It had been a week since the Second Destiny war ended, and Hitomi was sitting outside on the balcony. She was staring at the moon, and at the faint shadow of the Phantom Moon. The spirit had restored Gaea to its former beauty. All was peaceful again. Gaddes was recovering nicely, and Merle hadn't left his side since they got back. Hitomi suspected something had happened between the two of them, but didn't want to make any false accusations. It was clear that they were going to get together, but she wanted to let things flow naturally. Van returned to his kingly duties, and she was queen of Fanelia. So far, her duties were minimal. They still hadn't told anybody about the baby. It had been a hectic week. All the countries were struggling to get back to normal routine. Millerna and Dryden returned to now prosperous Asturia, Fanelia was also restored to its beauty. Things were slowly returning to normal, although Hitomi could tell that no one could forget all the destruction they witnessed a second time. She sighed looking at the moon. It was all so eerie and peaceful. Hitomi put her hand on her stomach. She was nervous about the baby. She wasn't sure she was ready to be a mother just yet. It had all happened so suddenly. All through those hectic weeks, she barely had time to think about it, but now that peace reigned, Hitomi found herself being very nervous about motherhood. She didn't ask for this. She somehow hoped that Van and her would have waited a time before having a baby. Nature could not be stopped. Hitomi sighed, and hoped she would be a good mother. Fear was biting at all her sides, and Hitomi could feel all of her doubts about the baby resurface for the thousandth time that day.
"I guess all things happen for a reason," Hitomi said to herself.
"You know, I never get tired of watching you," Merle said from behind her.
Hitomi jumped, startled. She hadn't heard Merle come up behind her.
"Merle! You scared me to death!" Hitomi said breathing quickly.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just taking a walk. Gaddes is resting." Merle told her.
"Hmm, so you've finally left his side," Hitomi smiled knowingly.
"I just needed some time to think." Merle said.
"About what? It's obvious you like him!" Hitomi teased.
"That rat? Oh no! He saved my life, that's all," Merle quickly denied.
"I can see you blushing Merle! You're not a very good liar Merle!" Hitomi laughed at the look on the cat-woman's face.
"I, I, I guess I do," Merle stammered. "Hey! How can you see me blush! I have red fur!" Merle exclaimed all of a sudden.
"You fell for it! It's called bluffing Merle!" Hitomi burst with carefree laughter. The look on Merle's face was once again, priceless.
"You are so going to get it! I'm coming for you Hitomi Kanzaki!" Merle joked.
Hitomi prepared to run. She knew Merle was joking, but she also knew she might get a few scratches if Merle caught her.
"Come here!" Merle screamed. She chased Hitomi all over the balcony, and when she finally caught her, Merle began tickling her.
"Ok, ok, ok Merle I'm sorry, I promise I won't tell any one!" Hitomi said a few minutes after, her face red with laughter.
"You better not!" Merle said equally red.
The two women sat down on some nearby chairs. Hitomi sighed all of a sudden.
"I'm glad to see you and Lord Van are so happy," Merle told her all of a sudden.
"I'm glad that you finally found someone too," Hitomi told Merle, her hand resting easily on her stomach.
All of a sudden, Merle looked at Hitomi. She looked so peaceful sitting there in that chair. She irradiated peace, and mother-like protection.
"Hey Hitomi! Are you pregnant?" Merle asked suddenly.
"Umm, yeah I am Merle." Hitomi confessed. "How did you know?" Hitomi asked amazed. Her belly wasn't showing yet.
"You were just so peaceful. Even you can't be that content." Merle said and hugged her. "I'm very happy for you," Merle said hugging Hitomi.
"What's all the hugging about?" Van asked coming up behind them.
"You don't need to hide it anymore Lord Van. I know Hitomi's secret!" Merle said smiling secretly.
"Oh you do, do you?" Van asked locking Hitomi in a protective embrace.
"Yup, I hope you thought of some names, because eight months go by fast," Merle said.
"We'll see, won't we Hitomi?" Van said placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Yeah, no problem," Hitomi said returning the kiss. All of a sudden, she got an idea. "Hey Van, you remember what you said when we were in the Mystic Valley?" Hitomi asked him.
"I said a lot of things, you have got to be more specific." Van told her, squeezing her tightly.
"Remember the part about the vacation?" Hitomi asked.
"Yeah, what do you have in mind?" Van asked.
