This is the end of the battle, but it is not the end of the story. One more chapter is left, and then this is over. Oh, and if this c
hapter is a little confussinf, just tell me and I'll explain.
Disclamer: the song is called When I'm Gone by EMINEM (Great song, you should download it)
The pain of loving you
The Heart of the Dragon
"This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper."
- Mistah Eliot
Dilandu was pissed. Sure, he had been pissed a lot of times; actually, he was almost always pissed, but not like now. Never like this. He could feel his blood boiling inside his veins, and his thoughts were so angered that he couldn't make them out. His hand, the one that was holding his sword, was trembling with fury, and his other hand was currently holding the Dragon's. He tightened that one, and he felt the bones begin to crack, but then The Dragon kick him in the stomach and sent him stumbling to the floor.
Dilandu saw red.
He got up as fast as he could and brought his sword towards the Dragon. The movement was so fast that the Dragon barely had time to move away. He was not fast enough. Dilandu's blade had cut him in the arm. Blood was coming out of his injury.
Van glared at him. Dilandu smiled evilly.
He would enjoy this. He had always wanted to kill him. He had live for the day when he would get a chance to. From the first moment he had seen him, he had hated the little boy with hard eyes and royal blood. Dilandu had been Dornkirk's favorite. Aside from Folken, there had been no one else Dornkirk trusted more. Then, he had found Van Fanel, true heir to Fanelia. A boy with too much anger within him and a great potential. Dilandu had been forgotten. He had passed to be a second place, and Dilandu had hated him since then. The bloody boy had always been lucky. From his natural ability with the sword, the way he ignored his emotions, to the form in which Folken and Dornkirk took care of him, Fanel had always had what he wanted. He had succeeded to make of Dilandu a complete jerk. The only ones that had stayed with him were his dragon slayers. They always thought he was better than the Dragon. They always told him he should be Dornkirk's favorite. They were always on his side, regardless of anything. If Dilandu had ever felt anything remotely close to love, it had been for his precious slayers.
The Dragon had managed to take even that from him.
He was left with nothing, and he would make sure the Dragon paid. He would make him suffer as much as he could.
Fanel moved to attack him, and Dilandu blocked, but then Fanel switched the hold of his sword and he brought it to Dilandu's face. He moved. The sword caught him in the face. Again. Dilandu brought his hand to his face.
"You did it again!" He yelled indignantly at him.
"Really, Dilandu, I don't know why you care so much. Your face is ugly anyways."
Forget about red, Dilandu saw purple. How dare he? The bloody idiot….Not only did he take everything away from him; he also took the pleasure of mocking him.
No one laughed at Dilandu. No one.
"Aarrrgggg!" With an angry yell, Dilandu practically few towards Fanel. He flung at Fanel, sending them both to the ground. His sword, as well as the Dragon's, had been forgotten, and Dilandu was happily punching Fanel anywhere he could.
"You…" He said between punches "Are not better than me."
"You took everything that was mine!" He yelled at the Dragon again.
"I hate you." He said before punching him on the gut.
"I hate you." He repeated. "Hate you."
He was so distracted by his current activities, that he never saw how Fanel's hand moved towards his boot to take out a knife. It took him a moment to realize why his side suddenly hurt.
"I hate you too." The Dragon told him.
Dilandu's eyes flashed with malice as he felt the blood slide through his skin, and without thinking he punched Fanel in the face and moved both his arms to enable him to move.
"I was going to have fun before I killed you." He told Fanel, getting up. His injury was not mortal. "But now I won't."
He went to pick up his sword. Fanel did the same. Once again, they faced each other. Fanel was the first to move. He went running towards him, ready to deliver everything in that one blow. Dilandu smiled. Seconds before Fanel got to him, he moved, jumped, and landed facing Fanel's back. He bent to pick some earth, and just after Fanel turned to face him, threw it into his eyes. Dilandu took the opportunity to kick him and send him to the ground. And then, before anything else happened, Dilandu's sword was at the Dragon's neck.
"You cheated."
"I never played fair."
