Hey, everyone! This has been such a hard chapter to write, you no idea!
I've been working on this since September! I hope you enjoy it!
Love J.R
Chapter 11- Better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.
Hitomi was lying on her back on something hard and cold, and she' d never felt so incredibly weak- even breathing seemed hard. Every part of her body was hurting. It reduced to a dull ache if she didn't move. She opened her eyes and the skies above her were grey. She could hear screaming. She turned her head slightly, and saw burning buildings and people sobbing. Fear stirred inside her, like a dormant snake. "Faneila." She whispered, remembering that awful day. "Hitomi!" It was Maria's voice. She saw her friend appear out of the smoke and run towards her. "Don't come any nearer!" A man with long blond hair stepped in her way, his sword in hand. "But it's my friend, Hitomi, she needs my help." Maria pleaded, frantic with worry. "I'm sorry Ma'am, but she may still be dangerous." "How can you say that!" Maria exploded. "Look at her! She can barely move!!" The man glanced at her, with a strained expression on his face. Allen! "It's okay, Allen." Just speaking sent shocks of pain up and down her body, but she did her best to ignore it. "Hitomi!" Maria threw herself to Hitomi's side. "Hitomi, what happened? Are you alright? Whre does it hurt?" With Maria bombarding her with questions, it was hard to think. And yet, there was something in the back of her mind nagging at her. What was it? It was very important, something she shouldn't forget. "Van! Maria, Allen, we have to help Van, he's in trouble.it's Dilandau.help him, please, before he's killed! Why are you standing there staring at me for?! We have to save him!" "Don't worry, Hitomi, calm down. Van is in Faneila, remember? Nothing can happen to him while he's there," Maria said soothingly, stroking Hitomi's forehead. Until help came, it was very important for Hitomi not to panick. "No he's not!" Allen cried. "He's here, in Ziabach!" "What?!" Maria gasped. "That's.exactly why we have to find him," Hitomi said, almost at the end of her strength. "Where could he be?" Maria asked. "In the house, of course!" Hitomi cried, unable to contain her exasperation. "Hurry, help me up!" Allen rushed forward to help her, but even with both of them on either side of her, she was too tired to be able to cope with the pain. In the end, Allen had to carry her. As they ran towards the house, she wondered whether she'd ever be able to walk again. 'What's wrong with me?' She thought fearfully. No! She had to concerntrate on what was happening- Van was in danger! As they neared the house, she saw that the front door had been blasted off, and the inside of the house utterly destroyed. Had she really done that? How could she have possibly been so violent? And so.evil. She shuddered at the thought that that evil thing, just a few minutes ago, had been her. They entered the house, and Hitomi became aware of a deathly silence. It was as though the house was holding its breath, somehow. "Go to the end of the corridor," She whispered. "At the end of it, there's a staircase that leads to the dungeons. They're down there." Allen nodded. "You two stay here while I go to the dungeons. "No!" Hitomi cried. Two of the people she loved the most where down there, and Allen expected her just to wait for him to save the day?! "If Hitomi's going, then I'm coming too," Maria said quietly. "And I'm going," Hitomi said firmly. Tired as she was, she had a will of iron, and Allen knew he wouldn't be able to convince her to stay away. Still, it was worth a try. "I can't look after you and fight," He said, trying to reason with her. "I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself!" Hitomi exclaimed angrily. "Besides," she added, "if I do need anything, Maria will help me." Allen sighed and nodded. "Right. Let's go!"
Dilandau giggled. "Hitomi's easy," He drawled, grinning at Van, who was kneeling on the floor in chains. He was cut quite deeply on one arm, and his cheek was bruised. "You liar! How dare you try to dull her honour!" He shouted. "Oh, but it's true," Dilandau replied smoothly. "After the way you treated her, any man would do- she was gagging for it!" "Dilandau, you monster!" Dilandau laughed. "Isn't my revenge brilliant, Lord Van? You have lost Hitomi, and in a few hours, you will lose Fanelia. Your country will burn once again, and if your unhappiness doesn't kill you, then I will. Eventually." He smiled. "I'd like to have some fun first. Because no one hurts my face, Van. No one." "You won't get away with this, Dilandau." "Oh really? What can you do to me when you're lying on the ground in chains?! And Allen can't help you, if that's what you're thinking.Your babysitter has got an appointment at the morgue. My men are very efficient, you see." "No, Allen!" Van cried in horror. Allen was clever, he knew how to survive. It must be lies.
