Disclaimer: All Escaflowne characters and references belong to their respective owners. The song No Need to Promise and translation belong to the company that recorded and were used in this story with the best of intentions. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.
Dedicated to my best friend, who not only got me started writing fan fiction but also lives with me in an alternate world. She is the woman who gives me strength to go on and the courage to follow my heart.
Good-bye, Gaia!
By Hideki LaShae
Chapter One: Hitomi's Return.
Was it all just a dream or maybe a vision? No, no, it couldn't have been! I know it really happened! It all started when I was at school with my best friends, Yukari and Amano! I am Hitomi Kanzaki and this is the continuation of my story about my adventures on Gaia…
"Hitomi! You're gonna be late again!" exclaims Yukari. Her shoulder length reddish brown hair frames her face and her pretty eyes.
"I know! I know!" exclaims Hitomi running as fast as she can from the direction of the main school building. She jumps down the stairs that lead through the bleachers down towards the track field. "Yeah!"
"Hitomi!" exclaims Yukari.
Hitomi hits the ground and runs over to Yukari. "Hey, Yukari!"
"You're late again, Hitomi," says Yukari, "and as the manager…"
"I know! I'm sorry. I had to finish an essay," says Hitomi taking off her windbreaker jacket to reveal her white T-shirt. Her light brown hair is cut in a short boyish fashion. Her green eyes shine happily in the afternoon sunshine.
"Again? That's the second time this month!" exclaims Yukari.
"Go easy on her, Yukari," says Amano walking up to the two girls. He brushes his chin length medium brown hair back away from his face. His blue eyes look at Yukari and never stray from her face. "After all, she did convince me to ask you out!"
"I can't imagine why!" exclaims Yukari looking at Hitomi curiously.
"I've told you, Yukari. I only had a crush on Amano! It wasn't love!" exclaims Hitomi, pulling off her windbreaker pants and sitting down on the bench to put on her track shoes. "I didn't realize that until I fell in love."
"You say you fell in love, but I haven't met this mystery man yet. And I thought I was your best friend, Hitomi!" exclaims Yukari placing her hands on her hips.
"It's not like I don't want to introduce you, Yukari! I think you'd like him. Really! I just don't know if you ever can meet him," says Hitomi, standing up again.
"Why are you so secretive, Kanzaki?" asks Amano smiling, "What's his name at least?"
"His name is Van… Van Fanel," says Hitomi smiling. She closes her eyes and remembers how he looked the last time she saw him. "Van Fanel."
"Alright! The girls' team is next!" exclaims the track coach. The three teenagers' heads turn toward the inside of the running track where the coach is standing with the second team manager.
"Hey, that's me!" exclaims Hitomi hurrying to her starting blocks. She gets into her position.
The starting pistol fires, and Hitomi pushes herself off the starting blocks as if her life depended on it. She sprints as fast as she can.
Suddenly, as Hitomi watches the finish line come closer, she sees an angel appear holding out his arms to embrace her as she crosses the finish line. She sees the dark hair and the beautiful brown eyes of the man she loves… Van Fanel.
Hitomi runs faster, drawing her extra speed from her heart. She smiles at Van.
Van smiles. His white feather wings ruffle in a wind that Hitomi can't feel.
Hitomi crosses the finish line into Van's arms, but she passes through him. She doesn't even hear Yukari and Amano screaming "Twelve point three seconds" as she faints.
~ ~ ~
The wind is so hot… Why is it so hot?
Hitomi opens her eyes and sees a village in flames. She stands amidst the burning buildings and watches in horror as people run around on fire. "Somebody help!"
A small child, maybe at the most six years old, walks towards Hitomi. She isn't on fire like the other people, but her skin is still falling from her body. "Help me."
Hitomi watches the little girl fall to the ground. Then she looks closer and sees the ground beneath the child fall. She tries to run away, but she too falls as the ground crumbles. She screams.
A pair of arms wrap around Hitomi and stop her fall.
Hitomi looks over her shoulder and sees Van smiling at her. She smiles as the feathers molting from Van's white angel wings blur around her.
~ ~ ~
"Hitomi! Hitomi!"
"Oh, I'm all right, Yukari," says Hitomi quietly as she opens her eyes. She blinks quickly as she realizes that she's lying in the middle of the track.
"I think you must be anemic," says Amano helping Hitomi to stand up, "You just passed out. That's the third time this has happened in one month! Did you talk to the school nurse like I asked you to?"
Hitomi looks all around her, hoping to see a white feather. Then she would know that Van is calling her, but she doesn't see any feathers, none at all. "I… I'm fine really. You don't have to worry about me… Oh, yes, Amano. I did talk to the nurse. She doesn't think I'm anemic. She thinks I've just been pushing myself a little too hard and not sleeping enough."
"Kanzaki?" asks Amano as Hitomi walks back to the bench to slip on her windbreaker.
Yukari runs over and throws her arms around Hitomi's neck. "Hitomi! You ran the hundred meter in twelve point three seconds!"
"What!" exclaims Hitomi with wide green eyes, "But last time, I barely broke thirteen seconds!"
"It's true, Hitomi! Twelve point three!" exclaims Yukari releasing Hitomi.
"You were running, and all of a sudden, you just sped up!" exclaims Amano, "Where did you get that extra motivation, Kanzaki?"
Hitomi runs her hands through her short, light brown hair and buries her face in her hands. She shrugs her shoulders. She shivers slightly as the image of the little girl comes back to her.
"Kanzaki, are you sure you are all right?" asks Amano.
"Hitomi? You're trembling!" exclaims Yukari.
"I have to go!" exclaims Hitomi grabbing her street shoes and running off the track. She pauses only for a second to quickly change shoes then she runs off again.
"Hitomi Kanzaki! Where are you going?" screams Yukari.
"I have to go!" exclaims Hitomi running away faster. She runs across the courtyard and enters the school. She gets her bag from the girls' locker room and quickly leaves. She doesn't even bother with changing into her school uniform. She just hurries away from the school, and she doesn't stop until she walks into the kitchen at home. She looks at her mother. "Mom…"
The woman turns to look at Hitomi. "Hitomi? What are you doing back so soon?"
"Mom… there is something I have to do, Mom," says Hitomi.
"What is it, dear?"
"I don't know when or even if I'll be back, but I have to follow my heart! The man I love may be in trouble! I need to go to him!" exclaims Hitomi, "I love him! I love you and Dad!"
"Hitomi… this man, is he from a world called Gaia?" asks Mrs. Kanzaki taking Hitomi's hands.
"How…?"
