[Konnichiwa

[Konnichiwa!  I have watched all there could possibly be on the Anime entitled "Escaflowne"!  And let me just say that it was great, I loved it, the way Folken died sucked and the ending left me deflated.  But who cares!?  That is why I am a superior writer! ^o^ oh ho ho ho ho!  I shall…FIX IT!  The only problem is that I don't think there's a way to bring Folken back…but you never know!  With the power of words any thing is possible!  Folken was killed by a sword, I will resurrect him with the pen! smiles evilly and rubs hands together  gets deflated again and sighs  But it would have been a hell of a lot easier to bring him back if they hadn't show his GHOST at the end.  So I'm not even sure that this superb writer will be able to bring back Folken.  Sigh.  Anyway, it also left me deflated the way Hitomi and Van separated.  But I understand the situation, if you think logically.  She has to finish growing up and go through school.  Van has to rebuild Fanelia.  Technically they can't be together…yet.  But when your watching it and you see them not stay together you're saying "NO!!! ARE THESE PEOPLE NUTS!?  I have watched this entire thing only to see them NOT get together?!  UGH!!!"  But of course we are now going to be civilized and logical about it and I'm going to send Hitomi BACK.  Now that we have this perfectly clear I shall begin my tale of Escaflowne. ^_^ ahhh… Thank God for fan fictions.]

Escaflowne

The Time to Return: The Journey Home

Return to Gaia

            Hitomi was grinning from ear to ear as she walked to her car.  Everything was right with the world.  Her best friend Yukari and Amano-senpai were getting married soon and were looking for a house.  They had just graduated from college and had returned to Japan after being the Americas.  Hitomi herself had graduated from one of the nearby colleges and her mother was pushing her to start her career.  But she really didn't need to look for one.  She already had her future planned out.  Hitomi hugged herself and smiled staring up into the sky, feeling the dark eyes smiling down at her from above.

            "Van…"

            He had come to her in her dreams last night, just as he had for the past few months.  Almost as if he knew she would soon be ready to return home.  Today was the day she would have to convince her mother to give the house to Yukari and Amano for their wedding present and get ready to leave with her.  Back to Gaea.

            Hitomi grinned as she got into her car and began the drive home.  Her mother would understand as soon as she explained, but Yukari and Amano would be something else entirely.  She shrugged.  Her best friends were getting married, and she had finished her education.  It was time for her to settle down, to get married and start the life she'd been preparing for.  Her grandmother would be so proud of her!

            Hitomi pulled into the driveway of her home and rushed inside.  Her mother was waiting in the kitchen for her.  She shook her head at Hitomi.

            "What were you doing?  Were you looking for a job like you were supposed to?"

            Hitomi sighed and slumped down onto the chair, her dark blonde hair shifting forward into her green eyes.  "Okasan?  Do you think I should get my hair cut short like the way I used to wear it?  Or should I just keep it the way it is until after the wedding?"

            Her mother slammed down the utensil she had been using and turned to her daughter.  "Iye!  I don't want to talk about your hair, Hitomi!  What's wrong with you?  You graduated from the university, have a Major in Engineering and a double Minor in Agricultural Engineering and Psychology.  Why are you not starting your career, Hitomi-chan?!  What on Earth is keeping you?"

            Hitomi sighed.  "Nothing on Earth…"

            Her mother blinked.

            The young woman shook her head and sat up.  "Okasan, I'm not looking for a career because I don't need to find one.  My career is waiting for me to show up, to start my life.  All I need to do is tell you the situation, give the house to Yukari and Amano, and leave."  Hitomi smiled and leaned back into the chair.  "Of course, you're coming with me Okasan.  I'm sure he would love to meet you."  Hitomi sighed and closed her eyes.

            She got knocked on the head with a spoon.  She opened her eyes to gaze into her mother's narrowed eyes.  "Just what are you talking about, Hitomi-chan?"

