----------------------------------------CHAPTER TWO----------------------------------------

----------------------------------------A Forgotten Love----------------------------------------

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Hitomi rolled onto her side and adjusted the pillow beneath her head. Pillow? She sat straight forward and looked around. She was still in Van's room. She was in his bed now too. She looked over to the corner of the room, and there sat Van, fast asleep in a hard rocking chair. He had given her his bed while he slept in such an uncomfortable looking chair? She climbed out of bed and wondered how she got there. The last thing she remembered was sitting in front of the fire, trying to get warm from the rain. She walked around to the end of the bed, and decided not to wake him. He looked so peaceful; she didn't want to disturb him. Instead she climbed back onto the bed, tucked her knees beneath her chin, and sat there, watching him sleep.

This was the first time that she had noticed that he had grown up. His jaw line was much more defined, as was the rest of his body. He had gotten taller as well. He stood just under a head of Hitomi. He still hadn't changed his hair style; it was still long and wild. But she liked it that way. The way his hair fell just over his eyes when he smiled, it was her favorite memory. It no longer had to be a memory though, she was back, and nothing could separate them again. What she felt for Van would never be broken.

But what did she feel for him? Did she love him? Was he her best friend? Were these feelings just of a special bond of friendship, or something more? Her mind got caught in a tangle and she didn't even realize he opened his eyes. She had still been looking at him. She blushed and looked away. "Oh, you're awake. I didn't want to wake you earlier, so I thought I'd sit here and wait." She forced a smile.

"How long did you wait for?" He said as he stood up and stretched.

Her eyes fell across his exposed waist line, which was really all that was visible under his red shirt. He watched the muscles flex under his skin, and he heart started to beat faster. She had to divert her eyes. "Not long, only a couple of minutes."

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Did you sleep well? Was the bed to your liking?" He asked very seriously. He was much more business like today. He wasn't as poetic and flirtatious as yesterday.

"Ah, yes. It was very comfortable, but I'm afraid I don't know how I got there." She looked at the dead fireplace.

"I left the room to get more firewood and when I cam back you were curled up into a ball on my floor, sound asleep. I thought it best I put you to bed, since you had such a busy day today. So I carried you and tucked you into bed."

Tucked you into bed.

"Oh! You shouldn't have. I'm sorry, this is embarrassing." She put her hands over her face, she felt silly. She was eighteen and she fell asleep on him, after all he had done for her too.

He walked up to her and squatted; keeping one hand on his sword handle, and placing the other one on her wrist. She felt his long slender fingers gently touch her wrist and she flinched. "Don't feel embarrassed, I loved the feeling of taking care of you." He paused as she looked at him. "And you look so cute while you sleep." He smiled very slightly.

Her face went scarlet. "Van…"

Just then the door went flying and a furry girl came rushing towards them. "Lord Vaaan!!" Merle jumped at Van and sent both of them flying and sliding across the floor. They slowed down and eventually came to a stop. Merle began licking Van's face and purring. "Lord Van I missed you while you were away!"

"Quit it Merle, I was only gone one night." He sounded irritated, but he smiled and put his arms around her.

Hitomi felt jealous. She stood up and coughed, so she would be noticed.

Van quickly shoved Merle off of him and stood up. "Ah, Merle. You remember Hitomi."

Merle eyed her up and down and grunted. She hadn't changed in appearance at all! "Hmph! Still the same old girl. Maybe she has gotten a little uglier." Merle smiled. "But I still missed you." She galloped and hugged Hitomi.

Hitomi stood there for a moment in shock as Merle hugged her and rocked her back and forth. She slowly wrapped her arms around Merle. Her friend. As much as they compete for Van, they were friends, and they both knew it. She looked down at Merle, her tail wagging. She then looked up at Van, who was standing there smiling at them. She watched as Van's eyes moved beside them, and then saw his face darken. Merle suddenly pulled away from her and ran to sit beside Van.

"Van, Merle, what..?" She followed there eyes and slowly turned around. Her heart hit the floor and the blood drained from her face. She felt sick. In the doorway stood a serious-faced, out-of-breath Allen Schezar, and it was obvious he had come to see her.

"Allen-san?" She was completely speechless.

He was leaning over slightly, one hand on his leg to prop himself up, with his other elbow against the doorframe. He was panting heaving, and he was looking up at her with his crystal blue eyes. They bore into her and made her unable to breath.

Without changing his stance he looked at Van. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me she was coming back?" his voice was angry.

"I didn't see that it was any business of yours." Van's words were cold and clipped as he challenged Allen's glare.

Allen stood straight and took a few steps toward Van. Hitomi stepped towards him and grabbed his sleeve. "Allen, please, don't fight." She looked up into his eyes as he looked down into hers. His stern expression had softened to surprise. It softened further into something that looked almost like longing. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Hitomi was too shocked to say no, so she slowly gripped the sides of his clothing.

