Chapter 1
~ The Lovers ~*
By Chance and Fate
~ Valley Near Fanelia ~
- 1 Year after the war with Zaibach -
Hitomi Kanzaki's eyes fluttered open gently, a blurry night sky welcoming her. She blinked a few times, trying to remember what had happened. 'I was running around the track….Yukari and Amano were there….they had just told me, that they were in love. I was so happy for them….but sad in a way, I couldn't tell them I was in love too…with Van. How I miss him. I was thinking about him while they were watching me practice for our next meet. Then….then….then what? I think I fainted again.' She thought, shutting her eyes tightly, trying to adjust her vision.
When she opened them again, her heart leapt in her throat. She could see the earth and the moon hanging in the darkened and starry sky above her, then a dragon's croon glided across her in the distance. She sat up quickly, looking around frantically at her surroundings. The track field was gone, so were Amano and Yukari, their smiling faces lost in the wind, only a memory. She knew this place though, it was the field she and Van had landed in nearly a year ago when they first met. It was deserted this time, none of the strange dog-men around at all. In fact, there was nothing more than the gentle breeze blowing past her, the soft jade grass beneath her skirt, and herself.
"I'm back?" she said quizzically, then her face brightened, and she leapt up with a smile," I'M BACK! I am back in Gaia….near Fanelia. I can see Van again after all….Oh, I wonder how long I'll be able to stay this time."
She started to sprint in the direction of Fanelia, her sneakers making soft crunching noises as she sped across the field. 'I just hope this isn't for another war. I nearly lost Van in the end…nearly lost them all to Zaibach. Please, let everything be all right, let everyone be safe.' She silently prayed, her emerald eyes shimmering the light of the Mystic Moon as she reached the mountain pathway.
~ The Wandering Earth ~
- Zaibach Floating Palace -
A young silver-haired woman walked through the darkened halls of the Levi-stone supported palace, the entire palace itself carved from the strongest metals and stone in all of Gaia. Her lovely white robes embroidered with gold and lavender hovered a breath away from the spotless metal floor, her large, lavender sash tied in a bow about her slight waist, accenting her gentle features. Her slims arms were at her chest, skin so pale it was almost ghostly, and smooth to the eyes. Her eyes were sad, the delicate baby blues holding a troubled silence within their crystalline depths.
She stopped suddenly and looked behind her, a look of child-like fright crossing her gentle, pale features. She sighed when she saw it was nothing, and continued in her walk. "I am coming, Folken-sama. You don't need to worry about the other angels now. I'm coming." She said wistfully, her voice almost ethereal, so light and tender it could sooth the most savage heart.
Folken wasn't savage, he was very determined and eager for his task to be completed, the task she gave him when revived him. She had been waiting a long time for Folken to eliminate Emperor Dornkirk, though she knew he would die because of it. It was only fitting Dornkirk would pull such a horrible act off as he breathed his last on the Dark Dragon prince. Dornkirk had nearly wiped out her entire race of mixed blood mystics, only a few of her kind and herself surviving his Fate-Altering devices and mad plot to uncover lost Atlantis.
Upon Folken's death, she teleported herself to him and got him out of the Zaibach Floating Fortress. In using her own blood and magic to bring him back, she had failed to realize that Dornkirk's own blood had mixed with Folken, but in small amounts. It made him want power, the utter and complete domination of Gaia, or destroy it with his own hands. He was still more Folken than Dornkirk, perfect for her own needs to grant Dornkirk his wish, in her own way. Folken was terribly cold now, never being led astray from his goal to bring her prophecy to light, or darkness. It didn't bother her either way, she would remain with Folken to the end.
She walked on to his throne room, a place littered with the bones of dragons. It had taken very little to convince the armies of Zaibach that survived to swear their loyalty to Folken. Without Dornkirk himself around, Folken was next in command. They had slain dragons in tribute to his rule, fashioning him a throne of the largest kill they made into a throne for their new emperor. It wasn't often gargantuan dragons were found, ones that were much larger than the ones near Fanelia, the largest of their kill providing them with the finishing touches on his throne, two head sized dark Drag-energists. Folken had nearly smiled when he saw them, but the prophecy was more important than a silly throne.
Folken was sitting quietly in his throne, shirtless with only his pants on and there was a woman at his feet. Her hair was short and silver-blonde eyes stuck in a terrible trance that made her sky blue eyes appear lifeless. She had nothing on, just lying there like a pale corpse. She knew the face, but she pushed her lavender silken lips into a slight frown. There were bruises on her face, as if she'd been slapped around. There were more on her wrists and breasts. They weren't bloody or too large, but they littered her body like a black and blue pox in those places.
