Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ When We Meet Again *~* ❯ Paradise Broken - Part I ( Chapter 13 )

"Kagome… Kandern….Kanzaki. Ah… This must be it!"

San Aszkielowicz tapped the apartment listings' glass proudly, finger poised directly in front of the Kanzaki apartment code.

"2-6-7-1…" Brushing back a lock of that same mahogany brown hair, she repeated the numbers to herself as if to ease them into memory then looking confoundedly at the apartment-buzzing device off to her left. The number pad and speaker were obvious enough for usage, but unfortunately San was not exactly up to date with these new computerized buzzing systems. She gazed inanely at the bright, glowing blue screen that greeted her, bold black letters flashing, "Welcome to Meadow Garden Apartments" in about three different languages. Swallowing slightly, she hesitantly glanced around for instructions on how on earth to navigate this thing, aware that her Japanese comprehension skills were poorer than poor as observed by her aunt Hikoro not long before.

"Now are you sure you can take care of yourself, San?" Hikoro Kanzaki had stated worriedly before San had been just about to part to pay a surprise visit to her about-to-be-wed cousin.

"I'll be fine!" She had stupidly replied albeit the fact that she had never visited Japan before without her mother's guidance. "I just can't wait to see Hitomi again! Thanks for all of your help Auntie Hikoro!"

And with that San had waved off boarding a train late in the evening and somehow, while frantically scanning through her aunt's written instructions, she managed to make her way successfully to the lobby of Hitomi's apartment building within a few minutes. She too had been surprised to hear that the Kanzaki family had not expected her coming! There she had sat miserably in the Osaka Airlines sitting foyer just the day before, neck aching, head throbbing surrounded by dozens upon dozens of oriental strangers in a land she really did not know well without company around. Her enthusiasm on her visit had quickly died down as hours and hours had literally passed her by. Eventually, caught adrift in the throng of waiting passengers, San had figured that something must have gone wrong. After all of the planning for her arrival and her duty as bridesmaid, she had highly doubted anything could go wrong, but boy, was she ever mistaken! It turned out her relatives thought she would be coming a whole week later, and weren't even prepared for her arrival! Thankfully, she still had the phone number of her aunt in mind, and it wasn't long after before Hikoro Kanzaki had come to pick her up equally shocked to hear of the confusion. And having not yet seen her favorite same-aged cousin in over three years, San had of course been antsy to visit Hitomi the second she could - they were much like sisters after all, and plus Hitomi was getting married! But the fact that it would now become a surprise visit in result of the schedule mix-up, the whole thing would become even better.

That is, if she only knew how to work the damn buzzer.

Pulling her purse strap higher up her shoulder, San gave a heave of a breath - Out of all of the problems to expect on being a foreigner; this sure hadn't been one of them.

"Do you need some help?"

Startled, San quickly turned to face the open air, then lowering her eyes she realized her confounded attention had been caught by none other than a small, young boy. He stared up at her with blue eyes nearly smiling, and blonde wispy bangs falling near his ears.

"Why… sure…" she replied hesitantly, after all, finding it to be the first time where she had to require assistance from a ten-year-old or so stranger. "That'd be very nice of you."

"It's no problem," he replied, cheery cheeks and happy smiles, walking over beside the keypad showing her which buttons did what.

"My sister and I saw you by the listings," the boy continued, referring to the strange, hooded girl he stood beside. San noticed that she looked a bit older than he was, and strangely dressed in layer after layer even though the weather was finally turning quite nice.

"I couldn't help but notice you're looking for Kanzaki Hitomi as well."

"Hitomi?" San looked at him inquisitively. "You two know her too?"

The boy nodded, eyes still bright, "Yes, we used to be neighbours with her before she moved here."

"Really?" San grew to even more interest, smiling at both the boy and the girl although noticing that she could never really catch a good glimpse of the older sibling.

"So you live near Tsutomu Lake too, don't you? Why, I'm staying at her mother's home… so that must mean I'm right next door to you!"

Suddenly, the young boy's face took a pinkish flush. The older girl, whom had not yet uttered a word, flashed him a warning glance menacingly. It was obvious that she was apparently worried about the frail web of lies her 'little brother' was profusely spinning. If he didn't watch his words carefully, he may find the both of them tangled in his fabled mess.

But it seemed at that moment luck decided to join their side as a crackle abruptly came over the speaker and a jolly voice came on tone.

"Kanzaki & Corain residence!"

San glared at the speaker inattentively, and then suddenly noticed that neither the boy nor his older sister were saying anything. She couldn't help but find that peculiar but decided to take over from there.

"Hello? Is that you Hitomi?!" Practically shouting the words, she neared to the speaker as close as possible, not really knowing the fact that Meadow Gardens was a newly remodeled structure and everything was up to date, meaning that there really was no need to speak so loudly and she was probably just deafening the person on the other end.

"HELLO? It's SAN ASZKIELOWICZ! HITOMI??"

There was a short pause… then another voice quickly stole into the scene.

"San…? Hitomi's cousin?" Just like many others, the voice came in with quite the shock to learn of San's presence so early in the week.

"Yes!"

"Oh my! San, if you remember me from a few years ago, this is Hitomi's friend, Yukari Uchida! She's not home right now - she should be back soon - but her roomy Cathy and me are here! I'll buzz you up, okay?"

"Oh hello Yukari!" San smiled brightly, relieved to here a familiar voice She still easily remembered the maroon haired close friend of Hitomi's she had met long ago when they had all been in their teens, back when San's mother would take her to Aimsa for frequent visits. "It's been a while! Yes, that would be great, doumo arigatou gozai-masu!"

"Hey, no prob fellow bridesmaid. And don't worry about it, we're English speakin' in Aimsa…. The Foreigner Friendly City. Hurry on up, k?"

Being even more relieved to hear of the flexibility of the language situation since her last visit so long ago, San quickly turned her attention as the door standing adjacent to the three began emitting an alien high-pitched tone and the adolescent girl quickly took hold of it, allowing the young boy and San Aszkielowicz to enter in before her.

She waited however until the boy was within her grasp, before hoisting him back towards her gently.

"Is that…??" She inquired, referring to the second voice they all had heard from the speaker system. "If it is, she'll recognize you, won't she?"

"Yes," he replied quietly, hiding his whisper from San's hearing. "If that's Yukari Uchida up there, we've stepped right into hot water."

The girl flashed him a vindictive glance, yellow eyes circling, "Good job, genius. Old neighbours with Hitomi? Really… you should have known that would backfire somehow. Besides, she's not even home. Did you even plan this out at all?"

San, hearing the discussing words of the children behind her, turned towards their direction as she pressed upon a lit button to call on an elevator.

"Shall we go up together, guys?" She gave a cheerful smile, delighted to know there were so many people to get reacquainted with, although equally disappointed in Hitomi's temporary absence.

