Chapter 7: The Fight
Three must find the Ivory Tower
Lost in a far world
Three must enter
A link must be forged
"What link? What world are you talking about? What is going on?"
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Hitomi's eyes popped open as she sat up suddenly, startling Van who was sitting beside her. They looked at each other, saying nothing at first, but Van finally spoke.
"I guess you're feeling better."
Hitomi looked around and recognized the quarters she and Van shared in the airship. She was in bed, under a few covers, still in her travelling clothes. She glanced toward the window and it was darker outside than it had been earlier. She looked back to Van who was still looking at her a little stunned.
"How long have I been here?"
"Four hours."
"Four hours!"
"Well, you just fought off a dark attack, I figured it drained you some how. How are you feeling?"
"I feel...surprisingly well." Hitomi said as she threw off the covers and got out of bed. "Argh! Four hours!" She paced back and forth for a few moments as Van slowly stood up and watched her.
"Why does it always happen to me? I mean, sure, I guess I can take the visions, and I guess I'm okay with these new powers, but why do I have to faint? I've fainted more on Gaea then I ever have in my life!"
"Hitomi, it's okay. There is nothing to be ashamed of-"
"Oh really? I don't see you fainting after a sword fight? It's...embarrassing! It's like I'm one of those damsels in distress who faint at anything remotely scary."
"Hitomi, what are you talking about?" Van said coming up to her and putting his hands on her shoulders. "You saved the ship. No one thinks of you as a coward. Is that what you're afraid of?"
"What? Of course not, it's just, it's just...why does it have to me?" Hitomi's eyes started to glisten over with tears. "I mean, I already saved Gaea, why do I have to do it again? Can't someone else to do this and I can just get back to my normal life?"
"I wish that were possible, Hitomi, but it's just not that way. Why are you acting like this?"
"Why can't I act like this? Is the 'great-seer-of-the-phantom-moon' not allowed to act like this? Don't I have a say in my own life? Why do I feel like such a puppet all the time!"
"Hitomi, relax, we're all having a difficult time-"
"Really? Tell me, what are the people in your head saying? What dark magics are coming after you? What horrifying visions have you had? What strange new powers have awakened in you?"
Van removed his hands and took a step back. "You don't have to get angry."
"Yes I do! It's about time I did. Argh! None of this would have happened if I was home."
"Oh." Van said very quietly. "This is what it's all about. None of this would be happening if you were still on Earth." He took another step back and looked at the floor.
"No, Van." Hitomi said, aware of her poor choice of words, "I didn't mean that-"
"Yes, you did. What else could it mean? If you were back on Earth, you wouldn't have to go through any of this. Do you wish you had never come back?"
"No Van, that's not what-"
"Well it sure sounds like it." Van said before he turned around and opened the door to leave.
"Van!" Hitomi cried.
"I have things to do." Van said as he left and closed the door behind him.
Hitomi's shoulders fell and she closed her eyes and tears ran down the side of her face. She walked over to the bed and stared at it, like she was waiting for something. Then, she suddenly started attacking the pillows, punching them and the mattress with all she had. She continued until she was tired and fell down on to the bed, new tears falling silently down her face. She reached over and pulled one of the pillows back and buried her face in it and cried. All her frustration, fear, and anger came out with her tears. After a time, she rolled on to her back and stared at the ceiling, not thinking, just concentrating on the subtle motions of the ship. She didn't want to think. She just wanted a clear mind.
"Why?" She whispered. She reached down and picked up the pendant that was placed under her shirt and lifted it up to look at. "I'll admit that I don't understand you and you probably don't understand me." She told it. "But I'm not going to let you get between Van and I." With a sigh, she placed it back under her top and adjusted the chain. "I'm not going to allow it." She sighed and rolled over to look at the window. It was almost dark. With a sigh, Hitomi pushed herself off the bed and walked over to the water basin and washed the dried tears off her face. Then, she headed off to find Van.
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Van held his pose, ready to strike. The muscles in his body were burning, but he held still. He spun out suddenly, performing a difficult spinning slash attack, followed by a few jumps and parries. His invisible enemies were not holding back and neither was he.
Except, was one of his enemies Hitomi this time?
Van immediately denied it, but he couldn't help feeling mad. His frustration and pain taunted him, causing him to push himself harder through his sword drills. The dim lighting conditions in the cargo hold made the blade shimmer every now and then. In the corner of his mind, an old saying of Balgus' surfaced: sword fighting is an art and a great sword and great swordsman are beautiful to behold. Van came a stop and wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his glove. He held out the sword and watched it catch the light. He was finally old enough to start understanding what Balgus had been talking about.
A slight movement caught his eye and he spun towards the door to see a familiar silhouette inside the doorway. "How long have you been here?" He asked with a level voice.
"A few minutes." Hitomi answered.
