A.n.-Hiya everyone. Sorry its taken me so long to update. But my comp's been down for a while and I don't save my files on a floppy, though I've started to^_^, so thats why its taken so long. However, I did try to make this as long as possible. I hope you enjoy it, and doona 4-get to review^_^

Also, for the last chap I decided to go with the flag colors as Fanalia's colors^_^Ty agine to all who gave their opinions on what the colors were!^_^

Also, I wrote a one-shot D/H fanfic. Its kinda agnisty and dark, but I think its really good. Its called "Nothing At All". If ya have the spare time, cheak it out please^_^I think ya'all would like it^_^

Dedications:

Unkown Wisdom-I'm glad ya like Hitomi's new aditude^_^I hope ya like the chap:)

Lilaznanigurl-Heh, as you wish^_^

Fitz20-I'm glad ya like the idea^_^. I was a little unsure about it at first:)And yessum, I have been adding elements from the movie+show in this^_^heh, makes a bit more intresting, ne? Yessum, Dilly-chan hasn't much patience in courting, though in the dinner-scean he was more or less simply trying to aggravate her not court her^_^But, I don't really picture Dilly-chan as the 'roses and poetry' kinda courter^_^hehe

DemonicAngel-Glad ya like it and I hope ya enjoy this chap too:)

Enfant de haine-Yup, without D/H stories all us hopeless fans of it would prolly die of dispare^_^Good thing theres some out there, ne?^_^

Lightning Wolf-I guess that 'falling to strong arms' -was- a bit cliff hanger...what can I say? I luv cliff hangers..^_^I tried to add in some moments for Dilly-chan and Hitomi in this^_^

MagicMan-Same here, and yea Allen really does need his ego downsized a lot don't he? Well, I added a scean in here that should make you smile. I'm not going to kill him just yet...but there are so many other options to do to his charecter...^_^

Vanessa St. Cloud-Yup, D/H rules!^_^

Pyro Nynja-Yea, I got the Van/Millerna idea from MagicMan actually^_^. About Merel...well you'll find out in this chap actually^_^.

?u tell me-As you wish^_^

Frin-Heh^_^Glad you liked the Dilly-chan catching Hitomi part^_^That was one of my fav. parts too^_^Hai, Hitomi's visions will be clearer in the future chaps doona worry^_^. Yea, Millerna and Van, I think there kinda kawaii together^_^.

Dilandau's Girl-Glad ya agree^_^I hope ya like this chap as much as the ones before^_^

Jenn-^_^Thats what I thought too:)Yup, D/H rules^_^Hope ya like the chap:)

Moonlight34-^_^_^I'm glad ya liked the last chap I hope this one lives up to your expectations:)I'm glad ya like the Millerina/Van idea^_^.

Little Red Dragon-As you wish^_^

Avalon-^_^Glad ya like the chaps^_^I'm always real nervouse ppl won't like them when I post^_^Yea, Allen meeting 'tomi should cause a lot of friction...many of you non-allen obbsserous out there might like a certine part of the story I added in **whistels innocently**

Fuyu No Ike-^_^ Its o.k., I'm glad ya got to read my fic^_^and even more happy that you liked the chap^_^_^
Yessum, Hitomi's got some powers she don't even know about yet:)

Raymei Klisea-Thanx for the correction on the use of the word 'Shimatta'^_^And ty very much for the pic you sent me^_^It was really cool:)And for the flag info, I decided to use those since it seemed more likely.:)

Cherry-Glad ya like my fic:)

Makoto Almasy-As you wish^_^

MaTenshi-Onna-Hiya, thanks agine for editeing this chap along with the previous ones:)It was really nice of ya^_^

Aspros Dracos-I scent ya an e-mail regaurding the Dilandau and Celena thing:)If you've any more ?'s on that subject just ask me and I'll try to fill ya in^_^I'm glad ya like my fic^_^and thanks for letting me use the time-travel thing on my Seph/Cloud fic which is still in the works^_^

Jordan J. Smith-Your wish is my command^_^hehe

Black Dragoness Of Hell-Its o.k., I hope you problems are less heavy now though:)thanks for the compliment and I hope ya like the chap:):)










Unseen force seemed weighed upon her as Hitomi felt herself being drawn forward from the darkness that had engulfed her so harshly. Slowly, almost painfully, she opened her eyes reveling emereld green orbs to the world. Confusian marred her face as she caught site of the silken white sheets and the white veil around her bed. Where was she?

