Some Friendly Advice

It had been a week since Merle walked in on Hitomi and Millerna. Since then, the Crusade had raided the depot, and was back in Palas, undergoing repairs, and such. This gave the women an opportunity to get off the ship and have a little fun on their own.

As Hitomi had predicted, Allen had asked Millerna to the Midsummer's fest. Millerna had frostily refused. "You should have asked me before you hit on my best friend!" were her exact words. Kio, Pyle, and Oruto, who were close enough to hear the whole confrontation, had a good laugh at the look on Allen's face as Millerna stormed off.

Instead, Millerna went with Hitomi. The two had a hell of a time. They traipsed all over the city, laughing and holding hands the whole way. Sure people stared, but they were willing to ignore them if they did no more than stare. The one man who questioned their companionship got his ears blistered.

They modelled dresses at the best clothing shop in the city. Millerna's title helped them out there, as the man behind the counter was quite snobby toward peasants. For the rest of the morning, they terrorised the merchants by swarming every sale in the city.

After stopping for a quick lunch, they went down to the wharves and watched the dolphins. No one around, Millerna lay her head on Hitomi's shoulder. The other girl wrapped an arm around her waist and softly kissed her hair. It was a perfect moment.

They went to the show house and saw play that would make any nobleman blush. The suggestive movements of the characters heated them up, and the end of the final act saw them kissing hungrily in a dark corner.

The evening ended with dinner at the finest restaurant. They talked long into the night, telling each other about their families, and so on.

They finally got back to the ship at around midnight. The ever-flirtatious Allen had apparently worried frantically about the two women and tried to get them to promise to tell him when they left the ship. Totally ignoring Allen's existence, Hitomi strolled into her room. Millerna paused only to give the knight her coat before joining Hitomi. The sex-free day had them both ripping off each other's clothes almost before the door was locked.

From then on, the happy couple spent every day off ship, happily wandering the city. Whenever they looked like getting caught, they would always resort to Gaddes and Merle.

The two go-betweens pitied themselves at being 'dragged into this insane operation' as Gaddes put it. Most nights he would get drunk. When Merle asked what he was doing, he claimed he was 'trying to forget'. When asked what, he responded in a slurred voice, "I forgot".

Merle was actually having a fun time. She loved being part of big conspiracies, and loved nothing so much as a big secret. But more and more she was realising something.

She was in love with Van.

Merle had always known that she loved Van. Family loved each other, friends loved each other, and so on. But she was beginning to realise what being 'in' love meant.

To her, being in love meant thinking about Him all the time. It meant that the room brightened when He walked in. It meant that she felt faint whenever He smiled at her. She knew perfectly well that she sounded like a corny love novel, but screw everyone! That was how she felt!

If only she had the courage to do something about it.

One day Merle was lying on her bed reading one of those corny love novels. She was just getting to the part when the hero sweeps up the damsel and kisses her soundly when a knock came at the door. "Merle? Can I come in?"

Her heart jumped. It was Him! Van! Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! "Of course Lord Van!" Shutting the book, Merle sat up quickly as Van entered the room. Immediately her eyes glazed as she watched his incredible handsomeness.

Van sat down in a chair opposite of Merle. "I need to talk to you about something that might be a touchy subject with you. Is that alright?"

Merle nodded emphatically. "Of course Lord Van! What's wrong?"

Van hesitated. "Well…it's about Hitomi."

Sudden terror filled Merle's soul the cream inside of a doughnut. Did Van have feelings for Hitomi? "Hi-Hitomi?" she asked faintly.

Van nodded, oblivious to Merle's sudden fear. "Yes. She's been acting kind of weird lately. She goes out every morning and doesn't come back until late. She keeps looking like she's a million miles away, and she always has this goofy grin. The other day she fell asleep while we were talking. I'm getting kind of worried. She's my friend, and I need to know if something's wrong, but she won't tell me! So want to know if she's told you anything."

Relief flooded Merle's being. "So…you're not in love with Hitomi?" she asked tentatively.

Van stared at Merle as if she'd grown a fifth head. "What gave you that idea?"

"Well…never mind." Merle sighed inwardly. She was never going to be able to tell him.

"Oh. Well can you explain Hitomi's weird behaviour?"

Merle shrugged. "It's probably because of-" she clapped a hand over her mouth.

Van looked up sharply. "What?"

"Nothing".

"What's it because of?"

Merle desperately looked for an escape. There was none. "…"

Van took her hand in his. "Please tell me Merle."

Merle nearly turned to jelly. But she remembered her promise. "I…can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I promised Hitomi."

