Chapter 4

We took the train to our old neighborhood, but I felt on pins and needles the entire time, as if our father would show up on the train suddenly, or at the stops we took. He never did, but I still felt a jolt of fear when ever I saw someone who looked similar, as did Mamoru who tightened his grip on my hand at these times.

We held hands the whole way like lovers- fingers laced- afraid to be torn away from one another. I didn't care what people would think, Mamoru was all I needed to get through this along with Van's warmth in the back of my mind.

All I needed to pull us along to get where we needed to go.

Without the pendent, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get us there at all. Without it or an energist, I was worried we would never leave the ground and be stuck on earth forever.

But I knew that if I wished hard enough... truly wished... it could come true.

What about the repercussions?

I felt we'd already gone through enough to care anymore.

This wasn't a selfish act, not when I was doing it for Mamoru too.

The track field was still the same as before, and it was with a certain amount of yearning I made my way across the track with my brother in tow. It seemed so long ago I was here... wanting my first kiss from a boy I had a silly crush on.

Things change so much...

Even still, I found myself back here, wanting a kiss from a boy- no... man now- who I loved dearly and wanted to see again more than anything else.

As we climbed the temple steps- so long- I felt giddy with the excitement. Nervous with fear. Dizzy from the rush of it all.

How close we've come...

How far we've traveled to get to this point.

Mamoru was innocent to the wars I went through on Gaea, but we'd faced the same war at home.

The worse kind of war. The most pointless kind.

"This is where it happened? The first time?"

We'd come to the temple. The clearing before it, and I set my stuff down out of exhaustion. My heart was pounding so fast as I turned my attention on my curious brother.

The first time. The second time Van had come to get me himself. On purpose. Hopefully the same would happen again.

I nodded my answer, and turned to stare up at the sky. It was gray, and dull. Nothing like the feelings crashing around in my head. An electric storm would better suit the moment. Utter disorder.

"What do we do now?"

He'd taken a seat against his duffel bag, legs sprawled out before him.

Second hand clothes and worn out sneakers.

I took a seat next to him, shifting one of my bags over to support my own weight and stared off towards the trees. Up to the sky again.

"We wait I suppose."

"For what?" He looked confused, but ready for anything.

I wish I felt the same.

"The right moment... a signal or some sign that we're doing the right thing..."

"Don't you think we are?"

I didn't know.

"Yes... we are."

He nodded, and turned his attention on the sky as well. Pairs of emerald eyes looking heavenward. The moon appeared through the clouds. It was getting late.

Gaea was just behind it... I could see it.

The sign?

"Hitomi?"

"Hm?"

I didn't turn my gaze from the two heavenly bodies. One a copy of the Earth. Mountains, clouds, oceans and lakes.

"Everything will be all right, won't it?"

I smiled.

"Yes." Everything would be OK.

The column of light felt warm against my skin. It held me. Enveloped me in a blanket of safety and relief. I barely registered my brother's gasp of surprise as he was lifted next to me along with all our belongings- such a small amount. His hair was blowing upward as if caught in a gentle breeze. I could feel his hand seeking mine again, and I gave it a small reassuring squeeze.

So warm...

I could hear Van's voice. I didn't know what he was saying, but it didn't matter. The tone was so loving and kind I wished it to never go away.

"I want to be with you." A whisper from my mouth that sounded loud in a deafening silence.

I could picture everything about him, as I clasped my hands together and wished for him.

His smell. His small, unsure smile. That laugh I've only ever heard in my head.

He had a wonderful laugh.

I awoke to the wonderful smell of something freshly cooked. I could feel the heat of it wafting along my right side, and the softness of a blanket wrapped around my entire body much like the light had been. My eyes were closed, but I knew I wasn't in the column anymore, there was no glare behind my eyelids that lit up everything.

My lips felt parched. My throat dry, and I opened my mouth to speak.

"...Thirsty."

A chuckle I'd heard before followed by the soft sound of water trickling.

