by: Cathy-chan a.k.a. Angel Wings Rinoa
*This is a Van + Hitomi fanfic. It takes place around 3 years after the last episode. So, I guess it's needless to say that there's going to be plenty of spoilers. Most likely from the ending. Anyway, that's it. This is my very first Vision of Escaflowne fanfic. I hope you enjoy it!
Italics thoughts of the character
Chapter 1: Red Vision
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Part I: Japan, Earth
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Mom and Dad told me about it so quickly. My little brother, Shiro, protested to my parents that he didn't wanted to move to another city. We've been living in that town ever since I was in kindergarten, and Shiro was just a small baby. Nevertheless, my father insisted that it's a lot better that we move to this new town so he can get better pay on his job, and it's a lot closer to my college campus too. We're still in Japan, of course and Kamakura is just south of Tokyo, but it's just not the same. I'm going to miss Kamakura-Kita High School, and Yukari too...I remember the last day I was with her...
I talked to Yukari before I went inside the car for the drive to Tokyo. I knew Yukari didn't like the fact that I won't see her as often anymore, but she still laughed and said her silly jokes. "I'm gonna miss ya, Hitomi," she said to me. "If you don't call me by the time you arrive at your new home, I'm going to kill you!"
I giggled happily. "Okay, I promise I will!"
"Promise is a promise, right?"
"Of course."
"And don't forget to visit me once and a while. You have to visit me on your birthday, on my birthday, on New Years, on--"
"I get it, Yukari. I'll visit you every single, special occasion," I said to her. "I'm glad I was able to celebrate my 18th Birthday with you. That was a great party."
Yukari gave me one of her mischievous smirks. "You better meet some cute guy in university, Hitomi. It would be a shame if you just turned 18 and you still don't have a single date."
I laughed and shook my head, "Unfortunately, I haven't found my boyfriend yet, unlike you.. You and Amano can't stop talking to each other on the phone."
"Hey, he's got lots to talk about. Especially about England." She patted me on the shoulder. "You're bound to find your handsome man someday! And when you do, you'll be talking to each longer than me and Amano."
Since she was my best friend and I wanted her to know what happened to me when I disappeared out of Earth, I decided to tell her the truth. I told her about Gaia, Escaflowne, the people, Allen and, most importantly, about Van.
"...Yeah,...right." She looked at me as if I was crazy. I wasn't surprised. It's not everyday someone gets transported to another world.
"It's true. I'm not lying."
"So you're saying...that you have found someone,...but he's in a different world?"
"That's right. I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. I gave him my pendant before I left Gaia."
"That's...one crazy story," she sighed, "but, in a way, it makes a lot of sense. Have you told your mother about this?"
"No, not yet," I glanced at her warily. "Do you believe me?"
She gave me a wide smile and said, "Of course I do, Hitomi!"
Yukari,...she's always so understanding. She always looked after others so much. My father waved to me; it was time to go. Before Yukari gave me a tight hug and said goodbye, she gave me my track team clothes as a remembrance of our good times together.
I sat in my new bedroom with my unpack things at every corner to look at my old uniform and my track team clothes. I remember the day Van appeared in front of me as the pendant swung seven times. He looked so bold and brave. He gave me a shock the first time I saw him, and I kept telling myself that he's just some jerk that I have no feelings for. But as I stayed in Gaia I realized that Allen wasn't my true love; he was. People always say that to make yourself happy, you have to forget about the past and live on, but I couldn't just abandon my feelings for him. I spent that whole night just wondering how Gaia and Fanelia are doing; wondering if they still remember me...or if Van remembers me...I love you, Van, and I miss you. I thought. I heard Shiro's loud knocking on the door. Morning already?
"Sis! Aren't ya suppose to go to your college today? Mom's not gonna let ya leave without breakfast."
"Yeah, I'm coming. Tell Mom I'll be down in a minute," I replied.
"Sure thing, man."
I almost forgot that it was my first day of college. I didn't know what was going to happen, but it'll be very different from simple high school. I placed the clothes in my dresser, changed and went downstairs.
"Good morning, Hitomi," my mother greeted.
"Slept well, Hitomi?" my father asked.
"Yeah," I lied. I ate the pancakes Mom made for us in a hurry, and took the bus to a street very close to downtown Tokyo. The campus was huge, really huge. It was completely crowded at the entrance with teenagers at my age. I guess it's pretty natural to feel out of place at your first day. I didn't know anyone around here; it felt like everyone knew someone expect me. Well, I still had to go to college so I went inside anyway. I couldn't concentrate on what the teacher was saying to us. I looked out the window and thought about him again...
