Chapter 5
"Nervous?" Hitomi looked up in surprise as Griffin moved up to her side. They were walking through the shopping district. All in disguise like the last time. Griffin had been showing her parent's around, pointing out small little interesting details and such them. Hitomi's dad surprisingly didn't know much about the city. He said that it had changed a lot since he left. Hitomi's mom on the other hand was in complete awe of the expansive city. She had bought some native flowers from a vendor, sampled some fruit that came from Fanalia (Van said it was his favourite), and bought a beautiful shell necklace near the harbour.
"About the ball?" She squinted her eyes against the glaring sun. True to her grandmother's words, it was far better today than it was the day before. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and all the puddles had tried up right in the morning.
Griffin nodded. "Are you nervous? A lot of people are going to be there, all watching you... judging..."
She glared at the cat boy. "I am now."
He simply chuckled, and hurried up the front of their party again, butting politely into the Kanzaki's conversation so he could point out a specific building they were passing. Hitomi didn't pay attention. She only smiled as Merle carefully placed a hand into Griffin's. The cat boy looked down at her in surprise, smiled, giving her hand a small squeeze, than went back to talking to Hitomi's parents.
"They're very close, those two." She looked up at Van. He too was in disguise, dressed in the traditional light baggy pants and thin white shirt of the people there. He still looked like a king, but Hitomi guessed that it didn't matter. People in the streets wouldn't be looking for a Fanalian king dressed as their own. Herself on the other hand had to be dressed in simple pheasant clothing. The citizens were looking for the next heiress to show up among them. Gossip travels fast in La Vallex, her grandmother had to explain to her.
"I noticed. I'm happy for them." She smiled up at him, shielding her eyes again from the sun. "I'm glad she's stopped chasing after you." She smiled cheekily as Van suddenly blushed.
But he seemed to gather his courage. "Why would that be?" He raised a dark eyebrow.
Hitomi felt the urge to drool and jump him, but shook the thought away, making mental note of the dark, secluded alley they just passed. The gentle, yet passionate kisses the night before still fresh on her mind. Gods... he was so perfect!
"Well... I have a lot on my mind. Competition would only be a distraction." She looked away to hide the blush on her face. This was too... weird... the Van she had been pining over for four years suddenly was back in her life, still single, and flirting with her! Something she thought the shy old Van wasn't capable of.
Suddenly, Josceline made a huffing noise, and stomped past the two in his own annoyed way. Hitomi was still getting used to the fact that he was always around, let alone actually speaking to her now and voicing his opinions. He, as usual, still stayed within a good distance that he could act if needed.
"Someone's grumpy..." She mumbled. Van wasn't even able to hear, but Josceline turned around and sent her a rather hate filled glare. She blinked in surprise and looked away.
"Hitomi." She looked up again, as her mother came towards her, holding up the hems of the simple light dress that her mother-in-law had provided her. The group stopped, her dad going over to look at a stall selling daggers. "I've been meaning to ask you, why do they seem to worship angels so much here." She made a motion to a vendor selling small stone and wood statues of winged beings.
Hitomi turned to Griffin, giving him a questioning gaze, but he simply shrugged. Why hadn't he told her mom that bit of information yet? "I... I haven't thought to really ask before." It was true. She thought it was strange that the people of La Vallex seemed to adore and worship the very race that others thought to be cursed.
"There's a legend." Hitomi and her mom turned to Van, who was looking at the statues with a strange look. "My mom and Aunt Lorilae used to tell me and Folken."
'Aunt Lorilae?' Hitomi furrowed her brows. "What's the legend about?"
"The people of Atlantis split into two groups, the winged ones, or the Draconians, and the Scyres, the magical. It's said that the royalty of La Vallex are decedents of the Scryes..." He shrugged. "The people believe that they not only protect the Draconians, but people that worship the Draconians as well. In other words, worship the protected, and you'll be protected yourself." He shook his head, and passed the same weird look he was giving the statues to Hitomi. "It's just a legend though."
"Oh..." Hitomi passed a significant look at the statues. "I guess that makes sense. Why didn't the Scryes have wings?"
"Because they believe their magic was enough." Van shrugged again. "And the Celestial Gates," he motioned to Josceline who looked as if he was not listening (Hitomi knew better), "were created to protect the Scryes from they're enemies."
Hitomi got a strange tingling feeling up the back of her spine, and she felt the hair at the back of her neck stand on end. That power she felt from Josceline earlier... She blinked, her mom was speaking to Van.
"Does that make Shiro and Hitomi..." She trailed off, looking puzzled.
