ch 7
AN: I just realized errrryone be taken a lot of baths in this story ;) whatevs I get a lot of thinking done in the bath too.

The pillows let off a gentle puff of feathers as Hitomi rolled off Van with a gasp. She was sweaty, and she realized that it must almost be noon. Van's thickly muscled chest rose and fell rapidly, and he still had his eyes closed in his bliss. Hitomi had not orgasmed this time, and she was feeling sore. This feels so good and right. We were cheating ourselves before last night. She languidly rubbed her palm on Van's chest, feeling the texture of his skin change where his scars crossed his chest and abdomen. He had nearly died from that wound, she remembered. She had started to truly love him that night as he collapsed in her arms. Her clothes had been almost entirely soaked in his blood, her sobs and cries for help lost in the pouring rain that engulfed them. Van's soft snore roused her from her memories, and she smiled at his open mouth.

The sun was so high, she wondered why no one had sought her or Van out yet. Avoiding the occupants of the palace had been their combined and yet unconscious goal. She admitted to herself she did not know how to feel about Van's actions. It both frightened and angered her that he would attack Apollo for telling the truth. Apollo's method was not effective, he is too rude to talk to Van. It was not the time or the place, but he did not deserve to be threatened by death. Hitomi's sensitive and sympathetic nature reached out and she was stunned to find she could sense Apollo's presence close by. She stepped into the bathroom and washed up quickly before sliding into her school skirt from Earth and a comfortable blouse. She slipped out of the bathroom and saw Van still snoozing. Without waking him she left her rooms quietly.

Hitomi found Apollo on the same terrace where Van had escaped to the night before. His eyes followed her as she walked towards him. Hitomi could feel his anger bubbling inside him, but it was not directed at her. He reminded her slightly of Van in his earlier youth. There were so many unresolved issues within him. She mustered her sunniest smile and bowed slightly in greeting, her actions reminiscent of her home world.
"Good morning Crown Prince." She stayed bent until he acknowledged her, as Merle had stressed over and over in their lessons.

"Lady Kanzaki." He allowed before turning away again to study the palace yard below. It was a warm day, the wind was blowing hot air instead of cool breezes and Hitomi wished momentarily for the sea. She tucked a piece of loose hair behind her ear before moving to stand next to him. His dark hair was tied back and he was wearing a black tunic over grey breeches and soft leather boots. It was not too far a costume from Van's usual red tunic and tan breeches. She recognized his sigil colors and realized for the first time that everyone on Gaia usually only wore their nation's colors.

"What are you wearing?" The sudden question made her blush bright red. She had forgotten she was supposed to be a Vulcan priestess. Hitomi smiled nervously and said, "I saw a girl in Palas wearing similar clothing while traveling with Van, I had them made." Apollo stared at her steadily before saying, "You look more a prostitute than I have ever seen you." His words finally elicited a reaction he could anticipate, but his hand gripped her wrist before she could slap him. Apollo smirked down at her as he said, "I thought a priestess such as yourself would have more self control, would punish me with a spell. It is treason to lay a hand on the King-to-Be."

I am worse than Van! At least he was allowed to defend his country against this man's poisonous words. I am still just a girl from the Mystic Moon. He is infuriating! Hitomi now could understand why Van had acted as he had, and her face softened for a moment before she snapped, "Let me go. You are the rudest person! I came here to try and be friends." Apollo released her, a look of confusion in his eyes. Clearly, he had not been told he was rude in such a direct manner. "Friends?" He asked, his tone still icy as cold steel, "Why would I want to be friends with the woman who is destroying the hopes of my people?"

"Because I don't even know you or your people. Why should I convince Van that what he did was wrong? I wanted to be friends so that we would not be enemies." Hitomi's reply was quick, but not given without thought. Being around various courts and empires had given her experience in challenging dead-end questions...her strength in diplomacy grew with each new exposure. Apollo surprised her again with his loud laugh. She was so strange and different to him each time she spoke to him. He found himself appreciating her shapely legs and fiery spirit. He would discover the true nature of her origin soon enough.

