Author's Note:

~*~*~I am thankful for this Van + Hitomi Lemon~*~*~**~~gobble gobble!

Van was waiting for his second grand entrance of the night, but this time he was actually nervous. Hitomi was going to be by his side, which was calming and he didn't give a fuck what the people said, but he worried that she would be intimidated or angry at his "request". He knew Boris would not enlighten Hitomi or calm her fears, and he also knew that it wouldn't sit well with the modern Hitomi from Earth. Women were given more respect on Earth, allowed choices. Just then, Boris and a confused Hitomi appeared. Van allowed a reflexive smile to pass his lips before composing himself in front of Boris. "Thank you Boris, I will see you in two days time. Enjoy your time with your family." Van spoke as way of dismissing Boris and his loyal servant bowed deeply to him and less deeply to Hitomi before slipping off into the darkness of the castle halls.

Van caught Hitomi's hand and brought her closer to him, "I hope you are not scared. I just wanted to be with you tonight, and this may be the only way." Hitomi's heart slowed and she smiled into his face, "You know Van you could have said something earlier, I would have agreed." She took a chance and stood on her slippered toes to kiss him on the mouth, and he returned it deeply, his arms bringing her into a warm hug. Briefly, Van let himself fantasize about kissing Hitomi and being with her all the time, just her and no one else. Outwardly, he hooked Hitomi's arm over his, looked down at her seriously and said, "Say nothing. Just smile as you are now. Do not be afraid." Hitomi rolled her eyes at him, "Van I think I can handle it, we've been through some scarier things before. Ugh just so long as I don't have to eat any weird things tonight. " The doors swung open and Hitomi's face froze into her warm smile, a little forced tonight. They stepped forward into the sound and the light and Van whispered out of the corner of his mouth, "Don't worry, I provided dinner for tonight remember? Steak." Hitomi's smile grew a bit and she thought how easy this was. Walking in on the king's arm, totally unapproachable, a total mystery woman. Then she started hearing the too-loud whispers, the judgements and surprised comments.
"Red hair? What is the king thinking!"
"I do not recognize her, no one wears that color in court anymore"
"What family does she belong to?"
"Doth the Dragon consort with the witch from the mystic moon?"
Her smile started to falter and she felt heat rising in her cheeks. "Do not listen." Van muttered and steered her towards the long table where the visiting dignitaries stood behind their places. Hitomi saw a place to Van's right and was guided into it, Van quickly whispered, "Do not sit until I do. They will wait for you." Hitomi's cheeks were burning now; this was a bit too much. Sitting only second to the king? It must mean something for her and Van. She didn't dare risk a look around the room, instead choosing to keep her gaze steady on Van which seemed appropriate. He raised his arms once he reached his chair and his booming voice silenced the room.
"Ambassadors, citizens, friends...Let us give thanks that for now Gaia observes peace and let us continue to wish that Fanelia will prosper with the help of its neighbors. Let us eat." He sat and Hitomi sank down gratefully as soon as Van was seated.

"Hello." A deep voice immediately greeted her as the noise level rose once people started sitting and eating. Hitomi looked to her right into the ice blue eyes of a dark haired man. His hair swept his temples in loose waves, and they were held in place by a thin circlet of silver. He looked so casually elegant.

"Hi." Then, remembering her manners from earth she bobbed her head in respect and said her full family name, "Kanzaki Hitomi, pleased to meet you." Dramatically, rain started sheeting against the large paned windows that had a commanding view of Fanelia. The view from the dining and ball room were the grandest of impressions to make on visitors.
"My name is Apollo, Crown Prince of the Forbidden Heavens," his smile twisted slightly, as if this was a joke; "I beg your pardon but I have only ever seen red hair in one place...might I ask a rather rude question?" Hitomi braced herself and forced herself to say, "Of course". She was shaking inside. Since their return to Fanelia no one really knew who she was or where she originally was from. She and Van had agreed to keep a don't ask, don't tell policy but obviously this meant anyone who asked received a rather shocking answer. Apollo leaned closer and Hitomi caught a whiff of a woodsy cinnamon smell that was intoxicating. Apollo whispered, "Are you a Vulcan Priestess? I heard much chatter about your hair, everyone thinks you command the fires below..." Hitomi suddenly burst into a genuine smile, relieved that she was in the presence of an honest person. "No," she said in a hushed voice, "I am not a Vulcan Priestess...though I do prefer that over people thinking I am a prostitute." Hitomi knew most prostitutes or concubines in Fanelia had bright orange or red hair. Apollo surprised her with a deep, rich laugh which drew Van's attention.

