Chapter 10: A Family Dispute
Closing the front door behind him, Van sighed as he leaned against it, grateful for its solid support. He basked in the sudden silence of the foyer, a dramatic change from the exuberant bustling on the other side of the door.
The young king tugged on the collar of his borrowed shirt as he removed his boots and set them to the side of the door. Miako's clothes did not come close to comfortably fitting him, but for reasons that he certainly could understand, Yukari and Miako had insisted that he wear them to go out. He was thankful that they had allowed him to wear his own boots. Not only were Miako's feet much larger than his were, Van was not very confident that he would have been able to walk in the unusual white shoes that did not even reach his ankles.
The others were no closer to coming inside as Van stood again and let his head fall back and rest against the hardwood door. He was tired. For the first extended period since Hitomi's discharge from the hospital two days ago, he was not at her side. Three conspirators, Yukari, Merle and Miako, had dragged him out of the house. They had hauled him to a local shopping market, the loud and chaotic flurry of which had been overwhelming.
Van had been very reluctant to leave Hitomi's side, but had gone at her laughing insistence. After grousing at him for being a mother hen, she had playfully shoved him in the direction of the door and ordered him to have a good time. Merle was given a handful of the paper notes that served as currency and instruction from Hitomi to spend all of it. She wanted them to experience her world as much as possible, despite the fact that she would not be the one to show it to them.
For hours he had been towed behind his adopted sister and company as they traipsed through shops, catering to Merle's unquenchable curiosity. The sheer variety and volume of merchandise available had staggered him and most of his 'shopping' consisted of stunned staring at the strange objects lined up on shelves.
At one point, to Van's surprise, Yukari insisted on buying him an unusual outfit, all in black with a vest of white. He felt stiff and uncomfortable modeling it at the store, but Miako and Yukari had nodded approvingly and purchased it despite his protests. There were mumbled comments about him needing it for later, but with the whirlwind of activity around him he was unable to question them further. Merle, however, was in her element and had no qualms about spending Hitomi's money on the fascinating things.
Most of the other customers had been amused by Merle's obvious excitement, although there had been a tense moment in the pet store in the mall. Merle had become incensed at the sight of kittens for sale in cages and Van had to bodily carry her from the store, leaving Miako and Yukari to make excuses while suppressing their laughter. The three of them had dragged the cat girl from the area, leaving behind stunned sales people questioning each other over whether the foreign girl had really just hissed at them.
Yukari, with Miako's help, had managed to calm Merle down with soothing explanations and promises that the kittens were going to good homes. Although Van had seen a faint glint of guilt in Yukari's eyes and knew she was probably stretching the truth about the kittens' futures, he appreciated the effort she was making to comfort Merle.
Since the reunion with Hitomi at the hospital, Yukari had become warmer towards the two Gaeans and, despite the language barrier, she and Merle were fast becoming inseparable. They had even begun to breach the barrier by teaching each other words, although the first phrases they had taught each other consisted of curses and foul words whose translations had sent them and Hitomi into peals of laughter. Van had quickly learned not to walk in on the language lessons while eating or drinking at the risk of choking at what he heard. He still could not understand how being referred to as a female dog could be insulting to anyone other than a cat-girl, but he supposed something was lost in the translation.
Hitomi had surprised her physicians and her family with her quick recovery and had been released from the hospital a mere twenty-four hours after her awakening, with strict discharge instructions, of course. Privately Van believed the staff at the medical facility had encouraged the quick discharge after a few confrontations with Hitomi's family over visiting times, but was happy for her release from the bleak place. In accordance with the doctor's firm instructions, Hitomi had remained resting on the sofa or her bed, despite her frequent protestations that she felt much better and wanted to get up.
Hitomi had been bitterly disappointed to learn that she had awoken on Friday, with little chance of making their scheduled appearance in the chapel on Saturday. But a phone call placed to the Chairman of the chapel with an abbreviated explanation of what had happened had quickly remedied the situation; the new date was set the following day.
Van was pleasantly shocked and a bit unnerved at how much confidence Hitomi had had in him. She had no doubts that he would appear on the designated day and he was a bit humbled by her obvious faith in him.
