(Hello! I'm back! Sorry it took a while, I've been busy. I just got finished with a really big research project in English, went on my band tripYes, I'm in band, and play the trumpet. Sue me. and just this week finished my exit level TAKS test, which lasted all week. I'm so happy I don't have to worry about that anymore! Anyway, all I got to worry about now are my SAT's later this spring, hopefully, and my finals. I will be so happy when school is over! Well, sorry about rambling about my pathetic life, and get on with things. I wanted to go ahead and continue this part of the story, so I won't go to a different person this chapter. Hitomi pov.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the painfully easy to figure out plot , and a few meaningless characters along the way. My life is so empty... :(:(:(:(:(:(LoL!

It seemed like a dream. Only yesterday, she had returned, at least remotely happy that she was back, but now she had to worry about betrayal and treachery already.

So tiring...

Her feet were beginning to hurt, and her legs were cramping, but still there was no sight of Van.

The castle was large, and because she didn't know her way around it, she had trouble locating anything.

She soon found herself downstairs in an unfinished part of the castle, where workers were still building the walls around her, and the noise was driving her crazy. She felt a headache begin to form between her temples, throbbing in succession with the pain in her legs.

She stopped once she was away from the workers and slid against a wall, rubbing one hand against her right leg, the other holding her head up, her eyes pressed against it.

Maybe I should dowse to find him...

It seemed to be a good plan, so she stood up again, facing ahead and ran blindly forward, her eyes closed tight.

After a while she decided it wasn't such a good idea after all, because she couldn't concentrate on what she wanted to find, trying desperately to focus to use dowsing in her mind. She ran for so long, but nothing appeared, nothing happened. Nothing popped up in her mind, it was clouded and untrained. Her worry and doubt was like a thick fog in her mind, blurring her inner vision.

Where is he? I have to find him….

XX

Hitomi ran for what seemed hours, when she calmed down. It was a mixture of tiredness and realization that stopped her running.

He wants to kill me, then he would have already done it. I have to calm down, and get back to my room. Van was probably already looking for me. I know Gothel won't try anything with Van there…I hope…

She turned around, and found herself very lost. It was getting darker around her, a bit darker then she cared it to be.

Very little light was in this part of the castle. A small window on the far end of the hall was the only light source near her though; obliviously she had stumbled into another part of unfinished construction.

There were columns and ramps leading up the right wall, half of which wasn't there, a portion of the wall missing, revealing the sky above. She could clearly see the sun setting under the wide canopy of the dragon forest, and an eerie wolf cry she could hear in the distance sending a chill down her back, coupled with the cool feel of the night breeze on her bare legs.

She turned back and walked the way she came, trying to get her bearings.

The cool night air whipped past her as she exited the hall, feeling much better that the new one she entered had more light. She was in such a rush, she almost didn't notice the many patterns that adorned the hall, which might have other wise been unrecognizable, if not for the added light of the torches on the walls.

Instead of magnificence implied on the many paintings and patterns of the Asturian castle, the patterns on the wall here were those of simple, elegant beauty. Hitomi couldn't help but stop to admire the walls, momentarily forgetting her panic.

She marveled at the craftsmanship of the swirls of blue and green paint on the walls, depicting many grassy fields of summer, and the yellow and orange of the writing there. Although she couldn't read Fanelian, she was sure whatever the inscriptions on the wall told of the wonders of nature and the glory of a blue sky on a cloudless day, forever etched into eternity on the paintings before her.

Something caught her eye, a little above her, to an image in the sky painted a little ways down the wall.

She gasped.

Her hand grazed the white of a lone feather painted to side of the wall.

It's so beautiful...

"Hey! Young lady, you shouldn't be here!"

Hitomi was startled by a loud voice beside her. She took a wild step back from the wall and wheeled around.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause any trouble." Hitomi bent down in a bow to whoever had startled her, hoping she had done anything wrong.

"I was just lost…" As she bent up to speak, she felt unnerved by the presence of the person speaking.

She came face to face with an older, heavy set man with light brown hair covering his face, and little curls on the top of his visibly thinning hairline at the top of his head.

The man's voice softened considerably when he could clearly see the woman he was talking with. "Lost? This castle isn't that big. How could you be lost?"

Hitomi felt a little embarrassed by the statement.

Isn't that big? You try running around in it for hours!

"My name is Jonah. I didn't mean to scare you. Would you like some help?"

Hitomi nodded slowly, but took a step back. "Thank you."

Jonah led her to the main areas of the castle, talking softly to her about nothing but small talk, and soon Hitomi was comfortable again.

"I hope I meet you again!" Jonah exclaimed as he headed off again, leaving Hitomi alone.

She had calmed down a bit more now that she was in a part of the castle she recognized.

"I think I ought to find Van." She thought aloud, walking slowly toward her room.

"Hitomi? Why are you speaking to yourself?"

Hitomi almost jumped out of her skin. Yukari had walked up, looking happy to see her.

"Hitomi, I have been looking for you forever! Where have you been?" Yukari hit Hitomi playfully on her shoulder, then pulled her in closer, whispering in her ear, "I bet I know where you were! I haven't seen Van all day today either! You little fox!" Despite herself, Hitomi couldn't help but laugh.

"I haven't seen him today! Get your mind out of the gutter!" Hitomi paused, then whispered back, a bit more seriously, but still trying to ebb the fear building within her, "I need to talk to him…I think something bad happened!"

"Huh?" Yukari released her grip on Hitomi, and took a step back. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you know where Van is?" Her panic showing clearly now on her face, no doubt frightening Yukari.

Yukari shook her head, suddenly looking sad. "I don't know where he is. I'm sorry Hitomi."

Ugh! Where is he? He didn't just leave! I can't believe I can't find him, and now she can't? I had no idea he could disappear like this... How irresponsible!

Hitomi was getting impatient. Van was right there last night, but now he seemed to evaporate. Today just wasn't her day.

"You should get something to eat. It's been a long day." A man's voice behind them interjected, the cold and curt manner sending chills down the girls' back.

Hitomi turned around, her fear and worry returning.

"Sir G-Gothel." Hitomi heard herself say, taking a step back, staring fearfully up at the one man she had tried so hard to avoid.

(That is the end! I hope you liked it! I wrote a little bit less then usual, but not that much. I hope you read more later! I write more soon...hopefully. If you you R&r maybe I can get the next chapter up quicker.

PLEASE!)