Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Heart of the Dragon ❯ Atlantis ( Chapter 32 )

Chapter Thirty Two: Atlantis

 

 

 

The towering white buildings had an appearance of marble, but almost transparent. On top of the almost delicate looking white curling marble pillars stood enormous globes of glass, where another small city, more like a utopia, sat.

 

Hitomi and Van stared at how white everything was, as if the people who had built had tried to make it look untouched, or pure. All different size statues guarded over the people walking down the white paved streets where glorious flowers and green trees of all types stood. The majestic people were all dressed in white, or all types of light colors. Hitomi blinked a few times hard, stuttering as she talked to Van. “Wh-what?! Are those wings they are walking around with?!”

 

Van nodded slowly and noticed how the people below them were pointing, screaming, yelling, and panicking. He knew it was because of them, but he had no idea why they were so scared.

 

As soon as the people started running in the opposite direction, a flying equivalent to an air cruiser times ten came after them, armed and ready to kill. Van grabbed Hitomi's hand and took off, flying as fast as he could away from the deadly looking air cruisers. There were several of them, and they were too fast for Van. His speed wasn't as developed as Hitomi's, which gave her yet another advantage.

 

Van ended up exchanging places with Hitomi, who nearly ripped his arm calmly out of his socket with her speed. She had an air of confidence about her, her wicked teeth bared with her smile.

 

Hitomi felt a blast of heat rushing towards them and darted quickly to the right, dodging what looked just like a red laser beam that she had seen in action movies on Earth. Van's hilarious pissed off yelling behind her almost made her laugh, but she didn't have time, for they were being shot at like crazy. She was being on rushed by so much heat that she felt like she was in a hot tub cranked up to a dangerous level.

 

Van had the feeling that they were going to be hit, and he had no doubt that he would be the first one, considering he was dangling from his locked hands from Hitomi. He had little to no control over his movement, so he was flapping in the wind, literally. That made him get a big perverted smile on his face, but it was wiped off when something sliced right through his shirt and dug into his skin, going straight through the other side. He cried out in pain, his hand gripping his shoulder. Blood poured through his fingers and drenched his shirt, either that or flying off and splatting onto the windshields of the impossibly fast air cruisers. He waited for the pain to disappear and his wound to heal, but it seemed like it wasn't going to happen. He felt his eyelids droop and he closed them, trying to leave himself of the agony.

 

His eyes shot open when he felt them suddenly diving. Hitomi was efficiently keeping them from getting hit, but they weren't going fast enough. He knew she could fly faster, hell, he could fly faster. "Hitomi...." He closed his eyes again, only to open them again when they went straight up. He felt what little precious air he had in his lungs whoosh out in a rush, and he gasped for air, desperately clinging top his wife's hand. As if she sensed something was wrong with the way he was gripping her hand, she looked back, and her eyes widened in shock. "Van!? What happened?!?!"

 

Van tried to concentrate on healing himself, but it didn't seem to be working. He lifted his eyes up to Hitomi's face, his pale face trying to hide how much pain he was going through. Hitomi watched the blood flow through his fingers, flying off his body in streams. She gasped in horror when she glanced at his back, where the exit wound was. Half of his back had been blown clean off.

 

Hitomi looked back at his face when she heard him mutter something, and she could tell that he was slipping into shock from so much blood loss. He was soaked in his own scarlet blood, as if he had taken a bath in it. The air cruisers were still hot on their tails, going even faster if that was possible. They continued to shoot at them, Hitomi continued to dodge it. She gritted her teeth and concentrated all her energy into her speed. She felt an enormous burst in her speed and shot forward, leaving the air cruisers behind her gone within one second. She couldn't even see them anymore.

 

She smiled and went down lower, slowing down when she realized they weren't going to catch up to her for a few long hours.

 

She touched down on the ground, letting her energy balance out to all other things besides speed. She felt only a slight tingle, but it passed quickly. She picked Van up like he always did her and gave him an encouraging smile, although his eyes were closed and he couldn't see it. She felt herself panicking when she asked him if he was alright, and he didn't answer. A few seconds went by, and she was about to ask him again if he was ok, but he squeezed her with his good arm looped weakly around her slim shoulders.

