Chapter 11: Who Are We Lying To?
The rest of the day passed as a restless blur for Hitomi. She fidgeted through her classes impatiently. The lectures meshed into one long string of incomprehensible monotone, and she soon lost track of what subject was being taught, let along what was being said. Once Van tried to contact her with concern, and she hastily assured him of her well-being.
-I’ll be there soon- he replied.
This did not help matters. I’ve been so concerned with Celena that I haven’t considered my other problems, she thought, cringing. Grandmother’s diary, my vision, Van’s coming back--he’ll be upset when he finds out what I’m doing. And then he’ll go home. She bit her lip until it bled. I want to go back with him--I do, because I love him. But…but how can I? Isn’t this where I belong? Or was Mom right? Could I call Gaea home?
After school had--thankfully--ended, Hitomi quickly sought her friend Mariko. “I need a favor,” she began immediately. “From your mom.”
“My mom?” she echoed curiously. “What for?”
“I need to get some information from the--“ The moment she began to say the words, she knew she couldn’t lie to her friend. “No--no, I’m sorry, Mariko. I just need to get into the information records at the national library for a while.”
Mariko stared at her blankly. “This doesn’t have to do with Van, does it?” she asked.
“Sort of. It’s hard to explain, but please just trust me.” Hitomi licked her lips; she knew it was too much to ask, but she had to. “Please, Mariko.”
“Hitomi, I….” She sighed, and shook her head. “I’m not going to be able to bail you out forever, but okay. I’ll ask my mom to open it for you. I suppose you want it to be private.”
“If you can,” she affirmed anxiously.
Mariko didn’t look happy, but she relented. “Okay. Because I trust you.” She stared her friend directly in the eye. “But whatever you do up there, if you get caught it’s my mom’s job. So don’t get caught.”
Hitomi suddenly realized that her friend was assuming something untrue. “It’s not what you think,” she said, blushing. “I need to talk to someone on neutral turf, that’s all.”
“Yeah, okay.” Still Mariko looked wary. “What time?”
“Six.” Mariko, I’m so sorry to make you not believe me. “Thank you so much. It’s important.”
She smiled grimly. “I know, I know. I’ll tell our cram school teacher you’re not coming tonight. Let’s just go home.”
They had just about reached Hitomi’s house when they spotted the light pillar, emanating from a spot off in the forest. At least he didn’t try to land at the Alseides, Hitomi thought with a bit of relief, noting the position. Or my house. People are starting to get suspicious enough already. She and Mariko continued on, and then said their goodbyes at Hitomi’s door.
The first thing Hitomi did was go to her room and close the door behind her. She didn’t want to face her mother, who had been acting so strange of late, or her father, and need to explain her fit the night before. Not wanting to see Tatsumi was a given. So she waited, playing over what she would tell Van over and over in her mind. She was also doing her best to ignore her grandmother’s diary.
Twenty minutes later the doorbell rang, and Hitomi’s heart vaulted into her chest. Instantly she was on her feet and racing to the door. Unfortunately, Tatsumi beat her to it. He opened the door with a yawn, then lurched back in surprise. “Hey, who’s the freak?”
Hitomi shoved him aside to face their guests, and again nearly fainted. Van stood in the door, smiling grimly and dressed in the clothes Hitomi had bought him. And beside him, clad in a white shirt and black trousers with a long travel-bag slung over his shoulder, stood Allen.
Her breath caught in her throat. He looked just like he had three years ago, and with that image several memories raised to her mind. His slender, handsome face, his beautiful blond hair--even his smell, which she had always loved, remained unchanged. When their eyes met he smiled, and she flung her arms around him in an enthusiastic hug. Allen stumbled a bit at the unexpected greeting.
“It’s so good to see you,” Hitomi said as she stepped back. Her eyes began to water. I didn’t realize that I missed him so much. And Merle, and Millerna-san, and Dryden-san. Her emotions rose up inside of her, and she had to beat them down least she lose her composure. “You haven’t changed a bit,” she prattled on, hoping he wouldn’t notice. “But I’m glad you changed your clothes--your uniform would have attracted a lot of attention.” She stepped aside and gestured for them to come inside.
“You have an amazing city,” Allen said. He gazed about the living room of the house, smiling in approval. “And a charming house.”
His compliment made her blush. “It’s not that great. Oh, and this is my brother.” She grabbed Tatsumi and pulled him forward, much to his dismay. “His name’s Tatsumi.”
