Escaflowne:   Mirrors

Episode 2:  Awareness

            Hitomi Kanzaki was peacefully asleep in her bed.  She was dreaming that she was falling, but this didn't phase her.  She dreamed often that she was falling, and that she was saved by her love…  As usual, from above, a pair of white wings unfolded, and the owner dove down after her.  She smiled, because she knew that it was Van, and that he would save her.  He always saved her.  Intense light was being shone on his face, lighting his dark hair to nearly gray, and casting a shadow over his face.  His bare arm stretched down to meet hers.  She reached up to him, her falling nearly unconscious.  He neared, their hands nearly touching, but then she was struck with fear, for the image of the dove and the train played with horrifying clarity across her eyes.  She saw again as the bird crashed and disappeared, and she saw with more detail, the fruit of her imagination…Van crashing, his wings breaking and his feathers flying.  She saw his expression; pained and agonized, as he tumbled aside and away from her into the dark.  The image came in a flash and before she knew it, she was back facing the winged man as he reached down to save her.  She was still frozen in fear as he grabbed her hand.  The difference was, that when she looked now, Van's face came into the light, his brown eyes shining, but his hair turning a new shade of burnt orange.  He had become Yosu, or had he always been Yosu?  Her falling stopped, and he took her up, Van's wings folding down around her…

            She woke up clutching her covers tightly to her chin and sweating.  "Wh-What's happening!?"  She sat up slowly, strangely dizzy.  It had been more than a dream.  Was it a vision?  But she hadn't had a vision since – since she'd left Gaea.  An icy-cold hand grabbed her heart and she received an incredible sense of foreboding.  What would a vision like that mean?  Her heart was telling her that something was wrong, but her mind was so confused.  She received another image; one of Van's throat, his eyes invisible, but his mouth unmoving.  A pale hand reached around his neck as another chin appeared.  A woman's; with young features a soft, curving lip, and long, elegant neck.  She leaned in close to him, taking Hitomi's magic pendant from his neck and pulling it taught.  He didn't move, but the chain grew tighter and tighter until it snapped off in her hand.  A fresh wave of danger overtook the girl.  Hitomi threw one hand to her own neck.  "Something's wrong!  Something's happened to Van!"  She climbed out of bed and through the dark room to the window.  Outside, the tree was dark and shadowy, the night sky was stretched out above it and the street was asleep beyond it.  There was no golden glowing youth hanging in the tree, and there was only one moon in the sky.  She stared at the clouds as if she could see Gaea hanging among the stars.  "I'm coming Van!  Hold on!"  Hitomi recalled the power of Atlantis, the power of wishes, and closed her eyes.  It was this power that had gotten her to Gaea before, and now she'd use it to get back.  "Please take me to Gaea!!!  Please take me to Van!!!  He needs me!  I wish it with all of my heart!!!"  She felt a golden glow surround her, ruffling her hair.  Her heart pounded fast as she felt herself drift off.  But then, like having the wind knocked out of her, she was thrown back into her room, and found herself staring out her window at the same tree as before.  A cold sweat ran down her back.  "What went wrong?"  Again, the vision of Van and the woman came, but briefly, this time only to see the snap of the chain.  She understood.  "The pendant!  It was the pendant that held the power of Atlantis!  That's the only reason I got to Van in the first place!"  She stared again at the sky, and felt her naked neck, her heart sinking.  "And Van has it!"  She sank down to her bed, she felt herself trembling with the sense of helplessness.  "Van has it and he's in trouble!!!"  She tried to fight her tears as she became determined.  "I've got to get to Gaea!  I've got to help Van!  There has to be some way to get there without the pendant!"

            Something triggered her dream again.  Van becoming Yosu.  Then the vision of the chain snapping.  Her mind was racing.  "I've got to hurry and do something.  But the vision seemed to say that Yosu was involved."  She stared out the window; the sky was becoming lighter over the rooftops.  "There has to be some reason why Van and Yosu are so much alike.  I don't think I'm understanding all of this dream… There has to be more to it.  Maybe its telling me that…that there is a connection between them."  She pounded her fist into her hand.  "Tomorrow after school!  I've got to find him and see how he's related to all of this!"  She nodded.  "I'll get to Van!  I'll find a way."

            The next day, she was on the train to school again.  Instead of taking her usual seat, she waited up by the door until Jiai got on at her normal stop.  Hitomi pulled her over.  "I've got to tell you something!"

            "What is it, Hitomi!?"  Jiai cried.

            "I had a vision last night!"  She answered.

            Jiai got more interested.  "A vision!?  How do you know?"

            "I received visions before, before I left Gaea.  I would have dreams that would make me feel a certain way."  Hitomi answered.  "And this wasn't a normal dream, it made me feel that way.  My visions connect me to what's going on other places."

            "Okay, I believe you."  Jiai nodded.  "What was your vision about!?"

            "Van's in trouble!"  Hitomi reported.

            "Van?  From your dream world?"  Jiai asked.

            "It's not a dream world!"  Hitomi repeated.  "And there's something wrong.  I've got to find a way back to Gaea."

            "Go back?  But you said that when you were on Gaea, you messed things up."  Jiai recalled.

            "I know…"  Hitomi seemed discouraged slightly.  "But I think I'm the only one who can save Gaea, now."

            "Well, what are you going to do?"  Jiai asked.

            "I've got to find Yosu."  Hitomi answered.  "He was in my vision.  I think he's got a connection to what's going on."

            "Yosu?  Oh!  The guy you fainted on!"  Jiai recalled.  "But Hitomi, that was last week!  How will you know where to find him?"

            "We know where he lives, right?"  Hitomi pressured.

            "I don't remember where he lived!"  Jiai replied.  "I can barely remember what stop we got on at when we took the train home!"

            "I'm going to find him someway."  Hitomi grabbed her friend's shoulder.  "And you're going to help me!"

            "Help you!?"  Jiai cried.

            "Don't back out on me, now, Jiai, you're the only one I can trust with this!"  Hitomi said.  "If you don't believe me, then I'll have to do it myself.  But it will be a lot easier with you along."

            "But it's not right to just go around stalking someone you don't know." Jiai answered.

            "It is if it's to save an entire planet!"  Hitomi stated.

            "But no body knows this planet exists."  Jiai said.  "I'm not sure if I even believe it exists!  Plus, we've got to do what we're supposed to."

            "You're just like Millerna, stuck in your stupid rules!"  Hitomi cried.  "Well, I know Millerna, and Millerna would believe me and help me, even if she was unsure of what was going on… I think you will too."

            Jiai bit her knuckle in deep thought, her marine blue eyes quavering with her racing thoughts and emotions.  "Hitomi…I love you, I really do…but I don't know if I can do this for you.  It was fine when we ran into him on the street…but to go out and try to find him.  It's not as innocent as before."

            "Think of it as an adventure." Hitomi reassured.  "We're not trying to rob the guy, we're trying to talk to him.  All I want to do is talk to him."  She smiled at Jiai.  "Come with me?  Please?"

            Jiai swallowed hard.  "Okay, I'll do it!"

            "Thank you!"  Hitomi grinned and hugged her.  When she opened her eyes, her arms still around her friend, Hitomi received a vision of a sunset.  A young woman with golden hair tied back in a low bow was leaning off a balcony.  Her blue eyes were glossy, and tear filled.  Her cheeks were stained with the signs of crying.  Just as she put her face in her hands and began to sob, Hitomi was brought back.  She quickly withdrew and held Jiai out at arms length, the eyes on this girl the same as the ones in the image.

            "Hitomi!?  What's wrong?"

            Staring into Jiai's face made the muscles around Hitomi's face twitch with emotion.  She looked even more like Millerna now than she ever had.  She stammered out an answer to her query "I just got another vision!"

            "Another?"  Jiai asked.  "Just now!?"

            Hitomi nodded, slowly, staring unblinking at the girl.

            "Well what was it about?"

            "It was Millerna."  Hitomi answered.  "She was crying.  She looked like… like something horrible had happened."

            "She's the one who looks like me, right?"  Jiai asked. "And you got it when you were hugging me?"

            "Yeah…"  Hitomi was overcome with eeriness, as if she wasn't sure whether Jiai was really Millerna or not.  The vision of Yosu with Van's wings returned again.  Jiai watched as Hitomi twitched with her eyes glued open.

