Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne.
A/N Hehehe yes selena you are the 100th reviewer sorry though I don't know what to give ya. The chapter is out sooner is that good? Well if not then I don't know what to do gomenasi!!!!!!! ^^ Thank you all soooo much! Hope this chapter doesn't seemed rushed or anything tell me if it is. Thank you so much again and have a great day!!!
Sailor Hope
Van smoothed his hand over his face slamming the council door behind him with his free hand. So the meeting hadn't exactly gone like he had planned. Flora's parents wouldn't give in and were considering disowning their daughter if the marriage didn't go through. Van had strained his voice yelling at them, they made him sick and if Flora wished to have nothing more to do with them all the better. She could stay here and he would throw her the best wedding she'd ever seen.
Reluctantly the King of Williams had agreed to stay allies with Fanelia, Van had agreed. A marriage contract was no reason to take on an enemy. The couple was unfortunately staying with him for a few more days. The mere thought gave Van a splitting headache.
He was angry, frustrated, and full of energy. So marching down the halls and out his front doors he headed to the lists to see if some guards would humor their king in a little sport.
Hitomi watched Van swagger down the steps and head for the lists looking rather frustrated. Leaning against the cold brick wall she gave a smirk. How ironic that everyone was leaving. No one could stop her. Van was busy with politics and such he wouldn't miss her until it was too late. It seemed fate was in as well, Merle was off traipsing through the forest looking for the marauders. She wouldn't be here in time to mess with Hitomi's departure.
"HITOMI!!!"
Hitomi turned around to find Aston screaming for her again. Sighing she slid around the castle wall and clung to the bricks. Aston rushed past looking furious and scared.
"Sorry..papa"
Aston disappeared into the castle hallways and Hitomi stepped out of the shadows. She couldn't talk to him right now. In fact she wouldn't be able to talk to him for quite a while. The information overload was weighing down on her and she was going to crack soon.
She just hoped she could finish what she had too before she broke. She heard soft footsteps crunch some twigs behind her.
"Yes Soren?" she asked without turning around
Soren gave a heavy sigh filled with regret and sorrow, "Hitomi we never-"
"I know Soren don't worry about it"
"But-"
"Don't Soren, I said I'd do it. I'm not going to change my mind," turning to face him she tried to lighten the mood with a smile, "Besides I know there's still something you guys aren't telling me I have to come, to pry."
Soren's eyes radiated more sorrow if possible and Hitomi had a feeling he didn't want her to pry. She realized she probably wouldn't like what she would find.
"Well when do we leave?"
"As soon as possible"
"I'll go pack"
"We'll meet you at the front gate in an hour, pack light we have a ways to go. Caleb is rounding us up some horses he's convinced Van won't mind"
Hitomi's lips curved up slightly, "I don't think he will"
The two stood in silence for a few minutes before Hitomi turned and quietly vanished inside the castle and up the stairs.
A little less than an hour later Hitomi swung the saddlebags over her shoulders and checked herself over. She had filched one of Van's shirts, if for nothing more than a reminder of the man she loved. She was wearing one of his typical red shirts and a pair of pants she had from the gypsy camp. In fact all the clothes she had packed were from her time at the gypsy camp. A few shirts, a heavy leather jacket, and some pants. Two pairs of shoes including the ones she was wearing. Her pendant shone brightly against the red and Hitomi had stolen one of the tiny paintings Van had had painted when they were young. It had Merle laughing up on Van's back smiling over his shoulder with a Millerna on his other side leaning on his free shoulder putting bunny ears on Merle. Hitomi was in front leaning back against Van her hand in Merle's and Millerna's.
It had been the last day of summer before Hitomi and Millerna had to go home. The four had decided to do a funny pose, it almost broke Van's back.
It was tiny and Van would probably miss it but he had plenty more. She had a few hair ribbons and some necessities. Darice had come in earlier and told Hitomi not to worry about food they had plenty of money and Caleb had ransacked the kitchen a little, they had a enough for now.
Hitomi snatched the tiny beige cap off her bed and slipped it on her head. She had also taken a sword from the store guard's room. She knew how to use it, a little. She would have Soren and the others teach her a little more.
With one last glance around her room she said good-bye and snuck down the halls. Aston stood in the entry way and Hitomi felt herself snarl at her misfortune, but if it was one battle tactic she had mastered in all her years it was stealth. Shadows were her companions and silence could be her tongue if she willed it so.
So clinging to the shadows she practically slid through the hall and out the door. With a quick dart across the courtyard she sprinted over the dirt. She was almost to the gate when the screech of metal caught her ears and she stumbled. Turning to her right she felt her heart wince at the sight of Van going at it with one of the guards. Her love was literally pulverizing the poor soldier. His shirt was off and the sweat glistened in the afternoon sun. She stood for a minute taking in as much of the sight as she could. His muscles flexed under skin as he lunged and flipped the soldiers sword from his hand.
The satisfied smile he gave standing there in the lists reaching out to help his guard off the ground was something Hitomi would never forget. Whispering an 'I love you' she turned before her body wouldn't allow it and ran with the wind all the way to the front gate.
She hung her head low as she approached her friends and walked up to the free horse. Throwing her saddlebags over the side she saddled up and got on.
"Hitomi-" Trisha started
"Let's go!" Hitomi snapped surprised at the twinge of anger in her voice.
There was silence as the four exchanged guilty expressions. But Caleb was the first to suck it in and face reality.
"Well we aren't going to stop any marauders just standing here! Ralle here we come!"
And with that he kicked his horse gave out a cry to get the beast going and kicked up the dust as he rode through the gates.
Darice frowned and shook her head trying to avoid tears. Caleb was trying to convince everyone else he would be fine, when in fact he knew he wasn't coming back.
Another hie yah! Was heard and everyone looked up to watch Hitomi disappear after Caleb. So pushing over their fears they turned to face the hard truth head on.
"Let's go get some marauders," Trisha said her voice a little shaky but the others knew what it cost her to say that and stuck up their heads in pride.
And with a few more spurs the five were gone in a cloud of dust under the bright golden sun on a beautiful summer day.
Van smiled down at his guard, "Thanks Tigrus"
Tigrus, Van's second in command of the ground troops looked up at his king and shook his head in exhaustion. But grabbing his king's hand he pulled himself up.
"Something bothering you Van?" he asked eyeing the young man
Van wiped his face with his shirt and sheathed his sword, "Just got out of a meeting"
Tigrus stood still, waiting.
"With His and her majesty the king and queen of Williams"
"Ouch," Tigurs winced, "I'm taking it that the news of no engagement didn't blow over well"
Van gave a muffled laugh through his shirt, then pulling his face up he flashed the man a grin.
"That my friend would be an understatement"
"I'm glad I'm just the general of an army, this ruling a nation stuff just wouldn't settle with me"
Van laughed again, " You and me both"
"SOREN YOU BLOODY LACKWIT!!!"
Van and Tigrus turned to find Aston kicking the dirt in the courtyard yelling for all he was worth. Van rolled his eyes.
"Off to find what havoc has come to my castle now"
Tigrus laughed this time, "Good luck Van"
Van slipped his shirt on and headed off to find out what Aston was yelling about before he went up and took a bath.
"Aston what's wrong?"
Aston spun around and at the immediate sight of Van his shoulder's slumped. Van blinked to make sure he had seen right but it was unmistakable. Aston's shoulders were slumped forward and his head was bowed in what could only be defeat.
"They're gone, again, I didn't stop it, again"
Van stepped a little closer, "Didn't stop what"
"I didn't stop them from taking my baby girl. And now I'll never be able to find them! Damn them and that stupid temple!! If they walk away from it alive I'm going to rip their throats out!"
Van felt the ground sway a little, "Baby girl, Aston," Van lowered his voice, "Your daughter's dead"
He hated saying the words again but Aston looked to be flying off the deep end.
Aston gave a bitter laugh, and locked gazes with Van as if he was considering something. He moved his mouth to speak but nothing came out so he shut it.
"I know that Van, forgive me ummm stress that's all"
Van gave Aston a soft smile, "It's okay Aston," and with that he turned to leap up the stairs, "I'm off to take a bath," he stopped and turned, "Oh have you seen Hitomi?"
Aston turned away and Van frowned.
