Chapter 16: There's No Place Like Home – Part 1
Yukari and Amano watched in panic from a distance as the island-mountains of Atlantis crumbled apart and fell in to the sea. Amano had an arm around Yukari and the other was tightly gripping the railing of their boat. Yukari had to put both hands on the rail to keep herself steady. A moment ago, the ocean had been calm in the early afternoon sun, then suddenly the ocean started heaving, the winds started blowing stronger, and it became dark and overcast. Amano had moved the boat away from the rocks, in fear of being thrown against them, but they didn't want to go too far. They had no idea if what was happening was natural, like an under water volcano or earthquake, or if it was something more. There were things that they had seen in the last few days that they would have never thought possible before.
As they both frantically scanned the water, a great column of light shot out of it and climbed skywards. They both watched with wide eyes as it flew upwards until they couldn't follow it any longer. The clouds and darkness that had settled over them seemed to weaken and fade in the vicinity of the column of light. They brought their gaze down and continued to watch as the island-mountains completely vanished before their eyes. Everything appeared to be still for a moment, and then a pulse came from the column of light. It spread outward and washed over their boat, like a sound wave, and then the ocean was quiet again and the sky was blue. The column of light was fading and disappearing.
The only two witnesses slowly relaxed their grips on the railing and looked at each other with puzzlement. Yukari then turned to the ocean and looked frantically around.
"Oh my god, Amano! The islands are gone! What does that mean? What are we supposed to do!"
"I don't know! I-" Amano stopped in mid-sentence as he glanced up and saw something. Yukari followed his gaze and her jaw fell. They both moved back as a large, blue orb floated down from the sky. It was sparkling, like sunlight reflecting on water, and it appeared to be holding three people. As it neared, Yukari gasped and started crying with an awkward smile on her face. The orb slowly came down to their level and sunk in to the boat a little. Inside, they could see Hitomi, Van, and Kylenia standing in a circle, holding hands, with their eyes closed. The orb then melted away.
Hitomi blinked a few times, still in a daze, and then looked around and realized they were back on Amano's boat. She turned to face the goddess and looked in to her shimmering eyes of blue and white sparkling light.
"Did we do it? Is Gaea saved?" She whispered. Van squeezed Hitomi's hand as he too stared at the goddess, waiting for an answer.
"Yes, it is done. Gaea is in danger no more." The goddess said calmly. Van and Hitomi turned to one another and the largest possible smiles broke out on their faces. At the same time, they released the goddess' hands, threw up their own hands, and started whopping and jumping for joy! Shortly after, they were holding each other as all their worries and fears from the last few weeks melted away and left them shaking and clinging to each other. Every few moments, they interrupted their sobs with occasional bouts of laughter.
"You were amazing." Van whispered in to her hair. "You saved Gaea again."
"We saved Gaea." Hitomi whispered back. "I would not have been able to do it with you, without your love." Hitomi pulled away and looked into his glistening chocolate eyes. "I love you, Van. I love you so much."
"I love you more than anything, Hitomi." Then they both leaned in to a very deep and passionate kiss.
A polite little cough a few moments later made them pull away, a little red in the face. They turned to see Amano and Yukari together, watching them with big smiles on their faces.
"Do we get to join in the celebration now?" Yukari said playfully, as she wiped her tears away. "We did help, after all." Hitomi and Van laughed and Hitomi ran to embrace her friend. As she was hugging and laughing with her, Hitomi realized that she would never be able to do it again, and she held her a little tighter.
"Hitomi, what's wrong?" Yukari asked as she heard Hitomi start crying again. Hitomi pulled away and stood beside Van and took his hand again.
"Oh Yukari, Amano, I…we…." Hitomi started, and then she took a deep breath. "To save Gaea, we had to severe the link that connected it to Earth. Once we return, we'll never be able to come back."
"What?" Yukari said, her face dropping. "You mean, we'll never get to see you again?"
"I'm sorry." Hitomi said as tears ran down her face. "It was the only way and I have to return with Van. I belong beside him. I love him." Van squeezed her hand again and she squeezed back.
