Chapter 4
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Hitomi watched as the grass moved with the wind. It was her home. Gaea was her home. She finally felt that she belonged. Two years since she had been back. The two years of doctors, shrinks, and stares had pushed her far enough. Pushed her back to Gaea. Home was the first word out of her mouth.
(2 minuets earlier)
"Van, are you sure she'll come?" Allen asked.
"I am sure." Van said.
"Who is this Hitomi? That you speak about." Dilandau asked.
Awestruck Allen and Van looked at him with confusion. Had he actually not know her? He knows his Dragonslayers but not Hitomi.
"She came to Gaea two years ago. She had helped with the war against Zaibach and Dornkirk." Van finally said.
"Ahh, then I have heard much about her from Nanou, she is an idol to many around Gaea. Not many can see the unseen and know things that are best kept inside the heart." Dilandau said.
A bright flash of light emitted from the sky. Van got a pleased look on his face a look that an old dog sees when its master comes around with food.
"Hitomi." Van said.
(Present w/ Hitomi)
"Hitomi!" Someone called her name. Hitomi turned toward the carrier. Van Fanel King of Fanelia and thief of her heart to be poetic, but to be literal her love.
"Van." She said dropping her duffle and running to him. She got to him first and she hugged him. "Oh Van I missed this place so much, I want to stay this time I don't want to leave you it was horrible to be back there." Hitomi swore she was about to cry but here she wasn't going to be labeled as a crybaby. She had every reason in heaven to cry. Everyone treated her badly when she got back. She never knew it but she was more knowledgeable about being taken advantage of than she had ever been. He lightly touched her cheek. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked around. Allen, Gaddes, Van, Celena, Dilandau… Dilandau? He was right there, right beside Allen. Right there! She looked at him. There were no bad chills, no bad visions, and no fire in his eyes. It had been extinguished. That woman in her latest vision. She was wearing a long white gown, she had red eyes and white skin and white hair. She looked like a ghost. Was that actually Dilandau's mother?
"Hitomi, you decided to come back that is such a relief. Thank god someone to be friends with my rebellious sister." The last part he muttered. Allen bent forward and took Hitomi's hand and kissed the back of it. Celena who had been standing by Dilandau was glaring at her brother.
"Allen, it is good to see you again." Hitomi looked at Celena. She looked the same. She kept her hair short like the last time she saw it. Celena smiled. Hitomi caught Celena's eyes move to the side toward Dilandau.
"You must be Celena; Allen was never ending when talking about you the last time I was here. And you must be Dilandau." He smiled. Not the ones that made your skin crawl but one that gave you a sense of security.
"Gaddes, I want you to prepare rooms for Lady Hitomi and Lord Dilandau. They will be staying with us." Allen said and smiled at Hitomi. Van came up behind Hitomi.
"Might I request a room by my own for Hitomi?" Van said. Bad idea.
"I would like to have a room next to Celena. I would like to get to know her more since we will be doing a lot together and just maybe I can hear some confidential moments that have been happening." Hitomi said putting up a finger. They are not going to fight over her so might as well give her what she wants.
"I have stories to tell." Celena said winking at her brother.
"Van, as much as I love my sister, she can be scary. Who knows what she knows.
"I agree." Van said.
On the walk back toward the manor, Van jogged toward Hitomi. "Hitomi, I may know that you don't do those readings anymore but I was just wondering if you can do one on Dilandau." He asked her.
"Van sorry to say but I tore mine up. I don't want to bring bad things to come. Especially I can really screw up his reliability." Hitomi said.
"You are going to kill me."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well, here. I found these. At the Bazaar, you know, they are like you own but they are different they have cups, pentacles, swords, and wands." He smiled. "Oh yeah the owner told me that the person giving the reading could have the other person pick there own destiny with it. So you don't change it yourself. If you are mad at me then I understand. I mean if you don't want to talk to me then I will stay away from you that is if you want me to." He sounded scared. His voice showed it. He didn't want to lose Hitomi's friendship.
