Hey
I'm back with Chapter 10 for you all.
As always, feedback is appreciated but not expected.
I hope you enjoy xx
Chapter 10
Hitomi sat in the void, giggling at the look of panic on Van and Allen's faces at the chaos she'd caused. She'd enjoyed it more than she probably should have. Though she was surprised Celena could see her. She put it down to Dilandau being a part of her that allowed Celena to see her but even her stunned expression had been amusing to see. She knew Dilandau would stay to witness the aftermath before he joined her so she didn't have long to wait. In the meantime she decided to use the little time she had to use the void to her advantage hopefully.
She focused on all the dragon slayers and anyone who had been reborn on Earth. The images of them all appeared, showing them living new lives but she could sense the longing for their true home lingering on the fringes for all of them. She'd have to let Naria and Eriya know that they were at least partially right about their idea. With a smile, she closed her eyes and focused on sending them all the same message. Though the dragon slayers were given their own message. She could only pray it had worked as the images disappeared and Dilandau's cackling increased in volume behind her. She'd been careful to keep her check hidden despite feeling confident she wouldn't be seen when she stepped into the scene.
"Do I even want to know how you pulled that stunt?" He asked as he walked forward.
"I don't even know how I did it to be honest," she answered, looking over her shoulder at him.
He baulked when he saw the cut on her cheek and shortened the distance quickly & crouched beside her to study the cut, pulling up the image of her real body. He growled at the sight of her body on the floor of her hallway, her cheek bleeding.
"Will it scar?" she asked quietly.
"It isn't deep enough to leave much of a scar but it could if you don't let it heal properly," he answered, "You'' have to hope it isn't too visible for a while."
"You don't think I could pull it off?" she teased, "We could match."
"I think you could," Dilandau smirked, "You're more of a spitfire than I thought you'd be. But a girl's face shouldn't be scarred."
"Girl?" she asked dramatically, "And I thought I'd graduated to being called a woman now."
"You what I meant," he smirked, "And when you're done picking at my verbiage, you can tell me how this happened."
"So does that mean I am a woman in your eyes?" she asked teasingly.
"Any man would have to be blind not to see you as a woman," he answered seriously.
She blinked a few times before blushing and looking away as he made the ground below them a sea of cushions and laid back beside her, with a smirk trying to fight it's way out. Though the easy atmosphere quickly disappeared as he stared into her. He wanted answers and he wanted them now.
"I could tell I was being pulled in but it wasn't like when you do it," Hitomi offered eventually, "Don't know who he was but he gave me this as a reminder that he could hurt me regardless of where I am. But I think it was his only chance."
"What did he want?" Dilandau asked.
"What they all want, for me to be their weapon," she answered coldly, "Except he wants to use me to rule over Gaea because me heritage is the key to that. Arrogant asshole didn't even realise he jumped on Celena's wish or that fate was using him. Even thinks he's harnessed the power of the Kingdom."
"Was he tall, bulky, 2 scars on his brow and a third wrapped around his neck?"
"Yeah. Is he…"
"The leader of the Crusaders? Yes. His name was removed from record but the description is always the same. I was orced to read everything about him and his history. Trained like him. He should be dead though."
"When the kingdom was buried, it became a time capsule. He obviously survived since they haven't aged a day. They must have found a way to keep it in place while they come and go."
"Good thing Dornkirk is dead then," Dilandau scoffed.
"Staying young doesn't sound bad though if it means watching Van and Allen get old and frail first," Hitomi mused.
"You're evil!" Dilandau joked.
"In small bursts," she retorted, "Though you definitely have the upper hand in that department."
He smirked and rolled onto his side and using his hand as a headrest. He quite liked these evil streaks that were emerging more and more. It made him wonder what her life would have been like if she had never been to Gaea, or if they'd meet on Earth instead of Gaea. If he had met her first. But that was something to delve into when he was alone.
"So while I tortured Celena, what were you doing?" He asked.
"I went to a club," she answered with a highly amused tone.
"You actually indulged in a normal Earth past-time after getting that file from your mystery care-taker?" He asked surprised.
"It was fun once I got into it. And apparently I'm quite good at dancing."
"Who told you that?" he asked curiously.
"Naria and Eriya, they slept over so we could catch up."
"Nariya and Eriya? Folken's cat girls?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," she giggled, "Why don't you see for yourself?"
He sat up cross-legged as he summoned the image to watch her night out. She wasn't able to control the giggles at his stunned expression when he saw her outfit. He actually paused it somehow and got up into the scene to inspect it closer.
"I'm reminding you of this the next time you decide to question if you look like a woman again," he declared before sitting back down to watch the rest of the night.
