Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne cause if I did it would be like havoc in the city... I mean I would be knocking down buildings and anyway I'm not royalty of Fanelia… I wish I was though…
Hitomi snuggled against a warm object. Her eyes fluttered open. To her surprise lying beside her was Van. She tried to scout away but Van stirred. With his arm around her waist, he pulled her closer. Hitomi blushed. Her body was so close to Van's. Hitomi looked at his face, it seemed so peaceful. She brushed a lock of raven hair from his face. His eyes opened.
"Good morning Hitomi."
Hitomi opened her eyes to see a little cat girl in her face. "Ahhhh!"
Merle laughed, and jumped up and down on the bed.
"WHAT are you doing!?"
"Well, you were talking in your sleep" Merle struck a poise of mockery with her hands clasped in front of her "OH Van, Van!"
Hitomi threw a pillow at Merle, which cat girl quickly dodged. "That's not funny!"
"Sure it was, anyway it's time for breakfast." Merle bounced out of the room and a few minuets later a groggy Hitomi followed.
Breakfast was a quiet observation. Allen simply stared at Hitomi, Van at Allen, and Hitomi looked down at her food. What was she going to do about this? They were going to arrive in Palas by tomorrow; maybe she could hide out for awhile and then go shopping with Millernia.
One of the crew members came in and talked with Allen in a low voice. Allen got a serious look on his face. The other man left, and everyone waited to hear what was going on. Allen cleared his throat stalling for time, how to tell them, how to tell them… "Everyone is dismissed from breakfast, but I need to talk to Van." Van's head shot up from the table upon hearing his voice. This must be really serious.
Hitomi looked longingly at the wooden door… when were they going to get out. It seemed like they had been in there for hours. After being urged to find something else to do, Hitomi just requested a chair to sit outside of the door. 'I really hope everything is ok in there…'
But of course where would we be if Allen and Van ever got along, in heaven maybe? Inside a heated argument was going on… knight verse hot headed king… "Allen we can fight them, I'll take them on… All of them."
Allen shot a glare at the foolish little boy.. "All 500 of them you say?" 'I'd like to see that, then Hitomi would be all mine…'
"Van, you don't even have Escaflowne. How are you going to take down all of them without any way to fight them, I will not let you endanger this crew or my ship." 'Or my Hitomi'
Van slammed hit hand on the table. "Run, run like a coward you are." He sneered while narrowing his eyes into slits. Zaibach was no challenge for Van anymore; they didn't even have a leader. A bunch of village people who found the levee ships are nothing.
Allen turned towards Van and very slowly advanced upon him. "You will not do any foolish attacks on my ship, do you hear me?"
Van looked up from the table, and stormed out of the room. What was his problem? Van could take them all down, no problem. God why was this so difficult. Now they were going to run from the pass like little kids and cry all the way to Palas.
Hitomi was startled awake from the chair, only to see a red figure receding down the hallway. She called after him but he didn't seem to notice or care at all. "Don't worry Hitomi he's just a little upset." The smooth knight to the rescue. Hitomi turned around with a smile.
"What was that all about?"
"Nothing that should trouble such a beautiful lady as yourself." Hitomi blushed. He did have a way with flattery.
But what about Van, sure he was hot tempered, vulgar, annoying... He was some nice things... Like… ok well that's not the point. Van was always there when she needed him and that was important, and right now Van might just need her.
"Allen, I'm going to go see how Vans doing, so I'll see you later at lunch ok?"
God Van, Van, and Van… doesn't Allen mean anything… "That would be pleasurable, Lady Hitomi." Allen took off down another hallway and Hitomi sprinted, as best as she could in a dress, towards Van's room.
Upon arriving at his room, Hitomi hesitated. Would he want to see her? He did burst out of there kind of fast, and he's probably in a bad mood. Hitomi sighed. She wouldn't know unless she tried.
Hitomi inched open the door. Where was he? She nudged it open the rest of the way. Glancing around the medium sized room, Hitomi found it empty. Taking a step into the room and then another, she looked at the window, it was getting late, almost time for dinner. Where could he be?
