Escaflowne: Return to Gaea
Chapter 1
By: A.S.H.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Escaflowne. That belongs to those extremely
rich people that can walk all over me if they so desire. I do own Kuru and Hyuki. They're
in there cause this is a fanfiction no da? Also: there is swearing and SOME suggestive
dialouge. But very little. I like the killing crazy Van better than lovey dovey Van! ^_^
Author Notes: I have not seen the all of the episodes of the series Escaflowne,
though I have seen the movie(too many times!! ^^;;). If I get anything wrong do let me
know so I do not look like an ass. Arigatou! ^ ^


Hitomi sighed as she stared at the track. It had been so long since she had first
met Van there. She could remember the dragon and everything so clearly. It had been
almost three years and Hitomi hadn't had any visions or even brief feelings of Van, or
Gaea.
"So?" Amano poked Hitomi in the stomach area, "Are you going to my party
tonight or what?"
Hitomi startled to attention and looked at Amano. She sighed thinking about
Allen. Amano was almost exactly like him. She sometimes ran up to Amano on a
crowded street and hugged him, thinking it was Allen.
"Yeah." Hitomi rubbed her stomach area, "Besides, I've got nothing better to do."
"Alright, I'll see you tonight then," Amano ran off to catch his bus.
Hitomi heaved a heavy sigh. She didn't want to go to a party. She wanted to go
back to Gaea. She felt like an outcast after she had returned back home. No one seemed
to understand her sadness and why she was so gloomy. She tried to talk to Amano about
it, but he told her she was just stressed out because of grades and track.
Hitomi walked through the busy streets and through parks. She sat down on a
bench in the park that wasn't too far from her house.
It was getting towards the end of school. Soon Hitomi would be going to college.
She was going to miss Amano and Yukari.
The warm breeze blew into Hitomi's face blowing her bangs to and fro. Hitomi
had let her hair grow out over the past few years. It reached nearly four inches below her
shoulders. Her golden hair was straight and always perfectly kept. She grew it out
because she thought of how beautiful Millerna looked with long hair.
She missed them. She missed them all. Including Merle, the happy-go-lucky
cat-girl. She laughed thinking of what silly troubles she'd be getting herself into.
Hitomi heaved another heavy sigh, "I wonder how they're all doing."
She wasn't just worried about everyone. She was worried about Van. She had
promised him she'd always be there for him. She missed him so much.
Hot tears rolled down her cheeks and she held her face in her hands. She cried
and cried. It had been like this every night ever since she had come back from Gaea. She
always cried about Van, but never knew why. A voice in her head told her that she loved
him. But another said she was just being over-concerned.
Hitomi dried her eyes and sat up. She looked into the sunset and smiled, "I can
remember the last sunset on Gaea, with Van."
Hitomi sat up then suddenly a bright light shined from the sun and came hurling
at her. She ran away as fast as she could, but the light was almost on top of her. Then the
light enclosed itself on her. Hitomi panicked and yelled for help, "Someone! Help me!!!"
"Do not be afraid." a soft woman's voice said, "I will not harm you."
"Who are you?" Hitomi looked in the light, but had to cover her eyes.
"I am Hyuki, the goddess of Gaea."
"Hyuki? Of Gaea?"
"Yes." Hyuki spoke slowly, "We need your help yet again Hitomi."
"What?" Hitomi wasn't sure if this was real or not.
"Help us," Hyuki's voice called and Hitomi felt a warm embrace. She opened her
eyes and tried to make out the figure, but she blacked out.

*

Van rested his head on the tree where Allen had found Hitomi by. Hitomi. He
hadn't even got to tell her how he felt. She was gone now.
Van had returned to this spot every day since Hitomi went back to the Mystic
Moon. Then the Moon had disappeared. He enjoyed watching it at night when Hitomi
was there, but now he just stayed by the tree, and treasured the necklace that she had
given to him. He always fell asleep watching the necklace keep perfect time. It was
enchanting. And the string smelled like Hitomi, like lilacs.
"If only I could have told you how I feel Hitomi," Van smiled as he sighed.
Suddenly a bright pillar of light appeared in front of Van. He gasped and stepped
back, drawing his sword. The light disappeared, and Van's breathing sped up when he
noticed a skinny figure with long golden hair.
Van put his sword back in its sheath and slowly walked closer to the girl. His
heart felt as if it would burst from his chest. It was Hitomi!
"Hitomi!" Van kneeled and held her in his lap, "Hitomi!"
Hitomi heard a voice calling to her, and slowly opened her eyes. She could barely
see, so she lifted her hands to her eyes and rubbed them slightly. She blinked a few times
to focus and stared into the sky. Then, turning her head ever so slightly, she looked at
who was holding her. It was Van!
"Van?!" Hitomi sat up, but Van caught her and pulled her into a warm embrace.
Hitomi was shocked, but happy. Her heart beated faster and faster. Van was actually
hugging her. She felt that she could die right there and not care.
"Hitomi." Van released Hitomi and pulled her back looking her over, "I never
thought I'd see you again! How are you?"
Hitomi was so happy she could feel hot tears welling up in her eyes, then falling
over her cheeks.
"Hitomi?" Van looked worried.
Hitomi sniffled and tried to laugh, "I'm sorry Van, I just... I'm so happy that I'm
here, with you. I've missed you so much... I almost gave up on living."
"Hitomi." Van slowly reached his hand to Hitomi's face, "I'm sorry." His touch
was feather light as his fingers slowly traced her tears to her lips. Hitomi blushed and
watched Van's face. He was so calm, and yet so focused. Van then looked her directly in
the eyes, "Hitomi..."
Hitomi felt a pull behind her, leading towards Van's face. She closed her eyes and
let a small sigh out after Van's lips touched her neck.
"I've missed you." Van whispered, leaving a hot trail of kisses down her collar
bone, "You have no idea what its been like."
"But I do Van." Hitomi's eyes fluttered trying to open, "I've been so lonely. I
thought if I never saw you again, I'd die."
Van pulled away and stroked Hitomi's now longer hair behind her ear. He was so
happy that she was finally back, and in his arms. He never wanted this moment to end.
"Well, well, well." an eerie voice called from the forest, "Two lovers Kuru hath
found."
Van stood and drew his sword, "Who's there?"
"I am Kuru," Kuru appeared.
Hitomi stood and hid behind Van as she stared at this person called Kuru. His hair
reached his waist in a silky wave of darkness. His skin was very pale, and he was fairly
well-built. His white pants (very similar to Van's) ended at his black boots, just below his
knees. His shirt was a duplicate of Van's, only green in color, and it was laced together
down from his chest to where it should have tucked in. His sword was more showy than
Van's, with a bigger handle encrusted with jewels and the sort.
"What do you want?" Van snarled.
"Why, the Wing Goddess of course." Kuru smiled sickly, "The prize with a price
and extras." Hitomi shuddered as Kuru licked his top lip.
"You perverted bastard!" Van raised his sword and swung at Kuru.
Kuru jumped away so fast that all Van saw was a blur of speed rushing at him.
Hitomi hugged Van into her and a bright light made a barrier around Van and
Hitomi.
"What's this?!" Kuru yelled backing away, "Why is it so bright?!"
"Hitomi?!" Van yelled, "What's going on?"
"I don't know," Hitomi held onto Van. The light disappeared and Hitomi opened
her eyes and noticed that Van and her were by a pond. Kuru was no where to be found.
"Hitomi?" Van turned around and looked at Hitomi. She had fainted. Van sighed
and picked Hitomi up carrying her to his home, Adom.