A.n.-Hiya everyone. This would have been up MUCH sooner if my disk that I had it saved on along with my backup hadn't been erased becouse my someone erased my files. -_-' I had the whole chap done too:( Thats why it toke so long. *sigh*well, I hope ya'all like the chap though:)I know ya'all really wanna see the fight scean between Dilly-sama and Hitomi so I'll stop rantin' an start da fic^_~lol^_^Enjoy.

Dedication-

Rina-Heh, a little impatent are ya? Sorry, I know this did take a long time to get done. *sheepish smile*at least its up though, ne?

Jn^SMARTKITTY^-I'm very happy that I could inspire ya to like D/H^_^Its a really kawaii couple, ne?^_^

Anne-WritinAngel-^_^_^I'm so happy you like my fic^_^I'm always nervouse about posting anything^_^I hope you like the chap^_^

Enfant De Haine-I know *glares at all the V/H fics* there everywhere! I'll try to write quicker to compensate for it^_^Enjoy the fic^_^

Fitz20-Aw, don't worry about me^_^I'll always try and get the chaps up as fast as possible^_^. I just get sidetracked a lot^_^

Deepwoods Dragon-Yeah, I know. A lot of ppl do ussualy try an make Dilly-sama fall head-over heels so they kinda lose the real charecter..I'm really trying to stay true the actuale charecter, so do point out any OOC'ness that happens:)Enjoy the fic^_^Thanks agine for the compliment.

Ruby Dragon-^_^thanks, and heres more^_^I hope you like it^_^

Laura-Happy ya like the fic^_^

Leviathan-Your wish is my command^_~

Raymei Klisea- ^_^Hehe, guess i'm insperation for D/H lemony pics now, aye? Lol^_^Thanks agine for that one pic you sent me. It was really cool^_^As for the Ispano thing...I needed another major country in the arina...and they were the only ones I could think off....I'll think of somehting to bridge the gap of it...^_~

Makoto Almasy- I know...that was a cruel cliff hanger, ne? But the chap was so long...I had to cut it somewhere...and that was the only place I cuold think of...well at least now you get to see the fight scean, ne?^_~Enjoy

Magic Man-Hehe^_^I knew you'd love the part where Allen was humilated!^_~Yea, you did put a lot of cliffhangers through out "Love Can Change You"...guess I learned from the best^_~hehe, and thanks agine for the idea for Van and Millerna...their soooo kawaii together!^_~

Kat-^_^Heres the next chap^_^thanks, i'm really happy you like my fic^_^

Xelena-Yea, i'm trying to make each chap really long so you all get more quality an such in each chap^_^Hehe, i'm glad you love D/H too^_^There the best couple in all of anime!^_~hehe

Avihenda-Thankyou^_^

Fuyu no Iki-hehe, thanks and I will have the edited one up when my beta reader sends it to me...wonder what happened to her anyway...she hasn't been answering my e-mails...oh well..i'll try reading over the chap to fix some of the mistakes, k?^_^Enjoy the chap:)

Lady Hitomi Albatou-Love the nick, and I hope you like the battle scean^_^

SereneBlaze-Thanks for the compliment^_^I know...I'm cruel...I send cliff hangers everywhere in the fic...^_~Enjoy the chap^_^




A gust of wind bellowed through the now deadly silent arina. Emereld orbs meet ruby red in a heartstopping dance of the mind. Dilandau flexed his grip on his sword's hilt as he studdied her stance for any flaws he could use agenst her. It held a sort of confidense and precision that suggested it was well practiced. Though since it was a neutral stance in gave her no real advantage on offense or defence. Though on a further inspection of it he relized it was slightly modified to let her use her speed, rather then simply brute force. A smart move since there was a very very low chance she could take him on with only physical strength.

He knew the girl before him could -beat- him exactly. But still, he could already tell this was going to be a challange. And there was nothing General Dilandau Albatou loved more then a challange. Esspeacialy in the art of swordplay.

Charhgeing forward Dilandau immdediately feinted a diagonal slash at her mindsection, only to dart sideways for a chop at her ribs....only to feel the flat of 'Himeno's' blade as it crushed into his right arm and side, forceing him off the to the right of her. Shoting past his target, Dilandau recovered his stance quickly.

