Episode 4: Eagerness
Hitomi stood in front of the body-length mirror in her guest room at Millerna's palace. She was wearing an exact copy of the dress she'd received the first time she came to visit Asturia. It had a pink top with a white leaf-like Asturian collar and a white pleated dress. She spun in front of the mirror and sighed at her reflection. Her short, light-brown hair hadn't changed in that time, but her green eyes were saddened. Standing there reminded her of her previous adventure. It was the first time she'd been to Asturia without Van. She laughed as she remembered the look on his face when she'd stepped out wearing this outfit. She hadn't realized that she loved him then. She reminded herself that she had to get off to Fanelia as soon as possible. There was a knock at the door and Yukari's voice, which was light like Jiai's and Millerna's, called to her. "What are you doing in there!?! Let's go!" Hitomi straightened the pleats of her dress and fixed up her hair. First thing was first, she's go to Fanelia after dinner…she and her party could afford a little fun. She left her bedroom and came out into the hall. The other four girls, Yukari, Jiai, Koneko, and Suru were waiting there. Each had on the same dress in a different color. Yukari stepped forward in her light orange and took Hitomi's hand. "I'm so excited!" Her big brown eyes were nearly glowing with anticipation. "We're having dinner in a ROYAL PALACE!!! We're guests of a QUEEN!!"
"Who would have thought that something like this would happen in real life!" Koneko mused in her light blue.
"Yes, Hitomi." Jiai, in her pale aqua, agreed. "Coming here with you by accident was the best thing to happen to us!"
"What would we be doing on Earth?" Yukari asked. "Homework?"
"I'm glad you're all enjoying yourselves." Hitomi said. "I'm still concerned about you, though, I don't know how involved you all are going to have to get by the end."
"Don't worry." Koneko boasted. "We can take care of ourselves! Right Su!?" She looked over to the 12-year-old standing quietly by the wall, the top of her dress lavender colored.
Yukari looked concerned. "Suru? You okay?"
"I feel bad." She announced. "I want to stay here."
"How do you fell bad?" Yukari asked. "Bad like you're sick?"
Suru shrugged.
Yukari knelt down to her. "You are going to have to tell me more if you want me to help you."
"You didn't eat any of that chicken juice did you!?" Koneko cried. "That'll do it every time. Suru shook her head and Koneko guessed again. "Or is it because of what we heard in the library?"
Suru shifted weight against the wall, looking guilty. Hitomi was more interested in the library. "What did you hear?"
"Shh!" Koneko scolded, her eyes darting down the hall either way. "The walls have ears! Spies could be listening! We've got to tell the Queen something important where we know no one will hear us." She perked up. "We uncovered something really juicy!"
"Yeah, like three raw pheasant!" Hitomi rebounded. "I still have to tell you off for that! You got me in the head! If this dinner wasn't so important, I'd ground you from it!"
"Oh please!" Koneko said, brushing her off. "Yosu's gonna yell at me enough! I've got a big brother, what do I need a babysitter around for?"
"Speaking of that brother of yours," Yukari said, impatiently. "Where are those guys? This is the first time the boys have taken longer to get ready than the girls!"
"Knock on the doors." Jiai suggested.
Yukari went straight for Amano's room. "Amano! Come on out! What's taking you so long!?!"
"I'm embarrassed!" Amano called through the door.
"Oh dry up! It can't be that bad!" Yukari insisted. "Come out! We need to get going!"
"Alright! But don't laugh at me, it's not my fault they're making me wear this." In a second, the door opened and Amano exited wearing typical Asturian dinner wear. The outfit had a sleeveless green over jacket, clasped in three bars down the front and parting to make somewhat of a skirt at knee level from the tails. It was lined in a white edge, and the pants underneath were white. The bottoms of the pants were tucked into a pair of simple brown boots. Finally and most prominently, there was a white shirt with a simple pointed collar, an orange scarf tie, and sleeves that puffed at the shoulders. Koneko, Hitomi, and Jiai stifled laughter.
Amano turned to head back inside. "That's it. I'm not going."
"No! No!" Yukari grabbed his arm. "I think you look great! I knew you'd be good in this country's fashions!" She fluffed his shoulder. "I actually think the sleeves make you look handsome."
"Really?" Amano asked.
Yukari hugged his arm. "MmmmHmm."
He sighed and hung his head. "Okay, as long as you like it."
"There is no doubt that you and Allen are connected." Hitomi announced. "In that, you look just like him."
"Really? He's wearing this getup, too?" Amano asked.
"Every day of his life." Was the reply.
There was commotion at the other end of the hall as Daiji came out dressed in the same thing, only colored wine red instead of green. He posed sarcastically. "Tah dah!"
Jiai blushed a little. "If only I had a camera, I'd be able to sell the pictures for so much online."
"Har har." Daiji said, his hands on his hips. "I feel like I need a saber and a feathered hat."
"Then you'd be dressed for a wedding." Hitomi answered.
Daiji quirked one brown eyebrow as he stared at her over the rims of his sunglasses. "Say what?"
"Dryden wore a feathered hat to his wedding." Hitomi answered.
He shook his head and whistled. "Boy I'm glad I don't live here."
Koneko went and knocked on the door of her brother's room. "Yosu! Come out! I want to see you!"
"NO!!!"
"Oh come on! You can't look any stupider than you already do!" Koneko badgered. "Get out here!"
The door opened and out came Yosu in a darker blue, looking positively disgusted. "I hope this is worth it."
"Everyone else is wearing this." Jiai reported. "You'll feel awkward when you're the only guy down there who doesn't have big sleeves on."
"I'll bet against that." Yosu replied. Hitomi was blushing furiously. The awkward moment was interrupted by Hakai, who burst out of his room with his overcoat unbuttoned and the purple scarf untied.
"Who is making me wear this!?! What is this!? What kinda queer do you think I am!?"
Yosu rolled his eyes. "That makes me feel better."
Yukari leveled her finger at the blonde. "You're wearing it no matter what it makes you look like."
