How Do You Love

By Infinitis

AN: This will probably be my last chappie of the first part. Oh well, started a little late I guess. ^_~

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Thanked Reviews

Minicheez- THANK YOU that you FINALLY reviewed. I guess you're not a lazy bum after all... But you're still a slacker! ^.~ Mutton!

Redflye- It was really cool talking w/ you by e-mail! Thankies! ^.^

Naouki- o^_^o (blush) Thanks!

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Chapter 9 (WOW nine already!): From the forest to Fried

"I guess they're still looking for us." Dillandau said softly. "We better run again." A loud groan of objection came out of Celena's throat.

"My legs still hurt!" But Dillandau took off holding on Celena's hand before he could answer.

"Complaints later, Celena. We have to get out of here quickly." They ran though familiar paths, jumping over every vine and ducking under branches. The guymelef noises grew louder.

"We're surrounded!" breathed Celena

"But we can still make it." Said Dillandau reassuringly.

Celena hoped this was true. But once she was in thought, the young woman didn't notice a low hanging vine. Bang! She tripped over the vine and Dillandau, still holding her hand, fell backwards. The Albino hastily stood up and helped the girl back onto her feet. They started to run, but it seemed slower then the last time.

"Come on, Celena! Faster!" Dillandau turned his head to her. Celena was limping and her face was full of hurt. Before Dillandau could stop for her, she fell again. The young man came to her to help her get up, but she pushed him away.

"Dillandau, why don't you save your own skin? Just leave me here! I'm only bringing you down." She said with a frustrated face. The boy ignored her and picked her up. Dillandau carried her while he ran again.

"You know, Celena. I have a mission to bring you to your brother. I don't care if you don't want to cooperate. And remember, I promised not to (A hole was right in front of them) leave you alooooooooooone!" Dillandau and Celena screamed as they fell into the dark hole.

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"They disappeared again, sir!"

"D*** it! How could they disappear that that! It's like they use magic just like those Zaibech Sorcerers!"

"You mean Ziabech Scientists?"

"The names are the same to them. They use science to progress, but they use magic to make it work."

"What shall we do, sir?"

The chief guymelef pushed the guymelef of the younger pilot to the ground.

"I don't tolerate insolence! Look for them till your eyes burn of straining! NOW!" The chief yelled to his small group of guymelefs. They nodded in respect and started once more. The sun was slowly making towards the horizon.

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Thump! The two finally made contact with the ground. It took awhile for Celena to come out of it. When she got up, Dillandau seemed to be nowhere in sight. Celena kept on wondering through this darkness and somehow met a low ceiling. She rubbed her head to find out her bandage was gone also. The girl crouched to the ground retracing her steps to look for it. When suddenly, through the darkness, she was face to face with a whisker nosed mole-man with glasses and buckteeth.

"Ohhhhhhhhh! Sapphires!" He exclaimed with his cheeks and tried to grab her face. Celena screamed as hard as she could.

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Dillandau woke face up towards the opening of the hole. The ground started to shake and a big guymelef foot covered the opening. Quickly, the Albino rolled to the side so that he could be out of sight. Once he was about to get up. His foot slipped of a ledge and landed face first into... stones? He got up finally to see this sight through the darkness. When his eyes got used to the dark, he spotted a sheath. And within that sheath was a sword with intricate dragon designs. 'This might have been a secret tunnel for thieves, so it probably doesn't really belong to the person who stays here. I guess I'll take it. Might need it someday.' Luckily he found a leather strap trimmed with gold to hold it onto his hip. Dillandau turned around and looked at it. 'Not bad! I probably look better then Allen Schezar himself, ha ha!' When suddenly he heard a scream, much like Celena's. With an angry look on his face, Dillandau got onto the ledge he fallen of and started to look for the girl.

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"Get off ME!" Celena yelled, a little horse from her scream. She kicked at the mole-man's face. He rubbed his tiny red nose.