"I t-think that I saw her head into town this morning"
Van shrugged off the crack in the man's voice and headed back in the castle, "Thanks she should be back soon I'll just talk to her then"
Aston waited until Van disappeared into the shadows of the hall before he stepped forward and lifted his head to the sky.
"I can't be with you my child, so please hurry and come back alive, don't be foolish we couldn't handle your death again."
Flora and Mark returned before sunset laughing and holding hands like they had done so all their life. Van pulled away from his advisors for a minute and rushed to greet the two before a certain royal pair did.
He stopped a few feet in front of them and let them walk up. Flora looked up and her smile faltered.
"How did it go?"
"Flora I want you to know you're always welcome here. If you decide that what your parents want is about as ridiculous as it sounds then you may make your home here."
Van felt the fury rise in him again. He had lost his parents when he was young but he had been by their side to the end. He had watched them leave this world knowing that they loved him. Flora would receive no such illusions from her parents. And that gave Van all the more reason to hate them.
She pushed a smile forward but it didn't fool Van, Mark was impressed even less. Her eyes shone with determination and hurt at knowing she was most likely going to be rejected by her parents.
"Van thank you so much, you've been so kind I can't tell you how much it means to me."
Van felt his heart tighten a little, oh but the girl was losing her family to gain her love. He fought the urge to slice her parents to ribbons.
"It's nothing new," she went on staring up at the ceiling, "I've finally got Mark back," she turned to her love and he pulled her closer, "I'm not going to lose him because my greedy parents want more land"
Van shifted his gaze to Mark and could see the guilt in his eyes. That too urged him to go slit the Williams royal's throats.
"You'll always have a family here we don't have time for people like them anyways"
Flora laughed a little and leaned back into Mark's chest, "We don't do we?"
Van smiled at the fight returning to his friend. If it was one thing he didn't want to see, it was the kind graceful girl in front of him cry over hard hearted money hungry royals.
"You didn't happen to see Hitomi while you were out did you?"
Mark shook his head, "Nope and we covered the town, twice"
Van pushed aside the jump in his gut, he was just panicking. The only problem was he hadn't seen her gypsy friends around today either. That shouldn't have bothered him though, they might have just gone for a visit and miscalculated time wise.
Of course then there was the fact that Aston had been screaming at one of them in his bout of stress earlier. Van shook it off.
"I'm tired so I'm heading up to my room I think having your dinners sent to your room instead of joining the remaining guests would be a good thing," he hinted before walking back to his advisors to finish off their conversation.
Hitomi shifted on her saddle trying to relieve some of the soreness. They had been riding hard all day and her poor body was letting her know how much it hated that.
She was sure she would have turned her horse around by now if it hadn't been for the constant distractions. She had tried to keep her mind on other things than Van or the soldiers her father and love were sure to send out after them. Thankfully the scenery was just the distraction she needed.
The soft sunlight seeped through tiny cracks in the treetops above and Hitomi watched creatures dance through trees and bushes. She hadn't been away from the forest for long but the moment they had entered the covering of the forest her body had immediately relaxed, all tension had drained.
Birds flew overhead making shadow dances on the forest floor that were nothing slight of enchanting in nature's world.
She could hear a river not too far off. The quiet babbling as it slipped and slid over rocks and dirt. Peaceful calls of the wild life creatures soothed her nerves and she focused make on her riding while basking in the familiar surroundings.
Hitomi had taken her cap off and tied it to her belt. The wind flew threw her hair massaging her face and tickling her nose.
The harsh beat of horse hooves rose up from the ground and pushed back some of nature's music but Hitomi strained to hear the wonderful world around her.
Looking up at the softening sound of hooves she noticed Caleb had stopped. Soren pulled up behind him and Hitomi pulled on her reins to stop the magnificent black mare Caleb had found her.
Darice skid to a halt next to Hitomi and Trisha brought up the rear.
"Break time folks I don't know about you but my back is killing me," Caleb grunted jumping down from his horse and walking it to the nearest tree.
The rest followed tying their horses up and stretching out of the soft grass floor. They all laid there in silence rubbing their aching muscles in the dieing sunlight.
"Michael has his men at Zaibach, Fried and Asturia. If we're going to avoid them that'll delay our travel a good solid two days," Caleb finally broke the silence
"Then we won't," Hitomi's monotone voice replied, "We'll go straight through them"
Everyone agreed, except Trisha.
"That's not such a good idea"
Hitomi was the only one ignorant to the situation so she pressed on.
"They won't catch us, if," Hitomi cursed the crack in her voice, she had decided to go there was no time for second thoughts, "besides if we seal this up faster maybe we can get back in time for Merle's return saving me from a beating I might add."
"We won't be coming with you," Trisha said turning to her side so her back was facing Hitomi
Hitomi sat up carefully her body still sore from the riding, "What do you mean you won't be coming with me? I seal this power up because I'm the only half human half draconian left that isn't full of the blood thick with anger. We wave good bye to the guardians, because I'm not going to die," she assured the group though she was sure she was just reassuring herself, "And then we go home, killing Michael in the process."
Darice gave a disgruntled moan as she pushed herself to her feet, "Hitomi you came with us, without question, we simply told you that if you didn't go Gaia would die. I admire you Hitomi, and your trust humbles me but there is so much more to it."
Hitomi sat up straighter, "How much more?"
Caleb grunted as he turned around to face Hitomi, "Hitomi, true if you don't seal Aloysia's power Michael will use one of us to get inside the temple and use the power for himself, thus resulting in the destruction of Gaia. But," Caleb ran his hand over his face, "But the guardians of Surlina have grown bitter and vengeful over the years. The power of our last king and queen has fused with the temple. The power gave the temple, Surlina, a personality and the strength to live it."
Hitomi didn't like the sound of facing a temple with a mind of its own.
Soren started stacking some logs, " There are two guardians in Surlina, one for the first floor and one for the second where Aloysia's gem rests. The gem is where you will draw the power from."
"But if the temple is fused with this power won't it be a little angry at me taking it away?"
Darice shook her head, "The temple is tired of living, and Michael isn't the only one who has attacked it searching for the power. It just," Darice cleared her throat and crossed her arms, "It just recently took on two guardians to ward off any greedy travelers."
Caleb snapped some rocks together and sent the spark against some dried grass Soren had put at the bottom of the logs. A fire slithered over the grass and started crackling.
"You said it was vengeful, who does it want to take revenge on?"
"Michael"
Hitomi frowned that was obvious but there just seemed to be something that wasn't fitting. A sliver of the puzzle she couldn't find.
"Who else?"
No one answered. Hitomi looked down at the growing fire and felt the dread build up. She had a feeling of who it was now.
But Trisha decided to clarify it for her.
"Us"
Van rubbed his eyes and quietly shut his bedroom door behind him. The sun was setting and Hitomi still wasn't on castle grounds. He forced himself to stay calm. She had to have some freedom, he was probably just over reacting and she would be home any minute.
Lighting his fireplace he slipped his jacket and shirt off. Letting them fall to the floor he turned to his bed and thought to take a quick nap before Hitomi came back. So walking over he was about to fall on his soft mattress when he caught something out of the corner of his eyes. Turning towards the pillows he reached out and picked up the item.
It was a letter and his gut dropped like a stone when he recognized the writing.
Dear Van,
I want you to know I love you and don't worry about me I'll be back before you know it. Just going on a little trip with Soren, Caleb, Darice, and Trisha. We'll be gone maybe a week or so don't bother chasing after me by the time you read this we'll be well on our way. I'm sorry and please don't worry I'll be fine. Go help Merle with the marauders if you want a distraction I'm worried about her fighting them. I will be home soon.
With all my love, Hitomi Kanzaki
Van felt the paper crumple in his hands. The crunch of edges giving way to the pressure of his fingers bounced off the walls. Turning he threw the ball into the fire and watched it crackle. Not worry?! NOT WORRY!?! She was off traipsing around Gaia! The marauders were acting up! His sister was in battle! And now she was likely marching into the middle of it and she didn't want him to worry!!
He clenched and unclenched his fists. This wasn't happening, he was dreaming it all up. Hitomi wouldn't be so foolish as to go racing off over Gaia on a trip!!! Especially when fall was just around the corner. No Hitomi wouldn't do that. She wouldn't do that to him. He had just found her!!
*~Flash~*
"SOREN YOU BLOODY LACKWIT!!!
