Atlantean Angel
Chapter 1: Now You Know
'Wow... It's been six years since I left. Why did I leave? It seems so hard to remember why now. Oh right, my family and friends, and my life, were here. Or what I thought was my life. I realize now that what I went through became part of my life. Sure we were only fifteen and that too made me think what I was... no, what we were feeling, could not have been true. Oh, but it was so true... He was so far away and yet was always right here with me. Our souls connected and let us, in some sense, communicate with each other. It was mostly feelings and emotions but if we both focused on it, some times we could talk in our minds.
Six years...a lot has happened looking back on it. I decided it was time to grow up. No more tarot reading, I promised myself I wouldn't (and with that there were no more visions, thankfully). I continued on in track and even won at nationals three times in a row before I reached my peak and decided to stop. Then there's school, it used to be such a problem for me, an annoyance, but that too changed. Something about me, mentally, was different (but good different) when I came back; the knowledge and the grades came without effort. So much so I graduated in two years, a year early for my age, and that doesn't happen too often in the high school I came from. It kind of scares me how much I've learned and absorbed in six years, it almost doesn't seem normal.
Anyway, I went on to university to study, of all things, ancient and medieval civilizations, and myths and legends of the world. It's funny how many of Earth's myths I've actually seen on my travels. My parents were so proud when I graduated at the top of my class. They're still beaming three months later, so are Yukari and Amano.
Heh, I used to have the biggest crush on Amano. It still makes me laugh how bad I had it for him. It wasn't until right before I left the second time that I finally clued in on Yukari's feelings. I was so blind. I just had a girlish crush but she had genuine feeling for him. When I left, Amano decided to stay in Japan until I came back. I found out then that Yukari had revealed her feelings and Amano felt the same way. He had consented to kiss me, and I'm glad it didn't happen, just because I had asked him as a favour. Even though, he eventually did left for England with his family, Yukari and him hit it off really well for a long distance relationship. At least I was here on Yukari's end to help her through the rough patches. I know exactly how she felt. They have been going strong for nearly six years as well.
Anyway, even though I had already done so much with my life, there is one thing I am really pleased with myself for. Along with school, and track I took up a 'masters' martial arts class. We did everything you could think of. It was like a combination of the major styles. The traditional body and mind forms of the art but we also extended into weapons training. My sensei still can't believe the progress of someone who'd never even thought of this sort of thing before; who couldn't even fathom the idea of killing; someone who was always first to believe there was good in everyone. Nevertheless, as far as self-defence can go, I realized that when it came to combat on my journey, I was never able to fight my own battles. Now I can beat 4 of the 5 Grand Masters in the country. As I began to train, I told him when we were able to talk and he was sceptical at first but as I progressed, his emotions were proud and supportive.
I miss him so much more now. Two months is an eternity. I don't think I understood how much I had until it was gone, and I can't even figure out why... ... why? ... "
With the last dot, Hitomi had to choke back another flow of tears from her eyes. She looked over her latest entry into her journal. It seemed as the anniversary of the day she met the dragon drew closer, all she could do was write her thoughts down. People could tell something was going on but right now, she could not seem to get more than two words out about what she went through. There were so many times it nearly came out but as soon as she began to think about her ordeal, she would fling herself it to a tizzy and end up in heart wrenching tears. The thoughts had become painful to her and the pain was slowly consuming her.
Hitomi knelt down to the hard wood floor under her room's windowsill and pried the loose floorboard up and on to her lap. She careful took out the fireproof lock box that lay in the bottom of the secret compartment, and placed it beside her, as she eased the board back in to the floor.
She pulled the box back to her, while she relaxed against the wall. Hitomi took the silver key off the chain around her neck and slowly unlocked the container. Carefully opening the lid, Hitomi let out a muffled sob, for on top of the pile of journal papers, texts on Atlantis, her tarot cards and rough drawings, lay the single shock white feather that he had given her before she left.