Van's eyed widened, as if he didn't quite think of that before. He opened his mouth to reply, but Griffin came over and gently touched Mrs. Kanzaki's shoulder. "We should be getting back to the castle. You ladies have dresses to be fitted."
Hitomi groaned. The thought of being fussed over for a few hours wasn't a happy thought. Merle on the other hand looked excited, and Hitomi soon found out the reason.
"I don't have a dress to try on, some women told me back there that there will be a celebration at the pub around the corner, will you come with me?" She hooked her arm around Griffin's and gave him a wide smile.
"I suppose so, can't let a little lady like you wander around amongst drunken idiots now can I?" He patted her arm, given her a grin to match her own.
"All right, well, come along than Hitomi." Her dad appeared at her side, and gently began to steer her back to the castle. "Your grandmama wouldn't be happy if I kept you away from your duties." Hitomi wanted to retort that she didn't want the duties, but thought better of it. Her dad, in any other country, would be named the next ruler. La Vallex was ruled by all women, so the opportunity would never go to him. In the event of there being no women to take the throne, her dad would stand as replacement, until a proper queen could be elected.
Van fell into step behind Mrs. Kanzaki and Josceline. Hitomi wished they could talk alone again, she wanted to know more about this 'legend'.
If Van was telling the truth about it all... that would make Hitomi just like him. Maybe than he would be more open about him being a Draconian.
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After the long process of dress fitting, Hitomi longed to talk with Van, but she hadn't seen him since they had got back to the castle. Did he go off with Merle and Griffin maybe?
She now lay on her bed. The most comfortable bed in the entire universe she was suddenly noticing, dressed back into a simple skirt and blouse after being draped with different coloured fabrics all night, being pinned and prodded at.
Yuki placed her large front paws on the duvet cover, and proceeded to licking her arm. An action that slightly chilled her. Though Yuki was perfectly trained, she still found it strange that a giant killer sized cat was acting like a normal house cat. She wondered briefly if Yuki's behaviour was due to her grandmother's magic.
She rolled onto her side to survey the large cat. "I don't suppose you could find Van for me?"
Yuki cocked his head to the side, and to Hitomi's surprise, left the bedside and retreated out of the room leaving Hitomi to sit and blink stupidly in shock. Upon recovering, she quickly leapt off the bed, slid into a pair a sandals, and headed into the hall. Yuki was waiting, flicking her thick tail patiently before heading off down the hall again, Hitomi in her wake. She wandered briefly if she was loosing her mind, as Yuki led her out of the castle, and unto the training grounds.
But the snow tiger had led her to the right place. Van was walking to a shooting target, obviously going to retrieve the bolts he had already shot into her. Her brother, Yuuhi, sat watching him from a grassy patch nearby.
She approached her brother with Yuki next to her. Yuuhi didn't seem to have fear of the cat, because he brought out a hand immediately to scratch her head and ears. Hitomi noticed with some irritation that he was dressed in normal clothes from the mystic moon. A black and white stripped shirt, and off white cords. She wasn't allowed to wear her Earth clothes in public, how come Yuuhi was?
Folding her skirt neatly under her as she sat, she passed another look at Van who had noticed her and was heading over.
"Oh, don't stop just because she's here." Yuuhi looked disgruntle.
Hitomi shot him a glare and smiled at Van who had raised an eyebrow at her little brother. "He's right thought." He shrugged, and held the arrows and bow in one hand well he swooped his messy hair out of his face (to which it just fell right back again).
"I'm not used to having an audience." He shrugged, than patted Yuki absentmindedly on the head as the tiger rubbed against his leg. Hitomi wondered if Yuki had been around when her grandmother and Van's mom were best friends.
"Van, let Hitomi try it." Yuuhi motioned towards the bow and arrows.
Van looked down at the weapon in his hand in surprise, than up to Hitomi. "If she wants."
Hitomi passed another nasty glare to her brother, than stood, dusting off her skirt as she did so. She reached out both hands as Van passed her the bow and arrows.
"Did you want me to show you?"
She smiled at him, than shaking her head, walked over so she was standing in front of the target, a good distance away. Van stood by, waiting to correct her stance. He was greatly surprise however, when she took the perfect stance, and held the large bow in the perfect possition as she put an arrow into the notch, pulled back and aimed.
"No Hitomi, do the cool thing!" She looked over at her brother in irritation, than turned back to the target.
She sighed, than closed her eyes. She may not have the pendent, but she could still picture it in her mind. With her eyes still closed, she let the arrow fly.
With a thud, it planted itself into the centre of the target. Yuuhi cheered loudly.
When Hitomi opened her eyes and smiled at her shot, she looked over at Van. He was staring at her in surprise, and... awe. He blinked, as he seemed to snap out of it, and moved over to the target.
