Disclaimer: I do not own The Vision of Escaflowne (Tenkuu no Escaflowne) nor its characters and themes. This story is purely fictional and non-profit.

A Different Kind of Fairytale

I wonder... I always wonder. Those curious 'what ifs' and daydreams of what-might've-beens. It's been five years. It didn't end happily but that doesn't mean it has to be for ever after. This time it will be different.

This story takes place five years after the Great War (Escaflowne series). We're in the beginning of Hitomi's third year at university, about April 2008.

Legend:

"..." – speech

'...' (italized) – thoughts

Author's Note: [11.17.08]

Writer's rush today! Or maybe lack of sleep? O.o

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God, how she missed him.

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Chapter II: A King's Emotions

This is too much. This is just too damn much.

"Oh Lord Vaaan!!" was heard throughout the palace as Merle called for him.

"Lord VAAAN!! Where are you?! Maaaw!"

"Lord Va—maw! Hands off Mirt!" he heard.

Merle was causing quite a commotion and he hoped she wouldn't attract too many people to his location. 'This is so undignified!' he grumbled.

"As you can see... Lord Van is right here." he heard Mirt, his captain, say as they entered the meditation garden. He couldn't see them because his back was to the entrance. 'Great,' he thought sarcastically. The last thing he needed right now was Mirt.

"Lord Van! Why weren't you answering?" Merle asked him as she walked into his view, "Lord Van?"

"He cannot talk right now Merle, he is training." a voice from the trees answered them.

"Master Gansen? Is that you?" Mirt asked into the general direction of the voice.

"Aye."

"What kind of training is this?" Merle asked, "He looks weird! Just sitting there... staring! Oh! Maybe he's daydreaming again..."

" 'Tis a training specifically to hone him from loosing his thoughts so easily," Gansen answered, the smirk in his voice was obvious. Could he find another trainer with his expertise after he kills him?

"Really now? How so?" Mirt asked, now watching Van's face with Merle and smirking at him. Van glared at him, 'Let me see you smirking after I give you lots of pain later.'

" 'Tis almost over. Wait for it." Gansen answered.

And they waited...

"Wow," Merle breathed, "He isn't even blinking! He looks so serious and handsome that way!"

Mirt looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Van was actually glaring at them both. "What? Don't you notice it?" Merle asked defensively.

"So sorry Mistress Merle but I'm male," Mirt smirked at her, "Very male in fact..."

"Alright stop! STOP!" Van shouted and to their surprise he was dangling upside down in front of them.

Merle was laughing uncontrollably, "Oh Lord Van!"

"My, Your Majesty," Mirt chuckled, "I didn't know you were so adept at meditation you could float upside-down." Van just glared at him.

Laughter could be heard from Gansen's direction and suddenly Van fell down in a heap in the grass.

Van stood up and immediately ran to the direction of the pond in the other garden.

"What was that all about?" Mirt asked Gansen.

"Well, I tied him up with this thin white strings I got from the market yesterday—nylon was it? He didn't notice me tying him up while we were here earlier and when I was done I shoved a small feather ball in his nose—must've itched like crazy!" Gansen erupted in laughter "And told him that if he concentrated well enough," he shot them a meaningful look, "The feather ball would just fall down from his nose. He couldn't move of course and I told him he couldn't ask for help either. It's unfitting for a monarch after all," he smirked at the direction Van left.

"And you knew I would come looking for him!" Merle exclaimed.

"And that of course, I would escort Mistress Merle to find Lord Van," Mirt smirked, "I like it."

"And that feather ball would've just stayed there until he yielded," Gansen chuckled at his ingeniousness.

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"Why did I hire Master Gansen in the first place?" Van asked himself for the nth time in five years.

Oh because he was also one of the greatest samurai of all Gaea, like his old Master Balgus. They actually trained together for some years and they were quite picky of their apprentices. They were so alike they even resemble each other but Gansen wasn't the seven-foot giant Balgus was.

'I didn't actually hire him. He chose me,' Van smiled at the thought.

He sighed and looked up at the source of all this foolishness: the Mystic Moon. Well, there was a much more important thing there than just a mysterious orb hanging in the sky.

'Hitomi...' he thought and an image of a spirited auburn-haired girl came to his mind... she was close... her head on his shoulder... he didn't care if she cried... her voice was what undid him.... "I guess this is goodbye..."

And then there was the pillar of light and he had to let go... "I'll never forget you! Even when I'm old!" she had promised... he wanted to shout as well, to make her stay... but no she was almost gone... her tears sparkling in the distance... he was alone... in the privacy of the forest, in front of his family's graves and Escaflowne... he clutched the pendant she gave him and in the silence he whispered what he should have said moments ago... "Stay."

But he had promised to return her home.

He opened his eyes, dark from the memories. Of course he would never forget her... especially her eyes, such a rich color that always reminded him of Fanelia's forests. Those eyes gave him hope, she gave him strength, and she even saved his skin a few times.

He chuckled, 'I miss those times, Hitomi.' he thought, staring at the Mystic Moon and clutching her pendant from outside his shirt. 'Even when we were in the middle of a war, not knowing what we were up against. Fugitives, orphans, adventurers, we were all that and more,' he sighed.

He wished he could see her again, but after that one time he visited her, he couldn't activate the pillar of light anymore. Could it be she moved on? No! He refused to think about it. So instead he reminisced... he remembered when they were alone in the barn where he hid Escaflowne and he was so close to revealing his feelings... but instead blurted out "I need you because of your powers!"

He was really stupid then. She stayed with him even though he was reckless and such an idiot sometimes... even though he was an outcast, cursed... even though he was a king without a kingdom.

But then again he didn't feel like any of that when they were traveling together. He felt he could have taken on the world and walk away laughing. He felt like he could do anything and everything. 'I was everything. You were everything. I miss those times, Hitomi... but much more... I miss you.' He realized too late that he was in love with her... too late to make her stay without jeopardizing her happiness. But how he wish she did.

Inside his shirt the pendant glowed faintly as if granting his heart's unspoken request.

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Author's Note:Le sigh. I really hate torturing them like this. The drama's ruining the fluff! Right now my net's down so maybe this will be posted much later than I intend.

Mieru

P.S. Edited 01.05.09 8:29 pm