Disclaimer: Read it in the beginning of Chapter 1…
Hello again! Sorry if the chapter still revolved in the past. It's just that I need to combine the plots together in this story to make it a real success. I'm still in the brinks of how to bring Chapter 3 but I promise that next chapter will take place at the present time where the story should be really held. Hehe, about that huge space in the first chapter, I'm sorry about that. That was just a test to see if you guys are paying attention and every single detail and besides, I wrote that around 1am in the morning so I was kind of tired then too while writing it, which explains the typos in that chapter. But, no worries, I fixed it and replaced the chapter. I also added some typing on the big space just to let those who started reading it that the chapter isn't done. Well, right now, even though I have the plot all set and everything, I'm just stuck on how to bring it to the climax, which I can't tell you. So, any ideas are open! Any idea would be fine if it suits the story and would benefit to bring the story to the climax. So, please review and enjoy the story!!
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In the funeral of Van and his two beloved parents, every person who knew them for such a long, joyous time attended, with Folken and Merle, the remaining siblings of the Fanels, in front, hosting the funeral on that sad, gloomy day, even though it was a perfect day to walk under the blooming sakura leaves. Hitomi and her family sat in the front as well since they known the Fanels for such a long time.
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Chapter 2- Dreams…
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"If you need anything, Folken, please don't hesitate to ask," said Hitomi's mother encouragingly, clutching Folken's two hands after the long service.
"I thank you for your concern, Kanzaki-dono. I appreciate it very much…" Slowly, his red eyes wandered to Hitomi's crestfallen face. "Hitomi…how are you doing during this past week? It's been such a long time since I seen your smiling face."
She did not reply. The tears that rimmed her emerald eyes still kept on going, streaking her cheeks willingly.
"Umm…she hasn't…been going so well during this last week," said Maeko, looking at Hitomi momentarily and looking at Folken once more. "Apparently, Hitomi comes early sometimes from school, locking herself insider her room and not come out to dinner. Van must be a great lost to her, aside from her father, since he was her best friend for such a long time. I only hope that time will heal her broken heart."
For a while, Folken and Merle stayed at the Kanzaki's place after the funeral, trying to catch up on old times. The moment was sad, yet they tried there very best to keep things as simple and happy. Yet, lingering thoughts about Varie, Gaou, and Van keep coming into the conversation, and abruptly, everyone fell silent as they remorsefully thought about the great times they shared with happy faces without a care about the world around them. It only seemed like yesterday since they walked in parks, partying at annual birthday parties, anniversaries, and such that now it seemed so distant as the laughter's of the dearly departed fade into the air. The only remembrance of them was within the hearts of those who truly cared for them and the technology that captures them clearly without hiding their existence in this world.
After a two-hour conversation between the two families, Hitomi, Folken, and Merle sat outside in the warm, comfy night, looking at the full moon above. The three were silent for a while, letting the crickets consume the sound around the atmosphere. Moments passed on and silent tears streaked Hitomi's cheeks after a brief reminiscing about a time when Van and her looked at the stars and discuss how nostalgic they look in the dark blue sky. Folken could sense the distress within Hitomi. He knew, after the incident of Van's injury two years ago, that Hitomi definitely cared for Van deeply and passionately as any person he knows.
"Hitomi," he began, breaking the mournful silence between the three. "I know you truly care for Van." Hitomi looked at Folken's mature face, her emerald eyes still filled with crystalline tears. "Van, too, cared for you deeply. Van was truly a nice boy and a good little brother to ever have. He was something special that was brought from the heavens."
Hitomi nodded slightly in Folken's words about his beloved brother that always called him "Oniichan." Merle kept her silence as she played with the little, gray rock below.
Slowly, Hitomi looked up from her downcast position and looked intently to Folken as if something she said was something really essential. "But…Folken-san, this keeps bothering me after the few hours of thinking about it. Why didn't you say anything about Van in the funeral?"
Merle suddenly looked up with bewilder eyes, yet did not say a word. The young girl gave Folken a look and he responded with a knowing nod, which Merle understood perfectly well and sat back down with a satisfying look.
"Hitomi…I'm not sure how to say this to you…but-"
"No, no, don't," interrupted Hitomi with a knowing glance mingled with her sad state on her expression. "I know that if you say something about Van, you would be heart broken when you mention him since he is your little brother you truly loved so much."
"But…that not what I am going to-"
"Don't deny it. I understand why you did that and I guess it's for the best." When Hitomi looked up to meet Folken's eyes that resembled Van clearly, to her surprise, he had a bewildered expression, yet softened as he had nothing more to say. Questioningly, Hitomi wondered why Folken had a surprise look on his face. Shortly, Hitomi shrugged the matter out and continued to look into the starry sky, thinking about the young who now remains a memory.
"I will always be with…Forever…"
"Oh Van," she thought sadly, remember his last words. "I miss you so much."
