Intricacy of the Heart

Chapter: One

Title: Return to Gaea

Author: Talia (Cascata)

Genre: Romance

Rating: R (for future)

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne nor do I own any of the characters from the series or movies.

Author's Note: I watched the entire series in subtitled Japanese, as in… it's probably different from the screwy dubbed version. BTW I can't get this out of my head, so… I'm getting it out through writing it and I PROMISE to work on Savaged Soul Soothed Capture once I get this out. THIS WILL NOT GO UNFINISHED!

~~~~~*~~~~~

Hitomi twirled her fingers in her hair, which now reached past her shoulders. She would win today; she always won since she dreamed of Gaea. She'd broken even Amano's record and was now a famous track star. 

Four years since her experience with her dreams of Gaea. Two years since she finished high school… and already she was famous. By her young age of 19, Hitomi already had enough money to retire on for a few years… if she chose to do so. However, she planned on continuing her running career… the rush always helped her forget something of Gaea.

Gaea… was it only a dream? She'd thought it more… it seemed too real. She could still remember the distinctive scents of Allen and Van.

Van. Hitomi forced back tears upon thinking of him; he was only a figment of her imagination unfortunately. If he were real… if Allen were real… God! If they both were real she didn't know what she'd do. She realized upon waking up that she didn't know which she loved more… And the irony of the situation was that it was most likely a dream! She'd even bought a telescope to locate Gaea if it even existed. No sign of it.

As Hitomi stepped into the hall she made her way towards the track, eyes preoccupied on her list of opponents. She sighed softly as she turned the corner and crumpled up the paper; she'd competed against most before and she decided that the rest on the list were the same. Stuffing the list in her pocket she stepped out onto the track only to hear thousands cheer at her appearance.


This was a scene Hitomi had grown sick of. She hated the cheers and she was even sicker of the idiots she was to run against. Each of them gave her a look of despair knowing they'd lose to her. Undefeated in four years, even by the men? There was absolutely no way they could compare. She'd be getting her water by the time they finished!

Hitomi sighed softly and unzipped her windbreaker, then tugged her pants off. Dropping to the ground she began her stretching routine, ignoring the crowd's cries for her. It wasn't that she felt as though she were too good for them… far from it. In fact, she didn't feel worthy of their affection, even though she was as good of a runner.

Suddenly there was a semi-familiar voice from behind Hitomi, interrupting her thoughts. "Hitomi?"

Hitomi stiffened and turned only to find her long time best friend, Yukari. Jumping to her feet she ran and pulled Yukari into a tight bear hug almost squeezing the strength from her. "Yukari!"

Yukari giggled and hugged Hitomi back, then managed to squeak out, "Air…!"

"Gomen!" Hitomi squeaked and released her. "How long has it been now? Two years? Why haven't you kept in touch! Am I invited to the wedding?"

Yukari's smile faded slightly and she glanced down at her hands. "I'm afraid that won't happen…"

Hitomi blinked, then allowed her eyes to trail down to Yukari's left hand. Her eyes narrowed as she brought them back to Yukari's face. "What happened?" As angry as she appeared, her voice expressed concern.

Yukari sighed and looked out at the field to something, though Hitomi didn't follow her gaze. "He called it off."

Hitomi's eyes widened and softened a little. "Gomen, Yukari…"

Yukari plastered on a smile and she faced her friend. "Besides, you two would have been better… he still thinks of you."

Hitomi snorted and turned to look at what Yukari was looking at only to see the subject of their current conversation. "What's he doing here?" she all but demanded.

Yukari winced at the sharpness in her voice, then answered reluctantly. "You didn't read your competitors?"

"He's competing against me?" Hitomi asked, shocked thoroughly.

Yukari blinked. "You didn't know?"

"NO!" Hitomi let out, then grabbed her jacket and pulled out the list. Her eyes scanned to the bottom and the only name that caught her attention was the first… Amano.

Yukari smiled slightly. "I came to watch you smoke him."

Hitomi laughed and forced it back in the pocket. "Don't worry, his ass is mine."

Yukari giggled, then looked back out at Amano, her eyes sad and longing. Hitomi sighed softly and dropped back to the ground to stretch. Yukari still loved him… and he didn't return the feelings. "How long ago was it?"

"A year," Yukari confessed, eyes shimmering on the verge of tears.

Hitomi nodded as she stretched further. "I see." She paused a moment, then smiled, "Would you like to stay at the hotel with me, Yukari?"

Yukari blinked and tore her gaze from Amano. "Nani?"

"You heard me. Stay at the suite with me, there are two beds… I thought it was comical but it was the last suite they had open. We could stay up all night catching up on old times, since I don't have work for the next couple days," Hitomi continued, smiling at Yukari's brightening face.

"That would be wonderful! I'll call and cancel my reservations for my other room!" Yukari beamed.

Hitomi smiled, "And I'll take you to dinner, my treat."

"No, I couldn't…"

"Please?" Hitomi all but begged, giving Yukari the saddest puppy eyes she could muster up without laughing.

Yukari giggled. "Fine then," she said, rolling her eyes. "Since you insist."

"I do," Hitomi smiled. Before she could say more the announcer's voice interrupted her.

"Runners, take your places!" his voice echoed through the stadium over the roars of the crowd.

Hitomi stood and hugged Yukari. "See you after the race."

Yukari nodded and hugged Hitomi back. "Good luck."

Hitomi nodded and walked swiftly to the track, eyes narrowing at Amano. It was then that she realized she was standing next to him, waiting for the race to begin. An evil grin swept across her features and she turned to him, masking her plot with innocence. "Good to see you, Amano-Senpai."

"Hitomi?" Amano asked, a heart-melting grin spreading across his face. "Good to see you."

Hitomi nodded, then looked forward. "I have a deal to make," she said mischievously.

Amano laughed and took his running position as the last few people came to the track. "You haven't changed much have you?"

"You'd be surprised," Hitomi replied and also took a running position. "If I win…"

~~~~~*~~~~~

Hitomi smiled as she shoved the door to her suite open. She was there alone, as she had expected to be upon making the deal with Amano. She knew that he still loved Yukari… and this was proved when he took both of them out for coffee.

