Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Author's Note: For those of you who have read all the
preceding parts, I glad you enjoyed them, I also want to say thanks for all the
great reviews. Enjoy. J
Together Again (Part 3)
Hitomi let
out screech as she felt her feet leave the ground, she grabbed hold of Van's
shoulders, with a whooshing sound, Van's wings spread outward from his back,
tearing his shirt. Hitomi remembered the first time she had seen Van's wings,
as he had jumped from Escaflowne and swooped down to save her. She remembered
how Van had seemed so ashamed of that part of his heritage. But in her mind
they were glorious.
Van
strained as he caught an updraft, it had been a long time since he had used his
wings. Van felt a small burst of shame as he looked down at Hitomi. He hated
reminding people that he wasn't completely human, that he carried the blood of
the cursed ones in his veins. Hitomi had her hands on his shoulders and her
head was resting on his chest. He couldn't see her eyes and a small part of him
was glad of that fact, he wouldn't have to face seeing the disgust in her eyes.
Van looked down; although it was dark the Mystic Moon gave off enough light for
him to see.
Van
watched the ground; he wanted to find a good place to land. He didn't think
that he would be able to make it all the way back to Fanelia, his wings were
already starting to ache. He noticed a small river flowing through a field and
decided that that would be a good as any; it wasn't to far from Fanelia about
an hour and half walk. It also had the added benefit of water, which they were
going to need considering the fact that they had lost all the supplies with the
horse and had spent most of the night running through the forest.
Van soared
above the spot, he circled back going lower and lower until he was able to
flare his wings back and land.
Hitomi
watched as the ground came closer and closer until she felt a jolt as Van
pulled back and landed on the ground. She felt a moments regret as her feet
touched the ground, a soft smile came to her face as she thought. It's not every day a girl gets to go flying with an
angel. Even though they had
landed Hitomi didn't move away from Van, it felt so good to be held by him. She
breathed in deeply knowing that no matter what was to come she would treasure
this memory forever.
Van held
Hitomi; he was surprised that she hadn't moved away yet. He looked down at the
top of her head and felt his heart constrict with love. How could he live
without her? Hitomi stirred slightly but didn't move out of his arms, Van
considered folded his wings back in, but he could tell from the cramps running
through them that that would be a bad idea.
He watched
as Hitomi's head moved and she looked up into his eyes and instead of shock or
revulsion, he saw total acceptance and what looked a lot like love.
Hitomi
looked into Van eyes, she could see that he was worried about her reaction to
having seen his wings, she smiled up at Van. She reached out one hand and
touched the downy wings. "They're so soft," she whispered. She felt a slight
shiver run through Van as her hand caressed the feathers.
Van stared
down in amazement as Hitomi reached out and rubbed her hand down his wing.
Nobody had every touched his wings, most people wouldn't even look at them.
When he heard her whispered words he felt as though he would burst. Her words
held neither disgust nor fear; instead they were filled with love.
"Thank you
Hitomi," he said quietly.
Hitomi
looked up, startled, "Thank me for what?" she asked, her hand was still resting
on Van's wing and for once he felt no shame.
His hands
move up to cradle her face, "Thank you for being the person you are, thank you for
having such a beautiful soul, but most of all thank you for loving me."
Hitomi
smiled, her face lighting up. Van looked at the face of the women he loved more
then life itself. Neither could tell would made the first move, but as Hitomi
met Van's lips, she felt as though she had been transported to heaven. She
wrapped her arms around his neck, and felt more then saw his wings come forward
to cloak her protectively.
Van knew
that he must be dreaming, he was kissing Hitomi, but this was real, it was definitely
better than anything he had every dreamed. He moved his hands from her chin
down to her waist and pulled her closer. He knew that after tonight he was
never going to let her go again.
After what
seemed like forever they slowly parted, Hitomi stayed in Van arms and rested
her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat. It was pounding and Hitomi
knew she was the cause of that runaway heartbeat.
Van held
Hitomi; they stood that way for what seemed like hours. He was almost surprised
to see the sun come peaking over the horizon. "Hitomi," he whispered. "Umm?"
she mumbled, Van smiled and kissed the top of her head. "We have to go," he
said, Hitomi pulled away slightly, she noticed how it was gradually getting
lighter out. She sighed, Van was right but she didn't want to leave his arms.
"All
right," she muttered, "but want a kiss first." Van was happy to oblige, the
kiss lasted for a while before they both had to part to get their breath.
Hitomi smiled up at Van, "Did I say kiss, what I meant was kisses."
Van
laughed, "Stop trying to tempt me or we'll never make it back to the castle."
Hitomi laughed, her eyes alight with love. She stepped back out of Van's
embrace but stopped a few feet away to look at him.
His wings
were still out, a strand of raven hair had fallen over his eye and he looked
simply gorgeous. She could hardly believe that Van loved her, after years of
dreaming about him, he was finally hers.
