Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Love Affair ❯ Irrational Anger ( Chapter 11 )

A/N: To the one person who reviewed, Thank you for doing so or I would not have updated any longer on this site. If you want faster updates go to fanfiction . net Of Course take out the spaces and look for it. My username there is Existence and the story title id the same.

Chapter 11

Hitomi showered in Dilandau's bathroom for the last time. She and Merle were shown to their room, introduced and their measurements taken for their uniforms. They would be given to them in the morning, each one going to match the owner with it's own unique style. Hitomi was provided with somewhat of a wardrobe as well as Merle, which they would later find out that the other soldiers each had their own as well.

She was given a short skirt that came up to mid thigh, a T-shirt, a pair of baggy, yet comfortable sweatpants, a tank top, a couple pairs of socks, a sweater and a heavy set of black boots. She was allowed to keep her regular clothes though… only because she threatened to neuter anyone who dared touch her only remaining items from home. Her whole wardrobe was exactly the same as everyone else's except for the fact that there was always something, whether it be a patch or a small jewel, embedded in the material.

Merle's was no different except that her color was pink. It matched her hair. That seemed to be the only reason it was picked because Merle wasn't so fond of the very girly color. It suited her though and she appreciated the clothing. Only there was a major difference between her clothing and everyone else's… there was a hole placed in the backside… made especially for her tail! Hitomi burst out laughing when Merle told her but immediately calmed when the girl growled at her and threatened to scratch her eyes out.

All in all, things were going well… except that they had to sleep with the boys. The rooms were tiny compared to Dilandau's. They were like college dorms. There was one hall where all the rooms were located and there was one bathroom down at the end of the hall. The shower room was fairly big, just like a gym shower where everyone would just go to a spot where a showerhead was located. They had a changing room as well. Once out of the showers, there were individual stalls for them to change but the downside was that each stall had no doors. These young men had absolutely no privacy as it seemed. They had nothing to hide and their quarters were evident enough of that.

The guys didn't seem so bad though. They were still young and despite the fact that they had killed numerous times before in battle, they had this childlike innocence. It surrounded them and made them seem extremely young and fragile. Almost like lost, helpless little boys. But they had each other. And they stuck by each other like a band of brothers. One never betrayed the other. It was unheard of. You could see in how they acted towards one another that they held a great deal of respect not only for their buddies but also for their superiors. They didn't envy each other either. More so, they strived to be more like the one they thought to be better. They would learn from each other's mistakes and help the other out. They were kind, yet vicious. But above all, one could see the reverence with which they held their leader in.

Dilandau did slap them and train them brutally but he cared for them. One could see if they were to just catch the small details of his ways that he truly did. When his slayers would get hurt in battle with him, he would still fight mercilessly but his attacks would lessen on that particular person. He used harsh, foul language when they were to fail but he'd always teach them their mistakes… after a beating of course. He'd explain different areas that certain people seemed to be weak in and show them how to improve their defenses or strike in which the enemy would not notice it.

All this, Hitomi learned over weeks of training with the boys and Dilandau. She and Merle had improved greatly since the beginning but it was all due to hard work. They had started out miserably. The very night they were given their rooms was hell. They had to share rooms with boys ranging form an age of sixteen to nineteen. These boys were still teenagers… and being teenagers in a place where they were deprived the privilege of being around girls their age, made hormones fly. The guys immediately warmed up to both Merle and Hitomi and were impressed with the idea that women were going to train with them. Some didn't like the idea at first, chiding them that a woman's job was in the kitchens or to please a man with what he wanted but they would gradually learn to accept them as one of their own.

