A/N:I'm re-editing this and reposting it b/c I don't like how it sounds or looks anymore.
Disclaimer: I don't own escaflowne
For the love of a Dragon
Chapter 1: the First Sign
It had been six long and heart breaking years for Hitomi. For six long years she had to live without her friends from a world she knew she'd never see again. In those six years she told herself time and time again that she needed to move, to not let her adventured on Gaea hold her back in life.
Hitomi was now attending university and was there on a track scholarship. She was the star player on the women's track team. Her best friend Yukari was also attending the same university but was there on a biology scholarship. The two friends shared a dorm together, it was like living a childhood dream for both of them.
Hitomi, like most people do, changed over the years physically. She looked no longer like the tomboy she was in high school. She had let her hair grow so it went past her shoulders; she always wore it in a loose braid. Her body overall had a more feminine look, the immature curves she had as a young teen were now fuller and fit her body perfectly.
"Hey Hitomi!" Yukari yelled to her friend whom was preparing for track practice.
Hitomi turned around to see her friend running towards her, waving her hand about like a crazed maniac. "Oh, hey Yukari! You're out early." She said while she took off her green track pants.
"Ya I know. This guy passed out today while the professor was dissecting a pig." Hitomi's face went white as a ghost at the mention of dissecting an animal.
"How can you watch stuff like that Yukari? Just the thought of seeing a dead animal makes me sick!" Hitomi said while looking at her friend as if she was gonna vomit. Yukari knew her friend was joking so she playfully pushed her. The two joked around for a few minutes until Hitomi had to go and race. Yukari stood on the sidelines and Hitomi went and got herself in position on the blocks, waiting for the gun to fire.
"READY!... SET!...GO!" the coach yelled and pulled the trigger. Hitomi dashed as fast as she could. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, forcing her to push harder and hard. In no time Hitomi was in the lead, but as she ran memories of one fateful day filled her mind. It was the day where she met her one and only angel, Van. She came to a complete stop and fell to her knees. tears ran down her cheeks in endless streams.
Yukari, worried that her friend was seriously ill, ran over to Hitomi. "Hitomi, what's the matter." she asked and knelt down by her friend.
"It's nothing Yukari . . . "Hitomi replied as she wiped away her tears. Yukari narrowed her eyes. She knew something was wrong and vowed she'd do whatever it takes to find out what.
"Hitomi don't pull this shit with me. I know there's something wrong." She said, controlling her patience. For the last six years she had witnessed her friend run off and go into crying fits over "noting". She needed the answer to this mystery.
"I'm just not feeling well today." Hitomi relied as she rose from her knees and left the racetrack. The coach ran over to Yukari for an explanation about Hitomi leaving.
"Uh, she's just not feeling well." Yukari lied and headed back to her dorm.
Hitomi laid down on her bed and cried. "I miss you so much Van." She mumbled between her sobs. Yukari could hear her friend through the door. She turned the doorknob and slowly entered the room. There she saw her friend sprawled across the bed. Yukari walked over to Hitomi's laying figure and sat down beside her.
"Hitomi, tell me the truth, what's wrong?" she asked in a calm and caring voice. Hitomi didn't want to lie to her friend anymore, but she knew it would be hard to explain. Hitomi rolled over onto her other side with her back facing Yukari. She grabbed Hitomi by the shoulder and forced her to look at her. "Hitomi! Come on! Stop being a little kid! You're a grown woman! Hitomi, just please tell me what's wrong." Yukari yelled.
Hitomi sighed. It seemed like there was no way she could get herself out of this one. "Fine, if you must know." Hitomi began and she sat up. "Now this is going to be long so you should get comfortable." Yukari went and sat down on her own bed. "Okay, it all started six years ago just before we found out Amano was going to leave for England . . . " Hitomi went on to tell Yukari all about Gaea, the destiny war and all her friends she left there, Merle, Millerna, Allen, Gaddes, Dryden, and Van. "Now do you understand?" Hitomi asked as she yawned. The entire story took over two hours to explain. It was mainly Yukari's fault. She kept asking questions about the situations Hitomi had found herself in and she sounded overly interesting in the heavenly knight.