Van watched Hitomi smile up into Apollo's face with a radiance usually reserved for her closest friends, including himself. He brought his fermented barrel aged libation to his lips and drank deeply, the fiery liquid numbing his rising feelings of annoyance. Apollo was not a new face to him; they had grown up knowing each other. Their mothers were both draconian, and the forbidden heavens that Apollo jokingly referred to was the last Draconian empire high above the mountains that divided Freid and Fanelia. While Draconians were hated openly because of their connections with Atlantis when Van was a boy, they had become recognized as a sovereign nation with an obviously impressive military of the skies. Currently, a treaty was being negotiated between Fanelia and the Kingdom of Heaven to encourage trade and transportation of building materials. Fanelia's forests were too important for the survival of the last remaining dragons; and wood was often air lifted in extreme quantities through Draconian airspace. The fact that their mothers were draconian was no coincidence; they were good friends and often visited each other. Most of the time Vaerie would leave the Fanelian kingdom and visit her friend in the sky without her children; occasionally Apollo's mother would bring him on her visits to Fanelia and the two young boys would play or take on a sword lesson with Balgus.

Apollo was often a mystery to Van, because he had no political or social sense really, and his inhibition was low for danger or tact. While Van was raised with equal parts court and battle preparation, Apollo never received the same grooming. He was most pleased when his jokes or questions brought a shocked reaction and Van had a feeling Hitomi would be one of the few whom would not react in the way Apollo expected. He listened half heartedly to his ambassadors on his left, but his eyes kept being drawn to Hitomi's suppressed giggles. She and Apollo were quickly draining a bottle of the best Vino and her face was getting pinker. Van wished Boris was here to offer reassuring advice on how to handle the situation. Hitomi was actually doing the whole of Fanelia a favor by amusing Prince Apollo. If he enjoyed himself he was more prone to accept the terms of the agreement. The same if he was drunk. Van smirked to himself then nodded at the appropriate time when the ambassador made a tacit point. The evening was going better than planned.

Hitomi was straight up drunk by the time dinner dishes were cleared and dessert, after dinner cocktails and cigars for the men were brought out by servants. Looking around for a moment, she noticed she was not the only one who had over indulged. Several guests were gesticulating wildly at each other in an overly animated conversation. Even some of the top ambassadors were leering a little too much at some young ladies of the court. Apollo looked down at the young woman, aware that he was feeling much too warm from just the fires in the dining hall. He grinned lazily at Van, who had been watching all night. Then, the smile still lurking in the corners of his mouth, he reached for Hitomi's hand. His eyes were glued to Van's.

"Oh...Apollo." Hitomi was bright red and her eyes slid from her hand in Apollo's to his mouth. Instead of reacting, Van leaned back and lit his cigar, challenging Apollo with his steady gaze. Apollo smiled and brought his and her hand gently down and out of sight, presumably to Apollo's thigh under the table. Van allowed it and signaled his servants to transition the room for the after dinner party which ran deep into the night until guests were too drunk to go on. Hitomi found herself standing, her hand still in Apollo's. The lights were dimming all around her, and her perception was thrown when she noticed the raging thunderstorm outside. Bright flashes of lightning, along with the flickering fireplaces reminded her of Haunted Houses back on Earth. Some servant handed her another glass of sparkling Vino and Hitomi suddenly remembered Van. She didn't see him nearby and thought it was strange he had requested her presence at dinner but hadn't spoken to her since. She remembered why as Apollo put his hand on her waist and leaned down to her ear.

"Hitomi your dress is leaving little to my imagination, how did you know to dress so simply for me?" Hitomi giggled and rolled her eyes at him, "Obviously it wasn't for you, and I thought princes knew that servants dress everyone." She languidly ran her fingertips over the veins in Apollo's hand on her waist, something she loved doing with Van. When a man's veins stuck out thickly from his hands and arms it meant he was very strong. Apollo found it irresistible and was surprised how quickly his intentions with Hitomi had changed from just trying to piss Van off to trying to get laid. "Well, I didn't think I would enjoy my time in Fanelia as much as I have. When I come here on Princely duties it can be extremely boring." He shifted his eyes, searching for Van, and not finding him continued, "Hitomi will you walk with me? It is too warm in this room."

Hitomi shrugged and set down her glass, she was aware of the others in the room, but they no longer mattered. Those who had judged her earlier had increased their opinion now that she was engaged in conversation with the Prince of the Draconians. Hitomi was uncharacteristically bold and moved into the nook of Apollo's arm that was around her waist, bringing them close together. They walked this way into the candle lit stone passageway that connected the entertainment room with the art galleries and libraries wing. Hitomi would blush any time they happened upon a couple engaged in overt intimacy within the shadows of the castle. Hitomi had fantasized many times about she and Van, huddled in dark corner, hot mouths upon each other...She wished he was near as she was feeling a strange physical longing for a warm touch on her body. The Vino was definitely working and it made her feel hot.