Gadess was tired, annoyed, and getting angry. Really, did the bloody woman have to move so fast? I mean, sure, she was a cat-woman, but could she not hold still? That would make his life much better, and it would definitely brighten his mood. Apparently, she didn't give a damn about his mood because she kept dodging, jumping, and simply getting out of the way of his sword. To top it all, every time she moved she somehow managed to hurt him in little or big ways. It was only luck that he had managed to block her more fierce attacks. He looked at her again. Her eyes were close to glowing. Her face was contorted into an angry expression, and she had no sweat on any part of her body. In fact, she looked extremely…not tired. It was as if she had woken up just now and had decided to start fighting with him. And they had been fighting for so long! How could she be so unaffected by it? Apart from her obvious anger, there was nothing wrong with her. She didn't even seem affected by her surroundings. People were dying all around her, and she didn't even give them a second look. She didn't acknowledge their presence. It seemed that she didn't even hear all the shouting. Damn it! She didn't even bother to look at the body that had fallen right at her feet. She simply step over it and prepared to attack again. It was annoying Gadess out of his mind. He wanted to end this for the sake of his mind and body.
"After this, I will become a librarian or a gardener. Hell, even a priest has to have a better life." He murmured, and then proceeded to get out of the way of the woman's knifes. He jumped back and then kicked her in the head. Her head swung to one side, and Gadess caught his breath.
"I'll do anything but fight". He silently swore. "I'll settle down…if I make it."
Like three hour ago he had wanted to win this war so he could enjoy another day. He had wanted to smile just once more. Right now, he wanted to win so he could go back to Kansaki and sleep. Actually, he wouldn't mind sleeping right where he was. Maybe his enemies would believe him dead and leave him alone.
Of course, today he wasn't that lucky, so he probably would end up with a sword in his chest.
The cat-woman came at him again, and he was ready to move out of the way or something like that when her concentration moved from him to another place. Gadess didn't hesitate. This was the chance he had been waiting for since the beginning.
She gasped, and her eyes moved towards him. She moved her mouth, but no words came out. Gadess started at her, and he did not know what to do. She looked down, and her hands came to her stomach. They were trembling as she took the sword out.
"Master Folken…" She said, and then collapsed onto the ground.
Gadess stood there stunned for a couple of seconds before turning triumphaly towards Amano. He had been to busy to check on his new friend, but he had seen the man fight, so he was probably doing well. His eyes landed on his friend, and his eyes widened.
He had not expected…that.
Amano had his sword through the other cat-woman. Nothing was wrong there. What was wrong was the blade poking out of Amano's stomach.
The blade was poking out…there was red everywhere…
Gadess moved without knowing how, and in seconds, he was next to Amano. He pulled the dead body of the cat-woman again and lowered Amano too the floor.
"Ga…Ga…dess" He said. Gadess blinked. He'd thought Amano was dead.
"Don't speak, you dumb ass, you'll only make it worse."
"Worse?" He choked out, and somehow managed to…eh smile. At least that was what he thought he was doing.
"Yes, worse. Don't worry, someone will come for you and take you to Kansaki and heal you. Everything will be alright."
"I…don't know."
"It will, trust me."
"Okay, but…"
"No buts."
"Please…"
"Alright, what is it?" He was sounding annoyed because it was easier than being worry. He had known Amano for some time, but it was not until today that he had actually understand the man. He found he liked him. They could become good friends, if they made it through this one, which they would. He guessed that was what happened at wars. No one wanted to see people you remotely care about die. You wanted to hang on to the most insignificant one.
"If I die, tell Yukari that I love her very much." He said. "Tell her to name the baby after Hitomi or after Dryden, depending on what it is…please."
His throat felt raspy, and something in his stomach was making him nauseous, but he managed to answer back. "I will."
Amano nodded and then went still. Gadess panicked for a second, but then he felt Amano's pulse. It was weak, but it was something, and there was no way he was letting a man-soon-to-be-father die. Enough children and parents had died in this war, and this one was one he could save. He turned to see what had caught the cat-woman's eye earlier. Allen and Folken were fighting. Well, currently they were taking a break. He could see both of them were tired. Allen looked his way and caught his eye. Gadess signaled to Amano and then pointed to where Kansaki was. Allen nodded and turned his attention to Folken.
Gadess smiled.
