Disclaimer: Don't own Escaflowne, or it's characters.
A/N: Hope this chapter isn't as bad as the last, I didn't really liked it. Thank you all for reviewing and reading. Hope you enjoy this chapter. ^_^
Fireangel: *blushes* Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I know, Van is such a baka *smacks him on head too*! ^_^ *dodges* Please no flamethrower 2003! ^_^
MysticalDreamer: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you like it! Here is the answer to your question *smacks Allen*. ^_^
Charizard: I won't forget to bash Allen, how could I? ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!
Love Witch: I know what you mean, on Saturday nights my clothes are spread everywhere, too. When a shout echoes through the house ' I need new clothes' ^_^ They will be together soon, can't wait to write that scene!
Lady Luna: So happy that you liked the mud scene! Thank you for the nice review, hope you keep reading! ^_^
DragonTamer9741: Hope the chap didn't get out too late, I tried to post it as soon as possible! Thank you soooo much for the review, I just love your reviews, thank you!
tbpeppy: I agree with you that Van thanks Bark in a way, but still Hitomi and Van alone, watching fireworks . It would have been nice! ^_^ Thank you for reviewing!
Rowan Silverfox: Don't know if it's a really cliffy this time ;_; , but I hope it's enough to keep you satisfied till the next cliffy, that surely will come! Thanks for the review! About the kiss, I'm sorry but it would have been too early.
Caarpenter: Thank you for reviewing, glad you like it! ^_^
In Disguise
Chapter 6
The sky was speckled with green, blue or red light. Suddenly there was another bang and a white light shot up into the sky to explode into thousands of white light points.
Ahs and Ohs went through the crowd of stunned villagers , who all had their heads turned to the sky. Fireworks were something really special, it was the first time since four years that the village had fireworks again. Especially the children looked up into the sky with big eyes. For lots of them it was the first time they had seen fireworks, or the first time they could really remember.
Hitomi, Van and the others were sitting together at a big table, staring up into the sky, although it wasn't the first time they had seen fireworks it was always extraordinary. Unfortunately it ended too soon.
"That was beautiful!" Kio exclaimed.
"Yea, it's good that we finally got fireworks again."
"So, Hitomi ,what do you think about the fireworks? I know you would have rather spent the time with Van alone, but it wasn't that bad to watch it with all of us, was it?" Bark mocked.
Hitomi only sent him a deadly glare and took a sip from the wine in front of her. Bark wouldn't stop with that, he had teased them the whole time till now, and it started to get on Hitomi's nerves.
"Oh come on Hitomi, I'm just joking. Don't take it seriously." He looked at Hitomi with pleading eyes. "Don't be mad at me anymore."
Hitomi looked up at him and tried to look angry, but she couldn't, she had to giggle. The puppy-eyes look on Bark's face was too funny.
Bark's face lightened. "So you aren't mad anymore. Now we can drink!!" He called for the serving maid and ordered a beer for everyone at the table.
However, they didn't leave it at that. Hitomi was so absorbed in conversation with Van, that she didn't know how often the maid brought a jug for her and her friends, but slowly she began to feel a little tipsy. At the thought of that she had to giggle and a hiccup escaped from her mouth.
"Hitomi, now that you taught me, do you want to dance?" Van asked her with a sweet smile.
Hitomi giggled childishly, but quickly stifled it. "Err, sure Van. I'd love to!"
She smiled and stood up, the world began to spin a bit. Hitomi closed her eyes and opened them again, the world stopped spinning. She wanted to giggle again, but successfully suppressed it. 'I have to pull myself together! I didn't drink that much, did I?'
"Is everything O.K. Hitomi?" Van asked concerned, he saw Hitomi staggering.
"Sure, come on, let's dance," she assured him.
Together they walked up to the dance floor and joined the happy dancing couples.
They had just started dancing, when a high pitched cry interrupted them.
"Oh, Van there you are!" Simea separated them and pushed Hitomi away. "I have been searching for you the whole evening, where have you been?" She looked at Hitomi with a spiteful expression on her face and said condescendingly. "I'm sorry, Van that I didn't come earlier to save you from her."
Hitomi growled inwardly. Usually she would just ignore Simea, but not today. She thought it was time to give Simea a piece of her mind, which surely was the alcohol's fault, but anyway it was her time to dance with Van, not Simea's .
Van was just about to say something, when Hitomi shoved Simea away.
"I'm sorry, but this is my dance!" She took Van's hand again and looked Simea over. "And to be honest, I don't think that Van would want to dance with you, you are an arrogant, haughty person, you think every man who catches sight of you will fall in love with you! Wake up Simea, you aren't a beautiful, rich lady, you are a poor, despicable serving maid!"
Simea opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead she through an arrogant look at Hitomi and stamped away. Hitomi began to laugh.
"I think she'll resent that for the rest of her life. I'm sorry, but I'm sure that she will never talk to you again."
Van smiled at her. "What a pity, but I think I can live with that."
