Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne.
Japanese Lesson No.1
Words such as Kimono and Samurai are already part of English vocabularies.
Hime: Princess, her highness
Hitomi: pupil of eye, equal to English name "Iris"
Kanza No Hitomi Hime: Princess Hitomi of Kanza
Sama: A polite way of calling people, master
Kun: A way to call a boy
San: A way to call people
Chan: A way to call a girl
Heka: King, his majesty
Mina San: Everyone
Sake: Japanese rice wine
Haori: Short jacket
Hakama: Pleated kimono pants
Sado: Tea ceremony
Obi: Kimono sash
Katana: Sword
Ani: Elder brother
Imouto: Younger sister
Anata: You
No: Of, someone's
Buki: Weapon
Bushi: Samurai
Sakura: Cherry blossom
Bokken: Wooden sword
Kenkaku: Swordman
Kami: God
Kendo: Sword art
Chapter Four A Fight For Dignity
A month. A whole month. Hitomi gloomily sits at the pond, watching the orange-golden fish swimming in the water blindly. She crushes some remaining rice and projects them to these greedy eaters. "Hey, how are you today, you little prisoners of the water?" A gust of autumn wind entices layers of water waves, causing last summer water lily pads to vibrate between crests and troughs. Untamed straight chestnut hair brushes over Hitomi's tired face to trigger a full-month life of captivation. Void, simply nothing happened. When the last summer breeze has turned into an autumn whisper, Hitomi is pleased that she didn't meet Van Slanzar de Fanel again. Meanwhile, she is also furious that she hasn't been arranged to see King Goau. A little month of "freedom" indicates that King Goau does not put Kanza into his eyes.
There are light footsteps passing by at the other end of the bridge. Hitomi ignores everything, making a guess that they belong to a female servant. The footsteps halt abruptly at her back. The heating gaze is so palpable.
"You definitely don't belong here. I've never seen you before." A high-pitched feminine voice rings.
Turning her face, Hitomi sees the most bizarre hair colour in her entire life. Soft and loosened pink hair clusters around a childish face. A pair of watery blue eyes reflects doubts and naughtiness. Hitomi moves her sight to the girl's clothing and holds her breath. The trim of white fur on her yellow kimono speaks for her high status. But that's not the reason for Hitomi's suffocation. There is a jade katana hung at her fur obi embedded with pearls. Even standing further away, Hitomi can still recognize the pattern on the sheath, a pattern imprinted in her mind since she was very young-the crescent of the mystic moon, the royal emblem of Kanza. Bitterness surges over her heart. The jade sword... A present given by her father on her fifteenth birthday is now carried by a Fanelian girl. Hitomi grits her teeth.
The girl looks at Hitomi haughtily: "What? Never seen this dress before? The autumn hunting season just began and my ani san has already hunted a white fox for me."
Hitomi completely loses her thoughts: "Where... Where did you get that katana?"
The girl casts a cold eye provokingly: "I asked you the question first. Where do you come from?"
Hitomi blinks here eyes: "This katana... has the royal sign of Kanza. Where did you steal it?"
Stamping her feet, the girl's face flushes into an instant redness: "Who said it was stolen? How dare you to address me in this improper way! The sword is a captive brought back by General Allen Schizar from the palace of Kanza."
Hitomi chuckles inside. The girl is a totally spoiled noble lady who knows nothing about etiquette and respect. All right. Since she took away her favourite katana, why not tease her for a while?
"Since you confessed that the sword was a captive, it meant robbery in no difference. You will never get anything by conquering it."
"Kanza was too weak to defy against Fanelia. You can't complain if you are not capable of protecting your own properties." The girl's azure orbs turn into a midnight blue, shooting daggers to Hitomi.
Is it so? Is that the idea which has been pumped into numerous Fanelians' washed brains? Does a small country deserve invasion and humiliation? Hitomi's all-time serene heart finally bursts into an agitated tempest. The girl needs a lesson.
She walks to the girl, step by step, until her own emerald irises crush the blue ones. "Do you want to know who I am? If I was the master of this sword, would you return it to me?"
Under Hitomi's sacred blaze, it takes the girl all her courage to restrain herself from trembling. She replies dryly: "I am the real master of this sword."