~~~~~
"I didn't stop them from taking my baby girl. And now I'll never be able to find them! Damn them and that stupid temple!! If they walk away from it alive I'm going to rip their throats out!"
*~End~*
Van felt his stomach flip. Aston knew about this, he didn't know how or how much but Aston had been screaming at Soren just this morning shortly after Hitomi seemed to have left. But he hadn't told him! Grabbing his leather jacket off the floor he quickly slipped his arms in and ran out of his room shutting the door with a thunderous bang.
As soon as he pried all the details out of Aston he would likely kill him for not telling him about Hitomi running off sooner.
Flora scrunched her eyebrows in confusion as Van stomped past her. Frowning she reluctantly turned back towards the hall and went to her room.
Van reached the bottom of the stairs in record time.
"ASTON!!!"
Every soul in the hall froze at Van's voice, it was laced with an anger they hadn't heard in a while. A maid shook as she pointed to the kitchen.
"Out the back door mi'lord I think he went to yer gazebo"
Van ran through the kitchen and out the small door leading to the garden. And sure enough the boat was missing resting nicely on the small island shore. Checking for curious eyes he slipped his jacket off and snuck to the water's edge. Scanning one more time he stretched and let his wings slide out of his back. With a small push he shot out over the water gliding just above the clear blue lake water. With a few pushes from his mighty wings the water disappeared beneath his chest and soon he was heading up. The gazebo was in sight at the top of the hill and he could see the familiar figure of Aston. Dropping his right side a little he glided to the side and landed on the steps.
Pushing his wings back in he slipped his jacket on and all but leaped up the steps.
"Aston!!"
The figure spun and Aston turned to face Van.
"How did you-"
Van grabbed a fistful of Aston's shirt and pulled his senior to his feet.
"Where did Hitomi go I know you know! Now I know why you were screaming for Soren! You know!! Where did they go!?! Why didn't you tell me!?!?"
Aston's eyes flashed with anger but he didn't push Van away.
"It doesn't matter where they've gone, you can't find them."
"I'll decide that! Where did they go!?!?!"
Aston hesitated but Van jerked harder on the man's shirt.
"Surlina"
Van's eyes slowly morphed from tiny accusing slits to wide circles.
"What did you say?"
"Surlina Van, Hitomi went to Surlina"
"What are you talking about Surlina is a myth"
Aston shook his head, "No Van it's not a myth, it's real, and Hitomi's gone to seal Aloysia and Yoshi's power"
Van stumbled a bit and dropped Aston's shirt he looked ready to throw up, "To seal it?"
Aston nodded.
"But you have to be draconian to get inside Surlina!"
"I know"
Van blinked his nausea temporarily gone. What was Aston saying? Hitomi was a draconian?!"
"What are you talking about?"
Aston closed his eyes and seemed to be gathering his courage. Taking a glance at the sky he finally locked eyes with Van.
"I loved her mother Van, I still love Kimi."
Van blinked again not sure that he was hearing right.
Aston gave a bitter laugh and turned to the lake, "My parents were so obsessed with money and land they couldn't see straight. So of course when I fell in love with the daughter of a fisherman they didn't approve. But I didn't care. If I had just backed out then maybe I could have saved us a lot of trouble."
Van took a few steps back and felt for the bench he had a feeling he wasn't going to like where this conversation ended.
"Kimi and I married in our hearts two days before I was forced to marry my wife. My wife knew I didn't love her and she didn't love me. I sired an heir on her to keep the council happy and we became best friends. But not too long after I found out she was pregnant with Millerna, Kimi showed up at the castle. She had run away the day I was wed. I don't know what I expected really I just couldn't spend the rest of my days without her by my side. But it was too much for her so she turned my offer down to live in the castle and left. I never wanted her as a mistress, I wouldn't humiliate her like that, I just couldn't picture waking up every day and not seeing her some time that day."
Van's heart cracked a little at the sorrow in Aston's voice.
"But Kimi showed up not too long after I wed. She said she had decided to take me up on my offer and she wanted to live in the castle. She was also pregnant, with my child. I had never been so happy in my entire life the month Hitomi and Millerna were born. I had the love of my life by my side, my best friend for advice, and two beautiful daughters."
Aston sighed and bent his head to rest his forehead against his crossed forearms.
"But it was too good to last. For some time we all lived in happiness, Hitomi never knew we were going to wait until she was a little older before we told her about us. I spent all the time I had with those four women. They were my world."
Were.
"Kimi was a draconian, but not just any draconian she had been chosen to give birth to the daughter that would save Gaia from Surlina's hatred and draconians greed. I tried to convince Kimi to stay but she said she wouldn't put Hitomi through it. And so she tried to seal the power in Surlina and the temple killed her. Part of me died that day. I hadn't told her but I had been planning to leave. My parents had no right to take from me what they did. My wife was going to gladly take over Liara for me and I was going to take Millerna, Hitomi, Kimi and run. I was going to get a divorce in Asturia and we were thinking of moving here, to Fanelia. Of course we would visit Liara so Millerna could see her mother but Kimi and I were going to spend the rest of our days the way we should have. But we didn't, the temple killed her," Aston spat.
"Then Millerna died and Hitomi supposedly with her. Then slowly my best friend and wife faded and I watched my world fade away. And now that I've been given back one ray of hope and they're taking it away!!!"
"Does Hitomi know?"
"She found out yesterday just before they told her."
"They who?"
Aston lifted his head and looked at Van.
"The draconians."
Van's eyes grew the size of saucers once again, "You mean her friends from the gypsy camp?"
Aston slowly nodded, "They aren't gypsies, they're draconian slaves to Surlina"
"But the legend says Surlina moves every two days, how are they going to find it?"
"There is a book of draconian history made by the temple, a key it gives to those it wants to find it's resting place. When you burn it a map will appear, the burning of the book also sends a signal to Surlina telling it there are draconians coming. If it knows the draconians and wishes to see them it will not move until they arrive. Darice had the book."
Van didn't know whether to scream in rage or break down in tears because Hitomi most likely wouldn't survive the sealing process. He didn't know where to look and if Surlina wanted them to come then they would make it there. They had a days head start and sweeping the entire planet wouldn't work. Surlina would protect them until they got there.
Leaning forward on his knees Van let his head fall to his hands.
"Hitomi."
Hitomi sat in front of the fire mildly surprised, part of her had seen it coming.
"Why?" she ventured
"Perhaps we should give you some family background before we try and explain," Caleb called over his shoulder as he pulled some food from a saddlebag on his horse.
Family background?
Caleb walked over with a pan some food she couldn't quite name and some bread. He sat down next to Darice and handed her the pan. Darice took the pan and rolled the handle in her hands for a few seconds before looking up at Hitomi.
Hitomi gasped at the tears slinking down her cheeks. She took a deep breath and didn't flinch when Caleb reached over to brush the tears away. Hitomi tilted her head slightly and looked at Caleb. There was something different about him. Something she hadn't noticed before, a gentleness, that seemed to be there only for Darice.
"The first guardian in Surlina isn't exactly a guardian. He's a prisoner frozen to the wall in ice. A warning to all intruders."
Hitomi felt her breath pick up speed despite what her mind said.
"In one of Michael's attacks," a few more tears slid down her cheeks, "Jason and I were heading to Asturia. Surlina was in this forest at the time and Michael was trying to get inside. He obviously sensed Jason's clean heart and decided to use him to get inside. But only Jason entered. Surlina was angry about the attack and killed half of Michael's men and as revenge froze Jason to watch the door for eternity."
Hitomi felt a little dizzy with the wave of emotion that washed over her. A sudden hatred for this temple swelled up inside her chest.
The tears fell faster now, "Jason was taking me to Asturia for our 12th year wedding anniversary"
Hitomi felt a tear fall down her cheek now.
"I raced back to Gitani and got Jason's brother"
Hitomi's head turned upwards a little and Caleb caught her eye and gave her a weak smile. The shock was a little nerve wracking. Darice and Caleb were family? She was married to Caleb's brother? Who was now frozen in this stupid temple. Hitomi clenched her fists as a few more stray tears sauntered down her cheeks.
Caleb pulled Darice into his chest and wrapped his arms around her hiding her face and tears so she wouldn't feel humiliated.