In a rush it came back to her. Gaea, Fried, Varie, her visions. Sighing she ran her hands over her face and threw off her sheets. Realizeing vaugly that she was nude only becouse of the cold gust of air that darted in from the open window. Rubbing her eyes feircly she tried to recall all that had happened earliar. Hopeing to peice together something to explain why she felt so...tired and why her brain felt why it was going to expload.

She'd gone to the dinner, feeling utterly foolish in the garment that the servents had choosen for her to ware. She'd gotten into an arguement with Dilandau over something that now seemed rather petty. He'd been delibertly provokeing her and she'd risen to the occasion. A fact she was now feeling rather embarressed about. Though not regreatful. No, never would she regreat standing up to that conceited baka.

Fear jolted through her as she suddenly recalled the way she'd lost the tight rein over her powers. Acutly she recalled the shattering of the wine glasses, the crys of shock and fear that had risen through the air, the sounds of thunder and hail falling down from the heavens...

She'd been the cause of it all.

Hitomi felt bile rise in her throat and, ignoreing the stiffness of her joints that screamed in protest to such sudden movement, jumped up from the bed and ran for the gaurdenrobe that was ajoined to her chambers. Kneeling over of the toliet she threw up proffusly. Loseing what little food probbably remained in her stomake from dinner...How long had she been asleep anyway? Gods, she didn't know. Nor did she really care.

Makeing a few more dry heaves she finnaly stoped, her breathing labered and feeling weaker then before. She had to be more careful. She couldn't lose controll like that without someone becomeing suspciouse. She couldn't really on Chid to protect her from them forever. It wouldn't be that diffcult for someone to put two and two together. Or at most find out that she was not all that she appeared to be.

Shivering slightly she cradled her face in her hands. What was she going to do? She felt weak, irrtible, nausiouse, and not at all up to faceing anyone in a duel. A shadow of a smile suddenly lifted her lips in remberence the oncomeing tournment she'd thrusted herself into. She didn't feel well....but the thought of fighting heated her blood.

When she'd announced that Chid had asked for her to fight for him, she'd half expected the young ruler to jump from his chair and reveal her. Though the notion seemed absurd now, for Chid wasn't going to betray her. He didn't seem the type to switch allegenices becouse of a tiny slight in plans. But still, she couldn't help but feel remorseful of her rash decsioun. After all, women didn't fight with swords in Gaea. She was only going to draw more unwanted attention to herself by compeating.

But she couldn't back out now. And even if she could of, Hitomi knew that she wouldn't. The mere thought of battleing those brawn men made her blood race in anticaption. Anticpation to show them that she wasn't some weak, spoiled little girl. That she could fight for herself.

And mayhape show them that women are not weak defensless little things. A thought she knew had most likely been drilled into all their minds at a young age. Besides, she had a feeling it was going to be rather fun to show them up. Esspecialy a certine Red-eyed General.

On unsteady legs Hitomi stood up and walked out of the Gaurdenrobe, her earlier emotions of weakness and nausia quelling slightly though not compleatly. Slowly she walked toward her window. Dawn was approaching. The sky instently became scattered with oranges and reds of all different shades. It was beautiful.

The air was still and peaceful. No voices clammered through it. No wind rustled through the trees. Just perfect balanced silence. It was so very sweet. Sighing, Hitomi glanced down into the empty courtyard. Suddenly a flash of movement in darkened corner of it caught her eye.

Frowning she looked closer, her emereld orbs peirceing through the darkness. A silver sword flashed through the dark as the figure scurried slightly into the light. There he was. Standing tall as he went through simple manuvers with his sword. Silver hair gleamed brightly in the riseing sun, unmistakble ruby eyes toke in the entire area. His movements were more then simply simply poetry in motion. He was elegence in every line of personified; it seemed impossible that he could ever make an awkward movement, ever fail to please the eye. And as Hitomi stood watching him, she found herself lost to the world.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dilandau Albatou hadn't been able sleep. Not even the smallest glimpse of drowseness had taken him the entire night. No mater what he did to try and make himself sleepy a certine image of a emereld-eyed, golden brown haired girl's face popped into mind. Her exotic features beckoning remberence.

He knew her.

Though it seemed impossible, he couldn't help the feeling. She was just so damn fammiler! And it was driveing him mad that he couldn't recall! When she'd fainted suddenly in the hall he'd been suprised. She'd seemed fine dureing dinner. Esspecialy dureing their little verble spar.

Clearly he could recall every expression that had passed her face. How her emereld eyes had glowed with anger, sparkling like green fire. Her lushly full lips in a firm line and her small frame taunt with utter fury. She was far more stunning in a rage, he decided with a small smile.

