A/N: holy shitsamoly! 130 reviews! Now I think I'm, really gonna faint! Lol. Well I'm sorry iof this chap seemes short but I'm sick right now so I'm low on energy. My friend seems to think I have the SARS virus/disease thingy that's going around. I doubt it.
Feye Morgan-yes Bunsen burners are fun to adjust! That's the only thing I actually like about chemistry.
Larania-yes I know traditionally Japanese people bow when they greet people but I wanted to have Yukari make a fool of herself by holding out the wrong hand to shake with.
Snowykiteenz-your idea is interesting. Perhaps I may use it if I choose to write a different version of this fic(It actually inspired me to. But I have a fun little plan up my sleeve)
Snarfburglar-evilness is a word actually. Don't worry, there won't be any wrist slitting. It only happened in that one chap and will only happen in that chap. And you'll just have to wait see if Van dies. I'm not telling you or anyone.
Rai Dorian-you can't get ch 15? I didn't remove and update like that one time. Ff.net must be on the fritz again. Grrrr……sometimes I just wanna*clenches fist curse at ff.net*
~*~*~*~
Baby, before you
Well, I was bad news
In lettin' me love you
I think I can get through
Oh, baby before you
Well, I was so scared
I was a train wreck waitin' to happen
On the way to nowhere
And now I think it's kinda funny that you say you love me
You tell me that I'm crazy then you smile
And now I think I'll get through
The end of the world
And now I think I'll get through
Bein' a girl
Now I think I'll get through
Anything
And now I think I'll get through
Now honey around you
I'm feelin' so good
'Cause you picked me up out of the rough
And you polished me up and made me brand new
And baby before you, ho ho
There was just a black hole
Yeah I was beat down, blacked out
My darling you couldn't even know
But ever since I met you on a cloudy Monday
I can't believe how much I love the rain
And now I think I'll get through
The end of the world
And now I think I'll get through
Life as a girl
Now I think I'll get through
Anything
Now I think I'll get through
Ever since I met you on a cloudy Monday
I can't believe how much I love the rain
And now I think I'll get through
The end of the world
And now I think I'll get through
Life as a girl
Now I think I'll get through
Anything
Now I think I'll get through
Oh ... ho ...
Now I think I'll get through
Oh ....
Now I think I'll get through
Oh ... ho ...
And now I think I'll get through
And now I think I'll get through
Oh, and now I think I'll get through
Oh, and now I think I'll get through
Before You by Chantal Kreviazuk
~*~*~*~
Chapter 16: Before You
Merle sat alone on the roof of the Fanelian castle. She closed her deep blue eyes and inhaled deeply. It was a typical warm spring day in Fanelia. The sun was shining brightly over the small kingdom and everyone's spirits were high. Well everyone but Merle who couldn't help but feel upset.
It had been over a year since Van had been married to Louise. Merle actually approved of her because she seemed worthy of Van's love and companionship. She could still recall the day Van had met Louise.
It was two months after the war had ended. Van had been completely in over his head with the rebuilding of Fanelia. All he thought and talked about day and night was the progress of the reconstruction of his country. He happy knowing that his people would have a home soon but the stress his advisors put on him took away his happiness.
From time to time Van would sneak out of the partially standing castle and wander in the forest. Merle knew about Van's whereabouts even if he didn't tell her. Merle had the habit of following him from time to time. But as a loyal friend she would always lie to the advisors when asked where "Lord Van" was. She would never betray him by rating him out.
There was one spot Van usually found himself going to in the forest. It was a small opening by a crystal clear river. There, Van would usually just lay by the claming river, sit in one of the weeping willow trees over the river or sometimes even go for a little dip. Whenever he was there in that spot he felt free. Free of his duties and any other stresses of life.
However, on the day that Van had met Louise he had decided to go for a quick swim. Assuming he was alone and would remain alone, Van went into the water au natural. Normally he wouldn't have but on that day he felt adventurous.
As Van swam about his privacy was interrupted. A young girl about his own age with long flowing blond hair and sapphire blue eyes came across the opening. She dropped her straw basket full of herbs at the sight of a young man swimming clad in his birthday suit. Her cheeks turned a bright pink as she stared at the boy in the water. She knew she had to turn away but the lustful woman inside of her told her no.
When Van emerged from the water and came eye to eye with the girl, his hands quickly went to cover his manhood. He blushed slightly and moved towards the riverbank by his clothes. When the girl realized who Van really was she dropped to her knees and bowed. "I'm so sorry my lord." She spoke in a shaken voice. "I'll just leave if you wish." She felt both privileged and afraid. Her main concern was what the young king would do.
"Turn around please but don't leave." Van told her in a soft tone. He hated how some people seemed fearful of him. What was there to fear?
The girl rose to her feet and turned around, not even bothering to open her eyes. Van got out of the water quickly and dressed himself in record time. "You may turn around miss." Van spoke and came eye to eye with her captivating blue eyes. "What's your name?"
"Louise Clara de Valiquet." She replied and curtsied.
Louise was just a commoner who lived in the mountains just outside of Fanelia in the country of Cesario. After their meeting Van went "missing" more and more often. Van didn't pop the question of marriage until a few weeks after his seventeenth birthday. His advisors had gotten wind of the relationship Van had with Louise and began to press him into marrying her.
Louise of course accepted and plans for the wedding began immediately. The wedding was beautiful and went according to plan. Nothing could have ruined a more perfect day.
