I'd like to thank Caerne, Rose and Myst Lady for their reviews for this story, and for letting me know that someone is reading after all. And thanks Caerne for your constructive criticisms and supportive comments.
Disclaimer: Vision of Escaflowne and its characters and likeliness is copyrighted to its respective company(ies). But the characters I created and this story is copyrighted to me.
Rating: PG-13
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FATES' JUDGEMENT
By Cosmos (ml_eclipse@hotmail.com)
Chapter 6: Façade
Something was out there. Something unnatural. Something powerful. Something she feared. Although she saw nothing but infinite darkness, she constantly sensed a strong aura only a short distance away, which continually reminded her she was not alone here.
Who was it?
She did not hear any spoken words but she knew it was beckoning her to come closer. She felt an uncontrollable desire to run toward this unseen individual, to embrace this phenomenal power and to become something…someone…to become it.
Her mind was swimming with fear, and this fear was the only thing now protecting her from this power waiting just beyond the blackness of this empty void. She knew deep within her heart that once this fear, this last barrier, was torn down everything she knew and loved would be in danger. What awaited her mere choices ahead was to be her destiny and the destruction of so many.
A single tear slipped from her soft green eyes. It slid down her cheek helplessly following the pull of gravity much like she now followed the will of fate. Alas, the fates of so many now fell heavily on the burdened shoulders of a few. Was it not always that the sacrifices of those few individuals be the gift to all others? This was something repeated over and over throughout history and time. And it should again repeat at the end of time.
She wished to fight it. This was not a destiny she wanted, but she was not given a chance to decide her own future. Providence has chosen her to be the vessel, the harbinger of darkness, and in return she was a prisoner of fate.
Finally realizing what was awaiting her in the distant dark boundaries of her mind and her future, she fell to her knees crying in quiet hopeless sobs. There was nothing she could do. One could not run away from one's destiny. She was born into this fate and she would die fulfilling it. Are there no means of escaping this awful future? she thought. Is my life to be determined solely by providence, where my own will is simply a meaningless cry in the darkness? Silent, endless streams of tears drifted down her lovely face. Looking about her, she found only the darkness to be her companion. In the end, there was no one here to help her. But just as that last thought came across her mind, she felt a soft, warm breeze brush by her. Looking up, she saw a rain of shadowy feathers fall softly, silently from the dark sky, covering the entire ground upon which she sat. She picked up a feather nearest to her and immediately felt a strange warmth spread through her heart. A small feeling of hope returned to her, but along with this renewed sense of strength the feather also brought with it a great sense of sorrow as such she has never before felt. Her eyes softened as she looked ahead of her while numerous dark feathers fell all around her. She looked ahead of her and realized with mixed emotions that she did not lead this destiny alone.
Closing her eyes, she smiled sadly. Should she rejoice with the knowledge that she shared this cursed fate with another? Or should she be saddened by the thought that someone else would also be hurt by this very same fate? She did not want anyone else to feel what she now felt. She did not want anyone else be weighed down with her burden.
If it were to be then let it be me alone.
"Hitomi," a weak voice was suddenly heard calling her name, interrupting her thoughts.
She looked around in surprise but all she could discern was pure night.
"Hitomi!" The voice now became more urgent.
She frowned in frustration. This voice…it sounded so familiar. Where was it coming from? Who was calling to her?
"Hitomi wake up," the mysterious voice cried out again. "Wake up Hitomi! You must wake up!"
She looked frantically around. The voice seemed to be coming from all directions. Its tone heightened with greater urgency as time passed on, but she remained where she was as if her legs would not obey her. She tried to move but found herself unable to even budge an inch from where she sat. A heavy weight seemed to ride on her body that prevented her from moving. She screamed out but no sound escaped her mouth; only in her mind was she able to hear what her mouth refused to say. Realizing she was trapped in this darkness, she began to panic. She pounded the featureless ground with her fists as tears streamed down her face. She did not want to remain here for the rest of her life. She did not want to die alone here in this haunting darkness. Whatever my fate may be, she thought, I will fight it with all my heart. I will not let this horrific future come true.
Someone...anyone...please...help me.
Then, as if to answer her plea for help, a strong voice whispered to her from within the darkness of her mind. "You are all right now," he spoke.
Startled, she looked up to see the silhouette of a young man, whose face was hidden by the darkness, standing in the distance. The very same individual she had envisioned only days before on the balcony of her home.