Various emotions flickered over Yukari's face and her mouth opened and closed a few times, as if to say something, but nothing came out. Yukari then noticed that Van and Hitomi's clothes were dirty, ripped, and splattered with blood. Their faces were covered in dust, except where recent tears had flown. She didn't know what they had gone through in Atlantis, but they must have been through a lot to end up looking like that. She looked at Hitomi's sad, green eyes, and then saw how she held Van's hand, and Yukari understood. A smile crept on to her face.
"I love you too, Hitomi, and boy, am I ever going to miss you."
Hitomi flew into Yukari arms again. Van couldn't understand what they were saying, since they were both crying and talking at the same time, but he could probably guess. Amano walked over to where he was and reached out his hand. Van took it and smiled as they shook hands.
"Well, I know you're going to take good care of her," Amano started, "but, I'm going to say it again. Take good care of her, Van."
"I will." Van replied with a smile. "Take good care of Yukari."
"I will." Amano said, glancing over at the girls. Van saw a familiar twinkle in Amano's eyes as he glanced at Yukari. He would recognize it, since he'd seen it in his own reflection for a while now.
"When do you have to return to Gaea?" Amano asked, as he released Van's hand.
"I don't know…." Van said as he turned towards the goddess. She walked the few steps toward them, her eyes still alive with magic.
"We must leave before the sun rises again."
"What!" Hitomi said, pulling herself away from Yukari and walking over to them. "We have to leave before morning! But that only gives us about…fifteen hours! We'll never get back to Tokyo in time to see my family!" Hitomi said, on the verge of more tears, but the goddess quickly cut her off.
"I can get us there much faster than your previous journey.' The goddess said with a gentle smile. "Don't fret, my child, you will get to see your family."
Yukari came up beside Hitomi and looked at the goddess strangely, especially at her eyes. "What happened to you, Kylenia?" She asked. "You seem…different."
"Oh." Hitomi said sadly and her head drooped. "We were attacked and Kylenia got hurt, really hurt. We couldn't do anything…we couldn't save her…and she died."
Yukari covered her mouth with her hand in shock, but her eyes darted back to the goddess in confusion.
"This is the goddess who watches over Gaea, whom Kylenia served." Hitomi continued.
Yukari and Amano both stared in silence at the goddess.
"My beloved daughter knew that she would have to die to save Gaea." The goddess said with a voice that echoed. "There was nothing you could have done to save her." She said to Hitomi. "She knew what her fate would be if she agreed to be my chosen one, yet she still accepted. Do not blame yourselves."
"Goddess, what happened down there?" Van asked. Hitomi looked up expectantly, her curiosity overcoming her grief.
"The stars had revealed that the only way to save Gaea was to bring its life force from Earth and put it where it belonged, on Gaea. I knew that only I could only accomplish such a task, due to the magic and energies involved, but there were obstacles. I did not know where the life force lay nor could I travel to the Earth."
"I guess that's where the prophesy came in." Hitomi said. "We were able go to Earth and find Atlantis."
"Correct. Years ago I created the jewel known as the Oceans Heart and I presented it to Kylenia on the day of her choosing. I explained that when the day came and her spirit passed in to the next world, the jewel would allow me to take over her physical body so I would be able to create a new link for the life force of Gaea."
"So you were in the jewel the entire time?" Van asked.
"A part of me was, yes. It wasn't until Kylenia's spirit left her body and the jewel came in to the presence of Gaea's life force that the magic was activated and I was able to possess her body. The jewel was the only way for me to come to Earth and through Kylenia's body was the only way to form the link."
"Couldn't you have shared Kylenia's body with her?" Hitomi asked.
"I'm afraid not. This body will turn to dust once I return the life force to Gaea. Only my power and control is preventing the magic from tearing it apart right now. If I had shared the body with Kylenia, she would have been overcome by that power."
"What will you do when we return to Gaea?" Van asked.
