ACG: Sorry it took me so long, because I wasn't 'into' computers for the past month, and then I remembered about my story. So I am sorry. Anyways, Macky mentioned something about the battle crap in the last chapter, and I forgot to disclaim it. I was reading some crazy book about Samurai battle tactics at my Shinkendo sensei's house and it came back to me as I was writing later. So…I don't really own it, cause it sounded a lot like it did in that book. It was called something like "The Secret Book of High Strategy" or something. *shrug* Also, when Dilandau told Folken that he hated him and Folken replied that he agreed, he meant that he didn't like himself, not Dilandau. Cause poor Folky's feelin' a little guilty. ;_;

Disclaimer: By…hmm…Legato Bluesummers. From Trigun, of course!

Legato: *stares with one hot yellow eye*

ACG: *scared*

Legato: *drawls with Kenshin's 'evil' voice* "Another Cat Girl. Your pitiful existence is going to end. Today."

ACG: O_O_o_O_o_O_o_O_O_o_O_o_o_O_o_O_O

Legato: …

ACG: @_@ "Uhmm...do I own Escaflowne, Mr. Bluesummers??"

Legato: *closes hot yellow eye in disdain* "Of course not."

ACG: *whimpers* "Please don't kill me, please?"

Legato: *slight smile*

ACG: "Umm…on with the chapter…?"

Second Destiny by Another Cat Girl

Chapter 20

Dilandau walked casually at the head of the large group consisting of Hitomi, Celena, and the Dragonslayers, who were 'escorting' the group of criminals rather roughly. He, as well as the rest of the Slayers, looked around for every possible threat of attack.

The crowds of people looked nervous as they passed. No one bothered the elite Dragonslayer unit under General Adelphous. It was rumored that they had come back from the lands of the dead to avenge the Zaibach soldiers who had died in the Destiny War. The rumor was only encouraged when people saw the boys, only eighteen years old, but having the eyes of much older adults. Eyes that had seen death. Some of the people took note of the strange white-haired man at the front of the fighting unit.

"Didn't he die?" they asked each other.

The wiser people shook their heads in reply. "You can't kill demons."

Celena looked around, seeing the distrustful faces of the Zaibach citizens. Are they afraid of the Dragonslayers? she wondered. Maybe they're just afraid of all military people, because I haven't seen the Slayers do anything to deserve this suspicion. Celena's mind turned back to her experience with the distrustful servants in Asturia and walked closer to Dilandau, understanding completely.

Hitomi's anger had dissipated, though she had the strange feeling that they weren't out of danger yet. So they've been following us the whole day? she thought. I suppose we were never in danger, then. The Wing Goddess moved her head to catch a glimpse of Dilandau and Celena and thought about the story that Celena had told her. They had been in one body for years and never knew it. That's so weird. And they don't seem to talk to each other very much.

Hitomi looked at the Ryuugekitai who walked beside her. She thought about the other Dragonslayers who had died in front of her when they fought Van. They protected Dilandau until the very end. They were very loyal.

Dalet noticed that Hitomi was staring at him and smiled at her. He looked pointedly to where Dilandau was and held a finger to his lips. Hitomi's eyebrow went up, and Shesta spoke quietly from her other side, "Whisper so that Lord Dilandau won't hear and think we need more disciplining."

Hitomi bit her lip to keep from giggling. It's like he's a mean dad or something! She nodded and saw that more Dragonslayers were moving closer so they could converse.

They all introduced themselves quickly. "So, you are the Wing Goddess," Miguel said. "Thank you for everything."

She brushed back her short brown hair, confused. "What did I do?"

Guimel, who she noticed had cute puffy blonde hair, said calmly, "You gave us second chances. We came back to life on that field because you wished for it."

"I did what?" she asked.

Shesta nodded emphatically. "It explains it. You wished for some people to have second chances during the Zone of Absolute Fortune. And since your wishes are very strong…"

"They came true?" she asked in unbelief. "You were the ones that died fighting Escaflowne?"

