A/N: This is a little 2-shot I came up with for a friend that requested an Escaflowne fic in which Van and Hitomi get together. I must say this story took a wrong turn from what was originally planned and became pretty dark and angsty...very angsty. But please enjoy it anyway and let me know what you think!

Never to Part

Green eyes peered indolently up to a clear night sky speckled with stars. The girl was in a daze. She vaguely took in her surroundings but did not make any effort to move from her current location. Blood stained the dew ridden grass and the red liquid could be seen glistening in the moon light. Realization washed over the motionless girl…opaque tears slid softly from her eyes down her dirtied cheeks.

'Ah…I remember now.' She spoke softly to the air. 'I…I…died.' She lifted a weary arm to cover her face as her tears began to fall with increased vigor.

It was stupid really. She had been on the way home from a late night study group for her upcoming midterm exams. She walked the route she knew by heart without much care…she never thought it would be her last time doing so. Everything seemed so mundane, so normal…she had already made plans for the next day, had laundry to do, had a quiz to study for.

The out of control car speeding towards her didn't even register until it was too late. The car slammed into her body with such force she was propelled onto the hood and smashed into the windshield before being launched to the ground. The event happened so quickly there was really no time to feel pain or fear. In the brief moment of consciousness before the world went black, Hitomi watched as the car that had hit her reversed and sped away without even so much as a glance in her direction.

'Is this the afterlife? I am dead…aren't I?' Hitomi whispered to herself as she started to take in her surroundings with a renewed interest. She pushed herself into a sitting position and ran her hands through the wet grass. Her skin prickled from the cold night air and her breath condensed as she exhaled. 'Why do I still feel alive?' She rubbed her hands up and down her chilled arms, 'Why do I still feel pain?' She looked herself over at the various places she was feeling pain. She was pretty beat up that much was clear. She spared a glace skyward once again and her eyes widened at what she saw.

"Two moons!" She shouted springing to her feet and taking in the bright night sky. "How could I have missed this!? Does this mean…could it be…I am in Gaea!"

Hitomi despairingly began to walk. She had no idea where she was or what direction to take, but she would be as good as dead if she stayed put. A gentle smile spread across her face as she remembered her first time visiting the world with two moons; the world in which Earth was called the Mystic Moon. It was in this world that she had met so many amazing people. How could she ever forget? Their faces would forever remain in her memory. The dashing knight of Asturia, Allen Schezar whom she developed quite the crush on, would forever remain vivid in her mind. But more than him, she had met the prince and eventual king of Fanelia; a brash boy with a caring heart and a strong sense of duty. He had a hard time showing his emotions and an even harder time at opening up his true self to others. But, by the end of her stay in Gaia he had truly become himself…a fine man indeed…and a man she had come to love with all her heart.

-----

Years have passed since then and Hitomi had fallen right back into living a life she knew best, one that was far from the ways of Gaia…a life that was apart from the one she loved but could never be with. While in Gaia her visions ran rampant and her power was strong, but since her return to her own world the number of visions she experienced were drastically reduced. The images she saw were random and came to her without warning. Hitomi had seen the rebuilding of Fanelia, the wedding of Millerna, the forming of an alliance. From what she ascertained, Gaea was prosperous and peaceful. Her friends were happy and living well and that knowledge in turn brightened her spirits.

It would be a lie if Hitomi said she was not lonely. She longed for Van with every beat of her pounding heart. In a way it pained her to see her friends happy and seemingly ignorant of her existence or the fact that they had ever even met her.

Just last week Hitomi's world had been anything but happy. She had awoken from a deep sleep after seeing a vision…a vision that would haunt her even now. No matter how she told her self to not let it affect her…the truth was it had destroyed her. A week later brought no change and she could merely walk the steps and fake the expressions she was supposed to have. She was empty…broken.

