Chapter 4: Allie to foe

The next day dawned early and found Hitomi in the training grounds, she'd been there since 4am having woken up from a nightmare and unable to get back to sleep. She was still under guard for the next three days not including today and was supposed to be under supervision now but she'd been up early and she wasn't planning any mischief yet. An hour went by and Hitomi wondered where all the knights were usually they would come straight to the training grounds after breakfast but it was now an hour after sunrise and she was still alone. Placing her sword in its sheath she made her way out of the training grounds actually in search of the knights. High and low she looked but she found nothing, she had checked all there usual duty spots finally getting frustrated she decided to go in search for one of the other knights to ask if they knew where the high knights were. Tossing ideas round in her head she barely noticed someone coming down the corridor until she collided with them and fell to the floor, but she never hit it. Looking up surprised and cursing herself for her clumsiness she looked right into the eyes of Sir Timmi, wouldn't he just give up since that incident in the training grounds he'd been after her convinced they belonged together. Sighing exasperatedly she pulled away from him but he pulled her back again as she struggled away from him.

"Timmi let me go" she said.

"No, I…" he started but was winded in the stomach by Hitomi.

He let her go instantly and she took advantage of the time and ran past him to the hall. She ran and even though she was regaining her speed she still couldn't outrun him yet, he caught up to her just before she turned the corner to the hall. He pinned her against the wall, which frightened her, she wanted a friend she could trust to come along now but she was alone. She tried to struggle against him but he held her hands so she couldn't move or hit him.

"Hitomi, why do you run from me?" he said hurt.

"I don't trust you" she replied trying to keep her fear out of her voice but she failed.

"Hitomi" he said leaning closer to her, his breath was on her neck.

Hitomi began to shake she didn't like this, this wasn't supposed to happen he shouldn't be doing this he was her friend, what she did in the training grounds had only been fun she'd made that clear but he wasn't listening.

"I've been fascinated with you for a long time" he whispered into her ear.

Hitomi was terrified and she knew her eyes betrayed her as well as her voice they showed she was scared no matter how much she hated it. He leaned closer pinning her body against the wall with his own now that definitely wasn't supposed to happen. Opening her mouth she went to scream but was stunned into silence when he crushed his lips down on hers silencing any attempt at a scream. His tongue darted out to caress her own and she bit down hard until she felt blood. He withdrew his mouth from hers instantly but looked down at her angrily, "That was a big mistake" he said about to strike her.

Hitomi lowered her head she was defenceless; there was nothing she could do. The blow struck her across the face and she tasted blood in her own mouth, he raised his fist again and brought it down to strike as Hitomi whimpered, but the blow never came. Looking up she saw his hand had been stopped by another, looking behind she saw Sir Plucki, Sir Gumlittle and Sir Blastus.

Sir Gumlittle pulled Sir Timmi off of Hitomi and Sir Plucki let go of Sir Timmi's fist he had stopped from hitting Hitomi, then turned to her as Sir Timmi was led away by Sir Blastus and Sir Gumlittle. Hitomi had slid down the wall until she lay on the floor in a heap crying and shaking, she was a wreak. Kneeling down Sir Plucki swept her hair out of her face which made her look at him, he held out his arms to her and jumped into them, they wouldn't hurt her she was safe with him.

Wrapping her arms round his neck she cried long and hard into his shoulder thinking about what might have happened if he hadn't come when he did. As she cried she noticed someone in the shadows, desperately wiped the tears from her eyes that wouldn't stop flowing she looked who it was. Peering into the darkness she saw it was Sir Ginni, she couldn't see much of him only his face, he looked sad. She stared at him frightened would he try anything on her, no, he was disappearing in the shadows again but before he disappeared he whispered, "I'm sorry" then disappeared completely. Hitomi lay in the arms of Sir Plucki for quite some time after until eventually he had picked her up and took her to a medic just in case anything else had happened of if she had sustained any injuries. They had given her a quick check over but concluded that nothing was wrong she was just shaken up. Since then she had withdrawn to her room wanting to be alone, she had bolted her door and with some effort managed to shift the wardrobe in front of it so no one could get in. She had taken a bath after that scrubbing herself clean until her fur glowed then changing into a new set of clothes even though it was a dress she didn't care it was the only thing she had left to wear at the moment. Slipping it on she walked over to the drapes and shut them, now if anyone tried to get in she would know the drapes would move shining light in the room and no one could get through the door without making a sound.

