Escaflowne- Together Yoyokagirinaku (Forever and Ever)

Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or any characters or scene plots regarding to that. So please do not sue me.

        Hi everyone, and welcome to Chapter 8. I apologize for the long wait, but I was quite busy. With school starting and with all 2 honors classes and one AP class around and tennis practice and games, with a boyfriend to think about, I have my life pretty much occupied. And I'm sorry for my slow pace. It's not the reviews is keeping me down. I don't really care what criticism they have, I'll keep on going. But here I am and ready to write more. From here on, the story will be updated pretty slow, since I am need to fully concentrate on my school work and set my dreams to become a Japanese Anime Artist.  Thank you all for the reviews. I really appreciate that people are taking the time to review my story. Please be sure to review and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Pretty soon, the plot will thicken. And, in any case if I'm repeating myself in my story, I'm sorry about that too. I have the tendency to forget what plot it is in or what they said before ^_^;;

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        The feelings of the heart, it is a device in which triggers almost all emotions within a human body. Happy, sad, anger; all emotions represents the mind of oneself who is somewhat condemned to the scene they see. None could ever rid the pain if only one can lighten it. Gazing out into the gardens from her room, Hitomi thought through her emotions as she stared into the beautiful existence of nature, where she saw Van and Kyoko talking and walking together. Sighing pathetically, Hitomi could feel the aching feeling throbbing against her special organ, her heart. She always wondered if the heart always has to gain so much pain from her emotions, flooding her mind with nonsense even though they may come true. Love is such a happy experience. Yet, at times, it is also a painful experience. One feeling always has a certain side effect of a two-sided coin that are completely opposite from each other. Opposite attracts. Hitomi couldn't help the fact that her emotions couldn't direct her to her own self anymore. All she could feel is sadness and lonely. Her presence around is just like an open space with no one crowding around her. This is the cold, isolated loneliness she felt when she stared intently at the two couple that is soon to be married.

        Under a big oak tree, Kyoko started to take off somewhere, waving to Van that she will be right back. Van smiled and waved back to her as she took off, leaving Van alone under the oak tree, looking off into space. Hitomi could have just run down there to be alone with him, but that wouldn't happen since Kyoko would likely be coming back. Hitomi sighed once more. She hated the feelings she had. It made her so weak and discouraging that she wasn't even her bubbly self. How pathetic. A girl who came all this way to rescue a friend only find that she's hurt by all this dilemma of love. A stray tear fell into the floor with Hitomi's eyes shadowed by her bangs.

        Van looked into the direction of the window and saw Hitomi looking down. He smiled and waved to her. Hitomi saw this motion from afar and tried to wave. But her mind told her not to respond to his friendly gesture. Feeling her sadness overriding her, she reluctantly turned around and went further inside the room. "He doesn't love me. He only sees me as nothing but a pathetic weakling who used to be so confident and trustful."

        As Hitomi turned away from the window, Van could see the hurt expression on her face, instantly knowing that she is sad and hurting herself. Could it be that she was looking at them for the past few minutes? Generally, Van told Kyoko off so he can take important business matters. Regarding to his important business matters, he really meant by spending time with Hitomi. The plan right then was to wave at Hitomi and she would smile and fondly come down to the gardens to talk with him, like she used to whenever he was alone in the Austria Gardens. However, now, it was different. Instead of a smiling face, a hurt and sad expression suddenly protruded on her face as if something hurt her so much. Van could tell why she is like that, but he couldn't point out the reason of her sorrowful behavior.

        "Do you still love Hitomi?"

        The same question that Allen discussed before that very night echoed through Van's mind. He didn't answer that question, proving the confusion in his mind. Slowly, he turned and stared into the starry sky, hearing the crickets coming forth, surrounding the whole peaceful, quiet night of Fanelia. He closed his eyes and imaged a memory from before, Kyoko with her smiling face, laughing annoyingly as her bubbly self. Yet the image faded to Hitomi from three years ago, who gave so much belief in Van and care for him that he began to love her the way he did before. Seeing her smiling face every signal day always brightens his day. He would do anything to bring that frown to a smile. Van opened his eyes and looked awed at the sky. "What changed me to think that way? What happened to me that drew me away from Hitomi? Do I still have feelings for Hitomi?"

        Van only wished that the plan would work.

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Chapter 8- Feelings…

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        Sitting down on her bed, Hitomi slowly grabbed her CD player from her bag and put on the headphones, turning on the music instantly. She sighed sadly as she grabbed a sketchbook from her bag, grabbing her pencil pouch. With one lingering step, Hitomi headed out the door to the direction of the gardens.

        All of last night's thoughts subsided barely within Hitomi's mind. She still felt the same pain, yet not too much anymore once she does not think about. Turning to go downstairs, Hitomi gone through the doors to the beautiful gardens of the morning. She found a bench near the lake and sat in it, opening her sketchbook to the tenth page. Slowly, she opened her pouch and grabbed an eraser and a mechanical pencil, clicking on it as a small portion of lead came out. Looking at the sketchbook, she started to draw with her ears listening intently to the soothing music.

