Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne...........

Dedication: To all who love me and my stories.... which is not a lot.....^_~

~~~~~*~~~~~

A Little Touch of Heaven

~*~Chapter 2~*~

~**~Secrets~**~

Van swallowed thickly as he watched Hitomi's retreating figure disappear into the house in the far distance. He shook his head and then ran a hand through his hair. He didn't understand why she wasn't given the letter. Van looked up at the sky and watched as the clouds began to bunch together and turn a dark, nasty grey.

Thunder rumbled loudly in the distance and Van groaned as he took one look back at the large castle.

A frown caused his forehead to crinkle slightly and he then shook his head, " I can't believe I'm doing this..... ", he muttered as he shoved his hands into his pockets and bowed his head deep as he began towards the house in the distance.

~~~~~*~~~~~

Hitomi let out a big sigh of relief as she slammed the door shut and leaned back against the cool wood. She closed her eyes and lowered her head as she tried to catch her breath. Her hair was coming out of her pins and it fell down around her face in soft wisps, and strands.

Thunder sounded in the distance and she jumped slightly and then chuckled at herself. Someone slowly made their way into the hall and Hitomi lifted her head up to find Rutha Olsen wiping her hands on her apron. Her clear blue eyes sparkled slightly and her pitch black hair was pulled back in a tight bun as she took a step towards Hitomi with open arms.

" Well, child! Look at you..... ", Rutha said as she hugged Hitomi hard and pulled away smiling.

Hitomi smiled back and then scratched her head, " Where's Isabella? "

Rutha chuckled, " Sitting in the kitchen. She was helping me bake cookies... for you.... ", she added in a whisper.

Hitomi laughed lightly and then nodded, " Good. I have some things that I'd like to give her.... ", she told the older woman with a big smile.

Rutha looked down at the bag in Hitomi's hands and then cocked her head to the side, " What it is? "

" Gifts.... "

" Oh... well, what are you waiting for? Go on and give em to her..... "

Hitomi nodded, " That's what I intend on doing.... after supper though... "

Rutha nodded and then turned to leave the hall. Hitomi sighed lightly and went upstairs to change. She had to get out of the dress. It was very humid and Hitomi wrinkled her nose in disgust as she felt small beads of sweat roll down the sides of her face.

Hitomi pushed open her door and then dropped the bag of gifts onto the bed. She moved to her closet and pulled out a short white cotton summer dress that slipped into after she slipped out of her gown. Hitomi smiled lightly and walked over to the mirror that stood in the middle of the far wall.

She twirled around a couple of times and then moved to her dresser where she got rid of the pins only to let her hair cascade down from the top of her head to land in soft, natural curls around her bare shoulders. There was a soft knock on the door and Hitomi turned around with the brush still in her hand as she continued to brush out the long tresses of sandy brown.

" Come in... "

The door opened and a little girl the age of four walked into the room. A small smile broke out onto Hitomi's face and she walked over to the girl. Bending down so she was at reasonable height, she gathered the little girl into her arms and hugged her hard, and then planted a big kiss onto her forehead.

Isabella's deep green eyes twinkled with mischief as she hugged her mother back just as hard. She reached up and ran a small hand through her mother's hair, " So soft.... ", she whispered gently.

Hitomi chuckled and then ran her own hand through the little girl's raven black hair, " So is yours, sweetie..... "

Isabella frowned lightly, " Ruthie sent me up. Dinner's ready, momma.... "

Hitomi stood up and then tucked her hair behind her ears, " Thanks, baby.... ", she replied softly as she held her hand out to the child.

Isabella took the offered hand and then began to drag her mother to the door. Hitomi smiled and then chucked her brush onto the bed before she closed the door behind her.

Isabella looked up at her mother and then frowned deeply, " Where's papa....? "

Hitomi blinked and then bit her lip, " Uh.... p-papa? "

Isabella nodded and watched her mother. Hitomi sighed quietly, " Papa isn't here anymore.... "

" Where'd he go? Doesn't he love me? ", Isabella suddenly asked.