"Very well." Hitomi smiles, "As long as you agree to use force to conquer everything, I am ready to fight to get my katana back." Instantly her delicate fingers extend to the girls' waist like a ghost.
With her childish instinct taking over her body, the girl immediately retreats to where she came from. Unnamed fear surges and roars at the bottom of her heart. In her whole life, this feeling is only reserved for two people-her father and her second brother. But who is this unknown? With such an aura of mystery and danger... Ironically, the girl runs to the person who provides her with both fear and security... " Oh, Van..."
While chasing after the girl, Hitomi is battling herself inside. After all, it is not her original intention to frighten a girl who is younger than her age. However, the girl is way too conceited and capricious. The jade sword can't be seized by a Fanelian, or even worse, such a puffed-up Fanelian. She is deeply involved in her thoughts, never realizing that her delicate body is about to crash into a muscular one.
Thump! Hitomi's lithe limbs hit onto someone's hard chest. Instantly a pair of strong hands locks her shoulder to steady her. Ruby orbs dreamily hook up her jade irises.
No, it can't be him! Hitomi shrieks inwardly and closes her eyes. She can hear the girl is giggling at the side. Carefully lifting up her long eyelashes, she sees untamed raven hair mockingly pointing at her forehead. The distance... is too close. Her heart starts to pound loudly in her rib cage.
"May I ask why you are chasing after my little imouto chan, Hime?" Van's eyes sharply gaze at Hitomi. A glitter of hidden amusement is revealed at the eye-corner.
Gulping down hard, Hitomi is surprised: "Anata no imouto chan?" She moves her sight onto the girl and catches a sarcastically wry face.
"She is my imouto chan, Merle Hime." Van nods.
"No wonder she has my katana. The whole Fanelia Royal House is unclean."
Van's face flashes anger, but he still well maintains his coolness and calmness: "Why did you say so, Hime?"
Hitomi pays back the glare to him: "You are the one who captured me here and your sister is the one who stole my katana."
Van knits his eyebrows. He turns to Merle: "Merle, is it true that you stole the katana?"
Merle retorts at once: "The sword is a present brought back by General Schizar from the Kanza Palace. Now I am the owner."
Hitomi says determinedly: "The katana means a lot to me. I must take it back."
"You will never get it back as long as my ani san is here!"
"Enough!" Van roughly interrupts the argument. Without one more word, he beckons Merle to bring the sword over. Merle winces back, her eyes swelling and her breath speeding up: "Not fair!" She chokes upon her own voice.
"Ah... Hum..." A soft cough breaks the deadlock. Hitomi swiftly sweeps her vision to Van's back. There is a tall and brunette man standing there with the sliest expression she has ever seen. Secretly judging him, Hitomi estimates that the man should be at his early twenty. Different from Fanel, he is dressed like a peasant rather than a samurai. His thick long lock of brunette hair is tied back to show his dissipated personality. Smiling faintly towards Hitomi, he shows off his perfect shiny teeth. "Please forgive my interruption, Hime Sama. I am Dryden, Van Sama's personal advisor."
Van casts a skeptical expression at Dryden, inwardly guessing his purpose. Dryden merely nods his head, revealing perfect confidence. "Although Hime Sama WAS the ORIGINAL owner of the katana, Merle Hime took the sword WITHOUT knowing the truth. If she gives it back to you right now, it seems quite unfair to her."
Hitomi crooks one eyebrow: "According to your definition, what is fairness?"
Dryden chuckles: "Let the katana make the decision." Seeing all people's puzzled expression, Dryden continues his mocking attitude: "A sword fight shall make the winner as the owner of the sword."
Merle bulges her eyes out: "What's wrong with you, Dryden san? I know nothing about sword fight. No women on Gaea do."
Dryden touches his head lazily: "Merle Hime is too young for a sword fight. Van Sama can substitute for her. How is that?"
Van hesitates for a moment. "It's not fair for Hitomi Hime, either. She needs a substitute as well."
"I agree the wager. I shall use the sword myself." Hitomi's solemn voice shocks Van.
"What are you talking about? No women can use buki."
"Do not deny the possibility just because you don't know any woman can. Please wait here. I shall be back in a moment." Hitomi haughtily turns back towards the direction of her residence.
"Where are you going?" Dryden stares at Hitomi suspiciously.
Hitomi rolls her eyes disdainfully: "Do you want me to fight in a kimono dress?"