Hitomi giggled. "So, what about our dance?"
"It will be a pleasure for me." Van leaned down and took Hitomi's smooth hand. He softly kissed it and took her to the dance floor.
***
"I'm really thirsty, can we go and drink something?"
"Sure Hitomi, it was a pleasure to dance with you."
Hitomi blushed. "I-It was a pleasure for me too."
They had been dancing for almost an hour, and although they constantly did the same steps, they enjoyed every minute of it.
Gaddes and the others were still sitting at the big table, laughing roughly about one of Kio's jokes.
"Ah, there they are again, we thought you would dance the whole night through. Here is something to drink, you look thirsty."
"Oh, thank you Gaddes." Gratefully Hitomi took the clear liquid out of Gaddes's hands. She took a sip and began to cough terribly.
"Gaddes, what's that? It tastes horrible!" Hitomi cried with a wry face.
"Don't like it? Wait." Gaddes took the glass , just to give it back to Hitomi, mixed with another orange liqueur. "Here, now it'll taste better."
Hitomi sceptically took the glass and smelled at it. Never leaving Gaddes out of sight, she took a first sip.
Her face beamed immediately and she gulped the whole drink down. "Mhmm, that's good, please can I have more?"
Smiling Gaddes took the glass out of her hand to fill it again.
Van looked at the newly filled glass. "Hitomi you shouldn't drink so much of it you'll quickly get dr-"
Hitomi frowned at him "Van, I know what I do and how much I can drink. You need not worry." She took a deep sip of her full glass.
***
"Oh, Van. I feel so terrible." Hitomi mumbled into Van's shirt.
They were on the way back to the farmstead, after Hitomi's sixth glass of the beverage, one of the most potent drinks of Asturia, she began to feel really . uncomfortable. Van had volunteered to bring her home and so they slowly walked down the dirty path, Hitomi clinging to Van's shirt.
"Van, do something, I feel sooooo sick." Hitomi whined.
Van couldn't help, laughing. "Didn't I tell you that you shouldn't drink so much of that stuff?"
"Oh, you are so mean!" She snuggled deeper into Van's shirt, inhaling his scent. "The whole world is spinning."
Fondly smiling down at the sweet, helpless woman in his arms. "Do you want a little pause ?"
Hitomi only nodded.
They stood together in silence, arms wrapped around each other. In the distance they faintly heard the noise of the feast.
Hitomi tightened her grip around Van.
"Van, thank you."
"You don't have to thank me."
Hitomi shifted her head and was now nuzzled in the crock of his neck. She sighed, tickling his warm skin.
"You know, you smell like a summer morning, like a wide field", she sighed again, "I love your scent, Van." She slowly brought her hand up to his face, tenderly caressing it. Looking up into his beautiful reddish brown eyes she started to say something, but suddenly stopped.
Her forest green eyes widened and her face went pale. One of her hands flew to her mouth and she held her stomach.
As fast as lightning she turned away from Van and ran into the forest.
Startled Van watched her disappearing, but slowly a tiny smile formed on his lips.
"You really should have listened to me, Hitomi."
He reached up to his cheek, remembering her sweet touch and his smile widened. He stood, waiting for his little boozer to come back.
****
"Argh"
Sandy blond, tousled hair came up from underneath the soft bed sheets. Hitomi sat up in bed and instantly fell down again. She rolled on her stomach and curled up into a tight ball.
"No sun, too bright." She growled to no one in particular.
"Oh, my dear, is it so bad?" A comforting voice asked.
"Yes, mum, please can you-"
"MORNING HITOMI!" A cheerful Mamuro bounced into the room, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Hitomi winched in bed and quickly buried her head under her pillow.
"Please Mamuro, keep it down," she groggily whispered into her pillow.
"SORRY HITOMI, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU, COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK LOUDER!"
Hitomi thought her head would explode, why was he so annoying, didn't he understand she was suffering? But it seems that little brothers never understood, they just sought for situations to annoy, embarrass or bother. She just had one happy thought at moment, she would take revenge! When he had this terrible headache she would be torturing him the same way he did now. She thought about all the things she could do, maybe waking him with a cowbell or maybe .
She was in a terrible mood this morning and planning revenge lightened it a bit. But her mother's voice brought her out of her busy planning.
"Mamuro, stop screaming, you know Hitomi doesn't feel well this morning, so stop it! If you don't stop this instant and apologise to your sister, you won't accompany your father to the vast market in Palas tomorrow!" She tried to scold as quietly as possible in account of Hitomi's condition.
Mamuro's eyes widened. "But mom, I ."
"No Mamoru!"
He pouted. "That is so mean, why can't I have a little fun", but the look on his mother's face made him regret it and sighing he apologised. "I'm sorry Hitomi, I'll never do it again." Without another word he turned around and left the room.
"So Hitomi, now I'll bring you something against your headache, it will make you fell better again."
