Prologue

The day was cold and bitter, much like every other day after the incident. She had

been gone for over two years now, and it tore Van up inside. Why? Because it was all his

fault, and now, he is alone. For a long time he hated, not himself, but her. She left him to

live, or to die, in loneliness and he hated her for it. She was to blame, it was her, not him.

Well, that's what he kept telling himself. And now, with skirmishes and problems at

Fanelia's borders, he needed her more than ever...but...he knew she wouldn't come

back...would she?



"Your highness, we will soon be arriving at the palace"

"Um, yes, thank you Marco."

"My pleasure your Highness. Is everything alright, you look deathly pale."

"Oh I'm fine. I'm just remembering."

Yeah, remembering my stupid actions I believe it was about 2 years ago one or two years

after the war

~*~FLASHBACK~*~

"Van-sama!!! You're home!! For a moment I thought I was gonna be homeless or

somethin'."

"Glad to see that you care, Merle. Is that the only reason?"

"Uh, yup!"

"He he he."

who would've thought that we would stray apart? How could I have been so stupid?

He had just arrived from the East boundaries of Fanelia, where he had stayed for

about one month. The trip back was tiring and he couldn't wait to go home and sleep, go

home and see his family again, go home and see HER. When he arrived everything

seemed the same, nobody had changed that much...really. Everything was as it was except

for HER, she had been different lately. Maybe because of that change in HER he argued

with her. The change was very visible, at first he didn't mind, but then, the OTHERS

started coming around, and he didn't like it at all. But nobody KNEW that...Or the real

story, however...

*later that day*

"Van, I mean no disrespect but you cannot live in the past!! Hitomi is GONE. G-O-N-E!!

Gone!! She's not comin back, if she does, she won't stay!

You know im right, cant you just see behind your blinded love? Get over her, if she was

your true love she would be here!"

"Shut-up!! What would YOU know about TRUE love!?! HUH? No one loves you!!

Whether you like it or not you will always be that little girl, living in my shadow!! The

Groupie, who nobody cares about. That's why you're jealous of what Hitomi and I had!"

They had been arguing for over an hour and neither felt like letting up...

"I found out a LONG time ago that I don't need somebody to love me if I love myself!!

And for your information, wasn't Hitomi seen kissing Allan!?! Is THAT love? If it is, then

I don't want it!"

"How DARE you mention that, you love sick Kitten!"

"Lovesick!?! THAT was a long time ago. Unlike you, I grew up!! You really ARE in

denial!!"

"Why you filthy little whore"

*gets slapped*

"I feel sorry for you Merle. You make me SICK!! You and you 'friendly opinion'!"

Gods, why did I say those things, Merle, I didn't mean them

"... .. ... I hate you Van..I HATE YOU!! You are such a bastard for saying that to me,

and I'll hate you for it till the Day I DIE!! You know, I don't see HOW I fell in love with

you, you're just a crybaby!! I NEVER EVER want to see your sorry face again you

pompous piece of shit!!"

Of course, for Van, that was the straw that broke the camel's back...in a bad way.

" Fine then!! Go on!! You'll come cryin back to me before dark. "

Please I don't want to think of this anymore!

"Fine then, hate me. You'll come running back by dark! You're nothing without me!! Without my backing you are helpless!"

PLEASE!! NO MORE!!

"No Van, I wont. I don't need you any more, and ya know what? I never have."

Merle, noooo.

~*~END FLASHBACK~*~

"Your Highness, we have arrived."

"Uh..yes, thank you Marco."

"Are you SURE you're alright. Are you ill or is it about.. .um, HER sir?"

"Yes, it is. And Marco, you have no need to be so formal. You are my most trusted aid."

"Thank you si-I mean Van."

Mmmm, maaaaaybe Van isn't telling the WHOLE story

"That's better. Let's go, you know how Mahara gets when we are out in the cold. She freaks."

"Heh, testify brotha."

"you know it."

Things will never be the same with HER gone. Nor will they be the same because of-

"Van!! You're home! I've missed you!!"

He breathes in and out a sigh. He looks up.

"Hitomi..."

(A.N.: I promise, this will get better!)