Chapter 4: Angel
Hitomi's vision blurred as she opened her eyes. Where was she, in some kind of wooden house? The candlelight flickered causing the shadows to dance around wildly. The last that she remembered was passing out in the forest. Panic filled her when she remembered why she had passed out. Her hand darted to the back of her head and she felt the smooth surface of a bandage. Whoever brought her here took care of her head wound.
Once her vision was more focused, she looked around the room. There was a sword at the side of her bed. She was in a male's house. No female on Gaea wielded a sword. She looked up and saw a chair, with a man dozing off in it. He had given her the bed while he slept in the chair. This was no ordinary man. Whoever brought her here was obviously compassionate and kind, judging by his actions. She looked at the man more closely and his long blonde hair stood out. Only one person Hitomi knew had gorgeous hair like that...along with a gorgeous face too.
Is that Allen? she asked herself. It had to be, the Amano look-alike hadn't changed a bit. He was still the handsome warrior that made her weak in the knees.
Stop thinking like that! You love Van remember? Allen's just like Amano…just a silly crush mistaken for love, Hitomi thought and a second voice rang inside her head, Oh yeah, if it was just a silly crush then why did it hurt so bad when Amano fell in love with someone and why are you letting thoughts of Allen making you weak again? Hitomi let out a grunt of frustration as her mind got the best of her. Without realizing it, her grunt had awakened the sleeping angel.
"Scared huh? Well I'd be if I were you," he said and Hitomi's attention jetted to the blonde.
"A-A-Al-" she tried to say, but before she could even say his name, the cold look on his face stopped her. There was something wrong with Allen, he wasn't as amiable as he once was. She knew it was stupid to assume such a thing just from a look she received from him, but she had a strong feeling about this one.
"What's a girl like you doing out in the woods in the middle of the night?" he asked, his sexy voice flowing through her ears like sand. He still sounded the same.
A girl like me? What's he talking about? Doesn't he know it's me? I'm Hitomi, the girl you met and proposed to three years ago. Did you forget all that? Did you forget everything? A million questions raced through Hitomi's head, but she didn't voice any of them out of fear. Allen had changed and she didn't want to invoke any newfound anger in him.
"Why do you women go out and do stupid things like that? Do you really want attention that much that you'd run away and make the people that care about you, worry? That's awfully selfish of you and not to mention cruel. Do you realize that you could have died if I didn't find you? You're lucky and I hope you take the time to learn from this experience that you shouldn't run away to get attention. If you really want to find out who your true friends are and who really loves you, then you should just ask them yourself and give your love in return. For all you know, everything could be taken away from you," he explained.
Hitomi didn't know what to say. Why was Allen acting like this? He couldn't be described as angry, but rather depressed. What happened to him? She wished she could find the words to console him, but there were none. If she didn't know what happened, what could she say? For all she knew, she might just make matters worse.
"What? Can't find anything to say?" Allen asked, changing his tone of voice. His voice became deeper and Hitomi's breath quickened. How was she to say anything?
"I see you find me appealing, I knew you had the look of a harlot on your face. I should've known. I see women of your profession all the time, although, I have to admit, I haven't encountered one in the woods before. Usually I'll go to town and pick them up. Why were you injured? Did your employer hurt you? Did you not give him his fair share of the cut?" Allen spoke resentfully and then got up from his chair. He walked slowly over to Hitomi and her breath caught in her throat. How was she to talk now?
How could Allen think something like that of me? I'm not a whore, I've never even… Hitomi didn't get to finish her thought because Allen was now centimeters away from her. She could feel his hot breath against her face. Hitomi was absolutely frozen. What was this beautiful man going to do with her? It didn't matter what he did though, she was powerless to stop him.
"You women are so unfair, always trying to cheat men. Is that your main objective in life, just to see how you can make men go crazy? No more, it's about time I teach you ladies a lesson," he said with hatred dripping from his voice. Hitomi wanted to cry, but never had the chance to. Allen grabbed the sides of her head and pulled her into an unforgiving kiss.
What's he doing? His kiss is so cold and bitter, not like the one I remember, she thought, her eyes still wide open. I have to find a way to push him away, there's no way I'm stronger than he is. Even with the knowledge that she couldn't possibly push him away, put her hands on his chest to try, however, it seemed that it only fueled the fire. As if he could read her mind, he grasped her wrists, immobilizing her. Suddenly, Allen broke the kiss. The look on his face hadn't change, if anything it seemed he was more determined than before.
"Trying to get away are we? Trying to escape the inevitable, my dear? Are you going to discard me too? You'd be surprised, I'm not as easily forgotten as you might think," he said with a sardonic smile. Hitomi didn't know what to do; all of her initiative to pull away had diminished.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you never forget what you learned here in the 'House of Allen', ha ha ha ha ha…" he chuckled softly.
I think he really has gone mad, Hitomi thought, I have to speak up now! Too bad her thoughts were intercepted once again by this angel of Gaea. He moved in on her, parting her lips with his tongue. She moaned involuntarily at the intrusion, which seemed to encourage Allen more.
This feels so good… she thought, feeling a little lightheaded, I still have to stop him. It's so wrong… but I never felt so right… Her body was betraying her conscience and Hitomi knew what she had to do. Allen loosened his grip on her as he became more forceful in his kiss, allowing Hitomi to slip her arm away. She tried to grope for the sword she spotted at her bedside previously. When she felt it, she grabbed it and with all her strength, she shoved Allen off with the aid of the sword.
He stumbled backwards and looked up at Hitomi with rage in his eyes. There was a cut on his face from the sword, nothing serious but it was still there. Allen was angry. No woman had even dared to think about doing something like this to him. No woman had ever denied him of what he wanted. They all had succumbed to his will, how were they able to resist his beguiling charm or masculine fervor? This one did and she now held his sword. It seemed that Allen was under some kind of trance that even he could not explain. Something about this situation, this woman had made him want her so badly, but she was denying him of his need.
