Disclaimers: I dun own Escaflowne but I do own Ashley/Kurai.
Haned Megami se Tenshinranman soshite Kyuui
( Winged-Goddess of Innocence and Peace)
Chapter Four
It was about mid-day the next day when Ashley finally came to. She was groggy and her head was hurting really badly. Slowly fluttering her eyes open she quickly closed them again as the harsh white lights and ceiling tried to blind her. A dull pain went through her head and she tried to open her eyes again. This time more cautiously, suceeding it opening them she tried to sit up. Though when she did, her head seemed to loll, it hurt really bad though she couldn't remember why. All she remembered was going to the banquet in Palas, getting Vino on her dress, going outside to the water fountain to try and get it out. Then Hitomi came out and tried to help ,then its blank from then until now when she woke up.
Her lips were dry and cracking, not a very pleasant feeling and to make matters worse, she was alone and thirsty. Breathing in a shaky breath she was tired, though knew she'd be ok, except for the damned pain in the back of her head.
' Where did it come from? I don't remember hurting myself.' She said to herself, not noticing someone had crept into the room while she was pondering aimlessly.
" Penny for your thoughts." The familiar low voice said to her. Blinking Ashley's head jerked up only to result in her wincing in pain and a smirk on Folken's face, though it was a mask underneath he wanted to hold and like the little sister she is and tell her it's ok.
" Nah, but here's a quarter for you to call me." She joked, at his puzzled expression, she blinked. " I'll explain later, right now I'm starving." Folken slightly chuckled and Ashley rolled sideways off the bed. Thinking she fell Folkem caught her under the arm. She just looked up at him funny and straightened herself up, she looked down at the outfit she was wearing and noticed she was changed into a white hospital gown, though it was made of cotton. Not that weird flimsy paper ones like on Earth, these felt better. Though she tried not to think about who dressed her, only god knew (( god being: cough*dilandau*cough)) and that's the way it would stay.
" Well, lead the way to food." Ashley exclaimed, her hair was everywhere and she needed to brush it from her little fight with herself the night before.
Gradually her head began to feel better though not much. She needed aspirin and she knew it was in her room, though didn't want to take any medication on an empty stomach, it always made her sick.
Following Folken out the med-bay doors he looked her over before shrugging. They walked side by side down the hallway with Ashley earning weird glances from the other slayers with some of them whispering to each other. Wondering why everyone was staring at her and talking about her Ashley let it go because she was hungry, and when she was hungry someone better be outta her way or all hell will break loose.
They made it to the mess hall without anyone dying, which was good on everyone's part. When the doors slid open eveyone turned to see who it was, everyone was wide eyed and staring at Ashley whom everyone besides her six dragonslayer freinds, Dilandau, and Folken had named insane, crazy, or unstable. Blinking, the slayers she recognized as possible 'allies' with her were all seated at a table, they didn't notice her which was a good sign. And if they did they didn't make it an effort to make her anymore uncomfortable. She looked over at Folken and he motioned for her to go sit.
" I'll get you and I some food and bring it over, go and talk to them." Ashley smiled at him. He was acting like a protective older brother, some how Ashley felt a connection that was more than freinds or adoptive sister brother. It ran through the veins, though no one was about to address the feeling. Nearly squeeling at the thought of talking to someone, Ashley wanted to know why everyone was staring at her. She knew it was her appearance, she knew her hair was all tangly but she had just come from the med-bay though she still didn't understand why she was there.
Practically running towards the dragonslayers she all but huggled them to death. She wanted to but didn't, for some reason she was happy to see them. They all smiled at her and Dallet scooted over to she could sit inbetween him and Guimel.
" Wow, Ashley how long you been out?" Gatti asked inbetween bites of his lunch. Everyone was watching the smiling girl as she just watched them eat.
" I just got out, which brings me to my next question. Why was I there?" Chesta nearly spewed his vino all over everyone, and Dilandau raised a silver eyebrow at this question.
" You mean you don't remember?" He said to her, he had a coy smile on his face as he cocked his head to the side. He was sitting diagonal from her on the other side. She nodded 'no' and his eyes practically bugged out of his head.
" Ashley, you totally freaked. You were practically beating yourself into the ground." Viole told her seriously, he was studying her to see if she was joking. But, it was clear she wasn't joking.
" You're joking, I did that... woah.. weird.. ya know and I don't remember anything about it." Ashley said, unconciously she rubbed the back of her head as it began to throb. "Though I have one hell of a souveneir." Ashley joked, some of them chuckled though still shocked.
" Selective Amnesia." Guimel said, everyone turned to him and he took it as his cue to continue. " Selective Amnesia, very common in cases like this. You must've seen something horrifying to have beaten yourself up, but then again you did die." He was more or less talking to himself more than them. He put a finger to his chin and started to tap it thoughtfully.
" I..I died.." Ashley said, blinking.
" Yeah, after you quite convulsing, you like died. You stiffened. Millerna was there and started doing CPR. She had to use Van's shirt to..um..cover you.. and she had Dilandau-sama breath air into your lungs. They tried for two hours, then they quit only because Allen dragged Millerna off of you. Then like an hour later you came back, you like lurched forward suddenly and started coughing. It was scary, though we were happy you were alive. After that you went to tell us something but fainted." Ashley thought about this and blinked, then everything started coming back to her in one big event. He head exploded as the pain in the back of her head grew bigger and bigger, until finally it burst. Slowly she let unconciously let her hands creep up her face, Ashley grabbed her head and curled her fragile fingers into her dark violet tendrils. Her eyes squeeezed shut as the memories came rushing back, flash by flash she was remembering. And boy did it hurt, she threw her head back and screamed long, hard, and high pitched. The dragonslayers were scared by now, a loud crash of plates were heard as Folken came running out. He saw Ashley shaking and screaming. Gatti grabbed her left arm and pulled it from her hair, as Dallet took her right arm. Her legs started kicking an she wouldn't stop screaming. Tears of pain rain down her face, remembering things this fast can actually damage a persons brain beyond repair. Guimel took her leg leg as it started jerking back and forth as Chesta took her right leg. Folken was at the doors of the mess hall as the guys took the screaming girl back down to the med-bay.
