ACG: Don't you guys just love Harry Potter? Mmmm…it was so scrumptious! ^_^
Disclaimer: By…Vampire Hunter D! (I just watched the old ghetto movie made in the 80's…it's amazing that he was still hot even wearing that "Konan-ish" outfit! And I call Lefty! (D's talkative left hand, remember?) He's so cool! ) Mmm…I like Dhampires…
ACG: ^_^
D: T_T
ACG: I_I
D: T_T
ACG: v_v
D: T_T
ACG: O_o
D: T_T
ACG: "What are you staring at?!"
Lefty: "I think he likes you." *grinz*
D: "Silence, you." *stuffs poor Lefty in his cloak*
ACG: O_o "Whaaaat?"
D: "No, you do not own The Vision of Escaflowne."
ACG: "I didn't even ask…"
D: *walks off*
ACG: *sniffs* "How come he doesn't TALK to people? Oh, well. On with the story…I guess…" *sniffle*
Second Destiny By Another Cat Girl
Chapter 18
"You…why are you here? How did you get here?" Hitomi's eyes were wide. "Is Van here, too?!"
Folken shook his head. "Van is not with us."
Dilandau stood up and brushed himself off, staring moodily at the Dragonslayers, who were scrambling to kneel in front of the Wing Goddess.
"And here I thought we agreed not to do anything silly," he said angrily.
Shesta looked up at him. "She is the Wing Goddess, Lord Dilandau. She was the one who gave us a second chance, remember sir?"
Dilandau sullenly turned to Folken, who gave him a disapproving look and said, "Give the lady a hand. You knocked her over."
"What?" Dilandau glanced back at Hitomi, who was still sitting stunned on the ground. He thought nastily, Oh, great! Kneel to the beloved Wing Goddess! Help her up because she can't possibly do it on her own! She was the one who tripped on me!
He strode over and jerked Hitomi to her feet. He was slightly startled when she shrank back from him like she was afraid of him.
"I know you! You were the one that…that killed all of those people!" She pointed an accusing finger at him.
"What are you talking about?" Dilandau folded his arms.
"At Fanalia! You were the madman in the red guy meluf!"
"It's called war, Hitomi Kanzaki!" Dilandau sneered and spat her name as if it tasted bad.
"He's right, Hitomi. I ordered him to attack Fanalia. He's just a soldier, " Folken said like he was ashamed of that particular memory above all others.
"That's no excuse! And why are you guys here?!" She was becoming hysterical. She always thought that Van would come for her, not her old enemies. Hitomi trusted Folken, but she despised the thought of Dilandau and she guessed that the people kneeling behind him were his subordinates.
Celena had been staring in shock at the huge bleachers and the city buildings of Tokyo in the distance. She looked dazedly from Folken to Hitomi and Dilandau and shook her head in disbelief, partly because of the immodesty of Hitomi's running shorts. Folken put his hand on her arm to steady her.
Amano and Yukari ran up and stared at the newcomers. "Hitomi…what is this? Who are these people?" Yukari said hysterically.
"We're here to take you back to Gaia," Folken said.
"This isn't real, Yukari. Don't pay any attention to this." Hitomi felt as if she were going to faint.
Yukari felt as if she were going to have a fit.
"Where's Gaia!? Who are you supposed to be!" Amano asked and struck out wildly at Folken.
Dilandau stepped in front of the emperor and drew his katana, pointing it at the track star's throat. "Shut up. You know, you sound exactly like a man that I hate named Allen Schezar. Don't make another stupid move like that one."
(A.N. Even though Dilandau and Folken kind of don't agree on things, it is still Dilandau's job to physically protect Folken in this situation. Which explains… stuff. And also, he wouldn't give up a chance to pick a fight with girly, Allen-ish Amano…be honest, could you?)
"Stop it!" Hitomi screamed and covered her mouth.
Folken looked at Hitomi and saw his chances of convincing her to come with them dwindle. "Put your sword away, Dilandau! It isn't necessary here!" Folken said in a harsh tone.
"I'll be the judge of that, Folken!" Dilandau snapped, annoyed at Folken's tone.
"Don't kill him, Dilandau," Celena said and tried to remain calm. Is he always like this?
Dilandau snorted. "Of course I'm not going to kill him. He's just a little too jumpy."
Amano stayed perfectly still as Dilandau removed the blade and sheathed it.
"Thanks, Dilandau," Celena said, and felt her heart start beating again.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Dilandau answered dismissively and turned his back on the others.
Hitomi stared at them both and then at Amano. "You people are unbelievable," she said, feeling faint.
Folken held up the pendant. "Van wanted me to show you this."
Hitomi stared at her grandmother's heritage in disbelief. "Why didn't he come himself?"
Folken's expression was unreadable. "He has his reasons."
She frowned at that, then asked, "Can I have it?"
He nodded and handed it to her. "Wish for us to be taken back to Zaibach."
"Wait! Hitomi! What are you doing! Who are these people!" Yukari screamed.
Hitomi looked at her sadly and took her duffle bag that Yukari had been holding. "I told you that this isn't real."
"Don't give me that! I can see these people with my own eyes, Hitomi!"
