Love can Change You 4
A/N: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who've reviewed my story, and to ask the author of "The Turning Point" to write more chapters. Also, I'd like to know exactly what a cameo is.
Hitomi stood outside his door. She was nervous, her heart beat rapidly.
'Why are you so afraid?' She asked herself. 'It's like swimming. Just do it quick and it'll be okay.' She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. For a moment there was silence. Then.
"Come in"
Hitomi put her hand on the doorknob. It turned easily, and her mind dragged her terrified body through the door and over to where he sat. Van turned around and she shivered, as his deep brown eyes looked steadily into her own.
He smiled. "Hello Hitomi. What's the matter?" " What makes you think anything's the matter?" She stuttered fearfully.
"Oh come on. I know you better than that. What's the matter?"
Hitomi sat down next to him. "Van, I." She swallowed. This was going to be harder then she thought. Better start obscure. "Have you ever known anyone a certain way, but then started seeing them a different way though they were still the same way you knew them to be before you saw them the way that was different, and then saw them another way while they were still the same ways they seemed to be before, only different because of the other way that you saw them?"
Van stared. "Uh.what?"
Hitomi smacked herself mentally. 'Well that was obscure enough.' "I mean did you ever feel.different.about someone than you used to feel about them?"
Van frowned as he thought. "I'm still not sure what you mean."
Hitomi sighed in exasperation. "Did you ever fall in love with someone who you knew but didn't love before?"
Van blinked. "Oh, THAT'S what you're saying." He thought again. "To be honest, no I don't think I have."
Hitomi's heart clinched. Time to finally let it out. "Well Van, I have."
Van's eyes widened. "Really? Who"
Hitomi just looked at him for a moment. After a few seconds, Van's eyes widened. He pointed to himself. "Me?" It was almost a whisper.
Hitomi nodded. "Yes. I love you Van Fanel."
Van didn't answer. Hitomi continued, afraid to stop. "I don't know when it happened. It's just that you seemed different to me then before. I couldn't stop thinking about it. You were everywhere, in my dreams, in my thoughts, even in my visions. It took me a long time to figure it out, but I finally got it in the end. And I don't care if you're a draconian, or a king, or a murderer, OR a demon. To me you're an angel, and I don't want to lose you."
Van was silent for some time following this. Hitomi waited, panic beginning to clutch at her heart. The wind whistled a lonely sound as it blew through the windowpane, making Hitomi shiver with more than cold.
Finally Van spoke, and when he did Hitomi could only listen in horror. "Hitomi I'm.flattered that you think of me this way. I care about you too. But only as a friend. Besides," He continued, "I can't afford to love anyone just now. Not when there's a war going on and all."
Hitomi just looked at him, the tears fighting to gain dominance in her eyes. "If you spend life too afraid to love then you'll end up never knowing what it's like, you know." She whispered. "Is there any way?"
When Van responded, her heart began to crack. "No. I'm sorry but I can't."
As he turned to the window, the dams in her eyes finally collapsed, and her heart finally broke as the tears poured unheeded down her cheeks.
***
Hitomi woke in a cold sweat, lying in the bed of her guestroom. She lay there a few minutes gasping for breath and holding the tears back mercilessly. 'I've been kidnapped by Dornkirk, attacked by dragons, and jumped eight feet across a near abyss. I'm NOT letting a lousy memory I shouldn't have in the first place get to me!'
Realising that she wasn't going to get to sleep again, Hitomi got up and headed into the bathroom. 'Oh good. There's a shower. Finally!' She spent the next half an hour getting reacquainted with reality.
After rooting around in the dresser for a while, she found a blue sweater with some dark brown pants that fit well enough. 'Not bad.' She thought, checking herself out in the mirror. 'Now to find some food.'
***
It only took about half an hour, but Hitomi found the cafeteria.
