I am SO SORRY I didn't write for such a long time! I got caught up in
DragonStorm (it's a comic my friend and I are working on) and, well, I
sorta forgot about you guys! I'm going to update The Escaflownes soon, and
The Rebel King (still gotta write chapt 10 on that one, tho)
I'm temporarily cutting The Last Generation and Two Different Worlds so I
can keep up with school work. Sorry. But when I'm done with The Rebel
King and Night Singer, I should be able to start those again. One more
thing: I'm thinking of doing a new Escaflowne fic soon, I'll run the idea
by you.
Thanx for waiting so long!
Finally, Chapters 8 and 9!!!
Chapter Eight: The Angel From Hell (I think you know what's gonna happen?)
"Hitomi! Hey, Hitomi!" Hitomi stopped and waited for Myoshi to catch up with her. "Myoshi." Myoshi stooped over to catch her breath. "Where-are you headed-in such a hurry? Why-don't we-go for cupcakes?" "Sorry. I've got to get home," Hitomi said, watching her friend gulp down air. "Oh. How about tomorrow?" "Perhaps." Hitomi's eyes smiled.
She sprinted away at a pace that she knew Myoshi would never be able to keep. She headed for her roof. Her home. And Van.
:Van!: she called, as she skidded to a halt in front of the house. She vanished and appeared atop the roof. The black-cloaked youth appeared in front of her. "Hitomi." Hitomi looked at him. "You said you had something to show me, after school." Van seemed uncomfortable. "Perhaps later." Hitomi's eyes flashed green. :What do you sense?: Van asked. :A demon. Seems Chinese. That's strange.: :What's strange?: :Someone is attacking it, already.: :Let us go, then,: Van said. He placed a hand on her shoulder and they both faded.
*******************
"Shinma!" an angry voice shouted. "Show yourself!" A young, athletic woman wearing a blue and yellow Chinese dress hefted two chuks. She was crouched down in a street fighter's position, her teeth bared. Around her neck was a small, simple locket of gold. The shinma appeared. "Ryuuji?" the woman stopped in shock. Her former boyfriend stood there. Then his eyes glowed red, and she knew that the shinma had his body. "They tasted so wonderful!" The shinma hissed, Ryuuji's body whirling around like a puppet. "So wonderful!" With angry tears in her eyes, the woman threw herself at the shinma. She screamed in pain as the demon cut loose some wires, and the electricity coursed through her body. When the shocks finally stopped, she got up slowly, noticing that the shinma was beginning to fade away. She threw her chuks, and gnashed her teeth in frustration as they struck the wall, and not the shinma's already-gone shadow.
"You put up a good fight." The voice was of a young female. The woman whirled, sensing a shinma. "Shinma!" she exclaimed, and yanked the chuks from the ground. Hitomi looked at her coldly. "I am not the one you seek." "You are a Shinma. You must die!" The chuks were hurled with deadly accuracy, but Hitomi leapt out of the way, turning a somersault as she did. "Who are you?" she demanded, balancing atop the wall. "My name means nothing to you. I will slay you, then continue my pursuit of the other shinma!" the woman hissed, diving for her chuks and standing up again. This time, when she threw the nunchaku, Hitomi didn't move. "Van." The male demon leapt up in front of her, deflecting the chuks with a flick of his sword. "Another shinma!" "Yes," Van's voice was quiet, but unmistakably deadly. "Try to destroy Hitomi again and I will see to it that you die." "I don't like arrogant humans," Hitomi said. She went to Van, and they vanished. The woman left the place instantly, heading to her former master's shop.
********************
"She wasn't a shinma hunter. Not like Himiko," Hitomi named another hunter she had long disposed of. "But I sensed her sadness. Something has happened to her." Van handed her a gold locket. "This is hers. It fell from her neck while she was fighting the other shinma." Hitomi opened it and stared at the photograph within. "I understand now," she murmured. "This is her family. The shinma must have killed them. She seeks revenge." "Against all of us?" "Against all of us. She must be made to see." "How?" "We'll follow her. She seemed to have been raised in a dojo; she knows the arts." "Then you can take her?" "Yes." "Good. I'll be there; you only need to call."
**********************
The woman entered her master's shop. It was deserted. "Master Fu? Master Fu, it's me, Yuki!" No answer. "Master Fu?" Silence. She wandered around the interior of the shop, admiring the many swords, and oriental blades that were lined neatly on the shelves and within the display cases. Then a creaking noise alerted her ears as a door opened. She looked up, and saw a wizened man with a long, white beard. He wore a Chinese robe-gray silk, and held a cane. "Master Fu!" she bowed respectfully. "Yuki! My pupil, how are you doing? What are you doing here?" he seemed surprised to see her. "I'm fine, Master Fu. I sent a letter-didn't you get it?" Yuki was puzzled. The old man's voice grew shrill and strident. "He got it, but he was delicious! So delicious!" "You-shinma!" Yuki's voice low with fury. "What have you done to Master Fu!?" "He tasted so wonderful," the shinma hissed. "No!" Yuki shouted. "Shinma, you will pay!" She grabbed a sword from the ground and hefted it at him, her other hand holding a sharp dagger. The shinma laughed at her and vanished. "Coward!" Yuki screamed. "Come back!" She saw the photograph, framed on the wall, of a smiling Master Fu, her father, Ryuuji, and herself. "Master Fu." she touched the man's face in the photo gently, wiping dust from the glass. A letter fell from behind the frame and to the ground in front of her feet. She knelt and picked it up. Her hands began to tremble as she read it.
My dear Yuki, If you are reading this right now, then I am already dead. Know this: The shinma will depart the night of the new moon, on the ship called New Beginnings. Good luck, and may the luck goddess be with you. Master Fu
Yuki folded the letter carefully and stuck it in her knapsack. "The new moon! But.that's tonight!"
*********************
Yuki hurried along the darkening road, anxious to catch the ship before it left. She stopped, aware that she was being followed. Yuki whirled back. Nothing. She turned, and gasped. There was that girl she'd seen earlier-the tall, thin one, with short brown hair, and piercing, golden green eyes. Behind her, the dark youth materialized. "Do you want our help?" the girl's question was simple. "Shinma! Never!" "Wouldn't you rather experience eternal happiness? I can grant it to you, with one bite," the girl bared her teeth to reveal the sharp fangs. "I have too much to avenge before I die. Go elsewhere, shinma." "As you wish," the girl whispered. "Good luck," she added.
*********************
"That foolish girl will never catch me," the shinma lisped confidently. He still wore Ryuuji's body, as it was young, and easy to maneuver, and he leaned over the side of the ship's rail. "Think again, shinma!" Yuki's voice, angry, rang out over the sound of the waves. "Back so soon?" the shinma smiled slyly. He transformed, into the body of Yuki's younger sister. "Maylin?" Yuki paused. It was-her younger sister Maylin, wearing the pink frock Yuki had bought her for her fifth birthday. "Why did you let him get me?" Maylin wailed. "Why? I screamed for you-you never came! Yuki, why did you let him get me?" "Maylin.I'm sorry-I-" Then it wasn't Maylin; it was her mother. "Yuki! Why.I had to watch as he ate your father and sister-listen to their screams, listen to their pain! Yuki-you failed us! Why weren't you there to save us?" "Mother-" Her father stood before her. "Father?" "Yuki.Yuki, my little girl! Why didn't you come?" Ryuuji came next. "Yuki! Yuki, I love you-why didn't you come? Why didn't you go to save your family? I tried to stop him-I tried! Why didn't you come!" "Ryuuji! I'm sorry-I-" They ringed around her, screaming and weeping and begging and demanding why she hadn't come. Yuki sank to the ground sobbing, whimpering that she was sorry. The shadows of the possessed souls stretched until they almost touched her body. Then they all screamed, on fire, and jerked away from her body. Yuki looked up tearfully, and saw the strange girl standing there, the dark youth by her side. "Well, human? Are you going to get him?" Hitomi gestured to the shinma that was reforming. "He feeds on human sorrows, so his is a form that is grotesque." Indeed it was.sallow face, but the rest, welling balls of flesh, growing at odd places, small, beady eyes, and bulbous nose, gnashing claws for hands, and hooves that were cracked and split. "Monster!" Yuki yelled. She heaved her nunchaku up and aimed at him. "You killed my family! This is for Maylin!" And she thought of the baby sister she had loved and coveted, who she had often played with and bought things for. She flung the first chuk. "This is for my mother!" She threw the second, thinking of the smiling faced woman who had seldom gotten angry with her, and raised her well. The shinma screamed. "This is for Father!" She grasped a dagger firmly by its hilt and flung it, picturing her father, a handsome man who had taught her the arts, despite the jeers he received. "And this.this is for Ryuuji-the man I loved!" her last weapon was a scroll, blessed by Master Fu himself. She thought of Ryuuji, his charming, cheeky smile, his jokes, everything that she had fallen in love with in him. The demon wailed, shrieking in pain, then disintegrated. "It is done," Yuki whispered. "Mother, Father, Maylin-Ryuuji.I have avenged you." Hitomi reappeared by her side. "Well done." "Will you grant me this eternal happiness of yours?" Yuki turned to her. "I have completed my mission. I have nothing left. I'm ready." She undid her collar and waited. Nothing happened. A slight smile was on Hitomi's lips as she spoke. "No. You should take this time to grieve for your family. Grieve for your lost ones. Besides," the girl's smile grew, "I don't like arrogant humans." She tossed something at Yuki's feet, and vanished. Yuki looked down and gasped. "My locket!" It had fallen face down, but was open. She turned it around, trembling, and began to speak, with tears in her eyes, as she saw the picture. Her mother and father hugged each other, whilst Maylin held hands with Ryuuji in her favorite pink frock. Ryuuji.his handsome face smiled cheekily at her. "Mother.Father.Maylin.Ryuuji.is it all right to weep now? Is it all right to cry for you? I miss you all." Tears ran in unstoppable streams down her face, wetting the tiles of the deck. The night darkened, leaving the woman crouching on the ship New Beginnings, taking her to some unknown land, where she might, perhaps, make a new beginning.
********************
The puzzled look in Van's eyes made Hitomi stop what she was doing. "Why didn't you give her eternal happiness?" "I." Hitomi glanced at him and stopped. "Go on," he insisted. "Humans have such short lives. Eternal happiness isn't a gift. They exist as soulless shells once I take their blood. Yuki needed to set her affairs in order. My own happiness was not granted," Hitomi added. "So sometimes.I feel it is not fair."
