Hey everyone! Just let me start this off by saying that I do not in any way shape or form own Visions of Escaflowne, the characters or anything even remotely relating to the original story line. I will not be repeating this for every chapter as I find it needlessly depressing. The original characters and idea for this story are my own (I think) and hopefully don't resemble any other work out there.
The rating will be MA, there will be swearing at some point, detailed referances to violence and probably some nice tart lemon thrown in just for fun. If that's not your thing, I'm sorry it didn't work out between us. Also, this story, at the moment, is not beta'ed. I've done my best to spell check and have read and reread the content multiple times so if there are blarring issues, please bare with me. That said, let the story begin!
"Hello?"
"Hey, you awake?"
Hitomi smiled at the all too familiar voice of her best friend, "Of course I am, I did pick up the phone". She continued pouring herself a drink while glancing at the clock. "You do know that it's three am right?"
"Ya, I know", Yukari's voice was relaxed, but she could hear the soft sounds of life going on around her friend. "I figured you'd be up still. Did you get the package I sent you?"
Hitomi looked over at the opened parcel on her living room coffee table. She frowned to herself before answering in the most cheerful voice she could muster, "Ya...it's cute". If Yukari could hear her reservations, she didn't say anything.
"It reminded me of you," the redhead offered gently. There was a soft pause between them, "How are you doing?"
The brunette picked up her glass and walked slowly over to the couch. She stepped over her shoes. She'd have to make sure to pick them up later.
"Good".
"How's work?"
"It's ok".
Even half way across the world from each other Hitomi could feel Yukari's growing anxiousness, the way she shifted her weight from one foot to the other while she chewed on her bottom lip. She wanted to ask about it, but she wouldn't. She never did. She knew better. It was just how they were with each other.
"And you family?"
"Everyone's fine. You know, same old, same old. How's Sakura?
She could almost feel the smile blossom on her friend's pretty face at the mention of her daughter. "She's great," the redhead breathed happily. "She's getting so big. She's crawling all over the place and getting into tones of trouble".
"Thats awesome," Hitomi said with a sad smile. She took a sip from her glass. She shouldn't be jealous of her friend's happiness, but a tiny part of her was. "And how's Amano?"
"He's really good, he just got a promotion at work last week".
"That's great". She took another, much larger sip. Nice Hitomi, but what else was there to say?
"Ya. He's pretty happy". There was another pause, this one long and uncomfortable. They used to be able to talk to each other for hours. Not so much anymore. That's why the next words Yukari spoke surprised her so much, "You know I love you, right?"
"Ya, of course".
"You're the closest thing to a sister I've ever had Hitomi," the redhead's voice was almost desperate. "I love you to pieces. I hope you know that all I want- all that we want, is for you to be happy".
"I know", Hitomi whispered, starring down at her toes.
"I just...I don't know," Yukari continued over her, her voice quiet and a little distant, as if she were talking more to herself than to the person on the other end of the phone. "I just wanted to say that, and to let you know that we're still thinking of you". There was a gentle, sad laugh against Hitomi's ear. "And of course to make sure that you don't forget about us".
Hitomi felt the corner of her mouth twitch upwards at the thought. "That's not possible", she said confidently. It really wasn't. No matter what happened, she'd never forget her crazy redhead.
"Ok," her friend's response was unsure, but there was a muffled cry in the background. Her life was calling her. "Well I should go and get Sakura some lunch." Another pause. "I miss you".
"I miss you too Yukari. Kiss that little girl for me".
"I will. I'll talk to you soon, ok?"
"Ya, for sure," Hitomi reassured. They both knew she was lying.
"Bye".
"Bye".
Hitomi Kanzaki leaned back heavily into her couch. Still dressed in ninety percent of her uniform, her feet ached from a long day of walking in uncomfortable shoes. Her body ached, and she was exhausted both physically and mentally but she knew sleep would be hard to find tonight. She stared down at the amber coloured liquid that swirled prettily around the ice in her glass. The heavy scent was pleasant to her nose but it burned it's way down her throat like embers.
She let out a sigh. It should have bothered her more, the fact that she and Yukari had become so distant. It should have, but it didn't. Not really. Yukari was married; she wasn't. Yukari had a child; she likely never would. Yukari had a nice predictable schedule; her life couldn't have been more up in the air if she'd tried. They lived in different countries, on almost completely opposite sides of the world.
They had nothing in common anymore. Nothing to talk about. But as long as Yukari and Amano were happy, how could she be upset? She could let Yukari go, as long as she knew her best friend was happy.
Happy.
Hitomi sat there for a few moments, the darkness of her apartment like a cocoon that enveloped her, that welcomed her. The only light came from the large balcony doors beside her, bright multicoloured lights screaming loudly that the city below her never slept. She missed the quiet and the dark.
She put her glass down on the coffee table and picked up the little figurine that Yukari had sent her. She starred down at the cartoonized white dragon, it's body curled up around itself as it asleep. Clutched tightly to it's body was a soft pink stone.
Everyone wanted her to be happy. The people she loved made a point of saying it to her often. But she was. Happy. Wasn't she?
Chid let out a sigh. The wind blew through his hair and made him shiver. The twin moons hung low and full in the night sky and their light made the snow glisten like stardust. His breath came out in little white puffs that hung low in the air. Spring was close, but on nights like tonight it seemed an eternity away.