On the wedding day Merle wondering around town trying to waste time. The wedding wasn't going to start for over three hours and she was bored out of her mind. As she walked through some streets she could have sworn she saw a familiar girl. Hitomi? She wondered but shook it off.
Merle went back to the castle to bug Van and get her mind off of what she had seen or what she had thought she saw. As she walked into the courtyard she saw Van and Louise in a tight embrace. It was nothing new to Merle to see them in that position. Hell she'd seen them in worse!
As merle went to interrupt her eyes caught sight of someone else watching Van. Her eyes widened in shock. There was no way she could have seen what she saw. Hitomi!? Here!? She stayed silent, unsure of what to do. Her eyes followed Hitomi as she turned away from Van and Louise. Merle instantly knew that Hitomi had strong feelings for Van still. She always knew Hitomi 'liked' Van but she figured that she would have moved on. Her eyes then watched Hitomi break into a run. Merle was tempter to run after but wondered if she'd do more damage by following her.
Merle sighed and gazed up at the two moons in the sky. It had been a year and she still hadn't said a word to Van about seeing Hitomi. She wanted to but was afraid that Van would do something stupid and make a fool of himself. "What's wrong Merle?" came a familiar voice from behind her.
"Nothing Van-sama." She lied. Van raised an eyebrow suspiciously and sat down beside his childhood friend.
"Merle, don't lie to me. Please tell me what bothering you." Merle looked at him and bit her lip. Should I tell him? She wondered. "You can tell me anything." Merle sighed and looked away.
"Okay…I was just thinking about your wedding."
"What about it?" he asked confused.
"Well, it's just that…on the day of your wedding someone was here."
"Who?" Van asked as his eyebrows knitted together.
"Hitomi." She replied in a low whisper.
"Hitomi was here? And you didn't tell me! Why?" Merle sighed again.
"She ran off and looked upset. I think she still had feelings for you Van-sama." Van couldn't help but feel bad. He had only seen Hitomi as a friend, nothing more. Then an idea popped into his head. He grinned slightly and rose to his feet. "Where're you going Van-sama?" Merle asked, tilting her head to the side.
"I'm going to see Hitomi and talk to her."
As the seasons changed, Hitomi and Dilandau's relationship flourished. The rest of the summer seemed to fly by like a breeze as did the autumn and winter. Soon it was spring once again and a new school year began. Dilandau had been re-enrolled at Kama Kita high with the help of the new sciences teacher Mr. Fanel.
Dilandau, only naturally, wasn't too pleased with the idea of returning to school. However, with one look at Hitomi how could he refuse? It was hard for Dilandau to adjust back to the new schedule. He had become so use to sleeping in every morning till it was almost noon.
Most of Hitomi's classes were with her friends and Dilandau. What more could a girl ask for? No classes alone and a few shared with your hubby. Life seemed to be perking up and there seemed to be no way to ruin it.
Hitomi's favourite class had become biology for many reasons. One being that she had always enjoyed it. The other reason was watching all her fellow female classmates drool and flirt over their teacher.
He was nothing like any other teacher they had ever seen. He was young, only twenty-eight and had dashing good looks. He dressed relatively causal for a teacher. He would usually wear just a pair of black pleated pants and light blue golf shirt with a navy blue coat over top and he always wore a brown or black leather glove over his right hand. Hitomi and Dilandau both knew why he did it but it boggled the other student.
When lunch rolled around, Hitomi and her friends gathered together in the school cafeteria as usual. Everyone gossiped and talked about how their other classes had been and who the latest boyfriend was or the latest "hottie" they'd seen. Hitomi completely blocked out her friends chatting and focussed more on Dilandau who sat across from her.
Like usual, he sat slouched back in his seat wearing his uniform incorrectly. His jacket was left wide open, his shirt not buttoned up all the way and not even tucked in. but that was just one of the many things Hitomi found herself adoring in him. She had grown to love his rebellious behaviour and only wished that at times she had his courage.
"Hey Hitomi, did you bring your photo album?" Yukari asked as she turned away from the other girls.
"ya, they're in my locker. I'll go get them." Hitomi replied and stood up. Dilandau raised an eyebrow and gave her a look as if to ask where're you going? Dilandau never really paid attention to women when they talked unless if it was about him, fighting or fire. "I'm going to my-our locker. I have to get my pictures." She replied.
"Don't be too long." He said with a wink. Hitomi smile and blew him a kiss back.
Hitomi walked down the crowed hallway to her and Dilandau's locker. Yes, they decided to share a locker because Yukari insisted they do so. It seemed odd but the two complied. Hitomi quickly unlocked the locker and opened it. She reached up and grabbed the dark blue photo album from the top shelf.
When she had shut the locker, Hitomi saw someone she thought and never really wanted to see. Van…? She shut her eyes. It couldn't haven been him she told herself. He's a king, he has duties and bitch to look after. Why would he be here?
"Hitomi?" her eyes opened at the sound of his voice. Even though it had matured a bit, she could still tell it was his. She held her breath and wondered what to say.
"Van." She spoke in a calm and quite tone.
A/N: Yes I'm stopping there. Why? Because I was all the blood to spill in on chapter rather than having it be split in half. So what'd ya think? I hope you guys enjoyed and I'm guessing there's probably only gonna be a few chaps left until it's finished. Wow, time just seems to fly! If you want me to e-mail you when I update, leave your e-mail address or e-mail it to me at esca_chick@hotmail.com