Hey everyone! I know it's awfully fast for an update...not all updates will be this fast but I didn't like how short the last chapter was so I'd like to make up for it. THANK YOU SO MUCH for the reviews! It makes me happy to see that people really appreciate my work. arigatou!!
Special thanks to the following reviewers (these are in no particular order, btw). I really appreciate all the nice feedback that I received! It really keeps me going! Also, updates will be once a week, or once ever two weeks, depending on how much work I have from school.
Inda
chibihitomi
Hearts Of Eternity
LaVeNdErSaKuRa
Tori-san
Spirit0
Dancing In The Rain
DarkAngl128
And again, thanks for reviewing! Here's chapter two, and I wrote a little bit across a few days so if it's weird, I'm sorry. I just hope everyone likes it. Oh, yes, and I apologize for the Allen-bashing. I couldn't resist. =P Apologies as well for any typos you may find-SpellCheck doesn't pick them all up, and I simply do not have time to personally edit these myself.
Chapter Two
Van watched the girl before him lose consciousness, and felt regret and guilt stab and gnaw at him from the inside. He hadn't been there to protect her...to protect the girl who meant so much to him. There were multiple large bruises on her body, and her knees were very badly scraped from being dragged on the ground. He quickly ordered a servant to carry the girl to a spare room near his bedroom – he would be tending to her after he dealt with these idiots, but he asked the servant to get started on bandaging her many wounds. The servant nodded and carried her off.
Now...for the other problem.
He turned his gaze to the three guards who dragged her in so forcefully, and asked in a strangely calm voice, "What did you do to her? What clicked in that little head of yours to beat this girl?"
The guards refused to meet his gaze, finding their shoes and the decorated carpeted floor quite fascinating. One mumbled, "We thought she was an intruder, Milord. Such an innocent appearance could deceive anyone!"
"Yeah," Another guard piped up. "She tried to escape so we had to subdue her! She was clearly out of her mind!"
"SILENCE!" Van roared. After hearing the guard's stupid excuses he had finally snapped. "Did I not tell you before to bring prisoners or captives in unharmed for questioning?! And besides, can you please inform me of the last time I was attacked? In all your years of duty, in this time of peace have I been attacked?!"
The guards stayed silent, frightened at the king's rage. King Van rarely got angry, and when he did...all hell broke loose. They would surely pay for this mistake...
"Well? ANSWER ME!" Van shouted, impatiently.
"N-None. None at all sir." One guard finally answered, sheepishly.
Van turned his gaze away from them, disgusted that the captain's own handpicked knights would be so stupid. No...wait...
HEYYYYYYYYY WAIT A MINUTE!! There were only three guards! Four guards were supposed to be guarding the gardens in one shift! Van thought for a moment...Who had that shift...? He narrowed his eyes when the name hit him.
"Where's Allen? Wasn't he with you?" Van demanded to know. Allen had been promoted and transferred to Fanelia as Captain of the Guard. Allen was doing a pretty damn good job of it too...until now.
"Uh...um...but we promised not to tell." The guards whined nervously. Van had to refrain from rolling his eyes at that one. For goodness sake they sounded like little ten-year-olds! Well, looks like I'll have to do it the old way...He thought. And how he hated it...
He cleared his throat and declared in a slightly mocking tone, "I, Van Slanzaar de Fanel, King of Fanelia, hereby order you, the insignificant pea-brained men I call my guards, the whereabouts of Allen Schezar, the soon-to-be-depromoted knight with hair that needs to be forcefully shaved off one day."
The nearby servants who overheard had to refrain from snickering when they heard this. The distinct rivalry between Allen and Van was not unknown. Though they most often took out their frustrations on each other during sword training and sparring, this was no exception. The guards looked at each other, ashamed and red in the face. To be degraded in such manner, by the king himself nonetheless, was the worst form of humiliation they had faced.
The guards were about to answer, when a familiar voice broke in the conversation.
"Oh, it's not their fault. I made them promise." The voice drawled lazily. Van snapped his head towards the source. From the moment the first word was spoken, Van knew who it was.
"Show yourself...Allen..." Van spat the name out with enough disgust to make the knight wrinkle his face. "And just where were you when you were supposed to be guarding the gardens and protecting innocent passer-bys from being trampled to death by these men?!"
"Hot-headed as usual...some things never change, do they?" Allen smirked and taunted playfully. The smirk disappeared once Van shot him a warning glare. Allen turned his gaze away as he finally said, "Fine. I was speaking with Princess Millerna."
