Disclaimer: To find out what this Disclaimer thingy is all about, check out my other stories...
Dedication: To Taemyr, Zidane's Dagger, Tira_Mearl_Festa, and Siena. And also to you; the reader and the reviewer.
~**~Chapter 2~**~
~*~I will find you, Hitomi.....~*~
Benji walked into the house quietly. His wife, Mara, looked up from the pot that she was stirring on the fire to watch him as he carried a mysterious looking girl into the house. He was closely followed by Kitiara. As soon as Mara laid eyes on her daughter she gasped loudly, " Kitara! What did I tell you about running in your dress again? ", she scolded.
Kitiara pouted and then ran to her. Wrapping her arms around her mother's legs she rubbed her face into the soft fur, " Mommy....look. We found her in the fields....can we keep her? "
Mara looked at Benji as he gently laid her down onto the cot in the corner of the little house. He stood up and his green eyes meet his wife's aqua ones. Benji shook his head and frowned deeply, " Mara? Can I talk to you for just one minute? "
Mara nodded, " Of course.. ", she looked down at Kitiara. " Baby...go to your room and get changed while mommy and daddy talk, alright? "
Kitiara nodded and left the room. Benji walked up to his wife and looked into her eyes, " Kitiara found her. She was laying on the ground in the middle of the fields. Kitiara also uh....accidentally kicked her. What do you think we should do? "
Mara bit her lip and placed a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder. She gently caressed it, " We can care for her till she awakens. Then we'll help her find her family, if she has one... "
Benji looked back at the girl and cocked his head to the side, " You know what? ", he whispered lightly as he studied the deathly pale face. " She reminds me of that girl that our King was so wild about. What was her name again? "
Mara followed his gaze, " Hitomi Kanzaki....she was called the Goddess of the Mystic Moon, in Merle's words... ", she added in a low voice.
Benji chuckled and walked over to the bed. He bent down and touched her forehead. Benji snatched his hand back, " Owww... "
Mara lifted an eyebrow and made her to him, " What? "
Benji shook his head, " Can you grab me a cloth and some warm water? She's running a pretty high fever... "
Mara nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Kitiara skipped into the room and then stopped in her tracks as she saw her father stripping the girl of her dark robe. Mara rushed past her with the bowl of water and a cloth. Kitiara watched in confusion as her mother handed her father the water and cloth.
" What's happening? ", Kitiara's soft voice came out as a squeak.
Mara spun around and walked over to her calmly, " Honey....the lady is sick. She needs to rest. Daddy and I are trying to help her, alright? I want you to help her to...can you do that? "
Kitiara nodded, " y-yes... "
Mara crouched down on her hunches and leaned forward to kiss her daughter's forehead, " Aww, honey. Don't cry...she's going to be alright. Daddy just has to bring down her fever, and she'll be as good as new.... ", she assured her as she reached out to wipe the tears that slipped past her lashes.
Kitiara sniffled lightly, " Mommy? Is it alright if I go play with Merle? "
Mara looked at her daughter, " Is she here to pick you up? "
Kitiara shook her head, " No.... "
" Then you can't go, baby. How about you go and play with your dolls in your room? "
" Alright... ", Kitiara muttered unhappily as she turned and walked back to her room.
Mara looked at her husband and then made her way to the back of the house. She disappeared into the bathroom and pulled out a first aid kit. Mara frowned deeply as she searched for some bandages. When she found some, she rushed into the room to find Benji sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands.
Mara rushed to his side, placing the bandages on the table, she reached out and ran a hand over her husband's shoulder, " Dear...what happened? "
Benji looked up at her, " Nothing...I'm just a little tired from all the running I did with Kitiara... "
" Would you like to rest? ", Mara suggested lightly.
Benji nodded, " That would be wonderful... ", he whispered happily as he stood up and kissed Mara on the cheek lightly.
Mara sighed lightly and picked up the bandages. She walked over to the bed and looked down at the girl dressed in only a black tank top, short beige shorts, and white canvas runners that were spolched with mud. The dark robe was laying on the ground beside the bed and Mara smiled.
Mara reached out and slowly lifted Hitomi's shirt up to reveal her stomach and ribs only. She rested the shirt on top of her breasts, respecting some privacy. Mara frowned deeply as she gazed down at the well toned stomach, wondering how she was going to do this without hurting her anymore.
There was an ugly purple bruise that was swelling by the minute on the right side of her stomach, and Mara assumed that that was where Kitiara accidentally kicked the girl. Mara sighed through clenched teeth and then crouched down to the level of the cot.
Mara unrolled the bandage and then began to wrap it around the girl's slim waist, ' She must be hungry if she's this thin...what's wrong with her parents? ', Mara thought to herself in anger.
