Last Dance
[Author's notes: Spoilers…. Hitomi/Van… and feedback
needed! Arigatou!]
It's the first time my school has put on a
dance.
It's only for the seniors, of course – those
in their third and final year of high school. But this year, I am one of those
students – me, Kanzaki Hitomi.
"Don't
worry, Hitomi." Yukari smiles kindly, noticing my discomfort. "I'm here too, so
you're not alone. Maybe…" her smile gets wider now, more sly – "Maybe somebody
will ask you to dance."
"I doubt
that'll happen…"
"Oh, but
you never know. Lots of students know who you are. You're Kanzaki Hitomi, the
top female track runner of this school!"
I smile.
Yukari was encouraging me, as always, but I see a flicker of sadness. She wants
her Amano to be here, but he's already at university and couldn't come to a
high school dance. But, as I'm her friend, she came with me. No doubt she would
convince some new student to ask me to dance.
I miss Van.
Yes, I miss
him more now as I'm in this crowd; everyone looks happy. Schoolgirls are trying
to convince their crushes to dance with them, talking in groups, the boys
talking about if Jackie Chan or Jet Li is the best Hong Kong martial-arts movie
star right now.
This world
feels stranger than Gaea ever did.
Why did I
say no? Why didn't I stay in Gaea, by Van's side?
If only he
was here… I can see him in my mind now, with his soft brown eyes and smile. The
woodsy- grassy scent I associate with him, the ethereal feathers floating
around him.
I barely hear Yukari inhale sharply and
whisper. "Kami-sama, I haven't seen that guy before… must be a transfer student
or something…"
Van – why
can't we dance, one last dance here, and then go to Gaea together? Please
forgive me… I've been so blind… I hadn't seen what I really wanted when I said
goodbye to you…
"Kanzaki
Hitomi?"
That sounds
like Van's voice. I look up, and blink. The dance – I didn't lose myself in the
vision after all.
I hear Yukari's voice whispering frantically.
"Turn
around, turn around, there's a cute guy there…"
I turn.
Only to
find myself reflected in a pair of soft brown eyes.
"Van?" I
mutter.
He's not
wearing the red tunic or the pants he often wears; but it is him. My
grandmother's pendant is around his neck, a cherished treasure and memento.
"Oi,
Hitomi." He smiles. "Haven't seen this before… it's only my second time here…"
Yukari's
confused, but I know what Van said.
He holds
out a hand, and I take it gratefully.
"I want to
stay with you, Van," I say before words fail me. "I was an idiot."
He's quiet.
Something's on his mind. I wonder… after all, he's King of Fanelia. Did he
marry already? Did I trap him with my wish?
Was I too
late?
He holds me
close. My heart leaps from its place to my throat.
"I've been
told to find a Queen," he says at last. "Hitomi, I…"
I knew it.
I was too late.
"I want you
to come back with me, Hitomi," Van finishes. "If you're certain it's best…"
I smile and
run a hand over my old pendant. It glows when I touch it.
"I'm
certain. I won't have any regrets, I promise."
Van smiles
then as a light begins to glimmer around us. "Promises aren't necessary. You've
given me that strength."
Yukari
might not remember this. But she will know – she will know where I am.
I'm with my
angel. And we will fly, together, under the Moon and Earth in the forever blue,
forever clear sky.
~Owari~
