Prologue


Hitomi woke with a start and sat up in the bed. She was sweating and overcome with a terrible fear that lingered from the nightmare she had been having. The horror dissipated as the remnants of the dream slipped from her memory. All she remembered was the dream had been about Gaea and Van, which was not unusual. She frequently dreamed about Gaea she had returned from Fanelia. The dreams were usually joyful recollections. However, the occasional nightmare slipped in, despite the time that had passed. Hitomi steadied her breathing and looked out at the moon and saw a world beyond it. She thought of Van and smiled, reflecting that he would think it silly that she be scared of a stupid nightmare, having lived through kidnappings, horrible visions, battles and Merle. Thinking of Merle made Hitomi sigh and consider how happy she would be just to see even the annoying cat girl once again.

She shifted in the bed, noting to herself that it didn't seem as familiar to her as the one in her apartment at college. Hitomi no longer called her parent's house home, but rather assigned that name to the hole-in-the-wall apartment outside of her college campus. She was dutifully visiting on one of the rare weekends she had free from track meets and homework. She thumped the pillow and nestled her head between the lumps. It always seemed that her nightmares and dreams were more vivid when she slept in her parent's house.

Hitomi thoughts returned to Gaea as she settled the blankets back over herself. She didn't regret her decision to leave, she acknowledged. It was the correct decision, no matter how painful it had been and still was. But it was hard to be separated from Van and the others she left with no means of communication. When she had first returned, whatever connection she had had with Van remained for a short time, giving her brief glimpses of Van's emotions. The contacts, however tenuous, were what had sustained her the first few months she was back, disoriented at the change in cultures and miserable from missing her friends.

Thinking about that strange contact with Van made her mind yet again whirl and churn over the implications of the bond and her feelings toward it, and, by association, him. Her heart still swelled when she pictured his face. Her love for him had not lessened with time or distance, and her heart still ached at the thought of never seeing him again.

Then there was always the unanswered question of whether he still shared her feelings. Hitomi had faith that he did, and that someday they would see each other again. But she wished it were sooner rather than later. She knew Van had needed to concentrate on rebuilding his kingdom and she had to return to her family and friends. If she had stayed they both would have been distracted from what needed to be done. Yet somehow that realization wasn't enough, and daily she was reminded of what, and whom, she had left. Hitomi shook her head, trying to clear her mind of the repetitive thoughts.

The door cracked open and her mother's head peered in. "I thought I heard you sigh. Everything O.K.?"

Hitomi smiled and whispered back, "Just the routine nightmare. I'm fine. Go to bed! It's late."

Her mother smiled and said quietly "Good night then. I'll leave you to think of your prince."

Hitomi giggled and said, "He's a KING!"

Her mother grinned back and shut the door. Hitomi settled back in her bed and reflected what a relief it had been to pour her heart out to her mother all those years ago. And her mother had believed her, never doubted her for a moment. Hitomi smiled again and pulled the covers over her head and thought about Van until sleep overcame her once more.