Fruity-writechic- here it is fans chapter 3, but don't expect a new chapter till the summer, I've just recently received a job so you can imaged how much time I have.


Chapter 3- The Return
Marlene moaned in pain before wincing as agony sliced up the side of her ribs.

"You shouldn't move" Despite her blurriness Marlene made out the figure who sat calmly at her side. Automatically she jerked in attempts to get away from the stranger.

"I won't hurt you" there was something about the voice that Marlene heard. It was loneness and pity.

It wasn't long before her vision cleared and at first Marlene's face paled as she saw what she thought was a ghost.

It can't be…

There sitting in front of her in naked flesh and blood was the last empress of Ziabach, the one who had been thought to be executed during Ziabach's tragic sacking.

She was still as slim as when Marlene had last seen her at that specific banquet that occurred oh so many years ago. A banquet that seemed nothing more than a fading memory that didn't exist.

Taking a deeper look at the girl, Marlene realized that she was in no better shape than she. The empress may have as well been a slave in a market place. On her face remnants of scabs were left and there still was a fresh bruise over the girl's left eye.

Yet despite her broken state the girl smiled at Marlene, catching her by surprise.

Seeing that the girl was alright, or at least as close to it as possible, Hitomi turned around to wash the cloth that was currently in her hand in a wooden basin filled with water.

Judging by the lack of stench of blood in the cloth Hitomi turned around once more to tend to Marlene's wounds but found that when she went to touch the girl, the princess pulled away.

Understanding completely Hitomi laid the cloth back in the basin and pushed it the princess.

There was a strong silence between the two that Hitomi began to doubt that the girl was going to do anything. However the sound of a cloth being squeezed removed all concerns.

Hitomi had witnessed this far too many times that she could practically smell the blood that would come from Marlene's vigorous scrubbing. Like so many victims before her, cleaning themselves with that tattered piece of cloth was their only of achieving cleanliness. She knew that all victims had scrubbed to the point where there was no skin left, most of the time Hitomi couldn't do anything except listen helplessly. If the victim was strong they would accept what had happened to them and move on. Unfortunately, there were those who just wouldn't be to compensate to the horrible truth. Those girls had taken their own lives in the dead of the night when nobody would be able to hear their cries until it was two late. It was the reason that this place of sanctuary had become known as death row by the Ziabachans who were forced to witness the dead bodies on the ground just below the temple's high balcony.

Hearing the vigorous scrubbing of Marlene Hitomi only hoped that this one was strong.

She couldn't stand another failure, for the cost would be her own life.

Absently her hand wondered to her neck where Hitomi discovered her pendent gone. Sighing, she placed her hand on her forehead and wished that Tarlem was well…wherever he was. It had been weeks since she received news of Allen selling the stallion. Hitomi had remembered how her desire to spill had been so strong it frightened her. Tarlem had been her only companion.

She eventually reasoned that things could've been worse. She could've been Celena, who's bodyguard and perhaps true love Dilandau had been sent out to participate in the games. A cruel practically joke performed once again by Allen who was known for his possessiveness over his younger sister. He was perhaps too possessive. Hitomi had even heard speculation Allen's inappropriate behavior towards his sister.

Yes, things could've been worse.

Once again Hitomi remember her abba and his kindred voice.

Things could've been worse

Hitomi closed her eyes as she reached out for the warmth that could be felt from the sun. Amidst the small beams of light she could still feel his intense gaze upon her back.

Turning around to face her husband with blank eyes she smiled at him, knowing all too well that nothing infuriated him more.

"Hello my husband"

Hitomi could almost hear his teeth gritting against each other.

"You are not to address me by that title in public," he's voice was stern and firm holding no emotion.

"There's no one here to hear," she replied in an all too knowing way.

"Don't be stupid" Van retorted "There's always someone who hears's something they shouldn't"

Clicking her tongue Hitomi walked closer to the source of voice, not afraid of slipping for she knew every crevice in her temple.

"It's you who is stupid. Didn't my father tell you that I have the best hearing in all of Gaia"

Hearing him snort Hitomi smiled inwardly as Van changed the conversation. She loved it when she won "Nice to see you're in better spirits"

"Certain occasions are known to make people cry," Van and Hitomi secretly knew what she was referring to.

