around. This was his chance to complete the task which was so long in coming…the chance to avenge his men...to get revenge for his suffering.
He raised the sword. It stayed poised in the air.

Van's eyes started to flutter open. In a moment, Dirandau wouldn't have a chance to kill Van. Van would scream, and then everyone would be alerted.

:: "Your future is entirely at your command…" ::

Dirandau sighed. He realized that killing Van wouldn't bring his Dragonslayers back, or get rid of that scar. It wouldn't make anything better. On the contrary, killing Van would only bring more troubles…….he just couldn't do it, not now. Not after everything Allen's done for him. He brought the sword back down to the ground.

Van sat up, eyes wide. One minute, he's standing near a bush, the next, he's on the ground sitting next to his worst enemy.
Van: "What the………..?"

Dirandau glared at him. It wasn't fair…it just wasn't! He had the chance to kill Van…Van!!! That one single soul whom he'd wanted to destroy more than anything….to erase from existence… and he had to throw it away!!
Dirandau: "Rrrr….."

Van: "Uh…what's going on?"
Dirandau: "Did you have a nice nap, you little prig?"
Van rubbed his head.
Van: "What happened?"
He looked at the sword.
Van: "Great…first chance you get, you decide to come and kill me?"
Van wasn't exactly afraid. He knew that if he called, someone would come to help. There wasn't much danger….but still…a time might come when there would be no one to call, and he would be defenseless again…

Dirandau sat silent for a moment. He couldn't let Van know what had happened. He wouldn't let that idiot have the satisfaction of knowing that Dirandau had decided not to kill him, of his own accord.

Van: "Dirandau….?"
Dirandau: "Why don't you watch where you're going???"
He smacked Van hard in the face.
Van: "What the-"
Dirandau: "You baka! I thought you were one of those prattling wenches, come and found me…"
He smacked Van again.
Van: "You…didn't come to kill me?"
Dirandau stood up.
Dirandau: "Of course not….that would be a waste of my time…"
He'd turned away when he said that. He couldn't say that and not make it apparent that he was lying.
Van: "Then, why do you have my sword?"
Dirandau: "Huh?"

He'd forgotten he was still holding on to it. A sword was just such a natural thing for him to hold….as if he'd been born with one in his hand.
Dirandau: "Oh…..I just need something to beat off those femmes with…"
Van glared at Dirandau, disgusted….disgusted, but not surprised.
Van: "You're going to kill a bunch of women just because they like you? How typical…"
Dirandau: "Rrr…."
:: "He thinks he knows me…." ::

Dirandau walked over to the foliage, cut a thorny swatch off of a bush. He then threw the sword down, as far away from Van as possible. Even if he wasn't going to kill Van, he would still torment and annoy the idiot as much as possible.
Dirandau: "Hmm….now I need something to test this out on…"
He grinned. He knew of a perfect subject…

Grumbling, Van walked over and picked up his sword. When he stood up, Dirandau whacked him in the face, leaving deep scratches, just barely missing one of his eyes.
Van: "Ay….! What's the matter with you???"
Dirandau laughed.
Dirandau: "You might have to wait a few years until we figure out the answer…."

Dirandau then walked away, chuckling.
Dirandau: "See you around….Van…………"

Van stared as Dirandau slowly faded from sight. Dirandau had just spared him his life….something he hadn't thought would ever happen.
He hadn't believed what Allen and Dryden had told everyone when he first heard it. He still wouldn't have…if he hadn't seen this for himself. He might have thought it was a trick…but, then what would be more important to Dirandau than killing Van? The damned psycho had been obsessed with nothing else ever since he first got that scar. It hadn't mattered what he lost, or what he had to do…he would kill Van, if it took him his entire life. If Dirandau hadn't taken the chance when it was presented so nicely to him, then there truly was no danger.
Van: "Maybe he has changed….like Allen said……."

{{See, Al? You can trust me…::Grins::
I already knew that I wasn't going to kill Van, but I didn't want anyone else to know that for certain.

There is a reason I portray Allen in a good way. I actually like him!!! I don't understand why so many people despise poor Allen. Sure, I don't like how patronizing he is to women…but he's too good of a person to let the rest of his character go to waste. [And, hey, at least he's trying to be nice to women…unlike some people. ::Points to Van::] I just feel ultimately bad for Allen.

Yes, Shrike, I am crazy. Aya!!!!! You come from the land of cravats? ::Grins:: (Don't be alarmed…it's a fop thing…)

Blue Deamon: I know that the first chapter is in the second chapter slot, and vice versa. (::Blinks:: Bitty?)
I might fix it after I'm done writing the story….but then, I am indolent.

Amanda: thank you…I've only ever been able to read half of 'Crime and Punishment', but from what I saw, Dostoevsky is an excellent writer.

SoulStealer: Thank you very much. I always try to be original. I mean, what's the point of writing fan-fic, if you're just regurgitating things someone else has already written?

There is a major reason why my fic is not typical of Serena/Dilly fics.. I have read a total of….one Serena fic in my entire lifetime, and I will not read anymore. (It was called "Scars on the Heart", by the way…and, it is good, I just didn't like certain things about it.)
I am very upset by the idea that he is put to the wayside when Serena comes into the picture.

As for the Serena romance thing…..uah?? I hadn't heard about that……..That just makes me feel ill.
Dilly and Serena seem to be opposites of eachother (Although, we don't know enough about Serena to know for sure what the hell her personality is like. {And, I'm sorry, Serena fans….she reminds me of a Mary Sue. She's loved by all in the series, and she gets rid of a very interesting character.})
There will be one more chapter in this story….the conclusion. It'll be probably be shorter than some of my recent ones.

I've decided I'll attempt writing both the Chid fic and the one about Dilly's past.
There are absolutely no fics about Chid on FFN, and that upsets me…plus, I always want to bring something new with my writing, and that would definitely be new.
It will involve Allen [Of course], but mostly it will be about Chid.
((::Grins:: Dilly will be making appearances in it, you can bet on that.))

As for the Dilly's past fic…That will cover everything from the day he joined the army to when he makes his first appearance in the show.

One last note….if you like my writing, would you please go to fictionpress.net, and review "The Abyssinian"?
::Sighs:: Nobody has read it at all there, and I feel kind of bad about it.
It's the first story I ever wrote. [From about two or three years ago..] It's quite short, but well worth the read. It's about a little cat…and if you wanted to see what I meant about having trouble with happy endings, you should read it.}}