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Mystic Eyes

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standard disclaimers

Tarot Disclaimer: Copyright Notice

Permission is granted to copy (unmodified) all or part of the documents
making up "Learning the Tarot - An On-Line Course" for personal, non-
commercial use as long as the copyright message (Copyright (c) 1995-2002
by Joan Bunning) is maintained on each document or part. This material may
not be sold, incorporated in commercial documents or products, or used for
promotional purposes.

AN: For those who have been encouraging this, much to my surprise. Ciel
Envoye, Ely, Stef, Jo... thank you.

***************************

PART FOUR: THE FOOL

Keywords:

Beginning, Spontaneity

Apparent Folly, Faith

***************************



As Card 0, the Fool lies at the beginning of the major Arcana, but also
somewhat apart from the other cards. In medieval courts, the court jester
was someone who was not expected to follow the same rules as others. He
could observe and then poke fun. This makes the Fool unpredictable and
full of surprises. He reminds us of the unlimited potential and
spontaneity inherent in every moment. There is a sense with this card that
anything goes - nothing is certain or regular. The Fool adds the new and
unfamiliar to a situation.

The Fool also represents the complete faith that life is good and worthy
of trust. Some might call the Fool too innocent, but his innocence
sustains him and brings him joy. In readings, the Fool can signal a new
beginning or change of direction - one that will guide you onto a path of
adventure, wonder and personal growth. He also reminds you to keep your
faith and trust your natural responses. If you are facing a decision or
moment of doubt, the Fool tells you to believe in yourself and follow your
heart no matter how crazy or foolish your impulses may seem.



***************************

Hitomi usually got up early every morning to jog before breakfast, even on
weekends. Needless to say, after her eventful night, she fully intended on
breaking her usual pattern. She was buried up to her eyebrows under three
comforters, and was sleeping deeply.

She didn't hear the scratching in her lock, or the "click" that signaled
that it had been forced opened, which was unusual, since she was usual
well-aware of her surroundings. She didn't feel the presence of another
student in her room until the person yanked her blankets back, startling
her into wakefulness by yelling, "JUST WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?"
at the top of their lungs.

It was certainly an interesting way to awaken.

Hitomi skittered backwards, making a grab for her covers, which were
pulled out of her reach by an unsympathetic Bridget McClellan. The redhead
looked remarkably awake for someone who should have, by all right, be
suffering from the hangover of the century. Her hair was still damp from
the shower, curling slightly inwards at the tips, and her face was clean
of the previous night's makeup. She wore khakis and a yellow summer
sweater, which had a scooped neck that drew the eye to her impressive
assets. Still, it was her ferocious scowl that Hitomi's sleepy attention
focused on.

"Bridget? How did you get in here?" she asked.

"I picked the lock." She was totally unashamed at herself, as she gathered
the blankets and put them out of Hitomi's reach.

"You picked the LOCK?" Hitomi exclaimed in disbelief.

"I needed to talk to you." Now that Bridget's hands were free, they found
their way to her hips. She leaned forward on the balls of her feet
belligerently, her jaw jutting out stubbornly. She looked about ready to
rip something -or someone- apart with her bare hands.

There was something familiar about it, but Hitomi couldn't place it. "What
do you want?"

"I get home at four, and I find a message on my machine from Van. Rather
than thanking me for introducing him to the girl of his dreams, he's
talking about how my friend took off when she saw his pendant... now why
would you do that?" Bridget demanded icily.

Hitomi hadn't known her teammate had such a temper. Bridget had always
struck her as happy-go-lucky, but she was learning differently now. Bri's
sapphire blue eyes were spitting fire, and Hitomi wondered if the other
girl was going to strangle her. "I- was surprised..."

"Is there something wrong with a guy wearing a necklace? You have my
cousin questioning his masculinity... he was really upset... not that he
came out and said it, but I could tell." Bridget's eyes turned into two
pieces of ice. "No one upset Van..." Bridget said in a dangerously level
tone.

Hitomi looked at the furious Irish girl, and took a deep breath, trying to
think of an explanation. Usually she wouldn't bothering explaining her
actions, but she genuinely like Bridget (it was hard not to), and didn't
want her mad at her. "I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Bridget seemed to pull up, and some of the rage seemed to drain out of
her. "What?"

