Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Darkness Falls ❯ Chapter 14~~Prelude ( Chapter 14 )

Author's Notes:

Caerné: This chapter was up on Saturday but I took it down because a very nice person enlightened me to something.

MdnitePrncez: We got flamed horribly, well not horribly…but still.

Caerné: I don't mind being flamed at all, that's a part of writing stories and that. However, what I can't stand are those flamers that don't have the courage to flame by review and instead flame by a post on a website and don't even bother to tell the author. That is low and cowardly. If you feel that a story sucks, review it, don't just retreat to your own personal domain and insult the person's work where they can't defend it unless they discover it by chance or a person tells them. But even that is not as bad as the people who posted a reply to the flame. Replying to a review and agreeing with it without having read the story in question yourself is irresponsible and moronic. To follow a review blindly without forming your own opinion is as bad as voting the way a celebrity, parent, or friend tells you to. It's pathetic and you become nothing more than lemmings following the unknown over a cliff. With that said, I only have one more thing to say. Thank you, MdnitePrncez for telling livejournal where to stick it. In nicer terms of course, but still where to stick it.

MdnitePrncez: The Ewe thing makes sense but probably should change that to ew-e that makes more sense since the 'e' on the end is supposed to be emphasized and that's why we used it in the first place, but whatever. And this is making no sense to you people. Oh, well.

Caerné: The response my talented co-author wrote is classic whoop-ass flame and cracked me up. The review was funny, too. It made me laugh and smile even though I was sick last weekend. At least they did something right.

MdnitePrncez: Oh and thank you, Feye Morgan for the review and anyone else who reads this fic.

Caerné: Thank you to the anonymous reviewer who told us about the "informative" and "helpful" review, if you can honestly call it that…no, you can't. Siskel and Ebert can review, not livejournal. They just flame.

MdnitePrncez: Yup. Here's the next installment for our loyal reviewers. Enjoy!

Caerné: Bye!

Chapter 14~~Prelude

The black night pounded silently on the clear glass windowpanes of the balcony's French doors. Stars that on any other night would have been soft and reassuring were not. They were sharp needles of light, harsh and unforgiving in the setting moon's silvery light. Shadows danced along the walls, moving as the ancient trees outside swayed in the unusually strong winds; playing tricks on the mind. Children tucked tightly in their beds noticed it more, their imaginations using the shadows as dark, wispy actors in a terrifying and haunting rendition of their deepest fears. She was too old for this, had been too old for this years ago, but painful tragedies have a way bringing about the childish fears buried deep so long ago. They were laughing at her now; taunting her, mocking her.

"He's gone. Gone into the abyss that is death," she whispered to the empty air. She turned on her side and stared emptily at the clock. The green numbers shined brightly, almost happily. Happy to have someone else awake at this lonely hour, the hour that only drunks or stressed college students visited regularly. She sighed and sat up. She had been laying in her bed staring at the black shadows that flickered on the canopy and the walls for hours, sleep having decided to abandon her in her sadness and misery. She swung her legs over the bed, placing her feet on the cold stone floor. The coldness seeped into her feet and seemed to travel up her body, imbedding itself deep within her. She shivered as a gust of warm air blew through the open window and danced up her spine as it mixed with the chill of the ground.

"Maybe a walk will help," she whispered to the late-night air. She walked out of her room and followed the familiar path to the gardens. She chose a random path and followed it blindly. She came to a stone-carved bench and sat down, the stone forcing her previous chill deeper than she thought possible.

"So cold and yet the chill seems to evade my saddened heart. The warmth seeping out of my body into the morning air freezing my veins as it leaves me empty inside. So cold and yet I feel not a thing but emptiness and desolation. I feel alone and yet I know I'm not alone. I'll never truly be alone anymore I have people who care about me and love me. And yet I feel so alone," she whispered to herself as tears began to sparkle in her eyes. The salty drops slowly and steadily began to trickle down her face. Drop by drop, tear by tear, they made a path down her slightly tanned skin, shimmering in the immense glow of the moon.

Alex looked down at her hands and noticed she was holding her brother's necklace. Her tears began to fall harder. She stood up from her spot on the stone bench, her face looking up towards the moon. An angry expression spread across her tear stained face. Her fists unconsciously formed tight fists as she stared at the immenseness of the moon-filled sky. Her fists clenched so tight, small crescents began to form deep into her slightly calloused yet surprisingly still soft hands.

