Author's Ramblings: This chapter is dedicated to Beeky and daisy31. Thanks to both of you for reviewing! ^-^ And Beeky, thank you for suggesting that I post this as PG-13; you're right that it falls under that category. I'm just so used to writing R-rated stuff that I chose R out of habit. Ehehe. ^-^¿
Disclaimer: Me no own.
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Chapter Three: Romantic Interlude
-Shortly after dinner, in Van's bedchamber (after Chid and Nadya were led into guest bedchambers)-
"So, did you enjoy the newly rebuilt Dining Room?" Van asked Hitomi.
"Yes, it's very pretty," Hitomi replied with a smile. "And the food was wonderful as well."
"I'm glad you liked it." He paused in thought. If only I could tell her how much I love her…I NEED to tell her before the Light comes to take her away… He gave a slight resolute nod as he asked, "Hitomi?"
"Yes?"
He gulped, suddenly nervous. "I…I missed you. I've missed you a lot." He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "It's been…. You have no idea how hard this past year has been without you. I need…. I love you, Hitomi. I'm in love with you…."
"Van…." She gazed softly into his eyes. "I'm in love with you too."
The two smiled warmly and embraced timidly. After a while, he slipped his fingers under her chin, slowly bringing her eyes to meet his. Beautiful… He slowly lowered his face to hers, and his lips gently brushed against hers. Looking into her deep green eyes, Van found love, trust, and…encouragement. He passionately deepened the kiss, and Hitomi responded. She opened her mouth to his probing tongue. They separated only for the necessary oxygen.
Hitomi blushed as she said his name softly, "Van…."
"Hitomi…." Thoughts came unbidden to him as his eyes beheld her. He wanted so badly to touch her in places he had never touched a woman, and was fairly certain she had never been touched in such places. He shouted at himself, giving a stark reminder that this was too soon, that their reunion should be soft and sweet, not rough and passionate.
He kissed her again anyway.
Hitomi let her hands play in his hair, lovingly weaving her fingers in and out of his raven locks. He let his arms wrap around her, one hand at the small of her back and the other supporting her head as they continued to kiss. He slowly led her out onto the balcony, never separating from her. He lifted her up on the wide railing, so wide that from which there was practically no possibility of falling. They continued to kiss, and only paused when Van decided to take off his shirt and let his wings come out.
Hitomi lovingly touched the downy feathers right where his wings joined his back. He smiled, and closed his eyes as he felt her caresses. She moved her hands along both of his wings, tenderly feeling every feather. She didn't get very far though, for his wings were so large that they extended beyond her reach.
Finally, curiosity got the better of her. "Do they hurt when they come out?"
"Sometimes, yes," he answered. "But they never hurt when they come out for you," he added with a smile.
"Really?" she asked with wonder in her eyes.
"Yes. Because I think that there is a part of them that knows you truly appreciate their beauty." He smiled.
"I do." She smiled.
They kissed again.
Suddenly, Hitomi felt a gust of wind. Van held her to him as he flew off the balcony, and into the night.
-Meanwhile, on another balcony-
"They really love each other, don't they?" Nadya asked Chid.
"Yeah, I think they do," he answered.
"How did you meet Lady Hitomi?"
"Well, she came with King Van, Auntie Millerna, and Allen Schezar when she had a vision that Zaibach would invade Freid. She was the one who figured out that a Doppelganger was posing as Plaktu."
"Wow! I still can't believe I met her. I mean, she's the Savior of Gaea!"
"That she is." Chid smiled.
"Do you think that she and King Van will get married?" Nadya's eyes sparkled.
"I really hope so!" Chid exclaimed. "Van is only truly happy when he is with her."
Nadya's eyes suddenly went very wide.
"What is it?" asked Chid, concerned.
She simply pointed. Chid looked in the direction of her finger, and gasped. What he saw, to put it very bluntly, was King Van making out passionately with Hitomi. Gee, who would've ever guessed… he thought sarcastically to himself.
"Should we be watching this?" Nadya managed to squeak.
Chid only giggled. "I don't think they even know another human exists. They won't notice us. We'll just watch for a while, and if things…get…uhh…umm…too 'grown-up', we'll go back inside. Okay?"
"Okay…."
And then they both were taken by surprise. Two blurs of white hurtled out of Van's back. "He…he…he has wings!" Nadya exclaimed in a whisper.
"Allen and Auntie Millerna told me about this…. But I never believed them," Chid whispered as well.
The two continued to watch in awe. They noticed how Van enjoyed it when Hitomi touched the bases of his wings; how the large feathers at the tips of his wings stretched out as if in ecstasy. Both gasped as Van's wings gave a gentle flap. They watched he and Hitomi fly off of his balcony.
"Come on, Nadya," Chid said as he led her back inside. "It's about time we went to bed. See you in the morning."
"Good night, Chid," Nadya said as she left his bedchamber for her own. She leaned against the wall outside her door. She blushed as she wondered what would feel like if Chid kissed her like Van kissed Hitomi.
-Back up in the Sky-
"Where are we going?" Hitomi asked Van.
"To a very special place," answered Van, with a wink.
A few minutes later, Van glided to a landing. Hitomi gasped as she took in her surroundings. This is where Van's mother and father met! "Van…it's so beautiful here!"
Van smiled. "I felt that I should bring you here."
"Why?"
"Because…well, I've always had this feeling that my parents' spirits still linger here. And, I want them to see you with me. I want them to see how much we love each other," Van explained.
"You're so sweet!"
"Thanks." Van smiled again. For a moment, they looked into each other's eyes. Brownish red gazed into green, and green gazed into brownish red.
Hitomi finally broke the silence. "Van, can I ask you something that I've been thinking about lately?"
"Sure."
"You know how the Atlanteans were from Earth, from the Mystic Moon, before they created Gaea and sent their future generations here?"
"Yeah, why?" Van was getting curious.
"Well, there is a legend on Earth that the Atlanteans were the only civilization at the time. If that is true, wouldn't the people of Earth be of the same blood as Draconians, but still be Atlantean?"
"I never thought about that before, actually. It certainly makes sense that it would be that way. But you don't have wings," Van said, sweeping his hands over Hitomi's back.
"True," Hitomi affirmed, letting Van's hands roam over her.
"My turn. Can I ask you something that's been on my mind lately?" Van asked as his lips curled into a sly grin.
"Sure."
Van, with wings still spread, knelt on one knee. He held Hitomi's hand, slightly wetting it out of nervousness. Then he began, "Hitomi, I…I know that we are both relatively young, but I already know that you are the only woman I will ever love. I can only see myself being in love with you. Hitomi…." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Will you do me the honor of being my soul mate, my wife, my life companion…as well as Queen of Fanelia? Will you marry me, Kanzaki Hitomi?" Please say yes, please say yes…I don't care what the Royal Council says, just please say yes!
Tears came to her eyes as she responded joyously, "YES!! Oh, Van! Yes! Yes!"
And they were in the air again, as Van flew a victory flight, while holding Hitomi as close as possible to himself.
They returned to the balcony only moments later. They were exhausted, especially Van from flying so much. Both fell asleep moments later in each other's arms on Van's bed, which would hopefully soon become their bed.
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Let me know how you liked this chapter. There's more where it came from. Thank you for reading! ^-^