A New Beginning - Chapter 7
Hitomi walked through Van's garden, finally resting upon the grass by the fountain, hugging her legs. Staring into the fountain, she looked at her own reflection for a few minutes before a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hitomi."
Hitomi looked up and saw Van approaching her. She quickly sat up straight, waiting for Van to say something. Van strolled to where Hitomi was and sat down beside her, also looking into the reflection of the fountain, leaving Hitomi staring at him, still waiting. After an awkward silence, she decided to start a conversation.
"So…got up this early?"
"Yes."
"Isn't your room that way?" She pointed toward the opposite direction he had come from.
"Yes."
"Why were you coming from there?" Again she pointed, but toward where he had appeared to her.
"I was outside."
"Why?"
The question seemed to have struck him by surprise. He lifted his sight from the water, and turned to look at her. She kept her questioning gaze on him, and then he turned his head from her to look at the sky. Van laid back on his back and rested his head on his arms, sighing as he did so. Seeing him do that, Hitomi also lay down beside him, doing the same thing, and turned her head to look at him. He's thinking again, she thought.
"What are you thinking about?" she finally said.
"About my brother."
"Folken? I-I'm sorry…"
"It's fine. He. . .he was an honorable man…he didn't betray his country…"
"Of course he didn't! He turned it into what it is now!" She swung her arms around at the surroundings around her, adding emphasis to what she'd said.
"I know that, but I can't force myself to think that…" Van said between a sigh of frustration.
"You can't believe something unless you truly think it's true…" Hitomi mouthed.
Van turned his head immediately. "What do you mean by that?"
All of a sudden, Hitomi became frightened of him. She wasn't frightened of his eyes, not those eyes that she'd loved about him, nor his violence…in a way she had loved his violence. But right that moment, the young boy had so much power amongst him that it frightened her. The power of a king…the power to eliminate anyone he wishes…but when she opened her mouth to respond, she was surprised by the response she had chosen and the bravery behind it.
"That you didn't believe that Folken died in honor. That he perhaps—"
Van didn't let her finish. His eyes were clouded in anger. He immediately shot up and struck her across the face. Hitomi screamed at the pain, and glared up at him, placing her hand on her cheek. He hit me! How could he hit me…
She got up slowly, and Van was still breathing heavily. Looking into Hitomi's tearful face, he suddenly realized what he had done. He lifted his hand and looked at it, horrified by the life it had of its own. What have I done? Hitomi spun away from him, unable to face him, and for a moment, Van watched as her back shook while she sobbed. His hand was moving slowly towards her, raised inches from her back to comfort her, but right when he was about to make contact with her back she turned around and yelled out in tears, "I'M SORRY!" and ran off into the castle. Van stood in his garden dumbfounded.
*****
It was afternoon, and Haligre had not appeared for the morning court meeting. Van's most important knight disappeared, and the court meeting was canceled. Merle…she had also not appeared to Van during the whole day, which was rare, since the cat's only interest was to hang around Van and Hitomi. Van strode through the hallways of his castle, searching for Hitomi. Already he was beginning to worry about both Haligre and Merle, for the light was starting to disappear. Finally, he came to Hitomi's room, but she wasn't there. Upon entering the room, he noticed a piece of paper lying on the bed. This can't be good… He walked quickly over to the bed, and picked up the small piece of paper. What it said was:
Van,
I have enjoyed my time on Gaea. But as fate always has, it has taken to
unpredictable changes. All I can say is that you've changed. For the better,
for the worse, doesn't matter. You've changed for the better for your
country. You won't have to worry about Fanelia's safety anymore, it'll be
successful with a king as devoted to it as you. I wish you good luck with
your country, and may it become the best of this world. My leaving is only
for the best. Perhaps if you choose to forget me, you will find a good queen
to govern your vast pieces of land for you. And maybe someday, we shall meet
again. But now, let's just say I need to perform a test on fate to see if it
wants us to be together. Please do not search for me, we have to let fate
settle this. Farewell, Van. I will always love you, no matter what happens.
Always and forever, your love,
Hitomi Kanzaki
She left?! Van sat down on the bed and put his face in his hands. And for the first time since a long while, he cried, letting out all the stress that had built up inside. Why had I hit her?! How could she just leave? He shook his head in agony, and only stopped when a messenger knocked on the door. He wiped the tears on his cheeks with the fabric of his shirt, sniffed, and wiped his eyes with his palm.
"Come in." he commanded, trying to hide the crack in his voice.
The door opened and a tall man, strongly built, stepped in garbed in full knights' armor. He knelt down on one knee, the usual greeting for males to the king. "Sire," He looked up from the ground to Van, and obviously noticed Van's wet face, but wasn't about to say anything concerning it. "Allen Shezar, knight of Caeli of Asturia, wishes to meet with you."
"I do not wish to see him at the moment. Please tell him that I will talk to him tonight at dinner."
"But he insists on seeing that girl…"
"I said tonight." Van's tone of voice had cut off any possibility of an argument.
A worried face came over the young man. "Y-yes, sire, as you wish."
The man left the room, leaving Van alone in the room.