Van touched her hand in a silent question. 'Do you want to tell me?' "No." Hitomi turned her saddened eyes on him. "But I will tell you; take my hand. Van, you must understand. I never meant to hurt anyone." Van slowly allowed her to grasp his hand with her own strangely cold one. He tightened his grip, trying to lend some of his warmth to her. He was pulled into a vortex of thoughts and saw a girl who looked like Hitomi, a thousand years ago, standing with a man and a woman. She wore a white kimono with a red obi, and he noted, in a detached part of his mind, that the color seemed like blood. The man had green eyes. The woman's eyes seemed faintly red. The man seemed empty, though. His eyes wore a blank expression. The scene changed. Hitomi was playing near the sea, when a stranger approached her. Van understood immediately what he wanted as he grabbed the girl's wrist. Hitomi attacked. The fight was over in a relatively short period of time. Hitomi bit the man, and Van saw her raise her head, pure delight glowing on her face, blood running in thin trails down her lips and chin. Now the scene was black. "She has tasted blood! She must pay the price!" a demon roared. Hitomi cowered against her mother. The woman grabbed her hand and they ran, pursued by the shinma. "Mother-I'll never take blood again! Never-" "Hitomi, listen to me," the mother whispered. "I am a shinma. Your father was human, but I bit him, thinking it would give him eternal happiness. Now he is soulless. A shell. Empty. I fell in love with another shinma, so we married and raised you as if you were our own. Your demon blood had to be awakened sooner or later. I'm sorry I didn't see it coming. Take my blood, Hitomi, and run. I have nothing left." Hitomi's reply was to sink her fangs into her mother's neck. The woman sighed, and swayed, but didn't struggle. When Hitomi removed her fangs, she slumped to the ground. Hitomi turned to run, but the shinma caught up with her. "You have tasted blood and broken the promise your mother made to me. Your parents' souls have been sealed. In order to free them, you must send all stray demons back to the Shadows. I give you the Guardian's task, along with the power of flames. Once you have accomplished this, your parents will be free. Until then, time will stand still for you. You will spend your eternal life alone."
Van touched Hitomi's cheek in sympathy. She flinched, and looked questioningly at him. "So that's why.?" he said. "Yes." She reached up, initially wanting to brush his hand away, but decided against it. Instead, she held his hand there. "Hitomi-" he paused, and fell silent, swallowing his words. "Eternal happiness is not a gift," Hitomi said. "Because humans live in a world of such misery and torment, some are granted a life of illusion until their deaths. Some achieve this by themselves." "Insanity?" "Something like it. They reach a point where their minds snap-all reason and logic lost. The result is a free life. Happiness. Do you understand now why it is a curse to be eternally happy?" Van didn't reply for a moment. "Eternal loneliness is also a curse," he said softly. "I don't consider myself lonely," Hitomi smiled faintly. "I have you, don't I?" Van was taken aback, but he returned the smile, even though she couldn't see it, and said, "Yes."
*******************
"Hitomi-you seem awfully happy today," Yukari smiled. "What happened?" Hitomi seemed to smile. "Nothing," she said.
"Cupcakes?" Myoshi asked hopefully. "Oh, alright!" Kenji said. Toroshino groaned. "You've got her started," he said. "Cupcakes! Once she starts eating those she won't be able to stop. Arik won't be able to recognize you when you gain a hundred pounds." He grinned impudently and dodged as his sister aimed a punch at his shoulder. "At least Arik has a car!" Myoshi shot back. "Hey!" Toroshino cried, still smiling, "I resent that!" Hitomi watched them arguing with a strange smile on her face. Yukari looked at her, an understanding grin spreading. "Oh, I get it now! You've met someone, no?" Hitomi's smile grew. "Hai!" she answered brightly. "Who is it? Where's he from?" "I'm not saying," Hitomi replied mysteriously as she stood up. "Cupcake time!" Myoshi grinned. Kenji dug into her purse. "This one's on me!"
********************
"Are you going to audition?" Yukari asked. Hitomi shook her head. "No." "Could you go with me?" Yukari begged. "No. I'm sorry." "Oh.what about you, Kenji?"
"Toroshino and I have plans," Kenji said. "Sorry," Myoshi smiled. "I'm helping Mom clean today. She gets these 'the-house-must-be-clean' fits." The singing auditions were the talk of the town. A popular producer, Mr. Khazi Wabara, was looking for a girl to become the new teen pop idol. Many girls were trying out. The auditions were the next day. "No one?" Yukari looked around pleadingly. "Excuse me," Sii whispered. "I'll go with you." The quiet girl smiled faintly, the dark circles under her eyes seeming to vanish as she did. "You, Sii?" Myoshi seemed incredulous. "Sure!" Yukari beamed. "Thank you so much!"
*******************
"Stop being so nervous," Yukari said. "You're not even trying out!" "I know," Sii mumbled. "It's just that Mr. Khazi Wabara is so famous!"
The room, full of chatting girls, fell silent as a handsome, blue- haired man in his early twenties entered. "I am Khazi Wabara," he said softly. "The auditions will begin in a-" he saw Sii and paused. "What's your name, little princess?" "Sii. Ryukashin Sii, Mr. Khazi Wabara," she said meekly, her cheeks reddening. "You'll do. Come, we'll start with you." "But I wasn't even going to sing-" Mr. Wabara smiled at her, and she stood up without another argument.
"How come she got picked?!" Rabe hissed. "She can't sing to save her life!" "Mr. Wabara must have seen something in her," Yukari said. "What's there to see?" the other girl sniffed. "Don't say such things about Sii! She's really very nice," Yukari said, her eyes flashing. "Besides, Rabe, you didn't make it!" Rabe opened her mouth; then shut it, her eyes narrowing to dangerous slits.
*********************
".You always wrapped me in your warmth, didn't you/ now you're gone/ but I wish you were here." Sii paused. "It's no good," she said softly. "I can't do it."
"Come now. You just have to try. In fact, I think I have something that might help you," Mr. Wabara stood and went over to the closet in the corner of the room. He returned holding a pair of red shoes-high heels, elegant and shimmering. "Here. These have been blessed by magic; they will help you. All you have to do is believe in the magic." Sii seemed hesitant, but she slipped them on. "Okay," she said, after closing her eyes for a moment. "Good. Now let's do that again." He sat down at the grand piano and began to play.
".You always wrapped me in your warmth, didn't you? Now you're gone, but I wish you were here." Sii began to smile as she sang. The words flowed on her tongue, an unknown language she had suddenly mastered. When they finished, Mr. Wabara clapped. "Wonderful! We'll get your first performance in a few weeks!" Sii never thought she could be happier.
**********************
"So who made the auditions?" Myoshi asked Yukari. "Sii," Yukari smiled. "I'm glad she did. She'll be just wonderful- and I know it won't go to her head." Hitomi nodded. "I believe so, as well."
*********************
Hitomi stood on the roof, gazing at the moon-alone. Van was there, too, but she hadn't seen him. She closed her eyes.
"I open the door, and before me is eternity.But who calls me from so far away? Someone smoothes down my hair-who are you? My flute sings of a land where my heart yearns to be.Footsteps I leave are washed away."
Van felt a chill run up his spine as she began to sing. Her voice was beautiful, pure, and it seemed ethereal.the way the moon washed over her hair, the way the mist wreathed her body.
"The night is mysterious; it conceals the truth.Violet with rain-the sky cries for me." With the wind stirring her hair and the moon casting a silvery glow about her, she seemed from another world-a witch, a valkeyrie, a- You idiot, she IS a vampire! Van thought angrily. He felt himself being drawn into the spell of her song and let himself drown in it.
She opened her eyes now, and the moon was reflected in their sadness. "My flute sings of a land where my heart yearns to be.Footsteps I leave are washed away." The mist swallowed her, leaving only her song behind. Van was shivering like crazy, and he knew it wasn't from the cold.
************************
Sii's first concert was to be the first of April. Weeks of rehearsal and the supposedly 'magic' shoes had paid off. Her friends had already helped to boost her publicity by posting signs, giving out flyers. She was now catching some sleep before the night of the big day. The red shoes were in her closet-the door shut securely. Rabe entered the room, followed by a boy. "Remember, I do this for you," the boy hissed, "and you give me what I want." "Sure," Rabe winced. "The shoes are in the closet; I'll get them." She bent over, but a voice came from the door. "What are you doing in here?" "Mr. Wabara!" "I could have you arrested for this," the blue-haired man said, advancing. In a panic, Rabe grabbed the knife she held and threw it at him. It struck him squarely in the chest and he went down with a shuddering cry. The boy gasped. "I'm out of this deal, Rabe! Count me out!" he said and rushed past the prone form of the man.
Rabe bent down and took the shoes, preparing to run. She screamed as Mr. Wabara calmly pulled the knife from his chest and said, "You must want those shoes very badly."
********************** Mid-morning. Saturday. Hitomi looked down from the roof of a skyscraper at Rabe's body, stuffed unceremoniously in the corner of an alley, and her eyes flashed green. There is a shinma lurking here, she thought.
********************
"Mr. Wabara?" Sii mumbled. "I'm here. Just sleep. Tomorrow is the big day-you'll do just fine," the man said. Sii smiled sleepily.
*******************
"Isn't Sii wonderful? She got us really good seats!" Kenji smiled. "Isn't your outfit just a bit too flashy?" Myoshi asked. "Me? You're the one who's too dull! I'm going to dance!" Kenji exclaimed.
"Hey-where's Hitomi?" "I don't know-one minute ago, she was here."
******************
"Let's go over that song again, okay?" "Okay," Sii took up her position behind the microphone. She closed her eyes and wished on the 'magic' shoes before slipping them on. Mr. Wabara began to play. ".You always wrapped me in your warmth, didn't you-" Three notes sounded-not from Sii. She was frozen by the spell of the song. Mr. Wabara stood, a small corner of his mouth twitching to show his disapproval. "Guardian," he addressed Hitomi in a soft tone. "Do you get a thrill out of manipulating these humans?" Hitomi's voice was also quiet, but it held anger. "I know what those shoes are doing to her. They will eventually kill her." "She will die in the peak of her happiness!" Mr. Wabara growled. "You cannot stop me." "We'll see," Hitomi said. The grand piano made a terrible noise. Its black keys merged with white, it shifted, changed. Mr. Wabara stepped backward-
And was engulfed by the piano. Is the piano the shinma, or the man? Who is controlling who? Hitomi thought worriedly. As if reading her thoughts, Mr. Wabara's voice, from within the piano, said, "We are one and the same." With that, the wriggling, satin black mass that was Mr. Wabara and the piano attacked. Hitomi threw herself to the side as it flung itself at her, summoning her flames as she did. She released them with less accuracy than usual, and was forced to dodge a tentacle-like claw. She leapt clear, threw another flame, and missed.
Then she Sensed another presence behind her. Not Van-his aura was warm and comfortable. This one was harsh. Familiar.
