Born Of The Moon

Chapter XIII

Reflecting Shadows







I wanted to believe what I was seeing, yet a part of me didn't. In front of me stood Folken. It wasn't that hard of a concept to grasp. I dismounted Belu and slowly approached him. I knew he could sense my great amount of hesitation, but he made no actions to move. As I now stood directly in front of him, staring into his eyes, I could see something. It's what was missing when he attacked me. The innocence about him. The innocence he had when he was Folken Lacour De Fanel, and not the Strategos. He was wearing the same attire I had found him in the first time I saw him since returning. All black.

I traced my fingertips up him arms, over his shoulder and upward to his face. He was real, that much was confirmed to me. He wasn't making any motion to move, so he wasn't in that much of an uncomfortable state. Was it really him? Was this man who had attacked me yesterday morning? It couldn't have been. This was Folken Fanel.

"Hitomi . . ." He repeated my name.

I could only respond by looking at him. No words were coming to mind right now. Nothing I could say seemed fitting to the situation. So many emotions were running through me. Hate and compassion. Fear, but trust. Lust, yet disgust. What was I . . .

The next thing I knew, I was in his arms hugging him like I've never hugged anyone before in my life. "Folken! I don't want to believe it! I can't be true! I'll never believe it!" I lost the strength in my knees and fell to the forest floor, sobbing into his shirt. "Never . . ."

He returned my hug after we had fallen, giving it just as much force as I was giving him.

"I'm sorry."

I've never heard such sincerity in a man's voice in my entire life. He . . . he knew what he did? "Although you probably don't want to hear it, there's a perfect explanation for it."

I looked up to him with tear filled eyes, not believing once again what I was hearing.

I nodded. "But what are you doing up at this hour?"

"I couldn't sleep knowing what I did to you. I've felt horrible ever since then. Do you want to go inside and I'll explain it to you?"

I gripped onto him tightly. There was no way I was getting out of this hug. "No. You can tell me right here."

He sighed. "Alright. Some of the herbs I bought at the market yesterday were rotted. The thing was that you can't tell just by looking at them. I forgot to check them over the proper way and while you were in you room for a while, I made a quick mixture that is used to calm people and bring out the good in them. Because of the rotten herbs, it had a different effect. Just by smelling the aroma of it, it brings out the worst in people."

He tried to look at my eyes but I refused him the access. "The worst in me is the Strategos from long ago. Hitomi, I had no idea that this would happen. Please know that I never wanted or intended to hurt you. I disposed of the mixture when I returned yesterday, and I made sure I wouldn't take in any of its sent. I . . . I ask for your forgiveness. I know it's a lot to ask, but I beg of you."

We sat in silence for a few minutes before I pulled back a little from our embrace. "Do you remember what I told you when you were in Palas after Asturia took you in?"

He didn't give me an answer, so I concluded that he wanted to hear it again.

"I told you that without trust, people will only become separated. I trusted you so that you would trust me back, even though it might not have been apparent. Do you still see that trust in me?"

He took a moment before smiling. "Yes. I do."

Folken drew me back into our hug.

"Then you should know that you've already been forgiven."





We didn't talk much after that. We were both exhausted from lack of sleep, though on my part it was still more or less from lack of blood. While walking with him, I got that feeling I had when I was with him the other night. Not the feeling of love, needless to say. It wasn't love. It was something else . . . Trust? Undeniable trust? Either way I couldn't quite place my finger on it so I dismissed the thought. Next, I found myself in my guest bed with Folken. His arms were wrapped around my waist tightly, as though if he were to let me go, he'd loose me forever. My head was now resting against his chest, and I was crying silent tears.



~*~



I was woken from my sleep by the loud sound of my ringer. I fumbled to pick up the receiver of my phone. "H-hello?"

"Hitomi! My god, it only took me five tries to wake you this time! I think we're breaking a record here! Get up lazy or we're going to be late for breakfast, alright? I'll pick you up in ten minutes so be ready!"

I made as assortment of 'Uhm' and 'uurg . . .' noises, but none seemed to have clued Yukari in yet.

