Hitomi has just turned twenty-five and hasn't seen Van since that faithful night he visited her when she was still in high school. Well now, we'll just have to remedy that won't we?
Hitomi looked at the white picket fence house on the beach. Perfect she thought, a perfect house for a perfect life. Hitomi sighed enviously at Yukari's home and life style. Amano opened the door for Hitomi and offered her a huge smile, which she returned the favor of. The living room was as she had remembered it last time, floral couch, light pink carpeting, baby toys strew across the blanket on the floor where Iori kept himself busy.
"Obasan 'Omi!" Hitomi turned and saw Iori waving his chubby little hand at her in Yukari's arms. He struggled out of Yukari's grip and ran right to Hitomi giving her leg a big bear hug.
"So there's my favorite godson. Have you been a good little boy?"
"Hai! Hai!"
"Well I have a surprise for you later on then." Iori's eyes lit up with joy as and didn't let go of Hitomi's leg even when she went to give Yukari a hug.
"How are you Yukari?"
"The same as always." Yukari leaned in closely to Hitomi and whispered. "It's you I'm worried about. Your eyes are still sad."
"I know," Hitomi whispered back. Hitomi reached into her bag and pulled out a small wrapped package. "Here Iori, the surprise I was talking about." Iori let out a squeal and grabbed the package, but not before Amano gave him a stern look.
"Arigatou Obasan 'Omi!!!" Iori ripped open the package and found a can full of gummy bears.
"You gave my child sugar…" Yukari said with disbelief.
"Hey, my poor godson must live on all this healthy junk you give him. He taste buds deserve a treat now and then."
Hitomi enjoyed a nice home cooked meal made by Yukari. Perfect thought Hitomi once again. Iori was fast asleep in his bed by the time the moon started to rise and the stars blinked into existence one by one. Hitomi sat on the couch with Yukari and Amano facing the fire. Yukari knew about Hitomi's one and only love. You can only keep a secret of that caliber for only so long before your best friends find out.
"I want to see him, it's been 8 years since I saw him last."
"You can't leave us Hitomi," Yukari whispered. Amano placed an arm around his wife.
"Hitomi must do what she needs to do in her life. Right now, she needs him and she always will need him."
"Thank you Amano." Hitomi stood up and headed for the door.
"Hitomi, where are you going?" Yukari had worry written all over her.
"Out for a walk."
"Come back to us please."
"I'll come back, if not, then I'm in Gaea."
"Hitomi…" Yukari whispered her best friend's name. "I have to let you go don't I." Hitomi gave her friend a quick hug.
"I may return you know. I don't know how to get to Gaea."
"Follow your heart Hitomi," Amano said. He came over and put his arm around his wife so she'd let go of Hitomi.
"Thank you Amano." Hitomi turned and walked out the door. She didn't know for how long she walked but she must have turned around at some point in the walk because she found herself at Yukari's house. The lights were all out, so Hitomi decided to go sit down on the beach alone.
"Van," Van heard Merle's tentative voice call up to him.
"Yes Merle?"
"It's not safe for you up there."
"I'm in the middle of my own castle on the roof, I'm safe up here. They aren't idiots, they won't attack me here. Go to sleep Merle, Natsuki will worry if he finds his wife not in bed with him and Kireko will be frightened if her mom isn't there."
"They're both fast asleep right now, they won't notice that I'm gone."
"Stop worrying about me. I'm fine, just thinking."
"About her."
"I haven't seen her for 8 cycles. I want to go back but I don't know how. Last time was some lucky fluke. I should have kissed her then. Merle, I'm gonna go walk to the lake so don't worry about me. They won't attack now, they're still far away."
"Van, no!"
"Please Merle." Merle stood aside and let Van jump down from the roof to the balcony. He walked into the dark hallway heading for the lake he played by as a child in the hopes of regaining some peace of mind.
Hitomi couldn't just sit anymore, yet she didn't want to go into the house and wake everyone with the creaking of the front door. She got up and waded into the water until she was waist deep. Hitomi fell back into the water and floated on top looking at the full moon above her. She felt herself sink down and as her head submerged into the water. Hitomi could still see the blue light from the moon through the water before she slipped into oblivion.