Folken was enjoying his fight with Schezar. The blond king was agile and a magnificent swordsman. His skills were extraordinary, and if Folken had not passed all of his time training and plotting, he was sure Schezar would have already won. As it was, it seemed that their match would never end. They were both at the same level, so they could fight till eternity, or until one of them got distracted. This was not happening, as Schezar had only looked away once, and it had been so fast that Folken had had no time to do anything. Besides, they had been resting or something like that. Folken didn't know. The only thing he knew was that he had nothing better to do at the moment. He knew that Zaibach was winning the final battle. Although Gaea's forces were extremely powerful, Zaibach cheated all the time. They attacked when no one was looking. They used magicians to create illusions. They simply had no sense of mercy. Zaibach soldiers followed orders without questioning. Folken himself had ordered them to exterminate all their enemies. They didn't hesitate when killing. Gaea's soldiers did. Whenever they encountered someone that was young or that looked hurt, they hesitated, and that gave them the time for Zaibach soldiers to kill. Now, Zaibach was winning, and Folken was trying to get rid of Schezar.
"You are good, Schezar." He said.
Schezar just stared at Folken blankly. "You are not that bad."
And again, their swords found each other.
"I will win this." Schezar said.
"No." Was Folken's simple answer before he pushed Schezar away from him.
Folken was about to attack when he saw…and it couldn't be real. He wouldn't let it be real. Without thinking, he changed his direction and quickly ran to where his brother was.
He was not going to let Dilandu kill him. Damn them all, no one was going to kill his brother.
"Dilandu!" He yelled, and then things happened to fast for him to digest.
Dilandu turned towards him, momentarily distracted. Van knocked his sword from his hand, and Folken position himself between Dilandu and Van.
Folken stabbed Dilandu.
Van stabbed Folken.
Everything was wrong.
"Folken…" He heard his name come out of Van's lips, and he groaned when he felt Van's sword pull out of his body. He simply let go of Dilandu. He was dead already.
"Folken…" Van repeated, catching him as he fell.
"I didn't mean…Folken."
"You said you were going to kill me."
"Not like this…I…I don't know, Folken…"
"It's okay, little brother. You are saved."
"But you are dying!"
Folken smiled for the first time in many years. He had always wanted to protect Van. After he had savedhim from that soldier so many years ago, Dornkirk had found Folken almost dead.He had gone with him at first because he had no option, but then...He had sworn to help him find his brother. He had promised to cure him and make him more powerful. He had given him his word that he was fighting for peace. After Dornkirk ruled over the world, he would make everything alright. Dornkirk had had to kill his parents because they were getting too powerful. They were a danger to peace.
Folken had believed it all.
He was just a boy that had lost everything, and Dornkirk had promised to help him find his brother, and then he had found little Van. Except Van wasn't little anymore. The shine in his eyes was gone, and Dornkirk told him that the only way to save him was to make him strong. His emotions were eating him alive. Van had to become emotionless in order to survive. Folken had agreed. He had also agreed to not see Van until it was time. That time never came. Van became more separated from the real world, and Folken thought if he saw him he would go insane. Then, he had been sent to kidnap the Kansaki princess. He fell in love with her instead, and when Folken saw him again, he was a different man. There was a shine in his eyes, and Folken felt like crying. His little brother was back. The Van he had tried to save when they were children was back.
Van didn't want to believe he was alive.
He had tried to talk to Van, but he had refused to hear him.
"You said you were going to kill me." Folken repeated. Oh, how it had hurt to hear those words come from his brother! Folken hadn't been able to understand the hate in Van's eyes. He didn't know why he hated Dornkirk so much.
"I don't want you to die." Van said softly.
How ironic, that he said that now.
"It is inevitable."
And it was. Folken could feel his life slipping away from his body. He was growing weaker, and his mind was becoming fussy. He knew he was dying.
"Van…I never meant to hurt you." Folken said, though it hurt him to speak. Still, he had to say it now because there would be no other time. "I did what I thought was best." The pain was increasing, and everything was going black, but Folken fought it back. He had to get it all out. There would be no tomorrow.
"Folken…"
How many times had they played together? How many sacrifices had he made to keep him alive? How many hours had he pondered because he wanted to go back to the way things were? He wanted to be carefree and laugh with Van. He wanted to go back to that hide and seek game that had never been finished because a war had washed over them. He wanted to have white wings instead of black ones. He wanted to love Naria and Eriya…
"I only wanted to save you…"
"You have."
