=^.^= 

Okay, here's chapter two. Chapter three will be coming as soon as I 
proofread it and correct all my typing mistakes. 


A Fallen Angel Rises Again 
By: Penybright 
[email protected] 

Chapter 2 
Hitomi awoke to find herself in her own bed at home. She sat 
up groggily, unsure of what was going on. Was she really home? With 
crashing force, her memories came flooding back. 
"Van," she sobbed, her vision wavering as tears filled her 
eyes. "It can't be," she cried. "Why?" she accused the 
ceiling. "Why!?!" 
******************** 
Back on Gaea, Emperor Dornkirk was trying to see his perfect 
future. 
"The accursed dragon still obscures my vision!" he muttered 
angrily. On board one of Zaibach's floating fortresses, the Vione, 
Folken was talking to Dilandau. 
"We must still capture the dragon," Folken said emotionlessly. 
"What?" screeched Dilandau. "Van is dead! I killed him 
myself!" 
"Apparently, the fact that my brother is dead, doesn't 
matter." 
"It must be that girl!" Dilandau declared. "She must be the 
one clouding the future." 
"Emperor Dornkirk has come to the same conclusion. We are to 
go to the Mystic Moon and eliminate her." 
"But.... how?" 
"In time you will see." 
~******************~ 
A month after that fateful day on Gaea, Hitomi was walking 
sullenly through the crowded streets. She hated to admit it, but she 
really did miss Van. It was as though a part of her was missing. She 
even missed the annoying cat-girl Merle. She wondered if Merle was 
all right... 
Hitomi was lost in her thoughts of Gaea, when someone shoved 
her roughly. She cried out in indignation as she was knocked to the 
pavement. 
"Hey! Watch where you're go... ing," she finished in a 
strangled whisper. A large, nasty looking man loomed over her 
menacingly. With rising panic, Hitomi realized she was in a deserted 
alley. 
"Hello little girl," he sneered. "Cough up some dough, and 
fast," he said in a gravely voice. Hitomi froze. This couldn't be 
happening to her! 
"Please," Hitomi whispered backing away. 
"You heard me girlie!" the man snapped. "Cough it up!" 
Hitomi shakily got to her feet, prepared to run from the man. 
He was unarmed, and there was no way he'd be able to keep up with 
her. Hitomi took a deep breath to settle her nerves. Before she could 
bolt, the man pulled a knife. Hitomi let out a small squeak, her eyes 
going wide as she took a step back. 
"Hand it over little girl. Or, I'll get it the hard way!" he 
said angrily. Hitomi swallowed convulsively, her mind going over 
thousands of scenarios to this scene. 
"Let her go," a male voice commanded. A figure limped towards 
them carefully. 
"What you gonna do 'bout it little boy?" the man spat. 
"I'm warning you, let her go!" he said dangerously. 
Funny, Hitomi thought she recognized that voice. The man 
lunged for the shadowy figure, falling on his face when he missed. 
Hitomi's savior kicked the knife out of the man's grasp, and it 
skittered out onto the street. The man picked himself up and ran from 
his would-be victims. Hitomi let out her breath in relief. The 
stranger grunted and fell against the wall, breathing heavily. 
"Are you all right?" Hitomi asked, going to his aid. He 
accepted her help, and she assisted him in walking out of the dark 
alley. When they reached the sidewalk, and daylight, Hitomi turned to 
see who her rescuer was. She gasped, stumbling backwards. The young 
man, suddenly robbed of his support, fell against the wall heavily 
with a gasp of pain. 
"V-V-Van?" Hitomi stuttered. 
"Do I know you?" he responded, a look of worry crossing his 
face. 
"Is it really you?" Hitomi exclaimed. 
"I'm sorry, but I don't know you...?" 
"It's me, Hitomi," she replied, hurt. 
"I'm very sorry, but I don't remember you. Maybe you do know 
me, but I don't remember you... I have amnesia..." 
"Oh Van! I can't believe you're actually alive!" Hitomi cried 
hugging him. Van winced, trying to shy away. Hitomi realized what she 
was doing and hastily stepped back, blushing. 
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were still injured. I guess 
you haven't recovered yet?" 
"No, I haven't," he replied. "You know, you do seem familiar. 
Maybe I did know you?" Van said, looking closely at the sandy haired 
girl before him. 
"You really don't remember, do you?" Hitomi asked genuinely 
concerned. Van shook his head ruefully. 
"I woke up in a hospital bed, with no memories. The only 
thing I knew was my name, and even that was a little foggy." 
"You don't even remember what happened to you?" 
"No. Could you... tell me about my past? You seem to know 
things about me. Maybe you could..." Van trailed of uncertainly. 
Hitomi smiled and shook her head. 
"I'll tell you everything I know, but I doubt you'll believe 
me. We'd better get of the street though." 
"Where do you suggest we go? I don't know anywhere..." 
"Come on," Hitomi said walking down the sidewalk. "We'll go 
to my house." 
*** 
"Where is she?" Dilandau ranted hysterically. "How hard can 
it be to find some stupid girl?" 
"Patience Dilandau," Folken cautioned. 
"I don't like this place. There's to many people, and they 
have bizarre customs," Dilandau complained. 
"That's to be expected. We are on the Mystic Moon after all," 
Folken pointed out calmly. 
"Whatever, I just want to get this over with. How hard can it 
be to kill some helpless girl? This should be fun! I almost had her 
once," Dilandau ranted. Dilandau continued to rave as Folken stared 
out the window ignoring him. 
*** 
Now that Hitomi was thinking clearly again, she noticed just 
how bad Van looked. She was amazed they had let him out of the 
hospital in such a condition. He sat stiffly in the chair across from 
her, his breathing labored from walking even the short distance to 
her house. His arm was in a splint, and bandages poked out at the 
collar of his shirt. 
Hitomi felt awful. She had told him about Gaea, and why he 
was hurt. Van had merely stared at her in disbelief through the whole 
telling. He didn't remember anything. 
"Van, are you sure you should be out of the hospital?" 
"Hmmm?" he responded groggily, his eyes beginning to slide 
shut. 
"Van?" Hitomi cried, alarmed. 
"I haven't been able to sleep for so long... The dreams, they 
haunt me every moment of my existence," he mumbled, half asleep. "I 
just... want... rest...." Van finished, his head lolling to the side 
as he fell asleep. 
"Van," Hitomi whispered lovingly. "You can rest here. It's 
safe here." Hitomi left the room, returning with a blanket. She 
covered Van, tucking the corners in gently. She sat back down across 
from him, watching him sleep. He looked so innocent when he was 
asleep. Almost like.... Hitomi remembered the time he had saved her 
when she was falling off the cliff. Like an angel. Hitomi smiled and 
contentedly continued to watch the young man sleeping before her. 
"Everything will be all right Van. You'll get your memory 
back, and return home. I promise," Hitomi pledged before she too fell 
asleep. 


(c) Penybright