Chapter 12

Hitomi stood at her balcony, staring out over the garden and further on the city that stretched out on all sides. She let a deep sigh escape her as she leaned against the iron railing, feeling the designs of vines and flowers press against her legs through the fabric of her capris. She crosses her arms and rested her forehead on them, smelling the soft smells of the flowers from the garden and the freshly cut grass. All smells were heightened because of the morning dew which dampened the city.

She started slightly when she felt someone's presence near her. Looking up, she found Josceline on his side of the balcony, leaning with his back to her against the small iron gate that separated her side from his. His hair looked unbrushed and static, and his shirt looked hastily shoved on, part of it still tucked into his pants. The daggers were there in their right places however. He didn't look at her.

Hitomi opened her mouth to talk to him, even just comment on the morning weather... or tell him good morning. But she found she couldn't.

He spoke before she did. "Your friends went back to the Mystic Moon?"

She nodded, then, realizing he wouldn't see the action, she replied. "Ya... my dad took them back earlier." She felt a sudden sadness even as she said it. She had cried along with Yukari when they bid each other farewell early that morning.

She saw him nod. "I imagine they will come back for your wedding."

Hitomi felt herself blushing. She hadn't even given much thought to her wedding. Her thoughts were on other things. Like that dream she kept having... "I suppose so."

Josceline stirred, and Hitomi thought he would turn to look at her, but he didn't move. He was quiet for a long well in which Hitomi went back to looking out over the garden. "What do you know about Lady Selena?"

She turned to look at him in surprise. "Selena?" She furrowed her brows. She couldn't very well tell him that she used to be a boy who had tried to kill her and Van several times. "Not much." It wasn't completely a lie... she didn't know about Selena, just her alter-ego.

He was silent again, than finally turned to her. "Could you tell her to leave me alone?" His voice was quiet, and his eyes slightly pleading.

She stared at him in shock, than blinked. "What is she doing to you? I'll tell her whatever you want."

He shook his head. "Dishonouring me." Than he shook his head even harder and smiled. Hitomi hadn't really noticed his smile until that moment. It transformed his usually hard look into something innocent and young. "Forget it, you telling her off would only make it worse." He turned and walked back into his room.

But now Hitomi was curious, and rather worried about him as it happens. Without thinking much through, she climbed over the gate separating the two balconies and entered in through his open French doors. He was sitting on his bed when she walked in, and upon seeing her there stood quickly, nearly knocking over the small table which was in front of him.

"I'm sorry." She blushed. She really hadn't thought things through.

After the initial shock faded from his face he raised an eyebrow. "You could have just went to the door."

She blushed even more, than looked down at the ground, shuffling her bare feet against the simple carpet he had in his room. "I just want to know what she's doing to you."

She felt the creak of the bed as he sat down at the edge, and she looked up again. She noticed that, like the carpet, everything in the room seemed rather plain. Her room was filled with luxuries and paintings. Josceline's had nothing of the sort. "You know the rules of the Celestial, right?"

Hitomi nodded. "Griffin told me."

Josceline sighed and looked away, seemingly watching the clouds move over the sky, beginning to clear for the day ahead. "The rules about courting and such?"

She nodded again. Than opened her mouth in shock. "Your not seeing Selena are you?"

He gave her a level look before smiling. Though the smile wasn't the same as the one on the balcony. This was more twisted and painful. "She wants to... and she doesn't seem to take no for an answer."

"What if..." She sat carefully at the end of his bed. "What if you do get caught with a women, what would happen?"

He watched her for a moment, before answering. "I would be thrown out from the brotherhood."

She blinked. "That's a bit extreme, don't you think."

He laughed slightly startling her. "You may think so."

She scrunched up her nose. "But what if your in love?"

"I'm not suppose to love." He fell silent and stared at his lap. "I went into this knowing that."

"But..." She watched him uncertainly. "Your brothers are all part of the Celestials... you had a lot of pressure to join."

He smiled again, the smile from the balcony coming back. She realized what it was suddenly. He had the smile that stated something you just said was cute or funny. Van looked at her like that a lot. She suddenly felt a need to defend him.

"I don't care if you have a relationship or not, Josceline. I would defend you. You deserve to be happy like everyone else!"

He looked slightly taken back, but recovered quickly. Running a hand through his hair, he stood up wearily and ushered her towards the door. She followed, uncertain. When she was out in the hallway, she turned back to him with a worried frown. "I'll handle everything, Hitomi."

