Dragon Burn
By Amanda Wardropper
Trails and Tortures.
Chapter 11 - Fanailia Gather.
"Hey, Jason, what's up?" Tirone asked, when Jason returned.
"Nothing, don't worry yourself." He snapped. Van looked to his friend, the look he got back said it all. Jason was finding it hard to start a new life, away from Zaibeche, wherever he went, his past always caught up with him, one way or another.
He spoke to Jason out of earshot, "You're a secondwing comander, Jason, and a
jr knight Arkayl, one of the youngest to rise to the rank, you are no longer a Dragon slayer, Heck, you ride a dragon for Gods sake!"
Jason forced a smile, "Yeah, but it dosen't rub out my past, does it Van?"
"I know it's difficult, but you managed to build a new life for yourself here in Fanailia."
"An incomplete one at that." Jason added, "Van, I'm outta my depth here, I'm of Zaibeche blood, I can't change that, I don't belong here. I should be dead, along with all the other Dragonslayers."
Van's voice took on an edge of warning, "Jason, you weren't even a Dragonslayer, and the crimes of the father are not always past on to the son."
Before they could continue their talk they heard voices in the distance, "Lord Vaaaaaan!!!!" He turned around to see Merle and Hitomi walking over to their small group.
They came to a halt infront of them.
Merle was dressed in a red, flowing dress, which cascaded down to the floor. It had a halter neck style to the top half of it and pink satin glooves which reached up to her elbows. Hitomi, on the other hand, was dressed in a fine, deep green satin dress, which, again, reached the floor, but trailed slightly, unlike Merle's. Again her glooves reached her elbows, but were cut off by a sash that trailed from just below one shoulder to the other. Her gentle eyes swept the group and finally rested on him, the dress seemed to make them sparkle even more than he knew they could. Emerald against emerald was an entoxicating mix.
"Woah!" She never ceases to amaze me, he thought.
Jason gave a low whistle, and seeing his opened-jaw friend frozen to the spot, descretely, elbowed him in the ribs. He looked away and said, "She got you, hook, line and sinker, my old friend."
Van was rubbing his ribs frantically and answered, sarcastically, "Ouch!" He looked over to Tirone and whispered to Jason, "You wanna go save our little cat boy friend over there, looks like a hook, line and sinker job aswell."
Jason started walking over to a gaping Tirone and a beaming Merle, "That, I will."
Van looked back to Hitomi and shrugged, he could feel his face turning red, "Hey, what can I say? I'm sixteen turns old!"
"Tell me I look fine and I won't kick your head in." She smiled, taking the sting out of her words and offhandedly added, "You use your age as an excuse too much."
"Hey, I'm ..." He ran his hand through his hair and grinned sheepishly, "Alright, alright you look ..."
"Hitomi!" Van was cut off by Allen's approach. He came up to her and kissed her on the cheek, "You look beautiful."
Van scowled. Thats what I was gonna say, He thought, sourly.
"Hey, Van!" Gaddes called over, "The racing is about to start!"
"Huh? Oh, coming!" He gave one last look to the 'Happy couple' catching up on news, then ran off to watch the racing.
As the race wound on, he grew less and less interested in it, drifting off into his own thoughts, why now? When everthing couldn't be more perfect between them. Why did Allen have to turn up now? It wasn't that he didn't like Allen, he was a good friend and sparing partner, but he went from one girl to another. He had tried once before with Hitomi, and he always seemed to beat Van to any compliment.
He leaned onto the railings, his chin resting on the palm of his hand.
This was no good, he was just imagining things, making things seem bigger than they actually were. A year had changed him, mentally aswell as physically. Now that he had Hitomi back, he didn't want to let her go again. He was being silly, and he knew it, just try thinking of it from her point of view, she had a right to talk and socialize, and catch up with old friends. He felt happier having thought it over and realized he was being stubbon, he smiled to himself, I can't imagine how she'd love me, out of everyone else on Gaea, and the Mystic Moon.
He was brought back to reality with a thud, when he felt somebody's hand on his back, he turned swiftly around to see who it was.
The easing, gentle smile that he recognised so well, met him instantly. Those sparkling, jeweled emerald eyes focused onto him and the smile grew as she looked up to him.
"I'm sorry, Van. I know how hard it must be for you, but .." He put a finger over her lips.
"It's alright, I understand. It's me being foolish. I should know better."
She moved his hand away with hers, "It's not, Van, it's not all your fault."
"It is and I'm sorry," He shrugged, "I'm only sixteen turns old after all."
She smiled even more, her eyes glinting with the intelligence and humour within.
"Forgive me?" He asked.
"Forgiven. Van, I wouldn't leave you for anyone, not now. You're the only one for me." She held his gaze.
He sighed and answered, "I wouldn't have it any other way." He wrapped his arms around her waist, "You know, to me, you're more than beautiful."
"Hmm?" Her hands gripped his forearms.
He grinned, "You're ... angelic, you're the angel of my dreams."
He lowered his head to kiss her. The familiar feeling spread through him, fire and ice colliding and battling, surging through his soul and erupting into a huge void, where nothing existed except Hitomi and himself. It was more than any amount of words could comprehend or describe and still do it justice.
It went on, seemingly, forever, sinking deeper and deeper into the void, his very existance seemed to linger on the verge of euphoria. Then, as fast as it came about, it was over. Existance was brought back to the norm, awakened by the cheering, yelling, shouts, roars and applauding of the crowd around them.
His eyes snapped open, hers following, not a second behind. Their lips parted and he stood there, motionless, mouth agape. The flame of passion flickered and
extinguished. All he could say was, "Wow!" In a breathless whisper.
Gaddes clapped him on the back and yelled, over the uproar, "Hey, Van! Haven't you been paying attention, Emerald Beauty won! How much did you bet?"
Van stared at him in shock, "Shards! I forgot to put the bet on!"
"You're joking, right?"
Van was shaking his head slowly from side to side. Hitomi started giggling uncontrollably. Gaddes turned round to his men to break the bad news and Van turned back to her, "What's so funny?"
"You, some things never change!" The giggles turned into laughter. He grinned and joined in. The laughter dissipated and she leaned against him, her head on his shoulder. He held her there as their giggles finally trailed off, "Never change, Van. Stay just the way you are."
"Foolish, stubborn, headstrong ..." She looked up and put a finger to his lips to silence him.
"Van, come on lets go!" Gaddes called out, "We gotta meet Allen and the others. Oh, hi, Hitomi. I thought you were with Allen?"
"Um ... well ... I ... um. Oh boy." She could feel herself turning red.
"Relax. Are you'se coming or not?"
They broke away and followed the Crusader crew.