        Sadly, she started to sketch the head of the figure she is drawing, sketching the whole portion of the head. Lightly, she started to put in the eyes that show the emotions of calm, the mouth that is emotionless, and the whole face structure pointing upwards. Then, she started down, drawing the body in an archway matter with the figure's black unruly hair blowing in rhythm of its movement. Then, with one gentle stroke, Hitomi drew pure white wings on its back, covering almost half the page. Just when she was about to shade in the figure, Hitomi had a surprise look on her face. Remembering that angelic face, the beautiful, soft black hair, and the wings, Hitomi couldn't believe she actually drew Van. She looked at the drawing, seeing that the drawing actually resembles Van. Slowly, she went to the first page of the book to see a picture of Van, sitting on the rocks with his wings arching upwards with the pendant dangling on his neck. She turned to the next page to see Van once more with his wings, flying through the skies with her in his arms, holding tightly as they soar through the sky. From the following pages she turned, mostly all of her drawings represent Van, most pages with her either in his arms or on his back. Did she really miss Van that much?

        Just when she was about to close the sketchbook, a hand suddenly stopped her from closing her sketchbook fully. She turned around to find Merle, smiling at her. "Hey, let me see," she said, grabbing the sketchbook gently away from Hitomi.

        "Merle, don't," said Hitomi frantically. "What if Van sees it?"

        Merle looked through the sketchbook, seeing sketches of Van with his wings out in most of the pictures, showing the emotion within the drawings. Merle smiled and looked at Hitomi. "You really thought of Lord Van that much? Interesting," she said.

        Shamefully, Hitomi looked down, her eyes suddenly become so sad and hurt. "…Yes…I've been thinking about him for so long. You don't know how much I missed him so. Probably…he didn't miss me at all."

        Merle could feel the sadness within Hitomi and felt pity for her friend. If only there was a way to rid of her pain. Slowly, Merle laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I know you are going through a lot of hurt right now, but I know things will get back to normal. As long as you believe, it will come true. That's what you told me, and I believe in those words ever since."

        "But…"

        "Don't worry. Lord Van WILL see the truth. He's more confused than you are. Hopefully he will find the truth about Kyoko."

        "What truth are you talking about Merle?" said a voice from behind. Both Hitomi and Merle looked into that direction to see Van walking up to them, cocking his head.

        "Umm…nothing, Lord Van. I was just saying the truth within…within…the Mystic Moon," lied Merle with a nervous smile. Van still had that curious face within, yet let the concept passed. Looking wonderingly, he spotted Hitomi's sketchbook under Merle's arm. "Hey, what's that?" he asked, grabbing the sketchbook gently from Merle.

        Hitomi suddenly stood and went right for Van, who was about to open her sketchbook. Just when he saw the small portion of the wings, Hitomi snatched the book from him, hugging it to her chest. "No, don't look at it," said Hitomi sadly. "Don't look at it. I don't want anyone to see this… Especially you." With that, she took off, running so fast and hard that she didn't even hear the calling of Van.

        "What did I do?" asked Van, looking Merle sadly as Hitomi disappeared into the halls.

        Merle sighed sadly. "She didn't want you to see her drawings, Lord Van."

        "Why? I just want to look at it," said Van, scratching his head.

        "Yes, but the pictures were actually…all of you. Think about it." With that, she bonded on all fours and went after Hitomi, leaving Van alone to meddle with his feelings.

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        "How can I be so stupid?" said Hitomi. "Why did I take out my sketchbook and draw?"

        "Hitomi!!!" yelled a voice from a distance. Hitomi turned around and smiled at Merle, who stopped to look at Hitomi. "Are you okay?"

        "Yes, Merle. I'm fine. I'm just a little too emotionally back there, but don't worry, I'm okay," she said with another of her smiles.

        "Well, good. Come on, Princess Millerna have just arrived!" said Merle excitedly.

        Hitomi's face suddenly lightened after hearing the good news. Millerna, here in Fanelia? Finally, all three girls are together and they could finally chitchat all day long and go shopping. Putting her sketchbook down on the nearest table, Hitomi ran with Merle to the entranceway, her mind of the sketchbook completely out of her mind.

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        Running down the stairs as if something is chasing them, Hitomi and Merle stumbled down the stairs, laughing while trying to get in front first. Upon their playful entrance, inside the very entrance way that leads the doors to the throne room, Van, Allen, Kyoko, and all the crusade members stood there, awaiting Princess Millerna, along with Dryden, to appear inside the throne room. Merle and Hitomi slowly paced themselves and went in front of them all. Hitomi didn't give Van a glance as she stood there, looking intently at the door. Van looked at her and she didn't respond to his look. Defeated, he looked down with a grim face.

        The doors of the Fanelia castle soon opened to reveal Princess Millerna and Dryden coming in, walking side by side with a huge smile on their faces. Hitomi's face lightened as she still recognize Millerna, her other best friend aside from Merle and Yukari. She still looks the same, only the exception that she looks more and more like Marlene, her late older sister. Millerna smiled excitedly as she spotted Hitomi, looking the same age as her right now. "Is that you Hitomi?" she asked fondly.

        Hitomi smiled and nodded her head. Soon, the two friends hugged in a friendly matter, laughing excitedly that they finally reunited once more after three years. "Hitomi! It's so great to see you again!" she said, releasing the hug to look a Hitomi. "And look, you let your hair grown!"

        "Yeah, I was kinda busy with all these other junk that I didn't really have time to cut my hair. Besides, I think I like my hair better this way," she said with a smile. "How've been doing? Still studying the way of medication?"

        Millerna smiled. "Yes, but I'm still studying for quite a while. My father died recently and my sister, Eries, is taking over as the new ruler of Austria while I finish studying medication."

        "I'm sorry to here that Millerna. I guess it goes for the same for me too. My father died just a year ago after an accident."

        Millerna smiled once more. "But no worries. At least we get to see each other again." Slowly, she looked at Van then to Kyoko who was smiling and being irritated at the same time. Then to Merle, Allen, and the Crusade members are there too. Everyone was there for this occasion. "Well, I guess everyone is here! It's great to see you all!"

