*EDITED* *yeah…so…I just fixed up the end to make more sense…thanks Kaurin *smiles* I suspected there was something…just…it didn't sit with me right…and you pointed it out (I suppose. I dunno, I feel better about it now regardless). The only thing I changed was the end scene with Van…so if you wanna read it, be my guest…I don't think it'll really change the plot any though…just makes a little more sense…hopefully…
Woo…next chapter is done!! This one was another hard one to write…for several reasons…such as flow…and content…and time…and I don't suppose I have to explain anything else *smiles* you'll all read it. But yeah.
Thanks:
aradow, Night of the Raven, LiLNeKo, hh, Dreamboat Annie, Macky, Hana, Tevrah, SabineballZ, Sara, dreamingofflyingaway, Gemini dragon, Onigiri Momoko, squeekers, Messenger of Doom
Thanks guys hehe
Disclaimer: don't own it
Chapter 17: Blood
Hitomi was awakened by Van's loud groan.
"My head…"
She propped herself up on her elbows, drowsily blinking the sleep from her eyes. "'Mornin', sunshine," she yawned.
Van's disheveled black hair appeared over the edge of the bed. "What're you doing down there?" he asked in a slightly confused tone, his voice rough from sleep.
"Well, I was sleeping, until you so rudely awakened me."
He frowned. "Why on the floor?"
"You were on the bed."
"Oh." He took in his surroundings. "Right."
"Feel any better?"
"Probably not." He grimaced. "My head hurts something awful…"
"I imagine so."
He scratched his scalp idly. "Uh…I'm sorry about last night. I mean, whatever I said or…didn't say…or did…or…you know…"
"I understand, Van." Hitomi stretched her arms out, feeling the muscles loosen between her shoulder blades. "It's fine."
"Okay." He sat up in the bed, grimacing. "I'm going to go see if Ruhm has anything to ease the pain…"
"He probably deals with this a lot," she chuckled. "I'm sure he'll have something."
Van sent a half-hearted glare her way. "If my mind weren't so fuzzy, I'd come up with a scathing retort to that."
"And I'd just respond in kind." She smirked. "I might even slap you, if I felt so inclined."
He stumbled out the door, mumbling something about 'impossible wenches,' nearly running into the doorjamb.
"If you combed your hair once in a while, you'd probably be able to see better," Hitomi called out after him, grinning at the rude gesture he sent her way.
She rose from her makeshift bed and looked out the window at the beautiful sunny day. The clouds were puffy, but small enough that most of them ceased to pass in front of the sun, rendering the fields continually brightly lit. The tall grasses swayed gently in the breeze, and Hitomi breathed in the clean summer air, absorbing the perfection of the day. She looked off towards the horizon, where she and Van would be traveling the rest of the day. Her forehead creased slightly. Despite the apparent perfection of the day, something didn't seem quite right. Something was definitely…off. But for the life of her, she couldn't fathom what it could be.
Shrugging, she tugged her fingers through her hair in a quick attempt at grooming, and then exited the room to find out what Ruhm had for breakfast. Her stomach was soundly reminding her that she was starving.
"Why'd we have to leave so early?" Van whined, squinting from the bright light.
Hitomi shrugged. "I just…felt like we needed to. Besides, what else would we have done there anyway?"
His dark bangs hung in front of his eyes, like a shield against the glaring sun. "My head still hurts…" he muttered for the millionth time.
She sighed. "Well, you shouldn't have been drinking."
He sent a mild glare her way. "You sound like my mother."
She laughed. "Well, you do need a keeper…"
His eyebrow rose. "Are you volunteering for the position?"
A faint heat rose in her cheeks. She smiled shyly and looked away from him. How was she supposed to answer that question? Especially when the first answer that came to mind wasn't the one she wanted to voice…
"You really want me to perfect the art of slapping?"
Humor. Yes. That was always a good way out of an uncomfortable situation.
"Now that you mention it…" The corners of his lips turned upwards in a rueful smile. "I take it back." He must've caught on to the suddenly-strange atmosphere around them. Either that, or he really believed her vague threat.