"Nihon!" Hitomi whirled. Sure enough, the Summoner stood there, poised to strike, the ice needles ready in her hands. Hitomi turned again, and saw the piano shinma ready to charge. She couldn't take both of them. Not at once. Nihon smiled daintily as she opened her palms. Suddenly Van was there, shouldering Hitomi aside so hard that she fell to her knees. He stood above her, cold determination shining on his face. Hitomi noticed his cloak was gone, noticed his mask had vanished, noticed his red shirt. Where's his cloak-his mask-Van, what are you doing-VAN!! Both piano shinma and Summoner attacked. Hitomi heard herself yell Van's name. She watched, horrified, as both demons neared him. Van inhaled sharply, and two white wings burst from his back with a cracking noise. Shreds of his shirt fell around her. They [the wings] connected with the Summoner first. Nihon vanished before they could do her real harm, but they slammed into the other shinma. He rose to his feet slowly. Van moved quickly, drawing his sword. He stopped in frustration as the shinma drew Sii's body up like she was a puppet. Dammit-I can't attack-not while he's got the human there! Hitomi began to sing again. Sii sighed, slumping to the ground on the stage. Hitomi threw her flame before the shinma could recover. "Into the Shadows!" she cried. "You haven't won! She'll never be able to take those shoes off!" the piano/Khazi Wabara/shinma roared. He vanished in a haze of flames. Something fluttered down to rest beside her on the stage. A feather. Hitomi stared up at Van in shock. Wings. Van had wings. He gazed at her, sadness, and something else she couldn't quite fathom in his eyes, his mouth curved in a strange, tender smile. The wings shimmered in the dim light, casting patterns of light and darkness on the wood. "Van?" she whispered. He didn't reply. "Are you.a tenshi?" His smile was sad now. "No."
Hitomi didn't hesitate. She stood and went to him, slowly wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. Van froze as she raised her head and brushed his cheek with her own, whispering into his ear. "Thank you," she murmured. She stepped back from him, and went to where Sii lay. Hitomi raised the girl's head, bared her neck. "I am taking your blood, and granting you eternal happiness. You can keep dreaming now." Her fangs pierced Sii's skin.
Van's wings glowed softly as he looked on.
******************
"Canceled?! Awww." Myoshi said. "I wonder why."
"Hey, look, it's Hitomi! Where were you?" Hitomi walked up, her hands in her pockets. "Gone," she replied simply. "Do you think Sii will have another performance?" Kenji asked. "No.somehow, I think she won't. But from now on, she and Mr. Wabara will always be together." Hitomi's face wore a faraway expression. "Huh? What do you mean by that?" Kenji turned back to Hitomi, but the other girl was gone.
******************
Sii clasped her hands as she sang. She could see the crowd-they filled the stadium. Lights waved back and forth as the people swayed in time to her song. She looked back and saw Mr. Wabara playing on the piano. He smiled reassuringly at her and winked. She flushed, and looked back. The song ended, and the crowd erupted into cheers. She wore her red shoes, as usual-they shimmered in the dazzling light. Sii smiled. Sii wore a hospital gown, and her shoes were firmly on her feet. Her eyes were empty, and she smiled strangely, her hands clasped. She leaned against the bed rail. "Collapsed on stage, right before the performance a week ago." the nurse shook her head sadly. "She's wasting away," she added. "I can't explain it-she's eating well, but still, she's going slowly. How much longer do you think before she.?" "A month," the doctor replied. "It's really a pity. I hear she was on her way to fame. That's probably why she won't let us take her shoes off-those must be a memento of her life as a star." He sighed. "A pity."
You can keep dreaming now.
*******************
"Van?" Hitomi paused shyly behind him. Van had never remembered her being shy. He turned. "Hitomi." "Your wings," she said softly. He winced, and wanted to vanish. But couldn't. How could he, pinned by her eyes like he was? "They are part of your Draconian half, aren't they?" Van nodded slowly. "Don't worry. I think your wings.are beautiful." she said hesitatingly, a slow flush creeping onto her cheeks. Van smiled.
End Chapter 8! Well, how was that? Okay, so the battles with the shinma were kinda short. Important Question: Should V/H kiss before Folken shows up? (Oops, I let that slip! Hint hint!) Before you vote, keep in mind that both of them are really shy and maybe kissing so soon might not be the best thing in the world.yet.
a) Yes b) No c) As usual, YODA!
Next question: Should I have Allen and Dilandau and the rest of the Esca gang? Please note that I will NOT make it into a "Van is jealous because Hitomi likes Allen" thing. That's getting rather old. Besides, I don't like Allen one bit, so if you do say yes, I'll probably kill him off and make good ol' Gaddes (or Gaddis, take your pick) the captain. a) Yes b) No c) YODA
I'll try to write more. But right now I've got to work on Two Different Worlds, The Escaflownes, The Rebel King, The Last Generation, and DragonSun's Insane Talkshow.in short, I'M BUSY!!!!!! Oh.the songs are all from Vampire Princess Miyu. I know I probably screwed some of the lyrics up.it's been a while since I watched that show. U know what? I updated this story and added chapt 8 a week ago. I even read the chapter after I updated. Now I check and it's like that chapter never existed! So I'm posting it again. Boy, I AM ANNOYED. Ciao!
I guess I already told you I'd be loading 8 and 9 together to make up for lost time. I apologize again.
Hitomi took her school jacket off, wiping the sweat from her brow with a sigh. It was getting warmer and warmer, as summer prepared to burst over Tokyo. Red gold sunlight washed over the pathway, tinting her hair. The birds' songs meshed together into a dull buzz as the high-school girl strolled along. She walked by a cave entrance, and paused. It hadn't been there earlier that morning. Throwing caution to the winds, Hitomi stepped in.
Nihon folded her arms and stared at the ceiling. She wondered why she was being imprisoned here, in this room of strange mechanisms. There was a knock on the door. Strange. Why must they knock, knowing that I cannot escape? Why must they knock, when they are the masters of this place? A second impatient knock. Do you wish for me to give you permission? Very well. "Enter," she said quietly. The door swung open, revealing a veiled man; he wore a cloak of black, shimmering material, that hid his face from view. He waited. What more does he want me to do? A pause followed, then he spoke, in a soft voice. "Well? Aren't you going to invite me to sit?" "If that is what you are waiting for, by all means, do," Nihon said stiffly. She would follow formalities only so far. He pulled the cloak back, exposing a young face, that showed he could only be in his early twenties or so. Gray eyes looked at her solemnly while a shock of blue- gray hair fell in disorder over his forehead. "I am aware of your.relationship.with this Guardian Hitomi?" "She and I have long parted ways," Nihon said, even more stiffly. The man gestured at the empty fireplace, and flames sprung up. Nihon forced her voice to remain calm. "I would like to know the name of my captor, and why I am being kept here." "Very well. You are being kept here so that I may learn more of the fate of Van Fanel. And you may call me.Folken."
Hitomi had walked the dank, cold passageways of the cave for longer than she'd have liked to. She admitted the cool was a welcome change from the scorching heat of the afternoon outside, but she realized she should have come to an exit by now. Unless this was a trap. She doubted that, though. Van would not come until asked for, and she didn't want to admit she was lost. Not yet, anyway. A soft light flared at the other end of the stone corridor she was roaming. "Huh?" Hitomi turned in that direction, and saw a gateway. This gets more and more interesting. It will be worth the risk. She walked up to it and put her hand through it tentatively. Her hand disappeared.
Mikaeo was playing by the waterfall; he knew his mother had told him never to go there, but he went anyway. A sudden noise alerted him, and he turned in its direction. And let out a scream. A hand-slender, white-but a hand nonetheless-was poking out of the waterfall! (A/N: Duh!) Now he knew why his mother told him not to go to the waterfall-demons lived within, that would grab you and-
Hitomi pulled her hand back and stared at it for a moment. Other than the fact that it seemed to be wet, it was alright. She shrugged, and put it back through.
The hand disappeared for a moment. Mikaeo ran down towards the village, yelling for help. "Help! Demons, by the waterfall! Help! Help! Demons!"
Hesitantly, Hitomi eased herself through the gateway. Her first surprise came as torrents of water poured down on her, drenching her uniform. Her next surprise was when she stepped out of the waterfall, cursing, as people armed with swords and spears surrounded her. "Hey, you don't look like a demon at all!" a little boy remarked. A woman, his mother, shushed him quickly. "Could someone tell me.where I am?" Hitomi asked. "Torushina," the boy answered. His mother shushed him again. He fell silent, abashed. "I'm afraid I don't know where that is," Hitomi said softly. "I came through the waterfall." "Liar! There is a wall of solid rock behind the waterfall! Everyone knows that!" a man said angrily, brandishing his sword in her face. Hitomi looked at him. "I came through the waterfall," she maintained. "I don't know what you're playing at, but." "Go on, then! Go back through the waterfall! If you are lying, you will not be able to pass. If you are telling the truth, you will be able to pass through and escape us!" Hitomi nodded. "It seems agreeable." She turned, and put her hand back through the waterfall. To her horror, it was solid. "I.cannot pass through?" "Come with us," the man growled, holding his weapon up. Hitomi shrugged. "It seems I have no choice."
Van waited for Hitomi to return. It was now eleven o'clock at night, and she hadn't returned from school. He wondered if she had run into any shinma. But then.she would have called for him by now. He closed his eyes, and oriented for her, and found that he couldn't locate her anywhere. That in itself was strange.he would wait another three hours. If she did not return by then, he would search for her.
Hitomi didn't come back. She never appeared that morning. Van decided something was amiss, but the only way to find out where she had gone was to speak to her schoolfriends. He undid his cloak, placed it besides his mask, which he had already shed, and made them vanish. He would pose as a family friend, tempting as it was to play the part of her sweetheart. He figured she wouldn't appreciate that. Van waited until the afternoon before confronting them. He appeared a street before, and walked towards them. "Hello," he said, keeping his face down, "I'm looking for Kanzaki Hitomi? You're her friends, right?" The red-head spoke up. "I'm Yukari, this is Myoshi, and this is Kenji. You are?" "Hitomi's.friend. She hasn't come home for two days now. I was wondering if you knew where she was." Perhaps it was the hesitation in his voice as he said 'Hitomi's.friend' or maybe it was the faint flush that rose in his cheeks, but Myoshi peered at him. "Do I know you? Haven't I seen you before? On the school trip! You were in a black cloak and you were about to." "Er.I don't think we've met before," Van mumbled. "But I'm asking about Hitomi." "No, we haven't seen her. Actually, she never came to school today." "But she left yesterday, right? Did she go with anyone else?" some of the anxiety he was feeling leaked out into his voice. "Jealous, are we?" Myoshi began, but Yukari stopped her. "Myoshi, be serious. Yeah, she left on time yesterday, but she didn't go with anyone." "Do you know where she headed?" "Uh.towards the park, I think." Kenji supplied. "I'm not sure exactly, but she headed for that intersection." "Thanks," Van said. He hurried off in that direction. "Weird." Yukari said. "I've never seen him before. If he's Hitomi's friend, he ought to go around with her more often." "Maybe he's visiting.but why would he be living with her?" "I know I've seen him before." Myoshi said.
