*scans the environment, nature-show style* I got away... Phew. Sorry, I didn't update fast enough; for some reason FF.Net wasn't working for me(?). I don't know why. Okay, now to comment on the chapter... I can't do it, I might give something away. You'll just have to read it and find out.





Chapter 15-
To Save a Life so Precious

Her horse was ready. She pulled on its bridle to urge it out of the stable, while the horse stayed put in its stubbornness. Finally, Hitomi couldn't stand it any longer and she gave the horse a smack on its rear end, making it come out of its stall in no time. She jumped onto it and quickly ran out into the streets of Herisia.

Hitomi departed from the town in a matter of minutes, her nightgown and coat billowing out behind her as the wind sidled its way through the fabric. Her mind only knew one thing; she had to get to Van; she just had to, even if hell stood in her way and killed her first, she would still get there. She prayed, she begged, she bargained with any deity she could think of, that Van could be safe from harm.

The trail seemed to stretch out before her, growing longer with every step forward. Even if it did seem that way, she knew she had to get there. Never had her focus been so absolute as this. Van, she begged him, as if he could hear, please be safe.

The journey continued smoothly, as least to the passerby, but to Hitomi, it already felt like it was too late. No. She had to make it. That was the whole point of the vision; so she could protect Van. Herisia swiftly fell behind the horizon, and the monastery was not far away now. She now felt grateful that she had not had the vision when they had gotten back to Asturia; then there would have been no way to make it in time. While they had been travelling, Hitomi had actually insisted that they continue, but the driver had stopped anyway. Her heart went out in thankfulness to the driver for stopping them in Herisia.

She drove her horse faster, almost testing the animal's limits when something resounded around her, a voice, that almost made Hitomi fall off. The voice! She knew it, but she couldn't tell who or what it belonged to, it sounded so distant. Rearing her horse to a stop, against her better judgement, she closed her eyes to listen closely to the voice she had heard.

Hitomi...? Can you hear me...? The voice always sounded like it echoed away after it spoke the last word in a sentence. Finally, the owner of the voice's name rang out clear in Hitomi's mind. Faye! Was it Faye? How?! She couldn't- But Hitomi left these questions in the back of her mind and listened, trying to respond to her.

Faye. I'm here. But how...? The voice whispered again, seemingly from above, I'm here to warn you, but I don't have long to tell you. Finally, the girl's image appeared in front of her, terrifying Hitomi's horse. Struggling to steady it, she asked aloud, "Faye? All right, tell me what you need to say." The girl's ghost shook her head, and held her hands to her head. Hitomi got the message.

Tell me what you need to tell me. Hitomi thought. The pallid girl smiled sadly, and once again, spoke without using her mouth. I'm sure you already know this, but Van is in trouble. But what you do not know is why. The girl looked up, and Hitomi was sure she could see crystalline tears streaming silently down her face. My father, King Gendas, is deceiving Van. My marriage to him was only to secure his assets in Fanelia, that came to him from me. As we speak, he is sending an assassin to kill Van, so he can secure the rest. Please, save him. Please, please, Hitomi. The girl's figure began to wane, becoming absorbed into the environment. She looked around her, as if she didn't know what was happening herself. Her invisible tears even disappeared as she whipped her head around, glancing at her vanishing body.

Hitomi, go now! She pleaded with her eyes. Hitomi took a step toward her, her hand outstretched, but when she tried to touch the transparent body, it vanished completely. The look as Faye vanished stuck fast in Hitomi's mind; it was a confused look. Faye still did not quite understand what had happened to her, Hitomi could tell. This message, maybe it was the one Van had been praying for as she saw him on the altar, but if it was, then why didn't Van receive it instead of her? It didn't make sense. But Hitomi knew it was still an urgent message, and she had to stop Gendas' hired assassin. She jumped on her horse again, and set off again.

With these different thoughts of what had happened in her head, Hitomi realized that in fact, she was covering ground quite fast. When she looked up ahead of her, she saw the monastery looming ahead. It didn't appear that anything had happened yet, so peaceful was the building in the moonlight. Hitomi raced into the grounds just as an image of Van flashed in front of her. She saw that he was praying, as he had been in the vision. But this was still only an image. Hitomi raced up to the building, practically falling off her horse in haste. The doors were unlocked, but were heavy. Hitomi struggled to open them, but it was still too hard. Finally, the doors gave and she fell against them, crashing on the marble floor.

