UNFORGOTTEN
Chapter 2: Princess
"I don't know but it wasn't anything good." Van said as he drew his sword. "Who's there?" Two figures emerged from the shadows and both Hitomi and Van gasped. "What are you doing here?" Van snarled.
One of the figures smirked, "I was about to ask you the same thing."
"Amano Sempai! What are you doing with...that guy?" Hitomi demanded. She knew she had seen that face before but couldn't put a face to it. All Hitomi could remember about him was fear. It was as if she had chosen to forget about him although she couldn't remember why.
"He wa..." Amano started but felt a sharp pain run through his body as the boy next to him punched him in the stomach. The boy laughed as Amano gasped for breath. A hard fist was met between the eyes of Amano but he remained standing as the boy laughed harder.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Hitomi screamed as she started running towards the boy in rage. Van grabbed Hitomi's wrist and without thinking she turned and slapped him leaving blood trickle down his face where her nails had hit. Hitomi had been grabbed by the wrist many times before and had always reacted that way, but this time it wasn't intended. Hitomi's hands immediately flung to her face as soon as he had let go in pain. "Van, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Van." Hitomi whimpered with a sorry look in her eyes.
The boy laughed even harder. Hurt was clearly written all over Van's face. That's it isn't it? She didn't want me to know about her love for this guy she calls Amano and so she wanted to leave as soon as possible with me so I'd never find out. How could I have been so stupid? The boy laughed even harder as he saw the look on Van's face. Van had had enough of this. His brows furrowed in frustration as the boy's laughs cut into his thoughts.
"SHUT UP DILANDAU!" Van yelled. Dilandau stopped momentarily and a grin crossed his face.
"So you remember me, Van." Dilandau sneered.
"How could I forget?" Van scowled placing a hand to the hilt of his sword.
I knew I had recognized that face. Hitomi thought in surprise of hearing his name. "Dilandau? But I thought..."
"Well then, I guess you thought wrong." Dilandau exclaimed as he drew his sword and charged directly at Van. Before Van could even draw his sword, him, Hitomi, and Dilandau lifted from the ground in a pillar of light and headed back towards Gaea leaving Amano standing in place still gasping for breath in shock.
*~*Gaea*~*
Hitomi woke up in a dazed state and looked at her surroundings. It looked as if she was on the outskirts of Fanelia. "Van." she murmured softly. He did such a wonderful job of rebuilding Fanelia. She looked around herself hoping to see Van but he was nowhere to be seen. Hitomi sighed and picked herself off the ground. "I wonder where he could be."
*~*
Van woke up finding himself deep within the forest. He knew precisely where Fanelia was but Hitomi was nowhere to be seen. He'd have to find her first. As he walked around in silence, just in case Dilandau or something else might be near, his name rung through the forest. "Hitomi." Van smirked and headed towards Fanelia.
"Hitomi!" Van cried out excitedly as he spotted Hitomi calling out his name. Hitomi turned around even more excitedly and ran up to Van, hugging him fiercely.
"Oh Van! It's beautiful!" Hitomi cried out in a flush of happiness. He was confused. What's beautiful? I haven't given anything to her. Hitomi looked up at him with tears in her eyes. Why is she crying? Did I hurt her somehow? Does she miss the Mystic Moon already?
"Hitomi? Why are you crying?" Van stared down into her lovely sea-green eyes.
"Fanelia is just so beautiful, Van." Hitomi declared as she tried holding back her tears of happiness. She was so happy to be back on Gaea and wanted to see everyone so badly. Most of all it was Van who made her the happiest to be back on Gaea.
Van looked down upon her face and brushed a tear away that had fallen. He cupped her face in his hands and moved her face towards his so they were only inches apart. He was tempted so bad to just full out kiss her, but he didn't want to do anything rash and scare Hitomi back to the Mystic Moon so Van just smiled and let his arms fall back to his sides. One question kept tugging at his brain but he knew something wrong would escape his accursed lips if he dared open them. Van didn't dare say a word for fear of it coming out wrong.
Hitomi kept smiling at him although she was sad that he hadn't kissed her. She was tempted to just jump into his arms and kiss him with a kiss he would never forget, but she kept her calm when their faces were just inches apart. It wasn't fair that he had to do that to her. Making her love him even more and wanting him even more with every passing second. Hitomi looked towards Fanelia as she noticed how she was staring at Van and since he wouldn't say anything then she must. "Well, would you be so kind as to lead me to the new and improved Fanelia and introduce me to everyone your Majesty?" Hitomi teased so as to get them going somewhere.
