A/N: Well thank you to the 8 people who reviewed: MysticalDreamer, Feye Morgan, Emerald, Mad Meg Askevron, Crystal Alethia, FOX-SPIRIT AKA Y.V, Lady Laran, and Haze.

Feye Morgan- Don't worry, Allen and Van will pay for what they've done. It'll happen in the next chapter or the one after that. I'm not sure at the moment.

Mad Meg Askevron- I'll try to get around to reading one of your fics okay? Your esca fic looks interesting.

Crystal Alethia- *blushes*I feel honoured for cheering you up! I hope this update cheers you up once again.

FOX-SPIRIT AKA Y.V- I'm sorry it was short. Really I am! Well I don't have any ideas at the moment for you C/H fic but if I do I'll e-mail them to you.

Haze- *sigh* I've tried so hard not to make Louise seem like the bad guy but I guess I just can't do that. Well maybe after this chap you mind will change or maybe after the next chap. I'm not sure.

~*~*~*~

This is nothing new to me
It takes more than what you got
To frighten me
I'm not scared of you
There's nothing you can do
Or take from me

Untouchable
You think you're untouchable
You know
No one's untouchable

You're bound to lose the game
There's no one else to blame
You play so safe
And you're not risking enough
You are doomed to be undone
I swear I'll be the one
To bring you down
It's all your fault
Cause you got caught

It must be nice
To be so sure
And never feel insecure
It must feel good to believe
You're always right
And you're never wrong

You've got something to say
You say it to my face
And be a man about it
You got a problem with me
Don't go behind my back
Just like a baby

Pride comes before you take a fall
You'd best beware a woman scorned
Cause no one's untouchable

Untouchable by Garbage

~*~*~*~

Chapter 21: Untouchable

            The soft sound of a phone ringing woke Dilandau from his peaceful slumber. He muttered a few curses under his breath as he lazily reached for the phone which sat on the coffee table beside the couch. He sat up, leaning on his elbow before hitting the talk button on the cordless phone. "Hello?" he mumbled and rubbed away the sleep from the corners of his eyes.

            "Dilandau is Hitomi home yet?" Dilandau yawned and rubbed his eyes once more. "Were you sleeping?" Yukari asked slightly confused.

            "Ya, why?"

            "No reason. So is Hitomi home?" Dilandau moved the phone away from his face and shouted Hitomi's name. He waited and there was no reply. Confused, he got up from the couch and began looking around the house, starting at Hitomi's room. Empty. She was nowhere to be found. He couldn't even find a note from her or anything.

            "Nope."

            "She's not home yet?" Yukari asked baffled.

            "Nope."

            "Hmmm…. that's odd." Yukari muttered to herself.

            "What time is it?" Dilandau asked, too lazy to check himself.

            "It's ten you baka. And hey! Were you just ignoring the phone all night?" Dilandau blushed slightly, he had been ignoring it. He figured every time it stopped ringing Hitomi had picked it up.

            "How many times did you call?"

            "I lost count after the fifteenth time."

            "When did you start calling?" Dilandau was sensing something wasn't right. He knew something was wrong.

            "Since about five thirty, it was just after I finished eating. I left Hitomi at the mall-"

            "You left her there!?" Dilandau shouted at Yukari.

            "Ya! She's a grown woman! She can take care of herself!" Dilandau held his breath, trying to calm himself. "Dilandau?" Yukari asked in a softer voice. When he didn't answer she said his name again.

            "I've gotta go." He said quickly and hung up. He placed the phone down on the table, his anger and rage was beginning to rise. He had an unusual feeling that he knew what happened. Just as he was about to head for the door the phone rang. Dilandau sighed heavily and picked up the phone. "Hello." He barked.

            "Dilandau come to my office. I need to tell you something."

            "I don't have time for this right now Folken. Just tell me now." Dilandau's patience was wearing thin. All he wanted to do was search for Hitomi.

            "Some of the Dragonslayers spotted a pillar of light this evening. Witnesses say they saw a young women and man being taken away by it." This information confirmed Dilandau's fears.

            "I'll kill that dragon," Dilandau growled through clenched teeth.

            "It wasn't Van." This caught the albino by surprise. "It was Allen."

            Fanelia, a beautiful city cradled within a lush green valley. A peaceful country protected by dragons. However, the glorious castle wasn't exactly peaceful. Sudden bursts of yells could be heard outside the castle walls. "I can't believe you!" Hitomi yelled at Allen. He and Van had taken turns trying to talk 'sense' into Hitomi. "I'm not being brainwashed!" it was probably the tenth time she had said that very phrase.