Smiling at the remembrance of Hitomi's joyful face after she had heard the news about the chapel, Van ran a hand through his unruly hair and stood. The noise outside the door was getting closer and he could hear Merle, giddy with excitement, loudly talking about her purchases. Contributing to the noise was Miako, who was trying to talk over Merle as he translated for Yukari.
Van slipped down the hallway, hiding around a corner as the muffled ruckus abruptly became louder as the door opened. He slipped down towards the room Hitomi was resting in, trying to avoid the inevitable duty of being a pack animal for Merle's packages. He shook his head at the thought of trying to transport all of her new possessions in addition to Hitomi's large collection of boxes and cases.
Van reached the door to the room and silently pushed it open. He opened his mouth to greet his wife-to-be, then closed it abruptly as he took in the scene before him. Hitomi was seated on a couch, her face tense and unhappy as she stared at her father, who stood in front of her.
Mrs. Kanzaki was watching the two from a seat in the corner. She caught Van's eye and motioned for him to stay and not interrupt. Van sidled to the side of the entrance and shut the door behind him.
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Hitomi stared at her father in disbelief, the silence in the room deafening after the harsh words that had been spoken. She lay on the couch, her fists wrapped in the comforter over her lower body. Her upper body was tense as she leaned against the pillows propping her up. She gripped the material, knuckles white with tension, trying to control her temper.
Her father glared back at her, angry and defensive. He started to say something, but Hitomi cut him off.
"I can't believe you!" she ground out, her voice shaking in anger. "Did you honestly think I would agree with you? How could you order me to not marry Van! Why are you bringing this up now? Why not a year ago?"
Mr. Kanzaki stood steadfast in the wake of his daughter's rage. "The doctors thought it best that we humor your delusions, and when they didn't come true you would return to normal."
Hitomi went white at her father's words. "You consulted doctors about me?" she asked flatly. "What were you going to do? Have me committed? Your crazy daughter who sees things and is in love with a man from another planet?" Hitomi's voice rose in volume as she railed against her father, disbelief and betrayal coloring her words. Van stood frozen in his position at the doorway as the noises from the foyer ceased.
Mrs. Kanzaki shifted from her position in the corner of the room; disapproval evident on her face and her mouth set in a straight white line. Hitomi gave her mom a beseeching look, and the older woman gave a look of sympathetic support, then returned her attention to her husband as he began to retort.
"I was worried about you!" he said stiffly. "You disappear and then spout these amazing stories! And when I begin to hope that you are going to get over it, this boy shows up and you end up hurt! How am I supposed to believe when you say you won't be in danger wherever you are going when you didn't even tell me the truth about when you were fifteen? And we have to cover up for this boy with the police! Miako tells us he killed the man! Killed him! And I'm just supposed to let my daughter marry a murderer?!?"
Hitomi stared at her father, her face pale with anger and pain. "Dad, I didn't tell you because you wouldn't have believed me. And I left out parts of my story because I didn't want you to worry. I can take care of myself! I don't need you to protect me. You can't keep me in a cage! You and Van. You're so much alike, wanting to protect me by not letting me do anything."
The older man stiffened at the comparison and made a noise of objection, but Hitomi continued over his objection. She held out a hand, pleading for his understanding.
"Dad, when I was unconscious, I had a vision." Her father shook his head, but she continued over his obvious disbelief. "Dad, I saw my children. Van's and my children. They showed me the way to come back. I am going to have those children, and you will be a grandfather of a little girl with green eyes and black hair. Please don't make me choose them over you. I don't want to have to choose. Please, just be happy for me. Please?"
Her voice cracked on the last word as tears formed in her eyes. Her father stood stiffly in the center of the room, fists balled at his sides. There was silence before he turned and left the room without answering, exiting through a door opposite Van. Mrs. Kanzaki threw Van a glance and nodded her head towards her weeping daughter before following her husband into the kitchen.
Van slipped into the room and crouched by the sofa. Lifting Hitomi up, he slipped behind her and she curled towards him, burying her face in his chest. He supported her as she wept, rubbing her back and murmuring comforting words. Despite the fact that he could not understand her father's words, he knew her father had wounded Hitomi deeply. The door he had just left creaked open and he looked up to see Merle's worried face. He shook his head and she smiled sadly before closing the door again.