            "What's happening now?"  The curly-haired girl asked.

            Millerna was in trouble on Gaea.  Van was in trouble on Gaea.  Hitomi let her eyes focus on the girl again.  "I – I think you're connected, too, Jiai."  She squeezed Jiai's shoulders tighter.  "Its just like Yosu and Van…in order to explain what's going on, I need to talk to Yosu.  In order to find out what's wrong with Millerna, I'm going to need your help."

            "You're creeping me out, Hitomi."  Jiai said, shrugging out of Hitomi's grip.  "Don't stare at me so much."

            "Do you feel anything strange!?"  Hitomi demanded. "Do you feel sad?  Do you feel like you have a connection to someone else!?"

            "Stop yelling at me!"  Jiai cried.

            "Can you see Millerna!?  Do you know what's happened!?"  Hitomi was yelling now. 

            Jiai sprang up out of the seat, scared and angry.  "No!  I felt normal before you started acting so weird!  You're scaring me, Hitomi!"

            "But you don't understand…!"  Hitomi insisted.

            "Stoppit!"  Jiai shouted.  "Leave me alone!  Get away from me!"  She grabbed her schoolbag and took off running down the isle to the next car.  The other people seated around Hitomi were staring at her.  She felt awkward, and guilty about pressing Jiai so hard.  But at the same time she had new ideas.  That day the two of them went shopping, she ran into so many people that reminded her of her companions on Gaea.  She was confused at the time, and had dismissed it as coincidence, but now she thought that maybe there really WAS a connection between them.  Not just Yosu and Van and Jiai and Millerna, but maybe everyone else had a connection to their respective counterparts.  She had to find out.  The train pulled into her destination and she stood.  She saw Yukari walk up from further back, ready to leave through the door near Hitomi.  Her best friend pulled her over. "Hey, Yukari?"

            "Hi,  Hitomi."  Yukari answered. "What's up?"

            "Is Amano still staying at your house?"  Hitomi asked.

            "Yeah."  Yukari answered.  "But he's not at school today, he was feeling bad, so he stayed home."

            "Can I come over maybe after school and talk to him?"  Hitomi asked.

            "Sure."  Yukari said.  "You know you're welcome any time, Hitomi."

            Hitomi went through the morning thinking about all the possibilities confronting her.  Somehow her friends had developed connections to people from Gaea.  Yosu was definitely connected to Van, there was no mistaking it; Jiai was connected to Millerna; and Amano was probably connected to Allen.  Her "interview" with him later, she was sure, would only confirm it.  Who else was there?  Well, Yosu's little sister was definitely Merle…what was her name?  Cat? Neko…Koneko… that was it.  And, of course, that famous guy and Dryden.  He was the most obvious, really.  As she entered the lunchroom at the noon hour, she spied Jiai sitting all alone.  She remembered how she'd treated Jiai on the train, and felt guilty again.  She headed over

            Jiai was slowly and absentmindedly stirring her canned peaches with a fork.  Hitomi sat down across from her "Hey."

            The girl looked up, her curls bouncing.  She didn't say anything.

            Hitomi decided to get straight to the apologies.  "Look, Jiai, I'm sorry about how I acted on the train.  I've been going through a lot of changes suddenly."

            Jiai looked unsure, but finally said.  "You scared me, Hitomi.  You were out of control."

            "I know, I'm just worried, that's all."  Hitomi answered.  "Forgive me?  I didn't mean to scare you."

            Jiai put down her fork.  "Okay, I don't want to be scared of you."  She looked up.  "But all this Gaea stuff all of a sudden; you really believe in this dream world."

            "It wasn't –" But Hitomi stopped and approached it kinder.  "I spent a long time there, Jiai.  I know it wasn't a dream.  I felt pain, I felt anger, I felt love…It was a real place with real people.  People that I care a lot about.  There has to be some way I can prove it to you so that you'll believe me."  Jiai looked innocently and attentively to her.  Hitomi got an idea.  "I know, you're connected to Millerna, close your eyes and relax."

            "Hitomi…"  Jiai seemed hesitant.

            "It's just an experiment."  Hitomi assured.  "I'm trying to prove to you that Millerna is real.  Just close your eyes and take my hand."  The girl reached out and took Hitomi's hand, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  Hitomi closed her eyes, too, and put a hand over her heart where her pendant would have hung.  "Okay, now, relax your mind, and listen to what I'm going to say.  Tell me how you feel, or what you see or hear."

            "Okay."  Jiai answered.

            "Here we go…"  Hitomi relaxed and thought about what she was going to say.  What would get Millerna's attention right away?  It didn't take long.  "How do you feel, when I ask you about Allen Schezar?"

            Jiai kept her eyes closed.  Hitomi tried to see what Jiai was seeing, but couldn't.  She clutched her own uniform at her heart, wishing that she could.  Suddenly Jiai spoke.  "I feel sad…"  Hitomi could feel it too, now, a terrible sadness.  As Jiai continued to speak, Hitomi felt what her words said.  Millerna's voice continued to speak from Jiai's throat.  "I feel lonely…"

            "What did he say?"  Hitomi asked.

            "I feel…unloved…"

            Hitomi gasped.  There was a hollowness in her chest.  Millerna's voice came sobbing into her mind.  Jiai's words echoed around in their midst.  'I feel unloved…why me?  Why does no one love me?'  Hitomi realized that the sobbing she heard was real, and opened her eyes to find tears streaming down Jiai's cheeks.

            "I feel so worthless!"  Jiai heaved.  "I feel like I want to curl up and die.  No body loves me!"

            "Jiai!"  Hitomi let go of her hand and leaned forward to shake her.  "Jiai!  It's okay." 

            Jiai opened her eyes, which now seemed more blue than green.  "My…my heart aches!"

            Hitomi got up and came around the table to sit next to her friend.  She put her arm around her.  "I know, I felt it too…But that's not you.  You are loved.  Millerna felt like that.  You were feeling Millerna's feelings.  That must be why she was crying…"

            Jiai couldn't stop her own crying.  "I saw her!  I saw her, Hitomi!  I saw her…I feel so bad!"  Hitomi hugged her and reassured her until she calmed down.  She figured that something had happened between Millerna and Allen that had caused this pain.  It must have been horrible.  She recalled that Amano had been feeling bad.  She hoped that Allen was alright, and that nothing had happened to him.  Jiai eased her head off of Hitomi's shoulder.  She wiped her eyes and turned to the girl next to her.  "I believe you, Hitomi.  No one could convince me that there wasn't a Gaea now!  I can feel Millerna in me now.  And there is something wrong.  I want to help you help her."

            "Thanks Jiai."  Hitomi said.  "So you're going to help me get to Gaea?"

            Jiai nodded.  "What do we do first?"

            "Well, I think we need to check out Amano."  Hitomi answered.

            "Amano?  Why?  I thought you were after Yosu."

            "Yosu can wait."  Hitomi said.  "It will be a lot easier to get to Amano, I know exactly where he is.  And he's feeling sick today, so maybe his connection to Allen is taking its toll."

            "So you think everyone…everyone you thought were someone else…are connected to Gaea?"  Jiai summed up.

            Hitomi nodded and began to outline her plan.  "You see, I've been thinking.  I can't get to Gaea without the power of Atlantis.  That is, I can't get there by myself.  I think that if I can get the help of enough people who are connected, I can use their relationships to the people on Gaea to teleport there."

            "And you think that'll work?"  Jiai asked. 

            "That feeling you got… you were channeling Millerna…"  Hitomi explained.  "The only way you could do that is if a part of you went to Gaea and found it."

            "I don't understand."  Jiai said.

            "It's okay, I do."  Hitomi assured.  "Just come with me to Yukari's this afternoon and talk to Amano.  Then we can go off and find Yosu."

            "Okay, I'll meet you after class at the train station."  Jiai agreed. 

            As arranged, the girls met up with Yukari at the train station and went with her home.  Yukari lead them through her front door, dropping her school stuff by the door and kicking off her shoes.  "Mom!!!  We're home!"  She wandered down the hall toward the family bedrooms.  Hitomi and Jiai followed.  Yukari knocked on the guest room doorframe.  "Amano?  I'm back from school."