A doctor had the dragonslayers put the girl on the bed, he looked at the poor girls before strapping her down to the bed. She was still screaming, her eyes were open though tears were streaming from them. Her screams were starting to subside and all that came out were choked sobs and her body quit convulsing.
Ashley now knew everything, she breathed in a shaky breath as she felt the doctor stick a needle into her arm. Suddenly feeling very tired she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Folken looked tiredly around the room that was filled with Ashley's six freinds, half freind half enemy, three nurses, two doctors, and himself.
" What did you all tell her?" He asked in a quiet in calm voice.
" We told her what happened, she asked so we complied." Chesta answered confused.
" FOOLS!! Receiving information about a horrifying experience this early and fast can make a person go insane. She's lucky she handled it better than normal people." Folken told them, though he was slightly angered, didn't these fools know anything. He turned towards the doctor and the poor man almost coward in fear. " How long with she be out?" He asked, the doctor straightened himself and answered.
" About four hours at the maximum, its whenever she chooses to wake in the time being." Then the doctor left, Folken pinched the bridge of his nose and looked around at everyones face finally landing on Ashley's.
' It has been a long time since I've seen her. I will not have something like this take my sister away.' Folken said to himself gazingly adoringly at his sister.
" We will go and train, Folken alert my worried men when she awakens. " Dilandau said, walking out of the room. He was using his heartless bastard facade and so far it was working. He did care for her well being just chose not to show it.
Folken turned back to Ashley after everyone had hesitantly left, he couldn't beleive it. He had gotten a blood sample the doctors had taken from Ashley while she was unconcious the first time. They ended up doing blood tests and found out that her blood was very closley related to Folkens. He did have a younger sister, one year after his brother Van was born, his mother gave birth to another baby, a girl. Folken was ecstatic that day.
~Flashback~
Folken stood in the room in front of his father whom was holding the tiniest baby he had ever seen. The baby was wrapped in a pink blanket and wondered why since the baby was most likely a boy. His father turned to him with a large grin on his face, he was so happy.
" Folken, I'd like you to meet your new baby sister." He said proudly, Folken's eyes bugged out of his head at the word 'sister' Now he had something to protect, other than his little brother, but he wouldn't need protection any longer.
"What is her name?" He finally asked, his father looked at their mother Varie. She had sweat beaded on her eyebrows and underneath her eyes.She smiled weakly and answered them both. " He name is to be Kurai Murasaki, because of her hair." Then everyone leaned closer, she indeed had dark violet hair.
" So it is to be so, I christian thee, Kurai Murasaki de Fanel." Folken liked the name had a nice ring to it.
~ End Flashback one~
Folken watched his sister sleep as he thought about the day she had to leave because of her gift, she was only three then.
~ Flashback~
Kurai had just turned three two days ago, her shoudler length dark violet hair hung loosely around her. She hated dresses, and her mother knew this and decided she could wear pants until she became of age. So, right now Kurai was dressed in a pair of black leggings that were tucked into a small pair of black boots that went to mid calf and had a flat soles on them. Her dark violet top was exactly like Van's, she looked up to him and Folken so she had to have shirts made like theirs.
Her large violet eyes scanned the feild for her brothers, she couldn't find them anywhere. Soon she found them playing together under some trees, squeeling in delight she ran towards them and latched onto Folken right leg while her older brother Van had his left hand trying to pull him foreward.
" Folkie.... Van.. pway wif meh!!" Kurai cried out, her violet eyes held the innocence she would forever hold. That was when he heard their parents talking about Kurai.
" Varie we can't just send her to some planet without a guardian!!" Gou exclaimed, he was jsut as worried as she was about their daughter gift being told ot enemy countries who would most likely kidnap her for their own purposes.
" That is why I was going to send someone with her." Varie explained to her husband. Yes, this would be harder for her but it was for the well being of her child.
Folken looked down at his sister and was appauled at the thought of sending her away. True he knew she possessed the gift of telling the future and sometimes he didn't like what was being said. Though he could never help it, what she sees is what she sees. Though what they didn't know was that because of her gift she could twist the future to her own will. Whatever she wanted would happen, if she wanted it to rain cows tomorrow it would happen.
~ End Flashback~
That year his sister had dissappeared in a column of bright light, he had lost the battle of the great dragonslaying, ended up joining Zaibach, his father died, his mother died after leaving to find him, and Van became an awaiting King at age Five. Folken sighed, now that he thought about it, his father died because of a broken heart. He might of died because of her being sent away, then he was forced to do the dragonslaying ritual which turned him away from Fanelia and into Zaibach's awaiting arms, and that made his mother commit an odd form of suicide which led to Van's corrination.
Looking down at the peaceful face of his sister he sighed, though this was not her fault. Yes, she could twist fate and destiny at her very whim, but what three year old tells it to make her family miserable?
Dilandau sat on a set of wooden bleachers while he watched his men train, his mind wouldn't get off of that girl. Her screams, they were horrifying, even for him the great pyromaniac who loved to hear people screaming in agony thought it disturbing. It was very disturbing, it was almost like someone was tearing up her insides or something. He would never forget the first time she went into one of those fits. He was almost scared, yes he the great Lord Dilandau of the great Dragonslayers was scared. Then to make matters worst the second time she went into it, he had created it, he had hurt her and it was only because he brought the memory back. Yes it was all of them, but he was the one who taunted her, who said ' You don't remember?' which practically gave dead away to questions they shouldn't have answered.
He should have left the question alone, his men should have left the question alone. He didn't even think about the other Dragonslayers who had no idea what the hell was going on. All they knew was that the crazy girl was screaming and crying out of the blue. Growling Dilandau shook his head, but he couldn't quit thinking about it.
' Geez, I can't even watch my men train without her popping into my hed.' He growled to himself and let his eyes turn into slits. ' This is not good, definately not good.' He told himself rather harshly.
