Chapter 5 ~ Jaded Eyes
Hitomi's death-like sleep continued for another week, time in which Van barely moved from her bedside. He surprised most of the people at the palace, through the new-found care he exhibited for the girl he had spent the last three years hating. He rarely ever left her room, and when he did, it was only to get things necessary for her recovery. The palace florist was surprised when he saw his king walk into his winter garden one day, with an order with a order of a dozen of all his sorts of flowers to be delivered to Lady Hitomi's room. All around the week people noticed small changes in their king. Not everyone was happy with them though. Princess Morgan for example spend the week screaming bloody murder and cursing the day the Phantom Moon wench stopped at their door stop. As a Princess of the far-away kingdom of Solaria, she wasn't used to being ignored. Especially by her husband-to-be. And, the fact that he was spending every moment of his days with that girl, out of wedlock, didn't appeal to her in the very least. Meanwhile, it was the seventh night since Hitomi's fall, and Van once-again, was sitting by her beside holding her hand.
"Please Hitomi. Wake up. I need some answers. I need some answers as to why you did what you did. Please, it's driving me insane." Van thought unhappily, as Hitomi had not exhibited any sort of change since that fateful night. The healer had said that maybe having a familiar presence beside her might help to speed her recovery. Thus, Van had done all possible to see that Hitomi was comfortable. "Who else could be more appropriate than me?" Van thought. "After all, I might be the reason she decided to do this stupid thing. I need at least be the first person she sees so we can have a decent talk." Van continued to think. He fell asleep like so many times before, praying to all existing gods that Hitomi would be all right.
*~*~*~*~*
The angel flew straight through the weird looking machine, and straight to the sandy haired girl. Both sharing that feeling. That feeling that warmed up your gut, and made you give till it hurt for the other person.
'Van!" the girl exclaimed happily as the angel came down and hugged her fiercely. Sweet nothings were whispered in the ears of the two, things the by-stander didn't understand. Things the by-stander didn't want to understand.
Quickly the scenery faded, and it turned into a forest, with another raven-haired boy, and the same girl, hugging each other and again pledging their never-ending friendship, but in the back of the girl's mind, the older woman could see more. So much more. Again that feeling she didn't understand.
"I won't forget you Van. Not even when I'm old." The girl told the boy, as a pillar of white light came down on her and carried her to a strange place.
"Hitomi…" the boy said as the girl faded away.
Suddenly, painful flashes entered the woman's mind. A cat-girl, a ravishing blond knight, another frail blonde woman, pain, suffering, war, the slow burning of some odd cards, a celebration, another raven haired boy, so different from the one in the forest. Internal turmoil, heartbreak, so much pain and suffering. So little joy, so little love in the world… it was all so sad…and so little made sense…
*~*~*~*~*
"Oh my god! Help me!" the jade-eyed girl screamed as she bolted from her bed. She grabbed her forehead and groaned in pain, as a horrifying migraine began to take effect. The flashes just wouldn't stop.
At the sound of the piercing scream, Van woke up startled, only to see Hitomi on the side of her bed, grasping her head and moaning in pain. He quickly made his way over to her and hugged her tightly.
"Ssh, it's ok Hitomi. I'm here, no need to worry. I'm here, whatever was will go away. No need to be afraid. You're safe now." Van said softly. It was amazing how the walls he had spent years building around him broke, at the sight of her in pain. She was the woman he had desired ever since he figured out his feelings for her. Nothing could ever change that. Van trembled at the sudden pang of realisation. "Does this mean what I think it does? It can't mean that. I've already established that she…" he didn't continue, since he felt Hitomi cringe with pain in his arms. Her cry was deafening in the sweet light of the sunrise.
"What happened?" Van asked when he felt her calmed down.
"Pain. So much pain." She whispered through tear-stained cheeks.
"Where does it hurt Hitomi? And why did you jump from the balcony?" Van asked tenderly yet, getting right down to business.
Hitomi stopped crying, and looked at the man in front of her with wavering jade eyes. First of all, where was she? She didn't recognise any of the surroundings, nevertheless the raven haired man in front of her with the sad chocolate eyes. Second of all, who was she? The man had called her Hitomi, but was that who she was? She slowly parted from his arms, more in fear, more in realisation that she knew nothing of where she was.