"I'm sorry." Hitomi sat up completely, hanging her legs over the edge of
the bed. She was slightly stiff, since she hadn't probably stretched after
her monstrous run, and she knew she was in desperate need of a shower. "I-
I had a pendant, once, exactly like that. I gave it to a- a friend, and I
thought I'd never see it again. Seeing it on Van was... a surprise. I
panicked. I didn't mean to upset him."

"Well, you did!" Bridget said. She still wore a scowl on her face as she
plopped down on the bed beside Hitomi, jostling the bed. "I really thought
you were a good person..."

"No one is a good person," Hitomi said. "We all pretend to be, but when it
comes down to it, there's no such thing."

Bridget looked ready to argue that point, but stopped, staring deeply into
Hitomi's eyes. "Who hurt you, Hitomi?" she asked.

"What?"

"Who hurt you? You're so bitter towards the world..."

Hitomi went ice. That was the only way she could describe her own
reaction- her feelings froze, and her confusion of the previous day
disappeared with it. Bridget had triggered one of Hitomi's defense
mechanism, and with it, Hitomi's old coolness. "The world isn't a perfect
place," she said. Her eyes hardened into crystals that showed no soul, and
she rose to her feet, leaving Bridget behind.

As she left everyone behind.

"Hmmm.." Bridget said, though it was obvious she wanted to argue. She
flopped down on the bed full-length, stretching leisurely. "Want to go to
lunch?" she offered.

"I have to meet my mother at two- I do it every weekend," Hitomi said,
though that was stretching the truth. She hadn't really had any plans to
meet her mother, but now seemed like a good time to get off campus and
away from the weirdness that had just become a part of her life again.

"Uh-huh... then I suggest you get dressed," Bridget suggested, coming to
her feet. "Your bed's not bad, for a dorm bed. Sucks they make freshmen
live on campus, though. You ever feel like getting away, let me know. You
can crash at my place."

"Thank you," Hitomi said, turning to her dresser and pulling out clothes.
Her mother would be pleased to see her. She could bring her books, and get
some extra studying in... Hitomi's mind started to wander, dismissing the
hyper girl who was poking through her collection of CDs.

"Anyway, I'll meet you here Monday at six, so we can run!" Bridget said,
bounding for the door with amazing energy.

Hitomi spun around. "Meet me? Monday?" she echoed, managed to catch the
redhead just before she escaped.

"Sure! I'll give you tomorrow to think, but we still have some serious
talking to do! Besides, none of the others are willing to get up that
early to train with me! Bai bai!" she said, waving cutely before slamming
the door shut behind her.

Hitomi blinked, feeling like she had just been swept away by a hurricane.

***************************


By Monday, Hitomi was feeling more balanced than she had in a while. She
was half-tempted to pretend to forget about meeting Bridget, but she knew
that Bridget would just keep hounding her until she caved in. It would be
better to meet her for a jog, pretend nothing was wrong, and go to
classes.

She tied her shoes on tightly and performed a few stretches, her soft
blonde hair scraped back from her face and into a bun. One of the metal
pins dug into her scalp uncomfortably, and she adjusted it a few times,
trying to get it to lay more comfortably, with no luck. With a mental sigh
of disgust, she yanked it out, and a lock feel free, tumbling right
between her eyes.

She was just about to attend to it when her door burst open, and Bridget
bounced it. She looked disgustingly bright-eyed and alert, and her teal
jogging outfit was amazingly cheerful for the early hour of the day.
"Ohayo, Tomi-chan!" she said.

"It's Hitomi," Hitomi corrected her, trying to get her hair to behave. "I
don't use any nicknames. Have you stretched?"

"I stretched before conning that co-ed to let me in- do you know his name?
He's a frosh, awfully cute... wonder if he's interesting in an older
woman?" Bridget said cheerfully. "Here, let me," she said, and grabbed the
pin Hitomi had been struggling with out of her hands.

"That's really not-" Hitomi began, but Bridget's deft hands were braiding
the hair and wrapping it into her bun before her protest made sense.

