SEEKING TRANQUILITY: Exchange

Van's left brow twitched, his eyes shifting in rapid motions beneath his sealed lids; a known factor he was experiencing a nightmare.

Incoherent murmurs flooded from his parched lips, opened in a delicate circular shape that accentuated his boyish features one would address as charming.

Uncharacteristic wrinkles appeared beneath his eyes and across his forehead, his lips parting in a tremble as his vocals released distorted speech.

His body jerked the slightest, his back scraping against the wall's jagged service, resulting in his shirt tugging up to reveal disturbing gashes along his stomach.

The scars were raw and pink, contrasting to the russet tone his skin portrayed. The back of his hands were bruised and shredded from his effortless attempts to tear down the cell bars and free himself from this place he now associated as a hell-hole Dilandau belonged in.

" Hitomi…" The motion of his eyes quickened beneath his lids, his hushed murmurs blooming to desperate cries of the honey-haired girl's presence." Van, I'm sorry. I can't stay….I have to go…."

Van approached her, fingers extending to delicately brush them along her flushed cheeks, damp with elated tears.

" Hitomi…….why are you crying?"

She clasped his hand in hers, keeping his callous hand against her warm cheek; calmed by his gentle touch.

She shook her head, bowing it. " I have to go, Van,"

His calm expression grew tight in confusion that made him grip her hand in fear by her words. " Go? What do you mean go? Go where?"

" You'll be safe," She murmured, releasing his hand and allowing it to drop back to his side.

" Safe from what, Hitomi!?" His tone grew rigged and husky with anger; she wasn't making sense!

" I don't understand," He murmured, voice desperate for an explanation.

" I want what's best," She whisked his bangs from his eyes, smiling warmly.

" What's best? Best for who!?" He demanded, grabbing her shoulders as though this would confirm she wasn't going anywhere as long as he didn't let go.

" Van. Promise me you'll take care…"

He drew back, drawing in a sharp breath, incredulous. His fingers clenched her small shoulders, his teeth grounding against each other.

" The only person I'm taking care of is you, Hitomi,"

She shook her head in a sad manner. " It's my turn………Van,"

His name left her lips in a prolonged whisper; the action perhaps allowing her to stay longer and relish his handsome features she'd grown to love.

But what did she mean: go? What did she mean by all this? He didn't understand!

His jaw jerked. " You're not going anywhere. Not without me,"

His tone didn't allow protests or arguments of disagreement. " I just wish…….."

His stared down at her, their chests brushing. " Wish what, Hitomi?" He murmured, searching her slumped face.

His mouth hung, eyes sharpening as her body began to fade in a slow progression.

" I won't let you go!" he roared, determination flaring within his maroon eyes; welcoming back the confident and chivalrous glow she missed seeing in them.

Though he was dedicated to his vow of protecting this girl that appeared in his life from a foreign world, her body disobeyed his wishes, becoming more transparent in his wavering eyes.

She was leaving. She was disappearing.

And there was nothing he could do.

" HITOMI!!"

Van bolted up, his arms jerking out as he still remained trapped in his nightmare he'd barely begun to realize was non-realistic.

He bowed his head, a rough laugh leaving his lips; oddly glad to find himself in his cell and acknowledge the events in his dream were nothing but his imagination.

" Just a dream," He breathed, bringing a hand to his damp forehead.

He swatted at his bangs, a shaky breath stuck in his throat as he leant back against the wall with a backward tilt of his head.

He shut his eyes, regaining his composure and relaxing under the comfort the chilly breezes seeping through his cell and Hitomi's supplied.I need to be sure. I need to make sure she's still here.

He slowly pushed his body up, applying his weight against the wall he used for support; weak and light-headed from having recently woken up.

His feet dragged against the floor, his knees slacking as he swayed toward the barred hole that allowed him to see into Hitomi's cell.

Hitomi's small form, curled against one of the corners, greeted his nervous gaze that immediately drew slanted in relief.She's still here.

He laughed, humoring his ridiculous thoughts; associated with the possibility his nightmare had somehow become real.

He gave a low hiss, breathing shakily as he settled back down on the floor. Letting out a relieved sigh, he arched his head back and shut his eyes, soothed by the light downpour outside.

The rain pattered against the rooftops, calming his senses into delirium as he became unaware of everything but his heartbeat and rugged breathing.

He curled his right arm across his stomach, draping it over the wound while his other remained slung by his side in a loose fashion. Eventually his mind recalled the events in his nightmare

That'll never happen. I won't allow it. Hitomi'd never leave me, and I'll never stop protecting her…

" Never…" He breathed.

" I don't need your damn help!"

Chesta swallowed, clinging to the gauze in his arms. Dilandau clumsily pushed away from the dresser, feet crushing the remains of shattered glass scattered about the floor.