            Hitomi heard Allen's voice answer her.  "Hi, Yukari."

            "How do you feel?"

            "Better."  He said.  "I think it was just a morning thing."

            "Hitomi and Jiai came over to see how you were doing."  Yukari said into the door.

            In a second or two, Amano appeared, his chin-length light brown hair a little tousled and wearing a tee shirt and sweatpants.  "Hey.  What's up?"

            "Nothing, just wanting to see how sick you were."  Hitomi answered, then cut to the chase.  "What was this illness like?"

            "It really was nothing, I was a little dizzy and lightheaded."  He answered.  "I had a killer headache.  I was like a migraine really."

            "Did it come with any images?"  Hitomi asked.

            Amano looked confused.  "Images?"

            "Pictures or voices or anything?"  Hitomi said, hopefully.

            Amano scratched his head.  "No, I don't think so…I woke up with a really weird ringing in my ears, but that went away after about half an hour.  That's what convinced me to stay here.  I think I was having 'killer cousin' nightmares again."

            "We had Grandpa's chili last night."  Yukari recalled.  "That could have done it."  

            "That was probably it."  Amano agreed.

            "No."  Hitomi said as if she knew.  Amano looked quizzically at her, wondering why she sounded like she did. Hitomi took a deep breath.  "I might as well get straight to the point.  I'm suspicious that there is something going on.  Something extraterrestrial, and you're involved."

            "What?  You think I'm an alien or something?"  Amano asked.

            "No."  Hitomi didn't appreciate his joking.  "I don't know if you remember; but I left one night out on the school track in a beam of light and vanished."

            "I don't remember that."  Amano answered.

            "I wrote over it the first time."  Hitomi reported.  "But you were there the second time.  I didn't wake up in the nurses office the second time I came back."

            "I have no idea what you're talking about."  Amano answered.

            Hitomi became frustrated.  She stepped forward and put her hands on either side of his head.  She felt a strange power being generated by a point in the center of her chest.  "Remember the pendant?  It would swing back and forth once a second.  We counted it together by my bed.  You held that pendant in your hand.  I made a deal, that if I could reach you before the pendant swung thirteen times, I could kiss you.  As I ran, a beam of light came down from the sky.  In it was a dragon.  It descended with a young man on its back.  That was Van.  I called his name and jumped up onto the dragon's back.  We flew away together, up the column of light.  You stood below and watched until I was gone…It was surreal.  Maybe you thought it was a dream; but it was true.  It really happened.  You have to remember."

            The power she was feeling was working inside his head, unlocking memories that he'd dismissed.  Allen's blue eyes on Amano's face flashed with recollection.  "I remember that!  Hitomi!"  Hitomi took her hands away and stepped back as he looked, nearly frightened down at her.  Jiai and Yukari watched.  Amano put one hand to his head.  "That headache…and the ringing is back."

            "Maybe you should lie down."  Yukari suggested.

            "No, it's…"  Amano averted his eyes.  "What was that?  That night?"

            "That was the night I went back to Gaea."  Hitomi answered.

            "Gaea?"

            Hitomi sighed, relieved that he was interested in learning more.  "Let me tell you about it…"  They moved into the sitting room and Hitomi began her account; telling Amano and Yukari everything she'd told Jiai before on the train.  The two of them listened; she wasn't sure if they were believed her or not, but Amano seemed to be hanging on every word.  As the tale went on, Yukari seemed more and more comprehensive and confused.  Hitomi finished by telling them about her vision and her theory of how everyone was connected.  When she was done, there was silence.

            Jiai fidgeted in her chair and Hitomi sat down in one next to her.  "Amano, you and Allen have some sort of connection.  I saw it before I even was looking for them.  I saw the similarities between you and Allen the minute I met Allen on Gaea.  And now, there's something going on on Gaea, and I need you to tap into Allen and see if you can establish the connection I need to get me back."

            "Wh- what do I have to do?"  Amano stammered.  He looked thrown by the whole thing, his frame of reality shattered.

            "Well, this worked for Jiai…" Hitomi said.  She got on her knees in front of Amano and took his hand.

            "Wait – "  Yukari bade.  Hitomi looked up.  There was something in her friend's eyes that looked concerned.  She was worried.  "This is foolishness!  Hitomi!?  You are talking like a fool, I'm scared for you!  Do you feel alright?  Maybe we should take you to a doctor; get this thing sorted out…"

            "You were there, too, Yukari."  Hitomi said.  "You saw me leave for Gaea, just like Amano did.  He believes me and you don't.  Maybe you are the one who's having the trouble."

            Yukari looked to Amano.  "This is insane!"  She pleaded. "Please don't tell me you believe this stuff!"

            "I can't help thinking that it might be a possibility."  Amano answered.  "I saw something really strange that night, and Hitomi has explained it to me.  I have to believe her.  Can you explain it better?"

            "I don't remember that happening."  Yukari answered.

            "You've shut it away, too then."  Hitomi resolved.  "Maybe it happens automatically…something in the power of Atlantis that makes you forget anything about Gaea if you've been affected by it.  Well, you can remember, too.  But I'm going to deal with Amano and Allen, now.  I don't think you have a counterpart in Gaea."  She studied Yukari.  "I never thought you reminded me of anyone I met, and there was no one who reminded me of you while I was there.  I've got to take this a little bit at a time."

            "I don't think you should do it, Amano."  Yukari warned.

            "What's to lose?"  Amano asked.  He turned to Hitomi.  "What do I have to do?"

            "Close your eyes and relax."  Hitomi instructed.  "And tell me what you see or feel or hear or anything when I say things that would cue Allen to come through."

            "I am a little scared, really…"  Amano admitted.  "I've never…" he gulped. "..channeled anyone before."

            "It's okay."  Jiai said, blushing a little that she was talking to Amano.  "I connected to Millerna.  It feels strange, but its like you are becoming someone else.  When Hitomi brings you out of it…you'll be normal again.  Well, as normal as you can be knowing that you made contact with someone else."

            "This Allen isn't a ghost is he?"  Amano asked.  "I'm not going to end up possessed or anything?"

            "No, I hope not."  Hitomi replied, remembering Millerna's tears.  He didn't look reassured, so she smiled at him.  "I'll make sure you don't.  Just relax."

            "Okay."  He closed his eyes and leaned back into the couch, Hitomi still holding his hand.  Yukari watched warily, never straying her eyes from Amano, her heart aching.

            Hitomi closed her eyes and pretended again that she had her pendant around her neck.  "Alright…here goes…"  She took a deep breath.  "Allen Schezar…how would you feel if I asked you about Millerna?"

            Amano stayed quiet, but there was a look on his face like he was saddened, maybe even a little hurt.  Jiai felt a lump catch in her throat, feeling Millerna's feelings come back. She looked away quickly, trying to subdue it.  Yukari felt her eyes begin to sting.  Hitomi, however, didn't think he'd given any response, and tried something else.

            "What if I asked you about Celena…your sister…"

            Amano gasped and his face scrunched and twisted.  Yukari jumped, but stopped herself, confused as to what she was supposed to do.  Amano spoke.  "It's pain, It…why?  That's what I hear…I keep saying why."

            "Why?"  Hitomi repeated.  She got another of her images.  Allen, his golden hair dulled in the darkness of the night outside his window, was leaned against his bedroom door.  His eyes were blue, but frightened, hurt, and confused.  From the other side, she heard pounding and screaming; glass breaking, a young woman's cry for help, then malicious laughing.  Allen sank down against the door, his face in his hand. 

"Why…?"

            "Allen…"  Hitomi still had feelings for him; he was still special to her, if only as a good friend.  He was in trouble too.  She had to find out more, and help him.  Things were going so wrong on Gaea.

            "I feel like…like I was responsible for something that went really wrong."  Amano reported.  "Burdened maybe…I don't know.  I feel like I have let down someone…"

            "What happened?"  Hitomi asked.

            "I don't know…"  Amano answered.  "I don't know!  I wish I did!  I don't – I – "  Using Allen's voice, Amano sounded like Allen had jumped into the room and started to try and explain himself.  "I tried to help her!  I tried to save her!  I – I can't do anything…I don't know what went wrong…"

            "It's okay, it's not your fault."  Hitomi tried to calm him down.  "You can't do anything to help."

