Disclaimer: Escaflowne is the property of Sunrise and Bandai Entertainment. I do not own Escaflowne or its characters.
A/N: Yea, she died! I'm so evil (laughs tremendously evilly) i kid i kid! (new phrase i discovered from a friend. Very cool. You are very welcome to try it yourself! In place of 'just kidding') I just couldn't help myself! Just you wait until you read what she dies of muahahahaa...actually I must admit, very sheepishly, that I really haven't the faintest idea. Lol Oh my, Ilove writing this story so much! I hope you guys like it as much as i do.
Thank you so much for reviewing! It's very much appreciated.
Now, enjoy readers of mine!
Chapter 3
Immortal Rain
The man who Mr. Aston had called Allen stood up and bowed before them as a way to probably impress Millerna and her father. Well, that was what Hitomi thought. She was too distracted by the encounter with the man in the alley. She feared that he would show up any time and force her to do something beyond imagination. What was it that the lady had taken from him anyway?
Mr. Aston turned to Millerna. "Why don't you go upstairs and change into something for dinner? You go help her, Hitomi. I didn't hire you without a reason."
When they were upstairs, Millerna fell on the bed and gave a sigh. "Hitomi, what do you think of him?"
"Of who?" she asked as she rummaged through Millerna's gigantic armoire.
"Allen, silly."
"Oh. He's very . . . handsome and genteel. Like you said, at least he's not ugly or greedy looking."
"I wonder what Father thinks of him?"
Hitomi shrugged. "I'm not sure your dad likes him very much. Didn't you see them arguing before?"
"It could've been a friendly thing."
Hitomi agreed but silently disagreed. It hadn't seemed very friendly. Allen appeared quite serious about the vampires. That word sent chills down Hitomi's spine. What if Allen was right? But then again, she didn't exactly know him to completely take his word for it. She pulled out a long silk gown to which Millerna approved. Millerna slipped into it and Hitomi had to button the thousands of little buttons on the back of the dress.
"Ugh, I hate wearing dresses. I always feel suffocated and restrained. Sometimes I wish I was born a man," frowned Millerna. She absently yanked at the flowing layers.
"You're not the only one who has to wear them." Hitomi swished her own.
"But you aren't mandated to."
"I guess I was born lucky."
Millerna rolled her eyes before starting down the stairs to the dining room. Hitomi looked out the window and saw silent raindrops falling slowly and peacefully. When they entered the dining room, Hitomi almost jumped out of her skin when she saw the man from the alley sitting comfortably in one of the dining chairs. She swallowed and pretended she didn't know him as she sat down at the end of the table, far away from him.
Mr. Aston was positioned at the head of the table while Millerna sat close to him with Allen across from her. And that man was sitting next to Allen and Hitomi was left all to herself at the far end of the table.
Mr. Aston noticed and pointed it out. "Hitomi, what the devil are you doing down there? Come over and sit next to Millerna. There's plenty of room tonight."
Reluctantly Hitomi got up from her seat and moved down several chairs. That man was now across from her and he flashed her a discreet, arrogant smile. She suppressed a scowl and impulsively smiled sweetly at him. The others began eating while she and the man continued their silent battle of seeing who could last longer smiling.
Millerna nudged her and whispered, "Why are you smiling like that? If you smiled any harder I think your face would crack."
The man, upon hearing that comment—though Hitomi didn't know how he could have—gave a loud, rich laugh. "I think your friend is right, Hitomi."
Mr. Aston looked up from his concentrated eating. "You know this man?"
Before Hitomi could make an answer, the man cut in. "Not exactly. We ran into each other about a week ago. For a brief moment, right, Hitomi?"
Hitomi managed a stiff nod.
Mr. Aston said, "I didn't know you were in town last week, Van."
"I was just dropping by for a few checkups."
Mr. Aston then explained to the others. "Van runs one of the best businesses on Gaea. A very intelligent man. Allen, you should get a few tips from him."
Allen nodded, though his eyes seemed distrustful of Van. "I believe I will."
Hitomi didn't trust Van herself. Her impression of him was a sly, good for nothing scumbag. His actions had proved it to her. He had probably tried to rape that woman just like he had tried to do it to her. It was a good thing Hitomi had been around to hear the woman's scream. Her distaste grew even more.
Allen addressed Van. "Tell me, Van, what sort of business do you do?"
