Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Escaflowne: All you need is Love, Isn't it?
Chapter 65
In the hallway, just outside Van's chambers
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"Should I cover my eyes or something?" Hitomi gave Van a silly little grin.
"Why?" He looked back at her in confusion.
Turning her head away she blushed slightly. "Never mind."
He opened the door and gestured for her to go in first. Slowly, cautiously, the emerald-eyed teenager walked into the room. Like Merle's room, Van's faced the forest behind the castle. It was small, much smaller than his parent's room and even smaller then her room. It was very stoic as well. There was a bad with no head-board or foot-board, there was one very plain, dark wood dresser and one plain dark wood chair without any cushion on it. No mirrors, no tapestries, no paintings or artwork of any kind. There was one simple candle on the dresser and nothing else.
"Not much to see, is there?" Van said without any expression on his face. He walked over to his bed and sat down. "It wasn't always like this."
"Why are the stones in the walls two different colors?" Hitomi asked pointing to the obvious difference in color between the stones along the base of the wall.
"Most of the castle was destroyed during the Zaibach invasion. The stones along the base were original stones to the castle. The stones above them are new ones put in during the re-construction of the castle." He explained.
Walking over to the wall she crouched low and ran her hands over the two different stones. As her hand ran over the older stone her eyes suddenly grew wide and she jerked back slightly but she continued to keep her hand on the stone the whole time. "You used to share this room with your brother, with Folken."
Van gasped slightly as he got off the bed and faced Hitomi completely. After a few seconds he recovered and said. "Yes, that's right. I stayed in my parent's room while my mother was still nursing me but afterwards, I was moved into this room with my brother. When I turned five he was supposed to move to a different room, a bigger room but I cried and cried till he agreed to stay in this room with me. He never scolded me for acting like such a baby. He just smiled and patted me on the head." He smiled.
Standing up, Hitomi turned around to face Van. "Why aren't the walls like this in your parent's room?" She asked as she walked over to him.
"While Dilandau and his Dragon Slayers were most effective in destroying the city, parts of the castle miraculously remained untouched. Most were on in the lower levels but somehow my parent's room also remained unharmed." He stepped closer to her. "I can't explain it. It's just what happened."
Looking up into his eyes, Hitomi smiled warmly but after a few moments of silence, an uneasy feeling began to settle in upon her. 'We are all alone in Van's room. I've never been in a boy's room before. Why am I so nervous all of a sudden? Why does the idea of being here with Van make me feel so… so… uneasy?' Turning away she tried to thing of something to say. "Hmm, why-why is your room so barren?" She asked as she looked around.
"It wasn't always this way. There were once paintings of my parents and my brother on the walls but they were destroyed in the fire. The room was really a reflection of my mother's style and taste. She furnished and decorated it when I was just a small child. I never saw the need to change it." He answered.
"And now?" She asked.
"I suppose this is a reflection of me: simple, plain." The young king looked about the room.
"You shouldn't put yourself down like that Van. You're anything but simple and plain." Hitomi protested.
"I was referring to my taste in furniture." He smiled.
"Oh," She blushed. "Aah, well, you know it could use something, perhaps some paintings again or some tapestries." She turned away from him again. "You know, maybe some little nick-nacks." She suddenly gasped as Van wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his chest.
"What's wrong Hitomi? Why are you so nervous?" He asked softly in her ear causing a shiver to go up her spine as her face turned a brighter shade of red.
"I don't know. I cause it's because we are alone." She replied.
"But we've been alone many times before. Why should this be any different?" He asked tenderly.
"I-I guess because we're in your bedroom. The idea of being so close to your bed makes me feel a little uncomfortable." She turned her head to the side and rested it against his chest.
This took Van by surprise. "But why?" He inquired.
Just the idea of answering his question caused Hitomi's body to feel suddenly warmer all over as her cheeks turned a deep crimson.
Without any words spoken from the woman he loved, Van knew instantly what she was referring to. Gently turning her about so he could look into her eyes, he said. "You needn't worry Hitomi. I hold you in the highest regard and I would never do anything to compromise your virtue."
Her lips quivered as a sad smile made its way upon her face. Pressing her cheek against his chest and holding him in a tight embrace, she whispered. "I'm sorry Van. I'm sorry for even thinking you'd want to take advantage of me in that way. I'm sorry."
