Chapter 10 ~ Restless Nights
Back in his room, Van couldn't sleep. Something was awfully wrong. The Duke of Freid had not seemed in his usual mood. He seemed preoccupied by other matters. Almost like someone was pulling his strings, making him act out a carefully planned skit. Van didn't know what, but something was nagging him. Maybe it was that dream. He still hadn't been able to understand it, nonetheless it couldn't escape his mind. He sighed, and walked to the window. It didn't look like he would be able to sleep any time soon. Suddenly, a rustle came from his right. Van's torso straightened, his hands clasping his sword. Someone was in there with him, and it didn't look like they wanted to just have a chat. His instincts had been right again. Something was wrong in Freid.
His attacker crept up slowly behind him, raising the sword to bestow the deadly blow. Quickly, Van turned around, hitting the assassin with the hilt of his sword right in his stomach. The man grunted, and clutched his throbbing stomach. Van did a back flip, and landed behind him, his sword still not drawn. He could win the fight without shedding blood. The young king gave the attacker no time to react. He hit him at the base of his neck with the hilt, knocking the man into unconsciousness.
"Now, to see who you are." Van mumbled, breathing heavily. His heart was pounding fast, the adrenaline still flowing through his veins. The man was a ninja, wearing all black, with a mask over his face. Van pulled it, and gasped in surprise, as he took a few steps back. It was the Minster. That guy that greeted them when they arrive in Freid. "Damnit..." Van cursed. Without further thought, he grabbed his sword and ran out of the room, the bad feeling still with him. "Hitomi..." he thought. Whoever wanted to hurt them had probably gone for the weak ones first. Chances were that Hitomi and Yukari had been their first victims. Van cringed at what it was possible to find once he stepped in their room. He stopped in front of the door, and took a deep breath before turning the handle.
With a slow and painful creak, the door opened, and Van's jaw fell to the floor. The scenery before him was nothing like he had imagined. Hitomi was sitting on top of a ninja, tying his hands together with some rope, and Yukari was leaning over her, with an iron bar in her hands. Van could see the red head's shaking hands, but when he looked at Hitomi, he only found calm collectives. Yukari ran to him the moment she saw him, but Hitomi stayed to finish her job. She stood up, and acknowledged them both.
"Are you all right?" Van asked, his voice leaking concern.
"Piece of cake." Hitomi smiled at him. "Told you we could do it Yukari." she said, laughing at the still shaking woman. "I'm glad you took care of your visitor. I was planning on coming to warn you, when this baby right here decided to pop in on us." Hitomi told Van, poking the unconscious corpse with her foot.
"How did you know?" Van asked amazed.
"I had a dream. I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier." she told him, sincerity ringing in her voice.
"Don't worry about it. I wasn't sleeping." he told her, smiling.
"Good, but I think we should get away from here now. I had a feeling something bad was going to happen. I think that the Duke wants us dead." Hitomi told him.
Van shook his head. "No, there's something more behind that. I just can't put my finger on it." Van sighed. "But you're right. We need to leave, now."
"How will we get to Lowenia?" Yukari asked concerned.
"We'll figure out a way. Let's go wake up the others." Van said turning towards the exit.
"I don't think that's such a good idea." Hitomi said, not advancing further.
"Why's that?" Van asked, his voice skeptical.
"In my dream, we were the only ones attacked. This means one of two things. The others did not present an interest to the attackers, or that they're already working together to catch us." Hitomi explained.
"They're my army, they're loyal to me. Every one of them." Van told her, growling.
"I did not mean to insult the loyalty of your men. I merely think that we should split up into two groups. We'll be harder to follow, and we won't attract as much attention." Hitomi suggested.
"You make a good point. However we do need a better plan." Van said. "I can't just leave now, my men will be worried." Van told her.
"Why don't you talk with their leader, and tell him what you're planning to do. If we three leave now, by morning we'll be far away." Yukari suggested.
"Very well, take your stuff, and come this way." Van told them. He noticed that Hitomi was already dressed. It surprised him a little, but he didn't dare make a comment. It was good that they were at least communicating now. Van was pleasantly surprised to see her intellect peaking through.
