Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Behind Enemy Lines ❯ All Dressed In Blood ( Chapter 17 )

Behind Enemy Lines

By: rainjewel

Chapter Sixteen: All Dressed In Blood

Disclaimer: What do you mean, disclaimer? I OWN EVERYTHING! MWAHAHAHA!

A/N: I dedicate this chapter to my dearest Aunt Bobbi and Zeke. I will hold you both in my heart forever. Yes, more deaths in rainjewel land. What the hell is going on around here?

Oh, miets are the equivalent of 30 seconds. Remember when Hitomi passes out in episode 15 or so, and Millerna says, "It's been three miets…?" Yeah, I checked in on that. Whee, Gaea is a lot of fun to learn about. Damn, if Escaflowne were a class, I'd have an A++.

~*~

Hitomi smiled to herself as she sat in the carriage. In a few moments (or, miets, she corrected herself) she would be walking down the aisle, where she would meet up with Van, and then they would be married. Marriage-what an absolutely colossal thought. She had never even considered the possibility of marriage before. She was going to go off to college, get a degree in psychology and be on the track team. She was going to get a decent, high-paying job and then find a husband.

"I haven't even finished high school," she whispered to herself. The words made her shiver.

Hitomi shrugged. Van was worth it, wasn't he? She was going to be queen. Queen of a land that worshipped her, a land where she could have a huge impact on the people and better the world. Granted, it wasn't her world, but Gaea was better than Earth any old day.

She wished her parents could be here. Hitomi had always dreamed of her mother sitting amongst the tailors, arguing with them over how they were putting the dress together. Her beautiful mother who loved her so; the mother she had left without a thought. Hitomi thought of her father walking her down the aisle in a full tuxedo, handing her off to Van, the two exchanging glances-her father's full of warning, Van's full of understanding.

Hitomi laughed, thinking at how her brother would hate the ceremony. It would be too long for him. He would want to get back home and play with his action figures and watch another dumb episode of Pokemon. Gods she hated anime.

"But I am happy," she said, and she meant it. Hitomi knew that from the moment she arrived on Gaea she wanted nothing but to be with Van and his people. She would give anything to be allowed to stand by his side.

She sighed, and looked down to her dress once again. It was fabric made from the root of a Fanelia plant-it was as soft as gossamer, which surprised her. It had been dyed a pale, pale ivory. A full skirt bloomed out at her hips, small beads embroidered in an intricate web-like design. The top was cut to fit her body like a glove, a romantic ballerina neck showing her delicate shoulders. Small, glassy jewels covered every inch of the top. The arms were held down by a small ring of fabric looped around her finger, creating an old-fashioned v-shape on the back of her hand.

On her head was a small gold circlet with a gauzy veil attached to it. As the coach lurched to a stop, she folded it down over her face. Out of the small window she could see the huge masses of people. Above them loomed the kneeling form of Escaflowne.

Hitomi had proposed that they be married in the shrine. The priest could preside over them in front of the ivory guymelef that had saved their lives and brought them together. And perhaps she could undo the pain she'd caused when she left him, at this very spot. Perhaps the vows of marriage could tie them together.

The door to the carriage opened. Hitomi peered into the glaring sunshine.

Dryden's jovial smirk met her look. "Hello there, Hitomi! You're certainly a sight for sore eyes!"

"Dryden?" she asked in confusion, taking his offered hand. He guided her to the ground. His hair was down and his glasses gone. Obviously he was going to give her away. She thought Nachu, or whatever that rock of a man's name was, was going to lead her down the aisle. "I thought you were in hiding."

"What?" Dryden said, raising a shaggy eyebrow. He chuckled, slipping Hitomi's small arm through his. "That was a long time ago! Millerna was a little…fanatical. She's calmed down a bit."

Hitomi's stomach lurched, catching sight of Millerna sitting to the right of the aisle. She was wearing pants. Eries was with her, her hair down in public.