Van smiled sweetly at Hitomi and nodded. After a moments time of just standing there, Van finally got up the courage to say something. "Well? Shall we?" he extended his hand out to Hitomi's surprising her since he seemed to be holding back the whole time they were just standing there, but she took it almost immediately afterwards. Without thinking of what he was about to do, Van pressed his lips softly against the back of Hitomi's hand, and still holding it he lowered their hands so they were holding hands side by side. Van had never done such a thing to a woman in all of his life, princess or no princess, yet he did it immediately to Hitomi without even hesitating. Oh no! Am I expressing my feelings too fast? Now what does she think of me? Van was about to pull his hand away but Hitomi squeezed his hand softly and started intertwining her fingers with his as if she knew what Van was thinking. Van smiled as she laid her head against his shoulder as they started to walk towards Fanelia.
*~*
Dilandau cursed the bright light as he sat up and headed off to wherever he pleased. "We'll meet again, Van." he chuckled to himself. As he trudged deeper into the forest he started feeling worse and worse. Dilandau hadn't done a single bad thing for almost 2 days in a row now. He reached inside his pocket and found some matches. An evil grin plastered itself to his face and he started laughing loudly to himself.
Dilandau lit multiple matches and threw them to the forest floor watching small leaves burn and such to his pleasure. "Yes! Burn! BURN!" he screamed out with glee.
*~*
Merle yawned as she got out of bed. She looked out at the sunrise as she stretched and yawned. Hmm. Van is probably out on the roof. I think I'll join him this morning. A grin spread across her face as she climbed the wall up to the roof. That's odd. He's always up here every morning. Merle thought as there was no sign of the young king. Merle thought hard of why he wasn't where he usually was. The only good reasons she could come up with was he was either at a meeting that was REALLY early in the morning or he went back for Hitomi.
Merle sighed. I hope he went back for Hitomi. I haven't seen Van actually "smile" before since she left, it would be wonderful if he actually did go back for Hitomi. She sighed even louder and heavier than before. I miss Hitomi so much. I wonder how much Van misses her. I tear slid down her furry face but she immediately brushed it away as she noticed two figures approaching the castle side by side.
Quickly jumping off the roof in a frenzy of all sorts of emotions, Merle watched the two people intently as to make sure they weren't lost from her sight as if she did they would just vanish and she would have no hope as it being Hitomi and Van.
Merle jumped behind a bush and watched them intently, perking up her ears for a better hear but they didn't say a word. She crept up behind them making sure it was who she thought it was. Merle smiled evilly as she thought of something sneaky to do for the fun of being a cat. She crept up between Van and Hitomi and seeing as how Hitomi was leaning on Van, her plan would work out perfectly. Stepping up so carefully as not to disturb them, Merle tapped them both lightly on their shoulders making them look directly at each other, their lips only 1 inch apart.
Van started to inch closer only breaths away from a light kiss. He shut his eyes as did Hitomi but a sudden giggle tore them apart. They both blushed deeply as they looked away for being caught almost kissing. Hitomi looked at the giggling form. "Merle!" she greeted the young cat girl excitedly. Merle stood up and ran to Hitomi and the two girls hugged. "Oh Merle! I missed you so much!" Hitomi pulled apart from Merle and looked her over. "Wow! Look how much you've grown! You look fit to be a lady although you still wear a long shirt. I would've thought you'd act grown up by now and wear decent clothing." Hitomi teased.
"Well excuse me for having an obnoxious tail! It's not very comfortable tucked between my legs in a long dress." Merle exclaimed hotly.
"Well then, we'll just have to cut holes into all your dresses." Hitomi stated matter-of-factly and skipped happily into the castle.
Merle scratched the back of her head. I always new Hitomi was strange but not this strange. A sudden pain shot through her body that made her laugh out hysterically. She couldn't control herself as she started to squirm all in one spot. The funny feeling stopped and Merle breathed heavily. "Nice to see you too. Van-sama." Van smiled a real smile for once and Merle smiled innocently back into his cute brown eyes. An evil grin crossed Van's face and he started tickling Merle so much she could hardly breathe. "Van-sama! VAN-SAMA!" Merle laughed so hard she started screaming. "Okay! OKAY!" Van stopped and sat on the ground as Merle sat up from the ground. "Van-sama?"
"Hmm?"
"Why'd you have to go and do that? You hardly ever tickle me anymore. I thought that you'd forgotten I was ticklish." Merle cited as she rubbed her sore stomach.
Van chuckled, "I was getting you back for cutting in on Hitomi and me. You're still such a little kid."
"Oh yeah?" Merle fumed, "At least it was fun!" she batted her eyelashes and gave her biggest and cutest eyes just for him. "You two just looked so cute together like that so I wanted to make you look even cuter!" Merle added playfully.
Van laid down on the grass and stared up towards the Mystic Moon. Hitomi came out of the castle looking quite mad but in a playful mood. "Well? Are you two just going to sit there or are you going to show me to my room?"
