Disclaimer: Check the first chapter ...
A/N: I am TOTALLY NOT HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!! I AM GETTING NOOOO REVIEWS!!!! THAT AND FF.NET IS NOT POSTING UP MY STORY AS HAVING NEW CHAPTERS!!! So for now. this story is on the edge of being deleted.not stopped in midway like my other stories.DELETED!!! I am soooo not happy with Fanfiction.net for their site being soooo slow...that, and the lack of reviews that are showing! I'm not mad at all of you that give me such wonderful and inspiring reviews, I'm mad at all of you that don't even review at all!!! Well, if you all want this story to continue, you can either: A) give me a nice review, or B) E-mail me if it doesn't work. I may sound stingy and witchy and all but I am really putting my best into this story and when it's getting at the good part...as you will see in this chapter, FF.NET IS SCREWING UP!!!!! *breathes* Well, please give me more reviews... at least a total of 45 reviews. I already have 35 so all I need is ten more. It would really make my day a lot better. Thank you and sorry I was yelling at you all. I'm a temperamental artist so you should understand my frustration. Sorry.
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Chapter VII: Consequences
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Hitomi woke up with a start. The dream she had was haunting and she was shaken to the bone. She sneezed and wiped her nose. A dusty bouquet of daisies, now dried, lay uncomfortably in her hands. A long white dress was dusty on her too. She sat up and looked around the room. All of it's once luxurious furnishings were filthy with the powder of age. Sneezing again, she patted her hair and a small cloud of dirt flew around her like a halo. "What in the world? I need a bath..." she said as she walked to the door.
She jingled the handle but it remained steady. After a few minutes of struggling with the door, she abandoned it and looked for a window. There was a large one, white and beautiful, that was wide enough for her body to perfectly fit in. She shoved it open with a dusty creek and slipped out of it. The ridge there was about six inches wide and it was hard for her to scale on.
"Okay Hitomi...one step at a time." she said reassuringly to herself as she slowly moved to the side. The sight of the long plummet below didn't scare her; she had flown with Van before in heights that would dwarf the large castle. All she was scared about is a guard seeing her and being shot. It was evening and she knew that it would be hard to spot her but she was still afraid of that.
She went a little too quickly and she fell off of the ledge. Screaming, she suddenly hit a large balcony and a large pot fell on top of her. Dirt clouded over her and she heard a scrambling from someone inside of the room. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" demanded a female voice. "Answer me before I tell the king of your actions!" Hitomi pushed the now ruptured pot over her head and she rolled over, coughing up the soil.
The woman gasped and brushed Hitomi off. "Hitomi? Is that you? Are you okay?" she asked. Hitomi blinked and looked at the woman. She had long, shoulder length platinum blonde hair and icy blue eyes that looked to her in tenderness. After her fit of coughing, she regarded her.
"Who are you?" she asked cautiously. The girl stumbled back in shock. She seemed saddened about her reaction and Hitomi cursed to herself. Tears edged her soft eyes in sadness from what she had said.
"It's me Hitomi...It's Celena." she said in almost a plea. Hitomi felt relief wash over her that she found her friend instead of a guard or someone armed. When she didn't give a reply, Celena let a tear drop. "Hitomi...I thought you would never wake up." she said as she hugged her.
"It's alright Celena; I remember you. But is there a way to take a shower. I woke up dusty and I fell in your pot and I'm kinda grimy right now." she said with a smile. Celena giggled a bit and lead her into the room. It was huge with a bed larger than she had ever seen, even the one she used to use. The sheets were thin and a soft red silk with a matching canopy. There was a huge set of twin armoires, each made of warm oak. She gazed in awe at the large painting of a horde of dragons on top of the fireplace. The fire was just starting to burn as the warmth of that and multiple candles laid softly in the room. Celena directed her to the bathroom and closed the door.
It too was huge. In the middle of the soft turquoise room was a large pool like tub, about fifteen feet in diameter. That was all that mattered to her and she shred off her filthy clothes and jumped in. The warm and steamy water loosened her muscles and she relaxed. Washing with the soft scented soap, she realized she had more curves than she remembered. Her hips were wider and more evened out than before. Shrugging this off, she scrubbed herself off, the dirt making a nasty ring around her. 'I hope Celena won't be too upset at this.' she thought.
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Hitomi and Celena walked down the halls quietly gossiping. Celena seemed to be older to her. Her skin was smooth and pale, like a porcelain doll. Her once childish yet serene eyes had changed into soft and wise blue eyes. She seemed more filled out but still petite. Her voice was soft and clear as she spoke with grace. "A lot has changed Hitomi. It's been years since you've fell into the sleep. Gaddes had died the same day you fell under. I've healed and I'm stronger now so there is no need to worry." she said with faraway sadness in her eyes.
Before she could speak, a little boy ran crying towards them. A messily made bow and a small quiver of arrows were tied onto his back. His short silver hair blew in the wind while he ran. Hugging onto Celena's slender leg, he cried. She bent down and picked him up. "Hito...what's wrong my son?" she said as she wiped off his saline tears. He looked to her with wide red eyes that seemed to have fire within them.
"I told you he hated me Mother!" he said in mid wail, hiccupping right after. She embraced him and rubbed his back gently. Hitomi was amazed at the boy. He looked like a mini-Dilandau. His hair was the same; his eyes were a different shade but still had the intensity, and his pale milk-white coloring. All of his appearances screamed the name Dilandau.
"No he doesn't Hito. Tell me what happened." she said soothingly. He looked to Celena and wiped tears with a frustrated fist.
" I was with him, we were practicing archery and I tried really hard but I couldn't even hit anything. He yelled at me and I kept trying again, but I couldn't hit anything at all. Then, he yelled at me and told me I'm useless and a shame to you...and ... and he said remented the fact I was born!" he said and burst out in tears again, burying his face into her neck.
Celena looked to Hitomi and sighed. "I'm so sorry Hitomi. This is my son Hitoshi. Do you mind if we have to put him to bed, he's really distraught right now and he needs some sleep." she said, rocking her son.