When Mara was finished with the wrappings, she replaced the shirt the way it was before and stood up to only cross her arms over her chest and gaze down at the girl, ' She has to be about the age of sixteen now.... '
The girl's face suddenly contorted into a mask of pain as her head faced the wall. Mara watched the girl and then picked up the rest of the bandages. She turned and slowly walked to the kitchen table, where she sat down with her head rested on her arms.
Benji had already placed the warm cloth on her forehead and for that Mara was thankful. Mara's eyes slowly shut and she drifted to sleep....
**************************************
Van gripped the reins tightly in his uninjured hand. He pulled back on the reins and the horse slowed to a stop. Van looked around for where Hitomi might have been, but he couldn't find anything or anyone. Van quickly dismounted his horse and left it to go in search of Hitomi on foot.
Van was five feet from his horse when his foot came in contact with something soft. He looked down and saw what he had stepped on. It was a dark green duffelbag. Van bent down to pick it up and examine it. He frowned deeply as he searched for a name of some sort.
Van sighed in frustration and he decided to carry the bag with him back to Fanelia. There was a soft jingling and he stopped. He whirled around and searched for whoever he thought was following him. There was no one there. Van shrugged and continued to walk. The jingling followed for every step he took, the jingling noise followed.
Van looked down at the bag in his hands and found out what was causing the noise. It was a set of gold keys that were attached to a metal name tag. Van lifted a dark brow, " Hello....what have we here....? "
He lifted the name tag to his face and read the name, ' Hitomi Jean Kanzaki '
Van's heart stopped. If he was holding her duffelbag, then where was Hitomi? Van groaned and turned around again. He scanned the fields, but found no one again. He sighed and then hugged the bag to his chest, " I've found you....well, your bag at least. But, where could you be hiding? ", he asked the air.
Van mounted his horse and rode swiftly into the city of Fanelia. When he got to the castle, he quickly took off to his room. As soon as he entered his room, he slammed the door shut, and ran to the bed. Van unzipped the bag and dumped out the contents; a brush, a comb, a change of funny looking clothes, a picture frame with Hitomi standing there with her mother and grandmother, and a feather that still had it's colour of pure white.
Van fingered each object carefully, almost as if he were afraid that he were going to break it with the wrong touch. When his eyes came to rest upon the feather he frowned and picked it. He brought it to his face and it suddenly disappeared in front of his eyes.
Van blinked, " What was that all about? "
There was a light knock at the door and Van cocked his head to the side as he studied the picture of Hitomi at the age of about seven, " Come in....it's open.... ", he called out absentmindedly.
Merle's head slipped into the room followed by her entire body as she walked over to the bed, " Whatcha up to? "
Van handed her the picture, " Take a look at that... "
Merle frowned and looked at the picture in her hands, " Who's this? ", she asked lightly.
Van then handed her the bag, " Read the tagy thing on the side.... "
Merle nodded and read it out loud, " Hitomi Jean Kanzaki.... "
" Did I hear someone say Hitomi Kanzaki? ", a deep voice came from the door and Allen stepped into the room.
Van nodded, " You heard right, Allen... "
" What is all this? "
Merle shrugged, " Don't ask me. I just got here too.... ", she replied as she handed him the bag.
Allen looked at the bag and then his eyes strayed on the name tag, " Hitomi Jean Kanzaki... "
Van nodded, " That's what it says Allen.... "
Allen frowned, " Well, where's Hitomi? "
Van shrugged, " That's the one thing....I don't know. I found the bag laying on the ground, but no Hitomi... "
Merle bit her lip and whispered, " How sad.... "
Van nodded and raked a hand through his raven black hair, " I know, Merle. I know. What are we going to do? "
Allen looked over at Van, " See? What did I tell you? I told you that she was going to drop in on us one day... "
Merle lifted an eyebrow and looked up at Allen, " Yeah...but where is she then? "
" Her bag's here, but she's not... ", Van reminded Allen lightly.
" Oh...right. "
Merle bit her lip, " Do you think something bad's happened to her? "
Van and Allen both shrugged, " I don't know, Merle. I hope not... ", Van muttered quietly as he stared down at the smiling face of Hitomi that peered up at him from the picture frame.
**********************************************************
The air was hot. It rushed past her flushed skin as she walked down the blood stained path. Hitomi's eyes scanned the burnt fields. The smell of charred flesh was fresh in the air and it entered her nostrils. Hitomi hugged her arms to her chest as she continued to walk.
Parts of assorted Guymelefs were scattered around the area, laying on the ground, and stained with dark blood. Hitomi shivered and began to rub the upper halfs of her arms with her hands. She looked down at the ground as she walked and frowned deeply.
' Where is he? What's happened to everyone? Am I too late? Am I....dead? ', Hitomi wondered in confusion.
Hitomi continued to wander down the path until her eyes spotted a familiar Ispano Guymelef laying on the ground. She squinted her eyes against the smoke and then rushed towards it. Hitomi's foot hit something heavy and she pitched forward to the ground.
