Chap.9 - Visions

~***~

Just breath, Yukari, just breath. breathing rapidly Oh god oh god oh god...I haven't freaked this big since I landed in this dream! GOD!!! Do I hear right? Did...did Van just say..Hitomi?

Well..I guess its sort of a common name...

...its just too perfect! I won't believe it! Especially since...Hitomi didn't even tell me about it hurt I mean..I was totally planning on telling her, whenever I got back..wasn't I?

I mean..eventually, I probably would've gotten back, and Hitomi would've been the first I'd tell! She's my best friend for gods' sake! That's what best friends are for! Your supposed to tell them every god damn thing that happens!!!!!!!

sigh She even fell in love with a king while she was here sadly and she didn't even tell me about it...

This just..explains everything, I guess....

So much for a best friend...

~***~

Yukari stared at Van, her eyes getting huger and huger as the new knowledge registered in her mind. Hitomi..here on Gaea, the princess of some king, finding love, then losing it all in one journey back..and unable to even tell her best friend. Yukari ached with sadness.

"Hitomi Kanzaki..." Yukari whispered. And this time it was Van's turn to stare.

"You...you know her?"

Yukari looked away, suddenly feeling so tired that she found it hard not to collapse. She nodded,

"Yes." She asnwered, her voice barely audible. Van gripped the railing of the balcony, his face going pale. Yukari smiled bitterly, "It is a day for surprises, isn't it."

"As much for you as for me." Van answered, his dark eyes up at the moon searching for something that he had lost so long ago. Van's gaze flickered on Yukari, "You come from the mystic moon?"

She nodded.

"I...Does...Hitomi...ever..speak...of ...me?" He asked slowly. His face full of anguish. Yukari shook her head slowly,

"She doesn't speak much of anything, lately."

Van nodded. "I see. And Allen told you to keep silent?"

Yukari nodded again.

Van turned away, his fists clenched angrily. Yukari suddenly choked on her tears, unsure of why she felt such a sudden sadness overwhelming her. Perhaps it was the wave of homesickness that suddenly overwhelmed her, that she mistook for sadness. Home...She'd forgotten what it felt like to sit in her room, with the sunlight filtering in. Forgotten what it felt like to sleep through another boring English class. God, now, she'd give anything to sit through one of those classes, with Amano writing her notes....She sighed, the tears stinging her eyes.

"I have to go." She murmured through clenched teeth. Turning, she fled, just as Allen had fled. Perhaps, it was only human nature to flee when pain drew too close......

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

Allen was dancing, his mind wandering while his body was strictly formal while he glided around the ballroom, Millerna in his arms. She lay in his arms, reveling every moment with the Heavenly Knight, while Allen couldn't keep his mind off Yukari. What an idiot he was for running off like that without even an explanation! He mentally kicked himself over and over, what a dope, what an idiot.....

Suddenly, his gaze caught a flicker in the crowd, a dark head that he recognized. Yukari, her eyes red-rimmed pushed her way through the crowd.

Allen's heart seemed to stop, then pulse wildly. He hated what she did to him, yet at the same time, he loved it. He stopped, and Millerna glanced up at him in surprise.

"Allen?"

Allen suddenly let her go, as if some robot had suddenly over come him. Millerna's eyes widened in surprise. Allen, his gaze never leaving that dark head, and the dress that shimmered. He tried to push his way through the crowds of dancers, and she disappeared from his view.

"Yukari!" Allen called, oblivious to the stares and the murmurs.

Millerna glanced around, blushing furiously.

"Allen!" She hissed angrily. Grabbing a hold of his sleeve, she pulled him away from the direction he was traveling in. "What are you doing?"

Allen watched as Yukari disappeared in the sea of people, his heart throbbing. He turned back to Millerna, suddenly feeling too old, and too tired. He looked down at the princess,

"I was just..." He paused, the words dying on his lips. What was he doing? Was he trying to speak to Yukari? Would it be okay, to tell Millerna how he feel? He sure know what Millerna felt for him. Allen glanced away, "I was...I don't know, Millerna." He gazed at her, suddenly looking bleak, "I don't know what I was doing."