"All I wanted was those gems of yours. You didn't have to be so violent."

"VIOLENT!? You were grabbing at my FACE! Those GEMS were my EYES you nitwit!"

"They can't be your eyes. They're too shiny and beautiful for YOUR face." He tried to grab her again. But a sharp edge was pointed at his neck.

"Get off her, NOW!" Dillandau said crossly at the mole-man. The mole-man backed off. He slowly looked at the blade to the Albino.

"Well, well, well. You found Emeous's famous silver dragon sword. You can have it; they say it's cursed. Made it's owner go mad and killed his own..." Dillandau poked the mole-man in the neck again, only a little harsher.

"Who did you say had this sword?" The Albino asked

"Haven't you heard of the legendary Emaous Albatou? He was a great..."

"Yes, I know my own so-called father. Now why do you have his sword?" 'What? Dillandau is the son of Emaous the Insane? But I heard he killed him!' Celena thought

"You...you can't...you can't be his son! He killed him out of insanity!"

"Well, I'm alive and well thank you very much. Now tell me, did you steal this from my father?" The young man deepened the poke.

"I didn't steal it! Really! Someone threw it away and I took it! I swear!"

"Really and truly?" Dillandau eyed him, looking for faults.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Fine then." He sheathed his sword and started to walk away. "And for correction. It was the death of my mother that drove him to his 'limits'. Now goodbye. Come on, Celena." The young woman ran to catch up with the Albino.

"Wait!" The mole-man exclaimed. The two stopped in their tracks.

"What's your name Miss?" Mole-man asked. The Noble woman turned to face him.

"Celena Schezar"

"If you are seeking your brother Miss Schezar, he lives this way." Mole- man pointed in the other direction of the tunnel.

"I must be pretty well known, huh?"

"Known throughout all Gaia, Miss. May I lead you the way?" Mole-man asked. Dillandau rolled his eyes and nodded his head. The Mole-man lead while Celena followed. Dillandau was the caboose, lacking behind, hands in his pockets. He felt a round metal piece in one of those pockets. 'Must be money'

"Why has Lady Celena been gone for awhile?" Mole-man asked.

"Uhh, long story." Said Dillandau.

"I was asking the Lady, Son of Emaous the Insane." Said Mole-man

Dillandau's eyes were set on fire. "My name is Dillandau, NOT the Son of Emaous. Don't you even dare say his name in my presence. It brings back too many memories." He put a hand on his head as if trying to cover the hurt of the past.

"Lady Celena," Mole-man glared at Dillandau then looked at Celena. "Tell me. Why did you leave your brother?"

"I didn't mean to leave him. I was captured by the ZS along with Dillandau here. We just finally escaped out of their fortress."

"An escapee, huh? Well, if the Zaibech are looking for you now, Miss, I assure you this is the safest route."

"Sir," Celena asked. "Why are you trying to help us?" 'I bet he wants money for it, her whole house maybe.' Dillandau thought

"I know your brother well. But he knows me a little too well for my taste."

Hours and hours have passed within the walls of the tunnel. No one knew what time of day it was, so they kept on going. The two teenagers soon felt tired of walking. They insisted the Mole-man to stop and let them rest.

"If you want to get ahead of the Zaibech, I suggest you to NOT sleep. Were almost there to the border, I can feel it." He reassured the two. It took three more hours to stop at a dead end.

"We're here!" said Mole-man

"But it's a dead end, stupid!" Dillandau said sarcastically. Celena scolded him for such a remark. He stood in silence.

"You may think so, but your wrong Dillandau." Mole-man pushed on the ceiling with all his might and...it MOVED! He seemed to have a little trouble with it though.

"Can I have some help here?" Mole-man asked. The Albino rolled his eyes and helped him move the thing above them over. When the opening above them was big enough, they climbed up it. They were in a storage room of some kind. Mole-man had his chubby paw/hand out in front of them.

