10. Fight and Makeup
They went to find Kyria and found her in the Library reading a book on Draconians. When she saw them she marked her place and closed the book.
"We came to ask you why you didn't tell me that some of my new powers would be dangerous," Hitomi said tensely. The memory of what she had done was still fresh in her mind and she didn't like it.
Kyria shook her head. "I didn't know," She said guiltily. "If I had I would have warned you. Which one did you get that is dangerous?"
"This," Hitomi said acidly.
She brought her hand up and concentrated on forming the flame. When it formed it was slightly larger than before. Van stared at it astonished. Then Hitomi closed her hand quenching the flame. It didn't even burn it just felt warm.
"Well, at least your learning to control it," Kyria said softly.
She was afraid of making Hitomi mad. Hitomi walked over to the window and looked out at the landscape. She sighed. She wasn't mad, just confused. Yes, she could control it, but what other powers did she have that were dangerous? She hoped none.
Van, seeing and sensing that she was still upset, went over to her and held her. The wound on his arm, which hadn't been cleaned yet but had stopped bleeding, was starting to sting. Van ignored it. This was much more important. Suddenly Kyria sighed startling the other two.
"Your not the only one with dangerous powers," Kyria whispered softly.
She lifted her hand and formed a flame exactly like Hitomi's except 3x the size. It flickered in her hand for a moment before she closed her hand quenching it.
That was exactly like yours except more powerful and more dangerous. With practice yours will be like that. I have other dangerous powers that hopefully you don't have. Some of them I still have trouble controlling. I need more practice." That's when she noticed Van's wound. "What happened to your arm?"
That was when Hitomi remembered the wound and felt guilty. She had been so upset after discovering her new power, that she had forgotten. After quickly telling Kyria what had happened, Hitomi dragged Van off so she could clean his arm before it became infected.
An hour later found Hitomi outside the library again. She opened the door and walked in glad that Kyria was still there. She was again absorbed in the book on Draconians. When Hitomi walked in Kyria put her book down.
"Will you teach me how to use my powers?"
"I knew you were going to ask that, and yes I'll teach you. Come on let's go to the archery field. We need a target. Where's Van?"
"He went to explain to his advisers why he let so suddenly. He knows how to find me if he needs me. Come on, Let's go get the target." With that they left the library.
Half- an- hour later Van was looking for Hitomi. When he didn't find her in her usual spots, he decided on another method. He pictured the pendant in his mind and focused on an image of Hitomi. The pendant pointed in the direction of the training yard. Van went out there confused as to why she would be out there. Then he saw a ball of flame hit a target. That's when he understood. She was practicing. He decided to watch, so he hid behind a tree so he wouldn't distract her.
"How was that," Hitomi asked.
"Better, You still need improvement though. We'll do some more and then go in. You must be getting tired," Kyria told her.
"Yeah, but I'm not ready to quit. I can't depend on Van to take care of me forever. I need to learn to take care of myself."
Van was shocked at hearing this. He had never expected this, especially not from Hitomi. Then he heard something that shocked him even more.
"Why don't you ask him to teach you how to use a sword or bow," Kyria suggested.
"I'd like to but he'll object to my learning to use a sword. I don't know what he'll say to my using a bow. He knows that I hate violence."
"Why don't you tell him what you just told me, about defending yourself."
She threw another fireball at the target, hitting it squarely. Van saw the flame and noticed that it was larger than before when he first saw it in the library. He was amazed that Hitomi felt this way. He never knew. He decided then that he would teach her to use a sword himself. They weren't done talking though, so he went back to listening.
"Do you want me to talk to him for you?"
"No, I'll ask him and see what he says. If he says no, I'll tell him my reasons for asking. If he still says no, I'll let you talk to him. If that doesn't work then I'll resort to teaching myself. It'll take longer, but I'll do it."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I'm desperate."
"Wow you must be to resort to teaching yourself."
"I am. Come on let's go in, I've had enough for now."
After they left Van slid down the trunk of the tree to the grass. He couldn't believe what he had just heard! She would actually try to teach herself if he said no. He had already decided to teach her himself, but hearing this just made him even more determined. He would train her until she was as good him, if not better. Having decided this he went back in the palace. He headed for their room thinking Hitomi might want to freshen up after practice. On his way there he met Kyria. She was on her way to her own room after leaving Hitomi at hers. When she saw him she stopped.
