Chapter 7: In Dreams
Hitomi stared down at the ground moving beneath her as her swing swayed back and forth, back and forth. Bitter, upset thoughts tore through her mind, drowning out the eeriness of the overwhelming silence that surrounded her. After she tried to contact Van and sensed the dreaded new romantic presence with him, she had come to the park near her house. Soon after, the sun had set and the last of the giggling children left with their mothers. Now, she glanced up to find that it was getting very dark, and she had never seen the park so still. There was only a slight shift in the shadows when a cool wind rustled through the trees.
The possible scenarios flicked through her head. Maybe Van was just having fun dancing with a new friend of his… yeah, right. If she was only a friend, he wouldn't have been so smitten.
It annoyed Hitomi that she couldn't stop thinking about Van and that she felt hurt and betrayed. He did, after all, have a right to move on- she didn't expect him to pine for her all his life. Maybe he never did feel that strongly about her in the first place. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't ignore the pain she was in. She had shouted meaningless words earlier, stemming from her upsetting shock; obviously, she still cared for Van more than she could express. Letting out a shaky sigh, she leaned against the handles of the swing and closed her eyes.
***
For the last hour, Van had been tossing and turning in his bed, not sure why he was so restless. Finally giving up on sleep, he climbed out and pulled on his clothes. He wandered the castle halls for a while, then decided to get some air. As he walked through the streets of the village, he noticed a familiar figure step out of a large house. The slim young woman lifted her dress cautiously and went down the front steps. Suddenly, she glanced up and locked eyes with Van. She quickly ducked her head again, but Van thought he caught a glimpse of a sly smile. He hesitated for a second, then walked over to her.
"Hello, Adara," he said politely.
"Van," she returned with a smile. "Why don't you come sit down?" she gestured to the wooden bench near the house. Van nodded, and they sat down next to each other, smiling awkwardly.
"Nice night," Adara remarked meekly, in a weak attempt to make conversation.
"It sure is…Adara, back at the castle-"
"You're forgiven." She broke in quickly. He looked at her, surprised, and she just gave him a reassuring grin. She was a beautiful girl, but she made Van feel at ease. Tearing his eyes away from her, he sat back and looked out toward the neighbouring homes.
"It's just, I- I think I made a mistake," he said quietly.
"What?"
Van took her hand in his, and she looked up into his eyes expectantly. She took his other hand and, closing her eyes, brought her lips to his. His eyes shot wide open as he realized what was happening. But this was what he wanted, wasn't it?
***
Hitomi patted her hair dry with one of the towels Merle had provided after she and Van returned from the nasty storm outside. Realizing she was ready to collapse any minute, she got into bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep. In her dreams, she felt dismal and lonely. She could see herself wandering around her Mystic Moon house, and then sitting in her bedroom. Her fingers were stroking a shimmering white feather, her eyes closed as if she was concentrating. Suddenly, her eyes flew open and tears began to pour down her cheeks. "I don't love you anymore…"
Hitomi awoke with a start, realizing she had just spoken in her sleep. It took a moment for her brain to register what she had said. Then it clicked. Why was she dreaming of this unfortunate, and untrue, phrase ? It was as if the dream, and the words she had uttered to Van, had come from another world, or some other dimension altogether. It didn't make any sense…
In his room, Van lay on his back, allowing his eyes to close for a moment, but he soon drifted off. A rush of emotions came over him as images flashed through his mind- he felt comfortable and happy. He was dancing with a girl, someone he had never seen before, but he felt like he already knew her. Her blue eyes twinkled when she laughed and her long chestnut hair swayed behind her shoulders. And suddenly, out of nowhere, he was kissing her, her arms wound tightly around his neck. Happiness and comfort were replaced by uncertainty. Even so, the embracing didn't stop. The dream gradually faded to blackness, and when Van woke up, the sun was peaking through the curtains. Not keen on talking to anyone, he decided to go down to the market for breakfast.
***
Van finally pulled himself away from Adara. Kissing her was giving him a sick feeling; it wasn't right. Adara was beautiful and kind and sweet. But she wasn't Hitomi.
"I'm sorry," he said hastily, "I have to leave."
"Van, wait," Adara pleaded softly. "You don't want to stay with me?"
Van looked at her apologetically. What could he say? He had made a horrible mistake. "I…I can't. I'm sorry."
Adara, stricken, watched him leave hurriedly. She bit her lip and turned to head back inside.
***
Hitomi looked out over the balcony down to the path below. She could see the young king making his way to the market road. "Van!!!!" she shouted. "Van!" He didn't turn around. Exasperated, Hitomi hurried out into the hall, down the steps, and out the doors, and finally met him on the path, out of breath.
