Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Heart of the Dragon ❯ Is This Day Crazy or What? ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter Six: Is This Day Crazy or What?

Allen knocked on the door and when no one answered, he got worried. Both Hitomi and Van were light sleepers and woke up to every little sound, or at least he thought they did. He pounded on the door harder and still there was no answer.

He opened the door and saw Hitomi and Van pressed up together, sleeping naked with the light blanket covering them at the waist. He couldn't see anything but Van's back and Hitomi's arms wrapped around him because they were locked together. A big grin became visible on his face and he closed the door. I'll bother them later, he thought and walked away with Merle in tow.

"What were they doing? I didn't hear anything! What time is it? Eight? Shouldn't they be up? Why won't you tell me anything?" Merle asked, walking in front of Allen and forcing him to stop and try to dodge around her. She was too fast and determined to be sidestepped. He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. It was a mess and he didn't care. He sighed again, realizing she was having one of her annoying times.

"They are sleeping. No, don't even think about it, they're extremely tired. Now why don't we go and find Amano or Yukari and see what we can do while Hitomi and Van are sleeping."

"Amano is at the practice field as you well know it and Yukari isn't feeling good. So we are stuck with each other's company for the time being," Merle said primly and got out of Allen's way.

"Learned a much more extensive vocabulary while I was gone, haven't you Merle?"

Merle's chin went up and she smiled proudly at what she had become. She stepped onto a stair leading down to the hall and she fell, crashing down the whole way to the bottom.

Allen heard her scream and watched her fall and collide with everything on the way down, her skirts flying everywhere. She landed in a heap at the bottom of the grand staircase, her head cracking against the marble and reverberating throughout the hall. She was spread out, her neck at an odd angle. He paled and ran down the stairs, almost falling himself. He went down on his knees and checked her legs, arms, and neck to see if anything was broken. When he didn't feel anything, he examined the back of her head for the swelling and found an enormous knot forming. She wasn't dead, that much he knew because her chest was rising and falling. He shook her gently to try to wake her up but she didn't even make a noise. Allen picked her up and went back up the stairs cautiously, supporting her neck as best he could. He opened the door to the room that was closest to them, which happened to be hers.

He kicked open the door and walked over to the bed, carefully setting Merle on the bed and checking her over again. He inspected her head a second time and he heard a small whimper of pain come from Merle's lips. He felt immediately better and relaxed, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Merle opened her eyes and didn't in the least savor the feel of the instant appalling pain in her head. Tears came to her eyes and they poured over.

Allen watched as tears gushed from her eyes. "Oh, Merle don't cry, it will only make the pain worse. Do you want some ice?" At her tiny nod, he got up and told her he would be right back.

He returned to find Merle passed out or sleeping, which he didn't know. He gently lifted her head and placed the ice wrapped up in a cloth beneath it. Her eyes lifted and Allen observed as pain slashed across her face. Her hand lifted up to her head and she cried out when she touched the rising lump. Allen grabbed her hand and shoved it to her side. Merle closed her eyes and sighed, keeping her hand at her side. Her entire body hurt, especially her head and neck. She was so incredibly embarrassed.

"I hate you," Merle said and reopened her eyes, discomfort showing in them.

Allen's pale eyebrow raised and he got a questioning look on his face. Merle frowned at him and explained. "If you wouldn't have complimented me, I wouldn't have fallen."

"Oh, so every time someone compliments you, mostly males if I guess right, you fall and break your head?"

"What do you mean mostly males?! Are you accusing me of something!!?" Merle yelled, lifting herself off the pillow. She fell back down to the bolster and groaned, the pain getting worse.

"Maybe," Allen replied, wondering what Merle was getting at. He stood up and pulled a dark blue over-stuffed chair to her large bed. Allen looked around the room for the first time, noticing how unfeminine it was. It was dark blue and white, it was that simple. Her bed was situated in the middle, chairs just like the one he was sitting in occupying the four corners. A large window was placed on the wall facing the garden at the side of the palace. A fireplace sat in front of her bed and he could almost imagine Merle staring into the flames late at night, not able to sleep. A dresser with a large mirror stood next to her armoire. He shook himself, wondering why he cared about her room so much.