Numbly he could feel the bruising in his arm and side, knowing that had she used the edge of her weapon he'd of been at far to much of a disadvantage to really take her on. She was quick, like her stance had indicated to him in the begining. Victory was going to be hard won.

'Good', he thought with a smirk,'It'll make defeating her all the sweeter.'

With that thought in mind he brought his sword down on her with a blood curdleing cry of war....


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Emereld orbs widened as she expertly bloaked Dilandau's attack, barely moveing in time to bloak the next and the one after that. Her muceles strained with the effort of holding his attacks at bay and bloaking them. His attacks were precise, firm, and nearly overwelming. It was obviouse he wasn't feared throughout Gaea for nothing, and his whispered demon-like strength far from myth.

Still, Kanzaki Hitomi wasn't going to back down so easily. It was obviouse to her that she couldn't defeat him through simple brute strength. Nor through simple quick manevors. He'd far too much experence to fall for any quick tricks. But there are so many arts of war fare, and what was this but a war? A war between them to see which was stronger, which was better at something. Which would be the victor.

And Hitomi was determined to be the victor. She knew she wouldn't be able to live it down should she lose to him. Hitomi hissed in pain as she felt the edge of Dilandau's blade dig into her arm. Forceing herself to ignore the pain and the red liquid pouring down her own she slashed her blade at the flat of his knees before jerking it up for a swipe at his kneck.

Hitomi growled as he attacked her attack with enough ease to show he could have done it in his sleep. Silently she rejoiced in the pain that passed through her arm. It had been a long time since she'd felt actuale pain, when she had trained with Varie emotions like pain, happiness, hope..they hadn't felt real at all. More forced. Once she'd been delebritely careless in a battle to see what happened if she was wounded. She'd barely felt the slash of a blade as it had sliced into her abdomen. A cut had appered but no blood had fallen. Maybe that was when she'd fallen a little off into the deep end. Wanting pain and anger to fill her becouse it was real.

Forceing her thoughts from the past she concentraited more on the matter at hand. She couldn't be on the defence like this for the whole fight. He'd defeat her too easily then. She had to formulate some kind of plan, shimatta! Her mind fell to one last option.

Delebritely she let her sword falter agenst his so when he pressed harder it fell from her fingers. As she expected his eyes brightened with the thought of beating her so very close.

'In your dreams maybe.'Hitomi thought with a small smile.

She had one chance, and this was it. Falling back slightly, she leaped into the air and kicked him in the chest with both feet. Dilandau stumbled backward, nearly falling. Dust spweed up into the air as she landed hard on her beck. Rolling off to the side she grabbed her sword up off the ground and brought it up just in time to meet Dilandau's as it came down. Thrusting her sword up hard enough to send his off, Hitomi did a backflip from the ground to get to her feet.

Takeing stance quickly, emereld eyes eyed ruby red warily. The world around them had long since vanished, leaveing only eachother in their vision. Only the brutality of battle remained. Neither had any real 'nobel' goal they were fighting for. They disred to win only for themselves. To show whom was greater and who was less.

Every creature that lives and breaths has an engrained desire to be the alpha of any group. To be the best, to be the one feared and respected. Backwards, forwards, to the side, up then down their swords went. Each fighting for ground in the battle, each trying so hard. Already Hitomi could feel the tell-tale signs of fatigue takeing her over.

Her mucels strained with every movement, trickles of sweat made its way down her back and face. Soaking her shirt and hair as it made its way through. How long had they been spareing? Momments? Hours? Years, perhapes? Time had lost all meaning to Hitomi as she moved to the temp of their spar.

It felt like an entrical dance they'd fallen into. Moveing together at a speed and manevors that were choosen by enstict alone. Only in this dance, a single mistake was not an option. For once you fell there was no chance of riseing and starting anew.

Hitomi's arms strained as Dilandau brought his blade down on hers in pure animlistic brute force. Pressing down hard on her already weaked body. Inch by inch her blade inched closer to her own throat. Emereld eyes hardened as she moved to the right dropping her blade and punched the silver-haired general in the eye. his face scrunched up in pain giveing the young Goddess just enough time to drop down and swipe his legs out from beneith him.

