Escaflowne: Return to Fanelia

by Ryiena

I brought the fic back and there are some new chapters....this fic is about Hitomi's return to Gaea and how humans and Draconians are linked more than you think.

1. Hearts meet again

I do not own Escaflowne and hope to someday work on Escaflowne projects......(like that will ever happen)
this fic was previously taken off of fanfic.net since i built a website for the fic. I am now placing it back on fanfic.net also. hope you enjoy the fic. ^_^

also I know the indenting is messed up. it is due to the webpage this was posted at before. i did not have this stored in the pc do to the fact the pc crashed a while back, so bare with me. i will try to fix it later....^_^


CHAPTER 1: HEARTS MEET AGAIN


IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL WINTER MORNING. SNOW WAS FALLING ONTO THE BARREN TREES. HITOMI SAT ON THE BENCH NEAR THE BOARDING GATE, WAITING FOR HER TRAIN. SHE LOOKED DOWN AT HER SILVER WATCH, "SIX FORTY-FIVE," SHE SAID TO HERSELF. SHE LEANED BACK ON THE SEAT AND THOUGHT ABOUT HER REPORT FOR HER COLLEGE PREPARATION CLASS. SHE HAD TO CHOOSE WHAT SHE WOULD DO WITH HER LIFE. THAT WAS NOT AN EASY ASSIGNMENT FOR HER. MAYBE SHE WOULD BECOME A TRACK STAR OR A PUBLIC SPEAKER. SHE JUST COULDN'T THINK OF WHAT TO SAT FOR HER REPORT. SHE SAT THERE, LOOKING DOWN AT HER CHEST. THE PENDANT THAT ONCE SAT THERE WAS GONE, AWAY IN THE HANDS OF A KING. SHE MISSED HIM SO MUCH, THAT IT MADE HER CRY. SHE LIKED BEING IN FANELIA ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. SHE REALIZED AFTER SITTING THERE THINKING TO HERSELF, THE TRAIN HAD NEVER COME. SHE LOOKED AT HER WATCH. "OH NO, IT'S SEVEN O'CLOCK," SHE CRIED OUT. SHE SAW A MAN THAT WAS USUALLY WAITING FOR THE SIX-THIRTY TRAIN. HE NOTICED HER LOOKING AT HIM. "OH YEAH, THE SIX-THIRTY TRAIN GOT HERE AT SIX-TWENTY THIS MORNING ACCORDING TO THE TRAIN STATION MANAGER," HE SAID. WITHOUT HESITATION, SHE GRABBED HER BOOK BAG AND STARTED RUNNING DOWN THE STREET. WHY DIDN'T SHE DO THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF. SHE RAN IN HER SKIRT THAT WENT AN INCH BELOW HER ASHY KNEES. HER HAIR WAS NOW PAST HER SHOULDERS AND HAD A LIGHTER LOOK FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
SHE RAN UP THE STEPS OF THE SCHOOL AND THREW THE DOOR OPEN. THE HALLWAY MONITOR STOOD THERE SHAKING HER HEAR AT HITOMI. "I'M SURPRISED TO SEE YOU HERE THIS LATE MS. KANZAKI," SHE SAID. "HOW LATE AM I?" ASKED HITOMI WITH FEAR IN HER VOICE. "WELL, THE BELL IS GOING TO RING IN ONE MINUTE," SHE SAID. HITOMI'S EYES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO BULGE OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS. SHE RAN UP THE SECOND FLOOR STEPS AND TOWARDS HER HOMEROOM CLASS. SHE ARRIVED IN THERE AS SOON AS THE BELL RANG. SHE WAS GREETED BY HER HOMEROOM TEACHER'S UNPLEASANT LOOK. "YOU WERE ALMOST LATE MS. KANZAKI," HE SAID, "I'M SORRY MR. KIRAI," SHE SAID BOWING. SHE SAT DOWN NEXT TO YUKARI. "WHAT HAPPENED? DID YOU SLEEP LATE?" SHE ASKED CURIOUSLY. HITOMI LOOKED AT HER WITH A SURPRISED LOOK. "SO YOU REALLY THINK I CAN SLEEP THROUGH MY MOTHER'S WAKE UP CALLS," SHE ASKED GIGGLING. YUKARI NOTICED HER FRIEND SEEMED DIFFERENT THIS MORNING. "IS SOMETHING WRONG?" SHE ASKED. "NO WHY DO YOU ASK?" ASKED HITOMI "WELL, YOU DON'T SEEM AS CHEERFUL TODAY," SHE SAID CONCERNED. "I'M FINE," SHE SAID SMILING. SHE KNEW SHE WASN'T FINE. THE VISION HAD KEPT HER AWAKE ALL NIGHT. SHE WATCHED AS THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS PSYCHOLOGICALLY TORMENTED AND EMBARRASSED MR. KIRAI. THE SHOT SLIMY SPITBALLS THROUGH A STRAW, HITTING THE 56 YEAR OLD MAN'S FACE. "THEY ACT LIKE KINDERGARTNERS," SAID YUKARI. HITOMI SAT BACK IN HER CHAIR AND CLOSED HER EYES. "I HAD A VISION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS LAST NIGHT," SHE SAID DESOLATELY. "WAS IT ABOUT FANELIA?" ASKED YUKARI. "YES, IT WAS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF FANELIA AND THE EARTH," SHE SAID. AS SHE TOLD YUKARI ABOUT IT, SHE COULD SEE THE VISION REPLAYING IN HER HEAD. "DO YOU THINK YOU WILL RETURN TO FANELIA?" SHE ASKED. "I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO GET BACK THERE. THE ISPANO'S ARE THE ONLY ONE'S WHO ACCESS THE LIGHT AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACCESS THEM MYSELF," SHE SAID.
"DO YOU THINK HE REMEMBERS YOU?" SHE ASKED. "HOPEFULLY HE DOES," SHE ANSWERED. "LAST NIGHT AFTER I SAW THE VISION, I SAT IN MY ROOM THINKING. I WONDERED IF HE STILL REMEMBERED ME. HE PROBABLY IS TOO BUSY REBUILDING HIS KINGDOM TO REMEMBER ME OR THE MYSTIC MOON," SHE SAID SADLY. "HEY, HE REMEMBERS YOU. I KNOW HE DOES," SHE SAID GIGGLING. HITOMI WAS ABOUT TO TELL HER ABOUT HER REPORT FOR MS.YOI, WHEN THE BELL RANG FOR FIRST PERIOD.
HITOMI WALKED OUT OF CLASS SLUGGISHLY. SHE HELD THE RESULTS OF HER NOT HAVING HER PROJECT IN HER HANDS. "HEY HITOMI, YOU HEADING HOME?" ASKED YUKARI. "NO, ACTUALLY I'M HEADING TO THE TRACK. WE HAVE A RACE TOMORROW AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M READY," SHE SAID. SHE LEFT YUKARI WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING ELSE, LEAVING HER DUMFOUNDED.
SHE MADE HER WAY TO THE RACE TRACK, STRETCHING AS SHE WALKED. "HELLO HITOMI," SAID A VOICE. SHE NEARLY JUMPED WHEN SHE HEARD HER NAME. SHE TURNED BEHIND HER TO SEE A GIRL WITH CURLY-BLONDE HAIR AND PEACH COLORED SKIN. "HI," HITOMI SAID WITH A FAKE GIGGLE. SHE STOPPED AND FIGURED SHE SHOULD FIND OUT WHO THIS GIRL WAS. "DO I KNOW YOU FROM SOMEWHERE?" SHE ASKED. "I'M AFRAID YOU DON'T BUT I KNOW YOU AND VAN," SHE SAID. HITOMI COULDN'T BELIEVE HER EARS. "VAN," SHE SAID STUNNED. "YES, THE KING OF FANELIA. YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON I CAN TALK TO. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?" SHE ASKED IN A ANGELIC TONE. "I GUESS SO," ANSWERED HITOMI BAFFLED. THEY WALKED OVER TO THE BLEACHERS AND SAT DOWN. THE GIRL LOOKED ONLY TO BE HITOMI'S AGE, PERHAPS A BIT YOUNGER. SHE WORE WEIRD ROBES AND HAD A SILVER HEADPIECE ON HER FOREHEAD. "I AM KUMORI, THE MESSENGER OF GAEA. I AM AN ATLANTEAN. I, AS YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TELL THE FUTURE. I WAS SENT HERE TO WARN YOU OF WHAT'S TO COME," SHE SAID. "WARN ME...OF WHAT?" ASKED HITOMI. "GAEA IS SLOWLY HEALING FROM THE WAR THAT TOOK PLACE TWO YEARS AGO. FANELIA IS GRADUALLY RECONSTRUCTING ITSELF, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT HIS MAJESTY IS WASTING HIS TIME," SHE SAID. "WHY DO YOU SAY THAT? IS SOMETHING GOING TO HAPPEN TO VAN?" SHE ASKED WORRIED. "I CAN ONLY TELL YOU WHAT I WAS PERMITTED TO KNOW. GAEA AND EARTH WILL SOON BE COVERED IN A BLANKET OF DARKNESS AND DESPAIR. THE PEOPLE OF GAEA SHALL SUFFER ONCE AGAIN FROM A WAR OF CRUELTY. LIVES WILL BE LOST, SAVED, AND JOINED. ALL OF THIS WILL HAPPEN WITH THE HELP OF YOUR PRESENCE IN GAEA," SHE SAID. HITOMI COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT SHE WAS HEARING. "I AM RETURNING TO GAEA?" SHE ASKED. "IF YOU DO NOT, GAEA WILL NO LONGER BE GAEA. IT WILL BE BUT DUST IN THE UNIVERSE," SHE SAID.
HITOMI KNEW HER VISION WAS TRUE. "WHAT EVIL SHALL PLAGUE GAEA?" SHE ASKED CURIOUSLY. "THAT CAN ONLY BE TOLD THROUGH TIME," SHE SAID STIFFLY. "ONE OF THOSE INVOLVED IS MY BROTHER. MY FATHER AND I BOTH DO NOT BELIEVE IN WHAT HE IS DOING, SO THAT IS WHY I AM HELPING YOU," SHE SAID. "THE GATES BETWEEN THESE TWO WORLDS ARE SLOWLY DETERIORATING. WHEN YOU RETURN TO GAEA, IT MAY BE THE LAST TIME YOU SEE THE EARTH FROM THIS POINT. THE EVIL I SPEAK OF HAS ALREADY TAKEN CONTROL OF THE GATES. JIKAN, MY FATHER SAID HE COULD CONTROL ONE OF THE GATES TO TAKE YOU BACK TO FANELIA, ONLY ON ONE CONDITION," SHE SAID. "AND WHAT WOULD THAT BE?" ASKED HITOMI. "YOU MUST BIND YOUR BLOOD WITH THAT OF A DRACONIAN," SHE SAID. "WHY?" ASKED HITOMI CONFUSED. "IT IS MY FATHER'S WISHES. I DO NOT KNOW WHY HE WISHES FOR YOU TO DO SO," SHE SAID. HITOMI DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY NEXT. BIND HER BLOOD WITH THAT OF A DRACONIAN? WHY WOULD SHE DO SUCH A THING. SHE WONDERED WHEN SHE WOULD EVEN BE RETURNING TO FANELIA. "WHEN WILL I GO BACK?" SHE ASKED. "YOU WILL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH," SHE SAID. AS THOSE WORDS LEFT HER MOUTH, SHE DISAPPEARED. HITOMI WAS LEFT SITTING CONFUSED. YUKARI RAN OVER, AN ANGERED LOOK ON HER FACE. "DO NOT TELL ME SHE IS FROM THAT OTHER PLACE CALLED GAEA," SHE SAID. "SHE IS A MESSENGER FROM THERE," SHE SAID. "YOU'RE NOT GOING BACK ARE YOU?" SHE ASKED. "KUMORI SAID I MUST," SHE ANSWERED. YUKARI SNORTED AND SLAMMED HERSELF INTO THE SEAT NEXT TO HITOMI. "YOU BETTER NOT LEAVE TODAY. YOU HAVE A RACE TOMORROW. YOU DON'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT YOUR MANAGE DO YOU?" SHE ASKED ANGRILY. HITOMI COULD TELL SHE WAS MAD ABOUT HER NOT SAYING ANYTHING EARLIER. "I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M LEAVING," SHE SAID SMILING. "YOU BETTER HOPE IT'S NOT TODAY OR ANYTIME BEFORE THREE O'CLOCK TOMORROW," SHE SAID.

