"Hitomi,you have NO life"exclamed Yucari. Hitomi looked up from the book she was studing. She hadn't heard Yucari come into her apartment.
"Haven't you ever heard of knocking before you enter someones apartment?" Hitomi asked slightly angery as she took off her glass. This was her last year of college. In four years she had completed an eight year degree and was about to recieve her Docternate in Dipolacy and mid-evil history.
Somtime in the past four years her eye sight has gotten bad. Now she had to where glasses to read.
"Hitomi, come on. Come shopping with me!! It'll be fun!!" Yucari bounced around the room in a blur of hyper-active movment. Hitomi sighed, just the thought of shopping with Yucari made her feel tired. THen she though of her empty frige and pantry,whichshe hadn't hought to restock on her last trip out....Well there where worst things in life than shopping with Yucari.Lick starving to death.
"Okay, Yucari, I'll come...But you have to feed me." Hitomi warned her over excited friend. Yucari squeeled and barly gave Hitomi time to get some money before she drug her out side.


Over lunch they talked of many hings. Yucari and Amono had recintly started dating again after not seeing each other for awhile. Yucari would soon become a second grade teacher. All was right in her world. Hitomi, all though ahe would say she was fine to Yucari and any one else that asked, had an empty spot where all her friends from Gaea had been. She was lonlyfor Van. THe last time she had seen him had been two years ago*. For some reason he had never come back to earth. Although he kept in touch through their minds, Hitomi was begining to worry. She promised herself that as soon as college was over she would find away to get back to Gaea.
"Hitomi, your a million miles away. If you didn't won't to come you didn't have to. I would have understood." came Yucari's voice to Hitomi.
"Nani?, Yucari,Gomen!!!I didn't mean to drift off."
"What where you thinking about, Hitomi?"Yacari asked with a currious expression on her face.
"Oh, you know....Just things..."
"Your thinking about him...aren't you Hitomi?" Yucari's face had changed to one of gentel probing. Hitomi looked around at the other patrons of the little street cafe. She knew that she would acomplish nothing by feeling sorry for her self.
"Yes, Yucari, I was...but....Don't worry, I'll be okay."
Yucari's eyes turned sad,"You'll be leaving soon won't you?"
Hitomi couldn't meet her eyes untill Yucari took her hand.
"Hitomi...Follow your heart"

End of Chaper one
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*.I have another fic calle dNever Doubt inwhich Van comes to earth to send time with Hitomi. It's not as corny as It sounds.