Ah, another unedited chapter. Gomen ne.

Part Twenty-Six

Repreive

As usual, the morning bazaar was bright and loud. Hitomi brought a hand up to her temples and rubbed at the slowly building ache. She needed to find that café soon, and get a glass of water before the pain became an all out migraine. Dilandu must have used a powder form of that damn tonic and had it laced in her food this morning, because there was no reason for the medicine's effect to be wearing off so quickly.

Shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight she tried to find the place that Millerna had taken her.

"My I offer my assistance, my lady?"

Hitomi stopped and cast a sideway glance at the man that stood next to her. For so early in the morning, Van looked ridicously eager for something. The floppy, hat almost looked silly, with the way he had the tip pulled down over one eye. He wasn't wearing the red tunic that she had grown accustomed to seeing him in. Instead he had doned a frilly monstrsety that reminded her of something that Allen would wear. However, even she had to approve of the way that his black leather pants practically clung to his lower half. She had to bite the unside of her cheek to keep herself from blushing. Then he did a sweeping bow that reminded her so much of Allen that she couldn't help but laugh, and held out his hand to her. Her lips curved a bit at just how absurd the dark haired Fanelian looked. Letting out a sigh that was hardly enough to cover her slight giggle, Hitomi shook her head and took the prooffered hand. She suddenly found the pebbles that covered the main road very interesting when he brushed her hand with his lips before covering it with his own and tucking it next to his side. Her fingers brushed against his chest, and she once again—much to her annoyance—found herself fighting against another blush.

Honestly, what was he trying to do?

"Isn't a little early in the morning for such chivarly, Lord Van? I just had breakfast."

He laughed, a delightfully rich sound to her ears, and pulled her closer.

Abruptly, Hitomi was pulled back to the first dream that she had the first night after that vision of him by the wingéd statue. That dream had been a constant comfort during those first couple of months. The dream had always been the same.

They rested outside, on a large hammock covered with pillows, entangled in each others arms. The sound of waves had brought a peaceful serenity to the dream. He would whisper words of comfort into her ear, and she would burrow deeper into his embrace.

Such a simple dream, but there had been so many times when it had been the only thing that had kept such a tenacious hold on her sanity. Maybe that was why she didn't mind it so much, being close to his side as he guided her down the street.

"Do you really find gentlemanly gestures so repulsive?"

"Van, one of the first gentlemen of this country that I had ever encountered was Sir Allen. It was enough to turn me from the notion completely."

Some of the gaiety left his cinnamon eyes, and she regretted her words.

"Then do you prefer the opposite." He pulled the straw hat from his head.

Hitomi looked down, mentally cursing herself for ruining such a pleasant atmosphere. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye again and winced at the rigid way that his jaw was set. She could almost see a muscle twitch.

He moved away from her a bit, though he still kept her hand tucked at his side. She chewed on her lip, trying to find something to say that would get him to smile and failed. If he would have let her, she would have gladely started banging her head against a nearby wall. I'm sorry. Of course, any of the jokes that she knew were rather feministic and now that he had apparently deemed himself as her part time protector—really this is why she had refused Allen's help in the first place—she knew that he would hardly appreciate them.

Van led her into the Torushina, and a serving maid escorted them to one of the tables in the back of the room. Sweet music came from an organ tucked in a corner by the stairs that led to wine cellar. Hitomi blinked twice. How strange, the man in the overcoat, with the long, curly brown hair looked familiar.

She didn't complain when Van helped her into her seat, instead she looked around the tavern. This was the first time she had really had a chance to look around the part of the Torushina where all of the meals and ale were served.

Everything was off the highest taste and quality, it was obvious that a man or repute owned the establishment, but it had been in such a way that wouldn't intimdate those who could only afford to spend their weekly coin on a single drink. There was something comforting about the place and she understood why the Fanelian prince would choose to stay here of all places when he visited the city annoymasly.

Hitomi cocked her head to the side, as the notes that come from the organ sounded hauntingly familiar. "This song," Van looked over at her, and she latched onto the oppurtunity to make things right, "it's familiar. It's a ballad of some sort isn't it?"

