Rai: Yo again! Sorry about the long wait between updates.
Folken: Do I get my piece of cake now?
Rai: You sure do! Except I'm going to spoon-feed it to you! Hahahahaha!
Dilly: x_x Anyone going to let me out of this damn cage?
Destiny: *lets him out*
Dilly: It's about time. Hmph. *starts painting his nails black*
Rai: o_O All righty, time for the shout-outs. I'm going to reply to them this time, and Des can do it next chapter.
naria: Hey, you were the first reviewer! Mucho thankies! I can't send you Dilly, but you can have his clone that I made in my secret laboratory. *puts Dilly-clone in a cardboard box and ships it* ^_^
MysticalDreamer32: Nope, it's not in the series. It's a complete AU. And hey, Ren and Stimpy rocks my socks! I've always wanted a pair of Ren and Stimpy action figures!! lol.
Digital Senshi Sailor Who: *hugs Folken plushie* Credit for the introduction goes to Destiny. I thought it was good too. ^_^ And thanks for the crit on Take My Hand as well; it has a lot of flaws and I would take it down if I didn't have so many reviews. Heh. Thanks for reading! (and I'm waiting for the next chappie of Bird Cage, I hope that shithead flamer didn't kill your inspiration)
Mystic Fanel: Thankiefoof! (hey, I made a new word! :P) You will find out who picked up Hitomi in this chapter! And real action will start once we're past the beginning of the story... we don't want to rush things. ^_^
caitie: Thanks. I'm glad you didn't mind my advertising email, hehe.
chibi usagi: Er, sorry we didn't get this chapter up as soon as you would've liked. ^_^;;;
THE ORIGINAL esca chick: I can't believe someone took your name... *sigh* it must be annoying. Heeheehee, we aren't telling anyone what the final pairing will be, that's the fun part of being an author. :] Thanks for reading!
Mad: Fooooooooooooooooof!!!!!!!!!! No, don't play with fire, because Mad+Fire=Armageddon. :D
blue ice I'm glad you're interested! At least we did something right! XD
VoilesDragonGurl: Yes yes yes, the ryuugekitai are in this fic! They're so cute! *squeals* Especially Miguel! ^_^
Kisakino Ookami: !!uoy knaht. --- read it backwards! :P
Shannondoah: Heehee, you'll have to just replace Hitomi's name with Shannon while you're reading, lol. We hate Allen, too, hee hee hee.
fallen-dark-angel: Yep, we had to end it. But now you get to read more! *fanfare* Hope your vacation's been fun!
Sin Albatou: Confusing stories are funny. I'll read your co-fic if you put it up. ^_^
Des, Folkie, and Dilly: *asleep*
Rai: *pant, wheeze* I'm done! Onward to the fic!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter Two: Rendezvous

Hitomi was dropped unceremoniously in a heap on the cold stone floor of the fortress's aerie as the guymelef that had been carrying her landed several meters away. Judging by the green color of her surroundings, she decided she must be on the Orion, one of Zaibach's newer floating fortresses. She got up and dusted herself off as the melef's pilot leapt from the cockpit and landed deftly on the floor. Hitomi glared at him as he walked over to her and held out one hand.

My lord has been wishing for your company, he said with a small bow. Clad in an imperial blue uniform, the young pilot would have looked intimidating had it not been for his fringe of blonde hair and innocent-looking blue eyes. Come to think of it, he looked about as dangerous as a puppy.

Hitomi sighed. Well, as long as I'm here, you might as well take me to him.

The youth nodded and led her to the viewing bay of the floating fortress. There were many people running about as Hitomi and her guide reached the deck. Soldiers and personnel darted this way and that as they hurried to complete the innumerable tasks that kept the fortress armed and operational.

Only one figure was stationary, and this was the one they approached. He was a young man, only a year older than Hitomi, dressed in sleek plates of black and crimson armor. A long sword was attached to a belt at his waist, razor sharp. The blade had spelled death many times for many of its opponents.

Dilandau Albatou. He was similar to Van in confidence and arrogance, but quite different when it came to gratitude. Many a time, when Hitomi had saved Van's life, he would stalk off in an offended huff, but this man showed Hitomi pleased gratitude when done a favor.

Lord Dilandau? started Hitomi's guide, I brought the lady Hitomi, as requested.

Dilandau turned and Hitomi couldn't help feeling her heart swoon at the sight of him. He had the most beautiful hair she had ever seen, flowing in waves around his face like liquid platinum. He had an open and, at the sight of Hitomi, beaming visage that was so unlike other men she had met. But what caught Hitomi the most were his eyes. They were a multifaceted crimson, glittering with heart-stopping beauty. There was calculated intelligence in those eyes, as well as a certain mocking amusement. Hitomi could feel her face going warm as he looked at her. Even after dating him off and on for the past six months she still felt a thrill when he caught her eye.

