Windflowers...
Chapter 7: Teddy Bears and Memories
by: Koneko Kamiya
It had stopped raining just before dawn. Dark clouds loomed threateningly over the wet city, blocking away the much-needed warmth. Birds were chirping noisily, an undertone of melancholy in their sweet songs. They missed the sun, missed the comforting presence of the bright, warm rays shining down on Fanelia. They sat huddled together, their feathers puffed up to keep the cold breeze at bay, staring at the drops of water that fell from the weathered tiles on the roofs of Fanelia...
Hitomi stared too... One hand pressed against the cold glass of the window, the other playing with a strand of her golden hair. She stood tall in front of the balcony, her thin body wrapped in a linen robe, the white material feeling rough against her skin. One of her toes traced a crease in the smooth, wooden floor, while her eyes wandered over the houses of Van's country.
It was quite late, but the rain had managed to silence the city... washing away sounds with its endless flowing. The only sound echoing through Fanelia seemed to be the low growl of thunder. The ashen clouds forbid her to see the top of the mountains that surrounded Fanelia, all she could admire were the lush forests, now dripping with cold spring rain.
One of her fingers followed the intricate design of a wandering raindrop lost on the glass, while her eyes momentarily ignored her surroundings and concentrated on her reflection. Her face appeared confused between the dark sky and the brick red walls of the houses... her wide green eyes wandering over her familiar features searching for a difference in her usual expression.
For five years her rare smiles had been reserved for her daughter, her tears only for him. Calling him, craving for the sound of his voice, craving for his touch... but now, now it was different. Her needs satisfied, she found herself smiling, laughing even. A finger slowly crept towards her face, watching the image mirror her amidst the raindrops, and lingered on her cherry red lips.
Hitomi smiled.
She liked the way the corners of her lips twitched upwards, the way her eyes shone with suppressed laughter.
"Lady Hitomi"
The voice was no louder than a whisper, but it destroyed the fragile spell that silence had cast in the room.
Hitomi found herself staring at Tareel's reflection standing next to her own; a pleasant smile painted on her still childish features. Her ruby red lips a sharp contrast with the paleness of her face, her dark eyes deep and understanding, half hidden by her dark brown bangs. The golden earrings jingling softly as she looked right into Hitomi's startled eyes.
"I'm sorry, Lady Hitomi"
"Whatever for Tareel?"
The younger woman directed her gaze at the floor, her features completely hidden behind her silky hair.
"I came to wake Lord Van up... It slipped my mind that you..." she trailed off, finding no reason to state the obvious...
"It's alright. But I think it's better to let him rest today..." Hitomi looked at the mountains again, and sighed softly "... it seems that the whole of Fanelia is asleep. The rain washed away all worries and sadness... if only the sun would shine again it would be perfect"
"Lady Hitomi, would you mind if I played for you?" Dark, questioning eyes burned into reflected green.
Hitomi smiled, and turned round to face Tareel.
"I'd love to listen to your harp... but could you help me get dressed first? I can't fasten the sash that closes my dress, the knot is too complicated..." Hitomi finished the sentence with a slight blush...
Tareel smiled kindly, a smile that finally lifted the veil of sadness from her black eyes...
"I'd love to help, my Lady."
"Please, drop the 'lady'. I'm not that much older than you!" Hitomi smiled encouragingly as Tareel led her to the dressing table.
"But you are my King's choice in wife, and that makes you my Queen, Lady Hitomi. It would be very disrespectful..."
"How do you..."
"My father." Tareel interrupted Hitomi's stuttered question. "He informed me... I am very happy for both you and Lord Van, Lady Hitomi"
Then she smiled brightly; recognizing the silent thanks in Hitomi's embarrassed eyes. Tareel cocked her head to one side and gave a final tug at the red bow fastening Hitomi's dress. Then both women left, their silk gowns rustling softly around their bare feet as they walked towards the dining room.