"Hitomi, are you all right?" Van asked, hurt by the sudden repulsion he felt from her. "It figures, she wants nothing to do with me." He thought, and a shadow of sadness passed by his face.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know you." She began carefully.
Van looked at her stunned. "What?" he thought in surprise. Hitomi continued, taking his surprised silence as an invitation for an explanation.
"I don't remember who I am, or where I am. I had these dreams, of two people and a war, but I don't know if they're real. Probably not. Could you please tell me who you are, and who I am?" she asked.
"Is this my second chance? What now? Is she faking this? Or has she really no idea where and who she is." Van thought. He immediately came out of his dreaming, as he saw Hitomi look at him with puzzled eyes. "Umm… well, you're Hitomi Kanzaki, and I'm Van Fanel, and you're on Gaea. This is my castle." He told her.
"Oh, what exactly is Gaea? And are you a king? If so, then what am I?" Hitomi asked.
"It would be so easy to tell her she's my girlfriend. Hey, wait a minute! Where did that come from?" Van asked himself stunned that such thoughts were going through his mind. "Well, you're a visitor. See, you're not from Gaea, Gaea being the planet you're on. You're from…" Van didn't continue, because Hitomi interrupted him.
"The Phantom Moon. I think something's coming back to me. I used to have a brother, and a mother and a father. But then, something happened and I…" she didn't continue. The flashes showed her nothing else.
"You remember?" Van asked her.
"Not really. I get this flash of a weird place. And some sort of field, with a red ground, and white lines. Then a blinding light, and then a forest. And, well, a raven-haired boy that looks much like you. It's all very confusing and mixed up." She confessed quietly.
"Well, yes, you are from the Phantom Moon. I think you referred to it as Earth. It's where you come from, we first met seven years ago, and well, we can fill you in on details later." Van said.
"Wait a minute. Were we friends or enemies?" Hitomi asked taking another step back, and looking at him with scared puzzled eyes.
"We were more than friends, although none of us said it." Van thought. "We were friends. Good friends." He told her honestly.
Hitomi looked at the handsome lean man in front of her. She didn't know what to believe, though she somehow knew he wasn't lying. It was like a sixth sense inside of her that told her to trust him. She looked at his chocolate eyes, and behind them, she saw a dim fire burn slowly. Something in the way this Van acted told her that he had been through much, and that he had known much suffering. She suddenly felt sorry for him, and didn't know why, but her heart cried out for him. Hitomi had a sudden urge to go up to him and hug him, like she'd never hugged anyone before. Not that she remembered how she hugged others. It was all so confusing, and frustrating. Something inside her told her that she needed to remember. While another voice told her to enjoy her second chance at life, and enjoy this second chance to look at things another way. Why did it have to happen to her, Hitomi –if that was who she was- didn't understand.
"I'm glad." Hitomi finally said, and took a queasy step towards him, her small hand peacefully cupping his broad shoulder. However, a sudden weakness came over her, and she slowly collapsed on the four-post bed.
"What's wrong?" Van jumped to catch her, worried that she might hurt herself.
"Nothing, it's just that this sudden weakness came over me." She told him. "How did I lose my memory?" she asked.
"Well, you had an accident. You fell over the balcony, unto a bed of roses." He told her bluntly. "Do you remember anything?" Van asked.
Hitomi raised an eyebrow, but relaxed it soon after, along with a look of desperation that crossed her face. "No, I'm sorry." She whispered.
"It's all right. You don't need to strain yourself. There will be a lot of time for you to figure things out while you recover." Van told her, and sat down beside her, taking her hand in his.
"Why do I get this strange feeling in my gut every time I look at him? It's like all my insides get twisted out and I can't say or do anything? What is it about Van that draws me to him so fast?" Hitomi wondered, as she continued to search his features for any clues that might help her remember him. Nothing, she drew an absolute blank. However, she felt so close to him, it scared her. "Well, if I'm a visitor here, should I be going home soon?" Hitomi asked.
A flash of pain crossed Van's face. "I won't let you leave me again, not now while you are so fragile. Nothing will ever hurt you, Hitomi." He thought. "Well, you came to stay for a while. You've always loved Gaea, and wished to come back. See, you left seven years ago, but came back a week ago." Van began.