The young boy turned his attention away from making a smart comment back to his supposedly elder sister, and then smiled once more in San's direction.

"Yes, of course. We've gone too far to turn back now."

"So… how's he doing?" Kusanagi Motoko stared bluntly through the glass, gazing at the young man on the other side asleep under a layer of hospital sheets. From here, he looked so lost and helpless, just as Kusanagi was easily feeling in this exceedingly long day.

"He's doing just great," Nurse Kaye Joi nodded her reply, staring over the young man's record sheet so far. He really hadn't been as hard to work with as the paramedics had warned… maybe it was because he had finally tired out. Just by looking at his paled complexion and observing his sudden dire need for water, Kaye had instantly sensed that he was suffering from quite the lack of blood.

"The stitches were a simple procedure," Nurse Joi continued staring also through the hospital glass. "We were only lucky that his blood type was available in vast supply today. The medication should only keep him out for a few more hours, and if it is for official reasons we'll grant you the permission to interview him later on. But I'm afraid his background has been as troublesome to trace as you said it would be."

Kusanagi frowned; she had expected that but still had stayed afloat with optimism.

"So, you found no records on 'Van Fanel', did you?"

"Well, we did get a couple. But those were from the international records online and neither of the males we found were anywhere close to the one here, and besides that, both of the other records belonged to people outside of Japan. You know, he could as well be taking on an alias…"

Motoko nodded vaguely, recalling that Hitomi's rash words warning her of something like this.

"He's not of this world…"

Those words… they really didn't make sense. But still, recalling the moment when that young, paled girl had flashed back to attention had overflowed her with information that was so vast to understand. Everything of that moment had probably doused both Kusanagi and Lecward Bargera into flooding headaches, but there wasn't anything much else to go by. The scary part was, the more time went on - the more Hitomi's unbelievable story began to check out.

"That's alright," Kusanagi nodded a second time. "We'll figure out soon enough."

"But detective," Nurse Joi sighed sullenly gazing too at the lonely character dozing quietly. "I'm afraid the hospital will need a relative or close friend of his to provide some information on this guy or I have no idea how much longer we can keep him here. Sorry but people don't stay in the hospital for free."

"I'll talk to my supervisors about that," Motoko replied darkly, realizing that this man's lack of acquaintances on this planet proved to be making the situation even worse. "The woman he was with isn't in very fitting conditions herself. I sent her home, but we might be able to call her up later tonight. Hopefully, the department can get something worked out concerning the costs."

"Alright then," Kaye Joi smiled with the energy she had left, holding the clipboard back against her chest. "I better be off to attend to the other patients. When you hear of any news concerning him, please alert the front desk."

"No problem," Kusanagi Motoko attempted a courteous smile as she watched the nurse round the corner and disappear from sight within the strange, blank hospital walls. How Kusanagi hated hospitals; she found these kinds of places absolutely nauseating. That may be quite odd to hear from someone who works in the police force, but she was no doctor. She'd rather not spend her time thinking of dissecting things and more time on who got shot by what or whom.

Turning away from that odd thought, her glance fell a second time upon the reflecting window of Van's hospital room. There he lay, motionless within deep contempt, and also "wingless" as she had so dismaly expected. With such an array of witnesses, it was still hard to believe that Kusanagi coudn't come to believe one word they had uttered. There were no wings here, obviously. So however it was that this man "flew" as so unanimously claimed was beyond her explanation. Frankly, she barely could grasp the concept even to this time and hour. It still made no sense. However, if it made no sense, then why did those strange accusations seem to eerily fit that girl's words? Somehow, the nearly crazy "winged" theory came equal to that Hitomi's words.. didn't it? If not, then why couldn't it escape Motoko's thoughts? Even now, she still couldn't quite get her mind to clear from those momentous words.

"You have to let him go! Please!" She had begged so earnestly, practically tugging at Kusanagi's arm in demand.

"You don't understand. Just let Van get better, but he must return home after that."

"Hitomi, what home?" She had asked, full of impatience.

"His home! He's not from this world… You won't understand. But please, don't do anything to him. Please don't hurt Van."

"Kanzaki, I'm an investigator, not a mad scientist. Now what in the hell are you talking about?"

"Please… just let him go…"

For some reason, that girl's words, her tone, her voice, her image was still lying so incredibly emblazoned in Kusanagi's memory. She didn't know why; it's not like she never dealt with traumatic people before. It was practically normal to run into some over-reactors in a job like her own, but there was something almost melancholic in the look that she saw in Hitomi's expression. It had come like a shock when Hitomi had awakened from that frozen state, acting totally appalled and almost even panicked. That's when Hitomi Kanzaki started to say things that didn't make much sense to Kusanagi at all; things that related to all the oddities that were happening but she just couldn't recognize how anything fitted together. As much as she had wanted to try to comprehend what was happening, Kusanagi had reluctantly sent the disturbed Hitomi back to her home in a taxicab after the girl was already escorted out of the Ramada under Bargera's concerned orders. At first Motoko had reacted angrily to such inconsiderate actions towards the apparently sick woman, but it made sense after a while. Because of Hitomi's frantic pleas and cries, a crowd had then started to gather. And so, rather than taking her back to the head office for further questioning, Kusanagi had sacrificed her own free time to allow Hitomi to leave and to let this case hang open for a little longer. Of course, if an official elder were to find out of such recklessness, they would be upset and highly questioning her judgment, but Kusanagi just couldn't look at that woman's heartbroken image for one second longer. That Hitomi needed a whole lot of rest; she needed to return back to the norms of her life as much as Kusanagi wished to return to the norms of her own.

Sighing, she stared into the hospital room; straight to the young man that woman had so fondly spoken of. She didn't want to see her again. Kusanagi didn't to see or feel any of this unexplainable sadness that Hitomi possessed any longer, but it looked as if she would have to. Kusanagi Motoko knew this. She had to solve this case, not for the sake of her own profession, but because there was more hanging on this than just profession itself.

"You have to let him go."

Ever still, the outstanding words rung in her mind. Why on earth did Hitomi say that? What was so wrong about being in the hospital anyway? Van was getting help here… wasn't that what she had wanted?

"…I'm afraid his background has been as troublesome to trace as you said it would be."

But what about what that nurse had said? Could that… could that possibly have any relation to what Hitomi was so avidly worried about? It would make sense if Hitomi wanted to protect him from getting caught or arrested or something of the sort because of the jumbled identities. Maybe there was something more dismal to this man's past than the obvious was letting on…

Kusanagi's eyes narrowed. Maybe that was it… maybe this Van of hers was some sort of illegal alien, smuggled into the country from somewhere or other and that Hitomi was directly involved doing her best to protect him from prying eyes. For all Kusanagi knew, there could be some sort of strange criminal circle going on here… as it usually is with people that have no identities, or women who get pulled out of school to attend therapy sessions at the age of fifteen.

