Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Love Affair ❯ Late Night Attacks ( Chapter 14 )
Chapter 14
Hitomi woke with a start in her bed. The sheets were soaked in her sweat and her hair stuck to her forehead. Her breathing was haggard and harsh. She looked around, watching Miguel and Gatti shift in their sleep. She sighed and plopped back on her bed.
`Another dream… But… something was wrong…"
Her feet swung over the side of the bed and she put on her slippers. It was late… or rather, very early. Her wristwatch read 2:30 A.M. Her head was throbbing and she felt nauseous. She stood, walking out into the hall. The cool air that reached her was welcome against her heated flesh. Slowly, she made her way down the hall to the bathroom. She felt very sick.
`Must be something I ate…'
A cold sweat started on her brow and she groaned as another wave of nausea made itself known. She rushed over to the toilets and vomited. After several series of gook spewing from her lips. She stood on shaky legs and walked toward the sinks. She rinsed her mouth and washed her face with cold water. It felt good and calmed some of her nerves. For some odd reason she felt very anxious. She walked back out into the hall and slowly made her way to Dilandau's room. Maybe he would soothe her. She grinned at the thought.
`This guy is turning me into a pervert…'
A scuffle of footsteps echoed in the hall and she quickly retreated into a darkened corner. Several guards rushed by, weapons held in their arms. She followed carefully behind them, keeping sure to stay out of sight. They headed for Dilandau's room and stopped at the door. A guard called in to someone on a two-way radio. "Sir, we are outside of his room." There was a pause. "Yes, sir. His behavior has been rather strange in the past few weeks. It seems that the treatment has worn off or been disabled somehow, sir." Another pause. "Yes, sir. We are awaiting your orders, sir." Pause. "Sir, it seems that there is a girl who he has been… screwing with occasionally." Pause. "No, sir. He has had her for several weeks now. She seems to be one of his soldiers now." Pause. "Her name, sir? It is, I believe, Kanzaki Hitomi. It is rumored that she is the girl from the Mystic Moon, sir." Pause. "Yes, sir. He seems very fond and protective of her. We believe that they are move than just… occasional friends. It is said that he has been training her personally, sir." Pause. "Yes, sir, he does. When they are seen together, he seems more… vulnerable and emotional. It is almost as if this girl is able to pacify him." Pause. "Sir, it seems as though she has been here for quite some time even before we arrived. In the beginning, it was as if nothing had changed and he was still as he had been after the treatment. Now we have come to notice the subtle differences and many of our men have seen him with the girl on many an occasion. They were even caught by his men one day in the training room."
Hitomi blushed at the memory. That was something she'd never forget. She stepped closer to try to hear the other person on the radio. One-sided conversation was giving her information but the other half would fill in some of her questions. She stayed quiet and hidden in the shadows as the soldier resumed talking.
"Yes, sir. Dilandau-sama is sleeping quite soundly in his room as are the others aboard. No one seems to be up, so do you want us to continue with our inspections or do you want us to bring him in, sir?"
The voice on the other line replied in a scratchy tone. "Bring Dilandau and the Kanzaki girl. Perhaps we will be able to find out how she can so easily overcome his defenses. Do not alert Folken. He will surely be a nuisance. He is slowly starting to turn. I have seen it. If he causes problems then bring him as well but try your best to steer clear of him."
The guard motioned for his men to gather and spoke back into the radio. "We understand, sir. We will have the girl and Dilandau-sama in the city later today. There is also another girl who has boarded the ship. She is a neko girl like Naria and Iria. She has also been training with the slayers and had become quite close with one of them. My men have caught this girl, Merle, with Shesta and they appear to have been kissing and…" The guard coughed uncomfortably and Hitomi frowned. The girl was only like sixteen… then again, she was only eighteen or so, but still. She listened silently as the guard continued. "They were caught kissing and uh… fondling each other, sir." Hitomi almost choked and her eyes bulged. If she ever got out of this situation, she would kill him. Shesta being the him she was referring to.