"Only wanted peace…"
"You will live to see it."
"I still believe in Dornkirk, even now, after seeing all he has done…"
"Folken…"
"I only wanted peace and for you to be well."
"Don't…"
"You'll make everything alright…"
"Please…"
"You will build back Fanelia…"
"Don't say it."
"I trust you…I always did."
"I didn't mean to kill you…"
"Van?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
And Folken finally gave up to the darkness that was surrounding him. His hand fell to the floor, and Van was sure he could hear the echo of it.
Van screamed, and Folken turned cold under his hands.
Zaibach was winning.
At first, Dornkirk had doubted their success, but now he could see that he had nothing to worry about. It was impossible to defeat his army, and now the rest of Gaea would pay for not bending over him. He would make them suffer. He would make them tremble at the very mention of his name. He would make slaves out of them and laugh at their suffering. He would make them wish they had never raised their weapons at him.
And, once he had the Heart in his hands, he would control them. And then maybe, just maybe, he would be able to get Meridian out of his head. Maybe with the power of the Heart he would be able to forget her voice. He would be able to stop thinking about her.
She had been his one weakness, and he had killed her for it.
Dornkirk smiled darkly. He had loved her, and she hadn't loved him enough. He had wanted to make her his queen, and she had refused.
She had called him a monster.
He had lost it.
She had wanted to go away, to escape him.
He had killed her.
Now he was here, about to win a war and he knew she would be mad at him. She always got mad when he talked about his plans for the future. He had wanted to know everything there was to know about Gaea. The mysteries of the Heart of the Dragon were Gaea's last secret, and they would be his. After that, he would forget Meridian and make Hitomi his queen. Of course, he would first torture her. She had rejected him and changed him for that blasted Van. She had to suffer because of it. Still, Dornkirk wanted Hitomi, so she would be his queen. He only had to win the war and kill Van Fanel.
Speaking off…
He saw Van lying in a pool of blood. From the top of the mountain where he was, he could not see how badly hurt he was, so he made his way towards Van Fanel. He paid no attention to what was happening around him. The war was already secured, so he could ignore it all. Besides, no one was coming after him. They parted, letting him pass, as if they already knew he was going to win and they would end up at his mercy. Once he got close to Van he realized that the blood was not Van's, but Folken's.
Well, that was regrettable. Folken had always been useful. The man had ice in his veins, and he was a great strategist. Folken had always been at his side. It was a death he would mourn…later, when he found the situation not so amusing.
"To be killed by the one you tried to protect…" He told Van.
Van suddenly turned around and brow reddish ayes locked with Dornkirk's. Lord Dornkirk smiled. The boy had a lot of anger in him. If only he hadn't fallen in love with Hitomi Kansaki…
"You bloody liars!" Van yelled at him.
Really, all his potential had been lost when he started feeling again. And he had betrayed Dornkirk. Yes, he would enjoy killing the bastard.
"You lied to me. You made me believe you were good." Van told him hatefully. "I will kill you for what you did to me, to my family, to everything I cared about. I will avenge them. I'll kill you!"
Dornkirk laughed.
"Really? Look around you. I have already won. My troops are winning over yours. You have no more energy left to fight me, and Hitomi is not here to use the Heart. Maybe she decided to change sides with me. It wouldn't surprise me."
"She would never do that." Van said, rage in his eyes.
"We will see."
"I'll bloody kill you."
"Then I would see you in hell." Dornkirk smirked. The boy was so predictable… "I dare you to try."
Van got up as fast as he could and grabbed his sword. He went towards Dornkirk, but he felt something strong pull at his arm, and his sword flew from his hand. He stared at Dornkirk.
"Foolish boy, I am not an idiot. I had you trained myself. I know just how powerful you are. I am no match to you physically."
"What…"
"I will defeat you with magic and kill you with my sword."
Dornkirk lowered his hand, and Van fell to the floor. He formed a fist with his hand and Van contracted into pain, as if he was being squashed. Dornkirk tightened his fist, and Van let out a scream of pain.
"Don't you see, Van, that nothing you do matters?"
He then grabbed Van by his hair and pulled him up. He prepared to use his sword…
"Van!"
