"Do I frighten you?" Silence greeted Van's question. They hadn't moved. Van stood, his wings stretched out behind him. Light streamed in through the window, illuminating him. Feathers fell like the snow was outside. Hitomi was in an awed trance. No! her mind screamed, You're beautiful, Van! But the words wouldn't pass her lips. The silence only hardened Van's gaze. "So that's how it is?" he asked quietly.

"Van," Hitomi finally whispered. Finally able to speak again, her trance broke. Tears built up in her eyes and she threw herself at Van's bare chest. Van, surprised by the attack, fell to the floor with an "oof!" Hitomi buried her face in his chest and she cried openly. "You're beautiful, Van," she sobbed, "Nothing will ever change that."

~Noon

The two ate in silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, or stiff. They just didn't have anything to say. So they didn't speak. Silence followed them wherever they went. Eventually, they headed down to the basement to practice. It was no longer silent, the room heavy with panting and the clacking of wood, but still, no one spoke. When Van deemed they had enough, he silently dropped his sword and took hers.

"Since I'm just telling you all my darkest and deepest secrets today," he said, "I'll show you my guymelef." He paused when he saw her face, "After we shower, of course. But I expect you to tell me at least one secret after all this." She nodded, not sure that she had any secrets to tell. Once again in silence, they parted ways to clean up.

When they found each other in the living room, Hitomi had to ask, "How do you have wings? Are you an angel or something?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Ever heard of Draconians?" This question seemed to take her aback. She remembered the tarot reading she did the other day... Hadn't it said something about the past? She was too wrapped up in Allen to pay attention completely...

"You're a Draconian?" she asked, awed once again.

He shrugged, "So it would seem. Ready?" She nodded and they went outside. Thankfully, Hitomi thought of something to say.

"Why does Dilandou hate you and Allen so much?" she asked curiously.

Van sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "I guess it's because we're the only two who stand a chance against him in a 'melef fight."

Hitomi tilted her head, "He's that good? Wait. You're that good? I kick your ass all the time!"

He grinned, "Because I let you." She scowled at that. The man had a point. They continued to talk about her form and what she needed to improve on. It made them both uncomfortable to think about how this would end. Her training would probably stop when she left. So they eventually spoke about what she could do at home to practice and they made a vague schedule for her sessions. By the time they stopped, the conversation had somehow moved on to penguins.

"Wait here," Van interrupted. They were in the woods, and Hitomi was now standing and waiting while Van ran ahead. Just as she was beginning to get impatient, the birds scattered. She frowned at that and called out Van's name. Then a white guymelef with a cape approached her. Her throat closed in terror. Being a bystander was horrifying. The 'melef kneeled in front of her and opened up. Van climbed out with a huge smirk on his face. "You look pale," he commented. She merely stared. His gaze became worried as he climbed out. "Hitomi?" he asked, snapping her out of her trance.

She smiled vaguely, "Its really scary when you're on the ground. I almost forgot how much they frighten me."

Van's eyebrows pulled together, "Do you want to go back?" She nodded. He sighed and hopped back in the 'melef to put it away. Hitomi watched its retreating figure and shivered. Her dad had been a 'melef champion... Suddenly, Van was by her side again. "Let's go." She nodded and followed, grabbing his arm. She still felt small and insignificant compared to that 'melef.

Van didn't like how pale she was, but secretly enjoyed how she clung to him. At the same time, her behavior made him worry.

"How did Dilandou get you into one if you were so scared of them?" he asked as the mansion came into view.

Her grip relaxed, "It wasn't moving. It was sitting. Waiting. I don't know; he held my hand when I shuddered." That made Van want to punch the man in the face. How dare he touch Hitomi? However, he had to remind himself that Dilandou was Hitomi's friend. Well, sort of. Thinking about it, he wasn't sure how Hitomi felt about Dilandou.

"That 'melef is called Escaflowne," he informed her, "Its sort of a family heirloom. It wouldn't be able to hurt you even if Dilandou was in it."

Hitomi smirked, "No; he loves me too much."

Van grimaced, "I certainly hope he doesn't love you. If he asks you out, scream 'bloody murder' and run away."

She giggled, "Don't worry, Van. He uses me to get to you and Allen. He can't hurt me or else he'll love my friendship."

"Unless he pushes your sympathy button and you forgive him," Van reminded her, "You almost forgave Allen, and he's nice compared to Dilandou."

She sighed, "I guess you're right. Dilly is so dramatic, isn't he?"

Van chuckled, "You have no idea." He opened the door to his mansion and they went inside. "He hates that nickname by the way. Every time I called him that in the tournament he went crazy." He closed the door behind them, "And you probably wouldn't notice because he's so pale, but I gave him a nice scar on his right cheek."

"Van!" Hitomi gasped, "Hurting someone is nothing to be proud of!"

Van sighed, "I know. It just... Never mind." They both sat on the couch and Van pulled the plate of pfeffernusse closer, "If I recall correctly, you have to tell me a secret."

Her brow creased, "Frankly, I don't think I have any secrets." He looked disappointed and she immediately regretted the truth. "Give me a minute to think, okay?" she asked, desperately trying to think of a secret. Finally, after a lot of digging around in her brain, she found one. However, she couldn't just say, "I love you, Van. That's my secret." Instead, she said, "If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret anymore."

"Its bad to keep things bottled up," Van chided her, "Just tell me."

