~ Vision of Escaflowne ~
Chapter 2

All the characters belong to their original owners !



BBBRRIINNGG !!

The school had ended for the day and the place was soon filled with shouting guys and giggling girls as they slowly swarmed out of the school gates. Hitomi looked on at the scene as she adjusted her school uniform one last time.

[ It isn't a normal day today ... in fact, my days aren't going to be the same anymore isn't it ? ]

Hitomi smiled to herself as she slowly clutched the pendant Van had just returned to her. She could still feel his presence and she breathed in his lingering scent.

" Hitomi-chan ? Are you in there ? "

" Hai ! "

" Mouuu ... what happened to you back there ? You just HAD to faint in front of our new transfer student huh. Some impression he'll have of you now. "

" Yukari-chan ... anoooo ... to be honest ... actually he and I ... "

" Hitomi ? "

Both girls stopped and looked at the intruder who had walked in. Van had stroded into the sickbay room with his school briefcase flung behind his shoulder.

" Ah, am I disturbing you two ? "

" Van ! "

Yukari looked on in slight confusion as she realised that her best friend and this new transfer student seemed to be getting along well ... too well ...

" You two ... err ... "

" Yukari-chan, I'll try explaining everything to you next time okay ? "

Hitomi placed both her hands in apology and smiled sheepishly. Van merely looked on with some amusement written on his face.

" Let's go Van ! "

Hitomi grabbed her school case from the side of the bed and clutching Van's hand with the other, she merrily ran out of the room with a laughing Van catching up behind. Yukari sweat-dropped quietly in the room.

**

" Did you see Yukari-chan's face ? She was soooo confused ! "

Hitomi laughed as both of them slowed down to a comfortable walking pace towards a deserted park just around the corner.

" She looked familiar though ... was she the friend who was with you when we were beamed to Gaea in the beginning ? "

" Yup ! And there was Amano-sempai too. He's her boyfriend now. "

" Amano ? The Allen-lookalike ? "

" Uh huh. You actually remember them all ? "

" Well, just their faces. You probably liked that Amano guy huh ... judging from the reaction you had when you saw Allen and how you were all over him immediately. "

" HEY !!! "

Hitomi playfully swung her school case onto Van's back as he chuckled and dodged the blow swiftly.

" Stand still and let him hit you ! "

" Nope, I'm not that dense you know. "

" Van ... "

" Hmm ? "

" Nothing really, but I still wonder ... whether this is just a long sweet dream. "

" Nothing can ever separate us again Hitomi. Think about it, I'm now a member of YOUR world by birth. What could be our obstacle now ? "

" I don't know ! Erm ... anything can happen you know. "

Van wrapped both his arms from behind Hitomi and they remained like this for some time, each quietly enjoying the close presence of the other.

" Hitomi ? "

" Yup ? "

" Did you ... have had any boyfriends since you left Gaea ? "

" No ... "

" Not even one ? "

" No. "

" Could I be as brave enough to ask why ? "

Hitomi blushed a little as she felt Van's embrace tighten.

" Silly question ... you should know the answer why. "

Van broke his grip, gently clasped Hitomi by her shoulders and whirled her around so that he was looking at her face-to-face.

" I want to hear it from YOU. "

Hitomi felt a little overwhelmed as she looked into Van's eyes. He did not really change since she left Gaea, despite Van now being one of the Mystic Moon's occupants. However, it was still queer not seeing Van in his red top and beige-coloured pants. He was now smartly dressed in her high school uniform like all the other male students. Nevertheless, he easily stood out amongst the others. Now armed with a school case in replace of his trusty sword, Hitomi had to agree silently that Van looked good either way.

" I ... because I was waiting for you ... "

Hitomi quickly buried her face into Van's chest as she blushed rapidly after her little confession. Although it was as clear as night and day that they both love each other, Hitomi still felt embarrassed for confessing out loud.

Van hugged her close and smiled almost serenely. How many times did he dream of this reunion ? How many nights did he long for her touch ?

" Arigato Hitomi. "

Van whispered softly into Hitomi's ear. The wind blew gently at them as Van lightly pushed Hitomi's fringe away.