Hitomi and Yukari followed Van, creeping through the halls, making as little noise as possible as to not attract attention. The reached the quarters where all the men were sleeping.
"Stay here." Van told them, and entered the room.
As he stepped in, careful not to awaken anyone, Van felt the cold tip of a blade at his neck. He turned around, to see a figure in the dark.
"Stand aside soldier." he said, his voice slightly above a whisper. The man gasped, and Van felt the pressure on his neck release. "Tell the others that we must split up into two groups. There was another attempt on my life. I am taking Ladies Yukari and Hitomi with me, while you follow on our original course." he said, and turned to leave. A strong hand on his shoulder prevented him from doing so.
"I will also go along you sir." the voice of Dilandau told him. He must have awakened during the brief rustle, and had been listening to the whole conversation. Van smiled, thinking of how well his army had been trained.
The king turned around, and in the dark, he could discern the albino's silver hair, and red eyes. He smiled, and nodded. Together, they exited the room, leaving like two whispers of a story long forgotten. Outside, Hitomi and Yukari were nowhere to be seen. Van's heart missed a beat. Had something happened while he was in there? How could he not have heard anything? He cursed his inability to predict situations, and spun around, a bit bewildered. Out of the darkness, a hand touched him, lighting him afire with the energy of a million lighting bolts. He stopped, dead in his tracks. He was facing a dark niche with a puny statue, yet Van could feel another presence there. He looked carefully, and saw the cloaked figure. He drew his sword instantaneously.
"Come out spy, you've been found!" He snarled.
"No need to kill us now." Hitomi whispered to him. The hood of the cloak fell down, and her sandy locks of hair, accompanied by her strange eyes presented themselves to Van. Her cloak shuffled a little, and Yukari popped her head out from it, taking a huge breath of air.
"Why did you hide?" Van asked them, not bothering to wonder how they managed to do it so effectively.
"We heard footsteps." Yukari explained.
"Let's go. We're ready." Van told them.
Hitomi nodded, and the party of four crept through the halls. The night's veil however, was too thin to hold within her folds the echoes of their footsteps. At one particular point, Van's boots echoed quite loudly on the marble. Hitomi growled. The king knew not how to use the night to his advantage. He was trying to oppose it, instead of embrace it. The dark was like water, it flew all around you, filling all space to its fullest. To try to oppose it would be to shear it, and stir it to its fullest, creating torrents and vortexes of never-ending confusion. When you tried to be invisible, you had to feel the darkness around you, and you had to let it pass through you, engorging every pore of your being, infecting you with its stealth. You were not you, you became the darkness, and thus, you wielded like a straw in the summer air.
Yukari looked at Hitomi, who was walking beside her. Well, you couldn't qualify what the young woman was doing as walking. Every breath of her was tensed, focused on one thing. Staying silent. Hitomi was slithering through the halls without the slightest sound. Every muscle precisely tuned, she merged with the background, becoming one with the night. Yukari looked at her, surprise written all over her face. She didn't think Hitomi had that kind of skill. Only very few ever had that ability.
Van was struggling hard not to make any noise, but was not succeeding. Everything seemed to be so sensitive, the lightest touch seeming to set off a multitude of crystalline noises, crying out to the guards. He had not meant to slip up like that before, and couldn't help but feel the tension in everything he was doing. The young king wished he was far away from there, in a world where war did not exist, and where ruling a country simply meant caring for its people.
Hitomi came up beside him. He shot her a concerned look, and that look turned to steel when he saw her angry glance.
"You're making too much noise my king." she hissed. Even her voice seemed in tone with the darkness. "You will attract the guards upon us." she added.
Van glanced at her, anger taking hold of him. He tripped again, this time knocking down a very expensive vase. Hitomi dove for the vase, and cradled the precious object in her arms like a child, preventing it from breaking. However, Van lost his equilibrium, and fell forward, with a loud and decisive thump.
"Now you've gone and done it!" Hitomi hissed.
The noise echoed through the halls, tearing open the fragile cloak of night, and calling the ever-watchful guards. In a few moments, they appeared from around a corner.