It seemed she wasn't the first one there. About half of the Dragonslayers had got there ahead of her, including Chesta who was standing in line, a tray in his hands. Refina was nowhere in sight. A good thing in Hitomi's opinion.
Hitomi grabbed a tray of her own and got in behind him. Chesta eyed her carefully. "What happened? You look like hell."
Hitomi smiled slightly. "Just a bad dream".
"Want to talk about it?"
Hitomi shook her head. "Some doors are better left unopened."
The people behind the counter reminded Hitomi of cafeteria people but she couldn't remember what they were called. They scooped portions of scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage onto their plates, and handed out large glasses filled with orange juice. Then she and Chesta sat with the others at the table and chattered happily with the other slayers.
"So, when's Lord Dilandau supposed to get back?" You could barely hear the words because his mouth was stuffed with egg.
Ryoun looked at his watch. "In about twelve hours."
"Good! That's enough time for a swim in the pool!"
Chesta coughed and elbowed Guimel. "What?" When he saw Chesta was looking at Hitomi he turned red. "Oh".
Hitomi nearly choked on a sausage, laughing. When she could breathe again, "You know, I CAN swim".
"It's not that." Ryoun was emphatic as he pushed up his glasses uncomfortably. "It's just that, aside from Refina, Naria, and Eriya, you're the only girl on the Vione and none of them went swimming with us so- "
"So you're nervous." It dawned at last. "Come on guys. I don't want any special treatment because I'm a girl. I never got any at home."
"Really?" That was collective.
Hitomi nodded. "So if you're nervous about seeing me in a bathing suit.don't be. I just want to be one of the guys."
Chesta sighed shaking his head. "I have the feeling that you're going to bring a lot of changes to the Vione."
Hitomi grinned. "I doubt it. I'm just your ordinary psychic girl from the Mystic Moon." Once again, she laughed hysterically at the looks on their faces.
***
That day was one of the best Hitomi had had on Gaea.
Swimming was a welcome change from running from pyros. And the boys had treated her no different from each other. That was apparent when, after the other named ones had joined them, Gatti had enthusiastically involved her in a splash war. And if Dalet harboured ill feelings towards Hitomi from her rejecting his advances, he lost them when they double- teamed poor Miguel.
A crisis arose when it came time to shower off due to the obvious fact that Hitomi could not shower with the boys.
Fortunately, this was solved when Chesta hung up a bunch of towels to make a sort of shower curtain. Heaven alone knows how hard the boys fought to keep from peaking in on her.
By then it was about noon and so, after a quick lunch, the gang headed down to the training room where Hitomi held her first sword.
"I can't do this, I really can't do this, I really have no idea what to do with this!" She babbled as Chesta pushed a wooden training sword into her hand.
"Relax. Just pretend it's a part of you arm." Chesta soothed. He drew his own training sword. "Are you ready?" He asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be".
The others watched as Chesta suddenly charged. Hitomi stepped back and, against all odds, blocked it! She stared at the contraption in awe.
"Not bad". Her tutor said. "Now try this!"
Chesta attacked. Slice. Jab. Slash. Jab. Jab. Cut. Slash. Hitomi either blocked them or dodged. Above all she didn't want to attack. What if she hurt him?
"Come on Hitomi! Fight back!" Miguel hollered. Soon all of them were cheering her on.
"Lunge! Parry and lunge!"
"Hit the deck!"
"Go for the leg!"
"DUCK!"
She barely managed to follow the last piece of advice before Chesta's blade hit her. Suddenly she saw an opening; a weakness in Chesta's fighting. It was gone now, but maybe it'd be back. 'Wait for it.' She told herself. Wait. Wait. Wait. NOW!
When Chesta's swung at her legs, she jumped and landed on the sword, her weight jarring it out of her hands. No one was more surprised to see the training sword at Chesta's throat than Hitomi.
"Uh Chesta?"
"Yeah?"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but.did I just beat you?"
"Yeah".
