Four Years

by Oceanwind1224

"Four Years... if you still... I'll wait." It was a promise whispered in the night, between sheets, warmed breath and hopefully innocent hearts. Seven years later things have fallen apart and now only the consequences of their actions can hope to mend the damages done, but is it already too late? (Hitomi/Van)

4. Chapter 3

A.N. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Have Winter Celebration to all! Yeah I know it's the day after but sentiments still apply. I hope this story still has your interest and is fin for you all. Also, pay close attention to the dates they are in fact important. Not so much in this chapter as it is in the next one. The story isn't told in a strictly linear pattern because, well, I didn't want to go through the bits in order as I felt it would feel like the story was dragging. So the next few chapters have a few scenes that are taking place a few days ahead in the future. Then it jumps back to the linear time.

UPDATE: So… I realized I'd messed up the dates and had to fix them. Sorry for the repost of like…. ALL of the chapters… Please forgive me…

Disclaimer: I do not own "The Vision of Escaflowne" nor any of the characters therein. I am merely writing this for my own enjoyment.

XX

"When you live in reaction, you give your power away. Then you get to experience what you gave your power to."

-N. Smith

XX

Chapter 3: Newton's Third Law

XX

Sixth Day of the Ninth Month

136 Year of Lotica

XX

The wind buffeted his clothes and hair familiarly, just as the tension from Escaflowne's controls creaked and pulled in his grip with the fluctuations of the breeze. It reminded him of many things; war, fear, freedom, hope, sacrifice, and promises. Mostly though, it reminded him that he was still far from finished.

Hitomi let out a soft sound and it drew his attention down to where she was crouched before him, gripping the metal before her and looking about with fascination. He had thought the allure of flying would have worn off by now but she appeared to enjoy the pressure of the breeze and the weightless exhilaration of flight.

Van smiled slightly watching her eyes glitter with excitement and he couldn't hide his amusement from when he spoke, "You know, this isn't the first time you've ridden Escaflowne in its dragon form."

"Yeah, but," Hitomi paused her voice drawn out in a sort of whine, "I couldn't enjoy it before. What with the war and all…" Her look became distant and she briefly shivered. Van regretted bringing it up now.

"...oh."

"I can enjoy it now though." She smiled up at him, her fingers curling around his hand, "... with you."

For some reason, that comment made him highly embarrassed and his stomach tightened in a way he was learning to decipher as physical desire. A lump formed in his throat and he was forced to look away from her and focus on the horizon before him.

The day was quiet but beneath the calm was the impending fissure of tension that preceded potential battle. The Crusade, himself, and a few other allies were making their way to Freid to help free it of the lingering control of Zaibach. Allen doubted there would be more than a skirmish if anything at all, and it was also very likely that there would be no fighting at all. A show of strength should be enough to cowl the soldiers remaining. News of Zaibach's defeat was traveling fast and the further from Zaibach they travelled the lass control there was. Chid had probably already talked them down and into giving up since they had a so called treaty, all the same, Van didn't let his guard drop.

His initial plan had been to drop Hitomi off with Merle and Millerna where it was safe, but the girl had refused outright and promised to follow him if he tried. She was insanely brave and strong, and Van found he couldn't fault her for that, in fact, he was rather impressed. Unlike Allen, he could appreciate her strength and wanted her by his side, not quietly awaiting his return. She had been saving him from the beginning of their acquaintance afterall, it would be stupid to deny her ability to save both his and her own hide when it mattered.

OF course, her words and her insistent declaration of; 'we entered this war together, I want to see its completion together. Please Van, let me stay with you' warmed and pleased him in a way he couldn't explain and played a large part in his allowing her to follow. His personal excuse was that she'd survived the worst of this war; the last tail ends would be fine.

He would make sure of that.

"Van, do you ever just… fly? For fun?"

"With Escaflowne? Hitomi you were there when I awoke it, how could I—" He broke off when the back of her hand tapped his stomach.

"You know that's not what I meant." Hitomi was pouting, she certainly thought he was teasing her, and he wished he had been, so he smirked to cover up his embarrassment. "I was talking about your wings Van."

The reverence in her tone when she said that put a shiver down his spine. No one, not even Merle had spoken of his curse in such a beloved manner, as though his wings were something beautiful and pure; something to be coveted and loved. Hitomi did it with ease, effortlessly loving that part of him which he had hated. It made him feel free somehow, and he wondered if he could one day accept himself as she so obviously did.

He wondered what it would be like to see himself through her eyes and in that moment he knew that this was what his mother had meant all those years ago. His wings were his gift to Hitomi and her alone. No one else would see them as she did, and so she was the only one who would see them as a gift in the first place.

Van liked that.

"Van?"

"No. Not really. As I mentioned before," there was a moment's hesitation as both recalled the night she had first seen his wings, "it wasn't something I was supposed to share. Mother did take me into the forest behind the castle to teach me. It would have been useless to have wings and be unable to use them if I needed to, but…" He wasn't sure how to word the pain he'd felt at his mother's passing, or the shame he held for his wings which only served to remind him of his cursed blood; the blood from his mother who he loved, and the guilt he felt for that shame.

She shifted a bit, looking down at something, most likely her pendant, and mumbled, "I'm sorry Van."

"It was a long time ago." He shrugged as if that was all, but he knew better and he was certain she did as well when her shoulder hunched. Damn, it appeared he just couldn't keep the mood light. Somehow he felt lesser for that inadequacy. His jaw tightened much like his hold on the reins and he tried to push all thoughts to the back of his mind. Dark thoughts were never wise to have before a possible battle.

The wind was the only sound for a while, and now all he could clearly recall was the way it felt to strain his muscles and push up into the bright blue of the sky. The emotions tied to that feeling were burdened and heavy; suffocating. Van tried not to dwell on them but they remained all the same slowly crushing him, and then he was suddenly jolted from his thoughts as Hitomi turned and embraced him tightly and he nearly caused Escaflowne to crash as a result.

The sudden dip and wobble only made her arms tighten and her soft form fit closer to his hardened one. Hitomi was kneeling for her own balance, but both arms were secured around his middle her head pressed tight to his sternum. Her unique smell invaded his senses and the warmth from her body bled into his own. The physical sensation of her against him, both legs wedged between his widened stance, melded with the shock and corroded the ice from him until all he could really be aware of was the thrum of his heart and the inputs his nervous system kept firing.

"H—Hitomi?" He breathed, attempting to curl his arm enough to somewhat return the embrace without sending them spinning in the air.