The boy in his grasp seemed to react at the sound of the voice, and he pushed Dornkirk away from him, freeing himself of his grasp.
"Noooo!" Dornkirk yelled, as he tried to stab Van. And then, out of nowhere, green eyes stared at him and his sword pushed through the eyes' owner.
"I told you I would not let you win." Hitomi said, and then her necklace started to shine.
Allen was standing in an attack position. He blinked once, twice, and then let go of his attack position and passed a hand through his hair.
"What the hell..? He said. In all his times as a warrior, he had never had such an…interesting fight, to put it in some way.
Folken had walked out of their fight.
Actually, he had more like flown away from their fight. He was about to hit him when he changed courses and ran away in another direction. Allen knew something had caught his eye, but he had not been able to see what. Now, he was standing there like an idiot and about to fight an invisible man.
Allen passes a hand through his hair again.
And then, of course, things got worse because of course nothing could be easy today.
Hitomi passed on a black horse at a speed that was so fast that if he hadn't memorized every single thing about her he would have missed her. Without thinking twice, Allen started to run after her, trying to not let her out of his sight.
It would have been better if he had never followed her. Actually, it would have been better if he had never fallen in love with her or if he had never asked her to marry him. It would have been better if he had let go of her. It would have been better if he had never met her.
But that was not the case, and his heart seemed to get out of his chest and his blood turned to ice and his loved seemed like the most powerful venom as he saw what happened next.
"Van!" She yelled.
Hitomi jumped from the horse and ran right in between Dornkirk and Fanel. Dornkirk's sword went trough her body, and Allen let out a yell.
"Hitomi!"
But his scream was ignored.
The woman he loved and adored and had been fighting for all this time had given her life away for another man. And not just any other man.
She had given her life for that bloody bastard, for Van fucking Fanel.
Allen couldn't understand, didn't want to understand the reasons to why she had done something so stupid. His head knew, but his heart didn't want to accept it.
Then he was given no more time because a bright pink light enfolded him and the rest of his surroundings.
She galloped as fast as she could. She knew the horse was giving her its best, but it was not enough. She was not getting there fast enough, and everyone be damned, she would make it in time. What was the point of anything if Van died?
"I don't want to get to know you."
His words, every single thing he had said to her rang in her head. She didn't care if it was good or bad. She didn't care about anything anymore except him. He be damned to, because she would help him.
'I have to get there. I have to get there. I have to get there!' She screamed in her mind. The horse moved faster. 'I have to save him!'
"Why do you care?"
She had begun this war believing that the only thing she wanted was peace and her kingdom's welfare. That was all that had mattered. She had gone with him on that horrible quest because it was what was right. She had been the only hope for Gaea.
"You are only a tool. I could never feel anything for you."
She had hated him.
She had hated his cold self, his selfishness, his arrogance, his indifference, his anger, and the way she got lost in his eyes. She had hated everything about him. And he was a mercenary! How could she not hate him when she had been fighting for peace all her life?
And then…
"I promised Schezar I would protect you from everything"
She had noticed the sadness in his eyes and how alone he was. Everything he had loved was gone, and he was left with all his anger and frustration. He didn't understand her smiles, and he seemed so lost…She had wanted to befriend him. She had wanted to know the secrets his eyes held. She had wanted to be a part of him.
And somehow…
"Why are you scared of dying?"
"I'm not scared of dying. I just don't want to."
She had fallen in love with him. Between her hate, his desperation, her need to know him, his silence, her laughter, their friendship, she had fallen in love with the warrior. She hadn't meant for it to happen, but she hadn't meant to become queen so young, or to be the only hope for Gaea. She hadn't meant to not love Allen, and so she had fallen in love with him without wanting to. It was just the way things went in her life. Nothing was ever as it was supposed to be.
"Why am I here?"
"It doesn't matter anymore. You passed your task."
"Which was?"
"To not forget what was most important to you."
"But I did forget. I forgot about peace."
"But you never forgot about Van. He was always present in your mind, even if you didn't notice."
And now…
"I hate you."
"It doesn't matter. I love you."
She was going as fast as she could to save him. In the middle of her desperation, Hitomi had realized something very important. Actually, she had just accepted what she already knew.
Nothing mattered without him.