She laughed outright when his jaw dropped at her dancing. She couldn't help but feel empowered by his reaction and if she got to feel like this more often, she may just start believing she was good at something other than being used by people.
"I need some time on Earth before we're dragged into this war," Dilandau announced.
"Just so you can go to a club?" she asked as she laid down.
"No, I need to witness this for myself," Dilandau smirked, "A queen letting loose like everyone else."
"Not bad for a girl who's only ever had 1 kiss right," Hitomi mused.
"Hmmm… wait… only 1?" he asked in shock, "That playboy only kissed you once?"
"Yeah. Van never kissed me and then it was all empty promises. I didn't get to be a normal Earth teenager and date because I was so certain I'd get back to him," she answered, "Pretty weak."
"I still stand by what I said," he stated, "And it's not a bad thing to have only kissed once. Rather than kiss so many you lose track. Makes it more worth it."
"That almost sounds romantic," she noted.
"I'm evil, not clueless," he retorted grumpily, "Besides I was too drunk to remember bedding someone for the first time. You wouldn't want an experience like that."
She looked over at him, he was looking off into the distance with a regretful and thoughtful look. It seemed like the more they talked, the more they opened up with each other. She liked learning about this side of Dilandau.
"You don't remember anything?"
"I remember it felt good. But all I had to go on after was the girl telling me I had monster stamina and ruined her for other men. Tried it once more but I was more focused on the war so it was just a stress reliever," he explained, "And let's face it, I wasn't the type to do it out of love. Still am."
"You don't think you could do it for love?" She asked curiously.
"Not like I can do anything currently, but love wasn't a concept I was taught and it didn't appeal to me. I was just another experiment after all. Maybe one day but I'll just enjoy myself until then."
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye to see her looking forlornly above her. She was obviously thinking about her situation. Understandable, given she was caught between 2 worlds for years now. He used his arm to nudge hers and forced her attention on him, though she looked confused for a moment.
"Don't think too much about it. You aren't like me so you won't give someone that gift without loving them."
She smiled and looked back above her, enjoying the comfortable silence between them. He laid out beside her as he started watching the rest of her night, with her commenting every so often, her yawns getting more frequent. He'd just finished up watching the video's she'd shown the girls when she started falling asleep and curling into his side.
"I can probably send you back now," he offered.
"No I'd rather stay here," she murmured trying to stay awake, "Let the bastard think I'm trapped."
"If you say so," he stated, amused by her sleepy behaviour.
"Almost forgot, I found everyone."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Stupid place wouldn't answer my questions so I thought of everyone. Sent a message," she murmured.
"Go to sleep Hitomi," she whispered.
"Don't send me back," she drawled out clutching his top tightly.
"I won't," he chuckled as he turned onto his side to allow her to get closer, "Just sleep."
"Hm…kay."
He smiled as she finally fell asleep, taking the opportunity to study her as he gently stroked the cheek that was cut. One day she would stop surprising him, though he hoped it wouldn't be for a long time to come. She certainly was odd to prefer his company instead of loneliness. But then again he'd successfully became her pillar of support. The conversation they had was their most open one yet. The more he learnt about Hitomi, the more he shared about himself. Something he wouldn't have thought possible years ago.
The effect she was having on him was strange. Carefully he moved so he could look beyond her and decided to amuse himself using the void to watch more of her dancing. He wasn't too happy seeing the reaction from the men around her but he figured it was down to feeling protective, unexpectedly. When he got his real body back, anyone who wanted his queen would have to go through him. And Van would get a punch in the face out of principal.
When she came to, she did so groggily and with arms around her. Dazedly she looked up to see Dilandau sleeping. She's always wondered what it was like to wake up in a situation like this though she always expected to find out being part of a couple. She blushed when she realised she liked it, and the safety she felt being held. She smiled as she burrowed her head into his chest, wanting to hold onto that feeling.
"You don't sleep much to do you?" he grumbled.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" she asked quietly.
"I was waking up anyway," he answered, "You should try to sleep a little longer."
"I'll be ok. I didn't talk in my sleep did I?"
"No," he answered, "You mentioned sending a message when you tried to stay awake but not much else. Since you're awake, we could start your training."
"But I'm comfy," she whined playfully, looking up at his face.
"I can't be that comfortable," he stated with a confused look.
"You are," she answered hiding her face, "But I feel safer like this too."
He frowned when she tightened her hold on the back of his shirt but was decided to stay as he was, tightening his hold on her slightly. If she wanted to feel safe, he'd oblige and let her revel in it a while longer. He wasn't all that surprised she wanted to feel safe after yesterday. And he had no arguments since he was trying to figure out why he seemed to be enjoying it.