"Your grandmother told me all about Gaia," says Hitomi's mother smiling, but with sad tears in her eyes. She knows all about that world and about how desperately her daughter will need to return. "I know you must do that which you must. I knew that back when she gave you her necklace, the one she received in Gaia. Do as you must. I will explain everything to your father and brother. Live a happy life, Hitomi!"
Hitomi quickly embraces her mother and runs up to her room. She drops her bag on her bed and opens her desk drawer. She lifts a deck of tarot cards and shuffles them. She smiles as she sets the cards into her bag. She zips her bag closed. She unzips it again as an afterthought and pulls out her school uniform.
Hitomi changes into her Sailor shirt and skirt. She puts her track clothes into her bag beside her tarot cards. She touches her neck where her grandmother's pendant had hung for many years until she gave it to Van. She zips her bag closed and slings it over her shoulder. She heads downstairs and into the kitchen.
"I've packed you a lunch, Hitomi," says her mother motioning to a box beside the refrigerator, "You should eat to keep up your strength."
"I will, Mom." Hitomi puts the box in her bag and kisses her mom's cheek. Then she leaves. She heads back to the school grounds as the sunsets.
Hitomi places her bag on the finish line for the hundred meter, and she starts walking back to the starting blocks. "Van! I'm coming!"
"Hitomi!"
"Kanzaki!"
The lights around the track flare into life.
Hitomi looks up to see Yukari and Amano running towards her.
"Hitomi! What's going on? You're acting so strange!" exclaims Yukari.
"I'm sorry, Yukari. I have to go! I must go back to him! He will not call me, but I know he needs me!" exclaims Hitomi, "I must go back to him!"
"Back to who, Kanzaki?" asks Amano.
"Van! He needs me now!" exclaims Hitomi. "I must go!"
"I don't know where you think you're going, but we're not letting you!" exclaims Yukari, "Hitomi, you aren't yourself!"
Hitomi turns around and starts heading back to her bag. She takes off the jacket to her school uniform and puts it into her bag. She quickly changes into her track shoes and closes her bag with all her belongings inside. Then she moves back to the starting block.
"Hitomi! Are you listening to me?" asks Yukari as Hitomi sets herself up on the blocks.
"Yukari, would you time me? I want to try to beat twelve seconds before I go," says Hitomi looking up at the finish line.
"I'll time you, Kanzaki," says Amano, "but if you don't beat twelve seconds… we won't let you go."
"Amano! I can't believe you're going along with this!" exclaims Yukari, "We can't let her go anywhere!"
"I think I understand why you want to go back to him, Kanzaki," says Amano, "You really love him, don't you?"
Hitomi nods. "With all my heart and soul, Amano. I need to be with him! If he's in trouble, I need to help him! I can't live without him any longer! He has my heart, and he is my life!"
Amano looks at Yukari for a few seconds. He smiles then he holds up his watch to look at it. He takes a deep breath and nods his understanding to Hitomi. "Right, Hitomi! I know exactly how you feel. Okay, then. Whenever you're ready, Kanzaki!"
"Give it everything you've got!" exclaims Hitomi. She pushes herself forward and starts running as fast as she can. With every step she prays that Van will appear to take her to Gaia.
"One… two… three," says Amano counting the seconds.
"Hitomi!" exclaims Yukari.
Van! I need to see you!
"Four… five… six," says Amano.
A brilliant light comes down from the sky onto the finish line, and a man appears just barely on the other side of the finish line.
His black hair falls down around his face accentuating his dark eyes. He wears no shirt, only a light colored pair of pants with his dark brown boots and brown gloves. Around his neck on a silver chain hangs a small pink talisman. He is Van Fanel, and his white feather wings protrude from his back.
White feathers fly everywhere in the wind.
"Van!" exclaims Hitomi searching deep within herself for an extra burst of speed.
"Who are you!" exclaims Amano fiercely as he sees Van holding out his arms to Hitomi.
"Hitomi!" exclaims Van smiling.
"Van!" exclaims Hitomi.
"Hitomi!" exclaims Yukari fearfully, "What's going on? Who is that?"
Hitomi runs into Van's arms, and he immediately starts to lift them up with his wings.
Amano looks at his watch. "Twelve!"
Hitomi holds Van tightly as they start to fly up.
"Hitomi! Don't go!" screams Yukari, "Don't go, Hitomi!"
"Kanzaki!" screams Amano, "Hitomi Kanzaki!"
Hitomi and Van fade away, and the pillar of light rises to the sky.
Yukari and Amano look at each other and at the finish line where Hitomi's bag has also disappeared.
* * *
Hitomi and Van touch ground in the middle of a clearing surrounded by thick trees.
Hitomi sees her bag on the ground at their feet, but she hesitates from moving away from Van. "Van! I've missed you!"
"Hitomi! I've missed you too, but why have you come back?" asks Van still embracing her tightly.
"I had a vision! Everything was burning except for a little girl. She was falling apart. I thought you needed me here, Van!" exclaims Hitomi, "So I had to come back!"
"If only you could have come back in a happier time," says Van slowly releasing Hitomi. His feathers all fly away in the wind leaving him wingless. He lifts Hitomi's bag. "Let's go to Fanelia. Everything will be explained there."
Hitomi looks up at the early afternoon sky and sees both the Earth and the moon hanging in the sky. She smiles. "The Mystic Moon!"
"Hitomi?" Van holds out his hand and smiles.
"I've missed Gaia," says Hitomi taking Van's hand, "Let's go."
Van leads Hitomi into the forest, and they soon come out overlooking a beautiful town.
"Fanelia! I thought it burned!" exclaims Hitomi.
"We rebuilt!" exclaims Van puling Hitomi down towards the town, "Allen, Millerna! Even Dryden helped us! We rebuilt Fanelia!"
"It's beautiful, Van!" exclaims Hitomi running alongside him down the street, "Are they still here?"
"Millerna and Allen are still here!" exclaims Van happily pulling Hitomi up the stone steps and into a good-sized two-story stone building. "This is my home, Hitomi! I can take you to see the others in a few minutes if you want."
"I would like to see everyone again!" exclaims Hitomi.
Van sets Hitomi's bag on the floor and walks over to a wooden trunk. He lifts the lid.
Hitomi moves to her bag and gets her Sailor jacket out. She quickly puts it on and zips her bag closed.
Van pulls a bright red, sleeveless shirt from the trunk and slips it over his head. He pulls it down over his bare back. Then he turns towards Hitomi. "You look like you've been doing well, Hitomi."
"I've been doing just fine, Van," says Hitomi smiling at him. She slings her bag over her shoulder.
Van raises his eyebrows at the bag.
"You told me to keep it with me… in case we had to leave in a hurry," says Hitomi, "And if my vision was real then we might have to leave quickly. I saw Fanelia burning."