"Gaea's heart must immediately be joined with the planet, so I will have to leave you as I go do to that."
"Where will the heart go? Keshia?" Hitomi asked. The goddess smiled and nodded.
"My Mystics will protect it and they'll be commanded not to reveal it to anyone. I'll have to ask the same of you two; under no circumstances should you tell anyone where the heart of Gaea lies. The heart will be vulnerable for the first few years, as it adjusts, but over time it will join with the planet and they will become one. Then, it will no longer be a concern." The goddess took a few steps towards Van and Hitomi and laid her hands on their shoulders.
"You both performed admirably during these trials and together you saved Gaea once again. The planet will no longer be in danger from any outside force, but you'll have to continue to be diligent and guard it from the inside." The goddess told them.
"Always." Van said as he gripped his sword, the heirloom of the Fanelian throne.
"Will we ever see you again?" Hitomi asked. "I mean, after we return to Gaea?"
"Probably not directly like this," the goddess said, a smile creeping on to her face. "But, I'll be around, keeping my eye on things." The goddess's shy smile turned in to a playful grin and Hitomi suddenly had a flashback of the wolf with blue eyes that had been with her after the first storm. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to say something, but the goddess winked at her, and Hitomi decided not to reveal anything.
Just then, Hitomi remembered that she didn't have her pendant on. She quickly thought back and recalled that she had stuffed it in her pockets after they had entered the Ivory Tower. She patted her pockets and suddenly panicked, wondered if it was still there. She found it and pulled it out to examine it. It still looked the same, but something was different about it.
"Your pendant will no longer be as powerful anymore." The goddess said, knowing what Hitomi must have been thinking. "The pendant's power was linked to the Earth and the Ivory Tower and once they are both gone, the pendant may become nothing more than a pretty stone." Hitomi nodded in understanding as she put it back on. She liked it there and even if it lost all of its powers, it reminded her of Van and that's what was important.
"If you are ready," the goddess continued looking at the four of them, "we can begin the journey back to your home." The four of them nodded eagerly. "Then step back and hold on to something." The goddess said as she turned around to face the front of the ship. The others took a few steps back and hung on to the rails around the cabin entrance of the boat. Van put an arm around Hitomi's waist and kissed the top of her head. Hitomi smiled warmly at him and placed her arm over his.
The goddess started moving her arms in quick, circular motions and her robes and hair started flowing in the magic she was calling. Hitomi watched as a shield of blue light climbed up, out the water, and encircled the boat in a protective sphere, similar to the one Kylenia had created before. Hitomi could feel power collecting all around them and she tightened her grip on the rail. The goddess brought her hands down quickly and linked them together, except for her forefingers and thumbs which touched at the tips and pointed upwards. The boat lurched and Hitomi suddenly felt her stomach in her throat. Everything outside the sphere was a blur and Hitomi quickly looked at her feet to stop herself from getting sick. She gripped the railing until her knuckles turned white, but she still felt like she'd be flung away at any second.
Suddenly, it was over. They lurched to a stop and Hitomi fell back into Van, who luckily didn't topple over. Van helped Hitomi find her footing and then they looked around cautiously. They were still in the middle of the ocean, but it was different somehow. The sun was a little higher in the sky, the clouds that had been there before were gone, and it felt warmer.
"Where are we?" Yukari asked, clinging to Amano. She looked a little green in the face. The goddess turned around and calmly faced them.
"Just beyond the horizon is the bay where we began our journey."
"You mean were back in Japanese waters? Already?" Amano asked. "That's amazing! I'm going to start the engines and take us in." Amano said as he helped Yukari to a bench.
"Holy crap!" Hitomi said. "I didn't know that kind of travel was even possible!" The goddess just smiled and turned to watch the sea.
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They reached the dock where the boat was stored and Amano ran out to bring the car around. They wanted to keep the goddess out of sight as much as possible since sunglasses couldn't hide her sparkling eyes. They quickly piled into the car and Amano headed towards the Kanzaki residence.