"Why did I have to see that? It was the last thing I wanted to see. I would rather be dead than be here and have to face him…" Hitomi sighed as she finally saw indications of life come into view. Fires illuminated an outpost and Hitomi vaguely wondered if she was in enemy territory…but with the way she felt at the moment…it wouldn't really matter if she were. She slowly approached the threshold and breathed in deep.

"Hello! I have lost my way; can you please let me in?" Hitomi called loudly. She had been walking for what seemed like all night and morning was starting to break over the horizon. She was exhausted both physically and mentally. Her legs gave way beneath her and she slumped to the ground with a heavy thud. She was on the verge of passing out when a strong pair of arms pulled her up.

The guard was saying something to her and she could see more men behind him but she was not hearing a word. Her eyes rolled back and she fell unconscious.

"Do you think she is a spy?" A husky voice rang through the air.

"She doesn't look much like a spy to me" another answered.

"How could she be lost this far out…I mean we are close to Fanelia but not really close enough to get lost this way!" At the mention of Fanelia, Hitmoi became aware of the words being said around her. She dared not open her eyes but she was relieved to find out that she was indeed close to her destination.

"The captain will return tomorrow before he heads off to Fanelia so we will wait and ask him what we should do."

"That's right…he is heading to that King's wedding." At this Hitomi all but sprang off the small bed she was resting on. Could it be that she arrived in Gaea before Van's wedding? Maybe the vision she had was not that of the present time but of the future. Hitomi could only hope as she looked imploringly to the men standing rather stunned before her.

"Would that wedding be King Van's wedding…of Fanelia?" She questioned with the greatest sincerity she could muster.

"Yes, that's right Miss…" an older solider in the front kindly answered. "Can you please tell us who you are?" He looked at the girl with suspicion.

Hitomi was taken aback. Had everyone in Gaea forgotten the green-eyed seer of the Great War? Well, it didn't matter much now. "Ah, I am a citizen of Fanelia! I was traveling back in a rush when my horse spooked and took off with me. As you can see I got injured quite badly when I fell and then I walked trying to find help but ended up collapsing here." Hitomi smiled as best she could. She was in a great deal of pain and the make shift bandages the men had dressed her with were already soaked through with blood.

The man that had spoken before looked disbelieving but said nothing against her words. Hitomi was grateful. "You are in need of a healer, which we don't have. The wounds you have sustained are beyond our ability to treat. Fanelia is the nearest place that we can take you to find a healer…" the man trailed off and sighed. "Unfortunately, our quickest means of transportation is currently being used by our Captain and his crew. They are not due in until tomorrow at the earliest. He will be heading to Fanelia then…but you will have to get through until then."

Hitomi looked at the man through blood stained eyes. She was a mess. "I suppose I have no choice…I apologize for the trouble." She sprawled back out onto the bed and soon found herself in a deep sleep, one that was most likely induced by blood loss and trauma.

-----

Soon after she had fallen asleep a few of the men gingerly changed her bandages and tried to treat her wounds as best as possible. One man even provided a simple white dress that he was going to bring home to his wife. She was changed into the new garment and left to rest. She had developed a fever by the time night fell once again and the solders were starting to fear for her life. All were pleased to find her still alive when morning broke and also were pleased to learn that the arrival of their captain was earlier than expected.

"Captain!" An older man called out, "how was your trip?"

"It went well, thank you. And how have things been here?" The man asked sending a smile to his men.

"Well, we picked up an injured girl yesterday. We thought we might lose her last night, but it seems she pulled through for now. I think it best you take her to Fanelia with you and try to find a healer as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, Hitomi awoke to silence in the small back room she was residing in. Even though it was against her better judgment she stood up on shaky legs and walked to the window. Half her face was covered by white cloth but she could still see the beautiful landscape with her other eye. She smiled despite herself. It was so beautiful. A soft click behind her brought her attention away from the scenery and to the intruders. She slowly turned her head and met the eyes of the men that entered. Her visible green eye caught the shocked expression displayed on one of the intruder's faces.

