Chapter Five

So here is my next chapter. I'll answer a question here from MysticalDreamer32 btw thanks for the questions, so I won't have to explain later

Q: Why did Alex just run out of the castle?

A: Alex us a very proud person and she's ashamed for Hitomi and the others—particularly Van—see her scars, chiefly the one with Dilandau's name. She's hurt and is too proud to show it. Also, she isn't exactly pleased with the situation, especially as Hitomi seeing her helpless; she has been a victim before but more recently she's been breaking noses to make up for whatever happens. She doesn't want anyone to see her weak or vulnerable.

Also, don't worry, it will still be an H/V romance, but I did make Alex get a very strong crush on him. Close to love, or love compared to boy/girl relationships she's known. I will try to put in some romance with Dilandau and maybe Folken or a mini-romance Gaddas. But don't worry V/H stays.

Disclaimer: inset witty remark here I do not own any characters except Aileen, Alex, and her brother. I also claim no right to the story plot.

On with the chappie!

I traveled down to the docks, the scent of fish stronger with every passing step. After leaving he castle, I'd searched for an outfit. I'd bought three things: the first was a black top, cut right above my belly with tight black leggings, with stylish knee, wrist and elbow armor. Secondly, I'd bought some footwear. My choice was a pair of strong mountain boots: they served a little like armor, where very durable and comfortable, and I could run easily in them. They were on sale and came with gloves. All the clothes were secondhand and the gloves third hand. But they fit and I fit in wearing them. To top it off, I tied my velvet ribbon across my forehead to keep the tiny beads of sweat from the heat out of my eyes. I liked the way that looked.

After stealing some money from a merchant and two villagers—just some pocket change mostly and a little more—I'd skimped to get myself another weapon. Something besides the beautiful dagger and katana I'd stolen. So what? I'm a thief, sue me.

The cheapest good-quality weapon was a durable long bow, strong and surely made. So I'd bought some bowstring, the actual bow, and some arrows: ten were hard flint steeled, five were tipped a little, made for trapping game, and then there were ten of the blunter ones. I'd also bought a sturdy quiver to keep them in.

Also, I'd stolen five more of the flint ones, a small seji, and some poison to dip the arrowheads in.

Life was bliss without electronic monitors and alarms.

My brother had taught me to steal. He said, there was no place where anything was free, and there would always be people who would cheat you; so take what you want and cheat them first.

I'd listened to those words, and learned. And now I was an exceptional thief. Now I lived those words, survived in the streets by them.

By that time, I trusted nobody. In that world, trust doesn't exist; just mutual fear and respectfulness to the leaders like my bro.

In the end, the difference between fear and respect doesn't really matter. Same results.

After arming myself, I'd decided to find Aileen.

Praying that she was still there I turned, avoiding a sweat slicked seaman and saw her closing up. From the smile on her face, I knew she'd sold well.

"Aileen!" I called out, my voice reaching over the din of people walking by. Fewer now that the sun was setting. "Aileen!"

She turned, pretty blond hair that had escaped its braid sliding over a tanned, thin face. Her face was a mask of surprise when she saw me. Then she smiled. "Hey! Alex right?" she inquired, waving me over. Her tongue fumbled a little with the foreign name, pronouncing it Alej, and I wondered what my accent with her name was like.

For that matter, how was I even able to speak their language?

Jogging the short few steps, I smiled. "Yeah."

She looked at my outfit, then her eyes slowly slid to my weapons. Blue eyes, clear as the sea, looked at me. "You're dressed like you're ready to go to war." The smile on her face was unsure, as though she couldn't tell anymore what sort of person I was.

I nodded, reluctantly. "I'm leaving this place soon. And I have Zaibach—"

She clapped a frantic hand over my mouth urgently. "Quiet!" she hissed, "Do you want everyone here to hear you?" she looked around, trying to decide what to do. Patiently, I stood still, my mouth closed although I did remove her hand.

"Come to my house," she said finally. "We can talk there privately."

"What about your parents?" I asked suspiciously. I hadn't escaped the Fortress only to be caught again.

"Father won't be home until late, and Mother is out on a trip with my baby sister. For her work, she travels a lot this time of year."

"Oh, I see." What now?

She began to walk briskly towards a bridge near the docks, motioning for me to follow. I shrugged mentally and did. After all, it's not like I could go anywhere else. I would return to the castle, when I could find something to say. I would not be a victim. When I returned, I didn't want pity.

Near the bridge, the stands thinned. The air smelled musky, deep, and I unconsciously rubbed my arms, feeling as though I was walking through a graveyard. The ground here was soft, making a sucking sound when I walked. I tried not to think of walking over rotting flesh and bones. The un-thought alone was making me ready to barf.