Hitomi's hand shot out so she could stop herself from hitting the ground hard. She bounced once and then laid still, her breathing slightly heavy and her eyes open wide. Hitomi slowly sat up and rubbed the back of her neck. She turned around to see what she hit and her eyes landed on the blood soaked sword laying beside the body.
The gold surrounding the symbol on the hilt was stained in blood and Hitomi stared at it. The sword had been snapped in two. The lower half laid somewhere out in the field. Hitomi blinked and brought her gaze up a notch to the body beside the sword. She immediately recognized the loose red shirt hanging in rags on the slightly muscular body.
Every part of the body was stained in blood. The black hair was matted to the side of the deathly white face. Hitomi crawled over to the body and flipped it onto it's back, shaking her head and praying that it wasn't who she that it was.
The reddish-brown eyes stared up at her lifeless and faded. Hitomi stiffle back a cry and tears brimmed her eyes. His lips were chapped and bloody as a trail of crusted and dry blood leaded from the corner of his lips to his chin. Hitomi swallowed thickly and gently brushed aside some of the blood covered raven black hair from his eyes.
" V-van....how? How'd this happen? This can't be happening. I was too late. I am dead! ", Hitomi whispered hoarsely as she bent down to kiss Van's forehead softly.
Van just laid there in Hitomi's trembling arms lifeless and limp. Hitomi sniffled lightly and looked him up and down, looking for what had caused his death. She found it. A large hole in the middle of his chest had taken him out. In his right hand, he clutched her pink pendant.
Hitomi reached out and tried to pry his fingers loose so she could take her pendant back but his fingers wouldn't budge. They'd be like that for the rest of life. Hitomi slowly stood up and backed away from Van. She shook her head and then turned around to try and walk away from the battlefield but she bumped into a robe clad figure.
Hitomi stumbled back, but regained her balance quickly. She stared at the unknown person and her lower lip trembled. From inside the hood, sinister laughter floated out and filled the air and Hitomi's ears. Hitomi brought her hands up to her ears to drone out the sound.
The figure took a step towards her and looked at her. Hitomi blinked and found herself staring into a pair of dangerous looking pink eyes, that gleamed with anger and evil. Long strands of Aquaish coloured hair flew out from the hood to fly wildly in front of the eyes.
Hitomi took another step back. The figure watched her and then laughed again, " You think you can run? He thought he could run, but he was mistaken... ", it's voice came out raspy and dry.
" I'm not going to run from you... ", Hitomi replied calmly, even though she was scared shitless.
" You should little one....your death could prove to be painful and enjoyable for me to watch.... "
Hitomi swallowed and stood her ground. The figure then disappeared from sight and Hitomi gasped and then turned around quickly to look for it. Finding no one there, she turned around to find herself staring into the pink eyes again.
The robe clad figure was standing right in front of her. Hitomi blinked and shook her head as she took a step back. From inside the shadows of the hood, the figure smiled wickedly before lifting a hand and placing it's palm flat against the middle of Hitomi's chest.
Hitomi swallowed again and went to take a step back, but she couldn't move. She was numb with fear. Hitomi felt something move against her chest and then pierce her heart. She gasped loudly and stared at the figure. The figure pushed her hand forward against Hitomi's chest and Hitomi cried out in pain.
Hitomi sank to her knees. The figure stepped back but didn't pull what it had thrusted into Hitomi's chest out. Hitomi reached up to clutch the metal spike that was now stuck in her chest and protruded from the back. The figure standing a few feet from her, threw it's head back and laughed evily as she lifted her hand in the air and snapped it's fingers.
Hitomi felt something warm pulse throughout her body from the spike and she threw her head back and screamed as her entire body began to glow a dark red. Hitomi suddenly went quiet and fell to the ground on her side. Blood poured from her ears, nose, fingernails, and from her mouth before she laid there shuddering uncontrollably.
The figure laughted evilly again before turned her back and disappearing in thin air. It's words whispered along the warm breeze, " It won't be long before I see you again, Hitomi Kanzaki...it won't be long. "
Hitomi's eyes slowly closed as she felt her injured heart take it's last beat of life. The name slipped past her lips as she slowly died on the battlefield, " Van... ", it ended up being a pained whisper. A single tear slid down her cheek.
*******************************************************
Merle looked at Van and then over at Allen. They were both sitting on the bed going over Hitomi's things for the twenth time that night. She shook her head and walked over to them, " Shouldn't we go out there and look for her? "
Allen looked at Merle, " She might be right, Van. What if Hitomi is out there alone? "
" Or else with someone who's only going to hurt her? ", Merle added quietly.
Van blinked and looked at them, " Maybe we should....but it's already night fall. We wouldn't be able to find her anywhere in the dark. ", he pointed out.