Looking at Hitomi's already faraway body, Van is speechless for a long time. He finally turns to Dryden: "How could you come up with something like this?"
Dryden grins: "Van Sama, it seems that you don't know besides all the feminine qualities Hitomi Kanzaki possesses, she is even good at sword art according to my spying information. However, since her opponent is one of the best kenkaku of Fanelia, she still needs luck to win. This sword belongs to Merle Hime for sure."
Millerna comes to Hitomi as soon as she enters the living room. "You are back early today..." The gentle smile on Millerna's face suddenly freezes. To her, Hitomi looks like an icy statue. Her usual calm and deep eyes are now reflecting a sense of dangerous wildness. "What is wrong, Hitomi? Are you all right?" Millerna follows Hitomi into the bedroom and watches her opening the drawer.
"Here... This one!" Hitomi takes out a neatly piled snowy bushi suit. The bottom of the pleated skirt is embroidered with tiny pink sakura.
Millerna sighs. The suit was originally a kimono dress. She never understands why Hitomi has cut and sewed it into a bushi suit. As Millerna knows, no women need bushi suits. They are only for samurai.
"Hitomi, why do you want to wear it?"
"There is a wager of sword fight between me and Fanel."
"What? Did I hear it wrong? Sword fight? Are you still burning with fever? I'll go to find the doctor."
"Millerna!" Hitomi grasps a slightly hysterical Millerna, shaking her hard: "I am fine. As long as I beat Fanel, I can get my katana back."
"But... Van Sama is the famous kenkaku in Fanelia! Hey, Hitomi! Where are you going? Wait for me..." Millerna quickly runs after Hitomi, who has already rushed out of the door, "Oh, Kami Sama! Can anyone tell me what is going on?"
Van holds his breath when he sees Hitomi walking towards him. Even in his dream he has never thought of girls in bushi suits can be deadly attractive. No, maybe that only works on this strange and exotic Kanza girl. Hitomi's straight long sandy blonde hair is tied back into a high ponytail, proudly sweeping at her back. Her huge emerald pools are now flashing determination and coldness. It is very obvious that the dead King of Kanza has made a right decision to call his daughter "Hitomi". Van feels every time he is caught up by those eyes, his ice fortress inside is shaken unavoidably. Unknown waves of heat surge at his chest. He never tasted his own fragility before this Kanza girl appeared. And he really hates the feeling of weakness.
Dryden's voice brings Van back to the real world: "In order not to produce any injuries, both Van Sama and Hime Sama are going to use bokken instead of katana." Van leisurely takes over two bokken from Dryden and randomly throws one to Hitomi.
They silently stand ten metres away from each other and bow. Neither of them intends to start the first attack. Autumn wind brushes over the cypress trees along the river shore, causing withered leaves to float around the two people like butterflies. The air is electrified, full of magnetic tension. Van closes his eyes. A melancholy picture of the solemn dire battlefield is visualized in his mind. Accompanying the fictitious drum rhythm, the sword in his hand becomes alive. The arc pierces through the thin air, making disturbed birds soaring into the azure clear sky.
Hitomi draws in a deep breath, embracing the nature intimately. She always remembers the numerous lessons taught by her sword masters, Amano and Yukari. The couple used to mention the secret of kendo was the combination of the heart, the nature and the sword. Her agile perception abruptly detects an irregular air stream pushing the natural barrier. Casually turning her wrist, she blocks Van Fanel's first attack.
Two people's eyes crash at each other once more. Hitomi's usually soft voice permeates a wild calling: "I'll fight for my dignity, Fanel. I'll beat you." "Oh, yeah? We will see about that." Van sarcastically twists his mouth. He suddenly loses the bokken and spurs to Hitomi's left leg. Hitomi gingerly back flips into the air like a swallow, avoiding Van's advancement. Van grits his teeth tightly-in his whole life as a warrior, he has never met any woman who was capable of using a sword, and using it well. Hitomi's movements are not hackneyed. Although Van is taking advantage of his strength and aggressiveness, Hitomi tries to obtain success by her agility. Within only one moment of thought, Hitomi has already taken the lead. Her bokken lightly brushes at Van's left ear. Luckily the bokken is not a real katana, otherwise Van's hair would have been cut off.