Hitomi only snuggled deeper into her bed, waiting for her mother to bring her a hideous drink to revive her again.
****
Completely tired Hitomi walked through the fields of the farm, shielding her eyes from the bright midday sun.
It took her a wile to recuperate after she had drunk her mother's medicine and now she was on her way to Gaddes. The farmhands were now having a lunch break and she hoped she could get Gaddes alone, she needed to discuss important matters with him.
Hitomi walked up to one of Gaddes' favourite spots, hoping to find him. She was lucky, he was lying in the shadow of a tree, chewing on a sapling.
"Hello Gaddes." Hitomi took a seat beside him.
Gaddes opened an eye and a bright smile appeared on his face. "Hitomi, nice to see you, I didn't think that you would come out of your room before dusk."
Hitomi frowned. "Yuki gave me her 'special' drink. It's all your fault, why didn't you tell me what I was drinking?"
Gaddes chuckled. "I thought you knew."
Sighing Hitomi lay down on the cool grass . Gaddes leaned at the tree trunk and grinned down at her. "Err,. can you remember all of last night's events?" ,he asked in a faked innocent tone.
"No, not all events." Gaddes smile grew, and he said in a pretence of surprise.
"So . you don't remember?"
"Remember what?"
Gaddes paused a moment, to hold back his laughers, but for Hitomi it was as if he tried to hold back important news.
"You don't remember that . you and Van . you know, . when he brought you to your room, that you . spend the night together?"
Hitomi bolted up, pale as a ghost. "We . did w-what?" She was shocked to the core of her being. "B-but that can be . I-I can remember that I ran into the forest to . and t-than he took me home." Her eyes widened. "Oh no, I-I can't remember what happened next. V-Van wouldn't do such a thing, would he? He knew that I-I was drunk and ." She felt like crying. "Oh Gaddes what -"
Gaddes' loud laughter echoed over the meadow. Hitomi looked at him not understanding his sudden hilarity.
"Oh Hitomi, do you really believe Van would do such a thing, when you are drunk? It was a joke, you should have seen your face." Gaddes burst out.
She looked at him with eyes as big as saucers. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. "I-It was a . joke?"
Gaddes couldn't talk he just nodded, while laughing his head off.
Hitomi's face twitched in anger. "It was a joke? A JOKE?! How can you laugh about that?" She jumped at him and pinned him down, screaming into his face. "How can you do that?! You shocked me to death! That isn't funny! I wanted to ask for your advice, but you only-" Hitomi growled and jumped up, she was just about to race back to the farm, when Gaddes grabbed her wrist.
"I'm sorry Hitomi, please, I didn't want to shock or even hurt you. Can you forgive a dumb moron like me?" She saw the regret in his eyes and sighed.
"Ok, Ok, but you should chance your sense of humour." She sat down in the shadow of the tree again.
"So where do you need my help?"
Hitomi hesitated, she could talk to Gaddes about everything, he was a good friend of hers, but she had never talked about love with him.
"It's just that I . I don't know what I feel, when I'm near Van! You know, when he is around I feel happy, I can't await to see him again and when he smiles at me my heart begins to beat wildly and my knees go weak. I don't know what it is . or if it really is ."
He waited for Hitomi to continue, but she didn't. Gaddes gently smiled down at her.
"Hitomi, aren't you the one who always talks about love?"
"But. I don't know if love really is like that . I have never been in love, I don't know if it's real love what I feel, or just a little crush that will be over soon."
Gaddes remained silent for a long time before answering. "Love . I can't tell you if you are in love with Van, but if you are in love with someone, you never want him to go, you want to spend all your time with that person. You love him for what he is, and not because of looks or social status. Just looking into the persons' eyes or hearing his voice makes you happy and you feel at ease. When he holds you, you never want to let go, you want this to last forever." He stopped, smiling sadly into his lap.
Hesitantly Hitomi asked. "Have you ever been in love?"
"Yes . I have," he paused, " Her name was Emilia ... I loved her dearly, but she didn't . She was in love with my brother, they married five years ago. I couldn't stand seeing them together, so I travelled around Asturia and became a farmhand at this farm."
"Oh Gaddes ."
He waved her off. "It's so long ago, I'm over it." His smile brightened again. "I hope I could help you a bit, I'm sorry that I have to go now, but the break is over." He stood up and was about to go, but turned around again. "Listen to your heart, 'tomi, it will tell you the right thing." He turned around again and walked away to continue his work.
Hitomi looked after him until she couldn't see him anymore.
"Listen to my heart?" She was sitting there in the tree's shadow, thinking about Gaddes' words. The sun slowly wandered its path.
She heard someone calling her name and a smile appeared on her rosy lips, when a black, unruly shock of hair appeared coming up the hill.
She silently whispered to herself.
"Yes, I think I'm in love with Van."
****
The cart was bumping over the long street, which led to the capital of Asturia, Palas. Hitomi, Mamuro, Kio, Gaddes and Van accompanied Charriu to the grand market.