When he had closed the door and heard her footsteps reside down the hall to her own room again, and he heard the small click of her own door closing behind her, he leaned heavily against his wooden door, placing his head against the smooth wood. He felt a small smile tugging at the corners of the his mouth, and suddenly felt resolved to help the cat boy.

He was fully convinced that she truly was the one that would help La Vallex.

oooooooooooooooo

Van was standing patiently outside the kitchen, waiting for Hitomi's father and prince of La Vallex to emerge from talking to the cooks and maids. He was planning for Hitomi's favourite meal to be made that night in honour of her betrothal to Van before he had to go back to his own country.

Van quickly ran through what he was going to ask him. How he wanted Hitomi to come with him to Fanalia for a while so she could see the rebuilt capital and stay in the castle with him. He took a deep breath and leaned against the stone wall, a finger lightly tracing the smooth stonework.

"Van." He turned to look down the hallway. Griffin was coming up to him fast. The look on his face clearly showing that something was wrong. He stopped before the king, distress in his eyes. "Where's Hitomi?"

Van instantly tensed. "I saw her in her room last. She's not missing is she?" His heart began to speed up, he could feel it and hear it in his ears.

He shook his head, his floppy black hair much like the kings own sliding across his forehead. "No... I need to find her. The Queens fallen sick."

Van blinked in surprise, the pounding in his ears not residing. This was still very bad news to him. He felt a knot twist in his gut. "Is she..." He couldn't bring himself to say it.

Griffin nodded. "I think so... they aren't saying right now." He looked quickly down the hallway, as if expecting to find someone there, than in a more desperate voice, "I need to find Hitomi."

Van placed a gentle hand on the cat boys shoulders. He knew that Griffin had been working at the castle since he was extremely young, and loosing the queen would be like loosing a mother to him. "I'll find her... you can go back there."

Griffin nodded and very quickly made his way back down the hallway, half running.

Van took a shuddering breath and made his way quickly in the opposite direction. Thoughts of the question to Hitomi's dad leaving his head. He would know by now probably... the prince was well informed to all actions in the castle. Right now, all Van needed to do was find Hitomi.

She was in her room still like he thought, folding clothes and putting them carefully away into her wardrobe. She had told Van earlier that she didn't want a maid to do things that she was used to doing herself.

She looked up with a smile as he entered, but the smile faded almost instantly. She carefully placed the shirt she was halfway through folding down and walked over to him.

"What is it? Van?" She placed a hand on his cheek, searching his eyes for an answer.

Lightly, he clasped her hand in his, but did not look away from her. "Your grandmother."

Hitomi froze in her actions, her eyes widening. The first thought that came to her mind however was 'why didn't I sense this?' She felt suddenly sick and moved over to the armchair near the fireplace. Placing her hands on the back, she leaned against it, turning away from Van's sympathetic gaze. "What happened?"

"She's sick..." He opened his mouth to add more, but stopped. Hitomi knew. Her eyes were filling with tears which she hastily brushed away.

"Why so soon?" She stood straight, trying to look strong, but leaned against the chair again as if the action was too much. "I just met her..." Her voice was a whisper now.

Van moved next to her, wrapping his arms protectively around her, pulling her against his chest. She turned into his embrace immediately, shuddering from quiet sobs. He could feel her tears seep in his shirt and he rubbed her back with small calming motions. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

She pulled away shortly, wiping away left over tears, her eyes were red and her cheeks were stained with the tears, her cheeks flushed. "Can I see her?"

He nodded, than pulled her over to the door. "She will probably want to see you."

"I need a sweater..." She was mumbling now, babbling nearly as she motioned back into the room. Van kissed her forehead again before going in and grabbing her sweater from the bed, placing it around her shoulders gently as they walked.

ooooooooooooo

Her grandmother certainly looked ill. Hitomi hadn't seen her that morning. She hadn't come out to say goodbye to Yukari and Amano. This had surprised Hitomi earlier. The queen had taken a liking to Yukari and they often had small little chats during her visit. But she hadn't been there to see them off.

Now she knew what the problem was. Her father was next to the bed, holding her frail hand in his own, not talking. Grief seemed to effect him greatly as well. Van hung back at the back of the room, standing with Hitomi's mom, who, like Hitomi, had only just met her mother-in-law. She had been crying. It was obvious she had taken a liking to the old women as well. It was hard not to.

