***Author's Note***

***Author's Note***

Oh I am soooooooo sorry AGAIN! I just got kinda lazy plus the fact that after standardized tests, I had and still have two more exams. Sorry again. I don't deserve all the reviews you all gave me because I take so long for chapters to come out but thanks for the reviews anyway! I'm going to try and get out two more chapters this week because after the 15th, I'm going to be gone for almost two weeks. I'm sorry but that's why I'm going to buckle down and write, write, write so I can get out a few chapters by the end of this week.

Parents' Wish

Chapter 10: Truth in Action

By: ME jus1digigirl *Maura*

Slowly, Kaira crept down the halls of the castle. She was deciding to head towards her room to take her bag but then realized with a sudden jolt that she had not been shown her quarters.

Dejectedly, she thought for a moment, scrunching her brow in concentration, trying to remember the certain spell. Although they had never let her use her powers much, her parents had presented her with a large, antique, leather-bound book filled with recipes for potions, spells, and incantations. There were many things in it but each person's powers were limited. She knew of a few spells that she could work but never had really experimented with them to try and see what exactly she was capable of.

But now was the time. She had to use all her strength and energy to call forth the spell in her brain and use it. She stopped in the middle of the hall. Better try remembering it outside where I can get away quicker. She thought. And hurriedly, she sped towards the garden doors.

~*~*~*~*~*~

After Hitomi, Van, Kaira, Yukari, and Merle had left the table, Amano and Jair were left staring at each other. They had known about the engagement and had seen Van's fury when told. They never expected for Torak to go back on his word and tell the secret to someone. Amano turned to the old man who still sat unblinking and hands shaking. "Did you tell?" He asked plain and simple.

Slowly, Torak lifted his head to look at him. "Sir Amano! Please believe me. I didn't and wouldn't ever tell. I would never in my time that's left disobey the king!" He said shakily.

Something in Amano made him believe the advisor but he still had to know. After all, now that Hitomi knew, she was hurt and he hated to see his friends hurt so. "Then how do you suppose that woman found out? I believe you sir but I don't think Van will."

A sudden gasp rippled through the room. Amano had not realized that everyone was still quite from the earlier incident and now, they had been listening to the conversation. He noticed everyone staring at him with utmost anger and fear.

"What?" he asked.

One noble lady answered him. "Sir! You spoke the king's name without the proper title!"

At this, both Amano and Jair had to laugh, shocking everyone all the more. "There are a certain few of us who have been given permission to do so my good lady. Now if you will, please return to the meal given before you and let Sir Amano return to his conversation with Torak without unwanted ears." Jair said good-naturedly.

The nobles and the advisors did as told, feeling slightly embarrassed at being told what to do by one lower than them but they dared not interrupt again for Jair was the king's guest.

"Now," Amano said turning back to Torak once the others had picked up their forks and knives. "My friend Hitomi is probably very angry and hurt hearing the news out of the blue like that. I am going to find out how that woman found out. You stay here and finish your dinner. Don't answer any questions. I don't know why I believe you but I do and again, I don't know why I'm going to do this but I'm going to try and make Van believe too." He stood up and Torak grabbed his hand with his wrinkly one.

"Thank you young one. You are truly kind."

Amano smiled. It was weird. This was his first day on a completely different planet and already so much had happened. He couldn't explain it but somehow, he felt the need to investigate how the old lady found out.

A scraping of a chair from across from Amano made him look up. "Jair!"

"I think I'll help you. I'm not very hungry any more with all the excitement." He grinned a catty-grin.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Meanwhile, back in the garden, Van was still trying to persuade Hitomi to look at him.

"Please Hitomi! Come on! Just let me explain but first look at me," he pleaded.

Not turning, Hitomi answered. "Go ahead explain. But I won't look at you."

Van sighed in defeat and then, sat up with an idea. "Before I do, I have one question. Why do you care so much about all this?"

Now it was Hitomi's turn to be surprised and a slow blush crept up her neck. Luckily it was dark so Van couldn't see. She thought for a moment trying to answer the question yet not give away her feelings. Then she gave an answer most give when they don't want to say the truth, "I don't know."

Van grinned still staring at the back of her head. It was time for the truth to come out. "Really? Well that's good because I think I know how I would feel if I had found out that you were engaged."

