Disclaimer: I didn't own anything in the last ten chapters…I didn't own anything in the last seven chapters…What makes you think this chapter is any different? I don't own anything!

To all who reviewed: Thanks for your reviews and your praise and your advice of keep going:D I'm so happy!

Chapter Eighteen

"…Hitomi?" Van called again. He gently patted her face with his hand. "Come on…Wake up…"

Her head rolled to the side.

"Hitomi! Wake up!" Now he was concerned. What's wrong with—? His thought remained unfinished as he noticed something warm was seeping through his pants and onto his legs.

In the poor light, Van could barely see anything. But he could smell it in the air. …That's…
Watch you bleed
She's bleeding!
Her blood
He noticed that he was covered in it…from head to toe. Van jumped off her and tried to see the wound, however, it was too dark.

The pendant had stopped pulsing.

When he saw his sword on the ground beside her, his muddled brain put two and two together. His heart pumped loudly as he stared wide-eyed at the scene before him. A wave of nausea came, but he kept it down.

Oh gods…what have I done? "HITOMI!" He yelled at her, next to her ear. Her eyelids fluttered, but no other movement was made. Van's moves became frantic between lightly shaking her and patting her face. "Hitomi! Please! HITOMI!"

Staying in the dark isn't helping! A rational thought finally passed through Van's mind. You have to get some light so you can clean the wound! You can't help her if you can't see her! "Yes…Yes, that's what I'll do…" He mumbled to himself, trying to pass off his own hysteria.

Bringing his arms out and cradling her against his stomach, he walked as swiftly as he could towards the nearest door. Hitomi's body was feeling heavy and the way her head was craned backwards tightened Van's stomach.

Coming to the first door he knew would have a window, he kicked it open with his foot, while managing to balance himself. The setting sun's red and orange light poured in from two large windows on the right of the room. It illuminated his bookshelves, his desk, his papers, his chairs…everything that was in his study. "Yes…this will do…" Van panted.

Moving some chairs aside, he laid Hitomi on the ground carefully. She looked so peaceful as she rested there.
She won't wake up
Too peaceful.

Van jumped over his desk, towards the cabinet where he kept that one bottle of alcohol he got as a gift. Where is that thing? Come on! Where is it! Throwing open the doors to the cabinet, Van pushed aside all other glass vials which fell onto the wood floor with a crash. He barely realized that some of the glass had dug into his skin and feet. Where is it! Where ARE YOU!

His eyes lit up when he found it on the second shelf behind some scented oil. Pulling it out, he unscrewed the top and rushed back to Hitomi.

She hadn't moved.

You need a rag…Van's mind scolded. There are some in the linen closet…Or in the medicinal area……But that's so far away. I don't have that time…He looked around the room for something—anything.

He quickly removed his shirt, as it was the cleanest article of cloth in the vicinity of his study. Pulling out a small dagger from the inside of his boot, Van proceeded to cut up most of his shirt into strips, leaving two large patches out.

Putting the strips beside him, he grabbed the bigger sections and dosed them in the alcohol. Squeezing out the excess, he pulled up Hitomi's shirt—just up to the wound—and paused. "This'll sting." He whispered to her.

Rubbing and dabbing the piece of cloth around the area, he saw Hitomi's abdomen muscles twitch under the stinging sensation the alcohol was supplying. That's a good girl…

With the light in the room, Van stopped using the damp cloth until he thought her stomach was clean. He inspected the cut closely, seeing that it was a clean strike…all the way through. Usually, his teacher would congratulate him for that.

But now was not the time.

Turning his attention back to the strips, he tied them all together, end to end, to form one long strip. He looked back at Hitomi and saw that wrapping his makeshift bandage all around her would be tricky. The back! You have to clean the back! Idiot! Van dropped the strip and grabbed the alcohol vial. He yelled at himself mentally for not remembering.

Grunting in strain, he picked up her torso and holding her shirt up in one hand, he used his other alcohol-drenched cloth to clean the exit wound. It was harder to see when it was clean and it was harder to keep Hitomi upright in that position for so long. Van's muscles strained and shook, but he would not give in.

Once he thought he had done a sufficient job, he held this position and reached for the strips. Van wrapped it around her frame, hoping that by pressuring the wound, it would stop blood flow…just as his teacher had taught him.