Hitomi let her fingers glide over top of its smooth texture, and felt a shiver go across her shoulder blades. She suddenly had a mysterious feeling in the pit of her stomach. It felt as if that shiver was a sign. Of what she had no idea, so instead of dwelling on the feeling, Hitomi cautiously lifted the feather up and brushed it against her cheek. A new bout of tears began as soon as the almost silken item connected with her skin.
She attempted to regain herself while as picked up the 6 years worth of journals and records she kept. With the feather in hand, Hitomi re-read every word that she had written in the past, and could almost feel her soul being shrouded in pain and depression.
Hitomi did not count the minutes and hours that pasted as she reminisced about that secret world and the people she knew. When she finally came to the end, Hitomi simply placed her latest entry on the pile; laid the precious gift on top, locked the lid and replaced the box into its compartment in the floor.
She then picked herself off the floor and made her way to her bed across from the window. Gingerly stretching out on the sheets, Hitomi had finally come to a decision. "Tomorrow, I'll tell her...If I don't get this out to someone, I fear my spirit will finally die," the last word echoed in the room and hung heavily in the air as uneasy sleep begun to claim the frail, young woman.
Hanging between the waking world and the one of dreams, Hitomi felt compelled to say one last thing, in the vain hope of a reply from another world, "Van."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Come on, Hitomi! Tell me what's wrong," the insistent, auburn-haired Yukari begged. She was attempting to get Hitomi to open up to her," Hitomi, you called me this morning and said that you need to tell me something. Something that you've kept secret from me for a long time. As far as I can remember, you've never kept anything from me before, why now? This secret, whatever it is, is hurting you! I see it everyday. Please would you just tell me? "
Hitomi sat on the edge of a stonewall facing the track that started her journey into love, life and loss. She didn't really want to talk or think about it but it was all she could do. The names and faces kept floating through her mind; Allen, Millerna, Merle, Van . . . So many memories, it seemed so hard to go on. Yukari would understand if she told her but it was Hitomi who was pulling back. Two months ago she would have been all ready to tell Yukari about Gaea and Van's feelings encouraged her to but then suddenly their connection was broken, in mid-thought.
She thought back to that crushing conversation. She had just asked for advice, whether she should tell someone or not. Bring a person into the Gaean knowledge or just keep it to herself. His voice, slightly deeper and more mature from the years, came comfortingly into her mind, "No one can force you Hitomi; it is completely up to you. But you know, getting it in the open would probably lift some weight off you shoulders. It did for me when I opened to you about Folken. It is up to you, but you know I'm always here with y......"
Then there were silence and a gaping hole in her heart. She couldn't concentrate without him. She couldn't think. Instead, she pulled back into her own little world. So, for the past two months Hitomi had been alone in her thoughts, lost, and depressed. Her health was a losing battle as well. She would cry herself to sleep longing to hear Van's thoughts. Her mind and her body were suffering because she couldn't feel any trace of him. This loneliness was wearing her thin. She was plagued with headaches, weakness, and insomnia. Hitomi sat with her arms wrapped tightly around her chest, trying to prepare herself for what she was going to do.
"Hitomi please. Talk to me. I want to know what is happening to you. I want to listen," pleaded Yukairi, as she took Hitomi wrist in her hand and shook it.
" Yukari," Hitomi began feeling a single tear roll gently down her cheek," do you really want to know? I've wanted to tell you so many times. I . . . I was just so afraid!" she choked out, beginning to cry.
Yukari moved swiftly, siting next to her sobbing friend, and held her tightly "Afraid of what? You're like a sister to me; we've been through nearly everything together. You can always tell me anything. You know that. I really want to know."
Hitomi raised her head, and pulled Yukari's eyes into her own emerald depths." Fine, I will tell you, but I am placing my complete faith in you that you will never tell anyone about this. Some things may seem impossible, but I would never, ever lie about this. It means too much to me. Promise me not a word to anyone..." Hitomi started, watching Yukari nod and swear on her life, in anticipation of Hitomi's secret. Tears began to fall more steadily,
"Well," she sniffed," you remember the day it happened. It would be six and a half years in five days; it was the day the dragon and Van appeared . . . "
Hitomi went on telling Yukari almost everything. Allen's misplaced love for her was her own, and no one would ever know.