"You shouldn't have done so to her. She's going to breed you a fine and lost general." The woman said lightly. Folken lifted his eyes gently, staring at her with cold indifference. He blinked slowly, a lock of his light blue hair falling across his eyes. He didn't bother to push it away as he stood, stepping over the young and hypnotized woman.
"She betrayed me. Celena Schezar murdered my best commander by waking herself up. Dilandau would be useful to us now if not for her influence. The Fate-Alteration on her son to overtake her body was ruined by her….weak and innocent mind. Dornkirk should have known better than to bend genders. He should have used Allan, turned that….womanizer into the monster, not his weak baby sister. Celena has to pay for her defiance….slowly." Folken replied evenly, walking right up to the woman in white.
"Sora, are you sure your elixirs of the lost ones will make this prophecy come true? I will not tolerate this any longer….if this be all a wild folly of a dying race." He added coldly.
Sora shook her head, not really focused no anything at all but her words. She pursed her lavender lips slightly, her eyes soft as ever. "It is the prophecy handed down to us by the god of war himself. His seven angels must be conceived within these seven days….and it will occur. I have seen to it personally. You soldiers brought me the chosen women to be the vessels of three of the other angels. The rest will merely give you and your future general you Dragon Slayers back. I have already arranged the means of the other two." She told him, her voice calm and serene.
The corner of Folken's mouth twitched slightly, but it stopped as suddenly as it started. "Van, brother, you'll be helping me choose the fate of our world….by being your gentle self that Sora has summoned back to you. Even that womanizer Schezar will aid us. If you only knew the great holy war that will rain upon your heads….for one night of passion. Ironic really. Hmm." He said to no one in particular.
Sora shut her eyes and nodded, walking past him to Celena's prone body. "Best we put her away until you are ready aid her in conceiving Dilandau….as it would have occurred anyway if your former Emperor had not altered your fates. A happy couple….would have been a beautiful family….if not for him." She said in a sing song manner.
She could almost feel the air grow colder, turning to see Folken had stiffened. "Yes, but the past is dead. Dilandau is to serve me as the monster he should be. An angel of death….my son. Hmm, how cruel fate is sometimes, but this time, I will be the one standing over Gaia in triumph, not Van, not Allan, not even that girl from the Mystic Moon. I will be the victor for all times. Yes…." He said quietly, then pointed off to his left," Her clothes are in the corner. I'll summon some soldiers to take her to my quarters, best you dress her quickly, her….dignity might be called into question."
He'd said the last part harshly, quickly leaving the throne room, the light clicking of his boot heels fading away. Sora sighed gently, brushing a stray strand of silver hair off the hypnotized woman's face. "Fate is what we make, Lord Folken. I will be there….to see yours unfold, as I was meant to." She said in a monotone voice, gather up her robes as she strode to retrieve Celena's things.
"Once you are taken care of, I have to enhance the fate of star-crossed lovers, to seal their fate in their hearts. To silence inhibitions." She added quietly, grabbing the tattered dress up carefully.
~ Fanelia Castle ~
Van stood by his window, staring out mournfully. He missed Hitomi very much. It had been nearly a year since he'd seen her, how she'd stuck with him through the terrible war Zaibach began. He knew for sure she was no warrior, but she had spirit, she believed in helping people. She helped him more than she'd ever know, she'd helped take away his loneliness, the headstrong feeling he had inside him that told him he couldn't be with anyone or do anything at the risk of losing them and being hurt. His entire family had left him behind so young, what else could he think?
Hitomi had changed that, she never kissed up to him like the servants, she never backed down from his words. She'd even stood up to him for being a jerk to her the day he'd slain the dragon. She had tamed him in a way, tamed the darkness toiling in his soul that had made him push others away, to not care.
'I wish I could have told you how I felt….how I really felt. Now I may never see you again, Hitomi. I'll never get to tell you the truth. Oh Hitomi….I wonder….if you miss me.' He thought, a solitary tear drifting across his smooth cheek as he clutched Hitomi's pendent, the way between Gaia and the Mystic Moon in his hands, keeping them apart. A breeze blew past him, and he thought he heard Hitomi's voice go with it. He heart ached at the thought, another tear falling from his reddish-brown eyes.
"Van!"
His lifted his head up that time, the voice more distinct, closer, as if it were in Fanelia itself. Then he heard a clicking noise next to him, on the outside of the palace. He turned his head curiously to see a slight dusty scrape had been made. He became puzzled until he saw it, a small rock smacking nearly the same spot as the mark. His eyebrow perked up slightly and he looked down.
Van nearly fell out of the window when he saw Hitomi standing far below his window, waving her arms frantically. She was in those same pink shorts she'd been wearing when they met, the ivory shirt and strange shoes of red. "Van! Let me inside! Van, it's me, Hitomi!" she was shouting at the top of her lungs.
"H….Hitomi?" he said blankly, then his eyes lit up as he smiled," HITOMI!"