"Why did you leave me? Why?" she screamed in frustration. Taking her empty hand, she angrily swiped away the rebellious tears. "I swore to myself many years ago I would never cry again and yet you make me. You left me even though you said you would always be there for me, your baby sister, your Lexie. You broke your promise; you died on me. Why? Did you loose hope of ever finding me again? Did you think me gone forever? You know that if it were in my power, I would have come home to you. You were my world, my brother, my hero, my teacher. You taught me all you knew. Did you think I was not good enough to save my self from the world you tried to protect me from? Why, Brother? Why did you let yourself be killed?" Her voice broke down into soft sobs and whispers. She had sunk to her knees, her eyes focused on the light on the moon. Her tears continued to fall even though she wiped them carelessly away with the back of her balled up fists.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Elsewhere ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Merle was out in the garden for a late night stroll. She had been having a hard time getting to sleep after the events that had happened recently. Thoughts raced through her mind; thoughts of her love back on Gaea, the war her people were facing with these mystery creatures that suddenly appeared on the Gaea and Earth. She was worried for her new friend Alex. Though the two of them hadn't had much time to really get to know each other, she knew that since she was apart of Van's family and a trusted friend of Hitomi that she too would end up trusting her too. This girl, one of her saviors, was Van's family and thus making her family to Merle as well.

As Merle's mind ran a hundred miles per hour, she continued to walk along one of the many paths the garden had to offer. Along her path, she came across the newly found family member yelling hoarsely into the air, seemingly at the moon. Yet Merle knew better, her keen cat senses allowed her to hear what the girl was saying. She could hear the pain in the words that were directed towards her brother, the former King of Gondor.

With a soft sigh, the cat-girl turned around and walked back to the house, leaving the crying girl to her own devises of relief. "Her pain is too fresh and my interference would only cause her more pain and anger. It is best to let her sort this out on her own. If she wants help, she will seek it out on her own. She is stubborn like Van-sama, she has to find her relief in her own way or else she will never be herself again." Merle thought to herself as she slowly walked away.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Alex *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I will not cry any more," she softly whispered to the rising breeze. She got up from her spot on the ground and began her trek back into the house. She silently made her way to her room once she entered the warm house. A few minutes after her re-entry, she finally reached her room. She reached out a hand and gripped the door handle. Staring blankly at the door, she shook her head and turned around; making her way back down to the elevator she had just departed. Taking the elevator down to the second floor, she got out and quickly made her way down the dark stone hall to Dilandau's room. She knocked softly on the thick wooden door. She waited a moment, but received no answer. Knocking once more and receiving the same result, she opened the door and walked in expecting to find a sleeping figure in the bed; she found the bed empty and neatly made. She looked around the room and noticed the faint glow of light coming from the bottom of the bathroom door. She walked to the door and knocked softly on it. The door opened up to reveal Dilandau with a toothbrush in his mouth. He stared down at her, discerning her tear stained cheeks and red eyes. She wore a pair of black shorts and a white wife beater with barely noticeable tear stains. He went back into the bathroom only to return a moment later minus the toothbrush. After turning off the bathroom light, he walked up to Alex and opened up his arms as an invitation for comfort. She instantly was in his arms, the tears she tried so hard to keep in fell from her eyes in torrential currents. Dilandau held her tight, his hands rubbing her back in a soothing manner he had seen others do before. He led the girl to the bed. He crawled in first and she in after him, curling up next to him and taking in his warmth and comfort. He stroked her hair gently, quietly enjoying the feeling of the silky strands through his fingers. He pulled her closer to him and waited for her breathing to even out. He closed his eyes and they both soon drifted off to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Morning*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The sun was bright the next morning. The rays of the golden sun made its way inside the large house filling it with happiness. In the room of one silver haired man, the sun was only an annoyance. The happy light filled his room through a slim gap between the curtains of the window, which coincidentally happened to be indirect line with the man's face. He groaned as the sun flashed over his closed eyes. Taking the pillow out from under his head, he slammed it down over his face as if to block the light and slip back into dreamland. However, his luck ran thin as he grumbled his annoyance. The wonders of dreamland would have to wait for another day, as he could not get back to sleep. The sun had woken him up far past the point of return. Peeling the feather filled pillow off his face, he sat up.

'Something's missing,' he thought to himself as he looked around the room. 'Damn! She's not here. It must have been a dream, my sick imagination trying to play tricks on me again,' he finished as he climbed out of the bed and towards the conjoining bathroom where he stripped his body of its nightclothes and hopped into the shower.

