Author's Note: I hope you enjoy reading the fourth chapter. Please read and review.
Disclaimer: I do not own "Tenkuu no Escaflowne," its characters, or its story plot. They belong to their respectable owners and creators.
Memory of Yesterday
Memory IV: Flashback
"Is everything all right, Merle?" Gatos had questioned when he had spotted the younger cat girl exiting the royal bedchambers. Without even facing him, she had shaken her rose head dismally and had sighed tiredly. Her striped tail and charcoal ears had drooped, and Gatos had immediately rushed to her side. "What's wrong, Merle? Did the healers give bad news about Lord Van?"
"No, the healers assured me that he would be fine," the female feline had responded, her voice near a growl. "In fact, the injuries that Lord Van suffered should heal in less than a moon. He'll be walking around the palace in no time."
Scratching his head, the cat man had stared at Merle in curiosity. "Then what's wrong, Merle? Why the long face?"
"Lord Van will physically get better, Gatos," the she-cat had answered, her hands clenched into fists. "But his heart won't heal. He says he's all right and that he's happy, but I know he isn't." Frantic sky eyes had stared into calm slate pools, Gatos having been struck hard with Merle's anxiety. "You can see it in his eyes, Gatos. He really loved her, he loves her with all his heart. I'm afraid Lord Van won't be able to love someone else as much as he loves her."
Gatos sighed at the resurfacing memories, remembering the moment that had passed seven rotations ago.
Lord Van had gone out riding with Allen Schezar and Gaddes to patrol some of Fanelia's borders, the king returning hours later with injuries and scrapes all over his body. Apparently, while riding to the nearest checkpoint, Lord Van had suddenly without warning lost consciousness and had fallen from his horse. Days later, when the sovereign had regained consciousness, Gatos and all whom were close to the king had noticed something different about Van. A spark had died in his eyes, and Van's spirit seemed slightly diminished. For many moons the king wandered restlessly and worked day and night with no appeasement.
In secret, Merle later revealed that Hitomi Kanzaki, the Girl of the Mystic Moon, had broken all ties with Van. When the cat woman further explained the extent of Lord Van and Hitomi Kanzaki's relationship, only then did Gatos understand his king's heartbroken behavior. Lord Van had been in love with the alien maiden, and in the end, his love was unrequited, even rejected: a painful blow for someone of his character.
"I just hope she can help him," Gatos murmured quietly while searching through numerous courtiers and nobles. He thought of how this Hitomi could be the solution for all things. "Maybe this woman can ease Lord Van's pain."
Thinking of Hitomi, Gatos found himself admitting to the strange coincidences that had occurred in the last weeks. Lord Van's recent admittance about Hitomi Kanzaki's disappearance, the appearance of a stranger called Hitomi, the lack of memories she possessed, the description of Hitomi Kanzaki's that she fitted, and the strange need Gatos had for her to meet Lord Van: too much evidence implying too much.
"Once Lord Van sees her and passes his judgment," the tom muttered thoughtfully, "we'll see if she's the one." After much tracking, Gatos followed his nose towards a secluded table in the corner of the courtyard. Unfortunately for him, it was vacant, and Lord Van's scent indicated he had just left recently. The cat man cursed his luck and renewed his search for his king. Tonight, if the gods were willing, Gatos would have Lord Van and Miss Hitomi meet or die trying.
As Hitomi continued dancing with the handsome Lord of Arzas, she felt a crowd growing around the dance floor. The young lady also noticed shadows of the crowd whispering and muttering quietly yet vividly amongst one another. When had everyone appeared? Why were they staring instead of dancing as well? "What's going on?" Hitomi asked softly, looking around.
Keeping his eyes on his exquisite partner, Lord Hiigo chuckled as the two continued dancing a graceful Fanelian waltz. He felt accomplished, having snagged the loveliest maiden at the celebration and the rest of the male court envying him. "Hm. It appears we have gathered a rather large audience. I guess the other Lords of Gaea are jealous that I'm dancing with a goddess," he whispered into his stranger's ears. "And they have every right to be envious."
