Hitomi was fortunate to have been given clear directions to the gardens. Her memory did need to be refreshed a bit. Many times, being with so many things on her mind, she completely forgot the directions, and stumbled in many places.
She stepped through the arching stone exit, and looked around blankly. Even with the sun hidden away beyond the dark clouds, the garden was at its brightest. Small patches of wildflowers bloomed along the castle wall, and beyond the greenest grass she had ever seen, was an endless trail of evergreen trees. She could hear voices and childish giggles to her left, and started in that direction.
Her stomach began to churn and ache, and she could feel herself so suddenly becoming frail. She lifted her head, which had curled downwards in the attempt to break free of the small lurch.
Then everything became dark – not completely black, but only darker, so she could still see her original surroundings. A shadow appeared in a blur before her eyes.
A young woman, with very long chestnut hair stared into Hitomi's eyes. The blackness in the woman's eyes pleaded, and her faint smile showed she was somehow powerless in a cause unknown.
A large, black feather drifted over her eyes, and she was gone.
"…Hitomi…?"
She blinked, and shook her head.
Another one. she thought to herself.
Hitomi brought her attention to the unknown, gentle voice. Light pink hair, cut short and curled slightly, caught her attention. Then the big blue eyes that gleamed without any sunlight. A long, beige dress concealed her tall, slim figure. She had linked hands with the smaller boy next to her, smiling and begging to be entertained some more. The tawny skin and tail gave her identity away.
Hitomi's smiled widely. "Merle!"
"Hitomi, I knew that was you!"
They reached into each other's arms, and laughed. Hitomi backed away, and studied her with amazement.
"Look at you! You've changed quite a bit since I last saw you!"
Merle chuckled. "I'm 23 years old now, not a little fifteen year old."
There was a short pause before Hitomi said anything else. "Twenty-three," she whispered to herself, then glanced down beside her at Ty who had tried to catch Merle's attention by pulling gently on her long dress. Merle giggled.
"I see you've met Ty."
Merle's face lit up, and she nodded. The black haired boy ran towards the bushes and started to climb a tree in his own entertainment. She chuckled. "God, I love that kid. I feel as if I'm seven years old, again. Full of freedom, no responsibilities, not having to worry too much…" She froze in mid-sentence.
"Merle? Are you alright?"
"Allen…he hasn't told you?"
Hitomi nodded. The worry line in her forehead darkened as Merle's eyes teared up.
She wiped them away.
"I'm sorry. I just wish I could say I'm actually happy both of you are here. But with all that's happening…I'm actually kind of scared, like so many of us. If only Van was…" Her voice choked, and she wiped away more tears that had slid down her face.
"Merle, please, tell me. I don't know what going on!"
"Allen will tell you. I won't last even mentioning…" She shook her head. "I'm so sorry." She forced a smile and began to walk off. "I'm still glad you came back, though." She hurried in Ty's direction, who was waiting excitedly.
Hitomi stepped back, her eyes wide and frightful.
"I don't get it," she said to no one in particular. "Why am I getting tortured like this?" She turned herself around, in search of the arched doorway she had last came through. A swift figure blocked the way.
"Merle! We have a problem. Hitomi, you're coming, too." Allen called.
Merle nodded, and took Ty's hand.
Allen didn't wait for Hitomi to react. He grabbed her arm, and as gently as he could, dragged her inside.
"What's going on, Allen?" Hitomi demanded. By this time, Merle had caught up with Allen, and gave Ty over to Hitomi. Allen didn't pay too much attention to her.
"Merle, she's just down the hall. Hurry!"
She nodded, and leaped straight ahead as fast as the long dress and sandals could take her. Once she turned into a room, Allen stopped, and gripped Hitomi's shoulders.
"Hitomi, I know I promised you, but a new issue has just come up. Once it's taken care of, however, we'll be doing a lot of explaining."
"We? Who's we?"
"Me," he replied, "and-" He stopped, then grabbed her arm and lead her to the noisy room.
"But, Allen-"
"Later, Hitomi!"
The room was crowded with a number of soldiers. It was obviously a bedroom, with dressers and decorative objects, and even a vacant bed, where most of the soldiers were hovering over, along with Merle. A tall, fairly young woman with dark red hair and in uniform stood with crossed arms behind Merle.
Hitomi moved in to get a better look. She gasped.
A woman was in the bed. Her chestnut hair was matted down, and messy strands were hanging in her face. Hitomi couldn't see her eyes, for they were closed, but she guessed they were the same dark shade as in her vision, if that's what she wished to have called it.
"She's alive," Merle announced, feeling her pulse below her head. "But she's unconscious. It looks as if she's suffered from fatigue. She's scratched up quite a bit, so she must have been traveling here, and in a hurry."
"How does she know all this?" Hitomi asked Allen as quietly as she could.
"She's been studying medicine for quite some time."
Hitomi looked back in her direction. "I see." She never thought Merle would become a doctor.
Merle studied the woman's frail condition, and squinted at her fist, closed so tightly her knuckles were white compared to her slightly darker, ivory skin. She pried open her hand, and her eyes widened.
Everyone looked down over the still body. Hitomi stood up as tall as she could to reach over all the hovering heads. All the people in the room gasped, and stepped away.
Merle lifted her hand in the air, and held out a red, oval jewel with a gold chain that barely swung even with its distance of support. Hitomi gawked at the pendant Merle was holding with much shock.
The pendant was hers.
*
Getting' better, I hope? The next chapter's coming up soon! It'll explain what the hell's goin' on!! Gimme REVIEWS!!