Hitomi blinked. "Um, sure. I have no problem at all." she replied nervously. Celena nodded and lead the way back to the living section of the castle, towards the royal quarters.
She thought during the whole walk. 'Celena has a son? He looks so much like Dilandau. Time must have flown by; he looks to be five years old.' she thought, though she couldn't concentrate because of the child's wailing. They got to a large room decorated in red and silver. Sitting her son on the bed, Celena went through the armoire and pulled out his soft silver nightclothes. Starting to change him, he shook his head and smiled to her.
"I'll do it Mommy. I'm fine." he said softly as he pulled off his shirt. He pulled his long-sleeved shirt on and looked up to Hitomi. "Who is this?" he asked curiously.
Celena sat on the bed and replied, "Her name is Hitomi. She is the one I tell you about." He studied her and shrugged.
"Nice to meet you Hitomi." he said. His voice was weirdly mature for his age and he spoke with such clear charisma. She figured that Celena must have taught him in his speaking.
She bowed and smiled. "Nice to meet you too young Hitoshi." she said with all of the charisma she could muster. Unfortunately, her mother never taught her how to speak but then again, she never lived in a castle as a child.
Hitoshi nodded and changed his shorts to a pair of longer silver pants. Jumping into bed, his mother tucked him in softly and kissed his forehead. "Mommy, do you still love me?" he asked with the silent hint of innocence in his voice. She beamed and brushed the messy bangs once again away from his face.
"I will love you forever Hitoshi. No matter what you do, no matter what trouble you bring, no matter what the days bring us, I will always love you." she said. He reached up and kissed her soft cheek and settled himself in his bed.
Before drifting off into sleep, he sighed, "Me too."
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Later on that night, they moved into a large bedroom. They sat in the small- adjoined room, used for the personal reading room. Celena sat across from Hitomi on a red lined chair. They were talking about random things when there was a loud slam in the other room. "Celena!" yelled a masculine voice with a hint of anger.
She jumped up and walked quickly. "I'm coming!" she said. Turning back to Hitomi, she said, "Stay here and keep quiet. I don't want people to know you're awake yet." she said and rushed out of the room. The door slammed closed and she listened closely to hear what happened.
"Yes Van?" asked Celena with perfect poise.
Hitomi blinked. 'Van? Is that Van?' she thought as she silently crept over to the door and looked in the crack. Sure enough, she could see Van. He was taller, more muscular and his hair was exceedingly longer and grew unruly down his shoulders to brush at his high back. Basically, he looked wilder and still very handsome. He seemed upset at something and he ran a hand through his wild hair.
"Celena, where is Hitoshi? I need to talk to him." he said, trying visibly to calm down.
"He's sleeping, the poor thing. Honestly Van, why do you do this to him? He's just a child. Van..." she started as she walked over to him and hugged him. "...he isn't supposed to be perfect now. He has fifteen more years until he has to be king. Don't make him into you."
He pulled away from her. "What do you mean 'he's not like me?' I'm trying to teach him incase of an emergency. Fanellia won't be all happy forever and we do have enemies." he said annoyed.
"But Van..." Celena started but he cut her off.
"And by the way you're babying him, he's only going to end up smelling the flowers than building and maintaining an empire that can withstand the Dunes. You're softening him up!" he said.
"He's just a child Van! Can't you get it? He doesn't want to be like you. If you take his childhood away, he'll end up breaking!" she said. Her voice was starting to get a sharp edge to it from anger.
"And stop saying 'like me' Celena! What is so horrible about me? I've raised Fanellia from its ashes and now it's the most powerful country in all of Gaea! WE are the only ones who can sustain ourselves and erect the Protect against the Dunes! How is being like me something bad?!" he yelled.
"I'll tell you Van! You're cold to others! You disrespect all that's around you! You hurt your son and all he does is try to please you Van! He's five-years-old! You expect things that only a grown man can do!" she said, voice wavering.
"Then he needs to grow up! By you INSIST on babying him and he's never going to be able to take care of the responsibilities of being a king! And I DENY that that...that DEMON-thing is even my child!" he yelled.
Celena slapped him. "Don't you EVER deny our son Van!! It's not our fault that Hitomi touched the shield and never woke up!! Why do you insist on punishing us on what we never even wanted to happen!! Hitomi's gone Van!! She's not going to come back to you!!!" she yelled.
He hit her. Celena shrieked and fell where stood. He looked down to her in anger. "DON'T YOU EVER BRING HITOMI INTO THIS!!!" he yelled. The doors shook and Hitomi leaned on the wall next to her scared. She had never seen Van so angry as to hit a person, and to hit them so hard either. A door slammed violently and all she could hear was frantic crying.
She silently opened the door and walked into the bedroom. Celena was hunched over, holding her cheek and crying. She hugged her weeping friend and let her cry on her shoulder. "Celena...you're so strong." she said as she rubbed her back gently. Pulling away, she kept her head down.
"You have to be strong when everything around you if falling apart." she said. She smirked. "I guess that that is what Dilandau gave me." she continued. "I hope you don't hate me Hitomi... for being Van's queen. For bearing his child."
She shook her head and smiled down to her. "No... I think you should hate me for being so foolish. I'm sorry." she said. Celena looked up to Hitomi. She had a large developing bruise on her porcelain cheek. It was bleeding and she knew there would be a scar. Shuddering, Celena smirked.
"And everyday, my hate for him grows even more. If only I had a dagger with me...mmmmm that's it. But he would die. I would like it though." she said in a low voice. Hitomi was starting to get worried.
"Celena? Are you okay? You're not making any sense." she asked. She looked up to her and smirked evilly.
"Au contraire Hitomi, he makes me so mad sometimes. Just to have my hands around his neck and him begging for his pathetic life." she said in a long psychotic voice. She looked at her hand and studied the blood there. It stood out on her white and thin hands. Celena chuckled at this. "Oh drat...now I have a scar. Tsk tsk, now I have another. Van has to be careful. Yes...I'll give him one he'll never forget." she said slow and in a continuous low tone.
