AN: Sorry, I don't think I'm going to have review replies for this fic since I plan to make it so long @.@ *sniffs* But don't worry, any other fics I do will have review replies! It's just that since this is going to be a "project" of mine I need time to think about the plot XD Yes, I'm winging this all ^^;; Also, don't worry you "For Love" fans, I'm still writing that too! I need those fluff fics to keep me from dying from depression! Well, admit it! This fic isn't exactly chock full of fluff and unicorns @_@
Hitomi bit her lip, nearly drawing blood as she watched the couple dance. Van was gazing at Aurelia and no one else, his eyes so much kinder, softer then Hitomi had ever remembered. She had remembered it took Van so long to look her straight in the eye, he had always looked at her forehead, her nose, behind her, anywhere but her. He could only hold her gaze for about two seconds at most. Now his gaze never parted Aurelia's sapphire one, and Hitomi nearly cracked.
'It's okay sis, Touji wasn't great anyways' Mamoru Kanzaki comforted his
older sister who had arrived home from her date.
'Thanks, Mamoru' she sniffed.
'You're only 14, there's so much time in your life, enjoy everyday things for
now' he had advised, smiling his innocent little grin, dimples showing. 'Plus
his nose hair was too long' he added with a devilish smirk.
'Mamoru!' Hitomi laughed, playfully hitting Mamoru on the head.
'Well it's true' he replied indignantly. 'There will be love in store for you
later, sis. You'll know it's there when your heart tells you.'
'Thanks, Mamoru.'
Hitomi looked up at the crystal chandeliers on the ceiling, blinking back tears. Just breathe in... And out.... In... And out.... What she would give for her little brother's surprisingly soothing words. What she would give for her family back.
"A pretty woman like you shouldn't be all alone" a warm voice came from beside her. Hitomi turned her head slightly to meet a pair of bright, cerulean eyes.
"Allen" Hitomi smiled, giving her friend a hug. "It's so good to see you again" she added, trying her best to remain cheerful.
"And it's wonderful to have you back on Gaea as well" he replied, extending his hand. "Would you grant me a dance?"
"Of course" she answered, and the Knight Caeli led her to the dance floor. A waltz struck up, and at first they danced in silence, Hitomi concentrating on getting the hang of the steps. Finally, Allen broke the silence with what he thought was small talk.
"So Van is engaged".
Hitomi kept her gaze on her feet, and felt a sort of prickly feeling arise on her neck.
"Yes, he is" she replied softly, then turning her green gaze to meet his blue one, she tried her best to smile. "I'm happy for him, Aurelia seems like a wonderful person."
"Yes, she is" confirmed Allen, not noticing Hitomi's tensed features. "Van's council wanted him to marry the princess of Shiveleria, but he claimed he didn't care that Porsetio was a small country and that he would marry for love, and love only. Thus, the engagement between he and Princess Aurelia was announced."
If Hitomi had trouble keeping her facade up before, it took all she had learned from her drama class not to show any distressing emotion.
"It's... It's like a fairy tale, I'm sure they'll be happy" she choked out, her cheeks hurting from the strain. However, a single tear trailed down the girl's face, and even Allen, flippant as he was, couldn't help but notice.
"Hitomi, are you alright?" he asked, his smooth forehead creasing slightly in concern.
"Yes, I'm fine... I just think I have something in my eye, that's all" she lied, breaking from Allen's hold, and doing her best to rub her eye convincingly.
"Well, if you're sure..."
"Yes, of course, now why don't you go dance with some other woman, they're all glaring daggers at me for holding you up" she teased, and Allen smiled.
"It really is wonderful to have you back" he told her, and Hitomi gave him a pat on the arm.
"It's wonderful to be back" she replied, not sure if she was lying or not.
"Hopefully I'll see you again tonight, but if not, good night Hitomi" he called as she was walking away.
"Good night, Allen"
"Van, I'm so happy" Aurelia sighed, leaning against the stone rail. Wrapping his strong arms from behind her, Van rested his chin on her bare shoulder.
"I'm happy as well" he replied, "I'm happy that you're here with me after all those endless verbal battles with my council"
"I've always wanted a man to fight for me" Aurelia giggled, and Van kissed her softly on her ear.
"I've always wanted a woman to fight for" he murmured, and Aurelia turned around, and ran a slender hand through his unruly raven locks.
"You really are my knight in shining armor" she smiled wistfully.
"When I first laid eyes on you, I fell in love." Van replied, caressing her cheek with his hand, calloused slightly from the Great War.
"I love you" she whispered, before tilting her head up. Van shut his auburn eyes, and caught her lips with his own.
"I love you too"
Hitomi felt lightheaded and shaky when she heard the scene out on the balcony, the one over viewing the palace entrance. She had wanted to go for a walk to calm her senses, but that was an easy mistake. Every word uttered broke her heart further and further, and all she wanted to do was go to room and sob her anguish and grief away.
