Fae Rain- your right, i cant kill Hitomi. espicially since that would be going against one of the laws of anime that i follow: 1: you can't kill oneof the main charactors unless you bring them back to life, or its the end of the series,2: you can't get rid of/kill a random item (TakeHitomi's bag from the series) 3: the nameless soldger almost always gets killed.

random girl - thank you and i hope that you really like this

Kiana1- thank you!

Kat57- thank you and hope this is up to ur standards

Macky- as always, thank you

ladydragonoffanelia - thank you and i hoped that helped

xXFoolishXx- :grins like the cat who just ate the bird:
trekker4life- ya, well i think that going at a full-out sprint, its kinda hard to do anything but tackle someone, and i think that it's only the second time that she has actually tackled him. though she has physical hit him muliple times. : )
TheElvenHanyou- its very easy to leave it at a cliffie, and it seems that i get more reviews when i do. and look something shiny!

Kogayjilynz- thank you, and heres the update : )

Pure hope- i think that i shall refer to

Fae Rain's answer.

mysisterthinksimasquijum- i hope that i cleared it up 4 u

A/N: yes i kno that i said that it would take me longer to update, but seeing as i don't have a last class and get barley any home work, and i had a lot of things after school, so i just went to my libiary and wrote my story, so here it is.

enjoy!

Chapter 22: Good Night

It started out like another ordinary early summer day. She had just finished teaching her class for the year and was heading home.

"Hey, I'm home!"

"Hey, when are you leaving to go on that hiking trip of yours again?" Yukari asked.

"I'm planning to leave tonight, since classes have ended." She replied as she took off her shoes, and walked through the apartment.

" I can't understand why you always have to be doing something, either you're teaching your gym classes or practising your sword techniques or going on trips, when you do have a moment to yourself?"

"You know better than anyone else that I have to keep busy." She plopped down on the couch, and turned the TV -There was a story of a bank robbery on the other side of town.

" Ya, but you were never like that until you gave up fortune telling..." she sighed "Your lucky I don't have time for this. I have to get ready for my date."

"Who is it this week?" she teased glad to be getting away form that subject.

"I beg your pardon. I do not have a new boyfriend every week!"

"Well, every time I turn around you have a new boyfriend."

"No I don't and you know it!"

"Ya right...So who's the lucky one?"

"It's Amano."

"Oh, he's back?" she grinned, though she knew perfectly well that they had been going steady since high school.

"Ya, so can I use your make up? Please?"

" What's wrong with yours?"

An embarrassed Yukari replied " I've used it all up."

"Already...? Fine. Its not like I use it."

"Thank you so much, you're a life saver!" Yukari ran to the room after giving her friend a hug, and the other checked to make sure that all her things that she'll need were packed, she then decided to have a nap on the couch before she left, during which time the red-head left for her date.

Light filtered through the window as the sun set. She didn't want to open her eyes. She was having such a nice dream that she was back on Gaea with everyone, and just wanted to hang on to the memory of the feeling that she once again belonged.

Or was it all just a dream?

Or maybe a vision?

Or maybe it was real.

She hoped that it was real.

It felt too real to be a dream.

And she never got visions when she was back on The Mystic Moon –er- Earth.

She refused to open her eyes and find that she had just dreamed the whole encounter.

Someone placed a cool, damp cloth on her forehead.

That was what had awoken her. Not the light of the dying day, and there was a dull pain in her left side.

She opened her eyes, hoping that it wasn't Yukari, meaning she had a fever and had dreamed the whole thing.

Her vision was slightly blurry; someone with red hair started to come into focus. "Ah, I see that you have awaken. His Majesty shall be pleased to hear this."

"Who?"

"King Van Fannel, King of Faneila."

"Van..." a small smile played on the corner of her mouth that the mention of his name. Then she remembered the events that had caused the pain in her side.

----------------...Flash back...--------------

"VVVAAAAAAANNNNNNN!" she yelled, and took off at a dead sprint, dropping all of the equipment that she had in her hands.

She saw a glint of something from the corner of her eye as she tackled him in to the bushes.

