Deja Blue.....::simplicity::....

Throughout the movie, there is a strange relationship between Hitomi, Folken and Van. It is Folken Hitomi has a vision of when she is a child and it is Folken who calls her to Gaia. Yet it is Van that Hitomi bonds with and redeems. So, what is the connection between the three?

Hitomi and Folken's bond is through their mutual depression. Their souls respond to each other through their mutual feelings and it is that that allows Folken to bring Hitomi to Gaia. But how does Folken even know of Hitomi's existence? There is one tantalizing clue in the beginning of the movie that their bond has much deeper roots, when Young Hitomi has a 'vision' of sorts of Dune. That’s right, Dune. Remember, Folken's real name is Dune; he doesn’t take the name Folken until he goes on his whole "I'm depressed, ergo the world must end" schpiel. So, Hitomi sees him before the prophecy; when he's kind and has hope. I'd like to think that Hitomi sees him the moment before the prophecy is spoken, before all his hopes (to him) come crashing down (Just because it would be more dramatic and depressing. Can't forget the depression.).

But why does Hitomi see him, when she's barely five? This is the only hint that Hitomi has psychic powers in the movie, so I'm a little reluctant to believe that's the only reason. I think coupled with Dune’s dragon blood, which enables him to have cool psychic powers himself, Hitomi's (maybe) powers and the height of emotions Dune was feeling at the time, their souls, both with hopes that will crash into splinters around them, connected. But the main difference between Hitomi and Folken is that Hitomi is saved in the end while Folken is irredeemable. And that's where Van comes in.

The turning point for Hitomi in the movie is when she is holding Van, who has just saved her and is now at death's door, in her arms and realizes that he's just like her. They both don't want to open their hearts for fear of being hurt, showing the world indifference. Hitomi realizes this and promises to stay by Van, until the 'clear blue sky shows again' to show that he isn't alone. Now, why didn’t this happen with Folken? Well, by the time he brings Hitomi to Gaia, he's one scary dude. In fact, the wonderful Deesse (whose shrines you must go read now, especially Black Dragon) likens him to a mixture of Nakago from 'Fushigi Yuugi', Jareth from 'The Labyrinth’ and Darth Vader. He’s taken his depression to such an extreme level that nothing and no one will redeem him.

With Hitomi, Van gives her purpose in life, to show that while life has its low points, it doesn't always have to be that way.