Warnings: This fanfic you are about to enjoy takes place in an alternate universe. As a side effect, some of the characters are out of character. Mainly Van and Hitomi, and as you read you will see why.

Lovely fool

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"That monster again. Poor thing, why does it keep showing its face around here when it knows it's not wanted?"

"I pity its mother. How horrible to see that beastly thing day after day."

Hitomi looked to her mother for support and reassurance. Her mother's reaction was the same as ever. Blank and emotionless. Hitomi wanted to cry.

Why do they treat me like this?

Her green eyes darkened. A child of six should have been blissfully ignorant of such evils. Hitomi knew she was different. She saw it in the faces of everyone that she met. Her own mother reminded her everyday with her cold presence. Timidly, she reached for her mother's hand to ease her pain. Her mother shot her a look of loath and detest, lip curling into a snarl. Whimpering, Hitomi retracted her hand. She was the unwanted child. Her younger brother received all the attention in the world while she received none.

Why don't you love me?

Hitomi looked up longingly at her mother again. She shrieked with horror as her mother's eyes glowed like demonic embers, burning intensely.

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Hitomi woke in a cold sweat. Wiping her forehead, she looked up at the ebony sky.

That dream again…

She drew her cloak closer around her thin frame. Hitomi sighed, breath misting the air. She didn't miss her family. When she ran away, Hitomi didn't look back. It wasn't an option. With each passing day she became lighter, her existence becoming more bearable. No one could call her a freak here. No one. She had found a temporary sanctuary here, deep in the heart of the Fanalian woods. The forest here was as green as it was lush, vibrant leaves blending in perfectly with her mossy eyes. To her, these woods meant a new beginning. A new life.

Yawning, she rested her head once again against her shoulder.

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The sun slowly crept across her face, tickling her thick eyelashes. Stretching her arms out towards the sky, she opened her eyes. Fixing her tangled short honey-coloured hair, she went out on her morning stroll in search of breakfast.

She walked down her own crudely beaten down path and noted that all the berry bushes had been completely cleaned of their berries. Scowling, she pushed herself deeper into the woods. Hopefully whatever it was that ate all her berries hadn't cleaned the all the bushes in the area.

Aggravated, Hitomi beat her way around dense brush and almost tripped over something. The foreign object made a loud metallic clinking noise before it toppled over. Green eyes wide, Hitomi stopped. Curious, she looked at what she kicked over.

"A bucket?" she mumbled to herself as she picked it up. Looking into the heavy bucket, her eyes bulged. It had been full of berries. Dropping to her knees, Hitomi gathered the stray berries scattered over the ground. When she finished she continued to crouch down, eyes searching for any movement in the bushes. Seeing nothing, Hitomi picked up the bucket and began walking again.

Someone left it here. Maybe whoever it is will come back for it.

The thought made her shiver. She couldn't risk being seen. Her stomach rumbled painfully, reminding her how hungry she was. Reaching into the bucket, she munched on a handful of berries as she scanned the terrain.

Eventually, she drifted back to the gigantic tree. Hiding herself up among the branches, Hitomi relaxed. She whistled aimlessly as she hung her catch of berries on a nearby branch, unaware that its shiny bottom could be seen from the ground. Still whistling, Hitomi thought about her next meal, glancing down at her crude hand-made tools and her pocket knife.

Maybe I'll get lucky and snag a rabbit.

Fiddling with her pocket knife, Hitomi smiled. She'd caught a few rabbits already during her stay here. Hitomi knew how to set traps and skin animals. It was something she indirectly learnt growing up. To briefly escape the harassment and taunting of the village boys, Hitomi used to follow her father around as he went about his normal routine of setting traps in the woods, and skinning the animals he caught.

Alone with only the sound of the forest's flora and fauna to keep her company, she fell into a day-dream. Hitomi reminisced about a story she had overheard her mother telling her brother late one night. It was about a Draconian woman who left her village. She left because she fell in love with a human. When she was born, the oracle had prophesied that she would become a queen. No one knew what had happened to her. She never returned to the village.

Hitomi liked the story, but thinking about it reminded her of her home. It brought up unwanted memories. It didn't really bother her, thinking about her family she left. Hitomi felt that they had an acceptable reason for disowning her like they did. Leaving the small Draconian village was the best thing she had ever done for herself.

Below her, Hitomi failed to notice a young woman searching the area. The woman personified innocence. She wore her pale white-blonde curly hair short and had intense sapphire blue eyes. She wore a green dress, cropped off at the knees with a short cape flapping behind her.

Looking up with inexplicably blue eyes, she caught a glimpse of the shiny bucket lazily swinging back and forth from the tree branch.

Mouth open wide, she exclaimed, "My bucket!"

Her voice caused a very startled Hitomi to fall out of the tree. Thankfully, she luckily caught hold of the branch next to her.

The girl looked up with surprise. Hitomi looked very wild and potentially dangerous. She appeared rough with scraggly dirty blonde hair, possessive green eyes, and rumpled dark clothing covered in specks of mud.

"Who are you?" she asked, moving away from the tree and the wild girl.