Gatti nodded, glancing back at her. "Yeah. I don't remember what happened after I died, though. Just that we all reappeared in that field where we fought the dragon."

"I thought that wish only worked for Folken," the short girl said softly, so Dilandau wouldn't hear. The white-haired general looked back at them suspiciously for a second. The Slayers looked around at everything but Hitomi and Shesta even started to whistle until Gatti kicked him. Dilandau's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but then Celena said something to him and he turned to utter a short reply. He began staring off in another direction and Celena turned slyly and winked.

Shesta waved and winked back at her.

"No, the wish worked for us, too. Or at least, that's what Folken thinks," Miguel said thoughtfully.

"What, you're not sure?" she asked incredulously.

Shesta waved his hand. "For all we know, your wish worked for thousands of people who needed second chances. Who can say?"

Hitomi thought about that for a minute while the Dragonslayers went to check on the prisoners, who were trudging behind them in chains. She looked back and saw Dalet poking one of the prisoners in the head and laughing. The prisoner snapped his teeth at the Slayer.

When Shesta returned she asked, "Why didn't everyone who died come back to life?"

He shrugged. "Maybe they didn't need a chance like us. Maybe they lived good lives?"

Viole smoothed his hair and nodded. "We really had a crummy existence, if you ask me. No partying at all with Dilandau-sama watching our backs all the time."

Dalet frowned sadly. "Hey, that still hasn't changed now that we're alive again! What's the big deal?"

Gatti hit him. "You'll party later!"

Dalet hit him back. "You always say that, but it never seems to happen!"

Shesta looked at Dilandau's back anxiously. "Shut up, guys, he's going to hear you!"

They all paused for a second and looked uncertainly at their general's back. Then Dalet said softly, "But I was born to party…"

Shesta growled, "He's gonna' kick you out of the Dragonslayers if you don't be quiet!"

Dalet muttered, "Yeah, then I would be a private, and I could go party!"

Hitomi laughed and shook her head at them, her jade eyes dancing. "You guys are so dumb!"

Guimel rubbed the side of his fluffy head. "'Dumb'?"

Hitomi wiped her watering eyes and couldn't stop laughing. "It means 'cool,' okay?"

Dalet looked at Gatti and Shesta angrily and snapped, "'Cool'? 'Dumb?' No one told me about these words! I can't learn any new lingo living like this!"

Dilandau turned abruptly and everyone stumbled to a halt. "What is the problem, Dalet!?" he asked harshly. His burgundy eyes were flashing in annoyance; Dalet was known for his strange complaints, and Dilandau was not the most patient person.

"Nothing, sir." Dalet's eyes were straight forward. Hitomi looked around, intimidated by Dilandau's influence on the nice Dragonslayers. All of them were expressionless and totally still.

Dilandau casually walked to Dalet, but there was a suppressed rage behind his movements that was obvious. He grabbed the front of Dalet's uniform and pulled him close. "I don't need to hear any crap out of you! From what I remember, you're not even a decent Dragonslayer, Dalet!"

"Forgive me, Lord Dilandau." Dalet stared through Dilandau's head because he couldn't bring himself to look at him.

Dilandau shoved him away. "And that goes for the rest of you! We're escorting criminals, so try to act like soldiers, you ingrates!"

They all bowed, murmuring "Yes, Lord Dilandau." Hitomi felt awkward because she was the only one Dilandau was facing that wasn't bowing and he was staring at her testily like she was the cause of all his problems. She tried to match him glare for glare but realized that she didn't have the nerve for it. Hitomi clutched her duffel bag closer.

Dilandau turned around and entered a door to a huge skyscraper in the very center of the city. They all followed quietly behind. The Ryuugekitai were much more subdued after Dilandau exploded and wouldn't supply more conversation.