But that was so audacious to say, wasn't it? As much as Motoko wanted to believe that more logical explanation, she knew honestly and truly it didn't fit at all. Criminal action and illegal doings as such wouldn't have induced that look on Hitomi's face. That look of pure sadness and anxiety was not one of a fiend but much moreover, the look of a kindhearted person in a very inconsolable world.

Sighing once more, Kusanagi took a quick look around.

The coast was clear.

Laying her hand quietly on the door, Kusanagi Motoko waited until the hospital corridors were vacuous enough for her to slither unnoticed into the room of Van Fanel's. If this case wouldn't solve on its own, she would have to do something about that - and she knew she had to do something now.

"Kid, just what do you think you're trying to pull here?"

Hands on hips and voice all cynical, Yukari Uchida made quite the most intimidating impression leaning her weight casually against the 5B apartment doorway, directing a suspicious glare towards the young boy and his older female company.

"I just happen to personally know the Mayo family when Hitomi was neighbours with them," she continued on, brushing back a lock of highlighted auburn hair confidently. "And I'm sorry to say it, but they only had two kids, Joey and Grace, and you and you're sister are not them. So cut the crap and tell me what's going on here, Steven, or should I say, 'Shied' Schezar."

Both Catherine and San, standing side by side from within the apartment, gave each other an apprehensive glance as they watched the rather demanding Yuikari hosting her defeating argument against the two strangers. San had only just arrived a few minutes earlier, but it wasn't long before the once elated Yukari ran across the all-too-familiar face of young Shied Schezar, of which she now knew his true alias. It wasn't, however, something that neither Merle nor Shied were trying to avoid. Although, meeting with Yukari had not been on the agenda (neither was the fact that Yukari now knew Shied's first name), it was something they may as well have dived into. It wasn't like the two were planning to stick around on the Mystic Moon for much longer anyway.

"So I take it you remember me," Shied replied dryly, trying to buy himself some time until Hitomi returned. "You're the one that 'supposedly' works at Mikami's Fine Cuisine."

Yukari's eyebrows narrowed and her face grew somewhat redder.

"Well then," she answered sighing dropping down a level of righteousness. "I guess that makes us both liars. But I was just trying to find out what was up with you. Now, I'm starting to wonder the very same thing - you know kid, you must be the youngest little stalker that I've ever seen."

"We're not stalking you," A harsh tone lamented from nowhere, and in seconds all eyes gazed upwards to the appropriately disguised figure hovering to the boys' left.

"Who are you?" Cathy asked softly, deciding to somehow pitch in before this turned into an accusing verbally raging battle. "As a matter of fact, who are the both of you if not Hitomi's previous neighbours?"

At the sound of the expected question, Merle and Shied's eyes met in doubtful glare. Both knew it would be a foolish action to answer the woman's question in pure truth, but all the same, both knew that progression would be difficult to achieve if there wasn't an eligible explanation on just who they were in this world. It seemed that Shied's little lies were catching up to him faster than he could escape it, so obviously something different would have to be done.

"We're Hitomi's friends, old friends," Merle spoke a second time, a strangely strong adolescent voice amongst the crowd. Her gleaming yellow eyes however were only directly fixed on the opposing Yukari figure.

"I'm afraid we can't tell all of you the reasons why we're here. We can only tell you."

"Me?" Yukari gazed at the girl questionably, quite startled as a matter of fact to know that somehow, these strange people seemed to always know her, seemed to know every move a step ahead of time. Also, it was one of the only moments where anyone asides from Shied or Van actually got a good look in Merle's direction before she quickly re-hid her face behind her jacket hood. Yukari had easily noticed the strangely dark reddish skin colour, with eyes like she had never seen before.

"Yes, you," Shied answered for her, starting to understand Merle's drift on things. "Hitomi's good friends with you, so we're sure you must have at least a vague idea on who we are more so than the other two."

"Hey!" Cathy Corain objected abruptly, stepping up by Yukari's side. "I may not have known Hitomi too long, but we're all her bridesmaids, and San here is her cousin! We're all concerned for her. Don't you think we all have the right to know if there is something important to be dealt with?"

"This isn't something that you would want to hear," Merle replied coldly, knowing that these friends of Hitomi's may be concerned, but she remembered what Van had told her once back in the hotel. Sometimes, what you don't know can't hurt you, and if that was the case, Merle knew that the fewer amounts of people that knew of Gaea and their existence, the fewer problems there would be for either sides of the Mirror Window.

Neither Cathy nor San made haste to reply, both only curious on what was to be said. Moreover, Yukari herself was dying with the same anticipation, worrying to the utmost highest of Hitomi's conditions. It had been a few hours now since Hitomi had parted, with those ironing words that still hadn't left her thoughts.

"I just have to see him again…"

Yukari had doubted that they meant what she feared, but with these two strange people standing before her that very instant, she knew that she now faced exactly what she feared.

"You will tell all of us," Yukari stated confidently, deciding it would be for the better if she didn't hear such dire things alone. "I want others to be able to confirm that this happened. Everything will stay in here, but if you don't tell them, then you won't get any help from me."

"What makes you think we need help from you?" Shied replied smartly, challenging her once more to come up with something.

"I know you do," Yukari refused to let her guard down. "Don't go on and bluff on me. You seem to weirdly know a lot about myself and Hitomi, and I don't know how you knew that I or Amano would be at Mikami's that night, but I do know that you're trying to learn things about us. I can tell you what's happened to Hitomi since then. I've been by her side, so anything you need to know, I know."

"Since then…?" Catherine's tone trailed inceptively. "Since when? You can't be speaking of that thing again, that Time… can you, Yukari?"

Yukari nodded at Catherine's confused gaze. It was no wonder that these two had only wished to speak with Yukari; with Cathy and San involved there would be the often repetition of already answered questions. But Yukari didn't want to be alone with them. If this was just as strange as Hitomi had made it seem five and a half years ago, she did not want to be alone with these two at all.

"Alright then," Merle cooperatively agreed, confident in the girl's words. There wasn't much time left, and things had to be solved now. Neither her nor Shied were doing this for their own sake. It was for someone much more dear to them, much more dear to her.

"But wait a minute," San, after having observed the easily strangest of strange things to be observing, decided to chip in her two cents. She knew that she was already lost beyond rescue, but she did want to clarify one thing.

"How do any of us know you're telling the truth?" She especially directed her gaze to the once adorable boy whom had so willingly lied to her about the whole "neighbours" thing just a while ago. "What's not to say that the two of you aren't lying again? You haven't even told us your reasons for wanting to know or speak with Hitomi."

"We're not lying," Merle declared in a matter-of-fact tone. "You or the other girl won't understand, but Hitomi will, and maybe even you, Yukari."

Yukari's attention once again befell the mysterious Merle, and then suddenly trying to hold back a garbled gasp as that "mysterious Merle" added heavily on the frenzy of questions as she quickly raised a furry paw-like hand to promptly draw back her hood.