Folken stayed by Ashley's side until she woke up which was three hours later, she must've been exhausted from the memories that came rushing back to her, and so quickly. Ashley opened her eyes to see the blinding white light again, laughing to herself she croaked out still with her eyes closed.
" De'javue." Ashley laughed and opened her eyes again, turning to Folken whom she knew what there from the beginning. He was staring at her intently Ashley blinked wondering what was up. " What, did I die again?" She asked slightly joking about her earlier spell. He smirked a little bit and just kept looking at her.
" Ashley, there is something I need to tell you." He started off, then Ashley blinked, nodding it was his cue to continue. " This may seem hard to beleive but recent blood test revealed that you are my sister." Ashley blinked, then rose an eyebrow. Scrunching her nose up she tried to process this information.
" Man, I learn something new everytime I wake up..maybe next time I'll find out I'm pregnant." Ashley laughed though she was disturbed. She was Folken's sister, though she lived on Earth.
" But, there's more." He trailed off and Ashley nodded for him to continue. " Van, is also your brother and mine." Ashley blinked at this while her violet eyes grew darker.
" You mean to tell me, you are trying to destroy your brother!! And then you kidnap me and practically make me switch sides!! I can't beleive this!!" Ashley exclaimed she was rather peeved. Though as time went on she calmed down and figured there to be a good explanation.
" No, I did not. At the time we did not know you were mine and Van's sister. If I would have known I would have told Lord Dornkirk to screw himself with fate and left you on Earth. Then probably after this war was over I would have brought you back to live with your true family." He explained. Ashley thought about this a moment before swallowing hard. She studied Folken's it had no barriers and he was just looking at her. All emotion and brotherly love stamped on his face. Ashley soon smiled then looked at his confused face. " So Van's my brother eh? Damn, why are the cute ones always related to me or taken?" Ashley laughed as Folken nearly choked on his words.
' Wait, if i was sent to Earth because no one would be able to get my gift, then wouldn't they change my name?' Looking at Folken Ashley bit her bottom lip before asking her question.
" What's my real name?" She asked him, he smiled down at her as he stood up before answering her.
"Your full name is Kurai Murasaki de Fanel, and your title is the Princess Kurai Murasaki de Fanel of Fanelia." Ashley thought about the words and they seemed to fit her. Thinking about what he nem meant she almost laughed, how obvious?
" Dark violet? man, mom really had a nack for naming people." Ashley mused thena nother thought struck her.
" Where are our parents?" Ashley asked, then turned because she noticed that a draft was coming in the room. But, what she didn't expect to see was Dilandau's scowling face practically swearing a painful and horrible death.
Dilandau couldn't beleive what he had just heard, this girl was related to Van Fanel, she was related to the dragon. So that would explain her being able to see the future. She was a descendant of Atlantis, she was cursed by the dragons, the mystical draconians. Plus, she is the Princess of Fanelia. He glared at Ashley through slitted eyes and Ashley was quite taken back by this.
" D-Dilandau what're you doing here?" She asked him, he only ignored her and turned to Folken.
" I was wondering when I could attack the dragon?" He asked, Ashley blinked and looked at Folken. Whom he felt like he didn't even know anymore, all this time the man claimed to be Folken Strategos. But was really Folken Laquor de Fanel of Fanelia.
" Now if you like." Was all Folken said, Ashley just blinked. How dare this guy, her brother, do this to his own family. As soon as Dilandau left Ashley lashed out.
" You ass!! What in all the fucking hell are you doing?!? That's your brother!! didn't we just go through this conversation!!" Ashley cried and glared at her newly found brother. He just laughed and looked at her with wicked crimson eyes.
" I may have a brother and sister, parents, but the day the dragon took my arm was the day Folken Fanel died! My family is Zaibach and these soldiers!" He exclaimed, and in a hurry he turned awayHis cape billowing angrily behind him. Ashley just blinked, this couldn't be right.
Getting up off the bed, Ashley ignored the dieing pain at the back of her neck she needed answers. She needed to know why she was given up, why the people she was given too changed her name, and what her parents were like. Ashley ran as fast as she could to catch up with the fast walking Folken. He was almost to his library when Ashley grabbed his arm. Standing in front of him she was breathing heavily and trying to catch her breath.
" I have a few questions to ask you." She said and watched him as he rose a pale blue eyebrow. Then a thought came into her head, ' why does every kid have different color hair?'
Note* Just so you know, I'm going to be calling Ashley Kurai from now on. It is her real name after all. Anyhoo continueing with this fic.
Dilandau was in his melefs cockpit waiting when the time was right, it was slowly getting darker by the minute and couldn't wait until he could destroy something. His stealth cloak made him invisible to anyone though once he started burning things they would most likely see his melefs arm. Dilandau continued to wait, he couldn't stand it, waiting was not one of his best subjects.
" Sir, what are our orders?" Viole's firm voice came over the intercom. He couldn't wait to get this over with, he wanted to know if Ashley was ok or had woken up yet. Yes, Dilandau left to check on her but when he came back he seemed to be fighting with himself and ordered everyone to get in their melefs and head out.
" Wait until I give the signal, we'll try and smoke out Escaflowne." Dilandau said, his crimson eyes gleamed at the thought of fire. So hot, wild, filled with rage, fire was the element that representated everything Dilandau was. He loved fire, though being a pyromanic has its own problems, like the time he caught his first bed on fire.
Dilandau sat and waited until it was completely dark, smirking he moved his melef towards the city. " Alright now attack!!" He cried out with glee, though some where in the back of his mind he couldn't help but think about the new information he had on Ashley, or should he say Kurai?
Kurai sat down on a black plus couch near the fire place of Folken's library, though only moments before she was known as Ashley. Smirking to herself, she always felt the named didn't suit her and now knew why. Though, she couldn't get he way Dilandau looked and acted around her, had he heard she was related to Folken and Van? Was he made? did he hate her? All the questions raced through her head as she tried to think about it.
