Prologue
"Van....I'm so sorry."
"I'm so tired of all of this. We would never ever meet each other again.
It's not possible. I just know it would be like that. There was
emptiness in every dream that we talked whenever we met each other, only
occasionally. And in dreams only."
"I would just forget you, my young love...along with my teenage memories.
I have to. I have all my life extended before me, waiting for me to
finish it, and I couldn't do it with me staying in the past. I have to
go on to the future. And I have my own dreams."
"I would forget you like nothing has ever happened between us, like
we've never met each other. What happened in the past, what I
experienced, was only a dream, my selfish fantasy. I only said these
words to the empty air, 'cause I never like good byes. One good bye from
you when I left Gaea behind me was enough. It was the one and only good
bye that I could accept from you."
"So, I could only wish that you would be blessed by the Gods above. I
could only wish you the best of luck."
With one last tear rolled down her cheek, Hitomi draped a cloth around
Van's white snow feather and put it inside her desk's drawer before she
actually locked it.
* click *
Chapter 1: A Career Woman
A woman in early twenties sat upright in her chair behind her desk,
hands propping up her chin. Her expression was serene as she inspected
the blue sky outside the window of her office, hey eyes dancing with
wonder and fascination. Blue sky was not something one could encounter
everyday in the big, busy city like Tokyo.
It was certainly a luxury taken for granted, even though this occurred
very infrequently. No one ever cared about the beautiful blue sky, or
the magnificent beauty of God's creation surrounding them, and they
simply bustled about their business taking for granted the gifts they
received everyday in their life. Noone really appreciated the time God
had granted them, and it was only until it was taken from them that they
mourned their loss.
Giggling softly, the woman shook her head at her own thought. There she
was being melancholy again. She knew she had to focus her mind on the
work before her, but she simply couldn't. The blue sky brought back a
stream of memories, mostly the pleasant ones. She refused to drown
herself in the ocean of tragic nostalgia.
Still, she indulged herself in her daydreaming. Neglecting the stacks of
paper on either side of her desk, she heaved a sigh of longing as her
greenish blue eyes travelled upwards. The corners of her eyes crinkled
with a smile as a cloud floated by, its wispy form reminding her of an
angel's wings, soft, gentle and beautiful. An image flashed in her head,
but she was well aware that the figure in her head would probably look
different in reality.
He, her angel, must have grown stronger and taller in the past eight
years. He must have changed a lot leaving no evidence of the boyish
persona she had taken too lightly at first. Yet she came to love him as
their relationship strengthened with time. But she had decided to go on
without him, her fallen angel. And although the memory of his vague
existence was a treasure for her, she would've gladly given up that
treasure in order to get back the freedom of her heart. Or at least that
was what she had wished for herself when she locked away her every
possession, the ones that served as the reminders of his existence.
But she couldn't, or rather, she wouldn't. Her mind was trapped in the
realm of her fallen angel, longing to return to the lush green of his
world's nature, and caress the morning dew in every bright morning she
encountered in that other dimension. Most of all, she longed to touch
those tender and sensitive feathers of his wings again, to revel in the
feeling of their fluffiness. She couldn't escape the vision, even in her
waking time.
Locking away her treasured trinkets did ease a little pain in her heart,
but she never had the courage to abandon the recollections he and she
had woven together. It would dishonour his memory and she knew deep down
she would be miserable if she did. So she decided to live with the
present and revelled in the bittersweet memories of her past, keeping
his existence alive in her mind. May be someday, when she finally found
her destined life partner, she would finally be able to put the haunting
memories at rest.
Shuffling the paper of the report that was due, she blinked tears away
from her eyes as she forced herself to quit reminiscing over the past.
With a profoundly heavy sigh, she reluctantly took a page of the report
and stared hard at the paper in an attempt to examine its content
closely. She wondered why she became very emotional these days. Usually
she was able to keep those memories at bay, and drew a line between her
present life and her past, but they merged even more often lately. It
made her feel uneasy and disoriented. She needed some answers, some
guidance.
A blurry image again entered her mind, and she groaned in frustration.
Why didn't the image just go away? It had been five years since she
stopped experiencing unusual visions, but it seemed that her seemingly
extinct ability came back to life and roared back with intensity. She
never asked for the ability alone. She had had enough taste of it in the
past, and she had no wish to pervert the past or the future. For her,
the ability to be able to see the future was a curse uncured. She wanted
to be rid of it, but she couldn't, because she was simply born with it.
"Hitomi Kanzaki."
Startled, the woman turned around to face the source of the rich
baritone voice, quietly thanking God for the interruption that
disconnected her current train of thoughts. Lifting the corners of her
lips in an unsure smile, Hitomi brushed back her shoulder length sandy
blonde hair and responded, "Yes?"
A man, his youngish appearance betraying the fact that he was actually
in his late twenties, leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded
across his chest. He had the blackest almond shaped eyes that threw
almost every lady at his disposal. His raven hair looked smooth to the
touch and tempted just about every woman of his presence to rake her
fingers through those silky strands of his. His eyes brightened in mild
amusement, a smile reached his lips as he addressed Hitomi quietly,
"Daydreaming again, I presume? You seem to do that quiet often lately.
Mr. Bramley wouldn't like it."
Shaking her head slowly at the mention of her superior's name, Hitomi
occupied herself by arranging the report in her hand according to the
order of pages, "Only when I have nothing to do, Mr. Takaoka." She heard
a light chuckle and smiled to herself despite her earlier dejection.
Maintaining a perfect mask of professional air around her, she swivelled
her chair so she could look at the man in his eyes, "What's so funny?"
"Eiji." He told her in between chuckles, "I insist. I think that's only
appropriate to call each other's our first names, since we're partners
in crime, anyway."
"Partners in crime?" Hitomi's eyes twinkled in mild amusement as she
gave him a wide grin, swivelling back to her desk to staple the
classified documents before her. She did it quickly and efficiently,
while at the same time attempting to maintain the conversation, "I would
prefer the term 'job assistant', Mr. Takaoka. Besides, Mr. Bramley will
not like it if he thought that we're not maintaining the discipline
around his company." Then, propping one elbow to support her chin, she
lifted both her eyebrows as she continued her lecture about the
discipline within the workplace, "It's hardly appropriate. You might
attempt this in other people's offices, but you are in my office now."
Smiling that innocent smile of his, Eiji Takaoka gave her a wink and
said mischievously, "Whatever you say, Hitomi. I prefer your first name,
anyway."
Lifting her eyebrows in mock indignation, Hitomi's eyes softened as she
conceded her defeat, raising both her hands as she countered, "Fine,
fine! Whatever you say. Why do you come here, anyway? I don't think I
forgot to hand in those documents you need. I checked everything
already, and I'm sure I left nothing out."
"The meeting starts in an hour. Are you ready?" Eiji asked with that
rakish smile of his. His smile widened as he witnessed the slightly
panicked look in Hitomi's face, "Though I'm not sure you are. Anyway,
just calm down and proceed in confidence just like you usually do. A
mistake or two doesn't matter. Besides, it's because of your publication
that our company is going international like this." With that last bit
of advice, he gave Hitomi one last grin before closing the door quietly.
Hitomi sighed in relief when she was once again left alone in the
quietness of her office, but she jumped in alarm when she once again
heard the door clicked open. Annoyed, she turned around and exclaimed,
"What?"
She was right, as usual. It was Eiji Takaoka, again. There he was,
standing with his dashing smile of his by the door, clearly enjoying
Hitomi's flustered expression. "I haven't told you that you look very
beautiful today, Hitomi."
Sighing in exasperation, Hitomi shook her head rapidly and waved her
hands in dismissal, shooing her 'partner in crime' out of her office.
She had to admit, at first Eiji's comments on her appearance thrilled
her, but after listening to them for quiet some time, she stopped taking
them seriously. He was a ladies' man. It was difficult to guess what was
actually in his mind when he was complimenting a woman.