Whatever, she told herself. Now quit thinking about that nonsense.
The heat must be getting to her head.
Her eyes idly watched Van in front of her. He had shed his shirt a little while ago, claiming it was 'too hot to think properly.' She mentally stuck her tongue out at him. Easy for him to do. She grimaced and rolled up her sleeves a little higher, the best she could do to try and alleviate the warmth of the sun's intense rays. Of course, without the shirt on he did distract her from the discomfort of the heat…well, on second thought…he actually made it worse. The muscles rippled across his back as he reached down to tug something out of his boot, and she gulped, quickly averting her eyes. His exceedingly masculine form was far too appealing for her very feminine eyes…
Yup. The sun was definitely getting to her head…
As her eyes wandered to the sky in an attempt to see anything but Van, the sun caught her vision, temporarily blinding her.
The next thing she saw stole her breath away.
Allen was calling out battle cries, the men jostled from their merry slumber and shoved into battle. Millerna was ashen, running amongst several already wounded men, blood staining pristine white bandages. Dilandau rushed into the fray with a huge scythe in his grip, swinging it about and slicing off appendages left and right. Folken…Folken was in the shadows somewhere…
But Allen's men continued to fight, desperately and hopelessly, knowing they were both outmanned and outmatched…
"Are you alright?"
She blinked, focusing on the shirtless Van, who somehow didn't faze her like he had a few moments before. "What?"
"You look really pale." His brow drew together in concern. "Do you need something to drink? Are you sick?"
"No, I…" She held her head in her hands. "It's just…"
A man cried out as a sword pierced his chest, sending rivers of blood soaking into his shirt.
Her hand trembled.
"I…"
Folken's dark eyes looked to the distance. "Only you can stop them."
Her eyes widened. "I have to go," she breathed.
"What?"
Her face set in determination. "They attacked Allen's camp. I'm the only one that can save them."
"What?!"
"Are you deaf, Van?! Let's go!" She kicked her horse into a gallop, uncaring whether Van decided to follow her.
"The power of your wishes is in this pendant." The gnarled old woman held it out, a kindly light in her eyes. "You've never known your true home, Hitomi. But this pendant is your history. It is proof of your heritage. Your heritage from…"
The glare from the sun accosted her eyes, distracting her.
She tried to retrace the memory. Where? Where was she from? She was so close to knowing…
But for some reason, the rest of the memory was completely blank.
* * *
Allen twined his hair back ruthlessly into a ponytail, his bangs nevertheless falling back into his face. Cursing under his breath, he swore that if he made it out of the battle alive, he would get rid of the impractical mane he'd worn since he was young.
"Allen!"
His hard eyes glanced to Dryden running towards him. "There's nothing you can do in the battle," he stated, having guessed his friend's intent. "You'll be of most use caring for the wounded and guarding the camp itself."
Dryden helplessly looked towards the warriors readying for battle. Allen's assumption was obviously correct. "I wish I could be of more help," he said honestly, turning to meet Allen's expressionless blue eyes.
The knight clapped him on the shoulder. "You'll be enough help. Do what you're best at. And if there's anything else I should know about Zaibach, it'd be nice to know now, and to hell with payments."
The merchant somehow found it within himself to grin. "Zaibach has a habit of attacking when least expected."
Allen's lips twitched. "That's good to know," he said dryly. Boring his cerulean eyes into Dryden's warm ones, he gruffly added, "Protect Millerna. Take care of her. No matter what happens to me."
Surprise flashed over Dryden's face for a moment, but melted into manly acknowledgment at Allen's solemn nod.
"Goodbye, my friend."
Allen strode off purposefully towards the archery field, feeling as if he was walking towards his very death.
* * *
"Princess, will you slow down?!"
Hitomi glanced back, feeling totally helpless. "They're all going to die," she murmured worriedly to herself.
Van pulled up beside her, a confused expression covering his face. "Tell me what's wrong."
Hitomi closed her eyes briefly. "They're attacking," she said, her voice sounding far away to her ears. "Allen's camp is under siege by a force too numerous for them to defeat. Folken…Folken is in charge…"
Van's face darkened at his brother's name.
