uhh.. I could decide which title was better, Crash and Burn (a Savage Garden song, the lyrics kinda fit. But it sounds strangely Dilly-sama like) or Erosion. Gimme suggestions. see chapter 1 for explainations. That'll come soon, I promise! I already have... uh.. 2 pages of it.... >.>
Standard disclaimers apply.
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Crash and Burn - teaser
by Rubie aka Jenn
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Hitomi leaned on her history book, idly swinging her pendant back and forth. Three years ago, she told Amano-sempai that her grandmother's heirloom kept perfect time between seconds. Now its arc was hopelessly unsteady, jerking oddly in her hand. She finally understood that the pendant did not judge time, but judged the stability of its mistress' heart. She bit her lip, feeling slightly betrayed. It wasn't her fault. She did nothing wrong. She was angry; she was rash. What other excuses could she give before her heart finally accepted her mistake?
But she knew she would never forgive herself. She tried to blame Van, but she could never bring herself to hate him. Maybe she should never have done that reading two weeks after her sudden departure. But she was curious; she couldn't help it. If only she didn't leave...
If only she had left...
If only he had come for her...
If only she had gone back....
Then maybe Zaibach would never have won...
***
Van dug his foot impassively into the concrete, grinding whatever was underfoot. There was really no point to him sitting in the halls, listening to the elders speak. He wasn't allowed to make any meaningful decisions anyway. His entire life was now strung onto delicate strings, so thin that the public could not see them, but thick enough to bend him over backwards. He might as well leave, run away, and hide where they would not find him. Then maybe the elders from Zaibach would find their power in jeoperdy, since their main tool and puppet was gone. The recent laws were killing their forests, depriving his country of its natural resources. They were especially cruel to Fanelia, since it was one of the leading countries that began the Great War. But now, his country had been striped of its reputation and power, and he had become nothing but a pawn. Sometimes, he wondered if the new Zaibach king was really the brother that he once thought he knew.
He leaned back in the swing, part of a small playground made for children. It wasn't really native to Fanelia, but the Zaibach soldiers placed it there, mostly to gain the next generation's love probably. It was really small, and his legs were forced to stretch out awkwardly. It was kind of funny actually; the king, hiding out in a child's park, swinging on a swing.
But at the same time, he felt really angry. Partly at that jade eyed girl who abandoned him when he needed her most, and partly at himself, for failing to protect what he held most dear. He wondered how she was doing on the Illusionary Moon, but at the same time, he didn't want to see her. He didn't want to let her see what he let himself become.
It was his own fault that he had given up then. And it is his fault he is failing now. He failed to lead his people; he failed to protect his friends; he failed to fulfill the role given to him by his subjects. Maybe if he had placed her out of his mind when he needed to concentrate, he would have won that battle. Maybe if he had focused, he would have been able to utilize what that girl had taught him; and he would have been able to see through their sleath coats. Maybe if he softened, and let go of his pride, he would have been able to admit his fault and returned for her.
Maybe...
Maybe...
Maybe then, he would have been able to defeat Zaibach. It was mostly his fault that he's become what he is now. A ghost, a shadow of what he once was. He really had no motivation in his life now. It would have been better if he died.... then at least the people of Fanelia would not have submitted so easily under Zaibach's control. But he couldn't. He wouldn't be able to face his parents, and all those people who gave their lives for him during that war.
But maybe if he returned for her...
Maybe if he had let go of his anger...
Maybe if he was better....
Then Zaibach would not have won...
***
Merle picked up another rock and skimmed it across the lake's glassy surface. It was starting to be fun, and she's starting to get pretty good at it. There was really nothing else to do. She could go to Van-sama, but he would probably just give some dull replies to her comments, and she would begin to feel uncomfortable. He wanted to be alone anyway. She wanted to be alone. Everyone wanted to be alone these days. But it was better that way, since then, no one would have to describe the recent developements of the Zaibach empire. There really was nothing else to talk about but that.
