I know, I know, it took an awful time to update this chapter, butI just got caught up in a book, and then a fanfic, and then
exams, and bla bla bla. I was a bit lazy too, and I lost the edited copy so my editor had to do it and send it to me again. I
apologice to all of you. It won't happen again...I hope :) Well now, go enjoy the story.
Disclamer: The song is Street of Love by The Rolling Stones, and Escaflowne is still not mine.
The pain of loving you
Emotions aside, duty ahead
Van slowly passed his hand over his mouth and cleaned the blood from it. His other hand tightened around his sword, and he brought it up. The sword shone brightly as the moonlight passed over it. He went back to his fighting position. His angry eyes locked with Schezar's cold ones. A second passed between them, and then Van lunged forward and started attacking Schezar again.
"Van! Allen! Stop this nonsense!"
Hitomi's screams were ignored by both men. Right now, the only thing that was important to Van was Schezar, and for Schezar it was too survive Van's attacks.
Schezar's sword came forward elegantly and strong, and it came so fast that Van barely managed to block it.
"Damn it."
"To fast for you, Fanel?"
"You wish."
He had to admit that Schezar was one hell of a fighter. He was fast and direct, and he never seemed to get tired. It was only good that Van was too angry to lose. He dodged another of Schezar's attack and managed to kick him in the guts. He heard him gasp in pain and quickly attacked with his sword. Metal met with metal, and Van swore again.
"It won't be that easy."
"I didn't expect it to be easy."
Schezar took a step back, and Van prepared for another attack.
"Please, stop…"
Once again, Hitomi was ignored. Schezar came forward and started attacking Van once again. With a quick movement, Van blocked his attack and pushed Schezar away from him. He stumbled and lost his balance, falling to the floor. Van took the advantage he had and moved to attack again. It would have been the end of the battle, but Schezar decided to suddenly grab his sword and somehow manage to block again one of Van's attacks.
Now Allen was on the floor and Van was on his feet, but he still couldn't manage to hit Schezar, and what was worst was that he couldn't even move because then Allen would strike. The only thing between them was their swords. Van glared at Schezar.
"Why won't you just give up?"
"It is not in my nature to give up."
"Well then, we are going to be here for a long time because I'm not giving up either."
"Fine with me."
"Shut up."
"You. I have more valuable things to say."
"You fucking bastard…."
"Enough already!"
Van finally turned to look at Hitomi. He glared at her, but that didn't stop her from moving towards them.
"Hitomi, this is not your fight." Allen said, but she ignored him.
"I don't care if it's not my fight. I won't let you continue it." "Hitomi, don't." The command was so clear in Schezar's voice that she actually stopped. Van's blood boiled. How dare he order his Hitomi? He was about to yell at him, but then Hitomi dropped to Schezar's side. She looked at him with so much worry that Van hurt all over. She seemed to forget all about him, as she studied the cut on Schezar's arm. Without saying another word, she ripped her dress and bandaged him. She didn't even look at him. "Are you alright?" She asked him.
"Now I am." Schezar's hand gently caressed her cheek, and Hitomi put her hand over his. She kissed it.
"I'm sorry. I just…I don't want anything to happen to you."
Both of them seemed o have forgotten about Van. He couldn't say anything because there was a knot in his throat, and the words just didn't seem to want come out. He was petrified, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Bitter memories came to his mind, and he couldn't help but remember the time when she would have done the same for him.
Flashback
"Van?"
He didn't respond, so she carefully walked towards him. He could feel her getting closer to him, so he shut his eyes. He didn't want her to see him in such a state. He was not worthy of her.
"Van, look at me." He didn't move. He could sense her getting more desperate, but he acted as if he didn't hear her. It would be better if she just left him there. The problem was that she didn't seem to want to go away. She moved so she was face to face with him, and gasped. His heart hurt at the sound of her gasp. She had seen in his eyes what he really was: a mercenary and nothing more.
"Van, what have they done to you?"
Her question startled him. She should be running away from him! Instead she just moved closer to him. She was about to grab his hand when another voice distracted her.
"Don't touch him. He is a cold, emotionless mercenary. He could kill you in seconds."
