Chapter 4: Stumbling.
AN: Hello there, a thousand apologise oh patient ones. *grins* sorry for the lateness and I hope you don't mind the shortness, but I did promise to get this up before the end of the holidays and *beams* I did, after battling a nasty case of writers block, doesn't it just happen to the best of us???? Lol.
Enjoy!
Hmm... another quick note; in this fic both Hitomi and Van are 17-18, just thought I mention it as it doesn't seem have come up before and as some authors seem to have bad memories... *grins* ok on with the fic...
Emotions;
Are often said to be humanities only failing.
In this world of shadow and darkness,
We are alone.
The essence of balance is detachment.
Hitomi's breath caught in her throat.
'Oh Dear.'
Another knock sounded, this time accompanied by a harshly accented voice. ''My Lady, please open the door.''
The emerald-eyed young woman cast a careful glance at her captor. His shoulders stiffened slightly as his gaze locked on the only entrance, and save exit, to her room. Wasn't he going to do anything?
Years later, Hitomi would still claim ignorance, in doing what she did next. Saying that it was some unknown force that pushed her into action, somehow making her jump out of the safety of her silk like sheets and run over to the thief, grabbing one of his muscular arms and pulling him in an un lady like scramble across the room and over to her wardrobe. Gently mumbling a few incoherent words of apology before grasping the nearest brass handle on the left door, tugging it open, and pushing the young man inside, slamming it shut again before he could protest.
From his crouched position in his new hiding place Van blinked.
'What just happened?'
Moving back into the centre of the expanse Hitomi's wide eyes tore at the familiar scenery of her room, they finally settled on the sight of her bandit's weapons and discarded shirt. 'Well that won't do will it.'
Van was just getting over the shock of being helped by his prisoner when a door to his hiding place swung open again, orange light from the fire he had lit
earlier flooding into his line of sight. He opened his mouth to express some form of, well something but all that escaped his now dry throat was a surprised grunt as his forgotten belongings piled on top of him from above and the door was slammed shut on him without explanation for a second time in as many minutes.
'Okaaay.'
Hitomi paused for a second to catch her breath and check that all was as it should be, before moving in a much more graceful fashion towards her bedroom door and opening it gently, fully prepared, if she could comment herself, to put on a rather interesting show.
''M...my Lady.''
Hitomi giggled internally as the guard squirmed a little. His piggy eyes suddenly averted to the sight of her fragile looking, lightly clad form.
''Yes?'' She asked in a sweet, childlike tone. Waiting patiently for the scruffy, makeshift guard to regain his bearings. Despite the obvious dangers in hiding the man her father's personal security were looking for, Hitomi almost withered in the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her cheeks were beginning to flush but she knew it would be taken as embarrassment. The knowledge that she was hiding a criminal from justice was quite a rush for the young virgin, who wouldn't be turned on by the fact that a half dressed, dangerously attractive thief was hiding in their closet?
''Ah...I...'' The middle-aged man struggled again, his eyes darting to something a little safer to look at, tiny beads of sweat lingering on his creased forehead. ''There is an intruder loose in your father's premises.''
Hitomi brought her sender fingers to her mouth in a slight gasp.
''Do not worry yourself miss, he is surely gone now that the alarm has been raised but never the less,'' his speech faltered as he watched Hitomi stifle a fake yawn and ball her hands into fists, taking one to her left eye and rubbing gently. The older man coughed and Hitomi blinked before lowering her hand again and smiling apologetically. ''Never the less, It is my duty to insure your save welfare, especially in your fathers absence.''
Mentally Hitomi's adrenalin rush faltered slightly. 'Father this, Father that.'
''But I can see you are tired, Thank you for your time, Miss Kanzaki.'' Hitomi said nothing in by way of response, watching mutely as the greying man pivoted and left her threshold, walking away stiffly back down the well lit hall.
Van's well-trained ears didn't miss a word from his hiding place not to far from where the exchange had taken place. He hadn't moved an inch and the hilt of his sword was pressing at an odd angle, rather uncomfortably, into his left thigh. Van sighed audibly as the door closed as softly as it had been opened and looked down to his lap. 'That's gonna leave a nasty mark.'