Leaning over, he pushed her hair away from her ear and whispered, "I'd feel terrible because I'd know in my heart that I cared for you deeply. Deeper than the sea and that's the truth even though you're not the one engaged and I am against my will."

He heard Hitomi gasp and then she slowly turned to face him. "What do you mean against your will? And you care for me? I don't understand."

Taking her hand, Van took a deep breath to explain, hoping that Hitomi cared for her as well. He told her about what Torak had told him and about the real reason Princess Kaira was here.

"I never knew Hitomi. I just found out today and I knew that if you knew, well, I thought you might not...might not care for me, that is, if you do care for me like I do for you."

Tears sprung in Hitomi's eyes. Not being able to contain herself any longer, she hurtled herself into Van's arms sobbing. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry for acting like a spoiled brat! I didn't know! I'm sorry! You must be so confused about all this and all I did was think about myself! Please forgive me!"

This was not the reaction that Van expected. Wrapping his arms around her, he rocked back and forth. "Ssh. It's okay. Really. I forgive you if you forgive me." He could feel his shirt getting soaked more and more but that didn't matter. It was stained with Hitomi's tears and that meant he would never wash this shirt.

After a few minutes of sitting in silence, Hitomi looked up. "Van. I forgive you. I just thought that you had brought me here to see your wedding or something to Princess Kaira and I felt so torn because I do care about you. I really, truly care about you Van. Much more than you'll ever know right now but I do. Van," she took a deep breath. This was the moment of truth. "Van, I love you."

She looked away not knowing if Van really loved her back. She had to tell him and it felt so good to get it off her chest. But now, what would happen if he didn't love her back? She couldn't bear the thought.

Van however, was in shock once more. Coming to his senses about what Hitomi had just said, he looked down at her, still in his arms. She was looking away so he gently cupped her face in his hand and turned her to face him. She had said the words. Now it was time for him to tell her his feelings with an action. He leaned closer and they closed their eyes.

Time stopped. The flowers seemed to know the importance of the moment and it was as if they sprayed their beautiful scent into the sky around the couple to give a romantic smell. It was then that the moon's light shone down directly upon the two like a spotlight. High above, the stars twinkled, celebrating. The tree, which they sat under, leaned over to give them some privacy. The water sparkled happily and the frogs sat quiet, somehow knowing not to make a sound.

However, Hitomi and Van did not notice all the environment around them. The atmosphere itself had seemed to melt away as Van touched Hitomi's ruby lips. Hitomi, though unprepared, took in the moment to realize what was happening and then took in the full effect of the kiss.

The kiss. It was a magic moment for them. It was this action that told each other their true feelings, no more words needed. Van's arms were still around Hitomi and he pulled her closer to him. Hitomi allowed him to do this and put her arms around his neck.

They continued the kiss for a full five minutes, completely unaware of two spying figures hiding nearby and then give each other a high-five. Trying to keep their giggles inside, they watched and seemed to be surprised that anyone could go without air for ten minutes. However, the kept quiet and slowly slipped away, still unnoticed.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Now back to Hippoylta, after Princess Kaira had taken off, the young boy, David, she had asked to take a letter to Teddie Darkes had rushed speedily through the town to deliver the message. Although only thirteen, he had worked with three other royal families before. The Hippoly's were his fourth and each family had had a princess.

By far, he favored Princess Kaira the most because many a time had she treated him with fairness and equality as where the other princesses had looked down their noses at him like a piece of garbage. Now he'd be able to return a favor to her from all the times Princess Kaira had been kind. Happiness filled him because the Princess had sometimes acted like an older sister to the orphaned boy. Joyfully, he continued on the cobblestone road towards Teddie's house.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Teddie Darkes sat deep in thought on a wooden chair he himself had built. Looking around, it was realized that practically all the furniture in his aunt's house was built by Teddie himself and his eyes fell upon an old scarf hanging by the door. It had belonged to his father. This item filled his mind with memories of long ago.

He remembered the day, when he was no older than eight and he had come to live with his aunt after his father had passed away. It was a war fought long ago. So long ago and Teddie at the time had never bothered to pay attention, only prayed that each day, his father would survive and come home to the family. Unfortunately, his father hadn't come home. News spread to the little village that he lived in about the death.