Rolling over she reached for her sword only to be tackled head on by the journal. What had begun as an honorable spar had some how de-evolved into a brawl as they rolled around on the dirt filled arena, each trying to gain some sort of advantange of the other. Swallowing hard she reached quickly down for the dagger in her boot. Whipeing it out she slashed out at the general without even thinking.......

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All Dilandau saw was a flash of silver before he moved his head back enstinctivly to avoid it. Still he could feel it nick the underside of his chin. bright red blood fell forth from the wound and Dilandau felt a rush of anger twine through him that she'd had the audacity to litterly land a wound, no matter how small, on him.

After all, was he not the greatest General on the planet? How could a -girl- of all things even land a hitt?! Channaleing the anger he rolled over to the left squashing her hand beneith him and he swore he heard a small crack. Idly he woundered if he'd broken her wrist in the manevor...Either way the dagger was now out of her grasp.

Tears pricked at the emereld eyes of the maiden beneith him but did not fall. Dilandau grimenced as he felt the heel of her boot digg into the back of ankle felt his vision waver as she head-butted him -hard- in the head. For a secoud he swore he littlerly saw stars dance before his eyes. Apparently though his momentarl lack of attention had been enough for to push him off and go for her sword.

Shakeing his head he jumped to his feet and grabbed his fallen sword just as 'Himeno's' hand touched her own. Moveing forward he quickly layed his sword at her neck, the sharp edge pressing gently, but insistently, agenst the creamy white skin of her neck. Enraged emereld eyes meet his own in cackleing anger.

Dilandau smirked down at her, and tried to calm his rapid breathing. It had been a long time since he'd had such a good fight really. His triumphent smirk still in place he brushed a stray strand of damp silver hair out his eyes. Dilandau was barely able to supress the start that rose in him at the sudden applause the ripped through the arina. He'd almost forgotten they were there.

Slowly he re-sheathed his sword, idly considering holding out his hand to help her stand. Immeditely he disregaurded the idea. the stuburn warrior-maiden before him wouldn't accept it anyway. And he didn't care to have any gesture he made thrown back in his face. As expected she rose to her feet on her own, and sheathed her sword across her back.

It was only then he noticed that she was descretly cradleing her left hand. Idly he hoped he handn't broken her wrist or anything. He figured she'd be wanting a re-match in the near future, and what was the fun in fighting someoe already handicaped by an ingerey? Emereld eyes brewed anger at defeat, though when he meet them with his own he saw respect there. With no words she walked passed him and toward the Zeibock corner of the arina.....



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Merle stared vacantly at the writhing form entwined on the golden sheets. She did not bother to rise and try to soothe the troubled sleep of her only love. Knowing that would only awaken him and then chances were he would go many days without sleep...like he always did. Untill his body forcebly shut down and forced him to rest. No. She would not deprive him of his sleep...even if it was tormented by memories of the past.

Closeing her eyes the young cat woman rose from her seat and kneeled next to Van. She reached out a hand to touch his hair, to just for a momment feel the soft powder fine raven wing strainds, only to stop as he suddenly jerked his head in the opposite direction of her, his features locked in anger and sadness.

Bowing her head the warrior-cat woman lowered her hand to her side. Her Van-sama had been more distant then ever before after the battle at the Freid Arina. Ever since that woman, Himeno wasn't it, had defeated him in a duel. Who was she anyway to think she had the right to even -think- of defeating her love in a duel?!

Letting out a soft growl, Merle sat back down in her seat in the corner of the room to resume her watch over the young King of Fanalia. No matter how much Zeibock tried to control all the major countries, she knew that the man before her would always be the King. Always. Closeing her eyes Merle took a steadying breath before reopening them.

Himeno was different from other human women. Merel could sense it easily. And her scent....so fammiler. So odd, so different from any other. She even felt like....like..that traitores bitch from the Mystic Moon that had abandened her love years before. Though then he had felt a sort of happiness that she no longer had a rival for the heart of her Van-sama....she'd regreated the emotion emensily near the end of the war. Knowing that the mystirouse girl's power could have mayhapes brought Zeibock to its knees.