"It's no biggie. I love doing hair. Ready to run?"

"I'm always ready to run," Hitomi answered.

Bridget looked a little nervous. "This is just a training run, not a
race..."

"If it gets to much for you, I can slow down," Hitomi offered consolingly.
She knew that it wouldn't become an issue- even if she was dying, Bridget
McClellan wouldn't admit defeat. Besides, of everyone on the team, Bri was
the one most capable of keeping up.

"You can eat my dust, Kanzaki!" Bridget said laughingly, grabbing the door
and barreling out of it, her laughter echoing down the empty halls.

Hitomi took off awkwardly, a good five feet behind Bridget. The Irish girl
hurtled over the couch in the lobby, gaining even more time over Hitomi,
who frankly stunk at hurtling. Then Bri blew a kiss to the surprised desk
attendant, who hit the automatic button that unlocked the doors and opened
them remotely, and allowing Bridget to speed unimpeded out into the new
day.

Hitomi had been preparing for her usual jog, not a breakneck dash over
rough terrain. Around them other walkers and a few joggers watched them
past, surprised to see two of the schools star sprinters racing will-he
nil-he, and even more surprised that Bridget was in the lead. The jump
Bridget had gotten on Hitomi had given her enough of a lead to keep, and
Hitomi was too concerned about breaking an ankle to really cut-loose and
just run. Still, she couldn't remember the last time she had been behind
someone in a race, and it was oddly exhilarating.

She was chasing a flesh-and-blood person.

Hitomi ran as she always did, waiting for that sensation of... maybe,
maybe.

But it didn't come.

Instead, she felt her blood pounding through her slender body, and she
could taste the spring air, alive with the possibilities. Bridget ran in
front of her, the pounding of her footsteps forming a steady cadence that
Hitomi used to pace her breathing.

Bridget didn't bother to glance over her shoulder, but rather focused on
what was ahead of her, dodging the people who were going in the opposite
direction.

Hitomi and Bridget raced until they came to the quad, when Bridget
abruptly did a handstand, then let herself sprawl onto the grass. Hitomi
slowed down, for once having exerted herself. "You should cool down
properly."

"Ah, I'll get a cramp or two... I've had worse," Bridget said.

Hitomi rested her hands on her hips, staring down at the carefree redhead.
"Still, coach would kill you..."

"And she's going to find out how?" Bridget asked.

"Half the campus saw us running like lunatics, Bridget-san," she said.

"Chan."

"Huh?"

Bridget's hand -now with nails polished with neon green paint, accented by
sparkly pink butterfly stickers- snaked out and caught Hitomi's right
ankle, jerking it. Hitomi wobbled, and went crashing to the ground. "We're
friends, ne?

Hitomi caught herself, rolled over, and stared at the strangely hyper
girl. "You're weird," she said.

"I'm just different than what you're used to. That doesn't make me weird,
per se... well, I guess it does, but that's never bothered me before.
Oh... look at the clouds! I wonder if we're going to get some rain?"
Bridget said, shading her eyes the sun with a hand and pointing up to the
sky with the others.

Hitomi listened to her babble, studying the clouds. "Perhaps."

"I used to dream that the clouds were guardians to some vast secret- that
if I could fly, I'd be able to go through the clouds, and see what secrets
they held- perhaps heaven is really up there, or maybe there's another
world... Or just that silver lining my nurse used to promise me was in
every dark cloud. You know?"

Hitomi didn't answer. She knew that there were other worlds, but that they
were hidden far beyond the clouds.

"Ah, I'm rambling again. Anyway, I have an eight am, so I should get back.
You ready, Tomi-chan?"

"Hitomi," she corrected.

"Whatever," Bridget laughed, coming to her feet and taking off like the
wind was aiding her.

Which didn't help her against Hitomi, for this time Kanzaki Hitomi
remembered how to run. No distractions, no race... just RUN. There was no
thoughts of catching Van, just the rhythm of her body, and the feeling of
freedom, the knowledge that there was nothing that could stop her.