"There," With a dimmed voice almost even hiding in shame, Merle held up her face and hands for all to see. "Now what's not to believe?"

"Merle!" Shied heckled abruptly, grabbing one of her paws and hiding it with his hands, worry overcoming him at Merle's revelation of herself. "What on earth do you think you're doing?!"

"Let it be!" Merle hissed in reply, jerking her hands away from him quickly, then softening her image at the young boy's surprised face. "I'm sorry Shied, it's just that I'm sick of hiding in these things now. Besides, what other way is there to prove what we need to say?"

Shied sighed softly, deciding not to reply and instead turned his direction towards the three unspeaking totally flabbergasted faces. With eyes wide and jaws left hanging, none of the three women said a word for a total of nearly twenty agonizing seconds. Shied couldn't help but lower his eyes in pity - it must have been so hard for Merle to be different in this world.

"Well, I'm not going to bite you," Merle commented lamely, rolling her eyes with the slit-like pupils and then returning her gaze to the three women. Although her arms were crossed and her temper was wavering, somewhere deep within, Merle felt much more hurt by their inaudible response than she felt upset.

"I'm sorry…" Cathy hushed quickly. "I didn't mean to be rude. I'm Catherine."

San and Yukari could only watch in a strange, speechless observance as the small Catherine, only about the size of Merle herself, stepped forward and reached a hand upwards to brush Merle's face gently, whiskers running against her fingers.

Merle stepped backwards slightly, surprised at the action, pupils constricting suspiciously. But moreover, she was much more surprised at the soothing calmed expression written on Cathy Corain.

"Don't worry," Cathy assured, smiling at both Merle and Shied, then taking Merle's furry wrist and pulling her inwards. "Come inside, we won't let anyone else know your secret."

Quietly, both Shied and Merle took a seat in Hitomi's living room, as Yukari unsurely locked the door and gazed in their direction. This didn't feel right; it didn't feel right at all. This couldn't be really actually happening, could it? But how could Yukari deny it? That girl who so easily resembled a humanized version of a feline was sitting in her best friend's apartment right this very instant. Although Hitomi had told her the strange happenings of the "Time" quite a few years ago, Yukari still had nebulous ideas on what she had been speaking of. She remembered a few things, not with the greatest amount of detail, but certainly she had not easily forgotten the characters that Hitomi had mentioned so emphatically. Of course, back then it was hard to picture such absurd and offset things, but what about now? How could Yukari turn away from such fantasies when they now stared her right in the face… every bit as real as she still so ghastly feared.

San Askielowicz took a seat across from the strange little creature, thinking to herself about a dozen thoughts a second. She felt so totally lost and confused on what on earth was happening, that she didn't even long to question it. Although not wishing to pay any disrespect, she still found her eyes curiously wandering in that girl's direction, studying the alien features so closely with her eyes. San felt like screaming, like running quickly the other way for all she was worth. San could just sense that that girl was not lying, that really was her under that strange appearance of fur and stripes. It wasn't movie magic or clever costumes; it was unbelievably real. San figured that was what frightened her most, that was what made her choke in wordlessness to actually be with something that otherwise would not exist. Like Catherine, she longed to stretch and touch the thing, to make sure it was not just a strange creation of the imagination, but San knew that it would be a fruitless gesture. She already knew that that girl was everything but unreal. As strange and intimidated as she was beginning to feel, she knew she had to mature here and try to grasp at least a fraction of what was going on.

"So, the two of you are waiting to speak with Hitomi, right?" Catherine, as usual, was the first to overcome her questioning doubts and smile with a forced friendliness to the boy and the cross-species before her.

Merle, still feeling somewhat mortified and still refusing to return their stares, gave a soft sigh.

"Yes, although we do want to see her again; we're not here for our own sake."

"Not for your sake? Then who's?" Yukari couldn't help but question, sitting herself by San and allowing her gaze to stare out through the balcony doors to avoid being tempted to stare rudely at the cat-girl. Night had easily settled and it was actually starting to get rather late. Where the heck was Hitomi anyway…

"No," Shied continued, glancing at this watch with the same wandering question that Yukari had. "We're here for our friend, Van Fanel."

"Van Fanel?!" Both Catherine and Yukari loudly chorused at the sound of the achingly familiar name, instantly recalling it from the session-tape-fetish just that morning.

However, Yukari herself was engrossed now in more interest than any other, the ring of that recognizable day still loud in the memories of her past with Hitomi. 'Van Fanel, Van Fanel,' It went without saying, that name had been a solid factor in their teenage years. Now that she thought about it, the details started to come back to her quicker than ever before. Although her thoughts remained foggy on the exact words or places, she could still recall Hitomi, young and worrisome, constantly repeating that name, telling Yukari things that she could only struggle to believe. At that time, the name Van Fanel was something nonsensical; something lying way out in a world where fantasy and imagination were stored. In other words, the character that Hitomi so fondly spoke of was everything but real. She didn't like to doubt her own best friend so heavily as she had at that time, but who was to blame Yukari? Who honestly believed Hitomi's story? The truth was nobody did. Not one person could salvage a word of truth from Hitomi's tales. Maybe that was why these strange people were here years later, to rectify the doubting mistakes of Hitomi's supposed friends and family. Well that thought sure made her feel downright rotten inside. It was the guilty realization that in all this time of doubt and neglect, Hitomi had been telling the truth.

"You know of him, don't you?" Merle turned her glance towards Yukari, observing as the energetic woman seemed to be more silenced in contemplation.

"I figured Hitomi must have told you about him."

"Of course," Yukari responded quietly, keeping her direction away from the cat-girl and instead watching as she quietly cracked her knuckles in guilty thought. She wasn't avoiding the girl's eyes this time because of the unnatural appearance, but moreover, she didn't want these strangers to see just how guilty she was starting to feel.

"So who are you people?" Brushing back a bang, she lifted her head, deciding to venture on to other curiousities.

"I am Prince Shied Schezar, and this is Van's close acquaintance, Merle," Shied granted the three a friendly and polite smile, as he was so accustomed on doing.

San's brown eyebrow couldn't help but raise slightly, amused at the intelligent fashion of such a young child. Honestly, she was still trying to figure out when some straight-faced mopey person here would liven up and admit this was all an act Somewhere in her, she figured the Merle-girl was hopefully nothing more than an incredible costume job and this boy a very skilled actor. She didn't know what went on around this country, but this was just not on her list of expectations.

Shied turned to the cousin's direction whom had so suddenly stood, looking as if her temple was about to explode. He had to try and hide a smile; he had known that there would be those here that would have trouble trying to conceive what they were saying. Both Merle and him had understood that Yukari would probably be the only one capable of grasping their words, and so far they proved right. The San woman, who achingly did resemble Hitomi, seemed to be more frustrated than confused, and the Catherine woman still looked as pleasant as usual, but her image seemed to tweak with a lost expression.