"Darice and I searched for Surlina for years and when we did find it, by miracle alone, we were allowed inside. We tried to free my brother but Surlina became angry and just about killed us both. But it seems that Jason had been talking with the temple while frozen in his prison. Surlina had come to be rather fond of him, and though Surlina would not let Jason go, it did listen to him. Jason speaks with Surlina through his mind and there he begged for our lives. Surlina allowed us to live but its anger overcame in the end. We were cursed to seek you out so you could come and seal the power so Surlina could be no more. Surlina doesn't like being melded with the power and wishes for it to leave."
Hitomi grit her teeth, once she sealed the power the first thing she was going to do was tear that building down. Brick by brick, board by board, with her bare hands. That temple would pay some how for all the pain and suffering it had caused.
"And because Jason has been so helpful to Surlina it will let him go the moment we return with you."
He was leaving something out she could see it.
Taking a deep breath he turned back to what he was cooking in the pan, "Where I will take my brother's place"
Hitomi felt anger at first but smiled a little when she realized it would be okay. She would pull Caleb out of the ice as soon as she sealed the power.
"I'll just free you," she said quickly
Caleb gave her a grateful smile but shook his head, "I have to take his place, with my blood"
The sound disappeared and all Hitomi could hear was the blood pounding behind her ears. He had to die? Just because he had taken his sister in law to search for his brother! It wasn't right!!! She couldn't let it happen!!!
Darice clutched Caleb's shirt a little tighter and he just brushed her hair with his fingers while stirring their dinner.
"Please don't let it bother you Hitomi, I'm not afraid, my brother will finally have his love back and Darice her husband. I couldn't ask for more."
Hitomi blinked through her tears and saw the brotherly love in his eyes as Darice wrapped her arms around his chest and clung tighter.
This journey was turning out to be a little more complicated than she had planned.
She covered her mouth to silence the little noises her throat was making. She felt a familiar heavy hand squeeze her shoulder and spun to find Soren smiling down at her gravely.
She wasn't sure she could hear Trisha and Soren's story. But Soren looked ready to tell her while they were getting everything out in the open.
Trisha was still on her side, back to the group, just lying there.
Hitomi glanced at Trisha and then turned her attention back to Soren wiping the tears off her cheeks.
"We know your visions have shown you a little and I know that you know Trisha and I are siblings. And I love my sister with all my heart but we were not always so close."
Yep she definitely didn't like where this was going.
"We grew up in a small town on the outskirts of Zaibach. We were as close as Jason and Caleb were. Didn't take a step without the other one knowing. But then one day Trisha met a sailor who was visiting family in Zaibach. It was love at first sight and I grew a little jealous. I couldn't tell you that I didn't want her to have anything to do with him simply because he was a sailor. I knew I was jealous of the attention she lavished on him. But there was something about the man I just didn't like. Perhaps it was because he was draconian."
Hitomi already knew who the man was and wasn't sure she wanted to hear the details.
"Trisha was so happy that she had found another draconian besides ourselves. And as the months went on they fell deeper in love. I just had to sit and watch as my sister drifted from me. He proposed and we fought for hours. I didn't like it one bit but she just called in childish jealousy and ran off to marry him. I didn't see her for 3 years. I let my jealously and anger eat at me and after about a year of sulking in self- pity I decided to get up and do something. The gypsy camp was a result of that. So for 2 years I focused on helping fellow gaians and created a retreat for those shunned by life. A place where they could forget their pasts and start again. But those 2 years flew by and Trisha showed up at my tent one morning."
Soren managed a little smile here, "I fell flat on my face and tripped on my boots. When I managed to get on my feet I had several cuts from where I had started shaving the moment she showed up and a bruise on forehead from falling. She looked like she wanted to laugh but she hadn't. And so came the first tale of the marauders."
Trisha pulled her legs closer to her chest and Hitomi wanted to rush over and pull her friend into the biggest hug ever.
"I'm sure you've figured out who her husband is. Michael truly was a kind and gentle man in his younger years though, I was simply blinded by jealousy. But on their 3rd year anniversary they were going to go spend their weekend up in a little cabin they owned in the mountains next to Gitani. They left their one-year-old daughter with Michael's sister. When they came back," Soren glanced at his sister and hung his head as she pulled herself into a tighter ball.
"Their child, Scarlet, and Michael's sister Gwen were dead, slaughtered by local bandits. The house had been ransacked and they had been murdered. That sent Michael over the edge and he spent a month mourning for them. When he finally came out of his room Trisha said the glint of hope and love in his eyes was gone. He marched straight through their living room and out the front door. Never to return. A week later horror stories of a small band of robbers, "the marauders" were spreading of how they were ransacking homes and killing innocent-"
Every eye turned on Trisha as she sat up her back still facing them.
"Thanks Soren, it's okay, you don't have to say anymore, I can tell my story," Turning around Hitomi expected to see tears and red eyes, she didn't expect to see what she saw.
Trisha's eyes were void and unfocused as if she wasn't exactly looking at any of them. Her face was pale and she looked sick.
"I was heading home from town late one night when the marauders jumped me. They broke my left arm and left a few bruises. But the men who had hit me suddenly fell over. I saw the glint of a sword and figured it was over. But when I looked up Michael was staring down at me the blood dripping off his sword. And for a moment, just for a moment, I saw Michael, my husband staring back down at me. But it didn't last long. He didn't say a word he simply untied my ropes and shoved me forward. I fell and landed on my already broken arm. The men laughed but I picked myself back up and turned around. And Michael was laughing with them."
Hitomi couldn't stop herself from gasping. Her hatred for Michael had just doubled. She looked up and her heart broke at the pain in Trisha's eyes. She had been betrayed and stomped on, she had lost a child and a husband and yet she still kept going.
"I knew then that my husband wasn't there anymore. So I fixed my arm packed up and spent the next few months tracking Soren down. He was furious at Michael and was intent on killing him. So he left the camp in charge of another and we set out to find Michael and either bring him back or kill him. We found him attacking Surlina in the desert. He fled and Surlina still boiling with rage took out its wrath on us. It could sense who we were and sought to punish all those related to Michael in any way. We were cursed to join Darice and Caleb and seek you out."
Trisha pulled her pant leg up and Hitomi peered down at the gold bracelet clinging to her skin.
"Surlina's gift," she sneered, "We leave course and die on the spot. It knew we wouldn't go though, if Michael gets the power then Gaia will fall and we don't want that anymore than Surlina does. And Surlina knows it. I'm fated to die by Michael's hand and Soren will either live or die in a battle with Michael. If he lives then he is cursed to watch everything he loves die and fade away."
The horror reflected in Hitomi's eyes and she darted from Soren to Darice to Caleb to Trisha. She wanted to scream in anger and cry for all their pain but she didn't have the energy to do either. So she just sat there, in complete horror.
"Hitomi we had to tell you but you can't let this affect you. No matter what happens to us you must seal the power," Trisha said ignoring the crack in her voice
Hitomi looked at her in disbelief.
"Hitomi you will have to fight to seal the power," Soren started, "The second guardian stands watch in front of the gem. You must kill him to get to the stone."
"Kill him?" Hitomi got the words past her lips
Kill someone? Sure she had known it was a possibility but just hearing it made her shake. Could she really kill another person? Could she take another man's life?
If it man had been Michael she would have muddled through with only a month of nightmares. But to murder someone she had never met? She didn't think she was capable.
"I-I don't think I can, I don't even k-know the person"
Darice turned away from Caleb's shirt her blood shot eyes filling with fresh tears.
"Do you want to know his name?" she asked slowly immediately regretting the words.
Sure she didn't want to tell Hitomi, her friend was already sufficiently traumatized. But if she didn't prepare for this mentally, emotionally, and physically now she wouldn't be able to do it.
Hitomi had a feeling she didn't want to know but she nodded all the same.
"Folken Lacoeur de Fanel"
A/N Yea I know how many of you didn't see that coming? Hahaha I know but hey I'm making him that guardian that's that! I think I misspelled his middle name please forgive me. I hope you all enjoy this chapter is kinda short than the others sorry, if it feels too rushed please tell me and I'll rewrite it. I hope you like it all the same and I want you all to know I only wrote this once!!! (Now that I read my words writing it once could actually be a bad thing.) I'm winning against the writer's block though!!! HAHAHA!! Writer's will prevail!!!! Have a great day!!!
