Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay I had to tune this chapter as the dialog was a little too cornball at first and I had to make a few other changes to ensure it kept going in the direction I have planned…Enjoy
--Made a few edits to adjust the formatting and make it a little easier to read--
The next moon came and went with the treasured time they spent together a blessing but never as long or as real as they wanted. Hitomi dreaded the full moon tonight as it would be one of her last chances to spend time with Van, her love, best friend and confidant. She waited patiently for the hour to arrive and at the appointed time he appeared before her. Something was different about him she couldn't place it. It was as if his presence seemed lighter, more at ease.
Van looked up into her deep green eyes and smiled "I have news love, good news"….
Hitomi felt her heart quicken and her hopes rise "what is it Van please tell me"
"I have discovered a solution well actually Dryden figured it out" he said taping his temple in thought.
Hitomi jumped "what, what please tell me".
They sat down and he began to fill her in on all he had discovered. "It seems" he began "that there were two factors that governed the pillar of light that connected the two worlds. For us to travel between the two worlds there needs to be an energyst in both locations and a specific lunar alignment."
Hitomi thought for a moment "but how did my grandmother travel back then she didn't have her pendant until she left after the second visit with Allen's father?"
"I thought about that as well but remember the power spot in Freid was still sealed when all that happened and there was a very unique planetary alignment at that time Dryden tells me."
"So how will this help us I gave you gave you my pendant? How do I find an energyst here and when is the next lunar alignment?" she pleaded.
"Settle down dear let me finish" he stated calmly "Well that's where it gets kind of interesting and complicated at the same time" he said with a weak smile. "The next true lunar alignment is in" he paused sucking in a shallow breath "50 years."
Hitomi started to sob and her eyes sought his "I can't be away from you for 50 more years ".
"Don't worry Hitomi that was the complicated part now here is the interesting part" he was smiling now.
"Van Fanel don't tease me, please tell me" she whined.
"It's like this; I can come to you on the dragon moon next month and can supply you with the necessary items to connect us for as long as you wish."
"Come to me" she repeated his words "supply me with the items." Her heart skipped a beat "you mean you will really be her…we can really talk, you can hold me?" She had to be sure she truly understood what he was saying.
"Yes and YES!" he answered with a mischievous glint in his eye. "There is more" he stated…
She wasn't sure she wanted to her the more part but she asked "like what?"
"I can only stay several hours until the moon falls and I can only make the trip that one time…. "But" he started as he saw her expression "I can however return in 5 years due to an eclipse. It will occur during the Dragon festival we have every 5 years to celebrate the first king of Fanelia. For that week we should be able to go back and forth like we did during the war."
Hitomi looked into his eyes "but what about the energyst?"
"That's part of my surprise for you" he teased.
"Van you are so mean "she whined.
He smiled that smile that made her feel a little weak she had to look away to try to gather her thoughts. "Van" she said weekly but he was gone.
The weeks passed slowly, too slowly for her taste but the next moon, the Dragon moon finally came and she was ready. Hitomi gazed out the window at the moon and noticed it had reddish cast to it. "Did it look like this on Fanelia?" she thought "I will have to remember to ask him." Hitomi sat patiently, as patiently as she could waiting for the arrival of the King of Fanelia. Her brother and parents had left several days before to visit relatives and would not be back until late tomorrow. This was too good to be true she thought and then a deep crimson crept to her cheeks and she began to consider the possibilities. What would she do with him once she had him? Several things came to mind which caused her blush to intensify. Steady Kanzaki he has to get here first then you can figure it out together. She took a quick look in the mirror not much had changed in the past year. Same short hair for running same height a little more curve in the right places…he should be pleased she mused…
With a soft rumble and low boom her room was flooded with light. The light slowly began to fade as her vision began to adjust and she felt that oh so familiar presence the one she longed to be next to. Hitomi gazed to see the object of her desire standing a bit taller and somewhat thicker. It seemed that rebuilding a kingdom did good things for the body. Hitomi felt a little guilty for gawking but what the hell. Van took a step forward he had a small chest under one arm which he quickly placed on the bed and they rushed to each other's embrace. It was if time stopped they held each other for a moment before he pushed back slightly to look into those green eyes. Hitomi began to speak but Van placed a finger to her lips. His touch was electric as he slid his hand to her cheek to cradle her face. He leaned in slowly, her breath caught in her throat as his lips brushed hers. If his touch was electric then his lips were, were, she couldn't even think strait…she stopped trying. Hitomi had unconsciously grabbed to fistfuls of his cloak at some point during the kiss. The kiss almost produced too much heat too much desire it was getting hard to breath.