Hitomi let out a small smile as she once again heard the door closed
behind her, and preceded to review the outline she had prepared for the
afternoon's presentation. Eiji had dark eyes, raven black hair, is tall
and dandy- his suit always came from the best of designer's labels out
there- Armani, or may be Calvin Klein. He had always had his ways around
women, although so far Hitomi had succeeded in fending off his teasing
bantering.
Eiji resembled her angel, her Van. She even fantasised that Eiji was her
fallen angel, coming to her to rescue her from her suffocating
loneliness. But then reality always set in to remind her that Eiji was
not her angel. Looks alone wouldn't make the older man her mighty fallen
angel complete with his wild and raw persona. Her fallen angel was so
genuine that not even a single man could ever replace his image in her
head.
Eiji was only one of dozens of other men she had at first considered as
the replacement of her failing dreams; but in the end, she found that
they all fell short by comparison to her fallen angel, and could never
replace him. Besides, it wouldn't be fair for Eiji, or any other men out
there. She promised herself that she would have to be deeply and madly
in love with the man she was destined to be with, for she didn't want to
be a disappointment to the man himself for lack of passion. That was why
she contented herself by watching the games of love played out by most
of her female friends. As a spectator in the arena she could smile and
congratulate the ones who turned out to be the triumphant champions.
She, too, prayed for her own happiness, but she simply assumed God
planned other things for her. It was not her time yet to reach happiness
with the man she loved. And who the man was, she didn't know.
Grinning to herself, she tucked her right leg neatly beneath her left
one and squeezed her eyes shut as she stretched out lazily, popping a
few joints in the process. Kneading her tired neck with her nimble
fingers, she snapped one eye open and smiled happily as she caught the
sight of the newly arrived postcard that she had taped on the foot of
her desk lamp.
It was from America, from her very best friend, Yukari. She lived there
for three years already, following her husband, Amano, who had been her
senior at high school, too. Amano worked in America as a business
consultant. It was sent a few days after her daughter's birth, with a
picture of the happy family gracing the postcard's front. Yukari looked
beautiful and radiant there, holding the baby close to her heart, with
Amano beside her. Hitomi chuckled a little as her thoughts strayed to
the times of their high school days. They had been so happy together.
Amano, she noticed, had cropped his trademark pageboy cut and settled on
a neat trim for a change. She was reluctant to admit it, but she thought
he looked better that way. It must be because of Yukari's influence.
Yukari. Her dear, sweet Yukari. She had pressed Hitomi countless times
for the details of her sudden disappearance from the surface of the
Earth five years ago and of her absence that followed. She had been also
the first one to notice how strange her friend's behaviour was after her
return, and she had been also the one insisting that Hitomi had to bare
all the hidden truths. Still, Hitomi refused, and Yukari was forced to
drop the matters, albeit reluctantly. Hitomi had wanted to tell Yukari
all along about the hardship she had to endure during her visit in the
land of Gaea, but she had also known since the beginning that Gaea just
didn't exist in the reality of the Earthlings, of the people of the
Phantom Moon. And she hated the very idea of her own best friend
scoffing at her strange but true story. She just couldn't bear the
thought alone.
Slumping on the swivelling chair, she lifted her hand lazily and glanced
at her watch. Lifting one of her fine eyebrows, she smirked inwardly.
Time to work again. This job of hers really exhausted her to her core,
not because she had to deal with physical strains, but because she had
to deal with a lot of media and publication. But that was what she was
asking for as the company's public mediator, especially as this company
was a big government's telecommunication company that had formed a
partnership with another company in Germany. It was only a budding
partnership, and it was all up to her to maintain the good image of the
company in front of the media. She was the one in charge of composing
interviews and the matters of publications, while Eiji Takaoka would
assist her with the dealings with the journalists.
Squaring her shoulders, she hoisted herself off the chair and tucked the
stack of papers neatly in her arms, ready to face another war of the
day. There might be a lot of arguing and questioning, which would not be
all pleasant for her. She was enough of an open-minded person, but she
was also a perfectionist negotiator. She disliked her ways to be
questioned, and she hated the fact people sometimes look down at her
because of her age or her gender.
She was Hitomi Kanzaki, a twenty-three-year-old woman.
And she was a fighter.
------
"Hitomi, wait up!"
A woman with a crop top of black hair ran after Hitomi, her breathing
raspy by the time she reached the other woman. She had a cheerful air
around her that it was almost impossible for people not to get caught in
her whirl of energy. Sweet laughter escaping her rosebud mouth, she
turned a freckled face toward Hitomi and held her hand excitedly.
Giving the other woman a surprised look, Hitomi finally gave into a peal
of laughter as she prompted, "What is it, Kanna? It's past office hours
already, and I want to go home, so be quick!" She was a new member of
the team, and already Hitomi valued her as a friend she rarely met in
the arena. Kanna was a strong ally, and her ability to break the tension
after many arguments and disagreements was priceless.
"Here!" The black haired woman slipped a piece of paper into Hitomi's
waiting hand and sped off her way even before Hitomi was able to utter a
word. She only turned back to wave cheerfully at her and gesture with
her hands to read the message on the paper right away.
Her greenish blue eyes widened in amazement, Hitomi fingered the paper
in her hand, unsure about what she had to do with the message. She
flicked the paper over and grinned with amusement when she saw four
words written on the back. She emphasised each syllable as she whispered
the words to herself.
"To. My. Daydreaming. Princess."
Hitomi half smiled as she thrust the small paper inside her blazer's
pocket, deciding to read the message when she reached her car, a red
1990 Toyota Camry. It was obviously from Eiji. The message was probably
a means to tease her- as usual. Sitting behind the steering wheel, she
took a deep breath, preparing herself for whatever pranks Eiji had in
mind for her. As she registered the message in her mind, the corners of
her lips quirked up in mild amusement, her eyes twinkling in sudden
humour.
It wouldn't hurt her to indulge Eiji's plea of having dinner together
once in awhile. Besides, despite the women surrounding his every
atmosphere, Eiji proved to be a loyal confidante and supporter at work,
and he deserved more than the cold shoulder she had always bestowed upon
him. She couldn't promise their relationship to work the way he wanted,
but at least she may be able to install a sense of camaraderie in his
head. And as a companion, Eiji had always been wonderful. He was hardly
a boring man.
With that one last thought in her mind, Hitomi drove into the night. The
reflection of the city's light danced in her eyes as she sped off in
search of the new kaiten sushi restaurant he had pointed out as the
rendezvous for their little 'social gathering'. Or so he said, Hitomi
thought wryly to herself.
-----
Eiji was sitting alone in front of the sushi bar, his dark eyes watching
boxes of sushi rotating past his spot absentmindedly. A cup of warm sake
was in his hand, but he didn't taste even a drop of it. Instead he
played with the glass, tracing his finger on the rim, and grimacing as
he accidentally dipped his finger into the hot liquid and burnt his
skin.
For him, this waiting game was a gamble. It had been thirty minutes
flat, but there wasn't any sign Hitomi Kanzaki would arrive anytime
soon. Either she was dodging him again, or perhaps she simply hated
going out with him. Eiji sighed. There was no use in negative
speculation. He would simply wait for another fifteen minutes before
finishing the day with ordering his dinner and going home straight away.
He was startled when gentle fingers of a woman took over his sake cup
from above his head. He bent up his face and came face to face with a
pair of familiar greenish blue eyes he had desperately searched for in
the last thirty minutes. There were laughter and mischief in them,
something he rarely encountered in their office hours.
"Hello, beautiful..." He lazily greeted the woman and smiled at her,
drinking in the sight of the sweet features before him. He heard her
mutter under her breath and grinned openly. He knew Hitomi was
discouraged by his flirty side, but he couldn't help indulging himself
in complimenting the woman here and there. He smirked in self-
satisfaction as he saw her shift and planted her body into a high
barstool beside his, the sake cup still in her hands. Obviously she was
trying to chase away the chill on her palms. Night times in the autumn
were always bound to be chilly, anyway.