After fifteen or so minutes, the silver haired man emerged from the steamy room clad in only a large red towel wrapped and secured around his waist. Tiny droplets of condensation dripped down his strong chest and broad shoulders. His hair was a tangled mop of dark silver strands soaked in water. The rebel beads of water dripped from his strands rolling down his face and neck. After grabbing a few articles of clothing, he removed the towel from around his waist leaving him in all his naked glory. Taking the damp towel, he dried himself of again and began dressing in his favorite black leather pants and a navy blue sleeveless shirt.

After he was finished dressing and preparing himself, the silver-haired man emerged out of his room finding the hallway disturbingly silent. He wandered around the halls for a few minutes looking for anyone. He eventually found a maid dusting off a few paintings and tapestries. He stood there looking at her waiting for her to notice him.

"Can I help you, sir?" she asked the young man that stood before her.

"Um, yeah. Have you seen Alex or any of the others around?" he asked.

"Ah, yes, I have, sir. Mistress Alexandria and Mistress Hitomi are in the back playing tennis along with the younger black-haired man and the cat look-a-like girl. Mistress Willow is in the library with the blue-haired man and Mistress Serena is with the other black-haired man in the training hall," the maid recited.

'Damn, does this lady eavesdrop or something. How the hell does she know where everybody is?' he thought to himself.

"Arigatou," he muttered as he gave her a slight bow of the head before he turned around and headed down the opposite side of the hallway out towards the elevator. Once reaching the elevator, he rode it till he hit ground floor, making his way outside towards the tennis courts he had seen on the house tour.

The sight that greeted his eyes was amusing and brought a smile to his lips. Both Alex and Hitomi were clad in traditional tennis outfits, although the silver-haired man didn't know that. They wore short pleated skirts with two large slits in the front for movement. Both had on tight tank tops. Alex was clad in a white and red outfit. Her skirt was red and her top was a mix of white and red. It was rather tight on her, showing a flash of cleavage as well as her toned abs. Hitomi was in a mix of white and blue. Her ensemble was similar to Alex's in that she had a solid colored skirt, hers in blue, and a tank top a mix of white and the skirts color. Hitomi's top however was not as revealing as Alex's. The only part of her stomach that was visible was her belly button.

Merle, the final female occupant on the court, was bouncing back and forth following the ball as if she was a puppy dog. She was clad in her traditional outfit of a pink dress and matching shorts with her sandals. Van, the only stationary occupant on the court, sat upon a bench. His eyes clearly followed the figure of his girlfriend around as her skirt moved with every motion she made. He had a sly grin on his face as if to show that he enjoyed what he was seeing, as if it was some sort of forbidden fruit.

The silver-haired man chuckled silently to himself as he watched the group doing their activities oblivious to his arrival. He made his way over to the bench his fellow male sat upon.

"Ohayoo gozaimasu, Dilandau-kun," Van said in greeting to the silver-haired man. He never took his eyes off the blue and white clad girl in front of him but he gave Dilandau a warm good morning.

"Morning," Dilandau replied as he sat himself down upon the bench watching the brown haired girl battle with her opponent, the emerald-eyed seeress.

The tennis match was close. Neither opponent seemed to have the upper hand. That was until Alex took an overhead shot, hitting the ball harder than normal, making it shoot straight down into the court. Hitomi dove for it but miscalculated and it hit her in the thigh, leaving a large red spot that was sure to bruise. Hitomi growled to herself in anger as Alex pulled out another ball since it was still her serve. The battle began once again only fiercer. Hitomi took her shot. The small neon yellow ball flew through the air straight towards Alex. The ball came shooting towards her stomach. She moved out of the way, the ball bouncing off her racquet and landing in the net, but her left foot lost traction, slid out from under her, causing her to fall. She scratched both her left knee and the palm of her hand badly. Blood trickled down leg and her palms burned.

"This means war," Alex growled out as she pulled herself up off the ground dusting her leg off, glancing at her palms, and cringing.

"You better believe it, sister," Hitomi growled back.

Hitomi passed the ball back and prepared for Alex's serve. Hitomi ducked down in a ready position, bouncing back and forth from one foot to the next.

"Matchpoint, Service!" Alex yelled out across the court. She served the ball and Hitomi returned it. Alex backhanded the ball and it went straight towards Hitomi. Alex cursed her luck and waited for the return. Hitomi lobbed the ball high in the air and Alex jumped up and hit it back. Hitomi ran to the left with a backhand swing sent the ball sailing over to Alex's side. Alex hit the ball with a powerful forehand, returning the ball. As Hitomi backhanded the ball, Willow came out of the house and called to Alex. The ball flew over the net and bounced once before Alex caught it with one hand.

"Yeah, Wills?" Alex asked, bouncing the ball against the ground.

"Alex, there is a phone call for you from George," Willow yelled from the walkway.

