Bittersweet Chapter 2 - 'Calling'

As if from the Heavens, a pillar of blue light erupted from the sky and descended on Van, consuming him and pulling him up into the night sky.

Green eyes flashing wide, the familiar combination of images dispersed before Hitomi's open eyelids, fading as if the dream had never even transpired. Blinking once more, hands came to rub the sleep from her tired eyes and cover a yawn as the sandy haired girl turned on her side to look at the digital clock beside her. Groaning at the early hour she had woken herself up at, almost five hours before she even had to consider getting ready for school, Hitomi turned back to the warmth of the pillow she had just left and snuggled back down in her cocoon of sheets and covers, smiling at the sensation.

Almost as soon as she closed her eyes, the scene flashed before her closed lids once more. A scene of Van, topless in the forest where his family rested, staring up at the sky as if waiting for something, then the light descended on his form and carried him up into the stars of the sky that divided their two worlds.

Opening her eyes once more, Hitomi considered what this image could mean. Ever since she had returned home after Gaia had been saved from all out war, ideas and fantasies had snuck in at the back of her mind of ways that Van would somehow come to Earth to take her back to Fanelia, spilling sweet promises from his lips of how she would be happy and not have to worry about her old life and it's problems…She knew she'd be happy to be with him on Gaia, and if given the chance, wouldn't think twice about what she wanted. She could see it in her mind now. Van would come find her, feathers falling from the sky carried along on the gentle breeze that played with her shoulder length hair and school skirt. He would take her hand, and after confessing all his inner emotions, would nobly ask her the question that she both dreaded and longed for: Which world would she stay on?

After having stayed on Gaia for such a long period of time, it was hard to consider never going to the place she had started to call home, where so many of her friends were. And Van. The fact that he was there waiting for her every time she visited the planet made it even harder for her decide, as, though she knew that she wanted nothing more than to stay, she couldn't leave her own world. Not just yet. There were still too many things that she wanted to do or see before she did that.

And as she kept convincing herself; her family were here. Yukari and Amano too. And her track training was still important to her too…If it wasn't then why would she keep going?

Groaning at the constantly argued dispute in her mind, Hitomi tried to shake it out with thoughts of school tomorrow.

'Well, it's today now', she mused silently.

Releasing a pent up sigh, Hitomi snuggled further into the covers, enjoying the feeling of being wrapped up in a hug, as she once again attempted to drift off to sleep.

The last aimless thought that crossed her mind before she finally began to slumber was of how impossible it would be for Van to get to Earth unless he could use her pendant somehow…

Walking blankly down an unnamed, silent street of a mysterious city, Van's sleepwalking state confused the people who still lingered outside long after they were meant to be. He seemed like a zombie as he kept walking straight, never even blinking at all the wonders on the Mystic Moon that Gaia's best scientists would never think up for years to come.

All he felt was the voice calling him, drawing him somewhere. He was much closer than before, but it was still far off…

"Sorry, sir? Are you alright?"

Nothing seemed to phase him, not even the words of woman who wanted nothing more than to check on him.

He had to keep going. He was so near, but still so far…

"Sir? I hope you don't mind, but, it is quite cold…so…here."

The feel of material being draped around his shoulders still did nothing to help rouse him from his hollow state, but a monotonous, "Thank you" was heard, and the woman stepped away to return to whatever she had been doing.

Absently raising a hand to clutch the material closer to his chest, Van had vaguely realised that he was cold, but could do nothing to fix it. The voice still called.

"Hitomi!"

Spinning on her heel, Hitomi was met with the happy gaze of her best friend and track manager. "Ah, Yukari! Morning!" Jogging over to meet up with her, they happily started talking about the latest news that was already circulating round the school, giggling. They were met by Amano a little way further up the school, who also greeted Hitomi with a smile.

Changing her shoes, Hitomi followed her friends to the classroom where studies were about to begin. But, even with the voice of her teacher clearly speaking in the background, her mind was elsewhere as a single, white feather that was large enough to belong to an Albatross, gently floated down from the ceiling, spinning and waving in it's path until it landed on her open text book. This had happened so many times before, but still it was quite a pleasant surprise to know that Van was still thinking of her, calling for her with their connection to each other.

Reaching out to brush her fingers against it she half expected it to disperse itself in a shower of lights, but she was surprised to find the texture was silky soft, even softer than she would have expected.

Wait. Why could she touch it? It was an illusion created by Van to show that he was calling for her - so why was it real!

"-aki"

'This is too weird…'

"Kanzaki. Are you even paying attention?"