But then, when the wine glasses had exploaded she hadn't seemed to notice and when she a look of utter terror had passed her face and glowed in her eyes. And then, abruptly, the fear had grown deepr and her eyes had dilated so far the beautiful emereld color had seemed almost non-existant.

Her lips had twisted into a grimence of pain and shock, her breathing had become fast and irratic, and then, suddenly, she was back. The life returned to her eyes, though the blatent pain and terror had still rivited clear and true.

Dilandau had reconized the look. He'd seen it a thouand upon a thousand times on the countless faces of his foes. He reconized it as a shark reconized blood in an ocean. It attracted him, it captivated him compleatly. That combined with the fact that she obviousely wasn't the kind of woman to cringe away from things had increased his attraction a hundred-fold. What then had terrified her so much, really? Sure the wine-glasses exploading, the candle's fire blazeing high, and sudden storms had been rather....unussuale..but still, why become so afraid?

Mayhap she wasn't as strong as he thought? Nay, it couldn't be that. For that woman was anything but weak in heart or mind. What then? And why had the flams on the candles and thundedres storms in the sky returned to normal when she she'd returned from the prefeces of her mind? And why had she fainted so suddenly as he'd been walking her to her room? She wasn't exactly...faint-hearted...so what had happened? Letting out an irrated breath he moved out of the shadows with a firm slice of his sword at his invisble opponite. Too many unanswered questions with no signs of ever really becomeing solved surrouneding 'Himeno Pretear', if that was even her real name which he doubted.

And becouse of such unanswered questions sleep had compleatly eluded him. Not that he really needed as much of sleep as an ordinary man. He could go days and nights without it. Although he'd been said to get a little...testy after a certine length of time. And since he couldn't sleep, he'd decided to do something useful.

Fenceing.

Something he knew would only help him dureing the tournment later that day. Though he knew none of the simpering fools that would face him today would stand no challange, he did love to defeat them humilatingly. And since -she- would be fighting him today...well, he didn't see her as much of a threat but he did want to be prepared. He'd never meet a woman could fight.

Well, -really- fight. Sometimes when he was destroying a village that had defied Zeibock he'd find a few that would rush forward with a meager blade to try and kill him. Hopeless attempts. In comparison to them he was no less then a war god. A creature they could never hope to kill. Though, he sopposed, he was more of a demon then anything eles in their eyes. Not that he cared.

A sudden movement in the upper window of the castle caught his eye. Careful, so not to appear as though noticeing his observer, he looked up out of the corner of his eye. There she stood. Naked in the gleaming light of the sun, her gaze locked soley on him and him alone. As though he was the only thing that existed. He payed minimale attention to his movements with his sword as he stared at her.

His ruby eyes feasting upon her bare flesh like a dieing man who was first offered food. In the halo light of the riseing sun she appeared so...etheril and other-worldly. Her long golden hair was in a disary falling past her slinder shoulders carelessly. Her face appeared paler then before adding to her mystical appearence, and those lush lips parted slightly as though to speak though no words did fall.

His eyes dropped lower takeing in her firm well shaped breasts and slinder hips and black curls of hair around her womanness. Her legs were long and perfect as he'd suspected also. A small wicked smile toke his lips as he imprented the scean to memory. For though he'd seen countless beautys bare in all their glory, none truely compared to the way she appeared bathed in the light of the riseing sun.

A devilish grin toke his lips as an irresitble idea popped to mind. Slowly, delibretly, he slipped his sword into its sheath and turned fully to the castle. Laughter bubbled in him at what he was about to do. But, if she was going to stand stark naked stareing at him he'd be damned if he didn't let her know he'd seen her watching, he could practicly taste the look of embarresment that would marr her exotic features. Turning his face upward, toward her he locked gazes with her.

Smirking widely he winked and waved,"Good morning, my Tempress, already seeking my personal attentions are you?"he mocked. Very purposly he dropped his gaze lingeringly over her body before riseing upward to meet her flushed cheeks

Confused she glanced down, relizeing mayhapes for the first time that she had not a stich of clotheing on. Her mouth dropped open in horror and she blushed brighter before scrurring back away from the window.

Dilandau threw back his head and laughed loudly, unable to contain it any longer.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The time was near. He could feel it, he could sense it. And the most importent ingrediant to help his plan succead was here as well. The Tsubasa No Kami had arrived. He could smell her on the grounds of the Freid estate. For the air where she had passed sizzled with her very precence.