Hitomi was lost in thoughts, she wanted to tell Van what she was feeling for him, and she could do it! She wore her favourite sky blue dress, she had her magic charm, a tear-shaped, red pendant.
And she could do it, she was self- confident, strong .
Ahrg, she couldn't do it! What if he didn't feel the same way for her, what if he would laugh, or pity her, because she thought that there could be more than friendship between them? But what if he did feel the same way? She longed for their first sweet kiss, him holding her in his strong arms, whispering 'I love you' into her ear, oh, and what she would reply to that!
Yes! She would tell him! She couldn't await the moment they would be alone! Dreaming of that moment she watched the countryside, not paying attention to what she was seeing.
*
They finally reached their destination, the market was full of people. From all sides the shouts of merchants, praising their goods, were heard. People of every social status met at this market, beggars were sitting in the streets asking for money, servants were running from stand to stand to buy everything for their masters' meals and noblemen and women looked for expensive jewellery.
You could get everything you wanted on the market from food to animals or jewellery.
"Alright, I have important business to take care of, Mamuro you will come with me, you others can do whatever you want. We will meet here in, let me see . five hours again." Having said that Charriu Kanzaki took his son by the hand and walked off into the crowed.
"Ok, we'll go too, see you later." Kio and Gaddes soon vanished in the crowd of people.
"Van, you wanna take a walk on the beach?" Hitomi asked nervously .
"Sure, it has been a long time since I last saw the sea."
They quickly reached the beach, some gulls were flying above the salty sea water. It was a calm day, the waves were only small and no other people were around.
Hitomi took off her shoes and walked barefooted next to Van along the beach. She didn't speak a word while walking, outside she appeared to be calm, but inside everything was in chaos. She just thought about telling Van or not. In the cart she thought it to be easy, she would just stand in front of him, a smile on her lips she would tell him her true feelings . and everything would be alright.
But suddenly it wasn't so easy anymore, her heart thumped loudly in her chest, she thought it would jump out every second! Her palms became sweaty and her throat was dry. She felt terrible!
A light breeze came up, lifting Hitomi's hair and cooling her down a bit. She wasn't aware of the concerning looks Van threw at her. Usually she wouldn't be so quiet, she would talk to him in a lively way, laughing and joking, but now she seemed to be somehow tense and uneasy.
"Hitomi, is everything alright?"
She didn't react. "Hitomi?" He patted her shoulder.
She gave a start. "Van, you shocked me!"
"Is everything Ok with you, you seem so . nervous."
"Me nervous?" She laughed uneasy . "No, why?"
He looked at her as if he didn't trust one word she was saying.
Hitomi sighed. "Van I have to tell you something . it's that I-I ." She wrung her hands that her knuckled turned white. "Van I ."
Van was convinced that it was utterly important what she wanted to tell him, but his attention was not fully focused on Hitomi, more on a knight, who was riding on a white horse directly in their direction.
He tried to make out who was sitting on the horse, Hitomi still hadn't brought out a complied sentence, when it stuck him like lightning.
'Not now' Van bitterly thought.
"Van, what I wanted to tell you was . that I-I'm."
"I'm sorry Hitomi, but I have to go now, please don't be mad." He raced through the sand as fast as lighting, in the direction of the market.
Hitomi stood there mouth open, she closed and opened it several times, but no words came out. She didn't know what to think or do. She didn't know if she should rejoice, cry or be furious. She was about to tell him that she loved him . and he raced away when only four words were left?
Why-why had he run away?
She was so lost in thoughts, that she didn't see the rider approaching her.
"What a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman here."
Hitomi came out of her trance and turned around, her face became even more sad.
"Allen?"
"Yes. You look more beautiful from day to day." He jumped down from his white horse and bowed deeply in front of Hitomi.
"Oh Allen, please stop that. I'm sorry, but I have to go now." She turned around to leave, but he stopped her.
"Don't you have a little time to spare?" He beamed at her with his most charming smile, exposing his immaculate white teeth.
Hitomi only rolled her eyes. "No!"
"Oh Hitomi, please, I could show you the way you want to go. You can't tell me that you don't want to be seen with a man like me, a knight of Caeli."
Hitomi growled, how could one single person be so impertinent ? "No Allen, I don't want to be seen with such a pretty boy as you are! And I'm positive that you can't show me the way I want to go, because I want to go to the library and I don't think that you have ever set a food near this building. I mean what do you do all day besides womanising, practising sword techniques and brushing your hair?" She hastily walked away in the direction of the market.
Allen watched her walking off, his gaze never leaving her lightly swaying hips. A dirty smirk on his face he whispered:
"Soon you'll be mine, very soon."
_____________________________________
A/N: Hope you liked this chap. * pats herself on her shoulder* ^_ ^This got out sooner then I thought! Just couldn't stop writing! For everyone (including myself) who wants them together, they will be very, very soon. I promise, want to write fluffy scene! Please review, really need them!