They found themselves in a huge, magnificent hall with people walking everywhere. Dilandau moved to a desk in the middle of the room where a soldier sat reading a book. They conversed for a second and the soldier waved to the right. The large group followed Dilandau silently through doors and more luxurious rooms until they found themselves in a slightly smaller room that was somehow lovelier than the other, more opulent ones.

Folken looked up from the chess game he was staring at and seemed startled by the amount of people entering the room. "Dilandau? What is this?"

Dilandau put his hand on his hips and stared at the wall. "I thought you would want to know about how these idiots tried to attack us, Folken."

"Oh, really, Dilandau?" the emperor sat back and smiled exultantly. "Now do you see the importance of having the girls guarded?"

Dilandau acted like he never heard. He grasped one of the quiet thieves by the collar and pulled him forward. "Who hired you?" he demanded.

"No one! We just thought the dames looked rich, is all!" The poor criminal looked scared out of his mind.

"Whatever!" Dilandau threw him backward and glanced at Folken.

Folken shook his head. "I'm sure it was someone in Zaibach who is communicating with Asturia. I suppose anyone in power would want them on their side. They're a powerful trump card, a princess of Asturia and the fabled Wing Goddess."

"What do you want me to do with them, Folken?" Dilandau said, his eyes glinting maliciously at the criminals.

Folken just looked at Dilandau. "Don't torture them. Let them go."

Dilandau looked shocked. "What in Gaia do you mean, Folken?"

Folken started to set the chess pieces back to their starting positions. "Think about it. If we throw them in jail, then whoever hired them will have them killed somehow so their boss doesn't get named." He gestured with the king piece. "They probably won't tell us who hired them because they might not even know. Or maybe they didn't get paid until they see their employers again. No matter what, they're worthless to us."

The criminals blanched at the beginning of his statement, but then looked relieved and started to grin at each other happily.

"That's crazy, Folken," Dilandau said, then his tone became scornful. "You used to be a malicious person. Whatever happened to you?"

Folken shrugged. "And make sure they get a good meal before they go."

Dilandau started to leave with the others, and Folken said, "If you don't feed them, I'll know, Dilandau."

Dilandau shrugged and left, Hitomi and Celena following the Dragonslayers and their captives.

"Lady Celena?"

The white-haired girl turned back to the emperor slowly. "What?"

Folken smiled at her and Celena's stomach did a strange flip. "No one will play chess with me anymore. Would you play with me?"

Celena sat on the comfortable chair opposing him. "Why won't they play with you?"

Folken gestured at the chess board. "I always win."

She laughed, her eyes gleaming an intense cerulean. "Well, I'm pretty good at this game so you'd be prepared to lose, Folken-san."

Folken looked up, startled. Folken-san? No one's called me anything but 'sama' in a very long time…

Celena started the game and after a few moves looked up at him shyly. "I think it was good of you to feed those criminals."

Folken looked guiltily at his hands as he rubbed them together. "I'm afraid I wasn't being generous, my lady." He looked up at her suddenly. "Now I can have them followed to their hideout and find out for sure who their employer is. Any other way would have the possibility of them lying. They might die for failing, too. And even the food had a motive, to make them feel more secure. They're the kind of people who wouldn't feel suspicious with full stomachs."

Celena stared at him. "You have everything figured out, don't you?"

Folken shrugged helplessly and made another move. Celena was intimidated by how intelligent he was and cursed her own stupidity. She didn't know anything useful like he did. She felt useless for a moment and thought hatefully about Allen, who had bungled her education.

"It's your move, my lady," Folken said softly and she blushed at the maroon eyes gazing across at her. She looked at him and then at the board for a few moments before moving her queen.

"I never knew you were the emperor," she said slowly. "I guess everyone just assumed that I knew about it."

Folken brushed back some of his blue hair and looked alarmed. "Really? I assumed that you knew already." He moved a piece forward.

Celena felt like he was rubbing her ignorance in her face. "Well I didn't, Your Imperial Highness," she said a little stiffly.