Yukari nodded in answer to her friend's question. "That's so cool!" she exclaimed.
Hitomi was shocked. "What?!? How?" she asked confused.
"Come on Hitomi! You went to another planet and fell in love with a guy, no a king, who can fly! I wish I could have been you!" Yukari exclaimed. "So, how come you left? Why didn't you stay on Gaea?"
"I wanted to stay but I thought about you guys, my friends and my family. At the time, I wasn't ready to give them up. But now, I would do anything just to be with them again."
"Oh, I see…" Yukari replied. She got up from her spot and grabbed her pyjamas and changed into them. "So, why don't you go back to Gaea now?" she asked.
"Well, I don't know how to Yukari. Trust me, if I knew how to I would be there right now."
The following day was like any other for Hitomi and Yukari. After Hitomi's track practice and Yukari's classes, the two went out on their weekly shopping trip. "Aw, finally! The weekend!" Yukari shouted as they departed the bus and approached the mall. Yukari dragged Hitomi to every single clothing store within the mall. Hitomi forced Yukari to go with her to the sports stores, she needed to check out the latest style of sprinting spikes. Overall, they had a blast.
"Hey, I'm gonna go into the book store, you wanna come?" Yukari asked Hitomi.
"Nah, I think I'll just sit down on the bench."
While Yukari was looking for romance novels, Hitomi could have sworn she saw someone very familiar, someone that looked like some of the people on Gaea. No way, Hitomi thought and shook her head. When she looked again, they were gone. She just sat there wondering if it was an illusion.
"Excuse me miss, would you like your fortune read?" a young, gypsy like woman asked Hitomi.
"Sorry, I don't have any money on me right now." Hitomi replied as she stood up ready to walk away from the woman. Something about her gave Hitomi the chills.
"Don't worry. It's free of charge, Hitomi Kanzaki." The woman answered. Hitomi turned around immediately.
"How did you know my name?" Hitomi asked suspiciously. The woman laughed softly at her. "What's so funny?" Hitomi asked in a more serious tone.
"Oh nothing," the women answered with a sigh. "I know your name because I am a fortune teller. I know the past, present and future. So, would you like me to read your fortune." Hitomi shrugged and walked over to the booth.
"All right, tell me my future." Hitomi said sarcastically as she sat down in front of the woman on the wooden stool provided. The woman closed the curtains, blocking herself and Hitomi from the other people within the mall. She sat back down in her seat and took out a very ancient looking tarot deck. She placed the cards out on the table in the traditional Celtic cross and began to interpret them.
"Hm, I see a reunion with a past lover named, his name is Van." Hitomi's eyes widened. "I also see, jealously and conflict." The woman studied the cards carefully. "Your reunion with Van will not be a good one. You will be angry and jealous-"
"That's enough." Hitomi said while clenching a fist. "Thank you." she then stood up and left the booth.
"But wait! I'm not done!" the woman yelled at Hitomi who was walking away.
Hitomi stopped and threw her head over her shoulder. "Well, I've heard enough."
Hitomi was beginning to feel worried. What if the woman was right? What could be happening on Gaea? Should she try and return? Questions flooded her mind on what to do.
Yukari walked out of the bookstore and saw Hitomi's depressed expression on her face. She instantly figure Hitomi had another memory of Van fill her mind.
"Hitomi, what's wrong? You're thinking about him aren't you?"
"Well, sort of. I was just told by that fortune-teller over there-" Hitomi said as she turned to point to the booth. But to her surprise it was gone. "How? It was right there a minute ago!"
In a dark kingdom, in a far away land, a woman's hysterical laughter could be heard. "Now she'll never want to see him again! Finally Van will be all mine!" the woman laughed again. "Excellent work Caleesa." She praised the gypsy who was standing before her.
"I would do anything for you, your highness." The gypsy said as she bowed down to the woman.
A/N: One chapter down, 15 more to go!