Ren, Hitomi and Dryden arrived in three days. The air around the palace was heavy with sadness. Hitomi knew in her heart that Asago had died, even before she saw Chid run toward them, his face awash with tears.


"I'm to late...I'm too late." Hitomi looked at Ren, her face filled with bitterness.


"If he had let me go....I could have gotten hear sooner." Hitomi looked at Chid and whisperd," Bring me to her room."

Chid saw that somthing was missing in Hitomi's face, like a part of her had died. He lead the way toward the room where Asago's body lay waiting for it's final cleansing.


"She left you a leter, Hitomi. IT's on the table. You have one too, Ren."

Chid made a move to go inside the room , but Ren grabed his arm.

"She needs to be alone right now after what has happened."

"What do you mean...What happened?" Chid cast a worried glance at the closed door.

"She and Van had a fight, I'm very afraid for her." Ren told Chid all that had happened in Fanelia. Chid found it hard to believe Van could do such a thing as tell Hitomi not to come back.

"She can live hear untill things cool back down, Hitomi will always be safe in my kingdom." Ren nodded as Chid pulled her inot a comforting hug.


~~~~~@ @~~~~~


Hitomi opened the letter with care. Her shaking fingers made the paper rattled loudly in the shadowed room as she read....

...To my dear Lady,

By now you no doubt know I am gone. I tried to hold out untill you came, but my fellow solders were calling me home. I can see them you know, those killed too young on the battle feild have come for me. I am not afraid though, for it is my time to go. You have been a blessing from the Gods, Lady Hitomi, and you have helped me more than you know. I do have one last request, though. Please lead my women. Become a syibol of peace in this war torn world. FAte has whispered many things in my ear these last few days. I know all about your pain. Remeber life is a circle, it always comes back to the place it started at.

...Yours ever in Life and Death,

Asago de Fa`an


Hitomi felt more tears come to her eyes as she stood there. She began to feel dizzy and tried to set down, she missed the chair and felt the floor. Hitomi's head hit the bookcase witha loud bang.


~~~~~~@ @~~~~~


Millerna spoke softly to Chid and Ren.

"In light of what happened between her and Van, I think we should wait to tell her." They stood outside Hitomi's room she was inside sleeping fitfully.

"Yes, her body will tell her of this child soon enough." Ren agreed as they began to wak away. Millerna looked worried.

"I'm afraid there will be complcations with her pregnicy. I'm going to let Dryden travle alone for awhile."

"Well, this can all wait untill tommorrow. Right now we need to bury the dead." The halls echoed with their sort footfall as the three walked down the shadowed corridore.


End of Chapter


A.N I bet you all knew that was coming huh? Well I'm almost finished with it...just 11 more chapters left!!