"Good, I'll take it in the kitchen," Alex said as she walked towards the benches on which the three Gaeans sat and the pathway that led to the house, forgetting about the game.

"It's about time! Usually he has it done in one day; it's been two days already," Hitomi said as she picked up a stray ball and followed Alex. "You guys coming or are you gonna sit there all day drooling?" she called out to the three Gaeans, her comments directed more towards the two males than Merle. Alex paused in front of Dilandau as she passed by him.

"Good morning," she said as he stood up and stepped toward her.

"Ohayoo gozaimasu," he replied, smiling.

"That better mean 'Good morning'," Alex scolded, poking him in the stomach.

"It does," Dilandau reassured.

Alex snaked her arms around him, her hands resting on his back. He returned the embrace and squeezed tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered so only he could hear before letting go of him and following the path back into the house. Hitomi smiled knowingly since Alex had filled her in on what happened the night before and walked after Alex.

"Come on," she encouraged.

The three followed the sandy blonde back to the house. Merle bounced happily behind Hitomi spouting comments and questions faster than the seeress could answer.

Once in the kitchen, where the closest phone was located, Alex picked up the receiver and began to talk to George.

"So, you finally got off your lazy ass and got all the goods together," she paused to listen with a slight smile. "Yes, I know that this was a bigger order than usual, Georgie," another pause and her smile grew, "Anyways you have it ready right?" pause, "Ok, we'll pick it up in an hour," pause "See you then," pause, "Later."

With that said, she hung up the phone and turned to the few occupants of the kitchen.

"Well, it's finally in, Tommy," she said to the girl in blue.

"What's finally in?" Merle asked.

"Um, military stuff were going to take back with us when we leave to go back to Gaea," Hitomi replied.

"Are you going to be staying for good this time?" the curious cat-girl asked.

Hitomi blushed as Van's head shot up and he stared at her with interest, waiting for her to answer. "I don't know. It'll depend on some things."

"Oh." Merle glanced at Van and caught a flash of disappointment before his normal stoic expression returned. Merle turned back to Hitomi and wondered if she caught it. 'She's an observant girl…most the time anyway. I am sure she caught it.'

"So, we have to go pick the stuff up," Alex broke in, changing the subject, noticing how uncomfortable Hitomi was and the expression that past over Van's face.

"Yeah, we should drag Serena with us," Hitomi added blandly. She looked away from the group and stared out the window.

"Drag me where?" Serena asked as she entered the kitchen, followed by Gaddes.

"Speak of the devil," Hitomi said.

"The stuff's in. We gotta go pick it up," Alex filled her in.

"And I have to go?" Serena asked, unhappily.

"Yes."

"Grrrr! Fine," Serena yielded. "When do we leave?"

"Hitomi and I need to change first, then we'll leave," Alex told her.

"I hope you change," the blonde knight said from the doorway. "That outfit is not fit for public."

"Allen, you're such a prick," Alex said as she rolled her eyes.

Allen gritted his teeth and replied, bitterly, "I am sorry, M'Lady, for trying to protect your honor. You look like a common whore and I only hope that is not what you do in your free time."

Alex's eyes widened in anger and shock and her gripped tightened on her racquet, preparing to swing towards his head. Dilandau narrowed his eyes and stepped in front of Alex protectively.

"Allen, watch your words," Dilandau warned. "I know whores are your domain, but Alex is hardly a whore. Be warned. Do not insult her honor, you bastard."

Allen clamped his mouth shut and pouted. Dilandau huffed in triumph and turned around towards Alex. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "Go change. Allen will leave you alone then."

Alex nodded and rolled her eyes. "Come on, Hitomi. We have to leave in 15 minutes."

Hitomi nodded and followed the brunette out of the kitchen and to their rooms.

"So, Dilandau has a new girlfriend," Allen smirked. "How adorable!"

"Shove it, Allen," Dilandau replied before leaving the room, soon followed by the others. Allen was left alone to ponder.

"What is that bastard's problem?" Dilandau raged. "Why is he being such a prick?"

"He's not used to being rejected by girls," Gaddes clarified. "Hitomi was the first. That was a low blow for him, having her go for some one he considered below him. He hasn't been rejected since then until now. He's not taking Serena's reaction towards him very well. He expected to have his five year old sister back, never thinking that she had already grown-up with out him. Serena was and is that last of his family and he's having trouble letting go."

Dilandau huffed. "He needs the psych sessions with Folken more than I do."