Eventually Hitomi began to calm and her sobs dwindled to sniffles and she lifted her head to look at Van. He gave her a small smile and kissed her gently on her wet cheeks.
"What happened?" he asked gently. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Hitomi inhaled deeply, then slowly let the air out, relaxing her body against his.
"Not really," she mumbled. "I'm so mad at him! I could just...arg! My father is so frustrating."
She fell silent and Van waited a few minutes. He hugged her close, waiting for her to finish.
Hitomi sniffed and continued. "He's just worried, I know. He told me he didn't want me to marry you. Well, ordered me not too is more like it."
Van blinked and rubbed her back. "Oh," he responded belatedly. A few more minutes were spent in silence and then Van shifted nervously.
"Do you want to stay?" he questioned, his voice careful monotone. His face was schooled into a neutral expression as Hitomi jerked her head around to turn an uncomprehending stare on him.
Van shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "I've seen your bazaars and all the fantastic things you can buy. You are leaving your whole world." He glanced away, evading her eyes. "A world that can offer a lot more than Gaea, I think." He turned to play with a strand of hair that was curling around her cheek, outlining a fading bruise. He gently swept it back from her face, carefully avoiding the green eyes that were beginning to narrow.
"I love you," he added softly. "I will always love you, even if we are not together. If you decide to stay, I will still love you."
Hitomi struggled out of his arms to twist all the way around on the couch in order to glare at him, a dangerous light in her eyes. "Not you too!" she snapped. "Van, I am going to marry you come hell or high water! And don't you start having that 'protect Hitomi' attitude too! I thought we cleared that up two years ago!"
Startled at her vehemence, Van stared at her in shock, then smiled, a quiet joy in his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her again. They sat together for several minutes in silence until Van could not take the suspense anymore.
"You saw our children?" he finally haltingly asked. He could feel Hitomi's lips curve into a slight smile against his chest.
"Yes. And our daughter definitely has your stubborn streak," she laughed into his damp shirt, the joy at the thought of her future children driving her sadness away.
"MY stubborn streak?" Van said, one eyebrow raised, as he looked down at the top of her head. "Our daughter," he repeated more softly, relishing the words. He tightened his grip around Hitomi, who snuggled closer as each thought about what the future held.
Celena paced back and forth in the receiving hall as the light dwindled in the sky. Phiat watched her walk back and forth as he polished the blade of his sword.
"Where are they?!?" Celena finally yelled, throwing her hands in the air and stopping in the middle of the room. "Five days! He's been gone FIVE DAYS and not a word!"
She resumed the pacing as Phiat sighed and sheathed his blade as he stood. He walked to the center of the room and waited for the irate girl to meet him, then stopped her by placing his hands on her shoulders. Celena continued her monologue, ignoring his intrusion.
"You know the advisors are getting antsy. Three days, four tops. That what they expected. You know we are going to have a coup d'état if Van doesn't show up soon! And as much as I admire change and progress, I really don't want to be in the middle of a civil war. Do you think anything happened? Are they OK? What if Hitomi changed her mind? What if..."
"Celena, you're babbling." Phiat interrupted, putting an arm around her shoulders as he led her back to the table and chairs against one wall.
Celena glared at him from the shelter of his arm. "So? At least I am doing something. Not sitting around like a bump on a log like some people. I'm worried! And I have every right to be, with the king of the country we are in off gallivanting on another world with no means of communication."
Phiat sighed and pushed her into a chair. "I'm worried, too," he said, kneeling in front of her. "But we have to be patient and hope for the best."
Allen snorted from the corner where he had been reading trade documents. "Patience has never been Celena's strong suit."
Celena stuck her tongue out at her brother, the childish gesture making her feel better. She looked at Phiat and smiled weakly. "Would you like to take a walk in the garden?" she asked meekly in apology for snapping at him. Phiat nodded and helped her to her feet.
"That's a good idea," Allen added. "I'm sure Eri would love to join you." The maid, who had just entered the room, glanced over in surprise as Celena glared at her brother. Allen lifted his eyebrows at her and smirked. "Chaperone, dear. I'm not about to let you go traipsing around with Phiat unattended."
Celena grumbled as she stomped out of the room with Phiat, Eri trailing behind the couple awkwardly. "Nice to know you have so much concern for my reputation."
Allen's quiet chuckle followed them down the hall.