"It's alright Hitomi. I'm a man, you're a woman; it is only natural you might think my intentions were something less then noble." He gently stroked her hair. "I'm sorry I didn't explain my intentions clearly to you before. I could have spared you this worry."
She smiled to herself as she caressed her cheek against his chest. "You're so wonderful Van. I can't believe how lucky I am. Of all the women in your world and mine, that I should be the one to have your love is almost too much to believe sometimes."
"I'm the lucky one Hitomi. You have no idea how amazing your really are. I consider myself fortunate to be worthy of your love." He kissed the top of her head then lightly pressed his cheek against her.
After several minutes in each other's arms, Hitomi said softly. "You know, this room really could use…"
Lifting his head, Van looked down with questioning eyes. "Could use?"
"Something, anything." The emerald-eyed girl gave him a playful smile.
"Are you saying I have bad taste, Lady Hitomi?" He gave her a mock-stern look.
"No your Majesty, I am saying you have no taste, good or bad." She laughed lightly, bringing one hand over her mouth.
The king's eyes grew wide in mild shock. "Are you laughing at me?" He lowered his hands from around Hitomi and placed his fists on waist.
"No you Majesty, I would never do that." The teen from the Mystic Moon said, as she cupped both hands over her mouth in a desperate attempt to stop her laughter.
"You are laughing at me." The king crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you know what the punishment is for laughing at the King?"
In between her laughter and through her hands she muttered. "No you Majesty," as she looked at him with playful eyes.
Van looked off in the distance as he considered his response then said, "Neither do I. Actually, I don't think there is a punishment for such a thing."
This caused the teen to start laughing even harder as she crossed her legs at the knees.
"Still, there should be." He turned his gaze back at the young woman in front of him. "And I know just the punishment." He stepped forward till his nose was almost touching hers. This caused the teen to straighten up instantly, lowering her hands to her side. She stared back at him wide-eyed as she struggled to maintain a blank expression on her face. With her like this, the king brought his lips within a breath of hers then said. "I will not kiss you for the rest of the day, perhaps the rest of the week." Then he backed off and turned toward the door.
The teen's jaw dropped. "WHAT!" She said in utter shock. It took her a second to recover but when she did, she quickly ran in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders to stop his forward progress. "You don't mean that, do you?"
"Hitomi, you should know me better than that. When do I say something I don't mean? When I said, I will not kiss YOU the rest of the day. I meant it." A playful glean flashed in his eyes for just a moment, but long enough for her to see.
"Well then, if his Majesty will not kiss me then I have no other choice other than to take matters into my own hands." She stepped closer to him letting her hands slide from his shoulders, up the back of his neck and into his hair where she gently guided is head down to meet hers. Tilting her head slightly to the side, she closed her eyes and pressed her warm, moist lips onto his. Van did not resist but welcomed the kiss willingly, wrapping his arms around her back and pulling her in even closer to him.
After several moments, after they broke their kiss, Hitomi asked. "I thought you weren't going to kiss me today?"
"I didn't," He softly replied with a smile. "You kissed me." Then he leaned forward again and kissed her deeply, passionately.
"What about that time? You kissed me that time." She whispered as their lips separated.
"I decided the punishment was too harsh." He went on to kiss the sides and tip of her nose as well as all around her mouth without touching her lips. When she moaned her approval he brought his lips to hers and they kissed once again.
When they separated this time, it was Hitomi's turn to leave a trail of kisses, down to Van's chin, along his jaw line and down the side of his neck finally stopped at his collarbone where she rested her cheek against his chest once again. "I love you Van Fanel, King of Fanelia. Did you know that?" She whispered.
"Mmm, seems I vaguely recall you saying that once or twice before." He smiled. "I love you Hitomi Kanzaki, mysterious woman from the Mystic Moon."
"Mmm, mysterious woman. I like how that sounds." She giggled softly.
"Come let's return to my parent's chambers. You can help me pick out some items I can use to… brighten up my room." He whispered in her ear.
Nodding her agreement, Hitomi slowly lifted her head and gave him one last soft kiss before stepping away from him. As they walked out the door of is chambers, Van reached out and took her hand into his. Smiling at each other they walked casually down the hall to his parent's chambers.