To Tame a Beast
Right sorry for the long wait. There was a lot happening in the past few months that kept me distracted and away from writing...
A few things were editing. I went back and edited all of the chapters before this one. I deemed it was time that I did it, seeming this story has... two chapters and an epilogue left. (Yay) Another is that fact that I have a second story that I am helping to write.
I am the co writer for it, and seeming that I am writing this with a friend of my who does not have her own Escaflowne fic, its under her name. That time is 'There and Back again" by Spirit Dancer. Yes like some stories this is a 'put in our own characters into the old plot line' kind of thing. Yet, given that I am the one put in charge of plot line creation... Heh heh, it isn't gonna be no where near the same as the old plot line of Escaflowne. Sure it starts out similar, but that's because I cant start sudden plot changes until later.. So yea, if you like my creative plot changes, try it out and make my friend fell a bit more welcome in this side of the site (love yas Lys!)
Right enough about that ranting... Enjoy that chapter, its long! -.- more then I was planning but o well.. I'm making up for time!
Chpt. 15 Berserker's Kiss
The gentle morning breeze blew aside the curtains that covered the glass doors that lead out on to the balcony; the morning sunlight shimmered off the rain drops for the late night storm. There were the sweet songs of the small birds that could fly up onto the Vione, their normally smoothing songs, thought, where doing a number to Folken's massive headache. Even before he was fully awake he could feel the damn thing pounding in the back of his skull, he should make it a rule never to have drinking games with Aurora ever again. He had forgotten how good she was at cheating in card games; she could probable whip the floor with Dilandau if he ever played her. Opening his eyes slightly he stared down at the table where he had woken to find himself half sleeping on, which would probable explain the ache in his neck. There were a set of cards scattered about the table, long forgotten after a few hours of playing, the winner of the game Folken couldn't quiet remember and at the time didn't care to. For there amongst the discarded cards was an empty wine bottle facing towards the empty chair in front of him. O lord, they didn't play her deformed version of 'spin-the-bottle-of-truth-or-dare' did they? At that point he was a little happy that he couldn't remember much and a little grateful for the massive headache he had. Leaning back in the chair, he sort of tugged at his collar of the shirt that went under the uniform jacket he normal worn. Sometime during the night he must have taken it off the jacket. He could see Aurora's on the back of the other chair; he should have just told her 'good-night' and shut the damn door. But, then again, the last time he had done that, she wouldn't speak to him for months and at this point in time he knew that he couldn't take the chance of that happening again. Aurora had always been a valuable source of information for him. Back when he was working in the Black Towers, he could always count on her for a source of help, most of the time he would get to know things that he wasn't suppose to. If it hadn't been for Levine's, her first husband's, advice Folken might have done something erratically stupid to screw up the friendship that he had with her now.
Speaking of which, he turned his head slight, avoiding looking into any light source in hopes that he wouldn't make the hangover any worse, he looked to his bed. Tossed about in the covers, sleeping quiet soundly, was the familiar redheaded woman. Her black pants lay tossed at the end of the bed, indicating that he had probable been the first one to pass out. Folken resisted the need to kicking the side of the bed to wake her up. Aurora grumbled a bit in her sleep as she turned out in the bed so that she was facing him. For a few seconds he just glared at her waiting for her to wake up to her own hangover. Which didn't take long, one blue eye cracked open, look at him for a second, and then closed again as she rolled onto her back groaning.
"Morning wench...." He growled playful, as much as he could without making his headache worse. She laughed for a few seconds before she realized laughing wasn't the brightest of ideals, so instead she threw a pillow at him. Sitting up, she rubbed her forehead as the headache began to bother her.
"Wow... That's the most fun I've had in a while..." Aurora giggled slightly as she looked at him from the corner of her eyes. "Then again that's probably the most fun you've had in ages, eh you old stiff..?"
"I think there should be a rule that higher officials shouldn't partake in drinking games with you anymore..." Folken moaned as he stood up, swaying a bit on his feet before he could take a few even steps. Lord, his head hurt, he could hear the damn woman snickering behind him, but once the clock in his room chimed the time she fell out of the bed. The chime of the clock was enough to crack ones head open, well one with a hangover that is. If it didn't hurt him so much he would have been laughing at her as she cursed the thing, falling to the floor twisted in the blanket.
"God damn it Folken! Turn it off, turn it off!!!" She yelled over the chimes, but once it stroke seven, the clock stopped. Looking over his shoulder he could see Aurora lying on the floor, hands covering her ears, and giving him an evil glare. "You're trying to kill me aren't you, old stiff?!"
"A, sweet revenge.."
"Have you never learned, Folken, that revenge is never sweet?" He choose to ignore the remark, knowing that it would only bring them into another debate that would probable end with both their headaches becoming worse. Right at that moment he needed to wake himself up a little more. Flicking the light on to the bathroom, Folken turn on the cold water in the little sink and let his left hand underneath it. He cupped his hands together after a few seconds and splashed the water onto his face. Not only didn't this seem to wake him up a little more, but it kind of help with the massive pain pulsing against his forehead. He heard Aurora suddenly curse, and the sounds of her bumping in to things as she tries to get her pants on. He stares at the running water for a few more moments as he waits for the sound to stop. "Stupid, stupid!!"
"What's stupid?" Sighing, Folken stepped back out into the main chamber, looking at her as she tugged on her boots. The lines of curses could amaze anyone, if they knew all the languages the red head was cursing IN.
"It's seven!" One boot on, and she begins to dig around for the other.
"Yes... I'm pretty sure that it is seven, Aurora... We did have the damn clock chime seven headache increasing times..." Folken frowned as she watched her toss around the blanket looking in vain for her other boot. "Is there something going on that you o-so-caringly-forgot to tell me?"
"No, I did tell you..." She sat up suddenly on the floor in victory as she found her missing boot, and began the struggle again to get it on her foot. "But, after four bottles of wine, and nine shots of vodka I'm pretty sure you can't remember it though your headache. But, anyways, the Yuom'a leaves in two hours and I need to be on it..."
"You're leaving?" In her rush, Aurora pulled her hair up into a pony tail to keep it from falling into her face she looked at him for a moment; sadness etched its ugly face in her eyes for a second before disappearing.
"There are matters at home that have unfortunately come up at a bad time. My poor daughter hasn't a clue what to do... I'm sorry for leaving you so soon, but-"
"Family matters over rule my needs, I understand, but what's-"
"Ack!" Aurora cut him off from asking and grabbed her jacket off the back of the chair. "I've got to bet those idiots to my room before they start randomly moving stuff! I'll see you in the hanger, Folken!" She blew him a kiss before disappearing out the door. Folken frowned for a second as he watched her leave slightly from the fact he couldn't tell what was worse, her doing that, or Celena. Then again, he groaned as his head began to pulse again, his hangover was winning by a long shot.