Hitomi paced back and forth within her cell-a sectioned off area of a house, with barred windows. She could easily burn it all down and escape, but to where? The gateway was blocked; she had nowhere to go. Besides, she wanted to learn more of these people. There was a tentative knock on the door, and a girl entered, bearing a tray of food. "For you, miss." "Thank you," Hitomi watched her as she knelt and placed the tray before her. She knelt as well. "If I may ask, where am I?" "Torushina." They seem to think that will explain everything, Hitomi thought, annoyed. "Where is Torushina?" "Why, in Asturia! Where are you from?" the girl handed her a piece of bread. "I'm from Tokyo," Hitomi answered truthfully. "Where's that?" "Japan. Earth." "The Mystic Moon!? You're from the Mystic Moon!?" she backed away. "It is impossible! No one has been able to cross since Fanelia was burned!" It was Hitomi's turn to be shocked. "Fanelia? You know of Fanelia?" "Certainly," the girl scoffed. "I used to live there! But when Lord Folken returned and burned it down, I fled! And since Van-sama-" she added the title so sarcastically it burned "-ran away, like the coward he is, Folken has ruled Fanelia for more than two years!" "Only two years have passed?" Hitomi said softly. "On earth.it has been a millennium." "What are you saying?" the girl eyed her suspiciously. "What's your name?" Hitomi asked. "Saita. Actually, they call me Saitaaealaera, but Saita for short. You can see why, can't you?" she smiled. Hitomi nodded. "Saita, do you know of demons called Shinma?" The girl nodded. "The rulers of Fanelia were shinma.and we never knew! They were not terrible, though. I don't understand." "What would you do if I told you Van was alive?" "I wouldn't care! He ran away and left his people to die! Besides, he's half demon, half Draconian-that is a terrible thing! We despise him." "I see." "What are your connections to Van-sama?" "I." "Saitaaealaera! Stay away from that girl, don't tell her anything! She could be a demon!" an older man pulled Saita backwards. "I am a demon," Hitomi said, staring at her hands. "I am Kanzaki Hitomi, a Guardian. It is my purpose to slay all stray Shinma." "We should destroy her immediately!" a second man joined the first. "I warn you, it will be difficult," Hitomi said. "I will put up a fight."
Van stood in the center of the park. Yes, he could sense her.but where was she? Her aura lingered, but it was fading. He started violently. What if-what if. No! I sealed the Crossing when Pierre, Lilith and I fled from Gaea! It is not possible that it could have opened up again.the seal was permanent.Folken! He must have found out-and.Hitomi's in terrible danger, if it has been opened! But the seal.it can't have.unless.it doesn't matter, I have to go to her! He threw himself into a sprint and ended up at the cave entrance where Hitomi had stood a day ago. Van closed his eyes and forced his aura to flare; the opening was revealed. He ran inside, came to the gateway. The seal was intact. "What?!" he stared at it in disbelief. Hitomi had been there, he could sense it. But how.on earth could the gateway be sealed again? It didn't matter. Van touched it slowly and saw his hands pass through. He didn't hesitate; he flung himself through it and through the waterfall. He made sure his mask was secure, before setting off. Hitomi's aura was getting stronger and stronger.
Nihon looked at Folken. He was pacing back and forth before the fire. "But why do you want to know about Hitomi and Van?" "I want to destroy them," he said. He froze. "Van's returned. I knew if I broke the seal his guardian would not be able to resist-and as he is sworn to protect her, he would follow."
Hitomi was surrounded by people on all sides. She glared at them, but she couldn't throw flame.not yet.they weren't much of a threat. A few fires would scare them enough to leave her alone. "Now!" "I did warn you-" Hitomi pivoted, causing several men to miss her and tumble into those charging the opposite way. She smiled, and leapt into the air, while they gasped and pointed. "Let me through!" a voice called. A voice tinged with power. A Hunter. Hitomi looked and saw a tall young man with flowing golden hair. He had a talisman jingling around his neck, and he raised his hand and pointed at her. Hitomi struggled, and found she couldn't move. "Shinma, what reason do you have to be in our village?" he demanded. "I came upon your village by accident," Hitomi said. "I do not know how." "Allen! Kill her!" a voice called. "There's no haste," Allen said calmly. "We can find out exactly what she's up to." Hitomi struggled against the invisible ropes, but they only squeezed tighter in response. Van, where are you.?
Van appeared inside the hut, causing quite a lot of pandemonium. He slashed the strings, and Allen backed away, drawing his sword. Hitomi gasped. "Va-you came! But how?" "Hitomi. Are you hurt?" "No.but." "It took me a while to find the gateway, but I'm here now. Just give the order and I'll attack." Allen had recovered, and, drawing his sword, he charged. Van met the charge, slicing at him furiously. Allen swung up, Van deflected, but the sword tip caught his mask and sent it flying to land at Saita's feet. There was a collective gasp as Van's face was exposed for all to see. "Van-sama?!" Van slowly lowered his sword. Allen went in for the killing stroke, but stopped short as Hitomi jumped in front of him, flames in her hands. "Van-sama. Coward!" a woman hissed. "You fled your home when we needed you most!" "You're a coward that betrayed your people!" "Coward!" "I can't believe you would do such a thing! Why!?" "I hate you!" "How could you?!" Hitomi stayed in front of Van, as if to protect him from the insults. Gradually, they stopped. Hitomi went forward (people gasped and backed away from her) and picked up Van's mask. She walked back and handed it to him. Their fingers brushed; she jumped. Van replaced the mask on his face. If he had noticed her jump, he didn't say so. "Van Fanel does not exist anymore," he said softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "He is dead." "Hah!" Allen snorted. "I'm taking both of you for questioning-try to resist and I'll spear the both of you like fish. Come on. Dilandau, take them." A youth with blood-red eyes shoved them forward.
Allen put them in a room with magical wards, so they couldn't disappear, or set anything on fire. Hitomi sighed, staring out a window at the stars. "Two years here, and it's been a millennium on earth. How many years do you think have gone by now back in Tokyo?" "None," Van said. "I took the liberty of freezing life on earth while I went after you." "Van, you're a genius!" Hitomi looked like she was about to hug him, but she held herself back. "I'm sorry I got us into this mess." "I followed you. This incident is entirely my fault." "I don't know.I don't know anything anymore." Hitomi sighed again. "Van, I'm sorry I doubted you when you first mentioned Fanelia to me." "It's okay." Van took his mask off and looked at it. "But it is true. Van Fanel died a long time ago." he smiled briefly. "You killed me." "I'm sorry about that, too." "Don't be sorry." "When we get back, I'll make this up to you somehow," Hitomi said quietly. "I never realized how much I needed your help. I would've been strangled by that snake shinma. I would've been killed by Nihon and the piano shinma. Without you, I would have died several times over. I'm glad I have you." "Hitomi."
"Your food," Dilandau entered, jauntily, Hitomi thought. "It's about time," he said. "You're going to help us overthrow Folken, I know it!" "As I said earlier, Van Fanel is dead. I have no ties to this place; I will return to the Mystic Moon with Hitomi." "You'll spoil all the fun! It's been a while since we had a good war, Fanel. Don't you remember me?" "Dilandau-san." Van said slowly. "You were a samurai, at the palace." "Right! I can't wait for another battle. My sword is in need of a good blood bath, don't you think? Besides, Folken's had it coming! I'll burn his castle to the ground-it's the only good way to destroy things. Mmm.burn it all! Destroy!" "Actually, I had hoped I could accomplish that," Van said, with a rueful smile. "And Allen was at the palace, too, but he left because he found out what you were and, anyway, your father banished him." Dilandau grinned, a sharp, feral expression. "So I got hired as his assistant because I'm the only other one with 'Hunter' blood or whatever. Eat up, if all goes well, you will be released to help us with this war!" He left. Van stared at his food without eating. Hitomi looked at him. "Van." "I want to go back to Japan. It's my life now. Assisting you is my life now. I don't understand.for a long time, it was my desire to destroy Folken. Now.that has changed. If he still wants to kill me, I suppose I'll have to kill him, but.Hitomi, do you understand?" "Yes," she said softly. "I understand."
"Hey, Fanel! Wake up." Van opened his eyes and saw Dilandau shaking him. "I've decided I'm going to let you go. I'd just love to piss that Allen Schezar off! Come on, move it! I've removed the wards; it would be better if you disappeared-less damage," he said, but he looked disappointed. "So you'd better swear to return, or I'll Cross after you." Van nodded. "Thanks, Dilandau. I give you my word that I will return to help your cause." Dilandau grinned again. "Humph. I don't know why I'm doing this; I'm ruining the last chance for us to kill Folken-" "No, I'll come back. I promised last time, and I came back. So now I'll return once more." "-but I'm also ruining Allen's reputation! Yes, that's it!" his red eyes glinted insanely. "Anything to annoy Allen. He's such a stuck up sissy, anyway. Scared a little blood'll damage his pretty-boy uniform. So I'll watch out for you, Van-sama. Sayanora, for now." "Sayanora, Dilandau-san." Van lifted Hitomi and vanished.
Hitomi woke in Van's arms-he was gazing at her tenderly, but when he noticed she was awake, he looked away. "Van? Where are we?" "Back. In Tokyo. But I will have to return to Gaea. I gave Dilandau my promise." "No.we will have to return to Gaea. I've decided that I never want to go anywhere without you, Van. I told you a long time ago I never wanted you to leave me again. So I'm going with you." "Hitomi.you really don't have to do this." "Van, don't make me repeat myself. Not again." She smiled at him; his heart began to cartwheel. "Well, if you insist. Oh-I met your friends," Van said. "They were interesting." Hitomi nestled in the circle of his arms for a moment longer before vanishing and reappearing behind him. "I'd better go now-school," she said. "The final exam is today and I need to make up the one I missed yesterday." Van nodded, and watched her disappear.
"Hitomi! You're back-we were all so worried! Where were you?" "I was at my.friend's village," Hitomi said. "It's in.Kyoto." "Oh, really? A very handsome young man came and said he was looking for you.he asked if you were with anyone. Do you know him?" "Oh.uh, yes." Hitomi blushed. "He's an old family friend-very old family friend." "He didn't seem that old," Kenji said. "In fact, we thought he was your age." "We've known each other for a long time," Hitomi said softly. "We've been friends for ten centuries." "Huh?" Myoshi wrinkled her nose. "Hitomi, don't be silly, ten centuries-" "Er.I mean ten years," Hitomi said hastily. "I got carried away." "Right." Yukari looked at her uncertainly. "Anyway, we're glad that you're back. So.who wants tea?" They all looked at her. "Tea? I thought you liked ice cream?" "Well, it's neutral, isn't it? I've picked something we all like," Yukari shrugged. "Okay," Kenji smiled. Myoshi nodded. "Sure, why not?"
Folken sighed. "They've escaped my grasp, but for now only." He turned to Nihon. "You were once a being called Sora. You served me, but you were murdered. Now your reincarnation will help me destroy my brother and his dark love." "Dark love." Nihon said softly. "I think I remember.Folken-sama."
