Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne.......^_~

Dedication: To Tira_Mearl_Festa, Zidane's Dagger, Siena and Taemyr and also to you; the reader and the reviewer...

~**~A little touch of Heaven~**~

~~~~~*~~~~~

A Little Touch of Heaven

~**~Prologue~**~

~*~I will survive, if it's the last thing I do...~*~

Van had to survive. He couldn't die, he couldn't give up, not for her. She was counting on him to return home. To return back to her. She was holding him to that one promise.....

' I promise to you, this night, that I will return. I will survive, if it's the last thing I do. For you, I'll return....I promise.... '

His words sounded hollow to his ears and they echoed throughout his mind, as he gripped the handle tightly and agressively pushed it forward, causing the large, and well known Ispano Guymelef to dig it's large sword deep into the gut of the smaller Norte Melef.

The blue Guymelef fell to the ground with a loud thud. Breathing hard, and sweating heavily within the Ispano Guymelef, Van slammed his foot down on a pedal and he and Escaflowne were one, running, flying, charging through the air at another blue Guymelef.

Catching it from behind, the blue Melef pitched forward to the ground, the pained cry of the soldier inside floated through the air quickly and ended abruptly as soon as the Melef hit the ground. Van stuck out his bottom lip and blew the hair from his eyes.

Van looked around, trying to catch his breath as he watched his comrades in action. Most of Fanelia and Asturia's Guymelefs and groundsmen were diminishing rapidly. Norte's and Mothersburg's troops were diminishing as well. That was the only advantage that Fanelia and Asturia had over them.

Van closed his eyes, suddenly wishing that he were back at the castle, relaxing, taking it easy instead of being here, fighting for one stupid main reason; a dispute of the royal families between Fanelia and Norte. One of the Asturian soldiers to Van's left let out a wail of pain as one of the Mothersburg's red Guymelefs thrusted it's sword deep into the chest area of the other Melef, probably catching the soldier inside, in the head.

Van grimaced and then quickly spun around as he heard the shouts of his troops. He scanned the bloody grounds and then looked up at the sky to find floating fortresses from Norte. He silently cursed and slammed down on the pedal once again, sending Escaflowne charging towards a red Guymelef that was standing there, watching the floating fortresses.

' This is going to be a piece of cake.... ', Van thought as he brought back the left hand of Escaflowne and then slammed it forward, causing the sword to pierce the shoulder of the red Melef.

The red Melef swiftly brought it's own sword up and slammed it down into Escaflowne's shoulder, causing Van to flinch. The two Melef's stood there for a brief moment, the men inside staring at each other through the slits in the head, while each other's swords rested in their shoulders.

Van suddenly snorted and then whipped out his sword from the shoulder. He brought it up over his head and then sent it crashing down onto the red Melef's arm. The red Melef swiftly brought his sword up and easily blocked Van's hit. Van cursed and then lifted his sword from the red Melef's sword. He backed up a step before crouching down to the ground and then springing off it like a graceful cat.

Escaflowne jumped high up into the air with the tip of it's blade pointing down. The red Melef watched him and then readied itself for the attack from up above. Van let out a battlecry as he and Escaflowne fell to the ground, right on top of the red Melef. The sword of Escaflowne stuck deep in the top of the other Melef's head.

The red Melef's sword fell from it's hands to the ground followed closely by the Melef itself. Van was breathing hard as he walked over to the head of the fallen Melef and yanked out his sword. He stood there. Doing nothing but watching the others fight.

" Van!! Don't just stand there..... ", a deep, troubled voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Van quickly turn his head to look at Schezarde. Van shook his head and then lifted his sword up and held it with two hands, as if motioning for someone else to bring on a challenge. A black Guymelef came up beside him and he heard Dryden's voice call out to him.

" Van? What's wrong? ", Dryden shouted to him.

Van shook his head, " Nothing. I... forget it. Let's just keep going.... ", he shouted back over the noise.

Dryden nodded and went charging after a couple of Melef's who were ganging up on one of Asturia's Melef's. Van sighed heavily and then let out a growl as he charged at a blue Melef who was beating up one of Fanelia's Melef's. Van caught it from behind, but it didn't fall as he had hoped.