It took Van little time in racing out of his room and to the front gates of the palace. He swiftly ordered his men to open it, despite their protests about it being late at night. When it was opened just enough for him to go through, he rushed out at Hitomi and caught her in and crushing hug, swinging her body around his ecstatic embrace.
"Van! Oh, I missed you….so much" Hitomi was muffling against his shoulder, crying a little. He could feel her warm tears penetrate the fabric of his shirt, but he didn't care one bit. He had Hitomi back with him, hopefully to stay.
"I missed you too, Hitomi. How did you get back. I thought you gave me the only means of getting from your world to mine." He said, his voice a little shaky. Hitomi pulled back slightly, on the verge of another flood of tears and bring her lip. "I don't know and I don't care. I'm back and that's all that matters. Oh van, there's so much I want to tell you, so much I discovered after….I had to go back." She told him. He smiled at her and wiped the tears away, then brought her close again.
"So did I, come on….you're probably starved. We can have supper in my chambers if you like, so we can talk in private. No prying eyes….or….you know." He was saying, sighing a bit as he rolled his eyes.
"Merle….I got you, Van. Sure Van, it's a bit chilly out here anyway. We can't very well have a welcome back dinner for two with a breeze." She chuckled, sniffling a little. Van's smiled only deepened and left one arm around hers shoulders as he led her into the palace.
~ The King's Chambers ~
As hungry as Hitomi had been, she had picked at her food like a bird, barely eating more than half of the delicious vegetables and meat drenched in fine gravy on her plate. Van hadn't eaten much either. They hadn't been talking, only staring. She felt very light, like she was floating every time she lost herself in his reddish-brown depths. A few times Van had opened his mouth, trying to say something, but lost his nerve and went back to staring at his food.
Van stared wistfully at Hitomi, his eyes glazing a bit as her perfect form took him in. It had been easy to welcome her back to Gaia, but getting those three simple words out was hard. He wondered how long it took his father to tell his mother how he felt, their first kiss, the first time they shared their bodies. It wasn't always on his mind, but in particular, he had to do it now. He felt as strongly for Hitomi as his later father felt for his dearest mother, the lovely and caring woman she had been. Hitomi just had a strange effect on him that other girls didn't. None of the princesses that had been brought to Fanelia to seek his hand in marriage could compare to her, the painted dolls that they were. All fake, just painted and dressed up little dolls with fake and lifeless smiles, willing to be used as he saw fit just to rule his country. It wasn't love, it was a sick fantasy, one he had no desire to become a part of.
Van wanted Hitomi, to love her, to tell her everything he couldn't tell any other female, to be complete at last. 'But how….she just got back, but I burn all over. I want her….I've missed her so much. Why couldn't I have realized it sooner how much I cared for her, I would have asked to marry me then instead of keeping it to myself and watching her go back to her home. Would she have stayed with me, will she stay? How can she if I don't say something?!' he thought wildly, biting his lip.
"Van? What's wrong?" Hitomi asked suddenly. He nearly bit through his lip she startled him so bad. Instead he made a choked gasped and looked up at her with wide, frightened eyes, letting them soften a bit with his sadness. "Hitomi….I….I have to tell you something very important. I have to….I have wanted to say it for such a long time to your face, but I thought I'd never see you again. I thought fate had cursed me to be alone in this." He said quietly, his heart beating rapidly as he endlessly toiled the words through his brain.
Hitomi looked on, then smiled, putting one hand on his shaking ones. "Yes, don't be afraid of me, Van. Tell me, it doesn't hurt to be truthful." She smiled gently. He took a breath and eyed her slightly, then looked down again. 'Easy for you to say….I've never been very open about my feelings. This is harder than you think.' He thought, then met her eyes again.
"Hitomi….I….I…." he began, stuttering slightly, then shook his head hard and grabbed hold of Hitomi's hands," I….I have to do this."
With that he leaned towards her face and kissed her soundly on hr slightly parted lips, gently at first, then warmed and deepened it slowly. He felt Hitomi stiffen on contact, then she sighed and kissed him right back, her warm tongue flitting across his lips. His nervousness was dying away, receding into the tides of his soul. Van waited another few moments before wrapping his arms around her, pulling her against him tightly. He parted his mouth a bit, slipping his tongue into her mouth, meeting with her own.
It was like a sweet battle in his mouth, their tongues licking one another gently and then started to wrestle with each other to go deeper into their mouths. To him, her taste was beyond his comprehension, sweet and hot at the same time honeyed with affection. He gasped slightly as he felt one of her hands running through his raven-black hair, the warm pads of her fingertips exciting his skin. The other made him deepen his kissing, Hitomi's free hand sliding up his red shirt and rubbing his chest.