"I'm surprised you got it on that far with all the fuss you're making." Amano said.
"I'm not wearing it!" Hakai raved, trying to pull the mustard-yellow over the puffy white sleeves. Yukari tried to stop him and he lashed out. "Leave me alone! There's no way I'm going down there!"
"I'll hold him." Amano volunteered. He grabbed Hakai by the arms and Yukari began to button up the coat. He struggled vainly and before he knew it, his purple scarf was being tied.
"GRRRRR!!! I HATE YOU ALL!!!"
"Millerna's right." Jiai said to Hitomi. "Dinner is going to be an adventure."
A butler arrived at the top of the stairs dressed in a formal waistcoat with a palace seal on the breast. He bowed before them and announced in a stuffy tone. "The guests begin to arrive at present. Shall I accompany you to the reception hall?"
"Oh yes." Hitomi answered. "We're ready."
The man bowed again. "Follow me."
Hitomi headed down the curving, carpeted stairs after the man. Koneko came after her, dragging her brother by the arm. "This is going to be great, Yosu! Just like a fairytale ball!" She took his arm at the elbow. "Come on, you can be my prince!"
He smiled, forgetting about his appearance, and nodded. "Alright, Neko, I'll be your prince."
"This is so cool!" Koneko mused.
Amano shoved Hakai ahead of him and Suru went down as well. She was silent but very dainty as she moved down the steps. Hakai was put off, but went down anyway. Yukari grinned. "They're all paired up." She looked at the sets of two. "They even match. Koneko and Yosu are both in blue. Suru is wearing purple like Hakai's scarf." She looked tot eh two of them. "We match too. I'm wearing orange and you have an orange scarf."
He offered her his arm. "Then we might as well be prince and princess too."
She gladly took it and followed the others. "This is perfect. Daiji and Jiai were left awkwardly at the top. Jiai looked down at her aqua dress, glancing sideways to Daiji's green tie. She didn't want to make a move with such a famous guy. He adjusted the neck scarf, cleared his throat and took action. He reached down, took her hand and placed it on his forearm for her. She blushed furiously as he gave it a pat, gave her a smile, and headed with her down the stairs.
Hitomi became somewhat glum. This was when she needed Van with her; everyone else had a partner except her. She had these thoughts with her as they waded down the palace halls toward the acceptance chamber. Through the windows, they could see the night's sky, and the shining of the Mystic Moon among familiar stars. The atmosphere grew move festive the close they drew to Millerna's throne room. Ahead, Hitomi could see the local nobility entering with their wives, children, friends or dates. There were a couple sons her age, but she would only think on Van. Perhaps this feast was just a waste of time and they should pack up and leave now. But everyone else was taken with the gowns and uniforms of the cupper Asturian crust, the bright candlelight of the hallway, and the party noises coming form the open doors ahead. It seemed she had no choice anymore, and she still had to persuade Millerna to help her get to Fanelia. Maybe over dinner…
They turned the corner to find the throne room, which had been so gloomy before, brightly lit and alive with fun as the guests laughed and talked over the sound of minstrels. Waiters moved among the 200 some odd guests with trays of drinks and snacks. Everyone was excited when they saw the turnout and couldn't believe it was all for them.
"Oooooh!" Yukari swooned. "I feel like Cinderella!"
"I can't believe this is actually happening." Jiai said, meekly. "It seems like a dream…"
"It should be." Daiji said. "Until now, I figured there was no way something like this would happen today outside of a TV screen."
"It's incredible." Amano agreed.
Yosu was even enchanted, Koneko hugging his arm tightly. Hakai looked around for something to do. He spotted some younger boys over by a suit of Armor on a pedestal and his eyes lit up. He grabbed his sister's arm. "Come on, Suru!"
"Hakai!" She was yanked along and away from the group.
It was about then that Millerna spotted them. She smiled and rushed over. "You all look wonderful. I never imagined how magnificent you all would look in non-tailor-fit clothing, but it turned out remarkable. No one would ever guess that you're from the Mystic Moon!"
"I thought they were supposed to know where we were from." Hitomi recalled.
"They will. I'll introduce you here in a second." She tugged Hitomi's hand then bade the rest of them to follow her. "This way, we'll get where everyone can see you." She stood them up on the steps to the throne, then threw out her hand for the musicians to be silent. Everyone stopped their chatter and looked up. Millerna cleared her throat and made her proclamation. "Attention everyone! These are our guests from the Mystic Moon of whose arrival you are drinking to tonight! Please make them feel welcome!"
With that, there was a cheer and clapping form the audience. After they dismounted the stage, they found themselves intercepted by well wishers. One older man came up and kissed Hitomi's hand. "Miss Kanzaki I presume?"
"Yes." She said without confidence.
"It is an honor to meet you, miss," he said, "you've been proclaimed a national hero."
"I have?"
"Of course." Millerna smiled at her. "What would we have done without you? We'd probably be in ruin now if it wasn't for your intervention on the part of the allies and destroying the Fate Alteration Machine."
"But I really didn't…" Hitomi began.
A plump woman laughed gaily at this. "Oh come come! So modest! Such a nice girl!"
A middle-aged woman came over to talk to Jiai. "You know, you remind me of her majesty, don't you think so?" Jiai didn't have time to answer; the woman kept talking. "I think so! You've got the Queen Aston look! I've been trying to get it right forever, can you tell me your secret?"
Jiai's green-blue eyes were gaping with absence of mind. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
The woman spotted Yukari standing next to her. "How about you!? Do you know her secret!?"
"Huh?" Yukari cried.
"You have an Aston voice!" She cried. "An Aston air! How do you do it!?"
Yukari clung to Amano. He moved to shield her from the woman. "Stay away from my girlfriend!"
"Guys…" Hitomi warned, eyeing them sidelong.
An elderly chap with an eyepiece shook hands with Daiji. "Hello young sir."
"Hey." He answered, being a full two feet taller than he.
"You know…" The stranger squinted up at him. "You remind me a lot of that man Dryden Fassa who was here before."