She skimmed another rock almost perfectly across the surface.
But what really surprised her though, was that the Zaibach empire did not immediately dismantle Escaflowne, complete the fate machine, and fulfill Dornkirk's dreams. But Dornkirk had died shortly after the war, and Folken was left to take his place. Folken did not take on the murder of his younger brother with readiness. But he was expected to take on the duties and fulfill Emperor Dornkirk's wishes.
Merle threw another rock, harder this time. It skimmed the surface only once, before sinking heavily into the glassy pool.
It was all that girl's fault. It was all Hitomi's fault! If she didn't leave, then she would have been able to foretell their attack. And then they might have been prepared for it. It was all her fault! She should never have left. Just because Van-sama had given away to anger in that battle.... what he does was not her concern! Death and fury in a battle was natural, yet she threw a huge fit about it. It was all her fault.
But at the same time, she knew that it wasn't entirely true. She really just wanted some way to express her anger. Three years ago, she would have openly accused her, but now, even if she had that chance, she probably would not. There was no point in running away from the truth. There really wasn't anywhere to run to. Besides, Van had chosen not to bring her back from the Illusionary Moon. He had been too proud, too overbearing to admit he was wrong. But he had already paid for the price of that mistake several times over.
If Hitomi had returned...
Then maybe Zaibach would not have won...
Then maybe everything would have been okay...
***
Millerna lingered in bed, gingerly fingering her broken arm in disgust. It had already been over a week, but her right arm was still useless. Relying on others was something she despised to do, but now she was forced to do so. In many ways, she had began to accept this abuse, after all, time does heal wounds. No, time didn't really heal wounds; time only dimmed the mind, which lessened the pain. But...
If only he didn't die...
If only he didn't die...
In frustration, Millerna threw flung the flower vase by the bed side to the ground, startling several servants. She glared at them and they remained still.
Damn that man. Damn her husband! Why must she be married to such a murderer? She could curse her father, a hundred, a thousand, a million times and still feel unsatisfied. She had to marry for political reasons, that was expected, mostly to seal a treaty of peace with Zaibach. But why, of all the men in the world, but she be married to Dilandau? That depraved animal... he didn't deserve to be human...
The only thing good about it, though, was that he hated her too. He stayed away most of the time, remained in Zaibach, negotiating and ruling his kingdom from there. The people of Austria despised him, but he did nothing drastic, mostly due to Folken's influence. But when he did return... she shuddered... She hated him. She hated Dilandau. She hated Folken. She hated everyone. And if only Allen didn't die, then maybe things would have been different. She recalled the day of his execution, three years ago. That was a bright day, and she hated the sun for being to happy. She despised the blue sky. She scorned everything that seemed to be taunting her. Why did Zaibach kill them? It wasn't necessary; they didn't kill Van, or Merle, or her...
But she knew. Her face twisted into a bitter scowl. The Zaibach empire needed an example; they needed to prove their power. They sacrificed Allen for power. And he died for honor.
He died for nothing.
She often wondered though, what would have happened if Hitomi never left. Her sudden disappearence surprised them all, and they were caught completely off guard. She doubted that the result would be any different, after all, fate is already written. And no matter how you try to change what is in between, the end result will always be the same.
But what if Hitomi never left...
What if they created their own fate...
What if Zaibach had been defeated...
Then maybe everyone could be happy...
End of teaser
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Comments would be great! Flames would be nice too. If its death
threats, then e-mail me personally about that ^_~
Maybe I do need some explainations... *crawls into a hole* uhh... I realized that some people haven't seen the entire series so... in case you don't know what is going on, this refers to a situation from episode 24 and 25. It isn't really a continuation, but more of an alternative ending/universe.
I wasn't quite sure if I should have added that ending part with Millerna since her role in the story isn't really significant. But I thought I should have expressed the story from all points of view so.... Comment!!