-I don't own Escaflowne or Gundam Wing-

A/N: Please do not be mad at me anyone. I DID NOT copy off of anyone's stories. This has been from me lil head only. It wuz stuck there for quite some time and I just HAD to let it out on paper so...here it is!! ^_^ I didn't copy you if it sounds sort of like I did. I jus' want ya ta know that. Thanx fer yer understanding.

Chapter 3: Love Can Hurt

~*Fanelia*~

Van sat in his throne as he waited for Hitomi, scanning the crowd as he thought of her. A slight blush crept up his face as he remembered choosing a dress for her. He let out a long sigh of boredom. Soft footsteps could be heard from Van's left. Holding his breath, Van stood up, looking to his left expecting to see Hitomi. He met eye to eye with, not Hitomi, but Allen Schezar. All air Van held escaped him in a bit of a relief but mostly, disappointment.

"Hi Allen. Glad you came," Van smirked, sitting back down on his throne, hiding the disappointment in his voice as much as he could.

"I came as soon as I read the invitation," Allen grinned holding up the letter between his index and middle fingers. "So where's Lady Hitomi? I was pretty sure she'd be with you."

Before Van could say a word Hitomi herself waltzed in. Van gaped at her. She was beautiful beyond comparison. Allen seemed to see the look on Van's face which could mean only one thing. Hitomi. Allen whirled around seeing not only Hitomi but a beautiful young woman. She was prettier than ever he had remembered.

Before Van could even stop his gaping, Allen stepped up to Hitomi. Van instantly contained himself seeing this and decided now was the time to ask before...but it was too late. Allen had taken Hitomi's hand in his and kissed it gently without taking his eyes off of Hitomi's. Van frowned. "May I have this dance?" Allen asked without thinking. Van felt betrayed and hurt. He stepped back towards the throne a little, knowing what Hitomi's answer would be and always was. No one. Not even Hitomi could resist Allen. He stiffened, but her answer didn't come. Hitomi tore her eyes from the soft blue ones and instead, looked at Van's innocent reddish brown ones. She saw hurt written all over his face. It looked as if he would climb the wall and die right there. Van, seeing Hitomi look at him that way before answering Allen, sighed in relief. He aw the concern in her eyes. Van nodded his approval. He new Allen wanted to dance with Hitomi just as much as he did. Or did he?

Hitomi gratefully smiled back at Van and looking back at Allen who, by then had noticed Hitomi looking at Van smiled at him and replied, "Yes," almost uncertainly, as if telling the wrong person.

"Well..."Allen started although interrupted by Hitomi.

"I said yes. Do you want to dance with me or not Allen?" Hitomi smiled teasingly up at Allen, slipping her arm around Allen's. Allen smiled down at Hitomi then back at Van. Van just smiled back and slumped back down in his seat sighing.

"I waited hours for this?" Van sighed, leaning his head on his hand as Hitomi and Allen left to the dance floor.

On the dance floor Hitomi kept glancing up to where Van sat. She was having no fun dancing out there without him. She had gotten all made up just for Van and her to dance together, and here she was now with Allen. Suddenly, Allen started pulling Hitomi closer. Hitomi stopped glancing at Van and looked at Allen. Hitomi closed her eyes as she let herself hug Allen while dancing.

As Hitomi's eyes shut she was in a vision sitting up in Van's throne. Van was dancing with a girl other than herself. The girl kept pulling Van closer and closer until they were hugging. Van let her rest her head against his chest as they danced, hugging. Hitomi felt hurt and betrayal. She felt like going outside and killing herself. Van suddenly lifted the girl's face towards his as they were about to kiss. Hitomi shut her eyes and yelled, 'No! Stop! No Van! Don't do this to me! No!' her eyes suddenly snapped open as she saw that Allen lifting her face towards his. She was the one betraying Van. Just like Van and that girl did in her thoughts. If Van was watching them, how would he be feeling? Probably the exact same way she did. About to kill himself. About to scream out to her. Hitomi quickly pulled away from Allen. "I'm tired of dancing," she lied, not making eye contact with Allen.

Allen looked at Hitomi sadly as she ran out of the room.

Van looked at Hitomi, relieved she had not let Allen hold her any longer. He could've sworn he was about to commit suicide if they had kissed. Finally looking down at his hand Van noticed his tight grip on the arm rest. Loosening his grip he looked back to where Hitomi and Allen were. Hitomi had ran out of the room. Now was his chance. It was now or never.

Van leapt from his chair and rushed down the corridor.

Hitomi started to cry as she entered the corridor. She had betrayed Van. The only one she really cared for. She needed him at that moment. She needed comforting. That night in fact, but she couldn't find herself to face him. Not yet. Hesitantly she ran up the corridor towards her room.

"Hitomi!" It was that voice! That sweet, reassuring voice that always melted Hitomi's heart and made her feel so comfortable inside. She saw Van rushing towards her. Tears blurred her vision as she ran towards the figure with outstretched arms.

Van collided with Hiomi, hugging her fiercely to him. "Van! I..." Hitomi stopped, feeling Van's warm, gentle finger press softly against her lips.

"Shh..." Van whispered, gently drawing her nearer. He was waiting to ask her to dance all day, but seeing the look on her face told him that she didn't want to go back out on the dance floor again. Van grabbed Hitomi's hand and squeezed it gently. He let her lean against him as they walked up the corridor towards the balcony together. Hand in hand.