 

After trekking for a few more feet, the hand under his knees gently let go and placed his booted feet on the dirty ground. She set him up against a rock, careful not to let his broad back touch it and possibly become infected.

 

She didn't even think of it, since she had an extra shirt, so she just tore hers off with a clean rip. It briefly reminded her how Van always ripped off her clothes when he wanted her. It made her smile, but she forgot about it quickly.

 

She gripped her torn shirt in her fist and pressed it as hard as she could against his back, which made him cry out in pain. She took a look at his back and gulped. The exit wound was ten times the size of the entry wound, and it looked too gory to look at it and not gag. She clenched her teeth and pressed harder, watching Van as he tried to keep himself from yelling in pain. She wondered how he hadn't passed out yet. It was impossible that he hadn't. He literally didn't have a back to speak of.

 

"Van...Van, please, can you hear me?" she begged desperately, taking his hand in her own. He opened his beautiful eyes, and she gave him as wonderful as a smile as she could muster. She saw his eyes sparkle for a second, returning the affection silently. "Van, it's alright. I'll make it all better, I promise." She didn't think she could. In fact, she knew she couldn't. It had to be all him, not her.

 

He closed his eyes, his body relaxing. She panicked and let go of his hand, tapping his cheek which was splattered with blood. He wasn't asleep, for his eyes shot open, a worried and desperate look in them. She kissed his cheek, trying to sooth his pain. When she pulled back, he sat straight up with her, a shocked look on his face as he moved his arm and shoulder around. He grinned. "It worked," he said none too excitedly, as if nothing had just happened and he hadn't been near death, and Hitomi hadn't nearly bawled her eyes out because of it.

 

She stood and Van brushed himself off, still acting as if nothing had just happened. Hitomi rolled her eyes at his wicked smile and started walking back towards the direction they had just come from. Van didn't ask, for he already knew what she would say. They had to meet with someone with some serious authority, and tell them what was happening. Maybe they could explain the odd happenings to both of their bodies and why it had happened to only them. Van had so many questions; he was beyond confused with everything. He felt like he was in some sort of fairytale story with an unhappy ending. At least that's what it was turning out to be so far.

 

Hitomi unconsciously took Van's hand and he squeezed it, happy to be this close to her. Was it just yesterday that she had come back? He knew that it would always seem that way, even when they were old. If they had the chance to live that long, he thought with a frown. It didn't seem that way at this rate.

 

He stopped, suddenly wanting to say something to Hitomi. She halted when she felt Van tug gently on her arm, and she gave him a look that was questioning, but looked like pure adoration to Van. He smiled and pulled her up to him, bringing her into his arms to hold her for a moment. Hitomi gave a nervous laugh before she hugged him back, leaning into his warmth.

 

Van brushed his cheek over the top of her head, reveling in the softness of her hair. He closed his eyes and just started rocking her, knowing that both of them needed the comfort of each other, even if neither of them would admit it.

 

Hitomi pulled back after a few short minutes, still not understanding. Van leaned forward and gave her the most gentle and beautiful kiss that made her breath catch. “Van...?” She didn't understand his gentle treatment.

 

“Hitomi, I know that I shouldn't say this, but I have to. I want you to know that if anything happens to either of us, that I lo—“

 

Hitomi pressed her finger to his lips to make him stop talking. She went closer to him, if that was possible, and whispered, “I know, Van. I love you too.” She gave him a small smile and a quick kiss that made him close his eyes and take it all in with completely forgetting his surroundings.

 

Hitomi couldn't help it; she giggled. He had a look of pure bliss on his face that was almost exaggerated, but she doubted it when it came to Van.

 

He pulled back and almost laughed. Hitomi was practically naked, only had one of those confusing bra things that Earth women wore on and her leather pants. He blinked hard and forced himself to look away. Hitomi didn't understand until she looked down, seeing herself almost nude. She started turning red when she saw the big smile on her husband's face, and then scolded, "It's not like you haven't seen it before!!"

 

Van couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, but I must admit, it gets better every time!"