"Some reward for the help I gave?" He asked with a sly gaze covered by his dark-toned glasses.

"Uhg! I knew this guy wouldn't be cheap!" Dillandau grabbed Mole-man by the throat. "You want to help, but now your asking for MONEY?! How tacky are you?"

"Dillandau stop! This is not how you treat people! Now let him go, Dilly. At least he was kind to us to let us through his tunnel." Celena scolded. Dillandau released his grip, mumbling. "Now Mr. Mole-man, I would greatly give you a bargain. But you see, I don't have any money right now. So it will come later on." She said with a kind smile.

"Well then," he said rubbing his neck from where Dillandau held him. "Twenty bags of gold I would say." Celena got irritated. Her eye twitched.

"Ok, Dilly, knock him unconscious. He is cheap!" Said the once kind Celena.

"Told ya!" Dillandau grabbed a log and walked towards the Mole-man.

"No! No! Please don't! I don't like headaches! OK! OK! Just ONE bag, please!" Mole-man pleaded. Dillandau raised the log.

"Stop!" Dillandau halted. "Ok then, one bag it is." Celena bargained.

"Thank you Lady Celena! You are very kind!" Mole-man said with a sigh and gave a respectful bow. He quickly jumped into his hole again. The two started for the door. They opened it and walked outside to an alleyway.

"I wonder what town this is?" Celena asked curiously.

"Well, I guess we should better ask then."

Celena saw a sign for an inn and persuaded Dillandau to let their body's rest. They both went inside the muggy old place and started to walk for the welcoming desk. The inn went silent and people drinking at the tables stared at the two, mostly at Dillandau. Whispers grew amongst them saying 'Demon' 'Unwanted one' 'Angel with devil'. Dillandau ignored them and kept on walking. They came to the desk and there stood a scruffy looking plump man. Celena was the first to ask.

"Sir, my friend and I need some rest but we don't carry any money. May we stay one night out of grace?" Celena said sweetly, but the innkeeper stared at the Albino with discuss. Dillandau looked down with his hair over his eyes, crossing his arms in impatience and kept his mouth shut. Celena gave a dry cough. The innkeeper looked at the young woman. She gave a sweet smile and semi-batted her eyes. This made the innkeeper smile and chuckle.

"For a pretty face, I guess I will." His voice was deep like an ocean. He turned around and looked for a key. When finished, he gave it to Celena.

"You're staying at room 5, Miss, to the right. My name is Sed if you have any questions."

Celena thanked the man and headed to the room. But the innkeeper stopped the Albino from going any further.

"I didn't tell you that you could go with her. Anyways, I don't trust you. Now get!" Dillandau shot a glare at him, reveling his blood red eyes. The innkeeper muttered under his breath 'Demon!' The Albino swiftly walked away to the outside. The people turned their heads as he passed them.

Clouds covered the darkening sky. Merchants start to cover their goods with blankets. People stare as he passes. Dillandau ignored them and kept on walking. He suddenly felt a small rain drop. 'Just my luck, rain.' One old merchant saw the young man pass by him and eyed him closely through his chipped glasses. He shook his old head with pity. 'Poor boy, everyone seems to reject him.'

"Sir! Sir, would you like to buy a cloak on this cloudy day." The old man shouted to Dillandau.

The young man fingered the coin in his pocket. "Sorry old man, not today." He walks pass the man without looking. A warm cloak was thrown at his face. He grabbed the cloth and looked at the man who walked to him.

"It's out of charity." The man said grinning wide.

Dillandau lifted an eyebrow. "Why?" Then walked further on. The old merchant walked with him.

"Have you ever heard of grace?" the old man asked.

The Albino stopped and looked at him. "What's that?"

"What's what?"

"Grace"

The old merchant looked surprised. "You never...?" Dillandau shook his curious head. "Youngins' these days, tisk, they get more deprived every time I see them." He said while rubbing the back of his head then sighed.