Hitomi laughed. "Van you can be unpredictable. And thank you for these. I kept thinking that my cards were cursed or something. But thank you I can finally rest knowing I can read again without killing someone. Oh yeah I do think Celena has something for Dilandau. I can almost sense it." Hitomi looked through the cards. So rich with color. How they came up with them were beyond her. But she would take Van up on reading Dilandau's cards. She jogged up to the pair. He and Celena were talking about the Dragonslayers. Celena mostly talking.
"Hey Dilandau, I was just wondering if I could read your Tarot cards. It might smooth the edges of the guys around you it might make things a whole lot easier. So do you think it would be ok?" Hitomi asked.
"What exactly are tarot cards?" He asked. She guessed that.
"They tell your fortune; they can tell you what will happen or has happened." She said.
"Ok, I'll go through it."
"When do you want to?"
"How about tonight. Tomorrow I want to spend some time in that library to find that harp."
"Ok when we get back to the manor then?"
"Hitomi, can I watch you do it?" Celena's voice said.
"It is up to Dilandau." Hitomi said looking at him.
"That is ok. When we get back to the manor then." He said.
(At the Manor)
Hitomi laid her cards out in a row. "Pick seven ok." She said.
He did.
Hitomi laid them out in a row. She had seen this done before.
"High Priestess- Common sense, Intuition, foresight. This card means that you will make good decisions in the future." She looked at him, he seemed pleased. "The Hierophant- Kindness, Forgiveness. Something will happen and you will show what kindness you have and help someone. Hermit- Knowledge, prudence, self denial, fear of discovery. You will think that you will be alone forever but something will coincide with you." His face changed. It had no emotion on it. "Queen of cups: honesty, practical. You will be honest when you are asked of something. Knight of Pentacles: reliable, patient, persistent. After the queen of cups has taken place you will become more...reliable and trusted. Six of pentacles (reversed): Jealousy, envy, Selfishness, This card means someone will come in-between you and something else and your jealousy will overcome you." His face, which had gotten a relived look on it had disappeared. "Three of pentacles: great skill, rank, power, perfection. Your Dragonslayers will be very helpful and their great skill will bring victory. That's it. You're on our side."
"Is that all?" He asked.
"Yep that's it." She said looking at Allen. Allen gave a quick smile. Celena looked thrilled. Van, who was sitting on a chair, was half asleep.
"Where is Merle anyway?" Hitomi asked.
"She stayed at Fanelia; she doesn't like to travel that much anymore." Van said through closed eyes.
"That's too bad; I actually wanted to see her again." Hitomi said. She yawned . "I am dead tired." Hitomi looked at the grandfather clock in the corner. Had the reading actually took an hour?
"I am going to bed. Hitomi I can show you to your room." Celena said. Hitomi looked at her. Celena reminded her of her mother. A true friend. Someone you could actually count on.
"Night all." Hitomi said.
"Matilda show Lord Dilandau to his room." Allen said to the maid.
"Please no formalities, they get boring." Dilandau said.
"Same here." Van said.
Dilandau followed Matilda out of the meeting room.
"Can we trust him?" Allen asked.
"I do, don't know about you but Hitomi's reading is enough for me." Van said leaving out the room leaving Allen to his thoughts.
"What am I going to do with a bunch of teenagers father?" Allen asked no one in particular.
"So Hitomi, what do you think of my brother." Celena asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I just wanted to know if you were infatuated with him."
"I was but not anymore. Why?"
"It is just that every time a new woman comes along then I feel like I am cast out into the background."
"Don't worry about me I am over your brother."
"That's good."
"Do you like Dilandau?"
That surprised Celena. "Am I that transparent?" Celena asked.
"Clear as crystal."
"Well Hitomi this is your room my room is across from you if you need anything dont hesitate." She said quickly and then jumped into her room.
