A.n.-Wow...oh my, I feel so loved over here! I'm soooo happy you all like this! Thanks for the thoughts on me keeping everyone in character - I'm taking big strains to keep it that way. I always enjoy a story more when everyone is acting IC. ^_^.
Wow, all the reviews everyone sent really made me want to jump in and start this chapter. All I could think about was how eager you were to hear how it was going to go down between Hitomi and Vaan. I hope it lives up to your expectations - I've spent a lot of time thinking about it. Well, enough rambling from me! I hope you all enjoy and please review to let me know what you thought!^_^
Dedication-Litschi, Zinic-Mo, Flor-Desu, ThePinkMartini, Addy, and N. THANKYOU ALL SO MUCH! Your reviews is why this update came so fast, every time I checked my e-mail there was a new one and made me want to jump back into the story. Thankyou all, you're all the best!^_^
Chapter Seven
"Everyone out except for...the woman, Allen and Vaan. Now."
The command was loud, almost seeming to echo through the chambers but Vaan could barely register Chid's voice.
No, his attention was riveted on the crying woman before him. Her honey hair flew over her shoulders past the elbow, emerald eyes even brighter against the backdrop of the silver sheen of tears. It was her, he knew it as easily as he knew how to breath.
"Hitomi..."Vaan whispered again.
And for a single moment, he forgot about the war. Forgot about the Emperor who's long reach had cast a dark shadow of fear over all, about Allen and Chid. It was all completely unimportant against the knowledge that Hitomi, his Hitomi, had finally returned at last.
Before his heart had time to take another beat he had stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tight against his chest. He leaned his head down into the cascade of her hair, breathing deep a long forgotten scent. She smelled of travel and cheap soap, but also that same sweet lilac that he had always associated with her.
Hitomi froze stiff in his arms, neither accepting nor rejecting his embrace. Vaan wanted this moment to go on forever and ever. All those long years apart no longer seemed to matter, and all those eloquent words and phrases he had practiced over and over vanished like mist in sunlight.
Hitomi's head leaned down to rest against his chest, her breath feather light against him. He relaxed at her acceptance, a smile of bliss stretching his full lips. So long he had waited, too long for this moment. He heard her sobs stop abruptly and her shoulders tensed. She breathed deep then jerked from his arms. He was left feeling cold and bereft without her warmth against him.
"What game are you playing at, F-Fanel?"She stammered out, the tears wiped clean from her eyes, her lips in a grim wobbling line. Her posture was tall and erect, managing to make herself look equal to his station despite her brothel-like attire.
Her words had struck a nerve however, and in an instant the sparkle that had descended upon realizing that she was truly there, and not a desperate dream induced from too much vino, shattered. He remembered then his frightened people, the reason he had been pacing this damn castle for weeks grinding his teeth, remembered just from whence she had came. Who she had become.
"Me? I'm not the one playing games!"He shouted, his voice reverberating make enough to make him wince, "You were here! You came back! But not to me! To that...that bastard that thinks to enslave our world! How could you help him! HOW?"
Her face hardened with his very word, her eyes becoming like diamonds and a thousand times as brilliant. Belatedly it seemed to him that his words had only reassured her instead of lancing her deep with the guilt she should have felt.
"I am not unaware of my crimes, Fanel."her voice wavered only slightly, as though she was desperately trying to keep her calm.
"Why do you keep doing that? Are you under a spell? Its me, Vaan. The man you Love, or at least you did! I waited all this time for you and this all you have to say to me? After all these years?"
Vaan's hands were shaking, his heart shattered by her seemingly disregard for him and everything else they had shared. He stared hard into those eyes, eyes he had dreamt of seeing again, lips he had sworn would be the next and last that he kissed. And realized she had not even wasted a millisecond in thinking of him at all. The very thought filled his mouth with a bitter taste of rage and hurt.
Hitomi turned away.
"I did love you." The words came out a rough whisper, her arms crossing against her stomach.
He reached out and grabbed her shoulders and whirled her around, forcing her to look into his eyes.
"LOOK AT ME THEN! WH...WHY?"He hated himself for the crack in his voice, for the pain that was bleeding through.
She wouldn't respond, her lips opening then closing into a firm line.
"You can't understand why."She finally whispered, wiggling in his grip only causing his hands to squeeze tighter.
"Then explainit so I will!"her teeth rattled as he punctuated every word with a rough shake.