"Was I happy to see you?" Hitomi asked innocently.
"Well, I wouldn't quite put it that way…" "Yes, you were very happy to see me. I told you. We were very good friends." Van said aloud.Hitomi smiled at him. It was a very honest and innocent smile. Van found himself grinning at her, and a feeling of happiness just filled his heart. "It's been way too long since I've smiled." He thought. "Oh Hitomi, how do you manage to brighten up my life?"
"Hmm… were you grouchy? It looks like it's been a while since you've smiled." She observed.
"Well, being a king, I'm required to be very formal." He told her.
"Well, we're friends, so you can lose the formalities." She said, as she struggled to sit up in bed. When she lost balance, Hitomi felt Van's hands slowly wrap about her shoulders and support her.
"Ok, but you had quite a serious accident. You've been asleep for a week, and you should take it easy. Promise me you won't strain yourself." He told her supporting her.
"Wow, his arms around me are so warm. Why do I feel so safe when he's around. I don't ever want to leave his arms. So much warmth, so much… I wish I knew what that feeling was.." Hitomi thought sadly. Suddenly, she how the same sensation overwhelms her, and Hitomi thought how she would do anything for Van. It wasn't worth living if he wasn't around her. Hitomi decided unconsciously. "I won't, I don't know why, but I feel dizzy all of a sudden." She confessed.
"Maybe you should try to sleep. It's barely past sunrise. The healer will be here to see you later in the morning. Try to sleep." He said sweetly, and he tucked Hitomi under the silk sheets.
"Thank you, no, please don't leave." She asked, and grabbed his hand, when Van tried to leave. "Don't be stupid Hitomi, he's a king, you may be just a friend, but he can't stay with you forever, even though you're scared, you've got to face the unknown yourself." A voice inside her head told her. "Sorry about that, I know you have duties, I don't want to interfere." She said and a blush crept to her face. Throwing a shy look towards Van, she saw him standing there, with a warm smile on his face.
"My duties aren't pressing. I'll stay if you want me to." He told her, and pulled up a chair. "Hitomi, even though you don't remember anything, you just managed to do it again." Van thought, as he looked at the woman's big jade eyes. In them, along with confusion and fright, he saw a glimmer of light, and a glimmer of trust. It was later on, when Van realised that she had been looking at him with her naked soul. Everything that lay locked inside her mind had let loose when she looked at him. So did this mean…
"Please, I'm afraid." Hitomi admitted.
"Afraid of what?" Van asked surprised. He never knew Hitomi to be afraid.
"The dreams. I dream of all these things, and I don't know if they're real or not. However, they are mighty scary, and I don't like them. Please stay." She asked softly, with her eyes partially closed.
"Of course I'll stay. As long as I'm here, I won't let anything hurt you Hitomi. Nothing." Van told her fiercely, while he caressed her hand softly.
"I know. You're my guardian angel. You've always been." Hitomi slowly muttered.
Van looked up in surprise, only to see that she had long fallen into an exhausted sleep, and her lips were slowly moving, muttering things from her past. A loving look swept past Van, as he sat there, watching her sleep, and vowing to never let anyone hurt her again. "I did it again, but this time, this time will be different." He muttered, as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
To really love a woman,
To understand her,
You've got to know her deep inside ...
Hear every thought,
See every dream,
And give her wings when she wants to fly.
Then when you find yourself lying helpless in her arms ...
You know you really love a woman
~~~~
A few hours later, Van walked out of Hitomi's room, trying to maintain a calm composure required of a monarch, but there was something light about the way he stepped, and everyone that passed him didn't fail to notice the sparkle in his eyes.
"Lord Van! There you are!" Merle exclaimed as she ran through the hall to catch up to Van. She had seen little of him in the past week, and wanted to get the chance to ask about Hitomi's progress. She finally caught up to him, and stopped to catch her breath. You could barely see the brave cat-woman's face through the mound of papers she was carrying.
"Merle! Haven't seen much of you lately. How have you been?" Van asked, in a cheery voice. When Merle heard him, she tripped on her feet. "Is this the Lord Van who's been a grouch the past three years?" she wondered.
"Lord Van, what happened? It's not like you to be so happy." She bit back, sour that she almost spilled the contents of her cup.
