The rain pattered softly outside the window, hazy silver blue and radiating cold. It was a nosy rain, slipping through any microscopic crack in the wall and leaving a thin damp film on everything it could touch. The air reeked of it - sucked it up like a sponge until it was so slimy and thick that it was hard to breathe.

Dilandau dragged his fingers through his perpetually damp silver hair, glaring at the sky with pure hatred. The weather had been prattling on like that for days, barely even stopping to breathe. It held its audience captive below, trapping them all in their houses. Those brave enough to step outside were beaten to the ground or back to their homes before they could even consider why they'd left the dryness in the first place.

Damn the rain, he thought miserably, his hand moving from his hair to the line of his chin, Damn cold, damn fate, and damn time while we're at it...

The curses rang hollow in his head, however. It wasn't as though he could even come up with a true reason to be angry. There was nothing to do even when the sun was shining except help the villagers in their day to day affairs, and helping anyone who wasn't paying didn't constitute a worthwhile pastime to anyone who called himself a Dragonslayer. Mainly their time was spent in the tavern instead, looking for any traveler who might have interesting information on the outside world. The opportunities for such encounters were few and far between, but when they came they were well seized. It was only too bad that the world beyond the town's borders sounded as peaceful and boring as that within.

Dilandau grumbled another curse, this time a bit more creatively. It wasn't fair. Ever since childhood he'd been living under others' restrictions, from his early life with the dog pack to living under Folken's care. Now free life had come to greet him and he found it was doing just the same as captivity, only worse. He'd thought for certain that once he was out of Folken's grasp that the world would provide his playground, but the reality was quite the opposite. There was not just a lack of employment for fighters, there was no fighting at all. Even those few conflicts that did briefly crop up in the area managed to pass him by. No one wanted an albino; the defects were too much for them to trust. It only made it worse that he was one whose life had revolved around the Black Dragon Clan's controversial reign. Those who would hire him for his supposed skill backed down immediately at the mention of that name. If he didn't find a job soon, he'd never get his team to the next country where the real fighting was still going on.

Peace was such a pain.

A knock at the door caught Dilandau's attention. He jerked his head around, annoyed at being disturbed so well into his bad mood.

"What?!" The word came out louder than he'd intended, but conveyed enough pent up anger that he didn't really mind.

The door slid open only a crack in response, admitting a tuft of blonde hair and a single curious green eye. The light hints of a painted marking across the forehead identified the intruder well enough as Shesta. Somehow, Dilandau wasn't surprised.

The albino scowled, settling back in his chair, his annoyance evaporating just barely. "It's only you. What do you want?"

Shesta slipped into the room quietly, closing the door behind him. For a moment it seemed that he's forgotten the question he'd been asked. His eyes flickered over the misty window and the bare furnishings, hesitating on the katana leaning in the corner. Finally, just as Dilandau was about to speak up, Shesta broke in. "It's the rain, isn't it?"

Dilandau sneered, "What in the name of the gods are you talking about?"

A knowing smile crossed Shesta's face, You've been up here for three days. I've heard you in the night, but during the day you're here. It's been the same since this storm started." His glance traced back to the window, "So I'm guessing it's the rain."

Again, a silence fell, this time from Dilandau. He studied Shesta for a moment, then turned back to the window, "Why don't you just read my mind if you want to know what's wrong?" His voice was a threat in itself. "It's not the rain."

"You know I can't read you. Not that way, anyhow. I do understand you, though. It's not just the rain, then, but that's part of it. Fine. Your Dragonslayers are worried, Dilandau. The least you could do is tell us what the problem is. We're under your command, don't forget."

At that, a quiet smile crossed Dilandau's face. His gaze didn't waver, but somehow he seemed less focused. "You all sold your lives to me. I know. I haven't forgotten." He sighed. "But I've gained my freedom. Can't I just tell you all to live on your own for a few days?"

"If you'll excuse me for saying so, I don't think so, Dilandau. We sold our own freedoms for yours. You lead us. You can't just turn away from that."

A single bloody eye focused hard on the boy, "And why not? There's nowhere I can lead you now, why can't you all just go off on your own? You're seeming to enjoy this peaceful life anyway. Why not just free yourselves and leave me be?"

"Because we can't." A look of nervousness flashed briefly in his emerald eyes, "Not unless you free us, of course..."

For a moment, Dilandau's expression was unreadable. Shesta could plainly see that his thoughts were far from still, but he had not a guess as to their direction. "I won't leave you even if I'm freed," he added quietly, "I have no where else to go but with you."

"Don't tie yourself down, Shesta. It's foolish. You'll only get yourself killed."

"That's not my concern."

"It should be. You don't have a duty to anyone but yourself anymore. The Black Dragon Clan has fallen. Folken is dead. Our fight is over."

Tempting fate, Shesta stepped closer, confused, "What about your promise? ėThere's always another war to fight,' you said. You're not thinking of giving up, are you?"

Dilandau scowled bitterly, his eyes narrowed, "And so what if I am? I have good enough reason to want to quit this life. I've done my part. The Wing Goddess chose the planet's path and now there's nothing more for me. You've preached to me about destiny often enough. My destiny is over. I killed who needed to die, I saved who needed to live. Four of those died anyway. It was fate and bad judgment. Your fate is life. I won't kill you."