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Celena finally found number five. A pretty good-looking room, but it's only fit for one. 'Dillandau could sleep on that couch.' She turned around to see him and saw no one in the empty hallway. The young woman wondered where he was. She approached the innkeeper who was cleaning tables.

"Sed, have you seen that young man who was with me anywhere?"

"Was HE with you? I told him to leave. He seemed to be scarein' my customers." He said harshly.

Celena didn't like what he said about Dillandau. Plus, she had a hunch that he didn't just send him away because he was scaring his customers.

Celena scowled at him. "How could you just send him away just because of his looks! If you treat people like that, I wont be able to stay here. Now excuse me, but I need to find a friend of mine." She pushed by the innkeeper and walked out of the door.

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The old man and Dillandau stood under a roof, outside of a bar, and away from the rain. Dillandau gladly put his new cloak on.

"So, what purpose brings you here to Fried?" asked the old man.

The Albino leaned against the wall and sighed. "What if I said 'It's a long story'?"

"I would still be curious about 'that long story'."

"Why are you interested? Why are you even talking to me? You might lose your integrity because you're talking to me, the 'demon'." He said a little harsh.

"Maybe it's because you reminded me of an Albino I used to know."

Dillandau's eyes widened. "Tell me more about this Albino."

"Well, a long time ago, I was growing out my youth, a small palely boy used to work for a rich family a little north of the country. He would always come to the market to get food that he never ate. For four years I saw him pass by, then he disappeared. That poor boy always seems to have a new bruise every time he came. Oh well, I hope that boy has a good life now. He's probably your age."

Before Dillandau could talk, Celena came running to him, soaked to the bone. She shook from the cold wind.

"Di...Dillandau, wha...where have you have yu...you BEEN? I was lo..looking everywhere for you! You almost sca...sca..scaahchoo!" she scolded, sneezed, sniffed, and rubbed her red nose. Dillandau chuckled and put his cloak on her to keep warm.

"I thought you were staying at that inn."

"Well, I cha...changed my mind. Besides, it sme..smelled funny." She lied.

"Well, well. The wondering Albino has a friend does he? So who is this young mistress?" The old man smiled at the young woman.

"My name is Celenaahhoooo!" She sneezed again.

"Hmmm, Calenachu? That's a peculiar name." He chuckled.

The young woman glared at him, thinking that it wasn't all that funny.

"OK, ok. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelins in any kind of way!" The merchant said, waving his hands as if trying to blow away the hot air Celena was making.

"Her name is Celena," Dillandau chuckled under his breath too.

"Oh, well then! That's a prettier name! So, how did you confront this young man here?" The plump man gave a small jerk, his stomach following.

"Dillandau and I..." Celena started.

"Dillandau, hmm. I'd say, that's a perfect name for you young Sir!"

"Thank you" he said abruptly, not feeling very proud.

"As I was saying," Celena started again. The whole story was long and monotonous. The old man fell asleep at the part where they were trying to escape. After that, the young woman stopped. She wouldn't blame the old coot, Celena knew herself that she was the worst storyteller. Dillandau shook the man and he started to mumble about cloaks and shoes, along with their prices.

"Hay, if you want to sleep, it would be better to sleep in your own bed, don't you think." The Albino proposed. The merchant tried to open his eyes and he started to get up.

"If you need a place to stay for a couple of nights, you could come with me if you like." He said yawning.

"We would be glad to!" Celena said thankfully, smiling that goofy smile she always does.

The rain slowly came to a halt and bits of stars shone out of the holes of the clouds. The old man walked and stopped at a little house in-between two big buildings. He took out a ring of keys and shuffled them to find a small one with a 'H' ingrained in it.

"What's with the keys?" The Albino asked.