As Hitomi finished, Yukari sat staring at her in disbelief. " My last gift to Van was my pendant and my heart. His promise to me and one of his white feathers was his."
Her tears had long since dried up and Hitomi felt relieved to let out all that bottle emotion after so long.
" So you think you're directly attached to Gaea through that pendant..."
"Yes, but I think it was more a combination of the feelings between Van and myself, along with the pendant. My grandmother had passed down that pendant to me. No one knew how she first got it. (Hitomi knew, she had seen it in a vision on Gaea, but that hadn't entered her mind) For some reason my grandmother didn't give it to my mother but me instead. I know it was kind of an heirloom and I shouldn't have given it away but I don't regret it for a moment."
"... And you haven't spoke to or felt Van in two months?"
"No, I haven't. Van did not seem like he was going to leave. He just did. Yukari, I'm afraid that something happened to him or he may have given his heart to someone else," Hitomi cried out, beginning to cry again at the thought of losing Van forever.
" Hitomi don't be stupid. I have never met him and I can tell that he loves you and only you. Now... Hitomi, I am going to ask you a question and I want you to completely truthful - if you don't see Van again are you going to get worse? I mean, will you ever be happy without him?" Yukari asked in all seriousness, staring into the eyes that once held so much hope.
" Truth? No, I won't. I can't ever be happy without him. I know now that it's just not possible for me Yukari. My heart is his, even if I never actually told him and if I don't find out how he feels, I'll just fade away. What's worse is that during all the time I did have with him, I was too chicken to tell him how I felt and now I don't think I will ever get the chance. That's the problem, I gave him my pendant, and now I don't know how to go back...and even if I did know, how I could make that decision? My life is here, my family and my friends. This is why I left in the first place."
Yukari looked deeply into Hitomi's eyes. Pulling at her memories, Yukari noticed that even though her hair was longer and her body had filled out, Hitomi hadn't really changed after all these years. She still had those bright green eyes that could hold so much hope, the perfect athlete's body, but she did noticed for the first time how pale Hitomi really was today. It had been one of the nicest, summer days for Japan in the last three years and yet Hitomi came out in her sweatshirt and blue jeans, complaining she was cold.
"Hitomi, you don't look so good. Are you feeling alright?"
" Now that you mention it, I don't feel that good. My . . . my head kind of hurts," Hitomi answered," it hurts a lot actually. Almost the same pain as the ones I used to get right before a really intense vision. But I haven't had one of those since I left Gaea . . . " Hitomi cried out in pain as she slowly slip into a vision. She could feel herself falling off the wall toward the pavement behind her, before being consumed by darkness.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Where I am? Hitomi felt light as if she wasn't really touching the ground. She opened her eyes and found herself being drawn to the edge of a cliff. Looking around from side to side, Hitomi could see that the cliff was surrounded with a thick forest of trees. She looked up toward the sky and saw the moon and . . . something else. Earth! When the initial shock of seeing it once again had subsided, Hitomi knew that she was on Gaea.
Hitomi... "Hello? Is someone there?" is destiny.... "What? What are you saying? Hello?" Hitomi called out to the sky.
Turning back around to face the forest she saw people at the edge of the tree line. One of them had huge ebony black wings spread out behind his muscular body. His head topped with a bush of teal blue hair was bent down and he was crouched over something . . . no someone. As she stared at the man, she realized that he looked an awfully lot like Folken, Van's older brother. But he had died; she was there with him when it had happened. Not only was he dead, but Folken had a mechanical arm, this man didn't. 'NO there isn't any way it could be Folken . . . could it?'
