Disclaimer: I don't own Tenkuu no Escaflowne...
Dedication: To Tira_Mearl_Festa, Taemyr, Zidane's Dagger, and Siena......

(A/N** Change of ages people!! Hitomi and Van are both 23...Allen is 29, Merle's 21, and Millerna's 23..... )

~**~Chapter 3~**~

~*~I... I can't stay any longer... I'm so tired and I can't feel my body....~*~

Merle frowned deeply as she watched the mysterious girl named Hitomi Kanzaki sleeping on the bed. The girl was pretty, with her slightly flushed cheeks and full lips, but her short sandy brown hair was, well.... too short. It was almost like a boy's hair.

Merle suddenly chuckled as she silently got off the chair and made her way towards the door, " Lord Van thinks he can make me sit here all night, watching over her? Well.. he's mistaken..... I have things to do tonight and some sleep to catch up on.... not babysit some sleeping girl who drops in on us unexpectantly.... "

Hitomi groaned lightly and then coughed as she flipped over onto her side, facing the window. Merle looked over her shoulder at the girl and then shook her head sadly, " I really do hope that Lord Van is right about her... ", she muttered lightly as she slipped from the room quietly, closing the door behind her.

***

Hitomi winced in her sleep. It wasn't the same.... dreams that she had back on Earth. These were different ones. Ones where you'd sweat heavily while you slept, ones where you'd be jolted away, staring around the room, wondering if the mysterious people from the dreams were there, in your room, hiding in the shadows, watching your every move.

This one was new and that's what scared Hitomi witless. She was standing in a field where the grass was green and went up to the hip. It swayed in the wind as Hitomi stood there with her arms crossed over her chest in a gesture of protectiveness. It's all peaceful until the sounds of guns blasting in the distance and large robot-like machines cause the earth beneath her feet to rumble violently.

Hitomi stumbles slightly but regained her balance quickly to look to her right. She spotted the black haired King that she had met earlier that day, running towards her, waving his arms frantically in the now smoke filled air. Hitomi squinted her eyes and shook her head, " I don't understa -- "

Pain engulfed her back and flared to life throughout her entire body as she sank to her knees on the ground and as she heard her own spine crack in half loudly in her ears. Hitomi's head was thrown back. Her eyes wide and blinking rapidly as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Her normal slightly flushed skin was now ashen as her arms hung limply at her sides.

The black haired King let out a cry of anger and pain as he rushed forward with his sword drawn and poised. Hitomi looked up at the sky and watched as all light faded. Something was pulled from her back and Hitomi pitched forward to the grass. Van threw his sword to the ground and ran to her.

" Hitomi! ", Van cried as he dropped to the ground and gently placed her head on his lap.

Hitomi's eyes opened and she looked up into his face, " V-van? Where are you? ", her voice was hoarse and blood poured from the corner of her mouth.

Van gently reached down and placed a hand on her cheek, stroking it lovingly, " Don't you go and give up on me now...I know you're strong. You're going to live..... "

Hitomi's eyes closed slowly and Van softly slapped her cheek, " Don't you go and leave me now, Hitomi. Not just when I've found you.... "

" I... I can't stay any longer... I'm so tired and I can't feel my body.... "

Van shook his head hard, " No! We'll get you a good doctor. The best that there is in Fanelia..... "

" So... tired... ", Hitomi whispered.

Van shook his head again and looked down into her face, " H-hitomi.... ", his voice broke.

" Goodbye.... V-van... "

Hitomi felt herself shudder violently for a few minutes before she went limp completely. Van closed his eyes and then sighed heavily, " Hitomi.... I never even got a chance.... "

Hitomi bolted up in the bed, beads of sweat rolling down the sides of her face. Light rays of the early sun poked in through the balcony and Hitomi's head swung around to the balcony and she frowned. Nothing looked familiar to her. Where was here?