IN A SMALL BLACK, MUSKY ROOM SAT A FIGURE, STARING THROUGH A STAINED GLASS WINDOW. HE HAD A CAPE DRAPED OVER HIS WIDE SHOULDERS AND ARMOR WRAPPED AROUND HIS FIRM BODY, HE KEPT STARING AT THE SKY....AT THE MOON THAT FOREVER CHANGED HIS LIFE, WHAT WAS SHE DOING? HE THOUGHT TO HIMSELF. THE LAST TIME HE SAW HER, SHE WAS STILL A TOMBOY. DID SHE REMEMBER HIM OR FANELIA? DID SHE EVEN CARE ANYMORE? HE HOPED SHE REMEMBERED HIM, FOR HE REMEMBERED HER EVERYDAY SINCE THE DAY SHE LEFT GAEA. AROUND HIS NECK LAID THE NECKLACE THAT HAD GROWN AS DEAR TO HIS HEART AS SHE DID. HE MISSED HER MORE THAN EVER. THE ADVENTURES THEY HAD THOSE TWO YEARS AGO WERE INVIGORATING. SHE WAS GONE ON THE MYSTIC MOON, PROBABLY BEING COURTED OR AS SHE REFERRED TO IT AS "DATING". HE LOOKED UP, WONDERING HOW HE COULD SEE HER AGAIN. HE KEPT LOOKING UP THROUGH THE WINDOW, UNTIL THE DOOR OF THE CHAMBER'S OPENED. "YOUR MAJESTY, LADY INAKA OF ASTURIA IS WISHING TO SEE YOU," SAID THE MAN. "VLADEN, PLEASE TELL LADY INAKA THAT I DO NOT WISH FOR AN AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW," HE SAID WAVING HIS HAND. "AS YOU WISH SIRE," SAID THE MAN BOWING. HE CLOSED THE DOOR AND RAN DOWN THE HALLWAY. "STILL THINKING OF HER SIRE?" ASKED A VOICE. HE SMILED AND TURNED HIS HEAD TOWARDS THE DARK CORNER THAT WAS ACROSS FROM HIS GOLDEN CHAIR. "WHY DO YOU DISTURB MY THOUGHTS JAVIN?" HE ASKED. "YOUR MAJESTY, RUMORS HAVE BEEN SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM. THERE IS WORD THAT YOU WILL MARRY SOON. IS THAT TRUE ME LORD?" HE ASKED WITH AN INQUISITIVE EYE. "AS RUMORS ARE JUST RUMORS," HE ANSWERED WITH A DIGNIFIED VOICE. "SIRE THEY ARE MORE THAN MERE RUMORS. THEY ARE NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH IN THE EYES OF THE FANELIANS," HE SAID. "THEY CAN BELIEVE AS THEY WISH JAVIN. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN MINDS AND WILLS. LET THEM BE," HE SAID. HE MOVED A PIECE OF HIS RAVEN HAIR FROM HIS FACE. JAVIN NOTICED HIS MASTER'S RED EYES WERE SWOLLEN AND SAD. "LORD VAN, DOES YOUR HEART ACHE FOR SOMEONE OR SOMETHING?" HE ASKED. HE DID NOT ANSWER JAVIN. A CLOUD OF SILENCE DRAPED THE LONELY ROOM. VAN DECIDED TO BREAK THE SILENCE.
"THAT GIRL," HE SIMPLY REPLIED. "SHE HAS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW." JAVIN SMILED AND LOOKED OUT THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW HIS MASTER WAS ONCE LOOKING OUT OF. "THE MYSTIC MOON IS BEAUTIFUL SIRE, AS SHE WAS," HE SAID. SOMETHING STRUCK HIM AS HE HEARD JAVIN SAY THOSE WORDS. "WHY DO YOU SPEAK OF HER IN THE PAST TENSE?" HE ASKED ANGRILY. "I MEANT NOTHING BY IT SIRE. I WAS JUST REFLECTING ON HER BEAUTY YOUR MAJESTY," HE SAID. JAVIN SMIRKED AND TOOK A LETTER OUT OF HIS POCKET. "SIRE THE RUMORS ARE MORE THAN TRUE. YOU MUST PRODUCE AN HEIR AND A QUEEN SOON. THE KINGDOM FEARS THAT ANOTHER WARE MAY BE A BREWING," HE SAID. "WHY DO THEY FEAR IT JAVIN? HAS WORDS OF ONE BEEN SPOKEN IN MY KINGDOM?" HE ASKED. "NO SIRE, THE PEOPLE JUST WORRY OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPEN TO HIS MAJESTY, THEY FEAR OF WHOSE HANDS FANELIA WOULD FALL INTO," HE SAID. "YOU NEED NOT WORRY JAVIN. HIS MAJESTY WILL NOT PERISH ANYTIME SOON," HE ANSWERED WITH A GRIN. HE LOOKED AT THE SMALL PIECE OF PAPER JAVIN HANDED HIM. "THIS IS FROM ALLEN SCHEZAR OF ASTURIA. HE SAID SOME THAT QUEEN MILLERNA IS WISHING TO MEET WITH YOU CONCERNING YOUR MARRIAGE MATTER AND ABOUT THE ISPANIANS," HE SAID. "WHY WOULD SHE WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT ME GETTING MARRIED?" HE ASKED. "SHE KNOWS THE DAUGHTER OF A WEALTHY NOBLE. HER NAME IS LADY KIKEN. SHE IS FROM ASTURIA," HE SAID. VAN SHOOK HIS HEAD. "I DO NOT WISH TO ACQUAINT MYSELF WITH THE LADY KIKEN, I RATHER NOT BREAK A HEART THAT IS NOT WORTH BREAKING," HE SAID. "YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN QUITE THE HEARTBREAKER SIRE," SAID JAVIN, TAKING THE NOTE FROM HIM. "ON BEHALF OF THE ROYAL COUNCIL OF FANELIA, I BEG OF YOU KING VAN SLANZAR DE FANEL TO FIND A QUEEN BEFORE WE SUFFER FROM SOME UNEXPECTED BATTLE," HE SAID BOWING. VAN COULD NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE. "WOULD YOU PLEASE LET ME BE JAVIN. ALL OF YOU LET ME BE AS I AM. I DO NOT WISH TO MARRY THIS SOON. I WILL NOT BE FORCED TO WED IF I DO NOT WISH TO," HE HISSED. JAVIN COULD SEE THE HAD UPSET HIS MAJESTY. "I AM SORRY LORD VAN. I DO NOT WISH TO ANGER YOU. I KNOW YOU JUST WANT TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE THE BEST YOU CAN," HE WAS CUT SHORT BY A GROWL THAT CAME FROM VAN. "I AM DOING MY BEST JAVIN, I AM STILL A YOUTH IN FANELIA, DON'T YOU SEE," HE ROARED. "I AM SORRY YOUR EXCELLENCY. I DID NOT MEAN TO MAKE YOU ANGRY AT MY OPINIONS," HE SAID BACKING AWAY VAN LOOKED DOWN AT THE MAN AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR, HIS VEINS FELT LIKE THEY WERE ABOUT TO BURST FROM HIS NECK. "SIRE, YOU MUST WED SOON," JAVIN SAID IN A QUIET VOICE. VAN SIMPLY LOOKED AT HIM AND SIGHED. "WE SHALL DISCUSS THIS LATER," HE SAID WAVING HIM AWAY.
HITOMI SAT ON HER BED, STARING AT THE ALARM CLOCK. IT READ 2 O'CLOCK. HITOMI HAD JUST WOKEN UP FROM HER NAP, WHICH HADN'T LASTED LONG. THE VISION KEPT COMING BACK TO HER. IN HER MIND SHE COULD STILL SEE THE VISION PLAYING OUT.


"RUN HITOMI," YELLED VAN. HITOMI LOOKED AROUND HER TO SEE ALL OF FANELIA, BURNING DOWN TO ITS CORE. "OH NO, NOT AGAIN," SHE SAID HORRIFIED. SHE WATCHED AS LARGE GUYMELEFS SMASHED THE CASTLE INTO A PILE OF STONE RUBBLE. HER HEART WAS POUNDING AGAINST HER CHEST. THE SMOKE FILLED HER LUNGS AND HER FRIGHTENED TEARS STUNG HER EYES. SHE KEPT WANTING TO SCREAM OUT IN PAIN, BUT THE SMOKE CHOKED HER, UNTIL SHE COULD NOT TALK. THE FLAMES DREW NEARER AND NEARER. SHE WRAPPED HER ARMS AROUND HER AND CLOSED HER EYES. "LET IT ALL STOP," SHE YELLED. SHE HEARD THE SCREAMS AND CRIES OF FANELIANS WHO WERE BEING TORTURED. SHE WANTED TO KEEP HER EYES CLOSED FOREVER, BUT A FAMILIAR, TEAR-JERKING SCREAM MADE HER OPEN THEM. SHE OPENED THEM AND TURNED TOWARDS VAN. A VORTEX OF FLAMES WRAPPED AROUND HIS BODY AND SWALLOWED HIM. SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER VOICE, BUT SHE COULD NOT EVEN MAKE A SOUND. THE FLAMES BLASTED AWAY, LEAVING NOTHING BUT A PILE OF BURNT FEATHERS. SHE TURNED AROUND TO LOOK BACK AT FANELIA. SHE WAS SURPRISED TO FIND NOTHING WAS THERE. "WHAT HAPPENED?" SHE SAID TO HERSELF SHOCKED. SHE FELT THE AIR GROWING HOT AGAIN. SHE LOOKED TO HER SIDE TO SEE THE FLAMES REVIVE ITSELF. THEY LEAPED UP INTO THE AIR AND A PAIR OF EYES STARED INTO HERS. SHE RECOGNIZED THOSE DEVILISH EYES. IT WAS AS IF SHE COULDN'T SAY THE PERSON'S NAME. BEFORE SHE COULD REACT TO WHAT SHE SAW, THE FLAMES CRASHED INTO HER.