Abruptly he was pushed away from Hitomi, his hands wrenched from her shoulders with bruising force. He flexed his thumbs warily insuring they weren't broken from the blow. Allen stepped between her and him, his mouth set in a grim line.
"I understand your upset Vaan, in fact as am I, but I cannot allow you to manhandle her this way."he snapped, ever the perfect knight.
Chid moved closer to Vaan's side, placing a calming hand on the older King's shoulder that was slapped away. Embarrassment and rage had clouded the raven haired man's face, he had forgotten their presence in the bittersweet wake of his abrupt reunion with Hitomi.
"Allen, take Hitomi took the blue tower on the Eastern side of the castle. Have guards posted at all times. See that any needs she has are meet. Instruct all the guards and any others to may have heard of her real identity to keep their silence. It wouldn't do any good for any of the delegates to connect the dots."Chid ordered.
Allen nodded sharply, taking Hitomi by the elbow to lead her from the room. Vaan took a step forward.
"I'm not done talking to her, there's -"
"You are for now."Chid cut him off, "No matter who she is, she is a prisoner of Fried and mine to do as I see fit at the moment. You can continue your discussion when you've calmed down, Lord Vaan."
Vaan seethed, hands clinching at his sides as he stared at her retreating back. She never turned to get one last glimpse of him, the denial of such a gesture wrenched his gut tight with pain. The door thumped closed behind her and the Knight of Cali and Vaan had to restrain himself from chasing them down to grab and demand the answers his soul cried for.
He could feel the heavy blue eyes upon him and when his eyes rose to meet them they were a flaming amber that sent a chill down the young King's neck.
"She betrayed me."he stated flatly, his voice coiled tight in anger and pain.
Chid's head tilted in sympathy, his hands going up in a pacifying gesture, "You don't know that yet."
"Don't I? She had nothing to say to me. Nothing. All these years, I have waited for her. So confident that she would return to me, that our love was enough to span a bridge between her world and mine. And she goes and joins with that - that filthy liar, the so called 'Patron Saint' and..."his voice broke and Vaan shut his eyes turning his back to Chid, his muscular back shaking with all that he could not say.
"You don't know that."Chid replied softly,"She could be under a spell. We don't know anything for sure yet. Don't be so quick to judge."
Vaan's heart took a traitorous leap at the mere thought, and though he tried to squash it, the seed of hope had already been planted. Maybe she was just under some sort of spell. Perhaps she really had returned to Gaea for him only to be waylaid by this Patron Saint.
Perhaps he had heard the stories, recognized her some how, and had taken her and forced her to do those things. To dress like a harlot and claim to be a Goddess, though he had to grudgingly admit that he wasn't really forcing her to do anything on that charge. Hitomi was the Goddess of Wings, rightfully. Her announcing her status was simply...arrogance, and false hope to the ignorant, he supposed.
The seed had been planted and even now its twisted vines went tight around his heart. Vaan left the room quickly without another word, his mind chaotic as logic and fantasy played their game of tug-of-war with his emotions.
Chid watched him go, blue eyes slowly going to a nova as he watched his friend's retreating back. He had known Vaan Fanel nearly half his life. He only partial remembered the girl that had been the acclaimed Wing Goddess. Remembered her compassion, sunny green eyes that had always held a faint sadness, her strange attire...but little else.
His friend was hurting, a man that he had grown up watching from afar, who in his own way he admired for his strength and loyalty to those he cared about. For being brazen enough to always say what was on his mind inspite of what others may thinking or do in response. It was because of Vaan that he was still King of Freid, the reason that Zaibock had not won the war. The debt he owed the King of Fanalia could never be repaid.
This woman had to be an imposter or under some sort of spell, and if she wasn't then Chid was going to make the decision that his friend would never be able to make.
He would kill her, if that's what it took to preserve peace and his friend's sanity.
Hitomi forced herself to walk as though nothing was wrong, fighting to keep her face serene though every step she took threatened to shatter her facade.
Allen lead her silently through the many hallways, the twists and bends that Hitomi only saw through a blur. The winding stair case they were on seemed to go on forever until they reached the top. Allen opened the door and with a helping hand on the small of her back gently pushed her inside.
