Yeah its me again, ya know the writer? Uh, Yeah, hi; I just thought that I'd say thanks to all of those who left me reviews. As few as they are, thanks. It seems so far that I have more time to write then I thought I would. :knocks on wood: That might be true later, but hehehe. :Innocent look: Anyways…. I think I'll shut up now since you the reader are most likely wanting me to so you can get on to the story…. Not like half of you read these things when a writer puts them up here anyway. I know I sure don't half of the time. Well anyways…… I'll shut up and start working some time now. Please enjoy and leave reviews….
-Shiang Li-
P.S. Just as a reminder for those of you who have copy right issues. :has a friend who is sooo copy right obsessive. And notes that me repeating this is mainly for her.: I do not I repeat I do not own EscaFlowne or have created it. Because if I had I wouldn't be writing this fan fic now would I? (I'm sorry I just thought that would be obvious. I own NOTHING but the story; the original story that I am working on.
P.P.S. Also, I was wondering if I have all the names right. ALSO! I forgot to add that I re-typed up the first chapter to where Hitomi has long hair, sorry for the unconvinced. I forgot to put that in there.
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Hitomi Kanzaki opened the door, and was amazed at what she saw as she walked through, the doors being closed behind her, by of course, her two guards. 'Is this a ball?' She asked herself as she watched all of the different people dancing around on the floor, and a group of people where playing their instruments off to the side. 'I guess like this is a ball, and I guess like that this is the thing.' She thought and tried not to laugh, but decided to move away from the door before it opened again, it would have been embarrassing beyond anything if she got hit in the head by the door here. She blinked as she now noticed that she was being dragged away by Merle who was pulling her arm towards one direction, obviously wanting Hitomi to follow, which Hitomi did. The way that Merle was dressed surprised Hitomi a bit since she couldn't ever remember Merle being dressed this nicely, then again, Hitomi was one to talk. She had never dressed in these type of cloths before either until she came here, or at least that's what she thought anyway. Merle finally stopped walking once they where away from the dancers. "So this is what you guys didn't want to tell me about, why's that?" Hitomi asked Merle who frowned.
"King Van made us promise that we wouldn't, he wanted it to be a surprise. But since you're his guest, he should be here, I wonder where he is. I know that he's around here somewhere." Merle said as she looked for Van with those eyes of hers.
"Is there some sort of special event or occasion or something?" Hitomi asked Merle not knowing why the ball was being held.
"Yeah, ever since that damn country was destroyed, you know which one I'm talking about since you helped destroy it sort of: Princess Millerna's country and Prince Chid, well he's king now so I guess like he's king Chid. (Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that his father was killed during the anime series.) Decided to make theirselves allies with Fanellia. King Chid always believed in us, however, Princess Millerna's father never did until the end. It's kind of weird how when one countries right it makes another one think twice about what they where getting themselves in to ya know?" Merle whispered to Hitomi who nodded understanding.
"Yeah," Hitomi said. "That would make plenty of sense." She remembered how Millerna's father was so kind to them at first, but then took sides with Zaibach and told them that the EscaFlowne somehow made itself look like one of their countries Gaimeloth. (Sorry if I spelt this wrong.! Tell me how its spelt ok?) She shook her head at the memory on how they had to flee from Allen's country that night after she was kidnapped.
"Is there something that you two are keeping secret about from me?" A voice asked from behind which made Hitomi and Merle both jump and turn around. "Va.. your highness…." Hitomi managed to say with out just calling him by his name. She knew that in public, she should call him by his title, but around friends it was OK not to.
"Since when did you start using my title, Hitomi?" Van asked raising an eye brow. "I don't care if people here you call me just Van, I don't care what they would think."
'Van…' She thought as she stared at him a bit in shock. "But…."
"Would you prefer me to call you Lady Hitomi then?" Van asked Hitomi with a frown on his face. "Come on Hitomi, the whole time when you where here the first time and around people, you never called me king or lord. So what difference does it make now?" Van asked.
"He does have a point, Lady Hitomi." Merle mocked.
"You knock that off Merle!" Hitomi snapped, but not loud enough for anyone who wasn't near by them to hear.
"Then do as King Van says." Merle teased.
"I'll get you later." Hitomi threatened and knew that Merle wanted to stuck her tongue out at her at that moment, but knew that the cat woman decided against it.