"The Ballad of the Dragon Tribe." He glared at the direction of the musician. "That damn Dryden. He knows that I don't like it, but he doesn't hesitate to play it whenever he gets the chance."

"Dryden?" She whipped her head in the direction of the organ. Sure enough the merchant turned around and winked in their direction. Well, that explained why he looked so familiar. "He plays?"

Van shrugged. "When he is so inclined. Usually when he has something that he needs to get off of his mind."

"I'm sure he has a lot to think about. The engagement ball is tomorrow night. A lot depends on whether Princess Millerna formally acknowldeges him or not. I know it's been on her mind…" Her voice trailed off when Van pinned her with the curiosity in his cinnamon eyes.

"You know of the ball?"

"Of course I do. King Aston invited nearly every foreign dignitary that he could. I'd wager that most of Palas knows about it as well, and what it could mean. Why shouldn't I know about it, after all the princess is a close friend." Hitomi her lips, and tried not to think about the untruth of her words. It made her recall the harsh words that had been exchanged between her and Millerna the night before.

She sat on the edge of the cushioned seat and gingerly sipped at her tea, blowing on it a bit to cool the hot liquid. She certainly hadn't expected such amnmosity from the princess.

The look on Millerna's face was one of annoyance, and she tapped her manicured nails against the polished surface of the table. When she finally spoke her tone was controlled and precise.

"Allen Schezar came to see me about you yesterday, Lady Kanzaki."

Such formality was never a good sign. Starring down at the amber liquid in her tea cup Hitomi took a deep breath and decided to ignore Millerna's need for a fight of some sort. There would be time for that later.

"So then you know who I am."

"Yes, I know that you are the only daughter to the late Queen Asuya of the Veshrane Isles. The rightful heir and crown princess to the Western Seas. You want my assistance in helping you take back your throne from Zaibach."

The laugh Hitomi let out was bitter. Her teacup rattled against the delicate china of saucer as she placed it down, her hands shaking.

"Believe me, Highness, when I say that the freedom of my people is the last thing that I would come to you for. Right now," Hitomi hastily added when she realized how insulting her words must have sounded, "my people are safe. Dornkirk is satisfied with leaving a piece of land that he deems insignificant with their means to govern. When the invasion of Veshrane was ordered it was done to obtain a power that is more of a burden then it should be. I might not have had a choice in coming to Asturia as Zaibach's puppet ambassader, but I believe there is no one else in all of Gaea that I would go to for help. I certainly wouldn't leave my fate and freedom in the hands of a male." She spat the last word out as if it were something vile.

"Freedom?" The words seemed to be enough to distract the princess from whatever it was that been irritating her

"I approached you under orders to sniff out Fanelia's king who is believed to have connections with a member of your nobility in manners that King Aston would not approve of. Lord Dilandu and the Strategist of Zaibach believe that this person is your fiance, Dryden Fassa. That is the reason why they let me leave that horrible tower. My reason for approaching you is simply this: I want to be free."

"Free from what?"

Hitomi let out another bitter, humorless laugh as she leaned back in her seat. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. "From pain, from guilt," She remembered how she had roused her people to resist that initial invasion and a single tear slid down her cheek. "from everything. I can never go back to my country. My foolishness has cost Veshrane too much. All I want now is a place in a country that is free of Zaibach and be able to live a peaceful life that I shall devote to the Mother of All, so that she may once more bless me." Her eyes stung from unshed tears as she opened them and looked at Millerna, her voice catching. "Please, can you help me?"

The princess adverted her eyes and shifted in her seat. "Allen said you needed help." She whispered. "But he never told me why. You are a prisoner?"

"The official term is royal hostage. I have the Sight, Millerna, and Dornkirk does what he can to exploit that ability. He had his Sorcerers create a tonic that induces visions." She didn't know what it was, maybe it was the fact that she was revealing all of her pain to someone who was in many ways like a kindred spirit. Hitomi doubted that she would feel the same way if it were a man in front of her, but it was crumbling. The foundation of her survival as Dornkirk's pet, her pride and stubborn will was crumbling. A hiccup escaped her, and she hardly caught sight of the alarm on Millerna's face when the tears fell and blurred her vision. "It hurts so much. The visions, my head, that damnable tonic...Dilandu…I don't know how much longer I can stand to help those bastards. I just want everything to stop!"