Aileen didn't seem to mind. She walked through this place as though she'd walked it all her life. Noticing my discomfort, she fell in step with me.

"Something wrong?"

"Uhh...this place..." I began, unsure, "did people die here? It doesn't feel right..." then I caught myself. "Sorry," I said quickly, "I didn't mean to disrespect your home or anything—"

"It's alright." She said, holding up a hand. "This place was where the ancient kings murdered those who betrayed the Crown. They tossed their bodies here like trash and burned. Later, during the war over fifty years ago, this city expanded and the gallows hill was made. But some say they can still feel the aura of death here."

"I see."

She smiled thinly. "We're here."

She gestured to a small cabin, made entirely of stone and built slightly into the bridge. The soil there was dark and rich, a few trees grew limply. The house itself was sturdy looking, and the flagstone was new.

"Neat." I said honestly. For all its simplicity, it was sweet looking, homely. Suddenly I felt sorry for myself, jealous of the mention of Aileen's family when I had none, sorry that I had lived so long like a stray.

"Thanks."

Once inside, I saw her house was practical and simple. The kitchen was small and homely; copper pots hanging from the walls and some spices in the air. It had a flat, small stove that seemed to run on a small purple stone on its side. "Cooking charm," Aileen explained. "Ma saved for years to buy it, mostly only the wealthy have it."

I nodded and looked around. The furniture was all wooden and strong with little thought placed for comfort except for a small pillow sown into the chairs. There were no couches and the fireplace was plain as well: tough black stone, mattered with soot, placed in the center of the living room. A broom stood in clear view.

I the center of the kitchen was a mirror. I quickly looked in it, taking care to hide my weapons. The bow I kept in plain sight, along with the dagger. When Aileen saw it, she smiled. "I have a sheath for the sword," she offered. "My brother's old one. It's a little dusty and the top is a little broken, but we sewed it up and you should be fine." She left to another room upstairs, blond hair bouncing.

Carefully, I concealed the seji behind my sword. A seji sword is small and slick, used only for close contact. The handle is short and blunt, the sword sharp on only one side. Once Aileen handed me the sheath, I muttered a quick but grateful "Thanks" and it was perfectly hidden. The poison was hidden in my pocket.

Aileen was sitting down and offered me a chair, "Sit." She said.

I sat. The hard wood bit into my back and I expertly hid a wince. Aileen smiled then regarded me seriously. "Talk."

I felt like a dog, with these orders: sit, talk. Smiling a funny half-smile I asked "How much do you want to know?"

"The weapons, let's start with that."

I shrugged and explained coming from Earth. Then I told her what Earth really was and she gasped. "Oh Great Goddess." She murmured.

"Who?" I asked, interested.

"Our Great Mother Goddess, Perselia. I come from the South, and am a Lek'tak. We worship the Mother Goddess and her five sons and five daughters." She pointed to a handsomely furnished alter in the room. "She rules over life, death, beauty, war, earth and sky." Then she began pointing to the smaller statue next to her. "These are her children and her sister Eiaman' ie is the goddess of sea, sailors and luck." She grinned at me. "Her designs are on the dagger."

I smiled. "Cool." I noticed with admiration how easily the strange words rolled off her tongue. For I, Eiaman' ie would sound more like Yeah-mon-ee and Perselia more like Purr-seal-lee-ahh. Aileen, I thought mournfully, said it so smoothly. But then, this was her first language. I hadn't noticed her accent before, but when compared to the native Austrian merchants, its was smoother and a bit more of a drawl, like speaking through honey and twice as sweet and silky.

She smiled at me. "Now tell me about you. About the Mystic Moon—earth—and what you did there. Start with how you know to use those weapons."

I easily explained the kendo my brother had done and that I'd mostly mimicked at home, and archery clubs I'd been a part of. Then went into how my mates had taught me to use a dagger.

"Mates!" she yowled, "You look WAY too young to have even one mate, let alone more!" her face was red from the exclamation.

I burst out laughing. She looked shocked. Through my wild giggles I managed to get out "You—got—me—all—wrong! Ha-ha!"

When I could breathe again, I sat up, feeling my hair messy, and said calmly: "By mates, I mean my friends, like in the gang. Don't worry, I've never had any farther than a date!" I sat back down. "That was good." I realized suddenly that I never really laughed.

Aileen blushed, and then she smiled at me. "So...? What then?"

"Well...from there it gets too personal. I'm sorry but...I'm not ready to share it." I'd told Hitomi about my gang and runaway life. Some of it was good—the friends, family I'd had with my gang, but later when I was placed in foster homes I kept running away to get back to them. Didn't matter in the end. From there on, it wasn't terrible.

Aileen looked a little sad and nodded. "Ok." She said in a small voice.

In return I stepped out of the uncomfortable chair. Awkwardly, she got up and started to make tea. I strode to the window and tipped back my head, staring at the darkening sky.