"More like flirting...and womanizing..." One guard dared to mumble under his breath. Now it was Allen's turn to shoot him a dirty glare, and the guard instantly quieted down.
"So who did they beat down this time?" Allen asked casually, with an air of one who simply did not care. He ran a nonchalant hand through his overgrown mane of hair.
Van frowned. "Hitomi," He said. "They beat Hitomi, mistaking her for an assassin." He clenched his fists tighter and tighter at his side, trying to suppress the anger that had welled up inside of him from speaking those words.
Allen started laughing. "Oh, come on! You haven't been attacked since we defeated Zaibach! My guards can't be that stup-...oh. Never mind. My apologies." One glance at the guards' guilty faces told him everything. An awkward silence settled over the group.
"So how is she?" Allen asked, breaking the silence.
Van looked at him for a long while, before getting up and standing before Allen. And before Allen could react, Van's fist had connected with Allen's face, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Once again, Van's anger took control over him.
"How do you think she is? After being treated like a prisoner in a land she had helped to save, how do you think that would make her feel, huh?!" Van moved to smack him again, but Merle appeared at that instant to hold him back.
"Calm down, Van." She whispered. Van closed his eyes and breathed in and out gently, in an attempt to clam and soothe his turbulent thoughts. After a few minutes of that, Van was ready to speak again.
"Those guards will be taken down to the dungeons where they will live and be treated as prisoners themselves, for one month. When the new moon arises again, they will be released. Then, they will be stripped of their titles as soldiers and high-ranking guards and be sent back to the city of Fanelia. And that is where they will remain." The guards nodded in respect of his decision, and left as a servant arrived to escort them to the dungeons.
Allen watched them go, a 'damn-I-have-to-find-some-replacement-guards-soon-or-else' expression written on his face. "Uhh...I guess I'll be going now. I'll be by to see Hitomi later after I reassign duties to the guards."
"But before you leave..." Van cut in, "Would you care to explain why they were acting so paranoid by the sight of a girl like her wandering in the gardens?"
"Ehh...That was sort of my fault. You see, I wanted them to be enthusiastic about their jobs, but I think I overdid it." Allen scratched his head sheepishly and Van fought the urge to smack him again.
"Dismissed." Van finally ground out. Allen hurried away as soon as the word left Van's mouth.
"So, what now?" Merle asked. Van blinked. He had almost forgotten that she was there.
"Hey, thanks Merle. I was about to beat Allen half to death there. Anyways, I want to you take charge for a while until I get back. I need to tend to Hitomi." Van said.
Merle nodded. "You tell her how you feel, okay?" Van's jaw dropped.
"How did you...?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Merle giggled. She glanced at Van's shocked expression. "Fine, maybe not, but I know these things. Call it a woman's intuition. You were moping around right after Hitomi left, like a kitten who had lost its play toy. You should go then. I promise I won't interfere by matchmaking this time." Merle's eyes softened. "This is for you to figure out on your own."
Van nodded and hurried off. Merle smiled, and whispered to his retreating form:
"Don't screw up this time..."
Van walked down the hall, and just as he neared the door in which Hitomi lay, a servant opened it, and left. Upon seeing her king, the servant dropped into a curtsy and said, "All her wounds have been tended to. You were taking quite a while, so I took the liberty of finishing up."
Van smiled, and said, "Thank you." The servant walked off to finish her other duties.
He took a deep breath to sooth his nerves, and walked into the room. Hitomi lay on the bed, sleeping peacefully. Van pulled a chair by the bed a watched her for a while. He couldn't help but notice how much she had grown in just three years. Her honey brown hair had grown beautifully, and by the looks of it, she had grown a bit taller. Not taller than Van, however. But somehow...his eyes kept drifting back to her lips.
How he fought the urge to kiss them. He had longed for it all these years. But now was not the time, no. He had enough respect for her not to take advantage of that while she was sleeping. But at least her could have the next best thing...
He leaned over and brushed his lips over her cheek briefly, and casting one final gaze at her, he left the room.
Hitomi awoke the next day, blinking the sudden sunlight away from her eyes as two palace maids pulled apart the curtains to reveal the awaiting day.
"You'd best be up now, miss. The lord himself requests your presence in the gardens today for tea at half-past noon." One spoke to her.
"Aye," The other agreed. "We took the liberty of preparing a dress for you." The second maid gestured to the dress draped across the chair. "Would you like us help dress you?"
"No, no." Hitomi protested. "I'll be fine on my own."
"Yes, Milady. We'll take our leave now." The bowed out of the room, shutting the door with a resounding click.