"I promise," whispered he, as a large pair of white wings unfurled from his back enveloping her in its soft embrace, "I'll protect you." But upon touching her, his wings dramatically changed to pitch black.
*****
"Huh!" Hitomi jerked up in bed, throwing the cool silk sheets aside in a great mess. With wide eyes, she looked about her, unable to recognize any of the objects adorning the extremely large and elegant room.
"Hitomi are you all right?" someone to her right whispered with great concern.
Upon hearing her name, Hitomi turned around to confront a pair of beautiful blue eyes. At first, she failed to recognize the owner of this pair of eyes but as panic slowly ebbed away, the identity of this individual soon came to her.
"A-Amano," Hitomi stuttered in surprise, "what…what are you doing here?"
Amano smiled gently as he answered, "Well, I live here."
"You," her eyes widened, "live here? Then I must be…but how did I…why did I…" In her confusion and excitement she failed to complete a single sentence.
Amano kindly answered her unfinished questions. "Yes, Hitomi, you're at my place. This is the guest bedroom.
"You know, you're a bit early for my party, Hitomi," Amano added to lighten the mood but the look on Hitomi's face made him continue in a more sullen tone, "I don't know how you got to my front door at ten at night or why but I just know that I found you lying wrapped in a thin red shirt, shivering and sweating with fever on the steps of my front door." Placing a concerned hand on top of hers, he asked, "Hitomi, may I ask what happened to you? How did you get so sick and why were you out so late?"
Hitomi took her hand away nervously while keeping her gaze on the soft blue sheets clutched in her other hand. The room suddenly felt overly warm. "I-I don't remember. All I can recall was my walk from school with Yukari through Oceanside Park."
"Why were you and Yukari walking through the park? Your way home doesn't go through there."
"I know," Hitomi said. "We were looking for Van to return the school assignment he lost."
"Did you manage to find him?"
"Yes, and we left right after I gave him the paper but then…," Hitomi paused.
"But then what, Hitomi?" Amano urged her to continue as he noticed her lengthy silence.
"But then," Hitomi hesitated, "we came across a group of strange men with brown cloaks walking by us. I remember turning around to look at them because I have never seen these people around here before, but as I turned to look, they were gone. I figured they probably turned onto some path around a bend."
"Did they attack you?" Amano asked with concern.
Hitomi shook her head unsurely and replied slowly, "I…I don't know. I can't remember." Suddenly, her head snapped up and her eyes fell directly on Amano's.
"Yukari!" Hitomi shouted. "Is she all right? Oh, Amano, is she here?!"
"No," Amano said, his face became gravely concerned, "you were alone when I found you."
"Then we must," said Hitomi as she began to get off the bed, "find her. I must know if she is all right."
"Hold on," Amano placed a hand on her shoulders and gently forced her back down, "you are not going anywhere until the doctor arrives to give you a full check-up."
"I feel find," Hitomi sighed in frustration, "I just…"
Amano interrupted her by saying, "It doesn't matter what you feel; I still want the doctor to take a look at you, again. You had quite a fever last night, Hitomi, and you've been asleep for almost 34 hours. Until he gives you a good bill of health, you are not going to leave this bed, okay?" Amano continued speaking as he walked toward the door, "I will call Yukari's place to see if she returned safely. I'll tell you how she's doing when I return. But first, I must give your parents a call as well. They will be glad to know that you've finally awakened." As he stepped out he added, "I will have George bring you some lunch. I'm sure you are probably ravenous having slept so long without supper and breakfast." With that, Amano closed the door behind him gently.
Hitomi sat alone in the grand room listening to the dying sound of his footsteps down the long hallway. Her mind was swimming with multitudes of questions regarding her current circumstance, but she knew they were questions only she could answer. Yet, she has no recollection of any of the events that occurred last evening. How did she get here? Why was she lying unconscious at Amano's front steps so late at night? What happened yesterday?
But the most important question quickly rose to the forefront of her mind when she spotted the red shirt Amano mentioned earlier, folded neatly over a beautiful oak chair beside a writing table just a little ways across the room. Who was the owner of this shirt? Whoever it was must have been the one that saved her last night. But saved her from what?