VAN SAT IN HIS ROOM, GASPING FOR AIR. "NOT AGAIN," HE SAID TO HIMSELF. HE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW, GRIPPING THE ARMS OF HIS GOLDEN CHAIR. "IS SHE IN DANGER?" HE ASKED HIMSELF SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. HE STOOD UP, NEARLY COLLAPSING AS HE GOT ON HIS FEET. HE RAN TO THE DOORS OF THE CHAMBER AND THREW THEM OPEN. THE LIGHT STUNG HIS EYES AS HE WALKED OUT OF THE DARK ROOM. "IS SOMETHING WRONG YOUR MAJESTY?" ASKED JAVIN. "I NEED TO SEE HER," HE ANSWERED. "WHO SIRE?" HE ASKED CONFUSED. "HITOMI," HE YELLED ANGRILY. "BUT WHAT ABOUT YOUR MEETING WITH QUEEN MILLERNA?" HE ASKED. "I HAVE NO TIME FOR AN AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW. I MUST SEE HITOMI RIGHT AWAY," HE SAID. HE SQUEEZED THE PENDANT IN HIS HANDS, THE METAL DIGGING INTO HIS SKIN. "YOU'RE IN DANGER, I CAN FEEL IT," HE SAID TO HIMSELF. HE RAN TOWARDS THE STABLES WHERE HE KEPT HIS HORSES. "VLADEN, I NEED SHIRO," HE SAID. "WHY YOUR MAJESTY?" HE ASKED BAFFLED. "NO QUESTIONS, JUST GIVE ME SHIRO," HE SAID ANGRILY. VLADEN NODDED AND UNCHAINED THE HORSE. VAN JUMPED ON THE CLOTH SADDLE AND STARTED OUT OF THE STABLES, WHEN HE HEARD SOMEONE CALLING OUT HIS NAME. "LORD VAN, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? CAN I COME TOO?" YELLED MERLE. VAN STOPPED AND SHOOK HIS HEAD. "IT MAYBE TOP DANGEROUS FOR YOU TO GO," HE SAID. "PLEASE LORD VAN, I REALLY WANT TO GO WITH YOU," SHE SAID ANGELICALLY. EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT WANT TO PUT HER IN ANY DANGER, HE SIGHED AND NODDED. "YIPPEE," SHE YELLED LEAPING ON THE BACK OF THE HORSE. VAN HEADED TOWARDS THE GATE THAT NOW SEPARATED THE CASTLE FROM THE REST OF FANELIA. HE RODE PAST ALL OF THE HOMES THAT WERE BEING REBUILT. ONLY ABOUT HALF OF FANELIA HAD BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT. IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT SO MANY COUNTRIES OFFERED TO HELP AFTER THE WAR. MERLE PUT HER ARMS AROUND VAN'S ABDOMEN. "SO WHERE ARE WE HEADED?" SHE ASKED. HE DID NOT ANSWER HER. ALL HE KNEW WAS THAT HE NEEDED TO BE IN THE FOREST.

HITOMI BRUSHED HER HAIR BACK WITH HER BIG-TOOTHED COMB. SHE PULLED HER SANDY-BLONDE LOCKS INTO A HAIR BAND AND HEADED FOR THE TRACK. YUKARI WAS SITTING AT THE FRONT BLEACHERS, CHECKING OUT HITOMI'S LATEST TIME BREAKERS. FROM WHAT HITOMI COULD TELL, YUKARI WAS NOT PLEASED AT ALL. "HEY HITOMI," SAID A VOICE. A SMILE SPREAD ACROSS HER FACE AS SHE HEARD THEM. "AMANO," SHE SAID TURNING AROUND. "I SEE YOU ARE STILL RUNNING," HE SAID SMILING. "YES I AM. IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU," SHE SAID WITH AN EMBARRASSED LAUGH. YUKARI LOOKED UP FROM HER PAPER WORK AND DROPPED THE CLIPBOARD. "WHY THAT LITTLE HUSSY. I TURN MY HEAD FOR ONE MINUTE AND SHE IS ALREADY PICKING UP GUYS," SHE SAID TO HERSELF. SHE RAN DOWN THE STEPS, UNTIL SHE RAN STRAIGHT INTO HITOMI. SHE DID NOT EVEN NOTICE THAT SHE HAD SENT HITOMI INTO THE PAVEMENT. "HELLO AMANO," SHE SAID SMILING. "HELLO YUKARI," HE SAID WHILE HELPING HITOMI UP. YUKARI GAVE HITOMI A LOOK THAT SHE WAS ALL SO FAMILIAR WITH. "SO, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN THESE PAST TWO YEARS?" SHE ASKED CURIOUSLY. "I'VE BEEN TRAVELING AROUND JAPAN. I'M LOOKING FOR A GOOD JOB," HE SAID. "WHY NOT COME BACK HERE?" SHE ASKED WITH A MISCHIEVOUS SMILE. "I WOULD, BUT THERE IS NO OPENINGS. AFTER ALL, I THINK MR. HAYAI IS A GOOD TEACHER," HE SAID. THE WHISTLE TO GATHER FOR THE RACE HAD JUST BEEN BLOWN. "WELL I BETTER GO," SAID HITOMI. "GOOD LUCK," YELLED AMANO. THE ONLY THING YUKARI DID WAS DRAG HIM TO THE BLEACHERS TO SIT WITH HER.
"ALL RIGHT...ON YOUR MARK......GET SET," SAID THE GUY OVER THE INTERCOM. HITOMI DIDN'T FEEL NERVOUS MUCH TO HER SURPRISE. "GO." HITOMI DARTED OFF, BEHIND NUMBER FOUR OF SOUMEI NA HIGH SCHOOL. HITOMI STARTED TO GAIN SPEED, RUSHING PAST HIM. SHE WAS RUNNING SO FAST, SHE WONDERED IF SHE WOULD EVER STOP. "GO HITOMI," YELLED AMANO AND YUKARI. HITOMI WAS JUST NEAR THE FINISH LINE, WHEN SHE SAW A FIGURE APPEAR IN FRONT OF HER. THEY WERE DRESSED IN ARMOR, AND HAD A HEAD FULL OF RAVEN LOCKS. SHE FELT HER HEART BEATING RAPIDLY. "GO HITOMI, YOU'RE GOING TO WIN," YELLED YUKARI. HITOMI CLOSED HER EYES AND SHOOK HER HEAD. WHEN SHE OPENED THEM, THE FIGURE STILL STOOD THERE, BUT THIS TIME, THEY WERE BLACK LIKE SMOKE. SHE HAD JUST PASSED THE FINISH LINE, WHEN SHE FELL TO THE GROUND. YUKARI AND AMANO RAN TO THE TRACK TO SEE IF SHE WAS OKAY. SHE SLOWLY PULLED HERSELF ONTO HER KNEES, LEAVING HER HEAD HANGING DOWN. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" ASKED AMANO. SHE NODDED AND LOOKED UP AT THE TWO PEOPLE IN FRONT OF HER. "I WON," SHE SAID. "WELL, YOU COULD PUT A LITTLE MORE FEELING INTO IT," LAUGHED YUKARI. AMANO HELPED HER TO HER FEET AND LEAD HER TO THE BLEACHERS. "CONGRATULATIONS," SHE HEARD HER SCHOOL MATES CHEERING.