"I am leaving in a few days time"

"Of course you are," Hitomi mistakenly allowed some disappointment in her voice which she knew caught Van off guard.

Sighing, Hitomi approached Van in a way that she never would've allowed herself to a few days before. However things were different, they were married now and despite how neither of them wished to be she knew she would have to take the first step. Placing her hand on his chest where she felt the pendent she had given him a few days earlier. It was her most prized possession.

She could feel Van flinch at her touch as Hitomi moved her hand to grasp his. Bringing his hands to her right shoulder she maneuvered her hand so that Van's slid part of her toga so it hung at her right shoulder, thus revealing her tattoo.

"It's like your pendent" she heard him whisper in a raspy voice.

"Not even Dornkirk knows the whole truth about my past." Feeling his eyes on her Hitomi immediately flushed. This was something she had to do "I come from…"

"Have you ever seen anything like it" Van's maroon eyes burned with such intensity that it felt as though he would set his eyes on fire. However his darkened expression went unnoticed by Juju who like an idiot stared jawless at the startling pearly white columns which held the gates.

"Look!" Van's eyes followed to where a statue of the previous emperor once stood, now in its place was one of the man whom Van despised with all his heart.

"Hey Van!" shaking out of his revere Van looked at Juju "we're moving,"

Like a lamb Van had no choice but to follow the rest of his gladiator comrades who were heard towards the prison that would surely mark their deaths. As the sound of the clanking shackles resided in Van's ear Dryden, Meiden's son passed by with a bright smile on his face.

"Ready to win big gladiator?" Dryden remark was immediately ignored by Van. He would not be used as a tool for goods, no, he had his own agenda.

Staring at the distance to where the palace resided Van felt familiar warmth near his chest. Looking down, Van was astonished to see that the pendent was glowing immensely. Hissing Van covered his chest protectively to hide the illuminating glow given off by the pendent. However a brief second later the light disappointed leaving Van in a state of confusion. He still didn't know what the pendent did.

Dryden was a fairly handsome man who unlike his father possessed a more loose character. That was not to say that he didn't take money seriously, money was practically his life. However with a strong pointed jaw line and deep mocha skin with long curly treadmills Dryden could've easily attracted a wife like bees to honey; he just found money to be more of a better companion.

That was why he was buzzing with anticipation once he passed through the gates of Ziabach. He could practically smell the profits coming in.

To his dismay Dryden laid his eyes on a short stump of a creature, which appeared to have hair growing out of his nostrils and a pair of round spectacles that slid to the end of his nose bridge.

Rubbing his dibbled chin, Dryden attempted to fit a name to the man's face.

Why does business have to be so hard? He thought to himself

"Dryden, son of Meiden, pleasure to be doing business with you," Dryden raised an eyebrow and stared at the man open hand. Hesitantly he took it only to be pulled into a tight embrace with the man whose stench could have paralleled those of a skunk.

"Moleman how are you?" Dryden whizzed while trying to hold his breath.

"Well…" Moleman proceeded to whisper into Dryden's ear as not to allow the gladiators to over hear.

"What!" Dryden boomed so loud that a few women who were strolling by glared at him. Dryden gave them an apologist smile before looking at Moleman sternly "I don't care if the emperor wants battles, I won't sacrifice by best fighters."

"There your father's fighter Sir Fassa" Moleman replied his voice dripping with sarcasm "And the crowd wants battles so the emperor gives them battles. You will get the battle of Austria."

Dryden groaned "the massacre of Austria"

"Yes!" Moleman nodded his head far too eagerly that it disgusted Dryden "Austrian soldiers obtained from Ziabach's recent war with Austria…apparently their excellent fighters"

Shooting Moleman a look of annoyous Dryden proceeded to say "How about you round up all the beggars and thieves from the prison?"

Moleman huffed and folded his arms making him truly appear like a mole "We've done that!"

"If you're going to give away the best gladiators in the empire, then I want double the rates" Dryden was determined to obtain as much profit as he possible could.

Moleman on the other hand was just as stubborn "You'll get your contract rates or you will get your contract canceled. If you don't like it, then you can crawl back down that shit hole you came from."

Dryden gave an all knowing smile that he was infamous for in the market "Now why would I want to do that Moleman? I thought that shit hole was your home"

Meanwhile Van's gaze was captivated by the site of the city.

"Emperor prepare yourself."