Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. I wish I did. But unfortunately for me, unlike Hitomi, my wishes don't all come true and plunge entire worlds into chaos. Oh well… And by the way, I don't own flashbacks from the series, Escaflowne's characters (although Yuushi and Ari are mine), or "Don't Dream It's Over" by Sixpence None the Richer.

A/N: Wow! I got 26 reviews for my two extremely miniscule chapters! To think I thought I'd have to take this story down because everyone would hate it and flame me. Well, I'm glad that that is not how it worked out… I just cannot thank you guys enough. Even those of you who didn't review, but still gave my fic a chance, thanks.

Enfant de haine- Thank you for your sympathy. I hated my braces, but I'm free at last! YAY! I swear that it feels like they're pulling out your teeth when they take them off… But I have them no longer! Now I just have an annoying night retainer and a permanent bottom retainer. Well, when I'm 23, no more night retainer! Great…

TennyoAngel711- Thanks! I'm so happy those stupid braces are off! I feel sorry for you. Ouch! I hate adjustments… Now I worry that I'll leave my stupid retainer out too much and my teeth will shift and they'll re-brace me! Ah, none of us can spell, but that's what Spell Check is for!

Makota Almasy- Thanks so much! I'm glad that you like my idea… I wish that my friend, Kiddi Chi, did. Oh well… I hope that this will be one of the few good F/H fics, and I think that it's good so far, but I'm not the readers, and it's the readers' opinions that decide a fic's fate… I'm also a major V/H nut. It seems like I wrote a million fics for them. I just felt like doing something different… And don't worry, Allen's dead. I shall not bash him… He'll only be mentioned once or twice more in the rest of the fic.

Lovin Vegeta- Evil personalities are cool! Anyway, I hope that this satisfies your craving… I'm glad that you like it!

C.G.- Esca fans unite! I'm glad that you like the fic! Here's the update you wanted!

Harmony- Believe me… Yukari is not so thrilled about the whole Dilandau-thing either… Folken is sad because he's still getting over the fact that Naria and Eriya died and he doesn't like the fact that all those people died. I think that he's also sad because he knows how much Van will hate him since he betrayed the Allies and has taken over for Dornkirk… He's just depressed. Hitomi may help that a bit though. We'll get to Van, but it won't be until later. The perspective will mainly be Hitomi's with occasional thoughts from Folken and Dilandau. I hope that you like this chapter!

Tokara- Aww, I wouldn't say that Hitomi's being tortured, but I must admit… Things do not look good for our leading ladies… Van is in Fanelia and hasn't the slightest idea what has happened. Don't expect him until later. I'm glad that you like the fic!

D.C.- Yes, although Hitomi will miss Van, it is most definitely a F/H romance…

Girl-chama- I'm glad that you find it interesting, here it goes…

Coolchick1500- I'd agree with you that D/Y really is a twist. I'd be really amused if someone could find another fic that has that unique pairing. In fact, I challenge you all to find a fic with that pairing… I kind of wish that I had something to read so that I could get another person's view on how it would be… Oh well. Dream on, Jessica… I'm glad that you like it, keep reading!

Cous-cous- Yes, Dilly can't be liking Hitomi, now can he? Dilly rash is the way it should be, I agree… I'll include some Van angst for your sake. There will be some, I swear. I hope that you enjoy it!

Fontina Blu Cent- I'm glad that you like the fic. I wish Washu would read it. She totally refuses. Oh well… Anyway, I'll go read your fic the second I have the chance and review it and I'd love to be in it! I told Amie to tell you, but I don't know if she remembered. Thanks for reviewing Katie-chan!