So, whatcha think? I know.Dilandau's kinda happy-go-lucky, kill everyone, too nice, but.oh, I don't know! If you liked his new attitude (which I doubt), which, by the way, was triggered by myself typing late at night after drinking sugar-loaded fruit juice, tell me! If you don't, give me some suggestions!
Chapter Eight: The Angel From Hell (I think you know what's gonna happen?)
"Hitomi! Hey, Hitomi!" Hitomi stopped and waited for Myoshi to catch up with her. "Myoshi." Myoshi stooped over to catch her breath. "Where-are you headed-in such a hurry? Why-don't we-go for cupcakes?" "Sorry. I've got to get home," Hitomi said, watching her friend gulp down air. "Oh. How about tomorrow?" "Perhaps." Hitomi's eyes smiled.
She sprinted away at a pace that she knew Myoshi would never be able to keep. She headed for her roof. Her home. And Van.
:Van!: she called, as she skidded to a halt in front of the house. She vanished and appeared atop the roof. The black-cloaked youth appeared in front of her. "Hitomi." Hitomi looked at him. "You said you had something to show me, after school." Van seemed uncomfortable. "Perhaps later." Hitomi's eyes flashed green. :What do you sense?: Van asked. :A demon. Seems Chinese. That's strange.: :What's strange?: :Someone is attacking it, already.: :Let us go, then,: Van said. He placed a hand on her shoulder and they both faded.
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"Shinma!" an angry voice shouted. "Show yourself!" A young, athletic woman wearing a blue and yellow Chinese dress hefted two chuks. She was crouched down in a street fighter's position, her teeth bared. Around her neck was a small, simple locket of gold. The shinma appeared. "Ryuuji?" the woman stopped in shock. Her former boyfriend stood there. Then his eyes glowed red, and she knew that the shinma had his body. "They tasted so wonderful!" The shinma hissed, Ryuuji's body whirling around like a puppet. "So wonderful!" With angry tears in her eyes, the woman threw herself at the shinma. She screamed in pain as the demon cut loose some wires, and the electricity coursed through her body. When the shocks finally stopped, she got up slowly, noticing that the shinma was beginning to fade away. She threw her chuks, and gnashed her teeth in frustration as they struck the wall, and not the shinma's already-gone shadow.
"You put up a good fight." The voice was of a young female. The woman whirled, sensing a shinma. "Shinma!" she exclaimed, and yanked the chuks from the ground. Hitomi looked at her coldly. "I am not the one you seek." "You are a Shinma. You must die!" The chuks were hurled with deadly accuracy, but Hitomi leapt out of the way, turning a somersault as she did. "Who are you?" she demanded, balancing atop the wall. "My name means nothing to you. I will slay you, then continue my pursuit of the other shinma!" the woman hissed, diving for her chuks and standing up again. This time, when she threw the nunchaku, Hitomi didn't move. "Van." The male demon leapt up in front of her, deflecting the chuks with a flick of his sword. "Another shinma!" "Yes," Van's voice was quiet, but unmistakably deadly. "Try to destroy Hitomi again and I will see to it that you die." "I don't like arrogant humans," Hitomi said. She went to Van, and they vanished. The woman left the place instantly, heading to her former master's shop.
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"She wasn't a shinma hunter. Not like Himiko," Hitomi named another hunter she had long disposed of. "But I sensed her sadness. Something has happened to her." Van handed her a gold locket. "This is hers. It fell from her neck while she was fighting the other shinma." Hitomi opened it and stared at the photograph within. "I understand now," she murmured. "This is her family. The shinma must have killed them. She seeks revenge." "Against all of us?" "Against all of us. She must be made to see." "How?" "We'll follow her. She seemed to have been raised in a dojo; she knows the arts." "Then you can take her?" "Yes." "Good. I'll be there; you only need to call."
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The woman entered her master's shop. It was deserted. "Master Fu? Master Fu, it's me, Yuki!" No answer. "Master Fu?" Silence. She wandered around the interior of the shop, admiring the many swords, and oriental blades that were lined neatly on the shelves and within the display cases. Then a creaking noise alerted her ears as a door opened. She looked up, and saw a wizened man with a long, white beard. He wore a Chinese robe-gray silk, and held a cane. "Master Fu!" she bowed respectfully. "Yuki! My pupil, how are you doing? What are you doing here?" he seemed surprised to see her. "I'm fine, Master Fu. I sent a letter-didn't you get it?" Yuki was puzzled. The old man's voice grew shrill and strident. "He got it, but he was delicious! So delicious!" "You-shinma!" Yuki's voice low with fury. "What have you done to Master Fu!?" "He tasted so wonderful," the shinma hissed. "No!" Yuki shouted. "Shinma, you will pay!" She grabbed a sword from the ground and hefted it at him, her other hand holding a sharp dagger. The shinma laughed at her and vanished. "Coward!" Yuki screamed. "Come back!" She saw the photograph, framed on the wall, of a smiling Master Fu, her father, Ryuuji, and herself. "Master Fu." she touched the man's face in the photo gently, wiping dust from the glass. A letter fell from behind the frame and to the ground in front of her feet. She knelt and picked it up. Her hands began to tremble as she read it.
My dear Yuki, If you are reading this right now, then I am already dead. Know this: The shinma will depart the night of the new moon, on the ship called New Beginnings. Good luck, and may the luck goddess be with you. Master Fu
Yuki folded the letter carefully and stuck it in her knapsack. "The new moon! But.that's tonight!"
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Yuki hurried along the darkening road, anxious to catch the ship before it left. She stopped, aware that she was being followed. Yuki whirled back. Nothing. She turned, and gasped. There was that girl she'd seen earlier-the tall, thin one, with short brown hair, and piercing, golden green eyes. Behind her, the dark youth materialized. "Do you want our help?" the girl's question was simple. "Shinma! Never!" "Wouldn't you rather experience eternal happiness? I can grant it to you, with one bite," the girl bared her teeth to reveal the sharp fangs. "I have too much to avenge before I die. Go elsewhere, shinma." "As you wish," the girl whispered. "Good luck," she added.
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"That foolish girl will never catch me," the shinma lisped confidently. He still wore Ryuuji's body, as it was young, and easy to maneuver, and he leaned over the side of the ship's rail. "Think again, shinma!" Yuki's voice, angry, rang out over the sound of the waves. "Back so soon?" the shinma smiled slyly. He transformed, into the body of Yuki's younger sister. "Maylin?" Yuki paused. It was-her younger sister Maylin, wearing the pink frock Yuki had bought her for her fifth birthday. "Why did you let him get me?" Maylin wailed. "Why? I screamed for you-you never came! Yuki, why did you let him get me?" "Maylin.I'm sorry-I-" Then it wasn't Maylin; it was her mother. "Yuki! Why.I had to watch as he ate your father and sister-listen to their screams, listen to their pain! Yuki-you failed us! Why weren't you there to save us?" "Mother-" Her father stood before her. "Father?" "Yuki.Yuki, my little girl! Why didn't you come?" Ryuuji came next. "Yuki! Yuki, I love you-why didn't you come? Why didn't you go to save your family? I tried to stop him-I tried! Why didn't you come!" "Ryuuji! I'm sorry-I-" They ringed around her, screaming and weeping and begging and demanding why she hadn't come. Yuki sank to the ground sobbing, whimpering that she was sorry. The shadows of the possessed souls stretched until they almost touched her body. Then they all screamed, on fire, and jerked away from her body. Yuki looked up tearfully, and saw the strange girl standing there, the dark youth by her side. "Well, human? Are you going to get him?" Hitomi gestured to the shinma that was reforming. "He feeds on human sorrows, so his is a form that is grotesque." Indeed it was.sallow face, but the rest, welling balls of flesh, growing at odd places, small, beady eyes, and bulbous nose, gnashing claws for hands, and hooves that were cracked and split. "Monster!" Yuki yelled. She heaved her nunchaku up and aimed at him. "You killed my family! This is for Maylin!" And she thought of the baby sister she had loved and coveted, who she had often played with and bought things for. She flung the first chuk. "This is for my mother!" She threw the second, thinking of the smiling faced woman who had seldom gotten angry with her, and raised her well. The shinma screamed. "This is for Father!" She grasped a dagger firmly by its hilt and flung it, picturing her father, a handsome man who had taught her the arts, despite the jeers he received. "And this.this is for Ryuuji-the man I loved!" her last weapon was a scroll, blessed by Master Fu himself. She thought of Ryuuji, his charming, cheeky smile, his jokes, everything that she had fallen in love with in him. The demon wailed, shrieking in pain, then disintegrated. "It is done," Yuki whispered. "Mother, Father, Maylin-Ryuuji.I have avenged you." Hitomi reappeared by her side. "Well done." "Will you grant me this eternal happiness of yours?" Yuki turned to her. "I have completed my mission. I have nothing left. I'm ready." She undid her collar and waited. Nothing happened. A slight smile was on Hitomi's lips as she spoke. "No. You should take this time to grieve for your family. Grieve for your lost ones. Besides," the girl's smile grew, "I don't like arrogant humans." She tossed something at Yuki's feet, and vanished. Yuki looked down and gasped. "My locket!" It had fallen face down, but was open. She turned it around, trembling, and began to speak, with tears in her eyes, as she saw the picture. Her mother and father hugged each other, whilst Maylin held hands with Ryuuji in her favorite pink frock. Ryuuji.his handsome face smiled cheekily at her. "Mother.Father.Maylin.Ryuuji.is it all right to weep now? Is it all right to cry for you? I miss you all." Tears ran in unstoppable streams down her face, wetting the tiles of the deck. The night darkened, leaving the woman crouching on the ship New Beginnings, taking her to some unknown land, where she might, perhaps, make a new beginning.
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The puzzled look in Van's eyes made Hitomi stop what she was doing. "Why didn't you give her eternal happiness?" "I." Hitomi glanced at him and stopped. "Go on," he insisted. "Humans have such short lives. Eternal happiness isn't a gift. They exist as soulless shells once I take their blood. Yuki needed to set her affairs in order. My own happiness was not granted," Hitomi added. "So sometimes.I feel it is not fair."
