Chapter 5: Reality

"Van! Van! Wake up!"

Hitomi? But she's dead.it can't be.

"Van! Please wake up! VAN!!"

He felt a hard sting on his face. That definitely felt real. But who was that person? He opened his eyes and touched his face. Two big brown eyes were staring at him. Big brown beautiful eyes. Eyes he couldn't forget.

"Am I in heaven? It can't be you any other way."

"What the hell are you talking about? You're yelling in your sleep and wake me up in the process, and on top of that start talking about crap! What's your problem?"

"Oh, God, Hitomi! It is you!"

Sitting up in bed he grabbed her and held her close. Hitomi looked around the room wondering what was going on.

"Ummm--okay. Van, what's the matter with you? You're acting like someone dropped dead or something. And by the way, you just made my covers come off. I'm kind of cold."

"It's okay. It's nothing I haven't seen."

Flashing a smile at her he laughed. She lightly slapped him on the arm. Soon his smile disappeared. He ran his fingers through her long brown hair.

"So, you're cold, huh? Here let me give you something better than that blanket."

Looking at him with an intrigued look she smiled.

"And what would that be Mr. Fanel?"

Slowly he began spreading his soft, white wings and wrapped his left one around her, and then drew her closer.

Seeing the confused look on her face he couldn't help but smile.

"Not what you expected?"

"Not exactly, but it will do."

Smiling she looked up at his face. He wasn't smiling anymore.

"Van, what's wrong?" After hesitating a moment he answered, "Well, all I can say is I'm grateful you came back all those years ago. I saw what would have happened if you didn't. I saw-"

His voice trailed off.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that you're here right now."

"It doesn't seem like it doesn't matter. Are you sure?"

Taking in a deep breath he replied, "Yeah."

"Okay. Well," yawning she looked at him with sleepy eyes. "I'm here, I came, and I'm tired. So now that you know what's really happening, I'm going back to sleep."

Kissing him lightly on the cheek she lied back down. Smiling to himself he put his head on the pillow. Watching her sleep always made him tired. He kissed her shoulder and ran his hand along her smooth, perfect back. Slowly drifting, he couldn't help but smile at his luck to have her. Sleep finally overcame him, and he drifted off.

Waking up, Van looked around the room. He saw Hitomi walking out of the washroom with his shirt on. He wondered why she did that. He'd never heard of that on Gaea. Maybe it was a Mystic Moon habit. Of course no one really talked about what their fiancée's walked out of their beds with; or if they walked out of their beds at all for that matter.

"Hey, sleepy head," 'All well,' Van thought, ' I don't mind. It looks good on her.' Smiling, he sat up and looked at her. Walking over and sitting next to him on the bed she kissed him. "I thought you'd never get up."

"Well, I did, and I've decided I'm going to spend the whole day with you."

Looking at him in shock she didn't know what to say. "But.Van.you have too much planned today! You're king! You can't just drop everything! I mean- "

"No. Destiny sent me a vision last night that made me realize I don't spend enough time with you. It's like.Destiny was telling me to be grateful at the fact that it brought you here."

"Van, Destiny left us alone a long time ago. Don't you remember? Dornkirk? Zaibach? Even your brother.Folken.?"

"I know. But even if it's not Destiny or Fate I want to spend the day with you," Grabbing her hands looking into her eyes with a pleading look and said, "Please, let me do this."

"--Okay--but at least make sure that you absolutely don't have to do anything today. And I mean it! Don't just say you don't' but do and then get behind-"

"Don't worry. I'll make sure. Let me get dressed so I can check. And get ready as soon as you can. Today it's just me and you."

Smiling, he kissed her cheek and got up. Hitomi looked after him with a puzzled look, yet couldn't help but smile. "Wonder what's gotten into him."