Authors
Note: This is the sequel to my series Together Again, lots of people asked for
a sequel so of course they had to get it.J Thanks for all the great reviews and I'm sorry it
took so long to get the sequel out but I had exams to take care of, but now
that they are over I should have plenty of time to write. Anyways, I better get
on with the story. It's set about a month after Together Again, and a day
before the wedding. Enjoy, J
Disclaimer:
I don't own 'em.
Separation (Part
1)
Hitomi
awakened slowly and stretched languidly, as a few rays of sunlight shone across
her face. She opened her eyes and looked around, the sun was shining through
the cracks in the curtains of a large window on the far wall. Hitomi spread her
arms out, taking up the whole of the large bed where she was sleeping. A slow
smile spread across her face. One
more day, she
thought. The wedding was scheduled for tomorrow, the whole kingdom was
gathering together to celebrate the king's marriage. She could hardly wait;
soon she would be Van's wife, the thought made her whole body tingle.
Hitomi
sat up slowly, her bed was huge, a canopy hung overhead and the mattress was so
thick that she sometimes felt as though she was lying on a cloud. But the bed
was nothing compared to the room, tapestries hung from the walls, and carpets
were scattered about on the floor. The size alone was intimidating; her whole
apartment could have fit in the room.
She
threw aside the covers and climbed out of bed, she moved over to the window and
pulled the heavy, blue curtains aside. The sun burst into the room, lighting up
everything. Hitomi sighed as she looked out the window, to tell the truth, she
was a little annoyed. Ever since they had reached the palace, people had been
conspiring to make sure that Van and Hitomi were never left alone.
It
was the most annoying experience Hitomi had ever had. It's not like, if we get alone
together in a room, we're going to jump each other or something, she thought with a scowl. In a way
it was kind of funny the way everybody ran around trying to make it seem as
though they just happened to be in that exact place at that exact time. Hitomi
giggled at that thought, Merle especially was beginning to look a little
frazzled, Hitomi and Van were constantly trying to get away from everybody, but
they had yet to successfully escape Merle. But at least we're giving her a good run for her money, Hitomi's smile widened.
She
moved away from the window and gathered up some clothing, she quickly changed.
She was wearing a pale blue dress. It was very beautiful; it hugged her body
from the waist up and the skirt flared outwards. She tugged thoughtfully at it.
I'm never going to
get use to this clothing, she thought with a grimace. She
walked into the bathroom and splashed water on her face, and brushed her hair.
She
figured that she shouldn't stay in her room all day; there were still quite a
few things that needed to be done before the wedding. But before she could
reach the door, there was a knock, and a voice asked quietly, "Hitomi, are you
awake?" Hitomi instantly recognized the voice and yanked the door open.
"Van!"
she cried, jumping into his arms. She threw a quick glance behind him,
expecting to see his ever-present shadow, Merle, behind him. She was taken
aback when all she spotted was an empty hallway. She didn't have a chance to
even open her mouth before Van tugged her into the room and closed the door.
"How?"
Hitomi asked, still staring at the door as if she expected Merle to come flying
in. Van grinned and pulled Hitomi into his arms. "Believe me it wasn't easy,
but I had to get you alone," he said. Hitomi pulled out of his embrace and
looked at him with an arched eyebrow. "Really," she said, a grin spreading
across her face. "Any specific reason why?" she asked.
Van
smiled as he looked at Hitomi, she looked so beautiful. The sun was shining on
her, and the dress definably fit well. Stop
that, he told himself,
he'd have the rest of his life to admire Hitomi, that wasn't why he was here,
and if he wanted to do this he better hurry, he had a feeling that Merle had
noticed he was missing by now.
"I
came to return something," Van said, Hitomi just watched him. She wasn't quite
sure what he was talking about. Van grabbed something around his neck and
pulled it over his head. "My pendant," Hitomi gasped.
The
pendant glittered in Van's hand; Hitomi could still vividly remember the day
she had given it to him. "Why?" she asked quietly. Van glanced down at the
pendant than back up at Hitomi. "You gave it to me so that I would never forget
you. In a way it felt more like a promise, a promise that one day you would
return to me. I think it only fair now that that promise has been fulfilled
that it is used to make another." He moved over to Hitomi and clasped her hand.
The pendant hung down beneath their joined hands. "This is my promise now, that
nothing will ever separate us again."
"Oh Van,"
she whispered, her eyes moved from their hands to Van's face. His eyes were
filled with love and sincerity. She reached up her unclasped hand, and gently
touched Van's cheek. "Nothing, absolutely nothing will ever separate us," she
whispered firmly. Their eyes met, they both leaned forward, and with a crash
the door burst open.
A very
angry, cat-girl marched into the room, her claws were out, her ears were back
and the expression on her face probably would have made the bravest warrior on
Gaea, Earth or any other planet flee for his life. Hitomi and Van pulled apart,
the pendant dangled from Hitomi's hand now.
"I was
waiting for you outside your room Lord Van." Merle hissed. Hitomi watched out
of the corner of her eye, as Van swallowed hard. "I.. well.. um.." Van mumbled.
Merle stalked a little closer, "If I didn't know better I would think that you
didn't want me along with you."
Van let
out the breath he was holding. "Merle, there was just something I had to do, I
promise you I'll stay by your side until the wedding is over." Merle looked suspiciously at Van, but the
promise seemed to mollify her. She sheathed her claws, and frowned at them
both.
"What
were you two doing?" she asked suspiciously. Hitomi glanced at Van, hoping he
would have a good excuse, but from the look on his face she was out of luck.
Hitomi stepped forward and cleared her throat, thinking quickly.
"Well… I
was walking out of my room when I spotted Van and he was going to.. um." Van
stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Walk her to the throne room." Hitomi
nodded, "Yeah that's it. But I forgot something and had to go back and get it."
Hitomi glanced at Merle, hoping that the cat-girl wouldn't push the issue.
Merle
eyed them suspiciously, but she just sniffed slightly and said, "Fine, we
better get going." She stalked out of the room; Van and Hitomi glanced at each
and smiled slightly. Hitomi leaned over to Van as they walked out of the room. "How
did you get away from Merle?" she whispered. An abashed smile spread across Van's
face as he whispered back, "I had to jump out the window and fly down." Hitomi looked
stunned, and Van mumbled, "I couldn't think of any other way to get away from
her."
Hitomi
let out a loud laugh; she slapped her hand over her mouth when Merle turned to
glare at her. The expression on Van face when he admitted that the only way he
could get away from the over excitable cat-girl was to jump out of a window was
priceless. Van seemed to finally see the humour of the situation, a slow smile
spread across his face and a quiet chuckle escaped his lips. Within minutes
both Van and Hitomi were laughing their heads off, leaving Merle to wonder if
the approaching wedding had put them under a little bit to much stress.