"There they are! Catch them! They're trying to get away!" one of them screamed.
The group of four was on their feet and running within heartbeats. The whole attempt of trying to mask their footsteps gone, Hitomi grabbed the vase, and hurried to Van. She hauled him to his feet, violently dragging him after her. Yukari and Dilandau followed, now running for their lives. The guards' screaming protests, along with a shower of arrows fell behind them.
"Hurry! To the stables!" Van yelled, and signaled them to take a right.
Hitomi nodded, words being superfluous. It had been a trap all along. "I should have known! I should have trusted my senses more. The human being is a deceitful wraith." Hitomi thought angrily. Nadia had to be revenged, and she refused to go down this way. That old woman had been right. Her skills did come in handy! Just too late.
"Yukari! Duck!" Van screamed, as an arrow made its way towards the redhead. He made an attempt to grab her, but he was too far away. Dilandau however whisked her away from the danger. The next moment, Van himself was pinned to the ground, Hitomi on top of him. He struggled to get her off, but her grip was one of steel. Her hands seemed glued to his shoulders, and she was breathing heavily. When she regained her strength, she pulled him up, and they began running once again, the arrow that almost shot him imbedded in her cloak. Van however, hadn't seen that.
"Not that I don't like women on top of me or anything, but I would appreciate a little warning before you go do that again! For no reason too!" Van said, his pride wounded.
"I am the last woman who would willingly lay on top of you Van Fanel!" Hitomi shot back. She filled her lungs with air, exhaled, and added. "I was merely doing my job." she huffed.
"Watch out!" Van yelled, looking behind him. One of the guards had thrown a lance after them, and it was headed straight for Hitomi. Without giving it much thought, the raven-haired king lunged for her, and took her in his arms, sending both of them flying through the window, into the garden. They rolled in unison on the grass, until they stopped into the next patch of violets. Van had his arms wrapped protectively around Hitomi. They both looked up, shaking their heads to chase away the dizziness.
"Come on, we lost Yukari and Dilandau. We have to head for the stables. The whole place'll be up soon!" Van cursed. He grabbed Hitomi, and pulled her to her feet.
"Right." Hitomi agreed, and they began running once again.
After a few minutes of sprinting, the stables showed, seeming to the two tired runners like a temple of safety. Van and Hitomi urged their throbbing legs to keep them going for another couple of meters. They crashed through the door, heading for the first two horses they saw. A black pure breed, and another horse of unknown breed. She just jumped on the horse, grabbing on to its mane. Van's black horse however, was saddled, indicating that it had made a voyage very soon.
"Come on! They'll show up here in a few seconds!" Hitomi urged him to hurry.
"We have to wait for Yukari and Dilandau!" Van exclaimed.
"No time! They'd be foolish to come here! We must leave them and escape! I'm sure they'll think of another way to leave the city! Let's go! Before they get here!" Hitomi yelled.
Van jumped on the horse, and they both started moving.
The threat of their enemies had been slightly underestimated. It had taken them quicker to mobilize than both the thief and the king thought. Upon their flight from the stables, they were pelted with a rain of lances, knives and other dangerously sharp objects. Some came quite close to ending both their lives. One particular soldier was quite keen on trapping them both, and he hopped on a horse, gave a short battle cry, and hurried after them.
Van and Hitomi, now in full gallop saw their attacker, and urged their horses to go faster.
"Van! Go in front of me!" Hitomi yelled.
"Why?" the king asked.
"It's the safety of the king first! Go! I might be able to hold him off!" Hitomi responded.
"Don't be silly, I do not need you to protect me!" Van exclaimed.
"Your protection is merely a secondary objective! What do you think the people of Fanelia will do to me, when I return home with you in a coffin? I value my life too much y'know!" she yelled back.
Van chuckled. "Always looking out for you there." he observed.
"Someone's gotta do it." Hitomi told him, and gave way to Van and his horse.