They were given their beds, which were very uncomfortable in Hitomi's taste and Merle's but Merle seemed used to it. Hitomi had always ha the pleasure of a soft, fluffy bed and now she was required to sleep on a hard mattress of sorts with a thin blanket and flimsy sheets that were somewhat itchy. At least they kept her warm. The nights got pretty chilly on the Vione. Well, her first night, she met Miguel and Gatti. They both checked her out, their eyes widening and their jaws slightly dropping when Dilandau informed them that she would become their roommate for the next couple of months. He made sure that they didn't get the idea that she was a prisoner who was to be executed soon and that she was not one of those girls to be had fun with. In fact, he firmly guaranteed that she was off limits and whoever dared to tough her would be ruthlessly punished. Merle, on the other hand, was loving the attention she was getting from the boys and openly flirted with them. She became one of them. She was more like a boy everyday. She and Chesta became very close. He, being her roommate and the only person she could really talk to, grew on her. She became quite fond of the boy and Hitomi wasn't the only one who noticed.

The only things that seemed to bother the girls were… the showers. They were able to avoid showering with the guys but that was only if they got up earlier than them and showered quickly. Then they would shower after training, which ended later for them anyway. Only a few times did thy have to shower with the guys and those guys only happened to be their roommates. Thankfully, the guys didn't seem bothered by it the first couple times and they were forced to not tell anyone about what they saw even though some of it did seem to get out.

The first time Dilandau found out that Gatti and Miguel had seen Hitomi naked, he went crazy. He was furious and that training day hadn't gone so well for Hitomi…

Flashback:

Hitomi got up early as usual. The guys were still sleeping, a trait that most guys seemed to have. All were pretty heavy sleepers no matter who they were. Quietly she walked over to her drawer and the closet pulling out her daily training outfit. This was all routine for her. So she did all of it pretty much absentmindedly. Her thoughts were elsewhere, mainly on a specific person and no, not the one who would normally perplex her mind.

"Van…" She sighed and grabbed her stuff making way for the door. Unfortunately she wasn't really paying attention and…

"OUCH!" She yelped and dropped her stuff jumping up and down on one foot, the other being cradled in her hands. And then…

"Oompf!" She fell over.

She made somewhat of a grumble and popped her head up. Sure enough, the guys were still pretty much dead. Standing up, she gathered her clothing and limped to the door, checking again to see if the guys were still asleep before she stepped out into the hall. Alas, she failed to see the smirks on the faces of both Gatti and Miguel when she stepped out. She went down the hall quietly, making sure as to not disturb anyone. No one seemed to be up just yet so she headed for the bathroom and stepped in the room at the end of the hall. Merle hadn't gotten there yet as it seemed.

"That's odd… she's usually always here before me…" Shrugging, she set her clothes in one of the stall and stripped. She walked leisurely back to the showers. Adjusting the water temperature she stepped under the showerhead, moaning softly as the water cascaded through her hair and down her body. The water felt good against all her sore places. Training was pretty intense and she would always ache after a good spar with Merle or Dilandau. Slowly letting her eyes drift shut, she let her thoughts wander leading her back to what she had been thinking about earlier.

`Van… I'm sorry I left, but… I just felt like I didn't belong there, at least… not enough anyway. I don't fit in with you. You made it your job to make sure that nothing happened to me… or Merle for that matter! But… we all need to experience things for ourselves sometimes. Van… I still wonder if… if you still think about me, if you're still trying to find me and… Merle. Merle didn't even want to come! In fact, she was the one who wanted me to stay… for you. But now I'm not so sure if she would be happy back with everyone there. She misses you the most and I think that she'll never let you go but… she's happy here too! Funny… how things can change so drastically over a couple of weeks. Over a couple of… hours… I used to love you. I used to love you so much, but you didn't seem to reciprocate my feelings so instead I settled for your friendship but I was still missing something. I still had that love. I still do. But now… I don't love you anymore. The few hours I spent that night away from you… when I was taken the first time, that was when I realized it.'

She sighed and leaned her head against the cool wall mumbling to herself, "I wish I had the courage to tell this to you in person…" She glanced around the shower room, still empty. Closing her eyes once more she let herself finish her thoughts.

