SEEKING TRANQUILITY

Hitomi looked at the stairs weakly. She had to walk down all these? And by herself? Oh god, she'd never make it, not without tripping or something. At times like these she really wished she wasn't in another time, with no elevators!

You can do it Hitomi! Her conscious boosted.

Before she could make it down the first step though, someone grabbed her from behind, whirling her around and taking her into their arms.

Hitomi stared up at him in shock and horror. "D-Dilandau?"

His expression looked pained, like he was fighting an inner battle in his head. " Don't leave me." He whispered hoarsely. "Ever since you left I've felt so alone...so alone." He buried his head in her shoulder and cried.

Hitomi couldn't believe it. Was this really Dilandau? Or some imposter?

"W-What are you playing at?" She asked.

"I'm not." He snapped, but he didn't bother lifting his head up. He must be embarrassed to be seen crying, especially in front of her.

"Do..." Don't fall for it, don't fall for it. "Do you mean that?"

"Why would I say it if I didn't?" He sneered, but continued to keep his head hidden from view.

"Just because I make you feel un-alone, doesn't mean you have feelings for me Dilandau." She turned her head to the side, still not returning his embrace. " I need someone who will love me..."

"You love me, don't you?" He demanded, looking up, no tears in sight. He looked as though he was daring her to say otherwise.

"I-I..." She bowed her head in shame. I'm such an idiot. "Hai."

He smirked. "Good."

"W-wha--" Before the word was even out of her mouth Dilandau was kissing her, pushing her back against the wall as he devoured her mouth with his.

Hitomi shut her eyes. Somehow, deep down, she believed, knew this was right, no matter how wrong it looked to everyone else.

She whimpered when his hand pulled her head back with a tug to her hair, exposing her neck to his mouth as he planted kisses from her jaw line to her collarbone.

When their lips parted for a brief second, she gasped his name. "D-Dilandau..."

Smirking, he crushed his mouth over hers again. He never knew his name could sound so arousing coming from her of all people. To think he hated and despised her in the beginning, wanting nothing more than to torture her--and in the process destroy Van--for scarring his beautiful face.

His tongue dove into her mouth, tasting her. With one hand still tangled in her hair, occasionally pulling at the short golden strands, his other wandered the curves of her body, brushing over her clothed breasts, down to her bare stomach, then her smooth, athletic thighs.

Hitomi weakly pushed him off by pressing her hands against his chest. "W-Wait...we can't."

"Why not?" He snapped, red eyes flaring. " You didn't mind all those other times."

She blushed, hiding her face from his view. "Even if I did love you Dilandau...you," She started.

"I what?" He demanded, eyes narrow and bright red.

She gulped. Come on Hitomi, you can say it! "You don't love me back."

He sneered at her. "Didn't think you were that stupid." And he roughly tugged her back down the hall with little struggle from her.

"W-Where are you taking me?"

" To our room." He answered firmly, giving her arm another hard tug, almost making her trip.

She blushed and stammered loudly, "O-Our?"

"Quiet!" He snapped, glaring at her, before he threw her into his bedroom, not caring that she fell on the floor in a half naked heap.

With nervousness she watched him tower over her. " D-Dilandau..."

"You love me don't you." He hissed.

He leaned down and hauled her up by the waist, ignoring her angry cries to be released, and he tossed her on the bed, a smirk on his face.

Climbing on top of her, pressing her into the mattress with the weight of his body, he grinned down at her.

"Show me how much you love me."

Hitomi gasped, cheeks red. "W-What do you mean?" He slid down the length of her body till their eyes were level, their breaths mingling.

He nipped at her neck. "Don't act stupid." He purred, then licked a hot, wet trail up her neck and cheek. Hitomi grimaced and tried to squirm away--she had no idea why he was doing this--but his arms held hers down by her sides, and his legs trapped hers, keeping her restrained to the bed.

"W-Why are you doing this?" She asked, forcing herself to sound calm.

He chuckled lowly. "Once I have you completely, poor little Fanel will simply die when he finds out his little fortune teller belongs to me."

"He's probably forgotten all about me...so why would he care?" She whispered, fighting back tears. From what Dilandau had said, she'd been away from Gaea for three months. What said Van wasn't already happily married to someone?

"Why did you wait Dilandau?" She asked suddenly, but still avoided eye contact.

He laughed bitterly. "Me? Wait for you? Don't be a fool!"

Hitomi winced. No matter how many times she told herself and Dilandau that his words had no affect on her, they did. A lot.

