You Don't Need a Heartbeat to Follow Your Heart
Chapter 4 Plans
AN: Kenshin-style disclaimer, manga edition! A-hem: This one does not own Escaflowne. ;)
Instead of dashing to their Guymelefs as ordered, the Dragon slayers fidgeted, avoiding Dilandau's eyes. He glared at them--why the hell weren't they moving?
"Dilandau-sama..." As usual, Gatti was the only one brave enough to speak up against their angry commander.
"What?" The silver-haired boy snapped, glaring at him.
Gatti sighed, "Sir...how can we kill the Madoushi if we don't know where they are?"
As usual, Gatti was promptly slapped for being the voice of reason, too. And, as usual, he didn't seem at all phased by it, much to Dilandau's frustration. He fumed for a moment, but finally realized that the blonde Dragon Slayer had a point--none of them knew the location of the Madoushi. He frowned at Gatti, whose eyes seem to whisper, 'I told you so,' but admitted, "I...know we don't know where they are. But we'll find out!"
"...How?" Shesta asked, sensing that their commander's anger had ebbed for the moment.
That's true--how the hell are we going to find out where to go? Dilandau wondered. His summoned back the horrible memories he'd shoved away until now, but all he could recall was the sight of dark and dank cells and halls, needles, and an endless flow of pain. Scowling, he shoved the memories roughly away and glared at Shesta.
"Why don't you tell me?" He suggested venomously. The unfortunate truth was that all of his prominant memories of the Madoushi were snatches of horrifying experiences he's gone through at their hands--he really had no idea where their keep was.
Shesta blinked, taken aback by the question. Evidently, he'd expected Dilandau to have some smart solution to the problem at hand. "M-maybe Dallet remembers...?"
All eyes turned toward the brown-haired boy, who still lay on the floor with Dilandau's sword through his chest. For all the appearance of having been murdered, he was watching the others intently and listening to their conversation. A bit guiltily, Dilandau knelt beside him and glanced at the sword. "Dallet...?" He met the other boy's eyes.
Dallet smiled faintly. "I...it's okay, it...won't hurt....if you pull it out."
"You're lying," Dilandau sighed, "You said earlier you still felt pain."
"Dilandau-sama...." He winced, "I-I don't...want it there.....honest." He smiled again. "D...don't go soft...on me."
Dilandau smiled faintly, himself, as he said truthfully, "I think it's a little late for that now." Sighing, he gripped the sword hilt. Out of the corner of his eye he noted Guimel and Gatti averting their eyes. The blade came out even easier than it had gone in, and Dallet, with his eyes closed, didn't appear to have felt it. Sitting the weapon aside with a frown, the albino boy told the others rather loudly, "It's over, you can look now. Some battle-hardened soldiers you are..." In truth his fingers shook a bit, themselves, but he'd rather die than admit it.
"Dallet," he grew serious again--it was hard to look at the state his fallen Slayer was in and not get upset. "The Madoushi had you at their keep...do you remember where it is?"
Dallet dragged his eyes open and winced. "I was....only brought there....when they called me...to my body," he whispered, sighing. "I-I'm sorry....it all went so fast....f-forgive me."
Dilandau frowned, "Don't ask me for forgiveness you don't need."
Dallet sighed, eyes drifting closed. Those damned Madoushi, Dilandau thought, as the brown-haired boy winced again, clutching his heart. How dare they torture people and then hide away in the shadows! If I knew where they were, they would already be dead...
"Dilandau-sama...?" Migel ventured, kneeling near the albino boy.
Dilandau looked at him, a frown firmly fixed on his face. "What now?"
"I...have an idea," Migel glanced down at Dallet, who had quieted, and smiled an uneasy smile. "You might not like hearing it, though. I'm sure we're all thinking it, but I decided to speak up first this time instead of letting Gatti have it like usual." Behind him, Gatti made a strange face--halfway between thankfulness and surprise.
