A.n.-I am extraordinarily sorry for the wait you have all endured for this chapter, but I am proud to report that I have two for you. The final two chapters of this story. I have greatly enjoyed writing this, as I hope you have all enjoyed reading it. Thank you so much for all your support, and I hope this ending lives up to all of your expectations.
Dedication-Litschi, LaLoner, Flor-desu, ThePinkMartini, Addy, NewFish, Yellow, Alana Mae, and N. Thank you all so much for your reviews! I apologize again for making you wait so long!
The twin moons of Gaea seemed to glow in the sky, the effect ethereal against the diamond splattered darkness.
The night was cool and calm, giving no inkling of what was about to come. Though Freid's men had been alert all through out the day of the weeks since the capture of the Seer of the Order, at night the guards had a tendency to come more then a little lax. Battles did not take place duringnight, only cowards and dogs would fight under the cover of blackness. It was against all codes of war, and it was with these reassurances in mind that the Freid soldier's played card games and chit-chatted about the latest drama that had taken place in the Castle. Queen Milerna had only just arrivedthe week before, and with those ice blue eyes and blond curls, low cut bodices and flowing lace the men could be excused their distraction. Angel Tits, as she was privately known, was the topic of all strait men's conversation.
It was this that would be their inevitable down fall.
Dilandau's soldiers had remained far off the outskirts of the Kingdom, his massive army divided into three. One to take the front and the rear, the last that he would lead to stab into the soft underbelly of the Freid.
The Front and Rear First AssaultForces were all dressed in black from head to toe, their dragon armor all painted black along with their swords and scabbard. The skin on their faces had been painted black as well, except for a blood red hand print stamped across their face. It was a symbol that they were committedto their duty, death to the enemy or themselves. Every single man's heart of the Order was racing, more with excitement then fear. At long last the day had come to lay waste to the Heathens who dared appose the Gods. They would smite every last one of them and take all their wrongful gains for themselves. Gattie and Miguel were leading the Frontal Assault, Dallet was leading the Rear - he was to find Chesta as soon as he made it inside.
The Guymelif soldiers had been ordered to hang back until after the Fried Guymelifs were put out of commission. None of the Order knew how this was going to be accomplished but dared not to doubt the wisdom of their Leader. After all, the Goddess had chosen Their Emperor specifically, and they had no doubt that he could call down the anger of the Gods to smite their enemies machines.
The Front and Rear sent around fifty men to the walls surrounding Freid, each blending in perfectly to the night. These men were to take out the Guard posts to prevent any alarm from being sounded. They're goal was to lower all the gates so by the time those bastard's knew what was happening it would be too late.
Each one of these men were strong but lean build, this was about speed and stealthrather then brute force. They wore gloves withspikes on the inside and shoes with a spike at the end so they could easily climb over the wall. They were in without so much as a whisper, slitting the throats of the patrolling guards without so much an iota of trouble. They're were two switches on opposite sides of the Entrance and Rear Entrance Gates that had to be flipped before the gates could open.
Each man was doing his best to remove all of the enemies he could find and still make it to the post. In the end nearly every man made it there or near, waiting in the shadows cast by the flickering torches for the gates to fall. As soon as the switch was flipped and the gates began to lower litterly it seemed hell brook out around them. Guards seemed to flow from everywhere, alarm bells tolling from below at the unauthorized action.
But it was too late, already The Order was flowing into the Castle walls with no way for the scattered Asturians and Freidans to stop them. Sword met sword, blood sang in the night and war cries filled the air.
As the Distraction Battle, as Dilandau thought of it, was taking place, he had two hundred odd me were slipping through the small narrow patches that lead into the side of the Freid forces. His sentries had already taken the lead on foot and were disposing of any Guards posted so as to not set off an alarm.
Dilandau was surprised that he had not seen a single dead Asturian soldier yet, he'd hadn't thought Chid to be this careless. They made it to the small cave entrance that lead below Freid, and if he remembered correctly, strait into the castle. This was a "secret" escape for the Royal Family to use. It was slouched against the doors Dilalndau saw the first casualtyof his war, he was a Cat-Man with only a small dirk to protect himself. Dilandau was actually offended by this weak opposition. It was as though Chid was asking to be defeated, as though he didn't even see Dilandau as a threat. Dilandau's lips cut into a smile that was beautiful in its savagery, he would be pleased to show the Boy-King how wrong he was.
