There and Back again
SD: Woot….another chapter up…It sure did take you long enough…
GA1: glares Hey, I have to work more then you do… so stop complaing miss 'I only have to work two days this week'…
SD: Hey! It ain't my fault if my boss only assigns me two days…and next week I have to work the same amount as you so there XD
GA1: glares ……
Disclaimer: …………………………(please enter you own disclaimer after the beep)…………………beep…………We do however own our respective characters, and the changes in the plot…
Spirit dancer: Aiko, Shiva
Glass angel 1: Aiko, Fira, Merlin, the Providence Children, Caim and any other character that I must create for the production of this story.
All rights reserved.
Summary:
Not just an ordinary retelling of Escaflowne. Two girl's wish away their lives of family abuse, only to find their wish answered. Destiny plays its hands hard as these two friends find themselves caught up in a war of a world they barely know, only to be torn apart along the way. Will they be able to overcome their trouble pasts, and save this new world for its own destruction? Or will their pasts become its means of destruction?
Category: Action/Adventure/Romance
Special disclaimer: Any songs used during the production of this story are not ours (unless indicated) but are owned and have their copy rights to their singers/writers. Also, do to the fact the 'singers' in this story may not fit to the original singer (ie. Miguel singing an Avril Lavigne song) doesn't really matter to the writing of this story. It is the lyrics that are in use.
-song in use for this chapter: We Believe, by Good Charlotte
Singing notes for chapter:
'word' – Shesta singing back up
'word' – Viole singing main lead
'word' – Guimel singing back up
'word' –all three singing together
Chpt. 22: Fate's Hope
It was odd how he always ended up here, when there was something he should be doing and yet didn't want to do. Though it didn't really mattered; someone was already doing that 'thing' that he didn't want to do. The lounge (or well as all the slayers called it that 'rec room') was empty for the most part. The small black piano sat without its normal player by the far wall. Near it were a drum set, a saxophone, the old bass and a newer guitar. Normally when nothing was being done, this room was full of noise, as the Dragonslayer unit worked on songs, with the lower strings that dared to enter here during that time listening to them. It was funny to think of that small little band that practiced here when ever they had the chance. Though there had never been a 'live' performance for them, about the only fans they had were from second and third string and him. Not that they ever complained. They would play on, even if no one was in the room.
The room, he sighed slightly as he looked over it for a moment. On a normal day it was a complete disaster zone. Music sheets everywhere, books, cards, anything and everything would litter this room. The lone large couch that sat to the other side of the room was normally covered in so much that it couldn't even be sat on. Not that anyone minded... the carpet on the ground was nice enough to sit on. Straight across from the door the dark blue carpet gave way to black marble steps that lead up to a small cove in the room that was surround by glass windows, and over the steps that lead down into the made room were the same dark blue as the carpet. If he wanted he could close them both so that this area was hidden by them. Sometimes he preferred that, so that the motions in the main room didn't distract him. He liked coming here, the circular room's windows let in a lot of light and by the most, and it had the best view on the Vione at times. Early in the morning it was very quiet, he could work on pieces without interruption. While in Asturia, he had hoped to get a chance to paint one of the sunsets, but after getting yelled at for half an hour about his little act and not being allowed to touch his unit until after they left Asturia air space, he didn't feel like it anymore. Though now, here he was sitting in this room with his large sketch pad set up against the easel. Canvases were leaned against the window behind him to be painted on, but at the moment he had no desire to do that. Dilandau's hand moved the small graphic pencil over the paper.
Ayane had been an odd inspiration this morning. After leaving the young woman a sleep on his bed, with a note that she was to take the day off, Dilandau had gone down to the hanger. Only to find that Gatty had beat him to getting the damn doppelganger assignment. That wasn't to horrible, it wasn't like he really wanted to do a seventeen hour flight with the damn thing and not come back with his missing slayer. So instead he had gone back up to his room to return to bed, only to find his sleeping angel had already left. Well, that idea had gone out the window, so instead he walked slowly down to his slayers rooms, told them their 'chores' for the day. That was… not very pleasant. The looks on their faces made the pain he already felt hurt more, and the silences wasn't any better. He had returned to his room before deciding on something better then mopping the day away. The graphic pencil moved along with paper again as he tried to recapture the image of her.
XoX Flashback XoX
He held her bag in his hand as he walked down the dark hall to her room. Well it was better then staying in his room until Gatty returned or he received new orders. There was no way he was going to bug Folken; It would be a cold day in hell before he was going do that. And his slayers probably did not wish to speak to him. The one time Dilandau had to follow orders and it was one he did not want to follow at all. It was sort of odd how empty this hall was. Normally Folken would be up by this time, wondering this hall as he headed for his study. Maybe the man was smart enough to know that if he ran across the red-eyed demon boy that the conversation might not be a pleasant one. It was odd how the doors on this floating fortress seemed to blend together with the wall. When he first came aboard this ship Dilandau found himself always getting lost. He'd either pass the staircase he was suppose to take, or miss the door to the room because he couldn't see it in these dark halls. It wouldn't take to much power to give these halls a good lighting system. So either you developed a good night vision, or just remembered were everything was. As he found himself standing in front of her door, not knowing whether to knock or just walk in. He did know the code for this room anyways, if he wanted to, he could come in and go as he pleased. And yet…Dilandau lifted his empty hand and lightly knocked on the door.