" Van .. "

" Hitomi ... "

As they started leaning in for their first kiss together ...

" Kanzaki ? "

Van and Hitomi jumped apart as quick as lightning at the intrusion and both faces turned beet red.

" I'm sorry Kanzaki ... I didn't mean to ... "

Hitomi looked up to see one of her ' suitors ' Kobuki Enichii standing there a few distance away from them. Van looked at him almost irritated ...

[ Dang this fellow, he ruined our moment ]

" It's okay Kobuki-kun ! Erm ... I suppose you two haven't met ? Van, this is Kobuki Enichii from 7-2 Class. Kobuki-kun, this is Van Fanel from my class. "

" Fanel ? "

" Oh, Van's from Ga ... ahh ... Denmark. "

Hitomi quickly glanced at Van and stuck out her tongue sheepishly. Van sighed and shrugged his shoulders almost exasperatingly.

" Pleased to meet you, Fanel. "

" Same to you Kobuki. "

Van could see some hint of resentment in Kobuki's eyes as they both exchanged greetings. He was a little taken aback but he wasn't as unsure in love as the King of Fanelia back in Gaea.

[ Hmm, a rival huh ... he might have cut us off on purpose ]

Hitomi looked on in silence as the 2 guys locked stares. She held her hands together and looked a little worried. Were they thinking of fighting ??

" Well then Kobuki, it's been a pleasure knowing you. Hitomi, let's go now. "

To Hitomi's surprise, Van casually placed an arm over her shoulder and started walking off with her.

" Huh ? Van ... what ... ahh ... Kobuki-kun ! Jya mata ! Van ... where are we going ? "

Hitomi hurriedly turned around to bid a very hasty farewell to Kobuki before Van almost shoved her off along.

**

" Van, what was THAT for ? "

" Can't you see that bloke wanted to split us up on purpose ? "

" You ... you mean ... you could actually ... you KNOW ? "

" Hitomi ! "

" Gomen !! But ... well, I keep thinking of you as Van Fanel from Gaea ... not the teenage student from here. The Van from Gaea would be pretty clueless ... "

Hitomi apologetically smiled and looked away for a while. Van's eyes turned serious as he sat down on a bench in the park they've arrived.

" You sound almost as if you're sorry that the Van in Gaea is gone. "

" Van ? "

" So you don't like me isn't it ? "

" Van ! No ... no you've got it all wrong ... it's ... "

" You don't have to explain Hitomi. I understand totally ... you fell in love with the Van you were with in Gaea ... the one who sprouted his cursed wings ... the one who flew his Escaflowne to save you ... "

At this point, Van stood up almost heavily and turned his back from her.

" I'm sorry Hitomi ... I'm sorry that I wasn't able to wait for you back there ... "

" VAN !! "

Hitomi almost shouted with anger as Van rambled on.

[ How could he say all that ? Doesn't he know how long I waited just to see him again ? The insecurities I felt when I realised we lost connection ? Baka ... ]

" BAKA ! "

Hitomi yelled at Van and started to run from him.

[ Why did this all turn wrong ? Didn't I long for this moment since I left Gaea ? Why is my heart aching ? Why is my head spinning so badly ?? ]

The last thing Hitomi knew was the ground rushing up to meet her ... and another quick flash of Van ... wearing his battle armor ... holding a tarot card ...

**

" Van ... "

Hitomi opened her eyes slowly as she tried to sit up.

[ Where am I ? ]

As she regained her full consciousness, her eyes started to take in the foreign things that were around her. She was in a rather spacious room, all painted with a light pastel blue finish. The ceiling fan above was whirling slowly, making a soft consistent sound. To her left was a small television set, a VCR player with some video cassettes strewn around, a HiFi system with a rack of CDs and a bookshelf full of many assorted books and encyclopedias. As she slowly pulled away from the bed, she found herself drawn to the reddish wooden table sitting near the window. On it were some papers, picture frames and ...