It wasn't hard to see why it was called the Blue Tower. It was only a single room, only there was a small open doorway on the right side near the entrance that Hitomi assumed was the bathroom. A large bed with blue coverlet and pillows, thick light blue carpets across the floor strewn tastefully about, large cerulean tapestries with peaceful scenery of lakes and flowers adorned the walls. Hitomi stepped further inside timidly, her eyes going for the first time to meet Allen's.
"Why didn't you tell me who you were?"He questioned softly, "Things would have been different if you'd of told me."His voice held only reproach and hurt that she had not trusted him.
Hitomi licked her lips, pulling on all of her energy to allow her face to remain calm and her voice flat, "I am not the Hitomi you thought you knew. And why should it of mattered? Why would I deserve special treatment?"A flush climbed her face, "Would you have acknowledged my 'needs' had you known who I was?"
Irritation and embarrassment clouded Allen's face, "I would have acknowledged them regardless if you had been more explicit about them! And I am sorry about that,"He fidgeted, obviously discomforted by the turn of the conversation, "By the Gods Hitomi, what has happened to you? What has this devil done to you to make you act this way?"
"Nothing, he did nothing to me."
"That is a lie." Allen moved closer, brilliant blue searching emerald as though he could see down to her soul, "I know you Hitomi, just as Vaan does. I cannot fathom why you have done what you have but I know you wouldn't have done it without reason. Did he hurt you?"He rose his hand to caress her face, "You can tell me."
Hitomi slapped his hand spitefully away, fury rising up inside of her, "You don't know anything about me! You never bothered to and neither did Vaan, you only saw what I wanted you to see! He never asked me to pretend the way you did! He never hurt me or..."Hitomi cut herself off, hating the calculating look on Allen's face. "Get out of here and leave me alone, Allen. I have no wish to speak to you."
Allen's face closed, his expression becoming cold as he swept into a low formal bow, "As you wish, My Lady."
With that he turned and left the room, shoulders held tall and proud with stiff humiliation and anger. The door shut softly behind him, the sound of the latch clicking into place was the switch that finally let Hitomi's mask shatter at her feet.
Crumpling down to her knees Hitomi sobbed for all she was worth. Thoughts of Vaan's anguished face blurred in her mind to be replaced with another that held eyes of fire and skin as white as alabaster. What could she do now? Dilandau must know of her capture by now, and she knew that he would be coming for her. Nothing would stand in his way, his sword would cut through everything until she was back at his side.
And Vaan?
Vaan would pay for what she had done in blood and she couldn't even find it in her heart to tell him what she knew. To save his life. To save everyone who die when they came for her. The guilt was choking her, the sour taste filled her mouth.
But how could she betray Dilandau? Had he ever truly done anything to her? Sure he had been overbearing, selfish, possessive and controlling - oh yes he was all these things and more - but there had been moments, small crystal moments frozen in her heart where he had been so much more then the arrogant image he exuded.
It was Dilandau who told her she was beautiful, that had sworn he would never let her go, that she belonged to him and only him. Despite her obvious flaws, everything she hid from another's eyes, none of that seemed to taint his view of her. Rather he relished that it was only his eyes that could truly perceive her in all her weakness. Dilandau would never try to change her, but he would keep her in his gilded cage where only he could hear her mournful song.
Vaan was the opposite of everything Dilandau represented. Brash, compassionate, forever ruled by his emotions, clever in battle but beyond that the little things always slipped through the cracks. Though it was unkind to say so, one would never say that Vaan would make a good scientist.
For a time in Gaea, when she had allowed herself to become a reflection for him, to believe if only for a moment, that someone could really love her and neverbe able to let her go. When she had turned away at last from Allen who represented everything out of the storybook that a princess could ever want, when she had turned to the boy king that had seemed to immature and impatient her heart had swelled with affection beyond friendship.
He made promises, like spun glass and held them out to here, promising that he would never let her fall apart again. They would be alone together, to bear the pressure that each of them had felt so strongly though in different ways.
But he did let go, when the fairy tale came to an end and they'd cast the villain into the eternal night he had let her go without so much as a tearful goodbye. Had she not left him to the doorway for the light? The Energist Pendent around his neck. That had been the key to their doorway between worlds.
Yes,she had loved Vaan for a time. So much that it had hurt when she realized just how bittersweet their love really was. She could not stay, he could not come with her. There could be no happily ever after for them. He had left her there on her own world to rot, how could he claim to of been waiting for her all this time? Didn't he know that she couldn't -no wouldn't - return, how could she face him when so much time had passed between them?