Getting to her feet, she ran straight ahead. The altar. It could be anywhere. But her feet seemed to gain a mind of their own, and she raced, as if on air, toward the place where her feet led her. She stared forever ahead, entering a room with brilliant moonlight spilling in through the huge windows. This was the room. Hitomi could feel it. But was Van here? Looking straight ahead, she saw that sure enough, he was. What of the other man? Hitomi didn't care if she could see whether he was there or not; she had always wasted her time in the visions looking for him. So instead she ran, faster than her dreams usually allowed, toward where Van was kneeling.

"VAN!" she called, her voice actually able to produce the word. It almost scared her, the sound of her voice vibrating off the walls as she came ever closer to his figure, still in prayer. His body turned to her, as his eyes became so wide the moonlight reflected in them. Hitomi almost reached him as Van held out his arms to her, speechlessly. Smiling in relief, she came to his side when a shadow appeared in front of her. Hitomi stopped, her arms spread wide as the weapon the shadow brandished found its way into her breast.

Hitomi flinched as the sword sank deeply into her, and she struggled to stay on her feet. The shadow of the man wrenched the sword from her chest and held it up again. Hitomi remained on her feet, staggering to fully stand up. Blood poured from her chest, but as if she didn't notice, she held her arms out to her sides, still intent on blocking him. The shadowed man brought it down once again, this time piercing through her shoulder. When Hitomi still did not fall down, he thrust the sword back into her first wound and she finally fell. Her body sank to the floor as if in slow motion, and she lay sprawled across the floor, as blood began to flow fresh from the enlarged wound.

The shadow gasped for breath as he glared at Hitomi's near lifeless body, and raised the sword upward to kill his originally sought out victim.

But Van could not move. His limbs seemed to have been frozen. His eyes grew white at the sight of Hitomi's body seemingly floating through the air, until it came to rest upon the floor. Her arms were still spread out wide, and her eyes had turned white. Van gazed at her, his breathing becoming hoarse until he could do no more than call out her name.

"HITOMI!!" he shouted. It was as if the power of his own voice brought feeling back to his legs, and he stood up. Anger flowed through his veins like blood and he charged at the shadowed man, who was so intent on killing him. His madness seem to make him clumsy, as he fumbled around in the dark, swinging his fist at the man.

"Damn you! Damn you!" he cried out, as his fist made its way into the man's stomach. He struck the man to the ground. The man stood up, wiping the blood from his face. Hitomi's blood, or his own blood? Van wasn't sure, even as he advanced upon him. The man swung out wide again, narrowly missing Van as he casually moved to the side, as if anger had evaporated and cool determination had set in. Forcing his body weight against him, he sent the man into the wall, his hands around his throat. In this struggle, the man sank to the floor and Van backed away from the fallen man, stepping on the sword in his hand.

Van picked up the sword, raising it to the sky and, glaring at the man with hatred, plunged it deep into his chest. The man gasped, holding his hands in front of him, almost prayer-like as he fell forward dead. Van tossed the sword aside with a clatter and turned around, running toward where Hitomi lay. She gazed up at the sky, moving her hands toward her chest and examining her blood. Van sank to his knees beside her as she turned her head toward him.

"Van, don't look like that." she whispered upon seeing his horror-stricken face. "I knew this would happen anyway. That's why I came." He reached for her, gently cradling her body in his arms. "Hitomi, he was after me. Why didn't you let him kill me? Why, you stupid girl? Why, why..." Van couldn't finish because he began to choke as he sobbed aloud. Slowly, Hitomi raised her hand to his face.

"I don't know. I just feel like I can't leave you. I'm only here to see that you're safe." Van, his eyes closed, clutched her hand in his trembling one, feeling it grow cold underneath his own. Quickly he opened his eyes and looked at her face, but her eyes were closed. She was dead. Hitomi was dead. Van held her body close, his breathing becoming less audible. Laying her on the cold marble floor, he stood up. Even when I repent, people still die because of me, he thought in anguish. Why does someone like me continue living...?

Glancing at the dead man in the corner, and at his sword, he silently walked over to them. When he reached them, he could hear the tread of many people running toward him. Several of the monks, including the abbot, entered the room, only to see the blood-soaked young man and the two corpses on the floor a short distance from him.

The abbot approached him, imploring what had happened. Van shook his head. "Abbot, I killed them. I killed them both. I should burn in hell for this." The abbot didn't answer, but looked sadly over at the dead man as the monks yanked off his hood.

"It's Yourach!" they exclaimed. Van whipped his head in their direction. Yourach? It couldn't be! He had always shown him such kindness. But yet it was. Van remembered the way he had held his sword, and the way he had walked, with a sort of limp, while they had been fighting. Yourach. The abbot glanced in Hitomi's direction, then back at Van, asking, "Why?" Van again shook his head.

