Chapter Two: The Key

Hitomi had sat still in her bed for many moments, just thinking about Gaia. She didn't see how it would help. She had thought about it many, many times. There had been a lot of incoherent things; beastmen, giant machines, the Mystic Moon. None of these had given Hitomi any clue.

Suddenly, there was another light, this time pale blue. Hitomi shielded her eyes. She was getting ready and preparing questions for Vari and Marlene, but, it wasn't them. It was Van.

Van walked in, from the corner where he had entered, and sat next to her on the bed. He didn't appear transparent like the others, but he appeared real. He also gave off no light, but the blue light continued to shine from the corner of the room.

Hitomi hesitated. Van seemed to be waiting patiently. She raised her hand to touch him, but was afraid of many things. She feared that she would pass right through him, or that he would retaliate, or that she would never want him to leave. She didn't have to make the choice, because Van took her hand. It felt real.

"Hello, Hitomi."

"Oh, Van..." She didn't know what to say. After their good-bye on Gaia, she could only dream of meeting, just like this, staring into his eyes once again. And now, she didn't know what to say at all.

"Don't lose sight of yourself, Hitomi. Remember, this is a vision." He told her. She frowned and took her hand back gently. Van sweetly half- smiled and continued. "Cheer up Hitomi, you are strong. You'll come out of this alright." He then put on his down-to-business voice. "Hitomi, I am a representation of your love. I'm here to help explain things to you. But you must come to the conclusions on your own. I cannot tell you the answers, Hitomi, but I can help you figure them out yourself, by giving you hints. Do you understand?"

"I think so."

"Good. The clue I have to offer you, is your fear is the key."

"My fear?"

"That's right Hitomi, your fear. What are you afraid of, the most in the world?"

"Ummm... I don't know."

"Come on Hitomi, think. What really scares you? Everyone has at least one thing that terrifies them. We could resolve this all right now, but you have to know what that is."

Hitomi strained her mind, thinking of scary things. Spiders, rats, the dark, small spaces, monsters in the closet, or under the bed, but none of them were right. None could be classified as a real fear. "I don't know."

"No. You choose not to remember." He told her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hitomi retorted, annoyed with this uncharacteristic Van.

"Sometimes traumatizing things happen to people and they mentally block it out, not on purpose, so that the event and the memories of that event can't hurt them." He paused, thinking for a moment. "I was afraid that this might happen. Looks like it'll be along night."

As if that was his cue, Allen showed up from the corner, bearing a yellow light, that ultimately made the light in the corner green. He too, seemed just as real as Van.

"Allen, unfortunately is a symbol of your desire, and I don't understand why Rhyme and Reason wanted his help. The balance is perfectly fine without your desire meddling in it." Said Van, rather unimpressed. "You love me Hitomi, but you never wanted me."

"Van!" Allen scorned, moving to the two of them. "We are here to help Hitomi, not to make her feel bad." He sat down on the other side of Hitomi, and turned to her, calming his voice. "Hitomi. We're going to help you conquer this. If you can't remember your fear, there's still hope."

"We have to help you before you meet your final vision!" Said Van, becoming agitated.

Allen remained calm and spoke softly. "You can do this Hitomi. We can provide you with only one clue. But we can help you work with the clue."

"What's your clue Allen?" asked Hitomi.

"It is that your fear is connected to something you and mother talked about earlier today. Something strange. So you remember?"

"I... I think so," said Hitomi, feeling that knot in her stomach start to return. The knot that had formed when her mother looked at her so strangely.

*
* *

"You have a visitor Kanzaki." Came the harsh voice of Ms. Yano. Her tone softened a little, "Oh, and happy birthday. You are seventeen today. Congratulations." Hitomi's mother opened the door. She had a little box, beautifully wrapped, in her hand and a large paper bag that seemed to be filled with stuff! She smiled brightly.

"Hi sweety. How are you today?" Her mother said in a singsong voice, setting the container on Hitomi's side table. She picked up the novel Hitomi was reading. It was Dances With Wolves. There was also a dictionary, and a little bible. Her mother replaced the book and handed the gift and a card from the bag to Hitomi, giving her a great big hug, and saying "Happy seventeenth birthday, sweetheart."
The card read:
For My Daughter
You mean so much to me

Having you for a
daughter is one of the best
things that could happen to
anyone...
I am so glad you happened
to me!

Happy Birthday

In the little box, there was a gold chain and a heart shaped locket. On the inside, there was a picture of Hitomi on the right, and a picture of her mother on the left.

"Oh, Mom! It's so special! It is so perfect! I love it, thank you very, very much!"

Then her mother took out a plastic container filled with very chocolate cupcakes. She handed one to Hitomi, and one to herself and whispered, "Make a wish." After they had their fill of cupcakes, they played some card games. That's when Hitomi asked the question.

"It's a shame dad couldn't make it. Is he working?"

Her mother just looked at her, her face twisted in agony. "Oh Hitomi..." she sighed and gathered her things, leaving slowly. Hitomi saw her start to cry as she went out the door. There had been a knot of dread and sorrow in her stomach.

*
* *

The same knot she had now. It's connected with my father? Hitomi thought to herself. "I'm afraid of my father?" She asked Van and Allen. They exchanged glances. Van suddenly snapped. He grabbed Hitomi by the shoulders and held her so strongly, it hurt. He began to shake her violently.

"You HAVE to remember before the final vision. Let it end now! WE CAN END THIS NOW! THINK HITOMI, THINK!"

He was still shaking her when Allen jumped up and grabbed Van, pulling him away.

"No!" Screamed Van, "She's going to get hurt! Before the final vision! SHE HAS TO DO IT NOW!! BEFORE!!"

Allen dragged him into the lights, casting Hitomi one last I'm sorry look. Van sobbed something about loving and letting go, and they both vanished. Again, Hitomi was left in the darkness.