The red Melef spun around quickly, knocking the sword from Escaflowne's hands, it shoved Van to the ground. Van grunted as the back of his head connected with the back of the seat. He shook his head to clear the spots of colours that danced in front of his eyes.

As soon as Van opened his eyes, he regretted it. He watched as the red Melef brought it's sword over it's head and then down onto him. Van tried to dodge by shifting Escaflowne to the left and the right, but the other Melef had straddled him. Van took a deep breath and then brought his knee up, catching the red Melef in the middle of the back.

The red Melef pitched forward onto the head of Escaflowne and Van braced himself for the impact. Van quickly flipped over and jumped off the Melef. He backed away and went in search of his sword. Van spotted it laying on the ground a few feet away and he jogged towards it.

Van bent over to pick it up. There was a battlecry behind him as he stood up and then a sudden searing pain across his back. Van and Escaflowne fell to a knee, hunched over. He closed his eyes against the pain and then opened them to find a blue Melef charging at him from the front.

Van was outnumbered by one. But he stood up and held onto his sword tightly, waiting for the Melef's to strike at him. None did. They just stood there, watching him. Van blinked and then narrowed his eyes as pushed forward on the handle that held the sword. Escaflowne's right arm slashed out and caught the Melef on it's right in the side of the head, sending it to one knee.

Van snorted and then quickly spun around in a complete circle, with his sword extended. He caught the second Melef in the shoulder hard, causing him to drop to the ground on one knee. Van quickly brought his sword up and then went to bring it crashing down on the fallen Melef, but the fallen Melef swiftly and easily brought his own sword up.

The Melef shifted his hand to the side as it slashed it's sword deep across Escaflowne's chest. Van stumbled back, slightly stunned, but what he didn't realize was that there was another Melef behind him that was charging at him with it's sword extended.

The Melef behind Escaflowne thrusted it's sword forward and it dug deep into Escaflowne's back. The sword protruded through the front of Escaflowne as it fell back onto the sword. A strangled cry of pain escaped from the fallen Escaflowne as Van felt the large sword slice right through his left side.

Van gritted his teeth against the sudden wave of nausea and pain that threatened to push him over the brink of losing consciousness. He took a deep breath before slipping his hand from the arm to feel his side for an injury. His hand found the sharp edge of the Melef's blade and badly torn flesh that brought bile to his mouth.

Van pushed it down and began to tremble uncontrolably. He suddenly felt cold all over and he didn't know why. Was he dying? Was this the end for him? Van shook his head as he tried to calm his thoughts. All around him the sounds of the war died down and everything went quiet as a victorious cry rang out through the air.

Van tried to lift his head, but he couldn't. He closed his eyes and began to think of her. He knew his entire left side was sliced up, not only from the sword in the side, but from when someone else had attacked him from behind and slashed his back. Van's chest was hurting and it hurt to breath.

Someone appeared at his side and he opened his eyes to peer up at Dryden's Melef. Dryden looked down at the sword that protruded from the front of Escaflowne and a low whistle escaped his lips. He squinted his eyes and noticed that blood was decorated along the edge.

" Van? You still with us? ", Dryden called out, hoping to get a response.

Van grimaced, " Y-yeah....barely... "

" Can you move? "

Van was silent and Dryden was beginning to think the worst. Schezarde came up beside Dryden's black Melef and he knelt down. Allen frowned lightly and then swallowed as he looked at Dryden that at Escaflowne. Dryden shook his head sadly and Allen sighed heavily.

" He's....g-gone? ", Allen asked lightly.

Dryden nodded, " That's what it looks like...... "

Allen shook his head, " But that's impossible! Nothing can harm Escaflowne...nothing can get through it. "

Dryden frowned, " Well...it looks like something did...and it got to him too... ", he added softly.

Allen sighed as he took his hand out of the arm and ran his fingers through his hair, " What are we going to say to her? How are we going to tell her.... "

" I don't know, Allen....I don't know. How about you try to tell it to her softly? Easily at first? ", Dryden suggested lightly.

" I don't know if that'll work.... ", Allen replied dryly.