The monks stripped off the dead man's robe and found that he was wearing the uniform of a soldier from Genduta! Had Yourach only been sent to kill me? Van suddenly remembered what Faye had said before she died. Don't be angry with my father, she had said. Gendas had sent the soldier for him, to kill him! Now he knew why. He had only wanted Fanelia. Van knew that, deep in the back of his mind, but he been blinded by his guilt at a death he had not caused. Now another was dead because of him.

The monks lifted Yourach's body, bearing it out of the room. Van watched from under his half-closed eyes as the abbot begged to know what had happened. Van stood mute, of both mind and voice. Finally, the abbot gave up, and with one last glance at him, left the room, following the departing monks.

Van picked up the sword after they left, already soiled by two deaths upon its blade. He eyed the blade raised to his eyes. Well, it will soon be soiled with another death. Hitomi, I'll be with you shortly. Sinking to his knees, he drew the sword to his chest. He hesitated, but even as he thrust, the sword would not go through. Why...? He raised his tear-streaked face, his tired eyes catching sight of a figure before him. When his sight cleared, he saw a beautiful woman standing there. It was his mother!

"Van, stop!" she called to him. He lowered his sword, gazing upon the figure of his mother. She continued, "Don't let Hitomi's sacrifice be in vain." Van sighed, his voice shaky. He leaned on all fours and bowed his head. Some tears began to flow fresh as he looked at Hitomi's body, shaking his head.

"But, Mother..." he whispered, "I can't do this anymore. I can't live without her. I-..." He lifted his head, gazing at his mother's forlorn face, "I- I love her. I love her so much." Van's mother smiled, slowly walking over to her son. She placed her hand upon his bent head, raising it to her eye level.

"Don't you remember..." she began, "that you are Atlantian? A draconian, as I am?" He nodded, as she wiped the tears away from his face. "And do you remember what the power of Atlantis is?" Van shook his head, so she told him.

"The power of Atlantis is the power of your wishes and of your love." she stated. Van did not know how this information would help him in the slightest, until he realized what she meant. He loved her,- Hitomi- and now he had expressed this wish to his mother. The pendant around his neck, which he still kept close to him since the day Hitomi had given it to him a year ago, started to glow. He pulled it out from underneath his shirt as it glowed brighter, shining on his mother's face, which watched with a knowing aura surrounding her.

Van watched in wonder as the pendant released itself from his neck and glided over toward Hitomi's body. The light seemed to intensify as it cast a shadow over her body. Van covered his eyes with his arm as the pendant settled into her body, casting off more light, brighter than that of the moons in the sky that night. Finally, the light died away and Van gasped in amazement. The blood on Hitomi's clothes had completely vanished! He faced his mother, who still wore a smile on her face.

"When you believe in love and wishes, the pendant bears amazing power. Look." She gestured to Hitomi's body. The pendant had disappeared into her body and now her eyelids began to flicker. Van's eyes widened as she opened her eyes and stared up into the ceiling. When he looked yet again at his mother, he saw that she had vanished as well. Hitomi turned her head over to him, a satisfied smile on her lips. Van smiled sadly back, taking hold of her hand, and helping her sit up. She looked up at him longingly as she struggled to speak.

"Neither of us had to die." she said. "Van, I'm glad I could help you." Van put his finger to her lips. "Don't talk. You're still weak." he said. She smiled even more broadly as she thrust her arms around his neck, finally letting herself cry over it all. He leaned his head on hers, gently stroking her hair. "Hitomi..." he whispered over and over. She embraced him closely as he began to tell her how he felt.

"Hitomi, I love you. I always have, and I always will. Despite all I did, and those things I know you must hate me for." he explained. "But I just wanted you to know that. Hitomi, I love you." She pulled away from him and gazed into his face, to see if he was sincere. His eyes told her what she was wondering in her mind, and she no longer doubted him.

"Van..." she breathed, "I love you too." He seemed surprised at her answer for a moment, but then his face softened as he took her face in his hands. Gently, he bent his head and laid his lips tenderly on hers. Hitomi closed her eyes and kissed him back, tears of sadness and joy both streaming down her face. She knew that a time of pain and suffering had come to an end, but she hardly knew what lay ahead. More death, more suffering perhaps? Even if this was so, and was meant to happen, Hitomi and Van both didn't care in that moment that they could share their embrace, on this moonlit night. Anything that would come, they would face, but as of now, it would not be so hard because now, they would always have each other.



_> ... Well, well?! What didja think? The button for your comments is right below! Click it and tell me!!!!! ^_^
PS: The story isn't over, just so you no. I'm just beginning another part... I've still got a bunch more things to do! However, the next chapter might be a while, so please be patient! (I know you will be! ^_^)