And here is chapter 4!

After Hitomi and Merle got to know a few more interesting facts about each other Hitomi received her dinner and had unnecessary help to eat it. It was weird for her to constantly be taken care of. Not that her sisters didn't watch her back, but they were sisters, not mothers. Sometimes your siblings are just as lost as you are when it comes to growing up.

It was now late at night and time for everyone to go to bed. Merle fell asleep at the end of Hitomi's bed in a bundle. Hitomi didn't mind, she actually started to grow pretty attached to the strange cat/human. She was startled when Van got up from his chair. He had been so quiet all this time that she sort of forgot he was even there.

"He looks really distracted. Why does he always look at me like I have horns? Jeez, he really needs to get better manners. Should I say something?" Hitomi pondered. She awkwardly looked at him and noticed he wasn't at all fazed by her squirming. "Maybe I should just close my eyes and pretend I suddenly fell asleep."

This idea seemed brilliant to her, and Hitomi let out a huge false yawn escape her mouth. She snuggled her pillow and closed her eyes letting a sigh out. It was dead quiet in the room, you could practically hear crickets sing. "1...2...3... well he should be gone by now." Hitomi assumed. She cracked open one eye lid to find Van still standing there with his hand to his chin as if he was debating something important.

Annoyed Hitomi sat up, "That's it. You have got to stop doing that."

Awaken from his thoughts Van looked confused, "Do what?"

"That creepy I'm-going-to-stare-at-you-often thing!"

Just as Van was going to retort something, a loud alarm had gone off into the camp.

"Shit." Van said. He ran out of the tent leaving Hitomi startled, and went towards the meeting point where Allen and Balgus the two other leaders of the camp would be.

When Van reached them it looked like Allen and Balgus had already made up a plan.

"What's going on?" Van looked at them with urgency.

"There has been a messenger requesting help. The capital Sheling is going to be attacked for not successfully gathering enough resources to the Zaibach Empire." Balgus declared.

"Sheling? That's 5 days of travel to get there!" Van exclaimed.

"If we take the crusade and Escaflowne we can make it in 2 and half days, Lord Van." Balgus explained. "We can carry up to 5 guymelefs on the crusade. The rest can stay and protect the camp."

"We need to leave right away." Allen added with stress.

Van nodded and the three leaders started giving out orders to the soldiers within the camp. After 15 minutes of preparation everyone was ready to go. Allen had kissed Millerna before getting on the Crusade while his crew were starting up the fuel. Van was getting on to Escaflowne when Merle came rushing up to him.

"Lord Van!" Merle said with concern in her voice. "Please be careful!"

Van nodded and looked at her with seriousness "Merle, promise me you'll look after Hitomi for me."

Merle promised. Van got Escaflowne to transform into a dragon and flew away next to the Crusade.

Merle went back to Hitomi's tent. Hitomi didn't fail to notice the worry on the cat's face.

"What's going on?"

"The Capital Sheling in going to be attacked by the Zaibach army, and Van left with the others to go help them."

Hitomi mouth grew into a grim line. She had never lived in a time of war. "I guess street fights are nothing compared to this."

There was nothing they could do except go to sleep and hope for their safety.

After 2 days Hitomi was able to walk. Even though Merle promised to watch over Hitomi, she didn't think it necessary not to let her walk around... even if she did have bruises left.

Hitomi walked around like she was a newborn, observing the world with brand new eyes, and utterly speechless. The nature was more exotic than on earth, and so much more beautiful. Even the air was cleaner. She was surprised to see that there weren't just cat/human creatures, but fish people and bears, and pretty much any animal you could think of. Merle and she had fun taking walks into the forest.

It gave Hitomi an odd feeling walking in the woods. She figured it must be the fact that she's on a completely different planet.

But still.. there was something about the woods. It's almost like she heard the trees whisper sometimes. "Which is absolute nonsense" she would tell herself. And soon it wasn't just the woods. When Merle and she stopped at a river to soak their feet, she thought she heard a chant.

"Did you hear that?" Hitomi asked as she looked around.

"Hmm?" Merle said while she was laying on her back, soaking up the sunrays.

Hitomi decided not look like a complete lunatic and kept her thoughts to herself. She looked at her reflection in the water, noticed the scar under her eye and winced at the thought that this was officially her new face. She then looked up at the sky, her mind drifting to the war that was going on.

"Do you think they`re doing okay over in Sheling?" Hitomi asked with concern.

A frown covered Merle`s feline traits. "They better be. Lord Van told me he`d be careful."

Curiosity invaded Hitomi to how such a fun spirited cat could get along so well with... well Van.

"Merle, how did you and Van become so close?"

Merle`s face turned into a smile, "Lord Van is the one who took me under his wings when my parents died. He found me on a trail in the woods and took me to his castle when I was just a little girl. He might come off as a tough mean guy, but he really is a caring person. He`s like a brother to me."