"About time you got here." Jason snapped, "Did you win?"
"What's up with you?" Van asked as he joined the group waiting for them.
"Oh, just ignore him, Van." Tirone answered, "He's uptight because a girl slapped him and told him "Not to come anywhere near" her again." He mocked the girls voice.
"Yeah, well all I said was I thought she looked shapely, in the dress she was wearing!"
"No wonder!" Van put in between bouts of laughter. "Oh, by the way, you wanna get something done with that red mark on your cheek." He fell into another fit of laughter, "Don't worry." He sort to make the peace. "I know how you feel, it happened to me once, hurts don't it?"
Hitomi stopped laughing abruptly, "Oh, Van, I told I was sorry and that it was a misunderstanding."
He grinned at the response, "See, all I have to do is say," He continued in a hurt voice, "that it really, really hurt," His voice became normal again, "and she'll keep saying sorry until I forgive her."
She held her hand to his face, "Yeah? I'm more likely to slap you again, even harder."
"Or, you could always rub his wings the wrong way!" Jason said, slyly.
Hitomi giggled, "Yeah, good idea."
"Hey!" Van's attention was drawn away from the empty threats by the aroma wafting around them, "We've ended up next to the bakeries!!!" He grabbed Hitomi's hand and bolted, "Come on! You've never tasted food until you've tried piscus fruit creams!" He turned back to the group, "Hurry up!"
Jason came up beside a bewildered Hitomi, "Don't worry, he'll stuff himself to bursting point on piscus fruit creams, but he never gains any weight." He added thoughtfully, "I wish I could do that, I have to work them off!"
They stopped at the counter, "Berdine!" Van called in surprise.
The young woman with long black hair turned around and walked towards them, "Van! How are you, I heard something about a Mystic Moon girl coming to Gaea. Is it the same one who saved Gaea?"
"Yeah." He answered and held a hand out to Hitomi, "This is her, she's called Hitomi."
The girl looked at Hitomi, running her gaze down the length of her, "Hitomi." She tested the name out on her tongue. She had icy cold, pale blue eyes, with the strangest of violet flecks in them. She cocked her head to one side and frowned, "I thought she was from the Mystic Moon, she doesn't look like it."
"Berdine, people from Gaea and the Phantom moon all look the same."
"Oh!" She apologized to Hitomi and gave them some piscus fruit delicacies on the house.
As they walked on to the next stalls Hitomi asked, "Is she an old friend of yours, Van?"
He nodded while he swallowed the cream. "No competition though!" He grinned at her. Then his face turned thoughtful, "I don't stand a chance with her. Em .. How shall I put this." He gave it a moments thought then finished, "She tends to go for girls."
"Oh!" She blushed and turned her face away, lest he see the colour of it.
"Hey Van!" Jason called over. "The dancin's about to start and guess what! ... This beautiful goddess at my side, is gonna dance wit' me!!!" He beamed at his friend.
Van gave a low whistle, "He's gonna have his hands full!"
She lifted her eyebrows in question as she downed a piscus fruit cream. He gave her a wry grin, "He ain't gonna be happy when he finds out, but she's one of the whores from the soldiers barracks."
Just then they heard several foul curses coming from Jason. They giggled silently, "See what I mean?"
After a while most of the group had found dancing partners, including Jason, who settled for a young maid. (Yeah I know u can probably guess who our stars are partnered to!).
"Don't forget, you promised me one dance!"
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he held her waist, waiting while the band tuned their instruments. She smiled, serenely, "For you, Van, I'd give any number."
The songs started off slow and got progressively faster at gathers, with some vocalists joining in. The Fanailian gather was no different and before long the group, Allen and Celena, Gaddes and a kitchen helper, Tirone and Merle and Jason and his maid were taking on the floor to a faster number. These were meant for the young, with many energetic moves and a fast pace. Van and Hitomi were having the time of their lives, they'd taken on all the songs and ballads the band threw at the crowd, and they hadn't worked up a sweat yet.
"This makes up for the one at Merle's birthday party." Van remarked, as they glided to a halt and he swung her high in the air. She was giggling gleefully, she didn't know how to dance and, yet, here she was, dancing. To Hitomi the dance looked like something from the fifties. With all the women wearing flowing dresses with low neck lines and long, trailing skirts. She almost expected the jive and the rock and roll divas to start singing some of the tunes of that decade. She paced forward a couple of decades and laughed, inwardly, at the vision of Van, Allen, Gaddes and Jason doing a Night fever type dance.
All they needed now was for a Sandy and a Danny or John Trovolta lookalike to come on and do a number from Grease. She supposed that, in a way, Van and herself would fit into those roles, Van did look a LITTLE like John Trovolta. She could just about imagine them singing, You're the One That I Want. The thought struck her, like a lightning bolt through her heart, she was here, but for how long and what would happen after, would she go back to Earth and forever regret leaving Van again? Would all these times mean nothing in the end? Did that night mean anything to her? Or to him?
In the shadows of the gather, shapes were lurking and watching the happy events. They'd highjacked a wagon on the way here and taken the clothes they now wore. they were some of the last Dragonslayers, now employed by a generous master who was intent on finishing off what Dilandu could not do, kill Van Slanzar de Fanel and to take a member of the palace, of much value to the master and his lady.
The small group stood by the drinks stall, their feet were aching off the fast pace dances that had been played and their thirst had got the better of them. While Hitomi drank the beverage she was holding, she scanned the growing crowd. "Van, how many people actually come to a gather?"
"Em ... I'd say a couple of thousand. Why?"
"A couple of thousands!" She guffawed, "And you expect me to SING infront of a couple of thousand!"
"Well, yeah!" He stared at her, "It's not that bigger crowd."
"Van, I've never even sang infront of a crowd half that size!" She was beginning to get worried.
He grinned at her discomfort. "Hey relax! I wouldn't be such a good friend if I weren't willing to embarrass myself aswell, you know. How'd you think I feel, and I don't have a choice."
"Come on, Hitomi." Van coaxed, "You promised you would." He gave her a winning smile.
"Van." She whined, "There's thousands."
"Imagine there's only you out there, kay?"
They were behind the curtains on the stage, he was trying to gear her up. She had her guitar wrapped around her shoulder and she was clenching her scripts for dear life, the poor things would turn to dust in her hands.
She gave a slow nod. He added, "And after this, I'll let you get drunk outta ya mind." He snuck a peek at the crowd and said, under his breath, "I think I'll join you too."
The host, out on the stage, was introducing the band members for this part. Both Jason and Van were doing parts in it, and now, Hitomi was too. The host called out Van's name last, signaling him to come on.