Folken looked sharply at her. She looked as innocent to him as she had before, but her cheeks were pink. She must be angry at me or she wouldn't call me that. Where did the 'san' go?

She sighed. He just wouldn't let her be angry. "Then I should call you 'Emperor Folken'?"

"Please don't," he answered quickly.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not really the emperor. I'm just a figurehead ruler who would be killed if I ever overstep my bounds."

Celena let that sink in for a minute. "Then who are you?"

"Folken, my lady."

"No. My name is not 'my lady', it's Celena."

*~*~*

Hitomi stared at the back of Dilandau's neck, bored. The Dragonslayers still weren't talking and she didn't know where they were going now. They had already dropped the prisoners off at a eating area and Dilandau grudgingly paid for meals for them. Hitomi had been surprised; she had thought Dilandau would defy Folken and lock them in a dungeon.

She spoke loudly, tired of being quiet and unnerved, "Where are we going?"

Dilandau didn't glance back at her. "The Dragonslayers have proven that they still need more disciplining. We're going to train, if that's alright with you, Wing Goddess," He said the last very sarcastically and Hitomi didn't respond.

What a jerk! Hitomi clutched her hands at her side, then felt nervous again at all the silent Dragonslayers at her side. This is going to be so boring! They're not even talking anymore.

They arrived at their training area and, as Dilandau called out harsh orders, she sighed and sat against one wall. She watched the Slayers work on sword techniques for a while before they pulled on their stealth cloaks to practice being silent and she couldn't see them anymore. Instead, she amused herself for a few minutes by concentrating on her pendant and finding where they were one by one.

It was eerie how they didn't make any noise. The only thing she could hear was the wind and some birds twittering at each other on the wall behind her.

Getting bored again, Hitomi opened her duffel bag and pulled out her math homework. The last time she had gone to Gaia, she had gotten in big trouble with her teachers for not doing her work. She stared down at the math book and paper in confusion.

"Man, I hate algebra," she grumbled and tried to decipher the numbers on the page. She shook her head, exasperated when she couldn't remember any of her teacher's lesson. (A.N. Does that happen to you like it happens to me?)

Dang, finals are coming up, too. I really need to learn this. Hitomi looked up at the sneaky Dragonslayers, distracted by them. Then she got an idea.

She concentrated and pointed at Dilandau confidently when she was sure he could see her doing it. Dilandau had been watching her find the Dragonslayers and was reminded of all the times the girl had caused their downfall because of her strange powers. He was sure that the Dragonslayers had died because of her, too, because Van had known where they were even in their stealth cloaks before they were killed. He pulled back the hood of his cloak so his head seemed to float sickeningly over nothing at all and walked over to stand in front of the Wing Goddess.

"How do you do that, Wing Goddess?" His voice was threatening, like she had hit a very sensitive chord by pointing him out when he was invisible.

She gathered her courage and said, "I'll show you, if I can borrow one of your Dragonslayers."

"What do you mean, 'borrow'?" Dilandau was getting tired of asking questions, but still spoke as slowly and scathingly as ever.

Hitomi didn't meet his red eyes, instead she looked at the wall on the other side of the courtyard. "I mean," she replied nervously, "I'll make a deal with you. I need help with my math homework." Hitomi gestured to her book and papers. "And you want to learn how to see invisible stuff, right? If I teach you, then in exchange I want one of the Dragonslayers with the best mathematical skills or whatever to help me with this." She finished her speech and looked at the pyro, slightly afraid he was going to yell at her like he had at Dalet.

Dilandau glanced down at her algebra book and then glared back at her. He thought for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision when he saw the pink pendant glimmering at her slim throat. "Miguel!" he called loudly, not looking over his shoulder.

The Slayer approached and pulled his hood back. "Yes, Lord Dilandau?"

Dilandau waved his hand, still not looking away from her, "The Wing Goddess," he stressed her title disdainfully again, "needs your assistance later."