After what seemed like an eternity, they broke for air, panting heavily as they stared into each other excited eyes. "I love you, Hitomi Kanzaki. I always have. I'm so sorry I didn't have the guts to tell you….I was….afraid you'd abandon me too. I'm sorry." He panted out, taking note of the bewildered look on her face.
"Oh Van, I would never abandon you. Not a day went by that I wasn't thinking about you….I love you too, more than life itself. I love you, Van Fanel. I want to be with you forever." She breathed, kissing him with all the pent up passion she'd kept inside for the past year. It was so much, they fell over, Hitomi writhing on top of van as they kissed.
Van felt warm again, kissing her back hungrily, rubbing his beloved's sides and then her milky, smooth thighs. He felt her moan in the kiss, like a gentle vibration in her throat. Van nearly swallowed his own tongue when Hitomi ran her fingers down his thighs, tracing slow and deliberate circles around his groin. He moaned in his own throat, clutching Hitomi's thigh, working his way up slowly.
'I can't help it….she's driving me up a wall. I want her. I don't want to lose her this time….Oh Hitomi." He thought, and quickly rolled their bodies over so he was on top. He fumbled with her shorts, releasing the strange clasps swiftly before tugging it all down.
Van didn't bother looking down, too deeply held within their passionate kisses. He slowly worked his lips down from her mouth across her angelic jawbone, and to her throat. He licked at it, landing white-hot kisses across its smooth length. Hitomi was moaning beneath him, her hands tugging at his shirt one moment, then stroking his sides. He felt his skin twitch at the touch, almost like being tickled, but it made him burn inside more. Van quickly obliged her and pulled off his shirt and threw it away from them.
He sat her up after that, situating her in his lap at they went on kissing. He wanted so much to be able to get up, to get them to the comfortable bed, but his legs refused to obey. They felt like jelly, boiling with so much passion it ached even to move. He didn't want to lose her feel on them, her smooth bare thighs relentlessly hugging his waist and her curves pressed tightly against him.
When they pulled their lips back, Hitomi smiled at him, stroking his cheek subtly with her hand. "Van….I always wanted it to be you. Ever since I realized how I felt for you, I wanted it to be you….king or not, you're very special to me." She told him, kissing his lips lightly.
He smiled under her kiss, the strength returning to his legs at last. He swiftly stood, picking her up with a sweeping spin. "Hitomi….I feel the same way. At last, it can be just you and I….and more, if you'll have me." He said, blushing a bit as he set her on his bed.
Hitomi blinked, tears filling her eyes and her cheeks blushing bright red. "Oh Van, are you…." she said, but the words left her as he kissed her again. "Hitomi, will you marry me? Will you be my queen?" he said smoothly, his eyes searching hers, the passion and adoration emanating from them like searing flames. Hitomi clutched her heart, a smiled coming to her lips as the first few crystalline tears fell down her cheeks. "Oh Van, yes! Oh course I'll marry you." she beamed, hugging him tightly.
Van nuzzled against her, kissing her earlobe gently. He felt her shiver with ecstasy, the soft moan filtering through his ears beautifully. It was music to his ears. Whatever happened tonight wouldn't change his feelings. He was going to marry Hitomi, to make her happy for all times. He would never leave her behind, not for anything.
"Hitomi….I'll love you forever. No matter what. I swear it on my life." He told her boldly, now holding her at arms length with a determined look in his eyes. She smiled back, and nodded, then looked at his pants and blushed. He followed her gaze and blushed with her. The top was open part of the way, showing a little more of his hips and a little up front. He looked back up at her, looking sheepish. "Shall we continue….my love?" he said shyly.
She smiled at him, an evil smile, as if she were plotting something. With a swift nod, she started to take off her top, then the small corset she wore that supported her supple chest. He drank in the sight of naked body for a few minutes, his fingers lightly playing with her breasts before he knelt down and took one in his mouth.
One is one,
The Soul is thee
Let emotions run,
Let the heart be free.
Van heard it distinctly in his head, a beautiful song playing in his head. The voice was enchanting, so innocent, speaking so true to how he felt right now. He felt his inhibitions crumbling away as he pushed Hitomi gently back onto the bed, taking her other breast in his mouth and suckling upon it, licking it wildly as well as he relished in Hitomi's loud moans and panting. He could feel her sweating, her heart beat madly pounding in her chest and vibrating through his tongue.
"Oh Van! Ahhhh! VAN!" she moaned out pleasurably, thrashing about beneath his hold. He worked his kisses down slowly, licking at her every so often. It just felt right, so perfect, so loving, just like Hitomi. He grinned against the niche of her thighs, sliding his tongue effortlessly and slow. He body felt so hot right now, so hot it was making him sweat the longer he was in contact with her soft and delicious body.
One is one,
The Soul is thee
Let emotions run,
Let the heart be free.