"Gotta go, good luck, I won't be much help out there." He said. He gave her a short kiss on the cheek before he started out. She held his shirt, "Van, wait!" He turned back to her. She ran a hand behind his head, through his hair and kissed him solidly. She pulled away and blushed, straightening her dress. She shrugged, "You were gearing me up, why should I not gear you up? I'm only sixteen, what do you expect." She gave a coy smile, "Here!" She placed something in the palm of his hand, "Good luck."
A little disorientated, he opened his palm. A red flower lay in it, a little crumpled but it still meant something. He looked back at her, "You kept it." The flower was the one he'd given her as an apology. He smiled lovingly, "I thought for sure you would have slung it." He turned and walked onto the stage. Before he strode onto the stage proper he shouted back to her, "I'll play real good tonight after that encouragement!"
She was only going through with this because he asked her, she would lay down her life for him, he was only to ask in the right way.
After a short while it was Hitomi's turn to face the crowd. She was on the right side of the stage, the corner nearest to where Van was.
She was sorting out the scripts when a tap alerted her it was her turn. She whirled round and got the shock of her life when she saw Van.
"I managed to sneak out." He said as way of explanation, "Come on, it's your turn." He said in a soothing voice.
She made her way out infront of the vast crowd, Van behind her. In the middle of the stage he stopped her and whispered in her ear, "I know you can do this because you are my angel and angels never let their charges down. I promise you that you can have all the drink you can manage either down your throat or thrown on me as way of punishment." He added as an after thought, "I'd give you encouragement right now, if it weren't for the crowd. I hope this will surfice until you can start chucking drinks my way." He fastened the red flower in her green sash. He gave her a pat, turned and walked over to his men shouting, "Alright, lets make it a good one guys! Hitomi ain't gotta be disappointed with our playing! If she is, we have failed!" The band gave a cheer, some clapped and jeered.
Out on the stage all by herself it seemed to Hitomi. She couldn't wait to start throwing drinks at him for this. Though, drink down her throat did sound appealing, she was thirsty again. She'd find something else to chuck his way, like her guitar. Right off his head. (I know I'm using songs from the movie and series. Please forgive me. I have no right to manipulate them, I just can't come up with any good ones of my own.)
The music started to play in the background and she tried to place the number. It started off smoothly but grew wilder as Van's drums added volume. He was pretty good from what she'd heard. She recognized the tune as 'Call your name' one of her favorites. She strummed the first chord. He would pay, he really would pay. The lyrics started and she took them up note perfect. She'd never sung to an audience before, never wanted to again, but she was enjoying it. The audience stood mute and awe stricken as she ploughed her way through the song.
"... Kimi wa boku nanda
Boku wa kimi nanda..."
She embellished some of the chords to make the feeling sound believable. Her voice glided up and down the different scales in the song and took on the emotions of the words.
The song seemed to go on for eternity on the stage but the embellished rhythms of the drum kept her mind on her promise.
"Kimi wa boku nanda
Boku wa kimi nanda."
The last notes trailed off. Van had sorted them in order for her, how kind, it didn't get him away from punishment though.
The next one he threw at her was a smoother one, a one with backing singers, which were provided. 'Yubiwa' was, for her, a sensitive song, she was worried that she might not be able to pull it off. She'd written it after she returned from Gaea, a sort of release for her emotions at the time, she thought he might be doing this to her on purpose, 'Yubiwa' was mostly about the emotions she felt for him. Whatever he was trying to do to her, it wasn't going to work, he'd have a mug of ale heading straight for his face in next to no time.
"Namidaga atorkara afuredashite,
Saigono egaoge nijinde mienaino ..."
She ran through the lyrics almost mechanically, she wrote them and knew each chord, each note, each word off by heart.
"Wasurenaide hitorijanai,
Hanaretemo te wo tsunaideiru ..."
Where their would have been another person the backing singers filled it in, each taking a turn.
"Nanikaga shoumetsushitemo nanikaga futabi yadotte ..."
The higher notes she could manage but she preferred to keep in the middle of her three full octave voice.
"Ashita saku mirai wo ikiru."
After each song there was a heart felt applause, cheering, yelling and often the band had to beat down on a couple of instruments to settle the crowd.
The next couple of songs she was pretty pleased with but there was one. 'What'cha gonna do' was meant to be a duet between two girls, unfortunately, the singers were breaking for a while and they brought in an old enemy to fill in the part of the second woman. Hitomi began singing after being told it had been sorted out. She realized that somebody else was singing too, behind her, she was adding a voice rhythm. She snuck a peek, it was Merle!
"What'cha gonna do?
What'cha gonna do?
Agripper!"
Merle was playing the part well, she strode up beside Hitomi and sung her heart out as best she could. The idea of the song was two girls fighting over a boy, so in true comical style they began embellishing some of the notes, acting like they were sizing each other up through song.
"Que ne passe
Did ya passer tic?"
Towards the end of the song they started raising notes higher, in a battle of strength. Hitomi could hold a note longer than any other pupil in her class and raise it's pitch and lower it again. So could Merle.
"Diable, diable, diable, je vais aimer!"
They both held the note in one final battle between the two characters, one had to win. Finally Merle abated and Hitomi let the note trail off.
"That was fun Hitomi!" Merle exclaimed, catching her breath.
Before they could catch their breath Merle scitted off and the drums began anew. "Not again!" She grumbled.
A hand touched her shoulder, another touched the other. She looked up startled as words began forming into lyrics of a favorite song.
"Deals of passion come to deliver us
Even the sorrow runs to silver dust ..."
She looked to each side of her, Jason stood to one and Van to the other. The song was intended for male voices, but what were they doing?
Van took the majority of the chorus up because, from where she was standing, she didn't think Jason could reach the notes clearly.
"And when doves fly I think of love
As in this world I've learned to see
Can you believe the sight
For us doves clear and white
In full flower ..."
She stared in wide eyed fascination, what a voice.
"And we learn to love and beloved
molding one and all for none ..."
She stood in the middle of the two while they paced up the finale. Van's voice discretely rose as Jason began struggling with the notes.
"And when doves fly I think of love
As in this world I've learned to see
Can you believe the sight
For us doves clear and white
In full flower.
And we learn to love and beloved
Molding for one and all for none
Women who share and men with care for one love
Where the white doves can flower."
When he'd finished and when the band was running through the last chords he spoke to her quietly, "Me and Jason thought you might need a rest, plus I said I would embarrass myself for no extra cost." He grinned, "One more song and you can start chucking drinks at my face."
"Oh and what song?"
"You'll see." He looked to Jason and nodded.
"It's all in hand Van, you can take it from the top." He winked at Hitomi, "The king don't often do this sortta stuff, but for you he'd do anythin'."