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Part II: Fanelia, Gaia
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If there's one thing I find really boring in my life would be the court's men talking to me. Not that what they were saying was not important and I didn't care about Fanelia, it just bored the hell out of me. I faintly hear one of them talk about the kingdom's financial and rebuilding status while I stared at the stone on the necklace. I lifted it up to the ray of light from the window. It shone bright, ruby reflections as it swung in a rhythmic pattern. I remember Hitomi using it so save us from trouble. I can still remember how her green eyes brightened when she smiled.
"Lord Van," I heard one of them shout to me.
I looked up; all of them caught me drifting off. "Oh...What is it?"
"The meeting is over, milord. Shall we excuse ourselves?"
"You may go," I answered dully.
I couldn't wait to get out of those heavy, fancy clothes and go outside so I got out of the meeting room in a hurry as soon as all of them left. I had to make sure that annoying advisor didn't spot me sneaking out of the castle again so I used the pipelines on the walls to get out. He hated the fact that I wear "street" clothes and walked around Fanelia like a commoner.
The streets were busy with people and children running by. I chose a spot near the forest to practice with my sword. As king of Fanelia I had to make sure I can defend my homeland, but Mr. Avean, the advisor, always argued against it saying I should leave it up to the four, new samurai. After the peace treaty between all nations were made after the war, the guymelefs wer used by only museums and construction workers. As a result a lot of sword training wasn't necessary anymore. I just couldn't stand it being so...boring. I think I was actually starting to miss those few times I battled with Allen. He's a great swordsman. A few years ago, they bestowed upon him something higher than a Heaven Knight I think. And I heard something about Millerna getting engaged again. I didn't really paid attention to the details though. I was suppose to be engaged to someone too. But I couldn't just automatically marry someone I don't know; even if it was for the sake of the kingdom. I love Hitomi. After practicing, I lay on the grass for a while wondering if Hitomi remembers me. It was around nightfall by the time I realized that I fell asleep on the ground. I decided to head back to the castle since I was sure Mr. Avean was going ballistic.
"Lord Van!! Where have you been!?" he asked me by the time I stepped pass the doors. I was right. He did had a nervous break down. The poor fool must had been looking everywhere in the castle for me. I tried to keep a straight face while he lectured non-stop about how I shouldn't be out so late. "...Do you realize how much your life was in danger out in the wild!?" was the only sentence I heard from him.
"I see. I'll be careful next time then," I said casually.
"N-Nex time!?" It never cease to amaze me how Mr. Avean could never calmly talk through the situation no matter how small the problem was. Fortunately, he was getting tired from babbling all day so he let me get some rest. I found a letter from Merle on my dresser. It read:
Dear Lord Van,
How've you been, Lord Van? I actually found some more people of my kind. They were so great to me! I'm so glad I can spend time with them. We're traveling from city to city now. I get to see new and cool things, but I've never forgotten what I've learned in Fanelia. Of course, I still miss you, Lord Van. Don't forget to write back to me soon, kay?
Sincerely Yours,
Merle
I'm glad that she's so happy. I think she was getting bored from staying in Fanelia. That was why she told me she wanted to travel and meet other people. It surprised me. She seemed so sad when she insisted to leave the kingdom. I hear from her once every month most of the time. For a while I thought she would be standing in front of my bedroom shouting to me to get up, but then I remember she's far away. It seemed to me like everyone that I love around me eventually leaves or disappears. Like my brother, my mother, Merle and Hitomi...I didn't feel like sleeping that night since I already did so a few hours before. I secretly went outside again to escape the boredom. I knew Mr. Avean would mind, but I didn't care at the moment. Just then, I saw a dark figure sluggishly crawling forward. I couldn't tell who or what it was exactly because of the dim moonlight. But once I ran over to where it was, I realized it was a man. The word "wounded" couldn't have described the condition of this man. It was a surprise to see someone so beaten be alive.
"...Help...Blood Skies....will...." I heard him say in a dying voice.
"Hang on! I'll take you to a doctor," I said. A doctor had to be a miracle worker to heal the wounds of this poor, old man.
He shook his head and said, "...No....Listen..." he forced his weak, wrinkled finger to point towards the sky, "B-Blood Skies!...Don't...let it...destroy...The Key!! The link to...the worlds...!"
"...The Key?"
"...Dark...Power..." my spine made a sickening shiver as he coughed out blood too dark to be normal. "will destroy....Gaia...and...that...." he pointed yet again, this time at the Mystic Moon.
"What!? What is this Dark Power? I don't understand."