`That first night with Dilandau… it was… surprising, to say the least. I didn't understand why I had so freely allowed him to… do… that… What surprised me even more was how gentle he was… But now I know. I know why I didn't push him away. I know why I let myself drown in his touch… in his kisses… his eyes… Had I still been in love with you, I would've fought like hell! Hell! I would've rather died than be put through that had it not been you, if… if I had still loved you as I used to. I'm not saying that I love Dilandau. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a slut either. I just… I need… I… I don't know. I just don't know anymore… What I feel for Dilandau is a mild infatuation. Lust if one would call it that. Nothing more… nothing more… but… how can I be sure? What's wrong with me? I'm so confused. I don't even know how I feel anymore! I can't love Dilandau! It's impossible! I don't even know him. He's not even slightly my type. He's an asshole! He's rude and mean and conceited… and yet… he was my first…'

She sighed again and then froze. She strained her ears and listened carefully.

Laughter… distinctly male laughter! She gasped and turned around, her cheeks quickly filling with blood. No one at the shower entrance yet but she heard them. Only two it seemed. And then she saw them. Time slowed down as two young men made their way in sight of the space that divided the showers to the changing rooms. They didn't notice her at first, they were laughing and looking at each other but then it happened. They stopped and they turned, their heads slowly moving as Hitomi watched in horror. Their eyes widened when they saw her. Her eyes widened when she saw them. It was Gatti and Miguel… naked.

Her blush darkened and they turned a soft shade of pink as well. Their eyes slowly took a once over on her body and she reflexively covered herself but they had already seen just as she had seen them. She screamed in shock, her high pitch voice resounding through the silent bathroom and making it's way down the empty, utterly silent halls. They really didn't seem to care though and they mumbled their apologies before stepped out and waiting in the changing room. Hitomi had finished bathing while she was thinking, thank the gods so she quickly turned off the water and went to the shower entrance, hiding on the side.

"Umm… guys? Could you grab my towel for me?" She snatched her towel when an arm poked its way into the room and she quickly covered herself, her blush still very evident. Stepping out into the changing room, she gasped and turned around covering her eyes!

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! I thought you guys were wearing something at least! Can't you just cover up or… or something?"

They laughed behind her, Gatti stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Relax, Hitomi! It's not like it's something you've never seen before! But I must say…" He moved his lips to her ear, "You have a very… sexy… little body on you. Watch out; make sure the others don't catch you like we did. They may be prone to act on instinct." He walked passed her and into the shower room. Miguel stood and walked next to Hitomi.

"Don't worry about him, Tomi! He's just teasing you! Although, he's right about your body! Damn! Never knew THAT was under those clothes! See you later, Tomi!" He slapped her butt and ran into the shower room when she yelped in surprise. Quickly she grabbed her clothes and dashed out of the shower room, clad in her towel. But yet again, life wasn't being fair to her. Almost as soon as she had stepped out, she ran right smack into someone's chest, nearly falling over in the process. The guy's hands steadied her and she found herself staring at a uniform… a surprisingly familiar uniform… one that the slayers didn't wear but one that she saw everyday… during training.

She swallowed rather hard and slowly brought her gaze up to meet ruby eyes staring down at her. Fury masked his features and he briefly glanced over her shoulder to the door of the shower room where the water was heard running and two male voices were heard. He looked back down at her and then he looked at the towel loosely covering her womanly bodice. She tightened the towel around her body and her cheeks tinted pink.

He scowled and pushed her to the side, ready to make his way into the shower room and do something to the young men who dared to see Hitomi in her natural beauty. That was his privilege, and no one else's. He growled and reached out to the handle but Hitomi reached out and pulled him to her.

"Dilandau, it was an accident! They didn't mean it! I swear! They won't say anything! They didn't do anything! It'll never happen again! They hardly saw anything! Please don't-"

"Shut up! Get off! Get ready for training. You know where the room is. I'll be there shortly." He pushed her back and she stumbled, falling on the floor, her towel hiking up around her upper thighs. She bowed her head slightly, her now longer hair covering her eyes.