Eunc- I'd have to agree with you that D/Y is an "interesting" couple and I frankly have no idea what entered my little blonde mind when I decided on it, but I did and it's done so, yeah… Oh well… Yukari may go back to Amano, but she may not… You'll have to read a few more chapters to find out. Van may get Hitomi back, he may not… Van's in Fanelia, and yes, I think I can safely say without giving away too much that he still loves Hitomi. Some things may not turn out as you'd like or expect though…

Emerald- Your dignity is spared. Anyway, I'm glad that you like it! It's all up to reviews when I upload new chapters. It's all written down in my oh-so-wonderful spiral notebook. I just have to type it and post it …

Xelena- I'm glad that you approve of the whole F/H thing. And I don't know how everybody will feel about the D/Y relationship; I'll just have to read the reviews to find out I guess…

Emerald Mist- I seem to have shocked/surprised a bunch of people with the whole D/Y thing. We'll see how that turns out… I can't tell you if F/H will stay together, but I'll let you know that they will have a romance. There are way too many V/H fics, but they make such a good couple, we writers can't help it. Oh well… Anyway, the braces thing went fine and now I'm free of them! Yay! Thanks for reading!

Nagi-chan- Thanks for reading my fic, Nagi-chan! Your support really means a lot to me! I'm glad that you like it! I hope that you stick with it! Call me!

Tears of the Heart

There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win

Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the T.V. page

Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only shadows ahead barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and relief

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
Don't ever let them win

-"Don't Dream It's Over" by Sixpence None the Richer

Chapter 3: In Body and In Blood

Hitomi wandered about her room aimlessly. So much time and so little to do.

Naria… Eriya… She had barely known them, but they had taught her something during their brief acquaintance. If you truly love someone, you're willing to do anything to protect them… In the catgirls' case, Folken had been the center of their very lives.

Hitomi wondered what they would have been like if they'd never met Van's older brother. If they'd never been pursued by those villagers. Would they have ended up like innocent, childish, annoying Merle? Hitomi could not picture Naria stealing her necklace and running off with it or clinging to Folken all day long and warning her to stay away from him. The twins just didn't seem the type to act that way. They were too cold and serious.

Van had once told Hitomi that Merle's parents had been killed by villagers, like the twins' parents were, and that Balgus had found her orphaned in Irini, a village in western Fanelia. It had been when she was very young, so she obviously didn't remember much except Van who had been her constant companion and friend since she was a kitten.

But Naria and Eriya… They remembered. They were haunted by the memories of their parents' deaths and their pursuers. How they had mocked them and insulted them, relentlessly chasing them for miles until they had them backed up against a cliff that plummeted into a river down below. They had wanted to sell them, but preferring death to servitude or separation, they had taken the plunge. At least they would die together. Sisters stuck together. No matter what… Hitomi could imagine them cringing, expecting to come to a bloody end in a matter of seconds. Their eyes were closed and you could only guess what they were thinking. Probably thoughts along the line of, What did we do to deserve this?

Then, they found themselves floating. They had looked up to see an angel, holding them in his strong arms. Mother had told them about angels and how when good little boys and girls died, angels took them up to heaven where they'd always be happy and safe… They were surprised when the angel didn't take them into the sky above and instead let them go by a cave. Naria bit the strange man, why, she probably couldn't remember later, but she did. Blood trickled down Folken's pale hand as he grimaced. For a small girl, she had sharp little teeth. He promised them better luck. Better lives. Who were they to refuse him? They'd fallen under the spell of Lord Folken's words… Just as Zongi and so many others would in the years to come…

Gradually, they probably learned to obey him and in later years, when their hormones started acting up, they began to love the man who had saved them and cared for them when no one else would. It was their love for Folken that had killed them. Hitomi knew it and Folken did too, whether he'd admit it or not. They never would have let him inject them with that fortune blood if they had not thought it would make him happy. They died, trying to make him happy. They did not succeed.

A tear came to Hitomi's eye, recollecting the catgirls and their bravery. But they had one thing to be grateful for, she supposed. They had died in the arms of the man they loved. The man they'd do anything for. Folken… Somehow, she knew that wherever they were now, they were still very much in love with the blue-haired man seven years their senior. Heaven could always use a few good cats. The thought of kitty-angels made Hitomi smile and almost laugh. But now was not the time to laugh.