The man on the other end of the radio was heard sighing. "It seems that this is also a girl that with whom the Fanalian King has become close. Bring her as well but leave the boy. Understood?"
The guard nodded. "Yes, sir! Over and out." The guard put away his radio and motioned to his men. "We are to retrieve Dilandau-sama, his whore, Kanzaki Hitomi, and the brat, Merle. The two of you are to retrieve the girls. The rest, come with me." The two guards bowed and headed down the hall. Hitomi swore under her breath. She didn't have her weapons, not to mention that she wasn't in the best condition right now. Perhaps she'd be able to warn Dilandau though.
There was nothing she could throw to distract their attention in the area. Carefully, she pulled off her panties, cursing Dilandau with every bad word she knew. She grabbed the thong in her fingers as she had seen Dilandau do on several an occasion with her underwear. "All right…" She whispered and aimed them down the hall in the opposite direction, "Dilandau, I'm doing this for you, you arrogant, egotistical bastard! Aim… and… Fire!" She shot her thong down the hall and it hit the lantern on the wall, effectively covering the flame… and making her underwear catch fire. She swore again. Those were really nice, too!
The guards looked up at the distraction and watched the small fire. They rushed down it quickly, hoping to reach it before the alarms went off and left the door unguarded. Hitomi blitzed toward the door and punched in the code. The small beeps alerted the guards and they rushed back as the door opened. She stepped in and punched the button, making the door slam shut. She put in the lock code and quickly ran over to Dilandau's bed. It wouldn't be long before they were in and she still had to get Merle.
"Dilandau! Dilandau, get up, you idiot!" Said idiot, shot up in his comfortable bed and stared groggily at Hitomi. He smirked and pulled her under the covers with him, burying his face in his neck. His fingers slid to her waist and he yanked up her nightgown. She gasped as his fingers made contact with her flesh.
Dilandau grinned and gently started to suck on her neck. "Hitomi… very naughty… no underwear… were you that anxious for me?" He plunged a single digit inside of her and she barely muffled a yelp. How could he do this to her at a time like this!
"Dilandau! This is serious! Get your hand out of there, you lecherous old man! We have a problem!" Hitomi tugged his finger out and bit her lip to keep from moaning. As much as she would like to, now was not the time! "They know, and they're coming not only after you but they're after me and Merle as well." She stood and ran to his dresser, rummaging through it for a fresh pair of panties. The familiar thought came to her head about his sexuality but she shrugged it off and pulled out another lacy thong… it was the color of his eyes this time though. "What is it with you and thongs! Whatever happened to bikini style underwear?" She muttered as she slipped into them.
Dilandau stood and joined her at the dresser. He was naked… again. Hitomi snorted as she peered down at him. "Were you expecting me or something?" He growled in response and pulled out a pair of boxers. Quickly, he stepped into his pants and went to his closet, clasping his sword at his side.
"I wasn't the one who came into my room without any underwear…" The door slid open just as Hitomi slipped on some pants. She'd have to make do without her shirt for the time being but at least she had her nightgown still on. "Showtime…"
Hitomi nodded in agreement as the ten or more guards filed into the room. "Dilandau, there are at least ten! Five are mine!" She readied her position as the guards started to trek into the room.
Dilandau glared at her and looked over at the guards. Some had guns at their sides but most held swords. He glanced at Hitomi. "You don't have your weapon, moron! Leave them to me and try to get past them. Get to Merle. If they get her, they might try to get to you."
`And they might use you to get to me…' He added silently. He saw Hitomi nod in agreement and he charged. They guards attacked as he did but they were sorely outmatched. Dilandau was much better a swordsman than them. Hitomi saw and opening and dashed out into the hall. A few guard followed and she fought them off. What she hadn't expected was the shot that was fired in the room. Her heart stopped for a second as did her movements and that was all it took. A guard took advantage of her shock and tackled her into the wall. She cried out in pain and kicked him in the jewels. He sank to his knees with a groan. She fought the other guard until he fell to the floor in a heap, unconscious. She ran back to the room, where the sounds of struggle had dramatically decreased.