Sure, she cared about Gaea's destiny and its people, but she cared more about him. He was her life, and she refused to let him die. Millerna's question came to her mind.
"Would you die for them?"
She had told her that yes; of course she would die for them. They were her people and she had to keep them safe. She would die for Kansaki.
It had been a lie.
She was racing towards the battle field, and it was not because it was her duty as a queen. She was going like a maniac because of one single person.
Van Fanel.
"Why are you trying to hurt me?"
And then everything became clear. She hadfought firstbecause it was her responsibility, and she really wanted to save Gaea, but now everything was different. She had started fighting like a queen, but she ended up fighting like a woman. A woman in love. And she was not fighting for Gaea anymore. She was fighting for a love that was so great that it took her breath away, and it left her warm inside, and sometimes it was too much to handle.
So no, she wouldn't die for them.
She would die for him.
Because she loved him, and she wanted him to be safe, and she would do anything for him.
"I never danced before"
"Then I will dance for you."
Their love was not meant to be, but she didn't care. She was supposed to love Allen, but she didn't. She had always thought that peace was the only thing she wanted, but it wasn't. She wanted Van, too. She wanted him more than anything else. She had always done things to please the ones around her, but this time she would do something for herself.
She would use the Heart because she wanted him to live, and he would live.
That is why she got so scared when she arrived at the battle field and saw Van and Dornkirk. In the middle of everything.
"Van!" She yelled as she jumped from the horse and towards them. She saw how Van pushed himself from Dornkirk and how Dornkirk went forward, towards Van, and Hitomi saw her chance to end everything. She ran and positioned herself between the middle of them, much like Folken had done minutes ago. She looked at Dornkirk and smiled. The pain that she was feeling wasn't even important.
"I told you I would not let you win."
It was in that moment that she found out the secret behind the Heart of the Dragon. It was so easy! She only had to wish with all her heart to use it to save not anyone, but the one that was supposed to protect her. She had to wish to save the Dragon without worrying about what happened to her. And she did. She loved Van, and she loved the Dragon. They were the same person, and she didn't care about what either of them had done. She would give her life away for him. Hitomi wished with all her self to use the heart. She wanted to end the war, and she wanted Van to be fine.
Her necklace shown along with Escaflowne. She felt its power begin to rise and encircle her, and she knew she wouldn't live to tell about this adventure.
Van couldn't believe what was happening. It could not be true. No one was evil enough to do this to him twice. No one would dare do this. It was just way to…horrible.
Hitomi had taken the sword meant for him, just like Folken.
Just like Folken…
And Folken had died.
He couldn't let Hitomi die for him too. He wouldn't be able to stand it. He already felt guilty enough because of Folken, and…
Oh, God, Hitomi…
"Hitomi…" His voice cracked, and he couldn't move. He felt numb. "Hitomi…" he repeated. His voice cut through the air and reached her ears.
"Van." She said. It was only one word, one name, but it went straight to his heart, like everything she did or said. Like her very presence. He went towards her. He encircled her with his arms and saw how her necklace was shining. He was sure Escaflowne was shining too. He could feel it.
"Don't use it." He pleaded her.
"It is the only way."
"But…"
"Besides, it is way too late. It has started."
"Hitomi…"
"Don't let go, please…"
"I won't."
And he didn't. The pink light became stronger, and it surrounded him, Hitomi, and the rest of the world. It tried to pull him away from Hitomi, but he just held on tighter. Nothing would part him from her. He would protect her from anything, and if being here with her was what she wanted, he would do it, even if it took his life away.
A young Dornkirk lay on the floor. He was playing with a car toy when a foot came over it and crashed it.
"My son, playing, will get you nowhere." A deep male voice said. "You want to make me proud, don't you?"
Young Dornkirk looked down and obediently replies. "Yes, father."
The image changed.
"Come on, Dornkirk, I want to go outside and play." A ten year old Meridian told Dornkirk.
"I can't. I have to study to know everything about Gaea."
"But Dornkirk, I'm going back to Kansaki tomorrow."
"I know."
"And don't you care?" She said. Dornkirk raised his head from his book and looked at her.
"But my father…"
"Forget about him for one moment." She said, making her puppy eye look. He sighed. He could never say no to that look.
"Alright…"
The image changed again.
