-I do not own Escaflowne or Gundam Wing-

Hitomi's Return

Chapter 1: Painful Moments

~*Earth*~

Hitomi Kanzaki lay on her bed fully awake. "Why?" she whispered, "Why do I feel so alone yet I have all I need and want right here with me?" she lied to herself. Tears suddenly burst from her eyes as she cried into her pillow. It had been six months. Six, long, painful months. Every night she'd lay in bed and lie to herself. In between one of her sobs she managed to say "Van..." and wipe away a tear, but it didn't stop more from coming.

Lately Hitomi had been going out with no one and didn't see Yukari or Amano all that much since they were always out somewhere. Hitomi still ran as much as ever and was the number one runner in her school. She also practiced swordsmanship to get her mind off things although it just reminded her of her beloved. Her Van. Or was he hers? Their link had broken off. Something was wrong. She couldn't communicate with him anymore. She had no idea why though. She shouldn't have broken the link. That's all she could think about.

He has probably forgotten me by now and fallen in love with another. She thought. Hitomi sobbed until she fell into a deep sleep without dreams nor nightmares for once.

~*Gaea*~

Van sat on the windowsill gazing at the Mystic Moon. Hitomi....he thought silently to himself. Van closed his eyes and thought of how he never kissed Hitomi and started regretting it. He was such a fool. He never even showed his emotions to her. He remembered how he had told her he wanted her. He wanted her power. She had slapped him and ran off. Why wouldn't she have? It was...and is...a mistake to take her for granted.

He sighed and rested his head against the window. A small tear ran down his face as he remembered that after saying he needed Hitomi's power of Atlantis she had walked off and kissed Allen. He would never make such a foolish mistake again. And if Hitomi ever came back he would never let her go like he did last time. But that would be selfish of him, and Hitomi might never forgive him for doing so.

Sighing, Van walked over to his bed and fell on it. "Hitomi...." he whispered. All of a sudden he realized something. He loved her. "Hitomi....I...I..love you." Van closed his eyes and fell asleep, clutching the pendant he wore around his neck.

~*Earth*~

Hitomi was ready to run. this was one of the most important days of her life. The 800 meter run. Amano and Yukari were at the finish line with her duffel bag. The man on the intercom called all the girls for the 800 meter dash.

"Guess I must go." Hitomi smiled at her friends.

"Hold on. One more thing." Yukari said to Hitomi. She pulled out a beautiful sword with....Hitomi gasped. It was the Fanelian symbol on it with a single feather in the background. Tears filled Hitomi's eyes as she hugged Yukari and then Amano.

"Thank you." Hitomi whispered in both their ears. Yukari wiped a tear from Hitomi's face. Hitomi looked at Yukari and noticed that her face was so happy but somber at the same time.

"But...how?" Hitomi said, gesturing towards the Fanelian sign.

"Hitomi. In all the pictures you've ever doodled you always drew this, this symbol and a feather. I managed to steal a drawing from you since you had so many. I had it made especially for you." Yukari's face became serious and she looked at the ground. "Hitomi....." She couldn't finish though because she started crying.

"Yukari?" Hitomi asked confusedly.

"Hitomi." This time Amano spoke up. "I'm taking Yukari to America with me." he said cautiously so he didn't have to repeat himself.

"That's wonderful!" Hitomi exclaimed, hiding back her hurt.

"You think?" Yukari asked drying her tears. "I mean...you're not mad?"

"Of course not." Hitomi put on a warm smile. "I better go! The will start soon. "Bye you two." She made "bye" sound like a forever "bye" that she surprised even herself.

At the starting line tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she bent down. Why? She thought. Why does this have to happen to me? Why? The gunshot was heard and she ran. Why am I running? For what? To loose my friends? Why? Van? Why?

Hitomi neared the finish line and suddenly felt she didn't belong on Earth anymore. Van. She thought. I want you. I want you Van. I don't need Earth. Just you. I love you Van. Right at the finish line Hitomi wished. She wished she could fly. She cried out as wings emerged from her back, ripping holes in her shirt. Pure white wings. She took to the sky making everyone gasp. A blue light engulfed her. Her and her wings. "Hitomi!" Yukari cried out. Yukari threw Hitomi's duffel at her.

"Thank you. All of you! I'll never forget you!" Hitomi yelled as she caught the duffel. Then she was taken away. The wings disappearing from her back.

~*Somewhere in space*~

Heero Yuy flew around in his gundam, Wing Zero, just having fun with Duo Maxwell. A one on one duel so they never lost their touch.

All of a sudden a blue streak went by him at an alarmingly fast speed. Huh? What was that? Heero thought. It came from Earth but it wasn't a blast. It had something in it. Forgetting the duel between him and Duo he transformed and went after it. Where's it going? He thought to himself.

Where is he going? Duo thought. "Hey! Heero!" Duo raced after Heero with all the speed he had.

Where is that thing going? Heero wondered. The column was headed for nothingness. Then, all of a sudden he hit atmosphere. "What the?" Duo hit atmosphere also and then they both found themselves on a strange planet. Heero and Duo looked around. They both noticed something big coming towards them. Was it another gundam? No, it was something different.