Celena stood up and hugged her. "Celena? What's wrong with you?" she asked nervously. The fragile woman leaned over to her and whispered slowly into her ear.
"Take Hitoshi and go warn Van. Tell him I'm emerging and to have guards lock this door. Hurry Hitomi." she whispered. This was the Celena she knew, the funny and soft Celena. She pushed Hitomi away and smirked. Hitomi scrambled up and ran out.
She heard mad laughing behind her and she ran even harder. First, she went to the place she knew where it was. She rapped on the door and ran in. The little boy turned over to her tiredly and rubbed his eyes. "Huh? Oh it's you Hitomi. Where's Mother?" he asked drowsily. She pulled back the covers and picked Hitoshi up.
"There's something not right about you're mother and she told me to take you somewhere safe." she said as she proceeded to run out and into the halls once again. He just nodded and fell back asleep in her arms. She ran past many corridors. Many of the guards and servants paused and stood in shock yelling, "Lady Hitomi! She lives!" 'No time to politely say hi, I have to find Van.' she thought.
She ran into the throne room and saw no one inside. The guards there just panicked and let her in. All of it was eerily expanse and empty. It was dark and the only light they received was the flame of candelabras. She placed Hitoshi on the plush red carpet at the foot of the king's throne. As she turned around, she saw Van in the corner of the room. His bright red eyes were wide in shock as he sputtered out her name.
"Oh Van. We can't just stand here now, something's wrong with Celena." she said as she ran to him. He blinked and made a worried face.
"What happened?"
"She just started freaking out about wanting to kill you and she told me to take Hitoshi to you and lock her doors. Something about her emerging." she said scared. He paled and he ran out the doors. "Where are you going Van?!" she yelled but he was already gone.
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Hitomi POV
Celena was dead. She died trying to fight Dilandau. Van had seen it all and was powerless to stop it. I was called in after it was figured to be safe. He held onto her and was crying softly. Never in my life had I thought I would witness him doing this. Her soft face was resting in the crook of his neck; the blood dripping from her mouth was starting to stain his skin. The large stab wound from the dagger she had supposedly stabbed into her was gruesome, staining her pale blue dress a horrid fuchsia.
Poor young Hitoshi was shocked when he first came in. He had screamed and I held him back from running up to his mother. After a bit of struggling against me, he now hugged onto me and was crying with me. It must be so hard for him; he lost the only one who cared for him.
Van was just as heartbroken as Hitoshi, if not more so. His wife had died and he, nor anyone else, could change it. I'm still disappointed that he had made Celena his queen instead of me but I'm still glad that he had such a kind and gentle woman to be his wife.
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I stand with Van in the royal cemetery. We, and everyone else are decked out in black. Hitoshi is holding a small bouquet of chrysanthemums, Celena's favorite. He had told me last night that he was scared. "With Mother gone, all I have is Father and he's always frustrated with me. If something happens to him, I will have to become King young like Father was. I don't want to be alone." he said before.
I think about that and the Draconian curse. Things seem to fit in with it. Van's father died five years after Van was born. Celena died five years after Dilandau had been born. It's cruel how when you finally find your few fragile strands of happiness and it is crushed before you have the chance to enjoy it. Van kneels down to Celena's grave and kisses hand and places it on the turned dirt where her body is buried. "May you find peace my queen." he says sadly.
The so-called Protect looms over Fanellia. The capital was the only thing that could be saved from the destruction outside. It is a large blue shield that blocks anything from coming in or out of it. A horde of Dune-lords had attacked the shield strongly last week, the day after the death of Celena and the Protect was weakening.
Van had to call all of the people that could in the nearest villages to rush into Fanellia. After half a day, he had another smaller Protect to encircle the capital and some of the farmlands that they would need to sustain themselves. He lowered the larger one and the Fanellians that didn't make it were slaughtered. She had begged Van to wit a little longer but he had told her that if he did, the entire of Fanellia would be at risk.
The Dune-lords had arranged their strength around the Protect and camped there. Dune-lords are captured souls that are controlled by the Dune, the Claim-drifters that were created by the Draconians to keep fate in balance. They had taken over Freid, Ispano, Cesario, Daedalus, Austuria, Zaibach, and many of the smaller countries as well. The royalties had fled for their lives to Fanellia, the power spot that was able to create the Protect.
Merle had been caught by them and was killed by the shield. Millerna and Allen had barely escaped with their lives. Chid was missing and they had no whereabouts of his location. Dryden was in the Ispano floating fortress with his son, the heir of the fallen Austuria. They had been packed in and Millerna wasn't able to go with them. So Dryden had gone to Earth and left his wife here in Fanellia.
I had been here for a week and a couple days and it's been an uncomfortable week. This all wouldn't have happened if I hadn't touched the shield. I wouldn't have blacked out for years, Nakami wouldn't have died, Van wouldn't have the pain, Celena wouldn't have died, Merle and the others wouldn't have died, the Dune wouldn't have come and swept up innocent people to correct the Earth, and Hitoshi wouldn't have to fall into the same events as Van. All of this seemed to be my fault. It was my entire fault.
Van and I walk back into the castle and into his study. He takes his coat off and rests it on his chair. "Hitomi, I know this is not the time since it's so near after Celena's death and all. I still mourn for her, you should know that." he said, pulling open his drawer and placing old and outdated papers on the desk. He seemed to find what her wanted and motioned me to come over to the table. I walked to him and he still sat in his chair.
Enveloping his hands around mine, he opened them and deposited something into them. He let them go and revealed a warm gold ring with a large red gem in the middle. "Hitomi, will you please marry me. Fanellia needs a queen now in these turbulent times and you would be perfect to fill it in. Please, Hitoshi likes you and I really need you Hitomi. Please." he begged. I was speechless and gave him the answer that he and I would approve on.
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I walked down the long aisle slowly. Every one was looking at me in happiness, a few in jealousies. I ignore this and look to the handsome king I'm to be marrying. He looks so happy and I smile back to him. We stand at the altar together and listen to the priest droning on about love and vows of eternal love. All I do is look into Van's eyes and he gives me a reassuring smile.