Dryden stood up and looked over his shoulder at the rest of their troops that were beginning to gather around the fallen Ispano Guymelef and it's closest friends. One man in a black Melef identical to Dryden's outstretched a hand and then let it fall as he saw the fallen Escaflowne.

" The King of Fanelia is dead. He died bravely in battle and he fought hard..... ", Dryden explained to them.

Allen stood up to face them as well, " Yes. For that we are grateful for him sacrificing himself for his country. You should all be grateful that you're all alive..... "

Some of the men nodded their heads while others had them bowed deeply. Some men had tears streaming silently down their cheeks. The news of their King had hit some of them hard. Allen scanned the small group of troops and then sighed.

" I think it's time we returned home.... ", Allen suggested lightly.

Dryden swallowed thickly and looked back down at the ground at Escaflowne, " What about him? "

" We'll come back. Don't worry. I'll see to it that he gets a proper burial.... ", Allen assured him.

Dryden nodded and then looked up at the men who were watching him and Allen, " Let's all go back home to our families. You all fought well in this battle, but there will be more.... "

All the men nodded and turned to head back to their countries. Dryden slowly followed them with his head bowed, silently praying that Van passed quietly. Allen watched as Dryden left. He bent down to the ground on a knee and examined the sword that protruded from Escaflowne.

" Weird... I never knew they made such a model anymore these days.... ", Allen muttered under his breath as he reached out to run a finger along the sharp edge, smearing blood all over Schezarde's finger.

" Let's go, Allen.... we have a lot of explaining to do.... ", Dryden called out to him from behind.

Allen bit his lip and then stood up. He turned around and began to make his way towards Dryden, but he stopped in his tracks as he heard something from behind him. Allen spun around and couldn't believe his eyes. Either he was dreaming or it was real. Escaflowne's right arm lifted into the air and then rested itself on it's stomach.

Allen blinked a couple of times and then shook his head, " This can't be real? Is he still alive? "

Escaflowne laid there on the sword in dead and eerie silence. It's back bent in an uncomfortable position as the wind picked up. Allen quickly walked to fall in step with Dryden and the rest of the troops as they made their ways back home.....

~**~Chapter 1~**~

~*~Back from the dead~*~

//Four years later\\

The people of Fanelia were beginning to crowd the streets as Hitomi Kanzaki tried to push her way through the swams of citizens. She had a bag full of gifts in one hand and she was brushing a long strand of light sandy brown hair from her eyes with the other. People looked at her and still sent her sympathetic looks. After four years you'd think they'd give it up already.

It had been four years since Hitomi had head about Van's death from Dryden and Allen. Everyone was devastated, but Hitomi has taken the news the hardest of them all. Hitomi sighed heavily as she walked up the street. Merchants from all over called out to her from each side, shouting at her politely to stop and take a look at their goods that were scattered nicely over the small tables.

Hitomi looked terrible. Her sea-green eyes were dull. They just never lit up anymore with laughter or mischief and they had dark circles under them from not sleeping. Her sandy brown hair was pulled back and piled on top of her head, wisps of light chocolate and gold feathered her forehead and the back of her bare neck. Hitomi's deep green gown clung to her body in all the right places as she walked.

The long skirts rustled along the ground as she now crossed the street to make her way towards the fields, where she would cross to go home to relax. Fanelia was her home now. Earth was really nothing to her anymore and she was happy here until the news hit her, but she had managed to survive.

Hitomi clutched the bag tightly in her hand as she frowned and then scratched her head lightly. Something was calling to her, but what was it? Who was it? Hitomi gave her head a little shake and began to make her way across the small field to the little house at the far end.

' Hitomi..... '

Hitomi blinked and came to an abrupt stop. She spun around and scanned the crowds behind her. No one was there following her. Hitomi bit her lip and then turned back around to continue her walk across the field. That's when she felt it; the sudden wave of emotions that hit her square in the chest hard. They were the same ones that she had felt when she had heard about Van's death......

