"Hitomi… How could you?" Van asked sincerely. "She's not the only one that owes an explanation, hmmm… Van?" Folken questioned. Van shot his older brother a death glare. All Hitomi did was stand there as she saw the two men she loved, argue. "Fuck off Folken. You can stay the hell out of this it has nothing to do with you. Besides, when did you start being nice?" he added with a smirk. "You don't know anything about me Brother. Look, can't we have a civilized conversation for once, one that doesn't involve swords or cursing for that matter?" his voice was back to that flat, emotionless tone. He wanted to just have a normal conversation with Van it was something they had yet to do. "Well…. No. I'd rather not. Come on Hitomi. We should really be on our way now." Van replied, he knew just who to make his older sibling mad.

"No Van… I want to stay here." Hitomi said surprising the two males. Folken looked surprised but also happy. That wasn't the case for Van, yes he was surprised but not quite happy… more mad. "Hitomi… I've spent days searching for you. After I found your bracelet in the garden I left right away. Don't do this… please Hitomi." ~ Why is he suddenly sincere to me? He thinks that he should always get what he asks for. He's always got his way… well almost always. Why do Folken and Van hate each other so? Surely it can't be because of what Folken did. Then again it was a wretched thing to do….~ "Van, let her choose." Folken spoke out. "You wouldn't say that if she decided to leave and come with me. You know that Folken. If that is what you wish Hitomi, then stay. You probably never did love me… You will be happier with my brother. But in the end you will get your just rewards, I promise you Hitomi Kanzaki. That is a promise I will not break." He turned around and started to head towards the door ready to leave. "Van! Wait. That's not true I do love you, I really do. It's just that I don't think we were meant to be. I'm sorry." She cried out in a last attempt to try and get Van to come back and talk with Folken.

He stopped in his tracks. He rested his head on the door and managed to say these words, "Brother… I hope your happy. You will die a death full of regret, as will Hitomi who you will surely wed. That is the day I long to see… but it the day my eyes are not supposed to witness. I will make sure you live the rest of your life with everyone blaming you for something you did not do, something I have done." He turned around and looked at the two who were puzzled. They did not understand what Van was getting at. Slowly he started to walk towards them he stopped when he was roughly ten feet away from them. He drew his sword and in a split second pushed it into his stomach. "VAN!" Hitomi screamed amongst the tears. "This is the day Folken Fanel murderd his brother, Van Fanel." The young king murmured as blood started to pour out of his mouth. Soon a pool of blood was gathered underneath Van. All Folken could do was stand there in awe. "Van… brother…" he whisperd to himself. Hitomi was now holding the dead Van and rocking him back and forth while crying. Van was dead.

~*~*~*~ The Next Day: About Mid- Afternoon ~*~*~*

The fifteen-year old cat girl watched her beloved lord be carried up the castle steps by Folken. "Lord Van! Oh Lord Van! What did you do to him?" she yelled in a more then usual squeaky voice. Allen came running out after hearing Merle's cries. He stopped, frozen in his tracks after seeing his best friends lifeless carcass. "Folken? What happened to Van?" Folken didn't say a word as he walked up to Allen and handed him the dead body. "Have a safe trip to the after life… my brother." His voice showed no signs of emotion as he gave his last regards to his little brother. Then he started to walk away, remembering when the two of them were little and used to play in the royal court- yard, their mother watching carefully. Those were the days when the world almost seemed to make sence. Merle stroked her lord's raven black hair letting her tears run wild like an angry river. "Damn you to hell Folken. Damn you to hell." Allen said shaking his head. He then started heading towards the doors of the castle. He would have to tell Van's advisors that Van had been killed. There was just one thing that he didn't no… the advisors weren't expecting Van to come back alive, they were expecting him to come back dead…

~*~*~*~ Three Months Later ~*~*~*~

Folken and Hitomi had had a small wedding two weeks ago. They wanted to have one in a church, but such things were not possible. No one would even talk to them, only shoot angry glares at them. The people wouldn't forgive them for something that they didn't even do. All the newly weds could do was ignore it, and concentrate on the more important things in their life now. Things like who Hitmoi would soon bear a child. Folken would finally get a long awaited dream come true. Once he had a child he would have a family; a real family. "I love you Folken, as I always will." Hitomi softly whispered while staring off the balcony and looking among the magnificent sun set. "I love you also my wife." He said, embracing his wife and placing a soft kiss upon her creamy lips.

THE END… or is it merely the beginning?

{read authors note next chapter}