"Try me," Dilandau answered tartly, scowling. He'd just gone through the shock of one of his Dragon Slayers dying, then coming back from the dead, then collapsing, then having to kill him again with his own sword--he figured that anything Migel had to add couldn't possibly make his day any worse, no matter what it was.
Shrugging, Migel said frankly, "You're still a subject of the Madoushi, Dilandau-sama. Why don't you lure them out?"
Amazing, Dilandau thought bitterly, that he's actually succeeded in making my day worse than it was already. Those damned Madoushi! It's not like they come when I call them--what in the hell is he thinking? Raising an eyebrow, he asked the brunette Dragon Slayer dubiously, "What do you have in mind? They aren't on the Vione, so how the hell could I 'lure' them out of hiding, even if I knew what you meant?"
"I think I understand," Shesta said, coming over to sit beside Dilandau on the floor, too--it was getting a bit crowded there, actually. "Migel means that Folken-sama would have the Madoushi come and take you away if you weren't acting like yourself, Dilandau-sama."
Migel nodded, "Yes, and then we could follow them back to their keep, wherever that is."
Dilandau slowly blinked, this idea sinking in. That's right...they do come whenever I get rebellious, don't they? To 'adjust' me to Folken's liking... Damn them all! He looked at Dallet's pale face, frowning to himself. But if we don't do something...not only will Dallet never be able to die, but they'll eventually come and find him here, too! And then he might...turn out like me...
The thought alone made him shudder. No one but the Madoushi themselves should have to go through what they'd done to Dilandau. Certainly not Dallet, and especially not when he'd just come back for the sake of Dilandau and the other Dragon Slayers...
He sighed. He hated to do this, but... If we don't stop the sorcerers, no one will. For Dallet, myself and every other person whose fate they've toyed with, they will BURN...
"All right. If we play it right, it should work," he announced at last, looking up. His Dragon Slayers stared in shock. Normally if any of them had so much as brought up the Madoushi, nevermind doing such a thing as baiting them to take Dilandau away, they would have gotten backhanded. The silver-haired boy wasn't exactly thrilled with what he'd have to do, as being taken captive by the Madoushi was always a traumatic experience, but he'd do it if it would rid Gaea of the sorcerers once and for all. If it would free Dallet, and himself, from their clutches forever...
"But how are you supposed to act to convince Folken-sama there's something wrong with you?" Gatti asked pointedly, breaking the albino's train of thought. He wisely remained across the room as he added, "I mean, you already act fairly crazy, Dilandau-sama."
"Yes, thank you, Gatti," Dilandau glared at the blonde. Frowning thoughtfully, he glanced at all of the Dragon Slayers who had come over to be near him. They were sitting in nearly a perfect circle around him and Dallet, anxiously watching his expression. Wait, Dilandau blinked, an amusing thought surfacing. Could I possibly...? Oh, Folken would definitely believe I'd lost it... Slowly, a devious smirk spread across his face. "Everyone come over here and sit down," he ordered those still standing. "I've got an idea that's practically guaranteed to work..."
End Chapter 4
Heartbeat Akugi! Volume 3
Akugi #5
Gatti: "How can we kill the Madoushi if we don't know where they are?"
Dilandau: "Simple--we BURN THE WHOLE WORLD!! MWAHAHAHA!"
Dragon Slayers: (Sweatdrop) "Except ourselves...right?"
Dilandau: (Ignores them) "MWAHAHAHAHAHA...."
Dragon Slayers: "This does not bode well..."
Akugi #6
Gatti: "But how are you supposed to act to convince Folken-sama there's something wrong with you?" (Pointedly) "Can you get any worse?"
Dilandau: (Teary eyes) "That was cold..."
AN: Thanks for all of your reviews--it's always so cool to hear what my story made people think of! I hope the last chapter didn't get too melodramatic, eheh... Don't worry, the story's going to take a slightly more humerous turn for a bit... Until next time, then. Please review--I love feedback, that I do. =) (Can anyone tell I've recently bought myself the first two Kenshin DVDs?)