"They're beautiful Van." Her words were muffled into the fabric of his shirt. "They make you unique, special, and anyone who can't see that—"her tone was confrontational when she pulled back to stare up and into his eyes, "Then they are both blind and ignorant!"

Green eyes flashed with anger and he was in awe of her protectiveness. His chest was tight and his mouth dry with emotion when he realized that he desperately wanted to kiss her right then. He wasn't certain how she would take it, and he was a bit embarrassed to try and then the opportunity was lost as she glanced away, her cheeks coloring with her next words.

"I… uh…look, Van." She swallowed and he had the impression she was feeling the same as he was, "I might be overthinking this, and if I am, please just ignore this but…" and those eyes glanced up to meet his once more, filled with compassion and love. It just about took his breath away.

"I know I would probably feel ashamed if I were told to hide my abilities. No matter if it were for a good reason or not… and if… if there were such horrid rumors about me… I just, I just want you to know that you don't have to feel that way, and it's okay if you do. Its normal, and I'm sure your mother understood that and that was why she—"

Van couldn't let her finish, the need to kiss that mouth that soothed even the most imperceptible of wounds was simply too much. He didn't need to hear the rest, he knew what she was trying to impart; 'I'm here. I understand.' So the need for talk was unnecessary. Hoping he didn't send them spinning, Van tightened the grip he had on the girl's shoulders, his arm bent rather awkwardly and pulled her against him so that it was a relatively easy process to bow his head and capture her mouth with his own.

Her lips were soft and pliant, a little chapped from the wind but warm and inviting. He shivered at the contact of skin on skin between them, of the intimate gesture this was, and felt her tense a moment in his embrace. Van only pressed his lips harder to her own, demanding a kiss from her and unwilling to relinquish it now.

Her shock wore off quickly though and suddenly her hands were sliding up his front, bunching cloth and wreaking havoc on his restraint. Then her hands were cupping his face and she was pushing up and against him as well.

Lips rubbed and pressed and she nibbled at his lower lip briefly before they separated, It was over too quickly but it was satisfactory, regardless of the fact that it was clear neither of them had much experience with this. The feelings got across and he could still feel the moistness from her inner lips and he now knew she would accept his advances.

They separated a bit awkwardly when her parting lips had captured his lower one and her teeth rasped against it and it had caused him to pull too hard on the reins and sent Escaflowne jolting a bit, and Hitomi clutched at him as he righted them.

"Sorry." He mumbled feeling embarrassed for his clumsiness.

Allen probably never had this problem.

That thought didn't help matters and only brought up bad memories. Both were brushed away though when Hitomi hugged him tightly, resettling in her crouched position, and shook her head against his belly. Looking down he found her face flushed and bright smile on her lips as she cuddled to him closely.

"Uh-uh. Not your fault, I distracted you." And she sounded a little smug at that.

Allen's kiss hadn't had that effect on her at all.

"Hn." Van agreed with a non-committal noise and looked back to the horizon, his pride nearly bursting and a smirk on his face. He really hoped Allen was right about the combat because he honestly doubted he could erase the smile if he tried.

XX

September 11, 2003

Earth

XX

Steam was rising from the coffee mug curling through the air to dissipate into nothingness, just like that blue beam of light that had stolen her baby boy from her. Hitomi sat staring into the dark coffee vaguely aware that she didn't even like black coffee, while the muffled voices from the foyer drifted over to her like bits of cotton.

She was numb. She could barely feel the soft micro-fiber of the small blanket she was wrapped in, but she knew that it would be dark red and it would have snitches stitched into the fabric as Anil had entered the dreaded Harry Potter phase and enjoyed listening to her reading the books. She had thought he'd been so into it due to the fact that he could actually play Quiddich since he had wings—beautiful, pearl, perfect, wings—and so she had given in to the phase and bought the blanket for his last birthday. It was nearly as inseparable from him as that poor stuffed dragon that she was consistently mending.

"You are not listening, he was last sighted on the High School track field that would be the area to search first, not Shibuya!" Ishikawa Fumio's (1) deeper voice reverberated back to her, worried and angered as he dealt with the police. He had been the one to call them when he'd found her on the track sobbing and bloodied.

He was a good man; a realist and skeptic which was what she needed in her life right now. His brown hair was dark and short and his eyes were a deep brown that looked nearly black. He was an average man, with a secure job at her school. Geography teacher suited him and his name well, and most important, he was good with Anil. Sure she had watched him wince a few times at Anil's behavior and storytelling, but he was patient and wasn't afraid to get down on Anil's level and try to understand him.

As a person he was nearly the exact opposite of Van, and that had been the reason why she'd agreed to date him. She thought that if he was nothing like Van, she wouldn't be tempted to compare them; that she wouldn't feel the need to love him. She was satisfied and happy with Fumio and she knew he was satisfied and happy with her. It wasn't a perfect relationship, but it was comfortable, and it could work.

In that moment she had understood Millerna and Marlene. It wasn't the passionate romance they envisioned, but it was still a good marriage. For them it had been necessary and she had quickly believed it was so with her as well.

Anil needed a father. Van wasn't coming back and she had no way of getting to Gaea on her own. Besides, what would be there for them? How could she possibly just drop in with a child—Van's child, no less—and ruin his life that he had struggled to create? She loved Van, more than she could ever love another man again, and she would not tie him down with this. She firmly believed that if it was meant to be Van would have come back to her. He hadn't, and so she had made do.

She had thought that if she took it slow and eased Anil into the idea, that her little angel would have grown to accept Fumio even if he would never fully understand Anil and her; had hoped that Fumio's realist ideas and patience would alleviate Anil's over excitability and his tendency to strike out—usually with his fists—when the kids picked on him for not having a father.

She had been wrong.

I should have known better… Hitomi thought with her vision blurring again with tears, chest tight and constrictive. Anil believed his father would come… I encouraged it. I… I put this in his head… Of course Anil had seen Fumio as an intruder and had run away. It was always fight or flight with her son, and he knew he couldn't beat up the man, and he would never strike her. So, of course he ran.

Anil liked Fumio as an abstract… I knew that. I knew that… so what was I thinking? Her hands settled around the warm ceramic mug, fingering the random dots of paint. It had been a Christmas gift from Anil and Yukari a year or so back, and it was mostly shades of red and green though Anil had managed to throw in several splashes of blue before he'd been caught.