"We'll know in time if your vision will come true," says Van. He reaches for the necklace Hitomi gave him at their last meeting. "I suppose I should give this back to you now. It always looked so beautiful on you, Hitomi."
"Van, not now. You can return it to me later if you must, but I want you to have it," says Hitomi moving towards Van and taking both his hands in her own. She blushes.
Van's cheeks turn pink as he pulls Hitomi into a tender embrace.
Hitomi relaxes in Van's arms.
Van pulls Hitomi a little closer and feels her warmth spreading throughout his entire body. "Let's go see the others!"
Hitomi nods as Van moves away from her.
Van grabs Hitomi's hand and leads her out. They walk to a similar stone building across the street, and he pounds on the wooden door. "Allen Shezar! Open this door!"
"I told you to be quiet, Van…" The door swings open to reveal the handsome knight of Asturia. His long blond hair falls around his smiling face. His blue eyes turn immediately to Hitomi. "Hitomi? Is that really you?"
"Hello, Allen," says Hitomi smiling, "It's me! Hitomi Kanzaki!"
Allen embraces Hitomi passionately. He watches as Van glares at him. He pulls away from Hitomi. "Come in!"
Allen steps to the side, and Hitomi walks in with Van following close behind.
Allen closes the door quietly. He smiles and motions to the chairs around the room. "If you'd like to sit down, I'll go get Millerna."
"Millerna's here?" asks Hitomi smiling.
"I suppose Van would forget to mention a few things. She is now my wife," says Allen as Van sits down.
"Where is your sister?" asks Hitomi.
Allen hangs his head sadly and leaves the room without answering.
"Did I say something wrong?" asks Hitomi sitting down in the chair next to Van.
"There are some things we just don't speak of," says Van quietly.
Allen returns with a blond-haired beauty.
The Asturian Princess wears a long pale blue dress, and she carries a very young baby in her arms. She smiles at Hitomi.
Hitomi smiles and walks up to her friend. "Millerna?"
"Hello, Hitomi. This is my daughter," says Millerna showing the brown haired baby to Hitomi, "And yes, Dryden is her father. She was conceived while I was married to him. He… asked Allen to help me raise her."
"Can I hold her? Dryden is her father, and he actually asked Allen to help you raise her? It's like he's giving up on you, Millerna. I didn't think he would do that. He wanted to come back later and marry you, didn't he?" asks Hitomi, "What is her name?"
Millerna places the baby in Hitomi's arms.
"Her name is Hitomi," says Allen. He smiles warmly at the two girls who share a common name.
"Hitomi? You named her after me?" asks Hitomi smiling as she rocks the child. She looks at Millerna with grateful eyes.
"Yes. Her name is Hitomi Marlene," says Millerna, "I chose it alone. In honor of you and my dear sister. Two of my beloved sisters."
"Thank you, Millerna. That means a lot to me," says Hitomi smiling. She hums quietly to the baby in her arms and rocks her gently.
Baby Hitomi opens her eyes after yawning. She blinks and looks up at the girl from the Mystic Moon with eyes the same precious blue color as Millerna's.
"It means a lot to us that you are here now, Hitomi," says Millerna, "What have you done in all this time?"
"I stopped reading people's fortunes," says Hitomi sadly, "I didn't want to create a future for someone through my readings."
"You stopped reading?" asks Allen.
"Yes. I still have my tarot cards. In fact, I brought them with me," says Hitomi sitting down with the baby in her arms, "I still know how, but I don't read anymore."
"That doesn't sound like you, Hitomi," says Van standing up and moving closer to her. He sits down on the armrest to the chair Hitomi sits in. He sets his arm gently across her shoulders. "Reading fortunes was a special gift you had. But I do understand. You didn't want to call forth a bad future."
Hitomi smiles at Van and nods her head. "Thanks, Van."
"What else have you been doing?" asks Millerna.
"Just going to school and track. I can almost run the hundred meter in twelve seconds." Hitomi rocks the baby.
Baby Hitomi closes her eyes and yawns.
"How long have I been gone?" asks Hitomi.
"Too long," says Van smiling at Hitomi.
"Almost a year has passed," says Millerna.
"We were able to rebuild this city quickly because everyone worked exceptionally hard," says Allen.
"Time certainly moves differently here than on the Mystic Moon," says Hitomi, "I haven't even been there for a full month yet." She giggles. "So what all has been happening here? A lot more can happen in one year than in one month!"
Van, Allen, and Millerna all look around at each other.
"Please tell me." Hitomi looks into Van's brown eyes. "I had a vision that called me back. I know I am needed here. Oh, Van, I know you didn't want to call me back."
"And he shouldn't have!" exclaims Millerna glaring at Van.
"He didn't!" exclaims Hitomi, "Really! He didn't call me back, Millerna! I called on him because of my vision!"
Baby Hitomi starts to cry at the raised voices around her.
Hitomi continues to hum. She rocks Baby Hitomi in her arms, and she sings with a gentle voice, "Kimi o kimi o aishiteru. Kokoro de mitsumete iru. Kimi o kimi o shinjiteru samui yoru mo."
Baby Hitomi settles down and closes her eyes.
"I should put Hitomi to bed," says Millerna taking her daughter from Hitomi. She heads into another room.
"What happened to the others? Gaddes? Dryden?" asks Hitomi.
Allen sits down on a wooden trunk. "Gaddes is dead."
"Dead? How…?" Hitomi cuts herself off when she sees Van shake his head. "I'm sorry, Allen."
Millerna walks back into the room and sits down beside Hitomi.
"What about Dryden? What's he doing now?" asks Hitomi.
"Dryden sends letters now and then. He's doing well," says Millerna, "The life of a merchant suits him. He's happy, very happy."
"Is there something you're not telling me?" asks Hitomi.
All three of Hitomi's friends shake their heads.
"Where's Merle? Maybe she'll tell me the truth!" says Hitomi standing up abruptly.
"We're not lying to you, Hitomi," says Allen standing up and reaching out towards her.
Hitomi backs away from Allen and looks at him crossly. "You may not be lying, but you're not being completely honest either. I wasn't summoned here by any of you. I was summoned here by a little girl who was afraid. I would like to know why she called me here! And I want to know why you didn't call me back! If there is something wrong here, you should have called me back here! You are my friends, and I care for you! I don't want you going through this alone!"
"Hitomi, listen," says Allen.
Hitomi turns her back to Allen. She closes her eyes and says, "No… Allen, you listen. I saw Fanelia burning. I saw a little girl walk towards me. She wanted my help. I'm sure of it! Her skin was falling off her body. It was like she was a leper, only worse!"