Gaddes suppressed a smile and continued. "He attacks Alex because he sees her as a bad example for Serena, especially since Alex is royalty. He attacks her and points out her flaws in hopes that Serena will see the flaws. He just wants his little sister to be dignified and graceful."

"That doesn't excuse how he's been acting, especially towards Alex," Dilandau pouted.

"But it makes sense! He's being a jerk because he doesn't know what else to do," Alex broke in as she walked in followed closely by Hitomi. Alex walked towards Dilandau, feeling his eyes locked on her. "What are you staring at?"

"I am just glad Allen isn't here to see this! He'd go into overdrive again," Dilandau replied. Alex laughed, glanced down at what she was wearing, and returned a sly smile.

Hitomi followed Alex in and sat on the couch next to Van. He glanced at her attire and smiled. "Going for a run?"

"No, heavy lifting. I don't want to dress up for that," Hitomi replied. "Dilandau's staring at Alex's chest and is going to get smacked in five, four, three ,two--."

Dilandau was indeed staring at Alex's chest and missed her angry glare. Sensing that he was not going to look up, Alex raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. Alex crossed her arms over her chest as Dilandau rubbed his cheek.

"I am sorry! It's just that shirt is so…revealing," he muttered.

"This is not revealing, Dilandau," she said, angrily.

"It's tight," Dilandau countered.

"This is nothing," Alex said. "You should see swimsuits."

"Swimsuits?" he asked, curiously.

"Yeah, they cover the essentials," she said with a sly smile. "And nothing else."

Dilandau's mouth twitched as he began to daydream, which was difficult since he didn't know what a swimsuit looked like, but he was willing to find out.

"So, when do we get to see these….swimsuits?" Dilandau asked with a broad, silly grin.

"Maybe later."

"How much later?"

"I don't know," Alex shrugged. "After we get back…"

"Okay," Dilandau replied. "Hurry back."

Alex rolled her eyes. "You are so horny."

"What's horny mean?"

Alex leaned forward and whispered in his ear, he blushed slightly for a second, but then nodded his head in agreement. Alex smacked him on the arm.

"Okay, Sere and Tommy, let's go!" Alex called as she walked out of the room.

"Whose car are we taking?" Serena asked as she adjusted her denim capris with butterflies on them.

"We're taking my F350," Alex replied.

"Do you always have to be stylish?" Hitomi asked, eyeing her pink shirt with a dragonfly on it and her matching pink Sketchers.

"Of course!" Serena replied with enthusiasm.

"Hurry up, you two! I don't have all day!" Alex yelled from the foyer.

"Fine! We're coming," Sere called back.

The two girls darted out of the room leaving the rest of the group to find their own entertainment until they got back.

"What did Alex say horny meant?" Van asked.

Dilandau smiled and said, "I'll tell you later."

"No, you won't," Van replied, stubbornly. "I want to know now!"

"Oh for the love of--! It means that he wants sex all the time!" Willow cried out in annoyance. "Happy now?"

"Well, that is Dilandau," Gaddes mused, Folken and Van nodded their heads in agreement.

"Oh, like you aren't Van?" Dilandau countered. "What about that lovely conversation we had about--."

Before Dilandau could finish his accusation, Van smacked him upside the head.

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with it, Vannie!" Dilandau laughed.

"Goddess, help me," Willow mumbled quietly. "Merle, how 'bout I teach you some healing spells?"

Merle looked at the witch and cocked her head slightly to the right. "You mean the dark arts?"

"No, I don't do those," Willow replied and in a hushed, barely audible voice that only Merle heard, added, "anymore."

Merle nodded and followed the witch out into the hallway and to the library. The four left in the room decided to play with the big box and the little box that worked the bigger one. Dilandau turned it on and a war came on. They sat contentedly staring at the fast-paced sequence of pictures that flew across the screen. They watched the movie, not sure of everything that was happening or if it was based on an actual war or not. They knew that it wasn't real, Alex and Willow had explained that to them when they had their first encounter with this machine. Dilandau enjoyed it the most, being that it was a war movie and a well made one at that. The movie ended and not one of them knew how to work the remote other than to turn it on or off.

"So, what do we do now?" Van asked.

"I don't know. The girls are supposed to be back soon," Dilandau replied with a smile.

Van rolled his eyes. "You are horny."

Dilandau shrugged. "Care to back that comment up?"

"Duel?"

"What else?" Dilandau answered with sarcasm.

"You're on," Van agreed. The two got up and exited into the side yard. Folken and Gaddes looked at each other, sighed, and followed the two out. Outside they found Allen sitting in a chair watching Van and Dilandau begin their duel. They sat in the chairs next to him and watched the two in silence.