"Well, we could go to Earth for a little bit. I would love to show you where I come from." Hitomi told him.
"And I'd love to go. Shall we?" Van asked.
"Right now?" Hitomi asked surprised that he agreed.
"Yes, right now! Merle and Gaddes can take care of things here. I just put all my affairs in order a few minutes ago. We won't be missed for a few days, let's go!" Van said kissing her.
"Yeah, go right ahead. I'll explain everything to the council. Have fun you two!" Merle encouraged them.
"Ok, let's go!" Hitomi jumped up, and kissed Van. She couldn't believe he agreed, but then again, the world was full of surprises.
Hitomi clutched her pendant closely. "I wish we could go to Earth for a little bit." she thought. The pendant began to glow, creating that same familiar pillar of light. Hitomi and Van stepped inside, and were instantly carried away.
It was a dark night, when the pillar of light brought Van and Hitomi to Earth.
"So, this is Earth," Van said a few seconds after they were placed gently on the ground.
"Yup, it's night now, but the city is beautiful in the morning," Hitomi told him.
"What now?" Van asked.
"Well, we have go to stop by the bank, and I have to take out some money. Then we pay for the train ride, and we go to my apartment." she told him.
"Sounds great, only, um... what's a bank, and what's a train?" Van asked looking confused.
Hitomi laughed. She almost forgot he wasn't from Earth.
"A bank is a place where you deposit your money. When you work here on Earth, they pay you money for it. The train is a method of transportation." Hitomi explained.
"I see. Well, it certainly is a weird place. You have money? Is it golden?" Van asked.
"No, it's paper money. Like this." Hitomi showed him a bill she had left in her walled. Van took it, and examined it closely.
"This will break so easily. How come you use this instead of gold? Gold's more reliable.
"You're right, I don't know why, but it's the way things are. Come on, let's go to the bank." She motioned Van to get a move on. Hitomi smiled at him. She was happy to be back on Earth, but most of all she was happy that Van was with her. It would be great to share her heritage with him. She wondered if Yukari was living alone. Maybe she got a new roommate when she left. Nevertheless, Hitomi would go check it out.
They went to the bank, and Hitomi searched for her bankcard.
"What's that?" Van asked when he saw the card.
"That's the proof that I am the owner of the account," Hitomi told him.
"I see, well, I must say, the Phantom Moon is a very weird place," Van confessed.
"Yeah, I think so too. Don't worry, we'll visit the city tomorrow. There's a lot to do here." Hitomi told him.
"I'd love to see it. I always wondered why you went back to the Phantom Moon." Van told her.
"I didn't go because of the city. I went because of my family and friends. I was still dependent on them." Hitomi explained.
"Then why did you come back to me?" Van asked.
"Because I love you, and because family and friends can do only so much. You were the one with whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life. Family can only go so far, and besides, you're my family now." Hitomi told him. Her eyes were sparkling as she was telling him that.
"You're my family too. I love you Hitomi." Van told her and hugged her.
"Come on, let's go." Hitomi said and took her bankcard and money. "Now, I don't live alone. I shared my apartment with my roommate Yukari. She can be impulsive sometimes, but she's a really good person. Don't get scared of her impulsiveness," Hitomi warned Van as they were waiting for the train.
"Hmm, after living 23 years with Merle, do you think anything would scare me?" Van joked.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. In a sense, Yukari and Merle are very much alike. I think they would like each other very much if they ever met." Hitomi laughed.
Just then, the train came in the station, with blinding lights, and deafening sounds.
"Hitomi! Watch out!" Van said as he was preparing to push her over to the side.
"Don't worry. It's not some kind of dragon or anything. That's the train." Hitomi said, giggling.
"I've just made a total fool of myself haven't I?" Van asked her.
"No, these things take time getting used to." Hitomi told him.
They entered the train, and sat down.
"So, how long do you want to stay for?" Hitomi asked.
"As long as you want." Van told her.
"You have duties to get back to, and I, I don't want to stay too much," Hitomi said putting her hand on her belly.
"Yes, that, well, my advisories could live without me for a couple of days," Van told her.
"How about we stay three days?" Hitomi asked him. "That way you can meet my mom, and my brother, and also get to see the city." she reasoned.
"Sure, three days would be prefect. After all, we could come back anytime, and they could come visit us." Van said.