"I'm just a merchant. I collect a lot of them. A hobby of mine." He slowly opened the door to a muggy living room. "Drat that rain! It always does this to my house." He mumbled. "This old fart is going bed now," he walked up some stares. "Don't be getting into trouble now!" He turned to see if they were paying attention. They shook their heads with agreement. "Go and make yourselves comfortable, good night." He smiled and continued to walk the steps.

Dillandau found some blankets and laid them on a couch. He sat on the ground next to it and closed his eyes. Celena goes to the young man and shakes him awake.

"Hay, why aren't you going to sleep on your couch?" she asked.

His eyes shuttered a bit. "It's for you..." and then he fell back to sleep.

The young woman just stared at him for a long time. A tear came loose from her eye and it slid down her soft cheek. 'Why do you do this? Why don't you say anything? You're playing with my heart, Dillandau! When are you going to stop?' She lifts up a hand, ready to strike him. But just then, the moonlight came out to play on Dillandau's features. Celena's hand stopped in an instance. Tears came out more freely, now. She retrieves her hand and let it rest on her damp face. 'I can't do it. I love him so much. But I just can't stand it anymore!' She got up and quickly ran to the door. Once outside, she leaned her back against the house. Celena took a couple deep breaths of the fresh night air. Her eyes grew heavy and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

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Celena woke up to the smell of a pipe. She noticed her surroundings and then found out that she had been sleeping outside. She got up, never noticing the merchant's presence.

"Well, well. So the sleeping beauty has finally awaken!" he exasperated. She turned to him, surprised.

"A sleeping what?"

The old man was sitting on a bench beside a basket filled with books. "My mother was a weird kind of woman. She told me stories that no one ever knew, like Sleeping Beauty. Mother swore up and down that she was from another place then 'this planet'. Everyone thought she was crazy, that's what caused her death." He turned and looked to the sky. Celena, saddened with pity, lowered her head in respect to her new-founded old friend.

"I'm sorry."

He looked back to her with a smile. "It's ok. She was a really nice woman. I bet she's somewhere better now."

Celena looked dumbfounded. 'I know this man for awhile, yet I don't know his name.' "Uh sir. What's your name?"

The old man jumped in realization at his own forgetfulness. "OH my! I'm so sorry! My name is Peter. I know you might think of it as a peculiar name, but my mother picked it out from one of her stories. By the way, why were you out here sleeping?"

"I...uh...just wanted some fresh air." She smiled a little goofy.

"Oh? It looked to me as if you where crying. What's wrong dear? Had a nightmare or somthin'?"

"I don't want to talk about it," she replied emotionlessly.

"Ok, you don't have to talk..." just then a loud groan and crash sounded off in the little house. Celena and Peter quickly ran into the house. Dillandau was lying on the floor, breathing rapidly while holding his chest. Celena hastily came to him and propped him on the couch's front. 'It's just like last morning.' She put her head on his shoulder and put her gentile hands on the place where his fist clenched. She hushed him and tried to make this 'nightmare' go away. But he still seemed tense. Celena then put her two hands on his shoulders and shook him.

"Wake up Dillandau! It's ok! Please, wake up!" Just then his eyes shot open. Red like blood being poured on a rising mourning. He swiftly unsheathed his sword and had its blade headed to the direction of Celena's throat. It stopped just a centimeter (Oh, the heck with Gaian measurements. I'm going with my own! Proud to be an American! ^_^ ) between her throat. He saw fear in her eyes. Then he slowly lowers his sword and puts it back in its sheath. He stands up as if nothing ever happened.

"I'm sorry..." was the only thing he said, then walked out of the house to nowhere. His eyes stare at nothing. Peter looked from Dillandau to Celena.

"Something is wrong, isn't there?" Celena nodded and cried again. She wept in her hands.

"He doesn't tell me anything! I can see he's paining. But he never wants me to know! Why?" she yells.

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I HAD TO STOP! 11 PAGES IS CRAZY! Plus, people are edgy. ^_^ Plz R&R!

Infinitis ;p