"Ugh!" cried Hitomi as she threw the sheets aside in frustration. Standing up, she moved away from the bed and toward the opened doorway leading to a large majestic balcony overlooking the manor's grand rose garden. The rose garden was created in the shape of parentheses surrounding a beautiful path laid of light maroon coloured stones. A tall arch made of red cherry wood covered with white rose vines acted as a roof over the path. Strings of white roses hung down from the arch along the walkway creating a serene and romantic atmosphere. The stone path led directly to a small forest inhabited by large redwood trees towering above the green carpet floor some distance from the manor. Even at this time of day, the thick foliage of the forest canopy kept the lower regions of the forest cool enough to create a thin body of mist hovering a short distance above the moss covered ground. The beautiful scenery took her breath away. For a brief moment, Hitomi forgot about her worries and unanswered questions.
But the peace was not meant to last long. Unexpectedly, a large, dark shadow quickly moved over the garden to disappear on the other side. Startled, Hitomi looked up into the sky but she failed to see anything. Brows furrowed in bewilderment, she glanced down at the garden again but the shadow was nowhere to be found. Hitomi snapped her attention to a nearby tree when a noisy rustle was heard from it. A small flock of beautiful grey-blue doves broke into flight from the tree's canopy, sending out a shower of feathers like the white blossoms of a dandelion disturbed by a summer breeze. The sight was breathtaking, yet mysterious at the same time. Something must have disturbed these birds, Hitomi thought. Not at all distracted by the burst of life around her, Hitomi kept her attention on the tree. With narrowed eyes and furrowed brows, she concentrated hard on the large shadow seen through the small openings between the branches. Slowly she was able to make out a shape from the featureless silhouette. Leaves? No...hair...dark, silky hair waving in the wind...covering...a pair of…a pair of…, Hitomi thought as she leaned over the railing to get a better view. Her heart began to beat faster as she slowly realized what she was staring at. She thought in surprise, A pair of eyes?...fiery crimson eyes.
Then a soft silver feather floated down in front of her face from among the many all around her. Momentarily distracted, she reached out to catch it with an open hand. Hitomi glanced down at the magnificently large feather and was struck in awe by its unnatural beauty. This can't be a feather from the doves, she thought. It is much too large...and too beautiful. Quickly, she glanced back up at the tree, but Hitomi immediately noticed that the pair of eyes was gone. Was I dreaming? she thought, Or did I really see what I thought I saw?
"Miss?" someone called to her from behind.
Startled, Hitomi gasped loudly and whirled around with the feather clasped tightly in her hand.
"I am terribly sorry, Miss Kanzaki," the butler quickly spluttered the words. "I did not mean to startle you. I initially knocked but you didn't reply; so I thought I'd just enter and leave the tray in your room."
Placing a hand over her heart, she smiled and answered, "Oh, that's all right. I was just admiring the garden and I failed to hear you coming."
Smiling, the tall, thin-looking old man placed a large tray of food on the round balcony table. "I hope you will find these to your taste, Miss," he said. "Please enjoy your lunch."
"Yes, I'm sure I will like them. Thank you."
Nodding, he stepped out of the room. Hitomi glanced down at the tray filled with delectable choices of dishes and an elegant tea set with a cup already filled with the fragrant, delicious liquid. Usually, Hitomi would have sat down to lunch immediately, but food was not on her mind at the moment. Glancing back over at the tree again, her thoughts floated over to her friend. Amano is sure taking his time, she thought. I hope Yukari is all right.
"Oh, please," she whispered aloud with her hands clasped together as if in prayer, "let Yukari be well. Let Amano return with good news about her."
Just then, as if on cue, a soft knock came from within the room and Amano's voice was heard through the thick dark wood. "Can I come in?"
"Yes," Hitomi responded as she stepped back into the room, "please come in Amano."
Hitomi watched as Amano opened the door and stepped through with a smile on his face. She sighed in relief; this was indication enough that everything was fine with Yukari. Hitomi smiled in return as she asked, "I guess from the look on your face Yukari is well?"
"Yes," Amano replied, "she is perfectly fine. But the strange thing was she said she had been at home all evening yesterday."
"What?!" exclaimed Hitomi, who was thoroughly shocked by such a queer turn-of-event. "She was home all evening?"
"Yes," nodded Amano. "Yukari said that you both headed straight for home immediately after leaving school, and that she remained in her house all evening and night of yesterday."
"But that can't be," Hitomi said, staring blankly at the floor with wide eyes. "I remember clearly we were looking for Van to return his assignment after school. Are you sure that is what she said?"
