Notes: Thanks to; Kya77, blue ice 2, Danielle, and Night of the Raven for reviewing chapter 3. Chocolate cookies for y'all

Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne it is copyrighted to Bandai/Sunrise... But I do keep Dilandau, Miguel, and Folken in my closet as pleasure slaves.... Yum

I yawned and stretched, as the early morning sun poured though my cell window. I closed my eyes and curled into a ball, Miguel's face came to my sight and I could feel my cheeks burning. What would Lord Dilandau do if he knew...As I closed my eyes a clanging jogged my brain. Duh, Kishira, you idiot Lord Dilandau is back today. My blanket was ripped off my body and someone picked me up by the hair, "Lord Dilandau's back, and he wants to see his little jail bird!" The hand shook and I bit my lip, resisting the urge to scream in pain.

The guard's companion grabbed my shoulder and they both hoisted me up and out of the cell and into the hall way. I was dropped unceremoniously onto the floor. I stood up and brushed myself off glaring at the guards, who where grinned amused, "Not so high-and-might now, are 'ya Dragonslayer?" He spat on the ground, at my feet and sneered, "Aren't you gonna run of to your Lord Dilandau?" He made a mock whining voice as I turned around, clenching my fists, wanting to jump and throttle the man. His mocking echoed down the corridor.

I turned around to face him; his companion put a cautious hand on the hilt on his katana, watching me warily. I just smiled at the guards, "One reason the Dragonslayers are chosen is that we are not afraid to kill," I gestured at the guard making the insults, "Unlike your friend here who's brain, and courage seem to be limited to taunting higher ranking soldiers."

The guard drew his katana as a warning, "I'd watch your mouth slayer, you're not the only ones in Lord Folken's favor."

I turned away, disgusted at the arrogance of the man. How dare he insult the DragonSlayers... bastard...I stepped slowly into the stairwell, feeling slightly nauseated. Does everyone hate us so much? And if they do, why?

Gatti clapped me heartily on the back as I joined the rest of the elites in front of Lord Dilandau's room. Miguel was conspicuously missing, "Guys, where's Miguel?"

Dalet looked at me hesitantly, then turned away, "He's... He got injured in one of the fights." It struck me how eloquent Dalet could be.

"Is he all right?" Sub-consciously I chewed on a nail.

Gatti opened his mouth, but any words were drowned out by Lord Dilandau's door sliding open. A faint moan issued from inside, startling me.

"Is everything all right? Guys, what the hell is going on?" I got no response, except for a swift push in the small of the back that shoved me into Lord Dilandau's room. The door slid shut behind me, "Guys..."

"Yuki is, is that you?" I jumped at the weakness in Dilandau's voice. Never in my 2 years of service for him had I ever heard him sound weak, never. "Damned doppelganger...." Dilandau's voice cracked slightly, "He never had to kill him...."

My heart leapt into my throat, "Did Miguel kill a doppelganger, milord?" Fearing what was coming next I tried to block Dilandau's words from penetrating my head.

"No... Miguel didn't do the killing," a harsh sob racked Dilandau's prone form, "Damn that doppelganger..."

I blinked back a tear that was threatening to spill over my face, "Is Miguel dead milord?"

Dilandau stood up from his desk and moved to my side, "Yuki... I'm... I'm so sorry..."

I was in a daze, barely paying attention to my surroundings, Miguel... How could you leave me? Miguel... Why... Why is Dilandau so weak? Why am I not crying for you? Why my love, why? I blinked as I felt a weight lean on my shoulder. I looked down on Dilandau clutching my arm, as if trying to recover some part of Miguel from it.

I pulled out of Dilandau's grip and backed silently out of the room, the power of speech still out of my reach.

My room became a safe haven for me and my thoughts over the next few days. I cried, laughed, raged and pondered in the safety of my room. My thoughts mostly were bent on revenge, my actions were mostly grieving.

Gatti or one of the others would try to console me but I would throw them out, a whirling mass of tears and fists. Chesta managed to calm me for a few minutes, and he told me something that did nothing but cool my rage for a few hours Dilandau why did you not let me hunt that damned doppelganger down? Why?! I sat and brooded in my room for days, before I was ready to face my friends.

A/N Well what do you think? Oops I never dedicated the chapter.... I'm gonna dedicate it to everyone who reviewed chapter 3, that would be Kya77, blue ice 2, Danielle, Night of the Raven and Tikia Thundaren.Thanks!

Amari