Chapter 12

They stood facing the mirror, Hitomi was washing her hands and face after changing into her sleeping gown. Hitomi had not been able to find him after he left their group in his rage and she had returned to her chambers to wait for him. She knew he would seek her out. Van snuck in while she was in the dressing room, removing layers of the fabric that clothed her; and had angrily called to her from the foyer: "I'm coming in!" He braced himself for what he might see and rounded the corner; he was relieved that she was straightening her skirts. She smiled up at him before going to the sink. Her calmness calmed him. Always.

Van impatiently watched her drying her hands, she could see he wasn't as angry but he still had an obvious need. His face was set in such a serious cast that she wanted to make him feel better. "Van, you can't let them make you angry. I only love you.." She walked up to him, close enough he could smell the soft floral scented soap from her clean face, and smoothed the fabric at his shoulders. He looked stoically down at her, as she continued to gaze up at him. She stood on her tiptoes, and he was glad for a second of his height. He might grudgingly believe that the few encounters she had alone with Apollo were only verbal in nature, but he didn't have to make his belief known to her just yet.

She just was able to reach his chin to brush the stubble there with her soft lips and he moved suddenly, catching her up in his arms and hungrily kissing her neck. She muffled her shriek against his hair as her hands, previously gentle, clutched at his shoulders. Her hand tightened and tugged at the hair on the nape of his neck, and she pressed her body to his so he could see how devoted she was to him. His hands were rough and everywhere, but she let him have his way, whatever he needed to feel better. He pulled back from her mouth and locked eyes with her, appreciating her flushed cheeks and breathless gasps. She smiled at him, and moved her hands through his hair at the back of his head, causing tingles to race across his scalp and he shivered. "I'm sorry Hitomi. I have many doubts." She kissed him in reply, and led him to the bed, where she pushed him to sit. If she sought to reassure him through physicality, she knew him well.

"Would you like to undress me, my lord Dragon?" She asked innocently, as her hand loosed his buttons on his shirt and pants. He watched her, doubt plain on his face. Hitomi paused and kissed him warmly on his cheeks, his nose, his mouth. "I will never leave your side Van. These tests will only strengthen our love, and our strength in Fanelia. You were right to come to me." His face relaxed and a lovely light seemed to fill his eyes, eyes locked on her and her body. He grunted a reply, and reached for her, sliding the strings on her shoulders down over her arms; peeling her dress down her body so it fell to the floor. She lifted her foot out of her dress and came to sit on his lap, moving his shirt away as she reached to stroke the skin of his belly, chest and shoulders. They kissed and touched, and Van felt much better once he had her beneath him, moaning his name and sweating like she had just finished a track race.

In the morning, the couple were having breakfast in bed as Boris finished packing their trunks. Hitomi was reading a book about dragons that Boris had brought her from the Queen. Boris had also brought news from Folken that he would be leaving ahead of Hitomi and Van, to escort Apollo to Fanelia. Van thought his brother likely decided it was too risky traveling all together and hoped there was no active plot that he should be worried about. Boris gave no further indication that there was more covert intelligence to be considered and Van let the morning slide by, content to have Hitomi under his arm as he finished his tea. He wanted more peaceful mornings like this, with no schedule, no need to attend to anyone else. Hitomi eventually slipped from his arm, not without her share of kisses and warm touches, to go bathe.

Van took the opportunity to ask Boris about traveling to the Mountain Fortress after they returned to Fanelia. Boris had just finished the last trunk, and was himself drinking a cup of tea. He had a sword strapped around his hips, and he looked a little dejected. "My King, I am not sure now is the time to leave Fanelia." Boris told him thoughtfully, steam rising from the cup at his lips. Van stared at him, it was rare for Boris to share his opinion. "What troubles you Boris? Is your family not well?" Boris averted his eyes, "Thank you for asking, they are just fine. It is a critical time for Fanelia." Van acknowledged his words and demonstrated his agreement with a nod of the head. Reluctantly, Van dropped the subject and pulled on warmer pants and jackets, to face the icy air and journey back to Fanelia.