Closing the front door behind him, Van sighed as he leaned against it, grateful for its solid support. He basked in the sudden silence of the foyer, a dramatic change from the exuberant bustling on the other side of the door.
The young king tugged on the collar of his borrowed shirt as he removed his boots and set them to the side of the door. Miako's clothes did not come close to comfortably fitting him, but for reasons that he certainly could understand, Yukari and Miako had insisted that he wear them to go out. He was thankful that they had allowed him to wear his own boots. Not only were Miako's feet much larger than his were, Van was not very confident that he would have been able to walk in the unusual white shoes that did not even reach his ankles.
The others were no closer to coming inside as Van stood again and let his head fall back and rest against the hardwood door. He was tired. For the first extended period since Hitomi's discharge from the hospital two days ago, he was not at her side. Three conspirators, Yukari, Merle and Miako, had dragged him out of the house. They had hauled him to a local shopping market, the loud and chaotic flurry of which had been overwhelming.
Van had been very reluctant to leave Hitomi's side, but had gone at her laughing insistence. After grousing at him for being a mother hen, she had playfully shoved him in the direction of the door and ordered him to have a good time. Merle was given a handful of the paper notes that served as currency and instruction from Hitomi to spend all of it. She wanted them to experience her world as much as possible, despite the fact that she would not be the one to show it to them.
For hours he had been towed behind his adopted sister and company as they traipsed through shops, catering to Merle's unquenchable curiosity. The sheer variety and volume of merchandise available had staggered him and most of his 'shopping' consisted of stunned staring at the strange objects lined up on shelves.
At one point, to Van's surprise, Yukari insisted on buying him an unusual outfit, all in black with a vest of white. He felt stiff and uncomfortable modeling it at the store, but Miako and Yukari had nodded approvingly and purchased it despite his protests. There were mumbled comments about him needing it for later, but with the whirlwind of activity around him he was unable to question them further. Merle, however, was in her element and had no qualms about spending Hitomi's money on the fascinating things.
Most of the other customers had been amused by Merle's obvious excitement, although there had been a tense moment in the pet store in the mall. Merle had become incensed at the sight of kittens for sale in cages and Van had to bodily carry her from the store, leaving Miako and Yukari to make excuses while suppressing their laughter. The three of them had dragged the cat girl from the area, leaving behind stunned sales people questioning each other over whether the foreign girl had really just hissed at them.
Yukari, with Miako's help, had managed to calm Merle down with soothing explanations and promises that the kittens were going to good homes. Although Van had seen a faint glint of guilt in Yukari's eyes and knew she was probably stretching the truth about the kittens' futures, he appreciated the effort she was making to comfort Merle.
Since the reunion with Hitomi at the hospital, Yukari had become warmer towards the two Gaeans and, despite the language barrier, she and Merle were fast becoming inseparable. They had even begun to breach the barrier by teaching each other words, although the first phrases they had taught each other consisted of curses and foul words whose translations had sent them and Hitomi into peals of laughter. Van had quickly learned not to walk in on the language lessons while eating or drinking at the risk of choking at what he heard. He still could not understand how being referred to as a female dog could be insulting to anyone other than a cat-girl, but he supposed something was lost in the translation.
Hitomi had surprised her physicians and her family with her quick recovery and had been released from the hospital a mere twenty-four hours after her awakening, with strict discharge instructions, of course. Privately Van believed the staff at the medical facility had encouraged the quick discharge after a few confrontations with Hitomi's family over visiting times, but was happy for her release from the bleak place. In accordance with the doctor's firm instructions, Hitomi had remained resting on the sofa or her bed, despite her frequent protestations that she felt much better and wanted to get up.
Hitomi had been bitterly disappointed to learn that she had awoken on Friday, with little chance of making their scheduled appearance in the chapel on Saturday. But a phone call placed to the Chairman of the chapel with an abbreviated explanation of what had happened had quickly remedied the situation; the new date was set the following day.
Van was pleasantly shocked and a bit unnerved at how much confidence Hitomi had had in him. She had no doubts that he would appear on the designated day and he was a bit humbled by her obvious faith in him.