He tightened the knot that held everything together and laid her down again on the floor, bringing relief to his sore arm. Van breathed out loudly, closing his eyes as he did so. As they reopened, they filled with tears. That brief moment where he stopped being a medic brought the seriousness of the situation back, full force. What have I done?

Van sniffed and started to rock back and forth as he sat. Covering his head with his hands, he repeated his thoughts. What have I done? What have I done to her? He watched through blurry eyes as Hitomi's chest rose and fell with consistency. But it was a shaky breath every time. Oh gods…Oh gods…What have I done?

He looked her over: she was cut and bloody on her knees, arms and neck. Her most serious injury was the one he had just cleaned, but she would still be in pain when she woke up. I don't want to see you hurt…

Taking her wrist in his own hand, the tears finally fell. "Hitomi…I'm—I'm so sorry…I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" His body shook with grief. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and tell her that everything would be okay.

But he couldn't.

He wiped his tears with a bloody hand, leaving a streak of red on his face. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He cried out, in between sobs and tears. "Oh gods…I'm sorry!" Van continued to cry over her form and eventually, pulled her into an embrace. I'm sorry…Hitomi…I'm so sorry…

Van sat there with Hitomi draped in his arms, with the scene of his country scrambling to save anything it had left from the window. This is what we were predicting? His mind changed as he studied the outside more closely. Even in the horizon, things did not look good. Everything that I loved taken away from me? Was this it? He buried his head in her hair and combed his fingers of one of his hands supporting her back through it.

"What have I done to you? What have I done to everything?" He whispered as his tears wet her hair.

"You've been a very bad boy, Van."

Van's head snapped up, thinking that Hitomi had responded to him. Realizing that this was not the case, he turned his head and his eyes towards the door. All his movements were slow, as he was not expecting anyone to reply to his question.

Shina strode into the room, with a playful smirk on her lips. "Such a bad little boy, my king. What am I going to do with you?"

His eyes darted between Hitomi and Shina. Van grit his teeth and growled at her. I am not letting Hitomi slip from my grasp again. "Go to hell."

She wagged her finger at him. "Now, now. No need for bad language. That is no way to talk to a lady."

"You're not a lady."

"Oh, of course! How silly of me…I'm your loving wife." She replied after a thought, in a mocking tone.

Van furrowed his brow and breathed heavily through his teeth. "No. You will never be my wife."

"Very true, my love." Shina smiled as her mask disappeared. "Because when I'm through with your precious planet…and with you…there will be nothing left to be wed to!"

He glared at her through his bangs and watched as she walked closer to him. Every step she took, he clung more tightly to Hitomi. "Oh, Van, don't worry," Shina broke the staring contest, noticing his movements with the other woman's body, "I'm not after her any more. You took care of her for me."

"No!" Van shouted, turning his head away from Shina's penetrating gaze.

"You took awful good care of her, didn't you?" The withered, wrinkled face smiled at him, bringing new crevices to her face. "Look what a nice job you did."

"Stop it!" All of his composure to stand up to her failed and he was left with all his insecurities about the fate of all of them there in Gaea.

"Oh, come now. Why won't you embrace your skills, Van? Not many people can do such a thing like this, you know."

Van turned to look at the creature. Between shouts of anger and tears, he shouted, "I didn't do anything! I would never do this to her!"

"Oh, but you did…"

"No…No…" He turned his head away and continued to hug Hitomi's body closer. Van breathed loudly through his mouth in an attempt to quiet his sobbing and shaking. His heart was pounding too fast and too loudly that he thought for sure everyone could hear it.

Shina stepped closer, standing over him. In an instant, she dug her nails into his scalp, smiling at his obvious discomfort. Pulling his head up, her blue eyes shone. "Don't you remember anything?"

Van swallowed as he replayed what he knew in his mind. The castle…it was…un—under attack…I grabbed Hitomi and we started running……I went into my training room and…and……That was all his memory could dish out before he found himself on top of Hitomi with his sword in his hand. His eyes filled with fear. Oh no…No…impossible…I couldn't…

Thin lips curled. She took his silence as his realization. "Do you see what a horrible person you are?"

