Chapter Eight: Deep Wound

"Geeze! Why do I always get left behind. Lord Van could need my help right now, and I'm stuck here! Rrraah! This makes me so mad!" Merle said jumping all over the orphanage. Merle helped take care of the children there. She has been helping out since the war. Merle was think and suddenly she felt a hard tug on her tail. "He-y! What do you think your doing Omi?" Merle said snatching her tail away. Omi was one of the orphans there who always like to make Merle's life harder.

"Sorry Merle. You were talking to your self again. You should really seek help for that. I think you might be a bit of a nut" Omi said as he stuck his tongue at her in a playful way. That was it, Merle could no longer take any of this. Her tail stood straight up and fluffed out. Omi knew the sign and he started to run away.

"You little brat! Why I ought to-to" Merle couldn't think of anything she could do to the little mouthy brat. Merle decided that she would go to Palace and help Van and Hitomi. There was nothing more for her to do here but be annoyed by Omi and his gang.

Omi poked his head in the room and looked around. Merle wasn't in the room and the window was open. Omi smiled and gentle shut the door.

The door slow creaked open and two sets of feet walked into the room. Hitomi's heart felt like it was pounding against her rib cage. She tried to calm her self so that her breath would be quiet. She was practically holding her breath as they walked closer to the table.

They stopped at the far edge of the table and one of them walked towards the closet. The other one was bending down to look under the table. This was it Hitomi though as she planted her feet firmly on the ground and put both hands against the table. When he was just about to look under the table, Hitomi with all her might lifted the table and pushed it towards the man. The table fell on top on him with a crack. He wasn't moving. The table must have hit him pretty hard against the skull.

The loud noise drew the other man running into the room. He saw Hitomi standing above his unconscious friend. Hitomi moved her hand behind her to retrieve the Knife from where she had hidden it, tucked behind her pants.

The look in his eyes were frightening to Hitomi as they looked at her. The man started pulling out knifes that were in his belt. Hitomi froze as he pulled them out and smiled at her. Hitomi pulled out her knife as the man grabbed the last of his knifes.

With a flick of his hand he threw one of the knifes at her but she dodged it but not quick enough. The knife just grazed her cheek as she moved. Hitomi's hand went instinctively to her bleeding cheek. His aim was very good, if she hand not of moved he would of killed her.

Van was nearing the palace running with all the strength he had. Just a few more minute and he would be there. Van was soaked to the bone. The rain was falling harder than ever and the street were covered with puddles. Van began to run towards the palace only thinking about Hitomi.

The palace was in sight now and Van dashed up the stairs and into the palace. There were no guards anywhere, meaning, they must already be there. The first place Van checked was Hitomi's sleeping quarters. There was a man lying on the floor he didn't appear to be dead but he had a pretty bad cut on his chest.

Van continued to look around the palace but there was no one in sight. He noticed a couple of guards that were brutally killed by the intruders, but where was Hitomi? While Van was walking towards the back of the palace he heard a noise that sounded like laughing. Van ran towards the noise as quietly as he could.

Van walked slowly to the door that was slightly opened. He peered in to see a man with three small knifes in his hand but he couldn't see who was at the other end of the room. He slowly opened the door a little more so he could see better.

Hitomi was at the other end of the room with a cut on her cheek and her hand covering one of her shoulders. Her shoulder appeared to be bleeding and in her other hand she held the knife that Gaddes had given her earlier that night.

Van burst in the room and started to attack the man. When the man turned around he just saw a fist that hit him in the right eye. He staggered backwards with his hand over his injured eye. Van moved closer and kicked his abdomen then the man fell to the ground coughing. Van kicked him again and again in the stomach until he was no longer conscious.

Hitomi felt light headed and she slowly slide to the ground. She was sitting on the ground looking at Van who was looking the man over. He shoulder hurt as she felt the warm stick liquid cover her hand. She felt slightly sick when she saw the blood gushing from her shoulder. Hitomi heard foot step coming closer to her. She glanced to wards where Van was. He was by her side in seconds. He moved the hand that was covering the wound and made intense face. "We better get this looked at by a doctor" Van said looking at Hitomi pale face. All color seem to have left her face making her look weak. Hitomi began to sway then Van caught her before she could fall.

Van picked up Hitomi and bought her back to her room. He needed to get a doctor but he couldn't leave her alone. More of those men could come and she would be defenseless. Van suddenly heard foot steps in the hall and he pulled out his sword. It was hard to see, it was so dark in the palace. The figure came into the room and walked into the light. "Lord Van! Lord Van! I found you Lord Van" it was Merle who said this running towards him wrapping her arms around him and giggled.

"Merle I need your help. I need you to look after Hitomi while I get a doctor" Van said looking at Hitomi then back a Merle.

"What happened this time? She always getting into trouble!" Merle said in a scolding tone. She moved closer to Hitomi then she got a better look at the wounds. "This is bad Lord Van. The bleeding wont stop." Van looked a Merle then he ran out the door into the darkness.

Merle cleaned the wounds but there seem to be no point with the one on her shoulder. It wouldn't stop bleeding. Merle was getting worried because Hitomi's face was getting paler by the minuet.

Van came in the room with a fat old man by his side. The chubby man seemed to be out of breath probably from running. He stood there for a minute to catch his breath then Van urged him forward. "This is doctor Redmire" Van said. The doctor was now beside Hitomi looking at the wound on her shoulder. He put the bag down on the night stand and pulled out a need, pliers and some string.

"I have to close this wound. We must stop the bleeding" the doctor said and he started threading the thread though her skin. Van looked away, the sight was just too unbearable for him to watch. He sat down and put his head on the table. Van was extremely tired from all the running he just did. Merle noticed his discomfort and she put her hand on his shoulder.

"Hitomi will be okay Van. I know Van she's a very strong girl" Merle said looking at Van then looking back at Hitomi. The doctor seemed to know what he was doing and Merle was thankful for that.

An hour had passed and Allen and Gaddes were now entering the room. First they saw Van and Merle then they looked over to see Hitomi being patched up by some sort of doctor.

The doctor was fished, he had place a bandage over her wound and he rose to his feet. Van looked up at the doctor waiting for a response. "She'll be fine. She just need some rest and time to recuperate" the doctor said. Van went up to the doctor and shook his hand thanking him.

When the doctor left Allen approached Van. "What happened here Van?" Allen asked in a quiet tone. Van looked at Hitomi then back at Allen.

"I didn't get here fast enough. She had taken out two of them but the last one did this. I got there and stopped him before he could do any more" Van said trying to keep his voice steady.

"It seems they know about Hitomi and wish to ride of her before she becomes trouble again. We must put a end to this before another war breaks out" Allen said sitting down on the chair Van had vacated.

Van was still looking intently at Hitomi. "Van are you okay?" Merle asked approaching him.

"I'm going to kill him with no mercy."