"Come in… The doors unlocked…"A feminine voice came from the other side. Dilandau frowned slightly, she shouldn't keep this door unlocked like that. Yet again the only people who were really allowed in this area were himself, the Dragonslayers, and the bastard Folken. The door slide open with ease revealing a room that he already known much of. He had been the one to over see its completion. The black and blue tiles shimmered slight from the light, this room had been kept will clean. She was sitting at the table; there was a small bowl of half eaten rice before her as she looked at the vase of flowers. For something that was supposed to die in a few days, the flowers Shesta had bought were still in full bloom. In her hand she held a pair of chop sticks. The light blue blouse hung loose on her body, the black skirt fell down passed her knees. Some other clothes he had made for her, so that there was something she could wear to relax in. He was sort of glad he was good at guessing sizes for these, for on the uniform the white dress part looked sort of small on her. When Ayane turned her head to look at him, the loose strains of hair that were not in the loose pony tail she had fell over her grey eyes. The dark blue tint on them was an interesting contrast. "Dilandau-sama? Is there something you need?"
"No… Not at all..." He said lightly, what was this girl's power? Was this what Miguel had been telling when she looked at him that way? The way she looked, and talked sometimes made her seem older then she really was. Hadn't it not been for her telling Folken her age, Dilandau would have guessed her to be closer to that blue-baka's age then his own. Maturity was not something foreign, Dilandau had to grow up a lot faster then he would have probably have liked but she seemed to have aged mentally to something that he couldn't quiet grasp yet. When they had first meet, she fought against him, she even raised her voice at him as if he was some thirteen year old. He would have never have guessed her to give in as easily as she had, and do what she was told. For sure, he thought she would fight to the bitter end about becoming a maid to him and his slayers. And yet, without so much as a word against it, she went about doing it. The steel grey eyes blinked at him as she remained still on the chair. "No I just came to give this back to you…"
"Really…?" There was a slight playful smile on her face, inside his mind Dilandau frown. That was too fast a change from what she was last night. After he had kissed her, she broke down and started to out right cry. She lay curled up in his arms for the longest time. It seemed that the stress of being in this world had finally caught up to her. He didn't mind it, Dilandau sort of enjoyed waking up to her curled up against him this morning. It gave him something else to focus on before remembering Miguel was in Freid. Though it seemed tears could not keep a carefully carved mask from returning in the morning light. Behind those empty eyes, he knew there was a scared, confused girl hiding behind the strong willed exterior. Placing the wood chop sticks on top of the bowl, Ayane stood up and took the black bag from him. Dilandau, now free from his burden, walked over to the bed to sit on its edge. The black curtains that encircled it were pulled back to reveal the neatly made bed. She sat the bag down on the table, her back turned to him in such a way he could not see what she was doing as she unzipped it. There was the rustling of this being moved about; Dilandau had not looked inside the thing. There was some point of respect he held in looking into other's things. The silence between them was not really that uncomfortable but he was not much of one for silence when there were things that puzzled him.
"Why… Why did you give in so easily?" She stopped for a moment before looking over her shoulder at him. He sat on the bed with one leg sitting up against the frame, the other on the floor. There was no armored jacket that she had normally seen him in, but the red tank top that lay below in. His white hair fell lightly over his red-eyes. There was no question in her eyes about what he meant, she understood it.
"Because…" Ayane looked away from him again, and began to move things in her bag once more. "You've… given me this room, the clothes I wear. Instead of giving me a normal uniform and having me held in a small crew quarter like I was before. If I had been rebellious how would that show how grateful I am for what you didn't have to do for me? And besides, I've never been above house work…" The bag rustle for a few times before she stopped and pulled something out of her bag, as if she had found what she was looking for, though she did not turn around to face him.
"Never been above you?" She whirled around to face him quickly; there was a bright flash of light that caused him to blink a few times before his vision cleared. The whole time, the woman was giggling. "What the!"
"Sorry, couldn't resist."
"What did you do?" Dilandau stood up, glaring at the woman through the white spots in his vision. In her hand she held a small black box that held a lens. "Is that a shadow graph?"
"Well, sort of…" She turned it in her hand before looking at him again. "On my world we call it a camera. It takes images sort of like your shadow graphs but the quality is better… And it can be done in black and white or color… I think I have colored film in here…" She sighed for a moment looking down at the 'camera' for a moment.
"Can I see it?" Curiosity always got the better of him when it came to something he didn't know. Ayane looked up at his held out hand and pulled the camera towards her. He wanted to see what the image looked like. Shadow graphs only to a few minutes before the produced an image.