"Jason, shut the gob!" Van blushed, "And go tell them to start the last song."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Jason ran over to the waiting musicians.
The first chords were strum and Hitomi groaned inwardly. 'Mystic eyes' was another song meant for a male voice. "Van nooooo!" she droled, "I didn't mean for you to embarrass yourself THIS much."
He grinned wickedly at her as he turned to the crowd and spoke aloud. "Today, I made a promise to a very good friend," He motioned towards Hitomi, "That if she would come up here and bless us with some of her own tunes, I would willingly sing some so she wouldn't feel embarrassed out here by herself. Soooooo what say you!" He asked the crowd. They cheered him on and agreed with him. He held a hand out to the band, "Okay guys, hit it!"
The music became louder and jumped onto the next chords of the song, "Van, no, you said no such thing." She said as he took hold of her hand. He grinned at her.
"I'll buy the drinks, you can chuck them." He whispered before jumping into the lyrics.
"Tsuki no mukou aoi Searchlight kasanaru
Totsuzen mai orita Angel, sou kimi wa dare?"
He held her at arms length, holding her hand. He was acting the song out aswell, she groaned, this was embarrassing.
"Yakesouna kimi no mystic eyes
Mujakina egaoo de Breaking Down
Kimi dake ni hitomi no oku no aizu ..."
He swung her round the stage with him, she guessed it wasn't THAT bad and began to see the funnier side of it. She laughed gleefully as she was spun around the stage proper.
"Yamikumo ni korogatteku Day by day ..."
He had a gifted voice, every note was as pure as the last and he could hold it, she guessed, longer than herself.
"Nanimokamo toksu Mystic eyes
Suikomarete iku Time and Time ..."
He watched her as they glided, she was beaming, her lilting laugh carried through the air. He couldn't imagine himself doing this for any other girl. She was special.
"Nee kikoeru? Futari no mirai umarekawaru oto go (OOH OOH ) ..."
The finale of the song was approaching fast and with it the higher notes.
"Kimi wo saratte yuku kara."
Over his own voice he could hear the sounds of the guitar. Hitomi was embelishing the song with an energetic run through of her guitars chords.
As the note died away it was customary for the singers to kiss, so, he thought that this must be his lucky day, three kisses. Unfortunatly, she only gave him a short one on the cheek, "Now, about the drink ...?"
"You were awesome out there, Hitomi!" Allen exclaimed.
"Awww it was nothin', it's Van you should be praising, he set it up for me." He gave a brief nod to Van.
After the performance the group had headed for the drinks. Like Van promised, the drinks were on him, Hitomi had said that she wouldn't do this literally this time. So now they were standing next to the dance square downing the alcohilc drinks. Being sixteen or over, you could drink on Gaea.
"Lord Van, hi! You were excellent out there tonight!" Van looked up to see, Arearnna heading towards them, she was one of the eight Lord Holder's daughter's, a spoilt brat as far as he was concerned. She wore her long, coppery hair down and a very revealing dress, no doubt a plan by her father to try and catch the bachorler king's eye. It wasn't working. She stopped infront of him, "Hey! Why haven't you got a dancing partner yet, I wouldda thought you would have been the first to be taken up."
"I have and have already danced and performed, I'm celebrating now, Arearnna." He said flatly, he knew what was coming next, all the Lord Holder daughters had. Where it was part of his duty to dance with their daughters, Van didn't want to, he only had eyes for one woman.
"Say ... you wanna take me for this dance, it's one of my favourites!?!" As if, any old song would do her. He sighed, but it was a duty, he'd told Hitomi that before hand, so she understood if such a thing should arise.
"Ok." She nearly jumped for joy.
She took him onto the dance floor to a fast paced ballad. They danced, she trying her very best to impress him, and he trying his very best to be his very worst.
It didn't work, she was getting too close for his comfort. "Em ... Areanna?"
"Yes." She said in a husky whisper. She looked up at him with her dark blue eyes, and put a hand to the back of his head. Before he could protest she covered his lips with hers. He tried desperatly to push her away but she was relentless.
Hitomi watched on in horror as the two kissed. Finaly, she released him from her embrace and scooted off gleefully. Hitomi was gobsmacked, he just stood there looking after her, dumbfoundedly.
He watched her move away into the crowd, his anger was heating. What did she think she was doing!
He looked back to the group, all the others were turned away from the scene, downing glasses. But Hitomi was watching him.
He ran over to her, "Hitomi, I can explai ..." She threw her brew in his face.
"What's to explain, Van? I can't believe you!" The others turned around to see what was wrong.
Tears began welling up in her eyes, "I thought you .... I thought you cared for me ..."
The ale was dripping down his face as he watched her quivering jaw, "I ... I do, Hitomi."
"Oh it looks like it aswell!" She turned and ran off.
She ran swiftly on her feet, quicker than she had ever done, she wanted to die right now. She wiped away the tears that flowed down her cheek.
"Hitomi, wait!" Van cried after her.
"I'll go talk to her." Allen made to go after her. Van held an arm out infront of him and growled, "Stay outta this, Allen." He shoved Allen back and ran after her.
She sat on the fountains rim and poured her heart out. How could this happen? Why? Did he care for her that little?
"Hitomi, I ..." He came out from the path and approached her.
"Go away, Van." She sobbed.
"I won't unless you let me explain."
"Explain what? That you kissed her, I thought you cared for me. Did that night mean nothing to you? You ... you ..." She used a word she had once called Allen, she intended it now as strong as ever, "Playboy!"
He was taken aback. That night meant everything to him, he wouldn't swap that feeling for all of Gaea. "Hitomi ..." He was hurt deeply.
"If you won't leave then I'll go!" She reasoned. She stood and drew her wings, the sash broke and drifted to the floor as she took flight. She could fly, if a little shakily, when she put her mind to it.
As she dissapeared into the night Van scooped up the green sash and braced himself to draw his wings out.
A voice behind him stopped him. "Let her go, Van." It was Jason, he was stood, arms folded, in the middle of the path, "I used to be a Dragonslayer, but I would never, ever, sink as low as you have."
Van turned around, "But I didn't!" He was close to tears now. He clutched the sash in his grip. "I didn't! She came onto me! I tried to back away, to push her away!"
Jason nodded, "I haven't finished, but as your best friend, I would believe any story you told me. Trust me Van, let her go and cool off, she hasn't seen it from the way you and I see it." He continued in a warning, "Leave it till tomorrow and find her then. Apologize to her, don't reason with her. She won't want to be told how it was, she doesn't want to live it again. You mean allot to her, I can tell. She will see reason. Until then, guard your back."