"So," rubbing his hands together, Eiji gave her a big grin and
continued, "What are we going to eat? It's your call, Hitomi."
A smile tugging on her peach-coated lips, Hitomi shrugged as she simply
inserted, "Raw fish?"
Eiji gave the woman beside him a long suffering look before finally
responded, "We all know what sushi is about. Raw fish."
Grinning broadly, Hitomi let go of some degrees of formality she always
insisted on maintaining in the office area and remarked loudly, "Raw
fish! What else?"
Eiji looked at her as if what she had just said was the world's worst
stupidity and turned around to inspect the rows of sushi rotating down
the railing path. He began to take interest in some of them as he
checked on the prices at the same time. "What do you want, Hitomi? That
octopus over there looks sexy enough for me."
Hitomi rolled her eyes and made a face at Eiji's rephrasing of the word
'delicious'. But instead of chiding the older man, she simply moved the
octopus to her tray and began some food inspecting herself. Her eyes
lightened when she saw the crab-stick sushi, which was her favourite.
"Hey, Eiji...what about the..."
"Finally! You call me Eiji!" A happy exclamation from Eiji made her jump
off her seat in alarm. Eyeing the man strangely, Hitomi crossed her arms
and settled into her seat by the table as a bemused look went past her
eyes. She shook her head as she witnessed her companion's childlike joy
as she proceeded with choosing her food. She watched in amusement as
Eiji animatedly pointed out the best menu from the new sushi bar,
drinking the happiness flooding from his shining eyes.
-----
They both laughed at the joke that Eiji had made, walking side by side
to where Hitomi had parked her Toyota Camry. Hitomi had enjoyed the
night alright, and Eiji had been a wonderful companion during
dinnertime. They had talked about a lot of things, and in the end they
had found they had a lot in common.
The fact that Eiji used to be the star in his track and field club
amazed her, and she had babbled the story of her own golden moments in
the end. She had been ecstatic when Eiji finally recognised her as the
fastest female runner in the junior national track and field competition
that they both had entered six years ago. When she asked Eiji which
position he won during the competition, he laughed sheepishly and dodged
the question. But she questioned him severely, and before they knew it,
he confessed that he didn't even make it to the final! Hitomi had
laughed out loud when she witnessed his flustered face. She felt a
little sorry for him now, but it might be good to bruise that big ego of
his once in awhile.
Her laughter died down as she sensed Eiji's eyes on her, his lips curved
in a gentle smile. Wiping an imaginary tear away, she ceased her
laughter and inquired softly, "What?"
"No, nothing." He shook his head, his smile widened, "It's just that the
city lights form a nice little halo around your head."
"Really?" Hitomi countered playfully, a hint of mischief in her voice.
He nodded in confirmation. "Yup! And believe it or not, you look like an
angel."
Rolling her eyes, Hitomi smiled and added quietly, "Except that I'm not
an angel..."
Hitomi's eyes widened in alarm when Eiji extended his hand to her
direction, but she was too late. He tucked a strand of hair behind her
ears gently, a wistful smile appearing on his ever-friendly features.
They were softened with something...a tender expression that made Hitomi
want to cower behind her professional mask. She was not ready for this.
Silence reigned between them, and they stared into each other's eyes as
they ignored the passer-bys who looked at them with a strange look in
their faces. Slowly, and gently, Eiji placed both his hands on Hitomi's
shoulders and closed in their distance, bending his face for a kiss. But
Hitomi's eyes stared right through him, her look blank and cold as she
whispered softly, "I can't."
Eiji stopped in the middle of his gesture and touched Hitomi's chin,
redirecting her gaze so she looked right into his eyes. He whispered
back, "Yes, you can. Someday...and I'm waiting for that day to come."
"You've been waiting for a long time already, Eiji. Won't you give up?"
Hitomi pointed out, her eyes giving away her concerns and sincerity, "I
don't want to hurt you. And I certainly never want to disappoint my
friend."
"Just like the way you wait for him to reappear in his shining armour.
And sweep you up his white horse, riding toward your dream castle
together," Eiji answered with a smile, his thumb brushing Hitomi's cheek
lightly.
Hitomi gave the man an incredulous stare and frowned.
Chuckling, Eiji tapped on her nose lightly as he answered the unspoken
question, "I have my eyes. I don't know who he is, but you're certainly
waiting for this man to come and get you." His face grew hard and
serious as he hastily added, "And as long as he isn't anywhere near you,
it is my right to be near you. Understood?"
Hitomi shook her head, a melancholic smile appearing on her lips, "But
he isn't going to come back to me; he's history, anyway."
"All the better!" came the cheerful reply and the bright grin, although
the act of happiness didn't quite reach Eiji's eyes. Then his face
became solemn as he lowered his hands to his sides and murmured
dejectedly, resembling a lost puppy, "Seriously..."
"Yes?" Hitomi lifted her eyes and gave him a trembling smile, which she
hoped encouraged him to some extent. She didn't want to lose their
friendship even if she had rejected him openly from the start.
He said nothing, but he lowered his face and gave a light kiss on
Hitomi's smooth cheek. Shocked, Hitomi put her palm to her cheek and
stepped backwards, confusion written all over her face. "What was that
for?" she whispered, almost afraid of the answer.
Grinning widely, Eiji patted Hitomi's shoulders several times and
pronounced, "That is for my declaration of war, to whomever the man able
to capture your heart!" Stretching his body lazily like a cat, the man
walked past her and whistled cheerfully, treating the situation as if
nothing had happened between them. Only they knew that he would not give
up whatever happened. But this time, it was entirely up to Hitomi, for
she was the one who had to make the choice.
Hitomi smiled as she looked up at the black starry night above, a rare
occurrence by her measure. Today was full of strange and surprising
events, indeed. And as she brushed her hair out of her eyes, she could
feel the icy whiteness touch her face.
Snow.
It was apparently an early winter.
Smiling in silent approval, she lifted her hands to touch the
snowflakes, oblivious to the strange stares people were giving her.
Revelling in the cool feeling of the snow, she closed her eyes once
again and let her senses take over as snow caressed her skin with a
wetness that trickled down her cheeks. For the first time in eight
years, Hitomi's feelings took over her and she wept openly, mourning for
her lost fallen angel.
-----
She drove in silence, save for a melancholic voice of a man, singing,
from the radio. She waited for the red light to change into green, but
it seemed to her that she would wait forever. Reaching home as soon as
possible was the only thing Hitomi had ever wanted at the moment, plus a
hot bath waiting for her, if it wasn't too late yet. She was sure her
parents would have called her countless times, as it became their habit
to check on her every day. Her brother would scoff and jab into her arm
lightly, declaring that she owed him a lot for calming down their
worried parents. Hitomi wondered how her brother, who used to be a sweet
nine-year-old, became a nosy young man at his eighteen years of age,
especially since he lived together with her in her apartment, which he
claimed to be in walking distance to his university.
She had to reach home, quickly. With that thought in mind, she stepped
on the gas pedal and increased the acceleration of her car. She didn't
notice another car, slowing to a stop and looking about to turn around.
She didn't even have the time to scream her panic as her car collided
violently with the back of the other car, sending her neck to jerk back
and her head to bump against the window's glass.
She was hyperventilating and nearly in shock, smoke was streaming out
from underneath the hood. With trembling fingers she felt wet blood on
her forehead. She realised how close she came to death, but for the
seatbelt she was currently wearing. She felt her head swim in dull
throbs, and she slowly lost her ability to see. Soon it was darkness all
around her. She felt alone in the empty space.