The door opened again and for the briefest of moments Van couldn't breath. He instead settled for swallowing thickly. As the door opened his eyes once again filled with orange red light, but it was soon blocked out almost completely by Hitomi's form. The flickering dance silhouetted her frame and her outline completely.
''Sorry about that.''
'What?'
Van took the outstretched hand that seemed to have appeared out of thin air and ignored the clashing of his belongings, as they were forced off his lap and further into the sides of Hitomi's wardrobe. When he stood tall again beside his prisoner his mind began to spin. What the hell was going on? He was a thief; a hormonal young man who had threatened her, with his sword no less and she had hidden him away?
'Something's not right here.'
Training with the keepers had been hard, subjects such as geography and philosophy drilled into his young mind along with practical training and mental arithmetic. It had meant long nights and even longer days. His teachers were strict and kindness was hardly commonplace inside the huge but well hidden manor house that had been his 'home.' A child growing up on the streets was expected to have an untrusting nature, and this was a trademark personality trait in any well-respected keeper.
Both parties were treated to a roaring silence, the tension in the small space started to thrive, circulating widely as the rooms occupants merely stared at each other in confusion.
'Something's not right.'
Hitomi almost screamed as her body was suddenly thrown back brutally into the nearest wall, thanks to Van. He wasted no time in crushing his body against hers and grabbing her wrists, lifting them above her head, and pining them against the wall in a vice like grip. A growl irrupted in the back of Van's throat as his now dark orbs narrowed, boring into the younger woman he brought his face closer to put a stop to her struggles.
Hitomi whimpered.
''Is this some kind of trick?''
Then winced. His voice had suddenly become harsh. He almost spat the words in her face and she had to turn her head to the side, away from his glare.
''N-no.''
''If you think this is some sort of game girl-'' Van cut off suddenly, bring Hitomi's confined wrists together and holding them just as tightly in one hand, lowering the other. ''You are sorely mistaken.''
Hitomi squeezed her eyes shut as Van brought the short, glimmering silver blade to her neck and rested it there. The dragger was small, but so was the curve of Hitomi's neck.
'Oh God.'
AN: Hello there, a thousand apologise oh patient ones. *grins* sorry for the lateness and I hope you don't mind the shortness, but I did promise to get this up before the end of the holidays and *beams* I did, after battling a nasty case of writers block, doesn't it just happen to the best of us???? Lol.
Enjoy!
Hmm... another quick note; in this fic both Hitomi and Van are 17-18, just thought I mention it as it doesn't seem have come up before and as some authors seem to have bad memories... *grins* ok on with the fic...
Emotions;
Are often said to be humanities only failing.
In this world of shadow and darkness,
We are alone.
The essence of balance is detachment.
Hitomi's breath caught in her throat.
'Oh Dear.'
Another knock sounded, this time accompanied by a harshly accented voice. ''My Lady, please open the door.''
The emerald-eyed young woman cast a careful glance at her captor. His shoulders stiffened slightly as his gaze locked on the only entrance, and save exit, to her room. Wasn't he going to do anything?
Years later, Hitomi would still claim ignorance, in doing what she did next. Saying that it was some unknown force that pushed her into action, somehow making her jump out of the safety of her silk like sheets and run over to the thief, grabbing one of his muscular arms and pulling him in an un lady like scramble across the room and over to her wardrobe. Gently mumbling a few incoherent words of apology before grasping the nearest brass handle on the left door, tugging it open, and pushing the young man inside, slamming it shut again before he could protest.
From his crouched position in his new hiding place Van blinked.
'What just happened?'
Moving back into the centre of the expanse Hitomi's wide eyes tore at the familiar scenery of her room, they finally settled on the sight of her bandit's weapons and discarded shirt. 'Well that won't do will it.'
Van was just getting over the shock of being helped by his prisoner when a door to his hiding place swung open again, orange light from the fire he had lit
earlier flooding into his line of sight. He opened his mouth to express some form of, well something but all that escaped his now dry throat was a surprised grunt as his forgotten belongings piled on top of him from above and the door was slammed shut on him without explanation for a second time in as many minutes.
'Okaaay.'
