Wow! This…this chapter! This I think is one of my very good chapters. I wanted to add some Kenshin+Kaoru sap in here, but Arwyn said it would have removed the focus from the Neicole, Van, and Balthazar scene. So I took his word on that. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Oh, and by the way, the name 'Masayoshi' is Japanese for 'justice'. You'll understand why I chose that name after you read Hitomi's dream. Well then, enjoy!
Ditto.
~*Chapter Fourteen: I Love You*~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Lala
lala lala la la laaaa…lalala la laaaa…"
Flash. "You have a beautiful voice."
"You! How are you here?! You're from Gaea!"
"I'm
here because I was destined to be here. Now give me my son."
Gasp. "He's my baby! I won't let you take him!"
Chuckle. "As I recall, you weren't too eager to
create him. Now give him to me!"
"No!"
Step.
"Stay
away!"
Step.
"I said
stay away!"
Step. "Leon can't help you now…"
"No! Please don't take my baby away!"
"Fine. If you won't give him to me, I'll have to
take him by force." Flash.
"Nooooo! Come back!! Bring my baby back, you dirty old man!! GIVE ME MY LITTLE MASAYOSHI!!!!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hitomi woke
up screaming, the water splashing around her as she disturbed its
tranquility. What was that? Who is the girl? Why does she sound so familiar? Do I know a boy named Masayoshi? Her mind swarmed with questions as she tried to make sense of the dream.
All of a
sudden a bright white light appeared in front of her, and from it a
ghostly-looking adolescent man with unruly ebony hair and striking emerald eyes
appeared. "Yes, you do know someone
named Masayoshi," he spoke.
Hitomi
backed up against glass, and attempted to cover herself. "W-who are you?"
The man
smiled a smile that was somehow familiar. "You don't have to hide yourself from me."
Hitomi,
strangely trusting this man, stopped trying to cover her nudity. "You didn't answer my question. Who are you?"
The man
sighed. "I didn't think you would
recognize me in this form." He closed
his eyes, and when he opened them again he became a taller, slightly older man
with reddish brown eyes and spiky light blue hair. "Is this better?"
"FOLKEN?!"
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Van stood
on the roof of the castle, despite the fact that it was the middle of the
night, hoping and praying that he would be able to find Hitomi. He, Kenshin, Kaoru, Sano, and Yahiko would leave
for Palas, Austuria in the morning by means of a Fanelian trade levi-ship. Van had contemplated reawakening Escaflowne,
but by doing that he would definitely start a war. Guymelefs were no longer produced now that the Great War was
over, and if Van had waltzed into any kingdom in/on a guymelef—especially
Escaflowne—he would inevitably be targeted as a threat. Hence, he decided that the trade levi-ship
was really the only way. It would be
slower than riding on Escaflowne for sure, but as long as he was able to rescue
Hitomi then he had no complaints.
A light
pitter-patter of feet brought Van out of his musings. He turned, only to find himself facing the Duchess. "How did you find me up here?" he asked out
of curiosity, though not allowing his eyes to meet hers.
Neicole
smiled. "Where else would a King with
wings be?" she replied, applying her intelligence for once. "This is the closest you can be to the sky
without being in it." She paused. "I won't tell anyone that you're a
Draconian, King Van."
Van only
nodded, not really caring if she told anyone or not. Most people had found out during the Great War anyway. The Great War…Hitomi… His hand unconsciously clasped the pendant
dangling from his neck as he shifted his gaze to the expanse of trees looming
in the distance.
"That's a
really pretty necklace," Neicole commented, walking nearer to Van. "Where did you get it?"
"From…someone
very special to me," Van answered, not turning to face her.
"Oh." Neicole reached out a hand to touch Van's
shoulder, but drew back in shyness. "I'm a big fan of jewelry, but I've never seen a necklace like yours
before."
Van made no
response.
Neicole
became worried. "Are you okay, King
Van?" she asked, ascertaining the courage to place her hand on his shoulder. She ached as she felt him wince slightly
from her touch.
Again, Van
made no response.
Neicole
applied her strength and turned Van around to face her. She was startled by what she saw; the great
King Van was crying! Now she was really
worried. "Tell me what's wrong, King
Van!" she demanded gently. She
paused. "I love you."
More silver
tears made their paths down Van's cheeks. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his hands hastily removed Neicole's grip
on his shoulders. "Please don't tell me
that," he hoarsely demanded. And with
that, he made his exit from the roof.
Neicole
stood there, completely shocked. After
she registered what had just happened, she slumped to her knees and began to
sob. She moaned Van's name aloud
between her cries and sniffles, but she knew he wouldn't come back. She had figured it out. Her handsome King Van was in love with
another, and his pretty necklace must have been a gift from whoever the lucky
girl was. And that realization just
made Neicole sob even harder.
"Don't cry,
my dear Neicole," commanded a very familiar voice.
Neicole
looked up, tears still streaming down her face. She instantly recognized the tall man with light brown eyes and
hair casting his shadow on her. "Balthazar?"
Balthazar
nodded, kneeling down in front of Neicole. "I saw everything," he confessed.
Neicole
crawled into Balthazar's lap, simply too depressed to say anything. He hoisted her up so that her head could cry
on his shoulder, and she readily took the invitation. And Balthazar held her like that, rocking her slightly as he used
to do when she was younger and could not fall asleep. No words were spoken; he simply caressed her back in an attempt
to soothe her.
From the edge of the roof, hidden from their view, Van smiled. He suddenly didn't feel so guilty for not returning the Duchess's feelings.