But she didn't. Instead she went into what looked like a very lush sitting room, and after asking one of the servants for a bottle of bourbon, Hitomi sat down in a deep red velvet arm chair and curled up, taking haggard sips of the golden liquid.
"It's not fair, it's not fair" she chorused softly, as bitter tears coursed down her face. "I never forgot. Did you?" she asked the silence, her emerald eyes puffing up and turning red on the edges. "We promised each other... We'd never forget.... Is that what my dream meant? The Wheel of Fortune... Means.... Means change.... The Lovers.... Is this destiny?" she hiccupped softly, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"Is what destiny, Lady Hitomi?" came a masculine voice. Hitomi jerked slightly in her chair, and looked up to meet a set of familiar russet brown eyes.
"Darien", replied Hitomi, "Don't call me Lady Hitomi, it makes me feel sick" she coughed slightly.
"Alright" he nodded, noticing there was no playful twinkle in her eyes.
"Drink?" she asked, offering him the bottle rather unabashedly. Darien shook his head politely, and sat down in a chair across Hitomi.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes of course, why?" Hitomi asked, her words slightly slurred.
"Merle told me about your history with King Van."
"History is in the past, Darien" Hitomi spoke, trying hard to keep her composure, the alcohol not helping. If anything, it only distorted her vision and made things more painful, more confusing. "Now is now"
"Do you still love him?" he asked. Hitomi only took another sip of bourbon, fearing if she spoke she'd start to cry in front of him.
"I don't know anymore" she sighed, "Love... I thought love was destined. If I truly loved Van.... Wouldn't he love me back? If it was meant to be?"
"Love is complicated, Hitomi. Only a love that you must fight for is worth experiencing. If just receive a loaf of bread, you are happy, yes. But having to make the bread yourself, to work for it, the feeling of satisfaction that overcomes you is much more rewarding." Darien replied wisely.
"But Van had to fight for Aurelia. Allen told me" Hitomi commented sadly.
"Hitomi, do you believe what he did was a real fight?" Darien inquired, lifting an eyebrow at the heroine in front of him.
True, she was slightly tipsy and her face and eyes were puffy from crying, but she still looked beautiful, holding a dignified grace about her. If only Van could see, Darien shook his head mentally, wondering if anyone ever understood love. Such a convoluted thing. "Look, Hitomi. If you need further proof, look upon the Great War. It was the love between you and Van that saved Gaea. If that doesn't show you something, then I don't know what will."
"Oh but Darien" Hitomi replied bitterly, "I never said I didn't love him. He doesn't love me" Choked sobs suddenly escaped from Hitomi's mouth, and before she knew it she was crying. Large, fat tears trickled down her face, and soon the bottle fell from Hitomi's hand onto the thick carpet.
"Hitomi, if you believe then eventually love will find a way" Darien comforted, cradling Hitomi in a brotherly fashion.
"That sounds so cliché" Hitomi sniffed, a small, suffocated laugh escaping her throat.
"Try to lighten you spirits, Hitomi" Darien advised, "It's takes strength for someone to handle their sadness, however it takes an even stronger person to try to get rid of it."
"But it's not just that" Hitomi replied, her voice slightly gravelly. "There's so much more." she added, shaking her head.
"If you want, you can tell me" Darien offered kindly.
"Are you sure you won't think me in need of mental help?" Hitomi sniffed, and Darien shook his head, allowing her to continue. "It was only today... Actually. On the Mystic Moon. My entire family died in a car crash. They were going out to the super market, then to the toy store to let my little brother Mamoru choose one for his birthday. I didn't come because..." Hitomi took a deep breath. "I was getting Mamoru's surprise cake ready and... And oh god, I should have gone. I should have died with them" Hitomi bawled, "I... I should have been there... Maybe I could have prevented.... Oh god, Darien, my little brother had a punctured lung... My parents... They lost all this blood.... Skulls c-cracked.... " Hitomi couldn't continue, couldn't speak.
"I'm so sorry" Darien murmured, patting her back lightly. He had no idea what a car was, but he felt he could understand what Hitomi was going through. His father had died in a local tavern fight, and his mother had died of illness when he had just begun his job at the palace.
"I have no where else to go" sniffed Hitomi, "Gaea is my home, I guess. But I can't take seeing them so in love" Hitomi croaked, her tears drying up slowly. "Maybe I'll move to the countryside and become a milk maid" she added sullenly.
"That's the coward's way out" chided Darien kindly, "The heroine of Gaea wouldn't take that route, she'd tell herself to have faith that everything will be all right." Hitomi only wiped a lingering tear away from her emerald green eyes and took a deep breath.