"Oh, my!" gasps Millerna covering her mouth with her hand.
Van stands up. "I'll explain, Hitomi. Let's go for a walk. I'll answer all your questions if I can."
"You don't have to leave," says Millerna standing.
"Baby Hitomi needs to sleep," says Van, "Maybe you could get some rest now too, Millerna. We'll come back later to visit you."
Millerna nods her head.
Van opens the door for Hitomi.
Hitomi walks out of Allen and Millerna's house. Her bag is slung over her shoulder just in case her vision comes true.
Van steps out beside Hitomi. He gently takes her hand and leads her away at a jog.
"Van! What's the rush?" asks Hitomi.
Van takes Hitomi outside of the village to a rocky outcropping looking over the city.
"Van?" asks Hitomi.
"I wish you would have come back in a happier time," says Van. He squeezes Hitomi's hand gently as he looks out at the village of Fanelia.
"I have so many questions, Van. Are you going to answer them now?" asks Hitomi sitting down on a rock.
"I'm going to try," says Van turning his gaze to Hitomi. He stares into her green eyes, and he kneels down on the ground beside her.
Hitomi's cheeks start to redden.
"You shouldn't be here now…"
"Please. Just tell me the truth! What's happening to Gaia?"
"Even though you shouldn't be here… I'm glad you are," says Van smiling. His smile fades as he continues, "There is a disease ravaging our people. It's killing them. We don't know what it is. We don't know how it's being spread, and we can't find any cure for it."
"A disease killing people?" asks Hitomi in shock, "That's why you didn't summon me here. You didn't want me to get sick!"
"That's right!"
Hitomi throws her arms around Van's neck and pulls herself to him in a warm, loving embrace.
Van blushes and places his arms around Hitomi's back. "I wanted you to be safe."
"Does Allen's sister have the disease? Is Selene dying?" asks Hitomi breathing in the scent of the field, Van's scent. "Is that why you don't speak of her?"
"Yes. His sister has the disease," says Van, "That's why he doesn't want you here. We both want to protect you."
"Maybe I can help. I know some things about medicine. Not much, but maybe what I do know is enough," says Hitomi slowly pulling back from her embrace with Van.
Van sets his hand on Hitomi's cheek. He sighs quietly. "I'm sorry, Hitomi. I don't want you to be infected too!"
"Gaddes is dead. Did he die of this disease?" asks Hitomi.
"The disease has already taken his life." Van nods.
"And Dryden? Is he really okay?" asks Hitomi.
Van nods again.
Hitomi breathes a sigh of relief. "I haven't seen Merle. What about Merle?"
"Merle…"
"What about Merle? I want to see her," says Hitomi resting her head against Van's hand as it carefully caresses her cheek.
Van clenches his fist and trembles.
Hitomi kneels in front of Van and pulls him into her arms.
"We suspect Merle may be one of the next to die of the disease," whispers Van.
"Oh, Van! Where is she? I want to see her! Take me to her, Van! I may be able to help her!" exclaims Hitomi with a voice filled with sympathy, a voice that's half pleading and yet still half commanding.
"Merle has always been like a little sister to me," says Van quietly. He buries his face in Hitomi's neck and shoulder. "I don't want her to die."
"I know you don't, Van," whispers Hitomi holding him gently, "Merle and I didn't always get along, but I considered her a friend. I don't want her to die either."
Van starts to move in Hitomi's arms. His lips brush against her cheek lightly as he sits up. "Do you think there is any way that you could help, Merle?"
"I don't know, but I'm willing to try," says Hitomi.
"Would you like to go see her now?"
Hitomi nods. "Let's go see her together. She needs to know that her friends still care for her."
"I'll take you to her," says Van standing up slowly. He pulls Hitomi to her feet.
"Van… are you afraid?" asks Hitomi quietly. She stares into his brown eyes.
Van looks deeply into Hitomi's green eyes, and he leans in closer to her so that their noses almost touch. "I am…"
Hitomi blushes as she continues to stare into his eyes. Her heart beats faster in anticipation of his kiss.
"I am afraid. Afraid of losing Merle. Afraid of losing you, Hitomi," says Van caressing her cheek.
Hitomi tilts her head to give Van better access to her lips.
Van slowly moves his mouth towards Hitomi's lips. He stops abruptly when he hears rapid footsteps coming up the path.
"Lord Van!" calls a young boy from the village as he runs into view. He sees Van and Hitomi standing only inches from each other. His face turns scarlet, and he covers his eyes with both hands. "Forgive me, Lord Van!"
Van steps away from Hitomi blushing a dark red. He approaches the lad and kneels in front of him. "What is wrong?"
The boy peeks in between his fingers at Van's face. He lowers his hands. "The doctor sent me to find you!"
"Who is it?" asks Van hastily.
"Selene, I think," says the boy.
"Run back to the village! Hitomi! Let's go!" exclaims Van.
Hitomi runs beside Van in a dead sprint down towards the village. They race through the streets and through the wooden doors into a large stone building.
"Doctor!" screams Van.
An elderly man walks through a doorway wearing a long white jacket. "Oh, good. He found you. Allen is with Selene now."
"Doctor, what precautions are you taking to ensure that this disease doesn't spread?" asks Hitomi.
The doctor shakes his head. "This disease is attacking various people for no reason. There is nothing in common with them or how they get the disease. It's like it isn't even a real disease. I'm pretty sure that it isn't contagious or an airborne virus, but I still don't know how it is being spread."
"How do you know it's not airborne? Wait… if it was airborne, everyone would be sick!" Hitomi nods her head, trying to understand the disease. "Where's Selene?"
Van takes Hitomi's hand and pulls her through the doors the doctor had come out of. "Be prepared for the worst, Hitomi."
"I'm ready, Van," says Hitomi taking a deep breath.
Van leads Hitomi into a six-foot square chamber.
Allen sits beside the bed holding onto the hand of his beloved little sister.
"Allen! Selene!" exclaims Van rushing to the bedside.
Hitomi looks at Selene's blue eyes, their color seems to pale even as she looks at them. "Hello, Selene."
Selene's white blond hair falls around her cheekbones. She looks at Hitomi. "The girl from the Mystic Moon?"
"Hitomi," says Allen.
"Does it hurt? Are you in pain, Selene?" asks Hitomi moving to her side.
"No. It doesn't hurt," says Selene with a weak smile, "I don't feel anything." She lifts her hand, and the skin hangs loosely over her bones as if there were no muscles or tissue beneath it. She touches Allen's shoulder with her fingers causing him to shiver involuntarily as he feels her hand, which truly seems to be nothing more than skin and bones.