"....Freid....gone...!" I used all of my strength to carry him to a shelter, but with those words, his eyes became distant, his pulse stopped and I knew he was dead. There were too many questions in my mind that had been left unanswered. What did he mean by Blood Skies and Dark Power? Just then, the shadows suddenly became dark red. How can that be possible? I thought. I looked up at the sky...the Blood Sky...
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Part III: Japan, Earth
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A long time ago I had this silly dream I would be a famous runner. You know, one who goes to the Olympics. Then I would daydream that Amano is there with me; cheering me on as I received the gold medal. While watching the instructor rambled on about computer chips and its parts, I realized how stupid and futile that dream was. I wonder how my father convinced me to take computer engineering? I knew a little bit about how parts of a computer work, but not so much as I would want it as a job. The vision around became blur. I wasn't just falling asleep. I was going to dream of something horrible. I could feel it. No, not a dream--but a vision.
I found myself surrounded by demolished and burned buildings. Somehow, I knew I was somewhere in Fanelia. There were bodies all over the ground. Most of them were citizens of Fanelia; others were soldiers. The wind carried a thick, palpable mist that smelled of blood. I could feel the hot dirt under my shoes. If felt real! As if I really am staring at dead people from Van's kingdom. I turned and ran as fast as I could. I didn't know where exactly I was running. I couldn't stand the sight of those dead people. My feet carried me near the main doors of the castle.
"Is anyone here!? Can anyone hear me?" I screamed out, hoping to find a living soul in this decimated kingdom. No one answered me. Instead, I found an even greater number of lifeless bodies on the ground than the ones in the streets. I stepped back and stumbled on a sword. Once I turned and looked down, I realized whose sword it was. The symbol of Fanelia was clearly engraved near the handle of it. Half of the blade was missing; the other half of it was meters away. Like the sword, it was also covered in blood. "No...!" I whispered with a rough voice. I couldn't breath. This can't be real, I thought. It felt real. The smells, the touch; even the hot tears that streamed down my face. "Van...You can't be--please don't..." I followed the trail of red next to the sword. As my eyes followed the trail, I saw red tainted wings and then....I screamed and fell on my knees. There, on the cold ground, lay my true love. Through his chest was a diagonal, huge cut made by a powerful weapon.
"Van!!!"
The vision ended, and I was back in the classroom once again. Everyone in the room had an odd expression on their faces as they stared at me. The instructor looked surprised and furious at the same time.
"...Ms. Kanzaki, is it?" the male instructor said slowly. "Is there something alarming about the metallic devices of a chip?"
"I...uhm..." I couldn't say a word. What was a I suppose to say? 'I'm sorry. I just had a terrible vision of a kingdom in Gaia.'?
"Ms. Kanzaki," he repeated. "Perhaps you should yell your boyfriend's name some other place and time, yes?"
The whole class laughed loudly.
I yelled it out loud!? I frantically thought. I felt painfully embarrassed. I felt all of their eyes boring down on my reddened face. "E-Excuse me...C-Could I uh...go to the washroom?"
Okay, that was a very stupid request, but surprisingly he nodded. "You may go."
I inwardly sighed and got out of the room as quickly as I could. Even after that incident, I felt tremors in my body while thinking of the vision. I hadn't had a vision since I left Gaia, so how could I get a vision now? Is it going to come true? How did it...or rather, how will it happen? I asked myself many other questions in my mind. There had to be an important reason for that vision. Out of all of those questions, there was one I needed to be answered: How do I save him?
To be continued...
Author's Note: So how'd you like the first chapter? Long, isn't it? This is a revised version of the original one I posted. Gomenasai (sorry) for the grammatical errors from before. iCe was kind enough to give me a lending hand in it. I love writing long, complicated (hopefully '^^) stories so expect this one to have lots of chapters! Not to mention this had a lot of introductions. Just so you know what's been happening the years before. And they never once told what was Hitomi's little brother's name was so I made one up for him. I also researched a little on where Hitomi's high school is and which city she lives in. (Kanto Region, Kanagawa Prefecture, City of Kamakura) I found the information at Escaflowne Compendium and Japan Atlas. Also please keep in mind that I've never been to Japan before so the information might be a bit off; I'm just using what little knowledge I have and my logic here (though I'd really love to go there someday!). I'm sure you've figured out that this was written in Van and Hitomi's point of view. Sorry if you thought it was so grim and dark (There goes the happy-go-lucky, rated G fic!). I didn't expect the first chapter to end so...gruesomely. Especially with the grotesque descriptions in the vision. *ahem* Anyway, hope you liked it. Please tell me your comments and constructive criticism. I'd love to hear from you!