"Yuki, where are we going?" I said, the sounds of sleep still hanging in my voice.

"You're telling me you don't remember?! Were you drunk at the club last night or something? We've got a double date today, girl! Now get ready, Amano and Yuhan are expecting us there soon! Later!"

I heard the loud sound of her receiver crashing down as she hung up. I sat myself up and ran my hands through my shortened hair. I laughed as I remembered the moment in which I let the blade slice through my hair. Then a thought returned to me. Wait . . A double date? With Yuhan?!



I got up and staggered over to the bathroom. It seemed much too early to be awake. It felt unhealthy. After I showered and dressed myself, I tied up my hair in two spriggy ponytails and put on a bit of makeup. The loud knocking on my apartment door scared me half to death.

I could hear Yukari laughing and calling out for me from behind the door.

"You have a key you idiot!" I yelled back at her.

In a moment the door was open and Yuki, with Amano and Yuhan trailing behind her, waltzed in.

"Are you ready yet? I told you to hurry!"

I sighed and grabbed a bottle of water, giving her a "no kidding" look. "Well that part wasn't obvious." I uncapped the top and took in a large gulp.

"Come on!" she said, latching herself to my arm and pulling me out the door. She barely even gave me a chance to lock it.



The overview of the day's plan was spouted at me through Yukari's shrill-toned voice. First we were going out for breakfast on her, then we were heading for the mall to pick out new outfits for the formal dance that the club was holding tonight. Then Yuhan was treating us to a free lunch at the sushi bar, and then we'd separate into pairs, being the men and the women, to get prepared for the night at around four-thirty. It sounded easy enough. As we were walking up to the location Yukari had chosen for breakfast, she noted my hair and became very amused.

"Hitomi! Your hair looks so cute! I love it! What's with the sudden change of interest?"

"Yeah?" Yuhan agreed, tugging on my two ponytails from behind. I let out a shriek and spun around to meet his eyes, which were now sparkling with happiness.

"No change of interest Yuki, I just thought I'd try something different. So tell me, Yuhan," I said as I grabbed a rather large chunk of his hair and pulled. "How do you like having your hair pulled on, eh?!"

"Hey hey!" Amano came in to separate the two of us before it could go any farther. "Come on, let's go eat peacefully. I'm sure we're all hungry, right? How about we don't make a scene."

I moved to pull on Yuhan's hair again but Yuki caught me. Her eyes told me 'no'. I huffed in defeat as we entered the restaurant.



Our meal was spent talking about our summers so far. Yuhan had received a raise at work and was basking in the extra cash he was making with his hours. Amano was talking about the studies he and Yukari were going to take up in America next year. They had decided that after another year at college studying ancient architects, that they were going to broaden the horizon of their studies in America. Needless to say, Yuhan and I backed them up on their decision all the way. It was where their hearts were. I, on the other hand, didn't have much to say for myself.

"I think I'm officially declaring this as my summer of relaxation. And I still have two more months to enjoy!" We all raised our glasses for a toast that I had offered. "To the four of us, and that we may go far in life and achieve all of our goals." We clinked our glasses and downed our drinks as breakfast came.



Our shopping had taken a good portion of the morning and afternoon. We were still full from breakfast so we decided to have a snack at the mall just to tide us over. The guys had no problem finding their tuxes- the moral dilemma of it all was for Yuki and me to find our dresses. Oh boy was it ever fun. But fun with women also means time consuming.

It was when we came upon a store at the end of the mall that I knew it had to be the shop that withheld my dress. I told Amano, Yukari and Yuhan to go on without me to find her a dress and that I'd meet them at Yuhan's truck in forty-five minutes. They were reluctant, Yuki for the most part, but I got Amano to pull her away. Yuhan was the last to leave after looking over the store.

"Give me an idea of what color corsage to get you please, Hitomi." He laughed.

"Emerald green would probably work."



