Wow... part four! Or part five, depending on if you want to count the Prologue as a part. Heh, I think that I'm doing pretty good. A little slow to start, then I jerked you all around for a few parts, then the question arose: What to do next?

Well, let's see! I clarified (sort of) just what was going on, and added in a new question. I am pleased with myself because this story is doing so well. And all the thanks goes out to the people who are supporting me with their constructive reviews (they really do mean that much to me). So, onto the next part... Ready to find out what's happened to Hitomi?

Part Four :: A Declaration of the Downfall

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The two Zaiback guymelufs took a step back so that they were pressed against the building behind them. This girl, Hitomi, had changed in an instant and it wasn't the most pleasant feeling thing. Her words were spoken coldly and she stood there with a confident air about her.

"What - What is she!?" Naria gasped, watching her with wide eyes.

"Folken-sama..." Eyria breathed, feeling all hope leave her. Watching this girl, for whatever reason, felt so disheartening. She radiated power that definitely exceeded their luck. "What do we do?"

"You do absolutely nothing," Hitomi snapped, as if she could hear them, or possibly even read their minds. "I can't stand people like you; you entrust your fate to to something as fragile as luck. And to top it off, you've changed yourselves so that you can have even more luck. Zaibach will fall as it should and I will be the one to ensure that fate. It will fall just as Atlantis did so many years ago."

"Do you think that I'm afraid of your threats?" Folken's voice came from over the communicator. "I would have to say that I disagree with your claims."

"I know that Dornkirk has seen it, that's why he pulled that little stunt of his. I'm sure everyone who can see me now knows that I have changed. If you could see me then I'm sure you would know who I am, Folken-niichan," she said, using softer tones than she had with the two cat-woman. "So, can you tell who I am, Folken-niichan?"

There was a period of silence. A period longer than anyone watching would had liked. It seemed to become a staring contest between Hitomi and Folken who wasn't there.

-- * --

Folken looked down from the Floating Fortress unsurely. He'd never given Hitomi much more than a passing thought, but now there was something about her he could no longer deny. Hitomi was not what he once had thought she was. No one had called him "niichan" except for one young girl. And at that, it was in another language he'd never heard before. Was it actually possible that Hitomi, the girl of the Phantom Moon, was the same girl he'd known before?

"Ahiru..." he breathed, not knowing if his voice was loud enough to pass through the communicator.

-- * --

"Folken!" she called back, taking a step forward. "Niichan! Leave them! Onegai!"

"Ahiru..." he repeated, a bit stronger this time. He sounded as if he was in disbelief. She understood it, too. That last battle... when she was struck... it should have killed her. "It... can't be..."

"Oniichan..." Her eyes narrowed as she took a step forward. "I will not allow this city to endure any more damage nor will I allow it's people to suffer at your hands! Sayounara!"

She raised a hand to the two guymelufs and that same bright, pink light flashed before the familiar pillar of light came down from the heavens and stole them away. Hitomi smiled, and the others watched in confusion. She fell to one knee, breathing heavily.

"Hitomi!"

"Hitomi!"

She closed her eyes tightly as Van and Allen ran towards her. She couldn't breath. This body was too weak to handle the energy this power took. In her 'dream' Miko had been right. Hitomi, the real Hitomi, had no experience with the full of her powers. She felt so drained. But why should she have to?

"Hitomi?" Allen questioned upon seeing that strange pink glow again. He came to a stop just over two feet away, as did Van, and they both watched. Hitomi's hair shortened once again to its normal length and she collapsed to the ground. "Hitomi!"

"Damnit, Hitomi, what did you do?!" Van yelled, rushing to her aid. He found himself pushed out of Allen's way as the elder samurai picked her up and began heading towardsthe castle. "Kuso..."

He turned to where the Floating Fortress had been, only to find it had disappeared.

-- * --

"Dryden..." Millerna murmured as she took a seat next to his bed. Upon doctor's orders he was forced to spend a few hours in bed before attending any emergency meetings. She sighed as Allen walked into the room with Van following closely behind. "The doctor said that she's just tired. Give her some time and she should wake up eventually..."

"What happened out there?" Allen mumbled, staring at Hitomi. "She just... changed..."

"Folken had called her something, right?" Millerna stood up and faced them. Van remained silent and simply stared at Hitomi. "He called her "Ahiru" right? I thought that's what he said."

"He had to be mistaken. There's no possible way that Hitomi could be her," Van growled, clenching his fists. "Ahiru died three years ago. Hitomi is not Ahiru. Folken's a liar... a god damned liar."

"What are you saying, Van?" Millerna asked quietly. Allen remained quiet and just stared at him.

"Ahiru is dead. She died in a battle against Zaibach three years ago," he spoke flatly, staring at Hitomi as she slept. "We had once been betrothed but it ended up being broken off when some things happened. Ahiru died leaving behind only one heir to Andrealine's throne. He and several of her advisors went missing shortly after they lost the battle."

"Well, who ever she 'turned' into, we should be glad that she isn't hurt," Allen sighed, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. "We'll let her rest for now, and then question her in the morning."

Millerna nodded though she had a worried expression on her face. Zaibach had attacked out of nowhere and demanded Hitomi. If they did it once, they could always do it again, couldn't they?

"That's what we'll do then," Millerna agreed, turning back to Dryden. "We'll let them sleep tonight and tomorrow things will be cleared up."

"Right."

Allen and Millerna both hesiatated a moment longer, staring at one another. Van didn't even bother with them and sighed heavily.

"I'm going to stay here and make sure no one takes her," he declared. "Merle should be around. If you see her, tell her where I am."

Allen glared suspiciously at Van before nodding slowly. Yes, he'd make sure that Merle showed up. He would never allow anything to happen between them. Not now. What had happened with Hitomi earlier didn't make a difference. He loved her with all of his heart and he would ask him to marry her the first chance he got. But it could wait. He knew she loved him back, she had to. Van posed no threat.

"I'll tell her."

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Heh... not much happened in this one, did it? Now, what to make this fic? All/Hit? Van/Hit? or maybe even Fol/Hit? Just wait until the next chapter gets up, and I'll give some hints as to the couples. Pay close attention!

- Nekura