"Well, people change, times change. Why are you so sour?" he asked her, with a playful twinkle in his eye.
"Because you have been in Hitomi's room for a week, the pleasure of doing the royal paperwork fell unto my shoulders. There's a mountain of papers waiting for me to read. And wipe that grin off your face, it's not funny." Merle said grouchily. In her heart she was happy to see Van so cheerful. It had been a long time since she had seen him even remotely happy. To make things even better, Merle heard a deep laugh echo through the halls.
"Lord Van, you're laughing!" she screamed.
"Yeah? So? Can't a person laugh?" Van asked utterly amused by Merle's sour face.
"Oh Lord Van! I'm so happy!" she said, dropping all the papers and her cup on the floor. Everything spilled over, as Merle jumped in Van's arms. Van hugged her tightly, as he waited for Merle to finish her squealing.
"This is our little secret ok?" Van asked with twinkling eyes.
"Sure, oh Lord Van, I told you Hitomi would make everything all right. How is she?" Merle asked bending down to pick up the scattered papers.
"Well Merle, I have another shock for you, but first I'll get the healer. You see, in her fall Hitomi…" Van began to help Merle to gather her papers.
"Milord! There you are!" A high pitched voice called out.
"Oh no…" Van groaned. In his happiness, he had forgotten all about Morgan. "Princess Morgan." Van said acknowledging her with a nod of his head.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at breakfast?" she asked ignoring Merle completely.
"Umm… Merle and I collided. I have to help her pick these up." Van said. He was happy that the immense stack of papers was impeding him from doing his duty as a fiancée.
"Well, she can get a servant to help her. You're a king darling." She told him sweetly.
"Um… why don't you go ahead? I fell responsible." Van said.
"Ugh, you Fanelians, what is it with you and responsibility. You're royalty! Enjoy it! Anyhow, I'll see you at breakfast!" she said and stormed on her way.
"Witch…" Merle mumbled through clenched teeth. "One day, I'll make her my scratching post. Let's see how she likes it then." She said in a low menacing voice.
To her surprise, Van didn't chastise her like so many times before. He only laughed and agreed.
"So what's the deal with Hitomi?" Merle aske.d
"Well, she lost her memory, so we have to help her for a while. That's why I'm getting the healer after I help you." Van told her.
"Oh god. That's terrible. We mustn't let Morgan near her!" Merle said.
"I know, but we have to solve this one problem at a time. As for Hitomi, I'm glad. Maybe now I have a second chance." Van said slowly.
"I'm sure you'll win her heart this time Lord Van." Merle said.
They entered her office and dropped all the papers there, and after, Van left to find the doctor.
~~~~
"Now, for operation get rid of evil witch." Merle said rubbing her hands together. A mischievous idea had sprung in her head. The cat slowly crept through the dark halls, heading towards the Law Room. There, the sacred scrolls containing the laws of Fanelia were located. Only the Magistrate could enter that room. Merle however, crept on the outside ledge of the castle, and slowly entered the room through it's open window. Once inside the small stuffy room, Merle lit a candle and brushed the dust off some old tomes. "Now, where is that stupid marriage scroll?" she asked, and let out a powerful sneeze. "You'd think that stupid Magistrate would brush his tomes once in a while." She said sourly. "Ah, there it is!" Merle commented and carelessly pulled out the scroll. However, a menacing rumble came from the scroll case, and soon, one after the other the scrolls fell on Merle, burying the cat-woman in paper.
"What's that noise?" she heard a voice from outside.
"Oh no!" Merle exclaimed, and dug herself deeper in the mound of scroll.
The door slowly opened, and the sweet daylight poured in, revealing a tall stranger.
"Tsk, tsk, Lady Merle, if you're caught in here, you'll be in big trouble." She heard the familiar voice.
Merle jumped up from the scrolls. "Kael!" she exclaimed. "How on Gaea, did you get in here?" she asked. "And close that door!"
"With this!" Kael laughed and showed her a toothpick.
"Close that door!" Merle said, and when he did, she continued. "I didn't know you were a thief!" she began ruefully.
"I didn't know you were a burglar!" he retorted amused.
"Well, this may be funny for you, but I'm trying to do a good deed!" she told him.