Glancing up to look at her teacher, Hitomi realised that she was standing up in her seat, staring at the feather that no - one else seemed to be able to see. Glancing over to Yukari she saw the confused and slightly worried expression that was on her face as she stared at Hitomi along with the rest of the class.

Suddenly feeling as if she had gone to school in her underwear, Hitomi's face lit up and she, embarrassedly, sat back down as quickly as possible. Ignoring the giggles from her classmates, Hitomi's eyes fell on the feather again. Without hesitation she went to touch it again, hoping to feel the softness against her skin once more. But as soon as her fingers came in contact with it, lights appeared in it's place as it disappeared.

The day had passed uneventfully since the morning incident with Van's feather, but since then Hitomi had been half paying attention to everything that she had been told by teachers, friends and even Yukari. She had realised this, but the feather had been circling around her mind ever since she had been able to touch it earlier in class. Could it be that her dream this morning had actually been a vision of Van returning to Earth to find her? And that by doing so, his feathers were more corporeal than before because they weren't divided by the distance between their worlds? But that was impossible. Everyone else should have seen it falling from the ceiling…

"Hey, Hitomi?"

Pausing from her task of tying up the laces of her track shoes, Hitomi glanced up to meet Yukari's gaze. Green was met by concerned brown.

"What is it? What's wrong, Yukari?" Hitomi stood from her crouched position to look at her friend directly, hoping to make her believe that she had her undivided attention.

Releasing a gentle sigh, Yukari's eyes seemed almost sad as she stared at Hitomi. "Look, I know something's up, Hitomi. I've seen you like this before…You acted the same way after Amano was planning to leave for England but his parents backed out of the offer to move. I knew then that it was something important to you, but I tried not to question it…Hitomi…You can tell me anything, you know that, right?"

"Of course I know that Yukari, and I thank you for that, but…this is just something that I have to deal with on my own. So please, don't worry about me! I'll be fine in a couple of days!" Hitomi grinned, anxious that Yukari wouldn't question her further.

"Yukari!"

Jumping at the sound of her name being called, the red head was met by Amano's charming smile and welcoming gesture. Nodding in understanding, Yukari turned back to her friend, noticing the happy smile had not left her features.

Wrapping her arms gently around Hitomi, she whispered, "Will you be ok by yourself at training?"

In response, Hitomi's own arms wrapped around her friend. Nodding into her hair, Hitomi smiled gently even as Yukari began to pull away from her embrace. "I'll be fine."

Shaking her head to clear her mind, auburn locks flying from side to side, a glad smile lit her features, making her seem as if the conversation hadn't affected her at all. Taking a step backwards, Hitomi waved her off and watched as her and Amano walked hand in hand out of the school gates towards the train station.

Letting her hand fall back down to her side, Hitomi released a pent up sigh as she bent back down to finish tying her laces. Running would help her to forget her thoughts for a while. It always helped her when she was thinking too much about Van and Gaia.

Strolling over to the track with it's clearly defined routes, Hitomi envisioned only the feel of the tarmac beneath her feet, the wind whipping her hair from her eyes and the sound of her own breathing in her ears. Taking deep calming breaths, she stood before her own strip of asphalt, gazing forward, concentrating on the end.

The feeling that someone was watching her and the sensation of a hand grasping her shoulder lightly made the sandy haired girl whip around to see who was behind her, all the concentration for her race gone with just that simple touch. Half expecting it to be an upperclassman or teacher coming to remind her that track meeting was not until Wednesday, Hitomi was surprised with the sight of the last person she expected to see.

One hand clutched a dirty blanket around his bare chest. Tanned skin was pale and damp from sweat. Raven locks were dishevelled and windswept. But what captured her gaze the most were his once blood red eyes, now blank and lifeless orbs gazing down, focusing only on her.

It was all Hitomi could do to whisper his name as she stared incredulously at the man before her.

"I finally found you," were the words that passed his dry lips, before his eyebrows creased in distress, causing Hitomi to flinch subconsciously at his pain. Wobbling slightly, his knees buckled from beneath his weight and Van fell to the ground heavily, instantly unconscious.

Gah! Finally, it's done! I found the ending of this chap kinda hard to write, so I hope I didn't dissapoint you all with...badness...XP

Thanks to all the really awesome comments and reviews that I've recieved for this story! It's always good to hear what people think, even if they are demanding for more right then and there!

Anywho, already planning the next chapter - hopefully it'll be up sooner than this one...hopefully...