Chapter 14

The funeral was held that night. The queen was placed on a dais in the centre of the garden, her body burned to ashes as what was the La Vallex tradition. The citizens all stood in the streets of the city, watching as the smoke curled up into the sky and the loud drums banged out an eerie rhythm that gave everyone goose bumps. People were crying openly. Lorilae had been a good Queen.

Van watched as Hitomi stood quietly with her mother, father and little brother, watching the ceremony with little emotion of her face, but it was obvious she was holding back. She looked away when the body burned, and didn't look back until it was her time to step forward, towards the large group of mages before her. She kneeled at their feet, and Corilith, her face set, placed the gold, diamond inlaid circlet on her head, resting amongst her done up hair. She stood, and everyone bowed, welcoming the new queen.

The mages than lit a second fire, this one sending up colourful flames and a thick blue smoke. Cheers erupted from the city below, and they all too bowed, the gongs from the harbour clanging loudly against the noise.

Than it was all over. So sudden that Van felt light-headed and strange. There would be more ceremonies and things to go through later... but the real part was over and done with. A long life ended and a new rein beginning in the short space of half a day.

He looked down at the ground as Hitomi passed near him. He was having a hard time bringing himself to look at the newly changed Hitomi, but at the same time, was having a hard time not to. She was beautiful. A goddess. She held herself higher now, as if she had been the queen for years already, gained all the experience. When she walked, she seemed to float around without any sort of connection to the world. And when she looked at him...

"Van." He looked to his side in surprise. Merle was gently tugging on his shirt, motioning for him to follow her. He looked up again. The party was moving back into the castle. Hitomi was already on the palace steps, lifting up her gauzy dress as she ascended to the door. The group of mages right behind her. Josceline was at her side. That was right... he wasn't married to her yet.

He followed the group back up to the castle, falling into step with the silent Allen and Selena, dressed in their Asturian finest. They, like Van, would have to go back to their own countries soon. Dryden and Millerna were talking about heading back the next day, leave the family to grieve without guests to worry about. Those two themselves were walking behind Hitomi's family, dressed in black and giving their respects.

Dinner was served next. Everyone ate quietly, not sure what to talk about. Hitomi sat at the head of the table, Lorilae's old spot, picking at stuff on the plate, looking slightly pale, the dark mark on her hand and arm showing to the whole group as she brought a glass of wine up to her mouth. When her hand gently traced the top of the glass, causing a small whining sound to be produced which people chose not to comment on. She seemed entranced in the smallest things, as if new born. Often she was caught staring off at the chandelier, or the fruit on the table when people tried to talk to her. At these times she would start and turn to the person with a look of mild surprise, as if just noticing them there. Her green eyes filled with curiosity.

Despite all Van's efforts to avoid her gaze, he found himself watching her the whole night. When she brought up a napkin to her mouth, when she folded her dress down in her lap, spreading the hems around her as she sat on the plush cushions. She wanted to get up and leave, but it seemed she wanted to wait till others did as well. Van decided to help her with the situation.

He stood, placing his napkin on top of his hardly touched food. "I think I'll retire to bed." He glanced at Hitomi. She was watching him with a small smile on her face. "It's late, and I'm heading back to Fanalia tomorrow." Another glance in Hitomi's direction. But her smile hadn't disappeared as he thought it may. He realized she was right when she told him that everything would be all right. She did take care of everything in the end. Despite her grandmother's death, things seemed to have fallen perfectly into place.

Millerna, Dryden, Allen and Selena excused themselves next, giving Hitomi a reason to stand as well. As she did so, all the servants standing around the room bowed, the mages stood and did the same, and Josceline stepped forward from his spot near the wall. The whole action seemed to take Hitomi by surprise for only half a second, her mouth open in a small 'o' before she smiled and gracefully bowed to her still sitting parents before leaving the room, Josceline behind her.

They all walked down the hallway together, silent except for Millerna telling her group around the arrangements for going home the next morning. They were going to go home just around noon, so Van decided he should do the same, telling his plans to Hitomi in an undertone well she simply nodded and moved away from them towards the royal quarters without another word. He felt a strong urge to go after her, but he held back. She needed time to be alone. he just hoped he would be able to be alone with her before he had to leave.

When they reached their rooms, they all bid goodnight to each other in calm, nearly over polite voices. Van surprised to find Griffin waiting near Merle's door. He gave a small reassuring smile to the cat boy before leaving the two to their own time, entering into his room quietly. He had a feeling he would be seeing way more of the cat boy in the future.

It seemed he had only been lying in bed, still fully dressed, for a few minutes before the door to his room opened. But in reality, it had been hours, the sky pitch black except for the few stars showing through the clouds. The Mystic Moon and ghost moon were not visible that night. He sat up, moving towards his sword which lay at his feet. But he stopped halfway through the motion, staring through the darkness he had long adjusted to to the person in the doorway.

Hitomi moved away from the doorway slowly, closing the door with one hand. She walked to the centre of the room, and stood there, just watching him. Her hair was down, flowing down her shoulders and back in waves. She was still dressed, like him, in her ceremony clothes. A new addition around her neck next to the pendent which looked a lot like the top of the staff she was carrying earlier from the tomb, only smaller.

He moved to get up, but she moved first to the bed, sitting down at the end, the bed hardly sinking down as if she weighed nothing at all.

She looked at him as she began to talk, watching him as if he was something incredibly interesting. "I'll come to Fanalia when I have time."