Must save him... "What, save Folken? He's already dead," she called out to the voice with no reply. Hitomi knew this wasn't a normal vision, but that it must play out and turned back to the group.
Her gaze then moved toward a tall, kneeling figure with short shoulder length blonde hair in a ponytail. Looking at his face, Hitomi instantly recognized Allen Schezar there with the Folken look alike. 'What happened to his hair?" Hitomi thought to herself.
Save him...Getting very annoyed, Hitomi called out, "SAVE WHO? What are you talking about?"
The last person she saw she knew who it was right away. She could not mistake those big roaming eyes (however at the moment they were tearful and red), the pinky-red hair, and the huge furry ears. Hitomi knew that that was Merle and no other. Seeing her made Hitomi's heart beat faster, because Merle never strayed far away from Van.
As Hitomi peered around the group looking for him, she acknowledged how much they had changed and grew older since she left. Allen looked still as chiselled and handsome has he had when she had left. Although now, it seems his age was finally showing through his eyes. Folken, however looked the same as the day he had died with Hitomi standing there, watching it happen. Hitomi shivered as the memory of his body fell to the cold marble floor. In Hitomi's opinion, the person she felt had changed the most was Merle. Looking more closely, Hitomi saw just how much she had changed. The puffs of fur that had been on her ankles, wrists and shoulders had smoothed out and almost melded with the rest of her sleek coat. The colour of Merle's fur had lost none of it radiance and was accentuated by the now mid-back length pink hair that hung over her shoulders. Hitomi's gaze moved up to Merle's face but instead of her normally cheerful expression, she was met with a look of deep agony.
Examining her companions' faces, a shiver crept up Hitomi's back. The look that they wore gave her the creeps. They all looked extremely distraught, as if something had happened that they would never get over. 'What could make them act that way?'
It was then that... she saw him. Van.
He was lying flat with his stomach on the ground and his brilliant white wings exposed behind him. There was something wrong though. Some sort of red liquid covered them and his eyes were wide open. Hitomi cried out to them, " Why isn't he moving?"
As she stumbled forward for a better look, she knew why. Hitomi collapsed to her knees in anguish. He was dead. Two fatal gashes graced his body. One in the lower part of his back, and the other across his neck. His blood, his life had seeped out of them. The sight pulled Hitomi to into a shock of sobs. Looking at his body enraged and tormented her.
Suddenly the air around them turned a bright pink colour. The voice had resumed its overlapping whispers Save him... destiny... must save...only you...
A small pendant rose up off Van's neck and floated over to Hitomi. As all four pairs of eyes followed it, the pendant landed in palm of Hitomi's left hand. Staring at it, it became blinding. A bright flash from it made them all turn away. As Hitomi looked back at the stone in her hand, she gasped in surprise. There were three pendants, not one. They were all different colours. There were black, white, and one that was almost like an iridescent glass that gave off all the colours imaginable. Each of them had their own separate chain attached to it.
Continuing to sob, Hitomi sat stiffly on her knees as a horrible pain sharply stung at her back. It felt as if something were tearing out through her skin. Looking toward her companions for help, all she could see were fingers pointed at her in accusation. " Me . . . what did I do? Help me" Hitomi pleaded.
"You are the only one who can help him," Merle yelled out at her. Picking up Van's sword from his side. "You know how to use it. It's in you. They are in you. Concentrate! You must use them. Save Lord Van, Hitomi. Save him. Now!".
Hitomi wanted to pick up the sword but was afraid of what might happen. All she could do was stare at it. She gasped as the sword rose up off Merle's hand and removed itself from its scabbard. Floating directly toward her, Hitomi raised her hand to take the sleek silver sword. As she went to grab the handle, it moved sharply and Hitomi sliced the side of her body with the blade instead. Blood began to seep steadily from her wound on to the ground. Pain and sorrow washed over her, though none as anguishing as the one resonating from her back. It was growing, consuming her, and tearing out of her skin. Hitomi collapsed over in pain and screamed in horror . . .
