YAY! New chapter! Hope you guys enjoy reading it. I know you, well some of you, were hoping for a bit more Van-Hitomi action (so was I) but that just wasn't how things panned out for this chapter. But that is only for the time being. But I look forward to next chapter ^_~

(Still working on making them longer)

Hitomi wanted to chase after Van. She wanted to talk to him, explain to him that he couldn't have done anything for her. Although, she knew he would probably beat himself up about it regardless of what she had said to him.

Where was he going?

The rest of the morning, Hitomi spent walking around the city with Allen as well as Kiba, who was tailing behind them. Allen was updating Hitomi on the events that had occurred since her departure from Gaea in great detail. She couldn't believe everything that had happened, or rather everything that had not happened. Millerna's father was not only rejecting Fanelia as a recovering country but he had created an embargo against Fanelia. Even if other countries had wanted to help Fanelia get back to its previous glory, King Aston was far to powerful and to fearful a leader for them to contend with from Hitomi's understanding.

"He had always been stubborn but this is ridiculous!" said Hitomi. Allen laughed.

"Yes, well I can't disagree with you on that regard. Millerna's father has basically disowned her because she's visiting the country. She's been quite upset over the whole ordeal though she hardly allows herself to show it."

"Are she and Dryden…?" Allen smiled at her inquisition.

"No… they aren't married. Not yet anyways, but they assuredly seem to be getting to that point. They have been spending a lot of time together since Millerna's exile and I have no doubt that they will be married soon." The hot sun was rising in the sky and Hitomi felt a sweat break out on her brow. She wiped her forehead, sweat glistened on the back of her hand.

The town was filled with noise and the laughter of children. If she had not known better, Hitomi would have thought there was no political and economic distress in the country whatsoever. Fortunately, at the very least, Fanelia's citizens were jovial, but how long could the country's resources sustain them?

Hitomi's thoughts returned to the conversation at hand.

"But how have you been Allen?"

"Fine, I suppose. I've been travelling around Gaea for the past year in an attempt to help Van. We have been trying to convince some of the other countries to reestablish connections. There really hasn't been all that much action recently but perhaps there will be, now that you're back," he said playfully as he winked at her.

"Oh! And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" she stammered as she tried her best to look upset by these words.

Allen burst into laughter at her failed attempt of immaturity and Hitomi let a giggle escape her lips.

She had forgotten how easy it was, talking with Allen. He was totally the knight-in-shining-armor type, no wonder she had fallen for him. Although, looking back, that was more of a fling if anything else.

"Well to tell you the true I haven't gotten many visions in a while and it's kind of strange. Perhaps it's because I stopped preforming readings. Except there was that one…" she appeared to be talking more to herself than Allen.

"That one?" he wondered.

"Oh! It doesn't matter. I think might have been just a dream or something," said Hitomi, trying to draw attention from the vision she had so accidentally brought up. Although, it didn't help that she was blushing now that she was thinking about it.

She was rubbing her pendant and proceeded to walk faster, not realizing there was a step in front of her. She toppled over and Kiba, who had been attempting to steal a fish from a stall, dash towards her frantically. Thankfully only her hands were a little scuffed up.

"Lord Hitomi! How clumsy can you get! You're gonna open your wound for what, the fourth time now?" Kiba scooped up her body with ease, he held her cradled in his arms.

"You know I think he's right Hitomi, although, you definitely weren't this clumsy before. I think you're becoming more dainty a woman!" he smirked at Kiba who was rather confused by this statement. Hitomi, naturally even mre embarrassed, fumbled trying to release herself from Kiba's firm but careful hold. He let her go, eventually, but Hitomi's humiliation just elevated with each passing moment. Finally, with her feet securely on the ground and small a crowd of people drawn around her, she said,

"Well, while you two have your little laugh at my expense, I think it's about time I hunted down Van. Have fun boys!" She stormed away, leaving Kiba with a confused disposition and Allen still laughing.