That was all the two got before they were swarmed. "Awesome!" "How'd you do that?" "You've fought before!" "Did you know he was gonna do that?"
Viole waved all the others down and got to ask his question. "Did you ever fight before?"
Hitomi shook her head. "Not at all. But I do see people sparring everyday. I must have picked it up."
Dalet shook his head dubiously. "I don't know, you don't just pick up skill like that." He shrugged. "Ah well".
After that, they trained and practised with each other while Hitomi mulled over her new-found skill.
Finally, they'd all hung out in Gatti's room, which seemed to be the general gathering place for the Slayers. Today though, it was just Hitomi, Chesta, Ryoun, Gatti, Dalet, Guimel, Viole, and Miguel.
They had fun just hanging out. After a while, a poker game started up and Dalet suggested making it strip poker.
It quickly became obvious that an alliance was being forged, because whenever someone one a hand they chose Dalet to remove an article of clothing. And since Dalet NEVER won at cards he was down to his boxers by the time the dinner bell rang.
"Well, too bad. I was looking forward to finishing you off." Even sitting in his underwear, Dalet was filled with bravado.
Chesta grinned evilly. "I don't think so. I've got a straight flush!" He pointed to his beleaguered buddy. "Take em off!"
***
"Now comes the part where we enjoy our last remaining hour before Lord Dilandau returns."
Viole raised his glass. "I'll drink to that!" And he did.
Hitomi snorted. "You sound guys sound like funeral bells."
"Well, look at it this way. This was our only day off for another two weeks. Until then we have to live with Captain Pyro."
Chesta sighed. "Now don't get me wrong, we respect him. But what company doesn't tease their commanding officer when he's not there?"
Ryoun nodded. "The kind that knows their commanding officer would skin them alive if he ever found out."
Suddenly the talk died down and everyone stood up. Confused, Hitomi did too and realised why when Folken strode into the room.
He acknowledged the respect and sat down near Hitomi Company. When the conversation started back up again, Folken leaned over and began to talk.
"So Hitomi, how was your day?"
She beamed. "Very good actually. I think I'm going to like it here!"
Folken smiled. Then I assume you've decided to stay?"
Hitomi nodded gladly. Then a thought occurred to her. "When you said you could find me a position in Zaibach, did you mean I could choose? Because if I can, I'd like to become a Dragonslayer".
Chesta looked stunned.
Gatti choked on his milk.
Miguel stopped eating with his fork halfway to his mouth.
Dalet stopped eating with his fork actually in his mouth.
Viole fainted dead away.
Ryoun pretended to be so absorbed in food that he wasn't listening.
Guimel burst into a fit of coughing.
Folken frowned slightly. 'I thought I'd have to convince her to join them. Looks like I was wrong. Better keep up appearances.' Aloud he said "Are you sure? The Dragonslayers are not for the weak. Only the best of the best become selected and only a few of them make the cut."
Hitomi remembered back to when she had fought Chesta. She recalled the thrill of combat, and the exhilarating crash of the training swords, things she had never felt before. She wanted to feel them again. "Well I guess we'll find out what I'm made of."
Folken nodded slowly. "Then I hope you do well. Chesta will give you your schedule and armour." Turning to the boy, he said "Not the full suit, that's too heavy. Just the light stuff for now". Getting up, he said, "Now if you'll excuse me, I must go retrieve my supper."
As he walked off, Chesta hurriedly asked her "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" He waited for the nod. "Why the hell would you want to join the Slayers?"
"A few reasons actually. First of all you guys are my friends and I don't want to lose you." Hitomi smiled as Chesta blushed. "Second.well let's just say I'm burying the hatchet." The smile turned sad. "Finally" Now the smile turned unpleasant. "I want to see the look on Refina's face when she hears I'm here to stay!"
A/N: Now you know the true story behind Van and Hitomi. Van didn't love her, and that broke her heart. She couldn't bear to stay so she left. I thank you all for your opinions.