The Dark One had waited pateintly for centries for this oppornity. For the Tsubasa No Kami to be reborn in a mortal body. Fate had been excrutatingly cautiouse with that single Goddess's soul. But at last, his opportunity had arrived. The true Tsubasa No Kami was in his grasp and nothing was going to stand his way to have her power. And from the vibes of vulnerbilty he felt in the air from her, she was weak enough for him to take controll. It would be simple to gain her trust, and use her to compleat his plans.

Her dispair would be her own undoing, and rise him to heights unimaginible to most. She was the key to everything, an essentle ingrediant that would allow him to finaly force Fate to kneel. He would have to act quickly, though not too quickly. He didn't want to arrouse the Goddess's suspesions.

For he knew her blasted visions had most likely warned her of his arrival. Complicateing things for him more then he liked. Although, he knew her powers were very strong though it was doubtful she had enough information to identify him right off.

Still it was better to proceed with caution. Or eles he might lose all that he wanted. And all his planning would go awry, and he knew this was his only chance to claim all that he wanted.

And he would not fail.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The redish-brown orbs of Van Slanzar Fanel flashed annyoance as he made his way around the grounds of the Freid. Sleep had been as elusive for him as ever. Dreams of the past had assulted him the momment he'd closed eyes.

Memories of one certine boyish-acting girl had been floating into his mind more often then before. His lips twisted into a snarl. She had betrayed him. Left him alone to fight agenst the Zeibock, when her powers mayhap could have helped them to win.

She had predicted the downfall of his country and when his country had been smoldering in ashes and they'd been surrounded by the Zeibockian warriors, a bright colume of light like the one that had transported him to the Mystic Moon had saved him.

Back then he'd been unable to make the proper connections between those events and her...but now looking back he could. She'd been the cause of it all, the columes of light...everything. But the thing that made him feel the most bitter was that she hadn't stayed by his side.

She'd run away, abadended him compleatly. Something the young king could not and never would forgive. Idly he wondered what she was doing on the Mystic Moon. Running about with her friends, compleatly carefree. Not thinking for a momment what she had done by abanding him?

True, he hadn't known her -that- long while she'd been with him. But in that short amount of time he'd found himself genuinly careing for her. Wanting to protect her from all dangers. That was part of why he'd been so furiouse to find Allen Shezar holding her in his arms only momments after he'd heard her scream in the forest.

And yet, she'd left him without a thought. Without cause or hesitation she'd left him. Redish brown eyes glowed with a flash of anger in remberece of such betrayle. She'd coned him into thinking she actually remotly cared about his welfare. The lieing, conniveing, traitories bitch. Shakeing his head in disgust the young king made his way around the clear gardens.

At times such clearings had calmed any anger he had, leaveing him with, if only for a moment, a sense of peace. It was an emotion he'd nearly forgotten. For it was very rare when he ever felt it. But this morning the gardens were not haveing such an effect.

"Van-samaaa!"

Van felt a small smile take his lips at the site of his child-hood companion bounding across the grass toward him. In an instant she'd lept into arms, her head cradleing in the crook of his neck as she licked his cheek affectionnly. Absently he noted the changes that time had wrought on her in the years of the Destiny Wars.

She'd grown out her thick strawberry-colored hair a little bit longer so it touched her golden brown fured shoulders with a featherlight touch. Her face had matured from that of a child to a young beautiful maiden. Her large deep blue eyes had wideneed with age and were framed with thick sooty lashes. Her body had also matured from that of a young childs to a womans. Full lush curves were perfectly accented by the deep yellow dress she wore. The dress was short reaching her thigh's in length with multible Fanalian symbles emblazed near the bottem of it. Small black shoes accented her already tiny perfect feet also.

His child-hood companion had grown up even more since he had left, he relized with a tinge of sadness. He knew of her feelings for him, simply choose not to act on them. He didn't want to hurt her. Enough people had done that to him in the past, but she'd always stood by his side no matter what. He simply couldn't bring it in him to cause tears to cloud her beautiful eyes. Though he knew one day, the subject would have to be brooched...he hoped agenst hope it would not be soon.

"Merle...what are you doing here? I thought you'd decided to stay at the castle."

Merle grinned ear-to-ear,"And miss seeing you in the tournment this year? Not a chance, Van-sama"

Van's smile faultered slightly in remberece to the on-comeing tournment. He'd never really enjoyed it much. Although, since it was a small chance to take minimul revenge on the leaders in Zeibock in defeating some of them he tolerated it. Besides, it was about the only form of defience he could even show openly for the Zeibock Empire any more.

"I see."he replied, careful to keep his voice level.

The young cat-woman's expressive blue eyes narrowed slightly at the tone. She'd known him all his life, such false tones and expressions were useless agenst her. But she knew also that it was useless to try and pry into the meanings behind the words.

