"Hitomi, please stop. He's far too strong. Please, Hitomi…" Yukari pleaded.

"No I won't. This isn't over not until one of us…surrender." Her voice determined.

"But…"

"I've had enough." They both jumped looking at the approaching Van.

"Good, because I've also had enough! I want this over and done." She watched him walked towards her, his stance rigid, serious. * Yes, Van Fanel. I want to know how much excellent you're boasting about. * He slowly drew his sword but still walked towards her not charging. She waited her hand ready for any assault. He moved running fast towards her. Sword meets sword with a deafening sound that shatters silence. Her right hand wavered. She gritted her teeth. She could feel the impact of the blow from hand to elbow until it reaches her shoulder. He moved closed, his head inches away from her.

"You're stubborn, Princess but stubbornness will not lead you to success." With that he slammed his sword once more against hers. Her whole arm wavered once more but this time she couldn't contain the moan of pain escaping from her mouth.

"Good. You do know how to fight. But your skills are not enough." And once more he slammed his sword but this time she backed away, escaping the blow.

"Too slow." He breathed then with a swift move he was already upon her. His sword once more slammed against hers and this time she gasped from pain and dropped her sword. She got down and picked the sword and dodged the upcoming blow.

"Damn you." She whispered.

"I've been damned many times in my life, Princess. Yours is of no difference." He was about to strike again but she moved fast slamming her sword first against his. She repeatedly drew her sword and strike until he backed away blocking her attacks.

"I…don't…care!" she screamed against each blows. She could already see defeat as she stared at him. With each one of her blows he didn't waver, not once did he waver. He didn't sweat too while she could feel sweat trailing down her chest and back. * But I'll never back down! Never! You'll have to make me unconscious to defeat me Van Fanel because I'll never give up! * She watched as he stepped back with each of her blows but with little effort.

"Damn you! Fight!" With both hands she brings down the sword but he easily blocked it.

"If you say so." She heard him say and with that he pushed her sword away from his. She was looking at her sword that she didn't saw his other hand fisted coming towards her until it was too late. She gasped; she felt his fisted hand slammed against her stomach. She slowly dropped to her knees dropping her sword and slowly clutching her stomach.

"That was dirty fighting…" she panted looking up at him as he sheathed his sword.

"No it wasn't. I've been told that you always like to trip your opponent when fighting. You would have done the same with me if I weren't good."

"If you think this is finish, you're wrong." She slowly picked up her sword and was about to stand up when he dropped to his knee in front of her and grasped her face with his hand.

"You will listen to me, Princess. Accept. Defeat is already right in front of you." She could felt tears threatening to fall but she blinked it away. * He's right, damn him! *

"No. I will…" before she could finish what she's going to say he pressed his lips against her. Everyone stared, wide eyed. And then he roughly pushed her away.

"Accept." Then he pulled her up but the pain in her stomach wont let her stand up straight. She slowly looked at him.

"Why did you kissed me?" she asked afraid of what the answer will be. He looked down at her and then laughed.

"What's funny?" she demanded, angry. * Why does he always do that? *

"You talk too much. I couldn't think of anything to make you shut up." She looked at him appalled. * To make me shut up! My second kiss is given to me to make me shut up! *

"Why you bastard!" she tried to punch him but her stomach wont let her. She held it and tried still to strike him but he already moved away. He keeps on laughing.

"You shut up! What kind of excuse is that for kissing a woman?" she couldn't contain her anger.

"I'll have your head Van Fanel!

"A very good excuse, my Princess."

"Don't call me your Princess, I am not!"

"I didn't call you your Princess, I called you my Princess." He answered then laughed at her face.

"Why you!" she walked towards him but the pain in her stomach is already taking toll of her whole body the she collapsed once again to the ground.

"Do you really have to hit me that hard?" She shouted at him as she massageg her stomach. She didn't saw him go down beside her. She let out a shriek as he carried her in his arms.

"And what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"You talk too much." And that was that. He carried her to the castle to her bedchamber. He dropped her in the middle of the bed. edited

"Rest. You're sweating like a pig." He said but not before he heard her comment.

"I didn't know that pig sweat." He was out of the door containing the laughter that is threatening to burst once again.

"Oh my, I'm still shaking." Yukari said sitting beside her.

"I couldn't believe he kissed you. He's lucky that your father wasn't around. He told me that he doesn't want to watch you being defeated." Sadness filled her eyes as she stared at Yukari.

"You know very well that you'll lose. He's skilled and smart."

"Oh! Will you stop praising him already! How many times do I have to hear that he's good, excellent, amazing, skilled and anything in between! Enough! I lose and that's that!" she burst and turned away from her.

"Hitomi…"

"Please Yukari I want to be alone. I'm fine and tell that also to father. There's nothing to worry." She heard Yukari walked out of the door. She turned and stared at the ceiling.

"Yes… you know very well you'll lose and yet you wanted to prove it differently. You want to prove not only to them but also to your self that you can defeat anyone… that you're strong, that you're skilled, that you're invincible enough to defeat him…" she whispered as she turned to her side, starring outside the window.

"I will mother, someday, I will defeat the man who killed you and when that happens…" she slowly closed her eyes as her mind went back to that night.

"No!!!" she screamed.

He slowly pulled out his sword away from her mothers' chest. He looked at her that same evil smile lurking.

"Too bad you had to see that, Princess." She wanted to vomit as she watched him licked every drop of blood in his sword. His eyes closing as he savored every drop.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" she screamed trying to stand up. He sat down beside her and laughed, laughed so hard she could feel the fear building inside her chest but tried to suppress it.

"I won't kill you, Princess. I want you to tell your father who killed your mother, I want you to tell him about the man who wounded his only daughter, and that mans' name is Dilandau, Princess, remember that." Then he laughed again. She pulled a dagger pressed against her chest and with an amazing speed slashed the man in front of her in his cheek. The man screamed, holding the side of his cheek as bloods streak through his fingers.

"Why you bitch!" he kicked her wounded side. She cried out but blinked away the tears.

"You will pay for this, Princess." He was about to kill her with his sword but a soldier prevented him.

"No you can't. We need her alive. The Master told us not to kill her." He let out a roar and pushed the soldier back and stabbed him with his sword.

"I'm not stupid!" he turned back at her.

"This is your lucky day, Princess." He then turned towards her mother lying on the floor. He kicked her mothers' body.

"No!!!!" He repeatedl kick her mother before he stopped panting and laughing.

"You are pathetic. It's better for you to live so you'll know the pain of losing someone without doing anything." Then they left with him laughing.

She slowly opened her eyes and whispered.

"I'll be the one laughing."