~~~~~*~~~~~

" Are you sure he was dead? You checked yourself? "

Allen Crusade Schezar sighed heavily and then brought his gaze to the ground, " I didn't exactly check myself. Dryden told me that he was dead.... "

Akira Konoko narrowed his eyes, " So then he could still be alive..... "

Allen shrugged uncomfortably, " I dont know. Probably, probably not. "

" What do you mean? "

" What I mean is he could've just stayed in his Guymelef and not bothered to move, or he could have gotten out and moved... ", Allen stated vaguely.

Akira scratched the black stubble along his strong jaw, " I see..... "

Allen rolled his deep blue eyes and then ran a gloved hand through his honey-gold hair, " Can I be dismissed? "

Akira waved his hand in the air and Allen stood up from the ground. He turned and left the room in silence with his head bowed deeply. Akira looked out the window and sighed lightly as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the plush chair.

" You'd better be dead, Fanel.... let's just pray that you're dead... for her sake at least.... "

~~~~~*~~~~~~

" Hitomi...... ", a handsome man of the age twenty-two whispered hoarsely in half joy and half sorrow as he stumbled slightly through the crowds after spotting the slender frame of his lover.

So many emotions that had been bottled up inside suddenly came out into the open as he began to run across the field towards the slender figure that quickly walked away from him. He had to get to her. He quickened his pace and caught up to her easily.

He had spotted her while he was looking out the main window in the castle. His hand shot out and he grasped her arm above the elbow and spun her around to face him. The look on her soft featured face was of pure shock and fear.

" Dear god, Hitomi, it's been so long.... ", Van Slanzar de Fanel whispered painfully as he muffled Hitomi's cry of surprise with his aching lips.

Hitomi tried to pull away but she couldn't match his strength. Van's hand spanned the small of her back, pulling her closer to his body, and deepened the kiss, by parting her soft lips with his tongue. Van couldn't think. With only three hours of sleep he was just a little lost.

Hitomi managed to firmly place her hands on his hard chest and she felt the muscles ripple slightly under her touch. Hitomi pushed Van away to look at him with wide eyes. She brought a trembling hand up to her slightly swollen lips and gingerly grazed them. Van blinked and then searched her face for some sort of reaction or response.

" I.... Van, what are you -- you're suppose to be -- ", Hitomi stammered quickly but Van lifted a hand to silence her.

" Dead? Yeah....so I've heard. ", Van replied softly and took a step towards her, but stopped as he watched her take a step back.

" Don't, Van..... ", Hitomi warned.

" Don't what? ", Van wondered outloud.

" Don't come near me..... "

Van blinked and swallowed the fear of losing her again, " W-what are you talking about? Why? ", he asked in a pained voice.

Hitomi shook her head and wrapped her arms around her stomach, doubling over slightly she shook her head again, " You have no right to take advantage of a married woman, Van... you of all people should know this.... "

Van's dark brows shot up in surprise and his reddish-brown eyes filled with shock.

Hitomi nodded, " You heard me, Van..... "

Van shook his head, " N-no, I didn't. Would you mind repeating it for m-me again? "

Hitomi sighed and blinked back the sudden rush of tears, " I'm a married woman, Van. I've waited for you too long.... "

" You couldn't wait just a little longer? "

" Van... I, when I heard of your death, I was heartbroken. You had broken your promise to me. You didn't return to me like you said you were going to. You left me.... ", Hitomi's voice trailed off in a soft whisper.

Van snorted suddenly and raked a hand through his raven black hair, " I didn't leave you, Hitomi. I was injured during action.... "

Hitomi shook her head, " That's not what I heard, Van... you were dead. DEAD! ", she practically shouted the last word as she uncrossed her arms from her stomach.

Van lowered his eyes to the ground and then brought them back up to meet Hitomi's eyes which were glazed over with tears, " But I'm not dead, Hitomi. I'm standing right in front of you. You felt me, you know I'm real, alive, here! Why can't you just understand it? "

" I'm trying. I'm trying to understand why you left me.... ", Hitomi whispered as she quickly brushed past him.