Van touched her hand in a silent question. 'Do you want to tell me?' "No." Hitomi turned her saddened eyes on him. "But I will tell you; take my hand. Van, you must understand. I never meant to hurt anyone." Van slowly allowed her to grasp his hand with her own strangely cold one. He tightened his grip, trying to lend some of his warmth to her. He was pulled into a vortex of thoughts and saw a girl who looked like Hitomi, a thousand years ago, standing with a man and a woman. She wore a white kimono with a red obi, and he noted, in a detached part of his mind, that the color seemed like blood. The man had green eyes. The woman's eyes seemed faintly red. The man seemed empty, though. His eyes wore a blank expression. The scene changed. Hitomi was playing near the sea, when a stranger approached her. Van understood immediately what he wanted as he grabbed the girl's wrist. Hitomi attacked. The fight was over in a relatively short period of time. Hitomi bit the man, and Van saw her raise her head, pure delight glowing on her face, blood running in thin trails down her lips and chin. Now the scene was black. "She has tasted blood! She must pay the price!" a demon roared. Hitomi cowered against her mother. The woman grabbed her hand and they ran, pursued by the shinma. "Mother-I'll never take blood again! Never-" "Hitomi, listen to me," the mother whispered. "I am a shinma. Your father was human, but I bit him, thinking it would give him eternal happiness. Now he is soulless. A shell. Empty. I fell in love with another shinma, so we married and raised you as if you were our own. Your demon blood had to be awakened sooner or later. I'm sorry I didn't see it coming. Take my blood, Hitomi, and run. I have nothing left." Hitomi's reply was to sink her fangs into her mother's neck. The woman sighed, and swayed, but didn't struggle. When Hitomi removed her fangs, she slumped to the ground. Hitomi turned to run, but the shinma caught up with her. "You have tasted blood and broken the promise your mother made to me. Your parents' souls have been sealed. In order to free them, you must send all stray demons back to the Shadows. I give you the Guardian's task, along with the power of flames. Once you have accomplished this, your parents will be free. Until then, time will stand still for you. You will spend your eternal life alone."
Van touched Hitomi's cheek in sympathy. She flinched, and looked questioningly at him. "So that's why.?" he said. "Yes." She reached up, initially wanting to brush his hand away, but decided against it. Instead, she held his hand there. "Hitomi-" he paused, and fell silent, swallowing his words. "Eternal happiness is not a gift," Hitomi said. "Because humans live in a world of such misery and torment, some are granted a life of illusion until their deaths. Some achieve this by themselves." "Insanity?" "Something like it. They reach a point where their minds snap-all reason and logic lost. The result is a free life. Happiness. Do you understand now why it is a curse to be eternally happy?" Van didn't reply for a moment. "Eternal loneliness is also a curse," he said softly. "I don't consider myself lonely," Hitomi smiled faintly. "I have you, don't I?" Van was taken aback, but he returned the smile, even though she couldn't see it, and said, "Yes."
*******************
"Hitomi-you seem awfully happy today," Yukari smiled. "What happened?" Hitomi seemed to smile. "Nothing," she said.
"Cupcakes?" Myoshi asked hopefully. "Oh, alright!" Kenji said. Toroshino groaned. "You've got her started," he said. "Cupcakes! Once she starts eating those she won't be able to stop. Arik won't be able to recognize you when you gain a hundred pounds." He grinned impudently and dodged as his sister aimed a punch at his shoulder. "At least Arik has a car!" Myoshi shot back. "Hey!" Toroshino cried, still smiling, "I resent that!" Hitomi watched them arguing with a strange smile on her face. Yukari looked at her, an understanding grin spreading. "Oh, I get it now! You've met someone, no?" Hitomi's smile grew. "Hai!" she answered brightly. "Who is it? Where's he from?" "I'm not saying," Hitomi replied mysteriously as she stood up. "Cupcake time!" Myoshi grinned. Kenji dug into her purse. "This one's on me!"
********************
"Are you going to audition?" Yukari asked. Hitomi shook her head. "No." "Could you go with me?" Yukari begged. "No. I'm sorry." "Oh.what about you, Kenji?"
"Toroshino and I have plans," Kenji said. "Sorry," Myoshi smiled. "I'm helping Mom clean today. She gets these 'the-house-must-be-clean' fits." The singing auditions were the talk of the town. A popular producer, Mr. Khazi Wabara, was looking for a girl to become the new teen pop idol. Many girls were trying out. The auditions were the next day. "No one?" Yukari looked around pleadingly. "Excuse me," Sii whispered. "I'll go with you." The quiet girl smiled faintly, the dark circles under her eyes seeming to vanish as she did. "You, Sii?" Myoshi seemed incredulous. "Sure!" Yukari beamed. "Thank you so much!"
*******************
"Stop being so nervous," Yukari said. "You're not even trying out!" "I know," Sii mumbled. "It's just that Mr. Khazi Wabara is so famous!"
The room, full of chatting girls, fell silent as a handsome, blue- haired man in his early twenties entered. "I am Khazi Wabara," he said softly. "The auditions will begin in a-" he saw Sii and paused. "What's your name, little princess?" "Sii. Ryukashin Sii, Mr. Khazi Wabara," she said meekly, her cheeks reddening. "You'll do. Come, we'll start with you." "But I wasn't even going to sing-" Mr. Wabara smiled at her, and she stood up without another argument.
"How come she got picked?!" Rabe hissed. "She can't sing to save her life!" "Mr. Wabara must have seen something in her," Yukari said. "What's there to see?" the other girl sniffed. "Don't say such things about Sii! She's really very nice," Yukari said, her eyes flashing. "Besides, Rabe, you didn't make it!" Rabe opened her mouth; then shut it, her eyes narrowing to dangerous slits.
*********************
".You always wrapped me in your warmth, didn't you/ now you're gone/ but I wish you were here." Sii paused. "It's no good," she said softly. "I can't do it."
"Come now. You just have to try. In fact, I think I have something that might help you," Mr. Wabara stood and went over to the closet in the corner of the room. He returned holding a pair of red shoes-high heels, elegant and shimmering. "Here. These have been blessed by magic; they will help you. All you have to do is believe in the magic." Sii seemed hesitant, but she slipped them on. "Okay," she said, after closing her eyes for a moment. "Good. Now let's do that again." He sat down at the grand piano and began to play.
".You always wrapped me in your warmth, didn't you? Now you're gone, but I wish you were here." Sii began to smile as she sang. The words flowed on her tongue, an unknown language she had suddenly mastered. When they finished, Mr. Wabara clapped. "Wonderful! We'll get your first performance in a few weeks!" Sii never thought she could be happier.
**********************
"So who made the auditions?" Myoshi asked Yukari. "Sii," Yukari smiled. "I'm glad she did. She'll be just wonderful- and I know it won't go to her head." Hitomi nodded. "I believe so, as well."
*********************
Hitomi stood on the roof, gazing at the moon-alone. Van was there, too, but she hadn't seen him. She closed her eyes.
"I open the door, and before me is eternity.But who calls me from so far away? Someone smoothes down my hair-who are you? My flute sings of a land where my heart yearns to be.Footsteps I leave are washed away."
Van felt a chill run up his spine as she began to sing. Her voice was beautiful, pure, and it seemed ethereal.the way the moon washed over her hair, the way the mist wreathed her body.
"The night is mysterious; it conceals the truth.Violet with rain-the sky cries for me." With the wind stirring her hair and the moon casting a silvery glow about her, she seemed from another world-a witch, a valkeyrie, a- You idiot, she IS a vampire! Van thought angrily. He felt himself being drawn into the spell of her song and let himself drown in it.
She opened her eyes now, and the moon was reflected in their sadness. "My flute sings of a land where my heart yearns to be.Footsteps I leave are washed away." The mist swallowed her, leaving only her song behind. Van was shivering like crazy, and he knew it wasn't from the cold.
************************
Sii's first concert was to be the first of April. Weeks of rehearsal and the supposedly 'magic' shoes had paid off. Her friends had already helped to boost her publicity by posting signs, giving out flyers. She was now catching some sleep before the night of the big day. The red shoes were in her closet-the door shut securely. Rabe entered the room, followed by a boy. "Remember, I do this for you," the boy hissed, "and you give me what I want." "Sure," Rabe winced. "The shoes are in the closet; I'll get them." She bent over, but a voice came from the door. "What are you doing in here?" "Mr. Wabara!" "I could have you arrested for this," the blue-haired man said, advancing. In a panic, Rabe grabbed the knife she held and threw it at him. It struck him squarely in the chest and he went down with a shuddering cry. The boy gasped. "I'm out of this deal, Rabe! Count me out!" he said and rushed past the prone form of the man.
Rabe bent down and took the shoes, preparing to run. She screamed as Mr. Wabara calmly pulled the knife from his chest and said, "You must want those shoes very badly."
********************** Mid-morning. Saturday. Hitomi looked down from the roof of a skyscraper at Rabe's body, stuffed unceremoniously in the corner of an alley, and her eyes flashed green. There is a shinma lurking here, she thought.
********************
"Mr. Wabara?" Sii mumbled. "I'm here. Just sleep. Tomorrow is the big day-you'll do just fine," the man said. Sii smiled sleepily.
*******************
"Isn't Sii wonderful? She got us really good seats!" Kenji smiled. "Isn't your outfit just a bit too flashy?" Myoshi asked. "Me? You're the one who's too dull! I'm going to dance!" Kenji exclaimed.
"Hey-where's Hitomi?" "I don't know-one minute ago, she was here."
******************
"Let's go over that song again, okay?" "Okay," Sii took up her position behind the microphone. She closed her eyes and wished on the 'magic' shoes before slipping them on. Mr. Wabara began to play. ".You always wrapped me in your warmth, didn't you-" Three notes sounded-not from Sii. She was frozen by the spell of the song. Mr. Wabara stood, a small corner of his mouth twitching to show his disapproval. "Guardian," he addressed Hitomi in a soft tone. "Do you get a thrill out of manipulating these humans?" Hitomi's voice was also quiet, but it held anger. "I know what those shoes are doing to her. They will eventually kill her." "She will die in the peak of her happiness!" Mr. Wabara growled. "You cannot stop me." "We'll see," Hitomi said. The grand piano made a terrible noise. Its black keys merged with white, it shifted, changed. Mr. Wabara stepped backward-
And was engulfed by the piano. Is the piano the shinma, or the man? Who is controlling who? Hitomi thought worriedly. As if reading her thoughts, Mr. Wabara's voice, from within the piano, said, "We are one and the same." With that, the wriggling, satin black mass that was Mr. Wabara and the piano attacked. Hitomi threw herself to the side as it flung itself at her, summoning her flames as she did. She released them with less accuracy than usual, and was forced to dodge a tentacle-like claw. She leapt clear, threw another flame, and missed.
Then she Sensed another presence behind her. Not Van-his aura was warm and comfortable. This one was harsh. Familiar.