"Van Fanel...will you accept and honor your queen? Will you care for her and lay your life for her?" the old man said. He looked to me and nodded.
"Yes I will." he said with a smile. Van seemed so much older, worn is the word.
"Hitomi Kanzaki...will you accept and honor your king? Will you care for him and lay your life for him? asked the old man.
Nakami stood behind Van. She draped her arms around him and looked to me. Smiling, everything slowed to a halt. Van didn't notice a thing as he started to slow. I looked around. The once colorful and festive room was now drab and gray. My friend looked to the still Van and traced a finger down his cheek.
"He suffers so much Hitomi. His wife is dead. The country won't survive the end of your wedding night, and his son has been murdered just now. Can you see him in the crowd Hitomi?" she asked.
I look to the front row where he is supposed to be. He is missing. Where is he? Suddenly, he runs down the aisle to me. He is in color and he runs to me with his arms wide. "Hitomi! I almost didn't make it!" he yelled happily as he ran up the steps. I bend down and am ready to receive him but he passes through me. His once solid form turns into a ghost like consistency. He looks to me from the other side. His eyes are wide and glazed over. A barrage of stab wounds was all over his chest and stomach, blood oozing out of each of them. "Please Hitomi, stop the hurting. It hurts me." he said ghostly.
Shrieking, I backed away. "Hitoshi!!" I yelled.
"Why did you touch my shield? Why did you kill me?" said Nakami as she hugged Van's back softly. She was nude and her body was glowing softly. She looked to him with a loving gaze. "You could have...prevented all of this suffering, the pain. You can see it in his eyes can you not?" she said. She traced her finger down his cheek again as he kept his frozen gaze to me.
This wasn't Nakami. Nakami wasn't like this at all; she was happy and joyous, and sarcastic. "Who are you? You aren't Nakami." I say in an accusatory voice. She looks to me and smiles.
"I am Inhestia, daughter of Geladine the moon maiden and Slantier the sun possessor. The same name that Van possesses as well. I am the keeper of the moons and sun. I was to be reincarnated in my rebirth body. You may know her as Nakami. She is useless to me. But, with your incredulous action of touching the life shield, you have killed my body and I can no longer claim back the planet Gaea. The man Dornkirk's machine of fate has made all of Gaea's destinies skewed. If I was able to be reborn into Gaea and take over the destinies, many lives could have been saved. Many sorrows wouldn't have passed for years to come."
"The Cellonians and the Draconians made a deal with the gods on that fateful day. If I took my part in keeping and correcting the fate of Gaea, we would be bestowed with boundless pleasures. But... if we had failed in the upkeep, they would send the Claim-drifters, or as you call them, the Dunes and the Dune-lords. They would swallow up every soul they would find and Gaea would be destroyed, to become another moon." she said, the last two sentences she said in a dark and sad voice. She let go of Van and walked up to me. Hugging me, she whispered into her ear softly.
"But I will give you another chance Hitomi. I will send you back to the starting line and you must never talk about your experiences here with anyone. It can alter the fate of Gaea and will make what you see here happen. I'm risking Gaea to give you this chance Gaea. I could just go back and have you killed prior. But I like you Hitomi, and I like Van. He's deserves better than this don't you think?" she said and pulled back.
"What about Hitoshi? What will happen to him? He won't exist will he?" I said, looking back at the little boy who was now on the floor, dead, probably looking the way he would be when someone finds him. "He doesn't deserve this. He's a sweet boy." I said. Inhestia looks to me and smiles.
"He may appear again. You are such a kind woman Hitomi. You will learn of the part you play in this prophecy soon." she started to float up and time started again. Everything was in color too. I am back to the spot I started at and Van looks to me with love. I start to cry. I am to be leaving him soon. He is such a sad and poor soul. His son is dead in a hall somewhere and I will be leaving soon. And he will be killed along with his people in this very room before nightfall.
"I'm sorry Van..." I whisper. I can feel something fuzzy growing inside of me. He blinks in shock.
"What are you saying Hitomi?" he said in a whisper. I let a tear drip down my face.
"I'm so so sorry." The tear hits the floor and a red beam of light shoots up into the sky. Everyone screams and the guards start charging towards us. The priest starts to move away from us scared. Van starts to panic.
"No! You can't do this to me Hitomi!" he said and starts to run to me. I am lifting and I feel more tears falling down. Inhestia holds me from behind.
"It's better this way Van!" I yell. He reaches my hand and is starting to come with me.
"You can't leave me here by myself! Please, don't go Hitomi!" he says. Tears are starting to fall from his cheeks. It breaks my heart to see him so frantic, to save this lat bit of peace he can have before it snaps.
Inhestia flared behind me. 'You have to let him go. He can't go back with us. Van already has a soul and it will corrupt our plan.' she yelled in mental thought. I look back down to him. We were far up into the room, probably fifteen feet up. She lays a golden glowing hand on mine and shook her head. 'Let him go...'
I lose his touch and he starts to plummet. He yells to me and is caught by the guards in a clunky mess. He releases his wings and flies up to me, his hand stretched out. I look to him emotionless. This is for the best is my mantra. "Hitomi!!! HITOMI!!! DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!!! I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE!!!" he yells.
'I'm proud of you Hitomi.' whispers Inhestia into my mind. I shake my head and say the last thing he will hear from me. "I love you Van..." My bouquet falls. No one catches it.
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A/N: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! That was sooooooooo sad!!! I love this chapter!!! He he! Well, If you guys love this story, you need to review and send some good one!!! He he!!! All I need is 45! 50 will make it come out so much faster! Oh yeah, and the painting of Van has a small role in it too. Well, I hope you like the chapter. I had to rush it a bit because it was lagging. This one was to show what would have happened after Hitomi had touched the Life shield. And, I forgot to put it in but Van really did love Celena in the end. He doesn't now in the present but in the thing that Hitomi was in he learned to love her. Van's not an abuser, it's just one of those days when you really get upset and you just act. And Hitomi had a time of being in the dark future for two months. A week passed when Celena was buried and about two months until the wedding ceremony. Well, Bye! REVIEW OR FICCY BYE BYE!!!