Hitomi blushed, touched and embarrassed being complimented by the Fanelian noble. His words stirred an emotion in her heart, a feeling that had remained dormant for the last seven rotations.
A voice whispered in her mind.
"Have you ever thought of marriage, Hitomi?"
A young man with unruly ebony hair and garnet eyes smiled at her with an endearing expression. Her lips moved in response, but she could not remember her answer. "Ha, you're of perfect age for marriage, just as I am," the young man replied in turn. His face turned thoughtful while still smiling kindly at her. "But it's just as well we wait. Maybe someday, we can be more than what we are—maybe one day, we can be what our hearts desire."
Who was he? Where have I seen him before? Hitomi demanded from herself. She remembered the scent of open fields and wildflowers surrounding her while strong arms embraced her. But why did she think of that now? I know his voice, his face. Is he someone important? Why can't I remember? Why does it hurt so much not to remember?
The dark haired stranger smiled at Hitomi, and his gentle hands neared her face, eventually cupping her chin and petting her cheek fondly. "I'm sorry I embarrassed you, but I had to tell you truth. And don't say that about yourself—You're beautiful, Hitomi. A goddess would envy you—and you'll always be my Goddess of the Mystic Moon."
Trying to sort through the memories, Hitomi looked up to the canopy of stars, her gaze falling upon the mysterious Gaean moons. Can I even come to compare with the Goddess of the Mystic Moon? She felt a strange closeness to the moon, as if it possessed all the answers to her troubled heart. Was it the key? Did the Mystic Moon hold all of what she desired? Was she truly like the famous Hitomi Kanzaki?
Quickly returning her gaze to her dancing partner, Hitomi smiled shyly and thanked him for his complement. Hiigo turned as red as a rose, melting like hot butter at the young lady's smile.
"There you are, Gatos. I've been looking all over for you."
Turning in the direction of the voice, Gatos found himself staring into the agitated expression of Merle. Firstly, he wanted to admire how lovely Merle looked. She wore a lively spring gown decorated with blooming sunflowers and vibrant verdant leaves, her rosy hair decorated with the same flowers and similar themed pins. Unfortunately for the charming tom, his admiration ceased when met with Merle's deadly glare. "You said you would meet me twenty minutes ago," Merle growled while tapping her foot impatiently, expecting some explanation.
Survival instincts took over, and Gatos immediately began excusing, "I'm sorry Merle, I didn't mean to keep you waiting. It's just, I was looking for Lord Van and lost track of time—"
"I don't want to hear it," Merle snapped, grabbing the beast man's hand and dragging him towards the center of the courtyard. "You owe me a dance, and that is exactly what you're going to—What's going on here?" she inquired abruptly as she and Gatos reached the crowd surrounding the dance floor. "Why are so many people just standing and staring instead of dancing?"
Just as curious as his lady friend, Gatos took one strong leap into the air, stared at the spectacle of everyone's eye, and chuckled at what he saw. "Well, at least I know where she went," Gatos murmured to himself while landing on the ground.
Merle stared. "What are you talking about, Gatos? Do you know what's going on? Did you see what everyone's watching?"
"Do you remember that girl I brought to the ball?" Gatos asked Merle in a pensive manner.
The cat woman watched her friend suspiciously way and nodded slowly, unsure to where the conversation led. "Yeah, what about her?" Merle asked impatiently. "Don't tell me you abandoned her in the middle of the celebration for her to fend for herself!"
"Well, I didn't abandon her, but I did leave her alone for a moment. I only did that because I was looking for Lord Van," Gatos blushed. He shook his head and excused, "But that's besides the point. Anyway, if you can see the dance floor, that girl is the one dancing with the Lord of Arzas. And that line of lords yonder is waiting for HER."
The entire story seemed farfetched, an entire courtyard of lords and nobles waiting for one maiden; however, Gatos was not one to weave tall tales. Giving her feline friend one last doubtful glare, Merle leapt into the air to see above the crowd and spotted the girl whom with Lord Hiigo danced. The she-cat's jaw instantly hit the floor. "No! It couldn't be! But—No! But it is! Why?" she yelled hysterically while landing. She excitedly grabbed Gatos' arm and held him for support. "I can't believe it! By the gods and the Mystic Moon, she's right here! I'm going out of my mind! I've gone insane, haven't I?"