Sailor Hope
A/N Hehehe yes selena you are the 100th reviewer sorry though I don't know what to give ya. The chapter is out sooner is that good? Well if not then I don't know what to do gomenasi!!!!!!! ^^ Thank you all soooo much! Hope this chapter doesn't seemed rushed or anything tell me if it is. Thank you so much again and have a great day!!!
Sailor Hope
Van smoothed his hand over his face slamming the council door behind him with his free hand. So the meeting hadn't exactly gone like he had planned. Flora's parents wouldn't give in and were considering disowning their daughter if the marriage didn't go through. Van had strained his voice yelling at them, they made him sick and if Flora wished to have nothing more to do with them all the better. She could stay here and he would throw her the best wedding she'd ever seen.
Reluctantly the King of Williams had agreed to stay allies with Fanelia, Van had agreed. A marriage contract was no reason to take on an enemy. The couple was unfortunately staying with him for a few more days. The mere thought gave Van a splitting headache.
He was angry, frustrated, and full of energy. So marching down the halls and out his front doors he headed to the lists to see if some guards would humor their king in a little sport.
Hitomi watched Van swagger down the steps and head for the lists looking rather frustrated. Leaning against the cold brick wall she gave a smirk. How ironic that everyone was leaving. No one could stop her. Van was busy with politics and such he wouldn't miss her until it was too late. It seemed fate was in as well, Merle was off traipsing through the forest looking for the marauders. She wouldn't be here in time to mess with Hitomi's departure.
"HITOMI!!!"
Hitomi turned around to find Aston screaming for her again. Sighing she slid around the castle wall and clung to the bricks. Aston rushed past looking furious and scared.
"Sorry..papa"
Aston disappeared into the castle hallways and Hitomi stepped out of the shadows. She couldn't talk to him right now. In fact she wouldn't be able to talk to him for quite a while. The information overload was weighing down on her and she was going to crack soon.
She just hoped she could finish what she had too before she broke. She heard soft footsteps crunch some twigs behind her.
"Yes Soren?" she asked without turning around
Soren gave a heavy sigh filled with regret and sorrow, "Hitomi we never-"
"I know Soren don't worry about it"
"But-"
"Don't Soren, I said I'd do it. I'm not going to change my mind," turning to face him she tried to lighten the mood with a smile, "Besides I know there's still something you guys aren't telling me I have to come, to pry."
Soren's eyes radiated more sorrow if possible and Hitomi had a feeling he didn't want her to pry. She realized she probably wouldn't like what she would find.
"Well when do we leave?"
"As soon as possible"
"I'll go pack"
"We'll meet you at the front gate in an hour, pack light we have a ways to go. Caleb is rounding us up some horses he's convinced Van won't mind"
Hitomi's lips curved up slightly, "I don't think he will"
The two stood in silence for a few minutes before Hitomi turned and quietly vanished inside the castle and up the stairs.
A little less than an hour later Hitomi swung the saddlebags over her shoulders and checked herself over. She had filched one of Van's shirts, if for nothing more than a reminder of the man she loved. She was wearing one of his typical red shirts and a pair of pants she had from the gypsy camp. In fact all the clothes she had packed were from her time at the gypsy camp. A few shirts, a heavy leather jacket, and some pants. Two pairs of shoes including the ones she was wearing. Her pendant shone brightly against the red and Hitomi had stolen one of the tiny paintings Van had had painted when they were young. It had Merle laughing up on Van's back smiling over his shoulder with a Millerna on his other side leaning on his free shoulder putting bunny ears on Merle. Hitomi was in front leaning back against Van her hand in Merle's and Millerna's.
It had been the last day of summer before Hitomi and Millerna had to go home. The four had decided to do a funny pose, it almost broke Van's back.
It was tiny and Van would probably miss it but he had plenty more. She had a few hair ribbons and some necessities. Darice had come in earlier and told Hitomi not to worry about food they had plenty of money and Caleb had ransacked the kitchen a little, they had a enough for now.
Hitomi snatched the tiny beige cap off her bed and slipped it on her head. She had also taken a sword from the store guard's room. She knew how to use it, a little. She would have Soren and the others teach her a little more.
With one last glance around her room she said good-bye and snuck down the halls. Aston stood in the entry way and Hitomi felt herself snarl at her misfortune, but if it was one battle tactic she had mastered in all her years it was stealth. Shadows were her companions and silence could be her tongue if she willed it so.
So clinging to the shadows she practically slid through the hall and out the door. With a quick dart across the courtyard she sprinted over the dirt. She was almost to the gate when the screech of metal caught her ears and she stumbled. Turning to her right she felt her heart wince at the sight of Van going at it with one of the guards. Her love was literally pulverizing the poor soldier. His shirt was off and the sweat glistened in the afternoon sun. She stood for a minute taking in as much of the sight as she could. His muscles flexed under skin as he lunged and flipped the soldiers sword from his hand.
The satisfied smile he gave standing there in the lists reaching out to help his guard off the ground was something Hitomi would never forget. Whispering an 'I love you' she turned before her body wouldn't allow it and ran with the wind all the way to the front gate.
She hung her head low as she approached her friends and walked up to the free horse. Throwing her saddlebags over the side she saddled up and got on.
"Hitomi-" Trisha started
"Let's go!" Hitomi snapped surprised at the twinge of anger in her voice.
There was silence as the four exchanged guilty expressions. But Caleb was the first to suck it in and face reality.
"Well we aren't going to stop any marauders just standing here! Ralle here we come!"
And with that he kicked his horse gave out a cry to get the beast going and kicked up the dust as he rode through the gates.
Darice frowned and shook her head trying to avoid tears. Caleb was trying to convince everyone else he would be fine, when in fact he knew he wasn't coming back.
Another hie yah! Was heard and everyone looked up to watch Hitomi disappear after Caleb. So pushing over their fears they turned to face the hard truth head on.
"Let's go get some marauders," Trisha said her voice a little shaky but the others knew what it cost her to say that and stuck up their heads in pride.
And with a few more spurs the five were gone in a cloud of dust under the bright golden sun on a beautiful summer day.
Van smiled down at his guard, "Thanks Tigrus"
Tigrus, Van's second in command of the ground troops looked up at his king and shook his head in exhaustion. But grabbing his king's hand he pulled himself up.
"Something bothering you Van?" he asked eyeing the young man
Van wiped his face with his shirt and sheathed his sword, "Just got out of a meeting"
Tigrus stood still, waiting.
"With His and her majesty the king and queen of Williams"
"Ouch," Tigurs winced, "I'm taking it that the news of no engagement didn't blow over well"
Van gave a muffled laugh through his shirt, then pulling his face up he flashed the man a grin.
"That my friend would be an understatement"
"I'm glad I'm just the general of an army, this ruling a nation stuff just wouldn't settle with me"
Van laughed again, " You and me both"
"SOREN YOU BLOODY LACKWIT!!!"
Van and Tigrus turned to find Aston kicking the dirt in the courtyard yelling for all he was worth. Van rolled his eyes.
"Off to find what havoc has come to my castle now"
Tigrus laughed this time, "Good luck Van"
Van slipped his shirt on and headed off to find out what Aston was yelling about before he went up and took a bath.
"Aston what's wrong?"
Aston spun around and at the immediate sight of Van his shoulder's slumped. Van blinked to make sure he had seen right but it was unmistakable. Aston's shoulders were slumped forward and his head was bowed in what could only be defeat.
"They're gone, again, I didn't stop it, again"
Van stepped a little closer, "Didn't stop what"
"I didn't stop them from taking my baby girl. And now I'll never be able to find them! Damn them and that stupid temple!! If they walk away from it alive I'm going to rip their throats out!"
Van felt the ground sway a little, "Baby girl, Aston," Van lowered his voice, "Your daughter's dead"
He hated saying the words again but Aston looked to be flying off the deep end.
Aston gave a bitter laugh, and locked gazes with Van as if he was considering something. He moved his mouth to speak but nothing came out so he shut it.
"I know that Van, forgive me ummm stress that's all"
Van gave Aston a soft smile, "It's okay Aston," and with that he turned to leap up the stairs, "I'm off to take a bath," he stopped and turned, "Oh have you seen Hitomi?"
Aston turned away and Van frowned.
