It's been sooo long! I'm really overwhelmed with my coursework and university applications. But I had the time to polish up the beginning of chapter 5. I just wanted to get some feedback on the relationship I'm developing between Hitomi and Van before I continue. I have a really good idea of where I want to go with this, and I hope I can make faster progress. I may make a few changes to chapter 5, but I'm very excited to get what I have so far up, especially since I've made you guys wait so long. thank you for all your reviews and I hope you enjoy this little bit. I will try and get the rest up by the end of the week :)

Chapter 5

Hitomi lurched forwards as the stone walls sealed shut behind her. The boy had pulled her too hard and she collapsed into his body. For a second she felt his brawny arms wrap tightly around her. She couldn't understand why this stranger could offer such a sense of security. But if the walls of the castle came tumbling down around her, she believed she'd feel nothing except the soft beat of his heart.

The moment ended abruptly as the boy pushed her away. Without a word he turned and sprinted down the dark corridors. Hitomi followed him blindly, her hand grasping unsurely the walls of the passageway. A realization suddenly stole over her and she pressed her heels to the ground. Why is she following this boy? She had no clue who he was. She searched her brain for a clue to his identity. A distant memory of Allen alluding to some Prince of Fanelia echoed faintly in her memory. Allen expressed wariness towards this boy, and Hitomi feared he might be leading her to sure death.

"Are you coming?" the boy called back gruffly.

Alarmed at the first words he spoke to her, Hitomi stood frozen to the ground. Suddenly the boy appeared in front of her. His brown eyes scanned her curiously. Hitomi squirmed under his scrutinizing gaze and proceeded to step backwards. Her heel caught on a piece of uneven ground and she tumbled unsteadily towards the earth.

"Hah," the boy scoffed condescendingly as Hitomi's bottom collided with the cold hard floor.

Hitomi's face grew hot. With as much dignity as she could muster, she drew her dress over her crossed knees and sat unmoving.

"What are you doing?" the boy queried flatly.

"I'm perfectly comfortable right here, please continue with your way."

"Suit yourself," the boy placed both hands behind his head nonchalantly and walked backwards from Hitomi. "But you see these walls?" he tapped the stone walls gently, "they'll come crashing down in a few minutes. It's too bad, I guess no one will be seeing your pretty little face again."

Hitomi was unsure whether to believe the boy or not. In the few minutes that she knew him, she was already vexed by his arrogant attitude. A distant shaking shook her out of her deliberation. Shoving her pride aside, Hitomi scurried up and groped after his shadow.

"So you've decided to follow me," the boy glanced back, his haughtiness etched in his smile.

"Hah," Hitomi grunted, "I'm merely going in the same direction as you are. Who said anything about following?"

At Hitomi's words, the boy stopped short.

"What?" Hitomi urged.

"Go on without me then, if you're so sure of where you're going."

Hitomi frowned, infuriated. She trudged forwards, purposely shouldering him as she passed.

The corridor grew darker and darker. Hitomi gripped the walls angrily. Without the boy leading the way, it was much harder to find her footing. She couldn't help stealing backwards glances. Spying his tall figure provided her with more assurance then she would ever care to admit. In such a cold and dark place, she'd rather be trapped with the boy's overbearing ego then be completely alone. She's had enough of utter loneliness.

"Would you stop staring at me? It's unnerving," the boy snapped.

"I'm just wondering if you are keeping up," Hitomi answered coldly.

"Keeping up? At your pace you are going to get us both killed. I have never met anyone so stubborn and dense. What a bad combination." He shook his head patronizingly. Surpassing Hitomi's unsure steps, he quickly overtook her. Reaching out to grab her elbow roughly, he dragged her behind.

"Ow!" Hitomi felt her blood boil. "Let go of me. I don't want your help."

"Well I don't want to help you. But here we are," the boy merely tightened his grip. "I didn't hear you complaining when I stopped that arrow."

Hitomi opened her mouth to retort, but clamped it shut, admitting defeat. A few awkward minutes later, Hitomi finally acknowledged, "How lucky for me that you woke in time to derail that arrow."

"Wrong. I was never asleep."

Hitomi paused to process his statement. But the boy tugged impatiently and Hitomi quickened her pace. "You mean you were awake the whole time?"

The boy, his smugness apparent, nodded.

Hitomi shook his arm off indignantly. "You made me lug you down two flights of stairs while you were perfectly capable of dragging your own pompous ass out of there?" she shrieked, close to hysteria.

He scorned, "I suppose you want me to thank you for dropping me headfirst down those stairs."

"Well, I hope it hurt. I hope it really hurt. I should have left you there. That's the last time I help out some stranger. Ugh," Hitomi shook her head spitefully. "Wasted all that energy, almost died, for some egotistical little boy—"

"Hey! Watch who you're talking to," Van reprimanded, breaking into a jog.

"And who am I talking to?" Hitomi mocked, "Prince of Fanelia? Is that what you claim to be? Well you're nothing compared to Allen Shezar, knight of Austuria. Where's this Fanelia you allegedly defend? You're nothing but a spoiled kid who is prince of NOTHING."

For once Van was silent. "You're right. There is nothing left. I couldn't save Fanelia. I'm not the Prince of Fanelia… I guess I am just Van now."

Hitomi was taken back. Van… Hitomi mouthed. A pang of guilt nagged at her mind. He was just like her -- another sole survivor of a destroyed country.