He loved her and trusted her, but only to an exstent. He trusted her more then anyone, but not by much. After the end of the Destiny Wars he'd simply...stopped being the Van-sama from her child-hood. Stopped being the brash, impulsive youth that she'd fallen in love with.

She still loved him, far more then a sister would love a brother. But now she could see that which she had been blinded to as a child. No matter how deep her feelings were for Van...he simply didn't, or mayhape couldn't, love her as she loved him.

She was simply...to much of a friend...and also in such a world of betrayle he'd lived and grown in she knew that he simply couldn't bring himself to trust her more then he already did. The trust he held for her now was teniouse at best. As though he was simply waiting for the day when she'd simply laugh cruely at him and compleatly aline herself with the Zeibock Empire.

A thought that she was sure bordered on his mind often. Not that he'd ever said such a thing to her. No, if he had he'd of become her new scratching post. No, she'd seen those depthless redish-brow orbs when he hadn't relized she'd been looking. It wouldn't have made much deference if she'd out of the blue said she'd stand by his side forever, he'd never compleatly and blindly belive it. Such innocent trust had long since vanished from the soul of Van Slanzer Fanel. And no force upon Gaea or any other world could ever return it.

He'd seen too much. Felt the emotinal betrayle of far too many to ever truely trust anyone. Even her. Though it hurt, she had made peace with it. She loved him unconditionaly and would do everything in her power to show it to him. That was partly why she'd become his personal body gaurd. She had trained herself to the point of exhastion every day just to be sure that she could protect him if the chance arouse.

She had made a vow when she'd first begun to train. She would protect her Van-sama from everything and everyone, no matter what the threat was. Noone would ever hurt him agine with her at his side. Noone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Emereld orbs looked over the crowded streets of Freid with an expression of longing. Children ran with a carefree innocence through the streets, well-feed apple-cheeks beaming up at the world of Gaea without the weight of the elders that walked past.

A tugg of longing ever so deep jerked hard within her forceing her to avert her gaze and blink away forelorn tears. She'd long since lost such a carefree innocence. Lost it the day she'd touched her Taro Cards and recieved her Grandmother's pendent. Lost it when visions of pain, death, war, and hate and clouded her mind. Bloaking anything eles that could possibly break through.

Shakeing her head slightly she slowed her step. Around her marched severel of the Dragon Slayers and infront of them their General. Instently Hitomi felt her cheeks burn in remberence to the -incident- eariler that morning. What had she been thinking standing infront of a window nude! Maybe she truely was loseing her mind...

'No,'she thought firmly,'I can't start to doubt myself now! Besides, I have to concentrait on the matter at hand. Being distracted won't help me in the tournment today.'

Which was true. Distractions lead to mistakes. Mistakes can lead to either public humilation or defeat and, if the situation was seriouse enough, death. None were exactly favorble to the young Goddess. Although the thought of death -had- entered her mind on more then one occasion since she'd meet Varie, she'd never really acted upon it. With Varie someone had always been watching her like a hawk, though now that she was on Gaea without Varie she could. Her sword was only inches away...waiting peacefully...

Furiously Hitomi shook her head. Insane mayhape she was by now, sucidal she was not. No matter how tough things got she just couldn't take the easy way out. Besides, today was the tournment meaning that she had a lot of overly-chiverlouse, cocky, egotistical guys to give a little enducation on just how 'weak' a woman was.

Takeing a deep breath she forced herself to relax slightly. Only to feel her body tense right back up and her heart pound hard in her chest with unstopble frenzy. Her skin felt senstive to the very brush of wind that swept by, her mind screamed with danger with enough force that sent her reeling mentaly. Primal fear that few ever felt in their lives rouse within her causeing her hand to rise and tighten on her sword's hilt.

Then, just as suddely as it arrived, the feeling was gone like leaves with the wind. Gasping slightly for breath she looked wildly around her as though to see some hulking figure in dark ready to strike her down. But noone was there, at least that seemed threatening. Nothing at all.

Nervously she moistened her lips and relizeing her hand was clutching her sword's hilt tightly and starting to get confused glances she lowerd released the hilt and let her arm fall casualy to her side. Raiseing her eyes she stared at the back of Dilandau Albatou.

Her cheeks burned lightly agine at the memory of earlier that morning. Forceing away the thought she toke in his red and black armor he'd choosen to wear. It wasn't nearly as elbrate as the one she'd seen him wearing when he'd paid a viset to Shezar's fort those 5 years before.