Millerna sighed. She looked away as well. They stood, still, in the midst of the festivities.

"Come." She commanded. It wasn't the request of a lady to her love, it was the command of a princess to her knight. Allen followed her obediently.

She walked out, into the dark night air. The garden's were alit with moonlight and small lamps that were lit. Everything seemed magical and so much like a dream. Allen thought how very beautiful, Yukari would look, with the moonlight highlighting her hair, and the lighting glistening in her eyes. He was shaken back into reality, but a soft hand on his elbow.

"Allen.." Millerna whispered softly. Her golden was held up by a thin circlet. She laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart beating. It fluttered, uncertain. She wondered when Allen Schezar had become so weak like that of any normal human being. He used to be so...heavenly. When had he become so mortal? Millerna closed her eyes, and she knew the answer even before she had to ask it. "Allen, my heavenly knight, when have you lost your heart?"

Allen closed his eyes. Millerna's hair smelled like roses, like lilacs on a warm spring day. Millerna offered much. She offered the kingdom of Asturia, she offered him the chance to be king. She offered wealth, fame, prosperity....Allen turned his head. But could she quell the love that had infected him?

"My heart is as it always has been, my princess." Allen replied through clenched teeth. Millerna laughed, and the bitterness was pointed at herself.

"For years, I have loved you. I feel...I could not have loved you more." She stood straight, and gazed at him levelly. Her blue eyes were dark, devoid of emotion. "And just as I believe, that you truly are incapable of human emotion, you turn and fall in love, right under my nose." Her eyes glistened, and Allen's heart wrenched. He never meant to hurt anybody.

"Millerna..."

"No!" She shook his hand away. "No.." She whispered. Then she turned back to him, "I...I do not begrudge you love." She looked at him, and two large tears rolled ddown her face. "But..why could it not have been me? Why can I never win?"

Allen stood, infinitely straight and tall. His face was a mask of emotion, betraying nothing, as Millerna broke down in front of him. Finally, he spoke,

"I am sorry." He said softly.

Millerna turned away from him, gazing out at the distant sea.

"I am sorry too." Millerna spoke softly, her voice carried a hard edge. Turnign abruptly, she re-entered the ballroom.

Allen did not look at her, instead, all he felt was a soft dull pain.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

~***~

For the first time, since I've come to this new world, I want to go home. I seriously want to go home. I'm sitting here, by the window, and the moon is up. My Earth, I feel this huge pit in me. I never thought I'd feel like this in Gaea, this place with Allen and Millerna and this fairy tale setting was supposed to be heaven...supposed to be anyway.

sigh When did things get confusing? When I started to fall for Allen? No, I don't think so. I think I've been in love with him forever..well..if not him, then at least his face from my dreams..perhaps, I wasn't in love then. Perhaps I was just enraptured..(I like that word)...in his beauty. I think I'm in love with him now..because I feel that even if he were an ugly hag, I would still love him, because of HIM..not his beauty. I would love him because of his loyalty, his courage, his very knightliness..is there a word like that?..

Maybe that's the difference between love and like...And do I dare hope that he would love me back?

And now, as if that weren't confusing enough, this whole business with Hitomi is thrown at me. Hitomi, my best friend, has been on this world! And she did not even tell me! half-sob My god, Hitomi..she's been my best friend forever! I don't think anyone, but a person who has a best friend, knows how I feel!.....

Freakin, she's always told me everything, EVERYTHING!

It hurts, it really does, it hurt from the inside...I feel like...I've lost something so close to my heart. Something I never acknowledged was there, and now that its gone, I realize how much it meant to me.

~***~

Staring up at the mystic moon, her Earth, Yukari sighed again. She sat on the windown ledge, in her room. All was dark and silent. The ball continued, but her room was quiet. She felt numb. How many others, before her, had been here, to experience this dream. Only to return to earth, and speak nothing of it. Hitomi for one, Yukari thought bitterly. It stung, it really did, to have a best friend, only to realize that your friendship had withered away to nothingness.