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A/N: I am TOTALLY NOT HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!! I AM GETTING NOOOO REVIEWS!!!! THAT AND FF.NET IS NOT POSTING UP MY STORY AS HAVING NEW CHAPTERS!!! So for now. this story is on the edge of being deleted.not stopped in midway like my other stories.DELETED!!! I am soooo not happy with Fanfiction.net for their site being soooo slow...that, and the lack of reviews that are showing! I'm not mad at all of you that give me such wonderful and inspiring reviews, I'm mad at all of you that don't even review at all!!! Well, if you all want this story to continue, you can either: A) give me a nice review, or B) E-mail me if it doesn't work. I may sound stingy and witchy and all but I am really putting my best into this story and when it's getting at the good part...as you will see in this chapter, FF.NET IS SCREWING UP!!!!! *breathes* Well, please give me more reviews... at least a total of 45 reviews. I already have 35 so all I need is ten more. It would really make my day a lot better. Thank you and sorry I was yelling at you all. I'm a temperamental artist so you should understand my frustration. Sorry.
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Chapter VII: Consequences
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Hitomi woke up with a start. The dream she had was haunting and she was shaken to the bone. She sneezed and wiped her nose. A dusty bouquet of daisies, now dried, lay uncomfortably in her hands. A long white dress was dusty on her too. She sat up and looked around the room. All of it's once luxurious furnishings were filthy with the powder of age. Sneezing again, she patted her hair and a small cloud of dirt flew around her like a halo. "What in the world? I need a bath..." she said as she walked to the door.
She jingled the handle but it remained steady. After a few minutes of struggling with the door, she abandoned it and looked for a window. There was a large one, white and beautiful, that was wide enough for her body to perfectly fit in. She shoved it open with a dusty creek and slipped out of it. The ridge there was about six inches wide and it was hard for her to scale on.
"Okay Hitomi...one step at a time." she said reassuringly to herself as she slowly moved to the side. The sight of the long plummet below didn't scare her; she had flown with Van before in heights that would dwarf the large castle. All she was scared about is a guard seeing her and being shot. It was evening and she knew that it would be hard to spot her but she was still afraid of that.
She went a little too quickly and she fell off of the ledge. Screaming, she suddenly hit a large balcony and a large pot fell on top of her. Dirt clouded over her and she heard a scrambling from someone inside of the room. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" demanded a female voice. "Answer me before I tell the king of your actions!" Hitomi pushed the now ruptured pot over her head and she rolled over, coughing up the soil.
The woman gasped and brushed Hitomi off. "Hitomi? Is that you? Are you okay?" she asked. Hitomi blinked and looked at the woman. She had long, shoulder length platinum blonde hair and icy blue eyes that looked to her in tenderness. After her fit of coughing, she regarded her.
"Who are you?" she asked cautiously. The girl stumbled back in shock. She seemed saddened about her reaction and Hitomi cursed to herself. Tears edged her soft eyes in sadness from what she had said.
"It's me Hitomi...It's Celena." she said in almost a plea. Hitomi felt relief wash over her that she found her friend instead of a guard or someone armed. When she didn't give a reply, Celena let a tear drop. "Hitomi...I thought you would never wake up." she said as she hugged her.
"It's alright Celena; I remember you. But is there a way to take a shower. I woke up dusty and I fell in your pot and I'm kinda grimy right now." she said with a smile. Celena giggled a bit and lead her into the room. It was huge with a bed larger than she had ever seen, even the one she used to use. The sheets were thin and a soft red silk with a matching canopy. There was a huge set of twin armoires, each made of warm oak. She gazed in awe at the large painting of a horde of dragons on top of the fireplace. The fire was just starting to burn as the warmth of that and multiple candles laid softly in the room. Celena directed her to the bathroom and closed the door.
It too was huge. In the middle of the soft turquoise room was a large pool like tub, about fifteen feet in diameter. That was all that mattered to her and she shred off her filthy clothes and jumped in. The warm and steamy water loosened her muscles and she relaxed. Washing with the soft scented soap, she realized she had more curves than she remembered. Her hips were wider and more evened out than before. Shrugging this off, she scrubbed herself off, the dirt making a nasty ring around her. 'I hope Celena won't be too upset at this.' she thought.
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Hitomi and Celena walked down the halls quietly gossiping. Celena seemed to be older to her. Her skin was smooth and pale, like a porcelain doll. Her once childish yet serene eyes had changed into soft and wise blue eyes. She seemed more filled out but still petite. Her voice was soft and clear as she spoke with grace. "A lot has changed Hitomi. It's been years since you've fell into the sleep. Gaddes had died the same day you fell under. I've healed and I'm stronger now so there is no need to worry." she said with faraway sadness in her eyes.
Before she could speak, a little boy ran crying towards them. A messily made bow and a small quiver of arrows were tied onto his back. His short silver hair blew in the wind while he ran. Hugging onto Celena's slender leg, he cried. She bent down and picked him up. "Hito...what's wrong my son?" she said as she wiped off his saline tears. He looked to her with wide red eyes that seemed to have fire within them.
"I told you he hated me Mother!" he said in mid wail, hiccupping right after. She embraced him and rubbed his back gently. Hitomi was amazed at the boy. He looked like a mini-Dilandau. His hair was the same; his eyes were a different shade but still had the intensity, and his pale milk-white coloring. All of his appearances screamed the name Dilandau.
"No he doesn't Hito. Tell me what happened." she said soothingly. He looked to Celena and wiped tears with a frustrated fist.
" I was with him, we were practicing archery and I tried really hard but I couldn't even hit anything. He yelled at me and I kept trying again, but I couldn't hit anything at all. Then, he yelled at me and told me I'm useless and a shame to you...and ... and he said remented the fact I was born!" he said and burst out in tears again, burying his face into her neck.
Celena looked to Hitomi and sighed. "I'm so sorry Hitomi. This is my son Hitoshi. Do you mind if we have to put him to bed, he's really distraught right now and he needs some sleep." she said, rocking her son.