        "Yes, same with us," said Van. "We're glad that you can come."

        "Thank you for your message, Van. I really think that this a good idea."

        Hitomi looked questioningly. "What is a good idea?" Millerna turned and grabbed Hitomi by the arm, dragging her to the outside. "Come on, let's go shopping like old times. That way, we can catch up on things. You can come too Merle. You know, girl chat."

        Merle nodded excitedly and joined the two, only to leave Kyoko out. She ran up to Millerna. "Hey, Millerna, aren't you forgetting someone?"

        Merle gave her a bad snare. "Why should you come? After all the damage that you've done?"

        Kyoko glared angrily at Merle. "Why don't shut up you little-" Kyoko have to stop herself since Van was around, looking at her strangely. "I-I mean I just want to chitchat along with you guys."

        Millerna shook her head. "I'm sorry Kyoko. But these two and I need to spend time with each other since it's been quite a while when we talked like this. This is a hang out to repay for three years of isolation from different worlds. You understand that, right?"

        The young Noblewoman smiled. "Umm…yes, Millerna…I'm sorry. I guess I was too busy thinking about the marriage the next few months." She went to Van and ringed her arm around his. "Isn't that right, Van?"

        Struck by this sudden turn of events, Hitomi turned away from the couple, her eyes lowered to a sadness that everyone cannot see except Van, who felt that sorrow coming out of her. "Y-yeah, Kyoko…in a few months." He hesitated to say this due to the fact of Hitomi's feelings.

        "Come on, you guys. Let's leave those love birds alone," said Hitomi absentmindedly. Everyone heard this and looked at Hitomi with surprised eyes. Van was most surprised out of all, hearing what Hitomi said that sounds like defeat. Millerna and Merle looked at her downcast face, her fist clenching as it shook in sadness. "The only reason I'm here is to…complete my vision and see you guys. Not to be hurt by one who I cared for so deeply, who is so blinded to see the truth." Hitomi looked up. "And I am only here to be happy. Not to be sad or anything. I just hated when I wasn't notified by that…proposal. I feel such a toy right now."

        Van gasped as Hitomi started to walk away from him, with Merle and Millerna following closely to her sad side. The doors closed behind the three, leaving Kyoko and the men inside Fanelia castle. Van looked down as if the one he loved dumped him. Dryden came up to them, scratching his head. "So, this must be the whole problem. Hitomi is acting like this because of SOMEONE here. Right Allen?"

        "Obviously. I just hope this plan will work. I don't want to see Hitomi and Van not talking to each other like they used to. It's as if she's treating him the way he was back then when he was only an arrogant person," said Allen, patting Van's shoulder.

        "Geez, I wonder what is her problem?" asked Kyoko, folding her arms. "I mean, I was trying to be nice to her."

        "Oh, please. Stop hiding yourself," said Dryden sourly. "Allen saw how you treated a girl who saved this world. You should know that YOU are the main problem of all of this." With that, Allen and Dryden left to the barracks with the Gaddes and the other Crusaders following behind.

        Kyoko was quite insulted in the inside, yet she never took it out as she smiled at her Van. "I don't care what they say. As long as I am with you, Van."

        Van looked at her and soon, walked away, leaving her all alone. "I need some time to think. Go and talk with the Crusaders if you're lonely," he said as he climbed the stairs. Kyoko was quite insulted by this once more, and looked away from his retreating form, showing the inner emotions she is hiding. "Damn that Hitomi. She is a cursed one who brings disasters like ruining our time together. The rumors are all true. She is a complete psycho." Roughly, she swiped her hair and walked to the barracks. "At least I don't act like that. At least I am beautiful and modest about myself."

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        "She hates me. I know she hates me for the way I am," said Van, walking along the halls of his castle. The words that Hitomi spoke truly cut deep within his soul. He knew that the truth hurts and he knew that he would be hurt from it, aside from Hitomi. However, he couldn't pin point the guilt he has; guilt in which he doesn't even know due to his blindness. Slowly, he kneeled against the wall, feeling his emotions overflowing him so quick like a river pouring its raging water into an empty arroyo. A flash image of Hitomi weeping in bed consumed his mind. He slowly drew a hand to face, covering it to not show the paining sadness he is feeling. He could feel it. He feels Hitomi crying and paining herself due to this aggravation. He began to breath uneasily, trying to ease the pain he is intertwining with Hitomi's, moaning sadly to himself. "Why? Why am I feeling this emotion?" asked Van desperately.

        "How could you do such a thing to me, Van? How could you…betray me as if…I was nothing but a toy to you?"

        "I wasn't using you as a toy. I wasn't. I was trying to be a good friend to you. Because you are special to me," said Van, a hint of pleading within his voice.

        "Then, why, why did you take the chance to go for another woman who masked away her own true feelings?"

        Van shook his head. He was confused, confused with this whole ordeal in which he doesn't understand. He couldn't bare the thought of it. Slowly, he regained his composure and looked to the side. Lingering through the halls, with his red-wined eyes searching up and down, side to side, he spotted a little square thing on the table. Slowly, he looked up, to inspect the thing more closely to his eyes. Right then, just before it, Van instantly knew that the thing was Hitomi's sketchbook, the very book in which she snatched so fervently from him.