He heard it again, as if it were driving him on. It was such an inviting concept, to merge with Hitomi as he'd been dreaming of since he lost her to the Mystic Moon. A year was too long to suffer without his angel, too long to be alone and without her light. He couldn't take it anymore. Swiftly, he delved his tongue into her womanhood, licking and suckling upon her like a greedy child. She let out an excited scream, moaning loader than before. He looked up slightly, seeing she was running her hand all over her chest and stomach, whipping her head about like mad. Her taste down here was even better than her mouth, the sweet yet tangy fluid within her greeting his taste buds lovingly, urging him to go faster, to take all she could give.
Van went on for a long time, Hitomi's screams escalating with every teasing lick and spearing thrust his tongue performed upon her. He managed to get his pants and undergarments off during this, then worked his hands up her thighs lovingly, making her entire body twitch insanely.
After a while, he finally lifted his head up, kissing his way back up to Hitomi's mouth. Every kiss seemed to set her off, making her body jerk each time. She giggled a few times, her hands grabbing at his face to caress it, then his shoulders and slim torso.
As he positioned himself above her, he took in the sight of her again, basking in her glowing beauty. "I love you." he said, then thrust his manhood inside her. She yelped as he tore through her virgin barrier, but then her features softened, the pain short lived and replaced by the pleasure of their lovemaking.
One is one,
The Soul is thee
Let emotions run,
Let the heart be free.
The voice was fading away now, but its urgings weren't ignored. Van took special care to make his and Hitomi's first time wonderful. He was relying completely on instinct, what his body was telling him to do, to love Hitomi for everything she was worth and beyond. He quickened his pace within her as she wrapped her legs about his slim waist and pushed him into her harder. He smiled inwardly and grunted a bit when she did so. He let out a feral growl, softening it as the ecstasy took him down.
They came together, their hot fluids clashing against each other hard. Van felt illuminated, a bright blue light flashing in the back of his mind as he climaxed, shouting Hitomi's name loudly as she did his. Sated, he collapsed gently onto her, not pulling out for a long time. He wanted to enjoy the feel of her inner tunnel contracting warmly around his manhood, to feel her breathing and her heart beating out of control with his own.
Several minutes passes before he rolled off of her, smiling with deep satisfaction and love at Hitomi as he took a few deep breaths. She smiled back, then rolled towards him a bit to catch him in a living embrace. "I'll always be yours, Van, always. I love you….so much." She whispered, slowly drifting to sleep in his arms.
"I love you too, my queen." He breathed, letting the exhaustion take him into a deep and pleasant sleep as well.
~ 1 Week Later ~
- Outside the Castle -
"Do you, Van Slanzar de Fanel, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold through sickness, health and turmoil, to love, honor, and cherish for as long as you both shall live?" the grizzled old priest asked.
The big day had finally arrived, the formal ceremony welcomed by Fanelia in finding their lonesome and brooding king was finally getting married. Everyone was happy for the proud couple, even Merle, who was currently scratching her sides in the yellow dress she'd been given to wear. Hitomi had made her the maid of honor as Merle, as grudgingly as expected, finally accepted than Van was in love with Hitomi and she made him happy. Merle was a bit heartbroken she couldn't have Van, but she didn't want her Lord Van to be so depressing as he had been when Hitomi left.
Hitomi was in a beautiful white gown, a strapless one of made of shimmering pearly silks and a beautiful gold tiara on her head, holding up her misty white veil. She looked like a real princess, her entire form just glittering like a rich diamond decked with pearls and gold. The only thing that was set apart from the beautiful ensemble was the pendent Hitomi was wearing round her milky throat.
Van had given it back to her, in case she was sent back to the Mystic Moon. He said that she knew how to work it better than he did, and she could control it. She had agreed, missing her pendent greatly already. She couldn't refuse his offer very well with his staring at her so intently, and kissing her with such passion. If it made him feel better and secure in her staying, who as she to deny him?
Everyone was just staring at her in awe, especially Van. He was wearing the armor from his coronation ceremony, but with a fine black tunic and pants on, and he wasn't wearing his helmet. Instead he had on a thin, golden circlet with a fragment of an energist embedded in the center.
"I do." Van said at last, taking his eyes off of Hitomi for a moment to answer the priest, then slipped the gold ring on her finger.
"And do you, Hitomi Kanzaki, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold through sickness, health and turmoil, to love, honor, and cherish for as long as you both shall live?" the priest asked, turning to Hitomi with his withered face.
She looked at Van, smiling brightly. "I do!" she said enthusiastically, turning to van and slipping a gold ring on his finger. They kept their hands joined a moment longer before the priest cleared his throat, putting his hands on theirs. He separated their hands a moment, tightening his grip slightly as he lifted them as high in the air as they could go.