The warrior was coming closer, and closer to her, swinging an axe almost twice as heavy as he was. Hitomi gulped, as she thought of her strategy. By now, they were at the ravine, where a shallow river was gently singing its song. This marked the end of the royal grounds, and the beginning of a wild and unexplored forest. The scary branches of the old trees extended like long ghostly hands, trying to pull in the unexpected stranger. The holes of their leaves created a sad song of the whole forest, waking up the hairs on the backs of strangers. It seemed that everything had a dark personality meant to only deceive and betray. The rough tree trunks, with their uneven bark, combined with the pale light of the moon created monsters as envisioned in the darkest nightmares of the mind. The illusion of a mist shooting up from the river created a cloudy bridge of silver fibers that dared the stranger to step in, and discover the world of absolute horrors, which lay before him. Mere breath turned to shiver here, where the reality had been transformed into the grotesque depicting of a warped imagination.
Van's horse splashed through the water, sending a touch of cold reality to shatter the image, yet that splash only became part of the overall picture, serving to draw him right in. The horse stopped on the other bank, he too part of the whole tableau meant to madden the minds of mortal men. The king, his raven hair caressed by the gentle rays of moonlight looked back, in time to see the warrior approach Hitomi, and knock her off her horse, sending her flying into the river. The animal neighed, and rose to his hind legs, tangling with the warrior's animal, and bringing him down in a mass of tangled reigns, and limbs. Van didn't waste any more time; he jumped off his horse, and ran down to the river, pulling the barely conscious Hitomi to him.
"Come on Hitomi, look at me!" Van screamed, fear overwhelming him.
She groaned, and her head just slumped forwards.
"Oh Hitomi, you always do the silliest things. Silly, silly girl." Van whispered in her ear, and pulled her out of the river. With Hitomi cradled safely in his arms, he mounted the horse and they both faded into the forest, listening to ancient whisperings of the leaves.
~~~~
They had been separated from Van and Hitomi when the two had plunged through a window, directing all the attention to their presence. The task of finding Yukari and Dilandau had been assigned to a smaller audience, who was not very keen on being woken up in the middle of the night. Presently, the two in question were sitting in a forgotten storeroom, breathing heavily from their running. Yukari looked furtively at the young man seated beside her. By the look of his frame she guessed that he was indeed a bit younger than her, and the fact that she was forced to trust her life in the hands of a younger being discomforted the redhead. She did not doubt his fighting abilities, yet his decisions seemed sometimes too strange to her. During their trip, this man had said two words to her at the least, and they had been together for almost a week now.
"Don't worry. They shan't find us here," he said, mistaking her glance for worry.
Yukari nodded in understanding. "What do we do now? Meet up with your soldiers?" she asked.
Dilandau shook his head in disapproval. "No, they are probably under arrest by now. I should have smelled that the Duke was planning something! Damnit!" he swore, his eyes flaring with anger.
"We can't predict everything, now can we?" Yukari asked, trying to ease the tension.
The boy growled, in annoyance. "This is what we will do. We will wait here a while longer, and then we shall sneak out of the palace, by the front gates, and fade into the city. Then, we will acquire horses, and food, and we will try to meet up with Lord Van." Dilandau told her, outlining their plan simplistically.
"Sure, we'll just stroll out the front door. I'm sure they'll let us!" Yukari exclaimed, angered at the audacity of his plan.
"If you'll do as I tell you, they shall." Dilandau told her. He then began going through certain boxes, pulling out lots of clothes. He finally found what he was looking for. A noble's outfit. "Turn around!" he ordered her. Yukari did as she was told, and soon, the sound of buttons and zippers opening reached her ears. The girl blushed a crimson red, and closed her eyes.
"All done. Turn around!" Dilandau commanded. She did as he told her, and found herself in front of very elegant noble, with intriguing silver hair and dangerous red eyes. Dilandau's hand moved to her cape, but Yukari's intercepted it.
"I'll do that myself thank you." she said sharply, the thought of him touching her body, even briefly unsettling her. The cloak fell to the floor, leaving Yukari dressed in a pair of riding pants and shirt. They were all quite revealing, and without the comfort of the attire sitting at her feet, she felt quite naked.
"Here, put this on!" Dilandau said, throwing her a dress.
"Now?" Yukari asked, in disbelief.
"Yes now." Dilandau said, looking at her calmly.