' He doesn't know about you.... '

Hitomi gave her a smile and then shook her head, " He's still loves you..... "

" Oh.... then where is he? "

" Gone... "

" Where? "

Hitomi shrugged lightly, " I don't know.... "

' Liar!! ', something shouted in the back of her mind.

Isabella looked down at the ground, " Oh.... "

" Oh, baby... don't worry about it. You have me.... ", Hitomi assured her gently. " I'm not going to leave you.... "

Isabella looked up at her mother and nodded, " I hope not... "

Hitomi bit her lip and then bent down to pick up her daughter and carry her down the stairs to where she saw Rutha standing at the foot of the stairs, a worried expression plastered to her old features.

Hitomi looked at her and then frowned deeply, " What is it? "

Rutha looked at the child in Hitomi's arms and then at Hitomi, " There's someone here to see you....perhaps you'd like it if I took the child from your hands for a while.... "

Hitomi knitted her brows together and handed Isabella to Rutha, " Who's here? "

Rutha stared Hitomi in the eye, " A man... he claims to know you... "

Hitomi blinked, " W-what does he look like? "

Rutha suddenly winked at her and then turned her back to head back into the kitchen, " Handsome.... very handsome... ", she replied over her shoulder before disappearing into the kitchen.

Hitomi sighed heavily and then slowly made her way towards the front hall. She stopped dead in her tracks in the doorway. She blinked and then shook her head, not wanting to believe it. Standing in front of her was someone she didn't really want to know anymore, his muscular back to her as he looked at a picture on the wall of her and her daughter.

" V-van... what are you doing here? ", Hitomi stammered, not knowing what else to say.

Van's head swung in her direction, " Hitomi.... ", he whispered her name as his eyes went over her slim figure in the short dress.

Hitomi crossed her arms over her chest and frowned, " Is that all you're going to say? "

Van cocked his head to the side, " What else do you want me to say? ", he countered.

" Well, you could explain why you're here for starters... ", Hitomi pointed out.

Van brought his bottom lip inbetween his teeth and nibbled gently, " I had to see you.... "

Hitomi lifted an eyebrow, " And why's that? "

" Where is she? ", Van asked.

Hitomi blinked, " W-what? "

Van pointed over his shoulder to the little girl in the painting, " Her... where is she? ", he asked again.

Hitomi closed her eyes and cursed God silently, " She's... resting... ", she lied.

Van shook his head and took a step towards her, " You're lying to me.... "

Hitomi's lips went together in a straight line, " It's not as if you haven't done it to me before, Van Fanel! "

Van's mouth opened and he went to say something back, but he was cut off by a small voice that was shouting, " Momma! Momma! Guess what I found.... ", Isabella cried out in happiness as she appeared at her mother's side, holding a porcelin doll in her small hands.

Hitomi shot a look at Van to keep his mouth shut as she bent down to gaze at the doll, then into her daughter's face, " Honey... what are you doing here? You're suppose to be in the kitchen with Rutha, eating dinner.... "

Isabella nodded and then fingered the dolls hair, " I know, momma.... but I had to show you what got Rutha me, since I forgot to show you when you came home earlier..... "

Van cocked his head to the side and watched the little girl, ' Green eyes... black hair.... Hitomi's features, everything.... something's not right here.... ', he thought as he frowned, his eyes shifting over to look at Hitomi's face.

Hitomi looked at Van and then shook her head. She stood up and walked over to him, her sea-green eyes filled with undescribable emotions. Isabella cocked her head to the side and watched Van, " Are you an angel? ", she asked.

Van blinked and then lifted an eyebrow, " A-angel? "

Isabella nodded, " Yes! Momma talks about them all the time..... "

Hitomi whirled around to face her daughter, " Isabella!! ", she scolded lightly.

Isabella cringed lightly and then blushed as she felt Van's eyes on her, " I'm sorry.... ", she muttered.

