"It's been four years, Hitomi"
"Van, four years have passed since I came back to my planet"
A Van/Hitomi Romance
6/25/2001
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"Home is where the heart is."
--Unknown
"Love is the extremely difficult realization
that something other than oneself is real."
--Iris Murdoch
=====================================================
"You need a queen, Van-sama." My
advisors reasoned, not for the first time. "You need an
heir."
"I'll be in my study," I glare at them and walked away.
I can't argue with them. They're right, after all: Fanelia needs
a queen.
Any of those princesses would fit the position: their beauty,
their elegance, not to mention the power and the wealth of their
countries. Yes they would be perfect. But they all pale in
comparison to you, Hitomi. Any of them could become the queen,
but only you only you are fit to be my queen.
I held my head high and gazed out the large window at the two
moons hanging in the sky, my hand clutching the pendant you give
me, the only part of you left within my reach.
"It's been four years, Hitomi. Did you miss me?"
* * * * *
I collapsed onto my bed and turned on the small
TV across from the room. Another tiresome day of school and
track, I sighed. But I needed to keep myself busy, so I don't
have to think abouthim.
"You can't run away from your past." A woman argued
with her friend from one of the soap operas.
"No, you can't." I agreed, pressing my head into one of
the pillows, trying to drive away the images of him, and the
others I've meet during the Great War of Gaea. So many things
have happened during those days when I escaped death again and
again. But I realized suddenly that those days are the best time
of my life because I spend it with him.
My hands trembling, I took off the small key that hung around my
neck and opened the middle drawer of my desk. The white feather
still shone brightly, still beautiful like the first time I saw
it falling off from his wing. I took it out gently, treasuring
the feeling of the silky molecules under my fingertip.
"Van, four years have passed since I came back to my planet.
Did you miss me?"
* * * * *
"Van-sama, the King and the Princess of
Juikunia are here. I think it's best if you meet them now. His
majesty will want to tell you his proposal soon."
"I am not going to marry her, do you understand?" I
told Narell, one of my advisors calmly as I strolled toward the
main gate of the palace.
"Where are you going, my king?"
"I'll be back in a little while. Don't worry, I've got my
sword." I replied, daring him to try and stop me.
He didn't, and I arrived at the edge of the forest a few minutes
later. But not before Merle saw me and decided to tag along.
"Where are you going, Van-sama?" She asked in her usual
cheerful voice.
I decided to tell her the truth, "I'm going to the Mystic
Moon, Merle." I held up the energist for her to see.
"I'm going to find Hitomi."
Before I could take another step, she blocked my path. I suspect
she was trying to stop me, though it was hard to make out her
words while she blabbered on, "You can't go to the Mystic
Moon, Van-sama. You you don't speak their language. You,
you don't know your way around. You probably won't find her
anyway."
I knew she was worried about me, but my mind has made up. "I
have to try at least I owe myself that much." I walked
past her and into the forest.
"Why? Why!?!?!?" I heard her shouting behind me.
I turned around to look at my adopted sister one more time when a
bright light engulfed me.
"I'm in love, Merle. Pure and simple"
* * * * *
I gazed at my best friend's shocked expression as
she tried to digest what I had just told her. I already told my
mother the day before.
"You grandmother has told me about that mystical place,
Hitomi. I understand why you're doing this. You belong on
Gaea." She had said.
Four years ago, I would've argued and told her that my place is
along with my family and friends. But now, I know better: I can't
live without him.
"I'm leaving, Yurika. I'm going to use the power of wish and
go back to Gaea. I hope you would understand." I sprung
another surprise on her, not able to look into her eyes.
"Why?"
Oh, how I hated that word! So many questions have been asked
since I came back:
"Hitomi, I am your best friend. Why don't you tell me what
going on?"
"Why are you becoming distant from your family? Have we done
something to offend you?"
"What happened to you, Hitomi? What happened to my best
friend, that brave girl who got along with everyone?"
"I know you're weird, Sis. But you've been acting too
strange, even for a teenager. What's up?"
"I fell in love." I replied as a column of light
descended upon me.
Pure and simple.
* * * * *
Two blinding lights crashed together in the
celestial heaven as they brought the lovers to each other's side.
A lot may have happened in four years, but they recognized each
other right away. The girl tilts her head up to stare at his
handsome features. Emerald green meets ruby red.
"Take me home, Van." The girl said, extending her
hands.
The boy hesitated, almost scared that she'll disappear if he
touched her. "Home?"
She nodded before replying, "Yes. Gaea, where my heart
is."
"Together?" He asked again, his eyes reflecting his
uncertainty.
"Forever." With that one word, she gave him all of
herself: her mind, her body, and her soul.
"Yes, Hitomi. Forever." He pulled her in his arms as
two brilliant wings sprung out of his back.
There was no need for elaborate descriptions, or heartfelt
confession. No majestic words or dazzling scenes where violins
played in the background while rose petals fell from paradise.
It was just two souls coming together, two hearts beating as one.
It was love.
Pure and Simple
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's notes: Yay! My first Esca fic... and it was about the most WAFFY story I've ever wrote, and I have a lot to say:
First, this is inspired by "Her Smile", a
Ranma/Akane fic written by Batdz Angel that touched my soul
because of its simplicity.
2) I've always wanted to write a Hitomi-returns-to-Gaea fic, but
I didn't want to make this too long. But anyone who wants to
write a sequel to this has my permission. Just email me so I can
read it when you're done.
3) For those of you who are reading this on fanfiction.net. I
wasn't planning to write my Esca fics this summer, but I wrote
this to get over this HUGE writer's block I had while working on
the second chapter of "Love Thy Enemy" (I squeezed out
a quarter of a page in three hours, can you really blame me for
wanting to work on something else?). But I promise I'll get the
second part of LTE out before the second week of July.
4) Please comment!!! Write a review or email me at
cosmos_sailor_mars@hotmail.com