            Hitomi sighed.  "I wanted to tell you later tonight, de-mo if you really want to know right now…" She smiled.  "Remember when Grandmother used to tell me something special will happen to me, just like it happened to her?"  Her mother nodded cautiously.  Hitomi leaned back.  "Well, it happened.  Several years ago something special happened to me and I had a grand adventure...and I fell in love."  Hitomi waited for that to sink in.  "Shikash I was too young and he had to rebuild his home and at that time it was not the time for me to stay with him.  I had to finish school, live my life here, prepare for my life when I returned to him."  Hitomi smiled and closed her eyes.  "He's waiting for me to come home.  Everything I majored and minored in was to help him and the people in his country.  I knew when I was ready to go back to him, he would know and help me get back."  Hitomi opened her eyes at her mother and shrugged.  "That day is right around the corner, Okasan.  That's why I want to give the house to Amano and Yukari and for us to get ready to leave."  Hitomi stood up and walked to the window, gazing into the sky.  "He'll be coming for me soon.  He's been coming more often into my dreams."

            Hitomi turned back to her aghast mother and hugged her.  "Gomen nasai, Okasan.  I should have told you earlier, de-mo there really wasn't a need.  Yukari and Amano will be coming over soon and I'm going to tell them too."

            Her mother nodded but then turned to her daughter with suspicious eyes.  "Shikash, tonight you are going to tell us all about everything that happened to you.  I believe you, de-mo Amano and Yukari may not."

            Hitomi smiled.  "Hai!"

            Her mother smiled at her and gave her a quick squeeze.  "I hope whoever this young man is, he is worth leaving everything behind for."

            Hitomi grinned.  "Okasan didn't you tell me once that every moment of your life leads to the one you love and that your life doesn't begin until you are finally with that love?"

            "Hai."

            The young woman sighed, her green eyes sparkling with joy.  "My life truly begins when I am back in Van's arms."

*          *          *

            Amano and Yukari left at midnight that evening from Hitomi's house in shock.  What she had told them did ring a bell in their minds…a glowing pinkish light, a young man with black hair and brown eyes… a dragon.  But she was actually going to leave to marry this man and she was taking her mother with her?  To a planet called Gaea where the Earth hung in the sky like the moon did in theirs?

            Hitomi didn't even know when she was leaving.  Only that after they were married, and about to move into the house was when she would leave.  Yukari rolled her eyes.  Hitomi wasn't even sure if that was when she was leaving…De-mo…she looked so in love with this man they had never seen or heard of.  She told them she was even going to come back and pick them up for her wedding.  Yukari sighed and leaned into Amano.  She didn't know what to make of this.

            Hitomi sighed as she stared up into the sky, seeing Van's face in the dark clouds, the brightest stars his eyes.  She knew he would come again to her in her dreams… She shook her head and waited till her mother had fallen asleep before she sneaked out of the house.  She was twenty-six years old, she thought to herself as she tied on her old track shoes.  Yet her mother still worried about her so much that she had to sneak about.

            She smiled as she broke into a sprint, the cool night air biting her face and stinging her eyes.  She ran all the way to the look out spot were couples go at night to look at the moon over the ocean.  She stood there, feeling the ocean wind brush her body and she held out her arms.  She wondered if Van had changed over the years, if he would recognize her when he saw her.  Her hair had grown a little more than when he had last seen it, but she still wore it short.  She had filled out as the years had passed, but she had maintained her figure with her running.  She took in  deep breath and wrapped her arms around herself, staring up into the star filled sky.

            "Van…"

            Translucent arms wrapped themselves around her and held her tightly against a strong chest.  Hitomi closed her eyes.  Great beautiful white wings encircled her and she sighed against him.  His dark head lowered, his face buried in her hair.  Tears slid down Hitomi's cheeks as she remembered the last time she had seen his face and heard his voice.

            "Hitomi…"

            She looked up and the vision vanished, leaving her alone…as always.  She shook off her sadness and smiled.  She would be with him soon, he would be coming for her.  Soon, they'd be together again.

            Hitomi turned and headed back home, a pure white feather lying in place of where the vision had stood holding her.

*          *          *

            Van grinned as he helped the others set up the last memorial.  After Hitomi had left he had begun to rebuild Fanelia and bring back all of his people.  Allen and Millerna-hime helped him greatly, as did Dryden and the growing Duke Chid.  After Fanelia had been rebuilt he had begun a new project of building a memorial to all those that had died in the Great War.  This was the last statue to be erected.  After the statue of Folken was up, the advisors would begin to hound him again to get a queen for Fanelia.