"Does that mean going against the law?" he asked.
"You're too smart for your own good." Merle mumbled. "How can I buy your silence?" she asked.
"Well, it depends." Kael told her.
"What do you want! I don't have much time! If you help me, I'll do anything!" she pleaded.
"Even go out on a date with me, the day of the Summer Festival?" Kael asked with weird twinkling eyes.
"Even that, now I go on that date with you, and you keep quiet about this?" Merle asked just to be sure. Kael had proved to be a good and caring person, thus breaking Merle's assumption that he was a playboy. The amount of understanding and care he had exhibited on the day when Hitomi had fallen off the balcony had made Merle trust him. However, soon after that he had begun his training with Allen at the outpost on Fanelia's border, and Merle had seen nothing of him. Now however, he was here, and Merle didn't know why, but she was happy.
"Mum's the word." Kael assured her. "Now, just what are you doing excatly, my cat-burglar?" he asked her kindly.
Merle blinked in astonishment. "Did he just call me his cat?" she thought surprised. "Well, we all know Hitomi right?" she began carefully. "Why am I even telling him this. He'll think I'm crazy."
"She's the girl that fell off the balcony right?" Kael asked.
"She was pushed off the balcony, but that doesn't matter. Well, anyhow, Lord Van's in love with her, and I'm positive she loves him back. However, since Van was a jerk the first time they met again in seven years, they got off on the wrong foot." Merle paused for a break, while Kael was looking at her with understanding eyes.
"And let me guess, now that she's injured, Van realised that he still loves her, and it's Matchmaker Merle to the rescue." Kael chuckled softly. This young cat-woman had a golden soul indeed. From what he heard from Allen, she was head-over-heels in love with Van, but Van didn't return the feelings. And now, she wanted to see that everything was all right for the one whom she loved. "That Van's a real idiot if he doesn't see what sort of wonderful woman he is." Kael thought sourly.
"It's worse than that. Lord Van told me that she's lost her memory, and since he's to be married to that witch in the fall, I decided to give them some time together. If all goes well, Hitomi will fall in love with Lord Van again, and he'll cancel his marriage to Morgan." Merle stated
"So how does this have to do with the Magistrate's Office?" Kael asked, not understanding where she was going.
"Elementary, my dear Knight." Merle said in a oddly accented voice. "In order for Lord Van to work his charm, Morgan needs to go away. But she won't ever do that, since she's afraid that if she leaves, someone else will take her place, and she won't ever become queen. So, if there's a certain, law, keeping the queen away from the king..." Merle trailed on.
"Then Morgan will go away for that period of time, giving King Van the chance to repent for his past mistakes, and giving Hitomi a chance to fall in love with him, thus erasing Morgan out of the picture." Kael's face brightened in understanding. "Might I say Merle, I wouldn't want to be your enemy." Kael laughed at the sneakiness of the slender cat-woman.
"Then don't be. So will you help me add a small rule in the wedding scroll, and thus get rid of Morgan?" Merle asked.
"Yes, but the price has changed. Since we could hang for what we're doing now, I'd like you to dine with me tonight, as well as go to the Summer Festival." Kael told her.
"What? That wasn't what we agreed to. You'll pay for this Kael..." Merle threatened, faking anger. In fact, she was more than delighted to dine with the charming young knight.
"Hey, if we die tomorrow, at least I want my date." Kael laughed.
"Fine, but I get to pick the place." Merle stated
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Now do you have any way to make this work?" Kael asked.
"Yes, here's what I want written. Now I need you to write it, since your writing is more masculine than mine, and it needs to look like the Magistrate's." Merle said and began to dictate. Kael sat down at the table and wrote the new rules, a grin crossing his features.