Hitomi walked over to the dress and inspected it, relieved to find that it was not too revealing, and yet not too ridiculously modest. Fortunately, it hid her many wounds and bandages. She put it on, quickly running a brush through her hair and washing her face at the basin. Then she left the room.
Merle was BORED. Ugh, she was SO glad that she wasn't king...or queen in this case. Van had put her in charge again. Now really, what was the fun in that?
"HEY YOU! Yeah, you Dryden. You watched the throne for a while." Merle shouted to him as son as he stepped in the door. He groaned, and grudgingly sat on the chair. He wondered how Van could put up with all this monotony all day.
"I'll be back soon." Merle promised, and bounded off to look for Hitomi. No doubt that girl was going to need help getting around the palace.
Hitomi walked silently down the halls, marveling at the beautiful works of art that hung among the hallways. Her senses told her that it was only noon at the moment, and that she would have time to explore a little. Hitomi was admiring a large portrait of Van when a voice purred, "So...you're awake now?"
Hitomi spun around to see a beautiful female cat-woman walk towards her. Hitomi squinted at her slightly; the cat-lady seemed so familiar and yet she couldn't put a finger on it...
"What, forgot me already?" Merle smiled. Hitomi brighten as she realized who it was.
"MERLE!!"
The two girls laughed and hugged happily, chatting about how they hadn't seen each other in years and how much catching up they would have to do.
"And oh, you simply must let me take you shopping! The new stores here are fabulous!" Merle gushed. Hitomi smiled and you help me? I don't know my way around the palace, and Van asked me to meet him for tea in the gardens." Hitomi said nervously.
Merle sighed, in mock exasperation. "Well, why didn't you say so?!" Merle asked rhetorically, and proceeded to drag Hitomi through the palace. After winding through several passages for a good twenty minutes, the two girls finally burst out of the castle's side doors. They blinked and rubbed their eyes, unaccustomed to the bright light after coming out of the dimly lit halls. Merle grabbed Hitomi's hand, and pulled her through the maze of hedges.
Just before they turned the last corner, Merle stopped, and said quietly, "Van is waiting for you beyond this hedge. I won't be going with you." She turned and brushed past Hitomi. "Have a good time." Merle winked as she passed. Hitomi blushed instinctively, and blinked confusedly a moment after, not quite sure what she was blushing about.
"Uhm..sure...yeah." Hitomi mumbled back. But she raised her hands and rubbed her cheeks gently, trying to rid them of their bright redness. ARGH! This is just perfect! What was I even blushing about? I mean for crying out loud, Van's my friend, and a king nonetheless. I don't even like him like that!! Hitomi's thoughts ran across those lines. But somewhere in the back of her mind, a lone yet confident thought popped up.
Are you sure?
Hitomi quickly squashed that thought. Of course she was sure! Dating Van would be like...dating a friend. Right? Hitomi closed her eyes and calmed her nerves before walking calmly around the hedge. Van's back was turned to her, as he was fumbling with something by the bushes.
"Um, Van...?" Hitomi asked nervously. Van's head snapped around. Upon seeing her, he straightened up, brushed himself off and stood to greet her.
They stood before one another awkwardly. Hitomi looked him over and was not at all surprised at how much he had grown. After all, it was to be expected. Van had have to of aged at least a little over the past three years. Of course, he had, by the looks of it, and quite nicely. His hair was messy, as usual, but in a slightly more tamed way, and his dark red eyes were as lively as ever. He was taller, Hitomi was glad to see, and his muscles were more defined since the last time she had saw him. Hitomi suspected that he had been working out, perhaps with Allen.
"It's nice to see you again. Thank you for letting me stay the night." Hitomi said quietly.
Van nodded, and gestured to the table with two seats, food and tea already laid out. "You're welcome. Please, sit down."
Hitomi noticed that his voice had changed as well. It had turned from the medium tone of a teenage boy, to a slightly deer pitch fitting for a grown man.
So, they sat, and sipped their tea quietly. Hitomi had adverted her gaze to anywhere but Van, and concentrated on picking at the cloth of her dress in her lap silently. She felt uncomfortable under his gaze, making her wonder: Is there something wrong with me? Did I accidentally spill some tea on myself? Do I really look that weird?
Her thoughts were cut short when his voice said, "Please don't ruin that dress. It looks rather nice on you."
Hitomi blushed and looked up, realizing that she was near puncturing a hole in her dress. The cloth was released, and she simply sat, with her hands gently on the table.
"So I see you've rebuilt Fanelia quiet nicely." Hitomi said. Van smiled and nodded.
"Yes, after Zaibach was defeated, random people from other different countries were wiling to help us rebuild and restore our country. That's how construction has been going so quickly. So, how have you been on the Mystic Moon?"