            "I have to!"  He became angry.  "I HAVE to!!!  It's my job to save her!  That's why I'm her older brother!  That's why I swore to protect her and keep her happy and safe - !  I have to help her somehow.  I have to be able to do something - !"

            Yukari gasped and Jiai shot her eyes over.  The brunette was staring directly into Amano's face, her lip quivering and her eyes flashing like her mind was working madly.  Her lip quivered as she opened her mouth… "Allen…"

            Hitomi's eyes sprung open.  "Yukari!?"

            Amano fell out of his trance and opened his eyes, his heart still beating fast.  "What was I saying?  What happened?"  Hitomi had her attention devoted to Yukari and didn't hear.  Yukari's blue eyes seemed to lose a white film when Amano came back to normal.  She grabbed her throat and coughed.  Amano sprang up.  "Yukari!?  What's wrong!?  Are you okay!?" 

            "I!?  I saw him…I saw Allen."  Yukari cried.

            "How?"  Hitomi demanded.  "How!?"

            "In Amano."  Yukari answered.  "He suddenly, as I was staring at him, started talking very passionately, and I got afraid.  Then I saw, his hair turn blonde, and grow long.  He looked older…it was Allen.  I could see him sitting there, then I kinda fell back.  I fell out of … me…  I got lost I guess."  She jumped into Amano's arms.  "I was so scared!"

            "It's okay, Yukari."  Amano assured.  "I'm back!  It's me, and I've got you.  We're okay now."

            Hitomi turned back to Jiai, whose eyes were watering.  The girl got up off her knees.  "We've done what we were meaning to.  I got you in touch with Allen.  Amano?  Did you sense it?"

            "Yeah."  Amano answered, holding Yukari, her head under his chin.  "Yeah, I could feel it.  And I feel it now, too.  It's bizarre."

            "I saw something."  Hitomi said.  She looked back to Jiai.  "Allen was in trouble too."

            "I think we all got that."  Jiai answered.  "So now Van, Millerna, and Allen are in trouble.  You really think you can help them?"

            "I think I need to find more people with connections."  Hitomi answered.  "There might be something really big going on.  I'll need all the information I can get." 

            "Who else do we need to tag?"  Jiai asked. "Millerna and Allen.  You still have to catch up with Yosu."

            "Yosu?"  Amano asked.  "Yosu who?"

            "Oh my gosh… was his last name!?"  Hitomi cried. 

            "That might be a little important."  Jiai pointed out.  "Good luck finding one Yosu in all of Tokyo."           

            "It began with a T didn't it?  Tamaka?  Tamara?"

            "Takara?"  Amano asked.

            "That's it!"  Hitomi cried, then shot a critical look at the young man.  "How did you know that?" 

            "He's a kid my cousin Hakai talks about.  They go to tae-kwon-do classes together downtown."  Amano answered.  "Hakai hates his guts.  I think it helps fuel his urge to burn stuff."

            "Burn stuff?"  Hitomi asked.  She was struck with another creepy feeling.  "Hakai, does he really like to…burn…stuff?"

            "Oh my gosh!" Amano cried.  "Full blown pyro!  The guy runs around with lit candles; lit matches; lit lighters; I caught him with a lit table-leg once.  I still haven't found the table he took it off of.  And I tell you what…I'm his favorite target.  He either really likes me or hates me.  My stuff is his favorite thing to burn.  I locked my room before I left, I hope he hasn't picked it yet."

            "Jiai!!!"  Hitomi cried.  "It's Dilandau!!!"

            "Who?"  Jiai asked.

            "The creepy screaming banshee pyro I told you about who was always trying to kill Van."  Hitomi answered.

            "Oh!  The one who turned into Allen's younger sister."  Jiai affirmed.

            "What!?"  Amano cried.

            "Celena was changed into Dilandau." Hitomi answered.  "Don't ask me how or why, that's just what happened."

            "You mean the little sister that I – that Allen was screaming about used to by a boy and a pyromaniac!?"  Amano cried, outraged.  "No wonder he's got problems!!!"

            "She turned back though!"  Hitomi assured.

            "That doesn't help!"  Amano insisted.  "I've got a connection to Allen, now, and that really ticks me off!"

            "You're Allen all the way through."  Jiai sighed.  Hitomi cast her a look.  Jiai looked like she swallowed a bug.  "How'd I know that?"

            Hitomi threw her hands up to her head, confused and bombarded.  Amano gave it a thought.  "Then I guess that Suru is Celena."

            "What did you say?"  Hitomi demanded.

            "Well, Hakai is only Dil – Dil whatever, but he is also Celena.  I'm sorry, I just confused you didn't I."  Amano said, looking razzled. 

            "Go on."  Hitomi pleaded.

            "Well, on Gaea, there is one person who is really two people.   Celena is both Dil – "

            "Dilandau."  Hitomi informed.

            "Dilandau," Amano repeated, "and herself.  She is one body, but has been two different people.  If people here on Earth have developed connections to people on Gaea, it would make sense that there would be a representative of each person."  Hitomi saw the sense in this, but let him continue.  "So, my two crazy twin cousins would be the perfect representatives."

            "Can we go over and see your cousins?"  Hitomi cried.

            Amano looked wary.  "I dunno…"

            "Come on, Amano."  Hitomi pleaded.  "It's really important.  If I can get enough people to help me, I can go to Gaea and help Allen.  You've got a thing with Allen now right?"

            "Yeah, right." Amano agreed. "Okay, I'll drive you.  But I'm warning you, keep all personal possessions in the car at all times and don't stick your neck or limbs out to far once you get in that house.  My mom will be glad to see me, again, I'm sure."

            They all got up, got their shoes on, Amano got dressed, and headed to the street where Amano's car was parked.  It was an older model, with red paint chipping a little and dents clearly visible.  Still it was a cute little thing.  He got in the driver's side door and Yukari piled in the passenger side.  Hitomi and Jiai made themselves home in the back.  Jiai pulled Hitomi over to whisper in her ear.  "Thanks for involving me in this…otherwise I would NEVER have been able to ride in Amano's car."

            Hitomi giggled a little as they pulled out.  Amano talked to her over his shoulder.  "So, what is this Gaea like?  Is it like Earth?"

            "The landscapes and everything are the same, but the technology is kinda lopsided."  Hitomi answered.  "They've developed gigantic mechanical suits called Guymelefs that they use to fight with; and they have floating ships and flying vehicles.  At the same time though, most of their work and simple machinery is like what they used in Europe during the middle ages, or maybe a little past that.  The point is that they don't have big buildings and cars and things like we do, and they don't dress like we do either.  Allen for instance, had big white puffy sleeves and a long blue, uh, overcoat I guess."

            "Puffy sleeves!?"  Amano cried.

            "I saw 'em."  Yukari reported. 

            He looked over to her sharply.  "I can't believe my counterpart wears puffy sleeves."

            "Its something like a fashion statement in Asturia." Hitomi answered.

            "Fashion statement my butt."  Amano huffed.  "If I was there, I'd fix him.  Show him the light…"

            "I'll tell him your thoughts."  Hitomi said, amused by how quickly Amano had taken to Allen.  They wound the roads until Amano had gotten them to his house.  As they climbed out of the car, they heard something break just inside.

            "Ah, welcome home."  Amano said.  He headed up the walk first.  "Remember what I told you, watch your backs."

            Hitomi took a second thought and tossed her backpack back through the car window.

            They all moved up and he opened the door.  The commotion hit them full force; screaming, running, and a lot of talking at once reverberated loudly throughout the halls of his house.  Amano stepped inside.  "Mom!  I'm back!"

            "Amano!?!"  His mother sounded relieved as she ran over.  "Thank goodness!  Help!  Please!" 

            "I've brought you a couple babysitters."  Amano said.

            "What!?"  Hitomi cried.

            "Just play along."  Amano hissed, turning back to his mother.  "Yeah, where are the little monsters?"

            "Well, Hakai is in the basement going through our storage boxes and I think Suru has penned herself up in the corner of the living room."  His mother answered. 

