DON'T TELL ME






Chapter 5: A Little More Won't Hurt







Afternoon had settled over Gaea. Van and I were sitting under a huge Piscuss tree. I was staring above the horizon at the Mystic Moon, while Van was playing a tune with a leaf. The waxy, shrilly sounds tickled my ear as he played a soft lullabye.

"Hey, what's that?" I asked as Van ended the last note.

"That's a song Mother used to sing to me before I sleep."

"What does it say? Can you sing it?" I asked, it being the first time I will hear Van sing.

Van cleared his throat, and then looked at me straight in the eye as he sang:

"Sleep o'ver the slumbering sea,
Dream of a place where the angels be
Until I'm dead, remember me...
My love will be always be there for thee."

I looked at him for a moment. His eyes were sadly downcast.

"That's a sweet song." I said softly.

"It is." Van threw away the leaf and looked far into the glowing horizon. He remembered his mother.

"Mother..."

"She was very good to you, wasn't she?" I laced my fingers into his. Van nodded and tightened his grip on my hand.

"I know. She wouldn't have done a better job on you." I continued, giving him my sincerest smile.

"Thanks." Van's ears turned pink.

"I know your mother did, too."

I began to become aware of his firm hand gripping my own. He held it as if for dear life, with no intention of letting go. It was strange, the way Van shows his sweet nature to me and to others. You never seem to know when and how. Unpredictable. I had seen him hug Merle. It was warm, loving and gentle. He was so deprived of affection since he was young, poor boy. In the back of my heart, I wanted to feel it. Being hugged by him. I wonder what was it like. I blushed at the thought.

"Hitomi?" Van waved a hand in front of me.

"Oh." I jumped out of my reverie. Van's face went closer up to mine. My heart beat faster. His warm eyes insinuated something that made my insides jump. Was he going to do what I think he'll do?

"Your eyes are really beautiful, Hitomi." he said, pushing a lock of hair away from my face. Blood rushed to my already madly blushing cheeks, turning them wild rose pink in color. "They always make me feel better everytime I look at you."

"Uh, er- thanks." I didn't know what to say. I felt totally awkward.

Van moved away and sighed. I could almost feel that he was disappointed.

"Want to go back to the castle now? Dinner might be early."

Wait! I had to say something. I grabbed his hand as he rose. "Van, I--" I stammered, standing up and pushed myself closer to him. I opened my mouth, but no words would come out. Van's eyes were wide with surprise.

What am I going to say? Once again, I was speechless. "Nothing."

Van looked at the distance. "Well, then. Come on, let's go, Hitomi."

*OWARI*

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A/N: Noo! Why did Hitomi have to be soo tongue- tied? Anyways, the next chapter will be more heated up! (I planned to make them fight, you know...) But we'll see...

STAY TUNED! JA NE, MINNA!!!