Smiling at the remembrance of Hitomi's joyful face after she had heard the news about the chapel, Van ran a hand through his unruly hair and stood. The noise outside the door was getting closer and he could hear Merle, giddy with excitement, loudly talking about her purchases. Contributing to the noise was Miako, who was trying to talk over Merle as he translated for Yukari.
Van slipped down the hallway, hiding around a corner as the muffled ruckus abruptly became louder as the door opened. He slipped down towards the room Hitomi was resting in, trying to avoid the inevitable duty of being a pack animal for Merle's packages. He shook his head at the thought of trying to transport all of her new possessions in addition to Hitomi's large collection of boxes and cases.
Van reached the door to the room and silently pushed it open. He opened his mouth to greet his wife-to-be, then closed it abruptly as he took in the scene before him. Hitomi was seated on a couch, her face tense and unhappy as she stared at her father, who stood in front of her.
Mrs. Kanzaki was watching the two from a seat in the corner. She caught Van's eye and motioned for him to stay and not interrupt. Van sidled to the side of the entrance and shut the door behind him.
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Hitomi stared at her father in disbelief, the silence in the room deafening after the harsh words that had been spoken. She lay on the couch, her fists wrapped in the comforter over her lower body. Her upper body was tense as she leaned against the pillows propping her up. She gripped the material, knuckles white with tension, trying to control her temper.
Her father glared back at her, angry and defensive. He started to say something, but Hitomi cut him off.
"I can't believe you!" she ground out, her voice shaking in anger. "Did you honestly think I would agree with you? How could you order me to not marry Van! Why are you bringing this up now? Why not a year ago?"
Mr. Kanzaki stood steadfast in the wake of his daughter's rage. "The doctors thought it best that we humor your delusions, and when they didn't come true you would return to normal."
Hitomi went white at her father's words. "You consulted doctors about me?" she asked flatly. "What were you going to do? Have me committed? Your crazy daughter who sees things and is in love with a man from another planet?" Hitomi's voice rose in volume as she railed against her father, disbelief and betrayal coloring her words. Van stood frozen in his position at the doorway as the noises from the foyer ceased.
Mrs. Kanzaki shifted from her position in the corner of the room; disapproval evident on her face and her mouth set in a straight white line. Hitomi gave her mom a beseeching look, and the older woman gave a look of sympathetic support, then returned her attention to her husband as he began to retort.
"I was worried about you!" he said stiffly. "You disappear and then spout these amazing stories! And when I begin to hope that you are going to get over it, this boy shows up and you end up hurt! How am I supposed to believe when you say you won't be in danger wherever you are going when you didn't even tell me the truth about when you were fifteen? And we have to cover up for this boy with the police! Miako tells us he killed the man! Killed him! And I'm just supposed to let my daughter marry a murderer?!?"
Hitomi stared at her father, her face pale with anger and pain. "Dad, I didn't tell you because you wouldn't have believed me. And I left out parts of my story because I didn't want you to worry. I can take care of myself! I don't need you to protect me. You can't keep me in a cage! You and Van. You're so much alike, wanting to protect me by not letting me do anything."
The older man stiffened at the comparison and made a noise of objection, but Hitomi continued over his objection. She held out a hand, pleading for his understanding.
"Dad, when I was unconscious, I had a vision." Her father shook his head, but she continued over his obvious disbelief. "Dad, I saw my children. Van's and my children. They showed me the way to come back. I am going to have those children, and you will be a grandfather of a little girl with green eyes and black hair. Please don't make me choose them over you. I don't want to have to choose. Please, just be happy for me. Please?"
Her voice cracked on the last word as tears formed in her eyes. Her father stood stiffly in the center of the room, fists balled at his sides. There was silence before he turned and left the room without answering, exiting through a door opposite Van. Mrs. Kanzaki threw Van a glance and nodded her head towards her weeping daughter before following her husband into the kitchen.
Van slipped into the room and crouched by the sofa. Lifting Hitomi up, he slipped behind her and she curled towards him, burying her face in his chest. He supported her as she wept, rubbing her back and murmuring comforting words. Despite the fact that he could not understand her father's words, he knew her father had wounded Hitomi deeply. The door he had just left creaked open and he looked up to see Merle's worried face. He shook his head and she smiled sadly before closing the door again.
Eventually Hitomi began to calm and her sobs dwindled to sniffles and she lifted her head to look at Van. He gave her a small smile and kissed her gently on her wet cheeks.