 

"Uh!! Inferior male!! I think that you are going to give me your—"

 

Van just sighed, his smile still on his face. Hitomi didn't finish, just forced Van to bend over as she tugged his pathetically ripped up shirt off and put it on herself. She put her hand on her hip, lifted her chin and closed her eyes, looking as haughty as she possibly could.

 

Van was about to just shred his/her shirt to bits and push her against a tree and—

 

"Come on, Van. Don't just stand there staring at me with some rather lecherous look in your eyes."

 

Van blinked hard and followed after her, trying not to fantasize about her soft willing body underneath his and her legs wrapped around him....

 

**********

 

They had no idea how long they had been walking, but small nice houses started popping up out of nowhere, possibly meaning they were getting closer to civilization.

 

It was nearly dark when they got back to the city. Hitomi yawned and sat down. "You know, with all these super-human powers, you would think we would be able to stay awake for days on end."

 

Van smiled and sat down, resting his dark head against a moss covered towering tree. He tossed Hitomi's duffel bag at her and she caught it, dragging out their thin blankets to keep them warm. She through them over their bodies and snuggled into Van, smiling as she dozed off.

 

**********

 

Van woke up to the feeling of cold air whipping his hair into his eyes, which was painful. He swatted at his hair to get it out of his face, but it went right back into place. He sighed and opened his eyes, only to find himself floating a mile above the ground. It freaked him out, but he stayed as calm as he could in a situation that he didn't know if he was in danger or not. He turned his head slowly to the right, only to see Hitomi sleeping on her back, floating next to him.

 

He swallowed hard and looked in front of him, seeing both of their legs tied to an air cruiser that was dragging them across the sky.

 

He took a deep breath and reached for Hitomi, trying to shake her awake. She tried to bolt upright, but it didn't work very well. She screeched just like the female she was when she looked down, and Van couldn't help himself. He just laughed.

 

"Van!!? What the hell is going on?!?!?"

 

He started laughing harder at the hysterical note in her voice. She tried to hit him, but she continued to miss. She growled at him and gave up. When Hitomi calmed down, which technically she never did, just looked like it, Van took hold of her and held on. They clutched at each other, wondering what was going to happen to them.

 

Hitomi felt the noticeable change in the speed of the air cruiser and had the feeling that they were either there or they were getting close. She could tell Van was freezing without his shirt on, for he was shivering in her arms. She was cold also, considering the back of her husbands shirt was blown clean away.

 

Both Van and Hitomi looked ahead of them at the same time when they heard shouting. Van stared, seeing a man hanging half way out of the back of the air cruiser, which was still flying at an incredible speed. The black-haired man started hauling them in by the rope they were tied to, a leering look appearing on his face when he saw Hitomi. Van immediately knew what was on the man's mind, he had seen the look himself many times. It didn't help that Hitomi was still half naked, or might as well had been, and beautiful at the same time. He cursed himself for marrying a well-endowed woman.

 

The man brought them in with a final hard tug, sending them careening into the back where boxes stacked on top of each other sat. Hitomi muttered something about jerks and wanting to kill them all, and Van helped her stand, his eyes wary for what the man was planning on doing. Neither of them had their weapons, apparently they had been taken away.

 

The man's eyes intent on Hitomi, he walked forward. Van instantly stood in front of his wife in a protective gesture. The tall black-haired man looked him in the eyes and smiled.

 

Van braced himself for an attack, praying that he wouldn't have to kill the man.

 

Hitomi peeked around Van's shoulder, but she couldn't see much. She was ready to shove Van out of the way and take on the man herself, however, she didn't get a chance.

 

The man gripped Van's shoulder and shoved him away. Except Van didn't move. He didn't even budge. The man tried harder, but just earned an amused look from Van.

 

Hitomi watched Van grin and pull back his fist, slamming it into the black-haired man's face.

 

Hitomi laughed, but then got a horrified look on her face when the man flew right off his feet and out the back door of the air cruiser. It was still open from when the man had brought them in from hanging outside on the rope they were still tied to.

 

She looked quickly back up at Van, startling herself when she saw a completely calm expression on his face.

