[Thanks for the reviews. I was impressed by the amount. This is another short chappie. But I'm too lazy to write long ones. You people who were asking whether Hitomi was really raped or not will find out here. I purposefully didn't say in the first chapter. Read and review please]

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne

Angel?

Does she hate me now? She's just lying there, asleep, like Merle. Saved by a demon. And I put her in danger in the first place. I wish we'd never gone toe that dragon graveyard. I still don't know if those Zaibach bastards did anything to her. Gods I hope not. It's all my fault.

I haven't retracted my wings yet. It's been so long since I've used them and they're still a little sore. Besides, Hitomi may think what she saw before was a dream. She needs to know the truth. Her beeper goes off again and she stirs. She wakes slowly and I just stand and watch. I can tell the moment she remembers what happened as sobs rack her slim frame. I step forward hesitantly. Her back is to me. A lone feather drifts down from my cursed wings and onto her knees. She chokes on a sob and turns around, eyes shimmering.

"Van?"

I gaze at her sadly. "Hitomi, I'm sorry." I turn slightly to the side and shut my eyes tightly saying, more harshly than I should have, "I'll understand if you don't want to be around me anymore."

"What? Van, why would you say that? You saved me." She glances in awe at my wings. "You're an angel."

"What's an angel?"

"A person with wings."

I glare slightly. "A demon?"

She looks at me confused. "No! The exact opposite. An angel is nothing like a demon. I like your wings Van. They're beautiful." She blushes slightly at her announcement, and I can't help but smile.

However, I frown as her face suddenly turns serious. "Van, they were going to . . ."

I gulp slightly. "I know, Hitomi. I know."

I pull in my wings and go sit beside her. "Did they?"

She sits up straighter, and a stray tear escapes, but her voice is strong when she responds. "No. They didn't get a chance." She's staring resolutely ahead and all I want to do is hold her and comfort her in my arms.

I never believed that I could learn to love this girl from the Mystic Moon. I never believed that anyone other than Merle would say that they liked my wings. I never believed that any of this would happen. Never . . .

Hitomi's voice startles me out of my thoughts. It quavers slightly. "I was so scared. Scared of what they would do to me." She turns to me. "And of what they would do to you." Her eyes fill with more tears and she falls slightly towards me and clings to my chest. "So scared, Van. Scared . . . ."

I quickly wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly, trying to calm her. Heat had rushed through me the minute she had fallen into my arms, but I tried to ignore. It was no time to let my stupid hormones take over. She only needed me right now to protect, and comfort her. If Allen were here, she would have gone to him first. I'm under no illusions as to whom she has feelings for. Still, stranger things have happened. I'd never believed any of the other things that had happened *could* happen, but they did. I'd never believe that Hitomi could harbor feelings for me. So maybe . . .

I lean back on the cool grass, pulling the now sleeping Hitomi with me. For tonight, it's just nice lying here, like this. Just protecting her dreams. Sleep well, Hitomi.

[So, she wasn't raped. However, the event will still play and important part later. Don't forget to review on your way out. ^_^]