"I get that a lot." Daiji answered.
"Useless man, that Fassa was, didn't do a thing right!" He blubbered. "You had better not carry on like him, or you will be worthless, too."
"I'll do my best sir." Daiji said, unsure of how to answer. Something about the remark made his stomach churn.
There were a pack of teenage girls ganging up on Yosu with stars in their eyes.
"He's so cute!"
"A Mysterious Man from the Mystic Moon! How dreamy!"
"He looks just like King Van from Fanelia! I might die!"
Koneko put on a mischievous, Merle-like face. "oooh…wait 'til Mom hears you've got a whole castle full of girlfriends!"
"Hush up!" Yosu shot, backing away from his newfound fans and nearly tripping on the stair behind him. Koneko sniggered.
Just then, Millerna looked up and spotted someone across the room. Her face was stripped blank and she rushed down the stairs to Hitomi, leaning over to whisper to her. "Hitomi!!! It' shim! He's here!"
Hitomi's mind flashed directly to Van, her green eyes widening. "Who!? Where!?"
"Allen!!!" Millerna said, earnestly. Hitomi's hopes were dashed, but were soon replaced by the same sense of fear and uneasiness that Millerna had. The Queen broke a sweat and started rambling. "What do I do? What do I say? I haven't seen him since that time…what do we talk about? Should I act like nothing's changed? What if I start crying again!?"
Hitomi saw Allen's head through the crowd and hushed Millerna. "Let him make the first move, now calm down, here he comes."
Allen appeared, his blue eyes shining and his long golden hair down his back like the dream she'd left him in. He had on his Caeli Knight uniform of royal blue, and his big white sleeves as always. He was exactly the same as before, and it made Hitomi's heart catch in her throat. It was as if this meeting marked he true return to Gaea after so many months away. A second glance revealed to her that he had his younger sister Celena on his arm. She was dressed in a pale green dress similar to Hitomi's except with sleeves that puffed at the shoulders in true Asturian fashion. Celena seemed alert and pleased to be at the party, wide blue eyes like Suru's drinking in the atmosphere. Allen scanned the crowd standing there until his eyes fell on Hitomi. She had her stomach twist as they stared at each other. She wasn't sure that she was happy to see him. Even though her old feelings for him remained deep under her skin; all she had learned about his character and his past had unsettled her conviction for him; especially now after that tale Millerna had told her. She almost felt afraid of him. He stepped up as Millerna and Hitomi waited anxiously for a first word. He took his eyes off Hitomi and turned to the Queen, struggling in his own right with what to say. Even with his flaws, he was still human. "Y-your Majesty…" He began, formally. He took her hand and kissed the back of her glove.
She trembled slightly, filled with conflicting emotion. "S-Sir Allen."
He departed quickly from the moment, not wanting to let his own pain show, and set his sights, again on Hitomi, kissing her hand as well. "Miss Hitomi, what a pleasant surprise."
"Uh…likewise." She answered. He smiled at her but she didn't smile back. She had a strange look in her eye as if she didn't feel comfortable around him. He dropped his smile and swallowed hard when he saw it. Disheartened, he changed the subject.
"I'm, uh, I'm sure you remember my sister Celena."
"I do." Hitomi answered. She smiled to Celena, who curtsied slightly. Hitomi did the same, a little awkwardly and the two of them giggled. Allen sighed and regained a lighter air.
"I was excited when I heard I'd be meeting you again." Celena told her in a voice that was innocent and childish; there was no doubt that she and Suru were connected. It brought Hitomi back to the screaming she's heard inside the girls' head. When she looked up at Celena again, it was in a new light.
The brunette realized that it was up to her to introduce everyone. She stepped up to face the panel, pulling Allen with her. "Everyone!" All her companions looked and the people they were speaking to backed off. Hitomi smiled. "I'd like you to meet Allen."
"Allen?" Amano asked, recognizing him in an instant.
Hitomi saw the primary need in the situation and pulled Amano forward. "Okay, I know you've been waiting for this. Allen, this is Amano."
Amano gaped at him.
Allen was gaping back in much the same manner, Hitomi speaking over the stare. "Amano helped me get back because he has some sort of connection to you. He took to you really fast, and he's been really excited to meet you…" She stopped her narration when she took a look at the two of them. It was very strange to see them in the same place, considering that when she was trapped on Gaea, she would always see Amano in Allen, and when she was on Earth, she would see Allen in Amano. Seeing them both at the same time, reflected in each other's faces, was kind of paranormal. Again, a sense of seeing both sides of the same mirror came through.
It was Allen who snapped her out of her disillusionment when he continued his introduction to Amano. I, it's a pleasure to meet you, Amano. I'm having a hard time accepting you because I only see myself in your face."
"I've seen you before," Amano told him, "and I feel the same. I hope to be able to get past that, though and get to know you better for yourself and not a strange copy of me."
Jiai and Yukari were struck by Allen, too, both of their cheeks pinking up. Jiai stepped away from Daiji and headed over. "Wow! He's amazing."
Yukari felt her heard pounding. Seeing Allen standing there brought back the memory of sitting in her living room with Hitomi, Amano and Jiai. That was when she'd seen Allen through Amano. "Oh my gosh…" She felt lightheaded, and her heard was beating rapidly. "A-Allen…" Her vision got cloudy and she had the strange sensation of emptiness, like she was falling out of herself. She staggered and fainted to the steps.
Hitomi saw her go first and rushed over. "Yukari!"
Amano spun around. "Oh my gosh!" Everyone gathered around, anxious to see if Yukari was all right. Millerna shoved her way in to apply her medical knowledge. Amano took her up in his arms. "Yukari! Yukari!?! Wake up! Come on!"
"Let me see her." Millerna kneeled down and checked Yukari's pulse. "It's weak, there's something wrong." She looked up to Hitomi and Amano. "Has she ever done this before?"
"No," Amano answered, visibly shaken, "no, never."
"Check and hold her pulse, Hitomi." Millerna instructed. "Tell me if there's any change."