 

All of a sudden everything started to shake, as if they were landing. Van looked out the back door, seeing an enormous group of men getting ready to rush in. The air cruiser landed with a huge thump which sounded almost ridiculous. The men went to run into the air cruiser, but they were stopped by an old man.

 

He had flowing blonde hair, almost like Allen's, except it was move white. He was clothed in white robes which drug on the marble street where they had landed. Hitomi could have sworn he was the oldest man she had ever seen. He didn't look all that old, just had a mysterious air about him. He had to be at least a thousand years old.

 

Van gripped the ropes tied to his feet and cleanly ripped it in half with absolute ease. Everyone looked startled, for no one could break the ropes without a knife or something. Van just rolled his eyes and did the same to his wife's. He straightened, one of his kingly, I'm more important than you are looks on his face.

 

Hitomi fought the urge to smile when Van's crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at the old man who hadn't budged with his old wooden staff in his hand. At the top of it held an odd crystal ball, which every so often flickered in the sun.

 

The man stepped forward, walking up the plank to get on board the ship. He stood in front of them, not even coming close to beating Van in his air of importance. Van was too good at achieving his.

 

"So, you must be the two that somehow managed to penetrate our shield and give a scare to our people that hasn't been seen in twenty thousand years."

 

Van cocked an eyebrow at the man, almost acting like he cared. "Listen old man. Are you the king or something? I need to know because we have to talk to him."

 

Van was going to say some more, but all but jumped out of his skin when he saw the sudden change in the woman next to him. Had he ever seen such a seductive look on her face before? He questioned himself.

 

The old man stared at Hitomi for a moment, wondering what the beautiful creature was up to.

 

Van almost cursed. He knew what Hitomi was trying to do. It might have worked, had he not been there. The look on the old man's face made Van want to murder him for even looking wrong at his wife. She wasn't just any woman; she was his woman, and his queen.

 

Hitomi elbowed him in the side, telling him silently to shut up. He frowned and tried not to growl at the old man like an animal.

 

"Alright, so what do you want here? Tell us now before we throw you in the Death Dungeons," the old man said, a smirk on his face.

 

Hitomi sighed, wishing she didn't have to do this, and walked up to him as temptingly as she could. The old man took a step back, but stopped when he realized he was acting weak in front of a woman. He felt the muscles in his jaw jumping in anger. The woman had no right to even come five feet close to him.

 

Hitomi stood in front of him, her hand on her hip and a sweet smile on her beautiful face. She blinked when she saw the man's face starting to turn red. She didn't see it coming...the flying hand that connected to her cheek and caused her to fly back and hit the wall, yet again. She felt an intense burning on her face, almost beyond any pain that she had ever felt before. She felt tears come to her eyes, and she waited for the pain to go away. Except it didn't. She lifted her face, having difficulty seeing out of one of her eyes, but it didn't matter, for she still saw a bright blue ball of energy slam into the old man. She looked down, already knowing the man would be no more after what Van had done.

 

Van gently picked up his wife, cradling her close in his embrace. He lifted her chin, getting a close look at her face. The whole side of her face was gone. His eyes widened, wondering how that was possible. That old geezer must have had the same powers as us or something, he thought silently, trying to keep calm in this situation and not blast everything until nothing was left except a burning pile.

 

He looked back down at his violently shaking wife, hearing her whimper. "Shh...it's alright, Hitomi. Don't cry. It will only make the pain worse. You'll heal in no time at all."

 

Hitomi shook her head, trying to keep herself from screaming in pain. "No, Van. It's not healing. Something is wrong with us. We aren't healing like we are supposed to."

 

Van made her shut up because the left side of her mouth was gone, it was all blood, bone, and missing skin. Van gulped, not knowing what to do. He still remembered the pain of having his back blown off, and now Hitomi had her face blown off. It was getting too much for him to abide.

 

He looked back up, seeing an immense group of men come after them, but they stopped when they saw the pleading and sad look Van sent their way. They knew by just looking at him that he was very in love with the suffering woman in his strong embrace. They didn't move.