Yuki lay next to the bed, stretched out with her head resting on her paws. She looked saddened by all this too. Griffin wasn't in the room. Hitomi had a feeling he couldn't stand to be there. He was very close with her grandmother, and he was a very sensitive person.

Hitomi moved closer to the bed so she could lightly touch the wrinkled hand of her grandmother. Lorilae's breath was coming in gasps, and she had taken on a slightly grey colour. Hitomi had never known how old the women was... but she saw now that she must have lived through many many years. She had seemed perfectly healthy yesterday.

Corilith moved forward from the corner. She was the only mage present, but Hitomi had a feeling the others were very close by. She rested a hand gently on Hitomi's shoulder and smiled sadly. "She has lived a very long happy life, it's she let go."

Hitomi nodded, feeling numb. She watched as her grandmother's eyelids flickered, but she did not open her eyes... and she did not speak. Hitomi wished she would, just so that it gave some hope to her recovery.

"You will be Queen... like she wanted." Corilith bowed to Hitomi than, along with all the other occupants in the room. Even her father and Van bowed. She noticed suddenly that Josceline was standing in the corner of the room, watching her sadly.

oooooooooooooooooo

Hitomi collapsed onto her bed. Sheer exhaustion had set in, sitting in that room filled with healers and her dying grandmother. She had stayed since that moment she entered, and now it was past midnight. Her grandmother was still holding on.

She felt, rather than saw, Van sit beside her on the bed, followed instantly by the soft feel of his palm against her back, lightly messaging up and down.

"It's not fair." She muttered into her pillow, hugging it close to her face as if wanting to suffocate herself with it.

"I know, Hitomi." She turned to look at him than. He looked just as sad as her father had. Lorilae had been like a mother to Van over the years as well.

"Van..." She sat up and wrapped her arms around him tightly, but broke away as Griffin came into her room, pushing the half open door open all the way.

His eyes were red, and as he walked in, Hitomi noticed that he looked just as exhausted as she felt. "Hitomi..."

She moved over closer to Van so the cat boy could take a seat next to her. "Come here." She commanded lightly, wrapping her arms around her shoulders as he leaned against her. He sniffed slightly, than pulled away a sudden mad sort of look on his face. Desperate. "You need to go to the tomb."

She leant away from his suddenly, and felt Van's hand press against her side, holding her in place in a reassuring way. "What?"

"You need to go... Corilith is distracted, now would be your time."

She blinked at him. "Your just upset, Griffin."

He shook his head, his wild hair falling over his eyes. "You don't understand. You might be able to help Lorilae."

Hitomi blinked at him, and felt Van tense behind her. She knew he was thinking the same thing, wondering if there was truly some way to bring her back to them. "What do you mean?"

"The tomb holds power." He stood suddenly, and began to pace the floor. "It holds a great amount of power that you could possess if you go and get it."

"It's dangerous. Grandmother told me not to go there." Her voice sounded weak and pathetic in the night.

"But you need to!" His voice was desperate, and he grabbed her shoulders suddenly, shaking her slightly. Hitomi didn't shy away from the touch, but Van grabbed Griffin's arm and plied it off, giving him a look of warning. The cat boy backed off, but his desperation only increased. "You need to bring her back Hitomi. And if you do gain this power, you will be the greatest ruler ever!"

She pursed her lips and turned to the doorway suddenly. Josceline was standing there, watching the exchange with a strange look on his face. "What do you think?" She asked him, knowing he would disagree with the plan. She would be free of the idea, and she wouldn't have to think on it.

But to her great surprise, Josceline just turned away from her and walked back down the hallway, leaving her to stare at the spot he just occupied.

"He won't stop you. You need to do it." Griffin grinned. "Tomorrow night, if she is still alive, we will go, alright?" His voice was pleading and Hitomi was finding it hard to say now.

"I'll tell you in the morning." Her tone suggested the conversation was over, so Griffin turned, and without another word, left the room, leaving her and Van alone as he closed the door.

Hitomi found herself breathing hard and her heart beating fast. She hastily, distractedly, brushed her hair from her face and stood, shaking.

Van watched as she bit her lap and paced in front of the bed.

She stopped suddenly and turned to him, tears were coming to her eyes again, falling from her eyes and rolling down her cheeks again. "I need to go there. If it can save her, I have to."

