*Untamed~Angel~12*
"What?!"Van said in shock. He thought for a moment. *Of course. It all makes sense now.*
"Hey Van?" He snapped back and looked down at her.
"Yeah?" He said absentmindly.
"Do you think it's possible that you can let me up now? My back is starting to hurt."
"Oh, sorry Hitomi!" He got up and held out his hand to her. She grabbed his hand and stood up, dusting herself off. He stared at her in shock. "I can't believe it. You're my-"
"Yeah, I'm your sister." She straightened her shirt and looked up at him. "Surprised?"
"I'd say that's a correct assumption. But Hitomi, your last name's Kanzaki, and mine's-"
"I changed my last name." She interuppted.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because I was scared that someonewould remember that the Fanels were Draconians." She answered simply.
"I understand now. But why aren't you in Zaibach anymore?"
*Zaibach~Fortress*
Dilandau stood on the walkway of the hanger, staring at Asturia below them. He ran a gloved hand through his hair and sighed.
"Folken, I'm telling you. I'm sure she's in Fanelia."
"And what makes you so positive that Fanelia is where she headed?" He asked doubtfully.
"Because Fanelia is her homecountry." He said, as stubborn as usual. Folken sighed.
"Fine, we'll head for Fanelia. She isn't in Fraid, Arzaz, or Asturia, anyway."
*Village~of~Fanelia*
"And I wasn't raised like that. I don't kill people for no reason." She said quietly. Van looked at her, listening carefully. "That's why I left." Van nodded then looked down at her waist.
"Where's your sword?"
"I got rid of it."
"What?! Why??"
"Because I'm not fighting any more. I can't stand battling." She wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "Everytime I start to battle, I remember the battle at Fraid, and it scares me." Van gripped her shoulders, and she looked up at him, surprised.
"It's alright. You don't have to fight anymore if you don't want to." Her eyes started to glisten. She sniffed and quickly wiped her eyes. After a moment, Van pulled her closer and wrapped his arms gently around her. She pulled away after a moment, clearly ashamed at her behaviour. "Come on, we'd better get back to the castle."
*Fortress~above~Fanelia*
Dilamdau looked down at the small country below him. *I know you're here Hitomi.* He thought. *I just know you're here. I can sense it.* He looked up as he heard footsteps and saw Miguel walking up to him.
"We're ready to dock, Lord Dilandau."
"Thank you Miguel." He turned and headed for the exit.
When he set foot in Fanelia, he felt a strong power sting through him. *She's nearby.* He glanced up at the castle. *There she is.* He walked over to the wall where he was out of view from the gate guards and was about to climb up when he felt a hand grip his shoulder tightly.
"What do you think you're doing?" A rough voice demanded. He turned and saw an angry guard glaring at him.
"Oh, thank god you're here, I am in desperate need of some help, but I haven't been able to find anyone to help me." He said, acting relieved.
"And what exactly is the problem?"
"Well, you see, I am guilty of-" He stopped and struck the guy in the face hard, knocking him out. "Breaking your nose." He glanced around and once the coast was clear, climbed over the wall.
He landed and looked around. No one had noticed him yet. "Now where is she?" He glanced around and headed to the courtyard. He entered the garden of the courtyard and noticed someone walking around the fountain. After a closer look, he saw that it was Hitomi. She turned around as someone walked out of the castle and Dilandau felt anger boil up as he saw Van walk over to her.
"How do you like the garden?" Van asked. She smiled.
"It's beautiful. But," She looked down at her outfit. "Do I HAVE to wear this dress?" She picked at the black silk. "I'm thankful that it's black, and it's a slim dress, but I feel like a princess."
"Well, that's because you are." He said, a kind smile on his face. She blushed deeply. "I'll see you later tonight.." He kissed her hand gently and left her by the fountain.
Dilandau watched him leave, confused at what he had heard.
"What did he mean by she IS a princess?" He then bit his lip. "Is Fanelia getting a new queen?" He stepped out from the wall and walked over to her. Her back was to him, but he knew that she was aware of his presence because she stood up, keeping her back to him.
"Dilandau." She said quietly.
"Hitomi." He replied. She turned and looked at him. He saw something in her eyes that he'd only seen once before. *Fear?*
"Dilandau, what are you doing here?" He folded his arms.
"Well, I was going to take you back to Zaibach with me, but I see you have a much bigger part right here."
"Dilandau, even if I was just someone down in the village, I couldn't go back to Zaibach." She sat down on the side of the fountain. "Every time I start to battle, I remember the battle at Fraid, and I become absolutely terrified. I have given up on battling and I'm not starting up again."
"Hitomi-" She stood up and started to back away.
"I am not going back to Zaibach Even if you tie me up and carry me back, I will always find my way back here."
"I don't plan on taking you back to Zaibach anyway."
"You don't?"
"No." He sat down beside her. "I didn't want you back at Zaibach just because of your skill. The truth is, you're one of the few people I actually cared about. but now that, then I guess that you don't feel the same way about me." He stood and walked back to the side of the garden, but turned back. "I just hope that you enjoy your life here." He then climbed over the wall and took off. Hitomi watched him leave.
"What did he mean, 'Fanelia is having her king married'? Van never told me about that." She entered the castle and looked for Van. Hitomi found him in his room, standing on his balcony. "Van?" He turned and saw her standing in his door, the wind tousling her hair slightly.
"Hitomi, what is it?"
"Are you getting married?" He looked startled.
"No, not unless the advisors have set me up with another princess, why?" She told him what had happened with Dilandau. He didn't look pleased, but he seemed to understand. "You know what you have to do now, right?" She looked up at him, startled and shook her head.
"Van, I can't start battling again, I told you why." He gripped her shoulders.
"Hitomi, didn't he say that he didn't just want you to come back because of your skill? It's obvious that he cares about you, and as much as I hate te fact that HE likes my sister, you have to do what your heart tells you to. I'll stand behind you no matter what you choose. I will miss you a lot, but I know that you will be in good hands." He ran a hand down her cheek as a single tear streamed down her face. "Now what do you truly want to do?" She paused for a moment, then looked down at the floor. "I thought so." He pulled her into a hug. "God, I'm going to miss you. But I know you'll be safe. Even so, if you get killed-" He pulled back, a mischivious glint in his eyes. "I'll have his head on a platinum platter." She laughed and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I'll miss you too, brother." She pulled away and walked into the hall. Van looked down at the ground, and a few minutes later, saw Hitomi, back in her old Dragon Slayer pants and shirt, on a black horse. She waved good bye, he dismissed her with a wave of his hand, causing her to laugh, and she took off in a cloud of dust in the direction Dilandau went.
Some of you people aren't happy with the fact that Hitomi and Van being bro and sis. To tell you the truth, I have no idea where that came from. If you don't like it, just tell me and if I get 20 reviews saying' that you want me to change that little fact, then I will.
Dark Angel ^_~