He heard soft footsteps come up behind him; he recognized them instantly. The footsteps were soft, quiet, but not delicate. They were not the footsteps of a woman but rather the purposeful steps of a man who could be as silent as death itself extending the deliberate courtesy of announcing his presence.
Lord Van Fanel of Fanelia was a man that Chid admired above all others. It had been Van and Hitomi who had returned without evidence of the doppleganger Zongi, knowing full well the punishment that awaited them. It was Van who had wished to stay and fight along side Freid soldiers to defend the Duke's homeland, it was Van who had lent him resources and assistance during Freid's reconstruction despite being in far greater need himself. Van's calm, quiet strength had given him comfort in the wake of family tragedy, and it was Van who had petitioned on his behalf to his fa- to Allen Schizar and his aunts when it was time for him to take up the sword.
It was Van's approval that he strove for, Van's guidance that he sought. The Fanelian was always kind and encouraging, and always brutally honest to a fault.
The young Duke watched from the corner of his eye as the older male folded his long arms elegantly against the balcony railing beside him. His expressive mahogany eyes were fixed on a distant point somewhere in the frozen horizon. Chid expected him to say something, to chide him the way his aunts or Allen might, but Van just stood there beside him in the cold while the Duke's mind raced. It was a long time before the silence was broken.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Van turned his maroon eyes towards the young Duke and raised a quizzical yet lazy black brow. Chid shifted uncomfortably. Rationally, he knew that Van had come out for the express purpose of hearing his thoughts, but vocalizing them still made him nervous.
"How did you tell Hitomi that you cared for her?"
The King's eyebrows went up quickly, only to be brought together thoughtfully. Van sat like that for a while, turning his eyes back out towards the winter country side. Chid began to fidget in a very unroyal way as he watched his mentor. The subject of the Seer was always a touchy one when it came to the Fanelian King.
"To be honest, I don't think I ever really did," a deep tenor confessed suddenly, catching the Duke by surprise. "I tried, once. It didn't go well".
"What happened?"
"I said something stupid, and she slapped me", the King said with the ghost of a smile and a small, snorted laugh. It was Chid's brow that went up this time.
She'd slapped him? Really? He'd never imagined Hitomi to be, well, violent.
"Actually, the first time I ever met Hitomi she slapped me. I never did know what to say to that girl," Van continued absently, his voice low and his eyes unfocused as if his mind was far away. He shook his head after a moment. "If this is about Miss Ahna, unfortunately I'm not the best person to ask when it comes to women. If Hitomi were here though, I'm sure she'd tell you to just go talk to her".
"I wouldn't know what to say!" The Duke hung his head shamefully, his cheeks bright at the mention of...her. "What if I make a fool of myself?"
"So what if you make a fool of yourself? I was a coward when it came to Hitomi, too afraid to admit to the woman I loved how I felt about her and I watched as my fear chased her further into another man's arms. Courage is not the absence of fear Chid, it is facing what frightens us head on and charging at it with all that we have no matter the consequences".
Chid looked back up at his mentor's pensive face once again, stunned by his sudden and oddly passionate outburst. The older man's brow was furrowed and his lips pulled into a tight line. His eyes stared at something far away.
"If you talk to her and tell her how you feel, and she still turns you down then at least you tried. It'll hurt like nothing you've ever felt, but not knowing will eat at you forever. Once you know for sure, then at least you can start moving on with your life".
"Were you able to move on?"
The night air was cold. No, not just cold. Deathly cold. It slipped through the fibers of her coat as if she wore nothing and grabbed at her with skeletal, lifeless hands. It yanked at her skirt violently, and bit at the flesh beneath tights that were too thin. It grabbed her hair and tangled it, tossing it about like an angry vengeful child.
You don't belong here, the wind screamed at her. The night was not made for you.
All around the few pour souls forced to brave the darkness and the cold scurried towards light and shelter, heading the winds cries. She knew she should do the same, and a part of her wanted to...
Out in the harbor, a once jagged rock smoothed by years of wind and water stuck out of the dark liquid with purpose. Capped in a layer of fluffy white snow, it stared at her. It taunted her with a long faded memory, and Hitomi couldn't help but stare back.
The wind howled against the paneled windows, banging and hammering with wrathful intent. Large flakes of thick white snow plastered itself against the glass panes.
A forearm rested against the frame of a floor length window, the edges of its panels hazed with frost, he stared out into the darkness with a frown. Firelight flickered behind him, throwing wild shadows across the walls, phantom witnesses to his ritual torment. Despite the warmth of the hearth at his back he was numb with cold.
Nestled beneath a blanket of fluffy white snow the city below slept, its citizens tucked safely away heading the winter wind's shrill cries. He knew he should do the same, but couldn't bring himself to welcome the loneliness of sleep.
How many such nights had he spent staring out these very windows, the shadows and the darkness his only company? He'd hated the night for so long, the darkness. Now it enveloped him with the comfort of an old friend.
Calloused fingers absently clutched at the rose coloured gem hidden beneath his tunic, and Van glared up at the twin moons. He resented one of them for their light.
AHHH! Ok. For anyone who read this chapter on it's original posting I'm so sorry! I do this on my tablet and it's kind of a nightmare and doesn't have much at all for spell check and apparently I'm really bad at proof reading. I'm planning on buying a new laptop before I publish the second chapter and hopefully I won't have as many glaring issues after this. (Hey, has anyone else had issues with formatting their chapters? My tab function doesn't seem to work on here and it's kind of DRIVING ME CRAZY!) Anyways, thanks for reading and reviewing!