Van eyed him warily. "Well, it depends, Allen. I am head of all merchandise sold here in Asturia as well as several other cities, except for Mr. Aston's own products. So what do you suppose my business is?"
Hitomi quietly contemplated that beneath his words was a warning for Allen to mind his own business. Allen fell silent, as if nursing new thoughts base on Van's character. Mr. Aston pursued with finishing the food before it grew cold. Millerna seemed oblivious to the hostile air between Allen and Van and Hitomi and Van.
When dessert was brought out, a fresh baked custard pie, Van settled onto the reason why he came.
"Mr. Aston, I assume you are aware of the critical state my business and yours are? Something very, very rare was stolen from one of my dealers in Palas." Van's eyes flickered to Hitomi for a brief moment. "It must be found immediately. The dealer holds its complete faith in me and if I don't get it back, my business isn't the only one to suffer."
"Yes, I heard," he said hollowly. His face was pale. "We—we must find it. I'll send out all my men and none of them will stop searching until it is found."
"Good. I'm glad you understand."
Hitomi was surprised at how much power Van had over Mr. Aston. She had always thought Mr. Aston was the most powerful man in Asturia, but apparently she was wrong. If Van was capable of that, what else was he capable of?
Mr. Aston seemed to relax once dinner was over and he was reclined in a large black leather couch. "Van, Allen told me that there are vampires in Asturia. How absurd is that?"
Van's expression was unchanged. "It's possible. One can never be too certain."
Hitomi suddenly wondered if he was one. His canines had looked unnaturally sharp . . . but if he was a vampire then he wouldn't be eating the food like he had. She stared uneasily at him. As if reading her thoughts, Van winked at her before turning to face Mr. Aston. Allen's eyes had remained on Van the whole time, scrutinizing him.
"I say it's only too possible," remarked Allen. "Photos of victims have shown spaced holes in their necks. There are too many to be coincidental. And their blood have been sucked dry. Who but vampires are capable of doing that?"
"Psychotic killers?" suggested Van with a half grin.
Mr. Aston gave a rumbling laugh. "You see, Allen? There could be other contributors."
Allen sighed and changed the subject. "Your daughter is quite beautiful."
"Ah, she's the apple of my eye."
"I think her beauty is beyond words," added Van. Mr. Aston beamed like any proud parent would. Hitomi didn't say anything. She was used to comments like these. No one had ever said anything on her behalf though.
Then Van said, "I think Hitomi may be a winner too."
Hitomi stiffened. Mr. Aston looked doubtful and seemed to be thinking if it could even be possible. Allen nodded his agreement and smiled at her. Hitomi blushed and shied away from the attention, feeling very uncomfortable and extremely self-conscious. That bastard. I bet he enjoys my suffering. He's only doing it to spite me.
"It's getting late, boys," said Mr. Aston, getting up. "If I was as young as you I would stay up much later but I'm getting old. I need my rest."
"The night has just begun!" exclaimed Van. In fact, he did seem to liven up despite his slight paleness.
Hitomi certainly didn't feel that way and neither did anyone else. Everyone was either yawning or rubbing the sleep from their eyes.
After Allen left, Van lingered for a few minutes. Hitomi went upstairs to help Millerna undress for bed. When she came down, Van was leaning against the door. Mr. Aston had gone to bed already. Hitomi pointedly ignored him and went into the kitchen to inform the maid of the next day's grocery list. As Hitomi passed Van again to go upstairs, his hand shot out and snatched her arm. She flinched.
"Are you going to keep ignoring me?"
"What else am I going to do?" she said stiffly. She didn't want to be near him, let alone in the same room.
"Remember what you owe me."
"I don't owe you anything."
His eyes flashed between red and brown. "You do and you know it. I'm coming tomorrow in the morning for you."
"Why not now?"
"Now isn't a good time." For some strange reason a sly smile crept to his face.
"What were you trying to do to me that night?"
"Hmm. What do you think?"
Hitomi wasn't so sure. He didn't exactly rape her as she had intentionally thought. "I don't know. . . but I know it was something I didn't like!"
He laughed. "You seem to have changed since our encounter."
"I'm not the only one," she said through gritted teeth. She was tired of him laughing at her like she was some idiot. "Besides, I thought you were a homeless man."
"Huh. So you pitied me and thought your innocent act would soothe me."