"Come on." Van suddenly said as he grabbed Hitomi's hand which made Hitomi blush.
"Van?" Hitomi asked, as she felt the heat start to rise in her cheeks.
"Dance with me." Van said which made Hitomi blush even more. "But I don't know any of the dances." Hitomi protested. "I'm… not familiar with them."
"Don't worry." Van said in a strange, calm, comforting tone. I'll lead." He said smiling as he pulled her to the dance floor. "Its not really all that difficult to catch on." Van promised which really didn't give Hitomi much of a choice in the matter. She blushed as she tried not to stumble and trip all over Van's feet. After all, it would be embarrassing beyond belief if she did or even fell since she was after all, suppose to be dancing with the king of a country. She couldn't believe that he was making her do this, and not telling her that there was a ball tonight as well, at least that way she would have asked someone to teach her a few of the dances. 'Please don't let me make a fool out of myself.' She thought to herself as she danced closely to Van who seemed to be as calm as ever, though he seemed different to her then she remembered. While they where traveling, he didn't seem exactly rash, rash was defiantly not the word, but he wasn't this calm either, it was strange, seeing this side of Van.
"Don't worry." Van whispered. "Your doing fine, see I told you that it wasn't too hard." Van said smiling, trying not to laugh at Hitomi's embarrassment because he knew that she had nothing to be embarrassed about, she had gotten more of the dance down with in mere seconds then she had realized, which amazed Van a little bit since it took him at least a couple of months with his mother teaching him. Then again, it was hard to be the one leading when the woman who was teaching you was taller then you. He still missed his mother, and now even Folken from time to time, but he couldn't live his life in the past. Life had to go on, and so did his country, even if his whole family, father, mother, and older brother, where dead. He could feel Hitomi's tense-ness loosen a little ass the song came near its end, and he couldn't help but smile since Hitomi didn't even seem to realize that everyone was watching. He was having a hard time not laughing. The song finally ended, and everyone applauded. Hitomi almost jumped a mile high once she realized that they where being watch, and once again he kept himself from laughing. "It's alright Hitomi, they where watching the whole time." Van reassured the girl who looked as if she was ready to fall.
"They where?" Hitomi asked quietly and looked at Van nervously.
"Yes." Van answered. "Don't worry you did fine, trust me." He reassured the female from the mystic moon. "You would have heard me grumbling if you where stepping on my feet." He noticed that this seemed to reassure Hitomi as they walked out of the middle of the ball room and over to the side.
"That dance, it seems somewhat familiar about that dance, I don't know why but it seemed similar to another. It wouldn't surprise me if it was similar to a dance on the Mystic Moon, but I wouldn't know if it was." Hitomi said now somewhat more calm. "Next time warn me Van before you decide to do that." Hitomi suddenly decided to scold.
Van couldn't help but grin. "As you wish my lady."
"Do you really want me to start calling you your highness or majesty or king? I can surely come up with enough names to what they call the king. Ah, then there's also emperor, but you're not really that now are you?" Hitomi asked somewhat playfully. Van didn't answer so she guessed that she won that round.
"Hitomi that was beautiful!" Millerna's voice suddenly said as the blonde hair princess came up with her husband arm and arm. "Ah I mean Lady Hitomi." Millerna corrected herself and looked as if she tried not to laugh.
"Thank you Princess Millerna." Hitomi said as she also tried not to laugh. "I'm surprised that I didn't kill his majesty's feet out there." Hitomi said smiling. "It was his own fault if I did, for not warning me before he decided to dance with me."
"Really now?" Princess Millerna asked curiously. "I know at least two hand full of women who would want to dance with his highness."
"Oh really?" Hitomi asked with an eye brow raised. "That's so suprissin…g…" Hitomi managed to say but blushed as she suddenly felt Van's around her waist. "Van…"
"This isn't the time or the proper place for that your highness." Allen's voice suddenly said strongly. Hitomi was blushing deeply and could feel her heart pounding, she was thankful that Allen had something, but she wondered why he had said it. She liked Van, more then just as a male friend, but, being from the Mystic Moon… was it possible that she could actually stay here this time? She didn't have any memories of her home, and that would make it impossible for her to get around when she got back. Sure her name was Hitomi Kanzaki, but she didn't remember if she had a family, or friends back there or someone to even go to. She could feel Van's arms remain for a few moments later, and then finally pulled himself away. She wanted him to remain there a while longer, but she couldn't help but stand there in shock, not being able to say anything or do anything.