Allen sighed and raked a hand through his hair, sending it back over his shoulders, " He's right, Merle. "
Merle cocked her head to the side, " Lord Van. Hitomi would never give up on you. You know that. Why are you giving up on her? "
Allen glanced at Van, " Merle... "
Van shook his head, " She's right, Allen. Hitomi would never give up on me. Merle....we have to stick it out and wait till morning to go look for her. It's impossible to go searching for her now... "
Merle sighed in frustration, " Fine! Let her die! I can see that you don't care! ", she cried and turned to run from the room.
Allen whistled, " Whoa...I think you did it this time, Van.... "
Van sighed heavily and gently picked up the picture to set it on the nightstand beside the bed, " I'm sorry, Allen. There's nothing we can do at this hour of the night. You know that....I just wish it wasn't night at the moment...then we'd be able to go look for her. "
Allen nodded, " I know what you mean, Van....I know what you mean. "
Van looked down at the bed and closed his eyes. Allen frowned lightly and watched him closely, " What are you thinking? "
" I'm thinking about Hitomi and about Christina..... ", Van muttered.
" Oh....are you now having second thoughts about your marriage to Christina? "
Van shrugged, " I don't know. Can this wait till morning? After we find Hitomi? "
Allen nodded and slowly got off the bed, " Sure...I mean, hey...whatever. "
" Thanks. I'm going to try and sleep now. What about you? "
" Same thing. Might as well if we're going to go looking for Hitomi all day tomorrow... "
Van nodded, " Alright. I'll see you in the morning then? "
Allen nodded as he made his way to the door, " Sure, Van. Sleep lightly tonight.... ", he said before he left.
Van smiled lightly and muttered, " Yeah....you too.... "
Hitomi's bright smile peered at him as he laid his head down onto the pillow. He turned his head to the side and looked at her, taking in the twinkling sea-green eyes, and the smile that he loved so much. Van sighed heavily and then looked up at the ceiling.
" I will find you, Hitomi. Even if I spend my whole life doing it, I will find you... ", Van promised.
*****************************************
Mara lifted her head up and found herself staring into Benji's green eyes on her. She smiled lightly, " Hello.... "
Benji smiled briefly, " Hello, Mara. Sleep well? "
Mara shrugged lightly and stretched, " I suppose so. How's our little friend been doing? "
Benji looked over at her and then back to Mara, " Her fever hasn't gone down at all. It's gotten much worse. "
Mara sighed heavily, " Do you think we should call on Merle? Get Puck to look at her? "
Benji frowned and shrugged lightly, " I suppose we could. But what would his Majesty say about it? "
Mara chuckled, " I'd probably think that he'd be happy.... "
Benji lifted an eyebrow, " I suppose so. Where's Kitiara? "
" Right here, daddy.... ", Kitiara's small voice called out as she appeared by her mother's side.
" There's my girl... ", Benji said with a smile.
Kitiara grinned and nodded, " Mommy? Can I play with Merle now? "
Mara looked down at her daughter and smiled lightly, " Sure, baby. Where is she? "
Kitiara frowned, " At the castle I guess.... "
Mara shook her head, " No.... "
" Why? "
" Because she's not here to pick you up.... ", Mara replied simply.
Kitiara's frown deepened, " Mommy! ", she whined.
Benji watched his daughter, " Kitiara. What did we say about whining? "
" Not to do it... ", Kitiara replied softly as she bowed her head.
Mara sighed and then scratched her head, " I guess you could go play in the fields... "
Kitiara's head snapped up and she smiled, " Thank you mommy! ", she cried as she ran from the house.
Benji chuckled lightly and stood up to walk over to the cot. He removed the cloth from the girl's forehead and rewetted it. He placed it back onto the forehead and turned around to make his way back to the table. Mara watched the girl closely.
" She seems to be having a hard time breathing? ", Mara asked lightly.
Benji plopped down into a chair and lifted an eyebrow, " How so? "
" Can't you hear it? Her breathing's labored.... "
" Oh.....I think we should go and get Puck. Something's not right here.... "
Mara nodded, " I know. Can you feel it? "
" Feel what? "
" I...don't know. It's like ever since she showed up in our life's, there's been something odd. Like there's another presence around the house.... "
Benji nodded, " Honey. There is...it's her. "
Mara shook her head, " No....it's not her. It's something different... "
" Oh...."
" Aren't you going to get Puck? "
" Right... ", Benji replied as he stood up and walked towards the door.
Mara watched him and flashed him a smile as he looked over his shoulder at her, " Don't worry. We'll be fine.... "
Benji nodded and disappeared from the house. Mara sighed and ran a hand over her face. She looked over at the girl and then scratched her head, " There's something wrong with this...but what? Why does it feel so cold in the house now? ", she whispered to herself a she rubbed her arms.
