Author's Ramblings: This chapter is dedicated to Beeky, who, as of the time I uploaded this chapter, was the only one to review. Thank you, Beeky! ^-^
Disclaimer: Me no own.
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Chapter Two: Freid's Destroyers
…And she fell to the ground with a thud, accidentally knocking herself out.
Courage finally came to him. "Hitomi!" he exclaimed, as he saw her slender form deposited on the green grass of the meadow. Soon, he reached her. He looked upon her in awe and reverence. He gently shook her, trying to wake her up. "Hitomi," he whispered. She still would not stir. But she was breathing, so Van knew that she was just unconscious. He gingerly picked up her lithe body; hugging her close to him out of an instinctive fear that someone would take her away from him.
He could smell a faint aroma of something sweet, and tried to place its origin. But before his memory could be jumpstarted, the ground shook. And not because of a gaeaquake. Inwardly he panicked, afraid that Freid's destroyers now came for Fanelia. He hastened his pace towards the castle. The shaking was becoming more violent, and pretty soon the lush forests behind Van were being trampled by…something invisible. It couldn't be Zaibach, could it? It better not be…
He gripped Hitomi even tighter. The shaking got even worse. Van gave up running, and, risking people seeing his true self, let his wings out and soared into the sky where the violent shaking would have no effect. He now held Hitomi tightly against his bare chest, while flapping his wings hurriedly to get to his castle.
Finally he landed on his balcony and folded his wings back into himself. And, mysteriously, the shaking stopped. Van stood still for a moment, expecting the shaking to begin again. But, after a few minutes, the ground was still perfectly still. He sighed out of relief, although he was still curious as to what caused the shaking. Could it really be the ones who destroyed Freid? It makes sense…but who DID destroy Freid? Was it Zaibach? Or was it a new enemy…
Finally assuming that the shaking was indeed caused by just a simple gaeaquake, Van turned his attention to the beautiful woman in his arms. "Hitomi," he said softly. He lovingly laid her on his bed, taking off her shoes as well. "You look so peaceful." Memories raced through his mind: hopes, dreams, desires.
Van's thoughts were interrupted by someone knocking on his door. "Enter," he replied, as he moved to his closet to get a new shirt.
The person, who proved to be another guard, obeyed. He bowed, and stated, "Your majesty, Duke Chid and his companion have arrived at the castle."
Van nodded, and said, "Thank you. Tell Chid that I will be right down." He looked over at Hitomi. The guard followed Van's gaze, and smiled knowingly.
"Yes, your majesty," was his reply as he exited.
Van walked up to Hitomi. He bent down so his mouth was at her ear, and gently whispered, "I'll be right back." He kissed her cheek lightly, and then exited to greet Duke Chid and the servant girl with him.
"Welcome to Fanelia," Van said happily.
Chid smiled, "I'm very happy to be here. I just wish it was under more joyous circumstances."
Van nodded in agreement. "Who is your friend here?"
Chid pulled the cowering girl, who looked no older than himself, from behind him. "This is Nadya. Technically she's my servant, but she's more of a friend," he explained.
Van smiled. Nadia was very cute, with sparkling blue eyes and wavy brown hair in pigtails. "Welcome to Fanelia, Lady Nadya," Van greeted, then kneeled to kiss Nadya's hand. She blushed, and Chid gave an envious look. I'm beginning to think Chid and Nadya are more than 'friends'…Van thought.
Turning to Chid, he said, "There is someone here who will be happy to see you when she wakes up."
Chid smiled. "Really? Who?"
"Come and see," Van answered. "You too, Lady Nadya." He led them to the stairs directly behind the thrones. And just as they rounded the corner of the upper hallway, he saw Hitomi walking out his bedchamber, obviously awake now. "Hitomi!" he called out.
Hitomi looked up and her eyes grew wide. She would recognize that disheveled raven hair and those soulful brownish red eyes anywhere. "Van!" she exclaimed, running towards him. She was vaguely aware that there were two other people with him, but her mind was focused on her beloved. She ran into his open embrace, inhaling his scent and memorizing it all over again. Of course, she never forgot it to begin with.
Van's arms encircled her. They stood there, tenderly embracing, oblivious to Chid and Nadya. Time seemed to stop, both Van and Hitomi each caught up in their own reminiscence.
Chid finally made a throat-clearing noise, bringing the two back to reality, as Nadya giggled. Van and Hitomi reluctantly let go of each other as Van broke the silence by saying, "Duke Chid and Lady Nadya, may I present to you Lady Kanzaki Hitomi."
"Chid!" Hitomi exclaimed as she gathered him in a hug. "It's so nice to see you again! Look how much you've grown in just one year!"
"It's nice to see you too, Hitomi. And…uhh, you've grown too?" Over her shoulder, Chid sent a look to Van that clearly asked why she had exited his bedchamber. Van responded with a look that clearly stated you're much too young to be thinking about stuff like that…
Nadya, catching wind of the nonverbal communication, simply giggled again. Then, realization struck her. "Wait a minute! Are you the girl from the Mystic Moon?"
Hitomi, standing next to Van again, replied, "Yes, I am."
"Wow! I never thought I'd ever meet the Savior of Gaea!" Nadya exclaimed gleefully as she curtsied.
Both Hitomi and Van smiled, as Hitomi responded, "Well, I never thought I'd be on Gaea again. I'm very happy to have returned!"
"As am I," Van agreed.
"Me as well," added Chid. His countenance took on an almost antsy look as he asked timidly, "Hitomi…did you come here because…of…a vision?"
"Well…." she answered. "Not exactly. I did have a vision, but as far as I can tell, it hasn't come true yet. And I hope it never will. The real reason I came here is because I wanted to come back." She smiled.
Van smiled as well, again contemplating the Emersidian and the Rubithyst in his garden. He was drawn out of his thoughts when Hitomi suddenly clutched her head and cried out.
"Hitomi?" he questioned worriedly.
She dropped to her knees.
VISION
Fire…there's fire everywhere…but where am I?
She gasped. It's Freid! Freid is burning!
The fire continued to char the remnants of the once beautiful Duchy of Freid. And in the background, behind the palace, she saw two figures, crying, on one horse as they rode away from the destruction. One of them was Duke Chid.
"Chid…." She sighed aloud. She took another look around the burning landscape.
And then she saw it.
The unmistakable ripple of a guymelef being hidden by an invisibility cloak.
END VISION
As soon as the last wisps of the terrifying images left her mind, she looked up, tears streaking her beautiful face. She looked at Chid, and she knew. "Chid, I am so sorry! I…I just saw it…happen…."
"It's okay, Hitomi," Chid quickly reassured her. "At least Nadya and I are surrounded by friends." Nadya nodded in agreement. Then he added, "But just out of curiosity, did you see the enemy?"
"I'm afraid it's bad. Really bad." She paused. "The enemy was invisible! Just like Zaibach!"
"Don't worry," Van comforted her as she began to cry again. "I'm sure we'll be able to beat whoever this new enemy is. Right, Chid?"
"Right!"
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Thank you for reading! Let me know if you want more. ^-^