The room was quite plain, but it was obvious to see what belonged to whom. Half the room was decorated in silver and the other half was decorated in gold. It fascinated her to no extent. There was a small bathroom adjoined to the bedroom that looked relatively clean. She pulled out the dresser drawers and explored the closet. All she could find were spare uniforms, identical to the ones that Naria and Eriya had always sported. She could not picture herself dressing like that… A blush crept to her cheeks at the very thought. Apparently, she'd have to make due with her school uniform for awhile. It looked to her like this situation was only temporary. After the wedding, she and Folken would probably share a room. Now that was an odd idea. And an unwanted one as well. She was extremely tired and glanced at the clock.

"Wow, it's past midnight already…" She flopped down on the closer of the two beds, which just happened to be Naria's, after kicking off her shoes and removing her jacket.

She stared at the ceiling. It was then that it happened. It always happened to Hitomi at the most inopportune of times. Why she was cursed with these visions, while no one else in her family was, baffled her to no extent. She hated them. She hated how they made her different. She knew that was why they had captured her and Yukari. That was why they were to be married to these cold, violent men of Zaibach.

Most importantly, Hitomi could be used as ransom. They might be able to convince the Allies to surrender when they saw that Zaibach had their "precious little seeress" in captivity. In addition, Folken obviously needed a wife. He wasn't getting any younger. It was queer to think how much older he was than her, but then again, she knew that there were 16-year-olds who ran off with men in their late thirties. And Gaea was, in some ways, was medieval and primitive. Marrying young and someone much older was not that uncommon. Folken's council was probably hoping that her psychic gifts were a genetic thing and that any children that resulted from their marriage might have his amazing wit and her knowledge of things that others could not see until it was far too late. Finally, it hurt the Allies. It was obvious that they had not been fairing well without her help, no matter how bad it was for her to give it. If they didn't know what Zaibach was up to, they couldn't strategize accordingly. They might occasionally use her, not that they needed her, but the sheer fact that the Allies couldn't reach her was a plus for Zaibach.

Why had Grandma Yuri given her those cards? Did she know how they would ruin her life and make living unbearable? How they would make adults classify her as a freak and girls as a love guide? And to top that off, she had also given her the pendant. She remembered that day when her Grandma had invited her to visit. It had been the day of her death. She had died that very night.

Flashback

"Hitomi?"

"Yes, Grandma?" Hitomi walked over to the porch where her grandmother sat, propped up against a support beam. She looked so tired. Her eyes were sad, but on seeing Hitomi, her lips cracked into a thin smile. Hitomi had always visited her grandmother every Sunday afternoon for as long as she could remember. Her mother had confidentially told her what Grandma would not. She had gone to the doctor's office several weeks ago and been diagnosed with cancer. She was likely to die anytime now, whether she or Hitomi wanted to believe it or not. Her grandmother was always spouting advice, and usually it was good advice, although occasionally HItomi had no idea what she meant.

"Hitomi… Believe in yourself… Your wishes will always come true… I want you to have this…" She placed a golden chain with a pinkish-red pendant hooked to the end of it in Hitomi's hand.

"Thank you, Grandma. It's beautiful…" She whispered in awe, fastening it around her neck.

"I'm glad that you like it. It's my treasure. I know that I can trust you to take care of it and use it properly."

Hitomi wondered what she meant by, "Use it properly." How could you improperly use a necklace?

"Grandma, where did this pendant come from?"

"Well, Hitomi, I'd tell yout, but I don't think that you'd believe me…or understand…" The old woman looked rather sad, burdened by knowledge she didn't feel that she could share with her younger look-alike and favorite granddaughter.

"Grandma, tell me. I'm sure it can't be that complicated!" Hitomi insisted.

"Alright then, Hitomi. What would you say if I told you that the city of Atlantis existed?"

"I'd say that you were mistaken. It's a myth. Whole cities aren't engulfed by the ocean like that."

