Prologue

It was the hottest summer of their lives.

Hitomi carried the basket full of vegetables through the streets of Fanelia, squinting up at the bright afternoon sun and heaved a sigh. Sweat trickled down her back as she adjusted her heavy burden, letting a silent plea to the divine beings above to either grant a cold breeze or get her home quickly.

The streets of Fanelia's capital were unusually busy and full; typically during the hot summer months the streets would be deserted as people busied themselves on their farms tending their crops. The reasons for the busied capital were not unknown to Hitomi nor did she really concern herself with them. For years there had been the threat of war with Zaibach however since she had been hearing them for so long she simply noted the heightened hysteria and thought nothing more.

As she shifted the basket to her other hip she faintly heard her name being called through the crowd from behind her. Turning, a smile lit up her face as she spotted her childhood friend approaching towards her.

"About time you showed up, Van," Hitomi smiled cheekily when he finally made it over. "This basket is heavy and you're much stronger than I am."

"Right," Van smiled panting slightly. "I doubt that, but let me take it for you anyway."

Hitomi happily handed off the basket as they made their way to the Kanzaki farm on the outskirts of town. A comfortable silence enveloped the two, which spoke volumes for the years spent in each other's company, sharing many secrets over time. As they got out of the center of town and the crowds began to thin, Van looked over at Hitomi with a side-ways smile.

"So, have you heard the news?"

"What news?"

Shifting the basket, Van looked up at the sky then shifted his gaze to the path ahead of them. "That it looks like war is going to be happening sooner than later."

"Oh Van," Hitomi rolled her eyes. "They have been saying that for years. Don't tell me the sun has got to you too and you believe the hysteria."

With his focus still ahead, Van didn't miss a beat. "You might think it's just that, Hitomi, but I have heard things. Things that are being kept secret and silenced as to what Zaibach is doing. They're moving slowly, but they're growing restless and ready to start this war they so badly wanted."

A suddenly chill went down Hitomi's back that she couldn't blame on the perspiration from earlier. "What kind of 'secret and silenced' things are you talking about?"

Turning his red eyes towards her, they were guarded, something that he never had done with her before. "Just…look, I don't want to scare you but you might want to…" he broke off as her family's farm came into view. "It's… nothing. At least, I hope it's nothing."

Intrigued, Hitomi desperately wanted to ask her friend to what he was keeping from her but she remembered his guarded expression, and knew that even if she begged he probably wasn't going to divulge.

Tactfully she decided to change the subject. "Can you stay for the afternoon and have supper with the family?"

Turning, Van gave her one of her beloved heart-melting smiles. "So long as you don't make me peal or otherwise deal with these vegetables you made me carry."

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After supper, as her parents and brother settled down around the unlit hearth, Hitomi and Van ventured outside so she could walk him to the end of the Kanzaki lands as he headed home. Once the door closed behind them, Van moved closer to Hitomi as they walked, closer than usual.

"Hitomi," Van hesitated as though how to start. "Do you think…" he broke off, unsure as how to start, let alone continue. Sensing her friend's hesitancy Hitomi looked over at Van, her face faintly alight from the lights in the home's windows.

"Why Van Fanel, I believe this is the first time you are at a loss for words," she teased, hoping to lighten the rapidly tensing mood.

"It's just…" he started, stopping in his tracks but out of ear-shot from her family home. "You know I care about you, right Hitomi?"

"Of course Van," Hitomi stuttered, a blush touching her cheeks. "I care about you too! I've known you my whole life; you're one of my closest friends."

Sighing, Van suddenly took Hitomi's hands in his own, making her blush deepen. "That's just it Hitomi. I care about you… more than just a friend."

Gasping, Hitomi's mind went reeling. They were only fifteen! Wasn't this a little… soon to be having this sort of discussion? The exchanging of love vows and the like? Hitomi had never been in love with anyone before and didn't know exactly how went about the business of falling in love. Sure, she adored Van as a friend but love-love? Like her parents?

Hello anxiety attack!

"Before you panic," Van sighed, tightening his hold on her hands and forcing her back to reality. "I just wanted you to know that and, well, see if it would be alright with you to see with your father if I could, you know… court you."

"Court me?" she asked, her emerald eyes looking into his ruby ones in the faint light.

"Yes," Van simply stated, looking fondly down at her. "Court you. Get to know you with the idea of potentially there being something more someday…" he broke off, not wanting to voice anything further for fear of scaring her.

Biting her lip she looked at Van's face, so sincere, so hesitant as to fear of rejection. Trust-worthy eyes, with an honest appealing face.

"Yes Van," a small smile touched her lips as her cheeks flamed. "I thi—asking my father if you can court me would be fine."

A broad smile lit up Van's face as he let go of one of her hands and walked with her to the edge of her land to go home. For tomorrow was another day and oh, what a glorious day it looked to be already.

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Note: Much thanks to La Temperanza for beta reading.

Disclaimer: I do not, obviously, own Escaflowne.