Till next time!
A/N: Hope this chapter isn't as bad as the last, I didn't really liked it. Thank you all for reviewing and reading. Hope you enjoy this chapter. ^_^
Fireangel: *blushes* Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I know, Van is such a baka *smacks him on head too*! ^_^ *dodges* Please no flamethrower 2003! ^_^
MysticalDreamer: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you like it! Here is the answer to your question *smacks Allen*. ^_^
Charizard: I won't forget to bash Allen, how could I? ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!
Love Witch: I know what you mean, on Saturday nights my clothes are spread everywhere, too. When a shout echoes through the house ' I need new clothes' ^_^ They will be together soon, can't wait to write that scene!
Lady Luna: So happy that you liked the mud scene! Thank you for the nice review, hope you keep reading! ^_^
DragonTamer9741: Hope the chap didn't get out too late, I tried to post it as soon as possible! Thank you soooo much for the review, I just love your reviews, thank you!
tbpeppy: I agree with you that Van thanks Bark in a way, but still Hitomi and Van alone, watching fireworks . It would have been nice! ^_^ Thank you for reviewing!
Rowan Silverfox: Don't know if it's a really cliffy this time ;_; , but I hope it's enough to keep you satisfied till the next cliffy, that surely will come! Thanks for the review! About the kiss, I'm sorry but it would have been too early.
Caarpenter: Thank you for reviewing, glad you like it! ^_^
In Disguise
Chapter 6
The sky was speckled with green, blue or red light. Suddenly there was another bang and a white light shot up into the sky to explode into thousands of white light points.
Ahs and Ohs went through the crowd of stunned villagers , who all had their heads turned to the sky. Fireworks were something really special, it was the first time since four years that the village had fireworks again. Especially the children looked up into the sky with big eyes. For lots of them it was the first time they had seen fireworks, or the first time they could really remember.
Hitomi, Van and the others were sitting together at a big table, staring up into the sky, although it wasn't the first time they had seen fireworks it was always extraordinary. Unfortunately it ended too soon.
"That was beautiful!" Kio exclaimed.
"Yea, it's good that we finally got fireworks again."
"So, Hitomi ,what do you think about the fireworks? I know you would have rather spent the time with Van alone, but it wasn't that bad to watch it with all of us, was it?" Bark mocked.
Hitomi only sent him a deadly glare and took a sip from the wine in front of her. Bark wouldn't stop with that, he had teased them the whole time till now, and it started to get on Hitomi's nerves.
"Oh come on Hitomi, I'm just joking. Don't take it seriously." He looked at Hitomi with pleading eyes. "Don't be mad at me anymore."
Hitomi looked up at him and tried to look angry, but she couldn't, she had to giggle. The puppy-eyes look on Bark's face was too funny.
Bark's face lightened. "So you aren't mad anymore. Now we can drink!!" He called for the serving maid and ordered a beer for everyone at the table.
However, they didn't leave it at that. Hitomi was so absorbed in conversation with Van, that she didn't know how often the maid brought a jug for her and her friends, but slowly she began to feel a little tipsy. At the thought of that she had to giggle and a hiccup escaped from her mouth.
"Hitomi, now that you taught me, do you want to dance?" Van asked her with a sweet smile.
Hitomi giggled childishly, but quickly stifled it. "Err, sure Van. I'd love to!"
She smiled and stood up, the world began to spin a bit. Hitomi closed her eyes and opened them again, the world stopped spinning. She wanted to giggle again, but successfully suppressed it. 'I have to pull myself together! I didn't drink that much, did I?'
"Is everything O.K. Hitomi?" Van asked concerned, he saw Hitomi staggering.
"Sure, come on, let's dance," she assured him.
Together they walked up to the dance floor and joined the happy dancing couples.
They had just started dancing, when a high pitched cry interrupted them.
"Oh, Van there you are!" Simea separated them and pushed Hitomi away. "I have been searching for you the whole evening, where have you been?" She looked at Hitomi with a spiteful expression on her face and said condescendingly. "I'm sorry, Van that I didn't come earlier to save you from her."
Hitomi growled inwardly. Usually she would just ignore Simea, but not today. She thought it was time to give Simea a piece of her mind, which surely was the alcohol's fault, but anyway it was her time to dance with Van, not Simea's .
Van was just about to say something, when Hitomi shoved Simea away.
"I'm sorry, but this is my dance!" She took Van's hand again and looked Simea over. "And to be honest, I don't think that Van would want to dance with you, you are an arrogant, haughty person, you think every man who catches sight of you will fall in love with you! Wake up Simea, you aren't a beautiful, rich lady, you are a poor, despicable serving maid!"
Simea opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead she through an arrogant look at Hitomi and stamped away. Hitomi began to laugh.
"I think she'll resent that for the rest of her life. I'm sorry, but I'm sure that she will never talk to you again."
Van smiled at her. "What a pity, but I think I can live with that."