"You see, Hitomi? Yyou wouldn't understand if I told you the origin of that pendant. We'll just say that I've had it for a long time and leave it at that."

"Whatever you say, Grandma." Hitomi muttered, still confused.

"Oh yes, and I found these in one of your mother's old trunks the other day. I thought that you might find a use for them." She held out a deck of cards to Hitomi. But on closer inspection, she realized that they weren't playing cards, but rather, cards of a far different sort.

"They're tarot cards. They can tell you your fortune. Your mother had a grand time with them as a teenager. I can't honestly say that I believe they're very accurate, but I think it's all in who's the reader."

"But, I don't know how to use them…" Hitomi was pleased to receive such an interesting gift, but it would lie dormant on a shelf if she had no idea how to use it. The names and pictures were already confusing her.

"Oh I'm sure that your mother can show you!" Her Grandma smiled warmly at her.

"HITOMI!" Hitomi's mother honked her car horn from the driveway and Hitomi took that as a signal that it was time to go.

"Well, that's your mother, see you next week, Hitomi!" Her Grandmother waved her off, still smiling as Hitomi hugged her before running to the car. As the car drove away, the smile left her face. Somehow, Hitomi's grandmother knew that she'd never see her granddaughter's sweet face again. A thought crossed her mind.

Is she so much like me that…? No… It won't happen to her… That strange world… Gaea… I'm starting to believe that it was all just a dream… And that man… Schezar… I wonder if he's still alive… She smiled at the thought of him.

I wonder what he'd think of me now that I'm not the pretty young girl I once was? Oh well… It was probably some sort of illusion I conjured up on the way home from the carnival… I was probably just tired… My parents acted like I'd never even left… Yes, nothing will happen to Hitomi… Gaea is just a fantasy and nothing more…

With these thoughts in mind, the elderly lady retired to bed, intent on getting some sleep. She was extremely tired for some reason. She didn't know that she wouldn't wake up from her peaceful slumber…

End of Flashback

Then, the vision began, as natural as though it were a dream. But it wasn't a dream… It was far too real to be that… And she wasn't even asleep yet…

Vision

"I need one of you to be my partner…" Hitomi was surprised to see Folken standing there with Naria and Eriya. This was obviously something of the past. Naria and Eriya were dead…

"Of course, Lord Folken…" Naria whispered seductively, obviously praying that she'd be the one.

"No complaints, okay Naria?" Eriya stated the conditions to her sibling.

"Fine." Naria replied in annoyance.

"Let's see whose luck is stronger!" Eriya declared, flipping a golden coin high into the air.

Obviously, Eriya had won, because the next moment, she was on the bridge with Folken and Naria was off to the side, flipping the coin angrily and silently cursing her misfortune.

A technician yelled over the silence, "Thirty to activation of the Fate Accelerator!"

"Alright, Eriya. We are to play Allen Schezar and Hitomi Kanzaki." Folken told her quietly, hoping she could do this.

"Yes, Lord Folken, I mean Allen…" Eriya corrected her blunder quickly. She had to get in character if she wanted Folken to let her do this.

"Good…" Folken murmured..

"Ten to activation!" another technician called out.

"The stage is set, the actors are read. Now is the time to change the vector of their hearts… Alter fate!" Folken said dramatically.

"Altering fate!"

"Altering fate!"

"Altering fate!" Three of the technicians cried.

The machine was ready. A light illuminated the two players that were acting to change two peoples' fates. They each held up a hand.

"Hitomi…" Folken whispered.

"Allen…" Eriya muttered in reply, as though she wished she could lovingly whisper Folken's name instead.

Hitomi had the feeling that she knew what was going on here. Was this that awful day? When Van's confession of love had turned into a plea for help, causing her to slap him and run away? Then she had…

The two actors held hands under the watchful eye of Dornkirk. He had the feeling that Folken's latest plan would be a success, but only time would tell.

"Turning… Turning… The wheels of fate are turning… And now, everything begins…"

The two stepped closer to each other.