"Steady now," Dryden murmured, leading her down a white carpet while the bridesmaids fell in step behind her. Van stood at the end of the pale aisle, wearing a tuxedo and a crown on his head. Hitomi had never seen him look so uncomfortable.

Hitomi plastered a smile to her face. "Dryden," she said through gritted teeth. "I'm getting married!"

Dryden shook a bit with silent laughter. "You'd better believe it."

~*~

Dilandau reached up and grasped a strong tree bough with gloved hands. With a barely audible grunt he pulled himself up into the heart of the tree branches. His leather jacket creaked as he settled himself among the leaves. He'd only worn his jacket and had left the majority of his metal armor behind. The steel boots he could do nothing about. They were the best damn footwear ever created, as far as he was concerned.

He was positioned to the left of the wedding congregation, just to the side of shrine. It was a precarious position-he would be in Van's direct line of sight if he didn't keep himself well hidden. However, it was the best lookout spot. Escaflowne wasn't that far off, and that's where the damn altar was.

Sacrificial altar, if he had anything to say about it. Two of Van's guards had, and Dilandau had promptly lopped their heads off. Uppity bastards. Then there had been that annoying wolf man…

He grinned. "I'm still the best," he whispered.

Suddenly a gray burst of energy crashed into his shoulder, almost sending him plummeting to the ground. He had to grind his teeth together fiercely to keep from swearing.

A feathery head nuzzled his neck. Dilandau recognized the familiar sensation of talons digging into his shoulder.

"You do that again," he whispered, not taking his eyes off of the wedding, "And I'll roast you like a turkey. Still, Natal. Still."

The owl twisted his head until it was at an extreme angle, but said nothing. Natal had long ago learned Dilandau's commands. "Still," meant quiet. "Away," meant to leave. Quickly.

Dilandau ignored his feathered comrade and concentrated on the carriage that had just pulled up. He should have brought his crossbow with him.

He frowned as he saw the Asturian merchant-king help the bride out of the coach. Wasn't that Natsu fool supposed to walk the little whore down the aisle? Dilandau scanned the crowd, searching for the Fanelian general. He found the lout standing across the aisle from…his heart beat faster…Van.

Dilandau blinked. What as Van wearing? He looked like a penguin with hair.

"Fool," he whispered. Where's your sword?

He lifted his hand to stroke his right cheek. The movement both calmed and excited him.

This nightmare would end now. These visions would stop. With Van's death there would be nothing to remember.

There was nothing to remember.

Except the feeling of being held as he flew through the air. The deep end of a pool where he swam in the cool water. The sensation of strong arms wrapped around him while he sobbed.

Fragments, Dilandau had realized, fragments of yet another lost life.

If it hadn't been for his early experiences with Celena he would have dismissed it. If it hadn't been for the clarity of the visions, he would have simply pushed it aside. If it hadn't been for Van's words…

Something was lurking in his mind, something he knew that if he tried hard enough he could touch, remember, and taste.

"Away," he whispered, brushing a hand against the tips of Natal's wing. The owl flew off in silence.

Dilandau watched the couple standing before the altar. He touched the hilt of his sword.

"The past cannot, and will not, be," he whispered.

~*~

Van smiled as he took Hitomi's hand. Dryden winked and took his place beside Millerna. Hitomi bit her lip nervously; Van squeezed her hand and felt guilty.

He wasn't getting married for the right reasons. How had he let this go so far?

Van faced the High Councilor, a wheezing man of the church with huge spectacles and age spots on his bald head. Van knelt before the man and bowed his head, Hitomi followed his lead, resting on her knees. The councilor began the ceremonial readings.

This must be how Millerna felt, Van thought. Doing something he knew he wouldn't be happy with, but knowing that it wasn't all that terrible. Hitomi was no longer the love his life. He cared for her and felt an amiable companionship with her. But he was no longer the person she had fallen in love with.