Hitomi giggled. "So, what about our dance?"
"It will be a pleasure for me." Van leaned down and took Hitomi's smooth hand. He softly kissed it and took her to the dance floor.
***
"I'm really thirsty, can we go and drink something?"
"Sure Hitomi, it was a pleasure to dance with you."
Hitomi blushed. "I-It was a pleasure for me too."
They had been dancing for almost an hour, and although they constantly did the same steps, they enjoyed every minute of it.
Gaddes and the others were still sitting at the big table, laughing roughly about one of Kio's jokes.
"Ah, there they are again, we thought you would dance the whole night through. Here is something to drink, you look thirsty."
"Oh, thank you Gaddes." Gratefully Hitomi took the clear liquid out of Gaddes's hands. She took a sip and began to cough terribly.
"Gaddes, what's that? It tastes horrible!" Hitomi cried with a wry face.
"Don't like it? Wait." Gaddes took the glass , just to give it back to Hitomi, mixed with another orange liqueur. "Here, now it'll taste better."
Hitomi sceptically took the glass and smelled at it. Never leaving Gaddes out of sight, she took a first sip.
Her face beamed immediately and she gulped the whole drink down. "Mhmm, that's good, please can I have more?"
Smiling Gaddes took the glass out of her hand to fill it again.
Van looked at the newly filled glass. "Hitomi you shouldn't drink so much of it you'll quickly get dr-"
Hitomi frowned at him "Van, I know what I do and how much I can drink. You need not worry." She took a deep sip of her full glass.
***
"Oh, Van. I feel so terrible." Hitomi mumbled into Van's shirt.
They were on the way back to the farmstead, after Hitomi's sixth glass of the beverage, one of the most potent drinks of Asturia, she began to feel really . uncomfortable. Van had volunteered to bring her home and so they slowly walked down the dirty path, Hitomi clinging to Van's shirt.
"Van, do something, I feel sooooo sick." Hitomi whined.
Van couldn't help, laughing. "Didn't I tell you that you shouldn't drink so much of that stuff?"
"Oh, you are so mean!" She snuggled deeper into Van's shirt, inhaling his scent. "The whole world is spinning."
Fondly smiling down at the sweet, helpless woman in his arms. "Do you want a little pause ?"
Hitomi only nodded.
They stood together in silence, arms wrapped around each other. In the distance they faintly heard the noise of the feast.
Hitomi tightened her grip around Van.
"Van, thank you."
"You don't have to thank me."
Hitomi shifted her head and was now nuzzled in the crock of his neck. She sighed, tickling his warm skin.
"You know, you smell like a summer morning, like a wide field", she sighed again, "I love your scent, Van." She slowly brought her hand up to his face, tenderly caressing it. Looking up into his beautiful reddish brown eyes she started to say something, but suddenly stopped.
Her forest green eyes widened and her face went pale. One of her hands flew to her mouth and she held her stomach.
As fast as lightning she turned away from Van and ran into the forest.
Startled Van watched her disappearing, but slowly a tiny smile formed on his lips.
"You really should have listened to me, Hitomi."
He reached up to his cheek, remembering her sweet touch and his smile widened. He stood, waiting for his little boozer to come back.
****
"Argh"
Sandy blond, tousled hair came up from underneath the soft bed sheets. Hitomi sat up in bed and instantly fell down again. She rolled on her stomach and curled up into a tight ball.
"No sun, too bright." She growled to no one in particular.
"Oh, my dear, is it so bad?" A comforting voice asked.
"Yes, mum, please can you-"
"MORNING HITOMI!" A cheerful Mamuro bounced into the room, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Hitomi winched in bed and quickly buried her head under her pillow.
"Please Mamuro, keep it down," she groggily whispered into her pillow.
"SORRY HITOMI, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU, COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK LOUDER!"
Hitomi thought her head would explode, why was he so annoying, didn't he understand she was suffering? But it seems that little brothers never understood, they just sought for situations to annoy, embarrass or bother. She just had one happy thought at moment, she would take revenge! When he had this terrible headache she would be torturing him the same way he did now. She thought about all the things she could do, maybe waking him with a cowbell or maybe .
She was in a terrible mood this morning and planning revenge lightened it a bit. But her mother's voice brought her out of her busy planning.
"Mamuro, stop screaming, you know Hitomi doesn't feel well this morning, so stop it! If you don't stop this instant and apologise to your sister, you won't accompany your father to the vast market in Palas tomorrow!" She tried to scold as quietly as possible in account of Hitomi's condition.
Mamuro's eyes widened. "But mom, I ."
"No Mamoru!"
He pouted. "That is so mean, why can't I have a little fun", but the look on his mother's face made him regret it and sighing he apologised. "I'm sorry Hitomi, I'll never do it again." Without another word he turned around and left the room.
"So Hitomi, now I'll bring you something against your headache, it will make you fell better again."
Hitomi only snuggled deeper into her bed, waiting for her mother to bring her a hideous drink to revive her again.