' So what if he hates me. It's not like I like him, much less love him.' Kurai said to herself, she almost laughed outwardly at the though. Her in love with him, then the idea struck her, what if she was?
" What're you doing?" Folken asked, he came back in with an outfit for Ashley to wear.
" Nothing, just sitting here thinking." Was her non-chalant reply, he laughed to himself.
" You shouldn't do that so much you'll hurt yourself." Glaring at her newly found older brother she took the cloths from his out stretched hand and began to walk towards the an area to change when she looked down at the clothing and stopped.
She recognized the whole outfit, it was the same style outfit she wore before she left for Earth. It was the outfit she insisted on wearing only because Van and Folken wore one like it. Van's was always red tank top, khaki pants, and dark brown boots with matching gloves. Folkens was blue, like a cobalt blue, Kurai loved their outfits. So, her mother took her to the seamstress and the woman asked what colors she wanted. She picked black and violet, she evern got a pair of khaki pants with deep mahogany colored boots.
Turning back to look at Folken she smiled, he had remembered, even when she didn't he did. Turning to go change she quickly, and happily took off the gown and put on the tight black leggings, her dark violet tank top that had black stitchs near the neck, and pulled on the black mid-calf boots. Happily she all but ran over to her brother and smothered him in a large hug. Folken smiled and patted her head, holding up a hairbrush Kurai sheepishly took it and began to brush her hair.
" Ok, ask your questions." He told her, Kurai nodded and began.
" Well, what were mum and dad like?" Kurai asked, Folken sighed and closed his crimson eyes as he began to remember.
" They were wonderful, Gou Fanel was the name of your father. He died the same year you left, so did mom. Her name was Varie, very beautiful, she had long waist length dark green hair. She had crimson eyes like me and Van, though father had jet black hair and deep red eyes like mothers. They were a match made in heaven." Folken said, he opened his eyes and saw that Kurai was confused.
" You say green hair and red eyes?" She mused to herself. ' So it was my mother who was warning me.' She felt tears of joy that someone cared for her seep into the corners of her eyes. Folken nodded his head slightly confused but left it alone.
Standing up Kurai ran a hand over her stomach before she smelled the familiar smell of smoke. Frowning she turned to Folken who was already as a window looking down on Austuria. Walking hesitantly over to him, she saw it, Austuria was burning and the black smoke was rising quickly. She could almost make out the distinct shouts of fear, worry, and anger in the voices of Austuria's people. Her violet eyes went wide as she noticed that the first were starting by themselves, she couldn't beleive what was happening. Kurai felt the Vione rock and knew they were takin flight, it was horrible, the black smoke seemed to be all that she saw. Turning away from the window, she set her face into an emotionless mask. Her brother was no longer in the room and she figured he'd gone to see what was happening.
Kurai found her way to the melef bay, she had stopped off to her room earlier and gotten her mp3 player and was currently listening to 'StarChild'. (( gotta love that song)) She had her eyes closed and the music was turned up all the way. The bass was set to the econd level so it was like booming in her ears. She could barely hear anything, swaying her body to the rythem of the music she began to chew her melon flavored bubblegum occasionally blowing bubbles and head banging to every thump in teh techno music. She barely heard the rather loud hanger door open, and her freinds melefs come in. She stopped chewing on her bubblegum. the high pitched voice of the woman singing the song blarred through the large room and everyone could hear it, it's surprising she hadn't blown an ear drum.
Dilandau had had enough of this inferriorating music and walked up to her, her head still boobing as she rocked her body in tune with the fast beating music. Growling furiousoy when he tried to tell her to turn it down she just ignored him. Then without thinking he practically ripped the mp3 player out of her hands and fumbled around with it until it turned off. Kurai was pissed off, though held it in and counted to ten, seemed like Dilandau was in a pissed off mood and she didn't want to go and make it worse now would she? Glaring at Dilandau she still hadn't forgotten about his little stunt earlier, she still hated the way he glared at her through slitted black pupils.
" What was that for!!" Kurai tried to keep her voice down but it wasn't working, for some reason he got her all worked up.
" Aw, is the little princess mad?" He just taunted her, Kurai clenched her fists and wished she didn't have a concious or else she would have hit him by now. He was really hanging on her last nerve, the funny thing was that he knew exactly how to push her buttons.
" No, but you will be when I have my foot up your ass. What's your problem?" Kurai said calmly, she happy with herself, and it showed in the wicked grin that was growing on her face.
Most of the dragonslayers that had gone with Dilandau had left, Kurai gave her mp3 player to Chesta to take back to her room. She smiled at him kindly as he nodded and left the hanger. Then the fighting started.
" What doy ou mean what's my problem? You're my problem!!" He screeched at her, his eyes were growing darker as each word let his mouth and his right eyebrow was twitching.
Kurai's blackish purplish eyebrows rose into her hairline, so she was his problem eh? Wel now she was just about to get worse. " Well maybe I wouldn't be your problem if you weren't such an ass!!" He voice grew louder and louder with each word and it echoes off of the metal of the melefs and the walls of the hanger. Dilandau just smirked and cocked his head to the side as he steped towards her. Glaring Kurai stepped back until she was against the wall of the hanger and Dilandau was meerly two steps in front of her.
" Well, at least you've finally got what I am into your thick girly head." He said to her in a more calm voice, this seemed to piss of Kurai even more, growling low in her throat she went to open her mouth to yell a profanity at him. But, when she tried she couldn't for he had quickly closed the distance between them and had his pale lips crushed forecefully against hers. Blinking she just stood their rigid and stiff, Dilandau was looking into her eyes, his fiery crimson eyes bore into her own wide violet ones and he smirked against her lips.
' Well at least she shut up.' He thought to himself, as he leaned back he wasn't prepared for what was happening next.
Koori: What will happen next? Will Kurai helplessly fall into his arms and kiss him to death, or will she do something else. mwuahahaha I'll have to get back to you in the fifth chapter for you to find out, Ja Ne... oh did you like the fact that she was Folken and Van's little sister..I did.. lol..bai!!