Chapter 1: Now You Know
'Wow... It's been six years since I left. Why did I leave? It seems so hard to remember why now. Oh right, my family and friends, and my life, were here. Or what I thought was my life. I realize now that what I went through became part of my life. Sure we were only fifteen and that too made me think what I was... no, what we were feeling, could not have been true. Oh, but it was so true... He was so far away and yet was always right here with me. Our souls connected and let us, in some sense, communicate with each other. It was mostly feelings and emotions but if we both focused on it, some times we could talk in our minds.
Six years...a lot has happened looking back on it. I decided it was time to grow up. No more tarot reading, I promised myself I wouldn't (and with that there were no more visions, thankfully). I continued on in track and even won at nationals three times in a row before I reached my peak and decided to stop. Then there's school, it used to be such a problem for me, an annoyance, but that too changed. Something about me, mentally, was different (but good different) when I came back; the knowledge and the grades came without effort. So much so I graduated in two years, a year early for my age, and that doesn't happen too often in the high school I came from. It kind of scares me how much I've learned and absorbed in six years, it almost doesn't seem normal.
Anyway, I went on to university to study, of all things, ancient and medieval civilizations, and myths and legends of the world. It's funny how many of Earth's myths I've actually seen on my travels. My parents were so proud when I graduated at the top of my class. They're still beaming three months later, so are Yukari and Amano.
Heh, I used to have the biggest crush on Amano. It still makes me laugh how bad I had it for him. It wasn't until right before I left the second time that I finally clued in on Yukari's feelings. I was so blind. I just had a girlish crush but she had genuine feeling for him. When I left, Amano decided to stay in Japan until I came back. I found out then that Yukari had revealed her feelings and Amano felt the same way. He had consented to kiss me, and I'm glad it didn't happen, just because I had asked him as a favour. Even though, he eventually did left for England with his family, Yukari and him hit it off really well for a long distance relationship. At least I was here on Yukari's end to help her through the rough patches. I know exactly how she felt. They have been going strong for nearly six years as well.
Anyway, even though I had already done so much with my life, there is one thing I am really pleased with myself for. Along with school, and track I took up a 'masters' martial arts class. We did everything you could think of. It was like a combination of the major styles. The traditional body and mind forms of the art but we also extended into weapons training. My sensei still can't believe the progress of someone who'd never even thought of this sort of thing before; who couldn't even fathom the idea of killing; someone who was always first to believe there was good in everyone. Nevertheless, as far as self-defence can go, I realized that when it came to combat on my journey, I was never able to fight my own battles. Now I can beat 4 of the 5 Grand Masters in the country. As I began to train, I told him when we were able to talk and he was sceptical at first but as I progressed, his emotions were proud and supportive.
I miss him so much more now. Two months is an eternity. I don't think I understood how much I had until it was gone, and I can't even figure out why... ... why? ... "
With the last dot, Hitomi had to choke back another flow of tears from her eyes. She looked over her latest entry into her journal. It seemed as the anniversary of the day she met the dragon drew closer, all she could do was write her thoughts down. People could tell something was going on but right now, she could not seem to get more than two words out about what she went through. There were so many times it nearly came out but as soon as she began to think about her ordeal, she would fling herself it to a tizzy and end up in heart wrenching tears. The thoughts had become painful to her and the pain was slowly consuming her.
Hitomi knelt down to the hard wood floor under her room's windowsill and pried the loose floorboard up and on to her lap. She careful took out the fireproof lock box that lay in the bottom of the secret compartment, and placed it beside her, as she eased the board back in to the floor.
She pulled the box back to her, while she relaxed against the wall. Hitomi took the silver key off the chain around her neck and slowly unlocked the container. Carefully opening the lid, Hitomi let out a muffled sob, for on top of the pile of journal papers, texts on Atlantis, her tarot cards and rough drawings, lay the single shock white feather that he had given her before she left.