He kissed her hard because that was the only way in which he could kiss her. She was everything to him, and for once, he didn't care what his father told him. He just wanted her, Meridian…She pulled away from him, and Dornkirk looked at her confusedly.
"I can't do this."
"What?"
"I'm to marry another man. I am betrothed to a prince from Freid, and as future heir to Kansaki, I have to do it. I cannot love you. Besides, I have to find the Heart of the Dragon."
"But…I love you."
"And I love you."
The image blurred, and Hitomi saw an older Dornkirk.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
"You married another."
"…I know."
"But?"
"I love you. I'll stay by your side, if you let me…"
"Oh, Meridian." Dornkirk went to hug her.
Change of image again.
"You…you…you killed your mother..:"
Dornkirk smirked. He could see something evil in his eyes. "I know, isn't it great? I took away the only think you cared about, and now I'm going to kill you, father."
"Why?"
"Because I'll never be enough for you."
Hitomi's eyes grew wide as the image changed.
"Dornkirk, what is wrong?"
"You are going back to Kansaki."
Meridian sighed. "We already went through this. I have to rule over my kingdom."
Dornkirk slammed his hand on the table, making everything shake.
"It's always about your kingdom!" He yelled at her.
Meridian looked startled, but she recovered quickly. "And it is always about your power, and your need to research everything there is about Gaea."
"If you would help me with the Heart everything would be different."
"I already told you I would not. It is way too powerful for you. I don't know how you would use it."
"Do you not trust me to do the right thing?"
Meridian looked through the window at Zaibach and a cloud appeared over her green eyes. "I don't know anymore."
One last time the image changed.
"Meridian, I love you" Dornkirk told Meridian. "Isaac, you cannot love. Your heart is becoming black with greed, and your priorities are already changing. All the goodness in you disappeared when you changed it for money and power. Your soul is darkening with greed, and I no longer know who you are"
Isaac's eyes narrowed and Meridian took a step back. "You speak nonsense." He told her, voice cold.
"I speak the truth. No one can have everything. I would have stayed with you forever, but you choose all this." She signaled to the empire Isaac had built through the years, Zaibach.
"I can." Isaac told her firmly, eyes darkening with rage "I deserve to have everything I want. Only I have what is needed to govern over Gaea. Only I know what Gaea needs. You have the power and know the secret of how to rule over Gaea. Give me what I want and rule by my side"
Meridian's eyes filled with tears. She knew she had lost him forever. "You offer me the world, but I only wanted you. I loved you, Isaac, but I do not know who you are anymore. I can't follow you on the path you have chosen"
"You are only giving me excuses to not stay with me. I am the same man I used to be, but now, I am wiser. This world needs a leader, and I can be that leader"
Meridian turned to look at Zaibach. It was a powerful empire, but its men were full of hatred and resentment against the rest of the population that resided on Gaea. She could not live in a place like this. She could not live by the side of the one man that could destroy Gaea.
"I won't give you what you want." She told him firmly and turned to leave the room.
She passed besides Isaac without giving him a second chance. She grabbed the handle of the door and was about to open the door when she felt something go through her. She gasped as she looked down as saw the end of Isaac's sword. "
May the spirits forgive you." She told him, and then took her last breath.
All the images disappeared and Hitomi saw a bright light that slowly changed to the form of a woman. Hitomi could not see who it was.
"These are some of the crucial moments that made Dornkirk who he was." The woman told her. "His life was not easy, with a father that couldn't stand him. The only joy in his life was Meridian, one of your ancestors. He loved her deeply."
"He chose power over her." Hitomi said.
"Yes, he did. At the end, his ambitions won over all else, but do you still want to kill him?"
Hitomi thought about that. Dornkirk had made her life a living pain, and he had made Van's life even more miserable. He had drove Gaea into war and had destroyed Fanelia.
"No." She said. "I don't want to kill him, but…" If she let him live, then Zaibach would win and all would be lost. If she let him win, Van would never get his revenge and a lot of people would die. If she let him live, he would destroy all she loved and use the Heart to help him gain total control over Gaea. If she let him live, he would kill Van, and she could not allow that. "He has to die."
"You will die with him."
Hitomi closed her eyes. "I know."
"Does it not matter?"
