--Beautiful Wings
Sunlight filtered in through a clear, clean window that belonged to the Queen of Fanelia. Her jade eyes opened to the sunlight's touch. After a moment to get used to the new light that had awakened her, the Queen got out of her soft bed and walked barefooted to her closet to pick out a dress to wear for the day. She chose a simple dress like she did everyday. Today she picked a dark red dress that flowed to her ankles and to which the sleeves went to the creases in her elbows. She decided to tie a light blue sash around her middle. She wrapped it around from her back and then she tied it off at her stomach and let the excess of the sash flow down with the rest of her dress. She tied her hair in a bun at the top of her head and slipped into her black shoes that she wore everyday. She looked at herself in the mirror. As she was inspecting herself, she stopped at her lips and thought back to the moment three days ago when Van had kissed her. She brought her fingers up to her lips and remembered the feels of his lips against her own. She thought that she had died and went to heaven in his arms. Unfortunately, she and Van had not been able to get together again since then due to urgent matters and counsel meetings. Hitomi wasn't upset or anything at Van. To tell the truth, she needed some time to think things through about what had happened that night. But, after a day's time, Hitomi found herself missing Van's company. At first, the feeling surprised her. Then she figured out why she was feeling that way. She was falling in love with Van. As a matter of fact, she had known for quiet some time that she was falling in love with Van. She just didn't know what to do about it. Hitomi sighed. She didn't know what to do about it now either. Hitomi finished her inspection and walked out of her room to get to the kitchens. Hopefully, she would figure out what to do before she was alone with Van again.
When Hitomi made it to the kitchens, she soon forgot about her problem. She picked up an apron and got straight to work. Due to the fact that there were guests in the counsel meeting today, Suzanne decided to make something different for their breakfast. Hitomi had suggested the breakfast that her grandmother used to make for her. It was called Melozt. It came from the far west. Hitomi had explained that you needed certain herbs to fix it, and that Fanelia's forest, which is called Dragon's Cove, had the right herbs that she needed. Only few forests had them. The chefs had agreed, and Hitomi, April, Patience, Carla, and Suzanne had spent their whole day gathering the herbs for the mix. At one point in time during their little escapade, Celena, Merle, Millerna, and Eries had gathered together to help them. Celena, Millerna, and Eries were surprised to find out that Hitomi could cook. They were also fascinated by it. So Hitomi decided to pass the time in the forest by telling them about her home. Hitomi smiled remembering the looks on their faces when she told them about the waterfalls and roses that bloom all year round. She didn't tell them that it had anything to do with magic.
"Milady," Suzanne said, "I forgot how you said to slice the green off of this leaf."
Hitomi smiled. That leaf was Golas. A very rare leaf that grows only at a certain time of year. It was a key ingreatiant to the Melozt. You had to slice the outer covering of green to get to the core of the leaf.
"Here," Hitomi said, "let me show you."
Suzanne sighed in relief and smiled. "Thank you, Milady."
Hitomi smiled again and took the leaf from her. She pertinently began to explain the directions to Suzanne again.
((((()))))
In the counsel room, Van was having a time concentrating on the conversation. As a matter of fact, he had been having problems concentrating for three days. His mind kept wandering back to Hitomi again and again. He could still feel her lips on his. Before his mind could wander any farther, Carla, April, and Patience walked into the room with trays full of hot food. That's when Van got an idea. He quickly got a small piece of paper and wrote a little note to Hitomi. As April sat Van's plate of food down in front of him, he gave her the note and told her to deliver it to Hitomi for him. April smiled and said that she would. Van nodded his thanks to her. When the maids left, Van found it easier to concentrate on the tasks at hand.
When April made it into the kitchen, she hurriedly dropped the trays from her hands and ran over to Hitomi who was at the sink washing dishes. She grabbed Hitomi's hand and dragged her over to one of the tables.
"April, what-" Hitomi started but was interrupted by April thrusting the small note into her face. Slowly, Hitomi took the piece of paper from April's hands and unfolded it. It read:
Meet me at the angel fountain in the garden when the moons are brightest. Very urgent.
Van
Hitomi's heart quickened. She thought that her heart might jump out of her chest. It had read very urgent. Before Hitomi could contemplate any longer on the small piece of paper in her hands, she felt eyes watching her. She looked up and saw April, Patience, and Carla looking at her with expectant eyes. But before she could react, Suzanne came over to them and told them to get to work. They quickly ran off. Then Suzanne turned to Hitomi.
"Why don't you go off and enjoy yourself?" she asked. "It's a lovely morning."
Almost without her knowledge, Hitomi's head slowly nodded and she walked out of the kitchen. She was making her way back to her room when a maid stopped her.
"Milady," the maid said, "Lady Merle and the rest of the Lady guests are looking for you. They are in the parlor."
Hitomi smiled and thanked her. The maid bowed and walked off. Hitomi began to make her way toward the parlor.