"So you mean to tell me kid, that you're a prince?" San raised her skepticism vocally.

"He is a Prince, a Duchy of a proud country and almost ready to become Duke actually," Merle answered hastily before Shied could even pipe up a response. If anything, she absolutely hated criticism, especially when Merle and Shied were more right than wrong.

"I see," San plopped her herself back down on the opposing sofa and brushed back a hair. She didn't really mean to be rude (albeit the fact that she was still upset at these two for having lied to her) but it was more like she had been testing the response. That girl seemed highly confident in her words however, and the longer San looked into those lingering feline eyes, the more she became sickly aware that this was no lie. These people… these things were not… human…. Were they? Surely the girl wasn't, the boy maybe, but not Cat Woman over there. So if they weren't human, then just what were they? Princes? Princesses? Of what? And where? What country did she speak of? Just who or what were these people?

"That's impressive. You rule over a country?" Cathy's voice echoed next, seeming to follow right on San's train of thoughts. She felt the need to keep this conversation going. Both Yukari and San had silenced in their views and Cathy knew that Hitomi wasn't going to miraculously arrive anytime soon. And even if she did, at least talking to these two would get them all to understand a little more background information before they all started talking with Hitomi about who knows what.

"My homeland is Frade, a country in our distant world called Gaea."

"Woah there," San raised herself once more, the sofa springs complaining at her sudden movement. "DISTANT WORLD? Kid, what are you talking about? Look, I know I'm not from here and obviously you aren't either but you can't just expect people to-"

"Please, San, their telling the truth."

The voice seemed to silence all thoughts as all heads turned to the highlighted prettiness of Yukari Uchida.

"They're from Gaea. Trust them."

"B-but Yukari!" San couldn't help but protest flashing her a quizzical look. "Do you know what they're talking about??"

Sighing Yukari lifted her head and nodded slightly, "Not too much, but I have an idea. I didn't think this was true either when Hitomi told me of it, but now I can't see how I can deny it."

"So you guys are from another world…" Catherine pondered aloud as a violent shiver took over her at the thought. It seemed strange just to hear the words from her own mouth. It was like saying "I have a flowerpot attached to my head", it sure wasn't something you'd go around greeting people with unless you didn't mind staying in a cracker-house for a few years. Frankly, like San, Catherine was having a horribly difficult time absorbing all of this and keeping silent. So much of her just longed to scream out and yell, "hold it, wait a sec", just so she could sit and picture things more clearly and rationally in her mind. But yet, there was no time for such things. All Cathy could worry about was the fact that she would be getting very little to no sleep tonight.

"I'm afraid so," Merle agreed, righting their doubts. "That's where Hitomi went five years ago, little did you people believe."

Yukari ducked her down shamefully. She didn't know how this Merle or Shied seemed to know of her doubt or anyone else's towards Hitomi, but they seemed to understand that secluding feeling. It only made Yukari feel so much worse. Sure, maybe it would have been hard for anyone to actually believe Hitomi's story, but that thought wasn't very reassuring either. She couldn't deny the fact that she still had been a part of the doubting troubles weighed down on her best friend.

"So everything actually happened?" her voice came out still partly unbelieving, in such silenced shock at the knowledge of such things. "You mean… everything she spoke of… dragons and everything…"

"Yes," Shied nodded vigorously. "Everything you heard of occurred down to the very last detail. I can't really blame you for not trusting her however. I myself have lived here for a year now and I can see that your lifestyle is very much different from ours. To us, it is actually plausible that a girl from another world, or a girl from the 'Mystic Moon' would appear so suddenly, but for people like Earthlings the idea that other life exists to such a near proximity without their knowledge is just downright unbelievable."

"Go figure," Merle rolled her eyes shrugging. "These Mystic Moon people think they know it all. And for that, Hitomi had to suffer."

"Poor girl," Catherine thought aloud once more, still resting herself on the arm of San's chair. She tried to imagine for a second of what they spoke of, catching a glance of the night sky through the apartment window, wondering if this strange "Gaea" lay in that distant blanket of stars.

"Indeed," Shied agreed quietly. "But it's not all sad endings. Just look at Hitomi now, I'm starting to think things worked out for the better."

"What do you mean by that?" Merle inquired hurriedly, almost feeling insulted.

"Shied, how could anything have worked out for the better? Hitomi ended up forgetting all about us all because nobody believed her. Not to mention all of those doctor appointments you were speaking of."

"That's true, Merle," Shied agreed thoughtfully. "But still, who are we to judge what makes Hitomi happy? What makes you think she doesn't like her new life here? Really, this is her life Her visit to Gaea was only four months of the 15 years she had lived. Now, five years after that, just how much of Hitomi do you think we really knew?"

Merle lowered her eyes, wishing that Shied didn't have to be so damn intelligent. It was actually more depressing than she had figured. If he had thought of things that way, he should have told her earlier. Then, Merle wouldn't have bothered lying to poor Van about that silly beach excuse to be here. If Shied were right about Hitomi being happier in this stupid world, then what would be the point in trying to convince her otherwise?

"But what about Van?" Her yellow eyes directed upwards to Shied, who still was standing beside her. "Doesn't his happiness count for anything?"

"Well, that's kind of my point," Shied agreed half-heartedly. "The reason why such an honourable king as Van Fanel would become so depressed for so long was because he remembered. And also, on the same note, the reason why someone as Hitomi could live such a fulfilling life was because she had forgotten."

"That shouldn't be right," Merle continued to protest, feeling an even darker depression with each of the young boy's passing words. "You can't just forget about good things so you won't miss them. That's wrong, Shied. I know Van has been depressed and sad but still… deep down I know he doesn't 'hate' remembering her. It's those memories that make him happy, even if he feels a little lonely inside."

"I know what you mean," Shied nodded and smiled, resting his hand on Merle's coat shoulder. "Who knows Van better than you do? But we really can't change or alter anything Hitomi or Van feel for each other, neither can we predict it."

Merle returned Shied's smile, although feeling that happiness was vacant from herself. It truly was disappointing, but she knew that Shied also had a point. The mere fact that they really hadn't known Hitomi for as long as these other people did proved that there was a chance that her life did remain here after all. But still, deep and strong within her, Merle avidly hoped that somewhere in Hitomi's new life, there was still that small longing that only Van could fulfill. Somehow, Merle knew she was right. Hitomi had told it to her herself a long time ago. People share your feelings, and whether that Hitomi was conscious of it or not, she shared what Van felt for her. She just knew it.

"That Van…" Yukari mentioned quietly gazing at her guests. "He… he still cares for Hitomi, doesn't he?"

"Everyday of his life," Merle answered with utmost confidence. "I wouldn't doubt it for a second."

