Hey guys! Theoretically, this would be my second ficcy...but I deleted my last one since I had no intention of continuing a broken story...so here's a new one, and I hope you guys like it!
Basic Summary (Other than the one in the listings): Did you think that it would be that easy for them? To sort out both their feelings of first love, right at first sight? To be able to boldly declare statements of love the instant Hitomi returned to Van's arms? No...it's not that simple. Love's not that simple. Love can save you and give you strength...or it could destroy you.
"Hitomi!" Van called, as the pillar of light returned once again to return her home. Hitomi's eyes watched him as she gradually started upwards.
"Van...I'll never forget you! Even when I'm old and gray, I'll never forget you!" She cried out. She felt torn, as if a part of her was being wretched forcefully away. Hitomi stared down at all her friends, and as the pillar dissipated, leaving small, glittering spheres of light, her final whisper echoed back to their ears.
"I'll never forget you..."
Hitomi gasped, and woke from her dream. It was the same dream that she had been having every night for the past few nights in a row. She shook her head, trying to shake the last bits of grogginess out of her, and moved to sit by her window. She combed a hand through her honey brown tresses, which had grown halfway down her back, trying to clear her mind a little more.
She stared down with vibrant emerald eyes at the people of the streets below her, deep in thought about her dream. She had been seeing the same things so much recently...Van's face was etched into her head. Hitomi instinctively reached up to her neck for her pendant, but feeling nothing, she remembered that she had given it to Van as they parted. She still remembered him so well...his jet-black hair that was messy no matter how much you tried to brush it. His dark crimson eyes, so full of spirit and determination. Yes, that was what she had come to admire during their journey together...the spark in his eyes that told her that he could do anything. And she believed him.
She sighed and leaned against the side of the window, eyes closing. Her mind wandered over to Gaea. Everyone...she missed everyone so much. The longing tugged at her heart so fiercely. Van...Allen...Dryden...Millerna...Gaddess...and even that annoying Merle. Hitomi chuckled at the thought. She had been so young and naïve...falling for the knight in shining armor, when in the end, she realized that her heart did not belong with him at all. And all the while Millerna had been telling her to stay away from Allen, and Merle had her sights firmly set on Van. So where did her heart go?
That's right. Hitomi frowned. If my heart does not belong with Allen...then whom would it be with? She knew it had been stolen away. She had spent the last few years, wondering what it was that she was missing. She didn't feel like herself at all, and she knew somehow, in her heart, that it was love. She had met the man she was destined to be with, and then without realizing it, he had stolen her heart away.
Hitomi blinked, and giggled. In love? Yeah, right...she thought, skeptically. She couldn't think of anyone who could possibly be that man. Really..."knight in shining armor", eh? Get those childish fantasies out of your head! Hitomi chided herself. You're just looking for a fairy tale that could never come true.
She glanced over at the clock. 9:17AM. It was the beautiful start of summer vacation, after a long year of school and testing...how glad she was to be rid of all of it! Hmm...Hitomi thought, eyes surveying the beginning day outside. The sun was sunny and bright, the start of a beautiful day.
"I think I'll go to the park today." Hitomi decided.
Thirty minutes later, Hitomi was washed up and had changed for her stroll. She walked downstairs into the kitchen to find a note from her mother, reading:
Hitomi:
I'll be home late today, so go ahead and eat dinner without me, okay? The boss needed some extra help since my co-worker is taking a vacation, and there had been a loss of workers...it seems that most of them decided to take a vacation. Can't blame them...
Anyways, take care of yourself, and tell your father, okay? And leave a note if you're going out for the night – I'd rather not worry. Love you, sweetheart!
MomHitomi dropped the note back on the table and walked over to the refrigerator, only to find a similar note from her father.
"Looks like I'll be alone again." She mumbled, as she grabbed an apple from the refrigerator. After eating it, she quickly scribbled a note, stuck it to the refrigerator, and stepped out into the gloriously sunny day.
Hitomi walked through the entrance, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. Ever since her return from Gaea, she had found herself here more and more. It was as if she had a special connection with all the trees and flowers, as if they could understand her. And she also felt so at ease when she was in this park. When she had returned from Gaea, it had been rather difficult to explain her long disappearance. At school, she was bombarded with questions she did not want to answer. Hitomi also found herself draw further away from her best friend Yukari. It was as if...Yukari didn't understand her anymore.
She walked along the sakura tree-lined walkways, and sat down by the lake. Hitomi watched its serene peacefulness, rippling as the sakura petals fell gently into the lake. Her eyes strayed to the scenery beyond, and to her high school.
Suddenly, Hitomi found herself walking towards the school's track. Unlocking the gate, she walked towards the sandy track, memories crashing back to her. This was where she had first met Van. This was where she had been taken to Gaea.
She slowly began walking around the track, thinking about Gaea. She was happy that the war was over. Hitomi wondered what Fanelia looked like now. Van must have started rebuilding it, right? And everyone else...what did they look like now? Where were they in life? Were they happy?
Am I happy? The question struck her so suddenly, so out of nowhere, that she stopped walked along the track from the sheer shock of it. Happy? Of course, I'm happy! I have a wonderful family, and...and...her thoughts stopped there. What else was there? She had lost her friends, and her normal way of life. No, I can't lie to myself. I'm not happy. I feel so...so empty.