Hitomi smiled bitter sweetly. "Yes, but it might just be a dream."
"Where are you going? Are you going to disappear again?"
"Yukari, you are my best friend. Thank you. Please don't worry about me. Tell my family that I love them and I'll miss them." Hitomi nodded to Folken and closed her eyes. The pendant flashed pink and a cerulean pillar of light enveloped them.
"Hitomi…" Yukari watched sadly as her friend started to float upwards. "I'll miss you, too. Be safe, alright!?"
"Goodbye, Yukari," she whispered and wiped at the tears forming in her eyes.
"How sweet." Dilandau couldn't help but jibe at the touching scene.
"Shut up." Hitomi glared fiercely down at him.
Celena secretly thought that Dilandau had been acting really childish ever since he saw Hitomi, but she didn't comment about it because she wanted him to like her.
Folken was furious because Hitomi was more important than Dilandau in the scheme of things. He wondered briefly if there was a way to deal with Dilandau without offending Hitomi further. It was dreadfully important to Folken's future as emperor to make her join Zaibach and that meant every part of his plan had to run smoothly.
The Dragonslayers were slightly disappointed and felt like they hadn't needed to go.
Hitomi kept her eyes wide open to view her last of Earth. She felt certain somehow that she would never see it again. The Wing Goddess wished dearly that she could see her mother one last time. She would miss her home so much, but she had been desperately searching for a chance to return to Gaia and, even if it was with the wrong people, she wasn't about to give up that opportunity. And maybe she could return to visit sometimes, like Van was supposed to do for her.
"I'll see Van again." She smiled through her tears. Her feelings had hardened against him somewhat because he had stopped visiting her, but she was sure that she would be happy as soon as she saw him again.
The skyscrapers and buildings disappeared in a flash of bright light and she felt the familiar pull of the pendant's power turn her into light.
They rematerialized in the room where, years before, Folken had killed Dornkirk and had died himself, then was brought back to life by Hitomi's wish.
Of course she would bring us to this room. She hasn't been anywhere else in Zaibach. I'm surprised that she didn't wish to go to Fanalia, Folken thought as he glanced around. He had had the room closed off and kept the same as it had been on the last day of the Destiny War. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea. I should have the Destiny Prognostication Engine destroyed completely. There is always the possibility that someone could rebuild the thing.
He turned to his companions and put on a smile. "Ah, welcome to back to Gaia everyone."
"We didn't need to go with you, Folken," Dilandau said, growing angry.
"Of course you needed to come, Dilandau," Folken said smoothly. "I didn't know whether it would be dangerous or not, and you obviously had the fighting force with the most loyalty to each other. Groups can't travel between worlds unless they all know each other."
"Celena isn't a Dragonslayer, Folken," Dilandau said meanly.
"She has been a part of you for so long, Dilandau. I don't think you could have gone without her."
"And you would know so much about that because?! Don't talk about what you don't understand, Folken! We're leaving." He left and the Ryugekitai went after him, none of them speaking because what Folken had said had enraged Dilandau for some reason.
Folken turned to Celena and Hitomi. "I apologize for him. He is a bit high-strung."
Celena nodded tiredly and Hitomi frowned. "I remember him, and I wouldn't call him that exactly. More like 'psychotic.'"
"There's no better soldier," Folken answered smoothly. "Now, you'll be staying in Zaibach?"
Hitomi looked uncomfortable. "Uh, actually, I was hoping to see Van…"
"He's not in Zaibach, but he said he wanted to tell you something important at a ball taking place next week. Are you willing to wait until then?" Folken asked smoothly.
She nodded excitedly. "Of course, if he wants to see me then."
He smiled down at her. "Good, then we'll get out of here and find you a room by Celena's." Hitomi smiled happily up at Celena because she was very tall. Hitomi had met Celena just before she departed for the Mystic moon after the Destiny War and liked her, although she had felt slightly jealous of her graceful manner and looks.
"That would be wonderful!" Celena exclaimed.
The three silently left the darkened room that was filled with so many memories.
*~*~*~*~*
Millerna was miserably wrapped in a blue cloak in a carriage that was slowly making its way down the rain-streaked road. She stuck her head out the window hopefully to see if the rain looked like it was going to stop sometime soon. She sighed heavily and readjusted the cloak in a vain effort to become warmer.
Oh, I hate him! How could he be so thoughtless? she thought and rubbed her hands together.
After the incriminating confrontation with the young Duke Chid, Allen had not spoken a word to her. They both spent the night in Freid and they slept in separate bedrooms usual. Millerna couldn't sleep because she was so bothered by her failure, that she had traveled all the way to her nephew's duchy and didn't gain his support.
The next morning, Allen sent her a short note summoning her to the carriages that were waiting to take them to Asturia. She thought of ignoring the note, but then thought better of it; she didn't want to make a scene or make Allen think she was dangerous to him, because it could hamper her ability to move freely.
She had the maids pack her things and sullenly headed downstairs to the coaches. She stood in the rain for a long time before Allen decided to show up. He swept past her without a single glance toward a coach, then climbed in. Millerna was forced to look foolish and knock on her husband's door only to have the footman inform her that she was to travel in another coach. She was relieved that she didn't have to spend more time with her cheating husband, but she was furious that he had the nerve to just shove her aside like she wasn't his wife.