Merle blinked, not comprehending why he was looking at her room so closely. "What? Now you don't like my room?" she spat at him.

Allen grinned and said, "I didn't say that now did I? I happen to like your room. It's so unlike any other female's chamber, like Millennia's for example. You would think for a doctor that it would be simple, but it's all pink frills. I can assume that it isn't anymore because she is married," Allen stopped, remembering Millerna and the pain he had felt when he had watched her get married. He almost winced, but shut himself away from the pain of remembrance.

Merle wondered at the sudden blank expression that came over his face but asked, "What did you mean when you said 'maybe'?"

"Well, considering how I am constantly seeing men stare at you like some sort of delicious treat, I would think you hand your favors out," Allen said, pretending to study his buffed fingernails.

Merle's eyes widened and she almost gasped. Hand her favors out? "Get out," Merle whispered, staring at the empty blue and white marble fireplace in front of her.

Allen waved his hands in front of him, knowing that he had gone too far. "Merle, I was just kidding...don't take it seriously, you just hit your head, you're not thinking clearly."

"Not thinking clearly am I?! Get the hell out of my room before I scream that you're...raping me!"

Allen's eyes narrowed when he heard her curse. "What kind of lady are you?" he asked, standing up and placing his hands on either side of her body, getting right in her face.

Merle gawked at him, wondering what he would do. He cannot do anything to me, she thought and thrust her chin in the air.

"That's exactly why you fell down the stairs," Allen said and stepped away from her, her scent intoxicating his senses. What is wrong with me? He rubbed his temples, a headache coming on. I need a woman and fast.

"Get out before I slap you and tell Van something he won't like. And then I'll tell Hitomi and she'll attack you because she has become very protective of me."

"Protective of you? I thought she hated you! Well, not quite hate, but you know what I mean! What is going on?" Allen yelled, throwing his hands up in the air.

"I don't have to tell you. You'll just make fun of me and call me a whore," Merle said and pointed to the door. She saw Allen stare at what she had said and she felt tears spring to her eyes. Her head was killing her, Allen was treating her horribly, her life was a mess, and now she wanted to cry. How pathetic can I get? She brought her hands up to her face and bawled.

Allen went over to the bed and gathered her against him. She tried to pull away from him but he wouldn't let her. He could tell that she was utterly horrified of him. What was wrong with her? He felt her tears leak through his shirt and he sighed. He hated it when women cried. It made him feel helpless.

"What is it with men treating me so horribly? I never even do anything to them..." she sniffed and cried some more. Allen ran his hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her nearly hysterical wailing.

"What do you mean?" he asked quietly and rubbed her back repeatedly although it didn't seem to work.

Merle stiffened again and pulled away from him. He gave her a concerned look and waited for her to answer. "I'm sorry..." Merle started. "But...I can't tell you." She looked away from him and held the blanket to her chin although she was swamped with a dress that covered everything.

Allen glared at her, getting mad at her a second time. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her almost uncontrollably. Merle didn't make any noise until her head snapped back and she yowled from the pain in her head. Allen felt immediately regretful and pulled her back against him, saying sorry to her and telling her what a jerk he was for practically abusing her.

"Allen please, just stop saying you're sorry," Merle said and hugged him in reassurance, even though at the time she wanted to punch him just like Hitomi could punch people. Too bad she would break her nails and she didn't want that.

"But I hurt you...again. I just want to know what it is that you won't tell me-"

"If you stop saying sorry I will tell you," Merle said and he was instantly quiet.

Merle pulled away from him and sighed. She couldn't believe she was going to tell him this. "A few days ago, Yukari, Amano, Hitomi, and I were down in the city, doing whatever we wanted because we were bored and Hitomi was depressed thinking Van would never come back. Well anyway, I got separated from the group and found myself in some alley. This man came up to me and started to...harass me. I didn't like it and I fought back, scared about what he would do to me. He ripped my clothes and started...touching me and he got me in a position that I was totally helpless in and I couldn't fight back. All I could do was scream and he stuffed some dirty rag in my mouth. Apparently Hitomi had noticed I was gone and had went looking for me. I guess she heard me scream and came running. She found me almost half-raped and as good as unconscious because he had repeatedly hit me. She kicked him in the groin and punched him. She took off her shawl and gave it to me so I would be covered. We went back to the palace to see if I was all right. I was in shock for the rest of the day and I couldn't tell anyone anything. I only told Hitomi and now you. I was afraid about what people would say about me and think I was...damaged goods or something and no one would marry me when the time came." She stopped and said, "I hope you don't hate me or something." She watched anger come upon his face and watched his hands clench into fists. She got scared and wondered what he was going to do.