"You'll have to wait to see the picture... I have to fill up the film first…"
"O…" Film? What was that? She looked away from him down at the camera. The cheerful look slowly disappeared as her face held a sad look. The mask still had its crack. She turned the thing in her hand for a moment.
"Did you know, some people believed once these things stole a part of your soul...?"
"Do you believe that?" She looked up at him for a moment. The sad, light smile came across her face.
"In a way…yes."
XoX End XoX
The sun was starting to set off in the distance; the day had gone full circle. Different kinds of colors flooded through the large glass windows as he inked his sketch. It had taken him a long time to try and recapture that smile, that image that opened a small doorway to something he knew was there now. It was hard to imagine how he could not have seen it before. Maybe the beauty of the outside can hide the scares of the inside from the world better then he would have thought. Half of the main room was blocked from his view as only one black curtain laid undone. He sat behind this one, so that the world could not distract him from his work. This was probably the reason he didn't hear them when they came in. The door that led to this room opened quiet, which was odd, for most of the other doors on the Vione made some sort of noise. It was also because of this that they didn't know he was there. It wasn't until someone struck the keys on the piano that Dilandau noticed someone was there.
"Viole, do you really want to do this?" He heard Shesta's voice say. Dilandau slowly stood up, placing the graphic pencil in his hand down. Walking to the end of the curtain, he peered around it to see them all, standing next to the instruments.
xVxVxVxVx
"Viole, do you really want to do this?" Shesta asked softly, slightly worried if he pushed the boy to far he might break down again. It was sort of weird, back in the room a little over an hour ago. They all must have been sitting like that for a long time, for when Gatty came walking in (soaking wet and tired from his long fly with the doppelganger) Shesta's legs screamed in pain when he stood up. The brunette slayer had not let go of Miguel's journal, even now it still remained in his hand. He had dragged them all down here, for what purpose was beyond them. Gatty was still dressed in his uniform that had managed to dry out a bit, though he had discarded the heavy armored jacket. The poor blond looked tired and worn out, but gave no argument. His body seemed to move automatically to the drum set that sat near the wall. The motion, in which he sat down in, looked as if his legs had just given out. Without much of an effort he picked up the sticks and stared down at the white drums as if either waiting for the count off or lost in thought. Guimel was by the piano, back turned to them all as his hand lay on the keys. He couldn't believe what Viole wanted to do, he doubted any of them were in the mood to play, let alone sing. And yet none of them said anything against it.
"Ya…" The response sounded sort of harsh. Shaking his head, Shesta picked up the lead guitar. The bass made a weird sound as Dallet ran his fingers over the strings. Somewhere to his left he heard Guimel touch a few more notes. The room was completely empty, there so no one here but them. It seemed like at the lower Dragonslayers were hiding from them. Did they think if they came near that the bad luck of the Elite would rub off on them? Probably, some of them kids were really superstitious. Viole stood between him and Dallet, his fingers clicking a slow rhyme. This was really going to be bad. Viole didn't even give any pacific song to sing. He was looking down in to the journal again; nodding his head as if to get the beat to something Miguel must have written in there that he hadn't shown Guimel yet to write music for. Looks like they were doing a free style then, but the tempo was moderate not slow. The only sound for a while was snapping sounds that Viole made. After what seemed forever, Dallet picked up the bass and held in him his arms as he started to pluck at strings, in time with Viole. Then the realization came into what the boy had been doing, Viole hadn't been keeping time, but tipping out the bass. A few seconds later, Gatty started on the cymbals and the bass drum. Something about this seemed oddly familiar. Like Shesta knew this song yet… Shesta started his chords and rhymes suddenly, as if his fingers remembered what he couldn't. Seeming right in time as the brunette opened his mouth.
There's a woman crying out tonight
Her world has changed
She asks God why
Her only son has died
And now her daughter cries
She can't sleep at night
Guimel started slowly on the piano, it was probably then it all hit them what they were playing. This was the song, that got them all started on this. Miguel was playing it on the small guitar he owned, when they all first came here. Before they had all were honored with the name Dragonslayers. The redhead thought no one was listening to him. The boy had sought out the solitude of some storage room after a long days practice. Viole had surprised him while the others stood back listening slightly amazed. They all had been making fun of the poor redhead for the first few weeks. The whole episode seemed to had been what broke off the ranks in society that they all held, the beginning of the to be long lasting friendship that was now seeming to be coming to its close. An ending segment of another chapter in each of the slayers lives.
Downtown
Another day for all the suits and ties
Another war to fight
There's no regard for life
How do they sleep at night?
How can we make things right?
Just wanna make this right
We believe We believe
We believe We believe
We believe We believe
In this love
Whether if they were in the mood to play before or not, it seemed that they were now. Viole seemed so into what he was doing that he forgot about the journal that was in his hand. As the burnet moved along with the music and rhymes, the worn out black book fell forgotten to the floor.