"You should have given me some credit you know. It was my idea calling you a Vulcan Priestess." His earlier annoyance had changed into something more neutral. Hitomi responded readily, "I didn't think you would remember anything from that night. We were so drunk. Folken thought it was very smart. He was surprised I even knew the phrase 'Vulcan Priestess'". Hitomi studied Apollo's blue eyes, light as the sky in the sun's haze. She was smelling that cinnamon smell again and her temper had cooled completely. Her maturity and growth reflected her moody tendencies by tempering her once frequent outbursts. Now, she was not so quick to speak out of turn; her travels and stay in Gaia had illustrated the real dangers her words sometimes brought. Apollo leaned closer, until his scent overwhelmed her and murmured, "I remember much of that night. Your ass looked so good in that purple dress. You were the first red head I have seen since I traveled far from these lands...and skies." Hitomi suddenly remembered that Apollo possessed the wings of Atlantis. She was beginning to blush again at Apollo's proximity when she heard her name being called harshly. They both turned and saw Van striding toward them angrily, Allen in tow. Allen was concealing his emotions under his trained knightly exterior but Van's eyes were sparking again.

Irritation clouded Apollo's blue eyes and he faced his child hood friend. Hitomi dipped immediately into a curtsey, hoping to startle Van from his war path. It worked and he stopped in his tracks, Allen almost colliding into the Dragon's back. Apollo seized the opportunity she had created for him, "My Lord Fanelia," He began smoothly, neatly bending into a truncated bow, "Please forgive my rudeness last night. I deeply offended you and I did not mean to. I spoke from my heart, instead of my head. For the love our mothers bore each other, let us set aside my hasty words." Van did not know how to react, Hitomi could read the uncertainty in his posture; his hand on his hip and his familiar sulky frown on his face.

"I will give you leave this time," Van stated firmly, "But you must understand I will need time before I can speak with you again on such a personal level." Apollo recoiled sharply at his words that were meant to create distance. "Personal level? Our mothers were almost sisters." Van looked sad at the mention of his mother, and Hitomi could feel the intensity of the emotions these two men shared for their families. Duty bound them to their kingdoms, but they had loved their mothers more than their countries. She stepped towards Van and placed a gentle hand on his arm, instantly feeling her love overpower his internal struggle. Van met Apollo's troubled eyes and replied, "I welcome you and your Queen Mother to our wedding, but leave by this evening. I will think about what you said yesterday, I swear it. Be satisfied with the treaty as the first step to legitimacy and loyalty between our kingdoms." Hitomi's heart swelled with love. Van usually surprised her when he acted with both firmness and diplomacy, traits Folken and Allen had been trying to pass on to him.

Apollo nodded mutely. He met Hitomi's eyes one last time before reaching behind his neck and tugging his tunic over his head. Hitomi tried not to gaze too long on the hair on his chest, or the three curved scars that curled around his hip to his back. His white wings shot from his back, and with three powerful flaps, he was high above them. "That one is trouble," Allen finally muttered in a terse voice, "But you did well Lord Van. Folken will be pleased this was settled out of the public venue, away from your scheming advisors." Van briefly set his chin on Hitomi's head before turning to walk away. "I need to meet with Folken anyhow." He left Allen to walk Hitomi back inside. Hitomi looked up at Allen, her eyes full of questions. She opened her mouth but Allen ordered, "Don't Hitomi. Just leave it for once."

"Emperor Chid of Freid, Duke of all Freid's lands and temples; his Lady Aunt Princess Millerna Fassa and her husband Lord Regent Dryden Fassa of the First Merchant Lords of Asturia, First Advisor to the King of Astoria; Ser Allen Shezarde, Commander of the Astoria Frontierlands Garrison and sworn shield to Lord Van Slazner de Fanel, Dragon of all Fanelia." Hitomi gaped at Kara as she rattled off Hitomi's friends' titles and relations. They sounded so formal and…noble. She groaned and sunk deeper into the bath, wishing she had the memory of her serving girl. "Must I address them by their title?" Hitomi asked as her scalp was scrubbed red. The serving girl made no reply, but both of them turned sharply at their lord's voice. "Yes, after a time, you will be expected to name their titles as easily as you name your lover." Van stood leaning against the bathroom door, arms crossed. Kara dipped into a deep curtsey and whispered, "Your grace." Hitomi frowned: what right did Van have coming in and disturbing her bath? "Van, get out! I'm bathing!" To tease him, she brought her hands up to cover her breasts, even though the bubbles were enough. The serving girl's eyes were huge as plates at Hitomi's response. Van narrowed his eyes at her but she felt no anger from him. "Out, girl," Van growled as he straightened and walked towards Hitomi's tub, "I have words for my future Queen." The frightened girl scuttled out, shutting the door behind her.

