The Next Generation 17
Magicman: Last time Dilandau and Hitomi escaped from the Destiny with the help of Setto and Sabrina. But when Veers showed up Dilandau took his daughter hostage and threatened her death if he didn't let them go. Furious, Veers puts into motion a plan. What is this plan you ask? Find out on Escaflowne!
Dilandau-with-a-cowboy-hat: Music provided by yours truly!
"Ooh, how about this?"
"I think it's too expensive. You'd look better in that dress."
"But that dress makes me look fat!"
"What about this thing? It looks interesting."
"So interesting to the point that none of us knows what it is?"
"Good point."
The sounds of happy women on a shopping spree echoed through the nearly empty streets of Palas. The cat girl trio had joined forces with Yukari, with Mark being dragged along for the ride, in plundering the remaining merchants of their best sales. (His skill in haggling might have explained Mark's involvement in something that otherwise had nothing to do with him).
Yukari was looking through a set of earrings to add to her already impressive collection when she casually glanced over at a rather run down looking shop. Curious, she glanced over to her boyfriend whom Naria had commandeered and without a second thought walked over to the shop. Opening the door, she stepped insde.
The sudden change from bright sun to dim lamplight left her blinking for a minute. When she could see, she found herself looking at a short, ugly little man. What little hair he had left was white and he hobbled around the shop with a cane. Still, he smiled up at her from behind his dark glasses with particular delight.
"Miss Kanzaki!" the little man said. "How nice it is to see you again!"
Yukari frowned. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met."
The man shook his head. "I can't suppose I blame you. The last time I saw you was twelve years ago. You were a feisty tyke. Nearly bit my finger off, you did."
Yukari's eyes widened in recognition. Short, old, and incredibly ugly. "Mr Mole!" Bending down, she gave the old hustler a hug that lifted him clear off the ground. "It's so good to see you again!" When she finally let him down, he spent the next minute catching his breath.
While he was trying to breathe, Yukari started talking.
"Where have you been all this time? I always thought you were wandering Gaea. You could have stopped by Varkas on occasion. Do you still have that old sack you used to keep stuff in? Remember that time when Setto dropped a frog in there? What did you find in all these years?"
Mr. Mole raised a wizened hand and laughed. "All these years I've been right here. Princess Millerna, queen Millerna now, paid for my shop. I'd have visited you more often but there are always merchants trying to get their hooks on my shop." He shook his head. "I can't be gone for so much as a day without a hostile take over or two. Yes I still have the old sack. I even have the frog. What's left of him anyway. He makes a nice paperweight. As for what I've collected in my forty two years of roaming Gaea" he swept a hand around the small shop, "Take a look for yourself."
Yukari shook her head. "No, I couldn't I wouldn't want to disturb you from your work."
Mr. Mole laughed. "I don't get much business these days. Trust me, it won't be a bother. And if you look hard enough, you might just find something you like." With a wink, he hobbled to a back room and busied himself with sorting out stuff.
Yukari frowned. What did he mean 'something you like'? She looked at the mismatched articles adorning the shelves of the small shop. It didn't look like anything useful would be there. Still it couldn't hurt to look.
Curious, Yukari started sifting through the various collections of junk. She found nothing of value. Only broken pots, battered shields, tarnished rings and the like adorned the shop. Still she continued. The more she looked, the more determined and curious she was to find something. Almost as if something was calling her from beneath the dusty piles.
Finally she came to the last item in Mr. Mole's store. A stone box, weather beaten and chipped, it looked like it had been thrown off a cliff into a raging stream then forgotten about for half a century.
"Much longer than that my dear."
Yukari blinked at the old mole. She didn't think she'd spoken aloud.
He leaned on his cane, watching her intently. "Aren't yah going to open it?"
Slowly, Yukari fumbled with the latch and lifted the lid. She stared dully at what was inside. Mr. Mole leaned forward to see. "Ah yes" he said, "That is my prize find. It took twenty years but I found it."
"What is it?"
"What's it look like? It's a mirror."
A mirror carved out of energist to be exact.
The size of an ordinary hand mirror, it was all one piece of intricately carved blue energist. As smooth as silk, the piece looked brand new, let alone lying in a box for decades. The reflecting part was no glass that Yukari had ever seen. It was a part of the mirror so polished as to reflect an image.