Chapter 4 Plans
AN: Kenshin-style disclaimer, manga edition! A-hem: This one does not own Escaflowne. ;)
Instead of dashing to their Guymelefs as ordered, the Dragon slayers fidgeted, avoiding Dilandau's eyes. He glared at them--why the hell weren't they moving?
"Dilandau-sama..." As usual, Gatti was the only one brave enough to speak up against their angry commander.
"What?" The silver-haired boy snapped, glaring at him.
Gatti sighed, "Sir...how can we kill the Madoushi if we don't know where they are?"
As usual, Gatti was promptly slapped for being the voice of reason, too. And, as usual, he didn't seem at all phased by it, much to Dilandau's frustration. He fumed for a moment, but finally realized that the blonde Dragon Slayer had a point--none of them knew the location of the Madoushi. He frowned at Gatti, whose eyes seem to whisper, 'I told you so,' but admitted, "I...know we don't know where they are. But we'll find out!"
"...How?" Shesta asked, sensing that their commander's anger had ebbed for the moment.
That's true--how the hell are we going to find out where to go? Dilandau wondered. His summoned back the horrible memories he'd shoved away until now, but all he could recall was the sight of dark and dank cells and halls, needles, and an endless flow of pain. Scowling, he shoved the memories roughly away and glared at Shesta.
"Why don't you tell me?" He suggested venomously. The unfortunate truth was that all of his prominant memories of the Madoushi were snatches of horrifying experiences he's gone through at their hands--he really had no idea where their keep was.
Shesta blinked, taken aback by the question. Evidently, he'd expected Dilandau to have some smart solution to the problem at hand. "M-maybe Dallet remembers...?"
All eyes turned toward the brown-haired boy, who still lay on the floor with Dilandau's sword through his chest. For all the appearance of having been murdered, he was watching the others intently and listening to their conversation. A bit guiltily, Dilandau knelt beside him and glanced at the sword. "Dallet...?" He met the other boy's eyes.
Dallet smiled faintly. "I...it's okay, it...won't hurt....if you pull it out."
"You're lying," Dilandau sighed, "You said earlier you still felt pain."
"Dilandau-sama...." He winced, "I-I don't...want it there.....honest." He smiled again. "D...don't go soft...on me."
Dilandau smiled faintly, himself, as he said truthfully, "I think it's a little late for that now." Sighing, he gripped the sword hilt. Out of the corner of his eye he noted Guimel and Gatti averting their eyes. The blade came out even easier than it had gone in, and Dallet, with his eyes closed, didn't appear to have felt it. Sitting the weapon aside with a frown, the albino boy told the others rather loudly, "It's over, you can look now. Some battle-hardened soldiers you are..." In truth his fingers shook a bit, themselves, but he'd rather die than admit it.
"Dallet," he grew serious again--it was hard to look at the state his fallen Slayer was in and not get upset. "The Madoushi had you at their keep...do you remember where it is?"
Dallet dragged his eyes open and winced. "I was....only brought there....when they called me...to my body," he whispered, sighing. "I-I'm sorry....it all went so fast....f-forgive me."
Dilandau frowned, "Don't ask me for forgiveness you don't need."
Dallet sighed, eyes drifting closed. Those damned Madoushi, Dilandau thought, as the brown-haired boy winced again, clutching his heart. How dare they torture people and then hide away in the shadows! If I knew where they were, they would already be dead...
"Dilandau-sama...?" Migel ventured, kneeling near the albino boy.
Dilandau looked at him, a frown firmly fixed on his face. "What now?"
"I...have an idea," Migel glanced down at Dallet, who had quieted, and smiled an uneasy smile. "You might not like hearing it, though. I'm sure we're all thinking it, but I decided to speak up first this time instead of letting Gatti have it like usual." Behind him, Gatti made a strange face--halfway between thankfulness and surprise.