They stopped at the last turn before the cells. This last corner was close enough to hear what was happening, but it was still possible to stay hidden from anyone who might be further on. Dilandau's words had made Allen very angry, and any emotion during mortal combat could prove to be a fatal distraction. He took a deep breath in order to calm himself down. "Here, Hitomi. On the floor," He whispered. He gently lowered her down. If she leaned a little to the right, she could see Van. And Dilandau. 'Oh, Van.' Suddenly she realized Allen didn't know who Dilandau really was. Fool! She'd forgotten to tell him! Hitomi opened her mouth to speak. "Shh," Allen said. "It's alright." One moment he was standing there, smiling reassuringly at Hitomi. And the next. the next he was charging towards Dilandau- and Yukari- with his sword drawn. "Allen, no!" Hitomi screamed. It was too late. Hitomi watched helplessly as Allen's blade forced itself through her best friend. Dilandau looked up at Allen, with an expression of surprise in his eyes. Allen let go of his sword, and slowly, never taking his eyes off Dilandau, stepped back a pace. "May the Gods have mercy on you, Dilandau. I've won." Dilandau opened his mouth to speak, but instead fell to his knees, coughing up a deep red liquid. Blood. The colour of his eyes. Dilandau lifted his head, and looked past Allen, searching. His dying gaze met Hitomi's. His lips curved into a smile. "Yukari." He whispered. "Maybe.I won after all," He laughed, but the sound was drowned out by a fresh surge of blood. He closed his eyes and fell to the floor. Slowly at first, Dilandau to change- his face became softer, his hair longer. And redder. Dilandau was leaving Yukari's body! Did that mean that Yukari was.dead? "YUKARI!" Hitomi screamed. She was trembling with emotion, so afraid, but still hopeful. "Maria, help me!" Maria dragged Hitomi up, and together they made their way to Yukari's immobile form. Hitomi kneeled by her side, sobs racking her body. "Yukari," She gasped painfully. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be dead. Only the bad guys died. Yukari was good. "Yukari!" Allen paled, the shock clear on his face. "Hitomi, I'm sorry, I.I didn't know. This is just like with Celena!" Hitomi felt her tears trickle down her chin, those perfect, pear-shaped drops of pain. She felt them land with an almost audible splash onto her hands, and underneath, the smallest pinpricks of anger formed. Suddenly her anger gathered together form a tidal wave of fury, which came out as a tormented, accusing scream. "EXCEPT YOU DIDN'T KILL HER!!!" Hitomi tried to hold his gaze, but covered her face as fresh sobs took over her once more. Trying to keep a hold of herself, she carefully looked back up at him, and where in her eyes innocence had been, there was burning a violent anger, and blame. "I hate you." She said quietly, through gritted teeth. She turned back to Yukari, and brushed the hair away from her dead friend's face. "Oh Yukari, I'm so sorry." She whimpered. She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hitomi." At the sound of his voice her heart was soaring. She turned round and looked into his soft brown eyes. She needed comfort, to know someone was there for her. She threw her arms around him, her head against his chest. "Van," she wept. Slowly, he lifted his arms and closed them around her, feeling awkward. "Hitomi.what have you done?" "Huh.?"She drew away from him, confused. "What do you mean, what have I done? You're the one who married someone else!" He opened his mouth to speak but she silenced him, pressing a finger to his lips. "You gave me up and married a traitor. Did you know the King of Paymere was in league with the Ziabach rebels? The whole point of you getting married was so that I would go over to Ziabach! They used me as bait...Why did you come to save me? Dilandau said." "Forget anything Dilandau said!" Van looked at her pleadingly, grabbing hold of her arms. "I don't love my Queen! I love you!" She shook her head. Why was he saying this? He was giving her hope.God, how could he be so cruel? "Then why did you marry her?!" "Because, I had no choice..her father would have destroyed Fanelia if I had said no..now I know why. I'm so sorry Hitomi. I didn't mean to hurt you. I swear." Her