            Amano sighed.  "Hitomi, you and Jiai head over and take care of Suru.  Yukari, you can go too I guess.  Hakai is going to take a little work to get up the stairs."

            "Can't we just get Suru downstairs?"  Hitomi asked.

            "Oh, no."  Amano shook his head.  "You can't move her, believe me.  She's really the dangerous one.  She's got that subtle evil to her.  Hakai's evil is blatant, you can see it right on the surface."

            He wished them good luck and headed off to the basement.  Yukari lead the other two through Amano's house to the living room.  In the corner was a little girl of twelve years.  She had her slightly curly bright blonde hair at chin level and was playing with a set of paper dolls.  She had large, innocent blue eyes and talked to herself in Celena's voice as she folded the flaps of the paper clothes over the body of her doll.  "Look Little Suzy!  Look at all your pretty dresses!  They fold over here on your shoulders and over here on your hips.  But you're sad!  You have so many dresses.  How can you wear them all?"  Without blinking or changing expression, she slowly ripped the paper-doll in half by at the waist.  The girls watching halted in their approach, appalled.  Suru picked up two paper dresses off the floor, folding one onto the top half of the doll and one onto the bottom half.  "There Little Suzy!  Now you can wear twice as many dresses!"  She set the two dressed halves down in front of her.  "That makes you so happy!"

            "Uh, Suru?"  Yukari started. 

            Suru turned, suddenly, her eyes looking like Dilandau's, or Celena's, they had the same eyes after all.  "Who are you?"

            "I'm Yukari, remember?  I came over before."  Yukari answered.

            "Yes, I remember you."  Suru answered.  "Do you want to play with my dolls?"

            "No, no I don't." Yukari assured.  "No, this is Hitomi."  Yukari kneeled down and brought Hitomi down with her.  "She's a friend of your cousin Amano's."

            "Your Amano's friend?"  Suru asked Hitomi.  "I like Amano.  He's nice to me.  He plays with my brother.  But I don't think he likes me.  He tells me to stop my games before we finish.  It makes me sad."

            "I'm sorry about that."  Hitomi answered.  "Maybe he just doesn't like playing girl games."

            "I don't think that's it."  Suru answered.  She looked to the spread in front of her.  "Do you want me to introduce you to my dolls?"

            Hitomi glanced back to Jiai who shrugged, then answered Suru.  "Sure.  Who are your dolls?"

            Suru looked pleased.  "This is Meg…"  She pulled out a doll with the feet torn off.  "Her sandals didn't match, so I got rid of them for her.  She never liked them anyway.  This is Mindy."  She took out one with the head torn off and taped back on.  "Actually, it's Mindy's body, but she wasn't happy because she thought her face wasn't pretty.  So I gave her Joann's instead.  Then she was happy."  She pulled out another that was in three pieces.  "This is Joann.  She got Mindy's head and Meg's sandals."  Then came one more covered in generous amounts of tape.  "This is Christy.  Both Joann's high heels and her tennis shoes matched her outfit so I let her have both.  She was happy then…And this is Little Suzy."  She pulled Little Suzy out.  "She was the smallest, so she was the only one who could wear her clothes.  And she wanted to wear them so much, I made her happy so that she could wear two at a time."

            "That's grotesque, Suru."  Hitomi answered. "I mean It's great!!!"

            Just then, there was a clamoring downstairs.  They heard a little boy screaming bloody murder, then hurried footsteps.  Amano burst through the basement door and ran as fast as his long legs could take him into the living room, followed by a little ball of fury named Hakai.  Amano stared back warily.  Yukari cried out.  "Amano!?  What's going on!?"

            "I stole his matches!"  Amano said, flashing them at her from where they were palmed in his hand.  Hakai appeared, his ears and eyes red and his spiked hair arching dangerously. 

            "Give me those you!" 

            Amano held them up in the air.  "You'll have to get them yourself.

            "Grr!"  His nostrils flared.  "AMANO!!!!  AAARRGGG!!!"  Hakai attacked and began to claw up Amano like a cat up a tree.  The high schooler found this very uncomfortable. 

            "Yeeek!  Get off me!"

            "I hate you Amano!  I hate you!"   Hakai hissed through clenched teeth as he inched up the man.  "You will burn!  BURN!!!"  Amano tossed the matches onto the floor near where Suru and Hitomi were.  Yukari jumped back as the boy leapt like a monkey off of her boyfriend and landed on the pack of matches.  He giggled to himself as he struck one.  "Hee hee…. burning!  Burning!  Buuuurrnn!"

            "Dilandau alright."  Hitomi said.  She took a deep breath.  "Well, now's as good a time as ever."  She reached out and took each of the kids by the shoulder.  "Listen…I want to tell you a story – "  But she was interrupted.  As soon as she had a hand on each of them, she had that same glowing sensation in her chest and she heard voices.  Screaming.  They were the same voice, but different.  One was coming from Hakai, one was coming from Suru, and they were screaming in pain.  Hakai's had a touch of frustration and hatred…Dilandau.  And Suru's was etched in fear and panic…Celena.  Hitomi couldn't listen to it long; the voices were ringing in her head and making her dizzy.  She could feel the agony the two souls were in.  She took her hands from the two kids and put them over her ears.   The screaming stopped, but the ghost of it was still present, making her headache.

            "Hitomi!?  Are you okay!?"  Jiai cried.

            Amano dropped down next to her too.  "Hitomi!?  What went wrong."

            "I think I know why you and Allen are having a hard time, Amano." Hitomi answered.  "Celena's the one who's in trouble.  Both Dilandau and Celena are alive.  You hear their screaming in your sleep, Amano, that's why you woke up feeling strange.  I'm having the same problems as you.  They are so full of emotion and power…  And there are two of them!  I would think that if Dilandau no longer existed, I wouldn't be able to sense him.  Maybe Zaibach has taken him back."

            "Zaibach?  But I thought you took care of the bad guys."  Jiai said.

            Hitomi shook out her head.  "I really need to find Yosu!"

            "Hakai…"  Amano turned to his cousin.  "Do you know where that kid, Yosu Takara lives?"

            "YOSU TAKARA!?!?!?!"  Hakai cried.  "DIE!!!  I HATE YOSU TAKARA!!!!"

He jumped up off the floor and began running around screaming.  "DIE! DIE! DIE!"

            "I think he's a little more crazy than Dilandau."  Hitomi said, watching him go.  "If that's possible."

            "We could always head down to the Tae-Kwon-Do place and see if they've got his records available." Amano suggested.

            "Good idea."  Yukari nodded.

            "Thank you for letting us see your dolls."  Jiai said to Suru.  "Maybe we'll come back some time and you can show us more."

            "I would like that."  Suru answered.  "I don't have any real friends like you!"

            They took off for the car, and then for the city.  Yukari turned to Amano. "How do you know where this place is?"  She asked.

            "I had to drive him there, like, the second day they were in town or something.  He is dedicated to his martial arts.  All I can say is that I'm sure thankful they are teaching a little maniac like that ANOTHER way to kill people."

            "When does he have lessons?"  Hitomi asked.

            "Thursdays."  Amano answered.  "I get to drive him to the one this week too I'm sure.  The only downside to having a car."

            "It's only Tuesday."  Jiai stated.  "I hope its open."

            The drive to the city wasn't long, but it was longer than if they'd taken the train.  In about thirty minutes, they were headed for the shopping center again.  "This is great."  Hitomi told Jiai.  "Yosu lived around here, right?  So we won't have to go far to find his apartment."

            "Good point."  Jiai agreed. 

            The car wound to a stop at the crosswalk, and they stared at the red light.  Amano tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. "This is always such a long light.  It really ticks me off.  I mean, people can walk faster, right?  I've got places to go."

            Hitomi glanced out the window.  Parked next to them was a red convertible.  She took a double take when she saw the driver.  Wearing his Raybans and still talking on his cell-phone, Daiji Seijitsu was parked at the light right outside her window.  She first took a start, then got a brilliant idea.  He was a striking resemblance to Dryden…and she'd been meaning to catch up with what Dryden was doing.  She rolled down her window.  And unbuckled her seatbelt.  "You guys, find out the information about Yosu Takara and I'll meet you back here in a bit.  I've got something to do."