Slender arms wrapped around her, a soothing pat on her head, and that simple, soothing whisper was her undoing.

"I'll help you."

Hitomi's eyes glazed over at the memory, and she could feel that familiar prick. She stared at the glass of water that had been placed in front of her. She had sobbed and wailed in Millerna's arms for nearly an hour before she was able to regain control of her emotions. The princess had been almost apologetic as she handed her a hankerchief and explained that there her father would not provide Hitomi with sanctuary even if the plea came from his own daughter. So she could send a message to her sister in Freid and ask Duchess Marlene if her husband the duke would be gracious enough to assist in that matter.

Freid. There was little that she knew about the country. All that she did know is that it was one of the few countries that openly allied itself with Fanelia's war against Zaibach. If there was one place that she could find her freedom, it would be there.

"Of course, Father is going to be watching my every movement until tomorrow night is over. Sir Allen said that he could find someone trust worthy to make sure that my sister receives the letter with it's contents fully intact, but I think I will have Dryden help me with this."

"Your fiance?"

Millerna blushed. "Yes, if I agree to marry him I am sure Dryden will grant such a small request. Besides if what you say is true and he is an ally of the king of Fanelia then it will not take much to convince him."

"You shouldn't marry him just to help me."

"I'm not. I haven't been able to find a way out of this marriage and I know Father's patience on this matter grows thin. I won't be able to delay it much longer. Besides, he said something last night that made me think that it might not be such a bad idea after all."

"You like him." Hitomi smiled, feeling considerable lighter then she had earlier.

"Maybe. Now, I have to ask you," The sudden return of Millerna's annoyed expression startled Hitomi. "Why, in the name of all that's holy, did you refuse the help of Allen Schezar?!"

She smiled to herself, remembering the argument that had followed that demand. She had been surprised to discover that Allen and Millerna had been lovers not so long ago. It was almost as surprising that the reason for the princess's early amniomosity had been a result of jealosy and the fact that any woman would refuse the help of a Knight Caeli.

"So Van you will have to come early, understand."

Hitomi blinked, not quite sure when Dryden had abandoned his organ and joined their table. Shrugging to herself she grabbed a raspberry from the bowl of fruit that had been placed in front of them and sucked on the tart fruit as she listened to the rest of their conversation. There was an amusement in his dark eyes, when he looked over at her, and she wondered if Millerna had already spoken to him about the engagement.

"Can't understand why she would want you to come so early now after avoiding you for so long. She's probably just going to try and get you to call the whole thing off again."

"So little faith you have Van. Lady Hitomi, would you happen to know why my fiance is insisting that I meet with her before the ball?"

Hitomi only smiled. "I do, but wouldn't you rather find that out for yourself?"

When I picture Van's outfit from the beginning of the chapter I honestly don't know whether I want to laugh or drool. I can't quite explain why I had the sudden urge to dress him up as a hero from a really bad romance novel.

Thanks to Mimi87, Tem, Green.on.Black, Suils Saifir, Arienhod, Inda, thepinkmartini, Lil' Dinky, & Sakura Crystals for their wonderful reviews.

Mimi87 - Thanks. I'm glad that I helped you get the courage to post one. I've actually been wanting to post one for nearly two years, but I never had the courage. Hell, I still have a hard time with it. Is your lemon in the Escaflowne fandom?

Tem - Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed those chapters. I love Hitomi and Van although I do find something physical irrestible about the possibility of Van and Dilandu...er...I mean Hitomi and Dilandu...maybe.. Yes, it's finally time to deal with Millerna's concerns and have her confront Hitomi, and it's also time for her to try to understand why she feels guilty. I had so much fun messing with her this chapter.

"Besides you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest...thing."

"Well that rules you out, Pip."

-- Fellowship of the Ring