"Did you use your terrible powers to find me?" Van asked, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
"No. I knew I'd find you here. You always go somewhere to practice your sword work when you're upset or anxious." Hitomi said quietly.
Van, still upset turned his back and walked to a box where he had thrown his sword sheath. He replaced the sword and took off his gloves. Two hands slid around his back and wrapped around his front. He felt Hitomi lean her head against his back. His first reaction was shock that she could come up so quietly behind him.
"Van, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have treated you like that." Being so close to Van, Hitomi could feel his chest contract to take a breath, about to say something. "Wait, let me finish before you say anything. I'm so sorry. I lost control for a moment, but that gave me no right to blow up at you. We all have to face up to our destinies and meet our challenges. I know that I have these gifts for a reason and I should be glad I do so we can use them to save Gaea. And Van, please believe me when I tell you that before I didn't mean I wanted to return to Earth, I wanted to return to Fanelia. Fanelia is my home. You are my home. I love you so much. I have never, ever, regretted coming back, even under the conditions that I first came back. I would do it all again if it meant I could stay. I'm sorry." Hitomi finished. She felt Van take a deep breath in and then pat her hands. She released her hold and took a step back so Van could turn around. He had what could only be called a forgiving smile on his face. She sighed.
"I forgive you, Hitomi, and I love you. You've been under a lot of stress lately and I really can't blame you for blowing up." Van sighed. "Sometimes it feels like you're doing all the work. I wish I could somehow take this burden off your shoulders for you. All I seem to do it stand by and wait for you to tell me what's next."
"That's not true!" Hitomi said, shocked at what he said. "I might have visions or dreams or...whatever, but you're the one who helps me through them. You're the one who planned this trip in record time. You're the one who organized the castle when the Storm first struck. And you were the one who defended Fanelia against Zaibach. I just had a vision, that's it!" Van couldn't help but smile at Hitomi's distress. He put his hands on her shoulders again and bent a little to look her straight in the eye.
"See, we make the perfect team!" She relaxed a little and smiled a bit. "And you do a lot more than just have visions, and don't you even dare to argue that. The people of Fanelia didn't nickname the Dragon Moon Festival the Queen's Festival because it was your birthday. They named it after you because they adore you. You are a million times more than just some royal figurehead. You know the people, you've helped them, and you've saved them. You're a hero, whether you like it or not, so live with it." He said the last part playfully and shook her a little to make her giggle.
"You're right, of course. I think I've just been keeping too many things bottled up that they finally came out at once and unfortunately, at you."
"That's okay. I'm just glad, and quite relieved, to hear you don't regret coming to live on Fanelia."
Even in the dim light, Van could see tears well up in Hitomi's eyes.
"I don't regret it. I'll never regret it. I love you and always want to be with you." She said, before she sniffed and caused a few tears to roll down her checks.
Van reached out and pulled her in to an embrace. "Don't cry again, Hitomi. I know you mean it and that makes me so happy. I love you too, more than anything else."
Hitomi pulled her head away a bit and looked up and smiled, but then it disappeared and turned in to a confused frown. "Wait, how did you know I had cried?"
"Your eyes are a little puffy and your nose gets red when you cry." He said as he wiped a tear away and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"You can see that in here? In the dark?"
"It's not that dark. I've always had good eyes. Merle accused me of being half-cat a few times when we were younger." Hitomi giggled at that before Van kissed her. Like every kiss with Van, it was heavenly, but right at that moment, it meant so much more to her. She returned his gentle kisses with gentle ones of her own and afterwards they just held each other.
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Van and Hitomi took their bowls of stew and sat down at a wooden table in the very small mess hall, or in this case, mess room. Since there was a small crew, most of them ate quickly or took their food with them.
"Do you mind if I join you two?" Captain Rennat said, holding his own bowl of stew.
"Please, we don't mind at all." Van said as the Captain slid in beside Van. Hitomi hadn't known him long, but she liked their Captain a lot. Rennat was a very practical and down-to-business person. He never got too caught up too many your-majesties and it suited her just fine. He was an impressive leader, tall, built and carried himself the way leaders do.
"Thankfully, there haven't been any more strange attacks on the ship, and we have you to thank." He said, pointing to Hitomi with his spoon, before he took a spoonful of stew. She blushed a little, but kept quiet to allow him to continue. "I also had the men inspect the inside and outside of the ship and besides a handful of dents, there is no damage. We'll be able to keep our original travel plans and should arrive in Keshia as planned, the morning after tomorrow. Oh, I sent a transmission to Keshia about an hour or so before dawn. We were finally in range to do so, so they'll be expecting you."
"That's good. I'd hate to be seen as a threat." Van said between his own mouthfuls. "I'm sure they could conjure up some magic wind or water to stop us."
"I'll be sure to fly the crest of Fanelia extra high then, once we're near. Until then, thank you for your company. Pleasant evening." He said as he left.