            "Hitomi!?"  Jiai cried.  "What do you think you're doing!?"

            "I'm going to go get a new recruit."  Hitomi answered.  "Trust me, just go on."  With that, she leapt out of the window and into the back seat of the convertible next door. 

            Amano nearly had a cow.  "Hitomi!?!"

            "HITOMI!!!"  Yukari cried.  She started to get out.

            Jiai saw who was driving and understood.  She called up to the two in the front seat.  "It's okay, just do as she said."

            "Are you serious!?"  Amano cried.  "She just jumped into that car with a stranger!"

            "He's no stranger."  Jiai answered.  "That's Dryden!  You remember, from her story.  He's Daiji Seijitsu, we ran into him when we were here last."

            "You're joking!"  Yukari cried.

            "Now she's in the car of a famous person!  That's even worse!"  Amano cried.  "She could be in real trouble!"
            "Dryden wouldn't hurt her."  Jiai answered.

            "How do you know that?"  Yukari demanded.

            Jiai stopped and put her hand to her heart.  "I don't know why… I just know."

            Amano sighed.  "Okay, if you say so, Millerna."

            Jiai looked up suddenly when he called her that, but the light had changed and they took off again, leaving Daiji's convertible behind.  Daiji had taken a second or two to start off the line, mostly because he had a teenage girl flopping about in his back seat.  He dropped the cell-phone and whirled around.  "What the heck!?"

            Hitomi clawed her way upright, then into the front seat of his convertible.  "Drive.  The light is green."

            "Hold the phone!" He cried.  "You're in my car!"

            "Yeah, and I'm telling you to drive, you're clogging traffic!"  Hitomi replied.

            "What is this a hijacking now!?"  Daiji demanded, flabbergasted.  "I'm being hijacked by a teenage girl!?"

            "No!  I'm not trying to steal your car."

            "Oh so it's a kidnapping then."  Daiji replied.  "I warn you, I don't like to hit girls, but I am skilled in kickboxing."

            "Really?"  Hitomi asked, interested.  "I never knew Dryden kick boxed."

            "WHAT!?!" Daiji cried again.  There was honking behind them as people got angry.  The light was a long one, and they didn't want to be trapped behind it again.  He glanced over his shoulder.  "Aw shoot."  Then hit the gas and they took off, just as the light was turning red.  He yanked off his glasses and got serious.  "Okay, girl, I could take you to the police if I wanted, you're invading private property and that's a federal offense.  But I want to find out your deal before I rein you in.  Are you a fan girl or something because I fail to find this funny."

            "No, I'm not a fan girl."  She answered.  "At least not of you."  He smirked.  "But I have something very important to tell you."

            "It had better be."  He said.  His green eyes were set in a look Dryden had worn while sitting around the war table listening to bad news.  His brown wavy bangs were blowing off of his face in the wind.  She paused at the uncanny resemblance before continuing. 

            "It really is important.  I need your help."  Hitomi said.  "It will be really helpful if you would listen honestly.  It may sound like a weird story but its true.  It's true and you can help in saving an entire world."

            He fidgeted in his seat and glanced back to her.  "Are you trying to pick up someone who gets their name on the news to promote something?  I'm not going to be the spokesperson for some Girl Scout troop."

            "You said that you'd be up for anything."  Hitomi recalled.  She'd overheard him in his phone conversation.

            "I said what!?"  Daiji exclaimed.  "When did I talk to you!?"

            "We met in the bookstore last week."  Hitomi answered.  "You said that you would be ready for anything.  Are you ready to hear about another planet full of people who need your help?"

            "Are you sick or something?"  Daiji demanded.  "Maybe I should be driving you to the hospital."

            "I'm not sick.  Just hear me out."  Hitomi pleaded.  "You wont regret it I promise."         

            He stared ahead at the road, his eyes still set.  "Okay, I'm listening."

            For a third time, Hitomi related the story of Gaea.  She payed particular detail to the parts concerning Dryden, so that Daiji could grasp the significance he had.  When she had finished, they'd circled the block twice.  "So, you see, I've got to get back to Gaea, and I need your help to get me there.  I've already assembled two other people, and possibly one more.  I can't make it without you."

            Daiji pulled over.  Once he'd put it in park, he turned in the seat to stare her straight on.  "You realize that you sound like you're insane, right?"

            "Yes, I realize that."  Hitomi answered. "But it is the truth.  And you are connected to Dryden, that's for certain.  If you would just let me, I could prove it to you."

            "I wouldn't normally…" he started, then his face turned intellectual, "but I have had some weird stuff going on lately that would work with what you are saying.  Now, I haven't told this to anyone, but if you are telling the truth, and me and this Dryden share something, then it would explain a lot.  About a year ago, I was doing great.  I was all over the news and I had lots of money and fans and everything.  I was famous and I didn't really do anything to earn it, you know?  I was just drinking it in, and milking it for all it had.  That is, until one day I realized that in everything, I was kinda cheating at life.  There are tons of people in this world.  Tons!  And they all work hard for what they have.  Me, I get handed everything on a silver platter.  It made me feel guilty that things weren't fair like that.  I'd never thought of it before, it was just all of a sudden I had everything I wanted, and then I didn't want it anymore.  I started selling off less obvious stuff and giving the money to charity.  I used to have three cars you know…yeah, I got rid of two of them.  Kept the convertible.  No regrets there.  I've been covering it up though.  I feel like I've set up an image that everyone thinks I am and that if I change it, I won't have the same kind of benefits.  Then I can't use those benefits to help people.  It's a circle I'm afraid to break you know?"

            "I know what you mean."  Hitomi said.  This too, was very Dryden-esc.  She looked at him.  "I'll bet you that your change of heart goes with Dryden's change of heart about being king.  He felt unworthy, and you feel guilty.  It's not all that different.  You both thought that you had more than you should."

            Daiji looked at her again.  "What was your name?"

            "Hitomi."  She answered. "Hitomi Kanzaki."

            "Well, Hitomi, your right."  He said. "I've always said I was ready for anything, and that's not an act.  I'm a curious person.  I'm always anxious to try new things."  He gave her a reassuring smile, that was mostly reassuring himself.  "I believe you."

            "You do?"  Hitomi asked, amazed that she didn't even have to tap into his mind to prove it.  "So you'll help me get back to Gaea."

            "Sounds like an adventure."  He said.  "What would I have to do."

            "I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that all we'll have to do is cooperate and make contact with Gaea.  If there is a strong enough contact, I should be able to get to Gaea."

            "Do you have enough?"  Daiji asked.

            "We'll see."  She said.  "We were just on our way to Van's house.  Will you come with us?  Maybe if he has enough of a connection, we can do it right there."

            Daiji checked his watch. "I've got about an hour or so before I have to be anywhere."  He answered. "I'll come."

            "Great!!!"  Hitomi cried.  "You don't know what this means to me!"

            "I'm sure."  He said.

            "Now, we've got to get back to the center market, I told the others I'd meet up with them there."  Hitomi instructed.  Daiji sighed and pulled back onto the road to circle the block another time.  They re-entered the busy square and parked along the side of the street.  Daiji climbed out and let Hitomi climb over the drivers seat and onto the sidewalk.  The man locked up the car and pocketed the key.  Hitomi glanced the vehicle over.  "Nice car by the way."

            "I thought so."  Daiji answered.  "Okay, so who are these people we're going to meet?"

            "Two are my age, Yukari and Jiai, and one is a senior, Amano."  Hitomi answered.  "If they have the directions, you'll meet another boy named Yosu, and I'm seriously considering sending Amano back for Hakai and Suru."  She was talking to herself now.  "I mean, they had a very strong connection, they might be the key to this whole thing."  They stopped near the crosswalk, Daiji sliding on his sunglasses.  People were looking at him as they passed.  He seemed uncomfortable standing around.  Hitomi could sense his uneasiness and it made her uneasy.  She found herself looking earnestly up and down the street for Amano's car.  They finally pulled up at the stoplight coming the opposite direction from which they left.  The minute they'd halted, Jiai and Yukari leapt out of the car in the middle of traffic. 

            "Oh my gosh!  It's Daiji Seijitsu!!!"

            Daiji, his hands in his pockets, hung his head.  "Aw shoot."

