AN: Thanks for the reviews! *sniffs* Here is some more sadness... More Hitomi longing *wails* I'm sorry! And I get to make a fool or Aurelia NEXT chapter *cowers* Can't rush things, ya know??? Aiee! Don't hurt me! Well here ya go!

"What do you think Hitomi?" Aurelia chirped cheerfully, turning around gracefully in front of the full length mirror. The gown she was trying on was stunning, simple yet elegant. It clung in all the right places, satin sheets of ivory and pearl tumbling down to form a ravishing skirt.

The two women sat in a room with tall, bay windows allowing the fresh Fanelian sun to pour through the clean glass. Several orchid arrangements were scattered around them, and a single chandelier, from Porsetio, hung from the ceiling.

"It's beautiful," Hitomi remarked sadly, however Aurelia didn't catch on the girl's tone.

"It is, isn't it?" she smiled, "I think this is the one," she added with a clap, stepping off the small platform. "Just imagine, with my hair up, white gloves, and flowers... It's going to be a dream, isn't it?" Aurelia mused, clasping her hands together wistfully. "Van will be so happy...".

Aurelia turned around to look at Hitomi expectantly.

"Mmhmm," Hitomi agreed, uncrossing her legs and getting up from the overly stuffed chair. She was wearing her black track pants, which had been conveniently in her track bag, with a blue shirt which tied up at the front, typically for a man. However, the shirt seemed to grace Hitomi with a sort of different allure, natural, a bit roguish. She sure attracted the attention of many pages in the main hall, much to Aurelia's dismay, although the princess hid it cleverly.

"We're going to have to choose you a dress," Aurelia trailed off, biting her lip, "I know you're a tomboy, but I suppose we could find you a simple dress?" Aurelia suggested.

A flash of irritation crossed Hitomi's eyes. True, she used to be a bit of a tomboy, but she had changed over the past four years, and just because she didn't want to go through the hassle of wearing a dress everyday did not mean she was a tomboy. She was a woman and proud of it.

"Actually, I--" Hitomi began, when the sound of heavy footsteps interrupted them.

"Aurelia, it's time for our walk," came Van's familiar voice, the door knob turning. A pang of pain struck Hitomi.

He's here for her.

"AIEEE!!!" shrieked Aurelia, slamming herself against the door.

"Aurelia? What's going on?" came Van's bewildered voice. "Open up".

"You can't see me in my dress!" she screeched, "I'll send Hitomi to keep you company until I finish changing," she added, motioning with her hand for Hitomi to go.

Hitomi sighed, not loud enough for the princess to hear. Not that she minded at all, spending time with Van, but being ordered to just took away it's appeal. Opening the door a crack and slipping out, Hitomi shut the door and looked up.

For a moment, a flash of the Van she once knew appeared before her eyes. Eyes slightly troubled, chin proud, hair unruly, and the look. The look he used to give her oh so long ago. The look that caused shivers to run up her spine, the look that caused a warm feeling to creep from the pit of her stomach, traveling through her igniting every single nerve in her body.

Making the unfortunate mistake of blinking, the current Van reappeared, eyes clear, face a bit more humble, hair still unruly, and heart not hers.

"How is she?" he asked, turning to Hitomi like a comrade, throwing her an easy smile.

"Her dress is nice," she murmured, toying with the edge of her shirt. "And she's fine," she added.

"That's good," he smiled, and Hitomi willed her lips to curl slightly. She met his gaze for a brief moment, then looked back down, and Van cleared his throat slightly.

"I'm really happy that you're coming," he added, "There's nothing better then having one of my best friends there to see me on the happiest day of my life."

"Sure," she agreed quietly. A heavy weight rested on Hitomi's heart, and her eyes saddened slightly. Van nibbled on his lip nervously, slightly wary from Hitomi's silent behavior.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, touching her arm slightly, her romantic side willing to believe it was tenderly. His reddish brown eyes poured into hers, searching, questioning.

"Nothing," she mumbled, her emerald green eyes misting over slightly. Van took a step forward, as if to give her an assuring hug, but thought better of it.

"I'm sorry we haven't had time to catch up," he commented quietly, "How about after your session with Darien we talk?".