Haned Megami se Tenshinranman soshite Kyuui
( Winged-Goddess of Innocence and Peace)
Chapter Four
It was about mid-day the next day when Ashley finally came to. She was groggy and her head was hurting really badly. Slowly fluttering her eyes open she quickly closed them again as the harsh white lights and ceiling tried to blind her. A dull pain went through her head and she tried to open her eyes again. This time more cautiously, suceeding it opening them she tried to sit up. Though when she did, her head seemed to loll, it hurt really bad though she couldn't remember why. All she remembered was going to the banquet in Palas, getting Vino on her dress, going outside to the water fountain to try and get it out. Then Hitomi came out and tried to help ,then its blank from then until now when she woke up.
Her lips were dry and cracking, not a very pleasant feeling and to make matters worse, she was alone and thirsty. Breathing in a shaky breath she was tired, though knew she'd be ok, except for the damned pain in the back of her head.
' Where did it come from? I don't remember hurting myself.' She said to herself, not noticing someone had crept into the room while she was pondering aimlessly.
" Penny for your thoughts." The familiar low voice said to her. Blinking Ashley's head jerked up only to result in her wincing in pain and a smirk on Folken's face, though it was a mask underneath he wanted to hold and like the little sister she is and tell her it's ok.
" Nah, but here's a quarter for you to call me." She joked, at his puzzled expression, she blinked. " I'll explain later, right now I'm starving." Folken slightly chuckled and Ashley rolled sideways off the bed. Thinking she fell Folkem caught her under the arm. She just looked up at him funny and straightened herself up, she looked down at the outfit she was wearing and noticed she was changed into a white hospital gown, though it was made of cotton. Not that weird flimsy paper ones like on Earth, these felt better. Though she tried not to think about who dressed her, only god knew (( god being: cough*dilandau*cough)) and that's the way it would stay.
" Well, lead the way to food." Ashley exclaimed, her hair was everywhere and she needed to brush it from her little fight with herself the night before.
Gradually her head began to feel better though not much. She needed aspirin and she knew it was in her room, though didn't want to take any medication on an empty stomach, it always made her sick.
Following Folken out the med-bay doors he looked her over before shrugging. They walked side by side down the hallway with Ashley earning weird glances from the other slayers with some of them whispering to each other. Wondering why everyone was staring at her and talking about her Ashley let it go because she was hungry, and when she was hungry someone better be outta her way or all hell will break loose.
They made it to the mess hall without anyone dying, which was good on everyone's part. When the doors slid open eveyone turned to see who it was, everyone was wide eyed and staring at Ashley whom everyone besides her six dragonslayer freinds, Dilandau, and Folken had named insane, crazy, or unstable. Blinking, the slayers she recognized as possible 'allies' with her were all seated at a table, they didn't notice her which was a good sign. And if they did they didn't make it an effort to make her anymore uncomfortable. She looked over at Folken and he motioned for her to go sit.
" I'll get you and I some food and bring it over, go and talk to them." Ashley smiled at him. He was acting like a protective older brother, some how Ashley felt a connection that was more than freinds or adoptive sister brother. It ran through the veins, though no one was about to address the feeling. Nearly squeeling at the thought of talking to someone, Ashley wanted to know why everyone was staring at her. She knew it was her appearance, she knew her hair was all tangly but she had just come from the med-bay though she still didn't understand why she was there.
Practically running towards the dragonslayers she all but huggled them to death. She wanted to but didn't, for some reason she was happy to see them. They all smiled at her and Dallet scooted over to she could sit inbetween him and Guimel.
" Wow, Ashley how long you been out?" Gatti asked inbetween bites of his lunch. Everyone was watching the smiling girl as she just watched them eat.
" I just got out, which brings me to my next question. Why was I there?" Chesta nearly spewed his vino all over everyone, and Dilandau raised a silver eyebrow at this question.
" You mean you don't remember?" He said to her, he had a coy smile on his face as he cocked his head to the side. He was sitting diagonal from her on the other side. She nodded 'no' and his eyes practically bugged out of his head.
" Ashley, you totally freaked. You were practically beating yourself into the ground." Viole told her seriously, he was studying her to see if she was joking. But, it was clear she wasn't joking.
" You're joking, I did that... woah.. weird.. ya know and I don't remember anything about it." Ashley said, unconciously she rubbed the back of her head as it began to throb. "Though I have one hell of a souveneir." Ashley joked, some of them chuckled though still shocked.
" Selective Amnesia." Guimel said, everyone turned to him and he took it as his cue to continue. " Selective Amnesia, very common in cases like this. You must've seen something horrifying to have beaten yourself up, but then again you did die." He was more or less talking to himself more than them. He put a finger to his chin and started to tap it thoughtfully.
" I..I died.." Ashley said, blinking.
" Yeah, after you quite convulsing, you like died. You stiffened. Millerna was there and started doing CPR. She had to use Van's shirt to..um..cover you.. and she had Dilandau-sama breath air into your lungs. They tried for two hours, then they quit only because Allen dragged Millerna off of you. Then like an hour later you came back, you like lurched forward suddenly and started coughing. It was scary, though we were happy you were alive. After that you went to tell us something but fainted." Ashley thought about this and blinked, then everything started coming back to her in one big event. He head exploded as the pain in the back of her head grew bigger and bigger, until finally it burst. Slowly she let unconciously let her hands creep up her face, Ashley grabbed her head and curled her fragile fingers into her dark violet tendrils. Her eyes squeeezed shut as the memories came rushing back, flash by flash she was remembering. And boy did it hurt, she threw her head back and screamed long, hard, and high pitched. The dragonslayers were scared by now, a loud crash of plates were heard as Folken came running out. He saw Ashley shaking and screaming. Gatti grabbed her left arm and pulled it from her hair, as Dallet took her right arm. Her legs started kicking an she wouldn't stop screaming. Tears of pain rain down her face, remembering things this fast can actually damage a persons brain beyond repair. Guimel took her leg leg as it started jerking back and forth as Chesta took her right leg. Folken was at the doors of the mess hall as the guys took the screaming girl back down to the med-bay.