"I t-think that I saw her head into town this morning"
Van shrugged off the crack in the man's voice and headed back in the castle, "Thanks she should be back soon I'll just talk to her then"
Aston waited until Van disappeared into the shadows of the hall before he stepped forward and lifted his head to the sky.
"I can't be with you my child, so please hurry and come back alive, don't be foolish we couldn't handle your death again."
Flora and Mark returned before sunset laughing and holding hands like they had done so all their life. Van pulled away from his advisors for a minute and rushed to greet the two before a certain royal pair did.
He stopped a few feet in front of them and let them walk up. Flora looked up and her smile faltered.
"How did it go?"
"Flora I want you to know you're always welcome here. If you decide that what your parents want is about as ridiculous as it sounds then you may make your home here."
Van felt the fury rise in him again. He had lost his parents when he was young but he had been by their side to the end. He had watched them leave this world knowing that they loved him. Flora would receive no such illusions from her parents. And that gave Van all the more reason to hate them.
She pushed a smile forward but it didn't fool Van, Mark was impressed even less. Her eyes shone with determination and hurt at knowing she was most likely going to be rejected by her parents.
"Van thank you so much, you've been so kind I can't tell you how much it means to me."
Van felt his heart tighten a little, oh but the girl was losing her family to gain her love. He fought the urge to slice her parents to ribbons.
"It's nothing new," she went on staring up at the ceiling, "I've finally got Mark back," she turned to her love and he pulled her closer, "I'm not going to lose him because my greedy parents want more land"
Van shifted his gaze to Mark and could see the guilt in his eyes. That too urged him to go slit the Williams royal's throats.
"You'll always have a family here we don't have time for people like them anyways"
Flora laughed a little and leaned back into Mark's chest, "We don't do we?"
Van smiled at the fight returning to his friend. If it was one thing he didn't want to see, it was the kind graceful girl in front of him cry over hard hearted money hungry royals.
"You didn't happen to see Hitomi while you were out did you?"
Mark shook his head, "Nope and we covered the town, twice"
Van pushed aside the jump in his gut, he was just panicking. The only problem was he hadn't seen her gypsy friends around today either. That shouldn't have bothered him though, they might have just gone for a visit and miscalculated time wise.
Of course then there was the fact that Aston had been screaming at one of them in his bout of stress earlier. Van shook it off.
"I'm tired so I'm heading up to my room I think having your dinners sent to your room instead of joining the remaining guests would be a good thing," he hinted before walking back to his advisors to finish off their conversation.
Hitomi shifted on her saddle trying to relieve some of the soreness. They had been riding hard all day and her poor body was letting her know how much it hated that.
She was sure she would have turned her horse around by now if it hadn't been for the constant distractions. She had tried to keep her mind on other things than Van or the soldiers her father and love were sure to send out after them. Thankfully the scenery was just the distraction she needed.
The soft sunlight seeped through tiny cracks in the treetops above and Hitomi watched creatures dance through trees and bushes. She hadn't been away from the forest for long but the moment they had entered the covering of the forest her body had immediately relaxed, all tension had drained.
Birds flew overhead making shadow dances on the forest floor that were nothing slight of enchanting in nature's world.
She could hear a river not too far off. The quiet babbling as it slipped and slid over rocks and dirt. Peaceful calls of the wild life creatures soothed her nerves and she focused make on her riding while basking in the familiar surroundings.
Hitomi had taken her cap off and tied it to her belt. The wind flew threw her hair massaging her face and tickling her nose.
The harsh beat of horse hooves rose up from the ground and pushed back some of nature's music but Hitomi strained to hear the wonderful world around her.
Looking up at the softening sound of hooves she noticed Caleb had stopped. Soren pulled up behind him and Hitomi pulled on her reins to stop the magnificent black mare Caleb had found her.
Darice skid to a halt next to Hitomi and Trisha brought up the rear.
"Break time folks I don't know about you but my back is killing me," Caleb grunted jumping down from his horse and walking it to the nearest tree.
The rest followed tying their horses up and stretching out of the soft grass floor. They all laid there in silence rubbing their aching muscles in the dieing sunlight.
"Michael has his men at Zaibach, Fried and Asturia. If we're going to avoid them that'll delay our travel a good solid two days," Caleb finally broke the silence
"Then we won't," Hitomi's monotone voice replied, "We'll go straight through them"
Everyone agreed, except Trisha.
"That's not such a good idea"
Hitomi was the only one ignorant to the situation so she pressed on.
"They won't catch us, if," Hitomi cursed the crack in her voice, she had decided to go there was no time for second thoughts, "besides if we seal this up faster maybe we can get back in time for Merle's return saving me from a beating I might add."
"We won't be coming with you," Trisha said turning to her side so her back was facing Hitomi
Hitomi sat up carefully her body still sore from the riding, "What do you mean you won't be coming with me? I seal this power up because I'm the only half human half draconian left that isn't full of the blood thick with anger. We wave good bye to the guardians, because I'm not going to die," she assured the group though she was sure she was just reassuring herself, "And then we go home, killing Michael in the process."
Darice gave a disgruntled moan as she pushed herself to her feet, "Hitomi you came with us, without question, we simply told you that if you didn't go Gaia would die. I admire you Hitomi, and your trust humbles me but there is so much more to it."
Hitomi sat up straighter, "How much more?"
Caleb grunted as he turned around to face Hitomi, "Hitomi, true if you don't seal Aloysia's power Michael will use one of us to get inside the temple and use the power for himself, thus resulting in the destruction of Gaia. But," Caleb ran his hand over his face, "But the guardians of Surlina have grown bitter and vengeful over the years. The power of our last king and queen has fused with the temple. The power gave the temple, Surlina, a personality and the strength to live it."
Hitomi didn't like the sound of facing a temple with a mind of its own.
Soren started stacking some logs, " There are two guardians in Surlina, one for the first floor and one for the second where Aloysia's gem rests. The gem is where you will draw the power from."
"But if the temple is fused with this power won't it be a little angry at me taking it away?"
Darice shook her head, "The temple is tired of living, and Michael isn't the only one who has attacked it searching for the power. It just," Darice cleared her throat and crossed her arms, "It just recently took on two guardians to ward off any greedy travelers."
Caleb snapped some rocks together and sent the spark against some dried grass Soren had put at the bottom of the logs. A fire slithered over the grass and started crackling.
"You said it was vengeful, who does it want to take revenge on?"
"Michael"
Hitomi frowned that was obvious but there just seemed to be something that wasn't fitting. A sliver of the puzzle she couldn't find.
"Who else?"
No one answered. Hitomi looked down at the growing fire and felt the dread build up. She had a feeling of who it was now.
But Trisha decided to clarify it for her.
"Us"
Van rubbed his eyes and quietly shut his bedroom door behind him. The sun was setting and Hitomi still wasn't on castle grounds. He forced himself to stay calm. She had to have some freedom, he was probably just over reacting and she would be home any minute.
Lighting his fireplace he slipped his jacket and shirt off. Letting them fall to the floor he turned to his bed and thought to take a quick nap before Hitomi came back. So walking over he was about to fall on his soft mattress when he caught something out of the corner of his eyes. Turning towards the pillows he reached out and picked up the item.
It was a letter and his gut dropped like a stone when he recognized the writing.
Dear Van,
I want you to know I love you and don't worry about me I'll be back before you know it. Just going on a little trip with Soren, Caleb, Darice, and Trisha. We'll be gone maybe a week or so don't bother chasing after me by the time you read this we'll be well on our way. I'm sorry and please don't worry I'll be fine. Go help Merle with the marauders if you want a distraction I'm worried about her fighting them. I will be home soon.
With all my love, Hitomi Kanzaki
Van felt the paper crumple in his hands. The crunch of edges giving way to the pressure of his fingers bounced off the walls. Turning he threw the ball into the fire and watched it crackle. Not worry?! NOT WORRY!?! She was off traipsing around Gaia! The marauders were acting up! His sister was in battle! And now she was likely marching into the middle of it and she didn't want him to worry!!
He clenched and unclenched his fists. This wasn't happening, he was dreaming it all up. Hitomi wouldn't be so foolish as to go racing off over Gaia on a trip!!! Especially when fall was just around the corner. No Hitomi wouldn't do that. She wouldn't do that to him. He had just found her!!
*~Flash~*
"SOREN YOU BLOODY LACKWIT!!!