Aboard their airship, Van and Hitomi had enjoyed a quiet afternoon of travel. Hitomi had watched the lands below, as the skies were cloudless, she was applying her geography lessons with an adviser she didn't much like. Most of Fanelia's advisers had gone ahead with Folken, but two, the hated whitebeard and this other man were with them and Boris. They had their normal contingent of Fanelian soldiers, but Boris and Van were enough to protect them both. Hitomi thought she did rather well in identifying mountain ranges, she mixed up the names of two large lakes they saw but she had them correct at least. It was not enough to impress her tutor however, and he insulted her intelligence rather passively before taking his leave for the evening meal. Hitomi decided not to tell Van, though Boris was present during the exchange and looked angry enough.

Hitomi was in bed, the gaslamp turned low, pretending to read. She was really watching Van undress for the night, he usually slept in only underclothes or nude. His habit still caused her to blush, remembering her strict gender training back on Earth, sometimes she thought of what her mother would say. It didn't really matter, since they were engaged and Hitomi enjoyed knowing Van felt completely at ease with her. Van was half facing her, and he was slightly folded over at the waist as he removed his boots and warm woolen pants. She watched his long back stretch and tighten, he seemed like all muscle to her. His flat and heavily toned stomach creased at his hips when he bent over; she wanted to slide her finger through that space his skin created. She glanced down at her belly, covered by a nightgown and poked her index finger into her soft tummy. She frowned to herself and huffed a sigh, she had to keep running if she was going to stay fit and match her future husband. When she looked up from her belly, she caught Van giving her an uncertain stare. She flushed and giggled nervously, awkwardly tossing her book to the bedside table. His uncertainty slid into a familiar pouty frown, one that she recognized from their youth when he thought he was not being taken seriously. Everything about him drew her to him.

He walked towards her, his features hardened by the lone lamp. Her heart pounded furiously as she ran through explanations of what she had been doing. The bed dipped as he put his weight onto it, one arm on either side of her body. She sank lower into the pillows as his face came nearer to her own and hoped he wouldn't feel how her body was absolutely on fire. Hitomi gasped as Van's head dipped lower than her mouth and kissed her on her belly, then he was looking at her critically, studying her reaction. Hitomi's mouth hung open and she flushed an even darker red.

"Van...I.."

His features transformed into a smirk and then he did it again, dropping a kiss on her belly and he didn't stop. Slowly, he kissed his way up to her breasts. She felt the feather light touch of his mouth on each of her nipples, one after the other and she reflexively arched her back. He was getting so good at seducing her, though he had always had that power over her. She wondered if he had always known that. She was pulled from her thoughts and surprised when he said "I had such a difficult time concealing my desire, Hitomi. That day in the stable when I said I wanted you with me always...I meant it. You are forever testing my control." Hitomi searched his eyes, darkening with every second, and breathed, "Don't hold back. I don't know how long I can love you, but as long as the stars are above us, I will, and longer if I can." They kissed deeply and Hitomi snaked her arms around his broad back, feeling him cradling her as he gently laid them down. The sheets slipped from her body and Van took the opportunity to reach under her dress, caressing her inner thighs and legs. Her breathing hitched and she arched again, languidly sliding her body against his belly and lower. Van pulled away from her after another moment and grinned that grin again, before he moved down the bed and carefully propped up her legs.

Hitomi relaxed as he kneaded her long legs, and caught the way he cupped her calf muscles in admiration. He looked at her, and she smiled at him, she felt so peaceful and loved. He didn't break eye contact but he dropped kisses on her raised knees, and she shivered. He smiled, most of his mouth concealed by her thigh as he slid his mouth to the juncture where her legs and body met.

"Van..." She sighed quietly and let her eyes fall closed. His mouth was hot, her body was hot, and soon enough her sighs turned to soft cries. Van blew out the lamp and pressed himself around her, she felt so secure and drowsy so she let sleep take her as Van continued to breathe into her hair. His breathing slowed and soon the Dragon slept as well.

Hitomi struggled to gasp for breath as thick dark smoke clouded the air around her. She was gripping a wailing child in her arms, and the heat was too much for them to last for long. "Van!" She called in terror, recognizing burning tapestries. Black feathers appeared from the clouds of smoke, and rained around her. She felt the tears on her baby's face and realized her fingers were red with blood. "What..." She whispered in agony, then screamed for Van again. Suddenly, a huge boom sounded behind her and she whirled around to find Escaflowne stepping heavily from the smoke. "Escaflowne!" She shouted, and flashing green light lanced out and blinded her. She coughed desperately....