Hitomi was dumbfounded. Celena was truly in love with him. Now she had Yukari in her mind. "Was it something I said?" Hitomi asked herself. She walked in her room.
(3 hours later)
Gatti had blood streaming out of his mouth, "L..lor..d D...d..di..dilan..land..au" he barely said.
Dallet's scream was echoing when he was crushed underneath his own shield and another guymelef.
Chesta watched as the blade from the guymelef sword crashed down on him.
Guimel screamed as his whole body was crushed.
Celena woke up. The dreams never ended. Dreams wouldn't fit. Nightmare would be more like it. She felt her head; she was sweating like a rainy day. She looked in her mirror at herself. Her hair was wild. She restrained it with her fingers. Perfect. She closed her eyes.
Viole watched in horror as the sword was coming toward him. His own heart stopped in his chest.
Celena couldn't take the horrible pictures she was seeing. She started pacing her room. There was a knock at her door.
"Who is it?" She asked.
"It is Dilandau." Came a voice.
The Dragonslayer's leader. "Come in." She said.
"I heard something from outside. I was just walking around and I was in front of your room and I guessed I heard you. What is wrong?" He asked her.
"Just bad dreams." She said looking at the ground.
"Of the Dragonslayers? They were dieing weren't they?" He asked.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. He looked like he actually was caring.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Call it intuition. Now don't have any more bad dreams, for your own sake you need rest." He said touching her cheek.
Hitomi was still awake. She then heard speaking she decided to get up and listen through her door. The door closed on the outside. Hitomi opened hers. Dilandau was out there. She had just blown her cover.
"What are you doing up?" He asked her quickly.
"I guess I couldn't wait to see the morning on Gaea again. Then I heard speaking."
"I am sorry if I have disturbed you. Lady Celena had awoken from a nightmare and well I was comforting her."
"Really!" She said.
"You people from the mystic moon are weird. Oh Hitomi. Could you help me search for a book tomorrow since I can not read words of the Mystic moon you would be a great help."
"Of course. I'll do that."
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Hitomi watched as the grass moved with the wind. It was her home. Gaea was her home. She finally felt that she belonged. Two years since she had been back. The two years of doctors, shrinks, and stares had pushed her far enough. Pushed her back to Gaea. Home was the first word out of her mouth.
(2 minuets earlier)
"Van, are you sure she'll come?" Allen asked.
"I am sure." Van said.
"Who is this Hitomi? That you speak about." Dilandau asked.
Awestruck Allen and Van looked at him with confusion. Had he actually not know her? He knows his Dragonslayers but not Hitomi.
"She came to Gaea two years ago. She had helped with the war against Zaibach and Dornkirk." Van finally said.
"Ahh, then I have heard much about her from Nanou, she is an idol to many around Gaea. Not many can see the unseen and know things that are best kept inside the heart." Dilandau said.
A bright flash of light emitted from the sky. Van got a pleased look on his face a look that an old dog sees when its master comes around with food.
"Hitomi." Van said.
(Present w/ Hitomi)
"Hitomi!" Someone called her name. Hitomi turned toward the carrier. Van Fanel King of Fanelia and thief of her heart to be poetic, but to be literal her love.
"Van." She said dropping her duffle and running to him. She got to him first and she hugged him. "Oh Van I missed this place so much, I want to stay this time I don't want to leave you it was horrible to be back there." Hitomi swore she was about to cry but here she wasn't going to be labeled as a crybaby. She had every reason in heaven to cry. Everyone treated her badly when she got back. She never knew it but she was more knowledgeable about being taken advantage of than she had ever been. He lightly touched her cheek. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked around. Allen, Gaddes, Van, Celena, Dilandau… Dilandau? He was right there, right beside Allen. Right there! She looked at him. There were no bad chills, no bad visions, and no fire in his eyes. It had been extinguished. That woman in her latest vision. She was wearing a long white gown, she had red eyes and white skin and white hair. She looked like a ghost. Was that actually Dilandau's mother?