(A/N** HAHAHA....it's FINALLY finished....hehe.....enjoy trying to figure out what's wrong.....hahahah)
Dedication: To Taemyr, Zidane's Dagger, Tira_Mearl_Festa, and Siena. And also to you; the reader and the reviewer.
~**~Chapter 2~**~
~*~I will find you, Hitomi.....~*~
Benji walked into the house quietly. His wife, Mara, looked up from the pot that she was stirring on the fire to watch him as he carried a mysterious looking girl into the house. He was closely followed by Kitiara. As soon as Mara laid eyes on her daughter she gasped loudly, " Kitara! What did I tell you about running in your dress again? ", she scolded.
Kitiara pouted and then ran to her. Wrapping her arms around her mother's legs she rubbed her face into the soft fur, " Mommy....look. We found her in the fields....can we keep her? "
Mara looked at Benji as he gently laid her down onto the cot in the corner of the little house. He stood up and his green eyes meet his wife's aqua ones. Benji shook his head and frowned deeply, " Mara? Can I talk to you for just one minute? "
Mara nodded, " Of course.. ", she looked down at Kitiara. " Baby...go to your room and get changed while mommy and daddy talk, alright? "
Kitiara nodded and left the room. Benji walked up to his wife and looked into her eyes, " Kitiara found her. She was laying on the ground in the middle of the fields. Kitiara also uh....accidentally kicked her. What do you think we should do? "
Mara bit her lip and placed a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder. She gently caressed it, " We can care for her till she awakens. Then we'll help her find her family, if she has one... "
Benji looked back at the girl and cocked his head to the side, " You know what? ", he whispered lightly as he studied the deathly pale face. " She reminds me of that girl that our King was so wild about. What was her name again? "
Mara followed his gaze, " Hitomi Kanzaki....she was called the Goddess of the Mystic Moon, in Merle's words... ", she added in a low voice.
Benji chuckled and walked over to the bed. He bent down and touched her forehead. Benji snatched his hand back, " Owww... "
Mara lifted an eyebrow and made her to him, " What? "
Benji shook his head, " Can you grab me a cloth and some warm water? She's running a pretty high fever... "
Mara nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Kitiara skipped into the room and then stopped in her tracks as she saw her father stripping the girl of her dark robe. Mara rushed past her with the bowl of water and a cloth. Kitiara watched in confusion as her mother handed her father the water and cloth.
" What's happening? ", Kitiara's soft voice came out as a squeak.
Mara spun around and walked over to her calmly, " Honey....the lady is sick. She needs to rest. Daddy and I are trying to help her, alright? I want you to help her to...can you do that? "
Kitiara nodded, " y-yes... "
Mara crouched down on her hunches and leaned forward to kiss her daughter's forehead, " Aww, honey. Don't cry...she's going to be alright. Daddy just has to bring down her fever, and she'll be as good as new.... ", she assured her as she reached out to wipe the tears that slipped past her lashes.
Kitiara sniffled lightly, " Mommy? Is it alright if I go play with Merle? "
Mara looked at her daughter, " Is she here to pick you up? "
Kitiara shook her head, " No.... "
" Then you can't go, baby. How about you go and play with your dolls in your room? "
" Alright... ", Kitiara muttered unhappily as she turned and walked back to her room.
Mara looked at her husband and then made her way to the back of the house. She disappeared into the bathroom and pulled out a first aid kit. Mara frowned deeply as she searched for some bandages. When she found some, she rushed into the room to find Benji sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands.
Mara rushed to his side, placing the bandages on the table, she reached out and ran a hand over her husband's shoulder, " Dear...what happened? "
Benji looked up at her, " Nothing...I'm just a little tired from all the running I did with Kitiara... "
" Would you like to rest? ", Mara suggested lightly.
Benji nodded, " That would be wonderful... ", he whispered happily as he stood up and kissed Mara on the cheek lightly.
Mara sighed lightly and picked up the bandages. She walked over to the bed and looked down at the girl dressed in only a black tank top, short beige shorts, and white canvas runners that were spolched with mud. The dark robe was laying on the ground beside the bed and Mara smiled.
Mara reached out and slowly lifted Hitomi's shirt up to reveal her stomach and ribs only. She rested the shirt on top of her breasts, respecting some privacy. Mara frowned deeply as she gazed down at the well toned stomach, wondering how she was going to do this without hurting her anymore.
There was an ugly purple bruise that was swelling by the minute on the right side of her stomach, and Mara assumed that that was where Kitiara accidentally kicked the girl. Mara sighed through clenched teeth and then crouched down to the level of the cot.
Mara unrolled the bandage and then began to wrap it around the girl's slim waist, ' She must be hungry if she's this thin...what's wrong with her parents? ', Mara thought to herself in anger.