"Hitomi! Come now!" Hitomi woke wildly from her dream to Boris' stern voice, and promptly started choking on the smoky air. "What-Where's Van?!" She cried as she moved quickly from the bed to grasp Boris' hand. He looked extremely focused and grim, and he started running from the room, tugging her along. "No time, save your breath and run." A huge shaking interrupted him and they were thrown against the wall opposite the door. Not missing a beat, Boris grabbed her wrist, yanked her up and they started running again. Two staccato booms shook them again, but Hitomi was focused on her breathing and following Boris, he had let go of her and was leading her to the main hangar aboard the airship. Suddenly, the largest boom of all caused the entire airship to groan and start to sink to the right. Hitomi shrieked as debris rained down on her, but she continued to move behind Boris, who had cast a glance behind to see if she needed help. She noticed for the first time that Boris was bleeding from somewhere that was concealed by his shirt. He also had dark stains on his right leg, just above the back of his knee.

"Is this a dream?" Hitomi thought, horrified as she felt a piece of metal graze her as another explosion shook the ship. The lights flickered and then came a huge red fireball from the main hangar, where they were headed. Boris narrowed his eyes angrily and yelled, "No!" Then, an explosion shattered the walls around them and Hitomi felt an odd floating sensation as she and Boris were pulled, with huge pieces of the ship, towards the ground that was thousands of feet below.

Soon enough, she realized she was screaming as she fell from the ship and she lost sight of Boris as metal and burning pieces of the ship fell between them. "Where is Van?!" She refused to think of him left on the ship or worse-.

Distantly she heard her name and relief flooded her, "Hitomi!"

A huge rush of air accompanied the arrival of her love, and she realized Van was bearing down on her atop Escaflowne's Dragon form. He easily piloted the melef to catch her and she landed in Boris' arms, sobbing, while Van steered them away from the burning airship. Hitomi saw no other survivors.

Several miles away, they watched together in disbelief as what remained of the airship crashed into the side of a mountain. Grief wracked Hitomi as she thought of how near she had come to losing Van and Boris, losing her own life, and how certain it was the lives of all the men onboard sworn to protect she and Van were at an end.

"How did this happen?" She sobbed, clutching Boris' shoulders. He had not set her down yet, and was gripping her strongly against the wind that whipped around them. Van did not reply, but he looked viciously angry. Boris sadly hugged Hitomi and said quietly, "It may have been a plot on your lives, miss. But we are alive, and we will go home." He raised his eyes to his king, who steadfastly weathered the icy gusts in nothing but his pants, and turned them towards Fanelia. Several hours later, the first fingers of pink sunrise greeted the trio as the spires of Fanelia's castle reflected the light from the sun. Van finally turned to Hitomi once he saw his country laid safely in front of him, and pushed his thumb down her dirt and tear streaked cheek. She looked up at him with mournful, searching eyes. "Thank the Gods Escaflowne appeared again, Van." She trembled. He moved his thumb over her lips and said, "You are safe. Thank the Gods." His eyes moved past her to Boris, who was doing his best to stay upright behind Hitomi. "Boris. You are hurt. We need to get you to the healers." Boris' eyes focused weakly on Van, but he didn't look normal at all. "My Dragon, I will see you safe to your brother's side. Only then will I rest." Hitomi started crying silently again at Boris' unspoken agony and the reality of needing ongoing protection. She felt unsafe and insecure, feelings she hadn't felt so overwhelmingly in such a long time. Van flew them behind the castle, to the gardens bordering the Dragon Forests, and they landed in the quiet dawn of morning. No one came to greet them, but Hitomi could see Van and Boris preferred this quiet.

Van left Escaflowne and took Hitomi's hand, while keeping Boris in his sight at his side. They moved slowly, through the castle's back gardens and then through the indoor garden and conservatory, that was heated warmly to aid the plants and vegetables growing there. Hitomi was reminded of her dream, her nightmares always held blood and fire, and she resisted adding meaning or future wishes to them, for now she would hope they were just nightmares. Perhaps omens of ill things to come, as this one had been, but nothing more. How she hoped their children would never experience the violence and bloodshed she still experienced. Her thoughts paused and turned as she thought of children with Van. She squeezed his hand as they walked through the inner walls, to avoid being seen, and towards Folken's chambers.

xoxo