Hitomi blinked. "Um, sure. I have no problem at all." she replied nervously. Celena nodded and lead the way back to the living section of the castle, towards the royal quarters.
She thought during the whole walk. 'Celena has a son? He looks so much like Dilandau. Time must have flown by; he looks to be five years old.' she thought, though she couldn't concentrate because of the child's wailing. They got to a large room decorated in red and silver. Sitting her son on the bed, Celena went through the armoire and pulled out his soft silver nightclothes. Starting to change him, he shook his head and smiled to her.
"I'll do it Mommy. I'm fine." he said softly as he pulled off his shirt. He pulled his long-sleeved shirt on and looked up to Hitomi. "Who is this?" he asked curiously.
Celena sat on the bed and replied, "Her name is Hitomi. She is the one I tell you about." He studied her and shrugged.
"Nice to meet you Hitomi." he said. His voice was weirdly mature for his age and he spoke with such clear charisma. She figured that Celena must have taught him in his speaking.
She bowed and smiled. "Nice to meet you too young Hitoshi." she said with all of the charisma she could muster. Unfortunately, her mother never taught her how to speak but then again, she never lived in a castle as a child.
Hitoshi nodded and changed his shorts to a pair of longer silver pants. Jumping into bed, his mother tucked him in softly and kissed his forehead. "Mommy, do you still love me?" he asked with the silent hint of innocence in his voice. She beamed and brushed the messy bangs once again away from his face.
"I will love you forever Hitoshi. No matter what you do, no matter what trouble you bring, no matter what the days bring us, I will always love you." she said. He reached up and kissed her soft cheek and settled himself in his bed.
Before drifting off into sleep, he sighed, "Me too."
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Later on that night, they moved into a large bedroom. They sat in the small- adjoined room, used for the personal reading room. Celena sat across from Hitomi on a red lined chair. They were talking about random things when there was a loud slam in the other room. "Celena!" yelled a masculine voice with a hint of anger.
She jumped up and walked quickly. "I'm coming!" she said. Turning back to Hitomi, she said, "Stay here and keep quiet. I don't want people to know you're awake yet." she said and rushed out of the room. The door slammed closed and she listened closely to hear what happened.
"Yes Van?" asked Celena with perfect poise.
Hitomi blinked. 'Van? Is that Van?' she thought as she silently crept over to the door and looked in the crack. Sure enough, she could see Van. He was taller, more muscular and his hair was exceedingly longer and grew unruly down his shoulders to brush at his high back. Basically, he looked wilder and still very handsome. He seemed upset at something and he ran a hand through his wild hair.
"Celena, where is Hitoshi? I need to talk to him." he said, trying visibly to calm down.
"He's sleeping, the poor thing. Honestly Van, why do you do this to him? He's just a child. Van..." she started as she walked over to him and hugged him. "...he isn't supposed to be perfect now. He has fifteen more years until he has to be king. Don't make him into you."
He pulled away from her. "What do you mean 'he's not like me?' I'm trying to teach him incase of an emergency. Fanellia won't be all happy forever and we do have enemies." he said annoyed.
"But Van..." Celena started but he cut her off.
"And by the way you're babying him, he's only going to end up smelling the flowers than building and maintaining an empire that can withstand the Dunes. You're softening him up!" he said.
"He's just a child Van! Can't you get it? He doesn't want to be like you. If you take his childhood away, he'll end up breaking!" she said. Her voice was starting to get a sharp edge to it from anger.
"And stop saying 'like me' Celena! What is so horrible about me? I've raised Fanellia from its ashes and now it's the most powerful country in all of Gaea! WE are the only ones who can sustain ourselves and erect the Protect against the Dunes! How is being like me something bad?!" he yelled.
"I'll tell you Van! You're cold to others! You disrespect all that's around you! You hurt your son and all he does is try to please you Van! He's five-years-old! You expect things that only a grown man can do!" she said, voice wavering.
"Then he needs to grow up! By you INSIST on babying him and he's never going to be able to take care of the responsibilities of being a king! And I DENY that that...that DEMON-thing is even my child!" he yelled.
Celena slapped him. "Don't you EVER deny our son Van!! It's not our fault that Hitomi touched the shield and never woke up!! Why do you insist on punishing us on what we never even wanted to happen!! Hitomi's gone Van!! She's not going to come back to you!!!" she yelled.
He hit her. Celena shrieked and fell where stood. He looked down to her in anger. "DON'T YOU EVER BRING HITOMI INTO THIS!!!" he yelled. The doors shook and Hitomi leaned on the wall next to her scared. She had never seen Van so angry as to hit a person, and to hit them so hard either. A door slammed violently and all she could hear was frantic crying.
She silently opened the door and walked into the bedroom. Celena was hunched over, holding her cheek and crying. She hugged her weeping friend and let her cry on her shoulder. "Celena...you're so strong." she said as she rubbed her back gently. Pulling away, she kept her head down.
"You have to be strong when everything around you if falling apart." she said. She smirked. "I guess that that is what Dilandau gave me." she continued. "I hope you don't hate me Hitomi... for being Van's queen. For bearing his child."
She shook her head and smiled down to her. "No... I think you should hate me for being so foolish. I'm sorry." she said. Celena looked up to Hitomi. She had a large developing bruise on her porcelain cheek. It was bleeding and she knew there would be a scar. Shuddering, Celena smirked.
"And everyday, my hate for him grows even more. If only I had a dagger with me...mmmmm that's it. But he would die. I would like it though." she said in a low voice. Hitomi was starting to get worried.
"Celena? Are you okay? You're not making any sense." she asked. She looked up to her and smirked evilly.
"Au contraire Hitomi, he makes me so mad sometimes. Just to have my hands around his neck and him begging for his pathetic life." she said in a long psychotic voice. She looked at her hand and studied the blood there. It stood out on her white and thin hands. Celena chuckled at this. "Oh drat...now I have a scar. Tsk tsk, now I have another. Van has to be careful. Yes...I'll give him one he'll never forget." she said slow and in a continuous low tone.
Celena stood up and hugged her. "Celena? What's wrong with you?" she asked nervously. The fragile woman leaned over to her and whispered slowly into her ear.