When Mara was finished with the wrappings, she replaced the shirt the way it was before and stood up to only cross her arms over her chest and gaze down at the girl, ' She has to be about the age of sixteen now.... '
The girl's face suddenly contorted into a mask of pain as her head faced the wall. Mara watched the girl and then picked up the rest of the bandages. She turned and slowly walked to the kitchen table, where she sat down with her head rested on her arms.
Benji had already placed the warm cloth on her forehead and for that Mara was thankful. Mara's eyes slowly shut and she drifted to sleep....
**************************************
Van gripped the reins tightly in his uninjured hand. He pulled back on the reins and the horse slowed to a stop. Van looked around for where Hitomi might have been, but he couldn't find anything or anyone. Van quickly dismounted his horse and left it to go in search of Hitomi on foot.
Van was five feet from his horse when his foot came in contact with something soft. He looked down and saw what he had stepped on. It was a dark green duffelbag. Van bent down to pick it up and examine it. He frowned deeply as he searched for a name of some sort.
Van sighed in frustration and he decided to carry the bag with him back to Fanelia. There was a soft jingling and he stopped. He whirled around and searched for whoever he thought was following him. There was no one there. Van shrugged and continued to walk. The jingling followed for every step he took, the jingling noise followed.
Van looked down at the bag in his hands and found out what was causing the noise. It was a set of gold keys that were attached to a metal name tag. Van lifted a dark brow, " Hello....what have we here....? "
He lifted the name tag to his face and read the name, ' Hitomi Jean Kanzaki '
Van's heart stopped. If he was holding her duffelbag, then where was Hitomi? Van groaned and turned around again. He scanned the fields, but found no one again. He sighed and then hugged the bag to his chest, " I've found you....well, your bag at least. But, where could you be hiding? ", he asked the air.
Van mounted his horse and rode swiftly into the city of Fanelia. When he got to the castle, he quickly took off to his room. As soon as he entered his room, he slammed the door shut, and ran to the bed. Van unzipped the bag and dumped out the contents; a brush, a comb, a change of funny looking clothes, a picture frame with Hitomi standing there with her mother and grandmother, and a feather that still had it's colour of pure white.
Van fingered each object carefully, almost as if he were afraid that he were going to break it with the wrong touch. When his eyes came to rest upon the feather he frowned and picked it. He brought it to his face and it suddenly disappeared in front of his eyes.
Van blinked, " What was that all about? "
There was a light knock at the door and Van cocked his head to the side as he studied the picture of Hitomi at the age of about seven, " Come in....it's open.... ", he called out absentmindedly.
Merle's head slipped into the room followed by her entire body as she walked over to the bed, " Whatcha up to? "
Van handed her the picture, " Take a look at that... "
Merle frowned and looked at the picture in her hands, " Who's this? ", she asked lightly.
Van then handed her the bag, " Read the tagy thing on the side.... "
Merle nodded and read it out loud, " Hitomi Jean Kanzaki.... "
" Did I hear someone say Hitomi Kanzaki? ", a deep voice came from the door and Allen stepped into the room.
Van nodded, " You heard right, Allen... "
" What is all this? "
Merle shrugged, " Don't ask me. I just got here too.... ", she replied as she handed him the bag.
Allen looked at the bag and then his eyes strayed on the name tag, " Hitomi Jean Kanzaki... "
Van nodded, " That's what it says Allen.... "
Allen frowned, " Well, where's Hitomi? "
Van shrugged, " That's the one thing....I don't know. I found the bag laying on the ground, but no Hitomi... "
Merle bit her lip and whispered, " How sad.... "
Van nodded and raked a hand through his raven black hair, " I know, Merle. I know. What are we going to do? "
Allen looked over at Van, " See? What did I tell you? I told you that she was going to drop in on us one day... "
Merle lifted an eyebrow and looked up at Allen, " Yeah...but where is she then? "
" Her bag's here, but she's not... ", Van reminded Allen lightly.
" Oh...right. "
Merle bit her lip, " Do you think something bad's happened to her? "
Van and Allen both shrugged, " I don't know, Merle. I hope not... ", Van muttered quietly as he stared down at the smiling face of Hitomi that peered up at him from the picture frame.
**********************************************************
The air was hot. It rushed past her flushed skin as she walked down the blood stained path. Hitomi's eyes scanned the burnt fields. The smell of charred flesh was fresh in the air and it entered her nostrils. Hitomi hugged her arms to her chest as she continued to walk.
Parts of assorted Guymelefs were scattered around the area, laying on the ground, and stained with dark blood. Hitomi shivered and began to rub the upper halfs of her arms with her hands. She looked down at the ground as she walked and frowned deeply.
' Where is he? What's happened to everyone? Am I too late? Am I....dead? ', Hitomi wondered in confusion.
Hitomi continued to wander down the path until her eyes spotted a familiar Ispano Guymelef laying on the ground. She squinted her eyes against the smoke and then rushed towards it. Hitomi's foot hit something heavy and she pitched forward to the ground.