I had never seen this store before in my life. Perhaps it had just opened? I didn't know but I didn't care much either; it had some of the most beautiful clothes, mostly with a medieval theme to them. After looking upon racks and racks of artistically designed dresses, I was immediately drawn to one that hung in the corner of the room all by its lonesome. It was a dark forest green with tiny diamond-like gems on it. The top was controlled and it fanned out into silky waves just above the waist. The upper parts were decorated with seed beads in delicate patterns that were woven in every which way, but not to the point of ever fully covering the soft material beneath.

It looked too perfect to be.

"Excuse me ma'am, could I try this on?"

The old woman wasted no time in assisting me when seeing a sale. My eyes must've told her this dress had already stolen my heart and that price was no object.

I must've stayed in that change room looking at myself for a good ten minutes. I never thought that a dress could look this . . . good . . . on me. I didn't like wearing dresses very much. I usually only did when the occasion called for it. Seeing myself in this dress just reminded me of . . . reminded me of . . .

"Are you alright in there?" I heard a soft knock come from outside. I was shook from my thoughts by her voice.

"Uhm, yeah. I'm good."

"How does the dress look?"

I huffed inwardly. Like she seriously cared. She was a senile old woman looking to make a pretty profit from my purchase.

"It's perfect." I answered her. I decided to go out onto the mini-platform with mirrors surrounding it to get a better look at myself. I could almost hear the woman smile as I walked by, not taking a glance at her expression. I heard someone else in the store let out a small sigh as well. I laughed to myself and looked into the mirrors. It'd be perfect if I had a pair of matching shoes, a small purse and a sash to go with it now. Those would be the next items on my list. I felt hands come down on my shoulders and I looked into the mirror in front of myself, blushing.

"You look beautiful."

Auburn eyes pierced mine and I let out a shriek as I saw Van standing behind me. I turned around quickly, wanting to see him, but all I was faced with were Amano's dark green eyes looking very worried. I sighed a long breath.

"Are you alright?"

I sighed again. "Just fine. I just saw some shadows or something. Uhm, where's Yuki and Yuhan?" I asked as I went back into the change room to get my usual clothes back on.

"Yuki refused to let me see the dress she had chosen so she made Yuhan stay with her and sent me off to find you. I figured you'd still be here. That dress is really nice."

"Thanks." I smiled, taking it up to the front desk.



The woman rung it up with a broad smile on her face. "I was waiting for the day when this dress would find someone as beautiful and as wise a person as you to come buy it. It was modeled after a dress a woman of legend wore."

I saw Amano's jaw drop a few feet closer to the ground as he saw the price. "Uhm, Hitomi? Do you have enough for that?"

I raised an eyebrow at him and gave the woman her money. "Do you happen to remember who wore it?" I asked as we exited the store.

"If my memory serves me right, I think it was the longest reigning Queen of a place called Fanelia . . ."







After Amano and I had left the store, I hadn't said a word. I have found nice purse and shoes easily, and I already had the perfect sash at home to match the dress. Yukari came running up to me as Yuhan and her exited the mall to see Amano and myself.

"Oh my gosh, I can't wait for you to see my dress, Hitomi! I got a good deal on it too! Let me peek at yours!" she beamed, pulling out the side of the bag to look inside. "Ooh! Looks expensive!"

"Shut up, Yuki!" I looked over to Yuhan who was staring at me with a dazed sort of expression.

"What, do I have something on my face?" I asked him. "Come on, let's go. I've got to get ready."



I wasn't sure exactly what was going to happen tonight, if anything. However, if something did happen, I knew it would be a big change for me. Something significant.



~*~









Confused? Good, that means that you're following this story properly. Sorry for the lack of uploading. School can kiss my ass. Anyway, I would've jumped right into writing what happens that night, but I've felt bad for not uploading in a while and I thought you all wouldn't mind if I stopped here for now. All reviews and reviewers are appreciated as always. Thanks for your support everyone. And a sorry goes out to all who thought this was a Van X Hitomi fic. We'll see how things go.

PS. I have some little mini chibi sketches of Hitomi and Yukari's dresses, so if anyone's curious as to what I had in mind, e-mail me and I'll send you the scans I have.



~Elemental Angel~