----------------------------------------CHAPTER FOUR---------------------------------------

The Floating Fortress

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"Van!" Hitomi shrieked. Her heart fell; he had seen them.

Van looked at them, but Hitomi saw no anger or hurt in his face. "What are you two doing out here?"

He didn't see us. Hitomi answered before Allen could open his mouth. "Allen heard me scream, there was a creepy man in the bushes. I only came out for a walk. He was just helping me Van."

Van's face flushed. He ran up to Hitomi and gripped her arms firmly, shaking her slightly. "Hitomi! Don't come out here alone at night! You should know that it's dangerous!" Van stopped and released her. He looked at the ground and inhaled deeply. "Don't put yourself in danger."

"Van…"

He looked at her for a moment; searching her face. Then looked at Allen. "Allen, we have a problem. I need you to escort to her room and meet me in the main hall." He turned away and began walking away from them.

"Is everything alright Van?" Allen said as he followed Van.

Van clearly didn't want to discuss it in front of Hitomi. "It's fine, we just need to discuss something. Just take Hitomi to her room quickly. We don't have time to wait around." He continued to walk away, and then looked at Hitomi over his shoulder. "Hitomi, I've made up a room just for you. It's down the hall from me. I'll see you around ten o'clock to see if you need anything." He hesitated for a moment, and continued on his way.

Allen's back had been to her, he turned slightly to look at her; he smiled slightly. "Shall I take you now, then?" He lifted and bent his arm for her. His smile faded, but there was much gentleness in his voice. "I think we need to talk."

"Yes, I think so too." She said as she curved her arm through his.

They walked silently through the courtyard and into the corridors of the castle. They traveled through the side stairway and onto the last floor. They made their way slowly down the hallway and outside her bedroom door. Her arm was still gently looped through his as she opened the door. Moonlight lit up the room, casting rectangular shapes across the floor and the bed. Hitomi instantly went into the room and sat on the side of the bed. She waited for Allen to follow her.

Instead of sitting next to her, Allen walked slowly and stood in front of her. "I'm sorry, Hitomi."

Her eyes shot up. "You're sorry?"

"I pushed you tonight. I moved to fast. I saw the look on your face Hitomi, you were afraid. I never want you to feel afraid when you're with me. I never want to scare you again." He came closer and squatted, his arms resting on his legs.

"I was just swept up in the fact that you were back." He searched her eyes, "Forgive me?"

"Allen, you didn't frighten me. I just…" She looked away.

"What is it, Hitomi?"

"I don't want to hurt Van, Allen. He almost saw us tonight, and I was frightened." She clenched her jaw to try to stop the flow of tears.

"Hitomi, Van has no reason to be hurt if he saw us. He's engaged, Hitomi." Allen saw the shock in her face and instantly regretted telling her. "You didn't know…"

Hitomi's body went numb. Engaged? Van's… Engaged? Tears pricked under her eye lids and she tried to breath through her mouth in an attempt to calm herself. Her heart hurt. He tried to kiss her tonight. He lied to her. He used her…

"Hitomi, are you alright?" Hitomi stood up abruptly, with her head down and clenched fists at either side of her trembling body. Allen almost fell backward but recovered in time to stand up and take a few steps back. "Hitomi, say something. Please." Allen's voice was pleading.

Hitomi was angry, she was hurt. She felt defensive. "Why… Do you care? Why do you care… If I'm hurt?" She said through clenched teeth.

"Hitomi…I…" Allen stammered.

"Why?"

"Because I love you." Allen said forcefully, without skipping a beat.

There was a long pause. At least 45 seconds of silence; nothing but heavy breathing. Hitomi was still looking down. "...I know…"

With those words she lunged herself at Allen, wrapping her arms under his, gripping his shoulders from the back. He wrapped his one arm around one of her shoulders, and used the other one to stroke her head; to calm her. Slowly he felt the wetness of her tears though his puffed sleeves. He rested his chin on her head and continued to stroke the back of her head. He closed his eyes as he took in her scent.

After what seemed to be forever, Allen opened his eyes and saw an extra shadow coming from the hallway lights. He lifted his head and turned his neck to see Van in the corner of his eye; standing in the doorway. He was somewhat silhouetted, so he couldn't make out his facial expressions, but Van turned slowly and went running down the hallway.

Hitomi heard the running footsteps. "What was that?"

Allen thought for a moment. "It was nothing." He pulled away from her, placing his hands on the top of her shoulders. "I have to go meet Van now."

"But, you and him…"

"Don't worry about me and him arguing Hitomi. We would hate each other whether me and you were together or not. We've disagreed for a long time now." Allen smiled sadly.

"Allen… You should know… Van never made me leave. He wanted me to stay. I wanted to go; don't blame him anymore."

Allen looked at her, he blinked. He diverted his gaze upwards, and inhaled and exhaled deeply. "I've made a big mistake then." He smiled at her. "I'll make things right again Hitomi, don't worry."

Hitomi snuggled into him and smiled to herself. "Thank you, Allen-san."

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Allen finally made his way to the main hall. He found Van with some of the guards, looking over a map. Without looking up, Van spoke.

"You took to long, Allen. Were you that busy?" He spat the words at him.

"Van… We need to talk. I owe you an -"

"No, Allen. You don't owe me anything." He looked up from the table, through his dark eyelashes. "I don't want anything from you."

Allen walked towards the men. "Van, Hitomi told me you never made her leave, I want to apologize!"

Van slammed his fists down on the table. "What? So now that you got her, your going to act like the bigger person and apologize? Now that you got what you wanted!? No thanks, keep it to yourself!"

Allen's anger arose. "You have Talia! You don't need her too! Why don't you stop being so selfish and realize that you've already hurt Hitomi!? I told her about Talia, she knows, Van!"

Van stepped away from the table and slowly towards Allen. "That wasn't your place Allen; I was capable of telling her!"

"Yeah but you weren't going to Van! We both know that!"

"The last thing I would have done is hurt her!"

"You already have!"

"As soon as you get close enough, you know you'll hurt her too! That's how you work Allen! Chasing everyone who loves you away from you, just like your father!"

Smack!

Allen hit Van in the side of the face with his fist, and Van crumbled to the floor. He was lying on his side; propped up by one elbow. The guards were unsure what to do, of course they had to protect the king, but with everything that had happened between Allen and Van, they knew better then to interfere.

Van looked down. His face was red, he was embarrassed. He took the hand he wasn't leaning on and wiped blood away from the corner of his mouth. "What's… What's happened to us, Allen?"

Allen stood over him, all anger drained from him. "I don't know Van."

There was an awkward silence. Van picked himself up and brushed himself off. He stood directly in front of Allen. "You were right. I didn't intend on telling her. I guess I haven't grown up as much as I like to think."

Allen was still looking him in the face. "I meant what I said Van. I'm truly sorry for blaming you about Hitomi." He looked away. "I want to start fresh Van. I want to begin again." He looked at the floor. "I want my friend back."

Van looked at him now. "I want that too." They smiled at each other and Allen stuck out a hand to him. They shook hands just before they heard a guard cough.

"Sir, about the matter of -"

"Right, Allen, we have a problem. We're receiving a visitor tomorrow, and it isn't going to be pleasant."

Van walked up to the map they had spread across the table, and Allen followed. "Who are we expecting?"

"An old friend. The successor of my beloved brother."

"Folken?" Allen said in disbelief.

Van nodded. "And he'll be arriving in style."

Allen eyed Van. "Meaning?"

"We'll be expecting the Floating Fortress."