Hitomi picked up her hand, wishing that she knew what had suddenly happened to her best friend, when she received another vision. She saw Yukari standing against the setting sun. The wind blew hard and there was the shimmer of blonde hair flying. Yukari was blown down. The sun set fully and everything was black over the body of the girl. Hitomi was zapped back to the present; throwing up a hand to clutch the spot she'd expected her pendant to hang. Millerna checked the fainted girl's pupils. "Her eyes are cloudy. This is so bizarre, I don't know what to do."
'Cloudy eyes? A vision? This happened before; When Yukari saw Amano become Allen!' Hitomi spoke with urgency. "I know what's going on!"
Everyone looked at her with astonishment. Allen, who was leaning over the top of them turned quickly to her. "Then tell us!"
"She's got a connection to someone on Gaea!" Hitomi cried, moving up to shake Yukari's shoulders. "Come back, Yukari! Yukari! It's Hitomi! Come back!"
The girl's face moved. Everyone watched anxiously, as her brown eyes came open, the fogginess fading and the light coming back as breath caught in her throat. Allen got a good look at her and gasped. Amano hugged her tighter. "Yukari?"
"A-Amano? Is that you?"
A smile broke across his face. "It's me! You're back!"
Tears flowed from her eyes and she hugged him tightly. "Amano I was scared! I was so scared!"
"It's okay, Yu, you're alright now. I've got you." He assured as she cried into his chest.
Allen straightened up and took in an unsteady breath, his eyes coming out of focus as he became lost in his own mind. Celena took his arm and looked up to him, concerned. Everyone was gathering around Yukari when they heard the call for dinner. Millerna stood. "It's being served!" She turned to the by standing nobles. "Please make your way to the dining hall! We'll be along in a minute." They obeyed.
Jiai looked wary. "Perhaps we should sit this out." Koneko looked at her with pain. "I mean, Yukari's not up for it."
"I'm up for it." She said, emerging from Amano's shirt much calmer and collected. " And we're the guests of honor, we can't skip out own feast." She tried to smile. "The show must go on."
"We'll stay here then." Amano said. "Everyone else go to the party."
"No! I want to be there!" Yukari insisted. "It's so exciting! They are having a royal feast in my honor! You're nuts if you think I'm going to miss it over one fainting spell."
"It was a connection." Hitomi recalled. "She should end up alright, as soon as the effects wear off."
"Lets go then." Koneko cried, her fears at ease. "Everybody's already taking off! We're gonna miss out on the fun!"
"Okay, Koneko, let's go then." Yukari said; her spirits restored.
Amano picked her up off the floor and held her in his arms. "I'll carry you. I am your prince after all."
"Is that what you are?" Yukari giggled. The group started moving. Celena tugged on Allen's arm and brought his eyes back into focus. He followed the others, staring always at the back of Hitomi's head, which was bringing up the rear. She was talking with Jiai, Millerna, and Yosu, who'd hung back.
"I didn't think Yukari was connected to anyone." Yosu recalled. "How can you be sure she's not just coming down with something?"
"I saw a vision when I touched her." Hitomi answered. "She most definitely has made contact with someone."
"Then who?" Asked Jiai.
Hitomi shook her head. "I don't know, but whoever it is, there's something seriously wrong to make her have an arrest like that. I hope it doesn't become a frequent thing."
"Whether it is or not, we should figure out who she's connected to." Millerna stated.
"If she's got a connection, it has to be to someone important." Jiai said. "Otherwise, why would there be one?"
"I'm so confused over this." Hitomi said, holding her head. "There's so much going on…so much to take care of…"
"Then I suggest you tackle one thing at a time." Yosu advised. "What's the most important thing to solve?"
"Van." Hitomi answered.
"Then we'll take care of him and worry about the other stuff later." He finalized.
Jiai poked in with her own suggestion. "Maybe you should make a list – "
"Hey!" Came a call from up front. "There's Suru and Hakai!"
Everyone turned their attention to where the two twins were playing on the suit of armor. Hakai was actually sitting on its shoulder as it wobbled dangerously. Amano heaved a sigh. "Oh no."
"I'll get them." Koneko offered, and dashed off.
"Neko! Wait!" Yosu parted company and ran after his little sister. They arrived next to Suru and the other children that had stopped to stare at the crazy boy climbing the decoration.
Koneko put her hands on her hips. "Weirdo!? What do you think you're doing up there!?"
"None of your business!" He called back.
Suru had her dress clutched tightly. "There isn't anyone in there is there!?"
"I'm checking, Sis, hold on!" Hakai said, he swung down to stand on the arms and peaked inside the face guard. "Nope! Not unless they're invisible or really small."
Suru sighed. "Oh good. I'd think they'd be really uncomfortable if there were."
"Can I trash it now?" Hakai demanded.
"The boys waiting cheered him on. Yosu turned urgently to his fellows. "Amano! Get over here! You'd better stop him!"
Amano rolled his eyes and unloaded Yukari into Daiji's empty arms. "Hold her, I'll be right back." He marched over and frowned up at Hakai. "Don't even try it!"
"You're not the boss of me!"
"Do you want the matches back or not!?" Amano threatened.
"I'll get 'em back myself!" Hakai called down. "Right now, I want to have some fun!"
Allen stepped up next to Millerna and Hitomi, looking quizzically at the scene. "What's up with them?"
"They're a problem." Millerna answered.
"They're Amano's cousins." Hitomi said in more clarity. "They are also connected to people. Suru's connected to Celena and Hakai is part Dilandau."
Allen's eyes narrowed as he stared daggers into the blonde boy on the armor. He hugged Celena closer to himself. "Dilandau…"
In the shadows of the same hall, a young man of 35 stood watching. He was dressed formally, with sharp deep green eyes and bronze colored hair. He looked with suspicion at the group, eyeing Hitomi mostly. He watched as she puzzled over her next move, and as she brightened and laughed at Hakai's antics and Amano's feeble attempts at recovery. He hadn't been told to keep his eye on her, he was supposed to be watching the whole group, but something kept drawing his eye to her. He know why, and his heart ached because of it. She brought with her memories that would pain him just by looking at her deep green eyes.