            Van smiled as he looked up at the face of his brother sculpted onto the statue.  They didn't realize that Fanelia already had a queen to everyone's standards and his own.  In the people of Fanelia's heart and his own, Hitomi was their queen.

            Merle giggled with glee as the statue was secured and the people broke into a cheer.  The last memorial was up.  This was time for a celebration.

            Van returned to the castle with Merle on his arm.  Dryden waved at them, Allen's sister, Celena, at his arm, their children Janelle and Rouen standing before them.  After Allen and Millerna had married, Celena had tried to cheer Dryden up, only to end up falling in love with him.  Within two years they had their first child Janelle, now eight, and three years later they had their son, Rouen, who was all of mischievous five years.  Van just grinned at them as Millerna and Allen rushed to greet him their daughter, Hitomi, rushing with them, Duke Chid at the girl's side.  Those two were like brother and sister even though no one was sure if they really were or not. At most they were at least cousins.  Little Hitomi followed him around every where, just like a tomboy.  Van grinned. Allen and Millerna had named their daughter after the young psychic they all knew so well and were waiting to return.

            Merle bounded to Duke Chid and tackled the teenage boy and the girl at his side.  Millerna and Celena burst into giggles while Allen and Dryden blinked in surprise.  Rouen was picked up in his mother's arms as he began to head toward the commotion.  Janelle, on the other hand, had no intention of avoiding the fun.  Janelle and Hitomi-chan were the best of friends… No one could separate them.  Van burst into laughter.  Allen grinned and approached Van, leaving Celena and Millerna to help Chid up and to drag Hitomi-chan and Janelle apart because the girls were tickling each other in a flurry of skirts.  Merle only giggled at the sight and bounded up, laughing at the growling teenage boy and the chaos she had created.

            "Van," Allen began smiling at the man the boy had become.  He remembered when he had first met Van and everything that had happened over the years.  Van was bronzed from the sun for he had worked side by side with his people to rebuild his kingdom, his hair still just as dark and long.  Allen grinned.  This warrior king of Fanelia was going to grow restless if he didn't have anything to do, especially with the Memorial finished.  He hoped Hitomi would return soon.  It had been ten years.

            Van grinned at his old friend and clasped his shoulder.  "Allen!  What is on your mind?"

            Dryden appeared at their side before Allen could begin.  "Ah, Van!  You should know not to ask!  He is wondering on what grand adventure you are going to do after the celebration is over.  You warriors never cease looking for entertainment."

            Allen rolled his eyes.  "Like you Dryden?  I still cannot believe I let you marry my sister…"

            Celena giggled as she held a squirming Rouen and walked beside Millerna who was walking toward them and holding her daughter and Janelle's hand tightly, while Chid was still growling at Merle.  The young cat-like woman just stuck out her tongue at him.

            Dryden just grinned and turned to Van.  "Well, Fanelia, you have finally completed your latest project, the Memorial, now what are you going to do?  We all know you will be bored within days.  The warrior king of Fanelia is not meant to stay inactive."

            Celena giggled.  "Maybe he could entertain himself by searching for a queen?"

            Dryden turned to his wife and grinned.  She grinned back.  He turned back to Van.  "Yosh!  The warrior King Van Fanel must begin looking for a bride!  That should be an adventure itself!"  Dryden burst out laughing at Van's horrified expression.

            Millerna shook her head.  "Dryden!  You should know better.  Van is waiting for Hitomi."  Millerna smiled at him.  "Van, I know you probably will not believe me, de-mo, I believe Hitomi will be here very soon."

            Allen nodded.  "Hai.  My wife has been telling me that she feels Hitomi is coming.  I am beginning to wonder if Hitomi left some power to Millerna."

            Millerna smacked her husband upside the head and Dryden burst out laughing as Allen rubbed it.  Van grinned as Merle bounced to him.

            "Do you think Hitomi will really be here soon, Van-sama?" Merle said, looking up at Van.

            Van smiled down at Merle and then looked up to his friends…his family.  "Hai.  I have seen her in my dreams.  She will be here soon."

            Everyone grinned at each other just before the door burst open to announce that the celebration had begun.

*          *          *

            Hitomi grinned as she showered Amano and Yukari with flower petals.  They ran hurriedly out of the banquet hall where they had had the reception, everyone at their sides tossing flower petals.  Amano almost slipped on one as they rushed to get out the doors.  Hitomi burst into laughter as she ran after them, throwing flower petals on them from behind.