The Slayer stumbled in his backward stride, a low cackle rushing from his lips to further confirm his maniacal state.

On impulse, Chesta hurried to his side. " Dilan--"

Dilandau backhanded him, his bloody hand smacking roughly into Chesta's face and sending the crumbling to the floor in a disorderly heap.

Chesta meekly lifted a hand to his stinging cheek, wincing when his fingers grazed the swelling skin, gradually developing a bruised hint.

" Don't touch me!" Dilandau hissed in postponed warning, his eyes sweeping over the slayer with repulse. Dilandau cursed, swatting the hand he'd used to strike the boy to rid the numb sensation.

" I-I'm sor--"

Chesta clamped his mouth tight, ending his apology with a gulp as the Dragon Slayer towered over him, frightening him with his battered appearance.

He removed his eyes from the fierce gaze that entrapped him and commanded he meet the harsh red-eyes of his leader.

His eyes flickered back to Dilandau's ashen face, secretively taking in the slayers disheveled appearance.

His small crown had been disregarded, leaving a bare forehead only to be protected by stray whisks of his hair to drape uncharacteristically in his eyes.

His face glistened in several places from the sweat that seemed to seep down his jaw and into the contours of his neck. His hair looked oddly good in its tousled fashion, contrasting better to his demented personality.

" What are you staring at!?"

Chesta sucked in a breath, suddenly realizing his body was abruptly elevated off the ground till his knees barely brushed the smooth surface of the floor.

Dilandau gave the fair-haired boy a good shake, keeping his hand curled tight in his collar. Chesta shook his head in a frantic manner.

"Nothing, Dilandau Sir!"

With a chortle, Dilandau shoved Chesta back to the floor, uncaring if he'd been rough and careless in his actions for the slayers welfare.

" I want you to bring the moon girl to me,"

" W-what?"

" You heard me!" He roared, whirling to glare at the slayer who obediently nodded.

" Yes, Dilandau,"

With a meek bow, Chesta evacuated in hurried swipes of his armored feet, successfully retreating from the slayers room.

Dilandau fell on his bed, bringing his left, gloved hand to smother it from his forehead, down his nose to his thick lips.

He breathed lightly, his flushed features vanishing into a solemn expression, leaving no trace of malice in his facial expressions.

He dropped his hand in his lap, letting it join his wounded one to lay there as he sat still for several moments.

Why was he risking it all for this girl? Risking his chance to kill Fanel personally and allowing his freedom

Then again, she's mine from now on.

A smirk tugged at his lips, baring his perfect white teeth. Perfect. He thought with a spat.

Something he was definitely not, and frankly he didn't care. Being different felt right. Being unpredictable felt right.

His eyes moved to the pillow nearest him, delicately swiping his hand under it to graze the girl's pendant with his fingers.

Her presence was in ways serene. Sometimes he found himself looking at her as the motherly figure he hadn't had. Or maybe it was because she was the only female to ever be in his quarters.

He recalled the kiss he'd forced upon her, and savored the memory of how perfectly his lips had molded with hers, bruising and swelling those lips with his alone.

No-one else. Just him. Not even Fanel.

He despised Fanel even more to find such a noble and honest girl to belong to the young King. And then he found himself highly irritated by the moon girl's dedication to protect Fanel at all costs. Even at the cost of losing her dignity and becoming his servant.

He didn't understand! How did Fanel end up with her!? Why hadn't he been the fortunate one to take the girl as his own?

His fingers clenched around the green pendant, burying it in his blood stained palm. I deserve her as much as that bastard does!

He was highly amused by the girl's devotion and strength as well; her ability to stand her ground to the likes of him. No-one in the right mind dared this.

But she did…She was different. Unpredictable. Like him in so many ways.

There was a soft, redundant knock to his door. " What now!?" He bellowed, disgruntled by the interruption.

The meek voice of Chesta responded in hesitance. " I've brought the girl as you asked, Dilandau,"

He shoved the pendant back under his pillow, before he walked to the double doors and pulled them open like a king about to make a grand entrance.

"Good," He muttered, sweeping his eyes over Chesta, then to the girl behind him.

He stepped aside, allowing her in, but just as Chesta moved to do the same, Dilandau pressed a hand to the shorter boy's chest, pushing him back in the hall.

" Dilan--"

" You will do your duty and keep guard on Fanel," He ordered, before slamming the doors in the slayers appalled face.

Hitomi moved stiffly against the edge of his bed, keeping her distance from the crazed Slayer now approaching.

She was disturbed by the sight of his distorted room, much less his appearance that seemed to match it.

No matter whom this boy was, or his background, she acted on impulse and let her eyes wander his right hand.

" What happened?"