I didn't dare open my eyes, even though his smell was filling my senses and leaving my dizzy.

I couldn't dare believe.

A glass was pressed against my lips. Real and cold, as was the water that quickly followed as someone tipped it up for me. I pulled a hand free of the covers to place it on the cup. My fingers met with a strong hand, and I grew braver as I slid my fingers along the other's. Callused. Dry. A man's hands.

The person was quiet. He was quiet... but he removed the glass from my mouth when I stopped swallowing it back, but brought his fingers back to mine just as quick as he took them away. They laced with mine, delicately, almost playfully and I smiled.

I still didn't open my eyes.

"And... Mamoru?"

"Your brother's here too."

I nodded, marveling at how his voice sounded now that it was right here. Deep, careful spoken with a breathy pronunciation on the word 'brother'.

His hand still held mine. His thumb kept gliding over the back of my hand in the most sweetest gesture I'd ever felt. "Fanalia?"

"Fanalia..." He said his own country the most beautiful of all his words. "Hitomi..."

Lord... not nearly as beautiful as he said that one.

I sighed contentedly, and I think he thought this funny as I could hear his smile in his next words. "Are you hungry?"

No. I just wanted to sit here with him.

"A little..."

"Here." I did open my eyes than, as I felt him shifting my pillow at my head and I obliged. Sitting up I caught my first glimpse of him in years.

He was still my Van... only older. He looked older. He looked happier. His eyes danced with something I couldn't name.

I'm sure mine were doing the same.

After getting comfortable I let my eyes fall over to the corner of the expansive room. Mamoru was laying down on a large cot, his breath slow and steady. Sleeping. He looked comfortable and I was glad he was safe.

"I thought you might like him in the same room with you."

"Yes..." I took the bowl of red soup he'd offered me. Vegetables floated around the top of it. It smelled wonderful. It tasted wonderful.

He watched while I ate- which didn't bother me when it was him- and smiled at my delighted expression when I reached the last bit of the soup. The corners of his eyes crinkled up a bit when he really smiled like that. I loved it.

His real smile.

He took the wooden bowl from me, placing it back on the small table to the side of the large bed I found myself in. In another instant, he had kicked his shoes off and was crawling up into the bed next to me.

Normally, when I'd first been around him I knew I would have protested. Maybe slapped him- I winced at the memory of all those other times- but I found myself completely comfortable with the situation, even as he lay down surely next to me and wrapped an arm around me. It rested lightly across my stomach. A comfortable weight.

I'd never been so comfortable in my life.

I turned my head to face him. His head was on my pillow. I could feel his breath against the top of my head until I angled my face to gaze up at his. The obvious chin stubble. He had a few freckles dashed across his nose that I figured were from the sun of his country. He had one right under his left eye.

His eyes were still as intense as ever.

I couldn't look away.

"Are you fine with this?"

Staying here? Laying like this with him?

"More than fine."

"I will take care of you."

I laughed. Pure happiness surging through me. He smiled. My brother shifted on his cot.

"I know, Van..."

"I will protect you."

This time I didn't object to his words. Let him protect me? It seemed the most wonderful thing to happen.

"I know."

I closed my eyes and pulled myself to his chest, feeling his heart beat steady against my ear, the rise and fall of his stomach as he took careful breaths. I felt he was breathing life into me again, like he'd done before. It seemed we'd lain like this before. All those years when he was there with me. Did he dream of this like I did. Perhaps my dreams really did happen. Perhaps we'd stayed in each others arms all along...

For just this moment, I could forget everything. The war. My father. My sins against myself.

I could forget the world around us. The room around us. Mamoru in the corner.

All that was left was me and the man that would protect us. Keep us safe. Love us forever.

He shifted and buried his head in the space between my shoulder-blade and ear. His lips moved against my neck from him simply whispering the most wonderful three words in the universe. His hair tickled my cheek. His breath warmed my skin. His grip on me tightened for just a moment as I held him just a bit tighter as well.

I couldn't remember feeling this content.

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AN: It is done!

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