            "Hitomi, you're courting Dilandau. Doesn't that seem odd to you at all?" Allen replied, keeping his cool. He hated having to raise his voice to a woman.

            "Maybe a year ago yes but not now. Allen, I love him." Allen sighed and rubbed his temples. "There's more to Dilandau than what meets the eye. And…and he's changed. He's not the same person he was during the war."

            "Hitomi listen to what you're saying. You're standing up for that albino psycho-"

            "He use to be your sister." Hitomi wasn't sure what else to say so she threw that at him in hopes he'd stop trying to 'de-brainwash' her in his words.

            "But they're separate people now."

            "Ya but if they weren't would you still want to kill him?"

            "This is off topic." Hitomi rolled her eyes laid back on the bed. She grabbed the closest pillow and covered her face with it. She was becoming more than frustrated with Allen and his attempts to change her mind. "Hitomi, this is for your own good."

            "How would you know what is for my own good?" she asked bitterly from under the pillow.

            "Hitomi-" she removed the pillow from her face and stared up at the wooden ceiling.

            "Allen if it hadn't been for Dilandau I probably wouldn't be alive right now. I guess you could say he saved me."

            "It was probably an act." Hitomi smiled to herself and shook her head.

            "No… no because I saw it all. No one looks like that when they see someone they hold dear to their heart dying…I should know…" tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Memories of witnessing the death of her younger brother flood her mind. Dilandau looked the same way she did when he found her barely alive.

            "Hitomi please-"

            "Go…just leave me alone."

            "But-"

            "Go!" Hitomi barked. Allen sighed and left. He'd return later with Van.

            Merle sat outside Hitomi's room on the roof. She listened to the entire conversation between Hitomi and Allen. When she heard Allen leave the room she jumped down and onto the balcony. Her blue eyes came to rest upon the laying figure on the bed. Her heart sank out of pity.

            "Hitomi…" she said quietly as she entered the room.

            Hitomi sat up quickly and could only wonder how Merle got into her room. "Merle how'd you-?"

            "I was on the roof. I've been listening all morning."

            "Oh…so are you here to 'unbrainwash' me too?" Hitomi asked already jumping to the conclusion that she was.

            "Nope. Actually I think it's kinda pointless what Van-sama and Allen are doing. Even Louise agrees with me. I can tell by the way you talk that you really love him. Love is just one of those things that can't be forced out of someone." Hitomi felt moved by the cat girl's words. Was this really the same annoying girl she had met when she first came to Gaea?

            "Merle…"

            "I hope he comes for you. What am I saying! He probably will!" Merle said in her typical cheerful voice.

            "Merle why-?"

            "I know this doesn't seem like me but I've changed over the past couple years. I think it's because of Louise. Her feminity is beginning to rub off on me I guess." Merle giggled. "Well I better go and eavesdrop of Van-sama and Allen. I'll see ya later!" Merle shouted as she exited from the balacony.

            "I must say he did a pretty good job at brainwashing her." Allen commented from his seat across from Van in his study.

            "How long do you think it'll take to free her of his power?" Van asked.

            "I'm not sure. Maybe a week or more." Allen sighed and slouched back in the chair. His sapphire blue eyes strayed from the young king to the open window. "I just hope it doesn't take too long…"

            Dilandau stood proudly in front of his Dragonslayers. It would be the first time in years that they would finally have a chance to fight. Folken had struck up a deal with Gaea to allow them to go back to Gaea and retrieve Hitomi. Their first stop would be Zaibach so they could get beck their glorious guymelefs.

            All sixteen of the teenaged soldiers stood perfectly still and awaiting the pillar of light to take them back home. It would be the first time in over two years that they'd be able to go back to place they had once called home. This would truly be a joyous occasion for them all.

            Folken entered the room, clad in a black suit. His black leather coat went just past his knees, concealing most of his body. Dilandau looked to the stratagos who gave him a nod. A grin tugged at the albino's lips. It was now time.

A/N: OMG! I updated! I'm so happy! Finding a song for this chap was pretty hard. The next chap shouldn't take too long to post since I already have a song for it. And I'm sorry if it's short, really I am! I'm pretty sure the next chapter will be long. If you want me to e-mail you when I update, leave your e-mail address or e-mail it to me at esca_chick@hotmail.com