"Hitomi, you decided to come back that is such a relief. Thank god someone to be friends with my rebellious sister." The last part he muttered. Allen bent forward and took Hitomi's hand and kissed the back of it. Celena who had been standing by Dilandau was glaring at her brother.
"Allen, it is good to see you again." Hitomi looked at Celena. She looked the same. She kept her hair short like the last time she saw it. Celena smiled. Hitomi caught Celena's eyes move to the side toward Dilandau.
"You must be Celena; Allen was never ending when talking about you the last time I was here. And you must be Dilandau." He smiled. Not the ones that made your skin crawl but one that gave you a sense of security.
"Gaddes, I want you to prepare rooms for Lady Hitomi and Lord Dilandau. They will be staying with us." Allen said and smiled at Hitomi. Van came up behind Hitomi.
"Might I request a room by my own for Hitomi?" Van said. Bad idea.
"I would like to have a room next to Celena. I would like to get to know her more since we will be doing a lot together and just maybe I can hear some confidential moments that have been happening." Hitomi said putting up a finger. They are not going to fight over her so might as well give her what she wants.
"I have stories to tell." Celena said winking at her brother.
"Van, as much as I love my sister, she can be scary. Who knows what she knows.
"I agree." Van said.
On the walk back toward the manor, Van jogged toward Hitomi. "Hitomi, I may know that you don't do those readings anymore but I was just wondering if you can do one on Dilandau." He asked her.
"Van sorry to say but I tore mine up. I don't want to bring bad things to come. Especially I can really screw up his reliability." Hitomi said.
"You are going to kill me."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well, here. I found these. At the Bazaar, you know, they are like you own but they are different they have cups, pentacles, swords, and wands." He smiled. "Oh yeah the owner told me that the person giving the reading could have the other person pick there own destiny with it. So you don't change it yourself. If you are mad at me then I understand. I mean if you don't want to talk to me then I will stay away from you that is if you want me to." He sounded scared. His voice showed it. He didn't want to lose Hitomi's friendship.
Hitomi laughed. "Van you can be unpredictable. And thank you for these. I kept thinking that my cards were cursed or something. But thank you I can finally rest knowing I can read again without killing someone. Oh yeah I do think Celena has something for Dilandau. I can almost sense it." Hitomi looked through the cards. So rich with color. How they came up with them were beyond her. But she would take Van up on reading Dilandau's cards. She jogged up to the pair. He and Celena were talking about the Dragonslayers. Celena mostly talking.
"Hey Dilandau, I was just wondering if I could read your Tarot cards. It might smooth the edges of the guys around you it might make things a whole lot easier. So do you think it would be ok?" Hitomi asked.
"What exactly are tarot cards?" He asked. She guessed that.
"They tell your fortune; they can tell you what will happen or has happened." She said.
"Ok, I'll go through it."
"When do you want to?"
"How about tonight. Tomorrow I want to spend some time in that library to find that harp."
"Ok when we get back to the manor then?"
"Hitomi, can I watch you do it?" Celena's voice said.
"It is up to Dilandau." Hitomi said looking at him.
"That is ok. When we get back to the manor then." He said.
(At the Manor)
Hitomi laid her cards out in a row. "Pick seven ok." She said.
He did.
Hitomi laid them out in a row. She had seen this done before.
"High Priestess- Common sense, Intuition, foresight. This card means that you will make good decisions in the future." She looked at him, he seemed pleased. "The Hierophant- Kindness, Forgiveness. Something will happen and you will show what kindness you have and help someone. Hermit- Knowledge, prudence, self denial, fear of discovery. You will think that you will be alone forever but something will coincide with you." His face changed. It had no emotion on it. "Queen of cups: honesty, practical. You will be honest when you are asked of something. Knight of Pentacles: reliable, patient, persistent. After the queen of cups has taken place you will become more...reliable and trusted. Six of pentacles (reversed): Jealousy, envy, Selfishness, This card means someone will come in-between you and something else and your jealousy will overcome you." His face, which had gotten a relived look on it had disappeared. "Three of pentacles: great skill, rank, power, perfection. Your Dragonslayers will be very helpful and their great skill will bring victory. That's it. You're on our side."