It could be different now though, I'm here for good. I could stay here, with him if he would forgive me. Lie and tell them what they want to hear. They'd believe it, for sure. And then Dilandau...Dilandau would...
The thought trailed off, too horrible for her to contemplate. A thousand moments flashed through her minds eye. From the moment she had seen the once General of the Ryuugekitai again, to when he claimed her as His alone, laying next to her in the Shikoku Asylum with his hands lightly toying with her hair. Laughing at his dark humor, poking and teasing him from time to time, fully aware that retribution would be demanded.
That first night they had been together, in his large feather bed all tangled in black silk sheets. He had been gentle that night, kissing and touching her body as though it were to be worshiped. She hadn't been afraid, and under his talented hands had begged to feel him complete her. The pain had been short lived, washed away quickly in the tides of their passion. He was her first and only lover, a fact that he had been very smug about later.
And every great once in a while - only when he thought she wouldn't see - there was that smile. It was a smile that had nothing to do with destruction or death or irony, it was a real smile. And it never failed to pull at her heart strings. Who would have thought that such a demon could look like an angel.
I can't just leave him. I can't do that.
Hitomi's breath hitched as she fought to get her tears under control. As her mind began to settle as she could the eye of the storm.
Dilandau had never hurt her, not once. Sure he had made her angry, afraid or irritated. And sometimes in their lovemaking he had not been gentle, almost violent when he pulled her hair back and bit hard into neck and her blood had flown like a river. Yes, but she had wanted it. Had only begged for more and more, and he had been all to eager to comply.
But he had never hurt her in the emotional sense. He would never leave her. He was coming right now and nothing would stop him. He was a Demi-God, and his wrath with catch like wild-fire across the nations. She had Seen it. Seen the world that he would create after he purged all resistance and had the vengeance he so longed for.
It was not a perfect world, but it was one that even Hitomi could admire. A world of reason and equality. Allen and Vaan called it slavery, but then they couldn't imagine a world like that. Hitomi came from a world where anything less then that was scorned, she knew what sort of world he would create. Of course all would answer to him, it would be a dictatorship obviously, but it would be a world where all were cared for.
But could she let him kill Vaan and Allen and Chid just for the sake of her Visions? Could she let him kill her friends?
No, she couldn't.
But neither could she betray the man that she had come to lo-...feel compassion and obligation to.
Hitomi sat back on her heels, rubbing her face with the palms of her hands.
What am I going to do?
"-He's brainwashed her, perhaps like what done to Celena. There is no other explanation."Allen finished, shifting his weight from foot to foot in front of Vaan and King Chid.
Vaan sent him a skeptical look as he paced back and forth in the courtyard, his thumb absently playing with the hilt of his sword as he stared at the Knight of Cali. His eyes still blazed with an amber glow and Allen tensed as though wondering if Vaan were contemplating shoving his sword strait through Allen's chest; if only to end this debate permanently.
"I think you're just trying to make excuses for your own embarrassment at not being able to recognize her, Shezar."Vaan shot back, obviously trying to find someway - anyway - to vent the frustration that stalked through him.
Allen narrowed his eyes, "It was dark when we captured her, not to mention when I knocked her ou-"
"You KNOCKED HITOMI OUT?"Vaan shouted in shock, his voice vibrating of the stone walls and echoing back at them.
Allen crossed his arms defensively, "There was no other option. She had a weapon and wasn't going to come quietly, obviously."
"That's no excuse! Shit, Shezar, and I thought it was bad that you made her piss herself on your horse, "he smirked slightly, the amused expression marred only by the irate crunch of his brow, "and I heard all over you as well."
Allen's face flushed an angry red, "And where did you hear that?"
"Your men were talking about it, I happened to over hear it while you escorted her to the Tower. Gaddess was especially appalled by your lack of attention to the matter. What? We're you hoping to keep it a secret?"He mocked.
Allen turned his face away, embarrassment wrote over every gesture as he replied through clinched teeth, "I wasn't aware she needed and outhouse. I didn't. Know. That's. What. She. Needed."
"And you think that's an excuse?"
"No, but I-Shut it, Fanel! Its not as though you were there! You don't know what happened, it was a very stressful operation."
"Stressful? Thats your only defense on that? You fucked up, Shezar, just admit it!"