'Blue for the snow, Mommy!' He'd explained when asked and she had never felt so pleased to have a home-made cup. Now it only reminded her of what she had lost. I thought I'd learned this lesson already… Hitomi placed her hands over her eyes and immediately saw fifteen-year-old Van ensnared in the threads of her emotions. Have I done this to Anil as well?

"He's small for his age, a little over 105 centimeters (2), black hair, and hazel eyes, they look mostly green from a distance." Fumio continued to give the description of Anil right down to his favorite denim shorts with the dragon patch on the back pocket. It was clear he cared for the child, and if given a chance he would have loved to be his father, it was a shame he'd never get that chance.

"Yes, his name is Kanzaki Anil, written with the symbols for 'God' and 'cape' and Anil is written with the Kanji for Angel." Fumio paused, probably to review the furigana written for pronunciation purposes before making the proper noises for affirmation. Hitomi knew it was a useless endeavor, Anil wasn't on Earth anymore, but Fumio didn't believe that and had decided that she was in shock when she'd babbled out about the blue light and Gaea and had taken care of the cops himself.

It was sweet but unnecessary and at the moment, she was cursing his skepticism. She needed Yukari and Amano, both had been there when she'd disappeared and both still recalled it and believed in her stories, but they were away in Kyoto visiting a family member. It wouldn't be right to call them away.

Her hand lifted to grip the small oval locket she now wore in place of her pendant. Inside rested a current school photo of Anil as well as the image from her first sonogram. It had become her knew good luck pendant, and it was a reminder, every day of how lucky she was and how very blessed her life had been. Now, it made her loss all the more intolerable, and she felt the slick glide of tears once more spill from her un blinking eyes.

It was unbearable to wait, to know he had gone to a place she could not follow and that the only hope she had for her child rested in a man she had promised not to bother; an angel she had set free, who knew nothing of Anil's existence. If Van was the first to find him, and by some miracle, Anil landed in Fanelia, he would know now about her secret, and no matter what the outcome was, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she would lose someone. She moaned and wrapped her arms around her middle, pillowing her head on the tabletop and hoping her hair would hide her tears.

"Hitomi?" Fumio questioned, suddenly beside her. He must have finished with the police, but she couldn't bring herself to care. "Calm down, they'll find him." Fumio stated gently, his hand coming to rest upon her back attempting to sooth the stress from her shoulders.

She jerked away.

His indrawn breath was hardly perceptible, but the pain of rejection was clear and Hitomi knew she'd have to face it, the guilt, and the truth then deal with it. If she wanted a chance of getting Anil's trust back, she had to do this. Start at the root.

Raising her eyes to his, Hitomi slowly shook her head. As expected she could see the pain etched in those stoic features, but Fumio quickly bottled it up. That was what she liked most about Fumio; he didn't complicate matters. He didn't get emotional; at least not in the same sense as everyone else she had met. There was no logical point in slinging harsh words or fighting the inevitable, and it made talking with him easy. He was always straight forward and blunt, and he accepted most things with an ease that made her slightly jealous. He had also know, and agreed from the beginning that Anil would always have final say in their relationship. Perhaps it was unhealthy, but he had openly agreed, and this outcome was more than a little clear.

Even without words he understood what she was trying to say, and nodded back, his hand moving up to grip her shoulder in a more friendly, less intimate gesture. "I'll call Amano-san." With that, he turned in the direction of the living room where the cordless phone was.

She should stop him, she knew. She hadn't wanted to bother them while they were away, but she was a coward and she was weak. She needed her friends, and this way she could tell herself she didn't bother them. Fumio had.

Hitomi closed her eyes and let her head fall back onto the hard surface with enough impact to sting. She hated herself for hurting him and wished she had no need to do so, but when it came to Anil, satisfactory just wasn't good enough.

Fumio was a good man; just not good enough.

XX

Tenth Day of the Ninth Month

Seventh Year of Carusfatum

XX

The boy was suddenly awake.

Merle was rather shocked by that as there had been no warning for it; no shifting, moaning, or change in expression. One moment he was asleep and then next his startlingly colorful eyes popped open and he was sitting up looking around in a sense of awe. While he took the time to adjust to his surroundings, Merle took the time to appreciate his very astounding eyes.

She was certain she had never seen such eyes in all of Gaea. She had thought that they were green, like Hitomi's at first but then noticed how there were flecks of amber; gold and brown mixing through the green like the trunks in the forests, and near the center of his eyes there was a pale ring of green blue.

He had the eyes of a wild land-dragon.

Wow, even if he didn't look like Van he'd be a keeper for those eyes alone. Merle decided stunned before her thoughts were interrupted by the boy's soft voice.

"I… I made it." He sounded vaguely shocked to find that out. While he fiddled around a bit his eyes roamed the room before landing on her. His reaction was to freeze in place, jaw dropping open as he stared at her as if he had never seen a beast-person before.

Well, maybe they don't exist on the Mystic Moon. Hitomi may have mentioned that before, but Merle really couldn't recall now, nor did she really care. She did however recall this same shocked look on Hitomi's face upon meeting her for the first time. The kid might have been cute, but being looked at like a freak of nature had never sat well with her.

"Hey, kid, you okay?"

The boy just blinked her way mouth working as though trying to talk but finding no strength to do so. She frowned and leaned closer into his space. "Are you mute?"

The little head shook in response, mouth still gaping open. She was really beginning to question the intelligence of the people from Hitomi's world. She insisted that they were very smart but from what she'd seen they seemed rather slow. "Well then, talk. What's your name, where you from, how'd you get here?" She figured she may as well have something to bring back to Van when she informed him of the child's wakeful state.

Like a sudden flame the kid seemed to jerk out of his shock and his whole face became animated as he smiled and Merle was stunned by just how much the boy resembled Van as a child. It was nearly uncanny. "Are you Merle?"

"Huh? How did you know that, brat?" Merle returned her heart leaping at the question. Well, there was no doubting it now, the boy had to at least know Hitomi. How else would he know her name? That was reassuring at least, what wasn't was the way the boy seemed unable to answer any question given him.

"You are aren't you!" He grinned his little fists pulling into his chest as he wriggled with excitement. "This is Fanelia then, yeah?" His speech pattern was bizarre and it was difficult to keep up with him as his words were a little garbled and not annunciated properly but she thought she understood.

"Yes, you are in Fanelia. You are resting in the castle right now, actually." She spoke slowly hopping that would help alleviate the growing excitement evident in the kid's demeanor. Of course it didn't as he just flopped forward into a crouched position, imploring her with large and undeniably, beautiful eyes said, "I need Van Fanel, is he here?"

