"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HITOMI!"

It was a very cheerful reunion. Some of Hitomi´s friends and schoolmates were there to celebrate her birthday. Even Amano was there as he was spending his vacation with his family in Japan.

"C´mon, Hitomi. Make a wish!" Yukari standed behind her best friend´s chair as Hitomi´s mother lighted the candle on the birthday cake.

"Okay" she smiled halfheartedly and then proceeded to honor the all time tradition of "blowing the candle on the birthday cake" She closed her eyes as she blew. Oh, God! Please, just grant me this wish. I know my wishes never come true, so I beg of you... Just this one... and I won´t ask anything else from you again. She opened her eyes and what she saw in that moment froze her...

A white feather passed before her eyes just to disappear in midair.

A chill traveled down her spine. Did I really see that or is it just my imagination? Hitomi´s eyes burned with unfallen tears. Oh, God! Am I going mad?

"Hitomi? Are you okay?" Yukari was now facing her. Confusion and worry evident in her eyes.

Damn! She must have noticed something is wrong with me. "Yeah. I´m fine. Don´t worry, Yukari. I was just thinking about my wish." She smiled.

"What did you wish, Kanzaki?" Amano aproached slightly to where they were.

"Amano! She can´t tell us. If she did, her wish won´t come true." Yukari looked at him in mock anger, placing her hands on her hips.

I don´t want that to happen! "Yeah, sorry, Amano. But I really need my wish to come true" Hitomi looked at him and smiled a little.

Yukari blinked. Need? She needs her wish to come true... What does she mean? She looked around and noticed Hitomi´s mother worried face. No one else seemed to had caught the oddity in Hitomi´s words.

"If you would excuse me, I need some fresh air" the seer got up and smiled to her guests. "I´ll be right back, so keep enjoying the party." With that she exited the room.

Yukari and her friend´s mother exchanged a look, while all the other guests continued with their chat and dance, enjoying themselves, oblivious to the nerviosism of their hostess and her daughter´s best friend.

CHAPTER 2: Wish to the stars

Hitomi walked towards the front door tears still menacing to betray the engulfing sadness in her heart. Van... have you forgotten me? Have you moved on and found someone else to share your life with? Am I just clinging to a desperate love?

She closed the door behind her and looked upwards. The stars shimered on the dark celestial cloak and her mind traveled to the fist time she saw the same stars on a planet diferent than hers.

"Seems we are on Gaia." He looked around and smiled.

Hitomi was scared. There was a dragon in the temple. Yukari, Amano and herself had escaped... that boy... he was fighting the dragon. He won... and then... the column of light...

She opened her eyes only to find herself liying on the grass. She looked around only to find that it was still nightime. In front of her, was standing that boy. He gazed upwards and she was amazed of how bright the night was. She mimicked his stance and was shocked when not only the Moon was visible in the sky, but also Earth.

"Why can I see Earth from here!" "Where am I?"

"It´s because we´re near the village of Karnass . That´s why the Moon of Illusions can be seen so clearly".

"The village of Karnass?"

"Yeah, we´re quite near of Fanelia." He looked at her and she could see a hint of a smile on his features. But one thing was evident, the pride she saw in his eyes when he mentioned Fanelia...

Hitomi lowered her gaze, tears now running freely down her cheeks. She walked down the street, towards the park. I need my wish to come true... I was not joking when I said that. If it doesn´t happen, I´ll die... from sadness and loneliness. She sat on a swing´s chair and started to cry.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine as a cold breeze passed near her. Hitomi raised her head from her hands and felt how breath caught in her throat.

It was raining, but not a drop of water fell over her... for it was raining white feathers.

From her position, she could see a figure approaching her. The silouete was visible under the streetlamps. When it came into view, her heart skip a beat and then started pounding at double pace.

"Van!" her lips whispered and her voice traveled over the white rain.