The basic color of the armor on his shoulders and chest was red. The armor over his shoulders was slightly big though not overwelmoingly large. Two small spikes were on the shoulders and the armor that reached his elebow's. His chest armor was the same color though with a large white leathor sleevless like robe that nearly reached his armored knees. It was borderlined wtih black and gold around the wide opening which showed off the red armor around his chest. A belt that was white from behind though black once reaching the dark part of the leather was clasped firmly around his waist. And swinging at his side, winking at her in the sunlight, was his two-handed sword. Say what you like about Dilandau Albatou, but one thing was certine he had a definet since of style.

He turned his head slightly, as though feeling her gaze, and locked eyes with her. He smirked at her and dropped his eyes over her body in a way that made Hitomi feel that she was standing just as nude as before. Emereld eyes glared hard into Ruby red long enough to show that she didn't fear him before casualy averting her gaze to the large ivory doors they were approaching.

Instently she felt rather small and insignificant as she past through them. Large, intrecitly carved figures decorated the large doors. On the top of the doors, which she had to crane her neck rather far to see, were two men holding their swords pointed toward the sky as though to fend off an invader from above.

As she walked through she felt her eyes widen at the sight before her. The large arena was filled with dark brown sand which most likely was to add friction to a fighters stance so they'd have greater controll over their movements. But what truely suprissed her was the amount of people in the baloconys above. The arena was surrounded on three sides with bleachers reaching up nearly as high as the two ivory doors. Every seat was cramed to its fullest with men, woman, and even children. All who had arrived for this one tournment.

Hitomi hadn't seen so many people gatheard in one place in a long time. Sure back in Japan she'd seen many people in a single place at one time, but not nearly as many as this. It appeared like all of Freid and other countries had arrived for this one tournment.

Hitomi gulped nervously. So many people...all going to be watching her when she sparred agenst the Zeibock Repisentives. All watching her waiting for her to slipe. Each one most likely snickering becouse she was a woman. A woman in the tournment. Each thinking her a fool for even trying battleing agenst men far stronger then she. All feeling that she would fail.

Hitomi frowned and forced down the butterflys that fluttered in her stomake. It was time to give Gaean people a little lesson the feeblity of a woman. Tossing her head back slightly she followed the Slayers into a small line near the edge of the arina. Warily she toke a seat on the stone bench that had been provided for the all the Zeibock Repisentives.

Idly she watched as Folken walked out onto the large balcony above the ivory doors. Hitomi frowned as she wondered how she could of missed the huge balocony when walking in. As he began to speak the arina became compleatly silent, each one hanging on to every word spoken by the great kaizer of Zeibock. Hitomi listened with a half ear to the speech. Easily catching the gist which mainly a propaganda to exapand the people's veiw of the Zeibock Empire and wishing good luck to those who would test their luck and skill to become one of the Legendary Dragon Slayers under General Dilandau Albtou's Command.

Hitomi snorted slightly as she wondered if the teenagers who'd compeat today even knew what they were getting themselves into.

Boredly she crossed her legs and arms. She'd come her to battle not listen to some long chiverlouse speech.

"For a little change in this years tournment"Folken said, his voice booming easly over the large arena," we've decided to allow the new repisintive fighter for King Chid begin first. But before we begin I would like to reminde those who will fight to be in the greatest of the Zeibock Military, The Dragon Slayers, to win your battle fight not only with brute force but with your mind. Now, let the tourment begin! Himeno Pretear will fight first agenst Asturia's repisintive, the Knight of Calei Allen Shezar!"

Hitomi's lips twisted into a smile she knew was far from pleasent as she heard her opponites name.

'Time to give you a dose of feminine impowerment, Shezar!'she thought as she rose from the stone bench and made her way to the center of the arina.

She didn't bother to remove her sword from its sheath but merely stood calmly in the center watching as the golden-haired knight stalked toward her. His porcline face caught the sunlight and Hitomi could clearly see the disspointment on his face as he caught sight of her. A sign that he thought she was no real challange.

'Your first mistake, Shezar.'Hitomi thought as she toke stance.

Allen smirked superiourly and with more elegant grace then needed he pulled his sword from its sheath holding it up at an angle so it caught the sun and sparkled mysteriously.

Hitomi rolled her eyes and casualy drew her own blade. Instead of waiting for the blonde knight to make the first move Hitomi charged forward and brought her sword down hard near his neck. Shocked the befuddled man barely had time to catch it and was too full of shock to regester the stinging of her blade sliceing through the flesh of his shoulder before it was too late. Hitomi moved back cockly a few feet from Allen, her eyes goading him with their smug emereld depths.

Hitomi smirked,"And your soppose to be the greatest swordsmen on Gaea? I thought I'd have a bit more of a challange, Shezar."