Dilandau was the only one among his forces dressed in red and black leather, the leather material stretched taunt over his frame, a glittering gold diadem reminiscent of his days in the Zaibock Empire upon his brow. The only armor he wore was across his shoulders, a single red point on each. He'd gone to great extents to copy and improve upon his original General attire for one reason alone: He wanted them to know before death claimed them just who had sent them to hell. To see the fear and defeat on their wretched faces as they realized just who had finaly come for them.
Dilandau dismounted from his steed, his men followed him single file through the round door and into the dark cave. They moved silently as the rats that fled from them through the chamber. It was dimly lit by sputtering torches as he followed it down. He could hear no voices and footsteps other then his own and his men.
Htiomi.
Her face flashed before his eyes like a mirage, sweet pink lips parted and emerald eyes aglow behind tears. She was so close now, so close that he could nearly smell her beyond this mold infested passage. And he was sure Vaan would be here as well, had he tried to claim His Hitomi yet? And had she let him, had she let that bastard King into her bed, part her sweet thighs and taste the heaven that was Her? Dilandaulicked his lips, garnet eyes glowing withhatred. She would pay with everything she had, if she had allowed him to touch what was Dilandau's alone.
But either way, Vaan would die tonight. At last.
Hitomi was not surprised when she heard the alarm bells be triggered.
For once, no vision had come to warn her of the impending doom. There had been no need, she had always known that sooner or later Dilandau would come for her - and kill every one who dared stand between them.
She had to get out of here, if she got to Dilandau first before he found Vaan or Chid then maybe she could -
Little late to be trying to play the devil's advocate, isn't it Kanzaki? Dilandau isn't going to stop and neither will Vaan. Blood will fall tonight and its all your fault.
Hitomi winced, looking around her room for something, anything sharp. They had only allowed her the smallest, bluntest of scissors for her embroidery, something to keep her feminine mind occupied. She was dressed in one of the less elaborate dresses that they hadprovided, Light blue heavy satin cloth with an empire's waist and a modest bust line. Long bell sleeves edged in the palest of pink ended just before her finger tips.
Hitomi tried in vain to cut through the heavy fabric, to give her some room to maneuver but failed miserably. The screams and war cries were echoing up the spiral stair case now, the battle was drawing ever closer. Hitomi threw the offending scissors away with a noise of exasperation. Hiking the dress up around her hips she ran over to the window, the moon was gone this night, but there was no need for light. The invading soldiers were setting the castle aflame, darkness had given way to the light and there was no way to miss the chaos and carnage below.
Acidic smoke curled against her nose, and Hitomi looked down the tower already knowing that it was far too high to jump. She'd break every bone in her body. Hands fisting in frustration, Hitomi turned and looked around her room.
There's always a way out! Think, damn it!
The dresses.
It was so obvious that Hitomi nearly hit herself in the forehead with her palm. Of course, those horrid dresses were all made of thickly woven fabric, and there was yards and yards of it to work with. Hitomi ran over to the closet, throwing it own. Satin and silk dresses of every color except black and brown were neatly pressed against each other. Row after row of small, beautifully embroidered slippers were lined at the bottom to match each one.
Hitomi ripped them down from the hanger's with a ferocity she reserved only for her most panicked moments. She separatedthem quickly into ones with bell sleeves like her own to the ones of a less elaborate cut. She began to tie the bell sleeves into tight, double knotes, jerking them twice to insure that it would hold. After all, she was entrusting her life to this hair-brained plan.
After five minutes she had managed to tie each dress together either withtheir sleeves or with the yards and yards of fabric at the bottom. She made a knot similar to a hang mans loop and pushed her bed as close to the window as she could. She was panting and red from the effort, movingit just that few inches had nearly drained her of all the strengthth she had. Sweat dripped from her face, annoyed she swiped her hand across her forehead.
Hitomishelved her weakness and with trembling hands quickly reassured herself that the knot was sound around the post of the bed. She took one glance down the tower, the next around the room. Debating silently if there was any other way.
"Hitomi! Hitomi!" A pounding at her door, and a voice that her heart squeezed with guilt for. Vaan.
That cinched it.