"Then by the power invested in my by the Holy Order of Gaia and the people of Fanelia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Praise be to King Van and Queen Hitomi of Fanelia," he announced, then let go of their hands," You may kiss the bride."
Van smiled and lifted up Hitomi's veil, kissing her deeply as he drew her body close to his. She kissed him back passionately, the clapping and cheering so very far away. All she cared about was this moment, she was Van's wife, his queen, his soul mate. Nothing could drag her away from this moment, nothing could spoil it.
She felt light suddenly, her stomach lurching a bit. There was a bright light over her, she could tell even with her eyes closed, her eyelids showing a great whiteness trying to get through. Then she heard screaming, no longer feeling van's lips on her or his arms about her. Her eyes snapped open frantically, screaming in agony and horror when she realized what had happened.
The pillar of light had come back, it was taking her away from van. The happiest day in her life and it was taking here away. It was van screaming at her, his wings ripped out from his back to fly after her, but his armor was weighing him down. "HITOMI! NO! DON'T GO!!!!" he screamed, wrestling with his armor frantically, the mind numbing fear reflecting in her eyes. She reached out, dropping her bouquet of roses, and screamed back to him. "Van! Help me! I don't want to go! Let me stay! Van! OH God no! Please no! VAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNN!!!!" she screamed, but it was no use. She couldn't see him anymore. She couldn't see Fanelia, she saw nothing but light, the painful, cold light.
~ Earth: Tokyo, Japan ~
-8 Months Later-
"You slut! How could you break my heart like this Hitomi! I raised you better than this and you go and get knocked up by some lowlife that can't even show his face to me?! One who makes you tell wild stories so I'll understand this! Ugh, Hitomi, how could you get pregnant! You of all people, I raised you to be smart!" Hitomi's mother wailed, her face fully crimson.
Hitomi had her face turned away from her mother, the bright red mark of a recent slap evident on her tear stained cheek. "Mom, please! I'm sorry I didn't tell you….but I'm in love. I have to get back to him somehow….I am not a slut!" Hitomi cried out, getting slapped again.
Her mother was positively seething, struggling with every ounce of control she had not to kill Hitomi on the spot. Hitomi had tried to hide her pregnancy all this time, with success. She wore baggy T-shirts and sweats and ponchos to hide it, and it had worked for a long time, until her stomach was just too much to hide and her mother finally noticed. Her mother had noticed Hitomi was eating a lot, staying locked in her room, refused to go swimming or to the beach, or wear anything cool during the sweltering summers.
Hitomi was shocked she'd found at all in only putting the pieces together in eight months, but then again, her mother was busier taking care of her little brother and talking on the phone to her female friends than to pay attention to dependable, self-reliant Hitomi.
"No daughter of mine gets pregnant then loses her husband….at such an age. You're barely 17 years old, Hitomi, why couldn't you have shown more responsibility! I'm ashamed to even know you! Ugh, you're not my daughter, you're nobody's daughter!" her mother raged, trembling upon her last words.
"You….you can't mean that!?" Hitomi gasped, but her mother stood firm. "I don't have a daughter anymore, you little slut. Get out of my house before I call the police. Get out and never come back!" he mother wailed, then rushed out of the room crying, slamming the door loudly behind her.
Hitomi was still a moment, trying to fathom what was going on. Everything had been so perfect, marrying Van, finding out she was going to bear his child, but her mother didn't know about Gaia. Her grandmother was dead, and even if she was, no one normal would believe such an outlandish story about Gaia. The war fought by human controlled robots, sorcerers that changed fate, a commander with an unquenchable thrust for death, and a king that had the wings of an angel, the key to her heart, no one would believe her.
Hitomi started to pack swiftly, everything she could fit in a fat suitcase she'd gotten for her birthday a few years back for a trip to China for school. One with a little strap and wheel on the bottom if it for easy carrying. She threw her Tarot cards in, as many of her undergarments as she could, toothbrush, memories of her family and life on Earth, anything she held dear to herself. Once she was done, she dragged her back out of the room and left the house, her mother watching the TV with the volume on high, a program that was talking about prostitutes.
Hitomi growled inwardly, and left the house quickly. She didn't care how long she would have to wait, she was going back to Gaia then taking her pendent off forever. There was no way it would take her back here, to a family that refused to understand what she was going through, caring more about their reputation in the community than anything else.
It took her an hour in her condition to drag her brag back to the track field, the school she'd been forced to drop out of due to her pregnancy. She had left the track team after two months, when her cravings just got impossible to control, the baby inside her practically screaming for her to devour everything edible in sight. Amano and Yukari understood, they had been there the first time she and Van vanished to Gaia, after the dragon had nearly killed them all. They understood the stories, and mostly how she felt, but they couldn't help her. They had their own lives to consider, she would have to do this alone so they could be happy, so she could be too.
