Hi All,
The first new chapter of 2022
I hope everyone's January has been peaceful and stress-free.
For now though, please enjoy and as always, feedback is appreciated but not expected.
xx
Chapter 14
After the day of sheer boredom and annoyance he'd gone through watching Van and Celena, he was looking forward to his break with Hitomi through the night. When he finally pulled himself into the void, he'd instantly tapped into Hitomi's mind, hearing what she was saying before the vision filtered through. Needless to say it was a shock seeing Folken sat across from her. Seeing Folken's amused but calculating look directed at her while she was distracted brought his foul mood front and centre. His anger at Folken's suggestion to hold hand had taken him by surprise.
He pushed it to the side choosing to analyse it later while he waited, with arms crossed as the two appeared before him. Though the perplexed look on Folken's face was slightly amusing to witness.
"Well that's disorienting," Folken commented.
"You get used to it," Hitomi stated as she walked over to Dilandau and standing beside him.
"It's been a while Dilandau," Folken greeted.
"It has, though I imagine you've got far more interesting stories to tell," Dilandau responded with a bored tone.
"I doubt that."
"Hitomi," Dilandau said leaning towards her, "how much have you told him so far?"
"Just about everything," she answered.
"Unless you have any reasons as to why my brother doesn't deserve a beating."
"Pft, good luck with that," Dilandau scoffed, "You're the latest to a queue of people ready to deliver that. I'm already planning to hold him in place so Hitomi can get her hits in first."
"Told you so," Hitomi giggled getting an exacerbated look from Folken.
"By any chance, did you try to defend me?" Dilandau asked amused.
"Maybe. Are you happy to trust him now you know he wants to hit Van as much as you do?" she asked back with a smirk.
"You're too clever for your own good," he retorted.
"I'd like to think it's because I know you. Besides, if you keep this up, I can't tell you some good news."
"Oh and what's that?" He asked amused, moving to stand with one hand on his hip.
"Folken's not the only who's joined us today," Hitomi stated, "Remember I was mumbling about sending a message? I used the void to send it, I wasn't sure it worked until today. When Chesta found me."
"Chesta? One of my dragon slayers?" He asked in shock.
"Yep and hopefully the rest of the dragon slayers will join us soon too," she answered, " Are you shocked, happy or both? They were the first ones I wanted to find but I can't tell if that was a good idea now."
"I'm amazed," he answered, "But why my dragon slayers first? They're likely to attack you."
"So you had people you could trust when we finally get your body back. Chesta looked like he wanted to but I think I kind of surprised him. He'll help when the rest show up and he's already acting like a bodyguard."
"You sent the message for me?"
"I wanted to speed things up on Earth so you had everything for when you're there."
His jaw slacked is disbelief. He was evil, the bad guy, the unstable one. He hadn't asked for anything from her and never intended to but she'd given him everything. How Van and Allen had abused this, planned to abuse this, he would never understand.
"Folken, I think I broke him."
"Give him a minute. You never fail to take people by surprise and he's not used to being given anything out of kindness alone."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No," Dilandau stated quickly, "It's your best feature."
"Not my occasional evil streak or eyes?" she teased.
"One of your best features then," he retorted with a smirk earning a blush.
He looked over at Folken who was just watching them curiously. Keeping his smirk in place, he summoned the sitting area he created with Hitomi had stayed in the void with him, this time including proper seats.
"So we have a lot to catch up and discuss," Dilandau announced, "How about you both fill me in?"
Folken opted for one of the seats whilst Hitomi chose to sit with him, lounging back on the cushions. Hitomi had gone first, explaining what had happened with Chesta. Dilandau was secretly pleased Chesta had been the first of the dragon slayers. He had always been incredibly loyal. In fact, he already planned that Chesta would be Hitomi's bodyguard when needed. The fact he'd already started only proved what he'd always known. He could also trust him to help train Hitomi without getting over-enthusiastic like the rest would.
Folken had gone next explaining what he'd been up to since he woke up on Earth. He'd assimilated into his new life more easily that it sounded Chesta and the girls had. It probably helped that he'd had Hitomi's father and the 2 played heavily on his identity as a reclusive heir to a fortune. Apart from 1 mansion and an apartment near the city centre, he'd sold every property he'd inherited, his parents' businesses, antiques, furniture, additional cars, land. He'd essentially sold everything he could to make his fortune even larger alongside the life insurance policies. In the meantime, he'd been preparing in case Hitomi was pulled back to Gaea.
He had researched Modern Warfare and Earth's extensive war history, making connections, searching for anything related to Gaea, seeking out Gaean's brought to Earth and helping Hitomi's father work out a plan to keep her safe. All the while, he'd been watching over Hitomi from a distance.
Finding out Folken was technically her cousin on Earth, needled Dilandau to no end. Royals on Gaea often married cousins, crossing bloodlines. Every Royal Family was related one way or another. The same could be said for the Royals on Earth though not to the same extent. Briefly he wondered if Folken and Hitomi would marry for politics if she chose to stay on Gaea but Hitomi would never allow anything to dictate who she should marry.
By the time Folken was done explaining, Dilandau was certain that if she chose to stay on Gaea, with both himself and Folken at her side, Hitomi's reign would be a unity of both Earth and Gaea. Tales of her would be told for time immemorial. He decided to rush through the latest news from Gaea, not wanting to re-live his day for too long. Plus Hitomi looked like she was trying not to fall asleep.
"Go to sleep Hitomi," Dilandau suggested.
"No. I want to stay awake a little longer to go through the plan," she mumbled.
He moved his arm behind her neck, curling it round to use his hand to cover her eyes.