"WELL, THAT'S ONE MORE RIBBON TO ADD TO YOUR WALL," SAID HITOMI'S MOTHER. HITOMI LAID ON THE BED, STARING UP AT THE CEILING. "I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST YOU WENT. ME AND YOUR DAD WERE WATCHING FROM THE TOP. I WANTED TO GET A GREAT VIEW OF YOU WINNING," SHE SAID LAUGHING. SHE TURNED TOWARDS HITOMI AND SAT DOWN NEXT TO HER. "IS SOMETHING BOTHERING YOU HITOMI?" ASKED HER MOTHER. HITOMI FELT THE TEARS ASSEMBLING THEMSELVES IN HER EYES. "MOM, DO YOU REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I DISAPPEARED," SHE SAID. "YES, WELL I REMEMBER WHAT YOU TOLD ME WHEN YOU CAME BACK. THAT YOU HAD LEFT LONG BEFORE AND WHEN YOU RETURNED, TIME HAD STARTED OVER," SHE SAID SARCASTICALLY. "YES, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN," SHE SAID. "TIME STARTING OVER?" SHE ASKED CONFUSED. "NO, I THINK I AM GOING BACK TO GAEA, THE WORLD I TOLD YOU ABOUT," SHE SAID. "HITOMI, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING BACK?" SHE ASKED. HITOMI SAW THE VISION FLASHING IN HER MIND FASTER AND FASTER. "I HAD A VISION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS. IT IS NOT JUST THE VISION THAT TELLS ME SO. A GIRL CAME TO ME TODAY AND SAID THAT I WAS TO RETURN SOON," SHE SAID IN A SAD VOICE. "AND WHO WAS THIS GIRL?" ASKED HER MOTHER SHARPLY. "SHE SAID SHE WAS A MESSENGER FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAEA CALLED THE ISPANO'S. KUMORI SAID THAT GAEA IS GOING TO SUFFER ONCE AGAIN AND THAT I WILL BE TAKEN BACK SOON. ALL COULD TELL ME WAS SOON. FOR ALL I KNOW, THIS COULD BE THE LAST NIGHT I SEE YOU," SHE SAID SADLY. "WELL, EVEN IF IT WAS, YOU'D SEE ME AGAIN....RIGHT?" ASKED HER MOTHER. HITOMI TURNED AWAY AND SLOWLY PULLED HERSELF OFF OF THE BED. "I AM GOING FOR A WALK," SHE SAID. WITHOUT A WORD COMING FROM HER MOTHER, SHE HEADED OUT OF THE DOOR.
SHE WALKED DOWN THE STREET LIGHT LIT ROAD. SHE STARTED HUMMING A SONG TO HERSELF. MAYBE A WALK WOULD CLEAR HER MIND. SHE PASSED THE PLAYGROUND WHERE SHE HAD PLAYED AS A KID. AS SHE LOOKED AT IT, THE SMALL CHILDREN APPEARED ALL OVER THE PLAYGROUND. SHE COULD SEE HER PLAYING ON THE SWING SET AND YUKARI PLAYING TIC-TAC-TOE WITH SOME OTHER GIRLS. HITOMI ALWAYS REMEMBERED THIS STRANGE BOY ALWAYS HUNG AROUND THE PLAYGROUND. THEN, HE MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT 5. IF HE WAS STILL AROUND, HE WOULD BE ABOUT 18 OR 19 YEARS OLD. SHE WALKED OVER TO THE SWING SET AND STARTED SWINGING BACK AND FORTH.
"SO YOU STILL COME HERE," SAID A VOICE. SHE WAS SO STARTLED, SHE NEARLY SCREAMED. SHE LOOKED BEHIND HER. HER EYES GREW BIG AND HER JAW DROPPED TO THE GROUND. "IT'S YOU," SHE SAID SURPRISED. THIS WAS SO BIZARRE. BEHIND HER STOOD A MAN WITH LONG RAVEN LOCKS THAT WENT PAST HIS SHOULDERS. HE HAD DARK BLUE EYES AND WORE ALL LEATHER. HE LOOKED LIKE A MIX BETWEEN A PERSON FROM GAEA AND A BIKER. "IT'S YOU, THE BOY WHO USE TO HANG AROUND HERE," SHE SAID SHOCKED. HE NODDED AND SAT IN THE SWING NEXT TO HER. "YES, I AM THE BOY THAT USE TO HANG AROUND HERE. I'M SURPRISED YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT," HE SAID SARCASTICALLY. HITOMI ROLLED HER EYES AND STOOD UP. "WHAT IS YOUR NAME?" SHE ASKED. SHE REALIZED HOW RUDE SHE WAS JUST ASKING HIM THAT. "I AM AKUMA," HE ANSWERED. "HELLO AKUMA, I AM HITOMI KANZAKI," SHE SAID WITH A WEAK SMILE. "HITOMI, WHAT A NICE NAME," HE SAID STIFFLY. SHE COULD SEE THIS GUY HA A BRIGHT PERSONALITY. "SO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" SHE ASKED. SHE COULD HEAR A CHUCKLE COME FROM HIS VEIN-FILLED THROAT. "I CAME BECAUSE OF YOU," HE SAID. SHE WAS CONFUSED. "BECAUSE OF ME?" SHE ASKED. "OF COURSE YOU. AFTER ALL, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS OF GAEA AREN'T YA?' HE ASKED WITH AN EVIL SMILE.
SHE FELT HER HEART DROP. "GAEA," SHE SAID STUNNED. "YES GAEA," HE SAID. HE REACHED FOR HIS SWORD, WHICH HITOMI COULD TELL WAS TO BE USED TO KILL HER. SHE SAW THE SYMBOL OF ZAIBACH ENGRAVED INTO HIS HAND.
"YOU ARE A ZAIBACH SOLDIER?" SHE SAID FRIGHTENED. "I WAS, BUT NOW I AM A SOLDIER OF THE ATLANTEANS NOW," HE SAID. "ATLANTEANS," SHE SAID CONFUSED. "YES, THE EMPIRE BROUGHT FORTH BY MY MASTER. SOON ALL OF THE EARTH AND GAEA WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE HER," HE LAUGHED. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. "HOW CAN YOU BE FROM GAEA, IF YOU WERE HERE ALL THOSE YEARS AGO?" SHE ASKED. "I WAS TO WATCH YOU. THAT WAS THE ORDERS OF MY MASTER. NOW MY ORDERS, ARE TO ELIMINATE THE ONE WHO WILL CHANGE THE FUTURE," HE SAID. HITOMI BACKED AWAY, UNTIL HER BACK TOUCHED A TREE. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" SHE ASKED. HE SMIRKED AND REACHED INTO HIS POCKET. HE PULLED OUT A SILVER HEAD BAND. "MY SISTER KUMAI. SHE TRIED TO CHANGE THE FUTURE OF OUR EMPIRE. SHE BETRAYED US, SO NATURALLY I KILLED HER," HE LAUGHED. HITOMI LOOKED AT THE BLOODY HEAD BAND HORRIFIED. "HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO GET HERE?" SHE ASKED. "WE HAVE OPENED THE GATES TO BOTH WORLDS. WE CAN COME AND GO AS WE PLEASE," HE LAUGHED. HE PULLED THE SWORD FROM ITS SCABBARD AND FLUNG IT AT HITOMI. SHE SCREAMED AND STARTED RUNNING FROM HIM. "THIS IS JUST GREAT," SHE SAID TO HERSELF. "YOU CAN'T RUN MYSTIC MOON GIRL," HE YELLED. HITOMI DID NOT DARE LOOK BEHIND HER. SHE KEPT RUNNING, HOPING HE WAS DRAGGING BEHIND. HITOMI PASSED HER HOUSE. SHE HEARD HER MOTHER YELLING AS SHE SAW BOTH OF THEM PASS BY. HITOMI RAN, UNTIL SHE WAS AT THE TRAIN STATION. NO ONE WAS OUT TONIGHT. THE GATES WERE CLOSED AND THE TRAIN TRACKS WERE BARE. SHE LEAPED OVER THE CLOSED GATE AND RAN TOWARDS THE TRACK.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU," HE LAUGHED PSYCHOTICALLY. SHE JUMPED ONTO THE TRACKS, TRYING TO ESCAPE. SHE RAN AND RAN, UNTIL SHE HEARD THE MOST DREADFUL THING SHE COULD HAVE EVER HEARD. A TRAIN BLEW ITS WHISTLE AS IT CAME DOWN THE TRACK. "OH GOD," SHE YELLED. SHE TURNED BEHIND HER TO SEE THE MAN ONLY A FEW YARDS AWAY. SHE TURNED TOWARDS THE TRAIN, WHICH WAS NOW ONLY AS FAR AWAY FROM HER AS HE WAS. SHE CLOSED HER EYES AND STARTED CRYING. "I WISH I WAS ANYWHERE BUT HERE RIGHT NOW. OH GOD HELP ME," SHE SAID TO HERSELF. THE TRAIN STARTED SCREECHING AS IT CAME TOWARDS BOTH OF THEM. IT DID NOT STOP QUICK ENOUGH, RUNNING OVER BOTH OF THEM. WHEN IT FINALLY STOPPED, THE CONDUCTOR LEAPED OUT OF THE TRAIN AND TOWARDS THE TWO BODIES. HE STOPPED AS HE LOOKED IN HORROR AND SHOCK. "WHAT IN THE HELL," HE SAID TO HIMSELF. ON THE TRACK LAID A BODY IN BLACK LEATHER AND BLOOD. THE OTHER BODY WAS NO WHERE TO BE SEEN. THE CONDUCTOR WENT TO THE BODY OF THE MAN AND FLIPPED HIM OVER. "POOR GUY," HE SAID SADLY. HIS EYES STARTED TO BULGE AS A HAND GRABBED HIS NECK. HE WAS THROWN OVER THE SIDE OF THE TRACK AND THE LEATHER DRESSED MAN STOOD UP. HE STRAIGHTENED HIS NECK AND GRABBED HIS SWORD. A SMALL BLINKING RED LIGHT STARTED TO DIM IN HIS EYES. "YOU WILL NOT GET AWAY SO EASILY," HE SNARLED.
HITOMI LAID ON THE GROUND, GROANING AS SHE STARTED TO WAKE UP. SHE KEPT HER EYES CLOSED, HOPING THAT WHEN SHE OPENED THEM, SHE WASN'T WHERE SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS. SHE OPENED ONE EYE AND MOANED. "NOPE, I'M REALLY HERE," SHE SAID SADLY. SHE WASN'T READY TO COME BACK HERE. SHE SAT UP, YELPING OUT IN PAIN. WHEN SHE TRIED TO SLOWLY GET TO HER FEET, SHE COULD NOT STAND. "WHAT DID I DO TO MY ANKLE," SHE SAID TO HERSELF. SHE FIGURED THAT SHE MUST HAVE LANDED ON THE GROUND PRETTY HARD. SHE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY CRAWLED TO A TREE AND PULLED HERSELF UP. SHE YELLED OUT A FEW TIMES, CAUSING BIRDS THAT WERE SLEEPING TO FLY FROM THE TREES. SHE LEANED UP AGAINST THE TREE, WIPING THE TEARS OF PAIN THE RAN DOWN HER CHEEKS. SHE LOOKED AROUND HER, HOPING TO RECOGNIZE WHERE SHE WAS. FROM WHAT SHE COULD TELL, SHE WAS NOT TOO FAR FROM FANELIA. SHE TRIED TO WALK, BUT ALMOST FELL EACH TIME. "WHAT'S WRONG MYSTIC MOON GIRL," SAID AKUMA. HITOMI SCREAMED SO LOUD, THAT VAN COULD HEAR HER. "WHAT WAS THAT?" ASKED MERLE. "I DON'T KNOW," HE ANSWERED. HE STARTED RIDING TOWARDS THE VOICE. HE HOPED THAT IT WASN'T HITOMI WHO SCREAMED.
HITOMI BACKED AWAY FROM AKUMA, FALLING ON THE GROUND. "YOU CAN'T GET AWAY THIS TIME," HE LAUGHED. SHE GREW SO FURIOUS THAT SHE THREW A ROCK AT HIS HEAD. IT THUMPED HIS HEAD, MAKING HIM CURSE OUT LOUD. SHE GOT TO HER FEET, YELLING OUT WITH EACH STEP. SHE HAD TO BEAR THE PAIN IF SHE WANTED TO LIVE. "DAMN YOU HITOMI KANZAKI," HE CURSED. VAN KNEW FOR SURE THAT IT WAS HITOMI. "COME HERE MYSTIC MOON GIRL. I'LL SLASH YOUR NECK FOR THAT," HE YELLED FEROCIOUSLY. HE SNATCHED OUT HIS SWORD AND RAN AFTER HER. "COME HERE HITOMI," HE SCREAMED. SHE HID BEHIND A HUGE OAK TREE. SHE WAS SO CONFUSED ABOUT EVERYTHING. SHE HOPED VAN WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE. SHE HEARD AKUMA GETTING CLOSER. "WHERE ARE YOU HITOMI. YOU KNOW YOU MUST DIE. YOU CAN'T CHANGE OUR FUTURE," HE YELLED. HITOMI CLOSED HER EYES AND HELD HER BREATH. OH GOD PLEASE DON'T LET HIM FIND ME, SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF. SHE FELT SOMEONE'S BREATH HITTING HER NECK. SHE TURNED HER HEAD A LITTLE TO DISCOVER AKUMA. "BYE MYSTIC MOON GIRL," HE SAID. HE RAISED HIS SWORD, READY TO HIT HITOMI. SHE KNEW THERE WAS NO WAY TO ESCAPE NOW. HITOMI FELT SOMEONE JERK HER BACK AND HEARD AKUMA'S BLOODY SCREAMS. SHE OPENED HER EYES TO SEE MERLE. "MERLE," SHE SAID HALF DAZED. "HI HITOMI," SHE GIGGLED. HITOMI LOOKED ACROSS FROM HER TO SEE AKUMA AND VAN FIGHTING. "VAN," SHE SAID TO HERSELF. AKUMA LOOKED UP AT VAN WEAKLY. "YOU IDIOT, YOU ARE CHANGING THE FATE OF OUR PEOPLE," HE SAID ANGRILY. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" YELLED VAN. THE MAN TRIPPED VAN, CAUSING HIM TO FALL TO THE GROUND. HE JUMPED UP AND SMILED DOWN AT HIM. "TILL WE MEET AGAIN," HE SAID WITH AN EVIL LAUGH. WINGS SHOT FROM HIS BACK AND HE FLEW TOWARDS THE MYSTIC MOON.
VAN GOT TO HIS FEET, RUBBING HIS CHEEK. ON IT LAID A SMALL CUT WHERE AKUMA'S SWORD HAD HIT HIM. HE TURNED AROUND TO SEE HITOMI AND MERLE. HE STOOD THERE, STARING AT HITOMI. WHEN SHE REALIZED HE WAS LOOKING AT HER, SHE RETURNED HER GLANCE. "IT REALLY IS YOU," SHE SAID TO HERSELF. A SMILE SPREAD ACROSS HIS FACE. "WELL, THIS IS A FINE REUNION," HE SAID WITH A LAUGH. MERLE DIDN'T LIKE THE LOOKS THE TWO WERE EXCHANGING. "ALRIGHT, WHO WAS THAT GUY?" SHE ASKED ANGRILY. HITOMI HAD FORGOTTEN THE CAT GIRL WAS BEHIND HER. SHE DIDN'T ANSWER HER. SHE CONTINUED LOOKING AT VAN. THE ONLY THING THAT HAD REALLY CHANGED ABOUT HIM WAS HIS HAIR AND MUSCLES. HE HAD GROWN TALLER AND A LITTLE WIDER, BUT NOT MUCH. SHE RECOGNIZED HIM THE MINUTE SHE SAW HIM. VAN ALMOST DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER. HER HAIR WAS LIGHTER AND PASS HER SHOULDERS. HER CHEEKS WERE A VERY SOFT-PINK COLOR AND SHE HAD GROWN INTO MORE OF A LADY. AS HE LOOKED ON, SOMETHING CAUGHT HIS EYE. HE SAW BLOOD DRIPPING FROM HER BLOUSE. "YOU'RE BLEEDING," HE SAID IN A PANICKED VOICE. SHE HAD NEARLY FORGOTTEN THAT SHE WAS INJURED. VAN KNEELED DOWN BESIDE HER AND LIFTED HER INTO HIS ARMS. "WE'RE NOT TO FAR AWAY FROM FANELIA," HE SAID. HE PUT HER UP ONTO THE HORSE AND SAT BEHIND HER. MERLE WAS BEHIND HIM, ROLLING HER EYES. SHE DECIDED THAT SINCE ANOTHER WOMAN WAS AROUND, SHE MUST DO HER DUTY OF DESPISING THEM OF COURSE. EVEN THOUGH HITOMI WAS HER FRIEND SHE MUST DO IT, SINCE HITOMI WAS COMPETITION. HITOMI LEANED AGAINST VAN, WHO WAS STILL IN SHOCK SEEING HER HERE. HE RODE SHIRO THROUGH THE FOREST, HOPING THEY WEREN'T THAT FAR FROM FANELIA.


"IT'S BURNING AGAIN," SHE SAID TO HERSELF FRIGHTENED. SHE WATCHED AS FANELIA CONTINUED TO BURN. "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?" SHE YELLED. SHE WATCHED AS GUYMELEFS STOMPED THE CASTLE AND HUNDREDS OF WINGED PEOPLE FOUGHT THE FANELIANS. "WHAT IS HAPPENING?" SHE SHOUTED. ONE OF THE WINGED CREATURES STOPPED AND FLEW TOWARDS HITOMI. SHE AUTOMATICALLY RECOGNIZED THE PERSON. THEY HAD LONG, BLACK HAIR AND WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL. "IT HAS BEGUN," SAID VAN'S MOTHER.