Well, that was different. The kid had all but demanded an audience with the King of Fanelia as if he had every right to do so. Then again, Hitomi had been horrible with manners as well, so again, perhaps it was a Mystic Moon affliction that made them all uncouth and rude. Internally sighing, resigned that she would have to deal with his uncultured flaws, she crossed her arms and stood her full height. "Lord Van is here yes, but he is busy at the moment and will come when he has the time."

There. That was clear, concise and also reprimanding for his casual address and actions. Merle thought it was the perfect response, but the child apparently felt differently.

The smile faded into a frown, his expression looking almost affronted, again very similar to Van's 'you-do-realize-I'm-still-your-monarch' face when the Elder's got too pushy. But on the other hand, it looked nearly identical to Hitomi's angry face when she was being ignored or pushed to the side. So there was a good chance the kid was mimicking Hitomi's expression but with Van's features ended up looking like him.

"No. I need him now."

Cute or not, she wasn't putting up with that. "Well that's too bad. He's busy. So why don't you tell me what you need and I'll—"

"No!" The kid snapped jumping to his feet and wobbling a bit unsteady, but when she attempted to right him he smacked her hand aside and tumbled from the bed in a little heap.

"Hey!" She moved to see if he was alright, not that she really cared as he was turning out to be a massive brat, but the little form popped back up and he backed away from her until the window was just behind him.

"I need him, now!" He glanced behind him and in a move that quite surprised her crawled onto the window ledge and leaned out. "Get him, or else."

The threat wasn't all that impressive seeing as though if he actually dropped out he'd bump his head on the overhanging below and it was unlikely he'd actually slide far enough to fall from it, all the same, the overly dramatic action was irritatingly familiar to her. God if they aren't related I never want to see what that planet is like…

"Or else what, you going to jump out the window? What good will that do you?" She asked bluntly.

"I'll fly away again." He whispered as though speaking too loudly would make it happen. Merle was reminded of the one time she saw Hitomi disappear in a blue beam of light. She had been yelling and looking up to the sky demanding to go home, and it had worked. Perhaps this child figured out how to call it at will. Hitomi's abilities had certainly been impressive and she had acted like it was no big deal, who knew what other's on the Mystic Moon could do.

"How exactly would that help you? I thought you wanted to see Lord Van?"

The boy frowned and leaned further out the window as though daring her to test his resolve and Merle sighed giving into the tiny tyrant. Van wouldn't be too happy if the kid did just leave and Van would need to know about this threat anyway just in case the child did have powers. "Fine, I'll get him, but you better stay right there!"

She ignored his renewed smile, she was on to him now and his cuteness was waning fast. He hunkered down in place to wait as she turned and left the room, her footsteps hurried despite herself. She didn't trust the kid to stay put even if Van's study was just down the hall.

"Definitely related to that girl; irritating and stubborn." Merle grumbled, hating the blue moon more with every step she took.

XX

Van sat at his desk in the room designed specifically for when he needed to escape from his advisors and everyone else in the castle. It was the place he used to write and officiate over the documents provided to him from his people and allied countries. Hitomi had suggested it, had called it a "study", and Merle had thought it was a good enough idea to implement. He had thought it a waste of space at first, and now, hidden away inside of it and out of the prying eyes of the Elders who made up his council, it was a blessing.

"One would think an army had descended from the Mystic Moon and not one small child." Van grumbled to himself, pushing his hand through his hair distractedly while placing his seal on the last of the letters he planned to send; one to Pallas and Millerna and Dryden, one to the Duchy of Freid and lastly, one to Allen. Each had a right to know and would likely be able to give assistance on how he should deal with this new arrival.

Hopefully they will be more useful than the others… His bitter thoughts turned to the pointless meeting he had just finished. It seemed the leaders of his lands either saw this as a sign of fortune or an omen of destruction. The less cheery view had the most yelling and opinionated ideals which of course were argued by those who still believed and hoped for him to wed Hitomi.

That was another topic of discussion where it had been made abundantly clear that whereas a good portion of his council felt that such a union would be blessed and fruitful, there were others still who felt either fearful or disgusted at the prospect, and more yet who were merely indifferent to the whole affair. It was times like this that he missed Balgus and the Knights. They had at least kept the Counsel of Elders in check and acted as a buffer between them and himself. With the older Knights gone and the recruiting still underway for those born to Fanelia, the Council had a way of trampling over them and thus he was left to deal with them and their bigotry alone.

He was lucky enough to be more like his father than the Council knew how to deal with. Though it had been brought up, the council had not once pressed him to wed. It was about time they realized that they had no say in his love life or lack thereof. He knew his duty but he was old enough now not to blindly follow what other's thought to be the 'correct' way.

That had left him in the mess that had been the War of Fortuna. All the same, this child was a concern and he had to deal with it accordingly. It all hinged on the kid and when he woke up. Of course he might not get his answers anyway.

What would a child know of war, political gain, and Atlantis' great power? Van ran a hand through his hair gripping it hard and closing his eyes against an on-coming headache. He probably has no idea where he is, how he got here, or even why he's here. Hitomi certainly didn't. Van slowly released his grip and sighed leaning back into his chair and staring up at the ceiling. There was also the chance that if the kid did know anything he might keep silent in light of everyone being strangers to him.

He didn't have much practice with children, and he doubted he would be any good with them, and of course this situation required exactly that. "Of course it does…"

His eyes trailed the many crevices in the stonework. It wasn't perfect but the work was sturdy and it reminded him of what he had already overcome. He had developed this habit shortly after the room had been built and he first realized how nice it was to have a room no one else was allowed inside without his express permission. It forced him to calm down and focus on the moment and not the outside factors. Breathing deep, Van closed his eyes and blocked everything out.

Okay, the child is here regardless. I have already prepared the letters to be sent for aid. Whatever answers I receive from the child are irrelevant because he is not awake yet and the other worries cannot not be dealt with until then. Van slowly opened his eyes, mind pleasantly calm and relaxed for a moment, taking the time to recall and face the facts he hadn't taken into account yet.

"Hitomi is connected." He voiced his thoughts and felt the weight of that statement sink into his bones. He couldn't ignore that fact any longer. Their bond, a link that had remained mostly silent for the last few years had ripped open almost violently just before the child had arrived, and Hitomi had felt guilt, pain, and fear.

She was aware of the child's arrival, and somehow she was deeply and emotionally affected by it. Yet, since then, he could just barely feel the throb of guilt and the nauseating twist of self-disgust from her. She wasn't hurting from an outside source, and aside from the child's absence she seemed to be fine, which left him with nothing to draw a conclusion from.

