Quicksilver's Quill Offers:
Mystic Eyes
mbsilvana@yahoo.com
standard disclaimers
Background: For this, we're going to assume that
Hitomi uses an Ukiyou Tarot deck.   My understanding
of the tarot is less then perfect, but... I'm trying. 
 Main resource is located at:
http://www.learntarot.com/
This is a repost for the FFML- all other lists this is
new to, and the FFML will find it seriously revamped.

****************************************
Prologue: WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Destiny, Turning Point,
Movement, Personal Vision
****************************************

"In Greek mythology, there are three women known as
the Fates. They are responsible for spinning the
destiny of each person at his or her birth. It is not
surprising that the Fates are spinners because the
wheel of fortune is an apt image for the elusive turns
of a man's fate. This is the theme of Card 10. 

The Wheel of Fortune is one of the few cards in the
major arcana that does not have a human figure as a
focal point. This is because its center is above the
realm of man - in the higher levels (clouds) where the
destinies of all are woven together in the tapestry of
life. The tarot recognizes that each person sets his
own path in life, but is also subject to the larger
cycles that include him. We experience chance events
that appear to be accidents although they are part of
the great plan. 

In readings, the Wheel of Fortune can indicate a
vision or realization that strikes with great force.
If you've been struggling with a problem or tough
situation, this card can signal that you will find the
answer if you stand back and view everything from a
larger perspective. 

The Wheel of Fortune also represents unexpected
encounters and twists of fate. You can't predict
surprises; you can only be aware when one is circling
around. Indeed, Card 10 often suggests wheel-like
actions -  changes in direction, repeating cycles and
rapid movement. When the energy of the Wheel arrives,
you will feel life speed up. You are caught in a
cyclone that may deposit you anywhere. "Round and
round and round she goes, and where she stops, nobody
knows." 

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

	She was chasing after him; always, she was chasing
after Van.  
 
	People who watched Kanzaki Hitomi run always tried to
describe her afterwards, but were unable to.   It was
as though she were flying, competing in a shadowy race
against an opponent only she could see.   Her fleet
steps were a joy to watch; yet there was such a sorrow
to her running.   Even though she won race after race,
racking in an impressive display of medals, the smile
she gave her fans never reached her eyes.

	Amano and Yukari were unable to understand exactly
what had happened.   The day after Hitomi had fainted,
Hitomi had insisted on racing again.   Despite her
friends� protests, she had taken her place in the
starting blocks.  When it was over, Yukari gazed at
her stopwatch in disbelief.   00:12:44.

	From then on there was no stopping her.   People
began to talk about college scholarships and
professional races- ( perhaps even the Olympics in
2004  Hitomi seemed to be oblivious, unhappy with her
efforts.   No matter how fast she ran, she could never
catch Van, or outrun the past.

	Teachers always found it disconcerting to have Hitomi
in their classes.   She was the prettiest girl in her
section usually, yet she ignored the boys.   Her eyes
would be vague, yet when she was called upon, she
would invariably shoot back the proper answer.  After
a while, they would learn not to ask anything of her. 
She was just too different, too not within their
world.

	Yukari sat on track, watching Hitomi prepare for the
last track meet of her high school career.   Within a
month she would be graduating then entering Keio on a
full track scholarship. 

	Hitomi's shoulder-length brown hair was pulled back
strictly from her face, and she was stretching
carefully to avoid pulling a muscle.   Yukari smiled
at her friend, and was relieved to see Hitomi give her
a wink.   "This will be no problem," she assured her
friend.  

	Yukari smiled at her.   "I know that, silly!" she
said cheerfully.   "I was thinking that this was the
end of the era... I won't be your manager again- 
after all, we're going to different colleges," she
said.

	"It's ok-  I understand you want to be with
Amano-sempai.   Just promise to invite me to your
wedding," she said playfully.

	"Invite?   You're going to be my maid of honor!"
Yukari declared, setting them both off into a fit of
giggles.   Then Hitomi slipped her warm-up outfit off,
smiling as she stepped into the blocks as the race was
announced.

	She sighed and shut her eyes, feeling the wind brush
against her cheek.   Then there was the sound of the
starter's gun, and she was off, and there was nothing
except her and her feet... and the memory of the man
she loved.   Perhaps this time he would come back to
her.   Perhaps.... perhaps... perhaps... 

	All too soon it was over, and she slowed to a jog
after feeling the ribbon break across her chest.   She
had won.   Bringing herself to a jog, she turned to
see her time, though she had little real curiosity.  
Her eyes widened at the hush from the crowd, and she
wondered what was wrong.   Perhaps one of the other
runners had injured herself?

	Her breath caught with disbelief as her eyes fell on
the clock.   Her stunned mind refused to acknowledge
it.

	11:49.  Exactly one second over the world record
currently held by Flo Jo herself.   She had just
clocked a world-class time.  She blinked a few times,
but her time was still there, blinking over the words
"TRACK RECORD."  

	Yukari walked up to her slowly, then, at the last
second, threw herself at Hitomi, wrapping her in a
tight hug.  "Hitomi!" she shrieked joyfully, "you...
you're amazing!   You can easily qualify for the
National team-  think what you can do with some
professional coaching!"

