Disclaimer: Do you have to even ask? Nope, Escaflowne isn't mine. (It's quite a shock, I'm sure)
Final Peace?
"Hitomi," a soft voice whispered. She looked at the person speaking to her through blurry eyes. She sighed softly upon recognizing him. He had come for her...
"Van? Is it really you?" she mumbled. He smiled tenderly, looking down upon her face peacefully.
"It's really me, Hitomi."
"You've come to take me away again... What adventures await us this time?" she smiled wistfully. He responded with his own melancholy smile.
"It's time to go," he said, his face becoming serious.
"I understand."
He bent down and gently scooped her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. Oddly, in his embrace she felt warm, not cold. A beam of soft, rosy light enveloped the pair, bathing them in its pale luminescence. He closed his eyes, tilting his head back, and there was a soft snap. Snowy wings unfurled from his back, and the two found themselves floating upwards...
**********
"Van!" Hitomi cried, snapping wake drenched in sweat. She threw the covers back and jumped out of bed. She ran over to her desk, yanking the drawer open and pulling out Van's feather. Hitomi let out a heavy sigh of relief when she saw it was still the same pearly white. Her dream had been so real...
The feather in her hands began to fade to gray, and Hitomi gasped.
"No! It's not going to happen this way. I have to see him. Van, I love you!" Hitomi cried, squeezing her eyes shut.
Her eyes snapped open when she felt herself beginning to float upwards. There was a blinding flash, and Hitomi landed on a dark roadside. She glanced quickly at the sky, and saw that she was on Gaea. Her attention quickly snapped back to the road. More specifically, the event taking place there.
A group of raiders were apparently attacking a lone rider. When the column of light appeared, they had stopped beating their victim. Startled, the raiders took what they had come for and ran. Hitomi quickly ran over to the limp, battered figure lying on the road. There was a sharp intake of breath as Hitomi recognized the person.
"Van?"
She knelt down beside him, gently turning him onto his back. He groaned and clutched his side. Hitomi saw sticky red blood flowing over his hands, and momentarily panicked. She regained her wits, ripping a section of cloth from her shirt, bunching it and pressing it to Van's wound.
"Hi- Hitomi...?" Van stuttered hazily. She shushed him, and placed his hands over the wad of cloth at his side. Hitomi glanced over Van, and noticed a patch of bloodstained hair, and that his right leg was bent at an odd angle.
"What are you doing out here all alone?" Hitomi mumbled angrily.
"Lord Van!?!" a gruff voice shouted.
"Over here!" Hitomi cried, relief flooding through her.
**********
That had been a month ago. Apparently, Van had gone out for an evening ride alone, unaware that raiders were in the area. His samurai had given chase as soon as they discovered where their king had gone. It was lucky they had. Hitomi was still on Gaea, and had no intention of leaving. Lost in her thoughts, Hitomi was startled when a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
"What are you thinking about?" Van asked calmly.
"How do you manage to sneak up on me, even with a broken leg?" Hitomi teased, hugging him. Van wrapped his other arm around her, hugging her back.
"Shouldn't you be arguing with your advisors or doing something kingly?" Hitomi queried.
"They were beginning to bore me," Van replied. "Besides, I'd rather talk to my fiancé."
"Only three more months till the wedding," Hitomi sighed happily. Van smiled as Hitomi leaned against him. Yes, Hitomi decided. She was definitely here to stay.
~ Is this the end? The beginning? Or another dream? You decide.