He realized that he could try asking her, but he wasn't sure it would even work and he was once again too busy to try and use the pendant to establish a visual contact. He honestly didn't know if he even could anymore. Their connection was so weak now and their feelings clouded from one another, it made everything hard to guarantee.

At yet another dead end, Van tried to recall if there had been anything else from Hitomi, any hint or connection to this event in the last eight years that might give him a clue. After all, this child came from somewhere, and if he shared in Hitomi's abilities and she had known this was a possibility she would have reacted in some way.

The first thing that came to mind occurred two years ago. He recalled a day in spring, the day in fact that he realized that he had forgotten their promise entirely, when he was suddenly hit with a deep sense of loss. He had assumed it was their link closing as he had not felt anything from her since, but looking back, he wondered if it had really been that simple. The boy's supposed resemblance to him could have triggered that if she had met the boy by chance, but again it was all hypothesis.

Frowning he thought back before that and recalled a deep jittery anxiousness just after the four year mark, but he had been preoccupied with the uprising on the border of Freid and Basram(3). He had put it off as her worry for his predicament, thinking he might have had emotions bleeding over to her. She certainly hadn't pestered him with whatever she was feeling, in fact it had slowly faded out over the course of that particular string of battles. Then again, looking back, it could have been more than that after all, but just as unhelpful as the first as it was ambiguous. No, it was and still is her nudging reminder to me about our promise. I was simply too stupid to remember that. Van bitterly reminded himself. Following that logic he could see the second instance as her goodbye to him in general. The link had closed because she was through waiting for him, that much had been clear. He was just taking Merle's ideals too close to heart, and hoping for a miracle.

Unbidden he recalled not even a year after Hitomi's departure how a sudden influx of; fear, pain, nervousness, anger, worry, stress, and 'dear god no more please', had sent him toppling from the back of a horse while he had been out checking the border with Freid. Her intense feelings had knocked him unconscious for most of a day, and when he'd come to it was with a sense of awe and joy so profound he had been left with his eyes blurred with tears that he could not explain and a deep sense of longing.

However, like every time he tapped at her, she had sent him the feeling of wellbeing and acceptance. The emotional version of her, "I'm doing just fine, Van," statement when he knew she was anything but fine. She'd been lying through her teeth but he had no way of demanding an answer.

There had been a niggling feeling, a suspicion that was built mostly of dreams, and ridiculous hope now that he was thinking about it but several factors simply didn't match up and he'd already set it aside as wishful thinking. No, it's not that. He can't be… Van couldn't even think the words. Hitomi would have told me if she had been pregnant. Besides if it was mine, the child would be six, almost seven years, not five.

He roughly crushed the feelings attempting to bubble up inside of him and tried to think of the issue at hand only to be assaulted by a memory so worn and tender it was a physical ache to recall it. It was the memory of their separation. They stood together in the view of his family's graves and the Celestial Dragon God of Fanelia.

Hitomi looked beautiful and fragile in the early sunshine, she was so very uncertain as she turned to him, her green eyes imploring and he almost hadn't let her go. He'd pulled her into a tight embrace wishing to postpone the inevitable for as long as possible. For a fragile moment he had thought she would not return his hold, that perhaps he was wrong and she was truly excited to be leaving him and all of Gaea behind, but then, slowly her arms lifted, and his embrace was returned.

He recalled burring his face in her hair and breathing in that metallic scent and wishing to return to the night before, back to his shadowed bedroom where they had been each other's everything and given until they could scarcely breathe. Then, like the haunting lilt of a nightmare her whispered words that had prompted him to raise the energyst and send her home before he could change his mind, returned, the underscoring link between everything.

"Four years…"

"Lord Van!" Merle's sharp voice snapped him from his memories violently and he glanced up already half out of his seat before realizing that she had just invaded his solitary confinement and leveled a look her way.

"Merle. I thought you were watching the boy."

"I was, but then he woke up and started demanding to see you, and I figured you might want to know anyway." Merle returned his disdainful look her hands resting on her hips—a pose she had picked up over the last few years when she was particularly displeased with him. "Bossy little brat too, he definitely knows Hitomi."

"Wait, he knows of us?" Van asked a cold feeling in his stomach. This could be either very good, or very bad and he wasn't certain which would be preferable. If he did know of them then he could very well be related to Hitomi, but he could just as easily be the threat everyone feared.

"Uh… yeah… that's why I said—" Merle broke off when Van strode passed her and into the hall. "Hey, wait up Lord Van!"

He could only hope the boy could give him some answers.

XX

Anil let out a large breath when the cat-lady had left the room; tail fluffed, ears laid back, and feet stomping. She didn't like him. He knew the signs and it made him feel bad inside, like when all those kids at school picked on him because his father was never around, but he couldn't let it bother him now. Anil rubbed at his eyes and nose to suppress the ache and burn of tears.

He had made it, just like Folken had promised. His father was here, somewhere close by, and he could hardly sit still from the excitement and fear.

What if daddy doesn't like me?

"No. No, don't think that way." Anil reprimanded himself, shaking his head sharply. "Mommy said… Mommy said he was an Angel. Angels are beautiful and kind… they love everybody." Anil tried to convince himself of that, but was worried what the Cat-lady would tell him. He didn't want to threaten her, but he had to find Van and flying away was the worst thing he could think to do. He had to tell him about Mommy and the other man and get him to save her.

Anil's hands fisted in his over shirt as he swallowed, trembling with the importance of his task, fear about this first meeting, and nervous with excitement.

He had to make this work. He had to make sure his daddy liked him, wanted him, and then he had to get his mommy over here. He couldn't lose this, he'd waited too long.

Anil's back itched and he twitched a bit. He was special, she'd always said so. He was unique and she loved him just as he was, but she also told him that he couldn't show or tell anyone else about himself. She got scared and angry when he did, even when it was Grandma and Grandpa or Uncle Mamoru and he was starting to understand, thanks to his classmates, why she acted that way.

She loved him and thought his differences made him beautiful, but the others; teachers, students, and strangers alike, only saw something weird, different, odd. He was teased for not having a father, and the Teachers looked at him with pity and whispered behind his back when they thought he couldn't hear them. He'd tried explaining it once. Tried to tell them that his father was a King and was too busy rebuilding his kingdom and saving the world to come home yet, but he loved him and would come when he was older. That had only made the looks and whispers worse, and the bullying became harsher.