Hitomi threw her makeshift rope out the window and just as the door flew open quickly began her decent. The cloth stretched and seemed to groan at her weight as she began to lower herself down. Her hands were slick with sweat, and the non absorbent cloth made it difficult to grip. Especially as she hadn't had time to braid the dresses, merely had tied them all together.
She could her screaming below her, above a masculine voice pitched in fear calling her name and tugging from above at her 'rope'. With the added strain Hitomi heard for the first time the fabric begin to ripp, she looked down with paniced eyes. Too high! Far too high!
She lowered herself faster, her hands gripping the fabric tight in her haste. Just as she started to think she was going to make it, the ripping sound seemed to drown out all the chaos that was happening below and everything seemed to go in slow motion. She could see every fiber in the burgundy dress begin to snap one at a time, the treacherous cloth having the last laugh as it ripped apart at the sleeve and she was left suspended in mid air.
For a second she seemed to float there, held frozen by her own disbelief that this would be her fate. Then, just as abruptly, the wind was whistling by and she made hard impact withground. The fire, smoke and blood around her merged into one, the distant war cries and death being small and unimportant as she was driven under the rapids of oblivion.
Her body lay like a broken forgotten doll in the shadows of the tower she'd fallen from, beautiful colors of fabric falling around her, some carried away on the breeze to feed the flames that were growing ever closer to her.
Oblivious, and unnoticed, Hitomi laid in the path of the inferno.
Vaanwatched her fall with something akin to utter shock and horror.
Though the Hitomi he had known had always been more then a little spirited, this he had never expected to happen. Not this level of absolute stupidity. He'd saw the distance that she'd fallen, and there was little hope in his mind that she had survived the fall.
None the less, he whirled quickly to begin the long descent that would bring him to her aid. In spite of all their harsh words over the last few days, he could not erase her from his heart. He had to save her, to bring her back to him. Whatever this Patron Saint had done, he had to of warped her mind beyond belief. His Hitomi, would never have been this foolish or cruel. As such, it left only some sort of mystical enchantment that he had cast. Perhaps, like Dornkirk, this Patron Saint dabbled in the wicked arts of Science.
Before he made it to the door he saw a man standing there dressed in a simple gold tunic and dark brown pants. On his shirt was the golden stiched symbol of the Royal family, his hair was a crown of curls and his eyes the most brilliant blue that Vaan had ever seen on a male. His features were delicate enough that if not for his strong, wiry build he could have been mistaken for a woman. Familiarity surged through Vaan though he could not place the boy, nor explain his immediate dislike and hostility.
"M'lord, his majesty Chid is asking for you! All royal parties are the assemble in the throne room to prepare for evacuation if the ingrates manage to make it inside. Please, you must hurry!"The panic in his voice was perfect, even the mans eyes were wide with barely restrained terror and yet...and yet Vaan couldn't help but feel it was all an act.
"I'll be there soon, I have to find the...the Lady that was being housed here. She seems to of had a fright. I'll join them all shortly!" Vaan growled, shouldering past the youth hard without so much as an apology.
It wasn't til he was down the steps before he registered what the youth had murmured as he past him and cursed himself for not being more aware.
"You'll never make it, before He finds you."
Vaan turned, but the youth was gone. Shaking his head, hand checking quickly to ensure that his sword was clear in its scabbard, Vaan raced down the steps two at a time. He had to hurry. He had no time to chase phantoms with Hitomi's life in danger.
"Damn it, Chesta, do you always have to have a flair for the dramatic?"Dallet snapped, as he shut the door to what had been Hitomi's room. "If you had ruined Lord D...our Lord's plan do you have any idea what he would done to you? The mother of all bitch smacks to the ground and then he'd of ran is sword strait into your gut!"Each sentencewas punctuated with a sharp jab of his forefinger against the younger mans chest.
Chesta shrugged, sheepishly, "He pissed me off, and I hope I'm there to see that bastard get whats coming to him. He killed us in our previous incarnation here - unless you've forgotten."
Dallet looked off into th distance, grabbing the tied together dresses into his hands. Wanting nothing more then return to the matter at hand then discuss how he had last died on this gods-forsaken rock.
"She must of tried to climb out."
"Yeah,"Chesta agreed,"But to get to our side or to stay and burn with Freid?"