It seemed to fit into Yukari's hand, as if it had been made only for her. She had seen her mother's pendant before and this mirror seemed to reflect (A/N: no pun intended) the same sort of power and mystery.
"I came across it thirty years ago." the mole said proudly. "The guy I got it from said it was ancient Atlantean."
Yukari wasn't paying attention, because she had looked into the mirror.
And was sucked inside.
***
.Van and Millerna sat down at the banquet table side by side. Van's face was red as the others laughed at him. "Oh come on sweety!" Millerna gushed. "Don't you like pink?"
"Only when I'm not wearing it."
***
.A familiar dark robed figure stood chanting, his hands waving slowly over the ground. The ground rippled and waved at Kasar's command.
And then the dust and sand rose of to form humanoid figures. Black clothing appeared, covering them, and swords materialised in their hands.
***
.A brilliant light flashed over a prosperous town. When the light cleared, all that was left were the remains of buildings, all within a crater.
***
Yukari blinked and gasped for breath. It seemed like an eternity since she'd last drawn breath.
"She's coming around." A voice overhead was talking urgently. "'Kari! 'Kari, are you okay?"
"Mark?"
Yukari's boyfriend hugged her fiercely. "Geez, you nearly scared me to death! What the hell happened?!"
Yukari shook her head, dizzy. "I don't know. It was almost like.a dream."
Mark stared. "A dream?"
"Yeah. I could see all sorts of people and things. I don't know, maybe-"
Mark cut her off. "-Maybe I should take you to the hospital if you don't really know what happened."
"No that's alright. I don't need some dumb hospital, I need to get back to shopping. What'd I miss?"
Mark would not be distracted. "You're going to the hospital."
"No, I'm going shopping."
The boy sighed and pulled at his hair. "You need medical attention!"
"I need to do something fun! Most of these stores have closing sales and I'm not missing them!"
"Yukari, I'm not going to win many arguments with you, but I am going to win this one. Come to the hospital please?"
Mark's girlfriend folded her arms across her chest and sat down stubbornly. "Not a chance!"
"Very well. You leave me no choice." Unceremoniously, Mark scooped up his girlfriend and tossed her over his shoulder. He proceeded to carry her, kicking and screaming, from the shop and to the hospital.
The forgotten Mr. Mole scooped up the mirror, placed it in the box, picked up the box, and followed them.
***
Eriya looked up from the book she was flipping through and suddenly frowned. Naria was over by the jewellery, admiring herself in a mirror. She snorted. Her sister could be so vain.
Merle was trying on pretty dresses; probably deciding which one would catch Guimel's eye. Eriya could have told her she was wasting her time. Guimel would jump out of his socks no matter what Merle wore.
That left them short two people.
Scratching her halved ear, Eriya spoke up. "Where's Yukari and Mark?"
Naria didn't even look up. "They're probably off trying to steal each other's clothes with their teeth."
"Yeah, lighten up Eriya. You worry too much. Maybe you should get drunk more often." Merle swirled in a pretty blue gown as she said this.
Eriya frowned lightly before shrugging it off. Maybe she did need to get drunk more often.
***
The flight to Palas was silent for the most part.
Dilandau was too busy plotting what he was going to do to Veers when he caught up with him again, Hitomi was not about to start a conversation with such tension in the air (she didn't want to get yelled at), and Setto was obviously in no mood to talk. He wore a blank expressionless face as he flew the ship on manual, ignoring all suggestions that he set in a course.
The reason for this silence was lying unconscious in the rear of the cabin. Sabrina still had not woken up but when she did she would have a large bump on her head.
And so, the group of people went on their merry way, following the policy of 'Silence is Golden'.
However, when they reached the outskirts of Asturia, this policy became moot because Sabrina woke up.
The girl's moan was the first noise to be sounded for two hours. Slowly, she pushed herself up on one hand. With the other she felt her head and hissed in pain. Finally, she made it to her feet and looked around. Hitomi glanced back and saw she was awake before returning to staring out the window. Setto couldn't look away because he was flying the ship, but he smiled just the same. Dilandau didn't even seem to notice, so lost in thoughts of fire was he.
