Wow, now part seven. It's been a few weeks, but I got most of the stuff I needed to get done, done. And now, here's the part that many have been looking forward to!

SabineballZ: It's happened before. I've seen it on the news: ten year olds getting pregnant. And even two year olds starting puberty. They're rare events, but they've happened. Ahiru was just special, like them.

Beeky: No offense taken! I've just seen it translated that way before, so I used it. I'll get it fixed eventually, when I've got more time on my hands. And thanks for the offer... there's lots of Japanese I like to use, but I'm not very experienced and could use help making translations to Japanese.

Sakura-SA: I'm glad things are clearing up for you! (and thank you for submitting that story to NAO, we appreciated it greatly)

Avelyn Lauren: Arigatou for your support, and don't worry: I'm making it as confusing as I can, but still giving the details that people need to not make their heads spin too much.


Part Seven :: Love's Games

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"I see," were the only words that the blond haired knight could think of to say as he stared at Fanelia's king. To say the least, Van's story was a little strange. "So, you're telling me that you got her pregnant, at the age of nine years?"

Van nodded slightly, staring out the open window. The only source of light in the room now. If Ahiru had taken up residence in Hitomi's body, then there was a chance that Hitomi no longer existed, and that the grudge that Ahiru had held against him was now reborn.

"I was scared... I didn't know what to do, so I told her to leave and never come back..." he said softly. Allen nodded thoughtfully.

"I see..."

"No you don't!" Van snapped. "I loved her, I really loved her!"

"Then why did you send her away?"

"Because," Van replied in a voice lower than a whisper, "I was so scared and I didn't know what else to do. What would my people have thought of me? And what did her people think of her? My advisors said the right thing would have been to kill the unborn child, but... I just couldn't do that. Not to her. She wanted that child... and she wanted to be with me..."

He blinked back tears and leaned back in his well furnished seat with a scornful laugh.

"I loved her and yet I wasn't man enough to handle the situation... I bet she hates me for it..."

-- * --

"Ahiru, would you ever give Van another chance?" Hitomi asked boredly.

No.

SHe sighed at the bland reply. Ahiru was strong-willed, and wasn't going to let Van back inside her heart anytime soon. Not that she could blame her much. What Van had done was pretty cowardly and low. A low that she didn't think he was capable of, but apparently he really was.

"Nee, Ahiru?"

Yeah?

"I get the idea that you still like Van... If you didn't, wouldn't we be gone with Kiitsu and Miko by now?" she asked, then hastily continued, "I doubt that you like Allen too much. He's so controlling. So why haven't you taken us with them? Back to Andrealine or something?"

There was silence from the spirit, followed by a few more moments of silence. Hitomi could tell that there were still feelings shared between them, even if they were mostly hurt. Ahiru still liked Van. No doubt in her mind there. But as for Van's feelings... that was a big blank in her mind. He didn't mention Ahiru once since. He just asked how she got those powers, when she got them, and why hadn't she told him about them. All that seemed to matter to him was that she could be his way to victory, his way to defeat Folken and Dornkirk.

In his eyes, she was no more than a simple tool for him to use.

You shouldn't get such foolish ideas, Hitomi. I hate Van... If he didn't mean so much to you, I'd kill him the moment I set eyes on him.

Hitomi flinched at Ahiru's words. She cared for Van too much for her to kill him? Was it possible? Van was stubborn, arrogant, but when he wanted to be, he could show how much he cared for her. He knew just the right thing to do, on the rare occasion, but often he made a complete ass of himself.

"I don't care for him that much," Hitomi sighed. "He's just been there a lot, I guess... We save each other's lives... and, I think he cares for me. Maybe not in the way I'd like him too... or maybe he doesn't know how to say it right and panics."

See? You like him.

"So what if I do? You do too."

He's only using you - err, us.

"We don't know that. I think maybe he does... you and I look alike. I mean, he does a lot of stuff to protect me... What if it's because he sees you in me?" she suggested.

Ahiru scoffed. Foolish girl...

"At least I'm not in denile..." she muttered.

What was that?!

-- * --

Merle tilted her head to the side as she watched Hitomi talking to someone non-existant. She was strange, all right, and had obviously changed since that day. Never before would she have 'disobeyed' her beloved Allen so. Well, maybe to save Van's life, but not to go out and talk to herself. That was strange, even for the Hitomi she had gotten to know.

'What is she doing? Lord Van and Allen will look for her soon... unless they get really busy... I wonder why she's so different... is it really Lady Ahiru? Is she really back?' Merle wondered silently, still watching them from her hiding place.

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Ee... short. Gomen, I couldn't think of too much. Basically the title of this part was supposed to symbolize the fact that love plays around with your heart, even when you're so certain you feel one way over another. That's just the basic meaning, beyond that... I don't know. I'm having trouble thinking today, but I think it's an okay part. Now can you guess the pairing? Heh, a little too obvious, maybe?

- Nekura