Hitomi slowly got off the bed and then bit her lip against the sudden pain that shot up her leg from her ankle as her foot touched the ground. She groaned lightly and began to limp lightly towards the balcony. Hitomi pushed open the doors and stepped out onto the stone balcony, walking out to the railing to gaze at her surroundings.

Sounds of approaching footsteps came up from behind her and she frowned, " I wouldn't come any closer if you value your life.... ", she flung over her shoulder.

The footsteps kept coming, but a smooth, soft reassuring voice followed, " Hey.... don't worry. It's not me who you should be worrying about.... "

Hitomi looked over her shoulder and watched as Van walked up beside her. He leaned over onto the railing and looked out at his country. Hitomi stared at him, " Hello.... "

Van smiled lightly and nodded, " Good morning, Hitomi..... how was your sleep? Undisturbed I hope... "

Hitomi bit her lip and directed her attention out to the country that was already bustling with action, " I don't know... I guess you could say it was undisturbed... "

Van cocked his head to the side and watched her pained expression. He took a deep breath, " It didn't really happen, Hitomi.... it was only a dream.... "

Hitomi's head whirled to the side. She looked at him with wide eyes, " W-what do you mean? I don't understand... "

Van turned fully to look down into her eyes, " Hitomi.... you just woke up from a dream. Right? It was really a nightmare...right? "

Hitomi nodded, " Yes... but how did you know? "

" I had it too.... you were stabbed in the back.... "

Hitomi closed her eyes, " I... yes. But.... how? "

Van frowned suddenly, " How what? "

" Did you see who it was? "

Van bit his lip and nodded, " Somewhat..... "

" Who was it then? "

" Someone dressed in a robe with a hood. It was pulled up so I couldn't see the face. I was waving my arms at you because I saw the figure and I was trying to warn you..... "

Hitomi nodded, " It went through my... spine.... and that's why I couldn't feel my body, wasn't it? "

Van nodded and watched her as she shuddered, " Yes.... I held you in my arms, and I could feel your very life draining... "

Hitomi bit her lip, " Van.... what was it that you meant by you're never having the chance? The chance for what? "

Van shook his head, " Nevermind... it was nothing.... "

Hitomi crossed her arms over her chest and turned to look at him, " It's more then nothing, Van. I've only met you yesturday and I feel like I've known you my entire life.... what's going on? Why am I here? Why are you standing with me on my balcony? "

Van blinked and then smiled, " I feel the same way, Hitomi. The reason why I'm here was to talk to you about the dream and to do this.... ", his voice suddenly went husky and low as he closed the gap between them by wrapping an arm around her slim waist and pulling her to him.

Hitomi gasped quietly and placed her hands firmly against his chest which was bare, indicating that he had just awaken. She looked up at him with smiled weakly, " You know? Even this feels like I've done it a million times with you..... but do you think it's right for us? To do this.....? "

Van flashed her a light smile as he lowered his face to hers. He whispered softly as he tenderly kissed her neck and then trailed them up to her temple then across her forehead down to her lips, " Trust me... when I say it's right.... it's right.... "

Hitomi couldn't resist him. Hell who could? The guy was to die for with his muscular body that ever woman would love to run their hands over, hair that was like silk and eyes that could melt your very heart. Including in the mornings, he was cute as hell too. Hitomi returned his kisses as she slid her arms around his neck, and pressed her body to his.

Van pulled away slightly breathless and rested his forehead against her head, " Hitomi.... ", he whispered into her hair.

Hitomi closed her eyes as she rested her against his chest, listening to the steady thump-thump of his heart, " What is it, Van? "

Van shook his head, " Nothing.... just felt like saying your name.... I've dreamt of you everynight... and here you are, in my arms..... "

Hitomi bit her lip and pulled away from his arms. Her injured foot came in contact with the ground and she cried out lightly as she fell backwards. Van lunged for her and his arms encircled her waist. He pulled her to him and held her there for a moment before quickly shifting her to the side so he could slide his arm under her knees and then gather her into his arms.

