Chapter 2: Comings and Goings

Hitomi loaded the last box in to Amano's truck, slamming the tailgate and leaning against it in relief.

"That's it!" she called to Yukari, who was starting the engine of her own equally laden car. Yukari waved goodbye out the window as she pulled out of the apartment parking lot, starting the drive back to Hitomi's parent's house. Amano grinned at Hitomi over the bed of the truck.

"You ready to go?" he asked. "For four days you two have been packing. I think Van is going to take one look at all the stuff you are planning on taking with you and turn around and go right back home."

Hitomi swatted at him, grinning. "You go ahead. I am going to take one last look around."

Amano smiled and got into the truck, putting it in reverse and pulling out. He turned his car lights on, catching her in the glare. She raised a hand to shadow her eyes and waved as he left. Turning to look back at the complex where she had lived for past four years, she climbed the stairs to her empty apartment. She opened the door, taking the door key off her key ring and gripping it in her fist while slipping the keychain back in her purse. She wandered through the vacant rooms, feeling tears beginning to burn again in her eyes. A knot of homesickness was already forming and she had not even left.

She stopped in the small kitchen, and ran her hand along the counter. The kitchen was her favorite part of the apartment, despite the horrid yellow wallpaper and the black streaks on the ceiling above the stove. Four years of having fun, learning and growing had occurred there. She had always felt most comfortable there. It was where she and Yukari had convinced Amano of the existence of Gaea and Van; where she had answered the phone to hear Yukari's shout that Amano had proposed, and where Yukari had told her she was pregnant. Hitomi laughed to herself, recalling the many meals she had burned on the stove and the hundreds of hours of studying she had down at the table that was already gone. She took a deep breath, clearing her mind of the memories and walked out the front door, locking it behind her.

Standing on the landing, she looked out over the town as the final glow of the sunset streaked out from behind her, painting the landscape orange. Insecurities bombarded her again. Was she making the right decision? Her heart said yes, but as the time drew closer her brain was not so sure. Two full days were left. She inhaled sharply, then clattered down the stairs.

Jogging down to the mailboxes, she removed her name from her box and slipped the key in the security slot.

She turned to her car, nearly the last one in the parking lot. Her mom was going to sell it after she left and set the money aside for her in case she returned and needed it. Hitomi didn't like to think like that, but she knew her mother and father were being cautious with their expectations. Especially her father, who still refused to believe her without physical evidence, namely the groom's presence. Hitomi grinned. In two days he could have all the evidence he wanted.

She pawed through her purse, looking for her keys when out of the corner of her eye she saw someone approaching. She looked up as a man walked by with a slight limp, completely ignoring her. She inched closer to her car as he passed, sighing in relief as she pulled her keys out. Turning towards the car, she went to open to door when suddenly there was noise behind and her and the world went black.




Van jerked up out of sleep. He had been having a nightmare. Not that it was uncommon for him to have a nightmare; he had them quite often. But this one had been about Hitomi and his heart was pounding in his chest. Slipping out of bed, he got dressed and walked to the window, anxiously scanning the sky for any sign of something amiss. He sighed loudly, running his hand over his head. Looking to his left he saw Merle on her balcony, staring at the sky also.
Can't sleep?" he called softly over to her. She turned and spotted him. "No. Too excited." She turned and leapt to the roof, then walked over to sit above him, her legs dangling. "How about you?"
He shrugged, then admitted, "I had a nightmare. About Hitomi. I just had the feeling something was wrong."
She looked at him worriedly. "Do you think something is wrong?" she asked.
He shook his head, not answering, just undecided. "I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right."
Merle looked down at him and cocked her head to the side. "You have pre-wedding jitters." she declared authoritatively.
"You think so?" he questioned, unsure. "I don't know, it just seems like more." His hand slipped up to clutch the pendant lying under the shirt.
Merle stared up at the Mystic Moon floating serenely in the sky. "I'm sure that is all it is," she said, putting as much confidence as she could muster in the words.



Yukari paced back and forth in front of Amano and Hitomi's parents. They were seated on the sofa, patiently waiting the return of their daughter so they could all go out to dinner.
"Where is she?" Yukari demanded for the umpteenth time. "She should have been here by now." She glared at them as if accusing them of hiding Hitomi from her.
I'm sure she just stopped to say goodbye to people and take a last look around," Amano said soothingly, trying to calm her. "She'll be here soon."
Yukari grimaced, only partially calmed by his words. "I hope so. I'm getting hungry."
Amano coughed to hide a laugh. Yukari, eyeing him suspiciously, said "I know you don't have the audacity to laugh at a pissed-off pregnant woman?!" Amano schooled his face into a blank expression and shook his head. Hitomi's mother smiled, humor glinting in her eyes. She offered Yukari some crackers, which she waved away with thanks.
"I'll wait," she said, giving a long-suffering sigh. She slumped into a chair next Amano in defeat. The phone rang and Yukari jumped up. "There she is, telling us she is running late. Can that girl ever be on time?"
Mrs. Kanzaki rose and answered the phone. The others watched as a stricken expression crept over her face. She thanked the caller and turned to her husband.
"That was Mr. Oni, the apartment manager. He just found Hitomi's purse and keys in the parking lot, next to her car."