"I don't know where he is… Dilandau's in the battlefield, and Gaddes…" Her eyes flashed open. "Gaddes!" She almost went into hysterics at the memory of the blood that had covered him from head to toe.
"What?" He took hold of her shoulders and shook her roughly. "Pull yourself together! You saw all this in a vision?"
She bit her lip, focusing on Van's eyes as her last link to sanity. "Y-yes…"
"A vision of the future? Then it's not set in stone. We might be able to warn them."
A brief clash of battle rang in her ears, as if she were on the battlefield herself. "No, I think it's too late for that."
"Then…it was the present?"
"No…I…I don't know!" Hitomi could taste the blood in her mouth from where she had bit down too hard on her lip. "I don't know what it all means… All I know is there's a battle and Gaddes may die, and that I'm the only one who can stop it all!"
He frowned. "Why you?"
"Because of where I'm from…"
"Maia?"
"No… I don't know where. But…I was adopted… And because of where I was from…" She let out a harsh sound of frustration. "I can't remember! It's like there's something blocking me from remembering everything!"
Van studied her for a second, and then nodded. "We have to get there as quickly as possible, then."
She felt relief rush over her from his easy acquiescence. She nodded, and almost jumped when Van pulled her close to him.
"Air travel is quickest," he murmured in her ear.
A chill raced through her spine at the warmth of his breath on her face. She felt her stomach drop as they ascended upward in a flurry of feathers. She seized his biceps tightly with her hands, shutting her eyes tensely.
"What about…the horses?" she ground out, her voice tight.
"They know the way home," he assured her, his voice rumbling against her soothingly. "It's easier if you wrap your arms around me rather than trying to leave your finger impressions in my arms, by the way."
Obligingly, she circled her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder. She felt his own arms tighten against her back, holding her to him like bands of steel. It was almost suffocating to be so close to him, momentarily distracting her from the emptiness within her gut. He smelled like earth…wind… and for the first time, she allowed herself to fully relax in his presence. Letting out a pent-up breath, she could sense the tension draining out of her, if just for the moment.
"You can open your eyes."
She shook her head. "I think I'd rather not."
"Why? Are you scared?"
"No!" She raised her head defiantly. "I just…don't want to."
He smirked. "You're scared."
"No, I'm not!"
"Then prove it."
She spat the hair that was blowing riotously around her face out of her mouth. "Fine." Hitomi glanced down defiantly, and felt her heart drop. She hadn't realized they'd flown so high. Unconsciously, her muscles tightened around his neck. Her legs kicked out, bumping against the sword still hanging from his belt.
"I won't drop you," he reassured her, his voice losing the mocking tone he usually presented to her.
Her wide eyes watched the green countryside rushing beneath of her, barely making out the few people milling about the various villages that appeared to be children's toys.
"We're high," she managed insufficiently.
He chuckled, the sound reverberating against the cheek she held to his neck. "Don't be scared, Princess." For one of the few times she could remember, he had spoken her nickname with endearment rather than mockery, which made her heart skip a much-needed beat. "I'll never let you go."
* * *
He could almost feel his sword slicing through his opponent's soft belly, his innards gushing out in a grotesque pool of thick red blood.
Gaddes opened his eyes, finding his hands gripping the edge of the bed so hard his knuckles were white.
He couldn't stay here. He couldn't take feeling helpless, not when he had the ability to do something.
Stiffly, he arose from the bed, finding his chest armor and buckling it around himself, ignoring the large dent in the middle of it. He was hanging is sword from his belt when Millerna burst in, breathing heavily.
"We need more bandages," she gasped, rummaging through a pile of miscellaneous objects. Pulling out a few clean shirts, she nodded in triumph. "These'll do." She glanced over to Gaddes for a moment, and then did a double-take. "What are you doing?" she asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to defend my men."
"What?! You most certainly are not!"
Gaddes' dark eyes were totally serious. "Millerna, you yourself are well aware of how many invalids we have already. I can't allow myself to make use of the supplies my men need more. Besides, I can't sit idle while my men are out dying on the battlefield."
