Chapter 5: Present

"No, not again" she cried placing her hands over her eyes as the vision cleared from her mind.

"Hitomi! Are you all right?" asked Millerna.

"Why do I have to see these things again?"

"Is there going to be an attack?" 'Again?' asked Van, who's hand, instantly went to his sword.

"What?" she then looked up to see that everyone in the room were sitting on edge and all those with weapons were ready to draw them, the moment that she said that the castle or city were in danger. "No… it's just… I haven't had a vision since I left hear. I'm sorry if I've made you all worry." She gave them all a reassuring smile, which didn't reach her eyes.

Knowing that the girl with emerald green eyes wasn't going to share the vision, Van decided that it was about time to end the meeting and time for the midday meal. "I think that that's all for today, and everyone must be hungry." With the thought of food, everyone in the room relaxed and started toward the dinning hall. "Merle, could you see that there is a room ready for Hitomi?" asked Van.

"It's already taken care of, Lord Van." She replied happily. Hitomi frowned at the news, for she knew that the cat-girl hadn't left Van's side, let alone the room.

"What! You were in on this?"

"Of course. They needed someone on the inside to make sure that you didn't do anything stupid." She winked at the two of them, "now if you will excuse me I have to find Kain and Damasu before they start any trouble." And with a small bow, she left the room. Hitomi finally getting a chance to see her old friend noticed that the cat-girl now stood about 5' 7'' and her pink hair had grown down to her mid back.

Van and Hitomi both realized, at the same time, that they were the only two people left in the room (unless you counted the few soldiers standing guard). "Well… I guess that we should head to the dinning hall." Suggested Van.

"Yea, food sounds good." Hitomi agreed. She went to get up only to sit back down again, seeing as the whole room was spinning around her.

"Or would you like to go to your room? You seem tired."

"Now that you mention it, maybe a nape would be nice."

"I'll show you to your room."

"Thanks." He helped her to her feet and placed her hand on his arm for support. He led her down one corridor after another, after another, up a staircase, and around so many corners, Hitomi found herself very lost and grateful for Van's guidance.

"So…Ah…How's Fanelia?" asked the green-eyed girl, trying to break the uncomfortable silence the two had been walking in- ever since they had left his study.

Van, who wasn't sure if Hitomi was mad at him for marring with out telling her, was glad at the change of subject, although they weren't talking about anything. He told her that the city had officially finished rebuilding about three years ago. He told her about the new changes that he put into his country, thanks to the peace treaty, stating that Zaibach had to pay for the damage that they causes or share some of their sciences to the countries that they destroyed. He told her of some of the new things that he would have to show her such as the library, which contained multiple books on the Destiny War, who all at least mentioned Hiyomi's name a minimum of five times. There were also fairy-tale stories about the girl from the Mystic Moon and the Dragon King.

They finally came to the guests' wing of the castle and found Merle still looking for Kain and Damasu. "I thought that you two were headed to get some food."

"Well, I got a little tried and thought it best that I rest for a while." Answered Hitomi.

"Oh. O.K. But your room isn't down this wing," the two near-lovers looked at her questionably, "yea its in the Royal Apartments. So it looks like you've walked all this way for nothing."

"That may be so, but I think that we will take the shortcut back." Van said as he turned to a very large painting of his mother. He mumbled a few words that Hitomi couldn't hear, and swung it open to reveal a secret passageway. "There were some moderation's done on the castle, some for defensive purposes, some for quick and quiet traveling inside the castle." He finished and held out a hand to Hitomi to help her up in to the passageway.

At first glance Hitomi thought that she would have to duck or crouch the entire way, but surprisingly it was at least twice Merle's height and wide enough for Van to spread his wings, if he wanted to. Merle told them that she would meet up them later, and that if they found Kain or Damasu to try to keep them from causing too much trouble, for no one had seen or heard from them all morning, meaning that they were up to no good.

The portrait swung shut behind them and Van started to lead Hitomi down the passageway. "So what are the other moderation's?"

"Well, I'm sure that you have been warned about the traps set by the Generals."

"Oh…right," she said as she remembered her first encounter with them back on Earth. "you don't think that they would set the traps off do you?"

"Probably not today, considering that it is your first day back, but we still have to be careful about setting them off manually. But not to worry, there are very few in these corridors, since its mainly the servants who know and use them." They turned left and went down a set of stairs, which abruptly ended at a thick stone wall. Van went up to the wall and muttered another word that Hitomi couldn't quite catch, and pushed open the wall to reveal the hallway just out side of the Royal Apartments. The hall had a thick red carpet, and tapestries of different parts of Fanelia hung on the walls. Van explained that none of the Passageways went into any of the rooms, because that would make it too easy for assassins.

When they got into the apartments the first thing that she noticed was a very familiar sound coming from one of the rooms to the left. It was her cell phone. 'Some one is messing around with my ring tones. I just got the prefect one yesterday, and now some ones messing around with it. Can't I ever get a break?'

sorry for the lateness peoples, but i am getting better, right? but anywho, please tell me what u think bout this chapt and ill try to get the next one out to ya all as soon as i can, since im also working in it during com. tec. :D