A/N: Thank you so much for all the positive feedback you guys! Reviews make me feel very happy. They're like cookies to me! I hope you enjoy this one as well!
024. Family
She and Merle were fighting again. Not that it was anything new. Hitomi had almost become accustom to the spats between her and the younger catgirl, and though most of them were of a friendly nature, that didn't change the fact that one round could still leave her irritated. What made things worse was everyone else seemed amused by her clashes with Merle. Millerna, Dryden, Allen, the entire crew of the Crusade, and Van. Especially Van. He would sit there, watching them fight with that odd little smirk on his face, and make that little 'hmph,' sound- the sound that was closest to laughter he ever got.
That in itself was enough to keep her complaining about the mischievious catgirl to a minimum. She made Van's mood lighter, which was something Hitomi hoped would happen more and more, maybe even to the point where he would actually laugh a real laugh. That and the fact that she knew Van and Merle were a package deal. Get one, the other came along.
Hitomi had begun to realize just how important they all were to her- not just Van and Merle, but the others too. The facade of the spoiled princess had faded from Millerna, and she was as much a sister to her as Yukari and Merle were. Dryden could almost be a father with his lecturing tone, and the way he was determined to keep everyone somewhat in line. Then there were Allen and the crew of the Crusade, all as protective and teasing as a group of brothers. They were her family, with ties just as strong, if not stronger, than those of blood relation. But what was Van's role to her in their family?
There was no way he was her brother, and she certainly didn't feel that he was like a father! Casting a sideways glance at him from under her eyelashes, Hitomi felt warmth rising in her cheeks. There was only one thing left he could be to her. Her future husband.