"Yes Lord Dilandau…" She whispered, biting her lip to keep it from trembling. Gatti and Miguel were going to get punished and it was all her fault. She stood, her guilt weighing her down as she gathered her clothing and turned to leave Dilandau to enter the shower room.

"Be easy… They didn't know I was in there." She started to walk off when his slightly irritated voice reached her.

"They'll know next time after I discipline them."

She turned around sharply and walked towards him, he own hurt and anger reflecting in her eyes, "Merle and I share a bathroom with sixteen guys! How do you not expect this to happen! Gods! If you really didn't want this to happen, you would never have kicked me out of your goddamn room! You, you jerk! What the hell do you think I would do anyway! Sleep with them? I've had plenty an opportunity at night, thank you very much! Not that I would, but I could have! Ever think of that, you conceited twit! By the gods! It's just a body-"

"It's not just a body!" He yelled back at her, walking forward until he stood right in front of her making he back up against the hall wall. She glared up at him when he started to yell at her again, "It's not just any body! Do you really think I would give a damn if it were some maid that they had walked in on or even that annoying cat girl? NO! I couldn't give a rat's ass! It's the fact that it's your body! Only I am allowed-"

"What! Only you! And what gives you the right to see me naked anyway? Who made you keeper of my body?"

"You did! That first night I fucked you! That first night… when I made you scream… And now-"

A smack echoed through the corridor. Hitomi brought her hand down, shock and anger clearly evident on her face. Dilandau's head quickly jerked back to glare at her. Angry tears rolled down her cheeks, "How dare you?"

Another smack, louder and harder made it's way down the hall once again. Hitomi clutched her cheek, her head to the side and her hair covering her face. Dilandau lowered his hand, a dangerous gleam in his eyes, "Get dressed. I expect to see you in the training room when I get there. Understood?"

Hitomi kept her face to the side, her eyes never meeting with his scarlet gaze, "Yes, Lord Dilandau…" She whispered. She gathered her things and made her way silently down the hall to her room. She went in, shut her door, and got dressed. Her cheek burned and she looked in the mirror, watching as a red welt formed on her cheek.

`He slapped me again…' She sighed and wiped her eyes, refusing to allow the tears to fall, `That damn bastard! It's his own fault, the jerk.' She stepped out into the hall and made her way to the cafeteria. She grabbed a banana and an apple and headed for the training room. When she got there she had finished her breakfast and she saw Merle in the room, already practicing. Dilandau hadn't shown up yet and the other slayers weren't due for another hour or two.

She removed her boots and started stretching, "Where were you this morning? You're always in the showers before me."

Merle had stopped her exercises when Hitomi had stepped into the room and watched the girl who was only two years her superior, "I got up earlier. I've been here all morning… but… I heard what happened. Hitomi-"

"I'm fine. Believe me. The swelling will go down in a couple hours…" Hitomi started to do some basic moves, jabbing and kicking and acrobatic flips and such. Merle watched, a small scowl on her face.

"Why do you let him do this to you?"

"Do what?" Hitomi kept working, trying to get Merle to stop where she knew this was going to go.

"Hitomi…" Merle growled threateningly.

"What, Merle? What! What is it you want to know?" She snapped, now irritated.

"Why do you let him hit you like that? Why don't you fight back? You've never let someone get away with that before. What makes him different?"

"He's my superior, Merle! I'm one of his soldiers as are you! He disciplines his others soldiers just the same. What difference am I?"

"You slept with him!"

"Yeah, and? What's your point, Merle? It's not as if we're fucking lovers! It was just a stupid night of fun, okay? Drop it!"

Merle's jaw dropped, "But he was your first… doesn't that mean anything?"

"Merle, leave it alone. I'm warning you…"

"But… how could that not mean anything to you? You even went back to him. You chose him over-"

Hitomi snapped. She rushed forward and attacked the girl, slamming her back against the wall, her hand around her throat, "MERLE! I said forget it! I'm not talking about this anymore! Shut the fuck up and leave me the hell alone! This is not your concern…"

Hitomi stepped back and resumed her training, leaving a very shocked Merle leaning against the side mirror. A few minutes later, Merle went back to her own training and the two sparred for a bit before working on their own skills.