HITOMI SHOT UP IN HER BED. SHE WAS PANTING AND SHAKING. VAN RUSHED OVER TO HER, WHO HAD BEEN TALKING WITH THE HEALER. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" HE ASKED. SHE LOOKED UP INTO HIS RED GEMS. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD. VAN LOOKED AT HER WORRIED. MERLE CAME RUNNING IN ON ALL FOURS. "SHE'S AWAKE," SHE SAID HAPPILY. OF COURSE THE WAY SHE SAID IT, INDICATED SHE WAS HAPPY, YET ANNOYED. HITOMI LAID HER HEAD BACK ONTO HER PILLOW. "DID YOU HAVE A VISION?" HE ASKED. "YES," SHE ANSWERED. SHE COVERED HER FACE WITH HER SHAKING HANDS. MERLE TIPTOED TOWARDS HITOMI. "MERLE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" ASKED VAN. MERLE STOPPED AND GAVE A SUSPICIOUS SMILE TO HER QUESTIONER. "OH, I WAS JUST GOING TO," SHE WAS CUT SHORT. "WHY DON'T YOU GO SEE IF JAVIN NEEDS ANY HELP," HE SAID. MERLE POOCHED OUT HER LIP AND RAN OUT OF THE ROOM. HITOMI PUT HER HANDS AT HER SIDE AND SAT UP. SHE YELPED OUT AS THE PAIN FROM HER ABDOMEN OVERWHELMED HER. "YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT. YOUR WOUNDS HAVEN'T HEALED," HE SAID. SHE LOOKED UP AT HIS NECK. SHE FELT HER HEART BEATING RAPIDLY. HER PENDANT WAS AROUND HIS NECK. "HE STILL HAS IT," SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF. VAN HELD UP A SMALL PIECE OF PAPER. "I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MILLERNA THIS MORNING. IT SEEMS SHE HAS SOMETHING TO TELL ME ABOUT THE ISPANIANS," HE SAID. HITOMI COULD TELL HE WAS VERY TROUBLED. "WHAT IS TROUBLING YOU VAN?" SHE ASKED. HE GAVE HER A SLIGHT SMILE AND LEANED BACK IN HIS CHAIR. "SO MANY THINGS," HE ANSWERED. SHE BECAME VERY ANNOYED. "QUITE PLAYING GAMES VAN, WHAT'S TROUBLING YOU?" SHE ASKED WITH AN INQUISITIVE EYE. "WELL, I HAVE A PROBLEM INVOLVING FANELIA AND MYSELF. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AND MILLERNA IS ALSO BRINGING A GIRL WITH HER, THAT WISHES TO ACQUAINT WITH ME," HE SAID. "OH, WELL I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU," SHE SAID. VAN JUST ROLLED HIS EYES AND GIGGLED. "HEY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE WHO ALWAYS FIGURED EVERYTHING OUT," HE LAUGHED. "NOT ANYMORE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT ALL I KNOW IS IT'S NOT GOOD," SHE SAID. "I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE AKUMA," HE SAID DAZE LIKE. "YOU KNOW HIM?" SHE ASKED CURIOUSLY. "YES, WHEN I WAS A BOY. HE USE TO HANG AROUND THE PALACE. WE BECAME GOOD FRIENDS ME AND HIM. HE DISAPPEARED RIGHT AROUND THE TIME FOLKEN DID. THE REASON WE HAD BECOME SUCH GREAT FRIENDS WAS BECAUSE HE WAS HALF DRACONIAN HIMSELF." HITOMI COULD SEE THE WHOLE THING.
"I HAD JUST TURNED FIVE WHEN WE FIRST MET. HE TOLD ME HE WAS AN ORPHAN FROM ZAIBACH. I AUTOMATICALLY BECAME FRIENDS WITH HIM WHEN WE WERE PLAYING IN THE FOREST. I HAD BEEN CLIMBING A TREE AND HAD SLIPPED. HE SPROUTED WINGS AND GRABBED ME. MUCH TO HIS SURPRISE, I HAD SPROUTED MY WINGS ALSO. WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT OUR FAMILY HISTORY. HE SAID HE TOLD ME ABOUT HOW HE TRAVELED WITH HIS GUARDIAN. HE SAID HE HAD BEEN TAKEN IN BY HER, WHEN SHE DISCOVERED HE WAS HALF DRACONIAN." HITOMI SAW THE TWO BOYS CHATTING IN THE FOREST. AKUMA HAD HIS HAIR PULLED BACK INTO A PONYTAIL AND STILL WORE THE LEATHER CLOTHING. "IT WASN'T LONG AFTER MY BROTHER HAD LEFT TO SLAY THE DRAGON, THAT AKUMA HAD GONE. HE TOLD ME THE DAY BEFORE HE HAD LEFT THAT HE MUST LEAVE TO SEE A YOUNG GIRL. HE SAID IF HE DIDN'T GO, THAT HIS GUARDIAN WOULD GROW ANGRY AND ABANDON HIM. I WONDERED WHY HE HAD TO LEAVE TO SEE A GIRL. I THOUGHT THAT IT MUST BE SOME FAMILY MEMBER OF HIS." HITOMI SAW THE BOY DEPARTING FANELIA, BUT IT WAS NOT BY HORSE OR CRAFT. HE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE AIR BY A HUGE PILLAR OF LIGHT. "THAT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN HIM IN 13 YEARS," HE SAID...HIS VOICE FADING.

