Disclaimer: I have my job and my new computer… AND a house… but that's about it. I don't own Escaflowne or anything related to it. Sigh, I needs some DVDs.

Eternal Darkness

A cool breeze entered the room causing Hitomi to wake up. The covers were strewn all over the place, but mostly around Dilandau. Hitomi sighed and climbed out of bed, hoping that Van had arrived. She walked to the window, dragging her feet.

"Weird…" Hitomi whispered, gazing out into the outside world.

The floating fortress had landed. There were trees and shrubs all around in the darkness. But, a knock at the door broke the silence around Hitomi. Hitomi froze and wondered if she should answer the door or just stay silent. Unfortunately, she didn't have time to resolve that matter in her head as the door creaked open, revealing a nervous looking dragon slayer.

"Lord? Are you decent? Are you awake?" A dragon slayer poked his head in and looked around before fixing his gaze to Hitomi.

"Uh, whatever you need to say to that bastard over there," Hitomi gestured to the sleeping pyromaniac. "You can tell it to me and I'll pass it on to him. I mean, it's not like I ever leave this room, right?" She crossed her arms.

"Uh, yeah... Anyways, um, well, the fortress has landed because of engine troubles. Uh, yeah. Someone snuck on board and messed with it. The uh, culprit is still unknown," The slayer seemed nervous.

"So?" Hitomi glared. "And why are you so nervous? It's not like this freak is awake."

"So sure of yourself aren't we, bitch?" Hitomi froze and reluctantly turned to face Dilandau, who was now wide-awake and smirking at Hitomi. "My, my. You should be careful what you say. You never know when something…" Dilandau rose from the bed carefully and walked over to where Hitomi was without caring that he was still nude. "…Might get…" He took Hitomi's arm in his hand. "…Broken." And with a sickening crack, he dislocated her left arm.

Hitomi let out a shrill scream. Smirking, Dilandau released her arm and went over to the dresser to retrieve his red silk boxers and some black leather pants. He dressed himself quickly while still eyeing Hitomi who was still groaning in pain. "Now," He said, crossing his arms over his bare chest. "What seems to be the problem, Gaav?" He said, his gaze still fixed on Hitomi.

"Uh… well, engine trouble, sir. Someone snuck on board and well…" Gaav continued saying something inaudible.

"Well? Speak up!" Dilandau yelled, his glare now fixated on the nervous Gaav, who was shaking in the doorway.

"…we don't know who the culprit is, sir," Gaav covered his head as though afraid Dilandau would indeed produce the daggers that were in his eyes. Instead of a frown, there was a smile on Dilandau's face. It looked too unnatural to be pure satisfaction. "Sir?" Gaav made nervous eye contact with Dilandau.

"Don't worry about it," He commented.

"Uh, okay?"

"Just escort Hitomi to the dining hall then report to room A7 and tell whoever's there what you told me," Dilandau smirked; a strange sort of aura seemed to emanate from his crazed, red eyes.

"Oh…" Gaav gulped, but nodded and took Hitomi by her right arm and led her out the door and down the hall. "Not good…" He murmured.

Hitomi peered at Gaav, wondering whether or not she wanted to ask. The pain stung sharply from her shoulder down to the tips of her fingers, Hitomi gasped. The bastard! I mean it's not like I didn't expect this, but damn! What the hell! Hitomi grumbled, cradling her left arm gently against her chest.

"Here."

"What?" Hitomi broke out of her furious state and looked over at Gaav, who was handing her some ointment in a strange looking bottle. "What's that?" Hitomi's voice wavered slightly from the pain.

"Oh?" Gaav turned the bottled to look at the label then passed it to Hitomi again. "This is some dragon's blood. Heals most wounds. It should also cover your dislocated arm," Hitomi stared suspiciously at the bottle and did not try to pry the bottle from his hands. "Uhhh," Gaav rolled his eyes. "The blood gets absorbed into your skin and starts to work immediately by mending anything broken, dislocated, or torn. It also makes it more immune to whatever had befallen you, making you less prone to have the same injury again. Alright?"

Hitomi nodded, carefully shifting her left arm to dangle at her side while taking the bottle of dragon's blood with her right hand. She popped the cork and lightly poured a small amount of dragon's blood on her left arm while Gaav rubbed the essence gently and directly into her injured arm. After watching the dark red liquid seep into her skin, Hitomi attempted to move her arm, but in vain. Her arm was still sore. "What? I thought it was supposed to fix my arm?"

"It did. The pain won't go away for at least a few days. Your arm's fixed it's just, ya know, the pain," Gaav explained.

"Oh."

They continued along the corridor, passing rooms' 0A, A1, A2, etc. Then, as they passed room A7, Hitomi decided she was too curious to not know what that room meant. "Hey," She tapped Gaav on the shoulder.

He turned around to face Hitomi with a perplexed expression. "What?"

"Room A7… what exactly—"

"—It's nothing. Let's leave it at that and move along. You must be starving after last night," Gaav grinned.

Hitomi opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, as if to say something, but no words came out. Damn it. He got her there.

After listening to Gaav's nervous stutterings, Dilandau decided to take a walk outside. He dressed himself in his armour, grabbed his sheathed sword and strutted out the door. He felt good today.

Dilandau walked briskly down the maze-like corridors and was finally greeted by the cool summer breeze of the outside air. The grass was green and everything looked so pristine, so pure. It had to be burned, destroyed, demolished. Whatever. It had to go. And now. "Dilandau!"

"Hrm?" Dilandau turned away from the field, now fully irritated. "What… Folken?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Get back in the fortress. Now," Folken stated calmly, gesturing towards the large steel doors.

"But, I'm bored," He whined, crossing his arms over his chest in annoyance. "I haven't have fun in ages."

"You'll have enough time to burn things later. Besides, you're not allowed to be out here alone without Jejuka. You know that," Folken said, his tone firm.

"Ugh! Fine!" Dilandau rolled his eyes angrily and stomped past Folken and into the Flying Fortress.

Folken's eyes followed the pyro until he disappeared through the large doors. He frowned. "… Temper," He murmured. After glancing left and right, Folken disappeared into the fortress as well, mumbling to himself.