Author's Ramblings: Lots of Van/Hitomi fluff in this one! Anyhoo, many thanks to my reviewers: Beeky, daisy31, Hikari, and anata no tomodachi! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: Me no own.
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Chapter Five: The Group Reunited
-Still in the Conference Hall-
"DESTROYED?!"
Allen nodded in the affirmative. "By a band of red-haired people, which could only mean the Curansians. I have come here, with King Dryden and Queen Millerna, and a few others including my crew of the Crusade, to ask for shelter."
"You may have it," Van assured. He rang a little bell that was mounted on the wall, and five guards came rushing into the room. "Guards, please escort Mr. Schezar and anyone who accompanied him into guest bedchambers at once."
"Yes sir!" And the guards went out of the room. Chid went with them, for he wanted to see his Auntie Millerna and Uncle Dryden. Before Allen had a chance to go as well, Van called out to him.
"Yes, Van?" Allen answered, as he paused in the doorway.
"Allen, will you help defend Fanelia if the need arises?"
"Of course. You helped defend Austuria once, and you are friend too." Allen smiled.
"And will you…." Van's voiced trailed off as he found difficulty in expressing his question.
"Will I what?" Allen asked, a gleam of curiosity in his blue eyes.
"Will you defend and help protect Fanelia's future Queen?" Van didn't want to have to ask the question, he really didn't want to. But Hitomi's safety could be in question. He could never bring himself to jeopardize her life, even if it meant breaking down enough to ask Allen. Of all people, Allen.
Allen's eyes shined with knowledge. "She came back, didn't she? Then my answer is yes. Hitomi is a dear friend, not to mention the 'Savior of Gaea'."
"Thank you, Allen," Van said as he smiled.
"No problem, Van. No problem," Allen said as he disappeared through the doorway.
-At lunch, after the refugees from Palas, Austuria have rested a bit. Everyone is eating outside in the gardens, in need of the fresh air-
"Thank you again, Van. You really have no idea how much this means to all of us," Dryden reiterated for about the tenth time. He had changed a bit in the past year; he wasn't as immature as he used to be. Sure, he was still a carefree Casanova, but he wooed only his wife Millerna.
"It really is no problem," Van assured. "All from Austuria are friends of Fanelia as well as myself. But let's push all fears and morbid thoughts of the Curansians out of our minds, and concentrate on getting re-acquainted."
Dryden smiled. "For once the King isn't being a soldier!" he exclaimed with a wink, then bit into the chicken—well, something that looked a lot like chicken to Hitomi—that was sitting on the plate before him.
Hitomi looked around the table. She was sitting across from Van and next to Millerna, who was across from Dryden. Gaddes and the rest of the crew from the Crusade were scattered on the grass. Allen was sitting under a tree, who, by his facial expressions, was telling a very interesting story to Chid and Nadya. Most likely the story of how he, the Great Knight Caeli, got wounded by saving the Savior of Gaea herself. It's like the group has been reunited… she thought as she turned to Millerna. "Millerna, it's so nice to see you again!" Hitomi exclaimed as she hugged the Queen of Austuria.
"It's nice to see you too, Hitomi," Millerna said as she returned the hug.
What's that feeling I'm getting? Hitomi thought to herself. It's like…doubleness…
Suddenly her eyes widened with understanding. "Are you…?"
Millerna smiled. "Yes. How did you know? It's only been about a month or so…."
Hitomi's eyes lit up with glee. "I sort of felt it, but more sensed it, you know?"
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I've dubbed it 'woman's intuition'."
Hitomi smiled, but her thoughts were interrupted when a blur of pink, orange, and gold rushed past. One of its components yelled, "VAN-SAMAAAA!!! Why didn't you tell me about this gathering?!"
Van winced and the shrill tone of her whine, but grinned all the same. "I'm sorry, Merle. Why don't you and Aaron join us?"
"Yay!" exclaimed Merle, all anger forgotten.
Then she looked at Hitomi, and Aaron was forgotten. "HITOMI!!!! Is it really you?"
Hitomi laughed softly. "It's me!" The two then embraced like long-lost sisters. And, in truth, they sort of were. Merle was Van's adopted sister, and Hitomi was Van's fiancée. In a short while, they would be sisters-in-law.
"I can't believe it's really you!" Merle exclaimed again.
Hitomi smiled. She turned her attention to the owner of gorgeous golden fluff. "And who is this, Merle?" Her eyes twinkled.
"Oh where are my manners?" Merle asked aloud, smacking her forehead. "Hitomi, this is Aaron. Aaron, this is Hitomi."
This is strange…a cat-woman being…affectionate…with a dog-man? Hitomi mused, while extending her hand to shake Aaron's. Aaron was a buff golden retriever-ish dog-man, with dark brown eyes. He…well, he looked like a dog. That's about all that could be said.
Aaron answered Hitomi's gesture. "I'm pleased to finally meet you, Lady Hitomi. Merle has gone on to no end about how much King Van is obsessed with you."