So why couldn't he seem to stop this wedding?

He snuck a look at Merle and the bridesmaids behind her. She was Hitomi's Matron of Honor. Celena was in the back of the bridesmaids and looked worried.

Merle glared at him fiercely and tilted her head towards the councilor. Van snapped his attention back on the man.

If he called off the wedding Hitomi would be hurt beyond words. Van knew he couldn't do that to her. He could deal with a one-sided marriage.

After all, Van thought, rising to his feet, it's not as if I could ever love again.

~*~

Leitken had lost track of Dilandau. His commander moved faster than he thought humanly possible, melting in with the trees and the night in a way that made him think of Dopplegangers. The thought was ridiculous-as if Dilandau would ever have anything to do with things as lowly as shape-shifters.

Luckily, the shadow that had followed Dilandau in his sudden flight seemed to have lost track of him as well. Leitken hadn't gotten close enough to the shape to discern what it was, but the form was obviously confused. It stumbled from one tree to another, getting slightly lost but always managing to find its way back to whatever strange path it was on.

It had been two days. Dilandau had never stopped. At least, not while he was in Leitken's sights.

Now the violet-haired soldier was becoming nervous. He had almost stumbled into a crowd of Fanelians on the edge of the forest. It had taken a few moments, but he had figured out that a wedding of some sort was taking place. He knew that he was very, very far from where he was supposed to be. However, this was where Dilandau had traveled. There were light tracks left by the commander's boots on the soft forest ground-obviously Dilandau had trusted the loyalty of this Dragonslayers enough to not bother covering his tracks…or he wasn't planning on ever returning.

Though, if Dilandau was to do that, the only way he could ever escape Zaibach was six feet underground in a big black box.

Leitken hid between the trees, watching the shadow. He had followed it dutifully, watching how it was tracking the commander. He had a feeling Dilandau was close, but he wasn't concerned about him right now. He had obviously had an important reason for attending this Fanelian wedding. The shadow however, was low and crouched, as if it were about to strike.

That worried Leitken. The figure was fidgeting, and it was preparing to do something he knew wasn't good.

Feeling anger well up from inside him, Leitken unsheathed his sword.

~*~

Dilandau crouched behind the hulking figure of Escaflowne. His body was tense and coiled, anticipating the attack. He had only one plan now-kill Van, kill Hitomi, get out. There weren't any rules on how it was to be done, and he had no idea about he was going to go about it. When the bloodlust rose and became too thick and sweaty to handle, he would go.

And so he crouched and grit his teeth together as the homicidal urge rushed through his veins, causing his breathing quicken and his limbs to shake. The pain of it was exhilarating. He waited through most of the ceremony, simply letting his hate take over him. Letting his anger flow until his gaze turned red.

The time for the vows came to pass. The minute Dilandau heard the syrupy sound of Hitomi's voice in the air he physically flinched. That meant it was game time.

He rose and walked out from behind the guymelef, relishing at how the silence began to ring through the grove of trees. The minister stopped his drivel as Dilandau walked past him. This was also because the boy delivered a quick blow to the back of the old man's neck, but that was irrelevant.

Van was staring at him wide-eyed. Hitomi was still saying her vows as she looked up at him. Stupid woman.

"For fuck's sake, Hitomi, shut your damn mouth," he said with as much disdain as he could muster.

Before the girl could close her mouth, Natsu came flying out of nowhere.

"You won't harm the Fanelian monarcy!" he screamed. Dilandau turned, deliberately slower than he should have. His sword met Natsu's naked blade, but not before the tip had sliced through his jacket and cut his upper left arm.

Dilandau smirked and felt fire in his veins.

Maximizing his adrenaline, he pushed the larger man off him easily. Natsu immediately went to block, like any good soldier would. Dilandau knew that and changed his attack to kicking the man's feet out instead of using his sword. Natsu squawked in surprise as he fell forward, but was cut off as Dilandau neatly removed slit his throat.

