A/N thanks to all who read and reviewed my story. I really appreciate people reading my work. Sorry for the delay on this but the thesis has been taking up much time, and now I am on break, so maybe an other chapter before the week is out. I have some ideas of what will happen, so we shall see. Anyway read and please review, the reviews motivate me! Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

Van sat straight up in his bed, a cold sweat trickling down his back and over his forehead. He couldn't understand why all of these flashbacks kept coming, and why he couldn't get rid of them. Now was not the time for these things to be bothering him. People in the castle were catching on that he had been feeling less than normal since the accident and now was not the time for that to surface. He had to stop feeling this way, stop remembering that fateful night that changed everything, and move on. It was his responsibility to deal with all outcomes of that night, and to put things right. Unfortunately, no matter how much he tried to convince himself of that, he failed. The flashbacks continued, and he still felt one turn away from crazy.

His best friend Merle was the first to notice his pain, and tried desperately to talk to him about it, but he refused. It reminded her of the men who spoke of great wars before the two were even born. He had that same cold expression as they did. It made no sense to Merle, since none of what happened was his fault. Things had just been going wrong before what happened happened, it was a complete fluke, but it did not make him feel any better about the matter. Merle had decided that he was to have a meeting with the advisers about a vacation. She felt that he desperately needed one to bring him back to reality. Echo's of a new war were bruing, and now that he was to take the place of his older brother in the duty of king, she knew he needed to be prepared should a war start. Van was not looking forward to that meeting, and wished that he had managed to act more normal, or had at least confided in Merle. There was no point in that now, he had set fait in motion, and now had to deal with its outcomes. He attempted to close his eyes once again, and tried to make sleep come. Tomorrow was going to be a big day, a day he wished he didn't have to face.

The sun rose early in fanelia, and Van opened his eyes to catch the sunrise from the windows of his castle bedchamber. He yawned and stretched, feeling the affects of a distorted sleep. His brain then clicked that the events of today were not going to be very pleasant, and he groaned inwardly. It was too bad he couldn't just stare at the sun all day, that would be a lot easier than what he was about to face.

A low wrapping at his door indicated to him that the servants were here to prepare him for the morning meal. He allowed them in. The maid laid out his attire for that day, and slipped out afterward not saying a word. Van had been very short and angry toward his servants as of late, and many of them had taken his unfriendly tone to mean that he did not want to be bothered or talked to. Before the accident, Van was a great deal friendlier toward his castle staff, and now he had completely shut them out. All they were good for was doing their jobs. Van had to be honest; he had shut most people out of his life, refusing to speak to anyone unless spoken to. Merle had to pry him for any type of conversation these days, and that was strange as before conversation use to be so easy, so normal between them. That was her reasoning, and he knew it. She was sending him away in hopes of changing him.

He dressed for the morning meal, and made his way to the dining hall. There was to be no ceremony today, he did not want such "nonsense" as he called it. He felt very undeserving of any type of ceremony. This job was not suppose to be his, it was suppose to be his brother's, and now he was forced in to it.

He made his way to the head table, and took a seat. Servants brought him many dishes to choose from, and he picked lightly from them. He hadn't felt like eating much these days, but ate enough to show that he was fine enough. Merle joined him at the table, along with a number of advisers. Something was different about the advisers, they were smiling. Even Merle had a different look in her eye. Van knew something big was being planned.

"Good morning King Van"

Van Scowled at her, he hated that. He didn't want to be the king.

"Hey Merle"

"What's the scowl for!"

"Sorry, I just… hate that term, and you know it!"

One of the advisers sitting at the table chimed in. Well sir, it is your new title, and we really think it is time that you get use to it. It is how you will be addressed from now until the end of your rein.

Van new he was right, but didn't want to listen. He ignored the adviser, and concentrated on the food on his plate, refusing to look at Merle. He knew he had hurt her feelings by scowling, and being so harsh, and now felt a tinge of guilt. He knew she was only trying to help, but that didn't lessen his pain. IT didn't change the outcome of that night, and his poor attitude now.