Although Gatos personally enjoyed the physical contact, people began giving him and Merle bewildered and frightened glances. Quickly excusing the lady's behavior, Gatos pulled Merle out of public eye and into a dimly lit corner. When the two cat people were safely away from the prying eyes of nobility, Gatos turned to Merle. "What in the world was that for? Are you trying to embarrass Lord Van, Merle? You know better than to act so inappropriately."
Merle gave Gatos a cold glare and swiped at his face. "Well, you would be shocked too if you knew that the woman dancing with Lord Hiigo is the Hitomi Kanzaki!"
"What—No way!" the tom exclaimed, nursing his reddened cheek. His gaze shot towards the handsome dancing couple, slate pools wide in disbelief. "Are you sure that she's Hitomi Kanzaki?"
"I would know her scent anywhere," Merle muttered, her mind going back eight rotations. "That's Hitomi all right." Wanting another look and a better view, she rushed towards the second level of the palace, Gatos not far behind her. Positioning herself on the balcony above the dance floor, Merle looked out into courtyard saw Lord Hiigo dancing with, yes, Hitomi Kanzaki. Without a doubt, the Mystic Moon girl had matured into a lovely woman over these eight rotations; however, Htiomi noticeably lacked the spark she had as a younger girl. Her face, smiling as it was, did not have the joy or life Merle remembering it once possessed.
"I wonder what Lord Van will say," Merle whispered, "when he sees Hitomi. I wonder what he'll do when he finally sees her after so many rotations."
A warm evening breeze blew through her pink hair.
"Lord Van, what are you doing?" Merle remembered having demanded while barging into the king's chambers. She had spotted the young man rummaging through an old jewelry box, all sorts of glimmering and glittering trinkets strewn about and around Van. She had recognized to whom the box had once belonged.
"I'm looking for something," her lord had replied vaguely, continuing his search without hesitation. His fingers had rummaged through golden chains and strings of stones, delicately removing some ornate pieces out of his way.
Crossing her arms, the cat girl had asked skeptically, "In your mother's jewelry box?"
Van had not respond and instead had continued searching. After a moment's silence, when the young man had noticed Merle still by his side, he had explained to her, "I'm looking for Mother and Father's rings. After Father passed away, Mother kept their rings in her jewelry box. Before she left to search for Folken, Mother told me that I should use their rings for my marriage ceremony." Van had stopped in his explanation when he had lifted a chain with two bands hanging on it, one band gold with a ruby Fanelian crest the other silver with an emerald crest. Admiring his mother's silver band and his father's gold band in the palm of his hand, Van had smiled, "I found them."
"What do you plan on doing with them, Lord Van?" Merle had inquired while admiring the rings over his shoulder.
Enclosing the rings in his fist, Van had muttered in response, "I'm not sure, Merle. I thought that maybe—Maybe I could—" The king had sighed wearily, cursing his royal fate. "The councilors want me to find a bride soon, and I guess I should be concerned about producing an heir. But I—" Silencing himself, Van had stared into his hands at the rings while clutching at the pendant hanging from his neck. Merle recalled how he had closed his eyes as if remembering a painful memory. "I want to be with her. I only want to be with her, Merle."
"So, that woman really is the Hitomi Kanzaki, the Girl of the Mystic Moon?" Gatos asked, retrieving the cat woman from her reminiscing. Recovering from her daze, Merle nodded with a sigh and turned her eyes away from the dance floor.
"But something is different about Hitomi. She's not the same person as when I first knew her," Merle murmured while smoothing a wrinkle in her dress. "Even if it's been eight rotations, I'm sure that Hitomi would go to Lord Van first. If she's been on Gaea for so long, why hasn't she gone to him yet?" Tears threatened to spill from the cat woman's cerulean eyes. "Why doesn't she remember him?"
Wiping away the lady's tears, Gatos placed a comforting arm around her shoulder and gently patted her back. "Maybe she's lost, Merle," he whispered into her ear. "Maybe she's lost."