He stared into the mirror, as his hand touched the dark lines beneath his eyes. Tiredness filled his reflection, as he continued to study it, ignoring the sound of running water as it moved over the hand still in the sink. Water dripped down from his silver hair as it hung down around his face, the water drops slide down pass his tired red eyes as they glared half open into the mirror. The water continued to move down his face and along his bare chest, he sighed from exhaustion that was clearly written a crossed his face. Dilandau turned off the sink and walked out from the bathroom. He stopped half through the doorway and half way into his bedroom to absorb it all. There amongst the twisted sheets on his bed laid the white hair woman sleeping peacefully. The crimson sheets fell over her tan bare legs, as they curled slightly beneath her. The white gown she wore was slight undone around her neck. Her chest rose and fell slowly for she was still in a deep sleep. Her long white hair scattered about and around her, gentle spread over the soft pillows. The perfect image of the aftermath of a lover's game.
He'd wished.
At least then he wouldn't mind being sleep deprived. He had spent the entire night calming her from nightmares that pledged her. Sometimes it would seem that he had calmed her out of one, and be able to start to fall back asleep himself when another one would start. Give or take, Dilandau had probable one hour's worth of sleep throughout the entire night, and not all together. Who ever knew one could have so many bad dreams in a single night? Hell, when he opened his door to see her there he had expected almost anything, for her to yell or something. But when he took a closer look at her eyes, he could see that she had been crying. Crying, that had been the last thing he would have thought of. Sure, he had handled Celena crying every now and then, but Rei? He had been half tempted to either wake up Folken or get his sister after awhile, when he was trying to calm her down.
Sighing, Dilandau turned his attention back to the task at hand, getting dressed. Even with the lack of sleep. He still had to go on through this day of hell, training for his men started in an hour. Then there would be that lovely little breakfast as the Vione's guests finally raise their asses out of bed, and finally fighting the entire day's urge to strangle the two other generals. Pulling out a red tank top from his dresser, Dilandau turned his attention to the closet, where his armor jacket was, along with his slacks, and combat boots. Oblivious to him, as he dressed, was the figure in the bed as she slowly sat up on the bed. Clenching her hands together in to fists, and then relaxing them, Rei took a moment before looking up at who she knew was only a little ways off.
Why did I come here?
/Because you did.../ Her mind prominently answered. Was it just her, or did her body fell like it had been missed used, and beaten the crap out of? Sighing, she tried to force herself to remember the last thing that had happened, but all she could come up with was jumping out of her Ispano onto the forest floor during that training section. Beyond that, everything was fuzzy, well minus the pain in her back. She had wakened up from her drifting sleep last night in a cool sweat from a dream she would normally not remember, but this time she had. In her mind, she could recall every detail of the dream, or well memory. Wrapping her arms around herself, Rei stared down at the red satin sheets around her. Why could she remember that? For the longest time she had suppressed that memory, no, all of the memories of him. Pressing her hands down hard on her shoulders she tried to control the shaking of her body. I don't want to remember him; I don't want to remember... "Condse....."
"Rei?" Dilandau's voice cut through her trail off thought. Snapping up her head in the direction of his voice, she found him standing next to the bed, almost completely dressed except for the armored jacket that was on the table. A blurred image of a memory of the last time she was in this room and the familiar sickness in her stomach. His red eyes looked at her worried, probable from the 'sick' look that had crossed her face. Recovering quickly, Rei moved to stand on the cold marble floor. The white medical grown fell down to her feet the scratchy material rubbing against her legs as she moved. The color was a stood out against her dark tanned skin, one of the main reason she didn't really like the color white. "Rei?"
Sighing, she turned to face the young male next to her. He still looked a little worried about her, but not as bad now that she was standing up. His silver white hair fell down around his face; without the small tiara he usually wore it fell down to his chin. It sort of made him look cute; her stomach turned at another thought that went passed her mind. The sudden need to throw up made her push down on her middle section and fall back on the bed. She felt horrible, inside and out. Why hadn't she noticed this when she wake up last night? Better yet....
"What the hell did you give me this time..." Rei mumbled under her breath, not thinking that Dilandau would hear it. Her own voice sounded strange to her, rasp, and dry. Closing her eyes, she stared at the back of her eye lids for a moment.
"He didn't give you anything, Nine.." Eyes flew back open and she sat up on the bed a little to fast, nearly emptying her already empty stomach. Her perfect sapphire pools stared into his rubies. There was a serious look in his face, as if he knew more then just what he said. It was like she had been unconscious for nearly a month and all hell had broken loose in the meant time.
"How did you....know..." The words stubble out of her mouth, the taste of bile on her tongue made her stop. Gods she felt sick. Dilandau sat down on the bed next to her, looking down at his hands. Was it her, or did he look sad about something? "Dilandau....what's going on?"
"You've been unconscious for the past few weeks. During that time Folken told Celena and I who you really are..."009. He left it hanging. How long did he hate being called by a number, was it not the same for her? Her, it seemed weird. For the pasted few days, Dilandau had actually been thinking what to say to this woman. The same woman not even six months ago he was willing to kill. Questions spun in his head, making it hard for him to speak again as he tried to short out each thought. For some reason they would all end with "Why didn't you come back for us?" Yes, she lived, and left them alone to suffer three more years of torture. She had left them, and here, now there seemed to be no remorse from her about it. It was something that had bothered him ever since he found out who she was. Folken was never able to give him a straight answer, and now with her sitting next to him, maybe now he could get what he had been waiting to know for days now. Dilandau looked at her again, finding that she was staring down at her hands that were slightly shaking. She didn't really seem to fix onto them, the sapphire pools seemed blurred a bit. "Rei......"
"Hn?" An old anger seemed to build behind his waiting word as she slowly looked up at him.
"Why didn't you come back for us? Why did you leave us to the Madoushis when you promised us that would help get us freed?!" He was practically yelling them, in the back of his mind now burned her betrayal of breaking her word. He could still see the short white hair girl standing beyond the bars of their cell, telling them of her plan. Rei just continued to look at him, as if she didn't understand a single word he had just said. This feed the anger he was already feeling towards her. He was about to yell at her some more when she suddenly, yet slowly stood up again. "Rei....?"
"I'm sorry Dilandau....." Her voice was low, and wavered as she spoke. Looking down at her bare feet, she turned away from him to look to the door. "But I'm not her..."
"What the hell do you mean you're not her?!"
"It's simple... 009 was the name of a child who died the day you tried to escape. For the following two years of my life, I was an empty, lifeless doll that moved at the commands given to me." Her head shook sadly. "I do not remember anything that happened before my first 'mission' when I was nine. I have no clue what promise I made you and your sister; those years are a blur of shaded shadows. The only reason I know that I made any attempt to free you two was the recording in my file... It does not go into much detail. I am sorry, but the little girl you did know died that day..." She left him sitting on the bed looking at her, bewildered by her words. Anger he felt towards her no longer existent, more or less replaced by the emotion of sympathy. His red eyes followed her as she walked to the door slowly, medical night grown flowing flimsily around her frame. The door slid open as she walked near it; half out the door Rei stopped and turned around to look at him. A sadness echoed in the normally empty sapphire pools, she watched him for a moment as he started down at his hands, his hair covering over most of his eyes. There was a slight tug at her cold, empty shell of a heart the Madoushis had left her with. The only reason Dilandau was seen as a failure in their eyes was because his emotion of being left alone. This same emotion that made him unbalanced. It was sort of funny to think it, even though he pushed his Dragonslayers away he feared to loose them. And yet, clouded by his owe fear; Dilandau could not see the loyalty his men held. For one could see that only death would tare those boys away from him. She wrapped her arms around herself as she looked out into the dark corridor of the Vione. Was this why I feel this way towards him?