It took him a while to pry the arrow from the wood, but when he did, he laughed slightly and headed back to her. "Where did you learn that?"
"She was taking lessons at home." Yuuhi stood up and walked over to the pair, Yuki at his side. "The teacher called her a prodigy."
Hitomi shook her head and mouthed a 'no' in Van's direction. "Anyway, Yuuhi, grandmama was looking for you earlier, did you talk to her?"
He scuffed his foot on the ground in a childish manner and frowned. "No... she wants me to try on some outfit for the ball tomorrow."
"Than hop to it." She gently pushed her brother towards the castle, giving him a little shove off of the training ground and onto the lawn. He turned and glared at her. "You can't keep a queen waiting now, can you?"
Yuuhi sighed. "Fine... come on Yuki, you can suffer with me."
She shook her head as she watched her brother disappear from site, than turned back to Van with a smile. Her smile turned to a blush when she found him watching her with that same look he had on his face last night. She shrugged a shoulder as if brushing something off, than walked towards him, handing the bow back to him. "He was over exaggerating... besides, I cheat." She touched her old pendent which was half tucked into his shirt.
He laughed slightly, the sound coming low from his throat. "I do the same thing, since you taught me." He grabbed her hand and in a slow and perfect motion brought it up to his mouth, placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand. He brought her hand down, but did not let go as he smiled at her.
"I hope you don't think... I'm some beastly, manly girl now... or anything..." Gods... she was babbling and she knew it. She shook her head, blushing profusely, but blushed even more when he chuckled again.
"Not at all." He brought up his chin slightly. For a moment, Hitomi felt intimidated. He looked like the king he was... but than she remembered that she herself was the heir to a throne. She wondered briefly, that if she came back under different circumstances, that kingly look about him might scare her off. She didn't want to think about it. He smiled. "A queen should be able to protect herself, I think."
"You sound like my grandmother." She grinned cheekily at him. He simply got a small smirk on his face, and his eyes danced in a strange way. Her smile suddenly turned into a curious look as she surveyed him. "Van... about what you talked about earlier-"
"Your dress maker needs to see you again." Both Hitomi and Van jumped considerably, as Josceline walked out from the shadows of a tree overhanging the training grounds.
"Josceline!" She pulled away from Van and, recovering, sent her guard a glare. "How long have you been there?"
"I followed you when you left your room." He walked forward, but stopped a few feet away from them, giving the royalty his usual bow. "I'm surprised you didn't hear me."
She sighed. "Well, your trained not to be heard are you?"
He ignored her. "I'm even more surprised that your able to use a bow." He eyed the large bow in Van's hands.
Hitomi sighed, and turned back to Van. "I'll see you later." She turned, walked right past Josceline and towards the castle.
Before turning to follow her, Josceline gave Van a small smirk then bowed.
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Hitomi tossed and turned that night. Whenever she fell asleep, it was for only a brief amount of time, during which she would have blank dreams filled with winged people, mages, and a ballroom full of people pointing and laughing. Her bed became stifling hot and uncomfortable, even in her thin nighty. What made it worse was that Griffin told her the other day that this wasn't even the hottest time of the year.
Unable to take it anymore, she climbed out of bed, and threw on her yellow summer house coat she brought back from Earth. When she got the door, she hesitated. Where was she going to go? She pulled away from the door and leaned against the wall, resting her forehead against the cool wood. She closed her eyes.
"It's said that the royalty of La Vallex are decedents of the Scryes..."
She snapped her eyes open and heaved herself away from the wall which seemed a small sanctuary in the hot room. She needed to know more about the legend, maybe then she could get some sleep. That is... if she could also forget about the ball tomorrow night. All the excitement of everyone in the castle wasn't helping. Everyone bustling around getting ready.
Making up her mind, she stepped into the dark hallway.
As soon as she shut the door quietly behind her, a door to her right suddenly opened, and a slightly tussled looking Josceline stuck his head out. His hair was sticking out funny, and he was shirtless. No doubt it was just as hot in his room and he was suffering from the same agony. She would have blushed at seeing his bare chest, if she weren't so surprise. Just as she had guessed, those designs on his arms did continue onto his chest and back.
He ran a hand through his hair and stepped awkwardly back into his doorway as if embarrassed. "Where you going now?" He asked in exasperation.
"I need to talk to Van about something." She pulled her housecoat further around herself and crossed her arms over her chest. "I suppose you have to follow me."
He watched her for a moment, than stifled a yawn. "Go ahead." Without another word, he stepped back into his room, leaving Hitomi to stare in shock as the door closed silently.
