CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Van was taking the upcoming winter months to build up his army and to train them. He wished that Balgus was still here but knew that wish was only just a wish. He would have to rely on his new lords of Fanelia to help train his soldiers and that he would have to use EscaFlowne again even though Hitomi had shouted at him not to. It had been three days and his ear still rung from her screaming, it must have been a sight for his advisers who watched as his young queen yelled at him in front of them. As much as his ears hurt, it brought a smile to his face as he still remembered the expression on their faces as they watched in horror as Hitomi yelled at them. He had a good sized army but wondered if it would have been enough. After all he remembered the size of Zaibach's army in the last battle which had a ridiculesly large amount. "You and Hitomi will be sent away during the war." Van told Merle who just looked at him. "I haven't told Hitomi this yet so I don't want you to tell her anything."
"But Van-Sama!" Merle protested.
"No buts Merle, I want you and Hitomi safe, at least this way if something should happen to me, Hitomi will survive with our child." Van said and petted Merle behind the ear. "You are my family as well Merle, even if you and Hitomi do not get along you are still my family and there for I want you safe as well."
"Van-Sama, you'll be fine." Merle protested. "You have the EscaFlowne!"
"I don't care, I want you away from Fanelia! I will call for you when it is over." Van said. "I suggest that you pack something before the end of the winter season, that is when you will be leaving. Most of Fanelias women, children, and the old are already leaving. Every Fanelian who was alive at that time still remember what Zaibach did to our home the last time as well do I. I will not take that chance for you or Hitomi to get hurt."
"Yes Van-Sama." Merle said sadly. "I will do as you say just as long as you promise that you'll come back safely."
"I can't promise you that Merle, but I will promise you that I will do my best." Van said smiling. "I should go see Hitomi now while I have some free time before the old ones call me back."
"Alright, Van-Sama, I won't tell Hitomi anything." Merle said sighing.
"Thank you Merle." Van said as he started off the roof. "Don't stay up here too long, the winds are chilly." Van suggested.
"Alright Van-Sama." Merle said. "Don't worry I won't."
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Hitomi once again found herself trapped with in her room though this time she picked up the sword that Van had given her when she had first arrived to Fanelia. She remembered how Van had spent endless hours perfecting her technique since she had only taken basic fencing classes back on Earth. She picked a book up she had been reading and sat down and started to read it. It was just some random fictional novel she found in the library which surprised her since she found mostly history books and other things like that. Four months, she was now five months pregnant which made her sigh at the thought as she stopped reading the book for a moment. She suddenly heard the door open and close and then looked at Van who was now walking to her.
"Hi." Van said as he got close enough.
"I thought that you where busy today." Hitomi said and looked up at him rather puzzled, she wasn't complaining that he was here but he was here which was confusing.
"I have some time before they come looking for me." Van said with a grin on his face and was glad to see that Hitomi smiled at that. "What are you reading?" He asked.
"Nothing, just some romance novel I found in the library." Hitomi answered and moved over on the couch so that Van could sit next to her. She put the book on a table next to the couch and laid her head on Van's lap after he sat down. "How many days will I be able to keep you like this Van Fanel?" Hitomi asked.
"Why did you ask that all of a sudden?" Van asked and realized he seemed to be asking that a lot.
"With the war approaching I know that you'll get busier after the winter season is over with and will be away." Hitomi said and could now feel Van's hands run through her hair.
"Let's not talk about that right now Tomi." Van said as he continued to stroke her brown hair. "I hear enough about that at work."
"Sorry Van." Hitomi apologized and sat up to look in to his crimson red eyes. "I just wish that we weren't bringing a child in to the world during this time." She said as she could feel Van's hand on her stomach and blushed. "In three more months, our child will be born. In five more months, the winter season will be completely over and spring will come, time for war." She said crying. "I don't want to have to raise it with out you here!" Hitomi cried and pressed her face against Van's red shirt.
"Hitomi…" Van said as he moved his hands to around her. "This is why I don't want to talk about it because it…" He felt himself being slapped across the face. This was only the second time to when he had been slapped by anyone and both times that he had been slapped, it was from Hitomi.
She stared at him with angry green eyes. "You keep everything to yourself Van Fanel!" She snapped with tears still coming down her face. "I know that this is hard on you and you know I worry about you but when you don't tell me the details of this war you make me worry even more. You get angry when I don't tell you about my visions and why shouldn't I do the same to you?" Hitomi shouted. "I've been stuck inside this palace because you're excuse is because I'm pregnant and I know that isn't it!" Hitomi paused and stared in to his crimson-red eyes which where looking at her in shock. "I might be your wife Van Fanel but that also makes me your queen."
"Hitomi…" Van started to say but was cut off once again.
"Don't Hitomi me you BAKA! I have the right to know what's going on and other things like that to!"
"I'm sorry Hitomi." Van apologized and whipped away the tears from Hitomi's face as they fell. "I should tell you but I didn't want to worry you. I guess like that ended up backfiring. Yes we leave to Zaibach at the end of winter." Van started to explain. "Our army will meet Fried and Austuria at Zaibach's boarder."
"I hate it." Hitomi said softly and laid her head on Van's lap again.
"What?" Van asked.
"War, I hate war. I was actually happy that we where having a child and now, now I…"
"Don't worry." Van said. "I will not let anything happen to you or our child."
"That's not the only thing I'm worried about." Hitomi said. "I care about you to Van."
"I know, I'll promise I'll do my best to come back to you all in one piece."
"That's not funny Van."
"Sorry, sorry."
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Short chapter but oh well, I'm just killing time for well that's for me to know and you to find out. So keep reading and keep reviewing
-Darkia-