As they parted Van placed his forehead against hers "I have wanted to do that for so long please forgive me for waiting so long."
"Don't worry just don't wait that long again" she joked as she pressed her lips to his, hungry for more or the passion that had gone so long untapped.
They stayed like this for a moment until Van broke the embrace. "We need to take care of some things before we continue."
"Hmmm continue I like the sound of that" Hitomi mused as she decided to sit down on the bed as her legs were still al little unsteady from the last kiss. Van brought her the chest he had arrived with. It was a small very ornate square with engraved dragons and gold banding and a very interesting looking lock.
"Why does it have a lock" she asked
"its contents are meant for you and you alone" he said in a serious tone.
"What's in it, can I see?" she chirped "
No" he said
"NO? Why not" she pleaded.
"Do not open this until I am gone that is the only rule about this gift."
"OK but you're not being nice" she pretended to pout.
"Close your eyes I have your other gift." She did as he asked and he placed a chain around her neck with a small heart shaped charm at the bottom. Hitomi was beginning to wiggle with the anticipation of what he had given her.
"Can I open my eyes?"
"Not yet" as he leaned to steal an unexpected kiss which turned out to be more intense that he had thought. Van lost his footing leaning in this awkward position and fell to the floor with a thud.
"Serves' you right making me wait like that" she told him trying hard not to laugh.
Van was lying on the floor propped up on one elbow watching her intently. Hitomi's thoughts snapped back to the necklace as she began to study it. It was made of two golden intertwined Dragons that formed a heart and what appeared to be a much smaller version of Escaflowne's energyst chamber in the center. The detail was fascinating the dragons seemed to almost move as she turned it over in her fingers.
"Van it's beautiful" was all she could get out…
"The energyst chamber is a copy of the design on Escaflowne. The energyst inside is from Escaflowne's drag heart to make our connection even stronger. Do you like it?"
"Oh Van I love it" as she rushed into his arms and stole a quick kiss of her own.
"The necklace servers several purposes" Van began "it is my link to you and promise to return for you when the time comes, it will also track the time until I return. The chamber is dull now but it will brighten as time passes. If you hold it close and focus your thought you will feel it beat in time with my heart since Escaflowne and I are bound together. It will become easier to hear as the time draws near. It is also the key to open the chest" he added with a wicked smile.
"How does the key work?" she asked
"squeeze the dragon tails" he suggested. She tried it, wings sprung from the backs of the dragons.
"You see now it's a key" as he gestured to the locks matching shape on the top of the chest. "Oh one last thing, the chest has a note inside please read it before going into the contents of the chest."
"Sure" she said "anything else I should know about all this?"
Van thought for a moment "When I return it will be to the place where we first met. The place you run, a track I think you called it. I think I have covered all the necessary details."
"Good" she pounced on him with surprising speed knocking him down onto the bed. Hitomi began to kiss him when he stopped her.
"What's wrong?" she asked
"Nothing you're just so beautiful and you are my most beloved I just need to look at you for a moment."
She blushed "Van I love you more than I thought it possible to love someone and…" the statement was never finished as his lips brushed hers in a passionate kiss. A small moan escaped her throat as she again grabbed two fistfuls of his shirt and she thought this was going to be an interesting night.