'That was...odd...' how could the strict bodyguard suddenly become completely laid back like that? Shaking it off, still feeling her tiredness coming full force, she headed down the hall, touching the wall as she went along. Torches or candles would only increase the hotness in the hallway.
After what seemed like an eternity of wandering, she found herself in an unfamiliar hallway. She figured she must have been here before, with her tour of the castle with Griffin. Sighing, she leaned against the wall, and thought of the pendent in her head, bring an image of Van to her head. But she was unable to concentrate, her mind having gone numb from lack of sleep. She let herself slide to the floor, but just as she did so a door opened in front of her.
She found herself blinking up at a smiling cat girl.
"I knew I heard something." Merle bustled out of her room wearing just a long shirt which looked strikingly similar to something Griffin would wear. "What are you wandering around here for Hitomi?" She stooped down so she could smirk at her. "Are you lost."
Hitomi sighed, and shifted against the wall. "Actually yes..."
Merle made a rather mocking sigh and straightened. "Van's room is right there." She pointed the room next to the one she came out of. Than, with a smirk and wave, Merle disappeared back into her room. Hitomi briefly heard the cat girl talking to someone inside her room.
Standing, she straightened her nighty and housecoat, then went to the door Merle indicated. She knocked as quietly as she could. When there was no answer, she knocked a little louder. Still no answer.
With a sigh, she gathered herself and opened the bedroom door. Her eyes adjusted to the sudden change in lighting. The moon light was shining in through the open window at one side of the room. She stepped in and closed the door when she saw someone asleep in the large bed. She walked closer and smiled as Van rolled over in his sleep and slipped a hand under his pillow.
'At least someone is sleeping tonight...' She stepped closer still. "Van?" He stirred again, but didn't wake up. "Van." She sat down on the side of the bed. The small dip she caused made him wake up. He rolled over on to his back, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he looked up at her.
"Hitomi?" He let out a long sleepy breath and ran a hand through his hair. "What time is it." He looked up at her with blurry eyes.
"I don't know." She resisted the urge to giggle. Gods... he was cute. "I didn't ever imagine you as a heavy sleeper."
He smiled, his grin turning lopsided in his tired state. "I'm usually not." He sat up, or at least tried to, resting his head against the top of the bed frame. "Is something wrong?" He brought a hand from under the blankets and placed it on top of hers, playing with her fingertips.
She shook her head. "I can't sleep."
He nodded, as if the answer was good enough for interrupting his sleep.
"Van... could you possibly..." She moved further onto the bed, Van moving over so she could sit beside him. "Could you tell me more about that legend you were telling us about earlier?"
He was silent for a moment, than nodded. "What do you want to know."
"Do you think that I really am one of those Scyres people?"
"I wouldn't doubt that Lorilae is one... so that would make you one too, I'd think." He cocked his head to the side slightly. "That would also explain why you have a Celestial Gate guarding you."
"So I'm like you than?" She looked away from him.
He was silent for what seemed like a lifetime. "Your too pure to be like me, Hitomi."
She looked up at him in shock. "Why do you think that?"
He shrugged. "I don't believe your cursed."
"And I don't believe you're cursed either." She glared at him. "I still think your wings are beautiful. And if you were on Earth, you would be nearly worship just like Draconians are here in La Vallex." She told him stubbornly.
He chuckled slightly. "Well you Mystic Moon people are strange... I'm not sure if being worshipped there is a good thing or not."
She nudged him lightly, that quietly and carefully snuggled up to his side. Despite the heat, she felt a sudden relief just being that close to him. He placed his chin on her head, and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Van?" He made a sound of acknowledgement. "What happened between this country and Fanalia?"
He stirred slightly, and nudged the top of her head. "After my mom died, we didn't talk to Lorilae as much. Then when the war happened, she refused to join... I guess that's why we became so distant..." She felt him give a smile tired shrug.
She shifted so her face was against his neck. "So many things could have gone differently." She began to feel her eyelids droop and her body slow down. She began to mumble, her breath tickling his throat. "Can I sleep here, with you."
He only nodded. It was obvious he was falling asleep as well.
"I hope I don't make an idiot of myself tomorrow..." She let her eyes close as she listened to Van's heart beating and his easy breathing.
"You won't..." He yawned, his body tensing a moment before he relaxed into the pillows, his arms coming around her tighter. "When Millerna, Dryden and them all come tomorrow. You should surprise them. I'm not telling them your the new heir."
"Mmm... whatever you want Van." She felt him chuckle momentarily before she felt herself slip into a blissful sleep.
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AN:All right, sorry if this chapter sucked... I'm sick and have a fever... not the best time to write a chapter. -sigh-
reviews please!
