The Green Dragon hasn't taken over completely and Hitomi is able to return, but memories of the destruction caused by the beas Robin Mary Buskirk Normal Robin Mary Buskirk 1 44 2001-10-25T17:06:00Z 2001-10-25T17:51:00Z 4 1192 6795 56 13 8344 9.2720

The Green Dragon hasn't taken over completely and Hitomi is able to return, but memories of the destruction caused by the beast within her keep her from rejoining the others.  But Van and Hitomi are miles away when the first part of Lord Lawrence's evil plan is set into motion.  Will Hitomi die sealing the fate of Gaea, or will Van save her to allow the Prophecy to continue?  If he does there will be even more at stake for him.

Chapter 23 Dragon's Mating Fire

Hitomi watches from the forest as the ship pulls up anchor and leaves, heading for Freid.  She almost didn't make it back, her whole body hurting with every movement.  She is cut in several places and bruised in many more from the battle.  The memories of death are vivid in her mind 'What kind of monster am I?'  Slowly she leaves the trees entering the clearing where Van is standing alone, waiting for her.  As she nears him she tries to speak.

Hitomi: "Van."

Van: "Hitomi I was afraid you wouldn't come."

Hitomi: " I---"

Hitomi can take no more of the pain or the memories she stops trying and collapses to the ground.  Van is there in an instant, picking her up; he carries her to the bedroll by the fire he had ready for her return.  Even with the cuts her skin feels soft, but something is different, as he lays her on the bedroll it hits him, the delicate line of scales on her body is getting thicker, covering more of her especially her arms and legs. She looks like she is wearing gloves the scales covering her entire wrist front and back and extending up to her elbows.  The same for her legs the scales extending now up to her knees.  The dragon is taking over more and more which scares Van, but at the same time he marvels at her even more exotic beauty.  Van shakes his head, what is he thinking, Hitomi is hurt and unconscious and here he is aware of her body, He lightly covers her and sits down beside the fire.  Hitomi opens her eyes and tries to smile.

Hitomi: "I'm so tired."

She closes her eyes and falls to sleep.  He will let her sleep, she needs it right now, but later he will get her to eat and give her the garbroth.  Maybe then by tomorrow she will be able to travel.

It's late evening when Van finally wakes Hitomi.  She is still groggy, but he needs to get her to eat so she can regain her strength.  She eats very little, but at Van's insistence drinks the warmed garbroth.  As the broth takes affect Hitomi sighs contently, her eyelids drooping and then closing.  Van sits for a while looking at the fire.  They need to start out early, so he also turns in lying next to Hitomi holding her close.

Sounds, Van stirs waking to the sound of Hitomi softly moaning in her sleep.  The fire is still burning brightly, so he hasn't been asleep very long.  He sighs, watching Hitomi's sleeping form lying next to him.  She shivers so Van pulls her closer, but she is not cold, she's burning up.  Van gently shakes her trying to rouse her.

Van: "Hitomi, your so hot, how do you feel, are you sick?"

Hitomi looks at Van her eyes are glazed, she reaches up to trace a finger down his cheek.  Then she puts her hand to his chest and traces the line of his muscles going lower.  Van's stomach tightens as her hand travels even lower.

Hitomi: "I was dreaming of you and me, dragons dancing by the leaping flames, and we were…  It was so."

She reaches back up, this time with both hands to cradle Van's face.  She pulls him down to her, and kisses him.  Her kiss is deep full of love, passion, and hunger.  At first Van had feared she had plant poisoning, but no the garbroth would have kept it out of her system, but how can he think when what she is doing to him is so, so pleasurable.

She kisses him harder, pulling him closer and begins to explore him with her hands again.  Van is about to abandon himself to his feelings when Hitomi whispers.

Hitomi: "I'm on fire, I'm burning from the inside, please let me love you."

Van realizes now what is happening, the burning, the glazed eyes, but most important the dream.  He gently pushes her away.

Hitomi: "No don't please Van!"

Van: "Shush, It's all right Hitomi, I won't be long."

She is still looking at him, reaching for him as he rises.

Van thinks back to when he was very young.  Folken had taken him to the forests often, sometimes to play, but sometimes to learn about the plants and herbs.  Some have healing power, like the gar plant, but some.  He picks up the container of garbroth.  Carefully he smells it, then dipping a finger in tastes a drop.  It's not garbroth. 'Oh Folken, brother, what am I to do now.' He returns to Hitomi, sits by her, and takes her into his arms.

Van: "Hitomi you must listen to me.  Can you understand?"

Hitomi:" Van, what is it?  I feel so strange."

She's drawing closer again.  Van holds her tighter.  He stills her movements to get her to listen.

Van: "What was in the container wasn't garbroth, it is a powerful drug. It's called Dragons Mating fire.  It's making you feel this way."

Hitomi: "Van."

He's loosing her again.  He turns her face to his.

Van: "Hitomi, Mating fire is very powerful.  Once taken the user must mate, but then there can be no other for them, ever.  In ancient times a man would give it to his woman to ensure her faithfulness, but at the same time making her almost a slave to him.  It's banned and illegal.  Who ever did this knew what they were doing; the dose in the container is strong enough to kill you if you don't mate."

The purpose is clear to Van, if Hitomi doesn't mate she will die.  If she does there will be a child, his child.  If the dragon dies, so will his unborn child.  The men in times past would never do to themselves what Van has decided to do.  If there can be no other for Hitomi, then there will be no other for Van.

Van: "Hitomi, you must try to understand, if we do this there's no turning back.  We will be bound together forever."

Van smiles at Hitomi, he loves her and although this is not the night, or the way he has envisioned the two of them together, this is how it must be.  He cannot, will not loose her.  Together, forever with Hitomi has been his dream for three years, but not like this.  Van picks up the container of Dragon's Mating Fire and drinks.

The night is long, the two taken over by the fire in their bodies, and the passion in their hearts.  Dragons dancing in the flames, hands exploring each other and the cries of ultimate release fill the night into the early dawn.   Together they finally sleep, exhausted.

They don't stir till late in the day.  Both of them feel terrible, heads pounding, but Hitomi feels worse.  She is queasy and at the mention of food almost gets sick.  After many tries to contain it, she finally runs for the surrounding bushes and is sick.  She returns some time later, tired and spent. 

Van: "Hitomi we need to talk.  Can you remember what I told you last night?"

Hitomi: "Parts of it, why would anyone want to do this to me?"

Van: "There is a traitor on the Crusade.  Allen told me one of the crew prepared the pack for me.  Who ever did this knew we would be alone.  Without a healer, there was only one choice."

Hitomi: "I still feel strange, even though it was wrong, the way it happened, it was still beautiful.  When I look at you I feel passion even now while I don't feel so well."

Van: "Hitomi, you don't feel well because you're going to have a baby.  It's one of the effects of the drug, there is always a child as a result."

A child, the news stuns Hitomi, but at the same time fills her with incredible happiness.

Hitomi: "Are you happy?"

The question is whispered, she is afraid to hear the answer.

Van: "How could I not be even with out the Mating Fire, I love you Hitomi."

Hitomi: "Even without it, Van what have you done, you drank it too."

Van: "For the woman, there can be no other, she mates for life, the man though is free and can be with anyone he chooses.  There will never be no other for you Hitomi, but also no other for me."

Van reaches for Hitomi kissing her and again the dragons begin to dance.

Hitomi and Van having a child.  How can Van fulfill the Prophecy now?  And traps have a way of catching more then just the original victim.  What will happen next?

Fanilia