She ran all the back to the dorm, Bridget falling behind her early on, and
staying there. There were more people around now, and they paused to watch
her, her form graceful and perfect and somehow divine.

She halted at her dorm, abruptly realizing her ID was still inside.
Leaning over, she tried catch her breath, turning to glare at Bridget, who
gave her a grin. "That was fun! We should do this again- not on a meet or
time trials day, though."

"Definitely not," Hitomi agreed.

"Well, tomorrow is the meet against Todai... so maybe Wednesday... argh, I
have a test at seven thirty.... Stupid early morning tests, doncha think?
Guess Thursday, then! Anyway, see you at practice!"

Hitomi watched the amazing hyper redhead bounce towards her car, and
wondered how she'd get into her dorm.

***************************

Todai had a tough track team.

One of the girls, Hajime Fuuko, was rumored to be a shoo-in for the
national team. She hadn't lost in a year, and had only had one tie, and
that had been last year, against Bridget.

But she had never raced against Kanzaki Hitomi.

The crowd was heavier then usual, and Hitomi could see that the entire
campus had turned out, as well as some reporters. This was news- first
meeting of two girls who would most likely be two of the nation's star
hopes for the Olympics in 2004.

Hitomi watched the crowd for a second before tuning them out. Her mother
didn't come to her meets anymore because of work, and there was no one
else she cared about. Yukari wasn't there as her manager, so she lugged
her own bag over, took a small sip of water, wet her forehead, and did
some stretches. She was ranked second, an unusual position for her, since
she and Hajime Fuuko had the same record. Since Fuuko was a junior, she
was given the first seed.

Bridget was talking cheerfully to her manager, but Hitomi was off in her
own world, concentrating on her body. She heard the call for runners, and
went over to the starting blocks.

Fuuko was amazingly tall for a Japanese woman, and something about her
eyes suggested that she was probably a half. The girl gave her a half-
smile. "I'm going to win."

"Believe that if you want," Hitomi said indifferently, as Bridget took the
third position beside her.

"Oi, Fuuko-chan!" Bridget said. "No fair psyching out the competition! Or
trying to... Hitomi's a little bit beyond that!" she laughed.

Hitomi just gave her teammate a Look, then turned her attention to the
starter. "Runners take your positions!"

She slid into the starting blocks, bracing her feet carefully, and
focusing on the gun. She took a deep breath, then exhaled, waiting. The
crowd and her competitors disappeared... "On Your Mark.... Get Set..." she
poised, ready...

BEEEP!

False start.

She turned, glancing at the runner in lane six, who either through nerves
or plan had false-started, taking off before the gun was fired. Some
runners liked to do it, to unnerve their competition. Hitomi thought it
was childish, the sign of poor sportsmanship.

She sighed, straightened, and took a moment to stretch as the usual
warnings were issued before stepping back into the blocks. The starter
again raised his gun. "On Your Mark... Get Set... GO!"

The loud firing of the gun had her launching out before she even was
conscious of moving. There was nothing except her and the track, and the
search.

Her breathing was even as she moved forward, her perfect start helping her
quickly surpassed the other runners as she ran, waiting for her dreams to
start.

This time, she swore, she would catch him.

She always swore that, whenever she raced. She never did, but it was a
reason to keep running... and a reason to never look back.

Had she looked back, she would have seen a stunned and frustrated
expression on Fuuko's face, and an amused smile on Bridget's face as they
finished 1, 2-2... Hitomi ignored the ribbon that broke across her chest,
bowed to the race officials, and then walked a cool-down lap before Fuuko
came over to her.

"How- how?" she demanded. "You beat me by three tenths of a second! And
this was my best time for this track!" The taller girl's voice was angry.

"You race to win. I just run. There is the difference between us." Hitomi
turned to where the judges were presenting the medals, troubled.

This run, too, had been different.

Why?

Why hadn't she thought of Van?

This match... she had ran as she had ran the others, but perhaps this time
had been one of her fastest. She had ran until she thought her heart would
explode, but this time, there was no visions of nearly catching Van.

She wasn't chasing him anymore... because all she had to do was pick up
the phone and call. Her running had brought her to the appropriate place-
now she simply had to speak, and undo the damage she had caused by running
at the wrong time.