~~~~~
"I didn't stop them from taking my baby girl. And now I'll never be able to find them! Damn them and that stupid temple!! If they walk away from it alive I'm going to rip their throats out!"
*~End~*
Van felt his stomach flip. Aston knew about this, he didn't know how or how much but Aston had been screaming at Soren just this morning shortly after Hitomi seemed to have left. But he hadn't told him! Grabbing his leather jacket off the floor he quickly slipped his arms in and ran out of his room shutting the door with a thunderous bang.
As soon as he pried all the details out of Aston he would likely kill him for not telling him about Hitomi running off sooner.
Flora scrunched her eyebrows in confusion as Van stomped past her. Frowning she reluctantly turned back towards the hall and went to her room.
Van reached the bottom of the stairs in record time.
"ASTON!!!"
Every soul in the hall froze at Van's voice, it was laced with an anger they hadn't heard in a while. A maid shook as she pointed to the kitchen.
"Out the back door mi'lord I think he went to yer gazebo"
Van ran through the kitchen and out the small door leading to the garden. And sure enough the boat was missing resting nicely on the small island shore. Checking for curious eyes he slipped his jacket off and snuck to the water's edge. Scanning one more time he stretched and let his wings slide out of his back. With a small push he shot out over the water gliding just above the clear blue lake water. With a few pushes from his mighty wings the water disappeared beneath his chest and soon he was heading up. The gazebo was in sight at the top of the hill and he could see the familiar figure of Aston. Dropping his right side a little he glided to the side and landed on the steps.
Pushing his wings back in he slipped his jacket on and all but leaped up the steps.
"Aston!!"
The figure spun and Aston turned to face Van.
"How did you-"
Van grabbed a fistful of Aston's shirt and pulled his senior to his feet.
"Where did Hitomi go I know you know! Now I know why you were screaming for Soren! You know!! Where did they go!?! Why didn't you tell me!?!?"
Aston's eyes flashed with anger but he didn't push Van away.
"It doesn't matter where they've gone, you can't find them."
"I'll decide that! Where did they go!?!?!"
Aston hesitated but Van jerked harder on the man's shirt.
"Surlina"
Van's eyes slowly morphed from tiny accusing slits to wide circles.
"What did you say?"
"Surlina Van, Hitomi went to Surlina"
"What are you talking about Surlina is a myth"
Aston shook his head, "No Van it's not a myth, it's real, and Hitomi's gone to seal Aloysia and Yoshi's power"
Van stumbled a bit and dropped Aston's shirt he looked ready to throw up, "To seal it?"
Aston nodded.
"But you have to be draconian to get inside Surlina!"
"I know"
Van blinked his nausea temporarily gone. What was Aston saying? Hitomi was a draconian?!"
"What are you talking about?"
Aston closed his eyes and seemed to be gathering his courage. Taking a glance at the sky he finally locked eyes with Van.
"I loved her mother Van, I still love Kimi."
Van blinked again not sure that he was hearing right.
Aston gave a bitter laugh and turned to the lake, "My parents were so obsessed with money and land they couldn't see straight. So of course when I fell in love with the daughter of a fisherman they didn't approve. But I didn't care. If I had just backed out then maybe I could have saved us a lot of trouble."
Van took a few steps back and felt for the bench he had a feeling he wasn't going to like where this conversation ended.
"Kimi and I married in our hearts two days before I was forced to marry my wife. My wife knew I didn't love her and she didn't love me. I sired an heir on her to keep the council happy and we became best friends. But not too long after I found out she was pregnant with Millerna, Kimi showed up at the castle. She had run away the day I was wed. I don't know what I expected really I just couldn't spend the rest of my days without her by my side. But it was too much for her so she turned my offer down to live in the castle and left. I never wanted her as a mistress, I wouldn't humiliate her like that, I just couldn't picture waking up every day and not seeing her some time that day."
Van's heart cracked a little at the sorrow in Aston's voice.
"But Kimi showed up not too long after I wed. She said she had decided to take me up on my offer and she wanted to live in the castle. She was also pregnant, with my child. I had never been so happy in my entire life the month Hitomi and Millerna were born. I had the love of my life by my side, my best friend for advice, and two beautiful daughters."
Aston sighed and bent his head to rest his forehead against his crossed forearms.
"But it was too good to last. For some time we all lived in happiness, Hitomi never knew we were going to wait until she was a little older before we told her about us. I spent all the time I had with those four women. They were my world."
Were.
"Kimi was a draconian, but not just any draconian she had been chosen to give birth to the daughter that would save Gaia from Surlina's hatred and draconians greed. I tried to convince Kimi to stay but she said she wouldn't put Hitomi through it. And so she tried to seal the power in Surlina and the temple killed her. Part of me died that day. I hadn't told her but I had been planning to leave. My parents had no right to take from me what they did. My wife was going to gladly take over Liara for me and I was going to take Millerna, Hitomi, Kimi and run. I was going to get a divorce in Asturia and we were thinking of moving here, to Fanelia. Of course we would visit Liara so Millerna could see her mother but Kimi and I were going to spend the rest of our days the way we should have. But we didn't, the temple killed her," Aston spat.
"Then Millerna died and Hitomi supposedly with her. Then slowly my best friend and wife faded and I watched my world fade away. And now that I've been given back one ray of hope and they're taking it away!!!"
"Does Hitomi know?"
"She found out yesterday just before they told her."
"They who?"
Aston lifted his head and looked at Van.
"The draconians."
Van's eyes grew the size of saucers once again, "You mean her friends from the gypsy camp?"
Aston slowly nodded, "They aren't gypsies, they're draconian slaves to Surlina"
"But the legend says Surlina moves every two days, how are they going to find it?"
"There is a book of draconian history made by the temple, a key it gives to those it wants to find it's resting place. When you burn it a map will appear, the burning of the book also sends a signal to Surlina telling it there are draconians coming. If it knows the draconians and wishes to see them it will not move until they arrive. Darice had the book."
Van didn't know whether to scream in rage or break down in tears because Hitomi most likely wouldn't survive the sealing process. He didn't know where to look and if Surlina wanted them to come then they would make it there. They had a days head start and sweeping the entire planet wouldn't work. Surlina would protect them until they got there.
Leaning forward on his knees Van let his head fall to his hands.
"Hitomi."
Hitomi sat in front of the fire mildly surprised, part of her had seen it coming.
"Why?" she ventured
"Perhaps we should give you some family background before we try and explain," Caleb called over his shoulder as he pulled some food from a saddlebag on his horse.
Family background?
Caleb walked over with a pan some food she couldn't quite name and some bread. He sat down next to Darice and handed her the pan. Darice took the pan and rolled the handle in her hands for a few seconds before looking up at Hitomi.
Hitomi gasped at the tears slinking down her cheeks. She took a deep breath and didn't flinch when Caleb reached over to brush the tears away. Hitomi tilted her head slightly and looked at Caleb. There was something different about him. Something she hadn't noticed before, a gentleness, that seemed to be there only for Darice.
"The first guardian in Surlina isn't exactly a guardian. He's a prisoner frozen to the wall in ice. A warning to all intruders."
Hitomi felt her breath pick up speed despite what her mind said.
"In one of Michael's attacks," a few more tears slid down her cheeks, "Jason and I were heading to Asturia. Surlina was in this forest at the time and Michael was trying to get inside. He obviously sensed Jason's clean heart and decided to use him to get inside. But only Jason entered. Surlina was angry about the attack and killed half of Michael's men and as revenge froze Jason to watch the door for eternity."
Hitomi felt a little dizzy with the wave of emotion that washed over her. A sudden hatred for this temple swelled up inside her chest.
The tears fell faster now, "Jason was taking me to Asturia for our 12th year wedding anniversary"
Hitomi felt a tear fall down her cheek now.
"I raced back to Gitani and got Jason's brother"
Hitomi's head turned upwards a little and Caleb caught her eye and gave her a weak smile. The shock was a little nerve wracking. Darice and Caleb were family? She was married to Caleb's brother? Who was now frozen in this stupid temple. Hitomi clenched her fists as a few more stray tears sauntered down her cheeks.
Caleb pulled Darice into his chest and wrapped his arms around her hiding her face and tears so she wouldn't feel humiliated.
