"If you want to kill yourselves I'll do it for you and save you the foolishness of wishing to commit suicide."

Silence ensued the harsh statement, the only noise being the faint groaning of the ship. A map of Gaea was unrolled onto the table, two candles holding down the ends to keep the paper from rolling up. The blade of Jade's sword shone against the candle light as Allen looked down at the blade, the weapon pointed directly at him. Jade then changed the direction of the sword and pointed it at Van, her face deadly calm. Van stared down the cold length, then looked into Jade's eyes. He remembered that day when he had drawn his sword at Allen, how the knight had told him not to, how that knights didn't draw for play and had to meet steel with steel. However, Van realized why Allen wasn't saying anything to Jade about drawing.

Jade wasn't playing. She'd kill them, perhaps not right now but the look in her eyes ensured that she wouldn't be afraid to follow through with her threat. A sobering thought settled on Van's shoulders after flickering his gaze away from hers.

She had nothing to lose.

Jade then sheathed her sword and planted her hands flat on the table. Her mahogany eyes studied the map as Allen sat down.

"Wouldn't negotiating be the best step?" Allen ventured again, "If he declines then we have every reason to declare war."

Brown eyes flashed as the two men could see the cheek bones of Jade's face sharpen. She inhaled as if to say something, but stopped.

"As a Knight and a King, your duty is to protect your countries. As a Knight and a King, it is also your decision on your chosen action. I warn you severely that Garnaut is never to be underestimated, and that negotiating is a very dangerous risk." The woman leaned back, done, and looked from blue orbs to maroon.

Allen felt his head pound slightly as he stared down at the table, and clenching his jaw he frowned.

"May I have a private word with Van?" he finally said, and Jade nodded.

"Yes, of course," Jade bowed respectfully, and getting up she slid the door shut behind her. Van chewed on his bottom lip, staring down at the table, unsure of what to say. There was an awkward silence, just the faint sound of the ship running.

"Van," Allen began, and the young king lifted his head, "Merle and I saw you out there, when you had a choice…"

Van felt his body go ill as his head suddenly weighed a thousand pounds.

"...between Hitomi and Darien or Aurelia," Allen said slowly, laying his hands flat on the table. Knuckles turned white as Van curled them unconsciously into stressed fists, his cheeks flushing as he refused to look the knight in the eye. Damn it all, why did Allen have to pause so dramatically? Van could feel his throat tighten with dryness, and felt his blood pressure intensifying as Allen gathered his next sentence. "Don't feel guilty," Allen said, and Van met the knight's blue eyes in genuine surprise. "It was a choice between honor and love. In battle, decisions are never easy, Van," Allen continued seriously, "But you've earned the wisdom to decide, and in no way was one option better then the other."

Van swallowed, his brow furrowed. He then took a deep breath. Allen looked at the king, waiting patiently for a response.

"Merle, get to the ship now!" Allen roared as he saw the cat girl weaving through the rubble.
"No!" Merle shouted just as forcefully, "I have a horrible feeling about Darien, and I'll be damned Allen Schezar if I let it pass."
"I'll check on him," Allen began impatiently, soot smeared on his face, sweat dripping down his temple.
"Let me come! I'm not a child," Merle snapped, moving past Allen when suddenly he grabbed her by the shoulders and drew her back.
"Oh gods..." he trailed off, and Merle was about to shoulder herself away when she stopped.
"Oh my god," she echoed, horrified as she felt cold suddenly. Several soldiers were in a ring around Hitomi and Darien, and Merle felt her knees go weak. "Help them, please Allen," she cried hysterically, Allen slightly taken a back as she nearly fell the ground. He held her up by her waist, and as she regained her footing he panned the horizon.
"There's Van," Allen muttered to himself, and about to sprint towards Hitomi and Darien, expecting Van to head in the same direction, he stopped when the king went in the opposite way.
"He's heading towards Aurelia!" shrieked Merle, and about to run after Van, Allen exhaled sharply while grabbing at Merle. As she clawed to get away, Allen looked to where Van was running, and saw Aurelia standing alone.
"It's his decision Merle! Don't follow him," Allen ordered fiercely, and Merle went limp, sobbing into Allen's shoulder. "Go back to the ship so I can stop worrying about you and help Darien and Hitomi," Allen said, trying to calm Merle down.
"I'm not leaving," Merle said suddenly, her tone deadly flat.
"Merle, you're going to get yourself killed!" Allen bellowed, and Merle simply made a move to go towards Darien. "That's it," Allen sighed sharply, and hoisting Merle over his shoulder he used his free hand to unsheathe his sword, heading towards the ship quickly.

"I should have chosen Hitomi and Darien," Van said quietly. Allen ruffled his blonde hair exasperatedly, and leaned forward.

"If you had chosen Hitomi and Darien, Aurelia could be dead right now as well," Allen explained reasonably, "She was alone, with no combat skills whatsoever, no weapon. While you were helping Hitomi and Darien, she could have been killed in an instant."

"But she was in no immediate danger," Van shouted, pushing his chair out violently as he stood up, and Allen looked up at the enraged king calmly.