"No way in hell am I changing HERE!" Yukari exclaimed passionately.
Dilandau growled, and moved towards her, feeling how the blood was rushing to his head. "Believe me woman, if I was interested in you, no man on Gaea could stand in my way of taking you anywhere, anytime. However, I am not interested in you. Now for the sakes of our lives co-operate and put this on!" he yelled, his voice somewhat muffled by the need to stay silent.
Yukari shivered, her blood suddenly freezing in her veins. He was more of a man than she had given him credit for, and for the time being he dominated her, through the fear, which he inspired to her.
"Turn around." she requested, sighing deeply.
Dilandau chuckled, thinking he could easily refuse her request, just to see her reaction, but then thought better and complied.
"You can turn around now." Yukari told him, once she finished changing. Her other clothes were now in a nice neat pile, ready to be taken along.
"Good, now put on your cloak. We milady, are going to pose as two nobles who are taking a nightly stroll." Dilandau said, encircling her waist with his hand.
Yukari felt the least comfortable in that position, but for the sake of their lives, she didn't complain. She'd make him pay for it later. Thus, the two of them headed out of the storage room, and walked down the hall, posing as a couple.
"This is a servant's dress you ignorant fool!" Yukari hissed at Dilandau, when she saw the shape and colour of her attire.
"Even better!" Dilandau grinned, licking his lips.
Yukari sighed, but could not say anything else, since the guards were within sight. Suddenly, she felt pressed against a wall, as Dilandau forcefully pretended to bury his head in the crook of her neck.
"Now, start laughing, and squirming, as though I'm kissing you." he whispered gently.
Yukari complied, wrapping his hands in his hair, and playing the part. Dilandau's hand gently crept up her leg, and then encompassed her waist.
"Oh my lord... not here... here is not the place!" Yukari said, mimicking a servant's voice.
"Very well." Dilandau agreed. His hands not leaving her, he headed towards the guards. "Hey fellah's! How about you let me and the.... Lady pass. We've got pressing matters to attend." Dilandau told them, winking at the guards.
The men laughed, knowing well of such "pressing matters". They moved out of the way, chuckling to themselves.
"Enjoy your night sir." one of them called out.
"Yah too lads, yah too!" Dilandau called out to them, as he pushed Yukari through the door. They put on their cloaks, and faded into the night.
Once they were out in the city streets, Yukari stopped him, and without any warning slapped Dilandau, leaving a red mark on his cheek.
"What was that for?" Dilandau asked, anger boiling in him.
"NEVER touch me like that AGAIN!" Yukari yelled, shaking with anger.
"Look, I'm sorry, we had to be credible." Dilandau retreated.
"If you EVER do that again, I swear I will have your head on a pole when I am...." she didn't continue, realising her words.
"When you are what?" Dilandau asked.
"Never you mind. Just be careful. I'm not afraid to cut your throat." she hissed.
Dilandau laughed, and they began walking. "A woman after my own heart." he chuckled, and they faded into the nearest inn, to spend the night.
~~~~
"Did you find them?" the voice asked.
"No sire, the albino and the red-head faded into nowhere, and the king went into the Forgotten Forest." the second man answered.
"He dared go in?" the voice seemed surprised.
"Apparently. The girl was badly wounded. I doubt they'll make it far tonight. We can find them by morning." the other man suggested.
"Why aren't you finding them now?" the voice questioned.
"No one will go in at night." the man explained.
"Superstitious fools! Send the doppelgangers!" the voice ordered.
"They're not here yet."
"As soon as they arrive. Now leave me, I am tired." the voice told the man.
The servant knew better than to question his master. He scurried away, like the rat he was, caring too much for his own hide to actually stand up to his master.
~~~~
When consciousness dawned on Hitomi again, she was rested against something firm, but soft. She groaned, her head pounding. Someone's arms were cradling her, like she was a baby, yet... she didn't feel like a baby. However, those arms offered her such comfort. She hadn't felt like this. Ever. It scared her, but it also sent tingles through her, exciting her to find out who their owner was. In those arms, she felt right. It was an overwhelming feeling of release that Hitomi had felt nowhere before. She sighed, content.
