This is the first fanfiction that I've ever posted. I'd like honest reviewers but in the same respect I'll probably be more tempted to complete this story if I get good reviews. At the moment this is rather OOC with respect to Hitomi, but I'm trying to capture how she'd be affected not being able to see the one she loves. Sorry for the shortness, if I write a part 2 it will be longer.

~*~*~*~*~*

Midnight struck as Hitomi gazed out the window, in a rare moment of thought. Doing monotonous tasks day in and day out helped her to forget the immense pain in her heart. Four years after, she still couldn't forget the boy.now man.she had grown to love. She could no longer immerse herself in memories; they began to fade into a menagerie of faces, with events she could just barely recall. The pain and pleasure was no longer as fresh, and she regretted it. Allen, Millerna, Gaddes, Folken, Prince Chid and.Van.she couldn't forget them, but the memories they forged together continued to grow weaker with each passing day.

The stars looked the same from the Mystic Moon. She looked up wondering if maybe she could see Gaea if she strained her eyes hard enough. She saw a flickering vision of Van's face in the shadows, not the boy she knew, but the man he had become. She knew by now that it was just a passing image, that they could never truly be together. They both belonged in separate worlds. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that maybe he still didn't feel the same way. It had been four years.

Trusting him from the bottom of her heart was difficult. "I'm not very pretty," thought Hitomi depressed. "And I'm sure all of the girls are fawning over the young king of Fanelia right now, he has an duty to get married and produce an heir after all. First moment we knew each other's feelings, we were torn apart."

She could remember that promise, that they would always be able to see each other if they shared feelings. But being able to hear and touch him were completely different matters all together. All she had were the feelings that constricted her heart when she thought of him, and that one kiss before their final farewell.

After her adventure, she had graciously allowed her best friend to be with Amano. It was only right, but she still felt a jealous twinge every time she saw them together. Though Amano lived far away, at least he lived in the same world. All Yukari had to do was jump on a plane to fall into his embrace or simply pick up a phone to listen to a voice on the other end.

Fate seemed to be too cruel. Every day she saw people smiling, sorrowing and sighing; completely oblivious to what the world truly contained. The world that had created Atlantis was cold and bleak if you didn't have someone else to confide in and love. Love. The knowledge that people loved her made Hitomi stronger, but how far could the love of friends and family go if she knew she might never feel the touch of the one person who was most important.

Yukari once worried about her, but over the years they had grown apart. Hitomi was no longer as bubbly and carefree and Yukari didn't know how to soothe her. How could she? She hadn't been there? She didn't know Hitomi's pain. Feelings were kept locked until finally Yukari refused to interrogate her friend any further. Probing into Hitomi's life had proved difficult and Yukari had given up. Now they simply hung around each other because it was expected. Not to say they didn't enjoy each other's company, but Hitmoi feared her friend wouldn't believe her exploits. That lack of trust had cost their relationship, and broke it down into fragments of disillusioned joy.

For the pain of knowing fate, she had never tried to find out her destiny after she had returned to earth, but was beginning to doubt that destiny would let her return to Gaea once more. Earth didn't seem to hold her captive any more. She cared for a few people in it. Her strength, character and love were all somewhere that could not be reached by simple methods of transportation. "If only I could will a pillar of light to appear." She thought, idly eying a book she was asked to read in history called, "Atlantis: Fact or Fiction?" "Hmph.if only they knew I already know the answer to that question, and much of the mystery surrounding it."

Eying the clock she was surprised that it was already 2 am. A test awaited her the next day and she intended to be prepared at all costs. Letting her eyes rest on the night sky once more, she wished to once more be transported to Gaea. It was a rare moment of hopefulness for Hitomi as she closed her eyes, trying to focus her mind on sleeping.