If only she hadn't been such a coward and run away when Allen Shezar had proclaimed her his lover. Though, she heard it was quiet the spectaculer momment when she'd screamed at him and slapped him hard across the face. Merle would have given a lot just to have seen that. Still, Hitomi could have had more mettle and not run out and disspear off the face of Gaea.

Scornfully the catwoman glanced out the window. Perhapes she had returned to the accursed planet in the sky. With all her heart Merle wished that her life there was as cursed as the legends proclaimed. So, at least in some way, she was suffering for the betrayle she had bestowed upon her Van Slanzer Fanel.

Anger poisned her system as she recalled the first time she'd seen the girl from the Mystic Moon. She'd been hanging so close to her Van-sam. Like some sort of lost puppy. Jealosy had stabbed through her at the mere sight of the girl. Not for an instant likeing her closeness with her only love. She had known then what would happen. That she would leave her love with yet another betrayle to add to his numerouse ones.

How right she had been. Not that it had helped any. Not that it had changed a damn thing. Closeing her eyes the young Catwoman-warrior clinched her slinder hands into fists. Not doubting for an instent that if Hitomi had suddenly appeared before her that she'd of become her new scratching post for the rest of eternity. Along with a few other tortureing devices, both mental and physical, so that she would at least feel a scratch on the surface of the pain her Van-sama felt.

Reopening her eyes Merle tried to fasten a rein on the fury inside of her. Kanzaki Hitomi had long since vanished anyway. Either returned to her world or laying somewhere as a rotting corpse, though Merle was hopeing more or less for the latter. Though perhapes death was far to kind an end for the likes of her at any rate.

Letting out a sigh she fingered the hilt of her sword, her eyes falling onto the stars agine. They were brighter tonight then ever before. A thousand secerts shining out of each of them, and in a thousand lifetimes Merle was certine she'd never truely have all the answers they could yeild.

Her gaze snapped instently to the bronze colored figre that rolled back and forth on the bed, his dark features locked in unbearble agony and sadness that tore at the Catwoman's heart. Blinking away tears she forced herself not to rise and try to comfert him. Knowing full well he wouldn't accept it and only try to push her farther away. At least this way she could watch over him and be sure no outside force tried to hide him as he rested. A strange word for his sleep perhapes, since she knew it was haunted by memories of the past and betrayles that only she was privy to.

"Just how far would you go to protect your Van-sama?

Merle jerked outright at the smooth, perfect baritone voice. Jumping to her feet she yanked her sword out of its scabbord with out a secoud thought, her breath quickly becomeing deep and controlled, her mucles tighting as the adrenline rushed through them; empowering her with strength and sharpeneing senses allready superiour to that of an average human being.

Half hidden in the shadows she saw what appeared to be a man, though every sense in her body screamned the opposite. There was just...something that was.....different. Maybe it was the dangerouse, possive aura that surrounded him so compleatly. Siliently she strained to see him through the darkness, though all she could truely make out was the luminously white golden hair flowing over his shoulders in a wildly spiky cut, a silent reminder of a preditoral nature that rivited off him in every way. And those eyes....slightly slanted, one a deep blue, the other a torrent hazel, both so very brilliant and dimand hard. The power that vibrated through them was like quicksand, holding the promise that a single glance and you may never rise from it.

"Who are you?"she hissed, trying to stay slightly quiet so as not to awaken her charge. Though why she didn't know. Perhapes to prove she could protect him while he lay unware and defencless.

She heard a smile in his voice as the reply came,"I've come only to....make you an offer. One you can't refuse, that is if you truely care so deep for your Van-sama over there."

Merle shifted uneasily, caught suddenly at an indecsion. Why should she trust the word of the man before her. What gurentee did she truely have that he wouldn't turn around and stab her in the back before makeing an attack on her love?

"What reason do I have to trust you? How do I know you are not a threat to Van-sama?"

"You just have to trust me. Though if thats too much to ask of you at this momment, perhapes I should remind you of a certine girl who graced the first castle of Fanalia before it was in ruins by the Zeibock forces. You do rember, don't you? The girl of Mystic Moon, I belive you all refered to her as then."