"I'm glad you're finally awake. I was worried you'd never wake up." Van said, whispering gently as not to startle her.
Hitomi jumped. She had been in HIS arms all the while? She suddenly became stiff, amazed with the torrent of feelings rippling through her. She wanted to say something mean, but she just couldn't. Instead, she asked.
"What happened?"
"That man hit you. You fell, and lost consciousness." Van told her. "I should have never let you stay behind." he said a fierce feeling of possession shaking him.
"It's ok. I told you to go ahead. Plus, it's nothing, just a little scratch." Hitomi said, putting her hand where the brute had hit, only to find the skin soaked in warm blood. She bit her lip, trying not to grunt, not wanting to reveal her pain.
"It's more than that. I'm looking for a place where we could spend the night. I need to tend to you." Van said, gently.
Hitomi sighed, not knowing what to say. The forest closed around them, the trees looking just as scary as ever. However, Hitomi didn't find them scary. She saw the beauty they were trying to hide. They were, in a way like her, trying to display their bad side, so that the good could stay in them forever. Yet, Hitomi knew, the shred of light that had managed to stay in her soul had only grown because of Nadia. That's why it was so important her life be avenged now. She sighed.
"What's up there?" she asked, indicating a very luminous patch in the forest.
"Let's go see." Van said, and guided the horse there.
After a few minutes of riding through a dense bush, they came to a clearing. What they saw astonished them. In the middle, was a temple, all made of stone, with steps and columns of stone? Two lions breathing silver fire stood at the entrance. Everything shined like silver, and emitted a calm aura.
"What is this?" Hitomi asked, her mouth dangling open from the shining beauty in front of her.
Van gasped. It was all so beautiful. The legends really did not do the place justice. "It is the fabled Temple of the Moon," he said. "It is said, that every night, the moon Goddess takes human form, and descends upon the world in one place, through one certain pool. The pool it is said to be made of flowing silver. Such a place was thought to exist here, in this forest, but I thought that they were all just legends." Van explained.
Hitomi shivered. The place brought out her outmost respect, and humility. She felt that she could not look upon the place, knowing her deeds. She buried her face in Van's shirt, feeling how tears of sadness came to her eyes. It was then that the king noticed the cut on her head.
"You're hurt! Why didn't you tell me!" Van exclaimed.
"What good would it have done. Come on, let's leave this place in peace." Hitomi told him.
"No, you're hurt, and bleeding quite badly. We're going to sleep here, with the blessing of the Moon Goddess." Van told her stubbornly.
"Van.. it's not right." Hitomi pleaded.
"I don't care. Don't argue with me any longer. I will not listen." Van told her, and got off the horse. He then put an arm around her waist, and helped her down. Hitomi didn't protest. Her head was hurting too much.
"Might Goddess of the Moon, we ask your permission to enter your temple, and rest for the night." Van called out.
"It won't work. The doors are closed." Hitomi said, impassively.
To her surprise, the doors opened. Van smirked at Hitomi, and supported her up the steps. The young woman knew when she was beat, and decided not to argue with the king any longer.
The temple was a simple structure, with one room. The fabled pool rested in the middle, as a round sparkling circle. The rest, was just simple silvery stone. However, the room was quite warm, allowing Hitomi's chilled bones to unwind.
"It's quite nice in here no?" Van asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"So beautiful." Hitomi said, spinning around. She did get dizzy however, and stumbled. Van caught her, supporting her with his strong arm. Hitomi looked down, and noticed him holding her, in what could be considered a very intimate position. She blushed, and pulled away.
"Look at you, you're all scratched." she said, motioning to his face and arms. The window had left deep scars in some places. She sighed, and went outside, looking for her bag. It had stuck with her throughout. She had a few things that could help heal him. And some blankets. Unfortunately, she had not brought a change of clothes. She took the bag, and ran back inside, the room being warmer than the surrounding atmosphere.
"Now, let's heal you," she said smiling.
"Shouldn't you take care of your cut first?" Van asked.
"Oh, that little thing, it can wait. Here we go." Hitomi said, and brought out some bandages. She dipped it in an ointment she had with her, and began to apply it gently to Van's cuts.