He could still remember the day he punched Yamaguchi Masahiko (4). It had been back at the beginning of the year, they had been preparing for the cherry-blossom festival, they were expected to bring their family to see the work they had accomplished over the last year and participate in some activities. The most exciting was the three-legged race. Fathers were to pair up with their sons and then after that race, mothers were to pair up with their daughters and race. Anil had asked if that meant he could run both because he was a boy and he only had his mother that had started the incident.

While the teachers talked amongst themselves on what to do, Masahiko had opened his big mouth and informed him that he could participate in neither because he didn't have a father and he wasn't a girl. If the butthead had left it at that, Anil might have ignored him, but he hadn't.

"You shouldn't even be allowed to come at all. My mother says that your mother is stupid and your father was a no good coward. She says he wasn't even Japanese and that's why your eyes are so weird. We don't need your kind here, half-er."

Even now the words stung and made him frown. He wanted to hit him again. The split lip hadn't been nearly enough compensation. No one called his mother stupid, and his father was not a coward. The other kids had screamed and cried when he'd hit Masahiko which turned into a fight and it had taken Sato-sensei (5) pulling him up and away from Masahiko to stop his fists, and he had even clipped the taller teacher in the jaw with his elbow. He hadn't meant to, he actually liked Sato-sensei. He was the only teacher that didn't look at him in that funny way, but at that moment he'd looked disappointed, and that was somehow worse.

Anil had stood in the corner, knuckles stained with Masahiko's blood, his shirt ruined and waited for his mother to arrive. She had looked worried when she entered, dressed in running gear and he knew she had left work to be here. It made him feel worse that he had made her leave work because of this. He had promised to be a big boy and not get mad at what the others said. He'd promised that he would try and forgive them for being mean, but he had failed her. He'd hunched further into his corner, equal parts mad at being punished for sticking up for his father and mother, and ashamed that he had lost control.

It had only become worse when Masahiko's mother arrived and proved to be just as vocal and mean as her son. She'd used bad words and shoved his mother several times. Words he didn't understand but knew better than to repeat, such as; whore, disgrace, uncultured, and ainoko (5). Most of the teachers had gasped in shock and Sato-sensei had moved forward and between the two women then his taller frame glaring down at Masahiko's mother. Anil remembered how his mother was shaking and her fists were clenched so tightly he wondered if she'd start bleeding like in the big-boy animes he saw on T.V.

Koneko-sensei (6) rushed over to him and pulled him into her arms attempting to block out the fight. He remembered she smelled like sugar and that she was smaller and softer than his mother. She shook from the comments being made and kept whispering, "It's okay, Anil-kun. It's okay, don't listen, don't listen."

He thought it was silly for her to say such things when Sato-sensei leveled his blue eyes onto Masahiko's mother and said in a very deep voice that he couldn't drown out if he tried, "Bigotry and narrow-minded cultural-bias is not welcome here and I must request that you leave this establishment."

"That slut and her ainoko brat are—"

"I will not ask you again."

The woman's ranting went on, but Anil was hardly aware of it when his mother walked over and lifted him into her arms and gave him a look. He'd promptly covered his ears and started humming the way she had taught him to. Whatever she had said had really angered the other woman, and he'd had to switch schools again.

Anil chewed on his lower lip. He was tired of being different, and he had always believed that when his father came for them, and they went to the blue moon in the sky that he could be normal. That maybe he wouldn't have to hide and he wouldn't have to fight with the other kids because he was different. He'd clung to that hope for so long, but his father had never come, and now he was about to find out why, and he was truthfully terrified.

He had barely a moment before he was aware of the door reopening and he straightened, breath held tight in his chest and hands clutching his shirt so tight his fingers went numb. He expected to see Merle first, the Cat-lady his mother spoke of with a fond exasperation, much the same way she spoke about Uncle Mamoru, but it wasn't the tabby-cat that came in, but a man with wild dark hair and hard brown eyes, and Anil's heartbeat tripled.

He wasn't dressed like a king. He was wearing a simple red top and what looked like tan colored pants but the fabric was weird it didn't look like cotton or jean, but it did look sturdy and soft. Anil knew in a way that he could never explain that this man was his father. It was him, it just had to be, but all the same he had to make sure, he had to have confirmation. It was too important not to.

Merle came in after the man and shut the door standing with her arms crossed just behind the man and they both watched him quietly; demanding answers without words. Anil scrambled to find his voice and felt his cheeks flush when he croaked out a weird sound at his first attempt to talk.

Clearing his throat, and forcing himself to breathe, Anil tried again, meeting those dark eyes with his own and hoping his father would recognize him, love him, and at the same time daring him to deny it. "A—are you Van Slanzar de Fanel?"

The man seemed shocked that he had managed pronounce all of that, so did Merle and Anil puffed up with pride. After the teasing had started he'd practiced the name until he could say it with perfect diction. He was his father's son, and he was proud of his heritage and he would be able to tell those kids his father's name and dare them to mock it. He was even more proud of himself for his accomplishment now.

Brown eyes regarded him and he fought the urge to squirm. "That is my name. I'm a little curious on how you know it."

Anil sucked in a breath at the deep voice, and fought back more excited tears and forced himself not to jump from his perch and run to the taller man. Though he knew it was true in his bones, and the other had just stated that he was in fact Van Fanel, Anil needed to see proof. HE had never met his father, and there was only one way to be certain.

"Prove it."

"Huh?" Merle sounded putout as she stepped forward, "What are you talking about! This is Lord Van, what right do you have to question him?!" Her loud voice would have startled him, would have sent him scurrying away from her and that temper, but he was more focused on the startled eyes of his father.

Brown widened and then narrowed in understanding, and Anil felt another thrill of hopeful excitement. He knows what I mean, he understands. It is him! It is!

"What do you want from him exactly? No one would dare to impersonate Lord Van in his own—"

"Merle." Van, Anil was willing to hope it really was him, said in a commanding tone that made him straighten in response. That was how a king was supposed to sound, that was the tone he had heard his mother use when he was in trouble and he reacted to it even as Van lifted his hand to stop Merle in her tracks.

He was totally awesome. Even better than the Red Power Ranger.

"Wha—? But Lord Van!"

"Merle, he wants proof. If I were in his position I would want to be certain myself." Van stated to her but his eyes bore into Anil's.

He was asking Anil if that was true, without even having to say the words, and he nodded sharply once in agreement. Slowly, Van returned the gesture and reached for the hem of his shirt.

