God, I am really pissed at my college right now. They want me to pay more money for insurance, which I already have...and yeah, anyway, lets just get to the story. Thanks to all of you wonderful reviewers! You keep me going when I don't feel like writing.
*****
In The Arms of The Angel
Part 4
*****
What ravages of spirit
conjured this temptuous rage
created you a monster
broken by the rules of love
and fate has lead you through it
you do what you have to do
--Sarah McLachlan Do What You Have To Do
"Hitomi, I really had a lot of fun tonight." Lydia smiled at the other woman as she pulled up in front of her apartment building. "I'm so glad we finally got to get out together."
"It really was a lot of fun, Lydia." Hitomi nodded, smiling back as she unbuckled her seatbelt, opening her door at the same time. "I'd forgotten how fun it could be to have a girlfriend to talk to."
"No problem! We'll really have to do this again, huh?" Lydia asked as Hitomi stepped out of the car.
"Sure! I'll see you at the office, then." Hitomi waved, closing the door as Lydia waved back before driving away. Sighing happily, Hitomi looked down at her silver watch to check the time as she walked up to her building. "Oh no...it can't really be that late, can it?" she murmured as she hurried up the stairs and scurried to unlock her door before rushing inside. "Van? Van, I'm home!" Hitomi tossed her purse aside before heading into her room, where she could see the shadowy figure sitting next to the digital clock that read 10:49.
"Hitomi, where did you go?" Van jumped up at once, moving to embrace her as she tossed aside her dressy scarf. "I was so worried that maybe you didn't want to see me."
"Van, that's silly." Hitomi hugged him back before pressing her hand to his chest for support as she pulled off her shoes. "I had a dinner date with my boss. Her name's Lydia Ashman, and she's one of the sweetest ladies I know."
"Oh..." Van lowered his head as she straightened up, obviously embarrassed. "I didn't mean to get all upset...it's just that...I wanted to see you, but you weren't here..."
"It's okay. I didn't mean to be so late, honestly." She told Van, working at the zipper on her evening gown. "Could you help me?" she asked, turning around and indicating the zipper.
"Oh, sure." Van obviously wasn't familiar with the mechanism, but it was easy enough once he figured it out. "That's...a very nice dress."
"You like it?" Hitomi looked over her shoulder, grinning at him. "I haven't worn it for...probably five years now."
"Why not?" Van asked as she left the room to change into her nightgown.
"I don't know, I never really had any reason to wear it." Hitomi answered, sliding into her nightgown easily before re-entering the room with the gown draped over her arm. She moved to the closet, hanging it back up.
"I was just asking...because...it's very beautiful..." Van stumbled over his words. "I mean, you're very beautiful...when you wear it...not that you aren't now..."
"Van? Are you having troubles? Is that compliment stuck in your mouth?" Hitomi teased. "Let me get it out." she leaned forward, going on tiptoe to kiss him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Van didn't know what else to do, so he held her even tighter, deepening the kiss. "Thanks." Hitomi told him as they broke, burying her head in his chest.
"I love standing like this." Van spoke up after a while. "It's hard, knowing that my country is without a leader, without an heir. Knowing that Merle is without any family. But none of that bothers me when I'm here with you. You're all that matters."
"Van...if only it were always like this." she sighed, noticing that it was a minute before eleven. He could go any second. "I wish you hadn't died."
"If I hadn't, then I couldn't be here now." Van told her, his voice fading away slightly as his form became less solid. Finally, he disappeared, and Hitomi sighed, going to bed and setting her alarm.
"But you aren't here." she spoke to the empty space. Somehow, she was sure he heard her.
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"Van, don't you wish we were like normal couples?" she asked the man that she was laying against as he sat up in her bed, running his fingers through her hair.
"What do you mean?" he asked her, pausing in his ministrations only momentarily.
"Well, do you remember how Allen and Millerna were?" Hitomi asked him. "They got to see each other all the time, Van. And if they wanted to, they could go places together."
"Allen and Millerna are both alive, though." Van reminded her.
"How are they, by the way?" Hitomi turned, scooting up so that she was sitting on Van's lap.
"Well, Allen's the same man you remember, I'm sure. Always leading girls on and then breaking their hearts. It makes you wonder if he even cared about Marlene as much as he claims to." Van laughed slightly. "Chid still doesn't know the truth about his father, but Allen says it's for the best. He's growing up very fast, you know. His advisors are pushing him to marry."
"Chid? Old enough to marry?" Hitomi laughed. "Somehow I can't imagine that."
"He is, though." Van assured her. "And then there's Millerna. She's back with Dryden, and they have...hmm...as I remember, there were six children, with another on the way."
"That many?" Hitomi's eye bulged. "What do they do all day?"
"Well...who knows?" Van's voice was vaguely suggestive, and it made Hitomi burst into laughter. "Anyway, the oldest is a girl, and they named her Hitomi. Everyone missed you so much, and they really feel like without you, they may have never ended up together."
"I'm glad you kept in touch with all of them. I was worried that when I left, you would all drift apart." Hitomi told him, playing with his unruly locks of hair.
"We did, actually. But it's pretty easy to keep tabs on the others when you've got Merle, the social director, constantly with you." Van chuckled low, pulling Hitomi against his chest gently.
"How is Merle, then?" Hitomi asked. "I mean...how was she...before...what happened?"
"Don't worry about it. I can kind of...keep an eye on things from where I am, which is nice. She's having a hard time dealing with it all, but I know that if anyone can pull through, it's her. She's been through a lot, you know." Van told her. "But I think she'll be okay. They're still deciding on who should take over as King of Fanelia and it seems like they're just going to send a bunch of young nobles out to see who's the first to pass the rite."
"I guess that's a good plan." Hitomi shrugged. "Will Merle get to stay in the palace?"
"I don't think so." Van admitted. "But don't worry. I know that the others won't let her be kicked out into the street. I think she's been corresponding with Chid about a position on his staff. He'd probably like an advisor that isn't close to being an antique. And besides, those two are good friends. She feels for him, you know. She never really knew her parents, they died so young. I think she feels really bad for him. And she always thought it was very brave of him to take over as Duke of Freid."
"Really?" Hitomi raised her eyebrows. "You don't think...Merle...and Chid?"
"I don't really know about those things." Van told her. "But she does seem awfully taken with him. And he has grown up...rather well."
"Do you mean...he's good looking, then?" Hitomi giggled. "I'm not surprised. If Marlene was half as pretty as Millerna...and then, of course Allen was very attractive."
"Yeah, he knew it, too." Van seemed a little put off by her comment.
"Don't get jealous, Van." Hitomi turned, kissing him on the lips. "You're better looking than him anyway."
"Really?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "As I remember, you seemed to think he could do no wrong."
"I was young and stupid. He was very...charismatic." Hitomi explained. "But I love you, Van. I wouldn't be happy with anyone else, no matter how they look."
"Hitomi...I love you too." he told her, brushing his fingers through her hair before he leaned in for another kiss. As they broke, he faded away, and Hitomi felt a tear slip down her cheek.
"Then why can't you stay?" she asked, climbing under her covers to go to bed.
*****
The End (Of Part 4, That Is)
Emerald Mist: Look, I'm writing! Sorry if I'm slow at all, but your eager reviews keep me trying to keep up with all the stories I'm writing simultaneously. Silly me.
Firefly: Trust me, I know the feeling! I'll do what I can to get these chapters out at a reasonable rate. I hope I'm doing it fast enough...
Jade: Naughty naughty thoughts of Van! Bad Jade! What shall I tell Kouga?