 

Van watched Hitomi struggle to stay conscious, but he told her to just let it go. She started crying, not able to hold them back anymore. When the salty water touched the side of her face, she flinched, which caused a chain reaction of pain. The tears burned, which made her grimace, which created more pain. Soon it hurt too much for her to withstand and she black out, becoming limp in his soft hold.

 

Van felt arms grabbing and pulling at him, but all at once they let go, feeling how scalding hot he was. They tried once more, but he just burnt them again. He wanted to laugh at their patheticness, but he just didn't have the heart. He made sure that he kept his anger going so that he was still too hot to touch, and it prevented the other men from taking him away from Hitomi. It was about a half an hour later when he saw the familiar white glow that signaled she was healing. Her face molded back into place and returned to its former beauty. He smiled and pressed his lips to her forehead.

 

Hitomi's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing she saw was Van, whose arms were wrapped tenderly around her, keeping her close. She had missed that. She leaned up, pressing her lips to his.

 

"Hey, none of that shit! Get apart now or we will blast you out of the air cruiser!" some man yelled, causing Van to stop kissing his wife. The man instantly shut up when he saw the look in his red-brown eyes. Van smiled and helped Hitomi up.

 

"Listen," he said, holding up his hand, a light glow forming at his fingertips. "Either you bring us to your leader or I will kill you all. You already hurt my queen, and now you are messing with me. Do it now or die."

 

They all stared at him like he was stupid or something. They all jumped into action when they saw his eyes flash dangerously, already knowing they would have no chance if their Head Chief of Her Highness's Protection Group had been killed so easily. The people in her Protection Group were some of the most powerful people in the whole universe. If that man had died so easily, so would they.

 

Van walked out of the air cruiser, holding his wife in his arms. The black haired tall men surrounded them, escorting them to a huge looming white building that hugged the sky in was so high. It had one of those glass globes that sat on top of a white pillar. Van sighed and walked. He had just noticed that all the military men had black hair, and were tall.

 

As he followed them, he also noticed that all the civilians had white-blonde hair. Hmmm...maybe its like the odd colored ones join the army and normal ones stay civilians, he thought.

 

Hitomi took a deep breath and snuggled closer into her husbands arms. The air was so clean, like it was purified with some air cleaner. The citizens stood back, staying away and close together as the military men walked through with an actual silver haired woman and black haired man that were dressed casually. No one had ever seen a silver-haired person before.

 

Hitomi could feel everyone's eyes on her and felt suddenly nervous. What was wrong with them? she wondered to herself. Hadn't they ever seen a beautiful woman before? She fought the urge to smile at her newly found arrogance.

 

Van adjusted his wife in his arms as they continued to walk, farther and farther away from the enormous crowd of blonde-haired people. He felt slightly exposed only wearing a pair of very tight black leather pants and no shirt. He might as well have been naked.

 

They stopped, signaling that they were there. A black-haired tall man that had a small amount of authority about him stepped up to the couple. "This is all the farther we can take you. The Elders will see to the rest of the way."

 

Van glared at the young man. "How do we know they won't try to capture us and throw us into the 'Death Dungeons'?"

 

Van found it amazing that everyone of the men's eyes widened and got horrified looks on their faces. He thought he had said something wrong, so he smiled. Maybe those words weren't allowed to be said. "So these 'Death Dungeons'...what are they? Do they have a lot to do with DEATH and DUNGEONS? Will you please tell me about these Death Dungeons? I want to know all about the Death Dungeons. Has anyone of you ever been in the Death Dungeons? Do you have a horrible death in these dungeons? Is it even a dungeon? Do you even die in these dungeons?" He fought himself not to crack up as every time he said death, die, or dungeons. The men started stepping back, as if the couple was cursed.

 

"Uh...just g-go in th-there. They wi-will help y-you," one of them stuttered, and then ran. The rest followed after them, trying to get away from the insane couple.

 

Hitomi giggled. "What got into them? That was...odd."

 

Van shrugged and set her down, eager to get this done. "Let's just hurry up."

 

They started walking towards the giant white doors, which looked like a mammoth couldn't open.

 

Hitomi went up to it, getting ready to knock. She jumped back when the huge doors creaked and slid open with a groan. Dust floated up, creating little swirls as the dust settled back down to the ground.

