Hitomi woke up in a comfortable bed. She looked around a little puzzled. From her initial position, she could see the creamy white walls of a small room. Hitomi sat up, and saw a large window, partly open in front of her. The room was small, but cozy. It looked like an infirmary, not the forest she arrived in. The stony walls, and the whole conformation of the room looked like a castle. Slowly, as the drowsiness left her, Hitomi remembered the feeling of sickness she had when she reached Gaea. She must have fainted, since that ride took all the strength she had. Someone must have found her and took her to this place. She looked around the room. As her gaze averted to her right, Hitomi noticed a person sleeping soundly in a chair next to her. He had unruly (familiar) black hair, and his lean body looked muscular and strong. Overall, he looked like Van. Hitomi could see how his features had grown and matured, but deep inside, she felt it was the same shy Van she knew. "Of course it's Van." Her thoughts said. "So that's what he looks like!" Hitomi thought. "He must have spent the night watching over me." Hitomi got up carefully, trying not to wake him. She took the small blanket that had covered her, and covered him. Slowly, not to make any more noise, she walked to the window. She opened it and stared out at the capital city of Fanelia. Indeed it had changed a lot in eight years. The small village she knew was now a big city, that extended into the horizon. Hitomi could see that a lot of hard work went into making it like it was. She could see the paved roads, and the overall beauty of it. Every house had a hanging plant by the doorstep, and there were light posts everywhere, and you could clearly see where the market began. It all looked so beautiful, Hitomi was breathless.
"You should be in bed. What are you doing up so early?" she heard a gentle voice behind her.
Hitomi jumped startled.
"Van!" she exclaimed. "It's so good to see you Van! Oh I missed you so much!" she said and ran into his open arms.
"I missed you too Hitomi, more than you could imagine!" he told her as he was hugging her fiercely. There was nothing in that moment that Van wanted to do more, than kiss her passionately. Unfortunately, he did not want to disgrace her, or rather scare her away. She had changed much, and Van could not bear loosing her again. He was sort of surprised when he felt Hitomi hug him with all her might, almost like she was sharing his thoughts.
"Van," she whispered. "I was afraid I wasn't ever going to see you again. On our eight-year anniversary, I just couldn't stand it anymore. I had to come back to Gaea. I hope I'm not inconveniencing you in any way."
"Hitomi! When did you ever bother me?" Van asked shocked. "I couldn't have asked for a better present on our eight year anniversary. You are not bothering me. I am very happy you came back," he said hugging her even more tightly.
"I'm glad, so very glad." Hitomi could do nothing more than hug Van tightly. Her angel was finally in her grasp. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she wanted to tell him, but all she could do now was hug him. She was a fool to go back to Earth eight years before. This is where she truly belonged. Here, on Gaea with Van.
The door opened, and Gaddes walked in. He was a little taken aback by the sight. There was his king, Lord Van, hugging that being he brought back last night. Gaddes was surprised and also a little suspicious. Who was she, and what did she mean to his king? It looked like a lot, since he hadn't ever seen him hug a person like that. However, he didn't know her, so she could just be a spy sent to kill Van. What if she were to hurt him? He cleared his throat, making his presence know to both Van and Hitomi. They both turned around.
"Sire, there is a pressing matter we must discuss," Gaddes said once he got their attention.
"Yes, yes I know. Before we go, I want you to meet someone. Gaddes, this is Lady Hitomi. She's from the Phantom Moon, and she helped save Gaea eight years ago."
"Nice to meet you Lady Hitomi," Gaddes said and bowed. Well, whoever she was, she looked friendly. However, Gaddes had learned the hard was that appearances were deceiving.
"Hitomi, this is Gaddes. My half cousin, and my First General." Van continued.
"Nice to meet you Gaddes." Hitomi said.
"We have very pressing matters to discuss milord, excuse us Lady Hitomi," Gaddes said.
Hitomi could see on Van's face that he wasn't very happy of the interruption. She smiled, thinking he was still the same Van she knew deep down inside.
"Go," she told him. "I don't want to keep you from your duties as a king. I'll still be here when you finish." Hitomi smiled, one of her genuine carefree smiles. Being so close to him was everything she could ever wish for.
"Very well, I have to go take care of this. Merle will be by in just a few minutes with some clothes to wear," Van informed her.
"Ok, I'll be waiting for her," Hitomi assured him.
Van gave her a small hug and left the room, with Gaddes following close behind.
"Forgive me for interrupting you, sire, but you must choose a bride today." Gaddes said as they were outside in the hall.
"It's ok Gaddes, I had to talk to the council anyway. As for my future bride, you have already met her. The only woman that I will marry, is that woman I have left behind in the infirmary."
"Lady Hitomi?"
"Yes, Hitomi. I have waited eight years for her to return to me, but I must say, I feel this wait has been worth it." Van said truly smiling for the first time.
