AN: *restrains self from dumping a mountain of fluff on the story* Must... Take.... Things.... Slowly..... So hard to do XD I don't want to turn this into an action fic, because since I've only just begun fan fiction, I'm focusing on romance for a while until I branch out XD Hehehe.... Thank you to all who reviewed!

Enzeru No Yami: *cowers* Aiee! Sorry! Twas a mistake! o_O;;
MaboroshiTsuki: Muahaha, I'm going to create a bit of conflict later with pretty boy XD
Aeka-Himme: Hehe, thanko! You continue your fic now ^_~ I 3 it! And the fluff! The wonderful fluff ^_^
Sailor Centauri: Haha, good old Van ^_^ Thanks, although this idea isn't very original ^^;;
Ash Night: Haha ^^;; Nice to know I brightened someone's day ^-^ You cried? I didn't know I could do that @.@ Hehe, thanks I'm waiting for it in the mail XD
xdread: Haha here's your update!
Inda: Hehe, Van's lightning up in this chapter ^-^
LOVE WITCH: Haha! I'm going to create a bit of conflict with barbie man later *cackles* Now you scoot along and write Drunk Love! XD
Story Teller: Haha thanks! ^___^ I don't have uniforms ;_; Although I do think they'd make my life easier ^-^ I think they're cool! *suddenly wants uniforms badly* Like Hitomi has a uniform XD in the series ^^;;
lazy_girl: Haha *shoves chapter at lazy_girl* Don't go insane! XD And as for their age.... I'd say around early 20's ^_^
jess131346: Here ya go!
Dariel: Hehe Hitomi apologizes ^_^ Muahaha, but Allen is going to make Van a little insecure in the future ^_~ Got conflict? LOL *sorry i'm drinking milk O_O*
Magicman/Smokegirl: Muahah Smokegirl will have to kill Allen later because he causes some more strain on the oh so delicate relationship of Van and Hitomi XD
Fushizen Na: *blushes* T-thanko! *doesn't know what to say, is very embarrassed* Um.... *waves shiny object in the air* XD
van lover: Haha, I love your name! XD Hehe, here's your update! ^____^
Ink: Hehe, yes, Hitomi's not very good with confrontation XD But she'll have to get over that fear in this chapter! XD
luna: *blushes like crazy, looks like a tomato* Thank you ^^;;

AN: ATTENTION EVERYONE!!!! If I start to go overboard on the fluff too early, DO tell me! I'm a fluff maniac so I can't tell if I'm rushing it or not ^^;; Thanko! ^_^

"I've walked so long I can't remember - where was my home?
Their distance faces fade away I'm always on my own.
I can show a smile It's not hard to do.
I can have the strength to go on
But sometime I wanna let go of everything..."

Van sat alone at the top of the grassy cliff, staring up at the clouds. A serious expression was on his face, and the wind rippled against his red tunic. With a rough gloved hand, he brushed some of the strands of hair that had fallen in his face away.

Am I really like that? Cold? A monster? Gods, please tell me.

There was a slight rustling behind him, and Van turned around to find Hitomi clutching a wreath of daisies, looking at him, startled.

"I'm... Sorry, I didn't know you were here--" she began hurriedly, green eyes frightened.

"It's alright" he interrupted quietly, then moved his gaze to the rising sun. A warm glow seemed to engulf his country, and a gentle breeze brought the scent of flowers into his nose.

"Fanelia's beautiful" Hitomi said sincerely, and Van gave her a happy, but tired look. Hitomi stood there, unsure of what to say, and slowly, hesitantly, sat down beside Van on the grass.

"Van... I'm sorry about last night." She said finally after mustering up the courage and tossing aside her pride.

He didn't say anything at first. Not for a long time. Then, with a heaving sigh he spoke.

"But you're right" he smiled sadly out into the scenery. "I should be the one apologizing."

This was one of those moments where Hitomi had caught Van off guard, one of the moments where she really wondered about him.

Their elbows were only just grazing, but even then so there was a slight jolt when their bare skin brushed against each other.

"I know I've been a horrible husband. Most women wouldn't even call me a husband" he said after a while. "And I should have been more appreciative for having you as a wife." he sighed. "You seem so confident. Strong. I didn't think my behavior could effect you. I always assumed you were miserable because of me, not miserable because of my behavior" Hitomi looked down into her lap.

