Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Twisted Fates ❯ Will You? ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11 ~ Will you?

Van was sitting at the head of his council table.

"All against?" he asked.

Wazir's hand flew up instantly.

"All in favour?" Van asked sternly.

All the other hands were raised.

"It looks like you fail again Wazir." Van said, with a mocking smile on his face. "I have to go now, that this matter is settled." Van told them and got up to leave.

"Good luck milord." Leto told him.

"Even if you fools do not have the guts to stand up to him. I will. He has humiliated me enough." Wazir told them hotly after Van left.

"You will do no such thing. We all agree, for our own reasons. You have caused enough trouble!" Leto scorned him.

"Hmpf! You shall see. I WILL get the last word!" Wazir yelled and left the room.

"Someone should keep an eye out for him." Leto told everyone.

"Don't worry. Wazir will be busy today." Merle told them.

~~~~

Down in the market, Hitomi was looking for an anniversary gift. Yes, it had been one month since she had begun to date Van. They had a blast. Hitomi couldn't believe that one month had passed by. She didn't know how Van did it, but he managed to keep up with his court duties and also have time for her. Hitomi truly admired his sense of diplomacy. She walked into a little shop, and bought two very odd looking necklaces. They were made of the same stone, and when you brought their pendants together, they formed a perfect circle. Hitomi found it perfect, since she was sure that Van was the other half of her soul. Satisfied, Hitomi left the market. She returned to the palace, and headed to her room, where she would store the gift until she would meet Van. He told her he would be busy the whole day. Hitomi understood. He had a kingdom to run, and no matter how much he'd want to be with her, he still had duties. Hitomi hoped she didn't inconvenience him in any way, and she also hoped that the people of Fanelia celebrated anniversaries. She didn't want to make a faux pass.

When she reached her room, Hitomi found a note, and some flowers on her bed. She smelled the wild red roses, and tore open the note.

"Tonight at about 7, go up to the roof.

Love Van"

Hitomi smiled. She now had her answer. Fanelians, and especially Van, cared a lot about anniversaries. She smiled, trying to imagine what the little devil had in his mind. The roof. Hitomi couldn't come up with anything. All she knew was that it will be a blast. Van had a way of making everything wonderful.

~~~~

Later that night, Hitomi made her way to the roof. When she got there, no one was in sight. She spun around, puzzled. Was this some sort of trick? Hitomi looked around puzzled. All of a sudden, a hand came over her mouth, and a blindfold over her eyes.

"Sssshh. Hitomi, it's me. Come on, let's go." Van told her quietly, taking his hand off her mouth.

"Van, what's this all about?" Hitomi asked spinning around bewildered.

"It's a surprise. Don't worry." He checked her blindfold to see that it wouldn't slip off.

"Where are we going?" Hitomi asked, looking for him.

"I can't tell you. It's a surprise wait. Now, brace yourself." He told her. Hitomi heard a sound similar to the rustling of feathers.

Van grabbed Hitomi by the waist, and jumped off the roof. He caught an updraft of the warm breeze blowing, and took off into the night. Hitomi was laughing, having been taken by surprise.

"I didn't know you were going to fly us there!" she told him.

"It's this last minute idea I got. Don't worry. It's not far." He said placing a soft kiss on her neck.

"Shouldn't you concentrate on flying?" Hitomi asked laughing.

"Well, with you so close, it's quite hard to." Van said and spun in the air.

Hitomi felt how Van turned her toward him. He spun in the air, holding her close to him. Hitomi felt like she was walking on air, as her feet were hanging. She suddenly realised that they were dancing in the air. Van was holding her in his arms and spinning in the motion of the breeze. Hitomi felt like that was the most wonderful music she ever heard. There, in the air, it felt like she was among the stars, although she knew she had all she wanted right there. Hitomi took her hand off Van's neck, and brushed it past his cheek. Then, she leaned closer and kissed him. Honey couldn't have been softer or sweeter. Her lips against his were softer that the most delicate rose petals. Her kiss was pure fiery honey. It set him burning, like the brightest star. When the kiss ended, Van could feel his skin blush. That had to be the most extraordinary kiss he had ever received from his wonderful Hitomi. Luckily, the breeze cooled his growing desire.