Miguel looked startled for a moment, glancing from Dilandau to Hitomi with an intelligent thoughtfulness, then snapped back to attention. "Yessir, Lord Dilandau."

Hitomi frowned, suddenly thinking her plan was a bad idea. The last time she taught someone how to do things with her pendant, Van had killed the Dragonslayers and almost got killed in Black Escaflowne.

Dilandau pulled off his invisibility cloak, revealing the regular clothes underneath that he hadn't changed out of after their adventures in the bazaar. He called at the Slayers and they stripped off their cloaks hurriedly and stood in a straight row. Dilandau cocked his head at Hitomi and she got up slowly, walking past him so she was standing in front of the Dragonslayers.

"You can start now," the general remarked from behind.

Hitomi gulped and looked at the Dragonslayers' faces for comfort. I've met these guys, this isn't such a big deal…

She stared at Shesta's expressionless face and began. "Well, um, when I need to find something I just hold my pendant…" she pointed at the necklace vaguely, "and then think of whatever I need to find. If I think hard enough, then the pendant swings in that direction…" she finished, then looked at her feet, very ill-at-ease with the strangely different Dragonslayers who were staring at her.

"That's all?" Dilandau's voice sounded incredulous. That's what caused the Slayers to be defeated?

Hitomi looked back at him, then turned to the Slayers again, feeling a little more comfortable with them than their usually furious leader. The young high school student unfastened her pendant. "Yeah. When you practice long enough, you don't even need the pendant anymore. You can just picture the pendant in your mind. That's how I did it a few minutes ago."

She heard Dilandau stepping behind her and yelped as he grabbed the pendant out of her hand and held it up into the light, squinting at it. "Is that all it does?"

Hitomi clenched her fists at her sides and muttered, "No, I can find anybody no matter where they are, even if they aren't invisible," she began to count on her fingers, "and I can tell people's fortunes, change the future, and have visions." She stopped, then added, "Oh, yeah, and I changed your destiny, too, and I want my grandma's necklace back!"

Dilandau had an urge to slap her for her tone, but decided not too, mostly because Folken would have a hernia if he found out. "Whatever," he murmured and tossed her pendant back at her.

She spent the next few hours trying to teach the Slayers to see the invisible, which proved to be even more difficult than it had when she was teaching the same thing to Van. She handed them all the pendant in turn and watched as they vainly tried to find some of the other Dragonslayers who skulked around the courtyard. Dilandau went last and did as poorly as the rest of them until Hitomi mentioned that Van had learned the skill, then he began to take it very seriously indeed. He thought hard with his eyes closed and pointed, but it turned out to be Celena coming back from her chess game with Folken.

Miguel spent an hour with Hitomi and explained trigonometry to her satisfactorily, something that Hitomi's teachers could never do for her on Earth. And with such cute guys, and no classroom, she thought happily as she looked around at the Slayers relentlessly practicing.

Dalet, who had been holding the pendant, looked up and pointed. Shesta laughed as he lifted the invisibility cloak* to reveal himself.

"That was luck, Dalet," Dilandau yawned from where he was leaning by the studious Miguel and Hitomi. "Find all of them, then we'll believe you."

Hitomi watched as Dalet found all of the hiding Dragonslayers in turn. They stood around looking triumphantly at each other, trying to suppress their grins while Dilandau was there.

"That was wonderful, Dalet!" Celena called from where she sat next to Dilandau. "You're the best!"

Dalet flushed, then turned to Hitomi questioningly.

Hitomi smiled. "Ha! One of you sixteen guys got it! Alright, we're making progress!"

Dalet grinned wolfishly at the embarrassed faces of his comrades.

The Wing Goddess lifted a finger. "Don't think you're done, Dalet! I want to teach you how to read fortunes and stuff, too."

The other Slayers grinned, and they set back to work.

*~*~*

The petty thieves that Merlot had hired to kidnap the two females had eaten their free meal happily and went their separate ways. One, though, stayed sitting at the table after the others had left. He was a young man with bright red hair and a disposition to match. He was very serious about his work and never abandoned a job.