~~~~
It was late in the afternoon, when Hitomi awoke from her refreshing slumber. She had found Van sitting by her beside, with a stack of papers in his hand, reading carefully, and correcting things, while cursing silently. She slowly shifted in her spot, not revealing to him that she was awake. Hitomi just liked to observe the handsome raven-haired man work. Her gaze slowly travelled past his strong arms, to his jaw and then to his face, examining every feature, and every crevice. She stopped her examination, when she reached his eyes. That was when Hitomi forgot her initial plan of observing him, and seeing if she remembered anything. Those eyes, they were so disturbing to her, because everytime Hitomi looked in them, she felt her stomach tighten with excitement and anticipation. Hitomi forgot to breathe, as she watched their chocolate velvet gaze dance on the paper. She continued to stare, careful not to make a sound. She would never want to disturb him. It was much too magical to watch him. It was like she could never get enough of Van. His smell, his look, his strong arms, they were all so intoxicating, and Hitomi just found herself swept off her feet when he was around. Even if he wouldn't say anything, much like now, she would still be transfigured by him. She continued to look at his eyes, and saw how his look travelled past the paper. It was like he was looking beyond it, and not paying attention at the words carefully scribbled there. For the second time since she'd met him, Hitomi saw the flame light in his eyes lit up, and how a smile crept up to his lips. Evidently he was thinking of something more appealing than the paperwork. Hitomi couldn't supress a giggle. "He's so cute." she thought. Determination set in her eyes, and her gaze travelled past his beautiful eyes, to his unruly black hair. Eventually, her eyes came back to his, and Hitomi continued to stare at them. She could see about fifty different emotions play behind those eyes, but only one that stood out and made them glow so mysteriously. The one associated with the same feeling she couldn't remember.
"You know, all that paperwork's not going to get done if you just stare at it." Hitomi giggled and she sat up in bed.
Van immediately stopped looking at the papers, and with blushing cheeks answered. "I know, it's a pain in the butt, but necessary." "My god, she's breathtaking. When did Hitomi get so beautiful? And how did she catch me exactly when I was thinking about her?"
"I know that. Somehow I have this odd feeling that I had to do a lot of paperwork in the past too. That's why I feel repulsed when I look at the mound of paper you have." Hitomi laughed.
"Yeah, I fell a little behind. But I'll catch up in a few nights." Van told her smiling too. It was so easy to smile when she threw him that angelic look. "It's not like I'll be able to sleep anyhow..."
"Oh my, is that because of me, I'm sorry. Van, you shouldn't have watched over me this whole week. I understand you're a king, and I'm sure you had more pressing matters that watch over me." Hitomi said, with regret in her eyes.
"You've got nothing to be sorry about. I got rid of my pestering advisors for a week, and I thank you for that." he said and came to sit by her bed.
"I remember reading some book about royal duties and everything. They sure didn't look appealing." Hitomi confessed.
"How much can you remember?" Van asked her.
"I can remember things from when I was little. Like I had a grandmother, and she gave me some odd cards once. And I can remember a few books I read, and that I worked in a big building on the Phantom Moon. But I can't remember people. I get these flashes, but they're very disorganised, so basically nothing. I know I was a good student, in school. But something happened, and then I was upset, and I became an even better student. Nothing much." Hitomi said after a long pause. She looked at Van with a helpless look.
"Don't worry. The doctor visited you before, and he said that you've got a swelling on the back of your head, but once it passes, you're gonna feel better, and you're prone to get your memory anytime. But you shouldn't try to remember it will come to you naturally. Until the swelling passes, you're gonna have some headaches." Van told her softly.
"Phew," Hitomi breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought I was going to go through life forever not remembering. But this is good." she smiled at Van and Van smiled back. "I'm glad I have such caring friends like you." Hitomi told him.
Van blushed, and reached by her bedstand. "Here, the doctor gave you those for headaches. And I'm not your only caring friend Hitomi. You've got a whole bunch of them." he told her.
"I haven't met them yet, but I'm sure I'll like you the best." Hitomi said, and took the bottle. On it, there were a few scribbled words. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed.
Van was blushing a deep shade of red, and didn't notice the big tears building up in Hitomi's eyes. Only when she stiffled a cry, he woke up, from his day dreaming. "Hitomi, what's wrong?" He asked, hugging her tenderly.
"I'm so helpless. Van, I can't even read anymore." Hitomi sobbed in his shirt. She inhaled the field smell Van was giving off, and suddenly, she didn't feel so depressed. Just being close to him gave Hitomi confidence.
"I didn't realise. I'm sorry I gave you that bottle so soon. Hitomi, it's my fault." Van said, feeling guilty for her newfound pain.
