Author's Notes: This is a story idea I've been meaning to actually get written for
quite some time. It'll be chock full of love, angst, and war. Not sure what
catagory that would be. o.o; The "vaguely AU" tag comes from the fact that Hitomi has her pendant at the start of this. ^^; Anyhoo, hope you enjoy! More will be on the way soon. And I must give fair warning~! The main romantic relationship in this story arc will be between Allen and Hitomi, so anyone who doesn't agree with that, I apologize, and would appreciate it if I don't get flamed for it. ^^; To each their own, right? ^^;;;
Rating overall: PG-13 for language and violence(in later chapters).
---
She didn't understand. One moment she had been standing at one of the large windows in her room, gazing at the stars...and the next she found herself staring back at the Earth from somewhere far away from where she had stood.
There was only one explanation, Hitomi Kanzaki then realized. She was on Gaea again.
It had been three years since the war that had ravaged Fanelia, Asturia, all of Gaea, and her own heart. Three years since she had met those who would dramatically alter her life.
After returning to Earth at that time, upon finding her dear friend Yukari thrust unwillingly into therapy to convince her that the dragon, the boy, and the pillars of light she had seen were not real, Hitomi had wisely decided not to speak of her adventures in the mystical world of Gaea. As time passed, her heart ached more and more to return...she hadn't realized that those she had left behind were so vitally important to her.
It was on this night that her heart ached the most, that the tears came and she knew she couldn't stop them. The pendant she still constantly wore around her neck had glowed warmly in response to her tears this time, which she realized then had never happened before.
And now she stood in a field of tall grasses, staring up at the Illusionary Moon while the wind gently rustled her now nearly shoulder-length honey-brown locks. She would be rather hard to recognize now, with the longer hair, the long green skirt and cream-colored sleeveless top she had chosen to wear on the particular summer day. Though she had grown out of her girlish young looks, her face still held that same gentleness it always had.
Realizing the reality of her situation, a genuine smile graced her features. After three years, she was finally...home.
Her first thought was to find out where exactly on Gaea she was, as she saw no distinguishable landmarks to guide her way. Her second thought was to find her old friends, hug them, and never let them go again.
Her third thought questioned the faint rumbling sound she had suddenly picked up on. She turned around full circle and saw nothing, adding to her confusion. As the seconds passed, the rumbling grew louder, closer.
With almost no warning, riders on horseback suddenly thundered around her, moving too quickly for her to be seen. She cried out, trying to dodge her way out of the heavy hooves that would almost certainly be her demise with one false step.
"Stop!" she called, trying to be heard above the pounding against the ground, "Please stop!"
Fortunately for her, one of the riders seemed to have heard her, and shouted out an order, slowing his magnificent stallion to a stop in front of her. The other riders, responding to his call, slowed and turned about, staying in place. Relieved, Hitomi let out a breath of air she had unconsiously held.
"Little lady," came a smooth, masculine voice from atop the horse, "What are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere by yourself, at night of all times? There's wolves about, you know."
Hitomi blinked her large emerald eyes several times, surprised. She knew that voice. Looking up to the rider, she squinted against the light of the true and Illusionary moons to better make out his features.
After a long moment, she finally resulted to saying his name with a questioning look, "Gaddeth?"
The riders stirred uncomfortably as this unfamiliar girl before them spoke their leader's name; some moved towards her cautiously, giving her the opportunity to get nervous. Gaddeth put up his hand with a shake of his head, indicating them to stay in their places. "Little lady," he spoke again, eyebrow crooked quizzically, "Do I know you?"
She couldn't help but smile now, broadly, just glad she had found someone she knew. "Gaddeth, it's me! Hitomi!" she proclaimed, eyes twinkling happily.
He was surprised by the name, and leaned down slightly with a frown to inspect her closer. After a long moment, he leaned back, his expression easing into one of wonder. "Well, I'll be damned," he murmured, a smile growing on his lips, "It is you, Hitomi..."
"It's been so long..." she murmured with an equal softness to her tone. A million questions blurred through her mind in a split second, and she had no idea which of any of them to ask. There was one he should know the answer to, she thought, remembering Gaddeth's close friendships. She looked back up to him with an unreadable expression, however still smiling, asking, "How is Allen?"
His smile became a slightly mischievious grin, though she didn't notice. "He's been good, taking care of his little sister and all...I think he's a little lonely, though." Then, getting a sudden idea, he said, with his patented charming grin, "Would you like to visit him? Palas is not too far from here, and I can give you a lift."
The sudden emotional battles that rushed through her went far too quickly for her to understand anything her heart was trying to tell her. But after a moment, she smiled, looked back up at Gaddeth, and said, "I'd love to."