            They launched themselves into the limousine, the well wishes of everyone resounding in their ears.  Once they had driven off, Yukari eyed Hitomi with narrowed eyes.  "You set them up to do that, didn't you?"

            Hitomi shrugged innocently and then burst into laughter as Amano shook out the petals from his hair.  Yukari giggled as she watched her husband growl at her.  Hitomi turned to the window and knocked on it to tell the driver to head to the airport.  Yukari and Amano were going to Hawaii for their honeymoon and when they returned they were going to go home to their new house.  Hitomi and her mother were to have the house ready for them when they returned in a month.  She smiled.  In a month her friends would be back, she would say good-bye and then go to her love in the sky.  She sighed.

            When they reached the airport, they said their good-byes and Hitomi wished them well on their honeymoon.  "Enjoy the beaches!  The Luaus!  The food!  Have fun!  Send a postcard!"  Yukari nodded enthusiastically to her friend as she headed into the airplane.  "Hai!  Sayonara, Hitomi!"

            "Sayonara!" Hitomi cried back to Yukari and the newly married couple entered the airplane.  She sighed and stood there watching them take off and disappear into the sky.  She took a deep breath.  Now, she would make the house ready for them and then when they came back she would be able to get ready for her own wedding.  Hitomi hugged herself and turned to leave.  She couldn't wait to see him again.

            That night he came to her again in her dreams.  He was sitting on the throne of Fanelia, a longsuffering expression on his face that made her laugh.  About five men were surrounding him and were discussing something or other, she couldn't really hear them, but she heard Van's sigh.  She giggled.  His eyes suddenly widened, almost as if he had heard her.  He gave a slow smile that had heat creeping up Hitomi's body.  His eyes grew hooded and she could feel his thoughts.  It was almost as if he knew she was there with him.

            He was thinking of her, of their wedding night.  She could feel his hands moving over her and his breath against her neck.  She felt his mouth on her flesh and his kiss branding her lips and body with himself.  Hitomi gave a slight gasp as heat flooded within her.  The dream changed… She was no longer gazing at him and his longsuffering expression…now he was on top of her touching her naked skin with his own.  She gave a gasp of pleasure as she felt his teeth and his lips on her body.  She felt her blood rush through her veins as she lifted herself to his touch… and just as suddenly as he was there, he was gone.

            Hitomi shot up in bed, her body sweating and tingling with his touch.  It was always this way with them…always.  He would come to her in her dreams, make her shiver in her need for him and for the love they had, and then vanish back to Gaea.  She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself.  But the dream was much more real this time.  She wondered if it felt that way because she would soon be returning to him?  She shook her head.  Whatever the case may be, if the dreams continued to escalate, by the time a month came by and she went back to Gaea, she may not wait till their wedding night.

            She felt warm laughter against the back of her neck and she giggled.  She lifted her head and took a deep breath, her eyes closed.  She could almost feel the warmth of a body at her back and warm beautiful wings encircling her.

            "Van…" she said in a whispered gasp.

            She opened her eyes and looked down at herself.  On the silk sheet that covered her, between her sprawled legs, lay a long, pure white feather that glistened with the moonlight.  She smiled and picked up the feather, holding it close to her breast.  She closed her eyes and rubbed it against her face.  She could barely wait for her return to Gaea.

            Van awoke gasping, but with a smile on his face.  His dreams of Hitomi were becoming more and more powerful.  He hoped that meant she was returning soon.  He looked down at his hand with a smile and a hooded look in his eye.  He remembered the feel of her silky skin beneath his fingers, her hot gasps of eager pleasure and his hand turned into a fist.  He wanted her so badly it could barely be borne.  He leaned back in his bed and let the tension ease from his body.  He gripped onto Hitomi's pendant, which lay cool against his heated flesh.  He wondered how she would get to him, especially without her pendant.  Perhaps he could send it to her somehow?