"Both of you stop it right now!"Chid snapped, "This isn't helping our problem at all."
Allen pursed his lips and forced his gaze away from Vaan to his Lord and King, "I apologize sir, for my lack of control."He said stiffly, relief in his eyes that Chid had interfered.
"Hnn."Vaan growled, pacing farther away from the two as he tried to clear his emotions.
"Now, Allen, do you really think that Hitomi has been brainwashed by this Patron Saint?"Chid questioned, his tone reasonable as he tried to bring them back to the center of their conversation.
"Something is wrong with her to be sure. That wasn't the Hitomi we knew, though after Vaan was able to recognize her I do see the resemblance. Both in her voice and appearance, it is her...but her personality is vastly changed. The cheerful optimistic girl we knew from before is gone. This...shell has taken her place. I don't know what he's done to her, but I think torture may have been involved."Allen read off his thoughts carefully, as though weighing each word in his mind.
"You think he hurt her? Why? Did she have marks over her? Not like you could miss them in what he had her wearing!"Vaan snapped, hatred poisoning his aura and words.
Allen shook his head sharply, "No, but I think its something more subtle then that. And I agree, he had her dressed like some sort of whore. But apparently, in Rowan, it is normal for women to run around in such a fashion. It is a kingdom of complete immorality and corruption. It is likely the reason that the Patron Saint made that his base of operation."
Chid nodded thoughtfully, "So, then what is to be done? How can we break this mind control or spell that he has her under?"
Allen raised a hand thoughtfully to his chin, "I don't know,"He replied honestly, "Surrounding her with familiar faces and as familiar an environment as possible is all we can do for the moment. Maybe Vaan can reach her, you were the closest one to her the last time she was here."
Vaan turned on his heel, "Yes. That's true. Maybe I can reach her."He nodded, jaw firm with determination, "I'll do whatever I can to get Hitomi well again. To get her away from that bastard."He spat, jealousy coating his words.
Chid sighed, "Whatever your going to do, you've not much time to do it. My scouts say that the Patron Saint has made his move. His armies are marching their way from the Lower Kingdom to ours, and burning all that lies in between. He will be upon us in a fortnight at best."
"Does he have any GuyMelifs?"Allen questioned, ever the practical one.
"Not as many as ours, in that area we are by far superior. But that isn't the issue, in a man to man fight he has us outnumbered."
"Impossible!"Vaan snapped, "There's no way that he has been able to amass enough of a force to even compete with our combined power."
"No, its not. He's combined all of the Lower Kingdom's. I had hoped that King Franco of the Kingdom Rol'tang would become our ally but it appears the Patron Saint has eyes everywhere."Chid lowered his head slightly, "Had Franco turned to our side it would have been a crippling blow to The Saint's weapons and 'Melif supply. As it is, last I heard he was dead and replaced."
"The Lower Kingdoms are all under one banner, every able bodied man has joined the fight. Even with our superior technology I am worried. This war has the potential to span through the generations."Chid finished, his voice taking a melancholy tone.
All there men exchanged hard glances, hair standing to attention as they contemplated what lay over the red horizon.
Dilandau's men had paused for the night, he sat in his General Tent going over the documents for the war. He had already ordered more supplies to be sent to them, more wagons and for the Guymelif armor to be sent up to the entrance of the Smokey Mountains. He could hear the shuffle of his men outside, joking and laughing, there was even a bit of wine being past around.
Dilandau didn't mind, he had sentries posts several miles in each direction that would warn them if any one decided to poke the sleeping bear that was his army, and they had been marching for days. Dilandau was a leader that understood that moral needed to be kept among his men. And not all were allowed to join in the festivities, there was a rotation for that. One that was paid strict attention to.
However, if they were hung over at dawn and tried to hold up the group in their march to take the Upper Kingdoms, every single one knew the price of impeding their Lord and Savior. Riding into the gates of Freid and attacking with worn out men and sluggish horses to retrieve his Seer was unacceptable. He would have Hitomi back, but he would not go rushing in like a fool in love.
No, this had to be planned out the T if he was get the revenge he so deserved. His men would be rested and full of battle fire by the time they reached Fried, he would stoke the fire of their righteous rage and in doing so they would hand him everything he wanted on a silver platter.