We are all the same
Human in all out ways and all our pain
So let it be
There's a love that could fall down like rain
Let us see
Let forgiveness wash away the pain
What we need
And no one really knows what they are searching for
We believe
This world is crying for so much more
There was a bright flash of light that brought everything to a sudden stop. Guimel's fingers stumbled over the keys, Dallet hit too many random notes that he just stopped. There was a drum stick that hit the floor in the back, and if it hadn't been for the strap around Shesta's neck, he might have dropped his guitar. The room, once filled with music held the lingering last note before dying off, all the boys stood still as if startled by whatever the flash was. Ayane stood near the door, a small black box was in her hands that she held level to her chest. At the end facing them was a scope. At first the idea had come that the thing was a shadow graph but the box was too small, and had produced a flash of light. Though that was not what had them all startled. It was the look on her face. Black hair fell over cloudy grey eyes.
"I-I'm sorry…. You didn't have to stop…"
xVxVxVxVx
It was amazing really how the mood could change so fast. They all lay around the rec room now, Guimel with sheets of music spread out in front of him as he worked on some picture of music. Gatty was staring up at the wall, as he laid out on the floor next to the sheep head. Dallet was sitting in one of the chairs, looking down into some book. Whether or not he was really reading it was unclear, as every now and then he'd turn the page. Shesta sat in the other across from him looking at nothing particular except the black box Ayane had called a camera that now sat forgotten in his lap. Viole was stretched out on the long couch that was build into the wall, his head resting on Ayane's lap. Her hand was rested in his hair; a while ago she had been brushing the youth's long curly hair out with her finger nails. But now, with her head rested to the side and eyes closed, it looked as if she too had fallen asleep. Shesta sighed lightly as he leaned back in his chair. What a great day off.
"I'll give him two days……" Gatty said suddenly as he sat up.
"What?" The blond commander looked at his friend confused. Dallet had set down his book, and Guimel was no longer writing. The solemn looks on their faces echoed the understanding to what Gatty had said.
"I'll give the doppelganger two days… After that, I'm going in after Miguel…."
"Bright ideal...But what about Folken?" Dallet questioned as he tossed his book on to the small table.
"Fuck him… I'm not letting Miguel die if I can stop it…"
"Great, so you're giving the man a day to work whatever Folken has planned?" Shesta sighed. "It'll take him a day to get to Fried... you know that."
"So? Shesta, do you really think the Duke of Fried isn't going to know of an attack by now? We've occupied Asturia for almost a month now! He'd have to be pretty damn dumb not too."
"Alright so what's you're plan?" Gatty shrugged. "So you're just going to walk in there, eh? Typical…"
"Hey! Maybe if you'd stop being such a smart ass we could think of something!"
"Both of you stop yelling before you wake them up……" Guimel warned as the two leaders glared at on another. "I agree with Gatty, if we can come up with something, and pull it off without Dilandau-sama knowing. Then not only can we keep him out of getting the wrath if we fail, but Folken can't do anything to him. Also long as we keep Dilandau-sama out, I'm in…"
"I agree…. Dilandau-sama has the most to lose if this goes wrong..." Dallet concurred. "Though most likely only two of us can get out of here without being noticed only for a certain time… So, who's going with Gatty?"
"Me…" Viole's voice cut in to the conversation.
xVxVxVxVx
Dilandau sat on the floor, the black curtain against his back as he stared out into the darkening sky. He could no longer hear the voices of his slayers. They had been talking so long, that the sun's light had been long lost to the darkness. Voices raised and fell quietly as the five of them schemed their plan to save their missing member. Dilandau tuned them out as he stood up and walked over to the sketch pad without making a sound.
xXxXxXxXx
Van leaned against the window looking down at the court yard, the night sky looming over. What a bad day today turn out to be. Well, at least they made it to Fried alright, kind of. Princess Millerna had been able to get Allen's wound to stop bleeding, he was now recovering in the room across the hall from the one Van was in now. Well, that was if you could call this a room really. The back wall was really the only really wall, the others were made of some sort of blind that fell from the ceiling down to the floor, easily arranged so that the room could be reshaped and sized if needed. Pulling a leg up to his chest, he looked down at the mat placed on the floor, sheets tossed about from his inability to go to sleep. Even though sitting on the window edge was starting to get uncomfortable, the though of going back to lie down on that thing didn't seem very appeasing. After sleeping on the ground for the passed week, the softness of the bed felt too…soft against his back. Frowning Van looked away from it back out into the little court yard. Most likely he would end up sleeping on the hard floor. Though sleeping wasn't what he had in mind at this time. He was too busy retracing the steps of the day. Princess Millerna's introduction to the Duke had been short, well because the Duke of Fried wasn't at the palace at the moment, only his four year old son. Odd how grown up the boy seemed to be. The kid did however somewhat remind him of Allen for some reason. Must have been the blond hair and blue eyes, that trait seemed to run in the Asturian royal family line.