            The girls rushed over and started fawning over him.  Yukari grabbed the crook of his arm and jumped up and down.  "I can't believe its really you!"  She looked to Jiai.  "I can't believe it's really him!  I can't believe its really you!!!!"

            "So so so, Mr. Seijitsu…"  Jiai stammered. "Hitomi…Hitomi convinced you?"

            "Yeah."  Daiji answered.  The girls swooned and jumped around more at the sound of his voice. 

            Hitomi shook her head. "Celebrities."  Then headed over to Amano, who was still in the car waiting for the light to turn.  She leaned in the passenger side window.  "Did you get the info?"

            "Yeah."  Amano answered.  "Yukari's got it written down. He lives within walking distance from here."

            "Amano!?!"  Yukari cried.  "Did you see who Hitomi got!?"

            "Yu." Amano moaned.  He looked to Hitomi. "Sometimes I think she only loves me because I'm the best she can get."

            "Amano."  Hitomi interrupted. "I want you to drive back to your house and get your cousins."

            "WHAT!?"  Amano cried.

            "Listen, I think if we can convince Yosu, we will be able to do it today.  Right here.  And I think we're probably going to need Suru and Hakai to do it."

            "No way, Hitomi."  Amano said.  "I escaped from them before, I don't want them together in my car.  I could get killed."

            "You're blowing it out of proportion."  Hitomi told him.  "Please go and get them. I wouldn't ask unless I really thought it was important."

            "But think of all the gas I'm using up – " Amano cried, putting up his last defense.

            "I'll pay you back."  Hitomi said, glancing up.  "You'd better go, the light's changed."

            "But –" Amano tried to protest, but the people behind were honking and Hitomi was back on the curbside waving at him.  He growled and took off toward home again.

            Hitomi grinned to herself. "Traffic blackmail, works every time."

            "Hitomi!?"  Jiai cried.  "Where's Amano going?"

            "I sent him on an errand.  He's coming back."  Hitomi assured.

            "My only male company and you sent him away!?"  Daiji cried.  "I'm doomed!"

            "Aw, dry up."  Hitomi said, turning to Yukari. "'You have the directions?"

            "Yeah."  Yukari said, letting go of Daiji's arm to reach into her pocket.  "It's a couple of blocks from here."

            "We'd better get going."  Hitomi answered.  "We've got an hour before Amano gets back, we have to convince him before then."

            "Okay."  Jiai agreed. 

            Yukari looked over the directions.  "Follow me, I'll find it."  They moved by the stores and back into the residential district of town.  Before they knew it they were in front of a modest apartment building.  They entered and started up the stairs.  "He's on level 23.  We've got a lot of stairs to climb."

            "I remember this place now."  Jiai told Hitomi.  Hitomi agreed that she did too.  Daiji glanced around at the shabbiness of the stairwell as they passed landing after landing with doors in the walls.  After what seemed like forever, the four of them reached the 23rd floor.

            "This is it."  Yukari said, hovering her finger over the bell.  "Let's hope he's home."  She pressed the buzzer and it rang.  They all held their breaths as they heard motion inside and footsteps approach the door.  It was Yosu Takara who answered.

            "Uh?  Can I help you?"

            Hitomi didn't see Van as strongly in him on this meeting, but was very relieved to track him down.  Van's brown eyes looked questioning at them from under his side-parted orange hair.  She cleared her throat and threw in her campaign.  "Hi, I'm Hitomi.  Remember?  You helped me and my friend Jiai out last week.  We wanted to talk to you about something."

            Yosu looked at the crowd and found Jiai.  "Oh, I remember. Well, I guess you can come in, but not for a long time.  Mom gets home in about an hour and a half.  She still doesn't know that you girls were here last week."

            "Your sister kept it a secret?"  Jiai asked, surprised.

            "For a price."  Came the girl's voice.  She was watching TV in the sitting room around the corner from the door.  Hitomi recognized this as the room she'd woken up in on her first visit.  She also recognized his sister Koneko as Merle the cat girl in voice, look, and manner.  Koneko looked up from where she was draped out with a bag of chips.  She spotted Daiji in the crowd as he took off his glasses and her amber eyes bugged out.  "DAIJI SEIJITSU!?!"

            "Oh great."  Daiji groaned, letting his shoulders sag.  The twelve-year-old sailed through the air and ended up with her arms around Daiji's neck. 

            "I can't believe you are in my house!  Oh my gosh!  I've got to call all my friends to come over!  I've got to take pictures!  I'm going to nail you to my wall!  I can't believe its really you!!!"

            "Hitomi…"  Daiji whined.  "I've got another girl on me."

            "Okay, Merle, get off the nice man."  Hitomi said, trying to remove her.  Koneko was stubborn.  Hitomi tugged and turned over her shoulder.  "Yosu!  Remove your pet!"

            "Koneko, get off him."  Yosu commanded.

            His sister let go and dropped to the floor.  "No fair!  You don't care about Daiji because you aren't a girl!  You wouldn't understand."

            "I understand.  I'm a guy."  Yosu told her.  "And guys don't like to be ambushed."

            "Thank heaven!!!"  Daiji cried. "I'm not doomed after all!"

            "Koneko," Jiai reasoned. "Would you not call all your friends?  Daiji isn't here for public display.  He's come here to talk to your brother, so you need to be polite to him."

            "Okay, whatever."  Koneko agreed.  "But can I take a picture?"

            They looked up to Daiji, who sighed. "Maybe later."

            "HOOO-RAY!!"  Koneko whooped.

            "Did you guys want something?" Yosu asked.

            "Yeah."  Hitomi sat down.  "Do you remember what I was ranting about when I was here?"

            "Of course." Yosu answered. "You thought I was someone else.  Your old boyfriend right?"

            "Yeah…" Hitomi agreed, not wanting to get into detail about her relationship with Van.  "Well, I think I've figured out why."

            "Is it more complicated than just a case of mistaken identity?"  Yosu asked.  

            "Much."  Hitomi answered.  For a fourth time, she retold the story, with Yukari, Jiai, and Daiji adding in things they remembered the strongest out of the tale.  It took her about forty-five minutes to get the whole thing out.  When she was done with the events of the day, Yosu and his little sister were staring blankly at her.  She got a bad feeling that this would be harder than she thought.  "What?"

            "Are you nuts?"  Yosu cried.  "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard."

            "It sounds cool."  Koneko said.  "And I'm in it too?"

            Hitomi nodded.

            "I don't believe it."  Yosu announced.  "How can you ask me to believe something that strange!?  It's stupid.  There's no way that could ever happen."

            "I believed it."  Daiji said, scratching the back of his head.

            "If Daiji believed it then I'll believe it."  Koneko cried.

            Daiji grinned.  "Heh, maybe having fan girls isn't as bad as I thought."  Koneko grinned.

            "We all believe her story."  Yukari said.  "Because she proved it to us."

            "I can prove it to you, too, if you are willing."  Hitomi answered.

            "How would you do that?"  Yosu demanded.

            "She has you relax and contact your counterpart in Gaea."  Jiai answered.  "When she did it to me, I could feel Millerna's emotions strongly.  That proved it to me."

            "And my boyfriend Amano is Allen, and he heard him speaking."  Yukari answered, then got realization.  "Whoa, I'd better go wait for him.  I don't think he knows how to get here."

            "Okay, Yukari, we'll see you in a little bit."  Hitomi said as her friend excused herself and headed out of the door.

            "So you're going to put me in a trance and have someone else speak through my body?"  Yosu asked.

            "Not exactly, but something like it."  Hitomi said.

            Yosu stood up.  "No way!  I'm not gonna be used as some sort of paranormal telephone.  You can forget it."

            Hitomi found this deeply discouraging.  "Well, maybe if you see someone else do it."  She looked to Koneko.  "Are you up for it?  Will you let me get you in touch with Merle?"

            She looked uneasy, but glanced up to her idol sitting off to the side and became brave.  "Sure, I'll do it!"

            "Neko!?!"  Yosu cried.

            "Come on, Big Brother, stop being such a loser."  Koneko spat.  "You gotta learn to let loose once in a while."

            Daiji grinned. "Ready for anything."

            Koneko smiled broadly.  "Lets do it.  Show me the cat girl."