An hour passed, and still no sign of Dilandau. The slayers started to walk in, all quiet and they started on their own training. They all gave Hitomi glances but she ignored them, focusing on her own work. Then, both Gatti and Miguel walked in and still no sign of Dilandau. They both walked over to Hitomi and called her over to one of the room's corners. She relaxed slightly when she saw them and walked over, a worried look on her face.

"What did he do to you guys? I'm sorry I couldn't-"

"What did you do?" Miguel interrupted, a shocked look on his face.

"What? I don't understand? What do you mean? What happened?" Hitomi tensed waiting the bad news.

Gatti spoke up first, "Well, he came in and he was pretty angry… but all he did was smack us."

Hitomi winced slightly and brought a hand up to her own cheek, flinching slightly when she touched the wound.

Both Gatti and Miguel's faces faltered for a moment and they looked worriedly at her.

"We won't say anything to the other soldiers. Lord Dilandau made sure of that. And we won't do that again. At least, we'll try not to. We didn't mean for that to happen." Gatti told her, a blush on his face as he did.

"It's alright. It's not your fault. It was an honest mistake-"

"Uh… well not entirely…" Miguel quickly fixed what he was trying to say when Hitomi's face darkened, "What I mean is, we heard you when you sort of fell over… this morning. But we really didn't expect to see you in the shower room. All this time we thought that you went to… Lord Dilandau's room to shower."

Hitomi sighed, "Well… now you know. Just keep this to yourself. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to prevent you guys from getting slapped. I tried but… evidently everyone knows what happened. I'm just going to… train some more. See you guys later then."

She walked off and continued her training as Gatti and Miguel both gave her sympathetic looks.

"Well, what he said to her was pretty harsh… It's no wonder she reacted the way she did, although perhaps not the best way considering Lord Dilandau and his actions." Miguel picked up his weapon looking at their forlorn roommate.

Gatti grabbed his weapon as well, watching as Chesta and Merle seemed to spar and Chesta gave her some pointers every now and again, "Well the girl is strong, I have to say that. She's got a mind of her own and it seems that even Lord Dilandau will have a hard time trying to tame this one. Remember the last?"

Miguel nodded a sad frown etched onto his face, "All the others lost their spirits after they found out what he was doing with them. Then he got tired of them and let the executioners carry out their sentence. She seems different. He's never had some of the girls train with us before and he's never once allowed anyone to smack him. But there's also the fact that she comes from the Mystic Moon that might make him keep her here. Maybe he's just using her to get what he needs for Lord Folken."

Gatti looked at his friend, "That might be it… but I've never seen him make such an effort before just to get information. If that were the case then he could just have her tortured. He doesn't seem to plan on doing that anytime soon…"

"Well… we'll just have to see in the next few months… Come let's spar! I'll kick your ass!" Miguel flicked his sword at Gatti in an invitation of duels.

"You're on man!" Gatti rose to the challenge and they fought briefly.

Hitomi ran through her warm up exercises diligently and several times. Even after an hour had passed and still no sign of Dilandau, she kept training whether it be with Merle or one of the guys. But soon enough, the guys just took a seat on the sides, chatting idly with each other. Hitomi kept training ignoring the nervous glances that were directed at her.

Another hour passed and yet she kept training trying to vent out her frustrations and then… finally he showed up.

His hair was slightly mussed, his eyes dark and there was a threatening scowl on his face, one that said, `Any wrong move and you're dead."

The slayers lined up before him, waiting nervously as he started to pace in front of them. Going past them at least 6 times he stopped in front of Hitomi.

He glared at her, his eyes flaming with pent up rage, "Step out of line, Kanzaki. Rest, training will resume tomorrow, regular time. Dismissed!"