The light from the moons bathed the small court yard. He could see the bushes that made a prefect square in the center, the trees that grew up near the walk ways. This little court yard enclosed by three of the palace walls that sat against the higher guard wall. Raising his arms against his now risen leg, Van let his mind wander off again to the day's events. The battle had probably been the turning point, had Allen not shown up when he did Dilandau would have probably won that. The red-eyed demon was a lot better at him in guymelefs fights, just like Allen was. Which by far, sucked. How was he supposed to revenge his country, his people, if everyone he fought he lost against? He had to get better, and fast. That was the only way he would be able to do anything without having to depend on someone being there to back him up, the only way he could protect…her.
Aiko, odd how one's mind turns so quickly back to the object that had made him sit likes this in the first place. She had known about the Dragonslayers attack before he even knew that they were there. On top of that she kept on pointing them out. Which was weird, because even time he looked in the direction she point he couldn't see anything there after he dodged the attack. She had to be able to see them that could be the only reason. But how? Well, the girl had seemed to have some sort of strange power, like being able to find things, and then there were those 'visions' that she has had. Could it be the curse of the moon perhaps? Lady Ayane seemed to be able to do that as well. Like back in Fanelia, the woman had found the dead assassin's body without even moving from the spot she had been standing at by the fountain. But maybe…. Van slipped off of the window and walked over to the bed and pulled off a blanket and grabbed a pillow. Maybe Aiko could show him how to do that, to see the unseen. He'd have to ask her tomorrow. Right now he needed to get some sleep. Van sighed as he lay out on the wood floor next to the bed mat.
xXxXxXx
Aiko growled as she followed Van and a tired Merle outside. Why the hell did she have to get up this early? It wasn't like she knew what time it was, but she knew that it was well before she was ready to get up. Van had barged into her room with a yawning cat girl in tow, telling her to hurry up and get dressed. And when she asked him why, he said that he needed to have an important talk with her outside in the courtyard. It had taken her a while to shake off the fogs of sleep, but once she had, she was wide awake and there was no problem getting into her usual attire: the black cargo pants, black spaghetti corset shirt with hooks going down the middle, and of course, her black hiking steel toed boots. On her way down the hallway, she was able to put her hair into a loose braid that went down her back. After what seemed forever, they finally make their way into the grassy courtyard. The small hedges made a square around the small courtyard giving them room to do almost anything.
"Alright Van…tell me why you have dragged me down here at the break of dawn…" She said with a slight growl. Merle shot her a glare telling her to be respectful. Aiko rolled her eyes. "Please?" Merle's glare only deepened, but Aiko ignored it and decided to pay attention to Van.
"I…" He started to say, but stopped and looked at the ground as if he was still deciding on something. The morning sun was starting to peak up over the high walls, if it hadn't been for the fact that she was slightly grouchy from being kicked out of bed so freaking early she might have enjoyed the view. She might have even wondered out from the palace walls back into the city to see what the sunrises looked like against the valleys of rice fields. This country had a lot of them, especially near the capital; it was about the only thing she had really noticed when they got here late yesterday afternoon. It kind of reminder her of back home on Earth, outside of Tokyo in the countryside, and of the picture in Ayane's apartment that hung in the living room, or well what she would call a living room even though Ayane didn't own a T.V. in her house. In fact there wasn't much in the way of any technology in that plant infested apartment. About the only thing with the latest stuff was the kitchen. But that was about it, Ayane didn't have a T.V. or a computer. It was kind of strange to think about it, how in the world did Aiko ever keep herself amused in that place? It was always just her, Ayane, the tons of weird plants that grew every where and that damn teddy bear. Wait, why in the world was she even thinking about that? She should be paying attention, not that Van was saying anything at the moment. The sunlight was dancing through those uneven locks of dark brown hair. Odd, Aiko sort of wondered it the young king ever brushed that mop, probably not. It didn't look like it. Not that there was anything wrong with, o no it sort of fit that personality of his. Like right now, he was hiding his eyes from her by those unruly bangs as he was thinking. Wow, Aiko was really too damn tired to be thinking at the moment. "I want you to………" He looked back at her. "……to teach me how to see the unseen. Twice now you have saved my neck by pointing out the Zaibach soldiers to me, I want you to show me how to do that. So I can…… So I can fight better against them." Aiko stared back in shock. It took a couple of moments for her tired brain to register what he was asking her. Merle looked at Van, then Aiko, then back to Van before she poked Aiko.
"Aiko? You didn't fall asleep did you?" Aiko blinked, and then sighed.
"Van, I'm not the person you should be asking…I'm still trying to learn it. The person you should be asking is Ayane." He frowned slightly looking at her slightly confused.
"Why?" Aiko looked at him as if what she had said should have been obvious enough.
"Because she's the one who taught me what I know so far. I haven't had enough practice to become the teacher. I was barely able to see the invisible monsters. If I wasn't so observant, I wouldn't have seen them. I'm just a beginner Van…I can't teach you…not well anyways…The master is Ayane…" Something or well someone slapped her on the side of the head.