By Amanda Wardropper
Trails and Tortures.
Chapter 11 - Fanailia Gather.
"Hey, Jason, what's up?" Tirone asked, when Jason returned.
"Nothing, don't worry yourself." He snapped. Van looked to his friend, the look he got back said it all. Jason was finding it hard to start a new life, away from Zaibeche, wherever he went, his past always caught up with him, one way or another.
He spoke to Jason out of earshot, "You're a secondwing comander, Jason, and a
jr knight Arkayl, one of the youngest to rise to the rank, you are no longer a Dragon slayer, Heck, you ride a dragon for Gods sake!"
Jason forced a smile, "Yeah, but it dosen't rub out my past, does it Van?"
"I know it's difficult, but you managed to build a new life for yourself here in Fanailia."
"An incomplete one at that." Jason added, "Van, I'm outta my depth here, I'm of Zaibeche blood, I can't change that, I don't belong here. I should be dead, along with all the other Dragonslayers."
Van's voice took on an edge of warning, "Jason, you weren't even a Dragonslayer, and the crimes of the father are not always past on to the son."
Before they could continue their talk they heard voices in the distance, "Lord Vaaaaaan!!!!" He turned around to see Merle and Hitomi walking over to their small group.
They came to a halt infront of them.
Merle was dressed in a red, flowing dress, which cascaded down to the floor. It had a halter neck style to the top half of it and pink satin glooves which reached up to her elbows. Hitomi, on the other hand, was dressed in a fine, deep green satin dress, which, again, reached the floor, but trailed slightly, unlike Merle's. Again her glooves reached her elbows, but were cut off by a sash that trailed from just below one shoulder to the other. Her gentle eyes swept the group and finally rested on him, the dress seemed to make them sparkle even more than he knew they could. Emerald against emerald was an entoxicating mix.
"Woah!" She never ceases to amaze me, he thought.
Jason gave a low whistle, and seeing his opened-jaw friend frozen to the spot, descretely, elbowed him in the ribs. He looked away and said, "She got you, hook, line and sinker, my old friend."
Van was rubbing his ribs frantically and answered, sarcastically, "Ouch!" He looked over to Tirone and whispered to Jason, "You wanna go save our little cat boy friend over there, looks like a hook, line and sinker job aswell."
Jason started walking over to a gaping Tirone and a beaming Merle, "That, I will."
Van looked back to Hitomi and shrugged, he could feel his face turning red, "Hey, what can I say? I'm sixteen turns old!"
"Tell me I look fine and I won't kick your head in." She smiled, taking the sting out of her words and offhandedly added, "You use your age as an excuse too much."
"Hey, I'm ..." He ran his hand through his hair and grinned sheepishly, "Alright, alright you look ..."
"Hitomi!" Van was cut off by Allen's approach. He came up to her and kissed her on the cheek, "You look beautiful."
Van scowled. Thats what I was gonna say, He thought, sourly.
"Hey, Van!" Gaddes called over, "The racing is about to start!"
"Huh? Oh, coming!" He gave one last look to the 'Happy couple' catching up on news, then ran off to watch the racing.
As the race wound on, he grew less and less interested in it, drifting off into his own thoughts, why now? When everthing couldn't be more perfect between them. Why did Allen have to turn up now? It wasn't that he didn't like Allen, he was a good friend and sparing partner, but he went from one girl to another. He had tried once before with Hitomi, and he always seemed to beat Van to any compliment.
He leaned onto the railings, his chin resting on the palm of his hand.
This was no good, he was just imagining things, making things seem bigger than they actually were. A year had changed him, mentally aswell as physically. Now that he had Hitomi back, he didn't want to let her go again. He was being silly, and he knew it, just try thinking of it from her point of view, she had a right to talk and socialize, and catch up with old friends. He felt happier having thought it over and realized he was being stubbon, he smiled to himself, I can't imagine how she'd love me, out of everyone else on Gaea, and the Mystic Moon.
He was brought back to reality with a thud, when he felt somebody's hand on his back, he turned swiftly around to see who it was.
The easing, gentle smile that he recognised so well, met him instantly. Those sparkling, jeweled emerald eyes focused onto him and the smile grew as she looked up to him.
"I'm sorry, Van. I know how hard it must be for you, but .." He put a finger over her lips.
"It's alright, I understand. It's me being foolish. I should know better."
She moved his hand away with hers, "It's not, Van, it's not all your fault."
"It is and I'm sorry," He shrugged, "I'm only sixteen turns old after all."
She smiled even more, her eyes glinting with the intelligence and humour within.
"Forgive me?" He asked.
"Forgiven. Van, I wouldn't leave you for anyone, not now. You're the only one for me." She held his gaze.
He sighed and answered, "I wouldn't have it any other way." He wrapped his arms around her waist, "You know, to me, you're more than beautiful."
"Hmm?" Her hands gripped his forearms.
He grinned, "You're ... angelic, you're the angel of my dreams."
He lowered his head to kiss her. The familiar feeling spread through him, fire and ice colliding and battling, surging through his soul and erupting into a huge void, where nothing existed except Hitomi and himself. It was more than any amount of words could comprehend or describe and still do it justice.
It went on, seemingly, forever, sinking deeper and deeper into the void, his very existance seemed to linger on the verge of euphoria. Then, as fast as it came about, it was over. Existance was brought back to the norm, awakened by the cheering, yelling, shouts, roars and applauding of the crowd around them.
His eyes snapped open, hers following, not a second behind. Their lips parted and he stood there, motionless, mouth agape. The flame of passion flickered and
extinguished. All he could say was, "Wow!" In a breathless whisper.
Gaddes clapped him on the back and yelled, over the uproar, "Hey, Van! Haven't you been paying attention, Emerald Beauty won! How much did you bet?"
Van stared at him in shock, "Shards! I forgot to put the bet on!"
"You're joking, right?"
Van was shaking his head slowly from side to side. Hitomi started giggling uncontrollably. Gaddes turned round to his men to break the bad news and Van turned back to her, "What's so funny?"
"You, some things never change!" The giggles turned into laughter. He grinned and joined in. The laughter dissipated and she leaned against him, her head on his shoulder. He held her there as their giggles finally trailed off, "Never change, Van. Stay just the way you are."
"Foolish, stubborn, headstrong ..." She looked up and put a finger to his lips to silence him.
"Van, come on lets go!" Gaddes called out, "We gotta meet Allen and the others. Oh, hi, Hitomi. I thought you were with Allen?"
"Um ... well ... I ... um. Oh boy." She could feel herself turning red.
"Relax. Are you'se coming or not?"
They broke away and followed the Crusader crew.
