Hitomi awoke softly to her new husbands gental breath on

her check. She stretched lightly and turned on her stomach

to see his face. He looked just like a young boy, with his

hair resting against his check and forhead. Hitomi reached

out and smooted it away from Van's face. He stired slightly

in his sleep but didn't awake. Hitomi smiled and queitly

got out of bed. SHe grabed her robe and sliped it on.

Hitomi gazed at Van for a moment before going over to set

in the sunny alcove across the room. SHe removed a leather

bound jornal fom her duffle bay. In this shee wrote letters

to her mother and Yucari, never mind that they would never

see them, it was just comforant somehow. She sighed, she

knew what those women of old felt like when they left

famlies to old felt like when they left their famliles to

marry. It was scary, but at least she loved her husband.

Hitomi gazed deamly out the wide window, taping her pen

against the paper softly yntill a voice broke her peace.

"Hitomi!! Where are you? Oh, God, no, she's gone!!" It was

Van's voice, but Hitomi had never heard it so panic filled,

she ran into the room to see him through on clothes in

brakeneck speed, and ringing for the servants.

"Van, calm down, I'm right hear." Hitomi said, he either

didn't hear her or was to faar paniced to notice her walk

up. Suddenly the servants rushed in the door to see their

King beside himself and his wife approaching him slowly.

"Van, I'm right hear. Look. At. Me." He seemed to hear her

that time and turned to look at her. Releif flooded his

face and he drew her to him, rocking her back and forth in

a tight embrace. The servants looked bewildered at their

Kings actions. Over Van's shoulder Hitomi whispered.

"The King had a nightmare about the old war. IT is nothing,

but speak of what you saw to no one." The servants nodded

and quickly left the room. Van just kept on holding Hitomi,

and she didn't know how much more she could bare, her ribs

already felt bruised.

"Van, dear,why don't we lay down again. You ca tell me all

about what ever just happened."

Van nodded against her hair and lead the way. When Hitomi

was comfortable Van put one armaround her and held her hand

with the other.

"I woke up and you weren't there. I thought you had gone.

That that cursed light had taken you away again."

Hitomi could see the real fear in his eyes and feel it in

the tense set of his shoulders.

"Van, I woke up before you and I didn't won't to disturb

your sleep. So I got up to sit in the alcove. I never left

the room." She tried to comfort him but it almost seemed

impossible. Finally his body started to relaxe but before

he sliped into sleep he made her promise.

"Hitomi, pleasw don't ever leave me?" Hitomi looked into

her husbands face and a small part of her felt hurt that he

didn't believe all her vows she had taken never to leave.

"Van I already promised to never leave, noe close your eyes

and rest." Hitomi lightly touched his eyelids to push them

down. Then she got comfortable becase she didn't want to

leave him untill he woke up and there was no way she could

sleep. She had to much to ponder.


~~~~~@ @~~~~~


Days went by in the fashion, Van hardly let Hitomi out of

his sight. Most of the court thought it was cute to see the

King escort his wife to counsel meetings, but after three

weeks of spending every hour at Van's side, Hitomi was

ready for a break. She looked over at Van, they where in et

another councel meeting.

"Van, I need to take a break, I'll jsut step out-"

"I'll go with you."He whispered back as he began to stand.

"No,no I can go alone." Van looked hurt and Hitomi took a

deep breath,out of the connor of her eye she saw Merle

signaling her that she would go too.

"Ah, I think Merle is going with me. We'll be girl taking.

She needs to talk about Jako. We will be back." Hitomi

kissed his cheek and got up before he could react. Merle

followed her out. They both missed the look of fear in

Van's eyes.


~~~~~@ @~~~~~


"Ha ha ha!" Hitomi laughed at somthing Merle was telling

her. They where outside the castle walls in the Market

Place. Htiomi had already bought somthing for Asago.

"Then I told him he was just as stoborn as Van! And he

is!!" Merlw crunched up her nose and her ears twitched.


"I think he's he's perfect for you." Hitomi said as she put

one arm around Merle. She so enjoied this time away from

Van. Hitomi loved him, it was just that breathing room was

nice.

"You really do?" Merle asked with hope

"Yes, I really do." Hitomi answered with a smile.

"That's good, because I think I-"

"Hitomi!! THERE. YOU. ARE." both women turned to see Van

coming toward them Hitomi didn't noticed the spark of anger

in his eyes.

"Look what I got for Asago!!" She help up brightly colored

scarf.

"I think it make her happy-Hey what?"Van had taken her arm

and was now streaing her toward the palace walls. We'll

talk at home." He hissed into her ear. Hitomi had no idea

what had made him mad, but her anger began to raise too.



~~~~~@ @~~~~~



"Don't you know how dangerous it is out there!!" Van

shouted as they stood toe to toe.

"I can take care of my self!" Hitomis yelled back.

I have lived alone scence I was 18! I fought and killed

beside Asago!"

"But your still a woman. Your still my wife. It's my job to

protect you now!" Van was so angry. She just wouldn't

understand.

"Okay, prptect me, BUT don't smother me!!" I was with

Merle. I had my dager-"

"You carrie a dager?" Van was shocked.

"Yes, I do. It's in my boot. Now can you see-"

"Dager or not. What if the lgiht cames for you? What then?"

Van steoed back and ran his fingures through his hair.

"Van listen to me, my wishes control that light I won't go

back unless I wish it so. Pleasw don't worry. Why can't you

trust me?" Hitomi let her hurt show for the first time. Van

looked at her from the window where he now stood.

"I trust you...It's just-"

"No, you don't trust me. If you did you wouldn't keep

making me promise never to leave. You would believe my

vow." She turned her back on him, slow tears coming down

her face. SHe tried not to sniff but one sliped out.

"Ah, Hitomi are you crying? Don't cry! Please!" Van sliped

his arms around her.

"Look, I promise I'll try to keep my fear in plese. I'll

eveb take you to see Asago after the Ball next week. I

promise." Hitomi turned in his arms and looked up at him.

"Really? Do you mean it?" She asked with a spark of hope.

"Yes, I do." Van leaned down and kissed Hitomi and although

Hitomi returned his kiss, she couldn't help but have a

heavy heart. They hadn't rally cleared the air, just

postponed the storm.






End of Chapter!!

What will happen next? What is the storm that is about to break?
Will Van and Hitomi's love last throw it?
hehehehe find out next time!!!