        The binding of the hard-paper back book with its spiral holding, he knew it was the very one. Slowly, he extended his hand towards it, feeling the smooth paper cover of it. Van flinched and took his hands away from it. Van wouldn't go so far as to look at it. It wouldn't feel right, looking into someone's privacy. He doesn't want to look through something that wasn't his. Yet, once he looked at it, Van wanted to know what is inside that sketchbook that captures the whole intensity of Hitomi's feelings. Maybe he could find the very essence in which she is feeling right now. This is not eavesdropping, but the matters to help her sorrow and bring the light upon her once more.

        The orange sketchbook started to grow big in his mind with new feelings of determination within. With the courage mustered, Van gently grabbed the sketchbook and opened the first page of the drawing. "That's…that's…" Van was surprised at the drawing, with a young man with his wings unfurling out of his back, showing the shade and contrast of emotions within. "It's me," he finished, slowly caressing the smooth physique of the paper filled with pencil lead. Slowly, he saw an imprint, seeing Hitomi's name etched in small letters that says: "Hitomi Kanzaki; April 1999: My Angel." The emotion within this drawing shows the melancholy and the fervent expression shown on his face.

        Interested, he turned to the next page, only to see another drawing of him with his wings out once more, this time, with Hitomi clinging onto him as they soared into a beautiful painted blue sky. The only ones that are not painted was Hitomi and Van themselves, indicating a memory that was pitched in black and white. Down the bottom, her name was etched once more, this time with a different date and title that said: "My Guardian Angel." He smiled, seeing how many memories it brought him to reminiscence. Van turned to the next few pages, seeing each different from the other, with only his wings and himself and Hitomi remain the same, except different image posture and different titles that read from: "Unforgettable Memories" to the very last drawing that was drawn recently and finished and read: "Tenkuu no Tenshi…the Visions of an Angel." Van slowly closed the book and held it against his chest, closing his eyes as he absorbed those emotional and beautiful images that she drawn. Van couldn't believe it, but he saw the image of Hitomi's thoughts. The thoughts and hidden emotions that revolved only to Van. He just seen the memories she kept so dearly to herself, never forgetting every single memory that she would cherish for the rest of her life. He knew instantly that Hitomi truly did miss him and she never, ever forgot about. Her promise was never broken, and Van knew that the emotions she is going through are nothing more than just feelings of a broken promise not from her, but from him.

        Concluding to his thoughts, he never truly remembered that he promised something to Hitomi. But he knew then that his task must be fully committed to Hitomi's sad feelings. Clutching the sketchbook with a mind of better plans, Van set into his room and closed the door, locking it so no one can come in.

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        Fanelia Marketplace. It was always busy with bustling people doing their own deeds and their own business. Even though the people where so busy with all these habits, they would even spare their energy to excuse them for their crude movements. Apparently, the Fanelians are quite well disciplined and quite hospitable due to their young King's continuing behavior that would strike the person to become him. The Fanelians truly respect King Van.

        Upon the lingering busy streets of Fanelia, Hitomi, Merle, and Millerna were walking along amongst the bustling people, excusing each time they bumped into someone accidentally. Sounds of sales and advertisements were heard everywhere with people bargaining with the other for a better price for the certain item. Hitomi smiled pleasantly, liking the crowded and loud noises of people around her. If the streets were quiet and isolated, she would freak out and never go out of the castle ever until everyone is out. She never wanted to be alone without any company.

        Merle and Millerna spotted a clothes shop and suddenly called Hitomi to it. Hitomi smiled and ran with them, the trio excited to find some nice garments for a certain occasion. Inside the well-made building, many young girls hanged around there, looking at each dress intently. The clothes shop today was quite busy. Hitomi couldn't spot why the stores are so busy. None other than that, there were more people than expected.

        Merle found a dress that matches her bright original clothing, twirling around as she inspected it. "What do you guys think?" asked Merle, twirling once more. "Do you think it suits me for the upcoming ball tomorrow?"

        "What ball?" asked Hitomi, after putting back a dress that looked too old and too dark for a young woman to wear.

        "Oh, haven't Merle told you?" said Millerna. Hitomi shook head, completely confused. "Oh that Allen. He sometimes like that whenever it comes to these occasions. There is going to be a ball held tomorrow night."

        It sounded exciting to Hitomi for a second until she realizes the very thought of the ball. "Oh, to commemorate that the marriage of Van and Kyoko is coming soon," she said, hiding the bitter voice inside.

        "No, actually it is to commemorate you. Sort of like the Reunion party for your welcome back," said Merle happily. "But why would you think that? The…marriage (gag) is held only in a few months."

        Hitomi looked sadly. "Well…I'm not much of a welcome here. Especially how Ms. Kyoko treated me."

        "I'm sorry, Hitomi," said Millerna, bowing her head. "I apologize for the reaction of Kyoko. I thought she would be fond to meet you, yet, when I told her about you, she seems too self-centered about it and just skipped that subject right away."

        "It's okay, Millerna. I understand. It's not your fault," said Hitomi with a smile. "Besides, I'm okay. Really."

        "How can you be such a friend to a girl like that? Especially when she looks almost like Hitomi," asked Merle, flickering through the rack of dresses.

        From out of nowhere, a little girl came over and looked at Hitomi curiously. "You're Hitomi Kanzaki? The Girl from the Mystic Moon?" Hitomi nodded, looking curiously at the little girl. "I'm sorry if I talked behind your back. I wasn't really sure it was you since that girl with reddish-brownish hair was being mean to me. She didn't even help me pick up my broken toy that she smashed."

        Hitomi smiled and patted her head. "Don't worry, little girl. I'm not that kind of person. So don't worry about it." The little girl smiled and bid her good-bye, running to tell her mother that the "real" Hitomi was really nice after all. As the little girl disappeared, Hitomi crossed her arms around her chest, pondering thoughtfully. "Strange…" Merle joined in with Hitomi, crossing her arms the same manner as Hitomi.