A/N: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who've reviewed my story, and to ask the author of "The Turning Point" to write more chapters. Also, I'd like to know exactly what a cameo is.
Hitomi stood outside his door. She was nervous, her heart beat rapidly.
'Why are you so afraid?' She asked herself. 'It's like swimming. Just do it quick and it'll be okay.' She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. For a moment there was silence. Then.
"Come in"
Hitomi put her hand on the doorknob. It turned easily, and her mind dragged her terrified body through the door and over to where he sat. Van turned around and she shivered, as his deep brown eyes looked steadily into her own.
He smiled. "Hello Hitomi. What's the matter?" " What makes you think anything's the matter?" She stuttered fearfully.
"Oh come on. I know you better than that. What's the matter?"
Hitomi sat down next to him. "Van, I." She swallowed. This was going to be harder then she thought. Better start obscure. "Have you ever known anyone a certain way, but then started seeing them a different way though they were still the same way you knew them to be before you saw them the way that was different, and then saw them another way while they were still the same ways they seemed to be before, only different because of the other way that you saw them?"
Van stared. "Uh.what?"
Hitomi smacked herself mentally. 'Well that was obscure enough.' "I mean did you ever feel.different.about someone than you used to feel about them?"
Van frowned as he thought. "I'm still not sure what you mean."
Hitomi sighed in exasperation. "Did you ever fall in love with someone who you knew but didn't love before?"
Van blinked. "Oh, THAT'S what you're saying." He thought again. "To be honest, no I don't think I have."
Hitomi's heart clinched. Time to finally let it out. "Well Van, I have."
Van's eyes widened. "Really? Who"
Hitomi just looked at him for a moment. After a few seconds, Van's eyes widened. He pointed to himself. "Me?" It was almost a whisper.
Hitomi nodded. "Yes. I love you Van Fanel."
Van didn't answer. Hitomi continued, afraid to stop. "I don't know when it happened. It's just that you seemed different to me then before. I couldn't stop thinking about it. You were everywhere, in my dreams, in my thoughts, even in my visions. It took me a long time to figure it out, but I finally got it in the end. And I don't care if you're a draconian, or a king, or a murderer, OR a demon. To me you're an angel, and I don't want to lose you."
Van was silent for some time following this. Hitomi waited, panic beginning to clutch at her heart. The wind whistled a lonely sound as it blew through the windowpane, making Hitomi shiver with more than cold.
Finally Van spoke, and when he did Hitomi could only listen in horror. "Hitomi I'm.flattered that you think of me this way. I care about you too. But only as a friend. Besides," He continued, "I can't afford to love anyone just now. Not when there's a war going on and all."
Hitomi just looked at him, the tears fighting to gain dominance in her eyes. "If you spend life too afraid to love then you'll end up never knowing what it's like, you know." She whispered. "Is there any way?"
When Van responded, her heart began to crack. "No. I'm sorry but I can't."
As he turned to the window, the dams in her eyes finally collapsed, and her heart finally broke as the tears poured unheeded down her cheeks.
***
Hitomi woke in a cold sweat, lying in the bed of her guestroom. She lay there a few minutes gasping for breath and holding the tears back mercilessly. 'I've been kidnapped by Dornkirk, attacked by dragons, and jumped eight feet across a near abyss. I'm NOT letting a lousy memory I shouldn't have in the first place get to me!'
Realising that she wasn't going to get to sleep again, Hitomi got up and headed into the bathroom. 'Oh good. There's a shower. Finally!' She spent the next half an hour getting reacquainted with reality.
After rooting around in the dresser for a while, she found a blue sweater with some dark brown pants that fit well enough. 'Not bad.' She thought, checking herself out in the mirror. 'Now to find some food.'
***
It only took about half an hour, but Hitomi found the cafeteria.
