Wow, big big thanks to everyone who's been reviewing this fic, especially chap 14, I don't think I've ever gotten so many reviews for one chappie before. Glad to see that my cliff ending bothered so many people. Maybe I'll do it again some time...
Well here's the next chappie
Enjoy
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Unshed tears shone in Merle's eyes as she struggled to keep her balance against the force of the ruthless wind urging her closer to the edge of the balcony. The longer she stayed and fought, the more she desired to give into nature's push and allow herself to take the plunge off the stone landing and end it all. All the pain she shouldn't have been forced to endure in one short evening would disappear if she could just summon up the strength...or give into the weakness and let herself fall.
And if she did plummet to her death, who would care? Who would stop her? Apart from Van, no one knew where she was and he was certainly not going to bother coming to her rescue. The entire evening Merle had been watching him in the garden. First on a walk with Millerna, then rushing, to no avail, to save Allen and now he was hunched before a cloaked man she did not know. No, the young king was far too busy to waste his time on her, on a lowly peasant, on no one.
All the while Van had been in the garden he had looked up to the cat girl only once. A moment ago he had cast his crimson gaze her way and in that short second Merle had almost felt better, even though she couldn't bring herself to meet his fiery eyes. It was soothing enough to know that he cared enough to look her way. Merle even thought she had heard him try and call her name, but that was asking for too much. It was probably just her imagination voicing her longing. Van didn't care.
'You don't need to pretend anymore...we are not friends...and you are nothing to me.'
Merle couldn't help the crystal drops that slid down her cheeks, as she thought back to Van's harsh words for the umpteenth time that night. They been like acid off his tongue, eating away all that had been of their former friendship and the truth and conviction in his tone had stung more than the rimming tears in Merles painfully red and swollen eyes. She could just not understand how his feelings towards he had changed so drastically in one day. It was as if the boy who had visited her that afternoon was some completely different person. But it couldn't have been. From head to toe, it had been Van that she had seen. It was impossible that it could have been anyone else...though deep down Merle wished otherwise.
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He hadn't thought, he wasn't thinking, it had just slipped out. Van had called out to Hitomi not realizing that Velannaf was still waiting for a response. Now he had doomed his dear friend to a death she did not deserve. Merle was too fragile to be included in whatever sick and twisted game this Velannaf character had devised. Van had to save her before something happened.
"No," the young king exclaimed as he launched himself at the cloaked stranger. He smashed his shoulder into Velannaf's stomach and groaned, feeling a sharp pain in his own as he grabbed the man about the waist and wrestled him to the ground. When they impacted with the stone walkway Van gasped against the throbbing in his torso. He had forgotten about his broken ribs...but he could not figure out why his stomach was hurting him. He glared at Velannaf, who was also clutching his ribcage, "Don't you dare touch Merle," he said, wincing slightly, "Don't you fucking lay a hand on her." Van glanced to the doorway, "Or Hitomi either. We are not playing your game, you sick Fuck!"
Velannaf gruntingly pulled himself up. He stared straight at Van. "This is my game, my rules," he growled, "Hitomi was your choice whether you like it or not." Velannaf swung his arm round, pointing to the balcony with his index finger, "Merle dies."
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'...next time you see me you will bow.'
"You want me to bow Lord Van," Merle whimpered softly, "How's this?" Standing at the very edge of the stone railing, she kneeled and took one last look to the star strewn sky before closing her eyes. She bowed her head as the cruel wind came in a rush, knocking her over the side.
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"MERLE!!!"
Without a moment's hesitation and completely ignoring the pain in his side, Van tore off his shirt and ran towards Merle. As he spread his wings he felt a slight tingling in his back, having not used them in years, but he disregarded it as well. He would withstand any discomfort if it meant saving Merle.
As the white downy wings extended to their fullest, Van leapt into the air and swooped under the cat girl just before she made impact. Merle slammed into Van's chest with so much force that the raven-haired boy was unable to stop himself from smashing into the rough stone below. Feathers flew and blood streaked the ground as he skidded along. Van cried out as the scattered rocks dug into the soft flesh of his back.
When they came to a stop, Merle was clutching Van tightly around his neck, sobbing into his exposed chest. Van sat up as best he could, grimacing as he leaned against a bench and rubbed his hand soothingly along Merle's back, trying to comfort her. "Ssh, it's okay Merle. Don't cr-" Van stopped. Hadn't he said something very similar to his friend that morning? It was hard to believe that only a few hours ago he had been sitting under a tree, taking in the early morning sun as he brooded over his upcoming birthday. Van frowned. Things had changed so much.