The young thief had great skill and had been humiliated when that albino freak of a general had defeated him and his band so easily.

He pulled out a small electronic devise, pressed a button on it and held it to his ear.

"Jaren! What happened! Do you have the girls yet!?" Even through the machine, Merlot's voice sounded like a dying possum.

Jaren closed his eyes. "No. Dilandau Albatou prevented the capture."

Silence.

The thief frowned. "Merlot?"

"Are you sure it was…Dilandau?"

"Of course. The Dragonslayers were there, as well."

"This is not good news. Not good at all." Merlot's voice was becoming more squeaky by the minute.

"My men have given up on the job, but I am still offering my own services."

"Good. I need you to finish the job."

*~*~*

That night, Dilandau followed Celena and Hitomi to their rooms. He was very tired of females. When he thought about it, he hadn't even known any civilian females before Celena and Hitomi.

And he didn't know what to think of them.

Dilandau knew that Celena was alright, but Hitomi got on his nerves. Almost like fingernails on a chalkboard, but more grating. It would be gratifying to report to Folken that his freaking guard duty was over. But it seemed like such a long time to wait until then. He sighed, and Hitomi looked over at him before he unlocked the door to her room.

"See ya' tomorrow, Celena," Hitomi said sleepily.

"Have a good night, then," Celena closed her door, but not without glancing between her 'brother' and the Wing Goddess interestedly for a second.

The uncomfortable duo entered and saw that Hitomi's large bed had been replaced with two smaller beds at opposite ends of the room.

Dilandau locked the door again with a key around his neck and moved to one of the beds, setting his clothes on the dresser beside it. He spread himself over the covers, not bothering to get dressed or get in. Without looking away from the ceiling, he unbuckled his sword belt and placed it so it leaned against the dresser.

Hitomi sat very formally and nervously on her bed with her duffel bag on her lap. Finally, after Dilandau didn't move for a couple minutes, she went to the bathroom and changed her clothes.

When she came back, dressed in a long blue nightgown**, Dilandau was in the same position but now had one arm over his eyes like he was trying to block the light. She thought he was sleeping until he spoke.

"Life is…."

It wasn't a question or a statement. It seemed more like he was talking to himself, so Hitomi didn't answer. She slipped under the covers and felt the cold sheets give her goosebumps.

"…ironic." Dilandau sat up in bed, still never looking at Hitomi.

Hitomi was sick and tired of Dilandau's bad attitude by that point. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

The general glanced over at her, then looked back at the wall in front of him. He gestured with one hand and a slight grin graced his features. "Sharing a room with Allen's lover, of course."

Hitomi's cheeks flushed with anger and she sat up hastily. "How dare you! That was a rumor that Allen started to protect me from you! I'm not like that at all."

Dilandau turned to face her, his feet on the floor. "Say what you want. No one will believe you. You have a deplorable reputation in Zaibach."

Hitomi clutched her covers so hard her knuckles turned white. "So what?"

"Everyone's going to think we are lovers now, Goddess." Dilandau pulled his legs back on the bed Indian-style and started to examine his blade.

Hitomi turned several different colors.

Dilandau grinned at his sword. "So what did happen to you and Allen?"

"Allen and I were never together! It's none of your business!"

Dilandau looked up, still grinning maliciously. "Then who were y-"

The window smashed as a small round object flew through. It rolled and came to a stop between Dilandau and Hitomi's beds.

The two locked eyes for a split second. The ball started to beep ominously.

"Bomb!" she managed to say before it gas started to pour out of it. Dilandau covered his face with his shirt and Hitomi coughed uncontrollably and felt faint. The pyro kicked the ball under Hitomi's bed and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the door. He tried the handle and cursed when he realized it was locked. Hitomi fainted on top of him, making him stagger as he fumbled at the chain at his neck.