        "You're telling me. That girl has a lot things to hide."

        "Yes, it's seems as if…she has two mask in one face. Showing one to a certain place and the other to another certain place. It's as if she is bottling her own feelings." Hitomi's mind clicked. "That sort of…sounds like me…"

        Both Millerna and Merle agreed with her. "Yup, just like Hitomi three years ago."

        "Let's just skip that subject and pick a dress for Hitomi to wear for the ball tomorrow night," said Millerna, looking up and down at Hitomi's figure and looking through the dress rack. "Let me see. The dress can't be too much exposed or not too much modest either. The dress must be green…no or red…or…I don't know. What do you think, Merle?"

        Merle looked thoughtfully at Hitomi's figure and smiled. "I know for sure that Ms. Snobby-Wobby person would wear green. She wants to impress other guys and Lord Van. You know how a flirt she is. Let's get something more of…a calm color. You know, that represents Hitomi's great and unpredictable personality that she never hides anything underneath. More like the color…what's that color…?"

        Millerna's eyes suddenly lightened and took out a dress that looked medieval. "Blue?" she asked questioningly.

        "That's the color!" said Merle, touching the dress. "This is perfect!!!" Then, Merle frowned a bit after another thought. "I don't know…the dress is cute and everything, but something about it is too big or something."

        "I agree. It is a little too big for Hitomi around the waist. But we can alternate it?"

        "Yeah, that would due." Merle smiled and grabbed a measurement tape above the wooden racks. "Okay Hitomi, we're going to work on your dress first!"

        Hitomi smiled and nodded. "But may I point out one thing. Can I make some suggestions of the dress?" The way Hitomi's mind works indicate that she does not like the look of that dress one bit due to its shape and structure.

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        Back at Fanelia Castle, down at the barracks, Allen, Dryden, and Gaddes looked around the table with a huge paper on it, showing little sketches that looks like a plan. "Commander, why does it have to be me and the other men?" asked Gaddes complaining. "I mean, come on. I don't want to deal with her and her obnoxious attitude."

        "Come on, Gaddes. You and the others are the only ones fit for this," said Allen. "Besides, she has the hots for you too."

        "But commander, she is bugging us like hell!"

        "Do you want to see Van and Hitomi like this or not?" asked Dryden, pressing his glasses against the top of his nose.

        Gaddes sighed, approving reluctantly that Dryden made a very good point. Allen smiled and pointed at the blue prints. "All right, at the night of the ball, Van, Dryden, Gaddes, hopefully Chid, and I will dance the main entertainment of Fanelia along with Millerna, Merle, Kyoko, and Hitomi. As Kyoko gets out of the dance floor, you guys will crowd around the drink area were Kyoko would most likely go to and flirt. Unaware of Van and Hitomi, we will accidentally let ourselves off and let Hitomi and Van take the floor, with you guys stalling Kyoko so there wouldn't be a cat fight in a ball that commemorates Hitomi's welcome back party. You got it?"

        "Yes sir!" yelled all the Crusaders, even though they don't like it one bit.

        After the cheer within the group, Van just came in, walking to the table where Allen, Dryden, and Gaddes stood. "You finally joined us, Van. Where have you been these passed two hours?" asked Allen.

        "Doing some business that is still unfinished in my room. And I don't mean by Kyoko. It matters with a pencil and a certain book," said Van bluntly. "But, you do have a plan, right?"

        Allen smiled and nodded and started to explain the plan carefully and thoughtfully.

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        The sun soon grown from morning to late afternoon as Hitomi, Millerna, and Merle came back to the castle, holding vast of stuff around their arms. Upon their arrival, Allen and Dryden helped with their stuff, meeting them at the gate.

        "What took you guys so long?" scolded Dryden, looking at the girls with a look of playful anger and concern.

        "Oh Dryden, you know how I become a shopping rat when it comes to clothes and jewelry. Besides, we were stuck all day in the clothes since Hitomi alternated the dresses beautifully."

        Allen and Dryden looked at Hitomi with a curious look and Hitomi smiled. "I just did some different styles for Millerna and Merle. Besides, I don't want to be the only one with a different look that is exactly from the Mystic Moon. I'm not a good fashion designer for nothing. It's a good thing I took some clothing classes back two years ago." She shrugged and left that subject away since she saw another look of curiousness within the two men.

        "You should see how beautiful Hitomi's dress turned out," whispered Millerna to Dryden. "And we helped out too. Friends help each other out too, you know."

        Allen and Dryden smiled and nodded approvingly as they started to walk off inside the palace, with Hitomi, Merle, and Millerna tagging along behind, smiling as they started to chitchat. "We had a lot of fun today, didn't we?" asked Millerna.

        "Yeah, I haven't had that much fun since three years ago. We should try this all the time," said Hitomi, stretching.

        "By the way, Allen, where's Lord Van?" asked Merle questioningly. Hitomi didn't say anything after that.

        "He's in his room. Somehow, he is really preoccupied with something important right now," said Allen. "You can tell by his door locked."

        "Probably doing something with Kyoto I suppose," muttered Hitomi under her breath.

        "No, actually she's flirting with the guards near the barracks, and Van has… "Paper" work to deal with," said Dryden, pointing one finger.

        "Paper work?"

        "Never mind. You wouldn't understand until you see it. Somehow, it's quite special to him."

        Something special to Van? What could Dryden possibly mean?