"Doesn't matter. Our Lord wants her, our job is to get her alive and make sure she's in position for the grand finale of this show. Come on." Dallet gestured with arm for Chesta to follow.
"You got the gloves for that peice of work? 'Cause that sure as hell won't support us both."
"Of course." Dallet tossed Chesta his spare gloves with spikes embedded.
They slipped them on quickly, and like wraiths in the night made their way down quickly from the fire. The whole climb only took less then five minutes, but with their adrenalin pumping and sweat dripping off their face at the thought of not being able to find her and facing Lord Dilandau, if felt as though it took hours to accomplish.
Once at the bottom, they realized that fire had caught the hay bale near by where the horses were kept. Some fool had tried to rescue them, and was pinned through the chest with a black arrow that ran him strait through and held his corpse up against the doorway to the whole area was about to go up in smoke. The only little bright side to this, was that all shadows were illuminated. And there, resembling a fallen angel in her pale attire and careless honey brown hair was Hitomi, resting on the pyre of hay that was about to go up.
Dallet froze in horror at the sight and Chestapushed past him quickly to grab the woman. Blood was seeping from her temple,. a shadow of a bruise was across her jaw, but from both men's brief visual scan there appeared to be no permenate damage or broken bones.
Chesta nodded curtly at Dallet and they cut through the back alley around the tower. It was nearly time for the show to start, and Dilandau would not appreciate the guest of honor being absent.
Allen was already in the Guymelif bay and in Sherzade before the full battle came over way. Many of the other Freidians had also made it to their 'Melifs, but none near the total that should have. Irritated, Allen filed this information away for later use. Punishment for this oversight would be quick if...when they won.
He had just come stomping out of the melif bay, Sherizade's sword raised high and ready to dance to the tune of war and be consumed in its crimson rage when it happened.
An explosion, no more a sudden concussion of the air all around him - thunder with no sound. It drove him down to his knees and for a moment he sat their, panting. He tried to move, but could not so much as twitch Sherizade's finger.
Sherizade and every other Guymelifehad been frozen in position. All around him, he could hear the cries of outrage mixed with hatred and blood lust.
And for the first time, in a very, very long time - Allen felt true fear that today may just be his day to die.
Vaan was waylaid at the bottom step in his pursuit of Hitomi, by the one and only Queen Milerna. Her elaborate dress ice blue was ripped at the sleeve and hem, elaborate blonde curls had come undone and the pearls that she had strewn threw her hair were in a disarray, falling off her like gems of snow with every step.
She ran directly into him, panting, and it was only with a closer inspection that he saw the red that streaked across her brow and stained her finger tips.
"Thank the Gods I found you, Vaan!" She clutched at his tunic, delicate knuckles white with the effort, "You have to help! The a main guard hasn't been able to stand! They're here! They're in the castle! They Ki...killed Dr-Dryden!"she stammered out, tears blinding her cerulean blue eyes.
She began to sob against him and awkwardly Vaan raised a hand to cradle her head and pat her back. Though Millerna had a well earned reputation for being an unabashed flirt and always stretching the rules when it came to was and wasn't proper for a Lady, (especially one who was Queen!) Vaan had always felt a sort of respect and comradie with the woman.
She had stood with them against Zaibock, had helped get Chid'salliance, had helped them when no one else would even if it had been because she had been so foolishly in love with Shezar. Still, they had fought together and he knew she wasn't one to crumple like a delicate flower into puddles of tear. Millerna had fire, and intelligence, even if she did play the part of a ditzy woman constantly - she was no fool. And she was his friend. And...she was one of the few that could still prove that his Hitomi had ever existed at all.
"Stay close to me, I have to go and find H...the Lady from the tower - she may have fallen out the window."Vaan said, trying to roughly - though tempered with a gentleness he didn't feel, push her behind him.
"You can't! They've invaded the throne room and they're k-killing everyone! Dryden told me..."She sucked in a rasping breath, "To-to find help. They're going to kill Chide!"She shouted, her voice vibrating off the walls.
Her breasts were heaving over the too small bodice, the rip at the shouldershowing the delicious curve that was her body's promise. She had plastered herself to him, all propriety lost in her panic. Her lips were small pink rose buds, just a breath from his own, cerulean eyes brilliant against the backdrop of her tears and grief. Skin as smooth and pale as marble, even in terror and splattered with blood the spell she could cast on a man was more potent then ever before.