She jerked her body up when a vision appeared in her head. She saw her
own car, exploding into bits and pieces...and she was inside, scorching
into ashes. She gasped in shock, her instinct telling her what would
happen next. She shook her head to clear her darkened vision and tugged
on the seatbelt to free herself. She had to get out of the car, and
quickly. She didn't want to be welded together with every circuit in her
car. But she knew it was all ready too late as she listened to the
telltale rumbles of the engine. She was going to die.
Suddenly a column of light appeared out of nowhere, engulfing Hitomi
with its warmth. Before she surrendered her consciousness she prayed
that God would grant her a chance to live, to see her family, and to
meet her fallen angle once more before she died. And then she slipped
away.
What is God's plan for her, anyway?
-----
Eiji's heart slammed into his rib cage as he witnessed the accident.
Before he could react he saw a column of white light appear out of
nowhere. Quickly he took a detour and headed to where the white
brightness had appeared, his heart racing with his fear for Hitomi. He
knew his fear might prove to be an overactive reaction, but he couldn't
erase the image of Hitomi's pale features, covered with blood. His panic
heightened as he heard a big explosion at the same spot seconds after,
and accelerated his BMW convertible.
There were people around and some policemen when Eiji finally reached
the place. Gasping in shock, Eiji's eyes widened, as he saw Hitomi's
Toyota Camry scorching black, smoke hissing from certain burning spots
and circuits. Just in front of the car, another car laid. It too was
scorched, but it wasn't as bad as Hitomi's. The entire front end and
front seats of her car were reduced to a mangled and charred blackish
residue. A severely injured man was laid beside the two cars with a few
other people attending him. Obviously they waited for an ambulance to
come.
"Hitomi! Where is Hitomi!" he zoomed past the crowd, straight to the
policeman who was standing nearest to him and shook the older man. The
policeman jerked his arm free from Eiji's steely grip before finally
answered the younger man, "You mean the driver of that car?" He had
said, pointing at the unrecognisable Toyota Camry. "I have no idea."
"What do you mean you have no idea?" Eiji hissed angrily, his hands
advancing for the collars of the policeman's uniform. The older man
skilfully dodged Eiji's attack and managed to answer back, "Yes, gone.
Vanished. There was no one in the passenger seat when we finished
clearing the explosion."
Eiji lowered his hands to his sides and stared hollowly at the car,
disbelief etched deeply in his face.
"Gone," he muttered softly, apprehension slowly dawning in his eyes.
-----
Whistling the melody of the top chart pop song he had just listened in
the radio, Shigure Kanzaki padded to his sister's room, an English
notebook tucked safely in his arm. He smiled slightly as he glanced
briefly at the notebooks. His sister hadn't yet reached home, though it
was already ten o'clock in the evening, and she did promise him to go
through his English notes with him, since he had a big test the next
day. Oh well, he might as well study in Hitomi's room while he was
waiting for her arrival.
Father was tearing his hair out; obviously he was worried sick about her
when he called again for the sixth time this evening. He had been
overprotective toward Hitomi since she disappeared and appeared again
mysteriously after weeks of absence. No, everyone in the household had
been an overprotective bunch toward her since that accident, including
him. He hated to admit it, but there were times when he would stay up
late in his room only to listen to the sound of his sister padding
softly as she entered the house. He had been a nine-year-old lad when
the incident had happened, but he could remember the horror of the
situation freshly.
Glancing briefly at his books again, he lifted his dark eyebrows as he
noticed that he left his dictionary behind. But he was there already, in
front of Hitomi's room, and his room was on the first floor of their
two-floored apartment. Frowning, he shrugged and decided to dig her
sister's drawers and looked for one there. He knew his sister kept her
own collection of English dictionaries, especially that her current
career demanded fluent ability to speak English. She always needed to
hone her English skill into perfection.
Grinning widely, Shigure's mind was full of anticipation as he turned
the doorknob and stepped inside, his bare feet revelling on the fluffy
feeling of the snow white bear's skin door mat Hitomi had acquired
during her recent business trip to Germany. He had to admit that
Hitomi's style in decorating her own room was not very girlish. He could
see a collection of teddy bears here and there, but apart of those soft
toys, he saw nothing else that denoted frilly decorations. Her style was
delicate indeed, but it was practical as well.
Placing his books carelessly on the sky blue covered mattress, he
proceeded to his sister's desk and began some drawer inspecting. He
tried the first drawer, but it wouldn't budge, so he left it be. Perhaps
his sister had some secrets she didn't want her family to know about.
She had been extremely quiet when she was asked about the time of her
disappearance. No one pursued the subject any longer, and after a few
years, the topic was totally forgotten.
But Shigure remembered. And he was still asking the same questions in
his head over and over, even after all those years. Why did he always
witness the same sadness in his elder sister's eyes? He wanted so much
to ease her burden, but he was powerless. He could only hope his sister
would find someone that was able to ease all her sadness and make her
happy.
He pulled the second drawer and widened his eyes in satisfaction as he
spotted the thick leather bound dictionary inside. He fished the book
out of the drawer and started flipping through the pages, but he stopped
when he noticed something strange happening. Rays of light seeped
through the gaps of the first drawer, its brightness scaring and
fascinating him at the same time.
Soon he found himself dropping the now-unimportant dictionary on top of
the desk and frantically tried to force the drawer open, his fingers
trembling with anxiety as it was refused to open to his force. Groaning
in frustration, he accidentally knocked off one of the pencil cases on
Hitomi's desk and spilled the contents all over. He cursed as he righted
the position of the pencil case, but his eyes again widened in
excitement when he noticed a key; its gleaming reflection tempted him to
touch its cool surface.
Quickly he grabbed the key and inserted it into the keyhole, turning it
and opening the drawer at the same time. With excruciating slowness, he
pulled the drawer as he squinted his eyes as a ray of brilliant golden
light assaulting his eyes. He gasped when he finally had a good look at
the object of his fascination.
It was a feather. And it was shining, shining, and shining...until the
room was engulfed with nothingness but white.
Shigure swallowed in realisation and he extended his fingers to pet
lightly on the softness of the feather. He would lose his sister once
again, probably forever.
--tbc--
Hello All,
This is the new chapter one! I hope you like this plot better, since
this time I really think about it. I think this one has more body than
the first one does. And the earthlings certainly have more personalities
that what I have pointed before in the first chapter one. I decided to
throw in some real interactions between characters other than the
excitement of the actions only, and I hope it will give a little more
weight and strong opening to the beginning of the story. And I also
think I got Hitomi's job description right this time. Public relation is
something I still have to learn a lot. Lucky a lot of people around are
quite willing to enlighten me.
Sorry for not being able to email back these days. I think, as the
replies of your wonderful supports, I will write a long note every once
awhile after I finish writing a chapter. How about that? So ask me
questions, and it will be answered in this little note. Of course, I
will reply right away if I have time, but if I don't reply, please look
forward to the little note I post here now and then. For people who
always wonders when next chapters will be posted, it will be posted
after it's finished being written! :P Nah...kidding, its' just that I
couldn't be rushed into writing, unless you want something that is a far
cry from satisfactory. So please bear with me, and I'm trying to post at
least one chapter a month.
But no promise here. I know you guys are anxious to read the next
chapters, but I'm afraid I only have one mind that I have to use to work
on several tasks in my life. I'm sure you are also like that, all of
you. So please, please, pleeeaseee.....wait patiently, and the chapter
will be written when I have a good plot of continuation in my mind. Of
course, I would consider time gap as well and be frantic if I haven't
posted up anything in 3 months (and a little guilty), so don't worry,
you will get the chapters done in the end.
Yours,
Louise Tjandrasjahan
15 September 2000
14 : 16 p.m. Western Australia time
ps. * grin * I hope everyone understand what happen between Hitomi and
Eiji here...as I'm trying to build the mood before mentioning the BIG "L"
word. It would be too cliché!