She turned back towards the palace turned her attentions to contemplating the information she had received from Allen. She definitely felt for Millerna. I couldn't have been easy to be rejected by her own father, despite how detestable he was. And then there was Van, how horrible it must be not to be trusted by other countries. He had no one to support him, no one to understand his situation. On top of that, he was probably wondering why Hitomi hadn't told him about her experience in coming to Gaea.

Now, not only did Van have to stabilize his world but there was also a new foe to contend with. Someone wanted Hitomi for reasons unknown to anyone except herself and Kiba. All she had were those words from the day she arrived, "She has the key to overthrowing King Van." She had been careful to omit that phrase from her recap of her journey. Van troubles had to be connected to the person who had brought her here. She was sure of it. But there was no way she was going to allow them to use her for Van's distruction.

She finally found her way back to the palace.

Van was sitting on the roof. It was the only place he actually felt peace was attainable at the moment in his country, in his world. He had just tended to his morning political affairs. He and his advisors had been discussing the future of Fanelia and Gaea once again. And they had gotten nowhere, once again.

Only a few of the old men from his father's court had managed to survive the attack on Gaea. And they all come flocking back as soon as they had heard Van was returning to his country. Although, Van really didn't trust these men with complete certainty but, whether he did or not, Van needed them. He was only 16 years old, after all.

There were, however, two of whom he had absolute faith in. These men being: Allen, who hadn't attended the morning meeting, and another man who had been quite close to his father as well as his surrogate father, Balgus. Those two men were the only ones that weren't trying to convince Van to surrender his country to King Aston's growing empire. They wanted him to concede his country's sovereignty and his own right to the crown.

In addition, they were trying to force him into matrimony. Apparently a prestigious marriage was the symbol of a strong leader.

Van grasped clumps of his hair in his hands, pulled and yelled out in frustration. How did things turn out this way? He threw himself backwards onto the roof and stretched his hands out above his head. The sky was speckled with swisps of clouds and the Mystic Moon was clearly outlined against deep blue of the sky.

Van turned his thoughts toward Hitomi.

Hitomi, the woman that made every effort worthwhile, the woman he had always hoped would return even though he knew she never would. She was here, brought back by some inexplicable power. He had longed for her return since the day she had left but now she was in danger, even more danger than she had been before, and he didn't know why.

She had already endured so much since her departure from the Mystic moon and now, if she wanted to be with him, she would have to share his burdens. If she didn't marry him, there would be no future for her and Van. He didn't want to force Hitomi into such a situation; somehow, he had hoped she would have remained on Earth forever. But, despite all the qualms that came with her return, he was thankful for it more than anything. He loved her, and she loved him.

Van felt a cold droplet hit his forehead. He opened his eyes as rain began to pelt down. How odd that there hadn't been any sign of a storm the moment before.

Van slipped down the roof onto a windowsill and step into shelter. He had finally calmed down and was ready to speak with Hitomi. Van drifted down the hallway toward her bedroom and carefully opened the door to Hitomi's room. All he saw found, to his surprise, was Merle sleeping soundly on the freshly made bed. He smiled, laughing softly at Merle's evident but not often displayed affection for Hitomi.

Hitomi sat on the palace steps in contemplation watching the rain gradually soak the stone walkway. She had been searching for Van for the last half hour and the pursuit had completely worn her out. She felt ashamed that simply walking had exhausted all of her energy, regardless of whether she was injured.

Her eyes travelled the stone walkway bordered by clovers to the entrance of the palace. She saw Kiba scampering towards her and Allen who walking beside him. Both were drench from the sudden downpour. Kiba approached her and began shaking the water off his body, spraying Hitomi in the process. Allen could see that she was a bit disgruntled from her search.

She began her greeting when suddenly the world of color disappeared. Hitomi felt her spirit drifting away from her body and she was thrust into a vision. She saw a room shrouded in a black mist and shadow that was dictating orders to a few underlings. She knew not their location nor there purpose but she had an odious feeling from their presence.

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