"It's all right, don't feel bad, I had to find out sooner or later right? Now that I know, I can start re-learning everything faster." Hitomi said, and looked at him, with her jade eyes. All Van wanted to do, was to grab her on the spot, kiss her tenderly, and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. However, he knew that was not the way to act. If he wanted to win Hitomi back, he would have to proceed carefully, and he would have to take in mind that she was a strong-willed capable woman. Even now, with her lost memory, she still exhibited traces of her old character. All he did, was just to hug her tightly.
"I promise you, as soon as the doctor says you're all right, I'll get you a tutor, and you can begin the journey to recovery." Van said, with his jaw clenched.
"Tomorrow?" Hitomi asked hopefully.
"As soon as the doctor gives you a go." Van said, and caressed her sandy locks of shoulder lenght hair.
"Tomorrow." Hitomi said stubbornly.
"It's almost dinner time, and everyone's excited to see you again. Don't worry, we're going to take it slow. I'll send in Merle to help you dress, and then we can go to dinner." Van told her.
"Did I know her?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes, now don't be scared. Merle's a cat-person. Here on Gaea, we have that. She's very friendly, and you two got along great. She's very anxious to see you. Don't be scared ok?" Van told her, and placed a kiss on her head.
"Ok, send her in." Hitomi agreed.
Van slowly exited the room, and Hitomi sat on her bed expectantly. Soon after, the door opened, revealing a tall slender cat, in an orange dress. Quickly, Hitomi got a flash of a younger girl, clinging to Van, and calling him Lord Van. She guess that that was Merle.
"Hello Hitomi, how are you doing?" the cat-woman asked in a melodic voice.
"Merle right?" Hitomi asked.
"Yeah, I'm a cat-woman, and I'm gonna help you get to dinner ok? They told me you won't remember me, and I'm sorry, but this is for when you get your memory back." Merle ran up to Hitomi, and hugged her tightly. "I was so worried you were never going to wake up. Gosh Hitomi, I'm so glad you're all right, I'm never letting you out of my sight. I saw you get pushed, and I was so scared." Merle said all that in a mouthfull. When she let go of Hitomi, there were tears in her eyes.
Hitomi looked at Merle, and immediately trusted the cat. She seemed a high spirited friendly person. And the fact that there were tears in her eyes told Hitomi that Merle had cared for her former self. "I hope we'll be as good friends as we once were Merle. I'm just so unhappy that I can't remember you." Hitomi said frustrated.
"It's ok. Come on, let's get you all set for dinner."
~~~~
Dinner was a small gathering of about five people, including Hitomi's doctor. Allen wasn't there, since King Aston had sent him on a mission to some far-away country. (King Aston was acting as regent until Dryden and Millerna got back from their honey moon) However, Hitomi got to meet Celena, and a few of Van's closest advisors and friends. They were all very friendly towards her, but Hitomi couldn't help but think that all eyes were on her. She thought it peculiar that Van had no dinner date. From what she remembered, royalty usually got married at Van's age. Hitomi didn't want to be impolite, but she had to know how old she was, and when Van told her she was twenty-two. Hitomi asked how he knew, if time was measured different on the Phantom Moon. Van told her that she had once told him they were of the same age. So that meant he was twenty-two also… "Why do my thoughts circle around him so much?" Hitomi wondered. "After all, he did say we were friends. I don't think friends think so much of each other. Or do they? Maybe I should ask. But not Van. Merle will tell me. But Merle isn't here. She on that date with the Kael person. Well, look, that man with the warty nose is looking at me again. That witch doctor makes me queasy whenever I look at him. I wish dinner would end." Hitomi thought impatiently. Lucky for her, it was like her prayers were answered, because Van called off dinner. It was then, as she rose from her seat, that Hitomi realised she had been sitting on his right, a spot usually reserved for the Queen, or the King's date.
"What are we doing now?" Hitomi asked, looking at Van with expectant eyes.
"Well, what do you want to do? They're retiring to the library to discuss boring issues, and some to read, you know elementary things." Van said carelessly, a smile decorating his face.
"I can't go there…" Hitomi trailed off, as a shadow of sadness crossed her face.
"Well, would you like to go to the garden? It's quite beautiful in the night." Van suggested.
"Yeah, I would like that. Somehow, I have a feeling I liked flowers." Hitomi said.
