New Chapter... I was hoping to make it longer. The next one will be for sure but I thought I'd end it in a good place before we started getting into the meat and potatoes. Hope you like it!

Hitomi awoke lying in a nest of white silk sheets that had already managed capture and entangle her. They clung relentlessly to her fatigued aching body as she squirmed to make herself comfortable in the massive bed. The room was dark except for a small stream of light that flickered from the drapes. They were quivering from the breeze. Hitomi had never been so utterly mentally and physically exhausted. She stared at the sullen stone ceiling as her head throbbed and her wound smarted.

Her frail fingers felt their way beneath covers and over the newly bandaged wound. She cringed in surprise.

She couldn't remember how she got here. Hitomi's day had elapsed so quickly she could hardly process all the events that had occurred. Time had become completely irrelevant in her closed her tired eyes and began recalling the proceedings of the day.

*Flashback*

She had been travelling with both Kiba and Van on foot towards the center of Fanelia kingdom, towards Van's new home. The trip wasn't particularly lengthy but Hitomi's wound was tender and made her extremely uneasy on her feet. This resulted in Kiba being incredibly attentive during their trip towards the city.

He had noticed her discomfort so easily, despite her skillful attempts to conceal it. Although, he had never intervened because he knew she wouldn't have wanted it.

She silently thanked him was glances of reassurance. Van couldn't be allowed to notice just yet because if he had that would lead to even more questions on his part. She didn't have the emotional strength to explain herself and her situation and Van would want to know everything.

"At least sometimes his oblivious nature came in handy," Hitomi thought to herself.

For now, it was for the best to continue on and rest later. Besides, Van was thoroughly occupied with navigating his way through the forest.

Once they had found their way out of forest, the three had found themselves near the city that was complete rubble a year ago. The city had been cleaned up but was still laced with traces of devastating battle. Hitomi laughed at the raw amazement and shock on Kiba's face. She also laughed at her incompetence as she stepped feebly down the war-torn and yet vibrant streets.

People bustled about carrying out their chores and work for the day. Children dashed in between the buildings playing tag and giggling loudly.

These people all froze in place, almost suspended within the moment, as they saw Van approach. Their eye's fluttered between him, the wolf-man and the girl with strange clothes. Some adults recoiled at the sight of Kiba and the younger children dashed behind their mothers. However, they all greeted King Van with impressive enthusiasm and zeal.

Van returned their inquiries, smiling.

Then he turned towards Hitomi and grasped her hand as they approached the newly built castle. She blushed as he slowed his pace to match hers and placed his arm around her shoulder. She peered at his face for a moment but immediately looked away when she found him smirking at her, no doubt because of her coy behavior.

People whispered, trying to determine exactly who this young woman was and where she had come from. This made her return very much like her first arrival to the city. Although thought this time she felt faint, exhausted and overwhelmed by happiness.

To Hitomi's relief they finally arrived at the castle…

*End of flashback*

The last thing she remembered was staring up at the handsome stone building and then there was nothing. Hitomi was overtaken by anxiety. Her heart began to race and the tears she had worked so hard to oppose slipped down her cheeks. She screamed. With in seconds she felt someone calling to her. His voice was soothing but there was sharp alarm in its tone.

"Hitomi! Calm down. Calm down. You're safe. Can you hear me? Everything is okay now." Her screams subsided as her eyes began to focus on a beautiful woman with long blond hair. It took her a moment to recognize who was standing before her due to the distortions caused by her own tears.

Finally, when she could see the woman's face, Hitomi realized it was none other than Princess Millerna. Millerna smiled gently at invalid. Hitomi, with a rush of relief, flung her arms around Millerna, who had now lost her balance. She fell over onto the bed just missing Hitomi. She regained her stance slowly but was still held securely in place.

"Hitomi.?" she said with surprise as Hitomi sobbed into her shoulder.

"You know, you're going to ruin my dress not to mention reopen your wound…again." Hitomi withdraw her arms and laughed wearily. She stared into Millerna's grinning face and sarcastically retorted,

"Honestly! Is that any way to treat your patient? I'm assuming I'm your patient."

"Y-" Millerna began her reply but couldn't finish before Merle burst forth from the wooden door.

"HITOMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Merle wailed as she flew through the air. She bounded from the doorway and playfully bounded onto the bed disrupting its smooth surface.

"What the hell are you doing back here huh? Just when I had Prince Van all to myself you go and ruin things!" she pinched and stretched Hitomi's cheeks preventing her from making any response.

"Merle! Get off her right now!" scolded Millerna but Merle was hardly paying her any attention. She was busy eyeing her helpless prey. Hitomi felt a slight pressure against her stomach and grimaced. Merle was now leaning on her wound. Millerna was first to notice and shoved Merle off the bed. Hitomi sighed. Merle squinted and stuck out her tongue. Hitomi giggled.

"How typical," she thought. "Although, typical is a good thing at this moment." She turned to face the window wondering what time it was.

"Millerna? Could you perhaps open the drapes?" she asked. Millerna replied in the affirmative and turned to do are she was asked. Bright orange and pink light streamed through the window onto Hitomi's face. Hitomi then realized there were two new presences in the room.

"What's all the ruckus about?" Allen was leaning against the doorway smiling. Standing beside him was Dryden.

"Allen! Dryden!" Hitomi blurted out. She was surprised Van wasn't here already. It appeared that Allen had read her thoughts.

"Van's had some politics to take care of. Well, I suppose, that's what you get when leave the castle in a rush and no one knows where you've gone. He is the king after all." Dryden nodded in agreement.

"Anyways, you can imagine our surprise when he came back with you, little lady, and, well… that," Dryden pointed to a corner of the room. Hitomi wondered what he was referring to and then realized that Kiba was probably in the room.

Millerna, guessing her intention, propped Hitomi up and she saw Kiba sitting on the floor. He looked confused.

"His name's Kiba and he isn't a 'that'. He saved me."

"He saved you? From what might I ask?" asked Allen.

"It's a long story…"