Van searched his mind for anything that would clear his conscious of his crime. But he found nothing. He could not remember anything between the time in his training room and moments before he ended up in his study. Why can't you remember? Why only up to the training room?

His mind could not supply him with an answer as his emotions took over his senses. "No…"

Her nails drew blood. "You are a bad, bad person, my king…"

Van didn't know what to do anymore. His entire body froze. His mind was blank as he knew that the probability of him hurting Hitomi were very high. "I—I'm sorry…I did—didn't mean to…" He struggled with his words, as his body was not moving right.

"Don't deny it, my love…" Shina crouched down next to him, hand on his head. "You enjoyed it."

"NO!" Van screamed. He furiously shook his head from left to right, repeating that phrase. His heart almost exploded. I couldn't have…I would never…How could I?…Oh gods, oh gods…We need to get help…

"Oh, Van…" She cooed at him, flicking her wrist to force him to look at her. Her blue eyes shone and reflected off his dark maroon ones. "Lying will get you no where…"

"Please…I'm sorry…" He whispered, his mind still frozen with shock and disbelief and anguish. "I didn't mean to…"

"Oh, we never mean to do anything Van…especially when someone gets hurt." Shina's tone became compassionate. Even after a full possession like that, I can still control him with half my power…poor little Draconian, look what I can make you do…

Van looked at her closely, focusing on her eyes…

"Of course, I believe you…I know you didn't mean to, my love. However," she paused, looking at Van's face, "I don't think anyone else will…"

"They have to understand…" He mumbled at her. There is something wrong here…Her acting…She's changed her personality. This isn't making sense…

"No. They will not. All they are going to see is a murderous king who will do away with anyone who gets in their way. Don't you remember what happened?" Her eyes shone brighter. "Hitomi and I got into an argument…about the wedding. She insulted me so many times…"

Shina lifted the sleeve of her gown and showed Van little cuts along her arms. "She hurt me, Van…Hitomi picked up a dagger and slashed me…

"I told you not to do anything drastic, but you wouldn't listen to me…You declared her a prisoner of the state; you wanted her captured, dead or alive. The people became chaotic …everywhere in the city people were trying to find her…to please you. But, you took matters into your own hands.

"When you found her, you chased her down and stabbed her in the stomach…All because you were defending my honour. No one likes a violent king: no one wants a king who will turn on people so quickly…" Shina trailed off the last part of her sentence, waiting for Van to acknowledge her story. Believe me…I know…

She waited for her little spell to work. The possession is still inside you, my love.

And waited.

Van stared at her for a long time, absorbing her tale. When she came in, I immediately turned angry…Now, I feel comfortable around her…Like she wants to help me…Breaking the stare she was giving him, he looked at Hitomi. Her shirt covered her wound; it was not visible. His sword was nowhere to be seen. Maroon eyes darted back and forth between the two women and his breathing hitched.

A familiar feeling of being held back resurfaced as he gazed at Shina again.

But Van's mind started to race. The feeling increased as he stared deeply into her eyes. Look away, dammit! His mind screamed. There's something wrong with her eyes!

Breaking the contact, the feeling was gone.

And the pendant gave off a faint glow. Van…break free…

He heard Shina gasp at his actions. Looking back at Hitomi, his unfinished thought of Shina's suspicious story came back.

"How did you know I stabbed her?"

He felt her grip from his head loosen. "My love…I—I saw you…"

"Why didn't you stop me if you saw me?" Van's mind was working logic. If she saw me, then why did she not enter the room earlier? If she was so concerned about me not doing anything 'drastic' why did she watch? Why didn't she rush to help me? Why?

An answer finally came to him. She doesn't care if Hitomi lives or dies… A memory of one of Hitomi's and his talks came back. She wants her dead. "Liar."

"W—What?"

"Liar." He repeated, tone getting angry. The pendant continued to increase its light intensity steadily. "You couldn't have known…"

Shina was taken back. How can it stop working? "My love, please, this horrible woman was out to harm—"

"—Shut up!" Van yelled, clenching his fists. He stole a quick glance at her, remembering the picture Hitomi had drawn through his foggy memories. "You're a monster…"

"My love—"

"—Do NOT address me as that!" Van breathed out, glaring. The pendant's light was starting to become overpowering. We need to get help!

