Hi kids! Here's the newly revised chapter 2, I really hope you enjoy it...and review. Reviews make my world go 'round, so even if you hate it lemme know.
All Standard Disclimers Apply

Out of the Darkness of Memory, chapter 2
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Merle was there when Van brought the frail corpse that had been Kanzaki Hitomi back to the castle. At least, she thought it was the corpse. Van gave her a piercing look and she ran to get Millerna. She couldn't believe that Hitomi had returned, and in such a dire condition. The young catgirl burst through the doorway into Millerna's study, though her breath was gone, she managed to choke out a single word.

"H-H-Hitomi..." Millerna's blue eyes widened and a not a moment went by, she was running down the hallway. Van managed to carry Hitomi's unconscious body to his suite of rooms. He felt exhausted, his arms were leaden and he felt he could carry her no further. She was so light, though she had always been slender, now she was emaciated. She was shivering so much, the very air surrounding her seemed to quake. There's no other way to warm her up efficiently, Van reasoned, blankets alone won't do. He carefully unbuckled the strange restraining waistcoat and eased it down her meager arms. Underneath, she wore a coarse shift of some sort, his hands trembled as he gently disrobed her. His breeches had stayed dry under the oil cloth cloak, and he stripped off his woolen tunic. The young king turned down the bed quickly and placed his lady in the center of the featherbed. He cautioned a look at her nearly bare body. Her pelvic bones jutted out painfully and her ribs stuck out in sharp relief against the paleness of her skin. He was shocked to see fresh bruises and the sickly yellow of older ones dotting her stomach and arms. He gently ran his fingers over the stubble that had been her hair as Merle and Millerna burst in.

"Van! What happened...?" Millerna rushed over to Hitomi's nude body and her words left her as she saw the pain in Van's eyes. She closed her eyes a moment to compose herself and reached over to check the unconscious girl's pulse. "She's alive!" She whispered and turned to Merle. "get me some hot water and clean cloths! Send Mary for hot tea and some broth."

"Of course, Millerna!" Merle's eyes were worried, even though she kept her surface calm and collected.

By that time, Van had already eased Hitomi under the coverlet and tucked her bare head into the hollow of his shoulder. He was very worried. Her shivering had not abated and she had begun to whimper and thrash about.

"No.....please....n-n-n-o...stop it...help me.....Van....help...m..e..." Though bearly audible, the pain and anguish in her voice was almost palpable. Tears ran down her deathly pale cheeks, mixing with the sweat of fever. Van looked at Millerna, his eyes asking a question.

"Van, I don't know what they've done to her, look at her wrists, I noticed the scars when I took her pulse," she spoke quietly, trying to leave Hitomi undisturbed. Van raised his eyebrows and gently picked up one of Hitomi's hands. she flinched, even in her sleep, she flinched at his touch... Pale knotted scars crisscrossed the delicate skin of her wrist; they spoke of deep cuts and torment. His eyes became cloudy and it was then Van knew he was crying. He looked up at Millerna, the anguish obvious in the trouled depth of his auburn eyes.

"Oh Millerna, she's so...she's so..hurt.." He trailed off, fairly leaping off the bed to find someplace he could be alone.

It seemed like the hallsways of the castle were never ending as he ran through, on his way to the roof. He felt caged, suffocated by his grief. Van finally made it to the parapet and stood on the edge, letting the rain and wind wash him clean. His mind was racing, everytime he blinked he saw her pale emaciated figure. Now the link they shared was renewed, her feelings and pain engulfed him and he sank to his knees. Tears fell freely from his eyes, mixing with the rain. Memories of the war flooded his senses...why!? He thought as the images roiled through his mind, the stench of flame and blood assaulted his nostrils. A vision...? Van never had visions, he only saw things in his dreams. It never occured to him that Hitomi was in the midst of a vision. Their link had never been like that. But then, they were older now and the link must have matured as well. He saw himself, twisting in agony as flames licked at his silvery wings. Then he felt the pain, unbearable heat, he was on fire. The young king let loose and anguished scream before the dark closed in and everything was smothered in the velvety darkness.