Chapter Four

(Hitomi's POV)

The next day, my alarm clock woke me up with its awful screeching. I hurried to turn it off before it woke Van up. Sitting up, I stretched and yawned and turned on my bedside lamp. I got up and went to my closet for my uniform. I removed my pajama's and put on my skirt. Just as I was about to button my blouse, I heard a quiet, "Hitomi?"

Not good.

I looked up to see Van with his sword in hand (no doubt practicing early morning) with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. I franticly tried to cover myself while he spun the other direction. "I'm sorry!" he shouted. I just gulped and hid myself.

After I was convenient, I turned to Van. Still blushing, I asked, "Are you coming with me to school day?"

"Is it okay if I do?"

"Sure, I don't see why not. As long as you don't give yourself away."

"Where should I hide?"

"Was my bag okay the last time?"

"Yes, just make sure I don't get stuck on your pen again."

I laughed and held out my hand. "Until we get to school, you can stay on my shoulder." I lifted him up and he jumped into place.

We walked a great distance in pleasant silence.

"Have you slept well since you've been here?"

"It's loud at night, but it's comfortable."

I smiled at the fact that the last two nights I've woken up to Van sleeping on my pillow. "Comfortable indeed."

"What?"

"Nothing!"

"Where are we going?"

"To Yukari's. She walks with me to school." We approached the house, but Yukari wasn't outside. "Let's just wait a few minutes, she might be running late." A few minutes rolled by with no sign of her. "I'll ring the bell."

*Ding!*

"Uchida residence."

"Hi Mrs. Uchida, it's Hitomi."

"Sorry dear, she already left with Amano."

"Of course she did…thanks anyways."

"You're welcome dear. Oh! She said that your friend is visiting from out of town!"

"Yes he is."

"Tell him I said hello!"

I turned to Van. "Mrs. Uchida says hello."

He laughed.

We hurried on our way to school. "Is that normal?"

"What?"

"That Yukari is with Amono?"

"Amano. Yeah, pretty normal. I'm pretty sure they're going to get married someday."

"Well, while they're busy, who do you hang around with? When you where in Gaea, you were always talking to somebody…mostly me. But I only saw you alone when you were upset."

"Well Van, that's Gaea and this, is Earth. There's a huge difference between the people."

"What do you mean?"

"I was popular back on Gaea, but now that half the school thinks I'm crazy and the other half only talked to me for readings…there's no one left."

"No one?"

"None."

"Hitomi…I'm so sorry."

"I'm used to it. Two years. And I only have a few months until I graduate."

"And then what?"

"I…I…" I wanted to back to Gaea. "I don't know…"

"I see…well. You still have plenty of time to figure it out."

"Yeah…."

(Van POV)

We arrived at the building that was the school. I still didn't understand how this worked. All types of students went to learn at one place for all different occupations. Therefore, they were learning a bunch of things they would never need. It seemed like a waste to me. But then again, if Hitomi was going to become my queen some day, it was probably better that she knew a bunch of stuff. Wait, I'm automatically assuming that she wanted to be my queen, I still haven't asked if she liked somebody.

"Okay Van, Now would be the best time to get in the bag."

"It's okay, I'll just go in this pocket." I lowered myself down her shirt to land in her breast pocket.

"Alright."

As we came up to the entrance, I noticed a group of girls standing around and talking. Hitomi quickened her pace through the crowd. And kept her head down. I suspected that this was the group that was teasing her.

"Hey, your majesty!" Someone called out from behind her. She didn't stop, just hurried faster. Her cheeks were blazing.

"Was that because of those letters?" I asked.

She solemnly nodded.

"They act like the spoiled princesses back on Gaea. They do stuff like that because they have nothing else to offer."

She gave a pitiful laugh. "You would know about that."

"I might as well tell you now, the council is trying to get me to marry someone."

I heard her heart jump. "Oh…is that so…and?"

"I refuse every single time. Don't worry Hitomi."

A sad smile and a blush reddened on her cheek.

We arrived at what was called Homeroom. The main class that Hitomi stayed in. She looked around. "Yukari's not here yet…"

"Probably making out with Amando."

"Amano."

"Whatever. Hey, don't let it get you down. I'll keep you company."

"Yeah, it's not like I don't talk to myself already." She took a seat in her desk. I swear, as soon as butt touched chair, a big student came and stood in front of her.

"Well, Good morning." He said…charmingly?

"Morning Kurone…" She droned in reply.

"Beautiful morning, isn't it? Almost as beautiful as you." Wait a minute…

"Oh…you're too kind."

"And the trees! So green like your eyes."

"I haven't heard that one before." Sarcasm was lost on this guy.

"Come on Hitomi. Will you please go out with me?"

"No. I told you I'm not interested."

Suddenly, his attitude changed. "I'm taking pity on you, because everyone thinks you're a freak. Why don't you just knock it off and go out with me?"

Hitomi was alert. "I don't need your pity. I'm perfectly fine."

"You're alone."

She was silent a moment and raised her hand to the pocket I was hiding in. "And maybe it's best that way."

"Seriously Hitomi. You're killing yourself. Stop with all this stuff. It's your senior year, you could have a lot of friends."

"I'm not stopping, because it's real to me. And that's all that matters."

"Sure. Right. Of course." He suddenly became very close and spoke in low tones. "If this guy loves you so much, why hasn't he come back for you?"

Hitomi didn't answer as the teacher came in the room. "In your seats people!"

Kurone stalked off.

I stood dumbfounded, clinging to the pocket lining. What if she felt that way? I looked up to her, but her face was turned away.

"Hitomi…I didn't not come back because of that…I just…well I…"

She hushed me. "It's okay. I don't listen to him."

"You say that, but your face says otherwise."

She didn't reply.