~*~*~*~Flashback~*~*~*~
"I knew I should have told him," whispered Hitomi regretfully. "I knew that I should have told him how I care so much about him. I loved him sooo much." Slowly, Hitomi stood on her feet, viewing the rising moon coming out of the horizon.
"No…I will not cry for his sake. Van doesn't want me to be sad forever." Slowly, the winds comforted her as she spread her arms apart to feel its warm love. "I know you are there Van. I know you are watching me with Otousan in the Heavens." She slowly stood at the edge, looking out into the sea. "Van, I will still remember, even if you are no longer with me. Like you said, even if we are far apart…" she smiled, rethinking the whispered words he told her before the day he moved. His last words that ever came from his voice, "…We would always be together…forever…"
Her words echoed throughout the surroundings around her, as she held the necklace lightly in both of her arms, remembering the young man she loved with happy thoughts. "I will keep our promise, Van. I promise that you will remain within my heart forever. Aishiteru…forever…Van…Aishiteru…"
~*~*~*~End of Flashback~*~*~*~
Few months passed on and Hitomi fell asleep that after setting her priorities that she would not be sad for Van's sake. Within those months, Hitomi still grieved for Van, missing his presence his voice; everything about him that let's people knew of his existence. She heard that Folken and Merle still lived in the same place of where they moved, yet after that Folken and Merle's whereabouts are unknown since they never responded after that.
Slowly, Hitomi went to bed after thinking for a while in their spot, her eyes slowly drooping as she closed them, tears leaving a trail after. "Van," se whispered as she held the white silver pendant to her heart, clutching it fervently.
Deep inside the dark depths of her hand, after a few hours has passed on since Hitomi's tears dried on her face, the pendant started to glow. The bell started to jingly soothingly with the glow brightening the whole interior of her room. Along the light, Hitomi's sleeping form was consumed within the light, comforting her inside.
~*~*~Dreamworld~*~*~*~
Hitomi could feel the warmth of the light surging through her weak body. Slowly, she opened her eyes to find herself in a white room with nothing but the warmth and the gusting winds within the atmosphere. She looked around her, trying to figure out where she is. Yet, nothing was the answer to her question. Everything is plain white. Hitomi started to walk, turning her head once in a while to observe any changes. She walked on without any knowledge about the area.
Suddenly, the winds changed its direction as Hitomi in her tracks, covering herself from the violent winds. Slowly, after a few lingering moments of the cold wind, it dispersed. Hitomi slowly opened her eyes, and stood straight to look into the eyes of a strange figure before her. Its gray, colorless eyes stared into the essence of Hitomi's soul, with its long, silver hair move beautifully as the aura around it held uncanny power. The figure slowly moved its mouth, speaking to Hitomi as she listened carefully. Hitomi's expression turned from confusion to understanding with the concern's of the figure's voice.
The figure extended its hand towards Hitomi, as its sleeves from its black robe jumped around due to the figure's unspeakable power. Once more, it moved its mouth, which automatically struck Hitomi's heart. Her gaze turned downwards, thinking about the figure's words. For a while, Hitomi thought about it, tightening her fist once in a while to prevent any tears to come. Finally, Hitomi looked up. The figure smiled and extended its arms near her. Hitomi nodded and started to reach for the figure's arm.
Just when Hitomi was about to grasp the figure's hand, a violent yell came towards her from the opposite direction, causing Hitomi to gasp from the yell's sudden outburst. The simple yell is trying to her something. She shook her head and looked at the figure's slanted eyes. Her green eyes was determined and commenced to reach for the figure's hand once more. The voice again spoke, yet she did not stop and refused to listen to its voice.
Hitomi reached for its hands. At that moment, a blinding light surrounded the whole area, causing the figure and Hitomi to disappear. When Hitomi looked back one last time, a white, transluscent door appeared behind her. It suddenly closed behind her and a silver key appeared and locked the door. Sadly, she looked away and moved forward, her body disappearing in the light room.
"HITOMI!" yelled a voice behind the door, muffled by is closed state. Hitomi didn't look back as she continued to disappear.
"HITOMI!!!"
~*~*~*~*End of Dreamworld~*~*~*~
Abruptly, Hitomi woke up with a start, sweat pouring from her brow. It was only 5:00am when she woke up from the strange dream. "What was that all about?" asked Hitomi, massaging her temples.
Slowly, a single smile, that was kept contained for so long, appeared on Hitomi's face, as if nothing happened. Slowly, she sat up and went to the bathroom to get ready for another school day.
As Hitomi went to do her business in the bathroom, on her nightstand, near her digital alarm clock, stood a simple glass picture frame with Van and Hitomi smiling, the glass protecting the picture cracked in between Van and Hitomi.
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*Sniff sniff* I like how this turned it, truthfully. But anyways, please review and thanks for reading. Until Chapter 3, Ja ne!! ^_^