"Positive," Amano said confidently. "Unless I need a new phone or my hearing checked."
"Oh Amano, I don't mean it that way. I just thought maybe you misheard what she was saying."
"No, that was what she told me over the phone." Amano quickly noticed the distraught look on her face and became quite concerned over her well-being. "Maybe you had a spout of amnesia or something. Perhaps you slipped and bumped your head somewhere."
"Amnesia happens when you forget things," Hitomi said in a shaken voice, "not create fictional events that you recall later." Shaking her head rapidly, she cried, "No! I was sure we went to the park looking for Van. I don't know why Yukari doesn't remember but I was sure what I recall happened yesterday is true."
"Perhaps you should lie down and rest a bit until the doctor comes to take a look at you. I'm sure it is probably nothing too serious. I mean I forget things sometimes, too."
"No," Hitomi cried, "I did not forget. I know it happened. I know it was real.
"Look," she said as she ran over to the red shirt on the chair. Holding it up in her hands she said, "This shirt…this shirt is not mine. If I had headed directly home from school then where did I get this shirt, and why was I lying in front of your house?"
"I don't know. Maybe you were sleep walking, or maybe—."
"I don't sleepwalk," Hitomi interrupted him with anger in her tone. "Why don't you believe me? I know what I remember is true."
"I do believe you but--."
"No, you don't believe me. You are probably thinking that I'm being hysterical right now, making up things that never happened."
"No," Amano was quick to object, "I am not thinking that at all. Hitomi, perhaps you should rest more before we try to figure this out. It may probably make more sense later on."
"I wish it will make sense later, but I know it won't." Hitomi sighed defeatedly as she slumped into the chair. Leaning her face on her hand while still holding onto the red shirt with the other, she said in a quiet tone, "Perhaps I am loosing it. Maybe you are right after all. Perhaps what I remember is simply not real. Maybe I'm confusing my dreams with my reality."
"You're probably just overly exhausted," Amano said comfortingly. "Exhaustion can do that to you."
Hitomi simply sighed. But it seemed so real. The park, walking with Yukari, meeting Van...Van, she thought.
"It's Van," Hitomi suddenly cried out. "If we can find Van then he will tell you what happened yesterday; that we did meet and I returned his assignment. He is the proof that I am not being disillusional."
"Well," Amano hesitated.
"Please Amano," Hitomi pleaded, "please ask him."
Running a hand through his shoulder-length chestnut hair, he turned to look at Hitomi's imploring gaze and said, "All right. We will ask Van, but the problem is: I don't know where to find him. I don't know where he lives."
Placing a thoughtful hand to her chin, Hitomi replied slowly, "I have a feeling I know where he will be."
****
"The park?!" Amano exclaimed loudly as he walked beside Hitomi toward Oceanside Park. "Why do you think he will be at the park?"
"Because that was where we found him last time," Hitomi asserted.
"We?"
"Yukari and I," Hitomi replied in a steady tone. Turning quickly to Amano, she said in a clipped tone, "And don't say that I was hallucinating. I know what I remember is true. I am certain of that now more than ever."
Amano remained silent. From her tone, he knew she was not to be trifled with at the moment. Instead, he kept his mouth closed and followed her silently.
Hitomi walked briskly through the streets; her attention was fully placed ahead of her with all the hustle-and-bustle of a mid-afternoon passing by unnoticed. Quickly enough, the scene changed from a noisy energetic atmosphere of the city to a gentle serenity of Nature's beauty. A carpet of green grass silenced their footsteps as they strolled steadily through the park; bars of sunlight filtering through the canopy of leaves overhead brightened their path through the shades of trees.
Amano suddenly realized that Hitomi had stopped a short distance ahead of him. Breaking out into a slow jog, he soon caught up with her. Without a word, he followed her gaze to an old weather-beaten wooden bench resting beneath the shade of a large oak tree some distance off the worn path. But what surprised him was the occupant of this bench. Seeking the silent comfort of nature, the occupant sat with his head rested on the hard back of the bench. Seemingly unaware of the two watching him, the young man continued to relax beneath the cool shade with an expressionless face and eyes closed, hiding the sorrows of his soul beneath its dark lids.
With a smile of satisfaction to have found him, Hitomi strolled over with Amano following closely behind. Beneath the closed lids, movement of the eyes could be seen glancing secretively toward the approaching visitors. He was expecting them.
