Gosh! It is seriously so hard to find the time to write nowadays. Who would have thought that life could have gotten so hectic that I wouldn't have time to write. Well, I am certainly glad I got this chapter finished (yes, they are getting longer). Hope you enjoy it!

"Well perhaps we should talk about that tomorrow. Hitomi needs her rest." Millerna stated. Hitomi was indeed tired but she didn't want them to leave, however, Millerna was determined, as usual.

The men complied as did Merle, but both not without resentment. Millerna went to leave the room and as she grasped the door handle she turned to her patient and asked,

"Hitomi… how did you get those wounds? I've been wondering for a while now and forgot to ask because of all the commotion. It looked as if some wild animal had…" Hitomi had dreaded this question and had been anticipating it all day. Not quite willing to face this conversation, she pretended to sleep and Millerna, taking her own advice, left the room.

Hitomi looked out at the picture faultless view of the sun setting. She had been instinctively holding her pendant the entire time she had been in bed, though she hadn't even realized it was there.

Then the figure in the corner grew and as it grew, it approached her bed.

"Hitomi? Are you all right? I knew I should have helped you today. Your injury is completely my fault in the first place and I -," said Kiba solemnly. She smiled.

"Kiba it isn't your fault. It is simply my own stubbornness. In addition, if you hadn't been after me then those men would have captured me instead. The only thing that concerns me is why were they after me and who are they working for," she replied. Actually, those men more than just concerned her, she needed to talk with Van. Where was he?

"Regardless of that, I am still responsible." Hitomi sighed and after a long and uncomfortable pause he proceeded, "And that means I'm staying with you." Kiba spoke firmly. Hitomi's eyes widened in reaction to this statement and her face flushed. Thankfully the sun had already set by then and they could only see the outline of each other's faces. She closed her eyes hoping that Kiba would assume she was sleeping and leave her bedside.

"Hitomi?" he whispered. His face was closer and felt his breath on her neck. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

"Walk away. Just walk away please! Just walk…" Hitomi screamed in her head, "I don't want this!" The moment simply couldn't pass fast enough for Hitomi. She breathed deeply and finally she could not longer feel his presence.

She peeked through her eyelashes, just in time to see Kiba jump nimbly from her window. She had almost forgotten he was half wolf.

The next morning Hitomi awoke with the sun in her eyes. She looked around the charming room she had hardly paid any attention to the previous night. It was decorated with purple fabric and was clearly decorated with a woman in mind. She continued her scan of the room and turned directly to her left.

There Van was, sleeping upright in a wooden chair. His arm rested on the back of the chair and one leg was bent under him. That couldn't have been comfortable, but he did look like a model. He had definitely gotten more muscular since she had left him. He no longer looked like a young boy like he had before. Then it hit her; this room was for her. This was the room of her vision.

"Oh Van …" she whispered. His eyes lashes fluttered, in response to the minute sound and then they flashed open.

"Hitomi!" he shouted, the chair fell backwards and Van's arms flailed. He hit the floor and Hitomi burst in to laughter. Van recovered himself and rubbed the back of his head, thoroughly embarrassed.

"You can stop laughing now," he said with frustration but she continued her fit of giggles. He really hadn't changed at all and Hitomi was glad for that. He stood up, positioned the chair and gave her a stern look. He approached the bed, leaned over and kissed her. Hitomi's heart melted (I know it is soooo lame but... I LOVE IT!). When had Van become so bold, so up front? The door creaked open and immediately Van withdrew.

"Oh! Don't stop on my account," said Allen with a wide smirk on his face. Hitomi's hands flew to her face and she buried it into them. Then Millerna's face appeared with bandages and a water pail in hand.

"Hitomi, it's time to change those dressings now," she said shooing the men out of the room again, "You two can wait out here until I'm done." She closed the door firmly. "Now then, shall we?" She ripped the covers off Hitomi and helped her turn onto her stomach. She began removing the bandage carefully as to not disturb the clotting process.

"Hitomi, I know you heard me last night and I want you to answer my question. How did you get that wound?" Hitomi was silent but she knew she would have to answer the question. She sighed.

"You know, so much has happened the last few days since I came back to Gaea… Perhaps, it would be best if everyone were here. It's about time everyone knew what has happened." Millerna, satisfied with her answer, completed her task and helped Hitomi to her feet. She called a maid to fetch a dress for Hitomi and announced the meeting to the two men. The woman returned quickly with a simple but beautiful purple dress. Hitomi reached for the gown and slipped it over her head.

Just as she was adjusting the dress over her now extremely thin body, Van walked into the room. He stood there stunned and then concern overtook his face but tried not to show it. She smiled and held out her hand to welcome his own.

He lowered his face, clearly embarrassed, but grabbed her hand willingly. Van led her out of the room and down the hallway always supporting her. It was funny how Van's attitude had changed so much over the past day. He pretended to be cool and calm at the palace but it didn't work very well.

Finally, Hitomi walked through a corridor into a study. Millerna was laughing while sitting with Dryden. Allen was at the window in solitary thought. Merle was jumping around Kiba who was sitting cross-legged on the floor trying his best to ignore her. And the a few men from Allen's team, whom Hitomi recognized were making a ruckus in the corner. As soon as they spotted Hitomi and Van, every one stopped their current occupations.

"Hello everyone…" said Hitomi, she felt a bit awkward. The room was silent, then burst into a chaos. The men greeted her gaily and crowded around her, asking her question after question. Van eventually quieted the mob and led her to chair where the group gathered around her. Allen watched silently from the window. It was still early morning and the sun was still rising over the picturesque view of the city.

Hitomi sat with her back against the window and Van standing next to her. Everyone looked so intrigued, she felt as though she were a kindergarten teacher about to unveil a romantic plot to a class full of 5 year olds. Hitomi held the small pendant that hung from her neck hoping to extract some courage from the small, cool stone. She began her story.

As Hitomi told her them of her journey from Earth the crowd remained silent. She watched as their faces changed from pleasure to disgust and shock. The most dramatic expressions came from Millerna but she could feel Van's fingers, which were resting on her shoulder, tightening as the recollection continued.

She explained Kiba's circumstances, with his consent of course, and that her wounds where a casualty of being saved. That she owed her life to him regardless of the circumstances. When she finished, the room was suspended in silence.

Hitomi felt an increased pressure on her shoulder and turned to face Van. His face was unreadable, his eyes covered by the shadow of from his bangs.

"Ow! Van you're hunting me," she squeaked. He released her shoulder and walked out of the room.

"Van?" Hitomi didn't know what to do. She ran to the door and yelled down the hallway. She collapsed from the strain and Allen grabbed her shoulders.

"Hitomi… I am so sorry," whispered Merle as she bounded down the hallway calling after Lord Van.

"Hitomi, I wouldn't worry about Van. He's mad at himself, for not knowing what you went through," said Allen.

"But he shouldn't be! It's not his fault! It wasn't anyone's fault…"

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