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        Few minutes have passed since Hitomi got into her room. She smiled as she looked through the bunch of stuff she gathered. Slowly, she took out the dress she is officially going to wear to the ball and hung onto the side of the opened closet door, looking at her successful alteration. Closing the closet gently, she turned around and put the remains of the bags on isolated corner. With one sigh, she lay on the bed, looking intently up into her ceiling.

        From all these past several days, she didn't realize how much fun she had today. From all the turmoil she has gone through, Hitomi realized that she truly needed this opportunity to have some fun after being coped up in the castle for so long. If only Van was there with them, there could be more fun. Hitomi sighed as she remembered every single detail of those days.

        Slowly, she sat up from her seat and looked through her duffel bag to find an two opened envelopes that read: "Hitomi's Pictures. A Remembrance of Gaia and her friends." Hitomi smiled, remembering that she would always take those pictures with her as her guide comforts. She bent over and took out those pictures, opening one envelope to reveal the pictures from her few last days on Gaia.

        The first picture of the pile was a picture of her, with Millerna and Merle posing at the camera in the Austria Gardens. "I remembered this one. It's a picture of us when we chased Van and Allen down for tricking on us by surprise like that. Those little jokers." She put the picture under the last one and looked at the second one, showing a picture of her last picture with Millerna, with the Mole Man and Princess Eries. She turned to the next picture to see a picture of Van, sleeping soundly without any heed of his picture taken. She smiled. "Merle must have taken that. He looks so angelic when he sleeps like that almost as if he was child."

        From the past following pictures, Hitomi looked on and on, reminiscing every signal one. And within those lingering 30 minutes, Hitomi fell asleep, with the piles of pictures scattered every. In her hand, she held a picture with Van and herself, with his wings covered her and him as they stood there in the night, looking into a beautiful lake near Fried.

        Outside the doors, Van knocked on the door gently. "Hitomi? May I come in? It's me, Van." No answer came from the door as he looked on with a curious face. "Hitomi?" His face soon turned to worry as he slowly opened the door, hoping there was no kidnapper to snatch Hitomi unnoticed. As he slowly peered into her room that lighted from the sun, he saw her, sleeping peacefully on her bed, with all these square images on the bed. Closing the door behind him softly, he went to her bedside, peering into the images. He smiled and remembered those pictures. He remembered a time when he first took a glance out that contraption, remembering Hitomi explaining that this will help her remember. He didn't quite understand, but now he understood. He slowly looked up to her sleeping form and smiled, seeing how peaceful and calm she is when she sleeps. Slowly, he gathered her in his arms and laid her head on the soft pillow, putting the blanket over her shoulder. For a few minutes, he sat on the edge of the bed, stroking her long hair gently. "How I wished that things are different," he said sadly. "I wish that we would talk like friends like we used to. If only I could read your feelings more clearly." Slowly, he caressed her cheek, which was surprisingly warm and soft. "Don't worry, Hitomi. I'll find a way to make you feel better. I can't stand the thought of you sad. I'll find a way." Gradually, he leaned to her cheek and kissed her softly there for just a blink second. Smiling, he looked at her one last time and walked out the door.

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        The hour passed on, and Hitomi woke up, suddenly surprised to find herself sleeping under her covers. She slowly sat up and looked around, seeing her picture neatly piled on the table. She felt a flat thing on her right hand and looked at it, seeing the picture of that moonlight night when Van and her were alone, late at night. She smiled sadly and looked through her bag. Slowly, she took out some wall tacks from a plastic box and took one out carefully. Pushing the tack against the wall above her bed along with the picture, she smiled contentedly and stood up, heading into the balcony.

        As she opened the doors to her room, Hitomi spotted Kyoko walking pass by her, stopping for a moment to look at her, with a very annoyed look on her face. Hitomi glowered and closed the door behind, wistfully passing by Kyoko without any stopping to look. "Oh no, not you," thought Hitomi as she walked off towards the stairs.

        "Hmph, Mystic Moon psycho," said Kyoko as she folded her arms across her chest.

        "I heard that," said Hitomi from afar. Kyoko jerk and gave another pouting look. "Don't underestimate me by one second, girl. I'm stronger than you think."

        Kyoko angrily looked at Hitomi's far away figure, clenching her fist in a raging anger that could be unpredictably described. "Well you shouldn't underestimate me! I can be squealer and a good persuader."

        "Yeah, yeah. Even though I have long hair and a personality of a weakling, at least "I" take risks to take my life to the next stage and ask my friends for help if I need to. Unlike you, you use others in order to provide you the attention you deserve and the vanity of your precious lifestyle."

        "That's a load of bull!"

        "Don't even think about denying it," said Hitomi, closing her eyes. "You know it's the truth. The truth hurts Kyoko." She turned around towards Kyoko with a glare that no longer shows the lingering weakling she is. This created Kyoko to gasp in surprise, seeing the true nature of Hitomi's exact behavior that she always had all her life. "I think it's your turn to learn the truth, Kyoko. Because no one really spoke to you the truth about your so-called nice attitude because of your out spoken rudeness and undeniable snobbish attitude that totally shows how conceded you are. You never showed that dark side to Van. Let me warn you, you won't do any good if you keep your true emotions bottled up. You'll live a fake forever and ever in your life if you keep this play up. And pretty soon, you will regret that you lived a liable life."

        Kyoko was quite angry and annoyed with this, clenching her fists as if she was going to jump on Hitomi. "Then maybe I should warn you, you wrench! Stay away from Van or consequences shall come!" She signaled to her fists, indicating a fight between those two.

        "Then bring it. I don't care if we fight because I made a promise that I will stick by Van's side no matter what. Not as a toy for attention, but a good friend that never leaves him alone."