Email me?
"Van....I'm so sorry."
"I'm so tired of all of this. We would never ever meet each other again.
It's not possible. I just know it would be like that. There was
emptiness in every dream that we talked whenever we met each other, only
occasionally. And in dreams only."
"I would just forget you, my young love...along with my teenage memories.
I have to. I have all my life extended before me, waiting for me to
finish it, and I couldn't do it with me staying in the past. I have to
go on to the future. And I have my own dreams."
"I would forget you like nothing has ever happened between us, like
we've never met each other. What happened in the past, what I
experienced, was only a dream, my selfish fantasy. I only said these
words to the empty air, 'cause I never like good byes. One good bye from
you when I left Gaea behind me was enough. It was the one and only good
bye that I could accept from you."
"So, I could only wish that you would be blessed by the Gods above. I
could only wish you the best of luck."
With one last tear rolled down her cheek, Hitomi draped a cloth around
Van's white snow feather and put it inside her desk's drawer before she
actually locked it.
* click *
Chapter 1: A Career Woman
A woman in early twenties sat upright in her chair behind her desk,
hands propping up her chin. Her expression was serene as she inspected
the blue sky outside the window of her office, hey eyes dancing with
wonder and fascination. Blue sky was not something one could encounter
everyday in the big, busy city like Tokyo.
It was certainly a luxury taken for granted, even though this occurred
very infrequently. No one ever cared about the beautiful blue sky, or
the magnificent beauty of God's creation surrounding them, and they
simply bustled about their business taking for granted the gifts they
received everyday in their life. Noone really appreciated the time God
had granted them, and it was only until it was taken from them that they
mourned their loss.
Giggling softly, the woman shook her head at her own thought. There she
was being melancholy again. She knew she had to focus her mind on the
work before her, but she simply couldn't. The blue sky brought back a
stream of memories, mostly the pleasant ones. She refused to drown
herself in the ocean of tragic nostalgia.
Still, she indulged herself in her daydreaming. Neglecting the stacks of
paper on either side of her desk, she heaved a sigh of longing as her
greenish blue eyes travelled upwards. The corners of her eyes crinkled
with a smile as a cloud floated by, its wispy form reminding her of an
angel's wings, soft, gentle and beautiful. An image flashed in her head,
but she was well aware that the figure in her head would probably look
different in reality.
He, her angel, must have grown stronger and taller in the past eight
years. He must have changed a lot leaving no evidence of the boyish
persona she had taken too lightly at first. Yet she came to love him as
their relationship strengthened with time. But she had decided to go on
without him, her fallen angel. And although the memory of his vague
existence was a treasure for her, she would've gladly given up that
treasure in order to get back the freedom of her heart. Or at least that
was what she had wished for herself when she locked away her every
possession, the ones that served as the reminders of his existence.
But she couldn't, or rather, she wouldn't. Her mind was trapped in the
realm of her fallen angel, longing to return to the lush green of his
world's nature, and caress the morning dew in every bright morning she
encountered in that other dimension. Most of all, she longed to touch
those tender and sensitive feathers of his wings again, to revel in the
feeling of their fluffiness. She couldn't escape the vision, even in her
waking time.
Locking away her treasured trinkets did ease a little pain in her heart,
but she never had the courage to abandon the recollections he and she
had woven together. It would dishonour his memory and she knew deep down
she would be miserable if she did. So she decided to live with the
present and revelled in the bittersweet memories of her past, keeping
his existence alive in her mind. May be someday, when she finally found
her destined life partner, she would finally be able to put the haunting
memories at rest.
Shuffling the paper of the report that was due, she blinked tears away
from her eyes as she forced herself to quit reminiscing over the past.
With a profoundly heavy sigh, she reluctantly took a page of the report
and stared hard at the paper in an attempt to examine its content
closely. She wondered why she became very emotional these days. Usually
she was able to keep those memories at bay, and drew a line between her
present life and her past, but they merged even more often lately. It
made her feel uneasy and disoriented. She needed some answers, some
guidance.
A blurry image again entered her mind, and she groaned in frustration.
Why didn't the image just go away? It had been five years since she
stopped experiencing unusual visions, but it seemed that her seemingly
extinct ability came back to life and roared back with intensity. She
never asked for the ability alone. She had had enough taste of it in the
past, and she had no wish to pervert the past or the future. For her,
the ability to be able to see the future was a curse uncured. She wanted
to be rid of it, but she couldn't, because she was simply born with it.
"Hitomi Kanzaki."
Startled, the woman turned around to face the source of the rich
baritone voice, quietly thanking God for the interruption that
disconnected her current train of thoughts. Lifting the corners of her
lips in an unsure smile, Hitomi brushed back her shoulder length sandy
blonde hair and responded, "Yes?"
A man, his youngish appearance betraying the fact that he was actually
in his late twenties, leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded
across his chest. He had the blackest almond shaped eyes that threw
almost every lady at his disposal. His raven hair looked smooth to the
touch and tempted just about every woman of his presence to rake her
fingers through those silky strands of his. His eyes brightened in mild
amusement, a smile reached his lips as he addressed Hitomi quietly,
"Daydreaming again, I presume? You seem to do that quiet often lately.
Mr. Bramley wouldn't like it."
Shaking her head slowly at the mention of her superior's name, Hitomi
occupied herself by arranging the report in her hand according to the
order of pages, "Only when I have nothing to do, Mr. Takaoka." She heard
a light chuckle and smiled to herself despite her earlier dejection.
Maintaining a perfect mask of professional air around her, she swivelled
her chair so she could look at the man in his eyes, "What's so funny?"
"Eiji." He told her in between chuckles, "I insist. I think that's only
appropriate to call each other's our first names, since we're partners
in crime, anyway."
"Partners in crime?" Hitomi's eyes twinkled in mild amusement as she
gave him a wide grin, swivelling back to her desk to staple the
classified documents before her. She did it quickly and efficiently,
while at the same time attempting to maintain the conversation, "I would
prefer the term 'job assistant', Mr. Takaoka. Besides, Mr. Bramley will
not like it if he thought that we're not maintaining the discipline
around his company." Then, propping one elbow to support her chin, she
lifted both her eyebrows as she continued her lecture about the
discipline within the workplace, "It's hardly appropriate. You might
attempt this in other people's offices, but you are in my office now."
Smiling that innocent smile of his, Eiji Takaoka gave her a wink and
said mischievously, "Whatever you say, Hitomi. I prefer your first name,
anyway."
Lifting her eyebrows in mock indignation, Hitomi's eyes softened as she
conceded her defeat, raising both her hands as she countered, "Fine,
fine! Whatever you say. Why do you come here, anyway? I don't think I
forgot to hand in those documents you need. I checked everything
already, and I'm sure I left nothing out."
"The meeting starts in an hour. Are you ready?" Eiji asked with that
rakish smile of his. His smile widened as he witnessed the slightly
panicked look in Hitomi's face, "Though I'm not sure you are. Anyway,
just calm down and proceed in confidence just like you usually do. A
mistake or two doesn't matter. Besides, it's because of your publication
that our company is going international like this." With that last bit
of advice, he gave Hitomi one last grin before closing the door quietly.
Hitomi sighed in relief when she was once again left alone in the
quietness of her office, but she jumped in alarm when she once again
heard the door clicked open. Annoyed, she turned around and exclaimed,
"What?"
She was right, as usual. It was Eiji Takaoka, again. There he was,
standing with his dashing smile of his by the door, clearly enjoying
Hitomi's flustered expression. "I haven't told you that you look very
beautiful today, Hitomi."
Sighing in exasperation, Hitomi shook her head rapidly and waved her
hands in dismissal, shooing her 'partner in crime' out of her office.
She had to admit, at first Eiji's comments on her appearance thrilled
her, but after listening to them for quiet some time, she stopped taking
them seriously. He was a ladies' man. It was difficult to guess what was
actually in his mind when he was complimenting a woman.