The young catwoman's lips toke an angry snarl,"She is dead. Or back on that accursed planet. She's no threat."even as she spoke the words she seriousely doubted them.

"She is very alive, I assure you. I will make you a bargaine my lady."

"What sort of bargine?"

"A simple one. I will make sure no harm should ever befall your beloved Van-sama in anyway, as long as you swear to aid me in a task in the future."

Merle felt her heart stop at his none-descreat words of him being her belvoed. Gods, how could he know?! She nevre told a soul of her feelings. Prefering to wait untill the right time came to pour her heart out to the king. How could he know?

"I..Can protect Van-sama from any danger. Seen or unseen. I need no help of yours to accomplish it."

"Really?"he mocked,"I doubt you can protect him from the other worldly symptoms. The forces from the Mystic Moon, the curses that will soon befall Gaea. How can you defend agenst what you can not see, my sweet Lady?"

"I am not your Lady."

"Perhapes, but you avoiding the truth, Lady Merle. You know as well as I you can't defend agenst what I have spoken of."

"How do I know you won't try and harm Van-sama?"

"You have my word."

"I don't even know you. How do I know how good your word is?"

Impatience seeped into that beautiful voice,"You must trust me. No harm shall befall him, by me or any other if and only if you agree to my terms."

Merle paused, considering,"What do you need my aide in?"

"You will know in due time, lady Merle."

"Fine, it is a deal then. I'll help you in the future in exchange for his safety from the alleged forces soon to appear. But if anything should happen to him, I swear you will meet your end on my blade."

An amused chuckle emited from the figure,"As you wish. I will return soon for your end of the bargain, Lady Merle."

With that he faded away compleatly into the mist and Merle had a sinking feeling she'd just made a deal with the devil himself. Curling her lips up in disgust at her own thoughts she kneeled next to her Van-sama's bed. She'd dance with the devil himself just to keep him safe anyway. There was no crime to high to protect him, no price she would not pay for his happiness.

Yes. No matter what price the man or demon that had appeared asked for when he returned she'd pay it willingly. After all, it was for her Van-sama. And there was nothing that mattered more then him. Nothing. But, as she'd said before, if that demon didn't make his good on his end of the bargain; he would know more suffering and pain then any being that had ever existed before she plunged her sword into his heart.

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Hitomi rose from her bed as though in a trance. Something deep in her was calling out. Beckoning her, a silent command for her to come. Riseing from the bed she walked out onto the balcony and jumped down from it into the court yard. Landing deftly on the balls of her feet she stood and walked into the denseness of the garden. A fleeting gust of cold air russtled her hair and danced across her skin, makeing her blue night-gown fly backward slightly.

Still she didn't even truely notice. All that mattered was that she kept on moveing. Kept on walking. What she would find she didn't know. Wethere the force that called her was bevevolent or evil she didn't know. Only that she had to keep on moveing.....

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Dilandau lounged boredly agenst one of the many trees in large courtyard. Sleep once more had eluded him compleatly. No matter how much he tossed and turned he couldn't get the image of a certine emereld eyed warrior out of his mind. It wasn't her beauty or her magnifisent sword-play that held him so captivated really. It was the nagging sense that he knew her.

It seemed impossible. He'd never known a warrior-maid like her before. And none with such practiced skill. And if he had...well the woman wouldn't have left his sight for a while that was for sure. It was rare he even found any one to match his skills anyway. A downside perhapes in being he greatest swordsmen on Gaea.

Leaning back he closed eyes. Abruptly the image of a girl with boyishly cut hair and large innocent emerald eyes assulted his vision. Kanzaki Hitomi. The girl he'd once sworn would be his, she'd been such a rare woman. Alas, she'd never been found. A pity truely. He'd of liked to of claimed her as his own for a while atleast. It would have been nice to know he could tame the fires of a woman that the greatest seducer in all the lands couldn't even begine to.

Standing next to her in his minds eye rose 'Himeno Pretear'. The two women really weren't all that different. Both had deep honey brown hair, amazing deep emereld eyes, though the latter's were much harder then the former. And each had an eye-catching figure, the latter of which he'd got an eyefull the morning before the duel. Each deffiently had a temper, spitefires in their own rights.