Yukari wondered when her time would be up. Would she return to Earth too, silent and secretive about her adventures? Would she go back, silent and changed forever? Even before asking, she knew the answer. This experience had changed her life, it had changed her entire viewpoint. How many months had she spent here? In entire bliss and peacefulness, two months? Three months? Maybe more? Time seemed to flow differently here. Here, on Gaea, in a land called Asturia, she'd made friends, she'd met people, she'd lived, and she'd loved.

And these memories she would carry with her forever.

And somehow, even with the unbearable pain that Hitomi had caused her by her keeping silent, Yukari knew that she too, would not speak of it. It made her feel better, it nursed her wounds, to know that if and when she returned, the only one to know of her adventures would be herself. It was like a treasure chest, in which only she held the key. Was this how Hitomi had felt? Had Hitomi too, been affected so deeply by her brief stay on this world, that she felt like she guarded a part of herself, with her secrecy?

Yukari could only wonder.

Changing out of Van's beautiful dress, Yukari glanced at it. She couldnt' bear to look at it. It had been Hitomi's. That was for sure.

Placing it gently on the dresser, she was careful to not wrinkle it. Let Van keep it, as a part of his memory of Hitomi.

Falling onto the bed, Yukari realized how very tired she was, and she fell into a fitful sleep.

She was awakened, by a sharp rap on the door. Opening her eyes groggily, Yukari sat up and realized it was daylight. She stood, and opened the door, knowing she was a mess. Millerna stood in the doorway, looking annoyed. Millerna didn't look too great either. Her eyes were dark and circled with fatigue.

"Chid has been looking for you." Millerna announced. Her blue eyes lingered on Yukari for too long, and there was something sharp in her gaze. Yukari seemed to shrivel.

"Umm..okay." She nodded. Millerna turned to go. Yukari cleared her throat, "Umm, Princess Millerna?"

The Princess of Asturia turned, "Yes?"

"Are you alright?"

Millerna turned, "Fine." Her voice was crisp, painfully emotionless. Yukari stared at the retreat princess. Why was she so upset? Yukari looked up and noticed Eries, the older princess gazing at her. It was easy to forget Princess Eries was there sometimes. She resembled such a shadow, never in the spotlight like Millerna. Yukari suddenly sympathized with the older princess. She lacked Millerna's vibrant colours and bright personality. Where Millerna was solid and captivating, Eries was subtle and darker. Yukari knew what it felt like to be overshadowed, and yet unable to do anything about it. Crossing the room, Yukari stood next to Eries, who was busy crocheting a small hankerchief.

"Why is Millerna so mad at me? Have I angered her in some way?"

Eries only sighed, her long straight brown hair barely rustling.

"Millerna is frustrated, Yukari, she must make a decision soon. My father presses it on her, to rule a kingdom, while her heart pulls her in the other direction. It is not right, but she takes it out on you."

Yukari threw herself onto the seat across from Eries,

"But why? Why can't she just do what her heart tells her too! It would make everyone's day a little better!" Yukari threw her hands up, at that moment, she felt just as frustrated as Millerna. Eries glanced up, her eyes not unkind.

"Because, she may love all she wants, but even a princess of Asturia cannot capture a heart, if that heart is already taken." Eries paused, "Allen Schezar has been the only one that Millerna has ever loved. And now that he loves someone else, she can hardly bear it."

Yukari froze. Her face paling,

"Who..." But the question did not have to be asked. She knew. Suddenly, she wished it weren't true, though her heart sang from the joy of it. Eries smiled tightly.

"Yes, Allen loves you, Yukari. And it galls her, Yukari, that he has just met you, and yet, he loves you more than he has ever loved her."

Yukari stared at her hands, flushing, feeling a horrible sense of shame and guilt.

"I didn't mean to." She whispered.