Van frowned slightly. "There's something wrong with Hitomi and she made you promise not to tell?"

Merle shook her head. "Hitomi's fine!"

"Well that's a relief. I was getting worried." Van leaned back in his chair.

Minutes ticked by in silence. Finally Van broke the ice. "Why can't you tell me Merle?"

Merle folded her arms stubbornly. "It's a personal matter." Van sighed in frustration. "And you're not going to tell me what?"

"Not for all the catnip in the world! I made a promise and I aim to keep it!"

Van groaned. This could take a while. Suddenly inspiration struck him. "Merle?"

The cat girl looked at him. For a moment, Van was startled. He'd never noticed how blue Merle's eyes were before. "How about thI'llI'll guess things about Hitomi's secret, and you tell me if I'm right or wrong. Okay?"

Merle considered the matter. It seemed harmless enough. The odds of Van asking if Hitomi was fucking the Asturian princess were a thousand to one. "Okay. You have a deal."

"Good". Van sat back and thought. "Did she have some sort of vision?"

Merle shook her head. "No".

"Okay. Is it about the war?"

"No".

"Is it about her home? Has she found someway back?"

"No and no". Merlinneinned to herself. This was perfect! Eventually Van would get frustrated and give up, making it so that Merle wouldn't have to give anything away.

"Does someone else know?"

Merle bit her lip. "…Yes."

Van's eyes lit. "Who?"

"Hey! Only yes or no questions!"

Van held up his hands. "Alright. Hmm. Does she like someone? Sexually I mean?"

"Yes…"

Van's head shot up. "Is she seeing anyone?"

'Damn it!' Merle swore. "Yes."

Van stood up. "Who is it?"

"I can't tell you! You have to guess!" Things were looking desperate for Merle. Although, it was still unlikely that he's guess Millerna, he might piece it together.

Van frowned again. "Is it someone on the Crusade?"

Merle was sweating now. "Yes."

"Is it Allen?"

"No".

"Gaddes?"

"No".

"Dryden?"

"No".

"Reeden?"

"No".

"Kio?"

"No".

"Pyle?"

"No".

"Oruto?"

"No".

Van threw up his hands. "Then who the hell could it be?!?!"

Merle folded her arms again. "I can't tell you."

Van knuckled his forehead, trying to calm down. "She's been spending a lot of time with princess Millerna. Does she know?"

He immediately saw that he struck a chord. Merle blinked nervously and her hands clenched. "…Yes…"

Van began to pace. Hitomi was seeing someone that was on the Crusade; it wasn't any of the men and princess Millerna knew about it. What the hell? Suddenly the truth hit him. He refused to believe it but the evidence was right there in front of his face. "Oh my God".

Merle sighed. "I knew I shouldn't have agreed to this."

***

With a last kiss on Hitomi's lips, Millerna backed out of the broom closet and shut the door. Turning, she strolled unsteadily down the hall with a big goofy grin on her face.

The two had been quick to see the advantages of the old broom closet. Seeing as no one swept the Crusade anymore, soe she should put it to good use.

Anyway, Millerna walked along, trying to get to her room without tripping over her feet. Turning a corner, she reached her hallway. But waiting by her door was Allen Schezar.

For a moment Millerna considered turning around. 'Relax. He's probably here to ask you out again'. With that thought, she tossed her hair and continued walking.

Allen walked up to her. "Millerna we need to talk."

Millerna didn't answer. She just kept on going. Allen followed her.

"Millerna I know about you and Hitomi."

The princess froze. Slowly she turned around and faced the knight. "What?"

Allen nodded. "I know all about you and Hitomi."

Millerna couldn't move. Every function in her body had seized up and she was totally unable to speak. All she could do was stand and listen to Allen's words.

"It took me a while to figure it out, but all the pieces finally added up. You have a lover, somewhere on this ship, and Hitomi is helping you meet with him without the rest of us knowing."

Millerna blinked. "Er what?"

Allen smiled smugly. "You heard me."

Millerna suddenly burst out laughing. "You think…I'm having an affair…with one of your crew?"

Allen scowled. "I don't see what's so funny Millerna. You're the heir apparent of Asturia. You'll have to marry some day. You can't afford a relationship with some man."

Millerna smirked and leaned back against the wall. "Well that's a nice theory Allen, but there's one small flaw. I'm NOT seeing any of your crew, as you seem to think. In fact, I'm not seeing anyone!"