"But your leg-"
"Is fine. I've enough mobility." His mouth tipped in a humorless smile. "You won't be able to stop me, you know."
Millerna stared him down for a moment, no doubt assessing the fact that he kept the weight off of his wounded leg. But Gaddes was certain that the leg wouldn't hinder him in the least. Not when he had such an imperative prerogative before him.
She nodded briskly, only saying, "Don't be reckless."
He gripped his sword sturdily in his strong hand, relieved that he wouldn't have to argue with her. "I can't make promises," he admitted steadily. "Only that I won't give up."
* * *
"Over there!"
Van grimaced. "You don't have to screech so close to my ear!"
"Oh," Hitomi flushed slightly, feeling her heart pounding in her ears at their proximity to the battle. "Sorry."
He merely nodded, his hair brushing against the top of her head. "Ready?"
She bit her lip and ducked her head, burrowing into him in an effort to reinforce her grip. Her arms were aching intensely. "Go ahead," she said, her voice muffled by his chest.
In response, she felt the wind buffeting her like it never had before as their speed increased. Van was diving slightly, evoking the stomach-curling rush of falling within her. Her eyes squeezed shut, and she desperately prayed that somehow, someway, they would make it in time.
* * *
Folken turned away from the window, seeing the battle within his mind. Dilandau had driven the men in recklessly, as Folken had suspected, but the numbers were such that they continued to retain the upper hand.
He could see the field full of blood, could feel the sorrow radiating off of those who had lost their loved ones. It was almost unbearable. But that was only if one allowed himself to feel.
He tried to shunt away any possibility of remorse. This was for the greatest good, wasn't it? The good of all of Gaia.
It was the only way. He could think of no other way to be able to accomplish what needed to be done. Sacrifices had to be made, in order for the ideal future to be brought to pass.
His red eyes closed as his mind was reminded of that last command he'd been given.
"You must kill the Dragon."
* * *
Gaddes breathed deep. He was back in his ideal milieu. The days of lying idle, the weeks of waiting patiently, all narrowed down to this.
All he could see was the enemy looming above him; the soft exposed abdomen he drove his sword into; the life gushing out of the man in a torrent of red liquid. He could feel the fresh blood stain his cheek, and yet he felt no disgust and no triumph. Only the cold satisfaction of living for just a little longer. The pain that flared in his leg splintered his concentration, making him wince and close his eyes for only a half second in an attempt to battle against the pain.
But it was enough.
Gaddes felt a huge blow against the back of his head, could feel the warmth of his own blood trickling down his face and neck. His vision blurred, the blood stinging his eyes and pouring a metallic taste in his mouth. He toppled to the ground, barely registering the impact of his body against the dusty soil.
Sadness and regret assaulted what little he had left of his consciousness. He'd failed…at long last, he had lost the battle. His mind vaguely recollected his promise to Hitomi right before she left that he would stay safe.
It was the very last thing he remembered.
* * *
Van felt Hitomi stiffen in his arms and draw a harsh breath. He looked down at her. It wasn't his flying – they'd been halfway-descending for a while now. He could barely hear her whisper, and only caught the very last word. "-Gaddes!"
Warm tears moistened the side of his neck.
"What is it?" he asked, already calculating the odds of what it could be. Chances were she was having another of her visions again, which he could never understand, but he ultimately had determined it wasn't intended for him to comprehend.
"Gaddes is dead!" she said hoarsely. "He was hit on the head-"
"You know he's dead?" Van interrupted, trying to instill some sense of hope and rational within her. He couldn't bear to see her broken-hearted again in so short a time span.
He could feel Hitomi calm slightly. "He…looked it…" she asserted weakly.
He frowned. "That doesn't mean he is. Can you find him?"
She turned her head to look at the roiling mass of people on the battlefield. "How?" she asked despondently.
"Your pendant," he prodded, shifting her a little in his arms. She wasn't heavy and he was quite strong, but her slight weight had begun to gradually multiply as time had passed.
