Angel's Flight
Chapter 13 – The Calm before the Storm
Okay… I tried to get this up as soon as possible… so don't kill me: Dodges tomatoes: I know … I know :glances at watch: like three months later… I'm terribly, terribly sorry…ok this is an edited version with the reviews replies added in! Now without further ado let this much delayed chapter continue! yes… sounds so dramatic.
Tsubasa:TERRIBLY SORRY FOR THIS LATE UPDATE!
Van: …
Hitomi was hot… extremely hot… her dress was getting buggy and she wanted so much as to just slip away into the comfort of her room … but it was her reception… you don't run from your own wedding reception. She shook her head a couple of times to release her mind of the thoughts that flooded her. She turned to face the window that gazed into the garden, lit up by tiny lights and what seemed like fairies. Her green eyes seemed to illuminate against the window pane as she glanced at the ballroom dancers that seemed to reflect off the window. She sighed softly as she looked down at her feet where soft white dress slippers covered her tiny toes.
Why wasn't I born with the gifted ability to dance? She asked herself clearly exasperated. She must've stepped on Van's toes about a few dozen times she thought trying to remember the exact number of times she caught Van wincing in pain. She sighed again as she looked downcast almost as if a lone rain cloud hovering above her head.
"Why the miserable face, Hitomi?" A soft voice drifted to her eyes, she whipped her head around only to see her veil whip Van across the face. Her gloved hand flew to her mouth in surprise.
"Oh… Van, I'm so sorry... you see I was so excited that…" her voice died down as she saw Van start to laugh, and for no reason at all she joined in as they tried to muffle their laughter together from the weary eyes of the guests.
After the laughing fit and when Van had sobered up he glanced at Hitomi as if trying to read her mind. Hitomi seemed to shy away from Van's searching gaze as if she couldn't meet his amber eyes. Finally she glanced at him and mustering all her strength she said.
"What is it Van? Take a picture it might last longer…" She smiled jestingly, know Van might not even know what a picture is moreover a camera. But when Van didn't smile back, her smile faded as she looked into his eyes and asked softly.
"What is it?"
"What was with the sad face a while ago?" He asked her in as soft a tone, her auburn eyes glancing across her face as if her thoughts were written clearly in black ink upon her face. Hitomi bowed her head slightly glancing at her feet which were hidden beneath her dress, suddenly realizing she sulked over such a stupid idea.
"No… I can't tell you… its so retarded sounding…" She whispered finding herself twisting a part of her dress in between her fingers. She looked up almost apologetically into Van's face, but Van only smiled evilly as he poked Hitomi in the side softly, and Hitomi letting out a small 'eep' her eyes darted to Van's eyes almost fearful.
"Tell me…" Van whispered as he leaned in toward Hitomi's face, whispering… "Come on Hitomi…" His eyes flashed dangerously as he tickled Hitomi's side. Hitomi doubled over in laughter as she tried to keep from screaming 'stop it!' but as the tickling continued she felt as she could no longer hold it in.
"Stop it Van! Hahahaha… Van… stop…" She laughed, her eyes watering and oblivious to all the people staring at the couple. Whispering between themselves, some smiling at them, and some were scowling with sour faces, for example the young knight who had been waltzing with a princess from some country. He glared at Van, then again he glared at Hitomi too.
"Ok… Van…ok… I'll tell you… hahaha…" finally the tickling stopped as Hitomi tried to gather her breath. Looking up to see the eyes of all her guests looking at her, she turned ever so red as she waved stupidly at them.
"Umm… hi there…" She smiled foolishly, before turning around to give Van a glare who was whistling and seemed to find interest in looking at all the windows.
"Van!" Hitomi hissed trying to look angry but couldn't keep the smile from creeping onto her face.
"Oh… Hitomi! Are you going to tell me now?" He glanced down smiling. "Or would you like another tickle fest?"
"Don't you dare…" Hitomi looked at him threateningly.
"Then tell me Hitomi…" He looked at her, his smile fading into seriousness. Hitomi sighed softly glancing up at Van.
"Do I have too?" She asked only to meet Van's eyes and sigh again. "Fine… fine… this is going to sound so stupid." She mumbled taking in a deep breath.
"Iwassadbecauseiwasahorribledancerandisteppedonyoufeetsomanytimesiknowthey'llprobablybeswollewtomorrowi'msosorryvan!" She released her breath and smiled up at Van's confused face. "There…told you…"
"Come again?" Van asked in his cute confused tone, his eyebrow slightly raised in confusion. Hitomi sighed and shook her head.
"Too bad Van…" She jested poking him in the elbow and winking. "You told me to tell you but you didn't say what kind of speed to tell you in." She smiled.