With a low growl, Sabrina Veers stalked toward the older pyro and spun his rotating seat around to face her. Dilandau blinked in astonishment but before he could register her presence she slapped him in the face, sending his chair spinning again.
"YOU ARROGANT PRICK!" she screamed. "YOU CRAP FUCKING, SHIT SUCKING, ASS FACED BASTARD!"
Dilandau's temper flared at being struck by some girl. He was about to jump to his feet when she punched him again, setting the chair a spinning once more.
Tears of hot rage and grief squirted from Sabrina's face as she vented her feelings at the target of her anger. "I can't believe that Setto is your son! He's always so nice and understanding, while you.you're a complete maniac!" She sent Dilandau spinning again and he reflected on how he was going to bolt this chair in place.
"Was it spite?" she hissed. "Was that why you broke my father's heart? Oh I understand!" she raised her voice, interrupting Dilandau's words. "You did it because he's the ENEMY! He's on another side so he can't be trusted! What kind of crap do you believe about him? That he kills for pleasure? That he hates everything living? That he's a vicious monster that drinks the blood of his victims?! Well I've exactly the same rumours about YOU Mister Dilandau Albatou, Zaibach's killer! Are they true? Answer me!" She pounded on Dilandau's seat again. By this point he was extremely dizzy and unable to answer. Sabrina sighed.
"I don't know what you think Albatou, but for your information he's a wonderful man. Before he took over Basram was dead! The armies were decimated! Crops were burned! Thousands of people had lost their homes and were forced out into the cold, just as winter set in! Deserters and bandits butchered them. The threat of the energist bomb was the only thing that kept us safe from invasion! My father changed all that. He turned that pathetic little junkyard of festering crime and depredation and built it into a world power in just twenty years." She thrust a finger an inch away from Dilandau's nose.
"Now I may not know everything my father does Albatou, but I do know one thing." She hissed. "He never forgets to pay his debts, and you owe him big time. You. Are. Dead".
Sabrina whirled and stormed from the cockpit, slamming the door on her way.
Silence reigned in the cockpit for several more minutes.
Finally Dilandau spoke. "What's her problem?"
Setto yanked violently on the controls, nearly sending the ship into large tree and rolling everyone in the cockpit except for him off their feet. He stood up and Hitomi grabbed the controls while he stalked towards his father. His face was calm but his eyes held a cold look.
"Dad" he began slowly, "You know I love you. I understand most things you say and do better than most other people. But that last sentence was the stupidest thing you've ever said."
"What?" Dilandau was shocked.
"You heard me. I can understand why you hate General Veers so much, I can understand why you did those terrible things for Zaibach, and I can even understand why you took Sabrina with us when she wanted to stay. But I can't understand why you're so uncaring to her current condition."
"She's the daughter of the enemy! Why should I care about her?"
"Exactly. She's not your enemy! Her father is!"
"That's the same thing."
"It's completely different!" Setto's temper was starting to get the better of him and his voice rose. "What has she done to you? Nothing! How could she be your enemy if she barely knows you? I'll tell you how! Your pride and your prejudice, that's how! You knew her father was against you so you immediately dumped her in the list of enemies!"
"I'll tell you what she is father! She's a sweet innocent girl who's barely been out in the real world for a week! Everywhere she went guards followed her, keeping her from harm..and keeping her from living! And all of a sudden, you" Setto jabbed a finger at his stunned father, "You drag her away from everything and person she knew and found familiar! Is that the sort of gratitude you extend to people? Is that how you repay your debts?!"
"I don't owe her anything!"
"Oh but you DO!" Setto was screaming by now. "She got me aboard the Destiny, she led me down to your cells, she distracted the guards, she unlocked your manacles, and SHE led you to safety! That's why you owe her, and instead of paying her back gratuitously she whacked her on the head and dragged her into a situation she doesn't want! Does any of this jog your senses?!"
".."
"No? Well think about it the next time drag some innocent bystander into your bid for revenge!" His fury spent, Setto left the room silently and without a backward glance.
Dilandau stared at the door as he slowly got up off the floor. He heard a tutting sound behind him and turned to see Hitomi putting the controls on automatic. Then she turned and started to leave the room. Stopping at the door she turned back to her husband.