A lull seemed to fill the room. Nobody knew what to reply in such odd circumstances. The three women did not exactly feel courageous enough to mention Hitomi's little engagement with Amano Nekuchi, neither were any of them that insensitive. However, the question on where Hitomi's present affection now lay, what with her strange leaving earlier this morning, was on the minds of many.

"Merle, I think we should be going," Shied, being the first to break that awkward silence, gave a quick glance at his digital watch. "We said we'd only be a few minutes, so Mum must be waiting for us downstairs."

"Right…" Merle sighed quietly, raising herself being so totally disappointed. Hitomi hadn't shown after all. It had been a one-time shot, and now apparently that one-time shot was a failure. The plan had been simple: come visit Hitomi when Van wasn't aware of it and just tell her what he was too afraid to say himself. But seeing as that wasn't happening, hopefully these three would successfully pass on their message. As long as Hitomi knew of the lengths Van would go just to be with her again, then maybe this whole voyage wouldn't be as pointless as Merle feared.

"Hey, you guys can stay longer if you'd like," Yukari hurried after them, heading with them towards the front door of the apartment. "Well, I know this isn't my place, but we wouldn't mind. You can stay with us and wait until Hitomi returns; she probably won't be that much longer."

"That's okay," Shied gave an appreciative smile. "I'm afraid we have a lot of work to do. We're leaving for home tomorrow."

"Already?" Cathy joined in with the conversation, standing by San who had also decided to bid the strangest strangers farewell. "But you haven't seen Hitomi yet! Wait a minute, how did the three of you come to Earth anyway?"

"Well, it's a very long story. Let's just say it took a lot of work to get here, and even more to return home. Please, just don't forget to tell Hitomi what you now know, so our trouble will be worth it."

"No problem," the three agreed together. It was unanimous; no matter how strange both Merle and Shied appeared to them, the strangeness was what wooed them to believe it all and respond diligently. It may have been none of their business, but as long as Hitomi was involved, the bridesmaids felt they had their duties.

"We'll tell her everything, don't worry," Catherine assured smiling, then quickly looked downwards as a massive fur ball tried to escape into the hallways through her feet.

"Hey there Naria!" She couldn't help but scold, managing to catch the frisky feline by the collar before the chance of escape could escalate. "Don't go on out there!"

Struggling with the meowing, nearly hissing, white Persian Cathy finally managed to hold her still and purring within her arms, only having to pay the price of being coated in a layer of shed, white fur.

Merle reached out a paw to pet it carefully, amazed at the resemblance between this cat and Casey. As a matter of fact, she knew that all felines here shared a resemblance, and also seemed to fascinate her down to the last detail. But then again, there was something special about this one.

"Thank you for your help," Shied nodded a last time and gave a wave to the three smiling women, making his way down the corridor.

Merle, however, was slow to follow, still transfixed by the white cat in Catherine's arms. She raised her eyes to meet Cathy's, being about her height, with a questionable look.

"Why did you name her Naria?"

"Actually, she's Hitomi's cat," Catherine answered, scratching the overweight feline under the neck as the purr rumbled through the air. "I'm not sure really, Hitomi has had her for a long time."

"She said it reminded her of something," Yukari quickly added in, leaning her weight against the doorframe almost sensing where Merle was going with this. "It was about a year after her first shrink session."

"A year after she went to the doctor…" Merle couldn't help but muse aloud. There was no doubt; the name Naria was only too familiar to her. At first she had thought it was just coincidence that something here shared the same name as a relative of her kind back on Gaea, but maybe it was not so coincidental after all.

"Merle, we gotta get going," Shied called from way down by the apartment elevators.

"Coming!" Merle replied nearly child-like, lastly patting the fellow Naria on the head and smiling for the first time in a very long time in this exhausting day. Leaning over she gave Yukari a happy grin."

"You know what, I don't think Hitomi forgot everything after all."

"Van Fanel..."

She allowed the name to whisper into the dimness after locking the room's door, crouching cautiously by his beside in order to prevent herself from being seen through the room's observation windows. She knew that was quite useless however, for anybody walking directly down the hallway would still be likely to spot her. Trying not to grow too discouraged, Motoko instead took the opportunity of the now semi-vacant hallways to hustle over by the room's observation blinds and quickly adjusted them shut. She may as well limit the chances of being caught with a patient before he was even able-bodied enough to be visited. It was still likely however that a passing nurse or doctor may find it odd to see the blinds closed as they were, but she'd rather take that chance than instead of merely being seen, plain as day.

With fingers still clutching the blinds' handle, she couldn't help but blink vacantly for a few seconds staring at a smear in her glasses' right lens, feeling new and more sensible thoughts forming abundantly in the back of her mind.

Really, just what was Kusanagi doing? She wasn't supposed to be in here! She had been specifically instructed to let this Van rest in solitude, as she knew he had to do after all the trauma the guy had so recently gone through. There wasn't much to find in here anyway; it wasn't like she could talk to him or clarify any of the misunderstandings in this mess. So, what was the point? Why was she risking her own credibility by breaking simple rules for non-existent purposes?

A frown scribbled over her face as she blew away another short bang of black hair, feeling that all too familiar frustration come over her once again. She had been hoping desperately that by some miracle, he would have been awake. Yes, awake, like some sort of blessing would befall her and things would go the way she desired just for once. But no, of course not, chances were Van Fanel would need all the time possible to recuperate. And also, that Hitomi girl would probably not be saying anything sensible anytime soon. So honestly, where was Kusanagi Motoko to turn in such a case like this? Where were the leads? Where were the clues? Hell, where was the logic?

"Who..."

Suddenly, Motoko was instantly removed from her state of self-debate as a croaking voice ebbed into her mind. In seconds, her acute hearing instantly picked up the sound of the heart-rate monitor increasing in speed with the systematic noises it emitted.

There was no doubt about it; as much as she hadn't really counted on it or thought it possible, he was awake after all.

Turning quickly, Motoko dropped carefully by Van's side, studying him worriedly as his chest heaved deeply upwards and downwards, apparently still trying to fight off the wearing after-effects of the medication. He was doing almost scarily well however, his metabolism rates picking up quickly to an almost normal pace. His breathing was nearly regulated, the lively colour had resettled within his skin tone, and in the bleakness of the hospital lighting she could almost see a peek of burgundy eyes under his flustering eyelids.

He was not only awake, but improving his conditions at a faster rate than she had ever encountered.

"Who... are you?" Although his eyes weren't fully open, his mouth moved with the words, coarse voice whispering quietly into the surrounding air not even seeming to mind the state of his recovering injured leg.

Kusanagi's deep, brown eyes blinked rapidly, alerting herself that she shouldn't just be sitting there amazed by the guy. This moment was critical. She couldn't lose this chance now. He was speaking to her, she could speak with him, and surely after what she was observing, she knew she definitely wanted to.