"THAT GIRL WAS ME," SHE SAID. VAN LOOKED AT HER SURPRISED. "YOU?" HE ASKED. "HE SAID THAT HIS MASTER MADE HIM KEEP AN EYE ON ME. I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT HE SAID HE WAS TO WATCH ME," SHE SAID. "WELL, WHY IS HE TRYING TO KILL YOU NOW?" HE ASKED PUZZLED. "HE KEPT TELLING ME I WILL NOT CHANGE OUR FUTURE," SHE SAID. "WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY THAT?" HE ASKED. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD. "HE SAID HE IS A SOLDIER OF THE ATLANTEANS," SHE ANSWERED. VAN SCRATCHED HIS HEAD. "HE HAD THE SYMBOL OF ZAIBACH EMBEDDED INTO HIS HAND. HE SAID HE WAS A SOLDIER OF ZAIBACH AT ONE TIME. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW HE BECAME A SOLDIER OF ZAIBACH, WHILE HE WAS STILL UNDER THE GUIDANCE OR RULE OF HIS SO CALLED MASTER," SHE SAID. VAN LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW. "I HAVE A REALLY BAD FEELING HITOMI," HE SAID SADLY. SHE LOOKED AT THE PIECE OF PAPER THAT MILLERNA HAD SENT HIM. "I THINK YOU HAVE MORE TO WORRY ABOUT THAN MARRIAGE OR ISPANO RIGHT NOW," SHE SAID THROWING IT ON THE FLOOR. "WHERE IS THE ESCAFLOWNE?" SHE ASKED. HE HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THE ESCAFLOWNE IN SUCH A LONG TIME. "IT IS HERE, BUT IN AN UNDERGROUND UNIT. I HAVE KEPT IT THERE, SO THAT NO ONE COULD EVER USE IT," HE SAID. HITOMI SAT UP, MAKING LITTLE MOANING SOUNDS AS SHE PROPPED HERSELF UP. "I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IT," SHE SAID.
MERLE SAT IN THE GARDENS, READING A PIECE OF PAPER. IT WAS THE LETTER MILLERNA HAD SENT VAN. SHE HAD SNEAKED IT OUT OF THERE WHEN HITOMI HAD LEFT THE ROOM. "HOW DARE THAT WOMAN TRY TO SET UP MY LORD VAN WITH SOME GIRL FROM ASTURIA," SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF. SHE RIPPED UP THE PAPER AND SAT THERE WITH AN ANGRY LOOK. HITOMI PASSED BY HER, TRYING NOT TO MAKE EYE CONTACT. "HELLO HITOMI," SHE SAID SARCASTICALLY. HITOMI STOPPED AND GAVE MERLE A FAKE SMILE. "OH...HELLO MERLE. HOW ARE YOU?" SHE ASKED WITH A FAINT GIGGLE. "OH, I'M DOING SWELL," SHE ANSWERED. HITOMI NOTICED THE RING ON HITOMI'S FINGER. "WHEW....LOOK AT THAT!" SHE GASPED. SHE GRABBED HITOMI'S HAND AND EXAMINED THE RING. "WHAT A PRETTY RING. IT'S ALMOST AS PRETTY AS LORD VAN'S PENDANT," SHE SAID. HITOMI SHOOK HER HEAD. "WHERE D'YA GET THIS?" SHE ASKED. HITOMI LOOKED AT THE RING A MOMENT AND SMILED. "IT WAS AN EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT FROM MY MOTHER," SHE ANSWERED. "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" ASKED MERLE. HITOMI HAD ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT HER BIRTHDAY. "UM...WELL...IT'S...OH IT'S...IN 3 WEEKS," SHE ANSWERED. MERLE GAVE HER A LOOK THAT SHE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE. "YOU CAME BACK HERE RIGHT BEFORE YOUR BIRTHDAY? ....BOY YOU MUST LIKE FANELIA," SHE LAUGHED. HITOMI STARTED LAUGHING ALONG WITH HER. VAN WALKED THROUGH THE GATE AND NOTICED THE TWO LAUGHING GIRLS. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY?" HE ASKED. "OH NOTHING," ANSWERED HITOMI. MERLE SMILED AND LEAPED ON VAN. "LORD VAN, CAN WE GO ON A TRIP OR SOMETHING?" ASKED MERLE. "WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?" HE ASKED. "WELL, I'M SOOOOO BORED AND I DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND THE CASTLE ANY LONGER," SHE SAID.
"EVERYONE HAS TO STAY HERE MERLE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE ATLANTEANS OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT WOULD BE BETTER JUST TO STAY HERE," HE SAID. HITOMI NOTICED A MAN SITTING AT THE FAR END OF THE GARDEN. HE LOOKED LIKE AN OLDER, LONGER-HAIRED VERSION OF VAN. "WHO IS THAT?" SHE ASKED. VAN PULLED MERLE OFF OF HIM AND LOOKED OVER AT THE MAN. "OH, THAT IS JAVIN. HE IS MY ADVISOR AND FRIEND. HE IS ALSO MY COUSIN," HE SAID. HITOMI NEVER REALIZED VAN HAD OTHER FAMILY. JAVIN HEARD HIS NAME BEING MENTIONED. HE STOOD UP AND WALKED OVER TO THE THREESOME. "ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ME YOUR MAJESTY?" HE ASKED. "YES, LADY HITOMI WAS ASKING ABOUT YOU," HE SAID. "SO YOU ARE THE LADY HITOMI I HAVE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT," HE SAID SMILING. HE BOWED DOWN AND STOOD BACK UP. "LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF. I AM JAVIN ALAN DE FANEL. I AM THE OLDEST SURVIVING MEMBER OF THE FANEL FAMILY," HE SAID. "HE HEARD ABOUT FANELIA AFTER THE WAR AND CAME HERE FROM A SMALL VILLAGE NEAR FREID. HE HELPED REBUILT SOME OF FANELIA. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE STILL HAVE MUCH TO DO," HE SAID GUIDING HIS HAND AROUND THE GARDENS. HITOMI HEARD SOMEONE CALLING VAN'S NAME. "YOUR MAJESTY, YOU HAVE GUEST," YELLED A GUARD. VAN NODDED AND HEADED FOR THE GATE. "WILL YOU BE STAYING FOR A WHILE?" HE ASKED. HITOMI NODDED AND SMILED. "YES, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE," SHE ANSWERED.
VAN WALKED INTO THE ROYAL COUNCIL ROOM TO SEE A TWO FAMILIAR FACES. THERE WAS A WOMAN HE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND A YOUNG BOY. HE LOOKED TO BE ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. "QUEEN MILLERNA...SIR ALLEN SCHEZAR, WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE," HE SAID. "GOOD EVENING YOUR MAJESTY," SAID MILLERNA CURTSYING. "HOW HAVE YOU BEEN VAN? IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME," SAID ALLEN. "I AM DOING FINE I GUESS. A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AROUND HERE," HE SAID EXHAUSTEDLY. MILLERNA PUSHED THE YOUNG BOY UP IN FRONT OF HER. "YOUR MAJESTY, THIS IS MY SON, PRINCE HAME'NE," SHE SAID. VAN KNEELED DOWN TO THE BOY. "WHY HELLO THERE," HE SAID SMILING. THE BOY DID A WHIMPERING SOUND AND CLUNG TO HIS MOTHER. "HE'S A LITTLE SHY," SHE SAID. VAN STOOD UP AND LOOKED AT THE GIRL BEHIND MILLERNA. "YOU MUST BE LADY KIKEN," HE SAID KISSING HER HAND. THE GIRL BLUSHED AND SMILED. "IT IS AN HONOR TO MEET YOU YOUR MAJESTY," SHE SAID IN A QUIET VOICE. VAN DID NOT SEE WHY MILLERNA HAD BROUGHT THIS GIRL. HER SKIN WAS WHITE LIKE SNOW AND SHE WAS VERY FRAIL AND SICK LOOKING. ALLEN WAS ABOUT TO ASK ABOUT THE CASTLE'S RENOVATION, WHEN HE HEARD A FAMILIAR VOICE. "VAN, WHERE ARE YOU?" YELLED HITOMI. VAN WALKED TO THE WINDOW, TO SEE HITOMI STANDING IN THE GARDEN. VAN PUSHED THE WINDOW BACK AND SMILED. "I'M RIGHT HERE," HE YELLED BACK. SHE LOOKED UP, COVERING HER EYES WITH HER HAND. "MERLE AND I ARE GOING WITH JAVIN ALRIGHT," SHE SAID. "OKAY, BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE UP HERE YOU SHOULD COME SEE FIRST," HE SAID. SHE LOOKED AT HIM CONFUSED AND SHRUGGED HER SHOULDERS. "OKAY," SHE SAID IN A BEWILDERED VOICE.
SHE RAN UP THE STEPS, UNTIL SHE MADE IT TO THE COUNCIL ROOM. SHE HADN'T ACTUALLY FOUND IT, UNTIL SHE HAD HEARD VAN CALL HER NAME AS SHE PASSED IT. SHE WALKED IN, SMILING AS SHE SAW THE GUEST. "HITOMI," SAID ALLEN SURPRISED. "IT IS NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN HITOMI," SAID MILLERNA HAPPILY. HITOMI CURTSIED, NOT LETTING THE SMILE LEAVE HER FACE. HITOMI NOTICED THE LITTLE BOY NEXT TO MILLERNA. "OH MILLERNA...IS THIS YOUR SON?" SHE ASKED. SHE NODDED AND NUDGED THE BOY. "THIS IS MY SON HAME'NE." SHE PULLED THE BOY IN FRONT OF HER. HITOMI GOT DOWN ON HER KNEES AND SMILED AT THE BOY. "HELLO HAME'NE," SHE SAID HAPPILY. THE BOY LOOKED AT HER FOR A MOMENT AND STARTED SMILING. "HELLO," HE SAID GIGGLING. MILLERNA LOOKED AT HITOMI AND THEN AT ALLEN AND VAN. "THIS IS QUITE AMAZING. YOU HAVE THE TOUCH HITOMI. HE NEVER SAYS HELLO TO ANYONE HE DOESN'T KNOW. HE IS A VERY TIMID BOY," SHE SAID. "HOW OLD ARE YOU?" SHE ASKED. THE BOY HELD UP TWO FINGERS. "I AM TWO," HE SAID MERRY VOICE. HITOMI COULD SENSE SOMEONE WAS STARING AT HER. SHE LOOKED UP TO SEE A WOMAN STANDING BEHIND MILLERNA. THE GIRL RETURNED HER GLANCE, BUT HITOMI COULD SEE SOMETHING IN THAT GIRL. "OH HITOMI...THIS IS LADY KIKEN OF ASTURIA. HER FATHER IS A WEALTHY NOBLE. I THOUGHT SHE SHOULD VISIT FANELIA AND SEE HOW SHE LIKES IT HERE," SHE SAID. HITOMI STOOD UP AND EXTENDED HER HAND. "HI," SHE SAID. THE GIRL WAS ABOUT TO SHAKE HITOMI'S HAND, BUT INSTEAD JUST CLICKED HER TONGUED AND ROLLED HER EYES. "OKAY," SAID HITOMI TO HERSELF.
VAN COULD SEE THAT LADY KIKEN WASN'T A VERY PLEASANT PERSON. HITOMI REALIZED THAT SHE HADN'T GREETED SOMEONE. BEFORE SHE COULD SAY HELLO, ALLEN HAD GRABBED HER HAND AND HAD PLACED A SOFT KISS ON IT. HER CHEEKS STARTED TO BLUSH. VAN TURNED HIS HAND AND ROLLED HIS EYES. "SO, WHAT MADE YOU COME BACK TO GAEA?" HE ASKED. HITOMI LOOKED OVER AT VAN, WHO DIDN'T SEEM TO BE IN A GOOD MOOD. "WELL, I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE REALLY," SHE ANSWERED. ALLEN LOOKED AT HER BEWILDERED. "WHY WOULD YOU NOT HAVE A CHOICE? DID SOMEONE MAKE YOU COME HERE?" HE ASKED. "OH NO...I CAME HERE UNEXPECTEDLY. I...WELL...UM...I WAS ATTACKED BACK HOME. SOME GUY WAS TRYING TO SLICE ME UP WITH HIS SWORD AND I GOT TAKEN AWAY BY THE PILLAR OF LIGHT. HE KEPT TELLING ME THINGS ABOUT GAEA AND EARTH. I THINK GAEA IS ABOUT TO COME UNDER WAR AGAIN," SHE SAID. MILLERNA LOOKED AT HER SURPRISED. "WHY DO YOU THINK THAT?" SHE ASKED. "IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE ATLANTEANS. THE GUY'S NAME IS AKUMA. HE WAS AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE WHO DISAPPEARED AROUND THE TIME MY BROTHER DID. HE IS A HALF DRACONIAN AS ME. HITOMI DISCOVERED THE SYMBOL OF ZAIBACH ON HIS HAND. HE SAYS HE IS HELPING BUILD A GREAT EMPIRE FOR HIS MASTER," SAID VAN. "THE NAME AKUMA SOUNDS SO FAMILIAR," ALLEN SAID. "HE KEPT SAYING THAT I WILL NOT CHANGE OUR FUTURE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT," SAID HITOMI. SHE HADN'T TOLD ANYONE ABOUT TALKING TO KUMORI. "ANYTHING ELSE?" ASKED ALLEN. "WELL, HE SAID THAT THE GATES TO BOTH WORLDS HAVE OPENED. HE SAID HE CAN COME AND GO AS HE PLEASES," SHE SAID. VAN COULD SEE SHE WAS KEEPING SOMETHING BACK. "IS THERE SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT TELLING US?" HE ASKED CURIOUSLY. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD. "THAT'S ALL I KNOW," SHE ANSWERED.
AKUMA WALKED DOWN THE STREET, SMILING AT EVERY PERSON HE SAW. HE WALKED PAST MANY CHILDREN, WHO OF COURSE DIDN'T SMILE BACK. HE WALKED UP TO THE PLAYGROUND WHERE HE AND HITOMI STARTED THERE CONVERSATION AND FIGHT. ON ONE OF THE SWINGS SAT A LITTLE GIRL. ON THE JUNGLE GYM, HUNG HER TWIN SISTER. THERE WERE FOUR LITTLE BOYS PLAYING KICKBALL AND A GIRL PLAYING JUMP ROPE. HE PASSED ALL OF THEM, TRYING NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT. HE WALKED UP TO A DOOR, WHICH HAD A SMALL WREATH ON IT. HE WALKED OVER TO ONE OF THE WINDOWS AND PEEPED INSIDE THE HOUSE. ALL THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. HE MADE HIS WAY BACK TO THE DOOR AND SLIPPED A WEIRD LOOKING GADGET INTO THE KEYHOLE. THE DOOR POPPED OPEN AND HE STEPPED INSIDE. HE WALKED UP THE STAIRS AND INTO SOMEONE'S BEDROOM. ALL OVER THE WALL SAT RIBBONS AND PLAQUES. HE OPENED UP ONE OF THE DRAWERS AND RUSTLED THROUGH IT. HE GREW ANGRY WE HE DIDN'T FIND WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR IN THE OTHER DRAWERS. "WHERE IS IT?" HE SAID TO HIMSELF. HE STARTED THROWING CLOTHES OUT OF HER CLOSET AND SEARCHING THROUGH BOXES. HE HAD TOTALLY TRASHED THE ROOM, NOT FINDING IT ANYWHERE. "WHERE DOES SHE KEEP THE PENDANT?" HE ASKED HIMSELF. HE REMEMBERED WHAT HIS MASTER HAD SAID. "SHE WEARS IT AROUND HER NECK." "HER NECK," HE SAID UNDER HIS BREATH. HE STORMED OUT OF THE ROOM AND OUT THE DOOR. "I WONDER WHAT MY MASTER WANTS WITH THIS PENDANT? AT FIRST SHE WANTED ME TO KILL THE GIRL AND NOW SHE JUST WANTS THE PENDANT," HE SAID CONFUSED. HE STEPPED TOWARDS A TREE, WHICH HAD A HUGE HOLE IN IT. STANDING AGAINST IT WAS A GUY, WITH CHOPPY, SILVER HAIR. "DID YOU FIND IT," HE SAID DILIGENTLY. "NO," HE ANSWERED. "THE GIRL MUST HAVE IT. OUR MASTER WILL NOT BE HAPPY," HE SAID LIFTING HIS RIGHT EYEBROW.
"I DID NOT SEE THE PENDANT ON THE GIRL," AKUMA SAID ANGRILY. HE COULD SEE THE MAN WAS GROWING ANNOYED BY HIS WHINING. "IF IT IS NOT IN THE HOUSE AND NOT ON THE GIRL, THAN WHERE IS IT?" HE ASKED IRRITABLY. AKUMA SAT DOWN, AGAINST THE TREE. "WHY IS DOES SHE WANT THE PENDANT? SHE WANTED ME TO KILL THE GIRL," HE SAID. THE MAN STOOD IN FRONT OF AKUMA WITH A DUMBFOUNDED EXPRESSION. "THAT PENDANT HOLDS MORE THAN THAT GIRL OR ANYONE IN GAEA COULD EVERY IMAGINE. THAT PENDANT HOLDS THE ENERGIST OF THE MOST POWERFUL DRAGON TO EVER EXIST ON GAEA. IF OUR MASTER HAS THE ENERGIST, THAN SHE CAN CONTROL THE MOST POWERFUL GUYMELEF IN ALL OF GAEA," HE SAID. "BUT WHY DOES SHE NOT WANT TO KILL THE GIRL NOW?" HE ASKED CURIOUSLY. "OH SHE STILL WANTS THE GIRL, BUT NOT DEAD. SHE HAS THE TRUE FATE ALTERATION MACHINE AND PLANS TO USE IT. AND THIS TIME IT IS NOT GOING TO FAIL," HE SAID WITH AN EVIL SMILE. AKUMA LOOKED AT HIM CONFUSED AND STOOD UP. "SINCE I CAN TELL YOU ARE STILL CONFUSED I'LL TELL YOU MORE. YOUR FOOLISH SISTER HAD TO COME HERE TELL HER ABOUT THE BINDING OF BLOOD. WHAT WILL BE DO IF SHE DOES SO?" HE ASKED ANGRILY. AKUMA SHOOK HIS HEAD. "LET'S HEAD BACK," HE SAID SMILING. THE MAN NODDED. "YOU KNOW HAWKON, I THINK OUR MASTER WILL SUCCEED." BOTH OF THEM SHOT WINGS FROM THEIR BACK. "YES, AND ALL OF GAEA WILL FALL TO ITS KNEES," SAID HAWKON TO HIMSELF.
HITOMI SAT IN THE GARDEN WITH MERLE AND PRINCE HAME'NE. MILLERNA HAD LEFT TO MEET WITH DRYDEN AT THE PALACE GATES. ALLEN WAS LOOKING AT THE FLOWERS THAT BLOOMED AROUND A SMALL POND. THE FLOWERS REMINDED HIM OF HIS MOTHER. HE WONDERED HOW CERENA WAS DOING RIGHT NOW. HE HAD LEFT HER BACK HOME FOR HER OWN PROTECTION. HE DIDN'T LET HER GO ANYWHERE, UNLESS HE WAS WITH HER. HE WAS GLAD THAT HITOMI WAS BACK, BUT HE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT HER BEING HERE. HE COULD SENSE THAT SOMETHING BAD WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF HER BEING HERE. HE KNEW, AS ALWAYS THAT HE MUST PROTECT HER. HE TURNED HIS HEAD TOWARDS THE GIGGLES HE HEARD BEHIND HIM. HAME'NE WAS ON TOP OF MERLE, GIGGLING HAPPILY. HITOMI WATCHED, SMILING AS SHE SAW MERLE'S FACE. HER EXPRESSION WAS PUZZLING AND AMUSING. "SINCE WHEN DID I START LOOKING LIKE A HORSE?" SHE ASKED HITOMI ANGRILY. "CALM DOWN MERLE, HE'S JUST HAVING FUN," SHE SAID. HITOMI COULD SEE MERLE WAS ABOUT TO THROW THE BOY OFF OF HER BACK. HITOMI GRABBED HIM AND SAT HIM ON THE GROUND. THE BOY STOOD UP AND POINTED AT THE POND, SURROUNDED BY FLOWERS. "I'M GOING TO PICK SOME," HE SAID WALKING AWAY. HITOMI NODDED AND WALKED OVER WITH HIM. SHE SAT ON A LARGE STONE, NEXT TO THE POND. ALLEN WAS NOW SITTING ON THE GROUND. "THESE FLOWERS ARE QUITE MARVELOUS," HE SAID TO HITOMI. "YES THEY ARE," SHE SAID SMILING.
HAME'NE SAW A GREEN FLOWER NEAR SOME PURPLE ONES. HE PICKED IT UP AND HANDED IT TO HITOMI. "THIS IS FOR YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR EYES," HE SAID, GIVING HER A BIG SMILE. "THANK YOU," SHE SAID TAKING IT FROM HIM. ALLEN COULD TELL THAT HAME'NE HAD REALLY TAKEN A LIKING TO HITOMI. "YOU REALLY DO HAVE THE TOUCH. MILLERNA SAYS HE NEVER TALKS TO ANYONE BUT TO HER AND DRYDEN. IT IS AMAZING HOW HE AUTOMATICALLY STARTED TALKING TO YOU," HE SAID. HITOMI NOTICED HOW ALLEN'S EYES LOOKED. THEY LOOKED LOST, LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. "IS SOMETHING TROUBLING YOU ALLEN?" SHE ASKED. HE NODDED SLIGHTLY AND LOOKED UP AT HER. "I AM WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING. I FIND IT ODD THAT WE ARE ALL FINDING OUR WAY BACK TO EACH OTHER LIKE THIS. COULD THIS BE A SIGN THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME WE ARE ALL TOGETHER?" HE ASKED. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD. "IT COULD JUST BE A COINCIDENCE," SHE ANSWERED. HITOMI PULLED HER HAIR BACK AND RELEASED IT. IT FELL PASS HER SHOULDERS, SWINGING BACK AND FORTH. "I THINK GAEA IS ABOUT TO SUFFER FROM ONE OF THE WORST WARS EVER," SHE SAID TO HERSELF.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE THE GIRL OR THE PENDANT," YELLED A VOICE. HAWKON AND AKUMA STOOD IN FRONT OF TWO CAT GIRLS. "SUCH BILE CREATURES," HAWKON SAID UNDER HIS BREATH. ONE OF THEM GRABBED HIM BY HIS NECK. "WHAT DID YOU SAY BIRD BOY?" SHE YELLED FEROCIOUSLY. "LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU DISGUSTING FELINE," YELLED A WINGED WOMAN. THE CAT GIRL DROPPED HIM AND TURNED TOWARDS THE WOMAN. "YOU DARE CALL XIKIYA DISGUSTING? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S DISGUSTING HAWKONIA," SHE SNARLED. "STOP IT BOTH OF YOU," YELLED THE OTHER CAT GIRL. "SHUT UP DONYA. THESE BIRDIES NEED TO LEARN A FEW THINGS ABOUT US CAT GIRLS," SHE SAID WITH AN EVIL SMILE. HER CLAWS SHOT OUT OF HER HAND. "ALL OF YOU STOP THIS," YELLED A FURIOUS VOICE. ALL OF THEM BECAME QUIET AS THEY SAW A CAPED WOMAN WALK DOWN THE SPIRAL STAIRS. "LORD SHINDA, I'M SORRY TO REPORT THAT WE DID NOT RETRIEVE THE PENDANT OR THE GIRL," SAID AKUMA BOWING. SHE WALKED UP TO HIM AND LIFTED HIS CHIN. "WHY NOT?" SHE ASKED. "THE GIRL GOT AWAY AND SHE IS NOW IN FANELIA," HE SAID. SHE STARTED CHUCKLING LIKE A MAD MAN. "WELL, GO THERE AND GET HER AND THE PENDANT," SHE SCREAMED IN HIS FACE. HE BACKED AWAY AND NODDED REPETITIVELY. HAWKON STOOD UP AND HANDED SHINDA A MAP. "THIS IS WHAT A GATHERED FROM THE EARTH. THAT PLANET HAS SEVEN CONTINENTS. I HAVE SEEN MANY WEAPONS UNLIKE OURS, BUT I THINK WE CAN DESTROY THEM," HE SAID SMILING. "AT LEAST ONE OF YOU DOESN'T FAIL ME," SHE SAID SARCASTICALLY.
SHE LOOKED OVER THE MAP AND SMILED. "WELL, I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE A PROBLEM FROM WHAT I SEE. SO, HOW IS OUR OLD HOME?" SHE ASKED. "IT'S....VERY INTERESTING. IT IS NOTHING LIKE GAEA. IT CAN'T POSSIBLY BE PREPARED FOR WHAT'S TO COME," HE SAID SMIRKING. SHE SAT THE MAP DOWN AND WALKED OVER TO A SMALL TABLE. "THAT GIRL MUST NOT UNITE WITH A DRACONIAN. YOUR SISTER SHOULDN'T HAVE TOLD HER ABOUT THAT. IF THE GIRL FROM THE MYSTIC MOON COMBINES WITH A DRACONIAN, WE'VE WORKED FOR NOTHING," SHE YELLED. HAWKON GLIDED HIS HAND ON A LARGE CRYSTAL. AN IMAGE SHOT UP, SHOWING HITOMI AND ALLEN. "THAT GIRL MUST BE STOPPED," HE SAID SMILING. VAN SLOWLY WALKED UP TO ALLEN AND HITOMI. "ISN'T THAT VAN SLANZAR DE FANEL?" ASKED HAWKON. SHINDA PINCHED HER CHIN AND SMILED. "YES, IT IS HIM. THAT IS VARIE'S SON. I MUST SAY HE'S A SPITTING IMAGE OF HIS FATHER. IF THE GIRL KNOWS HE IS HALF DRACONIAN, THAN SHE MIGHT TRY TO BIND WITH HIM. WE MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN," SHE SAID PSYCHOTICALLY. HAWKON AND AKUMA WATCHED HER PUZZLED. BOTH OF THEM COULD SEE SHE KNEW WHAT TO DO NOW.
"SO, WHAT WERE YOU TWO DISCUSSING?" ASKED VAN. "WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT EVERYBODY MEETING AGAIN LIKE THIS," ANSWERED ALLEN. VAN SAT DOWN NEXT TO HITOMI AND GLANCED AT THE POND. "SO HOW IS YOUR SISTER ALLEN? I HOPE SHE IS DOING WELL," HE SAID. "YES SHE IS DOING FINE. I MADE HER STAY BACK HOME. I DID NOT WANT TO BRING HER INCASE OF ANY EXCITEMENT," HE SAID LAUGHING. VAN NODDED AND LAID HIS BACK ON THE GRASS. "IT IS STRANGE HOW WE ALL MET HERE ONCE AGAIN," HE SAID TO HIMSELF. HITOMI LOOKED DOWN INTO THE POND, WATCHING HER REFLECTION RIPPLE AND WAVE. AS SHE STARED AT IT, SOMETHING CHANGED. SHE WATCHED AS HER WHOLE IMAGE DISAPPEARED AND THE FACE OF VAN'S MOTHER APPEARED. HITOMI LOOKED AT IT PUZZLED, WONDERING WAS THIS SOME KIND OF SIGN. SHE KEPT SAYING SOMETHING, BUT HITOMI COULD NOT HEAR WHAT SHE WAS SAYING. IT WAS AS IF SHE HAD NO VOICE. HER FACE DISAPPEARED AS VAN LOOKED AT THE POND. "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?" HE ASKED CURIOUSLY. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD AND SAT BACK. "NOTHING," SHE ANSWERED. SHE LOOKED UP AT THE CLOUDS AND SIGHED. "SO MUCH FOR A REUNION," SHE SAID TO HERSELF. VAN WATCHED PRINCE HAME'NE PLAYING WITH MERLE. THIS TIME, HE WASN'T ON HER BACK. VAN KEPT LOOKING, UNTIL SOMETHING CAUGHT HIS EYE. A SINGLE BLACK FEATHER FLEW DOWN FROM THE SKY, PASSING HIS FACE. "A BLACK FEATHER," HE SAID TO HIMSELF. HITOMI SAW THE FEATHER AND SUDDENLY SAW A FACE IN HER MIND. "AKUMA," SHE SAID FRIGHTENED. VAN LOOKED AT HER AND WATCHED THE FEATHER HIT THE GROUND. A FIGURE'S SHADOW COVERED THE GROUND FLYING ABOVE. THEY ALL LOOKED UP TO SEE AKUMA WITH HIS SWORD.
ALLEN AND VAN JUMPED UP AND READIED THEMSELVES FOR AKUMA'S ATTACK. HITOMI RAN OVER TO MERLE AND HAME'NE. HE SLAMMED HIS SWORD INTO VAN'S, KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND. "WE MEET AGAIN KING VAN," HE LAUGHED PSYCHOTICALLY. VAN RUSHED UP WITH HIS SWORD FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. AKUMA LEAPED OUT OF THE WAY AND HEADED TOWARDS ALLEN. HE KNOCKED THE SWORD STRAIGHT OUT OF ALLEN'S HANDS. ALLEN WAS SPEECHLESS AND HORRIFIED. HE SMILED AT HIM AND SLASHED HIS SWORD AT ALLEN'S CHEST. IT WOULD HAVE NEARLY CUT HIM, IF VAN HADN'T INTERVENED. AKUMA BLASTED HIS WINGS FROM HIS BACK AND FLEW UP INTO THE AIR. HE MADE A STRANGE SOUND, THAT WAS HYPNOTIZING. VAN KNEW THAT SOUND. HE WAS CALLING FOR SOMEONE. NOT JUST ANYONE...IT WAS HITOMI. VAN TURNED AROUND TO SEE HER IN A TRANCE LIKE STATE. HE RAN TOWARDS HER, BUT STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. HE LOOKED UP TO SEE ANOTHER DRACONIAN WITH AKUMA. HIS PALM WAS FACING VAN, GLOWING WITH A BLUE LIGHT. "THAT IS FAR ENOUGH YOUR MAJESTY," HE SNARLED. HE LOOKED OVER AT HITOMI AND SMILED. "THE GIRL," HE SAID UNDER HIS BREATH. HE FLEW DOWN, LANDING IN FRONT OF HER. "GET AWAY FROM HER," YELLED VAN. THE MAN SHOOK HIS HEAD, IGNORING THE FUMING KING. HE PLACED HIS INDEX FINGER ON HER FOREHEAD AND CLOSED HIS EYES. HER EYES CLOSED AS WELL. A LIGHT BLASTED AROUND BOTH OF THEM. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HAWKON?" YELLED AKUMA.