Thank you, Chesta, he said, his voice a rich smooth tenor. You may go.

Chesta bowed, pivoted on one heel, and marched back to the aerie. Dilandau turned to Hitomi and smiled at her.

So, how are you? he asked casually, extending a hand to lead her away from the crowded viewing deck. How are things down in Fanelia?

Hitomi's sudden good mood melted away at the mention of Fanelia. she answered, eying Dilandau suspiciously, but you'd know that, wouldn't you, Dilandau?

He grinned somewhat sheepishly, though Hitomi knew it was all for show. My dear Hitomi, whatever can you mean?'

Hitomi stopped and gestured at a window overlooking Fanelia. Dropping explosives over the skies of the capitol. What are you playing at?

What do you mean? he asked, giving Hitomi a look of feigned innocent query. I'm just having a little fun. No harm intended.

She decided to put it bluntly. People's houses are burning.

Dilandau peered out the window and seemed to be restraining himself from laughing. Yes, I know, he replied softly, but did you see the reaction?

Hitomi rolled her eyes. You've got the entire army suited up and waiting for a frontal attack. The guymelefs lined up outside the aerie suggest a threat.

All for show, he assured her again, waving his hand idly.

Your show' is scaring people.

I suppose it is, Dilandau replied as his finger traced the glass. What does King Van think about all this?

Hitomi sighed. That's just it—he doesn't think. I bet it never crossed his mind what would've happened had this been a real attack and he were captured or something.

Van never has been too quick on the uptake.

Would you mind not tormenting Fanelia anymore tonight? Hitomi's request was dripping with sarcasm. It's very late and I want to get back to sleep.

Even if we do leave, little Van isn't going to move until he's sure we're gone, Dilandau told her, and that could be quite a while. Besides, he added, I was hoping to get a chance to see you for a while.

You're seeing me right now, Hitomi pointed out, covering her yawning mouth with a dainty hand.

Dilandau gave her a look. You know what I mean. He held out a hand, inviting her to come closer. Hitomi let him draw them into an embrace. Tomorrow, at seven, meet me in the gardens behind the palace. I've made some special plans for the evening. He looked down at her, hopeful face bright for her response.

Hitomi yawned again. That's great. Can I go now?

I'll have Guimel take you back, said Dilandau, kissing her forehead. I hope you have a good rest.

Hitomi was too tired to think of anything sarcastic to say back.

* * *

The Vione hovered silently a little ways away from the Asturian border. Though the skies in burning Fanelia were cloudless, here the air was rich with fog. Folken looked out upon the obscured landscape gloomily.

This was the third time in the past few weeks that he'd been forced to stay in his office past midnight doing paperwork. Tonight's task was to recalculate the size of the rooms and the fuel economy on the new floating fortress he was designing, the Lydia. Although Folken would have preferred to be doing something else, he was one of the few people in Zaibach with the brainpower needed to calculate such things and thus was stuck with the job. General Adelphos had approached him at lunchtime and demanded that the rooms be smaller to save space and money, so now he had to redo everything.

It's both tedious and pointless, he thought to himself, because if the damn things get much smaller people won't be able to walk around in them. Trying to make everything as cheaply as possible is just evading the problem; what we really need is financial reform in Zaibach, starting with the government. If we did that and raised the prices on our exports, these money problems would be over.

Folken realized that he'd drawn a whole set of lines crooked and had to start over from scratch on a new piece of parchment. At this pace he'd be awake until dawn, and then he'd have to find a way to catch up on his lost sleep, and from there . . . ugh.

Forget this, he grumbled to himself, it's not worth it. He put the papers away in his near-overflowing desk drawer, resolving to get a fresh start on things when his head was less muddled. Concentrating now was pointless, because all he could think about was the attack on Fanelia and whether it had worked out as planned. They hadn't received news from Dilandau or the Orion yet, as far as he knew.

And what about Van? . . . His conscience had been bothering him of late about his younger brother. Was Van really the right person to be leading Fanelia? He was certainly clever enough to be ruler, but his rash, impulsive decisions often got him into trouble.

Attacking his younger brother's country seemed horribly wrong; was there no chance for a peaceful agreement with Fanelia? That morning, Folken had voiced his opinion to Dornkirk, but the old man would hear nothing of it.

Taking over Fanelia will be beneficial to Zaibach in the long run, both financially and strategically. What are they but a struggling backwater country, after all? Dornkirk had explained. Under Van's rule, Fanelia is doomed to fall; we are merely hastening the process.