Hitomi let out a small smile as she once again heard the door closed
behind her, and preceded to review the outline she had prepared for the
afternoon's presentation. Eiji had dark eyes, raven black hair, is tall
and dandy- his suit always came from the best of designer's labels out
there- Armani, or may be Calvin Klein. He had always had his ways around
women, although so far Hitomi had succeeded in fending off his teasing
bantering.
Eiji resembled her angel, her Van. She even fantasised that Eiji was her
fallen angel, coming to her to rescue her from her suffocating
loneliness. But then reality always set in to remind her that Eiji was
not her angel. Looks alone wouldn't make the older man her mighty fallen
angel complete with his wild and raw persona. Her fallen angel was so
genuine that not even a single man could ever replace his image in her
head.
Eiji was only one of dozens of other men she had at first considered as
the replacement of her failing dreams; but in the end, she found that
they all fell short by comparison to her fallen angel, and could never
replace him. Besides, it wouldn't be fair for Eiji, or any other men out
there. She promised herself that she would have to be deeply and madly
in love with the man she was destined to be with, for she didn't want to
be a disappointment to the man himself for lack of passion. That was why
she contented herself by watching the games of love played out by most
of her female friends. As a spectator in the arena she could smile and
congratulate the ones who turned out to be the triumphant champions.
She, too, prayed for her own happiness, but she simply assumed God
planned other things for her. It was not her time yet to reach happiness
with the man she loved. And who the man was, she didn't know.
Grinning to herself, she tucked her right leg neatly beneath her left
one and squeezed her eyes shut as she stretched out lazily, popping a
few joints in the process. Kneading her tired neck with her nimble
fingers, she snapped one eye open and smiled happily as she caught the
sight of the newly arrived postcard that she had taped on the foot of
her desk lamp.
It was from America, from her very best friend, Yukari. She lived there
for three years already, following her husband, Amano, who had been her
senior at high school, too. Amano worked in America as a business
consultant. It was sent a few days after her daughter's birth, with a
picture of the happy family gracing the postcard's front. Yukari looked
beautiful and radiant there, holding the baby close to her heart, with
Amano beside her. Hitomi chuckled a little as her thoughts strayed to
the times of their high school days. They had been so happy together.
Amano, she noticed, had cropped his trademark pageboy cut and settled on
a neat trim for a change. She was reluctant to admit it, but she thought
he looked better that way. It must be because of Yukari's influence.
Yukari. Her dear, sweet Yukari. She had pressed Hitomi countless times
for the details of her sudden disappearance from the surface of the
Earth five years ago and of her absence that followed. She had been also
the first one to notice how strange her friend's behaviour was after her
return, and she had been also the one insisting that Hitomi had to bare
all the hidden truths. Still, Hitomi refused, and Yukari was forced to
drop the matters, albeit reluctantly. Hitomi had wanted to tell Yukari
all along about the hardship she had to endure during her visit in the
land of Gaea, but she had also known since the beginning that Gaea just
didn't exist in the reality of the Earthlings, of the people of the
Phantom Moon. And she hated the very idea of her own best friend
scoffing at her strange but true story. She just couldn't bear the
thought alone.
Slumping on the swivelling chair, she lifted her hand lazily and glanced
at her watch. Lifting one of her fine eyebrows, she smirked inwardly.
Time to work again. This job of hers really exhausted her to her core,
not because she had to deal with physical strains, but because she had
to deal with a lot of media and publication. But that was what she was
asking for as the company's public mediator, especially as this company
was a big government's telecommunication company that had formed a
partnership with another company in Germany. It was only a budding
partnership, and it was all up to her to maintain the good image of the
company in front of the media. She was the one in charge of composing
interviews and the matters of publications, while Eiji Takaoka would
assist her with the dealings with the journalists.
Squaring her shoulders, she hoisted herself off the chair and tucked the
stack of papers neatly in her arms, ready to face another war of the
day. There might be a lot of arguing and questioning, which would not be
all pleasant for her. She was enough of an open-minded person, but she
was also a perfectionist negotiator. She disliked her ways to be
questioned, and she hated the fact people sometimes look down at her
because of her age or her gender.
She was Hitomi Kanzaki, a twenty-three-year-old woman.
And she was a fighter.
------
"Hitomi, wait up!"
A woman with a crop top of black hair ran after Hitomi, her breathing
raspy by the time she reached the other woman. She had a cheerful air
around her that it was almost impossible for people not to get caught in
her whirl of energy. Sweet laughter escaping her rosebud mouth, she
turned a freckled face toward Hitomi and held her hand excitedly.
Giving the other woman a surprised look, Hitomi finally gave into a peal
of laughter as she prompted, "What is it, Kanna? It's past office hours
already, and I want to go home, so be quick!" She was a new member of
the team, and already Hitomi valued her as a friend she rarely met in
the arena. Kanna was a strong ally, and her ability to break the tension
after many arguments and disagreements was priceless.
"Here!" The black haired woman slipped a piece of paper into Hitomi's
waiting hand and sped off her way even before Hitomi was able to utter a
word. She only turned back to wave cheerfully at her and gesture with
her hands to read the message on the paper right away.
Her greenish blue eyes widened in amazement, Hitomi fingered the paper
in her hand, unsure about what she had to do with the message. She
flicked the paper over and grinned with amusement when she saw four
words written on the back. She emphasised each syllable as she whispered
the words to herself.
"To. My. Daydreaming. Princess."
Hitomi half smiled as she thrust the small paper inside her blazer's
pocket, deciding to read the message when she reached her car, a red
1990 Toyota Camry. It was obviously from Eiji. The message was probably
a means to tease her- as usual. Sitting behind the steering wheel, she
took a deep breath, preparing herself for whatever pranks Eiji had in
mind for her. As she registered the message in her mind, the corners of
her lips quirked up in mild amusement, her eyes twinkling in sudden
humour.
It wouldn't hurt her to indulge Eiji's plea of having dinner together
once in awhile. Besides, despite the women surrounding his every
atmosphere, Eiji proved to be a loyal confidante and supporter at work,
and he deserved more than the cold shoulder she had always bestowed upon
him. She couldn't promise their relationship to work the way he wanted,
but at least she may be able to install a sense of camaraderie in his
head. And as a companion, Eiji had always been wonderful. He was hardly
a boring man.
With that one last thought in her mind, Hitomi drove into the night. The
reflection of the city's light danced in her eyes as she sped off in
search of the new kaiten sushi restaurant he had pointed out as the
rendezvous for their little 'social gathering'. Or so he said, Hitomi
thought wryly to herself.
-----
Eiji was sitting alone in front of the sushi bar, his dark eyes watching
boxes of sushi rotating past his spot absentmindedly. A cup of warm sake
was in his hand, but he didn't taste even a drop of it. Instead he
played with the glass, tracing his finger on the rim, and grimacing as
he accidentally dipped his finger into the hot liquid and burnt his
skin.
For him, this waiting game was a gamble. It had been thirty minutes
flat, but there wasn't any sign Hitomi Kanzaki would arrive anytime
soon. Either she was dodging him again, or perhaps she simply hated
going out with him. Eiji sighed. There was no use in negative
speculation. He would simply wait for another fifteen minutes before
finishing the day with ordering his dinner and going home straight away.
He was startled when gentle fingers of a woman took over his sake cup
from above his head. He bent up his face and came face to face with a
pair of familiar greenish blue eyes he had desperately searched for in
the last thirty minutes. There were laughter and mischief in them,
something he rarely encountered in their office hours.
"Hello, beautiful..." He lazily greeted the woman and smiled at her,
drinking in the sight of the sweet features before him. He heard her
mutter under her breath and grinned openly. He knew Hitomi was
discouraged by his flirty side, but he couldn't help indulging himself
in complimenting the woman here and there. He smirked in self-
satisfaction as he saw her shift and planted her body into a high
barstool beside his, the sake cup still in her hands. Obviously she was
trying to chase away the chill on her palms. Night times in the autumn
were always bound to be chilly, anyway.