"Take Hitoshi and go warn Van. Tell him I'm emerging and to have guards lock this door. Hurry Hitomi." she whispered. This was the Celena she knew, the funny and soft Celena. She pushed Hitomi away and smirked. Hitomi scrambled up and ran out.
She heard mad laughing behind her and she ran even harder. First, she went to the place she knew where it was. She rapped on the door and ran in. The little boy turned over to her tiredly and rubbed his eyes. "Huh? Oh it's you Hitomi. Where's Mother?" he asked drowsily. She pulled back the covers and picked Hitoshi up.
"There's something not right about you're mother and she told me to take you somewhere safe." she said as she proceeded to run out and into the halls once again. He just nodded and fell back asleep in her arms. She ran past many corridors. Many of the guards and servants paused and stood in shock yelling, "Lady Hitomi! She lives!" 'No time to politely say hi, I have to find Van.' she thought.
She ran into the throne room and saw no one inside. The guards there just panicked and let her in. All of it was eerily expanse and empty. It was dark and the only light they received was the flame of candelabras. She placed Hitoshi on the plush red carpet at the foot of the king's throne. As she turned around, she saw Van in the corner of the room. His bright red eyes were wide in shock as he sputtered out her name.
"Oh Van. We can't just stand here now, something's wrong with Celena." she said as she ran to him. He blinked and made a worried face.
"What happened?"
"She just started freaking out about wanting to kill you and she told me to take Hitoshi to you and lock her doors. Something about her emerging." she said scared. He paled and he ran out the doors. "Where are you going Van?!" she yelled but he was already gone.
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Hitomi POV
Celena was dead. She died trying to fight Dilandau. Van had seen it all and was powerless to stop it. I was called in after it was figured to be safe. He held onto her and was crying softly. Never in my life had I thought I would witness him doing this. Her soft face was resting in the crook of his neck; the blood dripping from her mouth was starting to stain his skin. The large stab wound from the dagger she had supposedly stabbed into her was gruesome, staining her pale blue dress a horrid fuchsia.
Poor young Hitoshi was shocked when he first came in. He had screamed and I held him back from running up to his mother. After a bit of struggling against me, he now hugged onto me and was crying with me. It must be so hard for him; he lost the only one who cared for him.
Van was just as heartbroken as Hitoshi, if not more so. His wife had died and he, nor anyone else, could change it. I'm still disappointed that he had made Celena his queen instead of me but I'm still glad that he had such a kind and gentle woman to be his wife.
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I stand with Van in the royal cemetery. We, and everyone else are decked out in black. Hitoshi is holding a small bouquet of chrysanthemums, Celena's favorite. He had told me last night that he was scared. "With Mother gone, all I have is Father and he's always frustrated with me. If something happens to him, I will have to become King young like Father was. I don't want to be alone." he said before.
I think about that and the Draconian curse. Things seem to fit in with it. Van's father died five years after Van was born. Celena died five years after Dilandau had been born. It's cruel how when you finally find your few fragile strands of happiness and it is crushed before you have the chance to enjoy it. Van kneels down to Celena's grave and kisses hand and places it on the turned dirt where her body is buried. "May you find peace my queen." he says sadly.
The so-called Protect looms over Fanellia. The capital was the only thing that could be saved from the destruction outside. It is a large blue shield that blocks anything from coming in or out of it. A horde of Dune-lords had attacked the shield strongly last week, the day after the death of Celena and the Protect was weakening.
Van had to call all of the people that could in the nearest villages to rush into Fanellia. After half a day, he had another smaller Protect to encircle the capital and some of the farmlands that they would need to sustain themselves. He lowered the larger one and the Fanellians that didn't make it were slaughtered. She had begged Van to wit a little longer but he had told her that if he did, the entire of Fanellia would be at risk.
The Dune-lords had arranged their strength around the Protect and camped there. Dune-lords are captured souls that are controlled by the Dune, the Claim-drifters that were created by the Draconians to keep fate in balance. They had taken over Freid, Ispano, Cesario, Daedalus, Austuria, Zaibach, and many of the smaller countries as well. The royalties had fled for their lives to Fanellia, the power spot that was able to create the Protect.
Merle had been caught by them and was killed by the shield. Millerna and Allen had barely escaped with their lives. Chid was missing and they had no whereabouts of his location. Dryden was in the Ispano floating fortress with his son, the heir of the fallen Austuria. They had been packed in and Millerna wasn't able to go with them. So Dryden had gone to Earth and left his wife here in Fanellia.
I had been here for a week and a couple days and it's been an uncomfortable week. This all wouldn't have happened if I hadn't touched the shield. I wouldn't have blacked out for years, Nakami wouldn't have died, Van wouldn't have the pain, Celena wouldn't have died, Merle and the others wouldn't have died, the Dune wouldn't have come and swept up innocent people to correct the Earth, and Hitoshi wouldn't have to fall into the same events as Van. All of this seemed to be my fault. It was my entire fault.
Van and I walk back into the castle and into his study. He takes his coat off and rests it on his chair. "Hitomi, I know this is not the time since it's so near after Celena's death and all. I still mourn for her, you should know that." he said, pulling open his drawer and placing old and outdated papers on the desk. He seemed to find what her wanted and motioned me to come over to the table. I walked to him and he still sat in his chair.
Enveloping his hands around mine, he opened them and deposited something into them. He let them go and revealed a warm gold ring with a large red gem in the middle. "Hitomi, will you please marry me. Fanellia needs a queen now in these turbulent times and you would be perfect to fill it in. Please, Hitoshi likes you and I really need you Hitomi. Please." he begged. I was speechless and gave him the answer that he and I would approve on.
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I walked down the long aisle slowly. Every one was looking at me in happiness, a few in jealousies. I ignore this and look to the handsome king I'm to be marrying. He looks so happy and I smile back to him. We stand at the altar together and listen to the priest droning on about love and vows of eternal love. All I do is look into Van's eyes and he gives me a reassuring smile.