Hitomi turned towards the voice. It was Lila, of course. Van was sure that this time Hitomi would move away and leave him alone. Strangely, the mere thought of her leaving him left him out cold. He felt more human if he had her by his side. To his great surprise, she glared at the little girl.
"Did you do this to him?" Her voice was as cold as ice.
Lila hesitated for a moment, but then answered.
"Yes."
"Then you are not a friend of mine."
End Flashback
Yes, there had been a time when Hitomi would have done anything for him. But now, well, now she was on Schezar's side, and Van felt like dying.
"Hitomi, get out of the way and let us finish our fight."
"No."
She looked at him straight in the eyes, and the strange sensation that always overwhelmed him when their eyes crossed invaded his whole body. He knew his eyes were full of love. He wondered what had happened to all the warmth that he had seen in her eyes every time she had looked at him; because now the green eyes that were starring at him held no emotion. They were…dead. "Why won't you just get out of the way?" "I don't want you to hurt Allen." And that was what did it. Van withdrew his sword and Schezar lowered his. Hitomi quickly moved in front of Schezar, blocking him from Van. That action alone cut deeply into his soul. She didn't trust him.
"Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
Had they all been lies? Had her words meant nothing?
"Van, I…"
"I don't want to hear it."
"Please…"
She was begging him to listen, and although he was mad at her and wanted nothing to do with her, he just couldn't stand the pleading noise in her voice. He sighed deeply.
"I'll talk to you if he" He nodded towards Schezar. "goes away."
"I will not leave you alone with him."
"Allen, I have been alone with him for months. He would die for me, I trust him."
And really, Van just got more confused by her words because he didn't understand anything that was going on, and all he thought was clear got blurred because of one set of words from her. And he was angry at himself because he couldn't help but be relieved at her words.
She still trusts me.
Schezar slowly got up and awkwardly left them alone.Van turned to face her.
There were a lot of things that Allen Schezar was. He was an excellent strategist. He had a cool mind that had always helped him out in hard situations. He was a gentleman. He could be stubborn to the point of irritation. He was a bad loser. He was an honorable man. He was…well, he was the king to the strongest kingdom in Gaea, except Zaibach. He was the man that women wanted and men hated.
Yes, Allen Schezar was a lot of things.
But he was not stupid. And he was not blind.
The first time he had really seen Van had been in the court room months ago. He had despised him like he had never despised anyone before, and it had been at first sight. No words had been needed for him to dislike the man. By the look Van had sent him, he could see that his dislike was not one sided. If Boris had not intercepted in favor of Fanel, he would have killed him right there. After all, to him, Van Fanel would always have a dark past, and he would always be dangerous and the Dragon. In his point of view, he was a danger and had to be eliminated.
Then things had started to get complicated.
Out of nowhere, he had drown those big, white wings, and all doubt that he was the heir to the throne of Fanelia had been dissipated. That had left him in a hard position. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't kill the last member of a royal family. It was against his honor, and he never went against code. He decided that, although he would be highly displeased, he could let Fanel live.
Then Boris had opened his big mouth.
He had been the one to protest the loudest and longest. He may have accepted Fanel as King of Fanelia, but that didn't mean he trusted her with his Hitomi. A million thoughts had flashed through his head, and not one of them had been pretty. He couldn't understand how Dryden and Millerna could simply nod and accept it. He didn't want Hitomi to risk her life just to save Gaea. He would have willingly gone instead of her, but Boris had said it had to be Hitomi to go. He had offered to go with them as a chaperone, but Millerna and Dryden had said that they needed him here. There was a war going, after all, and he was the best at winning wars. After all of their rational thinking, he still wanted to go with Hitomi. He would have locked her in a room and endangered the future of Gaea.
And then…
Hitomi's and Fanel's eyes had crossed, and he saw the way Hitomi's doubtful face changed to one of determination. It was in that moment that he knew he had lost the battle.
He let Hitomi go with Fanel against his better judgment.
In truth, it had been the most logical thing to do. If Hitomi didn't go then Gaea could be lost forever. She was the key to their victory, and Fanel was the perfect man to protect her. It had been painful to accept that fact. Fanel was better than him at protecting the woman he loved. A big blow to his ego. He had done the right thing because a single woman could not be more important than millions of persons.