"About time you got here." Jason snapped, "Did you win?"
"What's up with you?" Van asked as he joined the group waiting for them.
"Oh, just ignore him, Van." Tirone answered, "He's uptight because a girl slapped him and told him "Not to come anywhere near" her again." He mocked the girls voice.
"Yeah, well all I said was I thought she looked shapely, in the dress she was wearing!"
"No wonder!" Van put in between bouts of laughter. "Oh, by the way, you wanna get something done with that red mark on your cheek." He fell into another fit of laughter, "Don't worry." He sort to make the peace. "I know how you feel, it happened to me once, hurts don't it?"
Hitomi stopped laughing abruptly, "Oh, Van, I told I was sorry and that it was a misunderstanding."
He grinned at the response, "See, all I have to do is say," He continued in a hurt voice, "that it really, really hurt," His voice became normal again, "and she'll keep saying sorry until I forgive her."
She held her hand to his face, "Yeah? I'm more likely to slap you again, even harder."
"Or, you could always rub his wings the wrong way!" Jason said, slyly.
Hitomi giggled, "Yeah, good idea."
"Hey!" Van's attention was drawn away from the empty threats by the aroma wafting around them, "We've ended up next to the bakeries!!!" He grabbed Hitomi's hand and bolted, "Come on! You've never tasted food until you've tried piscus fruit creams!" He turned back to the group, "Hurry up!"
Jason came up beside a bewildered Hitomi, "Don't worry, he'll stuff himself to bursting point on piscus fruit creams, but he never gains any weight." He added thoughtfully, "I wish I could do that, I have to work them off!"
They stopped at the counter, "Berdine!" Van called in surprise.
The young woman with long black hair turned around and walked towards them, "Van! How are you, I heard something about a Mystic Moon girl coming to Gaea. Is it the same one who saved Gaea?"
"Yeah." He answered and held a hand out to Hitomi, "This is her, she's called Hitomi."
The girl looked at Hitomi, running her gaze down the length of her, "Hitomi." She tested the name out on her tongue. She had icy cold, pale blue eyes, with the strangest of violet flecks in them. She cocked her head to one side and frowned, "I thought she was from the Mystic Moon, she doesn't look like it."
"Berdine, people from Gaea and the Phantom moon all look the same."
"Oh!" She apologized to Hitomi and gave them some piscus fruit delicacies on the house.
As they walked on to the next stalls Hitomi asked, "Is she an old friend of yours, Van?"
He nodded while he swallowed the cream. "No competition though!" He grinned at her. Then his face turned thoughtful, "I don't stand a chance with her. Em .. How shall I put this." He gave it a moments thought then finished, "She tends to go for girls."
"Oh!" She blushed and turned her face away, lest he see the colour of it.
"Hey Van!" Jason called over. "The dancin's about to start and guess what! ... This beautiful goddess at my side, is gonna dance wit' me!!!" He beamed at his friend.
Van gave a low whistle, "He's gonna have his hands full!"
She lifted her eyebrows in question as she downed a piscus fruit cream. He gave her a wry grin, "He ain't gonna be happy when he finds out, but she's one of the whores from the soldiers barracks."
Just then they heard several foul curses coming from Jason. They giggled silently, "See what I mean?"
After a while most of the group had found dancing partners, including Jason, who settled for a young maid. (Yeah I know u can probably guess who our stars are partnered to!).
"Don't forget, you promised me one dance!"
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he held her waist, waiting while the band tuned their instruments. She smiled, serenely, "For you, Van, I'd give any number."
The songs started off slow and got progressively faster at gathers, with some vocalists joining in. The Fanailian gather was no different and before long the group, Allen and Celena, Gaddes and a kitchen helper, Tirone and Merle and Jason and his maid were taking on the floor to a faster number. These were meant for the young, with many energetic moves and a fast pace. Van and Hitomi were having the time of their lives, they'd taken on all the songs and ballads the band threw at the crowd, and they hadn't worked up a sweat yet.
"This makes up for the one at Merle's birthday party." Van remarked, as they glided to a halt and he swung her high in the air. She was giggling gleefully, she didn't know how to dance and, yet, here she was, dancing. To Hitomi the dance looked like something from the fifties. With all the women wearing flowing dresses with low neck lines and long, trailing skirts. She almost expected the jive and the rock and roll divas to start singing some of the tunes of that decade. She paced forward a couple of decades and laughed, inwardly, at the vision of Van, Allen, Gaddes and Jason doing a Night fever type dance.
All they needed now was for a Sandy and a Danny or John Trovolta lookalike to come on and do a number from Grease. She supposed that, in a way, Van and herself would fit into those roles, Van did look a LITTLE like John Trovolta. She could just about imagine them singing, You're the One That I Want. The thought struck her, like a lightning bolt through her heart, she was here, but for how long and what would happen after, would she go back to Earth and forever regret leaving Van again? Would all these times mean nothing in the end? Did that night mean anything to her? Or to him?
In the shadows of the gather, shapes were lurking and watching the happy events. They'd highjacked a wagon on the way here and taken the clothes they now wore. they were some of the last Dragonslayers, now employed by a generous master who was intent on finishing off what Dilandu could not do, kill Van Slanzar de Fanel and to take a member of the palace, of much value to the master and his lady.
The small group stood by the drinks stall, their feet were aching off the fast pace dances that had been played and their thirst had got the better of them. While Hitomi drank the beverage she was holding, she scanned the growing crowd. "Van, how many people actually come to a gather?"
"Em ... I'd say a couple of thousand. Why?"
"A couple of thousands!" She guffawed, "And you expect me to SING infront of a couple of thousand!"
"Well, yeah!" He stared at her, "It's not that bigger crowd."
"Van, I've never even sang infront of a crowd half that size!" She was beginning to get worried.
He grinned at her discomfort. "Hey relax! I wouldn't be such a good friend if I weren't willing to embarrass myself aswell, you know. How'd you think I feel, and I don't have a choice."
"Come on, Hitomi." Van coaxed, "You promised you would." He gave her a winning smile.
"Van." She whined, "There's thousands."
"Imagine there's only you out there, kay?"
They were behind the curtains on the stage, he was trying to gear her up. She had her guitar wrapped around her shoulder and she was clenching her scripts for dear life, the poor things would turn to dust in her hands.
She gave a slow nod. He added, "And after this, I'll let you get drunk outta ya mind." He snuck a peek at the crowd and said, under his breath, "I think I'll join you too."
The host, out on the stage, was introducing the band members for this part. Both Jason and Van were doing parts in it, and now, Hitomi was too. The host called out Van's name last, signaling him to come on.