Allen snorted. "Please Millerna, don't insult my intelligence. I can tell when someone's been making love." He pointed to her hair. "Your hair is all tangled…someone's been running his hands through it." He pointed to her face. "Your lips are red and bruised…you've been kissing someone. Very hard and very recently". He pointed to her clothes. "Your dress is ruffled and wrinkled…someone's been feeling you up, and you've been letting them."

Millerna flushed, thinking of the closet a few minutes ago. 'That about sums it up'.

"And if it's not one of my crew, then it's someone else. It's Van isn't it?" Allen grabbed Millerna's shoulder. "Did he force you into this? Did he take you against his will?"

Millerna jerked away from the raving knight. "Allen! Control yourself! You're sounding like a jealous husband!" Her nose tilted into the air. "And I don't see what business of yours it is if I have a relationship with whoever I want!" She started past but he grabbed her again. "Allen!"

"It's my concern to make this stop!" His tone turned pleading. "Millerna, you're going to be queen of Asturia! You can't just sleep around with whomever you want, even if it is Van! I won't allow it!"

Millerna slapped Allen across the face. "How dare you?! I do not 'sleep around' with anyone! And you have no authority to stop me from doing anything! You're just jealous of Van! Hitomi rejected you and you think she went to Van! I rejected you and now you're thinking the same thing!" She snorted. "I suggest you go drink this problem of yours off." She strode past him. Suddenly she found herself slammed against the wall.

Allen's face was contorted with fury. "Don't fuck with me princess" he hissed. "You shouldn't hit me like that. You don't know how I might react. I think you need to be taught a lesson about how real men work, not skinny Fanelian twerps." He kissed her roughly. For the first time, Millerna could smell the brandy on his breath. 'Oh my God, he'snk!'nk!' Millerna was suddenly terrified and she struggled wildly.

"Allen! Let go!" Millerna screamed. She had never felt more helpless and afraid.

Allen slapped her. "Shut up!" He had just grabbed her breast hard in one hand when he felt something hard jerk against his throat.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" The words were screamed as Allen was slammed into the wall.

***

Van and Merle were heading towards Millerna cabin. Van intended to get this secret out into the open once and for all. Despite her fear that Hitomi might think she was a promise breaker, Merle was determined to come.

They were almost there when they heard a voice scream out fury and hatred. Twisted by emotions that dwarfed the term angry, it was barely recognisable as Hitomi's. Without another thought, they ran around the corner to the scene of the scream.

Hitomi had looped her pendant chain around Allen's neck and used it to slam him into the wall. Howling with fury, she slammed a fist into his gut. When he doubled over, she kneed him into in the chin. Then she went crazy. Her fists shot forward and back delivering devastating blows to Allen's head, chest, and gut. She kicked him in the balls and opened up on his face.

All the while she screamed words of fury. "DON'T TOUCH HER! YOU HEAR ME?" she shrieked. "DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH MY PRINCESS AGAIN! YOU FUCKER, DON'T TOUCH HER!"

Van ran forward. He caught Hitomi around the waist just as she hammered a fist into Allen's jaw. Kicking wildly as he lifted her off her feet, she was distracted enough to let an unconscious Allen slide to the floor, blood leaking from his face.

"Damn it Hitomi, calm down!" Van yelled, hoping to penetrate the madness that had caught her. "Are you trying to kill him?"

"No!" Hitomi was frothing at the mouth with fury. "I'm gonna break every bone in his perverted body three times, and THEN gonngonna kill him!"

"Hitomi…"

The whispered word cut through the madness like light through a dark room. Hitomi immediately stopped struggling and Van put her down. She immediately went to Millerna. The princess was crying slightly. "Millerna" she whispered, "What did he do to you? Talk to me princess!"

Millerna shook her head. "I'm fine. He didn't hurt me too bad."

Hitomi sobbed in relief and hugged the princess to her chest. Merle coughed slightly and went to drag Allen to the infirmary. Van just watched the women share a tender moment.

At last Hitomi seemed to recover herself. Looking up, she saw Van and smiled sadly. "I guess you finally found out."

Van nodded. "I'm happy for the both of you. Really".

Millerna smiled too. "Thanks Van. I guess this means the charade is over."

Hitomi kissed Millerna gently on the head. "That doesn't matter. What matters is that you're safe." Standing up, Hitomi lifted the other girl into her arms. Walking passed Van, she carried her into her room. Laying her out on the bed, she covered her with a blanket. Millerna fell asleep almost instantly.

Van smiled as he watched Hitomi watching Millerna. "Do you want me to stay?"

"No, I need to be with my princess for a while."

Nodding, Van left the room. Hitomi sat in a chair and began her long, night time vigil.