"What will you do with that sword young lady? Are you going to hurt your tutor? I was only trying to show you what kind of trouble your antics would get you in. Are you going to punish me for forewarning you? Why that's awfully vindictive of you I must say," he said, his anger now portraying itself in his sadistic smile. He didn't know what came over him, but the words had just slipped out of his mouth. He was going to say something else equally spiteful, but he was stopped by her voice. It was her; it was the woman who had initially begun to deny him. He had known this in the recesses of his mind, but he paid no heed to them.
"Allen," she began, "I don't know what's happened to you in the past three years, but it must've been something in order for you to turn around and act like this." Her voice faltered but she was determined to get this out just the same.
"You used to be an upstanding gentleman, who stood for chivalry and kindness. I don't know who you are, but I want the old Allen back, the Allen I once knew, the Allen that saved me life countless time, the Allen I…" she didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she lifted the sharp edge of the sword and grabbed her hair with her other hand. She let the sword severe quantities of her hair and all the while still looking at Allen who just concentrated on her. Hitomi hadn't cut her hair since she got back to Earth, but she figured now was a good time.
Allen felt the tears well up in his eyes, but did not let them fall. How could he have done such a thing to her? What the hell had possessed him to believe that she was a woman given to indiscriminate lewdness? When Hitomi finished slicing her hair off, she put down the sword.
"Do you recognize me now Allen?" she asked, "It's me…Hitomi." Allen's eyes had begun to twitch as the initial shock became overwhelming. He was a monster to do such things. There Hitomi was right in front of him and instead of greeting her pleasantly like a true friend, he abused her, like he abused all of the other women prone to harlotry. What has he done? Shrinking back in disgust, Allen fell to his knees and wept.
Hitomi hadn't expected for him to break down like that, but there was something seriously wrong with Allen. She walked closer to him and when he didn't protest, she knelt down next to him. He sobbed uncontrollably.
"Allen, Allen please…it's okay, just please tell me what's wrong. You didn't hurt me I'm okay. Come on Allen," she tried to console. She put her arms around him and cradled him as he cried.
"Trust me Allen, I'm not hurt and whatever you did, I forgive you because you're my friend and friends will stay friends no matter what," she said in a soft tone. He looked up at her when he slowly ceased weeping and she smiled tenderly. He smiled back, hoping she really meant what she said. Allen glanced at her wrists and noticed that one area started to bruise from when he gripped them. He felt like he was going shed tears again because he knew that he really had hurt her. Hitomi was so forgiving. What Allen did was so brutal and yet she was there hugging him, making him feel better when it was him who should be doing this to her. She truly was an amazing person.
"Thank you Hitomi," he said, his voice low and soothing.
"Allen, trust me, it's okay. I want you to do one thing for me though," she replied.
"What is it, I'll do anything to redeem myself," he said looking in her eyes.
"I want you to tell me what happened to you. I know what you did back there wasn't the real you and I want to know what happened to make this so," she said. "That's all I ask is an explanation."
She's right; she does deserve an explanation for my cruel and severe actions. I don't know if I'll be able to tell her everything. I'm not ready to be hurt by her again. Does she even know how much pain she caused me by going back and refusing my declaration of love for her? Did she think I was being a 'playboy'? It wasn't fate's machine that made me feel this way for her it was her, just her. I was ready to devote my life to her and she turned me down. I guess that's what I get for my many infidelities from the past, but didn't she love me once too? I just don't know anymore.
"Of course Hitomi, I'll tell you the best way I can," he said hanging his head down. He'll have to tell her everything but how he still feels about her.
She smiled at him and continued to cradle him in her arms. In a way, the feeling was so right and fitting that she didn't want to move.
I'll bring her to Dryden's coronation. That way, she can be brought back to Van. She loves him and this'll be the way to compensate for my actions. I'll make this up to you Hitomi just you wait and see.
(Meanwhile in Fanelia)
Van walked towards the courtyard where he was supposed to meet Merle. The previous conversation he had with the advisors somewhat upset him. Although it was against his wishes to marry right now, they had talked him into it. He was becoming weak and let himself be verbally baited by his own advisors. Merle should be pleased with this, I'll let her help me figure out who it'll be, he thought.
Van spotted Merle sitting by the fountain, playing with her tail. She was so carefree and innocent; she only wanted to see everyone happy, especially him. He walked up to her and his figure formed a shadow over her, blocking the sun. She looked up and almost squealed.
"Van! How was it? What did they talk to you about?" she asked wide-eyed. Van sighed and smiled at her.
"Actually, they talked to me about getting married again," he answered and Merle recoiled, expecting him to become angry. Sensing this, Van laughed.
"Merle, don't worry I'm not angry. In fact, I've seen the light in their words. It's about time I started finding someone so they told me to start searching at the coronation tomorrow. Will you help me?" he asked. Merle was beyond shocked. Van agreed to getting married? This didn't seem possible. Hitomi was supposed to come back and be his bride. There was something wrong with this picture.
"Of course I'll help you Lord Van!" she exclaimed despite herself.
"Good, the tailors will be by your room at 10:00 tonight to fit you for your dress, okay? We'll be leaving tomorrow for Asturia at noon and we should be there about two hours before the ceremony starts so rest up," he said and he walked back out of the courtyard. Merle just stared at him in disbelief. It was one thing to actually leave the palace, and it was another to leave to look for a bride. Oh yes, King Van was taking very big steps indeed.
Author's note: I know I haven't updated in so long, but that WILL change, I'll be more efficient, I promise. As long as you guys review!