Ocean blue eyes darkned instently and his face fall into a scowl at her words."You suprised me, lets see how good you are, my lady."he mocked with a small smile.

Hitomi smirk widened,"Thats one thing you'll never find out, Shezar."Hitomi winked slyly though from the cold icy depths that rivited in her gaze it couldn't be considered a flirtatious gesture.

Allen lunged forward, slashing his elegant blade through the air effortlessly. Hitomi bloaked his blow with almost pathtic ease. Cuting to left, dodgeing a rather vicious blow to her shoulder she attacked the blonde knight from behind.

Most likely by blind luck the knight bloacked it and went on a full fledged offensive of throwing blow after blow trying to make it where Hitomi had no time to think nor impliment any stratigy she might of had in mind. Hitomi cocked an eyebrow. Allen was far too sure of himself and dureing his egotistical tirade she knew that such excessive blows would lower make his muclese quickly become tired and fatigued. She had only to pretend to be compleatly befuddled by his moves untill the opening came....there!

While her sword bloacked Alllen's she lashed out her foot knocking the knight flat on his back leaveing her free to kick his sword away and lay her own blade flat at his neck.

Hitomi smirked,"Game over, Shezar."she mocked with a lilting laugh that resounded over the deathly silent arina.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dilandau couldn't keep the grin from passing his features. This by far topped the last embarresing Shezar event when that Girl rejected him. Allen Shezar, defeated and humilated publicly. And by a woman no less. Suddenly the arina erupted into cheers, thousands of voices clouded the arina with shouts of shock and laughter. Severel men wore disgruntled expressions, he noticed, but that was most likely do to the fact that no woman had ever fought publicy, much less won agenst a man. And one said to be 'the greatest knight in all of Asturia. Hai, it was going to take a long time for Shezar to live this one down.

Dilandau raised his eyes from the disgruntled Knight to Folken who began to publicly announce and congradulate the warrior-maid on her defeat of Shezar. Instently the crowd fell mostly silent at the baritone voice of the Kaizer of the Zeibock Empire. Dilandau rolled his eyes. People were like sheep when it came to any of the prominet members of Zeibock. It disgusted him really. The lack of will power made it so hard to really dirive any joy in being superour. It was better if they had some will in them. After all, crushing ones spirt was something that Dilandau found a measure of amusement in. Haveing no one with spirt in them made his postion rather tiresom at times.

Returning his gaze to Shizar he smirked wider as he rather shakely to his feet, trying his hardest to gain some form of dignity. Like he really was going to have any left after this event. Allen threw back his silkey mane of blonde hair as he made his way back over to the Asturian side of the ring, near the Ispano and Fannalian Repsintives.

Dilandau laughed softly as he noticed the clear flush that was on the scowling knights face. Despite the lack of spirt in the people of Gaea, nothing could possibly amuse him more then to see Gaea's 'grand sudussure of woman and master swordsmen' compleatly and utterly humilated.

Pulling his eyes from the back of Shezar he stared hard at 'Himeno Pretear'. She stood compleatly calm and compossed, in the glinting light of the sun he could see the triumphent smirk on her face. What a woman she was. If she defeated the Ispano and Fannalian repesintives, which he wasn't really haveing much doubt on, he was certine he'd enjoy fighting her. He had a strong feeling that fighting agenst her would certinly be more of a challange then the baka's he'd been fighting recently.

Crossing his arms he watched as the Brown-haired Ispano Repesintives made his way toward the girl, his face one of wary respect and suprise. The spar began and with as much ease as before she toke out the young Ispanian Repsintive. Dilandau cocked an eyebrow at her. He'd seen the man fight before agenst opponites many times 'Himeno's' side and win. What was so different about her?

Next came the Fanalian Repisintive, the 'Dragon Prince' Van Slanzer Fannel. The opponite whom he normaly had faced every tournment thus far. And if he defeated the golden-brown haired woman, he would be his opponite agine. And since Dilandau himself had faced the raven-haired King many a time, he knew he wasn't exactly a push over.

Still, he couldn't wait to see how she would fair agenst him...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Van made his way toward the exotic warrior-maid with a stotic expression. Though his eyes converyed the confusion he felt with acute accuracy. She seemed so fammiler to him. As though he'd seen her many a time before. Gazed into those emereld orbs that seemed compleatly depthless. Though they seemed wrong in a way. Nearly as hard as the gems they resembled. Strange really.