"Van... can you hear me, Van?" She whispered the words, quietly though as clearly as possible, taking his weak hand within hers to physically alert him of his presence. "Van Fanel, I am Inspector Motoko Kusanagi. I need to speak wi--"

"Where's... Hitomi?" Grunting from his efforts on trying to keep conversation, Van's left eye managed to fully open squinting with the right to try and catch a good glimpse of his fellow company.

"She's at her home right now, I do believe..." Kusanagi answered softly almost taken aback, somewhat touched that those words would be his first inquiry. Out of all the things that had just happened to him, what with being transported to a hospital and being with a detective right out of the blue, it once again fascinated her that he still would wish to ask about that girl he cared for above everything else.

"I see..." Van breathed slowly, eyes re-shutting as he relaxed his head back onto the comfort of the pillow, relieved to know things hadn't gone as badly as they had feared. This detective woman didn't seem as troublesome as he had thought. She had let Hitomi return home after all, despite everything that had happened. Van had been concerned for quite some time. He wasn't familiar with these lands, and moreover, he wasn't familiar with their policies. He knew all along that was what Hitomi had been worrying about as well: How to help Van with his injuries without jeopardizing his real identity or her knowledge of it. He, on the other hand, had been more worried of her. Van was not too anxious about dealing with these people; if Shied could manage his way around with lies and avoidance, then Van could do the same. However, it was Hitomi whom his concern lay with. The last thing Van wanted to do was to get her all raveled in negative attention and psychiatrist nonsense all over again. He would never want her life to become that miserable. As long as she was okay now, as long as no one bothered her, his anxiety could be relieved somewhat. Maybe now, Van should just stop resisting the medication and simply let the effects take its course...

Kusanagi bit her lower lip concerned. His pulse rate was slowing to a normal pace once again, but she was still thinking of when he had awakened. The monitor sounds had definitely increased, and she could only worriedly wonder if the nurses at the observation desk had managed to notice. Surely, there wouldn't be much time now to get her business here up and over with.

"Van," she took his hand tightly, hoping to keep him from drifting off into dreamland in his fatigue. "Would you please tell me what happened with you... what happened with you and Hitomi when that truck was about to hit. I need to know this Mr. Fanel, please tell me."

She observed him carefully as the words left her, knowing she was close now to the truth, she just could taste it. As much as Kusanagi still recalled and wished to believe those heart-rending claims of Hitomi Kanzaki, she still had to look at this with a viewpoint of logic and basis. Hopefully, somehow, someway, that logic and analysis would only go to prove that Hitomi's explanation was correct. For some reason deep within her human longing, the last thing Kusanagi wanted to do was to bear any more burdens to these Van and Hitomi characters. Whoever they were and what their business was together she really did not know nor understand, but somehow she figured it couldn't end like this. She couldn't just see this through as "just another case". There were unexplainably stronger sentiments involved here than she knew of. She needed the truth. No matter how bizarre, like a real detective, she yearned for the right solution to large problems. But at the same time, with the human heart she had, she hoped only for the right solution that wouldn't just benefit her and this case, but also the two dramatic figures she was getting to know too well.

Van didn't reply, not honestly wishing to, not wishing to recall the events of those moments. Instead, he lay gazing outwards through the hospital window. The night sky had already claimed the day, and re-shutting his eyes he wondered avidly to himself, 'Where is Hitomi now?' Surely, she was probably on her way home. But what was she feeling, thinking, longing, or wondering? Would she be happier now, or had their reuniting only made matters worse? Honestly, Van didn't feel that way. Even though his image looked of one of loneliness and depression, truly inside, he treasured every second of what just happened with a secretive bout of happiness to have seen her, to even have held her once more. That was the reason why he didn't long to think of it, because if he did, Van would obsess on returning to that moment. Even if his leg had been searing with pain, Van still wished to be in those few seconds where she had been snuggled in his embrace. He would give anything to return to the seconds her head lay upon his shoulder, or her voice filled the evening's still air, or her eyes blinked with moistened beauty, or when her words graced him with honest and unforgettable truth…

"Van, I love you."

Van's eyes gently opened. His fingers rose to meet his lips.

He was still thinking about it.

Even now, regardless of everything strange and foreign that was happening, somewhere deep within him his thoughts and being was still dwelling in that sweet moment not too long ago. That moment when he had heard the most fulfilling words that would ever come to be like music to his ears, or felt the most rewarding and unexplainably wonderful sensation of the gentle touch of a loved one's lips. He was still thinking about it so vividly, it was almost tearing at him inside. To see it replay, over and over in his mind to his heart's content was almost painstakingly real. Yet, in spite of the longing and demanding memories, he still craved to think of it. Although becoming too fond of the past was one thing he shouldn't do, Van's central thoughts refused to part with such extraordinary recollections. He just couldn't stop thinking about it, he just couldn't stop endlessly thinking about her, and Van highly doubted he ever would.

Kusanagi drew her hand back, realizing that this Van character was fully awake and simply didn't long to answer her questions. He wasn't even staring at her, instead focusing his gaze onwards in a preoccupied manner, as if lying there he was too busy to even grant her a second of attention. Either that or he just desired to ignore her, which she couldn't blame him for doing. Why wouldn't there be a lot on his mind? It was obvious that in such scenarios one would probably need a few hours on their own to contemplate. Why had she even bothered coming in here anyway? If anything she had done lately was so raveled in uselessness, this had to be the most useless of them all.

Raising herself slowly as the bed groaned under the weight exchange, Kusangi decided she might as well be off. He needed his space; besides, he actually looked kind of drained. It probably wasn't a good idea to be bothering a patient in such conditions; the doctors must have their reasons for scheduling visitor's hours when they do. Sighing, she knew this case would just have to extend a little longer than she desired.

As her fingers met the doorknob, she paused quickly.

She could hear it. Voices.

"Oh shit," Kusanagi hurried over to the observation windows, allowing a finger to slip and part between two blinds. Nervous, glass protected eyes peeked out into the hallways, where she gasped to see someone walk by briskly on the other side. There seemed to be a flock of white coats out there, medical person after medical person surrounding the observation desk not a long way off.

Snapping the blinds black shut, Kusanagi spun on her heel and spotted the odd monitor machines that surrounded the patient bed on the left and right sides. One of them had a strange, red, blinking light that she was confident was not there earlier on. Great, she had known it all along. The stupid thing had alerted the desk of Van awakening because of the increase in pulse rates or something or other. And now that the nurses were aware of it… that only meant…

Her eyes befell the door again, the only entrance or exit of this room. There was absolutely no other escape.

"Oh shit!" Kusanagi backed away hesitantly glaring as silhouette shadows cast upon the beige blinds on the opposite side of the window. She ducked quickly, hearing those voices become more articulate and frighteningly near.

"Hey, who shut the blinds here? You know you're not supposed to shut 'em unless the patient is sensitive to light."