"Ouch!" he flinched. "That hurts!" he exclaimed.
"Typical, you men can't handle any bit of pain. It's amazing you don't make us women go to war for you." Hitomi said, wrinkling her nose, her eyes glowing mischievously.
There was something in her action that Van found positively adorable. He looked down at the curve of her red lips, and stifled the desire to claim a kiss from them. No, she would probably kill him for that, and Van considered they had ran enough for one night.
"There, that's enough." he said, taking Hitomi's hand, and ripping another piece of bandage, dipping it in the ointment and starting to wipe her cut. Hitomi flinched, the pain being quite strong. She bit her lip so hard, it almost drew blood.
"It's ok, there, all done!" Van said after he finished. He had seen her pain, and hardly stifled the urge to cradle her in his arms and tell her that it would all be ok. He now gave in to that, and Hitomi found herself in his arms once more, a small shiver going through her. "Oh gosh! Your wet clothes!" Van exclaimed. "Here, take them off, we could put them to dry." he suggested.
"Not in a million years Van Fanel. I'd rather sleep wet like this!" Hitomi told him stubbornly, blushing crimson now.
"Are you mad? You'll get sick! Worse than just a cut. The fevers will get you, and THEN nothing will help you. Plus, I don't want to get wet during the course of the night!" he added.
"What's this gotta do with you?" Hitomi asked sourly.
"Well, there's only one blanket. We're going to have to share!" Van said grinning.
"Like hell we will be! You can take it. I don't need it!" Hitomi exclaimed.
"Why must you be so difficult! It's not like I'm asking you to get completely naked! You'll still have the other layer of your clothes! That chemise thing women wear!" he told her, matter of factly.
"You can't call that clothing!" Hitomi shot back.
"You're not naked are you?" Van interjected.
"It's not the point!" she screamed, losing her temper.
"What is the point?" Van asked.
"Well, you're asking me, to basically sleep with you, almost naked, you a king engaged to a princess. Do you know what this will do for you later on? How will I know you're just not going to take advantage of me?" Hitomi asked.
"You're crazy if I think I harbour any sorts of emotions for you! Or desire! I prefer the gently bred women, as opposed to those that will cut my head off!" Van told her. Hitomi looked somewhat stricken, and Van immediately felt sorry for what he had said. It really went too far. "Listen... I'm..." he began.
"No! That's ok! I know what you meant!" Hitomi told him coldly.
Something snapped in Van when she gave him that look. Like she didn't care one whole bit. He felt his rage the better of him, and grabbed her, not letting her move. "No, you do not understand, and I am sick of you not letting me to finish my sentences!" he growled. Then, easing out, though still holding Hitomi, he looked down in her green eyes, feeling how his breath just gave out. His chocolate eyes met her lively green ones, and they became locked in a mystical stare. "I didn't mean for it to come out that way. I don't know why... you just..." Van didn't continue.
Hitomi sighed. "I know, it's the same feeling."
"How about we put it aside for tonight?" Van asked, gently.
"Ok." Hitomi agreed. They both smiled.
"Now, are you going to take off those wet clothes or what?" Van asked.
"You're just dying to see me in my nightie aren't you?" Hitomi asked, grinning devilishly.
"Hey, you can't blame me... I'm a guy." Van smirked.
"Very well, turn around." Hitomi instructed.
Van did as told. Hitomi quickly took off her clothes, and hurried under the blanket. She was shivering from the cold, but it was all better in a moment.
"Ok, you can turn around now." she said.
Van did, and grinned. "Aww, under the covers already?" he asked, feigning disappointment.
"Yes, sad?" Hitomi asked provocatively.
"Maybe." Van smirked, and came beside her. He took off his jacket and boots, and slipped in.
"If you make one move... I'll break your neck." Hitomi snarled.
"Sure sure..." Van said and turned on his side, ignoring him.
Hitomi "humped" but soon turned to her side too. The nightgown was however too thin, and she soon began shivering. Van tried to ignore it, but found that he couldn't. He soon turned to her side, and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her in. She tried to protest, but before she could do so, he said.