It seemed she wasn't the first one there. About half of the Dragonslayers had got there ahead of her, including Chesta who was standing in line, a tray in his hands. Refina was nowhere in sight. A good thing in Hitomi's opinion.
Hitomi grabbed a tray of her own and got in behind him. Chesta eyed her carefully. "What happened? You look like hell."
Hitomi smiled slightly. "Just a bad dream".
"Want to talk about it?"
Hitomi shook her head. "Some doors are better left unopened."
The people behind the counter reminded Hitomi of cafeteria people but she couldn't remember what they were called. They scooped portions of scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage onto their plates, and handed out large glasses filled with orange juice. Then she and Chesta sat with the others at the table and chattered happily with the other slayers.
"So, when's Lord Dilandau supposed to get back?" You could barely hear the words because his mouth was stuffed with egg.
Ryoun looked at his watch. "In about twelve hours."
"Good! That's enough time for a swim in the pool!"
Chesta coughed and elbowed Guimel. "What?" When he saw Chesta was looking at Hitomi he turned red. "Oh".
Hitomi nearly choked on a sausage, laughing. When she could breathe again, "You know, I CAN swim".
"It's not that." Ryoun was emphatic as he pushed up his glasses uncomfortably. "It's just that, aside from Refina, Naria, and Eriya, you're the only girl on the Vione and none of them went swimming with us so- "
"So you're nervous." It dawned at last. "Come on guys. I don't want any special treatment because I'm a girl. I never got any at home."
"Really?" That was collective.
Hitomi nodded. "So if you're nervous about seeing me in a bathing suit.don't be. I just want to be one of the guys."
Chesta sighed shaking his head. "I have the feeling that you're going to bring a lot of changes to the Vione."
Hitomi grinned. "I doubt it. I'm just your ordinary psychic girl from the Mystic Moon." Once again, she laughed hysterically at the looks on their faces.
***
That day was one of the best Hitomi had had on Gaea.
Swimming was a welcome change from running from pyros. And the boys had treated her no different from each other. That was apparent when, after the other named ones had joined them, Gatti had enthusiastically involved her in a splash war. And if Dalet harboured ill feelings towards Hitomi from her rejecting his advances, he lost them when they double- teamed poor Miguel.
A crisis arose when it came time to shower off due to the obvious fact that Hitomi could not shower with the boys.
Fortunately, this was solved when Chesta hung up a bunch of towels to make a sort of shower curtain. Heaven alone knows how hard the boys fought to keep from peaking in on her.
By then it was about noon and so, after a quick lunch, the gang headed down to the training room where Hitomi held her first sword.
"I can't do this, I really can't do this, I really have no idea what to do with this!" She babbled as Chesta pushed a wooden training sword into her hand.
"Relax. Just pretend it's a part of you arm." Chesta soothed. He drew his own training sword. "Are you ready?" He asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be".
The others watched as Chesta suddenly charged. Hitomi stepped back and, against all odds, blocked it! She stared at the contraption in awe.
"Not bad". Her tutor said. "Now try this!"
Chesta attacked. Slice. Jab. Slash. Jab. Jab. Cut. Slash. Hitomi either blocked them or dodged. Above all she didn't want to attack. What if she hurt him?
"Come on Hitomi! Fight back!" Miguel hollered. Soon all of them were cheering her on.
"Lunge! Parry and lunge!"
"Hit the deck!"
"Go for the leg!"
"DUCK!"
She barely managed to follow the last piece of advice before Chesta's blade hit her. Suddenly she saw an opening; a weakness in Chesta's fighting. It was gone now, but maybe it'd be back. 'Wait for it.' She told herself. Wait. Wait. Wait. NOW!
When Chesta's swung at her legs, she jumped and landed on the sword, her weight jarring it out of her hands. No one was more surprised to see the training sword at Chesta's throat than Hitomi.
"Uh Chesta?"
"Yeah?"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but.did I just beat you?"
"Yeah".
