Well, it's been a long time since I first posted Return to Gaea. And now, here's the second part. Sorry it's been so long.

Standard disclaimer applies!

Return to Gaea p.2: Shadowed Truth

Hitomi awoke to find herself in a deep, never ending darkness. There was no sign of Van and she wasn't in his room anymore. In fact, she doubted she was even in his castle. There was an oddly familiar sound, somewhere, in the darkness. She could see Van now. He was curled up in a tight little ball and was shaking. She couldn't reach him. She wasn't even close to him. She heard the sound again. This time it was clearer and more recognizable. A whip. It was a whip. She knew that much now, and she could tell from the familiar sound that someone was being whipped. The sound was so familiar, so fresh in her mind, from when they were caught by Zaibach in the energist mine.

"Van."

She was suddenly engulfed into the darkness with no escape. All that was around her was the feeling of loneliness and emptiness. She desperately clawed for a way out. No matter what she did and how hard she tried it was still there. Tears freely flowed from her eyes as she reached out for help. But no one would come to help her, Van wouldn't be there to save her. She was by herself now. She had to protect herself from all dangers.

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Hitomi's eyes flew open wildly as she woke up. Van's kind eyes looked worriedly into hers. She was breathing irregularly and was terrified from her dream.

"Its okay, Hitomi, its okay." he coaxed her. She took a deep breath. Van was here for her. She had nothing to fear. "What happened, Hitomi? You were screaming so loudly."

"Sorry." she apologized quietly. There was no way she'd tell him about her dream. 'It was a dream.it had to be. Zaibach is gone and we can finally be happy, together.' she thought as she looked into his eyes. "I guess I was just having a bad dream."

Van smiled down at her. 'She's okay.' he thought happily. Nothing would keep him from Hitomi, nothing at all. Not even Zaibach. With this era of peace on Gaea, he could be with her without worrying whether or not it was safe. A knock came at the door.

"Lord Van, your advisors are waiting for you." Merle called as she entered the room. She smiled at the sight of Hitomi in Van's arms. They would be together soon enough and she would be Fanelia's queen. "And Lord Gruessa won't be present. He said he had a previous engagement to attend to."

Van looked down at Hitomi. "I'll be gone for a few hours at the most, promise." He looked up at Merle. "Why don't you show her the garden? That way you can keep busy." he suggested.

Merle smiled again and nodded. She grabbed Hitomi's hand and dragged her out of the room. Van sat still for a moment before standing up and walking to his office, where several of his advisors waited for him. The meeting went by quickly, and there were only a few problems to attend to. The entire time he only thought of Hitomi, though. He couldn't wait to see her once again.

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(In the garden)

Hitomi gazed at the assortment of flowers in the garden. There was a little something of everything there. Roses of just about every colour, daisies, pansies, forget-me-nots, she stood in awe as she gazed upon each flower. One in particular she liked was the silver roses. She'd never seen such a rose before in her whole life.

"So you like them?" Merle asked softly, watching Hitomi's eyes grow wide with each new colour. Hitomi nodded. "They're called samiko. Very pretty, aren't they?"

"They sure are, Merle. I've never seen silver roses before." Hitomi replied excitedly.

"Silver what?"

Hitomi looked at her strangely. "Oh, right, they have a different name here. On the Mystic Moon they're called roses. Simply beautiful if you ask me."

"Yes, beautiful." Merle replied. "You know, Lord Van will like the news. His mother absolutely adored samiko."

Hitomi returned her attention to the flowers once again. They truly were works of art. 'I have to find out about my vision. I wouldn't forgive myself if anything happened to Van, especially that.' she thought, recalling her dream. It confused her as to why anyone would want to hurt Van and for what reason as well. Until she found out she'd just have to be patient. It wasn't as if she was in a big rush or anything like that. From what she could tell it was in the far away future. 'Only time can tell me why it will happen, and perhaps I'm not meant to find out until after it happens. If that's true then I just have to sit back and wait for Them to strike. But why can't I know more? Why can't I see who it is? I want to see who it is hurting Van!' she began screeching in her mind, frantically wanting to know the answer. But she wouldn't get to know it until the time came.

"Lady Merle," a man dressed in an auburn robe walked up to them, "Lord Van said he wishes to see you."

"Lord Gruessa?" Merle questioned unsurely. "I thought you were feeling ill and couldn't attend the meeting?"

