... ~*~ ... Wanting to Forget, Wishing to Remember ... ~*~ ...

~By: Lauren~

-Chapter 15-

"Stay"

"What will happen now?" Hitomi mused to herself, her thoughts unsure and unspoken. But they were not thoughts that needed to be stated to Van, for at the very moment he had the same ones. Just because they weren't together right now didn't mean that they did not share the same questions. Kagome was flopped on her bed, in her new room since her old one was now being repaired. It had been three days since the odd and frightening incident but as far as anyone could tell, things were coming along fine. Azumi was constantly by Allen's side but the knight didn't seem to mind at all. Azumi seemed much happier than she had been in the past and the others found her personality changing to that of a kinder woman. Surprisingly, they both were like two children, shyly holding one another's hands. This was very different than the normal playboy they all knew. Maybe Azumi had even changed Allen.

Of course, the advisors were quite angry and upset when they heard that Van and Azumi weren't going to be wed but, after they saw the way the four love birds acted to their significant other, they decided there wasn't really much they could do. Once the king made up his mind, it was hard for anything to change it. And now, even Azumi didn't want to be wedded to the king. What was the point in fighting a futile battle? Hitomi suddenly realized that she hadn't seen Dryden in a long time. The man had locked himself up in the library and the only time she had even caught a glimpse of him was when she explained to him what had happened with her necklace. Her face lit up when her door opened and a mop of black hair popped in. She didn't have to guess, she knew who it was.

She smiled at him. Her room suddenly seemed less dark then before. Van loved it when she smiled. She never smiled that way for anyone else…just him.

"How are you doing?" Van whispered, giving her a devilish smile as he sat down next to her on the bed.

"I'm fine, you?" Hitomi smirked also, returning the mischievous smile. It didn't take long for him to see what she was doing, as she shifted from her place on the bed to look up at him more clearly. She giggled to herself.

He darted an amused glance at her. "What? Do I have food on my face or something? Is it stuck in my teeth?"

"No…I'm just…thinking…" She smiled softly, inside worrying slightly about now much time she had left in Gaea. "That…thanks to you, I'll treasure every day of my life from now on…"

His smile softened, "That's sweet." He blushed, leaning down and planting a soft kiss on her cheek. Hitomi was content to just sit back and admire her hero. The man who had saved her life and caused her to take a new outlook on things. He'd brought her back from the brink of depression and so much more…

There had been so many times where she'd been serious. So many times she wanted to cut her misery short…and if he hadn't have been there…if she had been left to her own devices for a few extra minutes…

Hitomi shuddered. But he'd been there and he'd unknowingly blocked away her thoughts of sorrow and death. He'd saved her life even then from herself. If she had ever really gone through with it, she would never have known what she'd missed. This! If she hadn't have been brought to Gaea after what happened to her…she was sure that she would be at her own funeral, at this very moment.

Somehow the strangest king in history, the guy with absolutely no idea how to handle emotions, the man who could please her and then make her want to pull out her hair a moment later…he had been the perfect person for her…he'd really saved her.

And she was going to make sure she repaid him for the rest of her life.

As she had once heard her grandmother say, traumatic incidents can bring souls on the verge of insanity or it can help a person grow. A person can rise above the pain and create a new life in their newfound knowledge.

And Hitomi had done just that. She couldn't help the grin that spread across her face. Closing her eyes, Hitomi sank back into her bed, letting the soft covers surround her while her mind was now a complete blank. She took in slow, deep breathes, letting her mind mingle between realities and dreams.

Suddenly, she felt something heavy crush her into the mattress; a hand planted firmly and yet gently on her arm while another slowly ran through her hair. She felt the sudden fear sink in. She hadn't even thought about…it…until now. Tears sprung out of the corners of her eyes as she sunk into the bed, trying to get further away. Images of the grass, the smell, the pain and everything else flashed through her mind. She tried to block then out but they kept coming, while she took her left arm and slashed out at the person on her. She let out a choked sob while the weight on her disappeared.

She saw images of his disgusting, pleasured smile. She felt torn and battered- butchered. The fear gripped her heart and she was about to bolt when she felt a hand run down her arm, squeezing her elbow.

A soft voice interrupted her, it's familiarity causing her racing heart to calm, "Hitomi?"

Hitomi's eyes shot open and Van gazed into her fear stricken emerald eyes.

"Are you all right? Hitomi?" He looked at her with eyes filled with concern and…regret.

She let out a shaking breath, "Yeah…"

"You're a terrible liar Hitomi…" Van let out his own nervous breath. "I-I…I'm so sorry…"

"NO!" Hitomi jumped back, crossing her arms firmly. Even though she acted strong, she didn't feel it. "I-I…am sorry Van. Please…please don't hate me…don't give up on me…"

Van tentatively reached out, pulling her next to him and wrapping his arms around her shoulders, letting her lean against him. "I never would…don't worry…" He gave her a quick hug, "I'm right here and…I won't let anything ever happen…it's just…I'm a guy too Hitomi…" Van sighed, not sure how to explain this. "And you can take all the time that you want but…I want you to marry me Hitomi. I want us to be married. I want us to be husband and wife. I want to be by your side forever. And…I want to have kids with you too…but I'm afraid I might hurt you… I'm scared that you'll hate me because…we'd have to do something like what that…bastard did to you…." He trailed off, blushing tomato red.

"It's okay." Hitomi muttered, closing her eyes and sinking against him. "You're not him. It's okay. It's okay…only if it's you. Only you. I would do anything for you…as long as it's you." And then…she drifted off to sleep, surrounded in Van's wonderful meadow scent, her fearful heart calmed.

