Hitomi was indeed punished for not coming to Dornkirk the minute she found out she didn't have school. The fists were one thing Hitomi could handle but when Dornkirk came in after she had been beaten she knew his words would be much worse.
"I'm angry." The old man said bending down, coming nose to nose to Hitomi's face. "Do you want to know why I'm angry?" He didn't wait for an answer. "I'm angry because you didn't come to see me, yesterday, don't know that I love you? Is this how you repay me for that? I love you and you don't deserve it." He paused for a while, watching Hitomi lay on the ground staring straight ahead. It'll all be over soon, just keep your mind away.
"You had a great love, someone who loved you whole heartedly but he left, didn't he? And the reason for that was because of you. You drove Amano away." It was all Dornkirk had to say for Hitomi's confidence to shatter.
It was a sunny day, Hitomi didn't have school and for once she hadn't been summoned to the main house. She was running to their favorite spot. A place only she and Amano knew of. A figure stood in the growing sunlight, and she soon recognized it to be her true love. But even from a distance Hitomi knew something was different.
"Hitomi." Amano didn't sound the same as he usually did, his voice was so cold and business like. "Hitomi, I can't stay long, my family and I are leaving. We can't take this anymore. I won't be pushed around, I can't spend the rest of my life with it planned out by other people. I just can't be with you, like this, it's just too forced." With that the figure walked away and never looked back.
Hitomi spent the rest of the day outside, she never went home until she knew her family was asleep. Even though it was a sunny glorious day, the tears never dried off of her face.
Dornkirk smiled knowing he had hit the nerve he had been trying for, he bend back down to her ear and whispered. "I love you and I will always love you. Not like that childish idiot Amano, or that pretty boy Allen, I will always have room in my heart for a little creature like you."
"Is that what you think? That I'm a creature?"
"Of course you are, you drove away your shinko koi (true love) it takes a very dark creature to do something like that. He left because of you, just as Allen will do, but I will never leave you, you are precious to me." He stroked her cheek and then got up from the mats and made for the door, "But I am still angry."
With that Hitomi heard the footsteps of her torturers and the beating began again.
From years of experience Dilandau learned the best place to stand outside the main house. He knew Hitomi had her summons that day, and he knew Dornkirk was angry. Dilandau had felt his wrath earlier that morning.
When Hitomi came out, Dilandau had to take a breath to save from crying out. It wasn't unusual for Dornkirk or his minions to beat someone so sensless they needed to stay in the main house infirmry for a few days, even Dilandau had been a prisoner there for about a week. But for Dornkirk to be so angry to throw someone out without any medical attention was almost unheard of.
Hitomi was supported by two guards, Gatti and Chesta. Like all of the children in Gaea Dilandau had grown close to them when they were growing up, but when Amano left Dilandau knew Hitomi was the one who needed him the most.
Knowing he was safe with the two, Dilandau casually walked up to the unconscious form between them.
"Gatti, Chesta, its been too long." Dilandau glared up at the two, for daring to take the girl outside rather than to the infirmary.
"Don't look at us like that," Gatti said, "we didn't do this, and Dornkirk said if he saw her face again he would kill her."
"Who were the ones who…" Dilandau didn't want to know.
"Miguel, Dallet and, well we only saw him leaving the room but I'm sure he didn't do anything." Chesta seemed unwilling to give his old friend the last name.
"Who Chesta?"
"Folken." Dilandau cursed, what would Folken have to gain for beating Hitomi up? Is it the contract? I'll bet that's what it is, Dilandau's eyes glowed red with anger and the other two backed away. I'll bet he thinks he can do whatever he wants to Hitomi, I'll show him.
Tenderly Dilandau picked up Hitomi's limp body. Damn, they beat her pretty well. Her face had some bruises rising already, and there was blood coming from a cut on her lip. Dilandau knew if he lifted her sleeve he would find even more purple spots. Just as they were about to cross the threshold of the forest Dilandau looked back.
"Not a word." Both Chesta and Gatti nodded. Dilandau had enough problems than worrying about if those two were going to blab.
Dilandau took Hitomi to the only place he knew she would be safe. There was a small shed he knew of near the heart of the larger part of the forest. Dilandau often hid there when he was small, but as he grew older it was the one place where he knew he could hide bandages and other first aid things. There was no electricity in the small cabin, but Dilandau knew the small space like the back of his hand. He was able to find his way to the small bed in the corner and gently lay the girl down. He then went to the entryway and closed the planks so no one on the outside could see anything that was going on inside.
Dilandau reached for the first aid kit and saw for the first time the slow spread of blood across one of Hitomi's arms and her torso. He cursed again praying he had enough gauze to last through all her injuries. This is going to be a long day.
When Hitomi woke up she thought she was in some kind of romance novel. There were candles everywhere in the small room she was in. Hitomi could feel the bandages around her arm, stomach, and leg. Looking down at her arms she saw someone had diligently placed cold cloths on all of her bruises to prevent swelling. Once Hitomi got used to her surroundings she knew exactly who had done this.
The form in question was asleep at the moment when Hitomi woke up. Dilandau had rested his head for only a moment when the final cloth had been placed. Not wanting to startle her he placed his head farther down next to her hand, even though the only thing he wanted was to curl up next to her.
Dilandau felt a hand rest on his cheek, when he opened his eyes he saw green eyes staring back at him. He jumped back not from surprise but from embarrassment. I let her see me way to close, he panicked.
"I better get going, new that you're awake." He said gruffly turning to the door.
"Dilandau?" Her sweet, soft voice was all that was needed for Dilandau to want to turn back and run to her.
"Yeah?" Was this really happening, did she finally…
"Thanks." Thankfully Dilandau had his face turned so she couldn't see the hope fall away from it.
"No problem," He reached his goal, opened the door and then left.
There was a figure waiting on the other side of the shed watching Dilandau come out.
"Dilandau." The voice had all authority in it. Putting aside his anger Dilandau couldn't refuse and allow that voice in to get Hitomi.
"Folken." You better watch out someday I'm gonna kill you Folken.
"I was out for a stroll and couldn't help but notice you have been in that shed for a while. I would just like to inform you Dornkirk has decided to start construction of a small building on this site. They start digging at dawn, I would suggest you get that girl out of there by that time." Folken turned and strode off, not even glancing back at the boy.
Folken were you honestly trying to help us? Dilandau had no time to worry, though it was only a few hours before dawn and he needed to get Hitomi and the rest of his things out.
Another figure clad in the waning night was waiting outside. His tired eyes caught sight of a slumped shadow making its way slowly towards Hitomi's house. The dark eyes flashed when he recognized Dilandau supporting the girl up. So this is your little secret, Dilandau? the figure smirked as Dilandau carefully pulled Hitomi up the stairs and into her house. Seconds after the door closed the figure was gone.