"So then..." She hesitated. Did she really want to know? "How many other 'toys' have you had while I was gone?" Despite her voice being calm and gentle, she felt like one of those jealous girlfriends asking their boyfriends what they'd been up to while they were gone.

He laughed coldly and got off her. "I lost count after the twelfth one."

Hitomi bit her lower lip. So he was going to be that way was he? Act like you don't care Hitomi. She forced a smile. "That's nice."

But deep down she hated herself for asking, because now she really wanted to know if he was telling the truth, or trying to purposely get her mad and riled up. Either way she wasn't going to let this affect her.

She was going to teach Dilandau to never mess with her.

Hitomi forced herself to look uninterested when Dilandau strolled down the hall with two beautiful girls clinging on each of his arms, a grin on his face. But despite the attention they gave him, his eyes remained focused on Hitomi who was approaching from the other end of the hall with her head bowed.

No matter how hard she tried, he knew she was watching. Smirking, he whispered into one of the girls ears, and she laughed out loud.

"Mo, Dilandau-sama, you can be so humorous." She giggled.

Hitomi's fists clenched. You don't care you don't care. You're not jealous you're not jealous. I hate him!

Why did he do this to her? Only two days after her arrival and he was completely ignoring her, giving every other girl besides her his undivided attention. Was this some kind of cruel joke? Did he find her pain funny?

And after she'd told him she'd---She shut her eyes tightly when she passed the three, ignoring their looks. She didn't care if Dilandau was looking or not.

"Is she one of your servants Dilandau-sama?" The other girl asked, staring with wide eyes at Hitomi's retreating back.

He smirked. "Can't you tell? She looks like a boy, especially with that hair." And he laughed cruelly, all the while his eyes remained on Hitomi's back, willing her to turn around and look at him, but she reached the corner and vanished. Damn her. Damn her for ignoring him! Why wasn't she jealous!

Gritting his teeth, he stalked off to his room, leaving the two girls behind.

"D-Dilandau-sama--"

"Shut up!" He barked, and entered his room with a furious slam of the door.

"Chesta!" Hitomi called, furiously waving the blonde boy over. He turned and smiled, walking over to her. She really needed someone to talk to to get her mind off Dilandau. And Chesta seemed to be the only nice, decent slayer out of all of them. If Chesta lived in her world, she could easily picture them being good friends.

"Hitomi. I didn't see you there." He looked around. "Where's Dilandau-sama?"

She bit her lip. "I don't know, and I really don't care."

Chesta blinked in surprise at her tone of voice. "Are you and Dilandau-sama fighting again?"

She shook her head. "He's just ignoring me. No big deal." And making me feel like the ugliest girl here...

"Oh," He shifted uneasily. "How have you been?"

She smiled shyly. "Good, thanks. You?"

"Fine. Well, other than the fact that I have to do guard tonight."

She giggled at that. "I'm sure you'll be great!"

He blushed and bowed his head. "Thank you."

She grabbed his hand, making his face turn brighter. "Keep me company. I always get lost in this place." She explained bashfully, blushing faintly.

He nodded and walked with her, side by side, around the headquarters.

"Chesta..." When they had arrived at a secluded area, she stopped and turned to face him, expression serious.

"Is something wrong?" He asked worriedly.

She smiled. "No I...I wanted to ask you something actually." Should I really? But if I ask, Chesta will know...

"Oh!" He immediately chirped up. "Ask away." He smiled cheekily.

"How many..." How am I supposed to ask this kind of question? She swallowed hard. "Has Dilandau had any girls...when I was gone?" Oh, Hitomi you baka! How could you ask him that?

Chesta smiled sadly, immediately understanding the girl's curiosity. "Hitomi, you really shouldn't w--"

"CHESTA!" The screech didn't go unnoticed by either, and both knew exactly who it had come from.

Dilandau.

A/N: Ohhh would you look at that! I suck at this cliffhanger stuff. Anywho, surprise! Look how fast I updated! I owe it to you guys. haha. The next chapter I already have done so I'm just gonna wait a few days before I put it up. So can anyone guess what Chesta was gonna tell Hitomi? I know I DO! heh heh.

And can you believe Dilandau? So mean...hanging around those girls right in front of Hitomi!

Dilandau: Shut up already and end the damn chapter!

Hitomi: Hmpth, no loving for you tonight mister!

Dilandau: ;;

Read and Review, if ya do Dilandau JUST might get some of that loving.

Dilandau: YOU'D BETTERREVIEW threatens with sword