Hitomi frowned thoughtfully, ignoring the weight of her new medal. The sun
was sting to set, and by all rights she should head for the showers, but
she wanted some time to think. So instead, she pulled her warm ups on and
sat down, thinking.

Bridget was right- she had screwed up. She had been offered a second
chance, and she had been too concerned over the hows and whys, instead of
just going with it, and embracing her fate... embracing fortune.

Bridget appeared in front of her, like a ghost or a shadow suddenly given
form. She tilted her head, and held her hands behind her back. The silver
medal of second place glittered against her breast. "Good race, as always.
Thanks for running Fuuko into the ground- she needed it."

"No one needs it." She stared at the redhead, wondering how to broach the
subject of Van with her. She was protective of her cousin, and even though
Bridget had given signs that she desired friendship, chances were that she
wouldn't let Hitomi have another chance with Van.

Not that Hitomi blamed her.

"It's good for her. Fuuko had forgotten what it was like to lose, and
that's something everyone needs to know," Bridget said calmly, before
raising her eyes to the sky.

"Aren't you afraid I'll forget how to?"

"No. You already know more about loss that just about anyone I've ever met
before." Bridget's gaze lowered, and she seemed to make a decision. "I
have to get going. We've got tomorrow off, but I'll see you Thursday
morning, at six!"

Hitomi smiled at her. "That sounds great."

"It will be!" Bridget turned and started to jog away, then whirled when
she was about ten feet away. "CATCH!" she yelled, throwing something.

Something glimmered as it soared through the air, and Hitomi reflectively
reached up to catch it before it could hit the ground. As soon as her
fingers closed around it, she knew what it was.

Van's pendant.

She looked at it in surprise, then up at where Bridget ask her what she
thought she was doing.

But Bridget wasn't there anymore. The wind picked up, and Hitomi sat
alone, the field abandoned.

It was fate.

Fate had brought Van back to her.

It was Van... there was no doubt about it now.

She could tell- this wasn't some look-alike pendant.... It was the
pendant. She had held her hands against it, feeling the slight
imperfections in the chain. How often had she fallen asleep, cradling it
on Gaea, using it as a link home? How often had she relied on it to lead
her? How often had she taken comfort in the knowledge that Van at least
had this part of her?

"Why are you back?" she whispered to it, even though it could speak. "Are
you here to torment me?"

The pendant lay cool against her hands, and she let it fall, the chain
dangling between her fingers. "I haven't done this in so long..." she
said, even more softly. "Well... tell me where to go."

When she was younger, she used to have to focus a lot of time and
concentration to douse. Now, though, the necklace practically jumped under
its own will, forward and slightly to the left. She blinked, and turned
towards where it was pointing...

...to see a confused Donovan Masanori looking at her. He quickly crossed
the distance between them, and she saw the confusion in his eyes, as she
rose to her feet to meet him partway there. "That's my necklace," he said.
"I've been looking everywhere for it..."

"Bridget threw it at me," Hitomi said, studying the seemingly delicate
pendant before holding it up so it caught the late afternoon sunlight.

An embarrassed smile crossed found life on his face. "Ah. I should have
suspected. She said she saw you with it, and... well, I just should have
known. She's an unrepentant meddler."

"But you love her," Hitomi said. She was jealous.

"Sometimes she was all I had," Van answered.

"Really." Hitomi looked at the locker rooms, aware that she was still
wearing her sweaty clothing, and her hair was scraped and lifeless.

"I saw you run." He changed the subject, apparently aware that she was
uncomfortable.

"I think most people did."

"What were you looking for?"

"Huh?" she was confused. Most people usually complimented her on her
skill, said it was wonderful or amazing to watch her run- Van....

"When you run, you don't look at your competitors or the finish line. Bri
always wants to win... you don't care about that- winning is incidental to
it. Your eyes are on something else... what?"

She stared at him, unable to believe that he was having this conversation
with her. "You... I think I'm running towards you..." she said softly,
staring into his cinnamon eyes.

He smiled, touching her cheek softly with her hand. "Why did you run from
me?" he asked.