Everyone jumped into action the moment that she called out, Sora and the other Generals brought the magical barrier up, but only a moment to late the arrow intended for Van had already struck ground. More arrows came only to bounce off of the barrier.

"Hi-Hitomi." Van stuttered, slightly confused to what had just happened. She only smiled back as her breath came in short shallow breaths. Then she collapsed into his arms. "Hitomi! HITOMI!"

----------------...End flash back...--------------

"You've been asleep for about five days now." the maid continued.

"So I've missed the whole coronation celebration?"

"Everything except for the ball, which is to be held tonight."

"Oh, Hitomi, good you're up!" cried Millerna who had just walked into the room to check up on her patient be for she got ready for the ball. "For a moment there, we thought that you weren't going to wake up... how are you feeling?"

"Well, I'm ok, I guess. My side doesn't really hurt if that's that you're asking about... and do you think that it would be all right if I go to the ball, seeing as I've missed everything?"

"Hmm... well I think that you should till stay in bed for another day or so..."

"Please Millerna! If I don't go, I'll feel that I broke my promise to you, and I promise to take it easy." The brunet pleaded.

After seeing that her patient could stand on her own for more then ten minuets at a time with out being in serious pain; Millerna gave Hitomi permission to go to the ball later that evening.

……………………………………………………………………………

Down in the Kitchens of the palace a senior page –who was assigned to serve drinks to the guests- was pulled aside, "Boy, I want you to keep the Lady Hitomi's glass full through the entire ball." The figure dropped a coin into the lad's hands. It was more money he had ever had in his hands at one time. "and if I am pleased with what happens tonight you may expect more later." And with that the figure disappeared into the darkest shadows of the hall.

……………………………………………………………………………

The time just flew by for Hitomi being; fed, washed, dressed, and decorated –hair and make up- for the ball. She was shown to her room and during a brief moment where she was alone, she found that one of her doors led to another room, and by the look of it, it was Van's room. She silently cursed Millerna, and her matchmaking attempts.

Before she knew it she was standing in front of the double doors that lead into the ballroom. It was the largest ballroom in Gaea, with one wall completely made of glass so that the dancers could gaze upon the stars with out having to go out onto the balcony.

The footman nodded to her signalling to her that she would be announced next; one of the doors opened for him to sneak in, "Presenting: The Lady Hitomi Kanzaki, Seeress of The Mystic Moon and Savour of Gaea."

What? No. She wasn't the 'Savour of Gaea,' but it was too late to correct the man now, for both the doors were pulled wide open to admit her to the room.

She walked down the stairs, praying to what-ever gods were listening that she wouldn't trip on the emerald green gown that she was wearing, with its modest Fanelian neck line, and off the shoulder sleeves. It had a wrapped top that covered and hugged her body in all the correct places. It also appeared to Hitomi that she was the last person to be introduced.

To everyone in the room She glided down the stairs and curtsied to the new queen –who was on the other side of the room- with all of the grace that she was credited to, if not more.

As Hitomi stood up from her curtsy the orchestra started to play music and couples started to move out onto the dance floor. By the time Hitomi could look up she was surrounded by royalty who then proceeded to question her about The Mystic Moon, and what her story of the Destiny War was.

She tried to answer all of their questions, but there was just so many of them!

"Hey, Van." Said Allen, "I think that maybe you should go and rescue Hitomi." He nodded his head in the direction of the massive crowd that had formed around the girl.

The two along with Prince Chid, Kagen and Merle were sitting at a table somewhat out of the view of the singles whom would do anything to get to dance with any of them, if seen.

He got up almost eagerly, it seemed to everyone who were sitting at the table, and quickly made his way over to where Hitomi was practically being held captive by the noisy nobles. He remembered to stay mainly hidden in the shadows, for the last thing that he needed was to be victim to a horde of women demanding that he dance with them.

It took him a good ten minuets to reach Hitomi, and another fifteen to get her out of the centre of the crowd, and back over to where everyone was sitting.

The evening went by relatively smoothly; they all talked about nothing in particular, and Hitomi was forced into telling her side of the story explaining why she ended up on the palace balcony injured and with a very worried Van. At one point in the evening Allen took Hitomi up on her offer to dance, only to loose track with each other from all of the people cutting in.

