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~* A/N Konnichiwa Minna!! I'm back.... wow! Got lots o good reviews, so I'm gonna write hopefully a chapter a day. Enjoy! Please R&R Thanx! BTW, I DO NOT OWN ESCAFLOWNE!!!!! Boy I wish I could...

~Feathers of the Wind*~

Note: this chapter may be a bit short...

Hitomi and Van-Fateful destiny

Chapter 9: The reason

Van awoke hazily in the sunlight. He turned his head to see his Queen still resting in his arms. She looked beautiful, and was so innocent looking while sleeping.

Well what did you expect? He thought, After all, she is Hitomi. And, she has a pair of hidden angel wings, just like you.

"Rest my darling, you're going to need all your strength if we're going to face Takita again." Van whispered. Hitomi slept for another 10 minutes, then began to stir. Hitomi groaned as she opened her eyes to the bright sun. Covering her eyes for a moment, she then realized the one beside her was also awake.

"Good morning Van." Hitomi smiled. Van returned the smile, thanking the heavens that they'd sent his love back to him safely.

"Good morning, dearest. How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?" Hitomi snuggled up closer to Van and whispered,

"I'm ok, I guess... my back's a little sore. But yes, I did sleep well. I always do when you're around." She smiled.

"Your back is sore because of the wings. When I first let out my wings, my back hurt a little too." Van remembered, suddenly shocked at Hitomi's look of surprise.

"You mean it was real? I wasn't dreaming? I'm a draconian?" Hitomi gasped. Van feared that she now would hate him.

"yes.. you are." Van looked at her straight in the eye, and was surprised at the emotions the eyes told. They were a look of happiness.

Why would she be HAPPY to be a draconian?? Van wondered. He soon found out.

" I'm so happy Van! Now, I can fly with you, wherever you go, and I don't have to be a burden to you. And Van... I told you, I think your wings are beautiful... you don't need to be ashamed or sad. I love you for who you are... ALL of you!" She giggled. Van smiled, relieved.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the dining hall. Merle jumped up, and ran to the royal couple.

"Hitomi! Are you alright?! Van-Sama, are you hurt?!" The cat girl bombarded them with endless worry-full questions, making them laugh a little.

"Oh Merle! We're alright! Honestly!" Van answered his best friend.

"Oh... ok then. Come on and eat!" Merle practically dragged them to the head of the table.

~~****~~

After breakfast, there was a council meeting, so of course the King and Queen had to be present.

"So King Van and Queen Hitomi, even after that last attack, Fanelia is still in pretty good shape. We just need to fix a few things, an that will be all." A member of the council concluded after 2 hours.

"Good... but I need to know something about.. what was her name? Takita... who the hell does she think she is, just coming to attack us like that!" Van growled. Hitomi put her hand on his and smiled at him to keep him from blowing up.

"Well, your majesty, they say she was an orphan, an angry child. She had foster parents, but she killed them, along with a few towns people from Esztermays, a city in the outskirts of Austuria. Once this broke out, some insisted that she loved to kill and should be killed, she was incredibly strong and gifted with the sword, but no one took her seriously at such a young age, that no one would believe she killed ANYONE. She eventually formed an army, who she says are the Zaibach's gifted elite." The advisor said.

"But why would she come after us? We didn't do anything to her." Hitomi asked. She was troubled that this 'Takita' woman would try to kill her and Van. It seemed so... Dilandau-ish.

" I suspect the reason she came after you and the King, was for a few good reasons. One, Fanelia is home to the legendary heroes of Gaea, the King and yourself. Two, the reason why everyone wants to conquer Fanelia; Escaflowne, and now Escalamis. Three, She knows that if she can take down Fanelia, she won't have troubles taking any other country, and she'll rule Gaea if that happens." The councilor answered.

" I see... Isn't there a way we can help or save her?" Hitomi slowly asked, already fearing the answer. The councilor sighed.

"I'm afraid not. The only way to stop her... is to kill her."

~~*****~~

~*AN: OOH! I got a good cliff hanger going on here!! =) Well, I made up Esztermays... I dunno. Just came out, and it sorta sounded ok, so I used it. Well...only 3-4 days until fanfiction.net is back up and running... I want it to hurry up!!!