"Yes you did, but didn't you listen to a word I said? Stop being so worried about who you were, and just try to live your life as it comes. The accident wasn't your fault, and your memory will be back soon. Just enjoy yourself." Van whispered.
Hitomi smiled at him and nodded in agreement. Whoever she was before would probably surface in her. Meanwhile, she should just concentrate on the present. The past couldn't be changed. By this time, Van had led her out of the castle and into the garden. The air was quite chilly, and dark clouds roamed the skies, but the two of them saw nothing of that sort. All Van could do was look at Hitomi, and admire her slender beauty as the moon brushed past her.
"The heart never truly forgets…" Hitomi whispered, not wanting to disturb the silence that engulfed the garden. "It's beautiful Van." She breathed.
"I'm glad you like it. If we go further into the garden, we can see the more exotic flowers. Are you sure you're up to the walk?" Van asked, conscious that Hitomi was still tired.
"Yeah, can we go? Please?" Hitomi begged.
"Sure, right this way!" Van said courteously. Hitomi wrapped her small hand against his open arm, and both of them walked through the garden. "We could go further, but I think we'll stop here for tonight. It's pretty late, and a little chilly, and I don't want you getting a cold." Van told Hitomi, as they sat by a natural pond. "I don't want to scare you Hitomi, and I really don't think I'd resist the impulse of kissing you if we go further." Van thought, and blushed deeply. "What's wrong with me? I hated her a week ago." He thought surprised at his attitude.
"It's all right. I am a little tired." Hitomi smiled at him, and sat down by the pond. "That wasn't his real reason."
"Hitomi, I have something to give you." Van said, and reached behind his neck, to open the lock of the pink tear-shaped pendant. "Here, for you." He said quietly, and placed the stone in her hand.
"Van, it's beautiful, but I can't have it. It's your." Hitomi said handing back the stone.
"No, please have it. I would be very honoured if you had it. Here, let me put it behind your neck." Van said, and motioned Hitomi to turn around, while he put the pendant on her. "It goes perfectly with you." He told her, looking at her lovingly.
"Does it have any special meaning?" Hitomi asked. "He's obviously very fond of this necklace. I wonder why, it looks familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on it…"
"Yes, yes it does. But I won't tell you it now." He said, and hugged Hitomi from behind.
"Later?" Hitomi asked turning around and looking into his eyes.
Van looked down at her, his eyes flaming up from the intense feelings lurking behind them. "Later." He said and kissed her nose briefly.
Hitomi didn't say anything, but blushed in the light of yonder moon. There was something about the way Van was holding her that told her he was treating her like more than a friend. Much, much more. But drowsiness was setting in on Hitomi, and with all the excitement the day, she sat down on the grass, snuggling closer to Van for warmth. She didn't get a chance to finish her thoughts. "Can we stay here a little longer? I love it here." She said, through closed eyes.
"Sure, whatever you wish." He whispered softly in her ear, as his arm drew her closer to him.
After Hitomi was thoroughly asleep, Van picked her up, and careful not to wake her up, he carried her to the castle. Once in her room, Van tucked her in bed, and kissed her forehead gently.
"Oh Van, don't go, please, I, I…" he didn't get a chance to hear more, since the rest of the words were muddled. He blushed, and stroked her cheek gently. "I'll be back." He whispered and closed the door softly.
"Now, to find Merle and see to where my ex-fiancée left off in such a hurry earlier this afternoon." Van said. He threw a last loving glance at Hitomi's door, and then moved on, humming a happy tune.
A/N: I hope you like it, lol I know it's VERY long, but I wanted to put in some fluff… heheh, oh well, I hope you like it. Darn! i forgot to put a real author's note here. OOOOPPPS! lol, eh, ok, so for FUTURE readers..... it was Phantom Angel's chapter. Doncha guys recognize my writing style? i'm really in trouble, i dunt seem to be able to write small chapters ne more!! wooops! eh, what Merle put in those scrolls was really funnie! eh, you guys should see chapter 6. more merle/kael fluff. hehehe, yes, so, do u like what we did with poor brainless Hitomi????? do u? do u???oooo, and thankies for all the wonderful reviews. you made us all feel like writing this even more!!!!