"Sir Nadeje."
He jumped as the sound of Haman's voice was heard behind him. The old man to whom he was conversing hours before appeared, also dressed formally with the palace insignia sewn into his jacket. Nadeje regained his composure and saluted him with a nod. "Haman."
"You've been keeping an eye on them?"
"Since they entered the room." Nadeje answered. "They haven't dropped any hints as to when they plan to go. I thought for a moment that they were using that little episode with the girl in orange to leave early, but they're making their way to dinner with the pack. I don't think they suspect that we are watching."
"That's good." Haman said. "Any word from Trapan?"
"Not since the Master's initial orders." Nadeje said. "There are all signs that we should go ahead as quickly as possible. The party cannot get to Fanelia. Especially not that girl."
"Which?" Haman asked.
Nadeje glanced back over is shoulders, his jewel-tone eyes glinting with suppressed emotion. "The one with the green eyes."
"Seguir." Haman said, using his first name and sounding less professional. "You can't let her spoil the plan."
"I know it." Seguir Nadeje affirmed. "I will stick strictly to the Master's orders. I have no choice."
Haman bowed slightly. "Then we should keep our ears open at dinner. AS long as we are there, we will not look suspicious and we might uncover a departure time if we are lucky."
"Right." The bronze-haired man agreed. "Let's go."
Haman headed toward the group, but turned just before he left the corner of darkness. "I will make sure they get to the table without any diversions. I will meet you there."
"I will be waiting." Seguir said, and Haman left.
The older man came across the room through the lasts of the exiting guests and stopped at the back of them. Allen noticed his arrival with discomfort and steered Celena way from him and around next to Millerna. Haman stepped forward. "Is there some trouble, your Highness?"
Millerna turned around, startled, but unlike Allen she was happy to see him. "Haman! Where have you been!? I need to introduce you to our guests!"
"Your guests seem a tad preoccupied at the moment." Haman pointed out. Amano had grabbed Hakai by the foot and was yanking.
"We've got it under control." Yukari assured from Daiji.
"Oh do you now?" Haman asked.
Hakai was on the ground, and Amano took him by his collar. "Listen, punk, I can be as mean as you can be difficult!" He growled. "And you had better shape up or I'll make you regret it!"
"You cant – " Hakai began, but Amano cut him off.
"Don't give me that attitude, kid!" he yanked on Hakai's collar, shaking his head around. "Your Mommy isn't here but you're not free of discipline! You are my responsibility and you listen to me!" Hakai moved to protest but Amano interrupted again. "I don't want to hear it! Just get your butt moving." Hakai couldn't think to do anything but follow his commands. Suru passed Amano sheepishly.
"You're mean."
"He deserved it." Amano answered. He walked back over and took Yukari from Daiji.
Daiji let him take her saying; "You know, I really didn't mind…"
"Sorry, Daiji." Yukari grinned as she was carried off.
Millerna pulled Haman off to the side and addressed everyone as the walked. "This is my most trusted advisor, Sir Lis Haman. He has been a family advisor for years and I'm really going to use him as a crutch in my future as Queen."
"Hello, Sir Haman." Jiai said, dutifully.
"Hello." Hitomi said. He bowed his head to her, and when he looked up, her cast her a stare that seemed fake. She looked into his sharply contrasting Asturian Blue eyes and got a chill down her spine. She felt a pinprick at pendant level on her chest, and a vision flashed quickly before her; melefs stomping across the land, and a little girl being pulled along the ground by a woman… A pair of bright green eyes shining in fear beneath her hood. In that instant it was gone. She stopped and gaped for a moment, the adrenaline pumping through her heart. Allen took her shoulders.
"Hitomi?"
She looked up and saw everyone looking back to her. She caught Yosu's brown eyes and swallowed. "I'm fine." She straightened up and looked to Allen, who was reassured and removed his hands. "I'm fine."
Everyone continued on, talking among themselves and listening to the merits of Haman. Millerna insisted that the aged man join them for the feast, but Hitomi pointedly avoided is gaze. She sensed that there was something going on with him…
Their journey led them down the hall to the dining hall where the 200 guests were already taking their seats. Millerna, being Queen, had the a space reserved at the head of the table. She bade everyone sit down around her end. Hitomi sat on her left, and Jiai on her right. Amano came in and placed Yukari next to Hitomi. She patted him on the cheek. "Such a gentleman." He sat down next to her. He didn't' want to be too far from the twins so he set Hakai down next to him. Allen wanted to be as close to Hitomi and Millerna as possible so quickly claimed the seat next to Jiai, much to Daiji's disappointment, and planted Celena right beside him. From there, the girls jumped in, Suru next to Celena and across from her twin, and Koneko next to her. Yosu sat next to his sister, disappointed, himself that he wasn't closer to Hitomi to keep an eye on Allen. He remembered the story of their previous relationship, and his conviction to protect Hitomi endured. He glared down the table to the knight as Daiji uncomfortably made his home next to Hakai. Haman, graciously accepted the invitation to join them, and sat on Daiji's other side, facing Yosu.
Before sitting, he scanned and spotted Seguir in the crowd. "Ah! Sir Nadeje! Please come meet the guests!"
Nonchalantly, Seguir approached, his green eyes looking unsuspicious as he bowed and greeted Millerna. "Your Highness."
"Seguir!" Millerna smiled. She looked to the others. "This is Sir Seguir Nadeje, Captain of the palace guard." He smiled and nodded a bow. Millerna gestured around her. "This is Hitomi and her friends from the Mystic Moon." They all said 'hi', but Hitomi was still wary from the vision she'd gotten moments earlier and was hesitant about making eye contact. She sensed a strange sort of conflict within him and could feel his eyes boring into her. Millerna pointed down the table. "Sit down, Seguir, join us."
"Thank you, Miss." He took a seat next to Yosu, exchanging a glance with Haman as he did.