That was all the two got before they were swarmed. "Awesome!" "How'd you do that?" "You've fought before!" "Did you know he was gonna do that?"
Viole waved all the others down and got to ask his question. "Did you ever fight before?"
Hitomi shook her head. "Not at all. But I do see people sparring everyday. I must have picked it up."
Dalet shook his head dubiously. "I don't know, you don't just pick up skill like that." He shrugged. "Ah well".
After that, they trained and practised with each other while Hitomi mulled over her new-found skill.
Finally, they'd all hung out in Gatti's room, which seemed to be the general gathering place for the Slayers. Today though, it was just Hitomi, Chesta, Ryoun, Gatti, Dalet, Guimel, Viole, and Miguel.
They had fun just hanging out. After a while, a poker game started up and Dalet suggested making it strip poker.
It quickly became obvious that an alliance was being forged, because whenever someone one a hand they chose Dalet to remove an article of clothing. And since Dalet NEVER won at cards he was down to his boxers by the time the dinner bell rang.
"Well, too bad. I was looking forward to finishing you off." Even sitting in his underwear, Dalet was filled with bravado.
Chesta grinned evilly. "I don't think so. I've got a straight flush!" He pointed to his beleaguered buddy. "Take em off!"
***
"Now comes the part where we enjoy our last remaining hour before Lord Dilandau returns."
Viole raised his glass. "I'll drink to that!" And he did.
Hitomi snorted. "You sound guys sound like funeral bells."
"Well, look at it this way. This was our only day off for another two weeks. Until then we have to live with Captain Pyro."
Chesta sighed. "Now don't get me wrong, we respect him. But what company doesn't tease their commanding officer when he's not there?"
Ryoun nodded. "The kind that knows their commanding officer would skin them alive if he ever found out."
Suddenly the talk died down and everyone stood up. Confused, Hitomi did too and realised why when Folken strode into the room.
He acknowledged the respect and sat down near Hitomi Company. When the conversation started back up again, Folken leaned over and began to talk.
"So Hitomi, how was your day?"
She beamed. "Very good actually. I think I'm going to like it here!"
Folken smiled. Then I assume you've decided to stay?"
Hitomi nodded gladly. Then a thought occurred to her. "When you said you could find me a position in Zaibach, did you mean I could choose? Because if I can, I'd like to become a Dragonslayer".
Chesta looked stunned.
Gatti choked on his milk.
Miguel stopped eating with his fork halfway to his mouth.
Dalet stopped eating with his fork actually in his mouth.
Viole fainted dead away.
Ryoun pretended to be so absorbed in food that he wasn't listening.
Guimel burst into a fit of coughing.
Folken frowned slightly. 'I thought I'd have to convince her to join them. Looks like I was wrong. Better keep up appearances.' Aloud he said "Are you sure? The Dragonslayers are not for the weak. Only the best of the best become selected and only a few of them make the cut."
Hitomi remembered back to when she had fought Chesta. She recalled the thrill of combat, and the exhilarating crash of the training swords, things she had never felt before. She wanted to feel them again. "Well I guess we'll find out what I'm made of."
Folken nodded slowly. "Then I hope you do well. Chesta will give you your schedule and armour." Turning to the boy, he said "Not the full suit, that's too heavy. Just the light stuff for now". Getting up, he said, "Now if you'll excuse me, I must go retrieve my supper."
As he walked off, Chesta hurriedly asked her "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" He waited for the nod. "Why the hell would you want to join the Slayers?"
"A few reasons actually. First of all you guys are my friends and I don't want to lose you." Hitomi smiled as Chesta blushed. "Second.well let's just say I'm burying the hatchet." The smile turned sad. "Finally" Now the smile turned unpleasant. "I want to see the look on Refina's face when she hears I'm here to stay!"
A/N: Now you know the true story behind Van and Hitomi. Van didn't love her, and that broke her heart. She couldn't bear to stay so she left. I thank you all for your opinions.