" Don't be.... ", Van response came out soft.

Hitomi whirled back around to face him, her eyes searching his face. She found something in his eyes that she hadn't seen in a long time; tenderness and happiness. Van looked down at her and then cleared his throat, " So... who is she? Your daughter? "

Hitomi nodded her head as she lowered her gaze to the ground. Van reached out and placed a hand under her chin, lifting her head up so he could look in to her eyes, " your daughter... or ours? ", he asked quietly in a whisper.

Hitomi swallowed. She felt herself inching her way towards him and him doing the same only towards her. Van's eyes gazed lovingly into hers as he felt the gap between them closing rapidly. He lowered his face to hers and caught her soft lips in his hungry ones.

Hitomi's eyes went wide and she tried to pull away, but Van had snaked a hand up at the back of her head, keeping her from going anywhere, until he broke the kiss. She closed her eyes and returned the kiss, expressing how much she had missed him over the last four years in the soft kiss that turned out to be so deep that Hitomi got lost within her own emotions and thoughts.

Isabella's eyes went wide as she watched the two adults kiss. Hitomi slid her arms around Van's neck, pulling him down to her as Van held onto her, savoring every moment that they were sharing together, his hands slowly caressing her back through the thin dress.

Hitomi suddenly pulled away from him, but not from the comfort of his arms. She rested her forehead against the patch of visible tanned skin through the wide opening at the top of his red shirt. Van rested his chin on the top of her head and then sighed lightly.

" Are you sick or something? ", he asked suddenly.

Hitomi closed her eyes and Van felt something warm and wet slid down his chest, rolling over his abs and then being soaked up by the fabric of his pants, " I... I don't know.... ", she whispered in a pain filled voice.

Hitomi was confused. Her warm breath fanned his chest as she turned her head to the side and pressed her ear to the warm, smooth skin, that she had so much loved to caress before. Van stroked her hair softly and then mumbled in her ear, " I've never seen you with long hair... and down too.... "

Hitomi lightly punched at his arm and then pulled away from his loving embrace and turned around to find her daughter's eyes on them. Van looked over his shoulder at the girl and then whispered in Hitomi's ear, " She's mine, isn't she? "

Hitomi kept her eyes on her daughter's confused expression and nodded absentmindedly at Van. Isabella blinked and then ran to her mother, wrapped her arms around hitomi's bare legs. Van walked past Hitomi to bend down and look at the little girl.

" Hello... ", Van said softly, taking the little girl's scent, familiar looks and cuteness.

Isabella looked at him and smiled a smile that made her look like Hitomi, " Hullo... who are you? "

Van bowed his head to her and then looked up at her, " My name is Van Slanzar de Fanel. Who might you be little one? "

" My name's Isabella Saki de Fanel... but mommy says that I'm suppose to go by the name Isabella Saki Kanzaki.... "

Van knitted his brows together and stood back up to look at Hitomi, " de Fanel? Why that? "

Hitomi chuckled lightly and wiped a tear that slid from her eye, " Because it's true... that's why. "

" Aren't you afraid of people talking? "

Hitomi shook her head, " If they talk, let them talk. But... no one knows that that's her real last name. Everyone knows her as Kanzaki..... "

" But then... does she know about me? "

Hitomi shook her head, " No... "

Van lifted an eyebrow, " Why not? ", he asked as he looked down at the girl.

Hitomi looked down at the ground and bit her lip, " It's better this way...... ", she whispered.

" W-what do you mean? ", Van asked as he looked back at her.

" What I mean is, that I think you should leave now and never come back.... "

" Whoa! Hey, hey, hey... wait a minute. What about earlier? ", Van questioned, his eyes going dark. He knew where this was going to go, and he didn't want go there, not yet at least.....