"I don't like how easily he got to you," he informed with a stern scowl.
"I doubt it'll work again but we need to hurry up and get your body back."
"I'm working on it," he answered.
"And having fun torturing Celena in the meantime."
"And you didn't have fun messing with Van and Allen yesterday?" he smirked.
"I can't let you have all the fun," she retorted with her own smirk.
"If yesterday was anything to go by I can already imagine the look on their faces when you return to Gaea and don't join them," he chuckled.
"How do you think they'd look if I came to collect you personally?"
"I think they'd shit themselves," he joked, "You planned to come get me yourself?"
"With your dragon slayers and my new sisters in tow," she smiled, "If they had a masquerade ball to celebrate their engagement, we could sneak in unnoticed. If not, I can always make a spectacle of it by making a grand entrance with the pillar of light right in the middle of it."
"Personally I like the grand entrance idea," he stated before looking down at her, "You've thought about this a lot."
"Everything except the outfit," she admitted with a blush.
He hummed as he thought it over before smirking with a final idea. She whined as he moved her and pulled her to her feet reluctantly. She even huffed when he told her to close her eyes, before doing as he asked. He used the void to change her clothes, summoning a mirror and checking it appeared on her real body as well. He smirked as he looked her over and secretly declared himself a genius.
"What are you up to?" she asked.
"Sorting your outfit out," he answered arrogantly, "Open your eyes."
She blinked to get her eyes to focus only seeing Dilandau's smirk. He was obviously very pleased with himself as he gestured her to turn around so she indulged him. Though she went stock still when she saw her outfit. She was stunned by it, and started to twist and turn to check it all out with an awed smile. All the while, Dilandau watched with a genuine smile. The outfit itself consisted of high waisted skin tight leather trousers and the top was more like a dress, styled like a high collar sleeveless kimono that only reached the top of her thighs with an emerald gem decal around her waist and splits either side to just below her waist. The collar had emeralds glittering around the collar but it allowed her to wear an emerald crop jacket to sit tight to her arms, with fabric connected to the shoulder pads at the front that flowed around her back and to the floor. He'd even topped it off with a pair of knee high boots.
"You like it?" he asked.
"I love it," she answered.
"I'm sure you're new sisters will tweak it slightly."
"So is it my turn to play dress up?" she asked putting her weight on the one leg and resting her hand on the hip that jutted out.
"I think we both know my style my Queen," he answered slyly trying to ignore how her stance was affecting him.
"I'm curious though. Indulge me, please."
He sighed knowing he wouldn't win. Not while she was being so accidentally sexy after knowing she had no experience in intimacy after last night's conversation. He closed his eyes and tried to be patient. She thought about what she wanted to see him in and smiled as she watched it appear. She'd left the black leather trousers he wore so well but his top changed to a black shirt, covered by a long coat with a high collar, that dropped to his knees with black buttons and trims. Red shin-guard's covered his legs from knee to ankle like his old armour. A black belt for his sword rested on his hips. Removeable arm guards covered from elbow to the back of his hands that were shielded with white gloves. The black shoulder pads had fabric dropping down his back like her own. Buttoned up it would look like a formal military jacket, but undone and without the cloak gave it a casual look. She even gave him his old headwear but this time it was black metal with a blood red jewel. And overall it did strange things to her.
"Have a look."
He opened his eyes and looked down before moving to the mirror and inspecting the outfit. He was impressed, shocked and impressed.
"This is very regal," he stated.
"Well you are a Lord after all. I got the idea from a few tv shows and a royal family in Europe," she offered.
"I meant royal regal. I almost feel like a king as well as a general in this."
"Well I thought you'd like something that could be casual & formal or at least make you stand out more than the Zaibach Soldier you used to be," she stated nervously, "I was going to try something from Earth but I wanted to see this more."
"I like it," he announced.
"Really?" she asked surprised.
"Did you think I wouldn't?" he questioned.
"Kinda. You always wore the same uniform as your soldiers before but only the colour was different. I thought this would be a good change…"
"What was the Earth outfit like?"
She quickly brought it forward, changing him into black jeans, a blood red shirt and a black leather jacket. When he smirked whilst inspecting it, she knew he liked it.
"I could get used to this," he stated before changing their outfits, "But first we should start your training so we can put them to use."
So that's it for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.
For anyone who's a beyblade fan, I've uploaded my latest chapter for my new Beyblade Story, 4 Queens - another slow burner but I'm partial to long stories lol
As always, any feedback is great feedback, but it's not expected.
I'll be uploading the next chapter on 4th December.
Until next time xx