The problem was that she was to him.She was more important than anything.
That was wrong.
Because he cared for her, and he would die for her, and she had him wrapped around her tiny hand, and he liked it that way. He liked the control she had over him.
He had let her go because she had asked him to, and he loved her too much to deny her anything. He had been worried sick for months. Finally, after months of waiting, she came back, and he could clearly see that she was changed. She carried a mature expression on her face. Her eyes were stronger. She had an aura of power around her. She was a queen instead of a princess. He could have lived with the changes because she was still his lovely Hitomi. He had walked towards her, and that is when he saw it.
The way Fanel looked at her.
Before they went away, Fanel had sworn to him that he would protect her. It took one look at the both of them to realize that the bloody boy had done more than that.
He had fallen in love with his Hitomi.
There was no doubt of that. He would be able to recognize that look anywhere. It was the same look he had whenever he laid eyes on Hitomi, except Fanel's was more intense.
He adored her.
He lived for her, and he would die for her, and she had him wrapped around her tiny hand, just like she did him.
Hitomi had them both at her mercy.
How ironic, that he and Fanel had the same curse and the same mercy. They both had been touched by Hitomi's magic.
It was all getting more chaotic. In the months they had been away a bond had formed between them. It was always present between Hitomi and him. Allen was sure that they had found the Heart of the Dragon. They hadn't said anything at their last meeting, and when he had asked Hitomi about it she had said that she would tell them before they left for war. The only one that knew what was going on was Fanel. He knew what was causing his Hitomi such despair. Because Allen had seen it in her eyes. Whatever the secret, it was slowly draining her energy away. It was a burden that she refused to share with anyone but Fanel. He could see in her eyes that she was scared by it, but he could also see that whatever it was she would stick with it to the end. That scared him. He knew Hitomi would do anything to save the world she loved so much. She would ensure the safety of her people no matter what.
That was why he had called her name after recovering from the surprise at seeing the heartless Dragon's love. He had been more than relieved when she had come to him, kissed him, and went away with him.
So, he and Fanel both loved Hitomi, but there was one difference between them.
Hitomi had chosen him because she loved him, not Fanel.
He would be eternally grateful for that. And in his mind there was no doubt that the secret that Hitomi and Van shared would not be able to break their love.
Van was facing her, and she knew she should talk, but words wouldn't come out of her mouth. He looked so hurt and confused, and she could do nothing for him. She had already chosen her path. She couldn't back out from her plans. She would go to war, use the Heart, destroy Dornkirk and Zaibach, and die. There was no need for any more sacrifices to be made, besides hers. She didn't want more people to die. She didn't want children growing up without fathers and young woman becoming widows at such a short time. She wanted the rivers of blood to end, and she wanted the screams of war to vanish.
She wanted to complete her destiny, so that she could rest.
And really, that was all she wanted. She had been innocent and naïve at the beginning of the war, and now she had seen too much and suffered too much and she knew way too much. She had gone on a quest an insecure girl and had come back a secure woman. She still smiled and laughed, but with Van far away, she found her smiles were rather forced. She had grown accustomed to having him near, and the distance was killing her. Still, it was just another sacrifice she had to make for her people. Because no matter how much she or her feeling had changed, one thing remained untouched.
She would do anything for the safety of her people.
She would die for them, and she would draw Van away from her just to keep them save.
She was a queen and that was her duty.
You're awful bright, you're awful smart
I must admit you broke my heart
The awful truth is really sad
I must admit I was awful bad
Besides, she had not been born a seer and mistress of the Heart for nothing. She had been given that responsibility and she had accepted it. And dying didn't scare her as much as it should. She had seen so many people die in the small town she had stayed in with Van, and she had experienced the feelings of dying through Dryden.
No, dying did not scare her. What scared her was what she was about to do.
"Why did you attack Allen?"
"What?"
"You heard me."
"He punched me first!"
"Only because he thought you were hurting me."
Which he was. It had hurt to have him so close and so far away at the same time.
While lovers laugh and music plays
I stumble by and I hide my pain
The lights are lit, the moon is gone
I think I've crossed the Rubicon
"You know I would never hurt you."