"Darice and I searched for Surlina for years and when we did find it, by miracle alone, we were allowed inside. We tried to free my brother but Surlina became angry and just about killed us both. But it seems that Jason had been talking with the temple while frozen in his prison. Surlina had come to be rather fond of him, and though Surlina would not let Jason go, it did listen to him. Jason speaks with Surlina through his mind and there he begged for our lives. Surlina allowed us to live but its anger overcame in the end. We were cursed to seek you out so you could come and seal the power so Surlina could be no more. Surlina doesn't like being melded with the power and wishes for it to leave."
Hitomi grit her teeth, once she sealed the power the first thing she was going to do was tear that building down. Brick by brick, board by board, with her bare hands. That temple would pay some how for all the pain and suffering it had caused.
"And because Jason has been so helpful to Surlina it will let him go the moment we return with you."
He was leaving something out she could see it.
Taking a deep breath he turned back to what he was cooking in the pan, "Where I will take my brother's place"
Hitomi felt anger at first but smiled a little when she realized it would be okay. She would pull Caleb out of the ice as soon as she sealed the power.
"I'll just free you," she said quickly
Caleb gave her a grateful smile but shook his head, "I have to take his place, with my blood"
The sound disappeared and all Hitomi could hear was the blood pounding behind her ears. He had to die? Just because he had taken his sister in law to search for his brother! It wasn't right!!! She couldn't let it happen!!!
Darice clutched Caleb's shirt a little tighter and he just brushed her hair with his fingers while stirring their dinner.
"Please don't let it bother you Hitomi, I'm not afraid, my brother will finally have his love back and Darice her husband. I couldn't ask for more."
Hitomi blinked through her tears and saw the brotherly love in his eyes as Darice wrapped her arms around his chest and clung tighter.
This journey was turning out to be a little more complicated than she had planned.
She covered her mouth to silence the little noises her throat was making. She felt a familiar heavy hand squeeze her shoulder and spun to find Soren smiling down at her gravely.
She wasn't sure she could hear Trisha and Soren's story. But Soren looked ready to tell her while they were getting everything out in the open.
Trisha was still on her side, back to the group, just lying there.
Hitomi glanced at Trisha and then turned her attention back to Soren wiping the tears off her cheeks.
"We know your visions have shown you a little and I know that you know Trisha and I are siblings. And I love my sister with all my heart but we were not always so close."
Yep she definitely didn't like where this was going.
"We grew up in a small town on the outskirts of Zaibach. We were as close as Jason and Caleb were. Didn't take a step without the other one knowing. But then one day Trisha met a sailor who was visiting family in Zaibach. It was love at first sight and I grew a little jealous. I couldn't tell you that I didn't want her to have anything to do with him simply because he was a sailor. I knew I was jealous of the attention she lavished on him. But there was something about the man I just didn't like. Perhaps it was because he was draconian."
Hitomi already knew who the man was and wasn't sure she wanted to hear the details.
"Trisha was so happy that she had found another draconian besides ourselves. And as the months went on they fell deeper in love. I just had to sit and watch as my sister drifted from me. He proposed and we fought for hours. I didn't like it one bit but she just called in childish jealousy and ran off to marry him. I didn't see her for 3 years. I let my jealously and anger eat at me and after about a year of sulking in self- pity I decided to get up and do something. The gypsy camp was a result of that. So for 2 years I focused on helping fellow gaians and created a retreat for those shunned by life. A place where they could forget their pasts and start again. But those 2 years flew by and Trisha showed up at my tent one morning."
Soren managed a little smile here, "I fell flat on my face and tripped on my boots. When I managed to get on my feet I had several cuts from where I had started shaving the moment she showed up and a bruise on forehead from falling. She looked like she wanted to laugh but she hadn't. And so came the first tale of the marauders."
Trisha pulled her legs closer to her chest and Hitomi wanted to rush over and pull her friend into the biggest hug ever.
"I'm sure you've figured out who her husband is. Michael truly was a kind and gentle man in his younger years though, I was simply blinded by jealousy. But on their 3rd year anniversary they were going to go spend their weekend up in a little cabin they owned in the mountains next to Gitani. They left their one-year-old daughter with Michael's sister. When they came back," Soren glanced at his sister and hung his head as she pulled herself into a tighter ball.
"Their child, Scarlet, and Michael's sister Gwen were dead, slaughtered by local bandits. The house had been ransacked and they had been murdered. That sent Michael over the edge and he spent a month mourning for them. When he finally came out of his room Trisha said the glint of hope and love in his eyes was gone. He marched straight through their living room and out the front door. Never to return. A week later horror stories of a small band of robbers, "the marauders" were spreading of how they were ransacking homes and killing innocent-"
Every eye turned on Trisha as she sat up her back still facing them.
"Thanks Soren, it's okay, you don't have to say anymore, I can tell my story," Turning around Hitomi expected to see tears and red eyes, she didn't expect to see what she saw.
Trisha's eyes were void and unfocused as if she wasn't exactly looking at any of them. Her face was pale and she looked sick.
"I was heading home from town late one night when the marauders jumped me. They broke my left arm and left a few bruises. But the men who had hit me suddenly fell over. I saw the glint of a sword and figured it was over. But when I looked up Michael was staring down at me the blood dripping off his sword. And for a moment, just for a moment, I saw Michael, my husband staring back down at me. But it didn't last long. He didn't say a word he simply untied my ropes and shoved me forward. I fell and landed on my already broken arm. The men laughed but I picked myself back up and turned around. And Michael was laughing with them."
Hitomi couldn't stop herself from gasping. Her hatred for Michael had just doubled. She looked up and her heart broke at the pain in Trisha's eyes. She had been betrayed and stomped on, she had lost a child and a husband and yet she still kept going.
"I knew then that my husband wasn't there anymore. So I fixed my arm packed up and spent the next few months tracking Soren down. He was furious at Michael and was intent on killing him. So he left the camp in charge of another and we set out to find Michael and either bring him back or kill him. We found him attacking Surlina in the desert. He fled and Surlina still boiling with rage took out its wrath on us. It could sense who we were and sought to punish all those related to Michael in any way. We were cursed to join Darice and Caleb and seek you out."
Trisha pulled her pant leg up and Hitomi peered down at the gold bracelet clinging to her skin.
"Surlina's gift," she sneered, "We leave course and die on the spot. It knew we wouldn't go though, if Michael gets the power then Gaia will fall and we don't want that anymore than Surlina does. And Surlina knows it. I'm fated to die by Michael's hand and Soren will either live or die in a battle with Michael. If he lives then he is cursed to watch everything he loves die and fade away."
The horror reflected in Hitomi's eyes and she darted from Soren to Darice to Caleb to Trisha. She wanted to scream in anger and cry for all their pain but she didn't have the energy to do either. So she just sat there, in complete horror.
"Hitomi we had to tell you but you can't let this affect you. No matter what happens to us you must seal the power," Trisha said ignoring the crack in her voice
Hitomi looked at her in disbelief.
"Hitomi you will have to fight to seal the power," Soren started, "The second guardian stands watch in front of the gem. You must kill him to get to the stone."
"Kill him?" Hitomi got the words past her lips
Kill someone? Sure she had known it was a possibility but just hearing it made her shake. Could she really kill another person? Could she take another man's life?
If it man had been Michael she would have muddled through with only a month of nightmares. But to murder someone she had never met? She didn't think she was capable.
"I-I don't think I can, I don't even k-know the person"
Darice turned away from Caleb's shirt her blood shot eyes filling with fresh tears.
"Do you want to know his name?" she asked slowly immediately regretting the words.
Sure she didn't want to tell Hitomi, her friend was already sufficiently traumatized. But if she didn't prepare for this mentally, emotionally, and physically now she wouldn't be able to do it.
Hitomi had a feeling she didn't want to know but she nodded all the same.
"Folken Lacoeur de Fanel"
A/N Yea I know how many of you didn't see that coming? Hahaha I know but hey I'm making him that guardian that's that! I think I misspelled his middle name please forgive me. I hope you all enjoy this chapter is kinda short than the others sorry, if it feels too rushed please tell me and I'll rewrite it. I hope you like it all the same and I want you all to know I only wrote this once!!! (Now that I read my words writing it once could actually be a bad thing.) I'm winning against the writer's block though!!! HAHAHA!! Writer's will prevail!!!! Have a great day!!!
Sailor Hope