"I tried anyways. You know me, always trying and besides, you shouldn't keep his majesty waiting now, should you?" he said in a smug sort of tone.

"No." Merle hissed the reply. "Hitomi you stay here. I'll be back soon once I find out what it is he wants from me."

Hitomi nodded and watched Merle leave. She started walking away when she could feel bad vibes radiating from Gruessa. 'He feels so cold, like an ice cube. It's so strange. I've never sensed this kind of hatred from anyone besides.' She began rushing forward, sensing him coming closer. 'He has the same hatred as Dilandau did. I'm not safe here anymore!' She ran towards the castle at high speed.

~He lied to you, you know.~ a voice rang out in her head. It was the cruel voice of Dilandau. ~I've been watching him ever since you left. He has a fiancée. He played you as a fool!~ he cried, laughing madly.

"No!" Hitomi yelled back. "No, he does love me. I know he does!!"

~Is that so? A king must have a queen. It would only make sense his queen has been chosen for him. Not often does the king choose his queen, but his advisors.~ he pointed out happily. ~Used and abused you. Gave you hope for the hopeless. You should just leave. You're in the way otherwise, and do you really want him to make a fool of you again?~ He paused, letting her think. ~First thing he does is make a fool of you. First thing he does is lie to you. Can you really trust him, or love him? He doesn't love you, Hitomi. Maybe he did a while ago but after you left that was that. It was like you never existed.~

"He--forgot about me?" she asked quietly, sounding a bit hurt. "He never cared? I was just...a toy to him?"

~That's right, Hitomi. You meant nothing and you still don't. He used you then and he's still playing with your heart.~ he teased her. ~Nothing at all. Just like the darkness that consumes your mind. He leaves you feeling empty inside, lost without your way. You should leave. He doesn't care about you; he only cares for himself. You deserve a better, more fulfilling life far away from here. Go.~

Hitomi nodded slightly, her eyes beginning to tear. 'I meant nothing. How could I have been so foolish?! He doesn't want me here. No one would miss me if I left.' she thought hopelessly. It felt as if a great weight was resting on her shoulders. She didn't know if she could make it back home, but what if she ran far away? "Where can I go to, Dilandau? Where can I go so that he won't find me?" she asked him, looking for her answer in someone she shouldn't be trusting. Her heart felt like it was sinking, and fast.

~There is a small village that is just outside of this town, a man lives there by the name of Yuaro Dika. Tell him you are in trouble and you need to get far away from Fanelia.~ he told her. Laughing at her once again. ~Go, now, Hitomi, before Van comes to play your heart again.~

Hitomi jumped up and ran towards the door. This was her only chance to get out, for good. She didn't even care she left her stuff behind. She ran full speed until she came to the castle gates and just stood there. 'I'm seconds from leaving for good.' she thought nervously. It was the moment of truth. Even though she wasn't sure if she could trust the voice in her head, and knowing she had probably gone crazy, something else was telling Hitomi that she had to leave. Hitomi wrapped her fingers around her pendant and closed her eyes tightly. 'Now tell me, where should I go? What do I do? In what direction does my heart will me to go? Tell me!' she begged it quietly. She could feel it, the pendant, heating up as it glowed bright and swung before her in her mind. 'Forward.' She thought as the image pointed out of the gates. She walked out casually, telling the guards she was just going for a walk and if anyone asked she'd be back within the hour.

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Hitomi walked for what felt like hours, with no luck. She couldn't find the city Dilandau had told her about anywhere. 'I must be going crazy. I'm listening to voices in my head, running away from Van and the others, trying to find some man I don't know...all because of my vision?' realization hit her hard. She was trying to protect Van from her vision. She knew at the very bottom of her heart that it would be her fault he got hurt. The vision had warned her of that. She was the seeress of the Mystic Moon, a target no one would refuse the opportunity to use as a weapon. She could see the unseen, future, present, and past. She had even learned how to control her powers, to call them forth when she needed them most.

"Alright, you," she began talking to herself, "it's time you got serious here. Now I'm not one to speak, but we're lost and need help. Come on, Hitomi, think! Where are you going to find the city? You've been walking for hours now!"

"Now, Miss, talking to yourself might be considered normal where you're from, but around these parts it's considered just plain strange." Hitomi looked up to find a man. He had striking ice blue eyes and short brown hair. He was tall and very well built. "May I help you? You look lost, Miss- I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

"Oh...I, uh...didn't tell you." she replied.