"Yes, Lord Dilandau!" Came the simultaneous reply. The slayers quickly shuffled out of the training room heading down the halls to wherever they felt like going, leaving Hitomi and Dilandau alone.

Gatti, Miguel and Merle were the last ones out, shooting a nervous glance back at them before they too disappeared. The door closed with an almost silent `click.'

Hitomi stood tall as Dilandau started to circle her, "You are some piece of shit, you know that Kanzaki. I should have punished you worse for striking your superior, for even daring to think that you had that right. What do you think, eh? Now that you've had time to think about it, do you still think you would've responded how you did?"

Hitomi bristled, but remained calm and collected, "Yes, Lord Diland-" She yelped in slight shock when her head snapped to the side, another burning sensation spreading through her cheek. She stifled a small whimper and kept her head to the side.

Dilandau grabbed her and pushed her back against the mirror, his hand going around her throat, "Don't think because I had you in my favor that I will hesitate to grant punishment, Hitomi. Don't play games with me. I'm warning you-"

"So, I can tell! But what gives you the right to even remotely consider our night together as some common fuck! I am NOT your fucking whore! And I refuse to be treated as one, no matter how fucking badly you try to hurt me! I won't lower myself to some degrading fuck buddy!" She snapped at him, her anger and shame pouring through her words.

Dilandau smirked in mild admiration, "So if that's how you feel, then explain to me, Hitomi, because I don't quite understand what you're getting at. What exactly did that night mean to you?"

Hitomi's cheeks tinted with a small blush, but her own anger mounted and she lost control of herself and her emotion, "You loathsome, foulmouthed, despicable creature! You know what you did to me and you know how you made me feel! You were my fucking first! That's not something that someone forgets anytime soon! You were my first and still my only! And I came back here with you and gave up everything and you treat me like shit! You think I wanted to be dragged away from my home and brought into this world where there's nothing but death and destruction? You really believe that I like being fought for and chased after? Because, for some reason, people think I'm some high and mighty savior, their Wing Goddess as they say! Meanwhile I don't even know my purpose in this god-forsaken world. I don't know what people want from me! I can't go home! I've been trapped in this world for almost three years and this is how I'm treated! And to think that someone had even given me a fraction of their time to share something intimate, something that I hadn't even wanted to begin with! Something that now I must live with for the rest of my fucking life, knowing that I only meant a good fuck to someone else! To you! This is how you see me! I'm just a good lay! Well, fuck off, LORD Dilandau! You live my life and then get back to me! See how easy I've had it! See how UNIMPORTANT that night seems to you…" She struggles in his grasp and turned her back to him, biting back her angry tears.

"Do you know what it feels like to have the one person you love think of you a nothing more than a friend for three years? To give unselfishly, all of yourself to finally realize that they will never return that love for you... And then to find out that after you've moved on, that this same person finally returns your love to you…" Hitomi closed her eyes, "But by then… it's too late… You've already given yourself to another in a night of raw passion. And then you find out that, that night meant absolutely nothing to the other person. You were just there at the right time for him… I just happened to be there when you needed a release… I was just… another girl… another good fuck that you can add to your list…" Her tears spilled from her eyes dropping soundlessly onto the training floor. She hastily wiped her eyes.

Dilandau listened in slight shock to her words, as they reached him with undeniable pain. Although he kept his face an unemotional mask, inside his mind screamed at him. It was something he'd never felt before. He wanted to hold the girl in his arms and soothe her, make her stop crying, do… ANYTHING to make her not hate him. He wanted to shout that the night they shared was unlike anything he'd felt before… that hearing his name come from her lips drove him absolutely crazy… But, he couldn't. His pride and upbringing didn't allow it. His master's teachings kept repeating in his head, "They are the devil's gypsies! They will weaken you and subsequently drive you to downfall. Don't let them manipulate your mind with their sensitivity! They' mean nothing more than a good time when you're feeling unsatisfied. Then when they have done their job, drop them and move on. Cling, and you will admit defeat…"

He hardened his face once more and watched her as she hastily wiped away her tears.