 

Van grabbed Hitomi and pulled her back, not knowing what would happen.

 

Several old men walked out, the same kind of cane the other old man had had that Van had killed. They stared down the couple, making Hitomi feel nervous and causing Van's famous kingly look to appear.

 

The man at the head of the other four motioned for them to follow them as they turned and walked back into the dark from which they had come. Neither Van nor Hitomi could see, so they held hands as they walked into the building. All of a sudden dim lights flickered on and they were bathed in a blurred kind of light. The men were no where to be seen, so they just stood there, looking at the white walls with nothing on them. There was nothing on the ground, it was just pure white marble. It was almost too white for one to take all in, so Hitomi closed her eyes and buried her face in Van's chest. For some odd reason it hurt her silver eyes badly.

 

Van held her close as he looked around, searching for any danger. He knew Hitomi felt weird in this place, even if she didn't show it. He felt her shudder in his arms, and it steadily increased. He started stroking her soft silver hair. He looked down and started studying her oddly colored hair. It wasn't just all one color, it had white, dark gray, and even some small streaks of black. Her lifted up a tress and grinned when he saw some blonde. It was hard to tell if it was blonde or white, but his eyes picked it out easily. His hearing and eye sight was twenty times sharper than normal, and he could pick up the smallest little noises that no one else in the world could hear.

 

Both Van and Hitomi looked up when they heard a small creak. Nothing happened for several moments, and when it did, they got a shock. There was no door visible on the walls, and when one suddenly opened and someone dressed in all white robes floated through it, they stared. The person, they couldn't tell if it was male or female, literally floated, didn't walk.

 

Hitomi immediately let go of Van and dropped to the ground, her head bowed and her nose nearly touching the ground. Van had the similar urge to do so, it was the oddest feeling just to want to drop on the ground and grovel.

 

Hitomi didn't pay any heed as Van collapsed onto the ground next to her on his knees, his nose also almost touching the dirtless ground.

 

An all but holy sounding voice resounded through the room as it spoke up. Neither Van nor Hitomi could tell the gender, for it was soft, yet deep, soothing, and relaxing. "You may stand."

 

Hitomi immediately got up and looked at the person before her, her hand fisted over her heart in respect and down on one knee. "Your honor, we are here to meet with the One."

 

Van was in the same stance, but he looked over to Hitomi when he heard her talk. He was getting this whole weird feeling about this place, like he should just drop in front of some being and practically worship it like it was some kind of god. Yet as Hitomi spoke of some "One", he felt things run through his brain in a heated rush until he felt light-headed. He blinked hard and looked back over to Hitomi, seeing the strange glimmer in her silver eyes. She knows exactly what she is saying. She knows what is happening, knows what to do. And now I do too, he thought. That thing that had just happened to his poor brain made him have some sense that he was just in the same situation as Hitomi. She knew what was happening, she knew everything. He smiled wickedly. Ha, so do I! He almost did a victory dance.

 

Hitomi stood, her feet easily leaving the ground. She knew that only people of high stature were allowed to do this, if they could even fly. She smiled at the being in front of her. Odd how she knew she was more important than the presence in front of her. Something had happened to her brain seconds after she had heard that noise that had alerted that something was coming. She knew something similar had happened to her husband, but wondered why he wasn't acting as affected. Or was he acting more affected?

 

She looked over to Van, seeing that he had thought of this before she had. She didn't understand how he was one step ahead of her now.

 

The voice that spoke up ran through Hitomi's mind before it actually talked. "You will follow me. We have to get you ready for the Grand Presence. We have to hurry. We know the situation we are in."

 

Van was already next to the being, waiting for Hitomi to come. She went up to him, giving him an odd look before they followed the presence in front of them out of the door that once again appeared out of nowhere. It was odd floating above the ground and not walking on it, but it wasn't like neither of them had done it before. Sometimes Hitomi did it just on a whim and to make Van laugh, and Van did it just to creep his wife out. Once she had woken up in the middle of the night to see him floating about a foot above her, smiling that wicked smile of his. Lets just say it had scared her out of the little wits she had, but it had been funny after Van had died laughing his face off at her.