Now standing a only a foot from him, Hitomi cleared her throat and said tentatively, "Van?…Uh…We're sorry to disturb you but there is something extremely important we need to ask you; more importantly, that I need to ask you."
Upon hearing her last phrase, his eyes opened slowly with its beautiful crimson orbs resting fully on her emerald gaze. The direct, steady look of his gaze unnerved her a bit but she maintained her friendly countenance. Amano gave a friendly salute when he noticed Van glancing over his way; in an act of civility, Van returned the gesture with only a simple nod. Instead, he held his face in its expressionless mask while returning his gaze back on Hitomi.
Speaking in an apathetic tone, he said, "What is it you would like to ask me?"
"Well," Hitomi began hesitantly, "this may…this may seem strange but I was wondering if you could explain to Amano here that we met yesterday."
Van only responded with a slight raised of an eyebrow. The young man's lack of emotional reaction became quite vexing to Hitomi. Putting one hand on her hip, she stood straight up and said in a steady tone, "My friend here," she gestured to Amano, "doesn't believe me when I tell him that I went looking for you yesterday to return your homework, and I did find you."
"And?"
"And," she scowled, "if you could be so kind as to tell him that what I said is true. I am not making this up."
"Why does he need me to corroborate this story of yours? Doesn't he believe you?"
"Story?" Hitomi fumed. "It was not a story!"
Seeing anger slowly rising within her, Amano quickly stepped in by saying, "I do believe her, but, you see, she said that Yukari came with her yesterday. However, when I contacted Yukari she said she had stayed home all evening."
Really? Van thought.
"So can you explain to us what happened yesterday so that this mystery may finally be solved?"
"Sure," said Van, indifferently. "We didn't meet yesterday."
"What?!" Hitomi cried out in surprise.
"You mean Hitomi didn't return your homework yesterday?"
"Of course not," replied Van, "I had my homework with me the whole time."
"So you never came across Hitomi and Yukari here, yesterday?"
"No," Van replied flatly. His composure remained perfectly calm and confident.
Hitomi, on the other hand, was flabbergasted by all that now conspired among them. Van's reply was far from being the one she had expected him to say. How could she be wrong? She didn't have amnesia. She wasn't hallucinating. What she remembered was true. She knew it to be true. It wasn't a story. It was true.
Looking straight at him, Hitomi quickly noticed the veil of shadows hiding the light of recognition deep within his eyes. She could see right through his façade. He knew the truth; the same truth that she was now refused from being acknowledged. Her brows scrunched together in confusion and frustration. Her hands, which still held onto the red shirt she took from the chair, began to tremble. Van's gaze gave a quick flicker to her hands. His pupils dilated upon seeing his shirt held within her tight grip.
"Liar!" Hitomi screamed the word.
Van quickly snapped his attention to look directly into her eyes. He noticed the tears that were rapidly brewing up from within them. Her expression was that of utter devastation. He watched her with empathy. Knowing the truth, himself, Van could not help but felt compassion for the young girl. Her life would never be the same now. However, it was not to be helped. Far more than the truth is at stake here. The lives of so many weigh in the balance with every decision he made, and hers as well.
"Liar," she continued to insult him but her voice has now become quiet. It no longer held any fight to its tone. "Why?" asked Hitomi in a broken voice. "Why are you doing this to me?"
He did not respond, but he did not turn his gaze away. Instead, he held her attention with his eyes, almost like he was trying to comfort her. Puzzled by the strange look deep within the garnet gaze of this enigmatic young man, Hitomi became silent. Her attention was still upon his emotionless face. Within her look, he could still see the question, the bewilderment, and the anger. As if reading her very thought, he could hear her utter: I will find out the truth, in a steady and persevering tone. With a frown, he knew plainly that her character was not without will and independence, which all would end up making his task the more difficult. He had determined not to expose too much of the knowledge of the events that were unfolding. It was best if she remained ignorant to these unnatural occurrences, which a mortal such as herself, could never possibly comprehend. And he did not have the time or the patience to give any such explanations.
*****
Hitomi had several times declined the offer of a ride home but several times the offer was remade after it was refused. Amano insisted that he see her home, because he reasoned that she has not fully recovered her health to undergo such exercise. Her home was at least an hour's walk away, he had argued, and at such a time in the evening, there was also a concern for her security, which was something that had been obviously breached several nights before.