Merle attempted to keep the mood light. She gave Van a big smile.

"So, we know where you're going for vacation."

Van's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"What? I thought we were going to talk about this first?"

Merle's smile grew larger.

"We didn't think you needed that extra burden, so we took it off your shoulders. We have it all figured out! This will even eliminate the meeting that we're supposed to have, which will free up your last day here for a while to do what ever you want to!"

All Van wanted to do was sit in his room, and be alone. He didn't care about anything else or doing anything else. Something jolted him though, his last day here…

"Where are you sending me?"

The advisers all looked at Merle, a hint of apprehension in their eyes.

"The mystic moon!"

Van did a double take of Merle's face to see if she was joking. Her serious look told him otherwise.

"Merle, are you crazy? That place is cursed!"

"Oh nonsense, it's not! That's just a tale that no one really believes. Did you really believe that? Silly Van!"

Van was completely dumbfounded. How did he let this get so out of hand…

His lead adviser stepped in.

"King Van, it is a good opportunity to learn something new, place yourself in to a new environment. Many from the mystic moon had visited us. Tell me you had heard those stories. The stories of men and ladies who were accidently transported here to our fine land, and left us with knew knowledge. We are simply going to follow those stories, and transport you to the mystic moon. It is a place for you to learn, and maybe quell some of the pain you've been feeling."

Van wasn't sure what to do or say.

"You will be prepared to leave by tonight. At the stroke of midnight, we will transport you to the mystic moon via the pillar of light. Meet us in the4 woods outside of the castle."

Van felt that this was silliness. Maybe the lack of sleep was finally catching up with him, and he was still in his room, simply sleeping. He knew that wasn't the case, and yet he had nothing to say, no arguments toward Merle and the advisers. Sure he didn't want to go to the Mystic moon, but what else was left. The plan had been set in motion, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Hitomi wasn't sure how she had done it, but she managed to drive the car all the way to work without killing a single soul. The only strange thing to her was that she had not been paying attention the entire time. She mused at how strange the human brain could be. She cut the engine of the car, and checked her hair and make-up in the mirror. Roomers had been flying about the divorce at her workplace, and the last thing she needed was to start a whole new round of gossip when she walked in looking terrible. Everything looked fine, so she placed the small mirror back in to her handbag, and made her way to her office. She concentrated on the click clacking of her shoes as she walked through the office building halls, not wanting to look at anyone. She felt if she looked at just one person, she'd lose what composure she managed to be pulling off right now. Sure, it all sounded great in the house, picks yourself up, dust yourself off, but now that she was out of the small house, that was a lot more difficult. She finally made it to her office and slipped the keys in to the door…

It had been one of the longest days of his life. For once, Van had nothing to do, and no where to go. He spent some time with Merle, relaxed in the gardens, and spent time reading. He couldn't even assist in the packing process because his servants, along with Merle, had already done it. That left him even more time to sit and wonder what the Mystic moon would be like. Finally it was close to midnight, so he made his way to the woods. He gave the signal to the advisers to let them know he was there. He then prepared to be enveloped by the pillar. The only instruction that the advisers had given him was to concentrate on thinking of the mystic moon. He did that, and before he could say anything, he was being lifted off the ground by a pillar of light. He felt very warm, and then all of a sudden landed with a thud on something hard and wooden. Before he knew what was happening, he heard a strange clicking noise.

Hitomi thought she had heard something as she was slipping the keys in to the door, but was completely caught off guard when she opened the door. There standing in front of her desk was a man dressed in very strange clothing, looking as surprised as she was. She averted her eyes to the sealing to try not to be rude, and then she saw it, a huge gaping hole in her roof.

"Ummm, how did you get in here?"

Van was at a loss for words. The green eyed girl in front of him was beautiful, and for once in his life, he was completely speechless.