Though her eyes showed slight concern, her tone gave no indication of this, remaining low and unfriendly.

A smirk wavered on his face, mixed in with a nerved frown. What did she care what happened to him?

" I used the mirror as my punching bag," he retorted, voice rough with seriousness, even though she knew he'd probably just had some maniacal outburst and the mirror was the closet thing to hit.

After her silence and taking the hint she wasn't going to talk further beyond that, he took the initiative to speak for the both of them.

" Do not worry. Fanel will be released shortly,"

She barely acknowledged him with an askew stare.

" Once my end of the deal is complete, you will keep true to yours,"

Somehow, Hitomi was nerved by his almost secretive and childish tone that sounded smug; knowing something she did not.

" For Van's sake, I'll keep my end of the bargain," She whispered.

He grounded his teeth. " Yes, you may be doing this for his sake, but once he's been freed, you'll be doing everything for my sake,"

He sounded almost demanding, as if he felt she'd go back on her word and flee before she'd ever become his servant.

That was the idea. But it'd be hopeless trying to not be seen by hundreds of soldiers standing guard 24/7. Not to mention the fact Dilandau would have her by his side at all times to make her end of the deal worse.

Not only that but he still had her pendant, and without it… Without it, I'll never be able to go back home.

She dreaded this. And then there was that important thing Van insisted he look for in Dilandau's headquarters. Now why would anything of Van's be here of all places?

That's it! Folken!

Van must have been planning to search in his rival brother's room. But for what? Did Folken really have something Van wanted?What could it have been?

" Well?" Dilandau snapped, annoyed by her blank stare that met his.

Hitomi sharply sucked in a breath when she came back to reality, only to realize the Slayer towering vindictively over her.

" The silent treatment? I'm wounded, really," He spat, eyes narrowing upon his last word.

She kept silent, watching him warily as he rolled a strand of her hair with his left hand, keeping his right one by his side.

He tugged on the strand, too hard in fact, and her head tilted right with the action, wincing in protest. He let out a velvety chuckle.

" So fragile," He murmured, releasing the honey-lock from its twined hold between his forefingers. She prepared to step back when his hand overlapped her right cheek, caressing the gradually flushing skin with satisfaction in his eyes.

He was hooked, unable to resist the smirk from taking over his lips when he noted the pink hue spreading along her cheeks.

So, she liked it when he touched her?

Intriguing…

His eyes moved down, regarding her lips drawn in an opened circular shape. How he dreamed of tasting such innocence again.

Such soft lips he'd undoubtedly felt and tasted before Fanel himself had. He took great pride in this. It was obvious in their mannerism that the moon girl and Fanel had affections for one another, but they had yet to reveal these feelings.

He was oddly glad for this.

Hitomi quickly jerked away when she noticed his head descending slowly, so slow she barely could react till his breath tickled her nose.

He moved his head back up, banishing the disappointing thoughts that lingered in his mind when she'd pulled away from him so viciously as if he was some crazed beast

And maybe I am.

He cackled inwardly, his facial features showing no sign of this as he turned on her. " You will be escorted back by Chesta,"

As though Chesta had been listening on the other side of the door, he gingerly swept in the room before signaling Hitomi to follow. Hitomi reluctantly stalked forward, ushering herself beside the fair-haried boy as he consulted in her fear and quickly accompanied her out.

Once out of the room and in the hallway at a good distance from Dilandau's bedchambers, she regarded his cheek with a gentle brush of her fingertips.

" What happened?"

He shook his head, as though ridding her suspicions that his bruising cheek was inflicted by Dilandau himself, even when she had not come out and said it, her eyes revealed her queries.

" Nothing. Fell," He smiled at her in a clumsy manner, as if to assure her his clumsiness had gotten the best of him.

She decided not to pry any further, after all it wasn't her place.

Before they reached the steps that lead to the first floor, Dilandau's door burst open, with him slightly steered out as he shouted for their attention.

" Yes, Sir?" Chesta addressed formally. Dilandau kept his eyes on Hitomi, even when his words were directed to the meek boy himself.

She'll stay in my neighboring room so I may personally keep an eye on her," Dilandau muttered, before slamming his door with retreating steps inside.

Hitomi looked at Chesta, whose head was slightly bowed, almost in regret and guilt. " This way, please,"

Hitomi sighed, reluctantly following the slayer into the room. She'd much rather go back to the cells.

At least there I could keep an eye on Van…

Chesta signaled her inside, and she dismally went in, regarding the room and furniture with apathetic shifts of her eyes.

Chesta waltzed in, partially shutting the door behind him. " You'll be staying here for now,"

Hitomi acknowledged him with a vague nod as her eyes roamed the room's vast space. " Chesta…"

The slayer shifted, lifting his eyes to study her side profile. " Y-Yes?"