“Well met.”
Tatsumi made a face at the knight, then stomped off, muttering something about his “crazy sister” and her “goddamned freak show.” She shot a glare at his back, and apologized for his behavior.
“It’s fine,” Allen assured, appreciative of the boy’s spirit. “He’ll be a fine man. Besides, we’re the intruders, after all.” He took a seat on the sofa. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not.” Hitomi smiled wistfully--as if somehow, having Allen here calmed her. Despite his looks he didn’t appear the least bit out of place in her living room. She glanced at Van, remembering similar feelings from when he’d first arrived. She paused when their gazes connected; he’d been watching her, his eyes dark and serious. But for all his intensity, there still lay a gleam of insecurity. The question she’d asked herself for the past three days lay unspoken on his lips. She wanted to ignore it, to pretend she didn’t have a choice to make, but the weight pressed upon her was simply too much. She was only able to greet Van briefly before returning her attention to Allen.
That hurt him. Van looked as if he’d already received Hitomi’s response, and his eyes grew distant. He seated himself in a nearby chair and remained silent.
Oh god, Van, I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. Still Hitomi did her best to keep herself from looking to him. She continued to chat with Allen a bit, explaining sections of the city that he hadn’t understood. Their conversation turned serious far too soon. “Van and I spoke to the Sorcerer Kolaf Driffith. It seems that our best hope for saving Celena is to get her back home as soon a possible, and to keep her away from Van.”
Hitomi nodded, trying not to let her anxiety show. If Celena sees me entering with Allen-san, she’ll know something’s up for sure. I can’t risk her not coming tonight, and finding Van. Allen-san, I’m sorry. “You’re right. We don’t want to start a fight.”
“Which means we don’t want you there, either,” Van added. “I’m gong to lead Allen to the Alseides and Celena, and let him handle her. You’ll stay here.”
She nodded again, but in doing so she realized the truth behind his words. Van thinks they’ll all be together, and he’ll take them home, logic told her. He’s going back to Gaea. He’s assuming you won’t come with him.
But I already decided, didn’t I? This is my home. She raised her head, and caught her father watching them from the kitchen. He was smiling in a rueful, farewell kind of way. Isn’t it?
“Hitomi?” Allen’s voice brought her back into focus.
“Yes. I mean….” Don’t sound so agreeable. That’s not like you. “I’ve got school. You’ll…take care of Celena, won’t you?”
“Of course.” The knight seemed a bit perplexed, but relieved by her immediate acceptance. “Don’t worry, Hitomi. Everything is going to be fine.”
“I know.” Hitomi glanced at Van to see his reaction. He looked unsettled, as if playing her words through his head once more. He’s not buying it, she thought, fidgeting. He knows I’m lying. He knows what I’m up to. He must know.
“Good,” the king said, standing once more. “I was afraid you’d be a little more resistant, but I’m glad you agree. You’ve grown up a bit.”
She couldn’t help a retort at that comment. “Oh, so I wasn’t grown up before?”
“I didn’t mean that.”
Hitomi made a face--his tone was almost callous. What’s wrong with him? She felt a suddenly, unreasonable flash of anger, that he would treat her this way. He should have seen that she was upset, and distraught, and no happier with her options than she was. Did he really expect her to jump up, and demand that he take her to Gaea so they could live happily ever after? Life didn’t work that way. He was asking her to give up on her world: family, friends, home, career. She couldn’t make that decision, and the fact that that bothered him merely angered her.
Allen watched the pair, wisely silent. After a moment he looked as though he might interrupt, but Hitomi beat him to it. “I suppose you should go.”
Something in Van’s face twitched. “Fine,” he replied in a clipped manner. “Then, we’ll be going.”
“Fine.” Hitomi stood and extended her hand, which he regarded almost warily. Her temper flared. “We might as well say goodbye,” she nearly snapped. “Since you’re going back to Gaea.”
The king recoiled, caught off guard by her sudden harshness. He stared at her as if realizing for the first time what was happening. “Hitomi….”
She shook her head deftly. “Don’t, Van. You know I can’t.” Her voice trembled, and she struggled to keep herself together. “You belong there. You need to go.”
“You’re not coming with me,” he stated flatly. The corners of his eyes had begun to narrow in a pained expression. He was battling to keep his manner composed: she could tell. Already her anger was failing--she didn’t want either of them to suffer. It wasn’t fair.