Hitomi paused for a second to catch her breath and check that all was as it should be, before moving in a much more graceful fashion towards her bedroom door and opening it gently, fully prepared, if she could comment herself, to put on a rather interesting show.
''M...my Lady.''
Hitomi giggled internally as the guard squirmed a little. His piggy eyes suddenly averted to the sight of her fragile looking, lightly clad form.
''Yes?'' She asked in a sweet, childlike tone. Waiting patiently for the scruffy, makeshift guard to regain his bearings. Despite the obvious dangers in hiding the man her father's personal security were looking for, Hitomi almost withered in the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her cheeks were beginning to flush but she knew it would be taken as embarrassment. The knowledge that she was hiding a criminal from justice was quite a rush for the young virgin, who wouldn't be turned on by the fact that a half dressed, dangerously attractive thief was hiding in their closet?
''Ah...I...'' The middle-aged man struggled again, his eyes darting to something a little safer to look at, tiny beads of sweat lingering on his creased forehead. ''There is an intruder loose in your father's premises.''
Hitomi brought her sender fingers to her mouth in a slight gasp.
''Do not worry yourself miss, he is surely gone now that the alarm has been raised but never the less,'' his speech faltered as he watched Hitomi stifle a fake yawn and ball her hands into fists, taking one to her left eye and rubbing gently. The older man coughed and Hitomi blinked before lowering her hand again and smiling apologetically. ''Never the less, It is my duty to insure your save welfare, especially in your fathers absence.''
Mentally Hitomi's adrenalin rush faltered slightly. 'Father this, Father that.'
''But I can see you are tired, Thank you for your time, Miss Kanzaki.'' Hitomi said nothing in by way of response, watching mutely as the greying man pivoted and left her threshold, walking away stiffly back down the well lit hall.
Van's well-trained ears didn't miss a word from his hiding place not to far from where the exchange had taken place. He hadn't moved an inch and the hilt of his sword was pressing at an odd angle, rather uncomfortably, into his left thigh. Van sighed audibly as the door closed as softly as it had been opened and looked down to his lap. 'That's gonna leave a nasty mark.'
The door opened again and for the briefest of moments Van couldn't breath. He instead settled for swallowing thickly. As the door opened his eyes once again filled with orange red light, but it was soon blocked out almost completely by Hitomi's form. The flickering dance silhouetted her frame and her outline completely.
''Sorry about that.''
'What?'
Van took the outstretched hand that seemed to have appeared out of thin air and ignored the clashing of his belongings, as they were forced off his lap and further into the sides of Hitomi's wardrobe. When he stood tall again beside his prisoner his mind began to spin. What the hell was going on? He was a thief; a hormonal young man who had threatened her, with his sword no less and she had hidden him away?
'Something's not right here.'
Training with the keepers had been hard, subjects such as geography and philosophy drilled into his young mind along with practical training and mental arithmetic. It had meant long nights and even longer days. His teachers were strict and kindness was hardly commonplace inside the huge but well hidden manor house that had been his 'home.' A child growing up on the streets was expected to have an untrusting nature, and this was a trademark personality trait in any well-respected keeper.
Both parties were treated to a roaring silence, the tension in the small space started to thrive, circulating widely as the rooms occupants merely stared at each other in confusion.
'Something's not right.'
Hitomi almost screamed as her body was suddenly thrown back brutally into the nearest wall, thanks to Van. He wasted no time in crushing his body against hers and grabbing her wrists, lifting them above her head, and pining them against the wall in a vice like grip. A growl irrupted in the back of Van's throat as his now dark orbs narrowed, boring into the younger woman he brought his face closer to put a stop to her struggles.
Hitomi whimpered.
''Is this some kind of trick?''
Then winced. His voice had suddenly become harsh. He almost spat the words in her face and she had to turn her head to the side, away from his glare.
''N-no.''
''If you think this is some sort of game girl-'' Van cut off suddenly, bring Hitomi's confined wrists together and holding them just as tightly in one hand, lowering the other. ''You are sorely mistaken.''
Hitomi squeezed her eyes shut as Van brought the short, glimmering silver blade to her neck and rested it there. The dragger was small, but so was the curve of Hitomi's neck.
'Oh God.'