Wings of Cloud and Eyes of Wine

By: the Great Infinitis

(I'm so conceded, my apologies)

Chapter 4: Since life is fast

"The boy in the picture...is I. And the girl behind me is a native from the mystic moon, Hitomi Kanzaki."

Hitomi Kanzaki

"Mystic moon?" I mumbled to myself. The cat girl caught me off guard.

"Where on Gaia did you come from?" Merle walks up to me, face to face yet again with a more suspicious look on her face. I thought of something fast. This girl is so annoying!

"Excuse me…I was brought up shielded from the outside world," I yelled back in her face. Good one, Rini. I thought as I rolled my eyes in my head. Merle then huffed back. Not long after, I hear Van's light chuckling voice beside me. A smile appears on my face. It seems so natural for him to laugh and smile. I sigh. The king lifts his arm again for me to take.

"My good lady, I believe I need to show you to your room." He swiftly walks down the corridor and passed the tapestries before my mind could catch up with me.

"Ru-room?" I ask, a bit perplexed at the idea that I just got to meet a very handsome king who invited me into his beautiful castle and is now escorting me to a room to stay. What is this, a romance novel? Oh gosh. Van turns his sight to connect with mine.

"You do need a place to stay right? A lady like you shouldn't be sleeping on grassy dew-invaded hills."

He got me. I nodded in agreement.

"That's good." He turned his gaze to the front. A side smile grows on his face as I could tell he was thinking about something. "I have some guests over today, some very old friends. I hope you could show for dinner. My guest, Allen Schezar, has a sister and I think she would like to have someone to talk to." Van side-glances me in hopes of his request. I agree in a blunt nod.

"I would be delighted to meet her."

After Van dropped me off in my new room, I didn't wait long for dinner to come. Actually, the hours flew so fast I just couldn't take in all that happened today. When I got into my room, the king's ladies-in-waiting swiftly went to my side to tailor my size for a dinner gown. My goodness, they were fluttering about like chickens in their white maid gowns! And my room! I'm surprised this isn't earth's renaissance era because the sight before my eyes was breathtaking. The room in the sun's light gleamed with pinks, violets, greens, and yellows. A four-poster bed stood near a rather large bay window. The bed had satin pink comforters with sakura blossom designs. I wish my room looked like this one. I'm in pink heaven.

When the chicken-ladies got done with my tailoring and contemplating my bust size, in which I am somewhat content with, I was in shock at the dress before my humble being. The interior of my dress was white with tints of pink and violets in the shadowy areas. The fabric looked delicate and translucent so there where many layers, but it gave a flowery look. I thought they were done with my dress until they got out something I never seen before. I know a corset when I see one, but the one the ladies brought me was definitely not a corset. It was too pretty to be hidden. There seemed to be silver embroidery on the pink-ish fabric. The ladies tied the strange contraption around my thin waist. When the ladies were done, they stepped back so I could see myself on the wall-mirror. My figure danced and twirled like a giddy five-year-old when I saw my reflection. I looked like a fairy.

After my twirling and giddiness was over, a servant called me for dinner. I walk feeling weightlessly at my dream-like surprise, down the familiar hallway. A song somehow has got stuck in my head and I begin to hum one of those classical pieces, probably Mozart. My eyes close for the moment as I start to twirl in step with the music in my head. Just as I was going to open my eyes…

Bang!

Flesh and fabric met with something and I fall butt first into the freshly polished wood floor. I hiss a breath in when rubbing my poor abused behind. My ruby eyes look upward in curiosity to find out what/who I bumped with. In front of me, standing against a wall, is a tall young woman with beautiful shoulder length golden-platinum locks. Her big and bright azure blue eyes look almost frightened to see me. The young beauty's cheeks are tear-stained and weathered. It scares me in a way. Her frightened eyes, for a minute, looked like a child's, but then her gaze turned into something of an old grandmother's. I look at her with sympathy. What is she crying for? In her delicate pink hands is a wrinkled antique white scarf that had seen better years. I open my mouth to apologize but it seems that she beat me to it. In an instant, her emotion changed in an eerie haste into something unlike the face she had. Her eyes bore into mine with anger and hate.

"How dare you bump into me, you twirling wench! Look before you skip into anyone else!"

For a moment, if I wasn't imagining things, her eyes turned into a deep shade of red. After that chastising speech, the beauty covered her mouth with her delicate hands in shock as if she wasn't expecting the comment to come out. It was a comment that was not her own, but someone else's. I'm also in shock as I still sit awkwardly on the cold floor. The girl in front of me trembles and drops her scarf as she backs away into the shadows of the hallway.