He grinned and pushed the dead man away from him. Amazingly enough, the crowd was staring at him and silent. Too stupid to be running away? That was slightly disconcerting, but he could work with it.

He turned back to face the couple, but instead found Van a mere five inches away from him, sword drawn and at his side. His eyes burned into his. Dilandau felt a small bubble of terror rise in his throat. He dismissed it and met the Fanelian boy's gaze with a bloodthirsty grin.

"Dilandau," Van whispered gravely.

"Yes?" he answered, nonchalantly taking off his jacket. The thing wasn't good for sword fighting. He touched Van's forearm lightly. "Are you going to fight me wearing that penguin suit?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Van asked. The intensity of his eyes didn't waver, but he did begin to take off his tuxedo jacket. He ripped off the tie as well.

"Why, I've come here to kill you. Remember?" Dilandau said, staring back in a challenge. He raised his left arm and licked the blood from his cut. He ran his tongue around his lips, coating them. The Fanelian's eyes grew strangely sad.

"Please don't make me kill you," Van whispered. "I told you once I wouldn't kill you. Don't make me out to be a liar."

Dilandau felt a small part of his mind flinch with a memory that he immediately repressed. His left arm tensed violently, and blood rained from his arm. He gave it another lick and then lowered it, never lessening the crazed focus of his gaze.

"This ends today," he said. "Whether I die or not is not my concern. It's only that you do."

He took a few steps back, never breaking eye contact. The feeling between him and Van was electric and exciting beyond measure. He raised his sword.

Dilandau grinned with bloody teeth. "Shall we dance?"

Van broke his eye contact and looked to the crowd. "Guards, do not, I repeat, do not intervene whatsoever. This began by the two of us and will end in the same fashion. Get the civilians out of here immediately and wait at the palace!"

A few armored men suddenly popped out of the trees, shooing the townspeople in alarmed, hurried voices. A dull roar took over the grove, people shuffling slowly towards the heart of the city. Most were scared for their king, angry with Dilandau for his crimes, and too terrified to do anything but obey Van's word.

"She stays," Dilandau said, referring to Hitomi.

"You will not hurt her, Dilandau," Van replied, facing him fully again.

Dilandau glanced at the slow-moving crowd. "I don't have the patience for our audience to leave."

"I know," Van said. And with that he charged him.

~*~

Time was relative. That had always been one of Dilandau's favorite sayings. Leitken didn't know how many times he'd heard those words, but he'd never really thought about it. Sure, downtime hours always felt like minutes whereas training days seemed like years, but that was normal. If he wanted to run out to town, the trip there was always so long, but the trip back was way too short.

Yeah, if you wanted to actually get anywhere, it always took the most time. Which could be why it was taking five fucking million years to reach the damn shadow.

The shadow wearing a cape with the emblem of the Madoushi. The shadow with a dart-blower pressed to its lips.

Leitken felt loyalty rise up and swell inside him. Darting noisily through the trees, he finally gave up on surprising his enemy. If he had to give the other man the upper hand, so be it. Leitken knew who those darts were aimed at and he'd be damned if the Madoushi were going to mess with his commander anymore. Ever since he'd been given the orders to lie to Dilandau about his capture he'd felt lower than dirt and twice as filthy.

Three leaps away, he saw the hand of the sorcerer tense and Leitken let out a strident cry that caused the man to turn. In slow motion, he saw the lips of the Madoushi purse and send a dart slicing through air. Gritting his teeth, he brought his unsheathed sword out in a full circle that hissed through the air.

The dart hit him in the worse spot possible-his neck. Leitken's cry was cut short as he felt the needle imbed itself in his jugular. The poison worked quickly; the cold shivered through his veins and numbed him completely…but not before his blade swept through the sorcerer, cleaving him almost in two, separated just below the ribcage.