 

**********

 

Dilandau grinned at his wife as she hung out of the back door of the air cruiser, ready to jump out. No one could see anything for it was so bloody white, so they just did whatever in the meanwhile. Dilandau pushed her out of the aircraft with a playful shove, and then went after, followed by twenty of his elite Dragonslayers, and her privileged few Angelslayers.

 

They landed smack on something liquid, and his first instinct was to blow it up. Seibu stopped him just before he attacked it to death, and then they both laughed at themselves. They kicked it a couple times, trying to figure out what it was. Seibu motioned for one of her genius Angelslayers to come forward and the tall pretty woman came forward, shoving the Dragonslayers out of her way. There was an intense rivalry between the men and women, because the women were clearly better and they knew it.

 

Irisis stepped up to her mistress, her arms crossed over her chest as she glared at the pathetic men. "Yes, mistress?"

 

Seibu took one more quick look at whatever she was standing on and cleared her throat. "Yeah. I um, want you to take some analysis on this thing we are standing on. Do you have everything you need?"

 

Irisis called two other women to come forward with some supplies that they had carried with them. "Yes, I think I have everything I need to get through this thing."

 

**********

 

Hitomi and Van were put in separate rooms, for apparently they weren't allowed alone, or women and men weren't allowed together. Either that or they had to be worked on for some reason.

 

That was what Hitomi came up with as three young girls came in with arm loads of white shimmering silk into the room she had been put in. The room was simple, all white, a giant king size bed, almost two times the size of Van's bed, which had been the biggest, softest, most luxurious bed that she had ever—she stopped that line of thought. It had two bedside stands and a small dresser also, but that was it. No windows, no nothing else.

 

"Miss, we were instructed that we aren't allowed to touch you, but we don't know how to do this without touching you," a girl said shyly, smiling at Hitomi.

 

Hitomi looked down at the girls. They weren't as young as they looked; they were about twenty. "Why aren't you allowed to touch me? Of course you are allowed to. We have to hurry, and I'm sure that this won't get done at all, whatever you have to do, if you can't touch me." She was starting to get impatient.

 

"We aren't allowed to touch you because you are um...we err, we aren't allowed."

 

Hitomi rolled her eyes. "Who am I? What are you talking about?"

 

The girls got down on their knees and all but kissed the floor. "You are related to the Grand One."

 

Hitomi started laughing. She laughed so hard that she had tears come to her eyes. She straightened and wiped her eyes, trying to stop laughing. "Whatever. Just get me ready, or dressed, whatever you have to do. I don't have time for this."

 

**********

 

Five minutes later Van ran straight into her room, trying to find a way to lock the door. Hitomi looked up from about to be stripped, seeing Van breathing hard, as if he had just run a few miles without stopping. She cocked an eyebrow at him in question.

 

"Those men are coming onto me!! I'm going to be raped!!"

 

Hitomi started laughing at him, she couldn't help it. "Van, they are just trying to help you get ready. Now get back there and let them dress you. You surprise me, for most royalty have other people dress them. Fanelia is one of the few places I know that doesn't do it."

 

Hitomi could see the absolute horrified expression on her poor husband's face. She crossed her arms over her chest, effectively pushing her breasts up. His eyes immediately followed the motion and he stared.

 

It seemed to distract him long enough for the men that had been trying to dress him to sneak up on him and grab him, dragging him out of the room. Hitomi could almost picture him screeching like a little girl.

 

The women helping Hitomi started doing something weird, which brought her out of her dream world. All of a sudden she was stripped, without even noticing it. The women threw up the yards and yards of glimmering white fabric and it somehow hovered in the air. One of the girls pointed a finger at her, and the cloths curled around her naked form, molding into place with a simple flick of the woman's wrist. Alright, so that was odd. And I thought that she said they would have to touch me? Why didn't they? This is so weird...she thought, beyond confused.

 

The girls looked on, seemingly satisfied with what they had done. One of them took out two brooches and they flew to her slim shoulders, where they were pinned.

 

Hitomi looked at herself in the mirror. Man...I look too...exotic, she thought to herself with a smile, her long canines peeking out.