"Nihon!" Hitomi whirled. Sure enough, the Summoner stood there, poised to strike, the ice needles ready in her hands. Hitomi turned again, and saw the piano shinma ready to charge. She couldn't take both of them. Not at once. Nihon smiled daintily as she opened her palms. Suddenly Van was there, shouldering Hitomi aside so hard that she fell to her knees. He stood above her, cold determination shining on his face. Hitomi noticed his cloak was gone, noticed his mask had vanished, noticed his red shirt. Where's his cloak-his mask-Van, what are you doing-VAN!! Both piano shinma and Summoner attacked. Hitomi heard herself yell Van's name. She watched, horrified, as both demons neared him. Van inhaled sharply, and two white wings burst from his back with a cracking noise. Shreds of his shirt fell around her. They [the wings] connected with the Summoner first. Nihon vanished before they could do her real harm, but they slammed into the other shinma. He rose to his feet slowly. Van moved quickly, drawing his sword. He stopped in frustration as the shinma drew Sii's body up like she was a puppet. Dammit-I can't attack-not while he's got the human there! Hitomi began to sing again. Sii sighed, slumping to the ground on the stage. Hitomi threw her flame before the shinma could recover. "Into the Shadows!" she cried. "You haven't won! She'll never be able to take those shoes off!" the piano/Khazi Wabara/shinma roared. He vanished in a haze of flames. Something fluttered down to rest beside her on the stage. A feather. Hitomi stared up at Van in shock. Wings. Van had wings. He gazed at her, sadness, and something else she couldn't quite fathom in his eyes, his mouth curved in a strange, tender smile. The wings shimmered in the dim light, casting patterns of light and darkness on the wood. "Van?" she whispered. He didn't reply. "Are you.a tenshi?" His smile was sad now. "No."
Hitomi didn't hesitate. She stood and went to him, slowly wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. Van froze as she raised her head and brushed his cheek with her own, whispering into his ear. "Thank you," she murmured. She stepped back from him, and went to where Sii lay. Hitomi raised the girl's head, bared her neck. "I am taking your blood, and granting you eternal happiness. You can keep dreaming now." Her fangs pierced Sii's skin.
Van's wings glowed softly as he looked on.
******************
"Canceled?! Awww." Myoshi said. "I wonder why."
"Hey, look, it's Hitomi! Where were you?" Hitomi walked up, her hands in her pockets. "Gone," she replied simply. "Do you think Sii will have another performance?" Kenji asked. "No.somehow, I think she won't. But from now on, she and Mr. Wabara will always be together." Hitomi's face wore a faraway expression. "Huh? What do you mean by that?" Kenji turned back to Hitomi, but the other girl was gone.
******************
Sii clasped her hands as she sang. She could see the crowd-they filled the stadium. Lights waved back and forth as the people swayed in time to her song. She looked back and saw Mr. Wabara playing on the piano. He smiled reassuringly at her and winked. She flushed, and looked back. The song ended, and the crowd erupted into cheers. She wore her red shoes, as usual-they shimmered in the dazzling light. Sii smiled. Sii wore a hospital gown, and her shoes were firmly on her feet. Her eyes were empty, and she smiled strangely, her hands clasped. She leaned against the bed rail. "Collapsed on stage, right before the performance a week ago." the nurse shook her head sadly. "She's wasting away," she added. "I can't explain it-she's eating well, but still, she's going slowly. How much longer do you think before she.?" "A month," the doctor replied. "It's really a pity. I hear she was on her way to fame. That's probably why she won't let us take her shoes off-those must be a memento of her life as a star." He sighed. "A pity."
You can keep dreaming now.
*******************
"Van?" Hitomi paused shyly behind him. Van had never remembered her being shy. He turned. "Hitomi." "Your wings," she said softly. He winced, and wanted to vanish. But couldn't. How could he, pinned by her eyes like he was? "They are part of your Draconian half, aren't they?" Van nodded slowly. "Don't worry. I think your wings.are beautiful." she said hesitatingly, a slow flush creeping onto her cheeks. Van smiled.
End Chapter 8! Well, how was that? Okay, so the battles with the shinma were kinda short. Important Question: Should V/H kiss before Folken shows up? (Oops, I let that slip! Hint hint!) Before you vote, keep in mind that both of them are really shy and maybe kissing so soon might not be the best thing in the world.yet.
a) Yes b) No c) As usual, YODA!
Next question: Should I have Allen and Dilandau and the rest of the Esca gang? Please note that I will NOT make it into a "Van is jealous because Hitomi likes Allen" thing. That's getting rather old. Besides, I don't like Allen one bit, so if you do say yes, I'll probably kill him off and make good ol' Gaddes (or Gaddis, take your pick) the captain. a) Yes b) No c) YODA
I'll try to write more. But right now I've got to work on Two Different Worlds, The Escaflownes, The Rebel King, The Last Generation, and DragonSun's Insane Talkshow.in short, I'M BUSY!!!!!! Oh.the songs are all from Vampire Princess Miyu. I know I probably screwed some of the lyrics up.it's been a while since I watched that show. U know what? I updated this story and added chapt 8 a week ago. I even read the chapter after I updated. Now I check and it's like that chapter never existed! So I'm posting it again. Boy, I AM ANNOYED. Ciao!
I guess I already told you I'd be loading 8 and 9 together to make up for lost time. I apologize again.
Hitomi took her school jacket off, wiping the sweat from her brow with a sigh. It was getting warmer and warmer, as summer prepared to burst over Tokyo. Red gold sunlight washed over the pathway, tinting her hair. The birds' songs meshed together into a dull buzz as the high-school girl strolled along. She walked by a cave entrance, and paused. It hadn't been there earlier that morning. Throwing caution to the winds, Hitomi stepped in.
Nihon folded her arms and stared at the ceiling. She wondered why she was being imprisoned here, in this room of strange mechanisms. There was a knock on the door. Strange. Why must they knock, knowing that I cannot escape? Why must they knock, when they are the masters of this place? A second impatient knock. Do you wish for me to give you permission? Very well. "Enter," she said quietly. The door swung open, revealing a veiled man; he wore a cloak of black, shimmering material, that hid his face from view. He waited. What more does he want me to do? A pause followed, then he spoke, in a soft voice. "Well? Aren't you going to invite me to sit?" "If that is what you are waiting for, by all means, do," Nihon said stiffly. She would follow formalities only so far. He pulled the cloak back, exposing a young face, that showed he could only be in his early twenties or so. Gray eyes looked at her solemnly while a shock of blue- gray hair fell in disorder over his forehead. "I am aware of your.relationship.with this Guardian Hitomi?" "She and I have long parted ways," Nihon said, even more stiffly. The man gestured at the empty fireplace, and flames sprung up. Nihon forced her voice to remain calm. "I would like to know the name of my captor, and why I am being kept here." "Very well. You are being kept here so that I may learn more of the fate of Van Fanel. And you may call me.Folken."
Hitomi had walked the dank, cold passageways of the cave for longer than she'd have liked to. She admitted the cool was a welcome change from the scorching heat of the afternoon outside, but she realized she should have come to an exit by now. Unless this was a trap. She doubted that, though. Van would not come until asked for, and she didn't want to admit she was lost. Not yet, anyway. A soft light flared at the other end of the stone corridor she was roaming. "Huh?" Hitomi turned in that direction, and saw a gateway. This gets more and more interesting. It will be worth the risk. She walked up to it and put her hand through it tentatively. Her hand disappeared.
Mikaeo was playing by the waterfall; he knew his mother had told him never to go there, but he went anyway. A sudden noise alerted him, and he turned in its direction. And let out a scream. A hand-slender, white-but a hand nonetheless-was poking out of the waterfall! (A/N: Duh!) Now he knew why his mother told him not to go to the waterfall-demons lived within, that would grab you and-
Hitomi pulled her hand back and stared at it for a moment. Other than the fact that it seemed to be wet, it was alright. She shrugged, and put it back through.
The hand disappeared for a moment. Mikaeo ran down towards the village, yelling for help. "Help! Demons, by the waterfall! Help! Help! Demons!"
Hesitantly, Hitomi eased herself through the gateway. Her first surprise came as torrents of water poured down on her, drenching her uniform. Her next surprise was when she stepped out of the waterfall, cursing, as people armed with swords and spears surrounded her. "Hey, you don't look like a demon at all!" a little boy remarked. A woman, his mother, shushed him quickly. "Could someone tell me.where I am?" Hitomi asked. "Torushina," the boy answered. His mother shushed him again. He fell silent, abashed. "I'm afraid I don't know where that is," Hitomi said softly. "I came through the waterfall." "Liar! There is a wall of solid rock behind the waterfall! Everyone knows that!" a man said angrily, brandishing his sword in her face. Hitomi looked at him. "I came through the waterfall," she maintained. "I don't know what you're playing at, but." "Go on, then! Go back through the waterfall! If you are lying, you will not be able to pass. If you are telling the truth, you will be able to pass through and escape us!" Hitomi nodded. "It seems agreeable." She turned, and put her hand back through the waterfall. To her horror, it was solid. "I.cannot pass through?" "Come with us," the man growled, holding his weapon up. Hitomi shrugged. "It seems I have no choice."
Van waited for Hitomi to return. It was now eleven o'clock at night, and she hadn't returned from school. He wondered if she had run into any shinma. But then.she would have called for him by now. He closed his eyes, and oriented for her, and found that he couldn't locate her anywhere. That in itself was strange.he would wait another three hours. If she did not return by then, he would search for her.
Hitomi didn't come back. She never appeared that morning. Van decided something was amiss, but the only way to find out where she had gone was to speak to her schoolfriends. He undid his cloak, placed it besides his mask, which he had already shed, and made them vanish. He would pose as a family friend, tempting as it was to play the part of her sweetheart. He figured she wouldn't appreciate that. Van waited until the afternoon before confronting them. He appeared a street before, and walked towards them. "Hello," he said, keeping his face down, "I'm looking for Kanzaki Hitomi? You're her friends, right?" The red-head spoke up. "I'm Yukari, this is Myoshi, and this is Kenji. You are?" "Hitomi's.friend. She hasn't come home for two days now. I was wondering if you knew where she was." Perhaps it was the hesitation in his voice as he said 'Hitomi's.friend' or maybe it was the faint flush that rose in his cheeks, but Myoshi peered at him. "Do I know you? Haven't I seen you before? On the school trip! You were in a black cloak and you were about to." "Er.I don't think we've met before," Van mumbled. "But I'm asking about Hitomi." "No, we haven't seen her. Actually, she never came to school today." "But she left yesterday, right? Did she go with anyone else?" some of the anxiety he was feeling leaked out into his voice. "Jealous, are we?" Myoshi began, but Yukari stopped her. "Myoshi, be serious. Yeah, she left on time yesterday, but she didn't go with anyone." "Do you know where she headed?" "Uh.towards the park, I think." Kenji supplied. "I'm not sure exactly, but she headed for that intersection." "Thanks," Van said. He hurried off in that direction. "Weird." Yukari said. "I've never seen him before. If he's Hitomi's friend, he ought to go around with her more often." "Maybe he's visiting.but why would he be living with her?" "I know I've seen him before." Myoshi said.