"I am going to bed now. It's past my bedtime."
"You? You have a bedtime? Didn't someone ever tell you that you stopped having one once you turned 18?"
She bristled with anger but fought to keep it at bay. "I still need sleep. I'm only human."
At this, Van's lips parted a little, revealing the tips of his front teeth. The two cuspids protruded slightly over his bottom lip. They seemed . . . shorter than she last remembered. "Yes, only human. Well, good night then. Sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite."
Hitomi went to bed in a bad mood. Her fear of him was overtaken by the anger he had aroused in her. She wished the night would last forever so that she would not have to see his stupid face in the morning. But, alas, dawn approached and her dread increased with the sun's slow ascent into the partially blanketed sky.
And there he was, adorned in a sultry red cuffed shirt and fitted tan pants. His skin had a glow to it that she hadn't seem the night before. Mr. Aston was up as well and as usual in the dining area doing what he loved doing best—eating. Van was seated erect before him, eying him with scrutiny.
As Hitomi entered the kitchen, Mr. Aston looked up from his plate of steaming sausages and other delectables. "Ah, you're awake. I was wondering when you would. Van has informed me that he wishes to speak on your behalf."
"Yes," began Van. "Mr. Aston, do you remember last night of the stolen item? I have a proposition that I would very much like to make."
Mr. Aston paused in his eating. "What is it?"
Van's eyes slid over to Hitomi and winked at her before returning them to Mr. Aston. "With your permission of course, I want Hitomi."
Mr. Aston choked on his oily sausage and Hitomi's eyes bulged, and in unison they exclaimed, "What?"
"I want Hitomi . . . to help me with the search. Let's just say that Hitomi will be the promise you made in finding me my merchandise. If you find it, you can have her back. But if you can't, I keep her."
"What kind of a deal is that?" She felt like she was some sort of thing that could be picked up and stashed anywhere. "It's blackmail."
"You can call it blackmail but I prefer to call it business necessities."
"Why do you want Hitomi? Why not Millerna?" asked Mr. Aston.
Van sighed impatiently. "You value your daughter more, yes? I don't want a league of policemen after my head if your daughter got hurt. But Hitomi, on the other hand, she's not as valuable. However, your daughter is very attached to her and you wouldn't want your daughter to be unhappy, do you? Hitomi is just a safeguard. I'll make sure no harm comes to her."
Mr. Aston finally nodded, indicating his consent.
Excuse me? Not as valuable? It was as if she had no say in this. What the hell was this? She had as much value as anyone! Bastard.
"Well, Hitomi, it looks like we'll be seeing much more of each other as of now. Why don't you take a nice stroll with me? There is much I wish to discuss." Van's obnoxious grin filled her guts with more hate than she had ever felt for anyone before.
He reached out a hand and clamped it firmly beneath her elbow, leading her out of the mansion and into the fierce, wintry morning. He hadn't the sense to ask whether she was cold or not. He must have been insane as well because he breathed in the piercing cold air and exhaled with much satisfaction, and unbuttoned his collar.
She yanked her arm back and walked two arms length from him. He didn't seem to care but was rather amused. They walked in utter silence for a while, Van content and Hitomi extremely glum. A cat stalked in front of them and seemed angry because it stiffly flicked its tail at them. Van flinched for no apparent reason.
Van took that little exposure to warm up to Hitomi. "So, what's life like with the fat man?"
". . . Mr. Aston?"
"Yes."
"You don't like him?"
"Nah. Too greedy for his own good."
Hitomi secretly agreed. "You didn't seem to have anything against him when we were at the mansion."
"That's all for business, Hitomi. I'd lose my partnership with him if I really showed how I felt about him. And that wouldn't be good."
She noticed he seemed more relaxed now that he was out of his work zone. He was more loose and his language was colloquial now. He had been very formal with Mr. Aston and always addressed him in respectful terms.
"What do you want with me anyway? It's not like I could do anything to help you."
For the first time, he gave her a sincere smile. "That's where you're wrong, honey."
Hitomi still couldn't forget the night before when Van was in the alley with the woman. He seemed completely different, as if he was someone else. He had seemed vicious and dangerous, but now he appeared as harmless as a docile cat. What had caused such a drastic change?