Vaan shook his head, willing himself to distract himself and ignore the fact that it had been far too long since he had lain with a woman and they were in the middle of a war for the Gods' sake and now was really not the time!
But Hitomi...
Vaan looked down the hallway, his mind racing forward. Even if she had survived the fall, she would have escaped by now. It would be near impossible to find her in the middle of battle. And besides...
I cannot abandon Lord Chide after everything he's done for me and for Fanalia.
Duty. Honor. Love.
That was the order a King had to live his life.
And now, it was Duty that called his sword and Honor - Love would have to wait for another hour.
Vaan nodded at Millerna, "Show me the way."
Millerna squared her jaw, pushing the grief and sadness out of her face to a stone cold mask that still managed to be gorgeous. The iron will that had always simmered beneath her veins came to the surface, she was no longer the woman Milerna - she was the Queen of Asturia.
She gripped his arm and led him down the right corridor towards the throne room...
Dilandau was face becoming impatient. Dallet and Chesta had arrived moments before, and in their arrival they had allowed that whimpering bitch queen to escape. And still Dallet had not returned in his search to retrieve her. Hitomi was still asleep, cradled lightly in the throne chair of King Chid. The dress did not suit her at all, and had he not been surrounded by so many eyes that would love to devour the beauty that her form offered, he would have already ripped it off her.
She was still beautiful to him, even more so with the blood trickling off her temple. And still his. He saw no marks on her other then the ones sustained from her fall from a tower, no less.That was a thought that would amuse him more later, right now all he could feel was the burning anticipation to end this farce once and for all.
Most of the nobles had been slaughtered already, a few left alive to bear witness to the glory that was him. When he would name himself. The bastard boy King was still glaring at him, a foot away from the throne chair where he had been made to kneel - disarmed of course. He did not truely remember young Chid, he had not important to the last battle. Dilandau saw little reason to waste his wrath on such a fool, but at either rate - he was too valuable a bargaining chip to kill outright. He was the King of the largest Nation on this side of Gaea after all.
It was a thought that actually made a smile cross his face. All the pawns were in place, all that was left was checkmate at last. Hitomi groaned, finally coming too and ruby eyes flickered instantly to her face.
Groggy pain crossed her face, delicate long fingers rising to touch her temple as she started to come to. All at once the daze left her features and her eyes snapped open, instantly and completely aware. Her eyes went instantly to his, a green fire that blazed to match his own. Of course, she knew what was coming. What he was about to do. And her eyes said she would never forgive him if he followed through.
"Hello, my Hitomi."He nearly purred the name in delight,"I was starting to get concerned you'd miss the final act. I've put so much work into insuring it would be most memorable."
Her eyes were pinpricks of hot green fire that stirred his soul with a passion only she could ingite in him.
"I won't let you."She ground out, struggling to come to her feet and swaying slightly as she managed it. She grabbed the chair for balance and Dilandau couldn't help the maniacal laugh that escaped his lips.
"You couldn't stop me even if you really wanted to Hi-To-Mi."He replied, "You know as well as I, there could only be one ending to this story."
Just then the doors were throne open, the blond harlot looking woman was trailing with a dignified purpose that didn't suit her attire, behind a man with wild raven hair and red-brown eyes that glowed with anger.
"Finally. Ever the last man to arrive, neh Fanel?" Dilandau sneered the name, vicious hatred coating his voice.
"Dilandau?" Incredulity colored Vaan's voice and face as he stared disbelieving into the face of the man he'd long since thought dead.
His eyes shot past his old nemesis to rest upon the wilting form of Hitomi and all at once fury starbursted at his heart and spread through out his limbs.
"Him? Him of all people?"Vaan was shaking with anger now, his pupils dilating as he fought for the control of his emotions that had always slipped through his fingers.
Hitomi lowered her head slightly, pain and shame briefly washing over her elfin features. She seemed to crumple into herself, wilting farther into the throne chair. She took a shaking breath, and looked up at her once love through her long lashes. The room was silent enough that one could have heard a pin drop, everyone seemed to be waiting for the climatic crescendo of their meeting.