Hitomi let out a squeal and she slid her arms around his neck, almost as if she were afraid he was going to suddenly drop her to the ground. Van chuckled, " I'm not going to drop you, Hitomi... calm down... "

Hitomi giggled nervously and relaxed slightly, " Alright... promise? "

Van nodded, " I promise. Now... let's go see Puck.... we've got to get your leg bandaged up.... "

Hitomi lifted an eyebrow, " Puck? As in a hockey puck? "

Van stopped walking and he gave her a puzzled look, " What's a... hockey puck? "

Hitomi smiled and shook her head, " Oh, Van.... it's too complicated to explain... maybe another day? "

Van laughed lightly and continued to walk down the hall, " Sure, Hitomi.... sure.... "

***

Allen sighed lightly and looked over at Millerna as she slept soundly. He tilted his head to the side and watched as her chest rose and then fell to only repeat the motion every second. He watched as her long lashes fluttered everynow and then, but didn't open and he watched as her lush, pink lips parted slightly. God how he wanted to kiss her again.

Millerna let out a little sigh as she shifted into a more comfortable position. Allen silently jumped from his seat over to the seat in front of him to sit right beside Millerna and wrap an arm around her shoulders, drawing her head over to his shoulder. He sighed lightly in bliss as her soft pale blonde hair whispered against his neck and against his jaw as he rested his head against Millerna's.

" Mmm, Allen.... ", Millerna whispered lightly as she sighed again and draped an arm over his chest and placed her face by his neck.

Her warm breath caressed his flesh and Allen swallowed noisily, " M-millerna... we're almost there.... in Fanelia, that is... "

Millerna opened her eyes and then lifted her head to look at him, " Really? Wow.... I must have been asleep the whole time, right? ", she asked lightly as she gently rubbed what little sleep was left in her eyes.

Allen nodded and gently reached out to caress her cheek, " Yes.... you have been asleep ever since we left Palas. But, that's alright. It's kind of obvious that you haven't been getting enough sleep these days... "

Millerna nodded and placed her head back against his shoulder, " I want to sleep again, but we're almost there... how much farther? "

Allen frowned in thought, " We'll be there in about a few minutes. We're just entering the gates now.... ", he pointed out as he listened to Gadeth, their driver, talking to the guards at the front gate.

Millerna nodded and then closed her eyes, " I hope Van knows that we're here.... "

Allen gently pulled away from her and stuck his head out of the carriage window. He looked at the castle and then looked back at Millerna. He nodded as he brought his head back into the carriage, " Yes..... he's standing outside now. He's not alone though... "

Millerna opened her eyes and cocked an eyebrow, " Really? A new handmaiden? Or, is it just Merle? "

Allen shook his head and frowned, " No...well, I mean, Merle is standing beside him.... as usual, but there's another girl. Though she doesn't look like a girl, more like a woman.... rather strange clothing if you ask me..... "

Millerna now frowned, " Allen..... what are you trying to say? Are you lying? "

Allen snorted in disgust, " Princess Millerna! I would never lie to you, ever!! How could you even thi -- "

" Alright, Allen...I'm sorry for accusing you.... ", Millerna apologized as she sighed and placed a hand to her forehead.

Allen let out a big sigh and nodded, " Alright.... but, the clothes that she bears are not from Gaea, not that I know of... "

Millerna frowned even deeper then she did before, " Allen, don't worry about it. I'm sure that she's just a relative of Van's who's come to visit him from someother country... ", she assured him lightly as she pulled his arm around her bare shoulders.

Allen nodded and leaned his head back against the seat, " I hope you're right and that she's not just some spy or someone out to hurt any of us.... "




(A/N** : I'm soooooooo sorry that this is taking sooooo long!!!!! I really am, but I'm kind of busy with homework, family problems *pouts and nods*, and also my other fics.....but, I hope you like this chapter, and I'm also sorry for it being so darned confusing!!!! )