"O stop being such a downer, my goodness." Aiko turned to glare at Merle as she walked over to Van; in that little innocent walk that she has as if nothing is wrong. "Van-dono asked you to do something is that so hard to do? I mean, Ayane isn't here right now, now is she? And the like ability that Ayane will back anytime before Zaibach attacks again isn't very high now is it? The least you can do is teach Van-dono what you do know. It'll be more helpful then not knowing anything isn't it?" Aiko was ready to beat the girl to a bloody pulp, but she sighed. Sending a very deadly glare to the small feline, she looked at Van.
"Alright….I'll teach Van the techniques best I can…" She again glared at Merle.
"Why you little…" Aiko cut her off by looking at Van. This was going to be weird. It was hard enough when Ayane started to teach her, it had taken her months to get it even close to finding what she was looking for exactly.
XoX
"Ayane I can't do this!" She cried out in frustration, the setting sun loomed in the distance over the city. Below she could hear the evening traffic racing down the streets somewhere down below. Not like Aiko wanted to see it. Ayane's apartment was on the top floor in a huge building. From here anyone could see the Tokyo tower really well, but the view down onto the city was a little nerve racking even for her. Aiko was standing somewhere in the large garden that occupied a large part of Ayane's floor. So her apartment wasn't as big as all the others, being the only apartment on the top floor (well ok, it was a condo but who cares?), a lot of the space was open. The living part was probably only half of the building length; the rest of it was an open garden, which Ayane took much pride in. Speaking of her, Aiko looked over angrily at the solemn woman that sat on a white bench shaking her head. The breeze that was always there blew through the garden making the leaves of the sakura tree behind her move. Her short uncurled hair was pulled back off her bare shoulders in a simple pony tail, for once Ayane was wearing normal close which consisted of a white spaghetti strapped shirt and black cargo pants.
"Of course you can, you get closer and closer each time you try." Aiko glared at her.
"Sometimes I wonder if you really even hide that bear of yours out here…"
"He is… And would you hurry up and find him already, he doesn't like being left alone. It's gonna get dark soon…" Ayane made her request sound like a plea that almost made Aiko fall over. The woman treated that bear like it was a living thing. At times it could be scary, like her and that damn lighter. Sighing in anger she took back up the pose she had before, and closed her eyes. She was going to master this, she was going to!
"You're not going to find anything with that attitude Aiko… Stop getting so angry, it clouds," Ayane's voice came to her as she held her eyes closed, "your mind, just simply relax and focus… it will come to you in good time. Don't rush it."
XoX
"OK…basically you just need to picture what you're looking for… You have to concentrate solely on that thing or person. With practice, you'll find what you're looking for…" Van nodded, giving her his full attention. "Now that you know the basic step to find the item or person you're looking for, we need to practice…" She looked around as if looking for something. "Now we just need something to for you to find…." She said quietly as if she were talking more to herself then the other two people standing there.
"O! ME! Van-dono can look for me!" Merle shouted before bounding off behind the hedges and disappearing. Aiko sighed.
"I guess Merle will work…" She turned to look at Van. "OK. Van…Now just picture her in your mind. Concentrate on her image alone." Van shut his eyes. The courtyard became deadly quiet except for the light breeze that blew through the trees. After a few minutes passed, Van growled.
"I can't…its not working…" Aiko sighed as she shook her head.
"Van, you're not concentrating hard enough… Just relax…you're not going to find it if you're rushed. Now watch……" Aiko stood still with her hands at her sides. Slowly, her pendant began glowing. A few quiet moments passed before the pendant suddenly went dark.
"There…that's where Merle is hiding…" Aiko pointed to a point in the hedge directly to her left. At first, nothing happened. Merle chuckled to herself.
"Ya…Like I'm going to stand up……what a moron……"
"Merle?" Van's voice rang loud and clear over the courtyard. Blushing slightly, she jumped up and down, waving her arms.
"Yay! You found me Van-dono!" Aiko sighed a breath of relief. For a moment there she thought that she had guessed wrong. She watched Merle run over and hug Van, almost tipping him over. Shaking her head, she walked up to Van.
"See? Nothing to it…you just have to concentrate. You can do it…" The whole little moment was kind of ruined then, them all being out here in the courtyard, too early to be disturbed. Maybe, if she had more time she could have given him a little more of a lesson then that. Ayane was always the better teacher; she could explain things in terms anyone could understand. Aiko wheeled around at the sound of clapping, the sound seemed to have caught them all of guard. The instant before turning around she could see both Van and Merle go tense. The small blond prince was standing at the edge of the courtyard, still slightly in the shade of the building. Behind him, the dark skin, older man stood, bald with a white bread. It took a moment for her to remember the older man's name, Boris. The kid, though, was Prince Shid. Aiko blinked a few times, trying to make sense of why the prince and his bodyguard was up this early in the morning…Paying attention to them as a matter of fact. Aiko sighed tiredly. This was turning out to be one weird day.