"I love you. I'll never let you go." She told him quietly after.

"You couldn't let me go, because I'm never letting you go. You're staying with me forever." Van said possessively. He then spun her around one more time, and proceeded on their way.

After a few more minutes in the air, Van placed Hitomi on the soft grassy ground of a forest.

"Are we there?" Hitomi asked.

"Yes." Van told her.

"Van, may I take off my blindfold now?" Hitomi asked.

"Not yet. I'll take it off. Don't worry." Van told her.

Hitomi heard some rushed footsteps, and then from behind her, she felt Van embrace her. Slowly, her blindfold fell off, and Hitomi found herself staring into the most beautiful red rose she even saw.

"Oh Van, I love it!" she told him taking it from his hands and smelling it.

"I thought you might." Van said and kissed her lightly. Hitomi however, had other ideas. After a few minutes, Van broke the deep kiss they'd been engaged in.

"Come on, let's dig in." Van said, and showed her a picnic blanket full with goodies. The stars and the candle light was all the lighting they had, yet Hitomi felt like it was more than enough

"Van, did you do this?" Hitomi asked amazed at how much he had prepared.

"Well, not really. Merle arranged most of it." Van confessed.

"I love it. It's so sweet!" Hitomi said and hugged him.

Van smiled, a weird twinkle sparkling in his eye. Hitomi smiled at him. She couldn't believe this.

"Hold on. Before we eat, I want to show you something else." Van told her. He led her through the thick hanging trees and bushes, to a small waterfall.

Hitomi looked at him, while listening to the relaxing sound of the crisp falling water. It was almost as magical as the music of the wind.

"That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." She told him, and kissed him again.