"Van Fanel...will you accept and honor your queen? Will you care for her and lay your life for her?" the old man said. He looked to me and nodded.
"Yes I will." he said with a smile. Van seemed so much older, worn is the word.
"Hitomi Kanzaki...will you accept and honor your king? Will you care for him and lay your life for him? asked the old man.
Nakami stood behind Van. She draped her arms around him and looked to me. Smiling, everything slowed to a halt. Van didn't notice a thing as he started to slow. I looked around. The once colorful and festive room was now drab and gray. My friend looked to the still Van and traced a finger down his cheek.
"He suffers so much Hitomi. His wife is dead. The country won't survive the end of your wedding night, and his son has been murdered just now. Can you see him in the crowd Hitomi?" she asked.
I look to the front row where he is supposed to be. He is missing. Where is he? Suddenly, he runs down the aisle to me. He is in color and he runs to me with his arms wide. "Hitomi! I almost didn't make it!" he yelled happily as he ran up the steps. I bend down and am ready to receive him but he passes through me. His once solid form turns into a ghost like consistency. He looks to me from the other side. His eyes are wide and glazed over. A barrage of stab wounds was all over his chest and stomach, blood oozing out of each of them. "Please Hitomi, stop the hurting. It hurts me." he said ghostly.
Shrieking, I backed away. "Hitoshi!!" I yelled.
"Why did you touch my shield? Why did you kill me?" said Nakami as she hugged Van's back softly. She was nude and her body was glowing softly. She looked to him with a loving gaze. "You could have...prevented all of this suffering, the pain. You can see it in his eyes can you not?" she said. She traced her finger down his cheek again as he kept his frozen gaze to me.
This wasn't Nakami. Nakami wasn't like this at all; she was happy and joyous, and sarcastic. "Who are you? You aren't Nakami." I say in an accusatory voice. She looks to me and smiles.
"I am Inhestia, daughter of Geladine the moon maiden and Slantier the sun possessor. The same name that Van possesses as well. I am the keeper of the moons and sun. I was to be reincarnated in my rebirth body. You may know her as Nakami. She is useless to me. But, with your incredulous action of touching the life shield, you have killed my body and I can no longer claim back the planet Gaea. The man Dornkirk's machine of fate has made all of Gaea's destinies skewed. If I was able to be reborn into Gaea and take over the destinies, many lives could have been saved. Many sorrows wouldn't have passed for years to come."
"The Cellonians and the Draconians made a deal with the gods on that fateful day. If I took my part in keeping and correcting the fate of Gaea, we would be bestowed with boundless pleasures. But... if we had failed in the upkeep, they would send the Claim-drifters, or as you call them, the Dunes and the Dune-lords. They would swallow up every soul they would find and Gaea would be destroyed, to become another moon." she said, the last two sentences she said in a dark and sad voice. She let go of Van and walked up to me. Hugging me, she whispered into her ear softly.
"But I will give you another chance Hitomi. I will send you back to the starting line and you must never talk about your experiences here with anyone. It can alter the fate of Gaea and will make what you see here happen. I'm risking Gaea to give you this chance Gaea. I could just go back and have you killed prior. But I like you Hitomi, and I like Van. He's deserves better than this don't you think?" she said and pulled back.
"What about Hitoshi? What will happen to him? He won't exist will he?" I said, looking back at the little boy who was now on the floor, dead, probably looking the way he would be when someone finds him. "He doesn't deserve this. He's a sweet boy." I said. Inhestia looks to me and smiles.
"He may appear again. You are such a kind woman Hitomi. You will learn of the part you play in this prophecy soon." she started to float up and time started again. Everything was in color too. I am back to the spot I started at and Van looks to me with love. I start to cry. I am to be leaving him soon. He is such a sad and poor soul. His son is dead in a hall somewhere and I will be leaving soon. And he will be killed along with his people in this very room before nightfall.
"I'm sorry Van..." I whisper. I can feel something fuzzy growing inside of me. He blinks in shock.
"What are you saying Hitomi?" he said in a whisper. I let a tear drip down my face.
"I'm so so sorry." The tear hits the floor and a red beam of light shoots up into the sky. Everyone screams and the guards start charging towards us. The priest starts to move away from us scared. Van starts to panic.
"No! You can't do this to me Hitomi!" he said and starts to run to me. I am lifting and I feel more tears falling down. Inhestia holds me from behind.
"It's better this way Van!" I yell. He reaches my hand and is starting to come with me.
"You can't leave me here by myself! Please, don't go Hitomi!" he says. Tears are starting to fall from his cheeks. It breaks my heart to see him so frantic, to save this lat bit of peace he can have before it snaps.
Inhestia flared behind me. 'You have to let him go. He can't go back with us. Van already has a soul and it will corrupt our plan.' she yelled in mental thought. I look back down to him. We were far up into the room, probably fifteen feet up. She lays a golden glowing hand on mine and shook her head. 'Let him go...'
I lose his touch and he starts to plummet. He yells to me and is caught by the guards in a clunky mess. He releases his wings and flies up to me, his hand stretched out. I look to him emotionless. This is for the best is my mantra. "Hitomi!!! HITOMI!!! DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!!! I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE!!!" he yells.
'I'm proud of you Hitomi.' whispers Inhestia into my mind. I shake my head and say the last thing he will hear from me. "I love you Van..." My bouquet falls. No one catches it.
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A/N: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! That was sooooooooo sad!!! I love this chapter!!! He he! Well, If you guys love this story, you need to review and send some good one!!! He he!!! All I need is 45! 50 will make it come out so much faster! Oh yeah, and the painting of Van has a small role in it too. Well, I hope you like the chapter. I had to rush it a bit because it was lagging. This one was to show what would have happened after Hitomi had touched the Life shield. And, I forgot to put it in but Van really did love Celena in the end. He doesn't now in the present but in the thing that Hitomi was in he learned to love her. Van's not an abuser, it's just one of those days when you really get upset and you just act. And Hitomi had a time of being in the dark future for two months. A week passed when Celena was buried and about two months until the wedding ceremony. Well, Bye! REVIEW OR FICCY BYE BYE!!!
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