"We all have feelings" she said quietly. "And I should have considered yours last night. I didn't mean what I said. I... Don't hate you, not at all." Hitomi looked up to see his reaction for her next words. She wondered if she should say them. Gathering a courage inside her, and preparing herself for a world of hurt, she let the worlds tumble out. "I think I could like you very much so if I got to know you"

Van smiled. A real smile, one that reached his eyes, one that melted Hitomi's heart. One that made her feel like it would be alright.

"Do you really think so?" he questioned. Hitomi nodded, and Van took a deep breath and spoke.

'Then I'd like to get to know you."

***

Over the next month, not much happened with the couple, except that they interacted more. Slowly but surely, each person lowered their guard more and more around the other. One day, Van approached Hitomi in the garden, coughing slightly.

"Oh, hello" she greeted, turning to face him.

"Um, hello... I was wondering, tomorrow I'm going to help the villagers" he mumbled, ruffling his raven black hair. "And I was wondering if you'd like to come" Hitomi's face lit up.

"I'd love to" she replied, and Van visibly relaxed.

"Sounds great"

***

They had been working for about 4 hours now, and Van and Hitomi were covered in dirt. As they repaired the humble stone walls of several houses, Van somehow managed to keep all the children entertained at the same time. They all surrounded him, with starry eyed expressions, as he told them about dragons and princesses.

"You mean like Queen Hitomi?" asked a little girl.

"Yes, just like Queen Hitomi" Van smiled warmly at her. The girl smiled, wedged herself between Van and Hitomi, her cheeks rosy.

"What's that stuff your spreading on the stones?" she wondered out loud. Van patiently explained how the mortar was made, and all the children were wowing as Hitomi smiled. He's going to make a good father. A little boy came running towards the small crowd of children that had gathered around the king and queen.

"My daddy said that it's time for lunch" he exclaimed, and all the children went scurrying towards the direction the boy was pointing at. Van smiled at Hitomi, helping her up from her crouching position with his hand.

Lunch was bread and cheese, and Hitomi's heart saddened as the villagers explained how their village was set on fire by a bunch of trouble makers.

"That's horrible" she said slowly. There was a look of a sort of hopeless remorse on the villagers' faces.

After a bit of silence, conversation slowly started up again. "This bread is delicious" commented Hitomi, ripping off another piece of her loaf and dipping it in the heated cheese. The village women smiled.

"It's quite a simple recipe" one said. "Perhaps we'll give you the recipe before you go?"

"Would you?" Hitomi asked, excitedly. The woman nodded. "Oh, thank you!" she beamed.

Soon Hitomi had made her mark on the villagers as much as Van had, and the villagers smiled fondly at their king and queen, proud.

"So, any plans for an heir yet?" one of the women chuckled. Van and Hitomi turned bright red, and Van mumbled something along the lines of 'I don't know yet'. The rest of the quaint meal was in silence, the villagers laughing inside at Van and Hitomi, who had moved apart slightly, blushing deep red, stuffing their mouths with bread.

***

Night was falling, and the village was just about done.

"We should be able to finish it off by ourselves tomorrow" one of the men smiled. "King Van, and Queen Hitomi. We thank you so much for your help." Van and Hitomi smiled, and waved goodbye as they rode off towards the palace. They had worked extremely hard, especially Hitomi, to Van's surprise. He was guilty of taking a few breaks to tell the children stories, however Hitomi kept working, never stopping. The sun had beat down upon them, and the smell of the mortar wasn't very pleasant. Van had been working on the village for about a month, but he never recalled day when so much had been accomplished. Van looked over at his wife, who was having trouble keeping awake. He smiled, as the horses clip clopped down the rough road.

"I wonder what your advisors will say" mused Hitomi exhaustedly.

"Oh, same as every time. They'll give me a long lecture and tell me never to do it again. And I'll promise and do it again" he grinned. Hitomi laughed softly. Her eyelids drooped, and she stifled a yawn. The stars were beginning to emerge, and you could see the two moons hanging in the sky. Van smiled at his wife, as her eyelids fluttered with drowsiness, and he felt proud. Proud to have her as his wife.

They finally arrived at the palace, and Van gave the horses over to the stable boy. Then heaving a near unconscious Hitomi over his shoulder, he made his way up the stairs to her quarters. His eyelids were drooping as well, and he gently nudged the door of her room open with his foot and stepped inside, flopping her down on the soft mattress. He gently tugged her shoes off, and kneeled down beside the head of the bed to untie her hair. Loosening the pin that held it up, he placed it on the night stand, and found himself allowing his head to rest on the mattress near her face. Just... One minute... And I'll leave and.....