~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~
Ran opened her eyes wearily, and cuddled closer to her father's chest. She felt warm and safe within those strong arms that were hugging her close, finding comfort in the man's steady breathing. Mesmerized by the rhythmic rising and falling of his bare chest she traced a small hand along his muscles. Noticing how similar their skin was, she smiled. Her classmates had always teased her because of her dark complexion, so different from her mother's pale features. But her hand blended perfectly with Van's tanned skin.
A father.
Not just a father, but _her_ father.
Ran smiled again, her fingers caressing his raven hair, so similar to her own. She giggled slightly when she found herself staring at her deformed reflection in the pink pendant her father had around his neck. She peered at it curiously, her nose millimeters away from the shiny surface; two wide, red eyes stared back at her in amusement.
"Do you like it, Ran?"
She gasped, and pulled back staring into Van's eyes, into her eyes. Her father smiled broadly when she nodded.
"Well, get dressed and then I'll tell you its story..."
Ran's eyes shone with excitement as she ran to her bedroom, black hair flowing behind her like a halo.
Van sat up and stretched. He casually ran a finger over the path his daughter's hand had traced, the warmth of her innocent fingers still lingering on his chest. Was this what being a father was all about? Smiling at your child's joy?
He stretched again and casually disregarded his black robe in favor of a pair of trousers and a red shirt... running his hand through his messy bangs, he walked towards his daughter's room...
"PAPA! ...Could you please do up my hair for me?" came a shrill soprano voice from behind the door, just before it flung open and Ran rushed out clutching a hairbrush in one hand and a crimson ribbon in the other...
Ran threw herself in Van's lap and handed him the objects, and then she started swinging her legs back and forwards as Van ran the brush through her silky hair. She winced as he slowly disentangled the sleepy knots from her bangs and pulled her hair up in a ponytail. Tying the smooth material around her hair he patted her head gently.
"There, done."
She turned round and smiled, crawling off his lap and throwing her arms round his neck in thanks. He stood up, cradling her small form in his arms and started walking towards the door and into the dimly lit corridor.
"Where are we going papa?" she asked, curious.
"We're looking for a teddy bear. I promised you didn't I?"
~°~°~°~°~°~°~
Van winced, and gently set Ran down on the ground. In front of him stood a massive wooden door, the brass handle tinged with the greenish color of old metal.
He hadn't been in there, well, for ages since the last he had entered this room was at the age of five. It scared him a little...
Ran reached for the doorknob and pushed but the heavy door didn't budge.
"Papa! It won't open!" she whined. A childish whine that made her sound even more like the daughter she was...
Van rested his hand against the smooth surface and pushed harder, the ancient wood finally giving in and creaking open.
She ran inside, her small feet leaving clear footprints on the dusty floor...
Van entered the room and closed the door behind him. It was still exactly the same room he had left 15 years before. The room of a Prince. The room that prince left when he became the next in line for the throne.
His gaze lingered on the small bed in the corner of the room, the plain, blue blanket covering the soft mattress. It creaked loudly when he sat on it. Resting his back against the faded gray of the wall, he took in the familiar surroundings of his childhood. The chest of drawers, the childish crayon drawings on the walls, the trunk of toys Ran was currently searching through.
He smiled and rested his chin of his hands, never taking his eyes off his daughter. Ran turned round; a small ragged doll cradled in her arms...
"Can I keep her papa?" her wide, red eyes pleading.
"Of course. Your grandmother made her, she'd be happy if you had her..."
Ran cuddled up the doll, her expressionless stuffed face conveying a feeling of loneliness. She wore a short cotton dress, the same shade of green her woolen hair was, the clumsy stitches that had made her only slightly undone.
"Thank you." Ran smiled.
From the ground he picked up a dusty book, the pages yellow and fragile. It was the tale of how the brave warrior slayed the nasty dragon, the faded illustrations slightly doodled by a child's hand...