Hitomi looks at Selene's hand at the drooping skin. She swallows hard.
Allen squeezes Selene's other hand. "I'm glad, Selene. I would hate it if you were in pain."
"I'm glad you all came to say good-bye to me," says Selene, "Allen, please. Say goodbye to Millerna and the baby for me."
"I'm sorry they couldn't come," says Allen.
"I understand, big brother. Really I do," says Selene as the skin on her arm collapses to reveal the outline of her bones. She weakly lowers her arm to the bed.
"I didn't want them to be here. I don't want anyone to be here!" exclaims Allen closing his eyes and tilting his head down. He squeezes Selene's hand and grimaces as the skin shrinks away so that he can clearly feel each and every bone within her hand. His blond hair falls down around his face.
"Van…"
"Hitomi…"
"Goodbye, Selene," says Hitomi walking to the doorway.
"Goodbye," says Van.
"Goodbye, Van, Hitomi," says Selene.
"Allen. We'll be down with Merle if you need us," says Van.
"Thank you for coming," says Selene.
Van places his hand on the small of Hitomi's back and guides her through the doorway.
"Selene!" exclaims Allen as his tears fall from his face.
"Allen! I love you, brother," says Selene starting to cry.
"I love you, Selene! I don't want you to die!" exclaims Allen. His tears fall on Selene.
"I know you'll miss me, Allen. I… I already miss you," says Selene. Her tears roll down her cheeks. She closes her eyes. Her skin falls down upon her body as if her organs and muscles simply disappeared. The bones of her skeleton jut up through her loose skin, revealing themselves to Allen. She looks as if she were a person who was starving except for the way that her skin falls straight down from her rib cage to reveal her spine.
"Selene!" Allen falls onto his sister's skeletal corpse in a fit of tears. "Selene!"
* * *
Van leads Hitomi to another cubicle-sized room.
Hitomi walks in first and looks at the girl in the bed.
The girl's cat-like ears droop around her chin-length pink hair. Her tiger stripes look faded and worn away. The white tuft of fur from her left shoulder is gone to reveal a pale pink skin. Her tail hangs out of the bed, and fur falls from the white tip.
Van steps into the room behind Hitomi. "Merle?"
Merle looks at Van and smiles weakly.
"Merle? Hello," says Hitomi walking up to the bed. She pulls the chair up and sits down. She feels Merle's forehead. "How do you feel?"
"You came back. You came back because you love Van, didn't you, Hitomi?" asks Merle.
Hitomi smiles and blushes, but she doesn't look back at Van. She whispers her response into Merle's ear.
Merle's ears try to perk up, but they droop again in an instant. "I know he feels the same way. Will you take care of him when I'm gone, Hitomi?"
"Of course I will, Merle, but you aren't gone yet! I came to try to help!" exclaims Hitomi.
"Do you think you can do anything to save her, Hitomi?" asks Van. He moves up to Merle's other side and kneels beside the bed.
I've never seen the likes of this before. I'm not quite sure what I should do. But I can't let this matter end without trying to stop it if I can. I must do something.
"I don't know, Van. I'll need to speak to the doctor," says Hitomi, "From what I see, I don't recognize it, but I may know what it is after I find out all the symptoms.
"Hitomi? Did you bring your tarot cards?" asks Merle.
"Yes. I have them right here," says Hitomi patting her bag, "but I don't read anymore."
"Please, Hitomi. Would you do a reading for me?" asks Merle smiling at Hitomi.
"Hey! You thought I was freaky for telling fortunes!" exclaims Hitomi.
"I'm sorry, Hitomi. I just didn't want you around Lord Van," says Merle, "I loved him too."
Van's eyes widen.
Hitomi brushes some of Merle's hair away from her face. "I know you did, Merle."
"Hitomi, would you do a reading for me?" asks Merle.
"You want to know when you'll die, don't you?" asks Hitomi sadly.
Merle shakes her head slightly. "No. I want to know about this disease. I want to know why it's killing us."
Hitomi smiles and nods. She looks to Van and asks, "Could you get me a table to do my reading on, Van?"
"Of course. I'll be right back," says Van, and he leaves the room.
"I've never told Van that I love him," says Merle.
"Neither have I," whispers Hitomi.
"He needs you now. Thank you for coming back to him, Hitomi," says Merle, "Take care of him, and don't let it wait too long before you tell him how you feel. He needs you to love him."
"I'll tell him when the time is right," says Hitomi smiling.
Merle smiles.
Van returns with a small table. "I hope this is big enough."
"Lord Van!" exclaims Merle happily.
"That table will do just fine," says Hitomi as Van sets it in front of her.
Merle sits up carefully and quite a bit of fur falls to the floor.
Hitomi opens her bag and pulls her tarot cards out. She sets the spare card aside and starts to shuffle.
Van leans against the wall and waits anxiously for Hitomi to work her unusual form of magic.
Hitomi finishes shuffling the cards. She holds them in both hands and closes her eyes.
"I believe in you, Hitomi," says Merle.
"I believe in you too, Hitomi," says Van.
I believe… I believe in Van and Allen. I believe in Merle and Millerna. I believe in Selene and Baby Hitomi and Dryden. I believe in all of my friends here. I believe in Gaia and the Mystic Moon. I don't want them to die! I don't want any of them to die!
Hitomi opens her eyes and smiles at her two friends. "Are we ready?"
Merle and Van nod.
"We believe in you, Hitomi," says Van.
Hitomi takes a deep breath and lays out the first six cards face down. She keeps the deck in her left hand. She turns over the first two cards. "The Three of Swords and the World. That must be Gaia. The World is in pain."
Hitomi flips over the third card and explains it, "The Sun. The changes the world is going through."
Allen appears in the doorway.
Van moves quickly to Allen and whispers to him.
Allen and Van walk over so they can see the tarot spread.
"Go on, Hitomi," says Merle.
Hitomi turns the fourth card. "Alone."
"Who was alone?" asks Allen.
"I suppose it must mean Merle. I'm doing the reading for her," says Hitomi, "Maybe the next card will define it better." She flips over the next card and nods her head. "I was the one who was alone. This card means there was a reunion with old friends. I was alone until I came here to you."
"Why would you be in this reading if it's for Merle?" asks Van.
"Simply because I'm involved in her life," says Hitomi turning the sixth card. "Death."
A few tears roll down Merle's cheeks. "I don't want to die."
"Neither do I. I want you to live," says Hitomi looking at Merle for a moment. She takes another long breath and draws a card from the top of her deck. She lays it face up on the table. "The Moon?"
"What is this reading trying to tell us?" asks Van.
"This card means the end of a cycle, but it could also be referring to the Mystic Moon," says Hitomi.