And besides, Dilandau was a man who had always known how to plan in advance. It was the reason why Zaibock had made them their General in the first place. Though he had been accused, never to his face except by a superior officer whom he couldn't kill for one reason or another, of being insane and cruel to the point of malicious - none had ever had the gall to say he wasn't a magnificent warrior.
And he was, war was the world that he thrived in. It was something that he wasn't just good at, he was great at it. He pushed the documents and letters aside to pull out a map of the Upper Kingdoms. They were passing strait through the Mystic Valley right now, and it was a strait shot from there to the Gates of Fried.
That was what they expected him to do, anyway. So, obviously, Dilandau was going to do the opposite. Oh yes, some of his force was going to attack the front gates. But himself and the majority of his force was going to pass through the Smokey Mountain to attack Freid at its soft underbelly. The pass was small and narrow so Dilandau wouldn't be able to use his vast numbers to his advantage - but neither would Fried. And the pass had been in disuse for more then a decade. King Chid would never expect it.
As for their 'Melif's, Dilandau wasn't too worried about them either. His spy in Freid had already sent a carrier hawk to inform Dilandau that Hitomi was in fact a prisoner of Freid, and that his plan for taking out all of the Guymelif's was ready to go at Dilandau's order. Without the brute force of their machines, Fried would fall to him within a day.
He had choosen his spy carefully, one that appeared innocent enough that he would go undetected but was completely and utterly loyal to Dilandau. The obvious choice was that of one of his former Ryuugekitai, who else would be suited for such a covert operation?
Dilandau leaned back in his chair, a smile of anticipation on his lips.
It wouldn't be long now, no it wouldn't be long at all.
Allen Shezar walked with an unhurried pace to the Guymelif hanger, there was still much day light left and Allen wanted to work of some of his frustration training in Schezarde.
The hanger was mostly empty, only a few soldiers shuffling about here and there. Many of Fried's fine Guymelifs hung along the walls. Most were exactly the same, a simple build showing off Freid's colors. Nothing was out of the ordinary. He had been hopeing to run into Gaddess or even G'Mal or Troi but he hadn't seen them the rest of the day. Probably avoiding his wrath, Allen assumed, for even speaking about The Incident. The thought still made his teeth grind.
He paused as he neared Schezarde, a muffled feminine giggle catching his attention. He paused, creeping slowly around the corner of the hanger to see a tall man with a crown of curly blond hair standing next to Schezarde, he was dressed in a gold tunic and brown pants, the emblem of the Fried was on his right shoulder proclaiming him an official servant of the Royal Family.
Near him was a girl laughing in a high titter, she was dressed in a simple blue dress of a modest cut but was a couple sizes to small; allowing her ample bosom to overflow the bodice and draw attention to her tiny, hour glass waist. She was not beautiful, her nose was a bit to large and her mouth to wide to be classified that way. Her eyes made up for that though, a surprising grey that were fringed with dusky black lashes.
"What are you doing to my 'Melif?"Allen barked, disturbed there presence.
The blond haired man put hand disarmingly behind his head to ruffle his hair, smiling sheepishly, "I'm sorry, Sir Allen, Lady Astrid was curious about the GuyMelifs in the hanger...and everyone knows that yours is the most magnificent...I just thought I'd give her a look...I'm sorry if we've disturbed you."He said slowly, his left arm going out to circle Astrid's petite waist.
The girl giggled softly at the title the man had given her, shyly lowering her lashes before flickering them back up demurely at Allen, "Yes, I'm sorry."Her voice was breathy, as though she had been running and Allen smirked as he realized that he must have interrupted, "It won't happen again."
For the sake of saving face, Allen kept his expression stern,"See that it doesn't. On with you both, this isn't the place for servants."
The man and woman nodded, murmuring more apologizes as they slunk slowly past the night. Abruptly Allen whirled, suspicion lighting his eyes once more.
"Your name boy, what is it?"
"Why...Chester, Lord Allen, I'm one of the Royal Servants for His Majesty King Chid."Chester replied, innocent blue eyes wide.
Allen nodded sharply, gesturing for them to leave with his hand as he turned his back to them. Allen ran a possessive hand down the leg of Schezarde. He couldn't shake the feeling that was something cold and malicious behind those clear, cornflower blue eyes of Chester.
Just battle nerves...getting all worked up over nothing. So he brought her to the Hanger for a chance to get to feel a pretty little serving girl up. Back when I was younger, I would have done the same to impress a girl.