Allen was so different from Van. He smelled different. She could never place the scent but it was very much a male scent. He wasn't clumsy, he was elegant. He knew how to talk to girls and he had much more respect. He was much taller then Van, and in contrast to Van's dark appearance, Allen had long blonde hair matching his crystal blue eyes. The only thing that Van and Allen had in common was the fact that Hitomi had mixed feelings for both of them; and as she hugged the man she once loved, those feelings arose once again.

Apparently they had been in an embrace for to long, Van interjected and pulled Hitomi away from him. He looked at Allen sternly. "We have work to do, do we not? You'll have to leave this for some other time." He glowered at Allen until he finally looked away.

"Yeah I guess your right." He placed his right hand behind his head and gave himself a little scratch. "Hitomi, would you… Would you mind joining me for dinner tonight? I have many things I would love to talk to you about."

Hitomi looked at Van; he was looking at the corner of the room; his expression a mixture of hurt and anger. Hitomi looked back at Allen and smiled. "Allen, why don't we all eat dinner together? I haven't seen anyone for three years; I would love to catch up with everyone!" She watched Allen's face fall.

"Well…" He was unsure of what to do. However, being the Allen Schezar, he quickly recovered his dignity and spoke calmly, smoothly. "That sounds perfect Hitomi. I look forward to it." Without knowing what was going on, his picked up Hitomi's hand and brought it to his lips, making her blush. "Really, I'm looking very forward to it." He looked up into her eyes. Hitomi's face went scarlet as her mouth gaped slightly.

Van stalked to the doorway. "Let's go. This isn't something that can wait Allen." He looked at Hitomi. "Merle you take good care of her today, make sure she gets everything she asks for. I'll see you both for dinner." Allen joined him in the doorway.

"Bye Lord Van!" Merle waved energetically. Then looked at Hitomi and smiled wickedly. "Would you like to see the new and improved kingdom? You haven't seen it since it had been rebuilt!"

Hitomi hadn't even thought of that. "Ah, yes! That would be great Merle." Hitomi didn't smile, and Merle called her on it.

She sat in a cat-like manor at the edge of the bed. "Are you not happy to be here Hitomi? Are you not happy with Lord Van?"

Are you not happy with Lord Van…

She looked at Merle with a shocked face. "No Merle, I'm very happy to be with him."

I'm very happy to be with him.

"Then its Allen-san isn't it?" Merle leaned forward.

Hitomi sighed and sat on the bed next to her, gripping the bed pole with her hand and resting her head on it. She looked over to her. "Why do you say that Merle?"

Merle thought on it a moment. "Weeeellllllll… You were very happy until Allen came into the room. And although you seemed happy to see him, since you embraced him in such a manor, you seem upset now." She looked at Hitomi. "Do you still love him Hitomi?"

Hitomi's heart thudded in her chest. "No Merle. I don't love him anymore." I think.

"Oh, well then that's good. Since your staying with Lord Van, it's probably best that way anyways. As you can tell, those two don't get alone very well." Merle jumped off the bed so she could look at Hitomi directly. She licked her front paw.

"Yes, I noticed. But why Merle? Allen and Van got along before I left, most of the time anyways. What happened?"

"You happened." Merle said instantly.

Hitomi's head shot up. "Me? What did I do?" She sat straight up and looked at Merle intently.

Merle looked down with sad eyes. "Well… After you left, Allen blamed Van for making you leave. He thought that Van did something wrong to make you want to leave. Lord Van was still hurting from not having you around, so hearing this made things worse. At first he didn't believe it, but then he started to think Allen was right. He began to question himself, telling himself that he had done something to make you not want to stay with him. He thought that if he had done something different, he could have made you stay. He tried to talk to Allen about it but Allen wouldn't hear it. He told Van that he took away something he had loved, and he would never forgive him. Lord Van and Allen haven't spoken since. Van never told Allen he had a special connection to you, never told him that he sensed you needing him. And no, he didn't tell him about his plan to go and get you. Someone must have told him, and he rushed over here. There are many problems between Allen and Lord Van. I just want Lord Van to be happy…" Merle stared at the floor, tears glazed her eyes.

Hitomi jumped from the bed and squatted in front of Merle. "Merle, don't worry. Things will get better now."

Merle looked Hitomi in the eyes. Her tears falling from her eyes. "Please don't hurt him anymore!" Merle cried and she leaned into Hitomi's chest to cry. "Please don't hurt him! He's been through so much. He watched his kingdom burn, he has no family, he lost the only friend he ever had… He lost you!" Merle continued to cry.

Hitomi held her, not knowing what else to do. "It's okay Merle. I'm not going to hurt Van. I would never do that."

Merle leaned back and looked at her. "Then please, don't have anything to do with Allen. Do it for Lord Van."

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