"Err, let's go and eat." Van said.

~~~~

Dinner was awesome. Hitomi was stuffed. She had a wonderful night. After clearing the blanket, Hitomi lay down beside Van. This was an anniversary she would never forget.

"Hitomi?" Van asked quietly.

"Yes?" she answered.

Van swallowed a lump in his throat. This was harder than he thought. He sat up, wanting to look in her eyes.

"Will you...?" he asked quietly unable to continue.

"Will I what?" she asked.

"Umm... never mind, this can wait." Van said quickly.

"Van, come on, what do you need?" Hitomi asked anxiously.

"It's not what I NEED it's what I WANT." He told her.

"Ok, what do you WANT?" Hitomi asked.

"Well, that can wait. I want to ask you something else." Van told her.

Hitomi frowned, curious at what he wanted to ask her. "Ok, shoot with your second question." She instructed.

"Well, I've been meaning to ask you this. What did you mean when you told Allen you weren't ready to make a commitment?" Van asked.

Hitomi's eyes widened. He had heard that whole conversation? If so, where was he going with this? "Well, I didn't want to get married to Allen, I had to tell a small lie, so I wouldn't hurt his feelings." She told him.

"Why not? He had what it took to make you happy." Van told her, sincerity echoing in his voice.

"Well, no he didn't. I couldn't marry someone I didn't love, and I didn't love Allen. Plus, me and him didn't have that much to share. He just wasn't my type." Hitomi told him.

"Oh yeah? Then what is your type?" Van asked grinning.

"I think that you of all people should know that Van!" Hitomi said smiling.

"So, if you're not ready to marry Allen, then WHO are you ready to marry?' Van asked her smirking.

"Well, I don't know, and why would you be interested?" Hitomi asked playing innocent.

"Maybe I'd like to give it a try." Van said shrugging.

She just looked at him, questioning his face to see if he was joking.

"How about it Hitomi? How about doing me to honour of being my wife, and queen of Fanelia?" Van asked quietly, yet seriously.

Hitomi's eyes sparkled, and his shined. Had she heard him right? Did he just ask her to be his wife? Her head was spinning, and butterflies were swimming in her stomach. All of a sudden, she got an idea.

"Hitomi?" Van asked alarmed when he saw she didn't answer. "What did I do wrong?" he wondered in silence.

Hitomi got up, and ran towards the waterfall. Van would just have to follow her if he wanted his answer.

"Hitomi! Wait!" Van called after her. He got up and followed her.

Hitomi waited for Van to reach her, then she quickly dived off the top of the fall. Hitomi entered the water head-first. To her surprise, the clear water was warm.

"Hitomi!" Van yelled and jumped after her, when he saw she wasn't coming up to the surface.

Van looked around for her frantically. Where was she? Did she drown, what happened back there? Was she mad at him? Van couldn't tell for sure. However, when he prepared to go under the water again, a firm hand on his shoulder spun him around. Van found himself starring in the sparkling green eyes of his beloved. She pulled him towards him, and kissed him passionately. She pressed hard against him, making him go under. When they finally came up on the surface, both of them were breathless.

"Yes. Yes I will Van Fanel." Hitomi told him.

Van was now wide eyed. She had managed to do it again. He would never understand her. How did she manage to always bewilder him so?

"Really?" he asked, just wanting to make sure.

Instead, she just splashed him with water, and swam further in the little pool.

"Hey, what did you do that for?" Van asked.

"You little fool!" Hitomi pretended to be mad. "I saw it in your eyes. How could you think I could say no?" she asked him.

"Well, I don't know. I never understood women, and you're definitely one of a kind." Van said swimming close to her.

"Oh Van, I could never say no. I belong here with you on Gaea." Hitomi said and pulled him closer to her.

"So will you?" Van asked.

"Yes. No doubt has ever entered my mind. I will be your wife." She told him placing a soft kiss on his cheek.

"I'm so glad, and Hitomi, I have something to give you, but first..." Van didn't continue. He grabbed Hitomi's waist and lifted her out of the water, only to let her fall back in again.

"You little snake!" Hitomi said her eyes sparkling with pleasure when she came from under the water.

"Hehe, it serves you well for splashing me with water! Never mess with me!" he told her with a grin.

"Oh yeah, what if I don't care the least bit for your warning?" she asked and splashed him again.

"Then drastic measures must take place!" he said and locked her in his arms, placing soft kisses on her wet neck.

"Oh Van, I almost forgot! I have a present for you!" Hitomi said through shrieks of giggles.

"Mhm, me too." Van said distracted by the more interesting job of kissing her.

"Come, on, we've played enough." Hitomi said and dragged him out of the water.

She lead him back to the picnic blanket, and took out the two pendant necklaces.

"See, when you put them together, they form a circle. It's our circle of love. Never ending love." She told him, and gave him a necklace.

"And I have something for you," Van said taking her tear-shaped pendant off his neck. "This, is my solemn promise to you that we will always be together. No matter what happens, we will always find our way back to each other." Van told her, putting the pendant on her neck.

"Oh Van." Hitomi was speechless.

"Shh. The pendant has served me well. Now, it serves a better purpose. It is my pledge to you. Never will we be separated. I love you more than anything and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. This is the promise by which I intend to stand." Van said and kissed her.

"I have no doubt that you will honour it. The same goes for me. Together forever you hear?" Hitomi said and kissed him.

"If you keep kissing me like that, we'll stay here forever!" Van teased.

Later that night, newly engaged Van and Hitomi came back to the palace. Holding her protectively, Van took Hitomi to her room. After a few kisses, he finally left to get a good night's sleep, knowing that everything was well.

When Hitomi entered her room, she found a plate of cookies in front of her door, with a note congratulating her on her engagement. She smiled, and taking a bite out of a cookie, and thinking how fast good news travelled. She then proceeded to bed, where pretty dreams followed.