Van looked at her and gave her the genuine puppy face, Hitomi looked at him and she closed her eyes trying to resist the temptation, but finally… she snapped…
"FINE! Ugh… Van… really now…" She looked up in time to see Van's face light up. "Okay… so you see I was sad because I'm a horrible dancer, I must've stepped on your poor feet a kajillion times and they must be swollen by now…I'm so sorry…" She huffed avoiding his face. Van only smiled as he grasped Hitomi's face gently turning her to face him.
"That's a stupid excuse to be sad…" He smiled gently and before Hitomi could contradict he brought her into a kiss. Hitomi's eyes widened before closing.
"Now…now… we all know you're lovers but please keep it to a minimum in public yes? I think we've seen enough fluff for today. Yes?" A cool voice drifted down to the couple, as Van and Hitomi snapped their faces up and looked to see where the voice originated from along with 100 other faces.
"Up here your highness…" Lady Cladera spoke as a couple hundred heads turned to look at her. Something immediately seemed wrong, her once beautiful pale face seemed ashen, and her luscious black hair seemed brittle and dry. Dark circles had appeared beneath her scarlet eyes and she seemed tired yet restless. Yet a evil smile crept upon her face. Van's amber eyes narrowed as he gripped Hitomi around the waist putting her behind him.
"Now, now you majesty so possessive, there is no need to worry, yet..." She let out a ring of laughter that filled the ballroom. People glanced at each other nervously as this laughter continued, nervously shifting their feet.
"You see your highness… I need the seer. I am made of darkness and winter; I cannot thrive in warmth or bathe in sunlight like the rest of you. I wither in the sun; my weakness is the sunlight, as you see the effects of spring are already beginning to alter me. Soon all I will be is a spirit drifting and longing for winter so I may return to my body once more. To live one season out of the year is quite pathetic, as strong of a sorceress I am; I have found no spell, no incantation, and no potion to cure this curse of mine. However, there is a power much greater than mine that can change all this. That seer's power is so strong I will be able to make myself immortal. I've felt that power that winter day she fell to Gaia. There is no mistake in her powers." Her scarlet eyes darted to Hitomi, who whimpered under her gaze.
"Hand the seer over and no one shall be hurt, your majesty… you do care for your people's safety don't you? You are the king…" She laughed, a laugh that made hairs rise and chills speed up the spines of the guests. Van's eyes narrowed, as his hand gripped her sword. Scarlet eyes surveyed him, before twinkling in victory.
"That won't do your majesty… I can kill this whole room of people before you can draw that flimsy sword of yours…" Her eyes did not drift to the blade, but still set solely about Hitomi.
"What is your choice?" She sneered.
"Leave them alone and I will go…" Hitomi said in a mere whisper, trying to stand strong.
"That's a good girl…"
"Hitomi you can't…" He turned to stop Hitomi from walking forward. Only to be stopped by a dagger flashing before him.
"Don't interfere…" A harsh yet soft tone spoke out. Van looked to his side and to his disbelief, Hikari was at his side holding a dagger to him, and another dagger was in her other hand.
yup! Cliffy! I'm so sorry but I had too, well I hope this one was long enough to quench your thirsts ) the tickling part and everything was actually a real thing that happened to me… and I figured it be a cute scene for Hitomi and Van before the evil woman made her appearance.. yup yup… although I did embellish upon it… ;; sorry for the short chapter last time, and sorry for the late update. REVIEW REPLIES! ;; until then…. Sayonara D
Inda: yea I know… chapter 12 was kinda short huh? It was kinda of just a filler I suppose... still unsure…
Macky: Glad you enjoyed it! Although it did not totally perform up to my standards… ;;
ChibiHitomi: I'm so glad I'm helping to sustain your life however, I'm doing quite a bad job… ;; And I think Hikari is totally cute too… P but after this chapter she's being quite 'grrr' not so cute anymore huh? ;; Green and silver rock! P especially silver… not so much green because it's my school color… ugh…hahaha
Cev: Yes I'm a stickler for fluffyness… hahaha and I thank you for your advice ) I shall keep it in mind… I'm just giving them a little time before all the 'grr' stuff appears and the fluffyness is going to go… /
Lady Blade WarAngel: I think you writing is coming along very nicely… all it need is a little touch-ups… after all that's how all writing started out and trust me your first writing was so much better than mine… ;;
Tai-dye: yes… Allen is freaky and deserves to die… although I do want to mess around with him a little more…:cackles evilly: yes and school must die along with him… xD as for the two girls… one is the witch and one is the prophet.
SugarPlumFairy: Glad you enjoyed the chapter!
SilentAngel: :dodges tomatoes: SORRY! So terribly sorry! ahhh… xD
Anywhos… being school is around the corner… I'm working desperately to have chapter 14 up before school starts and AB classes drag me to hell.. so… hope to see you soon!
-Tsubasa
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or any of their characters… with the exception of Hikari, Amara, and Cladera…
Tsubasa: tat a for now… xP always wanted to do that…
Van: …