"Sleep Hitomi, I'll wake you before I send you back."
"Mmkay."
It didn't take her long to fall into a deep sleep and once he was certain she wouldn't wake, he moved his hand away brushing some hair out of her eyes as he did so. Looking over at Folken, he found the older man watching them with a curious look on his face.
"What?" Dilandau asked.
"Nothing I'm just surprised she fell asleep so quickly."
"She only does it when she feels completely safe. But Chesta, training, you and all this talking, she's exhausted."
"You've gotten to know her quite well," Folken noted.
"It's been nearly 8 weeks since I first came here," Dilandau advised, "Half that since I first brought her here."
"So what are getting out of this?"
"Nothing except helping Hitomi survive the war and reaching her full potential if she wants to."
"I have to say I'm surprised Dilandau. I didn't think you capable of putting someone else first. But our Hitomi was right. No one really knew you."
"She say that while defending me?" Dilandau smirked, "You've got a strange way of finding out how much someone trusts someone else or if there's ulterior motives in someone's actions."
"Maybe but it's effective. She feels safe with you."
"Maybe because I'm not using her for my own gain and giving her brutal honesty."
"I don't think that's all it is."
"Your brother didn't get to know anything about her. So, you want to tell me why she was talking about not wanting to be alone tonight?"
"Spending all day surrounded and going home to an empty house, made her realise how lonely it is at home. When I got there, she was crying."
As if on cue, Hitomi rolled, curling into his side and her hand grabbed his top. He glanced down at her and put his arm around her to hold her in place whilst holding her hand on his top with the other.
"She won't be alone for much longer," Dilandau stated.
"Somehow I think she'll still feel lonely until you get your body back and join her on Earth. All of us reborn on Earth can compare our experiences. They might get to know her or sympathise, but they won't understand what she's been through and still going through."
"You mean divided between 2 worlds without the advantage of memories from 2 lives?"
"Well I guess you could include that," Folken stated, "I was actually referring to the fact her experience is unique only to her. Like yours is unique to you. No one will have the same experience."
"She is a Queen. Queens are meant to be unique," Dilandau stated.
"So tell me what is this plan you've cooked up?"
"It's actually Hitomi's plan. I had little input in it."
"Did she now? Well now I'm intrigued."
Dilandau smirked. It was clear Folken didn't believe him. He'd have fun wiping that look off his face. He went into detail as he explained the plan, telling him Hitomi's reasoning and theories behind certain parts. He mentioned his input, showed him her outfit, and the 2 other plans Hitomi had came up with. He also showed him their brief conversation about taming a dragon. Needless to say, Folken looked floored.
"Didn't think she had it in her?" Dilandau asked smugly.
"Honestly, I didn't think she would be this good a strategist."
"She's angry, hurt, feeling betrayed. It's no surprise she's feeling a little vengeful."
"It seems our Hitomi is capable of anything when she isn't holding onto her concern and anxiety."
"She hasn't let go of the anxiety or concerns. She's using it to her advantage."
Before Folken and Dilandau could speak anymore, Hitomi stirred. They stayed quiet in case she was falling back to sleep but she moved pushing herself to her hands and knee's sleepily.
"Hitomi?" Dilandau asked.
"The war will begin soon," she murmured.
"When?" he asked seriously, realising something was happening.
"When the last stolen child is changed. The King of Fanelia will be the one to set things in motion," she answered robotically.
"How?"
"It's not certain," she answered, "The King is conflicted. Blood will be shed but who's will not be decided until the time."
"Do you know who it's between?" Folken asked.
"A soldier, the Prince of Atorantisu or myself," she answered.
"How do we stop it?"
"There is no stopping it. The war has to happen or all of Gaea will suffer a worse fate. Fate must be corrected to it's original course to avoid it. Blood has to be shed to spare the lives of millions."
Hitomi swayed as one of her arms began to give in. Dilandau quickly moved to catch her and roll her so her back was to his chest. She was unconscious as if she hadn't woken at all.
"It seems she's starting to awaken as the next Queen," Folken stated, causing Dilandau to look at him.
"It was a vision?"
"No, she's conscious when she has a vision. This is something else."
"Well whatever it is, looks like your brother has a big part to play."
"The main issue is we won't know who it's going to be," Folken stated.
"Doesn't matter as long as it isn't Hitomi," Dilandau vowed.
"Blood will be shed," Folken mused, "That could be anything from a graze to death. I wonder if she'll remember the prediction."
"What if she doesn't?"
"We'll deal with it once we know," Folken stated, "Send me back. I need to call her father and put her in a bed."
"I'll pull you back tomorrow night. I'd like to know what he says."
"Fair enough. Until tomorrow."
Folken faded away and Dilandau pulled up the image of Folken in Hitomi's house to make sure he put her in her bed. Once he saw her body in her bed. Once he saw her body in her bed, he let the image disappear. Slowly, he sat up and moved Hitomi so he could lift her as he stood up. Letting the seating disappear, he summoned a bed laying her on it. He didn't like this prediction, it had an ominous feeling behind it. No doubt, Folken had caught onto it and so would her father.
If she didn't remember the prediction, telling her would only let her anxiety he was starting to push back, take hold of her. If he didn't tell her, he would be breaking her trust. Being conflicted was something he wasn't used to. Normally, he would just give the brutal truth no matter the consequence. This time he couldn't bring himself to do that.
He brushed the hair out of her eyes as he sat on the edge. He wondered if this was how she felt each time she had a vision. Struggling to decide what to do and doubting if it was right. Maybe Folken would come up with a plan. But then again, waiting sucked.
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.
Next upload is: 28th February
See you next month xx