Chapter 17: Separation

"You did that on purpose." Dilandau growled. How did he know? Setsuna wondered. "I know you could do better than that so why…why did you give up?" She looked away from him.

"Dilandau both you and I know that if I was truly fighting at my best, you would be dead." Dilandau laughed. "So, am I worthy enough to come back or not?" Her voice was emotionless. He removed his sword from her neck and sheathed it.

"Grab your sword." He ordered Setsuna as he turned his back to her. A smile tugged at her lips as she picked up her sword off of the ground and sheathed it. Tika and Ami ran up to their friend as she began to follow Dilandau.

"Setsuna! Where are you going?" Tika asked. Setsuna stopped and turned to them.

"I'm sorry you guys, but they need me." She saw the sadness in their eyes. "But hey, maybe we'll see each other in the future." Small smiles formed on their faces as both girls hugged their friend tightly.

"Setsuna, just be careful. Don't go and get yourself killed ok." Ami whispered as she loosened her hug. Both girls backed away and watched their friend walk away from them.

When Setsuna was aboard the Vione, she was led back to her old room. It's good to be back, she thought with a smile as she closed the door behind her. But her smile soon faded as she remembered about Dilandra. She couldn't leave Earth without her. Just as she was about to open the door, someone the other side did. There in front of her was Folken.

"You need not worry Setsuna. We won't leave without her." He told her in a gentle voice. "It's too late to be going out so you may retrieve her in the morning." Setsuna was ready to protest but quickly changed her mind. After Folken left Setsuna got an idea in her head. She opened her door and went across the hall hoping to find Dilandau there and of course he was.

"What do you want?" Dilandau asked as he went to put on the jacket of his armor. Setsuna smiled at him slyly.

"I just want to take you out on the town to show you how we have fun on Earth." Setsuna answered as she approached him. Dilandau rolled his eyes. The only thing he found fun was fighting in a battle. Setsuna wrapped her arms around his neck forcing his head close to hers. He knew what she was doing but didn't mind at all. Their lips pressed hard against each other's. Dilandau ran his fingers gently through her blonde locks of hair. He missed that feeling so much. It had been far too long. Setsuna broke the kiss and asked him again "So, do you want to go and have some fun or not?" He smiled wickedly back at her.

After a night a excitement, Setsuna brought Dilandau back to her home. Her father was at his AA meeting and Takato was at work. Setsuna had the house to herself, well except for Naoko who was taking care of Dilandra.

"Setsuna, who is this man?" Naoko asked sternly. "And why are you dressed like that?" Setsuna went and spoke to her in the kitchen alone where she explained to her what had happened that day and how she was going to leave for good. Once that was done and over with, Setsuna led Dilandau upstairs to her bedroom where she introduced Dilandau to his daughter.

When Setsuna awoke the next morning, she was not alone in her bed. She looked over her shoulder to look at him. She smiled as he drew her body closer to his. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck, which brought back more memories from the last time they shared a bed together.

Later that morning, when both were wide-awake, Setsuna began to pack a few of her things in a bag to bring with her back to the Vione. As she packed, something unexpected had happened. Two blue pillars of light could be seen in the sky taking the Vione and the Crusade back to Gaea. Then the same thing happened in Setsuna's very own room except it happened to Dilandau. Within an instant he was gone. Taken away against his own will. Setsuna stood in her room stunned and feeling heart broken. He was gone and she was all alone.

A/N: Just one more chapter to go! I guess I should started to edit the second book, lol!