She scowled, "What if I don't want to tell you the only secret I ever had?"

He narrowed his eyes, "Tell me." Her face turned an awfully pretty shade of red. It made Van even more curious as to what her secret was. "Please?" he asked gently, "I won't make fun of you or reject you in any way." She glanced at him doubtfully. His eyes pleaded her too. "I trust you, remember? I thought you said you trusted me."

She remembered the first day she came here, when she was ready to scream and run away because she discovered was alone with Van for an entire week. His words echoed in her head, "Don't you trust me?"

She sighed, "Its really really personal. I'm afraid things will never be the same if I tell you." His finger brushed her cheek.

"Nothing will change," he whispered, "And if it does, it'll be for the better. I promise." She took a deep breath and found he was very close. Maybe he was wrong.

"You have no idea what will happen if I tell," she whispered, "You can't promise that."

His eyes turned playful, "What if I told you I'm psychic?"

"What if I told you I'm pregnant?" she retorted. His eyes widened in shock and his jaw dropped. She buried her face in her hands and shook her head, "That's not my secret, Van." He blinked a few times. Not her secret. Not. Her. Secret.

He exhaled, "You scared me!"

She sighed, "See what I mean? You have no idea. Secrets are secrets for a reason."

He inched closer, "And the reason you have this secret is because you're a coward."

"Am not!" she raised her chin defiantly, "I'm not afraid to tell you!"

"Oh?" he murmured, rubbing her cheek with his thumb. The syllable seemed to take away her defiance. "Tell me, then, if you aren't afraid."

She flushed and stared down at her fidgeting hands, "Well... Uh... I..." Van gently lifted her chin. Their eyes locked and she felt the words forming on her lips. The phone rang and made her jump.

"Let it ring," he murmured, "Tell me." He leaned uncomfortably close, and her breath hitched.

"Van," she whispered, "I-."

"Leave a message. Beep. Van, Balgus. I need-."

Van picked up the phone, "I'm busy, make it quick." Their gaze didn't break once while his conversation continued. "No. I don't care. I won't do it, Balgus..." His eyes widened and he stood, then walked out of the room. Curious, Hitomi followed and listened through the door. "... you found him? What do you mean? I don't understand. Folken has been missing since-." Silence followed. "No, I don't care. An inconvenience, yes. I still have the bulk of the fortune. Leave me alone unless something important happens." She jumped when the door opened.

He raised an eyebrow, "Hear something interesting?"

She flushed, "Folken's back?"

"So it seems," Van sighed, "and he wants some of our parent's money. Of course he's entitled to it, but... Balgus is just worried. I don't care what Folken's conditions are."

"Conditions?" she asked.

He ran a hand through his hair, "He sent Balgus a letter. To reappear, he wants some things. I don't care what he wants, though. I don't care if he comes back either. He left me when I was little without any guidance. As far as I'm concerned, Balgus never informed me of the letter." The coldness in his voice made Hitomi wince.

"He really hurt you, didn't he?" she murmured, resting her hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes, trying to carve the sensation into his brain.

"What were you saying before we were interrupted?" he asked.

She bit her lip, "I don't have the courage to say it now."

He chuckled and stroked her hair, "Don't worry, love. I knew what you were going to say." With that, he leaned forward and their lips met. Before Hitomi got over her shock, Van pulled back and smiled, "Ready for dinner?"

~Dinner

Van sat at the head of the table, and Hitomi sat to his right. The table in the dining room was long, and covered in all sorts of food. Of course there was turkey, but there was also twice baked potatoes and yams and the list went on.

"How are just the two of us supposed to eat this?" she murmured.

Van shrugged, "We don't have to. I have plenty of ways to dispose of what we don't eat."

"Who made this anyway?" she asked incredulously, "We were together all day!"

"Believe it or not," he answered, "I have servants. I pay them not to be seen when you're around."

She sighed, "Well, let's get on with this. Say something you're thankful for." He gave her a weird look, but realized that was a tradition a lot of people had. Hence the name "Thanksgiving."

He exhaled thoughtfully, "I'm thankful for... this time with you." He raised his wine glass and Hitomi hesitantly did the same.

"I'm thankful for all my family and friends I can't see today," Hitomi said cheerfully. Van frowned, realizing how selfish he'd been, keeping her away from her family. During a holiday, no less! They began their meal quietly.

"Hitomi?" Van asked, "Do you want to see your family today?"

She blinked at him, "It'd be nice, but... I'm afraid it would break the spell."

He tilted his head, "Spell? I'm not a wizard, Hitomi."

She rolled her eyes, "That's not what I meant. I'm just saying... for now, I'm content with you."

"I want you to be happy, though," he insisted, "If you're anything less than ecstatic, I'm not satisfied."

She laughed, "I am ecstatic, Van. Calm down. Let's just eat, okay?" He smiled and they ate.

~That Night

"Hitomi?" Van asked, putting his book aside. She looked up at him sleepily. "You probably don't want to sleep with me now, do you?"

Hitomi looked at him confusedly, "Of course I still want to sleep with you." He smiled softly and he brought her up to his room. While Hitomi was out like a light, Van couldn't sleep at all. His focus was on Hitomi's moonlit face. Her breath was even and deep, her hair rustling in front of her face. "Hitomi," he murmured, "Stay with me." With that, he pulled her close and inhaled the scent of his shampoo in her hair.