Hitomi had requested to be trained as a soldier earlier; to sword fight, learn hand to hand combat, archery, and other basic skills.

'Hitomi, are you sure about this?' Van asked, not sure if it was wise to allow her to do this.
'I don't want to frolic about the palace all day like a useless twit!' she replied, throwing her hands up to emphasize her point.
'It's what Aurelia does,' Merle smirked, only loud enough for the girl from the Mystic Moon to hear.

"Van, I..." Hitomi began, her voice cracking slightly, when the sound of the door knob alerted them. Stepping away from Hitomi, as if he were doing something wrong, Van averted Hitomi's intense gaze as he greeted his fiancée.

"Hello," he whispered, stealing a kiss from her pink coated mouth, not noticing the crest fallen look on Hitomi's features. The vice gripped on her heart tightened, and she desperately took another quiet gasp of oxygen, trying to look nonchalant.

"Hello," she giggled back, clasping his hand with her own, "Ready for our walk?".

"Mmhmm," he replied, and Hitomi coughed nervously, feeling awkward around the public displays of affection.

"Oh, Hitomi, do you want us to escort you to the fighting arena?" asked Aurelia, looking up from Van's reddish brown eyes, having the grace to allow a faint embarrassed flush to appear on her face.

"No, it's alright," she assured him, "I'll just be going now--".

"Okay," Aurelia cut her off, squeezing Van slightly with her hand. "Well, maybe we'll choose your gown tomorrow!" she cheerfully added, sweeping Van away. Van gave her a curt nod, and whispered something into Aurelia's ear that made her giggle. Hitomi blinked her green eyes carefully and took a deep breath, feeling slightly jealous.

Back then, the only person Van wanted to make happy was Hitomi, with the exception of Merle, of course.

"I'm a bit tired," Van whispered to his fiancée, and to his dismay Aurelia began to laugh.

"Sorry, Van," she giggled, "Just I didn't think you ever slept," she smiled playfully. Van threw her a smile, but inside he was thinking something else.

She kept everything so cool, collected.
But her emerald eyes, they were so intense. It's her eyes that get me.
I wonder what's wrong.

Hitomi was now alone, standing rather awkwardly in the middle of a grand hallway, a few servants sneaking glances at her.

He didn't even look back.

Holding her head up resolutely, Hitomi strode with a false confidence across the red carpet towards the direction of the arena.

***

"Hitomi?" came a voice from behind her. Hitomi's heart sank as she realized it wasn't Van's voice.

"Hey Merle," replied Hitomi, brushing a few strands of brown hair away from her face.

"Van wanted me to tell you that he had prior commitments to attend to and couldn't make seeing you," informed Merle, looking rather mad, "And Aurelia has requested to push the wedding to be held in two days as her brother will be going to sea, and she wishes for him to be at the wedding," Merle took a second to scowl. "Thus she would like me, as her lap dog, to help pick you a dress," Merle exhaled sharply, and managed to crack her knuckles while still looking like a lady.

"She called you a lap dog?" Hitomi asked, a wry smile on her face, hiding the cold feeling she was experiencing. A kind of cold so intense it was indistinguishable from fire. The wedding is in two days? "Shouldn't she have called you a lap cat?"

"Okay, so she didn't call me her lap dog, or even a servant. But the way she gives me that phony smile, all I'm-so-cute drives me insane," growled Merle, toying with the pendant on her neck, it being in danger of breaking from the violent jerk in her hands.

"Well where should we head then?" asked Hitomi, slapping on the smile she had grown accustomed to over the past few days. That was the process that Hitomi followed.

Slap a smile and bottle up your feelings to cry out at night.

"You're taking this awfully well," grumbled Merle, her tail flicking behind her as she led Hitomi through the palace to the royal tailor. If only you knew. They passed by many beautiful white marble statues, and Merle occasionally offered a bit of information on them. Hitomi remained silent, as her eyes began to shine with threatening tears, her lips parting, chapped,

They couldn't be saved...
Skulls cracked....
Hitomi, Touji wasn't that great anyways...
Good luck on your exam, honey....
Do you want to come with us to the toy store or stay home and prepare the cake?
I'm moving to London...
Your little brother had a punctured lung...
I'm sorry...
Will you attend our wedding?
...one of my best friends...
Don't tell my parents but I'm moving with Amano...
It's my birthday, Hitomi!
Ms. Kanzaki, your parents and brother were just in a car crash...
Van will be so happy...
Marry for love and love only......
Blood loss....
They couldn't be saved...
Skulls cracked....
Hitomi, Touji wasn't that great anyways...
Good luck on your exam, honey....
Do you want to come with us to the toy store or stay home and prepare the cake?
I'm moving to London...
Your little brother had a punctured lung...
I'm sorry...
Willyouattendourwed--

The world turned black as darkness crumpled Hitomi to the carpeted floor.