Abruptly his eyes snapped open, a smile curveing his lips as a thought hit him. They both looked alike, acted more or less alike...though 'Himeno' was a great swordswoman...Hitomi hadn't had one the last time he'd seen her...though in five years it wasn't impossible that she could have learned.......

Of course. 'Himeno' WAS Kanzaki Hitomi, the legendary Seer;the Goddess of Wings that the people of Gaea sang praises of. At first the idea seemed absurd. Though, if one toke in all the simmularitys that they shared, all the expressions, every gesture they made. The way they walked... it was all the same.

A small laugh erupted from him. How could he not of noticed it sooner? It was right in front of him, the entire time. Running a hand throuh his silver hair Dilandau grinned devilishly. He'd be staying for a few days in Freid now, after all....it would be fun to coax, alright tease, then 'Goddess Of Wings' Hitom into reveling herself.

Oh yes. She was proveing to be more intrigueing then he'd ever thought before. After all, it wasn't every day a mystery like Hitomi was dropped right into his lap. And when it was locked in such an inviteing form as Kanzaki Hitomi?

This was proveing to be more fun then he'd ever thought....

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Hitomi had never felt so lost in her entire life. All she knew was that she had to keep moveing. As though, perhapes, her destiny and the destineys of others depended on it. Abruptly she came to a stop. In the courtyard. That strange feeling was gone. No longer did she feel the pull to keep walking. Now only fear vibrated through her. Consumeing her. Chocking her compleatly.

Wrongness everywhere. In the air, the land. Danger filled every core of her being, shakeing her. But...she couldn't move. Kami-sama, how she wanted to run, run untill her heart bursted from it all. The land around her was so peaceful loking and beautiful, a wrong scean for the fear that encircled Hitomi so closeingly.

The air felt colder then before. Stinging her flesh through the thin nigh gown A single gust of freezeing air lifted the bottem of her gown slightly so it went in a wave behind her. Light footsteps crunched across the fallen leaves and stones behind her. Despretly Hitomi fought agenst the force paralizing her. She had to run. Now. Before it was too late. Just as she was throwing herself forward in an attempt to run, powerful arms embraced her, holding her back.

"Don't be afraid, Goddess..."A smooth baritone that was like a musical drug.

Small lights danced before Hitomi's eyes as she felt her knees become like jelly. An unbearble feeling of weakness swept over her, the frantic beat of her heart echoing endlessly in her tortured mind.

"Shhh. I will not harm you, my beautiful lady."

Kami-sama...why did she want to cry? Why did she fell so weak...tears pricked at Hitomi's eyes as she tried to regain some hold on her thoughts. Never before had she felt anything so strong, so horrible. A gentle wind blew by carrying a few white rose petals on its journey.

"Let me go.."Hitomi demanded, trying hard to bring some sort of order into the chaos she'd been thrust into.

A litling laugh of endless cruelty, yet infiently warm and seductive,"Do you really wish for me to release you, my lady?"

A tremble raced through her as she felt the warm breath of her attacker on her neck, silken lips nibbleing at her ear. Suddenly she was drowning in feelings of...pleasure...desire. Alien though...forced upon her own. The force behind her chuckled......vaugly Hitomi felt tears suddenly fall down her cheeks. The emotions...so strong.....but...wrong somehow.....they.....weren't hers...no.....for reasons she didn't quiet understand she felt primal fear and anger erupt suddenly inside of her. He was playing with her mind...forceing emotions other then her own...twisting her own to fitt his needs. And that royaly pissed her off.

Hitomi fought to break the tender, yet powerful, hold of her aggressor. In her mind she felt her powers lash hard agenst their chains. In her anger she used enough of it to break his hold, wirleing around a secoud later to face him. The sky above flashed red then to omniouse grey.