"But milord! She has no royal rank! You will be marrying beneath you!" Gaddes protested.
"No royal rank? Am I hearing that from you? All those snotty princesses that have sent me petitions could not measure up to Hitomi. I am not marrying beneath me, I am marrying above me!" Van said infuriated.
Gaddes knew not to argue with the king. From being Van's friend and general for eight years, he knew how stubborn Van was. In any case, they had reached the council chambers. The matter still had to be agreed upon by everyone.
"I just hope you can convince the council," Gaddes sighed.
"I'm the king here! They listen to me!" Van yelled.
After Van left, Hitomi was alone in the room. She continued to stare out the window. It was great to be back on Gaea. She couldn't wait to be alone with Van. They had so much to talk about. Hitomi smiled to herself. She would never leave him. It was where she belonged, until the end of her life. Just then, the door opened, and a young cat-woman stepped it.
"Hitomi! There you are!" she exclaimed.
"Merle! Is that you?" Hitomi asked.
"Yeah! Who else? I'm so glad you're back!" Merle jumped excited.
Hitomi hugged the young cat-woman. It was great to see Merle again.
"Hey, where's Lord Van?" she asked.
"He had to go take care of some business, but he'll be back." Hitomi informed her.
"Oh yeah, that marriage proposal thing. Oh well, until he finishes, let's go to the market. Here, I brought you a dress. You'll attract too much attention wearing that." Merle said pointing at her jeans and T-shirt.
Hitomi was left in the middle of the room, frozen. Did she hear Merle properly? Van was getting married? Oh, she was bothering him! Now her arrival probably confused him, and it just messed up his life. She had been so selfish and only thinking of herself. Why couldn't she think of that possibility before she came to Gaea? She couldn't possibly stand through his wedding, but also didn't want to ruin his life. Hitomi never realised that Van might have moved on. How could she be so foolish and think that Van would still be waiting for her? Oh, what had she done? Hitomi's hopes shattered like a mirror hitting the floor. She just stood there, in the middle of the room, not believing how foolish and what she had truly done. No wonder Van had been sort of distant. He wanted to tell her to let him go, but at the same time not hurt her feelings.
"Hitomi, Hitomi! Hello, are you on this planet?" Merle waved her hand in front of Hitomi's face.
"What? Yeah, I'm ok." she said wearily.
"Well, let's go to the market. We need to make you pretty for when Lord Van comes back." Merle said enthusiastically.
"Ok," Hitomi agreed weakly. "Make me pretty for what?" she thought bitterly.
After Hitomi got dressed, Merle had to virtually drag her out of the room and down to the market. She was wondering what was wrong. Hitomi should be happy not sad. She was back on Gaea, with Van, where she belonged. Yes, Hitomi belonged with Van. Merle had eight years to get used to the idea Van loved someone else. After all, she was a cat-woman, and he a king. So now, she was determined to make sure all was right and Hitomi and Van got what they deserved; their eternal love.
"Just take care of him ok?" Merle whispered as they were shopping for dresses.
"I wish I could Merle," Hitomi thought. "Hey, I think that's enough shopping for today, let's go back." Hitomi suggested.
"Ok, then we'll get you a room, and put all of this in it." Merle agreed pointing at the dresses.
"Merle, thank you. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you, but thank you!" Hitomi hugged the cat-woman tightly.
They went back to the palace, in a happy mood. Hitomi was feeling joyous all of a sudden.
"So, what do you do for Van?" she asked Merle.
"I work as a diplomat in our relationships with Asturia." Merle told her.
"Wow, I would have never imagined that! You have such a hot temper!" Hitomi laughed.
"I learned to control it. What did you do on the Phantom Moon?" Merle asked.
"I worked in an executive office. I also used to handle some deals for my company." Hitomi told her.
"Ah, well, here we are. Let's go find you a room and put all of this in," Merle said indicating their shopping.
Van just finished the meeting with his council. He finally convinced them to let him do as he pleased. He was free to marry Hitomi. The hard part would be now getting her to agree. He was patrolling the halls, thinking about how he should talk her into being his wife, when he heard Merle's excited voice down the hall. Van knew that he was rushing everything, and he hoped that Hitomi would say yes. Even though she arrived on Gaea less than a day before, Van didn't want to waste any more time. For eight years he had constantly dreamed of her, and had wanted her with him. Who knew it, before he would wake up, she would be gone again. Van was not about to make the same mistake twice. Maybe Hitomi didn't want to get married so soon, maybe it was all a mistake, but Van had learned over the years that if he didn't take any risks, he would soon loose everything. Maybe if she said no, he would at least try to change her heart. He wanted to clear everything up once and for all. Over time, he had learned that it was better to have things out in the front than hidden. That way he knew what to expect. Van felt the anxiety build up in him. Soon, everything will be cleared up.