Hitomi blushed. Van overheard that last statement, and gave the Evil Eye to both Merle and Aaron. But he looked over at Hitomi, and his expression softened. That old dress of Mother's I found for her to wear looks stunning on her… That shade of green dazzles with her eyes…
Hitomi caught his glance. As if on cue, both she and Van excused themselves from the picnic table. He led her to his private garden, where he knew that no one with any sort of common sense would bother them.
-In Van's Private Garden-
They whispered each other's names as he gathered her in his arms, lifting her off the ground and bringing her mouth to his. He pressed her to him, feeling every feminine curve of her lithe body. She accepted his embrace. Her tongue danced with his as they kissed. She felt every muscle of his strong masculine body as he drew her closer to him.
-Meanwhile, back at the picnic table…-
"Where'd they go?" Dryden asked in the most innocent voice he could feign.
"Don't act like you don't know," Millerna chided, while at the same plastering an evil grin on her face.
Dryden leaned over to her, and whispered, "Wanna go spy on 'em?"
"DRYDEN!"
"Just kidding, just kidding!"
They both cracked up laughing. Merle and Aaron, having heard Dryden's whisper with their heightened senses of hearing, joined in the laughter.
-Back in Van's Private Garden-
"Hitomi, I love you…"
"I love you too, Van."
And they kissed again. They fell to the grass, their mouths never separating. Van was to the side and slightly on top of Hitomi. Their breathing grew ragged and heavy, due to emotional bliss. He had to remind himself that they weren't married yet. And so did she.
"You make it…so hard to…resist," he said between kisses.
"Sorry," she apologized as she winked. "But…at least…we ARE…resisting."
"True," he replied huskily. He continued to kiss her, but soon left her lips. He trailed small kisses down the side of her neck, and listened to Hitomi's gasps and moans of pleasure. His wings were aching to burst out of his back; to be caressed by Hitomi's gentle hands. But alas, it was daylight, and someone might see.
"Van," Hitomi sighed.
"Hitomi," Van moaned into her neck. Maybe I should show her the Emersidian and the Rubithyst… he thought as he continued to let his lips assault her. Deciding that he should, he lifted his head from her neck.
Hitomi gave him a questioning look.
"Hitomi…there's something I think you'd like to see."
She nodded, and let Van pull her up from the ground. He led her to his prized Emersidian. "Hitomi, this flower is the Emersidian, the only one in this garden. My garden. I put it here because it reminded me of your eyes," Van explained.
"Awww, that's so sweet!" Hitomi exclaimed as she hugged him.
Van smiled. "And there's something even better about this flower."
"What is even better about this flower?"
"Look at the small flower right beside it."
"It looks like the Emersidian, but it's got brownish red spots on it. Why do you ask?"
"This is probably going to sound strange to you, but…." Van hesitated for a moment, then continued, "The first Emersidian was a female Emersidian. The little one is obviously its 'child'. What's so unique is that…female Emersidians usually accept pollen only from male Emersidians. And I don't HAVE any male Emersidians here…."
Hitomi bent down and looked at the two flowers more carefully. "Well then, which one of these lovely flowers helped create this cute little one?" she asked.
"The Rubithyst."
"The what?"
"The Rubithyst. The royal flower of Fanelia. It's the only flower with that brownish red for petals." Van looked at Hitomi, hoping she would catch his drift.
She did. "Wait a…. You mean…?"
He nodded. "I think…. I think this hybrid flower is a sign."
"Do you…know when…you…and I…will…?" she asked, simply staring at him in awe.
He looked into her green eyes. "No," he answered. "But, I do know…that I…I…I want to. And if and when you want to, we will."
"Oh, Van!" Hitomi exclaimed as she hugged him. "I want to too! But…."
"…we should be married first," Van finished for her. "I feel that way too."
"Yeah," she agreed. "Besides, if I was to…umm…get pregnant soon, you'd only want to protect me more, especially if the Curansians were to attack. And then that vision could come true." She grimaced. "And I don't want that! I want you with me, so we can have a family together!"
"That sounds like a good idea," Van said as he smiled.
"Yup," Hitomi chirped. "But may I ask you something just out of curiosity?"
He nodded.
"Our future child…will he/she have wings? Like you do?"
"There's a very good chance of that happening," he answered. "And if your theory of people from the Mystic Moon being of the same blood as Draconians is true, then there's a definite chance of that happening."
She smiled as she remembered her question from the previous night. "Well, as long as his/her wings are as beautiful as yours, then I don't mind. I just hope that…that…no one will tease or taunt him/her because of that."
"I hope for that too," he whispered as he brushed a strand of light brown hair out of her face.
"Van," she sighed as she leaned onto him.
"Hitomi," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I don't know how much longer I can stand to put it off…."
"I feel like that too, but we have to wait. Our baby doesn't deserve to be conceived while there's possibility of a war."
"I agree. We won't go farther than kissing for a while then," Van said as he lowered his face to taste his beloved's sweet lips again.
And they dropped to the grass again, continuing to kiss each other.
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I so love fluff…. Let me know if you enjoyed it!