"Dilandau...." Her voice was so low that he barely heard it. Titling his head up, Dilandau could see her standing between the door looking out into the darkness on the other side. Someone really needed to put lights in that corridor.
"Yes, Rei?" He responded after a long moment's silence. She looked at him for a second before shaking her head and walking out the door, leaving him alone in his room.
"Never mind..." The door shut, leaving her without a light as she walked down the hall, using her hands to find her way. The words that were left unsaid echoed in the darkness, haunting her.
I failed you once, I will not again. You will never be alone...
Celena ran down the corridor, careful not to hit anyone as she wheeled around another corner. She couldn't find Folken, and now she only had one opinion left, to find the ex-madoushi, Aurora. Rei wasn't in the room when she woke up; her bed was in a mess. Celena had found the door unlocked as she ran out it, something her brother had made sure she had remembered to lock it with both the White Fangs and the Demon Clan walking freely about the ship. The first thing she had ran into once out the door was two of the Demon Clan soldier 'standing' at the end of her corridor like nothing was out of the ordinary with them being there. It was dangers having Rei walking around the Vione in the state she would probable most likely be in. She had heard Folken and Aurora talking a few weeks ago, about the possibility that drugs in her system influenced her personality. If Rei was hostile with them, Celena didn't want to find out what she was like without them when she ran across one of these morons.
On top of that, Rei was probably walking around in nothing more then that flimsy medical gown, without any weapons to defend herself with. To make matters worse, she couldn't find any of the other Dragonslayers, they were all to busy making sure that the two visiting groups didn't do anything to the Vione. Growling she turned around corner, her long blondish gray hair fell out her face. Consciously she pushed it off over her shoulders. Maybe it was time she thought again cutting her hair and keeping it short.
But Folken likes my hair long...The childish complaint responded to the thought in her mind. Celena frowned as she came around another corner.
Folken also thinks of me as a sergeant child...
Are you sure about that? Her mind asked her, as she sprinted down the hall, periodically wondering why the Vione HAD to have so many.
No... Her response was as she came around the last corner, to see the open door to Aurora's room. At least she was there, unless the woman was stupid enough to leave her door unlocked, and one of the White Fang or even one of the Demon Clan soldiers were messing around with chemicals. That was a lovely thought, a chemical explosion in the center of the Vione that would not be a very nice thing.
THUD! The sound echoed in the hall as a man in his late thirties in a white uniform half stepped out in the hall, and half dropped the end of a large chest he was carrying. Celena skidded to a stop a few meters away as Aurora's voice followed the sound.
"Be CAREFUL with that! Morons, what it there were chemicals in that chest; we'd all be dead right now!" The man mumbled apologizes as he picked up the end of the chest again. It took her a moment to recognize the uniform the man wore belonged to, the transport ship Yuom'a. Celena waited impatiencely for the man and his partner to move the large chest out of the door way and down the hall, so that she could move into the room. Curiosity was something she was not unfamiliar with, and with the moving out of her things by a Yuom'a crew member that curiosity was renewed. This, unfortunately, made her forget why she had come running all this way to get her. Celena found Aurora standing in the small bed room to the left of the main sitting room, careful sorting through the last of her things as she placed them into a small black bag that was on the neatly made bed. These were the quest chambers; that came with a sitting room furnished with chairs, a table and a small couch. It also came with a private bath, which was much like the one in her owe room. This one was one of the less nicer ones on the Vione, Celena was curious why Folken had set his 'friend' up in this one, when she first found out what room she was placed in, and not in one of the really fancy ones. Folken had kindly answered, with a half chuckle, that Aurora would have had his head for putting her there, and use it to scare off children during the Harvest Moon Celebration. She didn't get the joke, for that holiday was a celebration for the harvest and had nothing to do with human heads. There was a long drawn out sigh as Aurora zipped the bag shut, she seemed a little sad about something, and was total oblivious to Celena. For a moment she didn't move, but continued to stare down at the small back before letting out another sigh, this time shorter, and turned to walk out of the room. She froze when she saw the blondish gray teenager standing out in the sitting room, but only for a second, as she smiled at her like nothing was wrong. "Well, good morning, Celena, come to see me off?"
"See you off?" She cocked her head to the sided, as she watched Aurora walked out towards her, holding onto the straps of the black bag.
"Yes, see me off, as in escorting me down to Hanger 4 to board the Yuom'a." She continued to smile as if nothing was wrong, and rested her hand on Celena's right should, turning her towards the door.
"What?! You're leaving?"
"O, don't be so surprised my dear Celena.." Aurora waved her free hand in the air as the two of them walked out the door into the dark corridor. "Almost three weeks ago you were almost pushing me out the door."
"Yea, but that's different!" She responded as the door slid shut behind them.
I didn't like you then, ex-madoushi, but I do now...
He walked out slowly onto the cat walk. The pain in his forehead had finally eased a bit, and was now being replaced by another headache. Down below, Folken could hear the crew members of the Yuom'a yelling as the transport made its last checks before it departed. Taking with it Aurora, who suddenly need to leave, for what was oblivious to him. If she had told him last night, he probable wasn't going to remember it through his hangover. She was down on the level floor talking to Celena, who seemed a bit sad by the woman's sudden departure as well. For the last few weeks, even though Celena refused to hear it, the younger girl seemed to grow attached to the redheaded woman. Though, most of the conversations the two would, he had found, were mostly about him. One of the many disadvantages with her being her, Aurora, even for her age, love to talk. Celena, on the other hand, had always been trying to learn more about his past.
Luckily, Aurora had told him, she had not spoken about anything past the year she had meet him. Folken's heritage would remand in the dark, just where he preferred to have it. Aurora looked up at him as he stopped on the cat walk. A childish smile crossed her face as she looked up at him. Even for her age, she was just a child at heart. The blondish gray haired girl next to her was looking out onto the transport ship. The Yuom'a was making its last preparations now.
"Folken! If you need anything don't forget to give me a call!" Sighing he stood closer to the edge of the catwalk to see her better as she turned to head for the Yuom'a. "She's going to be more of a hand full then ever now!"
"Yes..." I noticed. Walking down the upper corridors, making his way down to the hangers, Folken had run into a wonder Rei. Disoriented, and half lost, she didn't seem much of herself. Then again, she also was trying to say as far from him as she could minister in the small corridors. Leaving her locked for her own safety in his study, Folken had planned on asking Aurora to look her over after he went to the hangers. But, unfortunately, as he remembered why he was going there, that he would have to see to it himself. Though he would not take the risk of letting Rei find her own way to the room she shared. Walking less then twenty feet out of his own room her had run into the Demon Clan general, Deamor J'Lona. He did not need him or his companion, Jyle, running across Rei at least not in the state of mind she was in.