"Strengthen your feelings…"

"Allen…" Eriya muttered again.

"Elemental particles of fate accelerating!" a technician reported.

"Target value cleared!" another technician replied.

"Now, let me see the power that fate has over human hearts…" Dornkirk whispered.

Folken put his hand on Eriya's shoulder and Hitomi had a flash of Allen doing the same thing somewhere far away…

"Hitomi…" Folken whispered to Eriya.

"Elemental particles decreasing…" A technician announced to everyone in the room's annoyance.

"Clear your mind of worldly thoughts, Eriya. And try to think of me… With all of your heart…" Folken whispered to the catgirl. It was obvious to Hitomi that Eriya was having no problem thinking of him. It was pretending to be another woman and knowing that to Folken this was just an operation. The most painful reality was that once this was over, he'd never act this way towards her again.

"Lord Folken… I…"

"I know it's hard, but think of me…"

"But Lord Folken…" Eriya whispered in objection, blush creeping up her cheeks.

"The fate accelerator has reached critical!" A technician reported.

"Hitomi…"

"Allen…"

Dornkirk and the others watched silently as the two drew closer and Naria watched anxiously. Then, Folken and Eriya passionately kissed. Lightning cracked and Hitomi sensed that this was the beginning of the end.

"Yes! The beginning of a new fate!" Dornkirk cried above the storm.

But then, she saw herself, kissing Allen in Asturia. On that cursed bridge that ruined her chances with Van… And she saw Van… His gravity-defying hair plastered down by the rain. She couldn't tell if it was raindrops or tears that coursed down his face as he ran away. Ran away from Hitomi Kanzaki, the girl from the Mystic Moon who was in love with Allen Schezar…

End Vision

The next thing Hitomi knew, it was the following morning and she was being awakened by a relentless pounding on the door.

"LADY HITOMI!"

The chirping birds and the sunlight seeping through the window held her attention for a moment before she went to see what was going on outside her door.

"I'm coming; I'm coming!" she murmured into her pillow. So it hadn't just been a bad dream. Today was her wedding day. And she wasn't marrying Van.

She threw on a silver robe that had presumably been Naria's and opened the door.

"Good morning. Or is it?" She greeted the man, yawning.

"It's your wedding day! Most people would be happy!" A woman pushed her way through the door and began to make the bed.

"Huh?" Hitomi asked in confusion as the woman intruded and the man looked helpless, shrugging his shoulders.

"Hello. My name is Yuushi. This is my wife, Ari. I'm a Dragonslayer and she is your handmaiden. She's supposed to get you ready before the big event. I am to escort you to breakfast and show you around the Vione before the ceremony."

"I still don't understand… How can we be on the Vione? I was there… I saw it sink beneath the waves!" Hitomi muttered.

"Well, it was recovered, repaired, and now everything is more or less how it was."

"And the Dragonslayers… I saw them die! All of them…"

"Yes, my predecessors did, unfortunately, die. In fact, I am the younger brother of Chesta. Perhaps you've heard of him?"

"No; I only knew of Migel…"

"Well, no matter. My comrades and I are now soldiers under Lord Dilandau's command. We are just as strong and loyal as the first slayers. I believe that we do them proud." They walked down the hallway and entered a crowded room containing about fifty Zaibachans sitting around.

"May I present to you, Lady Hitomi Kanzaki, Lord Folken's fiancée…" Hitomi blinked stupidly, looking around in bewilderment as her face turned red to be in this room, surrounded by intimidating, important people of Zaibach, in her bathrobe.

"Damn it, Yuushi! I'm going to get you for this…" She hissed at him as he tried to keep from laughing at her predicament. He was going to enjoy being around this girl.