Hitomi paced back and forth within her cell-a sectioned off area of a house, with barred windows. She could easily burn it all down and escape, but to where? The gateway was blocked; she had nowhere to go. Besides, she wanted to learn more of these people. There was a tentative knock on the door, and a girl entered, bearing a tray of food. "For you, miss." "Thank you," Hitomi watched her as she knelt and placed the tray before her. She knelt as well. "If I may ask, where am I?" "Torushina." They seem to think that will explain everything, Hitomi thought, annoyed. "Where is Torushina?" "Why, in Asturia! Where are you from?" the girl handed her a piece of bread. "I'm from Tokyo," Hitomi answered truthfully. "Where's that?" "Japan. Earth." "The Mystic Moon!? You're from the Mystic Moon!?" she backed away. "It is impossible! No one has been able to cross since Fanelia was burned!" It was Hitomi's turn to be shocked. "Fanelia? You know of Fanelia?" "Certainly," the girl scoffed. "I used to live there! But when Lord Folken returned and burned it down, I fled! And since Van-sama-" she added the title so sarcastically it burned "-ran away, like the coward he is, Folken has ruled Fanelia for more than two years!" "Only two years have passed?" Hitomi said softly. "On earth.it has been a millennium." "What are you saying?" the girl eyed her suspiciously. "What's your name?" Hitomi asked. "Saita. Actually, they call me Saitaaealaera, but Saita for short. You can see why, can't you?" she smiled. Hitomi nodded. "Saita, do you know of demons called Shinma?" The girl nodded. "The rulers of Fanelia were shinma.and we never knew! They were not terrible, though. I don't understand." "What would you do if I told you Van was alive?" "I wouldn't care! He ran away and left his people to die! Besides, he's half demon, half Draconian-that is a terrible thing! We despise him." "I see." "What are your connections to Van-sama?" "I." "Saitaaealaera! Stay away from that girl, don't tell her anything! She could be a demon!" an older man pulled Saita backwards. "I am a demon," Hitomi said, staring at her hands. "I am Kanzaki Hitomi, a Guardian. It is my purpose to slay all stray Shinma." "We should destroy her immediately!" a second man joined the first. "I warn you, it will be difficult," Hitomi said. "I will put up a fight."
Van stood in the center of the park. Yes, he could sense her.but where was she? Her aura lingered, but it was fading. He started violently. What if-what if. No! I sealed the Crossing when Pierre, Lilith and I fled from Gaea! It is not possible that it could have opened up again.the seal was permanent.Folken! He must have found out-and.Hitomi's in terrible danger, if it has been opened! But the seal.it can't have.unless.it doesn't matter, I have to go to her! He threw himself into a sprint and ended up at the cave entrance where Hitomi had stood a day ago. Van closed his eyes and forced his aura to flare; the opening was revealed. He ran inside, came to the gateway. The seal was intact. "What?!" he stared at it in disbelief. Hitomi had been there, he could sense it. But how.on earth could the gateway be sealed again? It didn't matter. Van touched it slowly and saw his hands pass through. He didn't hesitate; he flung himself through it and through the waterfall. He made sure his mask was secure, before setting off. Hitomi's aura was getting stronger and stronger.
Nihon looked at Folken. He was pacing back and forth before the fire. "But why do you want to know about Hitomi and Van?" "I want to destroy them," he said. He froze. "Van's returned. I knew if I broke the seal his guardian would not be able to resist-and as he is sworn to protect her, he would follow."
Hitomi was surrounded by people on all sides. She glared at them, but she couldn't throw flame.not yet.they weren't much of a threat. A few fires would scare them enough to leave her alone. "Now!" "I did warn you-" Hitomi pivoted, causing several men to miss her and tumble into those charging the opposite way. She smiled, and leapt into the air, while they gasped and pointed. "Let me through!" a voice called. A voice tinged with power. A Hunter. Hitomi looked and saw a tall young man with flowing golden hair. He had a talisman jingling around his neck, and he raised his hand and pointed at her. Hitomi struggled, and found she couldn't move. "Shinma, what reason do you have to be in our village?" he demanded. "I came upon your village by accident," Hitomi said. "I do not know how." "Allen! Kill her!" a voice called. "There's no haste," Allen said calmly. "We can find out exactly what she's up to." Hitomi struggled against the invisible ropes, but they only squeezed tighter in response. Van, where are you.?
Van appeared inside the hut, causing quite a lot of pandemonium. He slashed the strings, and Allen backed away, drawing his sword. Hitomi gasped. "Va-you came! But how?" "Hitomi. Are you hurt?" "No.but." "It took me a while to find the gateway, but I'm here now. Just give the order and I'll attack." Allen had recovered, and, drawing his sword, he charged. Van met the charge, slicing at him furiously. Allen swung up, Van deflected, but the sword tip caught his mask and sent it flying to land at Saita's feet. There was a collective gasp as Van's face was exposed for all to see. "Van-sama?!" Van slowly lowered his sword. Allen went in for the killing stroke, but stopped short as Hitomi jumped in front of him, flames in her hands. "Van-sama. Coward!" a woman hissed. "You fled your home when we needed you most!" "You're a coward that betrayed your people!" "Coward!" "I can't believe you would do such a thing! Why!?" "I hate you!" "How could you?!" Hitomi stayed in front of Van, as if to protect him from the insults. Gradually, they stopped. Hitomi went forward (people gasped and backed away from her) and picked up Van's mask. She walked back and handed it to him. Their fingers brushed; she jumped. Van replaced the mask on his face. If he had noticed her jump, he didn't say so. "Van Fanel does not exist anymore," he said softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "He is dead." "Hah!" Allen snorted. "I'm taking both of you for questioning-try to resist and I'll spear the both of you like fish. Come on. Dilandau, take them." A youth with blood-red eyes shoved them forward.
Allen put them in a room with magical wards, so they couldn't disappear, or set anything on fire. Hitomi sighed, staring out a window at the stars. "Two years here, and it's been a millennium on earth. How many years do you think have gone by now back in Tokyo?" "None," Van said. "I took the liberty of freezing life on earth while I went after you." "Van, you're a genius!" Hitomi looked like she was about to hug him, but she held herself back. "I'm sorry I got us into this mess." "I followed you. This incident is entirely my fault." "I don't know.I don't know anything anymore." Hitomi sighed again. "Van, I'm sorry I doubted you when you first mentioned Fanelia to me." "It's okay." Van took his mask off and looked at it. "But it is true. Van Fanel died a long time ago." he smiled briefly. "You killed me." "I'm sorry about that, too." "Don't be sorry." "When we get back, I'll make this up to you somehow," Hitomi said quietly. "I never realized how much I needed your help. I would've been strangled by that snake shinma. I would've been killed by Nihon and the piano shinma. Without you, I would have died several times over. I'm glad I have you." "Hitomi."
"Your food," Dilandau entered, jauntily, Hitomi thought. "It's about time," he said. "You're going to help us overthrow Folken, I know it!" "As I said earlier, Van Fanel is dead. I have no ties to this place; I will return to the Mystic Moon with Hitomi." "You'll spoil all the fun! It's been a while since we had a good war, Fanel. Don't you remember me?" "Dilandau-san." Van said slowly. "You were a samurai, at the palace." "Right! I can't wait for another battle. My sword is in need of a good blood bath, don't you think? Besides, Folken's had it coming! I'll burn his castle to the ground-it's the only good way to destroy things. Mmm.burn it all! Destroy!" "Actually, I had hoped I could accomplish that," Van said, with a rueful smile. "And Allen was at the palace, too, but he left because he found out what you were and, anyway, your father banished him." Dilandau grinned, a sharp, feral expression. "So I got hired as his assistant because I'm the only other one with 'Hunter' blood or whatever. Eat up, if all goes well, you will be released to help us with this war!" He left. Van stared at his food without eating. Hitomi looked at him. "Van." "I want to go back to Japan. It's my life now. Assisting you is my life now. I don't understand.for a long time, it was my desire to destroy Folken. Now.that has changed. If he still wants to kill me, I suppose I'll have to kill him, but.Hitomi, do you understand?" "Yes," she said softly. "I understand."
"Hey, Fanel! Wake up." Van opened his eyes and saw Dilandau shaking him. "I've decided I'm going to let you go. I'd just love to piss that Allen Schezar off! Come on, move it! I've removed the wards; it would be better if you disappeared-less damage," he said, but he looked disappointed. "So you'd better swear to return, or I'll Cross after you." Van nodded. "Thanks, Dilandau. I give you my word that I will return to help your cause." Dilandau grinned again. "Humph. I don't know why I'm doing this; I'm ruining the last chance for us to kill Folken-" "No, I'll come back. I promised last time, and I came back. So now I'll return once more." "-but I'm also ruining Allen's reputation! Yes, that's it!" his red eyes glinted insanely. "Anything to annoy Allen. He's such a stuck up sissy, anyway. Scared a little blood'll damage his pretty-boy uniform. So I'll watch out for you, Van-sama. Sayanora, for now." "Sayanora, Dilandau-san." Van lifted Hitomi and vanished.
Hitomi woke in Van's arms-he was gazing at her tenderly, but when he noticed she was awake, he looked away. "Van? Where are we?" "Back. In Tokyo. But I will have to return to Gaea. I gave Dilandau my promise." "No.we will have to return to Gaea. I've decided that I never want to go anywhere without you, Van. I told you a long time ago I never wanted you to leave me again. So I'm going with you." "Hitomi.you really don't have to do this." "Van, don't make me repeat myself. Not again." She smiled at him; his heart began to cartwheel. "Well, if you insist. Oh-I met your friends," Van said. "They were interesting." Hitomi nestled in the circle of his arms for a moment longer before vanishing and reappearing behind him. "I'd better go now-school," she said. "The final exam is today and I need to make up the one I missed yesterday." Van nodded, and watched her disappear.
"Hitomi! You're back-we were all so worried! Where were you?" "I was at my.friend's village," Hitomi said. "It's in.Kyoto." "Oh, really? A very handsome young man came and said he was looking for you.he asked if you were with anyone. Do you know him?" "Oh.uh, yes." Hitomi blushed. "He's an old family friend-very old family friend." "He didn't seem that old," Kenji said. "In fact, we thought he was your age." "We've known each other for a long time," Hitomi said softly. "We've been friends for ten centuries." "Huh?" Myoshi wrinkled her nose. "Hitomi, don't be silly, ten centuries-" "Er.I mean ten years," Hitomi said hastily. "I got carried away." "Right." Yukari looked at her uncertainly. "Anyway, we're glad that you're back. So.who wants tea?" They all looked at her. "Tea? I thought you liked ice cream?" "Well, it's neutral, isn't it? I've picked something we all like," Yukari shrugged. "Okay," Kenji smiled. Myoshi nodded. "Sure, why not?"
Folken sighed. "They've escaped my grasp, but for now only." He turned to Nihon. "You were once a being called Sora. You served me, but you were murdered. Now your reincarnation will help me destroy my brother and his dark love." "Dark love." Nihon said softly. "I think I remember.Folken-sama."
So, whatcha think? I know.Dilandau's kinda happy-go-lucky, kill everyone, too nice, but.oh, I don't know! If you liked his new attitude (which I doubt), which, by the way, was triggered by myself typing late at night after drinking sugar-loaded fruit juice, tell me! If you don't, give me some suggestions!