Hitomi's hand shot out so she could stop herself from hitting the ground hard. She bounced once and then laid still, her breathing slightly heavy and her eyes open wide. Hitomi slowly sat up and rubbed the back of her neck. She turned around to see what she hit and her eyes landed on the blood soaked sword laying beside the body.
The gold surrounding the symbol on the hilt was stained in blood and Hitomi stared at it. The sword had been snapped in two. The lower half laid somewhere out in the field. Hitomi blinked and brought her gaze up a notch to the body beside the sword. She immediately recognized the loose red shirt hanging in rags on the slightly muscular body.
Every part of the body was stained in blood. The black hair was matted to the side of the deathly white face. Hitomi crawled over to the body and flipped it onto it's back, shaking her head and praying that it wasn't who she that it was.
The reddish-brown eyes stared up at her lifeless and faded. Hitomi stiffle back a cry and tears brimmed her eyes. His lips were chapped and bloody as a trail of crusted and dry blood leaded from the corner of his lips to his chin. Hitomi swallowed thickly and gently brushed aside some of the blood covered raven black hair from his eyes.
" V-van....how? How'd this happen? This can't be happening. I was too late. I am dead! ", Hitomi whispered hoarsely as she bent down to kiss Van's forehead softly.
Van just laid there in Hitomi's trembling arms lifeless and limp. Hitomi sniffled lightly and looked him up and down, looking for what had caused his death. She found it. A large hole in the middle of his chest had taken him out. In his right hand, he clutched her pink pendant.
Hitomi reached out and tried to pry his fingers loose so she could take her pendant back but his fingers wouldn't budge. They'd be like that for the rest of life. Hitomi slowly stood up and backed away from Van. She shook her head and then turned around to try and walk away from the battlefield but she bumped into a robe clad figure.
Hitomi stumbled back, but regained her balance quickly. She stared at the unknown person and her lower lip trembled. From inside the hood, sinister laughter floated out and filled the air and Hitomi's ears. Hitomi brought her hands up to her ears to drone out the sound.
The figure took a step towards her and looked at her. Hitomi blinked and found herself staring into a pair of dangerous looking pink eyes, that gleamed with anger and evil. Long strands of Aquaish coloured hair flew out from the hood to fly wildly in front of the eyes.
Hitomi took another step back. The figure watched her and then laughed again, " You think you can run? He thought he could run, but he was mistaken... ", it's voice came out raspy and dry.
" I'm not going to run from you... ", Hitomi replied calmly, even though she was scared shitless.
" You should little one....your death could prove to be painful and enjoyable for me to watch.... "
Hitomi swallowed and stood her ground. The figure then disappeared from sight and Hitomi gasped and then turned around quickly to look for it. Finding no one there, she turned around to find herself staring into the pink eyes again.
The robe clad figure was standing right in front of her. Hitomi blinked and shook her head as she took a step back. From inside the shadows of the hood, the figure smiled wickedly before lifting a hand and placing it's palm flat against the middle of Hitomi's chest.
Hitomi swallowed again and went to take a step back, but she couldn't move. She was numb with fear. Hitomi felt something move against her chest and then pierce her heart. She gasped loudly and stared at the figure. The figure pushed her hand forward against Hitomi's chest and Hitomi cried out in pain.
Hitomi sank to her knees. The figure stepped back but didn't pull what it had thrusted into Hitomi's chest out. Hitomi reached up to clutch the metal spike that was now stuck in her chest and protruded from the back. The figure standing a few feet from her, threw it's head back and laughed evily as she lifted her hand in the air and snapped it's fingers.
Hitomi felt something warm pulse throughout her body from the spike and she threw her head back and screamed as her entire body began to glow a dark red. Hitomi suddenly went quiet and fell to the ground on her side. Blood poured from her ears, nose, fingernails, and from her mouth before she laid there shuddering uncontrollably.
The figure laughted evilly again before turned her back and disappearing in thin air. It's words whispered along the warm breeze, " It won't be long before I see you again, Hitomi Kanzaki...it won't be long. "
Hitomi's eyes slowly closed as she felt her injured heart take it's last beat of life. The name slipped past her lips as she slowly died on the battlefield, " Van... ", it ended up being a pained whisper. A single tear slid down her cheek.
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Merle looked at Van and then over at Allen. They were both sitting on the bed going over Hitomi's things for the twenth time that night. She shook her head and walked over to them, " Shouldn't we go out there and look for her? "
Allen looked at Merle, " She might be right, Van. What if Hitomi is out there alone? "
" Or else with someone who's only going to hurt her? ", Merle added quietly.
Van blinked and looked at them, " Maybe we should....but it's already night fall. We wouldn't be able to find her anywhere in the dark. ", he pointed out.