Millerna stood and clanged a glass to get the attention of her guests, milling about the table, continuing the party from the other room. "If you would all please take a seat, dinner should be served in a bit!"
Everyone thought it was a good idea and sat down. Amano smiled up at Millerna. "It seems like you've got this Queen thing down for being so fresh at it."
"Believe me, I've been to a lot of these." She said. A dozen or so waiters came in and placed glasses of wine down at each table. After them came a wave of salads. Everyone began on them, casually and chatted on. Koneko leaned over to Suru. "I wonder if they picked this stuff up off the floor or if it's new stuff."
Suru swallowed hard, remembering their little misadventure a couple hours before. She pushed her plate away. Across the table, Daiji leaned in. "So, Seguir, do you mind if I call you that?"
"Not at all." He answered.
"Right." He reached up and combed one dark brown bang aside. "So, what do you do?"
"I organize palace security." He answered. "I make sure there is someone at each post at all times. I make sure that the queen is defended in case of any sudden attack…" he was very casual and seemed friendly enough. "I protect Millerna, basically."
"And shouldn't you be doing that now?" Yosu asked her.
He gestured from himself to the queen. "I am." The waiter came by with wine, but he declined, staring continually down the table.
Koneko grabbed her wine goblet and took a huge gulp. She gagged on it and spat most of it back into the glass. "Ew! Sick! Why do grownups like this stuff so much!?" Suru sat quietly staring at her plate. Koneko suddenly became very suspicious and whispered to her. "Do you think these two strangers are the ones we heard in the library?"
Suru turned a little green from the upset in her stomach and sank down in her chair.
Koneko seemed determined. "I'll keep an eye on them. Try not to act like you know anything. We don't want them to know we're on to them."
Suru turned a shade of lime at the thought. Her brother began flinging lettuce through the air with his fork. She squinted as a couple leaves hit her in the face. He closed one eye and aimed his catapult at the flame of the candelabra placed between them. Amano smacked his arm and he stopped to scowl at him. Celena seemed very interested in what the twins were doing. Allen leaned across the table. "So, Amano, how do you consider yourself on a social level?"
"Social level?" Amano asked. He realized that Allen was trying to size him up. "I'm the captain of the track team. I guess I'm pretty popular at school. I don't have any enemies really, and if your talking friends, Yukari's my girlfriend. She's pretty much my social life in a nutshell."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yukari asked.
"Come on, Yu, you know you're the center of my life." He said, obviously flirting being over dramatic.
She laughed. "That's right, I'm a slave driver!"
Allen received a wave of emotion that tightened his throat as she laughed at his counterpart. He cleared the lump away and asked another question. "So how old are you?"
"17." Amano answered. "18 in November."
"When?" Allen asked, confused.
"November 3rd." He answered.
Hitomi interrupted. "They don't use the same date system, Amano."
"Oh." He said, comprehending.
Allen understood too. "Right. I was born on the third day under the blue moon, but I'm about four years older than you are. Even so, you look a little older than you are. I still can't get over how much we look alike.
"Millerna and I are connected." Jiai said. "Even though we have different eye and hair color, we still look a lot the same."
Allen seemed forlorn as he looked to her. "I noticed."
Millerna paused with her fork in her salad and sighed. Hitomi stared long at Allen. The first course came and went and soon the soup came around. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the feast, the nobles nearly forgetting the Earthers at the end of the table while indulged in their own conversations.
Allen looked to Hitomi. "So, what brings you back to Gaea? I thought that, when you gave Van your pendant, we'd never see you again."
"That's strange, you see," Hitomi answered, "last night; was it last night? It seems like forever ago. But I guess it was last night anyway. Last night I had another of my prophetic dreams. I dreamt that Van was in trouble, and knew that I had to get back here and save him." She looked up at Jiai. "So I began to find people that had connections with the people I knew from Gaea. Jiai was Millerna, Amano was Allen, Suru was Celena, Hakai was Dilandau, Daiji was Dryden, Koneko was Merle, and Yosu was Van. I gathered them all together holding hands, and together we were able to teleport here. Now, I've got to get to Fanelia and help Van." She looked up to Millerna, determined. "Do you think you can help me!? Please help me get to Fanelia, Millerna! I've got to get there as fast as I can to help Van!"
Millerna put down her spoon. "That's a big favor, Hitomi. I can get you to Fanelia easily, but you're trying to organize some sort of rescue mission. How do you even know there's something wrong at all? You said that is was a dream."
"Dreams tell a lot." Hitomi replied. "And this wasn't just a dream. It came to me a couple times while I was awake. It was a vision. I've gotten a lot of visions since that first one. There's a lot of stuff going wrong around here."
Millerna turned professional. "I don't know, with me being so newly Queen, if taking an offensive action against a neighboring country without consulting anyone or letting the country know would be the best course of action for me. We've got rules as royalty too, you know."
"I had the same conversation with Jiai this afternoon!" Hitomi cried. "She didn't want to help me find Yosu because of principles! Well, I told her then that I knew you'd help me if I came to her with something that I really felt needed to be done with all of my being! And I do! You've got to believe me!"
Millerna sighed. Making such decisions was wearying her, but she was still a girl, and Hitomi was still a friend. "Alright, Hitomi, if you're sure, then I'll make certain that you get to Fanelia."
"If you're thinking that its going to be a matter of shipping her there," Allen warned, "it might be more complicated than that." The others looked with interest at him. He leaned in, a shorter lock of his hair falling over his shoulder. "I didn't want to say anything, but I've got a friend, well, an associate, who is stationed at Fanelia during the reconstructive work."
"We have people in Fanelia?" Millerna asked.
"King Aston, your father may he rest in peace, signed the commission to send a small troop to help in defense while the capital city Urthas was being rebuilt. He knew that they would need extra defense while they were preoccupied. You can never be too careful anymore. Not after the disaster…" Allen looked to Hitomi, who recalled the destruction of Van's city, and the rest of his country, in a fiery ambush. Now that she thought of it, the fort Allen was in command of had been destroyed by Zaibach in the same way. It was no wonder why he was so serious about defenses. His blue eyes were leveled gravely.