****
Completely tired Hitomi walked through the fields of the farm, shielding her eyes from the bright midday sun.
It took her a wile to recuperate after she had drunk her mother's medicine and now she was on her way to Gaddes. The farmhands were now having a lunch break and she hoped she could get Gaddes alone, she needed to discuss important matters with him.
Hitomi walked up to one of Gaddes' favourite spots, hoping to find him. She was lucky, he was lying in the shadow of a tree, chewing on a sapling.
"Hello Gaddes." Hitomi took a seat beside him.
Gaddes opened an eye and a bright smile appeared on his face. "Hitomi, nice to see you, I didn't think that you would come out of your room before dusk."
Hitomi frowned. "Yuki gave me her 'special' drink. It's all your fault, why didn't you tell me what I was drinking?"
Gaddes chuckled. "I thought you knew."
Sighing Hitomi lay down on the cool grass . Gaddes leaned at the tree trunk and grinned down at her. "Err,. can you remember all of last night's events?" ,he asked in a faked innocent tone.
"No, not all events." Gaddes smile grew, and he said in a pretence of surprise.
"So . you don't remember?"
"Remember what?"
Gaddes paused a moment, to hold back his laughers, but for Hitomi it was as if he tried to hold back important news.
"You don't remember that . you and Van . you know, . when he brought you to your room, that you . spend the night together?"
Hitomi bolted up, pale as a ghost. "We . did w-what?" She was shocked to the core of her being. "B-but that can be . I-I can remember that I ran into the forest to . and t-than he took me home." Her eyes widened. "Oh no, I-I can't remember what happened next. V-Van wouldn't do such a thing, would he? He knew that I-I was drunk and ." She felt like crying. "Oh Gaddes what -"
Gaddes' loud laughter echoed over the meadow. Hitomi looked at him not understanding his sudden hilarity.
"Oh Hitomi, do you really believe Van would do such a thing, when you are drunk? It was a joke, you should have seen your face." Gaddes burst out.
She looked at him with eyes as big as saucers. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. "I-It was a . joke?"
Gaddes couldn't talk he just nodded, while laughing his head off.
Hitomi's face twitched in anger. "It was a joke? A JOKE?! How can you laugh about that?" She jumped at him and pinned him down, screaming into his face. "How can you do that?! You shocked me to death! That isn't funny! I wanted to ask for your advice, but you only-" Hitomi growled and jumped up, she was just about to race back to the farm, when Gaddes grabbed her wrist.
"I'm sorry Hitomi, please, I didn't want to shock or even hurt you. Can you forgive a dumb moron like me?" She saw the regret in his eyes and sighed.
"Ok, Ok, but you should chance your sense of humour." She sat down in the shadow of the tree again.
"So where do you need my help?"
Hitomi hesitated, she could talk to Gaddes about everything, he was a good friend of hers, but she had never talked about love with him.
"It's just that I . I don't know what I feel, when I'm near Van! You know, when he is around I feel happy, I can't await to see him again and when he smiles at me my heart begins to beat wildly and my knees go weak. I don't know what it is . or if it really is ."
He waited for Hitomi to continue, but she didn't. Gaddes gently smiled down at her.
"Hitomi, aren't you the one who always talks about love?"
"But. I don't know if love really is like that . I have never been in love, I don't know if it's real love what I feel, or just a little crush that will be over soon."
Gaddes remained silent for a long time before answering. "Love . I can't tell you if you are in love with Van, but if you are in love with someone, you never want him to go, you want to spend all your time with that person. You love him for what he is, and not because of looks or social status. Just looking into the persons' eyes or hearing his voice makes you happy and you feel at ease. When he holds you, you never want to let go, you want this to last forever." He stopped, smiling sadly into his lap.
Hesitantly Hitomi asked. "Have you ever been in love?"
"Yes . I have," he paused, " Her name was Emilia ... I loved her dearly, but she didn't . She was in love with my brother, they married five years ago. I couldn't stand seeing them together, so I travelled around Asturia and became a farmhand at this farm."
"Oh Gaddes ."
He waved her off. "It's so long ago, I'm over it." His smile brightened again. "I hope I could help you a bit, I'm sorry that I have to go now, but the break is over." He stood up and was about to go, but turned around again. "Listen to your heart, 'tomi, it will tell you the right thing." He turned around again and walked away to continue his work.
Hitomi looked after him until she couldn't see him anymore.
"Listen to my heart?" She was sitting there in the tree's shadow, thinking about Gaddes' words. The sun slowly wandered its path.
She heard someone calling her name and a smile appeared on her rosy lips, when a black, unruly shock of hair appeared coming up the hill.
She silently whispered to herself.
"Yes, I think I'm in love with Van."
****
The cart was bumping over the long street, which led to the capital of Asturia, Palas. Hitomi, Mamuro, Kio, Gaddes and Van accompanied Charriu to the grand market.