Aileen had convinced me to return to the castle. I decided to listen to her. Hitomi deserved an apology. I did my best to convince myself that going to the castle had nothing to do with seeing Van.

This time, I snuck in. Along with some deliveries I hid myself and viola. I slipped past, looking for the room where I'd been before. This way, there was no mistaking the pink knight.

My nostrils caught two scents. Van in one direction, Hitomi in another. I wrestled with myself for the better part of two minutes then went in Van's direction.

There he was. Walking across the room, probably coming from the upstairs. His face could have been a portrait. He reminded me of the Greek God Aries. He was so perfect. I licked my lips, glad that I'd brushed my hair.

He was closer now. Probably couldn't see me. Made sense. I could only see him through the stored light.

There was sweat on his face. Hair was plastered to it, upper lip wet. His lashes, so long, caught my eye, along with the smudges of dirt on his cheeks.

Now that his face was breathtakingly perfect, I saw how beautiful it was. I stepped out of the shadows.

"Alex?" he asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"

I didn't respond. Instead, I stepped up to him and placed my lips on his, pulling my body close.

When I was twelve, I went out with a fifteen-year-old boy named Josh. He'd come onto me. No, not like that. I was still a virgin. I meant major make-out and groping. So I used what I remembered on van.

I ran a hand through his hair, longingly. My lips pressed more desperately, intensely against his, he kissed me back, slowly. My thigh I rubbed against him, letting myself into his arms. My breast pressed against his body. I kissed his neck, licking it and drawing my tongue up to his lips, kissing him deeply.

He kissed back, breathing hard. His hand went down my back. Then he pulled away, clutching my hands as if shielding himself. "No."

"No?" I whispered, breathing hard. The skin on my throat and lips tingled from his touch.
"We can't, I..." he stopped. "I'm sorry." He let go o me, and at that moment I wanted nothing more than to kiss him, his hand, draw it up to my cheek.

I was going to cry. Unbelievable. I'd never cried over a guy or this reason. But he was waking something in me, something I'd never felt before.

Not like this.

I read his thoughts, it was hard but I felt a passing glimpse of Hitomi. For a split second—just that, and I felt terrible—I felt a rush of hate, of envy, at Hitomi. I bit my lip.

"Why did you run away?" he asked me, leaning against the wall. I could tell that he was wary of me but not willing to leave, curious maybe?

"I was ashamed."

"Of your scars?"

I looked straight into hi eyes. For a moment Van was caught, seeing how luminous they were. Were those, tears, clinging to the beautiful black lashes? "Yes."

"Who gave them to you?"

"Dilandau."

He cursed. "Where you—"
"On board? Yes, I was. And I saw your brother, Folken." His face tightened. "He helped me. A little."

"Did he help you escape?" I could tell that he was still torn over what he had learned about his brother. He was trying to justify him in a good way.

But I didn't lie. "No, I asked him, but he wouldn't."

He looked away. I felt something off him I couldn't name.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he said back. "Did you want to talk to Hitomi?"

"Yes, actually. And I wanted to apologize."

"To Gaddas?"

"Not really."

He smiled a little. "Maybe you should. You broke his arm pretty badly."

"I'm not really sorry."

The smile faded.

"Goodnight." I said. Footsteps sounded in the hall. Van started to leave.

"Hitomi is on the roof," he said, with a backward glance.

Van turned away, feeling torn. He had seen Hitomi and now he felt so strongly about her...but this girl had come. Alex. She was beautiful.

Were all the girls from the mystic moon like Hitomi and Alex?

Gaddas turned the corner and saw the same breathtakingly gorgeous girl from before. The same one who' broken his arm. Where did she learn to fight?

Gods she was beautiful. Once she got cleaned up and gained some weight she would be stunning.

Her eyes turned toward him. Gaddas forgot what he'd been coming down for. Her eyes were so bright. Shimmering like diamonds, teardrops caught on her startling black lashes. Her lips glowed. Her cheeks shimmered. He realized it wasn't make-up but her own natural glow. Her eyes seemed to have a light of their own.

"I would like to thank you," he told her.

She didn't seem startled, she just turned to face him fully, an eyebrow raised. He noticed that she stood with her right hip slightly jutted out. "For?"

Her stomach stretched as she did. Ok, just thinking of her stomach and what surrounded them was a mistake. "For breaking my arm," he said.

She was silent.

"New form of apology?" he quipped.

"I'm not really sorry."

He stared back at her. There was something going on inside her.

"Is Hitomi on the roof?" she asked.

"Last I saw she was running to her room." He replied. "Why?"

She gave him a slight smirk. "I need to apologize."

So, that was extra long. Wow. Review soon please, and so sorry for the long wait.