"What about it?" asks Allen.
Hitomi draws another card and lays it face up on the table. "Learning new skills and abilities. This doesn't make sense. This card position represents our hopes and fears for the future. Why would this card be here in this position? Are we supposed to learn something?"
"This entire reading doesn't make sense," says Allen as Hitomi draws another card and lays it down.
"The Fool?" asks Merle reading the word at the bottom of the card.
"What does it mean?" asks Van.
"A new beginning," says Hitomi, "and the card representing the future of Gaia…" She draws her last card and gasps. She drops it onto the center of the table.
"The blank card!" exclaims Allen, "That could only mean Gaia has no future!"
"But we saw you take that card out!" exclaims Van.
Hitomi's hand trembles as she reaches for the card she set aside at the beginning of her reading. She lifts it and clamps her eyes shut before turning it over.
"That's not blank!" exclaims Merle with fear evident in her voice.
Hitomi looks at the card. "The High Priestess! That's my card! The High Priestess rules over the realm of intuition! The visions I get come from that realm! I have no place in Gaia's future!"
"That's why you shouldn't have come here," says Allen, "You've put yourself at risk of getting this death disease, and there's nothing you can do to help."
"I still have to try, Allen," says Hitomi gathering up all her cards and placing them back into her bag. I can't just let all my friends die! It's one thing to try and fail, but it's another thing completely to never try at all."
Allen nods his head in understanding. "You're right, Hitomi. I know you're right. I'm just worried about you."
"I would rather die beside my friends than live a life alone," says Hitomi reaching out to take Allen's hand.
"You may be the strongest one of us all, Hitomi," whispers Allen.
Hitomi stands up and turns towards Merle. "Get some rest, Merle. I'll come back to visit you soon."
"Thank you, Hitomi… for trying to do the reading, and trying to help," says Merle. She smiles as she lies back down.
"You're welcome, Merle," says Hitomi, "I always try to help my friends." She squeezes Merle's hand and smiles.
"Go on, Hitomi. You have a lot to do," says Merle, "Find the doctor. Maybe he can tell you something."
Hitomi nods and walks from the room.
"Allen, would you take the table away? I would like to have a word alone with Lord Van," says Merle.
"Of course, Merle," says Allen lifting the table and taking it from the room.
"What is it, Merle?" asks Van sitting down and taking her hand.
"I love you, Lord Van," says Merle, "I need you to do something for me."
"Anything," says Van honestly.
"I know I'm going to die. So I want you to take care of Hitomi," says Merle, "I know you love her like you will never love me. Take care of Hitomi and love her."
"I do love you, Merle…"
"I don't want to be loved like a sister," says Merle interrupting Van, "I know it's how you love me, like a little sister. I don't love you like I would a brother. I love you like you love Hitomi."
Van strokes Merle's cheek. "I never knew."
"And I never told you," whispers Merle shrugging her shoulders, "but it wouldn't do any good. You were meant to love Hitomi."
"You know a lot for someone who's dying," whispers Van.
"Promise me you'll take care of Hitomi and love her," says Merle.
"I promise."
"Tell her you love her. She needs you to tell her."
Van hugs Merle carefully. "I will."
"Now go to her," says Merle.
Van releases Merle and stands up. He smiles at her before he leaves the room. He runs down the hallway and finds Hitomi and Allen talking with the doctor.
"We don't know how it's spread. We don't know the cause. All we do know is that first they get a fever," says the doctor, "They start to hallucinate. When the fever breaks, their skin looks like sun-dried mud. Then their flesh collapses onto their skeleton. I was examining one patient during his death, and his muscles had actually vanished! They weren't there at all! That is the moment when the spirit leaves the body, and then the skin falls away leaving only a skeleton. Shortly after, their bones have turned to dust."
"So, Selene…" Hitomi looks down the hallway.
"Was dust before I came to find you with Merle," says Allen sadly.
"Oh, Allen. I'm so sorry," says Hitomi.
"You should leave before you catch the illness," says the doctor. "Since we don't know how it's spread… I want to decrease your exposure to it. It just doesn't act like any disease, any virus or bacteria…"
"It's like it's not a real disease," says Hitomi quietly, "More like magical interference. Could the fate alteration machine have been restored? Could someone be using it to kill everyone?"
"I hope not. Dornkirk died, and I believe only he knew how the machine worked," says Allen, "I don't think he told anyone else how to create it. I doubt that is the problem."
"Come on. We'll be back later to visit Merle," says Van.
"If you must," says the doctor rudely before walking away.
"He's got some bedside manner!" exclaims Hitomi with exasperation. She storms off towards the exit.
Van shakes his head, "He doesn't want healthy people to catch this awful disease. Yet, he doesn't seem to be working as hard as he can to try to find a cure. I think all he's really good for is keeping them out of pain."
Allen and Van quickly follow Hitomi out of the building.
"Allen… how is Prince Chid?" asks Hitomi stopping abruptly, "I haven't heard anything about him yet. Have you heard? Do you know if he's alright?"
"He writes often… to Millerna. In his last letter, he said he was well. Many of his people had the disease though," says Allen, "It seems to be plaguing all of Gaia."
"Yes. My reading may not have been very clear, but it would seem to be that way," says Hitomi looking off at the people as they do their daily chores.
"Enough talk about this," says Allen looking off at the sun as it hangs low in the sky, "Hitomi, you are welcome to spend the night with Millerna and I."
Hitomi turns to face Allen and Van. She smiles at them. "We'll see, Allen."
Allen nods.
"Van, would you give me a quick tour of the city before sunset?" asks Hitomi.
"Alright," says Van. He takes a step towards Hitomi.
"Don't dishonor Hitomi, Van," whispers Allen.
"I had no intention of doing so," whispers Van as he walks past Allen. He takes Hitomi's hand and leads her off.
"It's quite beautiful here, Van," says Hitomi as they walk down the streets together.
"Yes. We did a wonderful job rebuilding it," says Van, "Are you hungry?"
"A little," says Hitomi, "but I can wait to eat."
"Come with me," whispers Van pulling Hitomi close to him. He gazes deeply into her green eyes. "I know the perfect place to watch the sun set!"
Hitomi smiles happily and nods.
Van leads Hitomi quickly out of the village to a large tree that stands alone.
"It's lovely up here," says Hitomi moving away from Van. She closes her eyes as the quiet breeze rustles her hair and lifts her skirt.
Van watches as more of Hitomi's pale flesh comes into view. "I don't think I've seen it look more beautiful up here."
Hitomi doesn't realize that Van is speaking of her presence in this place or of the sight of a few extra inches of skin that the wind conveniently revealed to him. She smiles at Van as she sits down beside the tree. She looks up at the Earth hanging in the sky.