He nodded, as if this was the answer to all his question. He found himself, once again unable to speak, and, with a start, suddenly realized that she had the same effect on him as that night she wanted to see his wings. The change had already begun before she went into the tomb. He remembered her sudden need to go into the tomb, as if something were calling her...

"I want to show you something." He blinked at her, as she stood and held out a hand gracefully for him to hold. The hand that had the markings. He took it carefully, and allowed her to pull him to his feet. He moved to snatch up his sword again, but she pulled him gently away, shaking her head. "You won't need it."

So he allowed her to lead him slowly out of the room and down the hall. Soon they were passing through hallway after hallway, coming to a part of the castle that he didn't recognize. The whole place was painted with scenes of Draconians and mages. A strange feeling overcame him as she led him to a large set of double doors made of heavy wood.

He noticed there was a keyhole in the door, and, reaching forward, he found the door was locked. "Do you have a key?" He turned towards her.

She was watching him with a smile, and, shaking her head, placed her right hand onto the surface of the door. It instantly sprung open, creaking under hardly used hinges. They walked into the room, Van trying to adjust to the sudden change in light as he glanced around, hoping for a gas lamp to see by. But to his surprise, candles, hundreds of them, flickered to life as if alive, sending dancing shadows all over the walls and floor. He turned to Hitomi, watching as she lowered her hand to her side again. She was smiling surveying her work around the room. She had used magic... magic that Van didn't know she could use. Lorilae was suppose to teach her... but it seemed she already know it all.

She moved into the room slowly, her bare feet padding against the soft carpet, dust flying up at her every step. She stopped at a fireplace at the end of the room, and turned back around to him, motioning for him to join her there. He did so, looking up at the place on the wall where she suddenly pointed.

A portrait hung there, a layer of dust on it's surface, obscuring the painting... but Van didn't need to see it completely. He stared in shock at what seemed the mirror image of Hitomi. As she looked now, not before. Long brown hair flowing over a beautiful older style of La Vallex clothing, curled slightly at the ends. The same charm type thing resting against her chest, green eyes dancing even in the still painting.

"Is that..." He stopped, furrowing his brows. "Who is that?"

"The first female ruler of La Vallex." She walked forward, looking up at the painting with a strange look on her face. She spoke now with her back to him. "The one that is buried in that tomb in the garden."

"She looks like you." Van said, his voice barely a whisper.

"In many ways, I am her." Hitomi turned back to him, a small smile one her face. "Even more so now..." She held her right hand before her, as if examining the markings there herself. "She is me... and I am her."

"But-" he stopped again, unable to form the words.

"This marking is from her defeat of the last King. He was a tyrant so she... I... defeated him, and took his throne."

Van blinked. "Reincarnation?"

She smiled. "Exactly like that." She hesitated a moment, than stepped towards him, placing her hands around his neck as she pulled herself close to him. "I am still me, Van."

"I know." He gave into her, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.

"I'm sorry if I had you worried."

He shook his head against her neck. "I'm sure I've worried you more during the time we've known each other."

She laughed lightly, the sound like bells in his ears. "That's true." She moved away from him, running a hand down his chest, watching as her hand did so, that same trance like look on her face. "Everything will be fine now."

He took her hand from his chest and held it up to his mouth, placing small kisses on her knuckles, not taking his eyes of her face, mimicking the action he did at the ball. It seemed so long ago... everything seemed so long ago. The tomb, the ball, finding out Hitomi was his betrothed.

"I can't wait to have you as my queen." He moved closer to her again, a single step towards her so he was looking down at her again, his head slightly cocked to the side as he surveyed her. Her chin up, her eyes wandering over his face, a small smile tugging at her lips. She was irresistible to him.

"I am your queen." She told him, with an air of amusement, her eyes dancing.

"Not in the way I would like." He bent down, placing a hot kiss on her lips.

"We'll discuss the details when I come to Fanalia." She told him against his lips, running her hands through his unruly hair, laughing slightly as her fingers caught for a moment in a tangle. He smelled like the fields, and she was delighted to find she could still find the old, stubborn and nervous Van behind his burgundy eyes. Just like he could find the strange fortune telling girl he fell in love with all those years ago behind her emerald. The girl that found his wings beautiful and who saved his life many times over just as he had done for her.

Her smile turned mischievous as she began to lead him away from the room, walking backwards so she could watch his face. "You need to cheer me up now, Van."

He laughed and followed after her, pushing all thoughts of mirror portraits, defeated kings and the death of his near mother from his head. He concentrated soully on Hitomi as they left he room and began to walk back to Hitomi's room, closing the door with a solid reassuring clink behind them as they moved away from the mysteries the room held still unanswered.

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AN: Alright... that was the last chapter... I know... it was way shorter than my other chapters... but that's OK cuz there's going to be a SEQUEL! -WOOT-

Keep on the lookout for The Usurper's Throne. It deals more with the whole reincarnation thing, and the dream, and more action/mystery/angsty things...

But not to worry! STILL TONS OF VAN AND HITOMI GOODNESS!

And I want to thank all the readers and reviewers! Goddess-Hitomi, Xanthia Nightshade, Inda, jossi-31, pure hope, Ivory Nightshade, wildkat, Panaka, Cherry Dragon, Hyper-Bitch, Selene Ann Potter, icicle 7, fireangel621, Iceboltmage, Storm-Maker, and Macky.

ARIGATOU! O.O I feel so loved!