"So you'd walk away from us?"

"I might." He leaned back, gazing to his sword, "I haven't decided yet."

"Why must you decide at all? Certainly we haven't seen a fight in a few years, but it's not like we know what the future holds..."

Those words seemed to stir something in the air. The moment he said them he regretted them . And urge to get away filled him as a strange glint came into Dilandau's eyes.

"You do." Dilandau voice came in a breath; he turned so sharply that Shesta was forced a step backwards. His gaze was piercing. "You're a clairvoyant. Limited prescience. How limited is limited? How much do you know about the future that I don't? Why won't you leave? Tell me, Shesta. That's an order."

For a moment, Shesta hesitated. A bad feeling prickled at the back of his neck, making him more uneasy than he'd been in a long time. "I don't know anything, Dilandau. Feelings, that's all. That's why I came here."

"You know something."

"I... had a vision. I sensed something from you."

Dilandau snarled, pouncing on the growing fear as a true predator would. Quite abruptly, he was on his feet and backing Shesta towards the wall. "If you don't tell me, I'll force it out of you."

He edged towards the door, afraid of the look in those eyes, "Feelings, Dilandau, that's all." He pleaded, "There's a shadow over you and it's been getting stronger. If you leave, I have to follow. I..."

"A shadow." The ferocity quieted for a mere instant.

Shesta eased a little further away. "I don't know how else to explain it." He half whispered, "It's been there since the first time I met you. A sense that... that you're... danger..."

Dilandau's eyes blazed. The younger boy's hand instinctively moved for the doorknob.

"Why would you follow me if I'm a danger?"

The growl in Dilandau's voice sent a chill up Shesta's spine. He stared back, mind working a million miles a second. Why was he following? It had been years since he'd last reported to his former master. The mission was lost, wasn't it? No, Dilandau wasn't a danger in himself. Dilandau's protection was all that mattered now...

He paused. Dilandau's protection...

"You're in danger, Dilandau, that's all I know. That's all." He felt his heartbeat shudder in nervousness, "Please, believe me."

Silence fell between them. Outside, the rain continued in its torrent, beating against the window. A wind shrieked past the corner of the house, stirring the air. Shesta tightened his grip on the doorknob, struggling to keep from bolting. Dilandau's scarlet gaze never failed to unnerve him and with the albino close enough that he could feel his breath on his face, it was almost too much.

Finally, after an eternity of moments, Dilandau grinned, "I'm in danger? That's all? Shesta, I'm surprised." He turned away, stalking back to the window. "If that's all, then it's no wonder. I'm always in danger. I have been since I was born. That shadow is my shadow. I'm used to it by now."

Shesta nearly melted to the floor in relief. At the least, the thud as he fell limply back to the wall was enough to be audible. He took a shuddering breath, but fear still stirred in his mind.

"Dilandau, tell me then, will you leave us? I have to know."

Dilandau slid back into his chair, letting out a sigh as he turned his gaze back to the young Dragonslayer. His hair tumbled in a tangle in front of his eyes, neither washed nor brushed since maybe a week before. Even with that veil, his predatory smile remained perfectly chilling. "I will do what I must, Shesta. At the moment, no, I won't leave." His expression softened, "But I make no promises. You know that."

"But..."

"You should go. I'd like to sleep."

Shesta hesitated only for an instant to pull himself back together. With a quick nod, he slipped around to the door and pulled it open, vanishing into the hallway with barely a sound. Dilandau watched him until the door had closed between them and then Shesta was alone.

In the darkness of the hallway, the only thing real was his own breathing, which was still rapid from his encounter. For long moments he stood there, focusing on the sounds behind the silence. Gatty and Ryuon were sleeping in their rooms a few feet behind him - he could hear Gatty snoring quietly. Other than that, the only other thing to hear was the pattering rain and the whistle of the wind.

Finally, after long moments, he dared to stir, glancing behind him, down the hall. With his mind he reached out to Dilandau again, brushing the invisible shadow that the albino constantly carried with him. In that instant, a flood of images passed through Shesta's mind. Past, present, possible future... they all seemed connected at that moment, sweeping towards a single point. It was a disconcerting image at best, if unclear.

...I'm always in danger. I have been since I was born...

Shesta let out a breath, closing his eyes tight and shivering. More than you know, Dilandau. I thought I'd stopped this years ago. Stupid of me... Stupid. Stupid. He won't be let down so easily.

Shakily, he broke the connection, slipping back into the comfort of his own lonely mind. He'd never told Dilandau how far his abilities reached. Limited prescience, true enough, but he'd never mentioned the ability to read auras before. It hadn't shown up until just before he'd met Dilandau. Fated, it seemed.

It was fortunate that Dilandau hadn't struck him down for keeping a secret like that. Fortunate indeed. It was only too bad that it didn't look as if that fortune would last.

With a last glance back, Shesta started down the hallway, heading for his own room and the inevitable battle for sleep. It wouldn't be easily won.