Chapter One

Author's Note: It's been a while since I've written anything. I'm not a great writer, so creative criticism is very much appreciated. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Escaflowne. The plot is made up by me, however.

"It seems the only student absent is Hitomi Kanzaki," announced the young, red-headed female teacher as she turned to her grade book to record the information.

"I'm here!" A girl pushed through the door, gasping for breaths as if she had just run a marathon. The students in their seats glanced at the girl with wind tossed short honey-blonde hair. She averted her eyes to the ground, embarrassed to look at the teacher in the eye. Wrinkled blouse, un-ironed skirt, old school bag, everything screamed out "misfit."

"Sorry, I missed the bus," she mumbled.

"Glad you could join us, Miss Kanzaki," the teacher shook her head. "It's not very good to be late on the first day of school. Please take your seat." She pointed to a seat near the window. Hitomi did as she was directed. "For those of you that did not hear, I will be your homeroom teacher as well as your English teacher. My name is Yuzuru Yashiro. You must all be excited, today is the first day of your last year of high school…" The teacher's voice faded away as Hitomi stared out her window. The breeze played with the leaves on the trees and birds fluttered around each other. Brightly shinning sun with a light blue sky forecasted a beautiful day to come.

With the blink of an eye, the blue sky scenery changed to be replaced with a grand hall of a castle. Light filtered through the glass windows of the high ceiling room, creating a rainbow of colors. A carpet of crimson red led from the grand double doors to a platform across the large room. A small girl with short blonde hair sat in one of the two empty chairs on the platform in a frilly pink dress. Like ghosts drifting above the ground, the doors opened with a boom as a line of women with long dresses swayed into the room. They followed the carpet leading up to the platform as the young girl ran to meet them half way. The lady at the front of the line, dressed in an elegant blue gown, kneeled to her eye level as they met.

The lady greeted the radiantly smiling young girl. Her lips continued to move, but no sound could be heard from them. After the lady had finished speaking, the young girl shook her head and started crying. The lady hugged the girl close, petting her hair.

"Hitomi…" the lady's voice echoed.

"Hitomi Kanzaki!" The blonde's eyes ripped open, her body straightening to a full, upright position. The young red-headed teacher stood over Hitomi with a frown on her face as the boys whispered to each other and the girls giggled.

"Not only were you late, but you fall asleep on the first day of class?" Miss Yashiro folded her arms over her chest. "Please see me after school." More whispering and giggling could be heard as Hitomi frowned and returned her eyes to her desktop.

"It's that dream again…"

The school bell rang to signal the end of the school day. Students rushed to pack their books into their bags to hurry home. However, Hitomi stayed sitting in her chair, head on her hand, staring out the window once more. After all the students had left the classroom, the teacher walked over to the only remaining student and sat in the seat in the row across from her.

"You're a very good student from what I've seen in past years, Hitomi," Miss Yashiro started. "This kind of behavior is a bit odd. Did something happen at the orphanage over the summer?"

Hitomi turned from the window to look at her teacher, and then back to her desk.

"I no longer live at the orphanage, Miss Yashiro," Hitomi answered.

"Why not? Are they not treating you well?" she asked, shocked.

"I just felt that it was time for me to move out of there and be more independent," Hitomi said, looking at her teacher in the eyes. "I'm grateful for all they have done for me, but I'll be turning 18 soon. It just doesn't feel like home to me."

Miss Yashiro opened her mouth to speak, but Hitomi already knew what she wanted to know. "I'm working as a waitress after school to pay for the apartment." The teacher could only sigh.

"You're a responsible student, and I'm sure you can manage, but I hope you are not doing something that is over your head." She gave a weak smile. "I remember when I first moved into my own apartment. It was difficult for me. If you ever need help, please talk to me, Hitomi."

"Thank you, Miss Yashiro," Hitomi stood up, grabbing her bag. "I should be off, I have work."

Hitomi, found wandering the streets with a head injury at the age of eight and blood soaked clothes, could only remember her name. No faces seemed familiar, no memory about the time before the day she was taken into the orphanage. The doctors had diagnosed her with amnesia. They tried everything they could to revive her memories, but failed miserably. She lived at the orphanage, never standing out enough to catch the eyes of anyone who would want to adopt her.

But life for Hitomi Kanzaki continued, endless cycles of school, work, homework, and sleep deprivation. Is this all life is, she wondered. Was there more? The empty feeling that she was meant for more never left her. Neither did the recurring dream of the young girl. It seemed like a distant memory. Every night, she would wake to find herself drenched in sweat, tears, and a feeling of losing someone close to her. It's just a dream, she would tell herself. It has nothing to do with me. That feeling is probably because I can't remember my family.

Hours turned to days, days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months. It was finally the day of her graduation. She stood in line with her classmates in her cap and gown. Her name was called, she took her diploma, and it was over. While jubilant students celebrated and hugged each other and their parents, Hitomi wandered around.

"Thank you, Miss Yashiro," Hitomi said when she had found her homeroom teacher.

"Congratulations, Hitomi!" The teacher beamed and hugged her student. Hitomi nodded in gratitude and walked away as the teacher continued to congratulate the many graduates.

Tired green eyes on a solemn face stared back at her. Hitomi stood in the girl's bathroom in her work clothes, a white button down shirt with a black skirt. Nothing special, she thought. I need to get a haircut; my hair has grown past my shoulders.

A bright light flashed before her eyes and an image of the earth with its moon floated in the sky. A faint whisper of her name could be heard, the voice sounded familiar. Hitomi blinked several times and looked around, everything was the same. I'm just tired, she told herself, and left for home.

"Hitomi…" It was that voice again. Hitomi turned around, but no one was around her. She was on the outskirts of the park next to her apartment. Now I'm hearing things, she thought.

"Hitomi." There it was again, louder this time.

"Who's there!" Hitomi screamed, dashing into the park. Who keeps calling me? She chased the voice until she ran out of breath. When she stopped and looked around, she realized she was in the section of the park which was left untouched. I'm stupid, she said to herself, chasing after voices in my head.

The trees suddenly disappeared, all she could see was blinding white light all around her. She was engulfed in a pillar of light, her body floating from the earth. An image of the same event flashed in her mind. A flashback, she was sure of it. Hitomi closed her eyes, letting the pillar of light carry her to whatever adventure fate had in store.