"I-I'm s-s-so sorry!" She picks up her ocean blue evening gown and runs swiftly down the hallway like a frantic bird flapping it's wings. There was something very strange about this girl, very abnormal. I just cannot take my mind off of it because it reminded me of something from when I was small. What was it? It was there, that familiar feeling of two things at once…

After a moment or two, I got myself off the floor and picked up the forsaken scarf. I bet it was beautiful when it was first made, I thought. My eyes wondered all over the object. It is so simple, no design or anything, yet with its years it gained character from its surroundings, a probable tea stain there and a tear here. It's obviously been used as a comfort for wet tears. The question is how old this darn thing is. I look up at where that girl went. 'I should return it to her soon. Then maybe she'll forgive me for our unwanted collision.'

…

AH! Dinner! I'm going to be late! With the scarf ready and hidden under my corset-ish thingy, I pick up my dress and dash in the same style of the girl I met before.

"Presenting Lady Usagi!"

'Late as usual,' my mother would always say after a formal introduction at the castle. It always brings laughter to the table full of nervous guests. Oh how I hate introductory dinners, they're such an embarrassment. I give out an inward groan as I approach the table, full of my Neo Silver Millennia grace. Once my eyes are set on the local king's, my body felt at ease. He was talking to an older man before I came in. He had an air of chivalry and loyalty. His hair was long and his attire resembled close to old French designs. The older man then took notice of me as he finished talking to Van. His eyes are an azure blue to my surprise. I then figured that this must be Allen, the guest, Van talked to me about and that the girl I met in the hallway is his sister. I silently sigh. I hope that first encounter didn't ruin our relationship… Man, I must look like a weirdo in front of her prancing like a pansy.

"Ahh, Usagi-domo. Please take the seat to my left." My head turns to Van. His contagious smile got to me and I sat beside him willingly.

"What a beautiful flower you picked up, Van-sama." My gaze turns to Allen who sat on Van's right side. And without my knowing, he leans over the table to grab my hand to kiss. I don't know if I should be flattered or just plain shocked at his action. Allen then begins to talk to Van of things I do not understand. It looks like He and Van are about six years apart. I wonder how they met…

"Entering Lady Celena Diaana Schezar!"

As soon as they finished the announcement, I quickly turn my head to the somber young woman. Her unique locks cover her face. She mumbles things to herself when heading to the table. Celena approaches her seat by her brother, stops, then moves to the seat left of my side. I could see a side-grin on her semi-covered face. Allen then leans in with shock to see her sit in her newfound chair. Van clears up his throat.

"Ahh, Lady Celena, how is your visit to my kingdom?" He smiles to her yet without its usual glimmer. I note the awkward silence between the two. Hmm, I smile on the inside. I wonder why it's so tense between the two.

"Peachy." (AN: What IS that Gaian fruit that Van gives Hitomi in that one episode anyway? …uh the peaches are imported…I DON"T KNOW!) Celena mumbles sarcastically under her breath. I couldn't help, but chuckle at what was happening here.

"Now, Celena dear, don't be rude towards our host. And where's your manners? Sit up strait like a lady you're supposed to be!"

It reminds me of a mother and a rebellious child, but they're not even close.

"Maybe I don't want to be a lady…yes…heehe…not now…should I really..." Her gaze turns to mine with something less then fear.

Ah! "Miss Schezar, I apologize for my rude behavior from before." With haste, I stand to bow respectfully.

For a second, Celena sits in her chair with a blank look. My eyes see her sincere smile as I lift my head and body up. "Ah, my apologies also. I too wasn't looking where I was going." She said as she gave me a nod of assurance. This girl is so strange and yet, amusing at the same time. I can never tell what she might do next.

When I sat back down, Van grabs my hand for attention and looks at me with a questionable glace. "You met before?"

"We bumped into each other…literally." My eyes look to my right at Allen and to my surprise, he didn't look well.

"Rini-domo…" Allen glances at me with his intense blue eyes.

"Ah! Rini-san! Kawaii ne (so cute)! Where did you get that moon ornament on your forehead?" Allen never got to finish his sentence as his sister changed the subject. Oh, that's just great! Yes! Gaze upon my birthmark on which I was so stupid to forget about!

"Yes, it is pretty peculiar…" All three faces gaze deeper at my face as I grow a darker blush.

"I…uh…it's from my mother." See? I'm not lying!

From all three of the faces in my face, Celena's I must say was the brightest of them all. I suppose…she has a special attraction towards the moon. A smile grows from out of nowhere on my face. That's so cool. From the eyes of my heart, I could see something glowing from Celena's form. Her star seed maybe? On the corner of my unknowing eye, Allen's grave gaze turns from my figure to his sister.

"Celena," He asks and she looks at him with child-like eyes.