"What are you talking about? Oh… I see. Wait a sec; I'm pretty sure those were raised the last time. What's going on, honestly it's been such a night…"

"Oh shit! Shit! Shit!" Kusanagi's throat caught with her mild cursing, feeling her feet edge backwards hastily to avoid her shadow from being seen. She was going to get caught. There was no doubt about it now, not unless she was pathetic enough to crawl underneath the hospital bed (which she had momentarily considered) but she also knew that if she was discovered doing something as simple-minded and yet stupid as that, it would probably cost her her job, if this wouldn't already. Well, they probably wouldn't fire Kusanagi for sneaking into prohibited territory, but nonetheless that gave everyone at the department a right to look down on her, which they already kind of did.

"Oh shit…"

The door handle began to rattle. The conversing on the other side began to grow louder. Kusanagi then remembered that she had locked the door upon entry. Was she ever thankful for that move now. There may be some hope in these nanoseconds she had left to think a little longer.

"Hey, someone get those keys over here."

"Ah shit…"

Her hope dimmed as the rattle of keys filtered in from the other side. The handle began to sickly turn. Her mind went dead blank.

It was all over now.

Then unexpectedly, a hand swiftly took tight grasp of her wrist. Kusanagi Motoko felt herself stumbling backwards trying to catch footing as somebody dragged her to the room's single window to the far left. Wrestling with her new adversary, she could only manage to see wisps of deep black hair and cream coloured skin before the dominant Van Fanel leant over and said quietly yet forcefully into her ear:

"Hurry up, let's go. If you want to know what happened before that truck hit, why don't you experience it for yourself?"

And those words were the only thoughts that the poor aloof and worn-out agent could come to think of before the hospital door finally burst open by a group of anxious and impatient nurses as she, along with her perpetrator, were flung outside into the open air, eleven stories high.

No other day could possibly stretch as long as this one managed to.

Hitomi sighed heavily, looking downwards at the key she held half protruding from the lock in the door of 5B. She just stared at it, refusing to neither open the door nor remove the key. She became rather hesitant, weighing out her rather dismal options.

More than anything, Hitomi wanted to be home. She wanted to collapse into her bed and possibly never get up again. But at the same time, the last thing the poor, and distraught woman wanted to face was another rattling series of questions. There was no doubt that after all of these long hours, both Yukari and Catherine would have a load full of things to ask of her. Hitomi had only thought of it now, only reminded of her earthly friends at the sight of that key. Only now did she realize that she couldn't just lie to them and act as if nothing had happened. That would be so far from the truth, Hitomi should just die right then and there for having uttered such a horrible lie. In all honesty, she knew that she nearly died today. That was quite the event, not to mention all the other things that had so grossly added up by the dozens. Was she supposed to explain all of this as well? How could she? How could she tell her best friends what had happened to her, without losing every single meager droplet of credibility that she had?

Slowly, Hitomi Kanzaki removed the key as quietly as possible.

She sighed a second time, instead leaning her weight against the door, throwing her head back to stretch out her neck.

She felt horrible. Her body complained against her in too many ways. She seemed to be jam packed with neck spasms, headaches, sore limbs and now filthy clothes. Her image alone was a dead give-away on the hectic she had gone through. Dirty and mangled, hair tossed and clothing disproportioned and torn; anyone could tell by her appearance that Hitomi had been having far from the usual day. The expression she wore was also rather gloomy, eyes sagging from exhaustion and face unfriendly in everything that she had to sort through.

So basically, it was inevitable. She was going to tell them what happened, there wasn't really much of a choice. As she gazed inanely at the bright, hallway lights she knew that there was no avoiding the soon-to-come second interrogation. She could probably get through it all, but it was the way she would be able to handle them in her fatigued state was what worried her most.

First, she would have to explain first about the near-to-collision. That would be the reason behind her distraught appearance. They would probably accept that, no biggie, with of course the surprised and worrisome reactions, the usual, "Are you sure you're okay?" or even "Should we call a doctor?" clichés. But how was she going to get around the rest of the events of the day? Was she supposed to just go out and say it? Was Hitomi was supposed to openly admit about how she was saved? What about the purpose of her journey, would she be honest and brave enough to tell her comrades just why she had been out in the first place? What would they think of her if they knew? What would they think of her if they knew whom had she had went to visit? What would they think if they knew that she had managed to see him, and had so awkwardly enjoyed those moments? What would they say if they knew just how deep in Hitomi's heart this whole situation dwelled inl? What if they knew just how much that someone meant to her? What if they knew?

Hitomi's eyes closed quickly. They were starting to abundantly water.

She raised her hand uneasily, fingers meddling with her collarbone in search, finally discovering the sacred pendant within her blouse and grasping it tightly; eyes shut almost wishing to disappear, just to vanish without a trace. But still, deep in her mind Hitomi knew she wasn't thinking of disappearing.

"God, I missed you Hitomi. I've missed you so much."

Her eyes slowly opened; a tear slowly fell.

She loosened her grip on the pendant, raising her fingers to graze over her lips.

She was still thinking of it. She was still thinking of him. It still hadn't left, it still couldn't leave her, and she was wondering if it ever would. She doubted that she wanted it to. Even if she'd spend a minute each day crying and weeping for her sorry self, she'd still long to remember these things, no matter how sad they may be. Hitomi would always want to hear those words, imagine that kiss, think of that touch. These were things, beautiful things that she did not want to forget all over again no matter the consequences such painful yet adoring memories may have.

Suddenly, the loud clanging of opening elevator doors down the hall woke her from her thoughts. Hastily, she dried her tears, not wishing to look more of a mess than she already did.

"Hitomi…" a voice said full of clarity and without emotion.

Quickly, wiping away the streams of stained mascara from her cheeks, Hitomi looked forwards to whom had stepped out of that elevator, far off in the distance, already knowing who he was by the simple sound of him uttering her name.

She grimaced silenlty, her heart seemed to wrench even more, twisting and sick beyond help. She felt such an incredible guilt, yet also so very oppressed. This sure wasn't what she had expected, and of all things that could possibly occur, this really had to be at the utmost bottom of the bottom of the barrel.

"Amano…"

He didn't reply. He didn't even seem to acknowledge that she had called to him. Instead, straightfaced, he began walking forwards swiftly, step after step echoing in the otherwise vacant hallways. It was an intimidating image that only churned Hitomi's stomach even tighter.

Suddenly, Amano Nekuchi paused himself directly in front of her, as he somberly stared downwards, eye to eye.

"Hitomi…" He whispered quietly, not with the usual sweet, infantile voice, not with a friendly brush against her auburn hair, not even with the usual handsome smile he would use around her. Instead, Amano's image looked expressionless and monotone, impending that guilt towards Hitomi Kanzaki even more intensely.

"Hitomi," he concluded strongly, words blunt and unforgiving. "We need to talk."