"I can't reach it because I'm holding on…"
He grunted, in his mind seeing no other way. Pressing her as tight as possible to his chest with one arm, he released the other and quickly scooped up her legs so that he was now cradling her in his embrace. He felt the tension in his chest dissipate slightly as the pressure of her body eased off of his. He heard her gasp in surprise, the nails of one hand digging sharply into his back.
She reluctantly let go of her grip on his neck, fully entrusting herself to his power. Despite the tenseness of the situation and the danger all around, Van felt something warm fill him at her surrender to his strength. Trying his best to will it away, he pumped harder with his wings, propelling them closer to the battlefield. The cries of the men fighting carried on the thin air, barely reaching his ears.
Hitomi's eyes were shut serenely, the pendant held in front of her like a shield. He felt her stiffen a second before her eyes flashed open.
"At the edge of the field!" She pointed.
He dove sharply in the direction she'd given him, praying for her sake that Gaddes would not die.
They descended in a cloud of feathers, Van pulling out his sword the instant his feet touched the ground, defending Hitomi as she rushed to Gaddes side. Fear poisoned her heart, and hot tears threatened her eyes once again. She stubbornly held them back, concentrating only on Gaddes. Dropping beside him in a crouch, she gently raised his head, feeling the warmth of his blood on her fingertips. His eyes were closed, his face peaceful. She felt her throat close up. So it was true…
In one final attempt, she held two fingers to his throat in vain hope that perhaps she was wrong. Her heartbeat accelerated as she felt a faint thready pulse in his neck. He's alive! She tried to examine his head wound through the massive amounts of blood that congealed on his dark hair, but her shaking hands wouldn't allow her to properly determine the extent of damage. All she knew was that Gaddes was still alive. It was enough.
"Van, we have to get him back to camp!" Hitomi turned in time to see Van pull his blood-stained sword out of a man's chest. He turned, his eyes frighteningly cold, his face hard and so much older than a few moments ago.
"He's alive?" His impassive voice chilled her to the bone.
"Barely." Hitomi cradled his head in her lap, heedless of the redness that seeped into her clothes.
Van nodded, striding over to lift Gaddes as best he could.
Hitomi helped Van position the fallen soldier in such a way as to not injure him further. "Just go, I'll find my way back."
The dark-haired warrior nodded solemnly, and flew away.
Hitomi was suddenly pushed into the thick of the battle by all the jostling bodies surrounding her. She felt so small among all the large soldiers fighting for their lives. Shrinking even more, she tried to maneuver her way through the mass of men around her. She could not travel anywhere without seeing some appendage decapitated or some man slain. The gore was unbearable. Hitomi could feel herself begin to retch, but tried her hardest to hold it in. Stumbling over a leg, she fell to the ground and found herself face-to-face with the lifeless eyes of one of Allen's men, staring up at her with glassy corneas, an expression of pain and shock etched forever into his face, blood streaking across his face and filling the field around him. Hitomi was sick to her stomach. It was too much…she couldn't take much more…
She lost track of how long she had been within the battle, marveling that somehow no one had managed to kill her, too. She tried to brush away some blood that coated her arm, but was startled to find that it refused to go away. A deep gash was in her forearm. Apparently someone had managed to nick her as she was trying to escape. But why hadn't they actually killed her?
Abruptly, she was grabbed from behind by two strong arms and lifted away. She began to kick and scream, until she heard the man say "Why are you still here?"
"Van…" She swallowed hard, gripping the arms that were wrapped around her waist. "I…I got lost…"
She could sense him shake his head. "You should never have had to see any of that," he said in a dark voice.
"I-is this what you were talking about…when you said you've seen things…"
"Yes."
She shuddered. "I'm sorry, Van. No one should have to see that."
They arrived to find the camp in a state of total chaos. Merle and Dryden were rushing around, trying to stem bleeding quickly and efficiently so that they could reach the most amount of patients as possible. A man was brought in, his arm missing and a deep gash in his forehead. Merle shook her head sadly. "He won't make it," she said honestly to the bearer of the soldier. "I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do. We have to concentrate on those we know can be saved."