"I told you, you couldn't understand - "she began, her voice rasping.
"Damn right I don't understand! He's a murderer! Have you forgotten he's also fucking insane?"
"He was there for me, when no one else was! He's not insane he's...unconventional yes, but -"
"Shut UP, Hitomi! There are no fucking excuses...Chid was right, we should have killed you earlier. There's no saving you, if you've willing sided with this...this...-"
Hitomi crumpled back into the chair, stunned and pushed beyond reasoning and ability to respond. Her body and mind felt numb as he mentally removed herself from her surroundings.
She had known this would happen, how could he forgive her when she was litterly sleeping with his greatest arch nemesis? The time had come to make her choice, she could no longer sit on the fence. A side had to be chosen, and now was the time. Her eyes flickered up slowly, seeing Dilandauthrough a fog. He was slouching with an amused feline grace, the smile that screamed 'cat-got-the-canery-' on his face. Her eyes shifted slowly to the raven haired king. Vaan was still shouting, incoherent rage and accusations that Hitomi only caught snippets of:
"Zaibock sorcery!...she Never would have chosen...Hitomi you betrayed...I will kill you!..."
And Dilandau's chaotic responses, "Never man enough for the likes of her...I've waited too long for this moment, Vaan. You'll pay...my Slayers, my face...Such a fool to of not known til now...I will rule...Burn to the ground."
What can I say? I have no defense. There's nothing I can do to take away the hurt, or to save him now. The future keeps changing, I don't know if it'll be him or Dilandau to fall today. And if it is Vaan that lives, he will not be able to bear the sight of me, and I cannot bear to give up Dilandau-koii now.
Koii. Love.
Yes. She had accepted it now, the truth that she had fought so long to ignore in her secret heart. She did love Dilandau, witha passion that had burned through her very being. And even as the rest of her had turned to ash, as the world itself was threatened to be consumed with the wild abandon of her feelings for him, her heart had beat on. So strong, so pure was that devotion and loyalty.
The decision had been made, and it became her rock of resolve in the chaos that surrounded her. Her shoulders stopped quaking, the tears that had burned in her eyes from the bits of the conversation she had heard. The only sound she could hear now was the beating of her own heart, and slowly she rose to stand completely on her own, shoulders hiking with pride even as her chin lifted with determination. Fire blazed now in those emerald eyes.
"Shut up, Vaan!"She shouted.
Dilandau turned slightly, one silver eyebrow arching and amusement dancing in those garnet eyes that had come to haunt her memories and mind, eyes of blood and war and hatred...of passion, and joy, and sublime bliss that she could never now relinquish. Was it love they shared? Was it lust? Was it mere convenience for him?
Those questions didn't matter anymore. She knew what she felt, and had committed herself fully to him, to this travesty of a war, to whatever consequences would arise. She felt as thought a great weight had been lifted off her chest, finaly she could breath again. What would be, would be. She finaly let go, and reached inside for one thing that her mother had told her that she never accepted before finding it to be too fatalistic even for her.
"Karma is Karma, Hitomi. You can't escape it, you can only accept it as your due and others due. If you can do that, and stop worrying so much - everything will always be easier."
Karma that Dilandau came back, back to me. Karma that I would face Vaan again and be here to make the choice...karma that one will die infront of me today.
"I told you, you could never understand. Yes. I choose Dilandau. He has not and will never abandon me like you, won't use me simply for my clairvoyance -"
"He is using you! How can you - "
"You know nothing! I...I love him. And that's the way it is. And I'm not sorry for it." The last few words were rasply spoken, her voice like sand paper. But firm, and unrelenting power flexed beneath them. She would give and receive no quarter now, the line had been drawn in the sand.
Vaangaped like a fish out of water, mouth opening and closing with choked emotion. He had jerked bodily back at her words, more painful then any blow.
Dilandau laughed, manic laughter that bounced around the room seeming to large for the lean form it had erupted from. It was more then he could have hoped for. The anguish, to bitter pain and hatred bouncing across Vaan's face.
But there was more. She had admitted. At long last, he knew he possessed more then her body and life - he possessed her soul. That bright, oh so bright and pure, heart was his. There was a happiness that he had never felt before that bounded across his mind and body. It was an emotion completely untainted by cruelty or malice. It was something he had never known before.