Hitomi frowned again at Van; sometimes his actions were so reminiscent of the sixteen year old she had first met. Brash, rude and harshly aware of his role and title. "Why do you have to be so scary all of the time?" she asked as she brought her hands from her chest and reached for her soap. Van shrugged as he settled on the side of her tub, "Better to be feared than loved," He quipped easily. He was wearing his soft dark brown leather vest that allowed his chest to be shown; his scars gleaming with condensation from the steam in the bathroom. Hitomi splashed water at him for his stupid words, "You don't believe that. Otherwise you wouldn't have been so nice to me. You wanted my love." Van stared at her menacingly through his now dripping bangs, "Are you sure?" He asked in such a low rumble she barely caught it. Her skin broke out in goose pimples as he leaned forward and kissed her while pinching her nipple tightly under the hot water. It made her gasp in pain and he let go as he pulled away, his soft smile back on his face. "Don't do that, Van." Hitomi murmured, as she welcomed the jolts of electricity running through her nerve endings. She shook her head seriously at him, again teasing and he stood abruptly. He tugged the stained vest off and let it drop next to her neatly arranged towels and bed clothes. He carefully laid his sword on her towels before pulling off his breeches and kicking off his boots.

Without warning, he turned and stepped quickly into her tub. Hitomi shrieked as he sat heavily, the water sloshing onto the floor and soaking his tangled clothes. "Van! Don't you ever think!" He out right laughed at her irritation and replied, "Of course." Hitomi couldn't see his hands under the water and bubbles, but she felt them as soon he gripped her hips tightly and pulled her forward into his lap. "Give me the soap," he commanded lightly as soon as their bodies touched and parted from the buoyancy of the water. She smiled at him finally, and turned slowly so he could wash her back. He soaped quietly, the only sound in the room were echoes of splashes as he dipped his hands and the soap into the water. Dropping the soap so it disappeared under her bubbles, he reached his lathered hands around to her front and rubbed her breasts, chest and shoulders clean. She leaned back into him as he cupped hand fulls of water and rinsed the lather from her skin. He held her silently for a few peaceful moments before asking quietly, "Why did you seek out Apollo?" He dropped a light kiss on her neck which caused her to shiver. "I did not think he meant to truly insult you or Fanelia. I could sense his hurt." She turned her head to search his eyes, he seemed to be thinking about something. Hitomi read the subtle flickers of doubt in his eyes and she pressed her lips to his, kissing him long and deep. "I didn't think so either, but that did not make his actions acceptable." Van finally replied as he lazily grazed a finger from her ear to her shoulder. Water trickled down her front.

"How do you understand your people's perception of you, Folken...your mother and the Draconians? I wonder Van, since learning of Atlantis and its people how your views have changed. I feel if this encounter with Apollo occurred before our adventures together that you would have killed him without the hesitation of last night!" Hitomi's hands gripped Van's forearms that were resting on his legs in her emotion. Van's brow was wrinkled, and his tone had not lost its edge: "None of that matters now Hitomi. Draconian or not, I still am my father's son. I rule Fanelia. Folken abdicated when he ran away and that is all my people care about: that the rightful line of succession has progressed." Hitomi's voice was a whisper now, and tears suddenly threatened to spill out. It was hard talking to Van like this, getting him to bare everything and drop all kingly facades. "But don't you ever fear that someone still hates you because of your angel's wings?" Van suddenly understood that her fear ran deeper than his kingdom's whims or conflict between Draconians and Fanelia. "Hitomi, no one is taking me away from you. Ever." He gathered her in his arms, as close as he could and pressed her against him. Hitomi allowed a few tears to slip out, now that he could not see her face. Even faced with the prospect of war (that had solidly been averted), Hitomi worried that old hatred would not die. That blood would run for blood. Politics and family histories were hard to comprehend, let alone her complex feelings about Van and their future marriage. "Apollo was trying to make me angry. I am not sure what is going on, if the Forbidden Kingdom has learned of your true origins and is trying to threaten me with veiled accusations, but you do not need to worry about it. You have enough to worry about here at home." The word made Hitomi cry a bit more, seeing as this would always be her adopted home.

Fresh grief bubbled out of her and she was grateful she and Van were already wet as her tears fell faster. Van pretended not to notice, Hitomi's free emotions were often a mystery to him. She switched so quickly from anger to tears. It was so different from his Fanelian life, but not so different from his mother. Sniffling in a final way, Hitomi raised her head and looked up into Van's calm red eyes. "I don't want my fingers to be raisins Van." He finally allowed a smile, and he brought her finger tips to his mouth, kissing each one. "Then let us move to dryer ground."