It felt so good to have Hitomi so close to him. Van felt at ease when he was close to Hitomi. All his worries washed away as they walked down the corridor hand in hand.

On the balcony Van slipped his arm around Hitomi's waist and held her as they stared off into the sunset. Van let his wings fly from his shoulder blades, surprising Hitomi a little. Hitomi smiled at him and spread hers as well.

Van smiled. "May I have this dance my lady?" Van bowed, emphasizing on 'my'. Hitomi giggled as Van held out his hand. Hitomi took his outstretched hand and he pulled her near holding her waist loosely and comfortably. They danced to the faint music heard from inside.

Allen decided he'd go outside and think about what he was doing before on the dance floor. Or at least apologize to Hitomi for his behavior. Starting up the corridor Allen ran into a maid. "Excuse me." Allen smiled. The maid blushed a little at his good looks. He was even better looking than King Van. "Where is the Lady Hitomi's bedchambers?"

"Next door up to your right sir."

"Thank you." Allen smiled and went on his way. "Hitomi? Are you in there?" Allen rapped softly on the door, putting his ear to it to see if he could hear anything. Nothing. "Hitomi?" Allen opened the door a crack, then more widely but saw no one. "Oh well." Allen muttered to himself, "Guess I'll go get some fresh air and think about things a bit before disturbing Hitomi."

Van smiled affectionately down upon Hitomi's lovely eyes. Still dancing they both started lifting their faces slowly up towards each other.

Allen walked up to where the balcony was thinking over the event that had just happened earlier. As he reached one of the windows he saw a glimpse of someone outside. Allen gasped. As he stepped back he saw...not only Van with his wings out but Van dancing with some girl that had wings also!! He watched as they danced and then kissed most affectionately. Allen couldn't see the girl he had kissed but her hair resembled Hitomi's. Hitomi didn't have wings though!! How could it be possible? Allen rushed outside. "Van!! What do you think y...Hitomi?" Allen skidded to a stop. A puzzled look came over his features. Van broke the kiss surprised. They both let they're wings disappear as they noticed Allen.

"Allen!" Van said surprised, not letting go of Hitomi.

Allen looked over at Hitomi. "Hitomi?" as if for her to explain what he had just seen. "How come you never told any of us you were a Draconian? Why?" Hitomi frowned. Obviously Allen wouldn't understand. She was so glad that Van understood, but would Allen? No. She didn't care what Allen thought anymore anyways. Just as long as Van understood. Hitomi hugged Van tightly. Allen twitched a little as she did this and was apt to looking away but he managed to maintain his eye contact. Just not with Hitomi.

"I grew these wings on Ea...the Mystic Moon, Allen," Hitomi cried into Van's chest so Allen barely caught it.

"I don't understand Hitomi. How can you just...grow wings?" Allen said, confused.

Van looked at Hitomi sadly. He had finally succeeded in making her happy and Allen just came and suddenly broke them apart. Making Hitomi cry. He looked up at Allen angrily. "Why are you so cruel to Hitomi?" Allen looked at Van, shocked. "Why can't you just take in the truth Allen? Everything is possible if you wish hard enough for it. Why must you make her so sad?" He looked down at Hitomi and lifted her face to his so they were only inches apart. "I think they're beautiful. I love your wings Hitomi." Allen stood stone still as Van brought his lips to Hitomi's in a strong kiss, showing he wasn't afraid to show his love for her anymore.

Hitomi pulled away so their faces were inches apart again. "Van..." she whispered. Allen blushed and turning on his heal, left the two to share they're moment together. Hitomi giggled. "Van," she spoke teasingly, "you're a better kisser than Allen." Van blushed a beat red. "You haven't been practicing on anyone have you?" Hitomi laughed.

Van smirked and kissed her in mid laugh making her shoulders go limp and her eyes shut.

"What do you think?" Van smiled, breaking the deep kiss. For once in her life Hitomi didn't care what Allen thought of her. She new he probably wouldn't except her for who she was, now that he new she was now a Draconian and a part of Van. Hitomi giggled as she thought of being a part of Van.

She had not lied to Van. He was a better kisser than Allen. In a way...he even seemed more romantic and gentle than Allen had been. "No." Van suddenly said, pulling Hitomi out of her thoughts. "I haven't practiced on anyone." Van grinned, "Just you." Hitomi giggled and put her hand in his, not letting her gaze from his eyes falter.

As the couple walked towards the door someone came up behind Van knocking him unconscious. Hitomi screamed but it was muffled by a gag. She kicked and wriggled with all her might but to no avail. She looked up to the figure holding her and passed out.

A/N: Finally finished the chapter!!! Yay! Sorry it's shorter than the one before but I decided to leave you hanging just a little. Hitomi and Van's life aren't just full of safety and romance you know. I think I did a bit of a good job on this chapter don't you think? When I get 15 reviews then I think I'll start on the 4th chapter. Cuz I hafta admit that 20 is quite a bit of reviews specially fer my story. ^_^ *laffs* I like reviews. Hee hee. I'll probably most likely make the next chapter longer if no one minds the long chapters. (I'm so happy that I actually threw something other than romance in here!!! I finally peeled myself off the romance for just a bit to stick in somethin' else.) Enjoy. And I will put Duo and Heero back in so don't worry. And one more thing, if my profile pic doesn't show up on my profile then you can view it at my site.