Allen noticed how terrified she was of him and calmed down. He wanted to kill that man. He took a deep breath and un-fisted his hands. He said none to calmly, "Do you know what he looks like?"

"I remember everything. He wasn't a homeless person or ugly or something. He was actually quite handsome. He had black hair and green eyes, he was tall and strong. He wore nice clothes, almost like he had some sort of a high position. Not like a king or noble, but like a samurai or whatever. He wasn't drunk or anything. Why did he do it?"

Allen could have told her she was beautiful and had everything a man could possibly dream of in the body of a woman, but he was supposedly a gentleman and a knight and he had to stick to the ways of chivalry. He said instead, "I don't know. Lay down and get some sleep. I'll check on you later," Allen said.

Merle almost smiled back at him but her head was pounding. She laid back and closed her eyes, not knowing how to feel about what she had just revealed to Allen. And that hadn't been the only occurrence of it either. Things like that had happened before, but not anything near as bad. One time a man had forced her against the wall, but she had just laughed and slapped him, walking away as if nothing had happened. However, it had started to get worse, like men grabbing her and treating her like some sort of a loose woman. Nothing had bothered her as much as a few days ago, though. She felt tiredness tug at her and dozed off.

Allen got up off the soft bed and walked across the mostly white and blue carpet. It had a nightgown thrown on it and it laid in a small pile. He stepped over it and opened the door and walked out, shutting it quietly. He was so furious he didn't know what to do. What right-minded man would do that to an innocent girl? No, he amended, she was a woman and had the body to prove it. He strode to his room ready to kill anything in his way. He had an idea about what the man looked like. Merle had said that he had dressed like a high ranking person. Van only had about twenty of his own trained samurai and his generals, so he could search them out. If any of them had black hair and green eyes, he would kill them. He was happy that the person wasn't low-ranking, else he would have had a problem. Van had an enormous army that was growing by the day, and he was thankful that only a small portion of them were high-ranking samurai.

He grabbed his blade and pulled on his leather belt, sliding it into his sheath. He normally had it on, but he had just gotten up before he had gone to Van and Hitomi's room. He smiled, remembering them curled up together naked and only covered at the waist. He was ready to tell Van what had happened, but Merle trusted him and would be so embarrassed if he told him.

He went out of the palace to the training field where he knew Amano would be. Amano would know the people well enough and he could ask him.

He found him bared to the waist, his torso gleaming with sweat and covered in dirt, fighting a much more inexperienced young man. Considering that Amano had been here for almost two months, he had learned more than people did in years. Maybe it had to do with those "movies" Hitomi, Yukari, and Amano constantly talked about.

Amano dislodged the man's sword and it flew through the air. He caught it and bowed to the young man. The poor boy thought he was going to die or something because his expression was terrified. Amano patted him on the back and told him he did well for a beginner. The young man went away, talking to the other boys who were beginning also.

Amano put on his shirt, covering the dirt he was engulfed in and walked over to Allen. Allen's face was set in anger and he was pacing back and forth, his fists clenched. Amano had never seen him mad and he wondered at it.

Allen waited for him to come over and didn't even explain anything. He said, "Do you know anyone who has black hair and green eyes?"

"Uh, I think I know two. One's name is Danes and the other one kinda creeps me out. I talk to Danes all the time. He's a nice guy. Why?" Amano asked, confused still why Allen was angry.

"One of them is going to die," Allen muttered and stopped pacing, his eyes closed and his hands unclenched, trying to calm down.

Amano blinked. "Do you want to know where they are?"

Allen nodded and followed Amano to the huge barracks where the men rested, slept, and washed. They both went inside and looked around. Amano pointed out Danes and Allen knew he couldn't have been the one who had done that to Merle. He was too...innocent looking. Amano walked away to the other side of the room and pointed out the one he had called 'creepy'. Allen went over to him and picked him up by his white baggy shirt, choking him.