A doctor had the dragonslayers put the girl on the bed, he looked at the poor girls before strapping her down to the bed. She was still screaming, her eyes were open though tears were streaming from them. Her screams were starting to subside and all that came out were choked sobs and her body quit convulsing.
Ashley now knew everything, she breathed in a shaky breath as she felt the doctor stick a needle into her arm. Suddenly feeling very tired she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Folken looked tiredly around the room that was filled with Ashley's six freinds, half freind half enemy, three nurses, two doctors, and himself.
" What did you all tell her?" He asked in a quiet in calm voice.
" We told her what happened, she asked so we complied." Chesta answered confused.
" FOOLS!! Receiving information about a horrifying experience this early and fast can make a person go insane. She's lucky she handled it better than normal people." Folken told them, though he was slightly angered, didn't these fools know anything. He turned towards the doctor and the poor man almost coward in fear. " How long with she be out?" He asked, the doctor straightened himself and answered.
" About four hours at the maximum, its whenever she chooses to wake in the time being." Then the doctor left, Folken pinched the bridge of his nose and looked around at everyones face finally landing on Ashley's.
' It has been a long time since I've seen her. I will not have something like this take my sister away.' Folken said to himself gazingly adoringly at his sister.
" We will go and train, Folken alert my worried men when she awakens. " Dilandau said, walking out of the room. He was using his heartless bastard facade and so far it was working. He did care for her well being just chose not to show it.
Folken turned back to Ashley after everyone had hesitantly left, he couldn't beleive it. He had gotten a blood sample the doctors had taken from Ashley while she was unconcious the first time. They ended up doing blood tests and found out that her blood was very closley related to Folkens. He did have a younger sister, one year after his brother Van was born, his mother gave birth to another baby, a girl. Folken was ecstatic that day.
~Flashback~
Folken stood in the room in front of his father whom was holding the tiniest baby he had ever seen. The baby was wrapped in a pink blanket and wondered why since the baby was most likely a boy. His father turned to him with a large grin on his face, he was so happy.
" Folken, I'd like you to meet your new baby sister." He said proudly, Folken's eyes bugged out of his head at the word 'sister' Now he had something to protect, other than his little brother, but he wouldn't need protection any longer.
"What is her name?" He finally asked, his father looked at their mother Varie. She had sweat beaded on her eyebrows and underneath her eyes.She smiled weakly and answered them both. " He name is to be Kurai Murasaki, because of her hair." Then everyone leaned closer, she indeed had dark violet hair.
" So it is to be so, I christian thee, Kurai Murasaki de Fanel." Folken liked the name had a nice ring to it.
~ End Flashback one~
Folken watched his sister sleep as he thought about the day she had to leave because of her gift, she was only three then.
~ Flashback~
Kurai had just turned three two days ago, her shoudler length dark violet hair hung loosely around her. She hated dresses, and her mother knew this and decided she could wear pants until she became of age. So, right now Kurai was dressed in a pair of black leggings that were tucked into a small pair of black boots that went to mid calf and had a flat soles on them. Her dark violet top was exactly like Van's, she looked up to him and Folken so she had to have shirts made like theirs.
Her large violet eyes scanned the feild for her brothers, she couldn't find them anywhere. Soon she found them playing together under some trees, squeeling in delight she ran towards them and latched onto Folken right leg while her older brother Van had his left hand trying to pull him foreward.
" Folkie.... Van.. pway wif meh!!" Kurai cried out, her violet eyes held the innocence she would forever hold. That was when he heard their parents talking about Kurai.
" Varie we can't just send her to some planet without a guardian!!" Gou exclaimed, he was jsut as worried as she was about their daughter gift being told ot enemy countries who would most likely kidnap her for their own purposes.
" That is why I was going to send someone with her." Varie explained to her husband. Yes, this would be harder for her but it was for the well being of her child.
Folken looked down at his sister and was appauled at the thought of sending her away. True he knew she possessed the gift of telling the future and sometimes he didn't like what was being said. Though he could never help it, what she sees is what she sees. Though what they didn't know was that because of her gift she could twist the future to her own will. Whatever she wanted would happen, if she wanted it to rain cows tomorrow it would happen.
~ End Flashback~
That year his sister had dissappeared in a column of bright light, he had lost the battle of the great dragonslaying, ended up joining Zaibach, his father died, his mother died after leaving to find him, and Van became an awaiting King at age Five. Folken sighed, now that he thought about it, his father died because of a broken heart. He might of died because of her being sent away, then he was forced to do the dragonslaying ritual which turned him away from Fanelia and into Zaibach's awaiting arms, and that made his mother commit an odd form of suicide which led to Van's corrination.
Looking down at the peaceful face of his sister he sighed, though this was not her fault. Yes, she could twist fate and destiny at her very whim, but what three year old tells it to make her family miserable?
Dilandau sat on a set of wooden bleachers while he watched his men train, his mind wouldn't get off of that girl. Her screams, they were horrifying, even for him the great pyromaniac who loved to hear people screaming in agony thought it disturbing. It was very disturbing, it was almost like someone was tearing up her insides or something. He would never forget the first time she went into one of those fits. He was almost scared, yes he the great Lord Dilandau of the great Dragonslayers was scared. Then to make matters worst the second time she went into it, he had created it, he had hurt her and it was only because he brought the memory back. Yes it was all of them, but he was the one who taunted her, who said ' You don't remember?' which practically gave dead away to questions they shouldn't have answered.
He should have left the question alone, his men should have left the question alone. He didn't even think about the other Dragonslayers who had no idea what the hell was going on. All they knew was that the crazy girl was screaming and crying out of the blue. Growling Dilandau shook his head, but he couldn't quit thinking about it.
' Geez, I can't even watch my men train without her popping into my hed.' He growled to himself and let his eyes turn into slits. ' This is not good, definately not good.' He told himself rather harshly.