            Van shrugged and closed his eyes, remembering the dream.  Hitomi's face was still hidden in the midst of his dreams.  He wondered if it was like that because she had changed throughout their years apart.  Lately, she had been coming to him while he was asleep or awake, watching him, laughing at him, or simply by his side.  He took in a deep breath and let his mind wander back onto the waking dreams, which had gotten much more realistic as of late.  He gave the silence a wicked grin.  If this kept up he did not know how he would react when he saw her again.  He's afraid he would drag her to his room and have his way with her right there and then.  Van smiled more widely.  Hitomi was probably feeling the same way, if they were sharing dreams.  And he had the strangest feeling that their dreams were being shared.

            He sighed and then got up from the bed, the cold morning wind from the open glass door to the balcony rushing against his body.  Knowing his counselors they would be hounding him again for a wife.  He shook his head.  He wondered if Hitomi knew his predicament and how much trouble she was causing by not being there.  He grinned.  But she would soon be there and he could hardly wait.

*          *          *

            Yukari and Amano would arrive any minute now.  Hitomi couldn't take the suspense anymore.  She had to have one last run along her old path before they arrived.  She ran against the wind as she headed to the shore once more, already able to smell the sea air and the sunshine.  She had convinced her mother that they would not need clothes when they arrived in Fanelia because she was sure the seamstresses there would be more than eager to help them out in the clothes area.  Hitomi grinned.  Knowing her mother, if she liked the dresses there she would soon be creating a hole in Van's pocket unless he had seamstresses of his own in the castle.

            Hitomi smiled as she stopped and stared into the ocean, trying to see Van's face in the clouds.  The house was ready for Yukari and Amano, and Hitomi and her mother had packed the essentials that may not be in Gaea and had gathered memorabilia and books to take as well.  And of course she could not leave her track clothes and sneakers behind.

She smiled and took a deep breath, holding her arms out wide.  She remembered the dream the night before and her body tingled.  It was so real that she had awakened on the verge of bliss.  She tried to calm her suddenly racing heart as she closed her eyes, letting the memories overwhelm her.  She felt the warmth of hands moving over her body and wings wrapping themselves around her.

            Suddenly, she shot open her eyes.  She felt Van's hand on her outstretched one and felt something cool against it.  She turned and the image of Van and his smile faded into the daylight and glowing on her hand was her grandmother's pendant, which she had given Van.  Her eyes shimmered with joy and she broke into a run back to the house.  Not only was the pendant gripped in her hand…but a brilliant white feather as well.

            Amano and Yukari had just arrived when Hitomi skidded to a halt before the house.  Her mother gave a sigh of relief.  "Hitomi!  I thought you were just going out for a quick run!  You were gone for almost an hour!"

            Hitomi shook her head and shrugged.  "Gomen nasai, Okasan, de-mo Van was giving me the way to get back to Gaea."

            Amano and Yukari blinked in surprise.  "Eh?"

            Hitomi pulled out the pendant.  Her mother blinked in surprise.  "Pendant?  Isn't that your grandmother's pendant?"

            "Hai, Okasan, de-mo I had given it to Van before I returned to Earth."

            Amano blinked.  "Then how did you get it back?"

            "He returned it to me a little while ago."  She pulled out the feather and held it close to her face.  "This is my proof that he gave me the pendant so I could get to Gaea, de-mo it's all right if you don't believe me."  Hitomi grinned as she moved the pendant and it began to move from side to side.  "All the proof I'll need will be shown in a moment."

            "Eh?" was Yukari, her mother and Amano's response.

            Hitomi closed her eyes and breathed in deeply.  She pictured Van in her mind…Fanelia, and her friends and the pendant began to glow.  Amano blinked and Yukari stifled a gasp.  Hitomi's mother was in too much shock to respond.  In Hitomi's mind the vision of Van became clearer and clearer until she could practically touch him.  The pendant swung wildly and a beam of pink light suddenly erupted from the sky to the ground at Hitomi's feet.

            She quickly opened her eyes and reached for her mother.  "Hiya ku, Okasan!  Grab the bags!  Hiya ku!  This beam will take us to Gaea quickly."  Her mother blinked but did as Hitomi asked, grabbing the bags and jumping into the beam of light with Hitomi.

            In the next instant the beam of light was gone, along with the two women and their luggage.  Yukari and Amano stood in astonishment at the place they had been.  Amano shook his head, but Yukari stared at the sky and smiled.  She hoped Hitomi would be happy.  She clenched her fist.  And she had better return to pick them up for her wedding!