A/N: Thank you all so much for your kind words! I love you all so much for reviewing! Now, this chaper takes place right after Orange. I just couldn't help myself, lol. Oh yes, and I made up my own holiday for it, the Gaean equivilant of Thanksgiving. Enjoy everyone!
093. Thanksgiving
For some reason, Van had the uneasiest feeling about the expression on Hitomi's face. Through the entire dinner, she'd been glancing at him with an odd little smirk on her lips. And it seemed to be directed only at him. Everyone else at the table was enjoying the holiday, only thinking of the feast they were greedily consuming.
It was the Feast of Thanks, a holiday created after the war with Zaibach had ended to celebrate all that Gaea had to be thankful for. This year, Princess Millerna was hosting the dinner at Palace with all their friends invited. Dryden, Duke Chid, Allen, Celena, Gaddes, and of course himself, Hitomi, and Merle had joined her and Princess Eries. Even the Mole Man had been invited and had cleaned himself up for the feast. He was seated on Allen's left, the only person who could get good behavior out of the old man.
Blinking out of his wandering thoughts, Van realized that only he and Hitomi were left in the dining hall, everyone else apparently having retired to the lounge to relax and digest their dinner. Eyeing the mahogany haired girl, he finally couldn't take it anymore.
"What are you planning?"
She stared at him, a look of puzzlement on her features. "Planning? I'm not planning anything." When he narrowed his eyes skeptically she held up her hands. "Honest! I was just wondering if you wanted to try a piece of the pie I brought?"
He followed the direction her finger was pointing at the half empty pie plate, and considered for a moment before nodding. "I think I have room for a small slice." Hitomi beamed, standing up and cutting him a piece, putting it on a plate and coming over to him. Van stared down at the pie, frowning as he took in the orange color. "Hitomi, what kind of pie is this?"
A grin suddenly curved her lips. "Pumpkin."
It took a moment for the word to sink in, and by that time it was too late. He found himself staring at Hitomi in shock, the pie stuck to his face. Chuckling, Hitomi picked up a canister and sprayed a glob of whipped cream on his nose.
"W-w-what was that for?!" he spluttered indignatly, trying to rid himself of the cold orange filling that coated him.
She giggled, leaning forward and dipping her finger into the whipped cream, licking it off as she smiled at the astonished look on his face. "It tastes better this way," she explained, then leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "That was for the pumpkin slime."