            "Right."  Hitomi came over and sat down beside her.  "Now, take my hand, and relax yourself so that you'll be able to make the connection."  Koneko tried hard to be relaxed, peaking every now and then over at Daiji in his chair.  Yosu looked less than thrilled, even a little nervous as Hitomi placed her hand over her heart.  "Alright.  Now, when I say things to you, tell me what you see, hear, feel, anything.  Okay?"

            "Okay."  Koneko affirmed.

            "Right, here goes."  She went through the motions she had with the others, trying to decide what to say to get Merle's attention.  She began with the basics.  "Lord Van…"

            "Lord Van!?!" Hitomi paused.  Merle's voice was echoing faintly in her head.  She received the sensation of being cold, and that it was dark.  It sounded like Merle was far way.  "Lord Van!?!"

            "I –"  Koneko started speaking.  "I can see her!  She's got pink hair.  She's really a cat girl, she's got cat ears and a cat tail."

            "Where is she?"  Hitomi asked.

            "She's…she's in a cell.  Like a jail or…or a dungeon."

            Another fait echo; "Lord Van!?!"

            "Do you know why she's there?"  Hitomi asked.

            "No."  Koneko reported.  "But…she's crying.  And calling for help I think.  I can't really hear what she's saying."

            A sob came with the next "Lord Van!?"

            "Neko!?  Can you really see that?"  Yosu demanded.

            "I can see it like I was watching it from in the same room."  Koneko answered.  "It's really real, Yosu, you should try it.  It bothers me though.  Why is she in there?  I'm supposed to be connected to her…why is she in a cell?  What'd she do wrong."

            "Lord Van!?"  Merle sobbed. "Let me out!!!"

            "I don't know."  Hitomi said.  Koneko broke the connection herself when she looked up to her brother, leaving Hitomi's head empty again.

            "I believe her, Yosu."  Koneko said.  "We need to help her out.  You've got to believe it too because you're the most important part."

            "Yosu, please."  Jiai said.  "Hitomi's got to know what's wrong with Van.  If you trust her, she can go back to Gaea and help him."

            "I don't know…it's too weird."  Yosu persisted.

            "It doesn't hurt or anything, Yosu."  Koneko assured.

            "Please."  Hitomi begged.  She was on the threshold of knowing what had happened to Van.  He just had to agree to let her connect them.  Van's eyes were swimming on his face, as his mind worked.

            "I'm not sure."

            "Come on, Man."  Daiji pressured.

            Yosu looked to him, then to Jiai and Hitomi.  The last one had such a pained look on her face as she stared hopefully up at him.  He fidgeted, then finally agreed.  "Alright, but make it short."

            "Thank you so much!"  Hitomi cried.  She moved over next to Yosu, who sat on the floor, and prepared him.  "Okay, close your eyes…"

            "I know, I heard you the first time."  Yosu said.  He gave her his hand and closed his eyes.  She began to speak.  She knew exactly what to say to get Van's attention.  If he loved her, all she would have to do is say his name. But as she prepared, Yosu got a vision. "I'm…I'm in a room."

            "In a room?"  Hitomi asked.

            "Yeah, it looks new.  But it looks old at the same time.  It smells like sawdust."

            Hitomi got suspicious.  "What are you wearing?"

            "I've got on brown pants, boots and it looks like a red shirt."

            "You're inside Van's head!"  Hitomi cried.  "Incredible.  What are you thinking?  Are you looking at anything?  Is anyone in there with you?"

            "Hold on…"  Yosu said.  "I'm, I'm sitting in a chair.  It's a wooden chair, the armrest is digging into my back.  I've got my knees up. I'm sitting sideways, that's it.  It's daytime.  Light's coming in through the windows.  I, I keep rubbing my neck.  Something's missing…Something's telling me that I used to have a necklace or something on…that's it…a pendant."

            "He lost my pendant?"  Hitomi asked.  She recalled her vision she'd had the night before of the pendant being pulled off by a young woman.  She gasped.  "Who's in the room with you?"

            "Wait!"  Yosu hushed her.  "I hear something."  The people around them were silent as they watched Yosu listen to sounds that they couldn't hear.  He finally reported.  "Someone's speaking to me…a woman…"  Hitomi held her breath.  "She…she's saying my name.  Van's name I mean.  She asked him…if he's okay.  I'm looking around. I think I can see her now."  He took a start, his eyes springing open.  "Oh my gosh!"

            Hitomi jumped up.  "What is it!?  What is it!?"

            Yosu looked frightened as he stared at her.  "It was you!!!"

            Hitomi froze too.  Everyone in the room looked at each other, asking the same questions.  Hitomi dropped his hand and put hers up to her head. "Me!?"  She remembered the vision, but she couldn't see the woman's face, only her chin and her hand.  She thought about how Van hadn't come to see her.  She'd never thought that she would have a connection to Gaea!  She couldn't believe that she could be there.  "Are you sure…are you sure it was me?"

            "Maybe it was an image from when you were still there." Jiai suggested.

            Hitomi looked over, gaining hope.  Yosu answered her question. "It didn't look exactly like you, but Van thought it was you.  I think he's trouble."  Yosu answered.  "You do have to get to wherever you need to go." 

            "So you'll help us?"  Jiai asked.

            Yosu nodded, seeing all of them.  "Van needs Hitomi's help.  I'll help you send her to Gaea."

            Just then, there was screaming in the hallway and a desperate pounding on the door.  The doorbell rang five times in succession. Koneko jumped up. "What in the world!?"

            "That's Amano and Yukari with the twins."  Hitomi said. "Just in time too.  I think we're ready to go." 

            Yosu got up and answered the door, which flew back on its hinges, just shy of nailing him in the face. Amano's voice could be heard crying, "Look out!"  Hakai burst into the room, kicking and screaming.  Koneko jumped up onto the couch and balled up for defense.  The rabid young blonde grabbed a pillow and began to gnaw on it and shake it around like a dog.  Yukari and Amano appeared looking frayed.  Suru walked calmly inside and sat down on the floor, one of her paper dolls in several pieces in her hands.

            Yosu joined Yukari and Amano just inside the door looking battered.  "What was that!?"

            "That's Suru and that's Hakai."  Jiai pointed to each child respectfully.  "They are Dilandau and Celena."

            "They are also out of control."  Amano said.  "You owe me, Hitomi.  I can't wait to get them all back home."

            "Okay, okay, we'll deal with that later."  Hitomi said.  "Right now, I think the time has come for me to return to Gaea."  She stepped forward.  "With your help, I think I can do it."

            "We're ready, Hitomi."  Jiai said.  "What do we have to do?"

            "Everyone hold hands and make a circle."  Hitomi commanded.  Jiai took Hitomi's right hand, and stood beside her.  She took Suru's in her other hand as she stood quietly.  Amano reached down and took Suru's free hand, and was going to take Yukari's, until he realized that he would have to be the one to hold Hakai still.  He and his girlfriend had an iron grip on Hakai until he realized he couldn't escape and settled down.  Yukari took Daiji's hand.  Koneko excitedly took the one on his other side.  She held onto her brother and Hitomi completed the circle with Yosu's hand in hers.  "Okay."  Everyone was quiet and looked at her.  She took a deep breath.  "Everybody establish your connection with your person.  Think about what they look like.  Think their names in your minds.  Think about what you saw when we made contact with them.  Think hard and relax yourselves so that you will be able to open a way for me to get to Van.  And above all, while you are thinking of this, wish that you will find the way to Gaea and that I will be able to get through."  Everyone closed their eyes.  "Alright.  Let's hope this works."  She closed her eyes.  "Please!  Power of Atlantis!!!  Take me to Gaea!"  From the center of her chest, where her Atlantican necklace would have hung, there was a glow.  The glow grew brighter and surrounded her body.  It spread around the circle as everyone thought about their people.  Hitomi could see Van in her head.  She could feel his touch and hear his voice.  She searched with her heart and wished with her mind that they would be reunited.  She felt the glow around her swell and fill her.  The world around her became white, and she felt herself be lifted off the ground.  She felt the hands of Jiai and Yosu in hers.  She knew that it was working.  In moments, she was gone from Earth again.

To be Continued…