"Come on Hitomi! Your room is this way!" he heard Merle say.
"I'm coming Merle! Don't worry," he heard Hitomi's crystal voice.
In a few seconds, he was face to face with them. When Van saw Hitomi, he was breathless for a moment. She was wearing a pale blue dress, that outlined her slender figure and her eyes. He couldn't help but notice her generous curves, and Van couldn't suppress the thoughts of how beautiful and queen-like she looked like.
"Hi Van," Hitomi said when she saw him "How was your meeting?" she asked.
"Hitomi... you...look...stunning," Van stumbled.
"Thank you," she said and blushed.
"My meeting was fine." he said unable to get his eyes off of her.
"Well, I got to go. The cook said he needed a word with me," Merle said sensing they wanted to be alone.
"Bye, see you around," Hitomi said.
After Merle left, Van, looked into Hitomi's green eyes. They glimmered with happiness, yet he could see there was something sad in the way she looked at him.
"Don't you want to see your room?" he asked in lack of better conversation.
"Yeah, I'd love to," Hitomi told him.
Van opened the door to the room behind him, and let Hitomi in.
Hitomi stepped in, and all of a sudden, she felt like she was stepping into a garden. From all sides she was ambushed by tons of flowers, and others put in vases. She ran through the room breathless at the sight.
"Did you do this Van?" she asked surprised.
"Well, yeah, but I didn't know what kind of flowers you liked, so I decided to get you all of them," he grinned.
"I love them all so much, especially the roses." Hitomi told him.
"I figured you might like those, but I didn't want to take any chances," Van chuckled.
All of a sudden, Hitomi felt sad. She felt the tears burn under her eyelids. She didn't want Van to see them. If he knew their love wasn't meant to be, then why would he do this? Hitomi asked herself. She went out on the balcony. Van sensed something was wrong. He followed her outside. He saw her with her back turned to him, and he could see her trying to stifle her tears.
"Hitomi, what's wrong?" he gently asked.
"Nothing, I'll be fine Van," she told him.
"You always say that Hitomi, but you're never fine. Talk to me, what's wrong?"
"Well, I'm just thinking what a fool I was to come back to Gaea. You have to marry, and just before you have to do that, I show up. I've messed things up for both of us, and I'm sorry. I should have never came," she said between tears, for yes, she was crying freely now. There was no point hiding it.
"Oh Hitomi," Van said and came closer, hugging her.
"I left Earth because I couldn't live without you, and I came to Gaea thinking you were feeling the same way. I was selfish and never stopped to think that you might actually not wait for me and get married. I'm sorry Van, I never meant to mess up your life." she sobbed.
"Hitomi, don't cry Hitomi, I do feel the same way. I love you more than you could imagine, you didn't mess up my life, you saved it. You see, I delayed my marriage for as long as possible, thinking you will come back. You saved me from doom Hitomi, for I could have never married a person I did not love." He said drying her tears.
"You do? Oh Van, you love me? But I thought that you were going to arrange your marriage proposal." Hitomi said.
"I was going to tell the council I had found my match. There's only one person I want to marry," he said, and hugged her gently.
"Oh Van, I love you too. That's the major reason I came back to Gaea. I couldn't live without you anymore." Hitomi told him.
"It's ok, don't cry, I'm here," he said and kissed her passionately. It was the kiss he had waited for eight years, and now that it was happening, it was sweeter, and better than whatever he had imagined. Hitomi was kissing him back, and he felt like their link had established again. He could feel her conscience floating right along with his somewhere above the clouds.
"Hitomi, would you do me the honour of being my wife, and queen of Fanelia?" he asked when the kiss ended.
"Of course Van, I would love to be your wife," she said.
Van kissed her again, and this time he let his love flow out to her. Hers was also flowing out to him. Although he had not seen Hitomi for eight years, he could see that all the changes in her were for the good. She was ready to sacrifice her happiness for him, when she thought him engaged to someone else. Van knew he had found the other half of his soul, for with her, he felt at peace. He knew she would always accept him for who he was.
There, in the light of the Fanelian sun, on a balcony high up in a castle, stood two angels kissing and sharing their pain, for the first time ever feeling free.
"Hitomi, I'll never let you go, "Van said when the second, most magical kiss ended.
"What makes you think I'll let go of you Van Fanel?" Hitomi asked cheerfully.
"Promise me you'll never leave me," he said.
"I promise, and even if I will, I'll come back. Don't I always?" she laughed.
"True, but now you are mine, mine forever Hitomi Kanzaki, and I'll make sure you won't leave this time." he said fiercely.
"I won't, but Van, there's a new evil on Gaea. It's threatening the whole planet again. That's the second reason I came back." she told him.
"As long as there's love, and as long as I love you Hitomi, we will make sure that evil is obliterated."
"Yes, yes we will," she said kissing him.