Lapse in Time

Chapter 4: Words of Heart Ache

"Hitomi?!"

The woman on the other side of the stall looked at Van with intense confusion in her eyes.

"Excuse me?" she asked as politely as she could. The reddish brown eyes of the stranger before her widened momentarily before he spoke again.

"But I thought you were dead Hitomi! What are you doing here? What's going on?" Van stopped to take a breath, then continued but with a softer tone. "I missed you Hitomi. I'm so glad you're alive…"

"What are you talking about?" The young king stopped in mid-sentence. What was she saying?

Just as Van was opening his mouth to question Hitomi, another woman who looked quite alike her stood up and looked towards Van.

"Your Majesty!" she exclaimed. "How may I help you?"

"I'm sorry," Van replied, "but there seems to be some confusion here. What is Hitomi doing here?"

"Hitomi?" The older woman eyed him in a perplexed manner. "No, no, her name is not Hitomi. I'm Enila Marr and this is my daughter, Ranna." There was a moment of silence as everything began to sink in.

"I'm sorry," Van said sadly. "I must be mistaken." With that he turned away and walked briskly surprising his young companion.

"Van, slow down!" Jenra begged. The boy king had no choice but to oblige. He slowed his pace but kept his face turned away from her's. Jenra, being the nosy little person she was, asked him, "Who is Hitomi?" Van growled silently in his throat.

"She was a…an old friend of mine," he replied coldly. "I'd rather not discuss it." Jenra despised it when she was left with a cliffhanger like that, and she opened her mouth to protest, but the king's miserable expression forced her to think otherwise.

As the pair disappeared from sight, Ranna watched intently. Why did he call me Hitomi? she thought. And why does he seem so familiar? She reached out with one delicate hand to the man her mother had called 'Your Majesty' knowing that she could not reach him. Something inside of her insisted that she chase after the raven haired boy, but she stayed behind. She had promised her mother.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There was a silent knock on Van's door, but he dared not answer it. His did not want anyone to see their beloved king with a face wet with tears.

"Go away!" he yelled coldly.

"Lord Van, its Merle," a voice replied. "Now open the damn door!" Merle pounded on the door, but Van wouldn't allow himself to budge.

"Come on Lord Van, I'm your best friend! You can tell me what's wrong." There was still no response. Merle was becoming incredibly frustrated, so she opened the unlocked door and stormed into to the king's bedroom. Van was lying on his bed with his pale face hidden in the soft pillows.

"Lord Van?"

"I would prefer it if you called me 'Van' instead of 'Lord Van', Merle," The young cat woman smiled. At least he was talking!

"But Lor…I mean Van, I've called you that since I could speak!"

"And I've had to deal with it since you could speak, so please stop it."

Merle sighed heavily, and said, "What's wrong Van? What has happened to make you so miserable?"

"I saw her."

"Saw who?"

"Hitomi." Merle gasped loudly. "She had longer hair, but I know it was her."

"Hitomi is…alive! But then why are you so sad?" Strangely, Van's body became rigid. Merle knew that she was coming closer and closer to discovering his problem.

"Tell me," she coaxed.

"She was in the market selling jewelry, food, and fabrics." The boy king took in a deep breath to prevent himself from crying. "She didn't remember me." Merle became totally silent; when Van turned his head to look at her she had covered her mouth with her hand, and her eyes had widened.

"I can't believe it," she whispered.

"It's gets worse," Van said blankly. "There was a woman who claimed to be her mother. She looked a lot like Hitomi, but it's just…impossible!"

"Maybe the girl wasn't Hito…"

"It was her, I know it!" Van growled. His young friend sighed again and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Then you'll just have to find her and make her remember Van,"

"And how do you propose I do that," Van snorted.

"I don't know Van, I just don't know."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Although the clouds in the morning sky were grey and unsightly, Enila Marr was practically beaming. Ranna glared at her ecstatic mother then turned her head away in annoyance.

"Oh Ranna, don't be so sour," Enila teased merrily. "Every grey cloud has a silver lining."

"I don't see any silver."

"Oh child, do cheer up. This is the first year that we have sold everything! And the King actually came to our shop! Amazing!"

"He didn't buy anything," Ranna scoffed.

"That's not the point dear."

"So is talking to royalty and sucking up to them all that matters to you?"

"That's enough!" Enila snapped. "I don't know what's bothering you, but I suggest that you either change your attitude or stay quiet." Her words silenced Ranna, but her daughter's mind was racing with thoughts and questions.

Mother doesn't understand. She never will. I just wish I could remember what happened before the accident. Ranna watched as the dark clouds slowly parted allowing the sunlight to follow through; she could feel it's comforting warmth on her skin and her spirit slowly being lifted.

Why did the King call me Hitomi? was her final thought as the buzz of the market faded behind her, and the open country of Fanelia's border came into full view.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The sunlight, as beautiful and loved as it was, eventually disappeared once again behind grey skies and was replaced by cold, pounding rain. Every person who was in the streets when the storm began ran to find shelter, except for one lonely figure that walked through the weather without complaint. It seemed to suit his mood anyway. The young man raked one hand through his drenched raven hair and latched his hand onto the small, red pendant, which lay protected against his chest. As he walked along the stone pathway he thought about what had happened only and hour before….

"Look Van, you have to stop moping around," Merle said, her voice raising. "Why don't you go find Hitomi? Make her remember."

"You can't….do that. It's impossible."

"Damnit, would you just try it?

"It won't work." Van retorted. "You can't make a person with amnesia remember the past, they have to regain their memories on their own." The young cat girl stamped her foot hard on the wood floor.

"Fine! Give up! I may be your best friend Lord Van, but I can't stand you're negativity!" She turned sharply towards the door and slammed it as she exited; the loud bang caused the boy king to jump, and his heart to race.

"I'm sorry, Merle," he whispered uselessly….

Maybe she was right Van thought as he unconsciously kicked a large stone. If I really want Hitomi back I should go find her. And with that, Van headed back to his castle, but with a small smile on his pale face.