((((()))))
A few minutes before Hitomi was to meet Van in the garden, she lay on her bed trying to figure out what he would want. After a few more minutes of thinking, Hitomi decided to head to the gardens. She made her way down the empty hallways, hiding in the shadows of the corners so not to be seen by the palace guards. Quietly, Hitomi stepped down the stairs of the servant's quarters. It was the easiest way to get to the garden. When Hitomi stepped out into the cold night air, she looked up to the sky. She went down one of the pathways that led to the center of the garden and the angel fountain. When she made it there, she saw that Van was already there. When Hitomi came nearer, Van turned around and smiled at her. Hitomi looked into his eyes and smiled back. Van reached out his hand to her and Hitomi took it without hesitation.
"I'm glad you could come," Van whispered to her.
"So am I," Hitomi said just as softly.
Van looked deeply into her eyes and placed his hand on her cheek. Hitomi's eyes closed at his gentle touch. Then she felt Van's breath on her lips. She kept her eyes closed as Van gently pressed his lips to hers. Hitomi wrapped her arms around his neck as Van placed his hands on her waist. Almost simultaneously, they deepened the kiss. When they pulled away, they were both breathing hard, but neither one moved from their position in one another's arms. After a few moments of silence, Van broke the silence.
"There's something I want to show you, Hitomi," he whispered in her ear.
"What is it?" Hitomi asked without moving.
Van pulled out of the embrace and took Hitomi's hand in his own. "Come on," he said to her and began to lead her out of the garden. Hitomi followed him. Van led her out of the garden. When they reached the forest, they went inside it. Van led her a little ways more till they reached a clearing. In the clearing there was an enormous weeping willow in its center. Hitomi gasped as she saw it. Van still had a hold on her hand and led her to the willow's entrance. He raised his spare hand and parted the leaves enough for them to walk through. When Hitomi entered inside of the willow, she gasped in wonder. There before her was a clearing. It was decorated with blooming flowers of all sorts and had a beautiful stream flowing down the middle of it. Trees were growing all around it. But what astounded Hitomi the most was the sky. You could see the nighttime sky shining in on top of the stream. And there in the reflection, faithful as ever, was the Mystic moon and its child.
Van wrapped his arms around Hitomi's waist from behind her and held her tightly to his chest. Hitomi leaned back on Van and closed her eyes. Van placed a gentle kiss on Hitomi's neck.
"Hitomi," Van whispered after a moment.
"Yes?" she asked in the same tone of voice.
Van turned her around and looked her in the eyes. "This isn't what I wanted to show you," he said to her. He had a serious look on his face.
"All right, Van," Hitomi said to him, "what did you want to show me?"
Van let go of Hitomi and stepped back a step. He took off his black shirt and dropped it to the ground. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and gave a mental push. Wonderful white wings emerged from his back. He slowly opened his eyes to find Hitomi looking at him with tears in her eyes. She walked up to him. She put a gentle hand on one of his wings and ran her hand down to where the feathers ended.
A tear ran down her cheek as she said, "They're beautiful, Van. Just beautiful."
Van bent down and gently kissed her tear away. He brought his lips down a little farther and kissed her cheek. Then he kissed her neck. He brought his face back up and looked into her eyes.
"Hitomi, I know that I haven't been a husband to you in this past year. I'm sorry for that. But ever since I held you in my arms that night on the roof, I've wanted more than anything to be able to hold you every day for the rest of your life. To spend my whole life making things right where I have wronged you. When I wasn't there for you. Hitomi, I love you. I love you more than I ever thought possible. And when I hold you I feel complete. But when you have to leave my arms, I feel as though my world has ended. I have found out the reason for that. It's that you are my world. And every time I see you, I fall in love with you even more," Van said with such love in his voice that Hitomi had silent tears running down her face.
"Van, when I first came here, I was very unhappy. I thought that I would just die. I probably would have if not for Merle and Balgus. But then, I met you and everything fell into place. I felt such happiness that if asked to describe it, I wouldn't be able to do it. I have you to thank for that. You changed my world around. I never thought that such happiness existed. If the sky fell down on top of me right now, I wouldn't care, so long as you are holding me in your arms. I love you, Van. I love you so much." Hitomi stopped talking as tears began to stream down her face. Van lowered his head and gently kissed all of her tears away. When she stopped crying, Van brought his head back up and looked deep into Hitomi's eyes. He lowered his head and wrapped his arms around her waist. Hitomi wrapped her arms around his neck. Their lips met with such passion that neither one knew where it came from. Gently, Van lowered Hitomi to the ground and laid her on the soft grass. In the sky high above, the Mystic moon, its child, and the stars seemed to twinkle in delight at the two lovers below them, happy that they had finally learned to love.
A/N: Okay, things are going to be getting into the action parts after this. I hope that by what I have in mind you will all be surprised and happy with it. The reason why I didn't get them married again was because that by the reviews of my last chapter, most all of you wanted to see them just confess their love for one another. I hope that it came off as some kind of vows. Well, please review!! Thanx!!