***

Hitomi slowly woke up from her contented slumber. A smile played on her lips as she stretched against the clean sheets, and she flopped onto her side, to come face to face with Van. A scream was caught in her throat, and she faintly recalled him carrying her up to her bed after the day with the villagers. He was kneeling beside the head of her bed, and his head rested on his arms as he lay-- no rather, sat, sleeping. Stifling giggles, Hitomi gently heaved Van from the floor onto her bed, and laughed at the imprint of the carpet which was on his skin.

"I'm only going to get breakfast" she whispered softly at his sleeping figure, and she gently shut the bedroom door behind her.

***

Van woke up to a rather feminine scent in his nose, a scent that only a tiny part deep inside of him registered as Hitomi's. Rubbing his brown eyes, he took in his surroundings, and noticed that he was in Hitomi's room. The previous night dawned on him, and he flopped his head back onto her pillow, groaning when he noticed how long he had been sleeping.

"So the dead has awoken?" came an amused voice. Van's eyes flew open to see Hitomi munching on a snow pear, a devilish twinkle in her eyes.

"I didn't know I was sleeping for so long" Van yawned to Hitomi's amusement. "Why didn't you wake me up?" he added, stretching his arms.

"You looked so peaceful sleeping I didn't want to disturb you" she smiled, and he ruffled his hair.

"King Van, your advisors request a meeting with you immediately" came a servant's voice after knocking on the door. With a growl of frustration, and telling the servant he'd be there in a minute, Van buried his face into the mattress.

"Want to pretend to be me and go?" he complained, and Hitomi sat down beside him on the bed.

"It can't be that bad" she smiled, and he groaned. Shutting his eyes for a brief moment and then reopening them, he heaved himself over to his dressing room and slipped on tan breeches and a white shirt. Striding into the meeting room, he sat down in his seat.

"You requested to speak to me?" he asked, no edge in his voice. His advisors looked at the king oddly. The king? Not looking at them with utter loathing?

"Um... Yes, Your Majesty. We have been talking and.... It has been quite some time since you and Queen Hitomi were married."

"Your point?" questioned Van, allowing his advisors to continue.

"Well, the thing is, Fanelia needs an heir." the advisors eventually told him.

***

Hitomi smiled as she walked towards the meeting room, ready to announce the arrival of a cat girl named Merle. Van should be happy for an excuse to stop the meeting she thought to herself, and cautiously she opened the meeting door soundlessly to find her husbands and his advisors deep in conversation.

"...We are aware of your feelings of resentment and dislike towards Queen Hitomi, however an heir must be produced, King Van. We understand how uncomfortable it may be, to push aside ones feeling of abhor, but we have faith in your abilities. " one of the advisors spoke. Hitomi froze.

...Resentment? Dislike? Abhor?

Ice seemed to travel down Hitomi's body, and Van noticed Hitomi standing by the doorway.

"Hitomi!" he yelled as she turned and sprinted out the doors.

"You idiots!" he bellowed at the advisors. "Who are you to dictate my feelings for the Queen?" Getting out of his chair as his advisors cowered beneath the thunderous king, Van chased after Hitomi. He wasn't surprised as she was headed towards the gardens.

"Hitomi!" he called once more, grabbing her shoulder.

"Is that why you spent time with me?" she demanded, angry tears trailing down her face. "To produce an heir? Was that all an act?"

"Hitomi, of course not!" he replied, desperate to make her understand.

"I thought things would be alright, but it turns out all you want to do is get a baby out of me for your kingdom!" she cried, hastily wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. She turned away from him, shaking slightly.

At least you know, Hitomi. Before you gave your heart to him.

"First of all, it's our kingdom, not mine" Van pointed out. "Second of all, if I wanted an heir as badly as my advisors do I would have already tried to get one on our wedding night" Hitomi sniffed, not feeling much better at all.

"Look" he softened, turning her around gently to face him. "I'm not very good with words. But what my advisors said was not true"

"How do I know if you're lying to me or not?" she asked, her cheeks and nose red, a single tear trailing down her face, her head bowed down slightly. Van gently used his thumb to brush it away, and put one hand on each of her slender shoulders. He sighed, several possible scenarios running through his head. Each one sounding more unconvincing then the last.

How do I make her understand?

AN: *cackles evilly* You know, I COULD make him kiss her, but then that would be too easy XD Nope, Van's going to have to be stupid and try something else ^_^ Please Review! ^____^