Yes. Surely that was all it was. He was just jumping at shadows.
Surely.
Hitomi smoothed her hands over the floor length silk green dress that two of the servants had brought by. Pretty twin girls with chestnut brown hair and large doe light eyes, and a floating grace to them that made Hitomi's heart as green as her eyes. They're names were Mai and Kai.
The girls had chattered constantly, never prying for gossip from Hitomi but not really needing any. It was mostly talk of the new nobles that were prowling the grounds. Apparently a good many of them were the most handsome and striking men either girl had ever seen.
They had made quick work of bathing and washing Hitomi's hair, combing then braiding it into a single plait down her back. Hitomi had endured it all without much comment, enjoying the relaxing sensation of being pampered over again.
The dress they had brought for her was made of fine, heavy silk. It had a modest bust line and empress waist line, white and light blue flowers were embroidered at the hem and stretched up to her thighs. Long bell sleeves to her ankles as well. The heavy material impeded her every movement. After becoming accustomed to the more freeing and cool clotheing of Rowan, her skin felt suffocated and confined by the lavish material.
Mai and Kai had left Hitomi after their dressing her was complete and for the last few hours Hitomi had sat at the window sill staring out at the clear blue sky, contemplating ripping the gown off her and seeing how long it took the heavy silk dress to hit the ground.
If they had left her Rowan attire, or any thing else to wear, out of sheer boredom Hitomi would have found out.
Knock, Knock, Knock
The abrupt sound nearly made Hitomi fall out of her chair. She stood slowly, shakily, stepping down from the window and around the wide blue bed to stand in the center of the room. She straitened up, smoothing any expression from her face.
"Enter."She was proud that her voice didn't waver in the slightest.
A guard entered first, "May I present, The Lord of Fanalia - Vaan Fanel."
The pimply teenage guard nodded sharply, stepping to the side to allow Vaan to fully enter the room. The guard shut the door behind him quickly, leaving Hitomi and Vaan alone.
They studied each other critically for a moment, Vaan searching for a weakness in this shield she had thrown over herself, Hitomi feasting on seeing all the changes time and caused on her second love.
His hair was longer, held in a pony tail that went down between the shoulder blades but was still has wild and unruly as ever before. Eyes the color of faded rose petals still burned with that same courageous and prickly pride that she remembered. His face had filled out and matured, golden brown skin stretched taunt over rough features that never would be classically handsome - like Dilandau or Allen - but were still appealing to the eye.
He was dressed in a light blue tunic with a long white over coat, tiny dragon claws were embroidered around the buttons and at the cuffs. Leather black pants and boots completed his attire. No longer was he the boy who would be King, but the Man who rightfully deserved the title. His bearing was there in every gesture, but as was the brash impatience that she had come to know well in her last visit to Gaea.
He crossed the room slowly to sit at the small sofa crammed into the corner. He stood up almost immidently, pacing the room with a fiery aura that Hitomi could see growing around him. Any moment, she knew, he was going to explode.
"Why are you here?"Hitomi asked calmly, ripping the wind from sails before he had a chance to launch into his tirade.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that, Hitomi?"he growled the question, pausing in mid stride to glare at her with hurt eyes.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean."Hitomi side-stepped, not wanting to answer.
He stepped in front of her, angry eyes boring a hole into hers, "Don't play stupid with me, Hitomi! Why were you with him?"
"I have my reasons."
Vaan's face flushed an ugly brick red as he turned away, hands going up behind his head to ruffle his hair, "Damn it, Hitomi! That's not an acceptable fucking answer! I want the truth! What did he do to you! What the fuck happened to make you act like this!"
His attack stung deeply, but it had also struck a deep reservoir of frustration Hitomi had been harboreing since her return to Earth. Wanting, needing a release but never having one except for the drugs she had dulled her senses with. She reached out then and jerked his arm, forcing him to face her. Emerald eyes seemed to glow with the dark emotions that rolled through.
"Well that's just it, isn't it Fanel? You wouldn't know! You left me! I went back to my world after living a fairy tale to what? NOTHING! Your promises were NOTHING."She raged, stray strands falling in her eyes as she jabbed a finger at his chest, "You never meant to stay with me, ever. You just abandoned me and I was supposed to be okay - well I wasn't."