"Yes?" She answers over Van and I. I feel like the ingredients within a sandwich being smashed together by the uneasiness of the siblings.

"I told you not to wonder around the castle." Her brother's eyes were hard as stone.

Celena's happy and care-free face fell. "But Allen…"

He interrupts his sister's protest while surprising me his inquisition. "Rini-domo, did anything happen when you bumped into my sister?" My eyes turn from Allen back to Celena. Her eyes showed a familiar fear with a hidden trace of anger.

"Did you see anything…unusual?"

I didn't know what to do. There was something different about our first meeting, but…Celena's begging look is bothering me a bit.

"No…no, she just surprised me because I didn't know she was there." I give Celena a reassuring nod. She responds with a sigh and a more relaxed face.

Van takes a sip from his wine (Vino, I know. But Rini don't know this yet.  ) as he turns to Celena and I with another question in mind. I think I'm getting a headache with all this answering and thinking of new lies. "How did you bump into Celena-domo, Rini?"

Oh gosh, I don't even want to be reminded. I groan.

"She was dancing aloofly." Celena winks at my reddened face.

Van's muffled laughs covered the table, yet Allen's attitude didn't change. A conversation grew with Van, Celena and I as we talked about whose fault was whose. I notice with a smile that the tenseness between the two had vanished. Minutes passed and our dinners came and went. Just as I was going to explain myself further about the matter, a scrapping noise caught the three of us off guard. Allen stands tall with a glare directed fully on his sister.

"Go to your room, Celena. You're finished here."

"Why, Allen?" She asks with a feeling of unjust.

"I said go to your room. No excuses, or should a call for the guards to watch your room."

Celena puts her hands on the side of the seat giving the impression of resentment. "No."

"Celena." Allen takes a couple steps forward until Van moves out of his kingly seat into the way of his old friend.

"What is the meaning of this?"

I stand also in front of Celena. What's going on here? We were having so much until Allen-san's outburst.

"Get out of my way, Van." That is when the yelling came about with Van wanting more answers out of Allen's behavior. Angered labored breathing emits from behind me as Celena gets out of her chair.

"Allen!"

My eyes as well as the others go upon the poor girl. Renewed tears paint her face.

"I am not your caged bird! I'm of the age when I have reason of what I can or cannot do and I'm SICK of you telling me your orders. Stop your babying! We don't like it and it gets on his nerves then he makes me listen to his ramblings all the time! And someday…people will probably begin to notice things about me that are peculiar. So accept me for WHO I AM!" With a turn of her heal; Celena walks angrily out of the dinner room.

Suddenly, my stomach drops in nausea. So many things happened in one day. And now a sickening silence looms over like a dark cloud. After pushing in my chair as well as Celena's, I bow to the two baffled men.

"I must excuse myself. I'm feeling under the weather at the moment and need some time alone."

Allen just stares in shock before him and doesn't notice my request. Van, though, turns to me with a great thought on his mind; he nods and bows. "Good Evening, Lady Usagi."

With my poor wobbly feet to guide me, I walked out of the room with some kind of grace. Thought after thought appear and calculate and even try to figure out my new friend's current position…who…who, who, WHO? She talks of another…but where and why would her brother… I stop in my tracks and did not notice that I was in front of the platinum-blonde's chamber. Does it…have anything to do with that one scene…where…she changed emotions so unnaturally?

Mumblings of a fight reach my ears from behind a chamber room door.

"Damn it, woman, you and your pathetic mouth!"

"Shut up!" Celena? She sounds like she's crying…again. Poor girl.

"Why don't you just go to the Fanalian Square and shout, 'Hey, look at me! I have one of Gaia's worst criminals that had ever lived residing inside my head! Ohohohoho!'"

What? My eyes widen in shock and my breathing becomes hitched, hard to control. What's going on here?

"SHUT UP!"

"…"

"I have an understanding that Van-sama knows of your…"

Breathings from the other guest inside of the chamber shutter in disgust…I wonder why? How could such a kind person be distasted? "Don't say that name." the voice wines. Now that I think of it, the voice does sound familiar…I suppress my gasp of insight as I lift my swift and somewhat steady palms.

"And Rini-domo…she saw us."

Yes! I think I'm getting it, but…

"Curse you, Celena! You're so damn weak!"

How is she talking to him like this?

"So what, at least I was trying to hide my tears! Damn you this Damn you that! Is that your only vocabulary, Dilandau? And since I'm so weak, how come I have enough strength to hold you back?"

I hate fights and always have. My hands move here and there, thinking of a way or at least do something to make them stop shouting! A rough fabric rubs against my damp skin. The Scarf! I walk closer to the voices.

