A/N: I love you ever so much, my reviewers! You're kind comments are what keep me going! I hope you'll like this one as much as the others! Onward!
044. Circle
Round and round and round. Her beautiful laughter rang out above the childish giggles, making his breath catch in his throat. It was a struggle to keep up his indifferent expression at such a sight as he leaned against the wall, watching them. Well, Hitomi. It was because of her that he was here at all, not for the children. Not that he didn't care about them, it just wasn't the same.
She'd been leaving the palace alone again, and Van, knowing how unsafe it was for her, had insisted upon coming as her protecter. He'd ignored the faces she'd pulled along with her protests and silenced them with a simple threat to tell Allen what was going on. Hitomi had clammed up at that, stalking along, muttering under her breath, most likely about the faults and short-comings of men. He had followed behind her in silence, until they'd reached a part of the city that was being used as a shelter and help center for victims of the attack on the city.
For an instant a feeling of immense dread had welled up in him at the prospect of spending the rest of his day bandaging injuries and sorting items to be distributed. But to his eternal relief, the woman in charge had told Hitomi that she could help best by looking after the children. And so that was way Van was leaning against the wall, watching as the young woman intertained a group of about eight children to keep them out from underfoot of the adults hurrying about. He hadn't recognized some of the games she introduced to them such as one she called Red Rover or Hopscotch. Others he knew well from days with Folken from his youth. Hide and Seek, tag, and Kick Ball.
Then there was this one, the one where she and the children had formed a rough ring, their hands clasped together as they skipped in a circle. Van didn't recognize the chant they were singing out, but it was this image he would remember most from this day. Hitomi, dancing in circles, laughing, her eyes sparkling with freedom and happiness. How long would that light in her eyes last, caged by Allen's overprotectiveness? More than anything, Van wished he could keep her free, watching her dance forever under the summer sun.