"You're right Allen." Van said somewhat coldly as he stood there and glared at Allen. "This isn't the time or place, then again, you would know all about that wouldn't you?"
Hitomi felt strange and looked at Millerna who just seemed to smile at Hitomi. "How are you?" Hitomi decided to ask Millerna's husband. She couldn't stand the dangerous energies that where going around between Van and Allen. "I haven't seen you in a while I think…" Hitomi said.
"I'm fine, business is good." The man replied. "It's good to see you again."
"Not only business Hitomi." Princess Millerna said. "He's also suppose to be king after father, he just arranged that recently. My sister isn't married and father wanted one of his daughters with a husband to take the throne." Millerna explained. (I don't know if Millerna's sister is married or not but yeah.)
"Oh, congrats I think. Is the king not doing well?" Hitomi asked remembering Millerna's father once more. The man who had betrayed them after having had welcomed them to his country.
"He's just getting old and is getting paranoid about the throne." Princess Millerna explained. "Though I can't really see why a woman just can't rule a country, I know that sister could, but well its father's choice."
"Yes, I guess." Hitomi said feeling sorry that she ever asked since the conversation was getting weird. She could suddenly feel Van's eyes staring at her from behind and turned around. "Van…"
"Can I speak to you alone Hitomi?" Van asked very seriously and looked at her strangely with his brown eyes.
"Sure Van." Hitomi said not really being able to say no, but was also curious to what Van wanted to say. "But the…"
"It's almost over with anyway." Van said. "Besides, we won't be far away."
"Alright Van." Van lead her through a different set of doors and in to what appeared to be a dinning room of some sort. It was marvelous, beautiful, words couldn't describe it. A high ceiling had a chandelier on it, and there where many tables, it was obviously connected to the ballroom for any sort of meal if one was served during or after a ball. The room appeared to be empty and Van closed the door behind them. Van lead Hitomi to one side of the room, which had windows, that lead to a balcony on the outside of them. The stars where already out, which finally made Hitomi realize exactly how late it had gotten. The two moons hung high in the sky as they always did night after nigh, both of them close to one another. The city was quiet below for the most part and what made her nervous was that they where alone. Silence seemed to take over both of them, closing their vocal cords, neither one seemed to be able to use them. Hitomi watched as the young king just stared at her which made her blush even more, still being able to feel the warmth of his body around her to where he had hugged her.
"Van."
"Hitomi!"
They both seemed to say one another's names at the same time which had momentarily broke the silence but then it came again. "Hitomi," Van said once again and stared in to Hitomi's green eyes. "I meant it earlier, the hug. It could have meant anything, but the hug was not out of friendship." Van managed to say as he stared in to those eyes of hers. "Do you remember when I asked you, if you wanted to stay, I didn't mean only just as a guest Hitomi."
Hitomi stared at the young man who she had deep feelings for, for some time now. What was he trying to say? Was he trying to say what she thought he was? She hoped that her heart wasn't going to pound out of her chest, it was beating so fast.
"Hitomi, I know that we really don't know one another really well yet, and that when you where here the first time you where here for a short amount of time but…" Van started to say.
'Is he blushing?' Hitomi asked herself as she stared at Van. 'There's no sun to blame it on this time…." Hitomi thought to herself and hoped that Van was about to say what she was wanting him to say, what she was wanting him to say for a long time. She did like Allen for a period of time, but now, now her heart belonged to another, it had been for a long time now. She had loved Allen in the beginning, but as they where getting close to the end of their journey together, she had fallen in love with Van. She had even loved his wings which where suppose to be cursed, not his wings exactly, but the reason why he had gotten his wings. They weren't cursed, they where beautiful, and apart of Van. He got them from his mother, who was also beautiful, she couldn't see how he or his mother could be cursed people, his brother Folken had ended up turning not too bad in the end, once she realized his true character and true feelings for his younger brother.
"Would you be my wife?" Van's voice was suddenly heard through her thoughts which made her stare at him in shock, not having had expected the question.
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Yes, another evil cliffy. I'm so evil! UU Wow I think that this one should be long enough to please all of you for a while I hope. O.o If not….. well… I really won't have much time to write since school started, so updates might be a little slow. I'm sorry for those of you who have to wait for the next chapter. I don't know, we'll have to wait and see how busy I get this semester .