She was seated at the side of Folken, whose lips were curling in amusement as he sipped his drink. Yukari sat diagonally across from her, Dilandau directly across, and Yuushi on her other side. She stared at her plate. There was some sort of meat, next to what looked like eggs, in front of what appeared to be toast. There was a silver goblet filled with something that slightly resembled milk. It looked okay, but Hitomi knew that things were not always as they appeared on Gaea. She couldn't even count the number of times she'd eaten a bug or drank some far-too-strong wine, not knowing what it was at the time. She took a bite out of the meat and chewed it thoughtfully. It wasn't half bad.

"Oh Hitomi, I'm so glad you like poached dragon meat, not many foreigners appreciate it!" Ari beamed at her. Hitomi gagged and moved on to the eggs.

"Dragon eggs are quite a delicacy around here." She took a swig of milk.

"And what's this? Dragon's milk?" Hitomi asked, about ready to puke.

"No, that's just milk from a cow. Where else would we get it from?" Ari looked at her mistress in confusion.

"I guess the Mystic Moon bitch doesn't like dragons… Oh wait, that's not right… I'm sure she got pretty cozy with Van a few times." The adonis smirked as her face turned red and she bit into her toast, relieved when Ari didn't comment on its origins.

"Yeah Hitomi! Don't be such a baby!" Yukari hiccuped, downing a goblet of wine as Dilandau ignored her.

"Did you give her wine with her breakfast?" Hitomi asked Dilandau in disbelief.

"I thought it would loosen her up a bit. She's a frigid bitch." Dilandau commented casually.

"Yukari, you're drunk…" Hitomi explained to her formerly-sober friend patiently.

"Whutareu," HICCUP , "talkin' 'bout?" Yukari demanded in a slurred drawl.

"Folken!" Hitomi pleaded with the dark angel to do something.

"Dilandau… Your fiancée doesn't look well. Perhaps you should take her to the medical bay…" Folken recommended emotionlessly.

"Leave her be. She's fine." Dilandau murmured disinterestedly, downing his remaining Vino. Apparently Yukari wasn't the only one who needed to "loosen up" before the wedding.

"As you wish." Folken muttered, slight annoyance slipping into his voice.

"Bastard…" Hitomi hissed at the general with eyes the color of wine, knowing that this was entirely his fault.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me, Bitch…" He smirked at her triumphantly.

Where did he learn that? It's from Earth… Hitomi wondered to herself.

"This one must have said that a billion times," Dilandau gestured at Yukari, as though he could read her thoughts. She was giggling stupidly, leaning against Dilandau's shoulder.

Folken stood up and everyone followed suit.

"The wedding is at noon. I expect everyone to be present." He exited and Hitomi decided that now was the best time to return to her chamber. Ari quickly followed her new mistress.

"Here, Miss," she said as they entered the room, handing Hitomi what appeared to be a candy bar.

"Oh, Ari! Thank you!" Hitomi squealed, gobbling down the candy like it was the first piece of food she'd seen in years.

"Oh, it's nothing, Miss," Ari blushed at the praise.

"You can't live on toast alone, you know…"

"You sure can't," Hitomi agreed with her, licking off the remainder of chocolate crumbs left on the wrapper.

"Where did you get it anyway?"

"Oh, when we stop in Asturia we're allowed to visit the bazaar in Palas. I've found all sorts of things there. That's just one of them. I heard Lady Yukari shrieking about it this morning and I hoped you would like it."

"At least someone here is nice to me…" Hitomi murmured, falling onto Naria's bed.

"You mustn't be so hard on Lord Folken, Milady. Running an empire isn't easy, you know."

"Folken is the Emperor of Zaibach?" Hitomi whispered in disbelief. That explained a lot.

"That he is, and right good one too." Ari confirmed Hitomi's assumption.

"Emperor Dornkirk was killed… I suppose right after you left, Lady. Some king, maybe Fanelia's? I don't remember… Killed him. Sliced him right down the middle with that sword of his, they say. Then he took off in a white dragon back to his demolished kingdom. Imagine that! Going home knowing that your entire country had been burned to the ground and you hadn't a friend left in the world? I can't picture it…" She shuddered before continuing.