Hitomi smiled. She really liked him. She took a few more bites of stew before she put down her spoon and looked at Van.
"Van, I need to explain something to you."
Van nodded and put his spoon down too.
"I guess it's to explain why I exploded earlier." Hitomi sighed. "Just before I woke up, I had another vision, well not a vision, but I heard voices and I think I heard a prophecy of some sort."
"A prophecy? Is that what's upsetting you?"
"Yes. It's weird, because it's similar to my previous visions. Before, I would actually see what was going to happen, and now all I do is hear what is going to happen, but I don't understand what the voices in my head are telling me."
"Voices? There's more than one?"
"I believe so. Some of my memories are vague, but I believe there are several voices speaking in unison. Whatever they are trying to tell me, it sounds like a riddle."
"Well, maybe we can figure this out. Do you remember what the voices said?"
"Yes, I do. The first time I heard the prophecy was in the forest, the day of the Storm, just after I saw the dragons. But, it's strange, it didn't feel like it was the first time, but it's the first time I could remember what they said. Does that make sense?"
"No."
"Well, it probably doesn't matter. Okay, first time in woods I heard a little, and then the other night when I regained my powers, I think I heard the whole thing, and then when I woke up after the battle today, I heard a selection. This is all I've heard so far:
When the sky blazes crimson
And the dragons flee
Moonlight glows dim
Darkness will soon reign
Three must find the Ivory Tower
Lost in a far world
Three must enter
A link must be forged
Wolf with the sacred light
Dragon of noble birth
Ocean's heart
Destiny calls you forth."
"Hmmm. I'm not crazy about that 'darkness will soon reign' part."
"I agree. Oh, I almost forgot. When I regained my powers and heard the voices in my head, afterwards I saw brief flashes of the Storm, this beautiful blue place, and then a horrible vision of death and nothingness."
"Nothingness?" Van asked cautiously.
"It was terrible. I saw the end of Gaea and everything that lives here. Nothing was left. I don't really want to dwell on it." Hitomi took a deep breath to calm herself.
"That darkness reigning must mean the Storm and the destruction of Gaea." Van said, absently brushing his dark hair out of his eyes. "It seems it was a prophecy. The Storm, the fading moonlight, the strange behaviour of the dragons, that all happened, but what do the others parts mean?"
"That's what's so frustrating! It doesn't make sense. However, that vision of the beautiful blue place, I think it was Keshia. I know I've never been there before, but the way you described it, a green island surrounded by clear, blue water, it sounded right, but it also felt right. Not to mention the fact that the statue Fillodam gave me as a birthday present ended up being some sort of power medallion thingy that helped me regain my powers. I don't think I could have done it without it. And, the last bit of the prophecy calls for 'Ocean's heart', maybe that is in reference to the Keshians."
"And that's why were going to Keshia, in hopes that they know what you're visions, or dreams, are telling you."
"Yes. I'm not positive, but we don't have any other options and we are running out of time. The Storm, I fear, is the beginning of the destruction. It started the countdown."
The two of them sat there for a few moments in silence.
Van reached out and patted Hitomi's hand. "We'll get our answers soon. We can do this, together." He said. Hitomi felt much better and smiled and the two of them continued to eat.
Hitomi finished off her stew and pushed her bowl away once she was done and tried some of the ale the cook had recommended. She was hesitant, but it was good. It was warm and tasted like honey, or something mixed with honey. She finished her ale about the same time Van did.
"So, it's getting late." He said. "Are you tired?"
"Not really. I had a nap today, remember."
"I'm not tired either. My workouts tend to energize me."
"I guess we'll just stay up." Hitomi said with a shrug.
"Oh, I'm sure I can think of something we can do- something to tire us out." Van said, playfully scratching his chin in thought.
"What!" Hitomi said in a whisper. "Can we? I mean, here?" She said, turning a deep shade of red, looking around, fearful that the others heard her. "I mean, on the ship?"
"Why not?" Van said, very casually as he leaned in closer towards her and took her hands in his. "The walls are thick and sturdy." Hitomi could see the playfulness in his eyes and she suddenly got excited.
"Why don't I give you a few minutes to go on ahead of me." Van said. "I'm sure you brought something nice to sleep in. You and Merle always bring a new one home when you go shopping."
"Okay." Hitomi said, putting on an air of casual cool. "I'll be expecting you soon."
Hitomi slipped out and walked out of the mess room and closed the door behind her. Van walked up to the cook and asked for another small glass of ale. He returned to his seat and drank it steadily. When he deemed the right amount of time had past, he collected their dishes and brought them to the front.
"Don't keep her waiting, Your Majesty." Van turned around in surprise and saw the cook wink at him. The few residents of the mess hall raised their glasses to him. Van actually reddened, but he saluted them and left the hall. The men broke out in laughter and the sound of it followed him down the hall.