Leitken smiled as his knees hit the ground, eyes sliding shut as he slumped over in the dead man's blood.

~*~

Van felt blood dribble down his chin. He'd bitten his lip while blocking a blow to his neck, he figured. Or he'd bitten his tongue to keep from screaming out in pure emotional agony.

Here he was, defending the life of a bride he didn't love, doing battle with a psychopath who was hell bent on killing him as well. And oh yeah, he was in love with said psychopath. Wasn't it amusing how life and death situations cleared up all your perspective?

Thank god he'd had that sword hidden under the altar. You can never be too careful. Where the hell had Dilandau come from anyway? What had happened to all his guards…never mind. This was the head of the Dragonslayers he was talking about.

Van felt the icy fire of Dilandau's blade on his shoulder, the tip of the sword grazing him. Time to focus.

The pale boy was in his element. Van had never seen him fight with such fury. His moves were faster, deadlier. Every move Dilandau made was like a dance-graceful muscle stretching and flexing as he sought to conquer. His star-colored hair whipped airily about his face, framing his wide eyes and blood-rouged mouth.

He didn't want to kill him. Gods, Dilandau was beautiful.

Van blocked another blow and whipped a foot around, catching Dilandau in the calf. The albino slipped and fell to his side. He caught himself with a blood-soaked arm and twisted away from the sword stroke that followed it. Van grunted as he felt his blade hit the ground and bounced back as Dilandau rose before him again.

"You're taller," he said, voice slightly higher-pitched with the bloodlust. It still, however, held the velvety arrogant tone Van knew so well.

"As tall as you," Van replied. "Intimidated?"

Dilandau thrust his blade boldly at his face, a move he knew he wouldn't succeed with, but could be used as a great scare tactic.

Van ducked, knowing he shouldn't, and felt terror grip his stomach. He'd fallen for it.

Dilandau charged, swiftly bringing his sword down to block Van's upward thrust. He rammed his knee into Van's chest, knocking the Fanelian boy backwards.

Van gritted his teeth and ignored the sudden lack of oxygen in the air. He wrapped an arm around Dilandau's waist and flung himself against the other boy, sending them both rolling head over feet, blades intertwined.

When they landed, Dilandau caught the side of Van's blade in his shoulder blade, creating a long bloody slit along his back. With a small grunt, he retaliated by taking out a concealed dagger and slamming it into the Fanelian's thigh.

"Damn it!" Van growled, wrenching the dagger out of his leg. Dilandau, however, refused to let go. He pressed upwards, using Van's backward momentum to carry him to his feet. Van tore the dagger out of the other boy's hand and sprung out from under him, standing up. He grimaced as a wave of pain surged out from his thigh.

"Intimidated?" Dilandau asked with a raised eyebrow. "I think not."

Van glanced about the clearing. The last of the civilians had left and only a few wary-looking soldiers were standing at the end of the shrine. Hitomi and Merle, hands clasped together, stood amongst the guards.

The glance cost him dearly. The minute his eyes left the red heat of Dilandau's gaze, the Zaibach boy lunged forward, sword aimed for his throat. Van saw it out of the corner of his eye and moved to block it, half a second too late.

Dilandau's blade met the base of Van's sword, almost nicking the hilt. Had Natsu not have injured Dilandau's arm earlier, the thrust would have been faster and stronger. Nevertheless, Van felt how weak his block was and widened his eyes as his sword was torn away from his hands.

The royal blade landed many feet away, unattainable and mocking.

Van leapt back, going with the momentum of Dilandau's blow. The albino followed him, taking another swipe that caused him to duck before he was balanced. His backside met the ground below him.

Dilandau's triumphant giggle resounded throughout the forest.

Van lay propped on his elbows, Dilandau's sword underneath his chin. He had only one thought-despite the fact that the boy was covered in blood and bent on killing him, Dilandau was beautiful. Sadistic and terrifying beyond reason…but beautiful nonetheless.