That pendant! Shina's mind screamed. It is helping him! Mine is not overpowering it! No! But…It did not work before…why now? Her compassionate face twisted with anger. Releasing Van's head from her grasp, she made a move to rip off the pendant from around Hitomi's neck. Even in death she interferes!

As her skinny, bony fingers encircled the pendant, she yelled a shriek of pain. The pendant's light, which was so purifying to release Van from the evil that consumed him, that it burned her hand, rendering it useless. When she released it from her grasp, it floated up from Hitomi's neck and turned white.

The white dot of light soon spread outwards to create a column to encircle both Van and Hitomi. Shina looked on, clutching her damaged hand with her blue eyes shining with shock. How can this be? He can't leave now…I still need answers! Stupid Draconian! You will not be free from my grasp!

Pushing the power of her own black pendant outwards, Shina tried everything in her power to stop Van from retreating back to the Mystic Moon again. Gray lightning bolts exploded from Shina's pendant but merely rebounded off the bright, white light being emitted from the column. "NO!"

She watched, wordlessly, as their bodies levitated upwards. The roof of the castle that was in the way of the column's path was destroyed to let them through. Her white hair whipped around her wrinkled skin in a sick dance as Van and Hitomi continued to rise. Why can't I stop them?

Van's back arched outwards and in a flash, his wings appeared, brilliantly expelling millions of soft white feathers around his study. As she sat on the ground, holding her hand, Shina watched as her original plan to steal the workings of Escalfowne crumble away. She growled as the column started to recede, finally feeling the effects of her pendant.

But they were safe from her; her magic could not reach them. They were returning to the Mystic Moon. Coward…Shina snarled. She stood up shakily and dusted herself off, careful of her hand. It was smoking and charred upon closer inspection. That witch…They will learn to never get in my way again…They will loath the day they crossed me…

Drifting to the window, Shina watched how well her army was working. The destruction was taking place…she only needed one more thing, and those two could not hide from her forever. She looked down at all the people who paused to watch Van and Hitomi leave Gaea. One in particular was a pink-haired feline: Merle.

And the creature smiled. When I'm through with him, there will be nothing left for him but death…and I will gladly give it to him…by means of his own strengths…

The scene before her was a sight of beauty to only her. Fires had claimed many markets and the force of soldiers brought down many homes. People were running away, but for the briefest moment, they all looked up to see the angel in a column of light. Feathers floated all around them with such gentleness, which contrasted the evil that surrounded the people.

Merle had stopped running, seeing that it was too late to try to help them. They're getting help elsewhere…Oh Van, what happened?

Shina turned away from the window with a smirk. No, they can not hide from me forever…But in the mean time, I will use their absence to make sure that everyone gets what they deserve…Replacing her mask, she strode out of the room, careful not to step in the puddle of blood that Hitomi had made.

And to not disturb the one white feather that fell there, colouring it red.

Van had shut his eyes for the most part of the journey, but he held on tightly to Hitomi's frame. When he felt something hit his feet, he opened his eyes to see that it was still night time on the Mystic Moon and that they were at Hitomi's living quarters again…on the floor of the balcony.

His feet landed gracefully and looked around him as the pillar of light faded with sparkling fragments. He noticed that everything was right where they left it. Nothing had changed. The same 'automobiles' were outside in the same place. No time has passed here? He shook the thought away as Hitomi's weight in his arms presented a more urgent thought. We need to get help! I need to find a medical area…

Van jumped off the balcony and used his wings to slow his fall. He made they disappear soon afterwards and he began to run towards the area where all the cars were moving.

I will not let you slip from my grasp, Hitomi…
But there was no angel to save her

8D I hoped you liked it!

As you can see, the pendant finally worked! I call it, the power of love…and the power of goodness. Since it purified Shina, it was able to stop her powers from working to their full extent, so the pendant managed to bring them to Earth! w00t!

Shina likes to bend the truth, doesn't she?

And also, HURRAY! Van figured it out! Well, almost all of it, anyway…Don't worry, the next chapter will be up soon!

PLEASE REVIEW

PS. Will Van be able to find the hospital? What WILL happen next…on Earth AND on Gaea?