"Is it a fairy tale papa?"
Van shook his head... "It's the story of the Fanel family"
"Can you read it to me papa?"
He handed her the book, and ruffled her hair.
"Tonight, little one. Before you go to sleep."
She tucked the book under her arm and got a better hold on the rag doll, then she nodded, smiling brightly.
"Do you know where mama is?"
"Probably eating, little one. Why don't you go and look for her? The dining room is just down the corridor..."
"Papa? And you?" her red eyes wide, questioning.
"I'll come in a little while." Van smiled and ruffled her hair again.
He watched silently as Ran tugged at the door and opened it, then she looked at him one last time and ran out, closing the heavy door behind her.
And he was alone.
When had the mirror cracked? He gazed at his fragmented reflection searching for answers... It had cracked when a little boy had thrown his sword at it in frustration, fear and loneliness. It had cracked when this little boy with short black hair, lost his brother. It had cracked when he had cried helpless tears for the disappearance of his mother.
His gaze fell on the doodles on the wall... two stick like figures smiled back.
A small boy with red eyes and a tall one with long, green hair. Two different people, drawn by two different hands.
**But it's mean to kill a dragon...**
Van slid to the ground, and buried his face in his hands, hot tears spilling from his eyes, trickling down his cheeks and landing with a splash on the dusty floor.
No sound escaped his parted lips, just the soft whisper of a word he had both loved and hated... the name of a person he had both despised and adored...
"Brother..."
To be continued...
::blows nose:: poor Van...
stay tuned, faithful readers... because something interesting should start to happen in the next chapter... or the one after, or the one after that... ::sweatdrops:: it depends how much detail I decide to add... ^_^
Gomen ::bows low:: sorry if this is so short. I've got an exam tomorrow and this is as much as I am physically able to write tonight...
Disclaimer: read the ones for the previous 6 chapters... ^_^
reviews!!!!! onegai!!!! ^_^
luv
Serena a.k.a. Koneko Kamiya ='.'=
Chapter 7: Teddy Bears and Memories
by: Koneko Kamiya
It had stopped raining just before dawn. Dark clouds loomed threateningly over the wet city, blocking away the much-needed warmth. Birds were chirping noisily, an undertone of melancholy in their sweet songs. They missed the sun, missed the comforting presence of the bright, warm rays shining down on Fanelia. They sat huddled together, their feathers puffed up to keep the cold breeze at bay, staring at the drops of water that fell from the weathered tiles on the roofs of Fanelia...
Hitomi stared too... One hand pressed against the cold glass of the window, the other playing with a strand of her golden hair. She stood tall in front of the balcony, her thin body wrapped in a linen robe, the white material feeling rough against her skin. One of her toes traced a crease in the smooth, wooden floor, while her eyes wandered over the houses of Van's country.
It was quite late, but the rain had managed to silence the city... washing away sounds with its endless flowing. The only sound echoing through Fanelia seemed to be the low growl of thunder. The ashen clouds forbid her to see the top of the mountains that surrounded Fanelia, all she could admire were the lush forests, now dripping with cold spring rain.
One of her fingers followed the intricate design of a wandering raindrop lost on the glass, while her eyes momentarily ignored her surroundings and concentrated on her reflection. Her face appeared confused between the dark sky and the brick red walls of the houses... her wide green eyes wandering over her familiar features searching for a difference in her usual expression.
For five years her rare smiles had been reserved for her daughter, her tears only for him. Calling him, craving for the sound of his voice, craving for his touch... but now, now it was different. Her needs satisfied, she found herself smiling, laughing even. A finger slowly crept towards her face, watching the image mirror her amidst the raindrops, and lingered on her cherry red lips.
Hitomi smiled.
She liked the way the corners of her lips twitched upwards, the way her eyes shone with suppressed laughter.
"Lady Hitomi"
The voice was no louder than a whisper, but it destroyed the fragile spell that silence had cast in the room.