Hitomi lifted an eyebrow, " Don't look at me like that Van. Just leave... now, before it's too late.... "

" I'm not going anywhere until you explain to me why you're being this way! ", Van replied in a serious voice as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Hitomi looked down at her daughter, " Baby... go see Rutha. I need to talk to this man alone, alright? "

Isabella's chin jutted out in stubborness, but she nodded and left the adults alone. Van let out a breath of confusion and looked at Hitomi, " Why are you acting like this? ", he asked again.

Hitomi walked over to the door and pulled it open. She looked at Van and then bit her lip, " I'm sure you already know the answer. You left me. Disappeared from my life for four whole years, and now you want back in? "

Van looked at the open door and then at Hitomi's hurt and angered expression, " I said I was sorry.... "

" Sorry isn't going to cut it, Van. Not this time. You don't know what I had to go through with you not by my side... "

Van blinked, " If you told me, then I would be able to help you.... "

Hitomi shook her head as her eyes brimmed with tears, " You'll never be able to help me, Van. If you wanted to help that you should have stayed out of my life forever, and not showed up..... "

Van flinched at her words and looked at the ground, " Hitomi... please. ", he pleaded. " Just don't get rid of me yet... "

" Like you did with me? ", Hitomi spat at him.

Van blinked and then uncrossed his arms, " What's that suppose to mean? ", his patience with her diminishing as he clenched and unclenched his hands into tight fists at his sides.

" You leave, then you expect to be welcomed with open arms?! I don't think so, Van Fanel... I'm not going to welcome you back with open arms. I'm not going to do anything, except for kicking you from my house. You have no right being here.... "

" And what about my daughter? ", Van retorted.

Hitomi shook her head, " You can believe that she's your daughter, but in my eyes, she isn't your daughter at all. She's just a stranger... as you are to me. "

Van's eyes narrowed slightly, " Hitomi... look at what you're saying! You're not making any sense. "

" I am too making sense, Van. It's you who doesn't understand! Just go away..... ", Hitomi told him as she held the door wider.

Van walked over to the door and wrenched it close. He grabbed her arms tightly, just above the elbows, and marched her back towards a wall in the far end of the hall. He pressed her up to the wall and stared into her wide and anger filled eyes.

" You're going to hear me out, Kanzaki, and I don't care if it takes all night and if you don't want to. ", Van growled at her.

Hitomi squirmed and struggled against his arms, " Let me go! "

Van shook his head and looked at her, determination clear in his eyes as he jutted out his chin like his daughter did, " I said you're going to hear me out, even if I have to keep you pinned to the wall like this.... "

Hitomi brought her eyes to the ground, but they ended up straying on Van's chest. She remained silent and still, knowing that struggling was impossible since she couldn't match his strength. Van sighed lightly, venting his anger with it and he looked at her.

" Hitomi... there's more to this then you think. I wasn't dead. I didn't die. I was only injured and Dryden and Allen left me there in the battle field after a GuyMelef from Norte got me good in the side.... they left me to die, Hitomi. "

Hitomi swallowed noisily and looked up at him, " W-what are you saying....? "

Van smirked, " That your raving and ranting was all for nothing.... "

Hitomi narrowed her eyes. Van snorted, " Don't get upset at me. You should be upset with Allen and the others.... they're the ones who didn't give you the letter. "

" They did give me a letter...... "

" What?! Then why are you complaining about me being dead and leaving you? ", Van practically shouted in her face.

" Because that's what it says in the letter! ", Hitomi shot back.

" Show it to me. ", Van demanded, his patience completely gone, only to be replaced with anger.

Hitomi sighed, exasperated, " Then let me go and I'll go get it.... "

Van searched her face and then took his hands from her arms. Hitomi grimaced and then rubbed at her arms where his hands were. Van looked at where she was rubbed her arms and then groaned, " Hitomi, I... I didn't mean to -- "

" Don't say another word, Van. Just let me go get that damn letter. I know you didn't mean to hurt me... ", Hitomi assured him gently over her shoulder as she walked up the stairs.