Shakeing his head he pulled his sword from its sheath. Stareing hard into the warrior-maids face he saw a varity of emotions. Pain, recognition, anger, and sadness all convening together in a startling match. Saddened eyes rose to meet his own and once more he felt a jolt of remberence burst through him. How could he feel so fammiler with someone who he couldn't rember?

Rolling his eyes slightly he toke stance and waited for her to instigate the battle as she had done with those before him. She did nothing, didn't move, didn't even bother to take stance. He watched as a tremble shot through her small frame and reluctently she raised her sword.

Well, if she was going to leave herself so open to an attack he wasn't going to waste the opportunity. Lunging forward he brought his blade down hard toward her. Shock raced over her features and she barely rose her sword up in time to meet his own.

Her face hardened and the emotions that had clouded her face and emereld orbs vanished as she threw his sword of her own with a flick of her wrist and feinted a slice at the flat of his knees before bringing it up toward his neck. Startled Van barely had time to react and bloacked her blade only a hairsebreath before it would've hit him.

Her face giveing no expression she moved away slightly and toke stance her eyes becomeing confident and regreatful.

"Not bad, Fanel"her mouth tightened as she spoke his name,"But you'll have to try harder if you wish to defeat me."

Raiseing a raven brow he tried moved forward and tried to strike her. Agine. And Agine. Only to be stopped as she expretly bloaked his blows. Thrusting his blade back with supriseing force she shoke her head slightly and for the first time in their little fight it was she who attacked him. In a quick movement she ducked and kicked his legs forceing him to fall flat on his back.

Van rolled away quickly just in time to avoid a feriousous blow from her. Standing quickly he noticed suddenly the pain in his shoulder. Rich red blood spilled over his sleeve and soaked his finger tips as he touched it. Respect bloosmed in his redish-brown gaze as he stared at her.

With renewed stratigy he ran at her his sword raised high as it made an arc through the air clearly aimed to decaptiate or at least knock away her blade should she bloak it. She did neither and dropped to her knees and rolled behind him strikeing him hard in the back of his head then strikeing his hand with the flat of her sword causeing him to drop it leaveing her own blade to rest at his throat leaveing her the victor.

Startled he backed away, vaugly hearing Folken prounce her the winner and call out the last Repisntive. General Dilandau Albatou of Zeibock. His eyes never leaveing hers he backed away toward the edge of the arina and back to his seat...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hitomi felt tears edge their ways into her eyes at the sight of what had become of the brash, impulsive youth from when she'd first arrived upon Gaea. Gone was the fire from his eyes replaced only with a bitter remberence and hatred for hypocracy that had damned him to the life of being a mere puppet.

So much she'd felt simply by being near him agine. She'd felt his unyeilding hate and anger toward the man which he'd once called brother though she knew he'd never call him such a thing agine. She'd felt the spark of remberence that had flew threw him at the mere sight of her. Felt his confusion as he'd tried despreatly to place her in his memory failing miserbly though.

'Good'she thought firmly'its better that he dosen't know who I am.'

Which was true. She'd sinced that underlieing bitterness in him for her. The anger that he felt she'd abandened him compleatly and utterly. Mayhape she had, but only in an effort to save Gaea, and herself, a heartbreak unimaginble.

Swallowing back the emotional ball that had risen in her throught and blinkning rapidly to dispeal the tears that were teetering dangerously close to falling, she drew herself up to her full hight and waited to find out the name of her next opponite.

"It would seem that Freid's moveing farther up the tournment then ever before."Folken said with a mysterious smile."But, now it is time for the dimenstration battles to come to a close. Freid's last opponite shall be our General, Dilandau Albatou."

Hitomi felt her breath become caught in her throat as she watched the silver-haired God walk toward her. Ruby eyes glittered unknown secrets and a cruelty beyound anything most can possibly imagine. He tilted his head slightly, the sunlight catching on his pale flesh showing the wide smirk on his face in all its glory.

His hand rested gently on his sword's hilt though he made no move to draw it,"Not bad, My Lady,"He purred the tital in a way that made goosebumps rise on her skin though from fear or anticipation she didn't know.,"But lets see how well you'll stand agenst me."

Hitomi lifted her blade higher and toke a far firmer stance then that which she'd had with her previouse opponites. With delibrite slowness Dilandau removed his sword from its sheath and toke a relaxed stance.

Ruby red meet Emereld green in a firey combination as they awaited the subtle shift that always came that would proclaime their battle had begun.









A.n.-And we stop there for the day^_^I'm sure you all really wanna see the fight between Dilandau-sama and Hitomi but this chaps pretty long already so I'll try and hurry with the next chap so ya'all can see it^_^I hope ya'all enjoyed the chap^_^_^