"O, Folkie! Sound more enthusiastic about it!" Nearly choking himself from almost swallowing his tongue as Aurora used Celena's nickname for him. Was she trying to kill him or just encourage the teenager? He was hoping it wasn't the later. Folken watched as the redheaded woman hugged the Blondish gray haired teenager. She seemed to watch long enough before letting go to whisper something in her ear. As she released the embrace she looked back up at him again, and waved with a childish smile on her face. "See you later Folken!"
Blue 17th
It has been two days since Rei has come out of her coma like state. I do not know at this moment of letting Dilandau talk me out of giving her the drugs was a very good idea. Her mood and personality has changed dramatically. Instead of not answer orders without some sort of resistance, she answers without it. Rei has also become shy and timid around not only me, but Dilandau and the male slayers. On top of that Celena has reported to me that she is having trouble sleeping. Most of her nights are spent tossing and turning in her sleep. Celena has also told me that she wakes up either in a cold sweat or crying. This mood swings are noted in Kane's writings, and I dislike were it maybe leading, Rei's memories are slowly slipping through the barrier of drugs that once in her system. With each day passing, the contains of these are being diluted and run out of her system. I am no sure whether or not to break my word to Dilandau and give just this one.
If she suffers from a relapse, I am afraid that the Vione may not be left in one piece. I am also afraid to have her train with the other slayers. If her blood pressure rises to high, it to may also trigger a change, something I can not allow to happen with her in this condition. On top of that, I fear even more if one of Jyle's or even Deamor's men change her. Cocky as they might be, I do not think they would listen if I have the fight stopped. Dilandau is not too happy about me keeping him from having Rei work with the others. He wants to use her in the final attack against the Celtic. But, how to I tell the boy he might push her over the cliff, and end up having his head severed? Even though I have told him and his sister about 009, I have not told them what her project was on. And as long as I can, I will not. The madoushis will already want MY head for telling the two of them, and if they decided to, I do not want a lot of the two's memories blocked out. Nor the slayers, I have kept them from the Madoushis hands long enough, even though they know of their commander's and his sisters past and the madoushis did not want that.
Not that it matters at the moment. Without Aurora's extra set of hands, things for me are being coming strenuous. I do not think I have had a decent nights rest for some time now, and its strain is starting to catch up to me. Maybe after this has settled a bit, I should look in to getting vacation time? I haven't had one in, what...ten years? Maybe Aurora is right...
Dilandau leaned back in the throne-ish like chair, was he watched his men. They were working hard out on the training floor, even though it was much earlier in the morning then what they were use to. The elite would train during this time, and later in the day Dilandau would work his others. Celena was sitting down on the steps a little ways away from him, not to far from her was Rei. They two of them had not spoken much since the incited in his room, and when he did the conversation was very short. Celena on the other hand, would hold a one ended conversation with the woman. Rei had be oddly quiet around everyone, along with sort of skittish. Mayonaka was laying on the step next to his master, tail slowly tossing about as Rei scratched his head. Oddly, Dilandau sighed as he looked back at his med, he wished that he was in the damn white wolf's place. There was a loud 'BANG' that drew his attention away from the thought along with looking at his men. Laughing and talking loudly, the Demon Clan and the White Fang soldiers walked into the training grounds. Following there smirking commanders as the sighted the Dragonslayers along with Dilandau sitting not to far from them. Was it him, or just his imagination tat Jyle's smirk deepened when he saw Rei?
"Alright Kiddies! Get off the floor so that the real soldiers can train!" Jyle's annoying voice rang through the room, followed by the snickers of his men. Dilandau growled in annoyance as the group responsible for his anger walked into, sort of pushing the Dragonslayers closer to the commander as if to protect him from any possible attack.
"Unfortunately for you, Jyle, the only real soldiers have been training for the past hour and a half." Resting his head in his left hand, Dilandau watched the smirk on Jyle's face grow even more. One would have to be pretty stupid not to know what was coming next. "I have the training rooms reserved for another two hours... Your mean can use the damn hanger floors if you in such a rush today to get nowhere with your men's skills."
"Now, now, Dilandau.." Deamor waved his hand in the air to dismiss the insult. "In two hours we all have to run through battle simulations in the Melefs to make sure they are all in running condition. Though, we all need to be well warmed up before that task, and since there is only this one training floor on the Vione, I propose that we hold a contest!"
"What a good idea Deamor, and since your men are already warmed up we can get this started without having to wait an hour for your little boys to get ready to have their asses kicked.." Jyle added on, if this was a rehearsed take on at this damn game, Dilandau wouldn't be surprised. Hock, bait and sinker, both of the morons knew he wouldn't tolerate the insults thrown at his men. This little 'game' would go on until someone walked end and ordered it stopped, most of the time it had been Skylar. This was normal a game played on the day he would arrive. But dumb and dumber had this all set a day early. Something was going on here.
"What does the winner get?" Dilandau sighed, might as well just get this over with.
"First dibs on the battle. Loser gets to do all the clean up work." Deamor smiled at Jyle who frowned at him. A, a little back stabbing eh? Finally coming out of his shadow little chicken boy?
"Fine... Shesta, you're up first!" These little battles were quick and simple. They were always battles fought in threes. As Shesta took the floor, carefully drawing his sword, Dilandau watched as the one of the larger men of Deamor's step up onto the mats. Compared to him, Shesta looked like an ant going against a bear. All of his men were youthful, ranging in his age range. Where as some of Jyle's and Deamor's men were mostly far older then them. This grizzly of a man wielded a broadsword. Next up was the scrawny twin knife fighter that was one of Jyle's few men that were actually good in Dilandau's opinion. Scrawny and ragged looking that this one might be, he had seen this one enough times to know that he was quiet fast. He and the grizzly man were not new faces to Dilandau; they were one of the few of the two general's men that had lasted out through the years of the two mistakes in battle.
The two men, clearly smirking as they looked down at their small prey, seemed to make this fight unbalance. Shesta, though, not intimidated by them, simply spun his sword in the air, a trick learned during some long ago campaign. This little set up didn't last long; soon Shesta had the two down with first blood on both. Gatty was yup next, but this victory was lost to Jyle on a cheap move. This little 'game' continued for a while, until it ended up with there being a draw. They were all even, and Jyle and Deamor where finish with the run through of their men. The two had fewer men under their command all together then Dilandau had in his elite. With a draw, Dilandau growled as he leaned back in his throne-ish chair, there would be a finally match. The two general was given time to think what men to send out onto the mats, while Dilandau was left to wonder who of his last three to send out. He had Miguel, the logical choice one that he would not normally hesitate to take. But, throughout the training session before this the boy had been favoring his left hand. Not doubtful that had been injured during last nights little drawl in the halls between him and a White Fang. Then there was his sister, a choice he would only make if he liked the look of the odds she was set against. Overprotective? Maybe a little... Alright a lot... Dilandau sighed as he looked at his sister, who was still laughing at Gatty for his lost to a simple cheating trick. Not that he doubted his 'siblings' skills, it was just he didn't wish to put her into harms way. Slowly he looked to the last choice he had, Rei was slumped back not to far from him, her eyes half close as Mayonaka lay asleep next to her.
