So here's chapter 6
Honestly I must have re-written this chapter about a dozen times alone so any feedback you can give would be appreciated but not expected.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy x
Chapter 6
Of all the people she could have been brought here to face, wherever here was, to face and it was the pyromaniac psychopath who had tried to kill her once and who she had helped defeat as part of the war. Someone or something clearly had it out for her. But it didn't stop her from taking her time taking in his appearance. He looked the age he would have been if Celena hadn't taken control of her body again, as well as taller and as lean as he had been back then. Though his muscles were more defined now. All round, he looked like a man now, but a perfect blend of tall, lean and muscles. But his smirk reminded her of the boy he'd once been. And the destruction that boy could cause.
She tensed ready to run if she needed to as he got closer. He must have noticed though because he stopped just before he was an arm's length away from her, dropping the smirk and holding his arms up as a sign of surrender. Confused, she kept herself ready to defend herself.
"Did I really scare you that much?" Dilandau asked.
"You tried to kill me," she answered.
"Technically I did kill you if you count the time your heart stopped during your vison with the doppelganger," he answered, "But I'm not going to hurt you."
"Then what do you want? Everyone and everything wants something from me since I keep getting dragged into this shit, why not add you to the list as well," she ranted more to herself than him, but it amused him all the same.
"I don't want anything."
"Nothing? I find that heard to believe," she stated disbelievingly.
"I'll rephrase that. I don't want anything from you. What I want, someone else will give me. I'm not as stupid as your so-called friends to think you would trust me after everything you've been through."
"So why am I here? Wherever here is."
"I brought you here so you wouldn't be stuck talking to that woman. From what I could tell you weren't too pleased."
"You saw that? From here?" she asked, her guard lowered enough for him to slowly drop his arms.
"Yes. Not sure exactly what this place is but it has it's uses. You're dodging."
"You need to hear that you're right don't you?" she asked with a glare, "I've been back on Earth for 3 years and now she thinks I'm going to go running back willingly to fix their mess? All because she works for a higher power after abandoning her own son and not being aware of anything until a war is imminent? I'd rather watch you burn Fanelia again."
"We can arrange that if I had my own body," he teased with a smile, finding her angry side refreshing.
He was surprised the tension fell from her like he'd set something right for her. He didn't miss the slight smile and shake of her shoulders as she struggled not to giggle.
"You've been here the whole time?" she asked curiously.
"No. I'm usually an annoying voice in Celena's head. This was a recent opportunity."
"So you know how they're all doing?" she asked weakly, her eyes cast down to the ground. Something about that look on her face, made him want to burn Fanelia again for her sake rather than as a joke or revenge for himself against Van.
"Unfortunately," he said seriously, "You sure you want to know for yourself?"
"I'm not going to like it am i?
"It might take you to brink of insanity but if you must know then I'll tell you."
"Why would you do that for me?" she asked confused, "I'm part of the reason you can't live your life."
"Would you prefer I lie and keep it from you? To play it off and sugarcoat it, only for your ability to show you the details later in bits and pieces? That's not part of my character, though it did work quite well for Van and Allen didn't it?"
She pondered it for a moment to realise he was right. Though they'd used her gift, they'd kept as much as they could from her. Allen's overprotectiveness and proposal had even been a way to keep something from her. Dilandau on the other hand was offering brutal honesty even if he knew she shouldn't know it.
"There anywhere to sit?" she asked cautiously.
She assumed he clicked his fingers for dramatic effect since her kitchen appeared to the side as soon as he did. He had a small smirk as he led her over but it dropped when she moved around him to see if she could find the usual things that she knew were in the kitchen. He watched her peruse the cupboards in silence, finding nothing but tea and watched as she made tea for them both. He had to hold back the frown at the look of sadness on her face, but it came out unwillingly when she walked over with both mugs and handing him his tea, coming close to him voluntarily.
"You're offering me brutal honesty, it's be stupid not to put a little trust in you," she offered, "I might not trust that you won't kill me but I can at least trust you to be honest when you have nothing to gain from me at the moment."
He nodded not trusting his voice. He was surprised that some of the old Hitomi came through, even if it was mixed with this new side of her. They both took a seat at the table, her with her hands wrapped around the mug like it was a lifeline and him leaning back in his chair lazily.
"Where do you want to start?" he asked.
"Start with what this place is," she answered.
He began to explain what he knew, that he'd been brought here himself. What he could do before moving on to what he'd seen of her life and his views on her side of events during the war & return to Earth. She'd offered her thoughts on his questions from it but she and he listened aptly to the other, surprising them both in their own way. Especially when she agreed that at least he would have taught her to defend herself, even if the comment was offered up jokingly at first.