"Okay, but first help me up." Van reached out a hand towards Hitomi. She sighed but went over to him just the same and took his hand. A sly smile crossed his lips and he pulled Hitomi to the ground beside himself laughing.
"What's so funny about that?" Hitomi asked starting to pick herself up from the ground only to get pushed back down.
"Let's just rest a bit." Van smiled at Hitomi making her smile back. She rested her head on the soft grass and closed her eyes. Van did the same.
Merle leapt to her feet. "Merle? What is it?" Van murmured sleepily.
"Oh no! Someone's coming!" Merle muttered angrily.
"Someone's coming? Who are we expecting?" Van picked himself off the ground helping Hitomi to do the same.
Merle sighed but told anyways. "Princess Isabelle from Akan."
"Akan? I don't see why that's so bad. We better go prepare a room for her." Van said calmly so as not to involve Hitomi in any of this. He knew all so well why she was coming. It had happened many times before. Many princesses had come to become Van's queen although he had told his advisers countless times not to choose a queen for him. Van picked himself off the ground and helped Hitomi do the same. "I'll show you to your room now Lady Hitomi." he bowed and offered her his hand. Hitomi smiled mischievously and slapped his hand. Van looked taken aback. It was all so very odd.
"Only if you can catch me first." Hitomi took off into a full out run and burst threw the castle doors. Van smiled and ran after Hitomi yelling that she wasn't fast enough for him although she was.
Merle sweat dropped then sighed scratching her forehead. The carriage carrying the princess was getting nearer. I guess I'll have to greet the princess and prepare a room for her.
The carriage pulled up and one of her carriage men pulled open the door. A beautiful girl stepped out of the carriage. She wore a flowing, buttercup, silk gown with her strawberry blonde hair tied up in ringlets. She had sparkling jewelry and the reddest lips ever. Her lavender eyes were very hard to miss for they were hypnotizing. As soon as the princess saw Merle she frowned.
"Welcome to Fanelia Princess Isabelle." Merle cheerfully greeted the princess but sensed something bad about her.
Isabelle held her head high. "I was expecting King Van to greet me." she voiced in a snobby tone.
"Well, excuse me for not being King Van, but he's busy at the moment." Merle argued, not liking this princess one bit. She looked way too young for Van although her beauty was beyond greatness.
"How can he possibly be too busy to greet a princess?! How inconsiderate of him!" Isabella scowled as she stood in place. "I'm not entering that castle unless King Van escorts me himself." Merle just rolled her eyes. This girl is a total loser! Her anger was starting to get the best of her because this girl obviously didn't know that Van didn't want anything to do with her.
"Well he's probably never going to come out now because you know, he's already courting someone." Merle declared triumphantly but soon starting hitting herself as she knew what she had just said. You're such a dumb cat Merle! Boy oh boy did that feel good though!
Princess Isabelle was shocked.
*~*
Van was panting hard but he could also hear Hitomi's faint pant as well. Two seconds flew by and he couldn't hear her pants anymore.
Hitomi snickered as she hid inside a room. She quickly glanced around making sure no one was in the room with her and as she did she couldn't help but gape. The room was huge! A king sized bed and everything! It was a perfect room and she would love to sleep in it any day. Hearing a snicker behind her she spun around meeting a grinning Van leaning against the doorframe.
"I see you've found my room," Van smiled mischievously and inched a bit closer to Hitomi, taking his hand off the doorframe and shutting the door. He sneakily slipped his hands around her waist and pushed her up against his chest. "Do you like it?" Van whispered sweetly.
"Mm," was all that Hitomi could say because their faces were so close.
Van traced Hitomi's cheekbone lightly with his hand and then pulled away unexpectantly. "Good. Yours will be right next to mine.
Hitomi new that Van was playing around with her and he was good at doing it with ease. She crossed her arms. "Oh! So you would min..." but she got caught off as a loud scream was heard outside.
"WHAT?!?"
Van looked out the window and slapped his forehead. I forgot about the princess! Just as he was about to turn on his heal and run out the door Hitomi collapsed. "Hitomi!" Van was there to catch her. He brushed her sandy brown hair out of her eyes and laid her on his bed not leaving her side till she woke up. The princess would just have to wait, but then again...
A/N: Please don't hate me for this chapter! I know it was probably WAY stupid. Review if you would like tho! ^_^ I hope my story doesn't bore you or anything. It should get better as the next chapter comes out. The next chapter should have more action! Yay! (and some romance here and there of course) Oh yes and Van isn't really acting out of character it's just that now he's grown-up and acts different. A more teasing and cute guy but still has his faults and things that he couldn't get rid of on the way to manly hood. ^_^ That's Van for you! Next chapter should be soon whether you like it or not. I only do this for the pleasure of writing.