Folken had strictly told him that she was not to be put through any training or combat situations. So, for the past few days the woman had been either sleeping (which was what she seemed to spend most of her day doing), spending time with Folken in his study, or watching the other's train. No matter how much he wanted her to go out on that mat would matter nothing. The blue hair baka would not take an excuse as a good one to put her in a battle situation. Dilandau understood the reasoning, well mostly. Even though she had been asleep for almost a month, Rei hadn't recovered from whatever had happened. Most of the event had been a bit blurred for him after she let go of him in the air. And her conduction he had originally had seen her in left evidence of a pretty good fall. There where hoots on the floor that drew his attention away from the half sleeping woman to the mats. The grizzly bear that Shesta had face was on stepping out again. Deamor grinning like the heavens had given him the power to control the fate of the world with this one overgrown man. This time, instead of wielding a broadsword, this man held an ax. Yup, Celena was defiantly out of the pick. The short, muscular twin blades man of Jyle's took to the floor next. This one had beaten Gatty only a while ago, and how was whirling his twin daggers looking at his grizzly appoint. Hell, there was no way Miguel was going to win this. To defeat this two he would need his left hand, which unfortunately injured at the moment. With a low growl, Dilandau buried his face into his hand with annoyance. There was no way he was going to win this, and he wasn't about to let one of this two moron's best him at this game. He had never lost the few that he had between the two, and he wasn't going to start now.
"Come on Dilandau! We haven't all day!" Jyle yelled as he leaned back against the wall, half grinning to himself at some little secret. "All of us are supposed to be down in the hanger bay in thirty you know. Send out your last boy! Or even your sister and let's get this over with!" Miguel moved at his left, seeming to know that he was to be the last victim in this game with no away out. Each one of his slayers could only go once, and they all knew well enough that Dilandau would not endanger his sister. Opening his ruby eyes, he nodded at Miguel to go on. Drawling his dagger from his belt, the brownish redhead started for the mats but stopped at a low pitched growl of a wolf. Heads snapped to the direction where Rei sat, or well was now slowly standing. Mayonaka's head was half risen, watching his mistress as she stood up and walked over to Miguel. Startled, he didn't refuse her his dagger and sword as she took them from him.
"Rei, what..." was all Dilandau could get out as he over came the sudden shock of her taking his weapons. She looked at him for a moment with a solemn look on her face before looking back over to the two on the mats. With a shrug, she stepped onto them. This, of course sent the men of the Demon Clan and the White Fangs in to a riot of loud voices.
"A woman?!" Deamor's voice come over his men's as he looked at Dilandau, with a smirk that he urged to whip off of his face. "Have your men become so bad that you have to hided behind some small little girl? Why no send out your sister instead, at least she can put up a decent show when she is bested!" THUD! The room fell silent at the sound of the dagger as it hit the wall right next to Deamor's head, embedding itself into the stone wall. He stood froze to the spot, some of the brown locks of hair fell to the floor, along with a few drips of blood.
"Darn.... I missed...." Was the only thing that came out of her mouth as she looked at him, what she was aiming for, was left for the imagination. His head, was what Dilandau was hoping for, though. She turned back to her two appoints on the mats, and twirled the sword in her hand. It would now be her only weapon, since she no longer had the dagger. The two moved away from each other to in circle her.
"Don't think we're going to go easy on you, little girl.." The White Fang growled as he spun his blades one last time before taking his first stands. The grizzly man swung his ax once before looks down at the white haired woman.
"And don't think you'll get away with that shot at my lord..." Rei just flicked her braid off her shoulder and crouched down slightly.
"Begin!" Someone shouted, and the twin blades men and the grizzly both took swings at the girl in between them. Rei fell flat onto the floor as the ax swung past her head, a move the grizzly man was not counting on, as he lost his balance an stumbled. Neither had the twin blade, whose attack missed its target and glazed the ax. His dagger went flying as he tried to retake his stands, but it was far too late for that. The second the ax whizzed past her head, Rei jumped back in to her crouch, and swung out kick in to his groin. The man dropped his other dagger, making mistake number two. Half in a defense crouch from the sudden pain, he didn't have time to move as Rei glazed Miguel's sword a crossed his open arms. Right after that, he went falling into the Demon Clan soldiers as she finished her movement of kicks. No one spoke, for the twin blades man was now unconscious, and the round when to the 'little girl'. Dilandau was on the edge of his set; how he had forgotten how interesting it was to Rei execute patterns of movements like that. The grizzly man looked nervously at Deamor, who was now frowning slightly. Dilandau didn't see the glance shot between the two other generals, as Jyle nodded to Deamor, a signal to began some trap they had set up.
Grizzly took to he mats again, holding his ax in front of him. Rei on the other hand, as she stood up completely looked to him and then to Miguel's sword before frowning. Without a second thought, she tossed it to the side, and off the mat.
"What the? Pick up your weapon girl!" Grizzly bellowed at her. "I wont fight you without a weapon..."
"Alright..." She answered smoothly, as she knelt down again, pulling two short throwing dagger's from her boots.
"The sword girl, those will do nothing against an ax!" Rei, just ignored the bellowing Grizzly and looked at the slayers. Dilandau frowned slightly as her glaze moved over all of them before settling on the white wolf that was now next to Celena. A high pitched whistle sent the wolf running onto the mats. He took his place behind her, teeth bared at Grizzly.
"My weapons..." He just growled at her, as she mimicked the twin blades man's stances. Mayonaka put his head down closer to the ground as he came slightly around to her right side. Grizzly didn't wait for someone to announce the battle, as he let out a battle cry and charged at her. Again, Rei waited until the last moment.
"Sept--!" Her voice rang out as she jumped to the right; Mayonaka took to the left in the same movement. After coming out of his failed run, Grizzly looked at Rei for a moment before looking to the wolf. He didn't have enough time to ponder on what she was doing, when Rei came at him with her throwing knifes, using them as daggers. He moved to counter her with his ax, which set them into a nice little lock of weapons. "Huit!"
The whole room watched in 'aw' as Mayonaka rammed his body into the back of Grizzly's legs, knocking him off balance. One would have to be pretty stupid not to know what was going on; Rei was commanding the white wolf's attacks. Grizzly fell to his knees from the attack; she jumped out of his reach as he fell. With a thud, he hit the mats, his ax flying across the mat. Mayonaka jumped back again out of reach, as Rei circled around him. Grizzly wasted no time getting back on his feet, before she could finish. Drawling from his belt, a foot long dagger as he glared at the woman circling him.
"Bitch!" He took at her again, with his smaller weapon, moving as she had only a little while ago. Rei moved to block his attacks, taking on defense. But, in the first few moves she lost one of her throwing knifes, and soon was trying to find a way to back the man off of her. The struggle went of for a few more moments before the man back handed her with his free hand. Rei fell to the mats. Before she had a chance to roll out from under him, Grizzly slammed one of his large feet on to her legs. A small out cry from the sudden pain was all that was needed to send Mayonaka into an attack frenzy of his own. Before Grizzly had time to realize it, Mayonaka took to his arms, biting down on him hard enough to crack the bone. With a shout of pain, he flung his arm out, sending the loyal white wolf flying across the training room into a stone wall. There was an old pitched whine from him as he slide down onto the floor, and did not move. No one moved, well not any of the Dragonslayers except for Celena who came to her feet when the white wolf hit the wall with a dreaded sound. Dilandau soon found that he too was standing.