"Horrible. I lost my friends, my family as they knew me. My former life and self with the ignorant bliss that I would never realize what war truly was. I lost it all, and I've been so lonely..." was what Hitomi wanted to say. The small selfish-no, evil part of her that wanted Van to sympathize with her, and feel sorry for her. She pushed that part away. Hitomi wasn't that kind of person, nor did she want to be.
"I've been wonderful!" Hitomi lied, with false cheeriness. "Everything's been great. Everyone back home has been supporting me so much!" She pasted on a fake smile that could've fooled anyone. And instantly, she regretted it. Waves of guilt washed over her mask, but careful practice kept it from slipping. Yeah, right Hitomi. She thought. As if you could've ever called that place home again. That's not where you belonged. You found your true home here.
Hitomi felt like sinking into the ground and disappearing. Selfish! Selfish selfish selfish! Sure, out of kindness, Van would let her stay a few days, but that would distract him from his duties. But she wanted to stay longer than that. Hitomi dreaded going back to that false life she led back on Earth. But Van couldn't possibly know that she was lying now, could he?
"You're lying." Van's voice said. Hitomi winced. So maybe he did.
"I could see it on your face." He continued. "You've fooled a lot of people with that, but it takes more than that to fool me. So, tell me, what's the truth?"
Hitomi gave in. "I've been...lonely. Now it doesn't feel like home anymore. There's no one to understand me. I mean, who could possibly know how much war hurts? My family...they all began acting so distant, like they didn't know me. Yukari, my former best friend, was so disgusted with me when I tried to explain how I felt. She didn't need to hear it anymore...so she got so tired of it and ditched me. Amano moved on to better things, and other than that everyone else thinks I'm a total freak, and...and..."
"And I kept missing everyone so much." Hitomi finished.
Van's heart accelerated at that. She missed me...All this time I thought she was too busy with her life...and she wasn't.
"We all missed you too." Van said gently. He put his hand over hers. Hitomi was surprised to feel how gently and soft his hands felt. Three years ago, he always wore those gloves, and Hitomi was positive that calluses had formed from constant abrasion with his skin. It must be some new Gaean material...she thought.
The couple sat there for a while, enjoying each other's company, before one of Van's advisors called Van back to the palace to fill out some paperwork. Van reluctantly left, and after they said their good-byes, Van knelt, and kissed her hand gently, before departing. Soon after, a maid escorted the now dazed Hitomi back to the palace.
Unbeknownst to the couple, Merle had been spying behind some hedges. She cheered mentally every time Van performed a sweet gesture towards Hitomi. She giggled to herself.
I wonder how long it takes before they get together...Merle mused.
A hand yanked on her tail, pulling her down from the tree. Merle hissed and scratched at the person, who turned out to be Allen.
"Spying were you?" Allen teased.
"So what if I was?" Merle said defensively. "I bet you were too!"
"Guilty." Allen grinned. "This is such an interesting situation!"
Merle threw him a dirty look. "Don't you even dare try to interfere! Van and Hitomi still have to realize some things. Van needs to realize how much he truly loves Hitomi, enough to want to be with her the rest of his life! He knows that Hitomi is the one for him, and she is. But he feels insecure sometimes about her feelings. If she'll ever love him back." Merle's eyes softened at this.
"Hey you know, that's not as bad as Hitomi. She herself has to realize that she is in love." Allen pointed out.
"Yeah. After YOU confused her emotions last time! Thank goodness she realized that you weren't her knight in shining armor...excuse me, more like dented armor..." Merle shot back.
"Aww...but how can the ladies resist?" Allen pulled on a cheesy grin, and posed. "I'm just so irresistible!"
Merle smacked him.
"That's not true, and it's besides the point anyways!" Merle hissed. "Van is obviously in love with Hitomi. He puts her happiness ahead of his. And Hitomi is obviously attracted to Van! She puts his happiness and his people ahead of her own happiness."
Merle's eyes widened at what just slipped out of her mouth. "Hey, she'd make a great queen." She realized.
"Yeah, better than you..." Allen mumbled.
"I HEARD THAT!" Merle snarled, and proceeded to chase Allen, around the gardens, laughing. Their laughter echoed through the now empty garden, and disappeared into the sky.
How was that? Bad? Good? Opinions and reviews are always appreciated. The next chapter is begun every time I post a new chapter. I write these a little at a time, more so on the weekends (more time). Once again, I REALLY appreciated all the nice reviews you guys gave me! Thank you!
Until next time,
Kyoko