Eries laughed. It sounded cold, and too cruel. But when Yukari looked up, Eries wasn't angry, only blunt.

"Everyone means to, we always say we don't, but things happen because of what we do. And everyone has complete control over what they do. Although, your intentions might've lain elsewhere, you knew full well that Allen Schezar would love you, and that you, too, would love him in return."

Yukari glanced away. A deep guilt, doubled by the pain of knowledge about Hitomi, made her feel even more homesick than ever. She suddenly had a vision of Amano, laughing at one of her jokes, a vision of her mother, smiling at her good marks, even of Hitomi, giggling as they stayed up all night. It struck with the force of a thousand knives, and she almost doubled over with the pain of it.

~***~

Allen Schezar loves me. Me, Yukari Uchida, Allen loves me. Should I be happy? Yes. Should I feel joy? Yes.

Yet..why do I not?

~***~

Eries' voice broke her out of her thoughts.

"I think Chid is searching for you." She reminded gently.

"Oh..right. Thankyou" Yukari stood quickly, happy for anything to get her mind off of her current dilemma. Chid would take her mind off things.

She found Chid in the center courtyard, he smiled as she approached. It felt, Yukari thought, to have someone smile at her like that. It was so..innocent and joyful. The love that only a child could give, unquestioning.

"Hello, Chid."

"Hello Yukari." He blinked in the bright reflection of the pool that he sat next to. "Do you want to go swimming?" He glanced up, hopeful. Yukari sighed, the prospect of going swimming made her feel even worse. She shook her head slowly.

"I'm sorry Chid, I had a long night last night."

Chid nodded, looking away. "What do you wanna play?" He asked, persistent. "I had to sleep last night, at ten o'clock." He held up fingers. "I'm not tired."

Yukari laughed softly, it was forced. Even Chid's antic were hard-pressed to amuse her. Her mind was still caught up in the night's events.

"I don't know, Chid. I"m tired today. I'm sorry."

Chid was silent for a while. They both were.

"Why are you so sad?" He asked suddenly.

Yukari glanced at him in surprise. "I'm not sad!"

"Yes, you are. You, and Allen, and Princess Millerna, even Van. You are all sad, and none of you want to admit it." He explained gravely. Yukari didn't know whether to burst into laughter or tears.

"And you, Chid are too cheeky for your own good." Yukari finally answered, fondly smiling at the young duke. Chid shrugged,

"I liked it better when you were happy."

"I...." Yukari was at a loss for words. She stared down at her hands. Shame and guilt filled her. It was because of her, because of her that everyone was sad. Even Chid felt it, was she causing his sadness as well? Shame filled her. "I'm sorry, Chid." She whispered.

Chid stared at her, unsure of how to act. Finally, he shrugged.

"I'm sorry too, Yukari. I hope you feel happy soon." And he meant every word. He smiled, and headed off. One could hardly expect a seven year old boy to understand.

Yukari sat on the edge of the reflecting pool, and stared sadly into the calm, chrystalline waters. A sudden, overwhelming wave of homesickness washed over her. In the clear blue waters, she suddenly saw her life, back home on earth.

She saw Amano, grinning as he tried to make her laugh. Oh his silly jokes....and then there were all her girls. She missed all her old girlfriends. True, perhaps she hadn't thought much of them then, but now, she'd have traded the world for one night of just pure giggles and gossip with them all. Hitomi, with her small smile..now she knew why she was so sad. Her parents, their worried glances, her mom's amazing food.

A sob choked her, and her heart hurt like nothing else had ever hurt before in her life. As she stared into the calm water, she envisioned them, staring back at her. Alone in the courtyard, she made little thought of what others would think.

Amano gazed up at her in the water, his dark eyes dancing. Yukari felt tears falling down her face,

"Amano.." She whispered, "Amano, your silly little jokes. They make me laugh." Yukari said. Her fingers reached out to touch the image of him, grinning at her, and the water rippled on contact. His image faded, to be replaced by that of Hitomi.