"Think about how I must have felt when I was captured by Allen." Then she left the room.
Dilandau stood alone with his thoughts. They were a jumbled mess. Finally one came to the surface.
"I've been a complete jackass."
***
Sabrina stalked through the hallway blindly. She had no idea where she was going. And quite frankly she didn't care. Her anger had expended itself and all she felt now was miserable. Finally she stopped moving and blinked a few times. Somehow she had arrived in a bedroom. Not stopping to think, she flung herself down upon it and cried.
She was mostly finished when she felt a hand ruffle her hair gently. Looking up she found herself staring into bright green eyes.
"Hey" Setto said. "Are you alright?"
Wiping a hand across her tear-streaked face Sabrina nodded. "I guess so."
Setto nodded. "You know, I understand how you're feeling", he said. "Remember how I felt when I lost my parents?"
Sabrina giggled at the memory. "You were so drunk you called yourself Shirley!"
Setto smirked slightly. "That's the spirit. Laughter makes the sadness go away."
"Who said that?"
"Me. Weren't you listening?"
Sabrina rolled her eyes. "Look, Setto, I'm sorry but I'm not going to suddenly just cheer up. It's my fault this happened to father in the first place! If I hadn't let your father loose-"
"-Then I'd still be as miserable as you are." He tilted Sabrina's face upward to look into her eyes. "Remember what I said that day at the shrine?"
Sabrina slowly nodded. "Don't blame yourself for what God does." She sighed. "Setto am I being an idiot, blaming myself for doing what's right, simply because it had consequences?"
Setto smirked even more. "If you are, you're a smart idiot for realising it!"
"Oh Setto". Setto was shocked when Sabrina suddenly flung her arms around him. "Thanks for being here for me."
Awkwardly, the young man managed to pat her back a couple of times. "It's okay. I'll be around for some time to come."
Magicman: o_0 So much swearing. I guess that's the reason behind the pg-13 rating, eh? Well that's this chapter. Join us next time.on Escaflowne!
Dilandau-with-a-cowboy-hat: And always review!
Magicman: Last time Dilandau and Hitomi escaped from the Destiny with the help of Setto and Sabrina. But when Veers showed up Dilandau took his daughter hostage and threatened her death if he didn't let them go. Furious, Veers puts into motion a plan. What is this plan you ask? Find out on Escaflowne!
Dilandau-with-a-cowboy-hat: Music provided by yours truly!
"Ooh, how about this?"
"I think it's too expensive. You'd look better in that dress."
"But that dress makes me look fat!"
"What about this thing? It looks interesting."
"So interesting to the point that none of us knows what it is?"
"Good point."
The sounds of happy women on a shopping spree echoed through the nearly empty streets of Palas. The cat girl trio had joined forces with Yukari, with Mark being dragged along for the ride, in plundering the remaining merchants of their best sales. (His skill in haggling might have explained Mark's involvement in something that otherwise had nothing to do with him).
Yukari was looking through a set of earrings to add to her already impressive collection when she casually glanced over at a rather run down looking shop. Curious, she glanced over to her boyfriend whom Naria had commandeered and without a second thought walked over to the shop. Opening the door, she stepped insde.
The sudden change from bright sun to dim lamplight left her blinking for a minute. When she could see, she found herself looking at a short, ugly little man. What little hair he had left was white and he hobbled around the shop with a cane. Still, he smiled up at her from behind his dark glasses with particular delight.
"Miss Kanzaki!" the little man said. "How nice it is to see you again!"
Yukari frowned. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met."
The man shook his head. "I can't suppose I blame you. The last time I saw you was twelve years ago. You were a feisty tyke. Nearly bit my finger off, you did."
Yukari's eyes widened in recognition. Short, old, and incredibly ugly. "Mr Mole!" Bending down, she gave the old hustler a hug that lifted him clear off the ground. "It's so good to see you again!" When she finally let him down, he spent the next minute catching his breath.
While he was trying to breathe, Yukari started talking.
"Where have you been all this time? I always thought you were wandering Gaea. You could have stopped by Varkas on occasion. Do you still have that old sack you used to keep stuff in? Remember that time when Setto dropped a frog in there? What did you find in all these years?"