"Do you know a woman named Merle?" Allen asked and shook him, throwing him against the wall.

Felion smashed into the wall hard and hit his head. He rubbed it and asked in a deep voice, "What's it mean to you? I should kick your ass!"

Allen stood calmly, anticipating what the man would do. Felion stood up and tried to punch him, but Allen ducked out of the way cleanly, grabbing his hand and twisting it. The man cried out in pain and tried to take back his arm before Allen broke it. Allen twisted harder and the man started begging him to let go.

"Do you or do you not know Merle?"

"I wouldn't tell you in any case, you bastard!"

"Bastard am I? We'll see outside," Allen said and let go of his arm, shoving him out of the lodging the whole way. "Unsheathe your damn sword before I kill you now!"

Felion unsheathed his sword along with Allen. He could see how mad Allen was and got scared. Will I die for a stupid mistake? He wiped the sweat off his brow and tried to control the trembling that had started when Allen had told him to grab his sword.

Allen circled him, jumping slightly to scare the man. Felion came at him first and Allen's blade clashed against his. Men started gathering around them to witness the fight and cheer who they thought would win. Allen was a much better fighter than Felion and by the time five minutes went by, Felion had even more sweat pouring down his face and was struggling to keep up with him. Allen's moves just kept getting faster and faster, and Felion was continuously faltering. He knew that Allen was just playing with him, and that if he wanted to, he would have killed him in only a single move.

Allen's blade slashed through the cloth at his arm and a small red line appeared. Felion grabbed his arm and acted like the small scratch had killed him. He let go of his arm and rushed at Allen, his sword raised above him.

Allen smiled at his stupid move and stuck his sword out it front of him, holding it with both of his hands and waiting for the impact. Felion ran right into it, the sword sticking a good foot out of his back. Allen twisted it to the side, making the man gag and sputter blood. It ran down his chin and neck, bathing his white shirt in dark red.

"Thank you," Allen said smoothly, as if nothing had happened, and withdrew his sword from Felion's body. Felion fell to the side, more dark red blood pouring from his mouth and the hole in his stomach. He stared blankly at Allen and choked, saying, "I'm sorry for hurting Merle."

Allen felt no regret and wiped his blood-covered blade on Felion's white shirt, walking away back towards the palace. Amano ran to catch up to him but when he saw the look on his face, it stilled him and he didn't move.

As soon as Allen walked into the palace, he was surrounded by guards, their swords at his throat. He couldn't move because a guard was piercing the skin on his neck. He gave the man a mean look and the man pushed the blade harder into his skin.

General Dunwe came into the hall and shouted, "Someone get his highness!"

The man cutting his throat sheathed his sword and ran up the stairs, giving Allen a look that said he would be punished.

Van blinked away sleep and sat up, rubbing his eyes. The pounding on the doors became more insistent and he frowned. He looked over to Hitomi who had moved over onto her stomach when he had sat up. He covered her quickly and jumped out of bed, pulling on the white pants he had thrown over his head.

Van went over to the door and whipped it open, scowling at the person standing before him.

Errol backed away from Van, afraid of the look he was receiving. He had been getting a lot of nasty looks lately.

"What?!" Van almost yelled but remembered Hitomi sleeping peacefully and didn't wish to wake her.

"Umm, I is sorry t' um, disturb yo', uh, weddin' night, but uh, da knight, Allen Schezar, um, has killed one o' yo' men," Errol said and backed up even more, bumping into a small table with a white vase.

Van ran his hand over his face in frustration. "Why?"

"No one knows, yo' highness. He challenged him t' a fight and killed 'im."

Van came out of the doorway and closed the door. "Where is he?" Van asked and followed the man down the corridors to the hall.

"Da men have 'im quarantined in da hall."

Van had no idea what was going on. He was still half asleep and he didn't appreciate being woken up on his wedding night. He raked his fingers through his disheveled hair, making it stand on end. He closed his eyes, remembering the feel of Hitomi's skin, how soft she was, how-

They came into the hall and Van all but laughed at the scene. Allen was grinning broadly at him, the soldiers pointing the tips of their swords at his throat. He could dimly see a small trickle of blood on his neck.