Folken stayed by Ashley's side until she woke up which was three hours later, she must've been exhausted from the memories that came rushing back to her, and so quickly. Ashley opened her eyes to see the blinding white light again, laughing to herself she croaked out still with her eyes closed.
" De'javue." Ashley laughed and opened her eyes again, turning to Folken whom she knew what there from the beginning. He was staring at her intently Ashley blinked wondering what was up. " What, did I die again?" She asked slightly joking about her earlier spell. He smirked a little bit and just kept looking at her.
" Ashley, there is something I need to tell you." He started off, then Ashley blinked, nodding it was his cue to continue. " This may seem hard to beleive but recent blood test revealed that you are my sister." Ashley blinked, then rose an eyebrow. Scrunching her nose up she tried to process this information.
" Man, I learn something new everytime I wake up..maybe next time I'll find out I'm pregnant." Ashley laughed though she was disturbed. She was Folken's sister, though she lived on Earth.
" But, there's more." He trailed off and Ashley nodded for him to continue. " Van, is also your brother and mine." Ashley blinked at this while her violet eyes grew darker.
" You mean to tell me, you are trying to destroy your brother!! And then you kidnap me and practically make me switch sides!! I can't beleive this!!" Ashley exclaimed she was rather peeved. Though as time went on she calmed down and figured there to be a good explanation.
" No, I did not. At the time we did not know you were mine and Van's sister. If I would have known I would have told Lord Dornkirk to screw himself with fate and left you on Earth. Then probably after this war was over I would have brought you back to live with your true family." He explained. Ashley thought about this a moment before swallowing hard. She studied Folken's it had no barriers and he was just looking at her. All emotion and brotherly love stamped on his face. Ashley soon smiled then looked at his confused face. " So Van's my brother eh? Damn, why are the cute ones always related to me or taken?" Ashley laughed as Folken nearly choked on his words.
' Wait, if i was sent to Earth because no one would be able to get my gift, then wouldn't they change my name?' Looking at Folken Ashley bit her bottom lip before asking her question.
" What's my real name?" She asked him, he smiled down at her as he stood up before answering her.
"Your full name is Kurai Murasaki de Fanel, and your title is the Princess Kurai Murasaki de Fanel of Fanelia." Ashley thought about the words and they seemed to fit her. Thinking about what he nem meant she almost laughed, how obvious?
" Dark violet? man, mom really had a nack for naming people." Ashley mused thena nother thought struck her.
" Where are our parents?" Ashley asked, then turned because she noticed that a draft was coming in the room. But, what she didn't expect to see was Dilandau's scowling face practically swearing a painful and horrible death.
Dilandau couldn't beleive what he had just heard, this girl was related to Van Fanel, she was related to the dragon. So that would explain her being able to see the future. She was a descendant of Atlantis, she was cursed by the dragons, the mystical draconians. Plus, she is the Princess of Fanelia. He glared at Ashley through slitted eyes and Ashley was quite taken back by this.
" D-Dilandau what're you doing here?" She asked him, he only ignored her and turned to Folken.
" I was wondering when I could attack the dragon?" He asked, Ashley blinked and looked at Folken. Whom he felt like he didn't even know anymore, all this time the man claimed to be Folken Strategos. But was really Folken Laquor de Fanel of Fanelia.
" Now if you like." Was all Folken said, Ashley just blinked. How dare this guy, her brother, do this to his own family. As soon as Dilandau left Ashley lashed out.
" You ass!! What in all the fucking hell are you doing?!? That's your brother!! didn't we just go through this conversation!!" Ashley cried and glared at her newly found brother. He just laughed and looked at her with wicked crimson eyes.
" I may have a brother and sister, parents, but the day the dragon took my arm was the day Folken Fanel died! My family is Zaibach and these soldiers!" He exclaimed, and in a hurry he turned awayHis cape billowing angrily behind him. Ashley just blinked, this couldn't be right.
Getting up off the bed, Ashley ignored the dieing pain at the back of her neck she needed answers. She needed to know why she was given up, why the people she was given too changed her name, and what her parents were like. Ashley ran as fast as she could to catch up with the fast walking Folken. He was almost to his library when Ashley grabbed his arm. Standing in front of him she was breathing heavily and trying to catch her breath.
" I have a few questions to ask you." She said and watched him as he rose a pale blue eyebrow. Then a thought came into her head, ' why does every kid have different color hair?'
Note* Just so you know, I'm going to be calling Ashley Kurai from now on. It is her real name after all. Anyhoo continueing with this fic.
Dilandau was in his melefs cockpit waiting when the time was right, it was slowly getting darker by the minute and couldn't wait until he could destroy something. His stealth cloak made him invisible to anyone though once he started burning things they would most likely see his melefs arm. Dilandau continued to wait, he couldn't stand it, waiting was not one of his best subjects.
" Sir, what are our orders?" Viole's firm voice came over the intercom. He couldn't wait to get this over with, he wanted to know if Ashley was ok or had woken up yet. Yes, Dilandau left to check on her but when he came back he seemed to be fighting with himself and ordered everyone to get in their melefs and head out.
" Wait until I give the signal, we'll try and smoke out Escaflowne." Dilandau said, his crimson eyes gleamed at the thought of fire. So hot, wild, filled with rage, fire was the element that representated everything Dilandau was. He loved fire, though being a pyromanic has its own problems, like the time he caught his first bed on fire.
Dilandau sat and waited until it was completely dark, smirking he moved his melef towards the city. " Alright now attack!!" He cried out with glee, though some where in the back of his mind he couldn't help but think about the new information he had on Ashley, or should he say Kurai?
Kurai sat down on a black plus couch near the fire place of Folken's library, though only moments before she was known as Ashley. Smirking to herself, she always felt the named didn't suit her and now knew why. Though, she couldn't get he way Dilandau looked and acted around her, had he heard she was related to Folken and Van? Was he made? did he hate her? All the questions raced through her head as she tried to think about it.