The man before her was dressed in a black and crimson red velovt of a softly bellowing jacket edged at the coller and cuffs with a black and gold brocade, sashed at the waist with the same color. Red, gold and back. The colors for fire, power and darkness. One doesen't get more elemenatly correct then that

He was standing with a sort of regal arrogence, his arms draped at his sides with a languid grasp. Raiseing her eyes to his meet his own Hitomi felt her breath catch in her throat. The eyes rivieted an ageless knowlage and seemed to pull her in with the promise she would never truely rise agine. His pallid face was perfect with its angular econmy of expression. Glittering skin stretched easly over high cheekbones like knives, eyebrows arched in vicouse slashes of a narrow nose, a sensual line to the generouse mouth; curved in a smirk over cruely poited teeth. Luminously white golden hair flowing heedlessly over his shoulders in a wildly spikey hide, like some sort of preditoral ego reminder. And those eyes...so brillant and hard....one such a deep blue the other a flowing hazel. He was a savage beauty of a man, his every expression never giveing way to what he thought.

"Who are you?"Hitomi brethed the question, instently berating herself for her breathlessness. He was the one who had attacked her after all.

He smirked slightly, the simple gesture perfect on his face,"I have many names. Though perhapes only this one concernes you, my lovely lady. You may call me Jaden."

"What do you want."

"I want to fullfill your ever dream. I want to take you to the world you've desired for so long."

A cynical expression toke Hitomi's features as she raised an eyebrow,"I doubt that...Jaden. Nothing in this world or the other one comes with out a price. I'm not so simple as to take that which is put infront of me."Hitomi pushed as much spit-fire anger and resistance in her words as possible.

Kami-sama she felt so weak...she wanted only to fall to her knees, close her eyes and wake up to find that Gaea and everything in it was a dream. She wanted....her sword. Something to defend herself with. Jaden chuckled suddenly.

"You wish to fight me, my lady? Then allow me to fulfill your wish."

Hitomi had barely recovered from her shock and anger that he had read her mind when her sworld appeared out of thin air infront of her, hovering deftly in the air. Her hand closed on the hilt and Hitomi closed her eytes slightly as she faced her enemy, conjering up all the power she could to aid her in this battle.

She coudn't wait for him to make the first move, she needed every offensive edge she could get. And for some reason she felt that he knew what she was going to do before she di it. Curseing under her breath Hitomi charged. He didn't bother to move, and secouds before her sword would have buried its way into his fleash he disspeared compleatly.

His laughter surrounded her compleatly. Focuseing her mind Hitomi tried to use her mind to find him. There was no time for suddenly he was there to her right and savaglely grabbed her wrist and wrenched the sword from her grasp. The sickening sound of bone crackeing reached her ears and painfully HItomi cried out. Jaden turned to face her and struck her in the chest, muttering under his breath. Myriads of crystal shards, razorsharp, hit her from all sides and she was saveagely hurled backward into a tree.

The shock of pain was so great that as her body hit she couldn't even cry out. The crysal shards nailed her to the tree, peirceing the tender flesh of her left flank, shoulder, and the hand that hadn't been broken. A shiver raced throug Hitomi's flesh. So cold, she felt so very cold. The pain seemed distant also....almost like the cold was keeping it at bay.

Woodenly Hitomi watched as Jaden walked toard her. The sound of his footsteps seemed wrong in some way. Forceing her to focuse on what was before her.

He gently ran a tender velvote gloved hand down her cheek, traceing the line of her jaw."It is useless to fight me, my lovely Hitomi. Now, join me and stand by my side. Give me the power that lurks in every fiber of your being. And I will protect you from the others that will soon come. You will not fear nor want for anything, if you accept me, my lovely lady."

Her thoughts were muddled and scattered as she tried to force her parched tounge into speach,"Why...why would you really bother?"

Jaden smiled suddenly, fondly,"Becouse you are mine."

"Why?"

"You are special, lady Hitomi. You are my special prey, the only one I choose for myself. For no true reason you are mine. Now and for an eternity.:

Emotions of hunger and possiveness crashed in on Hitomi as she vicousely fought to keep them at bay. Trying to barr them from reaching her soul where she knew they would lurk for an eternity if they touched.

"There is no protection from me, My lady Hitomi. You should know that by now."

So easily he crashed through her barriors and swiftly he kissed her tear stained lips lingerly. Tasting. Devorering. Hunger. Desire. Amusement. They were one and the same in the momment. Pulling away he stared into Hitomi's eyes, seemeing to see beyound the deep orbs into her soul itself. Reordering it to fitt his own will.

She could see him and only him. That was all that mattered. For an instant he was her entire world.