***

"Hitomi! Hitomi!"

Hitomi only faintly heard Merle's cries through her state of half consciousness, her voice reverberating off the walls of her head. A damp cloth was pressed to her forehead, and Hitomi felt something small and wet trickle down her cheek.

Merle thought it was a droplet of water from the cloth.

It was a tear.

***

"Hitomi," came a deep male voice. So whole, so comforting, so warm and familiar. Just the sound of his voice made her feel safe and snug. A hand with lightly calloused fingers brushed her forehead, moving strands of golden brown hair away from her gracefully shut eyes. Hitomi savored the moment carefully, and felt a sort of comfort spread through out her being.

"Van," murmured Hitomi involuntarily from under a mountain of silk sheets. She fluttered her eyes open, and found Van looking down at her, his brown knit in concern. How she longed to be cradled in his strong arms and just cry her sorrows out, to finally kiss his sweet lips for the first time. But she would not be his first kiss, Aurelia had taken that prize.

But he would not be yours, an evil voice rang out in her head. Hitomi felt a sick fire play in her gut.

Is this how Van felt when he saw us on the bridge?

"I shouldn't have let you train, Darien must have over worked you, I shouldn't let you..." Van mumbled guiltily, and Hitomi jerked up.

"No, he didn't over work me," assured Hitomi quickly, her green eyes wide, "I... I... I just lacked water," she finished lamely, as she gently rested her head back against the headboard. Van studied Hitomi, and took the moment to fully notice the changes in her. Her lips were plumper, her eye lashes fanning out to reveal devastating emeralds. Her skin was still creamy and silky, the curves at her chest much more prominent and the gentle line of her slender hips were evident under the sheets.

"You sure?" Van inquired, his question hanging in the air. Both of them knew it was a rhetorical question, and that he was saying it was a mere courtesy.

"Van, why didn't you tell me the wedding was being moved to be held in two days?" Hitomi asked, her voice holding an accusing tone that she wished she could hide. She saw an emotion flash across Van's eyes, as she took as pity.

"I--" began Van. But no, Hitomi didn't want him to know she still cared for him. She couldn't stand if everyone looked at her.

Look at the girl who couldn't move on with her life. She loves him but he does not love her.

"Because, you know," continued Hitomi, interrupting him, "I think it's great because that way you won't have all that annoying anticipation and you'll get to be... Be...." Hitomi stopped for a moment, blinking back tears. Her mind was screaming at her, and a drumming was playing in her ears. She dragged her teeth slightly on her bottom lip, and started again. "Be happy, and start your life with Aurelia sooner. I just wondered why you didn't share the.... The wonderful news," Hitomi forced out, stumbling over the last syllable of "wonderful".

Looking at her, Van lowered his gaze slightly. He looked up again, and flashed her a smile.

"Sorry I didn't tell you, I was just happy to see Aurelia, bride groom pre-marriage symptoms," he grinned. Hitomi pretended to nod knowingly, however under the blanket she was clutching the bed sheets tightly, her knuckles white.

"So," she said, "Excited about tomorrow?"

"Gods, yes," Van admitted, his eyes dancing with a happy flame. "I wish it were right now, oh gods Hitomi, she's just wonderful, she's so selfless, kind, and I just..." he trailed off, his face alight. "Well," he added bashfully, "I'm sure when you get married you'll feel the same. Then I can make fun of your giddiness. Perhaps I can set you up with Allen?" he grinned.

"Allen's not really my type," Hitomi stated, really wishing she could leave and escape these emotions. Hurt and indescribable pain rang through her.

"Oh, what is your type?" Van questioned, his reddish brown eyes mischievous.