"I didn't want you to go! You were the one that wanted to return to the Mystic Moon, I wanted you stay. I've been waiting for you to come back! I love why can't you understand that?" Vaan retorted, more irritated then ever at her half inch height advantage.
"I left you the key, ding-bat! How could I ever come back?"
"How was I supposed to know how to use it?"Van jerked the pendent from his neck, holding it out to her, "I've...I've worn it all this time, waiting for you to come back and...be my Queen."he finished softly, the greif in his voice dousing Hitomi's rage with ice cold regret.
Hitomi walked away from him, eyes staring vacantly out the window. The sun was just begining its descent.
"I can never be what you want me to be, Vaan."She said softly, turning to look at him over her shoulder.
"Why? Because of Him? Because of whatever he's made you do? I know you Hitomi, and I know that this isn't you. I don't know what he's done to you, but we canfix it. I'm willing to forgive you, Hitomi, for everything."He said, moving to stand directly behind her.
But could I forgive myself? Not only for those who have and will die...but for betraying what my heart really wants? But then...Dilandau doesn't love me. Not once has he ever said that he did. How can I give up something that I never really had?
"And besides,"Vaan continued, his voice dropping into a husky octave as he touched her shoulder, "With you by our side we can stop The Order before it becomes too much of a threat."he turned her around gently, hands going down her arms in slow, languid motion, "You can help us destroy them and we'll make that bastardpay for whatever he did to you. And then, you and I can go back to Fanalia and be married. We'll have the happily ever after we should of."His voice was low, but persusasive as his arms wrapped tight around her shoulders.
My power. That's all he wants. Its all they ever want. How they can best use me to their advantage.
The sorrow was almost more then she could bear, squeezing her heart tight and making tears fill her eyes. Vaan stared hard at her, a small smile taking his lips as he took her sudden sadness as joy at his forgiveness, at his love finally getting through to her at last.
He wasted no more time and dove in for the kiss that he had spent so much time waiting for. Her lips were soft against his and in shock Hitomi's lips opened under his in a gasp. Vaan took it as passion and leaned hard into her, she tasted of strawberries and molasses. So sweet it was dizzying.
Hitomi wrenched herself away from him, a meweling cry of protest escaping her lips. Without a thought Hitomi's hand was up and cracked angrily across his face.
"What do you think your doing?"She gasped out.
Blood filled Vaan's mouth and for a moment he didn't move and only stood there as though he had been frozen solid. Slowly, his head turned to face his and the love she had seen there had been doused by fury and confusion.
"Why are you doing this, Hitomi? I thought..."
"You thought wrong."Hitomi replied shakily, "All you want is my power, its the same as when he fought Zaibock. Its all you've ever wanted from me."
"No, it isn't. We can win this war without your help, and maybe after I cut that bastard's head off then you'll finally come to your senses. Maybe then you'll see that all I've wanted is you."
Hitomi's eyes widened at the thought, her hand jumping to her throat in a nervous gesture.
"Who is the Patron Saint? Give me a name, so that when I kill him I know who I'm cursing to burn in hell. Tell me who hurt you."
Hitomi swallowed hard, backing a step away, "He didn't hurt me. He is the Patron Saint, that is all."she replied.
Vaan shook his head slowly, "I don't understand you, Hitomi. How can you protect someone so evil."He reached out to touch her only to have his hand curl into a fist half way there as she flinched in anticipation, "But I'll find a way to cure you, then everything will be alright. I'll save you, Hitomi."
With that, Vaan turned on his heel and walked away, shoulders trembling with the effort it took for him to end that conversation there and not keep going. The door slammed hard behind him, shaking the frame.
Hitomi watched him go with glassy eyes, she turned and looked out the window. The sun was setting on the horizon, shots of orange and red mixed with pink made it seem as though the sky was making a prophecy of what was to come.
Hitomi closed her eyes, twin tears making trails down her cheeks.
What am I going to do?
She thought desperately, hearing only silence in response.
End Chapter
A.n.-Whew, that was a long one. Hopefully not too long but there was a lot of ground work I needed to lay n' such for whats to come. I hope that you all were satisfied by the meeting between Hitomi and Vaan, I've been planning for it for a few chapters now. I'd absoutly love to hear your take on it. I'm trying real hard to keep everyone in character - I hope I'm succeeding^_^. Sorry for the lack of Dilly-sama again, but I promise there will be more of him in the next chapter. :) Please review! ^_^