"Release him now, if you please," Van commanded, his hands on his hips. The guards put away their swords and let Allen walk to Van.

Van grabbed Allen's arm and steered him to an antechamber. He opened the door quickly, slamming it shut behind him.

"What the hell is going on?"

Allen went over to the water basin washed his face and neck with the cold water that had probably been sitting there for days. "Nothing substantial, why?"

"Bullshit. I am waken up from a wonderfully deep sleep on my wedding night, and told that you have killed one of my soldiers. You better have a good explanation, especially since you how I feel about having as many men as I can in my army."

Van sat down on an uncomfortable chair and leaned back. Allen tossed himself onto the bed and reclined his head against the pillow.

"I can't tell you," Allen said simply.

Van stared at him. "So I just let this go and not give a damn? Allen, just tell me. Even if it was a stupid reason, I'll let you go. But you have to tell me. I have to know."

"I promised Merle I wouldn't tell anyone," Allen blurted out and immediately slapped his hand over his mouth, realizing that he revealed something he shouldn't have.

Van raised his eyebrows and got out of his seat, walking out of the room, not even noticing that his feet were bare. He came back with a protesting Merle holding her head a few minutes later.

Allen got off the bed and went to Merle, who was still in Van's firm grip. Merle ripped herself free from Van and went into Allen's arms.

"How's your head?"

Merle gave Van a fierce look and said, "Could be better."

Allen brought her over to the bed and made sure she was comfortable. He sat down and waited for someone to say something.

Merle asked, confused, "Ok, what is going on? I was sleeping and my head is killing me!"

Van muttered under his breath, "Now you know how I feel." He still didn't understand what had just happened between Merle and Allen so he didn't ask. Was the whole world going crazy or was it just him?

"Merle, what did you tell Allen?" Van asked impatiently, his fingers tapping on his thigh. He shifted in the chair he was sitting in and leaned forward, waiting for Merle's reply.

Merle's eyes widened and she grabbed her head, moaning. Allen heard her curse and he nearly smiled.

"Nothing, why?"

"Nice try, Merle. You're a good liar but it won't work today," Van said, standing up from the chair and walking over to the bed.

"Why does it matter?" Merle questioned.

"Allen killed one of my men and I am trying to find out why," Van said and sat down next to Merle.

Merle started rubbing her temples, tears coming to her eyes. "I can't tell you," she whispered.

Van stood back up. "If you don't tell me now, I will banish both of you from Fanelia," Van said angrily, slashing his hand through the air.

"He almost raped me, alright?" Merle said, anyone barely able to hear through the haze of her tears and her face buried in her hands.

Van's face went blank at first, then to anger. After a few seconds went by, his features softened again and he sat on the bed, bringing Merle into his arms. "Are you all right?" Van asked quietly. She didn't answer so Allen spoke for her.

"She told me this morning. I guess I couldn't control my anger. I searched out the man and killed him."

A knock sounded on the door and Van got up to answer it. "What now?"

Errol gulped and said, "Um, yo' highness, yo' uh, fiancée, no, um, yo' ex-fiancée, has um, escaped."

Van didn't ask any questions. He just walked out of the room, Allen bringing a still sobbing Merle with him.

The door to Seibu's room was wide open and all four of Van's generals and one of his advisors were standing around waiting for him.

The first thing Van noticed was how destroyed the room was. The blankets on the bed were in tatters, furniture was turned over and ripped open, showing all different color feathers. The feathers were still floating about in the room and were covering the floor. Vases had been thrown against the wall so viciously that chunks of glass were sticking in the wall. The curtains on the windows had been torn down and severed into a thousand pieces. The windows were completely smashed and a warm breeze floated through them. Van could see droplets of smeared blood on the broken glass. He went over to the window and feared what he would see. He looked down but didn't see Seibu's body laying on the ground. Van got a confused look on his face. "I don't understand. How could someone survive a jump from a three story window?"

General Dunwe shrugged along with the other two generals. They were just as confused as his majesty.

"Send out a search party immediately. If you find her, bring her alive," Van said and watched the generals and advisors run from the room, the man Errol following them.