His vision was becoming blurry from the smoke. He couldn't find the key. Dilandau shrugged Hitomi's dead weight off of him, unsheathed the sword he still held and struck the door wildly. Finally, the door came open and he saw light through the smoky air in front of him. He knelt and searched with one hand for Hitomi. He found her leg and pulled her to him, meaning to escape into the hallway.

Unfortunately, the smoke finally overcame his senses and he lost consciousness.

*~*~*

Jaren smiled casually outside, looking up at the window.

It was good that I caught them while they slept. They didn't even resist. Now I just have to wait for the smoke to dissipate to kill the white runt and take the girl. Piece of cake.

*~*~*

*Yes, I DO think of Harry Potter every time I write 'invisibility cloak'

**Shuuuddaappp. I wear nightgowns, okay? I find them comfy.

ACG: I have to end this, cause it's like twice as long as the others. Hey, nice cliffhanger? They always seem to be in mortal danger. Actually, I put them in mortal danger whenever I run out of stuff for them to talk about or when they get too out of character. Nice, neh? I like Jaren. I call him, Nihongo.

Beloved Reviewers:

Nihongo: Hey, here's your longggg-awaited chap, cuz. Hope you enjoy.

Anime Obsessed Raye: Good! Now I can do whatever I want to Allen! Woo hoo! And I promise that Dilandau will get revengy revenge!

Sand3: *nods* Allen will suffer, and I really don't think this is the rising action yet. Not even close. I can make this story go on forever if I don't get on with it.

VoilesDragonGurl: I'm so glad you like it! Sorry I haven't updated in a while…;_; Long summer…

Lady Laran: O_o New reviewer. Hello. I'm glad you hate Allen and thought it was funny. Please keep reading and enjoy! (I think all the relationships were better before I messed with them. *sigh*)

Ryuko: I hope I can convince you that D/H will be cool. I mean, I think I can do it and keep them semi-in character. Glad you have faith in me. Dilandau like a puppy? ^_^ Hoo hoo! F/C stuff? Haven't written much of that. I'll do it next time, then! That particular relationship will become "X-tremely" screwed up. I can't wait!

Feye Morgan: ^_^ Love your reviews! They make me smile! Will Dilly and Folky get on better terms…? In the words of Nihongo, "Folken had better be nicer to Dilandau, if he wants to marry Celena…" And Would Folken really kill Dilly…? I dunno. *shrug* I guess we'll find out, eh? You really want Dilly and Van to meet, doncha? It's a masked ball. They don't know who anybody is. Maybe somewhere else in the story…SO sorry I haven't updated. I just dislike this chapter. Immensely. With hatred. And anger. Really. I spent the whole summer on it. I should've gotten it done. I apologize.

Rai Dorian: *sings and dances* "I like Folken, I like Folken, I like Folken, I like Folken!" *looks embarrassed about Merlot's name* Heh. Looks like I'll have to explain that after all. Yes, I did get that name from a wine bottle. When Nihongo and I go to Albertson's, we always look at the wine bottles for names. (*shudders* Not that we'd drink any, (we're Mormon, that's why no one cusses in the story) but they have cool-sounding names sometimes). So that's it. Sorry about the parenthesis. I'll think about writing more Esca fics. If I wrote any more, they'd be really short. Thanks!

A person reviewed leaving no name. Oh, sad is the day when that happens. The person suggested Miguel/Hitomi and Folken/Hitomi pairings. Please tell me your name? O_o

Macky: You'll love what Nihongo's idea is! Muahaha! And yes, it did sound like Trowa. How interesting. *looks thoughtful*

Kat-Tastrophe: Muaha! Allen IS evil, isn't he?

esca chick: I need Hitomi and Dilandau to start to hang out more. This was a chapter trying to accomplish that. Hope it worked. You'll like the next one, methinks. Muahaha!

You stepped on a nail!! O_O O_o o_O I'm so sorry! Ah! But that happened like two months ago…sorry my chapter was so late. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING A BOOGIE!!!