Hitomi let her fingers glide over top of its smooth texture, and felt a shiver go across her shoulder blades. She suddenly had a mysterious feeling in the pit of her stomach. It felt as if that shiver was a sign. Of what she had no idea, so instead of dwelling on the feeling, Hitomi cautiously lifted the feather up and brushed it against her cheek. A new bout of tears began as soon as the almost silken item connected with her skin.
She attempted to regain herself while as picked up the 6 years worth of journals and records she kept. With the feather in hand, Hitomi re-read every word that she had written in the past, and could almost feel her soul being shrouded in pain and depression.
Hitomi did not count the minutes and hours that pasted as she reminisced about that secret world and the people she knew. When she finally came to the end, Hitomi simply placed her latest entry on the pile; laid the precious gift on top, locked the lid and replaced the box into its compartment in the floor.
She then picked herself off the floor and made her way to her bed across from the window. Gingerly stretching out on the sheets, Hitomi had finally come to a decision. "Tomorrow, I'll tell her...If I don't get this out to someone, I fear my spirit will finally die," the last word echoed in the room and hung heavily in the air as uneasy sleep begun to claim the frail, young woman.
Hanging between the waking world and the one of dreams, Hitomi felt compelled to say one last thing, in the vain hope of a reply from another world, "Van."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Come on, Hitomi! Tell me what's wrong," the insistent, auburn-haired Yukari begged. She was attempting to get Hitomi to open up to her," Hitomi, you called me this morning and said that you need to tell me something. Something that you've kept secret from me for a long time. As far as I can remember, you've never kept anything from me before, why now? This secret, whatever it is, is hurting you! I see it everyday. Please would you just tell me? "
Hitomi sat on the edge of a stonewall facing the track that started her journey into love, life and loss. She didn't really want to talk or think about it but it was all she could do. The names and faces kept floating through her mind; Allen, Millerna, Merle, Van . . . So many memories, it seemed so hard to go on. Yukari would understand if she told her but it was Hitomi who was pulling back. Two months ago she would have been all ready to tell Yukari about Gaea and Van's feelings encouraged her to but then suddenly their connection was broken, in mid-thought.
She thought back to that crushing conversation. She had just asked for advice, whether she should tell someone or not. Bring a person into the Gaean knowledge or just keep it to herself. His voice, slightly deeper and more mature from the years, came comfortingly into her mind, "No one can force you Hitomi; it is completely up to you. But you know, getting it in the open would probably lift some weight off you shoulders. It did for me when I opened to you about Folken. It is up to you, but you know I'm always here with y......"
Then there were silence and a gaping hole in her heart. She couldn't concentrate without him. She couldn't think. Instead, she pulled back into her own little world. So, for the past two months Hitomi had been alone in her thoughts, lost, and depressed. Her health was a losing battle as well. She would cry herself to sleep longing to hear Van's thoughts. Her mind and her body were suffering because she couldn't feel any trace of him. This loneliness was wearing her thin. She was plagued with headaches, weakness, and insomnia. Hitomi sat with her arms wrapped tightly around her chest, trying to prepare herself for what she was going to do.
"Hitomi please. Talk to me. I want to know what is happening to you. I want to listen," pleaded Yukairi, as she took Hitomi wrist in her hand and shook it.
" Yukari," Hitomi began feeling a single tear roll gently down her cheek," do you really want to know? I've wanted to tell you so many times. I . . . I was just so afraid!" she choked out, beginning to cry.
Yukari moved swiftly, siting next to her sobbing friend, and held her tightly "Afraid of what? You're like a sister to me; we've been through nearly everything together. You can always tell me anything. You know that. I really want to know."
Hitomi raised her head, and pulled Yukari's eyes into her own emerald depths." Fine, I will tell you, but I am placing my complete faith in you that you will never tell anyone about this. Some things may seem impossible, but I would never, ever lie about this. It means too much to me. Promise me not a word to anyone..." Hitomi started, watching Yukari nod and swear on her life, in anticipation of Hitomi's secret. Tears began to fall more steadily,
"Well," she sniffed," you remember the day it happened. It would be six and a half years in five days; it was the day the dragon and Van appeared . . . "
Hitomi went on telling Yukari almost everything. Allen's misplaced love for her was her own, and no one would ever know.