Allen saw how much pain and embarrassment Merle was going through and picked her up, her head resting on his shoulder. "I'm going to bring Merle to her room. You can...do whatever you want. I'll see you in a while," Allen said and walked slowly out of the room. Van saw Merle wrap her arms around Allen's neck and wondered yet again what was going on between them. Maybe he was just imagining things.

Van decided after Merle and Allen left that he should go back to his room. He was tired still, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to sleep. Too many things had happened this morning and he needed to think about it.

He went to his room and opened the door, padding over the thick carpeting and standing next to the bed.

Hitomi was laying on her back, her chest scarcely covered by the white crystalline sheet. She shifted and her arm flung up to above her head. He savored how innocent and peaceful she looked and sighed.

Hitomi opened her eyes and saw Van watching her closely. She grinned and stretched, the sheet slipping down.

Van responded instantly, but he just stood there. Hitomi sat up, leaving the sheet at her waist.

"What's wrong, Van? Why did you leave?"

Van sat on the bed and leaned back, his head resting in her lap. Hitomi's fingers smoothed the hair from his face and Van closed his eyes, relaxing. He didn't say anything, just let Hitomi soothe him by playing with his overly long hair. He opened his eyes a few minutes later and watched a smile appear on Hitomi's face. She leaned down and kissed the side of his mouth.

Van sat up, sighing. "I need a leave of absence."

Hitomi got a weird look on her face and asked, "What is heck is that?"

Van smiled. "If I can come up with a good excuse, me and you can leave."

A wicked smile emerged on her face and Van laughed. "Have any good ideas?"

Hitomi pondered for a moment and said, "What kind of idea do you mean?"

Van laughed again and brought her against him, leaning back against the headboard. "Anything."

Hitomi rested her head on his shoulder thinking. A few moments later she said, "A honeymoon."

Van's eyebrow raised. "Another Earth term I don't understand I take it."

"A honeymoon is like a 'leave of absence'. On earth, after couples are married, they leave and go somewhere special and enjoy being alone together for awhile."

It was time for Van's own evil smile and it came more quickly than Hitomi had expected. "That good enough for you?" Hitomi asked. She felt Van nod vigorously and smiled.

"When can we leave?" Van asked.

"We should already be gone."

"Well then let's-"

Someone tapped on the door. Van's hand slapped his forehead and he moaned. "Who is it?"

"Amano."

"Go away! I'm raping my wife!" Van yelled through the door and Hitomi giggled. The door flew open and Amano came in ready to kill Van. Hitomi shrieked and the sheet went clear up to her eyes. Van laughed and pulled her closer.

"Oh. I'm sorry," Amano said and started walking out of the room. The door almost closed when Van said, "What?"

"Well, I came to tell you that um...Yukari's really sick. I don't know what to do. I went to visit her and she was thrashing about in the bed and she felt really hot. I don't know what to do!"

Van sat up and crawled off of the bed. Hitomi molded the blankets around her, embarrassed because of her naked state. Amano knew what they had done and she blushed a dark red. He gave her a big smile and waited for Van to come with him.

Amano walked out of the door, thinking Van was following. Van went back over to the bed and kissed Hitomi's cheek. "I think you should get dressed, although I like to see you this way."

Hitomi blushed a bright red and got out of bed when Van walked out of the room and closed the door. She felt energy flow through her and she twirled around the room over to the bathing room door, laughing. She looked around for a towel and saw a large white fluffy one sitting beside the pool. She didn't walk down the small stairs, she just jumped in. The hot water shocked her at first but she got used to it after a minute.

She floated on her back her arms and legs spread out. When she felt like she was wasting time, she grabbed a small bar of soap on the side next to the towel. She scrubbed her skin and she realized how sore she was. She shrugged, thinking that it wouldn't bother her too much.

Van opened the door to his room a while later and didn't see Hitomi. What to tell her? He already hated this day. He heard a splash of water from the bathing room and walked over to the door. It was hard to see because of all the steam rising from the pool, but he could distinctly see Hitomi wash her arm. Her back was turned to him and she hadn't seen him yet. He didn't want to scare her but decided against it. He pulled off his white pants that he had worn at his wedding and laid them down carefully on the damp green and white marble floor. He slid into the water quietly, sneaking up behind Hitomi. He lifted his arms and hauled Hitomi back against him.