"Darien was an amazing swordsman, and Hitomi is doing very well for someone with such little training. They had a chance of buying time."

Van turned to the wall, his expression broken.

"I had to make a decision as well Van," Allen confessed, "I took Merle back to the ship. I could have let her stay on the grounds, and possibly saved Darien's life. But I took her back to the ship. She was in no immediate danger either."

"I'm going to go on deck to think," Van finally replied, "I leave our actions up to you."

***

Hitomi stretched luxuriously, basking in the warmth that had gathered in her cocoon of blankets. Opening one emerald green eyes with a yawn, she lifted her head before plopping it back down onto her pillow. She felt happier then she had since she arrived on Gaea, and opening both her eyes she stared at the ceiling for a bit before propping herself up on her elbows.

"Mmph..." she groaned, stretching out her muscles. Lolling her head from side to side, she took a deep breath before swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Noticing her track bag on the floor, Hitomi unzipped it and sighed in relief as she tugged out a pair of pants and and a racer back tank top. Changing out of her gown, the neckline stained with blood, Hitomi felt a million times lighter when the familiar material slid down her skin.

And then she felt sick. Home, it all came rushing back. Her lighthearted expression sobered, and leaving her room Hitomi made her way up to the deck. She needed to think.

***

It was exceedingly cold, up at this altitude, but Van didn't care as the air smarted his face. His eyes were serious, his jaw set as his arms were crossed, leaning against the railing. Washes of ethereal white, light grays, and blues painted across the sky as cirrus clouds scattered around. His ears pricked as he heard footsteps breaking the calming silence, however he didn't move his gaze.

"Oh, sorry," came a familiar voice, and Van turned and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Hitomi," Van breathed, and Hitomi smiled briefly. In a way, she was sorry to see Van back to the way she once knew him, but it was in a selfish way, a kind relief.

"I just came up here to catch some fresh air," Hitomi half lied, and Van nodded.

"I came here to think," he shrugged, skating his eyes to the floor, then out to the sky.

"Oh? About what?" Hitomi questioned, hesitantly walking closer and taking a place beside him. Van bit down on his teeth, his grip tightening on the rail as he wagered on whether to tell her or not. A moment much longer then the expected time slot for an average reply passed, but Hitomi said nothing, just waited patiently.

"About my actions on the battle field," he finally said quietly. Hitomi looked up at him in shock. Was he feeling guilty?

Memory defeats us all...
I touch the stagnant water and muddy walls,
Of the trench where you've been sleeping...

"Don't feel bad," Hitomi said gently, "You shouldn't." She said it so surely, yet so kindly, and Van looked into her green eyes curiously.

And there's nothing there worth keeping,
There's nothing there worth keeping,
Or believe it...

"Shouldn't I?" Van asked rhetorically, and he stopped there. She knew what he was thinking. There was a groan from the ship, then a soothing silence. "How did you end up on Gaea again," Van inquired after a while, and Hitomi's easy composure stiffened.

"My parents died, and I wished to be back here," Hitomi said quietly, stepping backwards. Van felt terrible, and strangely, feeling bad about Darien's death was nothing compared to arising such a heartbroken expression in her eyes.

When you're left with only a bullet,
I'll bring the trigger and a promise to pull it...

"I'm sorry," Van said sincerely, and Hitomi tried to smile, but failed. Suddenly she burst into tears, and crossing her arms firmly, she looked away, trying to stop the salty drops from streaming down her face. A hiccup escaped her throat, and she tried to turn away before Van ineptly opened his arms to hug her. Hitomi stepped into his embrace, and gently he closed his arms around her as she sobbed her heartache out. As her warm, salty tears dampened his neck, he tightened his arms around her as she shook. Green eyes were clamped shut as maroon ones were filled with worry, and felt horrible for not being there for her sooner.

So with this kiss I promise you,
I'll never forget what you did for me
You did for me...

Rubbing her back comfortingly, Van smelt her golden brown hair, a mixture of soot and coconut entering his nostrils. He had never seen Hitomi cry so hard, and kissing her softly on the head he held her tight. Blushes streaked like lightening across their faces, and Van froze slightly.

"I miss them so much," Hitomi sobbed, and Van nodded, less sure of himself now.

"I know," he mumbled, "I know."

I'll give you enough time to regain your composure,
To reconstruct a heart that's torn apart from overexposure,
I know forever isn't long enough to forget the faces and places...

She stopped crying after a moment, but they stayed in their position. Once they parted it was back to reality.

...Which is why Van wanted to curse Allen, that is until the knight spoke.

"Van," came Allen's voice, the sound of his footsteps approaching. Abruptly Hitomi parted out of Van's arms, and stood calmly beside the young king. As the knight's head appeared from the stairs, he climbed them until he faced the two formally. He took a deep breath, his face grave. "We're going to attack the Dantele Empire." The words didn't fully hit the two for a few seconds. It was then Hitomi felt her body grow weak in the joints, and without thinking Van grabbed for Hitomi's hand. They tightened their grips, and readied themselves for the first battle.