Chapter 1: The Moment
The night was young… The moon gleamed brightly in the slowly darkening sky. Van and Hitomi sat on the edge of the great hill that overlooked the kingdom of Fanelia. Van looked at Hitomi out of the corners of his soft dark hued eyes, and felt a presence of peace and contentment. For the first time in 2 years, he let himself smile truthfully. It was an emotion that was filled with a sense of love, yet a sense of lost as well. Yes Hitomi had returned. It was she that he had yearned for all this time. The girl with the chestnut hair, the beautiful smile… The shimmering green eyes and the unforgettable voice… But somehow, he knew… He knew that this was to end soon. But he still didn't show his genuine feelings towards her. He didn't know how or where to start. 'May be I could…' he thought.
Hitomi sighed… While looking into the kingdom of the man that was once a boy, she was filled with memories of the past. Memories of the journey she and Van shared and built up to get to this point, to be together. But deep inside, she had feelings that were still unspoken. Those words she yearned to say. She hadn't seen him for 2 years. But since she had returned, she didn't know where to start with him. 'May be I should…' she thought…
Slowly and somewhat scared, Van started to move his hand gradually across those few millimeters of space between them to reach for her hand. He made it, and gently he cupped his hand over hers. Hitomi looked at him, shocked at first, but then her face softened. "Van…" she started. "Shh…" he said, "I know…" She smiled, and those unspoken feelings were invisibly spilled in that moment. She leaned on his strong shoulders while still holding his hand. "You know what must happen, don't you…?" she said. "Yea… but… but maybe you don't have to. Maybe you can stay forever. Maybe we could…" Van said, but Hitomi cut him off, "You know I can't. I can't leave the world where so many people are waiting for me. When my family needs me… I have to go back. The times I've spent with you are the most precious moments of my life. They are the strength I need to go through each day without you." With that she looked into those sad dark eyes. Immediately he tried to look like he understood, he tried to look as if he knew everything would be all right, he tried to be strong just for her... But she knew how he felt. She couldn't let go either. "Oh Van…" With that she slowly leaned over, a soft gentle wind breathed over them, as the night was filled with bright firey stars. Their lips slowly touched. Gently at first, but with each second their kisses were filled with more passion. Slowly their lips parted. Van got up, and helped Hitomi to her feet. They faced each other, the young king reached out his arms and the woman he loved fell into them. "Van…" Hitomi sobbed out, "I don't want to leave you. Know that I will always be with you. Know that. Maybe fate has it that I may return again one day. Be with you forever. But this is not the time. Not right now…" "Don't cry my love," said Van as he gently raised his hand to brush her soft chestnut hair, and kissed the stream of tears on her face, "I'll be with you as well. You will forever be in my heart. I love you, Hitomi Kanzaki." And with that a bright pillar of light appeared and shone down encircling them. It pulled at her and gently carried her higher and higher and as she slowly ascended, she cried out, "Van! I love you! Always, always and forever!!!"
Then just as unexpectedly as the pillar of light had come, it vanished away just the same, carrying his beloved Hitomi with it. Van dropped to his knees and cried out those barred emotions in which he said he would be strong by. He stretched out his shaking arms and sobbed through sheds of grief and the misery of losing his beloved. With a wipe of his hands across his face and a deep in take of breath, Van said, "Hitomi… Always, always and forever…."
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