"Hello, Allen." She whispered softly as she rested a damaged hand on the window sill.

"Hitomi?" he questioned as he moved towards the girl. "Is it really you?" He reached out to her and touched her arm softly.

"Yeah, it's me." She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a gentle embrace before she pulled away and looked up into his dazzling blue eyes. "How have you been? It's been quite some time since we last saw each other…hasn't it?"

The man before her stood frozen, still unable to comprehend the situation. It had been years since he last saw the girl from the Mystic Moon. She was energetic and happy back then, he remembered her smiling face from when she had left to return home. But the girl standing before him now was but a shadow of the person he had once known. She was pale and thin…her bandages slipping from her limbs damp with fresh blood. She looked lifeless…empty…dead. "Hitomi" he grabbed her shoulders, "what happened to you? Were you attacked?"

She laughed softly at the seemingly absurd question. "Attacked? No…" she trailed off as her voice broke. She didn't want to tell him what had happened; she didn't want to relive the events. Allen seemingly picked up on her reluctance and wrapped an arm around her back.

"Never mind, but we should leave for Fanelia immediately. Your injuries need to be tended to." He placed a hand on her forehead and even through the cloth he could feel the heat emanating from the girl. She still had a high fever. In a single sweeping motion he held Hitomi in his arms and proceeded to carry her towards the Crusade.

Under normal circumstances Hitomi would have protested to this action, but in the state she was in she was too weak to fight back; in fact, she could do nothing but stare off in a daze at the surroundings that went by. Her eyes may have been open but her mind had long since wondered off.

"Gaddes" Allen called as he neared the Crusade, "prepare to leave for Fanelia … immediately."

"But captain we just got…" he stopped as he took note of the woman Allen was carrying as he approached.

"She needs a healer…now." Allen's tone of voice left no room for arguing. Without a response Gaddes went to inform the rest of the crew of their sudden departure.

-----

Within no time at all they were in the air flying towards Fanelia. The crew was curious as to the circumstances of the abrupt leave but as soon as it was said a person was injured and needed help they all settled down into their jobs. Allen stayed by Hitomi's side. He knew this was going to be terribly difficult in more ways than one. Delegates from all over Gaea would be in Fanelia for Van's wedding; Drydan, Millerna, Selena, Chid, and many more would all be in attendance. The wedding was not taking place for another few days but the reception ball and guests were already arriving early for the festivities. Allen knew of Hitomi's feelings, at least her feelings when she left Gaea all those years ago, how would she be able to take Van getting married to someone else?

"I always seem to cause you so much trouble." She whispered but didn't bother to open her eyes. "It's kind of like when we first met."

Allen laughed softly, "You are no trouble at all."

"He's getting married…isn't he?" A tear escaped her eye and slid down her cheek. "Did he forget about me? Did he even care…?"

"Hitomi" Allen brushed the tear from her cheek and held her hand gently, "we all care about you. I think I can speak for everyone when I say not a day goes by that we do not think of you."

She paused; maybe when she wasn't so terribly depressed she would have smiled and believed such words…but not now. "He was with his fiancé…happy…when I was dying." Fresh tears stained her face.

"I…we…" Allen stuttered unable to come up with words to console the claim. They were, after all, true. He, nor anyone else to his knowledge, knew of Hitomi's plight. According to his men she nearly died the night before yet he was happily enjoying dinner with his sister and the members of the Asturian court while she was suffering.

"I didn't want to die…" her voice was barely audible. It was shaking, cracking, not even a whisper but Allen could hear the heart wrenching words. "I…didn't want to be alone…didn't want to die alone. I kept calling for him…screaming for him to help me…to save me…to hold me. But he never came…he…never…" her voice died out but the final words she muttered rang clear in Allen's head.

'I died alone…'

A/N: Well, this is the first part out of two so let me know how you liked it! Comments, suggestions, complaints welcome! Like Ghost Hunt? Check out my other stories!