And Hitomi smiled. "Of course it doesn't matter. Van, the Dragon, will be saved. He will live and be happy. That is all I want."
"Then it will be as you wish. Good luck, mistress."
Hitomi could feel herself falling. The darkness was surrounding her, and she was finding it hard to focus. Around her, the pink light from the Heart was coming back to herself. Hitomi tightened her grip on her pendant. It was burning, but she ignored the feeling. She was putting her last energy into it.
Have you ever loved someone so much, you'd give an arm for?
Not the expression, no, literally give an arm for?
When they know they're your heart
And you know you were their armour
And you will destroy anyone who would try to harm 'his
But what happens when karma, turns right around and bites you?
And everything you stand for, turns on you, despite you?
What happens when you become the main source of his pain?
There was no noise, fights or chaos around her. Everything was still. The world was quite for once. She knew that there should be some kind of…something around her, but there was nothing. The soldiers that had been fighting only seconds ago had stopped. They had been touched by the light of the Heart, and their wish to fight had been vanished. There were no more yells or deaths. The chaos had dissipated, and she was happy.
It had ended. She had ended the war.
"Dornkirk?" She asked Van. He was still holding her.
"He disappeared."
And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling
And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain
Just smile back
He pulled her closer to his body. She could feel his breath on her face. She opened her eyes one last time to gaze at turmoil brown-reddish eyes. Her hand caressed his cheek.
"I used the Heart. I killed Dornkirk."
"I know." His voice was raspy, and she knew he knew that she was letting go.
"I got you your revenge. Dornkirk will not harm anyone anymore."
"You idiot" He told her. He tightened his arms around her. "It doesn't matter anymore. My revenge is no longer important. It stopped being important since…"
"Since?"
"Since I met you."
And Hitomi allowed herself a soft laugh. It was all okay. He was safe. Gaea was out of danger. She had fulfilled her destiny. It was ok to let go now.
"I'm sorry, for all the pain I put you through."
His mouth lowered to hers, and he kissed her so softly it almost hurt. She could taste salt in his lips.
"Don't cry" She told him.
"Don't leave me alone." He replied.
"You won't be alone. Besides, you have to rebuild Fanelia. You will have no time to miss me."
And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling
And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain
Just smile back...
"Why did you do it?"
Why did she do it? Well, she had way too many answers to that, but they all revolved around him. "Millerna asked me if I would die for Gaea."
"Ant that's why you did it? To save them?"
"No, you silly."
"No?"
"Of course not. It was never about them. I just realized that now."
"Then why did you did it? Why waste your life?"
She looked at him with sadness in her eyes. "You still don't get it, do you?"
"No, I don't get anything, and I so want to..." Some tears fell from Van's eyes. He couldn't hold them anymore.
"Don't cry." She told him again. "Cryind doesn't suit you, warrior."
Van shut his eyes, trying to stop the tears."I didn't even weep for my parents." He told her.
"But you would do it for me. He nodded. "Because you love me." She whispered. Van almost didn't catch that.
"Yes, Hitomi, I'd do anything for you."
Hitomi felt tears beginning to form in her eyes, but she did not want to cry. She wanted Van to remember her as a strong person. She wanted to be a little more like him. She didn't want to leave him, but it was the price to pay, and she knew it.
"Smile, just once..." She asked him. Van did hs best to smile through his pain. "Oh, Van, if only…" But then she went still, and her pretty, green eyes closed.
If only…I love you too…
The echo of her voice was the only thing that was left.
Sorry I never told you all I wanted to say And now it's too late to hold you 'cause you've flown away so far away
HAHAHA, I'm evil. I know. It is fun. You will have to wait some time for next chaper. It is already written and has been
sent to editing, but I'm leving to San Diego in a few hours and I won't be back until the 10th ot the 12th, so...I will not be
able to update until them. I'm sorry, really, but come one, you don't get to wait that long. Time flies. In no time you'll know
the end of the story. Another thing, I didn't go to deep into Dornkirk's character, but I've always believed that men are not
evil. They are made evil, so I put a small information about some things that happend to him, nothing much. Well, apart
from that, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I think it went out ok. And please review, or I'll...I know, I'll take longer
updating and you'll suffer without the ending hahahaha. So you better review. ;)