"…I was the one holding back, Celena."

My hand slowly touches the door

"WHY? All I've been hearing is your bickering and droning of how you want to be in control-"

Breathe in, breathe out.

"I don't-!"

Thus, my cue.

"Milady Schezar, I seem to have forgotten to gi--" I was so shocked at what I saw through my eyes that I totally forgot what I was saying. Celena, in her usual nightgown, leaned over a tilted vanity mirror from across the room and looked at me like a dear staring into headlights. Everything seemed so normal, but yet I knew there was something wrong in her reflection. There, within her reflection, was a young man's vexed face that was pale as death and eyes as red…as mine? No…it can't be! If I ever get back home, I'll ask mom if I really am adopted. I've always wondered that and now I think there's proof-

"-Rini…"

I stare back at Celena as much as she had to me. The face within the mirror seems shocked as well. The dampness of my fingers reminds me of the gift in hand. Celena gazed for only a second as I lifted it to her in distraction, but her oceanic eyes were drawn back to mine. We're speechless, all three of us. I darted my curious eyes from red to blue and red to blue all over again. My stomach tightens as I get the feeling that I'm not welcome here, especially by the strange growling creature within the mirror. His eyes start to become less threatening as I inch towards the door, but.

"Lady Usagi-san!"

Celena steps quickly, her dress flowing like ripples in a moonlit pool, to my fading figure toward her scarf, but surprisingly, she held my hand to stay. Her pleading and fearful orbs dig deeply into mine.

"Promise not to tell!"

I wanted to agree, but the young man chuckled at our state.

"Don't bother, Celena. Even if she doesn't tattle, your dear brother will still keep you in his dainty cage."

The young woman hangs her head. "I know." She sounded like she just accepted a life sentence to jail. What did he mean by cage; a cell or a wire bird cage? Is that why she's so sad? I grab onto her other hand that covered her humiliated face and called her name in a friendly way, hoping to catch her attention. Her platinum curls fell into her childlike eyes, waiting for what I was going to say. And if I looked closely, I bet I could see something hidden deep within those strange eyes; eyes that reminded me of mother and the moon…

"Screw Allen."

I couldn't believe what I was saying but it seemed so right. What I experienced from dinner was enough to explain any predicament. Just as Celena's face turned askew, roars of laughter flows ominously within the room. Dilandau, as I presume, smiles jarringly at my perplexed figure.

"It's been such a long time since anyone had humored me thus far." Celena huffs at his crooked complement. His satisfied eyes turned to the tall young woman. "I believe I'm growing fond of this lady you happened to bump into, Celena."

I'm so glad, I think sarcastically.

"You will, wont you?"

Celena's face looks easier to gaze upon as she softens into her less frightened state of mind. I smiled back. "I promise to never tell! I swear by the moon!...eh…"

I left the room as awkwardly as I appeared, afraid of their faces as I just said my native pledge. Geez, I covered my face and walked down the double moon lit hallway.

"Moon…"

Dilandau thought he saw something in his hidden mind. It's no Ziebach memory, he thought to himself. Celena emits a sigh as she sees a rare sight of Dilandau who is actually thinking.

"Dilly…"

He groans. "What is it?"

"Let's get out of here."

Dilandau's eyes grow into the size of apples. "What…?"

She smiles at his surprised face. "Screw Allen," a simple request for the not so modest of heart. "Why don't we go down south? I heard there are boats willing to take in extra help" She winks and Dilandau shakes his gaze, but after a while he smiles along with her.

"Do what you like. But remember that wherever you go, your past follows behind you."

Celena giddily prances to the mirror and presses her hand against where his is. Dilandau's small unwanted blush goes unnoticed by the giggling girl as she lifts and packs her belongings.

With the old scarf around her neck, she stands directly and confidently more so then she ever had in her whole life. 'So-long, caged life!'

Why do I get the feeling that I'm somehow connect to this place, to Van and Celena? I open my door tiredly as I let my hand that opened the door fall to my side. What a big day. I drag myself to bed feeling funnily enough like I had finished a long day's worth of work. A sigh breathes out of my lungs and I unexpectedly hear a ruffling noise on the other side of my empress bed. Slowly with caution, I crawl to the other side with a candle in had if ready. As I almost lift my hand to the figure sitting, I suddenly recognized the hair and face of my sleeping intruder…

Helios…?

Oh my, sorry for the long delay! I had writers block again and I was thinking of putting this on hiatus when I had the idea of Dilly and Celena and how they're intermingled together in this story of doom. PLEASE REVIEW! It makes me know that your reading and that helps a lot on my confidence. I would really appreciate it! Thanks to all who reviewed in my previous chapter! Hugs and kisses, Infinitis!