Hi!

Thanks for all the nice reviews; I'm in a hurry because I have to write a paper and to study for a test tomorrow. But I wanted to update as soon as possible! I found sime time to write the next chapter and I'm surprised at how easy the ideas are getting clearer while I'm writing. I thought about this story for a long time and finally took the chance to write it down. (Hope I'm doing good.) Please, be kind with me if there are any mistakes in spelling (or other mistakes) because I'm still learning English (my mother's language is German * smile *). I couldn't help but let the last chapter end right in the moment when Van woke up... so, here it goes on!

Have a good time while reading this!

Oh, and please, don't forget to review!

Chapter 3: Van

She turned her head slowly towards the bed and looked at the young prince of Fanelia.

For a moment, she was just staring into his chocolate brown eyes. She was wondering when he would shout for some guards to take her away. But he didn't say anything for some seconds.

He stared at her and was amazed. He couldn't see every detail of her face but what he saw was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Her green eyes looking at him.

"What on Gaea are you doing here? WHO are YOU?", he asked, finally finding his voice and realizing that she shouldn't be in his room. How did she get here?

She didn't answer.

He repeated his question, not too loud. He didn't know why he wasn't calling the guards. Well, he was impressed about her being here without being caught.

"Argh! Listen, I'm not going to call the guards, so would you please tell me why you are here?", Van hissed.

"I'm here to remind you, prince Van.", Hitomi finally managed to say.

"To remind me? Of what?"

"Oh, just that there are people out there who don't like Fanelia's politics." That was good, she wasn't telling a single word about herself and still making him wonder.

"Is that so?" Van watched her and didn't know what to do. Then she struggled, trying to free herself from his hold on her wrist but he pulled her closer to him and whispered: "Trying to run away?"

"Never!", she hissed.

This wasn't good. It was absolutely not good that she wasn't angry at him. He wasn't responsible for his father's doing. But she didn't like the way he made her feel. She liked his eyes, the mess of his dark hair.

"Stop to think something like this!", she shouted at herself and looked at him again.

"So, what's your name, girl?", Van asked, still wondering why he didn't call for the guards at all.

"As if I would tell you.", she laughed and tried again to free herself. But he didn't let go of her wrist.

"You will, if you won't tell me then you will surely tell some guards."

"Have a try, young prince.", Hitomi said and forced herself not to yell at him.

"Well, tell me your name.", he demanded again. He didn't want to call the guards but maybe the thought of him doing it would force her to tell him her name.

"Think of something, Hitomi... think...", she thought and said quickly.

"My name is Miyako."

"No, it's not.", Van said.

"Yes, it is!" Could this guy read her mind?! Or how did he know she wasn't telling the truth?!

"No, just tell me your name."

"I told you my name is Miyako.", she snapped once more but he shook his head and laughed.

"Stop to play this game. I don't believe you."

"OK, my name is Eria. You got what you wanted so let go of me!", she snapped and hoped that he was buying this name.

"Nope. I'm still waiting for you to tell me your name."

He wasn't angry and that made her wonder why he wanted to know her name at all. Her name wouldn't matter if she got caught by his guards, spending some long, long years in jail.

She sighed and said: "You won. My name is Hitomi – now, what are you going to do now that you know my name? Call your guards and tell them that the girl that entered your room in the middle of the night is named Hitomi, huh?"

"That's a beautiful name, you know."

They way he looked at her made her blush and she was thankful that he didn't see that. It would have given him a wrong idea, maybe.

"Is that so, Hitomi? You like this guy, don't you?", her mind asked softly but she pushed this thoughts away. She still feared that he might have heard about the kidnapped princess who was named Hitomi.

"Why are you so angry at me?"

"Ask your father what he's doing to someone who says something against his decisions."

"What are you talking about?" This girl was more than strange, he thougth but couldn't help but stare at her. It was in this moment when Hitomi sensed her chance and escaped this hold.

After a few seconds she had reached the window, ready to jump down. It was high, yes, but she saw Ren standing right under the window and he had brought the horses with him. She saw the worried experssion on his face. He had thought that she had been caught.

"I'm fine, Ren.", her lips formed this words without saying them loud but he understood.

"Wait!", Van said, as she jumped down. He went pale, struggled out of his bed, throwing pillows to the ground and ran to the window. She had to be crazy if she was jumping out of this window.

When he reached the window he looked down and feared that he would see a lifeless body but all he saw were two people on horses and one of them had to be Hitomi. The colour of her coat told him which of them she was.

He sighed and he wished that she didn't escape. Not that he wanted her to be send to prison. No, not at all... he wanted her to stay...

***

Ren looked at Hitomi. "What happened?"

Hitomi shrugged. "I don't know, Ren. Everything was fine until someone opened the door – maybe to see if the prince was asleep... and then he woke up."

"Why did it take you so long to get out of that window? You shouldn't have stayed – he could have called the guards and you'd never see daylight again!"

The girls was just acting strange again. Hitomi didn't even mind but Ren was freaking out.

"I don't know, Ren.", she said again and looked at him. "He just grabbed my wrist and didn't let go. He didn't even called for some guards, at all! Crazy young prince just asked what my name is."

"Did you tell him?"

"I did."

Her face went red and she knew that she had been stupid. Telling him the truth was a risk she shouldn't take. Her father surely hadn't forgotten about his daughter yet. He was not the kind if man... who would accept to loose to someone.

"Your're serious, Hitomi?!", Ren shouted and almost fell from his horse's back.

When she nodded he had to breath in slowly, so he would not shout at her.

"Are you CRAZY? Telling him your real name is... just... argh!"

"He didn't ever see me once, Ren. I have never seen him and I never will. That's for sure. I'm not going back in there, no way. Maybe we'll scare some others, huh? What about that?"

"You're not even scared, Hitomi and I can't think how to make you understand that you could be in prison right now or worse on your way back to your father's palace."

Hitomi felt cold all of sudden. She tried not to think about her being captured... she wasn't captured after all. Going back would probable mean that she would have to marry Allen, being a bird in a cage once more. She shivered at this thought and looked at the sky. Looking up at the two moons above them she couldn't help but smile.

"I wonder...", she started but trailed off.

"About what, Hitomi?", he asked softly.

"Just... why he didn't call for the guards... He had every reason to do so..."

Ren didn't answer. He smiled and was happy that she was still looking at the Mystic Moon. He could imagine why the prince didn't call the guards, at least, he had a clue.

He couldn't help but laugh until Hitomi stared at him, looking like she thought he was mad or went just into hysterics.

"What is it with you?", she asked a little worried but when he started to laugh again she just murmured: "What's the matter, Ren? Mind telling me about what you're laughing?"

He shook his head and said out of breath: "It's nothing, Hitomi. It's nothing. Don't worry."

TBC

***

AN: Done with chapter 3! Guess I liked this one – Van and Hitomi talking to each other for the first time... hehe... Please, read on and review! Just a short note, please!

Next chapter will be up soon!