Hitomi screamed and her slippery fingers dropped the soap. She heard Van laugh and she turned around, pounding his chest. "You...evil man!!!!"

Van laughed all the harder. Hitomi smiled and burrowed her fingers into his hair, leaning forward to give him a quick kiss on his lips She pulled back with another grin almost as soon as her lips had touched his.

Van leaned forward for more and she giggled, coming completely out of his arms. He gave her a mischievous look and went after her, pulling her back into his arms.

Hitomi threw water in his face and he growled, pulling her back when she tried to get away again. She was still smiling, but at the sudden look on Van's face, her expression became concerned. "How's Yukari? Is she ok?"

Van sobered up and sighed. The hot water lapped around his chest and felt good. He swam over to steps and sat down, Hitomi following him.

Van grabbed another bar of soap and played with it, as if he didn't know what it was. He set it back down and said, "She's really sick, Hitomi. The healers can't do much. Amano is freaking out, he refuses to leave her. I'm afraid he'll get sick too."

Hitomi paled. "What kind of...sick?"

"Something that the healers haven't ever seen before. Which is really weird because they've seen everything. She's completely delirious, burning up with fever. She can't breathe right for some reason. She keeps throwing up and she won't eat or drink. She keeps talking about things that no one can understand. It's like she's in another world. Plus she has other things wrong with her that I'm sure I don't even know."

"I guess we won't be taking a vacation," Hitomi said and took the bar of soap Van had set down next to the stairs. She scrubbed her hair and dunked under the water to rinse it out. When she came up, Van was giving her a weird look.

"What?"

Van smiled at her and took the soap, washing his own wet hair. "Nothing. Forget about it."

Hitomi rolled her eyes and swam over to the side of the pool where the white towel was sitting. Van got soap in his eyes and dipped his head under the water. Hitomi got out and wrapped herself in the towel, walking into her room were she could get dressed and visit Yukari to see if she could help.

Van came back up and a down look appeared on his face when he realized he hadn't been able to see Hitomi come out of the water wet and naked. He finished washing his body and grabbed a light blue towel that was sitting on a wooden chair in the corner of the bathing room. He went into his own chamber and put on his own traditional red shirt and tan pants.

Hitomi walked in through the bathing room door in a simple blue velvet gown that Van wished would hang on her like a sack, but unfortunately it didn't. It clung to her like a second skin and had a low neckline. It swept the floor gracefully and Hitomi was still trying not to trip on it. "I'm going to Yukari's room. I need to see if I can do anything."

Van nodded and went with her. Just walking beside her was driving him crazy and he struggled with himself.

Her room was just down the hall and Van opened the door quietly, not wanting to disturb Yukari just in case she was resting.

Hitomi silently went over to the bed. Amano was holding her hand. He didn't even acknowledge their presence. He stared at Yukari, his eyes never straying from her face.

Van followed Hitomi over to the bed and watched her grasp her friends hand, taking the pulse. Hitomi frowned and watched her breathe. She could tell how hard it was for her to inhale and exhale. Hitomi's facial expression got even more concerned when she lowered her head to her chest to see if she could hear anything. The liquid in her lungs wasn't breaking up and it was getting increasingly hard for her to breathe. Yukari's eyes stared blankly ahead. She said something that no one could understand and Van hugged Hitomi to his side.

Hitomi buried her face in his chest, not knowing what to do. "We have to get her back to Earth or she will die."

Van rubbed his hands up and down her back, agreeing silently. Amano looked up when there was a knock on the door and Allen walked in.

"How's she doing?" he whispered quietly and stood by Amano, resting his hand on his shoulder. Amano didn't say anything, he just shook his head and closed his eyes.

"Everyone get ready to leave," Hitomi said and walked out of the room, her dress trailing on the ground a good foot behind her. She didn't close the door, she just left it open.

Allen gave Van a questioning look and Van said, "We're going to Earth."