Hitomi found herself staring at Tareel's reflection standing next to her own; a pleasant smile painted on her still childish features. Her ruby red lips a sharp contrast with the paleness of her face, her dark eyes deep and understanding, half hidden by her dark brown bangs. The golden earrings jingling softly as she looked right into Hitomi's startled eyes.
"I'm sorry, Lady Hitomi"
"Whatever for Tareel?"
The younger woman directed her gaze at the floor, her features completely hidden behind her silky hair.
"I came to wake Lord Van up... It slipped my mind that you..." she trailed off, finding no reason to state the obvious...
"It's alright. But I think it's better to let him rest today..." Hitomi looked at the mountains again, and sighed softly "... it seems that the whole of Fanelia is asleep. The rain washed away all worries and sadness... if only the sun would shine again it would be perfect"
"Lady Hitomi, would you mind if I played for you?" Dark, questioning eyes burned into reflected green.
Hitomi smiled, and turned round to face Tareel.
"I'd love to listen to your harp... but could you help me get dressed first? I can't fasten the sash that closes my dress, the knot is too complicated..." Hitomi finished the sentence with a slight blush...
Tareel smiled kindly, a smile that finally lifted the veil of sadness from her black eyes...
"I'd love to help, my Lady."
"Please, drop the 'lady'. I'm not that much older than you!" Hitomi smiled encouragingly as Tareel led her to the dressing table.
"But you are my King's choice in wife, and that makes you my Queen, Lady Hitomi. It would be very disrespectful..."
"How do you..."
"My father." Tareel interrupted Hitomi's stuttered question. "He informed me... I am very happy for both you and Lord Van, Lady Hitomi"
Then she smiled brightly; recognizing the silent thanks in Hitomi's embarrassed eyes. Tareel cocked her head to one side and gave a final tug at the red bow fastening Hitomi's dress. Then both women left, their silk gowns rustling softly around their bare feet as they walked towards the dining room.
~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~
Ran opened her eyes wearily, and cuddled closer to her father's chest. She felt warm and safe within those strong arms that were hugging her close, finding comfort in the man's steady breathing. Mesmerized by the rhythmic rising and falling of his bare chest she traced a small hand along his muscles. Noticing how similar their skin was, she smiled. Her classmates had always teased her because of her dark complexion, so different from her mother's pale features. But her hand blended perfectly with Van's tanned skin.
A father.
Not just a father, but _her_ father.
Ran smiled again, her fingers caressing his raven hair, so similar to her own. She giggled slightly when she found herself staring at her deformed reflection in the pink pendant her father had around his neck. She peered at it curiously, her nose millimeters away from the shiny surface; two wide, red eyes stared back at her in amusement.
"Do you like it, Ran?"
She gasped, and pulled back staring into Van's eyes, into her eyes. Her father smiled broadly when she nodded.
"Well, get dressed and then I'll tell you its story..."
Ran's eyes shone with excitement as she ran to her bedroom, black hair flowing behind her like a halo.
Van sat up and stretched. He casually ran a finger over the path his daughter's hand had traced, the warmth of her innocent fingers still lingering on his chest. Was this what being a father was all about? Smiling at your child's joy?
He stretched again and casually disregarded his black robe in favor of a pair of trousers and a red shirt... running his hand through his messy bangs, he walked towards his daughter's room...
"PAPA! ...Could you please do up my hair for me?" came a shrill soprano voice from behind the door, just before it flung open and Ran rushed out clutching a hairbrush in one hand and a crimson ribbon in the other...
Ran threw herself in Van's lap and handed him the objects, and then she started swinging her legs back and forwards as Van ran the brush through her silky hair. She winced as he slowly disentangled the sleepy knots from her bangs and pulled her hair up in a ponytail. Tying the smooth material around her hair he patted her head gently.
"There, done."