Mr. Mole raised a wizened hand and laughed. "All these years I've been right here. Princess Millerna, queen Millerna now, paid for my shop. I'd have visited you more often but there are always merchants trying to get their hooks on my shop." He shook his head. "I can't be gone for so much as a day without a hostile take over or two. Yes I still have the old sack. I even have the frog. What's left of him anyway. He makes a nice paperweight. As for what I've collected in my forty two years of roaming Gaea" he swept a hand around the small shop, "Take a look for yourself."
Yukari shook her head. "No, I couldn't I wouldn't want to disturb you from your work."
Mr. Mole laughed. "I don't get much business these days. Trust me, it won't be a bother. And if you look hard enough, you might just find something you like." With a wink, he hobbled to a back room and busied himself with sorting out stuff.
Yukari frowned. What did he mean 'something you like'? She looked at the mismatched articles adorning the shelves of the small shop. It didn't look like anything useful would be there. Still it couldn't hurt to look.
Curious, Yukari started sifting through the various collections of junk. She found nothing of value. Only broken pots, battered shields, tarnished rings and the like adorned the shop. Still she continued. The more she looked, the more determined and curious she was to find something. Almost as if something was calling her from beneath the dusty piles.
Finally she came to the last item in Mr. Mole's store. A stone box, weather beaten and chipped, it looked like it had been thrown off a cliff into a raging stream then forgotten about for half a century.
"Much longer than that my dear."
Yukari blinked at the old mole. She didn't think she'd spoken aloud.
He leaned on his cane, watching her intently. "Aren't yah going to open it?"
Slowly, Yukari fumbled with the latch and lifted the lid. She stared dully at what was inside. Mr. Mole leaned forward to see. "Ah yes" he said, "That is my prize find. It took twenty years but I found it."
"What is it?"
"What's it look like? It's a mirror."
A mirror carved out of energist to be exact.
The size of an ordinary hand mirror, it was all one piece of intricately carved blue energist. As smooth as silk, the piece looked brand new, let alone lying in a box for decades. The reflecting part was no glass that Yukari had ever seen. It was a part of the mirror so polished as to reflect an image.
It seemed to fit into Yukari's hand, as if it had been made only for her. She had seen her mother's pendant before and this mirror seemed to reflect (A/N: no pun intended) the same sort of power and mystery.
"I came across it thirty years ago." the mole said proudly. "The guy I got it from said it was ancient Atlantean."
Yukari wasn't paying attention, because she had looked into the mirror.
And was sucked inside.
***
.Van and Millerna sat down at the banquet table side by side. Van's face was red as the others laughed at him. "Oh come on sweety!" Millerna gushed. "Don't you like pink?"
"Only when I'm not wearing it."
***
.A familiar dark robed figure stood chanting, his hands waving slowly over the ground. The ground rippled and waved at Kasar's command.
And then the dust and sand rose of to form humanoid figures. Black clothing appeared, covering them, and swords materialised in their hands.
***
.A brilliant light flashed over a prosperous town. When the light cleared, all that was left were the remains of buildings, all within a crater.
***
Yukari blinked and gasped for breath. It seemed like an eternity since she'd last drawn breath.
"She's coming around." A voice overhead was talking urgently. "'Kari! 'Kari, are you okay?"
"Mark?"
Yukari's boyfriend hugged her fiercely. "Geez, you nearly scared me to death! What the hell happened?!"
Yukari shook her head, dizzy. "I don't know. It was almost like.a dream."
Mark stared. "A dream?"
"Yeah. I could see all sorts of people and things. I don't know, maybe-"
Mark cut her off. "-Maybe I should take you to the hospital if you don't really know what happened."
"No that's alright. I don't need some dumb hospital, I need to get back to shopping. What'd I miss?"
Mark would not be distracted. "You're going to the hospital."
"No, I'm going shopping."
The boy sighed and pulled at his hair. "You need medical attention!"
"I need to do something fun! Most of these stores have closing sales and I'm not missing them!"
"Yukari, I'm not going to win many arguments with you, but I am going to win this one. Come to the hospital please?"
Mark's girlfriend folded her arms across her chest and sat down stubbornly. "Not a chance!"