Hitomi kept biting her nails and playing with her hands during the drive. She was trying to figure out how to tell her family that she had to leave them forever. She was glad the goddess would be there; it would probably make things a little easier to explain. They pulled up to the Kanzaki residence, which was on a quiet street away from the main roads. Hitomi got out of the car and looked around carefully, trying to burn the images in to her mind. Her eyes started to water, but she quickly blinked them back. Van slipped his hand in to hers and gave it a squeeze. She looked in to his eyes and took strength from them.
The strange group of five made their way up to the door and Hitomi tried it and found it unlocked. She slowly opened it and stuck her head in. She could her noises coming from kitchen.
"Mama?"
"Mamoru? Is that you?" A female voice called from the kitchen.
"No Mama, it's me." Hitomi said, walking inside and motioning for the others to follow. The noise from the kitchen ceased and a beautiful lady with strawberry-blond, shoulder length hair came around the corner. She was wearing an apron and drying her hands with a dish rag.
"Hitomi?" She asked quietly.
"Mama!" Hitomi cried in joy, no longer able to control herself. She ran towards her mother and her mother dropped the dish cloth to embrace her daughter. They both started laughing and crying at the same time. Finally, Hitomi's mother held Hitomi out at arms length and looked critically at Hitomi.
"What in the world have you been doing!" She exclaimed. "Are you hurt?"
"A little sore, but nothing serious." Hitomi answered. Hitomi's mom then looked at the little group politely standing by the door. Van stood a little straighter as her eyes met his.
"It's good to see you again, Van." Hitomi's mother said, walking over towards him. "You look well."
"Thank you, Mrs. Kanzaki." Van said. "It is nice to see you again, too." Van said with a smile. He then leaned over to place a kiss on her check.
"Such a nice boy." Hitomi's mother muttered. "Yukari, Amano, what are you doing here?" She asked, turning towards them.
"It's a long story, Mrs. Kanzaki." Yukari said, coming over to give her a hug. Hitomi's mother then took a long look at the goddess and her sparkling eyes. "Any friend of Hitomi's is welcome here." She told the goddess. "Please come in."
"Thank you." The goddess replied in her double voice, bowing her head slightly. Before Hitomi's mother could ask another question, Hitomi stepped over and guided her mother away.
"Mama, is Mamoru going to be home soon?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes, he's usually back around this time."
"What about Papa?"
"He said he had to work late tonight."
"Can you call him and ask him to come home as soon as possible. It's important." Hitomi's mother looked in to her sad, green eyes and nodded.
"Take your friends in to the living room, Hitomi. I'll be back in as soon as I get off the phone." Hitomi's mother started leave, but then stopped and looked critically at Hitomi again and frowned. "Maybe you and Van should get yourselves cleaned up.
"We will, Mama. Thanks."
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It had been a long and emotionally day. Once Hitomi's father and brother had returned home, Hitomi, Van, and the goddess had explained everything to her startled family. Their reactions had been a mix of sorrow, anger, and shock, but in the end they understood and accepted what had to happen. Everyone, including Yukari and Amano, decided to have a big dinner together to celebrate the time left with Hitomi and Van. Everyone helped out in the kitchen, not wanting to be far from the two of them. It was crowded, but they shared stories and laughed together all night long. They stuffed themselves with food and desserts, and afterwards Van and Hitomi posed with everyone for pictures. While Mamoru printed off copies on the computer, Hitomi and her mother went through photo albums and picked out pictures Hitomi could take with her.
Night eventually came and everyone started to show signs of weariness, but Hitomi's father wisely put on a pot of coffee. They sat together in the living room sharing stories and reminiscing on good times. Hitomi's family was eager for details about her life as a queen and the place she now called home.
Later in the evening, while Van was being entertained with stories of Hitomi as a young girl, Hitomi excused herself and went through the house looking for the goddess. She didn't see her in any rooms, but as she walked by her room for the second time, she noticed that the balcony door was slightly ajar. Quietly, she walked over and slowly pushed it open. The goddess was standing outside looking at the starry horizon.
