sorry I haven't updated this story in so long. but I lost my muse. please leave comment and no burners
The crusade continues to across the mountains that separate Fanelia from Austria. Upon entering the country of Austria, the crusade land at the Austria outpost. Hitomi and van believed if Amano was going to follow them that the outpost was the place to take a stand against the new empire. Hitomi, Tai, Merle, Van, Allen and Yukari walked off the Crusade.
"Hitomi, are you sure this is a good idea for you to be involved in this fight against Amano? I mean you were the best of friends in your freshmen year of high school," inquired Hitomi's father.
Hitomi looked at Yukari and the look to Van. She hoped that Van and Yukari would give her some form of courage. "Dad, we are still friends I think?" She turns to Yukari, who nods. "And friends help each other and Amano needs help…he is being play like a harp. And as his friend, Yukari and I can not allow him to be used by the empire".
Hitomi's parents smiled as their children walked down to the safety of ground. They notice that their little girl was no longer that sweet defenseless girl that needed him for everything. She was now a young woman that had help save this world from war and destruction. He walked away from her to hide his tear of joy from her and his wife. "Hitomi, my sweet little girl….mean my mature young woman...I guess this means that you haven't been my little girl for a while".
Hitomi just giggled, "Daddy I will always be your little girl even if I was 6ft tall and a hundred years old". Hitomi's father and mother hugged her and her brother. After that the hug, Hitomi and Tai watched their parents walk away from them and to what they believe to be a safe place. Slowly the children watch as their parents flew away (in the crusade) out of their sights. Tai look so sad that his parents were gone. He was so upset about this that he walked passed Merle without even a word. Merle, Allen and Yukari followed the depressed young man; leaving Hitomi and Van alone. The sun was setting and the moons of Gaea rose for the east. She never looked at the moon like she did that night.
"Hitomi, is everything O.K.? You seem to be upset," asked Van.
Hitomi could the concern in his face. She wanted to lie to him but she knew that he could see through her lies from a mile away. "I am worried about my brother. He seemed so sad when he saw our parents leave. Now that I think about this will be first night while on Gaea that he is away from mom and dad".
Van turned to her and hugs her, "I wish that I could help, I know how he feels". Hitomi gave Van a cute and innocent look. "Hitomi, why are you looking at me like that?"
"You said you want to help and understand him," replied Hitomi.
"I don't know where to start…. I mean we are from to different worlds,"
"So are we Van…. That doesn't stop me from …." Hitomi stop mid-sentence. She could feel her heart beating fast then normal and her feel turn red. She turned away from Van hoping he didn't see her blushing.
"Hitomi, is everything ok? Are you sick?" Van questioned as his face continued to be covered with concern. Hitomi looked in to his eyes and started crying. 'Van, why? Why can't I tell you that I'm still in love with you and that I …. I WANT YOU!' Not realizing that her thoughts were transmitted to Van, she continued crying.
"Hitomi, I want to tell you something…I know you feel this way about me because you returned to me and you have been by my side… I love you, Hitomi." Hitomi's eyes grow to the wider and her heart bounded faster then normal. She want show Van that she felt the same way but something was preventing her from acting on her feeling.
"Hitomi!!!" the lovers heard an unfamiliar voice yelled followed by the earth shaking beneath their feet. Hitomi and Van watched as the vibration came closer and closer to where they were standing. The noise was caused by a Zacibach guymelf. Van was trying to call Esca Flowne to where he was but it refused move.
"Van…."
"I am trying to call Esca Flow…" Van's thought interrupted by the fact that Hitomi once as again was saving his life. She was pushing him out of the way of a set of Karma claws. By doing so, Hitomi placed herself in morality danger. She was once again able to push herself and Van out of the way of the Karma Claw. The fact is the earth itself protected them. The earth created a shield that was entirely made of bedrock. Van is shocked that Hitomi has this kind of power to protect herself; the last time she was on Gaea, she had to be protected. Now she was protecting him form attack that most melfs could handle in the best condition. She (Hitomi) throws the bedrock shield into the source of the fire. Their immediate area was surrounded by dust and smoke, the lover were temporarily separate from each other. Hitomi began to panic because if something happens to Van she would be responsible for his death and a country. The moment her panic intensified she felt a glove hand pulling her off the ground. She looked to see Van and Esca Flowne in dragon formation.
"Van, thank goodness," she exclaimed as she pulled herself into him. Behind her head, Van was turning a bright shade of red. Once again the woman that he loved was in his arms. He wanted do was to kiss her underneath the stars. " Van, I am so glad that you didn't get hurt during the attack against that whatever.." she continued as slipped into an unconscious ness. The Esca flowne flew the two lovers back to what they believe to be the haven that was the Austrian outpost.
When they arrived at the western gates of the outpost, Van saw that they were in the mist of a battle. Van returned the Esca Flowne back into its melf form and gentle laid his sleeping love in a nearby tree. He tried to make it as possible by crafting a durable nest around her. After he was sure that his work was satisfactory, he ran towards the battle.
In her dreams
"Hitomi, Please promise that we will all ways be friends… and if I am on the wrong ways you will help find my way back to the good," said a chibi Amano.
Chibi Hitomi pushed him and giggled, " you are so silly…we always be friends even if I have to choose between you and happiness"
The two children continued to play their game of tag. In the background of the dreams, Hitomi sees a mature shadow of Amano watching the two children playing.
"Hitomi, there is a demon inside of me…I can't fight it anymore," he said as in was pulled into the darkness of the world. Hitomi ran after him in the dark of his own heart. The light in her heart pushed back the darkness and it creatures. Hitomi grabbed Amano's hand and pulled him into her light and whispered, " trust me my dear friend whatever is controlling you isn't right".
"You are being used by that stupid king of Fanelia …"Amano was pulled away from Hitomi and back into the darkness
End of Hitomi's dream
When Hitomi regained consciousness, she saw that flames engulfed the out post. Before she could respond, Esca flowne grabs her and runs toward the waterfall. Hitomi was unable to register the events. She wanted to know what Amano thought that Van was using her. Yes, when she first came to Gaea it appeared that was Van was using her but as time passed it became apparent that he was trying to get to know her better. Hitomi was so deep in thought she hadn't noticed that Esca flowne had jumped off the waterfall until the guymelf hit one of the leva-stones. The guymelfs safely enter the hanger of the crusade. After entering the hanger, Hitomi walked passed Van and ran to her friend, Yukari. She pulled Yukari to the side, hoping against hope that she would understand Amano's message
