Today you told me that I'd hate you forever

I can't believe what's really going on

Somehow I knew that you felt guilty for something

But tell me why you do this to me

Today you told me that I'd hate you forever

I can't believe that you'd wreck my life

I was betrayed, how can you say that you feel sorry inside

It's devastating, losing close friends

I've gone away, you make me stay but I can't tell it from lies

I've gone insane, losing close friends

Today I made the worst mistake

I put my trust into someone I don't know

And now I know because you've done everything possible to me

Made me so upset

And now I know just who to trust because you're laying in bed

You're thinking 'bout all that fucked up shit

I was betrayed, how can you say that you feel sorry inside

It's devastating, losing close friends

I've gone away, you make me stay but I can't tell it from lies

(Lies)

I've gone insane, losing close friends

I'm so weak

The closeness of your skin

The smell of this place

Makes me go insane

I

You make me go insane

[Repeat]

I was betrayed, how can you say that you feel sorry inside

It's devastating, losing close friends

I've gone away, you make me stay but I can't tell it from lies

I've got insane, losing close friends

Losing close friends

[Repeat]

Close Friends by Adema

Chapter 6: Close Friends

Another week had gone by, and Dilandau still hadn't found a new apartment. He hadn't been actively looking despite what he told Hitomi and her friends. He was enjoying his current living arrangements. The Kanzaki house was much larger than his sparsely furnished studio apartment. There was also the perk of driving the moon witch mad on a daily basis. He smiled with great satisfaction. Even despite having to scrap his original revenge plan, this one was working out just as well. And he was anticipating his next move.

When he had come to realize how desperate Hitomi had been to see her precious king, it gave him a devious idea. He had very pertinent intel of the lives of her beloved friends. It would completely crush her, and he couldn't wait to see her fall part. She will lose everything she holds so dear. He stroked his cheek, tracing the faint line of his scar. She was going to pay. He had decided that long ago. He could recall hearing her voice shout out "Look out Van!" back on the Vione all those years ago. Her warning had alerted the dragon king who in turn marred his beautiful face. Soon moon witch, we will be even…

The days seemed to drag on for Hitomi. She tried to keep herself busy between studying for school or attending the Athletics club after classes to keep her mind off of her worries. They were only a temporary fix. Like throwing a single band aid on a much too large wound. Eventually it would all fall apart, and she was reminded by that everyday she went home. Having to face the silver haired demon was her constant reminder of how much she loathed her life. He had broken her confidence. There was no fighting, she had determined, he had won. She was completely miserable.

Hitomi had drawn herself a bath to relax after practise that thursday. The week was almost done, she reminded herself. She just needed to get through the next day. She would be getting out of her home come the following day. Yukari was planning a weekend long slumber party. With Golden Week upon them, it would be the perfect time to have some girl time, as Yukari put it.

The hot water penetrated deeply, relaxing Hitomi's tense muscles. She had been pushing herself much harder this year at track practice. The pain, although obviously a great discomfort, reminded her that she wasn't completely numb. As long as she could feel the burn of her muscles, she knew she was still alive.

She had soaked in the tub for nearly an hour before deciding it was time to get out. She dried off and changed into a simple patterned, two toned green yukatabira. Afterwards she made her way to the kitchen where she made herself a cup of tea before making her way to the backyard. The air that night was refreshing and invigorating with the faint aroma of the trees ready to bloom.

Hitomi delicately cradled her cup in her hands as she gazed wistfully up at the clear night sky. "Van… Can you hear me?" She wondered before bringing her cup to her lips to sip her matcha. "I need your help to return… I can't do it on my own..." she whispered, bringing her gaze back down to her cup. I've tried everything to get back, nothing seems to work… she could feel her tears begin to well up in her eyes yet again. She carelessly wiped them away. She was so tired of crying. It didn't give her the same release anymore. Now it just left her feeling drained and exhausted.

"Are you sure you really want to return?" The question broke Hitomi out of her daze, she hadn't realized she wasn't alone. She looked over her shoulder to find Dilandau, dressed in his own black and red patterned yukata. It was one of the few articles of clothing he didn't mind from the strange world. He found them to be both comfortable and freeing.

Hitomi looked away, she didn't care for his opinion. She already knew he thought her pathetic for yearning to return. He reminded her of his opinion on a near daily basis. "Yes, more than anything." She answered him. "I've lost everything here already…" she mumbled before taking another sip of her tea.