Van vaguely recognizes Merle's scream at the background. He easily turns to block Hitomi's following five movements. The two people are completely immerged in the perfect world of combat without noticing that they are gradually lingering onto a small bridge at the west side of the lake. Van doesn't realize it until he steps on the wooden arch-this wooden bridge is completely different from the rest of the stone ones at the Residency. Due to its remote position and long-term deterioration, the structure is no longer reliable. On a normal occasion, it is not a problem for one person to pass it. However, it simply won't allow two fighting people to slip away so easily. Worrying about the collapse of the bridge, Van is forced to suddenly slow down his speed.
Hitomi is fully concentrated on Van's assault. Being a knowledgeable sword fighter, she is waiting patiently for Van's fatal mistake. Van's abrupt halt of pressure catches her off guard. The trend of her overly strong actions leads her forward. And inertia, everything is controlled by inertia... According to years of experience, Hitomi tries to dissipate the force by flipping to the side and prepares to land on the bridge balustrade elegantly. However, the whimpering wooden bridge cannot hold on any more, giving up with crumblings.
Falling... Hitomi's fogged mind is flowing with puckery bitterness. She has kept falling since Kanza was superficially conquered. Today's sword fight is another cruel example. Why does Kami Sama prefer to let her bear disappointment once more? She closes her eyes and prepares to touch the chilly autumn water until the strange yet familiar hands clutch at her willowy waist, as tightly as grabbing the life line.
To Van, watching Hitomi's falling is like a predetermined dilemma written by fate. Such fragility... No, he won't allow the adorable china doll to be broken. Without a second thought, his instinct takes the charge and his well-trained forceful arms reach for Hitomi's lithe waist. He gasps when he finds out that she is much lighter than she was a month ago, as weightless as a feather. Hitomi's flushing cheeks bring out a sense of surprise. The previous hateful green eyes are now transmitting a new message-sorrow. At that flickery moment, the two people are bonded as one kind by the tiding of destiny. Yet the length is meteoric. Van suddenly feels an icy and rigid rod bestowed at his neck. Cursing his carelessness inwardly, he catches the sly twinkling in the soulful jades.
"You lost, Fanel."
Japanese Lesson No.1
Words such as Kimono and Samurai are already part of English vocabularies.
Hime: Princess, her highness
Hitomi: pupil of eye, equal to English name "Iris"
Kanza No Hitomi Hime: Princess Hitomi of Kanza
Sama: A polite way of calling people, master
Kun: A way to call a boy
San: A way to call people
Chan: A way to call a girl
Heka: King, his majesty
Mina San: Everyone
Sake: Japanese rice wine
Haori: Short jacket
Hakama: Pleated kimono pants
Sado: Tea ceremony
Obi: Kimono sash
Katana: Sword
Ani: Elder brother
Imouto: Younger sister
Anata: You
No: Of, someone's
Buki: Weapon
Bushi: Samurai
Sakura: Cherry blossom
Bokken: Wooden sword
Kenkaku: Swordman
Kami: God
Kendo: Sword art
Chapter Four A Fight For Dignity
A month. A whole month. Hitomi gloomily sits at the pond, watching the orange-golden fish swimming in the water blindly. She crushes some remaining rice and projects them to these greedy eaters. "Hey, how are you today, you little prisoners of the water?" A gust of autumn wind entices layers of water waves, causing last summer water lily pads to vibrate between crests and troughs. Untamed straight chestnut hair brushes over Hitomi's tired face to trigger a full-month life of captivation. Void, simply nothing happened. When the last summer breeze has turned into an autumn whisper, Hitomi is pleased that she didn't meet Van Slanzar de Fanel again. Meanwhile, she is also furious that she hasn't been arranged to see King Goau. A little month of "freedom" indicates that King Goau does not put Kanza into his eyes.
There are light footsteps passing by at the other end of the bridge. Hitomi ignores everything, making a guess that they belong to a female servant. The footsteps halt abruptly at her back. The heating gaze is so palpable.
"You definitely don't belong here. I've never seen you before." A high-pitched feminine voice rings.