He offered his hand to her and she took it, allowing his to pull her up onto the saddle behind him. "Hold on, Hitomi, we'll be going fast." She nodded and held on tightly to him, just before the stallion took off from a sharp kick to its flank, the other riders following as a small speck of light began to become visible on the horizon. Hitomi smiled, and took in the sight of Asturia's capital city growing larger in her view by the moment.
---
Rating overall: PG-13 for language and violence(in later chapters).
---
She didn't understand. One moment she had been standing at one of the large windows in her room, gazing at the stars...and the next she found herself staring back at the Earth from somewhere far away from where she had stood.
There was only one explanation, Hitomi Kanzaki then realized. She was on Gaea again.
It had been three years since the war that had ravaged Fanelia, Asturia, all of Gaea, and her own heart. Three years since she had met those who would dramatically alter her life.
After returning to Earth at that time, upon finding her dear friend Yukari thrust unwillingly into therapy to convince her that the dragon, the boy, and the pillars of light she had seen were not real, Hitomi had wisely decided not to speak of her adventures in the mystical world of Gaea. As time passed, her heart ached more and more to return...she hadn't realized that those she had left behind were so vitally important to her.
It was on this night that her heart ached the most, that the tears came and she knew she couldn't stop them. The pendant she still constantly wore around her neck had glowed warmly in response to her tears this time, which she realized then had never happened before.
And now she stood in a field of tall grasses, staring up at the Illusionary Moon while the wind gently rustled her now nearly shoulder-length honey-brown locks. She would be rather hard to recognize now, with the longer hair, the long green skirt and cream-colored sleeveless top she had chosen to wear on the particular summer day. Though she had grown out of her girlish young looks, her face still held that same gentleness it always had.
Realizing the reality of her situation, a genuine smile graced her features. After three years, she was finally...home.
Her first thought was to find out where exactly on Gaea she was, as she saw no distinguishable landmarks to guide her way. Her second thought was to find her old friends, hug them, and never let them go again.
Her third thought questioned the faint rumbling sound she had suddenly picked up on. She turned around full circle and saw nothing, adding to her confusion. As the seconds passed, the rumbling grew louder, closer.
With almost no warning, riders on horseback suddenly thundered around her, moving too quickly for her to be seen. She cried out, trying to dodge her way out of the heavy hooves that would almost certainly be her demise with one false step.
"Stop!" she called, trying to be heard above the pounding against the ground, "Please stop!"
Fortunately for her, one of the riders seemed to have heard her, and shouted out an order, slowing his magnificent stallion to a stop in front of her. The other riders, responding to his call, slowed and turned about, staying in place. Relieved, Hitomi let out a breath of air she had unconsiously held.
"Little lady," came a smooth, masculine voice from atop the horse, "What are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere by yourself, at night of all times? There's wolves about, you know."
Hitomi blinked her large emerald eyes several times, surprised. She knew that voice. Looking up to the rider, she squinted against the light of the true and Illusionary moons to better make out his features.
After a long moment, she finally resulted to saying his name with a questioning look, "Gaddeth?"
The riders stirred uncomfortably as this unfamiliar girl before them spoke their leader's name; some moved towards her cautiously, giving her the opportunity to get nervous. Gaddeth put up his hand with a shake of his head, indicating them to stay in their places. "Little lady," he spoke again, eyebrow crooked quizzically, "Do I know you?"
She couldn't help but smile now, broadly, just glad she had found someone she knew. "Gaddeth, it's me! Hitomi!" she proclaimed, eyes twinkling happily.
He was surprised by the name, and leaned down slightly with a frown to inspect her closer. After a long moment, he leaned back, his expression easing into one of wonder. "Well, I'll be damned," he murmured, a smile growing on his lips, "It is you, Hitomi..."
"It's been so long..." she murmured with an equal softness to her tone. A million questions blurred through her mind in a split second, and she had no idea which of any of them to ask. There was one he should know the answer to, she thought, remembering Gaddeth's close friendships. She looked back up to him with an unreadable expression, however still smiling, asking, "How is Allen?"
His smile became a slightly mischievious grin, though she didn't notice. "He's been good, taking care of his little sister and all...I think he's a little lonely, though." Then, getting a sudden idea, he said, with his patented charming grin, "Would you like to visit him? Palas is not too far from here, and I can give you a lift."
The sudden emotional battles that rushed through her went far too quickly for her to understand anything her heart was trying to tell her. But after a moment, she smiled, looked back up at Gaddeth, and said, "I'd love to."
He offered his hand to her and she took it, allowing his to pull her up onto the saddle behind him. "Hold on, Hitomi, we'll be going fast." She nodded and held on tightly to him, just before the stallion took off from a sharp kick to its flank, the other riders following as a small speck of light began to become visible on the horizon. Hitomi smiled, and took in the sight of Asturia's capital city growing larger in her view by the moment.
---