Hitomi tried to picture Van as a nice little kid who picked flowers and played hide and go seek with other children. It was actually quite hard for her to do so. All that was coming to mind was a little brat who bossed people around. They stayed there for the rest of the afternoon before heading back to camp, chatting about nothing important.

5 days later, another alarm went off within the camp. But this time it was not to call upon soldiers. It was to call for medical help. Survivors from a near village that had been burned down by rebels had made it to the camp. All the women were rushing around looking for sheets they could wrap up the wounded with.

Hitomi`s wounds had healed a little more. Her stab wound wasn`t completely closed off but she could finally use her arms properly. Feeling more energetic she wanted to help as much as she could, after the way the camp society had helped her it`s the least she could do.

This day was, inconveniently, also the day that Van, Allen and Balgus returned. To everyone's relief no one got seriously injured. As soon as Van got back his main concern was the emerald-eyed girl.

He looked around the camp worry rising as he couldn't find her. But after a few more minutes of searching he had finally found her. And was furious to see her carrying a bag of coal through the camp. Trying to keep calm he marched over to her. Of course his calm was just a suggestion.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Hitomi was shocked to see Van, she didn`t even know they were back. Although he had just yelled at her, she was extremely happy he was safe and sound. Which made her answer in a cheery tone, "Oh, I'm just getting Millerna some coal so she can heat up some water to disinfect some wounds of the new refugees."

"You shouldn't be carrying anything heavy; your wound is going to open up! Put it down!" Van yelled at her, creating a scene within the camp.

Hitomi looked stunned. Clearly this 'King' had some issues. "Umm, I'm just going to keep walking now."

"Not with that bag you're not. Give it to me." Van ordered in a stern voice.

Hitomi glared at him. "No."

Hitomi tried to get past him but he stepped in front of her.

"What is the MATTER with you! I am perfectly capable of carrying a bag that weights the same amount as a bag of apples."

"Give me the bag."

"Move out of my way. NOW."

Van grabbed the bag from Hitomi but she held on to it. "Are you out of your mind? Let me carry this. I WANT TO CARRY IT!" She yelled.

Van ignored her screech and kept trying to get the bag out of her grasp. They were pretty much playing tug-o-war with the whole camp nervously watched them. Because of the annoyance the two young adults were feeling they failed to notice the sound of a bag ripping...

"You are unbelievable!" Hitomi roared at Van's face.

"And you are a fool for thinking you're healed!" He shouted back.

"But I AM healed!"

"No you're NOT!" Van shouted back.

As he said that the bag, after going through a big amount of abuse, ripped apart which caused coal to explode in Hitomi's and Van's face. They were surrounded by a cloud of coal dust for a few minutes and when it all finally fell to the ground the two of them were standing there dumbstruck staring at each other's completely blackened faces. All you could see were their eyes.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

As much as she tried to control it, Hitomi's lip twichted into a smile.

3...2...1... And that's when she lost it.

Hitomi let out a humongous burst of laughter. She laughed so hard, pretty much the whole camp could hear her. The thing about Hitomi's laugh is that it's so wonderful it makes you automatically want to join in the amusement due to its contagious ring to it.

Van smiled and slowly but surely started laughing along with her. Hitomi reached Van's face with her hands and with two fingers wiped off two lines of coal dust under each of Van's eyes. Van was surprised by her touch but enjoyed every single second of her touching his face.

Hitomi laughed even harder at the image in front of her. She realized as she kept on giggling that it was an amazing feeling to laugh once more. This was the first time in a long time that Hitomi laughed. When she thought about it, she couldn't remember the last time she even chuckled.

This thought almost brought tears to her eyes, but not tears of sadness. Tears of happiness. It almost did.

After taking her breath back Hitomi being in such a good mood decide to listen to Van.

"Okay, you win. I'm just going to go wash my face. Am I aloud to do that?" Hitomi asked with a smile on her face.

"Sure, but I'm coming with you to make sure you're not going to climb trees just because you felt spontaneous."

They had to walk to the river to wash themselves since the camp were in need of all the water they could have to help the wounded.

The walk was in silence, but this time, a peaceful silence.

When they reached the river they started washing their hands and faces. After vigorously washing her face Hitomi turned to Van.

"Did I get it all?"

Van shook his head and without thinking wiped off the rest of the coal on Hitomi's face with his hand. At the sudden move, they both froze and stared at each other. Van's hand was still on her cheek, holding it. Hitomi's cheeks flushed pink as they stared at each other's eyes.

"Hitomi..." Van whispered.

"There's something about his eyes, it feels so familiar..." Hitomi thought.

This intimate moment was without warning ruined by the one and only Merle!

"Hey guys! Just getting some more wa-..." Merle stopped in her tracks. "Oops.."

Van and Hitomi rapidly separated themselves, only realizing now how they had moved closer towards each other.

After Merle had awkwardly filled up the buckets full of water the trio returned to the camp in a wondering state.

The end. Ahaha justtttttt kidding!