"What happened?" he asked gently. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Hitomi inhaled deeply, then slowly let the air out, relaxing her body against his.
"Not really," she mumbled. "I'm so mad at him! I could just...arg! My father is so frustrating."
She fell silent and Van waited a few minutes. He hugged her close, waiting for her to finish.
Hitomi sniffed and continued. "He's just worried, I know. He told me he didn't want me to marry you. Well, ordered me not too is more like it."
Van blinked and rubbed her back. "Oh," he responded belatedly. A few more minutes were spent in silence and then Van shifted nervously.
"Do you want to stay?" he questioned, his voice careful monotone. His face was schooled into a neutral expression as Hitomi jerked her head around to turn an uncomprehending stare on him.
Van shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "I've seen your bazaars and all the fantastic things you can buy. You are leaving your whole world." He glanced away, evading her eyes. "A world that can offer a lot more than Gaea, I think." He turned to play with a strand of hair that was curling around her cheek, outlining a fading bruise. He gently swept it back from her face, carefully avoiding the green eyes that were beginning to narrow.
"I love you," he added softly. "I will always love you, even if we are not together. If you decide to stay, I will still love you."
Hitomi struggled out of his arms to twist all the way around on the couch in order to glare at him, a dangerous light in her eyes. "Not you too!" she snapped. "Van, I am going to marry you come hell or high water! And don't you start having that 'protect Hitomi' attitude too! I thought we cleared that up two years ago!"
Startled at her vehemence, Van stared at her in shock, then smiled, a quiet joy in his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her again. They sat together for several minutes in silence until Van could not take the suspense anymore.
"You saw our children?" he finally haltingly asked. He could feel Hitomi's lips curve into a slight smile against his chest.
"Yes. And our daughter definitely has your stubborn streak," she laughed into his damp shirt, the joy at the thought of her future children driving her sadness away.
"MY stubborn streak?" Van said, one eyebrow raised, as he looked down at the top of her head. "Our daughter," he repeated more softly, relishing the words. He tightened his grip around Hitomi, who snuggled closer as each thought about what the future held.
Celena paced back and forth in the receiving hall as the light dwindled in the sky. Phiat watched her walk back and forth as he polished the blade of his sword.
"Where are they?!?" Celena finally yelled, throwing her hands in the air and stopping in the middle of the room. "Five days! He's been gone FIVE DAYS and not a word!"
She resumed the pacing as Phiat sighed and sheathed his blade as he stood. He walked to the center of the room and waited for the irate girl to meet him, then stopped her by placing his hands on her shoulders. Celena continued her monologue, ignoring his intrusion.
"You know the advisors are getting antsy. Three days, four tops. That what they expected. You know we are going to have a coup d'état if Van doesn't show up soon! And as much as I admire change and progress, I really don't want to be in the middle of a civil war. Do you think anything happened? Are they OK? What if Hitomi changed her mind? What if..."
"Celena, you're babbling." Phiat interrupted, putting an arm around her shoulders as he led her back to the table and chairs against one wall.
Celena glared at him from the shelter of his arm. "So? At least I am doing something. Not sitting around like a bump on a log like some people. I'm worried! And I have every right to be, with the king of the country we are in off gallivanting on another world with no means of communication."
Phiat sighed and pushed her into a chair. "I'm worried, too," he said, kneeling in front of her. "But we have to be patient and hope for the best."
Allen snorted from the corner where he had been reading trade documents. "Patience has never been Celena's strong suit."
Celena stuck her tongue out at her brother, the childish gesture making her feel better. She looked at Phiat and smiled weakly. "Would you like to take a walk in the garden?" she asked meekly in apology for snapping at him. Phiat nodded and helped her to her feet.
"That's a good idea," Allen added. "I'm sure Eri would love to join you." The maid, who had just entered the room, glanced over in surprise as Celena glared at her brother. Allen lifted his eyebrows at her and smirked. "Chaperone, dear. I'm not about to let you go traipsing around with Phiat unattended."
Celena grumbled as she stomped out of the room with Phiat, Eri trailing behind the couple awkwardly. "Nice to know you have so much concern for my reputation."
Allen's quiet chuckle followed them down the hall.