"Hitomi´s been out quite a long time, don´t you think Amano?"
Amano turned back to face Yukari, who was sitting on the sofa in Hitomi´s living room. Worry was evident in her face as she looked at the her watch.
"It´s only been 15 minutes, Yukari." Amano walked towards her, placing a hand on top of her head. He felt her shiver a little. "Do you want me to go look for her?"
"Yeah, please. I´m worried about her." She looked up and smiled weakily at him. I don´t want her to be alone. Specially not on her birthday...
"I´ll go, although I really don´t understand why you´re so worried." But the look in your eyes is so frightened, I´m starting to worry myself.
"Amano, Yukari! Hitomi´s back!" the voice of her mother came clearily from the kitchen area. Yukari standed up and went to the front door. Amano close on her toes. When she opened the door, she noticed Hitomi was not alone. A man is with her... Who is he?
Chapter 4: Encounters"Amano, who is the guy next to Hitomi?"
"I don´t know, I can´t see him well, it´s too dark outside." Amano´s eyes narrowed as he was trying to see better the man´s face.
Hitomi´s mother aproached them, noticing the tension between her daughter´s friends she tried to see what they were gazing outside. "What is it?"
"Hitomi is with someone"
"What!"
"I can see him.. OH, GOD! He is that boy!" Yukari was shocked when she recognized the boy responsible of Hitomi´s dissapeareance 3 years ago. What is he doing here!"
"Which boy, Yukari? What are you talking about?" Amano couldn´t pick point where he had seen that face...
"What´s wrong?"
Yukari turned to face Hitomi´s mother "The boy that is with Hitomi... he... he is the one that took her to Gaia 3 years ago."
"Van..." the mature woman whispered. Why is he here? Is he trying to take her away again! This thought made her run towards her daughter to keep her away from that boy.
"Hitomi!" She turned to face towards her home and was surprised to see Yukari and Amano in the doorway. But more shocked when she saw her mother running towards herself.
"Mom? What´s wrong?" She felt as Van clutched her hand harder to reassure her everything was going to be alright.
"Hitomi get away from him!" Her mother caught Hitomi´s hand and started to pull her aside from Van.
"Mom, stop it! What´s wrong with you!" She jerked away staying close to the Fanelian King. Van hold her and for the first time dared to speak to her love´s mother. "Why should Hitomi stay away from me, my lady?"
Anger evident in her eyes and voice, the woman spit her next words. "Because you won´t take her away again! I won´t let you! She is MY daughter, you can´t just come and return to your world with her!" Her eyes full of tears, she pleaded her case to the young man. "Please.. don´t take her away from me..."
"Mom..." Hitomi embraced her mother, trying to soothe her tears.
"I´m sorry, I caused you such a pain 3 years ago." Van aproached Hitomi and her mother. He looked into the eyes of the woman and she was able to see a deep love contained within him. "But... by transporting Hitomi by accident to Gaia, I found my salvation." He took his love´s hand and smiled lovingly to her. "She saved my life so many times, she taught me to trust and love again. I owe her so much... I can´t thank her enough. Instead, I´ve given her my heart and soul."
Hitomi blushed and smiled widely. "And I love him too, mom. Very, very much." Hitomi looked at her mother, eyes shimering with tears. "Remember what you told me this morning? Well, I can´t... I can´t keep on going. Not without Van by my side."
"You love him that much?" Her mother was amazed of the intensity in her daughter´s words. She had never seen Hitomi so vehement about something.
"More than life itself, mom"
She didn´t hesitate in her answer... Oh, Hitomi! You are really in love with this man. This is very infortunate to me, because now I know, I can´t say anything to make you change your mind...
Surely I will end up losing you to him.
Amano and Yukari chose that moment to approach to them. Amano interposed himself between Hitomi, her mother and Van. "Why are you here?" his voice contained some resentment towards the young King.
"I don´t owe you any explanations. I´ll only give them to Hitomi´s mother."
"Then tell me... Van."
The Fanelian boy looked at the seer´s mother. "Ma´am. I´m here because I love your daughter so deeply that I want to share the rest of my life with her..." He looked directly into his love´s esmerald eyes to find hapiness and love shinning in them.
"What!" Hitomi´s mother shrivered. He´s proposing to her... And she will accept... I know it.
"Oh, Van!" Hitomi blushed and threw herself into his arms. He embraced her, taking in both her touch and love. The hint of flowers scent filled his senses as he passed a hand down her hair.
Yukari watched the events unfold. Her eyes shimered slightly but a light smile touched her lips. Hitomi is leaving us again... but this time, is for the better.