He saw her standing there. That quirky smile, her hair, her strong yet beautiful athletic body. All he had to do was walk a few more paces and he could smell her, touch her. She walked on. Why wasn't she stopping? He tried to call out but he couldn't remember how. All well. Once I reach her nothing will matter. She kept getting farther away. It was like she couldn't see him. Why not?

Then he saw him. A man with a mask. He had never seen anyone dressed like that before. Had she seen him? It didn't look like she had. Was she sick? It seemed like she couldn't see anything. What was that guy doing? He's following her. Wait. There's something in his hand! No! Words rushed to his mouth. "Hitomi! Behind you!" She turned. "Van? Van!" It was too late. He could already see her smiling face turn into a look of horror as she saw what was in front of her. "Van help me!" He had her. He saw red and knew the sick sight of blood. Many battles had prepared him for loss but not like this. Not Hitomi. The man disappeared. If Van could reach her he could save her. If he could just reach her. "Hitomi! Wait! Hold on!" Running through the cold street he finally reached her.

He held her. He could help her. He had to. He couldn't lose her. "Van- "she whispered. He looked at her. "You'll be okay. I'll make sure of that. Don't worry, I'm here." Even as he said these words he knew they weren't true. Blood soaked her clothing and his hands now. Her eyes looked distant, almost like they weren't looking at him. No! She's drifting! "Hitomi! Snap out of it! We're going to get through this!" She still had that far off look as she said, "Never forget-" Then she lay still. "Hitomi! Hitomi! No!"

"Van!" Hitomi awoke drenched in sweat, holding her chest in pain gasping for air. It was a dream. She hadn't died. Van had been there. He had been holding her, but she hadn't felt it. What was that dream? It was so real. It was almost like a vision. She hadn't had a vision since she had left Fanelia. This couldn't have been a vision. It was just a dream; that was it. Nothing more. She lay back down. Just a dream that was it. Just a dream.

Van awoke being shaken by something. "Lord Van!" No, he had to go back. He had to help her. He couldn't listen to that voice. Suddenly he sat up. "Hitomi!" Eyes blood-shot, drenched with sweat and shaking Van awoke. Suddenly he spread his large, graceful wings, nearly hitting the person beside him. He looked around. "Lord Van! Are you okay?" Merle. It was just a dream. Nothing really happened. He hadn't lost her.

"I'm fine Merle. It was just a dream. You can go now."

"But Lord Van, are you sure? You seem so-"

"Go! I'm fine."

Looking at him with a pained face the young cat woman left. Van looked around again. He could still see a few feathers floating down. It was so real. Hitomi died and I did nothing to stop it from happening. Nothing! I couldn't do anything; I was too far away. Tears stung his eyes as these thoughts went through his head. His shoulders shook as he buried his face in his hands and was racked with sobs.