Van sighed and reached out to grab her elbow. Hitomi froze under his touch and swallowed thickly, " Let me go, Van.... ", she whispered.

Van shook his head and jutted his chin out in determination, " Not until I get a full explanation from you, Hitomi Kanzaki.... "

Hitomi wrenched her elbow from Van's grip and whirled around to face him, puzzled and pained reddish-brown met with angry and hurt sea-green, " M-me owe you an explanation? ", she demanded with the lift of her light brows.

Van nodded. Hitomi gave out a cry of frustration, " No! I will not give you any explanation at all. It's you who owe's me the explanation, Van Fanel...... "

Van crossed his arms over his chest, " For what? "

" For leaving me, for making me live with Allen, for your wanting me to stay in Fanelia, everything! ", Hitomi replied harshly as she began to back away from him.

Van bit his lip, " Running isn't going to change anything between us..... "

Hitomi shook her head, " There never was nothing between us..... "

Van flinched noticeably, " You're wrong, Hitomi. You're so wrong. "

" How so? "

" I... I thought about you the entire time that I was away. I dreamt about you, I saw your face in my mind everytime I went to bed and when I woke up. You were the only thing that was on my mind. I had to get back to you. I couldn't go on in life without being with you.... that's why I'm living now, to this very day... "

Hitomi sighed heavily and took another step back, " If you wanted to get me back then why didn't you send me some sort of message of sign? Anything Van, would've been alright. But you didn't do anything to get it clear to me that you were alive and healthy. You just decided to stay away from me for an entire four years. Do you know what it was like? Having to go on in life without the one you ever loved by your side? It was torment for me, Van, and it looks like you don't give a damn about it either.... "

Van blinked at her words and then shook his head, " I did care about you, Hitomi, and I still do. I couldn't do anything about getting it to you that I was alive. I gave a letter to Millerna and she was to give it to Allen. D-didn't you get it? "

Hitomi shook her head and took another step back. She took one look over her shoulder and noticed that she was close to home, only a few more paces by running and she'd be home and safe. Van noticed her gaze straying on the small house in the background and he frowned deeply.

" Did you get it? ", Van repeated lightly.

Hitomi turned her gaze back to him and slowly shook her head, " I... no. I never got anything.... "

Van frowned again, " What's going on then? Allen was suppose to give it to you.... "

" Well, if he had given it to me, I'd be all over you right now. But obviously he didn't give it to me. Perhaps Millerna didn't give it to him.... "

Van shook his head, " I trust Millerna. She would've done what I had asked... she wouldn't go behind my back and not give it to him. Something's not right... "

Hitomi took another step back, " What do you mean? "

" How long have you been in Fanelia? "

Hitomi blinked and stopped taking her steps back, " I... ever since I arrived here, four years ago... why? "

Van searched her face and eyes, " I've been here for the past three years. Why didn't you ever stop by the castle? "

Hitomi was dumbstruck, " I... I didn't think it was nescessary...... "

" What?! Why? "

Hitomi gave a small shrug of her bare shoulders, " I didn't know you were alive and kicking, remember? ", she reminded him quietly.

" Oh.... ", Van muttered as he looked down at the ground, suddenly interested in his boots.

There was an unbearable tension between the two once lovers and Hitomi couldn't it anymore, so Hitomi took a few more paces back before completely turning and then running across the rest of the field towards the small house. Van's head shot up at the sound of her retreating footsteps and he watched her go......

~~~~~*~~~~~

(Author's Note: *grins* I know this chapter was confusing... and short too... for these things, I apologize deeply. I'm just trying to get some new chapters in for my other 24 fics.... forgive me? *gets on her knees and begs* But, I will be getting more in. One question though for those of you who have read all of my Escaflowne fics, what did you think of this one? Is it better then the others so far???? Thanx a bunch!! *hugs for everyone* )