"Do you miss the Mystic Moon?" asks Van sitting down beside Hitomi. He leans against the tree.
Hitomi looks at Van and smiles. She leans up against him and rests her head on his shoulder. "No. I don't miss the Mystic Moon. I missed seeing it in the sky! I missed everyone here, but mostly I missed you, Van!"
Van slides his arm around Hitomi's back and pulls her a little closer. He looks at her and whispers, "May I ask you something… something rather personal?"
"Of course," says Hitomi looking at Van. She smiles at his disheveled black hair and brown eyes.
"Merle told me that she loves me. Not as if I were her brother, but as if I were something more," says Van, "She loves me as if I were a family member that's chosen… as if I were a husband to her and not a brother. Did you know she felt that way about me?"
"Merle… didn't really talk to me about it," says Hitomi honestly, "But I knew through her actions that she really cared for you. She wanted to protect you from me. She gloated when she was close to you. I knew she cared deeply, but I wasn't sure what kind of love it was… I… I think it was obvious to everyone except you."
"You knew? But you didn't know if it was a sister's love or the love of a woman that she was giving me," says Van, getting irritated and feeling much like the fool for being the only one who didn't know what was going on around him. "Thanks for telling me."
"What else did she tell you when you were alone with her?" asks Hitomi cuddling up to Van, disregarding his change of mood.
Van wraps his other arm around Hitomi. "She told me to take care of you."
Hitomi's eyes fill with tears. "She can't have your love, so she wants you to give it to me."
"Hitomi," says Van. He wipes the tears away as soon as they roll down her cheeks.
Hitomi pulls herself into Van's lap and embraces him.
Van holds Hitomi tightly.
Hitomi shivers in Van's arms.
"Let's go home," whispers Van, "We can light a fire if you get cold."
Hitomi nods but doesn't move.
Van holds Hitomi as close to him as she can be.
"Oh, Van," whispers Hitomi.
Van lifts Hitomi's chin and looks into her eyes.
"Let's go home, Van," says Hitomi, and the way she says the word 'home' makes Van feel that her home will always be at his side.
Hitomi stands up and pulls Van to his feet.
"Do you want me to take you back to Allen's?" asks Van as he starts to walk back with Hitomi.
Hitomi blushes. "My home is with you."
Van wraps his arm around Hitomi and takes her back to his house. He lights a candle and starts to make a fire.
Hitomi sets her bag down. "Is it alright if I look around, Van?"
Van places some wood on the fire. "I'll take you on a tour."
Hitomi smiles.
Van moves into his small kitchen and pulls two pieces of a seedless, sweet, pink-skinned fruit from a bowl. He returns to Hitomi and gives her one.
Hitomi and Van eat as they climb the staircase to see the large bedroom.
Van looks out the window towards Allen and Millerna's home.
"What are you thinking, Van?" asks Hitomi sitting down on the double bed.
"There was only one time when I envied Allen Shezar," says Van.
"When was that?"
Van turns to face Hitomi and blushes. "When he kissed you…"
Hitomi blushes. "You don't have to envy him any longer."
Van walks to Hitomi and kneels in front of her. "Are you giving me your permission?"
Hitomi's cheeks turn bright red, and she nods her head.
Van blushes even more and lifts himself up to whisper into her ear. "Tomorrow, you'll get your wish."
Hitomi's heart pounds in her chest at his promise.
"But tonight. Get some rest, Hitomi," says Van, "I'll be downstairs." He stands up.
Hitomi stands up quickly and holds onto Van tightly. She whispers, "Don't leave."
Van gazes into Hitomi's eyes and nods. He walks around to the other side of the bed and lies down on the other side.
Hitomi lies down and slides towards Van.
"Stay back or I'll dishonor us both, Hitomi," whispers Van.
Hitomi closes her eyes sadly. She speaks in a low whisper so that only a few scarce words reach Van's ears, "I want to be with you, Van. I want you. I don't care about honor. I just want to be close to you."
Van looks at Hitomi's sad face and slides up next to Hitomi. He would rather she be happy, and he truly believes he can resist any urges he might get lying so close to her. He gently rests his arm over her and brushes his lips up against her forehead.
Hitomi cuddles up to Van and falls asleep.
Van inhales the soothing scent of Hitomi's floral perfume. His heart pounds so hard that it takes him a long time to fall asleep.
* * *
Hitomi wakes to find Van standing by the window. She smiles. "Good morning, Van."
Van turn to look at Hitomi as she climbs out of bed. He smiles.
Hitomi walks up to join Van at the window. She looks out at the village. "Everything here is so beautiful!"
Van strokes Hitomi's cheek. He pulls her to him, and his lips move across her face searching desperately for her lips. He finds her mouth and presses his lips to hers. "It is."
Hitomi blushes as Van kisses her again, granting her a long, slow kiss involving a little tongue and all their hearts.
"Hitomi," says Van after pulling out of their kiss, "I care for you… more than words can say."
"I know, Van. I care for you as well, very much." Hitomi holds him tightly in her arms.
"Lord Van!" screams Allen from outside.
Van turns from Hitomi and leans out the window. "What is it, Allen?"
"It's Millerna!" shouts Allen.
Hitomi races down the stairs. She grabs her bag and bursts through the door.
Van hurries down the stairs and follows Hitomi across the street to Allen and Millerna's home.
"She's got the fever," says Allen in desperation.
Hitomi and Van run into the house with Allen, and they hurry up the stairs to Millerna's bedside.
"Millerna!" exclaims Hitomi sitting down on the edge of the bed and placing her hand on the Asturian Princess's forehead. "She's burning up!"
"Hitomi…! My baby! Hitomi, take care of my daughter!" exclaims Millerna.
"I'll take care of Baby Hitomi," says Hitomi standing, "But what about you?"
"No!" Millerna shakes her head fiercely. "She's all that matters!"
Hitomi walks over and lifts Baby Hitomi from the bassinette.
"Van, Allen. Take both of our Hitomis and leave the country!" exclaims Millerna, "Get as far from this disease as you can!"
"I won't leave you, Millerna!" exclaims Allen.
"I can't leave Fanelia!" exclaims Van.
"Please, you have to!" Millerna throws the heavy blanket off her and sits up. She screams, "There must be someplace that is safe!"
"Millerna!" exclaims Allen pushing her back down onto the bed, "Stay in bed!"
"Not until you promise to leave!" exclaims Millerna fighting against Allen.
"I promise, Millerna. If there is a safe place on Gaia, Baby Hitomi and I will find it," says Hitomi.