Hitomi sniffed, thrusting her chin into the air. "I could say the same to you. What are you doing here? This is my camp." She let herself to drop to the ground with a crunch.

This puzzled the girl further. "Your camp? I'm so sorry. I didn't know." The girl looked at her feet and let out a high-pitched scream. In front of her, small animal bones littered the ground.

"What is all this?" she asked, eyes terrified. She shuffled backwards.

"Rabbit bones." Hitomi sighed when the girl's mouth twisted in disgust.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Urgency lined her voice.

"I told you already. This is my camp," Hitomi told her blandly.

"You still haven't told me your name," the girl said, then continued, "What are you doing out here? Are you alone?"

Hitomi looked the girl up and down. Judging from her clothes, this girl was human and a rich human at that.

"My name is Hitomi," she muttered. "I don't need to tell you why I'm here. It's none of your business." Losing interest in the girl, Hitomi turned her back to climb up the tree once more.

"Excuse me, Hitomi? I'm Celena. I thought you might want to know my name as well." Celena watched as this bizarre girl expertly ascended the tree.

Hitomi grunted. "I don't need your name. Frankly, I could care less."

Her comment angered Celena. She couldn't believe the rudeness she was enduring. "Well then! Good day, Hitomi!" she stated flatly, leisurely strolling away. Celena neared the empty berry bushes when she realized that she had forgotten to ask for her bucket back. Grumbling, she stumbled back to face the barbaric girl.

"What do you want now?" Hitomi idly fingered her pocket knife.

"I came back for my bucket. I want it back," Celena demanded. She surprised herself. It was not like her to be rude.

"So you want your bucket back?" Hitomi smirked and waited for an answer.

"Yes," Celena replied, placing her hands on her hips.

Hitomi barked out a laugh as she filled her pockets with berries. "Fine," she yelled back. With a swift kick, she sent the bucket crashing down to the forest floor, berries flying everywhere. As expected, Celena shrieked. Hitomi continued to laugh. It was the best laugh she'd had in a long time.

"You monster. I can see why you live out here all alone. No one can stand having you around," Celena said, enraged.

The laughter above her ceased. Smiling smugly, Celena left. She didn't bother picking up the dropped berries.

Moisture collected at the corners of Hitomi's bright eyes.

A monster. Is that really what I've become?

Angrily wiping the tears away, she watched Celena's retreating back.

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Celena hugged herself, hungry for warmth. It was almost dark and she still hadn't found her way out of this forsaken forest. To make matters worse, it began to rain. She'd been wandering around all day, desperate to find her way back home.

Why did I stray from the path? Allen must be worried about me.

Her older brother was quite protective of her, to the point where she felt smothered. They lived together in a grand manor in Palas. It was only the two of them now. Her parents had both passed away. They were currently in Fanalia to visit its king, Folken Lacuer de Fanel. Celena took off into the woods behind the castle to go berry picking, despite the protests her maid voiced. She had been eager to explore the forest ever since she'd arrived. Now she was lost, cold, and starving. Celena had finished the berries she had collected long ago.

Collapsing beside a large oak tree, Celena vibrated with sobs. The situation looked bleak. Rain poured unmercifully down on her through the oak's widely spaced branches.

"What are you still doing here? Don't you have someplace to be?" Hitomi leaned over the distressed girl. Her cloak hid her face, rain dribbling off her hood. Hitomi looked evil, like a shady character straight out of one of Celena's novels.

"I'm lost," Celena murmured, forcing herself to look up.

Hitomi's face softened with sympathy. Celena looked frozen to the bone. The hairs on the girl's arms prickled, her rosy lips tinted a faint purple.

"Follow me, you won't last very long out here in the rain." She waited patiently for Celena to stand.

"Why are you helping me?" Celena asked softly.

Hitomi shrugged. "Do you want out of the rain or not?"

Silently, Celena followed behind Hitomi.

"I'm sorry," Celena whispered.

"For what?" Hitomi didn't stop to look back at her.

"For yelling at you. For calling you a monster." Celena bowed her head.

Hitomi laughed wickedly. "I'm sorry to inform you, but I am a monster." Her mood became sullen and detached.

Celena began to wonder about Hitomi. It wasn't everyday that she met a strange person who camped out in the woods.

Hitomi eventually came to a halt, beaming a smile at the tree. She chose this tree because its thick branches and large leaves kept the rain at bay. Hitomi had experienced a few late spring showers out here during her short stay here. She was thankful that she had stumbled upon this tree during the first downpour.

"How clever," Celena breathed, marveling at how dry it was beneath the tree.

"I'm guessing you're not able to climb this." Green eyes searched a pair of equally blue ones. Sheepishly, Celena nodded.

"Thought so." Wasting no time at all, Hitomi slunk up the tree.

Celena's delicate features turned into a frown. Shedding her small cloak, she sat down against the trunk of the tree. At least she was dry. She had to make the best of the situation.

"What are you doing?" Hitomi questioned. From above, a crude ladder tumbled down. "Climb up, don't just sit there," Hitomi huffed impatiently.

Celena blinked. "Oh," she stammered before ascending the ladder. Hitomi offered her a hand to steady her. "Thanks."