"Try me," Dilandau answered tartly, scowling. He'd just gone through the shock of one of his Dragon Slayers dying, then coming back from the dead, then collapsing, then having to kill him again with his own sword--he figured that anything Migel had to add couldn't possibly make his day any worse, no matter what it was.
Shrugging, Migel said frankly, "You're still a subject of the Madoushi, Dilandau-sama. Why don't you lure them out?"
Amazing, Dilandau thought bitterly, that he's actually succeeded in making my day worse than it was already. Those damned Madoushi! It's not like they come when I call them--what in the hell is he thinking? Raising an eyebrow, he asked the brunette Dragon Slayer dubiously, "What do you have in mind? They aren't on the Vione, so how the hell could I 'lure' them out of hiding, even if I knew what you meant?"
"I think I understand," Shesta said, coming over to sit beside Dilandau on the floor, too--it was getting a bit crowded there, actually. "Migel means that Folken-sama would have the Madoushi come and take you away if you weren't acting like yourself, Dilandau-sama."
Migel nodded, "Yes, and then we could follow them back to their keep, wherever that is."
Dilandau slowly blinked, this idea sinking in. That's right...they do come whenever I get rebellious, don't they? To 'adjust' me to Folken's liking... Damn them all! He looked at Dallet's pale face, frowning to himself. But if we don't do something...not only will Dallet never be able to die, but they'll eventually come and find him here, too! And then he might...turn out like me...
The thought alone made him shudder. No one but the Madoushi themselves should have to go through what they'd done to Dilandau. Certainly not Dallet, and especially not when he'd just come back for the sake of Dilandau and the other Dragon Slayers...
He sighed. He hated to do this, but... If we don't stop the sorcerers, no one will. For Dallet, myself and every other person whose fate they've toyed with, they will BURN...
"All right. If we play it right, it should work," he announced at last, looking up. His Dragon Slayers stared in shock. Normally if any of them had so much as brought up the Madoushi, nevermind doing such a thing as baiting them to take Dilandau away, they would have gotten backhanded. The silver-haired boy wasn't exactly thrilled with what he'd have to do, as being taken captive by the Madoushi was always a traumatic experience, but he'd do it if it would rid Gaea of the sorcerers once and for all. If it would free Dallet, and himself, from their clutches forever...
"But how are you supposed to act to convince Folken-sama there's something wrong with you?" Gatti asked pointedly, breaking the albino's train of thought. He wisely remained across the room as he added, "I mean, you already act fairly crazy, Dilandau-sama."
"Yes, thank you, Gatti," Dilandau glared at the blonde. Frowning thoughtfully, he glanced at all of the Dragon Slayers who had come over to be near him. They were sitting in nearly a perfect circle around him and Dallet, anxiously watching his expression. Wait, Dilandau blinked, an amusing thought surfacing. Could I possibly...? Oh, Folken would definitely believe I'd lost it... Slowly, a devious smirk spread across his face. "Everyone come over here and sit down," he ordered those still standing. "I've got an idea that's practically guaranteed to work..."
End Chapter 4
Heartbeat Akugi! Volume 3
Akugi #5
Gatti: "How can we kill the Madoushi if we don't know where they are?"
Dilandau: "Simple--we BURN THE WHOLE WORLD!! MWAHAHAHA!"
Dragon Slayers: (Sweatdrop) "Except ourselves...right?"
Dilandau: (Ignores them) "MWAHAHAHAHAHA...."
Dragon Slayers: "This does not bode well..."
Akugi #6
Gatti: "But how are you supposed to act to convince Folken-sama there's something wrong with you?" (Pointedly) "Can you get any worse?"
Dilandau: (Teary eyes) "That was cold..."
AN: Thanks for all of your reviews--it's always so cool to hear what my story made people think of! I hope the last chapter didn't get too melodramatic, eheh... Don't worry, the story's going to take a slightly more humerous turn for a bit... Until next time, then. Please review--I love feedback, that I do. =) (Can anyone tell I've recently bought myself the first two Kenshin DVDs?)