A.N.: Tee hee… +nervous laugh+ Hello there… Long time no see, ne+rapidly crouching behind keyboard, avoiding sharp objects thrown at her+ Easy, easy… Aaaaarghh+flees through the door, waiting for angry readers to calm down+
Etto…I really have no valid excuses for this really long, long delay. I had most of this chapter done awhile ago, but…I couldn't bring myself finishing it. I just…hadn't had the inspiration for writing it, either. And then, my others ficcies monopolized most of my time, and then college began (college is mean, I'm telling you) and then, problems at home… It hadn't been easy for me, especially this past month or so. And so…I really don't expect for you to believe me, but at least to comprehend me. I the readers that told me, asked for me to continue it, are in their right. Once you start something, you can't just quit it, ne?
But! Stop with the excuses! And now, on with this next installment! Yay!
Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will.
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Broken Wings
By Aya Honey
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Chapter 2: Please return…
Van was uneasy that night. He couldn't sleep, for some odd reason. It was like something terrible was going to happen; something that had to do with Hitomi, one way or another. He tried to reach to her, but had found himself unable to. Damn! What's going on, Hitomi!?
He was just about to get out of bed, and tend to some papers instead, when he felt a sudden stab on his heart, along with some heart-breaking images. Images of her. Of Hitomi. And then heard her, heard her pleads. Oh gods how they were heart-breaking. She was so afraid, so desperate…and so in pain… And he couldn't reach her. They were a world apart. And he could not do nothing, nothing at all.
Dammit, Hitomi, reach out to me!
After some heartbreaking-filled seconds, he saw an intense light out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head to the great balcony marble of his rich room, the dark haired Fanelian King then saw it; a huge pillar of light, laying into the deep of the woods.
Could it be that…?
Without further thinking, he quickly left his room, and made his way through the castle's long and deserted hallways. At some point, some guards approached him, warning him about some strange light that had suddenly appeared in the woods, and that he please don't approach there, and that what they should do. He muttered some answer along the lines of 'it is not dangerous' before he ordered for a horse be prepared at once, that he was leaving. The guards tried to argue back, saying that he could not possibly be thinking about leaving the castle, about going there; but he left place for no arguments, placing his determined intense red eyes on them. They bowed profoundly then, leaving not too later after with the response of 'Yes, Your Majesty!'
Not too short after, he was galloping towards the woods, where the pillar of light first appeared. It was no longer in sight now; it seemed that it disappeared, after having fulfilled its function. Two guards were galloping on tow; they weren't going to let the King go alone to such a dangerous place, after such a strange event had just occurred. In fact, they didn't want the King to go there at all, but they saw there was no way to convince their King otherwise. He was dashing with a mad urgency— he had to make it there on time.
Hang on, Hitomi!
He prayed for whatever god there was that he made it on time. He had a feeling that if he didn't…
After some nerve-breaking minutes of dashing to his destination and worries, he arrived where he thought he saw it land. He jumped off his horse, giving the saddle to one of his startled guards—they weren't expecting for him to get out to fast and so briskly—and started looking. Looking for anything, anything that resembled familiar, and foreign at the same time.
And then—he saw it. A glimpse of honey color. And of crimson blood staining it, covering it, bathing it.
Oh gods.
Hitomi!
The dark-haired ruler dashed to where that apparition was, and gasped at what he saw. He felt vile and anger filling each inch of his body, of his soul. His body tensed, and he clenched his fist, clenching it so hard that it drew blood. The young king had felt her anguish, but he never dared to think—He quickly took the cape he had—the damn castle people wouldn't let him go if he didn't at least wore something 'decent'-something he was grateful now—and put it on Hitomi, covering her; he heard steps coming closer, and didn't want anyone to see her like that. He didn't want to have to see her like that. He would kill the bastards, if he ever had the chance.
He gently took her in his arms, bridal style, and put her to his chest. He didn't give the time to let his escorts to ask any question, for he quickly took the saddle back and jumped onto his horse once more, albeit carefully.
"Let's go." He said commandingly, barely containing his fury within his voice, before quickly dashing back to the castle, where he had to have Hitomi get treated, and saved. He got even more desperate as he felt the steady warm seeping of blood out of Hitomi's system. He gripped even harder the saddle, and went even faster. He didn't know what he would do if Hitomi…
Don't die on me, Hitomi…
"Don't you dare die on me, Hitomi" the dark-haired young man whispered fiercely to the unconscious girl, reflexively gripping a little harder, a little more protective, a little more possessive.