"Gotta go, good luck, I won't be much help out there." He said. He gave her a short kiss on the cheek before he started out. She held his shirt, "Van, wait!" He turned back to her. She ran a hand behind his head, through his hair and kissed him solidly. She pulled away and blushed, straightening her dress. She shrugged, "You were gearing me up, why should I not gear you up? I'm only sixteen, what do you expect." She gave a coy smile, "Here!" She placed something in the palm of his hand, "Good luck."
A little disorientated, he opened his palm. A red flower lay in it, a little crumpled but it still meant something. He looked back at her, "You kept it." The flower was the one he'd given her as an apology. He smiled lovingly, "I thought for sure you would have slung it." He turned and walked onto the stage. Before he strode onto the stage proper he shouted back to her, "I'll play real good tonight after that encouragement!"
She was only going through with this because he asked her, she would lay down her life for him, he was only to ask in the right way.
After a short while it was Hitomi's turn to face the crowd. She was on the right side of the stage, the corner nearest to where Van was.
She was sorting out the scripts when a tap alerted her it was her turn. She whirled round and got the shock of her life when she saw Van.
"I managed to sneak out." He said as way of explanation, "Come on, it's your turn." He said in a soothing voice.
She made her way out infront of the vast crowd, Van behind her. In the middle of the stage he stopped her and whispered in her ear, "I know you can do this because you are my angel and angels never let their charges down. I promise you that you can have all the drink you can manage either down your throat or thrown on me as way of punishment." He added as an after thought, "I'd give you encouragement right now, if it weren't for the crowd. I hope this will surfice until you can start chucking drinks my way." He fastened the red flower in her green sash. He gave her a pat, turned and walked over to his men shouting, "Alright, lets make it a good one guys! Hitomi ain't gotta be disappointed with our playing! If she is, we have failed!" The band gave a cheer, some clapped and jeered.
Out on the stage all by herself it seemed to Hitomi. She couldn't wait to start throwing drinks at him for this. Though, drink down her throat did sound appealing, she was thirsty again. She'd find something else to chuck his way, like her guitar. Right off his head. (I know I'm using songs from the movie and series. Please forgive me. I have no right to manipulate them, I just can't come up with any good ones of my own.)
The music started to play in the background and she tried to place the number. It started off smoothly but grew wilder as Van's drums added volume. He was pretty good from what she'd heard. She recognized the tune as 'Call your name' one of her favorites. She strummed the first chord. He would pay, he really would pay. The lyrics started and she took them up note perfect. She'd never sung to an audience before, never wanted to again, but she was enjoying it. The audience stood mute and awe stricken as she ploughed her way through the song.
"... Kimi wa boku nanda
Boku wa kimi nanda..."
She embellished some of the chords to make the feeling sound believable. Her voice glided up and down the different scales in the song and took on the emotions of the words.
The song seemed to go on for eternity on the stage but the embellished rhythms of the drum kept her mind on her promise.
"Kimi wa boku nanda
Boku wa kimi nanda."
The last notes trailed off. Van had sorted them in order for her, how kind, it didn't get him away from punishment though.
The next one he threw at her was a smoother one, a one with backing singers, which were provided. 'Yubiwa' was, for her, a sensitive song, she was worried that she might not be able to pull it off. She'd written it after she returned from Gaea, a sort of release for her emotions at the time, she thought he might be doing this to her on purpose, 'Yubiwa' was mostly about the emotions she felt for him. Whatever he was trying to do to her, it wasn't going to work, he'd have a mug of ale heading straight for his face in next to no time.
"Namidaga atorkara afuredashite,
Saigono egaoge nijinde mienaino ..."
She ran through the lyrics almost mechanically, she wrote them and knew each chord, each note, each word off by heart.
"Wasurenaide hitorijanai,
Hanaretemo te wo tsunaideiru ..."
Where their would have been another person the backing singers filled it in, each taking a turn.
"Nanikaga shoumetsushitemo nanikaga futabi yadotte ..."
The higher notes she could manage but she preferred to keep in the middle of her three full octave voice.
"Ashita saku mirai wo ikiru."
After each song there was a heart felt applause, cheering, yelling and often the band had to beat down on a couple of instruments to settle the crowd.
The next couple of songs she was pretty pleased with but there was one. 'What'cha gonna do' was meant to be a duet between two girls, unfortunately, the singers were breaking for a while and they brought in an old enemy to fill in the part of the second woman. Hitomi began singing after being told it had been sorted out. She realized that somebody else was singing too, behind her, she was adding a voice rhythm. She snuck a peek, it was Merle!
"What'cha gonna do?
What'cha gonna do?
Agripper!"
Merle was playing the part well, she strode up beside Hitomi and sung her heart out as best she could. The idea of the song was two girls fighting over a boy, so in true comical style they began embellishing some of the notes, acting like they were sizing each other up through song.
"Que ne passe
Did ya passer tic?"
Towards the end of the song they started raising notes higher, in a battle of strength. Hitomi could hold a note longer than any other pupil in her class and raise it's pitch and lower it again. So could Merle.
"Diable, diable, diable, je vais aimer!"
They both held the note in one final battle between the two characters, one had to win. Finally Merle abated and Hitomi let the note trail off.
"That was fun Hitomi!" Merle exclaimed, catching her breath.
Before they could catch their breath Merle scitted off and the drums began anew. "Not again!" She grumbled.
A hand touched her shoulder, another touched the other. She looked up startled as words began forming into lyrics of a favorite song.
"Deals of passion come to deliver us
Even the sorrow runs to silver dust ..."
She looked to each side of her, Jason stood to one and Van to the other. The song was intended for male voices, but what were they doing?
Van took the majority of the chorus up because, from where she was standing, she didn't think Jason could reach the notes clearly.
"And when doves fly I think of love
As in this world I've learned to see
Can you believe the sight
For us doves clear and white
In full flower ..."
She stared in wide eyed fascination, what a voice.
"And we learn to love and beloved
molding one and all for none ..."
She stood in the middle of the two while they paced up the finale. Van's voice discretely rose as Jason began struggling with the notes.
"And when doves fly I think of love
As in this world I've learned to see
Can you believe the sight
For us doves clear and white
In full flower.
And we learn to love and beloved
Molding for one and all for none
Women who share and men with care for one love
Where the white doves can flower."
When he'd finished and when the band was running through the last chords he spoke to her quietly, "Me and Jason thought you might need a rest, plus I said I would embarrass myself for no extra cost." He grinned, "One more song and you can start chucking drinks at my face."
"Oh and what song?"
"You'll see." He looked to Jason and nodded.
"It's all in hand Van, you can take it from the top." He winked at Hitomi, "The king don't often do this sortta stuff, but for you he'd do anythin'."