As Hitomi finished, Yukari sat staring at her in disbelief. " My last gift to Van was my pendant and my heart. His promise to me and one of his white feathers was his."
Her tears had long since dried up and Hitomi felt relieved to let out all that bottle emotion after so long.
" So you think you're directly attached to Gaea through that pendant..."
"Yes, but I think it was more a combination of the feelings between Van and myself, along with the pendant. My grandmother had passed down that pendant to me. No one knew how she first got it. (Hitomi knew, she had seen it in a vision on Gaea, but that hadn't entered her mind) For some reason my grandmother didn't give it to my mother but me instead. I know it was kind of an heirloom and I shouldn't have given it away but I don't regret it for a moment."
"... And you haven't spoke to or felt Van in two months?"
"No, I haven't. Van did not seem like he was going to leave. He just did. Yukari, I'm afraid that something happened to him or he may have given his heart to someone else," Hitomi cried out, beginning to cry again at the thought of losing Van forever.
" Hitomi don't be stupid. I have never met him and I can tell that he loves you and only you. Now... Hitomi, I am going to ask you a question and I want you to completely truthful - if you don't see Van again are you going to get worse? I mean, will you ever be happy without him?" Yukari asked in all seriousness, staring into the eyes that once held so much hope.
" Truth? No, I won't. I can't ever be happy without him. I know now that it's just not possible for me Yukari. My heart is his, even if I never actually told him and if I don't find out how he feels, I'll just fade away. What's worse is that during all the time I did have with him, I was too chicken to tell him how I felt and now I don't think I will ever get the chance. That's the problem, I gave him my pendant, and now I don't know how to go back...and even if I did know, how I could make that decision? My life is here, my family and my friends. This is why I left in the first place."
Yukari looked deeply into Hitomi's eyes. Pulling at her memories, Yukari noticed that even though her hair was longer and her body had filled out, Hitomi hadn't really changed after all these years. She still had those bright green eyes that could hold so much hope, the perfect athlete's body, but she did noticed for the first time how pale Hitomi really was today. It had been one of the nicest, summer days for Japan in the last three years and yet Hitomi came out in her sweatshirt and blue jeans, complaining she was cold.
"Hitomi, you don't look so good. Are you feeling alright?"
" Now that you mention it, I don't feel that good. My . . . my head kind of hurts," Hitomi answered," it hurts a lot actually. Almost the same pain as the ones I used to get right before a really intense vision. But I haven't had one of those since I left Gaea . . . " Hitomi cried out in pain as she slowly slip into a vision. She could feel herself falling off the wall toward the pavement behind her, before being consumed by darkness.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Where I am? Hitomi felt light as if she wasn't really touching the ground. She opened her eyes and found herself being drawn to the edge of a cliff. Looking around from side to side, Hitomi could see that the cliff was surrounded with a thick forest of trees. She looked up toward the sky and saw the moon and . . . something else. Earth! When the initial shock of seeing it once again had subsided, Hitomi knew that she was on Gaea.
Hitomi... "Hello? Is someone there?" is destiny.... "What? What are you saying? Hello?" Hitomi called out to the sky.
Turning back around to face the forest she saw people at the edge of the tree line. One of them had huge ebony black wings spread out behind his muscular body. His head topped with a bush of teal blue hair was bent down and he was crouched over something . . . no someone. As she stared at the man, she realized that he looked an awfully lot like Folken, Van's older brother. But he had died; she was there with him when it had happened. Not only was he dead, but Folken had a mechanical arm, this man didn't. 'NO there isn't any way it could be Folken . . . could it?'