"So, why do you think they're all around the dance floor?" Van questioned while he, Dryden, Allen, and Chid walked towards the mass of men surrounding the center of the courtyard. "Did something happen?"
Dryden shrugged while chuckling. "Maybe some couple that no one knows is dancing or the sort," the Asturian ruler suggested with a laugh. "Or maybe they're jealous of one man and his ravishing lady friend. Ha, who knows what the reason could be, Van."
"I guess you're right," the king sighed, shaking his head. "But I still want to know what it is. After all, it is my celebration, and I would like to know what's going on. I'm concerned about safety, that's all."
Tilting his head towards Van, Dryden whispered solemnly, "If you're so concerned about safety, then you shouldn't have invited so many noblewomen. When they catch sight of you and Allen, they'll tear you to shreds."
"Please, don't jinx us, Your Majesty," Allen muttered in reply with an agitated frown. "We've been all right thus far, but knowing our luck, as soon as you said that—" Before the handsome knight could finish his sentence, a mob of ladies suddenly attacked the four men. The Knight Caeli managed to shoot Dryden a poisonous glare before the wave hit.
"Oh, Lord Fanel, will you please dance with me?" ladies exclaimed while shoving each other aside. "Please dance with me, King Fanel!" Van felt himself being pushed from all sides by large bodies of frills and lace. He feared suffocating under all of this cloth. Damn it, Van cursed while trying to escape. They found me! Gods, Merle, where are you when I need you?
"Sir Allen, please dance with me!" other women yelled, reaching out to the handsome blond man. Evasively dodging their groping hands, Allen inwardly growled, knowing he would be a wreck after this attack. His crew and his sister would surely make fun of him when they saw his uncharacteristic disheveled state.
"Your Majesty King Fassa, please dance with me!" a couple of other frantic noblewomen shrilled. Thinking about what he had wanted to do prior to the ball in comparison to Millerna's scolding, Dryden wished he had paid other lords to preoccupy most of the women for the night. If only I had, he sighed tiredly while being pulled in every conceivable direction by the mob. He was a married man, after all, and Millerna received any and all of his affection. I just hope she doesn't see me like this or else I'm going to be sleeping in the vacant wing for the next three moons.
"Oh, Duke Freid, will you please dance with me?" younger frenzied ladies squealed, smothering the poor teenage ruler. Chid, only thirteen rotations old, never had women come at him in such a fashion until now. So unlike his three experienced companions, the young lord panicked and feared for his life. Would these women eat him? Or would they do something much worse to him? Thinking of the different ways he could be shredded, Chid whimpered at his tragic fate.
Dryden, Allen, and Van groaned while defending themselves, wondering how they were going to get out of this one. If the gods willed it, they would survive and return in one piece to loved ones: if the gods willed it.
"Eriya, can you see her?" Naria asked, cautiously looking around and scanning the palace courtyard.
Eriya shook her head in response. "I can't see Lady Hitomi anywhere," she replied to her sister, earnestly scanning the area as well. Naria and Eriya huddled currently in a corner of the enormous courtyard, frantically searching for their beloved Lady Hitomi. Although their caretaker had instructed them to remain inside the palace, the sisters felt worried and decided to protect Hitomi from afar; but if only they could find her!
"What if she never wanted to come back?" Eriya whimpered while her shoulders slightly sagged. "What if some lord takes her away to be his wife and we never get to see her again?"
"Don't panic," Naria scolded, patting her sister's back sympathetically. "Lady Hitomi would never forget about us like that. Besides, I'd like to see a lord try stealing her away from us." When she knew Eriya felt reassured, Naria returned her attention to the dance floor, in hopes she would be luckier this time around. "Where can she be—" Naria's silver ears suddenly caught a sound, a sound that seemed like a cry of help.
"Please, I—I'm not—" Naria turned her head and spotted a mob of ladies. She heard the same voice, the same pleading, helpless voice that had captured her attention from before. "Please! I'm not a—Ah!" Something cut off the voice again, and Naria, with her cat senses, quickly spotted to whom the voice belonged. She noticed a boy with bright, golden hair and clear, blue eyes stuck in the middle of a mass of humans. The young man clearly needed help.