"WHAT IS THIS PLACE? WHAT'S GOING ON?" YELLED HITOMI. HER VOICE ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE DARK NESS. THERE WAS NOTHING BUT DARKNESS. IT SEEMED TO SWALLOW ALL HER QUESTIONS AND PLEAS. "YOU ARE WHERE YOU BELONG," SAID HAWKON. SHE TURNED AROUND TO SEE A WINGED MAN. THERE WERE DRACONIANS STANDING BEHIND HIM. "WHO ARE YOU?" SHE ASKED FRIGHTENED. "I AM HAWKON, A DESCENDANT OF ATLANTIS," HE SAID SMILING. "WHY AM I HERE?" SHE ASKED. HE STEPPED UP CLOSER TO HER. "MY MASTER SAYS THAT YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WILL CHANGE THE FUTURE OR OUR FATE. I WAS SENT TO RETRIEVE THAT PENDANT OF YOURS," HE SAID WITH AN MALEVOLENT SMILE. HITOMI HEARD THE SOUND OF KIDS PLAYING. SHE LOOKED BEHIND HIM TO SEE THE IMAGE OF HER AS A GIRL. "WHAT IS THIS?" SHE ASKED AMAZED. "THIS IS YOU WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG. FAIRE, INNOCENT, WHAT ALL LITTLE GIRLS ARE. BUT YOU ARE NOT LIKE MOST GIRLS ARE YOU?" HE ASKED. SHE LOOKED AT HIM DUMBFOUNDED. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" SHE ASKED. HE SMILED AND LOOKED BACK AT THE IMAGE. IT HAD CHANGED TO HITOMI'S GRANDMOTHER. "NEITHER WAS YOUR GRANDMOTHER. AFTER ALL, YOU BOTH HAD VISITED GAEA IN YOUR YOUTH, BUT DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHY?" HE ASKED. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD. "IT IS SIMPLE REALLY. IT DATES BACK TO THE TIMES THAT ATLANTIS WAS FORMED AND THE IMAGE OF GAEA WAS CREATED. THOSE WHO FIND THEIR WAY TO GAEA ARE SPECIAL. THEY SOMEHOW FIND THERE WAY THERE. THE LIGHT NEVER GUIDES THEM HERE. THEY MUST KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING. A PART OF YOUR BRAIN CONTAINS ALL THE INFORMATION OF GAEA AND THE EARTH. IF WE WERE TO RETRIEVE IT, THEN WE WOULD HAVE ALL THE POWER WE NEED. IF WE ALSO HAVE THE PENDANT, WE COULD CONTROL THE MOST POWERFUL GUYMELEF EVER CREATED. AS LONGS AS YOU DON'T BIND BLOOD, THEN THE INFORMATION WILL STAY FRESH IN YOUR PITIFUL MIND," HE SAID SMILING.