"Jason, shut the gob!" Van blushed, "And go tell them to start the last song."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Jason ran over to the waiting musicians.
The first chords were strum and Hitomi groaned inwardly. 'Mystic eyes' was another song meant for a male voice. "Van nooooo!" she droled, "I didn't mean for you to embarrass yourself THIS much."
He grinned wickedly at her as he turned to the crowd and spoke aloud. "Today, I made a promise to a very good friend," He motioned towards Hitomi, "That if she would come up here and bless us with some of her own tunes, I would willingly sing some so she wouldn't feel embarrassed out here by herself. Soooooo what say you!" He asked the crowd. They cheered him on and agreed with him. He held a hand out to the band, "Okay guys, hit it!"
The music became louder and jumped onto the next chords of the song, "Van, no, you said no such thing." She said as he took hold of her hand. He grinned at her.
"I'll buy the drinks, you can chuck them." He whispered before jumping into the lyrics.
"Tsuki no mukou aoi Searchlight kasanaru
Totsuzen mai orita Angel, sou kimi wa dare?"
He held her at arms length, holding her hand. He was acting the song out aswell, she groaned, this was embarrassing.
"Yakesouna kimi no mystic eyes
Mujakina egaoo de Breaking Down
Kimi dake ni hitomi no oku no aizu ..."
He swung her round the stage with him, she guessed it wasn't THAT bad and began to see the funnier side of it. She laughed gleefully as she was spun around the stage proper.
"Yamikumo ni korogatteku Day by day ..."
He had a gifted voice, every note was as pure as the last and he could hold it, she guessed, longer than herself.
"Nanimokamo toksu Mystic eyes
Suikomarete iku Time and Time ..."
He watched her as they glided, she was beaming, her lilting laugh carried through the air. He couldn't imagine himself doing this for any other girl. She was special.
"Nee kikoeru? Futari no mirai umarekawaru oto go (OOH OOH ) ..."
The finale of the song was approaching fast and with it the higher notes.
"Kimi wo saratte yuku kara."
Over his own voice he could hear the sounds of the guitar. Hitomi was embelishing the song with an energetic run through of her guitars chords.
As the note died away it was customary for the singers to kiss, so, he thought that this must be his lucky day, three kisses. Unfortunatly, she only gave him a short one on the cheek, "Now, about the drink ...?"
"You were awesome out there, Hitomi!" Allen exclaimed.
"Awww it was nothin', it's Van you should be praising, he set it up for me." He gave a brief nod to Van.
After the performance the group had headed for the drinks. Like Van promised, the drinks were on him, Hitomi had said that she wouldn't do this literally this time. So now they were standing next to the dance square downing the alcohilc drinks. Being sixteen or over, you could drink on Gaea.
"Lord Van, hi! You were excellent out there tonight!" Van looked up to see, Arearnna heading towards them, she was one of the eight Lord Holder's daughter's, a spoilt brat as far as he was concerned. She wore her long, coppery hair down and a very revealing dress, no doubt a plan by her father to try and catch the bachorler king's eye. It wasn't working. She stopped infront of him, "Hey! Why haven't you got a dancing partner yet, I wouldda thought you would have been the first to be taken up."
"I have and have already danced and performed, I'm celebrating now, Arearnna." He said flatly, he knew what was coming next, all the Lord Holder daughters had. Where it was part of his duty to dance with their daughters, Van didn't want to, he only had eyes for one woman.
"Say ... you wanna take me for this dance, it's one of my favourites!?!" As if, any old song would do her. He sighed, but it was a duty, he'd told Hitomi that before hand, so she understood if such a thing should arise.
"Ok." She nearly jumped for joy.
She took him onto the dance floor to a fast paced ballad. They danced, she trying her very best to impress him, and he trying his very best to be his very worst.
It didn't work, she was getting too close for his comfort. "Em ... Areanna?"
"Yes." She said in a husky whisper. She looked up at him with her dark blue eyes, and put a hand to the back of his head. Before he could protest she covered his lips with hers. He tried desperatly to push her away but she was relentless.
Hitomi watched on in horror as the two kissed. Finaly, she released him from her embrace and scooted off gleefully. Hitomi was gobsmacked, he just stood there looking after her, dumbfoundedly.
He watched her move away into the crowd, his anger was heating. What did she think she was doing!
He looked back to the group, all the others were turned away from the scene, downing glasses. But Hitomi was watching him.
He ran over to her, "Hitomi, I can explai ..." She threw her brew in his face.
"What's to explain, Van? I can't believe you!" The others turned around to see what was wrong.
Tears began welling up in her eyes, "I thought you .... I thought you cared for me ..."
The ale was dripping down his face as he watched her quivering jaw, "I ... I do, Hitomi."
"Oh it looks like it aswell!" She turned and ran off.
She ran swiftly on her feet, quicker than she had ever done, she wanted to die right now. She wiped away the tears that flowed down her cheek.
"Hitomi, wait!" Van cried after her.
"I'll go talk to her." Allen made to go after her. Van held an arm out infront of him and growled, "Stay outta this, Allen." He shoved Allen back and ran after her.
She sat on the fountains rim and poured her heart out. How could this happen? Why? Did he care for her that little?
"Hitomi, I ..." He came out from the path and approached her.
"Go away, Van." She sobbed.
"I won't unless you let me explain."
"Explain what? That you kissed her, I thought you cared for me. Did that night mean nothing to you? You ... you ..." She used a word she had once called Allen, she intended it now as strong as ever, "Playboy!"
He was taken aback. That night meant everything to him, he wouldn't swap that feeling for all of Gaea. "Hitomi ..." He was hurt deeply.
"If you won't leave then I'll go!" She reasoned. She stood and drew her wings, the sash broke and drifted to the floor as she took flight. She could fly, if a little shakily, when she put her mind to it.
As she dissapeared into the night Van scooped up the green sash and braced himself to draw his wings out.
A voice behind him stopped him. "Let her go, Van." It was Jason, he was stood, arms folded, in the middle of the path, "I used to be a Dragonslayer, but I would never, ever, sink as low as you have."
Van turned around, "But I didn't!" He was close to tears now. He clutched the sash in his grip. "I didn't! She came onto me! I tried to back away, to push her away!"
Jason nodded, "I haven't finished, but as your best friend, I would believe any story you told me. Trust me Van, let her go and cool off, she hasn't seen it from the way you and I see it." He continued in a warning, "Leave it till tomorrow and find her then. Apologize to her, don't reason with her. She won't want to be told how it was, she doesn't want to live it again. You mean allot to her, I can tell. She will see reason. Until then, guard your back."