' So what if he hates me. It's not like I like him, much less love him.' Kurai said to herself, she almost laughed outwardly at the though. Her in love with him, then the idea struck her, what if she was?
" What're you doing?" Folken asked, he came back in with an outfit for Ashley to wear.
" Nothing, just sitting here thinking." Was her non-chalant reply, he laughed to himself.
" You shouldn't do that so much you'll hurt yourself." Glaring at her newly found older brother she took the cloths from his out stretched hand and began to walk towards the an area to change when she looked down at the clothing and stopped.
She recognized the whole outfit, it was the same style outfit she wore before she left for Earth. It was the outfit she insisted on wearing only because Van and Folken wore one like it. Van's was always red tank top, khaki pants, and dark brown boots with matching gloves. Folkens was blue, like a cobalt blue, Kurai loved their outfits. So, her mother took her to the seamstress and the woman asked what colors she wanted. She picked black and violet, she evern got a pair of khaki pants with deep mahogany colored boots.
Turning back to look at Folken she smiled, he had remembered, even when she didn't he did. Turning to go change she quickly, and happily took off the gown and put on the tight black leggings, her dark violet tank top that had black stitchs near the neck, and pulled on the black mid-calf boots. Happily she all but ran over to her brother and smothered him in a large hug. Folken smiled and patted her head, holding up a hairbrush Kurai sheepishly took it and began to brush her hair.
" Ok, ask your questions." He told her, Kurai nodded and began.
" Well, what were mum and dad like?" Kurai asked, Folken sighed and closed his crimson eyes as he began to remember.
" They were wonderful, Gou Fanel was the name of your father. He died the same year you left, so did mom. Her name was Varie, very beautiful, she had long waist length dark green hair. She had crimson eyes like me and Van, though father had jet black hair and deep red eyes like mothers. They were a match made in heaven." Folken said, he opened his eyes and saw that Kurai was confused.
" You say green hair and red eyes?" She mused to herself. ' So it was my mother who was warning me.' She felt tears of joy that someone cared for her seep into the corners of her eyes. Folken nodded his head slightly confused but left it alone.
Standing up Kurai ran a hand over her stomach before she smelled the familiar smell of smoke. Frowning she turned to Folken who was already as a window looking down on Austuria. Walking hesitantly over to him, she saw it, Austuria was burning and the black smoke was rising quickly. She could almost make out the distinct shouts of fear, worry, and anger in the voices of Austuria's people. Her violet eyes went wide as she noticed that the first were starting by themselves, she couldn't beleive what was happening. Kurai felt the Vione rock and knew they were takin flight, it was horrible, the black smoke seemed to be all that she saw. Turning away from the window, she set her face into an emotionless mask. Her brother was no longer in the room and she figured he'd gone to see what was happening.
Kurai found her way to the melef bay, she had stopped off to her room earlier and gotten her mp3 player and was currently listening to 'StarChild'. (( gotta love that song)) She had her eyes closed and the music was turned up all the way. The bass was set to the econd level so it was like booming in her ears. She could barely hear anything, swaying her body to the rythem of the music she began to chew her melon flavored bubblegum occasionally blowing bubbles and head banging to every thump in teh techno music. She barely heard the rather loud hanger door open, and her freinds melefs come in. She stopped chewing on her bubblegum. the high pitched voice of the woman singing the song blarred through the large room and everyone could hear it, it's surprising she hadn't blown an ear drum.
Dilandau had had enough of this inferriorating music and walked up to her, her head still boobing as she rocked her body in tune with the fast beating music. Growling furiousoy when he tried to tell her to turn it down she just ignored him. Then without thinking he practically ripped the mp3 player out of her hands and fumbled around with it until it turned off. Kurai was pissed off, though held it in and counted to ten, seemed like Dilandau was in a pissed off mood and she didn't want to go and make it worse now would she? Glaring at Dilandau she still hadn't forgotten about his little stunt earlier, she still hated the way he glared at her through slitted black pupils.
" What was that for!!" Kurai tried to keep her voice down but it wasn't working, for some reason he got her all worked up.
" Aw, is the little princess mad?" He just taunted her, Kurai clenched her fists and wished she didn't have a concious or else she would have hit him by now. He was really hanging on her last nerve, the funny thing was that he knew exactly how to push her buttons.
" No, but you will be when I have my foot up your ass. What's your problem?" Kurai said calmly, she happy with herself, and it showed in the wicked grin that was growing on her face.
Most of the dragonslayers that had gone with Dilandau had left, Kurai gave her mp3 player to Chesta to take back to her room. She smiled at him kindly as he nodded and left the hanger. Then the fighting started.
" What doy ou mean what's my problem? You're my problem!!" He screeched at her, his eyes were growing darker as each word let his mouth and his right eyebrow was twitching.
Kurai's blackish purplish eyebrows rose into her hairline, so she was his problem eh? Wel now she was just about to get worse. " Well maybe I wouldn't be your problem if you weren't such an ass!!" He voice grew louder and louder with each word and it echoes off of the metal of the melefs and the walls of the hanger. Dilandau just smirked and cocked his head to the side as he steped towards her. Glaring Kurai stepped back until she was against the wall of the hanger and Dilandau was meerly two steps in front of her.
" Well, at least you've finally got what I am into your thick girly head." He said to her in a more calm voice, this seemed to piss of Kurai even more, growling low in her throat she went to open her mouth to yell a profanity at him. But, when she tried she couldn't for he had quickly closed the distance between them and had his pale lips crushed forecefully against hers. Blinking she just stood their rigid and stiff, Dilandau was looking into her eyes, his fiery crimson eyes bore into her own wide violet ones and he smirked against her lips.
' Well at least she shut up.' He thought to himself, as he leaned back he wasn't prepared for what was happening next.
Koori: What will happen next? Will Kurai helplessly fall into his arms and kiss him to death, or will she do something else. mwuahahaha I'll have to get back to you in the fifth chapter for you to find out, Ja Ne... oh did you like the fact that she was Folken and Van's little sister..I did.. lol..bai!!