Hitomi took a seat, comfortably leaning against the trunk of the tree. "So, what brings you here besides picking all my berries?" Hitomi removed her damp cloak and hung it on a branch above her.

Celena sat down across from her. Unlike Hitomi, she didn't feel at ease sitting high up on the large tree branch. "I was exploring." She grimly wrung the rainwater from the bottom of her dress.

"Why didn't you ask someone to come with you? It was foolish of you to wander off on your own." Hitomi clamped her mouth shut, biting her tongue.

"It was a bad idea. I shouldn't have walked off the trail." Celena sighed.

Hitomi gaped at her. "We are nowhere near the trail."

"Wonderful," Celena muttered.

"Where do you live?" Hitomi inquired.

"Palas. I'm staying at the Fanalian castle with my brother," she admitted.

"You're a noblewoman?"

"Yes," Celena responded carefully, eyeing Hitomi.

"Yeah, I know where the castle is. I'll take you back. That is, if you want to go back," Hitomi said ominously.

Celena's spirit lifted. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"

"Yeah." Hitomi ran her hands through her short hair. "If you ever come back, I want you to leave my berry bushes alone."

Celena laughed, covering her mouth politely. "Deal," she said, putting a slender pale hand forward.

Hitomi took her hand with a firm grip. "Alright, it's settled then."

Silence filled the space between them. Hitomi was content to sit back and enjoy the sound of the rain hitting the tree's canopy with symphony-like rhythm. Celena stared up at the leaves above her with child-like wonder. She was beginning to think that being stuck out here for the night wasn't so bad after all.

Glancing at Hitomi with awe, Celena said, "I can see why you like it here. It's so peaceful."

"It is. I can stay here without worrying about anything," she murmured softly.

Celena looked at her in puzzlement. "What could you possibly have to worry about? Why do you live here? Where's your family?"

"You ask a lot of questions." Resting her hands behind her head, she sighed.

"Well, you leave me with a lot of questions," Celena quickly remarked.

Hitomi snorted. "Well, to answer all your questions, I'd have to tell you my life story."

Celena became wide-eyed in anticipation. "I'm listening."

"Sorry to disappoint. You had better not go blabbing to everyone you meet that I live out here. I came here to get away from people," Hitomi admitted, then looked away.

Celena gave her a sympathetic look. "I don't see why you would want to isolate yourself. How old are?"

"Fifteen. I don't need to explain myself to you." Hitomi closed her eyes, hoping Celena would leave her alone.

"Please Hitomi, tell me. Come on. Don't go to sleep," Celena protested, shaking Hitomi's knee.

"Celena," Hitomi grumbled. She had the sudden urge to kick her from the tree.

"You're no fun," Celena sulked, laying down along the large branch with her face facing the sky. "Well, how about I tell you about myself then? You can listen if you want to."

Hitomi grunted in response. With a smile, Celena chattered on about her life in Palas. Everything from daily life at home to her travels. Celena told her about the dull lessons she had to put up with and finished with how incredibly lonely it was with no one her age to talk to. Hitomi didn't show it but she was quite intrigued. She wondered what it was like to live such a rich lazy life like the one Celena led. As she listened, she thought about her own life, particularly where it was leading her. She knew perfectly well that she couldn't live out here in the woods forever.

"Hitomi? Are you listening still?" She chuckled, happily noting that her clothes were drying out.

"Yeah," Hitomi mumbled.

"Where did you grow up?" Celena asked out of the blue.

"Small village." Her shoulders tensed.

"Do you have any siblings?"

"A younger brother," Hitomi whispered.

Celena frowned, wondering why she would want to leave her home. She continued to ask questions she was sure Hitomi wouldn't mind answering.

"What's your favourite food?"

"Bread," Hitomi answered, eyes closing fondly.

Celena tapped her lip, pausing to think of more questions to ask her. She was surprised Hitomi had answered any questions at all. "What's your favourite colour?"

"Yellow."

"Do you have a favourite song?" Celena's face lit up hopefully. One of her pastimes was singing.

"No, don't have one."

"Why?" Celena asked.

"I don't know. All the songs I know from my village remind me of..." Hitomi trailed off.

Celena felt a stab of sorrow. "Family?" she finished off, eyes dripping with empathy.

Why did she leave her village for a life like this?

"Hitomi do you miss them?"

"Hm?"

"Your family, I mean."

"No." Hitomi's tone became suspicious.

"I know I would miss my brother if I left," Celena explained.

"Of course you would. I'm sure he loves you very much." Hitomi's upper lip curled bitterly.

Celena winced. "What happened, Hitomi?" she asked, voice gentle.

"Good-night Celena," Hitomi said curtly before she went completely silent.

"Hitomi," Celena whispered into the darkness.

It wasn't long after that before Celena fell asleep. Hitomi remained quiet, eyes clenched, glimmering with tears.

Hitomi vigorously rubbed the tears clinging to her lashes away.

Tomorrow, after I show Celena back to the castle, I'll see what I can make of myself in town. Perhaps I can find work there. Perhaps.

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