Suddenly Van stepped out of a library into the hall and his eyes narrowed drunkenly as he saw Hitomi in Apollo's grasp. Hitomi stepped away from Apollo instantly, her eyes picking up the warning signs in Van's posture. She moved towards him and gripped his right arm with both her hands. "Van! Apollo was escorting me around to help me look for you!" Hitomi could feel Van's muscles tensing under his uniform in a way that revealed his aggression and power. His sword hand kept moving to his left side as if to unsheath the sword Folken wisely took from him during the pre-dinner ceremonies. He took a step towards Apollo, his child hood friend looking longingly at Hitomi's backside. "You've found me. I hope you enjoyed your night Apollo, we will meet again tomorrow morning to sign the treaties." Van glared at Apollo, but the man was too drunk and horny to notice the rage emanating from Van's stare. "Oh I guess I'm being put to bed..." Hitomi swayed momentarily before pulling on Van's arm, "Good night Apollo, it was fun meeting you!" Then she managed to turn Van and attempted to walk down the hall, not noticing Van's attention was still on Apollo as he was dragged down the hall. Apollo made a face and went back into the party to find some other drunk and unassuming courtisan.

Van was feeling frustrated and angry with the beautiful woman by his side. He assumed correctly she was leading them to her room so she could sleep it off. Her hand was warmly entwined around his arm and Van noticed whenever she bumped into him her warm breast nudged his side. "Van I missed you all night, I thought we were going to be together. I am pretty sure that prince Apollo was trying to fuck me." Van finally relaxed at the rare use of a curse word and looked down at her. Tonight, the view from above included Hitomi's cleavage and he felt a tightening in his pants. They were quickly approaching Hitomi's room, and the storm could be heard louder away from the noise of the party. "You are probably right, he is a womanizer." Hitomi let go of his arm to open her door and Van stood there forgotten as she passed through the threshold into her room. "Goodnight..." He trailed off as Hitomi swung around, remembering him and without missing a beat grabbed the front of his uniform sharply, "Hitomi! What!" Van's eyes flew open as Hitomi kissed him and pulled him by his shirt into her room, closing the door behind them. Van pulled gently away to look at her.

There was only one source of light; the fireplace, and Hitomi could make out Van's face inches from her own as he leaned down closer. "Hitomi I have wanted to feel your mouth..." He whispered huskily down at her, he was pressing her body into his and she felt a hard pressure against her leg. "I have just wanted to feel you," replied Hitomi as she half smiled and traced Van's lips with her fingertip. His breath was hot on her face, and then his mouth was on hers in a more searching way than earlier in the day. His tongue quickly spread her soft lips and met her own. Hitomi liked the feeling of his tongue slowly circling and reached her hands up to the sides of his head to apply more pressure. As they kissed, Van's hands moved slowly down the sides of her hips to her back until he was cupping her butt.

He grew more aroused as he squeezed and felt her firm flesh through her thin evening gown. Her dress contained none of the extra layers and he swore he felt no underwear. He continued to knead her butt until he could no longer contain himself and he lifted her small frame onto his hips with a grunt. Hitomi willingly hooked her knees around his waist in a way that was familiar to them both. She circled his shoulders and neck and kissed him deeper and more urgently as her hips began to grind into his. "Ahh," Van shuddered and he opened his eyes to locate a chair or couch and almost staggered towards the nearest one. His right hand was working Hitomi's dress, trying to scoot it up over her hips. He fell back onto the couch and Hitomi laughed as she fell with him. She was now straddling him as he sat back, her dress around her hips. Van was wrong about the underwear, and as she continued to kiss him and rock on his lap, he worked a hand between her sweet flesh and the lace of her pink panties. The scratchy lace grazed the back of his hand as he gripped and released her smooth buttcheek.