"Who is this person you know?" Millerna asked him.
Allen stirred his soup and tried to look unsuspicious. "I don't like using his name. If we are planning something, I wouldn't want to jeopardize him. He was a bunkmate of mine back when we were still training for the army. We went our separate ways when I gained the knighthood, but I met up with him again when I settled down with Celena. He's high ranking out there in the Fanelian detachment."
"You said 'we' just now." Hitomi referred to earlier in his statement. "You said 'we might be planning something'…"
He got up a tablespoon full of the soup. "Well, if you're going , I'm coming with you."
Hitomi dropped her shoulders. "I can't ask you to do something like that, Allen! Not with you looking after you sister and everything. I feel bad enough messing up Gaea from being here before; I don't want to start changing things again."
"Everyone changes things." Allen replied. "Anyone who does anything on either Gaea or the Moon that has any importance will change things there. You are planning a search and rescue mission, and I intend to be involved."
"Me too." Millerna said.
"No." Hitomi insisted. "I think I should do it alone! That's the only way for me not to make too big of an impact on this world."
"Hey!" Yukari interrupted. "What about us?"
"Yeah." Jiai said. "We were going to help you."
"About that," Hitomi said, "I think all of you should stay here where it's safe. That way there's no chance of you being hurt."
"You've got to be kidding!" Amano cried.
"You can't just waltz in and carry Van out like a package." Allen added. "It's going to have to be professionally done!"
"And did you forget about Yosu's vision?" Jiai demanded. Hitomi took a start and stared quickly at Jiai. "He said that he saw someone he thought was you. It might be harder to get Van out than you think. If he thinks that this new girl is you, then he might not WANT to come."
"And Merle is still locked up." Yukari pressured.
"Wait a minute!" Allen bade. "What vision? What girl who looks like Hitomi?"
Hitomi ignored his questions but surrendered to their pleas. "You're right, guys. I can't do this on my own; you've made your point. And I want all of your help, as long as I can get it without any casualties on your parts. I just want Van out and safe again. After that, we can go home where nothing bad can happen to any of you and my feelings can't affect Gaea." She took a deep breath. "I don't know how to go about this."
"We'll meet after dinner." Millerna resolved. "We will share all the information and come up with a plan. Then we can leave for Fanelia in the morning."
Everyone nodded their agreement. Allen stirred his soup. Haman was listening and peered at them out of the corner of his eye. He'd been listening to the whole discussion, and ignoring the conversation between Daiji, Yosu, Seguir and himself. Koneko was spying him suspiciously. Seeing that they'd come to a conclusion, he shoved away from the table and rose. "Well, I'm afraid I must excuse myself."
"But Haman, the main course hasn't been served yet." Millerna protested.
"Ah, but duty calls, Your Majesty, and I must see to something more important than food."
She sighed, and took up her spoon. "Alright, if that is what you think is right, you should go ahead. Thank you for joining us, Haman."
He bowed. "It was my pleasure, Majesty." He looked to Seguir before leaving. "Rest assured, all is in hand." And with that, he strode off. Millerna raised the spoon to her lips but Koneko called to her. "I wouldn't eat that stuff, your highness! It's probably got chicken juice in it!"
Allen dropped his own spoon with a clatter and a splash back into the bowl. Daiji coughed. "Thanks for the warning, Neko! I've already had half of mine!"
"I'm sure you'll be fine." Yosu said, shortly.
"But if you do start puking all over the place, do it off the table." Koneko requested.
Daiji slouched with a disgusted look on his face. "Now I feel nauseous."
"And your Majesty…" Koneko advised. "I think we should really get out of here sooner than later."
"Why, Koneko?" Yukari asked.
"Shhh!!!" Koneko warned. "The walls have EARS!!!! I have something I need to tell the Queen in PRIVATE!!! Right Su?"
Suru swallowed hard, looking about the same as Daiji. Hakai crawled half way onto the table and started to light his cloth napkin on fire. Suru finally spoke up. "Don't do that. The napkin doesn't like it."
"Napkin Schmapkin." Hakai retorted. "The point is, it burns!" Celena continued to watch in silent fascination.
Seguir sighed to himself and stared down the table. Yosu followed his gaze. "Do you really have to watch Millerna constantly to qualify as protecting her?"
Seguir shook his head. "Its not Millerna." He had his eye turned to the brunette to her left. "Who is the girl with the green eyes?"
Yosu's head whipped around to Hitomi and back to Seguir. He noticed the twinge of emotion in the captain's own green eye and became suspicious. "Why are you so interested in Hitomi!?"
"Hitomi…" He chewed on the name in his head. "No reason, I'm just taken with her."
"How old are you!?" Yosu demanded, but by sight, he could tell that this man was much too old for the young girl.
"I am 35." He answered… "A month ago."
Yosu nearly gagged.
"Whoa. You don't look 35." Daiji said. "I could have sworn you weren't a day older than 28, 29."
Seguir smiled, hints of wrinkling at the corners of his intelligent eyes. "I'm aged enough, believe me. I haven't had an easy time."
"Whether you look it or not, Hitomi's only 15!" Yosu accused. "You could be her FATHER!"
Seguir flinched at Yosu's harshness, and dropped his smile. His eyes pleaded to the young man. "I don't mean any harm. She just…" he found himself staring at her again as a new wave of waiters stepped in to change plates, "…reminds me of someone I know."
The waiters came around refilling drinks, removing dishes and several bowls of untouched soup. Behind them came servers with the main course. A well-cooked pheasant was placed in front of each person. Yukari grinned widely. "Wow! This looks great!"
Jiai smiled across the table. "I wonder if that's the one that landed on your head, Hitomi."
Hitomi fumed at Jiai for bringing the subject back up.
Allen seemed frustrated. "Maybe we should take the little girl's advice and meet now. I'm feeling anxious."