Shakily she sat on the edge of the bed the room feeling very warm, but she shivered. Rubbing her upper arms she laid down on the bed curling up in a ball this way she would be able to hopefully stop shivering and keep warm as well as protect herself if anyone came in and tried to attack her. Closing her eyes and opening them suddenly she did this until finally her eyes closed and she drifted off into a fitful sleep. Hours passed and her nightmares started and continued repeatedly. She cried out sobs racking her body, it was happening again he was there kissing her trapping her, what would he have done if no one had come. The blow came to her mouth then lifted again but instead of being stopped like it should have done it hit again and again, her nightmare filling in the blanks this time nobody would save her.

"Leave me alone" she cried.

"But you are alone" a voice answered.

"No" she sobbed.

She heard cruel laughter how could one she had trusted so much betray her so. On it went getting worse by the minute she was now lashing out in her sleep trying to get rid of him; no she couldn't let this happen.

"HELP!" she cried.

The laughter came again and she felt his breath move from her neck to her ear and whisper, "Yes, scream, but no one's going to come and save you. Your mine."

New and fearful tears sprung to her eyes no he wouldn't, he wouldn't. His head moved from her ear back to her neck where instantly he placed his kisses she screamed again then everything stopped, it was a dark void she now stood in just as the nightmare had come it had gone and she was slowly feeling herself wake. She felt herself scream again then bolt up, she was shaking worse than before and sweat ran down her face, as did tears. She saw the room was dark and the wardrobe was in place, she panted heavily trying to breathe that dream, no that nightmare it had been so real. It took her a moment to realise that someone else was in the room and she was lying in their arms. Jumping she turned to look at them but relaxed when she saw it was Sir Plucki. The curtains blew and Hitomi noticed the first rays of sun coming in, how long had she been asleep? Leaning against him they spent a long time sat on Hitomi's bed like that, until knocking came on Hitomi's door.

"Hitomi open this door, please" it sounded like a medic.

"How..." she started, but was silenced.

Sir Plucki placed her on her bed and detached himself from her but instantly she clung to him again, "Hitomi, I'm just going to open the door" he said.

She let go of him reluctantly and he walked over to the door, moving the wardrobe out of the way he unbolted the door and let the medic in. The medic wasted no time standing around she walked straight in and over to Hitomi who sat clutching the bed covers. Prying the covers from Hitomi the medic began her assessment and surprisingly enough Hitomi did not complain once, she really must have been shaken up, Hitomi hadn't really been able to see much when she'd woken up because of it being so dark but the light let in slightly from the drapes and the door let her known it was Bessi examining her.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Kotori" Hitomi said her voice hoarse from all her screaming.

"She is in the care of some other medics at the moment, her condition is stable and her fever is lowering" said the medic finishing her check up of Hitomi then said, "You just seem shaken and in need of food and water" she said.

"How long have I been asleep?" asked Hitomi.

"Three days" said the medic.

"Three days, it felt like three hours" she thought.

Food was brought in on a tray which made Hitomi feel sick just looking at it, The drapes to were pulled back letting the early morning sun shine in her eyes, ouch! Hitomi shielded her eyes from the bright light for a moment until her eyes adjusted. Looking round she saw Sir Plucki at her side again and Bessi by the door, before she left she turned to Hitomi and said, "And I want you to eat all of that" then left.

Hitomi pouted and grabbed her stomach she felt sick and food at the moment in her opinion was the last thing she needed, pushing it away she crawled to the other side of the bed putting much distance between it and her as possible. She scooted to the end of the bed then hit something solid, looking up she saw Sir Plucki stood above her.

"Hitomi, you need to eat" was all he said.

She sighed they'd had this argument before and he'd won then and if they had it again he'd most likely win again. Crossing her arms over her chest she pouted again, food was not her top priority at the moment but she wouldn't get any peace until she'd eaten it so picking up the folk she began to eat. She ate fast hardly tasting the food as she was sure if she bothered to stop she would end up running to the bathroom. Placing her folk down some minutes later she grabbed her stomach again feeling even more sick than when started if that was even possible. She leant back until she rested against Sir Plucki's chest; he smiled at Hitomi she had obviously remembered what happened the last time she had gone without food for a long time to eat with virtually no complaint. Picking up the tray from in front of Hitomi he placed it on top of her draws then sat down beside her. As soon as he sat down Hitomi cuddled up to him, she wanted him to hold her and he did.