"That was amazing! How did you know where she was?" The small prince looked up at her with awe. Aiko couldn't find the words to answer his question. All she could do was stare down that the small child. Aiko tried to explain, but her mouth refused to work. She unconsciously growled at nothing in particular. Where is Ayane when you need her? She's going to get it for pulling another disappearing act...
xXxXxXxXx
"You want to do what now?" Folken looked up at the boy for a moment, away from the paper work he was busy reading over. The silver haired general was standing on near the other side of the table that was in his study, out of uniform. The long sleeve turtle neck shirt gave the boy a taller look. Though how he could walk around dressed like that was beyond understanding. The air units were undergoing repair, so the Vione was in a state of unbearable heat. The normal tiara that adored the boy's forehead was gone. It was rightfully named a tiara, because it was one of the few things that Dilandau had that belonged to any of his deceased family. Dilandau stood with his arms crossed over his chest, looking off to the side. The long bangs of his hanging over the ruby colored eyes.
"A melef session… My second and third wings are not as comfortable piloting just yet… If I'm going to be taking them into battle, I want them to-"
"No, out of the question…" Folken turned back down to the papers that he was reading, ending the discussion there. He had enough practice with this to know if he didn't stop them soon; the conversation would end with both of them at each other's necks in an argument.
"You didn't even let me finish!" Sighing and placing the paper back down, he looked over at the young man, who was now standing up straight looking at him.
"Do you not remember the conversation we had two days ago? You will not-"
"Retrieve Miguel! I know that…" Dilandau growled as he threw his hands up in the air. "Do you not think, Folken, that I haven't had that same conversation with Chancellor Merlin? What forty different times? I know the consequences if I go against the orders of a superior officer! But at this moment, Folken, the moral of my men suck! The first wing has done nothing but mope round! And my second and third is starting to take on the toll of that. I will not take men into battle that are in that state of mind. Not unless I plan on getting them all killed! All I am asking for is six hours of practice time. I swear I will not leave communication range of the Vione."
"Two hours….."
"Five…"
"Four hours.. Take it or leave it, Dilandau but that is all I will give you."
"Alright…" Dilandau smiled slightly at him. "Four hours…"
"And YOU will not leave radar range of this fortress understand?"
"Perfectly."
xXxXxXxXx
Aiko fumed as she walked the hall way to some unknown destination. Why the hell did she have to go see the human eye sore? All she was going to do was stand around while Millerna fawned over how badly hurt he is and ordering everyone out so that the pretty boy can have some 'beauty sleep'. Turning down another hallway, she growled. Why the hell did that bloody knight have to save her anyways? That would have been perfect! Aiko dying innocently on a strange and exotic land. And it wouldn't have even been her fault, so Ayane couldn't yell at her. Aiko growled again as her boots clicked on the tiled floors. Stupid playboy…She'd have to have a 'talk' with him later. She played with the black bracelets that she had somehow found in her bag earlier that day after the teaching lesson. Ayane was going to get it so bad when Aiko found her again. It would have been a lot easier if she had been there to explain the things that Aiko couldn't. But then again….the last time Aiko heard Ayane was after that happened. Sighing, she pushed those thoughts aside. To be honest, Van did pretty well for his first time. They had continued practice long after the prince and his bodyguard left. It had taken him a lot less time to figure out how to find the cat menace then she had taken trying to find the damn teddy bear. But then again, he was really persistent on learning on how to "see the unseen" as he had put it. Van…he had been occupying her thoughts a lot lately… and it annoyed her to no end. She wished that Ayane was here. She was sure that the girl could make some sense of all of this crap. She'd probably just yell at her for not seeing it on her own. It was probably somethi- BAM!
"FUCK!" the word echoed off the walls as Aiko stumbled back and tried to regain her lost footing. Her eyes slightly focused on the metal bars that she had just walked into. After she got her balance back, she ran up to the cage door and kicked it.
"You fucking bar!" Her eyes widened as she fall on her bottom holding her foot while cursing the bar with every known curse there was.
"O…k….. Did I do something wrong?" a familiar voice drifted to her passed her own cursing. Aiko had frozen, with her foot still in her hand and looked back at the metal bars that made up the jail door. Something moved from a sitting position to standing up. She watched the redheaded Dragonslayer step into the dim light of the cell. "O…It's just you…." Aiko's foot dropped from the hold that the hands had put on it.
"Where the hell did you manifest from, Miguel?" Aiko asked as stood up, and glared at him through the bars that separated them.
"Umm….No where?" He blinked at her confused, and then shook his head. "What in the world are you talking about crazy girl, I've been here! Don't you know, prisoners get put in ….the…Dungeon…?" The last part he said really slowly as if she was dumb for not knowing the obvious. Aiko looked around as if seeing the place for the first time.
"How the hell did I get here?"
"You walked in here? Like as in you walked in to that bar there? Geez, girl what in the world is the matter with you?" Miguel crossed his arms as he walked a little closer to the bars but not to close. "First you bather me when I'm in a meat locker, and now you interrupt my meditation... Are you stalking me?" Aiko glared at him.