"So," rubbing his hands together, Eiji gave her a big grin and
continued, "What are we going to eat? It's your call, Hitomi."
A smile tugging on her peach-coated lips, Hitomi shrugged as she simply
inserted, "Raw fish?"
Eiji gave the woman beside him a long suffering look before finally
responded, "We all know what sushi is about. Raw fish."
Grinning broadly, Hitomi let go of some degrees of formality she always
insisted on maintaining in the office area and remarked loudly, "Raw
fish! What else?"
Eiji looked at her as if what she had just said was the world's worst
stupidity and turned around to inspect the rows of sushi rotating down
the railing path. He began to take interest in some of them as he
checked on the prices at the same time. "What do you want, Hitomi? That
octopus over there looks sexy enough for me."
Hitomi rolled her eyes and made a face at Eiji's rephrasing of the word
'delicious'. But instead of chiding the older man, she simply moved the
octopus to her tray and began some food inspecting herself. Her eyes
lightened when she saw the crab-stick sushi, which was her favourite.
"Hey, Eiji...what about the..."
"Finally! You call me Eiji!" A happy exclamation from Eiji made her jump
off her seat in alarm. Eyeing the man strangely, Hitomi crossed her arms
and settled into her seat by the table as a bemused look went past her
eyes. She shook her head as she witnessed her companion's childlike joy
as she proceeded with choosing her food. She watched in amusement as
Eiji animatedly pointed out the best menu from the new sushi bar,
drinking the happiness flooding from his shining eyes.
-----
They both laughed at the joke that Eiji had made, walking side by side
to where Hitomi had parked her Toyota Camry. Hitomi had enjoyed the
night alright, and Eiji had been a wonderful companion during
dinnertime. They had talked about a lot of things, and in the end they
had found they had a lot in common.
The fact that Eiji used to be the star in his track and field club
amazed her, and she had babbled the story of her own golden moments in
the end. She had been ecstatic when Eiji finally recognised her as the
fastest female runner in the junior national track and field competition
that they both had entered six years ago. When she asked Eiji which
position he won during the competition, he laughed sheepishly and dodged
the question. But she questioned him severely, and before they knew it,
he confessed that he didn't even make it to the final! Hitomi had
laughed out loud when she witnessed his flustered face. She felt a
little sorry for him now, but it might be good to bruise that big ego of
his once in awhile.
Her laughter died down as she sensed Eiji's eyes on her, his lips curved
in a gentle smile. Wiping an imaginary tear away, she ceased her
laughter and inquired softly, "What?"
"No, nothing." He shook his head, his smile widened, "It's just that the
city lights form a nice little halo around your head."
"Really?" Hitomi countered playfully, a hint of mischief in her voice.
He nodded in confirmation. "Yup! And believe it or not, you look like an
angel."
Rolling her eyes, Hitomi smiled and added quietly, "Except that I'm not
an angel..."
Hitomi's eyes widened in alarm when Eiji extended his hand to her
direction, but she was too late. He tucked a strand of hair behind her
ears gently, a wistful smile appearing on his ever-friendly features.
They were softened with something...a tender expression that made Hitomi
want to cower behind her professional mask. She was not ready for this.
Silence reigned between them, and they stared into each other's eyes as
they ignored the passer-bys who looked at them with a strange look in
their faces. Slowly, and gently, Eiji placed both his hands on Hitomi's
shoulders and closed in their distance, bending his face for a kiss. But
Hitomi's eyes stared right through him, her look blank and cold as she
whispered softly, "I can't."
Eiji stopped in the middle of his gesture and touched Hitomi's chin,
redirecting her gaze so she looked right into his eyes. He whispered
back, "Yes, you can. Someday...and I'm waiting for that day to come."
"You've been waiting for a long time already, Eiji. Won't you give up?"
Hitomi pointed out, her eyes giving away her concerns and sincerity, "I
don't want to hurt you. And I certainly never want to disappoint my
friend."
"Just like the way you wait for him to reappear in his shining armour.
And sweep you up his white horse, riding toward your dream castle
together," Eiji answered with a smile, his thumb brushing Hitomi's cheek
lightly.
Hitomi gave the man an incredulous stare and frowned.
Chuckling, Eiji tapped on her nose lightly as he answered the unspoken
question, "I have my eyes. I don't know who he is, but you're certainly
waiting for this man to come and get you." His face grew hard and
serious as he hastily added, "And as long as he isn't anywhere near you,
it is my right to be near you. Understood?"
Hitomi shook her head, a melancholic smile appearing on her lips, "But
he isn't going to come back to me; he's history, anyway."
"All the better!" came the cheerful reply and the bright grin, although
the act of happiness didn't quite reach Eiji's eyes. Then his face
became solemn as he lowered his hands to his sides and murmured
dejectedly, resembling a lost puppy, "Seriously..."
"Yes?" Hitomi lifted her eyes and gave him a trembling smile, which she
hoped encouraged him to some extent. She didn't want to lose their
friendship even if she had rejected him openly from the start.
He said nothing, but he lowered his face and gave a light kiss on
Hitomi's smooth cheek. Shocked, Hitomi put her palm to her cheek and
stepped backwards, confusion written all over her face. "What was that
for?" she whispered, almost afraid of the answer.
Grinning widely, Eiji patted Hitomi's shoulders several times and
pronounced, "That is for my declaration of war, to whomever the man able
to capture your heart!" Stretching his body lazily like a cat, the man
walked past her and whistled cheerfully, treating the situation as if
nothing had happened between them. Only they knew that he would not give
up whatever happened. But this time, it was entirely up to Hitomi, for
she was the one who had to make the choice.
Hitomi smiled as she looked up at the black starry night above, a rare
occurrence by her measure. Today was full of strange and surprising
events, indeed. And as she brushed her hair out of her eyes, she could
feel the icy whiteness touch her face.
Snow.
It was apparently an early winter.
Smiling in silent approval, she lifted her hands to touch the
snowflakes, oblivious to the strange stares people were giving her.
Revelling in the cool feeling of the snow, she closed her eyes once
again and let her senses take over as snow caressed her skin with a
wetness that trickled down her cheeks. For the first time in eight
years, Hitomi's feelings took over her and she wept openly, mourning for
her lost fallen angel.
-----
She drove in silence, save for a melancholic voice of a man, singing,
from the radio. She waited for the red light to change into green, but
it seemed to her that she would wait forever. Reaching home as soon as
possible was the only thing Hitomi had ever wanted at the moment, plus a
hot bath waiting for her, if it wasn't too late yet. She was sure her
parents would have called her countless times, as it became their habit
to check on her every day. Her brother would scoff and jab into her arm
lightly, declaring that she owed him a lot for calming down their
worried parents. Hitomi wondered how her brother, who used to be a sweet
nine-year-old, became a nosy young man at his eighteen years of age,
especially since he lived together with her in her apartment, which he
claimed to be in walking distance to his university.
She had to reach home, quickly. With that thought in mind, she stepped
on the gas pedal and increased the acceleration of her car. She didn't
notice another car, slowing to a stop and looking about to turn around.
She didn't even have the time to scream her panic as her car collided
violently with the back of the other car, sending her neck to jerk back
and her head to bump against the window's glass.
She was hyperventilating and nearly in shock, smoke was streaming out
from underneath the hood. With trembling fingers she felt wet blood on
her forehead. She realised how close she came to death, but for the
seatbelt she was currently wearing. She felt her head swim in dull
throbs, and she slowly lost her ability to see. Soon it was darkness all
around her. She felt alone in the empty space.