~*~

What had she just seen? In her mind, a flash of thousands of images had reeled before her. It felt as if she had been watching for days. It was like she was in a movie theater, watching a long tale of a girl transported to another world and meeting a wild prince. Except with this movie…she could feel what the girl was feeling…it was as if she was in the movie and it was really happening to her. After all, the girl was HER. Hitomi was remembering her past trip to Gaea. Maybe…Hitomi had finally accepted things and that was why she was now remembering… but…whatever the reason was, she wasn't quite sure. Either way, it was happening, and she really didn't mind. The story neared the finish with a tear-jerking, sorrowful ending of the girl returning home without her love by her side.

Hitomi was tugged awake as a pair of arms began to shake her up and down.

"HITOMI!! HITOMI, I'VE GOT IT!! I'VE FIGURED IT ALL OUT!!!!!!!!" Dryden cried, pulling the surprised and shocked girl into a tight hug, ignoring the groggy Van that slept next to her.

"W-what? Figured what out? God Dryden…it's like two in the morning…" The honey haired girl rubbed her eyes, letting them focus in on the man with the rumpled hair. She was still in slight shock out of what had just happened in her mind and if felt as if she had stayed up and watched a six day marathon of her anime collection, "Fruits Basket" "Fushigi Yuugi" "Trigun" and "Ayashi no Ceres". Focusing in on Dryden, she could just imagine him being one of those coffee addicts who stayed up all night on their computer or in the library. Better yet, with his laptop in jogging pants and messy hair at Starbucks.

Yeah, that SO would be Dryden.

"The thing with your necklaces!!! I've been researching them forever and looking for their origin. I've been studying them also and from what you've told me, I think I have a theory." He yelled as if she was deaf.

"What about it?" Her interest was sparked and Hitomi turned all her attention to him. Next to her, she felt Van rustle and she absently pulled her nightgown to make sure she was covered.

"These two necklaces, they're connected. They were both made from the same gem. I looked at them over and over again and they're the EXACT same- down to the very same curves and slices. The only different is one has a gold chain, the other a silver. They were made together and were meant to be a duo yet somehow, they were separated. I think, whoever made them, wanted them to be connected. Wherever the other companion may be, both are constantly drawn together. If my theory is correct then…they basically can create a strong link between two worlds. A link so strong that one doesn't need to be thinking of the other at the exact same moment to be brought there. I strongly believe that those two necklaces were created for a pair of star-crossed lovers. It's always been a story my mother used to tell me when I was young. A man and woman met in their dreams every night. It was a place between fantasy and reality.  It was a realm where they both existed and could only see each other when they both were asleep, but they were both from different worlds. Except…they wanted more. They wanted more than just seeing one another and talking to each other in some dream world. The man, who lived on Gaea, then created two gems that would serve as a traveling tunnel basically to bring the woman he loved to him. Or him to her. He worked on them for an entire year, placing all of the magic he could find in it- placing his heart, his love, in it. That night, he returned to the familiar brink of dreams to meet his love as usual. Today, he would give her the gem and the two could be together forever. Except…his love never showed up. He tried to reach her every way possible but…he never saw her again. Many people say the girl had died the night before and that is why they never were reunited. I've heard another version where the girl was placed in an arranged marriage and so, not to break his heart, she cut off her connect to him. Either way, they were both separated. Heart broken and shattered, the man cast both necklaces into the sea, where they disappeared. He followed the gems into the raging waters, letting the ice-cold liquid take him away. It is said that his soul never rests- it roams the world, constantly looking for his love or another couple with a love so strong it can heal his spirit. The necklaces you and Van have…those are the necklaces he made! Somehow, both found their way to you. I think, since they failed with the couple they were made for, they want to be of use. They want to complete what they were made for. They want to bring you and Van together always. The man you saw in the market place, the man who gave you this necklace, Hitomi…I think that was the soul, the ghost, of the man who created the necklaces. It is meant for you and Van now. Your half Hitomi, it must have somehow activated in the market place when it was so close to its counterpart, the half that Van had. That's why you were brought here Hitomi. That's why it kept calling to Van when you were in trouble. It wants you both to be together, always. It wants nothing to come between you- good or evil. Even if you return to your world Hitomi, as long as you have one necklace and Van has the other, there will always be a portal open between Gaea and the Mystic Moon. All you have to do is wish to return and it will take you to where the other necklace is, namely, wherever Van is. It's that simple! Isn't that great?! You can go back and forth whenever you please! Van can even go to the Mystic Moon too!" Dryden finished with a cheer, taking in a deep breath after his long explanation. He wasn't quite sure if it made sense to Hitomi but he was pretty sure she got the picture.

Hitomi let his words sink in slowly.

She could go back and forth between Earth and Gaea…any time she liked…

She could be with Van always…

She could be with her dear friends in Gaea always…

And visit her family and friends on Earth any time she pleased…

Inside her heart, she heard a voice whisper, "Never give up hope my child. When the darkness comes and despair seems to seize your heart…never ever stray…hope's light will surely see you through…never give up hope. In the end, hope is what you have, it is the light, and it is the way to keep on going…"

~*~

Author's Note: Oh, I am so sorry for the HUGE wait on updates! I've been caught up in school, family stuff and other stories. Sadly, this story isn't on my top priority list and the plot seemed to die for me so it took forever for me to write this out. I hope it was okay. Tell me if I forget anything! It was odd; I just sat down today and started working on it. I hope this chapter didn't seem too rushed and that it explained things clearly. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them in the next and final chapter of "Wanting to Forget, Wishing to Remember"! Enjoy!