"Damn," Dilandau said, his voice childish in its disappointment, "I wanted to kill Hitomi first."

Van thought quickly. "You could still do it."

Dilandau laughed. "Yes, I could, and then have to deal with you a bit more. But I'm tired of you Van. I'm tired of all this shit. I've let you live too long."

"Is that really why you came back?" Van whispered. Dilandau's smirk faded.

"Back…" Dilandau echoed, his eyes glassy. Suddenly he shook his head and his face dissolved into a mask of total fury. "Perhaps," he spat. "I will kill you later, as slowly as possible. You'll get your wish boy-king, and you'll scream because of it."

And then Van knew he'd made a mistake. Dilandau lunged forward and hit him upside the head with the his fist. Van jerked away as much as he possibly could, weakening the severity of the blow. Still, he fell on his side, dazed and confused. There was blood in his mouth. Feeling light-headed, he cursed himself for not remembering how hard Dilandau could hit.

"Dilandau-chan!" screamed a high and terrified voice. "Stop!"

Dilandau was nothing more than blur to Van's eyes, but suddenly the pale boy's form was drowned out by a swirling sea of lavender. It reminded him of Allen's scarf, and as the world grew dizzy he felt reassured.

~*~

Celena stood in front of Dilandau, his sword poised to strike. Her lavender bridesmaid's dress billowed around her in the wind and her own sword was at her side. Behind her lay Van, his eyes half closed and his skin pale. She'd been herded out with the rest of the civilians against her will, but had managed to sneak off in the confusion, grabbing a guard's sword as she went. She had felt Dilandau's blind bloodlust and realized there wasn't anything Van could do. Only she could.

"Stop this Dilandau-chan," she said softly.

Dilandau stared, eyes wide. His mouth formed a perfect "o" and the veins in his neck were bulging blue. She glanced at the gash on his arm and felt the familiar ache in her own, the wound on his back singing with pain that hurt them both. His ribs, she noticed, hadn't healed.

Dilandau blinked and lowered his sword.

"Who are you?" he whispered.

Celena felt the words before she heard them. The connection was still there. Dilandau recognized its presence, she realized. He just didn't want to admit it for some reason.

I am Celena Schezar, she thought, focusing on the bloody ghost before her. She had tried communicating with him like this a few times before, only succeeding once.

Dilandau physically flinched.

He suddenly lunged forward, a blow coming towards her in mind's eye. She countered it easily, knowing his next move.

Her swordsmanship was as flawless as her brother's was.

Dilandau still seemed to have the connection with her that he'd always had, but there seemed to be a mental blockade that kept him (and her) from utilizing it's potential.

Behind her, Van was rising very unsteadily to his feet. He looked over to his sword, lying

"Stay behind me Van," she said in a low voice. "There's nothing you can do."

"Celena?" he asked. His voice sounded awed and stubborn.

Her temper sparked. "He won't listen to you! Let me do-"

Celena was cut off by Dilandau's sudden attack. He pushed her back a few paces with a whirling flash of metal. Catching his sword with her blade, she threw him off.

You taught me that move, she thought to Dilandau.

The pale boy didn't' even blink. Again he attacked, feinting to the left and then coming up quickly on the right. Celena dodged the blow…barely. Dilandau began circling her. She motioned for Van to stay behind her.

A tremor passed through her body. She hadn't seen the attack coming!

Dilandau, she realized, was reinforcing the mental wall she had felt earlier. He was feeding his handicap!

"You don't want to remember, do you?" she asked in a shocked whisper.

"There is nothing to remember," Dilandau sneered. His eyes were serious and calculation, the usual malicious glee missing.

So, Celena thought, there some doubt.

She took a deep breath and knew what she had to do.

Celena went on the offensive. She sprang forward, her blade singing as it clashed with his. Slicing low, their blades locked.

Sweating, she pushed down with all her strength, holding his sword down. They stood eye to eye, noses almost touching.