Hitomi was lost in thoughts, she wanted to tell Van what she was feeling for him, and she could do it! She wore her favourite sky blue dress, she had her magic charm, a tear-shaped, red pendant.
And she could do it, she was self- confident, strong .
Ahrg, she couldn't do it! What if he didn't feel the same way for her, what if he would laugh, or pity her, because she thought that there could be more than friendship between them? But what if he did feel the same way? She longed for their first sweet kiss, him holding her in his strong arms, whispering 'I love you' into her ear, oh, and what she would reply to that!
Yes! She would tell him! She couldn't await the moment they would be alone! Dreaming of that moment she watched the countryside, not paying attention to what she was seeing.
*
They finally reached their destination, the market was full of people. From all sides the shouts of merchants, praising their goods, were heard. People of every social status met at this market, beggars were sitting in the streets asking for money, servants were running from stand to stand to buy everything for their masters' meals and noblemen and women looked for expensive jewellery.
You could get everything you wanted on the market from food to animals or jewellery.
"Alright, I have important business to take care of, Mamuro you will come with me, you others can do whatever you want. We will meet here in, let me see . five hours again." Having said that Charriu Kanzaki took his son by the hand and walked off into the crowed.
"Ok, we'll go too, see you later." Kio and Gaddes soon vanished in the crowd of people.
"Van, you wanna take a walk on the beach?" Hitomi asked nervously .
"Sure, it has been a long time since I last saw the sea."
They quickly reached the beach, some gulls were flying above the salty sea water. It was a calm day, the waves were only small and no other people were around.
Hitomi took off her shoes and walked barefooted next to Van along the beach. She didn't speak a word while walking, outside she appeared to be calm, but inside everything was in chaos. She just thought about telling Van or not. In the cart she thought it to be easy, she would just stand in front of him, a smile on her lips she would tell him her true feelings . and everything would be alright.
But suddenly it wasn't so easy anymore, her heart thumped loudly in her chest, she thought it would jump out every second! Her palms became sweaty and her throat was dry. She felt terrible!
A light breeze came up, lifting Hitomi's hair and cooling her down a bit. She wasn't aware of the concerning looks Van threw at her. Usually she wouldn't be so quiet, she would talk to him in a lively way, laughing and joking, but now she seemed to be somehow tense and uneasy.
"Hitomi, is everything alright?"
She didn't react. "Hitomi?" He patted her shoulder.
She gave a start. "Van, you shocked me!"
"Is everything Ok with you, you seem so . nervous."
"Me nervous?" She laughed uneasy . "No, why?"
He looked at her as if he didn't trust one word she was saying.
Hitomi sighed. "Van I have to tell you something . it's that I-I ." She wrung her hands that her knuckled turned white. "Van I ."
Van was convinced that it was utterly important what she wanted to tell him, but his attention was not fully focused on Hitomi, more on a knight, who was riding on a white horse directly in their direction.
He tried to make out who was sitting on the horse, Hitomi still hadn't brought out a complied sentence, when it stuck him like lightning.
'Not now' Van bitterly thought.
"Van, what I wanted to tell you was . that I-I'm."
"I'm sorry Hitomi, but I have to go now, please don't be mad." He raced through the sand as fast as lighting, in the direction of the market.
Hitomi stood there mouth open, she closed and opened it several times, but no words came out. She didn't know what to think or do. She didn't know if she should rejoice, cry or be furious. She was about to tell him that she loved him . and he raced away when only four words were left?
Why-why had he run away?
She was so lost in thoughts, that she didn't see the rider approaching her.
"What a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman here."
Hitomi came out of her trance and turned around, her face became even more sad.
"Allen?"
"Yes. You look more beautiful from day to day." He jumped down from his white horse and bowed deeply in front of Hitomi.
"Oh Allen, please stop that. I'm sorry, but I have to go now." She turned around to leave, but he stopped her.
"Don't you have a little time to spare?" He beamed at her with his most charming smile, exposing his immaculate white teeth.
Hitomi only rolled her eyes. "No!"
"Oh Hitomi, please, I could show you the way you want to go. You can't tell me that you don't want to be seen with a man like me, a knight of Caeli."
Hitomi growled, how could one single person be so impertinent ? "No Allen, I don't want to be seen with such a pretty boy as you are! And I'm positive that you can't show me the way I want to go, because I want to go to the library and I don't think that you have ever set a food near this building. I mean what do you do all day besides womanising, practising sword techniques and brushing your hair?" She hastily walked away in the direction of the market.
Allen watched her walking off, his gaze never leaving her lightly swaying hips. A dirty smirk on his face he whispered:
"Soon you'll be mine, very soon."
_____________________________________
A/N: Hope you liked this chap. * pats herself on her shoulder* ^_ ^This got out sooner then I thought! Just couldn't stop writing! For everyone (including myself) who wants them together, they will be very, very soon. I promise, want to write fluffy scene! Please review, really need them!
Till next time!