"Van! No, you can't—"Merle bit her protest off sharply as Van gave her a look and finally she backed off, arms holding herself and looking stricken. Anil had a moment of worry, that even here things like wings were to be hidden, but the moment passed swiftly as the red fabric fell to the floor and suddenly the room was filled with a dim glow and white feathers.

All the air left his lungs as he stared at the large—far bigger than his own—wings. They filled the entire room it seemed. Feathers dropped and danced on the wind coming in from the window behind him and he was in awe.

"She was right…" He wasn't even aware of speaking as he slipped off of the ledge and slowly made his way toward his father. "An angel…"

His father.

Anil felt his throat tighten and his eyes burn as his nose tingled painfully. It was finally more than an image in his mind, a dream in his head, this was a flesh and blood man. This was his father, and he was special like him. Overcome by his thoughts, Anil stepped right up to Van, unaware of the wary expression on both adults, and lifted his hand tentatively toward the nearest wing.

He knew they would be real just like his own were, but for some reason he desperately wanted confirmation of touch. He paused fingertips just shy of touching the white appendages in sudden uncertainty. No one but his mother had ever touched his wings, and though it didn't hurt it was odd, and he knew he wouldn't want anyone else to touch his wings. Did his father feel that way as well?

Trapped in indecision, Anil's fingers curled back toward his palm and he retracted his hand without touching, his smile fading to one of apprehension. He didn't notice the warm look given to him as Van casually shrugged and shifted his wings allowing the plumage to brush against Anil's cheek.

The feathers were cool, soft and made a rustling sound by his ear. It made him jump but immediately after that he grinned, his hand returning to caress the expanse of white the way his mother did to his own.

"They're so soft." He murmured, reverently, and giggled when the wing twitched free to bop his head and mess up his hair.

His mother had been right on every account, his father was kind, an angel in every sense of the word, and he was foolish to fear otherwise.

Still smiling he stepped back and away, beaming up at the tall man who now wore a warm expression. He seemed almost pleased by Anil's kind regard for his wings and for some reason that made Anil happy. Sniffling the last of his tears back, he rubbed his shirt sleeve over his eyes and nose until his skin smarted, knowing it would hide his tears better.

By the time he was finished Van had already recalled his wings and replaced his top, and Merle was muttering at him under her breath.

Significantly better, Anil faced his father and gave a full and proper bow to his waist. "Pardon me; I am very pleased to meet you. I'm called Kanzaki Anil, please take care of me."(8) Anil paused in the proper introduction a moment when he rose from his bow to take in the startled looks of the adults and continued in a less formal manner. "Mommy calls me Anil but it's written with the kanji for Tenshi (9) but she adds the furigana so its pronounced as 'Anil'. A lot of people always mess it up though so I get called Kanzaki Tenshi a lot." He paused to breathe and then frowned. "It's really annoying actually."

"Wait, so you're family name is Kanzaki?" The cat-girl interrupted once more. "As in, like, Kanzaki Hitomi?"

"Yeah." Anil blinked at the girl wondering why that seemed to excite and confuse her, and turned his gaze back to Van seeing his concerned and somewhat closed off expression.

"Lord Van, did you hear that he is related to—" She broke off as Van lifted his hand and set it atop her head casually. She looked startled, then flustered, before becoming a little miffed. The whole process confused him a bit but he didn't have time to wonder at their actions long.

"If that is what you are called, what is your name then?" Van asked carefully, and Anil couldn't stop his grin. He understood, for once someone understood why he introduced himself that way. Many people had tried to correct him over the years, and other's still had thought it a cute little mistake in diction and grammar, but his father caught it and understood.

Still grinning, Anil stood to his full height, a proud 105.3 centimeters, and lifted his chin up in a manner that said how proud he was to own the name that he did and stated loud and clear, "My name is Anil Van de Fanel."

He had expected much but the utter silence and the shocked expressions, though funny were not it. Surely his daddy knew about him, he simply had to, how else could he know to come and get them, but the slack-jawed gaping expression on the cat girl and the wide-eyed look on Van didn't give him much hope.

"W…what?" Merle finally managed to voice out.

"Anil Van de Fanel." He repeated now a little angry and scowled in her direction. "You asked what my name was, and I told you." Crossing his arms over his chest he waited as the cat-girl shook her head a few times and tugged at her ears as though she was hearing things.

"Wait, I thought I heard you say—"

"You did! Stop being stupid! Mommy named me after her Angel and that was his name, Van de Fanel!" Anil pointed at his father then, "So stop acting like I'm lying, 'cause I'm not!"

Big blue eyes blinked at him and then they turned to regard his father. "Van..?"

Looking up at his father, ready to protest and demand that he inform Merle that he wasn't lying, Anil grew cold at the dark look that was taking over those features. He had never really believed the parts of his mother's stories when she said that sometimes heroes can be scary, sometimes more so than the villains. When she had spoken of his father and how he struggled with the shadows in his own soul, Anil had never understood why it should be scary; now he did.

The face that had seemed so welcoming was now blank, and those warm eyes were like chipped ice and reminded him of the bitter winter nights when not even snow could fall. What had he done wrong? Was he not supposed to tell anyone about being his son? Was he upset to find out that Anil was the child he had left? Or did he really not believe him either?

No! He has too! He has to save mommy and me and, he has to believe me! Breath coming quickly he grabbed the front of his school shirt. "I'm not lying… I'm not!" He shouted head snapping up from where he had lowered it to look at his feet and he felt his tears returning. "I—I can prove it!" He starting pulling at his shirt front almost desperately trying to get to his red Power Ranger shirt beneath the billowing school top.

The cloth rubbed at his face as he tore it from him, and his sensitized skin made a few of the tears escape to wet his lashes a little and Anil fought off another sniffle as he reached next for his t-shirt, only to be stopped by a gentle hand upon his head.

It was large, warm and it stilled his movements completely. He wasn't even aware that his father had moved, and now, he was kneeling before him, face oddly sad and yet he was smiling kindly at him. Staring into warm brown Anil couldn't find it in himself to move and was honestly entranced as that smile grew a bit and some of the sadness waned as the hand began to rub his head, mussing his hair gently. "You shouldn't be so reckless."

The statement was confusing until that hand left his hair to move behind him and rest imploringly against his back, right where his wings would be if he'd managed to remove both shirts. Understanding rushed through him and he froze hands gripping his shirt front, terribly unsure. "Is… is it bad here too?"

Those eyes widened before closing momentarily. Whatever he was thinking of, it chased away that lingering sadness and when they opened they were understanding and kind once again. It relieved him in a way he couldn't describe.