"Is that all?" He asked.
"Yep that's it." She said looking at Allen. Allen gave a quick smile. Celena looked thrilled. Van, who was sitting on a chair, was half asleep.
"Where is Merle anyway?" Hitomi asked.
"She stayed at Fanelia; she doesn't like to travel that much anymore." Van said through closed eyes.
"That's too bad; I actually wanted to see her again." Hitomi said. She yawned . "I am dead tired." Hitomi looked at the grandfather clock in the corner. Had the reading actually took an hour?
"I am going to bed. Hitomi I can show you to your room." Celena said. Hitomi looked at her. Celena reminded her of her mother. A true friend. Someone you could actually count on.
"Night all." Hitomi said.
"Matilda show Lord Dilandau to his room." Allen said to the maid.
"Please no formalities, they get boring." Dilandau said.
"Same here." Van said.
Dilandau followed Matilda out of the meeting room.
"Can we trust him?" Allen asked.
"I do, don't know about you but Hitomi's reading is enough for me." Van said leaving out the room leaving Allen to his thoughts.
"What am I going to do with a bunch of teenagers father?" Allen asked no one in particular.
"So Hitomi, what do you think of my brother." Celena asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I just wanted to know if you were infatuated with him."
"I was but not anymore. Why?"
"It is just that every time a new woman comes along then I feel like I am cast out into the background."
"Don't worry about me I am over your brother."
"That's good."
"Do you like Dilandau?"
That surprised Celena. "Am I that transparent?" Celena asked.
"Clear as crystal."
"Well Hitomi this is your room my room is across from you if you need anything dont hesitate." She said quickly and then jumped into her room.
Hitomi was dumbfounded. Celena was truly in love with him. Now she had Yukari in her mind. "Was it something I said?" Hitomi asked herself. She walked in her room.
(3 hours later)
Gatti had blood streaming out of his mouth, "L..lor..d D...d..di..dilan..land..au" he barely said.
Dallet's scream was echoing when he was crushed underneath his own shield and another guymelef.
Chesta watched as the blade from the guymelef sword crashed down on him.
Guimel screamed as his whole body was crushed.
Celena woke up. The dreams never ended. Dreams wouldn't fit. Nightmare would be more like it. She felt her head; she was sweating like a rainy day. She looked in her mirror at herself. Her hair was wild. She restrained it with her fingers. Perfect. She closed her eyes.
Viole watched in horror as the sword was coming toward him. His own heart stopped in his chest.
Celena couldn't take the horrible pictures she was seeing. She started pacing her room. There was a knock at her door.
"Who is it?" She asked.
"It is Dilandau." Came a voice.
The Dragonslayer's leader. "Come in." She said.
"I heard something from outside. I was just walking around and I was in front of your room and I guessed I heard you. What is wrong?" He asked her.
"Just bad dreams." She said looking at the ground.
"Of the Dragonslayers? They were dieing weren't they?" He asked.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. He looked like he actually was caring.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Call it intuition. Now don't have any more bad dreams, for your own sake you need rest." He said touching her cheek.
Hitomi was still awake. She then heard speaking she decided to get up and listen through her door. The door closed on the outside. Hitomi opened hers. Dilandau was out there. She had just blown her cover.
"What are you doing up?" He asked her quickly.
"I guess I couldn't wait to see the morning on Gaea again. Then I heard speaking."
"I am sorry if I have disturbed you. Lady Celena had awoken from a nightmare and well I was comforting her."
"Really!" She said.
"You people from the mystic moon are weird. Oh Hitomi. Could you help me search for a book tomorrow since I can not read words of the Mystic moon you would be a great help."
"Of course. I'll do that."