"Very well. You leave me no choice." Unceremoniously, Mark scooped up his girlfriend and tossed her over his shoulder. He proceeded to carry her, kicking and screaming, from the shop and to the hospital.
The forgotten Mr. Mole scooped up the mirror, placed it in the box, picked up the box, and followed them.
***
Eriya looked up from the book she was flipping through and suddenly frowned. Naria was over by the jewellery, admiring herself in a mirror. She snorted. Her sister could be so vain.
Merle was trying on pretty dresses; probably deciding which one would catch Guimel's eye. Eriya could have told her she was wasting her time. Guimel would jump out of his socks no matter what Merle wore.
That left them short two people.
Scratching her halved ear, Eriya spoke up. "Where's Yukari and Mark?"
Naria didn't even look up. "They're probably off trying to steal each other's clothes with their teeth."
"Yeah, lighten up Eriya. You worry too much. Maybe you should get drunk more often." Merle swirled in a pretty blue gown as she said this.
Eriya frowned lightly before shrugging it off. Maybe she did need to get drunk more often.
***
The flight to Palas was silent for the most part.
Dilandau was too busy plotting what he was going to do to Veers when he caught up with him again, Hitomi was not about to start a conversation with such tension in the air (she didn't want to get yelled at), and Setto was obviously in no mood to talk. He wore a blank expressionless face as he flew the ship on manual, ignoring all suggestions that he set in a course.
The reason for this silence was lying unconscious in the rear of the cabin. Sabrina still had not woken up but when she did she would have a large bump on her head.
And so, the group of people went on their merry way, following the policy of 'Silence is Golden'.
However, when they reached the outskirts of Asturia, this policy became moot because Sabrina woke up.
The girl's moan was the first noise to be sounded for two hours. Slowly, she pushed herself up on one hand. With the other she felt her head and hissed in pain. Finally, she made it to her feet and looked around. Hitomi glanced back and saw she was awake before returning to staring out the window. Setto couldn't look away because he was flying the ship, but he smiled just the same. Dilandau didn't even seem to notice, so lost in thoughts of fire was he.
With a low growl, Sabrina Veers stalked toward the older pyro and spun his rotating seat around to face her. Dilandau blinked in astonishment but before he could register her presence she slapped him in the face, sending his chair spinning again.
"YOU ARROGANT PRICK!" she screamed. "YOU CRAP FUCKING, SHIT SUCKING, ASS FACED BASTARD!"
Dilandau's temper flared at being struck by some girl. He was about to jump to his feet when she punched him again, setting the chair a spinning once more.
Tears of hot rage and grief squirted from Sabrina's face as she vented her feelings at the target of her anger. "I can't believe that Setto is your son! He's always so nice and understanding, while you.you're a complete maniac!" She sent Dilandau spinning again and he reflected on how he was going to bolt this chair in place.
"Was it spite?" she hissed. "Was that why you broke my father's heart? Oh I understand!" she raised her voice, interrupting Dilandau's words. "You did it because he's the ENEMY! He's on another side so he can't be trusted! What kind of crap do you believe about him? That he kills for pleasure? That he hates everything living? That he's a vicious monster that drinks the blood of his victims?! Well I've exactly the same rumours about YOU Mister Dilandau Albatou, Zaibach's killer! Are they true? Answer me!" She pounded on Dilandau's seat again. By this point he was extremely dizzy and unable to answer. Sabrina sighed.
"I don't know what you think Albatou, but for your information he's a wonderful man. Before he took over Basram was dead! The armies were decimated! Crops were burned! Thousands of people had lost their homes and were forced out into the cold, just as winter set in! Deserters and bandits butchered them. The threat of the energist bomb was the only thing that kept us safe from invasion! My father changed all that. He turned that pathetic little junkyard of festering crime and depredation and built it into a world power in just twenty years." She thrust a finger an inch away from Dilandau's nose.
"Now I may not know everything my father does Albatou, but I do know one thing." She hissed. "He never forgets to pay his debts, and you owe him big time. You. Are. Dead".
Sabrina whirled and stormed from the cockpit, slamming the door on her way.
Silence reigned in the cockpit for several more minutes.
