Lost and Found
By: rainjewel
A/N: Again, this doesn't follow the timeline or the story of Escaflowne. I have no idea how the events actually went. Enjoy! And PLEASE, PLEASE review. Even if you flame me, at least send me something!
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Hitomi
I don't know what to think.
Gadeth's taken Millerna to a room somewhere. Obviously she's a surgeon as well as a princes…interesting. Everyone seems to be more then they appear on this planet.
I'm sitting at Allen's bedside, and I really can't believe that he's fighting for his life right now. He seemed so perfect, so divine.
And I'm furious with him.
He was so condescending at the water battle; telling me I didn't belong there. Well Allen, where do I belong? Certainly not on this planet!
And then he tried to kill Ryan. Oh god, that was awful. I heard him singing. Singing in English that I could barely understand, but I recognized that British accent immediately. Allen just didn't understand. He didn't have to kill him, for goodness sakes. You would think a Heavenly Knight would refrain from bloodshed.
For the first time, I'm actually thankful that Dilandau exists.
Allen whispers something unintelligible in his sleep. His face is pale and damp. His gorgeous blonde hair is still immaculate, spreading about his broken body like a halo. All of my hard feelings melt with one look at him.
I hate how he can do that, but I also love it.
I smile slowly and rise from my chair. I give his ungloved hand a squeeze as I leave, just in case he can feel my touch. His skin is has a firm-yet-soft feel, like a peach.
…"Millions of peaches, peaches for me!"…
…"Millions of peaches, peaches for free!"…
That was one of the few English songs Ryan ever taught me. Ryan loved peaches. Correction: loves.
Sometimes I hate my memory.
"Hello Gadeth," I say as I walk out of the room, banishing any thoughts on Ryan. Gadeth sits against the wall, his head in his hands. His knees are drawn up, making him look very boyish. He takes up an alarming amount bit of room.
I've decided I like Gadeth. He's the only normal guy running around among the gallant knights, grumpy kings, and bloodthirsty soldiers. It's rather refreshing.
"Hello Hitomi," He says, bringing his face out of his hands so that his words aren't muffled. Gadeth leans his head against the wall. His chiseled features are wet with sweat. I can tell he's trying to be a macho guy, not displaying any feelings around the little Mystic Moon girl. Why does everyone consider me a child!?!
"You're worried about Allen, aren't you?" I ask with a touch of defiance. I feel like defying the world. Yes, I can make it on a new planet. Yes, I can make it through bloody battle scenes. Yes, I can meet old friends that were cruelly ripped out of my life!
But no, I'm not bitter.
Gadeth looks at me very curiously. He probably has no idea about what I'm thinking. I'm good little Hitomi who is albeit, a little strange, but sweet.
"Yes, I am," Gadeth says with a calculated neutrality, "How's he doing?"
"He's treading on thin ice," I say, forcing sweet softness into my voice. Now is no the time to dwell on problems over which I have no control over. Not to mention that Gadeth shouldn't be the brunt of my discontent.
Gadeth cusses under his breath, then stands up, "No sense in moping around here. I have to go feed that demon anyway," he mutters more to himself then to me. It seems he's forgot my presence already. Typical.
"What do you mean, demon?" I ask. Gadeth looks at me as if he's seeing me for the first time.
"We captured a prisoner from Zaibach. We call him a demon because he already beat the shit out of Oruto…sorry 'bout my language. I've taken over his care for the most part because the guys have a hard time not giving him a smack or two. If the Boss dies, I seriously don't think I could stop them from offing the poor boy," he says hurriedly. With that he brushes past me and disappears off down the corridors, stopping only briefly to say something to the Crusade's motley crew who has taken up residence in the halls.
My heart stops in my chest. The words "prisoner from Zaibach" run through my mind. I feel the ice begin flowing through my veins, remembering the rest of Gadeth's harried explanation.
"…offing the poor boy."
No, not Ryan. Please don't let it be Ryan.
Quickly I take off at a breakneck run after the retreating Gadeth, but stop in front of Kio. The huge man looks at me questioningly.
"Could I borrow your cloak, Sir?" I ask a little breathlessly. Kio raises an eyebrow and looks around at his buddies. Damn it, I need your cloak!
"Please Sir, I'm very cold." If asking politely won't work, I'll put on the helpless little girl act. I widen my eyes and shake dramatically.
"Go on Kio, it's what the Boss'd do," a man says in a half joking manner. I feel my patience wearing very thin. At the mention of Allen, the crew's jovial manner becomes serious. I glance towards Gadeth. I can barely make out his silhouette in the darkness.
"Here you go little girl," Kio says, shrugging the large black cloak from his massive shoulders. I thank him with honey positively dripping from my voice and then run after Gadeth. Quickly I enshroud myself in the large cloak and almost trip over the fabric that drags about my legs. Still, I manage to catch up to the Sergeant.
Finally Gadeth ducks into some grimy room. I quickly follow him through the door, almost having to press myself against his back to fit through, but I make it. I duck immediately into a small, dusty corner and hide amongst the shadows.
Sitting in a small, barred cell in the corner of the room is Ryan. He's sitting Indian style against the wall, and he's looking straight at me. His chestnut hair is slightly mussed, and there is a great deal of blood on his left side. I feel my eyes widen at the gory sight.
Where the hell did that come from? If one of the crew did that to him I'm going to kill them! Jesus, I thought Allen had better men than that.
Ryan raises an arrogant eyebrow, then looks away from me. Gadeth sits down in a wooden chair to the left of the cell.
"You can leave, I'll take it from here," Gadeth says to the air. Suddenly a man with a monkish appearance stands from behind Gadeth and walks to the door. I stifle a gasp of surprise. I didn't even realize he was there. I wonder if he realizes that I'm here.
"I managed to stitch the boy's wounds up. He needs to be in a hospital," the monk says to Gadeth.
"I know. The minute the wretch calms down I'll cart him off to Millerna, provided she's in a condition to help him," Gadeth says with weariness that he hadn't let me see.
"You can't drug him anymore. He's too keen. Be careful Sir. I will go pray for your commander," The monk says with an air of departure. He slips out of the room.
They drugged him? What the hell is wrong with these people?
"Well, thank you," Gadeth says a little bewilderedly. He shifts in his chair and looks to Ryan. Ryan is looking straight ahead of him. At me, to be precise. The unfamiliar coldness of his gaze is disconcerting. I swear he hasn't blinked for minutes.
"Hmm. I don't get those monks," Gadeth says to no one in particular. He motions to a tray of food that sits in Ryan's cell.
"Not hungry? I wouldn't be either after your last meal. Sorry about the drugs boy, but it was for your own good. We had to stitch you up," Gadeth explains to the stoic Ryan. His attempts at conversation are pitiful, even to me. At least he seems genuine.
Gadeth settles back into his chair, obviously resigning himself to a very long night. His eyelids are dropping occasionally, but he's managing to keep them open. I feel the dusty, grimy bricks digging into my back through Kio's cloak. I quietly rearrange myself to a more comfortable position. Kio's cloak is surprisingly cozy. I feel sleep pawing on my eyes like an anxious kitten. I sigh inwardly. This could take a while.
Ryan's eyes stare through the darkness with a gray-colored determination. Well, at least he's wide-awake.
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