But how to fill the emptiness, she did not know. She continued walking along the track, letting her subconscious guide her. She stopped and smiled slightly. The spot she stood now was where she had first met Van all those years ago. What she wouldn't give to go back once more...Hitomi remembered that they still had a link, but it had been inactive for a while now. Van had his responsibilities as a king rebuilding a country, and Hitomi couldn't bear to distract him from that. She wanted him to put his people before something as insignificant as connections with a forgotten friend.
Herself.
How selfish of me. She thought, sadly. To want to burden the others with my presence once more. I bet they're all doing fine. Fine, just without me.
But still...that fact did not change the longing that resided within her heart. Just once more...to see their faces once again...was all she needed.
"Gaea, take me back..." She uttered subconsciously. Warmth of an unknown energy bubbled up inside of her, and her eyes shot wide open as the familiar piliar of light enveloped her gently, pulling her upwards.
I'm...I'm going back?! She thought wildly, as the light pulled her out of Earth once again.
Hitomi landed with a resounding 'thump' on the hard concrete floor. She winced and got up, brushing herself off, and surveying her surroundings. She was back, at least, she hoped she was.
She was in a garden, full of beautiful and exotic flowers. I wonder whose garden this is...she mused quietly, and she reached to touch one of them. The petals felt soft and silky, and she turned to wander further into the garden. She caught sight of roses, and gasped happily. Finally, a flower she recognized! She bent to inhale its fragrant scent. After she was done admiring the roses she decided that she had to find out where she was.
Hitomi turned to find herself face to face with the pointed ends of deadly looking spears.
"What are you doing here, intruder?!" One guard shouted.
"I'm...I'm..." Hitomi was lost for words. "I'm looking for Van Fanel! Am I in Fanelia?"
The guard growled, "Damn right you are. Stop trying to play dumb! You must be an assassin then, right?! Well..." He motioned for the other gaurds to capture her. They caught her by her arms roughly, and almost literally dragged her along the ground as they marched.
"Wha..? Wait! No! I'm not an assassin! I'm the girl who came from the Mystic Moon three years ago! I helped Van save Gaea!" Hitomi protested, struggling against her captors. But it was to no avail; the guards had her in what felt like an iron grip. The ground scraped against her bare knees as they dragged her, and even as she struggled, it just made the pain worse. Hitomi cursed inwardly, wondering just why she had decided to wear a short skirt today.
"The Mystic Moon, eh? What a load of trash. Oh, we'll take you to him, cursed being of the Mystic Moon. And it's King Van to you! You will address him by his proper title, understood?" He laughed cruelly, and they dragged her around the garden, and up the steps of the palace.
Van sat in the throne room, receiving the people of his country, as they came to him with their problems. It had been three long years, but he had finally succeeded in rebuilding Fanelia to it former glory. He smiled inwardly, as he remembered. Three years ago...he had met the girl who stole his heart.
Hitomi...he hadn't been in contact with her in a very long while. Guilt welled up inside him, as he remembered that it was it overwhelming duties as king that had given him less and less time to talk to her. And finally, the link had been severed. Hitomi's pendant still hung around his neck, and he grasped it, feeling its cool round surface, fascinated by the immense amount of unseen power that this pendant contained. He felt selfish, but he wanted to see her again.
He shooked his head slightly, to himself. Hitomi's probably forgotten all about you, Van. His inner voice told him. Because of your neglect, she's forgotten everything about you. The tone as accusing, and he winced at the truthfulness. But Hitomi...where are you know. Are you happy? Because without you by my side...I know I'm not.
A sudden eruption of noise caught his attention, as guards dragged a kicking and screaming girl up the steps of the palace. They stopped in front of the throne, and threw the girl to the side.
"Stupid girl, you're bleeding all over the carpet!" The guard growled. He kicked her side, and she coiled up into a ball, shaking. Van could not see her face, but saw all the wounds on her body, no doubt from the guard's harsh treatment of prisoners.
"King Van, this girl was found in the gardens. We believe that she is an assassin, bent on taking your life!" Another guard announced.
Van shook with silent fury. "Foolish! Do you honestly think that a girl such as this would be an assassin?! How stupid can you be? If she had been an assassin you would not of brought her in so easily!" He shouted at the gaurds.
"B-but...but..." The guards all sputtered. "But she tells outrageous lie of her origins being from the Mystic Moon!" Another shouted back.
This caught Van's attention. He stood from the throne and knelt by the girl.
"What is your name?" He asked gently. He put a hand on her shoulder, but she drew back suddenly, and flinched as if she'd been burned. He drew back his arm, and leaned forward. He asked again.
"What is your name, dear girl?"
The girl looked up at him, and he was struck by the vibrance of her bright emerald eyes. Her voice was barely uttered in a whisper, but Van caught it.
"My name is Hitomi. Hitomi Kanzaki."
And then she passed out, blood dripping freely from her body.
Sorry that was so short! But it's midnight right now. And I'm eager to at least get the first chapter out. So, tell me your opinions and review, please! Thanks!