Hitomi lost her redness and felt her own eagerness rise within her. "I've always been anxious; this whole time. And I feel like this feast is inappropriate."
"Maybe we should leave." Jiai suggested.
"No." Millerna bade. "We can't leave in the middle. "You all are the guests of honor. For you to leave would make everyone else uncomfortable and we shouldn't cause an upset. Lets just sit it out."
The others sighed. "Alright."
Hakai was shoved into his seat, as his dinner was set in front of him. He looked at it, strangely. "What the heck is this!?"
"Asturian Plains Pheasant." Seguir informed him, with a grin. "It's a delicacy, you should be honored that you can eat it. The Queen herself only gets in on special occasions."
"Yuck." Hakai replied. "It looks gross."
"You should see it when it's alive." Seguir mused, having a waiter place his in front of him. "It's even less appetizing."
"I wouldn't think it looked so bad except that I was probably drinking it a second ago." Daiji stated.
"They're less slimy cooked." Koneko reported. "Right Su?"
Suru was no longer looking sick, instead her eyes were wide in disbelief staring at the steaming pheasant sitting in front of her. "Chi-Chicken?" Her face blanched and she sunk all the way off her chair and under the table.
Koneko blinked after her. Seguir laughed. "It doesn't look that bad, does it?"
"She hasn't been well." Koneko said, aloofly.
Seguir got a forkful of pheasant. "You two were the girls the cooks were looking for weren't you?"
Koneko snapped into her detective role. "How do you know about that?"
Seguir chewed and swallowed. "Those poor kitchen aids were running al over the place looking for you. I got tons of reports from my men that they were interrogated at their posts. As it ended up, I think I sent a squad out looking for you."
"You're not going to turn us in are you!?!" Koneko cried.
Seguir smiled good-naturedly at her. "No, not tonight."
"Whew." Koneko sighed.
Amano looked to Millerna. "That Haman guy, the one who just left, is he really as trustworthy as you say he is?"
"He always served my father." Millerna answered. "He, Meiden, and my father basically ran this country. I have no reason not to trust him."
"I never did." Allen voiced. "He and Meiden were the reason your father became a greedy man. Haman, in my opinion, lead him into a lot of decisions that weren't the best for the country."
"Like what?" Millerna asked.
"Marrying you off to Dryden for example." Allen said.
"What?" Millerna cried.
"It was solely for Meiden's gain. It was his ego that wanted his son to be king, not the good of the country. Haman helped convince Aston that it was the best course of action because he liked Meiden's money. It just wasn't good leadership." Millerna had no comment. Allen made a face at the thought. "He's to serpent-like for my taste."
"How can you tell something like that?" Jiai asked him.
"It's a gut feeling. I don't know." Allen answered. "I've got a suspicious feeling all over."
Everyone exchanged glances and picked at their pheasant. Having proclaimed it unappetizing, Hakai had returned to the flame. Suru was under the table and Celena was transfixed by the glint in the boy's eye and the tongue of the flame on the wick. The spikes of his hair were yellow like the prongs of a plain of fire, the orange spark of the flame was reflecting in his reddish eyes. He turned the cloth, the consuming flame licking the weave of and lighting it with the glow of embers; orange and then black as the seering flicker ate through the whiteness and curled the remnants behind it. Among the sights, there came the sounds that trained her ear on the subtle crackling of the candle-wick and the dying napkin. There was the hiss as flame touched new fuel, and above all there was the sniggering and muttering of the boy… "Good! Burn! Burn! Burn!"
Something snapped in Celena's head, her eyes gaped as her brain throbbed and her hair bristled. She threw up her hands to cover her ears and clamped closed her eyes. The pain was great and disorientation swirled around her. She balled up in her chair and screamed. She screamed the scream of a frightened young girl and shook her head as the tried to dismiss the pain.
Allen jumped to his feet and everyone in the hall stopped to stare. He felt dread seize him. "Celena!!!"
"What's wrong with her!?" Amano cried.
"It's another one of her episodes!" Millerna answered, rising. Allen kneeled next to Celena's chair, threw his arms around her, and pressed her dirty-blonde head to his chest. In his grip, her thrashing was restricted and the tears on her cheeks were absorbed by the blue of his uniform. She screamed and cried and he placed his cheek to her forehead. "Celena! Celena! It's okay…calm down. I've got you, Celena. You're safe here with your big brother who loves you. Come on, Celena, calm down… calm down…"
The girl's screaming echoed around the now silent dinner table and the over 200 guests stared with intent at her as she was lost in the stabbing and throbbing of her own head. Hakai ceased his burning and dropped the napkin, the flames extinguished, the grin whipped clean off his face. Suru reappeared from under the table and looked with concern at her. "Celena?"
Allen hugged her close and her screams subsided as she listened to his heart and pressed herself into his embrace. He breathed easy again, knowing that the crisis had passed and that his sister was all right again. Hitomi was frozen with fear and confusion, not knowing what had happened. Everyone in the dining hall was staring at the tear-streaked girl being rocked gently into a calm sense of safety. Allen looked up at them all. Their stares made him angry. He removed one arm and gathered her up. "Let's go."
As he stood, so did Amano. The exchanged looks. Yukari looked up at them and stood as well. "Let's go." The rest of the party exchanged glances, but Hitomi understood. This was an excuse to leave and talk sooner than previously expected. She stood, too. "We'll all go."
With Hitomi being the ringleader, the rest of them, even those who had no idea what was going on, got up and left the table. Millerna stood as all of her guests of honor left her and headed for the hall outside. She addressed her confused nobility, some of whom were also getting up. "Don't worry, it's just a nervous condition. Go on with your meal, I'm going to go check on them. Carry on as if we'd never left."
Everyone thought that was a good idea and returned to dinner, but Seguir watched with suspicious interest, his hand on his chin. As soon as Millerna had left the room and normal chatter had been restored, Seguir Nadeje rose silently from his own seat and headed for a side door in the shadows. He disappeared without a trace. No one saw him leave.
~To be Continued~