"You did when we were at Zaibach."
His eyes became darker, and Hitomi knew how much he regretted having had to hurt her. She understood it had been necessary, but she wasn't about to tell him that. She needed him to dislike, if not hate her, so that her plan wouldn't be ruined.
"That was…necessary."
"It still hurt."
"You stabbed me! Do you think that didn't hurt? And the look in your eyes…Hitomi, don't you understand?"
She did, of course she did. She wanted to yell at him for not seen through her façade. She wanted to throw herself into his arms. She wanted to kiss those sexy lips and feel his hard muscles against her. She didn't do any of those things. What she wanted was not important. Only her duty was.
"Look, Van, I know you did what you had to do, but…"
"But it doesn't matter to you."
"It's not that!"
"What will happen to us, Hitomi?"
'Let's run off and forget about everything.' Her annoying stupid voice said.
'We can't run off. We have a duty.'
'And what about what Hitomi wants?'
'I want what is best for my kingdom.'
'Liar.'
'Shut up.'
"Please, Hitomi, answer me."
His voice had a desperate tone that he was trying to hide. She hid her emotions from him. She kept her eyes as indifferent as she could.
While music pumps from passing cars
A couple watch me from a bar
A band just played the wedding march
And the corner store mends broken hearts
And a woman asks me for a dance
Oh it's free of charge, just one more chance
"Van, I…I know I let things go off the line when we were together, but you must understand…I was confused, and you were there for me, and…look, maybe we just rushed into things. I mean, you have been proclaimed King of Fanelia, and I am engaged to Allen. Things between us…can't be."
"There never could be, could they, Hitomi?"
She hesitated and then answered. "No, never."
"And we both only fooled ourselves."
"I…"
"Wait, let me correct that. I fooled myself."
"Van…"
"Because you always knew, and I always knew, but I hoped, and you didn't. I truly believed…it was all in vain."
"Please, I…"
"What, Hitomi, what!" He yelled at her "You never meant to hurt me? You're sorry? I don't care anymore. I have bigger issues. I can't waste my time with you anymore."
"Van, I'm…"
"No, I don't want to hear it anymore. I understand. I just wish I hadn't been so stupid."
He got up and silently walked away. Before he disappeared into the dark night, he turned to look at her.
You had the moves, you had the cards
I must admit you were awful smart
The awful truth is awful sad
I must admit I was awful bad
"You truly are amazing, Hitomi." He said softly. "And I truly am a fool because no matter how much you hurt me, I still love you."
And you…
"I just wish I didn't feel for you anymore, Hitomi."
Walk the streets of love and they're drenched with tears
Oh every night, oh there's only one and not enough for him
Oh I, yeah and they're full of tears
Oh everybody talk about it
Everybody be walking down it
Yeah but I found out... oh yes that I...
Oh yes I do
Oh the streets of love, yeah, they're drenched with, drenched with in tears...
I... oh yeah I don't want to...
"They say that everything most come to an end." Millerna said as she looked at the gray clouds above them. "I guess the time for this war to end has finally come. There will be no more tries. If we fall now, we fall for eternity."
"I know." Hitomi said with her eyes to the ground.
"People die in wars."´
"I am very aware of that, Millerna."
"And are you aware that this may be the last time for you to see him, Hitomi?"
Hitomi's eyes shot to Millerna's face, but the woman still had her eyes to the sky. She couldn't understand how Hitomi could let him walk away without knowing the truth. If she had been allowed one last moment, she would have made everything wrong right. She wouldn't have cared about destiny or fate or duties. It would only have been him on her mind.
"You mean Allen? I have already spoken to him."
How stubborn could one person really be?
"You know I did not mean Allen, but I'll play your game. Have you told him the truth?"
Millerna lowered her eyes from the sky to Hitomi's green ones. She could feel her anger rising up.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
So indifferent. So great at hiding what she really felt…
"You do know what I'm talking about."
"I do not, and even if I did, this is something I do not wish to speak of, with you or anyone else, for the matter."
"So you are just going to let them go to war without knowing your true feelings. You're going to let the go believing a lie? That isn't fair! To either you or them!" She yelled at the younger woman.
"Life is never fair."