Her eyes landed on the figure on the floor, his hand clutching the side of his abdomen in pain. His hair gleamed in the moonlight like a silver waterfall. Blood dripped off his sword in unrefined beauty. His eyes looked pained as they met Hitomi's. `Go…' he mouthed at her as the guards circled him and grabbed his hands, dragging them behind his back.
Hitomi saw a few of the guards turn toward her and charge. Tears blurred her vision as she watched them cuff Dilandau. "No…" She whispered as she backed out of the room. She guards charged in slow motion as Dilandau's voice reached her ears.
"Hitomi! Go! NOW!"
Her vision distorted as she glanced back at him. "Dilandau… I'll come back for you…" She turned and ran down the hall, racing toward Merle's room. The guards weren't nearly as fast as she and for that she was thankful. With her training, her legs had only gotten stronger and they carried her to where she needed to be. She burst down into her own hall, rushing past her own room to where she knew Merle was sleeping. She burst in and her eyes widened. There Merle was… but she wasn't sleeping.
"Oh gods…" Hitomi felt a blush rise on her cheeks before she crouched down into her attack position. There were two guards in the room. One was holding down Shesta, who was… half naked and left in only his boxers. He was struggling wildly with his captive while the other bound the equally half naked Merle. "Put them down… oh and Merle… we're going to have a talk when all this is through…" She attacked, throwing out wild punches and vicious kicks. Soon enough, Shesta and Merle managed to free themselves and joined in with the fight. The guards were knocked out in no time.
Hitomi turned to glare at Merle and then glanced a peek at the girl's bed. It was still fresh as if no one had been in it all night. She glanced at Shesta's bed. The pillows were strewn around as were the sheets. The blanket had been completely tossed over the side. She turned her glare from Merle to Shesta. "You guys are like sixteen! What the hell is wrong with you? Gods! Hormones! You didn't fuck, did you?"
Merle glared back at her, a blush turning her face several shades of red. "No… not yet…"
Shesta was red as well and was hiding behind Merle. Hitomi glanced at him and scowled. "Make sure no one else finds out about this! What have you guys done anyway…" Both of them turned their gazes to the floor and they turned almost purple with embarrassment. "Never mind… I really, really don't want to know…" She glanced out the hall and shut the door. "Merle, hurry up and get dressed. They've come for us… and him…" She glanced at the door and sighed as her eyes filled up with tears again. "I promise, I'll come back… Dilandau…" Her broken whispers were interrupted by Merle.
"Hitomi, what are you talking about? Who came? Van doesn't even know where we are?"
Hitomi looked questioningly at Merle and a light went on in her head. She didn't know… no one knew… "Merle, we have to get out of here. It's not Van, it's someone else who is trying to take over. It seems as though we're fighting the wrong war. The Vione is not our enemy…" The doors burst open and a ray of light passed over her eyes. It took a few moments to adjust but by then it was too late.
Soldier upon soldier came into the room, weapons carried in their hands already poised and ready for attack. "Either you come willingly and unharmed… or not."
Hitomi scowled at them and crouched down low. "I will never go freely. I'll die fighting."
The soldiers seemed surprised but the leader was ready for her answer. He glanced behind him. "It seems you've trained her well… Dilandau-sama." He looked at his soldiers. "Do what you must but keep her alive. Emperor Dornkirk has ordered it." He turned and walked out, looking down at the jumbled heap on the floor that was Dilandau. Hitomi gasped and stepped forward but the guards circled her. The glimpse she had gotten of Dilandau was bad. Blood was pouring from his head, over his right eye. He was bound and gagged. He seemed to be conscious but barely.
Hitomi felt her rage swell inside of her. "I'll kill you…" She rushed forward with undeniable speed. The guards shot and swung but their forces wee futile. The girl had been trained excellently by the leader himself. Her skills were not taken for granted. She spotted a set of daggers on one of the enemy and quickly took his out, gathering his weapon in her hand. It was easily maneuvered in her grasp and in a few minutes the guards were struggling against this one girl. Shesta had been knocked out by one of the guards and Merle was being dragged away. She glanced at Dilandau who was struggling with his bonds and every so often would get kicked by the soldiers. She rushed out of the room and into the hall, plunging her deadly weapons into the enemy with enough precision to kill but just enough so that they would be unable to fight back, but still alive. It was her unfortunate downfall. Another shot rang through the air.