eyes shone with tears. "Oh Van.I love you too, but." She glanced behind her, at her best friend, her clothes drenched in blood. "You have a wife, and I have to go home." "No, Hitomi, please! She's a traitor! Forget about her!" He cried desperately. "Van, you're not making this any easier!" Her tears were blurring her vision. "I have to go back! Like you, I have no choice." Tenderly, she placed a hand on his cheek, and her hand grew wet with his tears. They hurt more than her own. "Remember me, Van," She whispered. "Because I." A sob leapt into her throat, and speaking was almost impossible. "Because. I won't," Van looked into her eyes, hurt and confused. "Hitomi, what are you saying?" She smiled sadly, and gently reached up to kiss him. She knew no one would ever be able to make her as happy as Van could. And now she had to give it all up. "I'm saying goodbye," She said quietly, gently pushing him away. She turned to Yukari, and took hold of one of her pale, limp hands. "We're going home." "No!" Van cried. "Wait!" The white light had come. 'I love you,' She mouthed as the pillar of light lifted her away. "HITOMI!" Van shouted, trying to get a hold of her. "HITOMI!" For a few seconds their fingers met, and she felt something being pushed into the palm of her hand. She pulled it back, and looked at what Van had given her. It was a fine gold necklace attached to a small, white feather, delicately carved from ivory. It was beautiful. She lifted her head to say thank you, but already, they had left Gaea.
So guys, what do you think? I was thinking of leaving it there, but seeing as I can't decide, it's up to the reviewers. Is my story complete or do I need to continue and develop on the whole Hitomi losing her memory thing and coming to terms with her new powers? And maybe at the end a happy v/h ending.I don't know! REVIEW COZ I NEED HELP DECIDING!!!!!!!!!!! Love J.R
Love J.R
Chapter 11- Better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.
Hitomi was lying on her back on something hard and cold, and she' d never felt so incredibly weak- even breathing seemed hard. Every part of her body was hurting. It reduced to a dull ache if she didn't move. She opened her eyes and the skies above her were grey. She could hear screaming. She turned her head slightly, and saw burning buildings and people sobbing. Fear stirred inside her, like a dormant snake. "Faneila." She whispered, remembering that awful day. "Hitomi!" It was Maria's voice. She saw her friend appear out of the smoke and run towards her. "Don't come any nearer!" A man with long blond hair stepped in her way, his sword in hand. "But it's my friend, Hitomi, she needs my help." Maria pleaded, frantic with worry. "I'm sorry Ma'am, but she may still be dangerous." "How can you say that!" Maria exploded. "Look at her! She can barely move!!" The man glanced at her, with a strained expression on his face. Allen! "It's okay, Allen." Just speaking sent shocks of pain up and down her body, but she did her best to ignore it. "Hitomi!" Maria threw herself to Hitomi's side. "Hitomi, what happened? Are you alright? Whre does it hurt?" With Maria bombarding her with questions, it was hard to think. And yet, there was something in the back of her mind nagging at her. What was it? It was very important, something she shouldn't forget. "Van! Maria, Allen, we have to help Van, he's in trouble.it's Dilandau.help him, please, before he's killed! Why are you standing there staring at me for?! We have to save him!" "Don't worry, Hitomi, calm down. Van is in Faneila, remember? Nothing can happen to him while he's there," Maria said soothingly, stroking Hitomi's forehead. Until help came, it was very important for Hitomi not to panick. "No he's not!" Allen cried. "He's here, in Ziabach!" "What?!" Maria gasped. "That's.exactly why we have to find him," Hitomi said, almost at the end of her strength. "Where could he be?" Maria asked. "In the house, of course!" Hitomi cried, unable to contain her exasperation. "Hurry, help me up!" Allen rushed forward to help her, but even with both of them on either side of her, she was too tired to be able to cope with the pain. In the end, Allen had to carry her. As they ran towards the house, she wondered whether she'd ever be able to walk again. 