Smirking to himself, he announced "I could arrange it."

His words hung in the air around Hitomi. Had she heard him correctly? Why was he giving her hope? He must be lying, she determined. If he could really get back there, he wouldn't still be here on Earth. He had previously voiced his disdain for her world numerous times. Hitomi took yet another sip of her tea. She wasn't about to play into his sick game of emotional manipulation.

Annoyed with her silence, Dilandau walked past Hitomi who was still seated on the edge of the engawa. He came to a stop a few paces ahead of her and reached into his yukata to retrieve an item he had hidden. With his back still turned to her, he held out his hand. Hitomi's eyes widened in shock at the sight of the item dangling from his fingers. It was a pendant similar to her own. How did he?!

"H-how?" was all Hitomi managed to spit out. Her mind raced, thinking of every probable scenario. The absolute worse was that he had pried it from Van's cold dead hands.

Dilandau glimpsed over his shoulder, his lips curled into a grin with satisfaction as he saw the pained look on her face. "I can take you there, if you really want. But…" he turned to face her, "I really don't think you're going to like what you find."

Her eyes, still transfixed on the pendant. She could feel her heart beat loudly against her chest. She had to know the truth. If he was dead, she needed to know. She carefully put down her cup of tea. Her movements felt automatic, she felt drawn to the pendant like a moth to a flame.

Dilandau swung the pendant around in his fingers, eventually coming to grasp it firmly in his hand. He held out his other hand toward Hitomi, He wanted to witness the moment first hand when her spirit finally broke. "Again, only if you're sure you want to go." Hitomi looked at his outstretched hand. A small part of her was telling her to turn and run, but she had clung so long onto hope that Van would save her.

With a shaky hand, reached out to grasp his, "Take me to Gaea," she finally answered. Dilandau's grin grew. He knew she wouldn't be able to resist. He clenched the pendant tightly and willed fate to do his bidding. He pulled Hitomi closer, he had to ensure that the strange magic of the pendant would capture her as well.

Within moments, Hitomi could feel the familiar sensation of the magic of the pendant. She took comfort in feeling herself be enveloped by it before the blinding pillar of light encircled them. All her cares and fears melted away as she felt her body slowly begin to lift off the ground. She was returning to Gaea.

When the light finally faded away, they had found themselves deep within a forest. Hitomi looked up towards the sky, only to find it was obscured by the canopy of the trees. Without hesitation, she bolted forward, she had to be sure she was indeed on Gaea. She only came to stop once she had reached a nearby clearing. She looked upwards toward the sky, which was beginning to bright with the breaking of dawn. And there they were, the two moons hanging together in the star filled sky. I'm really here…. I really made it back! Her heart leapt wildly for joy.

"Onna!" Dilandau had called out as she ran to catch up to her. He knew he should have predicted better that she would bolt. "You might want to be more careful the next time you decide to run off. There may be land dragons." After she had initially bolted off, he could hear in the distance the faint cries of the dragons.

"Dragons...?" Hitomi repeated. "Then are we… are we in Fanelia?" She had recalled Van telling her how the valley surrounding the city had been the home of the land dragons. She was so close to him, she could feel it. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on her pendant, the one she had given Van. During their journey back to Gaea, Hitomi had come to realize the pendant in Dilandau's possession was not the one that had once belonged to her. It gave off a slightly different energy. She didn't know how he came to be in possession of another pendant, and she planned to figure that out eventually. However, she had more important things to deal with first.

She stood perfectly still, breathing deeply, trying her best to focus. It had been years since she had attempted to dowse. She wasn't even sure if she still could do it. But she had to try. In her mind, she pictured the pendant and thought of Van. Where are you Van? She could sense the imagined pendant begin to swing to and fro. Her focus deepened with each swing until she felt it suddenly change direction, pointing her in the correct direction. Her eyes snapped open. They were very close!

She broke into a light jog, heading in the direction the pendant had told her. In her mind she could see the exact path they needed to take. Dilandau had been grateful she decided not to sprint again, this was more hit pace, especially considering he was only wearing a yukata.

Hitomi came to a stop when she had come across a pagoda next to a small pond. She had recognized it instantly. They were in Fanelia! They were in the secluded forest behind the castle. It had been in that very spot where she and Van had shared their first kiss.