"Here you are." Hitomi said quietly, standing beside the goddess. The goddess smiled but continued to stare at the sky. Hitomi turned her head and drank in the view. It was strange to see the big city lights again, after all this time. Although she had grown up with it, since she had been gone and without anything like it in Fanelia, she had almost forgotten what it was like. There was a beauty to it that she knew only city dwellers could really understand. She looked up to see the full moon and was almost startled not to see the Earth there. Like she did for so many years, she wondered where Gaea would be if it were visible.
"Goddess, do you know where Gaea is in the night sky?" Hitomi asked suddenly, realizing she might have an opportunity to find out. Without hesitating, the goddess lifted her arm and pointed upwards. "Really? You can see it?" Hitomi asked surprised.
"I can't see it as clearly as I see you," the goddess said, "but I can sense it and I feel a tugging towards it. I believe it is because I am carrying the heart."
"Interesting…. Would you say Gaea is around that star?" Hitomi asked, pointing where she thought the goddess had pointed.
"It's very close to the vicinity of that bright star up there, but over to the right, closer to that third star."
"I think that bright one is the North Star, so that means-" Hitomi broke off and startled laughing suddenly. The goddess looked towards her with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I'll be damned!" Hitomi laughed. "It's the second star to the right!" Hitomi left the balcony laughing and the goddess continued to look puzzled.
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The time which everyone was avoiding and dreading finally came. They were sitting together in the living room in little groups, talking softly to one another when the Goddess quietly walked in. Silence fell as she entered and bowed her head slightly towards Van and Hitomi.
"It is time."
Van and Hitomi stood up and nodded back. It became noisy as everyone was by their sides giving last minute hugs and advice. Hitomi couldn't recall when she started crying, but she wiped the tears from her face as she drank in the faces of those she loved dearly and would never see again. It all felt like a dream. Even as her mother gripped her father's arm tightly, Hitomi squeezed Van's hand and he squeezed back. Van, who knew the pain of losing family, was in awe of Hitomi. She was choosing to stay with him and never see her family or friends again. True, she wouldn't be losing them in the tragic way Van lost his family, but he wondered to himself if he'd be able to make the same choice. As he watched Hitomi linger in a last hug with her mother, he didn't bother to stop the tear that ran down his face. Yes, he could make that choice, anything to stay with Hitomi. He would have to be there for her, even more than before, once they returned to Fanelia. Van vowed to make sure he never forgot Hitomi's sacrifice.
Everyone filed outside into the quiet, peaceful night. Hitomi's parents, her brother, Yukari and Amano stopped at the edge of the porch and watched as Van, Hitomi, and the goddess walked into the center of the dark yard. Hitomi took one last, long look at her family and closest friends, showed them a brave smile, and forced herself to face the goddess.
"Do not worry about the journey back to Gaea, dear ones," the goddess's eerie double voice said, "It will be easy compared to our departure from Atlantis and only I will have to work the magic. Just stand near me, close to each other, and try to relax."
Van and Hitomi stood together in front of the goddess, but turned to look at their friends. Tears were streaming down Yukari's face, but she was smiling as she held Amano tightly. Amano smiled and winked at Hitomi. Mamoru was struggling with his facial expression, wanting to stay strong as tears threatened, so he saluted Hitomi by putting his fist over his heart, a gesture they had used as children. Hitomi held back a sob and returned the gesture, bringing a smile to Mamoru's face. Hitomi's father had his arm around her mother and they both watched quietly with sad faces.
The goddess started motioning with her hands, invoking the magic, and a blue light formed on the ground around the three of them, the same pattern that had appeared in Atlantis. Van felt the tingle of magic on his skin and he held Hitomi closer. The goddess slowly brought her hands together and when they touched, the familiar column of white light shot upwards around them. Van, Hitomi, and Kylenia started to rise off the ground, much to the amazement of their friends, and Hitomi clung to Van tightly with one arm as she waved goodbye with the other.
Then, they were gone.