Like she didn't know. "I know that. Do not presume to think you are the only one that has had a bad time in this war. I lost a husband and my kingdom is ruined. I know all about life's unfairness."
Hitomi finally looked away from her eyes. Millerna saw the guilt in her eyes, but she wouldn't give her a rest. She had to tell Van and Allen the truth.
"I…I'm sorry. I didn't…"
"It is alright, but I still think you should tell the truth."
Hitomi smiled. "I have told them the truth. I love Allen. My feelings got confused because of all the months I spent alone with Van, but now everything is cleared."
"Are you lying to yourself or trying to lie to me?"
"I am not lying to anyone."
Millerna laughed. "That is but another lie. Really, Hitomi, I've heard so many wonderful things about you in the past months that I can't believe you know how to lie." She turned serious and took a step closer to Hitomi. "You are only hurting Van with your lies and giving Allen false hopes."
"I am doing what I have to do to win this war."
Millerna couldn't really see how lying to them would help them win this war.
"I don't think so. I think you are just taking the easy way out. Are you a coward or a queen?" Millerna's voice was getting sharper. Hitomi's eyes colder.
"I am not a coward, and I don't have to explain myself to you. You are in my kingdom, and I would appreciate some respect."
"I am only trying to help you with your situation."
"I do not need your help."
"Everyone needs help."
Hitomi turned so she was face to face with the woman. She held her head as high as she could and straightened her back, but Millerna glared at her, and Hitomi sighed, defeated.
"Why do you want to help me?"
Millerna shrugged, as if it was not important. "I don't want you to hurt Van or Allen because of your foolish acts." Her eyes turned softer. "And I don't want you to hurt yourself. You've tried so hard to save this world, why not do something for you before the war ends? It could be your last chance."
Same conversation between Millerna and Hitomi, but different POV.
Hitomi thought about that. Millerna was right. It could be her last chance. Would it be bad to do something for her? It couldn't be a bad thing to try to make herself a little happier before she died. She could tell Van she had done it to keep him safe. He would understand and open his arms for her. They would kiss, and then…
Then what?
She would go to war, die, and leave him all alone?
No.
Her decision was made. Besides, if Van tried to protect her Dornkirk would just use their feeling against them.
Their relationship was doomed from day one. She had had always known.
"I'll be happy when this war is over."
That wasn't a lie. She was sure dead people were happy.
"But what about them? You can't fuel them for forever."
"I won't need to."
"But…"
"Look, Millerna, I'll tell you a secret if you promise to leave me alone." Hitomi's voice was tired. She was tired. Tired of wanting and not having. Tired of hoping, of dreaming, of…everything. She just wanted to rest and forget, but she couldn't. It was not time yet. She could rest for forever after she ended the war.
"Will you explain why you are lying?"
"I'll explain something better."
Millerna looked doubtful for a moment, but curiosity got the better of her.
"Fine, I promise."
"I won't be here after the war ends."
"What?"
"I'm going to die before it ends. It's the only way to save Gaea. We found the Heart of the Dragon, but you can't use it without dying, or at least no one has been able to. I'm the mistress of it, so I'm the only one that has a shot at using it and not dying, but something tells me I won't be that lucky. I'll sacrifice myself, and Zaibach will be destroyed. Everybody wins." She looked at Millerna with sad eyes. Millerna's eyes were sadder. "Now that you know this, please leave me alone. I have a lot of things to plan, and I'd like to have a few minutes with myself before I have to go say goodbye to my fiancé and Van."
She turned to leave, but Millerna caught her arm.
"Don't…"
"It is the only way."
"We could find another one."
"There is no more time."
"But why most you sacrifice yourself?"
"I have to die to save thousands."
"Would you really die for people you don't know?"
And at this, Hitomi finally gave her one brilliant smile.
"Of course I would. I believe in them, even if I don't know them. I believe in this world, and I believe in you. I'd die for you because it is my duty as mistress of the Heart. I did not ask for this, but I take the responsibility gladly. I don't want anybody else to suffer because of this stupid war. I don't want anyone else to have to carry the burden that was given to me."
"But what about Van?"