"Eriya, come with me!" Not checking if her twin followed, Naria speedily scampered off. Eriya turned to her sister just in time to see silver streak towards a gathering of women.
"Naria! Wait for me!"
The quicksilver kitten ignored her twin while she rushed forward, nimbly dodging people as she did. When she reached the mob of ladies, Naria quickly dived in and sought the blond boy she had seen earlier. In a matter of seconds, Naria spotted him and pulled him out of the pressing crowd, dragging him away to safety. The golden cat girl hastily came up from behind Naria to help her sister with her burden. When Naria thought that they were far enough from the mob of ladies, she asked the young lad, "Are you all right?"
The teenager picked himself off the ground and dusted himself off. Easily he stood two heads taller than the cat girls, marking his older age. As soon as the blond youth regained his composure, he replied gratefully with a bow, "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for helping me to escape that mess. I didn't know that cat girls were angels too."
Naria blushed and looked to the ground. She felt the strangest feeling within herself, her heart pounding in her ears. Oddly, her rosy cheeks felt hot, and the silver cat girl wanted to melt beneath the boy's lovely blue eyes. "It was no problem."
"It was our pleasure!" Eriya chirped excitedly, not affected like her sibling. She noticed that her sister was a strange pink color in the face. Eriya wondered what was happening to her sister, never have seen Naria so shy or nervous before.
"Well, I'm still grateful to you two ladies. I don't know what would have happened if I were stuck in there much longer," the young man thanked again. He stared down at the two cat girls kindly, them reminding him of Miss Merle. At one point, she must have looked like them: small and vulnerable. He shook his head in amusement. It was difficult to imagine the fierce Merle ever being docile like these girls. But like her, you can tell they're not so weak. They've got independent spirits. They'll grow up to be like Miss Merle yet.
"Well, it was mostly because of my sister that you're out of that mob. She knew exactly how to help you before I even caught sight of you," the golden twin explained cheerily, proud of her sister and her keen senses. "Our names are Eriya and Naria. What's yours?"
The young lord gave the beast girls a graceful bow, signifying his royal upbringing. Gallantly taking the girls' hands, he politely kissed the back of them. "I am Duke Chid of the Duchy of Fried. It is a pleasure to meet you Eriya, Naria," Chid greeted, giving another warm smile to both the cat girls.
While the golden girl giggled from Chid's display, the silver twin blushed even more. "It is our pleasure to meet you, Duke Chid," Naria quickly replied, giving him a quick bow. "We've never met a royalty before, and we're glad that you're the first."
By the beast child's comment, Chid smiled even more. "I hope to see you two more further on," Chid said as he quickly returned to the courtyard to help his companions. "Maybe Fate will grant us that wish."
Naria blushed again, smiling happily. Eriya waved goodbye to the young Duke. "Bye!" the two cat girls waved in farewell. The older twin kept her feline eyes on Chid until he was far beyond her sight. I hope, too, Duke Chid, that I'll get to see you again, Naria sighed.
"Thank you for that dance, Lord Hiigo," Hitomi bowed when the waltz ended. Guilt scratched at the edges of her heart. By now, Gatos was probably searching frantically for her, worried he had lost his guest.
"No, thank you, Lady," Hiigo bowed, trying his best to prolong their conversation. After all, once the emerald-eyed beauty stepped away from him, he would lose her forever to the other nobles of the celebration. "Before you depart, could you grace me with your name, Lady?"
Blushing for her poor manners, Hitomi stammered, "Of course! I'm sorry I—my manners are atrocious, excuse me." She smiled at the Lord of Arzas shyly and said, "My name is Hitomi, and it is a pleasure meeting you, Lord Hiigo."
For a moment Hiigo remained silent, hoping Lady Hitomi would tell him more, such as her family name or her noble domain; however, she gave him nothing else, and the lord knew if he did not detain her, the woman would leave him. Unfortunately for him, as soon as he looked up to say more, Lady Hitomi had disappeared with his heart.