Somehow, they'd settled into friendly conversation as if they'd known each other their whole lives. He didn't mind her ranting, finding it amusing more than annoying and she laughed as his joking revenge plan. He gave her his backstory and when she thought against saying something, he dragged it out of her with ease. Brutal honesty all round. It made her feel free. But after what felt like hours of talking, they'd come back to the subject of her friends. They couldn't avoid it any longer. He told her some of it until that final bit of the connection between her and Van broke.
"Move round. I'll show you the rest," Dilandau stated, moving his chair to face the void they walked in from.
She did as he suggested, moving to sit next to him but she was tense and sat stiffly before the images appeared. He used the void to show her their meetings, Celena & Van, Merle. All the conversations they had about her. And Dilandau watched her closely, seeing the looks of her face range from forlorn and longing, to hurt and anger far more strongly than he had anticipated. He found himself feeling angry for her. He hadn't wanted to show her this, but he didn't want to keep it from her either. If she was going back, she had to know the full story to make the choices coming her way. He didn't expect the images to disappear like paper set on fire though.
"3 weeks was all it took to decide I'd understand?" she asked blankly.
"Do you?" Dilandau asked curiously and cautiously.
"Like hell I understand," she growled standing up, "He's been flirting with her since the beginning, he's just got free reign to be open about it now. And they made me sound like a weapon that will help them just because they asked nicely or because I should feel indebted to them."
"Merle and Celena have tried to argue that point."
"Considering it was her amplified wish that stole my mother and brother from me, I'm surprised she cared," she retorted, "They can all burn for all I care."
"In the interest of self-preservation, hold off on that," he stated.
"Dilandau, he told me to wait. To keep hoping. I made myself an outcast, whilst he had everyone. I never got to date or be normal. For gods sake, the only person I've kissed is Allen. How… How could I be so… so pathetic and weak?"
She looked like she was defeated, angry and upset all at once. He stood up and walked over to her seeing as she'd paced about during her last rant. Slowly he reached out, gently tipping her face up with a finger under her chin.
"That isn't weakness. That was strength and conviction for a love that betrayed you," Dilandau stated, "And Van didn't get everyone. You've got me looking over you."
"But you're stuck here or with Celena."
"I can be an annoying voice in your head too. Don't doubt me even if you don't trust me."
"Why are you doing this for me?" she asked weakly.
"I plan to help you survive this war. Whatever you choose to do after, I'll follow. I'd like to see the strange girl I first meet come back," he answered.
"And what if this is who I am now?" she asked with a stubborn glare at her feet.
"Then we'll work on it," he stated with a smirk, lifting her chin again and bending just slightly so their eyes were level, "My Queen will not bow to anyone and I'll make sure she becomes who she's meant to be. By the time you're back on Gaea you'll know how to fight and I'll be fighting alongside you."
"This would be much easier if you were on Earth though," she stated wiping the few tears that escaped away.
"We'll work with what we've got. I'll figure something out but you have some people to find don't you?"
She tried to smile, causing an odd sensation within him but he ignored it to help wipe the escaped tears away. The smile itself didn't last long when her anger resurfaced physically.
"It's not fair that they got to carry on, without suffering, with consequence," she seethed.
"Then we'll get some revenge. We'll plan it for when I get my body back and you return," he smirked.
"So let them think they got their happy little ending and then take them by surprise?" she asked seriously.
"With an entrance, they won't forget."
"I like it," she stated with a smirk, "Can we burn something too?"
"Only if I get to do it," he answered without thinking.
"I can't even do a little bit?" she asked slyly.
"We'll see but for now, I should send you back."
"You'll bring me back soon right?"
"I need to make an appearance with Celena. I'm going to give her some nightmares," he teased.
"You should show her what happened to my family and me. Jumble it together with some of my rants and your more gruesome memories," she suggested, "She'll feel insane and if she talks them, the others will think she's having vison's."
"I could get use to this side of you," he smirked bringing her hand up to kiss it, "You definitely need to keep this evil streak."
"Between me and you, evil will get a new meaning," she joked.
"I for one, hope so," he stated as her form began to fade, "Sweet dreams Hitomi."
She was gone before she could respond, leaving him frowning. He hadn't wanted to send her back at all, but he couldn't keep her to himself. Now he'd had a chance to speak to her, he found she was so much more than she had been, than she believed herself. It was infuriating to see her doubt herself. Everyone did and it had become a habit after Gaea for her. The 3 years since had stolen that confidence that held it back in the first place. That backwater King didn't see how amazing her potential was and settled for Celena whilst holding a pretence that he was holding out for Hitomi.
Ridding himself of the anger, he put his energy into finding out what other gifts Hitomi would present to figure out how to train her. But first he'd check in on her, he was sure she was crying now she was by herself. To say he was a little surprised when he checked on her, was an understatement.
So that's it for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.
For anyone who's a beyblade fan, I've uploaded my latest Beyblade Story, 4 Queens - another slow burner but I'm partial to long stories.
As always, any feedback is great feedback, but it's not expected.
I'll be uploading the next chapter on 11th September
Until next time xx