"Well, I do believe there was this nice milk man I saw once, perhaps I'll move to the country side with him," choked Hitomi, exiting the room before Van could respond.

Shame he didn't catch on to her tone of voice or her eyes.

***

"Emperor Garnaut, is it time to release the Hybrids?"

"I will inform you when it is time!" Garnaut yelled, throwing his goblet of wine at the soldier's head.

"I'm sorry, Lord Garnaut," the soldier whimpered, bowing as he backed out of the room.

***

"Dearly beloved, the uniting of two holy bodies shall commence today, forming a love true and strong enough for the gods to smile down upon. Though the I am sure King Van and Princess Aurelia are already quite bonded in mind, spirit, and heart, we are here today to witness the official bonding as husband and wife, King and Queen," the monk announced. Aurelia's hands were held gently in Van's, and he smiled at her, and her only, looking at no one else in the room. Hitomi stood near the back, her back resting against the cool of a pillar. She was glad that many other women were crying, as she could cry freely. However her tears were not of joy. They were of pure sorrow.

"There are three stages of this blessed ceremony. Principio, comisión, and sello. We shall begin with Principio," the monk continued, as teals trickled down Hitomi's face. Aurelia looked stunning in her wedding gown, the light illuminating the graceful beauty of her face. She couldn't bring herself to look at Van. She had experienced too much pain last night to bring that all back again. Instead she looked up at the ceiling, willing herself to accept what was to happen. Just be happy for him. Throwing a glance back at the altar, Hitomi noticed that blood red rose petals were being strewn around the happy couple, something to do with blood and health and death. She wasn't listening.

I'll find someone new.

But she couldn't. Who could replace those reddish brown eyes, so warm, so beautiful, that raven hair, that smile she loved to win. That low voice, so gentle, that passion, loyalty, that...

Well I was replaced easily, thought Hitomi bitterly. And it seemed that everyone loved Aurelia, aside from Merle. But Merle always seemed to be a little edgy with new people, and she would probably grow to love Aurelia too. The thing was Hitomi couldn't find any reason to hate Aurelia. She was....

Perfect, Hitomi thought sadly. Perfect for the king.

"And now, Principio is done," the monk concluded, "And we shall seal this stage with a kiss".

***

"Now".

***

Van gently put one of his hands on the small of Aurelia's back, and leaned in. Their lips were hovering over each other's, and Hitomi pressed her hand against the gratifying cool of the large entrance door.

"I love you," came a soft whisper.

The entire cathedral heard the king's words, and smiled. The marriage would be a loving and bountiful one.

The doors crashed open just as Van's lips touched Aurelia's. Hitomi's breath caught in her throat as cold hands encircled her waist, tilting her head to the side. A dagger was produced, and her blood ran cold. Hitomi couldn't move, had trouble breathing. It was like she was drowning, and a shark was coming. Just let him come and end the pain. The dagger pierced the skin just below her collar bone, and a small thin trickle of warm red liquid trailed down her neck, as the soldier, uncorked a small bottle on his neck and captured the precious droplets.

Can you hear my voice
Do you hear my song
It's a serenade
So your heart can find me
And suddenly your flying down the stairs
Into my arms, baby

Before I start going crazy
Run to me, Run to me
Cause I'm dying...

AN: GYAH! NO THEY ARE NOT MARRIED! Remember, they have to go through THREE stages to be married! They have gone through ONE! SO THEY ARE NOT MARRIED!!!! *has to make that clear* Haha, I know many people are probably thinking "Wouldn't they stop the soldier, wouldn't they notice" and such, WELL first off, everyone's so stunned they can't move for a moment, but there's another reason too!

Van: Er, what is it?

Cinderella: Duh, it's BECAUSE THEY'RE HYBRIDS!

Van: ....?

Cinderella: *sighs* Next chapter buddy boy, next chapter.

Van: Oh, so when will that come.

Cinderella: When I get inspiration and when I get reviews ^_^

Van: Ah.

So review! Ta ta for now... If you want some NC-17 stuff, haha, that's actually becoming interesting with a plot, go to mediaminer.org and look for the story "Strangers" by JadedMermaid... Haha, that's me.... ^^;; LOL, well REVIEW OR I WILL NEVER CONTINUE! hehehe