Finally Dilandau spoke. "What's her problem?"
Setto yanked violently on the controls, nearly sending the ship into large tree and rolling everyone in the cockpit except for him off their feet. He stood up and Hitomi grabbed the controls while he stalked towards his father. His face was calm but his eyes held a cold look.
"Dad" he began slowly, "You know I love you. I understand most things you say and do better than most other people. But that last sentence was the stupidest thing you've ever said."
"What?" Dilandau was shocked.
"You heard me. I can understand why you hate General Veers so much, I can understand why you did those terrible things for Zaibach, and I can even understand why you took Sabrina with us when she wanted to stay. But I can't understand why you're so uncaring to her current condition."
"She's the daughter of the enemy! Why should I care about her?"
"Exactly. She's not your enemy! Her father is!"
"That's the same thing."
"It's completely different!" Setto's temper was starting to get the better of him and his voice rose. "What has she done to you? Nothing! How could she be your enemy if she barely knows you? I'll tell you how! Your pride and your prejudice, that's how! You knew her father was against you so you immediately dumped her in the list of enemies!"
"I'll tell you what she is father! She's a sweet innocent girl who's barely been out in the real world for a week! Everywhere she went guards followed her, keeping her from harm..and keeping her from living! And all of a sudden, you" Setto jabbed a finger at his stunned father, "You drag her away from everything and person she knew and found familiar! Is that the sort of gratitude you extend to people? Is that how you repay your debts?!"
"I don't owe her anything!"
"Oh but you DO!" Setto was screaming by now. "She got me aboard the Destiny, she led me down to your cells, she distracted the guards, she unlocked your manacles, and SHE led you to safety! That's why you owe her, and instead of paying her back gratuitously she whacked her on the head and dragged her into a situation she doesn't want! Does any of this jog your senses?!"
".."
"No? Well think about it the next time drag some innocent bystander into your bid for revenge!" His fury spent, Setto left the room silently and without a backward glance.
Dilandau stared at the door as he slowly got up off the floor. He heard a tutting sound behind him and turned to see Hitomi putting the controls on automatic. Then she turned and started to leave the room. Stopping at the door she turned back to her husband.
"Think about how I must have felt when I was captured by Allen." Then she left the room.
Dilandau stood alone with his thoughts. They were a jumbled mess. Finally one came to the surface.
"I've been a complete jackass."
***
Sabrina stalked through the hallway blindly. She had no idea where she was going. And quite frankly she didn't care. Her anger had expended itself and all she felt now was miserable. Finally she stopped moving and blinked a few times. Somehow she had arrived in a bedroom. Not stopping to think, she flung herself down upon it and cried.
She was mostly finished when she felt a hand ruffle her hair gently. Looking up she found herself staring into bright green eyes.
"Hey" Setto said. "Are you alright?"
Wiping a hand across her tear-streaked face Sabrina nodded. "I guess so."
Setto nodded. "You know, I understand how you're feeling", he said. "Remember how I felt when I lost my parents?"
Sabrina giggled at the memory. "You were so drunk you called yourself Shirley!"
Setto smirked slightly. "That's the spirit. Laughter makes the sadness go away."
"Who said that?"
"Me. Weren't you listening?"
Sabrina rolled her eyes. "Look, Setto, I'm sorry but I'm not going to suddenly just cheer up. It's my fault this happened to father in the first place! If I hadn't let your father loose-"
"-Then I'd still be as miserable as you are." He tilted Sabrina's face upward to look into her eyes. "Remember what I said that day at the shrine?"
Sabrina slowly nodded. "Don't blame yourself for what God does." She sighed. "Setto am I being an idiot, blaming myself for doing what's right, simply because it had consequences?"
Setto smirked even more. "If you are, you're a smart idiot for realising it!"
"Oh Setto". Setto was shocked when Sabrina suddenly flung her arms around him. "Thanks for being here for me."
Awkwardly, the young man managed to pat her back a couple of times. "It's okay. I'll be around for some time to come."
Magicman: o_0 So much swearing. I guess that's the reason behind the pg-13 rating, eh? Well that's this chapter. Join us next time.on Escaflowne!
Dilandau-with-a-cowboy-hat: And always review!