"Hitomi.. I'm going to the market."
"You don't mind if I join you, right?"
Van didn't reply. Hitomi swallowed hard. He was obviously still angry about yesterday. Although she knew the reason for her saying that she no longer loved him had something to do with the dream, she didn't know how to tell him without sounding foolish.
Van wished Hitomi hadn't tagged along. For one thing, yesterday's incident made everything between them awkward. Plus, he was feeling incredibly guilty about his dream. So Hitomi didn't love him. But she was everything to him, so why was he dreaming about another girl?
The two stopped at a fruit and vegetable stand at the foot of the market, where Van picked up a few items. Hitomi watched him, thinking about his actions in the field yesterday. That is, before she had somehow ruined everything. He had not only brought her to a gorgeous place she had wanted to visit, but he flew her there, while she held on to him tightly. Before the cruel words had slipped out, Van had said some things…and then, he was about to kiss her. He loved her. Now, Hitomi grinned, confident that she would be able to fix things.
"Van, we need to-" realizing he wasn't hearing a word she was saying, Hitomi followed Van's intense gaze. Strolling down the market street was an attractive girl with striking blue eyes and long dark hair. Hitomi looked at her, then back at Van, and back to the girl. Hitomi took a step back from him, frowning slightly. Van's eyes widened as she passed them, his jaw dropping a little. Hitomi's heart sank. Was he… attracted to this girl?
Van couldn't believe his eyes. He had never seen this girl in person before, but he recognized her easily. She was the one from his disturbing dream, no doubt about it. Was he seeing things, or did she really exist? He shut his eyes tightly, waited, but when he opened them, she was still there. He could hear her easy laugh ring out as she chatted with villagers. She was real, all right. He almost wished she wasn't; her existence made everything more complex. Van wondered if the dream had meant anything – was he supposed to be with this strange girl, instead of Hitomi?
"Van?" came the Mystic Moon girl's wavering voice. "What is it?"
He whipped his head around to face Hitomi, lowering his eyes guiltily. "Nothing. Let's go."
A/N: Sorry if this seems kinda rushed. I really wanted to post, tho, since I haven't in so long. Lol, last time I said I would post this chap soon… so much for that. And I know, this chapter just sorta ended, it's not really complete, but hopefully I'll be finished 8 soon. Please R&R! Thanx :)
Hitomi stared down at the ground moving beneath her as her swing swayed back and forth, back and forth. Bitter, upset thoughts tore through her mind, drowning out the eeriness of the overwhelming silence that surrounded her. After she tried to contact Van and sensed the dreaded new romantic presence with him, she had come to the park near her house. Soon after, the sun had set and the last of the giggling children left with their mothers. Now, she glanced up to find that it was getting very dark, and she had never seen the park so still. There was only a slight shift in the shadows when a cool wind rustled through the trees.
The possible scenarios flicked through her head. Maybe Van was just having fun dancing with a new friend of his… yeah, right. If she was only a friend, he wouldn't have been so smitten.
It annoyed Hitomi that she couldn't stop thinking about Van and that she felt hurt and betrayed. He did, after all, have a right to move on- she didn't expect him to pine for her all his life. Maybe he never did feel that strongly about her in the first place. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't ignore the pain she was in. She had shouted meaningless words earlier, stemming from her upsetting shock; obviously, she still cared for Van more than she could express. Letting out a shaky sigh, she leaned against the handles of the swing and closed her eyes.
***
For the last hour, Van had been tossing and turning in his bed, not sure why he was so restless. Finally giving up on sleep, he climbed out and pulled on his clothes. He wandered the castle halls for a while, then decided to get some air. As he walked through the streets of the village, he noticed a familiar figure step out of a large house. The slim young woman lifted her dress cautiously and went down the front steps. Suddenly, she glanced up and locked eyes with Van. She quickly ducked her head again, but Van thought he caught a glimpse of a sly smile. He hesitated for a second, then walked over to her.
"Hello, Adara," he said politely.
"Van," she returned with a smile. "Why don't you come sit down?" she gestured to the wooden bench near the house. Van nodded, and they sat down next to each other, smiling awkwardly.
"Nice night," Adara remarked meekly, in a weak attempt to make conversation.
"It sure is…Adara, back at the castle-"
"You're forgiven." She broke in quickly. He looked at her, surprised, and she just gave him a reassuring grin. She was a beautiful girl, but she made Van feel at ease. Tearing his eyes away from her, he sat back and looked out toward the neighbouring homes.
"It's just, I- I think I made a mistake," he said quietly.
"What?"