"It is for him, more than anyone else, that I'm doing this. I will die so he won't have to. "
And that was it. There was nothing more, nothing else. She would die because it was her decision. She would die for them, for him, and that was it. That was all. There was nothing else.
"Come on" Hitomi said. "They're getting ready to leave."
Van stood in front of Escaflowne. He then looked towards the sky, to the gardens; to the little fountain in the middle of the city…He looked everywhere. He was trying to memorize everything…this could be the last time he saw Kansaki. He wanted the memory of Hitomi's home in his head. He had told her cruel things. He didn't know what she felt anymore. Something was wrong with her, but he couldn't help her. Right now, what was important was winning the war. His mind had to be only on that.
That didn't stop him from wanting to have this place in his memory. If he died, he would make sure that this image was the one he saw last. The only difference would be that Hitomi would be sitting on the fountain, smiling at him, looking at him with those beautiful green eyes, and the moonlight would shine above her.
Yep, if he died tomorrow, he would close his eyes and remember this.
"Fanel."
Schezar had just ruined his last image. Now he would have to look for another one because the idiot had decided to stand in front of him and become part of his surrounding.
"Schezar, what do you want?"
"I've been thinking."
Van let out a small laugh. "I didn't know you could."
"You…forget it. What I have to say is more important. Will you listen?"
He looked at the blond warrior. He grinned when he saw the black spot in his face, but then he got sad when he saw the bandage on his shoulder. This was the man that Hitomi had chosen. This was the man that had everything he ever wanted.
"Sure, I'll listen."
Allen took a deep breath. "This isn't easy for me." He said.
"Nothing is easy, so get it over with. Don't waste my time."
"Aren't you the patient one? Anyway, as I said, I've been thinking, and I think it would be better if we formed a truce between us."
Van's eyes widened. "Why?"
"Because you are extremely good at fighting, and I'm an excellent strategist, and together we have a chance against Zaibach. Besides, you know more about them than I do."
"A truce to save Gaea?"
"No, to save Hitomi." Allen grinned. "I know you love her. You want her saved, so do I, Let's do this for her."
"No."
"No?"
"I will do it for my parents, for my kingdom, and for the revenge I've been looking for, but I won't do it for her."
Allen gave him a quizzical look. "Why not for her?"
"Because I have done a lot for her and it is still not enough, and I'm tired of it all. Besides, I need to be strong and concentrated. She is just a distraction."
"Fascinating."
"What?"
"That you can talk about her like that."
"It is not about her. I just have a duty as a king, and I promised to reconstruct Fanelia. There is no room for mistakes."
"You would put your duties before yourself?"
"Yes, as would she, and as you would, and as Millerna would, and as Dryden did. We were born leaders. We can't let our people down."
"You know, Fanel, you are not what I expected."
"I don't really care."
"Of course you don't, but just so you know, you are better."
When Van turned towards him, he was gone. In his place was a small cat-girl.
"I know you." Van told her.
"I am Merle. We met at the dungeons. Did you mean what you just said?"
"Yes, I did."
"You would die for these persons? They are not from Fanelia, you know."
"I am aware if that, but they deserve a shot to a peaceful live."
"You used to kill him."
"That is why I protect them with more fervor."
She crooked her head to the side. "You destroyed everything I knew. You ruined my life. I forgave you when you were a mercenary." She told him. "I will serve you now that you are a King. I'll help you build back Fanelia."
"Why?"
Why do you want to help me?
"Because I believed in you even before Lady Hitomi did, Master Van."
I forgive you for everything you did to me...
He patted her head, and the action felt strangely good. He felt relieved. He had someone that would be by his side. It made him feel less lonely.
"Thank you."
"You can thank me by winning this war."
He laughed.
Millerna had made a hard decision. She had wanted to go to war with the rest. She had wanted to fight side by side with her soldiers. Everyone had refused. They said they needed her here because she was a doctor. She had cursed her parent, Dryden, and herself for becoming one. She had to stay in Kansaki because the injured soldiers would need her. Her soldiers, along with Hitomi's would be guided by Van, who had none. She smiled a little as she focused on the fight in front of her.
"But I have to go with you!"
"You will stay here where is safe."
"I will not do such thing, Allen. I will go with you."
"You will not."