Must save him... "What, save Folken? He's already dead," she called out to the voice with no reply. Hitomi knew this wasn't a normal vision, but that it must play out and turned back to the group.
Her gaze then moved toward a tall, kneeling figure with short shoulder length blonde hair in a ponytail. Looking at his face, Hitomi instantly recognized Allen Schezar there with the Folken look alike. 'What happened to his hair?" Hitomi thought to herself.
Save him...Getting very annoyed, Hitomi called out, "SAVE WHO? What are you talking about?"
The last person she saw she knew who it was right away. She could not mistake those big roaming eyes (however at the moment they were tearful and red), the pinky-red hair, and the huge furry ears. Hitomi knew that that was Merle and no other. Seeing her made Hitomi's heart beat faster, because Merle never strayed far away from Van.
As Hitomi peered around the group looking for him, she acknowledged how much they had changed and grew older since she left. Allen looked still as chiselled and handsome has he had when she had left. Although now, it seems his age was finally showing through his eyes. Folken, however looked the same as the day he had died with Hitomi standing there, watching it happen. Hitomi shivered as the memory of his body fell to the cold marble floor. In Hitomi's opinion, the person she felt had changed the most was Merle. Looking more closely, Hitomi saw just how much she had changed. The puffs of fur that had been on her ankles, wrists and shoulders had smoothed out and almost melded with the rest of her sleek coat. The colour of Merle's fur had lost none of it radiance and was accentuated by the now mid-back length pink hair that hung over her shoulders. Hitomi's gaze moved up to Merle's face but instead of her normally cheerful expression, she was met with a look of deep agony.
Examining her companions' faces, a shiver crept up Hitomi's back. The look that they wore gave her the creeps. They all looked extremely distraught, as if something had happened that they would never get over. 'What could make them act that way?'
It was then that... she saw him. Van.
He was lying flat with his stomach on the ground and his brilliant white wings exposed behind him. There was something wrong though. Some sort of red liquid covered them and his eyes were wide open. Hitomi cried out to them, " Why isn't he moving?"
As she stumbled forward for a better look, she knew why. Hitomi collapsed to her knees in anguish. He was dead. Two fatal gashes graced his body. One in the lower part of his back, and the other across his neck. His blood, his life had seeped out of them. The sight pulled Hitomi to into a shock of sobs. Looking at his body enraged and tormented her.
Suddenly the air around them turned a bright pink colour. The voice had resumed its overlapping whispers Save him... destiny... must save...only you...
A small pendant rose up off Van's neck and floated over to Hitomi. As all four pairs of eyes followed it, the pendant landed in palm of Hitomi's left hand. Staring at it, it became blinding. A bright flash from it made them all turn away. As Hitomi looked back at the stone in her hand, she gasped in surprise. There were three pendants, not one. They were all different colours. There were black, white, and one that was almost like an iridescent glass that gave off all the colours imaginable. Each of them had their own separate chain attached to it.
Continuing to sob, Hitomi sat stiffly on her knees as a horrible pain sharply stung at her back. It felt as if something were tearing out through her skin. Looking toward her companions for help, all she could see were fingers pointed at her in accusation. " Me . . . what did I do? Help me" Hitomi pleaded.
"You are the only one who can help him," Merle yelled out at her. Picking up Van's sword from his side. "You know how to use it. It's in you. They are in you. Concentrate! You must use them. Save Lord Van, Hitomi. Save him. Now!".
Hitomi wanted to pick up the sword but was afraid of what might happen. All she could do was stare at it. She gasped as the sword rose up off Merle's hand and removed itself from its scabbard. Floating directly toward her, Hitomi raised her hand to take the sleek silver sword. As she went to grab the handle, it moved sharply and Hitomi sliced the side of her body with the blade instead. Blood began to seep steadily from her wound on to the ground. Pain and sorrow washed over her, though none as anguishing as the one resonating from her back. It was growing, consuming her, and tearing out of her skin. Hitomi collapsed over in pain and screamed in horror . . .