Van took her hand in his, and she looked up into his eyes expectantly. She took his other hand and, closing her eyes, brought her lips to his. His eyes shot wide open as he realized what was happening. But this was what he wanted, wasn't it?
***
Hitomi patted her hair dry with one of the towels Merle had provided after she and Van returned from the nasty storm outside. Realizing she was ready to collapse any minute, she got into bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep. In her dreams, she felt dismal and lonely. She could see herself wandering around her Mystic Moon house, and then sitting in her bedroom. Her fingers were stroking a shimmering white feather, her eyes closed as if she was concentrating. Suddenly, her eyes flew open and tears began to pour down her cheeks. "I don't love you anymore…"
Hitomi awoke with a start, realizing she had just spoken in her sleep. It took a moment for her brain to register what she had said. Then it clicked. Why was she dreaming of this unfortunate, and untrue, phrase ? It was as if the dream, and the words she had uttered to Van, had come from another world, or some other dimension altogether. It didn't make any sense…
In his room, Van lay on his back, allowing his eyes to close for a moment, but he soon drifted off. A rush of emotions came over him as images flashed through his mind- he felt comfortable and happy. He was dancing with a girl, someone he had never seen before, but he felt like he already knew her. Her blue eyes twinkled when she laughed and her long chestnut hair swayed behind her shoulders. And suddenly, out of nowhere, he was kissing her, her arms wound tightly around his neck. Happiness and comfort were replaced by uncertainty. Even so, the embracing didn't stop. The dream gradually faded to blackness, and when Van woke up, the sun was peaking through the curtains. Not keen on talking to anyone, he decided to go down to the market for breakfast.
***
Van finally pulled himself away from Adara. Kissing her was giving him a sick feeling; it wasn't right. Adara was beautiful and kind and sweet. But she wasn't Hitomi.
"I'm sorry," he said hastily, "I have to leave."
"Van, wait," Adara pleaded softly. "You don't want to stay with me?"
Van looked at her apologetically. What could he say? He had made a horrible mistake. "I…I can't. I'm sorry."
Adara, stricken, watched him leave hurriedly. She bit her lip and turned to head back inside.
***
Hitomi looked out over the balcony down to the path below. She could see the young king making his way to the market road. "Van!!!!" she shouted. "Van!" He didn't turn around. Exasperated, Hitomi hurried out into the hall, down the steps, and out the doors, and finally met him on the path, out of breath.
"Hitomi.. I'm going to the market."
"You don't mind if I join you, right?"
Van didn't reply. Hitomi swallowed hard. He was obviously still angry about yesterday. Although she knew the reason for her saying that she no longer loved him had something to do with the dream, she didn't know how to tell him without sounding foolish.
Van wished Hitomi hadn't tagged along. For one thing, yesterday's incident made everything between them awkward. Plus, he was feeling incredibly guilty about his dream. So Hitomi didn't love him. But she was everything to him, so why was he dreaming about another girl?
The two stopped at a fruit and vegetable stand at the foot of the market, where Van picked up a few items. Hitomi watched him, thinking about his actions in the field yesterday. That is, before she had somehow ruined everything. He had not only brought her to a gorgeous place she had wanted to visit, but he flew her there, while she held on to him tightly. Before the cruel words had slipped out, Van had said some things…and then, he was about to kiss her. He loved her. Now, Hitomi grinned, confident that she would be able to fix things.
"Van, we need to-" realizing he wasn't hearing a word she was saying, Hitomi followed Van's intense gaze. Strolling down the market street was an attractive girl with striking blue eyes and long dark hair. Hitomi looked at her, then back at Van, and back to the girl. Hitomi took a step back from him, frowning slightly. Van's eyes widened as she passed them, his jaw dropping a little. Hitomi's heart sank. Was he… attracted to this girl?
Van couldn't believe his eyes. He had never seen this girl in person before, but he recognized her easily. She was the one from his disturbing dream, no doubt about it. Was he seeing things, or did she really exist? He shut his eyes tightly, waited, but when he opened them, she was still there. He could hear her easy laugh ring out as she chatted with villagers. She was real, all right. He almost wished she wasn't; her existence made everything more complex. Van wondered if the dream had meant anything – was he supposed to be with this strange girl, instead of Hitomi?
"Van?" came the Mystic Moon girl's wavering voice. "What is it?"
He whipped his head around to face Hitomi, lowering his eyes guiltily. "Nothing. Let's go."
A/N: Sorry if this seems kinda rushed. I really wanted to post, tho, since I haven't in so long. Lol, last time I said I would post this chap soon… so much for that. And I know, this chapter just sorta ended, it's not really complete, but hopefully I'll be finished 8 soon. Please R&R! Thanx :)