"It's quite cold. We need to preserve heat. Just look at you. You're shivering. I don't want you to die of cold." he whispered.
Hitomi sighed. "Ok Van, but only for heat." she told him.
"Naturally." He agreed.
They just sat there, listening to the sounds of eachother's breathing. Hitomi relaxed in his arms, and for the first time, Van felt like he had peek behind her mask of hostility. The way she just seemed to mold in his arms, fitting her contours to his, completing him told him that she was a woman of great passion. All she needed was an opening. Maybe that's why she was a woman of equal anger too. He felt as her breathing went deeper and deeper, indicating that she was indeed asleep. He couldn't help but think of the amazing things she had done that day. Van didn't want to, but he admired her. Although she could be impossible to stand at some times, she was a person he admired and respected. The young king fell asleep with thoughts of her in his mind, leading him to a very happy dream. A dream he wished became reality.
From the pool on their right, the fine figure of the Moon Goddess arose, her rose like scent filling the room. She noticed the two beings happily sleeping in eachother's arms, and smiled, her alabaster face filled with compassion, caring and warmth. She was the protector of this gruesome forest, a forest feared by the ones, who did not understand it, by those that could not see its beauty. She already knew about them two. About their destiny, and about their challenges. Fate had a strange way of working out for everyone, not always the path she'd choose, but certainly a path. The boy did not know of his true self, nor did the girl know of her true heart. Both were just shadows of the people whom they would become. Mere shells to fill with actions and consequences. And yet such shells displayed such vitality and life, it was hard to think of what they were as mere transition stages. They were more than that, yet they were less than what they would become. Perfection looked upon their imperfection, not understanding the true workings of their lives, for she as a goddess was cursed with the one thing humanity desired. That thing did not allow her to feel and see things as they did, for there was nothing to relate it to. The small fairy like being tilted her head, circling them curiously. Imperfection sought perfection, and perfection sought release. It was the endless cycle of all things. A cycle far beyond the eyes of man. She smiled, thinking she would help them out, give them a gift for filling her temple with their life energy. For a few moments, both of them glowed a bright and breathtaking silver, then they slowly turned back to their sleeping forms, of a man and a woman, trapped in the middle of a breaking world. The Moon Goddess sighed, disappearing back into her pool of dreams, and returning to her watchful place in the sky.
Author's Note:
Well, i finally got my muse. What do you think? I rather like this chapter, and the last bit. I dunno what inspired me to write it. heck, you pple might think it's a bunch of crap, but hey, i feel it adds to the mood. i hope you liked this chapter, and the action, plus the fluff. i'm slowly getting there ne? ehhe, but it seems i tangled them even more now. mwhaha, what will i do to our poor characters now? heh, i have no idea.. i'm still thinking about everything. i hope you liked this chapter. i got it out... well.. fairly fast. i hope i'll be able to keep up this pace... who knows. i plan on putting some more politica/psychological stuff in. my writing style changed a little... i kinda noticed that... but hey... i'm experimenting here. i'll try all sorts of stuff, see what you guys like. it's fun to always try to bring in a new perspective. i hope you'll enjoy that. =) i had lots of fun writing this chapter. it was action, though sometimes badly depicted... bleh... my muse wasn't working at the beginning of the chap. sorry. this is what you get when you buy your muse from a strange man on the street that only wants 2 bucks for it.i hope you liked it more, all of those that were asking for fluff, and for more van, well i hope i satisfied you somewhat. well, enogh of my ramblings. thank you all so much for sticking through with me until now. i know i've been a somewhat inconsistent writer with posting the chapters and all. i'm sorry. skool's a really demanding thing... and i gotta keep up with all the teachers shove (unwillingly) down my throat. but thank you soo much for all your comments. they were really what kept me going when i was screaming in frustration cuz i couldn't come up with something proper. i don't think i'll ever be able to tell you how much they actually mean to me. Thank you very very much, from the bottom of my heart. Heh, plz tell me what you think about this chappie... considering my style changed a lil... and all... well. that's it, i hope you enjoyed it. I'll try to get the next chappie out really really soon! Bai bai for now!