"Celena, that was rude of you!" Hitomi exclaimed quietly from a corner.
"Should I really care?" the Asturian noblewoman replied. "Lord Hiigo would have kept you at his side for the entire night if I hadn't snatched you away at that moment." Grabbing Hitomi's hand, Celena entered the darkened palace and lead her friend through the corridors. "Eriya and Naria are missing from the room, so they must be wandering around the palace looking for you."
"They're loose on the palace?"
"More or less," Celena giggled, no longer pulling Hitomi by the hand. Hitomi now walked side by side with Celena, the young woman alert and alarmed. "But don't worry, Hitomi, I saw them somewhere earlier and am very sure that they're still there." And just as the Asturian noblewoman said, the two cat girls were where she had thought them to be.
When Naria and Eriya spotted their lady, they ran towards her excitedly. "Lady Hitomi!" they exclaimed, "We were so worried about you!"
"What silly girls," Hitomi laughed lightly, giving her girls assuring embraces. "I'm all right. I just wish you hadn't worried me, running off and around like you did." Holding onto their guardian's white dress, the cat girls looked down bashfully and murmured sincere apologies. But they had good reason for what they did, they said.
"What would happen if you had met some handsome lord tonight?" Eriya demanded sternly. "And he offered you everything you ever wanted? You would marry him and disappear without thinking of us ever again because you would be so in love with the lord!"
"Or if you married him, you would have children of your own," Naria muttered despondently. "Then you wouldn't have the time or the room to care for us. We would just be in your way."
Touched by the girls' deepest fears, Hitomi cuddled her two charges and whispered gently, "Naria, Eriya, I won't abandon you. Wherever I go, you will go as well. And I will take care of you as long as you are with me." Pinching their cheeks endearingly, Hitomi additionally assured them, "And if I do ever get married, the gods will it, you will remain a part of my family until the day I die and beyond. So don't fear."
Hitomi then turned to Celena and gave the lady a polite bow. "Thank you for tonight, Celena. I had a wonderful time."
"Your welcome, Hitomi," Celena smiled. "Will I be able to see you tomorrow for the coronation?"
"I'm not sure," the young woman shrugged while staring down at her young charges. "I would like to watch Lord Van's coronation, but I'm not sure if it would be proper for me to be amongst the lord and ladies."
Grabbing Hitomi's slender hands with her own, Celena said kindly, "Lord Van is not one to care about such things. You will be more than welcome to attend tomorrow, and Naria and Eriya are welcome as well."
"Thank you for your offer, Celena," Hitomi grinned. She took Naria and Eriya's hands and began walking back to the orphanage. They began descending the palace stairs which led into the marketplace. "Please tell Gatos thank you for me. I really did have a wonderful time."
"Of course!" Celena waved goodbye until Hitomi and her two cat girls disappeared into the crowd below.
"Where did he go?" Merle sighed in exasperation. "One minute Lord Van is here, and the next he just disappears." Her fur bristled in annoyance, somewhat peeved she could not find the King of Fanelia at his own party.
"Um, I think he's over there," Gatos murmured while pointing to a large, lively mass of bows and frills. Merle paled at the frightening sight and realized what fate had befallen on her lord. Swiftly, she dived into the dangerous body of lace and cloth and pulled out a disheveled king.
"Lord Van, stop playing around!" Merle growled while pulling the king away to safety.
"Who's playing?" Van demanded indignantly. He allowed Merle to lead him away until they reached a deeper portion of the palace. Once there, Van freed his arm from Merle's grasp and thanked her for saving his life. When he turned to face her, the king's grin vanished and was replaced with furrowed brows. "What's wrong, Merle? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Lord Van, Hitomi is here, on Gaea!"
Van took a step back in surprise. "What?"
"Hitomi is here! I saw her dancing earlier with the Lord of Arzas some time ago," Merle explained. "Lord Van, Hitomi is here in Fanelia, in this very palace!"
Turning his head aside, Van murmured solemnly, "Merle, this isn't funny. You know how I feel about her—and you know that I had to let her go. Don't play games with my feelings, please."