        "Why you little…!" Just when she was about smack Hitomi, Van appeared out of his room to see Kyoko on one side while Hitomi on the other.

        "Hitomi, Kyoko," said Van curiously. "What are you guys doing out here?"

        Kyoko suddenly grew less tense and smiled, her angry, fighting behavior dissolving instantly to the innocent Kyoko, her look almost like Hitomi. "Oh Van honey. I was just…chitchatting with Hitomi. You know, to get along with Hitomi since you are good friends with her."

        Hitomi gave a correctable grunt and turned to walk away until Van called her gently. "Hitomi…" Hitomi gave a sidelong glance at Van, smiling as she looked at Kyoko in the background, piercing her eyes right into her.

        "Remember what I told you, Kyoko. To hide your own self would create a life that you would regret forever." Kyoko sneered hatefully at Hitomi from behind with Van's back towards her. She looked at Van and smiled with care for him, the smile he knew that would brighten his day. Hitomi didn't say anything after that, and walked away, leaving Van there with a face that showed that he just looked at a ghost or something.

        The smile and the look in her eyes that he saw just now. Van could instantly tell that this was the Hitomi he knew. So full of words and life that she spoke the truth and wisdom of. He smiled encouragingly. Yet, a thought lingered in his mind. How did Hitomi get the courage from?

        As Hitomi descended the down the stairs, Hitomi stopped in the middle and looked out into space, wondering thoughtfully as a thought struck her like a blinding thunder strike. She stood there with an awed face struck on her face. "How did that courage come from?" she asked questioningly to herself. "It's as if…I'm becoming myself again. But how is it possible that would break my feelings like this?" Slowly, she touched her right cheek. Something about it when she touched tingled her. Something about her right cheek have created to stir of courage in her mind, sort of breaking the sadness within her mind. She looked up into the window, feeling sort of a happy pleasant feeling within her. Sighing, she walked down the stairs, taking that thought away from her mind.

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        Songs of a low song, cheerful, yet medium speed at the same time, was heard in somewhere near her. Hitomi stopped in her tracks and listened to the music that was so musical and mystical. She felt like doing the waltz at the moment as it rang peacefully through her ear. Smiling to the excitement of this song, Hitomi followed her ears and tried to figure the small music coming from somewhere. She followed, hearing violins, cellos, and pianos playing strongly and vibrating through the halls of Fanelian castle. Suddenly, she stopped, hearing the song was louder to her right. She turned around to find that a large door, slightly ajar. Slowly she peered in, looking cautiously.

        In that moment, Hitomi could see two to four people dancing to the beautiful music. And the four people was none other than Dryden, dancing with Millerna as Merle dancing with Allen as they danced magnificently like a swan moving swiftly through the crystal lake. It almost reminded her of a beautiful ballet show. With Millerna and Merle switching partners, dancing apart for a while then went into the waltz wants more. Hitomi opened the door carefully, hopefully not to disturb their concentration.

        The mystifying dance still goes on for 4 minutes and soon the song ended, four of Hitomi's friends clapping for the brilliant music made by the band. Hitomi couldn't help but clap herself as she clapped harder than the rest. Her friends looked up and smiled, seeing her smiling at the art dance they just did. "That was so beautiful!" said Hitomi, walking up them. "I never saw a dance that is played so good before. It's like a waltz mix in with ballet!"

        Millerna smiled at her friend. "Well, this is the dance we are going to do at the ball tomorrow night. We're just practicing to see if we still have the groove to it. Especially when band made a wonderful music for it."

        "The music was so beautiful," said Hitomi to the composer.

        The young composer blushed and bowed his head. "Thank you, Lady Hitomi."

        "Say, how does this dance work?" she asked, almost hopping up and down excitedly.

        "Let's see," said Allen thoughtfully. "This is a dance that went on in Fanelia for many generations, I suppose. It's a tradition that every festival, there should be only one formal dance that can only be triggered once, due its long time consuming."

        "Why is it time consuming?" asked Hitomi.

        "Well, as you can see, we switch partners. Somewhere I think around 5 minutes or so, the original partners would switch to another man or woman. Basically, it will go on until only two people, man and woman, are alone in the dance floor. So, in order for you to get out, the person must be on their own kind, which means if you have a partner man to man or woman to woman, then your out of the dance floor and watch," explained Dryden.

        Hitomi smiled pleasantly as she knew that this is going to be a good one. "It sounds interesting."

        "Would like to join?" asked Millerna.

        "Sure," said Hitomi quickly, beaming with excitement. She went to the dance floor, taking Merle's place to practice and the cat-girl could watch and find any errors.

        "Okay, Hitomi, in order to start off this dance, you'll have to put your right foot first and-"

        "You mean like a waltz?" asked Hitomi.

        "What's a waltz?"

        "It's a dance similar to this. You know, the guy takes the control and they step in rhythm."

        "Yes, that's right. You sound like you know this. Okay, but once in a while, the dance will include spins and moves that gracefully move like a swan. So, let's start."

        Millerna gave the signal to play the music once more. The composer nodded and turned to the band, waving his composer baton with one movement and started the music.

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        Outside the halls, Van walked along the lonely corridors when he heard and notice the mysterious, yet beautiful song from inside the ballroom. Wondering the occasion of the sudden music in the halls, Van went over to the huge ballroom doors and investigated the scenery in front of him. Upon opening the door slightly ajar, opening enough to see the whole dance scenario, right there, he saw his friends practicing the dance. In there, Hitomi was there, making Van even more interested in this.