'What's wrong with me?' She thought fearfully. No! She had to concerntrate on what was happening- Van was in danger! As they neared the house, she saw that the front door had been blasted off, and the inside of the house utterly destroyed. Had she really done that? How could she have possibly been so violent? And so.evil. She shuddered at the thought that that evil thing, just a few minutes ago, had been her. They entered the house, and Hitomi became aware of a deathly silence. It was as though the house was holding its breath, somehow. "Go to the end of the corridor," She whispered. "At the end of it, there's a staircase that leads to the dungeons. They're down there." Allen nodded. "You two stay here while I go to the dungeons. "No!" Hitomi cried. Two of the people she loved the most where down there, and Allen expected her just to wait for him to save the day?! "If Hitomi's going, then I'm coming too," Maria said quietly. "And I'm going," Hitomi said firmly. Tired as she was, she had a will of iron, and Allen knew he wouldn't be able to convince her to stay away. Still, it was worth a try. "I can't look after you and fight," He said, trying to reason with her. "I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself!" Hitomi exclaimed angrily. "Besides," she added, "if I do need anything, Maria will help me." Allen sighed and nodded. "Right. Let's go!"
Dilandau giggled. "Hitomi's easy," He drawled, grinning at Van, who was kneeling on the floor in chains. He was cut quite deeply on one arm, and his cheek was bruised. "You liar! How dare you try to dull her honour!" He shouted. "Oh, but it's true," Dilandau replied smoothly. "After the way you treated her, any man would do- she was gagging for it!" "Dilandau, you monster!" Dilandau laughed. "Isn't my revenge brilliant, Lord Van? You have lost Hitomi, and in a few hours, you will lose Fanelia. Your country will burn once again, and if your unhappiness doesn't kill you, then I will. Eventually." He smiled. "I'd like to have some fun first. Because no one hurts my face, Van. No one." "You won't get away with this, Dilandau." "Oh really? What can you do to me when you're lying on the ground in chains?! And Allen can't help you, if that's what you're thinking.Your babysitter has got an appointment at the morgue. My men are very efficient, you see." "No, Allen!" Van cried in horror. Allen was clever, he knew how to survive. It must be lies.
They stopped at the last turn before the cells. This last corner was close enough to hear what was happening, but it was still possible to stay hidden from anyone who might be further on. Dilandau's words had made Allen very angry, and any emotion during mortal combat could prove to be a fatal distraction. He took a deep breath in order to calm himself down. "Here, Hitomi. On the floor," He whispered. He gently lowered her down. If she leaned a little to the right, she could see Van. And Dilandau. 'Oh, Van.' Suddenly she realized Allen didn't know who Dilandau really was. Fool! She'd forgotten to tell him! Hitomi opened her mouth to speak. "Shh," Allen said. "It's alright." One moment he was standing there, smiling reassuringly at Hitomi. And the next. the next he was charging towards Dilandau- and Yukari- with his sword drawn. "Allen, no!" Hitomi screamed. It was too late. Hitomi watched helplessly as Allen's blade forced itself through her best friend. Dilandau looked up at Allen, with an expression of surprise in his eyes. Allen let go of his sword, and slowly, never taking his eyes off Dilandau, stepped back a pace. "May the Gods have mercy on you, Dilandau. I've won." Dilandau opened his mouth to speak, but instead fell to his knees, coughing up a deep red liquid. Blood. The colour of his eyes. Dilandau lifted his head, and looked past Allen, searching. His dying gaze met Hitomi's. His lips curved into a smile. "Yukari." He whispered. "Maybe.I won after all," He laughed, but the sound was drowned out by a fresh surge of blood. He closed his eyes and fell to the floor. Slowly at first, Dilandau to change- his face became softer, his hair longer. And redder. Dilandau was leaving Yukari's body! Did that mean that Yukari was.dead? "YUKARI!" Hitomi screamed. She was trembling with emotion, so afraid, but still hopeful. "Maria, help me!" Maria dragged Hitomi up, and together they made their way to Yukari's immobile form. Hitomi kneeled by her side, sobs racking her body. "Yukari," She gasped painfully. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be dead. Only the bad guys died. Yukari was good. "Yukari!" Allen paled, the shock clear on his face. "Hitomi, I'm sorry, I.I didn't know. This is just like with Celena!" Hitomi felt her tears trickle down her chin, those perfect, pear-shaped drops of pain. She felt them land with an almost audible splash onto her hands, and underneath, the smallest pinpricks of anger formed. Suddenly her anger gathered together form a tidal wave of fury, which came out as a tormented, accusing scream. "EXCEPT YOU DIDN'T KILL HER!!!" Hitomi tried to hold his gaze, but covered her face as fresh sobs took over her once more. Trying to keep a hold of herself, she carefully looked back up at him, and where in her eyes innocence had been, there was burning a violent anger, and blame. "I hate you." She said quietly, through gritted teeth. She turned back to Yukari, and brushed the hair away from her dead friend's face. "Oh Yukari, I'm so sorry." She whimpered. She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hitomi." At the sound of his voice her heart was soaring. She turned round and looked into his soft brown eyes. She needed comfort, to know someone was there for her. She threw her arms around him, her head against his chest. "Van," she wept. Slowly, he lifted his arms and closed them around her, feeling awkward. "Hitomi.what have you done?" "Huh.?"She drew away from him, confused. "What do you mean, what have I done? You're the one who married someone else!" He opened his mouth to speak but she silenced him, pressing a finger to his lips. "You gave me up and married a traitor. Did you know the King of Paymere was in league with the Ziabach rebels? The whole point of you getting married was so that I would go over to Ziabach! They used me as bait...Why did you come to save me? Dilandau said." "Forget anything Dilandau said!" Van looked at her pleadingly, grabbing hold of her arms. "I don't love my Queen! I love you!" She shook her head. Why was he saying this? He was giving her hope.God, how could he be so cruel? "Then why did you marry her?!" "Because, I had no choice..her father would have destroyed Fanelia if I had said no..now I know why. I'm so sorry Hitomi. I didn't mean to hurt you. I swear." Her eyes shone with tears. "Oh Van.I love you too, but." She glanced behind her, at her best friend, her clothes drenched in blood. "You have a wife, and I have to go home." "No, Hitomi, please! She's a traitor! Forget about her!" He cried desperately. "Van, you're not making this any easier!" Her tears were blurring her vision. "I have to go back! Like you, I have no choice." Tenderly, she placed a hand on his cheek, and her hand grew wet with his tears. They hurt more than her own. "Remember me, Van," She whispered. "Because I." A sob leapt into her throat, and speaking was almost impossible. "Because. I won't," Van looked into her eyes, hurt and confused. "Hitomi, what are you saying?" She smiled sadly, and gently reached up to kiss him. She knew no one would ever be able to make her as happy as Van could. And now she had to give it all up. "I'm saying goodbye," She said quietly, gently pushing him away. She turned to Yukari, and took hold of one of her pale, limp hands. "We're going home." "No!" Van cried. "Wait!" The white light had come. 'I love you,' She mouthed as the pillar of light lifted her away. "HITOMI!" Van shouted, trying to get a hold of her. "HITOMI!" For a few seconds their fingers met, and she felt something being pushed into the palm of her hand. She pulled it back, and looked at what Van had given her. It was a fine gold necklace attached to a small, white feather, delicately carved from ivory. It was beautiful. She lifted her head to say thank you, but already, they had left Gaea.
So guys, what do you think? I was thinking of leaving it there, but seeing as I can't decide, it's up to the reviewers. Is my story complete or do I need to continue and develop on the whole Hitomi losing her memory thing and coming to terms with her new powers? And maybe at the end a happy v/h ending.I don't know! REVIEW COZ I NEED HELP DECIDING!!!!!!!!!!! Love J.R