"You told me yourself that I had a strong spirit. I tell you now, " Hitomi faced him, her face hard and cold, no trace of emotion lingering except for a touch of regret and anger in her eyes, "I won't be broken."

He smirked at her, his brows rising in mock shock, "Was that a challenge, Kanzaki?"

Her gaze darkened, "Take it as you will. Just don't expect me to share your bed. I don't need your touch to satisfy me, nor anyone else's."

"This will be quite interesting. Dismissed…"

Hitomi walked past him, headed towards the door, when his words caught up with her, "See me tonight at ten, in my room. I will be expecting you. Don't be late."

She scowled and nodded, walking out into the hall. She walked to her room and stepped in. Gatti and Miguel both looked up at her and she just walked over to her bed and sat down, looking at her shoes as if they were the most interesting things in the world. The guys came close to her, Gatti sitting next to her and Miguel kneeling in front of her. Gatti pulled her hair back from her face and their eyes widened considerably. Miguel tilted her chin to the left and gingerly ran his fingertips along her right cheek. She flinched and he quickly retracted his hand muttering an apology.

"He wants me to meet him in his room at ten tonight…" She whispered, not bringing her eyes to meet theirs.

They nodded gravely and just waited for her to finish.

"I don't know what I'm going to do… I don't know why this stupid thing even happened in the first place! Why did he say that to me? I thought I meant… SOMETHING to him… anything… not just…" She buried her face in her hands, "What am I going to do? I don't want to be just another fuck! I don't care if he doesn't care about me, I just don't want him to… forget me like the others I know he's had. I want to know that he remembers my name… that he… Gods! I don't know what I want!"

Gatti and Miguel, not being used to situations like these, just looked at each other and then back at her. Miguel stood up, walking to the tiny kitchen in the corner of the room. Each room had one but they had to share a bathroom! Didn't make any sense. He ran a small towel under some cold water and walked back to Hitomi, carefully placing it on her bruised cheek.

Gatti sighed, "Hitomi? Why did you try to take the blame? It was our fault anyway."

She turned to look at the both of them, an endearing look came to her face, "You guys accepted me when I first came here. You were the first ones too, and I really appreciate it. You looked out for me, so… I just thought I'd repay the favor… You are like my brothers now." She trailed off and looked at the clock; she still had about an hour and a half.

"Thanks for just being here, I guess. I'm going to take a shower, " She shot them both evil looks, "I swear if you guys say anything about why this happened today, I will do some damage and don't dare think that I'm lying. If I have the guts to slap our Lord Dilandau, just think what I can do to you. And if you could so kindly, please keep the other guys away from the showers for the next half hour or so. Thank you so much!" She got up and went to the door.

Gatti stood up and grabbed her arm before she could leave, "You can trust us. If you ever need to just let something out, we'll be here."

She smiled, "Thank you. Perhaps, one day, I'll let you know the true reason of my grief. For now, be satisfies with what you know. It is more than what I have shared with anyone on this floating fortress. Even Merle doesn't know so don't tell her. She is still a bit young for these sort of… things." She trailed off and left the boys to think over her words.

She walked down the hall and down to the shower room. It was empty as usual when she usually came late. She undressed and let her hair down. It was longer than it had been from when she first boarded the Vione. It'd been only a few weeks now. She could hardly remember the actual time period. She hadn't been able to do anything with Dilandau either since that night in the forest. Come to think of it, she'd thought that was the first time she'd seen him naked. She forgot about the day after they first did it. She'd stared at him just as she had in the woods… and he'd asked the same question, "Like what you see?"

She smiled sadly and looked into the mirror. Her cheek was slightly swollen and very red. Her eyes were also red, and she was exhausted from her cries. She needed a good hour of sleep or so. Unfortunately she really didn't think she'd be getting that on this particular night. She turned on the hot water and let it soothe her body. It was going to be a long night…

TBC…