“Van, I can’t.” Hitomi wanted to turn away so that she would not have to face him, but her body wouldn’t move. “That’s not how it works, and you know that. So please, just go.”
Van stared at her for a long time, as if memorizing every slight aspect of her face. But it was a hollow look, as if he viewed only a photograph, and she had vanished long before now. Already eternity separated them. He nodded, once, without a word. And then he did something she hadn’t expected: he smiled. She knew that smile. He had given here the same smile three years ago at her departure. At that time it had given her hope and courage; this time, it paralyzed her. It was a peaceful smile. And before she could react to it he’d already started for the door. The sight of his turned back caused her to start. The words welled up inside her. “Van, I lo--“
“Don’t.” The king glanced over his shoulder, offering the same face, those same deep eyes. “This time, I think we’d both better try to forget.”
“Van….” Hitomi bit her lip as her eyes began to water. Can I? She gulped. Can I…forget?
-Hitomi-
Van nodded slightly, as if having understood her perfectly. Then he glanced at Allen significantly, and started to leave once more. The knight frowned, casting hesitant looks between the two of them. He sighed, and approached Hitomi. “It was good to see you again,” he murmured, smiling fondly. There were hundreds of things he could have said to her, wanted to share, but there was no time. “You’ll be all right, won’t you?”
“I….” She swallowed back any more pain. “Yes. Go on--Celena needs you.” Forgive me.
Allen touched her shoulder briefly, then stepped back and bowed precisely. “Thank you, for having me as a guest, even for so short a time.”
“Um…of course.” Hitomi looked to see Van’s face, but by then he’d already exited. She could feel her insides twisting painfully, but she beat them down in determination. “Goodbye, Allen-san. Tell him…I’m sorry.”
He nodded wisely. “He already knows, but I will. Take care.” Quietly, he departed.
Hitomi sunk slowly into the sofa cushions. She pressed her hand to her chest, as if its placement would keep her heart from fluttering away. Calm down. Calm down. As soon as they realize what’s happened, your time is up. You have to get to Celena first. She stood and ran to the window, watching as both figures disappeared into the waves of people. As soon as they’d fallen from view, she slipped outside and started toward the National Library at a run. Even if they turn around as soon as they get to the Alseides, I should get some time. Enough to help her, somehow.
Celena kept her hand wound tightly around Jovey’s as they moved along the crowded streets. After the almost full week she’d spent in this odorous, confined city, she was beginning to get her bearings: west of them was Hitomi’s school, and somewhere further northwest of that, her home. They were moving farther away from the Alseides, and the hospital. The building we’re going to looks public, she mused, frowning. Will we really be alone? I trust Jovey--not them. I don’t want to have to kill someone who interferes.
Celena’s time in the city had been rough at first: she was alone, in a strange place with different vehicles, food, air, and people. Alone. She had no money and no one to speak to. She’d spent her days wandering the streets. And her nights in the Alseides. The sickness often came upon her. Finding Hitomi was pure luck: she’d spotted a young girl with the same odd clothing, and followed her to her school. After that, finding her target was simple. Ever since then, she’d followed her.
Until meeting Jovey. They’d left the school together and stayed with the Alseides all afternoon, eating the food Celena’s stored and resting, mostly. But just before they left, Jovey had faced her seriously.
“Celena…is there no other way? Must you fight?”
And she’d answered without thought. “Yes.
And you’ll fight with me. It’s
our destiny.”
Which is all that matters.
The building that would be their battleground rose above them. Celena paused at the entrance, wondering what possible function so large a structure could serve. She shifted the stolen duffle bag on her shoulder--which concealed her sword--and entered, Jovey following. As she expected, dozens of people drifted aimlessly among short metal tables and long shelves of books. So…it’s some kind of scholar’s storage, or a records vault. Celena hmmphed in approval and entered the nearby elevator. After several trials in such machines, she’d learned to identify the number markings: she selected the top floor, the seventh. “They’ll be there, won’t they?” she murmured to herself. “We’ll end this.”
Jovey glanced at her, but said nothing. A short pause later they’d reached the correct floor. Celena opened her duffle bag and removed her sword, clipping the sheath to her belt. As the door slid open a chill ran down her spine and through her limbs. Finally. Finally. With a deep breath, she stepped over the threshold.
*sorry this one’s kinda short, but I needed a good place to stop. Hee hee. ^_-