Merle looked up to him with misted blue eyes, "L-lord Van-n," she cried, wrapping her arms around Van's neck once again. Her warm tears trailed down his stomach, freezing him slightly as they evaporated in the cool night air. The young king knitted his brow as he watched Merle cry. He didn't know what to say to make her feel better but at least he could try and do something.
"Merle," Van whispered as he lightly brushed Merle's strawberry hair back. The cat girl lifted her head and Van smiled lovingly down at her, holding her arms in place as she tried to pull away from his neck. Their eyes met and Van couldn't help the oncoming tears as he peered into Merle's ocean orbs. The cat girl's lip quivered and she fell into a tight embrace with the young king as they both vented their sorrow.
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"What the hell is your problem?" Dilandau asked, walking up to Velannaf. He had seen the cloaked man arch his back when Van had hit the ground and he could have sworn Velannaf had stifled a cry of pain.
"Why did you bring her here?" Velannaf snarled at the albino as he reached into his cloak, "This wasn't our deal...Ah." The shadow gritted his teeth before withdrawing his hand. He motioned to Hitomi with fingertips freshly coated in blood, "You were supposed to keep that bitch locked away in the dungeon until I gave you the word to kill her. I don't like having my plans changed, Albatou."
"Fuck your plans," the white-haired demon curled his lip, "I'm tired of your goddamn game. I'm tired of not knowing who you are. I thought you were Van...but then I saw him beside you and now I don't know what to think." Dilandau shot his fist through the air as he bitched to the shadow. "You promised me Van," Dilandau rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, "And now that I'm here, I'm taking him. When I'm done I'll deal with whoever the fuck you are," he unsheathed his blade and swung it to Velannaf's throat, "And if you get in my way, I'll kill you."
Velannaf calmly cleaned his hand on his dark robes and stared deadpan at the former dragon slayer, "We'll see."
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Hitomi frowned as she watched the shadow wipe the blood on his cloak. Why was Velannaf bleeding? Van was the one who had hit the ground and who had suffered all the other injuries, yet this stranger was reacting to every ounce of pain inflicted upon the young king. Maybe hers and Dilandau's assumption that Velannaf was Van was actually true. But how could that be if Van was with Merle at the moment. Could there be two Van Fanels? Hitomi didn't know, but for now all she cared about was seeing the man she knew to be the real Van.
As Dilandau and Velannaf continued to glare at each other, Hitomi slinked away and headed towards where she saw Van hit the ground. She passed behind a bush and immediately noticed the young king clutching Merle tightly in his strong arms. His jet-black hair hung loosely over the cat girls head and swayed lightly in the wind as the ashen feathers from his extended wings floated in the air. A gentle gust blew a familiar white plume towards the girl from the mystic moon and crouched to pick it up as it landed at her feet. She ran her fingers up and down its spine, feeling the silken strands thread above and below her fingers.
Enthralled by the object in her hands, Hitomi didn't instantly notice Van staring at her. When she did lift her head, she saw that his scarlet eyes were filled with tears and that his cheeks glistened in the faint moonlight. She had never seen Van show so much emotion before. The boy king had changed dramatically since the last time she had seen him. "Van," said Hitomi, staring sadly at both him and Merle.
"Hitomi," Van whispered back, shifting Merle's weight in his lap. The cat girl's head stirred from where her face had been buried his chest and she too looked at Hitomi with tear swollen eyes.
The three of them continued to eye one another, all lost for words until the noise of shuffling feet sounded from behind. Van's eyes burned as he saw the bushes behind Hitomi shift and two men stepped through. The girl from the Mystic Moon whirled around and yelped as Dilandau and Velannaf drew closer to her. The feather fell from her grip and she backed away, taking her place beside Van. All three of them stared at the two men with a mixture of both fear and rage. None said a word.
"Van," Velannaf spoke first, "This was not how I meant for things to play out," he glowered at Dilandau, "But I must honor the promise I made to Albatou."
Everyone gasped as the shadow lowered his hood, revealing a mess of wild raven-colored locks and a handsome face with smoldering crimson eyes. To Van it felt like he was looking into a mirror. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to think.
Velannaf turned to a stuttering Dilandau whose ruby eyes were wide in astonishment. "I promised you Van Fanel...Well here I am Albatou."
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Righto, another chapter over and done with. I had to change its title cause I wrote too much and never got around to what I had planned to write in this chappie. Oh well. Remember to review.
Also, there should be no more than three chapters after this one. I'll try not to write quite so much...unless that's what you guys want. You can tell me in a review. Or don't but review anyway.
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