"No, you can't be serious! What will your father think if he finds…"
"He'll never find out, Yukari." She looked at Yukari, who's pacing back and forth in front of her.
"But what if he finds out? What will you do then?" Yukari asked, as she stood stiff by the window.
"He will never find out! You hear me!" she walked towards Yukari and pulled her so that she's facing her.
"He will never find out unless you tell him?"
"But Hitomi…"
"No! This is my choice and you have no right to stop me! I will do what ever I want to do, whether you or father approve of it or not!"
"I already know that." Yukari answered.
"Good. Now, all I need to do is to go to his room and give him what he wants…" She started walking by the adjoining door where Van sleeps.
"I think it's a bit early, Hitomi." She heard Yukari said. She instantly stopped.
"You're right. He must be still outside my door. Well…all I need is to wait…" She sat down at the edge of the bed. She saw the weariness on Yukari's eyes.
"I'll be fine. You better go to bed and get some sleep." She suggested with a smile.
"You worn me off too much already, you know that. All this outrageous scenes and decisions making me so weary and quite drained. I just wish…" she couldn't continue as she gave Hitomi an uncertain look.
"You wish what?" Hitomi asked.
"It's nothing." She said as she walked towards the door.
"Oh no you don't…" Hitomi jumped and blocked the door.
"Come on, tell me Yukari."
"I just wish that I'll always be here for you even though you don't listen to everything I have to say at least you still consider them." She gave Hitomi a small smile.
"What are you talking about? You'll always be here with me. Not unless you leave. Are you leaving?" Hitomi asked worried that she wouldn't like the answer.
"Someday. When I get married or when you get married."
"What! You're not getting married! I mean you're not getting married anytime soon, are you?"
"Of course not! I still need to find the right man for me." Hitomi looked relieved as she grinned at Yukari.
"You scared me. And I promise that I won't get married anytime soon." She gave Yukari a smile.
"Now, there's no need to worry. You go to bed while I wait here."
"Hitomi…"
"I'll be fine. I always am." She said as she urged Yukari to leave. * Yes…you always are. But I'm afraid that you'll run out of luck. *
She sat by the fireplace. She couldn't sit still, images of what might happen keep flashing through her head. She stood up and slowly walked by the window. She looked up and stared at the star filled sky.
* Stop worrying, Hitomi. Everything will turn out fine and you'll have what you want. * She drew a deep breath and stared at the adjoining door where Van Fanel sleeps. * If you think I'll give up that easily, Van Fanel, you're quite wrong. If that's what you want why then I'll give it to you, wholeheartedly. * She smiled and sat by the window.
As the clock strikes midnight she slowly stood up and opened the door to Van's room.
"If you want me to read you a bed time story, Princess, I'm not in the mood." She stopped and stared at the naked back of Van Fanel as he stood by the window, looking outside. She gasped and stared at his back, full of scars, the light from outside the window gave her a chance to see clearly.
"What do you expect, flaw less back from a warrior like me?" She looked back at his face as he turned around. He's wearing the same expression when he was fighting her, cold and hard.
"No, I don't expect anything. And I'm not here for you to read me anything." She answered.
"If you're not here for me to read you bed time story then what did you came here for?" He slowly walked towards her.
"Stop right there, Van Fanel. I'm here to tell you what I have decided." He stopped.
"In the middle of the night?" He sat down at the edge of the bed and looked at her. She couldn't take her eyes away from his naked chest. * Why did he have to be half naked? *
"Well…I'm waiting." He said as he smiled at her, knowingly. She shook her head and turned away.
"Will you please put something on?" She said annoyed. She walked towards the window and looked outside.
"Why? Don't you like the view?" She could hear the laughter on his voice.
"No. I don't like it at all, so if you don't mind put something on before I tell you what I have decided."
"I like to sleep this way, Princess. And I don't give a damn whether you like it or not."
"Fine!" She turned to him.
"I don't care whether you're naked or not too! Now, listen you pig head. I've decided to give you what you want. You want me for a night? You can have me." She gave him a bright smile. His eyes widen in surprised. She could see by his expression that he didn't expect that kind of answer from her, but he immediately recovered and a small smile tugged at his lips. He walked towards her. * Oh no you don't. *
"You stop there. I don't want you to come near me." She said. He looked confused.
"Is this some kind of joke?" he frowned at her but did stop.
"No, its not. You said 'I want you for a night'. You can have me for a night, Van Fanel, but no touching."
"What?" he exclaimed and then laughed.
"Van Fanel, you didn't specify when you said that you wanted me for a night! So, if you're thinking of doing something, forget it, because all I'm giving you is a night with me in the same room and that's that, you hear!" He stopped laughing and slowly approached her. She backed away until her back touches the wall by the window. * Here he goes again…why he has to be always so close. * He slammed his both hands on each side of her head by the wall making her jumped by the sounds it made.
"You're clever. I should have known better than to think you'll actually give me what I want." He said his voice husky but a slight of coldness in it that she actually shivered.
"I'm not stupid! And, yes, I'm cleverer than you think! Now, if you'll just step away and go to sleep, I'll stay by the window." She turned away. His scent and everything about him keep on distracting her. She felt his right hand caressed the side of her face she immediately turned.
"W-what are you doing?" she asked wide-eyed.
"Hmm…soft…who would have thought that a face like yours held so much strength inside? So much cleverness…stubbornness…" she slapped the hand away.
"I'm not stubborn! How many times do I…" he touched her lips to make her stop.
"Also talkative..." Before she could even protests, his lips touch hers. * Damn, here we go again… * she thought before all her senses crumbled down. All she could fell is the way he kissed. The way he made her feel, as he kissed her slowly, gently. Her knees felt so weak; she had to take hold of his chest. She felt her heart racing; she might have thought it even missed a beat. The heat of the kiss, his breath as it fanned to her face ade her feel urgent. * No, I shouldn't be doing this…this can't be happening…* with all her strength she pulled away. She took a deep breath.
"Damn, you're beautiful." She heard him whispered as they stared at each other. Slowly she watched as he placed his head at her shoulder, breathing deeply and nuzzling her neck. * Beautiful…he thinks me beautiful…* She had no idea how it got there, but her arms are already around his neck, as she hugged him tighter. She buried her face against his head. * This shouldn't be happening and yet it feels… good *
"You better get back to your room, Princess, or else I just might do something that we'll both regret." She heard him said against her neck. * He's right. I should better leave. But…no! I can't I need him to train me. I can't leave not yet. * She pulled back and pushed him away, at first he didn't bulged but he did pulled away a little.
"No! I'm not leaving, yet. I'll stay here and you'll stay away from me. I need you to train me by tomorrow. I'm keeping my end of the bargain and I need you to keep yours too, is that clear?" He slowly smiled.
"As I've said, stubborn." He pulled away and walked towards the bed. He pulled the covers.
"Come here." He called at her.
"What?"
"I said come here."
"No! Are you crazy? I said…" before she could even finish what she was saying he was on her carrying her like a sack again and dropped her in the middle of the bed. She tried to sit up but he was on her in an instant laying beside her his hand wrapping around her waist.
"Get off me you pervert!" She said. He pulled himself on top of her.
"Quiet." He commanded his voice hard and cold that she immediately shut her mouth.
"Good. Now get some sleep." He pulled away. He was on his side facing her with his arm still around her waist. *I should have known better than to wear a nightgown… *