Turning her face, Hitomi sees the most bizarre hair colour in her entire life. Soft and loosened pink hair clusters around a childish face. A pair of watery blue eyes reflects doubts and naughtiness. Hitomi moves her sight to the girl's clothing and holds her breath. The trim of white fur on her yellow kimono speaks for her high status. But that's not the reason for Hitomi's suffocation. There is a jade katana hung at her fur obi embedded with pearls. Even standing further away, Hitomi can still recognize the pattern on the sheath, a pattern imprinted in her mind since she was very young-the crescent of the mystic moon, the royal emblem of Kanza. Bitterness surges over her heart. The jade sword... A present given by her father on her fifteenth birthday is now carried by a Fanelian girl. Hitomi grits her teeth.
The girl looks at Hitomi haughtily: "What? Never seen this dress before? The autumn hunting season just began and my ani san has already hunted a white fox for me."
Hitomi completely loses her thoughts: "Where... Where did you get that katana?"
The girl casts a cold eye provokingly: "I asked you the question first. Where do you come from?"
Hitomi blinks here eyes: "This katana... has the royal sign of Kanza. Where did you steal it?"
Stamping her feet, the girl's face flushes into an instant redness: "Who said it was stolen? How dare you to address me in this improper way! The sword is a captive brought back by General Allen Schizar from the palace of Kanza."
Hitomi chuckles inside. The girl is a totally spoiled noble lady who knows nothing about etiquette and respect. All right. Since she took away her favourite katana, why not tease her for a while?
"Since you confessed that the sword was a captive, it meant robbery in no difference. You will never get anything by conquering it."
"Kanza was too weak to defy against Fanelia. You can't complain if you are not capable of protecting your own properties." The girl's azure orbs turn into a midnight blue, shooting daggers to Hitomi.
Is it so? Is that the idea which has been pumped into numerous Fanelians' washed brains? Does a small country deserve invasion and humiliation? Hitomi's all-time serene heart finally bursts into an agitated tempest. The girl needs a lesson.
She walks to the girl, step by step, until her own emerald irises crush the blue ones. "Do you want to know who I am? If I was the master of this sword, would you return it to me?"
Under Hitomi's sacred blaze, it takes the girl all her courage to restrain herself from trembling. She replies dryly: "I am the real master of this sword."
"Very well." Hitomi smiles, "As long as you agree to use force to conquer everything, I am ready to fight to get my katana back." Instantly her delicate fingers extend to the girls' waist like a ghost.
With her childish instinct taking over her body, the girl immediately retreats to where she came from. Unnamed fear surges and roars at the bottom of her heart. In her whole life, this feeling is only reserved for two people-her father and her second brother. But who is this unknown? With such an aura of mystery and danger... Ironically, the girl runs to the person who provides her with both fear and security... " Oh, Van..."
While chasing after the girl, Hitomi is battling herself inside. After all, it is not her original intention to frighten a girl who is younger than her age. However, the girl is way too conceited and capricious. The jade sword can't be seized by a Fanelian, or even worse, such a puffed-up Fanelian. She is deeply involved in her thoughts, never realizing that her delicate body is about to crash into a muscular one.
Thump! Hitomi's lithe limbs hit onto someone's hard chest. Instantly a pair of strong hands locks her shoulder to steady her. Ruby orbs dreamily hook up her jade irises.
No, it can't be him! Hitomi shrieks inwardly and closes her eyes. She can hear the girl is giggling at the side. Carefully lifting up her long eyelashes, she sees untamed raven hair mockingly pointing at her forehead. The distance... is too close. Her heart starts to pound loudly in her rib cage.
"May I ask why you are chasing after my little imouto chan, Hime?" Van's eyes sharply gaze at Hitomi. A glitter of hidden amusement is revealed at the eye-corner.
Gulping down hard, Hitomi is surprised: "Anata no imouto chan?" She moves her sight onto the girl and catches a sarcastically wry face.
"She is my imouto chan, Merle Hime." Van nods.
"No wonder she has my katana. The whole Fanelia Royal House is unclean."
Van's face flashes anger, but he still well maintains his coolness and calmness: "Why did you say so, Hime?"
Hitomi pays back the glare to him: "You are the one who captured me here and your sister is the one who stole my katana."
Van knits his eyebrows. He turns to Merle: "Merle, is it true that you stole the katana?"
Merle retorts at once: "The sword is a present brought back by General Schizar from the Kanza Palace. Now I am the owner."
Hitomi says determinedly: "The katana means a lot to me. I must take it back."