She jerked her body up when a vision appeared in her head. She saw her
own car, exploding into bits and pieces...and she was inside, scorching
into ashes. She gasped in shock, her instinct telling her what would
happen next. She shook her head to clear her darkened vision and tugged
on the seatbelt to free herself. She had to get out of the car, and
quickly. She didn't want to be welded together with every circuit in her
car. But she knew it was all ready too late as she listened to the
telltale rumbles of the engine. She was going to die.
Suddenly a column of light appeared out of nowhere, engulfing Hitomi
with its warmth. Before she surrendered her consciousness she prayed
that God would grant her a chance to live, to see her family, and to
meet her fallen angle once more before she died. And then she slipped
away.
What is God's plan for her, anyway?
-----
Eiji's heart slammed into his rib cage as he witnessed the accident.
Before he could react he saw a column of white light appear out of
nowhere. Quickly he took a detour and headed to where the white
brightness had appeared, his heart racing with his fear for Hitomi. He
knew his fear might prove to be an overactive reaction, but he couldn't
erase the image of Hitomi's pale features, covered with blood. His panic
heightened as he heard a big explosion at the same spot seconds after,
and accelerated his BMW convertible.
There were people around and some policemen when Eiji finally reached
the place. Gasping in shock, Eiji's eyes widened, as he saw Hitomi's
Toyota Camry scorching black, smoke hissing from certain burning spots
and circuits. Just in front of the car, another car laid. It too was
scorched, but it wasn't as bad as Hitomi's. The entire front end and
front seats of her car were reduced to a mangled and charred blackish
residue. A severely injured man was laid beside the two cars with a few
other people attending him. Obviously they waited for an ambulance to
come.
"Hitomi! Where is Hitomi!" he zoomed past the crowd, straight to the
policeman who was standing nearest to him and shook the older man. The
policeman jerked his arm free from Eiji's steely grip before finally
answered the younger man, "You mean the driver of that car?" He had
said, pointing at the unrecognisable Toyota Camry. "I have no idea."
"What do you mean you have no idea?" Eiji hissed angrily, his hands
advancing for the collars of the policeman's uniform. The older man
skilfully dodged Eiji's attack and managed to answer back, "Yes, gone.
Vanished. There was no one in the passenger seat when we finished
clearing the explosion."
Eiji lowered his hands to his sides and stared hollowly at the car,
disbelief etched deeply in his face.
"Gone," he muttered softly, apprehension slowly dawning in his eyes.
-----
Whistling the melody of the top chart pop song he had just listened in
the radio, Shigure Kanzaki padded to his sister's room, an English
notebook tucked safely in his arm. He smiled slightly as he glanced
briefly at the notebooks. His sister hadn't yet reached home, though it
was already ten o'clock in the evening, and she did promise him to go
through his English notes with him, since he had a big test the next
day. Oh well, he might as well study in Hitomi's room while he was
waiting for her arrival.
Father was tearing his hair out; obviously he was worried sick about her
when he called again for the sixth time this evening. He had been
overprotective toward Hitomi since she disappeared and appeared again
mysteriously after weeks of absence. No, everyone in the household had
been an overprotective bunch toward her since that accident, including
him. He hated to admit it, but there were times when he would stay up
late in his room only to listen to the sound of his sister padding
softly as she entered the house. He had been a nine-year-old lad when
the incident had happened, but he could remember the horror of the
situation freshly.
Glancing briefly at his books again, he lifted his dark eyebrows as he
noticed that he left his dictionary behind. But he was there already, in
front of Hitomi's room, and his room was on the first floor of their
two-floored apartment. Frowning, he shrugged and decided to dig her
sister's drawers and looked for one there. He knew his sister kept her
own collection of English dictionaries, especially that her current
career demanded fluent ability to speak English. She always needed to
hone her English skill into perfection.
Grinning widely, Shigure's mind was full of anticipation as he turned
the doorknob and stepped inside, his bare feet revelling on the fluffy
feeling of the snow white bear's skin door mat Hitomi had acquired
during her recent business trip to Germany. He had to admit that
Hitomi's style in decorating her own room was not very girlish. He could
see a collection of teddy bears here and there, but apart of those soft
toys, he saw nothing else that denoted frilly decorations. Her style was
delicate indeed, but it was practical as well.
Placing his books carelessly on the sky blue covered mattress, he
proceeded to his sister's desk and began some drawer inspecting. He
tried the first drawer, but it wouldn't budge, so he left it be. Perhaps
his sister had some secrets she didn't want her family to know about.
She had been extremely quiet when she was asked about the time of her
disappearance. No one pursued the subject any longer, and after a few
years, the topic was totally forgotten.
But Shigure remembered. And he was still asking the same questions in
his head over and over, even after all those years. Why did he always
witness the same sadness in his elder sister's eyes? He wanted so much
to ease her burden, but he was powerless. He could only hope his sister
would find someone that was able to ease all her sadness and make her
happy.
He pulled the second drawer and widened his eyes in satisfaction as he
spotted the thick leather bound dictionary inside. He fished the book
out of the drawer and started flipping through the pages, but he stopped
when he noticed something strange happening. Rays of light seeped
through the gaps of the first drawer, its brightness scaring and
fascinating him at the same time.
Soon he found himself dropping the now-unimportant dictionary on top of
the desk and frantically tried to force the drawer open, his fingers
trembling with anxiety as it was refused to open to his force. Groaning
in frustration, he accidentally knocked off one of the pencil cases on
Hitomi's desk and spilled the contents all over. He cursed as he righted
the position of the pencil case, but his eyes again widened in
excitement when he noticed a key; its gleaming reflection tempted him to
touch its cool surface.
Quickly he grabbed the key and inserted it into the keyhole, turning it
and opening the drawer at the same time. With excruciating slowness, he
pulled the drawer as he squinted his eyes as a ray of brilliant golden
light assaulting his eyes. He gasped when he finally had a good look at
the object of his fascination.
It was a feather. And it was shining, shining, and shining...until the
room was engulfed with nothingness but white.
Shigure swallowed in realisation and he extended his fingers to pet
lightly on the softness of the feather. He would lose his sister once
again, probably forever.
--tbc--
Hello All,
This is the new chapter one! I hope you like this plot better, since
this time I really think about it. I think this one has more body than
the first one does. And the earthlings certainly have more personalities
that what I have pointed before in the first chapter one. I decided to
throw in some real interactions between characters other than the
excitement of the actions only, and I hope it will give a little more
weight and strong opening to the beginning of the story. And I also
think I got Hitomi's job description right this time. Public relation is
something I still have to learn a lot. Lucky a lot of people around are
quite willing to enlighten me.
Sorry for not being able to email back these days. I think, as the
replies of your wonderful supports, I will write a long note every once
awhile after I finish writing a chapter. How about that? So ask me
questions, and it will be answered in this little note. Of course, I
will reply right away if I have time, but if I don't reply, please look
forward to the little note I post here now and then. For people who
always wonders when next chapters will be posted, it will be posted
after it's finished being written! :P Nah...kidding, its' just that I
couldn't be rushed into writing, unless you want something that is a far
cry from satisfactory. So please bear with me, and I'm trying to post at
least one chapter a month.
But no promise here. I know you guys are anxious to read the next
chapters, but I'm afraid I only have one mind that I have to use to work
on several tasks in my life. I'm sure you are also like that, all of
you. So please, please, pleeeaseee.....wait patiently, and the chapter
will be written when I have a good plot of continuation in my mind. Of
course, I would consider time gap as well and be frantic if I haven't
posted up anything in 3 months (and a little guilty), so don't worry,
you will get the chapters done in the end.
Yours,
Louise Tjandrasjahan
15 September 2000
14 : 16 p.m. Western Australia time
ps. * grin * I hope everyone understand what happen between Hitomi and
Eiji here...as I'm trying to build the mood before mentioning the BIG "L"
word. It would be too cliché!
Email me?