Van watched her go and then closed his eys for a brief second. A small, warm hand placed itself on his calf and he tensed under the touch, not use to having something that small touch him. He opened his eyes and looked down at Isabella, who looked back up at him, a little confused.

" Why do you have the same last name as me? ", Isabella questioned.

Van ran his tongue over his teeth and then over his bottom lip, " I... I don't know.... "

" Are you my daddy? ", the little girl asked shyly.

Van blinked and then smiled lightly as he bent down to look into her green eyes, " I don't know.... you'd have to ask your mother.... "

Isabella's small lower lip went out in a pout and she lowered her head and looked down at the ground, " I want a daddy.... "

Van felt his heart ache and he reached out to gently finger the small black curls, " I can be your daddy until your mother finds you one? ", he suggested, hoping and praying that she wouldn't.

' Why don't you just tell her who you really are? '

Van shook his head. Isabella looked up at him and giggled. She nodded and threw her arms around his neck, holding him close, " Okay!! "

Van smiled and hugged the little girl back, inhaling the scent of baby powder and flowers that her hair and body carried. He pressed his lips to Isabella's temple and then lifted her up in his arms. He walked over to the stairs to find Hitomi walking down slowly, her eyes reading over the unfolded note in her hands.

Van slowly and gently setted Isabella down onto the ground and told her to go back into the kitchen. Isabella nodded and left him alone to be with Hitomi. He walked over to the stairs and quickly plucked the letter from her hands. Hitomi's head shot up and she frowned deeply at him.

Van's eyes skimmed over the writing and he lifted an eyebrow, ' Killed in combat? What kind of garbage is this? who wrote this? it doesn't look like what I wrote.... '

Hitomi watched Van's expression of surprise and then nodded, " See... I told you.... "

Van shook his head, " This isn't right. I didn't write this.... "

" Then who did? ", Hitomi questioned as she met Van's eyes as he lifted his head.

" I don't know... I'm assuming Allen did since I gave it to him to give to you.... "

Hitomi hugged her arms to her chest and then sat down on the step, making sure that nothing showed from underneath her dress. Van stood in front of him, his muscular, powerfully built body towering over her. She looked up at him and then sighed lightly, causing him to look at her.

" What's wrong? ", Van asked, his eyes full of concern.

Hitomi shook her head and then closed her eyes, " N-nothing... all this time I went around thinking you hated me, or something and that's the reason why you never returned, besides for the letter saying that you were dead.... "

Van bit his lip, " I don't hate you, Hitomi. I never could.... "

Hitomi nodded and then opened her eyes, " I know that now.... "

" Hitomi... about Isabella.... "

" What about her? "

" About her not knowing about her... father.... "

Hitomi blinked and then sighed lightly, " V-van... I -- "

" No... don't say anything. It was I who said that I was going to tell you everything... "

" But Van... I don't want her to know.... "

Van knitted his brows together and crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at her, " And why not? Do you think she'll be ashamed to know who her father is? "

Hitomi shook her head and closed her eyes against the tears that came to her eyes. Van saw the tears as they slid down her cheeks quickly and he bent down to wrap his arms around her trembling body. Hitomi sniffled lightly and then broke down against his chest as he cradled her to him.

" Shhh... what's wrong? Did I say something? ", Van whispered against her hair.

Hitomi shook her head, " No... "

" Then what is it? Is it because I want to know so many things that you don't want to have to answer? "

Hitomi shook her head again, " No.... ", she repeated.

" Well... can you explain to me why you didn't tell her about me? "

" I don't want her to become involved... once they get their hands on her and me, they'll... kill us..... ", Hitomi whispered in a pained voice against his chest as more tears came to her eyes.

~~~~~*~~~~~

(Author's Note: DUN, DUN, DUNNNNN.... what's Hitomi talking about? Who's going to kill her and her daughter? tune in tomorrow or sometime next week to find out the answer to your questions.... *laughs evilly*.... MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... whatcha guys think of that one? )