"You will never get it back as long as my ani san is here!"
"Enough!" Van roughly interrupts the argument. Without one more word, he beckons Merle to bring the sword over. Merle winces back, her eyes swelling and her breath speeding up: "Not fair!" She chokes upon her own voice.
"Ah... Hum..." A soft cough breaks the deadlock. Hitomi swiftly sweeps her vision to Van's back. There is a tall and brunette man standing there with the sliest expression she has ever seen. Secretly judging him, Hitomi estimates that the man should be at his early twenty. Different from Fanel, he is dressed like a peasant rather than a samurai. His thick long lock of brunette hair is tied back to show his dissipated personality. Smiling faintly towards Hitomi, he shows off his perfect shiny teeth. "Please forgive my interruption, Hime Sama. I am Dryden, Van Sama's personal advisor."
Van casts a skeptical expression at Dryden, inwardly guessing his purpose. Dryden merely nods his head, revealing perfect confidence. "Although Hime Sama WAS the ORIGINAL owner of the katana, Merle Hime took the sword WITHOUT knowing the truth. If she gives it back to you right now, it seems quite unfair to her."
Hitomi crooks one eyebrow: "According to your definition, what is fairness?"
Dryden chuckles: "Let the katana make the decision." Seeing all people's puzzled expression, Dryden continues his mocking attitude: "A sword fight shall make the winner as the owner of the sword."
Merle bulges her eyes out: "What's wrong with you, Dryden san? I know nothing about sword fight. No women on Gaea do."
Dryden touches his head lazily: "Merle Hime is too young for a sword fight. Van Sama can substitute for her. How is that?"
Van hesitates for a moment. "It's not fair for Hitomi Hime, either. She needs a substitute as well."
"I agree the wager. I shall use the sword myself." Hitomi's solemn voice shocks Van.
"What are you talking about? No women can use buki."
"Do not deny the possibility just because you don't know any woman can. Please wait here. I shall be back in a moment." Hitomi haughtily turns back towards the direction of her residence.
"Where are you going?" Dryden stares at Hitomi suspiciously.
Hitomi rolls her eyes disdainfully: "Do you want me to fight in a kimono dress?"
Looking at Hitomi's already faraway body, Van is speechless for a long time. He finally turns to Dryden: "How could you come up with something like this?"
Dryden grins: "Van Sama, it seems that you don't know besides all the feminine qualities Hitomi Kanzaki possesses, she is even good at sword art according to my spying information. However, since her opponent is one of the best kenkaku of Fanelia, she still needs luck to win. This sword belongs to Merle Hime for sure."
Millerna comes to Hitomi as soon as she enters the living room. "You are back early today..." The gentle smile on Millerna's face suddenly freezes. To her, Hitomi looks like an icy statue. Her usual calm and deep eyes are now reflecting a sense of dangerous wildness. "What is wrong, Hitomi? Are you all right?" Millerna follows Hitomi into the bedroom and watches her opening the drawer.
"Here... This one!" Hitomi takes out a neatly piled snowy bushi suit. The bottom of the pleated skirt is embroidered with tiny pink sakura.
Millerna sighs. The suit was originally a kimono dress. She never understands why Hitomi has cut and sewed it into a bushi suit. As Millerna knows, no women need bushi suits. They are only for samurai.
"Hitomi, why do you want to wear it?"
"There is a wager of sword fight between me and Fanel."
"What? Did I hear it wrong? Sword fight? Are you still burning with fever? I'll go to find the doctor."
"Millerna!" Hitomi grasps a slightly hysterical Millerna, shaking her hard: "I am fine. As long as I beat Fanel, I can get my katana back."
"But... Van Sama is the famous kenkaku in Fanelia! Hey, Hitomi! Where are you going? Wait for me..." Millerna quickly runs after Hitomi, who has already rushed out of the door, "Oh, Kami Sama! Can anyone tell me what is going on?"
Van holds his breath when he sees Hitomi walking towards him. Even in his dream he has never thought of girls in bushi suits can be deadly attractive. No, maybe that only works on this strange and exotic Kanza girl. Hitomi's straight long sandy blonde hair is tied back into a high ponytail, proudly sweeping at her back. Her huge emerald pools are now flashing determination and coldness. It is very obvious that the dead King of Kanza has made a right decision to call his daughter "Hitomi". Van feels every time he is caught up by those eyes, his ice fortress inside is shaken unavoidably. Unknown waves of heat surge at his chest. He never tasted his own fragility before this Kanza girl appeared. And he really hates the feeling of weakness.