He remembered vividly, his mother crying her eyes out at the thought, holding his two year old baby brother. His baby brother. Now thoughts of him flooded his mind. He recalled the cute baby face. The way his brother always followed him around like a little puppy. And then, they took him away.

After the news of his father reached them, it was only a matter of time before his mother passed away as well. She was already sickly from giving birth to his brother. Being eight, Teddie had no power to overrule the decision of where he or his brother went. Even now, years later, he knew not of where his younger brother had been sent to. All he knew was that a couple somewhere had adopted him and he had been ordered to live with his aunt.

At the time, he had no understanding of why his brother could not have come with him but now he knew. When he had come to live with his aunt, she had already begun to age. She was incapable of handling a toddler but a young boy would be able to help around the house.

Years he had lived with her, here in Hippolyta. He had friends. His aunt had always been sweet. But there was something missing in his heart. Something missing.

The something was filled the day he put his eyes on Princess Kaira in a different aspect. Every year, the royal family was expected to ride on horses through the town. He had seen the king, queen, and princess many times as a youth but it was at the age of sixteen that he was close enough to the parade for the princess to eye him and for the sparks to fly.

His breath had been taken away. She was beautiful. Even though she was fourteen, she had the beauty of an angel. If he closed his eyes now, he could remember the way she had looked exactly. Hair falling over delicate shoulders, soft eyes, kind smile. Everything.

He could not breath, literally, when she looked at him. Looked at him and then, smiled. It was the first moment that they had shared. Eye connection not broken for a full minute and then, the procession had moved on. He never took her eyes off her and yet she had to continue waving to the rest of the townspeople, he was sure that she wished to look back.

After that first encounter, he had been called to palace by a page. Wonderingly, he had followed. He had thought that it was something to do with the king and queen but he was badly mistaken. The princess had called upon him, being in charge in her parent's absence. They had gone on a royal picnic together and she had the run of the castle so she had pretended to need his assistance in some carpentry and cleaning.

Of course, this was a hoax. As soon as the page had left the room, the princess had smiled down at him from her throne and stepped down. They had talked and he found that he liked her and that she him. They planned to meet many times after in secret. It was heaven, bliss. The strong love he had for her was true bliss and completed his life. He knew that he could be hanged for going behind the king and queen to see their daughter but there were some things people did for love.

And now, now, she was going to leave the next day for he knew not of the changes that had taken place. Sighing, he put his chin in his hand and thought. He loved her and would do anything for her. Perhaps he could stop the carriage halfway to Fanelia the next morning, take her, and they could run off together. But the mere thought of it was absurd.

Suddenly, a loud knocking on the door interrupted his thoughts. Getting up slowly, he opened the door and was more surprised to see five palace guards standing there.

"May I help you sirs?" he asked politely, utterly confused. Maybe Kaira had sent for him but he knew that was impossible for she never sent guards.

The guard in front looked at him sharply. "Are you Teddie Darkes?"

"That I am."

"In that case," he moved aside to reveal the guard behind him who had hold of a young boy of thirteen by the arm. In the boy's hand was an envelope, torn. The boy himself looked torn himself but no tears fell.

"Because of the contents of the letter, we are taking you back to the palace to face the king and queen." He swiftly grabbed Teddie's arm.

"Wait a minute!" Teddie tried to struggle against the grip of the man but instead got knocked in the head. He fell limply into the guards who laughed and dragged him towards the castle, the guard in charge of the boy pushing him gruffly.

~*~ Will Kaira remember the spell she needs? What might Amano and Jair discover in their 'investigation'? Now that Van and Hitomi have revealed their feelings, what will happen? What about the two little spies? Will they help? Could David be playing a bigger role than expected? What exactly was in the letter that caused Teddie to be arrested? ~*~

***Author's Note***

Wow! That was a long chapter. I really hope it makes up for taking so long. And I know I said I'd try and put fluff into this chapter so I did. How'd I do? I've never really wrote much fluff in any of my fics so this was basically my first time. Kinda. Was it fluffy enough or does it need more? Personally, I don't think it was that fluffy but I tried. Tell me what you think! Anyways, like I said, I'm gonna try my best to get out at least two more chapters this week! Umm...I don't have much to say except the usual, review please. Thanks!

*Maura*