While Hitomi had been transfixed on the past, oblivious to the present, Dilandau was not. His keen senses picked up on the sounds of footsteps and voices approaching. He grabbed the silly moon witch by the arm, dragging her behind a large tree for cover. "What the hell Dilandau-" He clasped a hand over her mouth to silence her. With his other hand, he brought a single finger to his lips to remind her to be quiet.

Hitomi scowled at him and turned to peek around the tree. Her eyes softened as watched her dragon king walk toward the pagoda. He changed so much in the time they had been apart. He was no longer the scrawny young boy she had first encountered. He looked like a king, walking with an air of confidence. He had grown out his hair, wearing it in what looked like a top knot. He wore a deep red sleeveless short robe, with an intricate golden dragon embroidered on the back. Tying the robe closed over his khaki coloured pants was a blue and gold striped sash.

She wanted to run to him, to be swept up in his embrace. He was so close, almost within reach. Dilandau placed a firm hand on her shoulder, holding her back.

"There you are Van!" A cheerful voice filled the air of the small clearing. Hitomi didn't recognize the sound of the voice, so she brought her attention to its owner. Approaching her dragon king was an unfamiliar looking woman. She was a respectable height, Hitomi thought, almost matching her own. She had long auburn hair that had been plaited in two long braids that draped over her clothing seemed a little amiss to Hitomi, from what she could remember of Fanelian fashion. She wore a long sleeveless gown of ivory with a short sleeveless robe similar to the one Van wore. However, her's was hunter green and held closed with a corested belt.

Van turned to face the fair maiden, a smile returning to his lips. "Merle had said you wished to speak to me." Van moved to close the distance between them.

"I have a gift for you, Lyra," He announced, reaching into his pocket. "It's brought me good luck in the past, and I thought it would be a fitting wedding gift for you."

Lyra blushed, "Oh Van, the wedding isn't until tomorrow! I can't accept this now!"

Van smiled kindly at her, "I wanted to see you wear it when we meet at the altar. It would mean a lot to me." Without hesitation, he took the item and clasped it around her neck.

When Hitomi caught sight of the necklace, she felt her world begin to crumble. It was her pendant. It had been her gift to him. Why would he give it away so carelessly? To some strange woman no less! Dilandau glanced down at Hitomi, wondering if she had put two and two together. He leaned down, prepared to fill in the blanks, but the scene unfolding before them did just that. Van had pulled Lyra into a close embrace. Her arms wrapped around his back as she tilted her head upwards. Van lowered his head, sealing the deal with a kiss. The pair stayed in the embrace for sometime, before parting and returning to the main castle.

Mortified, Hitomi collapsed to her knees. Van, her Van, had forgotten about her. Dilandau couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. He knelt down to whisper in Hitomi's ear, "So you really think he's going to want you around, eh?" His cool, cruel words echoed through her head. "Don't say I didn't warn you, onna." She was completely numb. She could barely feel any part of her body, but she did feel the hot streak of tears tumbling down her cheeks. Van had been her last remaining hope.

"Take me home…." Hitomi managed to speak.

"What? You don't want to stick around for the festivities tomorrow? I hear Fanelian weddings are quite the event. I'm sure your other friends will all be there." His voice burned her shattering spirit like a toxic venom. She had no place here anymore. She wiped away her tears, and shook her head no. She wanted to leave.

"Please, get me out of here," She sobbed. Dilandau sighed, he wanted to stick around and watch her fall apart even further. But he had decided he had done enough damage for the time being. He pulled out his pendant, a gift that fate had given him when he had been revived on the Mystic Moon. He forced Hitomi to stand, much to her disdain. Clutching the pendant tightly he willed the strange magic from the stone to bring forth the pillar of light to return them back to the Mystic Moon.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

A/N: Well, that was certainly something! Again, I completely scraped the original. I hated how I didn't put much care into it previously. I think I was just in such a rush to have Hitomi discover the truth. This rewrite definitely feels more...correct. More realistic I suppose? I know not all that much happened in this chapter, but I needed to keep the event of the next one separate. Otherwise it would have just been too long and well… too brutal on poor Hitomi. I needed to give her a breather. I think she's been tortured enough for one chapter.