I feel so awful for not updating. I've always complained to my favorite artists about updating but I finally get it... Anyways, what I'm sorry about not updating if you were looking forward to the next chapter. It isn't a very chapter long but I kinda wanted to stop it because I really want to focus on the next part. Hope you like it!

Hitomi remained in her omniscient vision. She listened to the shadow speak of the fate he had designed for Gaea.

"This is it. Finally, after so many millenniums of being lost to the world and existing through mere warped, dying myths and tales. It is my time, to take the future from them as penance for my lost past. I will tear the fetal child from its womb. It will be the final sacrifice for this world's undoing."

Mist shrouded her head and it became difficult to breath. Yet her vision was clear amongst the blackening shadows. She knew she had felt this way before. She recalled her return to Gaea. She now knew that these things, whoever and whatever they were, were the reason for her return.

The malignant, resonant voice surrounded her, devouring all other sensations, and pierced her hollow body. She felt tingling creeping through her limbs. She looked away from the shadow to her own body and saw her hands being corroded away by the blackness.

She wanted to scream but there was no sound, only that voice. She frantically tried to move but some invisible force restrained her. She was caged in a decaying body. It was then that the shadow was aware of her presence. It glided towards her swiftly and screeching - she couldn't react.

Hitomi felt the tingling sensation intensify into an excruciating pain, as though she were burning away. Then, without warning, everything around her vanished.

Allen was violently shaking her shoulders, as she lay sprawled across the wet stone staircase.

Hitomi felt her stomach convulse and she vomited onto the stair below her. Hitomi stared into the sky, Allen was calling out to someone and Kiba suddenly had her cradled within his arms. How many times had she been in this situation now?

Kiba's long hair tickled her face, his breathing was muffled and rough and he smelt of grass and moist earth. She latched onto him, absorbing any and every sensation, trying to grasp reality and erase the vision from her mind. Tears trickled down her face as she tried to forget, all the while knowing she would never be able to. Kiba tightened his grip around her feeble figure. She felt ashamed to be placed in these needy situations.

Hitomi continued her retrieval of the feel for reality and her limp body regained some strength. Kiba felt her squirm and lowered her onto the ground. He was clearly confused as to what had happened but Hitomi wasn't in the mind to console him.

"Hitomi…?" Allen stared at her in awe. "What did you see?"

"I honestly don't even know but that didn't feel like a vision. It felt… real," Hitomi stammered. "I… I need to find Van!" She turned towards the entrance of the palace and proceeded through the corridor. The two men were left unsatisfied by her meager response.

"I have never seen her react that way to a vision before." Kiba stayed silent, not knowing what to say or what had happened.

Hitomi was surprising lively considering her previous physical state. All these treacherous circumstances and events were apparently making her stronger.

She wandered down the corridor, slowly, and decided to check the only place she hadn't in her search from before: her bedroom. She arrived at the ornately crafted wooden door that lead to her room and eagerly opened it.

Van was seated on the sill of her window staring over the city. The thick rain clouds had dissipated and the sun was setting over Fanelia. She smiled in relief and stood by the door in admiration of the pensive man propped on the sill. Van jolted, clearly noticing he wasn't alone in the room.

"Hitomi! Where have you been? You could have told me where you were going"

She sighed, "Oh really! And when exactly did I have the time to do that? Did you even bother to come and look for me? I know that your upset and dealing with a lot but you didn't have to abruptly storm out of the room this morning! The last thing I need is…"

Hitomi's face started to swell with frustration. Van could see the tears pearling into droplets in the corner of her eyes. He swiftly grasped her, pulled her elbow towards him and seated her along with him on the sill. His fingers weaved together, circling her waist and drew her towards him. He was careful not to agitate the not yet healed wound.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear. "Hitomi, there's something I want to tell you…" he said, as Hitomi cut him off in midsentence.

"Wait. Van, I had another vision." He clenched his teeth. Visions tended not be a good thing. He had learned that a long time ago. "Please don't get upset again. I need you to listen." He consented and she continued, "Everything was black and musty. There were so many creatures outlined by black. I couldn't see them. And there was their leader… He was absolutely terrifying…" She shivered.

"And, what else?" he whispered.

"I think they know now. Maybe they didn't before but I think they know I'm here and they're going to come after me."

"But, it was only a vision. Right?"

"It felt so…. real. I- I know they are coming after me. I just don't know when or why or how but they will come." Hitomi continued her explanation of her vision. She was scared but getting upset had certainly gotten her nowhere over the past few days and surrendering was definitely not an option either.

All she could hope for was to push forward and fight for her happiness and Van's. The main thing that troubled her was the womb of which the creature had spoke. Alas, for this moment all she could do was ponder the situation with her beloved and friends by her side.

Van listened intently, his anger was rising but he knew he needed to be strong for Hitomi, stronger, emotionally and physically.

He needed to be stronger for his country and stop acting like a mere selfish child. But more importantly, he needed to ensure that she knew her importance to him and potentially the fate of Gaea. He watched the sun withdrawing and revealing the blue of night. The Mystic Moon hung in the sky; it looked close enough to touch. Van saw Hitomi was entranced by her memories, she was smiling but he could see the remorse. She had given him everything and yet he was going to ask her for even more. Van removed one of his hands from her hip. He brushed the hair off her shoulder, admiring her neckline. His fingers traced over the bone and pressed his lips into her neck. He withdrew and she turned towards him, eyes wide with surprise. He laughed.

"Van…?" His thumb traced her bottom lip and as he proceeded to kiss her.

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