Speaking of cats . . . the cat came back again, appearing more flustered than before. Finally, it stopped directly in their way and transformed into the stealthy form of a strange cat-like young woman. Hitomi freaked out. Never in her life had she imagined such an encounter.
Hitomi shrank away from her. "What is that!"
The young girl hissed at her before turning to Van. "How DARE you. How dare you bite my cat!"
"Bite . . . your cat . . . ?" he repeated. His faced registered a forgotten memory.
Bite? Her cat? Hitomi repeated in her mind. She didn't like the sound of that and fearfully backed away from him. Her suspicions of him being a vampire were nearly confirmed. She only had to see him actually do it to believe wholeheartedly.
"A week ago you so stupidly sucked my—"
"Not here, Merle. She doesn't know."
"Tell her to go somewhere else. I need to talk to you."
"I said not here."
Merle took the hint and sunk into a sullen silence. Hitomi sensed that she had something urgent to tell him. "She needs to tell you something. You can't just ignore her like that."
Van glanced at Hitomi for a brief second. "This is none of your business."
In her mind, she imagined shooting him down with huge dung pellets. Her feelings toward him fluctuated so frequently. One minute she would absolutely hate him and then she'd feel fine, and then she would end up hating him again. Merle looked like she was imagining the same thing Hitomi had.
"She's right, Van. You can't ignore me. I'm bonded to you now because you . . ." Merle muttered the rest under her breath.
"There's no way I could be bonded to you," he said stubbornly.
"Like it or not, I am."
"And how did it so suddenly happen? I don't ever recall doing anything."
"You probably don't but my cat surely does—"
Van interrupted her. "Hitomi, could you please excuse us for a second?"
"Sure," Hitomi replied sarcastically. Anything to get away from you.
She stood by a large oak tree as they walked a distance. Their argument was extremely funny to watch. Merle's hand gestures looked overly dramatic and her facial expression looked like a fish gaping for water. Van looked strangely emotionless, sort of like he was stoned.
His figure was very lithe and, she wouldn't call it graceful, but it was something similar to that. And he was so pale . . . it was kind of scary. Like a vampire . . . Hitomi glanced back to see if they were looking at her and when they weren't, she walked away as fast and silently as she could. She looked back again.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Hitomi faced forward and almost died of a heart attack. Standing before her with his arms folded across his chest was a deadly looking Van. How did he get in front of her? And so quickly too?
"Um, I was just going for a . . . a walk! Yea, that's it."
He raised a suspicious eyebrow. "It sure didn't look like it to me."
"No, it probably wouldn't." He made her feel like some sort of slave. She couldn't take it anymore. "What do you plan to do with me?
"What do I plan to do with you . . ."
He suddenly grinned.
Present Day
Van silently roamed the streets of Asturia for the better part of the night, reminiscing the times he spent with Hitomi. What did he plan to do with her? Well, what he did do was probably one of his favorite memories. He smiled to himself.
Fat grey clouds blanketed the sky like dirty snow on tall mountain ranges. The wind blew with fierce determination, subsiding every once in a while to let the weaker drafts run past in the traffic. Droplets of rain began to fall like silvery pearls from iridescent oysters. One by one they dropped onto Van's face, giving the impression that he was crying.
But he wasn't. He had long been past that phase. It took years but he was able to do it, painful though it was.
Rione and Miji were out feeding together. He had given them a strict curfew and they always obeyed. It always made him feel good when they listened to him. As a single father, without his beloved wife, they were the only people he had that was closest to her.
Sometimes he wished he had died with her. But their children would be left alone to themselves. Who would take care of them? They were so young, unready for the perils of the real world.
So deep in his thoughts was he that he didn't notice Rione had appeared beside him. Rione grasped onto Van's large hand. Van looked down and smiled. Fresh blood tainted his innocent little mouth. Van bent down and wiped it off.
"Where's Miji?" asked Van.
Rione pointed to a tree. Miji was dangling wildly from a branch and laughing hysterically. Next to her was a squirrel doing the same thing. It gibbered angrily at her before pulling itself up and running furiously up the tree. Miji jumped down and ran over to Van and Rione.
"That was so much fun, Daddy. But Rione's too scared."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"I'm just tired."
Miji yawned. "Oh, me too."
Dawn was just minutes away. It was way past their bedtime, but this time Van allowed them to slip past their curfew. He lifted them both up and carried each in his arms. "Let's go home."