"Ouch," Hitomi gently bit his lip as he pinched her butt with his grip and he softened his touch. "Mmmm," Hitomi the sensation of the lace pulled taut between her legs. She was surprised when Van gently shifted forward, his mouth moving from hers to down her neck, all the while keeping her rocking harder and closer on his lap. This was much more than they ever allowed themselves before. His lips were hot and soft on her collarbone and then he was moving his tongue on the tops of her breasts, licking in the crevice between them. He moved his other hand from her butt to the top of dress, pushing aside the material from her right breast so he could lick her nipple. Hitomi closed her eyes at the feeling and pushed her breast further into his hot mouth. This urgency surprised them both, and added to their excitement. Van quickly flicked her nipple with his tongue and then began tweaking her other nipple through her dress in rhythm with his tongue. Hitomi's sigh was low and her hands were tangled in Van's dark hair as she pressed him closer. Van had pulled aside her dress and popped her breasts over the collar of her low cut dress, keeping it out of the way. He switched nipples with his mouth and sucked earnestly on her left breast as his hand fondled her hard right nipple. Hitomi was growing wetter in her crotch and found her rocking was getting harder as she tried to increase the friction from his erection on the flesh insider her underwear. Van groaned as Hitomi grinded on him, and suddenly her hands left his hair and were pulling at his waist band, she had found his belt and was loosening it. Pushing his hands and head away from her breasts she kissed him again as she pushed open his pants. He grabbed the edges of her dress and bunched it so he could pull it over her head and they parted momentarily. Van watched as her head disappeared in the silk and her breasts slid free. There was no bra tonight and Van reached to grab her breasts but she was reaching to his pants again. Then, she slid down to the floor in between his legs and brought her mouth to his penis. Van tensed and then leaned his head back as she slid his member in and out, making it wetter. He pulled his jacket and shirt off and then reached for her nipple as she continued to suck on his dick. Her hand was rubbing up and down at the base of his penis in time to her mouth and Van's eyes were falling closed. His other hand gently gripped her hair and held her head down. He was feeling drunker and without warning he pinched and twisted Hitomi's nipple and forced her head down.

Hitomi's mouth overfilled with saliva, and it dripped down Van's penis to her breasts making her chest slick. Her whole body was feeling taut and she was fighting an urge to reach her own hand down to inside her wet panties. She had dreamed of doing this with Van, losing all control and she knew he was enjoying it. Van was now pinching both her nipples with his fingers as he moved his hips in rhythm with her bent head and his mouth was open as he breathed faster. He was going to come too soon but he didn't care, Hitomi sensed this and opened her eyes as Van grabbed fistfuls of her breasts and tensed. She let the saliva run out of her mouth, allowing her mouth and tongue to slide effortlessly over his penis. Gently, she put her hand around his balls and smeared saliva on them, alternating cupping and gently squeezing them. Van jerked suddenly with a grunt and then her mouth filled with his salty semen. She swallowed it without hesitation and then pulled back gently, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Van's head lolled back as he relaxed, his chest covered in a fine sheen of perspiration. Hitomi smiled drunkenly and stood up, only to lean over him and kiss him tenderly on the mouth. Her breasts grazed his chest as she leaned over and he opened his eyes. She smiled at him and then walked towards the bed, where she pulled back the layers of fluffy bedding and got in, sighing as she disappeared under a mound of blankets. Van wiped his penis and his sweaty chest off with his shirt and then took his pants off. He left their clothes in a heap as he followed Hitomi into bed. She was on her side, already breathing heavily and he spooned her so that his now softening penis pressed against her butt crack. He felt exhausted and her warmth caused his eyes to close. Soon they were both snoring.

Van fought to unstick his eyes as the loud banging continued. He groaned at the brightness of day and rolled over. "Hey!" A familiar voice piped behind his shoulder. "Van I think someone is at the door..." At this Van sat straight up, his head pounding in time to the banging on the door.
"Hitomi?!" he gaped as he stared at the naked-from-the-waist-up girl in bed with him. Hitomi was curled against him on her side, smiling up at him. The banging was not stopping. Van groaned, "The treaty! I'm late to the signing." He pushed the covers off and stepped out of bed, pulling on his pants and boots and grabbing his shirt as he stumbled to the window. Hitomi sat up, "Van! Where are you going? What about-" Van stunned her as his wings exploded from his back violently and feathers rained down around her, "I'll see you later Hitomi!" He called as he dove out her window.

Hitomi stared after him before coming to her senses and pulling on her silk pink bathrobe. She slowly opened the door and then grinned when she saw Allen. This should be interesting...
"Good morning Allen..." Allen had retired from the party much earlier than she or Van, as soon as dessert was over he had left.
"Ah, good morning Hitomi," He stared at her tousled hair and hurriedly tied rob and his eyebrows inched up a bit, "Uh, the castle is in an uproar looking for Lord Van. I wanted to come by in case you knew where he was..." A gleaming white feather drifted down onto Hitomi's shoulder. Allen's eyebrows inched further up. Hitomi blushed when she saw it and then turned earnestly back to Allen, "My pillows are down, one burst earlier." Her strong intuition told her Van needed to be protected. She smiled awkwardly up at him and then fake yawned, "Allen I wish I knew where Van was to help you but I'm sure he just got a late start because of the party. I'm too hungover to be awake, I'm going back to bed." Allen stared at her and allowed his eyes to drift over her, the other feathers now falling to the ground in her room, and the bed linens which were tangled all to hell. "Hitomi, you have my utmost loyalty and confidence. Sleep well." He bowed deeply to her and walked down the hall. Hitomi was dumbfounded and knew Allen knew or suspected some crossing of lines. She sighed and dragged herself to bed, where she quickly fell back asleep.