"LEAVE HER ALONE," YELLED VAN. ALLEN RAN TOWARDS AKUMA, WHO WAS WATCHING HAWKON AND HITOMI. "LET HITOMI GO," YELLED VAN AGAIN. ALLEN LEAPED ON AKUMA, SENDING HIM TO THE GROUND. "GET OFF OF ME BORE," HE SNARLED. HE LET HIS WINGS BLAST FROM HIS BACK, KNOCKING ALLEN BACK. HE STOOD UP AND STEADIED THE TIP OF HIS SWORD ON ALLEN'S SHAKING NECK. "DON'T MESS WITH ME BLONDIE," HE SNARLED. ALLEN STARTED TO REACH FOR HIS SWORD, BUT FELT THE COLD BLADE PRESS DOWN HARDER ON HIS NECK. "I WOULDN'T DO THAT IF I WERE YOU," HE LAUGHED. ALLEN GRINNED HIS TEETH TOGETHER, CUSSING UNDER HIS BREATH. HE COULD STILL HEAR VAN YELLING.
"LET HER GO," VAN YELLED. MERLE HELD HAME'NE IN HER ARMS, WONDERING WHAT TO DO. "OH LORD VAN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?" SHE SAID TO HERSELF. SHE REALIZED SHE WASN'T DOING ANYTHING THAT COULD HELP THEM. SHE LOOKED OVER AT ALLEN, WHO WAS OCCUPIED BY HAWKON. SHE SAT HAME'NE ON THE GROUND AND GOT ON ALL FOURS. "NOW, YOU STAY HERE PRINCE HAME'NE," SHE SAID FOCUSING ON HAWKON. THE BOY NODDED AND WATCHED AS SHE DARTED OFF TOWARDS THE GLOWING MAN. SHE LEAPED UP ON HIM AND BIT HIS ARM. HE STARTED SHAKING, THE LIGHT SLOWLY FADING.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING?" ASKED HITOMI. THE WHOLE PLACE WAS FADING AWAY. "NO," YELLED HAWKON. HE LOOKED AT HITOMI AND GRABBED HER. A SYMBOL APPEARED ON HER FOREHEAD. "YOU WILL GIVE ME THE INFORMATION," HE YELLED. SHE SNATCHED HERSELF AWAY FROM HIM JUST BEFORE THE GROUND SPLIT BETWEEN THEM. HE DISAPPEARED, LEAVING HER IN THE COLLAPSING DREAM. "SOMEONE HELP," SHE SCREAMED. BLACKNESS STARTED TO COVER THE ROOM, UNTIL SHE COULD NO LONGER HEAR HER OWN VOICE.

HAWKON OPENED HIS EYES AND KNOCKED MERLE OFF OF HIM. SHE LANDED ON TOP OF VAN. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" HE ASKED. "YES I AM LORD VAN," SHE ANSWERED SMILING. THEY BOTH HEARD HAWKON YELLING WHEN HE REALIZED HER PENDANT WAS NOT THERE. "YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE LAST OF ME," HE YELLED. AKUMA PULLED HIS SWORD BACK AND TOOK OFF INTO THE AIR. HAWKON GLIDED INTO THE SKY AND FOLLOWED BEHIND AKUMA. HITOMI FELL TO THE GROUND BREATHLESS. VAN RAN OVER TO HER, HOPING SHE WAS ALRIGHT. HE WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT SHE WAS NOT BREATHING. "HITOMI," HE SAID SHAKING HER. ALLEN STOOD UP AND RAN OVER TO THEM. "SHE'S NOT BREATHING," VAN SAID IN A PANICKED VOICE. VAN KEPT SHAKING HER, HOPING SHE WOULD WAKE UP. NOTHING IS ALL THAT OCCURRED. SHE NEVER MOVED...NEVER TOOK A BREATH OF AIR. VAN WAS ON THE VERGE OF NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, WHEN HE HEARD THE MOST HEART WARMING SOUND. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" SHE SAID IN A WEAK VOICE. SHE WAS THE ONE WHO WAS NEARLY DEAD, AND YET SHE WAS ASKING ABOUT HIM. "I'M FINE," HE SAID WITH A HAPPY SMILE. ALLEN LOOKED UP AT THE SKY AND PAUSED. "SOMETHING'S WRONG," HE SAID TO HIMSELF. THEY ALL LOOKED UP AND GASPED. THE SKY WAS TURNING BLACK. "WHAT'S HAPPENING LORD VAN?" ASKED MERLE.

"THIS IS PERFECT," SAID HAWKON AS HE AND AKUMA GLIDED IN THE AIR. THE SKY WAS TURNING BLACK ALL AROUND THEM. "DO YOU THINK MASTER SHINDA IS DOING THIS?" ASKED AKUMA. "NO, MILADY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF POWER. SOMETHING ELSE IS HAPPENING," HE ANSWERED. AKUMA NOTICED THE LIGHTENING AHEAD. "I DON'T KNOW HAWKON, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SHINDA COULD BE DOING THIS. AFTER ALL, SHE IS THE DRACONIAN HIGH PRIESTESS. SHE CAN DO ANYTHING," HE SAID DODGING A LIGHTNING BOLT. HAWKON SAW THE PALACE COMING UP. "WE'RE ALMOST THERE, BETTER FLY LOW," HE SAID SLOWLY GOING DOWN. THEY BOTH FLEW INTO THE HALLS OF THE PALACE. THEY LANDED IN FRONT OF THE TWO CAT GIRLS. "SO, DID YOU FAIL AGAIN?" ASK DONYA. "WHY DON'T YOU GO SCRATCH A POST," BARKED AKUMA. XIKIYA TRIPPED HIM AS HE WALKED BY. "OOPS, SORRY," SHE LAUGHED. HE JUMPED UP AND SWUNG HIS SWORD AT HER. SHE TOOK HER TAIL AND WRAPPED IT AROUND THE BLADE. "TOUGH LUCK BIRDIE," SHE GIGGLED. "DID YOU FIND IT?" ASKED SHINDA AS SHE WALKED IN ON THE QUARRELING GROUP. "NO MASTER SHINDA...THEY FAILED AGAIN," CHUCKLED XIKIYA. SHE DID NOT LOOK PLEASED. "IT'S TIME THAT WE GIRLS HANDLE THIS. AFTER ALL WHEN YOU CAN'T DO IT RIGHT, LET A CAT GIRL DO IT," SAID XIKIYA SMIRKING. "I BELIEVE YOU'RE RIGHT," SHINDA SAID IN AGREEMENT. HAWKON COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE WAS GOING TO LET THOSE FILTHY, INCOMPETENT CREATURES TAKE OVER. "NO WAY... YOU CAN'T LET THOSE FLEA BAGS TAKE OVER," YELLED AKUMA. HE BACKED AWAY WHEN HE SAW THE LOOK IN HER EYES. "I'M SORRY," HE SAID KNEELING DOWN.
THE STONE THAT SHOWED HITOMI AND VAN GLOWED BRIGHTER. SHINDA GLIDED HER HAND OVER IT SMILING. "THE STORM IS BEING CAUSED BY SOME GREAT FORCE. I WONDER WHAT IS MAKING GAEA'S SKIES RUMBLE?" SHE SAID TO HERSELF. THE IMAGE IN THE STONE VANISHED, AS IT SHOWED AN IMAGE IN THE SKY. "WHAT IS THAT?" ASKED XIKIYA. DONYA RAN TO THE WINDOW AND GLANCED OUT. "IT'S HUGE," SHE CRIED. SHINDA LOOKED AND SMILED. "THE TSUBASA NO KAMI IS AWAKENING FROM HER SLUMBER," SHE SAID WITH AN EVIL SMILE. AKUMA AND HAWKON WONDERED WHAT SHE MEANT. "THE WINGED GODDESS?" ASKED HAWKONIA AS SHE CAME IN FROM THE RAIN. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" BARKED HAWKON. "NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS HAWKON," SHE SAID ANGRILY. "SO, ANY LUCK ON FINDING THE GUYMELEF?" ASKED SHINDA. "YES, THE KING HAS HID IT IN AN UNDERGROUND UNIT. WE WILL NEED HELP IN RETRIEVING IT," SHE SAID. XIKIYA AND DONYA CAME UP TO BAT. "WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT MASTER," THEY SAID BOWING. SHINDA NODDED. HOPING THESE FELINES COULD EXCEED WHERE THESE INCOMPETENT PIGEONS COULD NOT. "DO NOT FAIL ME," SHE SAID AS THEY CLIMBED INTO TWO LARGE GUYMELEFS. "WE WON'T MASTER," YELLED DONYA.
THAT'S THE END OF CHAPTER ONE. NOT VERY EXCITING. COME ON AND COMMENT IF YA LIKE. GOT A QUESTION? LET ME KNOW. I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER IT.......AS LONG AS IT'S NOT TOO HARD........