"You might want to let her cool off before you go see her. Oh, and don't mention anything that you heard us saying. Yes, I know you were there. I could sense you. Anyway I know that you've decided to teach her, but you might want to think of a good excuse to tell her or she might get suspicious. Be careful what you say to her. Our conversation got her pretty wound up. Now I'm going to go freshen up. Teaching her wasn't easy, although she caught on fast. Well, see you later. Oh, if she seems to know that you were there or if your hiding something, tell her the truth, but be gentle."
With that she was gone, Leaving Van to his thoughts. Van went up to the roof, it was his favorite thinking spot. He knew Hitomi would find him eventually. Meanwhile, though he could think of an excuse to tell her. After thinking for a while, he came up with an idea and hoping it would work. He kept going over it in his mind in hopes that he sounded convincing. After being on the roof for an hour, Van heard footsteps on the stairs leading to the roof. He knew that it was Hitomi, because only she and Merle came to the roof besides him. Merle was shopping right now though. As Hitomi stepped out onto the roof, Van thought, 'Here we go.'
When Hitomi stepped out onto the roof she looked around for Van and saw him sitting where they had had their picnic dinner. He looked like he was deep in thought. When he looked over at her he looked a little pale. She wondered why. She went over and sat next to him. He looked like he was struggling to say something. Just when she was about to break the silence, he spoke.
"Do you want to learn to use the sword and bow?"
Even though he knew the answer, it was part of his plan. She looked shocked at his question. She had been about to ask if she could. His question gave her hope but also suspicion. Did he know or was it something else? She decided to answer and find out what was going on.
"Yes, I was about to ask if I could. But how did you know?"
"I didn't. But if you want to I'll teach you. I can't always be around to protect you. And you don't seem to like your powers."
"Not the dangerous ones, no"
She was still suspicious and Van knew it. He had no choice but to keep going though.
"Well I'll teach you if you want me to."
All this time he had been looking out over Fanelia, refusing to look at her. She seemed to know this and was curious why. He wondered why she didn't say anything about it. She also seemed to know that he was hiding something. It was making Van nervous. She finally answered his question though.
"I'd love to have you teach me, but first . . . tell me what your hiding. If you don't tell me, I'll find out my own way."
He knew what she meant. She would look into his mind. He had no choice but to tell her the truth. As he expected she was angry, while he felt ashamed. He knew he deserved it, but that didn't make it any easier to take her lecture. As she kept up her lecture about him being irresponsible, an eavesdropper, and above all a liar, he tried to defend himself by saying that he had just wanted to watch her practice. He had not intended to eavesdrop. He knew it was no good. After all he HAD listened to what they were saying, even if at first it was unintentional. He was feeling extremely guilty. He was starting to wish he could sink through the roof and escape. This lecture was, to be honest, much more than he expected. He had expected to be slapped and have her run away from him.
As Hitomi paused for breath, Van closed his eyes tight. Then suddenly a tear escaped his eye. That is how bad he felt. So unexpected was this sudden show of emotion that it caused Hitomi to pause again, this time in astonishment. This was the last thing she had expected. Seeing it though made her search Van's feelings. She saw how bad he felt and she could feel his guilt and ashamed feelings. She decided she had said enough. Then she stepped closer, slapped him and stormed away. She wasn't angry anymore after seeing and feeling how Van felt, but she wanted him to think she was.
Van meanwhile was still sitting on the roof. He knew Hitomi wasn't mad anymore. He could feel it. That didn't change the fact that he still felt bad. Suddenly his wings sprang from his back, tearing his shirt to shreds. He jumped off the roof and headed for his own secret place. Merle and Hitomi didn't even know about this place. Van landed and went over to the lake that was there. He had named it 'Angel Lake.' He dove in. Almost an hour later he got out and laid down on the grass looking at the sky, which was beginning to darken. He would have to go back soon.
Hitomi meanwhile was sitting on their balcony looking at the sky. She was beginning to wonder where Van was. She had gone back up to the roof to try to get him to come eat supper. She found the roof empty except for some feathers and a torn shirt. All of this told her that he had gone flying. She didn't blame him. She had overdone it a bit with her lecture. She had eaten supper with Merle and Kyria. Now she was sitting on the balcony waiting for Van to come back.
After sitting on the balcony for about an hour, she saw a white speck in the sky heading her way. After another minute she saw that it was Van, as she had suspected. Van flew down to the balcony and landed in front of her leaving his wings open. After a minute of silence in which Hitomi was looking over Van's Majestic wings, Van opened his arms asking permission and forgiveness. Having forgiven him already, Hitomi went willingly into his embrace. With a mighty flap of his wings, He lifted her into the air. Hitomi then released her own wings, and hands clasped together they flew side-by-side into the night.