        Hitomi and Millerna sat on the floor, almost like a curtsy. In front of them, Allen and Dryden waited until the cue of the music has come. Once the music started, both men started to extend their hands towards the two girls sitting down. They both slowly looked up and extended their hands toward them, the men grabbing their small hands firmly into their manly ones, helping the two up to their feet. Slowly, Hitomi put her free hand on Allen's shoulder, watching carefully for Allen's movement as he lightly wound his around her waist. Slowly, they started to waltz, Allen in control.

        For the next ongoing minutes, Van watched Hitomi gracefully dancing through the music, dancing and twirling once in a while and switching partners. Both Hitomi and Millerna would laugh if they saw each other and go back to their original partners, starting over from the beginning. Time in time, Van couldn't help but find Hitomi somehow beautiful. This was the very first time since he woken up to see Hitomi fully. She has grown so much, even though she was only 5'5", and that she no longer wields the young 15 years old self. Her honey-brown hair have grown down to her waist, making her even more beautiful than before and her figure was well divine, showing the curves she develop. Van watched her from afar, seeing her dancing gracefully as a swan through this traditional dance. He liked it when her hair sways with the movements she is making. Her feet didn't give any fault as she kept on dancing without any mistakes. It's as if she knew this dance for a long while. Van didn't notice he's been looking at Hitomi all this time until the music suddenly stopped, hearing the sounds of multiple clapping echoing through the magnificent ballroom.

        Hitomi wiped the sweat off her brow, giving a tired sigh. "That actually turned out good," she said.

        "Yeah, I have to agree with you," said Merle, jumping up and down. "You did great, Hitomi! It's like your pro at this or something! If Lord Van was here, he would be so happy that you would be joining the dance!"

        Hitomi sadly looked down to the floor, suddenly not so bubbly anymore not more than 30 minutes ago. "…I'm not really sure…if Van would be happy." The sudden wave of hidden surprise came upon her friends. "I'm sorry if I'm going down in the dumps right now. I mean, Kyoko would be telling him by now of what I said to her down the halls before I came here. I only told her the unspoken truth. And besides, she talked behind my back as if she holds an eternal grudge against me. Besides, Van would believe her more than me."

        "But at least you showed her," said Merle, crossing her arms. "I mean, ever since she came here, I get the hot headed Kyoko while Lord Van gets a sweet and adoring Kyoko. I was surprised when she suddenly turned to a snobbish woman when she's alone with me."

        "Yes, but, you can tell that she is very persuasive."

        "Amen to that," said Dryden, raising his hand. "I'm no person to cut with persuasive people, but I can tell she is. She acts like a perfect person every time."

        "It's like she's almost portraying your personality, Hitomi," said Allen thoughtfully.

        Hitomi nodded and looked out the window, seeing a great view of the lake and the beautiful crystal-clear waterfall with a far away look on her face. "I can't just help it. Our friendship is becoming more and more distance every day. Even though I avoid him, he would always be busy off with something, either hanging around with Kyoko or in an advisor meeting. I mean, I tried to spend time with him, but somehow, I feel as if I can't talk about anything with him anymore. What if I say the wrong thing? Will he be angry with me?" She slowly put her hand above her beating heart that softly ache after so many memories she thought about, the memories of good times. "It seems as if it was almost yesterday since I first met him. He was such a pig-headed jerk back then, too arrogant that he hid his feelings deep within. Yet, as I get to know him very well, Van was truly a great man with so many potentials in his life. I'm not really sure why, even now, I still…have feelings for him."

        Her friends listened intently to Hitomi's sad words, hearing her spoke out the hurting feelings deep within. They felt sympathy towards her since she faced a lot of depressing moments in her life. They also reminiscence with her, remembering the times they shared so much fun with, before this mishap ever happened. Van stood in the doorway, his bangs shadowing his eyes as he absorbed the words of his friends. Could he just be dreaming? The words that Hitomi spoke kept repeating in his mind, as if it was an echo, repeating the words of one endlessly in a dark, lonely cave. With those lingering words, loose memories of the past started to consume his mind, the memories that took the few days before she ever left.

        He remembered every detail of that very time, remembering the way Hitomi smiled at him as they walked alone in the countryside of Austria, laughing at jokes and memories, clowning around when they feel like more action, eating together whenever they feel hungry, just going through phases that lock themselves as best friends. The way Hitomi would feel sad at times and she would go to him for a quiet and alone talk, him trying to comfort her sad attitude and trying to bring that smile back to normal. The way she would always willingly spend time with him, even though she was quite busy keeping the children entertained, she would give some time to spend with him. The friendship they had three years ago bloomed so much during those times.

        Now, as Van went on through the years, their friendship stopped blossoming, like a Sakura tree, after a while as they grown and became distant from each other. Van turned away from the door, trying to think why the sudden change of their friendship. At this kind of moment, Hitomi would always be with him, talking and laughing and taking walks. Those passed memories are gone now. Those memories are nothing more than just a dream in Van's mind now. The sudden coldness started to penetrate his body. A cold feeling that he could easily recognize as he walked slowly toward an open window. He looked out into the gardens, still feeling that cold chill running up his spine. He never had this feeling if only he was…

        Then right in that moment, as Van gazed into the gardens, he just realized this feeling he is going through. For the first time after these 3 years that passed…

…Van felt alone…

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        *End of Chapter 8- Feelings

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        So, what do you guys think? This is the longest one I ever made, so I'm sorry if it's that long. But anyways, I hope you guys like this and please review. Until the next chapter, Ja Ne Minna-san!!!