"Now my lady, will you join me?"

He was filling her world, he was all that mattered in this momment.

With that she opened her mouth to respond..............

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

General Dilandau Albatou walked aimlessly through the gardens. A single smirk lighting his lips as he walked. He felt slightly foolish he hadn't relized it sooner who she was. Now that he knew he could see all the simmularitys, everything that they had in commen that drove him mad that he hadn't seen it sooner.

At any rate, he knew now so it was going to be a rather amuseing game to tease her into revaling herself. But why return now after five long years? It didn't make any sense. Why would she return suddenly after five years then particpate in the Fried Tournmanet? What reason would she have to come out of hideing after so long?

It was obviouse now that Chid knew who she was. Saying she was a long time friend of his from the Mystic Lands. Gods, looking back he couldn't belive the'd used such a story. It was barely even plausible. Despite the weak-story they used, Dilandau was farely certine Chid was the only one that knew of Hitomi's return, other then him that is.

From the way Fanel had acted toward her, he was fairly certine he had yet to figure out that she was the girl from the Mystic Moon that had 'abanandened' him all those years ago in the middle of the Destiny Wars. Ah, Fate definelty had a twisted since of humer. Dropping the girl right in the center of Zeibock activeties when they had searched so fervently for her before.

His smirk widened as he relized Shezar probably didn't know about Hitomi either. Oh...the sparks were really going to fly when he figured it out. If he figured it out that is. If he got away from the mirror for 3 secoudes.

Snickering slightly at his own thoughts the young General leaned agenst one of the trees. Abruptly he felt himself stiffen at the pained cry that erupted into the still night air. His hand falling to the hilt of his sword Dilandau made his way toward where he'd heard the stricken cry. What he saw made him stop in his tracks.

Hitomi was nailed to a tree by shards of what looked like crystal shards, blood ran down her nightgown and over her ungaurded flesh. Her sword lay not to far away, but she obviousely couldn't move to get it. The man in front of her whispered something too low for him to her, but he didn't like the way she stared so blankely forwad. As though she didn't really know what was going on before her. Like she couldn't even feel the pain of the wounds in her flank and hand.

The figure kissed her fully but she didn't even respond. No expression of anger or anything crossed her face. Hitomiopened her mouth to speak but Dilandau had already decided he'd seen enough. Hitomi was -his- prey damnit! And he wasn't letting any velvote-dressed guy that didn't even carry a sword try and move in on -his- terroritory.

"I suggest you back away from my woman before my sword finds its way into your backside."he growled, stepping fully into the moonlight courtyard.

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

Hitomi felt her heart nearly stop as she saw the silver-haired god step into the clearing. Like an avengeing angel he stood, his hand resting purposely on his sword. In an instent the spell that had fallen over her seemed to vanish and the pain of her wounds loudly made itself known. A chilling wind made its way across the clearing as Jaden sneered angrily.

Not bothering to move he slowly faded away into mist.

His breath was suddenly hot on her ear,"I'll be back, my lovely lady Hitomi."he whispered before fadeing away entirely.

Hitomi sagged agenst the tears, trying her valent best to hold back the tears she felt comeing forward. Dilandau rushed over to her, deep ruby eyes catererizeing her wounds quickly. With no expression he yanked out the crystal shards from her flank, hand, and shoulder. Closeing her eyes Hitomi tried to hold in the pain. Her mind was swam with agony and anger...and so many other emoitns too deep to be fully defined.

Warm, strong arms lifted her up effortlessly. Barely straining from her weight. It was hard to stay awake suddenly, and the last thing Hitomi knew was a sudden feeling of saftey and warmth before the darkness toke seige of her mind forceing her into a dreamless slumber.















A.n.-Well, what did you all think? I hope ya'all liked the chap. And for those of you who think that Dilandau-sama found out about Hitomi too fast, if you think about it it is kinda obviouse who she is. I mean, Dilly-sama's not exactly stupid ya know. And as for the fight scean between them, I know ya'all probably wanted her to win the duel but think about it. Dilly-sama does have much more experence then her. And also, I'm sorry if I made her seem a little weak dureing the part with Jaden....it just sorta happened. Anyway, don't forget to review