"Why in the hell would I wanna stalk you? You're not my type…"
"Let me guess……… You're in to girls right?" The slayer smirked slightly; the shadows of his bangs covered his eyes from few. Aiko blinked in shock for a few seconds, letting the words sink in.
"Why you bastard! Jus cause I'm not interested in your ugly face doesn't mean that I'm gay!" The smirk sort of died from his face but didn't fall completely.
"O really? Then why did you beat up Ayane? I figure it was because she wouldn't give you any…"Aiko froze. He didn't just say that……he didn't say that Aiko….don't blow your top….he didn't say that… Aiko growled as his smirk widened.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" She ran up to the bars and tried to grab him. "How dare you!" As much as she tried, she couldn't reach him from where he stood. "How dare you say that about Ayane!" She then gave up on trying to reach through the bar and started punching and kicking the bar so that it would open.
"Boy, are you a dumb cookie…" The redhead slayer laughed, waving his hand in the air. "All that kicking and stuff isn't going to get solid copper bars to open... Geez, are you a blind bat? The keys are right behind you……" Aiko stopped pounding the bars, and looked behind her. Sure enough, there was a ring of keys hanging on the nail next to the corner. Aiko growled, and went up to pick up the keys but then stopped. Wait a minute…Even though I wanna beat him to a bloody pulp, those bars are the only thing keeping him from me…He's a soldier…He could have me down and out before I even started…
"Looks like you're not a dumb cookie after all…" She whirled around to see him leaning back against the bars, his back to her. She could see the solemn empty look on his face though as he looked into the shadows of the cell. "Look, I'm sorry that I said that ok? I was…just looking for a way to get out of here… I didn't mean any of that…" Aiko looked at him with sad eyes.
"You do know that if she finds out that you said that, she'll do more to you then I will…right?" She placed the keys back on the hook, and walked back towards the bars. "I didn't mean any of it either…and I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings..." She licked her bloody knuckles as she started walking away. "To be honest…you are kinda cute…" With that she walked around the corner and out of sight.
xXxXxXxXx
Shid stood under the walk way that surrounded the small courtyard, resting his head against his small hand. The hat on his head fell slightly to the side, a few of his bangs hung over his blue eyes as he watched the three. This must have been the second morning now since they had arrived in Fried, Aunt Millerna was busy seeing to the Heavenly knight Allen so he didn't want to bather her. The stories his mother told him after all were nothing more then pretty lies, there was no such thing as an unbeatable knight. The two of the three in the courtyard seemed to be arguing about. The third, the young king of Fanelia, seemed to be trying to get them to stop. They had been out here for a while now, the taller girl that worn strange black pants and a revealing black shirt had been teaching the young king how to find the "unseen". Whatever that meant, the young prince hadn't the clue. But, it was interesting to watch them. The girl, Aiko, was a strange one, not just by the way she dressed but also in her manner. Actually, she didn't have much in the way of manners, the only two people she addressed with titles was him, and Aunt Millerna. Though that title seemed a bit stressed at times, as if to show a dislike or was it trying to hide annoyance? Either way, that was about all he could draw from the bunch, through there was a lot of reference to someone called Ayane. Lady Merle seemed to hiss that name every now and then in there conversation. Kind of like now…
"Are you even teaching him right, Aiko? Or are you too scared to try because Ayane's not here?" The cat girl was hissing. They had gone from Van-dono having to find the cat girl to now finding objects that had been hidden. The poor king wasn't having as much luck as he had been having yesterday.
"Will you shut up, you stupid cat!"
"Will you both stop?! I can't concentrate with you both yelling!" Sighing, Shid leaned his head against his hand once more.
"The three of them are a strange bunch…" A voice came from behind him. Shid turned to face the older man that had been in charge of him since his mother's untimely death. Boris was studying the group out in the middle of the courtyard. Standing up straight, the young blond prince went about fixing his hat that had fallen as he thought up quickly something to say. It was so hard sounding grown up, but that was what had been expected of him for a long time. That was why his father always left him in control of the castle until he returned from his yearly tour of the provinces.
"Yes….They are." Well, it sounded good in his head. Shid looked over at them again, the two girls' voices carried on as they continued to yell at each other. The young king was shaking his had. "Though, hopefully we will be able to find out if what Lord Allen said was true… If Zaibach is planning on attacking Freid…."
"There is no need to worry about that just yet Prince Shid…"
"Of course, with the young Zaibach soldier that we have now, certainly Plactu will be able to find out if they plan to do so." The older man nodded as Shid looked away from the three for the last time as he turned to walk down the outside hall. "When is his vessel supposed to arrive, Boris?"
"Within the hour Prince…"
SD:………work is evil……
GA1: Stop being a wuss….I have to work 5 days every week….and you don't hear me complain…..
SD: ………Waits for Glass angel to continue
GA1:……Much……
SD: smirks
Edit: 12/29/06