Van
watched as Hitomi moved out of his grasp and for a second he wanted to grab
hold of her and pull her back, but he stopped himself at the last moment. He
watched her as she watched him, her hair moved slightly in the wind, and her
face was aglow with light and love. He loved looking at her, for the first time
he noticed that she was observing him as closer as he was her.
"What?" he
asked curiously, he watched her face colour slightly. "You're gorgeous," she
said quietly, and laughed as Van's face turned red. "I guess it's time to go,"
she said regretfully, Van nodded. He stretched slightly and spread his wings
outward before drawing them back in and hiding them away.
Hitomi
looked at his tattered shirt, "I think you're going to need a shirt," she said.
Van glanced at the remains of his shirt and said, "Good idea, to bad I don't
caring spare ones around with me," he said with a grin.
"You
should always be prepared, turn around," Hitomi ordered, Van raised his
eyebrows but did as she said. "Okay you can turn back around," she said after a
few minutes, Van turned and was hit in the face by a T-shirt. Hitomi giggled,
"I always wear a t-shirt under by sweater," she said.
Van pulled the t-shirt off his face, it was
white and looked large enough to fit him, although just barely. He slipped it
over his head and pulled it down. "Thanks," he said, "but did you really need
to throw it at my head," he grumbled.
Hitomi
thought about it seriously for a moment before she replied, "Yes, I did." Van
glared at her and she started laughing.
"You're a minx,
you know that?" he said, Hitomi just grinned. Van couldn't help himself; he
jumped forward and grabbed hold of her. He ducked his head and kissed her
passionately. Hitomi responded in kind.
When the
kiss ended, Hitomi grinned at Van, "I thought we were supposed to get going,"
"Yes," Van
agreed, "after all we still have a wedding to plan." Van started walking along
side the river, leaving Hitomi staring at his back.
"Van! What
do you mean?" she yelled as she ran to catch up with him. Van hid his grin and
turned to look at Hitomi. "Whose wedding?" she asked breathing heavily.
"Why, ours
of course," he said as though it should be obvious. Hitomi stared, "What?!? You
never asked me to marry you!" she cried, stamping her foot. She looked very
upset.
"Oh, it
must have slipped my mind," he said. He looked at Hitomi, and couldn't help
himself. He burst out laughing, "Oh Hitomi, I'm kidding," he laughed. Hitomi
just stood there with her arms crossed.
Van
reached over and pulled her into his arms, he kissed her forehead and looked
into her eyes. "I need you more than the air I breathe, and nothing would make
me happier than to have you as my wife." Hitomi sighed happily, "Oh Van, I love
you so much. Of course I'll marry you." She wrapped her arms around his neck,
her lips met his and for the little while the world could have come to an end
and they wouldn't have noticed.
They were
walking hand in hand along the riverbank, when some movement caught their eyes.
A group of horsemen came riding out of a cluster of trees. Van and Hitomi both
tensed up, and Van's hand moved towards his sword. A voice floated over to
them, "LORD VAN!!!" Van smiled and waved 'hello', Hitomi giggled, she leaned
over to Van, "You would think that after 3 years I would have forgot that
voice."
The
horsemen rode closer; one person was way out in front. Merle stood in the
saddle and waved wildly at Van. The cat girl reined the horse in and jumped out
of the saddle into Van's arms. "Lord Van, I was so worried about you." Merle
cried. She took a look at the young women behind Van and her chin dropped so
low that it almost hit the ground. "HITOMI!!" she yelled. She jumped out of
Van's arms and into Hitomi's.
Hitomi
smiled, as she hugged Merle back. She was really thrilled to see her, even
though she could a bit of a pest. "Hitomi, what are you doing back? I missed
you so much. Van missed you to." Merle said speaking so fast Hitomi had trouble
making out what she was saying. Merle finally stopped hugging Hitomi and
stepped back, when she saw the way Hitomi moved into to Van's embrace, she
jumped up with joy. "Yippee, now Lord Van can be happy."
Hitomi
glanced up at Van to see him blush, which made her laugh. The group of horsemen
arrived and dismounted. "Your Majesty," a large, blond man said, while bowing
slightly. "We are very glad to have found you safe and well." The man was a
trifle startled to see the King smiling, but as he glanced at the women beside
the King, he felt a smile growing on his own face. Well
it's about time, the kingdom needs an heir. He thought, bowing
slightly to the women at the King side, Hitomi smiled in return.
Hitomi
looked up at Van and grinned, "Come on let's go home." Van smiled at her, and
motioned for the men to bring up the spare horses. "That's sounds good to me,"
he replied. The group remounted and moved at a quick pace towards Fanelia.
Hitomi stopped once to glance up at the Mystic Moon, but she quickly said her
good byes, and rode back to join the man she loved.
I'm such a sap! Okay that's
it, I was thinking of doing the wedding, but that depends on you guys. If I get
enough reviews I'll write up the wedding. I hope you enjoyed my fic; it was my
first romance one. I actually had fun writing it, and all the reviews have been
great. Thanks to everybody who sent in a review. Bye for now. J