"Yeah, three days is perfect." Hitomi smiled at Van.
He leaned over and kissed her. He didn't care if it was a public place. He could feel that he was about to experience the most marvellous three days of his life.
The rest of the train ride went smoothly, with Hitomi explaining about how things on Earth worked. Time just seemed to fly by. They got out of the train, and walked on the lighted streets. Everything seemed very strange to Van. The Phantom Moon was a weird place. Women wore no dresses, and there were strange vehicles zooming by on the streets. Also, there was very little green space. Mostly stone. Van wondered how people could live locked up like that. Although the city was beautiful, it seemed to Van like it was a stony prison. He followed Hitomi around the streets, occasionally glancing at strange objects. Then Hitomi and him entered a building, and took something called an "elevator" up to the floor where Hitomi lived.
"Well, here we are. Let me just knock on the door." Hitomi told him.
Hitomi knocked on the door. A muffled sound came from inside.
"Who is it?" she heard Yukari's sleepy voice from inside. The door opened a few seconds later, and a sleepy Yukari appeared in front of Hitomi and Van.
"Hitomi? Is that you?" Yukari asked rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Yukari! It's me of course!" Hitomi exclaimed.
"You came back? I can't believe it!" Yukari jumped up and hugged her friend. "I thought you were going to Gaea to be with Van. What happened?" Yukari asked.
"I did go to Gaea, and this is Van, we came to visit." Hitomi told her, grabbing Van's hand and pulling him beside her.
"So you're the famous Van, over whom Hitomi has been crying these past eight years," Yukari told him.
"You must be Yukari," Van assumed.
"Yeah, that's me. Come inside, you must be tired from your journey." Yukari let them in the apartment.
"Hitomi, I kept your room intact. All your stuff are there." Yukari let her know.
"You can give them away. I only came to visit. My home is on Gaea now." Hitomi told her.
"So you're not coming back, huh?" Yukari asked sadly.
"No, I couldn't." Hitomi told her.
"Well, Van, you better take care of her. She's my best friend, and if you hurt her in any way, I'll come all the way to Gaea to kick your ass you hear me?" Yukari playfully threatened Van.
"Don't worry. Hitomi is in good hands. As king of Fanelia, I wouldn't let anything happen to the queen now would I?" Van asked, humour in his voice.
"Wait a minute, queen? So you married him?" Yukari asked Hitomi through sleepy eyes.
"Yeah. And I'm not letting him go, so you're gonna have to find someone else." Hitomi laughed, playfully hugging Van.
"Hmm, your mom is going to be surprised, although she wasn't when I showed her the letter. All she did was nod." Yukari told her.
"Well, we're going there tomorrow, so she'll meet Van all on her own." Hitomi told her.
"Ok, well, we'll talk more tomorrow. I have to go to bed now, big day tomorrow. How long are you staying?"
"Three days," Hitomi told her.
"Ok, well we'll talk tomorrow, good night." Yukari said and headed for her bedroom.
Hitomi led Van to her room. They were both very tired, and fell asleep instantly.
The next day was full of surprises for Van. Hitomi introduced him to a thing called fast food, and another marvellous thing called ice cream. Van found that he liked fast food, and he adored ice cream. They spent part of the day at the beach, and part of the day in the park. Hitomi was right, the city was beautiful in daylight. Now they were on the way to Hitomi's house. Van was nervous about meeting her family.
"Don't worry. My mom is really nice." Hitomi said as if reading his thoughts.
"It's not your mom I'm worried about," Van confessed.
"Then who? Little bro won't do anything. I'm sure he'll like you very much." Hitomi smiled reassuringly.
"What about your father?" Van asked.
That is when a dark shadow crossed Hitomi's face. Van was suddenly sorry he brought up the subject. She stopped smiling. Van didn't like it when Hitomi stopped smiling. He had seen her sad one too many times.
"Dad died two years ago. He had a stroke. Ever since then it's just been my mom, my bro and me. But, I'm sure dad would have loved you as well," Hitomi said swallowing the lump in her throat.
"I'm sorry Hitomi, I didn't know," Van said hugging her.
"It's ok, it's just that, I don't talk about my father. I loved him very much, and his death just reminds me of how cruel life is. I, I don't think I've ever let him go, and..." Hitomi was unable to continue.
"I'm sure he loved you very much, and that you made him proud." Van whispered in her ear.