After the incident he had left her alone against his better judgment thinking she would want some time alone but had proved that had not been a good idea.

Sir Timmi had been taken away and placed in a cell where later he had been questioned, since then he had been released with strict orders never to go near Hitomi or Kotori again. Since then he had been assigned duties nearly all the time and at the other side of the castle away from Hitomi and Kotori.

Sir Plucki spent the remainder of the day trying to calm Hitomi down as it seemed all she had dreamed those three days was the incident. Surprisingly enough Hitomi soon after claimed she was tired and fell a sleep no later than minute after she finished her sentence. She slept in his arms for about an hour and then the nightmares started again, at first she was just whimpering now and again but eventually she started to struggle in his arms and started to mutter incoherently. He shook her trying to get her to wake but she slept on, placing her down on the bed he ran into the bathroom and emerged a moment later with a damp cloth. He pressed it to Hitomi's forehead then shook her again she responded this time waking up suddenly. She had seemingly forgotten he had stayed with her as she instantly lashed out and screamed, "Get Out!" then backed away.

He stood back slightly winded then looked up to see Hitomi at the furthest end of the bed with wild, frightened eyes.

"Hitomi, it's me" he said coming out of the shadows.

"Sir Plucki" she said in a voice that obviously displayed her fear, but desperate hope.

"Hitomi" he said stepping in front of her.

She was trembling and looked at him with frightened eyes, did she not trust him? A few minutes later she calmed down enough for him to embrace her and try to comfort her best he could. Holding her in his arms and kissing her hair he felt her tears begin to start as she heaved in a shaky breath. Noises outside down below in the training grounds made Sir Plucki look up, something was happening so he really should go and see what it was but he didn't want to leave Hitomi. Stroking her hair he separated himself from her then walked over to the window, some of the younger knights had had an accident on the beams but there seemed to be nothing major of concern. Looking back he saw Hitomi still stood where he'd left her, she looked pale and thin due to not eating and living her constant nightmare and tears stained her cheeks, she looked a mess. Walking back over to her she backed away, what was wrong with her? She looked around then seemed to be listening closely to something, without warning she ran past him and out of the door.

"HITOMI!" Sir Plucki shouted.

Hitomi had been in a fragile state since she woke up and didn't have much energy so running about was certainly not an option as she would most likely collapse or worse. Running after her he found she was also aware of this as instead of running down the stairs she slid down the rail, some things never change he thought.

Hitomi opened the door then as quick as she could and made it to the training grounds. There luckily for Hitomi as she was beginning to feel faint and dizzy stood Sir Timmi and Sir Ginni. Sir Timmi smirked when he saw her storm in; she was beautiful when she was angry. She walked as straight as she could over to him and when stood before him promptly threw her fist at him, which hit his chin, he stood there a moment stunned from the unexpected blow. Snapping out of it he went to yell at Hitomi, but she beat him to it.

"I hate you"

He stopped for a moment well she hated him did she so like Hitomi to deny what she truly felt.

"Do you?" he asked.

Hitomi clenched her fists to restrain herself from hitting him all the while thinking how cheeky he was she just wanted to rip his throat out for saying that.

"Yes" she replied venomously.

"We'll see" he said smirking at her before walking off just as Sir Plucki walked in.

He marched over to Hitomi wondering what had taken place, he saw Sir Timmi walking away from Hitomi and saw she was talking to his brother Sir Ginni.

"You" she had said in a softer and calmer voice.

Sir Ginni didn't really know how to react, what would Hitomi do to him, what did she want?

"I need to talk to you," she said grabbing his arm and marching off with him towards the knight's tower.

She marched past Sir Plucki looking angry and determined dragging Sir Ginni behind her. She had a lot more energy than he'd first thought, but wasn't that typical of both Hitomi and Kotori? She marched on out of the training grounds but once outside promptly collapsed.

"Here let me help you," said Sir Ginni picking her up.

"Thanks" she said.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"My room" she answered and he carried her there.

TBC…

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