"I know, that's why I didn't catch it." he joked, a small smile crossed his face.

Hitomi let out a soft laugh. "My name is Hitomi, Hitomi Kanzaki."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Hitomi Kanzaki." He walked up to her and offered his hand. "My name is Yuaro, Yuaro Dika."

Hitomi gasped. He was the man she was looking for. Ever since she left Fanelia the voice had left her alone, and in her rush she'd forgotten to ask him what Yuaro looked like. 'He's gorgeous. I mean, what a body.' She blushed, realizing she was checking him out. She was supposed to be focused on getting to a place far from Fanelia, where whoever couldn't find her. 'The evil...I need to keep it away from Van and the others. I'm doing the right thing by leaving. I don't care if he has a wife or not, I will come back some day.' She looked up at Yuaro.

"I...um..." she started.

"Yes?"

"I was told you could help me get away from here. I need to get far away from Fanelia and fast!" she blurted, rushing the words out, hoping he hadn't caught her starting a few minutes prior. "Please, it's urgent I go soon."

Yuaro looked her in the eyes long and hard. He had to admit, she was cute, but what he couldn't understand was why she needed to leave Fanelia, and how she could have known he was going. 'Is she a thief trying to escape the law? I'm not even sure if I should bring her with me. It might be too dangerous, for both of us.' he thought. He looked her over again. She was at least a good five years younger than him, and quite cheeky.

"Please. I have to go. Let me come with you!" Hitomi tried to sound polite but in her rush it came out demanding. "Please."

"Alright, but understand this, you stick with me, okay? Don't go running off until you've paid your debt to me." he bargained. Hitomi smiled. "Deal?"

"Deal."

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Hours later, Hitomi found herself standing next to Yuaro in one of his transports. She looked at the ground below, it looked so far away. She was in 'debt' to him for his kindness by giving her a free ride to some place called Azae. He'd told her it was a beautiful country, much like Fanelia, and far away too. She could feel him place a protective arm around her, pulling her close to him. 'The crew is a bit dangerous for pretty young girls to be near without a big strong man protector.' he joked, trying to make her laugh again, successfully.

"So what is your story? Why did you leave Fanelia in a rush like that?" he asked softly, looking down as she did.

"Nothing really. I'm just running way from a bad past you can say." she replied softly. 'More like bad future...' she thought with a sigh. It seemed as though nothing could go right for her.

"Abusive husband?" he took a wild guess.

"Yea." she replied quickly.

"Well, you're safe now, with me."

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(Back in Fanelia)

"Okay, so she went for a walk?" Van questioned impatiently.

"Yes." the guard replied once again. They'd been going over the same thing for a few hours now. "She said she needed to go for a walk and that if anyone asked, that's what she was doing."

Van growled in frustration. It wasn't making any sense.

"Please, Lord Van, calm down. Maybe you should go for a rest?" Merle suggested softly, trying to calm him. "Lord Allen and his crew are already searching the forests for her. There's no need to worry."

"Merle," he started, sounding annoyed then caught her expression. "Fine, but when I wake up they better have found her." he warned.

Merle sighed. "Oh, Hitomi, where'd you go?"

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Yuaro held Hitomi close as they left the Shining, his trusted ship. They'd been flying for hours, but now had finally reached Azae. He had to admit, Hitomi was turning out to be more like his little sister than anything else.

"You never did tell me what happened to her." Hitomi said softly, still waiting for his answer.

"She died of pneumonia last month." he said softly, frowning. Hitomi hugged him tightly.

"Don't worry, Yuaro. It'll be okay now." she promised, holding him close to her.

"Thanks, Hitomi." He hugged her back. "You know, we need to give you a new name. Since you're in hiding you don't want to get caught, right?"

"Right." Hitomi replied thoughtfully. "How about...Azae Dika?"

"Azae Dika?"

"Yea, I'll pretend to be your little sister while we're here, and our parents liked this country so much that they named me after it?" she suggested.

"Wow, you planned all of that in just a few seconds?" he remarked.

"Yup." she said proudly. "So how about it, Bro?"

"Okay, Sis, you got yourself a deal."

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How'd you all like that one? It's been months in the making, literally. -.- I'm not proud of that. Anyway, here it finally is! Please review, tell me what I did wrong. Besides take so long getting it done. . I couldn't think! ^-^ Ya, so, the next part I swear will be up sooner than this one! Till next time, take care!.