"My name is Celena Schezar," she said. "You were borne from me! You and I are the same."

Dilandau's eyes widened. "Celena…"

"On the 8th moon of Red you were created by Zaibach sorcerers and I was lost into your subconscious and was unable to escape until the end or the Great War," she pressed on. She was going to force him to doubt himself, to remember.

"You're crazy!" Dilandau yelled. He threw her blade off his own and backed up.

Celena caught herself as she stumbled backwards. She glanced towards Van, who was crouched by his sword. He looked unsure as to whether he should pick it up or not.

Celena charged again, yelling as she attacked.

"You rose up one last time Dilandau, and then you separated form me. After that you and I both stayed with Van, stayed with him because we love him both. He took us in, Dilandau-chan! Both of us not because we needed it, but because he cares! You are doing the wrong thing!"

Dilandau jumped back. "I don't believe you!" he screamed. "You're nuts! There isn't any truth in what you say. Van and I are enemies, and so are you and me, connection or not. I don't even believe we have a connection. You're nothing more than a little girl trying to act like her big brother."

Celena stopped, hurt. Van made a move forward but she put her hand up. He looked off to the side, black head shaking with impatience.

"So Van and you are enemies, right? Nemesis's, if you will. So what will you do after you kill him, Dilandau-chan? You are the best warriors on Gaea. Your battles with each other are what make you great. If either of you are to die, you become nothing. Is that why you came back, Dilandau-chan? To become nothing?"

"Celena's right Dilandau," Van whispered, taking a minute step forward. "Without you I am nothing."

Celena looked down for a brief moment. "And without you, I will die."

"We all need each other," Van said.

Dilandau had gone past white, his body shaking slightly. His breathing was loud and harsh.

"You're remembering, aren't you?" Celena whispered.

Dilandau raised his sword. He stared at her a long, hard moment. He wasn't going to give. His insanity was on the rise and she knew it.

"Catch him," Celena said over her shoulder, switching her sword to her left hand. Van raised an eyebrow.

Dilandau let out a scream and charged.

Instantly Celena dropped to the ground, pressing her right hand against the stone. She raised her left hand high and brought the sword down. The blade slid through her right hand effortlessly. Pain exploded up her arm and her vision blurred.

Dilandau's sword fell from his right hand with a clatter. He fell down to one knee.

Van crouched down before the other boy as soon as he hit the ground. He quickly snatched up Dilandau's sword and flung it away. He turned and yelled at the guards to stay back.

Dilandau, right hand cradled in his left, stared at her with huge, terrified eyes. Celena could almost hear his mind collapsing in on itself as it sorted everything into place.

"We," she said through painfully gritted teeth, "We are connected."

Dilandau's breathing hitched. Slowly he turned his head to Van. The two boys stared at each other for a long time.

Dilandau reached out and ran a finger down the faint scar on Van's cheek.

"I used to call you Pigeon," he whispered.

Then Dilandau's eyelids fluttered and Dilandau fainted dead away. Van caught him as he pitched forward and held him close.

Celena smiled as tears began to stream down her face.

~*~

rainjewel: *shakes maracas* Hola minna! Whee! I just used two words from two different languages. I'm bilingual. Just wait till someone sneezes…

Ryan: First I had to deal with your insanity as one of your characters, and now I'm your muse. *falls to knees and prays* Why me? What did I do? Is my karma really that bad?

rainjewel: You are sssooooo weird! *begins to cha-cha*

Ryan: *sighs* Yes everyone, rainjewel is back. And she will be attempting to finish up this little pile of literary nonsense in a somewhat timely manner, since someone, *cough-EX-ANGEL-cough* has threatened her life.

rainjewel: Come on Ryan! Cha-cha with me!

Ryan: *shakes head* This is what happens when she listens to that Enrique Iglesias stalker song and runs out of Diet Coke. Take pity on my poor soul.

~*~