A/N: thanks for your comforting words you guys and thank you everyone who reviewed: Nel, Faye Morgan, snowykittenz, Rai Dorian, Niffer, Snarfburgalar, Blue Demon, SabineballZ, FOX-SPIRIT AKA Y.V., Breathe, Xelena, P-chan, Toki Mirage,
Nel- don't worry, Van will make a huge ass of himself later.
Faye Morgan- Come on, this Dilly-sama we're talking about! There's no way to kill the man! He's just too hot and sexy but that could be his down fall….*shifty eyes*
Snarfburgalar- yes I named my kitty Gatti. I was gonna call him Dilandau but he didn't look like a Dilandau ya know? And yes I know Van is still alive. I need him around for a bit longer okay? I have to make him make an ass of himself first. Have patience!
~*~*~*~
I
cannot take this anymore
I'm saying everything I've said before
All these words they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Less I hear the less you'll say
But you'll find that out anyway
Just like before...
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I find the answers aren't so clear
Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Nothing seems to go away
Over and over again
Just like before...
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Break break break break break
shut up when I'm talking to you
shut up shut up shut up
shut up when I'm talking to you
shut up shut up shut up shut up
I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Break break break break break break
shut up when I'm talking to you
shut up shut up shut up
shut up when I'm talking to you
shut up shut up shut up shut up
I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
One Step Closer by Linkin Park
~*~*~*~
Chapter 19: One Step Closer
Van sparred alone in the privacy of the gym in the newly built castle of Fanelia. He shut his warm brown eyes and sliced the sword in a downward motion. He gripped the hilt of the sword tightly as he swung the blade upwards then turning his heel. His movements quickened and his attacks more deadly looking.
How could she… his eyebrows knitted together as he relived the moment of seeing his friend in the arms of a crazed killer.
Merle sighed heavily and she walked away from the training room. She had been watching Van for a while as he practiced in solitude. She could sense the uneasiness in his heart, his soul. She knew something bad must have happened on the Mystic Moon. Why else would Van be acting so distant? He looks like he's been betrayed…
Merle sighed again, her ears and tail hanging low. It hurt her to see Van like that. It hurt her to see him sad. I'll find out what's wrong Van-sama, one way or another, she vowed.
"Merle? What's wrong?" Merle raised her eyes from the ground before her and to look at the heavenly knight.
"Oh, hi Allen." She replied, her voice quiet.
Allen raised an eyebrow. Something was wrong. Merle was usually in high spirits or teasing him in someway. "What's wrong?"
"It's Van-sama." She answered and leaned against the rail of the walkway.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. He went to the Mystic Moon yesterday to visit Hitomi but when he came back he was all gloomy." She replied honestly.
"Has he said anything to you?" Merle shook her head.
"He refuses to tell me what happened. No matter how much I bug him about it he stays quiet." Allen's eyebrows knitted together. What could have happened? His glaze slowly moved up the sky and came to a stop on the blue moon. Is Hitomi alright?
"I'll go talk to him." Allen said and continued on his way.
"He's in the gym training!" Merle shouted as Allen disappeared down the walkway.
Allen poked his head into the bare gym. In the far corner he could see Van swinging his sword about as if he were fighting against an invisible opponent. Allen walked into the room and over to the troubled king. "Van?" Allen spoke, breaking Van out of his fighting trance.
His brown eyes narrowed as the knight walked closer to him. "What do you want?" he asked annoyed.
"Merle tells me something's wrong." Van sheathed his sword and turned his back to the knight. "What happened on the Mystic Moon?"
"Nothing happened." Van snapped.
"Liar." Allen said in a provoking tone. He was willing to do whatever it took to get Van to speak.
"Nothing happened okay!" Allen smirked and placed a hand on his hip.
"You never really were a good liar were you Van."
"What's it matter to you any ways?" Van asked annoyed.
"I'm only asking on Merle's behalf. She's really worried about you." Van stayed silent. "It couldn't be that bad."
"It was horrible." Allen smiled a secret smile. "Hitomi…she…" Van tried to find the right words to say it but was obviously having trouble.
"What about Hitomi? Is she hurt?" Van shook his head.
"No, she…"He sighed heavily. "She's with Dilandau."
"Dilandau!?!" Allen shouted in shock. "What? How?"
"After the Destiny war all the Dragonslayers were granted another chance to live but they had to live on the Mystic Moon."
"But what exactly do you mean by she's with Dilandau?"
"They're courting each other!" Allen's eyes widened.
"Are you sure? Are you sure they aren't just friends?" even though Allen didn't like the idea of Dilandau befriending Hitomi or being alive, he had to make sure that they weren't courting.
"Trust me, I'm sure. They proclaimed their 'love' for each other right in front of me." Van said in disgust.
"He must have brainwashed her. Hitomi would never do that." Van sighed and leaned against the wooden wall.
"That's what I've been telling myself but…I don't know…" silence filled the air in the room, neither one of them knew what to say.
"Why don't we bring Hitomi back?" Allen suggested. "I'm sure once she's back on Gaea and away from Dilandau she'll see thing more clearly."
"You know, that doesn't sound like a bad idea." Van smiled to himself. "Let's do it."
As Hitomi closed her locker she came face to face with her friend Yukari. "So explain." She demanded.
"Explain what Yukari?" Hitomi asked, pretending to not know what her friend was talking about.
"That guy from this afternoon. You know the guy that Dilandau would have kicked the shit out of."
"Oh, him…" Hitomi leaned against the metal lockers and sighed. "You remember how I went missing just after we began high school?" Yukari nodded.
"What did happen? Where'd you go?" Hitomi hesitated to answer.
"Do you remember about the deal I made with Amano?" Yukari nodded. "Do remember anything about a strange boy showing up and slaying a dragon?" confusion was written all over Yukari's face.
"Dragon?" she went silent for a moment, her eyes narrowed slightly as her eyebrows knitted together. "I remember having a strange dream about a boy who spoke a weird language, a dragon and a strange light-"
"That took me away." Hitomi finished. Yukari looked at her friend surprised she knew what she was going to say.
"How'd-?"
"How'd I know? It wasn't a dream Yukari. It really happened. I know it sounds strange but it did happen. That boy was Van, the guy who was here earlier." Hitomi caught a quick glance at her watch and noticed the time. "Hey I'll call you later and tell you everything okay?"
"You better Hitomi!" Yukari shouted as her friend took off down the hallway.
Later that night Hitomi called Yukari like she had promised and explained to her everything. She told her about how she had witnessed so many deaths and how she turned into the key figure in a war that would forever affect the people of Gaea.
"I know that it sounds completely insane but you've got to believe me Yukari." Hitomi said almost pleading. "How else do you think I got my pendent back? I gave it to Van and he gave it back to me today." Hitomi sighed heavily as she listened to her friend go on about how it can't be real. This is going to be a long night…
A/N: OMG! I FINALLY UPDATED! Can you believe it!?! Sorry about the long wait. School has been keeping me sooooo busy!(oh and I had a lot of trouble finding the perfect song for this chap.) I have 2 major projects I have to work on plus a bunch of assignments for art I have to finish. Oh and then next week my religion teach is giving us our ISP's. That'll be "fun". Well I'll try to update quicker okies. 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