"Bring me back to Gaia. Do you hear me, there's nothing here for me now. I forsake my world for Gaia! Give my child and myself back to the world we belong to! I don't care how long I have to scream at you, whoever you are, but I am going back no matter what!" she screamed at the sky, clasping her pendent with her free hand.
Nothing came at first, only a whistling breeze, a few dogs barking in the distance. Then came a scream, her own screams. She felt a cool wetness fall down her legs, soaking her pants. 'Oh no….my water just broke….No, not now, the nearest hospital is 20 miles away. Oh God no!' he mind screamed, the pain in her stomach erupting soon after. She felt to her knees as she clutched her stomach, screaming out suddenly for help.
As if on cue, someone did help. The pillar of light returned, basking her writhing body in its strange glow. It lifted her and her suitcase off the ground, lifting her into the sky, away from Earth. Hitomi screamed as another wave of pain hit her, Earth leaving her sights forever.
~ Fanelia Caste ~
-The Healing Chamber –
"Fetch more hot water. Come on, faster lads. She's almost there! Push, Hitomi, push!" the doctor said, wiping away more blood and discharge from Hitomi's private. She screamed out in pain again, the samurai trying to hold her down. It was odd that no women servants were about the palace, these poor soldiers being forced to be nurses to Queen Hitomi along with the two young healers who were present.
It was better than giving birth all alone in the field, that much was clear in her mind. She had been lucky that the dog man Ruukusu had been out there with his people or she would have bled to death and her baby would have perished for sure. He and his people rushed her back to Fanelia to a very depressed king, startling him so badly he nearly fell out the window he was leaning out when they arrived.
Van was now holding her hand, wiping her brow and trying not to cry out in pain himself from the crushing grip Hitomi had on his hand. He had been overjoyed to see her, but it soon became cold fear when he saw she was in labor, her legs covered in blood as she already started to push the baby out on the way. Ruukusu's people had saved her life, making sure she didn't bleed to death or faint. He would be eternally grateful to them for saving the life of his wife and child, a child he thought he'd never see.
"One more push, I can see the head. One good hard push, my queen. You can do it!!" the doctor coached, his fingers gripping the baby gently. Hitomi was too drained too push, but she was in too much pain to stop now. With all the strength she could muster, she pushed as hard as she could, harder than she hope she would ever have to again, a vein throbbing in her forehead as she let out a final scream. She shut her eyes as the pain left her, catching her breath so as not to pass out.
She heard a slap, then a baby crying, her eyes fluttering open to see a baby body being taken off to a little basin of water. It had stopped crying, gurgling a little as the doctor and a nervous samurai cleaned the child's body free of the blood.
The healers began to work on helping close Hitomi up as Van kissed her face gently, a proud look on his face. 'Hoping for a boy…an heir to the throne. I should have known….but who cares. I'm back for good, I'm a mother and I have my husband back, my wonderful husband.' She thought happily, her weakened body slumping back a bit. Van help readjust her pillow and let her lay back on it, so she was sitting up comfortably. She felt the healers fix her right up, but she knew she'd be sore a few days. No one recovered from giving birth too quickly, not on Earth or Gaia.
"Your majesties, may I present you with your son." The doctor said, suddenly standing beside them with the cute bundle in his arms, all wrapped up in a blanket. The baby's eyes were closed slightly, but Hitomi could see a hint of green under the tired lids. He also had a shimmering tuft of blue hair on his small head, almost like liquid sapphire. The baby gurgled, as he was place in her arms, cooing as Van touched his face. The eyes opened fully, his tiny hands poking out of the blanket he was wrapped in.
Hitomi gasped a little, then blinked as she and Van both stared hard at the gurgling baby. "His eyes….are two colors. The pupil is green like mine, but blue in the iris. Perhaps my Draconian blood and your Mystic Moon blood did that. Rather beautiful in its own way" Van said quietly, then looked at the baby's little hands. They balled up in cute little fists, then spread out as Van smoothed a finger over them," Scars too? Perhaps the birth was rougher on him than we thought, my love."
Hitomi nodded, but couldn't help but feel fearful as she inspected the baby. There was a scar from above the wrist all the way up to the tip of his middle finger on his left hand and a curvy "X" scar on the top of his right hand. He had the face of an angel, looking up brightly with a wistful smile at her. He cooed sweetly and patted her face playfully. He got an open mouth smile on his face, letting out a cute sounding breath.
Hitomi smiled back and kissed his forehead. "Now for a name, my little one. I've already chosen one, if you don't mind, Van." Hitomi said breathlessly, stroking her child's cheek delicately.
"I trust in you, Hitomi. Tell us what our son's name will be." Van said pleasantly, smiling at her fully, then pecked her on the cheek before looking down at his son.