 

She had a tight, form fitting bodice on, with an almost daringly low neckline. It wouldn't have been so bad if she hadn't had so much cleavage, but it was almost too bold even for her. The dress flared out slightly, and it drug a good yard or so out on the ground. The shoulder straps were held up by the brooches, which were silver. Also being pinned up by the brooches was a flowing white gleaming cape, which also drug out behind her. She liked how if she floated it looked like she was walking, except to the point if one wondered if you were floating. She smiled at the women asking for her approval. "Thank you. I would have never expected something so beautiful."

 

The girls then forced her to sit down on a bench that was in front of the dresser and mirror. They pulled up her silver shoulder-length hair and piled it on top of her head, holding it up with diamond pins. They topped it off by curling the ends of her hair and letting several small tresses dangle around her perfect face.

 

"Now, we have to do your makeup," one of them announced. Hitomi just let them do whatever, for they were doing just dandy without her help.

 

They ended up spending most of their time on her expressive eyes, for her face needed little to nothing done to it, for it was already just right. All they did was put a bit of blush on her high cheekbones.

 

Hitomi was forced to close her eyes as they put some silver eyeliner stuff around her eyes. She was then to open them so they could put the equivalent of mascara on her already long and thick eyelashes.

 

They finished her face up by dabbing just the smallest trace of white sparkles in the corners of her eyes. Hitomi looked at herself, wondering if it really was her. She smiled and then one of them snapped their fingers. The woman whipped out something just like gloss and caked it on her pretty lips. Hitomi smiled again, giving the mirror a flirtatious little pout.

 

The women giggled and then took out some silver thick arm bands to put on her shapely upper arms. They were encrusted with rubies and diamonds, which was almost overdoing it. She hoped she wouldn't have to flex or they would break easily.

 

Hitomi pushed herself up off the bench and levitated in the air a good six inches off the ground. She thanked the girls graciously, and they left, telling her to come out as soon as she was ready to.

 

Hitomi patted her hair a couple times and adjusted her robe/dress thing she was wearing. She went out of the door, which somehow appeared yet again out of nowhere. She was about to start walking down the hall, but she stopped when she saw a smirking Van leaning up against the wall by her door.

 

Hitomi smiled. "Not fair."

 

Van opened his eyes and he stared at her for a moment, wondering how in the world it was possible to make her even more beautiful and sexy. He shrugged and lifted himself up off the wall, coming up next to her, floating in the air just like she was. "They tried to put some absolutely ridiculous robe thing on my ass, and I wouldn't let them. I guess I like what I got on."

 

Like?! Hitomi wondered. He was damn hot. He was clothed in some very tight light gray undershirt with some sort of plastic chest plate over it, which was white, and molded all of his hard muscles covering his chest. His pants were white also, and he had a pair of light gray boots on that went up to the bottom of his muscular calves. It seemed he hadn't foregone gloves, which he almost always had on. They were the traditional light gray, just like his boots and they hugged his forearms.

 

Hitomi giggled when he flicked his cape behind him. It was somehow secured to his chest plate on his shoulders, but she didn't have time to inspect it more closely, nor him, for someone came up to them.

 

Van saw the familiar sheen come to his wife's silver eyes as the person came up to them. Almost instantly, he got the awareness again. Like he knew everything that he had to know. He was so confused. As soon as the people left, he would revert back to his normal self, like he didn't know crap about this place.

 

The person didn't say anything until they came upon the biggest, most gigantic door they had ever seen. "No one has seen the One for over twenty thousand years, when the One was born. We expect that you treat The Grand One with as much respect as possible, for the One could kill you with just a simple thought. If you mess this up, you have just left us to our doom."

 

Hitomi and Van had no idea what the person was talking about. It was another one of those people that they couldn't tell if they were male or female. Hitomi was getting ready to refer to them as he/she's.

 

Van placed his big hand on the huge handle to the door when a sense of foreboding overwhelmed him. He had never been so scared in his life, not even when Hitomi had almost died from giving birth to the twins. He looked at Hitomi, seeing the same scared look on her face.

 

He swallowed hard. "We have to do this."

 

Hitomi nodded and Van opened the door.