"Well, before the emperor was killed, the military attacked Asturia during one of their council meetings. Wiped pretty much all of them out. King Van was outside; he didn't wish to participate in the proceedings, and he was, as you know, spared. Currently, Zaibach has control of every country on Gaea except Fanelia. That's their main target now. It's easy to see that the people of Asturia aren't happy to be under Lord Folken's control. All the Ally troops and leaders left are trying to lead a rebellion in Asturia to wipe our men out. No hope though. There aren't enough of them. Lord Folken seemed to be the best candidate at the time, so he got the job as Emperor. Lord Dilandau acts as the surrogate king of Asturia, primarily. Lord Folken hasn't got the time, with his duties and all."

"So that's why they brought us here. They needed wives so that they could have heirs to the thrones of Asturia and Zaibach. It makes sense I guess."

"Ari," Hitomi began urgently, although she pretty much knew what the answer would be before she even asked the question. "Who won the Destiny War?"

"Who won, Miss? Nobody knows that. As I was just explaining, the war's still going strong. It has been for more than two years!"

"Oh…" Hitomi muttered dejectedly. She began to sob softly, hugging her knees to her chest. "Why won't they stop fighting? I don't want to see it anymore…" she whispered.

"There, there, Lady…" Ari patted her reassuringly on the shoulder. "Both sides believe strongly in their cause. Those who fight are willing to die for it."

"But why? Why do they all have to die? Is there a reason?"

"They're fighting to protect us…" Ari replied with little enthusiasm, as though she'd been told that many a time, but still didn't believe it.

Flashback

"Come on, Hitomi! We're fighting to protect you and everyone else!" Van told her.

End of Flashback

"Yuushi fights alongside Lord Dilandau. He's still alive." Ari said, hope eminent in her voice that her husband would remain unharmed.

"Lady Hitomi!" The boy in question burst in.

"What is it?" Ari asked her husband in annoyance.

"It's eleven! You have barely two hours until the wedding! I suggest that you get moving!"

"I thought that the wedding wasn't until tonight!" Hitomi exclaimed.

"They moved it to this afternoon because Lord Dilandau and Lord Folken are needed on the battlefield early tomorrow morning to meet the enemy forces. They need their rest." The man exited the room as Hitomi cursed him to hell and back.

"Oh no! We must hurry!" Ari pushed Hitomi into the bathroom and started running hot water into the marble bathtub, pouring bath salts in.

"Well! What are you waiting for? We haven't got all day!"

"Do I have to?" Hitomi pleaded, her face as red as a lobster.

"Yes! Hurry up!" Ari commanded.

"Okay…" Hitomi muttered, slowly taking off her garments and immediately covering herself with a fluffy gray towel.

"We're both women here. This won't do." Ari declared, pushing Hitomi into the tub.

"GAH!" The girl shrieked as she plunged in headfirst.

The towel floated away and she feebly attempted to retrieve it. With no success, she sighed, submersing herself beneath the bubbles. Ari began to scrub her hair and it seemed like only seconds before her hair was dry and she was squeezing into a white lacey wedding dress as Ari applied her makeup. She eyed herself in the mirror and a few tears escaped her emerald eyes.

So this is it. I'm getting married to the boy I love's brother… The brother that's fighting against him… The brother that's ten years older than me… The brother that betrayed his friends and his country. Oh Van… I wish you were here.

"Now, now, Lady. Your makeup's smearing." Ari scolded Hitomi, ushering her into the throne room where the ceremony was to take place.

Yukari was dressed in similar attire with a rather sick look on her face, as though she had just realized the predicament they were in. She said something that Hitomi couldn't hear over the uproar of the crowd, but could still understand perfectly.

"What about Amano?"