The look on Rei's face was enough to send the living to their graves without a second thought. Grizzly had little time for his cheap victory, for now that he was not holding Rei's legs down. She was up in a matter of moments, two new throwing knifes in her hands. Deamor's man didn't even have the slightest of chances, as she began to make easy work of him. Slicing him here and there with her knifes. The match had been won with the first lick of blood she drew, but she didn't care to stop. Rei continued the assault even when Grizzly yelled for her to stop. When the realization of what was happening hit the general's minds, Grizzly was already well torn.
"Dilandau! Stop her before she kills my man!" Deamor yelled, his men, and he to afraid to stop the fight themselves. Jyle didn't do anything as well, but he looked a little more interested in what was going on then worried about his 'friend's' man. Shesta and Gatty drew their sword, and looked to Dilandau. None of them knew how to proceed to stop her. How do you stop an anger, momentarily berserk woman whose pet might have just been killed by this grizzly of a man?
"Rei!" A sharp, commanding voice echoed in the training room. A voice that could not belong to none other, the Lord Folken himself, looking to his right Dilandau could see his cloaked figure knelt down to the 'dead' Mayonaka on the floor. His flesh had pressed slightly against his neck. Rei, seized her attack, jumping back out of Grizzly's reach. This wouldn't have mattered, once she was off of him, he fell to the floor in a pull of blood that poured down from his wounds. The rise and fall of her chest was uneven, as she took each breath, it looked like she was trying to restrain herself from whatever it was she tried to do with Grizzly. Folken studied her for a moment before turning his attention to the dead wolf. He frowned slightly, as he ran his hand down the well known soft coat of white fur. There was a small cry from Celena was she watched, not welling to believe what was happening. Her face fell into her hand's trying to prevent or maybe hide the tears that would be coming. Miguel moved to comfort her. Dilandau's ruby eyes pulled away long enough to look at Rei. Her emotional features were enough to make anyone's heart rip apart. Who could ever think a woman that had been well emotionally kept could look like she did now? Not able to look at her anymore, his glaze turned back to Folken, as he continued to move his hand back and forth.
"What are you doing.....?" was the only words he could whisper out to no one but himself. Quietly confused to what the man was doing. It was already clear the creature was....dead. Folken stopped, and lifted his hand off the coat of the white wolf.
Mayonaka.....moved.
He walked out onto the hanger floor. Slowly making his way a crossed it. Technicians moved about quickly, some yelling orders back and forth as the others tried to carry them out as fastly as they could. Guymelefs were moving about this floor. One had to bee careful not to step out under one as it moved. Though, none of the metal Guymelefs were in this part of the hanger. This was where one pacific one has held, for it didn't react well with the others. It's black shell made many of the techs unsettled having to work to close to it. Not that he could blame them. This thing had been here for a good month now, and he still woke some times in the night covered in cold sweat from the uneased nightmares it brought. He had his blood line to thank for those, if his family hadn't been bound to its own Isponal maybe then it wouldn't have had such an effect on him. The target he was looking for was standing at the base of the stairs to its cockpit. Arms crossed in front on her as she looked up at it.
"You don't have to go out in it.. I rather that you didn't.." Rei looked at him, and frowned. Folken could see that she was still slightly shaken up from this mornings experience. Jyle and Deamor had gotten an ear full from him about starting that little game. Then, privately, Dilandau had gotten his own about disobeying orders. Rei, though, had insisted on being allowed to go out on the Melef testing run. "Rei, please reconsider this. You aren't recovered enough for this.."
"When will I ever be?" Was the only answer he got before she looked back to the dark creature before her. There was a long drawn out sigh. "Is....he alright?"
"More or less... He's in a state of shock, he'll pull through fine.." Folken didn't add that Deamor's man was in critical care, nor that what they had all witnessed on the training mats was a preamp to her going over the edge. There was no need to raise worry if he was wrong. She looked over at him; there was a small smile of appreciation on her face before she walked up the stairs to her Guymelef.
"Thank you....."
"Get her out!" Dilandau yelled at the technicians at the top of his lungs, as he practically jumped out of the Alseides before it was completely set down. There where whistles going off, people running about the hanger floor in a complete frenzy. Why the hell hadn't he just listen to Folken and not let her go out with them? His eyes looked over at the two crumbled and damaged black Melefs that were brought it. The medical teams ran to them to hopefully save what was left of their pilots. Everything had been going fine the first hour or so of the Melef testing. The three generals had broken off into separate a group, which was fine with him, the further away the where from him the better. Because of his own uneasiness he had kept an eye on Rei during the whole thing, only taking his eyes off her for a moment to instructed Celena in something. That second's miss was just enough....for two of Deamor's men to attack Rei in the air.
The assault was not some training excesses for them; the two men were actually trying to kill her. Whether this was something Deamor had planned himself, or not, wouldn't be very clear. For before Dilandau could even react, Deamor's voice in a frustrated tone was screaming over the com system on all chancels for the two to back off and stop. His commands where clearly ignored. Over the startled shock of the unpredicted assault, Dilandau moved the Alseides to stop this attack on his own, when it happened. Rei's Guymelef left out the most chilling and nightmare giving roar as it tore one of the black melefs arms off. Sure an Isponal Guymelef tearing things apart wasn't weird, and maybe not that by the way it started to move about as it tore the two attacks to bit. But the roar might haunt him in his sleep for a long time. It had taken Dilandau, Deamor, and Jyle (how showed up at the shouts Deamor yelled over the com fanatically) to break Rei off of her own attacks as the two Demon Clan soldiers tried to escape from her counter assault. Rei was not responding to Dilandau's commands at all.
Now here they were, Rei trapped inside of her guymelef, all he could hear over the com system the enter time back to the Vione (her Isponal had changed back from its dragon form in to its normal Guymelef form and had to be carried) was heavy breathing. Pushing pass the techs, he made his way to he knelt down Guymelef. In the corner of his eye he could see Folken making his way down the catwalks. Dilandau paid him little mind as he saw Rei's cockpit open and her tumble out onto the floor. Or well, more like fall out onto the floor. He speed up, not bothering to listen to the sudden shout that came from Folken. Falling to his knees next to her, taking a moment to examine her injuries. The cuts on her arms and legs were identical to those on her Guymelef. There was not a whole lot of blood, but the slight reminder of how much she had lost less then a month ago was still fresh in his mind. Slowly turning her onto her back, Dilandau studied her pain stricken face, eyes closed tight.
"Dilandau don't!" Folken's voice came again, but not fast enough as his hand touched the side of her face. Her eyes shot open, and fixed on him. Had Dilandau never known fear, then that would have been his first experience with it. If a Demon was what he was called, then Rei must be a saint, for the once cold sapphire eyes was coved in blood red. There was no defined pupil, no whites of the eyes, just a solid blood red, and they where fixed on him.