She walked to the elaborately decorated stagecoach that the man pointed out and almost had a heart attack. When the young queen stepped inside, she saw that the seats were merely hard wooden benches, and the curtains were thin, sad things that did anything but keep drafts and rain out.
Millerna turned to the footman, her anger kindling again, but he just ignored her and shut the door in her face.
So, I'm just a naughty little girl, am I? she stormed and rubbed her hands some more. How can he treat me like this! I'm the Queen of Asturia! He can't do this to me! I'll get a divorce, I swear it!
She looked glumly at her cold, unhappy maids and tried to think of a plan. She needed to get rid of Allen, but it would be difficult. He had overwhelming support from the military, and there would most likely be a coup if he was ever dethroned.
Millerna thought for a few more seconds, shivering. She herself was popular with the poor, because of the special care she took with them, but poor people were nothing compared to military support. The middle and upper classes mostly supported Allen and his ideas for invading Zaibach, so Millerna would have no powerful people to support her.
There has to be another way!
She punched the hard bench and felt pain rush through her fingers. She stared at the rings there, and had an idea.
*~*~*~*~*
By Ancient Atlantis, I hate deceiving those girls! Folken stormed inside his mind, not letting it show on his face. Are my goals even worth this?
He stopped walking slowly, because he really had no destination in mind. When he was making plans, he walked nowhere in particular. Now he was in a Zaibach public park. He had stopped by a tree and leaned against it.
Does any of it matter?
He held his hand up, which was still clutching Van' and Hitomi's pendant. He felt sorry that he had had it stolen from his brother, but wasn't the means worth the ends? Wouldn't everyone end up happy?
Maybe not. There are never guarantees…
"Forgive me, Hitomi. I hope you are content with this," he whispered. "If I don't go through with this, they might just kill you."
He thought for a minute, then nodded. "This is the only way, now. You'll have to be satisfied with your new fate…"
He didn't know who he was trying to reassure, so he kept walking and thinking. Folken was sure that he had all the variables in his plan covered, and yet…? There was something he had forgotten…
He smiled suddenly in understanding.
He had forgotten about Dilandau…
*~*~*~*~*
ACG: So…what is the idea that Folken has for Dilandau? When will any of the couples get together? What is Millerna's plan? Where's Dryden? Is Van really going to get married to one of those chicks? Actually, I don't even know the answers to some of these questions, so it would be good if you guys reviewed and told me what you think, especially you, Nihongo…you have good (and I mean 'quite lovely') ideas! Oh, everyone go and read Sand3's fics, because they are so cute! (Celena is much more cute and believable in her stories than in mine.)
H/D note: I don't think I've ever done anything so difficult as to put the REAL Hitomi and the REAL Dilandau together. They would hate each other! I've read other stories, but they always manage to change Hitomi's character into a fighting warrior princess. So, Hitomi really is scared of and despises Dilandau and he is annoyed at everything, really. So, it will be a real challenge to change their minds. I don't even know what Dilandau would DO in a relationship. He's a crazy psychopath…and he'd probably be abusive or something. oh, well. Challenges ARE challenging. Any ideas you wonderful people have would be welcome. Please?
Beloved Reviewers:
Nihongo: ^_^ Dr. Mortensen? Haha! Thank you, my friend! Oh, yeah, thanks for reminding me about test cutting… *scared sarcasm* I don't really like the idea of cutting stuff with a sword that I have to hold. And I have no money for mats either…This Shinkendo thing is really cutting into my nonexistent pocket change.
Sand3: Hey, thanks for reading, girl. Glad you like it! And I AM sorry for botching Allen's character so much…but it's more fun this way.
Bahamut Epyon: 'Just grand!' That was the coolest compliment I've ever heard! Thank you! I'm still beaming!
Macky: Hmmm…interesting ideas, there. Hey, should Van be good or bad? What do you think? Would that work? And I think that Van might not even get to see Hitomi again…maybe, maybe not. I've got to make her like Dilandau a little more before she sees Van again. This is difficult! Crap!.
Alicia: Miguel, eh? Yeah, he was incredibly hot, wasn't he? Thanks for reading, and I'll try to put more individual Dragonslayer parts in it!
Ryuko: Love your story, girl. Original and well-thought! Thank you, thank you! I can't believe you don't like movie Folken. The only thing not to like about him is the David Bowie-like hair, although that IS enough to loathe him…anyways. Shesta with Merle? Maybe, if you're good! See you! Love your reviews, cause they make me want to write more!
Feye Morgan: Nebulas and constellations? Yes!!!! *sticks them on her walls and ceiling* Your reviews make me blush, girl! Stop! I don't blush! Heh, I might just have Van and Dilandau meet each other just for you, okay? I can't really say it won't happen…
Anime Obsessed Raye: Dilandau kill Hitomi! Argh! Will you not stop! ^_^ Ah, but it is entertaining! Thanks…I guess… And I don't think anyone but Allen is going to die, so you get to decide who gets to kill him, okay? Just tell me in your next review!