"Hiero, Hiero Scorchava de Fanel. Our little prince." She said happily, and Van's face lit up as well. "It's a beautiful name, just like our son is beautiful, just like his mother." He told her, kissing her full on the lips.
~
Hiero drew his hand away from his mother's forehead, a satisfied smirk on his face. That had been six years ago, and he still remembered that crowning moment clearly. His new parents were even more in love than his last ones had been. Dipping into their minds with the dream invasion spell was child's play, it had been even easier this time than the last, their secrets all in his head now. He loved his mother dearly, she always cracked down on him like a real mom and would smack his hand if he did something bad. These people weren't stupid, nor were they like Lina and Zelgadis, overjoyed their son was a genius. The fact that he'd been born blind may have gotten some sympathy, as that world was known for insane things happening nearly every day.
This world call Gaia wasn't the same as the last world, it was far more serious, much like Terrian, but without prejudice. True, the doppelganger tribes and geckos weren't the most loved races in the world, but the planet was basically peaceful, save for the Zaibach Empire. Those memories he'd seen of the war excited him, those were what he called battles, the guymelefs and swordplay the most wondrous things he'd ever set his mind on. Hiero hoped someday, since he'd have all the time in the world to try it, to fighting one of those fancy guymelef things and have a real mortal sword combat joust. Anything to get out of the boredom of being introduced to snotty brat princesses and egomaniacal princes with no taste.
This world only needed his ego and tastes to infect it, so he could make the most out of this world while he was here. He grinned suddenly, letting a little giggle out, then slid off their bed and walked quietly back to his bedroom, one that was practically as big as the last house he'd lived in, maybe bigger. The room was a dream, and he was treated with utmost respect and dignity….and he hated it. It wasn't those factors that made him hate it, it was the fact he had the luck to be born in royalty.
How he hated that class, the snotty upper crust that was so much better than everyone, always above the law, above everything, and spoiled rotten. He liked his new parents for the simple reason that they were not spoiled or stuck up, they were ordinary, just like he was and would strive to be. It was the royal advisors he couldn't stand, the samurai telling him he should be more like his father and his father before him. Hiero just wanted to be a child, but the samurai weren't letting him.
He was already smarter than everyone in Fanelia, probably smarter than everyone in the world at his age. Hiero had read all the books in the royal library, the ancient texts hidden in his father's chamber, and even the quaint little tarot card booklet he found hidden in his mother's underwear drawer. He smiled a bit, being sneaky was fun, especially when no one knew who was doing it.
'When I'm old enough, I'm kicking each and every one of those bumbling samurai's asses. No holding back, they are driving me crazy with this royal responsibility crap. Why couldn't I have been born in a poor family or something. This place is so constricting. There are no girls, no one my age to even attempt to play with. Ugh, cursed again. I don't even know if Val-chan made it. I'm not old enough yet to use long range telepathy. Lousy luck….' He thought harshly.
Hiero looked up at his bed, which was currently a bit higher than him, his eyes could barely see over it. There was a lump in his bed, one that was breathing. Hiero sighed and leapt up, bouncing on the bed hard to startled the lump out of its slumber. A little cat girl with pink hair popped out, giggling and squealing as she ran around Hiero playfully. He smiled a little, then grabbed the girl's little tail and yanked. She yowled as he yanked again and got her to hold still.
"Owee! Lord Hiwo! Dat hurted!" the little cat girl whined, but Hiero just chuckled at her, letting go of her tail. "No fair, Myrna. Why can't you sleep in your own bed like a good kitty cat. You may only be a year old, but you know your mama don't like it when you run off. Why do you always come to my room." Hiero childishly sassed, feeling deeply nauseous in making himself sound like a simple child.
Myrna's tan ears twitched and her little finger tugged on her yellow dress, one that was very similar to the one his Aunt Merle wore. Myrna was a cute little thing, for a cat-girl, her pink hair shaped nearly like her mothers, but it was spikier on the ends and her eyes were pink too, like her father Daisuke's. She smiled a little suddenly and leapt into his small lap, curling up like a newborn kitten. Hiero just sighed and dragged himself back on his bed, making sure he kept the little cat-girl in his lap. Annoying her by standing up by the edge of the bed like he wanted to would only gain him a spanking and a lecture form his parents and Aunt Merle. He didn't know why the little cat-girl liked him so much, he thought of her more like a baby sister than anything more.
Hiero picked her up and set her down on the covers, slipping his small body under the covers quietly. He left Myrna where she was, as she was practically comfortable sleeping almost anywhere that was close to him. 'Ah well….girls. Go figure….time to get some sleep….and hope I see Val again….Val, please find me, friend, I don't want to go this alone. You're the only person I have left in this world from the last one, please, be safe for me.' He thought, s small smile fluttering across his perfect lips before he drifted off to sleep.