Unbeknownst to her dear friend was the fact that she had decided to return to the park, again, to find Van. She was determined to strangle the truth out of him, figuratively speaking, but should it reach such extremity, she would not hesitate to take it to literal terms. However, her friend was more on the stubborn side than Hitomi had thought. In the end, her refusals fell on deaf ears; and, in her exhausted state, she decided to end this tiresome argument by finally accepting the offer home.
As it was, Hitomi was found to be staring silently out the tinted window of a sleek black limousine, gazing impassively at the sceneries flying swiftly passed her eyes. For a brief moment, she turned her gaze inward to the empty, beige leather seats around her, then briefly at the suited driver seated in front, before returning her attention to the environment outside her window once again. A ride in such a luxurious vehicle would have certainly brought excitement to many people but she was far from being thrilled. She quickly found that excitement was not to be the emotion one felt when there was no company to share it with. It was strange how certain emotions could be endured alone within one's heart while others must be shared among acquaintances for it to be enjoyed. It was not long into the journey home that Hitomi realized her initial excitement had quickly been replaced by a great yearning for some companionship, especially at a time such as this when her heart was most troubling to her.
Her friend was not to be blamed for the loneliness that now crept upon her heart. Amano had decided to drive her home himself but, not more than five minutes before their departure, an unexpected phone call of urgent matter called him reluctantly away. With deep regret and many apologies upon his part, Amano bid Hitomi goodnight and swiftly disappeared into his father's office with the door silently closing behind him. Alas, her delivery home was left in the care of his driver, Zeph, whom she found to be quite pleasant in demeanor and openly honest.
However, at this moment when feelings could not be understood and events made undecipherable, Hitomi yearned for another heart that would comprehend her bewildered and utterly vexing state of mind. She needed someone to calmly remind her what was real and what was not, because since the events of this afternoon, she began to doubt her mind and everything it perceived.
As the vehicle finally neared its destination, Hitomi also approached a decisive conclusion to her dilemmas. She has decided that there was only one person she knew who might have the answers to her questions, but whether he would be cooperative in disclosing the information was another matter altogether. So far, Hitomi judged Van to be quite an arrogant and heartless individual, who observed the world through a pair of indifferent eyes and a cool countenance. However, the sad hue of shaded crimson shrouding his beautiful gaze gave an impression that contradicted the pompous personality he portrayed publicly. In light of this view, Hitomi saw a kind-hearted young man whose heart carried an incredibly heavy burden and whose soul knew sufferings that were beyond imaginable.
Such an enigmatic character, Hitomi thought with much agitation. To attempt to decipher his thoughts and intentions would be similar in attempting to walk across a dark room unabated. Giving a desolate sigh, Hitomi gave into her seemingly hopeless decision to seek Van out and demand from him the truth, which she believed with great certainty involved her and the event that unfolded several nights before.
As they came to a gradual halt in front of her house, Hitomi slowly got out of the vehicle, after having the door opened for her by the driver, something which he insisted on doing; she graciously thanked him and bid him a goodnight. Once the salutations were properly made on both sides, the vehicle moved off and left her standing on the sidewalk alone. Hitomi turned to give a long look at her home; she was very much tempted to ignore the sea of questions rolling around her head and give into the yearning to finally settle back to her old familiar surroundings once more.
Her house was a good-size, middleclass home with four large windows: two at ground level and two on the upper floor, all of which faced the street she know stood on. (Several, less important, windows decorated the other faces of the building.) An elegant oak door with an ornate glass window occupying the upper half stood at the end of a fine stone-laid walkway weaving through a medium-size front lawn with its twin sakura trees standing on either side. The face of her house was built of a dark maroon colored brick that gave a touch of Victorian-style elegance to an otherwise modern architecture.
Hitomi noticed that several windows were lit, indicating the presence of its inhabitants. Despite the knowledge that her parents were anxiously awaiting her return, she decided, perhaps against her better judgement, to head directly to the park where she sensed she would find Van. Hitomi had already noticed the peculiarity in the fact that Van would, quite often, be present at the park; never once did she see him head for or even mention his home. It almost seemed as if the weather-beaten wooden bench, he so often found occupying, to be the sole property of what might be the only home to him. But that was impossible. No, such thoughts were absurd; of course he has a house.
Perhaps he simply enjoyed an evening stroll through the woods more often than not, Hitomi reasoned with herself. No matter, it is off to the park I go.