"Hitomi, my best friend" Yukari shut her eyes, and could almost feel Hitomi's even gaze on her. "I have so much to ask you, so much to tell you...how will we ever get on? You've been my best friend forever...." She trailed off. Opening her eyes again, the tears fell into the pool, the image of Hitomi disappearing. Her mom appeared, ever kind.

"Mom..." Yukari trailed off. Family hurt the worst. "Mom." She couldn't say much more. Yukari laughed through her teary gaze at her mother, "I promise mom, if I ever get home, I'll clean my room."

The image disappeared, to be replaced with the image of all her girls. The whole group of them, that she hung around with at school. All smiling, caring, wondering what was up...Agnes, Misuka, Aryia, Jeina,Ollisa....Smiling, giggling, full of gossip and news. They had so many memories, so many sleep overs, so many parties.

"My girls.." Yukari sobbed. She stared up at the mystic moon in the sky, a moon that was her entire life. "My life, I just want my life back." She cried out to whatever god, or deity was listening, and yet, she felt so alone.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

Allen stood at the entrance to the courtyard, frozen at the sight of her. He stood in the darkness of the entrance, shrouded by the shadows. His heart stopped at the sight of her, bent over the clear pool, talking to crowd of friends and family that were not there. He watched, as she spoke to her friends, to her mother, to Hitomi....as if they could hear her, as if she was surrounded by her friends, loved and at home. He watched, as with each tear, her friends disappeared, one by one.

His heart twisted. He'd never seen anything so sad, or so beautiful in his entire life. It hurt, to watch her.

Turning, he left, a sudden pain in his heart almost causing him to drop.

He was stopped in one of the main corridors, by Van. The young king's eyes were dark, and hooded. He stopped Allen with a hand.

"Allen." He spoke.

"Van!" Allen was surprised at Van's dark expression.

"Why?" Van looked up, and the anger was gone. Only a pained anguish was left on his face, an anguish that Allen had hoped would be eased by time. An anguish that had only increased. A dread started to build inside of Allen. "Why didn't you tell me?" Van's voice was low, monotone. Devoid of any expression. Allen backed slowly, his mind already too sore from the sight of Yukari. Had Yukari told? Allen didn't even have to ask, he knew the answer before it even came out.

"I...I wanted to protect you."

"How does that protect me?!" Van glared angrily at Allen.

"It would not have brought her back." Allen spoke gently. Van turned away, his chin stubborn, his eyes burning fire.

"It would've brought me closer."

"It would've reopened a wound that needed time to heal."

"It never healed in the first place!" Van retorted. His head bowed, Allen couldn't read the young man's expression. For the first moment, Allen wondered if what Van felt for HItomi, was the same as what he felt for Yukari. He wondered, if she left tomorrow, would he cry? Would the pain be so bad, as to make him bow under the weight of it? He'd never before lost at anything. He was Allen Schezar, his entire life was wrapped up in his strength, in his skills. Perhaps...this love thing, was not something you acquired, not something one ever became accustomed to..

"I am sorry, Van. It would've pained more, if you had known."

Van didn't reply. Turning stiffly, he walked away. Allen glanced down, and wondered when everything had gone wrong.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

That night, Yukari dreamt of Earth.

In her dreams, Hitomi returned to her position of best friend. They giggled and laughed about everything and anything. Amano grinned, and made her laugh with his silly jokes. Her mother would smile, and tell her she was great. Her girls would crowd around, whispering and gossiping. Everything was so real, so vivid.

Yukari woke with a start, and was almost surprised to reach up and feel the tears that coursed down her cheeks.

Looking out into the night sky, she thought of home. A pain filled her. But then, she thought of leaving Gaea, and another kind of pain filled her.

Laying back down, she slept uneasily until morning.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

Angrily, Van kicked the large tree again. Again and again, until he thought his foot was broken. The tree just sat sullenly, awaiting the next blow. Turning, Van fumed angrily. It was early morning, most of the castle was still asleep.

