AN: Well I'm back with another chapter. Things are kinda heating up. Next chapter will have more. Evil guy will have more of a role hopefully. Brain's startin' to spin! Read on!

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It had only taken moments for two other curious people to hear Hitomi scream. Millerna and Merle had met at the door to their room and were contemplating on whether they should go in or not. Merle pressed her ear to the door and listened (Cats do have good ears). After about a few minutes of what sounded like pacing and mumbling, the door flew opened and Hitomi walked into Merle. Both women screamed and Hitomi jumped back into Van, who was standing behind her.

"Merle?" Van asked as he steadied Hitomi before she could fall.

"Geez, you scared the crap outta me!" Merle exclaimed.

"Scared the crap outta you! What are you doing standing outside the door?" Hitomi asked.

"We heard you scream and we were wondering what was wrong." Millerna interjected. This brought Hitomi to attention and she quickly walked to Faith's room leaving Van to explain.

They all walked to Faith's room surprised to see what they saw. Hitomi was sitting on the floor rocking back and forth with Faith in her arms. She was whispering something that no one could understand. Van quickly approached her and knelt to hear what she was saying.

"Too late, I was too late. How could I let this happen? How?" She muttered. Van noticed how hysterical she had become. It didn't surprise him since every time she had a vision she didn't quite seem herself after. He figured whatever she saw was worse than any nightmare he ever had.

He carefully pried her hands away from Faith's frail body. He could tell that she had a fever just by looking at her. He moved a few strands of hair that fell in her eyes and put her back in her bed. Worry etched across his face as he looked down at Hitomi on the floor. She hadn't told him anything about her vision and he was determined to find out what she knew.

Millerna crossed the room and reached out to touch Faith's forehead. She then turned to them with worry in her eyes.

"Mommy? Daddy? I'm cold." Faith whimpered as she snuggled deeper into the blankets. Millerna lifted a thick quilt up over her and looked at the others.

"She has a fever and it has spiked that's why she's cold. We need to get her temperature down right now. Merle, I need you to got get me a cloth and some water." Millerna instructed. Merle took one look at Van and Hitomi then, bolted out the door.

"Mommy, I'm scared. Don't let the voice take me away." Faith murmured as she drifted back to sleep. This had caused more of a reaction from the already hysterical Hitomi who, in an instant, jumped up and hugged Faith.

"What's going on Van? There's more to this than a fever." Millerna stated.

"All I know is that Hitomi had a vision and as you can see, she's not herself at the moment." Van replied.

"You should take her out of here and get her to calm down before she has a breakdown or something. Faith being sick is bad enough. You should take her back to your room so she can calm down some. Maybe then you'll find out what's going on." Millerna said. Van looked at Faith then to Hitomi who had clung to the child. As much as he wanted to be afraid, he knew that he had to be strong for them.

"I don't think it's going to be that easy Millerna." He said.

"Doesn't matter. If she doesn't get out of this delirious state I'm going to slap her myself. She needs some sense knocked into her Van. Look at her. Can you honestly believe that is Hitomi? Hmmm?" Millerna asked.

"I see your point but, she's not gonna like this one bit and you know as well as I do that she's gonna be very angry." Van said.

"I know but, it's better than seeing her this way." Millerna said, sympathetically.

"Yeah, you're not the one that's gotta do it." He muttered to himself as he walked toward Hitomi. It hurt him to see her like this but, he knew the consequences that he'd have to face while trying to take a mother away from her sick child, especially in this case.

"Millerna thinks you should rest Hitomi." He said, trying the easy approach. She turned to glare up at him like he was demanding the impossible.

"No, I can't leave Faith. I have to help her." She said.

"How are you going to help her Hitomi? You can't even think straight. Please, just come with me." He said.

"I am NOT leaving Faith alone! I'm fine!" She yelled. Van looked at Millerna for some kind of sign and received a nod.

"I'm sorry Hitomi but, this is for your own good. You are anything but fine at the moment and I don't want you to get sick either." He said as he advanced on her. She crossed her arms and glared up at him.

"I'm staying here Van!" She yelled again. Van shook his head and grabbed her arms, pulling her to her feet. She gasped as he grabbed her and carried her out of the room over his shoulder.

"Van! Put me down! You can't do this!" She yelled as she tried to squirm out of his grasp. Van walked down the hall and brought her into their room, locking the door behind him.

"Why are you doing this? Can't you see that our daughter is lying in there and she's sick?!? She's alone and scared and all your worried about is me? I'm fine! Don't you care that she's in danger right now?!?" She yelled as she walked past him to the door. Her words struck a cord in him and he reached back to grab her arm.

"Hitomi, stop!"

A sickening smack echoed through the room and Van turned his face back to look at her. To him it felt like she had torn his face off she hit him so hard. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and her hands immediately shot up to cover her mouth. The room was silent until she stepped back and sank to the floor.

"Oh Van, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Oh, what have I done? I'm sorry." She cried. Feeling his arms wrap around her shaking body didn't make her feel any better, only worse. He held her as she continued her chant.

After a few minutes of crying she looked up at him and gently touched the cheek in which she had slapped moments before. He visibly winced knowing that it would most likely bruise. Her eyes filled with tears once again and she hugged him fiercely.

"It's ok Hitomi, please calm down and tell me what's wrong. I'll be fine just, please tell me what you saw to make you so upset. Please? What's going to happen?" He asked.

"He wants revenge. I think he wants to take Faith away from us to get his revenge." She whispered.

"Who? Who would want revenge from us Hitomi?" He asked.

"A man. He has grey hair and his eyes are completely black. He couldn't be any older than us Van. I don't know who he is though. I've never seen him before." She said.

"Why would he want Faith? It doesn't make any sense! None of it makes any sense! She just a child, why would he want her?" He asked, furious with the idea of someone attacking a child. It was worse being his child. She could sense his rage and confusion at the thought.

"I can't answer that yet. All I know is that she's in danger and I've got the sinking feeling that we're going to find out who this guy is really soon." She said.

"What makes you so sure?" He asked.

"I have a really bad feeling. I'm scared Van. The way she looked at me in my vision. I can't let that happen." She said.

"We won't let it happen." He reassured her.

"I didn't mean what I said Van. I..."

"I know Hitomi, you don't have to apologize..."

"Yes, yes I do. I had no right to say that. Any of it." She said, lowering her head.

"Like I said before Hitomi, you don't need to apologize to me. I love and nothing you say could ever change that. Stop doing this to yourself." He said. She smiled and hugged him again.

"I feel better now, can we please go check on Faith?" She asked.

"As long as you promise not to hit me again if I have to drag you out." He teased.

"Oh you!" She said as she lightly pushed him back.

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TBC



AN: What will happen to Faith? Will Hitomi's twisted vision come true? Who's the guy on the revenge trip? You'll find out eventually! Like really soon hopefully! Hope you like. I tried to get this out sooner but, I really didn't feel good and it kinda screwed up my ability to write and make sense. I totally blame the hot weather. It doesn't like me anymore than I like it. Til next time! R&R please! Well if you want to that is.