Hitomi had not walked more than ten minutes when a strange sensation overcame her. It was one of those subtle feelings of fear that the mind usually forged when one was caught alone in the dark. A trembling feeling that gripped the heart motionless and a cold chill run across the back of one's neck, making the hair on one's back to rise. A strange and powerful tug on the back of her mind warned her she was not alone. Listening to these innate advices of caution her body was telling her, Hitomi quickly looked behind her in the hopes to catch her stalker unaware, and thus catch him in the act of following her. But she failed to glimpse any human presence behind her. There was no frightfully dark individual slinking along the shadows; neither was there any noise to indicate such an individual was present and was now retreating quickly away. Somewhat relieved by this finding, Hitomi turned around and continued on her way, but it was not long before the very same dreadful feeling of being followed was once again upon her. This time the sensation was ten-fold stronger. Gripped with inexplicable fear, Hitomi tried to remain calm and levelheaded. Breaking out in a panic run would not help her if indeed she was being followed, and it certainly would not help her if she was not.
While she searched speedily for a way to determine if she was indeed being followed, Hitomi continued her steady pace; her gait remained unchanged should any disturbances on her part might alert the stalker into hiding again or initiate an attack. The soft thumping of the soles of her running shoe on the dark pavement were the only sounds that reached her ears in this isolated area of the road. Or was it? With her brows scrunched together in thought, Hitomi decided to chance it and execute her plan. Still maintaining her steady gait, Hitomi counted to three and, suddenly, momentarily stopped her foot in mid-air. Her action was carried out with the greatest of care and subtlety that, had the individual following her not been diligent, he would certainly have failed to notice the slightest of change in the beat of her footsteps at that brief moment.
Fortunately for Hitomi, her stalker failed to notice her action in time to prevent his own foot from hitting the cold pavement. The sound of a third footstep rang clearly to the two listeners like a bell-toll from Big Ben. Realizing his presence has been betrayed, the follower immediately dashed for the shadows to hide his identity but not before Hitomi noticed, when she quickly glanced back, the silent fluttering of a long, dark coat disappearing into a nearby hedge on someone's property.
Now uncontrollable fear held Hitomi in a vice-like grip and, for one second, she was unable to move. Her face was horridly pale, and her brilliant green eyes have lost all luster as she gazed in the direction she saw the individual disappeared to. Now was the time to run. Suddenly jerked awake by adrenalin, Hitomi's body spun around and her legs carried her quickly away down the road toward the more urban areas of the city. The hidden individual could hear her rapid footsteps vastly disappearing into the cold night air (for it has now become night). Uttering silent curses under his breath, this individual wasted so time in chasing after her. His long, black leather coat flapping senselessly behind him, while the soft glint of a golden hilt peeped out at interval from under its cover.
She was faster than he had given her credit for. Not too long after he lost sight of her dodging around a corner, that he lost her altogether to the many dark and dirty alleys that criss-cross the belly of this ominous city. Realizing the sudden weakness of his present state, Van quickly concluded that chasing her blindly around the city was a useless waste of time and energy; as well, such uncommon actions would likely alert The Hunter to his presence and intentions. Instead, he decided it best to return to the shadows along the building walls and remain there with alert ears to pick up any sounds that might betray her location within the many murky nooks and crannies of the old buildings resting in this area of the metropolis. Having listened intently for well over five minutes, Van reluctantly acknowledged the fact that he had lost her. With a fist clenched in rage, he began to remove himself from the wall and started to head toward her home once again, because he knew she must return there sooner or later. In the end, she could not escape him.
However, before he had the chance to move more than five steps, a desolate cry for help rapidly diffused through the silence to reach his ears, which stopped him in his tracks. He immediately recognized the voice uttering the plea. With eyes full of dread, Van quickly focused his attention in the direction at which he perceived the sound had emanated. He lost no time in pinpointing the exact location of the cry before breaking out in a full run toward that very direction, while his hand instinctively rose to the hilt of his sword where it remained until he reached his destination. It did not take him long to reach the dismal area of the city where she had hid until some unexpected visitors appeared, literally, out of the very dark air that occupied the region. Their frightening appearance caused her to take immediate flight while crying out madly for outside assistance. Upon gaining his destination, Van immediately noticed his red shirt—which she had clung to during their meeting this afternoon without the realization that it belonged to him—lying unclaimed on the filthy ground with not a trace of her to be found anywhere.
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Next: Chapter 7: "Ties of Red"
Cosmos 2004