Hitomi felt her mouth drop. Suffering just never seemed to leave her. All around her, the wounded moaned like they were in the pits of Hades. It was like being in Hell.
Merle looked up at the new visitors. "Van! You're back! Hitomi!" She rushed up to give each a brief hug before going back to her work. "I'm sorry, I can't talk long."
"I understand," Van said. "Where's Gaddes?"
"Millerna's working with him," Merle said quietly. She sighed, looking off towards where the fallen soldier had been laid. "I hate turning away people, but sometimes I know there's nothing we can do," she explained brokenly. "We have to save as many people as we can…"
Hitomi patted her shoulder awkwardly. "You're doing wonderful, Merle. Far better than I ever could."
Merle's deep blue eyes were full of a sadness that ran deep within her soul. "I only wish I could do more." She ducked her head abruptly, hiding her eyes from Hitomi's perusal. "Millerna's probably waiting for you two."
Van nodded briskly, and dragged Hitomi off to the far tent.
Walking in, she saw Millerna finishing a stitch on Gaddes' head. She let out a heavy breath, her blond hair hanging about her face in rushed disarray. "He has a chance," she said tiredly. "He's lost a lot of blood, but there's still the chance he might live. First he has to come out of his coma." She sat back on her haunches, turning exhausted violet eyes to the two. "It's a waiting game now."
Hitomi kneeled beside Gaddes, resting her fingertips on his brow. He didn't move. Her heart pounded dully in her ears as she watched yet another person close to her die. No…Millerna said there's hope. He still has a chance. He's got to be able to make it through. She nodded to herself. Gaddes was strong. Of course he could pull through. Miracles still happen.
A strong hand was placed on her shoulder, and she closed her eyes, knowing it was Van without looking. Her other hand snaked up to grip his, drawing on his strength and stability to keep her grounded. Gaddes would make it. Yes. He had to.
With her eyes closed, various images flashed through her mind. The dimple in his left cheek that had winked out each time Gaddes had smiled; Allen helping her through the rough nights, with his comforting, gentle blue eyes; Millerna watching after her like an older sister; Merle instigating but always loyal. And through it all were Van's eyes, eyes that when they were warm could melt her heart with a single glance. The eyes in her mind reddened, and she frowned in confusion. What…
Folken stood at the window, idly watching…something.
Hitomi felt anger inexplicably bubbling up in her chest at the image. Folken…it was all Folken's fault…if it weren't for him…Gaddes wouldn't be in this predicament…they wouldn't be having this battle…and Van would never have hurt like he had.
Suddenly, it was all so clear.
She opened her eyes, feeling a new purpose within her heart. Standing quickly, she ignored the openly surprised stares Van and Millerna sent her. "I need some time alone," she said shortly. They nodded in sympathy, and she exited the tent, a new emotion burning within her heart. The desire for revenge.
"The power of your wishes is in this pendant."
She didn't understand why, or where she was from, but it didn't matter.
The girl gripped the pink pendant tightly within her hand, sending one phrase up at the stars.
"I wish I could be where Folken is."
* * *
The pale-haired man could feel the anguish of the soldiers in battle, could feel the kinship with those who were killing for the greatest good. He knew she was coming. He had sensed the sudden rise of emotions, could feel the separation she had unwittingly placed between herself and the Dragon.
He turned to behold a slight girl standing before him with fire in her eyes.
"You bastard," she said coldly.
He merely raised an eyebrow.
"It's all your fault!"
"Me? What did I do?"
"You're the one that caused this…this…" She bit her lip, her eyes haunted by what she had seen.
"Can't you see? It's for the greater good of Gaia. This is how it has to be."
"No!! Can't you see that all you've accomplished is to bring pain to so many people?! To bring death to lands where there should never have been anything but peace?"
"Emperor Dornkirk-"
"Has lied to you from the very beginning!! Can't you see it, Folken? Can't you see how he just continues to absorb more and more power, never relinquishing any of it back to the people? Can't you see how peaceful some places were before Zaibach's soldiers stormed in and destroyed everything? Can't you see that your emperor is the cause of the chaos he pretends to alleviate?!"