	Hitomi, rather then feeling joyful, felt only
numbness as the crowd began to chant her name.  
Someone pulled her free of Yukari's warm embrace, and
she was passed from person to person as everyone
congratulated her.   She accepted their words with
quiet dignity, and when she mounted the podium to
receive her award, bending over so the official could
slide the ribbon around her neck, she wondered what
the point was.   Why did she have to run with a crowd?
 She ran for only one person, and he wasn't here.   He
had never been here-  perhaps she had dreamed him.  
She often wondered if she had.

	An hour later it was over, and Yukari was hanging on
her arm,  pulling her along, she chattered eagerly
about her latest accomplishment.  Hitomi nodded and
followed not really paying attention.   Poor Yukari;
Hitomi never really paid attention anymore.

	"...Tarot?" 

	"What?" Hitomi said, the word jerking her out of her
reverie.

	"Have you read the tarot to see your future lately?"
she asked.

	Hitomi's eyes darkened.   "Yukari, you know I don't
read the tarot anymore."

	Yukari's eyes flared angrily.   "You don't do
anything anymore!   What the hell happened to you,
Hitomi?   Wasn't I your best friend?   You're not at
all like the Hitomi I grew up with!"

	Hitomi blinked, trying to assimilate Yukari's sudden
outburst.   "Yukari..." she said hesitantly, trying to
find the words for her pain.

	"Don't 'Yukari' me, Hitomi!   I don't know you
anymore!  Don't you realize how long it's been since
I've seen you really laugh?   YEARS!   People, Hitomi,
whisper about you...  you're not NORMAL anymore."

	"What's normal?   Is reading tarot cards normal?"
Hitomi asked dryly.

	"For you, yes!   It is!" Yukari said.

	Hitomi smiled softly at her.   "Would it make you
feel better if I read my future?" she said with a
sigh, hoping to placate her friend.  Then she swore
inwardly, recognizing how she'd been maneuvered into
trapping herself.

	Yukari looked at her friend, then reached over and
spun Hitomi around, holding onto her shoulders.  
Staring up into the sprinter's eyes, she spoke with
utter seriousness, "Yes.  I want you to be the Hitomi
I used to know-  the one who was curious about her
future, the one who knew how to laugh."

	Another hour passed and the two girls found
themselves in Hitomi's bedroom.  Time was irrelevant,
Hitomi had learned; the weird passages of Gaea's time
had taught her that it was merely a matter of
perception.  A second was not important, nor was the
past or future.   All that mattered was the now, and
Hitomi smiled as she sat down in front of her friend. 
 "Can't we just go get a hamburger?" she said.

	"No!" Yukari said, adamant.   "I want to see your
fortune!"

	Hitomi got up to retrieve her cards, and smiled
softly at Yukari.   Carefully she unwrapped the cards
that she had wrapped up in a silk bag years ago and
stored in her vanity.   She hadn't seen them in ages,
but they were like old friends.   "I'm only going to
do a three card spread and keep to the Major Arcana,"
she said as she separated her deck.   That would be
swift, and keep her from knowing too much.  She used
to favor a more complex spread, but the more cards
brought into play would define the future further. 
And knowing too much was as dangerous as knowing too
little, perhaps even more so.

	Messing with the Tarot was dangerous.  She had
learned that, yet here she was again.

	She shuffled the deck slowly, her slender fingers
moving over and over, breathing slowly as she cleared
her mind.  Then suddenly she hesitated as the cards
almost spoke to her.  

	There.
	She was half tempted to keep shuffling, but she had
learned the danger of forcing a future.   She had
begun; now she must finish.   She removed the top
card.

	"The past: The Lovers reversed," she whispered.

	Yukari blinked.   "That's a weird card for you to
have, isn't it?" she asked.   "I mean, I don't know
much about tarot, but...." 

	Hitomi shook her head.   "No, it's appropriate."   

	"Well?" 

	"The lovers stand for Relationship, sexuality,
personal beliefs, and values.   Since it's reversed,
that means that the energy was unfulfilled or not
fully recognized," Hitomi said with a bitter smile. 

	Yukari winced.   She remembered Hitomi�s crush on
Amano all too well, and assumed that was 
what her friend was referring to.

	Hitomi didn�t bother to enlighten her. 

	Then she flipped the next card.   "The present: The
Hermit."   At Yukari's inquiring eyebrow she
explained.  "The hermit means introspection, solitude,
guidance and searching.   It's particularly
appropriate at this point in my life, since I'm
pondering choices and questioning what I've been
taught since birth."  She was rather surprised that it
was in the position of the present, rather then the
future; she saw herself as being solitary for the rest
of her life. 

	"Final card, the future," she whispered, and she was
shaking.   She never should have let Yukari talk her
into this.   She was raking over old wounds, reopening
scabs that she thought had healed.  

	Her eyes widened in horror.   The Tower or Death or
the Hanged Man she would have accepted, but not this. 
 Normally it was a pleasant card, one full of positive
energy, but for her.... it was not for her. 
Destiny... hadn't she had enough of that already?  
Turning point... she'd experienced too many. 
Movement... was something she didn't want.  Personal
vision... was horrifying.  No one should know too much
about themselves or their world.

	"The Wheel of Fortune...." 
	


END PROLOGUE


=====
"No matter what the bible says, the battle always goes to
the strong. And I am strong. I don't need to prove that to
anyone anymore."
-Excerpt from Sainan no Kekka- Act Seven, Scene VII

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Quicksilver/
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