" Make sure Van's freed…"

" For me," She added, turning to stare at him with pleading eyes

He nodded. " Of course,"

" What's Dilandau thinking?"

" The hell if I know,"

Van slowly opened his eyes, studying the two robust slayers with distorted vision. The light creek signaled their entrance as the cell gate burst inward, whisking Van's hair and tattered slacks.

The two men slouched on both his sides, studying him a moment before one began to speak.

" I hope Dilandau knows what he's doing,"

The other one grimaced. " We have specific orders. Now stop delaying and help me pick him up,"

Van felt his body being lifted, retreating from the floor and into the slayers arms as they carried him out of the cell

What's going on…..?

His dreariness vanished, and immediately he acknowledged the situation.

" Where are you taking me!?" Van hollered, writhing and jerking in the two slayers grasp.

The slayer holding his arms began to painfully tug them in a disproportioned manner behind his back, arising shouts from the dark haired boy.

" Keep talking and you won't make it out alive," The slayer warned, eyeing him from above with threatening glares.

Van frantically looked in Hitomi's cell as he was carried out. Hitomi! Where is she!?

The slayers deposited him on the floor the moment they exited the lower ground and into the first floor. They began to unravel wads of laced rope from compartments in their armored sides at the base of their hips.

Van struggled as the two slayers began to tie his ankles and wrists together, binding him and preventing his escape as they double knotted the ropes for reassurance.

Sprawled on the floor on his stomach, he jerked and furiously arched, grunting when one slayer stomped his foot in his back, leaning down and applying ample pressure to his spine.

Van hissed, squinting his eyes as the slayer grounded his foot in his spine, bruising the bones as the metal clad boot dug in deeper.

" I thought I said to keep quiet," He grumbled

Van spat in his face, eyes narrowing as a confirmation he wasn't one to give, even if he wasn't the one with the upper hand.

The man slashed off the swat of saliva with an abrupt swipe of his gloved hand, before his mouth drew down in an enraged grimace.

" You little--"

" ENOUGH!" The slayer reluctantly tore his foot off Van's back, regarding the other soldier standing behind him.

" Dilandau wants him alive," The slayer muttered. " Now help me get him outside," He ordered, motioning toward the boy sprawled on the floor.

Van grunted when the slayer hoisted him off the marble floor with a rough jerk of his right arm, lifting him up and dragging him outside by his forearm while the other slayer followed shortly behind them.

Van's knees scraped against the floor as he refused to walk and assist himself out of the headquarters as both slayers shoved him out into the muddy ground with a kick to his back.

Van spat as clumps of mud splattered in his face and mouth from the impact his body had created in its fall.

The slayers chuckled as they made their way affront Van. " Dilandau's always been crazy. But this is ridiculous,"

" Yeah," The other slayer grunted in assent. " Freeing the future King is a big mistake if you ask me,"

What!? Van thought frantically as he was hauled out of the puddle of mud and thrown on the back of one of the slayers horses.

He sucked in a breath when his stomach coarsely collided with the saddles metal plate plastered on the stallions back, but that was the least of his worries.

What do they mean? Dilandau can't be freeing me! Not without Hitomi!

Van struggled against the ropes binding his arms behind his back and keeping his legs from maneuvering.

The dark haired slayer mounted the horse, shifting in place affront Van's body slack downright behind him.

" It's useless," The slayer muttered, glaring toward the boy in an askew angle. " You're lucky Dilandau's freeing you like this. Though I don't know why,"

The slayer tugged the reins in both gloved hands. " Then again he's always been an insane little bastard,"

Van grunted, glaring viciously at the armored man under shards of his black bangs. " Hitomi. Where's Hitomi?" He croaked out.

" The moon girl?" The man echoed before releasing a laugh. " She ain't going anywhere. Seems Dilandau's got some infatuation for the girl. Why else would he have freed you? It's because that girl asked him to do it in return that she stay,"

Hitomi…….

" No……" Van's head feel, before he raised his head with a frantic scream. " HITOMI NO!!"

Hitomi bowed her head, tearing her eyes from the window she'd momentarily looked out upon to see Van being hauled off on a horse with one of the slayers.

" I'm sorry Van…" She breathed, sucking in a low breath to maintain from shedding tears on the angels behalf.

Dilandau slipped his left, gloved hand over her shoulder as he maneuvered behind her.

" I'm not," He whispered, grinning madly in her hair as he buried his face in the honey mass of silk.

Now who does she belong to, Fanel? He moved his arm around her stomach and clutched her tightly to his taller stature in a dominating manner.

Hitomi was far too delirious to realize the boys wrenching hold as he hurled her against him.

" You're mine now," Dilandau murmured possessively. Mine until I say otherwise.