Folken's straight mouth turned down in a frown. "You know nothing of the emperor."
"Neither do you! How could you do it?"
"Do what?"
Tears glistened in her eyes. "How could you do that to Van?" she asked hoarsely. "How could you kill off your family without remorse, knowing that it would slowly kill him on the inside? How could you burn down your kingdom, knowing that Van would be left to forever wander, never to have a home? How could you?!"
Something shifted in his gaze. "You don't understand, Hitomi."
"Then make me!"
* * *
Van positively itched to get into the thick of the battle and start killing the soldiers that had destroyed both his homeland and Hitomi's. He finished tying a torn shirt around the gash that tore down the man's arm, jerking the knot slightly. It was complete torture to be held back away from the fighting.
But Millerna has said they needed him more at the camp, both for protection and for help. Van had never really done much healing work before, but being a warrior who was accustomed to flesh wounds, he knew plenty of ways to effectively staunch blood flow. But the numbers of soldiers returning wounded seemed to reach a standstill. He surmised dourly that this must be because more were getting killed than injured on the battlefield by now. But regardless of the numbers, he could easily see that they were still short of hands, and did the best he could at what he could. It was just as well that Millerna had persuaded him to stay. Van didn't want to go too far from camp anyway…for Hitomi's sake.
Hitomi…
Where was she, anyway? It wasn't like her to not pitch in and help…no matter how sad or upset she was. He frowned, catching the arm of the frazzled blond that swept by him.
"Where's Hitomi?"
Millerna tiredly lifted her eyes to his. "What?"
"She's been gone way too long."
She shrugged. "Maybe she fell asleep somewhere."
"No…she wouldn't." Van thought heavily, debating what she could possibly be doing. She might be crying, which would mean he should probably go and comfort her, even though he never knew what to do with a crying female. Or maybe she was sleeping, as Millerna had suggested, overcome by the day's events. But neither of these seemed to fit. Hitomi wasn't weak, he knew that for a fact…
He vaguely recalled her saying that she was the only one who could save them all…
He drew a sharp intake of breath. No… She couldn't have…
Shaking his head, he sprinted to the very edge of camp, heedless to Millerna's questions.
It would be just like her.
* * *
"You have more power than you realize, Hitomi."
She crossed her arms. "Don't try and flatter me, Folken. Don't give me any bullshit about 'power'."
"It's true." His steady reddish eyes gazed at her impassively. "You don't know where you're from, do you?"
"Maia," she said, feeling a certain unsteadiness within herself. She was adopted as a Maian, yes, but before that…
"That's not where you were born."
Her eyes chilled at his voicing of her thoughts. "Just tell me. Don't lead me in circles."
"Did you ever hear the old prophecy? 'From the sky an angel will descend to save the world from the evil plaguing its lands.'"
"So? It's not like I can fly."
"You're taking the prophecy too literally. 'From the sky', Hitomi. You know what's in the sky, don't you?"
A faint suspicion crept into her mind, and her heart caught in her throat. No… that was impossible. There was no way she was from…
Folken's smile was cold. "The Mystic Moon."
*So theoretically this story will be done in three more chapters…if all goes according to plan… *smiles* In case you guys want something to look forward to…
The immediate next days will be hell :P – aren't they all it seems – but yeah, so we'll see how much I manage to get out…
ALSO, I have been plagued with ideas for another fanfic that I'm not gonna start until I'm done with this one…I get the sneaking suspicion that if I don't finish this one now, I'll get taken away with the other fanfic. Anyway, it's gonna be AU (now that I finally know what it means) and they're in high school…but you know my style, and chances are it ain't gonna be the typical teenage angst stuff, if ya know what I mean. *wink* Or at least, I'll be trying my hardest not to let it get to that…it'll be funny though. At least…I imagine it'll be funny… It will be called "Counterpoint." That probably doesn't make too much sense right now, but just wait…it will…trust me…
Hehe well anyways, thanks for sticking with me guys.
Til the next chapter-
-wink*