Allen sighed and raked a hand through his hair, sending it back over his shoulders, " He's right, Merle. "
Merle cocked her head to the side, " Lord Van. Hitomi would never give up on you. You know that. Why are you giving up on her? "
Allen glanced at Van, " Merle... "
Van shook his head, " She's right, Allen. Hitomi would never give up on me. Merle....we have to stick it out and wait till morning to go look for her. It's impossible to go searching for her now... "
Merle sighed in frustration, " Fine! Let her die! I can see that you don't care! ", she cried and turned to run from the room.
Allen whistled, " Whoa...I think you did it this time, Van.... "
Van sighed heavily and gently picked up the picture to set it on the nightstand beside the bed, " I'm sorry, Allen. There's nothing we can do at this hour of the night. You know that....I just wish it wasn't night at the moment...then we'd be able to go look for her. "
Allen nodded, " I know what you mean, Van....I know what you mean. "
Van looked down at the bed and closed his eyes. Allen frowned lightly and watched him closely, " What are you thinking? "
" I'm thinking about Hitomi and about Christina..... ", Van muttered.
" Oh....are you now having second thoughts about your marriage to Christina? "
Van shrugged, " I don't know. Can this wait till morning? After we find Hitomi? "
Allen nodded and slowly got off the bed, " Sure...I mean, hey...whatever. "
" Thanks. I'm going to try and sleep now. What about you? "
" Same thing. Might as well if we're going to go looking for Hitomi all day tomorrow... "
Van nodded, " Alright. I'll see you in the morning then? "
Allen nodded as he made his way to the door, " Sure, Van. Sleep lightly tonight.... ", he said before he left.
Van smiled lightly and muttered, " Yeah....you too.... "
Hitomi's bright smile peered at him as he laid his head down onto the pillow. He turned his head to the side and looked at her, taking in the twinkling sea-green eyes, and the smile that he loved so much. Van sighed heavily and then looked up at the ceiling.
" I will find you, Hitomi. Even if I spend my whole life doing it, I will find you... ", Van promised.
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Mara lifted her head up and found herself staring into Benji's green eyes on her. She smiled lightly, " Hello.... "
Benji smiled briefly, " Hello, Mara. Sleep well? "
Mara shrugged lightly and stretched, " I suppose so. How's our little friend been doing? "
Benji looked over at her and then back to Mara, " Her fever hasn't gone down at all. It's gotten much worse. "
Mara sighed heavily, " Do you think we should call on Merle? Get Puck to look at her? "
Benji frowned and shrugged lightly, " I suppose we could. But what would his Majesty say about it? "
Mara chuckled, " I'd probably think that he'd be happy.... "
Benji lifted an eyebrow, " I suppose so. Where's Kitiara? "
" Right here, daddy.... ", Kitiara's small voice called out as she appeared by her mother's side.
" There's my girl... ", Benji said with a smile.
Kitiara grinned and nodded, " Mommy? Can I play with Merle now? "
Mara looked down at her daughter and smiled lightly, " Sure, baby. Where is she? "
Kitiara frowned, " At the castle I guess.... "
Mara shook her head, " No.... "
" Why? "
" Because she's not here to pick you up.... ", Mara replied simply.
Kitiara's frown deepened, " Mommy! ", she whined.
Benji watched his daughter, " Kitiara. What did we say about whining? "
" Not to do it... ", Kitiara replied softly as she bowed her head.
Mara sighed and then scratched her head, " I guess you could go play in the fields... "
Kitiara's head snapped up and she smiled, " Thank you mommy! ", she cried as she ran from the house.
Benji chuckled lightly and stood up to walk over to the cot. He removed the cloth from the girl's forehead and rewetted it. He placed it back onto the forehead and turned around to make his way back to the table. Mara watched the girl closely.
" She seems to be having a hard time breathing? ", Mara asked lightly.
Benji plopped down into a chair and lifted an eyebrow, " How so? "
" Can't you hear it? Her breathing's labored.... "
" Oh.....I think we should go and get Puck. Something's not right here.... "
Mara nodded, " I know. Can you feel it? "
" Feel what? "
" I...don't know. It's like ever since she showed up in our life's, there's been something odd. Like there's another presence around the house.... "
Benji nodded, " Honey. There is...it's her. "
Mara shook her head, " No....it's not her. It's something different... "
" Oh...."
" Aren't you going to get Puck? "
" Right... ", Benji replied as he stood up and walked towards the door.
Mara watched him and flashed him a smile as he looked over his shoulder at her, " Don't worry. We'll be fine.... "
Benji nodded and disappeared from the house. Mara sighed and ran a hand over her face. She looked over at the girl and then scratched her head, " There's something wrong with this...but what? Why does it feel so cold in the house now? ", she whispered to herself a she rubbed her arms.
(A/N** HAHAHA....it's FINALLY finished....hehe.....enjoy trying to figure out what's wrong.....hahahah)