And as Dilandau did with every emotion that he did not understand or threatened his control, he shoved it deep down into a locked prison to be looked at from every angle in private. Now was not the time for soul searching, now was the time for his revenge. There was no room for anything else.
The Bringer of Death was out of its sheath so fast it was almost as though it had been summoned there by magic to his hand.
"Its time to put away childish things, Vaan."
With that Dilandau lunged, bring his sword down hard above his head to cleave Vaan in two. Vaan had no time to react, no time to pull his own sword he rolled to the side, his hand awkwardly freeing his weapon upon landing. Vaan danced away from Dilandau's blows, fury fueling his movements.
He began to match Dilandau blow for blow, parring his attacks as he searched for an opening in Dilandau's style. He found none, for it seemed that his memories of their previous battles were rather biased in his own favor. He did not remember the silver-haired general being this strong, his movements so precise, his style perfection at its highest regard.
There was no question that Dilandauwas a master swordsmen. And it was no question that even with the hatred that pumped through Vaan's system, his heart wasn't in the battle. His heart was watching him fight for his life, and he knew with the certainty that made him want to curl into a ball and die, that the look of worry and the tears brimming in her eyes were not for him. Oh no, they were for that albino bastard!
Vaan attacked with a wild fury, unable to hold back the blinding loathing and pain that spurred through him. It was the moment Dilandau had been waiting for, as Vaan swung wildly from the side Dilandau side stepped him, thrusting his sword under his arm so it slid through Vaan's midsection like butter.
Vaan's wild war cry was choked off in his throat, the gurgling sound of blood sputtering up between his lips the echoed through the quiet room. In the backround of the crowd, any noble woman who hadn't fainted was sobbing into her hankercheif. The Men's eyes glistened, for they knew with the firey King died their only hope of escapeing this madness. Dilandau turned and kicked Vaan rudely off his sword. Vaan fell backward onto the smooth marble floor, gasping for air. He lolled on his back, his eyes turning up to find the one face that he had to see, hated to see, and needed more then any other to gaze upon one more time.
His eyes locked onto Hitomi, a mix of powerful emotions ripping through her heart. She hadn't wanted Vaan to die, in fact would have done nearly anything to prevent it. But the choice had been clear, it was his life or Dilandau's. They both could not live. And as painful as it was, she wasn't sorry that it was Vaan that would perish instead.
He could see that resolve in her eyes and with his final breaththe love there that he had carried all through his days since meeting the girl from the Mystic Moon, rushed into a full on loathing that he clung too with every fiber of his being. Dilandau stood above him, watching as the death rattle took Vaan'svoice, and his eyes glazed over as the Gods took him into their embrace. Death had always fascinated Dilandau, and he had waited a long time for this mans number to finally be up.
"Do you see now, people of Freid? There is no fighting me, lord or king, knight or servant I will kill every last one of you like the fool there. You have two choices now, surrender or die. What will it be?"
Every lord and lady there was trembling and aghast with the horror they had just witnessed and knew that the man before him meant to keep his word.
Slowly, one by one they all fell to their knees. All except for King Chid who was litterly shaking with fury, forced to remain on his knees by the once Dragon Slayers who rested hands on his shoulders to keep him in place.
Dilandau cleaned his sword with Vaan's cape before swaggering over to Hitomi. Tears were streaming down her face, delicious sorrow. He couldn't help himself, he leaned forward tasting her bittersweet pain. She trembled under his touch. He cradled her face in his hands.
"Its done."he said solemnly.
All at once he stole a kiss. She was limp beneith him, hardly responsive but it didn't matter to him.
This is a new beginning, Hi-To-Me. For Us. For Gaea. For everything.
The thought resounded with relish in his mind. He had vanquished his once foe, and now the world would kneel at his feet. He had everything he wanted and plotted for.
Including her.
This wasn't the end, oh no. There was too much work to be done, but it was the start of something glistening and real and perfect beyond measure. It would take time to build his perfect empire, but already the Old Way was in ashes. And like the Phonix that was his symbol, his would rise to replace it. Everything was as it should be, as it was meant to always be.
Fin
A.n.- no worries, I've included an epiloge. I'm considering a sequel, but am unsure. What do you all think? Does this story warrant a sequel?