Discalimer: I do not own escaflowne or any of its characters. The only characters that I own in this so far are Ashitaka, that aside, escaflowne is the product of sunrise inc. and not mine TT

She was submerged in searing pain. The bloody wounds throbbed. She found herself chained to a wall by her small and delicate wrists, every inch of her body drained of all energy. She wore a flowing white gown stained by the red liquid, her shoulder-length light brown hair draped around shoulders rubbing against the scored flesh, making her wince. Salty tears ran freely down her pale and drained face, and dripped onto the cuts causing them to burn in agonising pain. She looked up and around her to see nothing but darkness. She saw nothing but herself and the wall, but then a mysterious figure emerged from the shadows. The outline of the figure was familiar…perhaps a little too familiar…a girl of no more than fifteen, with a light frame and a pale complexion, with short light brown hair and striking green eyes, wearing a school uniform and trainers. The now-terrified girl chained to the wall stared wide-eyed at herself. She was looking into the eyes of her tormentor only to find that it was herself. How could this be? This must be some of trick played out by someone else. It must be. The terrified Hitomi struggled at her the chains that bound her; unaware of and uncaring for the strength she had left in her body. Looking around frantically, the reflection of herself approached the frightened Hitomi. And suddenly she stopped. Her reflection smiled an evil smile, one that resembled an old adversary from her past on Gaea. Her reflection's eyes grew dark and twisted. With one swift movement, the reflection suddenly lunged her arm into the chained girl's chest, pressing violently into the poor girl's fragile flesh. A piercing scream. The shock and emptiness of the chained Hitomi's eyes stood away from the rest of her image. The reflection drew her hand away again, tearing something away with it. Another violent shriek. The now-dying and helpless Hitomi looked up at her image, an agonising expression printed on her face and looked at her hand. There she found the reason of the emptiness she felt inside. In her reflection's small hands was her heart, still beat bravely on, but to no avail, the heartbeat slowed. Tears re-emerged on Hitomi's face as she saw her mirror image smiling a wide smile at her and looked behind her to find Van standing there with that heart-broken look on his face.

"Van!" she cried, but found her voice quietly, muted from the cavity in her chest.

He looked up at her, a dark, helpless and painful expression on his face. Her reflection looked at her too.

"I can protect you from others Hitomi, I can love you and protect you from others, but I cannot protect you from yourself". His pained face darkened, "I have loved you and you have betrayed me".

She tried to speak, but found she couldn't. The pain was too much, not just from her injuries but also from she had just heard from Van, someone she loved.

"You did this to yourself Hitomi", the reflection said, "Look into the eyes of your torturer and who do you see?"

Hitomi woke up suddenly and startled at such a horrid nightmare. A soft tear rolled down her cheek. She reached for her throbbing left forearm. She sat there and wept alone in the darkness of her bedroom.

Van woke abruptly and sat up in his bed. He was sweating lightly and panting. He pushed the covers away and sat on his bed trying to make sense of what he had seen in his nightmare. A hand met his forehead and swept his raven-coloured hair back from his head, a worried look still on his face.

"Hi…Hitomi?"

The following day at school, Hitomi wore a dark face throughout her lessons and spoke very little, only when she needed to. It wasn't as if she spoke a lot any more anyway.

Yukari was deeply worried for her friend. She'd been like this for a little over seven months now, but today was the worst of them all. Before she went there, to Gaea, Hitomi had been so full of life and enthusiasm. She was so happy and cheerful. She had been for quite happy some time after she had returned as well, but it all went downhill about five months after her return. Yukari thought that her best friend was beginning to improve in the last two months; she had even gotten a boyfriend recently. But obviously Yukari was wrong; nothing she could do could lighten the shadows that had infected her once beautiful face. But at least she could try…

Yukari paused on the steps toward the running track where they were headed, Hitomi walked a few steps further and then stopped and turned toward her friend, her face blank and expressionless, in contrast to Yukari's look of worry and concern.

"Hitomi…what's wrong? I thought that you were getting better these last few weeks and now this? What's going on Hitomi?"

When she saw that expecting an answer from Hitomi would be fruitless, she continued…

"Is it something at school? With your family or friends? Or Ashitaka? Is it…" Yukari paused briefly and looked towards the steps, "…is it me? Have I done something wrong? If I have you can tell me. Please, Hitomi, let me help you."

Hitomi looked away from Yukari, toward the track where they were originally headed. She had had no reaction to her best friend's words. She walked a few steps further…

"We said we'd meet Ashitaka on the track after my run, if we don't get going we'll be late."

Hitomi wanted to tell Yukari about the dream and about Van. She had managed to leave Van out of her description of Gaea which she told her best friend about upon her return.

'Van…' she thought to herself. 'If only I were with you now…I miss you Van. You've probably forgotten me…' A lone tear fell down her cheek, but she wiped it away before Yukari could see. That was the last thing she wanted Yukari to see…how she really felt.

Van sat on his throne in his now re-built palace and capital. He looked at the pendant with a pink stone in his hand with sad hazel eyes and thought of his beloved Hitomi. It had been just over a year and he missed her so very much. She was all he thought of. There he sat alone, in the vast throne room and he had never felt so empty or heartbroken. He needed her. He would reach her…somehow…

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Ok, this is my first ever fanfic attempt so I want you guys to be completely honest in your reviews. If you think it's rubbish don't be afraid to tell me so, but I hope you guys liked it at least a little bit.