"Rei.....?" By the gods he should have listen to Folken, he should have never allowed her to come out with them. Hell, he should never allowed her to fight in any battles! May the gods protect the madoushis if he never saw them again for what they had done. Dilandau had been a blind fool when he never asked Folken what she was, thinking she was like him and Celena. For now, as she sunk her hands onto his throat, pushing him down onto the ground to use her own weight to keep him there, he knew better. Fate Alteration could go to hell, the madoushis had perfected a berserker! He couldn't fight her off; the lack of air was getting to him. Black stops filled his vision as fear took hold of him; the madwoman straddled over him had one thing on its mind. Kill. There was a sudden rush of air as Rei suddenly fell limp against him, why he wasn't so sure off. She was pulled off of him as he coughed wildly for air, and someone sat him up a bit to pound his back. Once the spots in his vision where gone he look to the one holding him up. Miguel was next to him, redhead visibly worried about his commander. His sword lying out next to him, blood slight tainted the Holt. His head snapped around to look at the now hopefully unconscious Rei, to find Folken knelt down next to her, removing the small needle that was in the index claw from her next. "What.. The hell do you think... you're doing?!"
"I have to Dilandau... If she is not sedated, her blood pressure will not return back to normal..." Folken frowned, but the red eyed boy didn't care as he half-heartily shoved Miguel away and stood up on his own to take a few unsteadily steps before getting his footing back.
"I don't give a damn; I told you no more drugs!" Folken did not deny the right, as he picked Rei's limp body up to walk out of the hanger floor. It didn't matter now, they knew what she was. It wouldn't be long before the Madoushis found out too.
What am I going to do now? Was the only thing that Dilandau could think off, as he leaned back in the wooden chair to look at his bed were she lay. A berserker, what the hell had the madoushi, hell Empire Dornkirk, been thinking? He rested his head into one as his hands, his neck hurt. He could see the bruises starting to form around it; she had meant to kill him. The thought the startling, and yet not a surprise. Wouldn't she? After all he had done? That night in Anomic, while in his room struggling with that knife, she had meant to kill him then too. What a moron he had been, a berserker, it explained it all. Her attitude, under unwillingness to orders, and the way she acted around them all. By the gods, how stupid could he be? There was a groan from the bed, drawling his eyes up to her. Her right hand rested on her forehead, Dilandau sat up in the chair now watching her.
"Rei....?" Was she back to normal now? Or would she jump out of that bed to kill him?
"A number..." Neither it seemed, but that wasn't her voice. It sounded slightly different, slightly... She turned her head to look at him, the chill from the hanger crept down his spine. Blood shot eyes, the whites had not returned, but there was some sapphire beneath it. "A number is my name..."
"Rei? I don't-" Dilandau stated to say, when she looked away from him to stare up into her hand.
"Zero, nothing... That is my name... Rei... Is just a pretty way of saying it." There was a long sigh, as she dropped her hand back onto the bed to look up at the ceiling. She was ignoring him; tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "A number, a brand on my life, my worth, is a simple number... I can not be like you... Condse.." She rolled onto her side, this time looking at him. "Yet, you have a name. Does that make you free? Or does a name brand you as well? Does the pain stop when 'they' given you a name?"
"You have a name..." Was the only thing he could find to say, she wasn't making since. Had the drug Folken given her done this to her mind, scrambled it? Her eyes focused on him for a moment before frowning.
"Zero, nothing, Rei... How is that a name?" Pain flashed a crossed her face, as she rolled back onto her back. A few more tears rolled down, as she closed her eyes. "Is there an end to the beginning, or is there only one way out?" He opened his mouth to ask her what she meant, but it seemed that he would not get to ask the timid beast what it was wondering as Celena open the door to his room. Her eyes looked worried to him before glazing at the now what look to be sleeping Rei before back to him.
"Skylar just docked...."
"Dilandau!" The tall blond yelled as he made his way down the steps from his dark brown guymelef. He stood at the bottom waiting for him to make his way down, outside; the sun began its slow setting against the far mountains. Skylar's hazel eyes seemed to be laughing at him, like they always did. He ruffled his hair before opening his arms so that Celena could jump into them. A bear hug was customary for Celena, be it for Dilandau, Skylar, and even though the thought slightly disliked at some times, Folken. "Sorry for taking so long. Took a while to get all that supplies onto the Roseau.. Did you have fun with Deamor and Jyle?"
"It was thrilling...."Dilandau evened out his hair out again, mind sort of still back in his room with the sleeping Rei. Or well what he hoped to be a sleeping Rei. Skylar said a few things to Celena that made her laugh, her hair slightly ruffled as well. The smile on his face disappeared when he saw Rei's Guymelef. The techs had already started repairs, and would have it done in a few hours. But that slight frown on his old friend's face was no something he through could happen. Did he know of Rei as well? The question began to whirl in his mind along with a few others.
"Causing trouble again I see...." He shook his head and looked to his left. "How many this time?"
"Two so far.... The third might make it yet..." Folken's voice answered, both Celena and Dilandau looked at him, slightly wondering where he had come from. "I'm sure Dilandau will be more careful with her from now on...."
"I'm a feared that won't be necessary Strategoes...." Three heads snapped in the direction of this new voice, as a dark haired man, the looked to be in his late twenties stood three steps up from the hanger floor. The uniform he wore was not one that Dilandau recognized, but from the shocked expression that flashed pasted Folken's at least one of them new who this man was. There was a thin frown on Skylar's face.
"I thought I told you to stay up there until I called you down, 'Special Forces' commander Kale..." Skylar crossed his arms as the man stepped down onto the floor. He towered over Dilandau, and seemed to be grinning about something.
"I have just as much jurisdiction as you do , General Skylar, and since this concerns one of my force members, then I will be the one taking care of it.." Dilandau frowned at the man. He wasn't really starting to like this guy, ignoring him, he looked back at his blond friend.
"Force members? Am I missing something here?"
"He's talking about Rei, Dilandau.... Empire Dornkirk..... Has had her command resigned back under him, for the reminder of this mission.. Afterwards she is to return to the Black towers..." If Dilandau could drop his jaw he would, but as the name of the place he hated most slipped past his friends lips, his hands balled into fists. Skylar looked from him to Folken. "I'm sorry, but I tried to give you an extension.... But-" He didn't hear the rest of what he said, as Kale handed him the scroll of paper. Not that he was going to bother to read it.
They are not taking her away from me!
"There has to be a way!" Dilandau slammed his fist down onto the table shaking the small glass of wine that was on the table, along with the chess pieces. Skylar just frowned at him from across the way, setting his own glass down before moving a pawn across the board. He leaned back in his chair before studying Dilandau. The fire flickered in the small fire place behind him. This was the guest rooms abort the Vione, Skylar would stay here until the attack plan was set up before returning to his own fortress.
"I tried Dilandau... But, it seems that they think she would perform better out from under our control..."
"I don't give a damn.. And who the hell is this 'Special Forces' Commander anyways?" He snarled as he took one of Skylar's knights off the chess board. He frowned before answering.
"He deals with the empires machineries. Off and on he had command of Rei on some of her missions..." He took Dilandau's queen with a Bishop. "His rather argent if you ask me.."
"I can handle Rei fine..."
"I'm sure you can Dilandau..." Skylar leaned back in his chair watching the ruby eye boy across from him think about his next move. "Do you remember hearing about the Ionia fortress?"