Millerna falls back onto her pillow and closes her eyes.
"I'll go feed Baby Hitomi," says Hitomi carrying the child down the stairs.
"We need to move Millerna to the hospital," says Van.
Allen nods. He lifts his wife and carries her down the stairs following after Van. "Hitomi, we're going to the hospital with Millerna."
"Okay, Allen!" calls Hitomi as she warms some milk over a fire.
Allen takes Millerna out of the house.
"Hitomi. There is no safe place," says Van looking at her slightly disheveled sailor girl uniform, "How could you promise Millerna that?"
"There is one safe place, Van… The Mystic Moon," says Hitomi. She sighs and looks at the baby. "Little Hitomi would be safe there. I could take her back and leave her with my mother, so I could return here… to you, Van."
"How do you know you'll be able to go to the Mystic Moon and back again?" asks Van breathing with difficulty as if she had just kicked him.
"I believe. I believe in my heart that my place is beside you, Van," says Hitomi smiling towards him.
In a second's time, Van crosses the ten-foot distance between them and embraces Hitomi. "I believe that too. If you ever return to the Mystic Moon, I'm going with you. You can believe in that!"
"Van!"
"Hitomi."
"I need to feed her," whispers Hitomi still holding Van tightly.
"I must follow Allen," whispers Van slowly releasing Hitomi.
Their eyes meet for a moment before they both turn towards their duty.
Van hurries out as Hitomi prepares a bottle. He hurries to the hospital and finds the doctor examining Millerna.
"So… now the Asturian Princess has gained the illness," says the doctor, "It isn't fair. It seeks out mostly women now. Some men, like your friend Gaddes, but mostly women. I wish I knew why. Perhaps there is some natural resistance that males possess, but I don't know what that could be, and I have no knowledge of how I could give it to the women who suffer. I just don't know."
"Well, you better find a cure!" exclaims Allen. "I don't want to lose another person who is close to me!"
"I'm doing all I can," says the doctor wearily. He shrugs his shoulders and sighs. "The room across from Merle is empty. Take the Princess there."
Allen clenches his fists.
"Not now, Allen!" exclaims Van lifting Millerna and starting down the hall, "Come with me!"
Allen follows Van. "I'm sorry, Van, but I would really like to kill that pompous…"
"I know… He isn't good for much, but he does manage to keep everyone comfortable," says Van, "At least no one is in pain. At least he's good for that. We aren't doctors, Allen. We don't know what kind of pressure he is under."
Allen sighs and opens the door. "I would still like to kill that pompous… He doesn't seem to care that our people are dying all around him!"
Van carries Millerna in and sets her down on the bed. "I'm going to check on Merle now!"
"I'll be over shortly," says Allen.
Van nods his head and walks across the hall to Merle's room.
"Oh, Allen… You got the job! That's so wonderful!" exclaims Millerna rolling over in her fever-induced sleep, "I'm sure you'll do a great job!… I'll go with you the first day… Hitomi and I will go to school with you."
"The hallucinations must be starting," says Allen. He kisses Millerna's forehead. In a whispered voice he adds, "I love you, Millerna. You're a fighter. Please don't die on me."
"I can't die," whispers Millerna, "I have to finish medical school and get my degree. You'll teach and I'll be a doctor. We both get our wish to help people."
Allen allows a tear to stain his shirt as it falls from his eye. He leaves Millerna to rest. He crosses the hall and enters Merle's room. "How is she?"
"She's passing!" exclaims Van as Merle's right ear falls off.
"Hitomi!" exclaims Merle.
"I'll get her!" exclaims Allen running out as fast as he can. He runs back home. "Hitomi!"
"Allen?" asks Hitomi feeding Baby Hitomi.
"Merle's dying! She wants to see you!" exclaims Allen.
Hitomi holds the baby carefully in her arms and follows Allen back to the hospital. She rushes to Merle's room. "Merle?"
"Hitomi! It wasn't a dream. You are back!" says Merle happily.
"Yes, Merle," says Hitomi smiling, "I am back."
"Van, Hitomi. Take care of each other," says Merle as the skin falls down to show the bones on the arm that Van holds.
"We will," promise Van and Hitomi together.
"Allen, don't be too hard on Lord Van," says Merle, "Goodbye, everyone. I'll miss you." Some of the fur upon her cheek falls to the bed.
"Goodbye, Merle," says Hitomi as tears fall from her eyes. She holds Baby Hitomi away from her tears.
"Don't cry for me, Hitomi," says Merle, "There was nothing you could have done for me."
"I'm not so sure! I'm going to do another reading later," says Hitomi, "Since the first reading didn't make much sense, maybe it was all just mumbling."
"I believe in your reading, Hitomi," says Merle, "Even though it doesn't seem like it could actually be true." The blanket covering Merle's legs falls down to reveal her skeletal frame signifying that the muscle tissue in her legs has vanished.
"There isn't much time left, Merle," says Van stroking her hair.
"I know. I'll be dead soon," says Merle, "Goodbye, Lord Van. I'll see you again in whatever comes after death."
"Goodbye, Merle," whispers Van.
"Goodbye, Merle," says Allen. He forces a smile, but it turns out to be more of a wince.
"Goodbye, Merle," says Hitomi sadly.
Van pulls Merle up into an embrace.
Merle smiles for a moment before closing her eyes. The rest of her skin and the little bit of fur that hadn't previously been shed collapse around her skeleton. The dried and cracked skin crumbles away from her bones.
Van holds the skeleton in his embrace until it falls to dust.
"Would you like to be left alone for a moment, Van?" asks Allen.
Van shakes his head and stands. "I'm all right, but… maybe we should leave Fanelia."
"Abandoning your country?" asks Allen with wide blue eyes.
"Trying to find a cure," says Van looking at Hitomi and the child, "and trying to protect my Hitomi and yours."
"I'll have my men prep the Crusade for our departure," says Allen.
"What about Millerna?" asks Hitomi.
"We'll leave tomorrow at sunrise," says Van, "If she's still alive, we'll take Millerna with us." He moves up to Hitomi and looks at her with eyes that speak a million words.
Hitomi smiles her understanding. She turns and walks from the room.
Van and Allen follow Hitomi and the baby.
Allen hurries off to find the men who long ago pledged their loyalty to him.
Hitomi leads Van back to Allen's house, and she lays Baby Hitomi down for a nap. "Are you okay, Van?"
"I feel responsible… for Gaddes, Selene, Merle, and Millerna," says Van falling into a chair.
Hitomi sits down beside Van and lightly touches his hand. "You aren't responsible. You know that."
"I can't help how I feel."
"Neither can I," whispers Hitomi giving Van a quick kiss.