"Because... I was afraid..."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because I know the possibilities, and I'm afraid of being hurt again."

His hand fell away and he stared at her face. "When I was little, I used
to dream. I dreamed of a girl with hair like honey, and a voice that was
made of music itself. I knew that I'd meet her someday... and now I have.
I won't let her go, because they say that if you dream of your soul mate
when your little... you should never let them go."

"But-" she whispered.

"You don't know me, Kanzaki Hitomi, but at least give me a chance. I would
never intentionally hurt you, but to love is to share in joy and pain.
Without pain, we would never be able to compare the ecstasy love brings."

"I-" she tried, but then decided to concede to inevitable. "I'm afraid."

"Meet me for lunch tomorrow... please? We can be friends... but something
tells me I have to know you...."

She shook her head. "If I take a step towards you, I'll fall in love... I
can't be your friend...." The pendant dangled between her fingers, and she
remembered the way it had pulled her. This was her chance. Her last
chance, most likely. She saw the pain in his eyes, and caught onto his arm
as he started to turn away. It was time... she had to embrace this.

"If you give me fifteen minutes, I can get a quick shower and changed...
would you like to go out to dinner?" she offered shyly.

His eyes lit up. "For you, I would wait an eternity," he said, taking her
hand and kissing it in an oddly old-fashion, but sensuous, gesture.

She nodded, and started to tell him where to meet her, but her intuition
kicked in. The pendant she was still holding leapt towards the bleachers
she has abandoned for her talk. Suspicion crept into her mind. "Bridget!"
she called.

An unabashed redhead crawled out from under the bleachers- apparently she
had doubled back to find the perfect hiding place. "I wanted to see if you
two could actually get your act together!" she announced gleefully. "And I
want my matchmaking fee! I accept cash and most major credit cards!"

Van gritted his teeth. "BRI!"

"Well, you needed help, and I wasn't about to let my FAVVVV cousin down!"
she pronounced, tapping her foot against the ground.

"Yes, thank you, now SCAT, or I start telling your father EXACTLY what you
spend your weekends doing!" Van threatened.

Hitomi watched their bickering like a spectator at a tennis match.

"Well, I'll just get on my way, Van-sama!" Bridget teased, kissing her
cousin on the cheek lightly in farewell. Hitomi froze as the other girl
waved to her and bounced off.

"Van-sama?" she echoed.

Van blushed. "It's her way of teasing me. My father's really rich, and she
says I was raised like a prince, and as soon as she found out about
Japanese honorifics... I guess I'm just lucky she doesn't call me
oujisama..."

Hitomi was stunned, then she almost burst into tears of joy, as she
realized another friend she thought long-lost to her had been beside her
for weeks. The pieces of the puzzle clicked together for Hitomi at that
minute.

"Thanks, Merle," she whispered softly towards Bridget's retreating back..

Van tilted his head towards Hitomi. "Did you say something?" he asked
curiously.

For a split second, she almost told him. Then she thought better of it. So
instead, she gave him a smile, and laughed lightly. She stood up on her
tiptoes so she could whisper playfully in his ear, "It's a secret!"

He seemed slightly surprised for a second, and then he laughed as well.
His cinnamon brown eyes sparkled in challenge. "You're mysterious..." he
said.

"Am I?" she asked, swinging her arms back so she could neatly fold them
behind her back.

"Yes." His grin widened. "I want to know all your secrets..."

It troubled her for moment, but she brushed it aside. "No man ever knows
all of a woman's secrets! It's called the feminine mystique!" she bantered
playfully back.



END PART FOUR



Technical Notes:



Up Next: Lovers

Keywords: Relationship, Personal Beliefs, Sexuality, Values

Authors Notes:

Bri as Merle- yes. This is a Merle who is an adult, human female who
hasn't experienced war. She still is slightly animalistic, very playful,
and devoted to Van- appropriately enough, she is his cousin. She's also a
foreigner with red hair- closest I could get to pink.

Ahh... everything is going so nice and neatly for them.... Now it's time
to gum up the works!! *gets monkey wrench out and prepares to wing it into
the story with a delighted laugh- then rethinks it and pulls out multiple
wrenches*