"Well, if nothing will cheer you up tonight" Darien spoke sensitively to the girl in his arms, "Then here is one last thing. I have never seen someone drink a whole bottle of bourbon in one sitting and not pass out" he grinned, pointing at the empty bottle lying by their feet.
"Thanks Darien" Hitomi smiled weakly.
"It's a pleasure. Now I think we both dearly need sleep" Nodding in consent, Darien helped Hitomi up and after nodding a friendly good bye, Darien made his way to his dormitory.
"Emperor Garnaut, the Hybrids are ready. Shall we release them?" a young man asked curtly.
"What's their status?" the emperor replied lazily.
"Dexterity to match the legendary leopard twins, strength and skill almost enough to match the Knight Caeli and the King of Fanelia."
"Excellent," the emperor replied, a small smile creasing his features, "But we'll wait before releasing them. Carelessness will not be tolerated."
The throne room in which the two men were conversing in was furnished with deep, rich velvets, colors of dark purple, wine, and forever black. Beryl and ruby rings encircled the emperor's fingers, and a black crystal necklace hung from his proud neck, in the shape of Fenris, the wolf that supposedly swallowed the sun in myth.
"Yes, of course" the stocky General replied, bowing respectfully to a man with dark onyx colored hair, amethyst colored eyes, and a black design on the left side of his face.
"Now leave my sight" Garnaut ordered, his voice suddenly sharp. "I have thinking to do."
"At once," the General replied, striding out of the throne room as quickly as he could. Emperor Garnaut stroked his tattoo, deep in thought. Soon, Gaea will be mine... Years and years of work have finally begun to pay off. It's all falling in to place--
"Garnaut...." interrupted a whimsical voice, piercing through his thoughts. A woman with two fine circles on her forehead, pale lips, and long wispy hair seemed to float towards the Emperor of the Dantele Empire, an impish twinkle about her.
"What now, Sora" he replied indifferently, not moving from his chair.
"I have found something out..." she sang, her hair wafting about her as if there was a slight wind. Sora irritated Garnaut a great deal, it being impossible to get a straight and simple answer from her. However she was vital to him, so he did his best to keep his temper at bay.
"Well, care to tell me?" the Emperor asked, forcing a smile onto his face.
"Double you can make your Hybrids..." she trailed off, her voice possessing an almost echo quality. "Without the work of a sorcerer... "
This caught Garnaut's attention immediately.
"What do you mean?" he demanded, his purple eyes seeming to ignite with a black fire.
"Visions have told that blood from the mystic, drunken from the master will allow you to double your Hybrids... When fancy should strike you." she informed him, her voice magically reflecting off the smooth velvets in the room.
"What do you mean?" Garnaut asked, her words processing through his mind.
"The master shall drink the precious blood of a mystic. A drop only is needed... Then, with your necklace, you shall be granted... The curse of being able to duplicate your Hybrids..."
"...At will" Garnaut finished, rubbing his clammy hands together. "How do I find a mystic?"
"Not just any mystic..." Sora warned, "Or you shall be bound together in mind, not granted this power. You must drink the blood of a Mystic heroine..."
"The girl from the Great War" Garnaut confirmed, rubbing his chin. "How will we bring her on Gaea?" he inquired, his hand toying with the pendant on his necklace. He could feel the sharp teeth of Fenris without looking down at the exquisite detail of the wolf.
"Oh, but Lord Garnaut, fate is with you now... She is already on Gaea" the woman told him, her lips only moving slightly as she spoke.
"Then I'll order my guards to--" he started, a malicious smirk appearing on his features.
"Be warned. The heroine must not die until after you have drunk her blood." she interrupted.
Cursing for all the restrictions and things to remember, Garnaut nodded impatiently.
"Anything else?" he added sarcastically, drumming his scarred fingers on the arm of his throne.
"Yes" nodded Sora, "This can go wrong. Should the master of the Escaflowne share love's true kiss as the blood is being drawn, your Hybrids will not double, and your element of surprise will vanish." Garnaut was debating with himself whether all this trouble was worth it or not. But the ability to duplicate his Hybrids.... He'd be unstoppable. Throngs and hordes of Hybrids would be created at his mere will...
"I'll begin the hunt in a week."
AN: Aiee! I'm sorry! No fluff, romance, or happiness in this chapter ;_; But the good thing is, once I get those Hybrids out, (most likely next chapter) 1) I GET TO MAKE A FOOL OUT OF AURELIA!!! WOOHOO!!!!! YEAH YEAH YEAH! Sorry, I just hate her ^^;; 2) FLUFF! V/H FLUFF! FLUFF! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *coughs and gains composure* Um, I'll just post my chapter now ^^;; And Darien is just a brotherly figure to Hitomi! So don't get any ideas! XD Please review! Or else chapters will stop coming *devilish smirk* ^_^