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She felt numb. She felt like floating. She felt nothing. She felt everything. Wait… Wasn't she dead…? Weren't dead people supposed to not feel anything at all? She tried to focus on her feelings. She felt…warm. Warm and…protected. She felt safe. She then tried to move, she found she couldn't. She felt so sore. She felt as if she was beat all ove…
Oh my god… she was… oh god… suddenly, her heart felt so heavy, so sad as the memories came flooding all over again. And again. And again. Her eyes felt moisty, but she didn't care; he wouldn't open them ever again. She couldn't… she… couldn't…
Van…
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Van was so preoccupied. He was sitting on a chair, next to Hitomi. He insisted she was to stay in his room, even against the others' better judgment. So whenever he was allowed by his duties (he still had a country to rule, no mattering Hitomi's grave situation) he would stay by her side, taking care of her. He couldn't take to see her like that. But…Even when the healers had managed to heal her, to save her, she wouldn't wake. It was now the twelfth day of her being unconscious. The healers had him, tried to assured him, to have patience, that it was normal…considering the patient's situation.
And just thinking about her situation… it made him sick with madness and anger and rage and fury all over again. He would kill them. He would tear them, he would tear them limb by limb by limb, until they suffered a very slow and painful death. And even that wouldn't be enough. For what they did to her was unforgivable.
"Van…" he heard she whisper all too softly, her voice filled with sadness. From her eyes a silent tear slipped, making its way down her cheek.
"I'm here…" he responded her, his features getting even sadder, and took her hand lovingly. This happened all too recently now…She would call out to him, she would cry silently…but just that. She wouldn't wake. "I'm right here…" he gripped her hand a little more tightly, trying to give her whatever comfort he could.
When would be the day when she would wake up, and come back to him…? It seemed as if that day was so far away…
Hitomi…please wake up… and come back to me…
She just continued crying.
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Hitomi was crying. Not even her dreams were nice… she could feel it…their hands all over her. Touching her. Dirtying her. She was so dirty, so dirty… No-one would want her like that, wouldn't they? She was so dirty, and so unworthy…
Van…
No…he wouldn't want her like that. She…was no longer pure. She wasn't fit to him. She was fit for no king. She wasn't fit for anyone.
Images of Van filled her head, her inner eye. His intense eyes. His lean form. His lean yet strong muscles. His dark hair, almost covering half on his face. His wings… That rare smile of his… He was so beautiful… so, so beautiful… But…she couldn't see him ever again. No, she couldn't. She was so tainted…
Van…
Hitomi…
No, Van…
She couldn't. Oh god she couldn't. She was crying, all over again… but she didn't ever stop crying, did she…?
Hitomi…come back…
His voice sounded so helpless…She'd never…
Come back, Hitomi…
Can't, Van… I'm not worthy…
She felt something then. Something where her hand should be. Where her hand was. A warmness… a loving warmness…
Just…come back, Hitomi… I don't care…
But, Van, I…
I said that Hitomi I don't care…! Listen to me, Hitomi…
She felt a moist feeling descending onto her cheek, mingling with hers. Could…could it be that… Van… he… for her…?
Don't you know what you're doing to me, Hitomi…? If you don't come back, I…
She was hurting him. She was hurting him, and she… she was so egoistical…she was only thinking about her own pain, but… what about his? She didn't even stop to consider thinking about his. Even when he was all aloof, even when he was so proud, so well-trained to mask his feelings…he could still… and she said she loved him, but she didn't stop to think about what he may be feeling…
I'm sorry, Van…I…
She tried to move, to feel him…
Shh…don't say anything. Don't apologize. Ever. Just…come back. To me.
Van…wait, I… I'm coming back to you.
And with that, she opened her eyes.
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"V-Van…?" she tried to said out more, but her throat was so dry…
A cold yet warm fingertip was placed upon her dry lips, lovingly, carefully. "Shhh… Don't talk… You don't need to talk…I'm right here…"
She squeezed the hand that was trapped between hers, trying to give her response. "Thank you…Van…" she managed, her voice hoarse, her expression filled with so much gratitude.
She didn't think she ever deserved that… all that Van had done to her… when all that she—
"Stop thinking like that, Hitomi." The king said sternly, yet not raising his voice.
She looked at him confusedly.
He sighed, combing his hand through his unruly hair in a nervous and frustrated manner, "I know…" he started, then sighed, then continued, "I know…by your face's expression, that you were degrading yourself."
"But—" she was cut by a stern finger on her lips, stopping her from saying whatever she was going to say. She was met with those severe yet caring eyes of him.
"Stop that. You have done more than enough. You need rest."
"But—"
"Hitomi." The young king said, his voice commanding, then sighing and putting a frustrated hand through his hair, he finished, "Just…allow me to protect you. Please." I couldn't do anything before…
then, a small smile playing on her lips, she said, "Okay." before surrendering herself to the clutches of sleep, because she felt protected, safer in years, even when she knew she didn't deserve it.
And then, she slept.
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A.N.: Likey? Likey not? Please feel free to tell me what you think! (But please refrain from flames; it will only be a waste of both your and my time, not to tell that I will act rampage on it) And… I shall promise you all to try and up-date this thingie not so late as this was, shall you want me to continue it by means of reviews+hint hint+
Ja!