He couldn't' explain this anger inside of him. After a restless night, he had given up on the idea of sleep and come out here to the gardens, hoping it would calm his spirits.

He couldn't even answer who exactly his anger was directed to. His first thought was Allen, of course. But the more he thought of it, the less he understood his own feelings. First of all, Allen didn't really have much to do with it. Van sighed, contemplating. He felt a guilt now, for taking out an anger that had little to do with Allen, on Allen.

Another good kick at the tree.

A voice cleared its throat behind him.

"The tree didn't do anything."

Van turned, surprised to see Princess Millerna there. She was dressed in a long cloak and her head was covered with a hood. Seeing his surprised expression, she shrugged,

"I had a restless night. I imagine you did as well?"

Van nodded curtly, turnign back to glare at the tree. Millerna laughed dryly.

"I would do the same, only, I know the pain of it would not be worth it." Millerna sighed and glanced up at the mystic moon. Van followed her gaze.

"So.." Millerna turned to him, looking at him expectantly. "What brings you out here?"

Van was surprised. He had never been close to the Asturian princess, rather, they had simply respected each other from afar. He couldn't remember exchanging more than a few polite words with her. But now, here she was, the one person who would listen to him. Perhaps not understand him, but listen at least.

"Just..thinking." Van said slowly. Millerna nodded. She hadn't spoken to the young king often, and it was rare that they actually spoke one on one, but she did understand him enough to know that Van found it hard to speak his feelings.

"Oh.." Millerna sighed. Then she turned away. "I miss her too, she was...fun to be around. I found that everything went by...faster with her around." She smiled slightly.

Van's eyes were dark.

"She was...quite special." He agreed. He took a deep breath, as if having just run a marathon. Perhaps he had, only it was an emotional marathon. "I..I just wish I'd told her that I loved her, before she left. I.." He trailed off, his emotions becoming a mask once more.

Millerna almost gaped. Then she smiled slightly. The boy had grown. She remembered Van as when she had first met him, so many months ago. He had been so fiery, so proud and hot-tempered. His feelings were a stone mask, and had to be positively beaten from him.

Millerna smiled, Van Fanel had grown into this fine, just king. When had he become a man? It was odd, for she'd never noticed until that moment. Boys often did grow, in one last leap before they became a man. Why should Van be any different.

The Princess settled back into her cloak. They stood, in peaceful silence for a long while. The sun rose, casting a pale glow to everything.

"It has been..nice to speak to you, Van. We rarely speak." Millerna turned to go. Then, as she was leaving, she paused, and turned. "Perhaps, if you get that second chance, you should use it. Who knows, second chances do happen." She shrugged and headed off.

Van stared at the ground. A second chance......

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

~***~

These dreams come often. It pains me sometimes....I feel so homesick, and at times, I feel as if I could not bear another second. But then, I think of leaving Gaea..its like a part of me would be left behind here. laughs bitterly One half of me here, one half of me one Earth...which side should I choose?

This pain inside of me, it is hard to bear. But, if I return, would that pain, only be replaced by another kind of pain? And would I be able to bear that one?....That is a question I dare not ask myself..

All this talk of leaving..who's to know when it is..

But..these dreams..these dreams are too vivid..too real..

~***~

Yukari spent her days alone, mostly in her room. Allen seemed to be avoiding her, immersing himself in duties and parties. Chid also, found her very sad and boring. And although very perceptive and caring for a child of seven, he too had his limits. Van seemed disturbed, and just as silent as she knew she must be. Yukari couldn't blame them all. She knew that her coming had been the cause of all these worries, and that fact disturbed her most. That as well as her persistent dreams.

Dreams that were so vivid and real, that she woke up crying, her heart racing.

Then, just when she thought she'd go mad from everything around her, Yukari dreamt of Hitomi.

It wasn't one of the usual dreams, it was different. Very different.



"Hitomi!" Yukari exclaimed. She was so real, standing before her. Yukari had to remind herself over and over that it was a dream.

Hitomi stood before her, dressed in her usual school uniform. Her auburn hair fluttering in the wind. She smiled, her green eyes sad.