"It's dangerous, they told you it is." He held out an arm, inviting her to come to him, but she didn't move and he dropped his hand back in his lap. He sighed, and ran a hand through his own hair, staring up at the ceiling. It was getting dark very fast and he stood to light a gas lamp on the bedside table. As he did so, he looked up to the ceiling again. People of his own kind were there, painted onto the roof in great designs, white wings unfurled, dressed in gowns of pure white. One looked like his mother. He moved over to his love then, wrapping his arms around her, ignoring as she resisted in her anxiety. "Shh.. Hitomi..." He ran a hand carefully through her hair, careful of the tangles which had formed. She gave into his warmth, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him close to her, burying her face into his shirt.

"I need to do this... I have to..." She mumbled over and over into his chest, running her hands along his back.

"I will go with you than." She stopped moving around and looked up at him, still attached to his waist. The light from the lamp and the large moons outside giving a strange eerie glow to her emerald eyes. He smiled sweetly and brushed a piece of hair from her wet face. "I will go anywhere for you."

She blinked, as if pulled from a trance, and moved away from him, but didn't let go from his sides, or turning away from his gaze. "I want to see your wings."

He blinked in surprise and furrowed his brows, his heart starting to pound in his ears again. "Why?"

"Because I want to." She stuck out her chin slightly, her eyes set and determined. Van realized he was looking at queen, not a strange girl from the mystic moon anymore. He backed away from her. "Please." She asked, still not turning away from his gaze even as he tried to. Something had changed in her.

He shook his head, than stopped... watching as her mouth formed the words 'please' again, but no sound came from her lips. He slowly removed his shirt, stained from tears, and threw it onto the bed. Two beautiful wings sprouted from his back, spreading white feathers to the ground like snow all over the room. He kept his eyes locked with hers.

For the longest time, she did not move or speak, just simply watched him. Her eyes moving over his shoulders, face and wings slowly. She moved forward, gracefully, more graceful than he had ever seen her move, and placed a delicate hand on his arm, then, sliding it up, she brushed the tips of his wings at his shoulder blades. A violent shudder erupted from him and he jerked backwards.

"Does that hurt?" She asked, her hand still held up in the act of touching them.

He shook his head, breathing hard. He bowed his head, refusing to meet her gaze. "No..."

She stepped forward again, more determined, and brushed a single finger against a feather, causing the same reaction from him. Only this time he did not move away. He closed his eyes, sucking in a shaky breath. He stepped closer to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and easily pulling her forward. He kissed her neck with a certain amount of urgency. She did not kiss back... only continued to lightly stroke his wings, letting her fingers feel the silkiness of the feathers.

He suddenly moaned and pressed his face closer to her neck. "Hitomi..."

She smiled, and leaned closer to him, placing her mouth near his ear. "You won't stop me, will you?" He shook his head. "Tomorrow, I will go to the tomb with Griffin... and you won't stop me." He shook his head again. "I want you to be with me... but I have to do this on my own."

She continued to smile as she felt him completely give into her, wrapping his arms around her, running his hands up and down her back under her shirt. And at the same time, Van was feeling a change over Hitomi... but he found himself completely unable to resist it. He allowed her to push him back against the bed and climb on top of him, careful not to pin his wings down under her knees. "Everything will be fine Van." She told him, as she bent over him and placed soft kisses along his chest and throat, still tracing her fingers torturingly along his sensitive wings.

ooooooooooo

AN/ see, I told you... like rabbits...

But Hitomi's acting strange... why is that -grin- you'll just have to read the next chapter. mwhahahaha.

Don't worry... Josceline isn't going to take Hitomi away from Van. I don't like pairings with randoms and those two. -nods- it should be Van and Hitomi and that's all. Occasionally I like the Hitomi and Dilly ones (Though I've only read one that I didn't find completely creepy and unrealistic).

Anywho... some people may have noticed that Chid is gone. O.O that's because I had too many people to play with already and lets face it... Chid isn't all that important. -nods- You may also notice that Millera and all them weren't in this chapter either... that's because I forgot about them too. -sigh- I have a habit for doing that you see. But ah well... they're still at the castle. But have to go back soon. -nods- I'll just say they didn't want to intrude on the family during their time of grief. That works...

Comments!

Oh and I must also thank all those who have been commenting all along. I love you all! Hopefully you will all stay with me for the sequel and other Escaflowne fics.