"A surprise attack, everyone aboard was killed..." He moved his king over a space. "Why?"
"There was no surprise attack on the Ionia... It was Rei....." Skylar moved another pawn.
"What?"
"It was an 'episode' as they call them. The commander aboard the ship assaulted her, tipped her over the edge... Or that's what they said.." Dilandau slide a pawn of his own without thinking. "The madoushi fear that Folken can not control her, Empire Dornkirk, seems to want her to be used this last time... Before the 'retire' her... "
"I can't let that happen..." Dilandau growled as he pushed his hair off his face, he no longer wore his headband.
"No.. None of us can.. It up to you and Folken to figure out a way to control her.. Maybe then the madoushis will reconsider..." Skylar looked at the chess board for a moment and smiled. He moved his last knight. "A! Check mate!"
"I can't believe you actually talked Folken into this..." Rei sighed, tiredly, as she pulled on the controls of her Guymelef. It was well after dark, the moon lit her away through the skies. Behind her sat one of the few men in the world that she could some what get along with.. Well enough so she wouldn't cut his head off at the first chance.
"O, it took a while, but the old man finally saw it my way.." Kale laughed from behind her, she looked over her shoulder at the man frowning. Then again sometimes she wanted to ripe this ones throat out. "What? You went berserk Rei.. Having you out in the open is better then confined in a floating shit piece of rock surrounded by horny men."
"Like you don't count?" She sighed, as she looked at were she was flying to. To tired, she should have stayed in Dilandau's room.
"Hey! Don't get bitch with me!" He growled from behind her. "Right there in that clearing is good. We're far enough away now from the fortresses.."
"Fine..." She yanked on the controls and the dragon began a rapid decent.
"Hey! Slowly the Silencer down Rei!"
"Next time down drag me out here.." She growled as she eased up on the controls. The Silencer touched down onto the ground easily, and Kale jumped down from the cockpit before her Guymelef decided to start burning him again.
"A! A perfect place to set up camp for the night!" He wheeled around to look at her as she jumped down from her guymelef. "Alright, lets get a fire started! It's freezing out here!"
"We could have stayed on the Vione...." Rei sighed as she moved towards the woods to get some fire would. "It's warmer there...."
"O, stop being such a party pooper. At least this way you can tear apart defenseless forest creatures and not people!" Kale chirped happily. "Now get some fire wood woman!"
He moved the binoculars slightly as he watched the two sitting around the small fire in the clearing. His ass was starting to hurt from sitting up in the tree, but it was best to be there out of sight. Below him on another limb was his partner. Black hair fell over his eyes as he looked down at nothing particular.
"This is boring..." He sighed loudly as he put the binoculars down. His partner looked up at him for a moment, blue eyes not wavering in the moonlight.
"We have to pull this one off this time... Keep watching..." Sighing he picked up the binoculars again.
"Yay, yay..."
Rei stared down at the small flask of water in her hand, the fire place crackled slightly in front of her. Kale was lying out on some blankets reading a book he had brought along. This little camp trip survived no purpose, except to get her away from everyone. Isolation, she had this feeling. The rocks were hard against her backside but she didn't bather to move to find somewhere more comfortable to sit. Looking up at the small fire again, she watched the flames dance across the branches. Maybe she would take this time to do some hunting. At least then she could relieve some of this stress. Yet, Mayonaka wasn't here; the wolf was back on the Vione. There would be no fun in hunting alone. She sipped some of the water out of the flask, and then frowned as she swallowed, it tasted funny.
"Kale...."
"Umm?" That man sounded half drifted off into sleep.
"What's in this?" He yawned as he sat up to look at her. Long dark hair falling a bit over his brown eyes, as he studied her for a moment.
"In that.... Water I would imagine.." She took another sip from in, and frowned again. It still tasted weird. "And some Zicor...."
"What?!" Rei's head snapped up at the word. There was a fine smile on the man's face. The flask fell out of her hand, not because of surprise, but because of the loss of feeling in it.
"Sorry, Rei, but do you know how much your worth? It's enough for me to retire and not have to work again for the rest of my life..." He stood up slowly, Rei struggled to get to her own feet, but the drug ran through her system quickly. It numbed her legs and arms, along with fogging up her mind so that she could not call Silencer to her add. Kale pulled a small needle out of his pocket, and tested the liquid inside of it. "And I don't even have to worry about Zaibach.. Because you see Rei, the empire won't be standing for long..." He injected the liquid into the base of her neck, and stood back a bit as he watched her struggle for a moment on the ground as the second drug worked through her system. There was a growl, as her eyes began to turn blood shot, but because of the first her body would not respond. After a few moments, her body surrendered, and she unwillingly fell unconscious. He knelt down to take her pulse to make sure that she wasn't faking it and smiled. "A, time for the pay.."
"Alright!" He shouted as he looked out onto the woods. "I know you're out there! Bring me my pay and you can have her!" There was a crackle from the trees as a figure began to make its way out into the opening. His silver hair shimmered in the nights breeze, in his hand was a medium sized chest. Kale waited until he was closed enough for him to see the color of his eyes, a shade of dark purple. "Alright, your close enough, drop the chest there and move away from it..."
"I can sure you the payment is all there..." The man frowned slightly as he placed the chest down and stepped away towards the sleeping dragon form of the Silencer. With his sword in hand he made his way around the fire place to the small chest. Not taking his eyes off of the man, he kicked it open. When one quick look at it, he snapped back around to the silver haired man.
"Where the hell is the rest of it?!"
"Well, you see, Celtic doesn't see the need to pay a man so much gold.... When he wont be spending it...." The man smiled lightly.
"What the hell is that-" Kale started to say as he held up his sword, but it soon dropped as a sudden pain exploded in his chest and back. Looking down he saw a small arrowhead, stick out from his chest where his heart was. "You sons of asses..." was all he could say as he fell to the ground.
"Nice shooting Will..." The silver haired man said, to no one particular since he was the only standing person left it the field. That was until a spot a few meters away fluttered and gave way as Will turned off his stealth cloak. The black fabric covered him from head to toe, before he pushed the hood off. His ragged black hair fell over his eyes. "He was starting to annoy me..."
"Whatever, Kaji... Is it her?" Will just frowned as he walked up to him, Kaji just pushed his hair out of his face before walking over to the unconscious girl a few feet away. Her long white hair fell out of its braid along side her.
"Yup... what do we do with him...?"
"Leave him... and the chest, its blood money." Will said as he kicked the chest over, spilling out the gold coins into the blood that began to pool around the chest. "Let's get back to Vickie before someone notices...."
Note: -- When Rei commands Mayonaka's attacks, she is counting in French. Was planning on using Japanese, but seeming I am taking French at the moment.. o well.. so shut me-.-
Sept – 7
Huit – 8
Right, you people are sooooo gonna kill me for that hanger. But o well! That was where I planning on ending that chapter anyways. The next one should be slight... or well a lot shorter, and hopefully up faster.. Working on tying in all lose ends... yea even though I killed a character in the small chapter he appears! (hahah so mean) Anyways review, I worked hard on this!
And to my readers that where mad at me for the last ending.... I'll try no to make such a bad cliff hanger again!