Hitomi snuggled closer to him. How did he know the right words to make her feel better. How? It was just so weird. Just 15 little words. They soothed her though. All of a sudden Hitomi felt like she was being selfish. She still refused to let her father go, yet Van lost his family when he was so little. He had accepted their loss yet she refused to let her father go. She never stopped to think about what Van was feeling. How could she have been so selfish?
"Van, I'm sorry," Hitomi whispered.
"What for?" He asked surprised.
"For being so selfish. You lost your family, yet I'm the one who's cursing life. I should be grateful for what I have." Hitomi told him.
"How could I have lost my family? You're right here with me aren't you? And our baby too," Van said kissing her.
They reached Hitomi's house a few minutes later. Hitomi carefully knocked on the door. An older, mature woman opened the door. She was holding a plate, but the plate dropped when she saw her unsuspected visitor.
"Hitomi!" Her mother exclaimed, hugging her daughter.
"Mom, it's so good to see you, and I have someone to show you." Hitomi said hugging her mother just as tightly.
"I can't believe you came back. I thought… oh I'm so glad you're home." Her mother was crying, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Don't cry ma… this is Van." Hitomi said breaking the hug and stepping beside her husband.
"Nice to meet you Van." Mrs Kanzaki said, and extended her hand.
"It's a pleasure." Van said and bowed.
"Well, why don't you come inside. Are you tired? Dinner should be ready soon." She told them.
"Mmm, I'm hungry," Hitomi smiled at her mother.
The evening went fine. Hitomi's family was extremely friendly. Her brother was excited when he saw his sword. Van felt like he belonged with them. Hitomi's mother was very happy when she saw her daughter was fine. She congratulated them when she heard they got married. Somehow, Van felt that Mrs. Kanzaki had known him for a long time. She had a soothing effect on him, and reminded him of his own mother. Van was pleased to see how happy Hitomi's family was. He felt like he belonged with them. They were all very kind.
Hitomi was doing the dishes, with her mother. Van and her brother were in the living. Her brother was trying to explain to Van how a t.v. worked. Hitomi couldn't help but laugh. It was great to be back home.
"I'm glad you're safe Hitomi," her mother said coming up behind her.
"How could I not be? Van hasn't left me out of his sight for more than three hours this whole time," Hitomi laughed.
"I can see he loves you very much," her mother told her.
"And I love him. Mom, I hope you aren't mad at me I left." Hitomi said turning around.
"No, at first I couldn't believe you've had that adventure, but now I see why you had to leave."
"I, I couldn't stand it any more. I love him, more than life. I had to go back." Hitomi said silently.
"And he loves you back. I would never hold you from your true love. I just hope that you will come back in time to show me my grandson." Her mother said.
"You know?" Hitomi asked surprised.
"It's in the air. I can see it in the way you walk, in the way you do everything. Hitomi! I'm so happy for you," her mother said giving her daughter a great big hug.
"Oh mom, I didn't know how to tell you," Hitomi said relived.
"I, I would love to meet him or her Hitomi, you must come back one day and show me my grandchild."
"Or maybe you'll come to Gaea. I'm really scared about this. I would love it if you would come to help me," Hitomi confessed.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Mrs Kanzaki gave Hitomi a kiss on the cheek.
Three days later, Hitomi and Van were ready to leave.
"Don't forget to come for me when it's time," Mrs. Kanzaki told Van.
"As you wish," Van said, and hugged his mother-in-law.
The white light engulfed the happy couple, carrying them to Gaea.
It left them in the same place where they took off from. The grand balcony of the castle.
"Ah, our vacation was wonderful, but it's so good to be home," Hitomi said breathing in the fresh night air of Gaea.
"I'm so happy you're here with me, Hitomi. I'll never let you go." Van said and kissed her.
"Gaea is where I truly belong. Earth, is just a place where I had fun for a while. I belong here with you, and I'm never going to go away. I love you with all my heart Van Fanel." Hitomi said kissing him back.
"I know, I love you. You're the angel that happened to change my life. Hitomi Fanel. I'm glad that we're both home." Van said and hugged her protectively.
In the light of yonder moon, on a balcony feet above the ground, stood two beings, glancing at the moon, their souls entwined and forever bound by fate as one. Their love never diminished, but only bloomed, and flourished, keeping the peace on the world of wishes, known as Gaea.