Story Note: Millerna has her anime appearance. She and Dryden are together again.
The Hitomi I have in mind is the one from the manga, minus the glasses.
Van is the same one from the anime.
I am going a little more by the manga in parts of the story.
It all started when he and Balgus had summoned her from the Mystic Moon. It had taken him a while to realize he cared about her, even longer before the fact that he was in love crossed his mind. It had been too late. He had been totally caught off guard when she had told him she loved him, then had kissed him. It had taken him completely by surprise. In order to prevent from hurting her feelings, when she had become embarrased for doing something on impulse; and so she wouldn't get the wrong idea. He told her that it was something he no doubt needed...They were friends after all. She had smiled at that comment. He had been sitting on the railing on his balcony watching the sunset, when the notion that he had always been in love with her hit him. A day late and a dollar short. Nothing could be done now. She had been gone for years. Never to return, at least there is no reason for her to. He had been watching the sun set. Unaware, that his two oldest friends were watching from his doorway sharing his pain. Growing up together tends to cause the strongest of bonds.
He is sitting on his throne thinking about the one who left five years ago. He is thinking of the moment she told him, she loved him then kissed him. To say the most he had been suprised, and told her he did too. They were friends after all. Only after she left had he come to realize he wanted more. It had taken him a long while to realize this though. All he is left with is wistfulness. On most days his longing isn't so bad, but on days like today, it leaves him wanting to scream out of frustration. If the council of Fanelia, hadn't insisted this morning about him finding a bride for Fanelia, he think he could have lasted the day. At night, he would have let the tears come, the council had been pressuring him for four years now.
Ever since Fanelia had been rebuilt, although lately it has intensified to where it has become a daily occurrence. His friends suddenly popped into his head. He hasn't seen Allen, Dryden, Millerna, or Chi'd in a while. Comtemplating on how their lives are he doesn't notice, one of his childhood friends entering the room. He is so engrossed in hoping that his friends are happy and thinking of the girl not of his world and the great distance that separates them. He feels an arm around his right shoulder and a whisper in his left ear. As he turns to his guest she hasn't moved her face, so they were mere inches apart. She smiles at him. He could only respond in kind.
"You're thinking of her again." "Really, how could you tell?" "Now is not the time for sarcasm nor an attempt at humor." "They have been at me for four years now." "The past month they have made it a daily occurrence." "I don't think I can resist them anymore." "I am going to give in: my heart, soul, and sanity can't take this much longer." His companion is thinking of all the late night conversations between her, him, and their other friend. He has never had a problem displaying his emotions to his childhood friends. "I think it is time I settled for second best."
The slap comes abruptly. She raises her voice. "Don't fool yourself, you aren't the kind to settle for second best, never have been." "Even if you bind yourself in a loveless marriage, do you really think that would be fair to your bride." "Eventually, you both would come to resent one another after years of her trying to reach you, only to come to realize it is a lost cause." "Always had been, at the most you both would most likely wind up despising each other." "Do you really want to do that to her or yourself, it would be utterly unfair to either parties." "You're right of course." "If I were to marry anyone but Hitomi it would be you, you know me better than anyone, beside Merle and Hitomi of course...Thank you Shi'an." " No problem, Fanel." They started to laugh at that long running term of affection. For as long as she can remember, she has called him that whenever they are alone.
They decided they could not wait anymore. Their king has prolonged their intentions for far too long. Fanelia had been totally rebuilt four years ago. Once they thought that had been accomplished, that their king would start working on for the future of Fanelia. Marrying, creating future generations, making sure the city flourished for a long time to come. They did not want all what the people worked for to have been for nothing. They know their king didn't want it that way either. Yet he has been refusing for some girl who helped them in the war. They were extremely grateful to her. But he is going to have to face the fact that she will never return, unless by some miracle. So they are currently on their way to present him with their choice for queen. They gave him plenty of time to do his duty for his country and pick his own. His refusal left them with no choice.
They walk into the throne room to see him fiercely embracing a woman. The two turn to look at their audience. "Excuse us, majesty." He turns to the woman. She leaves upon being granted dismissal. She really doesn't want to leave but she knows he is far from happy. She doesn't want to stick around for his reaction. He will tell her what transpired anyway later. He gets up from his seat. His renewed confidence making it a movement of grace. They explain their situation as to why they are there. He saw this situation of being confronted this way. He just didn't know when it would have occurred..
The next moment, they reveal their choice. "Sirs, I have decided." "My friend has convinced me that I have to be true to myself and my heart." "My country I know would want nothing but my happiness, nor will I entrap someone into a loveless marriage with me." "I know it sounds selfish, but what good will I be to my country if I am unhappy and miserable." All the while making his voice loud and clear, for the distance that separates them. "Good day, sirs, Celena." As he is turning to leave, a bright light appears before him and increases in size. This can ony mean one thing, as he sees the face of his angel. He pulls her into his embrace as the light vanishes. For the embarrasment, he had just caused them for someone they have secretly deemed worthless, they would make him pay. And if they had to wait and bid their time to accomplish their goal, so be it. Only they wouldn't be stupid enough to do it themselves. They would find others to do their dirty work, so to speak.