"But…"
"Kansaki, listen to Schezar."
"What?" Hitomi and Allen screamed at unison.
"You are siding with him?"
"You agree with me?"
Van simply nodded. "You would only be in our way."
"I didn't mean it because of that." Allen murmured.
What surprised Millerna was the coldness in the young king's eyes. He was hurting. She knew that. There was turmoil of emotions inside of him, but he kept them there, safely inside of him because they had a war to win and emotions were not important right now. The only thing that mattered was the battle ahead. Hitomi, although mad at the moment, was not letting her emotions interfere either, and Allen was doing the same. He loathed Van, but he knew that they needed him to win this, so they had formed some kind of truce. Everyone was putting their duties if front of them. They were all leaders, after all. It was only their job. That was why she was letting Van lead her soldiers. Because she was a healer and he was a fighter.
"If I don't go, you won't be able to win."
"We will find a way to do so without you." Van told Hitomi.
"You know there is no other way."
"There will be."
"What are you talking about? We have to go now if we want to stop Zaibach." Luva said. "The pirated have already left, and so have Oruzo and the rebels. The sorcerers and witches are already being transported. King Leon and King Hurizen have already left with the infantry, archers, and horses. We are the only ones left, and we are the most important ones. We have the guymelefs, after all."
"This will only take a minute, Luva." Van told her. He then turned to Hitomi. "I know you are the only one who can use the Heart." He said. "But it will only be used as a last resort."
"A lot of lives could be saved if we used it at the beginning."
"We do not know that. The power the Heart holds is immense. We don't know what can happen. I won't risk it."
"But…"
"You stay here."
Hitomi let out a frustrated sound, and then she crossed her hand over her chest and raised her nose to the sky. Millerna knew she would do as told. She would not risk hurting innocent people, and whatever Van said made sense. She could also see right through Van's argument. He may have a lot of reasons for not letting Hitomi use the Heart and go to war, but she knew that the most powerful one was that he wanted her safe.
"Then it's settled. Millerna and Hitomi stay, and Van takes over their men." Allen said. "It is time to go."
The three remaining leaders turned their backs to Millerna and Hitomi. Luva, Allen, and Van made their ways to their guymelefs, and as they climbed them, Millerna heard the rest of the soldiers do the same.
This was it. They were finally going towards their victory or defeat.
She knew that this could be the last time she would see them alive, and tears formed at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them go down freely. She would not think such thoughts. She would trust them to do their best and win. Her hopes would go with them. Allen smiled and waved at them. He blew a kiss to Hitomi, and then he rose into the sky, followed by his troops. Luva was the next to go. The only one that remained was Van. He stood gloriously over his dragon like guymelef. He tilted his head towards them, and his eyes bore into Hitomi's. He nodded his head, grinned, and left.
They were all gone now.
They had gone to war.
There was no going back anymore.
She heard a muffled cry at her side and grabbed Hitomi's hand.
"They will be okay."
Yukari came up from behind them. She put one hand on Hitomi's shoulder and the other on Millerna's. "Of course they will be okay. Amano will be leading half of each of your troops. He will be guarding their backs. There is no way he will allow anything to happen to Allen or Luva." She gripped Hitomi's shoulder. "And he will protect Van, Hitomi, so there is no need to worry."
Hitomi didn't say anything to that. She seemed to be lost…and then she turned towards them and smiled, and she looked strong again.
"Of course, he…I mean everyone will be alright."
The three women stood where they were until the troops disappeared in the sky. They knew that there would be people they would never see again. Millerna turned to look at Hitomi. She wondered if she would go to war and die like she had told her. She hoped she didn't have to. She didn't want to lose anymore people.
I know Van acted cold towards Hitomi, and he also talked coldly about her when he was speaking to Allen, but come on, the
girl just broke his heart. He is a little hurt. Still, things will get better, I promise. So, anyway, the battle will finally begin, and
I'm already half way through chapter 28, so it can't take that long to update. And I know, Hitomi and Van aren't together,
but the story hasn't ended yet. A lot of things can happen. Well, review, review, review, and tell me what you think.
Oh, another thing, do you want the battle to last 1 or 2 chapters? I think 2 would be better, but you decide ;)