Dryden's voice brings Van back to the real world: "In order not to produce any injuries, both Van Sama and Hime Sama are going to use bokken instead of katana." Van leisurely takes over two bokken from Dryden and randomly throws one to Hitomi.
They silently stand ten metres away from each other and bow. Neither of them intends to start the first attack. Autumn wind brushes over the cypress trees along the river shore, causing withered leaves to float around the two people like butterflies. The air is electrified, full of magnetic tension. Van closes his eyes. A melancholy picture of the solemn dire battlefield is visualized in his mind. Accompanying the fictitious drum rhythm, the sword in his hand becomes alive. The arc pierces through the thin air, making disturbed birds soaring into the azure clear sky.
Hitomi draws in a deep breath, embracing the nature intimately. She always remembers the numerous lessons taught by her sword masters, Amano and Yukari. The couple used to mention the secret of kendo was the combination of the heart, the nature and the sword. Her agile perception abruptly detects an irregular air stream pushing the natural barrier. Casually turning her wrist, she blocks Van Fanel's first attack.
Two people's eyes crash at each other once more. Hitomi's usually soft voice permeates a wild calling: "I'll fight for my dignity, Fanel. I'll beat you." "Oh, yeah? We will see about that." Van sarcastically twists his mouth. He suddenly loses the bokken and spurs to Hitomi's left leg. Hitomi gingerly back flips into the air like a swallow, avoiding Van's advancement. Van grits his teeth tightly-in his whole life as a warrior, he has never met any woman who was capable of using a sword, and using it well. Hitomi's movements are not hackneyed. Although Van is taking advantage of his strength and aggressiveness, Hitomi tries to obtain success by her agility. Within only one moment of thought, Hitomi has already taken the lead. Her bokken lightly brushes at Van's left ear. Luckily the bokken is not a real katana, otherwise Van's hair would have been cut off.
Van vaguely recognizes Merle's scream at the background. He easily turns to block Hitomi's following five movements. The two people are completely immerged in the perfect world of combat without noticing that they are gradually lingering onto a small bridge at the west side of the lake. Van doesn't realize it until he steps on the wooden arch-this wooden bridge is completely different from the rest of the stone ones at the Residency. Due to its remote position and long-term deterioration, the structure is no longer reliable. On a normal occasion, it is not a problem for one person to pass it. However, it simply won't allow two fighting people to slip away so easily. Worrying about the collapse of the bridge, Van is forced to suddenly slow down his speed.
Hitomi is fully concentrated on Van's assault. Being a knowledgeable sword fighter, she is waiting patiently for Van's fatal mistake. Van's abrupt halt of pressure catches her off guard. The trend of her overly strong actions leads her forward. And inertia, everything is controlled by inertia... According to years of experience, Hitomi tries to dissipate the force by flipping to the side and prepares to land on the bridge balustrade elegantly. However, the whimpering wooden bridge cannot hold on any more, giving up with crumblings.
Falling... Hitomi's fogged mind is flowing with puckery bitterness. She has kept falling since Kanza was superficially conquered. Today's sword fight is another cruel example. Why does Kami Sama prefer to let her bear disappointment once more? She closes her eyes and prepares to touch the chilly autumn water until the strange yet familiar hands clutch at her willowy waist, as tightly as grabbing the life line.
To Van, watching Hitomi's falling is like a predetermined dilemma written by fate. Such fragility... No, he won't allow the adorable china doll to be broken. Without a second thought, his instinct takes the charge and his well-trained forceful arms reach for Hitomi's lithe waist. He gasps when he finds out that she is much lighter than she was a month ago, as weightless as a feather. Hitomi's flushing cheeks bring out a sense of surprise. The previous hateful green eyes are now transmitting a new message-sorrow. At that flickery moment, the two people are bonded as one kind by the tiding of destiny. Yet the length is meteoric. Van suddenly feels an icy and rigid rod bestowed at his neck. Cursing his carelessness inwardly, he catches the sly twinkling in the soulful jades.
"You lost, Fanel."