Only Hitomi made it back to the table.

Towards the middle of the night the music started to gain speed, and Hitomi found her self tapping her foot more often then not. "Hey, you could almost quick-step to this."

"You know quick-step?" asked Merle

"Well, ya. I took some lesions 'bout three years ago."

"That's weird, that's about the time that it was invented here on Gaea." Stated Kagen who had had way too much to drink in one night. "And Van here is the greatest, if I do say so my self."

"You can quick-step?" asked Hitomi, as she turned to face Van, jade eyes wide with admiration.

"Yes, I can quick-step, but I'm not the greatest." He said, as he semi-glared at his cousin. Her gaze travelled back out to the couples dancing out on the floor, but with I touch of longing as she took another sip of her wine. His cousin mouthed 'go for it!' and gave him the thumbs up. "Would you care to dance?" He asked her as he got up from his chair and held a hand out to her.

She looked at him, emerald eyes asking if he really meant it, his ruby coloured eyes answering 'yes'. "I would love to." Was her spoken answer.

The two made their way out to the dance floor just as the last song ended. They got into the proper position –a little awkwardly- and waited for the music to play once again.

At first they slightly tripped over one another's feet, but soon found their rhythm. The song was one that got faster for the second verse, but they didn't miss a beat. To those who had stopped to watch the couple would have sworn that the two had rehearsed before hand, or that they could read each other's mind.

In truth it was more of the later. Unbeknownst to everyone in the room, the couple's bound that had faded after Hitomi had been back on Earth for no more then three years was gradually coming back.

By the end of the song everyone who was dancing had stopped so that they could watch. When the two finished their dance everyone who was in attendance at the ball clapped and cheered, someone in a rather large group of nobles cried "Encore!" which then got the whole place crying or an encore. Blushing furiously, Hitomi turned back to Van as the band started up again.

After the third song Van led Hitomi back to where they were sitting, and found that Chid had been asked to dance, and Merle had decided to take Kagen back to his room, and was calling it a night. Allen could be seen having to dance with several girls.

The two sat there in a comfortable silence, and slightly out of breath from the quick movements required by the dance.

After the songs started to slow down as the end of the ball was closing in, Van was asked to dance by the Princess of Daedalus, and by the code of chivalry he could not refuse her. After sending Hitomi a look saying that he was sorry, Van Got up and went to dance with the princess.

When Van came back after having to dance with several other princesses, he found Hitomi a little tipsy, "How much have you had to drink?" remembering the first time they had been in Austria.

"Just the one glass." She answered sweetly. He only raised his eyebrows at this, "Well I can't remember having the glass less then half full."

He just rolled his eyes; someone must have paid one of the pages to keep her glass full. "Come I'll take you to your room." He offered as he held out an arm to her.

…………………………………………………………………..

It took them longer to get to her room then would be normal, going up and down stairs was the trickiest, and Van just ended up carrying Hitomi to her room, which turned out to be the one next to his.

He gently set her down on her feet in front of her door, "Good night, Van."

"Good night, Hitomi" He was about to turn to go into his room, when he found his lips locked in a kiss.

She probably wouldn't have had the courage if she weren't so damn drunk. But his lips looked so kissable that she just had to give him a good night kiss, even if he thought her just a friend.

He was in shock. They were actually kissing! How long had he waited for this moment? Too long he knew for sure, and he could feel himself responding to the kiss.

A tilt of their heads and the kiss went deeper, he silently asked permission to enter her mouth, and she happily complied, as any and all rotational thoughts left the two.

Everything else didn't matter to them right at that moment.

There was only the two of them.

Hitomi slowly pressed up against her door, pulling Van with her, one of her hands found its way around his neck, and with the other hand she found the door handle, and slowly opened the door.

needless to say that the page got the other half of his payment

and i am not going to make a 'behind closed doors' chapter because any questions shall be pretty much answered in the next chapter, and i knida dont want to be kicked off for a week or so...i may chage my mind if i get at least 15 reviews saying that they want the 'behind closed doors' chapter, so you all may want to keep an eye on the rating.

well tell me what ya thought

till next time!