[ Tarot cards ? ]

As Hitomi reached out gingerly to touch the cards, the pictures by the side of the table stole her attention first. There were 3 frames ... there was supposedly an infant Van wearing his diapers and sucking a pacifier. Hitomi giggled uncontrollably as she picked it up for a closer inspection.

[ So, this must be Van's room ]

As she placed the frame down, she peeked at the second one. Van had taken this with 2 adults at his Elementary School Graduation ceremony.

[ He has parents now ... ]

The last one was a very recent picture of Van with his parents standing at the airport with aeroplanes behind the threesome. He had baggage around him and was smiling radiantly. Hitomi smiled as she realised that this should be taken before his flight to Japan ... to see her ... to meet her again ...

" Heelllooo ~ "

Hitomi gasped with surprise and turned around sharply.

" Now who do we have here sneaking around in my room huh ? "

" Van ! You scared me to death ! "

" How was I supposed to know that you were awake ? I thought you were still sleeping so I came in rather quietly. "

" Is ... is this your place ? "

" Yeah, I rented it at a rather cheap price. "

" It's very nice ! "

" Arigato ... now will you explain why you keep fainting ? "

" Honestly I don't know. "

" Really ? "

" Uh huh ... I haven't really fainted for years now. When you arrived, something really powerful overtook me. When I ran away from you ... "

Hitomi's mind was brought back to the painful moment and she stopped abruptly. Van noticed it and walked up closely to her.

" Look Hitomi, I apologise for making you angry. I will never do anything to make you so angry ever again ... okay ? "

" It isn't your fault ... "

" We'll leave it as that. Period. "

Hitomi looked at Van and was a little surprised at the firm tone of his voice.

[ He's no longer a boy ... he's acting like a man ... ]

" Hitomi, I will not risk anymore fainting spells from you. I hope you'll find out why you're doing this all the time so that we could pinpoint a solution. Are you still having visions ? Are they causing it ? "

" Well ... "

Hitomi wondered whether it was really possible for her to let Van know that she had visualised the Van in Gaea ... and the tarot card was driving her nuts !

[ What exactly was the tarot card ? ]

" It's just some visions ... nothing important. "

As Hitomi looked up again to reassure Van, she was taken aback ! The Van she was talking to a few moments ago had turned back into the Van she had visualised ... he was now wearing a red top, beige pants and brown boots. He had his beautiful cursed wings spread to its full glory and white feathers were floating down in the room. He slowly held up a tarot card ... and turned it around ...

" HITOMI ?! "

" Huh ... "

Van shook Hitomi as hard as he could, trying to bring her back from whatever was occupying her mind.

" V ... Van ? "

" Daijobu ?! You looked very spaced-out. "

" I saw ... I saw you ... you were holding a tarot card ... "

" Tarot card ? "

" You had those wings ... "

" W ... wings ? "

" Oh Van ! I don't know what's happening ! Van ... tell me ! Tell me what should I do now ? Why do I keep seeing such visions when you're already here ? "

Van looked at Hitomi speechless. It was obvious that Hitomi was torned apart as she started sobbing uncontrollably. He had thought that his presence here would definitely solve their distance problem but Hitomi looked more troubled with trying to differentiate the Van from Gaea and the Van who's not.

" I understand now Hitomi. "

Van backed away and looked longingly in her eyes.

" I guess you still want the Van from Gaea. I'm sorry that I could not replace him. "

" ... Van ? "

Van swallowed a lump in his throat. It was difficult for him ... but he knew he had to.

" G ... goodbye Hitomi ... "

Van closed his eyes and suddenly, the all-too-familiar blue and white beams started rising from the floor and surrounded Van. As he looked at Hitomi, his eyes conveyed intense sorrow and regret.

" I'll disappear ... Hitomi ... if it makes you feel better. Sayonara ... "

" No ... NO ! VAN !! "

Hitomi desperately ran towards the shining beam and blindly grabbed hold of Van's arm. Everything was a blur after that.



Author's Notes : Okay, this chapter seemed kinda crappy ... but I need a turning point so that I could now write about the new reborned Van and Hitomi back in Gaea. Honestly, it's horrible isn't it ? Anyway, reviews would still be appreciated ! =)