Yukari and Amano seemed to hit it off all over again, and when Hitomi insisted that they return to the room Amano objected stating that he'd take her to the hotel, since Yukari had yet to cancel. Not that Hitomi expected him to return her to her hotel room.

A grin spread across her face as she closed the door behind her. At least Yukari was happy again.

Setting her duffle bag down she crossed the room. Her black and white windbreaker and pants making the only sound as her legs brushed against each other. Without even bothering to remove them she plopped down on her bed and buried her face in the pillow.

Now if only she were as fortunate to have someone. Allen… would have been the perfect choice for a romantic… Van… perfect for just him self. Hitomi was still debating which she would love more if they were real. Though in her dream she'd fallen in love with Van, she knew she'd still love Allen. The irony and her indecisiveness were only serving to frustrate her more.

How she wished she could return to Gaea. If only she could. Closing her eyes she wished with all her heart and soul without saying a word, 'I wish I could be on Gaea…'

~~~~~*~~~~~

Allen sighed softly and leaned against the wall in his less formal attire; his tunic, pants, and boots. Not to mention his trusty sword, which he rarely ever took off. When he slept it was always within his reach, for he trusted no one. Years of being the knight he was had done that to him… that and the new threat of Iniquity.

His eyes drifted to the window as so he may gaze at the Mystic Moon. "Hitomi," he whispered softly, eyes not moving from the beautiful site.

Allen had thought that Hitomi was only a sisterly figure to him… that was four years ago. It was after she left the second time that he realized it was more. The first time he'd been at rest because of somehow knowing she'd return. Now he had his doubts.

Her smile plagued his dreams each night causing him to long for her more than he had the night before. This pain was worse than it had been when Millerna returned to that merchant king, Drydon. Allen hadn't expected her to stay with him anyway… knowing that Drydon loved her. He knew that she returned his love without even realizing it. The day she had was the last day he saw her.

Millerna. Allen smirked at his stupidity. He'd only thought he loved her because she reminded him so much of her sister, Merline. It was easy to recover from her… but Hitomi was no longer even on Gaea… and he was unable to even look upon her.

Sighing softly he walked to his table and poured himself a fourth glass of wine. Holding it up to the moon he made a toast, being that it was the four-year anniversary of the day she left. "May you be forever happy, Hitomi," he whispered softly, unable to think up anything better due to how quickly he'd chugged the previous three glasses. Once done with that glass he made his way to the bed and threw himself down upon it. Closing his eyes he whispered softly, "I wish you were here…"

~~~~~*~~~~~

Van gazed up at the Mystic Moon. Four years ago yesterday he'd first met the thief of his heart; a thief he could easily forgive and allow to keep what had been stolen.

"Hitomi," he whispered softly and fought back tears. Less than four years ago he'd sent her back… why? What an idiot he'd been to allow her to leave! But she would have hated him if she was to stay… she'd never be truly happy. He couldn't make her happy. As much as he loved her, he couldn't make her happy.

Silently, an older and by far more exotic Merle popped up at Van's side. Her eyes saddened upon watching her brotherly figure gaze up at the Mystic Moon, the home of that girl who had affected everyone in some form or another. "Van-sama," she said softly, shattering the silence and instantly earning Van's attention.

"Merle," Van replied softly and sighed.

Merle was silent, then sat next to her king. "Van-sama," she started, hugging his arm gently. "I miss her, too… but we have to move on."

Van sighed. "I thought… we could still speak to one another. We could before…"

"She was here," Merle started but was cut off.

"We could speak through our minds… she and I did it before she left," Van stated passively. "We had a mental bond."

Merle sighed softly and glanced up at the Mystic Moon. "I don't think it's the distance that prevents you from communicating," Merle stated softly, then glanced at Van… who hadn't taken his eyes from it. "It could be the magic that keeps Gaea from being seen… if it can't be seen then perhaps it can't be reached by thought."

Van's eyes began to sting as he fought back tears. "Merle."

"Yes, Van-sama?" Merle replied softly.

Van turned and looked at his sisterly figure through pained eyes. "I wish she were here."

Merle sighed and nodded. "Me too, Van-Sama."

~~~~~*~~~~~

Hitomi's eyes flung open as she felt something change. Jumping to her bare feet she started looking around her room for a reason as to the pressure change. Was there someone in there? God she hoped not.

Before she knew what was happening, however, a bright pillar of light surrounded her. A mixture of fear and excitement filled her as she paused by her duffle bag. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up. If it were real… she'd be seeing Van and Allen soon.

The light became brighter and she vanished, along with her duffle bag.

Moments later, Hitomi found herself standing beneath a tree. Opening her eyes she gazed across the open field, then looking to the source of light this time of night. Her eyes filled with tears of joy as she beheld the moon before Earth… or the Mystic Moon. Before she could take a step, her duffle bag fell and bounced off her head before falling at her feet. She smiled, glad that it had accompanied her… and even gladder to be back on Gaea.

However, her delight was short lived when she felt the cold steel of a blade against her throat. Unable to speak she closed her eyes and awaited the death that seemed so intent on greeting her upon her return.