Folken and Dilandau stood by an elderly priest who looked like he wished he was dead by now. Hitomi and Yukari walked solemnly down the red-carpeted aisle. It was then that Hitomi noticed that Dilandau hadn't changed and Folken was in ceremonial armor like Van's. Just like Van's… Tears filled her eyes in plain view as the spectators sighed happily over her "tears of joy." She was filled with fury. How dare this traitor dress like Fanelia's good king? He was unworthy of the same surname. She then noticed that they had reached the men and seeing Yukari visibly shudder, she grabbed her gloved hand reassuringly. Folken and Dilandau kneeled and the girls followed suit.

"On this day in Lord Folken's twenty-seventh year and Lord Dilandau's seventeenth year, we shall join our emperor and our elite forces commander with the seeress of the Allies and her companion, both of the Mystic Moon." Gasps of shock came from the guests at the girls' origins before the priest could continue.

"Do you accept them as your own? Do you promise to protect them and care for them? Do you take them to be your wives, Lord Folken and Lord Dilandau? Accepting them as new children of Zaibach and recognizing their children as your successors?"

"In body and in blood, we swear it…" They muttered their consent. Hitomi thought it was strange that love was never mentioned in these vows. Apparently love had little to do with marriage in Zaibach.

"And do you, Lady Hitomi and Lady Yukari, take these men to be your husbands? To honor, respect, and obey them? To support them in their times of trouble and bear their heirs? Thereby pledging you to this country and its inhabitants?"

"No… I can't! I won't! You can't make me!" Yukari protested as she rose, glaring at Dilandau. If looks could kill, he'd certainly be dead.

"Oh, I can't, can I?" Dilandau asked smugly, turning to Folken.

"Lord Folken, may I have this wench as my wife?"

"Yes Dilandau, she is yours…" Folken replied in a frustrated tone. He didn't like getting caught in the middle of all of this.

"Thank you, Emperor." Dilandau smirked at the red-head.

"I won't." Yukari repeated.

"You have no choice in the matter!" Dilandau hissed at her. The crowd was getting restless by now. What was going on?

"Well, you can't be wed without agreement on both sides." The priest stated the obvious.

"We will marry you…" Hitomi whispered regretfully. "In body and in blood…"

"Hitomi! What are you saying?! We don't belong here with these bastards! We should be at home with our friends and family!"

"Yukari, we have no choice…" Hitomi whispered sadly, lowering her head as she pulled her friend back into a kneel. She still shuddered from her earlier conversation with Ari. Why did she have to ask?

Flashback

"And what if we refuse to marry them?" Hitomi asked, frustrated by their situation.

Ari's look turned serious and her eyes gazed at her sadly.

"Then you will be put to death. Such is the fate of those who refuse the leaders of Zaibach…"

End of Flashback

"I will marry Emperor Folken and Yukari will marry Lord Dilandau. This is how it shall be." Hitomi could never forget the look of sadness and betrayal on Yukari's face as she said those painful words, oblivious to the rest of the people in the room.

Yukari… Please don't hate me. I can't stand to see anyone else I love die… Hitomi thought silently, trying to ignore her friend's hostile looks in her direction.

"I now pronounce you wed. You may kiss the brides." They shared a joyless kiss. It held no endearment. Hitomi felt numb.

Later that night, she looked out her window gazing at the stars, wondering if Van was thinking of her. She wished she was there with him instead of here. As she doused her candle and climbed into Naria's bed for the last time, she reflected on the fact that she was no longer Hitomi Kanzaki, the girl from the Mystic Moon. She was Hitomi Kanzaki de Fanel, Empress of Zaibach…

A/N: Well, I hope you guys liked this chapter. Expect an update in a week or maybe in a few days if a get a bunch of reviews.

Next Time On "Tears of the Heart":

He clenched his fists in fury, his eyes glowing with rage.
"FOLKEN!" He screamed, frightening the birds from their rooftop perch. The traitor. The scoundrel. If Dilandau was truly a demon, Folken had to be the devil himself. How could the brother he'd once played with, the brother he'd once idolized, the brother he'd missed and cried over when he hadn't come home, be the one that had plunged the world into chaos? He swore that he would make him sorry. He'd make his brother so very sorry for what he'd done.