A white hot, searing pain shot from her hip up her spine and down to her toes. A cry tore free from her lips and she fell gracelessly to the ground. Blood poured from her side and she clutched at it, gasps escaping her lips. She glanced over at Dilandau who was now thrashing wildly, trying to make his way toward her. The leader of the guards walked toward her and she felt his boot dig into her side. She cried out in pain as she was tossed onto her back. His words came out cold and unbelievably harsh. "Use the sleep gun… later, if Dornkirk allows, we may be able to have a little of our own fun."
Hitomi felt something against her neck before there was a sharp prick and a deep pain. Slowly her vision blurred and her hearing started to fade. Her body felt heavy and she felt the tugs of lumber calling to her. "Di…lan… dau…" Her eyes rolled back into her skull and she dropped to the cold floor as darkness overwhelmed her.
…
"Hitomi…"
She stirred as the vague voice, echoed in her ears. It was disturbingly familiar but at the moment she couldn't place it. Her eyes fluttered open and she blinked a couple times to get accustomed to the brightness in the room.
"Hitomi… I think she's coming to, guys… Hitomi, can you see me?"
Hitomi groaned and tried to sit up but a piercing pain in her side stopped her movement and made her cry out. She fell onto the bed and her clearing vision started to sway slightly.
"Hitomi, try not to move…"
Hitomi nodded and closed her eyes, bringing her hand to her head. "Dilandau?" Her voice was scratchy and the word barely came out above a hoarse whisper. "Water…"
The familiar voice had stopped and she vaguely heard some whispers around the room. Slowly her vision cleared and she was able to look up. Her eyes focused on a set of blue, piercingly beautiful eyes. "Allen?"
Allen nodded and sat up, motioning to someone behind him. Van's face loomed above her and she suppressed a wince. "Van? Wh-What's going on?" Her throat hurt like hell and she slowly sat up, biting her lip to keep the pain at bay. "Water…"
A cup was raised to her lips once she was able to sit up and she greedily drank, quenching her irrefutable dehydration. She tried to think back to what was happening but her mind kept drawing blanks. The last thing she could remember was… was… Her brows furrowed in concentration but she couldn't come up with anything. Dilandau's face, bloodied and torn in a grimace, kept flashing through her mind but that was all she could see. She brought her hand to her head and rubbed her temples. Before… what happened before?
"Hitomi… are you… feeling okay?" Van ran a hand through her longer hair and pulled her chin up so her eyes were gazing at his. "Hitomi?"
She looked back at him, confusion etching on to her face. "What… what am I doing here? What day is it?" She looked around and saw the familiar faces of her friends. Millerna sat in a nearby chair, her features etched into a small frown. Gaddes and his crew stood in the back of the room, looking anxiously at her. Allen and Van were sitting next to her bed. Someone was missing. She looked around and saw another bed lying next to hers. A pink bundle sprouted from the covers. "Merle?" The girl didn't stir and she moved to stand but another wave of dizziness sprouted through her. She clutched at her head as the stings in her side started to lessen with the dizzy spell.
"Van? What's going on?" Hitomi's voice wavered a little. The last memory she could produce was waking up in the middle of the night and going out for a run… but that was all. There was nothing after that. Her subconscious told her that there was something incredibly important missing.
`Dilandau… but what does he have to do with anything? He… he's the enemy…'
She looked up at the clearly shocked faces of her friends and started to panic. "Tell me… please!" The urgency in her voice must have caused some sort of light to go off in their heads because Millerna stood and approached the other side of the bed.
She looked somewhat despaired and almost hesitant to tell her something of this magnitude. "Hitomi… you have been missing for the past six months…"
Hitomi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Six months… but… but how can that… be?"
`Dilandau…'