"Me play games with your feelings?" Merle scoffed indignantly. She growled at her childhood friend. "Who's joking? Why would I joke about this? Do you think I'm that insensitive, Lord Van?"
Taking a long look into Merle's cerulean orbs, the King of Fanelia knew his answer. Without another word, Van ran from Merle's side and began a frantic search of the palace. Hitomi was here—Hitomi had been so close to him, yet he had missed her. Was that Fate? Were they destined to always miss each other? "No," Van muttered, "I refuse to believe that's our destiny. We're meant to be with each other."
"Are you all right, Van?"
He spun on his heel to his left and saw Celena standing not too far from him.
"I'm looking for someone," Van replied in between gasps, "a young woman, about your age, Celena. She has sand-colored hair and green eyes. Have you seen her?"
"That sounds like Hitomi," the Asturian lady thought.
"Hitomi?" Van put his hands on Celena's shoulders and asked, "Where is she? Where did she go? Where did you see her?"
Celena managed to stammer, "She-she just left the palace. She was heading towards—"
Before she finished her sentence, Van raced down the palace steps and into the busy market. He searched faces left and right, trying to spot the one visage he would never forget. When Van reached the market's square, he mentally concentrated on that face and tried dowsing for her location. He could see a ruby pendant swinging in his mind, but the pendant gave him no direction. "Damn it!" the king cursed. "Hitomi!"
Naria and Eriya slumbered peacefully in their bed, the girls purring ever so slightly. Hitomi smiled at their placid appearance and resumed undressing from her elaborate gown. I wonder if I had lived like this, Hitomi pondered while placing the gown in the small wardrobe. Her hand lingered for a moment on the embroidered, silky fabric, a sense of familiarity rising in her. I wonder if I had been royalty before I lost my memories.
A small smile crossed Hitomi's lips as she laughed at herself. "If I had been royalty or even a noblewoman like Celena, someone would have been looking for me." Closing her wardrobe, Hitomi murmured, "More likely, I was a commoner, like Nina and Naria and Eriya."
Hitomi then remembered the visions she had during the vall. She thought of the young man with hair as dark as night, eyes the color of deep amber, and the strong scent of life surrounding him. He had been talking about marriage and had said she would always be his goddess. "You'll always be my Goddess of the Mystic Moon."
A Gaean said that to me, Hitomi determined, which means part of my past lies here on Gaea. But why does the Mystic Moon keep coming back up? What is it about the Mystic Moon?
Releasing her long honey locks and allowing them to flow down her back, Hitomi walked towards the room's one window. She smiled at the sight of the lively Fanelian streets, the people celebrating together for their king. After some moments more watching them, the young woman then turned her gaze upwards to the two moons. The Mystic Moon: what secrets did it hold?
After hours of fruitless searching, Van returned to the palace empty-handed and broken-hearted. None of his companions dared coming near him, and they warned other royal guests and servants to do the same. Without question, the King of Fanelia needed solitude to comfort his aching soul.
Without disturbance or obstruction, Van Fanel reached his chambers and retreated into their depths. He relieved himself of his finery, shedding the layers of clothing he had donned for his celebration. Only wearing beige slacks, the young king opened his large windows and allowed the cool evening breezes to greet him. As the wind entangled in his sable hair, Van surrendered his thoughts to his heart.
No matter how much time passed, and no matter how many other women he met and befriended, Van could not forget Hitomi. In any way imaginable, he could not love anyone more than her. And as the days went on, he missed Hitomi with every fiber of his being, and he ached to hold her in his arms again. He loved her, Van knew that. And after seven rotations, he finally comprehended the extent of his love. It was endless and undefeatable. So why did he stand in his room alone? Why was not his bed shared with his one love?
"Hitomi, where are you?" Van whispered to the larger moon in the sky. How many nights had he repeated that question? For how many rotations had he prayed for her reappearance, her touch? "Have you broken your vow to me? Do you remember it? Have you forgotten me, Hitomi?" In painful desperation, Van reached his hand out to the sky as if to grasp the Mystic Moon. "Do you still love me?"