A light in the bathroom attracted her attention. He could be in there, but if he was maybe she shouldn't go in there. Or maybe he went to dinner and left a candle burning. Hitomi sighed. "Van? Van? Where are you?" she called throughout the room, and towards the bathroom. No answer.
Hitomi opened the bathroom door. There in the tub was a sleeping Van. Aww he looks so cute and nice when he's sleeping. Hitomi blushed at the sight of his bare chest. She was afraid to glance much lower than that, but found that he was in a bubble bath. Since when does mean old Van take bubble baths? And how come he got bubbles, she didn't have any in her washroom.
It's was about dinner time. She should wake him up. "Van, it's time to get up. You who Van? Wakey,Wakey?"
Nothing.
Hitomi inched forward and poked him in the shoulder. His skin was hot to the touch and wet. It sent shivers up her spine to be this close to him in this state.
Nothing… what did it take to wake him up? Growing a little bolder, Hitomi shook his shoulder.
"Oh come on Van wake up!" Hitomi was beyond annoyance now. This really wasn't cute anymore.
It was an uncomfortable situation and he just would not make it any better. Well sure he was asleep, but this had to be some kind of ploy to make her miserable.
Then Hitomi noticed something. His breathing had increased since she touched him, and his eye lids fluttered just a bit.
Oh so she was right, this was some kind of joke. Well she just had to make the best of this little predicament. Slowly Hitomi leaned closer over Van. So he wanted to play games, little did he know she held the high score.
Whispering in his ear, "Van wake up."
Hitomi gave him a last warning.
Nothing.
She closed her eyes. Last chance back out or die. What the heck can't make things any worse then they already are…
Hitomi leaned forward ever so slightly. Her knees on the floor of the bathroom. She brought her self closer to his face. And slowly kissed him right on the lips. One of those lower lips, you only learn from practice, movie stars, whoa that looks so cool, kisses. Just as she suspected he kissed her back. Just when he was relaxed she pulled away.
"Ha! I knew it! You are awake." Hitomi hurried off the floor and left the bathroom.
Inside Van blushed. 'Wow that was… great… gah the best kiss ever… and she started it all on her own… no help from him… Of course now he had to go explain to her about the pretending to be asleep part. It seemed like a good idea when he heard her calling from the front room earlier. Oh well… it was more than worth the yelling he was sure would come.'
Van toweled off quickly and pulled on his tan trousers. Where was his shirt? Hmm… oh that's right it's on the bed… Van strutted out of the bathroom as only a man can. Humility was not one of his stronger points.
There sitting on his bed, was his vision of beauty holding his red shirt. "Looking for this?" Hitomi threw it at his face.
Van expertly caught it. He pulled it over his head. All the while grinning like a fool.
"What are you smiling about mister?"
Van walked towards the bed, with a glint in his eyes. Never had he been this happy. She really was the girl for him. Only she could take him in a horrible mood and turn it all around.
Hitomi got a little nervous. What was he doing? She was trapped between this lunatic and the bed. Oh yea the bed. What oh what is he thinking?
Van steadily walked closer and closer. He was then right in front of her. Very close. Hitomi couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes. The blush creeping throughout her whole body, or was she on fire?
Van tenderly lifted her chin so that his eyes connected with hers. "Hitomi, you are beautiful, you know that right?"
Hitomi was in shock. He was never this nice, this personal, this sweet. Maybe there was something in those bubbles?
Hitomi searched his eyes, she only found sincere ness. Van lowered his lips upon hers. The passion in them was indefinable.
There was a knock at the door. And Merle opened the door. Only to find what she had been setting up since she realized just how much Van missed Hitomi.
She coughed, "If you two little love birds don't mind, I'm kind of hungry, so could you hurry it up a bit?"
Hitomi pulled away, blushing that horrible color red that seems to become a feature of her face. Van looked from her to Merle.
"We're coming Merle." With that Van grabbed Hitomi's hand and they walked out the door towards dinner.
A/n: ok sorry about not updating a lot sooner.. but I had soccer tournament…. Which my team won… and I guess I was being kind of lazy… anyway happy thanksgiving.. and I'm upping the rating just a notch.. I mean once hottie had his shirt off it just has to go up.. anyway hope you have a good holiday and ill update soon.. don't forget to review