"Not bad," Van began, his hand gently rubbing Anil's shoulder blades until he'd relaxed and was left rocking with the movement, "but, it's something…" He seemed to be looking for a word, "…sacred and shouldn't be done without great consideration. You understand?" His father seemed worried that he wouldn't and suddenly Anil was hearing his mother's voice, her words a reprimand and a plea for him to listen.

He'd been four, it was his birthday and Uncle Amano and Aunt Yukari had dropped by to visit. He had shown them his wings when Amano had tried to tell him that people couldn't fly like birds. The conversation with his mother had haunted him ever since.

"Anil, your wings are precious, and should only be seen by family unless you have no choice. The only exception is the one who is waiting just for you, okay?" She looked pale; scared, and he felt his lip pucker as he started to cry, nodding his head and trying to bury himself into her body completely.

"Yes, Mama." He muffled into her chest, gripping fabric tight.

Her hands carded through his hair and she rocked him slowly laving kisses upon his head. "That's my sweet Vayu…"

Anil blinked, coming out of his memory and found hot tears rolling down his cheeks; sticky and wet, stinging his face and chapped skin.

"Anil, what's wrong?" His father asked, reaching out to brace his shoulders, and Anil collapsed. He'd done enough, right? He'd been brave, and strong enough. He'd found his daddy and his daddy believed him, and now, now it was okay to cry and to be a little boy, because daddy would take care of mommy and he didn't have to be her little man now.

With a choked sob he threw himself into the startled arms of his father and gripped his flimsy shirt, hiding his face in his folds and trying to comfort himself with the smell of soap and a newly mowed lawn and bawled out his fear and stress and worries. "Daddy! Daddy, help!"

Strong arms came up and gripped him tight, and Anil let his weight go completely letting the adult cuddle him close knowing he would not be dropped. "Anil, what's wrong? What do you need help with? Anil, talk to me?"

The words only made him sob harder and for a long while he couldn't make words around the salt water and snot draining from his body. But between hiccups and an unsteady hand rubbing uncertain circles into his back, he finally managed to relay his message; broken, desperate, and pleading.

"Please Daddy, you have to save mommy!" His cries made the man freeze and tense around him and seemed to cause the entire room to stand still.

XX

A.N. Okay well, yet another chapter completed hope you are still enjoying this story. Now it is time for my notes and reference links!

First off a little lesson on Kanji and Furigana. Kanji can usually be read in multiple ways depending on its placement with other Kanji and use in a sentence. You can also take a Kanji symbol and give it a completely new pronunciation by writing small hiragana or Katakana symbols beside the Kanji. That is called furigana. This is best known in the Anime Series "Death Note" where the main character, Yagami Light (Raito) is written with the kanji symbols for Night-God (Surname) and Moon (Given name) so at first glance it reads: Yagami Tsuki, but with the furigana you know that 'tsuki' or moon, is to be read as 'raito' or Light. I did the same thing for Anil's name since his name is actually Hindu. So his kanji is Tenshi (Angel) and his furigana would be written in Katakana as 'a' 'ni' 'ru'.

Kanzaki: www. kanzaki info/who. html. En (Minus the Spaces) I chose to use this particular reading and spelling for Hitomi's last name because it sorta fit. Hitomi's powers were viewed as god like and she had the pendant of Atlantis which was thought to have god-like powers, and a cape refers to the ocean where Atlantis was said to reside.

Map Link: www. lizzard cgi-bin/img. cgi/Jeture/images/gaea_map_translated .jpg (Minus the spaces)

(2) According to a map I found its closest to Zaibach and near enough to Fanelia to pose a problem.

Names: www. japanese-names japanese-boy-names. Php

(Minus the spaces)

(1) I chose Ishikawa Fumio because it means: Stone river, literary scholar. Funio as you will find is very much like his name. He's down to earth and very stern. He is incapable of being passionate about anything due to his childhood. I felt his name fit him well.

(2) 105 cm is the average height of a 4 year and 10 month old Japanese boy according to the statitics chart I found here: entry/Kids_Average_Height_and_Weight_by_Age_in_Japan

As stated I want Anil to be small for his age.

(3) I am saying that Basram is the Duchy of Zaibach and Freid is the Duchy of Asturia, though it is large enough to be considered a Kingdom in its own right. I imagine that the two dukedoms would have some issues in the early years. This will be further shown/expounded upon in later chapters.

(4) I chose this name for Anil's tormentor because it means (family name first, given name second): Mountain Mouth (Yamaguchi), Righteous Boy (Masahiko) and he believes he is right and Anil is unnatural for not having a father and talks about it without thought.

(5) The male teacher at Anil's school. He plays a very small roll so I just gave him a kind name: Sato as a last name because it means help wisteria and he basically is used to help break up the fight. Hotaka, which means tall grain, is his first name though it is not mentioned, and I chose it because he's really tall! He is also half-Japanese and half-German. Hence the reason he steps in to break up the fight between Hitomi and Masahiko's Mother (Chiyoko which means child of a thousand generations thusly named because of her family history. Again it is never mentioned in my story but I had made it up in my mind and felt the need to share it with anyone who might read these notes out of boredom).

(6) Kaneko means gold child, and I figured that was a good last name for the protective and youngest teacher at the Kindergarten. Her first name is Atsuko which means kind child, for obvious reasons, but again, her first name isn't mentioned in my story. She is full Japanese with soft features and she's rather shy.

Ainoko: en. wikipedia wiki/Hafu

(Remove Spaces)

(7) Means "blood-traitor". I'm trying to imply that the Yamaguchi family is very old-thinking and that due to Hitomi's light coloring and Van's obvious western characteristics, it makes Anil look less Japanese and more like a half-foreigner, which he is. I used the Japanese term here because "blood traitor" makes me think of Harry Potter and though I do mention the book series in here I didn't want an allusion to it in this moment.

(8) "Sumimasen, hajimemashta, watashi wa (Insert name). Dozo yoroshiku, onegai shimasu." – learned in my college Japanese 1 and 2 class. It translates to: "Excuse me (Pardon me), I am pleased to meet you, my name is… please take care of me." It is a proper introduction/greeting for new classmates/workers/etc. The use here was Anil attempting to show his manners and his respect to a king and to leave a good impression on his father.

(9) Tenshi means Angel. I looked it up in my Japanese to English Dictionary. Random House Inc. 1995. Pg. 289 (Angel) and pg. 237 (Tenshi).