"I'm sorry, Yukari, that I did not tell you. I should've told you, you are my best friend. My sister in spirit." Yukari's heart wrenched when she remembered a term that they had thought up as children.

"Hitomi...I'm sorry, I should've known.." Yukari's eyes filled with tears. Hitomi shook her head, then her expression grew grave and serious.

"Yukari, you have to tell Allen how you feel. Your time nears."

"What? What do you mean?"

Hitomi smiled sadly, "Your time on Gaea is ending..." She trailed off as Yukari's eyes widened.

"No..." She froze, "But Hitomi..Allen avoids me. He...he doesn't.."

"Only because he doesn't understand his own feelings. You must tell him. Don't leave, as I did. Don't run away. You may not get a second chance." Hitomi's expression grew sad. "You don't have much longer.." Her image started to fade, the dream ending.

"Hitomi! Wait!!" Yukari shouted, reaching for her best friend.

"Tell Allen." Hitomi's word floated through.

"Hitomi!!" Yukari shouted, watching as Hitomi slowly faded away. "My sister in spirit.." She murmured softly.



Yukari awoke with a start, her heart racing. The tears trailing down her face were real enough. Hitomi! Was her first thought. Glancing around wildly, she realized that it had been a dream.

The pain in her hurt, had left. Only left, was an urgency within her. Like a bomb about to explode. Yukari threw on a cloak and jumped out of bed.

She had to find Allen. Unsure of everything else, she had to find Allen. Yukari wondered why she was listening to a dream. She wasn't one who usually did so. The castle corridors were empty and dark. The moon was bright out, and it lit through the window, casting eerie shadows everywhere. Her steps sounded loud in the silence

Yukari turned another corner, and almost ran into Millerna. Millerna glanced at her in surprise.

"Yukari!"

Yukari gasped for breath. "A...Allen!" She gasped out. Millerna's expression darkened. "I ..I have to find Allen."

"He.." Millerna paused. She'd never seen Yukari so disheveled. Something in her tone, in her expression drew Millerna's attention. Something urgent. Millerna sighed. "He's in the courtyard."

Yukari nodded, and was about to race off. Then she paused, and turned back, gazing at the princess.

"Millerna.."

"Yes?"

"...thankyou." Yukari finished. It sounded so final. Millerna nodded, accepting it. Yukari turned, and raced to the courtyard.

Allen stood in a patch of moonlight. Regal and serene. The moonlight lit up his golden hair, causing it to look like a halo around his head. He looked like an angel. Yukari froze at the doorway of the courtyard, her breath caught in her throat. She studied him, memorizing his every feature. Forever, she would keep that image of Allen in her mind. That image of him, so peaceful in the moonlight.

She stepped towards him.

"Allen." She said softly. He looked at her, hardly surprised to see her.

"I couldn't sleep. I...I knew I had to come here." He said. He glanced up at the mystic moon. "Yukari..I.."

Yukari, so close to him, was struck breathless all over again. Suddenly, she felt something pulling her. Some invisible force catching hold of her, and pulling her off the ground. Pale blue light surrounded her. Her eyes widened when she realized what was happening.

"No! I..I can't! Its too soon!" She cried, trying to struggled back onto the ground. Allen, too, seemed to realize what was going on.

"Yukari!" He grabbed one of her hands. She stared into his deep blue eyes, and knew that her time on Gaea was spent.

"Allen, I..."

"Don't leave me, Yukari." Allen cried brokenly, his grasp on her slender fingers was ebbing, and she was floating away from him. His heart was breaking in two. Her hair floated around her. She looked surreal. Allen tried to catch her hand, but she was far away by then. Yukari wept, her tears falling.

"Allen, I love you." She whispered. And he heard.

"Yukari!!!" He shouted. She disappeared. He stared deep into the sky, searching for any trace of her. Anything at all. But she was gone.

He collapsed onto the grass.

"I love you, Yukari." He whispered, too late.