And so he had grudgingly obeyed the old man's orders, instructing Dilandau and his Dragonslayers to attack the city as more of a demonstration than a real takeover. This would be merely a shadow of the battles to come.

What happened to loyalty? What will you do if Van is killed? The questions raged through his mind. Even if Dornkirk agrees to allow a diplomatic settlement, Van might never agree. After all, he sees me only as a traitor to Fanelia, a disgrace to the family. I was the one chosen to be king, and yet I escaped during that fateful rite of dragonslaying.

He willed himself not to think of that day and instead thought of international relations in the context of the potential war.

Fanelia had had a benevolent relationship with Asturia for the past century or so, and traded actively with Freid and Lamarth; the problem (or one of the problems) with Dornkirk's plan of invasion was that one of these surrounding countries might rise up and help defend against Zaibach.

Asturia was probably the biggest problem, with their technology and troops pledged to help Fanelia. Dornkirk did not seem too worried about them, however. Freid's future was uncertain owing to the fact that it was led by only a young boy, Prince Chid. Lamarth created some problems since it depended on Fanelian lumber, but Zaibach could fix that by offering the timber at a lower price. Anyway, Lamarth and Fanelia were separated by a mountain range and it would be difficult for them to join forces divided as they were.

Though Folken hated to admit it, invading Fanelia did make sense. It was just his emotions that made him shy away from the attack. If only I were more detached . . . he mused to himself. That wouldn't improve things much from other peoples' perspectives, though. Everyone just figured that he didn't have any emotions whatsoever since he seemed so stoic and stern in public, but they were wrong. He'd just learned to hide things, to keep them inside. The tactic had proved to be beneficial for his military job, but horrible for his social life, or rather, lack of a social life.

Damn it, Fanel! When was the last time you even looked at a girl, let alone talked to one? He hadn't been off this godforsaken ship in so long. It was definitely taking a toll on his mood. Perhaps he could sneak out sometime when the ship docked to refuel. But then what? What would he do, go to a bar? Yeah, sure. And have every single person in the place recognize him and start bowing and all that crap. Being the Strategos of Zaibach had its disadvantages at times.

Social life or no, it was definitely time to go to bed. Folken turned the lights out and headed back to his quarters.

* * *

The sky started to lighten by the time Hitomi arrived back at the palace. Her leaden eyelids threatened to close as she stumbled up to her quarters, nearly walking into a wall. Sleep deprivation, she thought, is absolutely the worst torture imaginable.

Zaibach's mock attack had ceased, but fires still smoldered in various areas of the city. She assumed that Van must have returned to the castle at some point, but was too sleepy to check. Climbing into her canopy bed, she enveloped herself in the warm blue comforter while thoughts of Dilandau flashed by. What exactly did he have planned for her in the gardens? Something deliciously romantic, she knew. Though she hated herself for it, her heart swooned at the thought.

* * *

A few rooms away, Van was anything but relaxed. Though the attack had been nothing more than a warning, his blood boiled at the thought of who was behind it. There was no doubt that it was Zaibach . . . but what was the meaning of their sudden enmity?

As its new ruler, Van was willing to give up anything and everything for Fanelia. His destiny was entwined with his country's because of the oath he had taken at his coronation. He had decided from an early age that he would make up for the shame of his brother's desertion. Folken had failed to complete the task of dragonslaying at the age of fifteen, bestowing on his younger brother the ungainly burden of kingship.

Van remembered the day he'd discovered that Folken was still alive - not only alive, but the Strategos of Zaibach. Though he could not deny that he'd been overjoyed to see his brother again, the joy had soon faded once the truth sank in. Folken had betrayed Fanelia twice: the first time by failing the test, the second time by renouncing his identity and joining Zaibach.

He'd admired his older brother so fervently in childhood, but now the thought of Folken made him sick.

The truth was painful. It ate away at Van's confidence, posing questions as to whether he was really worthy of leading such a noble country as Fanelia.

I am worthy, he said to himself, and I will protect my country from Zaibach, no matter what the cost. Even if it means destroying my own brother.

Intelligent strategy was what was needed to defeat Zaibach. Van would need to weaken them from the inside by killing off their leaders and generals, to cause confusion. And to do this, he would have to wait until their guard was down.

He paced back and forth in his room. An idea filtered its way through the anger - why not pretend to make peace with them? He could attempt to get to a diplomatic solution, and then attack when Zaibach least expected it.

Van didn't have the patience to be a diplomat, but he knew someone who did: Hitomi. She'd been asking him to let her get a job lately; why not let her do this? She was certainly intelligent enough, and he had faith in her ability to come up with solutions in tight situations like this one.

He decided to ask her when she woke up.

* * *