She turned round and smiled, crawling off his lap and throwing her arms round his neck in thanks. He stood up, cradling her small form in his arms and started walking towards the door and into the dimly lit corridor.
"Where are we going papa?" she asked, curious.
"We're looking for a teddy bear. I promised you didn't I?"
~°~°~°~°~°~°~
Van winced, and gently set Ran down on the ground. In front of him stood a massive wooden door, the brass handle tinged with the greenish color of old metal.
He hadn't been in there, well, for ages since the last he had entered this room was at the age of five. It scared him a little...
Ran reached for the doorknob and pushed but the heavy door didn't budge.
"Papa! It won't open!" she whined. A childish whine that made her sound even more like the daughter she was...
Van rested his hand against the smooth surface and pushed harder, the ancient wood finally giving in and creaking open.
She ran inside, her small feet leaving clear footprints on the dusty floor...
Van entered the room and closed the door behind him. It was still exactly the same room he had left 15 years before. The room of a Prince. The room that prince left when he became the next in line for the throne.
His gaze lingered on the small bed in the corner of the room, the plain, blue blanket covering the soft mattress. It creaked loudly when he sat on it. Resting his back against the faded gray of the wall, he took in the familiar surroundings of his childhood. The chest of drawers, the childish crayon drawings on the walls, the trunk of toys Ran was currently searching through.
He smiled and rested his chin of his hands, never taking his eyes off his daughter. Ran turned round; a small ragged doll cradled in her arms...
"Can I keep her papa?" her wide, red eyes pleading.
"Of course. Your grandmother made her, she'd be happy if you had her..."
Ran cuddled up the doll, her expressionless stuffed face conveying a feeling of loneliness. She wore a short cotton dress, the same shade of green her woolen hair was, the clumsy stitches that had made her only slightly undone.
"Thank you." Ran smiled.
From the ground he picked up a dusty book, the pages yellow and fragile. It was the tale of how the brave warrior slayed the nasty dragon, the faded illustrations slightly doodled by a child's hand...
"Is it a fairy tale papa?"
Van shook his head... "It's the story of the Fanel family"
"Can you read it to me papa?"
He handed her the book, and ruffled her hair.
"Tonight, little one. Before you go to sleep."
She tucked the book under her arm and got a better hold on the rag doll, then she nodded, smiling brightly.
"Do you know where mama is?"
"Probably eating, little one. Why don't you go and look for her? The dining room is just down the corridor..."
"Papa? And you?" her red eyes wide, questioning.
"I'll come in a little while." Van smiled and ruffled her hair again.
He watched silently as Ran tugged at the door and opened it, then she looked at him one last time and ran out, closing the heavy door behind her.
And he was alone.
When had the mirror cracked? He gazed at his fragmented reflection searching for answers... It had cracked when a little boy had thrown his sword at it in frustration, fear and loneliness. It had cracked when this little boy with short black hair, lost his brother. It had cracked when he had cried helpless tears for the disappearance of his mother.
His gaze fell on the doodles on the wall... two stick like figures smiled back.
A small boy with red eyes and a tall one with long, green hair. Two different people, drawn by two different hands.
**But it's mean to kill a dragon...**
Van slid to the ground, and buried his face in his hands, hot tears spilling from his eyes, trickling down his cheeks and landing with a splash on the dusty floor.
No sound escaped his parted lips, just the soft whisper of a word he had both loved and hated... the name of a person he had both despised and adored...
"Brother..."
To be continued...
::blows nose:: poor Van...
stay tuned, faithful readers... because something interesting should start to happen in the next chapter... or the one after, or the one after that... ::sweatdrops:: it depends how much detail I decide to add... ^_^
Gomen ::bows low:: sorry if this is so short. I've got an exam tomorrow and this is as much as I am physically able to write tonight...
Disclaimer: read the ones for the previous 6 chapters... ^_^
reviews!!!!! onegai!!!! ^_^
luv
Serena a.k.a. Koneko Kamiya ='.'=