Allen's eyes widened. Earth?! "Do I have to come? Maybe I should stay...to um, watch over...things. I don't have to go, I would just get in the way-"

"Get ready," Van commanded and Allen's shoulders slumped. "Is something wrong? Are you scared?" Van teased.

Allen straightened and said, "No, I just don't see why I have to come."

Van gave him a look that said, 'yeah, right'. Amano stood up from the bed and walked from the room, returning with Hitomi. Hitomi was still dressed in her gown, but she had her old duffel bag stuffed with the things she had brought from Earth. Amano had his backpack and his CD player in his hands. He was ready to go now.

"Should me and Van bring anything specific? What are we going to do about our clothing?" Allen asked. Amano dug two shirts, two pairs of pants and boxers out and handed them to Allen and Van. Allen gave him a horrified look and Van just stared at him.

"Just put them on. You don't want people to think you're weird or something," Amano said.

Hitomi and Amano walked back over to the bed when both Allen and Van took off their shirts and laid their swords and scabbards on top of them. Hitomi smiled, almost laughing about male immodesty. She heard Van laugh and Allen snort after a few moments. She turned around and blinked, laughter pouring out of her mouth.

Allen's shirt was a little too small, the fabric pulling across his chest, showing all of the hard muscles. Amano had apparently given him his largest pair of baggy pants because Allen was larger than him. Nevertheless, the pants hung past his upper hips and she could see the top of the black boxers. He pulled them up, embarrassed about the clothing.

Van's shirt fit him fine, considering he was almost the same size as Amano, except he was stronger and had the muscles bulging to prove it. The pants hung past his hips and you could see the blue and white squiggly lined boxers. His shirt was black with a large red dragon on the front of it, two swords clashed together in the middle. Allen had a light blue shirt on that had a cross-country runner on it. Hitomi was surprised, for she had thought that Amano had given that up.

"You wear this stuff?!" Allen said, shocked that anyone would consider wearing this heathen clothing. Van just laughed and tried to pull the pants up, but to no avail. They stayed where they were and if anything, they went lower.

"Do women pass out at the sight of men or what?! I feel half-naked!" Van said and walked over to Hitomi, tripping on the loose pants dragging on the floor. He grunted and jerked them back up, holding them in place.

Allen stood where he was, afraid that if he walked the pants would fall straight down. He shuddered and hiked them up, holding on to them just like Van. He went over to the bed, sitting on the edge where he was safe from the garment falling off.

Amano asked, "How are we going to get there?"

Van pulled the pendant out from under his shirt and took it off carefully. He handed it to Hitomi and she inspected it, remembering the feel of it again. She cupped it between her hands and closed her eyes. Soon she felt it glow warm, but she didn't know what to do. She opened her eyes and looked at Van, wondering what she should do. "How did we get here?"

"I wished. I wished that you were here and beside me, laughing with me and enjoying life with me. I wished for happiness with you and not too long after, the familiar beam of light appeared."

Hitomi gave him a gentle loving smile and she went to his side, wrapping her one free arm around him. "Wish with me, Van," Hitomi said and Van's hand covered hers.

Amano's hand held onto Yukari's and Allen sat next to him, watching Van and Hitomi close their eyes. He saw Hitomi's lips move and could only guess what she was saying.

A pink glow shined from between Van and Hitomi's clasped hands. They opened their eyes when they felt the heat from the necklace disappear completely. They looked blankly at each other, not understanding what had just happened. Hitomi looked around, and noticed how plain Yukari's room was. It was dark green with flowers and white trim. The bed still had heavy dark green drapes covering the sides, and it made the room look dark and gloomy. The carpeting was mostly the dark green with only occasional streaks of white twirls lacing through it. The dresser and armoire were dark, nothing light and cheery about them. No wonder why she is sick, Hitomi thought.

Amano watched Hitomi and Van look around, wondering what had happened. All of a sudden, both Van and Hitomi grabbed their heads, crying out. It only lasted a second and Hitomi looked up sharply, grinning. "That was it. It's coming!"

Van rubbed his head. "That was painful," he whispered, his hand still rubbing his head.

"What do we do?" Allen asked, standing up, holding the pants in his hands. He frowned at them and looked up when Hitomi pointed upwards. A blinding shaft of light encircled them and lifted them upwards.